tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32198269960021662042024-02-20T11:06:49.297-06:00Urban Pioneer WomanAdventures in self-sufficiency and frugality from that part of the coast I like to call home!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-78373966699640859672011-02-04T20:21:00.004-06:002011-02-04T21:01:34.595-06:00I've Moved!Don't anyone have a heart attack now, but....in less than 2 weeks I have changed the look of my blog and decided to move my blog!!!! I know it is crazy....no changes for 2 years and then I start changing things and up and move! I am very excited about some of the new features I will have available to me with this new format! Please come check it out at <a href="http://urbanpioneerwoman.com/">http://urbanpioneerwoman.com/</a><br /><br />Eventually I plan to delete this site, but don't worry, everything has been moved to our new home already!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-78088780234505075162011-02-04T14:25:00.003-06:002011-02-04T15:59:35.517-06:00Sometimes a Disability is Just a DifferenceI was folding laundry and watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9 the other day, when I had an epiphany. The episode was about a woman from a planet with very little gravity, who wanted to join Star Fleet and now works in an environment with what we would call "normal" gravity. In order to move in this environment, she had to wear these things on her arms and legs that looked like braces, use a cane, and at times a special chair. People could tell that she was different and were always offering to help her, but she was very defensive and did not want to be treated as if she were disabled. Once her very basic needs were met, she felt that she needed to make up the difference herself and adapt. Later on in the episode, she is able to start treatments that will allow her to walk as a "normal" person, but it comes with the catch that she would never be able to live long-term on her home planet. She is discussing this with a friend, who brings up the Hans Christian Anderson fable, <span style="font-style: italic;">A Little Mermaid</span>, who made a similar choice and in the end mourned what she had lost.<br /><br />This past week I had some tough days as I grappled with Jessica's developmental delays, partly because she's my daughter, partly because I identify with her, and partly because it is my field of study. This makes for a very tangled web that is really hard to tease apart. BUT, after watching this episode I think I finally understand. When someone says that they think Jessica might have Aspergers, I immediately think "they think there is something wrong with her" which immediately brings back a flood of memories from my childhood because I sometimes (despite my parents' best efforts) felt like there was something wrong with me because learning colors, shapes, counting, math facts etc was so grueling, or because learning appropriate social skills and matching clothes equally mystified me....ok still mystifies me. What an awful feeling for anyone to feel like "There is something wrong with me." I do not want Jessica to grow up feeling that way, just like the girl in the show did not want to feel that way. You can't change what other people think about you or how they treat you. But for some reason, thinking about it as if I am from a different planet with a different version of normal, I was finally able to make the idea "there is nothing wrong with me" stick when it hasn't before. There is also something empowering about being able to say, "Despite how hard it was, I did it myself." If there are two things that I want to keep in mind as we are raising Jessica, they are: 1) Trying to provide more opportunities for her to see her strengths and hopefully fewer opportunities for her to see her weaknesses and 2) Help her to learn how to adapt when she finds something that is a weak area for her so that she can do it herself.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-35873348596499781202011-01-27T16:04:00.005-06:002011-01-27T17:14:36.478-06:00Ups and DownsThe last several months have had lots of ups and downs. Some weeks I feel really good about what we are doing and how Jessica is improving. Other weeks I feel really down about what we are doing and how much further Jessica still has to go. Recently I've noticed a trend. The weeks that I feel really good are also the weeks when one of our therapists is really pleased with Jessica's progress or someone says something about how much progress Jessica has made or my mother-in-law says that Jessica is really lucky to have me as her mom because I know how to help her because I am a lot the same way. The weeks I feel really down are the weeks that her doctor starts talking about Aspergers (again) or a therapist asks what we plan to do about schooling or a friend hints that she might be autistic or we get strange looks while at the grocery store or someone says "Well, you just need to do ___" (as if I am not doing enough already or somehow it's my fault she is delayed).<br /><br />I clipped this out of one of John's Sunday School papers, and I keep it laminated on my fridge:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have you ever thought about the fact that God chose you to be the parent of your child? He knew exactly what your child needed in a parent, and He chose you. He knows your strengths, your weaknesses, and your amazing capacity to love. And, He gave you this baby. But, He didn't give you this baby and walk away. He is there -- every minute of every day -- guiding you through this parenting journey. He has a story of love and redemption to tell your child through you. He wants your precious baby to know that their Heavenly Father is there to help them, just like He's there to help you -- every step of the way.</span><br /><br />Some days it is hard to remember that despite all of the negatives I might hear, God has a plan, and He is with us every step of the way. Last week was great. This week was tough. Here's hoping next week will be one of the great ones...Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-30852464724782177642011-01-24T16:52:00.009-06:002011-01-30T21:42:22.572-06:00Jessica's 3rd BirthdayPart of the reason I have been so busy the last couple weeks is because as soon as we got back from Christmas, I had to start getting ready for Jessica's birthday party. I had it all planned out, but several things didn't go according to plan.....our cat died (more on that later).....the cake didn't turn out right and I had to start all over again....I found out after I got the food that most of the people we invited were sick....It was just one of those weeks!! Amazingly enough the party was just right! This year we did a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpXtT8HSiiXrUYGONALNetuCXXlhbhLDhY8muDiYvX5C830l0aDCGzR_h6IpJDimT39HU2Wryzou1FuJn09uudoE0zmsixUryqX-kIKiHkUz373paBx6dpm4aTkubc-ndMixOjfiohtU/s1600/invitation.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpXtT8HSiiXrUYGONALNetuCXXlhbhLDhY8muDiYvX5C830l0aDCGzR_h6IpJDimT39HU2Wryzou1FuJn09uudoE0zmsixUryqX-kIKiHkUz373paBx6dpm4aTkubc-ndMixOjfiohtU/s320/invitation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565968157042997378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I created these cute invitations on the computer and then had them printed out as photos! They turned out really nice looking and cost me a couple dollars!</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZIQ4Q8E3TreIinE917Z0Yakw1KY3wxvffoWElRRDTJBxenAvATvVj8ab1k4AMByNaaSVgIvQb9o8UZ8RI6ZgBY7d72HdBCLROnj6foK50HvSSF2lGSbm6lJlhzmPaU13axovNvF7rnA/s1600/DSC_5096.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZIQ4Q8E3TreIinE917Z0Yakw1KY3wxvffoWElRRDTJBxenAvATvVj8ab1k4AMByNaaSVgIvQb9o8UZ8RI6ZgBY7d72HdBCLROnj6foK50HvSSF2lGSbm6lJlhzmPaU13axovNvF7rnA/s320/DSC_5096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565962048774626178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The decorations were simple enough. I'd had the crepe paper for years, and I bought the balloons for about $1 (ok $2....I lost the first package....which I found.....AFTER the party)!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyXKdLmLFJENp4ArzQW_ieeC-uX23XUJCCqH_c9UI49kHQ21ZEyb3sW21Su-5axLW1E49_sldWRo9lrl5L_U7LYIyLYeREcoCBpymRmSdaaV-4Gejv5RzpjiWSdz5AXNwGcEMVuMlYY/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyXKdLmLFJENp4ArzQW_ieeC-uX23XUJCCqH_c9UI49kHQ21ZEyb3sW21Su-5axLW1E49_sldWRo9lrl5L_U7LYIyLYeREcoCBpymRmSdaaV-4Gejv5RzpjiWSdz5AXNwGcEMVuMlYY/s320/IMG_0429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565962046616732386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I made the cake from scratch. It turned out great (the second time)! I made red <a href="http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/how-to-make-marshmallow-fondant">marshmallow fondant</a> for the face mask (which was amazingly easy), googly eyes for the eyes, and melted semi sweet chocolate chips for the mouth and nose. I had no cake decorating supplies so I did end up purchasing icing coloring</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> and a round tip/bag.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgZ75Br9xl9vmwx6WfiWNa33_Kfk75g-Jgw2EpR8kTuyKeU40Ww-naQsG7LMtMgIq8HaB5OhlgIWk2npXog_IUCECPkXJKkzk-HW3fX-FJmveFvAJ3o8p-KwH4mxJTGNVKHW8IoSWeAA/s1600/DSC_5095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgZ75Br9xl9vmwx6WfiWNa33_Kfk75g-Jgw2EpR8kTuyKeU40Ww-naQsG7LMtMgIq8HaB5OhlgIWk2npXog_IUCECPkXJKkzk-HW3fX-FJmveFvAJ3o8p-KwH4mxJTGNVKHW8IoSWeAA/s320/DSC_5095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565962041046143378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is another shot of the cake. I also ended up ordering pizza and purchasing paper goods to match the crepe paper. I was going to make homemade pizzas with crazy toppings and use regular plates, but when the cat died, I just couldn't take anymore.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHL68G59pIbrFXd-_XmfWgeSD9_Mth33uHYIF99jLeiDd-FlCo7b9kRcat650UVQDI6_qj0KQmbfDHlNPsnmWL0tctWmOfCoe8t2kkEHNnZ-BeTWNesfHRtp3DLzfGPvvsVabOVFENiE/s1600/DSC_5106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHL68G59pIbrFXd-_XmfWgeSD9_Mth33uHYIF99jLeiDd-FlCo7b9kRcat650UVQDI6_qj0KQmbfDHlNPsnmWL0tctWmOfCoe8t2kkEHNnZ-BeTWNesfHRtp3DLzfGPvvsVabOVFENiE/s320/DSC_5106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565963751299499618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I made felt face masks for party favors! I got the fabric for $1.44 and only used half of it. They wouldn't cut it any smaller.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQt42VQ2EupSmWJk8lJ2kuR0kEi3WRFSU-1nhnV94j5qmEOWnTQUEJ5FuPnu5vUkAMxliKbY7hK6I7-gz-Uqe9udPpOU76V6wsXuA4bdOnZIe61WBr4ppNwaTYUpNnI4_tckyk1IhdH8/s1600/DSC_5082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQt42VQ2EupSmWJk8lJ2kuR0kEi3WRFSU-1nhnV94j5qmEOWnTQUEJ5FuPnu5vUkAMxliKbY7hK6I7-gz-Uqe9udPpOU76V6wsXuA4bdOnZIe61WBr4ppNwaTYUpNnI4_tckyk1IhdH8/s320/DSC_5082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565962037373975746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Borrowing an idea from <a href="http://shannonhaynes.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-tool-timejacksons-3rd-birthday.html">Shannon</a>, I also made cookies for party favors! I dyed the cookie dough with food coloring and shaped them by hand. Then I put googly eyes on with melted semi sweet chocolate chips and drew a mouth!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtLYInzgr3sC5hc-nDGMtRTumR9t7G9fBpRB7pDSa-hlrOQUh_FUfp8Jy5nYNKcmhNEwaahasii8qPLH2LQt_sVBS5tSj1zduOVGwrXYtKS6Fw0JfaUQdmJlxxUxU28Oh1f0qL27dk6o/s1600/DSC_5098.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtLYInzgr3sC5hc-nDGMtRTumR9t7G9fBpRB7pDSa-hlrOQUh_FUfp8Jy5nYNKcmhNEwaahasii8qPLH2LQt_sVBS5tSj1zduOVGwrXYtKS6Fw0JfaUQdmJlxxUxU28Oh1f0qL27dk6o/s320/DSC_5098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565962052358950258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">For entertainment we set up the old sewer and figures I had as a child along with the turtle van and some of the figures David had as a child!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0FFFs57mbm91y1P0sDfWK3pmWQNWgMzmx5zuNM27aNaNis4gXIruBjeYHaqOdYEufGYArNG8ZhbQZ0X7RR-zIhBR55E-qrsRjVAzpw37c27CEaaXDpzaw1PrEpfjbRzSJCFdhO2HKJ8/s1600/DSC_5114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0FFFs57mbm91y1P0sDfWK3pmWQNWgMzmx5zuNM27aNaNis4gXIruBjeYHaqOdYEufGYArNG8ZhbQZ0X7RR-zIhBR55E-qrsRjVAzpw37c27CEaaXDpzaw1PrEpfjbRzSJCFdhO2HKJ8/s320/DSC_5114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565963754433164610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica opening presents....while her friends are distracted by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video we had playing. We bought those last year for me and Jessica to watch as I lay on the couch trying to keep from getting dehydrated and running to the ER while pregnant with John! That might explain why she likes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so much! :-)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5_5s4sFYxLmz-SpKObTOx9UOyRdz0t8v2PlwMGhYoREktRUL23OYNSyOkTn29bAxTO_rZxnpCOvOngd5F8y9VMpsc4rFFINy3F4hTgzJtA2ZaLiZNQBhoraTV00wQbp3W7FcmbhwP0/s1600/DSC_5123.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5_5s4sFYxLmz-SpKObTOx9UOyRdz0t8v2PlwMGhYoREktRUL23OYNSyOkTn29bAxTO_rZxnpCOvOngd5F8y9VMpsc4rFFINy3F4hTgzJtA2ZaLiZNQBhoraTV00wQbp3W7FcmbhwP0/s320/DSC_5123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565963758292601938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica blowing out her candles! It took 3 tries, but she finally got it!! </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CjiGIswF9wHYcZy-dQgzPYKrvuANk_4X9dfivtPyEmCHz5VaJyDevxhkHkenHddn9MbFwzzlqCZ2AufbOd3Ji_LVCLgt4Pn-8d8YAirVpgeKvgoYlWGtw_TJ4v4DezidPuxnuJvKVbI/s1600/DSC_5126.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CjiGIswF9wHYcZy-dQgzPYKrvuANk_4X9dfivtPyEmCHz5VaJyDevxhkHkenHddn9MbFwzzlqCZ2AufbOd3Ji_LVCLgt4Pn-8d8YAirVpgeKvgoYlWGtw_TJ4v4DezidPuxnuJvKVbI/s320/DSC_5126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565963767486559026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The entire party except for David and one of the kids. It ended up being the perfect size! We were all able to have fun and relax!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3CzA1GtdliJOYUl9IdD2BdXY5DYg1wvZgWr-MnrMuZ5oN71E_p5l6BSzMKUM0RxyP-Pn42XMXYFvkMw0mUCRS2XNftN_JVQEqo5Uz8IDIudO227qejon8hnuWW6c03-tJL0aGPI7Fss/s1600/DSC_5133.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3CzA1GtdliJOYUl9IdD2BdXY5DYg1wvZgWr-MnrMuZ5oN71E_p5l6BSzMKUM0RxyP-Pn42XMXYFvkMw0mUCRS2XNftN_JVQEqo5Uz8IDIudO227qejon8hnuWW6c03-tJL0aGPI7Fss/s320/DSC_5133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565963773452588402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica thought the cake was awesome!!!!! In fact, she ate so much of it that it took about a week for her poop to stop turning green....gross, I know!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85TQdsnYSeFP-XdRzT__mzmk8F6KmiMvHUOyH57Tug0CszTMlRSW4PhbLiKBowF2GgpO10rosgLCjEch5f4IZITjC17gz8PPdN-SrTFe6wJ9ZvijYsOBzVUALmnAt8wb2Fj_cRDMvmCc/s1600/DSC_5139.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85TQdsnYSeFP-XdRzT__mzmk8F6KmiMvHUOyH57Tug0CszTMlRSW4PhbLiKBowF2GgpO10rosgLCjEch5f4IZITjC17gz8PPdN-SrTFe6wJ9ZvijYsOBzVUALmnAt8wb2Fj_cRDMvmCc/s320/DSC_5139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565968148299742946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I debated for at least a month on whether or not to get foam swords for the party.....I wasn't sure how the girls would react. I decided to get some at the last minute (so of course I ended up paying more).....I shouldn't have worried! The kids LOVED them!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOJ3hcWKAix7Qe0ytVfhsmjsP7TpJNQyfWDX96yv7iIWY3QmdFVf7kLVA-f94Jb0mvZv1NCOz9FujC-R4iwcFkjg2d9aDoXsq1bfx_tWmkCTsxfoWzihzY-BKmiLeSQCQDKxztjDQ4H4/s1600/DSC_5144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOJ3hcWKAix7Qe0ytVfhsmjsP7TpJNQyfWDX96yv7iIWY3QmdFVf7kLVA-f94Jb0mvZv1NCOz9FujC-R4iwcFkjg2d9aDoXsq1bfx_tWmkCTsxfoWzihzY-BKmiLeSQCQDKxztjDQ4H4/s320/DSC_5144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565968152665267602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A picture of all the kids playing in Jessica's room. This was the best picture I got.....seriously......taking pictures of kids is like herding cats!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So...now you have the story of how my $10 party turned out to be much more expensive, but we all had a great time and enjoyed celebrating Jessica, so I guess that is all that really matters!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEoDBqE524GduImVg2XYHGwh6_-xPbYwxd_iXw_Q6oBvrvqcB-Md9RZTP4yXxsAJgzXkW3_3NM1sAo2LnXWw5lqvNdNsI5Y8Ly9a8MGJWae-mfs8HXReHIDRWob93CjKzFT6ofPX1wVw/s1600/DSC_5055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEoDBqE524GduImVg2XYHGwh6_-xPbYwxd_iXw_Q6oBvrvqcB-Md9RZTP4yXxsAJgzXkW3_3NM1sAo2LnXWw5lqvNdNsI5Y8Ly9a8MGJWae-mfs8HXReHIDRWob93CjKzFT6ofPX1wVw/s320/DSC_5055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565973847641326418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A picture of Jessica out in the garage with her daddy for the first time. She hammered, glued, clamped, screwed, measured, marked, sanded, and used a saw! She had a great time!!! This particular picture makes me think of my father-in-law.<br /></span></span></div><br />The last 3 years have been a fun and crazy ride, and I am sure that what is left to come will be even more exciting!!! Jessica, you are a very sweet and fun child to travel the journey of life with. May you never loose your sweet, compassionate spirit or your exuberance for life. They are gifts that will only bring joy to those blessed to share the journey with you! We love you!<br /></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-51655802258905057982011-01-23T00:02:00.003-06:002011-01-23T00:20:00.795-06:00A Few PicturesWell, I am still horribly behind from the last few months with Jessica's therapy, LOTS of traveling, the holidays, etc. I am hoping to do a few catch up posts over the next couple weeks. We tried to take a cute picture of our kids tonight in their footie pajamas, but instead we got this....lol<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjd8aXsyTdpcYDx46lbX973sUVhyN5l7bz_TiDfecPyFn3aF_vqn-8Jrp9mVKx6ekeZz2j_pJUThghToLPFk9aQtyz0lXrfMYX3jOi2Hg8vCIG5qdSBcjeAT-tu5dDE4uee_1ghxA7Kk/s1600/DSC_5164.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjd8aXsyTdpcYDx46lbX973sUVhyN5l7bz_TiDfecPyFn3aF_vqn-8Jrp9mVKx6ekeZz2j_pJUThghToLPFk9aQtyz0lXrfMYX3jOi2Hg8vCIG5qdSBcjeAT-tu5dDE4uee_1ghxA7Kk/s320/DSC_5164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260198755089122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">tried the classic pose of sitting them next to each other</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">, but instead we got this...</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15mY68Ayr31vXZuQ26kYyBhvtrO8yxesFMC4GaSKQFn7wndmYeMzRbo_e1XPKrn0JrV0fSsej0XdI9HBKJ5Ru6HZq_KPwZspuk8Qnz3VZ_sRySkuT5iqPfOaj4MXQFIf2Ze-4K3z5ENM/s1600/DSC_5166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15mY68Ayr31vXZuQ26kYyBhvtrO8yxesFMC4GaSKQFn7wndmYeMzRbo_e1XPKrn0JrV0fSsej0XdI9HBKJ5Ru6HZq_KPwZspuk8Qnz3VZ_sRySkuT5iqPfOaj4MXQFIf2Ze-4K3z5ENM/s320/DSC_5166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260207427128034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">....and this.....obviously related to my side of the family.....<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXb9LIuOTjbjFUQ5Lv_MqMYOITDvfw2hAz7JpVDHpv3rCDC0vKFZjAgtJgDcD3cIhSt2SAarPgYaXpiBz6xPsJowp6X3Zg4HcuUcdLTZ8ogB8NJYDWSv9iRNomB_uHn4B_hC1CjJN34M/s1600/DSC_5168.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXb9LIuOTjbjFUQ5Lv_MqMYOITDvfw2hAz7JpVDHpv3rCDC0vKFZjAgtJgDcD3cIhSt2SAarPgYaXpiBz6xPsJowp6X3Zg4HcuUcdLTZ8ogB8NJYDWSv9iRNomB_uHn4B_hC1CjJN34M/s320/DSC_5168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260206097142674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then we tried sitting John in front of Jessica, but apparently he doesn't like to be squeezed to death....who knew?!?!?</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuRhEcaOXklROjfPm-6aW1MsWeKvQse4GGz78sdsEi-vRKbFxNm_0lNhp9Km680o0-Z3VmiNClhJ6PQw2nQc9KX7xh5UEyiedmVV_RrvHfEyYsdV3QuYFkJ9zVztfml3Jqh1gnKF43nE/s1600/DSC_5154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuRhEcaOXklROjfPm-6aW1MsWeKvQse4GGz78sdsEi-vRKbFxNm_0lNhp9Km680o0-Z3VmiNClhJ6PQw2nQc9KX7xh5UEyiedmVV_RrvHfEyYsdV3QuYFkJ9zVztfml3Jqh1gnKF43nE/s320/DSC_5154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260193986666450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">As a last ditch effort, we tried putting me with a book as a distraction in the shot.....you can see how well that worked...<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNdKJzDTL1mglFxKu9fTrmgATQjQqfZMB8-OMGMMqbfkkar8tD4uS6liwkeJCBs0vTPnirhjJHiGrBYSkNAIe1Qz4wj4-Ir38Z6_gCWjoGnFujxAt6rSo5_UHTEFrN1jys0WzyuziSI4/s1600/DSC_5153.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNdKJzDTL1mglFxKu9fTrmgATQjQqfZMB8-OMGMMqbfkkar8tD4uS6liwkeJCBs0vTPnirhjJHiGrBYSkNAIe1Qz4wj4-Ir38Z6_gCWjoGnFujxAt6rSo5_UHTEFrN1jys0WzyuziSI4/s320/DSC_5153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260192938550162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thankfully, we did manage to get one that was halfway decent out of those shenanigans!!! Just so you know that wasn't even close to the total number of shots we took!!!<br /></span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-51336233330177857622011-01-07T21:24:00.003-06:002011-01-07T21:50:15.842-06:00My Fabulous HusbandDavid and I did not get each other anything for Christmas this year, but while I was out of town, David made some modifications to a room in our house that I enjoy spending a lot of time in: my kitchen! He bought me a nice chef's knife that he found for a good deal at TJ Max --- mine just put a dent in tomatoes!! (He has also been researching the "correct" way to cut with a knife....I didn't even know there was a "correct" way!!!) He also bought me a knife block for $3 at a thrift store to keep on top of the fridge! (We had been keeping the knives in a casserole dish in a locked cabinet after Jessica came running at me with the chef's knife one day wanting a piece of cheese!!!!) I am not sure if I was more excited about his thoughtfulness or his shopping skills! And.....drum roll please.......he built me this gorgeous spice rack!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBTnq0ZFJRhWuQg4fTnFUrArGso4KLGi4aoQeaSRXcMAnvjJCHbUgx6yjL0osSejOGQZLEkXxg9u0Vp4uL1xqOJeN2mF3g4yAgJobUQkREaDRguEgZ4fucdasFBSBSo4_aWtfzOuONS4/s1600/p2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBTnq0ZFJRhWuQg4fTnFUrArGso4KLGi4aoQeaSRXcMAnvjJCHbUgx6yjL0osSejOGQZLEkXxg9u0Vp4uL1xqOJeN2mF3g4yAgJobUQkREaDRguEgZ4fucdasFBSBSo4_aWtfzOuONS4/s320/p2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559654651255251442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">It is made of oak. I have never liked oak, but I love this spice rack. He used linseed oil to finish it. I think I just don't like stains on oak because it makes the grain "pop" out. This has a softer, more natural look.</span></span><br /></div><br />Previously, my spices had been sitting on top of the upper kitchen cabinets (because Jessica enjoyed opening and dumping my spices all over the counter top)! I am so excited about all of the surprise improvements me made to the kitchen while I was gone!!!!!! I love practical gifts that show that the giver is really paying attention! :-)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-6841161599262474332011-01-03T15:34:00.002-06:002011-01-03T18:19:48.337-06:00It's a Wonderful, Meaningful Life!For Christmas, Jessica received the new Veggie Tales dvd, <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Meaningful Life</span>, from one of her great-grandmothers. It is based off one my favorite movies, <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Wonderful Life</span>. After watching <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Meaningful Life</span> with Jessica, I do believe that I might actually like it better than <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Wonderful Life</span>! "Sacrilege!" ...I know, but I think I learned a very valuable lesson this year from that video. Innately I am a scientist. I love to explore life in a very hands-on way. My favorite television shows are Star Trek. Things of an abstract nature can be rather challenging for me. There are things about religion that I find rather challenging as well because some things are not concrete and cannot be proven. However, over the past year I have been slowly coming to the realization that if I cut all of those "touchy-feely" religious beliefs out of my life, then what I am left with is anxiety and stomach ulcers!<br /><br />The last couple months have been a bit of a strain for me. As Jessica grows closer and closer to school-aged, it becomes more and more apparent that she is delayed in multiple areas of development. That fact in and of itself is not what has been bothering me. I value all children for who they are just the way God made them, and I do not have any expectations for Jessica to live up to, save one: to be sweet. What has been stressing me is worrying that I am not being the parent she needs me to be. Am I making the right choices? Do I have her in the right therapy with the right therapist? Are we doing enough homework to help her progress as well as possible in therapy? etc, etc, etc. David has also been strained because of the financial side of it. How long will she need therapy? Can we afford to send her to the best therapists we can find as long as she needs it? We are actually in the process of making some major changes to our household in the next few months to address some of these concerns.<br /><br />But the thing that has made the biggest difference in how we feel about all of this is what I learned from <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Meaningful Life</span>: God has a purpose for my life. Yes, I grew up believing that, but it was one of those things that I could never really get my hands on concretely, so I let go of that belief. I have since learned that I am a happier person when I choose to believe that my life has meaning, that I have a purpose, so I am choosing to believe it! God gave me the life experiences that I have had growing up with severe ADHD, so that I would be ready to be just the right Mommy for Jessica. He gave me parents who really believed God made me special and pushed me to exceed the expectations most people would have for someone like me. God guided my choices in college so that I would have just the right tools to help me. I walked into my first graduate class in School Psychology without having a clue what a School Psychologist did and ended up being fortunate enough to find myself in a program that is very behavioral, which was just what I needed. He also arranged that I would take a very different path from what I expected and meet David, my husband, who is best described as my partner. We make an awesome team and work so well together. God continues to bless us with both positive and negative experiences that allow us to learn more about Him. So....Welcome 2011. I'm ready to grab you by the horns....so bring it!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-7230440806214071152010-12-18T09:58:00.001-06:002010-12-18T23:18:22.947-06:00Merry ChristmasWe had a very nice Christmas with the kids today! This was how the tree looked when we went to bed last night:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZJHN2c4NxssP5wmtskX8sJ4DWJ5ul7AJh6xnBYVnzG-ClS6MkH8sfHmwE65x0AlI92UjvuTIuoQmVqFz3zXs1kMUbHWBPd5wNmphe1TBjICgEVN2IAq4sAFtIA6kTdeBCxHu4eHVHhY/s1600/DSC_4876.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZJHN2c4NxssP5wmtskX8sJ4DWJ5ul7AJh6xnBYVnzG-ClS6MkH8sfHmwE65x0AlI92UjvuTIuoQmVqFz3zXs1kMUbHWBPd5wNmphe1TBjICgEVN2IAq4sAFtIA6kTdeBCxHu4eHVHhY/s320/DSC_4876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552238385608885218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All of the kids' piles<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM07C9gjvSX0bWsnIs3gevWQL9OU1oTv0SoqbXYK3v8sQNC479gSAY9W_v5FDATwI97TN9AfuTKeLdTSgwm_PcfuCKUg6aukymA81KzoODi3KHABfKVQCOEh0yD_4UJzUgbRNpASXHos/s1600/DSC_4858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM07C9gjvSX0bWsnIs3gevWQL9OU1oTv0SoqbXYK3v8sQNC479gSAY9W_v5FDATwI97TN9AfuTKeLdTSgwm_PcfuCKUg6aukymA81KzoODi3KHABfKVQCOEh0yD_4UJzUgbRNpASXHos/s320/DSC_4858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552238364763207346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">What Santa brought Jessica: a doll (with hair!), a baby doll changing table, some fruit, candy, and Care Bears figures.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN31BER-fwAm5LQjRWRlrFITx2Wk9SokJZNRc21IvbXaKgYR74k0K9Wql5q1_KsMHY8fGpf27NaypZHnz-SMezniUVFpHkcbaszDxxpkBeS4MBboKXsTaq2ahWyNQ-CKCedCIi4swSCVU/s1600/DSC_4859.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN31BER-fwAm5LQjRWRlrFITx2Wk9SokJZNRc21IvbXaKgYR74k0K9Wql5q1_KsMHY8fGpf27NaypZHnz-SMezniUVFpHkcbaszDxxpkBeS4MBboKXsTaq2ahWyNQ-CKCedCIi4swSCVU/s320/DSC_4859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552238371934593298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cute doll for only $10 huh? Not high quality but perfect for an almost 3 year old!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaeJHwyg7nk_nw-9arQeY3hSHSIzGBdgPASY9L8QghFs0eogZWSQQ8CHCmnMkmwS0yOPFjVFhnUvJ1YdGFb8mH3YZz2pTA0HugVmA4YfEQTdJSorCmhW9x9UhHk23-EraqlNsVjVQf3w/s1600/DSC_4861.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaeJHwyg7nk_nw-9arQeY3hSHSIzGBdgPASY9L8QghFs0eogZWSQQ8CHCmnMkmwS0yOPFjVFhnUvJ1YdGFb8mH3YZz2pTA0HugVmA4YfEQTdJSorCmhW9x9UhHk23-EraqlNsVjVQf3w/s320/DSC_4861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552238374889099746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">What Santa brought John: Shakable Containers, Soft Blocks, a Taggie Blankie, and bananas.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn3VxUpT4zWttJiUYLHPTucZN8Qjv9j07KBJYXDdHylJeDarsD8w2U_nI73Pf-2NTlcutMfdjwvuHS2OkKSkifQHj-EQa7vbcct6f9khGM6QqOxn8svP34ii85_W0-kLSR5XkGwBAFok/s1600/DSC_4871.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn3VxUpT4zWttJiUYLHPTucZN8Qjv9j07KBJYXDdHylJeDarsD8w2U_nI73Pf-2NTlcutMfdjwvuHS2OkKSkifQHj-EQa7vbcct6f9khGM6QqOxn8svP34ii85_W0-kLSR5XkGwBAFok/s320/DSC_4871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552238381477127826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Considering how many times a day our cat endures having his hair pulled or being tackled without lashing out, we felt he deserved a little stocking too: cat treats and a new mouse.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguahWJsm0q1n-BVt2ovhyF4r_piwudRKs0999BqqNlozQOPjzemO7yIve5Ec25n-yprajva6uB8ACBPtLcNMD0gq5Mmc_9kpUhz1BkVJCUII12VPCp3Arh-B9tqPOLehsLwnQhyphenhyphenjXJiFc/s1600/DSC_4890.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguahWJsm0q1n-BVt2ovhyF4r_piwudRKs0999BqqNlozQOPjzemO7yIve5Ec25n-yprajva6uB8ACBPtLcNMD0gq5Mmc_9kpUhz1BkVJCUII12VPCp3Arh-B9tqPOLehsLwnQhyphenhyphenjXJiFc/s320/DSC_4890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247351938094706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The kids checking out what Santa brought them, and the cat enjoying being in the middle of it all!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ80ImgWBLaE2jT_l95jxUGqQtlz_q9l4VIbU-olAlowS-QITEFCdb8UUEZOmDZku0KIEJ8ON4CDN2lndbDXo5IENG6hhrp8mkkFCsEGashZ2OL4iI2newbUvBP5Zu-R5gIf4ymwSq9W4/s1600/DSC_4880.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ80ImgWBLaE2jT_l95jxUGqQtlz_q9l4VIbU-olAlowS-QITEFCdb8UUEZOmDZku0KIEJ8ON4CDN2lndbDXo5IENG6hhrp8mkkFCsEGashZ2OL4iI2newbUvBP5Zu-R5gIf4ymwSq9W4/s320/DSC_4880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552244649613155682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica wore her new robe!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2A1AEv-IJGVT7aQ_9r1UEXS9_zcMwA99TtCvm107TOH3_j3QwAWdk2btmYOBvKXhCU_DqqCzKl-ahVSFEo-F7E2PpIYapeJ4-_wJHWl5epzXYrYBk-H1c05Ih3Gu5lHPXRu9AuNde8U/s1600/DSC_4892.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2A1AEv-IJGVT7aQ_9r1UEXS9_zcMwA99TtCvm107TOH3_j3QwAWdk2btmYOBvKXhCU_DqqCzKl-ahVSFEo-F7E2PpIYapeJ4-_wJHWl5epzXYrYBk-H1c05Ih3Gu5lHPXRu9AuNde8U/s320/DSC_4892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552248503424482130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After checking out what Santa put in her stocking, Jessica helped John unload his stocking! This year John got to use the stocking my great-grandmother made for me. Jessica used it her first Christmas as well. I plan to make him one just like it this year to match the one I made for Jessica.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBypf9b5R9U23o4yl-rtiaspvSwEeZuiWaEO6iN6_JBqPnU9NoQRQY-cuInuyVEMWbtgZ23Gou_4afrpkh-dqLj55NTq4L-Ot_tI1fznfy_Y3oagO6NqXR84myTojb64_Ocu9Xbp_i4s/s1600/DSC_4886.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBypf9b5R9U23o4yl-rtiaspvSwEeZuiWaEO6iN6_JBqPnU9NoQRQY-cuInuyVEMWbtgZ23Gou_4afrpkh-dqLj55NTq4L-Ot_tI1fznfy_Y3oagO6NqXR84myTojb64_Ocu9Xbp_i4s/s320/DSC_4886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552244639796133618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John really liked his presents....and made some pretty cute faces!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDKchRPonrdM4fLjtdzlFjiCrDZwkby-sDbScE09dbSGVPbLigLMiSF0Ni1yeiotvjTe7YAbgkz5ysgNyskJRmrk4onAzhO9995H4yir1S_bQhqQUupSnXYjTKXAtSMEyK-zkbrBXv1w/s1600/DSC_4893.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDKchRPonrdM4fLjtdzlFjiCrDZwkby-sDbScE09dbSGVPbLigLMiSF0Ni1yeiotvjTe7YAbgkz5ysgNyskJRmrk4onAzhO9995H4yir1S_bQhqQUupSnXYjTKXAtSMEyK-zkbrBXv1w/s320/DSC_4893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552244644955670978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Another cute face!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_BfYcpaRRDVQKwDPnuUEdcyTCy_cmgPQCETs-JA-7eHhlowBjEwn9XF8ltjBXCWhtAS40RXU_ZwZRyDtW5gYZXo4filEhXppPDS4QbbQ3tc61twikBrYUfTX5r7J0ubfF0TaDNyeyus/s1600/DSC_4895.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_BfYcpaRRDVQKwDPnuUEdcyTCy_cmgPQCETs-JA-7eHhlowBjEwn9XF8ltjBXCWhtAS40RXU_ZwZRyDtW5gYZXo4filEhXppPDS4QbbQ3tc61twikBrYUfTX5r7J0ubfF0TaDNyeyus/s320/DSC_4895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552244640420397602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And Jessica discovered that her baby doll changing table can double as a triple bunk bed!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The kids all seemed to enjoy their gifts from Santa! All in all, a very merry Christmas for only $30!<br /></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-69013678859360689942010-12-17T21:09:00.005-06:002010-12-17T21:43:33.623-06:00Christmas Eve!Most years we travel for Christmas, so most years we celebrate Christmas at home the weekend before. Therefore, tonight is Christmas Eve!!! We had a nice, relaxing evening watching The Muppet Christmas Carol and opening packages!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcoS55KadMj-7ewV2koL3_cKyq7BUAF6W3Wt2PavCyi1KKWFL30kSymCHr4T86vYaHeaflEECOqLgbfseZssNwlkjO57qE4jov1o-Eqk_JWkr0Tdm1FM5exasM-ffUt9VrBIUBgqzRJY/s1600/DSC_4820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcoS55KadMj-7ewV2koL3_cKyq7BUAF6W3Wt2PavCyi1KKWFL30kSymCHr4T86vYaHeaflEECOqLgbfseZssNwlkjO57qE4jov1o-Eqk_JWkr0Tdm1FM5exasM-ffUt9VrBIUBgqzRJY/s320/DSC_4820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551855595343612994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our tree this year....up close it looks a little rough for wear this year!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCra157Sda_gfcYMAqwfMZGoWfo1m7gJvSnUzT7PMgiMwyHNHbP7282tldpJ7wx4UYL5QDh7P-zQHqtUINZB3TIewV1LzqJG8aFUxBJvWCianURW1pCVXpAzNE3sSgYAy8L0nKs924AQ/s1600/DSC_4811.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCra157Sda_gfcYMAqwfMZGoWfo1m7gJvSnUzT7PMgiMwyHNHbP7282tldpJ7wx4UYL5QDh7P-zQHqtUINZB3TIewV1LzqJG8aFUxBJvWCianURW1pCVXpAzNE3sSgYAy8L0nKs924AQ/s320/DSC_4811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551855590372761250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The kids' packages in the gift bags that I made <a href="http://urbanpioneerwoman.blogspot.com/2009/12/re-usable-giftwrap.html">here</a>...aren't they darling?!?!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iZv44R6iUPyE-u4IkSWSLJZZnWskyMLeEOZwfNygky3sIHcV7vAwRzG5l5OYKR9TDVmukxDr2MJ9QHJw1s0TCetjNDzG4_AYEk_GRjHbvHkaRN8_2uD9udfMS_VJo5_J_2IpN_JBZuo/s1600/DSC_4826.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iZv44R6iUPyE-u4IkSWSLJZZnWskyMLeEOZwfNygky3sIHcV7vAwRzG5l5OYKR9TDVmukxDr2MJ9QHJw1s0TCetjNDzG4_AYEk_GRjHbvHkaRN8_2uD9udfMS_VJo5_J_2IpN_JBZuo/s320/DSC_4826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551857790953631122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica opening her gift.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-DFTAi7kgadjEBDUI27XJJifhGtFNQUPPpihtGeVkujbxosVsQL_1htN_xmIB7IcgeJGpuZ6guIjCViQo8c7Q0K48Pfv3FZvzA8kx7FC88OwqtOh80hkZk5IY2xrQWrvwyjWD1o9dO8/s1600/DSC_4832.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-DFTAi7kgadjEBDUI27XJJifhGtFNQUPPpihtGeVkujbxosVsQL_1htN_xmIB7IcgeJGpuZ6guIjCViQo8c7Q0K48Pfv3FZvzA8kx7FC88OwqtOh80hkZk5IY2xrQWrvwyjWD1o9dO8/s320/DSC_4832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551857781401239954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Trying on the robe I made for her with the house shoes I traded my mother for. She LOVES the shoes, though we are still a little uncertain about the robe.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWGxfhhQm1U2RkSsVw4V8mfsIFv6picSodgvcg9RokKwUL-45VfKE_qxosu_ixbCb3teOlLX2NgO4Ryr01cdqMQoNGnmmdSb9Um8qkHsQ-9PDnmWQvrn-R66IyFWgtiQSAbeDnrmxt4/s1600/DSC_4834.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWGxfhhQm1U2RkSsVw4V8mfsIFv6picSodgvcg9RokKwUL-45VfKE_qxosu_ixbCb3teOlLX2NgO4Ryr01cdqMQoNGnmmdSb9Um8qkHsQ-9PDnmWQvrn-R66IyFWgtiQSAbeDnrmxt4/s320/DSC_4834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551857794041534434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John opening his package.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtwD13PIFZuh4ScPLXVGT8NnT41tAHxDOkPiWZjvZ9kSG7866Et_WuzJQ0mDa-IfPD7XaK57SAVJuT0MhZhvOKMzBKZsNZ57p0TWAPwHrj0xUjBMH2fnOuo4IrqBjwAwlZgCq3pcbNtM/s1600/DSC_4837.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtwD13PIFZuh4ScPLXVGT8NnT41tAHxDOkPiWZjvZ9kSG7866Et_WuzJQ0mDa-IfPD7XaK57SAVJuT0MhZhvOKMzBKZsNZ57p0TWAPwHrj0xUjBMH2fnOuo4IrqBjwAwlZgCq3pcbNtM/s320/DSC_4837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551857786456373442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The packaging is still the best part!<br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0yTnPO-hDYkysvVz6CMro6t2VQhwLEr4SlqosoJYhqrvc8g_k8a8rN6w2lc9cyTjDajk2TrvYVtvRebXv2t4yL-hrK_xUg8STN-r_HKsRhhXSR2FH-Hv4kBbBtPTqW1_dIsgFm98s5o/s1600/John.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0yTnPO-hDYkysvVz6CMro6t2VQhwLEr4SlqosoJYhqrvc8g_k8a8rN6w2lc9cyTjDajk2TrvYVtvRebXv2t4yL-hrK_xUg8STN-r_HKsRhhXSR2FH-Hv4kBbBtPTqW1_dIsgFm98s5o/s320/John.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551862627331360002" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John wearing his Christmas ensemble: homemade newsboy hat and baby legs!<br /></span></span></div><br />Jessica enjoyed setting out the cookies and milk for Santa (although she tried to wear her stocking). We watched several Christmas movies this month, so she seems to be catching on to the idea!! Tomorrow morning should be pretty exciting!! Now some elves I know need to get busy... I will post pictures of Christmas morning later!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-9863836283993078312010-12-16T14:46:00.003-06:002010-12-16T15:14:54.391-06:00I'm still here...Just wanted to pop in for a moment to let you know that I have not disappeared off the face of the planet! We have been very busy after our trip at Thanksgiving....unpacking, doing laundry, going to appointments, getting ready for Christmas, and getting ready to travel for Christmas....oh wait that is just what <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> have been busy doing! David and the kids have also been pretty busy!<br /><br />David has been working hard trying to save up a little bit of off time for Christmas. John just started babbling the other day!!! Jessica didn't start babbling until 9 months, so I was quite surprised!!! John is also sitting up unassisted now! We do still have the occasional tumbles, but he is getting much better! John also went to the eye doctor with me the other day. They think one of his eyes is slightly turned in, but they are hopeful that it will correct itself. They also noticed that he is slightly nearsighted. At this point we don't have to do anything about his eyes, but the doctor would like to see him back in a year to make sure everything is developing as it should. I also got new lens and new frames!! I have not had new frames since before we got married and the paint was beginning to rub off!! Sorry, no picture....I am still trying to find a suitable time to go by and pick them up.....with both of the children....<br /><br />Jessica has been seeing her Speech Therapist and her Occupational Therapist once a week for about a month (about two months for the Speech Therapist). Last week was a tough week. Jessica was more difficult to handle than usual, and David and I noticed yet a few more milestones her friends were reaching that she has not. The closer she gets to school-aged the more obvious to us the delays become. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Jessica is A LOT like me. Although our pediatrician keeps thinking that she has Aspergers and that she must get it from David....for the record, we don't agree. Currently, the thinking is that Jessica is very distracted and that this paired with her highly visual learning style is preventing her from meeting appropriate developmental milestones.<br /><br />This week, we have been seeing GREAT gains!!! For quite some time, Jessica felt like the television needed to be on all of the time, even though she wasn't watching it. Recently, she has started requesting it less often and has been more interested in activities like board games, playing with John, running around the house, and playing with her toys! She has also been talking a lot more and taking a real interest in communicating things that interest her --- this has been very entertaining!!! We are also looking into some additional supports as well. Overall, we are very hopeful and pleased with all of the progress she has made! We are also relieved to be getting a break from all of the therapy for a week at Christmas!!!!! It can be quite draining adjusting to a therapy intensive schedule and all of the emotions that go along with it.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-21647890723995784012010-11-30T16:21:00.020-06:002010-12-01T17:55:11.572-06:00Tour of the South - Part 2We just got back from a week and a half tour of Tennessee with our friends and had a great time! It was so nice to be able to see so much of the family, relax a bit, and enjoy so many fun activities! Traveling with two 2 year olds and a teething baby limits how many cute pictures you are able to get, but here are a few we managed to snag!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlP5oJMB8Pd_0oSz8XNuz5LYr2ddo21th7xyQn2CpHEdC4PsQsY1q6Hqw-tHlfg_DdeHg4B9pc2eLQxHYntsNJvX0LztA3NCDlD1hpKeOasEBC-iHKPNWo7Q0vdS3r0onnqWqsFjF19gH/s1600/DSC_4565.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlP5oJMB8Pd_0oSz8XNuz5LYr2ddo21th7xyQn2CpHEdC4PsQsY1q6Hqw-tHlfg_DdeHg4B9pc2eLQxHYntsNJvX0LztA3NCDlD1hpKeOasEBC-iHKPNWo7Q0vdS3r0onnqWqsFjF19gH/s320/DSC_4565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545473934521284338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen5xtgs2T14rqL1m41GMS0h3xJlwJyu4fCFUixkq7-AUr3RGtfuReie860hwZLnvCV9Mi3WNR7mm5pJBKXSwv9y3xc7GqITFDw7i0OxlmtGJyOioGFU9XQ3cct1od7J-RZULvnDwC4xwp/s1600/DSC_4579.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen5xtgs2T14rqL1m41GMS0h3xJlwJyu4fCFUixkq7-AUr3RGtfuReie860hwZLnvCV9Mi3WNR7mm5pJBKXSwv9y3xc7GqITFDw7i0OxlmtGJyOioGFU9XQ3cct1od7J-RZULvnDwC4xwp/s320/DSC_4579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545473938638017394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I got some great pictures of David's family!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIZQrjROfYbLeEiJvoTN9-Y-jEBd4dct3-Z2XujJbskIqveycI1RXdn0zfB2blv4tbTerMTmXw68UCp26GV_1d8jFaMIu8YValXwfvNkHnvGYr92T6TUvvK_sirpeMak571_uWjhYhQI/s1600/DSC_4581.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIZQrjROfYbLeEiJvoTN9-Y-jEBd4dct3-Z2XujJbskIqveycI1RXdn0zfB2blv4tbTerMTmXw68UCp26GV_1d8jFaMIu8YValXwfvNkHnvGYr92T6TUvvK_sirpeMak571_uWjhYhQI/s320/DSC_4581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545473957137022402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">David's grandmother gave Jessica a porcelain doll. David's mom and I both thought she was nuts giving a two year old a porcelain doll, but she LOVES it and has been very careful with it!</span> </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8KlQ3OsYzdsUty6hytiA9iJPgeJY9z4fqDvPW26ByyhPQrLhMyQYH6rpXmCCoYJ9bQBPKjdWpolkSM2FZh8egzieyR8O0UAeELgQzBi35ly3OK7VRKl2N_L8a2gUt3WD_Taj1JtftmGW/s1600/DSC_4591.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8KlQ3OsYzdsUty6hytiA9iJPgeJY9z4fqDvPW26ByyhPQrLhMyQYH6rpXmCCoYJ9bQBPKjdWpolkSM2FZh8egzieyR8O0UAeELgQzBi35ly3OK7VRKl2N_L8a2gUt3WD_Taj1JtftmGW/s320/DSC_4591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545473960021988658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">David's sister was even in town with her boyfriend! I didn't get a good shot of her boyfriend, but I have to say....he is pretty awesome with babies!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6AUJBGQWMkjl8a_m716y_p5Yuf8X0abfqkOmBQ1KixQ2d9uUxFGG2Ur6KhGEB9EcF1jGAdycAVwP5AfEMCorAH4mgQ6B5LT425ESTmlF_DeVojUYydEBzuHeCYforJFHqcjZCk-U2Ja6/s1600/DSC_4600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6AUJBGQWMkjl8a_m716y_p5Yuf8X0abfqkOmBQ1KixQ2d9uUxFGG2Ur6KhGEB9EcF1jGAdycAVwP5AfEMCorAH4mgQ6B5LT425ESTmlF_DeVojUYydEBzuHeCYforJFHqcjZCk-U2Ja6/s320/DSC_4600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545475391893351794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica had a great time wandering around the zoo with Pa Pa!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk67NGzepNwxN9zA_H3y2K7aHs2qnVBYDx8ZBQN0mZ3gfah3JNhgHmGQX7NOq989rsenpmJC3UCalgjFo3vVx4D22qDv47Qs0gGBYsd4igxcB1j0VRj9mb8zYq9yx5FOlvgj_u-upAvh4r/s1600/DSC_4603.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk67NGzepNwxN9zA_H3y2K7aHs2qnVBYDx8ZBQN0mZ3gfah3JNhgHmGQX7NOq989rsenpmJC3UCalgjFo3vVx4D22qDv47Qs0gGBYsd4igxcB1j0VRj9mb8zYq9yx5FOlvgj_u-upAvh4r/s320/DSC_4603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545475413578654034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN9fWWmFAkhV7LHmqBv9_VxW3pbNfqVRPHnarwIqblXyBE6vnc9eS98biwnsRm3qu7rf1G40XEhD2gHtQUlT-XgAKZGX08-YpHxPRcrOd4CKssQPcg3mpXeXU6kIVbYg8BWkrbWsFQouC/s1600/DSC_4597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN9fWWmFAkhV7LHmqBv9_VxW3pbNfqVRPHnarwIqblXyBE6vnc9eS98biwnsRm3qu7rf1G40XEhD2gHtQUlT-XgAKZGX08-YpHxPRcrOd4CKssQPcg3mpXeXU6kIVbYg8BWkrbWsFQouC/s320/DSC_4597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545475373682542754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica being Jessica!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQHBbuBCFJ1NxB84YqFdaVZ9EwX3jbFKMAPoIC8gYpzsAXHwefEvYWgrJkeTERa1zAjdZcF9HBjBa-vDct9DEbBP4jhWsK8J2etJwF3U-8a8VzWqgF1F6aWto_Pzy3vSg8fUQ5nc836hn/s1600/DSC_4596.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQHBbuBCFJ1NxB84YqFdaVZ9EwX3jbFKMAPoIC8gYpzsAXHwefEvYWgrJkeTERa1zAjdZcF9HBjBa-vDct9DEbBP4jhWsK8J2etJwF3U-8a8VzWqgF1F6aWto_Pzy3vSg8fUQ5nc836hn/s320/DSC_4596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545475370906846914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking at all the animals with Pa Pa.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiYAyA5SyCV2QHkd6OAJfylv3KiT2knBNCAyiTXkS-Sr3rpkFgCIreNq2RIq1c4oXW7fXW5emlyGiLG7WC11vzxGBnMShb2f3afJo0vfndyxjpZW_FdxVKO30wd5n8F3YhPGw813CLFRc/s1600/DSC_4604.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiYAyA5SyCV2QHkd6OAJfylv3KiT2knBNCAyiTXkS-Sr3rpkFgCIreNq2RIq1c4oXW7fXW5emlyGiLG7WC11vzxGBnMShb2f3afJo0vfndyxjpZW_FdxVKO30wd5n8F3YhPGw813CLFRc/s320/DSC_4604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545473966075184386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I thought the fall leaves were just gorgeous!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Dx9WfPHAbyEFTu4gzuqCXZjHpPfHyqRGLSuCPWNHn1HuY2Ke6AMXRWhyiUMz14Sudam49u4wVsWTQXNZxlPSwN-nCsV0fXlrbbfGd4Mauuc5Mm052sv-DV5Mi5kNnHYnWkH-S4AUq3I/s1600/DSC_4594.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Dx9WfPHAbyEFTu4gzuqCXZjHpPfHyqRGLSuCPWNHn1HuY2Ke6AMXRWhyiUMz14Sudam49u4wVsWTQXNZxlPSwN-nCsV0fXlrbbfGd4Mauuc5Mm052sv-DV5Mi5kNnHYnWkH-S4AUq3I/s320/DSC_4594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545475359199569282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I would just like to point out that this is my dad's natural hair color.....I have AWESOME genes!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3XqVGY3V46HhNPPJzvvm_ECaiR8C5mqXbej1gmNwk8HFhdtUhon9xEo2Nfengi8StsIwWoGXgqSopys5Xs4HLAN3MTbSe6l0Kwr6glhtLsH3BDyQXNrQKXCp_ViXw4x5av21B35Fxs7c/s1600/DSC_4615.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3XqVGY3V46HhNPPJzvvm_ECaiR8C5mqXbej1gmNwk8HFhdtUhon9xEo2Nfengi8StsIwWoGXgqSopys5Xs4HLAN3MTbSe6l0Kwr6glhtLsH3BDyQXNrQKXCp_ViXw4x5av21B35Fxs7c/s320/DSC_4615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545477137308220466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Our friends joined us, and our first stop was Graceland!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGc5QwmWk0NOvn_QoKbrpzyZ9HaCPlb1r6XCYeNoKUoIC887MeECFsrNuSHX9nWOHgyWK0HglMZV3QjPu3B_6blGVU894AU-h5y6-9_Ak8SH8LURjj5glfbDopYi2gsQF6tzA0N06qEZT/s1600/DSC_4613.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGc5QwmWk0NOvn_QoKbrpzyZ9HaCPlb1r6XCYeNoKUoIC887MeECFsrNuSHX9nWOHgyWK0HglMZV3QjPu3B_6blGVU894AU-h5y6-9_Ak8SH8LURjj5glfbDopYi2gsQF6tzA0N06qEZT/s320/DSC_4613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545477133081458850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This was my first trip to Graceland. What impressed me the most was how generous and modest (considering how extravagant he could have been) Elvis was. </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdPz8w-5dVMCh-4a4aKlMArIFJWqXCR9B4MkWdd-VLVSuZmArb2Bsd2sOec_WQsPx4jMee2FdIJ9aPoFaUOHMSjuvJH-CKD4ufLcFeqjZ5ebf5xi1ug5BAG5fMUE4D76V5m3uxqI_qmwf/s1600/DSC_4626.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdPz8w-5dVMCh-4a4aKlMArIFJWqXCR9B4MkWdd-VLVSuZmArb2Bsd2sOec_WQsPx4jMee2FdIJ9aPoFaUOHMSjuvJH-CKD4ufLcFeqjZ5ebf5xi1ug5BAG5fMUE4D76V5m3uxqI_qmwf/s320/DSC_4626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545477254372804178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Enjoying banana splits at Graceland!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxKNoJLpF1q6JsGfZQmtGUROjU2WD0gV3nT4U2CqREZkU2-bNu_uVHG3EgCUCg0Up-DD0i52qTVciVb6qLYhcww7xH3aWlW5hds_w7Gp5YnO4UzNge_RzqNRTnrKSp4G9teM6Om9VFoM/s1600/DSC_4622.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxKNoJLpF1q6JsGfZQmtGUROjU2WD0gV3nT4U2CqREZkU2-bNu_uVHG3EgCUCg0Up-DD0i52qTVciVb6qLYhcww7xH3aWlW5hds_w7Gp5YnO4UzNge_RzqNRTnrKSp4G9teM6Om9VFoM/s320/DSC_4622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545859416574250466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHqS7D-ESqvOx3iSazbOisFYH-rXW_y3Le8x0CdihKNbr3KmnGGQVoeIXqriDSsT32gMk1uNgEkRkkUJe1Jt_kdt-sq5aw2kVAHHORPIzTjbUfL5JjiR0zG7UCQd-Gou5e_niBrBcAH1g/s1600/DSC_4642.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHqS7D-ESqvOx3iSazbOisFYH-rXW_y3Le8x0CdihKNbr3KmnGGQVoeIXqriDSsT32gMk1uNgEkRkkUJe1Jt_kdt-sq5aw2kVAHHORPIzTjbUfL5JjiR0zG7UCQd-Gou5e_niBrBcAH1g/s320/DSC_4642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545477260956862082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Best friends at the Enchanted Forest at the Pink Palace Museum (It is a museum of natural and local history).</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S06CMmIxtqFE_AocaQ8xcbHpaZRsJTs1iZIsSPVnUVt7WnAg4_8F8SoSdFhDCk7hkQF93HxvdHq5ZWsKARqip0yeJbyH-crV97XuZvtML6aUV-AANDCJKNmy7EYirWy6-I7sRHC5C-XQ/s1600/DSC_4644.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S06CMmIxtqFE_AocaQ8xcbHpaZRsJTs1iZIsSPVnUVt7WnAg4_8F8SoSdFhDCk7hkQF93HxvdHq5ZWsKARqip0yeJbyH-crV97XuZvtML6aUV-AANDCJKNmy7EYirWy6-I7sRHC5C-XQ/s320/DSC_4644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545478853322807474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica actually ran up to give Santa a hug this year!!!! The first year she screamed bloody murder, and the second year she was very uncertain about the entire experience!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokg4cSmfMaJqGJJMfTyGfXswEwV8fvwEPfY-ow3SQJZulihdsVyF1hdlzDepeA8d0i2sPR9Lh2CBnsn4iGSW4WcTV6uT1UUnmfPCYMeYINNhiZf6H47JcB1pZHk_54lpRg18ORHvn4Lzx/s1600/DSC_4646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokg4cSmfMaJqGJJMfTyGfXswEwV8fvwEPfY-ow3SQJZulihdsVyF1hdlzDepeA8d0i2sPR9Lh2CBnsn4iGSW4WcTV6uT1UUnmfPCYMeYINNhiZf6H47JcB1pZHk_54lpRg18ORHvn4Lzx/s320/DSC_4646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545478856439232274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica told Santa she wanted a "pumpkin" for Christmas, and Jessica's friend told Santa she wanted a "real tyrannosaurus rex" for Christmas. Santa seemed confused by Jessica's request and gave Jessica's friend the "sometimes we don't always get what we ask for" speech.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg9cNW1Kv0akfkrFLQ_q_jXzEOhg3gKyFmB5BhoRTsI7j8Rb-fI-jmdZTIEiX4wyJWjuqGWO56zZRBtgENY0xTZVyAyCF7nlFIT_XYwMmDy7OYFMGNwOa4ZWB2cMnBAzCokd0-nMw83te/s1600/DSC_4678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg9cNW1Kv0akfkrFLQ_q_jXzEOhg3gKyFmB5BhoRTsI7j8Rb-fI-jmdZTIEiX4wyJWjuqGWO56zZRBtgENY0xTZVyAyCF7nlFIT_XYwMmDy7OYFMGNwOa4ZWB2cMnBAzCokd0-nMw83te/s320/DSC_4678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484272438546866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Next stop was the Children's Museum! Jessica went down the second story twisting tube slide for the first time by herself (It is supposed to only be for kids 4 and older, but I decided that rule didn't apply to us!)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DZtVGPAmp6Wlfh3LGnE3ibFf4O3XQRuYjNxsNS6xiZ6Przqd205Qwzoo-hQkVDyqQP5bZva384QO3U1WAP4tebFYZCqOR7eRQRY_lzssF_0ni8fTzVzBw4xUmZ_7pMu9_rSCTfb9qQL7/s1600/DSC_4681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DZtVGPAmp6Wlfh3LGnE3ibFf4O3XQRuYjNxsNS6xiZ6Przqd205Qwzoo-hQkVDyqQP5bZva384QO3U1WAP4tebFYZCqOR7eRQRY_lzssF_0ni8fTzVzBw4xUmZ_7pMu9_rSCTfb9qQL7/s320/DSC_4681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545481357925221058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is the only picture of the girls together at the museum because they preferred completely opposite activities!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ12CErKUk3q-06Y2vXHH1GGODMlTtUpGn0bEc-5I_G7dKA5Kvwwwbo123B2X3adgKikpdVc1yuUw_2CaaMNQ4WcyKyPDiBU2YxrcCahB2S42sqvaXeVX9520cA80ft5-p9nlGqig0lLVX/s1600/DSC_4688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ12CErKUk3q-06Y2vXHH1GGODMlTtUpGn0bEc-5I_G7dKA5Kvwwwbo123B2X3adgKikpdVc1yuUw_2CaaMNQ4WcyKyPDiBU2YxrcCahB2S42sqvaXeVX9520cA80ft5-p9nlGqig0lLVX/s320/DSC_4688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545481373611232242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">However, Jessica did actually try out some other exhibits this time outside of the traditional visits to the Fire truck, police car, and Autozone! Here she is dancing in front of a green screen!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8FqwPG7xnDD_Mz1tTyG9MmmBM0Q2FwQSFK8co2blLrbGazhtzzWfNCVvqOQyS2PIdV1b7WVgmFGpaS86cQzvpiKiW1_B0NjWt_MdqDQXtxLSrTdfk6O8pMX999m32eQ3vKJu1sIbal8w/s1600/DSC_4694.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8FqwPG7xnDD_Mz1tTyG9MmmBM0Q2FwQSFK8co2blLrbGazhtzzWfNCVvqOQyS2PIdV1b7WVgmFGpaS86cQzvpiKiW1_B0NjWt_MdqDQXtxLSrTdfk6O8pMX999m32eQ3vKJu1sIbal8w/s320/DSC_4694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545481362368627122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">She also went shopping at the Kroger (her mother's favorite exhibit) for the first time. The basket said to only get 3 items....I decided that rule didn't apply to us either! :-)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFWLDteEQVAyA6v7MOJD4l7YpdT66mwL2IhucCoy2KkOAqERetfSAHT8ZWEJP9QDuhKiZSEZ9PJMGhKe0DniMyWb2vqGTmx43PuUwa46a8dFGyGWSv_jpoXHTnzkQ0GA0ZTfHn49CGrIa/s1600/DSC_4702.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFWLDteEQVAyA6v7MOJD4l7YpdT66mwL2IhucCoy2KkOAqERetfSAHT8ZWEJP9QDuhKiZSEZ9PJMGhKe0DniMyWb2vqGTmx43PuUwa46a8dFGyGWSv_jpoXHTnzkQ0GA0ZTfHn49CGrIa/s320/DSC_4702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545481364557797954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John also enjoyed the toddler section at the Children's Museum. Mom and Dad bought a pass, and I think both John and Jessica will really enjoy going back when we are up for Christmas!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0ydgZJsmgFlG7x-WXchpu66gpUp_NF4HXhLY_NP7pocJvDjRmIaNZMdF2tl4WzGS1h9A954xfZTvxeVsUPy7H1biIwivLEaIOhsOzyrlF_UhhUbkEOH7334qV7c3eh7DFsCl8XgsBKot/s1600/DSC_4712.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0ydgZJsmgFlG7x-WXchpu66gpUp_NF4HXhLY_NP7pocJvDjRmIaNZMdF2tl4WzGS1h9A954xfZTvxeVsUPy7H1biIwivLEaIOhsOzyrlF_UhhUbkEOH7334qV7c3eh7DFsCl8XgsBKot/s320/DSC_4712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484311990603538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica also tried out the dentist exhibit for the first time! Pa Pa seemed pleased! </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOvQn10RBognQkvok0YVH_C3GIYeZz0rVIyWC8EHzppYB0NUkWqZaEe3FU6QWhlVfEcN2GYqloSZp0ruNcSR6WpRLdv1tsX2VJlsPayYYEC_ByvZ_jd8bd1uFdCo3Ge-ycaqZoRxzXZU/s1600/DSC_4714.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOvQn10RBognQkvok0YVH_C3GIYeZz0rVIyWC8EHzppYB0NUkWqZaEe3FU6QWhlVfEcN2GYqloSZp0ruNcSR6WpRLdv1tsX2VJlsPayYYEC_ByvZ_jd8bd1uFdCo3Ge-ycaqZoRxzXZU/s320/DSC_4714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484324722690866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We obviously know how to brush our teeth!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflb2GNaqMgv5tE98Lmmu2wtrkXR3ab0yul7_uPIdmSa5j7hCjVIRi8Za5c7C4sPRxUAakMZCB2cQmY0gWujXOmNQoYwVwIym46jPJ2g0thYQhaQ9KJz6e6k_3cE01h2YlhEvMcRzi5by9/s1600/DSC_4705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflb2GNaqMgv5tE98Lmmu2wtrkXR3ab0yul7_uPIdmSa5j7hCjVIRi8Za5c7C4sPRxUAakMZCB2cQmY0gWujXOmNQoYwVwIym46jPJ2g0thYQhaQ9KJz6e6k_3cE01h2YlhEvMcRzi5by9/s320/DSC_4705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484298776869250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then we had to take the traditional visits to the home improvement section! </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMVnfVFM4eMpNoVeYAZA5s5WXjDK_O02A3zowBETIfLYqcejOCEA4G5AUNJVt3DSER-vDBlDCvpUsa3-B1-lR2SjeWauIF-0PfTivXRIoCrYkYIakvhLu0-de9DhbEedAfL0buUntewOU/s1600/DSC_4707.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMVnfVFM4eMpNoVeYAZA5s5WXjDK_O02A3zowBETIfLYqcejOCEA4G5AUNJVt3DSER-vDBlDCvpUsa3-B1-lR2SjeWauIF-0PfTivXRIoCrYkYIakvhLu0-de9DhbEedAfL0buUntewOU/s320/DSC_4707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484303864165890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dad had the camera and actually managed to get a few shots with me and John in them as well!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JJhaG9rs8sLpeWd0NH9nHPrAht-ramQYFEwbuMA6l9KoP3p44GZb8Vh6gMlSwABGpOXTTGf2dScLo2fKPofKFRisZVJVTgCY5AKH6JwClCLozA26YpvP-FmaxMK9awGIi9R9aen1Jo8x/s1600/DSC_4731.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JJhaG9rs8sLpeWd0NH9nHPrAht-ramQYFEwbuMA6l9KoP3p44GZb8Vh6gMlSwABGpOXTTGf2dScLo2fKPofKFRisZVJVTgCY5AKH6JwClCLozA26YpvP-FmaxMK9awGIi9R9aen1Jo8x/s320/DSC_4731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545486298939989330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then it was time for the trip to the Autozone. Jessica was very frustrated that she could not find the key to the Cadillac so she could drive!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY0Y8nqjfq0_HmYXgiRMqAVM4YXX3KMBfTIeVKP2Ntf9Wok4GZciOB4KZq8FiRIkHgefbXHHe75msde6Ji1Jz0huKmRH4AsxMOjfCEFo6qCBkhkMv1w2Mo5eO1QBMavJ_peTx1cfsmQ9Q/s1600/DSC_4734.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY0Y8nqjfq0_HmYXgiRMqAVM4YXX3KMBfTIeVKP2Ntf9Wok4GZciOB4KZq8FiRIkHgefbXHHe75msde6Ji1Jz0huKmRH4AsxMOjfCEFo6qCBkhkMv1w2Mo5eO1QBMavJ_peTx1cfsmQ9Q/s320/DSC_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545486312803599490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">So she moved on to the simulator!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hRBr3VkMwfiLcEpS84cUJF6V_FAUNnuCPqbNvZRXA-6728vXu1SICugKzMq_SrzqQKd-dBMKIVD7T0f4uO5Vb4UHh3sCS06P9varqoP5oKCzebS-b-_P6Yn5I4he6xNUHtdFrLZxEP5n/s1600/DSC_4743.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hRBr3VkMwfiLcEpS84cUJF6V_FAUNnuCPqbNvZRXA-6728vXu1SICugKzMq_SrzqQKd-dBMKIVD7T0f4uO5Vb4UHh3sCS06P9varqoP5oKCzebS-b-_P6Yn5I4he6xNUHtdFrLZxEP5n/s320/DSC_4743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545486304308892834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John and Pa Pa spent some time bonding while John napped and I chased Jessica!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLUbulXt5tYp4XaFBNY-zpZwZaNALDw08halP8JJleuRGJnznYYqyqqOgctG_yf4WcY3wsV2tVxRcFtNVBkNYVdsfKRdlnc2i_NPTD-OONMk4l0-2szq9X7aECPXREGhJ-WqqZfv38D6f/s1600/DSC_4747.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLUbulXt5tYp4XaFBNY-zpZwZaNALDw08halP8JJleuRGJnznYYqyqqOgctG_yf4WcY3wsV2tVxRcFtNVBkNYVdsfKRdlnc2i_NPTD-OONMk4l0-2szq9X7aECPXREGhJ-WqqZfv38D6f/s320/DSC_4747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545486315490177042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica also enjoyed flying the Fed Ex jet!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTzD9pu-upBOY9gjDjjJAgvxjzCw7BxxABTwYVggJvLj1_X07_xhN9AQUlFdJGwR0GoK5OEsOHIAvzci791E6iwGsMXYMuIedx3yhdQMQJcuSm4PHYI8WktGhhoBGgIS2Rhv2bjWe48A0/s1600/DSC_4751.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTzD9pu-upBOY9gjDjjJAgvxjzCw7BxxABTwYVggJvLj1_X07_xhN9AQUlFdJGwR0GoK5OEsOHIAvzci791E6iwGsMXYMuIedx3yhdQMQJcuSm4PHYI8WktGhhoBGgIS2Rhv2bjWe48A0/s320/DSC_4751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545490087989669794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Here we are at Zoo Lights....not a great shot but it was better than the other one!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2ZPdpNWjOT10Z9_Dq9PJQJ47cZY2YCka-fPWiRAkxOnq7zd2RNrgyJnQvHewiLAJRfwqpQ0UTHI5TUzANOXvEBOwsvVpqWAnPml4pXxlo5K2aOxBldB6izk040PpDdTIVw1Li2pgQrAG/s1600/DSC_4753.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2ZPdpNWjOT10Z9_Dq9PJQJ47cZY2YCka-fPWiRAkxOnq7zd2RNrgyJnQvHewiLAJRfwqpQ0UTHI5TUzANOXvEBOwsvVpqWAnPml4pXxlo5K2aOxBldB6izk040PpDdTIVw1Li2pgQrAG/s320/DSC_4753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545486324725340386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All 3 kids were passed out by the time we got back!!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZjqNfdrSLD9HABn3MpWfo0msi1wa_Ro6kYZmDI_Qt3kOI3nKgA6VStyqPzO8-O2pq0LpAA4L8Pfplg5U3RrNtFmG5oWKMMZw6B5wJbYpm1_HdzOoT1hGl7BjAqcfWFKHzv3TgAUUzqtL/s1600/DSC_4673.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZjqNfdrSLD9HABn3MpWfo0msi1wa_Ro6kYZmDI_Qt3kOI3nKgA6VStyqPzO8-O2pq0LpAA4L8Pfplg5U3RrNtFmG5oWKMMZw6B5wJbYpm1_HdzOoT1hGl7BjAqcfWFKHzv3TgAUUzqtL/s320/DSC_4673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545478890195051442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Other things we did while in Memphis: watch The Little Mermaid every night, went on a driving tour of Downtown, and made a stop by The Village Toymaker, aka the BEST toy store in Memphis!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJMuUeTVWZXXjZop-Xzkv_IDbtFthPFuBRO-lBDJHcaBqsVbWl_VvbEJBuwuk0kOeLVHLM51kHRcb4ltdBjfSfYjzRcB3ljwAotTjJ8nSPcic-Ful_x10kNnSYPdx0N5NP6Ils-2Um5Xx/s1600/DSC_4660.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJMuUeTVWZXXjZop-Xzkv_IDbtFthPFuBRO-lBDJHcaBqsVbWl_VvbEJBuwuk0kOeLVHLM51kHRcb4ltdBjfSfYjzRcB3ljwAotTjJ8nSPcic-Ful_x10kNnSYPdx0N5NP6Ils-2Um5Xx/s320/DSC_4660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545478869543084242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The girls also created a new game where the jump up and down on my bed, playing the piano, and singing "1-2-1-2-1-2..."<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH3P7bIK8bficw9swG9keh0EFc2XstwqW_XOEKaDKnyMcY_rc1U99vhJWNbLbv325Rpd-FrvBXh77o3sYjVzKxdb7u3QTcshy8uDSA7vAu_inm4vWhFkizAIpFNni45yrQ3sTBVdCMcf2/s1600/DSC_4658.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH3P7bIK8bficw9swG9keh0EFc2XstwqW_XOEKaDKnyMcY_rc1U99vhJWNbLbv325Rpd-FrvBXh77o3sYjVzKxdb7u3QTcshy8uDSA7vAu_inm4vWhFkizAIpFNni45yrQ3sTBVdCMcf2/s320/DSC_4658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545478878998898898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then they both fall over backwards and dissolve into giggles!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllk7LyDVqKPaqwU2n3VtEkjfgi-TdfSJH2o1oW5W1fB6LtMFfdY17YDHzkaip3KrpTmmYVNJxSE1ehOaW2jkXjW3MLvdRm8aPtZPrvnkHG9kcyvhWRgE93Oy5OTR6LyjIQOYwjsicFSfz/s1600/DSC_4676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllk7LyDVqKPaqwU2n3VtEkjfgi-TdfSJH2o1oW5W1fB6LtMFfdY17YDHzkaip3KrpTmmYVNJxSE1ehOaW2jkXjW3MLvdRm8aPtZPrvnkHG9kcyvhWRgE93Oy5OTR6LyjIQOYwjsicFSfz/s320/DSC_4676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545490095861650850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John also enjoyed very very shallow baths in the big tub on his tummy because he splashes too much for the sinks but he can't sit up well enough for me to be able to hold him AND bath him!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwLkmM-o_8BApcJf4R33oZkvP20UMyF_83gI3SnBUu9aeivWGWWfdqrWM3cQWoHxBx2nWoegtiHd7v1I_av2CwMqaFGh4ao9N3WKVTW8Jfaw3qNykNk0bThjjO3d3uRhErfq7cvD9zf43/s1600/DSC_4755.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwLkmM-o_8BApcJf4R33oZkvP20UMyF_83gI3SnBUu9aeivWGWWfdqrWM3cQWoHxBx2nWoegtiHd7v1I_av2CwMqaFGh4ao9N3WKVTW8Jfaw3qNykNk0bThjjO3d3uRhErfq7cvD9zf43/s320/DSC_4755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545572381378677538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John also enjoyed some bonding time with MaMa!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOUBl3EKb73E-d3lJ5EHMj98sPJbGCysphvGpXPM211NXSUCw6wWGATkgZi1n-ejlgfWu5yDcwKGZIKrCaADE-9OjjsTddHPo8bUYJxEhzQqEy95DHjcLgypPZ1tN3ZzSSatAmI_MD2Tt/s1600/DSC_4760.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOUBl3EKb73E-d3lJ5EHMj98sPJbGCysphvGpXPM211NXSUCw6wWGATkgZi1n-ejlgfWu5yDcwKGZIKrCaADE-9OjjsTddHPo8bUYJxEhzQqEy95DHjcLgypPZ1tN3ZzSSatAmI_MD2Tt/s320/DSC_4760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545572374276452898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then it was off to Nashville, where MaMa got to read to Jessica for the first time! MaMa has been wanting to read to Jessica for a while, but we could never get her to sit still long enough!!!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqA80M4YTycpq6mlUqjl2T6UH-THaVJIgOPbo2ub418k_FPfFumtJfzxJKmLjf2VkfRw3cTHR5g5O419Ae1PjKKvmEIgihzZIYYwcfEj37-q6dwAduSGlx9sV741LszvOj8Tu1t3oUzQY/s1600/DSC_4761.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqA80M4YTycpq6mlUqjl2T6UH-THaVJIgOPbo2ub418k_FPfFumtJfzxJKmLjf2VkfRw3cTHR5g5O419Ae1PjKKvmEIgihzZIYYwcfEj37-q6dwAduSGlx9sV741LszvOj8Tu1t3oUzQY/s320/DSC_4761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545572381597865458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Both Jessica and her first enjoyed hearing about Patsy Ann!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNogZmCXZtzow1S1LhcDAfCDitHLZdYOzUkr6d7m9HW3-LgOh9jqg99x1OG-GRgErV83G3Kpf4ctL3stamm7aGeybRUa-oi6zb85DxSleSao5CVXTg_9GWEAc_J-_kUVEEaa10q9BFgEad/s1600/kami.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNogZmCXZtzow1S1LhcDAfCDitHLZdYOzUkr6d7m9HW3-LgOh9jqg99x1OG-GRgErV83G3Kpf4ctL3stamm7aGeybRUa-oi6zb85DxSleSao5CVXTg_9GWEAc_J-_kUVEEaa10q9BFgEad/s320/kami.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545576406276836162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We also took a trip to the Opryland Hotel that recently reopened and enjoyed a boat ride (with 3 children under 3....yes, we know we are crazy)!</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMrSHi_aCM2dcDSROOrwJTWWj2FoAIExjyFwM79MEB_t3ftH3laNrOX73qFayGXEECJ6WkLsQr3AP3eLHEzbE0Ew8RIPZ82g25WQYUbh1Nvitha-oFr_m8ka8CxYbqhU_mKNjEgtCDDdd/s1600/DSC_4767.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMrSHi_aCM2dcDSROOrwJTWWj2FoAIExjyFwM79MEB_t3ftH3laNrOX73qFayGXEECJ6WkLsQr3AP3eLHEzbE0Ew8RIPZ82g25WQYUbh1Nvitha-oFr_m8ka8CxYbqhU_mKNjEgtCDDdd/s320/DSC_4767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545572392519724002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Other highlights from our Nashville portion of the trip include: seeing the Hermitage, Thanksgiving with my dad's family, and attending a Marionette show by the same troop that I saw when I was a little girl that has been performing since 1938! Jessica even sat for half of the performance! The other half of the performance we spent in the art room across the hall coloring and painting! I do wish we had something like that here!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsvl6ilJDSK-HfFdAA4zNZBp6iikQCxy2DzuoW_uMZIxnRsvNBOAZe7IPq_rU-YHPNmQGPONBFhYTnm_OhUcyt1cesB0L4thWdquF1_TvorXUw-sEhTVu0XU4P20KMIJs92AptAXQJECF/s1600/DSC_4778.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsvl6ilJDSK-HfFdAA4zNZBp6iikQCxy2DzuoW_uMZIxnRsvNBOAZe7IPq_rU-YHPNmQGPONBFhYTnm_OhUcyt1cesB0L4thWdquF1_TvorXUw-sEhTVu0XU4P20KMIJs92AptAXQJECF/s320/DSC_4778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545576318672756898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then it was off to Gatlinburg! If you only have one day, I think the best way to get a good taste of the area is to go to Dollywood. They have rides and fun things to do, great food, cultural shows, and cute shops with artisans! Jessica actually enjoyed riding the carousal!!! Last time she cried the whole time!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmpnfrsr7EHp_zUKvwKCDg58zMhlrbR2AmMycTihl2IaX2VuVWNBQexpiOBl2EfRG5nVmmr2dl1fxYC1ZZu9pgDizljyUBew6sMu9ZmjCDNnGpxox_rV9oP1BnXxaGzEXnEmB9zi2DVTD/s1600/DSC_4774.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmpnfrsr7EHp_zUKvwKCDg58zMhlrbR2AmMycTihl2IaX2VuVWNBQexpiOBl2EfRG5nVmmr2dl1fxYC1ZZu9pgDizljyUBew6sMu9ZmjCDNnGpxox_rV9oP1BnXxaGzEXnEmB9zi2DVTD/s320/DSC_4774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545572394998816530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A great shot of our friends!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIrlLwwVO-ffYUzu8QfPEeemgHsbyPfukHSibkZmkir-wbFflLpY6QL45U35_LEPQIXyNekLOZXDvp3TvPK-yl8FkmGVovw2x_njUH8JDFi-sREjH2dE8VsltTEvPqM3U6NMVAHD083ky/s1600/DSC_4782.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIrlLwwVO-ffYUzu8QfPEeemgHsbyPfukHSibkZmkir-wbFflLpY6QL45U35_LEPQIXyNekLOZXDvp3TvPK-yl8FkmGVovw2x_njUH8JDFi-sREjH2dE8VsltTEvPqM3U6NMVAHD083ky/s320/DSC_4782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545576329826039410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica and her friend riding a duck ride all by themselves!!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrHv3IdsSU2rPDv8xw01fUliSXcuDGCaeYLBPTPQ1gIad7sZ47-FYBJ1KzgBMUz-uoCIMOH1Q5i2vL4q9MgDsA-rF06ZnMqUKYjUNc4lce-Wj-ovWwgPYGjo9oeoWuXAMdkWgp1eP2aPM/s1600/DSC_4794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrHv3IdsSU2rPDv8xw01fUliSXcuDGCaeYLBPTPQ1gIad7sZ47-FYBJ1KzgBMUz-uoCIMOH1Q5i2vL4q9MgDsA-rF06ZnMqUKYjUNc4lce-Wj-ovWwgPYGjo9oeoWuXAMdkWgp1eP2aPM/s320/DSC_4794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545576323925273778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica and her friend riding a flying bee ride all by themselves! (Thankfully they did not stand up until the ride mostly stopped!)<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjXxrvYB4nEakydw3u-wbTVd_f0jqhqWxEWL3ny4dYFt8DPYMP5PcvsRIuRvkSo3HmkgARXEyivmygW8BldycSNJg9UsFoClRSMEOqCSyQOAPxX7UCkhGnl0yrntSyFo7Mvts9WLewFc/s1600/Jessica.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjXxrvYB4nEakydw3u-wbTVd_f0jqhqWxEWL3ny4dYFt8DPYMP5PcvsRIuRvkSo3HmkgARXEyivmygW8BldycSNJg9UsFoClRSMEOqCSyQOAPxX7UCkhGnl0yrntSyFo7Mvts9WLewFc/s320/Jessica.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545855910278212482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And a classic Jessica shot! (And yes, the ride was still moving.)<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had a great time but are glad to be home! Right now I am busy trying to finish getting everything ready for Christmas and another trip to Tennessee for the holidays! <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-25751988642495855042010-11-15T18:00:00.004-06:002010-11-15T18:37:28.334-06:00Homemade Baby FoodI made all of Jessica's baby food when she was little, and now that John is 6 months old (or will be in a few days), I am making baby food again. I have five reasons for doing this: 1) I make most of our food from scratch so why wouldn't I make the baby's food from scratch? 2) It is cheaper to puree up a bit of our dinner before adding the seasonings than buying a jar of baby food. 3) I know what's in it! 4) I have learned a lot about how to cook different types of vegetables that I don't typically use! 5)I have heard some people report that children are more likely to be good eaters if they have been introduced to the huge variety of foods/textures that you can create when you make your own baby food --- I am not entirely certain that is accurate, but Jessica has been an excellent eater, so I am going with it!<br /><br />I have started both kids out teething on carrot (and sometimes celery) sticks. Jessica went straight to rice mixed with breastmilk and loved it! John was a little uncertain of the texture (I am guessing), so we switched gears and started him on carrots since he was already familiar with the taste. He LOVES it!!! After having a couple successful meals of carrots, then we will try adding the carrots to the rice and see if we can't get past the odd texture! My absolute favorite resource for making baby food is <a href="http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/">www.wholesomebabyfood.com</a> It has all kinds of information on how to cook all types of vegetables, at what age different foods will be comfortable for baby's sensitive tummy, and even how to make baby cereal! For the most part it has followed very closely to the recommendations I have gotten from pediatricians and nutritionists. On a side note: I do try to make sure I give my babies Poly-Vi-Sol at this age to make sure they are getting enough iron since I do not use the fortified, prepackaged cereals.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBODu1YnttRCkMdDrW4RCyK74O_4IBYUwq_RPQiGLLgdeHr-QvYT2WC7JmDuc_xpKqGEhyphenhyphenniIi6UoVTNEpgMHW7gsPWSnKFbWCNDd6dKaDrfJIdPmt1d5Ci8ZTUyCf5Z7dd74BK3bvyhc/s1600/DSC_4551.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBODu1YnttRCkMdDrW4RCyK74O_4IBYUwq_RPQiGLLgdeHr-QvYT2WC7JmDuc_xpKqGEhyphenhyphenniIi6UoVTNEpgMHW7gsPWSnKFbWCNDd6dKaDrfJIdPmt1d5Ci8ZTUyCf5Z7dd74BK3bvyhc/s320/DSC_4551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539938764759118162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John's meals for the next however long it takes him!! :-)<br /></span></span></div><br />One of the things most people wonder is "Do you need any special equipment to do this?" The answer is no. That being said, I do LOVE my magic bullet, but you don't need anything. You can use a fork or potato masher, which is what I do when I go to a restaurant. We often pack a bowl with a banana and avocado to mash up in the restaurant! You can see in the picture that I have some special baby food freezer containers that my mom bought me. You don't have to have those either. I like having them for the first couple months before they start eating much, but once they start eating more, I just use regular freezer containers! I enjoy cooking tasty, healthy meals for my family, and it is fun for me to be able to provide homemade "first meals" for my little ones!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-48804548064428752862010-11-08T21:24:00.002-06:002010-11-08T21:29:07.712-06:00The PlagueWe have all been stricken with what we believe to be a roto virus. It has been absolutely gross and awful. We are on week two of this. The timing wasn't great because David doesn't have any real time to take off, but we are making it work. I am currently scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing the house to try and scrub out all of the germs! Will return when we have vanquished the roto virus or whatever awful plague has laid siege to our house!!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-49728450035120817372010-11-02T01:17:00.004-05:002010-11-02T16:14:32.723-05:00FirstWe've had several new "firsts" at our house over the past week!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j0lcGvQI8XMqjuJq1h8yTOA_q19ddMIMATtDQRQRDtQGgtxIkt6D8Z8w2aVTTPAkcfA5PPguhh4QxpMJQPrOYqb4J7pbG6m76faBpmeNMwXgP_tO7qRSl141kiZPvilIImkpXiR9Ly6Y/s1600/DSC_4213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j0lcGvQI8XMqjuJq1h8yTOA_q19ddMIMATtDQRQRDtQGgtxIkt6D8Z8w2aVTTPAkcfA5PPguhh4QxpMJQPrOYqb4J7pbG6m76faBpmeNMwXgP_tO7qRSl141kiZPvilIImkpXiR9Ly6Y/s320/DSC_4213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535056383497088610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >John's first taste of homemade rice cereal.</span><br /></div><br />I started Jessica on cereal at 6 months because that is when babies loose the reflex to push things out with their tongues. She took to it like a duck to water! We started John on rice cereal several weeks earlier than Jessica (because he kept trying to grab all of the food off the table) and most of it ended up on the bib! I am sure he will be a pro by next month once that reflex dissipates!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveLdlxvugItDK7AaK96AJb3hUmw7Jnzwaq6kN-7KT8CAwIWaB25a0-LGEvtjXFUoC2aeYFsVT8sEdsqnHCVtqqNe9UkzRJXkrRPeOrael0MMhAy7hEcyc992QHaHEHHa5c0fMpyiAI4g7/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveLdlxvugItDK7AaK96AJb3hUmw7Jnzwaq6kN-7KT8CAwIWaB25a0-LGEvtjXFUoC2aeYFsVT8sEdsqnHCVtqqNe9UkzRJXkrRPeOrael0MMhAy7hEcyc992QHaHEHHa5c0fMpyiAI4g7/s320/IMG_0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535056364366406706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John's first time swinging outside. (It was Jessica's idea!)<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazuGT5M9_U1gW-7CeO_nv04mFGIjsw93QVymi7sDKykiVuCiTC8v29pvtowVteJLC4NYHTqM1R94e2fdz4ho720TmajSnTb_fWpzIPwNcD4u9yIW3wNOc9Le41p_zj_wbiCvnF8kPPpBP/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazuGT5M9_U1gW-7CeO_nv04mFGIjsw93QVymi7sDKykiVuCiTC8v29pvtowVteJLC4NYHTqM1R94e2fdz4ho720TmajSnTb_fWpzIPwNcD4u9yIW3wNOc9Le41p_zj_wbiCvnF8kPPpBP/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535056376910193042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting a cute picture of Jessica and John at the same time is like trying to herd cats!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>John is getting to be such a big boy!!! He will be in a size 12 months before we know it!! He is always very happy...unless he is tired!! He also loves to talk and be talked to! Also he has recently taken an interest in toys! So far his favorites are: the mirror/bug toys on his bouncer seat, the mirror/animal toys on his walker, the toy on the bebe pod, and a Bright Starts Musical Sea Turtle.....we had borrowed one from a friend and he liked it so well that I ordered him one on ebay.....apparently it wasn't very popular because it is not available anymore! Mostly, he likes any toy with eyeballs!!! Unlike Jessica, John seems to have my interests! He loves playing all of the little games my parents used to play with me! He is a very easy baby who loves to snuggle and talk to you! He also has a spectacular laugh and adores his big sister Jessica!!! John, may you always bring as much joy and laughter to others as you bring to our family! We love you baby boy!<br /></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-37237905055956256962010-10-31T21:13:00.004-05:002010-10-31T21:35:22.956-05:00Happy Halloween!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0qpw1xRxAU9FSIIoDqBjpx5jxNx9WGueE1bizpxINaAJYSG13myHR2wa50y-2S7SPyO_xxyUvopw1COFXdB9S_Kuzj-2vL_bvXgkKH1ViNziTtEahc6sB9We5_3ghq_fMG1cp7X45PDN/s1600/DSC_4395.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0qpw1xRxAU9FSIIoDqBjpx5jxNx9WGueE1bizpxINaAJYSG13myHR2wa50y-2S7SPyO_xxyUvopw1COFXdB9S_Kuzj-2vL_bvXgkKH1ViNziTtEahc6sB9We5_3ghq_fMG1cp7X45PDN/s320/DSC_4395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534401156430430258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica enjoying the Moon Bounce at Trunk or Treat last night!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82Fy-Bq17JE4VXq1gLd4rS3D1Zb3mtoe0P-hL5GyHyWJGmqOMU4_ZxzWpsRzzZoCR8CxDqWzPF2dsFe4kUtwekoyE-0FyKPdv7V1omoJXgW9oZFBoOdhaExwc3Ze9KVAYk5zNtXDqMaCH/s1600/DSC_4422.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82Fy-Bq17JE4VXq1gLd4rS3D1Zb3mtoe0P-hL5GyHyWJGmqOMU4_ZxzWpsRzzZoCR8CxDqWzPF2dsFe4kUtwekoyE-0FyKPdv7V1omoJXgW9oZFBoOdhaExwc3Ze9KVAYk5zNtXDqMaCH/s320/DSC_4422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534401165078677058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Me and the kids all dressed up and ready to go Trick or Treating!<br /> </span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSENDws-hJKGt8m57OcFyluBhrgo6wOtfKJA9vxE8ZS6oSvKUOX9ipD2LWPb2UXPV05BHf6Jd7YZjG0F01SLDWV3YQyi7bKMMWHbtjjo7DR_UpPTS5l-V7CQIlXK4U9_yS7-hfg_VMeNsq/s1600/DSC_4427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSENDws-hJKGt8m57OcFyluBhrgo6wOtfKJA9vxE8ZS6oSvKUOX9ipD2LWPb2UXPV05BHf6Jd7YZjG0F01SLDWV3YQyi7bKMMWHbtjjo7DR_UpPTS5l-V7CQIlXK4U9_yS7-hfg_VMeNsq/s320/DSC_4427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534401168038781554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John getting ready to go Trick or Treating for the first time!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI7JWURsM16T7B3oMRfJOpGejVrXpkGm2pk0XUrdY_9g23EVfweKI3gBZFD8JZUjl-COz6jUsMVvdlENjfYpB_AdqApjwEiXD7cBV5lPtvv43r_W6CNiPxzEHhxIJ5Aas9X1-NPBfDXPq/s1600/DSC_4431.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI7JWURsM16T7B3oMRfJOpGejVrXpkGm2pk0XUrdY_9g23EVfweKI3gBZFD8JZUjl-COz6jUsMVvdlENjfYpB_AdqApjwEiXD7cBV5lPtvv43r_W6CNiPxzEHhxIJ5Aas9X1-NPBfDXPq/s320/DSC_4431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534401178211664802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Me in the Peter Pan costume my mother made me in high school.....the pants were a little tight.....but I got into them!<br /></span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-47490515540727974622010-10-29T14:37:00.006-05:002010-10-29T16:38:05.076-05:00Frugal Halloween Goodies?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoVwyt1zfSYhtUZUZghSaTAOUJG6-CuG2j82LRRhNMRKCiIGWP5Qe0rdSfPjK6k8Lz9aiEIVZ1OP-if_RG67PstVWoGWT1zHq5RUQ1ZPocvcrGZNkh8yj0_c2gMhIGGTwuvQ2KiMzJbL6/s1600/pumpkin.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoVwyt1zfSYhtUZUZghSaTAOUJG6-CuG2j82LRRhNMRKCiIGWP5Qe0rdSfPjK6k8Lz9aiEIVZ1OP-if_RG67PstVWoGWT1zHq5RUQ1ZPocvcrGZNkh8yj0_c2gMhIGGTwuvQ2KiMzJbL6/s320/pumpkin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533564413901323090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica's pumpkin</span></span><br /></div><br />Our neighborhood is THE neighborhood where everyone else's kids go to Trick or Treat. Depending on the year, we can go through at least 5-6 LARGE bags of candy and that adds up!! Do you have any frugal ideas for Halloween treats? I do not feel comfortable doing homemade goodies because I would not let my kid eat a homemade goodie from someone I don't know. I also do not consider opting out of Trick or Treating to be an option. Not only is that no fun, but we have also been egged in the past!<br /><br />In other news, isn't my baby girl getting to be such a big girl?!?!? Check out our impromptu photo-shoot in front of the Speech Therapist's office:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNiEGFLofwvFO0A8GOq3Xlr_3CjyD17cQ8eyJeBwGQtHAKxxrtCyO9Jl0yC3eb7bKCYMC54LOGaBTngMPg7znTiek_tBQa3yp9WeP4ld68FNI4SV6rBaMjT7MLkNPdVrH5fKT8rxzeRu3/s1600/jessica3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNiEGFLofwvFO0A8GOq3Xlr_3CjyD17cQ8eyJeBwGQtHAKxxrtCyO9Jl0yC3eb7bKCYMC54LOGaBTngMPg7znTiek_tBQa3yp9WeP4ld68FNI4SV6rBaMjT7MLkNPdVrH5fKT8rxzeRu3/s320/jessica3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533585204782297730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZluruJznvQY22RWw3YVsD1T_SjMkXlyTr8MxQlq6liQPY5XZuiNhf_qA0EhpicYb7vCNgRq2lp9HQMP-ZJo86ZDWfHF0POqcdnDmKQL5I0p9iLSXbLgpGkGoqqcUgGle8Jfei5OURh0t/s1600/jessica2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZluruJznvQY22RWw3YVsD1T_SjMkXlyTr8MxQlq6liQPY5XZuiNhf_qA0EhpicYb7vCNgRq2lp9HQMP-ZJo86ZDWfHF0POqcdnDmKQL5I0p9iLSXbLgpGkGoqqcUgGle8Jfei5OURh0t/s320/jessica2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533585200357627266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZC0FaATbY_nOexqz8LybYQC_A371FY9qKFMcXxjovahRwClSC21yOD01Z39WKdXwqmuhne6aF9OMVrR1fQLVBYOaX5eiAAxQuqVBa7izqran9bXlo02ipOCRXMU2G7bmkryhBsxW7vdC/s1600/jessica1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZC0FaATbY_nOexqz8LybYQC_A371FY9qKFMcXxjovahRwClSC21yOD01Z39WKdXwqmuhne6aF9OMVrR1fQLVBYOaX5eiAAxQuqVBa7izqran9bXlo02ipOCRXMU2G7bmkryhBsxW7vdC/s320/jessica1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533585194225178802" border="0" /></a><br />And yes, those are those $5 jeans I bought her in a size 4 slim. Although she is currently in a size 3T, the jeans actually fit her because....they have an adjustable waistband!!!! Score!! We are definitely getting our money's worth out of that $5! :-)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-69780583049969043792010-10-28T14:05:00.007-05:002010-10-28T14:55:25.325-05:00Pumpkin PatchYesterday we went with our Neighborhood Preschool Group to a Pumpkin Patch! We had a great time!! Jessica especially loved having all of the space in which to run around!! She also enjoyed all of the many mechanical things there are to be found on a farm!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH3677AR155w47pemzhYgRZXZ8KhfyFNesgk5o_feEV-K3nU1UGzyQ2JQNVF_Yck7vOQHoTvISn03DFpQWLeuNm4d2OJNmqHvH5PKfI-uivGWrQa4hvhhTHGYIjPDXlSzHsRIauEnbDkZ/s1600/DSC_4233.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH3677AR155w47pemzhYgRZXZ8KhfyFNesgk5o_feEV-K3nU1UGzyQ2JQNVF_Yck7vOQHoTvISn03DFpQWLeuNm4d2OJNmqHvH5PKfI-uivGWrQa4hvhhTHGYIjPDXlSzHsRIauEnbDkZ/s320/DSC_4233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533176600365101986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica with all of her pals in the Sunflower patch!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHf02dOTby_l9JyOhOu9ytCxbHCZ26o7DJmnHrzEISoLe51RwWwtJijLHPffB0wFFfZf1VZoL2Tm9BrEDS-lVMXt3VdlaQtYK25C6sBQfyPx5lKqea2xVLhx-6IZ_dNZ2r4VoeTGqCRQU/s1600/DSC_4223.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHf02dOTby_l9JyOhOu9ytCxbHCZ26o7DJmnHrzEISoLe51RwWwtJijLHPffB0wFFfZf1VZoL2Tm9BrEDS-lVMXt3VdlaQtYK25C6sBQfyPx5lKqea2xVLhx-6IZ_dNZ2r4VoeTGqCRQU/s320/DSC_4223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533176585475994210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hanging out with her buddy, Jackson.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt1pXXiEg7F7zquhPRcS1y0QCdcvbnya3etx7v4RPDNV6qzha5DtaGHWLn12Iovb9aVX7TxpkJ7VONsJ4YGuXk0ZJPH-jFom4-x6b2N5IaAWVEzWpPDFmyMXI4l4vxi_AZ-ctMlo0goOe/s1600/DSC_4230.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt1pXXiEg7F7zquhPRcS1y0QCdcvbnya3etx7v4RPDNV6qzha5DtaGHWLn12Iovb9aVX7TxpkJ7VONsJ4YGuXk0ZJPH-jFom4-x6b2N5IaAWVEzWpPDFmyMXI4l4vxi_AZ-ctMlo0goOe/s320/DSC_4230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533176593546897218" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sweet photo of Jessica in the Sunflower patch!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0E4feB-200y9kH8JhyD0klCtGlfFxcZDq3IE1g2EPFRgUmai59-ujyAh3CstCODMWLiiG29uoeTj2A011Ef3p8unViG2JKG5WFr3vH4NHcFcuoOHrfRlo9s_hWue56hOIvfuV0tO2eaF/s1600/DSC_4238.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0E4feB-200y9kH8JhyD0klCtGlfFxcZDq3IE1g2EPFRgUmai59-ujyAh3CstCODMWLiiG29uoeTj2A011Ef3p8unViG2JKG5WFr3vH4NHcFcuoOHrfRlo9s_hWue56hOIvfuV0tO2eaF/s320/DSC_4238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533176609215176498" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Then Jessica discovered the goats!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8qa04NnBOkVEoERBsnvtebnQzBWEvri6nngdpcCZdOR70ulL3yJcIQWwqsHRuYZ_55l7YhuKvm1ask5QDsDb5XIdqWRL_T8RmPjXh-I46a0NC8lG66s0ewbtf156Dxwa_V7ZvSfpcpwM/s1600/DSC_4262.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8qa04NnBOkVEoERBsnvtebnQzBWEvri6nngdpcCZdOR70ulL3yJcIQWwqsHRuYZ_55l7YhuKvm1ask5QDsDb5XIdqWRL_T8RmPjXh-I46a0NC8lG66s0ewbtf156Dxwa_V7ZvSfpcpwM/s320/DSC_4262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533178562179439346" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Trying to find just the right pumpkin in the Pumpkin patch....one of many she considered!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdDX-D1UAIwnp3shL7PgVeSuS4tihxo9ZyIJ9NBqonGdcbnjdPNyeO215KKiguM6KFZcOzwF8p98sVWOs3NlN0dP2NCd-k8Sv_4_Xacdc2z_wgNnl9B6jK-XeBs3tvkRZzFOOKrtYcPzW/s1600/DSC_4267.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdDX-D1UAIwnp3shL7PgVeSuS4tihxo9ZyIJ9NBqonGdcbnjdPNyeO215KKiguM6KFZcOzwF8p98sVWOs3NlN0dP2NCd-k8Sv_4_Xacdc2z_wgNnl9B6jK-XeBs3tvkRZzFOOKrtYcPzW/s320/DSC_4267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533178572479452738" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The pumpkin we picked out for Mommy to carve.<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C8rQHKo33PtC06OY3FBGb0alxzbMCQmfdN6MNqGhdspvTppLogIx4zHOarsMbiLitjdvOdzwmI3EsPwIWunxrRsefXg_s4YHsOcNvHrJXTbRMhBQx_JbFuIK_2GOL7fnlsUzczCK1MBW/s1600/Best+Friends.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C8rQHKo33PtC06OY3FBGb0alxzbMCQmfdN6MNqGhdspvTppLogIx4zHOarsMbiLitjdvOdzwmI3EsPwIWunxrRsefXg_s4YHsOcNvHrJXTbRMhBQx_JbFuIK_2GOL7fnlsUzczCK1MBW/s320/Best+Friends.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533176604651220114" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Best Friends!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSv7gB9hWoTJ_EQhq23wfDruesXK6gwmAC2nnKD5nNuVDWwaVi1O3DToPKslmr0yi_E3X-F4lofuEdaOEoJxBlccii3r1gUZdvQIHZrvTc48pypYUIqHvYfhL0d5wHUuUwGm1fyJ-a0grL/s1600/DSC_4278.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSv7gB9hWoTJ_EQhq23wfDruesXK6gwmAC2nnKD5nNuVDWwaVi1O3DToPKslmr0yi_E3X-F4lofuEdaOEoJxBlccii3r1gUZdvQIHZrvTc48pypYUIqHvYfhL0d5wHUuUwGm1fyJ-a0grL/s320/DSC_4278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533178539684309650" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo Op with all the kids!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vpUrW3Pv3kT7Qo_Z43VZfk7zY_1JcL8TfVvXViUx34cI8qObD5mzQSywYLu9dGgHgPIMixJalMaXv86pC3oCftcfkVhAZJDxB4PmjvlUAGeJRuwAmv6ZehdT2Q0hIS06SQH729zBbUuk/s1600/DSC_4315.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vpUrW3Pv3kT7Qo_Z43VZfk7zY_1JcL8TfVvXViUx34cI8qObD5mzQSywYLu9dGgHgPIMixJalMaXv86pC3oCftcfkVhAZJDxB4PmjvlUAGeJRuwAmv6ZehdT2Q0hIS06SQH729zBbUuk/s320/DSC_4315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533178544036567090" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Mommy and John<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4TSMwO9EBl5l2RQZ7L6JygkRtmz6OR5J7eAzV89RT8UyMNzZeViRixACBKeCjaouTHYyxXbjCHuvo6ALGAVf6xhHIdDRc1811KBvfrUrNn2r41zyIg2Y-4nRgYZbvOVUOnrOxd7jlKh5/s1600/DSC_4320.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4TSMwO9EBl5l2RQZ7L6JygkRtmz6OR5J7eAzV89RT8UyMNzZeViRixACBKeCjaouTHYyxXbjCHuvo6ALGAVf6xhHIdDRc1811KBvfrUrNn2r41zyIg2Y-4nRgYZbvOVUOnrOxd7jlKh5/s320/DSC_4320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533178552202042690" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Mommy with both of her babies<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B1CCCZUUegQlHuPyGMd4oCgcXR9qQ9yJtMGGD_SWAoVDmjBoIwC6zqnlYc_YYrNQB8OJ9IcRHPKIC1FLXasSNe4E7v4CL_Uhv70XB1d6nbBlIRrnSOgXbwtskH-jlpGj7H8KUUsfunO7/s1600/DSC_4374.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B1CCCZUUegQlHuPyGMd4oCgcXR9qQ9yJtMGGD_SWAoVDmjBoIwC6zqnlYc_YYrNQB8OJ9IcRHPKIC1FLXasSNe4E7v4CL_Uhv70XB1d6nbBlIRrnSOgXbwtskH-jlpGj7H8KUUsfunO7/s320/DSC_4374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533180080136774962" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Jessica enjoying rocking on the porch.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbBBjqw_xffzWfpFan4aVjlaTwtzycVi69uXnFjmrONdPKqUmD7A3gxmHObLasAcMpc_qroHdGRXQTjC5sKEwwA7KSIZWknNlr9_YK53h1qH45WBIbo4GNdBDf6_0oUIcjONNV1vGf7q9/s1600/DSC_4321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbBBjqw_xffzWfpFan4aVjlaTwtzycVi69uXnFjmrONdPKqUmD7A3gxmHObLasAcMpc_qroHdGRXQTjC5sKEwwA7KSIZWknNlr9_YK53h1qH45WBIbo4GNdBDf6_0oUIcjONNV1vGf7q9/s320/DSC_4321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533180077321420146" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>On our way to enjoy a hayride!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ49ZLX-_wT7zUnIT9QE3XfrGhS2zVkAQfq6LymINfX2D6TD1OrZubGZ6xuh2Az4Qg_l8iFiiqI2Q2LM7uMceLQt70wbNvKxWuEKxE1dtZEDUjYIQ-Cvl1EJcx0Kz9s3WxNOx24khHqGbe/s1600/DSC_4324.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ49ZLX-_wT7zUnIT9QE3XfrGhS2zVkAQfq6LymINfX2D6TD1OrZubGZ6xuh2Az4Qg_l8iFiiqI2Q2LM7uMceLQt70wbNvKxWuEKxE1dtZEDUjYIQ-Cvl1EJcx0Kz9s3WxNOx24khHqGbe/s320/DSC_4324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533182723689334850" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Jessica with her new friend, Melvin the farm hand.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0M0bisBWkR6OCHFtk0pkwOXaGuNXR4DgwJrcFx1QpRz7EVHqBJj6LBgQH8JRfO6FPp3qxHDKQQbYRBp0vsYebbeHlF13kmJRQhDfgnB5fW8ULlHhcKmgcUqCkZfbNsg5Tdaj62Z_AQl/s1600/DSC_4335.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0M0bisBWkR6OCHFtk0pkwOXaGuNXR4DgwJrcFx1QpRz7EVHqBJj6LBgQH8JRfO6FPp3qxHDKQQbYRBp0vsYebbeHlF13kmJRQhDfgnB5fW8ULlHhcKmgcUqCkZfbNsg5Tdaj62Z_AQl/s320/DSC_4335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533182739121243650" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Enjoying our hayride all the way around the farm!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZQKSkHVVAVR3jysDm_jF2FTSib2LWP4Ad3WJGml9Uz35c6U16-IqizsIGme3EF6pLzPEHN6UWl_JjwKgO46YXQfcq3CcOoAx4mxXEVs5BT1A0nox-vg4SZuJ97US7w_j3nNtUxswJS4w/s1600/DSC_4343.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZQKSkHVVAVR3jysDm_jF2FTSib2LWP4Ad3WJGml9Uz35c6U16-IqizsIGme3EF6pLzPEHN6UWl_JjwKgO46YXQfcq3CcOoAx4mxXEVs5BT1A0nox-vg4SZuJ97US7w_j3nNtUxswJS4w/s320/DSC_4343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533182729258792066" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>The girls after a tumble in the hay!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg5mSaxfLqVtH671bsHLx8MEIRN9x0AAnoAzqqBGWBFKzcDK5qqzRDMaCHSoO8Mb5lQ5uGnHX400w2xDre3AvPUuddDDjN9Pn8oSugt1qw-QK_DWxbDDKHWg-vDfZgY77JShyLBTcnsJv/s1600/DSC_4347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg5mSaxfLqVtH671bsHLx8MEIRN9x0AAnoAzqqBGWBFKzcDK5qqzRDMaCHSoO8Mb5lQ5uGnHX400w2xDre3AvPUuddDDjN9Pn8oSugt1qw-QK_DWxbDDKHWg-vDfZgY77JShyLBTcnsJv/s320/DSC_4347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533182757310324866" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>All of the kids checking out the peanut plant Melvin pulled to show them!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKj2AzmII427c40o0HMGIlqeSsnkmQtGBFiA8Ex2bVYlgfnejDDNGihTdaS7Zc0P01ADBlBWgk-PkUlq5x4K8xme4T_NaFPs75QWYtrGp5JDlcDDjXEOtaD20eKR6FDv5VwpZxVJH9Tqkc/s1600/DSC_4348.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKj2AzmII427c40o0HMGIlqeSsnkmQtGBFiA8Ex2bVYlgfnejDDNGihTdaS7Zc0P01ADBlBWgk-PkUlq5x4K8xme4T_NaFPs75QWYtrGp5JDlcDDjXEOtaD20eKR6FDv5VwpZxVJH9Tqkc/s320/DSC_4348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533182747258168130" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica trying to decide if her peanut was edible (it was actually too green).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZzoJQn_s1hULdJwiu16-5nx7d-Hek0LYbIoVhkdrecTU75WWPDwKVejBKmCuknBf8rARKnTTDV-nL8yoD2PnTIRYI8pzPRUfL29umIiZUVB0fDAp4bAv8Hr51ReLExTtplOLhk_e6WD/s1600/DSC_4349.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZzoJQn_s1hULdJwiu16-5nx7d-Hek0LYbIoVhkdrecTU75WWPDwKVejBKmCuknBf8rARKnTTDV-nL8yoD2PnTIRYI8pzPRUfL29umIiZUVB0fDAp4bAv8Hr51ReLExTtplOLhk_e6WD/s320/DSC_4349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533180087697924578" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Disembarking from our hayride.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh443R8tlOWkSawO03IuWPftDRh_Ux2iZik2deSiGn7dHEto-t09IAOOD1pclCq53NP4iS-C3888MdpSjcOCCKj59tMTbXl9dVdwFBuUUUDmvwQ-o36qJdELboHJEUZbHTJjgO-1rvF2kh0/s1600/DSC_4353.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh443R8tlOWkSawO03IuWPftDRh_Ux2iZik2deSiGn7dHEto-t09IAOOD1pclCq53NP4iS-C3888MdpSjcOCCKj59tMTbXl9dVdwFBuUUUDmvwQ-o36qJdELboHJEUZbHTJjgO-1rvF2kh0/s320/DSC_4353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533180092450145810" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>The best part of the trip for Jessica....Melvin let her climb up on the tractor!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZBUYGnv2PednI6ceOKjjwObQZnCNbLBJK80ncKiM_YBH8pgE5GUX_PTTsc7BjESjEBfZBQ3WYx1gni5LfF6RQd3lMgYGaIaV97e0PZgGCGPJzHspA1ik6NRIcOXSqeFfESxrkBLsTyzK/s1600/DSC_4355.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZBUYGnv2PednI6ceOKjjwObQZnCNbLBJK80ncKiM_YBH8pgE5GUX_PTTsc7BjESjEBfZBQ3WYx1gni5LfF6RQd3lMgYGaIaV97e0PZgGCGPJzHspA1ik6NRIcOXSqeFfESxrkBLsTyzK/s320/DSC_4355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533180098596035394" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>The perfect end to a perfect day (in Jessica's opinion)!<br /></span></span><br /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-75116745614834919822010-10-26T15:38:00.004-05:002010-10-26T15:56:24.439-05:00Tea DyingI recently learned that apparently people will pay big bucks to have someone tea dye items for them. This surprised me, as I have tea dyed several different things over the years and found it to be a very simple process! All you do is make some tea....you can even use tea that is already made up, although I wouldn't want to use tea that already had sugar added...too sticky!! Then you submerge the item you want to dye in the tea until it is as dark as you want. You can use tea dying on paper to make an authentic looking treasure map (especially if you burn the edges). You can use it to turn a white fabric to a light tan/khaki color (which comes in handy if you accidentally stain a favorite shirt), or you can use it to make a brand new doily look like an antique, which is what I did!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBY2iapkDBgE5jrS5SGFjYo65nBwUU0w31XMSCeNte0tKLpP6RWDwr5Axbzi5ZbKkUs9u2WRiv1HMvo0Hpqsq6VwSXaH4BjV1pQxGuLTvtRrDSx5Ful3x7hA1gNqxNw8_Q68uRESGOCT5/s1600/DSC_4169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBY2iapkDBgE5jrS5SGFjYo65nBwUU0w31XMSCeNte0tKLpP6RWDwr5Axbzi5ZbKkUs9u2WRiv1HMvo0Hpqsq6VwSXaH4BjV1pQxGuLTvtRrDSx5Ful3x7hA1gNqxNw8_Q68uRESGOCT5/s320/DSC_4169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532460382505242482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Before</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja29DUbWs2bM1BpmNkX3PA4769Blwb3ixUbhSLHVy-VzQiblA8mwmRp8oSdTs2yBUtU97a_BJuEyFQKPqwvSqS2yrMeLAPwPEts0c4oOgvzBQFaO1AhSVead8h5lG9WQk57DxFP-VN5kLW/s1600/DSC_4219.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja29DUbWs2bM1BpmNkX3PA4769Blwb3ixUbhSLHVy-VzQiblA8mwmRp8oSdTs2yBUtU97a_BJuEyFQKPqwvSqS2yrMeLAPwPEts0c4oOgvzBQFaO1AhSVead8h5lG9WQk57DxFP-VN5kLW/s320/DSC_4219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532461190677606290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After</span></span><br /></div><br />Stay tuned to see what I do next with this doily!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-61042224375751049012010-10-25T15:30:00.005-05:002010-10-25T16:31:36.693-05:00Tour of the South - Part 1This past weekend Jessica, John, and I began a series of trips to show some of our good friends some of The South! First up was a trip to Alabama to see the beautiful fall foliage as well as the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. We took a hike on a moderate 1.5 mile trail, but it does not feel like 1.5 miles when you are carrying two children and have not worked out for a while! At the end of our hike we made some new friends and ended up joining them for hamburgers that night! We also got to visit a cave and feed some animals!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE4OFAexm9P8DBgziSnLqvncZgtrKNUFyIyUsM34QBCMZk2D6bZf4uWVeyW1ZA7PWtTxEHDi4oHL3E78xaWuBAznt_M79rYZ9b6brgIr1wn5l4w4subyS26wX-lewGnUm4U0F6z9eF_q1/s1600/DSC_4171.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE4OFAexm9P8DBgziSnLqvncZgtrKNUFyIyUsM34QBCMZk2D6bZf4uWVeyW1ZA7PWtTxEHDi4oHL3E78xaWuBAznt_M79rYZ9b6brgIr1wn5l4w4subyS26wX-lewGnUm4U0F6z9eF_q1/s320/DSC_4171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532090569659036130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The girls all ready to go hiking!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_56kXlRI_O9_anqhQvZjn6nHgbrwGRx8NoemJxTd5Zjpqkcg408JaTS0RG2BJnYuQ8LNX2SCnaBhUwh6DCjgMPzsgrheIeq_TuMM5m2xiEl1vWSyA-b84jNl8ezLr1uPskC_jetIHXDA/s1600/DSC_4178.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_56kXlRI_O9_anqhQvZjn6nHgbrwGRx8NoemJxTd5Zjpqkcg408JaTS0RG2BJnYuQ8LNX2SCnaBhUwh6DCjgMPzsgrheIeq_TuMM5m2xiEl1vWSyA-b84jNl8ezLr1uPskC_jetIHXDA/s320/DSC_4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532090580008970114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica was a bit timid about hiking in the woods.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1kylHdoDN_G7g49Kx_vZwufvF90-VaA-1PHL8LXbPdvHAGJpMdwLQCf8SjU4VSq9L7lz3aNe9t51rYHgp-xa-p9M4cHL_3EKHgCsOBXjYBK2-e3Hyq5twtPlyWz-Xl5cEfK0R9LY3n5r/s1600/DSC_4184.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1kylHdoDN_G7g49Kx_vZwufvF90-VaA-1PHL8LXbPdvHAGJpMdwLQCf8SjU4VSq9L7lz3aNe9t51rYHgp-xa-p9M4cHL_3EKHgCsOBXjYBK2-e3Hyq5twtPlyWz-Xl5cEfK0R9LY3n5r/s320/DSC_4184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532093373044329778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Her best friend, on the other hand, was very excited!!</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qRVpfHRFSKlD9lUkWjQjrydN7yarUl_0ejscOLQ_1buVqajOhGnuPJwT8eNJbFvhXC0R8eP0NLvBCfE6IRN-rZcB5UVezoG-8l2_FY40Wlmp5WluRxnwKHEfeI56CuW25gD-ypKCKw7/s1600/DSC_4182.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qRVpfHRFSKlD9lUkWjQjrydN7yarUl_0ejscOLQ_1buVqajOhGnuPJwT8eNJbFvhXC0R8eP0NLvBCfE6IRN-rZcB5UVezoG-8l2_FY40Wlmp5WluRxnwKHEfeI56CuW25gD-ypKCKw7/s320/DSC_4182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532093362420965682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Yup....that's the trail we hiked on with 3 children under the age of 3!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCa092fEsqKedFzsEgfcjGmuikum1VJxLg_5XuLDhMe4t4tflql7wQgiNjiXt3rdIOKkdVwJh7uNmq5uKKLYJTpsIsQwfMNNcNNQp3q8ZERMhvlV4bJnbprdUmsHnOwswEYmmTQKYW2wQ/s1600/deer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCa092fEsqKedFzsEgfcjGmuikum1VJxLg_5XuLDhMe4t4tflql7wQgiNjiXt3rdIOKkdVwJh7uNmq5uKKLYJTpsIsQwfMNNcNNQp3q8ZERMhvlV4bJnbprdUmsHnOwswEYmmTQKYW2wQ/s320/deer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532090561371691282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We did get to see several deer!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK5XLWqHMo3LyGNR9Kpu8IY6pQ2txt6nbHJJsmR94tCuU5MkUULYbAqgQmSRDrh7rTkvxe9fM6oluSi_F0YdkU4uayzNzhAAotYIUqocJrO6s99T5AMZ1live_NBz0kNtBSpkKESb-MMx/s1600/supermom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK5XLWqHMo3LyGNR9Kpu8IY6pQ2txt6nbHJJsmR94tCuU5MkUULYbAqgQmSRDrh7rTkvxe9fM6oluSi_F0YdkU4uayzNzhAAotYIUqocJrO6s99T5AMZ1live_NBz0kNtBSpkKESb-MMx/s320/supermom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532090568074794498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Me carrying 50 lbs of children/clothing in my not so practical cowboy boots....at least I didn't have to worry about getting any ticks!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAPdEPaBbj1sFG_VLR8vVryCcmC0kPKZVzBcbgMhne5yPonCE8tULQRXsq8LbsaDqCVTrs4yayd6NCOHG35r3xO-61k3hmFxEK4BsukQ9GHEtnrUF-bU8ouhzCUUPYiTlPjWxdz8n80fS/s1600/DSC_4192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAPdEPaBbj1sFG_VLR8vVryCcmC0kPKZVzBcbgMhne5yPonCE8tULQRXsq8LbsaDqCVTrs4yayd6NCOHG35r3xO-61k3hmFxEK4BsukQ9GHEtnrUF-bU8ouhzCUUPYiTlPjWxdz8n80fS/s320/DSC_4192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532093374542605602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After we finally reached our destination of the Country Store!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFWXoiohEVkgr5h2h-cD-KufYVkt_d4V6WN3GhgNtxaXegAyK9rmw3F0XYLdXW1ykNoTDBc3Arnuj3JHi7jGdsdTNIlxSzk_6JS8U-wfuDhvb3DWkSwwdYNDxJWN_M7HZNApl8EK8j-l-/s1600/cave.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFWXoiohEVkgr5h2h-cD-KufYVkt_d4V6WN3GhgNtxaXegAyK9rmw3F0XYLdXW1ykNoTDBc3Arnuj3JHi7jGdsdTNIlxSzk_6JS8U-wfuDhvb3DWkSwwdYNDxJWN_M7HZNApl8EK8j-l-/s320/cave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532090561848157762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our friends at the cave! Jessica was not such a fan.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKaqVnd6RPAn_goY74q9T5eYMPa4kdm39WKuCLGvs-lBAoKmldJuoPyIeLrOQNoyTVmdUx354IZtP2K1HX8YRNuuQVyuHgZvbijp_N4ikv-Qdxjcrc2TLAWE-jUBxP3gt5yAMGl6tHp0b/s1600/DSC_4194.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKaqVnd6RPAn_goY74q9T5eYMPa4kdm39WKuCLGvs-lBAoKmldJuoPyIeLrOQNoyTVmdUx354IZtP2K1HX8YRNuuQVyuHgZvbijp_N4ikv-Qdxjcrc2TLAWE-jUBxP3gt5yAMGl6tHp0b/s320/DSC_4194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532093379813372082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Going to feed the animals!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYyUorwsrY80w8cVweAsCsSAlMhbJeCsYULvzMY10x2n4CCGWrr1PXGso9gd9AF61LGtYhTCXXDmgUH-iQIN9mA0T7d_77BxtvQhQIJIKVlacnR6dtgFCCHzoBO8AmXbISPstT6ziPzy-/s1600/DSC_4201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYyUorwsrY80w8cVweAsCsSAlMhbJeCsYULvzMY10x2n4CCGWrr1PXGso9gd9AF61LGtYhTCXXDmgUH-iQIN9mA0T7d_77BxtvQhQIJIKVlacnR6dtgFCCHzoBO8AmXbISPstT6ziPzy-/s320/DSC_4201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532093385685380626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Quite a selection of donkeys, emus, and goats!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuD8GaprqlU6xrwmxMBTrx1UhFs8s-JlhxpoW06YWbKVZW4voZITZ30WVvTL32k9wmxJe6CsOXmYVm0gOoxKVYYob9eQTDiYCALxOrM-o-vYei58wCayxkesPhwE1iAnRiqoujUcOMWy4/s1600/DSC_4207.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuD8GaprqlU6xrwmxMBTrx1UhFs8s-JlhxpoW06YWbKVZW4voZITZ30WVvTL32k9wmxJe6CsOXmYVm0gOoxKVYYob9eQTDiYCALxOrM-o-vYei58wCayxkesPhwE1iAnRiqoujUcOMWy4/s320/DSC_4207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532094241884655442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica's best friend was quite taken with the emus!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwBuybBtTKGL9UiOLJqAIdlvLOwinGDzQRdvQzIapxiYLq88nwWarTGAbq3VtXbjZAbPvLnSVKUnuF4yyzf-NFEJuJog-AHsYDuaPnX_pJ7sseTCAPaMNdptLbaQu6e7_sk9Y-EyFSe1o/s1600/DSC_4208.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwBuybBtTKGL9UiOLJqAIdlvLOwinGDzQRdvQzIapxiYLq88nwWarTGAbq3VtXbjZAbPvLnSVKUnuF4yyzf-NFEJuJog-AHsYDuaPnX_pJ7sseTCAPaMNdptLbaQu6e7_sk9Y-EyFSe1o/s320/DSC_4208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532094247493363922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica used to love feeding any animal. Currently we are a little uncertain!<br /></span></span></div><br />The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum was really great. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the museum. If you have never seen it, you should really make a point of visiting sometime. It is beautifully done and centered around remembering the Civil Rights Movement both to bring honor to those who risked everything for what was right and to serve as a reminder so that future instances of injustice may be avoided.<br /><br /> Overall, it was a great trip! We are looking to our next installment of "Tour of the South" and have already started thinking about what we will do differently!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-58330048314759686482010-10-20T15:30:00.003-05:002010-10-20T15:39:46.138-05:00Look What I Made!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnCDVYRzem0gil9OlOKuOEwJxhnsz8_oXy-vQuDob0ubqXHdkmexvmq7kjIHSXJnn1uLKtKxYJej0VQ-myaq1YwyTP4G5NFGne3dd6mlqXTe1HedwDT7feaZGu37Ue-dzI0_R61Hg_w7M/s1600/DSC_4169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnCDVYRzem0gil9OlOKuOEwJxhnsz8_oXy-vQuDob0ubqXHdkmexvmq7kjIHSXJnn1uLKtKxYJej0VQ-myaq1YwyTP4G5NFGne3dd6mlqXTe1HedwDT7feaZGu37Ue-dzI0_R61Hg_w7M/s320/DSC_4169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530229972920993282" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't it beautiful?? It is a 4x4 doiley coaster! It is actually not tatted but crocheted! I have had the pattern sitting around for months thinking it would be hard, but it was really easy!!! I only needed two of the most basic crochet stitches to make this particular pattern. I only made one mistake, and I was able to successfully hide it! Stay tuned to see what I will be doing with it!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-43247267378394789352010-10-19T21:34:00.004-05:002010-10-19T22:05:25.874-05:00Score!Usually I hit the outlets every year after Christmas to purchase a few items for Jessica's wardrobe for the coming year. This past year I did not because I was pregnant with John and absolutely exhausted. Recently, I discovered that both of their winter clothing options were a bit lacking, so today I took the kids to JCPenny to spend a $25 giftcard we were given when John was born. Jessica is most decidedly in a size 3T now and at the rate she is growing, she may not stay there long! Typically, Jessica wears her summer dresses with a turtleneck and tights/leggings underneath. If we are going out and about then we add <a href="http://urbanpioneerwoman.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-your-own-baby-legs.html">homemade leg warmers</a>, a sweater, and/or coat. I already had 4 turtlenecks in a size 3T that I had ordered online at the end of last year for about $10! So.....drumroll please......I bought an adorable dress for $12, 4 pairs of microfiber white tights, and a $5 pair of jeans (that won't fit till probably next year but they were marked down from $30!). I spent $23, saved $45, and have Jessica completely ready for our mild winters!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfkI8P03-JcnJLLTD6iRdHu0rZbVcGizgwiL8BA8bsP-TBV7MsbLUBYIZZ77E06yHSb3vqqckiCNSP_0rF5aILkFRENWoRlJ7RxpJkuEMSe1fGIAxf7IVViM3Nuevz9kLCM8J2EBCrCnc/s1600/DSC_4160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfkI8P03-JcnJLLTD6iRdHu0rZbVcGizgwiL8BA8bsP-TBV7MsbLUBYIZZ77E06yHSb3vqqckiCNSP_0rF5aILkFRENWoRlJ7RxpJkuEMSe1fGIAxf7IVViM3Nuevz9kLCM8J2EBCrCnc/s320/DSC_4160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529956637184537298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica obviously approved!!!</span><br /></span></div><br />John is not following sizes the way Jessica did. He is already in a size 6-9 mos and will soon be in a size 12 mos!!!! He has several sleepers, a couple cute outfits with jackets, a sleep sack that will serve as outerwear, and a pair of overalls. The only thing I need to get to round him out for our mild winters is some long-sleeved onesies. I am trying to find onesies that match the clothes he already has. I found some online at Carters that would do the trick, but I didn't like the price. Perhaps a trip to a Carters outlet may be in my future... :-) I also need to make him some more booties soon. It's still nice and warm here so I might make a pair of crocheted crocs and then a warmer pair next month!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-26915859126220601102010-10-18T22:03:00.003-05:002010-10-18T22:32:27.641-05:00Need Dinner IdeasMost people talk about being tired when they are pregnant, but when I am pregnant, I seem to get dehydrated and land myself in the ER if I so much as get off the couch! (Ok that's a bit of an exaggeration....but not by much!) At any rate, there are times in life (like for an entire year when I was pregnant with John) that you need very quick and easy dinner ideas....and hopefully low mess.....we're talking the "heat and serve" type of dinner here! Short-term you can pack your freezer with casseroles and what not, but when you are talking about an entire year, you really gotta get to know the local grocery store a little better! Unfortunately, I am absolutely spoiled rotten! I grew up eating almost all from scratch cooking, and I actually do not like the taste of most prepackaged foods! Add that my husband is a slightly picky eater and that I have never really had enough prepackaged foods to know what IS good....and we have a problem! So....I need some new ideas....<br /><br />Here are some of our current favorites:<br /><br /><a href="http://urbanpioneerwoman.blogspot.com/2009/09/homemade-marinades-and-rubs.html">Shrimp Pasta</a><br />Spaghetti (using this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spaghetti-Sauce-Mix/Detail.aspx">homemade sauce mix</a>)<br />Tombstone Frozen Pizzas (cheap, but still filling and tastes pretty good)<br />Ravioli (using the same <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spaghetti-Sauce-Mix/Detail.aspx">homemade sauce mix</a>)<br />Country Crock sides (most of the others taste like melted plastic to me)<br /><br />And that's about it on the quick and easy.....sad I know!<br /><br />We did a lot of <a href="http://urbanpioneerwoman.blogspot.com/2009/08/so-you-think-you-can-thursday-cooking.html">Beef Stroganoff</a> and Chicken Stir Fry for a while, but David got burned out on that. We've also done <a href="http://andrewaudra.blogspot.com/2009/09/super-easy-sloppy-joes.html">Audra's Sloppy Joe's</a> when we have buns. We've also done meats with different marinades: barbeque sauce, soy sauce, etc.<br /><br />What are your favorite quick and easy dinner ideas??? (and remember: preferably low mess and no advanced prep work)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-23190398936857079022010-10-15T14:28:00.005-05:002010-10-15T16:31:04.362-05:00Where We Are AtWell, it has been several days since my last blog post, and a lot has changed. Jessica is now set up to have an evaluation with an Occupational Therapist next week. Hopefully they will be able to help with some of the attentional/sensory things me and the Speech Therapist have noticed. Our insurance will cover 60% of the evaluation; however, David is switching companies (not jobs, just who pays him) in the near future, so we do not know if any of the Speech or Occupational Therapy will be covered through the new insurance. Therefore, we have had to make some adjustments to our budget. While I love to save money, there are some things I won't go the cheap route on....therapy for my kid is one of them! Hopefully, by addressing some of these things now, Jessica will require fewer supports and will be less behind as she approaches school-aged. I am not really certain what is going on with Jessica, but I don't really have a desire to have a name to call it. I just want to get her whatever help she needs. I was also able to speak with a couple colleagues this week, who all seemed to agree that we were approaching it in a very thorough and practical way. It was really nice to be able to bounce my thoughts off some of them. I have been concerned that as I am Jessica's mommy, I might let my bias keep me from getting her the help she needs. It was also encouraging to hear one of my colleagues (and friend) tell me that she would have made the same choices had she been in my position.<br /><br />I also have new pictures of the kiddos that I will intersperse throughout the rest of this post for their adoring fans (aka grandparents)!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14yvV8sk9q7a89ciaVvbR7lWsOcy_vVUP_ElZ8FfFuFFV4eH3JzxnNExmNA2wsDdrsxdYm6xayNk1xoRd8T50VnUTLgxA_bnfbAFFVBq854rdavFqoZOA4Cv71OJ33bN0RqPFn-2opTjs/s1600/DSC_4040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14yvV8sk9q7a89ciaVvbR7lWsOcy_vVUP_ElZ8FfFuFFV4eH3JzxnNExmNA2wsDdrsxdYm6xayNk1xoRd8T50VnUTLgxA_bnfbAFFVBq854rdavFqoZOA4Cv71OJ33bN0RqPFn-2opTjs/s320/DSC_4040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528381191907556738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica and John in their homemade pallet!<br /></span></span></div><br />I have been reminded this week, why it is so important to have faith. As our preacher put it this week: It is impossible to survive life's storms unless you believe in something greater than yourself. I'll add that without a belief in something greater than yourself, all you get is ulcers and anxiety!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJdWYfqbrKH1lo8jMR-5IQfrdi2kmWPoC8Ee5oZRHajRHgt_9heOy19RL8Lw2Kd_JX2rV7U0A5ypcBt3rUi1HaCGIrFDtbeQb3zH4XjPCseY1WPDT0qhz-1gbMgBBZA3Y5qk9ulL_lOdw/s1600/DSC_4081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJdWYfqbrKH1lo8jMR-5IQfrdi2kmWPoC8Ee5oZRHajRHgt_9heOy19RL8Lw2Kd_JX2rV7U0A5ypcBt3rUi1HaCGIrFDtbeQb3zH4XjPCseY1WPDT0qhz-1gbMgBBZA3Y5qk9ulL_lOdw/s320/DSC_4081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528368692437143074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica enjoying her Bible School at home!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1L2vnGQaKR6O8iFUW-kGQIQzAu6ru-MGfV7L6gzWysV654pIR6-sP9LGsZqQPHhCp2BeCo-U_g_pVjb6Dj8aRgHXbGTWYL3PafdlWyxdpAICPLtCmz0aqUP52veJjIMnufCZIlCrgZI9/s1600/DSC_4085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1L2vnGQaKR6O8iFUW-kGQIQzAu6ru-MGfV7L6gzWysV654pIR6-sP9LGsZqQPHhCp2BeCo-U_g_pVjb6Dj8aRgHXbGTWYL3PafdlWyxdpAICPLtCmz0aqUP52veJjIMnufCZIlCrgZI9/s320/DSC_4085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528368702102266290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John joins us sometimes too if he is not too busy sleeping!<br /></span></span></div><br />I am hopeful that as we enter this new period in our lives full of therapy appointments, doing homework from therapy appointments, and paying for therapy appointments, that I will still have time to occasionally post fun, crafty, yummy, frugal things we've done lately. However I have a feeling that some of those things will get pushed to the backburner for a while.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_Zj_SNTKReHWZdsgrYB9B2rqeElkaKlZSj-U6oDfG4Npk6ISpT_CRA3H9b77OW665bl0fCjTtCqfM9yWXVinCIrOq3GwGbFF29XjylM4jhWK1Ewuuhw3WRiLFRA8x_i0cCxNL643hl1j/s1600/DSC_3890.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_Zj_SNTKReHWZdsgrYB9B2rqeElkaKlZSj-U6oDfG4Npk6ISpT_CRA3H9b77OW665bl0fCjTtCqfM9yWXVinCIrOq3GwGbFF29XjylM4jhWK1Ewuuhw3WRiLFRA8x_i0cCxNL643hl1j/s320/DSC_3890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528381162471091954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After a long day in the OR, Jessica enjoys coming home and cooking!<br /></span></span></div><br />John is getting to be a big boy with a lot to say!! Sometimes David and I have to stop talking because we can't hear each other over him!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kAHjYB0bA25R9Pr3DrRhzxvw_ln8YW1HpwQi7CTgpDX1xWRj3wLRk48U2KfD-5-BKbBOmj3Gtv5f-KpsTGs6D0cxTqYKhUdTUIS0he0fKyoPZuINhqhOOGicrOJmn8mrK0VGkEH683hV/s1600/DSC_3893.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kAHjYB0bA25R9Pr3DrRhzxvw_ln8YW1HpwQi7CTgpDX1xWRj3wLRk48U2KfD-5-BKbBOmj3Gtv5f-KpsTGs6D0cxTqYKhUdTUIS0he0fKyoPZuINhqhOOGicrOJmn8mrK0VGkEH683hV/s320/DSC_3893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528381175651491058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John LOVES his walker!!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2749ewjl1TKVuE0aDuhkYy2qKYSbjhbWmo6O3D2b9aiTHhXSrfNXM_TCmuUNTK_MgC6BTdq-2Q84lrrsefqvdKcJChfPMt2dYJ6YWaF-8uPOHXyTL_G-5G_BXC4UW4IY-ac8Lz-yJTVt/s1600/DSC_4037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2749ewjl1TKVuE0aDuhkYy2qKYSbjhbWmo6O3D2b9aiTHhXSrfNXM_TCmuUNTK_MgC6BTdq-2Q84lrrsefqvdKcJChfPMt2dYJ6YWaF-8uPOHXyTL_G-5G_BXC4UW4IY-ac8Lz-yJTVt/s320/DSC_4037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528381187108052642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica thought John needed some toys, so she brought him some. (There is a reason I keep all of the choking hazards locked up in a closet and this is it!!!)<br /></span></span></div><br />Jessica can now work 50 piece puzzles by herself and enjoys taking her cabbage patch doll everywhere! She is getting sooo tall!!! She is rapidly moving into size 3T!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQakfZQFS3rDiNid3slJiN3AQtgj3KWXiAewEhtPvCDOcaX-rNnSR5CWWiFjmjv0cBaBaLHDqlyx39LLu7iJc32rszgMJyFs9CTvJRu4m5JdSGnYXjUiBaWxgC_prRhVyzu6mWDhjc5ID/s1600/DSC_4047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQakfZQFS3rDiNid3slJiN3AQtgj3KWXiAewEhtPvCDOcaX-rNnSR5CWWiFjmjv0cBaBaLHDqlyx39LLu7iJc32rszgMJyFs9CTvJRu4m5JdSGnYXjUiBaWxgC_prRhVyzu6mWDhjc5ID/s320/DSC_4047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528368717030326658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica and Daddy building a boat from a kit they bought at Lowe's!<br /></span></span></div><br />David and I have been enjoying free dates in the backyard stargazing after the kids go to bed. I am so glad that we chose to buy this house so we could stargaze from our own backyard with a relatively good view!<br /><br />Soon, I am getting ready to take John and Jessica to see some of the lovely fall foliage with some friends who are not from The South. This will be our first stop on our "Tour of The South." It should be fun and educational!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrkVkNEhjIWi6o6HCKcT_IKNn2QxUqt8hPIDyBRr0UGo36BotZ7N78WJveWs3R4yJrNgUk1U8KXfNC34Y7Uz54W8gNi2y1fl3mRLkl8-YHT-LGS0bu9yAeyaT2TQFzSfgobJlPZk9J2zU/s1600/DSC_4095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrkVkNEhjIWi6o6HCKcT_IKNn2QxUqt8hPIDyBRr0UGo36BotZ7N78WJveWs3R4yJrNgUk1U8KXfNC34Y7Uz54W8gNi2y1fl3mRLkl8-YHT-LGS0bu9yAeyaT2TQFzSfgobJlPZk9J2zU/s320/DSC_4095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528368708871232930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I am most definitely raising a little Southern belle!! Look at that pretty dress from Nana and that glass of (decaf) sweet tea!</span></span><br /></div><br />I am still working on Christmas gifts and having a lot of fun!! Looking forward to some quiet time this evening to sit down and work on them some more!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzKEthbXUnnMxXqGOjzu-HjZXQ4-Fkowr0PtVCI1S5F6YBObkjTAdD3KEy96yOEdjahI-EbsIajmiKBfc_E0HxG3QzbQICuVwnJxUZoXhMh1c0vbIvwjKhMsikzmzToz6O4xgQ7SsG9fl/s1600/DSC_4058.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzKEthbXUnnMxXqGOjzu-HjZXQ4-Fkowr0PtVCI1S5F6YBObkjTAdD3KEy96yOEdjahI-EbsIajmiKBfc_E0HxG3QzbQICuVwnJxUZoXhMh1c0vbIvwjKhMsikzmzToz6O4xgQ7SsG9fl/s320/DSC_4058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528368687338678434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica and Daddy "bonding" in the backyard over some yard work! My dad always used to say that doing yard work was the perfect time to "bond" with the kids!<br /></span></span></div><br />Looking forward to a great weekend relaxing with family and friends! Hope you all have a great weekend too!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-42968878351955711712010-10-12T23:39:00.006-05:002010-10-13T00:18:13.782-05:00Not for the Faint-HeartedAlthough we weren't incredibly busy this past weekend, it felt busy. Partly because David was home for 4 days due to the holiday, but part of it was due to the things I was thinking about, namely Jessica's speech therapy. Jessica is a truly amazing kid. We have not had one bit of jealous behavior out of Jessica with the birth of baby John. She is always very sweet and kind, not only to her baby brother, but anyone she is around....well, except for when she doesn't see a kid standing there and accidentally runs over them! She has always been like this.<br /><br />I remember one time when she was about 20 months old, she saw a special needs baby at the Open Gym we sometimes go play at, and she thought that baby was just the coolest thing and wanted to sit there and play/talk to the baby instead of playing with all of the cool gym equipment. Jessica is typically more interested in things of a mechanical nature rather than of a social nature, so I was particularly surprised by that instance. Having worked as a School Psychologist, I was particularly touched to see how Jessica reacted to a baby that clearly looked different. I know some of that is just natural because while young children are born curious, they are not born prejudice; however, they are also not born knowing appropriate social skills, which is clearly evident in the toddler years!<br /><br />I think, in some ways, we have been able to enjoy Jessica being a baby for longer than most parents because of her speech delay. It is bittersweet. I am truly treasuring this time that we have with her being the sweet, kindhearted child that she is, and I hope that much of that will remain with her as she grows up. However, it has also been kind of scary. I knew from the time Jessica was a month or two old that we were going to have some challenges at some point with learning. Don't get me wrong, she is an incredibly smart 2 year old. She can solve mechanical problems the average 5 year old can't solve. She can also work 50 piece puzzles. However, we have had to fight tooth and nail for almost every word in her vocabulary.<br /><br />Many times when people are talking about speech therapy for a young child, they are talking about an articulation problem. Basically they have trouble with some of the sounds. Jessica does not have that problem. We think it could be some kind of Central Auditory Processing problem. It's like she cannot learn things orally. It's incredibly difficult to get her attention. The Speech Therapist's report said that it required maximum effort to get Jessica's attention. Also the way she has been learning language is really, really weird. Even the Speech Therapist thought it was odd. You know how most kids learn lots of nouns first? Well, Jessica started out with some of every part of speech...even articles.<br /><br />I fully expected for Jessica to have trouble once she entered school with paying attention and anything that required oral learning, but I did not expect learning to talk to be such a struggle for her. A friend of mine, who is a Kindergarten teacher summed it up best: Jessica's first language is math, and it is like she is learning English as a second language. At this point, I don't know where we are going next. All I know is that I need to keep my eyes on the ball and work really hard at home to help emphasize what we are doing in speech and take it one day at a time.<br /><br />The area we are in has excellent schools; however, support services tend to be more on par with what I was used to in Mississippi. I know (from talking with other professionals in the area) that I am the most qualified person in the area to work with Jessica. Honestly, I have to say in some ways I wouldn't want it any other way. I know myself as a professional and as a parent, and I wouldn't want to give that responsibility to anyone else. However, I also have to say that it is very....intimidating to be the one responsible for working with your own child....especially when I don't recall working with a child in the ADHD-type realm that was this severe.<br /><br />Parenting is not for the faint-hearted. It will bring any insecurity you have straight to the surface. Now to get some sleep and have a smiling face in the morning.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219826996002166204.post-87361843298046700432010-10-07T17:55:00.003-05:002010-10-07T18:06:58.099-05:00Christmas on $20: Stocking StuffersI have been busy working on creating (and purchasing a few) items for the kids for Christmas! I am having a great time creating their Christmas, and I think they are really going to like it!! Looks like we are also still on track to spend about $20 on John and Jessica for Christmas.<br /><br />Recently I purchased 3 Care Bear figures for Jessica on ebay for $6.50 (which is a great deal if you haven't been watching the price of Care Bear figures on ebay)! Jessica loves taking a bag of figures with her when we go places. We already have: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sesame Street, Cars, and Thomas the Tank Engine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvi0x7KVkhH6m0dthFC14zGKZ41vvIQspxTUPxJR8KiW0FPgjDBuVQaxy9AYTtLBe_-G484y_2VcK5I2axTe9-QUsM9Fnl2ueI5xzqfpCNjI-R8DctsBmEFMlRTA5NMEU9U5cIc1yr2cl/s1600/DSC_4112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvi0x7KVkhH6m0dthFC14zGKZ41vvIQspxTUPxJR8KiW0FPgjDBuVQaxy9AYTtLBe_-G484y_2VcK5I2axTe9-QUsM9Fnl2ueI5xzqfpCNjI-R8DctsBmEFMlRTA5NMEU9U5cIc1yr2cl/s320/DSC_4112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525444380656618418" border="0" /></a><br />I also made John a "taggie blankie" out of some scrap fabric and ribbon! Most babies seem to love playing with tags!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQo9l0Bj2KLHidecYids4e6nRNA2Gt85FPkeuSlzOcAgt-jo9r9K1EfpCFTfFEHNNeDQI0q11XcthWoD84xKcLIeXQGNHKZqDcWGWV3_ff75DOJeh3KpgcZD2qkar6DaoF1uZYBm_4hZm/s1600/DSC_4114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQo9l0Bj2KLHidecYids4e6nRNA2Gt85FPkeuSlzOcAgt-jo9r9K1EfpCFTfFEHNNeDQI0q11XcthWoD84xKcLIeXQGNHKZqDcWGWV3_ff75DOJeh3KpgcZD2qkar6DaoF1uZYBm_4hZm/s320/DSC_4114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525444386202327266" border="0" /></a><br />I think these will be perfect stocking stuffers along with some food items!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09326127651421456713noreply@blogger.com0