tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21446308624336176222024-03-27T18:49:34.456-07:00Real Bartellsthe true story of us.Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-43999422132296225282012-09-27T18:38:00.002-07:002012-09-27T18:38:54.721-07:00the perspective of a photograph<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JY6voPpbcuBlNG5G9SUEkRZj8EpjY3Jp6g2zTjw6aApNslh4qjz18OgTyNocfBLChq3W56FOrtPazx2b0yzjlaZUCAFt94iqGFjO3bRucb0yGE9abPRIVW75DaAe_kuWi5Wi0AfX5NA/s1600/tomatoes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JY6voPpbcuBlNG5G9SUEkRZj8EpjY3Jp6g2zTjw6aApNslh4qjz18OgTyNocfBLChq3W56FOrtPazx2b0yzjlaZUCAFt94iqGFjO3bRucb0yGE9abPRIVW75DaAe_kuWi5Wi0AfX5NA/s400/tomatoes1.jpg" width="400" /></a>You know that feeling you get when everything is in order? Your house is clean, your bills are paid, your children are bathed, you're caught up on laundry, and you just got done serving your happy little family a delicious, healthy meal?</div>
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Yeah, what does that feel like?</div>
Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-24619728447896525412012-06-26T21:47:00.002-07:002012-06-27T06:17:19.965-07:00a wedding to remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This past weekend (yes, I am actually posting about something that happened mere <i>days</i> ago), we celebrated the addition of a new family member. No, I did not give birth to ANOTHER child, my brother-in-law got married! Which means that after 12 years, I finally get to share the title of daughter/sister-in-law with someone else. Sweet! We all love Candice and are so happy to have her as part of our family. </div>
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These four boys have a lot of fun together. I cringe thinking of the trouble they will cause as they get older, wiser, and braver.</div>
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Maya had the honor of being the flower girl on the big day.</div>
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Her personal hair stylist slaved over her hair and subsequently used half a can of hairspray on it to attempt to keep it in place. Apparently it does the job a little too well as it was a bit of a challenge to get the braids out without ripping the hair right out of her sweet little head.</div>
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7 siblings. 1 mom. 1 bride. You be the judge. Yes, I know that didn't make sense, it just felt right.</div>
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Elliot kept trying to sneak into the pictures so I took a few of him to make him happy. It totally worked.</div>
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Luke could hardly believe his good fortune...he got to sit next to the prettiest girl of the day! </div>
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Maya wanted her picture taken with her new new auntie, but of course had to play the shy card.</div>
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This is where the other half of the can of hairspray wound up. These braids were even more difficult to get out on account of this child has the pain tolerance of a turtle. (Again, I know it didn't make sense, it just felt <i>right.</i>)</div>
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This sweet couple is getting married in a couple of months. Because that's just what I need. Another <i>brother-</i>in-law. (Just kidding Zach, you know we all love you!)</div>
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I guess he was trying to imitate the shark on his shirt? </div>
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Aww, aren't they just the sweetest couple?</div>
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There is nothing wrong with a wedding at which it is acceptable for the guests to run around barefoot. </div>
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Yep. That about sums it up.</div>
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Fun times were had by all.</div>
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<br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-18155651228637862952012-06-08T18:28:00.001-07:002012-06-08T20:33:23.689-07:00how time flies {a bloggy recap}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My email inbox has been flooded with requests from my readers to update my blog (or not, but whatever) so I finally decided I'd better get to it. We've had a very busy few months around here. I'm not ambitious enough to do a full post on everything, so here's a short little recap. You're welcome.</div>
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Various methods of deterring my two very destructive little boys from tearing appart the track on their train table have failed miserably. As a result, I have become quite proficient at putting it back together (not as easy as you might think). </div>
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Ethan had a birthday. He chose a Tron cake from the bakery rather than have me make him a cake. He's never seen the movie and really doesn't have any idea what it's about, but he liked the toy on the cake. And everybody at the party loved their black teeth after eating it.<br />
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My baby had a birthday, too. I keep asking him to please stop growing up. He's not listening.</div>
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We had a big 'ole Christmas treat baking and decorating party. There were scandalous amounts of sugar involved, but all in all it was a success.</div>
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Elliot turned four. His obsession at the time was with candy canes, so I went with that and we had a Candy Cane Craze birthday party complete with a candy cane cake. Silly boy doesn't even <i>like</i> cake. But he is a big fan of the frosting. </div>
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Brenna had her first violin recital. She was very nervous even though she played only for us and her violin teacher's family (who happen to be our very good friends). She did great though!<br />
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Shortly after her recital, she turned ELEVEN. I hid in the closet and rocked back and forth sucking my thumb most of the day.</div>
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We had a few very unseasonably warm days this winter. Wyatt found this to be an excellent time to go outside shirtless and practice his martial arts skills.</div>
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The kids helped their dad with a project. More to come on that later. Maybe.</div>
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Maya had a birthday, too. Yes, our kids' birthdays fall in November, December, January, February, and April (1). Basically one a month for 5 months. Unfortunately, I didn't get a great picture of her with her cake.</div>
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We ate ice cream cones.</div>
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They were pretty tasty.</div>
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I made cake pops for the bands and volunteers at <a href="http://livestockmn.com/" target="_blank">Livestock.</a></div>
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Maya performed in her 6th ballet, La Sylphide. She was a Scottish Plaid. It was a very long weekend with dress rehearsal on Friday and two performances on Saturday AND Sunday. She hung in there and danced like a pro. It's so much fun to see how much she's progressed since she was a Strawberry Tart in her first show, Alice in Wonderland. I volunteered to help backstage for all but one show. I still feel like I'm covered with a film of hairspray.</div>
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After the last show we were about ready to collapse, but not before we had our picture taken together. When we were done with clean up, we celebrated by going out for ice cream and going to bed early.</div>
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<br />Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-13507496587385562882012-02-16T16:36:00.000-08:002012-02-16T17:05:45.712-08:00new {toys}<div>Obviously I'll be needing to do something about the creases in my new backdrop (there's a white one, too, but we just pulled out the black today) and will likely need to double it up to make it opaque, but that's what a test run is for! It should be noted that the boy in the pictures was not prepped for a photo shoot beyond a quick wipe of his face.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv6XiH8T7alOn_-MVQfRzQ9Dj2pFUItnDmH24Yiv0E0z-3NUEyH_ZbjMJUrqbAYiQih9MFI5TITv90kMuHJ_bN6P0aXYuldN_YboT31cKZ5JyIb7bDTrzajJT0WsZdUzb3E1EWRi5tX8/s1600/web_wyatt_1347.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv6XiH8T7alOn_-MVQfRzQ9Dj2pFUItnDmH24Yiv0E0z-3NUEyH_ZbjMJUrqbAYiQih9MFI5TITv90kMuHJ_bN6P0aXYuldN_YboT31cKZ5JyIb7bDTrzajJT0WsZdUzb3E1EWRi5tX8/s400/web_wyatt_1347.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709899126211626258" /></a><div>I did not ask him to sit like this, he just did.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi8t1l3vqaWxhyhvou0pXd74rT5_WRbBAnEL8s4kUDX0V81Uc7WJYZO2jNszDZeF56g4ITsbqH1wQP86ehMwdF_3HBBXmaHax8HhO92KP7Idkm4ee3vQ2zZ0D9GC_sSpoV7hnCCRPPHM/s1600/web_wyatt_1350.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi8t1l3vqaWxhyhvou0pXd74rT5_WRbBAnEL8s4kUDX0V81Uc7WJYZO2jNszDZeF56g4ITsbqH1wQP86ehMwdF_3HBBXmaHax8HhO92KP7Idkm4ee3vQ2zZ0D9GC_sSpoV7hnCCRPPHM/s400/web_wyatt_1350.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709899115821271570" /></a></div><div>Say "cheese!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemxHwo4z89QLw-NzJXy-MpMEsKSWxIPb5s98GOzz4DDct2kBoM1SKRl7toMtf-WFh2ONU9ld6X_f1A3wCqBnhxdVwmcuyvaUbGaUH7gLrQ3hyOBwwth_Gab7pkDxQ1rci-Xtca1obsHQ/s1600/web_wyatt_1354.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemxHwo4z89QLw-NzJXy-MpMEsKSWxIPb5s98GOzz4DDct2kBoM1SKRl7toMtf-WFh2ONU9ld6X_f1A3wCqBnhxdVwmcuyvaUbGaUH7gLrQ3hyOBwwth_Gab7pkDxQ1rci-Xtca1obsHQ/s400/web_wyatt_1354.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709898644752973970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKITzXkBuy1zawJ7UhkjSzY_Tf2wmOGiuIBNZCOcZuMl7rWn2jgxuzGEdpexpC5Cq6APu7b4O5JH0-nIStNw8EF5h2bH_j10p9rJJksxW14QujPg4_ZWEyMQ1agVRnYyz9ZgqX1k4z_Gc/s1600/web_wyatt_1372.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKITzXkBuy1zawJ7UhkjSzY_Tf2wmOGiuIBNZCOcZuMl7rWn2jgxuzGEdpexpC5Cq6APu7b4O5JH0-nIStNw8EF5h2bH_j10p9rJJksxW14QujPg4_ZWEyMQ1agVRnYyz9ZgqX1k4z_Gc/s400/web_wyatt_1372.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709898632175358338" /></a></div><div>I love love love my little boy's chubby feet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny7i0lreJEZsf88fLxX894yRSCTtsyDk9C5BnfGkZg7XMCxrdmquppQ-H4wzdjM4NjD8S9DXc9CaeG0t9LcWnHnHBXGyG_4dNzKUbrBxTGQEmim51B2P8YrXXVn6vmBWmmMdBBFB-bY8/s1600/web_wyatt_1376.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny7i0lreJEZsf88fLxX894yRSCTtsyDk9C5BnfGkZg7XMCxrdmquppQ-H4wzdjM4NjD8S9DXc9CaeG0t9LcWnHnHBXGyG_4dNzKUbrBxTGQEmim51B2P8YrXXVn6vmBWmmMdBBFB-bY8/s400/web_wyatt_1376.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709898628600917202" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w5_WhLBqHi9SRY3hp0SBaynk8rEPjaykgsTJcMgT73mVJWYtoIkwbgoD1CYukTW_ULSTdwHUiVVk1mhxKjlIzKnneFSUdbiMYd00kGvRBhnJWRJcMYsDoJeKX0lNQShmVqTFibyRUDY/s1600/web_wyatt_1378.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w5_WhLBqHi9SRY3hp0SBaynk8rEPjaykgsTJcMgT73mVJWYtoIkwbgoD1CYukTW_ULSTdwHUiVVk1mhxKjlIzKnneFSUdbiMYd00kGvRBhnJWRJcMYsDoJeKX0lNQShmVqTFibyRUDY/s400/web_wyatt_1378.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709897736319740226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyFG_-C_9M29nviXp4N1o5-dU50htifk_qYXOHFQIaHpKKOmLNpjE2ClmvNfvCKOSUJ4Bn5cs39-jthGhNMjOVASZmAXwAbp8-PkfGULH4ExmdT816HICrlieQJjuOGFoICwss2bAiiA/s1600/web_wyatt_1380.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyFG_-C_9M29nviXp4N1o5-dU50htifk_qYXOHFQIaHpKKOmLNpjE2ClmvNfvCKOSUJ4Bn5cs39-jthGhNMjOVASZmAXwAbp8-PkfGULH4ExmdT816HICrlieQJjuOGFoICwss2bAiiA/s400/web_wyatt_1380.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709897729307501666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENuJ5cYrzqMkVzHVDS8z4pSm8z6ePfJ9QEgDSd0UmN7vWICrx90kDaAApDcnkauJFnSCm1ktS1zfkgSbtwTmUUAKvpXhXLCJh2ddFZLv2TTySY_i_s7K4-TOH_kCCK1HrOAFg38b1H0s/s1600/web_wyatt_1397.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENuJ5cYrzqMkVzHVDS8z4pSm8z6ePfJ9QEgDSd0UmN7vWICrx90kDaAApDcnkauJFnSCm1ktS1zfkgSbtwTmUUAKvpXhXLCJh2ddFZLv2TTySY_i_s7K4-TOH_kCCK1HrOAFg38b1H0s/s400/web_wyatt_1397.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709897716216025042" /></a></div><div>How big is Wyatt? So big!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNLeNOPd1ogkFwRPFnS_94-6XHZfC4aXVcWHQtq9roeHVzhlOwuH_g7xURo6oQIupTF7crmjEB1i2X7Rl_0RMgs2Vb_mafFAe2LyHZNkQBMDRyHdR4gaN25MNH5Ros4QJO8vQRmVl0Os/s1600/web_wyatt_1398.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNLeNOPd1ogkFwRPFnS_94-6XHZfC4aXVcWHQtq9roeHVzhlOwuH_g7xURo6oQIupTF7crmjEB1i2X7Rl_0RMgs2Vb_mafFAe2LyHZNkQBMDRyHdR4gaN25MNH5Ros4QJO8vQRmVl0Os/s400/web_wyatt_1398.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709897708779679762" /></a><br /></div><div>The toddler squat.</div><div><br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-18580844035439502582011-12-06T08:01:00.000-08:002011-12-06T08:07:21.998-08:00better late than never {halloween 2011}<div>Here in this Siberian Wasteland we call home, the ground is covered in a blanket of snow that appears to be planning on sticking around for awhile. Given that fact, I figured that perhaps it was time for me to post some Halloween photos before my fingers literally freeze and fall off for the winter. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka1xWhNve8IvqgoF9F5mjtI7q8u_neh_Gj3D9RwhXrtEjcaNR5UEDJZI8fzYn2t1b30ZAFNvMr0Qr4jCpF_HZa-ZYn3GDYusCncZ43ZAKyanZgo2vIYkbQ5IVmgelIT2PhTknlYtqODc/s1600/2011_halloween_9779.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka1xWhNve8IvqgoF9F5mjtI7q8u_neh_Gj3D9RwhXrtEjcaNR5UEDJZI8fzYn2t1b30ZAFNvMr0Qr4jCpF_HZa-ZYn3GDYusCncZ43ZAKyanZgo2vIYkbQ5IVmgelIT2PhTknlYtqODc/s400/2011_halloween_9779.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682773177383847250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Elliot was a super-hero this year. He was also a super-hero last year. And it's highly likely that he will also be super-hero <i>next</i> year. I'm just so inspired like that.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO67pvAzxma6xCyFb9x0PWMBtmgNh9CpfMpY37YO5qqsqt5EIgMsbLDBgjJWJmNa_-A0g43kFK21K26TSdTy5iRC5m8_2EmlRDiP5y3fdrL9z-dpkIBi8NAhhQSz4MdrtRZxXChWk6Mms/s1600/2011_halloween_9786.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO67pvAzxma6xCyFb9x0PWMBtmgNh9CpfMpY37YO5qqsqt5EIgMsbLDBgjJWJmNa_-A0g43kFK21K26TSdTy5iRC5m8_2EmlRDiP5y3fdrL9z-dpkIBi8NAhhQSz4MdrtRZxXChWk6Mms/s400/2011_halloween_9786.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682773179870114674" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Maya decided she wanted to be a flamingo this year. That one stumped me a bit. I found a few ideas online, but the best ones were all rather complicated so this is what I came up with. She made the decision to wear her vest <i>under</i> her shirt on her own.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_ZNNpGchG1IfdbW6aUHJIVaUrKq6AZQrvVTKk5_uN5kJ9m5NlbcE8wVelbbovo3XZtrPGwyhDEQZuGYhulA-W8xyRCLLqNZM5Dhwg7J5yK-0t4LhJm9GTKScxCfj_MGyCHO3OAVH3zI/s1600/2011_halloween_9808.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_ZNNpGchG1IfdbW6aUHJIVaUrKq6AZQrvVTKk5_uN5kJ9m5NlbcE8wVelbbovo3XZtrPGwyhDEQZuGYhulA-W8xyRCLLqNZM5Dhwg7J5yK-0t4LhJm9GTKScxCfj_MGyCHO3OAVH3zI/s400/2011_halloween_9808.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682773194222018482" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Brenna decided she wanted to be an Indian Princess. When I went to the store to find her costume, they didn't have it in her size. So what did I decide to do? Why, I decided to <i>make</i> her costume of course! I own stock in procrastination (hello, it took me over a month to put this post together), so I hadn't gone to look for a costume for her until the day before a Halloween party she was going to. Which meant I had less than 24 hours to get it done. Thankfully, I happen to work well under pressure. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwPNq_fUwg79BFpgoTn-CvKh0iou3LXGE0suWF6i95WPJN-qz-K984NSXeRbwbqjlMNqBFqfcjTWNWVShWgVTzlfwpwac_mb4nqeVixO7Tfn_FYINSmZl6gWjq4q7-VYB33Jair9-9n4/s1600/2011_halloween_9795.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwPNq_fUwg79BFpgoTn-CvKh0iou3LXGE0suWF6i95WPJN-qz-K984NSXeRbwbqjlMNqBFqfcjTWNWVShWgVTzlfwpwac_mb4nqeVixO7Tfn_FYINSmZl6gWjq4q7-VYB33Jair9-9n4/s400/2011_halloween_9795.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682773184712993698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Wyatt was not really a huge fan of putting on his costume. However, all of the kids since Maya have been Grumpy Bear at this age so he was going to wear it whether he liked it or not. Once he realized people were going to put candy in his bucket he forgot all about his attire.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOOlL5NaHARLHUBZTEPSINr9aH8uebdeoA3RK6GqHK2khMoHVkU2mp4hDp3k9q44gNIIeY53kdk4t77rAy-rFa9vX321pvqXWcSibiI8pyy4HeJvm3Azbhr3KeeLXWWS1wX7DHaaWG-Q/s1600/2011_halloween_9818.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOOlL5NaHARLHUBZTEPSINr9aH8uebdeoA3RK6GqHK2khMoHVkU2mp4hDp3k9q44gNIIeY53kdk4t77rAy-rFa9vX321pvqXWcSibiI8pyy4HeJvm3Azbhr3KeeLXWWS1wX7DHaaWG-Q/s400/2011_halloween_9818.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774017285691730" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>You may notice that there are only <i>four</i> kids in this picture. That's because Ethan managed to have his Trick-or-Treating fun taken away from him. In our house, Trick-or-Treating is a <i>privilege, </i>not a <i>right</i>. Ethan made the choice to be rude and disrespectful even after being warned that he wouldn't get to go if he continued his behavior. Thusly he stayed home with Aaron while the rest of us went out.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlErBBxepG5btozUb3lYj71BOu59BBWO4mYoT1_SSSpb0qFeTDX2OoZXc1imNk9iktiLsng-Oo8LY02_iA90SojBwxAVbU0OelAWavk3PhJzCElD2mB7fvjdhjnhQ0cftrXevLcGymWcE/s1600/2011_halloween_9822.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlErBBxepG5btozUb3lYj71BOu59BBWO4mYoT1_SSSpb0qFeTDX2OoZXc1imNk9iktiLsng-Oo8LY02_iA90SojBwxAVbU0OelAWavk3PhJzCElD2mB7fvjdhjnhQ0cftrXevLcGymWcE/s400/2011_halloween_9822.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774035149493442" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>This was our door-bell ringing crew. It was unseasonably warm on Halloween night this year. There were so many kids out in costumes that weren't hidden under bulky winter coats that it almost felt like we were in a movie. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClYF-B_RGFH8z38balZSzfcHT_uuBn1CxMFAze3sfN91bhLI4HQbceD5sYyNgVhHPYzobp59-meI3stwynJ47ZJspE4d5NHt5yM0Cpgs1AcgkdUVYv9AKCsEswaqK3aH6cquOpmOMN1s/s1600/2011_halloween_9847.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClYF-B_RGFH8z38balZSzfcHT_uuBn1CxMFAze3sfN91bhLI4HQbceD5sYyNgVhHPYzobp59-meI3stwynJ47ZJspE4d5NHt5yM0Cpgs1AcgkdUVYv9AKCsEswaqK3aH6cquOpmOMN1s/s400/2011_halloween_9847.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774027114570210" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Poor Wyatt had a hard time keeping up with the big kids. He tried to, but his little legs are just so, well, little. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS5MGkBV5GX7BV6TXatBY4VJ2jlH8XWuikl0AuBIFnEvUHHy4jd3jK_wxB8bx3EjLHFCuBN-ufkIWMFXCCjKrML6m71sCnLlVvcbcJgd6UKjupSYSamMYkOkYzEhMaSXMP2AT0prp-mo/s1600/2011_halloween_9877.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS5MGkBV5GX7BV6TXatBY4VJ2jlH8XWuikl0AuBIFnEvUHHy4jd3jK_wxB8bx3EjLHFCuBN-ufkIWMFXCCjKrML6m71sCnLlVvcbcJgd6UKjupSYSamMYkOkYzEhMaSXMP2AT0prp-mo/s400/2011_halloween_9877.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774589745043058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>It cracks me up that Elliot not only <i>wore </i>his mask, he actually <i>liked</i> it. I did not expect him to like it <i>at all.</i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQACK1xC-uqBaKetpypio8i3fZ-cAJ3mlRng6irG0VuPf-IPsKvztxUy35gSfyy16r4IEQ91rpXgYW8KIcBay0cR5WP06Cl9gODZrdI8WHVAQeJoeLr-_NO49MFtQeso2CLLxvW5N8_rM/s1600/2011_halloween_9884.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQACK1xC-uqBaKetpypio8i3fZ-cAJ3mlRng6irG0VuPf-IPsKvztxUy35gSfyy16r4IEQ91rpXgYW8KIcBay0cR5WP06Cl9gODZrdI8WHVAQeJoeLr-_NO49MFtQeso2CLLxvW5N8_rM/s400/2011_halloween_9884.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774599148645730" /></a></div><div>He was very protective of his candy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8R9phSSgF3y2TJ4-fMVaTX3pT_VDBDEN8obyCZFRC3PSTRgVYowZIeO_EQaBCPbhnLi1_CemrJD3SuuPT9pDhQ5ccD2bMcAgVgXz-gf-S69oa40FwGi7lwTaSGEQBIB-jg8V0E4ktUc/s1600/2011_halloween_9892.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8R9phSSgF3y2TJ4-fMVaTX3pT_VDBDEN8obyCZFRC3PSTRgVYowZIeO_EQaBCPbhnLi1_CemrJD3SuuPT9pDhQ5ccD2bMcAgVgXz-gf-S69oa40FwGi7lwTaSGEQBIB-jg8V0E4ktUc/s400/2011_halloween_9892.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682774600970415394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><br />This was the last picture of the night for two reasons. #1: The sun was going down. It's hard to take pictures in the dark. #2: Elliot's bucket wasn't big enough for all of his candy. I dumped it in to his sister's bag to make room for more. He did <i>not</i> like that idea and decided to shut-down. Hence I had to <i>carry </i>him the rest of the way. And we still had a long way to go. My arms were quite fatigued by the time we got back. All in all though, it was a very lovely and memorable evening.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-45891137190025038052011-11-03T13:51:00.000-07:002012-01-02T14:27:05.108-08:00my journey part II {weight loss}<div>If you missed the first installment, feel free to go back <a href="http://realbartells.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-journey-part-i-weight-loss.html">here</a> to read it. Before I continue on with my story, I want to emphasize that this is <i>my</i> story. I am going to detail what has been working for <i>me. </i>I am well aware (and hope you are too) that what worked for me isn't necessarily going to work for the next person for any number of reasons. So. Moving along. As I mentioned, I had decided that when the kids went back to school in September (2010) I was going to start working on losing all that excess weight I had been carrying around. I have been asked numerous times what motivated me to start the process. For me, the primary reason I wanted to lose weight was because I wanted to be able to be active with my family. I was to the point where I was getting my heart rate up just walking up half a flight of stairs. When you're that out of shape, it's really tough to get excited about going on a hike or bike ride with your family. That was and still is my primary motivation, but there was also the aspect of not liking what I saw in the mirror. I have never been a person to dwell excessively on my looks (I'm a comfort over fashion person to the core), but it was hard for me to feel confident in myself when I felt like all anyone could see when they looked at me was a heffalump (side note: I don't know why I assumed other people were thinking that about me, it's not how I think about other people <i>at all</i>) who probably sat on her butt all day eating bon bons and watching soaps. Which was absolutely not true. I was surfing the web and drinking Mountain Dew (or going to Target and drinking Mountain Dew...<i>free refills!) </i>thankyouverymuch. I wish I could tell you exactly <i>how</i> to really dig up that motivation. I can't. All I know is that without being mentally ready for it, I would have given up very early on. I <i>can</i> tell you that one thing that really helped me was to set small goals for myeslf. Rather than focusing on the overwhelming task of losing 72 pounds, I gave myself three managable goals. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goal 1: Lose 27 pounds to reach my pre-pregnancy weight with Wyatt (almost 2). </div><div>Goal 2: Lose 25 pounds to reach my pre-pregnancy weight with Elliot (almost 4...are we noticing a theme here? Yes, all of my goals revolve around pregnancies). </div><div>Goal 3: Lose 20 pounds reach my pre-pregnancy with the girls (8 and 10).</div><div><br /></div><div>With those goals in mind, I dug out my tennis shoes and started going to a step-aerobics class at the Y three days a week. I had taken step before, but it had been <i>years</i> since I had been a regular attender and boy did that first class kick my butt. I came home <i>starving</i> and exhausted. I was so hungry that although I <i>tried</i> to make healthy snack choices, I just wasn't feeling satisfied with my apple, so I moved on to the foods I knew would help me feel full. Cheez-it's and a chocolate dipped granola bar. I continued on in my workouts this way for two weeks. Go to class, come close to death, come home and stuff food down my throat. Oddly, the scale didn't budge during those first couple of weeks. That's when I decided I needed a bit more of a plan. It can get really overwhelming to try to wade through all the different diet options out there and some of the recipes call for bizzare ingredients or are just too time consuming to make. I needed a plan that was easy to follow. Enter<a href="https://www.advocare.com/10096409/promotions/24dayChallenge/Default.aspx"> Advocare</a>. A friend of mine had been using and distributing Advocare products for a number of years, and it sounded like it was just what I needed to get myself moving in the right direction. I started off with the <a href="https://www.advocare.com/10096409/promotions/24dayChallenge/Default.aspx">24-Day Challenge</a> (modified because I was still nursing Wyatt). I had a fiber drink and meal replacement shake for breakfast, a SPARK mid-morning, a post-workout recovery shake after step class, a healthy lunch, and SPARK in the afternoon, and a healthy supper. I also took ProBiotic Resore in the morning, an Omegaplex in the evening, and Catalyst with my SPARK (all Advocare products). Part of the challenge is training your body to stop craving sugar, so I also gave up soda and my beloved nectar from Starbucks and started drinking a lot more water. On day 1 of the challenge, I weighed myself and took measurements of my arm, shoulders, waist, hips, thigh, and calf. A scary and rather sobering experience. At the end of the 24 days, I took my measurements again. I had lost 8 pounds and a total of 5.75 inches off my body. I was so happy with the results that I decided I was going to continue on with the challenge. By January, I had lost 26 pounds. Just <i>one</i> measly pound away from from my first goal. I had been using Advocare products for about 3 months and was still loving them, but I decided I wanted to change things up a little. Another friend of mine recommended the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinch-Conquer-Cravings-Pounds-Inches/dp/0061974641">Cinch!</a> by Cynthia Sass. Cynthia does a great job of explaining how to put meals together and has 100 recipes in the book to get you started. There's also a 5-day fast forward option in the book that I decided to try. It wasn't easy to stick to, but it was highly effective. By the end of the five days, I had lost 7 pounds (which I know is excessive but I think was largely water-weight...I had slacked a bit over the holidays) and had reached my first goal. I continued on with a combination of Advocare and Cinch! for the next few months. I also decided to take a break from my step class and joined the boot camp class at the Y. I loved that class because we did something different every time so I never got bored with it. At this point the weight was still coming off, but definitely not as fast as it did in the beginning. By June I was within 5 pounds of reaching my second goal. And there I sat for the rest of the summer. I am a person who thrives on routine. With the big kids home for the summer and our impending move in August, routine flew out the window. I joined a twice a week kettle bells class at the Y which I<i> loved</i> but I typically only made it once a week. I also wasn't doing quite as well with my eating. However, one hurdle that I have finally jumped over is the, "Well, I've already failed so I guess I'll just give up," mentality. I can have a bad day, week, month, or even <i>season</i>, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over and let it get the best of me. Once again, I decided that in September (2011), I was going to kick it into high again. I joined kettle bells (and didn't miss a <i>single</i> class until the last one when I took my kids up to the Children's Museum) again and started another round of the 24-Day Challenge. As of today, I have lost 60 pounds and 36 inches off my body since I started this process last September. I have reached my first two goals and am 12 pounds away from reaching my last one. More importantly, I feel great and have the ability to be much more active with my family. As promised, I have posted a current picture of myself. But before you see it, I need to tell you a few things. A) I still <i>hate</i> getting my picture taken. It's awkward and I'm not photogenic <i>at all</i><i>. </i> B) I'm still not at my goal weight. C) I'm currently in the process of getting my thyroid whipped back into shape. One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is a puffy face. That combined with the fact that I'm not quite at my goal means that my face looks, well, puffy.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>. </div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdAxTrv1FRLtLt6O-GKE4xccIUG4VaVbOFI8n-tt9NFeagJLAJBE82wESUX6vi9T6oTNjYEQmrbTl2tZ331XLHm8nCF42DWlg03VA9p5Bh7YEfEfHs7Fq__xI8dX0BiiHjYga2PGX0xU/s1600/Pretty-Amanda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdAxTrv1FRLtLt6O-GKE4xccIUG4VaVbOFI8n-tt9NFeagJLAJBE82wESUX6vi9T6oTNjYEQmrbTl2tZ331XLHm8nCF42DWlg03VA9p5Bh7YEfEfHs7Fq__xI8dX0BiiHjYga2PGX0xU/s400/Pretty-Amanda.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670614675411089218" style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to my dear friend Michelle for snapping this picture for me. I plan on posting another picture when I reach my last goal. Even though I know I'll still <i>hate</i> getting my picture taken.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-43004939243249166802011-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:002011-10-26T20:45:47.470-07:00my journey part I {weight loss}Sorry guys, no cute pictures in this post. I've decided that it's time to share with you my weight loss story. I've even decided to be brave and post one of the few pictures I allowed to be taken of myself pre weight-loss. I have not decided to be brave enough to post actual numbers for anybody to see<i>. Baby steps.</i> I guess I'll start at the beginning. I've always been a pretty average weight. Not overweight, but not super-model thin either. It wasn't something I ever had to work at, it was just the way my body worked. Even after giving birth to the girls (10 and 8), I bounced right back with a diet of Cheez-it's and Cherry Coke. I guess I lost some of my bounce after Ethan (7). With him I was still hanging onto an extra 20 lbs even three years later. It didn't really bother me too much though. I still had plenty of energy and didn't feel "fat". Then I got pregnant with Elliot (almost 4). During that pregnancy, a routine blood test showed that I had developed hypothyroidism (for those who are interested, my TSH was at a 9, normal is 0.3-5). My doctor put me on some meds to control it and I went along on my merry way. After Elliot was born, I went in to have my TSH levels tested again and received a call stating that I could stop taking my meds and to come back in a month to be tested again. Being a mother to 4 kids and with the new baby having nursing issues, I didn't go back in. 4 months later I had put on 20 lbs, was feeling increasingly more tired, was having a hard time thinking clearly, and my voice was changing (getting more raspy if you must know). I decided that <i>perhaps</i> I should go get my TSH tested again. I scheduled an appointment with my endocrinologist for a couple weeks out, but asked if I could go in sooner to get my labs done so that the results would be in by the time I met with the doctor. A couple of days after the test I got a call from my doctor's office saying that they wanted to see me the next day. My TSH levels had jumped up to 212. While not thrilled about that, I was happy to at least have an answer to why I had been feeling like crap. I also foolishly thought that taking this magic pill was going to help me to lose the 20 lbs I had put on and then some. Yeah, nope. Not so much. At this point I weighed 60 pounds more than I had before becoming pregnant with Ethan. Around Elliot's first birthday, I decided to start working on losing weight. Because, you know, I was done having kids and all so I was going to focus on <i>me </i>for a bit. And I did lose weight! I lost 15 lbs in about 2 months. However, one side-effect of weight loss can be a delayed cycle. Which makes natural family planning pretty ineffective. In March, I learned that we were going to be expanding our family again. With Wyatt (almost 2. When did <i>that</i> happen?), I was much more on top of my thyroid condition. I had done extensive research and made sure to push for testing even when the doctors didn't think I needed it (I did...my dosage changed every time...sometimes doctors aren't as smart as they think they are...if you're a doctor I'm not talking about <i>you</i> of course). While this was all well and good and I initially lost weight after his birth, my diet and exercise were not conducive to keeping the weight off. It gradually crept back up until I weighed what I had at the END of my pregnancy. 72 pounds over what I weighed before Ethan. That's a <i>lot</i> of excess weight to carry around people. I decided that when the kids started school in September I was going to start working towards losing that weight. So without further ado, here is me before losing weight. Actually, I think I had gained a few more pounds before I started losing, but as previously stated, I didn't exactly like getting my picture taken.<div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>Okay, here it goes...</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>no really, I promise...</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>gulp...</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTBrs0uKouKj3yFapycQBqu1qw7Ug8FxvGAfOhXHM7CpuE5wJBC2y1y6fw3jvRrRAIJlgvcjO71BTiG1pAs3mUeCw3nri7PKHRfucJOE3d1hDKU_9wL0Q63pag45XLUAR9LmmaDZutUc/s1600/fatme.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTBrs0uKouKj3yFapycQBqu1qw7Ug8FxvGAfOhXHM7CpuE5wJBC2y1y6fw3jvRrRAIJlgvcjO71BTiG1pAs3mUeCw3nri7PKHRfucJOE3d1hDKU_9wL0Q63pag45XLUAR9LmmaDZutUc/s400/fatme.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667889669773903186" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div></div><div>Don't be distracted my the pretty girl in the dress. That's my dearly beloved sister-in-law. That's not me. Nope, I'm the one holding the cute baby. In part II of my story, I will post a current picture of myself (still not quite to my goal, but much closer) along with the gory details of how I got there.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-74492917619797431002011-10-24T22:00:00.000-07:002011-10-24T20:00:27.870-07:00po-dink town {pictures}<div>A couple of weeks ago I came up with the brilliant idea to take the kids to Po-Dink Town to snap a few photos of them in a couple of new (to me) locations. I still hadn't taken Ethan's "school" pictures yet, so off we went. While this seemed like a good idea in theory, I guess I really didn't think it through very well. Mainly because I didn't bring anyone with to help wrangle my crew. </div><div><br /></div><div>We started out at a cool building just off the main drag where I took some individual shots.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ARD268sVPr3uebGIj-m-SGT7zCyhKb5X-yFNvPodz2e0jE3mBHhy_59XiECOiHOol4RlWOvJ1XO2-Zev1a2gs1TD7SkqZu0h8p3Ufj35vAIt0Pxasd0uvto2AJIscxDh697NPcNDGuo/s1600/ethan_web_9326.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ARD268sVPr3uebGIj-m-SGT7zCyhKb5X-yFNvPodz2e0jE3mBHhy_59XiECOiHOol4RlWOvJ1XO2-Zev1a2gs1TD7SkqZu0h8p3Ufj35vAIt0Pxasd0uvto2AJIscxDh697NPcNDGuo/s400/ethan_web_9326.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667216901472078802" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Ethan had the privilege of being my first test subject.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdjmYSjVhFNMxp87T1ofNBlT0MliyCb_yIog0vJXkSasF-esAo8_kF4C_fSYmYclrxGIMcKCnwHaNqD8fEkzf24ou8uUacs88aCOPlLaqvovNTdTTY9HaGjnNlpCUf62iOPidgMdw_Os/s1600/ethan_web_9337.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdjmYSjVhFNMxp87T1ofNBlT0MliyCb_yIog0vJXkSasF-esAo8_kF4C_fSYmYclrxGIMcKCnwHaNqD8fEkzf24ou8uUacs88aCOPlLaqvovNTdTTY9HaGjnNlpCUf62iOPidgMdw_Os/s400/ethan_web_9337.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667218069822626562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>He tends to be such a ham that it's hard to get a non-cheesy smile out of him.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYOH8q0ngMjTnc5o_IWGO5zOOOXq3LvIsBXsVfAjzFYhyphenhyphenBLANyEDd26C2_oynQVM6i7CHU4UdRIHQJP04edR6VbaBlVrdRYBkZXlql4Gke1GCo7yKtDQPczswkPCmUQ-uki2T06lNmFE/s1600/ethan_web_9357.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYOH8q0ngMjTnc5o_IWGO5zOOOXq3LvIsBXsVfAjzFYhyphenhyphenBLANyEDd26C2_oynQVM6i7CHU4UdRIHQJP04edR6VbaBlVrdRYBkZXlql4Gke1GCo7yKtDQPczswkPCmUQ-uki2T06lNmFE/s400/ethan_web_9357.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667218068701892514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>He's certainly going to be a heartbreaker.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEB6GTlKHAOZMYGcUBx1gcskNDmzJDDg_AU_JhHzSOEryAC7440pbxs2JBMqb7uQIw8TOyOyCvgI2FqFhvp92_YIXB34RE2KWGj9cCQ1-sy_lh0PiThgeDI2-jNWbJ1IAwGtZdS-Oa-U/s1600/maya_web_9400.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEB6GTlKHAOZMYGcUBx1gcskNDmzJDDg_AU_JhHzSOEryAC7440pbxs2JBMqb7uQIw8TOyOyCvgI2FqFhvp92_YIXB34RE2KWGj9cCQ1-sy_lh0PiThgeDI2-jNWbJ1IAwGtZdS-Oa-U/s400/maya_web_9400.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667237146599330850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Maya was up next. I really love photographing her. Partly because she has the most eclectic sense of style and partly because she is simply photogenic.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbH1fKhKeMxlY9NDV_4DCt9lZR8C_nkbtsFMgQ4KAQCQDNgPmcy9bF8-GC0jwACxN_NWPYDScoBh8R3mlmDZqdw4zF8rGjguudr4IvYQ7eODnyBNF-84ij20KcBNcO4PU8vsagC1y88E/s1600/maya_web_9392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbH1fKhKeMxlY9NDV_4DCt9lZR8C_nkbtsFMgQ4KAQCQDNgPmcy9bF8-GC0jwACxN_NWPYDScoBh8R3mlmDZqdw4zF8rGjguudr4IvYQ7eODnyBNF-84ij20KcBNcO4PU8vsagC1y88E/s400/maya_web_9392.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667237142178941826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>That sassy look on her face? 100% real. That's just how she rolls. She <i>pretends</i> she doesn't want her picture taken even though she truly <i>loves</i> it, so she sort of semi-cooperates with me. She goes where I ask her to, but grumbles the entire time <i>while posing.</i> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnjp9G00ye5oOOe8eua3mKk48NhUMXmXZQRk56ijzmhRIG2ayjTZ4G0rVCIkiBbgBbDCvMyKn8FBgDLrteRgIaqfbAtQHOcW-_5fWoqv6D4XDku1VPcO8vTGHqXKS36EgE9bXxLTKpfY/s1600/maya_web_9381.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnjp9G00ye5oOOe8eua3mKk48NhUMXmXZQRk56ijzmhRIG2ayjTZ4G0rVCIkiBbgBbDCvMyKn8FBgDLrteRgIaqfbAtQHOcW-_5fWoqv6D4XDku1VPcO8vTGHqXKS36EgE9bXxLTKpfY/s400/maya_web_9381.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667237126607016674" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>She's a very complex girl. I am already quaking in my boots just <i>thinking</i> about her teenage years. Somebody <i>please</i> prescribe me some Ativan, STAT! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlkOPk0rhSPypD5x5AZ5Kl39dvJeVKUjoT3PCdvvaT6YfbbRtNHA3HdZvFEWAAiTyRbCZiDs-UupYiSfqYD_qzC4wmWvqwFUpYiCef8mFY2u1ATL0g_tvn2bQqKoZi4HVDxt7gJOcIDQ/s1600/brenna_web_9438.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlkOPk0rhSPypD5x5AZ5Kl39dvJeVKUjoT3PCdvvaT6YfbbRtNHA3HdZvFEWAAiTyRbCZiDs-UupYiSfqYD_qzC4wmWvqwFUpYiCef8mFY2u1ATL0g_tvn2bQqKoZi4HVDxt7gJOcIDQ/s400/brenna_web_9438.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667216874802447106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Then it was Brenna's turn. For some reason, this is the only picture I took of her that I really liked. That just happens sometimes.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyA3KttpIHoCzlSoeVjEcbcoZwHrvD4qrGYKGiLE3V9-EXwDKdJVXlLQBdDPh2sSvrrX8KkFoBt48jbb_n0fAOL2_73ST0fIAjVwJUNO2MnC3mOBNXSfRaKXuspjSNq4I-FkYCOAvJqs/s1600/elliot_web_9489.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyA3KttpIHoCzlSoeVjEcbcoZwHrvD4qrGYKGiLE3V9-EXwDKdJVXlLQBdDPh2sSvrrX8KkFoBt48jbb_n0fAOL2_73ST0fIAjVwJUNO2MnC3mOBNXSfRaKXuspjSNq4I-FkYCOAvJqs/s400/elliot_web_9489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667216897683696450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>After Brenna, Elliot was up. I took a bunch of shots of him that were <i>adorable, </i>however I wasn't paying close enough attention to my (faulty) metering in my camera and over half of them were over-exposed. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6A9lkWyZgJLvMfC40TzCTq8PEfV-iCwnvDItUn68OAbXOPP8ivWL8ix5IYfKZ81Myg6Gyv0EFmVpQ0EasAP9CLCnMaKbk4RuPOFx55GkkFVaeyqgU7jtfZw56wvSOuyA2R7QeG87csY/s1600/elliot_web_9488.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6A9lkWyZgJLvMfC40TzCTq8PEfV-iCwnvDItUn68OAbXOPP8ivWL8ix5IYfKZ81Myg6Gyv0EFmVpQ0EasAP9CLCnMaKbk4RuPOFx55GkkFVaeyqgU7jtfZw56wvSOuyA2R7QeG87csY/s400/elliot_web_9488.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667216886816432210" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>I did get a couple though. He was pretty cute, too. He knew just what to do in front of the camera and was very good at flashing his pearly whites. Even if his "smile" did resemble more of a grimace.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRfr21TYw3rR9vk8RyQnA0DX8JZXtkta__M29IAT8wG5jPs5-N5PTHdIt0WMMhYEuFmDxrUaiEwMSQG8ubD0DTWI4C6PjQalmvUHPP0E-zaA9MGTc_Zx83xGYbXe738-YIkwiLF3KWZk/s1600/wyatt_web_9523.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRfr21TYw3rR9vk8RyQnA0DX8JZXtkta__M29IAT8wG5jPs5-N5PTHdIt0WMMhYEuFmDxrUaiEwMSQG8ubD0DTWI4C6PjQalmvUHPP0E-zaA9MGTc_Zx83xGYbXe738-YIkwiLF3KWZk/s400/wyatt_web_9523.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667243284051884146" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Last up was Wyatt. He had been hanging out in his car seat up until this point and was definitely getting a bit antsy. Combine that with the fact that he's an almost-two-year-old <i>boy</i> and you get a subject who refuses to sit still.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCqxQBzBrJ4lbLAXiD5UHC3IHMEGjspyV6enrrJdY-N8wuZ4T5PFaYhtXrMtJh-w2c6x1EyZOrbUCZ0dxQ43nI61KnXeUWxEnHMDRKQDzIVgUNGl-maf9ZmiZA8BoDrZ0ahyqwX-Cuiw/s1600/wyatt_web_9518.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCqxQBzBrJ4lbLAXiD5UHC3IHMEGjspyV6enrrJdY-N8wuZ4T5PFaYhtXrMtJh-w2c6x1EyZOrbUCZ0dxQ43nI61KnXeUWxEnHMDRKQDzIVgUNGl-maf9ZmiZA8BoDrZ0ahyqwX-Cuiw/s400/wyatt_web_9518.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667242706384010834" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>So I just chased him around with my camera for a few minutes.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEvt9ZLrjLYlcD0IVwaC-hoc7XqRs5gUEp2V1oZvgfxittkszH0MjOuHRcBKaThJU5cxR9X0gpbO00DVA0novMOjBp_MG_kHEzhlK7onC5ZFd79KpV9QEtOp2q8Kq3V56b6Lrv4ofPM4/s1600/wyatt_web_9513.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEvt9ZLrjLYlcD0IVwaC-hoc7XqRs5gUEp2V1oZvgfxittkszH0MjOuHRcBKaThJU5cxR9X0gpbO00DVA0novMOjBp_MG_kHEzhlK7onC5ZFd79KpV9QEtOp2q8Kq3V56b6Lrv4ofPM4/s400/wyatt_web_9513.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667242705873526386" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Then I put him back into his car seat and we took off for our next location. When I had scoped out Po-Dink Town the day before, I came across a very cool blue building. (It may have been on private property. Don't ask permission, ask forgiveness?) As it turns out, it was an even better spot than I realized. In addition to the building, there was a pond, some big rocks, and some cement pipes. Of course, it was a bit tricky to focus on taking pictures when I was trying to keep Wyatt from certain death, but it was still fun. My biggest goal for this area was to get a picture of all five of the kids together. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzGEpBBhATQ70htbB2IqYS0yOv_e7008zze-glfCeELu2B2HntSuZmHvFaclFk7mtV7oTAJGfUnIwHINOfCL1vtmzgU_8MFxFc3iUE9i2caqFVIWraOZJdqPge163kcJsCXAejQe96Ts/s1600/kids_web_9537.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzGEpBBhATQ70htbB2IqYS0yOv_e7008zze-glfCeELu2B2HntSuZmHvFaclFk7mtV7oTAJGfUnIwHINOfCL1vtmzgU_8MFxFc3iUE9i2caqFVIWraOZJdqPge163kcJsCXAejQe96Ts/s400/kids_web_9537.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667218073599300578" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>Attempt #1 at least captured all of the kids together in the same frame. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd29Eah4iA3e5AVm7NzoRWftgsvRe4w9-rOSm849qIlqPB8H8koCJi3-_me5AJnOt9ZXOZz1l7gyju0rqFG4k3GP1nP1bdV9dfflSyc7lgMwgNa9oQRF4tgq_16qd0xVCyi4ADowEAtcU/s1600/wyatt_web_9554.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd29Eah4iA3e5AVm7NzoRWftgsvRe4w9-rOSm849qIlqPB8H8koCJi3-_me5AJnOt9ZXOZz1l7gyju0rqFG4k3GP1nP1bdV9dfflSyc7lgMwgNa9oQRF4tgq_16qd0xVCyi4ADowEAtcU/s400/wyatt_web_9554.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667243285264838754" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Then we found the cement pipes. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQte_dgK6XyCT4L_we489WlFLGXV-UoxLonWv56AUjVXiSwDDXjfCHVpJs7c92VCsc0eqc_caMDREV7zRqcQn8pP3GjYoKWe8gRrE6igK8OZp26ATrABLMymbPZcd38Lj5Oy37lSAWbI/s1600/brennaelliot_web_9544.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQte_dgK6XyCT4L_we489WlFLGXV-UoxLonWv56AUjVXiSwDDXjfCHVpJs7c92VCsc0eqc_caMDREV7zRqcQn8pP3GjYoKWe8gRrE6igK8OZp26ATrABLMymbPZcd38Lj5Oy37lSAWbI/s400/brennaelliot_web_9544.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667216878461556514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>In true biggest sister form, Brenna helped her littlest brothers jump from pipe to pipe.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALwo9KwCAsZcflI9HNRp6TYw0vRn0KqqnyYF_AG05VvGqDsXDdqPH6eu5kpGVHiVJMDrXtnEcJYp72Ftl9K5eNScTh6-StJr1tNF-XFwleNLQ6bRBZcV2XlavmSrAnJl1CmqbV0mGaBs/s1600/wyatt_web_9603.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALwo9KwCAsZcflI9HNRp6TYw0vRn0KqqnyYF_AG05VvGqDsXDdqPH6eu5kpGVHiVJMDrXtnEcJYp72Ftl9K5eNScTh6-StJr1tNF-XFwleNLQ6bRBZcV2XlavmSrAnJl1CmqbV0mGaBs/s400/wyatt_web_9603.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667243295250495090" /></a><div>At one point, poor Wyatt got stuck between two of the pipes. Being the shining example of a mother that I am, I took advantage of his precarious position to take a couple of photos before helping him out.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY3KfW1VTNsGMc5zhoRYgyqiapGJ1bIW1_Bzje_VXy4CrNc6dRzeIR6UcjbOMnUcTs9HwRm99O1vdyDYMQi0E9u9Bo3FYZKRpiYzscQFax5CSSLJqJeAvnAOBceto7bZupkiijIIN9mc/s1600/kids_web_9539.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY3KfW1VTNsGMc5zhoRYgyqiapGJ1bIW1_Bzje_VXy4CrNc6dRzeIR6UcjbOMnUcTs9HwRm99O1vdyDYMQi0E9u9Bo3FYZKRpiYzscQFax5CSSLJqJeAvnAOBceto7bZupkiijIIN9mc/s400/kids_web_9539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667218082953980482" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><div><div>I also made two more attempts at getting a picture of all 5 kids together on the pipes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSoCav0vQchPK9Ji0DmdOrFJs96D-IDHkmGFZCGDJwLbG6eD5MqQC2xDwsb0y5jHclgj8m9GL8GRYg-lzsrykfVSajNL7wWqFIjjYdDzMGW5Vu0lsFotlQruW7mtXWaD4DqJWNkKHAoo/s1600/kids_web_9560.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSoCav0vQchPK9Ji0DmdOrFJs96D-IDHkmGFZCGDJwLbG6eD5MqQC2xDwsb0y5jHclgj8m9GL8GRYg-lzsrykfVSajNL7wWqFIjjYdDzMGW5Vu0lsFotlQruW7mtXWaD4DqJWNkKHAoo/s400/kids_web_9560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667218083467006658" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>Still not exactly what I had in mind.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1ovsOqmuiaffffpNNDYyU1Pf9Vk2IcWjdKPkWwZI1QRhBgPYGjVaRpRZuw3V-5n6wToHKWwyQg7btvTRcMBfLw-GNELncJreQ1B5rfBsOe3rCulGnGNT0ni1iR7Iqi3yIvxuijGcYcQ/s1600/maya_web_9598.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1ovsOqmuiaffffpNNDYyU1Pf9Vk2IcWjdKPkWwZI1QRhBgPYGjVaRpRZuw3V-5n6wToHKWwyQg7btvTRcMBfLw-GNELncJreQ1B5rfBsOe3rCulGnGNT0ni1iR7Iqi3yIvxuijGcYcQ/s400/maya_web_9598.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667242695865825042" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><br />After jumping around on top of the pipes for awhile, the crazies eventually decided to climb <i>through </i>pipes. An activity that caused my claustrophobic sweat glands to go into hyperactive mode. Thankfully they all made it out. Phew!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRRXatyIE3VSqsbuzdNRKmSG9qAKu3wyZ0yIaNlibo2_hr6FuoF8nj_kJZhhbueLbBDXC2pYZQI69HBQy-jAfy6Q2ScCmJtPY4_R8zGWKkK_-83jXjRH9om8hD8R1G5J0R6-84nNG-TM/s1600/maya_web_9694.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRRXatyIE3VSqsbuzdNRKmSG9qAKu3wyZ0yIaNlibo2_hr6FuoF8nj_kJZhhbueLbBDXC2pYZQI69HBQy-jAfy6Q2ScCmJtPY4_R8zGWKkK_-83jXjRH9om8hD8R1G5J0R6-84nNG-TM/s400/maya_web_9694.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667242695863390146" /></a></div><div>It was clearly exhausting though. Maya had to take a little rest on a rock.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcqEvZCwd8B1hXwRN3ZUeAWkLv8JCIOHvf9f00UPXNZs6rREPJsalEPl_XyKRm1v1XxlxqjDE64ERCJ6I_tgf2CJYBtha3F_-fSJc0wyzWea0jG7D5Ahz1Fncd2ZDyN9yaQFY0_oOdXI/s1600/kids_web_9604.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcqEvZCwd8B1hXwRN3ZUeAWkLv8JCIOHvf9f00UPXNZs6rREPJsalEPl_XyKRm1v1XxlxqjDE64ERCJ6I_tgf2CJYBtha3F_-fSJc0wyzWea0jG7D5Ahz1Fncd2ZDyN9yaQFY0_oOdXI/s400/kids_web_9604.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667237120356089074" /></a></div><div>At the end of the day, this was the best picture I snapped of all 5 of them. It may not be your typical family picture, but I happen to love how it so clearly shows each of their personalities. And they love how they were treated to Happy Meals at Po-Dink Town's Germland McDonald's when we were done.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-35293068589327901842011-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:002011-09-23T20:21:26.281-07:00Dessert Friday! {blueberry boy bait}<div>Every Wednesday evening during the school year, my hubby and I attend a small group. Given my love of baking treats that I've never baked before (which, up until a couple of years ago, consisted of anything but chocolate chip cookies), many of these nights I will bring a snack for the group. Meaning that on those Wednesdays my kids get to watch me put a decent amount of effort into preparing a dessert that they can see and smell, but are not allowed to eat. As I was putting some apple pie into the oven for this past Wednesday's group, it occurred to me that here I was, once again, making a dessert for my friends all the while telling my very favorite people that they couldn't have any. Hence I decided to begin implementing Dessert Fridays. Every Friday (with some flexibility allowed for holidays and birthdays and such) I am going to bake something for my family. This week I chose what I was going to make, but from here on out I'm going to let the big kids take turns picking something. Enter *Blueberry Boy Bait. I came across this recipe while searching through the archives of one of my favorite cooking websites, <a href="http://www.cookingforseven.com/">Cooking for Seven.</a> To find the recipe and some great pictures, check out <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/blueberry-boy-bait/">Smitten Kitchen.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FIjacyRvdrFjYLTDvSoXbbQkicJGsa05POJCBUc6IHyTRSrpuGfwOdC_XDShEFGXhgXRHxkFJmeFbl4jA728tf0doMxFX83HosB1qsUjdj2CHjoMJKhS5t7z5RgADu43lozrtEDQMjk/s1600/bbboybait_8478.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FIjacyRvdrFjYLTDvSoXbbQkicJGsa05POJCBUc6IHyTRSrpuGfwOdC_XDShEFGXhgXRHxkFJmeFbl4jA728tf0doMxFX83HosB1qsUjdj2CHjoMJKhS5t7z5RgADu43lozrtEDQMjk/s400/bbboybait_8478.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655682075081667378" /></a><div>As with most baking recipes, this one begins with mixing the dry ingredients; in this case flour, salt, and baking powder.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tEl9nrQLmCj6-O08MzUzWe3nTPu1JP4D_LJsPHKjKma254H5AXMb5UxNDH3ogJbHliaIVKfHnbbQS12zkOTBvkd0XZzrBS4ElFqT0M6bkHyE7WnpqUqJl3u6lGqqqJROBihVGKInq7I/s1600/bbboybait_8480.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tEl9nrQLmCj6-O08MzUzWe3nTPu1JP4D_LJsPHKjKma254H5AXMb5UxNDH3ogJbHliaIVKfHnbbQS12zkOTBvkd0XZzrBS4ElFqT0M6bkHyE7WnpqUqJl3u6lGqqqJROBihVGKInq7I/s400/bbboybait_8480.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655682066830317234" /></a></div><div>Next, heft your 30 pound mixer over to the counter by the sink as it is right below the only window in your kitchen. Then throw in some butter (unsalted....venturing into new territory for me), brown sugar, and white sugar.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8a1Hf24guJQlH6NCWqID6a58eFT8xCRDqW9tJHfZ2QlroNWABbF4nUmJWFLNVipJZnt2GdfmrgyPkOWqBxXp7pBf6_XqenUUq0vNVeRVu_plPTAh20gJcI2z4LFy4O5WL7taiiYdihc/s1600/bbboybait_8487.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8a1Hf24guJQlH6NCWqID6a58eFT8xCRDqW9tJHfZ2QlroNWABbF4nUmJWFLNVipJZnt2GdfmrgyPkOWqBxXp7pBf6_XqenUUq0vNVeRVu_plPTAh20gJcI2z4LFy4O5WL7taiiYdihc/s400/bbboybait_8487.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655682058464328434" /></a></div><div>Then turn on you mixer to medium-high and sit back and watch the batter become fluffy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtv6lB4zNbeu90Xa3x-xW7e3fbl49J0Jfi1sg-gwfl_wFpWDPaQ0SZtxTrkrj-G_h0BQiiDxZLDW0E9FD6IcA_cvbWWRHElH9In8q405QmJaWTKhAGM1_OnkMkHRK9FkL7pMyN90kShk/s1600/bbboybait_8489.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtv6lB4zNbeu90Xa3x-xW7e3fbl49J0Jfi1sg-gwfl_wFpWDPaQ0SZtxTrkrj-G_h0BQiiDxZLDW0E9FD6IcA_cvbWWRHElH9In8q405QmJaWTKhAGM1_OnkMkHRK9FkL7pMyN90kShk/s400/bbboybait_8489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655682051309949410" /></a></div><div>Add the eggs one at a time mixing until they're just incorporated into the batter after each one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5pytaIgRGgyJBMRD-d3_Mi2UmCZDbwLRlrt29i74rWyBaMF3zCYDTjoO5sGLScEALdwiMmQ2_RUKh7T70TzSB6d__RimyAi6XZdEer8VO9rYhBFRosOEDisy88eGB0Qo18u8xYkiR_A/s1600/bbboybait_8492.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5pytaIgRGgyJBMRD-d3_Mi2UmCZDbwLRlrt29i74rWyBaMF3zCYDTjoO5sGLScEALdwiMmQ2_RUKh7T70TzSB6d__RimyAi6XZdEer8VO9rYhBFRosOEDisy88eGB0Qo18u8xYkiR_A/s400/bbboybait_8492.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655678037257162114" /></a></div><div>Then add in some flour...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4X6DP6zYfYtkm4GhVlk20mhF4_SOikwpdwGJwYv1SDGmkFBv6irkwzOydiU78YiOoXKPT46kqX702mJpKqRxdTKpahyphenhyphenqE0jIgm21QiX1kmxT6qwFd5-YZxhBVnmbPm-195COrmKozwM/s1600/bbboybait_8494.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4X6DP6zYfYtkm4GhVlk20mhF4_SOikwpdwGJwYv1SDGmkFBv6irkwzOydiU78YiOoXKPT46kqX702mJpKqRxdTKpahyphenhyphenqE0jIgm21QiX1kmxT6qwFd5-YZxhBVnmbPm-195COrmKozwM/s400/bbboybait_8494.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655678027607406402" /></a></div><div>...and some milk.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb1e0oRe21TNjHzZajiezC1rX_Ow1W2QbLtgfzQ2OPC9mAOxMJyO1KaOcwXeHTq4IWlGmMotITDcm32astX2PyHeeUBEa1BuIR6BVmhmE20Z7dRN__iYSiom4iYvpB-iiEhqlVms7vdc/s1600/bbboybait_8495.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb1e0oRe21TNjHzZajiezC1rX_Ow1W2QbLtgfzQ2OPC9mAOxMJyO1KaOcwXeHTq4IWlGmMotITDcm32astX2PyHeeUBEa1BuIR6BVmhmE20Z7dRN__iYSiom4iYvpB-iiEhqlVms7vdc/s400/bbboybait_8495.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655678025249088914" /></a></div><div>Once the batter is combined, fold in the blueberries. I used frozen and they worked just fine.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNIa08kG2iMkDPVtDX3d5m911EASpY97vTJJ70JrE8miHAEwJhF2KAKBOrOZeWcJ90T-1ytFn2UCic0d7YwXwhyIQkPxPvBkfTim4aTAGQx1s6VX81xluENFg_HmaUkAb53JBtnl6WHQ/s1600/bbboybait_8496.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNIa08kG2iMkDPVtDX3d5m911EASpY97vTJJ70JrE8miHAEwJhF2KAKBOrOZeWcJ90T-1ytFn2UCic0d7YwXwhyIQkPxPvBkfTim4aTAGQx1s6VX81xluENFg_HmaUkAb53JBtnl6WHQ/s400/bbboybait_8496.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655678015128482050" /></a></div><div>Mix up some cinnamon and sugar...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGUYJTYo6Q6qOtHT_IXNe1jsLG8i3tMJ8KXHdq5JAz8ADH_ps6SH8Ek5vrddVsmJh8Fs8vvqjNcOCPRq45OsWJLXZT3D3oNMG6fIc1zJOTYaqi5EAelxxTpLXbkRRu3BQQw3rOfyaBmw/s1600/bbboybait_8500.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGUYJTYo6Q6qOtHT_IXNe1jsLG8i3tMJ8KXHdq5JAz8ADH_ps6SH8Ek5vrddVsmJh8Fs8vvqjNcOCPRq45OsWJLXZT3D3oNMG6fIc1zJOTYaqi5EAelxxTpLXbkRRu3BQQw3rOfyaBmw/s400/bbboybait_8500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655678004971334978" /></a></div><div>...and use your cute little spoon to sprinkle the mixture on top of the cake.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-jqNg9TPY4cHnihfRro74huSAQ1xF0BvE5VgpKXsJJR6plO8qTWcR-cWF1U9Wp_beWcWfaSmdFWpja0d1iq3orqrXm0cv4-b5_Sfoyt079vHEB5jogycrPYmY1ZW3u-aMCzqfYQudIY/s1600/bbboybait_8501.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-jqNg9TPY4cHnihfRro74huSAQ1xF0BvE5VgpKXsJJR6plO8qTWcR-cWF1U9Wp_beWcWfaSmdFWpja0d1iq3orqrXm0cv4-b5_Sfoyt079vHEB5jogycrPYmY1ZW3u-aMCzqfYQudIY/s400/bbboybait_8501.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655676969075396722" /></a></div><div>Or if you're impatient like me, after a couple of spoonfuls just sprinkle it right from the bowl. You lose a point in the cuteness factor, but gain one in efficiency.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzVwzKH9tz7sXtWsU1Rmu4gPRF5jRmqAX9kmxa9V5tDa2iB86XUAyTsOFMLXl_Dy2_AFlBByWq9VI6k7EfMWjz1sfamPLS3099UihDMOflj1KUGROrXgE3sBEEIWXQZC-LOlTcKfrHvM/s1600/bbboybait_8504.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzVwzKH9tz7sXtWsU1Rmu4gPRF5jRmqAX9kmxa9V5tDa2iB86XUAyTsOFMLXl_Dy2_AFlBByWq9VI6k7EfMWjz1sfamPLS3099UihDMOflj1KUGROrXgE3sBEEIWXQZC-LOlTcKfrHvM/s400/bbboybait_8504.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655676961440682290" /></a></div><div>Pop the cake into the oven and go get your sick boy who woke up too soon from his nap. He'll be very cranky and won't really know what he wants until he sees applesauce. He'll be way too tired to use the appropriate eating utensil, so he'll just attempt to drink his applesauce straight from the cup.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0EBk7O3MngDsnTbkP8n4i27vnWG4azdRff9KeFBHtuYkszYctXiQY3r-xo1Ls5Bn_FLbImEgv5tVJh92U8gcVn4iSDurTfEyfmnRA7Br6nYYsYRO5GsH32pRf6GVwGAaXM2KEhCYziA/s1600/bbboybait_8516.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0EBk7O3MngDsnTbkP8n4i27vnWG4azdRff9KeFBHtuYkszYctXiQY3r-xo1Ls5Bn_FLbImEgv5tVJh92U8gcVn4iSDurTfEyfmnRA7Br6nYYsYRO5GsH32pRf6GVwGAaXM2KEhCYziA/s400/bbboybait_8516.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655676953275260562" /></a></div><div>When he throws a tantrum because you wiped his face and gets applesauce everywhere, he'll need to be put in a time out. He'll look pitiful, but it's for his own good.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1R2IVVPqjs-X1ill75zkuTfl9nmVT0-n9XeSKACwz9SHEZRwv6pjDYUVNMo2FxqS9TiHXssuKCM3d9-OD2J6ees_i0_x39C0E2ERr5x8KntZSGUyqMPZX_QLG8Q84nljqVUhbyotAD8/s1600/bbboybait_8526.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1R2IVVPqjs-X1ill75zkuTfl9nmVT0-n9XeSKACwz9SHEZRwv6pjDYUVNMo2FxqS9TiHXssuKCM3d9-OD2J6ees_i0_x39C0E2ERr5x8KntZSGUyqMPZX_QLG8Q84nljqVUhbyotAD8/s400/bbboybait_8526.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655676948414385362" /></a></div><div>As enticing smells begin to fill the house, you may begin to notice a bit of drool dibbling down the chins of everyone in the house. Including your own.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW1xsFr2YwrJV4wXLIJi0qQOxSHvO5tKXwcMA_flMjo0WTOBKsye6AeBMPbY5b-vNFzATfLMwEXPN1DrRwKUYPviXzWuWbFRj8EQMQv9fZcSS_ajQzHehB0-CZMVu_xbjnmwyWZrZwm0/s1600/bbboybait_8527.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW1xsFr2YwrJV4wXLIJi0qQOxSHvO5tKXwcMA_flMjo0WTOBKsye6AeBMPbY5b-vNFzATfLMwEXPN1DrRwKUYPviXzWuWbFRj8EQMQv9fZcSS_ajQzHehB0-CZMVu_xbjnmwyWZrZwm0/s400/bbboybait_8527.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655676939438146050" /></a><br /></div></div><div>If you timed it right, the cake will be ready for your kids to eat just as they get off the bus. A perfect snack for a crisp fall day. </div><div><br /></div><div>*We didn't actually call this Blueberry Boy Bait in our house. We called it Blueberry Cake. We aren't interested in attracting any more boys to our house for two reasons. 1) Our girls will not be allowed to date until they are 30. 2) Boys eat. A LOT. We already have 3 boys (plus one husband) living in our house. We don't need anymore bottomless pits roaming free in the kitchen.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-86529121022067719452011-09-19T16:43:00.000-07:002011-09-19T17:00:50.464-07:00Not Me! MondayIt's time for Not Me! Monday over at <a href="http://mycharmingkids.net/">MckMama's Blog</a>! This week, one lucky participant will win a spot in her first ever online photography workshop. Giddy up! Not Me! Monday's is all about sharing your less-than-perfect moments of the past week, all while stating that these are things that you "did not" do. <div><br /></div><div>This week, I did not start getting sweaty palms and heart palpitations just <i>thinking</i> about the fact that I had to go in to the dentist to get some cavities filled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finding myself unable to procure child care for Wyatt, I did not just strap him into his stroller and bring him with me to the 90 minute appointment. At no time during said appointment did he practice his Houdini skills by getting himself out of his straps and climbing out of the stroller.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did not keep my eyes closed tight and squeeze my hands together for the entire appointment. My fears were not founded as they certainly did not have to give me novocaine three times during the procedure.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is no way that I was so traumatized by the appointment that upon arriving back at home I fed my boys some lunch and promptly climbed into my bed to take a nap.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not stressing already about the appointment I have scheduled for next week to fill more cavities. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not me!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-78677907346667455002011-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:002011-09-17T08:22:34.529-07:00pictures {school}<div>UPDATE:</div><div>Look! No blob! I guess it pays to know people who have Photoshop skills that are far superior to to mine (which are admittedly sorely lacking). Thanks Dan and Carly!!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEB8R2zEqmy9yt8chl_yVNBhezVsp4V7-FHrmQvuWdHokZyQd0ylyu-TM679oB8TEVcti1hB40ux-QjMSKrdzd2DfaoebKdUneyBbblSvABLEbIf_qXKCg44Y3QHAPoJ1mEnwsBbqaO4/s1600/Eccles+sans+blob.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEB8R2zEqmy9yt8chl_yVNBhezVsp4V7-FHrmQvuWdHokZyQd0ylyu-TM679oB8TEVcti1hB40ux-QjMSKrdzd2DfaoebKdUneyBbblSvABLEbIf_qXKCg44Y3QHAPoJ1mEnwsBbqaO4/s400/Eccles+sans+blob.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653348368922937410" /></a><br /><div>This year I made the harrowing decision <i>not</i> to purchase any of the pictures of my kids taken at school. It was a choice made at the last minute as I was filling out their school forms (side rant: it is so incredibly ridiculous to me that in the age of technology I <i>still</i> have to fill out the <i>exact same</i> registration papers for <i>each </i>of my kids. every. stinkin'. year. Someone please explain to my <i>why</i> this is not a process that can be done online where parents are required only to view the information every year and enter in any changes). As I was trying to decide which pose/background color/overpriced package I wanted to purchase to wind up with mediocre pictures of my kids that would be left forgotten in some random box in our house, I was struck with sudden inspiration. I decided that starting this year, we would have a <i>new</i> school picture tradition. One that would be significantly more inexpensive and result in much better photos of my kids. I decided that this year, <i>I </i>would be my kids' school photographer. So far, I have only taken pictures of my girls, but photos of the boys are soon to come.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhibxnNhdNrdm3nmtSPaMZX4tD13r3JmHe1Q_vQwRkAmcOkwKzR0q-c9NSZ48H3M095PoMCscIafP-2gbU-aNLtFMydZICMsfEeY1pRYGMR6isUkMeNFEyXlizXmlWmMmyCzpvwTSMsQ/s1600/maya2_7490.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhibxnNhdNrdm3nmtSPaMZX4tD13r3JmHe1Q_vQwRkAmcOkwKzR0q-c9NSZ48H3M095PoMCscIafP-2gbU-aNLtFMydZICMsfEeY1pRYGMR6isUkMeNFEyXlizXmlWmMmyCzpvwTSMsQ/s400/maya2_7490.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652721491036866290" /></a><div>Every year, I let the kids choose one "accessory" for school. Maya's choice this year was a feather for her hair. Her favorite color this year is orange. Hence the orange feather. It actually suits her eclectic style quite well.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcL4U6u8Pp2-KsLJJAzxrjeGE0IbWEOR2T3jwsmisXZatqp9luusE4n4vSoSbKIRqg4OCmb9bA9X-Vy_1iUX2JaA7ZvvxsY27UKX9ntNbwqCTyAJcL3RXJs9VmEN_ldIgUfCtzZpock4/s1600/brenna_7436.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcL4U6u8Pp2-KsLJJAzxrjeGE0IbWEOR2T3jwsmisXZatqp9luusE4n4vSoSbKIRqg4OCmb9bA9X-Vy_1iUX2JaA7ZvvxsY27UKX9ntNbwqCTyAJcL3RXJs9VmEN_ldIgUfCtzZpock4/s400/brenna_7436.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652721483640231426" /></a></div><div>Brenna wanted a blue streak in her hair. The dye I picked up is supposed to last 6-8 weeks. Perhaps their test subjects never washed their hair? It actually washes out in about a week.</div><div><br /></div><div>My dear sweet friend Erin asked me if I would take some pictures of her family as well. I'm always up for a new challenge so I agreed.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKwms73c3wrKeMRgNTl7DBdVqLvXAVPvkdcghKuYUWWTKB6VC7b3dT9DJHohNncje4DCgm_OX-xO0Oz-H9QhG6mwYH-v28CU3vL6bZW73QlUrWtgUjbrVNW4iFn3bJwHQhPaywoOmrII/s1600/emma3_8117.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKwms73c3wrKeMRgNTl7DBdVqLvXAVPvkdcghKuYUWWTKB6VC7b3dT9DJHohNncje4DCgm_OX-xO0Oz-H9QhG6mwYH-v28CU3vL6bZW73QlUrWtgUjbrVNW4iFn3bJwHQhPaywoOmrII/s400/emma3_8117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652721476601919874" /></a></div><div>Emma is one of Brenna's very best friends. They have literally known each other since birth and are only three months apart in age. She wasn't entirely thrilled to be photographed, but I still got some good shots of her. Of course, she's such a beauty that it would be hard to take a <i>bad</i> picture of her.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6emh-Mx6mrbHk6vN5RaF2IbJSdQTPs6f1jI3zt6mJ4IZYKBgKYbWUShFaf0UA0381R8ouxsS5UZNVRXDHPMFnPlxFFlTmrafD9J51PVGUJBpAqBTO-vuJvUyuSRs2oXnONP9N1HvK-0/s1600/wren2_7868.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6emh-Mx6mrbHk6vN5RaF2IbJSdQTPs6f1jI3zt6mJ4IZYKBgKYbWUShFaf0UA0381R8ouxsS5UZNVRXDHPMFnPlxFFlTmrafD9J51PVGUJBpAqBTO-vuJvUyuSRs2oXnONP9N1HvK-0/s400/wren2_7868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652721467531402322" /></a></div><div>This sweet boy did not make my job easy. He was much more interested in playing than posing, but I did get a few good shots of him. And then he was off to fly down our driveway on a skateboard.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zzy8qbFjKcEb1UCvLpaXMvn8QyozmnpQ0kW1r6KDhePAiDqebLC40e2ehqbnBCewWZFJ98OpD1a7MoDyjLgfmUXeiGiayp3P-UQ-p0PWEuNrm0J1j9B5qRlFFc96KH5YrJnPDFQj71A/s1600/halle_7947.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zzy8qbFjKcEb1UCvLpaXMvn8QyozmnpQ0kW1r6KDhePAiDqebLC40e2ehqbnBCewWZFJ98OpD1a7MoDyjLgfmUXeiGiayp3P-UQ-p0PWEuNrm0J1j9B5qRlFFc96KH5YrJnPDFQj71A/s400/halle_7947.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652721456482863570" /></a><br />Halle is the poser of the family, but it still took a bit of coercing to get her to cooperate. Once she got started though she was a perfect subject.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFdHAVs8nsiZVjA1_YKSdBSbLXmmxIcg8Bz6Agr6TGhm4-iKnS1AQyiP-cLvWZRJDhU8cEDsc5fjpJlASioEcwxT4bTkc1oM6UxkjQ6DqydYOBHEaC5XfvRSZ-soAIk8yYfZGf8NaHXw/s1600/eccles_8006.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFdHAVs8nsiZVjA1_YKSdBSbLXmmxIcg8Bz6Agr6TGhm4-iKnS1AQyiP-cLvWZRJDhU8cEDsc5fjpJlASioEcwxT4bTkc1oM6UxkjQ6DqydYOBHEaC5XfvRSZ-soAIk8yYfZGf8NaHXw/s400/eccles_8006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652700864392434322" /></a></div><div>I picked up this cool chair at a thrift store for $8. Score!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxayeMPmn9WMeWQBuAb0iO35jU4hWsAGNBknkfA3bdj6S5YX0hJ8naRwf9GUJHkt9vC-NKedFO7fIoiG7Ml7_rxoJ_sjdFpAIpLpZ2kp5MQl7n7xDI57fU2RwE2Y_vEkK6vNpe0iIZJo/s1600/eccles_8062.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxayeMPmn9WMeWQBuAb0iO35jU4hWsAGNBknkfA3bdj6S5YX0hJ8naRwf9GUJHkt9vC-NKedFO7fIoiG7Ml7_rxoJ_sjdFpAIpLpZ2kp5MQl7n7xDI57fU2RwE2Y_vEkK6vNpe0iIZJo/s400/eccles_8062.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652699776800767922" /></a></div><div>Family pictures are definitely out of my comfort zone. I was thankful to have good friends to practice on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELE302ltk3ElCwDaR1lxAe-ubU033YTaer1JQ6hWMEFMEyznQqyaXUMNAH5Bif8C4nEORYFyXBxjwLPhJX6pYlmpYWtmPqHHgFtEdTs7HZo33IQVtiOlRoxf8FBPN-ECdcxa2we3NKWw/s1600/eccles_8075.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELE302ltk3ElCwDaR1lxAe-ubU033YTaer1JQ6hWMEFMEyznQqyaXUMNAH5Bif8C4nEORYFyXBxjwLPhJX6pYlmpYWtmPqHHgFtEdTs7HZo33IQVtiOlRoxf8FBPN-ECdcxa2we3NKWw/s400/eccles_8075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652699770241695570" /></a></div><div>A little behind-the-scenes shot...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHvd36ekuofzBknYX52PEtX3AXlAAsEtRd9mz1bb2WtRTwwA_sCtk04lOnf4ZRQPJ6gRTCTfyc9g0ObDA7iF5OuBvsH6Ksv2eGjO5hem_H_N0J-bBmBASyM8zYCwrg7anslx8AJ_fRQ0/s1600/eccles2_8101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHvd36ekuofzBknYX52PEtX3AXlAAsEtRd9mz1bb2WtRTwwA_sCtk04lOnf4ZRQPJ6gRTCTfyc9g0ObDA7iF5OuBvsH6Ksv2eGjO5hem_H_N0J-bBmBASyM8zYCwrg7anslx8AJ_fRQ0/s400/eccles2_8101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652699763766109058" /></a></div><div>...and a little, well, <i>behind</i> shot.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBfTmU0crFS7VesqqIJnjQoyWkDRgyIQ4UvyTHNHZQhhH5pRSsAmnTN7m5-SAq5sCLVU2FXjWRNLaQWr-d0aHXUyCujmIsKEakeMDzPsO6pU49V1Ff05fdzFz1fCK9gOLGpFDsA_YG70/s1600/eccles_8270.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBfTmU0crFS7VesqqIJnjQoyWkDRgyIQ4UvyTHNHZQhhH5pRSsAmnTN7m5-SAq5sCLVU2FXjWRNLaQWr-d0aHXUyCujmIsKEakeMDzPsO6pU49V1Ff05fdzFz1fCK9gOLGpFDsA_YG70/s400/eccles_8270.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652699758127019730" /></a></div><div>Erin also wanted a few shots of her and her husband together as they haven't had them done since their wedding. <i>Twelve </i>years ago. Now if I just knew how to get rid of that green spot on Mike's shirt, we'd be good to go. It's not as noticeable in the black and white version, but I really like the colors in this one. I won't tell you what we were talking about to actually get a <i>smile</i> on Mike's face.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6PyBpglfWlvMrMCkg01dIsIvIjyT6qDRzVJQlfwigI3DxlQBdv-h-LI9pZysTLmYeY581QwL8j5_0ProJJQg_ORkMxJEG66Lvs22AgRnEeYUOTasoT2XnpntimZP2lz4MxRqABicRYg/s1600/wyatt_8327.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6PyBpglfWlvMrMCkg01dIsIvIjyT6qDRzVJQlfwigI3DxlQBdv-h-LI9pZysTLmYeY581QwL8j5_0ProJJQg_ORkMxJEG66Lvs22AgRnEeYUOTasoT2XnpntimZP2lz4MxRqABicRYg/s400/wyatt_8327.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652699757604622482" /></a><br /></div></div><div>I couldn't resist getting a picture of my chubby little guy on the new chair. Don't worry, he does have a diaper on. </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-36277584607303339362011-07-28T15:02:00.000-07:002011-09-15T16:47:54.670-07:00north shore chronicles {part II}<div><meta charset="utf-8">On day three of our North Shore trip, we loaded the troops up in the van and headed even <i>further </i>north to Grand Marais. We had been warned that even though it was only about 30 miles north of our campground, it was considerably cooler there than where we were staying. Thankfully we heeded the warning and brought along our sweatshirts. Unfortunately, the cold air caused us to forget that the sun was, in fact, still shining, and we neglected to apply sunscreen to our faces. Most of us came through the day unscathed, but poor Wyatt got burned right on one chubby little cheek. To add insult to injury, in the days following it started to peel making it look like he had a patch of dried mucous on his face that his mother kept trying to wipe off. Poor baby.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYKyA8NgBfcfiD3UgywHxb_7c2qaxjI_rsc4allGr_KEJpNNlzmOvy193HTZLFHOvSiQ9l1JA3Dl0DFpfxgU1fGjU65ueIGDPCLI5ml36sypYjh9Ba1zAIqiaZbNY6AVsAVIMvr0sF5Y/s1600/northshore_6804.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYKyA8NgBfcfiD3UgywHxb_7c2qaxjI_rsc4allGr_KEJpNNlzmOvy193HTZLFHOvSiQ9l1JA3Dl0DFpfxgU1fGjU65ueIGDPCLI5ml36sypYjh9Ba1zAIqiaZbNY6AVsAVIMvr0sF5Y/s400/northshore_6804.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634598611382169138" /></a><div>Our first stop was the beach where my sisters and I finally gave my mom her long overdue Mother's Day gift and we all searched for sea glass.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dwnsxXfeC09pVUSNJ9zZztg8juIfToVXUhCaCVWj6atbTgFfR2yvRH3YCZYwt7vVyqCAvkMLDktXgp7LK2v95Pam2oFyVfacF8THmokWyCs-v8mDu_AUC_GvAKvl_zLURVIimMKnvf8/s1600/northshore_6807.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dwnsxXfeC09pVUSNJ9zZztg8juIfToVXUhCaCVWj6atbTgFfR2yvRH3YCZYwt7vVyqCAvkMLDktXgp7LK2v95Pam2oFyVfacF8THmokWyCs-v8mDu_AUC_GvAKvl_zLURVIimMKnvf8/s400/northshore_6807.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634598602639851554" /></a></div><div>Wyatt didn't care so much about looking for sea glass.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8iElLrVLhWiCOG5C0EpN8hHfmFdcEpHPGgWXDzJZH3osm_D5rCAl_5-PXYjuPc1Oevh7ZFlASvUSMoa-8wefbnsuqt_uaigs8FbWHhE0xzAaf-xT6y7H57-vfvw5DkZWfUWJRpwj8Wo/s1600/northshore_6808.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8iElLrVLhWiCOG5C0EpN8hHfmFdcEpHPGgWXDzJZH3osm_D5rCAl_5-PXYjuPc1Oevh7ZFlASvUSMoa-8wefbnsuqt_uaigs8FbWHhE0xzAaf-xT6y7H57-vfvw5DkZWfUWJRpwj8Wo/s400/northshore_6808.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634598593522210546" /></a><br />He was content to just pick up stones and gaze introspectively over the lake. Either that or I snapped this picture right before he decided to see just how frigid the water was causing me to have to trudge back to the van to find him something dry to wear.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjfyQW-k2__1EVV9R1_6xM1TfrlCnE5jV_vCx0O3hmJr37eWoU2rVVDkhJaxAAzrvQ851U4Sklv-PzzY5HGf6aUDe0lkQlWYw0FiUVOKAXlG1PxawpRiw8013kBReATadGHJe8ar6ecw/s1600/northshore_6810.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjfyQW-k2__1EVV9R1_6xM1TfrlCnE5jV_vCx0O3hmJr37eWoU2rVVDkhJaxAAzrvQ851U4Sklv-PzzY5HGf6aUDe0lkQlWYw0FiUVOKAXlG1PxawpRiw8013kBReATadGHJe8ar6ecw/s400/northshore_6810.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634598584100373282" /></a></div><div>Elliot wasn't afraid of the icy water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXLhp13TOyGT3hJ8VEgz1EtZdzJJVaIHdF-7VwSk684Wk46BHyEtGlwXr_SXoxWxosblwXcYg4O-bp7d19mBcZTopx904GuI9V_ULOm5cm1wsZFrzdAwjQVjFyYO3pPLRUtJ5pWcOPFs/s1600/northshore_6815.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXLhp13TOyGT3hJ8VEgz1EtZdzJJVaIHdF-7VwSk684Wk46BHyEtGlwXr_SXoxWxosblwXcYg4O-bp7d19mBcZTopx904GuI9V_ULOm5cm1wsZFrzdAwjQVjFyYO3pPLRUtJ5pWcOPFs/s400/northshore_6815.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634597670882364930" /></a><br />He dove right in...<br /><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitQ-zhjByipzDBGc6IlAsb6q-cCZUhcJEyrpEVbPPSj5W1xus3UwNyZrv_v-d3jDy0XppzRPbCqgY7JkvY1lfM3RGdS9jGVGESj45vKveXET4DXFKCzOiH0Uk6we0ipNGQI1GkEekuh0/s1600/northshore_6842.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitQ-zhjByipzDBGc6IlAsb6q-cCZUhcJEyrpEVbPPSj5W1xus3UwNyZrv_v-d3jDy0XppzRPbCqgY7JkvY1lfM3RGdS9jGVGESj45vKveXET4DXFKCzOiH0Uk6we0ipNGQI1GkEekuh0/s400/northshore_6842.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634595959539917666" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>...and rather exuberantly threw his rocks back to where they came from.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXbXn8RkdlpRUmG38Mzy8_itebsvdWRFkf1Lq1D_5TDuShEl-cEiXjUxMQQZs2uxqN0k8bBF8g785YAX_FahuWeoqKFWeS0V2qY2PXjJcFo16IrxfiQabnADrHBhG_vFFAoECYxV2M2I/s1600/northshore_6817.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXbXn8RkdlpRUmG38Mzy8_itebsvdWRFkf1Lq1D_5TDuShEl-cEiXjUxMQQZs2uxqN0k8bBF8g785YAX_FahuWeoqKFWeS0V2qY2PXjJcFo16IrxfiQabnADrHBhG_vFFAoECYxV2M2I/s400/northshore_6817.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634597666985433234" /></a></div><div>Kolby had a method to seeking out the beach's treasure.<br /><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoa65PXwsTvuobHvjc-F6xeAnUoTo2aENmh6qCy4Iu_HcXYb3UOtvHTlxye9G_l_DDFhN8yCMk4y4EPPzIB6B3i4fSvgAS1AvMJJ-c0EEfDwbkA2UBgLYHraOC7GVN93UQISXt_cFX1o/s1600/northshore_6820.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoa65PXwsTvuobHvjc-F6xeAnUoTo2aENmh6qCy4Iu_HcXYb3UOtvHTlxye9G_l_DDFhN8yCMk4y4EPPzIB6B3i4fSvgAS1AvMJJ-c0EEfDwbkA2UBgLYHraOC7GVN93UQISXt_cFX1o/s400/northshore_6820.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634595982880576178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Kenna, on the other hand, just wanted to fill her bucket with any stone she could find.</div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ooD5_yf6U4iQ32u-W9Yq1hNM0_3j_HrqNoi8vVvY7xWK4Zwh-r4iByjS-CBokjj0eqmmdz56PC88-kbMSzGXCTG-_n6TKIQNRFXtakOYrvf7t1wP0-rz1zCvZu7K53sxYdmQvsePi5w/s1600/northshore_6823.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ooD5_yf6U4iQ32u-W9Yq1hNM0_3j_HrqNoi8vVvY7xWK4Zwh-r4iByjS-CBokjj0eqmmdz56PC88-kbMSzGXCTG-_n6TKIQNRFXtakOYrvf7t1wP0-rz1zCvZu7K53sxYdmQvsePi5w/s400/northshore_6823.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634595974308138850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Kyleigh clamied the best find of the day. A heart-shaped piece of sea glass.</div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc57HE8APJpL1NvMdGkKwco8wGXIY_MYVXWszimUIgNnDF8cD6MZuZdyw0I6XQ4yrBQLctZTVxamzkzp3GW5ZLm2SY2_FiSYzP-nn4o7ITXxCCrqHFfsvhMhbIQ9WhjNUOIFSpD1XgnI/s1600/northshore_6829.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc57HE8APJpL1NvMdGkKwco8wGXIY_MYVXWszimUIgNnDF8cD6MZuZdyw0I6XQ4yrBQLctZTVxamzkzp3GW5ZLm2SY2_FiSYzP-nn4o7ITXxCCrqHFfsvhMhbIQ9WhjNUOIFSpD1XgnI/s400/northshore_6829.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634595964184053554" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Poor Brenna searched and searched and searched and came away with nothing.</div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaZ-o-JuPSZXYoAVX-yACYHA6AiK3oHh-843MH3ia8TaI7kBVcxl4uNOG1B_HuuGk-9nrjSfLZbknsj5wO0NOS10rIsR_rkfZJabPIylo4EtrqIyuSLj8yLvm1jyhPqs9HY5BRvM5k9o/s1600/northshore_6849.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaZ-o-JuPSZXYoAVX-yACYHA6AiK3oHh-843MH3ia8TaI7kBVcxl4uNOG1B_HuuGk-9nrjSfLZbknsj5wO0NOS10rIsR_rkfZJabPIylo4EtrqIyuSLj8yLvm1jyhPqs9HY5BRvM5k9o/s400/northshore_6849.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634595951613394978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>All that digging made us hungry. We walked down to Sven and Ole's Pizza for a delicious lunch where the older three kids were ecstatic because they got to have <i>pop</i> (soda or coke for you non-midwesterners) with their pizza. After lunch, it didn't take long for our full-bellied boy to conk out in his stroller. As it turns out, the wisest move at this point would have been for me to take him <i>out</i> of his stroller and put him on my back in his carrier instead. Because where we went next? Not exactly conducive to pushing a stroller. There were certainly <i>some</i> flat areas, but I wound up <i>carrying</i> him <i>in</i> the stroller for much of the treck out to the lighthouse. Not impossible, but not the best way of doing things, either.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScSvofIUjwNPW4VZi08_bvHeskfL31l8ZDwh5bwG9rUEcFkktPMiE1EKGIEd98KbXoMS1zVdEBcloyq6rjRS0bLPxiEhLTFb4dFaqDeMnNudzqM3_Carx4juutec4m0akKnDAzczWWWA/s1600/northshore_6852.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScSvofIUjwNPW4VZi08_bvHeskfL31l8ZDwh5bwG9rUEcFkktPMiE1EKGIEd98KbXoMS1zVdEBcloyq6rjRS0bLPxiEhLTFb4dFaqDeMnNudzqM3_Carx4juutec4m0akKnDAzczWWWA/s400/northshore_6852.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634597660004619650" /></a></div><div>Thankfully, we did have the foresight to have Elliot hitch a ride on Aaron's back.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zpC4k_GGJ-BCTpYOTdPMNuCJJ-0o1WE3UU-MsLKvNN1jf0PNfno6zlwqxQwcitO-ZCXyQMzGUqYdChYYKsGC8zQnBxQcpOWvmGrKakYWXzoVFqzKNEqz3iaTRI8KJyjhGUn5iIIaPIs/s1600/northshore_6858.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zpC4k_GGJ-BCTpYOTdPMNuCJJ-0o1WE3UU-MsLKvNN1jf0PNfno6zlwqxQwcitO-ZCXyQMzGUqYdChYYKsGC8zQnBxQcpOWvmGrKakYWXzoVFqzKNEqz3iaTRI8KJyjhGUn5iIIaPIs/s400/northshore_6858.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634597655656223250" /></a></div><div>Somehow, Wyatt slept through me picking him up and putting him down all the way out to the end of the pier. (He did wake up on the way back though.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu6oKYrVhpGA3a29VLIlt-sNEJOF7jFQLxzpvKrmm_xsqFoyVlyk2Q52iYhxt4Qw4AmDwLaYyLE0rHfK1op4TqlpQsZXeJgr5B63XNKLySAAUdcSIuvj4oO-j0gR5WgAWNYszKVXBXtI/s1600/northshore_6860.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu6oKYrVhpGA3a29VLIlt-sNEJOF7jFQLxzpvKrmm_xsqFoyVlyk2Q52iYhxt4Qw4AmDwLaYyLE0rHfK1op4TqlpQsZXeJgr5B63XNKLySAAUdcSIuvj4oO-j0gR5WgAWNYszKVXBXtI/s400/northshore_6860.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634597647454890066" /></a></div><div> We even managed to snap a picture of all of our brave little adventurers together.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR_2lzVJyvSvgK8qgnIAzU-da8xE7RNAYdo3nfhzfIZg15k3WyWyOyBE3bfVk1ZAVrcwtURTpLLqTL5ZXF5Q8apW3_Svrz9HS-s5v82swsmF1rIgi402DXqbVCGKCv7BdgigMFlo-GUo/s1600/northshore_6868.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR_2lzVJyvSvgK8qgnIAzU-da8xE7RNAYdo3nfhzfIZg15k3WyWyOyBE3bfVk1ZAVrcwtURTpLLqTL5ZXF5Q8apW3_Svrz9HS-s5v82swsmF1rIgi402DXqbVCGKCv7BdgigMFlo-GUo/s400/northshore_6868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634532981660168994" /></a></div><div>And look! A family picture! With all of us! Together! In the same photo!</div><div><br /></div><div>{And this is the part where I interrupt our previously scheduled programming to tell you why I prefer to shoot in full manual mode on my camera. See this picture here? It was shot in auto mode. As was the picture below it. And while they are okay pictures, they just don't look <i>quite</i> the way I like them to look. And seeing as I am not a master photoshopper, I wasn't able to <i>make</i> them look how I wanted them to by editing them, either. And now back to the show.}</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJC8oa6FyS4oxKNbYw4LIHHN5bmw6x2h1-aQzmrCO1MEBFaE3Oys95ZqwyWcbEJGwFbOWaf7fvgtbXPJqsIb4vT-Zg0DF0HdX5RWpLGMHusNTinvm6WjsSBDmc8Qnfxvk1yjfEVYdkag/s1600/northshore_6873.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJC8oa6FyS4oxKNbYw4LIHHN5bmw6x2h1-aQzmrCO1MEBFaE3Oys95ZqwyWcbEJGwFbOWaf7fvgtbXPJqsIb4vT-Zg0DF0HdX5RWpLGMHusNTinvm6WjsSBDmc8Qnfxvk1yjfEVYdkag/s400/northshore_6873.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634532970897133330" /></a></div><div>I even managed to get in a picture with my mom and sisters. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwpkScEoiG_bE4k6KkAVmEf01jLg6dxa1BN0jrO7sUEhx8OaFGeF_NHSmbPV9Js5GL4tChnIGE_mezRTkvLQdLLviMTycPc9vgPzbRhgejvpyYED5uSmHHTXiM1VJwTBdsrIVr7SjTPI/s1600/northshore_6877.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwpkScEoiG_bE4k6KkAVmEf01jLg6dxa1BN0jrO7sUEhx8OaFGeF_NHSmbPV9Js5GL4tChnIGE_mezRTkvLQdLLviMTycPc9vgPzbRhgejvpyYED5uSmHHTXiM1VJwTBdsrIVr7SjTPI/s400/northshore_6877.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634532964631527218" /></a></div><div>When we left the lighthouse, we walked to the other end of the "island" we were on. As we were walking, we looked out on the lake and saw a real live <i>pirate ship.</i> See it? </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdSts_swTpfHb_VkrZp3OCv0CDgrF3C1fqhdyW8XfsaimxH91LcSgS08qrPs_TSzeFbPep0vzEf3qlET-_JvSNfPCDEdI6RgFn05hKCjbXiRYfyqy3696gZnjU-tgtTfyBvmMXk5u_fo/s1600/northshore_6878.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdSts_swTpfHb_VkrZp3OCv0CDgrF3C1fqhdyW8XfsaimxH91LcSgS08qrPs_TSzeFbPep0vzEf3qlET-_JvSNfPCDEdI6RgFn05hKCjbXiRYfyqy3696gZnjU-tgtTfyBvmMXk5u_fo/s400/northshore_6878.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634528746028793570" /></a></div><div>We also saw a cool looking birch tree. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-u7Q_THb9XbwH_-2Gkhif3yHSCQduacdXqa0u5msicWB3VXfI4blE28NGbR6wM8EjNaI_F4kjy1jXn0-pz1kiLyJX-xWW4gtZp66tF0TJb99XYn2FX_yLjzNUGvw5s8b3vqzwm9x30I/s1600/northshore_6882.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-u7Q_THb9XbwH_-2Gkhif3yHSCQduacdXqa0u5msicWB3VXfI4blE28NGbR6wM8EjNaI_F4kjy1jXn0-pz1kiLyJX-xWW4gtZp66tF0TJb99XYn2FX_yLjzNUGvw5s8b3vqzwm9x30I/s400/northshore_6882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634528738851111042" /></a></div><div>The kids were less fearful about plunging to their deaths on the rocky cliff than I was. I was much happier when they were all back on solid ground.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBKVqYLcpWWsh3ToFw8J3HmNcDhTGINlwQ-NEnC2P694BKuVqergTsya_-KqNCUGVnCuOG00hqrtHmz7CWKrM_jJFBANjDNJEuYRKxNm3-BaAEjdJ0qtSUMMJ8XxPJC2bRO2tTgrUws/s1600/northshore_6888.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBKVqYLcpWWsh3ToFw8J3HmNcDhTGINlwQ-NEnC2P694BKuVqergTsya_-KqNCUGVnCuOG00hqrtHmz7CWKrM_jJFBANjDNJEuYRKxNm3-BaAEjdJ0qtSUMMJ8XxPJC2bRO2tTgrUws/s400/northshore_6888.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634528730643793762" /></a><br />The beauty of Superior will never cease to take my breath away.</div></div></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-55647422397299417622011-07-17T18:18:00.000-07:002011-07-18T19:52:33.393-07:00north shore chronicles {part I)<div>A couple of weeks ago we loaded up our kids and 89% of our personal belongings, hitched up the camper, and took off for the North Shore for a FIVE night vacation away from home. Now, let me just explain something here. The last time we took a vacation THAT long was back in the day when taking our <i>one </i>child on a trip over an hour away caused us to break out in a cold sweat and experience heart palpatations. Typically our camping trips (which are the extent of our "vacations") are two to three nights max. And much closer to home. So this trip was definitely a big deal (read: a LOT of work to prepare for).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Day 1:</b> We actually managed to leave our house when we planned to! Pretty impressive if I do say so myself. After swinging through Starbucks to get my beloved nectar we hit the road. The older kids each popped a Dramamine and watched movies on the laptop (we don't have one of those fancy DVD players in our van). We managed to get by with only TWO pit stops and seven hours after our departure we arrived at our campsite. After getting all set up, we walked down to a nearby pizza place for supper (perhaps not very authentic camping fare, but it did the trick). The rest of the night was filled with exploring the campground. And then it was bedtime. Getting the kids to bed was amazingly not a problem. HOWEVER. At approximately 1AM, Wyatt decided to start coughing. And coughing and coughing and <i>coughing.</i> This, of course, woke him up. Being quite exhausted he didn't <i>want </i>to be awake coughing. And so he started crying. After trying unsuccessfully for about 20 minutes to get him to go back to sleep, I laid down and let him lay on top of me. At which point he coughed again and with that cough came <i>vomit.</i> All over my shirt and in my hair. At 1AM. In an unfamiliar <i>campground. </i>At <i>1AM. </i>I had no choice but to pass him off to Aaron and take myself down to the creepy shower. Let me tell you. I was fairly convinced that I was going to be attacked by a bear or some crazed axe murderer. I wasn't. <i>Phew.</i> Still, not the start to the trip I was looking for. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Day 2:</b> We met up with my family and went to Temperance River State Park (just a couple of days before the government shutdown). We first went down by the lake and had a picnic. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x3RH5BAyTUnOV0i8W_LTjufCyb9a3OmEQ2OQi61hpPbOs3-cxrCi94SLmHKXr690UDqI0giBNPRv6jsQZ25Uuc0ZeBw8sElbJg3NPJNceaHTa_CMVfgXt7bM2TDO5G-t8WnelmXjwIA/s1600/northshore_6734.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x3RH5BAyTUnOV0i8W_LTjufCyb9a3OmEQ2OQi61hpPbOs3-cxrCi94SLmHKXr690UDqI0giBNPRv6jsQZ25Uuc0ZeBw8sElbJg3NPJNceaHTa_CMVfgXt7bM2TDO5G-t8WnelmXjwIA/s400/northshore_6734.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630519019545666994" /></a><div>Wyatt couldn't wait to climb down the stairs and get closer to the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvxEtt4YOLD-ec9PkbOUj3FRzQSEzld-Xd5dKIB-_DrAQAW0cWIqBHBARx84AYiG_TcP1_cb1BJ96Kwq1kCnecVrblubjfmt3Wt_cOVYFwzl9EcYz_29wUr503FN7tbjx2B5ETgpeA8k/s1600/northshore_6735.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvxEtt4YOLD-ec9PkbOUj3FRzQSEzld-Xd5dKIB-_DrAQAW0cWIqBHBARx84AYiG_TcP1_cb1BJ96Kwq1kCnecVrblubjfmt3Wt_cOVYFwzl9EcYz_29wUr503FN7tbjx2B5ETgpeA8k/s400/northshore_6735.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630518630310803106" /></a></div><div>Elliot was curious about the (freezing cold) lake...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcQBVFHyFk6qFIC64yHiZAuGzDZbNx-3DSJpl83oiNVnlIIw7d0pyntlVNO6qEpI2cQJxX88GJTM4-a7o6KX9f5LedOmYNazcoLPe56Ur4L551eQ9tbkuPU7nTiJfG9zkJaelrgxyhZQ/s1600/northshore_6737.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcQBVFHyFk6qFIC64yHiZAuGzDZbNx-3DSJpl83oiNVnlIIw7d0pyntlVNO6qEpI2cQJxX88GJTM4-a7o6KX9f5LedOmYNazcoLPe56Ur4L551eQ9tbkuPU7nTiJfG9zkJaelrgxyhZQ/s400/northshore_6737.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630517929806726530" /></a></div><div>...until the waves chased him away.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YSIA9Oa-aFXEWazI3YSSivSMy9C2UeAu7FUgMxUG9jVzh6rpmWBxfb0mE3Eq6r_MJ_l00L1Er4XNQ6jUGshJonE-m0pfFnqHSlcZYa2M7XD2pJrccWGQICv25I41VpjoKeAApvCL2dU/s1600/northshore_6745.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YSIA9Oa-aFXEWazI3YSSivSMy9C2UeAu7FUgMxUG9jVzh6rpmWBxfb0mE3Eq6r_MJ_l00L1Er4XNQ6jUGshJonE-m0pfFnqHSlcZYa2M7XD2pJrccWGQICv25I41VpjoKeAApvCL2dU/s400/northshore_6745.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630517683660717138" /></a></div><div>After that little scare, he maintained a safter distance from the killer waves.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMH841lFZT6PFw5UozTf_I2CY8oGNP7tHmBq9lyDHhoH_7PceFC8qh8RSJSoCPSZUQdE31pzzuiFHg8LgCOpBwZldf1U9bwE2vyBtu3hsq7HEG44FfvovXP4ak0hh3dimcG-zO6EzHNI/s1600/northshore_6754.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMH841lFZT6PFw5UozTf_I2CY8oGNP7tHmBq9lyDHhoH_7PceFC8qh8RSJSoCPSZUQdE31pzzuiFHg8LgCOpBwZldf1U9bwE2vyBtu3hsq7HEG44FfvovXP4ak0hh3dimcG-zO6EzHNI/s400/northshore_6754.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630516875383736434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Ethan learned how to skip rocks. He may or may not have been a much faster learner than his mother. <i>Ahem.</i><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wVGSrgImr9_GL8E1nD0Pq2MLf5fRO1ij00i2NQQZswONCAuX705OLQ0CtqO4r7bT64xkVez6liMEcFzHXY5nbvvceBuLONSgRXpn05DddbARMRzBhLeCIAz3N5yRd5xJPjAR6V4CM3M/s1600/northshore_6751.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wVGSrgImr9_GL8E1nD0Pq2MLf5fRO1ij00i2NQQZswONCAuX705OLQ0CtqO4r7bT64xkVez6liMEcFzHXY5nbvvceBuLONSgRXpn05DddbARMRzBhLeCIAz3N5yRd5xJPjAR6V4CM3M/s400/northshore_6751.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630517408979743570" /></a></div><div>Wyatt didn't quite catch on to the whole rock skipping technique, but he did have lot of fun <i>throwing</i> the rocks.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqqrdOQ04s_IDLodjRmu1Ma_xyRzrG0m2CYnzbvICH8gfcZTP41Y1Ir2ubUUNQInkxaS91ddCbOApfB_84AsJHAT3z90kI1C8b9uKdtZ89KJc1VObpDCX-emPihJjO1IN6_YOWPzMJl8/s1600/northshore_6782.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqqrdOQ04s_IDLodjRmu1Ma_xyRzrG0m2CYnzbvICH8gfcZTP41Y1Ir2ubUUNQInkxaS91ddCbOApfB_84AsJHAT3z90kI1C8b9uKdtZ89KJc1VObpDCX-emPihJjO1IN6_YOWPzMJl8/s400/northshore_6782.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630516548744601266" /></a></div><div>Maya became a master in the art of creating a "moat".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2Fa7KNWFZfqXynHTlnIoXo-lNRSnjtcH_dIQCfr5UjyDy3lu9TQxGzWD0Hfmw5OihNuFP0q8AurASO28i4Mg2KwlJPWTKiKV8eSEx1Pk4SZqeDnIbKDfFjuLa5SqgVdMu4XLlOARxK4/s1600/northshore_6790.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2Fa7KNWFZfqXynHTlnIoXo-lNRSnjtcH_dIQCfr5UjyDy3lu9TQxGzWD0Hfmw5OihNuFP0q8AurASO28i4Mg2KwlJPWTKiKV8eSEx1Pk4SZqeDnIbKDfFjuLa5SqgVdMu4XLlOARxK4/s400/northshore_6790.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630516277846027362" /></a></div><div>After hanging out on the beach for awhile, we crossed the highway and went for a hike. Most of the trail is fairly close to the Temperance River.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72XMRQx6chrDCGgw1gpQaFRSBnNgg-Bquu3lIccy-JNMZwNhjhp2df6KfvC42d-5BHxWg_bHtbUQR7BCX6Am0leWJkieXOPj3mGg4pzWmgEl2rdSyrXuq4WchNjeTBYjt_1C9q27CZak/s1600/northshore_6795.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72XMRQx6chrDCGgw1gpQaFRSBnNgg-Bquu3lIccy-JNMZwNhjhp2df6KfvC42d-5BHxWg_bHtbUQR7BCX6Am0leWJkieXOPj3mGg4pzWmgEl2rdSyrXuq4WchNjeTBYjt_1C9q27CZak/s400/northshore_6795.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630515851541656258" /></a></div><div>The hiking trails we were on were just a <i>little</i> different from the ones we're used to (read: I was afraid my two littles would DIE if they were allowed to walk as there are steep cliffs everywhere) so Wyatt and Elliot always hitched a ride. Sometimes they were each in a baby carrier on my and Aaron's back.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fkYbkZbfcr-YFVIwMl7F-kFtsgbgbtxBdNgP1UHj_y1oLHJgddem1gjwps2-6FXHzXdFB4GQdxNhnv1D_TwLxkkaTbtD2crIulrn-Fb7PGYk2t1kgD_5NQEX5LNeY_l2mQlgBY2UpUI/s1600/northshore_6802.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fkYbkZbfcr-YFVIwMl7F-kFtsgbgbtxBdNgP1UHj_y1oLHJgddem1gjwps2-6FXHzXdFB4GQdxNhnv1D_TwLxkkaTbtD2crIulrn-Fb7PGYk2t1kgD_5NQEX5LNeY_l2mQlgBY2UpUI/s400/northshore_6802.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630515359327733538" /></a><br /></div><div>And other times Aaron would carry one on his back and the other on his shoulders. Which put Elliot <i>right</i> where Wyatt wanted him.</div><div> </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-13878831364939960292011-06-14T18:04:00.000-07:002011-06-14T19:16:47.550-07:00community {garden}<div>Some good friends of ours (who also happen to be in our small group) have a very large garden on their property that they graciously chose to make a community garden this year. To kick off the season, they hosted a potluck/garden planting day.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pu2ujQs76u-DP5pBechcXoGtbvaHwHFrZNOfU2XPRt4gCxmnm_2Q_Vh9VQGklSakDVA17AaBLJOqrkfcg549QLmMggwlaBZ_1f-m6i8VblCn8-QrL-X5r7AmMDO0K9XMJN-WUrNKDRk/s1600/garden_5818.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pu2ujQs76u-DP5pBechcXoGtbvaHwHFrZNOfU2XPRt4gCxmnm_2Q_Vh9VQGklSakDVA17AaBLJOqrkfcg549QLmMggwlaBZ_1f-m6i8VblCn8-QrL-X5r7AmMDO0K9XMJN-WUrNKDRk/s400/garden_5818.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618254531605524898" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pu2ujQs76u-DP5pBechcXoGtbvaHwHFrZNOfU2XPRt4gCxmnm_2Q_Vh9VQGklSakDVA17AaBLJOqrkfcg549QLmMggwlaBZ_1f-m6i8VblCn8-QrL-X5r7AmMDO0K9XMJN-WUrNKDRk/s1600/garden_5818.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Someone brought monster cookies to the potluck. Wyatt was a big fan. It's possible that his mother was as well. A <i>very</i> big fan.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9qHB8PILo99Miy-5l_GJnu0ZrUyUaGUG9hqumskAF-hp3vPDVcY3JyH8zlBrLhXsi1gkMlGqfIeHXbBD4xJRNx76acPJi2qByUEDmDdsUnhvFzRrHggKq8cWp_b5fqNyCMwYx5aVLbA/s1600/garden_5822.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9qHB8PILo99Miy-5l_GJnu0ZrUyUaGUG9hqumskAF-hp3vPDVcY3JyH8zlBrLhXsi1gkMlGqfIeHXbBD4xJRNx76acPJi2qByUEDmDdsUnhvFzRrHggKq8cWp_b5fqNyCMwYx5aVLbA/s400/garden_5822.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618254517243242898" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9qHB8PILo99Miy-5l_GJnu0ZrUyUaGUG9hqumskAF-hp3vPDVcY3JyH8zlBrLhXsi1gkMlGqfIeHXbBD4xJRNx76acPJi2qByUEDmDdsUnhvFzRrHggKq8cWp_b5fqNyCMwYx5aVLbA/s1600/garden_5822.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Elliot got out his little trowel and dug a hole or two. The toy bulldozer also came in quite handy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XzKYSS7GgNfu9NvsYl-cO1xUdLNgG-8-rxHgZR2SvzAAlfCel46f69qhQsPOtqNiYfD63tvJgRJSlVwDj-CkCFMCbIj70oHRmVAoYBvJ3EMGJHQClIg5xCQxx8aVWFpxMN7g7PpW9s8/s1600/garden_5838.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XzKYSS7GgNfu9NvsYl-cO1xUdLNgG-8-rxHgZR2SvzAAlfCel46f69qhQsPOtqNiYfD63tvJgRJSlVwDj-CkCFMCbIj70oHRmVAoYBvJ3EMGJHQClIg5xCQxx8aVWFpxMN7g7PpW9s8/s400/garden_5838.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618254506075840818" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XzKYSS7GgNfu9NvsYl-cO1xUdLNgG-8-rxHgZR2SvzAAlfCel46f69qhQsPOtqNiYfD63tvJgRJSlVwDj-CkCFMCbIj70oHRmVAoYBvJ3EMGJHQClIg5xCQxx8aVWFpxMN7g7PpW9s8/s1600/garden_5838.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMucMJf5zUFFeCGU4wndziBVsbkfW_l52FiKcjCgWHLP_Sw8OCPxEYEu86vNxke-Ubwx0iwMV8H5-dGaK3YyMvWeYoysEVTl9gzYc2h9lodau7DzVCCnFCp5n_Jk4cGHAOaKE06D5TWs/s1600/garden_5843.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMucMJf5zUFFeCGU4wndziBVsbkfW_l52FiKcjCgWHLP_Sw8OCPxEYEu86vNxke-Ubwx0iwMV8H5-dGaK3YyMvWeYoysEVTl9gzYc2h9lodau7DzVCCnFCp5n_Jk4cGHAOaKE06D5TWs/s400/garden_5843.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618254497901534274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqaRH3V4zkrT2kpxwvnzGmY76QsXHixBrNVkQl77IxXb8A1VGcoLR_CNbs6Vwskm-Au008MOuko54-gIL19ha88qhUoYHAMzi0RBXQrYoLc0sxaBkgBdPPfqN5gcXsKeJ_XQXvnffCsw/s1600/garden_5850.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqaRH3V4zkrT2kpxwvnzGmY76QsXHixBrNVkQl77IxXb8A1VGcoLR_CNbs6Vwskm-Au008MOuko54-gIL19ha88qhUoYHAMzi0RBXQrYoLc0sxaBkgBdPPfqN5gcXsKeJ_XQXvnffCsw/s400/garden_5850.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618253603497597762" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqaRH3V4zkrT2kpxwvnzGmY76QsXHixBrNVkQl77IxXb8A1VGcoLR_CNbs6Vwskm-Au008MOuko54-gIL19ha88qhUoYHAMzi0RBXQrYoLc0sxaBkgBdPPfqN5gcXsKeJ_XQXvnffCsw/s1600/garden_5850.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>It didn't take Elliot long to discover a set of steps leading down to the lake.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ9gIcrgiVWAmwK06FKp_hmQY-Zj1M_kcSWejOBc_L3MznV_JsFGoWrf6XlFMb4Uf_1to4-xkPoZwZAas5Rrg9OoCumfSnFoyFPSZFvARqILEOvBUQgsvk4tQ1m0iAj33NlPK2ppffRU/s1600/garden_5851.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ9gIcrgiVWAmwK06FKp_hmQY-Zj1M_kcSWejOBc_L3MznV_JsFGoWrf6XlFMb4Uf_1to4-xkPoZwZAas5Rrg9OoCumfSnFoyFPSZFvARqILEOvBUQgsvk4tQ1m0iAj33NlPK2ppffRU/s400/garden_5851.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618253594125395042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pm0TMPHovLfOwLaltDv2hULq26gwG3wfReyb7o3WVXkFMhQIjNIMOR6C3ehHCAasZlslRYPfZ8l4nMDopEE35QLps2nzMTMSaj6-PY2Kiy55z57qiJI8LUu77IwfXJnf3luv1Ovl6f4/s1600/garden_5852.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pm0TMPHovLfOwLaltDv2hULq26gwG3wfReyb7o3WVXkFMhQIjNIMOR6C3ehHCAasZlslRYPfZ8l4nMDopEE35QLps2nzMTMSaj6-PY2Kiy55z57qiJI8LUu77IwfXJnf3luv1Ovl6f4/s400/garden_5852.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618253583371284594" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pm0TMPHovLfOwLaltDv2hULq26gwG3wfReyb7o3WVXkFMhQIjNIMOR6C3ehHCAasZlslRYPfZ8l4nMDopEE35QLps2nzMTMSaj6-PY2Kiy55z57qiJI8LUu77IwfXJnf3luv1Ovl6f4/s1600/garden_5852.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>He hopped onto the dock...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN84GQyUncbRP0xzjanX2sgzPX_pJ3GDGIgUpMTEvmphJ0UxNKmNB_TrhC6t_4ioUGLpwnR5OBa8tfRLLmzqtdj195BwIIE517Tt-DswQRBQd9E4BG94iZrwhEZxGvBbtvc_UbfPisONo/s1600/garden_5856.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN84GQyUncbRP0xzjanX2sgzPX_pJ3GDGIgUpMTEvmphJ0UxNKmNB_TrhC6t_4ioUGLpwnR5OBa8tfRLLmzqtdj195BwIIE517Tt-DswQRBQd9E4BG94iZrwhEZxGvBbtvc_UbfPisONo/s400/garden_5856.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618253579085232402" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN84GQyUncbRP0xzjanX2sgzPX_pJ3GDGIgUpMTEvmphJ0UxNKmNB_TrhC6t_4ioUGLpwnR5OBa8tfRLLmzqtdj195BwIIE517Tt-DswQRBQd9E4BG94iZrwhEZxGvBbtvc_UbfPisONo/s1600/garden_5856.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and spent some time reflecting on life. Or contemplating jumping in for a swim.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP81l8J_FLZ_BpMj-rAp83WWdMUUHTpGVreghhs76KcoAR6tmMo4pi2ZcKDetfn3Tw-GoaxoR04W22-J89d6SoXoHa186cljHaNa0WowBOrFavgYR976XoIUhp9AFZ-rL4OUIQmcMH-A/s1600/garden_5860.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP81l8J_FLZ_BpMj-rAp83WWdMUUHTpGVreghhs76KcoAR6tmMo4pi2ZcKDetfn3Tw-GoaxoR04W22-J89d6SoXoHa186cljHaNa0WowBOrFavgYR976XoIUhp9AFZ-rL4OUIQmcMH-A/s400/garden_5860.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618252465758327010" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP81l8J_FLZ_BpMj-rAp83WWdMUUHTpGVreghhs76KcoAR6tmMo4pi2ZcKDetfn3Tw-GoaxoR04W22-J89d6SoXoHa186cljHaNa0WowBOrFavgYR976XoIUhp9AFZ-rL4OUIQmcMH-A/s1600/garden_5860.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>After that it became a game to inspect the gap between the green and the dock...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92L8VHq1FaN89mOhGCs_wRPvszqIRiqMBsQMcKG__L_wCMaHNwcg3Pu1F-XawOS6JSZdI7sAddejGGnHKzSJZpDO86lzE5j5Y4bJxPwjGqmpXydGYP3Oa_m9pI3IQ8sgtHwnD1Xx2JzQ/s1600/garden_5861.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92L8VHq1FaN89mOhGCs_wRPvszqIRiqMBsQMcKG__L_wCMaHNwcg3Pu1F-XawOS6JSZdI7sAddejGGnHKzSJZpDO86lzE5j5Y4bJxPwjGqmpXydGYP3Oa_m9pI3IQ8sgtHwnD1Xx2JzQ/s400/garden_5861.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618252455849304706" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92L8VHq1FaN89mOhGCs_wRPvszqIRiqMBsQMcKG__L_wCMaHNwcg3Pu1F-XawOS6JSZdI7sAddejGGnHKzSJZpDO86lzE5j5Y4bJxPwjGqmpXydGYP3Oa_m9pI3IQ8sgtHwnD1Xx2JzQ/s1600/garden_5861.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and take the leap over to the other side.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhepP0xR8paAfmY2w8LAB5kHYGZbzFBOM3db4ZOlejDri-yx0fwmcxElZ5LcEaH98ckvlaM81bkqvU372bcEO7NyhJUJyda64RKxNGuDWb6zr-e8I32TCXeU9ZBXHrX-lFagKnqexsdk/s1600/garden_5867.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhepP0xR8paAfmY2w8LAB5kHYGZbzFBOM3db4ZOlejDri-yx0fwmcxElZ5LcEaH98ckvlaM81bkqvU372bcEO7NyhJUJyda64RKxNGuDWb6zr-e8I32TCXeU9ZBXHrX-lFagKnqexsdk/s400/garden_5867.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618252446786894018" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhepP0xR8paAfmY2w8LAB5kHYGZbzFBOM3db4ZOlejDri-yx0fwmcxElZ5LcEaH98ckvlaM81bkqvU372bcEO7NyhJUJyda64RKxNGuDWb6zr-e8I32TCXeU9ZBXHrX-lFagKnqexsdk/s1600/garden_5867.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>There was a kayak sitting near the dock. I thought Wyatt might enjoy sitting in it for a bit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvXyafJzp8W7JgnE_k8gzEbfGEVYY9XbD0j9i0ieDsHWsabpu0QseyjkUaZmaVJJ3LlAwKogW4ay-osXsGF9s9pnpAG7xckXRn1zssCETuTuw-khCCITWrsUqpNTgYeSKennisbSJn1I/s1600/garden_5870.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvXyafJzp8W7JgnE_k8gzEbfGEVYY9XbD0j9i0ieDsHWsabpu0QseyjkUaZmaVJJ3LlAwKogW4ay-osXsGF9s9pnpAG7xckXRn1zssCETuTuw-khCCITWrsUqpNTgYeSKennisbSJn1I/s400/garden_5870.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618252444374687138" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvXyafJzp8W7JgnE_k8gzEbfGEVYY9XbD0j9i0ieDsHWsabpu0QseyjkUaZmaVJJ3LlAwKogW4ay-osXsGF9s9pnpAG7xckXRn1zssCETuTuw-khCCITWrsUqpNTgYeSKennisbSJn1I/s1600/garden_5870.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>He didn't. My arms, however, were about ready to fall off from carrying him for so long, so I bribed Elliot with a juice box and got both boys back up the stairs onto solid ground where we checked on the progress of the planting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DYSc2I7BB-yG7y5o6WyNADYq45aqaHx6RtK-YNF-N4NGe_KZaWil8prpJjRv8n3hbARQBD92UWoDVCpBKqMZ9eWWBU1s5swQi2IoMgIwCn9Yc700M_2xZSbNRcRUXi4NOQvIzls8N4Q/s1600/garden_5878.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DYSc2I7BB-yG7y5o6WyNADYq45aqaHx6RtK-YNF-N4NGe_KZaWil8prpJjRv8n3hbARQBD92UWoDVCpBKqMZ9eWWBU1s5swQi2IoMgIwCn9Yc700M_2xZSbNRcRUXi4NOQvIzls8N4Q/s400/garden_5878.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618251507606941266" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DYSc2I7BB-yG7y5o6WyNADYq45aqaHx6RtK-YNF-N4NGe_KZaWil8prpJjRv8n3hbARQBD92UWoDVCpBKqMZ9eWWBU1s5swQi2IoMgIwCn9Yc700M_2xZSbNRcRUXi4NOQvIzls8N4Q/s1600/garden_5878.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Maya was busy digging...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b_rjQ8KZS1tye-IHej8rxEiOFLy-n75i8YywGE_tJTqrmXve7jOedfon_yq8gdJlc78Uq3zkO5elMVf2vH6zA8sTTkbrxZCjlWwq_amLKHqZMdEP8kXSMWtWd4px4BshuQZirasl2FU/s1600/garden_5887.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b_rjQ8KZS1tye-IHej8rxEiOFLy-n75i8YywGE_tJTqrmXve7jOedfon_yq8gdJlc78Uq3zkO5elMVf2vH6zA8sTTkbrxZCjlWwq_amLKHqZMdEP8kXSMWtWd4px4BshuQZirasl2FU/s400/garden_5887.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618251499717104034" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b_rjQ8KZS1tye-IHej8rxEiOFLy-n75i8YywGE_tJTqrmXve7jOedfon_yq8gdJlc78Uq3zkO5elMVf2vH6zA8sTTkbrxZCjlWwq_amLKHqZMdEP8kXSMWtWd4px4BshuQZirasl2FU/s1600/garden_5887.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and Miss I was busy smiling.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX3U-XnDG_ZwO4RftL9FRI6e7g6sZfzloWIJMh_a7hd_xCnvdBZb7_S-8j8dZ2owZK25CPrmrhZGmADhm4Aa3BpN4F1_8iuvDZ7Ymv81jfEB2xAi1ZSipcbqUdtvoogSfzHQ4pgiOO6I/s1600/garden_5895.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX3U-XnDG_ZwO4RftL9FRI6e7g6sZfzloWIJMh_a7hd_xCnvdBZb7_S-8j8dZ2owZK25CPrmrhZGmADhm4Aa3BpN4F1_8iuvDZ7Ymv81jfEB2xAi1ZSipcbqUdtvoogSfzHQ4pgiOO6I/s400/garden_5895.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618251491009645330" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX3U-XnDG_ZwO4RftL9FRI6e7g6sZfzloWIJMh_a7hd_xCnvdBZb7_S-8j8dZ2owZK25CPrmrhZGmADhm4Aa3BpN4F1_8iuvDZ7Ymv81jfEB2xAi1ZSipcbqUdtvoogSfzHQ4pgiOO6I/s1600/garden_5895.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Ethan, of course, stopped what he was doing to pose.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3zu1KVId2EJ_W6FQXZFr4qf4oifVSa5xDztbO5mDR-vCPWjjP1bJEFxAEwBA_ABj4sBCl4R_CNeH0MKBAeRrNSGAeH-nGYJ2BfzdeQEDvfRgaR4_W2xDKKXXstm2lkcbOiHgK6vnS1c/s1600/garden_5899.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3zu1KVId2EJ_W6FQXZFr4qf4oifVSa5xDztbO5mDR-vCPWjjP1bJEFxAEwBA_ABj4sBCl4R_CNeH0MKBAeRrNSGAeH-nGYJ2BfzdeQEDvfRgaR4_W2xDKKXXstm2lkcbOiHgK6vnS1c/s400/garden_5899.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618251482529384290" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3zu1KVId2EJ_W6FQXZFr4qf4oifVSa5xDztbO5mDR-vCPWjjP1bJEFxAEwBA_ABj4sBCl4R_CNeH0MKBAeRrNSGAeH-nGYJ2BfzdeQEDvfRgaR4_W2xDKKXXstm2lkcbOiHgK6vnS1c/s1600/garden_5899.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>G-man made sure the post was solidly in the ground...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUB-D4JBZTfmj1sTKKbYbxsrc1dElxzg06EhznAhIATrp9yFAQLTSDKSrCgauivE9qmra9gYgkB9mqEIm7db51dTykqfBrFCkjjJ2enoRP2MusYtCQYbpuVbP_oEeAYIW2MHmGfAp_so/s1600/garden_5902.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUB-D4JBZTfmj1sTKKbYbxsrc1dElxzg06EhznAhIATrp9yFAQLTSDKSrCgauivE9qmra9gYgkB9mqEIm7db51dTykqfBrFCkjjJ2enoRP2MusYtCQYbpuVbP_oEeAYIW2MHmGfAp_so/s400/garden_5902.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618250547336881394" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUB-D4JBZTfmj1sTKKbYbxsrc1dElxzg06EhznAhIATrp9yFAQLTSDKSrCgauivE9qmra9gYgkB9mqEIm7db51dTykqfBrFCkjjJ2enoRP2MusYtCQYbpuVbP_oEeAYIW2MHmGfAp_so/s1600/garden_5902.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...grabbed a bit of dirt...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfbAGP2M4vXKV1Qh2i2QeEjBdoFUskiqu69rH1r4df9_L5-CKCoU_ChOaRmHv_f5a146qVnfa_1xHpYlKzkSvdSRRzhMxs39DK-Kzh1isSHYvg6IKTsZvWKt-FNJTVSNCSwFbYr9N1Ok/s1600/garden_5903.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfbAGP2M4vXKV1Qh2i2QeEjBdoFUskiqu69rH1r4df9_L5-CKCoU_ChOaRmHv_f5a146qVnfa_1xHpYlKzkSvdSRRzhMxs39DK-Kzh1isSHYvg6IKTsZvWKt-FNJTVSNCSwFbYr9N1Ok/s400/garden_5903.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618250545175358258" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfbAGP2M4vXKV1Qh2i2QeEjBdoFUskiqu69rH1r4df9_L5-CKCoU_ChOaRmHv_f5a146qVnfa_1xHpYlKzkSvdSRRzhMxs39DK-Kzh1isSHYvg6IKTsZvWKt-FNJTVSNCSwFbYr9N1Ok/s1600/garden_5903.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and proceeded to put the dirt on top of the post. I'm sure this is a genius new way of planting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIAkBazmVE731yFkR-OOe4JiewDb3fxTJXpSXk5k3NecArKo46WJDaknm9PJemGALc4WZY5OQVWQANtalT9BBvSQ2GDbuXGPwllB96fmaMldAX0xHsShbmaaBEj2BCAehbgbmolAG6mc/s1600/garden_5905.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIAkBazmVE731yFkR-OOe4JiewDb3fxTJXpSXk5k3NecArKo46WJDaknm9PJemGALc4WZY5OQVWQANtalT9BBvSQ2GDbuXGPwllB96fmaMldAX0xHsShbmaaBEj2BCAehbgbmolAG6mc/s400/garden_5905.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618250536430541570" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIAkBazmVE731yFkR-OOe4JiewDb3fxTJXpSXk5k3NecArKo46WJDaknm9PJemGALc4WZY5OQVWQANtalT9BBvSQ2GDbuXGPwllB96fmaMldAX0xHsShbmaaBEj2BCAehbgbmolAG6mc/s1600/garden_5905.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Meanwhile, a (small) city boy received a lesson on hoeing...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4H8a1dm_Jbl2jbXWTSFHQWH4e5-h1nu1RgCPGlxdFEvtQ8P4iGp46t3UoFLn0JdaMcNYS1_QKKPzi_xhQI3lOW1Epn1l7BKNnmpEyQWe2NWjSE50-7HmKH33KI8vBG4m-r67VGGWcQ/s1600/garden_5910.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4H8a1dm_Jbl2jbXWTSFHQWH4e5-h1nu1RgCPGlxdFEvtQ8P4iGp46t3UoFLn0JdaMcNYS1_QKKPzi_xhQI3lOW1Epn1l7BKNnmpEyQWe2NWjSE50-7HmKH33KI8vBG4m-r67VGGWcQ/s400/garden_5910.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618250523777648450" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4H8a1dm_Jbl2jbXWTSFHQWH4e5-h1nu1RgCPGlxdFEvtQ8P4iGp46t3UoFLn0JdaMcNYS1_QKKPzi_xhQI3lOW1Epn1l7BKNnmpEyQWe2NWjSE50-7HmKH33KI8vBG4m-r67VGGWcQ/s1600/garden_5910.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and Ethan got back to the business of planting seeds...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmta6kth0VNMDUnLb78t630Xb64fvuZYvEsOkv7hNeKw-9zdBQWyAO9XPSA7ZwuM2BMozAECM1jr1R8k_kFZyA_fkf_MMNswh4S6hzuIPkCTyvTlsmUHGZPpmi-CcjTx3gpAS8yFGdbU/s1600/garden_5911.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmta6kth0VNMDUnLb78t630Xb64fvuZYvEsOkv7hNeKw-9zdBQWyAO9XPSA7ZwuM2BMozAECM1jr1R8k_kFZyA_fkf_MMNswh4S6hzuIPkCTyvTlsmUHGZPpmi-CcjTx3gpAS8yFGdbU/s400/garden_5911.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249587335454642" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmta6kth0VNMDUnLb78t630Xb64fvuZYvEsOkv7hNeKw-9zdBQWyAO9XPSA7ZwuM2BMozAECM1jr1R8k_kFZyA_fkf_MMNswh4S6hzuIPkCTyvTlsmUHGZPpmi-CcjTx3gpAS8yFGdbU/s1600/garden_5911.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>...and covering them with dirt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzI022r1ZcM8NMxII9sNMvjQKQox468FlwmJTfL_1leiF5iyuDtqcKu9xF49pCkUyHyjaYF375bKtTh_qwV7eG2s_dezULadCyElp1QihA1bdhB8oa37gzp7f0Cj4MS8tRKf4PhpML0s/s1600/garden_5913.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzI022r1ZcM8NMxII9sNMvjQKQox468FlwmJTfL_1leiF5iyuDtqcKu9xF49pCkUyHyjaYF375bKtTh_qwV7eG2s_dezULadCyElp1QihA1bdhB8oa37gzp7f0Cj4MS8tRKf4PhpML0s/s400/garden_5913.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249583991307042" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzI022r1ZcM8NMxII9sNMvjQKQox468FlwmJTfL_1leiF5iyuDtqcKu9xF49pCkUyHyjaYF375bKtTh_qwV7eG2s_dezULadCyElp1QihA1bdhB8oa37gzp7f0Cj4MS8tRKf4PhpML0s/s1600/garden_5913.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>There was a fair amount of random digging going on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Pi-YlR2OPAsV8tll_EMfH8K3No4Mql6vsMvYrQq6nsreczVdWYY-RNFpjoapaOR83F2gr8rKzxjn0uo1ok2R-FR3ZsWwSNqrHtY9xWw5gikZPUWqOtcsvMpAo-sEn98P4_fmDJYIiOA/s1600/garden_5921.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Pi-YlR2OPAsV8tll_EMfH8K3No4Mql6vsMvYrQq6nsreczVdWYY-RNFpjoapaOR83F2gr8rKzxjn0uo1ok2R-FR3ZsWwSNqrHtY9xWw5gikZPUWqOtcsvMpAo-sEn98P4_fmDJYIiOA/s400/garden_5921.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249573192502850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH146F1o3McFAzYd3XIkkKsvc_E3nSGWky9Cnd8KZLAgofobUE_YnshOaNZo4iUv8OhHqGifzzKVH_c_EJtUs43l2xhArwCPnzH7UHMlqqAVdCHTil-R-5Ji49YD6JRLqYx_xveR87eI/s1600/garden_5927.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH146F1o3McFAzYd3XIkkKsvc_E3nSGWky9Cnd8KZLAgofobUE_YnshOaNZo4iUv8OhHqGifzzKVH_c_EJtUs43l2xhArwCPnzH7UHMlqqAVdCHTil-R-5Ji49YD6JRLqYx_xveR87eI/s400/garden_5927.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249567028947218" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH146F1o3McFAzYd3XIkkKsvc_E3nSGWky9Cnd8KZLAgofobUE_YnshOaNZo4iUv8OhHqGifzzKVH_c_EJtUs43l2xhArwCPnzH7UHMlqqAVdCHTil-R-5Ji49YD6JRLqYx_xveR87eI/s1600/garden_5927.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>There was lots of learning, too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCi6JHVOrs75GNlEO5XlDItlhlEMxIc-tKfLrEuaN6Hm1D3rbgWOKJBTkx66bszbeL2UkgJvqb7ZjnAKWSAqRUyxjCzDEFgcxqi-F2MJfhk6ZGuvQB7q0p0uoiCNWXHQyO_FtCKo5hlI/s1600/garden_5928.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCi6JHVOrs75GNlEO5XlDItlhlEMxIc-tKfLrEuaN6Hm1D3rbgWOKJBTkx66bszbeL2UkgJvqb7ZjnAKWSAqRUyxjCzDEFgcxqi-F2MJfhk6ZGuvQB7q0p0uoiCNWXHQyO_FtCKo5hlI/s400/garden_5928.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618248591074888386" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_cLVyEWxwAleqPzdcJrwbJkVkmyO8vDIVDIuTRDo-xDhrRU6TWXFQ5CO_oeeMcl-HQMMKxIra46hvfuymmH1a9rMNkBHQfoUeBy785Zhy0w5qwErysWMQf3K7fn-HWgujqx9R7J9Xbo/s1600/garden_5940.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_cLVyEWxwAleqPzdcJrwbJkVkmyO8vDIVDIuTRDo-xDhrRU6TWXFQ5CO_oeeMcl-HQMMKxIra46hvfuymmH1a9rMNkBHQfoUeBy785Zhy0w5qwErysWMQf3K7fn-HWgujqx9R7J9Xbo/s400/garden_5940.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618248587910596562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm_otH92dElrZEuZxJEucl6COL7bLwoOda7NTf90KnF_4JPjbVJD6EX7URtv3SiDlLzWzEw2AU7S2SrEtCZlIrvg038kUygO-pkbxX57P1NbsZscgileaDBfKXFyUA6tZlFi6wkPnXBI/s1600/garden_5946.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm_otH92dElrZEuZxJEucl6COL7bLwoOda7NTf90KnF_4JPjbVJD6EX7URtv3SiDlLzWzEw2AU7S2SrEtCZlIrvg038kUygO-pkbxX57P1NbsZscgileaDBfKXFyUA6tZlFi6wkPnXBI/s400/garden_5946.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618248578731570898" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm_otH92dElrZEuZxJEucl6COL7bLwoOda7NTf90KnF_4JPjbVJD6EX7URtv3SiDlLzWzEw2AU7S2SrEtCZlIrvg038kUygO-pkbxX57P1NbsZscgileaDBfKXFyUA6tZlFi6wkPnXBI/s1600/garden_5946.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>And what day is complete without a good tantrum?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK10ni2p-ZJNHpNWc7PtBVtPporR0oo531mb2Q6uqIMYsYHrOSjuq2VqZK65413bLezURTwhqdxu86HqIJobWx3oDBzXILmKZXmCeVgSn7EtjwUP77JXPpcmZCol32cjSj-I65wywKb4o/s1600/garden_5948.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK10ni2p-ZJNHpNWc7PtBVtPporR0oo531mb2Q6uqIMYsYHrOSjuq2VqZK65413bLezURTwhqdxu86HqIJobWx3oDBzXILmKZXmCeVgSn7EtjwUP77JXPpcmZCol32cjSj-I65wywKb4o/s400/garden_5948.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618248566457456338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56EwmxMWXkc8MjqAxvFyK3PCEoItYwo2gVUnuw14XuL6vAmMJuUvcFuqb3XvlHNkabOUVHkd2NdAvDgW51npLGEfpmcPggt3S7teCu1VE1gTYvEcPZCJemjl7-zjdMtAAt1K-GxMbTpI/s1600/garden_5965.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56EwmxMWXkc8MjqAxvFyK3PCEoItYwo2gVUnuw14XuL6vAmMJuUvcFuqb3XvlHNkabOUVHkd2NdAvDgW51npLGEfpmcPggt3S7teCu1VE1gTYvEcPZCJemjl7-zjdMtAAt1K-GxMbTpI/s400/garden_5965.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618247582159465282" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56EwmxMWXkc8MjqAxvFyK3PCEoItYwo2gVUnuw14XuL6vAmMJuUvcFuqb3XvlHNkabOUVHkd2NdAvDgW51npLGEfpmcPggt3S7teCu1VE1gTYvEcPZCJemjl7-zjdMtAAt1K-GxMbTpI/s1600/garden_5965.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Brenna and A planted a nice, straight row of lettuce.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccFhkqKScdC6KfxbWqdnihsrlg4ndOgjddLvtXHJRhwY-Lfpp4SkC0zr3p95zxSESqalILSD9WO_9OT-TY8GRYSklUPuia1wnNEyTeOhuGFq4lI1alUNcq0tASlI6cApfoCKDcOCLFMU/s1600/garden_5978.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccFhkqKScdC6KfxbWqdnihsrlg4ndOgjddLvtXHJRhwY-Lfpp4SkC0zr3p95zxSESqalILSD9WO_9OT-TY8GRYSklUPuia1wnNEyTeOhuGFq4lI1alUNcq0tASlI6cApfoCKDcOCLFMU/s400/garden_5978.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618247573348399538" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccFhkqKScdC6KfxbWqdnihsrlg4ndOgjddLvtXHJRhwY-Lfpp4SkC0zr3p95zxSESqalILSD9WO_9OT-TY8GRYSklUPuia1wnNEyTeOhuGFq4lI1alUNcq0tASlI6cApfoCKDcOCLFMU/s1600/garden_5978.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>After all that digging in the dirt, a bunch of the kids went back down to the lake to hang out in the row boat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkO_9l6IuXa4ilL4ViToRfptIbEcwaxOcuetTcDcUd-uLKBupgraHGdDm2wdSfWrwp91ik3cSoPSXSxqpcilAJiYzzBoHNV1i6e3NBeb-wzVth-whtx-c3N8Vt79kbQY7G1cw-n6HQ6g/s1600/garden_5989.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkO_9l6IuXa4ilL4ViToRfptIbEcwaxOcuetTcDcUd-uLKBupgraHGdDm2wdSfWrwp91ik3cSoPSXSxqpcilAJiYzzBoHNV1i6e3NBeb-wzVth-whtx-c3N8Vt79kbQY7G1cw-n6HQ6g/s400/garden_5989.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618247565662555378" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkO_9l6IuXa4ilL4ViToRfptIbEcwaxOcuetTcDcUd-uLKBupgraHGdDm2wdSfWrwp91ik3cSoPSXSxqpcilAJiYzzBoHNV1i6e3NBeb-wzVth-whtx-c3N8Vt79kbQY7G1cw-n6HQ6g/s1600/garden_5989.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Now, before you get concerned about the fact that none of them are wearing life jackets, let me assure you that the boat was tied to the dock the entire time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW6oKZPhaTC1w29SYUEjoSCrXobiqJ34o5U81RDs8IB8e6PysUM2kuFAqfqwX474a8HCpNx1ZdvhT7lu9-BjcuQZpJe5praS0HAcY0d_fzbJntTOxVogC49muXVeH8x1PTxityyNh7EE/s1600/garden_6017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW6oKZPhaTC1w29SYUEjoSCrXobiqJ34o5U81RDs8IB8e6PysUM2kuFAqfqwX474a8HCpNx1ZdvhT7lu9-BjcuQZpJe5praS0HAcY0d_fzbJntTOxVogC49muXVeH8x1PTxityyNh7EE/s400/garden_6017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618247554141168274" /></a><br /></div><div>After a hard day of work it was time to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Soon enough it will be time to begin harvesting! Until then, we will enjoy a weeding party or two. And if we're very lucky, perhaps there will be more monster cookies involved.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-84877469072554275892011-06-06T16:09:00.000-07:002011-06-06T16:52:36.817-07:00a big umbrella<div>We came home from, well, wherever it is we were one evening, and the sun was in just the right place in the sky for taking some great backlit photos. "Wouldn't it be adorable," I thought, "to get some pictures of Elliot with the giant rainbow umbrella?" </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bQRhNHgGRtbtALzepzv8z_szSntrQgz5GNKjbyK5H85Eq_4YNYsZ4Z1wBIuNRkz6Lbx1cz-878D2JSbyuw5t4jdVHrotfQrRbhPwa56Ib-C4FEBIdY7nycKlib9pZs89tyl9_Ff2gNs/s1600/umbrella_5608.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bQRhNHgGRtbtALzepzv8z_szSntrQgz5GNKjbyK5H85Eq_4YNYsZ4Z1wBIuNRkz6Lbx1cz-878D2JSbyuw5t4jdVHrotfQrRbhPwa56Ib-C4FEBIdY7nycKlib9pZs89tyl9_Ff2gNs/s400/umbrella_5608.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615252631056112706" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bQRhNHgGRtbtALzepzv8z_szSntrQgz5GNKjbyK5H85Eq_4YNYsZ4Z1wBIuNRkz6Lbx1cz-878D2JSbyuw5t4jdVHrotfQrRbhPwa56Ib-C4FEBIdY7nycKlib9pZs89tyl9_Ff2gNs/s1600/umbrella_5608.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a> Adorable indeed. What I got was this.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYXFROtwoa5uEPx2rEk0qX1mQ2QGti3yBYXFN_oUxtk6qNxMtz8tNNHxI8i2h5pGlBwBYUYTafMoSb4dipubYet6f6Y30mI6YCYl9i8fNPAr5iuYeDkvRk5H8pTB07OPlmC4ZK8xxuMw/s1600/umbrella_5610.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYXFROtwoa5uEPx2rEk0qX1mQ2QGti3yBYXFN_oUxtk6qNxMtz8tNNHxI8i2h5pGlBwBYUYTafMoSb4dipubYet6f6Y30mI6YCYl9i8fNPAr5iuYeDkvRk5H8pTB07OPlmC4ZK8xxuMw/s400/umbrella_5610.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615252629193883586" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYXFROtwoa5uEPx2rEk0qX1mQ2QGti3yBYXFN_oUxtk6qNxMtz8tNNHxI8i2h5pGlBwBYUYTafMoSb4dipubYet6f6Y30mI6YCYl9i8fNPAr5iuYeDkvRk5H8pTB07OPlmC4ZK8xxuMw/s1600/umbrella_5610.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>A look of consternation (not to be confused with constipation which I can tell you with 100% certainty is NOT a condition he is afflicted with)....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnkRwLVqw9n2iewezwG4wSXqL9cTHaODGD0oBSwyMvH_3Pw-mBtp_k3IzKLA2ZuVX3mzvq3aH6FaVYyARTSloDaWZ1dhlMA6NQlCeYGZd-wnleP8hXKCT2iuEzIQKOTwI6vILnTWUqr4/s1600/umbrella_5614.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnkRwLVqw9n2iewezwG4wSXqL9cTHaODGD0oBSwyMvH_3Pw-mBtp_k3IzKLA2ZuVX3mzvq3aH6FaVYyARTSloDaWZ1dhlMA6NQlCeYGZd-wnleP8hXKCT2iuEzIQKOTwI6vILnTWUqr4/s400/umbrella_5614.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615252614958127778" /></a></div><div>...and annoyance. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnkRwLVqw9n2iewezwG4wSXqL9cTHaODGD0oBSwyMvH_3Pw-mBtp_k3IzKLA2ZuVX3mzvq3aH6FaVYyARTSloDaWZ1dhlMA6NQlCeYGZd-wnleP8hXKCT2iuEzIQKOTwI6vILnTWUqr4/s1600/umbrella_5614.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcdyCU2C3Y44fRnWyNW52ww-hWRcxnPilo-0fjJxSxeGqh1EYcUzpoIfdJQqLV4kpchr01a0-NYutZ_IHNlbf3acveWY2ORgAptElJus_jh_Wde3-u7MbEj4h-Acb0w5ui9y1YR6GAns/s1600/umbrella_5622.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcdyCU2C3Y44fRnWyNW52ww-hWRcxnPilo-0fjJxSxeGqh1EYcUzpoIfdJQqLV4kpchr01a0-NYutZ_IHNlbf3acveWY2ORgAptElJus_jh_Wde3-u7MbEj4h-Acb0w5ui9y1YR6GAns/s400/umbrella_5622.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615252607357832098" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcdyCU2C3Y44fRnWyNW52ww-hWRcxnPilo-0fjJxSxeGqh1EYcUzpoIfdJQqLV4kpchr01a0-NYutZ_IHNlbf3acveWY2ORgAptElJus_jh_Wde3-u7MbEj4h-Acb0w5ui9y1YR6GAns/s1600/umbrella_5622.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>After that brief and unsuccessful shoot, the other kids decided they wanted to have THEIR pictures taken with the umbrella.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7u8EylKtUUUs6iuEeY0DkFs8cC9hm63Y_J-mm4RPwICGN8mtxBbsdyMHK819XLYOREGiiSQJGqBE_yfRe_fWKX7Bs-fjFZ-hpZfvmQRyNse-j8w3Yf7gY5rj4RvQXM7Hpwv079iPTEE/s1600/umbrella_5623.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7u8EylKtUUUs6iuEeY0DkFs8cC9hm63Y_J-mm4RPwICGN8mtxBbsdyMHK819XLYOREGiiSQJGqBE_yfRe_fWKX7Bs-fjFZ-hpZfvmQRyNse-j8w3Yf7gY5rj4RvQXM7Hpwv079iPTEE/s400/umbrella_5623.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615251814181225202" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7u8EylKtUUUs6iuEeY0DkFs8cC9hm63Y_J-mm4RPwICGN8mtxBbsdyMHK819XLYOREGiiSQJGqBE_yfRe_fWKX7Bs-fjFZ-hpZfvmQRyNse-j8w3Yf7gY5rj4RvQXM7Hpwv079iPTEE/s1600/umbrella_5623.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Which at the very least yielded a smile or two.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SOXnXxFmUNPpKxmvdwLqViOuA5wSKcWDKVgQ5II1AvyCkHVYDBRN4vwiQ4puVRaZ0Y1kE8RsXp2WjxzxHBav0LCIWwF9oR7_6dpymotFXF6CtM8GP4F3riIjV5a8wIftS-WXMGfPXsg/s1600/umbrella_5625.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SOXnXxFmUNPpKxmvdwLqViOuA5wSKcWDKVgQ5II1AvyCkHVYDBRN4vwiQ4puVRaZ0Y1kE8RsXp2WjxzxHBav0LCIWwF9oR7_6dpymotFXF6CtM8GP4F3riIjV5a8wIftS-WXMGfPXsg/s400/umbrella_5625.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615251807374108498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOw1yDcWZAFgKeJZLOl-LU2q_WYgBa3ne59zC153xiymduU9ftgATNF7jEiQYAHSPeQ3e8XbC-o5S6Ox6Wnl6SkvoZNiXoPq4PUNekAQKGHXQlOCXi8uQBYOBdbCoxmQZc48JnH96I2M/s1600/umbrella_5651.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOw1yDcWZAFgKeJZLOl-LU2q_WYgBa3ne59zC153xiymduU9ftgATNF7jEiQYAHSPeQ3e8XbC-o5S6Ox6Wnl6SkvoZNiXoPq4PUNekAQKGHXQlOCXi8uQBYOBdbCoxmQZc48JnH96I2M/s400/umbrella_5651.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615251800025853090" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOw1yDcWZAFgKeJZLOl-LU2q_WYgBa3ne59zC153xiymduU9ftgATNF7jEiQYAHSPeQ3e8XbC-o5S6Ox6Wnl6SkvoZNiXoPq4PUNekAQKGHXQlOCXi8uQBYOBdbCoxmQZc48JnH96I2M/s1600/umbrella_5651.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>And THEN I thought it would be fun to take some jumping pictures with the umbrella. So I grabbed Ethan and proceeded to do just that. Unfortunately, there were no jumping apparatuses in the setting sun so we had to go to the shady side of the yard. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoFzIF23rF-SVgPej6pHFVrxRvzjsx09AJq2tyrGL4qf0R1zliKzDc10LWK5gMOmIfp0KNNh8i9dOffIe8WxQDDgIdmeyOXupnBZWjj2jPQoPT6Mv-OhPNOv9TprLgu_PbcbKonAGqV4/s1600/umbrella_5659.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoFzIF23rF-SVgPej6pHFVrxRvzjsx09AJq2tyrGL4qf0R1zliKzDc10LWK5gMOmIfp0KNNh8i9dOffIe8WxQDDgIdmeyOXupnBZWjj2jPQoPT6Mv-OhPNOv9TprLgu_PbcbKonAGqV4/s400/umbrella_5659.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615251794694487906" /></a><br /></div><div>Brenna wanted in on the action, too, so I shot a couple of her. And then I realized that even though it was still light outside, it was, in fact, past bedtime on a school night, so we called it a night and went inside. </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-48795130409785532292011-05-15T18:29:00.001-07:002011-05-15T18:33:56.384-07:00kids say {ethan}<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd87Clgw2XIwmXdi2N-UwbT2PaDEncbqan62qqS45VgfR30710CHaclj3rFfPKTqXLoqnaaHhVj0pk4bqS6g4rFgyCdIJnT2b0cLL5aYBRpAa-pIxrFIikD9wrRHw6Dta3eex_MN-rhw/s1600/ethan_5572.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd87Clgw2XIwmXdi2N-UwbT2PaDEncbqan62qqS45VgfR30710CHaclj3rFfPKTqXLoqnaaHhVj0pk4bqS6g4rFgyCdIJnT2b0cLL5aYBRpAa-pIxrFIikD9wrRHw6Dta3eex_MN-rhw/s400/ethan_5572.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607120225271431954" /></a>Last week we were in the van listening to our Glee Christmas CD (which for whatever reason keeps the kids happy. Even though it's May. They are clearly confused by all the cold weather we've been having.) The song 'Island of Misfit Toys' came on. Ethan was happily singing along in his endearing tone-deaf little voice when, near the end of the song, he asked, "Are they saying biscuit or misfit?" Let's just try that on for a second. "We're on the island of biscuit toys...can somebody pass the butter?"<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-9620030082514032062011-04-30T16:30:00.000-07:002011-04-30T14:31:13.623-07:00a trip {to the falls}<div>About a month ago, just as the Frozen Tundra was beginning to feel whispers of the Big Thaw, our little darlings were given a week off of school for spring break. For a stay-at-home mother-of-five with a work-from-home husband, this means donning the title of Children's Entertainment Coordinator. Meaning the more time I can spend away from the house with the crazies the better.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8na1mDI0GVWZ1f5AqN7ye2R-PNVo_AZyi7KzEDnRhoiuL7mzxqL5p_7J7oXoDttzVylYaXu6QAI76EB-NCKETkJ0bhzT02WCOQXOTE2Fub3R_AbNqwiQj-JoT0WDbdICLYIHUmTcbyQ/s1600/minneopa_4296.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8na1mDI0GVWZ1f5AqN7ye2R-PNVo_AZyi7KzEDnRhoiuL7mzxqL5p_7J7oXoDttzVylYaXu6QAI76EB-NCKETkJ0bhzT02WCOQXOTE2Fub3R_AbNqwiQj-JoT0WDbdICLYIHUmTcbyQ/s400/minneopa_4296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600096260597669954" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>One such afternoon, I decided it would be fun to take the kids hiking at the falls. Thankfully I was able to leave Elliot home napping because I'm pretty sure that had he come with he would not have lived to tell about it. Or maybe I would have been the one who wouldn't have lived to tell about it as I'm fairly certain I would have had 598 heart attacks instead of the mere 19 I actually had.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYKYaIHvUgvyhv-unKgBmO98vDHreHSejVwDDQcFXTwC6OAhzin6S6uXhkjnNyf1nGLkKRtezO4HFO5W-TRLGgfMxECt3Cs9_O3HgQsrbeHOdzlWJSiIRiDSn7bAiJnq3KE3ro_EIpbM/s1600/minneopa_4305.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYKYaIHvUgvyhv-unKgBmO98vDHreHSejVwDDQcFXTwC6OAhzin6S6uXhkjnNyf1nGLkKRtezO4HFO5W-TRLGgfMxECt3Cs9_O3HgQsrbeHOdzlWJSiIRiDSn7bAiJnq3KE3ro_EIpbM/s400/minneopa_4305.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600096274912851778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>Not bringing Elliot meant we had two extra spots in our van, so Brenna and Maya each brought a friend along. I strapped Wyatt on my back and we started off on our adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SqfGuTzENm3Oi-7bpQCtRgFNud9YtIVdjxr8rPJuAWpDqu-UFdvH1GcJK3LFP67tfDk9S6Cctw9B90aKSl0KVwZQ6T0WUno8MeXtiYIJlNg9bjZKwCD1buflqouHfzDLibAz6hCLI-Y/s1600/minneopa_4313.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SqfGuTzENm3Oi-7bpQCtRgFNud9YtIVdjxr8rPJuAWpDqu-UFdvH1GcJK3LFP67tfDk9S6Cctw9B90aKSl0KVwZQ6T0WUno8MeXtiYIJlNg9bjZKwCD1buflqouHfzDLibAz6hCLI-Y/s400/minneopa_4313.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600096284241037810" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>After stopping to do a bit of posing that is. You'll notice that the majority of the pictures are of these two cuties. This is mainly because they were the only two in the group who actually <i>wanted</i> to slow down long enough for me to photograph them.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXQ1kkqMqurbjgcEYQXjybiioOI5HsH-5I9j1DUyPaWD9pszKbGJ-1BccdMyEUU7UAci9BcmoJzTyd-eQJeq34HJ1MqIVTx54Z9naX0cEFLV__QRfqaNXYU8CqOZnctGYvC3yXCkxDb4/s1600/minneopa_4319.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXQ1kkqMqurbjgcEYQXjybiioOI5HsH-5I9j1DUyPaWD9pszKbGJ-1BccdMyEUU7UAci9BcmoJzTyd-eQJeq34HJ1MqIVTx54Z9naX0cEFLV__QRfqaNXYU8CqOZnctGYvC3yXCkxDb4/s400/minneopa_4319.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600096293313940642" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>I believe it was a balmy 40-some degrees on this sunny spring day. Almost warm enough for shorts and flip flops. <i>Almost.</i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1B8m-1pTTaE2tihmJSvgK34y2B0EIQ4oESZMUVTD7DcIYFcnH9zN5nkzCuc9sv4A5Of61JTJ15rrUk79DmFJ1A23N_pNH354KCIY8kIxXbrXDiRO6fFkQC_RBx3ZXevUsrOjD4JUNfM/s1600/minneopa_4323.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1B8m-1pTTaE2tihmJSvgK34y2B0EIQ4oESZMUVTD7DcIYFcnH9zN5nkzCuc9sv4A5Of61JTJ15rrUk79DmFJ1A23N_pNH354KCIY8kIxXbrXDiRO6fFkQC_RBx3ZXevUsrOjD4JUNfM/s400/minneopa_4323.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601461721854945730" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>There are not a lot of trail options at this park. Or at least not a lot that I'm aware of. The trail we took involved a long set of stairs that was separated from a steep drop off by a rickety old rail. This would also be the scene of heart attack number one.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLVJmw2yzR74GpQmptrFIsfZ_SGPHpjniQfSCVlhBQmr8bfsGBdXTHSfx-7vk1AOpEPDRQNlBZYy-rgHLMn_ORQaDevSDWklqFJ3q2WOiCsGy1v4s0Rcf92DFCsewEPDw5ZEllIXiwNA/s1600/minneopa_4325.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLVJmw2yzR74GpQmptrFIsfZ_SGPHpjniQfSCVlhBQmr8bfsGBdXTHSfx-7vk1AOpEPDRQNlBZYy-rgHLMn_ORQaDevSDWklqFJ3q2WOiCsGy1v4s0Rcf92DFCsewEPDw5ZEllIXiwNA/s400/minneopa_4325.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601461729675224994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>On the other side of the stairs is a cliff with a few interesting little hidey-holes. The kids thought it was great fun to climb inside of the holes. Being rather claustrophobic myself, I saw them climbing into the holes <i>on purpose</i> and promptly had a panic attack. On the inside. Because if you've ever been responsible for kids you know that no good comes from them knowing that you just threw up a little in your mouth.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2BPs2GnReu3QuzMD5Fa5xTMc7DDm_L8651JojECpThMc5va2_ixG86hfp9A-Z4wfECXULGyb1dNLfqcwh9j3MswnR2KPFOKLa8QUgTb8p37TwG1KtJ-m8eKPy8tJ9K3iB_AXW-pLAyc/s1600/minneopa_4329.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2BPs2GnReu3QuzMD5Fa5xTMc7DDm_L8651JojECpThMc5va2_ixG86hfp9A-Z4wfECXULGyb1dNLfqcwh9j3MswnR2KPFOKLa8QUgTb8p37TwG1KtJ-m8eKPy8tJ9K3iB_AXW-pLAyc/s400/minneopa_4329.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601462481423075538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>I also didn't tell them that there were probably all kinds of icky creepy crawlies that made their homes in those little holes who would love nothing more than to hitch a ride out into the Vast Unknown in their hair. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE-WEsidhF83EHz7_7m2_5FF_z71Bo0Himu1NyYUkpHlOCf0O-Nj8pJSnSJVpvymZ-p9m9fGcT507UDZj-YkNcV50dFWhoyjnPKRbk-pgcocYHn_UPpny8Kw7zXjRpIHaqyXoGdC-VvA/s1600/minneopa_4356.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE-WEsidhF83EHz7_7m2_5FF_z71Bo0Himu1NyYUkpHlOCf0O-Nj8pJSnSJVpvymZ-p9m9fGcT507UDZj-YkNcV50dFWhoyjnPKRbk-pgcocYHn_UPpny8Kw7zXjRpIHaqyXoGdC-VvA/s400/minneopa_4356.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601462489851055362" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>After coming down one long set of stairs, we crossed a little wooden bridge and began making our way up another set. This is the part where I thought somebody was going to die. The two older girls went up first, followed by Ethan and then the other two girls. Everything seemed hunky dory until I reached a point where the stairs turned. I'm still not sure how the kids made it past this turn. Apparently this area does not see much of the sun because the stairs there could be better described as a hill of ice. Not only could I not find a safe way <i>up,</i> but suddenly I had to figure out how to get five kids <i>down. </i>On either side of the stairs was a steep drop down a rocky cliff. And once again, the only thing separating us from the stairs and the cliff was a rickety old rail. With the baby on my back throwing my balance off, I found a spot to dig in my foot, held onto the rail, said a prayer, and one-by-one grabbed the hands of each kid until they were all safely on an ice-free step. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hCuHG1gu2AEPEEJTELxgWmBQGGNO6_YyatL9GSVGQYpZzn-O6EXqMsh043bxwCbqJmTnPmQJrxZGc1YiZa1kldJGOFzbWaC67Uod7q6GcMaj8PzO0Dr_my9no2TyZvL0lNCYocydjtM/s1600/minneopa_4374.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hCuHG1gu2AEPEEJTELxgWmBQGGNO6_YyatL9GSVGQYpZzn-O6EXqMsh043bxwCbqJmTnPmQJrxZGc1YiZa1kldJGOFzbWaC67Uod7q6GcMaj8PzO0Dr_my9no2TyZvL0lNCYocydjtM/s400/minneopa_4374.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601462494444622850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>They all continued on down the stairs and across the bridge as if it were no big deal. I took a deep breath and followed them down all the while pretending I wasn't having another massive heart attack.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjookALil59XeqWfmGKg6nItHjdPti4OCbk4oHqHyGGjk1afRd2OJEftNOGlXmoHGQcnEYbdOZ_sfDTBqq30GDUh8yWYW1BJbuvbg6xr6kRpn2iCSY-n2Y6HKI9yNeRoYTTqTTytrNE6IY/s1600/minneopa_4394.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjookALil59XeqWfmGKg6nItHjdPti4OCbk4oHqHyGGjk1afRd2OJEftNOGlXmoHGQcnEYbdOZ_sfDTBqq30GDUh8yWYW1BJbuvbg6xr6kRpn2iCSY-n2Y6HKI9yNeRoYTTqTTytrNE6IY/s400/minneopa_4394.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601463712303646434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>After crossing the bridge to the relative safety of the first set of stairs, the girls climbed back into another hole to take a little break. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC84X-F-YhQE5mXN816RQP3zb7EOm7uJrljEgRM3ctccCzfuw4QV79j5FhAMpWf-jApBHzM_Xyp_mnUcQznF2oKGfbioKqEHLRqG4uHpnUre0jTdr_m9-lIQNnzPFDTABeDU-MCF2fe00/s1600/minneopa_4397.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC84X-F-YhQE5mXN816RQP3zb7EOm7uJrljEgRM3ctccCzfuw4QV79j5FhAMpWf-jApBHzM_Xyp_mnUcQznF2oKGfbioKqEHLRqG4uHpnUre0jTdr_m9-lIQNnzPFDTABeDU-MCF2fe00/s400/minneopa_4397.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601463718548358978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>And then it was up....</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRReWZUuQJsGmB6w8StRud068dfl1fJayj6EVnTIyz5Ty5-1Wp6cXgbePIPyyBkO6e4EGPQoDKPC9M_RVtebWrgwoBDo-SifKf6bNkCGjzaaQfYjP1C1HwPIhAS9fr8eu6dLAJSq00HWA/s1600/minneopa_4399.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRReWZUuQJsGmB6w8StRud068dfl1fJayj6EVnTIyz5Ty5-1Wp6cXgbePIPyyBkO6e4EGPQoDKPC9M_RVtebWrgwoBDo-SifKf6bNkCGjzaaQfYjP1C1HwPIhAS9fr8eu6dLAJSq00HWA/s400/minneopa_4399.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601463721255480722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>and up....</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKTs92M_Zk3AqqEpl8Y1X9ePHoTKm6bXn5OmixkZTDUS1D4UVa2A7zCt6RbFGH-lzMNleI865t235NkNdYeCiLfCJVKmYubWP6kWbg1aK9wAZb1i7ZhXcCACLUzy9Rg-PJzR3b1k72fA/s1600/minneopa_4405.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKTs92M_Zk3AqqEpl8Y1X9ePHoTKm6bXn5OmixkZTDUS1D4UVa2A7zCt6RbFGH-lzMNleI865t235NkNdYeCiLfCJVKmYubWP6kWbg1aK9wAZb1i7ZhXcCACLUzy9Rg-PJzR3b1k72fA/s400/minneopa_4405.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601463727857076882" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>and up the stairs.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSJmbnt33chVdO2kr6e4pYkFLqyuCbWurqA1JChJEiBM8rinKuEqlWUGWOOGA61XCJR2GLCKL8Rcdle_h6mfGWiNeH2ar0ZGnfbg0tiPR7y4iuVvg9vGRNe_yh3nsnzHQCnDOjJdmZSw/s1600/minneopa_4408.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSJmbnt33chVdO2kr6e4pYkFLqyuCbWurqA1JChJEiBM8rinKuEqlWUGWOOGA61XCJR2GLCKL8Rcdle_h6mfGWiNeH2ar0ZGnfbg0tiPR7y4iuVvg9vGRNe_yh3nsnzHQCnDOjJdmZSw/s400/minneopa_4408.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601464770624244994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>All the way to the top. At which point Maya needed another little break.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0azEtO6zrqF_CNn5UD1MUKbcd8VlsuxHw_NaVE-fpRECYafGsITD4M9Ozw7ZOtgoQ_xx1DL224AUGsV2xmN9foKo6Fp8f-EXNcAaBEb-hZdmfe7rzjQ0gf-8exADEs6RychHmqAFaDM/s1600/minneopa_4417.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0azEtO6zrqF_CNn5UD1MUKbcd8VlsuxHw_NaVE-fpRECYafGsITD4M9Ozw7ZOtgoQ_xx1DL224AUGsV2xmN9foKo6Fp8f-EXNcAaBEb-hZdmfe7rzjQ0gf-8exADEs6RychHmqAFaDM/s400/minneopa_4417.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601464778532036242" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>Having escaped with all lives and limbs intact, Ethan, sporting his oldest sister's rain boots, had great fun making muddy tracks in the snow...<i> </i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh1aAILuxx2j2uY7CCoAXlQ8JiljJP5hd-ve3MWIjYhF_NGvn9F2d2qBtOf0VDoGD3s1kQ254TsVBFC-2JtpphKUGm4T2vSuwVzImRI4frqEmfMWaIfTyaXMc4FRXpLQKnrymuPyhJtU/s1600/minneopa_4423.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh1aAILuxx2j2uY7CCoAXlQ8JiljJP5hd-ve3MWIjYhF_NGvn9F2d2qBtOf0VDoGD3s1kQ254TsVBFC-2JtpphKUGm4T2vSuwVzImRI4frqEmfMWaIfTyaXMc4FRXpLQKnrymuPyhJtU/s400/minneopa_4423.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601464787358195058" /></a></div><div>while the girls jumped for joy because they were so happy to be alive. Or maybe because they were about to eat some Pringles for a snack. It's hard to say. And then we went home where I poured myself a stiff glass of H2O on the rocks and drank the stress of the day away. </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-11935410636039273212011-04-26T20:24:00.001-07:002011-04-26T20:47:23.925-07:00sneak peak<div>We had quite the interesting Easter weekend and I have over 500 photos to show for it. Given the fact that I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to daunting tasks I decided to give myself a jump start by posting a little sneak peak of what we were up to. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa32OqP235pTNLU3uKbx0rmOs-4qF5WQY1nEi21bmPcn37ayOVY3Hq9n-XFBTOr1rcrETSVKYI5ijb9mgdL7Lamr2U7XcBLRz-odUsp2EjT1otauMFmOCiPlL8b_0fLBy3l4w-5uXpSc/s1600/indiana_5536.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa32OqP235pTNLU3uKbx0rmOs-4qF5WQY1nEi21bmPcn37ayOVY3Hq9n-XFBTOr1rcrETSVKYI5ijb9mgdL7Lamr2U7XcBLRz-odUsp2EjT1otauMFmOCiPlL8b_0fLBy3l4w-5uXpSc/s400/indiana_5536.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600099330836115298" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-52715486537483547012011-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:002011-04-26T11:49:07.254-07:00sheep {cake pops}<div>I've made quite a few cake pops in the last year. But these guys are definitely the cutest ones yet.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaLwl8OiBQ7hRitLauG8qlVPH77PDv1VdJVjf57l3-sUK5dO0jgFV-E_YHTz0s_TCTMFsFHmvTQ092MqK8w6YfRRZPAz-9uzZ7fjdvOfHNkE2ehkAYEeBt23gCRNL2ssWO1qCHrBwmmk/s1600/cakepops_sheep_4998.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaLwl8OiBQ7hRitLauG8qlVPH77PDv1VdJVjf57l3-sUK5dO0jgFV-E_YHTz0s_TCTMFsFHmvTQ092MqK8w6YfRRZPAz-9uzZ7fjdvOfHNkE2ehkAYEeBt23gCRNL2ssWO1qCHrBwmmk/s400/cakepops_sheep_4998.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599953632400690034" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaLwl8OiBQ7hRitLauG8qlVPH77PDv1VdJVjf57l3-sUK5dO0jgFV-E_YHTz0s_TCTMFsFHmvTQ092MqK8w6YfRRZPAz-9uzZ7fjdvOfHNkE2ehkAYEeBt23gCRNL2ssWO1qCHrBwmmk/s1600/cakepops_sheep_4998.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I found the idea in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Pops-Tricks-Recipes-Irresistible/dp/0811876373/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303841975&sr=8-2">Cake Pops by Bakerella.</a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGgCeD1Vvdjeysy3BR3LpJLS37X8j6BHT8_7ETuIp4zEwv78vV2h8aFQTnE2ya0oRsHmhuZd_tfDgkhv0m5-eKlBEs1gE7MZYD_b72hNsNKpK0rccgNOT-sBhxt3FtvCC0ZYP5v_YGSA/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5016.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGgCeD1Vvdjeysy3BR3LpJLS37X8j6BHT8_7ETuIp4zEwv78vV2h8aFQTnE2ya0oRsHmhuZd_tfDgkhv0m5-eKlBEs1gE7MZYD_b72hNsNKpK0rccgNOT-sBhxt3FtvCC0ZYP5v_YGSA/s400/cakepops_sheep_5016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599953652857865362" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGgCeD1Vvdjeysy3BR3LpJLS37X8j6BHT8_7ETuIp4zEwv78vV2h8aFQTnE2ya0oRsHmhuZd_tfDgkhv0m5-eKlBEs1gE7MZYD_b72hNsNKpK0rccgNOT-sBhxt3FtvCC0ZYP5v_YGSA/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5016.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I did have to change up the decorations a little bit. I used Junior Mints instead of licorice buttons (because <i>eww</i>) for the faces and mini chocolate chips instead of brown rainbow chips for the ears (because where the heck does one find <i>rainbow chips </i>anyway?). I also couldn't find any heart shaped sprinkles so I made the noses by removing three petals off of flower sprinkles. And I skipped the legs altogether. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGgCeD1Vvdjeysy3BR3LpJLS37X8j6BHT8_7ETuIp4zEwv78vV2h8aFQTnE2ya0oRsHmhuZd_tfDgkhv0m5-eKlBEs1gE7MZYD_b72hNsNKpK0rccgNOT-sBhxt3FtvCC0ZYP5v_YGSA/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5016.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5QmjFp4r0uUWWVp6b6STp7r0s37FqZFYijiiGV_oNmQ3FJHiMld4FpzzX7yaOzlHNJ04W1pxxHQbDaS1velwBzvJnMEUAKC_SWfgcRzmcptqv0W2vv7uCzTTtSDqUHecemkQgIT8bjo/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5004.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5QmjFp4r0uUWWVp6b6STp7r0s37FqZFYijiiGV_oNmQ3FJHiMld4FpzzX7yaOzlHNJ04W1pxxHQbDaS1velwBzvJnMEUAKC_SWfgcRzmcptqv0W2vv7uCzTTtSDqUHecemkQgIT8bjo/s400/cakepops_sheep_5004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599953642194310722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5QmjFp4r0uUWWVp6b6STp7r0s37FqZFYijiiGV_oNmQ3FJHiMld4FpzzX7yaOzlHNJ04W1pxxHQbDaS1velwBzvJnMEUAKC_SWfgcRzmcptqv0W2vv7uCzTTtSDqUHecemkQgIT8bjo/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5004.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>The instructions called for an unspecified amount of sugar pearls. After making the sheep, I think I know <i>why</i> there was no amount listed. My one bottle only covered 15 sheep. And sugar pearls? Are not exactly <i>cheap.</i><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy88xLzXVlxiq3TtOxk19a2crkAkhYsUTppBK6KBYi1y3YrTmhgcVuRoXluyVIYrPvZPrBS20-XmEZYqN_okvRqrXraZciXfCakLmkXA5_bk4gTkopQj2RCrJrPp31hYGcEpoy-i-K-Co/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5010.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy88xLzXVlxiq3TtOxk19a2crkAkhYsUTppBK6KBYi1y3YrTmhgcVuRoXluyVIYrPvZPrBS20-XmEZYqN_okvRqrXraZciXfCakLmkXA5_bk4gTkopQj2RCrJrPp31hYGcEpoy-i-K-Co/s400/cakepops_sheep_5010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599953645678510290" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy88xLzXVlxiq3TtOxk19a2crkAkhYsUTppBK6KBYi1y3YrTmhgcVuRoXluyVIYrPvZPrBS20-XmEZYqN_okvRqrXraZciXfCakLmkXA5_bk4gTkopQj2RCrJrPp31hYGcEpoy-i-K-Co/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5010.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>With no sugar pearls left and about 30 cake balls remaining, I did what anybody would do in such a situation. I made a single black sheep (thanks to my dear friend A who had that brilliant idea), got out some pink candy melts and made a few pigs, and then turned the whole operation over to my 10-year while I sipped on some happy juice. Okay, fine, it was <i>water</i>. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOwtOp0FLEo5JRJT8Dwj_kIQryVy-yC93hSuvRjIk-Ihd8UNItzBYBuZXd0zbgt-bk4jY65s_gv2zjYTPZhYzZgRVsCdlIOrXvhFFGLGgQDvZ2mfnw53SGL5GfBMNfXYk0nMaQuB-tEE/s1600/cakepops_sheep_5025.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOwtOp0FLEo5JRJT8Dwj_kIQryVy-yC93hSuvRjIk-Ihd8UNItzBYBuZXd0zbgt-bk4jY65s_gv2zjYTPZhYzZgRVsCdlIOrXvhFFGLGgQDvZ2mfnw53SGL5GfBMNfXYk0nMaQuB-tEE/s400/cakepops_sheep_5025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599954741194050082" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div></div></div><div>Adorable <i>and</i> tasty.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-77983405804555143712011-04-19T13:00:00.000-07:002011-04-19T13:35:44.690-07:00pizza man<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwH9OKOtT82QrXgJeQQZ4Tz5dC1IZ630uqyL5faIqClSm81LAlkaiTpzktZgWkRFAmKep5gyXU0mAX2KQ17RoNI_lRwlCmEzzz8LcHrYyb11o8Tzdu0kcSTn6U4GwbBT9V50W1_Z2hrM/s1600/wyatt_4294.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwH9OKOtT82QrXgJeQQZ4Tz5dC1IZ630uqyL5faIqClSm81LAlkaiTpzktZgWkRFAmKep5gyXU0mAX2KQ17RoNI_lRwlCmEzzz8LcHrYyb11o8Tzdu0kcSTn6U4GwbBT9V50W1_Z2hrM/s400/wyatt_4294.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597388888983790450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwH9OKOtT82QrXgJeQQZ4Tz5dC1IZ630uqyL5faIqClSm81LAlkaiTpzktZgWkRFAmKep5gyXU0mAX2KQ17RoNI_lRwlCmEzzz8LcHrYyb11o8Tzdu0kcSTn6U4GwbBT9V50W1_Z2hrM/s1600/wyatt_4294.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Oh, hey little buddy. What's with the guilty expression I see on your face?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1NlOVz_yvH_ef6NwjDmp0ZtJDrws7F0RMFCmvktTUGIGuvvwRJuC2j-ncbHGg3jkMN7RuLr9FYlJLM_S15Jijx3ev_DkDpUc9ogptC0QGk3MfEZOaqpYSQU0acgXpUV-0aadPS80H8Y/s1600/wyatt_4262.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1NlOVz_yvH_ef6NwjDmp0ZtJDrws7F0RMFCmvktTUGIGuvvwRJuC2j-ncbHGg3jkMN7RuLr9FYlJLM_S15Jijx3ev_DkDpUc9ogptC0QGk3MfEZOaqpYSQU0acgXpUV-0aadPS80H8Y/s400/wyatt_4262.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390767404973794" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1NlOVz_yvH_ef6NwjDmp0ZtJDrws7F0RMFCmvktTUGIGuvvwRJuC2j-ncbHGg3jkMN7RuLr9FYlJLM_S15Jijx3ev_DkDpUc9ogptC0QGk3MfEZOaqpYSQU0acgXpUV-0aadPS80H8Y/s1600/wyatt_4262.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Oh, I see.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75HWXe3yabu2Yj67Y5aIka3NLi_gDBTDHKv-VwYXZGv1wYcCZ7uAhI-AbmaO4ddKjy4HUaeO8aNE3zjyd4QwOyx-vXwLt1WprdD_l93GemoqU77PpSpg1ctkkLiABn-NrJSYSeiBq_Vw/s1600/wyatt_4265.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75HWXe3yabu2Yj67Y5aIka3NLi_gDBTDHKv-VwYXZGv1wYcCZ7uAhI-AbmaO4ddKjy4HUaeO8aNE3zjyd4QwOyx-vXwLt1WprdD_l93GemoqU77PpSpg1ctkkLiABn-NrJSYSeiBq_Vw/s400/wyatt_4265.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390185236338882" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75HWXe3yabu2Yj67Y5aIka3NLi_gDBTDHKv-VwYXZGv1wYcCZ7uAhI-AbmaO4ddKjy4HUaeO8aNE3zjyd4QwOyx-vXwLt1WprdD_l93GemoqU77PpSpg1ctkkLiABn-NrJSYSeiBq_Vw/s1600/wyatt_4265.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>You saw the pizza box sitting on the counter?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3y-iex-geYFIMrP7ETvZIgTcveH5I-xxsfblPc0hZ7EdydGCgnhaF2P7fUbKFOm5kFGlYUPbXSFcQUDb0d12-TUPXi-pUr1eyAkfXyWHy3h3q7F4vec6XVaaLsULkVpk7aVzDYWuUfM/s1600/wyatt_4267.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3y-iex-geYFIMrP7ETvZIgTcveH5I-xxsfblPc0hZ7EdydGCgnhaF2P7fUbKFOm5kFGlYUPbXSFcQUDb0d12-TUPXi-pUr1eyAkfXyWHy3h3q7F4vec6XVaaLsULkVpk7aVzDYWuUfM/s400/wyatt_4267.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390179932651330" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3y-iex-geYFIMrP7ETvZIgTcveH5I-xxsfblPc0hZ7EdydGCgnhaF2P7fUbKFOm5kFGlYUPbXSFcQUDb0d12-TUPXi-pUr1eyAkfXyWHy3h3q7F4vec6XVaaLsULkVpk7aVzDYWuUfM/s1600/wyatt_4267.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>And now that you are a little older and a little taller you decided you could pull it down and see what was in there?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4ESiEQcML21P3f2TBlxhKZA_ZIIX0B27_c63jb1NCf-UzWDIGNBwrav-08bSVQ_uK_-SHYZlraB2vNM7GStOsNUTwPaX0zZmxOaHCZUtwABQFauKf_f2yxJ0jxU0l_Oo26f2OQeZU6w/s1600/wyatt_4274.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4ESiEQcML21P3f2TBlxhKZA_ZIIX0B27_c63jb1NCf-UzWDIGNBwrav-08bSVQ_uK_-SHYZlraB2vNM7GStOsNUTwPaX0zZmxOaHCZUtwABQFauKf_f2yxJ0jxU0l_Oo26f2OQeZU6w/s400/wyatt_4274.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390171011481042" /></a></div><div>And when you found that there was some uneaten pizza inside you decided it was time for supper part 2?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiKYG0wYvy8Hvvmr0V8Ny-hxayGZHVq2krpVhog4gNh_Xf558HghIcvuMowWqu-GYnEITIQ1KffWZ0DxjRw1MXltMgBeETIRIup4vsnhrRhYB0xjf7g3ZT_QjixZ35kH_yX_cRAp3EN4/s1600/wyatt_4279.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiKYG0wYvy8Hvvmr0V8Ny-hxayGZHVq2krpVhog4gNh_Xf558HghIcvuMowWqu-GYnEITIQ1KffWZ0DxjRw1MXltMgBeETIRIup4vsnhrRhYB0xjf7g3ZT_QjixZ35kH_yX_cRAp3EN4/s400/wyatt_4279.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390165083868898" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiKYG0wYvy8Hvvmr0V8Ny-hxayGZHVq2krpVhog4gNh_Xf558HghIcvuMowWqu-GYnEITIQ1KffWZ0DxjRw1MXltMgBeETIRIup4vsnhrRhYB0xjf7g3ZT_QjixZ35kH_yX_cRAp3EN4/s1600/wyatt_4279.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Oh, baby, what's wrong?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauLUQ8egzlWAGOfbfCmv3HfGWo7lz5rmtFyJaKY3_K02lE4ZtOAtrNGJIoGs0VF3QMbVBO-2-tNE3ANWPJp7b_X_FIXfFst9stF2gqQAUrk4Be5zxdOCRgVfVyeyCQuJxHdo337M1rCA/s1600/wyatt_4282.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauLUQ8egzlWAGOfbfCmv3HfGWo7lz5rmtFyJaKY3_K02lE4ZtOAtrNGJIoGs0VF3QMbVBO-2-tNE3ANWPJp7b_X_FIXfFst9stF2gqQAUrk4Be5zxdOCRgVfVyeyCQuJxHdo337M1rCA/s400/wyatt_4282.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597390157336791298" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauLUQ8egzlWAGOfbfCmv3HfGWo7lz5rmtFyJaKY3_K02lE4ZtOAtrNGJIoGs0VF3QMbVBO-2-tNE3ANWPJp7b_X_FIXfFst9stF2gqQAUrk4Be5zxdOCRgVfVyeyCQuJxHdo337M1rCA/s1600/wyatt_4282.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Ah, yes, I know what the problem is.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapoS0wYIiDk-QO9ZpcEWv7RC0HtRiDVdIdHlFzm9-Tgm0s23t5S4i0y7BAD-ltXzp2xbPk5xKw1BkFZG7KpxN5zsbmhOgwYsc6gqOTN0JTr-cPwY8cESFZFjv7YsZmRsL4IbLWcSw1Jw/s1600/wyatt_4284.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapoS0wYIiDk-QO9ZpcEWv7RC0HtRiDVdIdHlFzm9-Tgm0s23t5S4i0y7BAD-ltXzp2xbPk5xKw1BkFZG7KpxN5zsbmhOgwYsc6gqOTN0JTr-cPwY8cESFZFjv7YsZmRsL4IbLWcSw1Jw/s400/wyatt_4284.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597388912588519762" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapoS0wYIiDk-QO9ZpcEWv7RC0HtRiDVdIdHlFzm9-Tgm0s23t5S4i0y7BAD-ltXzp2xbPk5xKw1BkFZG7KpxN5zsbmhOgwYsc6gqOTN0JTr-cPwY8cESFZFjv7YsZmRsL4IbLWcSw1Jw/s1600/wyatt_4284.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>That pizza sauce that's plastered all over your face is starting to sting a little, isn't it?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC38Mdm4GBdFJob5vYzT5yt3clXzXubjhQpJQFJ2ox6NZX1vaE0bMnUxFAfZl-bfwEXUg182CbjxiPMJMWl1g-ByMSvRhjS4Dcwgz5loouVDB2LA_54zQhHr7pe7OqKx7lUwfJhqfJxrQ/s1600/wyatt_4286.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC38Mdm4GBdFJob5vYzT5yt3clXzXubjhQpJQFJ2ox6NZX1vaE0bMnUxFAfZl-bfwEXUg182CbjxiPMJMWl1g-ByMSvRhjS4Dcwgz5loouVDB2LA_54zQhHr7pe7OqKx7lUwfJhqfJxrQ/s400/wyatt_4286.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597388908060381154" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC38Mdm4GBdFJob5vYzT5yt3clXzXubjhQpJQFJ2ox6NZX1vaE0bMnUxFAfZl-bfwEXUg182CbjxiPMJMWl1g-ByMSvRhjS4Dcwgz5loouVDB2LA_54zQhHr7pe7OqKx7lUwfJhqfJxrQ/s1600/wyatt_4286.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Oh, but what have you discovered now?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCuVWDmSiYMFOXwlewxstf9RYn5Lwk-DpdVhhudpw8iFO-tOUxQBdYAEj9UxW69CTxa6IhCrkDVfjMyQ8w1GgG5wYtiheWjEiyz3LoXAotdT3n6gv4qj_bjblTZljiss6UXPq6ImjGpU/s1600/wyatt_4287.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCuVWDmSiYMFOXwlewxstf9RYn5Lwk-DpdVhhudpw8iFO-tOUxQBdYAEj9UxW69CTxa6IhCrkDVfjMyQ8w1GgG5wYtiheWjEiyz3LoXAotdT3n6gv4qj_bjblTZljiss6UXPq6ImjGpU/s400/wyatt_4287.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597388899747951394" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCuVWDmSiYMFOXwlewxstf9RYn5Lwk-DpdVhhudpw8iFO-tOUxQBdYAEj9UxW69CTxa6IhCrkDVfjMyQ8w1GgG5wYtiheWjEiyz3LoXAotdT3n6gv4qj_bjblTZljiss6UXPq6ImjGpU/s1600/wyatt_4287.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Oh. Of course. <i>The pizza.</i><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X1Vb8rWkJZbrNuwNjeC9hbir0w5MQYQVQtdAPd7iu4k1CtOCYdkCqu0d3Ud2mrZ_BO_9FwuC1r4Wzzh4MUufpwgiqxqMwgKefgsF-V3ZX6VycJTV13KHox3bXK1rVGTcQOZGetVc3tI/s1600/wyatt_4289.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X1Vb8rWkJZbrNuwNjeC9hbir0w5MQYQVQtdAPd7iu4k1CtOCYdkCqu0d3Ud2mrZ_BO_9FwuC1r4Wzzh4MUufpwgiqxqMwgKefgsF-V3ZX6VycJTV13KHox3bXK1rVGTcQOZGetVc3tI/s400/wyatt_4289.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597388898227537778" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X1Vb8rWkJZbrNuwNjeC9hbir0w5MQYQVQtdAPd7iu4k1CtOCYdkCqu0d3Ud2mrZ_BO_9FwuC1r4Wzzh4MUufpwgiqxqMwgKefgsF-V3ZX6VycJTV13KHox3bXK1rVGTcQOZGetVc3tI/s1600/wyatt_4289.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I guess even the sting of the sauce can be overlooked when there is pizza waiting to be consumed.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-89456693726809330922011-04-17T18:44:00.001-07:002011-04-17T20:12:26.413-07:00hydrangea {cake}<div>I was going about my day, minding my own business, when I was ruthlessly attacked by <a href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/03/hydreangea-cake.html">this blog post</a>. It just came up out of nowhere, tripped me, and hit me over the head with a piping bag. Have you ever been hit over the head with a piping bag? Although it may not actually <i>hurt</i> all that badly, it causes your brain to think of just one thing. Cake. Specifically, trying to decorate a cake like the one you've just seen. <i>Even though none of the cakes you've made thus far have required actual technique. </i>I guess I've got a little bit of <i>crazy </i>in my bones because I decided I was going to try to make it for my little girl's 8th birthday anyway.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthp_2WVZ4OkXCvDgys6Kpi14J1UWQUqqNoxLqgEBIclH1SkkC8MUAjZ2H4pByxKXCuGQahIV8-6_TNGVK0pggjFACDcTFzRg8u2-VBF41kfTawXyHguwMaXS3CmVwUILLFClp_epOAgE/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4753.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthp_2WVZ4OkXCvDgys6Kpi14J1UWQUqqNoxLqgEBIclH1SkkC8MUAjZ2H4pByxKXCuGQahIV8-6_TNGVK0pggjFACDcTFzRg8u2-VBF41kfTawXyHguwMaXS3CmVwUILLFClp_epOAgE/s400/hydrangeacake1_4753.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596737890324903458" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>I made <i>two</i> practice cakes before I attempted the final product. Thankfully I'm part of a weekly small group that doesn't seem to mind helping me get rid of baked goods.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cniqeq5TRdHTC6s1Vi9XtxuuCJ5AcBulLCwnEwr7sLUlasMI1CDSBXmrf5mD3zuf4ge3aK_YrtbQf39cfY0bwNd1Nb2zNj6n9_lwJAuYbvsASHpnHsXhlm2cAijzv6Syrxms93KOJsA/s1600/hydrangeacake2_4738.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cniqeq5TRdHTC6s1Vi9XtxuuCJ5AcBulLCwnEwr7sLUlasMI1CDSBXmrf5mD3zuf4ge3aK_YrtbQf39cfY0bwNd1Nb2zNj6n9_lwJAuYbvsASHpnHsXhlm2cAijzv6Syrxms93KOJsA/s400/hydrangeacake2_4738.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596738263575557154" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cniqeq5TRdHTC6s1Vi9XtxuuCJ5AcBulLCwnEwr7sLUlasMI1CDSBXmrf5mD3zuf4ge3aK_YrtbQf39cfY0bwNd1Nb2zNj6n9_lwJAuYbvsASHpnHsXhlm2cAijzv6Syrxms93KOJsA/s1600/hydrangeacake2_4738.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>For the first practice cake, I tried an easy method using a Wilton 4D tip. I combined light blue and lavender frosting in the piping bag and just plopped little flowers all over the cake. While this method would work great on cupcakes, it did not work as well on a whole cake. The most accurate description came from the one of the small groupers who said, "It looks like my swimming cap from when I was a little girl!" Yeah. Not <i>quite</i> the look I was going for.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l51WqsrBjmkt-QHMHPrvfvYrEeksFsb2xwYR5O5llVqrTqFll4bUa_mDt_PlyDWVaNg2XYmNBbjPkBG_y92rL_pck87A-kWlGsNhIu850ZBauSTyL9tWnIWzoc_Tox5c4TEG1f-R9Kc/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4756.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l51WqsrBjmkt-QHMHPrvfvYrEeksFsb2xwYR5O5llVqrTqFll4bUa_mDt_PlyDWVaNg2XYmNBbjPkBG_y92rL_pck87A-kWlGsNhIu850ZBauSTyL9tWnIWzoc_Tox5c4TEG1f-R9Kc/s400/hydrangeacake1_4756.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596738261272839314" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l51WqsrBjmkt-QHMHPrvfvYrEeksFsb2xwYR5O5llVqrTqFll4bUa_mDt_PlyDWVaNg2XYmNBbjPkBG_y92rL_pck87A-kWlGsNhIu850ZBauSTyL9tWnIWzoc_Tox5c4TEG1f-R9Kc/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4756.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>So it was back to the drawing board. Err, <i>youtube.</i> This time I found a method where <i>each individual petal</i> was separately piped on. Oy vey. It looked like a lot of work, but it was the look I was going for so I <i>had</i> to try it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTNj5d7nxxOvAj5X2_DR9Hk1HhxZSnm09B9a56GZLq11w4NFrDYlEgfSFvLGONX_E0pv76ZbUroFOzouPlkUP9JwQdS8LApFHrUpXqde_gGbo8RwHF8cIUah1tTkBkux6dtcjd2xXw64/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4748.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTNj5d7nxxOvAj5X2_DR9Hk1HhxZSnm09B9a56GZLq11w4NFrDYlEgfSFvLGONX_E0pv76ZbUroFOzouPlkUP9JwQdS8LApFHrUpXqde_gGbo8RwHF8cIUah1tTkBkux6dtcjd2xXw64/s400/hydrangeacake1_4748.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596737894356158162" /></a></div><div>After a lot of practice I felt like I kinda sorta had it down. My flowers still didn't look quite as nice as I would have liked, but it was a definite upgrade over the first approach. And then I got to the <i>sides</i> of the cake. <i>Holy guacamole Batman. </i>It was like performing an acrobatic routine trying to get those little petals piped correctly. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTNj5d7nxxOvAj5X2_DR9Hk1HhxZSnm09B9a56GZLq11w4NFrDYlEgfSFvLGONX_E0pv76ZbUroFOzouPlkUP9JwQdS8LApFHrUpXqde_gGbo8RwHF8cIUah1tTkBkux6dtcjd2xXw64/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4748.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL6wF0Js6BbLAjh7ZRp6HSDaojJzEnaRGrLm1jVZSFdXMlDPvCXSv7p3jBQrYgkUGlgX7geNBRegOA5Le6g4TBcQ2JkvVqwyJp96kkvRgPXRqF1d-ST7SZuEmYF6nYLTfJhB2KKIAHWQ/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4731.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL6wF0Js6BbLAjh7ZRp6HSDaojJzEnaRGrLm1jVZSFdXMlDPvCXSv7p3jBQrYgkUGlgX7geNBRegOA5Le6g4TBcQ2JkvVqwyJp96kkvRgPXRqF1d-ST7SZuEmYF6nYLTfJhB2KKIAHWQ/s400/hydrangeacake1_4731.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596737879551238546" /></a></div><div>I thought the final product turned out pretty decent considering my lack of actual piping skills. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL6wF0Js6BbLAjh7ZRp6HSDaojJzEnaRGrLm1jVZSFdXMlDPvCXSv7p3jBQrYgkUGlgX7geNBRegOA5Le6g4TBcQ2JkvVqwyJp96kkvRgPXRqF1d-ST7SZuEmYF6nYLTfJhB2KKIAHWQ/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4731.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4RWr7MJZjlSFUgDDuAJQjCQcZIc4XN_X-zaa4dQa8AQcwonJ8ri-tlQa5okK-AaRyFVzD1KytxiViX6_csPdVLjjlhSO6i_h-YwQw0z88d3LoCSpR_K2ipSIZAMMhny2q518Z7_A9i4/s1600/hydrangeacake1_4726.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4RWr7MJZjlSFUgDDuAJQjCQcZIc4XN_X-zaa4dQa8AQcwonJ8ri-tlQa5okK-AaRyFVzD1KytxiViX6_csPdVLjjlhSO6i_h-YwQw0z88d3LoCSpR_K2ipSIZAMMhny2q518Z7_A9i4/s400/hydrangeacake1_4726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596737870263591282" /></a><br /></div><div>I also think it <i>may</i> be time for me to invest in a cake plate or two. As much as I <i>love</i> my Fiestaware, it's really better for <i>eating</i> cake off of than <i>displaying </i>it.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mCJmQjgQn8-KG5ggf46BeKFALGxGhoowwWrZ_hYvj6s3Swd9p0GiY7io4tpfo8EMklgrmFkgm8HAoQG_34TVXMEKwtLRwgxnZfEGifiOJlAumvX_A2bHZt2WKZpHZvH_5UVb5Af-os/s1600/mayacake_4776.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mCJmQjgQn8-KG5ggf46BeKFALGxGhoowwWrZ_hYvj6s3Swd9p0GiY7io4tpfo8EMklgrmFkgm8HAoQG_34TVXMEKwtLRwgxnZfEGifiOJlAumvX_A2bHZt2WKZpHZvH_5UVb5Af-os/s400/mayacake_4776.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596754841967701154" style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Of course, wouldn't you know, after all of the hours I put in trying to make her cake just right, the one she wound up favoring was the one she decorated herself. </div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-36515492411969287622011-04-09T18:26:00.000-07:002011-04-10T13:30:24.527-07:00the best chicken noodle soup EVER...no really<div>Let me start this post out with a disclaimer. While there are <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/">some people</a> who can take amazing pictures of food and the preparation of food, I am not one of those people. Please, try not to cover your head and run away screaming in terror as you're reading this post. Because the end product? Will make subjecting yourself to the scary photos all worth it. So toughen up and let's get through this together.</div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s1600/soup_4988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s400/soup_4988.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593764788108443202" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>I first tasted this soup at the home of some friends of ours. The man of the house happens to be a fabulous cook. He just whipped this up <i>with no recipe. </i>Also not a strength of mine. Aaron and I had already eaten when we walked in the door, but this soup looked and <i>smelled</i> so amazing that we <i>had</i> to try some. I took one bite and died and went to heaven. When I came to, I picked myself up off the floor and demanded the recipe. Which Sir Master Chef so graciously gave me. Since then, I have made this heavenly concoction numerous times. It has become my go-to recipe for new moms, sick friends, and company. It's lovely because it makes so much soup that there is always plenty left for our family to eat for a few meals. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4HQvmvTPDrIwhDEEbHJ6lP1E9zL5ypD9Ki4Px6mIX2an1_KouDwze2PpAUPNmI_ImIc8EME_Mr2jCV9Bu_O7rgZm8vTbSxXV3gZQKyPwSv8_EkWsHdfuLkDpGaSyvY6xs1TgrRDTnqg/s1600/soup_4851.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4HQvmvTPDrIwhDEEbHJ6lP1E9zL5ypD9Ki4Px6mIX2an1_KouDwze2PpAUPNmI_ImIc8EME_Mr2jCV9Bu_O7rgZm8vTbSxXV3gZQKyPwSv8_EkWsHdfuLkDpGaSyvY6xs1TgrRDTnqg/s400/soup_4851.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594028068755951266" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4HQvmvTPDrIwhDEEbHJ6lP1E9zL5ypD9Ki4Px6mIX2an1_KouDwze2PpAUPNmI_ImIc8EME_Mr2jCV9Bu_O7rgZm8vTbSxXV3gZQKyPwSv8_EkWsHdfuLkDpGaSyvY6xs1TgrRDTnqg/s1600/soup_4851.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Meet the cast of characters.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygcBJ5LZHWFzEfQe03pFwVUxwMXU16VB4D5SWRHkgfTiaIAhisJ15kS-Jsf4w0SnT7ciamdWVY2dvhTUZ8zJB8bfeohiO_9XUaa3hV-AkrKOJnzUxoCitfSk_F40t9WLd9HDvcj_FJ1M/s1600/soup_4864.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygcBJ5LZHWFzEfQe03pFwVUxwMXU16VB4D5SWRHkgfTiaIAhisJ15kS-Jsf4w0SnT7ciamdWVY2dvhTUZ8zJB8bfeohiO_9XUaa3hV-AkrKOJnzUxoCitfSk_F40t9WLd9HDvcj_FJ1M/s400/soup_4864.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594028053704112594" /></a></div><div>We'll start out by preparing our veggies and garlic. Give those carrots and celery a good washing. I use 1 lb of carrots and 4-5 stalks of celery. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmCAaHNXGSy4p69E0XSUFuOpkV5byyMiNcdk3xifPNicMlLW44UeXzOsSk8tOpfnVW9uyQNb1ECAdKEPlUnGc0sqQFY3Z_7tF0i5RGWfraaENuzOOvdGAF06o_CMiIlegQvovbHod_78/s1600/soup_4872.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmCAaHNXGSy4p69E0XSUFuOpkV5byyMiNcdk3xifPNicMlLW44UeXzOsSk8tOpfnVW9uyQNb1ECAdKEPlUnGc0sqQFY3Z_7tF0i5RGWfraaENuzOOvdGAF06o_CMiIlegQvovbHod_78/s400/soup_4872.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594028049058469074" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmCAaHNXGSy4p69E0XSUFuOpkV5byyMiNcdk3xifPNicMlLW44UeXzOsSk8tOpfnVW9uyQNb1ECAdKEPlUnGc0sqQFY3Z_7tF0i5RGWfraaENuzOOvdGAF06o_CMiIlegQvovbHod_78/s1600/soup_4872.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Peel the carrots and chop them up. I like to chop mine pretty small, but you could make them a bit bigger if you prefer them that way. Not <i>too </i>big though or they won't sautee properly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujDmOdmyDrEXGQbIyVnH5JKue579T2dYKkFxNVu2pydDOTKX7Pah2Mf_403UcZt4hMc5OIaA5hjknpcbfC3CaVLNqf42nM9fVCMKIpdGc2JSOicRrbTGjY3azgAqe6QymnlSHAqH1duQ/s1600/soup_4876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujDmOdmyDrEXGQbIyVnH5JKue579T2dYKkFxNVu2pydDOTKX7Pah2Mf_403UcZt4hMc5OIaA5hjknpcbfC3CaVLNqf42nM9fVCMKIpdGc2JSOicRrbTGjY3azgAqe6QymnlSHAqH1duQ/s400/soup_4876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594028042990234210" /></a></div><div>When your 3 year old comes over and requests some applesauce, be sure to give in to his request. It will keep him occupied for at least 3 precious minutes.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujDmOdmyDrEXGQbIyVnH5JKue579T2dYKkFxNVu2pydDOTKX7Pah2Mf_403UcZt4hMc5OIaA5hjknpcbfC3CaVLNqf42nM9fVCMKIpdGc2JSOicRrbTGjY3azgAqe6QymnlSHAqH1duQ/s1600/soup_4876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mJeIziC3tSjZRBYPTaQDJ2fO9HT77BhLfJeqtqVwWRE5VRQoCVU9Mugffje4975jTYZLj-GyhzLfA0e5hQZaUMdF4KMZa8QCHeMZKIKzKgZGVnTiv36NDS-Ieoqos7UPd4NLZ5O08aU/s1600/soup_4856.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mJeIziC3tSjZRBYPTaQDJ2fO9HT77BhLfJeqtqVwWRE5VRQoCVU9Mugffje4975jTYZLj-GyhzLfA0e5hQZaUMdF4KMZa8QCHeMZKIKzKgZGVnTiv36NDS-Ieoqos7UPd4NLZ5O08aU/s400/soup_4856.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594028062062433858" style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Now let me introduce you to two very important players. Olive Oil and Butter. I know they look kind of scary. And full of fat. But they are a very key element in this show.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mJeIziC3tSjZRBYPTaQDJ2fO9HT77BhLfJeqtqVwWRE5VRQoCVU9Mugffje4975jTYZLj-GyhzLfA0e5hQZaUMdF4KMZa8QCHeMZKIKzKgZGVnTiv36NDS-Ieoqos7UPd4NLZ5O08aU/s1600/soup_4856.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbPYev_GJhO4E7zzeNEBxzjjdfuYw_EDJyL-18fd2ljZ1Fnx_vd1OsB5YiR2INh9FIJ_-0msx1U7RyFXIkUHCfdW5b8hFpTWYNIBnDlRN38HGXqOr31vCddyrIcXYzi61TY8MplIJ58E/s1600/soup_4882.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbPYev_GJhO4E7zzeNEBxzjjdfuYw_EDJyL-18fd2ljZ1Fnx_vd1OsB5YiR2INh9FIJ_-0msx1U7RyFXIkUHCfdW5b8hFpTWYNIBnDlRN38HGXqOr31vCddyrIcXYzi61TY8MplIJ58E/s400/soup_4882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594027064484658706" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbPYev_GJhO4E7zzeNEBxzjjdfuYw_EDJyL-18fd2ljZ1Fnx_vd1OsB5YiR2INh9FIJ_-0msx1U7RyFXIkUHCfdW5b8hFpTWYNIBnDlRN38HGXqOr31vCddyrIcXYzi61TY8MplIJ58E/s1600/soup_4882.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Cut the stick of butter in half. Yes, we are going to use <i>half</i> of a stick of butter. Don't be afraid. Remember this makes a <i>lot</i> of soup. So in the grand scheme of things, each serving is not going to have much butter in it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB1Ywh0AQpRTJ_3-USaGb2MVicXxDkxH_9uIV__ghIJkUJ_7RKo2P-Y4BxoZDpOTMpnhoICSURblpxCK7GRPL7Q1LR7nGt02TN-f6JHbUS5j8gbnQ2o33UMEIu5VGO_FrG-H8BdIK2vY/s1600/soup_4887.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB1Ywh0AQpRTJ_3-USaGb2MVicXxDkxH_9uIV__ghIJkUJ_7RKo2P-Y4BxoZDpOTMpnhoICSURblpxCK7GRPL7Q1LR7nGt02TN-f6JHbUS5j8gbnQ2o33UMEIu5VGO_FrG-H8BdIK2vY/s400/soup_4887.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594027061176440338" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB1Ywh0AQpRTJ_3-USaGb2MVicXxDkxH_9uIV__ghIJkUJ_7RKo2P-Y4BxoZDpOTMpnhoICSURblpxCK7GRPL7Q1LR7nGt02TN-f6JHbUS5j8gbnQ2o33UMEIu5VGO_FrG-H8BdIK2vY/s1600/soup_4887.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Put the butter in a large frying pan along with some olive oil (about 1/4 of a cup, just eyeball it) and get them all warmed up over medium low heat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d0rDh5Np8arMSoC4MGgDyBEgz0HNASzCa756bAqjYwcZt04tH4TME_0IU21hDSR77n697YTUomJVm5MwHfhNet89AgJKFOdYL6oM7UPjf6jpgguzyQE2-9WoLt2SG-2oaZfpip80pgw/s1600/soup_4897.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d0rDh5Np8arMSoC4MGgDyBEgz0HNASzCa756bAqjYwcZt04tH4TME_0IU21hDSR77n697YTUomJVm5MwHfhNet89AgJKFOdYL6oM7UPjf6jpgguzyQE2-9WoLt2SG-2oaZfpip80pgw/s400/soup_4897.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594027056006968754" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d0rDh5Np8arMSoC4MGgDyBEgz0HNASzCa756bAqjYwcZt04tH4TME_0IU21hDSR77n697YTUomJVm5MwHfhNet89AgJKFOdYL6oM7UPjf6jpgguzyQE2-9WoLt2SG-2oaZfpip80pgw/s1600/soup_4897.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>While the butter and olive oil are doing their thing, finish chopping the rest of the veggies. Again, you can chop them however big or small you'd like. I slice the celery down the middle lengthwise and then slice each half down the middle again before chopping it into small pieces.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKDPJwO8BPzBeMfcfUv9bRm5guTtwXe-s0-u6GoX3o7RO110VdAY_KNYJlReHVc57KlZy8CalMzXS5Tes20f4aexevLAYPZnWgHpJjWB9WtHKYYJu-rwIdYhIQ38oF9S8hmOrydXKjnw/s1600/soup_4900.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKDPJwO8BPzBeMfcfUv9bRm5guTtwXe-s0-u6GoX3o7RO110VdAY_KNYJlReHVc57KlZy8CalMzXS5Tes20f4aexevLAYPZnWgHpJjWB9WtHKYYJu-rwIdYhIQ38oF9S8hmOrydXKjnw/s400/soup_4900.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594027050447873650" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKDPJwO8BPzBeMfcfUv9bRm5guTtwXe-s0-u6GoX3o7RO110VdAY_KNYJlReHVc57KlZy8CalMzXS5Tes20f4aexevLAYPZnWgHpJjWB9WtHKYYJu-rwIdYhIQ38oF9S8hmOrydXKjnw/s1600/soup_4900.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Next dice the onion. Use this time to cry about the fact that after carrying 5 babies past their due dates, your stomach will likely never fit <i>inside</i> your pants again without the use of Spanx. When your husband asks you why you're crying, blame it on the onions.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63rDaoy1yRNw1p4g0N1bO9oKrrSNU1uz3pbwVR9CW2bgseu1c7ohBgHcHlhbdh71MgVvSLfK6m7lViiVIyFCdEkY40FMoBO6QBicAF0qnU4lpAeA_xAJbnxfXIMfUXxXw4P-CVIgdv9s/s1600/soup_4905.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63rDaoy1yRNw1p4g0N1bO9oKrrSNU1uz3pbwVR9CW2bgseu1c7ohBgHcHlhbdh71MgVvSLfK6m7lViiVIyFCdEkY40FMoBO6QBicAF0qnU4lpAeA_xAJbnxfXIMfUXxXw4P-CVIgdv9s/s400/soup_4905.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594027040374435058" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63rDaoy1yRNw1p4g0N1bO9oKrrSNU1uz3pbwVR9CW2bgseu1c7ohBgHcHlhbdh71MgVvSLfK6m7lViiVIyFCdEkY40FMoBO6QBicAF0qnU4lpAeA_xAJbnxfXIMfUXxXw4P-CVIgdv9s/s1600/soup_4905.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>When you're done chopping the veggies you'll have a pretty rainbow of colors that will make you forget all about your muffin-top.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNlgksysjBxWnXd-nCW9wWdcVEqdNOcUCdtNuzSn51Tr8s9j6yWyqjxLJYeyYWYm9MQaBaepXyZAEgGr0g3p-HbNMNSBwfiCC3aRUsWEN_WKPoYBK8c9U50MpbHyldP06O_sCZuUkokg/s1600/soup_4907.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNlgksysjBxWnXd-nCW9wWdcVEqdNOcUCdtNuzSn51Tr8s9j6yWyqjxLJYeyYWYm9MQaBaepXyZAEgGr0g3p-HbNMNSBwfiCC3aRUsWEN_WKPoYBK8c9U50MpbHyldP06O_sCZuUkokg/s400/soup_4907.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594026015078472130" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNlgksysjBxWnXd-nCW9wWdcVEqdNOcUCdtNuzSn51Tr8s9j6yWyqjxLJYeyYWYm9MQaBaepXyZAEgGr0g3p-HbNMNSBwfiCC3aRUsWEN_WKPoYBK8c9U50MpbHyldP06O_sCZuUkokg/s1600/soup_4907.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Your burner should already be on and your butter should be melted at this point. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0g8MVeOVCWAG2JgXe1JkfHqemWRRtwF79-B5BcWXfI4_hZy4k6KEdekm-CHKMerqwJQf45iJX1aemSeguQWNwbHmirAhBmoVxNhMb8yt4x4hrSuRCP6YJ1BiIi0TNhQzCloryZ2ItHE/s1600/soup_4918.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0g8MVeOVCWAG2JgXe1JkfHqemWRRtwF79-B5BcWXfI4_hZy4k6KEdekm-CHKMerqwJQf45iJX1aemSeguQWNwbHmirAhBmoVxNhMb8yt4x4hrSuRCP6YJ1BiIi0TNhQzCloryZ2ItHE/s400/soup_4918.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594026007235484754" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0g8MVeOVCWAG2JgXe1JkfHqemWRRtwF79-B5BcWXfI4_hZy4k6KEdekm-CHKMerqwJQf45iJX1aemSeguQWNwbHmirAhBmoVxNhMb8yt4x4hrSuRCP6YJ1BiIi0TNhQzCloryZ2ItHE/s1600/soup_4918.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Dump in the veggies and stir them around a bit. This is where the real magic happens. This will also be the longest part of the cooking process. You <i>can</i> speed it up a bit if you need to, but generally speaking I like to use a low enough heat that these guys take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to cook up. That really allows all of their inner-goodness the time required to come out. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7wht7RcrLzalxe0mwQcHCdFIx7FfXTXj8ERDRvZWtiQq9GJbqJr0HCsiKupoWatyUV_dA-1o1SVBiQwR1ifv1-NK0Mjg5XDEXXINhcrdxLvvFvc4PqtLv_j0DOo5lmb36y5PPTHokmM/s1600/soup_4924.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7wht7RcrLzalxe0mwQcHCdFIx7FfXTXj8ERDRvZWtiQq9GJbqJr0HCsiKupoWatyUV_dA-1o1SVBiQwR1ifv1-NK0Mjg5XDEXXINhcrdxLvvFvc4PqtLv_j0DOo5lmb36y5PPTHokmM/s400/soup_4924.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594026001206165506" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7wht7RcrLzalxe0mwQcHCdFIx7FfXTXj8ERDRvZWtiQq9GJbqJr0HCsiKupoWatyUV_dA-1o1SVBiQwR1ifv1-NK0Mjg5XDEXXINhcrdxLvvFvc4PqtLv_j0DOo5lmb36y5PPTHokmM/s1600/soup_4924.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Meanwhile, mince a few cloves of garlic. I try to do this right away or I tend to forget about it altogether.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-R1QYC8Yur748CBLXbHEpHcGNXrxsYlZt2gI9z-BU673GvXFmGT9sGDNKAUE_nbvZhbj8VXWsN_gzz2AnKc-q5E3PAiHN1qcmCEYR0uZCqys2toMVka8zCc0CVr7j3DwGY8o14o8Phs/s1600/soup_4945.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-R1QYC8Yur748CBLXbHEpHcGNXrxsYlZt2gI9z-BU673GvXFmGT9sGDNKAUE_nbvZhbj8VXWsN_gzz2AnKc-q5E3PAiHN1qcmCEYR0uZCqys2toMVka8zCc0CVr7j3DwGY8o14o8Phs/s400/soup_4945.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594025990812117090" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-R1QYC8Yur748CBLXbHEpHcGNXrxsYlZt2gI9z-BU673GvXFmGT9sGDNKAUE_nbvZhbj8VXWsN_gzz2AnKc-q5E3PAiHN1qcmCEYR0uZCqys2toMVka8zCc0CVr7j3DwGY8o14o8Phs/s1600/soup_4945.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>When the veggies are all caramelized and yummy, go ahead and add in the minced garlic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy00fOVHnVYdilnwyPpan2JwMmVWRwP54CYLq1zwYlzjySU5V0huT8VO4PD3e6tYJI8sPp_K5VU1_9jT0Q4Amw1ZSIbmfpV9GIo5Q3z9u5lGrMUzdksmLzyiFKTrAAXORHmWi66LwPr9s/s1600/soup_4946.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy00fOVHnVYdilnwyPpan2JwMmVWRwP54CYLq1zwYlzjySU5V0huT8VO4PD3e6tYJI8sPp_K5VU1_9jT0Q4Amw1ZSIbmfpV9GIo5Q3z9u5lGrMUzdksmLzyiFKTrAAXORHmWi66LwPr9s/s400/soup_4946.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594024749239721858" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy00fOVHnVYdilnwyPpan2JwMmVWRwP54CYLq1zwYlzjySU5V0huT8VO4PD3e6tYJI8sPp_K5VU1_9jT0Q4Amw1ZSIbmfpV9GIo5Q3z9u5lGrMUzdksmLzyiFKTrAAXORHmWi66LwPr9s/s1600/soup_4946.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Give it a good stir and let it cook for another minute or two. In person, it will look much better than this. I promise. Take a spoon and try a bite. But just one. We need the rest for the soup.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm8GB7DB-ZGdGXBgm3stKMJBwl0uKO_TwdkPHUSnFhwn2h7cTYPqu6ss0zNuUVePwie4euH67y_d3-hzI8J9mffWFerIWUNeQFTF79rOdeDupA21jnup2vffL0bKNjAXesz0CkEBgYEw/s1600/soup_4950.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm8GB7DB-ZGdGXBgm3stKMJBwl0uKO_TwdkPHUSnFhwn2h7cTYPqu6ss0zNuUVePwie4euH67y_d3-hzI8J9mffWFerIWUNeQFTF79rOdeDupA21jnup2vffL0bKNjAXesz0CkEBgYEw/s400/soup_4950.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594024732912815554" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm8GB7DB-ZGdGXBgm3stKMJBwl0uKO_TwdkPHUSnFhwn2h7cTYPqu6ss0zNuUVePwie4euH67y_d3-hzI8J9mffWFerIWUNeQFTF79rOdeDupA21jnup2vffL0bKNjAXesz0CkEBgYEw/s1600/soup_4950.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Dump the veggies into your stock pot and brace yourself to pick up the pieces of raw chicken. I know it looks, feels, and smells awful enough to make you want to give up and go hide in your bed with the covers pulled over your head. But you can do it. Put those babies in the pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fry them up over medium heat. And then scrub your hands and every surface within 50 feet of your home for the next hour or two. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVfXoNgnmOYtOLYpvAC6FX4RazPmwWNHea5rjRIsteMjnqIJcRAuq1mTjXRzgQ3SdZxn8TsePUVGqS_KnLeTl1aLuC5UhkOJSjCD-MTq77G62CAk-Q8V-KLmphOjm-J21m-SejNKOIos/s1600/soup_4962.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVfXoNgnmOYtOLYpvAC6FX4RazPmwWNHea5rjRIsteMjnqIJcRAuq1mTjXRzgQ3SdZxn8TsePUVGqS_KnLeTl1aLuC5UhkOJSjCD-MTq77G62CAk-Q8V-KLmphOjm-J21m-SejNKOIos/s400/soup_4962.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594023832466439250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>After you've disinfected the neighborhood, heat the chicken until it's just cooked through. It should be golden brown on both sides. Try to resist over-cooking it. It makes the chicken very dry and hard to chew. I'm speaking from experience here people. Do yourself a favor and <i>don't over-cook your chicken.</i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfKnXbsPGCFplqiC_m7BgDUkhq4jt9yH84TKrXhwKzyzSpGdE-pNaUH8duhXacJhNFkj-e3MhAcErCOuFs57Ds02yl9cITEvoqByYRhqFjvwBofQVvq-2WEPWlpR60WP7mvn3c2h4BIQ/s1600/soup_4969.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfKnXbsPGCFplqiC_m7BgDUkhq4jt9yH84TKrXhwKzyzSpGdE-pNaUH8duhXacJhNFkj-e3MhAcErCOuFs57Ds02yl9cITEvoqByYRhqFjvwBofQVvq-2WEPWlpR60WP7mvn3c2h4BIQ/s400/soup_4969.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594023825392504354" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></i></div><div>At this point, glance at the clock are realize that your son needs to be picked up from his birthday party in 7 minutes and it will take 8 minutes to get there. Accept the fact that you'll be a few minutes late and cut up the chicken. Toss it into the pot with the veggies.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpUc98qGUe-I1hXvdvYC6AbDl6TE1gi2xBv_W5eVEuMRh9IQGS1FUIMNPtKSDXq5Xl5dr6-sos_jZ4hnY6DxtdA9IGu_6nWXzcBQxBJNT2xg8UzNzKasdOazI3wQyAPnu5JjecH2zMrI/s1600/soup_4953.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpUc98qGUe-I1hXvdvYC6AbDl6TE1gi2xBv_W5eVEuMRh9IQGS1FUIMNPtKSDXq5Xl5dr6-sos_jZ4hnY6DxtdA9IGu_6nWXzcBQxBJNT2xg8UzNzKasdOazI3wQyAPnu5JjecH2zMrI/s400/soup_4953.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594024725002790850" /></a></div><div>Quickly open up all three cans of chicken broth.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpUc98qGUe-I1hXvdvYC6AbDl6TE1gi2xBv_W5eVEuMRh9IQGS1FUIMNPtKSDXq5Xl5dr6-sos_jZ4hnY6DxtdA9IGu_6nWXzcBQxBJNT2xg8UzNzKasdOazI3wQyAPnu5JjecH2zMrI/s1600/soup_4953.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXqnvbTdslPazyrkOIjKeIViBwvjlv6BERy7zFVznXUxMMpuMjAI4WAwCX6aDLSEAkqGnh3Y_YQQvKlgq3zmpz4EAuAO6Y3ZnW9jicWl37JokAF3VUsmpAcW-jRxRr1H4JavGr_bV16w/s1600/soup_4958.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXqnvbTdslPazyrkOIjKeIViBwvjlv6BERy7zFVznXUxMMpuMjAI4WAwCX6aDLSEAkqGnh3Y_YQQvKlgq3zmpz4EAuAO6Y3ZnW9jicWl37JokAF3VUsmpAcW-jRxRr1H4JavGr_bV16w/s400/soup_4958.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594024719841575218" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXqnvbTdslPazyrkOIjKeIViBwvjlv6BERy7zFVznXUxMMpuMjAI4WAwCX6aDLSEAkqGnh3Y_YQQvKlgq3zmpz4EAuAO6Y3ZnW9jicWl37JokAF3VUsmpAcW-jRxRr1H4JavGr_bV16w/s1600/soup_4958.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Pour the broth into the pot. If your husband is home, go ahead and turn the heat on medium-high. If not, run out the door, pick up your son 5 minutes late, and turn the burner on when you get home. Bring the broth to a boil.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreyIGWT5GfVliFeKd0QPfAAe0I9JIRQYFvIfUgfsZPIPdyZq1wKAH8SXAoqEf6gjeLf3HN1SMn5WVaH7rH0MVbgwhQB1_zkJq25OmE-LRsDxjbP6Yilc2P06-tNR-uVWrI2A8CPdb-hA/s1600/soup_4974.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreyIGWT5GfVliFeKd0QPfAAe0I9JIRQYFvIfUgfsZPIPdyZq1wKAH8SXAoqEf6gjeLf3HN1SMn5WVaH7rH0MVbgwhQB1_zkJq25OmE-LRsDxjbP6Yilc2P06-tNR-uVWrI2A8CPdb-hA/s400/soup_4974.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594023817600276354" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreyIGWT5GfVliFeKd0QPfAAe0I9JIRQYFvIfUgfsZPIPdyZq1wKAH8SXAoqEf6gjeLf3HN1SMn5WVaH7rH0MVbgwhQB1_zkJq25OmE-LRsDxjbP6Yilc2P06-tNR-uVWrI2A8CPdb-hA/s1600/soup_4974.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Next comes the cream. You can skimp a <i>bit</i> on the cream if you want to. I believe in the original recipe, Sir Master Chef called for a half pint of cream. I like to add a full pint. It makes the soup so creamy and good.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-spxhKMm9itW5yLWhp2XOL__1w9hRCdxndSGgLBZSJdfrbELYuKTkoFlC2Oe1bjELjxF_mL1Y5_6vGV509Om9-ZERq7RonzGjp-TnMC9OWGL6GkuWOF-X5UtiZi5MYlT1WPcHQb6ZHkI/s1600/soup_4978.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-spxhKMm9itW5yLWhp2XOL__1w9hRCdxndSGgLBZSJdfrbELYuKTkoFlC2Oe1bjELjxF_mL1Y5_6vGV509Om9-ZERq7RonzGjp-TnMC9OWGL6GkuWOF-X5UtiZi5MYlT1WPcHQb6ZHkI/s400/soup_4978.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594023816678582946" /></a><br />Add in a palmful of thyme.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81iGzkTwFqDtjb6peZrBCwSw5KJWRWasedg0xNoJSJ0bE-OSpUSGZHRWdnZyX4KpTTZZzwfzUP-eeBzcgahaoIYqUNNKhHz_w2ysUv3GrlneI2nRN38Aoy5PzzNzBuiRBT6U-bzN525o/s1600/soup_4985.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81iGzkTwFqDtjb6peZrBCwSw5KJWRWasedg0xNoJSJ0bE-OSpUSGZHRWdnZyX4KpTTZZzwfzUP-eeBzcgahaoIYqUNNKhHz_w2ysUv3GrlneI2nRN38Aoy5PzzNzBuiRBT6U-bzN525o/s400/soup_4985.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593764814218480786" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81iGzkTwFqDtjb6peZrBCwSw5KJWRWasedg0xNoJSJ0bE-OSpUSGZHRWdnZyX4KpTTZZzwfzUP-eeBzcgahaoIYqUNNKhHz_w2ysUv3GrlneI2nRN38Aoy5PzzNzBuiRBT6U-bzN525o/s1600/soup_4985.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>The last step is to add the noodles. If you've ever tried to snap a picture of noodles being dumped into a pot, you'll know you only get one chance. I failed. Let the noodles hang out in the boiling soup for about 7 minutes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s1600/soup_4988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s1600/soup_4988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s400/soup_4988.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593764788108443202" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s1600/soup_4988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Ladle some soup into a bowl, add a hunk of bread and enjoy <i>the best chicken noodle soup EVER</i>.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZehdjd_j_a94FP73to3kloXJbZQJdATGNuIYUMoqUYI4oi6gPnjz2L3hiYDy9uRcNkll8DHsVnUl_HXdN-fylv0xMhhr6UZ2vWD4_HuLvo3g8xAAC87u8HTvyN5SVJJPJVmmpbJBXVIs/s1600/soup_4988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>The Best Chicken Noodle Soup EVER</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Ingredients:</div><div>1 lb carrots</div><div>4-5 stalks celery</div><div>1 onion</div><div>4-5 cloves garlic</div><div>4 T butter</div><div>1/4 cup plus 2T olive oil</div><div>2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts</div><div>1 pint heavy whipping cream</div><div>3 49oz cans chicken broth</div><div>1-2 T thyme</div><div>1 16 0z bag of egg noodles</div><div><br /></div><div>Wash, peel, and dice carrots, celery, and onion. In frying pan, heat up butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 1 1/2 hours. Mince garlic and add to caramelized veggies for about 2 minutes. Transfer to stock pot. Heat up 2 T oil and heat chicken until just cooked through and golden brown. Dice cooked chicken and add to veggies in pot. Add chicken broth, cream, and thyme to pot and bring to a boil. Add noodles and cook according to package directions, about 7 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-15397460885940494242011-04-09T13:20:00.000-07:002011-04-09T18:25:53.912-07:00riding in fire trucks<div>One of the perks of living across the street from a daycare, other than an extra set of eyes to spot your toddler darting across the street straight into oncoming traffic, is getting in on some fun things they organize for their kids. Such as having fire fighters bring a real live fire engine to the front door. <i>And not even to put out a fire.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QQslQGVAivWGSV65slIqEPjb2it5BDU-xEgUCwmTJ1rDW003DLDcHIzVsLRoo4OgZOH41SyT3jOeHDDcxNPK6WEv7Kk3em5M4qY_W8Y2nF_hhpOa335aIjLkWLVScGEwZfzCcSAXSQo/s1600/FireTruck_0943.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QQslQGVAivWGSV65slIqEPjb2it5BDU-xEgUCwmTJ1rDW003DLDcHIzVsLRoo4OgZOH41SyT3jOeHDDcxNPK6WEv7Kk3em5M4qY_W8Y2nF_hhpOa335aIjLkWLVScGEwZfzCcSAXSQo/s320/FireTruck_0943.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593686648819948002" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sCQJXDKuD6uiUYlI66YveXiFQXY4i1pqFSr53GEIpocXzo1T4fNbr-jyfEHfPLiXDkHKQAD39OPXgV1GOIHs7hjLKwggxM8GXlAHO08WaM32-U6w7GlSk5U8NpRw_UhEVvpjQdxpzcE/s1600/FireTruck_0945.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sCQJXDKuD6uiUYlI66YveXiFQXY4i1pqFSr53GEIpocXzo1T4fNbr-jyfEHfPLiXDkHKQAD39OPXgV1GOIHs7hjLKwggxM8GXlAHO08WaM32-U6w7GlSk5U8NpRw_UhEVvpjQdxpzcE/s320/FireTruck_0945.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593686636882844018" /></a> </div><div>My oldest girl is a great helper with her younger siblings. She is also has a cute little bottom that I'm sure she will someday thank me for posting on the internet. <i>You're welcome.</i></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrYiz-ICgDtlh4by2e792BRQnG_bB1DoMFWr_iBYEuEiUJmOhtelxE-xrXLIM0_QunMdy0RLytZP-BsKeB-1HUsziQSuBozDS1GkujOSvY-wqwEXJIzWwsk-Ysf4Sruyu2Nx_JotmktE/s1600/firetruck_0920.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrYiz-ICgDtlh4by2e792BRQnG_bB1DoMFWr_iBYEuEiUJmOhtelxE-xrXLIM0_QunMdy0RLytZP-BsKeB-1HUsziQSuBozDS1GkujOSvY-wqwEXJIzWwsk-Ysf4Sruyu2Nx_JotmktE/s320/firetruck_0920.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593686629096978162" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7es78qbjb3ITp160unoNCbX4ZvyWbZbCU-pH2zNCSUe3qBPRC786ns-aRd7rxXj9eKEjA3ggTW5k0JVwAsbbSzCLsVkmjkWNEnSPkcg4kAboAghxG8jnFrroMiM5cVPbD2QoBUX9fJU/s1600/FireTruck_0962.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7es78qbjb3ITp160unoNCbX4ZvyWbZbCU-pH2zNCSUe3qBPRC786ns-aRd7rxXj9eKEjA3ggTW5k0JVwAsbbSzCLsVkmjkWNEnSPkcg4kAboAghxG8jnFrroMiM5cVPbD2QoBUX9fJU/s320/FireTruck_0962.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593686620792048002" /></a><br />As exciting as it is to <i>see</i> a big red engine go cruising past with lights flashing and sirens blaring, Elliot isn't quite so sure he's fond of being <i>inside </i>a truck possessing such great super powers.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qwFXm8byUHvWgP4RoZPex06okzyjVYnGgAUHMWi4aZdi-sMsY0jeTGlvLhWuTj49t5kpGLkffkBKvo0VJMivTJSO8Lx7PJ910PRxo11J8tV8mdc70Uj_ge4akbPS4XrHOCCM5vYt1E/s1600/FireTruck_0931.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qwFXm8byUHvWgP4RoZPex06okzyjVYnGgAUHMWi4aZdi-sMsY0jeTGlvLhWuTj49t5kpGLkffkBKvo0VJMivTJSO8Lx7PJ910PRxo11J8tV8mdc70Uj_ge4akbPS4XrHOCCM5vYt1E/s400/FireTruck_0931.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593685333235690514" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qwFXm8byUHvWgP4RoZPex06okzyjVYnGgAUHMWi4aZdi-sMsY0jeTGlvLhWuTj49t5kpGLkffkBKvo0VJMivTJSO8Lx7PJ910PRxo11J8tV8mdc70Uj_ge4akbPS4XrHOCCM5vYt1E/s1600/FireTruck_0931.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>These awesome fire fighters turned on the fire hydrant for the kids. And as cool as it was to watch hundreds (thousands?) of gallons of water gush onto the street...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAH7hp7ZOLOMNLsQoqZYg9gG-t6pmLQWhG3pyu6XVQcNg7E6wsvgH5GqoEsTS8MOSrXY-h6j2RnYQOSpU_vmvWLcnpfPDUZdyjTtoLOW8Vu4wYMQA0k_u8Zikna7UydQhF1GJancm64LE/s1600/FireTruck_0981.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAH7hp7ZOLOMNLsQoqZYg9gG-t6pmLQWhG3pyu6XVQcNg7E6wsvgH5GqoEsTS8MOSrXY-h6j2RnYQOSpU_vmvWLcnpfPDUZdyjTtoLOW8Vu4wYMQA0k_u8Zikna7UydQhF1GJancm64LE/s400/FireTruck_0981.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593685328318158290" /></a><br /><div>...the real fun was yet to come. Because in our neighborhood when there's an overabundance of water, it all runs down the street and forms a great big puddle...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQcInTZ8W3m4g4yuXnveuSD1ALS2lj4ngwmHPn8WLaAm6L6-4XKHNggSTvCwktxguw8jjfwHb7MmsxzjjwcPx9j6sne9qYi_jjOIsESkiD_Z0GWnPq7FlZtIDDoUvpHYTW1cA5GVIRq8/s1600/FireTruck_0982.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQcInTZ8W3m4g4yuXnveuSD1ALS2lj4ngwmHPn8WLaAm6L6-4XKHNggSTvCwktxguw8jjfwHb7MmsxzjjwcPx9j6sne9qYi_jjOIsESkiD_Z0GWnPq7FlZtIDDoUvpHYTW1cA5GVIRq8/s200/FireTruck_0982.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593682834120505586" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB_FSRXqGUYBXE0F8PYTUWaLprl0SmwjnqIu_DqU75y3omOJ7XFAXmapxkfyUbL-pgX-5DKh7V0t2Dqk5IBPEnXdnj1lo4iNbTBkSkkbjmjJ8N0ldR9u0w7SFdWZQA7blejwfq6gCcvc/s1600/FireTruck_0988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB_FSRXqGUYBXE0F8PYTUWaLprl0SmwjnqIu_DqU75y3omOJ7XFAXmapxkfyUbL-pgX-5DKh7V0t2Dqk5IBPEnXdnj1lo4iNbTBkSkkbjmjJ8N0ldR9u0w7SFdWZQA7blejwfq6gCcvc/s200/FireTruck_0988.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593682823250686418" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB_FSRXqGUYBXE0F8PYTUWaLprl0SmwjnqIu_DqU75y3omOJ7XFAXmapxkfyUbL-pgX-5DKh7V0t2Dqk5IBPEnXdnj1lo4iNbTBkSkkbjmjJ8N0ldR9u0w7SFdWZQA7blejwfq6gCcvc/s1600/FireTruck_0988.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSJdl-4yiTjjTjHYALogpETaJuiks7Uc0XfcHcO3TvWQJf4jnph51RLBdmLprHFyAMpKt9SjPjjaY2q50YrtOgMwd7Lr9G8gs42v0-sHh7uCF1JpsWWiATrCf3osdxtKzAqHWef9KZfQ/s1600/FireTruck_0995.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSJdl-4yiTjjTjHYALogpETaJuiks7Uc0XfcHcO3TvWQJf4jnph51RLBdmLprHFyAMpKt9SjPjjaY2q50YrtOgMwd7Lr9G8gs42v0-sHh7uCF1JpsWWiATrCf3osdxtKzAqHWef9KZfQ/s200/FireTruck_0995.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593682815436877234" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MlVNT3Cf9fYl6PRhnspBkMkPd9FcWRLOgHB2Glw50zZr56gwVAgc8kejp7F3vBS6kJ2s58Z_5xiOp2DOJFEltLTI_f6qvrnxrc7RQsVA-EyqHU5oj65MdU0lxJ_B0Zid6K9V_M8awK0/s1600/FireTruck_1032.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MlVNT3Cf9fYl6PRhnspBkMkPd9FcWRLOgHB2Glw50zZr56gwVAgc8kejp7F3vBS6kJ2s58Z_5xiOp2DOJFEltLTI_f6qvrnxrc7RQsVA-EyqHU5oj65MdU0lxJ_B0Zid6K9V_M8awK0/s200/FireTruck_1032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593683591161780034" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></div>...where there is all kinds of splashing to be had.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TWZg5Fh-pxO0kl7yUFrR72xBc_Gii10wEGY5TJhHy5rWrNUUg_C2gBXRBi7a9Ba_E7wFK7oKTiJnfBW7oZvka82CCK1kLPr609K2-6pf5HhPB8vZTzek-elK00VhOlo98ZHa2HZPwyY/s1600/FireTruck_1038.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TWZg5Fh-pxO0kl7yUFrR72xBc_Gii10wEGY5TJhHy5rWrNUUg_C2gBXRBi7a9Ba_E7wFK7oKTiJnfBW7oZvka82CCK1kLPr609K2-6pf5HhPB8vZTzek-elK00VhOlo98ZHa2HZPwyY/s400/FireTruck_1038.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593682208864764930" /></a><br /></div><div>The end.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-85923863854534382142011-03-30T08:33:00.001-07:002011-04-02T07:31:16.720-07:002010 state fair {minnesota}<div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6903514000587165" style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">The Great Minnesota Get-Together. Where the general public pays, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">with money, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">to weave their way in and out of great throngs of sweaty people so that they can wander through smelly animal exhibits, shake hands with a (hopefully not) corrupted politician or two, go on a few overpriced rides, play a few overpriced games and, of course, stuff their faces with all sorts of overpriced cuisine. Most of which comes on a stick. And let's be honest. The food? Is the </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">real</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> reason the masses keep coming back. From the cheese curds to the pronto pups to the roasted corn on the cob, it's all delicious. Well, it's </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">almost</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> all delicious. Fried bacon on a stick? </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Pass.</span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyUix9kYewb0WcPs6gqvxAD8qONnLHPc7kWQGga1hKIBjkK8643AABEnvmmAjDet1zcX1ABuOUXwP0hFfKx97SnuIzlEPF0jvLuZd-e20JIeC2wuN5Uy5sUUDMrNC9_Ce3azCDm8fFmU/s1600/2010statefair_1121.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyUix9kYewb0WcPs6gqvxAD8qONnLHPc7kWQGga1hKIBjkK8643AABEnvmmAjDet1zcX1ABuOUXwP0hFfKx97SnuIzlEPF0jvLuZd-e20JIeC2wuN5Uy5sUUDMrNC9_Ce3azCDm8fFmU/s400/2010statefair_1121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589914212881803746" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyUix9kYewb0WcPs6gqvxAD8qONnLHPc7kWQGga1hKIBjkK8643AABEnvmmAjDet1zcX1ABuOUXwP0hFfKx97SnuIzlEPF0jvLuZd-e20JIeC2wuN5Uy5sUUDMrNC9_Ce3azCDm8fFmU/s1600/2010statefair_1121.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6903514000587165" style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Now </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">this</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> however, is worth coming back for. Strawberries and cream crepe. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Swoon.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> This was one of our first food stops of the day. It came shortly after the cheese curds and lemonade. Which came at about 9AM. Why? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Because we went to the fair with crazy people (I'm looking at you A).</span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XZ_WCxibqB4xvWqynaItjlsxa5iHn6GyqiHsQLaEeT7vNQdqYgkF_bEvkIV8B3-AbcnI1wLhyphenhyphenI542jF6J6YWoUvIW2Dy1Vr8keHvZViICBg8Z-pCKeXRs4E2sJbiM9s-yGgYPHwORyk/s1600/2010statefair_1042.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XZ_WCxibqB4xvWqynaItjlsxa5iHn6GyqiHsQLaEeT7vNQdqYgkF_bEvkIV8B3-AbcnI1wLhyphenhyphenI542jF6J6YWoUvIW2Dy1Vr8keHvZViICBg8Z-pCKeXRs4E2sJbiM9s-yGgYPHwORyk/s400/2010statefair_1042.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589914211853669778" /></a><br /><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6903514000587165" style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Despite the fact that it was early September when we went, the day was relatively chilly. Wyatt spent some time warming up by cuddling in his daddy's jacket.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHaFHPPyJSQz_KAmSouOruhjmx8aZa0EtgqyBdLgW75iT0K9mUPPNtHcisDp8yg_JffYmd885KEv41O3XtFzSbC4Iyx0KQ02UwZFLRI0MeDqLBjtjfCAd-cHwjfXqgDBFgo2iGzqw3Og/s1600/2010statefair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHaFHPPyJSQz_KAmSouOruhjmx8aZa0EtgqyBdLgW75iT0K9mUPPNtHcisDp8yg_JffYmd885KEv41O3XtFzSbC4Iyx0KQ02UwZFLRI0MeDqLBjtjfCAd-cHwjfXqgDBFgo2iGzqw3Og/s1600/2010statefair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHaFHPPyJSQz_KAmSouOruhjmx8aZa0EtgqyBdLgW75iT0K9mUPPNtHcisDp8yg_JffYmd885KEv41O3XtFzSbC4Iyx0KQ02UwZFLRI0MeDqLBjtjfCAd-cHwjfXqgDBFgo2iGzqw3Og/s400/2010statefair.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589914206857554274" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In heritage square, Miss I charmed the socks off of this unsuspecting gentelman.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi7DFC5ETHqeZGjZTXfs2HH2ETfZWR1gXxEq1u4qiaztuBd5qbe5MNshyphenhyphenzXtGeDv7827baPJXQi8VWE2fOhtJU_LqbbA_YR-P2FFcYtqdFBLx3A7I5KO4_JSyfMiOU2Hyc8HDM6TosNI/s1600/2010statefair_1158.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi7DFC5ETHqeZGjZTXfs2HH2ETfZWR1gXxEq1u4qiaztuBd5qbe5MNshyphenhyphenzXtGeDv7827baPJXQi8VWE2fOhtJU_LqbbA_YR-P2FFcYtqdFBLx3A7I5KO4_JSyfMiOU2Hyc8HDM6TosNI/s400/2010statefair_1158.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589904186485050642" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IfSL8ZV4oF9XAvg1Uextv8uH_UQ0N3ea-v84IbF4d_NZYyNhGvISvk79Iap3mHMlbkN8nr7MG0Mya25D96jlyrjZO5wiFkeBXAKrZeJHJp5e0ybs-BKloLQbzYEjqQazaiwiAmlRDls/s1600/2010statefair_1164.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IfSL8ZV4oF9XAvg1Uextv8uH_UQ0N3ea-v84IbF4d_NZYyNhGvISvk79Iap3mHMlbkN8nr7MG0Mya25D96jlyrjZO5wiFkeBXAKrZeJHJp5e0ybs-BKloLQbzYEjqQazaiwiAmlRDls/s400/2010statefair_1164.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589904180132905490" /></a><br /><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6903514000587165" style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">We had to make a stop in the Miracle of Birth barn. We saw baby cows, sheep, pigs and goats. Aaron may or may not have actually managed to convince some poor souls that he was working at the fair and fed them a line of baloney about goats.</span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBw_hKjwDjmNYcWx4BJmVIyA_trsbH10xgV0GynIyVytUtmOxjI-3LcMy9LTTO29n9fj51Gl_Wb6duaWf1wHPqVYnbXWLpvkj6czg8e5x6UpzAWvFC4IgVxyUVZ6JHZ7Gh6OLR7oq32U/s1600/2010statrfair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBw_hKjwDjmNYcWx4BJmVIyA_trsbH10xgV0GynIyVytUtmOxjI-3LcMy9LTTO29n9fj51Gl_Wb6duaWf1wHPqVYnbXWLpvkj6czg8e5x6UpzAWvFC4IgVxyUVZ6JHZ7Gh6OLR7oq32U/s400/2010statrfair.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589904175078077410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhqq8bAY0DGNPqUWRjgftLjfBEHg2ZTMQdG5l7m4WKRcPC7on_SLq9fuzQEdeqxv86m1_K-5LGF3SepdyAmFISMJF96GdNz0AZysY6wBIF-kbAnMENwW503_tJaRuoTbf2GOLro2YJlA/s1600/statefair_1232.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We've been to the fair a number of times before and somehow have always missed the fact that it was home to a place bearing my husband's nickname, The Blue Flame. If you're wondering <i>how</i> my husband wound up with that nickname, let me give you a hint. Think "gas" and lighters.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhqq8bAY0DGNPqUWRjgftLjfBEHg2ZTMQdG5l7m4WKRcPC7on_SLq9fuzQEdeqxv86m1_K-5LGF3SepdyAmFISMJF96GdNz0AZysY6wBIF-kbAnMENwW503_tJaRuoTbf2GOLro2YJlA/s1600/statefair_1232.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhqq8bAY0DGNPqUWRjgftLjfBEHg2ZTMQdG5l7m4WKRcPC7on_SLq9fuzQEdeqxv86m1_K-5LGF3SepdyAmFISMJF96GdNz0AZysY6wBIF-kbAnMENwW503_tJaRuoTbf2GOLro2YJlA/s400/statefair_1232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589902576084274482" /></a><br /><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6903514000587165" style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">This girly waited very patiently to do some high jumping.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">All the waiting was worth it however. It was likely her favorite 5 minutes of the whole day.</span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIrpfO_gycQd6x0sCh3vxXKTzyg4AokiN93zzM1UJdTUyhuApeESGsAOPAUgeH-p69MLYl3aMm0LiYj_vpZKLTrH2Pf56-HV3yr58IqoilSUHWZJZkIwjbbl3fkITr_B9tT7CFw9_Rm4/s1600/statefair_1172.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIrpfO_gycQd6x0sCh3vxXKTzyg4AokiN93zzM1UJdTUyhuApeESGsAOPAUgeH-p69MLYl3aMm0LiYj_vpZKLTrH2Pf56-HV3yr58IqoilSUHWZJZkIwjbbl3fkITr_B9tT7CFw9_Rm4/s400/statefair_1172.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589902572654469218" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Miss O was perfectly happy just hanging out wherever we were. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lyq51MQzr1RLq44IsrL1KWmss31Y33uFYVwqH1OCQ82zpynFpJ8oXx5Rdlhq7dLpNR3kFImZimR8cTCDPOtRy-olrMgOrzApAFVeMgek4Mr3HZ3qEMqrFXmnmRzGVLk0dKh9QFySo1o/s1600/statefair_1280.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lyq51MQzr1RLq44IsrL1KWmss31Y33uFYVwqH1OCQ82zpynFpJ8oXx5Rdlhq7dLpNR3kFImZimR8cTCDPOtRy-olrMgOrzApAFVeMgek4Mr3HZ3qEMqrFXmnmRzGVLk0dKh9QFySo1o/s1600/statefair_1280.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lyq51MQzr1RLq44IsrL1KWmss31Y33uFYVwqH1OCQ82zpynFpJ8oXx5Rdlhq7dLpNR3kFImZimR8cTCDPOtRy-olrMgOrzApAFVeMgek4Mr3HZ3qEMqrFXmnmRzGVLk0dKh9QFySo1o/s400/statefair_1280.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589902567818057634" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >G was still smiling even after an entire day in the stroller.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lyq51MQzr1RLq44IsrL1KWmss31Y33uFYVwqH1OCQ82zpynFpJ8oXx5Rdlhq7dLpNR3kFImZimR8cTCDPOtRy-olrMgOrzApAFVeMgek4Mr3HZ3qEMqrFXmnmRzGVLk0dKh9QFySo1o/s1600/statefair_1280.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K-z3vUcSY7ReRY52YS4b-FFanB0XGtFVBb9HBx1LEYTZ6xrtazMR3r5eKX2i-8HjN0qD2u_fnLmyI87Hley_BY2HeX3FbZdpLKVQg34f9cVgZlVgPrgOZP4OB1wHNV1ITP4tJK4gRMU/s1600/2010statefair_1171.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K-z3vUcSY7ReRY52YS4b-FFanB0XGtFVBb9HBx1LEYTZ6xrtazMR3r5eKX2i-8HjN0qD2u_fnLmyI87Hley_BY2HeX3FbZdpLKVQg34f9cVgZlVgPrgOZP4OB1wHNV1ITP4tJK4gRMU/s400/2010statefair_1171.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589897570276207714" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYFF4P9OPK-RKMUqN6SOAa767dtGrDDQxa8GTx4dXGfgZkGn7GPerzRmgbeFJVzrDEtxUn1nELGYamuvUNuBx6ZRfrhWZrQHec2kstd7xHICZBSizGbgq-J659Jaq0k697eRlDG5eE50/s1600/2010statefair_1270.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYFF4P9OPK-RKMUqN6SOAa767dtGrDDQxa8GTx4dXGfgZkGn7GPerzRmgbeFJVzrDEtxUn1nELGYamuvUNuBx6ZRfrhWZrQHec2kstd7xHICZBSizGbgq-J659Jaq0k697eRlDG5eE50/s400/2010statefair_1270.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589897568917935986" /></a><br />Our very last food stop of the day was for cookies and milk. We opted for a "small" order of cookies rather than an entire bucket this time. And they were delightful.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6w9FdfO5ehfZC6ZcxO5wwErXDQt8OOW0iQxskZMAr0IKnh_-cbSQptb6pcvTK-Y6iwaY6hMNRY-3zp7WdL6lvx-my74MjOh-im4MI69YJtl_1qvAY32RVfaWEHMSbO8LwGg39upDhrs/s1600/statefair_1304.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6w9FdfO5ehfZC6ZcxO5wwErXDQt8OOW0iQxskZMAr0IKnh_-cbSQptb6pcvTK-Y6iwaY6hMNRY-3zp7WdL6lvx-my74MjOh-im4MI69YJtl_1qvAY32RVfaWEHMSbO8LwGg39upDhrs/s1600/statefair_1304.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6w9FdfO5ehfZC6ZcxO5wwErXDQt8OOW0iQxskZMAr0IKnh_-cbSQptb6pcvTK-Y6iwaY6hMNRY-3zp7WdL6lvx-my74MjOh-im4MI69YJtl_1qvAY32RVfaWEHMSbO8LwGg39upDhrs/s400/statefair_1304.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589897561980038754" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Disclaimer: I don't know why the text isn't all the same. It is driving me batty. But not batty enough to spend the time to fix it.</div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2144630862433617622.post-4132708813590858982011-03-28T14:52:00.001-07:002011-03-28T18:49:46.189-07:00over the river and through the woods<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhcoxweAjFJIeGYTDet1NzSsmbQdLF5-Xz38OURNC6hazTCxfBee4B9cb_ghnxs0HEUkA-4vmlRwFGv6HyOUh9ezgCrC_DM4dT9N8iXcgEG-mHjpNMFdLLoNLBPZ3MRezxlcBX_P9om8/s1600/reve_0787.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhcoxweAjFJIeGYTDet1NzSsmbQdLF5-Xz38OURNC6hazTCxfBee4B9cb_ghnxs0HEUkA-4vmlRwFGv6HyOUh9ezgCrC_DM4dT9N8iXcgEG-mHjpNMFdLLoNLBPZ3MRezxlcBX_P9om8/s400/reve_0787.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589255491395511970" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><div>When it comes to raising five children, it is necessary to find free and inexpensive ways to build memories. One of our family's favorite such ways is going <i>"over the river and through the woods"</i> to grandma's house. We are blessed to have a number of grandmas to choose from. One such grandma is Grandma "Pancakes". Grandma Pancakes is Aaron's maternal grandma. She makes the most delicious pancakes and waffles hence the nickname given to her by our children. One of her secrets? She saves bacon grease and uses that to lube up the frying pan. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73Sga4UphL11yZVeiynf5EXnDTVJaRZQt1G7W4Q1eLTOziMSYJgbw4QmYconHRWfGTLnKCruBzAnQ182fbj-vX5aLevZnfP3lU8OLIhBLuFgikJyliMIiLeecMRYMoNXdLTwJjOjSMYQ/s1600/maya_0779.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73Sga4UphL11yZVeiynf5EXnDTVJaRZQt1G7W4Q1eLTOziMSYJgbw4QmYconHRWfGTLnKCruBzAnQ182fbj-vX5aLevZnfP3lU8OLIhBLuFgikJyliMIiLeecMRYMoNXdLTwJjOjSMYQ/s400/maya_0779.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589257491899146530" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div>Grandma Pancakes also has an abundance of raspberry bushes. Our kids love going out and picking the ripe berries off the bushes. Maya is especially fond of berry picking. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73Sga4UphL11yZVeiynf5EXnDTVJaRZQt1G7W4Q1eLTOziMSYJgbw4QmYconHRWfGTLnKCruBzAnQ182fbj-vX5aLevZnfP3lU8OLIhBLuFgikJyliMIiLeecMRYMoNXdLTwJjOjSMYQ/s1600/maya_0779.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAOuj0sX9FEeIHWkWQ_Dz6ec6Ol0kugktcDZsqR6WrzuUrUzJ1SAM2IYxxJf6mNjiyaOWiKAvENUWsVQInU6sVbToDEtbve3eMtfOT4qcARhB-BUdKTb3YVWQSomfwteEWXV2ae10Uks/s1600/wyatt_0794.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAOuj0sX9FEeIHWkWQ_Dz6ec6Ol0kugktcDZsqR6WrzuUrUzJ1SAM2IYxxJf6mNjiyaOWiKAvENUWsVQInU6sVbToDEtbve3eMtfOT4qcARhB-BUdKTb3YVWQSomfwteEWXV2ae10Uks/s400/wyatt_0794.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589255487863328610" /></a></div><div>Wyatt was content this day to just hang out in his daddy's arms and watch all the action. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAOuj0sX9FEeIHWkWQ_Dz6ec6Ol0kugktcDZsqR6WrzuUrUzJ1SAM2IYxxJf6mNjiyaOWiKAvENUWsVQInU6sVbToDEtbve3eMtfOT4qcARhB-BUdKTb3YVWQSomfwteEWXV2ae10Uks/s1600/wyatt_0794.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2j8X6-tTHdG-BjO6zr2di8DYx8PLTOw6hvDHtnBCLp0Ufm2UbFwpzILpjF_MUivfVWyRv6taVv4N94tbaHVQAF0oIeTmYCXpO5ESl5x73D8mD1UeteQgYNiyJ_f_QzUc4VWxtYo23vw/s1600/brenna_0799.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2j8X6-tTHdG-BjO6zr2di8DYx8PLTOw6hvDHtnBCLp0Ufm2UbFwpzILpjF_MUivfVWyRv6taVv4N94tbaHVQAF0oIeTmYCXpO5ESl5x73D8mD1UeteQgYNiyJ_f_QzUc4VWxtYo23vw/s400/brenna_0799.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253941898807586" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2j8X6-tTHdG-BjO6zr2di8DYx8PLTOw6hvDHtnBCLp0Ufm2UbFwpzILpjF_MUivfVWyRv6taVv4N94tbaHVQAF0oIeTmYCXpO5ESl5x73D8mD1UeteQgYNiyJ_f_QzUc4VWxtYo23vw/s1600/brenna_0799.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Grandma Pancakes has four children and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so she knows all the tricks. Like saving honey bear bottles and letting the kids drink their orange juice out of them. More exciting than a silly straw.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fAv4kGuoyeOla2i7wLCBJY2BJ2F2PxABIhk0Sc4QX1MLXQbq_xTJ8PnaOdyEABVRr2sXHKZ5oL7ObmoxqAmp44zxPYO1GxQAekT4hvT-H5kbsdyDr8lLpHVTy7_75Xxu8AKbKaLMMrQ/s1600/brenna_0801.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fAv4kGuoyeOla2i7wLCBJY2BJ2F2PxABIhk0Sc4QX1MLXQbq_xTJ8PnaOdyEABVRr2sXHKZ5oL7ObmoxqAmp44zxPYO1GxQAekT4hvT-H5kbsdyDr8lLpHVTy7_75Xxu8AKbKaLMMrQ/s400/brenna_0801.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253934678348594" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fAv4kGuoyeOla2i7wLCBJY2BJ2F2PxABIhk0Sc4QX1MLXQbq_xTJ8PnaOdyEABVRr2sXHKZ5oL7ObmoxqAmp44zxPYO1GxQAekT4hvT-H5kbsdyDr8lLpHVTy7_75Xxu8AKbKaLMMrQ/s1600/brenna_0801.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Grandma Pancakes always has <i>real</i> maple syrup and homemade applesauce available to smother the pancakes or waffles with. And here's another Grandma Pancakes tip: for those kiddos who want theirs cut up, a pizza cutter makes the task a snappy one.</div><div><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_aW3qG1Xok28yTKVIZAew0iIvkwn0AMh_z8ATYdYqEWHOY-3awYW5gIFBDxvDl9bC_2e5w1IqYxY75Z7aqTFNgO8TXCXON8OODod0HEOH6IEOCYIkPbiyq8IMmMA0nMRrr0kSreJ4wQ/s1600/wyatt_0814.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_aW3qG1Xok28yTKVIZAew0iIvkwn0AMh_z8ATYdYqEWHOY-3awYW5gIFBDxvDl9bC_2e5w1IqYxY75Z7aqTFNgO8TXCXON8OODod0HEOH6IEOCYIkPbiyq8IMmMA0nMRrr0kSreJ4wQ/s400/wyatt_0814.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253932540318466" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_aW3qG1Xok28yTKVIZAew0iIvkwn0AMh_z8ATYdYqEWHOY-3awYW5gIFBDxvDl9bC_2e5w1IqYxY75Z7aqTFNgO8TXCXON8OODod0HEOH6IEOCYIkPbiyq8IMmMA0nMRrr0kSreJ4wQ/s1600/wyatt_0814.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Of course, if you're not feeling all that hungry for breakfast food, you can always gnaw on the back of a wooden chair.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBRxnlH7RSQsnAyPnAhSoRECovG-4kpY91SmDDTrdALKLgvoFLhlEWe1Y3G1n538QjB2_0I0hC3Y9GXYvPupwbr9-HAqjPtZz8DqnOE-1EkCQF0tqvQaysKeACYTN3Ww4VdKKjs7kDx4/s1600/brenna_ethan_0842.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBRxnlH7RSQsnAyPnAhSoRECovG-4kpY91SmDDTrdALKLgvoFLhlEWe1Y3G1n538QjB2_0I0hC3Y9GXYvPupwbr9-HAqjPtZz8DqnOE-1EkCQF0tqvQaysKeACYTN3Ww4VdKKjs7kDx4/s400/brenna_ethan_0842.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253268120841538" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBRxnlH7RSQsnAyPnAhSoRECovG-4kpY91SmDDTrdALKLgvoFLhlEWe1Y3G1n538QjB2_0I0hC3Y9GXYvPupwbr9-HAqjPtZz8DqnOE-1EkCQF0tqvQaysKeACYTN3Ww4VdKKjs7kDx4/s1600/brenna_ethan_0842.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>After filling their bellies, it's time for some fun outside!<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinknEfrV_tttXiGQVmSFGOcURp-zxEVm3x6SawU2HXe0zaUutyQOhHtqnJ-MVPm9D0IW9Q9o9mCh3PLO6tg5Cm7v8mYlBuMkUWVVT4UO11m-ovQG2i86RRG3EOrt0R6K56eQWkpUzIsDQ/s1600/maya_0876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinknEfrV_tttXiGQVmSFGOcURp-zxEVm3x6SawU2HXe0zaUutyQOhHtqnJ-MVPm9D0IW9Q9o9mCh3PLO6tg5Cm7v8mYlBuMkUWVVT4UO11m-ovQG2i86RRG3EOrt0R6K56eQWkpUzIsDQ/s400/maya_0876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253265060973842" /></a></div><div>The fact that she's wearing a dress doesn't slow down Maya's ability to have fun!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinknEfrV_tttXiGQVmSFGOcURp-zxEVm3x6SawU2HXe0zaUutyQOhHtqnJ-MVPm9D0IW9Q9o9mCh3PLO6tg5Cm7v8mYlBuMkUWVVT4UO11m-ovQG2i86RRG3EOrt0R6K56eQWkpUzIsDQ/s1600/maya_0876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW7x3cwF6XHKE9Rpl_YH6vhw27bD_pknkVozE_brT5YsKAZEpkizIo-PjB9piW5gGqM-YQ0Hc7mfYNBRlFBN8Lo6wwzE15LjgIe42SSkBXAb3MF8XbqwLv1sa5y5qi4BTZ9lKrNqmYKg/s1600/wyatt_0882.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW7x3cwF6XHKE9Rpl_YH6vhw27bD_pknkVozE_brT5YsKAZEpkizIo-PjB9piW5gGqM-YQ0Hc7mfYNBRlFBN8Lo6wwzE15LjgIe42SSkBXAb3MF8XbqwLv1sa5y5qi4BTZ9lKrNqmYKg/s400/wyatt_0882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253255471827202" /></a> </div><div>And once again, this boy just observes. Somehow I get the feeling that he is not going to be quite so willing to sit and watch <i>this</i> summer. </div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWjQQl8Z0_f1IrDf8MhYTfqmG5Fk0TTJCsDxuyzKNRpJoJ01QTeQeq3ewhCl6N0updcEQXy2-iRPBcLZZvtKQoz_06L7pYJ09tjV4C-mF_tZ7uIoqToUCf3apDKuVsSHmoiuvjCNk4BA/s400/wyatt_0887.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589253252451105874" /><br /></div>Amanda Bartellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08577921285428981154noreply@blogger.com2