tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16837169212858512032024-03-19T04:59:46.811-05:00Preece's PiecesDo not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
- Ephesians 6:4Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-75068883845970670512011-01-01T20:19:00.005-06:002011-01-01T20:30:56.178-06:00It's a New Year...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4y109h4JeeihXvEbL0UOONi0z09Qvt7btfVGpETwEvqaPnBX2c02uDnkC4wfmcns2X-iVWXNmL-O0FmLZ2ZiTk_wTYfmvOBPhOLPdOqb6vTMTdis2MwvvWjYbIUZaFHrC4IRmfiV_3sQ/s1600/make2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4y109h4JeeihXvEbL0UOONi0z09Qvt7btfVGpETwEvqaPnBX2c02uDnkC4wfmcns2X-iVWXNmL-O0FmLZ2ZiTk_wTYfmvOBPhOLPdOqb6vTMTdis2MwvvWjYbIUZaFHrC4IRmfiV_3sQ/s200/make2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557410234766234850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, if there's one New Year's tradition that we have here at the Preece homefront it's this: we traditionally do not honor any traditions. Never once have we repeated they way that we have rang in the New Year. Which is kind of indicitive of </span><span style="font-size:100%;">our lives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">This year we rang in the New Year with a little fun at home. The girls gave each other makeovers and Tony, who wants to be referred to as A.J. now, and I played Phase 10. Then, closer to midnight, we baked brownies and had hot chocolate. Not a bad</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> way to start off the year... not bad at all.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XXXv326oawJy31UZXDx9Hi5BSS2CI0I9tohi6SftkYJqcw6Lx5azM4tsxLVvYz0jeeCRWj7PRmxSWYYWjP0tgNDjb1LMQLYghP67fm6bQkpn-xYmIAgCsPo7ERDvEDu7udMiFsZpltFK/s1600/make1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XXXv326oawJy31UZXDx9Hi5BSS2CI0I9tohi6SftkYJqcw6Lx5azM4tsxLVvYz0jeeCRWj7PRmxSWYYWjP0tgNDjb1LMQLYghP67fm6bQkpn-xYmIAgCsPo7ERDvEDu7udMiFsZpltFK/s200/make1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557410107423050658" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-34237917340373551332010-08-29T15:47:00.007-05:002010-08-29T15:58:26.944-05:0030th Birthday Bash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnb_MFCw87DDI3EtO7kAA6hPnBKe_16en9wS3ON4jZEQPtKXFTsH57IembGso3X4HLABbm4WDLpYDH-s3DF1fEU7L-KTS6ztR-HTBUyXMktmqNkygR0nO3JZtcuBCjtabNDFhxESUC0E7/s1600/birthday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnb_MFCw87DDI3EtO7kAA6hPnBKe_16en9wS3ON4jZEQPtKXFTsH57IembGso3X4HLABbm4WDLpYDH-s3DF1fEU7L-KTS6ztR-HTBUyXMktmqNkygR0nO3JZtcuBCjtabNDFhxESUC0E7/s320/birthday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510936797430349442" border="0" /></a>On the 19th of this month it happened. I turned 30. Unlike most I spoke to I looked forward to the day. Don't know why. No real reason. I just liked the sound of 30- it excited me.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />My birthday started off fabulous with a slew of wonderful handmade gifts from kids, that they did all on their own.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, that Saturday, I went out to Baker Street Pub and enjoyed a wonderful night with my friends. I couldn't have ask for a better way to spend my birthday. I truly am one blessed girl.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqmbA5BoF7S9CFDEa4RJDbdZQ6sWk5fToEh0pmMdaV-Hltlu6SxrJllNtyPXCp_UheToBeTGH96oylpCy4mb8Mvn8dU7dI5tjoaGdmBMjQaGUdd3Um7zlrfg9brWMoqxKVA3qDZfTbKE9/s1600/bday1.jpg"><br /></a></div></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-71221234007111472872010-08-29T15:35:00.004-05:002010-08-29T15:44:36.960-05:00Back to School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32ux5rk_793zozFXIA_RguiSWneJNA4c5Co2vfqLk-UhB9GdRdE7hzn2L_zQvHhA_unft0rIO0A2lLYmohwLV_ZkwiafRHeGyzn8Gm3vSRlO2tOKVWqHjhZp-rW3jq1-zPP_CLhyphenhyphen6tiHi/s1600/bts1a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32ux5rk_793zozFXIA_RguiSWneJNA4c5Co2vfqLk-UhB9GdRdE7hzn2L_zQvHhA_unft0rIO0A2lLYmohwLV_ZkwiafRHeGyzn8Gm3vSRlO2tOKVWqHjhZp-rW3jq1-zPP_CLhyphenhyphen6tiHi/s320/bts1a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510933380592004226" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">With the first week of school behind us I can sit back and reflect- and thank my lucky stars that I'm not homeschooling this year. Not that homeschooling wasn't a wonderful experience, but I have a feeling it's one that will take years for me to fully appreciate.<br /><br />All of the little darlings have had a wonderful first week. Everyone is loving school, making new friends, and enjoying getting away from each other for a few hours.<br /><br />The biggest perk has been that everyone has been up bright and early and going to bed post haste when bedtime comes (can I get an Amen!) . The first week was such a success that I look forward to what this year brings...<br /><br /><br />Sidenote: Not everyone in the house was excited for the first day of school. These two took it pretty hard:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEYQDJJpHOnjpEIQBR1tdF4sCQmBfVywPjrdSbwT8lBcRf9zmgXm5L-G77XwCgCRpRy2t1Sz2uhXY-J40qThQP-Ex5hbPXhsZrd8Cjh-QQsAHWDQSGCWt65kqh7G3Adrl1qmFjgMGthGF/s1600/melcrying.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEYQDJJpHOnjpEIQBR1tdF4sCQmBfVywPjrdSbwT8lBcRf9zmgXm5L-G77XwCgCRpRy2t1Sz2uhXY-J40qThQP-Ex5hbPXhsZrd8Cjh-QQsAHWDQSGCWt65kqh7G3Adrl1qmFjgMGthGF/s320/melcrying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510934883127650578" border="0" /></a><br />But, I am happy to say, both have adjusted nicely.<br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-36711140006678710422010-08-10T02:08:00.003-05:002010-08-10T02:39:55.784-05:00Things we take for granted...<div align="justify">Tonight I was perusing blogs for neat clothing ideas when I ran across <a href="http://http://www.makeit-loveit.com/search?updated-max=2010-07-19T15%3A52%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7">this</a> blog. Excited that I had hit the mother load I began scrolling through the posts. At the top of one of the posts, that I almost didn't read, there was a link to <a href="http://http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/">this</a> blog. So, of course, curiosity got the best of me. Who was this baby that had fallen into a canal and what had become of her? I began reading the blog of this poor family who very unexpectedly lost their daughter when she fell into a canal. There were so many things that struck me about this blog, besides the obvious tragedy. </div><div align="justify">The first thing I noticed was the fact that in the midst of all this poor young couples pain they still give glory to Jesus and used the tragedy and their blog to reach out and explain Jesus to those of us who may have stumbled upon them out of morbid curiosity. The other thing that got my attention and had me crying so hard that I actually had to go outside and get fresh air was the normalcy of this blog. Only days before the tragedy this lovely young mother was regaling her friends and family with little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Preslee's</span> first trip to a splash pad and then days later little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Preslee</span> was in a hospital fighting for her life.</div><div align="justify">There are several reasons that this post hit home for me. The very obvious reason was that I of course thought of my own children and how quickly they can be taken from me and how I should make the most out of every moment I have with them.</div><div align="justify">The second, which still has me choked up, is how much it reminded me of how lucky I am. It has taken me 4 years to actually come to terms with how drastically different my life could have been. 4 years ago this past June <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kamryn</span> jumped into a swimming pool and for all intents and purposes drowned. Only by the grace of God was she discovered under the water, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">resuscitated</span>, and gotten to a hospital with little to no injury. To some this is an old story. I've told it a hundred times, with almost the same <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">reverence</span> as I've told the story of how <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kamryn</span> was chased around the room by a friends dog hanging on her diaper. </div><div align="justify">When I first went to the hospital and spent those 2 long weeks with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kamryn</span> recovering in the hospital I took it all in stride. I did what needed to be done and when we were out I filed it into the back of my mind as just another thing we made it through. </div><div align="justify">You hear everyday of children who drowned who weren't nearly as lucky as we were. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Every time</span> I hear one of those stories I thank God that it wasn't me on the other end of that story. But, it wasn't until reading this poor little baby's story that the gravity of the situation hit me. almost 5 YEARS LATER. My little girl almost died and it was truly a miracle from God that she is still with us today. And how have I repaid God's favor. Well, I haven't, not even close. Most of the time my kids seem to get in my way more than I appreciate the fact that I should be thankful that they're even there to be underfoot. Most of the time I whine and cry to God about the things he hasn't done for me or hasn't given to me, that I forget to take the time to thank him for the things that I have. I will definitely begin looking at things from a new perspective and new heart from today on...</div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-71662625373289730552010-08-10T01:58:00.003-05:002010-08-10T02:07:41.432-05:00Playing Catch UpI haven't posted anything in a while. It's certainly not because nothing has been going on that's for sure. We have enjoyed a busy, sometimes, almost kid free summer. Kamryn visited with her grandparents and aunt for 2 months and did a lot of fun things, like go to Schlitterbahn and Sea World. Some very dear friends of mine from Spicewood also threw her a wonderful birthday party. Siarah spent 2 months with my step-daughter's family in Temple. She was also given a great birthday party by them. Melanie and Stacy both visited there this summer, also. We have gone to movies, visited realtives, hung out at church and spent a lot of time at the pool. The Hardin kiddos also got to see their mom for the first time since December of '08, so that was a big milestone this summer.<br /><br />The kids will start school in 2 weeks. That's right. School. We decided that it was best. If Kamryn starts lagging behind I will definitely pull her out and homeschool again. I will not sacrifice my kids for my convience, but socially I think she needs school. We shall see...<br /><br />We are still in the same house... which is crazy for us, given our penchant for moving. I am still steadily working on making the house into our home, which is so hard to do in a rent house.<br /><br />That about wraps it up for now...Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-37265950012027258452010-03-24T20:16:00.007-05:002010-03-24T20:35:00.310-05:00Spring Break 2010, the beginningSpring Break... oh, what to say about Spring Break. There were ups (like the rockin' Health Museum), there were downs (breaking down in tears in line at the Space Center) and little in between. Our big plan was to go to San Antonio and Austin but for budget reasons we bought City Passes for Houston. The City Pass included the Space Center, the Zoo, the Aquarium, the Health Museum, the Natural Science Museum and the Children's Museum. If you want to check out Houston for a good price it is certainly the way to go. However, when I bought them I didn't think about the price of gas to drive back and forth to Houston everyday so we had to cram everything in two days. You can read about our adventures in my next few posts.<br />Before we began our journey our girls had...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />THE SLEEPOVER<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They invited three girls from church to come and stay the night while the boys went on a camping trip with their dad. </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73V2uIIdDXnugH544lLvc5mLEI5V8_kGiufWzcSgZo1qy3iVg33oe5w35OU7cnmdQ-U1BOMT8gYphrfBtWlqVlM8-EWz4gbcwMEWFRiVCpyj2-vodykAqFqdzATd0jABcz72oObjBmSJG/s1600/P1020102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73V2uIIdDXnugH544lLvc5mLEI5V8_kGiufWzcSgZo1qy3iVg33oe5w35OU7cnmdQ-U1BOMT8gYphrfBtWlqVlM8-EWz4gbcwMEWFRiVCpyj2-vodykAqFqdzATd0jABcz72oObjBmSJG/s320/P1020102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452378077331730978" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />There were lots of laughs </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVzTTG1Btz9P7UNVqcgwAWtvfm8h29fYXmsLiB-0vhxaAsWrMVA-dwZsyKrQb-0Bp1etmjdafGpmrQWyNbC9zMxudCw-XYhosYEM8nhO_Nxbdf4YbSVw1T4dC4I-S53w42xdOrGneGDNC/s1600/P1020077.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVzTTG1Btz9P7UNVqcgwAWtvfm8h29fYXmsLiB-0vhxaAsWrMVA-dwZsyKrQb-0Bp1etmjdafGpmrQWyNbC9zMxudCw-XYhosYEM8nhO_Nxbdf4YbSVw1T4dC4I-S53w42xdOrGneGDNC/s320/P1020077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452378283217047282" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">and life long friendships were made<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh0n4tAJy3yi0aPImx7r6ex0OpWhd1EFg9zSQoBWVb4apeJMFrU12H7aWTE418Fi1Ux489THrHyBkQjINR-5f1tnkg3IpJ8ccXWYFovs5FWgMsfonhFmzR7QmlYdlRh1VqP6WIzOdiET7/s1600/P1020085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh0n4tAJy3yi0aPImx7r6ex0OpWhd1EFg9zSQoBWVb4apeJMFrU12H7aWTE418Fi1Ux489THrHyBkQjINR-5f1tnkg3IpJ8ccXWYFovs5FWgMsfonhFmzR7QmlYdlRh1VqP6WIzOdiET7/s320/P1020085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452378560199009746" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />however, maybe next time I should invite a friend for Melanie.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a great start to a wonderful Spring Break.<br /></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-23998750205111695622010-03-12T17:01:00.002-06:002010-03-12T17:04:13.320-06:00Karate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.taekwondo-network.com/images/clip3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 149px;" src="http://www.taekwondo-network.com/images/clip3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We are now the parents of two official white belts! The boys have studied hard for this. They may even compete in their first competition in April. What a fun time. We are very proud of you Tony and TJ.Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-903335696219196712010-03-09T23:22:00.004-06:002010-03-09T23:31:42.049-06:00Pomp and Circumstances<div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446871707710165922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakGotg8Du6sJ_biwluQZKQuvqYiFE0pHFDlNMlxYA2d7Cc4yS2fHHhVuRjPAjwXunbd6HbMhpruH2zN9klZZ3GC-iRoRWo6o0CBRf8_Kde4lfNePrDfze_a2IbXzQUgm1DyFg9QaQ_7tf/s320/diploma.gif" border="0" /> I did it. I made the plunge. I am registering for the Fall Semester at the community college. This has been such a long time coming. I have used a million in one excuses why I couldn't finish and I guess God decided he was tired of hearing them. I woke up this morning, sat down at the computer, and had this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ovewhelming</span> feeling. I went to the financial aid website, applied, got my response. Before I could change my mind I went to the college website, looked up my degree plan (from 10 years ago!) and picked right back up where I left off. The good news is I can take all of my classes online. It's weird the things that the Holy Spirit puts on us. I have been searching my heart for a long time to try and figure out what God's purpose for me is. This morning I woke up and realized I've always known and had such peace with the decision that I knew that I wasn't making a mistake. So, who knows? Stacy and I may end up going to college together. Wouldn't that be a hoot!<br /></div><div align="justify"></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-43760353605416899982010-03-09T22:59:00.006-06:002010-03-09T23:36:26.183-06:00Back... for good<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YAY</span>! I'm back. Hopefully for the long haul. So much has happened that I can't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">possibly</span> catch up so here's the general idea...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Homeschooling-</strong> So far not going at all as planned. We're still trying to find our niche, but I can tell you that we must be close because we've exhausted a million and one ideas that don't seem to be working. I'm going to try the Unit Study approach after Spring Break and see what becomes of that... wish us luck.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Our house</strong>- what to say, what to say? The house has proven to truly be a blessing from God. It was freezing cold in the winter and hot as blazes in the summer, but everyone has their own space to go off and be and that's worth the extremely high water bill from cooling off showers and the extremely high gas bill from having to use the oven for heat! </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Our family</strong>- Everyone is great. Greg is still loving his job! That's always good. The kids are great. Stacy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Siarah</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kamryn</span> are playing softball this year. The boys are doing karate. Their first white belt test (although I don't know yet if they'll be able to take it) is Thursday night. Keep them in your prayers. They REALLY want that white belt. Stacy is doing good in school and had her first formal event this past weekend- The Military Ball for ROTC. She was voted Freshman Queen. Very exciting. Melanie gets bigger and smarter everyday. She is talking so much and has such a fun personality. She is a ton of fun to be around.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We also have two additions to the family. We inherited the best little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">doggie</span> in the world from a friend of mine. That dog makes my day (until I step in poop at three in the morning, but I try not to dwell on that). We also were adopted by a cutie kitten the same night that we got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mox</span>. Her name is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Binx</span> and I think she's having serious doubts she chose the right family to come to.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Church</strong>- Greg and I landed at a church that we really love last October. The people are great. It's a very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">traditional</span>, small church that has great classes for the kids. The kids loved it from the first time they went. It doesn't have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Wii's</span> or anything fancy but yet they still cry if they have to miss it. That's the sign of something good, if you ask me. The girls have made a lot of friends. In fact, they're having a sleepover with three sisters from the church on Friday. We're all excited about that.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Anyway, I plan on blogging away every little thought so be prepared... I have a years worth to catch up on :-)</span></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-22343329914250336762009-08-03T15:30:00.003-05:002009-08-03T15:44:30.476-05:00Covert ChristianWhat if you did not have the religious freedom our country allows? Would people still be able to tell you were a Christian? This is a question that was posed in an online devotional from Proverbs 31 I received today. <br /><br />Hmmmm... well, hmmm... <br /><br />What if we weren't allowed to post on Facebook all the Christian like things we do and quote how awesome our God is. What if you weren't allowed to wear your cross necklace, have your "In Case of Rapture..." bumper sticker, or pray in the middle of a restaurant so that everyone can see how great a Christian you are? What if you were never permitted to say the name of Jesus aloud? Would people still know you were a Christian? Would people still look at your life and notice something different or would you blend right into the crowd?<br /><br />Tough question, huh. <br /><br />If I look at the ugly truth I think that I would blend. There is said it. I'm a blender. It's awful, I know. But, I am working to change it. I would love to live the life of a covert Christian. I would love to live a life where, even if I was never able to profess it out loud, that people would look at my life and think that I was a person set apart- as God has called us to be. So, off I go living my life out loud- as quietly as possible.Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-17744575438291636162009-07-22T02:28:00.002-05:002009-07-22T02:30:23.401-05:00Happy Birthday KamrynKamryn- you are the best daughter a mother could hope for! I love you my special girl. With your beautiful songs and fabulous pictures that you draw for me no one could ever replace you. God truly blessed me when he gave me you!Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-21877862409875729022009-07-18T16:14:00.002-05:002009-07-18T16:29:03.102-05:00Just A Little HelloI'm back. I don't know for how long but for now I'll be blogging away. We are in and beginning to become settled in our new house. But for window a/c units the house is just once step up from perfect for us. Mainly because the house is far from perfect by worldly standards therefor perfect for us. We still have two rooms full of boxes, and I have been sharing a bed with 3 of my kiddos, who all have their own rooms, but I still wouldn't trade it.<br />I have been diligently preparing for homeschool. I got very lucky when unpacking my boxes I found a lot of homeschooling curriculum a woman I used to work with gave me before Kamryn even started kindergarten! It was almost everything I needed to get this school year started. Many books that I was about to purchase! What an awesome reminder of how God provides for us and how he knows our plans long before we do. <br />We celebrated Melanie and TJ's birthday with an actual party recently (as you may remember those kiddos birthday's were a month ago- but , nobodies perfect, right?) Siarah turned 12 yesterday! Yikes. Next year I'll be dealing with two teens, one starting to drive, and I won't even be thirty! There's God's sense of humor for you. Kamryn will be 8 on Tuesday. My baby will be 8. I don't want to even think about it.<br />Greg has been living in Huntsville and only coming home on his days off. Talk about absence making the heart fonder. I miss my husband like crazy. But that's a whole other day of blogging. So, I've been trying out this single parent thing. It's tough, but thank goodness for Xbox and gogurts. They truly are my sanity.<br />Well, that's about it in a nutshell. Stay tuned...Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-52652532361230730432009-06-19T23:24:00.009-05:002009-06-20T09:46:38.371-05:00A Lasting Impressionhttp://blog.al.com/goldmine/2009/06/auburn_swim_coach_richard_quic_2.html<br /><br />It was a very harried morning one Sunday as I rushed to get my 5 kiddos ready for church. I didn't want to go. I was pregnant, I was tired, but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Preece's</span> just did not miss church- so here we were. I heard mentioned in the hallways through out the week that we would have a guest speaking. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Yay</span>. Wonder what excuse I can use to get out of church early was the only thought in my head. (Did I mention I was tired, pregnant, and had 5 KIDS. I did? Well, just so you know.) The man that stood up to speak captivated me by his very presence. He began talking about his life, his love of Christ, and regaled us with stories from his experience as an Olympic swim coach and of the fascinating people he worked with. I was awestruck. This man was fabulous. He was a man who truly lived for and loved Christ. Immediately after church, a group of us gathered for lunch and I learned that this man was not only a guest speaker but they were new members to our humble small town church. Through the next year or so I had the opportunity to get to know the man and to a greater extent, the man's wife, Ms. June. I loved watching the slide shows of their mission trip to India with a team from church (btw, this was the 2nd mission trip I missed because I was pregnant!). He was headline news in that country and used his celebrity to reach many who any other time wouldn't give the time of day to a missionary. They were such wonderful people, that most of the time when I found myself in a crowd of people at church I naturally gravitated to them. June, Richard's wife (who was a MOPS mentor), made me want to be a better mother and wife. Richard made me want to be a better Christian, even though I'd probably only spoken to the man once.<br />In December this fabulous man was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away this past week. I am sad. Not sad for him, he knew where he was going and was probably eager to get there. Not for his family, who knows that they'll join him one day. But for all those who never got to meet the man. Because, if you only met the man once, he would have left a lasting impression.Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-78560670826230221792009-06-15T22:51:00.003-05:002009-06-15T23:11:18.946-05:00Happy Birthday TJ<div style="text-align: center;">Wow! It's been three years since this precious little kiddo came into my life. He came to us an almost 6 year old boy with severe anger and behavioral problems. Those first few months I thought God was punishing me. Now I know that he was truly blessing my life. T-man, I am very proud of the 9 year old young man I have now. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpeL7_tGQOajLOt8t58LtJF_sPxuPhyeTQwm2BFak7FGll6BxbSs7wA_vVeUbXwpptE38gNhBqmwuUMHLsvKGrNHtEK8yCLqtbTlZse4GOOAgePP1ki5wx1dcTigouCIzQ1NRTd05DqOk/s1600-h/tj1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpeL7_tGQOajLOt8t58LtJF_sPxuPhyeTQwm2BFak7FGll6BxbSs7wA_vVeUbXwpptE38gNhBqmwuUMHLsvKGrNHtEK8yCLqtbTlZse4GOOAgePP1ki5wx1dcTigouCIzQ1NRTd05DqOk/s320/tj1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347772283175941826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1ONyeBJVcB62slJPkHh6qhIkBxyN4VJqhw0EYT_21nReDQk-j83NivjE6Al8sb5HCLZGjSlcAduHaL4pYJzVoYdz3zriWAVYOrpiA_8vGx5VvgXeEoZdP4VW3n8ay3HGSmXRwmPu-r0v/s1600-h/tj2.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1ONyeBJVcB62slJPkHh6qhIkBxyN4VJqhw0EYT_21nReDQk-j83NivjE6Al8sb5HCLZGjSlcAduHaL4pYJzVoYdz3zriWAVYOrpiA_8vGx5VvgXeEoZdP4VW3n8ay3HGSmXRwmPu-r0v/s320/tj2.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347772285944662338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVHxw8OiwEE9oeN9d60oLTTPLckHYeb4FrYyaic1uSMsV34vfKHQ2s3XOs7QFpVwJd2mzHyyStpZWlzxNGJggPZC2crJyE6RtbMMv8RAzR-1TkFsRPdfuCaCuarfL7ZjsZfUvV-7ZKKSd/s1600-h/DSC07404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVHxw8OiwEE9oeN9d60oLTTPLckHYeb4FrYyaic1uSMsV34vfKHQ2s3XOs7QFpVwJd2mzHyyStpZWlzxNGJggPZC2crJyE6RtbMMv8RAzR-1TkFsRPdfuCaCuarfL7ZjsZfUvV-7ZKKSd/s320/DSC07404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347772290972863602" border="0" /></a>Happy Birthday!<br /><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-15574160884084264502009-06-15T22:29:00.008-05:002009-06-15T23:15:45.782-05:00Happy Birthday Melanie<div style="text-align: center;">I know this has been said a million times before, but it really does seem like only yesterday I was walking into the hospital ready to have this little 9 lb. 15 oz. bundle<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8G6Ixk-C9mQ6xuwf3E3oH-YPRuRf7Y34sil0G_vLcmbVQywcfxXur-aAV_rVvXbSxzjInAewgwZjpAJsUJosMEPWtMYLF9kyIGDEcJsLtd7W34ktcZ5pHoIqTfoBX-DAWmWve07yRssD/s1600-h/Melanie+baby2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8G6Ixk-C9mQ6xuwf3E3oH-YPRuRf7Y34sil0G_vLcmbVQywcfxXur-aAV_rVvXbSxzjInAewgwZjpAJsUJosMEPWtMYLF9kyIGDEcJsLtd7W34ktcZ5pHoIqTfoBX-DAWmWve07yRssD/s320/Melanie+baby2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347763055573827058" border="0" /></a><br />then that little doll grew into this little blue eyed wonder<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTQrikgHE9v_zSHjSkYrdJY3RMNPVEN0-p5qIyjwQZ35892GKLvJQ8gdxY2MucQLWwaUXj2W2KCYCiTlGH-9B2EqiYotcgQ0zaYJ3n4yq3Z4n6mJkkKOvKfMk4xItxRUPB4fKI4B9o6Ds/s1600-h/Melanie+baby4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTQrikgHE9v_zSHjSkYrdJY3RMNPVEN0-p5qIyjwQZ35892GKLvJQ8gdxY2MucQLWwaUXj2W2KCYCiTlGH-9B2EqiYotcgQ0zaYJ3n4yq3Z4n6mJkkKOvKfMk4xItxRUPB4fKI4B9o6Ds/s320/Melanie+baby4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347763700677618690" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">who turned into this outrageous one year old<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvA7AgEWT0nFg19HyrWTtGf0a6hqw8ICVOdgvhMtd-eVUKB5aB8E_Jzu9sdZQ00hWJ-vxTm2X6UAJj_o3BY9LzRA2s26UUsIoQ9J-qFTyxUPVUUdYE73jpWjKaBvLZfJIeL38VWeRD1m2/s1600-h/Melanie+1st+birthday.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvA7AgEWT0nFg19HyrWTtGf0a6hqw8ICVOdgvhMtd-eVUKB5aB8E_Jzu9sdZQ00hWJ-vxTm2X6UAJj_o3BY9LzRA2s26UUsIoQ9J-qFTyxUPVUUdYE73jpWjKaBvLZfJIeL38VWeRD1m2/s320/Melanie+1st+birthday.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347764152484455010" border="0" /></a>who is now ** gasp ** this fun loving toddling two year old<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8g0eMcoZOEGbLHot8I29Nl3tVWBIBJmx_sLIIItljF9P_OF2iCJMNzzK3jrcMNCLk141XLduQqszJDXPsnZtwOgGL7vEhfaWf55UCIj2IRLWPYFLa9BQFaLdCfgDc_Ov1IW4NQwP3EYi/s1600-h/melanie+swing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8g0eMcoZOEGbLHot8I29Nl3tVWBIBJmx_sLIIItljF9P_OF2iCJMNzzK3jrcMNCLk141XLduQqszJDXPsnZtwOgGL7vEhfaWf55UCIj2IRLWPYFLa9BQFaLdCfgDc_Ov1IW4NQwP3EYi/s320/melanie+swing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347767309277945922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuKIZDqaSwhJS_H5DGCjm_bBkU0ata8wjmt5aBXyyk9xucU0ZqCG8VI1kW0vcoVgUe-9EP2BFRZM7iRHUgFr4FyorLv6_ggdAjyh8gcfHGwnVIwcUyM6_LTCTW3NIPhzzfQNRbgovxNB7/s1600-h/100_3465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuKIZDqaSwhJS_H5DGCjm_bBkU0ata8wjmt5aBXyyk9xucU0ZqCG8VI1kW0vcoVgUe-9EP2BFRZM7iRHUgFr4FyorLv6_ggdAjyh8gcfHGwnVIwcUyM6_LTCTW3NIPhzzfQNRbgovxNB7/s320/100_3465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347774044959728962" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY Melanie! You are an absolute delight and I cannot remember our days before you were there to brighten them!<br /><br /><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-63013111645922211612009-06-13T12:11:00.002-05:002009-06-13T12:16:56.539-05:00Public EnemySo... I just saw a trailer for a film called Public Enemy. Now, not one to normally go overboard on "must see" films I have to draw attention to the fact that this movie stars this duo:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoqkV9Mi55drQXbDdp2NNVDEr7g-X5xo4MOL-48Lh-_0QzTYJKVa_2lK0tx0D6j6yWppzocxIIJ-39XPRHlmZY0j6FZNkVt1r4sAa9n6U_UUNr6EQ9WE4lN7F-KMcICy6AGpcOluW-DlL/s1600-h/johnny_depp-and-christian_bale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoqkV9Mi55drQXbDdp2NNVDEr7g-X5xo4MOL-48Lh-_0QzTYJKVa_2lK0tx0D6j6yWppzocxIIJ-39XPRHlmZY0j6FZNkVt1r4sAa9n6U_UUNr6EQ9WE4lN7F-KMcICy6AGpcOluW-DlL/s320/johnny_depp-and-christian_bale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346861707342866674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, my two ALL TIME FAVORITE ACTORS OF ALL TIME! I have been in love with both since I was, oh, about 13 years old. And now the universe has gone and blessed me with both in one awesome movie. Also, I cannot fail to mention that I have a mild obsession with old gangster movies and history involving the years 1920 - 1950. Oh, Lord, you are too good to me!Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-89715292043519694692009-06-12T11:01:00.000-05:002009-06-12T11:02:02.371-05:00God's Cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J7zuakEPYbzPQDtRBuyRzwIjYbf6iB3dlmvp200o9tBJViAV4mjLOb-nIP5MmzdCbNI5G1Tq0IP0ayn5PQHZ0drqcA-AZcUkwJ-JizpbNLZ3Pq57qpoFgmpxruHkWI69etVpypJBXD7J/s1600-h/cake.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J7zuakEPYbzPQDtRBuyRzwIjYbf6iB3dlmvp200o9tBJViAV4mjLOb-nIP5MmzdCbNI5G1Tq0IP0ayn5PQHZ0drqcA-AZcUkwJ-JizpbNLZ3Pq57qpoFgmpxruHkWI69etVpypJBXD7J/s320/cake.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346471942737160050" border="0" /></a><br /><input id="post_form_id" name="post_form_id" value="c1be95d87f367026143899c68206536d" type="hidden"><div class="note_header"><div class="note_title_share clearfix"><div class="note_title"><span><br /><br />God's Cake.....such a good reminder!</span></div></div><br /><br /></div> Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?"<br />Here is a wonderful explanation!<br /><br />A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong: she's failing algebra; her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.<br /><br />Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.'<br /><br />'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers..<br />'Yuck!' says her daughter.<br /><br />'How about a couple raw eggs?'<br />'Gross, Mom!'<br /><br />'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'<br /><br />'Mom, those are all yucky!'<br /><br />To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together<br />in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!<br /><br />God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.<br />But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!<br />We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-21682105575543696632009-06-09T11:26:00.025-05:002009-06-09T12:30:28.317-05:00A Night to MyselfIt's true. It happened. I actually got away from my kiddos from one bless-ed evening. Two of my friends were having birthdays and people were coming from out of town. Months in the making the evening turned out to be a blast. Don't believe me? Let me show you ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Setti</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">n</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">g</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dave and Buster's</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sx9zLnKIxVgf9QegA2Ud8bkW7kTX7SgmrwY5UGb92-0ltk_j11BemVG6gtAevX-6ZeVTAeH5Pa9vwoFtUT90SkqSAnQhuDHo-ukoxMQ6LGmg3aK15rJKcP5F2Y4wTQvMQwmebLC1P-ds/s1600-h/everyone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sx9zLnKIxVgf9QegA2Ud8bkW7kTX7SgmrwY5UGb92-0ltk_j11BemVG6gtAevX-6ZeVTAeH5Pa9vwoFtUT90SkqSAnQhuDHo-ukoxMQ6LGmg3aK15rJKcP5F2Y4wTQvMQwmebLC1P-ds/s320/everyone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345365649595906642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and Brian O'Neills</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQQo9t2ReYxl2m2DTuX7od5uZbpPBym-fvulszOWmn1Shw4r-DUMNplWWXe9o1EtHDdKiu0DaT1dREffwJTTDt1QBibXn11frOLKx_MD_hM4_4WKdwPnSizkBWXwG9dVVAxieD9UuY4ZG/s1600-h/group+shot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQQo9t2ReYxl2m2DTuX7od5uZbpPBym-fvulszOWmn1Shw4r-DUMNplWWXe9o1EtHDdKiu0DaT1dREffwJTTDt1QBibXn11frOLKx_MD_hM4_4WKdwPnSizkBWXwG9dVVAxieD9UuY4ZG/s320/group+shot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345365903529664210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Cast of Characters</span><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ina and Dante (with a guest appearance by my Misty)<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClJRsWiOD_wfSEgTZwHfvcf6NPfnNIjSjMu5YyuBr7C5qxc_NO9oQJNgi5NGEnyxcqDsnlJqH0EZSEP313yuZtLTMB24AbD0BqOSJMI5XLMXGUA1xmCPdkNX41xb7_zM8qmkHRrKGslpi/s1600-h/misty+and+ina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClJRsWiOD_wfSEgTZwHfvcf6NPfnNIjSjMu5YyuBr7C5qxc_NO9oQJNgi5NGEnyxcqDsnlJqH0EZSEP313yuZtLTMB24AbD0BqOSJMI5XLMXGUA1xmCPdkNX41xb7_zM8qmkHRrKGslpi/s320/misty+and+ina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345372151475839874" border="0" /></a>Ina with my best friend from high school Misty<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aAluZ6B7S88eO62572kTuJDwxHCHo6x-CbBDaGwqkGAtF-M3hbyr5Ole4hbvU42Akt8ksVfq_d3bMSK9qdIXKv8sTSiMDCmg1MDE-U6qJT_xAOhn9FU9eqjmJIUVX1jqpDxAiXOhvntj/s1600-h/me+dante+ina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aAluZ6B7S88eO62572kTuJDwxHCHo6x-CbBDaGwqkGAtF-M3hbyr5Ole4hbvU42Akt8ksVfq_d3bMSK9qdIXKv8sTSiMDCmg1MDE-U6qJT_xAOhn9FU9eqjmJIUVX1jqpDxAiXOhvntj/s320/me+dante+ina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345372308938545714" border="0" /></a>Ina and me with her husband, Dante. Dante and I went to high school together.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj0IolSD6UrO5EubCe2u2Au-6hUDcPwRBjexLejlNSLuQ16aDlhaSn7HRla8m6MEcHrTihgtc0lJzccTxRPh96DKvxMUZtn3cWnEowCnqR8IOjylP_ImaRxh_tnLxhzrxu7DUHmzycKrK/s1600-h/birthday+shots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj0IolSD6UrO5EubCe2u2Au-6hUDcPwRBjexLejlNSLuQ16aDlhaSn7HRla8m6MEcHrTihgtc0lJzccTxRPh96DKvxMUZtn3cWnEowCnqR8IOjylP_ImaRxh_tnLxhzrxu7DUHmzycKrK/s320/birthday+shots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345372803745275714" border="0" /></a>Free birthday shots from Brian O'Neills. Ina turned 27 on Sunday. Meka's birthday was the 2nd.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Meka</span><br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkYr8vTJyz9mxautM7N7KWsY9i2k_NYNW8_2rGIgTHYaMlVEQXkeQWGf5HdEV3F3iFnbLEa47YrubnJ8j4gXy_kp0XKwo5oJbPR_oo7qvsSOC07ipiDWSolYj41todHFPOX6jdXSqjGqN/s1600-h/me+and+meka2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkYr8vTJyz9mxautM7N7KWsY9i2k_NYNW8_2rGIgTHYaMlVEQXkeQWGf5HdEV3F3iFnbLEa47YrubnJ8j4gXy_kp0XKwo5oJbPR_oo7qvsSOC07ipiDWSolYj41todHFPOX6jdXSqjGqN/s320/me+and+meka2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345373230303701954" border="0" /></a>Meka. Meka is a definition all her own. Oh how I love this chicky.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QRr5oVs6LCK7VcUBeH6UDd7GvHTokdC0P5yYwdkcv5ATboxDKBBSUNohZZRQIDJ1Lu2Xf2Amf6UzqAjkN6mwPyzhHSlnxIPObHb3w9dZbuBcvR9paZFDft_JgK8jGYDMmhUHMhk1lQ8b/s1600-h/meka.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QRr5oVs6LCK7VcUBeH6UDd7GvHTokdC0P5yYwdkcv5ATboxDKBBSUNohZZRQIDJ1Lu2Xf2Amf6UzqAjkN6mwPyzhHSlnxIPObHb3w9dZbuBcvR9paZFDft_JgK8jGYDMmhUHMhk1lQ8b/s320/meka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345374145768689842" border="0" /></a>See, don't you wish you were her friend?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rCwiOtOpdxuGrAbFPjY9C15Z3x7dPoAPJDBnnBW0m1CkeTe7rhf-wSc8Dm_g41iYUU3JcHqfPLTbFIqY2ydZXItoZnZrdLlNc_95mn3T5A8gaKDJ9U8z3WccruHQJuWATsH3oTKu7eXY/s1600-h/meka+me+and+stephanie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rCwiOtOpdxuGrAbFPjY9C15Z3x7dPoAPJDBnnBW0m1CkeTe7rhf-wSc8Dm_g41iYUU3JcHqfPLTbFIqY2ydZXItoZnZrdLlNc_95mn3T5A8gaKDJ9U8z3WccruHQJuWATsH3oTKu7eXY/s320/meka+me+and+stephanie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345374421411582946" border="0" /></a>Meka and me with Malibu Barbie. What? No wait, that's my friend Stephanie.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stephanie</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UrEoSttDuW29FGk3GaI5MfFaN8W1ngR6r5wjGnF4tr0OnAiA1S5R_u1JnHcvOjq5zTZtzcNdpVt2KWHJwpKSI6Kjw7N9e59YegwiOmkMCe6MCfdoXTt8P-L7VLqQ1aTdmO60dAuDgie4/s1600-h/me+and+stepahnie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UrEoSttDuW29FGk3GaI5MfFaN8W1ngR6r5wjGnF4tr0OnAiA1S5R_u1JnHcvOjq5zTZtzcNdpVt2KWHJwpKSI6Kjw7N9e59YegwiOmkMCe6MCfdoXTt8P-L7VLqQ1aTdmO60dAuDgie4/s320/me+and+stepahnie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345376708613711778" border="0" /></a>Stephanie was my other best friend in high school. Isn't she pretty?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bryan and Courtney</span><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2xkA1mseLcPV0MBfWOPiLme7uihJVM0IqQY2P28_mBu7bXx9R1RmmBIpkGmPWoHAm_SlN9R94JN3GALjlgBBv2KBbkU9si4ZyL_zQkqecucgsHO4ZcBMh6a6iOXe_ZjU7mi7V3G0KC23/s1600-h/me+bryan+and+stephanie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2xkA1mseLcPV0MBfWOPiLme7uihJVM0IqQY2P28_mBu7bXx9R1RmmBIpkGmPWoHAm_SlN9R94JN3GALjlgBBv2KBbkU9si4ZyL_zQkqecucgsHO4ZcBMh6a6iOXe_ZjU7mi7V3G0KC23/s320/me+bryan+and+stephanie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345377116933576386" border="0" /></a>Who knew my brother in law would be such a ladies man?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0iAm1iAgI6gToSLX7SMc5FvLR8ymchuWnE3_X5rhcb5y1j0XR8Cee1PN9GOGvb7WH9ip5PJtUCZQLD94ghpinRcYqrv26XIqCMekKJzx-t8blL2p43L6HB3uUnY7s1LRYM_6yOJLLCu-/s1600-h/musketeers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0iAm1iAgI6gToSLX7SMc5FvLR8ymchuWnE3_X5rhcb5y1j0XR8Cee1PN9GOGvb7WH9ip5PJtUCZQLD94ghpinRcYqrv26XIqCMekKJzx-t8blL2p43L6HB3uUnY7s1LRYM_6yOJLLCu-/s320/musketeers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345377505335323538" border="0" /></a>My beautiful sister Courtney with Stephanie and Meka<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBYoVT6fJTIaiQGN-4s1cn5jNd0XY6AAcYw9fWdr4DZsPrNAfimDzMFih2Amv_T4stWgGlXdhiJkjOXPGGRzWxkJVzb-gZtiI1sSEArY4SKHbILJrS8KbeeRUyzCIJbHagTK0ulZmWgNA/s1600-h/jeff+singing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBYoVT6fJTIaiQGN-4s1cn5jNd0XY6AAcYw9fWdr4DZsPrNAfimDzMFih2Amv_T4stWgGlXdhiJkjOXPGGRzWxkJVzb-gZtiI1sSEArY4SKHbILJrS8KbeeRUyzCIJbHagTK0ulZmWgNA/s320/jeff+singing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345366313468229298" border="0" /></a>Jeff has a band. Jeff is a rock star.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lOtlzEPf-5ZC__oPO20a3Gnul7L5lUGUsMBFUg9mu-H7qXt7xusnHl9jGHV81CVGYCdyJRM56viZocJwhf0nlNBrledc0AhvJBu-TIDByLgOhy-j6ALUguPgb0wSmMXdc1l6xcW5_dHx/s1600-h/jeff2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lOtlzEPf-5ZC__oPO20a3Gnul7L5lUGUsMBFUg9mu-H7qXt7xusnHl9jGHV81CVGYCdyJRM56viZocJwhf0nlNBrledc0AhvJBu-TIDByLgOhy-j6ALUguPgb0wSmMXdc1l6xcW5_dHx/s320/jeff2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345366706935253346" border="0" /></a>Being a rock star is hard work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xX285EvUJB_S6g0-WFcPtuc06TUuYnL4U5VmsqIobEoxxVpO9zuNVH0Hu7yHe_jhagM9DLT0pW_i9c7m9BYBcWMLqwd7OL_4p8MFnUq5OzZ6lRpCT7x9hBb1k2dtTs8ulZeJXOipaK3y/s1600-h/me+and+jeff.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xX285EvUJB_S6g0-WFcPtuc06TUuYnL4U5VmsqIobEoxxVpO9zuNVH0Hu7yHe_jhagM9DLT0pW_i9c7m9BYBcWMLqwd7OL_4p8MFnUq5OzZ6lRpCT7x9hBb1k2dtTs8ulZeJXOipaK3y/s320/me+and+jeff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345370469389662530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispA-qa5n0J5n3Wwo87PRJCttzDkw_7hERogYxcnElciqXp1KoYixWQFfaw6bvOMy-_E3L3Num9_EMLKMe7GPYQMlO3ObDAF3tM-OpAUk4Ak_Q3P-cCsP5JrVNjTGdfRVSe_4AwBNcj904/s1600-h/groupies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispA-qa5n0J5n3Wwo87PRJCttzDkw_7hERogYxcnElciqXp1KoYixWQFfaw6bvOMy-_E3L3Num9_EMLKMe7GPYQMlO3ObDAF3tM-OpAUk4Ak_Q3P-cCsP5JrVNjTGdfRVSe_4AwBNcj904/s320/groupies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345371291821233394" border="0" /></a>Especially when you have to deal with the groupies!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(For those concerned we all took a fabulous cab ride to our hotel that evening)<br /><br />I missed my kiddos like crazy and couldn't wait to get home, but it was by far worth it.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-52517034847457504952009-06-03T10:10:00.003-05:002009-06-03T10:29:16.142-05:00Scavenger Hunt Birthday PartyLast weekend brought us round 2 in the birthday gauntlet. Stacy turned 14. 14! I remember 14, I'm not ready to handle 14, but alas, here it is. (I had my first real boyfriend at 14. AHHH)<br /><br />Stacy decided that she wanted to do a mall scavenger hunt for her birthday. Only a few people showed up but that didn't deter her good time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's some of the fun stuff they had to "capture":<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScEUzJzX7l9MKSEQYQFZfIUPly61Gqr_tU8Rhf3KvdOpv6nV0Dx6w6ptu0OQ4QQz-zgpXXc5lQDG7Cdwb3p8HPHBp8wlZR8P8QmCNrPSHjHbtPqroU2l-bfuKcVvu3nonTBl8knlewu6r/s1600-h/DSC07439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScEUzJzX7l9MKSEQYQFZfIUPly61Gqr_tU8Rhf3KvdOpv6nV0Dx6w6ptu0OQ4QQz-zgpXXc5lQDG7Cdwb3p8HPHBp8wlZR8P8QmCNrPSHjHbtPqroU2l-bfuKcVvu3nonTBl8knlewu6r/s320/DSC07439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343121315744155202" border="0" /></a><br />wearing prom dresses<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoHRPNcVtNmV9YAPaJrrHIulHc2rneG_5nSXy9pTy_wW8OU77bp75VUF_v5YHtcMS3XjgIA_EsVDYx5ZX6fqgwp0z4_mP9de0E6-5LO_nYRxn9om_Lo7kIMNix-_VlJd8s9e98O5CR1XH/s1600-h/DSC07433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoHRPNcVtNmV9YAPaJrrHIulHc2rneG_5nSXy9pTy_wW8OU77bp75VUF_v5YHtcMS3XjgIA_EsVDYx5ZX6fqgwp0z4_mP9de0E6-5LO_nYRxn9om_Lo7kIMNix-_VlJd8s9e98O5CR1XH/s320/DSC07433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343121311849575410" border="0" /></a><br />laying on a bench<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoGT5AFvK_cs4gqwjWuqJeg1Wh1g9upQdIlDEpQb-nhtFssZOElL7QNWFm68UHc7zjxsrcOncyIO8YkOnigU38qmD_aa9yUOmYL0EtL1TSRmhDM1D4ofiekPcSBqfca3VnNmZuJ7m72Kz/s1600-h/DSC07443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoGT5AFvK_cs4gqwjWuqJeg1Wh1g9upQdIlDEpQb-nhtFssZOElL7QNWFm68UHc7zjxsrcOncyIO8YkOnigU38qmD_aa9yUOmYL0EtL1TSRmhDM1D4ofiekPcSBqfca3VnNmZuJ7m72Kz/s320/DSC07443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343121322512086338" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">hailing a water taxi<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAa7PSywbIEQVpoJBvGMTF-q4008rV65uvIxItegFCe5NLJSa8W3htNmLLoln0EXFJOrbqQtQGyvtHRCwsrp5zlCAdUUPz6WBoaJj18NC4zfvd6OWoC2knns39znpIYRFAwFzsmFDxfqz/s1600-h/DSC07445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAa7PSywbIEQVpoJBvGMTF-q4008rV65uvIxItegFCe5NLJSa8W3htNmLLoln0EXFJOrbqQtQGyvtHRCwsrp5zlCAdUUPz6WBoaJj18NC4zfvd6OWoC2knns39znpIYRFAwFzsmFDxfqz/s320/DSC07445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343121325954329330" border="0" /></a>in a bathroom stall<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The party was great fun. We did the theme in camo and I gave out camo necklaces to the girls and camo bandanas to the boys. I had so much fun we've decided that we're going to make this a 14 year old birthday tradition. Of course, by the time Melanie's 14 we'll be taking pictures in flying cars, right?<br /></div></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-34271807181561582182009-06-03T09:38:00.010-05:002009-06-03T10:10:19.541-05:00School Happenings in May<div style="text-align: center;">May brought us Tony's Field Trip and Siarah's Band Concert<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Tony's field trip was to The Woodlands Children's Museum. It was actually pretty fun and the kids seemed to really enjoy it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKUf4nVrtBK6YBdxfEAwVAOAYL9hBWGCgKqr2gAn3JWgDuYKAyBdKte3o2yNN66vORoVWnd7yPDDKGaE5d03w9sCnB6fNQ_6wRSlweoMdaSCDVE2sw5Kgderqh7A6Sfhhi4burFE3OGJ6/s1600-h/100_3796.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKUf4nVrtBK6YBdxfEAwVAOAYL9hBWGCgKqr2gAn3JWgDuYKAyBdKte3o2yNN66vORoVWnd7yPDDKGaE5d03w9sCnB6fNQ_6wRSlweoMdaSCDVE2sw5Kgderqh7A6Sfhhi4burFE3OGJ6/s320/100_3796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343112542757389906" border="0" /></a>My peeps<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rPmzsz8gALHpDn7Qm7AZdN_jpWZPkXyQ_rc9SFr-nGOe9lZplbBScSqxXF5341PRFVkDdWUoYkDmojmUyU4e7sk60FQf3P5ihYugTOFd1qXZyjkeH5J7dUdUnwpY-6xYwPnc8AlCGobo/s1600-h/100_3802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rPmzsz8gALHpDn7Qm7AZdN_jpWZPkXyQ_rc9SFr-nGOe9lZplbBScSqxXF5341PRFVkDdWUoYkDmojmUyU4e7sk60FQf3P5ihYugTOFd1qXZyjkeH5J7dUdUnwpY-6xYwPnc8AlCGobo/s320/100_3802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343112545305787010" border="0" /></a>Tony's Class<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9XoosVDL0wNxvZ89yxXstBFvF5tH6_oLWD36d7THbL9_x1Yiv4Obbr2hyphenhyphenSeUMBD7x9EzE8OmRwWTcZPi4FdkBek3MYw7Z24NAhXMGSqMPxetG9p1VF56Ub7EGnly_L0sdfI3_2LBRXS4/s1600-h/100_3842.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9XoosVDL0wNxvZ89yxXstBFvF5tH6_oLWD36d7THbL9_x1Yiv4Obbr2hyphenhyphenSeUMBD7x9EzE8OmRwWTcZPi4FdkBek3MYw7Z24NAhXMGSqMPxetG9p1VF56Ub7EGnly_L0sdfI3_2LBRXS4/s320/100_3842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343112550952369874" border="0" /></a>Science Experiment<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouyVJpzjE3TM9fJ-SV291PqV4RNOlAeh6QSFpCjZVy3jiYNnGw0OaobuGrncfqLpQWOGYbgsQjtT5ahRpcj9B37m-qYotETjycacrWYZBlBIsfOEDCWoVdJZeJN9p92FpZSvg4JCxczxm/s1600-h/100_3856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouyVJpzjE3TM9fJ-SV291PqV4RNOlAeh6QSFpCjZVy3jiYNnGw0OaobuGrncfqLpQWOGYbgsQjtT5ahRpcj9B37m-qYotETjycacrWYZBlBIsfOEDCWoVdJZeJN9p92FpZSvg4JCxczxm/s320/100_3856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343112553900560082" border="0" /></a>Hopefully a sign of things to come<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGV5s0f5TACwO-b8cGKLn2g1VtMawq8gvCxkRyvRHIcm04eQbsY7in_-0L9H4-HlUf0CQPkGdXSqlFxSopU1SiTqzxyPYIKqevD43jDuwHgJsU1v706KMmGAzn_wZXMrMRkMRsKJ-BMqO/s1600-h/100_3881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGV5s0f5TACwO-b8cGKLn2g1VtMawq8gvCxkRyvRHIcm04eQbsY7in_-0L9H4-HlUf0CQPkGdXSqlFxSopU1SiTqzxyPYIKqevD43jDuwHgJsU1v706KMmGAzn_wZXMrMRkMRsKJ-BMqO/s320/100_3881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343113999004144962" border="0" /></a>Ahhh... Red Rover<br /><br />An end to an exhausting but very fun day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHn3YvrbnmmAFENILSima2lri-P_jGr8aP9Y68MkaGTz1fUIrvRkrWxW0_YMTRiQcykFkjyjvo8tbEEeEmdpA8IzMkYe9N8XPuZtvoy8kMQI9XKDt-49jcEwki_GqQXMtOPLXolHZ5Uwb/s1600-h/100_3888.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHn3YvrbnmmAFENILSima2lri-P_jGr8aP9Y68MkaGTz1fUIrvRkrWxW0_YMTRiQcykFkjyjvo8tbEEeEmdpA8IzMkYe9N8XPuZtvoy8kMQI9XKDt-49jcEwki_GqQXMtOPLXolHZ5Uwb/s320/100_3888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343116584362615634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Siarah plays clarinet in the Intermediate School Band. She was a little disappointed in the fact that she was something like fourteenth chair but it didn't seem to matter much when she realized she got to sit in front. The crowd was outrageous. Standing Room Only! So, given the resourcefulness that is me I let Kamryn snake her way to the front and take some pics. I have to give it to the band. Those fifth graders sounded better than our high school band ever did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCd65Q3KjO6Bz12UNudYOSPuRA2SWKkmezOV5roaMzWwURas6gj392tUJ00HhisZD5AdPMKFLRxfVUuOz1Ve4KrFw8_EyRf9eMTKrhpW3PnDa5zw_SYHTCXmmFruBTU9NulX2-IpFq2AH/s1600-h/100_3886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCd65Q3KjO6Bz12UNudYOSPuRA2SWKkmezOV5roaMzWwURas6gj392tUJ00HhisZD5AdPMKFLRxfVUuOz1Ve4KrFw8_EyRf9eMTKrhpW3PnDa5zw_SYHTCXmmFruBTU9NulX2-IpFq2AH/s200/100_3886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343117831031519458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-35831378651604005962009-06-03T08:55:00.004-05:002009-06-03T09:00:22.857-05:00Kindergarten Graduation<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday was Tony's kindergarten graduation. Here are some cutie pics my dear friend Ina took for me (since I was so late). Thanks Ina.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyc1KMrRth1NvJNCy9ScEVRUC_4zCF_a7uNjTewQqZMcYJNcSGjchdfJsMrryGwDnjDvf6fipgS5OLHD-w69MxsgdijjBUiVG8PJEq0KbMPZzOjY0kPdwaL3EzRpE3-_ne22g41rseOX4/s1600-h/tony+and+isabel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyc1KMrRth1NvJNCy9ScEVRUC_4zCF_a7uNjTewQqZMcYJNcSGjchdfJsMrryGwDnjDvf6fipgS5OLHD-w69MxsgdijjBUiVG8PJEq0KbMPZzOjY0kPdwaL3EzRpE3-_ne22g41rseOX4/s320/tony+and+isabel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343100563774855666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb2W77GvHCRRAbXJDNyChM1yMnf09VmAsd04CsyYpcQQWoDWPVZu96YehZhBG8WsdvqJGLy7LH5PJfio685cOOveExGNvFK82cGIFCMZZvK5lp9ONYXk3yI5PA3a74ujkEpQ0jqT3DSVl/s1600-h/kindergarten-graduation-31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb2W77GvHCRRAbXJDNyChM1yMnf09VmAsd04CsyYpcQQWoDWPVZu96YehZhBG8WsdvqJGLy7LH5PJfio685cOOveExGNvFK82cGIFCMZZvK5lp9ONYXk3yI5PA3a74ujkEpQ0jqT3DSVl/s320/kindergarten-graduation-31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343100568258356354" border="0" /></a>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-11602210728993000662009-06-02T17:11:00.005-05:002009-06-02T17:42:58.480-05:00It's A Big, Big House...with lots and lots of rooms. (Sing-a-long now) Okay, so I may be presumptuous in comparing our new house to Heaven, but even if the roof falls in on our heads I'm sure it will feel like it. We sign the lease tomorrow after 2 and 1/2 long months of not having a house.<br /><br />Details: The house was built in 1950, so "charming" and "nostalgic" are good words to describe it. It is 2200 sq feet and indeed has a lot of rooms. Here are some pictures:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Front of the house<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XgWziv0hnVjM7H3y8F2uURhMkfouNKqqxx7kSd9M8-AM5GQcF3w4BTiHrqFhr_NnJw8f0Kq80I_gXDaRgImAfdN4cRfiaJHWKG_NG39FL_mJtw3qtz_hegIleMg3ni0ua6mv14Rv3kR0/s1600-h/house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XgWziv0hnVjM7H3y8F2uURhMkfouNKqqxx7kSd9M8-AM5GQcF3w4BTiHrqFhr_NnJw8f0Kq80I_gXDaRgImAfdN4cRfiaJHWKG_NG39FL_mJtw3qtz_hegIleMg3ni0ua6mv14Rv3kR0/s320/house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342859165031650594" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Side of the house<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBaGNxyWBn97JL_Yt91M3fipXLh7r9lsTpXkYf6rHakJJuF452wn_cn-EESZU3ECLjPI3fCx4xe8hQzduHAOxjoNzP6IQeZxGeduIm_ojtQ-dg4xuoVUN_XKYXubUxXTlku_bUk-2FoP3/s1600-h/side+of+house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBaGNxyWBn97JL_Yt91M3fipXLh7r9lsTpXkYf6rHakJJuF452wn_cn-EESZU3ECLjPI3fCx4xe8hQzduHAOxjoNzP6IQeZxGeduIm_ojtQ-dg4xuoVUN_XKYXubUxXTlku_bUk-2FoP3/s320/side+of+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858469137120866" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kitchen / Dining Room<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlu6gfNgQHFEY338kqjhDsSiMX6JKjxA_9FOlFrNEmsgcZK3LTeWJWA1-6tSTwKohTkfXdl4jddZLnstCs9eshwBtcY6QqpwFtff233p6VCaiztpKgWzVN54m6qiwSaUaCvKdM8EW-Sg4/s1600-h/kitchen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlu6gfNgQHFEY338kqjhDsSiMX6JKjxA_9FOlFrNEmsgcZK3LTeWJWA1-6tSTwKohTkfXdl4jddZLnstCs9eshwBtcY6QqpwFtff233p6VCaiztpKgWzVN54m6qiwSaUaCvKdM8EW-Sg4/s320/kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858464521513458" border="0" /></a>Stairs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq54sUAToCyQC3U85rwxeOjC6HBtdkKuzF_DeSF5B40QEfK5YtKyAAwT0WVtTvXI0U3bbJwRIB8SAvCCuOvXOvXtRFSP-9iCnCo-QWGZ8NvYAy9nBx2Wel4MYJtYFQChWr3S66eo8OMHP/s1600-h/stairs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq54sUAToCyQC3U85rwxeOjC6HBtdkKuzF_DeSF5B40QEfK5YtKyAAwT0WVtTvXI0U3bbJwRIB8SAvCCuOvXOvXtRFSP-9iCnCo-QWGZ8NvYAy9nBx2Wel4MYJtYFQChWr3S66eo8OMHP/s320/stairs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858470494527202" border="0" /></a><br />Upstairs Landing (i.e. playroom)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqKzC4aaS6NTq-nvSq8W3MCDKOQSonKHukUkySwgs9fF7403rV3-y_bdRGvgNQ2w9aoMCFlfgBXQ7WINGkMnNAedfiKfL-RkUgJeJplsj7mngWedKcG5NzFRMu03H10ytR7QzApznc2oP/s1600-h/upstairslanding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqKzC4aaS6NTq-nvSq8W3MCDKOQSonKHukUkySwgs9fF7403rV3-y_bdRGvgNQ2w9aoMCFlfgBXQ7WINGkMnNAedfiKfL-RkUgJeJplsj7mngWedKcG5NzFRMu03H10ytR7QzApznc2oP/s320/upstairslanding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858473480091138" border="0" /></a>One of the upstairs rooms (there are three)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-XoaqAfpoAljk0C0lyA-5hLB0ADzMACi0MstH4YL5FaK4mO0ptqCeQx9UTExISZjS-H_fC4ND-ZeV5Y8ZrWBY288ZY5Msd5HVP6Ci-zRhZ3LJ_x7hnAFAcQqtCGscu3OPJe9eCdPI6s/s1600-h/upbedroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-XoaqAfpoAljk0C0lyA-5hLB0ADzMACi0MstH4YL5FaK4mO0ptqCeQx9UTExISZjS-H_fC4ND-ZeV5Y8ZrWBY288ZY5Msd5HVP6Ci-zRhZ3LJ_x7hnAFAcQqtCGscu3OPJe9eCdPI6s/s320/upbedroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858461172054466" border="0" /></a>Utility Room (thru that door is the Study)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEErct-Qu3vWuTFrcozsXuOuboyTozTxDZXGqVP8pJNJlhOkaqODHrqL5EZ10gpLwBkafRS5P36sR8OC1umWkbzjRet5DwV_Tyu7tjLJgmj2OqeBHj_-s9nFhjI8K9BvfwDK_OOX8m1uq/s1600-h/utility+room.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEErct-Qu3vWuTFrcozsXuOuboyTozTxDZXGqVP8pJNJlhOkaqODHrqL5EZ10gpLwBkafRS5P36sR8OC1umWkbzjRet5DwV_Tyu7tjLJgmj2OqeBHj_-s9nFhjI8K9BvfwDK_OOX8m1uq/s320/utility+room.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342863308975036722" border="0" /></a>Downstairs (front area: entryway, breakfast room, living room)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LRcTiXP9QvXkfJFa1XOJakZWddajNQN99lS52VrrJwf3wdhEmBdYke_RAgp5jC9Nu_XTvKeCVZtLasZWP3UXUPuHBhPMAmM43EUdJWDdLEBAVrR65NXlGkhO5Xp3vdlhIhJJ-Lx_nyOs/s1600-h/downstairs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LRcTiXP9QvXkfJFa1XOJakZWddajNQN99lS52VrrJwf3wdhEmBdYke_RAgp5jC9Nu_XTvKeCVZtLasZWP3UXUPuHBhPMAmM43EUdJWDdLEBAVrR65NXlGkhO5Xp3vdlhIhJJ-Lx_nyOs/s320/downstairs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342863309003529730" border="0" /></a><br />The house is old and needs repair but all in all I think it is a perfect fit for our family.<br /></div></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-27757215816119125062009-06-02T16:53:00.003-05:002009-06-02T17:05:20.615-05:00Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzuPiHzEqhcwAEJ0P7yAEqrNYcV3IvxWxOVgjfo8IQe_HVCmkDGjDT2v_WzF73Y9tRZeXXPvdoL0d5aUUjgsFcAzzz9t8v6KzgUeChMInGelZ4Sm0n_WqXfcgFzn5sL_NVTa_WAFqKk2_/s1600-h/mom+day+gifts+redone1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzuPiHzEqhcwAEJ0P7yAEqrNYcV3IvxWxOVgjfo8IQe_HVCmkDGjDT2v_WzF73Y9tRZeXXPvdoL0d5aUUjgsFcAzzz9t8v6KzgUeChMInGelZ4Sm0n_WqXfcgFzn5sL_NVTa_WAFqKk2_/s320/mom+day+gifts+redone1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853145905392914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />For Mother's Day I decided that a fun day at the lake would do... here's a little of the action...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwis_D-SEuOnqcPRFa9fqUOuqsm4d1tJiK8xgmwCWIIr1_33A1qNUDK9KqhXfxSye2QYhrZLJoqzF7jsK-hxgnvvHDourw5jXv9tZjVlBWVD8GLxGSS64YcW4b0e6pWBLGR8pztpWcmCtF/s1600-h/DSC07408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwis_D-SEuOnqcPRFa9fqUOuqsm4d1tJiK8xgmwCWIIr1_33A1qNUDK9KqhXfxSye2QYhrZLJoqzF7jsK-hxgnvvHDourw5jXv9tZjVlBWVD8GLxGSS64YcW4b0e6pWBLGR8pztpWcmCtF/s320/DSC07408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853125470953090" border="0" /></a>The Picnic<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qqdKjJdThuv5tPY9NyU8WJutRFamUDP6TYEry2Gm3GhGk-knreXR_KW5i5BLMxP2-FE6e5D0uby3JzqtOKdEWm2ypBuqfQ0t2xhEeYVDN2i2o8JX9YOWOix5CQpnrKzfi3Hi7-j3W3TM/s1600-h/DSC07412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qqdKjJdThuv5tPY9NyU8WJutRFamUDP6TYEry2Gm3GhGk-knreXR_KW5i5BLMxP2-FE6e5D0uby3JzqtOKdEWm2ypBuqfQ0t2xhEeYVDN2i2o8JX9YOWOix5CQpnrKzfi3Hi7-j3W3TM/s320/DSC07412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853137621315570" border="0" /></a>Eating sour candy<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFt5zv7I73oZI2HBSy8ET2U9a9e7Sl0dCtfCFb1xlTef0SYzYbwUhYm-n2ykzSDdkqJlr16Zyb6nKj8AUUhCicN39NLO_a_DXhoIDN2-5yQUut4rQFcz7lW0xzm0SHVopkqlhYwx9iujT/s1600-h/DSC07420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFt5zv7I73oZI2HBSy8ET2U9a9e7Sl0dCtfCFb1xlTef0SYzYbwUhYm-n2ykzSDdkqJlr16Zyb6nKj8AUUhCicN39NLO_a_DXhoIDN2-5yQUut4rQFcz7lW0xzm0SHVopkqlhYwx9iujT/s320/DSC07420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853138075434178" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-89344857844405007172009-05-12T08:49:00.004-05:002009-06-02T16:52:47.951-05:00A Broken Promise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfORupZZrRfbtgolix1-F27uaW3kVplYTp5ov1KKdfVKWkvPaMKXsRn0eoWArMafheecAXiYmblnsyNHl4KZ8JbO_Ws2aAZs5vJAo0Ek2KEJP_WtRut5TR8-VBdV4xJLmK2UOe1HchLA/s1600-h/DSC07404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfORupZZrRfbtgolix1-F27uaW3kVplYTp5ov1KKdfVKWkvPaMKXsRn0eoWArMafheecAXiYmblnsyNHl4KZ8JbO_Ws2aAZs5vJAo0Ek2KEJP_WtRut5TR8-VBdV4xJLmK2UOe1HchLA/s400/DSC07404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342850191404593026" border="0" /></a><br />A few weeks ago I did something I never do. I made a "cross my heart hope to die, stick a needle in my eye" promise to my kids. That means serious business in this household. Lately, we have not been able to do much as a family so Greg and I promised all of the little darlings that we would take them to see the new Wolverine movie on the weekend. In the meantime, news trickled in that the movie was in no way appropriate for children. So, now I was stuck. I mean... I crossed my heart. I don't want a needle in my eye. What to do?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjBZungLIRWhiMY0zT7diit_RzIycCE9MpFRvFUa29wUlOVcnS3mGmOgUMMDoC94jK3me-Dgndc86HTWx7TMDjoqyEmYfSPZAzAn78X4LC7LIhMHXVQHbmL5wFMkKPqWGriEXMtxGU10P/s1600-h/DSC07399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjBZungLIRWhiMY0zT7diit_RzIycCE9MpFRvFUa29wUlOVcnS3mGmOgUMMDoC94jK3me-Dgndc86HTWx7TMDjoqyEmYfSPZAzAn78X4LC7LIhMHXVQHbmL5wFMkKPqWGriEXMtxGU10P/s400/DSC07399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342850202989054322" border="0" /></a><br />Being overwrought with parent guilt I wracked my brain for things to do as a family. Trying to get eight people in anywhere will break most people's banks, so I began thinking of things to do at home and decided to surprise them with an at home special day.<br /><br />When Saturday morning rolled around Greg and I cooked a large breakfast for the kiddos. Bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy (my mouth is watering just remembering it). This is a definite treat in this house considering that for one breakfast we went through 3 dozen eggs, 2 lbs of bacon, 3 lbs of sausage, 20 biscuits and 3 pks of gravy. Not to mention a gallon of orange juice.<br /><br />After breakfast, Greg took the kiddos to our neighborhood park to ride bikes (their absolutely favorite thing to do). When they got back, they were greeted by a new slip and slide ($5.00 at WalMart!) and a kiddie pool for the baby. Somehow, slip and slidi ng (is that a term?) turned into waterhose trampoline jumping, but, whatever, they were having fun.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxfdVALWMe0r7Bcz59ddsMlFGDhdfVVucy2TtbPtWmSeXedmfpAwQlVbVuTvMJOAysNSAzZZiGlgNSCfQ0e3pjfiQDjNdtydMsUO_OTuMbP9aUpN6L_jjGk-Sc0hV31fGDjfjM7G-YYvL/s1600-h/DSC07405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxfdVALWMe0r7Bcz59ddsMlFGDhdfVVucy2TtbPtWmSeXedmfpAwQlVbVuTvMJOAysNSAzZZiGlgNSCfQ0e3pjfiQDjNdtydMsUO_OTuMbP9aUpN6L_jjGk-Sc0hV31fGDjfjM7G-YYvL/s400/DSC07405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342850211636612850" border="0" /></a></div><br />They paused only moments to eat their lunch and then were back at it. This time with the oldest chasing all the littles around with the hose. (Some had to pause to take a nap...)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih_1tW6KZQZi87MpiJDGJaziayYgHSZRZnJOGzBCKt9fyLpxxJjttgboodWIPzchtH4evgUnD4qzS-Wvdp8okj-0rBTClLmU6ZnwfkeOu4AsVByl1G066bWmEWeon8KE2_wcy438qutCG/s1600-h/DSC07406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih_1tW6KZQZi87MpiJDGJaziayYgHSZRZnJOGzBCKt9fyLpxxJjttgboodWIPzchtH4evgUnD4qzS-Wvdp8okj-0rBTClLmU6ZnwfkeOu4AsVByl1G066bWmEWeon8KE2_wcy438qutCG/s400/DSC07406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342850214407277842" border="0" /></a>He actually fell asleep on the trampoline! Isn't that too much?!<br /><br /><br />Anyway, my kids often see me prepare fun things to eat whenever we go to someone's house, but they are never treated to the fare. I thought that all the little snacky stuff would make a fun dinner, so we had a dinner consisting of buffalo wings, mozzerella sticks, potato skins, queso, andchips and salsa. The kids also got Dr. Pepper (gasp, I know, that NEVER happens around here).<br /><br />All the children commented on how it was the most fun ever. Even the 14 year old- and she doesn't think anything is fun. And it cost a heck of a lot less than going to a movie!Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683716921285851203.post-31612653544641914952009-05-10T21:47:00.004-05:002009-05-10T22:03:48.881-05:00Happy Mother's Day, Granny<div style="text-align: center;">This is my Granny...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ9LlgOFbdX17KoWfE1FRySaliCQpyK2YLaLEElfMqdsgnAmFhwYOXMX1QtHjBotvB7A8vraQubiZVH0wXy6r9xIIKjoYD4NVAEY-YWLI5qv3KToFwnEy_g08IjLAlcTr0p3-zvOkttIt/s1600-h/granny2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ9LlgOFbdX17KoWfE1FRySaliCQpyK2YLaLEElfMqdsgnAmFhwYOXMX1QtHjBotvB7A8vraQubiZVH0wXy6r9xIIKjoYD4NVAEY-YWLI5qv3KToFwnEy_g08IjLAlcTr0p3-zvOkttIt/s400/granny2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334392883364763666" border="0" /></a><br />When most people think of their grandparents they recall weekend visits to far off places, sweet old ladies who gave them candy and lots of hugs and kisses, or someone who may or may not have been a small portion of their life. I, however, was never afforded those memories, and for that I have no regrets.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLzMQcdaGT-7s7xUDSyDL438XxEWQEURTIAi7s-jc_peL2uPV38HAFbSV0h52JUUqU62DJDoiG62feEcGEm25bJsdwGy_DGHou1gBCR_DzYJSlFdazH_Y0iBGnQpsnq_9lXT6hRYtRIQG/s1600-h/granny1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLzMQcdaGT-7s7xUDSyDL438XxEWQEURTIAi7s-jc_peL2uPV38HAFbSV0h52JUUqU62DJDoiG62feEcGEm25bJsdwGy_DGHou1gBCR_DzYJSlFdazH_Y0iBGnQpsnq_9lXT6hRYtRIQG/s400/granny1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334395621462268338" border="0" /></a><br />When I was 5 years old, I went to live (with my 3 yr old and 1 yr old sisters) with my Granny and my Pawpaw. I was probably the happiest 5 year old on the planet. My Granny was the best thing since sliced bread. Over the next 13 years my grandmother raised my sisters and I and molded us into who we are today. My memories of my grandmother include nightly dinners around the table, twice a week church services, huge family get togethers, late night conversations over everything from boys to God, first cars, first loves, mended broken hearts, and laughing until no one in the room could catch their breath. My grandmother often states that she feels bad that she never got a chance to be a "grandmother" to us. Well I say she got a chance to be so much more to us. I'm glad I never had a "normal" grandmother.<br /> I love you, Granny!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG39PNUyjF39Q3qqb4CQRg4_bWtN8A3AdvLgoEp7cLIANkFbe7cS1HhzFtmGBRhZvHOq4tva-AzwM96dRQeL9pN1SMgWvhGYe8rjdGYen2LGjNSQUO4toNkPZsx2N8JR5CDM2sllNKhrrW/s1600-h/granny3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG39PNUyjF39Q3qqb4CQRg4_bWtN8A3AdvLgoEp7cLIANkFbe7cS1HhzFtmGBRhZvHOq4tva-AzwM96dRQeL9pN1SMgWvhGYe8rjdGYen2LGjNSQUO4toNkPZsx2N8JR5CDM2sllNKhrrW/s400/granny3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334396037927605074" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Preecemomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16451092439144622827noreply@blogger.com2