tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49475126334193132582024-03-05T11:02:07.965-06:00Chez SanUp, up and away!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-20638421194445861182012-05-07T17:16:00.000-05:002012-05-07T17:18:03.513-05:00Hunting and gathering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No lily left unsearched...</div>
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...no plastic pool left unturned...</div>
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...no grass untouched...</div>
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...by our cuties in the hunt for Easter eggs.</div>
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The sweet fruits (well, fruit-flavored candy beans, at least) of their labor.</div>
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Even sweeter is the fact that this little badger shares with Daddy without complaint. Once, at least. I don't think that we asked for more than that.</div>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-10107893759837891702012-05-07T16:25:00.002-05:002012-05-07T16:25:25.757-05:00Wee critters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm sure that Gabriel and I are not alone in likening our children to little critters. Our kids actually have very specific animal names associated with each one: Jonah is "The Bird," a name brought on by his habit of flapping his "wings" in frustration. In his very early nursing days, he even "pecked" around for his meal, bobbing his dark head, like a little chicken. </div>
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Despite Manny's nickname being "Manny Moo," we actually call him "The Pig." We realize, of course, that that name sounds like emotional abuse, and that we can't call him that outside of our four walls. But our pink little baby, with curly hair, looked like the cutest of little piglets, and the name has stuck. Jonah has even attached a variety of adjectives to the nickname, "Baseball Pig" and "Party Pig" being among them. </div>
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Iohan, once called "General Critter," because we couldn't pinpoint "his" animal, is now "The Honey Badger." The African honey badger, according to the boys' favorite PBS nature program, is one of the fiercest animals anywhere -- he can kill snakes! -- and is a compact ball of strength. Lucky for us, our honey badger has a very cuddly side, but "tough" describes a significant portion of Iohan's personality.</div>
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Out and about this winter, though, the names didn't quite apply (though Jonah was still a species of bird). Cousin Hana knits hats, and Gabriel's aunt and uncle sent them up for Christmas. The boys were only too happy to don their separate hats, and to soak up the attention that came from belonging to this troupe of animals. Two owls and a fox, on the prowl.</div>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-67383993388828446412012-04-29T15:17:00.001-05:002012-04-29T15:17:01.404-05:00Music lover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLG5idUU7K_XlAlDQhIhixqGOVi3eiU4_8-ETxDg04BP0K8TYUNa-IujvU-05j009Cd_KROPGXX84RL3P3Sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Oldie, but goodie. (The video is from late January.) Iohan is a much more spontaneous singer than Manny, who sang a lot more than Jonah did. His late favorites are "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Baby Beluga," and "The Farmer in the Dell." He can sing the Our Father with us at prayer time, which is not only adorable and soul-warming, but also slightly hilarious -- his Our Father singing voice is high-pitched and chirpy, the exact voice that Jonah used to make his plush pup Whiffy sing with. I'll put money on that sweet little voice making a thousand angels smile, and sing, too.</div>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-37193041639136507772012-04-29T14:08:00.001-05:002012-04-29T14:09:58.686-05:00Bone-crunchers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though the boys occasionally complain of boredom, they’re rarely <i>actually</i> bored around the house. Between the backyard, the toys (that I keep stepping on) and each other, they generally keep busy running, smacking, and building, and our home rarely lacks for excitement. You might not have known that, though, if you’d been around late Thursday afternoon, as I was preparing dinner for the oven. “DAD!!” shouted Manny, when Gabriel walked thru the door: “We’re having MEAT ON THE BONE!!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was roasting a chicken for dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m surprised that the energy and excitement in our house didn’t cause some sort of combustion, to be honest. And I wish that I could put into words how enamored the boys were with the idea and <i>reality </i>of tearing flesh from the bone with their "sharp canine teeth!" As soon as he found out that I would be roasting a chicken, the day before the meal, Jonah told me numerous times how he wanted to crack the bones with his teeth and suck out the marrow. Yes, for real. Manny exclaimed, “Look! Blood!” during dinner when he <i>did</i> actually gnaw a bone apart and discovered the spongy red layer inside. I had to tell him that I couldn’t look, because it would probably make me ill. In true boy form, his excitement remained undiminished. Jonah told me (as he often does when he enjoys dinner, I must admit) that the roast chicken was “the best dinner” I’ve EVER made.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I love these boys’ enthusiasm. I love that a roast chicken, and its accompanying bone-crunching, is a highlight of the week. Would that I had their enthusiasm and energy for life's small pleasures, even if said small pleasure is "just" MEAT ON THE BONE!! </span></div>
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<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-22525523107830546842012-01-16T15:47:00.008-06:002012-01-16T16:37:49.510-06:00Doughy, not ideal.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Andale Mono'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I'm back, with a plate of donuts. I wish you could eat them. Yes, I realize that they don't look like donuts, quite, but they're tasty! A couple nights ago, during story time, Jonah asked what the word "ideal" means. My years of liberal arts schooling came to mind, but I didn't feel like getting into philosophy, exactly, with my 5 year old at 8 p.m. We answered him with, "The best that it can be." Well, these are not ideal donuts, as far as appearances go. And some were still doughy in the middle (which was actually kind of yummy), so I can't even claim that the inside was ideal. But I've now gotten "doughnut-making" out of my system, so that's ideal.</span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcI_vY2gty_RFo6vGRJCvHjKMuNv5dN4i4ZEAJ3zDbSEGp93HFEX9GXL7dmZHe5oMemOpiCNcH-BufvcPalIowBWuVJWsAaBtDIZWpSNe9V4Qi-6BlxEqd8LuSDTOkmdyjMbHJNtvLJS8/s1600/DSCF5979.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcI_vY2gty_RFo6vGRJCvHjKMuNv5dN4i4ZEAJ3zDbSEGp93HFEX9GXL7dmZHe5oMemOpiCNcH-BufvcPalIowBWuVJWsAaBtDIZWpSNe9V4Qi-6BlxEqd8LuSDTOkmdyjMbHJNtvLJS8/s400/DSCF5979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698350977380999778" /></a><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Andale Mono'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">On this cloudy, dreary Monday, on which three of the four of us at home right now have the sniffles, and the other is a 5 year-old boy who would probably rather be at school, I needed a project. Between the prep, the frying, the consuming (which would be ongoing, except that I’m experimenting with freezing these) and the cleaning, donut-making has consumed a fair chunk of my day. Clean-up shouldn’t have been such a pain, but I guess that sometimes even when you follow directions, things can still turn out a little messy. (Is that a life-lesson in tasty, doughy disguise? I will let you judge for yourself.) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Andale Mono'; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Andale Mono'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The recipe is from King Arthur’s “Whole Grain Baking,” so I’m allowed to say that these donuts are, if not quite healthy, less bad than they could be. The mixture of oat flour (i.e., finely ground oats), whole wheat flour and bread flour is not too sweet; the cinnamon sugar mixture added the perfect complement to the crunchy exterior. I’m not such a fan of the powdered sugar, which was a concession to my eldest son -- I think I didn’t wait long enough to roll the donuts in the sugar, so the powder is still moist and sticky. Though, now that I write that, I realize that I can try to pass that off as the frosting that the boys have been wanting, just like Dunkin’ Donuts fried dough. I wonder if they’ll be convinced...</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Andale Mono'; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-5636599048780257192011-06-07T22:16:00.008-05:002011-06-07T22:54:57.177-05:00Chicago wildlife<div>Betcha can't guess where we were? I mean, it's not like Iohan is wearing a sign on his head or anything! Oh, wait...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAhhyphenhyphenFzM9NWGgDuV90df_A4gl-NPLHHDvI3GaAebZrvyZjlj-HL5lrIO53S-GE3tbBiVsn8DlQJpFGqQcFRAAOszbPnzZDDd2VfR7A3qO9dHzOUkQZsB84PIRVQ_ibRTR31p1esDaJKM/s1600/DSCF3550.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAhhyphenhyphenFzM9NWGgDuV90df_A4gl-NPLHHDvI3GaAebZrvyZjlj-HL5lrIO53S-GE3tbBiVsn8DlQJpFGqQcFRAAOszbPnzZDDd2VfR7A3qO9dHzOUkQZsB84PIRVQ_ibRTR31p1esDaJKM/s320/DSCF3550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615687220909848258" /></a><div>Yup, the Field Museum! In November, our family bought a membership to the Field Museum as an early Christmas gift. It has been worth every dollar. I'm pretty sure that it's impossible to run out of things to see there. As much as I sometimes wish that we lived in the suburbs with a largish yard, or in the country, with chickens and a stream in the backyard, many times I am just very, very thankful that for at least a portion of our lives we live where we are in easy reach of some of the nation's premiere museums. Urban living definitely has its benefits.</div><div><br /></div><div>Little critters in the woodland.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wq8pDS2SuoSZIESYFNmVfi6HdBbSDYNyOjLuohkz_ckbSBZ2nZAOe5jRTRKIXCZBdRQFjVSuURsHf_yYJMrDthVLpiJvfe30SyTUw7K3hKbZkOW9_SV5i_dvHY7L6T4OKYaMo-1G7HA/s1600/DSCF3556.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wq8pDS2SuoSZIESYFNmVfi6HdBbSDYNyOjLuohkz_ckbSBZ2nZAOe5jRTRKIXCZBdRQFjVSuURsHf_yYJMrDthVLpiJvfe30SyTUw7K3hKbZkOW9_SV5i_dvHY7L6T4OKYaMo-1G7HA/s320/DSCF3556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615687208071083906" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wq8pDS2SuoSZIESYFNmVfi6HdBbSDYNyOjLuohkz_ckbSBZ2nZAOe5jRTRKIXCZBdRQFjVSuURsHf_yYJMrDthVLpiJvfe30SyTUw7K3hKbZkOW9_SV5i_dvHY7L6T4OKYaMo-1G7HA/s1600/DSCF3556.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>My three little beasties, in the nest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5lB-rb6jbg7G_EwdVdP2pUttABDVzPrdpeeeA1qv7bzxSxU_lJ0Q9XQSIP5d5ELDq7sYPPGUaS1FGEAmL_cd_NzQn96TY0x7BjMAfBIvvxV0nkU1CJ52txmGPEJT14vZS4yDP-t2gVA/s1600/DSCF3561.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5lB-rb6jbg7G_EwdVdP2pUttABDVzPrdpeeeA1qv7bzxSxU_lJ0Q9XQSIP5d5ELDq7sYPPGUaS1FGEAmL_cd_NzQn96TY0x7BjMAfBIvvxV0nkU1CJ52txmGPEJT14vZS4yDP-t2gVA/s320/DSCF3561.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615687201028970402" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5lB-rb6jbg7G_EwdVdP2pUttABDVzPrdpeeeA1qv7bzxSxU_lJ0Q9XQSIP5d5ELDq7sYPPGUaS1FGEAmL_cd_NzQn96TY0x7BjMAfBIvvxV0nkU1CJ52txmGPEJT14vZS4yDP-t2gVA/s1600/DSCF3561.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>And out in the wild.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVIJyOJPWlzy9E9HKTg6-lNrDrwjwlljMxnbrRWz1E-Njl9w28abBdSzuR-WFcaIQLL_APOXikymBPOdRWu7gRBUong-s9MJYKCy4blBB0ICP4BNaaKKo_Gozi3D55VImt-3baB-pPjE/s1600/DSCF3566.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVIJyOJPWlzy9E9HKTg6-lNrDrwjwlljMxnbrRWz1E-Njl9w28abBdSzuR-WFcaIQLL_APOXikymBPOdRWu7gRBUong-s9MJYKCy4blBB0ICP4BNaaKKo_Gozi3D55VImt-3baB-pPjE/s320/DSCF3566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615687193828752914" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVIJyOJPWlzy9E9HKTg6-lNrDrwjwlljMxnbrRWz1E-Njl9w28abBdSzuR-WFcaIQLL_APOXikymBPOdRWu7gRBUong-s9MJYKCy4blBB0ICP4BNaaKKo_Gozi3D55VImt-3baB-pPjE/s1600/DSCF3566.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Roaming the city hills.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU73N81zgnB9HhGJBiffJLLn2lyesHbuXQcktEx8tVU4XDD6QH2_Vgxn4ef2B8z1yeZluOX6oY70razQlufYEHViezRUTDcTnuKnX0c7pKISWuASRbcnyp2OAWv5o1g5U5FaoJOtuwTE/s1600/DSCF3576.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU73N81zgnB9HhGJBiffJLLn2lyesHbuXQcktEx8tVU4XDD6QH2_Vgxn4ef2B8z1yeZluOX6oY70razQlufYEHViezRUTDcTnuKnX0c7pKISWuASRbcnyp2OAWv5o1g5U5FaoJOtuwTE/s320/DSCF3576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615687170682008274" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU73N81zgnB9HhGJBiffJLLn2lyesHbuXQcktEx8tVU4XDD6QH2_Vgxn4ef2B8z1yeZluOX6oY70razQlufYEHViezRUTDcTnuKnX0c7pKISWuASRbcnyp2OAWv5o1g5U5FaoJOtuwTE/s1600/DSCF3576.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Claiming the hilltops, and nimbly trotting along.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmD7TI2P14LeVPutyKcb850oFJ8mqL8hRyPD0eVl2MNNG8zbhISCz5rss03JLGKBc6e4jGH8A6OFUeze6LQmjBp_bIYailYZRpiMzkGIwqsfugYI00PAjgnJI65jumyv7ukIHfSN1i98/s1600/DSCF3572.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmD7TI2P14LeVPutyKcb850oFJ8mqL8hRyPD0eVl2MNNG8zbhISCz5rss03JLGKBc6e4jGH8A6OFUeze6LQmjBp_bIYailYZRpiMzkGIwqsfugYI00PAjgnJI65jumyv7ukIHfSN1i98/s320/DSCF3572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615685056976181266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmD7TI2P14LeVPutyKcb850oFJ8mqL8hRyPD0eVl2MNNG8zbhISCz5rss03JLGKBc6e4jGH8A6OFUeze6LQmjBp_bIYailYZRpiMzkGIwqsfugYI00PAjgnJI65jumyv7ukIHfSN1i98/s1600/DSCF3572.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Another setting to be climbed and conquered, though defended by many other little tikes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUlffF50XCW6_hyphenhyphen37bwqnOuu6sDqRDh4YWye67EvixUiVVrJQGojZJKxHM5lgAFo5uM7R_q0U4FbfwqB4RdAj6mxRJ__rm5yAIWJMIgZi2-nrsQz98rVszUm3M8a8RDE_z798i76osxI/s1600/DSCF3578.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUlffF50XCW6_hyphenhyphen37bwqnOuu6sDqRDh4YWye67EvixUiVVrJQGojZJKxHM5lgAFo5uM7R_q0U4FbfwqB4RdAj6mxRJ__rm5yAIWJMIgZi2-nrsQz98rVszUm3M8a8RDE_z798i76osxI/s320/DSCF3578.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615685051014861218" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUlffF50XCW6_hyphenhyphen37bwqnOuu6sDqRDh4YWye67EvixUiVVrJQGojZJKxHM5lgAFo5uM7R_q0U4FbfwqB4RdAj6mxRJ__rm5yAIWJMIgZi2-nrsQz98rVszUm3M8a8RDE_z798i76osxI/s1600/DSCF3578.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I've been surmounted.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoiasKZvFUL2yO7aMmxDmBu-bnydXotBGkXl6l-u5wQDTS4GJiKejvaGrdjBQ7Jx61wFdsL1QkJQd4L5TUQ22iXOB1bEqWs2c4Jt1lhjdnreWxrj-UI-fs-AhzWhqaEpQpyEM0RarL4U/s1600/DSCF3581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoiasKZvFUL2yO7aMmxDmBu-bnydXotBGkXl6l-u5wQDTS4GJiKejvaGrdjBQ7Jx61wFdsL1QkJQd4L5TUQ22iXOB1bEqWs2c4Jt1lhjdnreWxrj-UI-fs-AhzWhqaEpQpyEM0RarL4U/s320/DSCF3581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615685042125953058" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoiasKZvFUL2yO7aMmxDmBu-bnydXotBGkXl6l-u5wQDTS4GJiKejvaGrdjBQ7Jx61wFdsL1QkJQd4L5TUQ22iXOB1bEqWs2c4Jt1lhjdnreWxrj-UI-fs-AhzWhqaEpQpyEM0RarL4U/s1600/DSCF3581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Little beasties need their water, too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARyWac3YtAfn1kraUFCeGCnG5F8AZhGaiWxjZCPEM7fXMG9zjKZax6WR6DL5NVDVCP7UqXcLbCebOcMI6vZ9D2T451p3fy4dP4XwqIX71Nua2oRcuBrfz5lTqT74J1cxyOWb4IewMvSc/s1600/DSCF3596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARyWac3YtAfn1kraUFCeGCnG5F8AZhGaiWxjZCPEM7fXMG9zjKZax6WR6DL5NVDVCP7UqXcLbCebOcMI6vZ9D2T451p3fy4dP4XwqIX71Nua2oRcuBrfz5lTqT74J1cxyOWb4IewMvSc/s320/DSCF3596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615685027075720914" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARyWac3YtAfn1kraUFCeGCnG5F8AZhGaiWxjZCPEM7fXMG9zjKZax6WR6DL5NVDVCP7UqXcLbCebOcMI6vZ9D2T451p3fy4dP4XwqIX71Nua2oRcuBrfz5lTqT74J1cxyOWb4IewMvSc/s1600/DSCF3596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>And off we go again!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRkyKb7d7DyzRIb4cNzMI3lHnDdEWDWjnkw39_4i_HX3vBdyIA4GFUG1b9O935SieMRK6yEVe2OCwHF7cHL-rGf6VPaW0nfaMirOBs9Y_XQpAjCBRDU4r2uvqmGII8sRkO2twjcEHzdM/s1600/DSCF3597.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRkyKb7d7DyzRIb4cNzMI3lHnDdEWDWjnkw39_4i_HX3vBdyIA4GFUG1b9O935SieMRK6yEVe2OCwHF7cHL-rGf6VPaW0nfaMirOBs9Y_XQpAjCBRDU4r2uvqmGII8sRkO2twjcEHzdM/s320/DSCF3597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615685018122056482" /></a><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-24325842953598994272011-03-21T22:19:00.004-05:002011-03-21T22:30:42.384-05:00Poser<div>This child is workin' the camera, showing off all his different looks. All cute, of course.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6-h-ZLZmV3lVdjneZGq5D-EodhpYqu3Bq-QsAVpBA5k4Pwls88ow20byGcdRBBDLd2F_PYBPShgc0N-ufeQEBuzYwgwpGaYVuboBZbIh_tZMoSyfZvB1heBgKOYsp_cZqLBemv28CzM/s1600/DSCF3451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6-h-ZLZmV3lVdjneZGq5D-EodhpYqu3Bq-QsAVpBA5k4Pwls88ow20byGcdRBBDLd2F_PYBPShgc0N-ufeQEBuzYwgwpGaYVuboBZbIh_tZMoSyfZvB1heBgKOYsp_cZqLBemv28CzM/s400/DSCF3451.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586741248603489602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rL_TvudzTMa7y6rsfPUnJxvtc4bIJTAslwt08pWuCoRO54Mw_WYfmT9yMT51nNezHRX6ztZ4FhrRnnRI2GF5du5IHE6ao_qeBtb5GWRRIy9NccCKvlt1mjKc_MnzVifeSaSM157h96Q/s1600/DSCF3453.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rL_TvudzTMa7y6rsfPUnJxvtc4bIJTAslwt08pWuCoRO54Mw_WYfmT9yMT51nNezHRX6ztZ4FhrRnnRI2GF5du5IHE6ao_qeBtb5GWRRIy9NccCKvlt1mjKc_MnzVifeSaSM157h96Q/s200/DSCF3453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586740072636911842" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ffm29hRfKbHu04a6umdeOC4454Wsh6rKk_TmObP4gCTRHspayzcdvqotw7ACRTHoajBU_6wdejtPoIy5_nPHfv7VJ4hyyabtelMazX868dkkkvyYMbL1gKzCd-LdQCvGWm9Q2CizkQA/s200/DSCF3454.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739653413206802" /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMWa76CGE_oSN64jPSv_9edDQKSQQ-Pd6_z3kbFxo0C1JHIIIx0uHPqYOd-l81H3nki6UNjkD9uIapVir38RQTkqh3PKQA7RTgiCakK9MGopBJguV7tgpgpmzwHAJFA-IOfOW3FNoddA/s1600/DSCF3450.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMWa76CGE_oSN64jPSv_9edDQKSQQ-Pd6_z3kbFxo0C1JHIIIx0uHPqYOd-l81H3nki6UNjkD9uIapVir38RQTkqh3PKQA7RTgiCakK9MGopBJguV7tgpgpmzwHAJFA-IOfOW3FNoddA/s200/DSCF3450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586740054455238098" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wYKlw23dZoqQQVlfI24kR2_FCcYAkmEVbpXkKZsvux2JaOpoWkOwg3wZsIxBwyMp1pSA4ACbxJP5Eyi1CCk85o157NFmSDtc7uxIuyegEcku0Y86E6E0-efaHueUqaeT2sNPMFdS94g/s200/DSCF3449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586740044282467714" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOkEz0S4tjfpX4h236E85c2ZPPoLJgFUaxNVKJ02AnN0QSISEVikM-EP1frpp6witmchQxOmEi6XWggu9ZBf0uZUDBJpeGzqtn98Yu6WPdWAG-8qn67BbIfMroxjzRoeviQyFtZs5EEs/s200/DSCF3452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739656424951810" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhMMY8-UA0jWMF21cccT1_KY1ktBm4OZS79sYQE6nZgiqsaUBVBSycJUF8mQQNZq8THwWqFxRwwWjcSMeCoo_5ZNdgSeElPrPnDjD_hpdAgdnSxR3fvGCxUpETZNUJCQk7h8BAYRYhqg/s200/DSCF3455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739645052462050" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FIkneRED_hoYPrzThX05jpqySph-c-7WV9116mMM5mJTYAFa1dI-AjbE4JXm7oE8zHZ7uZX4BJagkDeOs1ovAHefbhporOiN9tRyjj2IgYWGgBLSPsG9C6H2QI5sP5N6NBXF96k0rO8/s1600/DSCF3456.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FIkneRED_hoYPrzThX05jpqySph-c-7WV9116mMM5mJTYAFa1dI-AjbE4JXm7oE8zHZ7uZX4BJagkDeOs1ovAHefbhporOiN9tRyjj2IgYWGgBLSPsG9C6H2QI5sP5N6NBXF96k0rO8/s200/DSCF3456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739636687947650" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38KGSs6ASA1CePX3EL-7AYzrjaj7byePRpzV8Hjvi9nj7DbGnvR4q53aSH2256MBUsgppLVtC-iV40YIGnfwza_lYS6N-ip7btsw_axXXTECnkePvh9czspE6scbScqYMrN1Ybvg3m-4/s200/DSCF3458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739628905223442" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2P8Ghh397iGCeEBWWnOPwfjMas5WQEicRIMw7UyMdyJlGCo9Vz4ETKIotO4bP56GPax_FJaal6g3c7z_ItfAsd0WgpuQ6GMt_FjFVeT0W8fc33kJB35WUtaxRqleqUoH1QrYLg1wazY/s1600/DSCF3459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2P8Ghh397iGCeEBWWnOPwfjMas5WQEicRIMw7UyMdyJlGCo9Vz4ETKIotO4bP56GPax_FJaal6g3c7z_ItfAsd0WgpuQ6GMt_FjFVeT0W8fc33kJB35WUtaxRqleqUoH1QrYLg1wazY/s400/DSCF3459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586739232425154466" /></a><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-4104439219586378502011-03-21T21:55:00.002-05:002011-03-21T22:18:35.111-05:00Sweet Saturday<div>My own little piece of sweet candy.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUhbMUrvXL9tbSilMvb7I6CiMg8zz5SIRrm5unCjprB-7l9Yejtk80jnTBQMLOKDz_s8nRMH4aRxjSpc2YsSX_n8sWUCCeeax1m7ucVbqyS3UE0DvEeR-Y32lpnwGhMT7AfZwShZmNXs/s1600/DSCF3401.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUhbMUrvXL9tbSilMvb7I6CiMg8zz5SIRrm5unCjprB-7l9Yejtk80jnTBQMLOKDz_s8nRMH4aRxjSpc2YsSX_n8sWUCCeeax1m7ucVbqyS3UE0DvEeR-Y32lpnwGhMT7AfZwShZmNXs/s320/DSCF3401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586733881222979826" /></a>Every year for the past three, my mom has had the hankerin' to come down to Chicago to visit around the first weekend in February. This weekend just happens to coincide with "Sweet Saturdays" at the Garfield Park Conservatory, a program that shows kids (and adults, too, I guess) some foods that are harvested from plants -- cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, chocolate. We get free samples, and the climate is warm and a little humid, which is a real treat midwinter!<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUhbMUrvXL9tbSilMvb7I6CiMg8zz5SIRrm5unCjprB-7l9Yejtk80jnTBQMLOKDz_s8nRMH4aRxjSpc2YsSX_n8sWUCCeeax1m7ucVbqyS3UE0DvEeR-Y32lpnwGhMT7AfZwShZmNXs/s1600/DSCF3401.JPG"></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUhbMUrvXL9tbSilMvb7I6CiMg8zz5SIRrm5unCjprB-7l9Yejtk80jnTBQMLOKDz_s8nRMH4aRxjSpc2YsSX_n8sWUCCeeax1m7ucVbqyS3UE0DvEeR-Y32lpnwGhMT7AfZwShZmNXs/s1600/DSCF3401.JPG"></a>The boys remembered this pond from last year, with its magical yellow (glass) "lily pads." These lily pads are art that I can get behind.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXQln3HS101g35rIvTq5CA0rIhpXYV4zmT38YfTRqueVfxJeMhPJR7x2pBpaiLjWAsvhLFLVAzLhdy90fj-UBHaiiu_H7mlEf3DrTE_WQNsOU2iI6Z2Z4cRMxqlTYmSXWC6gY3kIate4/s1600/DSCF3403.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXQln3HS101g35rIvTq5CA0rIhpXYV4zmT38YfTRqueVfxJeMhPJR7x2pBpaiLjWAsvhLFLVAzLhdy90fj-UBHaiiu_H7mlEf3DrTE_WQNsOU2iI6Z2Z4cRMxqlTYmSXWC6gY3kIate4/s320/DSCF3403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586733876732642498" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXQln3HS101g35rIvTq5CA0rIhpXYV4zmT38YfTRqueVfxJeMhPJR7x2pBpaiLjWAsvhLFLVAzLhdy90fj-UBHaiiu_H7mlEf3DrTE_WQNsOU2iI6Z2Z4cRMxqlTYmSXWC6gY3kIate4/s1600/DSCF3403.JPG"></a>In the cafe area of the Conservatory, a local band called Tarima Son was playing some sort of Latin music. I wish that I could be more specific, but there are so many styles of Latino music that I'm not going to pretend that I can keep them all straight! The music got Jonah a-dancin' and Iohan a-starin'. He was what they call "agape"; it was so sweet. Eventually he danced, which at 15 months was little more than several deep knee bends. Can you see it at right?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAklx6kMqgMwVwBIlg9WjqxHfjNU9BuG22U8voW28CGB3SwkYf-PphXD5BzLAOyONB8tyuUtHfEUUCqQMUNtGfV8Eb33SmxKzrlnsTxpCxKIrTZky-BVW_8Hs4Ot04WnuS4z4ugeMi88/s1600/DSCF3410.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAklx6kMqgMwVwBIlg9WjqxHfjNU9BuG22U8voW28CGB3SwkYf-PphXD5BzLAOyONB8tyuUtHfEUUCqQMUNtGfV8Eb33SmxKzrlnsTxpCxKIrTZky-BVW_8Hs4Ot04WnuS4z4ugeMi88/s320/DSCF3410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586733871646280482" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EUmsr75Q83nqu1cChlsP9RwZDHCg0OhTDQdlhT9xUUS1mKA6-6eXUmRUl2LktNZceW8WTbc61mgayXUcoCvrxAHqYKWxS8dL6Pmg9aLlN9xuOH8KbXXU0ZS_D2HEq6my9JoF13TFKZ4/s320/DSCF3414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586733869733980098" /><br /><br /></div><div>Iohan enjoyed his first hot dog at the Conservatory. And when I say "enjoyed," I mean enjoyed; he ate the whole thing. Way to go, Fat Man! (Many of Io-Io's nicknames refer to his girth, or to his spherical form.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1tPQWRVRp990JswhU2f0s1lDd63ptT_VxM_peu51iPZS7-AQFtT_kOYSDcXv-zVheo4Zi3U9zyABt_KWQnRJU_NHQ9rTvh3BaPpUkQMLtDu6YRayMbbEfyNEn9fk3owtIyJD_TNnK2M/s1600/DSCF3425.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1tPQWRVRp990JswhU2f0s1lDd63ptT_VxM_peu51iPZS7-AQFtT_kOYSDcXv-zVheo4Zi3U9zyABt_KWQnRJU_NHQ9rTvh3BaPpUkQMLtDu6YRayMbbEfyNEn9fk3owtIyJD_TNnK2M/s320/DSCF3425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586733862948214274" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-51274952792360902282011-02-12T15:16:00.005-06:002011-02-12T16:00:12.718-06:00Blizzard of 2011<div>For once the newcasters' dramatic pronouncements weren't misplaced: The snow and winds began at about 2:30 pm and didn't stop until late the next morning. To amp up the excitement, I told the boys numerous times in a dramatic voice, "Boys! This could be the <i>biggest storm </i>of your <i>LIVES!"</i> Which Gabe would usually follow up with, "I sure hope not!" Yes, husband, I too want the boys to live long and fruitful lives, but since this was in fact the third biggest storm in Chicago's recorded history, it <i>could</i> in fact be the biggest they'll ever see. We ended up with just over 20 inches of "global warming" (as my favorite conservative political site calls it) dumped on us. I negotiated a slight break on our rent with our landlord, so I headed out as soon as the snow stopped to get to work. (The landlord was nice enough to pay me a little extra for taking care of the snow from this storm -- <i>woohoo</i>!)</div><div><br /></div><div>The view from our back door. I've removed the top layer of snow, but you can see from the sunken footprints how much more I have to go.<br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lu5yH9ZdujK_MW0KMI7Hdb5MAFnU91rWWH7top7y9N2TxdBUJaf8Fam3CEPbLakUEcMcGBzezLRHFsjOUZ2kVm3ZapHcudER6rv_tmuYKOJPLrmkk9p5SaqdhBMG8FixPxiZQD9ruVg/s320/DSCF3380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916824884805058" /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lu5yH9ZdujK_MW0KMI7Hdb5MAFnU91rWWH7top7y9N2TxdBUJaf8Fam3CEPbLakUEcMcGBzezLRHFsjOUZ2kVm3ZapHcudER6rv_tmuYKOJPLrmkk9p5SaqdhBMG8FixPxiZQD9ruVg/s1600/DSCF3380.JPG"></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lu5yH9ZdujK_MW0KMI7Hdb5MAFnU91rWWH7top7y9N2TxdBUJaf8Fam3CEPbLakUEcMcGBzezLRHFsjOUZ2kVm3ZapHcudER6rv_tmuYKOJPLrmkk9p5SaqdhBMG8FixPxiZQD9ruVg/s1600/DSCF3380.JPG"></a>With the winds, the snow drifted quite a bit. It was probably 3 feet high or so by our side fence.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i3mreWe9bes2l66YGvLw1X4lP8s-ZqQdErhg_caYXWiMKOvCDAqQkfqzHbRp_W5D_dfoudqxH2RgKTu4QF_CjMl419AukkTUCjDa3kK2kJIsTgUV1hLZV7RSetx7BJWN2wKrbedDfrE/s1600/DSCF3381.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i3mreWe9bes2l66YGvLw1X4lP8s-ZqQdErhg_caYXWiMKOvCDAqQkfqzHbRp_W5D_dfoudqxH2RgKTu4QF_CjMl419AukkTUCjDa3kK2kJIsTgUV1hLZV7RSetx7BJWN2wKrbedDfrE/s320/DSCF3381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916815900053554" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIoRqm6LRDZHiFZVjv1Xu-DnCiJTnLh9AdRdm06Wo1p_wBaRWQwkx9yLFMvnHUv65mUs-2oBVjeaXXrgpCEdfHibHhPjkY5H0JYIsDUQR_ND17HUM4OoYC-yd2JDnJh8JkTAaPQxmqyI/s320/DSCF3390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916408607501330" /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i3mreWe9bes2l66YGvLw1X4lP8s-ZqQdErhg_caYXWiMKOvCDAqQkfqzHbRp_W5D_dfoudqxH2RgKTu4QF_CjMl419AukkTUCjDa3kK2kJIsTgUV1hLZV7RSetx7BJWN2wKrbedDfrE/s1600/DSCF3381.JPG"></a>Our lightweight little boys sank down only thru the top layer of snow. Otherwise, they'd be struggling thru chest-high powder, "<i>Little House on the Prairie</i>"-style.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjAXrGxrAPQNc64ObHjuRTdb9-HMgfE7Lvq1_xHfWIv_YMDokH6HXtI8mYuJL4IjT-0_b4kertUb7Iz20T9J5EEH97R7tNMtmyqPN19fWXapMppRqOLaMMQLEFjgpgB_gSRuTqTpUWXU/s1600/DSCF3385.JPG"></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjAXrGxrAPQNc64ObHjuRTdb9-HMgfE7Lvq1_xHfWIv_YMDokH6HXtI8mYuJL4IjT-0_b4kertUb7Iz20T9J5EEH97R7tNMtmyqPN19fWXapMppRqOLaMMQLEFjgpgB_gSRuTqTpUWXU/s320/DSCF3385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916812665002306" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The boys helping -- or should I say, "helping," since we all know what a help preschoolers can be -- our neighbor clear her front walk.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy9AKWUCYJPo4i4KU8yX_iz9k3_jgUDnUjzL8zblVxFR8U_n6JouLpuwr2wH9wN_mi2MXs_WQOJM5_azbZohr66ntSk_6x3kDfEk8C9AYqJHRa0IzfIYnWiIoVfwhMu2_zukhfzALDm4/s320/DSCF3387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916428653219378" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Jonah and his "removement branch." I think that it removed the snow? Or something? It ended up being an eye hazard and right now resides in our front yard. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbOzcKvMFyBX8fV06B79jwhQulrr4k9E7RKg_ohasjfZAJaqZqdt0KPrwv5zvdqqcqM1CwoeydGL3HqY0aYrcLSaFs6-CokU2xRsN6mIsUOqwbXGV46ezmU_A8nCHnaU8X1zSnUPKefg/s320/DSCF3389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916415566093954" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsI1_mA3ExpLA6eL__eK-bhCaz0glyylxxI6MIsuhz2wl_yrWlUdP3t0PH3pnb1BUfjaS6qHeojpOIFdvl8wdg0Nnt1HuUK43oIKCeNCoiFuTtQFj8QQc6gJA5oNdosQTxT-LXgpq8WEE/s320/DSCF3388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916422710636322" /></div><div>Manny pulled his weight ("lifted his snow"?) with his little bucket. </div><div><br /></div><div>Iohan stayed inside with Gabriel and watched the fun from his new perch, cackling all the time.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIoRqm6LRDZHiFZVjv1Xu-DnCiJTnLh9AdRdm06Wo1p_wBaRWQwkx9yLFMvnHUv65mUs-2oBVjeaXXrgpCEdfHibHhPjkY5H0JYIsDUQR_ND17HUM4OoYC-yd2JDnJh8JkTAaPQxmqyI/s1600/DSCF3390.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HOj0c9kQvW-Un2JZpZdsvo3uWnpYtA25IYk-30DrtTwolixM7gQBbymD4T8LEfoQOd1Pmm2UVJSjYfJeMYfFKG8-gPvnfHId43Sc8HJUl_h4T9Ir1LaRQaZDYOIbs29H9QdDepITQcc/s1600/DSCF3393.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HOj0c9kQvW-Un2JZpZdsvo3uWnpYtA25IYk-30DrtTwolixM7gQBbymD4T8LEfoQOd1Pmm2UVJSjYfJeMYfFKG8-gPvnfHId43Sc8HJUl_h4T9Ir1LaRQaZDYOIbs29H9QdDepITQcc/s320/DSCF3393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572916401505396050" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-89455953108720346802011-02-12T14:27:00.002-06:002011-02-12T14:40:19.397-06:00Gifts, part 2<div>My maternal grandma's table at the holidays often featured her apple plates and her milk glass. As she and my grandpa are beginning to pack up to move from their house into a senior community, she's been kind enough to give me some of her lovely milk glass. There's just something so rich about the opaque white glass that I love. And the design of the bowl below is beautiful -- almost like lace, but with a bit more heft. </div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMGR6fx6j81txDjDLveB0_w2ZBqnIjzpYGr07BvBW6Rpy_JIafRY8nheCwed4U9VNeKongPuMY6NlzO1L5pCsie6_7zxjk_vjE3Sv6alwXGqsabtYMh11Tvq81zaa1a2co8i8oQ3SIBo/s320/DSCF3288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572903047710157346" /><div><br /></div><div>Maybe a part of the reason I love the white is that it's perfect for holidays: Pure white suitable for Pascha (Easter), and snow white for New Years, or, as below, for Christmas. Look how nice it is in our Christmas 2010 Christmas spread!<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_t8hJwwFsRnqkcD4IlQMHbwJ3IVn5ISpS4HpYAzPMSVRMxpIR1OB-WZ2n9E_7QdNWkuYZgcjhFM3Iyq-RdLjYRwy6rxIXXmDW0WA5xAlyDu3q2wBumzXEt_f2eRfm0Zd-GZl6qNLdw4/s1600/DSCF3290.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_t8hJwwFsRnqkcD4IlQMHbwJ3IVn5ISpS4HpYAzPMSVRMxpIR1OB-WZ2n9E_7QdNWkuYZgcjhFM3Iyq-RdLjYRwy6rxIXXmDW0WA5xAlyDu3q2wBumzXEt_f2eRfm0Zd-GZl6qNLdw4/s320/DSCF3290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572903062113612898" /></a><br />Thank you, Grandma!<br /><br /></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-19689353286134052162011-02-08T09:13:00.006-06:002011-02-12T14:42:39.012-06:00Gifts, part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_QQxZjoMzte_AMXUoJNj-vLh9glPcfdEDLXVqAnAcR3J-e2qqpuPxqzC2yypSWwXbzcckCKuli47X_tWp5DrDm6QS6dtVwm2LAu-0S_o_GYh1qfcWX6T5o-7SprEQz-cmHyFIL2rxGA/s1600/DSCF3355.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_QQxZjoMzte_AMXUoJNj-vLh9glPcfdEDLXVqAnAcR3J-e2qqpuPxqzC2yypSWwXbzcckCKuli47X_tWp5DrDm6QS6dtVwm2LAu-0S_o_GYh1qfcWX6T5o-7SprEQz-cmHyFIL2rxGA/s320/DSCF3355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571341810155867170" /></a>For my 30th birthday, my aunt Linda gave me a gingerbread house. Perhaps not the first thing on a 30 year old's birthday wish list, but for me this was <i>perfect</i>. One of my many fond childhood memories is of working on the annual gingerbread house at Linda's house with my sister and our two cousins. In fact, when I think of my aunt and uncle's old house on Powers street, the gingerbread house pops into my head about 50% of the time -- it made that much of an impression. This gift came at an especially perfect time because just a week prior, Jonah had seen a gingerbread house at a store and asked if we could have one. <i>Yes!!</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUANR-sjXZku9U17FZShxEs42gVXrm71KFiPgm41kOfGFV_0TlmvzdaxYLTsn9jRDOtG6a4cTO2KghCDPV-Ibpti8B_hLMhPCc6LkaLArDrY-yHndg9x7nJIJ32Jkr9icNFx4nEz_0M/s1600/DSCF3361.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUANR-sjXZku9U17FZShxEs42gVXrm71KFiPgm41kOfGFV_0TlmvzdaxYLTsn9jRDOtG6a4cTO2KghCDPV-Ibpti8B_hLMhPCc6LkaLArDrY-yHndg9x7nJIJ32Jkr9icNFx4nEz_0M/s320/DSCF3361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571341800975361794" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUANR-sjXZku9U17FZShxEs42gVXrm71KFiPgm41kOfGFV_0TlmvzdaxYLTsn9jRDOtG6a4cTO2KghCDPV-Ibpti8B_hLMhPCc6LkaLArDrY-yHndg9x7nJIJ32Jkr9icNFx4nEz_0M/s1600/DSCF3361.JPG"></a>The fantasy...<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPebGzlvuz7B_z_NkuEU1qfT4LnBym29MfbrIZaMG9_mveG67XTxIhBlCZgw807t3xlBVzs4hiHH4oFIPL2kbsVa_WK1wtOFIC9k6lBWY0YOEZNPAnDqx2YEu7OyJm_GJrD-0VmKgr3mo/s1600/DSCF3364.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPebGzlvuz7B_z_NkuEU1qfT4LnBym29MfbrIZaMG9_mveG67XTxIhBlCZgw807t3xlBVzs4hiHH4oFIPL2kbsVa_WK1wtOFIC9k6lBWY0YOEZNPAnDqx2YEu7OyJm_GJrD-0VmKgr3mo/s320/DSCF3364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571341794455336034" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>...the reality. Not <i>too</i> shabby!</div></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wsuANpCYYXjTrvaydsqnyNZqsRN_BEUABP_41ACdWfZwjFjm_ltprFIXyxqxNDlbOdXQtxcJcKJPgDP_wP2pGH0CBdhMh2KACoZ56PDdB5ADwkIkyXBYjH7G42FraIErDvMUaictfdE/s320/DSCF3369.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571341786963676914" /></div><div>The boys attempted to cover their gingerbread man and snowman with colored fondant. Well, what I should say, is that they attempted to *nicely* cover the gingerbread man and the snowman with fondant; you can see that the little figures are definitely <i>covered</i>.<br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDBx6iRNRf1kJye3UfW-AhMutCaTDwBT38oEYBhxUwUtrf2ZXnXA4j1ekhF3t5w4xQ0CCeImImArVojcXHcRH2KydiWQf8_1T_8S4yqL5c-iLof9l2i7N3G1lYtWZo2K8oslsRTeSU9g/s320/DSCF3372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571341784865981762" /><br />Aunt Linda's note said that, at age 30 and with two young kids and a husband, she wanted to start some of her own family's traditions, and the gingerbread house was one of them. This tradition was shared with many of us outside of her immediate family and has become a treasured memory. I hope to add the house of yum to my own family's traditions so that my own kids might someday look back and remember not just the house, but also the love surrounding it.</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-91505666500115390472010-11-17T22:33:00.004-06:002010-11-17T22:50:07.562-06:00On gardening and malaise.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PWe8zCDSY5cZjG9K-Vdqpo0xxqdSkMIb7AENM2absc_gxbu3Ibz-MlfNmjDkdG9Rml9smmr1bC4ED3Vd2vqFUvcE4J88yak5ZbUMajOR9ErnHXA_0K6iQ9BDulb8oT60ad9Bx5skgYM/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540747031017160658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PWe8zCDSY5cZjG9K-Vdqpo0xxqdSkMIb7AENM2absc_gxbu3Ibz-MlfNmjDkdG9Rml9smmr1bC4ED3Vd2vqFUvcE4J88yak5ZbUMajOR9ErnHXA_0K6iQ9BDulb8oT60ad9Bx5skgYM/s320/2010_0712thruJune0070.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> Happier days.</em></span></div><br /><br /><div>Today I went out back and pulled up all the frost-deadened plants that once constituted a live garden. The peppers came up easily, as did the broccoli and cucumber. The tomatoes were more resistant. Wrapped and dried around their cages as they were, I had to break them apart before pulling both cage and roots from the ground. Small green cherry tomatoes and big, fat should-be-yellow heirlooms broke off the vines and rolled about on the cement patio. Jonah, in <em>Tyrannosaurus rex</em> rainboots, smashed a few underfoot, until I suggested that he and Manny set them aside for the neighborhood “Robber Squirrel,” as the boys have come to call him. They set about this task with gusto, making a pyramid of immature fruit to feed any creatures that might be interested.</div><br /><br /><div><br />Tearing my garden out was a mournful task, made worse by the fact that I procrastinated my way through the warm fall and was now forced to uproot on a gray, rain-spitting afternoon. I couldn’t help but feel guilty as I trashed the sad, dry skeletons and squashed their miscarried fruits under my feet. I failed my garden this summer, and looking at the plants’ remains was a pinch to my conscience. My zucchini plant was a fatality of midsummer frustration: I tore it out because it was five feet long and two feet high and producing absolutely <em>zero</em> zucchinis. While the yellow pepper plant gave us a dozen or so peppers, the mini red pepper plant was unfortunately located in its shadow and barely had a chance to show us what she could do. The cucumber vine was likewise buried under a jungle of zucchini and broccoli; it did do marginally better when I put a cage around it and took its long arms off the ground, but it never flourished. The onions didn’t grow larger than my fingernail; the peas were eaten by some rodent or another. And the tomato plants! The tomato plants! My poor tomato plants grew completely, <em>completely</em> out of control: They invaded one another’s cages; they knocked down their own cages in a fit of exuberant growth; they wouldn’t let anyone pass on the sidewalk without insisting on being trampled, they’d spread so far out of the garden. And I can’t tell you the number of once-beautiful yellow heirloom tomatoes that I found under a tangle of vines, rotten, a day or several past the point of human consumption. </div><br /><br /><div><br />Each time that I found a rotten tomato, though, or looked in vain for a zucchini squash, I knew that this garden was a disaster of my own making. I began this garden with a burst of enthusiasm. I envisioned the succulent and tasty harvest that would save me a few trips down the produce aisle during the summer months. I imagined getting my hands dirty, and my boys’ hands dirty, as we pulled weeds on summer mornings. I thought of keeping a journal, with details about the plants’ relative locations and output. I failed on almost every count. While I didn’t have to buy quite as much produce this summer, the garden vegetables were more a supplement than a replacement to our normal veggie intake. If I made it outside in the garden to weed (which was rare), I was generally too impatient with the boys to teach them the difference between friendly and enemy plants. The gardening journal is gathering dust in our buffet as I write, unsoiled by my schemes. And I never got it together enough to find out the basics of garden care after I put the plants in the ground. I know that ornamental flowers need to be trimmed back to encourage them to produce more, and I hear that it’s the same with vegetables; my tendency toward laziness, though, got in the way of me asking a gardener or performing basic research with book or internet. The work of uprooting today made me feel like Cain, but with vegetable blood crying out from the ground.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>The garden, of course, is but one symptom of a larger tendency in my “real life,” my life outside the garden. Worthwhile projects are taken up with vigor and enthusiasm: The handmade cross-stitched Christmas ornaments with which I’d like to adorn our tree; the de-cluttering and organizing project aimed at making our home more aesthetically pleasing and easier to keep neat; the books begun in pursuit of being a better wife, or mother, or person. All too soon and all too easily I set them aside, because my enthusiasm simply fades or because I assume that “this will take care of itself.” When I realize that these things are actually work and demand something of me I let them fade from my vision; eventually they become just visual white noise, something that I look past without seeing, another part of the landscape. And I am the poorer for it. I suspect that taking the time to learn proper tomato care instead of watching another round of useless TV would in fact have yielded a bountiful harvest instead of a fight with leggy plants and few fruits. In the same way, sitting down to cross-stitch in the day or evening may yield not only a product that I’ve made and of which I’m proud, but also more time spent in conversation and a deeper relationship with my sons or husband. The book that I’ve stopped reading after 50 pages may contain that one thought of phrase that will carry me through many a rough day. But breaking out of the rut of malaise, I find, is a job in itself.</div><br /><br /><div><br />Too often I choose the easy way, and feel myself impoverished. I imagine and even know what I’m missing but find myself too mired in sloth to seize it. I regret these missed opportunities, and I feel a not-unnecessary guilt when I am reminded of “what might have been.” The challenge, I know, is to transform this guilt into action. It’s not too late for me right now, or ever, as long as I have breath, to begin again. I may scale back my expectations; I may change my strategy – such is life. But here is the beauty of life, and gardens: Spring planting will come again, offering another chance for a rich harvest.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Glory to God. </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-14920407690308592682010-10-31T22:02:00.006-05:002010-11-01T21:40:36.987-05:00Indian summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy17OqsL2P4GYK2yLp1QPMZPxFtCi8gvqxv24dg8uQywkxkr2MvcRQBwUVYz-FNNW-dVlvC8jTvDju6FIeh1xjaSSX8elEM5CEhh7U0_A5sp5tGeyJHNqsGOBIwHLDpQP4BzIwLFc41Y/s1600/io+laugh+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418178949023522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy17OqsL2P4GYK2yLp1QPMZPxFtCi8gvqxv24dg8uQywkxkr2MvcRQBwUVYz-FNNW-dVlvC8jTvDju6FIeh1xjaSSX8elEM5CEhh7U0_A5sp5tGeyJHNqsGOBIwHLDpQP4BzIwLFc41Y/s320/io+laugh+2.jpg" /></a> Late September graced us with a visit from my sister Kara. (Can you see how happy Iohan is in the picture above?) Kara took three days from work to come visit us, and we made sure to pack those three days with fun, fun, and more fun. It didn't stop. Stop 1, on Monday, was a trip to the Shedd Aquarium. Day 2 included a visit to the North Park Nature Preserve, and Day 3 was for the Brookfield Zoo. Whew! Are you tired yet?! We were. The boys loved the attention from Auntie Kara, and I enjoyed company for three days straight, especially since it was with my little sister.<br /><br />Do the following pictures look extra amazing? That's because Kara took them. (Yes, she's available for sessions in the Grand Rapids area. <a href="http://vividphotoanddesign.com/">http://vividphotoanddesign.com</a>)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AfnqG-0oBFN5WBTBR4lVfZVcGsrGIB35fsWBaMFKrAevA9mSOSscwWa1BFvFiISuhNWwV1CXTcDcMlNBb54SBeGyh9KI4hdIt3dzJUjE2qCxMf7UKRTG3NFqI_xC3g32Fep1gU2j6xQ/s1600/jonah+grin.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418173405259202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AfnqG-0oBFN5WBTBR4lVfZVcGsrGIB35fsWBaMFKrAevA9mSOSscwWa1BFvFiISuhNWwV1CXTcDcMlNBb54SBeGyh9KI4hdIt3dzJUjE2qCxMf7UKRTG3NFqI_xC3g32Fep1gU2j6xQ/s320/jonah+grin.jpg" /></a><br />I don't know what it is about this picture that cracks me up: Manny casually pestering his brother? Iohan looks stuck? Iohan's doing a pushup? Iohan's checking behind him to see why he can't move forward? I don't know, but I love it. Perfect capture of a quotidian moment.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEfPmKBkWd_33J1YeBNdU_5aauj6Y7-Ig-bdEDdGXzbov5S921Wx6XxbB1vJscw3S5B7CEne7m46nUjW-YGys4YTkQ_D0hSeEJx-g9dmAfDnYD4f5IjbPLw5QGekMR-X3wui8aff3Zw8/s1600/push+up+io.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418167510035570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEfPmKBkWd_33J1YeBNdU_5aauj6Y7-Ig-bdEDdGXzbov5S921Wx6XxbB1vJscw3S5B7CEne7m46nUjW-YGys4YTkQ_D0hSeEJx-g9dmAfDnYD4f5IjbPLw5QGekMR-X3wui8aff3Zw8/s320/push+up+io.jpg" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Manny's mitt, and Iohan's baby boobies!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1U8yZdxa3JsNCedyDbg7dMQp-QED8QW8QBDzZa6a_VVv_JmaucAVyG-3aTqZyNqju__IntA4UNvCOA7SSVN8xeZBzB2Jo14BjfYx6ZJGIiD0djiJc-fmrxnLeWa9jJeR6deW0x-olf7U/s1600/manny+mitt.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418164065723042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1U8yZdxa3JsNCedyDbg7dMQp-QED8QW8QBDzZa6a_VVv_JmaucAVyG-3aTqZyNqju__IntA4UNvCOA7SSVN8xeZBzB2Jo14BjfYx6ZJGIiD0djiJc-fmrxnLeWa9jJeR6deW0x-olf7U/s320/manny+mitt.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37J7Ic12ZbgBLXDxQ5FHZS4Z42512OQmsW5SlRWyhXWvxJbfCSwgSjoFtIHIxdk4dwWUbJw3Y-SDCL7G16BXpwzw6pLO6IuHB5T7D23G-l2jXoUx3Pz_XnpDNnw33L0wJo7bd9fChxeg/s1600/baby+boobies.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418162007824946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37J7Ic12ZbgBLXDxQ5FHZS4Z42512OQmsW5SlRWyhXWvxJbfCSwgSjoFtIHIxdk4dwWUbJw3Y-SDCL7G16BXpwzw6pLO6IuHB5T7D23G-l2jXoUx3Pz_XnpDNnw33L0wJo7bd9fChxeg/s320/baby+boobies.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D-wHMLcxzM8oNJCktCDblhs8-Bzz4FRw78NQRemI3S7iWIuKZ_CdEy_YX8iTIberiAarHZYli4GwhgYbBXT06mmGD3vTLMx4DLH5CMtOr_S2rcuFcLAXQt0yuVJwmVIAXWBDuo8xRI4/s1600/angel+moo.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417570107459666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D-wHMLcxzM8oNJCktCDblhs8-Bzz4FRw78NQRemI3S7iWIuKZ_CdEy_YX8iTIberiAarHZYli4GwhgYbBXT06mmGD3vTLMx4DLH5CMtOr_S2rcuFcLAXQt0yuVJwmVIAXWBDuo8xRI4/s320/angel+moo.jpg" /></a> Angel face.<br /><br />Somehow Manny has taken up the habit of walking with his hands behind his back. Taking his afternoon constitutional?<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsMcEG7lldDcXv956dSlvgTRePimQqPfqBj9ea_7tmp0gJ5U8fQyYUHMOuqVsI1CnhDSkaKXbEu1hIifVSH-sWM3rukAFbMvKpP-e1uBlx2sC9WfwMIhC0gMyDVqFEXo02z4g-CiwM4/s1600/back+hands.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417557322920642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsMcEG7lldDcXv956dSlvgTRePimQqPfqBj9ea_7tmp0gJ5U8fQyYUHMOuqVsI1CnhDSkaKXbEu1hIifVSH-sWM3rukAFbMvKpP-e1uBlx2sC9WfwMIhC0gMyDVqFEXo02z4g-CiwM4/s320/back+hands.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-B44mm3m5kZLvGX-C2nn_fXw4mHonL28Wb1nNGSVZvRgoE3fVhLXrDy16nqfeIu5veZVKLCh50UuTQkqmP0KHhRiJA6izOB_bOdnyudt_RQsQab9IWjabnVTlOPHqhbVBXEl2QelI9Q/s1600/foot+look.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417551765936626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-B44mm3m5kZLvGX-C2nn_fXw4mHonL28Wb1nNGSVZvRgoE3fVhLXrDy16nqfeIu5veZVKLCh50UuTQkqmP0KHhRiJA6izOB_bOdnyudt_RQsQab9IWjabnVTlOPHqhbVBXEl2QelI9Q/s320/foot+look.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAAmm8e2KNAOky31spt_rT7FLtjxPkfOvy_M1SjABaak_Za7MtU5TfoCkRjSW6m_Sg9pv-Hg6aE5fAk41aw7_zX4OESQbfhcgcmozebSdyvqbpVWYtXDwGdgpCyTjEM1ESc9A9kmblSA/s1600/hugs.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 256px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417544747570210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAAmm8e2KNAOky31spt_rT7FLtjxPkfOvy_M1SjABaak_Za7MtU5TfoCkRjSW6m_Sg9pv-Hg6aE5fAk41aw7_zX4OESQbfhcgcmozebSdyvqbpVWYtXDwGdgpCyTjEM1ESc9A9kmblSA/s320/hugs.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGJuUvcw5jcuqwPqVaT_S1TLm6ZcKmKFovq9TuwmqLVcGPuqleb6mxiEA1fYtJWed7UgmaHYg74zq4Kyb5S_bSe-VG6FGNO8Y-ikZa0mR6yYIpNx5wfXd-lfvWZeq3ucwMaCgVvexAIc/s1600/mama+duck.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417541404851810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGJuUvcw5jcuqwPqVaT_S1TLm6ZcKmKFovq9TuwmqLVcGPuqleb6mxiEA1fYtJWed7UgmaHYg74zq4Kyb5S_bSe-VG6FGNO8Y-ikZa0mR6yYIpNx5wfXd-lfvWZeq3ucwMaCgVvexAIc/s320/mama+duck.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdaPyY8pWQUtrdiW5fXothAG4I694rY-hiu962bHD6UUxTXBxKzm3VZZN6uGW5HSEM7WK24fWH3vXymtqnNaHJxRL2WjHGU1QuLtaC6O3C-rW95cCKAitk4HvNEElV8c8qKQkprAUnzI/s1600/mom+and+io.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416781182748834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdaPyY8pWQUtrdiW5fXothAG4I694rY-hiu962bHD6UUxTXBxKzm3VZZN6uGW5HSEM7WK24fWH3vXymtqnNaHJxRL2WjHGU1QuLtaC6O3C-rW95cCKAitk4HvNEElV8c8qKQkprAUnzI/s320/mom+and+io.jpg" /></a> Here's my new hair, by the way. And the now ever-present giant earrings! Thanks to Mom for this pair.</div><div></div><div>Off-roading.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4Opp4a9jBKTZKtTcKU5DZOyYfEsk58dFgBdUYsAdS91qlgF2f0M31SRz48F2oEv9sBeYeCLqC1C-3l430mx7d-KFAuwCm8qQaRB4RCRU0QdRppszzKm60uiVYs_IclXpaHBiQ5uWvO8/s1600/offroading.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416772280994114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4Opp4a9jBKTZKtTcKU5DZOyYfEsk58dFgBdUYsAdS91qlgF2f0M31SRz48F2oEv9sBeYeCLqC1C-3l430mx7d-KFAuwCm8qQaRB4RCRU0QdRppszzKm60uiVYs_IclXpaHBiQ5uWvO8/s320/offroading.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nZM4kEt7HBPrUAwCc9MBTM1Q_ke3ac2vZ5u-AlC8SJ-xglspV0U8aAfMD-1zoGR8sxQi9oZDge9v7J7R5y_9B9juGVAfkbtA_B6FRRwBbKET33tXrte-elCrgdpPwCIst3WtUuh-3DY/s1600/race.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416764626149938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nZM4kEt7HBPrUAwCc9MBTM1Q_ke3ac2vZ5u-AlC8SJ-xglspV0U8aAfMD-1zoGR8sxQi9oZDge9v7J7R5y_9B9juGVAfkbtA_B6FRRwBbKET33tXrte-elCrgdpPwCIst3WtUuh-3DY/s320/race.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We wanted a picture of Manny pointing on this bridge, and I'm sure that we asked him to point, whether directly or indirectly, about 20 times. This might be the photo of just when Manny got fed up with that.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIJkg4qjex0VW3-j4uzuG9cxda9osJx77bn2WkZMOody-yB3p8KmVpHy73snbSbiagSAjQMW80N5rIq1-n3ASqqmVE98WmZAJ5Gsk-KiD-nfsI9ZnyqkdhrsGWoC9TXlaZU2DYJKr10g/s1600/pointing+moo.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416767449097074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIJkg4qjex0VW3-j4uzuG9cxda9osJx77bn2WkZMOody-yB3p8KmVpHy73snbSbiagSAjQMW80N5rIq1-n3ASqqmVE98WmZAJ5Gsk-KiD-nfsI9ZnyqkdhrsGWoC9TXlaZU2DYJKr10g/s320/pointing+moo.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskP1AOtf7nBZjcexdzkoJvxEcV4E2dMdqSfJZSMDfvCgVjjracwb2wUb_vF2OUwnf3-QFJW9BWTZk6cUG5YEFH4x5CGIb12Vjp5FCUozwqVdyjXP_dhX7Y4r0EyMsWjuKgwNqYiNOLd8/s1600/scene.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416755045317618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskP1AOtf7nBZjcexdzkoJvxEcV4E2dMdqSfJZSMDfvCgVjjracwb2wUb_vF2OUwnf3-QFJW9BWTZk6cUG5YEFH4x5CGIb12Vjp5FCUozwqVdyjXP_dhX7Y4r0EyMsWjuKgwNqYiNOLd8/s320/scene.jpg" /></a><br />So big!<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZVPeERegdNBpl0D2V887QbQjyluj2chbht3vZSMq3-S-Wtx5i6ipzm387KznBlDcyqxlpLsNDTRK919RtxKVZxwexKenYBV4Wp54j3bQOyNGdzNOs4pSxSyuWeH6eSP3i8B_gYy4GmY/s1600/so+big.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416324475178610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZVPeERegdNBpl0D2V887QbQjyluj2chbht3vZSMq3-S-Wtx5i6ipzm387KznBlDcyqxlpLsNDTRK919RtxKVZxwexKenYBV4Wp54j3bQOyNGdzNOs4pSxSyuWeH6eSP3i8B_gYy4GmY/s320/so+big.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38HSRQmXYnuieTiMAGtK9WfEm9OMwqUdBBTtGeQzmJYcszrfq9fKl0ffTul9LlNINfDASq9S7OE2JpRIoB6rjQzcDKTTEZ9RdEZ-nqpVHx1m9Ox7dKRvIt0rZkc_WPcxusr4HA8Lx5zI/s1600/sweet+babe.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416323930965554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38HSRQmXYnuieTiMAGtK9WfEm9OMwqUdBBTtGeQzmJYcszrfq9fKl0ffTul9LlNINfDASq9S7OE2JpRIoB6rjQzcDKTTEZ9RdEZ-nqpVHx1m9Ox7dKRvIt0rZkc_WPcxusr4HA8Lx5zI/s320/sweet+babe.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidvq2qqG9pwIPLkPbkNR76y5W40GxyiNxORalj14mJ-CGpyPaKZxFdB4bzCvz5JiHgaAfzSlY6squLG8xC_QJO_CKEinWDB44p7cv-pT2-burH0AVNDGNyMIbEfPOAF7O_jj4lDJTdLE/s1600/scene+2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416333296519682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidvq2qqG9pwIPLkPbkNR76y5W40GxyiNxORalj14mJ-CGpyPaKZxFdB4bzCvz5JiHgaAfzSlY6squLG8xC_QJO_CKEinWDB44p7cv-pT2-burH0AVNDGNyMIbEfPOAF7O_jj4lDJTdLE/s320/scene+2.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMlyBMYjHqENiHmXx1vJieLdH19dK-SKl5GuTabJEqtoHGO2_zWFkBJqByFBhEQTAmu2IRIRPYh62UrHyhYisFUNU80gP3Nu3vuFHQMwE6wNWmnkZxXWKZQhUhlYKOQcsVKw7eielVGM/s1600/what+jon.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416307727091282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMlyBMYjHqENiHmXx1vJieLdH19dK-SKl5GuTabJEqtoHGO2_zWFkBJqByFBhEQTAmu2IRIRPYh62UrHyhYisFUNU80gP3Nu3vuFHQMwE6wNWmnkZxXWKZQhUhlYKOQcsVKw7eielVGM/s320/what+jon.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_nNqzA80ByaFvyaYAtVThggJZWJWl7Se_f0LKJz235JTCXC8V2ZjiqN0r_SM2XUG10lvu5-cOwLt5GjKOFCOmpLHO-JaMLPU5h_CzrcmCHxjnfbD_s_LqAQVG3khjL_s-wNg1Bn-7rs/s1600/thumb+suck.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416313250079330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_nNqzA80ByaFvyaYAtVThggJZWJWl7Se_f0LKJz235JTCXC8V2ZjiqN0r_SM2XUG10lvu5-cOwLt5GjKOFCOmpLHO-JaMLPU5h_CzrcmCHxjnfbD_s_LqAQVG3khjL_s-wNg1Bn-7rs/s320/thumb+suck.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-85555071785528730632010-10-31T21:32:00.011-05:002010-10-31T23:09:56.275-05:00Primate House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5i24Jw1M7QUMhXKLCJAu9LJDxVMDdpbt-pM-dV3PsFA3umndtRhlwgj3Mrj4iOGRwm9xjU0zWmTF4Mcz1RbMC44MgJWpVWyXDnfngxVcEikEZU8OI6ujv2eAgdrseE2ly0LMX7qDNKQ/s1600/2010_1022thruJune0017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534423489181286146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5i24Jw1M7QUMhXKLCJAu9LJDxVMDdpbt-pM-dV3PsFA3umndtRhlwgj3Mrj4iOGRwm9xjU0zWmTF4Mcz1RbMC44MgJWpVWyXDnfngxVcEikEZU8OI6ujv2eAgdrseE2ly0LMX7qDNKQ/s320/2010_1022thruJune0017.JPG" /></a>Here's Kara with Iohan. As you may be able to tell, based on the fact that she's in the photo and not holding the camera at an awkard angle to photograph herself, I took this photo. It's the only one in this post that I actually did take! For the rest, you can enjoy Kara's photographic skills again...<br /><br /><div>Nothing like a little pre-zoo buffalo horn-hangin'.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKMFpbCU_vgRmIvG4qKjgJT_8qd08dUB5G1I66U7GnhoMqpoUPbFtW531GaSHFplDzfrjyw68Oat5i-UXdUI0P6JZgZe1cZwnEbi6VG2IzP8epNJ_XxrLiTdFZisx1bGf4Z10uo96PYA/s1600/boys+horns.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534410216635593810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKMFpbCU_vgRmIvG4qKjgJT_8qd08dUB5G1I66U7GnhoMqpoUPbFtW531GaSHFplDzfrjyw68Oat5i-UXdUI0P6JZgZe1cZwnEbi6VG2IzP8epNJ_XxrLiTdFZisx1bGf4Z10uo96PYA/s320/boys+horns.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Aaaannnnnddddddd... In we go! <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZHPys01Ny0k9KsGSTfonP5u1cVyjzkJjYcjktRUE78a8naKQo3oFqtknT_NxUb2U-NsJiiaNpH2vgmg1_yrSd0VZoJbcuK8X56YvKbqzitcFgbuq72WVrXSnLenZI7uYkvmYcKIJm_k/s1600/tunnel.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409907713731218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZHPys01Ny0k9KsGSTfonP5u1cVyjzkJjYcjktRUE78a8naKQo3oFqtknT_NxUb2U-NsJiiaNpH2vgmg1_yrSd0VZoJbcuK8X56YvKbqzitcFgbuq72WVrXSnLenZI7uYkvmYcKIJm_k/s320/tunnel.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>High fliers.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghckA3f_QCA9IOv7oUFmIvvzvl45n_kOKrj2Jl3ReUNq9sk-qU6z6bADR5hvxLXtMd8ALs21vNhazqxtjIBrG36TImoTMKwXsRMDmjb4sEwjNUiWT1PGisvhIDNwpGiBYGEUyJKvYnII8/s1600/jump.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534410086617474834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghckA3f_QCA9IOv7oUFmIvvzvl45n_kOKrj2Jl3ReUNq9sk-qU6z6bADR5hvxLXtMd8ALs21vNhazqxtjIBrG36TImoTMKwXsRMDmjb4sEwjNUiWT1PGisvhIDNwpGiBYGEUyJKvYnII8/s400/jump.jpg" /></a><br /><br />When I see this photo, I'm tempted to think: "Why didn't I leave them there?" They obviously want to join the animals.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNkcJ-bSdpguyOzzQeKDu8xkIww8t29JfqIPFZr-1jhht-Y2lgZurtC3xEZUlrqWcCKdZfDC5X8OeIVLMovBt-YvaFB52Da6HMiGaL-aA6wOHpECqjR8dWcWeGZTujYNQXdRILNNQZuw/s1600/fence+climb.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409902198170690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNkcJ-bSdpguyOzzQeKDu8xkIww8t29JfqIPFZr-1jhht-Y2lgZurtC3xEZUlrqWcCKdZfDC5X8OeIVLMovBt-YvaFB52Da6HMiGaL-aA6wOHpECqjR8dWcWeGZTujYNQXdRILNNQZuw/s320/fence+climb.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here is Sebastian, watching the dolphin show. Alina, Sebastian's mama, was nice enough to invite us to the Brookfield Zoo, as guests on her membership. It was a lovely morning!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxjuNxvzI_Q3oD_Td-6zwgzk_4KiRxeYDzAreR9FpCaunqZUi1Sgm4u4O_leq0eDJLDdpS6jVgVra6VLPP5V9OvTI7tDMCtT_IMCUqQdntiNfgIE1QIPCyoNCyzaCH5sxPKoyN1pHZ1w/s1600/dolpin.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409888254163682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxjuNxvzI_Q3oD_Td-6zwgzk_4KiRxeYDzAreR9FpCaunqZUi1Sgm4u4O_leq0eDJLDdpS6jVgVra6VLPP5V9OvTI7tDMCtT_IMCUqQdntiNfgIE1QIPCyoNCyzaCH5sxPKoyN1pHZ1w/s320/dolpin.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AmoV1_mmOND6PE2ZdtLel_HjBmpsqhiKso7pEGQcEKVInikssrIlWEwcl-CjvZCxvHtOyEZkP1n8oGMOevwiA0mv7DYrCvc-QxPru3jGKUdBeacangYR0hoooMwT99H1k_Ch3IZiMiI/s1600/sebastian.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409884899665170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AmoV1_mmOND6PE2ZdtLel_HjBmpsqhiKso7pEGQcEKVInikssrIlWEwcl-CjvZCxvHtOyEZkP1n8oGMOevwiA0mv7DYrCvc-QxPru3jGKUdBeacangYR0hoooMwT99H1k_Ch3IZiMiI/s320/sebastian.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWVnAImK_sRRCjOjpbqNX_ERUPR7bzedLnDeeJUrQiqmaTGEc2ePYShBbyWvshdjwxP8bIK6FC_euOer4p2RXfov7fzKIzzNzJbignlUm7DG1qxIMzl5H_dbfFKLs_IC8_PT6SvgKBno/s1600/pensive.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409896876053570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWVnAImK_sRRCjOjpbqNX_ERUPR7bzedLnDeeJUrQiqmaTGEc2ePYShBbyWvshdjwxP8bIK6FC_euOer4p2RXfov7fzKIzzNzJbignlUm7DG1qxIMzl5H_dbfFKLs_IC8_PT6SvgKBno/s320/pensive.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp6smKAamIrVdO_U1a80tsOFkHxeClsxEaitTQ5oxbsxK6si5c7JyaTrYByYYJaWEiE-mLQMyGnaANGulbJpyeDBo4mltxtgmTlLloZmqvY9FEJ8ZkygNMK-xA9gDAbOom0SZNgynNiM/s1600/bench+moo.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409512025944530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp6smKAamIrVdO_U1a80tsOFkHxeClsxEaitTQ5oxbsxK6si5c7JyaTrYByYYJaWEiE-mLQMyGnaANGulbJpyeDBo4mltxtgmTlLloZmqvY9FEJ8ZkygNMK-xA9gDAbOom0SZNgynNiM/s320/bench+moo.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr1R4olUe8yapt7DMl9B_ufGDv57akg-YBGg2ZIQtDmAWQO6cvdqQumfcKwdD38-rQsj9KtaE9FzvJBBMDyNB57OOh0MWm44GjEaFktiGGPwYMnF9wf1XGXqKynbKlTPphkd_5f9kOv8/s1600/io+laugh.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409506542760306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr1R4olUe8yapt7DMl9B_ufGDv57akg-YBGg2ZIQtDmAWQO6cvdqQumfcKwdD38-rQsj9KtaE9FzvJBBMDyNB57OOh0MWm44GjEaFktiGGPwYMnF9wf1XGXqKynbKlTPphkd_5f9kOv8/s320/io+laugh.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br />Can you see the rhino in the black and white photo? A grey rhino in a black and white photo is kind of like a black and white "Where's Waldo," isn't it?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnd4KnXOTO-XDb_FHg-LVWrrLc52Ul92nojIfaTBxyR2jg4amOUUQcr9mTFczZxM4pVtEuPfu7Y46K4LAb77I18S-K1k2x_aCadG2D0R2OvCdPRPIL3w32XShnfcNQ1hv2rFk8m_L3MU/s1600/rhino.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409491764834146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnd4KnXOTO-XDb_FHg-LVWrrLc52Ul92nojIfaTBxyR2jg4amOUUQcr9mTFczZxM4pVtEuPfu7Y46K4LAb77I18S-K1k2x_aCadG2D0R2OvCdPRPIL3w32XShnfcNQ1hv2rFk8m_L3MU/s320/rhino.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTNlF5aj3Y77MNVmyN-Z_139PGfjRBurlnxzo3ffypBuoqahlj_zjdL4gGjbvqgRp4X2lJbobg6P2PqNzJgRgZEqe03xyeaRcZieXAHBv9VM88aZfw7K2m_hlROR3gYi9JBmCm0gVjQU/s1600/moo+climb.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534408943565184866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTNlF5aj3Y77MNVmyN-Z_139PGfjRBurlnxzo3ffypBuoqahlj_zjdL4gGjbvqgRp4X2lJbobg6P2PqNzJgRgZEqe03xyeaRcZieXAHBv9VM88aZfw7K2m_hlROR3gYi9JBmCm0gVjQU/s320/moo+climb.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Iohan sleeps, brothers are silly. Fairly typical.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdpUtq09dOd_JsuiQ_SCfZmfvAZK6qWp8YwdPiKJigjvTW8xWV7y1YeLMf3GrK7Bujsx_rSwe2IJSfapZ25FUfQJZ3T33jWVqldDwqisEtzg2h87Th5i0XBZXgjZfl6eua-vGpQIKgsQ/s1600/sleep+baby.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534409488199695890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdpUtq09dOd_JsuiQ_SCfZmfvAZK6qWp8YwdPiKJigjvTW8xWV7y1YeLMf3GrK7Bujsx_rSwe2IJSfapZ25FUfQJZ3T33jWVqldDwqisEtzg2h87Th5i0XBZXgjZfl6eua-vGpQIKgsQ/s320/sleep+baby.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbi-I8FLZLfcyFNm5XL68XDDJ0WU-tfuQDS4IKVKJV19fHH2szInA7LXIW8-3mVTxZaewBAwh_scl8VUudOadTG50pwTXiMT3Ym78h8eFJ61VdRCS-THMZSe8eR5FcfW9O5a70tTwVvo/s1600/silly+faces.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 213px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534408936277318322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbi-I8FLZLfcyFNm5XL68XDDJ0WU-tfuQDS4IKVKJV19fHH2szInA7LXIW8-3mVTxZaewBAwh_scl8VUudOadTG50pwTXiMT3Ym78h8eFJ61VdRCS-THMZSe8eR5FcfW9O5a70tTwVvo/s320/silly+faces.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiff0262K0YX5ur9cCrAsYWzjXozd_i1ehrxJgAAn2PkOsGTCKPIDYEU2IpoM-4PmNtFT6JJpzKKyTHKQ3EY5UNA5uVIplk9ALIAYCQ5HGCFB6rpahMjotdREWOr0Of6XvvgnGxf1N-CbQ/s1600/look+j.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534408932242153858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiff0262K0YX5ur9cCrAsYWzjXozd_i1ehrxJgAAn2PkOsGTCKPIDYEU2IpoM-4PmNtFT6JJpzKKyTHKQ3EY5UNA5uVIplk9ALIAYCQ5HGCFB6rpahMjotdREWOr0Of6XvvgnGxf1N-CbQ/s320/look+j.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Kara and I were actually able to watch the primates for quite awhile at our last stop for the day. We were only able to do this because the boys were busy calling Africa. And they should soon be calling Auntie Kara, because they love and miss her! Thanks for the visit, Sister-Friend!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHUF-DBce6N2xiCpNtikAnmAZiOT-cSiA7uTUv3Q8QOUxk5CLFjSWWKW2eXIBT66z4-G0DGdwK_1wy4WoiP27N-mX8ag7_2BfTfA24xezPRR7DN0sf_d47xaQ564NrKeKWBDLwhUp07E/s1600/gorilla.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534408925034118690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHUF-DBce6N2xiCpNtikAnmAZiOT-cSiA7uTUv3Q8QOUxk5CLFjSWWKW2eXIBT66z4-G0DGdwK_1wy4WoiP27N-mX8ag7_2BfTfA24xezPRR7DN0sf_d47xaQ564NrKeKWBDLwhUp07E/s320/gorilla.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75KONLI7fN6nhOUhH0ccdXnkvOnG-IjtsxJKFUtuQJADqy58FR3Tz3GtyphGgL8yL5q-fgiRaz4HKI2DhOU9FbzfDBwl8vqJ6VHbfASWi5KJTBnDobZWrz_3KC8fhIjXpi0TKxEia_3Y/s1600/phones.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534408916180320850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75KONLI7fN6nhOUhH0ccdXnkvOnG-IjtsxJKFUtuQJADqy58FR3Tz3GtyphGgL8yL5q-fgiRaz4HKI2DhOU9FbzfDBwl8vqJ6VHbfASWi5KJTBnDobZWrz_3KC8fhIjXpi0TKxEia_3Y/s320/phones.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-38688834881083904832010-10-31T21:31:00.000-05:002010-10-31T21:32:52.556-05:00Precious cargo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3SYDDppsypNo4hq1y1r-upbG5T7qyiRQ48TzyyxxctgJdi_-xHQE7mlyjGmnGmJkKm48vnOK662myuTAArmS239F_lPxpDpHz3FCWQemBUPjuaHWEl2jVjMZ98yLF2W7gghmtB8ebs8/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534403525038324898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3SYDDppsypNo4hq1y1r-upbG5T7qyiRQ48TzyyxxctgJdi_-xHQE7mlyjGmnGmJkKm48vnOK662myuTAArmS239F_lPxpDpHz3FCWQemBUPjuaHWEl2jVjMZ98yLF2W7gghmtB8ebs8/s400/2010_0806thruJune0036.JPG" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-24215985865764823862010-10-31T21:11:00.005-05:002010-10-31T23:07:17.758-05:00Mil-i-wau-kay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjw9LvOhxZPBuuCso205OGtsP21inLMZBKvKD_f5UWcif1Mkl70fYW3SW-yjX91707yukUC69lH2Gju4nHK1iaMhqtGeFAPHUQxB_hP55Gk7Msappgv6N9Qy_E2mQYv-5yrwJHfmZvC8/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534400147860287410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjw9LvOhxZPBuuCso205OGtsP21inLMZBKvKD_f5UWcif1Mkl70fYW3SW-yjX91707yukUC69lH2Gju4nHK1iaMhqtGeFAPHUQxB_hP55Gk7Msappgv6N9Qy_E2mQYv-5yrwJHfmZvC8/s320/2010_0815thruJune0019.JPG" /></a> In August the boys and I were able to travel up to Wisconsin to meet my Iowan maternal grandparents at my cousin's house in Milwaukee (roundabout, but it worked!). My poor grandmother, lover of babies and all things sweet, hadn't met Iohan since his birth, so we were all thrilled that this daytrip worked out. I didn't know how beautiful Milwaukee was. Granted, we stuck to my cousin's backyard and the lake, but I'm sure that the rest is great too, right?!<br /><div></div><div>After the boys chowed down on their delicious Jimmy John's (above, with second- or third-cousin Isaiah), they headed down to the lake to throw stones in the water with Isaiah and Great-Grandpa Denny.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRttAugqoQE5rvOIT1OdvTSp8aItT4ssq-VhhiJCvHwt9ZEucfjuJgQrmpzer6ZSc5655ru2hMJB6GlLWmeAIm8Oip3uQSWljzzd210oP_aZSQDux2UDlS0oMWrCMiGi2HBqBONEuOo4/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534400140897956610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRttAugqoQE5rvOIT1OdvTSp8aItT4ssq-VhhiJCvHwt9ZEucfjuJgQrmpzer6ZSc5655ru2hMJB6GlLWmeAIm8Oip3uQSWljzzd210oP_aZSQDux2UDlS0oMWrCMiGi2HBqBONEuOo4/s320/2010_0815thruJune0020.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br />Stone-throwing and sand-digging.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYFdmdqIf3yUPOCRTpTqsFWdjv7o2WwjRXhHfLP7iNMpy0IQDL7wZYYcIMRIxWU147KZfj-ENJ11ek2zUJdUlyq9NSKFEIt1uTLvMwi-dZk2RYPUfoeIQaWSz1K1kMp3krX__C5MEWfQ/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0030.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399525958348450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYFdmdqIf3yUPOCRTpTqsFWdjv7o2WwjRXhHfLP7iNMpy0IQDL7wZYYcIMRIxWU147KZfj-ENJ11ek2zUJdUlyq9NSKFEIt1uTLvMwi-dZk2RYPUfoeIQaWSz1K1kMp3krX__C5MEWfQ/s320/2010_0815thruJune0030.JPG" /></a>Hey, everyone, take one last look at my beautiful hair, and Jonah's! You won't see either again! (Little did I know...) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp44bQEHM8vSz_E7WoDGtkW64SUawbjxIzGvdvkI7JabiUkqxrubD3P8ey_J138zl-RtlQCAWXSvfgugIZhrZivzNt2Y1ArXMpqXZN7-VTOYVFSVtMLhSpnHBvvAiua__8v-l9g9w_4E/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399934607739618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp44bQEHM8vSz_E7WoDGtkW64SUawbjxIzGvdvkI7JabiUkqxrubD3P8ey_J138zl-RtlQCAWXSvfgugIZhrZivzNt2Y1ArXMpqXZN7-VTOYVFSVtMLhSpnHBvvAiua__8v-l9g9w_4E/s200/2010_0815thruJune0035.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>When Iohan wasn't chomping on a water bottle, he was kissing Jonah through the Pack 'n' Play mesh. Everything this baby does is cute.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYLx9Y2cexSUWoIApPjfyMTDQ8UiFnoVPPZ9xyaqss5LDy8Vgz8z0-WU0TmsdILR7tiZchuuhl8a4uLRrBKJIRylbhNcCkc0n40MZdmHOSJURvyUVAnolvJlaw2JbgRyDJibYxkKbC64/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399932278812162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYLx9Y2cexSUWoIApPjfyMTDQ8UiFnoVPPZ9xyaqss5LDy8Vgz8z0-WU0TmsdILR7tiZchuuhl8a4uLRrBKJIRylbhNcCkc0n40MZdmHOSJURvyUVAnolvJlaw2JbgRyDJibYxkKbC64/s200/2010_0815thruJune0028.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZf2NWRAZz3Tlu3z7t7AKZtpUSoXa6cJXJuZP_RO7BfNL5E8OheVcWUfjPJ7pgBvwWcRgWVtNjW7Omr9KMJpCKMXdsbY7umowwogOzzZJbHRy_hxadApY9F0T1oD7nBAWY0bT-AAoxbc/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0044.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399516273554386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZf2NWRAZz3Tlu3z7t7AKZtpUSoXa6cJXJuZP_RO7BfNL5E8OheVcWUfjPJ7pgBvwWcRgWVtNjW7Omr9KMJpCKMXdsbY7umowwogOzzZJbHRy_hxadApY9F0T1oD7nBAWY0bT-AAoxbc/s320/2010_0815thruJune0044.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Great-Grandma Ruth with Ioey, and my grandparents with all three of my little bears. (The elder two were distracted by the TV -- can you tell?)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep92uBncWjgwdaqe6Yvkf2wlXwurobd29gTDncGli-nvAh-sSUxgCBEpjdjb2fq-yWo7a8qqm-MkJ48VkTmP5crBcdUHdOFQtz5ByaQgMe7wVt6SwufaFV35OpF9IuY_nIAS6qVkmw5s/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0047.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399507896811218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep92uBncWjgwdaqe6Yvkf2wlXwurobd29gTDncGli-nvAh-sSUxgCBEpjdjb2fq-yWo7a8qqm-MkJ48VkTmP5crBcdUHdOFQtz5ByaQgMe7wVt6SwufaFV35OpF9IuY_nIAS6qVkmw5s/s320/2010_0815thruJune0047.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXkXOVt29mIz0Qi-OtBfBd9NTXyMqe6u35m-tRYsynsTdf9r3CrvxvmwT9HfPhyphenhyphen5R6aBf55tzjWAsVppsIFVVoJ8sBd2sWoKnm_-ANRAkL3qVWe6lSC5HQJNvnBpDfyMnT7o7F-Un4A/s1600/2010_0815thruJune0050.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534399503670192514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXkXOVt29mIz0Qi-OtBfBd9NTXyMqe6u35m-tRYsynsTdf9r3CrvxvmwT9HfPhyphenhyphen5R6aBf55tzjWAsVppsIFVVoJ8sBd2sWoKnm_-ANRAkL3qVWe6lSC5HQJNvnBpDfyMnT7o7F-Un4A/s320/2010_0815thruJune0050.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-83186191670112709212010-09-12T22:54:00.002-05:002010-09-12T23:02:24.018-05:00CorrelationThere is a correlation between the number of photos that I take of the kids and how crazy they get. I know that correlation doesn't always equal causation, but I think that sometimes it just might. (I originally got the camera out to take pictures of Manny and Iohan in their twin shirts; Jonah had to get in on the action, though he lacks a matching shirt.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGYJN14Ff1E9i2jxLwRgfevQh0o-8zudh350z7kYb8JOb_BQrKdn5BmB8ZPtoFCpqWHY4qfe5xp8Sk9MgPdSU3_N8cXLf3HNzsMOYTx2XGyfjEV-9vh6bwXkFQWvuoYOySwtKruPvqLg/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0062.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242368948401202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGYJN14Ff1E9i2jxLwRgfevQh0o-8zudh350z7kYb8JOb_BQrKdn5BmB8ZPtoFCpqWHY4qfe5xp8Sk9MgPdSU3_N8cXLf3HNzsMOYTx2XGyfjEV-9vh6bwXkFQWvuoYOySwtKruPvqLg/s200/2010_0909thruJune0062.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPM-6Uk2KQVoEym7FuiKMGx1jIKtcIX9Oijo8ui3lf3cEtp2dU94wYEAsovWIiCjQTyMzk06pQN4CyUBqzalYMant0lyXSYFtidfSh1U49qaOQMakRlu3VQ1KZD2l6TP8kcaJNCynFW4/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0063.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242362026700386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPM-6Uk2KQVoEym7FuiKMGx1jIKtcIX9Oijo8ui3lf3cEtp2dU94wYEAsovWIiCjQTyMzk06pQN4CyUBqzalYMant0lyXSYFtidfSh1U49qaOQMakRlu3VQ1KZD2l6TP8kcaJNCynFW4/s200/2010_0909thruJune0063.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R2aQjP_fLJaYNoNvELbwySb_FZrFfgC4xIhUK8dgIJ1g55JaB0DoropbaRyAT_FHbCWCKzfC5qns7oiURhMgzvF4jhYocDVXPrdzXq02seU3GvUZmi27-rYSTAbmSsiNNZgam68ygZ4/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0064.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242353272965986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R2aQjP_fLJaYNoNvELbwySb_FZrFfgC4xIhUK8dgIJ1g55JaB0DoropbaRyAT_FHbCWCKzfC5qns7oiURhMgzvF4jhYocDVXPrdzXq02seU3GvUZmi27-rYSTAbmSsiNNZgam68ygZ4/s200/2010_0909thruJune0064.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbLDCITmFLC6bWBK1Sp4uSGYY6HfQo1UXPwRJSvVDfrqwYaLVsXI5wF_wKzWPOnjNj9VZN0kA0tSRsK30UUDc8r-vz3jnH45Ts6ixPNYQMviotmVTvnWvatxQC1FX7KZ3D_jcEssKQw/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0065.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242108245039458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbLDCITmFLC6bWBK1Sp4uSGYY6HfQo1UXPwRJSvVDfrqwYaLVsXI5wF_wKzWPOnjNj9VZN0kA0tSRsK30UUDc8r-vz3jnH45Ts6ixPNYQMviotmVTvnWvatxQC1FX7KZ3D_jcEssKQw/s200/2010_0909thruJune0065.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrEDtO-cu1lIUQd1ellOX0f290tOwK-l3pOQ7Kx2sfmDAmHgGT6euwbn34z5reMobVfNGymHoHfuk-HaaQBCR8l7tgx_YMpUL0FZHbkygnD2A0mk1Ay5e5fiyArwSxVS2afMYa_a4dZU/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0066.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242098090645762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrEDtO-cu1lIUQd1ellOX0f290tOwK-l3pOQ7Kx2sfmDAmHgGT6euwbn34z5reMobVfNGymHoHfuk-HaaQBCR8l7tgx_YMpUL0FZHbkygnD2A0mk1Ay5e5fiyArwSxVS2afMYa_a4dZU/s200/2010_0909thruJune0066.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0VkqxG6-fa6uiUm88USWOiOw4SI8xeuMHTxc2iV4XBOq5cZTdEuppDGP5HzZRczAVfsKHhNuw-QMZWp6tof2UvYrYEObP3FtMBaFd5ShUUjvWUjuBLFo7-nBELHHp-BHPWmyfAV4WjY/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0067.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242094478921650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0VkqxG6-fa6uiUm88USWOiOw4SI8xeuMHTxc2iV4XBOq5cZTdEuppDGP5HzZRczAVfsKHhNuw-QMZWp6tof2UvYrYEObP3FtMBaFd5ShUUjvWUjuBLFo7-nBELHHp-BHPWmyfAV4WjY/s200/2010_0909thruJune0067.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY6Z1XPfzhaY_kMkk1PF7dF4TEWzNtrKOB198eEJCx73q4G81L1TeZ2uTcB7xORnAEDvmZ3d3YF1w1YBjHOYfDEW_lpWCPHM0uC0mscd5tNJWrVELnEVrF3w8RNfPjWwmq-IcIH6b4FA/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242077346187922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY6Z1XPfzhaY_kMkk1PF7dF4TEWzNtrKOB198eEJCx73q4G81L1TeZ2uTcB7xORnAEDvmZ3d3YF1w1YBjHOYfDEW_lpWCPHM0uC0mscd5tNJWrVELnEVrF3w8RNfPjWwmq-IcIH6b4FA/s200/2010_0909thruJune0068.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh190YwH662xj5EdLx5UmdZRvPOl46r23jWgEWwd7l1MvFkiGdozJqFnndYgcrd3zJwvuZKgnhYPwPUA8vcnlTnw1iFwkAmHi4D060kBMA-XGbyjQuY3O_pH3MaUxjAzd4ovE5upgmxnHs/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516242068617101650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh190YwH662xj5EdLx5UmdZRvPOl46r23jWgEWwd7l1MvFkiGdozJqFnndYgcrd3zJwvuZKgnhYPwPUA8vcnlTnw1iFwkAmHi4D060kBMA-XGbyjQuY3O_pH3MaUxjAzd4ovE5upgmxnHs/s200/2010_0909thruJune0069.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-82494152712990247062010-09-12T22:32:00.003-05:002010-09-12T22:53:11.675-05:00Smooth moves<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjQJoVC-tE92dPQxMAJJq1ZxjAZr1nKJGK1U0U4lCJRxefD7VDJQrnP_GKa4I361kECT0HqO7nzP53y1h1zA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>For the finale of Jonah's summer camp at the beginning of August, his group of campers performed a little dance in the camp's talent show. He'd practiced his moves for me a couple times at home, but with no knowledge of the song to which they would be performing, or what the moves were actually supposed to be, I had no real way to evaluate his talent. Come of the day of the show, though, I saw that my little Birdie is a very enthusiastic, and maybe even first-rate dancer (you can see a leader doing the moves at the end of the line of kids; Jonah's keepin' up with him). He knew the moves so well; I was so proud of him that, yup, I got a little teary-eyed. I couldn't help but brag to the dad sitting next to me that, "Hey, that's my kid!" Jonah was apparently his group leader's favorite camper -- she told me so! -- which may be why he was chosen to lead the train. Well done, Jonah!</p><p>(Wondering about the costumes? We were told to dress the kids in 70's clothes, though, really, who has bell bottom pants for tots? Not I! The leader also suggested vests and buttondown shirts, both of which I was able to pick up at a thrift store. We turned the patterned side of the vest in; Jonah declared that, "My vest is special, because it has bricks inside!" I love his innocence, that he doesn't know when a vest is, well, just a little ugly. The beanie hat, a gift from Gabe's boss, was Jonah's own idea. 70's?, maybe not, but just right for a J-Bird.)</p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-37461536299104681632010-09-12T22:17:00.005-05:002010-09-12T22:30:29.881-05:00Body paintA couple months ago, in the middle of a "great moms do fun things with their kids!" tizzy, I got out the ol' finger paints to do hand- and footprint paintings with the elder two boys. It was actually quite a bit of fun, and I'm sure that many of us know that unless a moment of fun is documented on digital camera, it never actually happened, right? I'd forgotten my camera upstairs, so I left the boys (briefly!) to get it. By the time I returned, the painting of small body parts had degenerated (or evolved?) into nearly full body painting. Like lightning, these kids!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ3bArTwV3xAv6EsrMp_g7JUQ8QmblSCXu60PCdBVpQ6F9rAmy0KHpyv3GjO4FOzGOCV-DBnvZjxPhj-2s6wpgVtFQklBn68foJcF_-IIepP9AIZ5c6u_KonLX8jchBUClv9AhuFnaXk/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233349595894674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ3bArTwV3xAv6EsrMp_g7JUQ8QmblSCXu60PCdBVpQ6F9rAmy0KHpyv3GjO4FOzGOCV-DBnvZjxPhj-2s6wpgVtFQklBn68foJcF_-IIepP9AIZ5c6u_KonLX8jchBUClv9AhuFnaXk/s400/2010_0712thruJune0042.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvesaE9K4dphyjbVDHGYnae5PIWpmWeTJJuaJjCw8QvYIXoR9EM6MFVn1UXqNdkW0CvetsLOS5eh8Ifh1E1yGOp5Ki5bed93bCiPyYj5rrXAyYg7CZdzIZxysyKDV3q2ckOWALev0E3Y/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0044.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233122768985650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvesaE9K4dphyjbVDHGYnae5PIWpmWeTJJuaJjCw8QvYIXoR9EM6MFVn1UXqNdkW0CvetsLOS5eh8Ifh1E1yGOp5Ki5bed93bCiPyYj5rrXAyYg7CZdzIZxysyKDV3q2ckOWALev0E3Y/s320/2010_0712thruJune0044.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAS3rwI1t0ooG_YxLiy-iZSPsYgXUHNeu-SNZ0vLh0isdjyqElKvvjylF3COjKR8hXqdCFqFxt33u8EEPA4vltctQ_-WvIxx5Nf6qbDsiV-wf3dWpchNzgoqZDfIUHzPMRNrulOX-FSo/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233114731762802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAS3rwI1t0ooG_YxLiy-iZSPsYgXUHNeu-SNZ0vLh0isdjyqElKvvjylF3COjKR8hXqdCFqFxt33u8EEPA4vltctQ_-WvIxx5Nf6qbDsiV-wf3dWpchNzgoqZDfIUHzPMRNrulOX-FSo/s320/2010_0712thruJune0051.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLAOB3kmb5kJKgLrKI85rDasHDnaxJ22JNsSqo9TwLTm4c8F4RwvmvhnGpLGrWItWsFYNKpA1UZnDZ8RKqAGmzqtdEq6c8NXt8TmwjNAz6iLzSKx5P9xRGhQXtVmPkBWuZk3Yxknri18/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0047.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233109055077154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLAOB3kmb5kJKgLrKI85rDasHDnaxJ22JNsSqo9TwLTm4c8F4RwvmvhnGpLGrWItWsFYNKpA1UZnDZ8RKqAGmzqtdEq6c8NXt8TmwjNAz6iLzSKx5P9xRGhQXtVmPkBWuZk3Yxknri18/s320/2010_0712thruJune0047.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bt3gaZMY4-3HVDryL3cdww7UdD2ixMlxRtv8ioDRTkqlsiBLUpoU5pH7_YRP2mYIgLhwtTO3OhyphenhyphendU3x2L-VijlCFjgJ-lOdNoJ-9qFOypgnOs3H-Qlff0K0zblmQfH-slmyqRbHtNbo/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0061.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233092424432514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bt3gaZMY4-3HVDryL3cdww7UdD2ixMlxRtv8ioDRTkqlsiBLUpoU5pH7_YRP2mYIgLhwtTO3OhyphenhyphendU3x2L-VijlCFjgJ-lOdNoJ-9qFOypgnOs3H-Qlff0K0zblmQfH-slmyqRbHtNbo/s320/2010_0712thruJune0061.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySGzctbzjN6-RhNzbVBN5DtJbdZVm0M_xK_6S7T9km3cQMKACAe4twmPrrwJwZXDqCvTXvsMK7ZiMh-Kbr9i3JEB2ZdCY022CrJZ6GMY7QYe9CSPm84HpL14GhVTU8uYARXzmP0X65-c/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0055.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516233102944815858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySGzctbzjN6-RhNzbVBN5DtJbdZVm0M_xK_6S7T9km3cQMKACAe4twmPrrwJwZXDqCvTXvsMK7ZiMh-Kbr9i3JEB2ZdCY022CrJZ6GMY7QYe9CSPm84HpL14GhVTU8uYARXzmP0X65-c/s320/2010_0712thruJune0055.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-87459056357534890492010-09-12T21:52:00.003-05:002010-09-12T22:15:44.704-05:00Cuter by the monthFollowing are pictures of Iohan on his month-markers over the past few months. I keep trying to convince him to stay a baby forever, but he's denying my request.<br /><br />June, 7 months.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkoxN4d1HcgSPoPuqUWGQ1Tb5kOrJrRkqINH9goYc40SzPk8e0yywvAPF1YzdDfA97Tb4nhooGdklMAivEBoGeL7BNDm_M598ZL7Xa4FIzqor3RUZUH5i8xnTu0EUdaJ7Af8l_4F50wo/s1600/2010_0702thruJune0072.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516230046383036722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkoxN4d1HcgSPoPuqUWGQ1Tb5kOrJrRkqINH9goYc40SzPk8e0yywvAPF1YzdDfA97Tb4nhooGdklMAivEBoGeL7BNDm_M598ZL7Xa4FIzqor3RUZUH5i8xnTu0EUdaJ7Af8l_4F50wo/s320/2010_0702thruJune0072.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNInI_nGfhQ2lxC3xlIwtrcPvDQ1zXr7VGnhusOLUpiJUpx-AgEkXtHLpv2rudOV2dqluSR7q5hcsgzBNWGZuI5E01uhxf2mFiOjXszNF6btOjkIRIDwNKA0qEkBxBA0q16Vr9jDbFnGo/s1600/2010_0702thruJune0060.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516230038323407538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNInI_nGfhQ2lxC3xlIwtrcPvDQ1zXr7VGnhusOLUpiJUpx-AgEkXtHLpv2rudOV2dqluSR7q5hcsgzBNWGZuI5E01uhxf2mFiOjXszNF6btOjkIRIDwNKA0qEkBxBA0q16Vr9jDbFnGo/s320/2010_0702thruJune0060.JPG" /></a><br /><br /> July, 8 months.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaZ6phHJu4eEbvceYtGT9aywGrG98WiIQacKuCrjPFbkhrejgmIkrTxDw8vighIwxYRDJuDHJ20d8GTsIwj8G2SYVGD6StLtIJIFFfV7sg7SBck_uWENiY1D9AVPndzpV5srhAt804jY/s1600/victory.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516230031154776514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaZ6phHJu4eEbvceYtGT9aywGrG98WiIQacKuCrjPFbkhrejgmIkrTxDw8vighIwxYRDJuDHJ20d8GTsIwj8G2SYVGD6StLtIJIFFfV7sg7SBck_uWENiY1D9AVPndzpV5srhAt804jY/s320/victory.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cxLBMuGUqWtQ-_DQcpcOs0GyGk_sl15uqe-lTl68jIdBs81f5RBubIzGy2Dlsq09UwQXQ4EfTYF5AaFOLZHCCkOy4PoAop7bxsBgiengfi1P0vf5fKgTpR-XUf_s51Vb3RlImyfcSAU/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516229127632357538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cxLBMuGUqWtQ-_DQcpcOs0GyGk_sl15uqe-lTl68jIdBs81f5RBubIzGy2Dlsq09UwQXQ4EfTYF5AaFOLZHCCkOy4PoAop7bxsBgiengfi1P0vf5fKgTpR-XUf_s51Vb3RlImyfcSAU/s320/2010_0806thruJune0019.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>August, 9 months.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeA1qfEGRDkrIgUGiu9imBQcslbLkUgzuLy8JT9d_SY_LMwt0cw0NAjkA8pvw-7UI3PTmORNDMjWzKym52rfkkkzWI639PmceKVxekh0G3CreiiYD7_95Sv4D7icpuzOCEgPCDMK-_4Y/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0029.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516229118409250194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeA1qfEGRDkrIgUGiu9imBQcslbLkUgzuLy8JT9d_SY_LMwt0cw0NAjkA8pvw-7UI3PTmORNDMjWzKym52rfkkkzWI639PmceKVxekh0G3CreiiYD7_95Sv4D7icpuzOCEgPCDMK-_4Y/s320/2010_0806thruJune0029.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi0OefxGyWsBiOfa4XiDLVqL6_1L4lZrDbZrOWVxVz3UMVM_kMfIIYEAdiI_fgS4eyEoGWOvyy4v4jn2cMohSlc2sG4pFJoeMd21MxRXYe7KX77amEdlNqxfSLTxndnUHlFC9miCK5SQ/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0032.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516229107896756754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi0OefxGyWsBiOfa4XiDLVqL6_1L4lZrDbZrOWVxVz3UMVM_kMfIIYEAdiI_fgS4eyEoGWOvyy4v4jn2cMohSlc2sG4pFJoeMd21MxRXYe7KX77amEdlNqxfSLTxndnUHlFC9miCK5SQ/s320/2010_0806thruJune0032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>September, 10 months. Into double digits!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34byHVoyhtlimJM12L-0QiS9mXC1gMzpT5obZve2cmkPEVZ6h5MififVnp3mJOI87OfH65ZAtVfxOhmb7dyqd4BSA9pUbVaBhOX-DeKQ5WYvDCb4PdMoHNYxYbgn8NUpundBcr4Ss6-U/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0081.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516229103550243714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34byHVoyhtlimJM12L-0QiS9mXC1gMzpT5obZve2cmkPEVZ6h5MififVnp3mJOI87OfH65ZAtVfxOhmb7dyqd4BSA9pUbVaBhOX-DeKQ5WYvDCb4PdMoHNYxYbgn8NUpundBcr4Ss6-U/s320/2010_0909thruJune0081.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1KqryzSqfd4FCuxOXRpwnrYZ7s4V8voRGNu5vN9YgJ_7sKJ5Yf5Mc_sJDTltvTbBODLiQLjO_e2xKzT9oh2KLVR0J-4Wl3fondhQfKlWTkr2pcNKAJg-nKiVK_U8KqKoZWSWlXtLyA/s1600/2010_0909thruJune0088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516229096101692930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir1KqryzSqfd4FCuxOXRpwnrYZ7s4V8voRGNu5vN9YgJ_7sKJ5Yf5Mc_sJDTltvTbBODLiQLjO_e2xKzT9oh2KLVR0J-4Wl3fondhQfKlWTkr2pcNKAJg-nKiVK_U8KqKoZWSWlXtLyA/s320/2010_0909thruJune0088.JPG" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-43303015998004380582010-09-01T22:32:00.006-05:002010-09-01T22:55:49.324-05:00Magical day.Jonah has said to me a few times lately, "Mama, I just love Chicago." Days like July 22 make me feel the same way. Can you see why?<br /><br /><br />Metra-watching.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w3a26h0Y-KG-lxEDMgF_xPDAfzCOSYNPO2FAqgd_dIzpOm80HJ8jv5pdLBfTHulWYIxbr5HUYF7OBExDFkjR7cyjXv34mODmdE22ruQJdylQ-b8BbIHl-Pr658dj8za-Duz0mJVgQWk/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512156007108817730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w3a26h0Y-KG-lxEDMgF_xPDAfzCOSYNPO2FAqgd_dIzpOm80HJ8jv5pdLBfTHulWYIxbr5HUYF7OBExDFkjR7cyjXv34mODmdE22ruQJdylQ-b8BbIHl-Pr658dj8za-Duz0mJVgQWk/s320/2010_0806thruJune0001.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYVGfWIqTrG23wANPpnqKvvCN65_0Wj8dLqO-bllbT52wBvEDYdkUe6a1AJJMJE5fnPBCwfoRZXKeGKQm9v30Ib7BYw9is5ix15F2-snt11Cecf4j6HRkfocEq1nWHxAv789_Pmc-104/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512156002225784546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYVGfWIqTrG23wANPpnqKvvCN65_0Wj8dLqO-bllbT52wBvEDYdkUe6a1AJJMJE5fnPBCwfoRZXKeGKQm9v30Ib7BYw9is5ix15F2-snt11Cecf4j6HRkfocEq1nWHxAv789_Pmc-104/s320/2010_0806thruJune0002.JPG" /></a>Pedestrian bridge from the Art Institute to Millenium Park.<br /><br />Lurie Garden.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupI5p9pQGIR1geqgmNDDoj2yNi_W5o79dukEzJVp3RnozQNHDYJSl-cdziaYYUKE4BDqBbbwxbXgqObgUayxbbK-us5-rst4hFAbEmunGVVHphQo9Vcf5KxmcvEJT00CPiJrGCkSTII8/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155991485520450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupI5p9pQGIR1geqgmNDDoj2yNi_W5o79dukEzJVp3RnozQNHDYJSl-cdziaYYUKE4BDqBbbwxbXgqObgUayxbbK-us5-rst4hFAbEmunGVVHphQo9Vcf5KxmcvEJT00CPiJrGCkSTII8/s320/2010_0806thruJune0003.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6mhJYtcecFxdBZTr8f1e1OwcANG9xHuwsSf7M1IAEH_VzES0b2zINXk4M7P52iWEMqxTUcZyOztqakluoMIiNy9y-hmz2vSbQph_HoO9qy91FHi3JDWnyeNKqAtbVv_3qEFl_vatCX0/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155981672196354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6mhJYtcecFxdBZTr8f1e1OwcANG9xHuwsSf7M1IAEH_VzES0b2zINXk4M7P52iWEMqxTUcZyOztqakluoMIiNy9y-hmz2vSbQph_HoO9qy91FHi3JDWnyeNKqAtbVv_3qEFl_vatCX0/s320/2010_0806thruJune0004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Pritzker Pavilion. Too loud.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhH9WblR2jkpw9AZ-tRe2SZLreXuSpbLlq5vrfGRMPV8uLTaciuXaRDGoyLLh64sRf2_J_uEMg9f__qelKGaZfbqHSFO1gRqnfx3W8Su5u6xxhUd2F5R4TuUUGPAUaVxaQIpt-jGSdig/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155736479198690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhH9WblR2jkpw9AZ-tRe2SZLreXuSpbLlq5vrfGRMPV8uLTaciuXaRDGoyLLh64sRf2_J_uEMg9f__qelKGaZfbqHSFO1gRqnfx3W8Su5u6xxhUd2F5R4TuUUGPAUaVxaQIpt-jGSdig/s320/2010_0806thruJune0005.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAh6-xDiRAgSrvdijr8Utx5i8aK9r5NwYsWUWzK0BvQs7aLBLGjy5ztuF-7yBe3v1z1K-2L_0aKSC5tQPHoQ8OtnG0qPypi_ibrNxKf7eD9QTJh10Z_2J5U4ajMjj83fW1WQqjw0QEyE/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155726064095442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAh6-xDiRAgSrvdijr8Utx5i8aK9r5NwYsWUWzK0BvQs7aLBLGjy5ztuF-7yBe3v1z1K-2L_0aKSC5tQPHoQ8OtnG0qPypi_ibrNxKf7eD9QTJh10Z_2J5U4ajMjj83fW1WQqjw0QEyE/s320/2010_0806thruJune0006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMFCy9OuwyoMjB9Kz5zMfEHPZRluBw9zP5EeX6o-zwqBRCWkHXCB3AMiysHQg5-vZi9lp-zH-qmRviJwBABenc5Syzhy6-1-Nc3sAdtlre77XpNbe6lxUuJC9YQvvXBKs0agP2YoYUZI/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155716567046434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMFCy9OuwyoMjB9Kz5zMfEHPZRluBw9zP5EeX6o-zwqBRCWkHXCB3AMiysHQg5-vZi9lp-zH-qmRviJwBABenc5Syzhy6-1-Nc3sAdtlre77XpNbe6lxUuJC9YQvvXBKs0agP2YoYUZI/s320/2010_0806thruJune0007.JPG" /></a><em>Really</em> too loud.<br /><div><div><br />Chow hounds.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXy3xGrEXiWU_ZW3tOkNBrdfU9ZT0U8s9QZXFdpAPGgd7wDF1mxoLZOWZYVVzJ_vaQuphj4iUFJoCjmUwuZQmvvWhjnNkonU1neStrKMK4DFh7yjcSLt_u_vrJyqVUzlS5OAelyPkpN8/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155709904029714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXy3xGrEXiWU_ZW3tOkNBrdfU9ZT0U8s9QZXFdpAPGgd7wDF1mxoLZOWZYVVzJ_vaQuphj4iUFJoCjmUwuZQmvvWhjnNkonU1neStrKMK4DFh7yjcSLt_u_vrJyqVUzlS5OAelyPkpN8/s320/2010_0806thruJune0011.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9tgx3nukmrwDMeaHRvT0eiikZHZS4LVQ8XmXkpp5EBl-Rt0Yz0NknaOWevLPi7JIMY1f85qAHiqjV8BEZNqofmxj5N4D_o9poMZCbJkexij15WzF6gpMcdC9L4n60IS_uNw2HtrfW5c/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0012.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155697128944082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9tgx3nukmrwDMeaHRvT0eiikZHZS4LVQ8XmXkpp5EBl-Rt0Yz0NknaOWevLPi7JIMY1f85qAHiqjV8BEZNqofmxj5N4D_o9poMZCbJkexij15WzF6gpMcdC9L4n60IS_uNw2HtrfW5c/s320/2010_0806thruJune0012.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGRMK12e6bo1Us2x9vtsUV8mZ4INkIWD_LXbZ1ysOHKVn2btaSwxl-TYMEZaacVcNbfyGqCpKTh_uIVa0k38M_lKUZK4fEe88Xkarr7QbOo5ZahmZbCOkCSZbssmJ66U_xcsNgZwICV4/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155010574572594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGRMK12e6bo1Us2x9vtsUV8mZ4INkIWD_LXbZ1ysOHKVn2btaSwxl-TYMEZaacVcNbfyGqCpKTh_uIVa0k38M_lKUZK4fEe88Xkarr7QbOo5ZahmZbCOkCSZbssmJ66U_xcsNgZwICV4/s320/2010_0806thruJune0015.JPG" /></a>Brothers' construction biz. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfoPP0cjsvGUAtZDpeWmfgEACqMXSH68KFecLDFFTuQlmuBFuh8Ni2iJvPmwaYEiWqMrDNxH3lNL5IxhtFatRzfu_C7px8oLseRcrcT6YpbLNAmd7Wwm-Eqho8t1CRKHmRAq1vt8as4/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512155000296146466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfoPP0cjsvGUAtZDpeWmfgEACqMXSH68KFecLDFFTuQlmuBFuh8Ni2iJvPmwaYEiWqMrDNxH3lNL5IxhtFatRzfu_C7px8oLseRcrcT6YpbLNAmd7Wwm-Eqho8t1CRKHmRAq1vt8as4/s320/2010_0806thruJune0017.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Crown Fountain. Too busy, for one little man.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s6UoDE9g-p3Bd-sJfnZqb7yA-Lh-7GFUiJZpoDMdazePHasbNWFZYFs_T_SJ6WzvkB8kYEk4syeWlZguj05DW8PjtMrMLGtFv5cayLQzB9SQontZo_JvheQCQXGNdYBzJWr1zbD-PF0/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0022.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512154990648425490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s6UoDE9g-p3Bd-sJfnZqb7yA-Lh-7GFUiJZpoDMdazePHasbNWFZYFs_T_SJ6WzvkB8kYEk4syeWlZguj05DW8PjtMrMLGtFv5cayLQzB9SQontZo_JvheQCQXGNdYBzJWr1zbD-PF0/s320/2010_0806thruJune0022.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKb5IdofyVnEDpkb-XFaRf2XupZPACFR7taRHel4k8Qty5eMQBFrKoxFZ4ZZ396gPLq3XNBlbjHS7tEv7auBvGwIFyYt_6Tf1QkPC3PZU9oztSJw3n98u9ozy4hMEefUhwCAbBMzmdPc8/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512154980905985554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKb5IdofyVnEDpkb-XFaRf2XupZPACFR7taRHel4k8Qty5eMQBFrKoxFZ4ZZ396gPLq3XNBlbjHS7tEv7auBvGwIFyYt_6Tf1QkPC3PZU9oztSJw3n98u9ozy4hMEefUhwCAbBMzmdPc8/s320/2010_0806thruJune0023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Daddy attack, baby snack.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj625m_FVVj9fQbpmJPr5zbPqo-EMoAusM4KtAr7P5sRhYWQrwywvH4tnysRAT6ejfhn0JRhFFFqgtWnQTmAU6xz2FknDwmBy20amAstUNmPW7BzVl54sT_qJ7csQdXShk0gqNUwvx0oA/s1600/2010_0806thruJune0024.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512154971417183938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj625m_FVVj9fQbpmJPr5zbPqo-EMoAusM4KtAr7P5sRhYWQrwywvH4tnysRAT6ejfhn0JRhFFFqgtWnQTmAU6xz2FknDwmBy20amAstUNmPW7BzVl54sT_qJ7csQdXShk0gqNUwvx0oA/s320/2010_0806thruJune0024.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-81775095888652313622010-09-01T22:22:00.003-05:002010-09-01T22:28:58.599-05:00On not being Super-Mom, not even closeWhile on a playdate recently with a new friend, I let it slip that I'd gone to the gym that morning before packing lunch and bussing over to the park to meet her, her daughter and the little girl she cares for during the day.<br /><br />"You WHAT?!?" my new friend practically shouted at me. "You went to the gym?! Oh, I hate you moms who go to the gym in the morning!"<br /><br />Instantly, I realized how I'd unintentionally presented myself, and I could imagine the picture that I'd conjured in her mind: Perkily-ponytailed, clad in cute workout clothes, super-fit Super-Mom, bounding to the gym as the sunrise breaks over the horizon. Ta-da! She probably runs marathons, too. Or maybe Perfect-Life Mom: The children awake with nary a snarl, feed themselves, dress themselves and look at books for an hour so Mom can go to the gym and Dad can sleep past 6:00 a.m. Amazing!<br /><br />Listing excuses, I struggled to kill these Super-Mamas-in-her-mind, my imposters. "No, no, I really don't enjoy going that early. My muscles aren't warmed up enough to really work out. I only go in the morning because it's too stressful to go in the evening: If I wait till then, it's right during the boys' bedtime, which Gabe has to do alone. And I feel like I always return to a messy house, which stresses me out." I rolled my eyes at this point. "I'm one of <em>those</em> moms: I mean, is there anything worse than walking on crumbs first thing in the morning?" To my mind, sweeping the floor is far less a tip-off to a lurking Super-Mama than is early-morning gym-going. I hoped to win my friend over on this one. It worked, at least temporarily. She corrected me a bit, claiming that waking up to a loose hair stuck tangled in the toes was <em>the worst</em> way to start the day.<br /><br />"Still," she said, doubt returning. "You have three kids. That's pretty impressive." I changed the subject.<br /><br />Oh, friend, I thought to myself later. Some days I feel like I could vanquish the world; many days I feel like the old man on a poster in my parents' house: "I've only been here a week, but the boss says I'm already two weeks behind." This friend is new. Not knowing me well, she may see me as a young mom of three who manages to keep her stuff mostly together, evidenced, for example, by the fact that I make my own granola bars. And of course by the fact that I go to the gym before my children wake. According to the face that I typically manage to present in public, I may as well be a Super-Mama. Those family and dear friends who have known me for longer and around whom I let down my guard have seen the reality of self-doubt, strained relationships, impatience with my children and husband, and cynicism. And the person that exists where only God can see can be downright scary, far more often than I'd like to admit.<br /><br />My immediate defense of my gym-going on hearing my friend's reaction make me realize how much I want to be known and accepted for what I am, with all my imperfections and baggage. I am often guilty of assuming that other women, and other mothers, have it all together. I assume that they are invincible, that they are better people than me, that their lives smell like roses. All this I assume based on a single and surprising new piece of information, just as my friend did when I revealed my morning trip. She makes her own yogurt? She grinds all her family's grain? She works on the side? She lost all the baby weight in <em>how much</em> time? Who <em>is</em> she? As much as any of these bits may speak to a woman's drive and motivation, they are hardly indicative of the larger picture of one's life. Going to the gym in the morning doesn't speak to my superpowers or my perfect life at all. I don't go then because I <em>want</em> to: I go to make the evenings run more smoothly. I go because these extra 20 pounds that I'm carrying after my kids consistently do a number on my self-esteem. I go because I don't want to wake up to crumbs on the floor, even two mornings a week. I go, essentially, to smooth even a little bit a day that will inevitably have a bump or two. Or more than I can count. I imagine that plenty of other moms do what they do less because they want to than because they simply <em>need</em> to.<br /><br />There are undoubtedly a few mothers out there who actually do have next to everything in their lives together. When I meet them, I want to learn from them: After all, they've got what I want. I expect, though, that many of the women I meet are like me, trying to figure out what works best for self and family, looking for grace and understanding from their friends, and hoping to pass that same grace and understanding along to others. I don't in fact want to wallow in the misery of getting up at 6:00 a.m. to go lift weights, which, let's face it, "misery" accurately describes the reality of some morning trips. Instead, I try to look at these mornings optimistically: I'm doing what I can to achieve what I want. I'm trying to live the life I want instead of complaining as it passes me by, out of control. Getting up to go to the gym doesn't make me Super-Mom or Perfect-Life Mom, but it does give me a chance to grow into the person I want to be. A person with more peace, more patience, more strength, and, as a bonus, more muscley arms.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-30013219935013378072010-07-31T09:00:00.013-05:002010-07-31T14:49:05.264-05:00Happy Birthday, Little Birdie!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0WSniqq1SB6qCvWwYHbO8KcO1gL9zkD4BZnrNlrNe3JYQL-Fj5LmUBe-f4DQ56Y-ysnNAXlKn24COuCCdT0KfxFrKU_z9L3NsJd-VPu9nknt9lYtH7dhLiQH_9USUDkEqh1pmYbnPOY/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0021.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500073591743360226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0WSniqq1SB6qCvWwYHbO8KcO1gL9zkD4BZnrNlrNe3JYQL-Fj5LmUBe-f4DQ56Y-ysnNAXlKn24COuCCdT0KfxFrKU_z9L3NsJd-VPu9nknt9lYtH7dhLiQH_9USUDkEqh1pmYbnPOY/s320/2010_0712thruJune0021.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAi9nx6N6ykxVS5XIUZrZXRUCpsgN0t6QujEgLE4nCRpiXXq2rSM6_MGuu3jz0ka6vnlEhvvqjBc8wG7A7-J5GpE140-Z_-8uoCrgQ0R2n_k2NCfOPQTTQhqiIQIbup4lsJYD6dj2YHc/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500073581362573842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAi9nx6N6ykxVS5XIUZrZXRUCpsgN0t6QujEgLE4nCRpiXXq2rSM6_MGuu3jz0ka6vnlEhvvqjBc8wG7A7-J5GpE140-Z_-8uoCrgQ0R2n_k2NCfOPQTTQhqiIQIbup4lsJYD6dj2YHc/s320/2010_0712thruJune0019.JPG" /></a>On July 4, Sweet Baby J celebrated his golden birthday.<br /><br />Manny celebrated with him.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbw8shCGgcI1mENF5XQcFakc3psccQ6TjSgmnOS3USNp58-3WPaCIbY8NgLsnAMrtKsBkI48ZMTebsUMKzUj2_kCtbbsNtwPR6t9L7p76jGir3Zhyphenhyphen-aCDcZonx2nxuk-IwWmhCswM25c/s1600/blow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500073132056706546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbw8shCGgcI1mENF5XQcFakc3psccQ6TjSgmnOS3USNp58-3WPaCIbY8NgLsnAMrtKsBkI48ZMTebsUMKzUj2_kCtbbsNtwPR6t9L7p76jGir3Zhyphenhyphen-aCDcZonx2nxuk-IwWmhCswM25c/s400/blow.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl2BSvCm1kNAryU2XOBvqOWHeC08RrLVKuR3r0iUt04v55e3z_FOZ34UNapxwRWm13AqhYBu6H14HJliXeEm7IBG_7oJUxejQpF8kdbtYGU1RLM_xMxO_fWyvUKVXidKykTL203oKrLY/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500072938328149554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl2BSvCm1kNAryU2XOBvqOWHeC08RrLVKuR3r0iUt04v55e3z_FOZ34UNapxwRWm13AqhYBu6H14HJliXeEm7IBG_7oJUxejQpF8kdbtYGU1RLM_xMxO_fWyvUKVXidKykTL203oKrLY/s200/2010_0712thruJune0018.JPG" /></a> These are Lego cakes. Legos cakes matched my two criteria for this year's birthday cake: First, it had to be something that Jonah was interested in; and second, it had to be easy to make. Ta-da!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQWIunsdcJzVe_9AVokuIgB93UowlJ7HVSqET9Oe11kjC9XbcUX8fGP0_bprnXmS58eC3qDMrX6HSJJ3Sthqa4PD7XAk8cCsXHOW1IykK99BainTcGvxarbmPbM5hIfT1rgbipBgh9ds/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0024.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500072769887500066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQWIunsdcJzVe_9AVokuIgB93UowlJ7HVSqET9Oe11kjC9XbcUX8fGP0_bprnXmS58eC3qDMrX6HSJJ3Sthqa4PD7XAk8cCsXHOW1IykK99BainTcGvxarbmPbM5hIfT1rgbipBgh9ds/s400/2010_0712thruJune0024.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying birthday cake and birthday ice cream after a birthday dinner of pizza, during a birthday visit from Gangee and Pop-Pop.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmRx6HUU1UH2fUyT7k1KWclVkHGJRseOncr8_sCzW9ZOV72XrQP5bFlSIR9F_AMkfIHe5Z1Aeo2MzRtei2S4T6fZFBuqiEk7-nBRhxW02O9lIaPOa4yRi5hRoLUHjk344wEoGmdJB7Ok/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500072445447308098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmRx6HUU1UH2fUyT7k1KWclVkHGJRseOncr8_sCzW9ZOV72XrQP5bFlSIR9F_AMkfIHe5Z1Aeo2MzRtei2S4T6fZFBuqiEk7-nBRhxW02O9lIaPOa4yRi5hRoLUHjk344wEoGmdJB7Ok/s400/2010_0712thruJune0009.JPG" /></a> Iohan is as excited about Jonah's new car carrier as Jonah is, I think. Jonah's <em>not</em> excited that Iohan's excited, though.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For his birthday, we bought Jonah tickets to a White Sox game. He was generous enough to include Manny in the outing. Here are the boys in their Sox gear, ready for their big adventure.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityMmKW6p5meB4pHWLI6-Jl5st7XW0x7mnSkcvH3uWgi9zDPP0U6Y-xdjnGoJurcSCv5K1czuO2HUqTs-XBQwMry3jJIs_Yb5QNdZUtxgTCVdekoK1pj5vm8WshKG599dmDuAaHnBx7bA/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0031.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500071735853365170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityMmKW6p5meB4pHWLI6-Jl5st7XW0x7mnSkcvH3uWgi9zDPP0U6Y-xdjnGoJurcSCv5K1czuO2HUqTs-XBQwMry3jJIs_Yb5QNdZUtxgTCVdekoK1pj5vm8WshKG599dmDuAaHnBx7bA/s320/2010_0712thruJune0031.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VIwp0mDL0KKyupQf4ilM5ZJ6asgrjQ4GiblD9GQWVPxpv9d6sw9LVjGkv5I1w7fWQ06tdwXfA9Qz2FScFnUwdi5mJcwhzSX6yfG1Cn4WuGxf3dOE3XdVkaFKkI26cgeheavR5LTP3P8/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500071731737212594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VIwp0mDL0KKyupQf4ilM5ZJ6asgrjQ4GiblD9GQWVPxpv9d6sw9LVjGkv5I1w7fWQ06tdwXfA9Qz2FScFnUwdi5mJcwhzSX6yfG1Cn4WuGxf3dOE3XdVkaFKkI26cgeheavR5LTP3P8/s320/2010_0712thruJune0033.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div> </div><div>Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Denny gave Jonah a baseball "glub" (his preferred pronunciation) for his birthday. Pop-Pop and Gangee gave Manny one, too, so that the two could play together, and so that any "it's-not-my-birthday-and-I've-got-no-presents" meltdowns on Manny's part might be prevented. Success! These days, Gabriel takes the boys out nearly once a day to practice. We're counting on <em>someone</em> making the majors!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7WpGNE1s0-so3RMv9plcY4yfNO_2R_xS5MKw7JEe_PsQc4OrnP0WwNrsa3hsC3z53_8Oki4xJy4uQlF8IqCu3Pkyy19inBZHcrpvOlyqx8ZDFl5W9CZSZInOmmT59J6trp3psjeDQkc/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500071714871672290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7WpGNE1s0-so3RMv9plcY4yfNO_2R_xS5MKw7JEe_PsQc4OrnP0WwNrsa3hsC3z53_8Oki4xJy4uQlF8IqCu3Pkyy19inBZHcrpvOlyqx8ZDFl5W9CZSZInOmmT59J6trp3psjeDQkc/s320/2010_0712thruJune0037.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcGaGYS-KTT0Ke1MRlY6H99zRMlSry4x4bHc1UefQy7HX3ZXD-zluKBFNPVsQ96p9z62C8Lw9C93De3UIVImwBlLgdim0FhUAsAhNR2KyXZs7cguqsxISm-aXwnttN4o9yWLIqGwT-ik/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500071723423942754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcGaGYS-KTT0Ke1MRlY6H99zRMlSry4x4bHc1UefQy7HX3ZXD-zluKBFNPVsQ96p9z62C8Lw9C93De3UIVImwBlLgdim0FhUAsAhNR2KyXZs7cguqsxISm-aXwnttN4o9yWLIqGwT-ik/s320/2010_0712thruJune0038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />This may be one of my favorite pictures ever. Baseball brothers, in boots and undies cheesy grins in place.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq1Wc7da5U9v8xl3vmzW_MyeIHN-coSfRPErko8j7lFsnyBW7Kouno3wbevOFdSYa6RRUld65jyUGlOPDikKxpQnJ0mKiLHfPRLlCcZCknuhkfYMNSV5YofUn7X5EUxbl_NbuArMuDdw/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500071214655211506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq1Wc7da5U9v8xl3vmzW_MyeIHN-coSfRPErko8j7lFsnyBW7Kouno3wbevOFdSYa6RRUld65jyUGlOPDikKxpQnJ0mKiLHfPRLlCcZCknuhkfYMNSV5YofUn7X5EUxbl_NbuArMuDdw/s400/2010_0712thruJune0040.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-53453043127621131312010-07-26T21:34:00.007-05:002010-07-27T21:39:05.876-05:00Sky-gazing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw7JSEFSbCKQqKIDouug6YGxr3E7FA4f0aOdJ_8rESrVPcSAAv5ChyCF6nWQGH8HflaRfRX-KvYRxRTaSPKoQgmOVFGHdEK7h2fbE8ePGhNVK6JXW8X69PK8wHnKO5VKV09qcK_GZjLs/s1600/2010_0712thruJune0087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498411858899086290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw7JSEFSbCKQqKIDouug6YGxr3E7FA4f0aOdJ_8rESrVPcSAAv5ChyCF6nWQGH8HflaRfRX-KvYRxRTaSPKoQgmOVFGHdEK7h2fbE8ePGhNVK6JXW8X69PK8wHnKO5VKV09qcK_GZjLs/s400/2010_0712thruJune0087.JPG" /></a> I'm not generally one to stand about gazing at the sky, thinking deep thoughts. I don't think that those who do are necessarily silly (though some of them certainly are) -- I just don't have the time. I've caught the sunset only a few times during my years here in Chicago, and never by intent; it's only been by lucky timing when I've been out walking, or have just happened to glance out the window after a storm.<br /><br />One evening a short time ago, though, during a time of too much tension in the house -- summer guests, summer heat and too little sleep do not a good combination make -- I took my dinner outside to sulk, or to just calm down. The air was in fact almost unbearably hot and humid (though cooler than that stagnating inside our apartment), but it carried the sounds of cicadas and of the traffic on Addison Ave, somehow a strangely soothing combination. After I finished eating, and needing more solitude, I pulled on my dirty gartdening gloves and poked around the tomato plants, netting a handful of red jewels. The sky sputtered once, for a few minutes -- big, fat drops that tried to show how much damage they would do <em>if only</em> their ranks were multiplied by several thousand. And then the clouds were lit from one direction by a red light that<em> </em>I so rarely see here in the city, and I felt compelled to actually take a picture.<br /><br />It was such a rare moment for me, and it was lovely. Eating outside, a few red tomatoes harvested from the garden, and the sky on a wants-to-be-stormy evening were enough to take me out of my funk. Snap me out of it?, maybe not, but at least to give me enough room to breathe, to calm myself down, and to try to re-start the evening. It's a remedy that I should take up more often: Eat, breathe, garden.<br /><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947512633419313258.post-82736013900775530002010-07-26T21:19:00.000-05:002010-07-26T21:34:37.255-05:00Te adoramos, Iohan.<div align="center">We love this baby.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJzPxl0_eu0FVBkI5oU-AeioYDE56QK_y5kLbaiRQF8ycIbGWTygeFJpgsHYWA2nfUFjG0muG7Br1muCWvxUlUVPmxdqjUiCohgGsaKEDiioh-A0TBTPOFN2nl4HojdKDIIkUkgg67_o/s1600/2010_0702thruJune0062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498408477587402914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJzPxl0_eu0FVBkI5oU-AeioYDE56QK_y5kLbaiRQF8ycIbGWTygeFJpgsHYWA2nfUFjG0muG7Br1muCWvxUlUVPmxdqjUiCohgGsaKEDiioh-A0TBTPOFN2nl4HojdKDIIkUkgg67_o/s400/2010_0702thruJune0062.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiVnmhip7Vh539SUqyUNGFNd6ZVd-SjwKNPop6i9kNK_mT4MQHTV7GlOKuLWUF1QnkQdsrfje65mnWNC559J5EVZev-pGfs-o1MoRYFAbLny8vESuKvvG_NRxM6KkGuSJIrXTc2y2QfM/s1600/2010_0702thruJune0063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498408467790097794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiVnmhip7Vh539SUqyUNGFNd6ZVd-SjwKNPop6i9kNK_mT4MQHTV7GlOKuLWUF1QnkQdsrfje65mnWNC559J5EVZev-pGfs-o1MoRYFAbLny8vESuKvvG_NRxM6KkGuSJIrXTc2y2QfM/s400/2010_0702thruJune0063.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi_4TohYIC_UiVZ2yV6abPXlyddwgs0CNis-314TvyIRlDTNMJuPDG_1b-ScNxfxonWtNxE40ugFdoeqZYriOUyepSmluhcdrOdR7L1Ig-85A9aWuqjFqgv2hOaVOHSmNNqRyglPjJRg/s1600/2010_0702thruJune0073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498408459255413826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi_4TohYIC_UiVZ2yV6abPXlyddwgs0CNis-314TvyIRlDTNMJuPDG_1b-ScNxfxonWtNxE40ugFdoeqZYriOUyepSmluhcdrOdR7L1Ig-85A9aWuqjFqgv2hOaVOHSmNNqRyglPjJRg/s400/2010_0702thruJune0073.JPG" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353428033910402137noreply@blogger.com2