tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87297435009795328522024-03-13T08:16:14.790-05:00This Adventure Called LifeMy family's adventures, small and large. Let's enjoy the ride!Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-43249583493418660372013-03-25T13:42:00.001-05:002013-03-25T13:51:13.013-05:008 weeks, baby!As you know, one of my <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-2013.html">goals for 2013</a> was to eat "clean" for 8 weeks. "Clean" means different things for different people, as I've found out through my research. So here's what it meant for ME: No flour, no sugar, no processed foods (kind of). I did have a few processed foods, in that they were made in a factory, but I tried to stay away from foods that had unrecognizable, unhealthy, or unpronouncable (real word?) ingredients. For example, I still used bottled spaghetti sauce in my vegetable beef soup. But that was probably my most "processed" food I had the entire 8 weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIINKlIsdp0/UVCbI-3ZhiI/AAAAAAAAEJY/26oF1a7rJuU/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIINKlIsdp0/UVCbI-3ZhiI/AAAAAAAAEJY/26oF1a7rJuU/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steel cut oats with strawberries, pecans and cinnamon from BreadCo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Okay, moving on... so as I've just finished the 8 weeks, I thought I'd offer a retrospective of what I've learned, what worked for me, what was difficult for me... and to be honest, this is mostly for my benefit... so I can look back and remember what worked and what didn't if I struggle in the future. I am still nowhere NEAR an expert on clean eating, but I feel I'm certainly an expert on what has worked for ME in the last 8 weeks.<br />
<br />
First of all, the difficulties... There were some times that were more difficult than others. The most difficult times:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The first two weeks of eating clean... period. My body craving unhealthy things like mad, I didn't know which ingredients to have on-hand to help with cravings, and 8 weeks felt like forever away.</li>
<li>Grocery shopping while hungry... this is something I've always tried to stay away from, but it seems even more difficult while eating clean. I could smell the bakery from all the way across the store, it seemed like! But if I was full while shopping, it wasn't nearly the temptation as it was when I was hungry!</li>
<li>My hormonal time of month... enough said!</li>
<li>When I was caught off-guard with tempting "treats." If I knew ahead of time I was going to a party with lots of unhealthy foods, I would fill up with clean foods before I went... it was those times when I wasn't expecting to see "yummies" that were more difficult for me.</li>
<li>If I wasn't fully stocked on healthy snack foods, I was more tempted to eat unhealthily.</li>
<li>If one of my "trigger foods" that I love were staring me right in the face. For example, when my kids are finished eating Goldfish (which I LOVE), I put them right back in the pantry rather than leaving them out on the kitchen table for a while. Too tempting!</li>
<li>Road trips! Oh my goodness... I had no idea how much I "let loose" on road trips. I packed a TON of seeds, nuts, fruit and raw veggies for the trip, but I still wanted Twizzlers and Fritos (my road trips snacks, apparently).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
For me, the key to dealing with the difficulties is knowing when/what my triggers are, and trying my best to plan for them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kK110U-euk/UVCbJCBYbvI/AAAAAAAAEJc/pDE1twUGFrM/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kK110U-euk/UVCbJCBYbvI/AAAAAAAAEJc/pDE1twUGFrM/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steak Bites from Pioneer Woman and roasted green beans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, then, if there were such difficult times, why do clean eating at all? First of all, I have had issues with food for the last 3 years or so. I know that dairy is a trigger food for me (makes me ill), but I still frequently feel awful after eating. So, I wanted to cut out all the "bad" foods to see how I felt... if I felt any different, if I felt better... I tried eating paleo last year (no grains at all... only meat, beans, nuts, eggs and seeds), but that was also too harsh for my body. My gall bladder went CRAZY... and I think it's mostly the nuts. So even now, I have to limit my nut consumption. So I wanted to see if I felt better. Secondly, I wanted to see if I lost any weight (I tried not to make that be my foremost reason... but it was honestly one of the reasons). I have worked out regularly for the last year and a half, and while my body has changed a lot for the better, I haven't lost a pound. So I thought that my nutrition was the next logical way to take control of my body.<br />
<br />
So, what did I eat?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><u>Meats</u> - We just bought a 1/4 cow, organic, grass-fed, etc. So, I do a lot of beef. Chicken. Turkey. Fish. Some pork.</li>
<li><u>Eggs</u> - Again, my body doesn't always handle whole eggs well, so I normally have scrambled egg whites. I buy farm fresh eggs from my niece who raises them. I do occasionally eat whole-egg omelets, but maybe only once a week.</li>
<li><u>Nuts</u> - see above. I don't eat a ton of them, but I will occasionally have them in something else I'm eating (for example, when I make my <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2013/02/meal-plan-week-of-242013.html">Coconut Curry Chicken</a>, sometimes I'll put a few cashews on top). I also discovered a natural "protein bar," called Larabar. It is made of ONLY nuts and fruit. My favorite is the cashew cookie, which is made of only cashews and dates. It's a good snack when I need to take something on-the-go.</li>
<li><u>Seeds</u> - I stick mostly with sunflower seeds. I put them on my salads a lot. I also eat natural sunflower butter. It does contain a little sugar, but I can't eat natural nut butter, so this is what I eat with apples a LOT. I also put chia seeds in my oatmeal every morning, and they are also in my vegan protein powder.</li>
<li>Clean eating allows for <u>natural grains</u>, such as oats, potatoes (some clean eaters don't eat white potatoes, but I did on a limited basis), sweet potatoes, brown rice and whole wheat (although I didn't have any whole wheat during my 8 weeks, because I keep reading about GMOs and how wheat is actually a genetically modified grain... so I decided to cut it out as well).</li>
<li><u>Oils</u> - I only use olive oil or coconut oil. I also use avocados for another healthy fat option.</li>
<li><u>Dairy</u> - again, I can't handle dairy. So I use a lot of coconut milk. I did buy the bigger containers of coconut milk until my friend pointed out to me that the bigger containers of a LOT of "healthy" foods and drinks contain <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2013/01/07/carrageenan-in-our-food/">Carrageenan</a> (I linked to one article about it if you click on the name). As I'm working really hard to stay away from the bad stuff, I think it's important for me to stay away from this as well. So I buy the cans of Light Coconut Milk (found in the Asian food aisles typically). These are more expensive than the large containers, but they have much more natural ingredients (the full-fat coconut milk and the light have the same ingredients... my understanding is that the full-fat milk just contains more coconut cream than the light version). I use coconut milk in my smoothies, heated up in my coffee (for a treat), and in place of milk in recipes (I even used it for mashed potatoes, and my kids loved it!). Almond milk (unsweetened) is another great alternative for dairy, but again... my issues with nuts have kept me away from that. I keep hearing more and more about soy being genetically modified, so I've stayed MOSTLY away from soy products in this 8 weeks as well.</li>
<li><u>Beans</u> - I use tons of black beans in my meals... I use chickpeas (the main ingredient in hummus... yum!). Fresh green beans roasted are a favorite in my house.</li>
<li><u>Seasonings</u> - I use lots of seasonings to make things more interesting. I do use a little salt sometimes, either kosher or celtic sea salt.</li>
<li><u>Fruits</u> - of course!</li>
<li><u>Vegetables</u> - again, of course!</li>
<li><u>Honey</u> - in moderation, this is the only sweetener I've used. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv6gxl_JGGc/UVCbJ8HEHbI/AAAAAAAAEJw/zZ1Nicej2Go/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv6gxl_JGGc/UVCbJ8HEHbI/AAAAAAAAEJw/zZ1Nicej2Go/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smoothie, before and after being blended.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Tricks that have helped me:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I cook a lot of meat at once (sometimes in the crockpot... sometimes on the stove), then use the leftovers until they're gone. I use the leftovers for omelets, and for Mexican bowls (I put baby spinach, my meat, some brown rice, black beans, avocado, and a little salsa on top in one big bowl), which I frequently eat for lunch.</li>
<li>I order a product basket from a local co-op once every two weeks. That helps ensure that I have produce always available.</li>
<li>I made smoothies, and drink half immediately and save the other half for later. (a typical smoothie has spinach, carrots, kale, apples, frozen mixed berries, sometimes protein powder, sometimes almonds, coconut milk and/or coconut water) A quick story of something that DIDN'T work for me: I read about using raw eggs (as long as they were organic, farm-fresh ones) in your smoothie. I finally tried it last night and felt so disgusting the rest of the evening (could have been all in my head, but I did feel bad!) that I'll not try that again. Don kept calling me Rocky all night.</li>
<li>I eat a HUGE breakfast. This keeps me from overeating the rest of the day. I have oatmeal (I use old-fashioned... 1/2 cup of oats, cooked in 1 cup of water... 2:45 in my microwave), then add frozen berries, chia seeds and a touch of honey. I also have 3 scrambled egg whites. And black coffee, of course (I did NOT cut out my coffee).</li>
<li>When I really crave something sweet at night (which is when I typically crave sweets), I fix a cup of decaf tea and add a touch of honey. It's enough to make me feel better.</li>
<li>I've been shopping in the gluten-free section of the grocery store for some things. I found brown-rice pasta there that only contains ground brown rice and flax seed. It was decent tasting, and fulfilled my craving for pasta. I also found gluten-free crackers (haven't tried them yet... they might be disgusting) for those times I want a crunch.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGCf47pM_fA/UVCbI97Pg8I/AAAAAAAAEJg/nFf3AlbP0Yw/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGCf47pM_fA/UVCbI97Pg8I/AAAAAAAAEJg/nFf3AlbP0Yw/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade sweet potato "chips" - sliced thinly then roasted with olive oil in the oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eating out:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I try not to do a lot of it anymore, but I have found some things that work for me. At our FAVORITE Mexican restaurant (which we eat at every Sunday almost), my favorite waitress helped me come up with my meal. First of all, I put my giant glass of water directly in front of the chips so I don't accidentally mindlessly grab them. Then I order grilled tilapia with guacamole, pico de gallo, and beans w/out cheese, and a side of green salsa. It is DELICIOUS!</li>
<li>My other favorite kind of food is Thai food. And thai recipes typically use coconut milk instead of dairy milk in a lot of their dishes. So as long as I order brown rice with my meal, I usually can order green curry or red curry and it is "clean." YUM!</li>
<li>At everywhere else, I stick with plain meats and steamed veggies or else a salad with no cheese or croutons with oil/vinegar on top.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upNFV2nbDeU/UVCbIJ7XIsI/AAAAAAAAEJU/FxMXzzt_IP8/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upNFV2nbDeU/UVCbIJ7XIsI/AAAAAAAAEJU/FxMXzzt_IP8/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An egg white omelet with spinach, mushrooms and chipotle pork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So was it worth it?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>For me, YES! I can't even tell you how much better my body feels now. I was so used to being bloated a majority of the time that I can't believe how little I am bloated now! I also rarely have the gastro-intestinal issues I did before after almost every meal. So that's HUGE (no bloating pun intended).</li>
<li>I lost 8.6 pounds in 8 weeks. Again, awesome! :)</li>
<li>I feel like my entire family is eating healthier, so that's a big deal as well. While I don't always make my kids eat what I'm eating (they HATE spicy foods), I am cooking much more frequently which means they are eating what I've cooked way more than they did before.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSiR_ZbyP0k/UVCbLBmzr9I/AAAAAAAAEJ8/hNij4Xv_t5U/s1600/IMG_1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSiR_ZbyP0k/UVCbLBmzr9I/AAAAAAAAEJ8/hNij4Xv_t5U/s1600/IMG_1878.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring mix salad with leftover turkey, grape tomatoes, avocados and lemon juice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, what now?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Now I keep eating this way. It's become a habit at this point (which is great), AND I feel like it would be foolish NOT to eat this way when I feel so much better doing so.</li>
<li>But, I'll have a cheat meal once a week now. My next step is figuring out how to balance this new lifestyle into my forever reality... because I do intend for this to be my new reality. But that doesn't mean I won't ever eat another chocolate chip cookie... or whatever that "thing" is. Like today, I'm planning on having 2 pieces of dark chocolate, which is what I've been craving. Then I'm eating clean again the rest of the week until Easter dinner. That'll be my one cheat meal for that week. And on and on and on.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, that's it. My 8 week story. I'm still looking for new ideas, new recipes, new encouragement. ;)Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-35983944431071868242013-02-19T10:31:00.000-06:002013-02-19T10:31:55.763-06:003 weeks in...Alternate title: This post is dedicated to my mother who thinks maybe I didn't eat last week since I didn't post my meal plan. ;)<br />
<br />
So, I'm three weeks in to my 8 week goal of eating clean. And I'm happy to report that I haven't cheated. :)<br />
<br />
In all honesty, as long as I prepare and have accessible foods available, I don't really struggle. My toughest times are at the grocery store (the smells from the bakery are delectable!), anytime I pass a St@rbucks (I'm only human!), and when I'm not expecting to be faced with yummy temptations. I've gone to 2 birthday parties and 1 bridal shower and I did fine at all those places because I was expecting to be faced with sweets, etc. But we had cupcakes at church one night, and I was really struggling that night emotionally (although I *did* resist).<br />
<br />
Someone asked me how I felt after this long of eating clean. I really thought I'd have all this amazing energy. And that's not really the case. But on the other hand, I've not been lethargic either. And I haven't felt sick or yucky at all after eating hardly at all since I started eating clean. Before this, I usually had some sort of gastro issues at least 5 out of 7 days a week. And I've only had issues maybe 3-4 times total in the last 3 weeks. So that's huge! I've also lost 4 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Weight loss wasn't my main goal in trying this, but it's an exciting side-benefit! :)<br />
<br />
I try not to eat out much, but I have figured out ways to still eat clean when I DO eat out. And this past weekend, I ate out a LOT! At my favorite Mexican restaurant, I bypass the chips (I put my water glass in front of the basket so I don't accidentally mindlessly grab any chips), and I get their grilled tilapia with pico de gallo, guacamole and green salsa. It's delicious! And I've been eating Thai food a lot while out, because I can get my curry fix made with coconut milk (which is clean) and brown rice. YUM!<br />
<br />
I'm late in making my meal plan for this week. The kids were off school yesterday and Don had a meeting at church last night, so I just had leftovers for dinner last night (which was a pork tenderloin I cooked in the crockpot with chipotle peppers and green chiles... it's delicious! (Thanks, Becky, for the idea!) I had it with brown rice, baby spinach and black beans with a little avocado sliced on top).<br />
<br />
So, here's the plan for this week:<br />
<br />
Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin cooked <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2013/01/meal-plan-week-of-1613.html">this way</a> minus the glaze (it's my new favorite way to make tenderloin!) and roasted green beans/red potatoes<br />
<br />
Wednesday: Eating at church<br />
<br />
Thursday: Roasted turkey breast and roasted broccoli and/or cauliflower<br />
<br />
Friday: Leftover turkey (it's 7 pounds, so we'll be eating on that for a while) and roasted vegetables<br />
<br />
Saturday: Turkey/vegetable soup (I feel like we'll be sick of eating turkey by then)<br />
<br />
Sunday: Leftovers (Don has a race that day, so it'll just be the kids and I)<br />
<br />
Have a great week!Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-33056842026743347982013-02-04T09:52:00.000-06:002013-02-04T09:52:28.859-06:00Meal plan - Week of 2/4/2013Hello there! As of today, I'm back on the meal plan wagon. (I feel like this is going to be a wagon that I'll easily jump off of and back on).<br />
<br />
The week before last, we were on a cruise, so you can only imagine how yummy and decadent the food was there! Then, last week, being the types of people we are, Don and I jumped into super strict eating. I am eating "clean" (which means only "natural" foods... no processed foods, no enriched flour products, no sugar) and Don is eating Paleo (like my food, except no complex carbohydrates either (except for fruit)). One of my goals this year was to eat clean for 8 weeks in a row to see how I feel. So I'm one week in now. I don't know that I feel much better yet (I think my body is still detoxing from ALL THAT BREAD I ate on the cruise), but I notice small things like my stomach doesn't "pooch" out quite so much. Oh, and I lost 3 pounds this week! (woot!)<br />
<br />
So here's the meal plan for this week:<br />
<br />
Monday - Pioneer Woman's Steak Bites and roasted fresh green beans<br />
Tuesday - Curry Chicken (recipe below)<br />
Wednesday - Taco night at church (so, I'll probably have some of the meat and add it to my salad I make from the salad bar and add my own olive oil/vinegar dressing)<br />
Thursday - Chili<br />
Friday - Mexican "buffet" (I'll cook extra lean ground beef on Thursday, then I'll have black beans, baby spinach, avocado, etc. so we can put together our own Mexican bowl... I'll probably add brown rice to mine as well).<br />
Saturday - Italian beef<br />
Sunday - leftovers<br />
<br />
Here's my recipe for Curry Chicken. I usually make a double batch ahead of time and freeze it until I'm ready to make it. We've had it multiple times and it's one of our favorite meals (and definitely my favorite crockpot meal!).<br />
<br />
<b>Curry Chicken</b> - Taken from <a href="http://kojo-designs.com/2012/08/freezer-crockpot-cooking-round-2-more-recipes-more-organization/">Kojo Designs</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IN THE BAG- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs*, 2 lbs. of chopped butternut squash, 2 medium onions,chopped, 8 minced garlic cloves, 1 oz fresh ginger, 2 T curry powder,1 t ground coriander, 1 t ground cumin, coarse salt</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can fix up the "In the bag" portion ahead of time and freeze. When you're ready to cook it, you do the remainder of the recipe.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">TO COOK- Add the contents of the bag and a can of coconut milk to a slow cooker and cook on low all day. 25 minutes before serving, add another can of coconut milk and a bag of frozen peas.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">TO SERVE- Garnish* with chopped cashews and cilantro (except if you’re us and you hate cilantro- then just garnish with cashews).</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*I have always used the chicken thighs in the past, but I think I'm going to try it this week with chicken breasts. I don't usually garnish it at all, but I serve it over brown rice. It's delicious!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have a great week!</span></div>
Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-27147813947413652452013-01-17T13:52:00.001-06:002013-01-17T13:52:14.055-06:00Family Weekend, A-ZA few years ago, I talked about our family weekend in list format, A-Z. Because I'm lazy, I'm doing the same thing again for 2013. (you can find my stories about previous years here: <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2012/02/family-slumber-party-weekend-circa-2012.html">2012</a>, <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2011/01/we-are-family.html">2011</a>, <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2010/01/so-much-abc-style.html">2010</a>, <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-that-time-of-year.html">2009</a>, <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2009/01/put-another-dime-in-jukebox-baby.html">2009</a> (again)).<br />
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So, here goes:<br />
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A - Alarm. As in, smoke alarm. As in, went off at least 8 times on Friday night. As in, starting at 2:30 a.m. My poor dad. He was up almost all night trying to get them fixed. They are all hard-wired together, so if one has a low battery, they all go off. Super fun, right?<br />
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B - Bubba!!! I have called Baby L Bubba since he was born (not sure why... I think I called Bub that when he was a baby, too...). L's momma calls him that, too, but for whatever reason, he associates "Bubba" with me. So now he calls ME Bubba. Or Aunt Bubba. Which cracks me up... because don't I seem like a Bubba?<br />
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C - Candlelight. On Saturday evening, the entire town's power went out for about 2.5 hours. LUCKILY, we were just finishing all the cooking for dinner, so we were fine on food (check out "F." Food was very important, you know!). So my dad pulled out a few battery-operated lanterns, and we lit a bunch of candles throughout the first floor). It was actually fun. Romantic candlelight dinner for 16! ha.<br />
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D - Drawing... Of course Sis always draws. Wherever she is, on whatever she can find. But Little Sissy was also really into drawing this particular weekend. And she talked her Aunt Darla to drawing a lot, too... (it helped that she really, really thought I drew well... which of course I don't). Then Little Buddy wanted to draw because so many others were drawing... well, you get the point. It made it especially fun because Little Sissy had so many "smelly markers." (I told her at Christmas that one of them smelled like Gas Station Soap, and she still thinks that's SO hilarious...)<br />
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E - Earaches. My mom was really suffering from a terrible earache and I was recovering from an ear infection (along with strep and the flu), so we spent WAY too much time talking about earache remedies. We are party animals!<br />
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F - Food. Oh my goodness... food! We would sit at one meal and start talking about when we were going to start cooking the next one. Not even kidding. We had Kim's (Bill's girlfriend) scrumptious homemade chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chips and homemade salsa, rye bread/dill dip... all in addition to our awesome meals. So. Full.<br />
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G - Games. We played Quiddler, the kids played Trouble... we started to play 2 truths and 1 lie (we didn't get very far... we just started talking instead). We love games!<br />
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H - Home. I actually snuck home (to MY home) to take a shower and change out the laundry. That is CLEARLY against all family weekend by-laws and regulations, but I'm not gonna lie... it was nice not having as much laundry to catch up on when we were home for the weekend. That's an advantage of living in the same town as my parents, right?<br />
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I - <a href="http://instagram.com/">Instagram</a>. If a weekend isn't documented on Instagram, then it probably really doesn't happen. Ha. Here's my kids' favorite new joke: How much does a hipster weigh? An Instagram!<br />
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J - Joy. I'm filled with such joy when I'm with my favorite people... even when I'm tired, and/or sore, and/or exhausted!<br />
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K - Kids, kids everywhere! Sometimes the noise got a little intense, but I'm telling you... without the kids we wouldn't have near as much fun! They keep the party going for sure!<br />
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L - Library. Sis wanted to run to the library, so we took Big Sissy, Little Sissy and Little Buddy with us. I told them they could all pick out a movie that they all agreed on to rent at Nana and Papa's house. That didn't work, so then I told them that the girls could pick out one, and Little Buddy could pick out a different one for him and Baby L to watch. That didn't work either, so they each ended up getting their own movie to rent. Yay!!<br />
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M - Milk... MAN, my family goes through some milk! My dad bought gallons and gallons of milk before we even showed up, and my brother-in-law had to go buy some more before the weekend was over. Of course, I didn't drink any (throwing up wasn't on my agenda for the weekend), but the rest of the family sure did!<br />
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N - Noise! 'Nuf said. ;)<br />
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O - Overeating. Overstimulation. Overdoing the laughter. And I loved it!<br />
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P - Piano. Big Sissy is taking piano lessons, so she practiced quite a bit over the weekend. And played around. And then Baby L would want his turn. He would sit and "play" the piano while bobbing his head to his own music. So cute!<br />
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Q - Quiddler (I think it's spelled this way) was our newest game we played this year. We usually find one or two games and stick with them the entire weekend. We didn't play as many games this year, but this is the one we played. Fun!<br />
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R - Range... the men and Bub went to the Shooting Range, as they do every year. They shoot clay pigeons or something that isn't alive. Bub is just counting down the years until he's old enough to participate. My brother-in-law, Kevin, who never grew up shooting, is apparently quite the shooting rock star. Then they all bring home their paper targets to show off to us women. Cute. ;)<br />
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S - Shopping. Once the guys get home from shooting, then it's our turn. The women and Sis always make big plans to go an hour away or so to REALLY shop. And then when it's really time to shop, we always decide we don't have enough time for that kind of shopping. So, we do more local shopping. Sis and I hit the bookstore while everyone else hits Michaels. Then we all meet in the middle at Old Navy for some clearance shopping.<br />
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T - Talking. I'm surprised any of us had voices left once the weekend was over! ;)<br />
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U - Ugly. Haha. You'll notice I don't have any photos posted. That's because we girls don't wear makeup, none of us really fix our hair... maybe UGLY is an overstatement... but then again, maybe not! Ha.<br />
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V - Valuable memories. Can't beat 'em!!!<br />
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W - Words to live by. One of my favorite moments in time was when we sat around the table Sunday afternoon (Billy and Kim were already gone, and my kids were already up from the table), and we all gave some words to live by in 2013. I posted about them <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2013/01/words-to-live-by.html">here</a>.<br />
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X - E(X)ercise (give me a break... we didn't play any xylophones all weekend, and thankfully needed no Xanax... so Exercise is the closest I could come up with). Don, Bub and I do a circuit workout just about every Saturday with the fitness group we work out with. Last year my brother and one of my brother-in-laws came with us. Neither of them came with us this year, but both of my sisters and my other brother-in-law all came (as well as our might-as-well-be-family friend, Cara). We had so much fun all working out together. Even if Christy did need to use both hands to cut her sausage the next morning because she was so sore! :)<br />
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Y - YouTube. One night we stayed up late and showed our mom all the funny YouTube videos that have become sensations ("hide your kids, hide your wife").<br />
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Z - Zzzzzzzzzzzz's. Sleep is sooo good, especially AFTER a weekend like this one. But little catnaps here and there were also (apparently) good. I don't nap well, so I didn't partake, but there was plenty of snoring going on from the couch (Kevin!!!!!).Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-40906068172888007992013-01-14T11:15:00.001-06:002013-01-14T11:15:43.781-06:00Meal Plan - week of 1/13/13So, I'm being lazy on my meal plan for this week. We're leaving town on Friday and will be gone all next week, so I'm just using up what we have in our refrigerator.<br />
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For the family slumber party weekend, I made lasagna and The Pioneer Woman's spaghetti for lunch yesterday. I came home with quite a bit of leftovers, so the plan is to eat up all the leftovers (no lasagna for me... that has dairy in it, but I can have the spaghetti) until they're all gone. Wednesday night we will have dinner at church again. Then I will fill in the other nights we are out of leftovers with breakfast for dinner. That will include most likely omelets/scrambled eggs/pancakes/waffles/basically whatever the family wants for "breakfast."<br />
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I will fill in each of these meals with the rest of our fresh vegetables from our co-op that we participate in. So, I'd expect roasted cabbage one night, roasted cauliflower one night, and roasted eggplant another...<br />
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Have a great week!Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-84076665575009150342013-01-13T13:49:00.000-06:002013-01-14T11:11:23.102-06:00Words to live by<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section" style="clear: both;">
We're on the tail-end of our annual family slumber party at my parents' house (I'd say I'll update more on that later, but lets be honest... I may or may not update). Today, after Bill and Kim left, we all sat around the table eating lunch and all gave a word or two to live by in 2013. I don't want to forget what everyone said, so I'm writing them all down.<br /><br />No regrets - Kevin <br />First things first - Dad<br />Push on - Jon <br />Go big or stay home - Don<br />Make everything matter - me<br />Don't forget to flush - Levi (almost 5)<br />Always put your clothes away and don't leave anything out - Gracie (age 6)<br />Be healthy - Caroline (age 9)<br />Discipline but grace - Elissa <br />Back to the basics - Mom<br />Keep it simple - Christy <br /><br />Words to live by, right?</div>
Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-44866181843723602362013-01-06T16:15:00.000-06:002013-01-06T16:34:06.712-06:00Meal Plan - Week of 1/6/13 <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>So, this is my attempt at tracking my meal plans for the year. I like to try new recipes that I find on Pinterest or elsewhere online, but them I forget where I found the recipe and then I'm completely bummed because I don't have access to the yummy recipe anymore! So I'm going to start putting some of my recipes on here for my reference (& yours too, if you're interested). <br><br>Next weekend is my family's annual slumber party at my parents' house. I'm sure I will be responsible for at least some of the food, but we haven't planned out the weekend menu yet. <br><br>So, here this week's meal plan:<br><br>Monday - pork tenderloin with a peach-honey glaze (recipe below) and roasted cauliflower <br>Tuesday - chili<br>Wednesday - our church serves a meal on Wednesday nights for a nominal amount so that's what we normally do on Wednesdays <br>Thursday - Italian beef<br>Friday - family slumber party <br>Saturday - family slumber party<br>Sunday - family slumber party<br><br><b>Pork</b> <b>tenderloin</b> (recipe from <a href='http://www.food.com/recipe/perfect-pork-tenderloin-63828' target='_self'>food.com</a>): <br><br>Preheat oven to 500-550 degrees.<br>Put tenderloin in a roasting pan on the bottom third of the oven<br>Cook EXACTLY 5 1/2 minutes per pound of tenderloin<br>Without opening the oven, turn oven off and let the tenderloin sit in oven for an hour<br>Remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes.<br><br><b>Peach</b>-<b>honey</b> <b>glaze</b> (recipe found <a href='http://southernfood.about.com/od/porkroasts/r/r70408d.htm' target='_self'>here</a>):<br><br>1 cup peach preserves<br>2 Tbsp honey<br>Juice of one small lemon <br><br>Bring to boil, then simmer for 2 minutes<br><br>I use glaze as more of a sauce than an actual glaze.<br><br>Bon appetit!</p>Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-86237258137125125682013-01-02T10:15:00.000-06:002013-01-02T10:15:32.302-06:00Happy 2013!Happy new year! I can't believe it's already 2013... although when I say that, I feel like it makes me sound old... so NEVER MIND! ha.<br />
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I've started the new year with a fever (and I'm guessing, influenza... didn't go to the doctor, but Don had it the week before me), so I've been working really hard at holding down the couch for the last few days. One thing about just sitting around ALL. DAY. LONG. though is that I've had a chance to reflect on my last year's goals and figure out what I want to set for goals for this upcoming year. I mentioned in <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-2012.html">last year's post</a> that I don't do resolutions, but goals seem more like something I'll keep working towards.<br />
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So to review my goals for 2012, my goals were:<br />
Regular devotions with the kids<br />
Memorize Psalms 139<br />
Drink 8 glasses of water a day<br />
Do 20 "real" pushups in a row<br />
Run a 5k without walking<br />
Weigh a certain amount (nunya bizness!)<br />
Take a picture a day<br />
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I did NOT do well with regular devotions with the kids. I did NOT memorize Psalms 139. I did start drinking 8 glasses of water a day. I did 20 "real" pushups in a row last week. I ran a 5k without walking (The Color Run... a really fun run!), I did NOT lose the weight that I had in my head. And I didn't last very long with a picture a day (although since Instagram has been created, I do take a lot of pics with my phone).<br />
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So, here are my goals for 2013, which I've categorized into physical, spiritual, and family goals.<br />
Physical Goals:<br />
3 hours of cardio a week (not counting my regular training sessions)<br />
Run a 10k without walking<br />
Do 8 weeks of "clean eating" (meaning, no processed foods)<br />
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Spiritual Goals:<br />
In-depth Bible Study daily<br />
Memorize one scripture verse a month as a family<br />
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Family/Personal Goals:<br />
Make a to-do list each week that includes a meal plan<br />
Have a "date" once a month with each of the kids<br />
Have a date once a month with Don<br />
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So what about you? Do you have goals for the year? Do you set resolutions?Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-557171154267584962012-12-10T10:36:00.001-06:002012-12-10T10:59:36.830-06:00MondaysI've been thinking about this post for a long time, but I've been reluctant to write it, because I don't want it to sound like I'm bragging... or proud... or anything else but thankful!<br />
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For a LONG time, I dreaded Mondays... It usually started on Sunday nights, when I would develop an awful pit in my stomach, to the point where sometimes it was even nausea. I was NOT happy in my job situation and I was SO ready to move on. Then, on Monday mornings on my way to work, I would steel myself (a little pun, for those of you who know where I worked) for what was to come... the personalities I would have to deal with, the situations I was "up against." Please understand that for the most part, I worked with absolutely wonderful people and the situations weren't often terrible... it's just that I felt like I was being called to be at home... and it wasn't working out... YET.<br />
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I am MOSTLY appreciative of Don during this whole time. First of all, he was COMPLETELY on board with my quitting my job when it was time (God's time... not ours, obviously! Because if it had been OUR time, our house would have sold quickly and we would have MOVED ON, BABY!). He was my sounding board when I was in particularly bad situations at work. And he just loved me through the yucky times.<br />
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It has been a year now since I've left full-time employment (still teaching part-time, and I LOVE that I can keep my toes in my field). There are days when I am buried (almost literally!) in laundry that I think: I signed up for this??? But not very often! It has been a sacrifice for sure to do this... financially especially, but I am so, so blessed!<br />
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The biggest thing I've noticed since I have become a "SAHM" is my Mondays. I no longer get that awful feeling in my stomach on Sunday nights. And I can fully embrace and even love my Mondays now. And for that, I am grateful. And blessed.Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-21597696793161247032012-11-03T12:54:00.000-05:002012-11-03T12:54:19.350-05:00Hair we go!<div style="text-align: center;">
I've documented some of Bub's amazing hair transformations in the past, but this time it was Sis's turn. She hasn't REALLY gotten it cut in at least 3 years, but she was ready for a change...</div>
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I made her pose for a couple "before" pictures... I absolutely LOVE her long hair, but I completely understand the compulsion for change in one's hair... that's always been my thing, too.</div>
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Before - Front</div>
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Before - Back</div>
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The first cut. Aaghhhh!!!</div>
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Just a little pile of hair on the floor...</div>
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After - Back</div>
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After - Front</div>
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I love her new look, but even more importantly, Sis loves it!!!! </div>
Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-5657216755806158242012-10-10T14:48:00.000-05:002012-10-10T14:48:00.117-05:00Chicago<div style="text-align: center;">
I just had the opportunity to go to Chicago twice... within two weeks. What an awesome time I had.... both times! The first time was just Don and I (for 2 nights), then we took the kids with us last Wednesday and stayed until Monday. So for a recap of both trips, via Instagram... stay with me. :)</div>
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I absolutely love driving into the city... especially on a clear, bright day.</div>
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We stayed at the gorgeous Palmer House, which has a fabulous ceiling in the lobby...</div>
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And wonderful, retro-styled rooms.</div>
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Ooh la la! This meant we got free snacks in the EXECUTIVE LEVEL (because we have so many points...)</div>
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And of course, Don brought his bike along...</div>
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I got to wear my new-to-me thrifted shoes... I love new (to me) shoes!</div>
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And we got to enjoy SUSHI!! Yum!</div>
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Then, when we went back with the kids, there was more fun to be had...</div>
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We had an amazing view from the 39th floor in our hotel room right on the Magnificent Mile.</div>
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We were within walking distance of what Bub called "heaven on earth" (an 8-story Sports Authority). Ha.</div>
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We even shopped at Trader Joe's.</div>
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The kids and I had a fabulous day at the Museum of Science and Industry while Don was in a meeting.</div>
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And we even braved public transportation on our own!</div>
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That evening, we went for a long walk around Chicago...</div>
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And passed Iron Man and the Hulk (who gave Bub a bro-fist).</div>
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Saturday was Don's birthday, and we had a fabulous day!</div>
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We walked around and hung out in phone booths...</div>
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We went to Dave & Buster's and played video games.</div>
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Then that night, Don and Bub went to the Notre Dame/Miami football game at Soldier Field while Sis and I had a GNO... we went to Ed Debevics and a movie. What a fabulous night!</div>
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Sunday, we woke up early to watch a part of the Chicago Marathon, which came right by our hotel... we were almost exactly at the one-mile mark. There were runners everywhere!</div>
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We finished up our day by heading to Six Flags - Chicago (which is a fun way to use our St Louis season passes).</div>
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Overall, it was a lot of fun, and we were all sad to leave. Although it IS good to be home.</div>
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Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-27143633895198902832012-02-24T11:52:00.000-06:002012-02-24T11:52:22.998-06:00A weekend escapeBecause I'm sure you've memorized all my previous posts, I'm POSITIVE you remember our little weekend getaway Don and I took a few years ago to the hills of Missouri just to get away (and let Don ride his bike). But just in case you have temporarily forgotten, you can refresh your memory <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2009/11/getaway.html">here</a>.<br />
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Anyway, Don has since ridden the trail several times that JUST HAPPENS to be right next to where we stayed before. And really likes said trail. So, a few weekends ago, on a weekend that just happened to fall on our anniversary weekend, we left the kids with my mother-in-law, packed up the car, picked up our friends Brad and Cara, and headed back to the same town. And the same cabin company. But NOT the 7-bedroom Shangri-la that we had the last time. Which actually was fine with me. We stayed in a gorgeous/rustic 2-bedroom log cabin with an open kitchen/living room. Just like the last time I blogged about it, you will NOT find any pictures of me in this post... I did NOT wear makeup and I DID wear sweatpants all weekend... and it was HEAVENLY. We turned our electronics (phones) off, because they didn't work anyway. We watched a ton of movies, we play games, the boys rode their bikes, Cara and I took a personality/psychology test (it was more fun than it sounds... really!), and we cooked/ate a LOT!<br />
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It was such a good place to COMPLETELY unwind, relax and enjoy each other's company. Here are some shots from the weekend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don making sure the bikes were ready for a ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen (with no dishwasher, might I add!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome fireplace that we made use of the ENTIRE WEEKEND</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The closest neighbor was WAY up that hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome/rustic master bath</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So while we girls were "home" relaxing, the boys were actually out riding</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with mud all over them!</td></tr>
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Speaking of riding, Don was just accepted to participating in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Thousands of riders apply, but they only let 1,700 participate. {insert proud wife jig} He's been training for this for a year and a half already. To keep up with his training/biking adventures, you can read his blog at <a href="http://leadville2012.blogspot.com/">leadville2012.blogspot.com</a>.Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-90604098624271774072012-02-23T15:47:00.000-06:002012-02-23T15:47:21.166-06:00Royal Rumble, Baby!So, Bub LOVES the WWE. Like, LOVES it. Don and I, well, you know... well, how do I put this? Well... we could do without it. How was that? But because Bub loves it, we've been forced to at least acknowledge the presence of the WWE in our lives.<br />
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The last 2 years' Halloween costumes have been WWE "fighters." <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hulk Hogan last year</td></tr>
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And here's the post from the year before. (<a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2010/12/mysterious-mysterio.html">here</a>)<br />
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So, for Christmas this year, Don and I got Bub tickets (2, for Don and Bub only... not me... no sirree) to the Royal Rumble which was held in St Louis. Needless to say, he was EXCITED!<br />
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A few weeks ago, the boys took the MetroLink to downtown for the big show (haha. big show is the name of a wrestler... just a little WWE humor for ya).<br />
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Don took the camera and got some GREAT shots of the night. Just thought I'd share some of them with you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cage match. Apparently one of these big dudes is Big Show (see previous "joke")</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Cena. I know him because he was in a movie I've seen. And he's the dad in that annoying Fred movie on Nickelodeon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy fire. And crazy HOW. MANY. PEOPLE. ARE. THERE.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bub was into the event</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the funniest pictures I think I've ever seen.</td></tr>
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This final picture actually got me all teary-eyed when I saw it... the raw, pure expression of excitement and joy on Bub's face was unbelievable to me. He poses for photos with a "cool" look... which I also like, but this? This captures how excited he really was.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EXCITEMENT</td></tr>
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<br />Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-54591999211830511942012-02-22T12:30:00.006-06:002012-02-22T12:30:51.876-06:00Family slumber party weekend, circa 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, there! Maybe I should have made one of my <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-2012.html">goals</a> for 2012 to BLOG MORE!!! Well, I'm going to TRY to catch up and post some things that have already happened and then post more regularly in the future. I have to remember that my whole purpose for blogging is to remember all our "adventures." So if I don't document them, it's like they never happened. Right? :)</div>
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So, I know I talked <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2011/01/we-are-family.html">last year</a> about our family slumber party we all have at my parents' house once a year (<a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2010/01/so-much-abc-style.html">here</a> is my update from 2010 and <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-that-time-of-year.html">pics</a> from 2009 and also <a href="http://darlabrown.blogspot.com/2009/01/put-another-dime-in-jukebox-baby.html">here</a>). We had it once again this year (duh! it's "annual!"). This year, my brother was able to get off work and so we were ALL together ALL weekend. It was so fun!</div>
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Last year, my nephew was very close to being born but wasn't here yet. This year, not only was he here, he was our weekend entertainment. We are all mush around him... It's so fun to be around such a fun baby!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was showing off his steps from one chair to the other.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He perks up the minute he sees a camera... what a cutie ham!</td></tr>
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We played lots of games... my brother even made some brackets for our games... one was single elimination and the other was double elimination! ha.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are some game players that DO NOT LIKE TO LOSE!</td></tr>
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The kids had a great time with Nana and Papa: cooking, doing crafts and playing the piano.</div>
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We girls shopped (like normal) and the boys went a shot trap (I'm not even sure I phrased that correctly). When we went to Old Navy and I saw that Christy had a shirt on from there, I made her pose. She's such a good sport!</div>
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On Saturday morning, Don and I talked my brother and brother-in-law (and Bub) into going with us to the Saturday morning outdoor circuit workout that we go to (until I sprained my back and had to take 6 weeks off... that's another story for another day). We did that while my sisters and my brother's girlfriend went for a walk (did I mention that it was snowy??).</div>
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After that, we were all done with exercising (on to eating!), except for Don who is training for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race this summer. He rode his bike in the snow later in the weekend.</div>
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Here are some final shots from the weekend. I say this every year, but I {heart} my family.</div>
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<br />Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-34240031935484225832012-01-01T22:29:00.001-06:002012-01-01T22:29:44.404-06:00Happy New Year 2012!! <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Happy new year, y'all! I've been enjoying the first day of 2012. We spent the night with friends last night and now we're watching The Cosby Show with the kids. <br><br>As I seem to do every year, I've been reflecting on the last year and planning my goals for the next year. <br><br>Some of my 2011 goals were to take a photo a day and to read through the Bible for the first time ever (I've gotten a lot of it read before, but haven't ever made it all the way through). So, the picture of the day... It was a FAIL! I made it through part of August. But as of today, I finished the entire Bible! I'm really excited!<br><br>I also had a goal to take better care of my health in 2011. I intended to take vitamins daily, but I didn't do so well with that. I did, however, start working out regularly. And that's good. :)<br><br>In 2010, we made it through 7 days of nightly devotions with the kids before that fell by the wayside. So I felt like we made a marked improvement in 2011 because we made it over 2 weeks! Ha. <br><br>For 2012, here are some of my goals:<br>Regular devotions with the kids<br>Memorize Psalms 139<br>Drink 8 glasses of water a day<br>Do 20 "real" pushups in a row<br>Run a 5k without walking<br>Weigh a certain amount (nunya bizness!)<br>Take a picture a day (again...)<br><br>I like the word "goal" better than "resolution," because it seems to focus more on the effort rather a resolute notion. And that feels more doable to me. <br><br>So what about you? Do you make resolutions? Goals?</p>Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-15576550588345315372011-12-16T14:11:00.000-06:002011-12-16T14:11:32.585-06:00Before and After, part 3?<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel like I am always posting Before and Afters. If you haven't figured this out about me yet, I like to change things up. A lot. And so do my kids with THEIR hair. So, here we go again. :)</div>
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In case you forgot, here's my before... (the first one is this morning, and it's kind of blurry... still getting used to my new camera).</div>
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I've been letting it grow out for about 2 years now. And I really like it when I FIX it, but that doesn't happen regularly. :) I most often do what I did in the top picture... straighten my bangs and let the rest dry naturally (and frizzy).</div>
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So, I decided to chop it off. Literally. I am still researching where to donate my hair to, but my braid was 10" long.</div>
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See?</div>
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So, here's the "after." I think it's kinda "big" today. I call it hairstylist hair... where it's a little bigger than I would normally wear it. But I LOVE IT!</div>
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And there go you... the BEFORE AND AFTER... again.</div>Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-58971342818380908522011-12-06T13:16:00.001-06:002011-12-06T13:25:03.414-06:00Being an IndividualSo, the more Don and I got to know each other as we were dating and newly married, we realized that we had something in common... we like(d) to be an individual... stand out in a crowd. (I just realized how funny that is... that we like to be an individual just like each other. ha)<br />
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While both kids inherited that trait from us in some ways (let's remember the numerous mohawks that Bub has sported... the slicked back mullet that he wore out for his birthday), that trait has really been passed on to Sis.<br />
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She doesn't care about name brands on clothes, she doesn't care about name brands on shoes... she just likes what SHE likes.<br />
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So, for the last year or so, I've been letting her put semi-permanent color in her hair. We've tried this look several times, but this latest 'do has "taken" the most. The whole underneath of her hair has been dyed black. And as long as it is, and because of her layers, it shows up the bottom third of her hair or so.<br />
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And she loved it so much that she actually did a little photo posing for me. Which, these days, is a big deal! Here's Sis...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFk3wjT-Cw0/Tt5rSzXmLXI/AAAAAAAADQU/fcbANcfiaFw/s1600/DSC_0712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFk3wjT-Cw0/Tt5rSzXmLXI/AAAAAAAADQU/fcbANcfiaFw/s400/DSC_0712.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love her smile here, but you can't see as much of her "underneath" hair. Note her "Geek" necklace, and her Pokemon hoodie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the color better in this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTUq6fWJORY/Tt5rY4CEOHI/AAAAAAAADQk/sE8Ws1j2T_I/s1600/DSC_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTUq6fWJORY/Tt5rY4CEOHI/AAAAAAAADQk/sE8Ws1j2T_I/s400/DSC_0715.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gorgeous, individual girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPNy3G9rD1E/Tt5rbnnDP3I/AAAAAAAADQs/-N_jRdRoFgI/s1600/DSC_0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPNy3G9rD1E/Tt5rbnnDP3I/AAAAAAAADQs/-N_jRdRoFgI/s400/DSC_0716.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look...</td></tr>
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<br />Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-34671466502686222492011-11-23T22:03:00.001-06:002011-11-23T22:27:05.146-06:00Despicable Deliciousness<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I've gotten sucked into the <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> craze... meaning I'm CRAZY for it! For those of you not familiar with it, it's like an online bulletin board where you can "pin" things you're interested in on your bulletin boards.</div>
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I believe I've made it clear on here before that I am NOT crafty... I've instituted a Christmas-time baking cookie "tradition" (if doing it twice makes it a tradition), but I am always SO crabby by the end of that "fun." It's the decorating part of the baking that stresses me out so much, I think. Because it's crafty.</div>
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Anyhoo, I found this photo on Pinterest:</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/70931762850589837/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="393" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/70931762850589837_t49D7VMb_c.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">eighteen25.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/darlabrown/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Darla</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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And Bub was ALL OVER IT. He wanted us to make them RIGHT NOW. Which was like a Tuesday. And we had no ingredients. Nor was I in the mood. So I convinced him to wait until Thanksgiving break.</div>
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Which was today. Which he reminded me of as soon as the week started.</div>
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These little guys on the cupcakes are Minions. From the movie Despicable Me. Which my kids LOVED.</div>
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So, today was the day. For craftiness. *yay*</div>
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So, we decided to try it. Introducing: our cast of characters. LOTS AND LOTS OF SUGARY GOODNESS.</div>
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Sis wasn't interested in helping us with the cupcakes, but she separated the Smarties for us... we needed the white ones separated from the other colors.</div>
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We had to wait for our cupcakes to cool before we could begin.</div>
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Bub googled Minions to make sure we remembered what they looked like.</div>
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We iced a cupcake, then put a Twinkie half on the top.</div>
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We put a line of black icing around the front and added either one or two Smarties.</div>
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We traced the Smartie to finish off the goggles, added the dot in the eye and finished off their smiles. We tried to use the red licorice for their hair, but we couldn't make that work (it should have been black anyway, but the store was out of black tear-apart licorice)... so we skipped the hair.</div>
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Here's the whole group of them... just don't look at them too close or you might find...</div>
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A rabid Minion. Doesn't he look like he just ate someone's blood?</div>
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Or the unibrow Minion. No wonder he doesn't smile.</div>
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And that poor guy in the back. We just feel bad for that poor guy.</div>
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But you know what? Overall, I like our cute little Minions.</div>
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Bub and I have already decided that these guys will probably look pretty pitiful by the time they make it to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I think the black icing is already absorbing into the Twinkies, the eyes are drooping WELL below where they should be. But you know what? I did the whole project with Bub, and didn't get crabby at ALL. I call that a crafty WIN.</div>Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-37517008036710088082011-11-23T12:15:00.001-06:002011-11-23T12:53:04.189-06:00ThankfulI've been taking part in the Thankful in November posts daily on Facebook. Not to be corny, but to remember why I'm so blessed.<br />
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I am thankful for everything I put on there, but here's a synopsis of what I'm thankful for (both lofty and small):<br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that I'm a child of God. That He sent his Son to die for me so I could be His.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for my extended family... from my parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, siblings, in-laws, nieces/nephews, etc. There is seriously NO ONE I'd rather be with than family.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for those friends who I consider family. You know the ones... the ones I can have over even when my house is trashed, the ones I'd let come clean my house when I'm sick and can only watch them, the ones I can spill all my angst to... yeah, those are the ones.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for all my other friends... the ones that entertain me, challenge me, make me laugh, make me cry (in a good way)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for Don... for lots of reasons. He's a great daddy, he's ambitious (but not to the detriment of our family), he's funny, he's SO cute, he's disciplined, he has a heart for God's will in his/our life, he's a leader, and he loves me.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for Sis... she's so silly, HILARIOUS, sarcastic (in a good way... see HILARIOUS), she's part-child/part-woman, she's beautiful (inside & out), she's smart, she keeps me on my toes.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for Bub... he is never still, he's so smart, he never gives up, he's a great cuddler, he's so funny/silly, he has a heart of gold, he's smart</span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ttmyUHQMIU/Ts0-E9YfwqI/AAAAAAAADOE/ZpIoWJyPJA0/s1600/DSC_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ttmyUHQMIU/Ts0-E9YfwqI/AAAAAAAADOE/ZpIoWJyPJA0/s320/DSC_0278.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for coffee... 'nuff said</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that Bub sings every time he's in the shower... it makes me smile every single day</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that Sis has such a gift for art... she shines in that area!</span></li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_9A6ymrEZU/Ts096k47BRI/AAAAAAAADNk/txdjCPZtKBg/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_9A6ymrEZU/Ts096k47BRI/AAAAAAAADNk/txdjCPZtKBg/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that my kids inherited Don's genes for memorizing lyrics... they crack me up with a concert on a regular basis!</span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_z8Vb4jfP0w/Ts0-FX-uOwI/AAAAAAAADOM/Vx3ZkqoWwGI/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_z8Vb4jfP0w/Ts0-FX-uOwI/AAAAAAAADOM/Vx3ZkqoWwGI/s320/IMG_1412.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that I am able to spend more time with my family now.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that I'm able to cook more often now</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for the internet/Netflix/Facebook/Twitter</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLlawAQJR8/Ts09xxGkdpI/AAAAAAAADNE/_i1tiIzldb0/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLlawAQJR8/Ts09xxGkdpI/AAAAAAAADNE/_i1tiIzldb0/s320/IMG_1342.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for my health</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for this time of year when I get to see my family more often</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for my car... I love my "mom car!"</span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rfQPPfwCUc/Ts09yJA7ARI/AAAAAAAADNM/v-FTIkuF6JI/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rfQPPfwCUc/Ts09yJA7ARI/AAAAAAAADNM/v-FTIkuF6JI/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for our cute apartment. I seriously think we have the cutest apartment in our whole town!</span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eycv0pPULlQ/Ts0-ITjUYpI/AAAAAAAADOk/-f_ZfPyFEhI/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eycv0pPULlQ/Ts0-ITjUYpI/AAAAAAAADOk/-f_ZfPyFEhI/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for traditions... tomorrow Don, the kids & I are volunteering to help put meals together for people who aren't able to get out... Friday, I'm going shopping in the insane crowds with my sister... all because of traditions.</span></li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8B1KzXa5y_Q/Ts09_2HiWMI/AAAAAAAADN0/Hsiq8TKJBGk/s1600/DSC_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8B1KzXa5y_Q/Ts09_2HiWMI/AAAAAAAADN0/Hsiq8TKJBGk/s320/DSC_0256.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for our church and our church family... what an integral part of our lives!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful that I am able to sing on our Praise Team at church... I'm glad to be able to use my voice.</span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFJFIw0yniw/Ts0-KY9tjiI/AAAAAAAADOs/Hgaq3zlbImI/s1600/DSC_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFJFIw0yniw/Ts0-KY9tjiI/AAAAAAAADOs/Hgaq3zlbImI/s320/DSC_0606.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for our military men and women, both past and present... from the bottom of my heart. <3</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmT7dSjuNLE/Ts099cih3II/AAAAAAAADNs/tXW8niN3yCA/s1600/DSC_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmT7dSjuNLE/Ts099cih3II/AAAAAAAADNs/tXW8niN3yCA/s320/DSC_0253.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families/friends/loved ones. Remember your blessings.<br />
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*The pictures are just pictures I like... a portion of what I'm thankful for!Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-4246777217620103072011-11-21T21:21:00.001-06:002011-11-21T21:47:22.812-06:00Reliving the Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been working on a photo book all evening from our summer trip to Colorado. We chose Colorado because Don was going to do a 50-mile mountain bike race in Leadville, CO there, anyway... so we decided to make it our vacation! So, of course, being us, we bought a pop-up camper and made it part of our adventure. *ahem*</div>
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I thought I'd throw up some of the photos from the trip to relive it with you.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1XDjETvGMEU/TssWxDbxrjI/AAAAAAAADKA/i1Vadq6d1lg/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1XDjETvGMEU/TssWxDbxrjI/AAAAAAAADKA/i1Vadq6d1lg/s400/IMG_1234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We loaded the car UP, and the camper, and the Thule cargo box on top...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZjkJAEmCt8/TssXgayITdI/AAAAAAAADKY/4PxU_S8GQ8c/s1600/IMG_2335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZjkJAEmCt8/TssXgayITdI/AAAAAAAADKY/4PxU_S8GQ8c/s400/IMG_2335.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don registering for the race. We just got in the night before, Bub had thrown up all night (altitude sickness, most likely), and we were ALL a little tired. What a way to start a race! Didn't seem to bother Don, though!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJWtayIYi7A/TssXi_iNzGI/AAAAAAAADKg/o_buO680U40/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJWtayIYi7A/TssXi_iNzGI/AAAAAAAADKg/o_buO680U40/s400/IMG_2371.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don crossing the finish line... he did AWESOME!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3NgVcXEkbs/TssXmOYxNmI/AAAAAAAADKo/FsSRnGO6C1U/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3NgVcXEkbs/TssXmOYxNmI/AAAAAAAADKo/FsSRnGO6C1U/s400/IMG_2378.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right after Don finished his race. The kids and I were so proud of him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDhz4bRIJa4/TssXmdbAUFI/AAAAAAAADKw/q00KK4fArwU/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDhz4bRIJa4/TssXmdbAUFI/AAAAAAAADKw/q00KK4fArwU/s400/IMG_1254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids and I doing what we do... self-portraits</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuL02P-j2uw/TssXm8cVEwI/AAAAAAAADK4/A26Klo9rmww/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuL02P-j2uw/TssXm8cVEwI/AAAAAAAADK4/A26Klo9rmww/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My best friend from college, J, now lives in Denver, so she and her family met us in Leadville for lunch. :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRLyya9Zwc/TssXpeYIzOI/AAAAAAAADLI/7N8407YKssY/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyRLyya9Zwc/TssXpeYIzOI/AAAAAAAADLI/7N8407YKssY/s400/IMG_2401.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J chasing her two youngest, twins... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DgK2S5coj0/TssXnGw9AFI/AAAAAAAADLA/CUXT7iAs7T8/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DgK2S5coj0/TssXnGw9AFI/AAAAAAAADLA/CUXT7iAs7T8/s400/IMG_1258.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found the cutest, most quaint theater in Breckenridge to go watch the final Harry Potter movie</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS-pIoUjIZk/TssXrhWKHCI/AAAAAAAADLQ/SUh1gb4r6UQ/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS-pIoUjIZk/TssXrhWKHCI/AAAAAAAADLQ/SUh1gb4r6UQ/s400/IMG_2422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leadville has the most gorgeous views from every single angle!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNQpwUSRDOs/TssXuLxDbjI/AAAAAAAADLY/XHeRWtlvnNo/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNQpwUSRDOs/TssXuLxDbjI/AAAAAAAADLY/XHeRWtlvnNo/s400/IMG_2464.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bub rock-climbing at the Y resort we stayed at in Colorado</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wo0LbT4eo6M/TssXwSqZr-I/AAAAAAAADLg/Wn1J5-IOFn4/s1600/IMG_2522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wo0LbT4eo6M/TssXwSqZr-I/AAAAAAAADLg/Wn1J5-IOFn4/s400/IMG_2522.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roller Derby Princess</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igpUDliGIwI/TssXyia2DNI/AAAAAAAADLo/sVIQ_UNnkJo/s1600/IMG_2539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igpUDliGIwI/TssXyia2DNI/AAAAAAAADLo/sVIQ_UNnkJo/s400/IMG_2539.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up the mountain for some alpine slide action!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNdKNrK_edY/TssX1Ho6PWI/AAAAAAAADL0/nMqbQK1GMVY/s1600/IMG_2568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNdKNrK_edY/TssX1Ho6PWI/AAAAAAAADL0/nMqbQK1GMVY/s400/IMG_2568.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flipping</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyr8I2cTK8E/TssX33dcD0I/AAAAAAAADL8/Qh4EMaNK7d0/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyr8I2cTK8E/TssX33dcD0I/AAAAAAAADL8/Qh4EMaNK7d0/s400/IMG_2592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous sunsets!!!! (I made Don stop at the side of a highway, so I could take some pictures of the sky!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDA5rdpI9ek/TssX6-JXA0I/AAAAAAAADME/67VNRKnHAhc/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDA5rdpI9ek/TssX6-JXA0I/AAAAAAAADME/67VNRKnHAhc/s400/IMG_2600.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archery</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSVyB8-VWT0/TssX9d2PM5I/AAAAAAAADMM/jS-Yxd1XUas/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSVyB8-VWT0/TssX9d2PM5I/AAAAAAAADMM/jS-Yxd1XUas/s400/IMG_2613.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were only a LITTLE competitive! ha.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M90CU0fdL78/TssX_Xi6LdI/AAAAAAAADMU/zLKbLzI6tOc/s1600/IMG_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M90CU0fdL78/TssX_Xi6LdI/AAAAAAAADMU/zLKbLzI6tOc/s400/IMG_2630.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziplining Bub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPnBXdFvmuw/TssYA7AtjUI/AAAAAAAADMc/3KHIR_Rd3-s/s1600/IMG_2643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPnBXdFvmuw/TssYA7AtjUI/AAAAAAAADMc/3KHIR_Rd3-s/s400/IMG_2643.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziplining Sis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmOtrNlcv9s/TssavywCIvI/AAAAAAAADMs/hF4u-5JRG2g/s1600/DSC_3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmOtrNlcv9s/TssavywCIvI/AAAAAAAADMs/hF4u-5JRG2g/s400/DSC_3094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the biggest deal of all to me. I'm PETRIFIED of water, so I had to confront some major fears to get out on the water. ALL DAY. In Class 4 and 5 rapids!!!! We had such a great time, though... I'm so glad I didn't let my fear stop me!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a wonderful vacation. Thanks for letting me re-live it with you!</div>
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<br />Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-37772605715171035472011-11-18T14:37:00.001-06:002011-11-18T15:01:58.226-06:00HotlantaPart of the joy in no longer working full-time is to (hopefully) be able to travel even more. Two weeks ago, Don had to go to Atlanta for training, so we pulled the kids out of school (yay for straight A's!) and jumped in the car with him!<br />
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During the days (and some of the evenings), Don was of course busy with training and networking, but the kids and I had a great time.<br />
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One of the days, we spent the day at The World of Coca Cola. Even being a Pepsi family, we had a great time! ha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_yTKGezE_8/TsbC32HTkNI/AAAAAAAADHw/MJnuWha3a7w/s1600/DSC_0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_yTKGezE_8/TsbC32HTkNI/AAAAAAAADHw/MJnuWha3a7w/s400/DSC_0581.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the lobby was filled with Coca Cola stuff!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ACMAR9mT-6I/TsbDAjiPyGI/AAAAAAAADH4/uMQy0mLPtN0/s1600/DSC_0586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ACMAR9mT-6I/TsbDAjiPyGI/AAAAAAAADH4/uMQy0mLPtN0/s400/DSC_0586.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was so much to see!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkV-qCJGrOE/TsbDI_OzudI/AAAAAAAADIA/Qq6M7pAMOEM/s1600/DSC_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkV-qCJGrOE/TsbDI_OzudI/AAAAAAAADIA/Qq6M7pAMOEM/s400/DSC_0587.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gorgeous children</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRVlYCzFSN4/TsbDQz1ErTI/AAAAAAAADII/fX6SfwWgHe4/s1600/DSC_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRVlYCzFSN4/TsbDQz1ErTI/AAAAAAAADII/fX6SfwWgHe4/s400/DSC_0591.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They got to hold actual Olympic Torches from the Olympics held in Atlanta</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_x9WlsInQK0/TsbDVjU4ubI/AAAAAAAADIg/2cNtMmZ5UiY/s1600/IMG_1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_x9WlsInQK0/TsbDVjU4ubI/AAAAAAAADIg/2cNtMmZ5UiY/s400/IMG_1468.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw a 4-D movie (thus the lovely glasses), which the kids LOVED!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlGqrgZk3sQ/TsbDVDaS4MI/AAAAAAAADIY/PHSXWmzT7QM/s1600/IMG_1466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlGqrgZk3sQ/TsbDVDaS4MI/AAAAAAAADIY/PHSXWmzT7QM/s400/IMG_1466.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't remember this "girl" from any Coke ads, but she was in the movie and was walking around afterwards. She (understandably) freaked the kids out, so I had to get a picture with her so she'd leave the kids alone!</td></tr>
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Then that night, we went to dinner with Don and his business cohorts. It was vendor night (not sure they called it that... that's just what it was... vendors EVERYWHERE), and Bub became quite the hit! He had vendors chasing him down to give him stuff from their booths. The boy came back to the room LOADED down with stuff (Sis and I gave up WAY before he and Don did and had already headed back to the room). We had fun beforehand, though, with a silly photo shoot outside our hotel room.<br />
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Finally, we visited the Georgia Aquarium another day. While that wasn't as fun as the World of Coca Cola (AND it was more expensive!), it was also enjoyable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra5VSvt1WYU/TsbGNAjf6JI/AAAAAAAADJQ/x-B5mxrcqs8/s1600/DSC_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra5VSvt1WYU/TsbGNAjf6JI/AAAAAAAADJQ/x-B5mxrcqs8/s400/DSC_0621.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the weirdest looking fish I've ever seen! Doesn't it look like a Pixar fish?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8wN4vGDpg0/TsbGVagYEUI/AAAAAAAADJY/52BQCwpjEnw/s1600/DSC_0634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8wN4vGDpg0/TsbGVagYEUI/AAAAAAAADJY/52BQCwpjEnw/s400/DSC_0634.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHARK! (maybe, I'm not sure...)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xB0sx2QlN7M/TsbGdaOCVdI/AAAAAAAADJg/gtAbpTol4CQ/s1600/DSC_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xB0sx2QlN7M/TsbGdaOCVdI/AAAAAAAADJg/gtAbpTol4CQ/s400/DSC_0640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My posers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djMZRBrYi_8/TsbGlQZrgjI/AAAAAAAADJo/qGzuxR8oN-Q/s1600/DSC_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djMZRBrYi_8/TsbGlQZrgjI/AAAAAAAADJo/qGzuxR8oN-Q/s400/DSC_0654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like a screen saver</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmuuu2rIYb8/TsbG0gViYiI/AAAAAAAADJw/s6B9-ohJZQY/s1600/DSC_0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmuuu2rIYb8/TsbG0gViYiI/AAAAAAAADJw/s6B9-ohJZQY/s400/DSC_0675.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnAPmf_h1qA/TsbG9bQX5yI/AAAAAAAADJ4/8BGh3vyhHt8/s1600/DSC_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnAPmf_h1qA/TsbG9bQX5yI/AAAAAAAADJ4/8BGh3vyhHt8/s400/DSC_0685.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not a real trip to a museum until you throw up a few gang signs!</td></tr>
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Most of all, our trip was fun because we all got to be together. Don and I worked out in the hotel gym together, we got to all be silly together, the kids and I got to have adventures together, but most of all, we got to be together. :)Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-19497160150817424332011-10-31T10:43:00.002-05:002011-10-31T10:43:58.055-05:00Celebrate Good TimesSo, I don't know if you're aware, but our little hometown team JUST WON THE WORLD SERIES! I think that as fun as being FROM St. Louis, and having our team win, it's been even MORE fun to have a son who appreciates being from St. Louis and having HIS hometown team win.<br />
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Yesterday, there was a celebration parade and ceremony in downtown. So Bub, Bub's best friend & mom, and Don went down to celebrate with 1,000,000 of their closest friends (Sis had no desire to go, and I was running a low-grade fever, so we stayed home).<br />
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What great memories for Bub and E (his best friend)! They were in baseball heaven.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrSUL79tXxA/Tq7BjxyVMqI/AAAAAAAADGo/YpB4cMCfKGE/s1600/DSC_0464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrSUL79tXxA/Tq7BjxyVMqI/AAAAAAAADGo/YpB4cMCfKGE/s400/DSC_0464.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pitching"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeUTisfcVNk/Tq7Bk_rc5EI/AAAAAAAADGw/mxjeb-E_d5o/s1600/DSC_0474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeUTisfcVNk/Tq7Bk_rc5EI/AAAAAAAADGw/mxjeb-E_d5o/s400/DSC_0474.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bub and E</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpYKbeq0lBE/Tq7BlLrOVEI/AAAAAAAADG4/ZSnn5dQuAQs/s1600/DSC_0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpYKbeq0lBE/Tq7BlLrOVEI/AAAAAAAADG4/ZSnn5dQuAQs/s400/DSC_0483.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don and Bub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9xOD8o9jS8/Tq7BlcPPRjI/AAAAAAAADHA/_rqAJ3F0cg4/s1600/DSC_0488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9xOD8o9jS8/Tq7BlcPPRjI/AAAAAAAADHA/_rqAJ3F0cg4/s400/DSC_0488.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touching the actual dirt that the actual Cardinals play on!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpb42xBfoGM/Tq7BlnXJDUI/AAAAAAAADHI/IHbfrDQODUc/s1600/DSC_0494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpb42xBfoGM/Tq7BlnXJDUI/AAAAAAAADHI/IHbfrDQODUc/s400/DSC_0494.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 World Series Champions!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upg0Tc-WgjE/Tq7Bl8p8PwI/AAAAAAAADHQ/ItpmIFDEuZ4/s1600/DSC_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upg0Tc-WgjE/Tq7Bl8p8PwI/AAAAAAAADHQ/ItpmIFDEuZ4/s400/DSC_0528.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see David Freese!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XV9bBHlN_3Y/Tq7BmXbiFGI/AAAAAAAADHY/41YrSyOwehc/s1600/DSC_0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XV9bBHlN_3Y/Tq7BmXbiFGI/AAAAAAAADHY/41YrSyOwehc/s400/DSC_0558.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confetti everywhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xB0xFvfc1zc/Tq7BmlaojqI/AAAAAAAADHg/Dyii0at7m04/s1600/DSC_0579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xB0xFvfc1zc/Tq7BmlaojqI/AAAAAAAADHg/Dyii0at7m04/s400/DSC_0579.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofy Bub and Don</td></tr>
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<br />Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-27346701592496312992011-10-26T10:23:00.001-05:002011-10-26T10:23:34.981-05:00Nosy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As requested, here is a picture of my "new" nose. This isn't a very clear shot, and I promise that the piercing doesn't glow like this normally... it's actually small enough that it doesn't show up in most photos.</div>
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(and look at me... posting two days in a row!)</div>Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-32487318827391364792011-10-25T12:50:00.000-05:002011-10-25T12:50:05.222-05:00ChangesSo... it's been a year and 5 days (not really) since I've posted on here. Quickly, here are some changes that have happened in my life:<br />
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<ul><li>I have a middle schooler now who turned 12</li>
<li>We sold our house</li>
<li>We moved into an apartment for a year (at least)</li>
<li>I turned 40 (gulp)</li>
<li>I got my nose pierced (my mid-life crisis?)</li>
<li>I QUIT MY JOB</li>
<li>I started working out</li>
<li>I got a new camera</li>
<li>Don turned 40</li>
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I'll start updating more frequently now (really? we'll see!), and will occasionally go through my photo album to catch us up (since the whole point of my blogging is to not forget what we've done).<br />
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Good to see you! Be back soon!<br />
DDarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729743500979532852.post-84933160996465260632011-06-14T22:24:00.000-05:002011-06-14T22:24:08.762-05:00More summer funSo, last night had the potential to NOT be fun... it was raining and COLD at Bub's baseball game. Here was my view through part of the game:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xil5XxYKX9U/TfgkMXeJFiI/AAAAAAAADE8/FvwOiaoz-_M/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xil5XxYKX9U/TfgkMXeJFiI/AAAAAAAADE8/FvwOiaoz-_M/s320/IMG_1031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yup, that's a windshield you see. I stayed dry inside my car... <br />
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Then the rain slowed down, and I got out to visit with some friends. Then I found some other friends who had their hatch up on the back of their Suburban... So Sis and I huddled up in there with them. I'm not really sure what happened in the game, though.<br />
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Afterwards, Don met up with us and we all went to DQ in an area town. They were holding a fundraiser for the ALS walk that my family is doing in a few weeks. And my uncle (who plays the banjo) was playing out on the patio with his bluegrass buddies. That was fun to listen to (even though it was a little chilly).<br />
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Today, our fun was a little more "everyday" and basic. I took Sis to her martial arts class and her long-lost friend, E, was there. E has promoted up to the next level so isn't in Sis's class normally anymore. So it was great fun for Sis to see her great friend.<br />
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Bub had a great night as well. First of all, he found a 5-gallon bucket to put upside down to jump off of to work on his dunking skills at the basketball net. Then the family down the lane had their homeschool group over to play baseball and they invited him to play with them. That's a 10-year-old boy's dream... to play baseball every night of the summer!<br />
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Don had his own fun, too. He played with our new toy that he went and picked up yesterday. This picture is when he decided it was time to put the toy away for the night (he actually spent the night cleaning it... not playing... but cleaning doesn't sound "fun," does it?).<br />
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Looking forward to see what kinds of fun we come up with for the rest of the week!Darlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252657144696100196noreply@blogger.com0