tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23903810996832460072024-03-05T01:06:43.089-06:00One blessing after another...Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-30688623425994111232015-03-17T10:25:00.000-05:002015-03-20T10:28:17.085-05:00Happy St. Patrick’s Day<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to some cute duds courtesy of Sweetie, these 3 are 100% un-pinchable!<p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_5229" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QwIniyxkiGE/VQw7zd3n6GI/AAAAAAAAKoU/JPpp0Z2fzCs/IMG_5229_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="356" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5229" width="500" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p>(For the record, I hated this holiday growing up. Me thinks the original St. Patrick would not endorse assault in the absence of green clothing but whatevs.)</div>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-15996417099098963162014-07-04T23:58:00.000-05:002014-07-05T09:06:37.212-05:00Independence Day!!!We had a fun, active, exciting and exhausting Fourth of July today! The first thing on our agenda was the neighborhood celebration. Our ‘hood sponsors a kids’ bike parade followed by play time and lunch at the park/pool/common area. This year, I had my act together and we got to the parade on time, because I learned last year that if you arrive after the parade is over, then you don’t get to be in the parade. Ridiculous, I know.<br />
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We even showed up with decorated bikes! By decorated, I mean a Mylar balloon tied to the handle bars (that I may or may not have appropriated from the leftover décor of my office’s pot luck) and a hand held Dollar Store flag. We are talking PINTEREST WORTHY if you know what I mean.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XkTp-LvpyxU/U7eEVgNeQpI/AAAAAAAAKWE/3JT6Fv8zjtE/s1600-h/IMG_04013.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0401" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FIkcSl6iQUY/U7eEWjRcj0I/AAAAAAAAKWM/RKIihN0hNFo/IMG_0401_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="358" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0401" width="500" /></a><br />
While we did not win any awards for patriotic streamer abundance, we had a great time. And those Mylar balloons came in handy when my kids took off and left me in the dust. (Except my ever-faithful Gracie, who stayed by my side <strike>complaining that one lap around the block was too much for her dainty bird legs</strike> chatting about how much fun it is to be in a parade.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zVR5xRnqUOQ/U7eEXA7VIQI/AAAAAAAAKWU/EE2SMP3n0jk/s1600-h/IMG_04054.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0405" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uFiQkSEclh0/U7eEYiUgA-I/AAAAAAAAKWc/JmrGWU3DxV4/IMG_0405_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0405" width="350" /></a><br />
Boone loved the parade, too. He walked regally beside me, proudly displaying his red, white & blue bandanas and panting the National Anthem. He was also super polite to everyone he met, including lots of neighborhood pooches.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MbzEE8HYS50/U7eEZdjAHMI/AAAAAAAAKWk/_UahAk7sSJk/s1600-h/IMG_04024.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0402" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WLl7XpcggCs/U7eEZ6tSH8I/AAAAAAAAKWo/BPv3MaopNj4/IMG_0402_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="492" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0402" width="350" /></a><br />
After the parade was over, I spent about 10 minutes searching for Noah. He had made his way to the front of the parade, decided one lap wasn’t enough, and plasma-car’d his little booty all the way around the block again. By himself. Had his own little version of Independence Day. Meanwhile I was celebrating “My kid was stolen during a holiday party and we’re going to be featured in People Magazine” Day. I have NO IDEA how my hair isn’t completely grey from 3 years of parenting that wild soul.<br />
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When we were all reunited and my heart rate returned to normal, Noah received a stern lecture and was made to repeat “One man and his balloon a parade does not make” 15 times. Then the kids ran off to play in the bubble machine while I stood in line for lunch at the food truck. They returned, soaked to the bone, and we had a delicious lunch and played in the park for another hour or so before heading home to rest.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iJEGdKNhex0/U7eEagZwdII/AAAAAAAAKW0/cTL4pLgS_nI/s1600-h/IMG_04094.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0409" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eNknxWNgNqM/U7eEbcOJSzI/AAAAAAAAKW8/t2eUb6DF7bo/IMG_0409_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0409" width="350" /></a><br />
Where’s Noah? Yeah, story of my life.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nl2t8J7O4r4/U7eEc67_atI/AAAAAAAAKXE/S-95guy0kU4/s1600-h/IMG_04204.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0420" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FeJJBnG-Q5A/U7eEeEy3LCI/AAAAAAAAKXM/87XBUSPVbas/IMG_0420_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0420" width="350" /></a><br />
(Before you call CPS, he was back on his plasma car… this time in a well-defined and enclosed area where I could keep an eagle eye on him AT ALL TIMES.)<br />
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Back at home the kids relaxed/napped while I baked 96 teeny cupcakes (I counted them) to bring to a surprise engagement party. The son and daughter of two of my co-workers/awesome lady friends got engaged today and Debbie asked us to come to the party with dessert in tow. <a href="http://aubreyshea.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Aubrey </a>and <a href="http://michaelmckissick.squarespace.com/tidbits/" target="_blank">Michael</a> are the sweetest couple and it was a great party filled with lots of beautiful fresh out of college folks that made me feel really old. :)<br />
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My favorite part was when Aubrey read the story book that Michael made her about their relationship – complete with illustrations done by their family and friends!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yrWVWJfTih0/U7eEemjTO3I/AAAAAAAAKXQ/i4pRUc1nMx8/s1600-h/IMG_0433%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0433" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6CKyLKM96Ho/U7eEfOo7H8I/AAAAAAAAKXY/IiFX4lZ90PM/IMG_0433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="356" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0433" width="500" /></a><br />
The kids listened intently most of the time and got their wiggles out/tormented onlookers for the rest of the time.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jOtTqOUOht0/U7eEgO8wt-I/AAAAAAAAKXk/xu7Qlw5EQtg/s1600-h/IMG_0432%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0432" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XcKA8whEqJU/U7eEg4nql4I/AAAAAAAAKXs/U15CvrS0c_U/IMG_0432_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="358" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0432" width="500" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lf0byax70RY/U7eEho8yElI/AAAAAAAAKX0/qJDqPkBaSQ8/s1600-h/IMG_0434%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0434" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vB-r-hKwV5M/U7eEiemywmI/AAAAAAAAKX4/UDiDHeH-NII/IMG_0434_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0434" width="350" /></a><br />
Once dinner and story time were over, we headed outside to pop some fireworks. The kiddos got in on some sparkler action with the help of Mrs. Kendra and Courtney. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-06rryZ31Gr8/U7eEizSRghI/AAAAAAAAKYE/D52EtUUrLCA/s1600-h/IMG_0438%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0438" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CyyiJM3RGEM/U7eEj7ivpxI/AAAAAAAAKYM/uXP6S3z2e2Y/IMG_0438_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="358" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0438" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-v7LSBdzPogQ/U7eEkXYBh3I/AAAAAAAAKYU/7BuY-Z-GY4E/s1600-h/IMG_0435%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0435" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Er9sx1dxrds/U7eElDRu04I/AAAAAAAAKYY/hTumS-FU_c4/IMG_0435_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0435" width="350" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tPosYDa64Ww/U7eElTHe0kI/AAAAAAAAKYk/YzRffBlMKFY/s1600-h/IMG_0436%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0436" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iUqCo1hxiqU/U7eEmOH5MtI/AAAAAAAAKYo/HG4ZOQ-dlYo/IMG_0436_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0436" width="350" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CXPl45kwF-k/U7eEmla-OpI/AAAAAAAAKYw/B4xDJmWU_AY/s1600-h/IMG_0437%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0437" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ot_tntKKn70/U7eEnKOH7WI/AAAAAAAAKY8/PK9Gf60oyNI/IMG_0437_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="492" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0437" width="350" /></a><br />
We finally climbed in the van just after 10 and drove home with the windows down listening and watching for all the fireworks. (Bri was at the party with us for a bit, but had to head out to work earlier.) We arrived to the sight of neighbors popping more firecrackers in the cul de sac, so another 30 minutes of sparkler and exploding fun ensued before I was able to drag the kids inside and get them into bed. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rQJf7QcfhSs/U7eEoCuzINI/AAAAAAAAKZE/HmRRREMVMZU/s1600-h/07-14%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="07-14" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9exkqT5pQrs/U7eEx8m3Q_I/AAAAAAAAKZM/TXajqZz9pXg/07-14_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="07-14" width="350" /></a><br />
I wasn’t sure what Boone would think about the holiday. He enjoyed the parading and flag waving and park playing. During that part, he was all….<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D_BWtB8FKrQ/U7eEysmkSdI/AAAAAAAAKZU/2RDLkFch7Bc/s1600-h/IMG_0413%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0413" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eYPzopqSKCQ/U7eEzKOCoII/AAAAAAAAKZY/JzW4fuiqXV0/IMG_0413_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0413" width="350" /></a><br />
The fireworks, however, he did not enjoy. As in, “I’M NOT SURE WHY YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL SO CALM??!! IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE END OF THE TIMES!!! PLEASE HOLD ME WHILST I PEE ON YOU!!!!!”<br />
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Super fun. I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July and were able to celebrate John Adams style with “Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations."<br />
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I also hope you know what “Shews” are, because unless that’s a fancy way to spell shoes, I think we may have left that part out.Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-41341315282540952742014-05-17T00:51:00.000-05:002014-06-21T18:23:09.769-05:00She won’t Let it Go!We saw Frozen at Thanksgiving, and like the rest of the free world, we were completely enthralled. Gracie received the CD for Christmas, and 5 months later, she still listens to it to go to sleep at least 4 nights a week. The DVD showed up in her Easter basket and we’ve since re-watched the movie approximately 321 times. It’s safe to say that we here in the Barrick house are Frozen fans.<p>It was no surprise that Grace requested a Frozen theme for her 5th birthday, but her party isn’t for a couple more weeks. In the meantime, I wanted to give her something Frozen related on her actual birthday. She loves to dress up, so I thought I would try to put together an Elsa dress for my sweet girl.<p>I wanted it to look less like the versions in the stores and more like Elsa’s actual dress from the movie. This was my inspiration picture that I took to Jo-Ann’s.<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VQGo8YLMxNo/U3hJVg8VRKI/AAAAAAAAKSs/c4KHMye6uzE/s1600-h/Elsa%2525202%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Elsa 2" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bSZ-PuS2rOg/U3hJWY-U3EI/AAAAAAAAKS0/8hbIWPUEDPs/Elsa%2525202_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elsa 2" width="350" /></a><br />
<p>I bought this Simplicity pattern and fiddled with it a bit. I made the skirt less full and added a slit and a small train. I used the version that had the sleeves, but I just made them longer and not as puffy.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JSz-X3Iv_6w/U3hJXKRxn8I/AAAAAAAAKS4/OyH4rZnEiDA/s1600-h/IMG_3274%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3274" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-soPPrc8jhP8/U3hJX0orApI/AAAAAAAAKTA/Zy3h0ugP80k/IMG_3274_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3274" width="350" /></a><br />
<p>I chose 4 different fabrics. I used the costume satin for the skirt and the bodice, and the bodice is also overlaid with the sequined tulle. The chiffon was for the yoke and sleeves, and the glittery organza was for Elsa’s cape.<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r4UX1rdNdwc/U3hJY_kLgSI/AAAAAAAAKTI/gCPtm2H0j50/s1600-h/IMG_3272%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3272" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sG28eFk28Cc/U3hJZFmwuJI/AAAAAAAAKTQ/TN4A6EI5Eqs/IMG_3272_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3272" width="421" /></a><br />
<p>It was a little slow going at first because all of these fabrics are slippery and hard to work with. I’m used to being able to turn my iron all the way up and really press my hems before I sew them, but I couldn’t do that this time around. Also, I was making a lot of it up as I went. So I had to do, undo, and re-do a few times (all while trying to keep it hidden from Grace so it would be a surprise!) This was the bodice before I added the skirt and sleeves.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oX7jeLS5Gww/U3hJZ0vG5cI/AAAAAAAAKTc/lgTIFSdhzz0/s1600-h/Elsa%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Elsa" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1R9p2OwYxqk/U3hJaaCE77I/AAAAAAAAKTk/q-ohD5Hl86M/Elsa_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="467" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elsa" width="350" /></a><br />
<p>A couple days later I had it pretty much pieced together and almost done.<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8r1LTLwj4zo/U3hJaxME0MI/AAAAAAAAKTs/-FoNi5G_dKM/s1600-h/Elsa%2525203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Elsa 3" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-78ezIFPi-1Y/U3hJbo1gxmI/AAAAAAAAKT0/pCCUKnXFC8Y/Elsa%2525203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="467" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elsa 3" width="350" /></a><br />
<p>I was up late the night before her birthday adding in the zipper and working on the cape (which was her favorite part!) It was all worth it to see her face when she opened it and put it on! She immediately launched into a precious, off-key version of “Let it Go”. I finally got better pictures of her in it today. I took her outside and turned on her music and she went to town singing along and dancing around!<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o-YKAvo3Gcc/U3hJcTURuFI/AAAAAAAAKT8/lMHkQbxIU64/s1600-h/IMG_3443%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3443" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3sga8xchiaY/U3hJdIKrNEI/AAAAAAAAKUA/4RyOIjPmyrA/IMG_3443_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="488" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3443" width="350" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aqBjVxuo2wg/U3hJd5yLQpI/AAAAAAAAKUM/-EWUNzY2dvg/s1600-h/IMG_3452%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3452" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GjbDkwboMuc/U3hJelIy2GI/AAAAAAAAKUU/_jWINCNF2KY/IMG_3452_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="488" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3452" width="350" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H1C-NQn8IBk/U3hJfRb4_lI/AAAAAAAAKUc/nD0ULSGXrAI/s1600-h/IMG_3400%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3400" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F3uBZzi5u7M/U3hJgN9ybGI/AAAAAAAAKUg/9yjq4cL3m_Q/IMG_3400_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3400" width="421" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3uXK5F0h5uc/U3hJgtHcjnI/AAAAAAAAKUs/VYO65RmiWsE/s1600-h/IMG_3404%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3404" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--wmGI7nlwCg/U3hJhM7lBDI/AAAAAAAAKU0/YDUdeDiot-8/IMG_3404_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="488" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3404" width="350" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bahun0cYmVI/U3hJhxvK1HI/AAAAAAAAKU8/W7A6lxhuX_o/s1600-h/IMG_3397%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3397" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IJrmd9lQemc/U3hJiu0lkuI/AAAAAAAAKVA/WfQ_XmDi-yU/IMG_3397_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="299" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3397" width="421" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UKSp37zytKc/U3hJjAtJ1UI/AAAAAAAAKVM/86VifnA0S8s/s1600-h/IMG_3450%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3450" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JhTy2h82C7A/U3hJkFamIMI/AAAAAAAAKVU/h41ONYZbGHY/IMG_3450_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="493" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3450" width="350" /></a><br />
<p>This girl. She makes doing stuff like this SO. MUCH. FUN. I don’t even care that the cape is leaving a trail of glitter throughout the entire house. :)<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XDoCZNUGGlM/U3hJk6vPq0I/AAAAAAAAKVc/ILrEXfoBQmg/s1600-h/IMG_3459%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3459" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Lljf3nt58SM/U3hJlXcMrQI/AAAAAAAAKVk/Mp4jm_RPPGQ/IMG_3459_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3459" width="419" /></a><br />
<p>Happy Birthday to my little Elsa!<br />
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Linking up to the <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2014/06/you-made-it-and-love-it-13-a-link-party-and-last-months-favorites.html">Make it - Love it Link Party</a>!Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-37039888491102942222014-05-10T09:08:00.001-05:002014-05-10T09:21:10.461-05:00Gracie’s QuiltOver a year ago I fell in love with some fabric lines and decided to use one of them to decorate Gracie’s new girly room. She LOVED sharing a room with Ben, so I really had to sell the idea of putting the boys together and moving her out by herself. I showed her pictures online of a few choices and she ended up picking the one that was my favorite, too: Simply Sweet by Riley Blake.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5tBxvAzY2T4/U24yLClrRaI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/TunhHnPqPu4/s1600-h/simply%252520sweet%252520Collage%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="simply sweet Collage" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iSsQuvwAXGw/U24yMAx4saI/AAAAAAAAKQ8/EgxdiSVIk2s/simply%252520sweet%252520Collage_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="363" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="simply sweet Collage" width="454" /></a><br />
While I had experience making bedding <a href="http://bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2013/03/king-me.html" target="_blank">(I sewed the duvet and shams for the Master bedroom last Spring),</a> I had never made an actual quilt before and I really wanted to try! I saved up and placed my order and felt all warm and fuzzy inside when this arrived!<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ey-V05ukWQY/U24yM3VUduI/AAAAAAAAKRE/_BRPWFEZCVs/s1600-h/IMG_0042%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0042" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BrURhjxYWZA/U24yNvb_aQI/AAAAAAAAKRM/rTxGeWP44gI/IMG_0042_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0042" width="500" /></a><br />
That picture was taken in June 2013, for anyone interested in knowing the true depths of my procrastination.<p>Anyway, the fabric arrives and I hug it, smell it, pet it and whisper sweet nothings to it because it makes my heart sing. Then I set it in the corner of the guest room where it stared at me and mocked me for months. MONTHS, I tell you. At one point the song “Tainted Love” was actually emanating from within the crisp folds. True story. (If it’s not already obvious, I have an irrational fear of cutting into pretty fabric.)<p>Anyway, it took some sweet friends (Joan, Lori, you are my quilting heroes) and Gracie asking for the hundredth time “Mommy, when are you going to make my pretty blanket?” to get this show on the road. Finally I cut (and survived) and pieced and seam ripped and pieced some more and I landed here.<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IyRBNCvH938/U24yOo-Pw_I/AAAAAAAAKRU/RGmpQgdPnac/s1600-h/IMG_2202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2202" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P35IHOvzSjo/U24yPOFXGKI/AAAAAAAAKRc/Fyb8_h-b8_U/IMG_2202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2202" width="500" /></a><br />
Oh my gosh – I could see the finish line! When I finished piecing it, I sent it off to be quilted at a little quilt shop in Keys, Oklahoma. The quilting is AMAZING. It’s so intricate and I wish I could take a picture that would really show it off.<p>I got it back at the beginning of April and I bet you can guess what happened next…. that’s right, the staring and mocking again. I had to add the binding and I’d never done that, so naturally I just stuck the whole thing in a corner and pretended it didn’t exist.<p>This past week I realized that I had t-minus ZERO TIME if I wanted to give this to Gracie for her birthday. I consulted the friends again and read 3 or 12 binding tutorials and last night I FINALLY got ‘er done. I texted Lori this picture and said, “Ok, I’m putting on my big girl pants and I’m going to DO THIS THING."<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ubmmz6AAEvs/U24yP7dj-FI/AAAAAAAAKRk/rSsU-HCxxFI/s1600-h/binding%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="binding" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TuvKsNP1dLw/U24yQcdX_sI/AAAAAAAAKRs/hrzkA5ovoCU/binding_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="528" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="binding" width="375" /></a><br />
Then I pinned the binding on in the wrong direction and had to start over. Because, you know, I’m me.<p>I found the tutorials by <a href="http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2013/01/machine-binding-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Cluck Cluck Sew</a> and <a href="http://wasntquiltinaday.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/quilting-101-machine-binding/" target="_blank">Wasn’t Quilt in a Day</a> to be the most helpful. I’m TERRIBLE at sewing by hand, so I just decided to do it by machine on both sides and it actually went pretty quickly. I finished it in one night. I couldn’t wait for the sun to come up so I could take pictures!!<p>Here she is, ALLLLLL done.<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VZ63C5dq1VA/U24yRNGkpoI/AAAAAAAAKR0/BkC1J_NDE3k/s1600-h/IMG_3259%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3259" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ArrjSvgEKVo/U24yRgT9ckI/AAAAAAAAKR4/JGQztSKPUwM/IMG_3259_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="333" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3259" width="500" /></a><br />
The binding came out really cute – I love the yellow.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6s6-y8EYugg/U24ySAHmAZI/AAAAAAAAKSE/gZt-kclpLBk/s1600-h/IMG_3263%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3263" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ELO06ZefUnI/U24yTIAtNJI/AAAAAAAAKSI/PdtdLuZlZbA/IMG_3263_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3263" width="500" /></a><br />
The back is pretty simple. The blue polka dots make me happy happy happy – Phil Roberts Style.<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QPFFFpPx8Ds/U24yTgi1_ZI/AAAAAAAAKSU/wHTHwe5PLN0/s1600-h/IMG_3264%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3264" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zy_lTHaCy2M/U24yUKUXtZI/AAAAAAAAKSc/JYEuuiVOpC0/IMG_3264_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3264" width="500" /></a><br />
I can’t wait to wash it and see it get all puffy and precious. Then it will be all ready to wrap up for my Gracie-Grace’s birthday next Thursday.<p>I have enough fabric left for some shams, throw pillows, and valences, so I’ll get right on that…. in a month or six.Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-73949921599519055702014-04-20T19:03:00.003-05:002014-04-20T19:04:55.298-05:00Easter 2014<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r9BI9_-Jn1s/U1RbGvtHmXI/AAAAAAAAKLg/_PZkI7qQ7uc/s1600-h/IMG_3240%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3240" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z1WUUyqRYlg/U1RbHv5xWFI/AAAAAAAAKLo/1GkD-_Jb4co/IMG_3240_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3240" width="500" /></a><br />
We had a great day celebrating Jesus and family and friends. The kids were very excited to dig through their baskets when their eyes popped open.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-irKw2IYhBzk/U1RbJf-veQI/AAAAAAAAKLw/IwoJJ5sCiik/s1600-h/IMG_3161%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3161" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-snHo3nZTmWA/U1RbKOQzofI/AAAAAAAAKL4/ci7ioGI1yJs/IMG_3161_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3161" width="500" /></a><br />
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By some miracle, we were dressed for the 8:30 service with time to spare for pictures. I made Gracie’s dress (completely last minute – didn’t start it until Friday – which officially makes me a crazy person) and I LOVE it! She looked so precious. I can take pictures of that sweet girl ALL. DAY. LONG.<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HgBCDUgL11E/U1RbMheggVI/AAAAAAAAKMQ/VbPVxLy2F14/s1600-h/IMG_3184%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3184" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B_ZgBYRUtNI/U1RbNm7HvZI/AAAAAAAAKMU/RzAXcNtAA8M/IMG_3184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="356" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3184" width="500" /></a><br />
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All three of my guys were handsome as ever, too.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N822xGseuyE/U1RbVNe0pNI/AAAAAAAAKNg/6oCCcJEcqx0/s1600-h/IMG_3170%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3170" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3PTxreVb8tU/U1RbV-jnYEI/AAAAAAAAKNk/aAbPKvzYw-E/IMG_3170_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3170" width="500" /></a><br />
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We weren’t able to get a picture of all five of us, so we just took turn passing the camera around. Ben wanted to take one of me & Brian – my little future photographer. :)<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VR5eGFr1ipM/U1Rbdy88KRI/AAAAAAAAKOw/nafL-fX3WeU/s1600-h/IMG_3246%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3246" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aKPWo3a8rk8/U1Rbfbs9NgI/AAAAAAAAKO4/9dW_DqQoF8w/IMG_3246_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="489" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3246" width="350" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oJ9DsJ6N7ws/U1RblLbucCI/AAAAAAAAKPg/c0BH2GG7AWo/s1600-h/IMG_3211%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3211" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RABsh8Q8_ww/U1RbmCRhuxI/AAAAAAAAKPo/ZUxOVvdIOX4/IMG_3211_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="356" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3211" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fDPdYyRd3YA/U1RbpRQnAPI/AAAAAAAAKPw/ZPjEhlh9HfM/s1600-h/IMG_3231%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3231" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MpR43a89IdQ/U1RbqSc0_FI/AAAAAAAAKP4/qVg0wllGS70/IMG_3231_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="359" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3231" width="500" /></a><br />
The service was great – the kids went down to the altar and tore paper (representing Jesus being torn for us and how we need to be broken before him) and then taped all the colorful pieces to the cross to demonstrate how something beautiful comes from Jesus’s suffering and sacrifice. I love how FBC involves them in the service for these special celebrations.<br />
After church we came home and started lunch prep. The Monneys came over and we grilled and the kids played and played until we were all ready to drop (which is exactly what we did for a couple hours after our company went home.)<br />
Tonight we will hopefully get to make our Resurrection Cookies since we ran out of time yesterday.<br />
Happy Happy Easter from the Barricks!<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jWlIzQRbHmY/U1RbrprHN_I/AAAAAAAAKQA/8fpYPE63CbQ/s1600-h/IMG_3238%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3238" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--sXCAHxDh_g/U1RbsUEMnPI/AAAAAAAAKQE/g89tDLDIA10/IMG_3238_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="357" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3238" width="500" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-18036457782012415322014-03-22T20:00:00.000-05:002014-07-06T05:20:41.887-05:00Noah’s Spiderman Party!For this year’s party, Noah requested a “Pidah-mem Birfday” (aka Spiderman Birthday). His party was today, and despite the weather being pretty yucky, we had a really great time. First on the planning list was invitations, which I made in Publisher.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0VjdsAb_BKA/U0qFw1k20eI/AAAAAAAAKD8/8LxzukP59kY/s1600-h/Spiderman-Invite3.jpg"><img alt="Spiderman Invite" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AH4YnyUAZJI/U0qFxvNb4II/AAAAAAAAKEE/f_jXIjOm2DI/Spiderman-Invite_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="295" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Spiderman Invite" width="454" /></a><br />
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When Noah saw the invites, the first thing he said was “PIDAH-MEM!” The second thing he said, true to his form, was “I’m not wearing THAT shirt to my party!” He said he would be wearing an Aggie shirt – big surprise. I made him a Spiderman shirt, instead, in the hopes of getting him to agree to a color other than maroon.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lyQCPB0oCJU/U0qFyvnqUVI/AAAAAAAAKEM/SYp4oNKkIRE/s1600-h/IMG_25595.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2559" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VQK1qpmvrBI/U0qFzIWamDI/AAAAAAAAKEU/LzqxAIQzxXo/IMG_2559_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2559" width="454" /></a><br />
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It must have passed muster because he wore it without complaint on party day! <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P8t9VXU0x-4/U0qF0JwmV3I/AAAAAAAAKEc/NfYX9ofK67M/s1600-h/IMG_2705%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2705" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9Tl4PGaUdVg/U0qF0_ViNrI/AAAAAAAAKEk/jm80vcODupo/IMG_2705_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="327" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2705" width="454" /></a><br />
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Decorations were pretty minimal. I picked up a set of Spiderman table decorations…<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4n_O5VBa_vc/U0qF19sE2dI/AAAAAAAAKEs/fQKyO3YePl0/s1600-h/IMG_2700%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2700" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OD58zQfigQA/U0qF2u3-_RI/AAAAAAAAKE0/7cicvIE_6l8/IMG_2700_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2700" width="454" /></a><br />
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…and added these little “spider pops”.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sXCr7KhBauY/U0qF3TT-VmI/AAAAAAAAKE8/xL0GaAo9stc/s1600-h/IMG_2725%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2725" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g5vpxjh2RS4/U0qF4NIYUhI/AAAAAAAAKFE/HQxWa6S_cJE/IMG_2725_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2725" width="454" /></a><br />
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This larger-than-human sized balloon watched over the party from a high corner in the pavilion. Slightly creepy – but the kids loved him.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lu-dd7pCKFI/U0qF5GfTblI/AAAAAAAAKFM/TEU-aSlY-5A/s1600-h/IMG_2721%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2721" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oLWVrqTzKIg/U0qF5mewFTI/AAAAAAAAKFU/I9AZLB3xezw/IMG_2721_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2721" width="354" /></a><br />
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Noah was blessed to have most of his favorite people in attendance, and they wore themselves out on the playground.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fhz4RFGK8C4/U0qF668VVrI/AAAAAAAAKFc/jay47kf3k2I/s1600-h/IMG_2738%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2738" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--SnTv6IcT20/U0qF7qGLLiI/AAAAAAAAKFk/wFNHCXpXS94/IMG_2738_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2738" width="454" /></a><br />
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Rylan was in town, so he stopped by (along with the rest of the Collins crew).<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PWBIW4SpB4g/U0qF8qvZf9I/AAAAAAAAKFs/jJ28cGZTeSk/s1600-h/IMG_2730%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2730" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jLiT31ZGv10/U0qF9ZohzRI/AAAAAAAAKF0/3a_otBxkZcs/IMG_2730_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="327" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2730" width="454" /></a><br />
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Ben was thrilled to see Tanner and introduced him to one of his new buddies from church, Jake.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WYG8s2unQCI/U0qF-aJBLHI/AAAAAAAAKF8/WHLzo4KKlQ4/s1600-h/IMG_2734%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2734" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tEkWOQaztGY/U0qF_IcC0uI/AAAAAAAAKGE/ew9D-ctv-6w/IMG_2734_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2734" width="454" /></a><br />
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Gracie enjoyed some quality time with Grandad.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qQ2U8inKE9c/U0qGAPwYcvI/AAAAAAAAKGM/p-ZiOkiFKmo/s1600-h/IMG_2824%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2824" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bQvUwP7epsY/U0qGAwwBOmI/AAAAAAAAKGU/cypEdODfOOI/IMG_2824_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2824" width="354" /></a><br />
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Then she moved on to a yummy spider pop snack.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pn1-wIocYds/U0qGBZX44KI/AAAAAAAAKGc/Er4eYLyAfSc/s1600-h/IMG_2717%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2717" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9pibE9E2iBc/U0qGCHdY1OI/AAAAAAAAKGk/-EjGSO7YAK0/IMG_2717_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2717" width="354" /></a><br />
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Emily is another of Ben’s favorites (and Jake’s big sister). I can neither confirm nor deny that he declared his love to her in a Valentine’s Day card last month. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ih28a04gtZY/U0qGC9t9HnI/AAAAAAAAKGs/-y4yQ5aZeRE/s1600-h/03-14%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="03-14" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gf8Zo5q5dpM/U0qGDrbW01I/AAAAAAAAKG0/fqac-6FbAcY/03-14_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="03-14" width="454" /></a><br />
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Love these ladies! Fraunt Jen, Baby Brecken, and Emily’s mommy – Sara – holding Baby Abby.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wBKOjkC8SZs/U0qGErEKK0I/AAAAAAAAKG8/Zx5t8-UxD_k/s1600-h/IMG_2741%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2741" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qT39_KnV1Gg/U0qGFU_XX1I/AAAAAAAAKHE/0c2MaKhcONc/IMG_2741_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2741" width="454" /></a><br />
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Lunch was hot dogs, chips, cheese (Noah’s favorite) and fruit. (He specifically requested strawberries and we added in some grapes.)<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o0H-Ps3CckI/U0qGGNUL87I/AAAAAAAAKHM/hf4Y-JP9kok/s1600-h/IMG_2736%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2736" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Cv5LKii7JNE/U0qGGzrMDwI/AAAAAAAAKHU/HWsCD6LsmZo/IMG_2736_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2736" width="354" /></a><br />
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I think the birthday boy approved – judging by his ketchup/berry/cheetoh smeared face. :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NN_v-Mbhvh0/U0qGHqt2A2I/AAAAAAAAKHc/fIEuTBUufo8/s1600-h/IMG_2740%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2740" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UjX3ErIm4ac/U0qGIRRQlLI/AAAAAAAAKHk/LfznuuoYyYQ/IMG_2740_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="492" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2740" width="354" /></a><br />
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After lunch it was piñata time.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xUZOJaPYAEk/U0qGJYiEfJI/AAAAAAAAKHs/t2fRd_M1fAA/s1600-h/IMG_2710%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2710" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AXAhI2Fdyd0/U0qGJ073XyI/AAAAAAAAKH0/tCMBeJZoW0I/IMG_2710_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="497" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2710" width="354" /></a><br />
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Noah took the first couple of swings…<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c0XeECnxDbM/U0qGLNVyw8I/AAAAAAAAKH8/K1fhWK-ulTA/s1600-h/IMG_2747%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2747" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UX2hTlNYR-A/U0qGL2lSuAI/AAAAAAAAKIE/-mfkiOX_qjY/IMG_2747_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2747" width="454" /></a><br />
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…and then politely handed the baton off to the next friend in line. Noah Lambert (or “Other Noah”, as my Noah calls him) was up second.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fLz3RZH_tQo/U0qGM6IfmWI/AAAAAAAAKIM/LudRepXHAIo/s1600-h/IMG_2748%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2748" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GQbmPVpeRN0/U0qGN8tTdEI/AAAAAAAAKIU/UNToVXqhgXI/IMG_2748_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2748" width="454" /></a><br />
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Each kiddo got 1 turn before Ben went last and smashed our little crepe paper Spidey to pieces. Cole, Michael, and Rylan all had some pretty noteworthy swings!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rysCFK4-LMo/U0qGO4l7K0I/AAAAAAAAKIc/MCkL4I-MoX8/s1600-h/03-141%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="03-141" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wslnK_Mamgw/U0qGPl183JI/AAAAAAAAKIk/8Eq7bvLqQMM/03-141_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="566" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="03-141" width="454" /></a><br />
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Then it was a candy free for all.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dj5INS6dIBM/U0qGRfMG_8I/AAAAAAAAKIs/_GrvZgBCmc4/s1600-h/IMG_2768%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2768" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--98HpQM8xws/U0qGU0y36eI/AAAAAAAAKI0/Okm6hZSFjXw/IMG_2768_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2768" width="454" /></a><br />
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My little guys immediately dug into their candy bags. They fight like cats and dogs, but when the weekend was over and Michael went home, Noah kept asking about “Mitoll”. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XrsZpzvrcSc/U0qGVuHhFAI/AAAAAAAAKI8/OOYkO2SRkYg/s1600-h/IMG_2773%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2773" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jLt61W61UVs/U0qGWl8jgZI/AAAAAAAAKJE/LV6xZ5A-7gk/IMG_2773_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2773" width="454" /></a><br />
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Noah showed off his candy loot to Paw Paw & Dee Dee.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rlUZqWA6EbU/U0qGXS03pKI/AAAAAAAAKJM/D5TTyQQ9Juc/s1600-h/IMG_2771%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2771" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lWFlrLTKDjw/U0qGYdl_NqI/AAAAAAAAKJU/AaKOy7y97tY/IMG_2771_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2771" width="354" /></a><br />
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Before the party ended, we sang to Noah and cut his Spiderman cake.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vrag5Gz08QA/U0qGZPc6hWI/AAAAAAAAKJc/yL543mYt-sk/s1600-h/IMG_2715%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2715" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-McLT5kaYivU/U0qGaAKr_7I/AAAAAAAAKJk/drShAICnCco/IMG_2715_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2715" width="354" /></a><br />
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I love how his cake came out. My favorite part was the clock showing 6:15 – the time my Noah bug was born THREE WHOLE YEARS AGO!!!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ef6RL8ex3kQ/U0qGbc6Kt1I/AAAAAAAAKJs/IszDRf-xzjA/s1600-h/IMG_2726%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2726" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k3_PukEg4jY/U0qGcF9sJ4I/AAAAAAAAKJ0/QpBIktGEGF4/IMG_2726_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2726" width="454" /></a><br />
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My crazy guy – I apparently wasn’t cutting cake fast enough.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kY_GWX7jmPA/U0qGc55eoiI/AAAAAAAAKJ8/AKMYn8kyWD4/s1600-h/IMG_2783%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2783" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Uek6Uptjq4s/U0qGdVGLUwI/AAAAAAAAKKE/H-km-jvay4E/IMG_2783_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="495" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2783" width="354" /></a><br />
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He makes the best faces!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1PCJktLPTzs/U0qGeZYIitI/AAAAAAAAKKM/eypDNG5f-lo/s1600-h/IMG_2788%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2788" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TJbOpVKCpWI/U0qGe-rhxWI/AAAAAAAAKKU/jMkI6UvcldI/IMG_2788_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2788" width="454" /></a><br />
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We had such a great time! Noah gave each of his friends a Spiderman punch balloon as they left…<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1P2yqU-V3Xo/U0qGfxsBlQI/AAAAAAAAKKc/bY6TOrkKf-w/s1600-h/IMG_2711%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2711" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GC2c5546SyE/U0qGgpSU9dI/AAAAAAAAKKk/sm0k3WbytaY/IMG_2711_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2711" width="454" /></a><br />
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…and we had enough helium ballons for everyone to have one of those, too.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uii6VmklOjo/U0qGhl2XnzI/AAAAAAAAKKs/S6uhYwnI3Vw/s1600-h/IMG_2842%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2842" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vxND7mOvpmE/U0qGiaiUfyI/AAAAAAAAKK0/5IWX8JYjc-8/IMG_2842_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="492" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2842" width="354" /></a><br />
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As soon as we got home, all the kids needed a good scrubbing. I think that’s the mark of a successful party. :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N7PsyQ8A7GU/U0qGjBFB0EI/AAAAAAAAKK8/nB656e401Og/s1600-h/IMG_2857%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2857" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9Rdqb9DRL1Y/U0qGjw07IhI/AAAAAAAAKLE/OcSab2CPXV8/IMG_2857_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2857" width="454" /></a><br />
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Happy Happy Birthday to our Noah Bug and thank you to all of our sweet friends who celebrated with us!Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-85262498704104168412014-03-11T21:01:00.002-05:002014-03-11T21:01:52.265-05:00Boone Doggie<div style="text-align: center;">
We have a new family member! All five of us are completely smitten with a four legged, velvety eared, smoosh faced boy that came to make his home with us this past Friday! We would like to officially introduce Mr. Boone Doggie Scrumbles Barrick.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J4q5YANJuec/Ux-436e2W5I/AAAAAAAAJ_Y/sfP4mByTPQg/s1600-h/IMG_25095.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wqc5v-NrdF8/Ux-46gQUJ3I/AAAAAAAAJ_g/Dai6gPsaUsY/IMG_2509_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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It’s been almost two years since our sweet <a href="http://bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2012/04/letting-him-go.html">Army Dog</a> passed away. About a year ago, we decided that it was time to have a pup around the house again. We went back and forth over different breeds. We wanted a big dog for sure, but we wanted one that was calm and mellow like Army was. That’s how we decided on a Mastiff. From there we began to research breeders here in Texas and that google search introduced us to the American Mastiff and, specifically, <a href="http://www.fivebranch.com/">Five B Ranch</a> in Terrell, Texas. One visit to the website and we were convinced that we had to have one of these dogs!<br />
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We spoke to Lisa on the phone, filled out the application, and were placed on the waiting list in March of 2013. Then we waited and waited and waited while <strike>harassing</strike> chatting with Lisa monthly to get updates on the Five B crew. In October, we <a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2013/10/five-b-ranch.html">visited the ranch</a> and met with Lisa and all of her beautiful doggies. Now we were even MORE excited to get a puppy! <br />
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Fast forward to January 7th, 2014, when we found out that Bindi had a huge litter of TWELVE Bosco puppies! A short time after that, we learned that we would be bringing home Mr. Blue! (There he is, sleeping upside down by his Mama’s feet. Fun fact, at 9 weeks, that remains his preferred sleeping position.)</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dqKvbdU7LN8/Ux-47Xd3XvI/AAAAAAAAJ_o/538OwRHpp8A/s1600-h/Bindi%252520Puppies%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-qFw2WQA2m34/Ux-472NXqJI/AAAAAAAAJ_w/IpkGDb0fn1Q/Bindi%252520Puppies_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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We told Lisa that she would know which one was the Barrick puppy by his laziness. She sent us this pic and said, “I found your pup!” (Asleep in his food bowl. Priceless.)</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YiHXa1ERb38/Ux-48mhxQWI/AAAAAAAAJ_4/Y9W1hxIH5oE/s1600-h/Boone%2525202%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-HWzWLnz4_3o/Ux-49dkOZjI/AAAAAAAAJ_8/YTv4UoQS3LU/Boone%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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We really loved watching him grow in the picture updates our (wonderful, amazing, thoughtful) breeder would post. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IsKE_XlKPDQ/Ux-49_VAUgI/AAAAAAAAKAE/CGuyD035s1Y/s1600-h/Boone%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-1WpNdSFhTCY/Ux-4-cSa8II/AAAAAAAAKAQ/UhIlKDzsXGY/Boone%2525203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W2lyFQlddY8/Ux-5APk5YDI/AAAAAAAAKAY/gUNc_qKmmyA/s1600-h/Boone%2525204%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-P6CmO9_0zu4/Ux-5AoMtogI/AAAAAAAAKAg/h92_Nea7kEM/Boone%2525204_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Lisa posted these two pics of Bosco and the puppies on the same day (Boone is all the way at the end of the line), so I had to make them into a meme for her. I think Bos is mentally adding up the costs of puppy college.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KzL0X4hxxmY/Ux-7ah1RzqI/AAAAAAAAKCc/p1jwDTk7Yy4/s1600-h/02-141%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-F8kfg_UcXRE/Ux-7bVcx9NI/AAAAAAAAKCo/bo3oVlxGwww/02-141_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Here is our chunky monkey – looking so big – just a few days before we went to pick him up.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mOIFfXDLSzI/Ux-5BS6EZCI/AAAAAAAAKAo/isXu9BBmF_A/s1600-h/Boone%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-GzWr1qy0WUA/Ux-5B5TBz7I/AAAAAAAAKAw/XWueTD3gGE8/Boone_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Brian and I drove up to Terrell on Friday and then turned around and drove our little guy home.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JPfv0z5phcg/Ux-5Ct5Yw7I/AAAAAAAAKA4/UMByee7ezG0/s1600-h/pup%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-K35qMP3LjPI/Ux-5DQ4w2BI/AAAAAAAAKBA/w9wmNAU8LSU/pup_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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He was a perfect angel on the drive (which ended up taking SEVEN hours thanks to Spring Break traffic.) With the exception of a couple potty breaks, he pretty much just slept the whole time.<br />
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The kids are completely obsessed with him and are doing their best to become good little puppy trainers.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--nqE_5FqJJE/Ux-5EHiumpI/AAAAAAAAKBI/2Rr3ouuGRq0/s1600-h/IMG_2522%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-RQxw9zjnBt0/Ux-5EzXzSiI/AAAAAAAAKBM/qV1je9SEOIM/IMG_2522_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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It’s been really yucky and rainy, but the sun finally came out today! It was a great afternoon for some outdoor play time and a drive with the top down, wouldn’t you agree?</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BhGLEEcZ7CE/Ux-5FlbnVFI/AAAAAAAAKBY/dsVwym0BYjI/s1600-h/IMG_2539%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-w2wIUN5Erdw/Ux-5GPsW1LI/AAAAAAAAKBg/1Anl7EA_DYU/IMG_2539_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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His first vet appointment was this morning and Dr. Carriker was very impressed with how he looked (“He’s perfect!” he said), and with his gentle and calm demeanor. He is exactly 9 weeks old and 25 pounds even.</div>
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As Lisa promised, he spends a good bit of time doing this. (Still flat on his back – same as he was on Day 1.)</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fx7EAgynl4M/Ux-5HLeluUI/AAAAAAAAKBo/pybW0BUKfYw/s1600-h/IMG_2506%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-WyKkSbyLPLU/Ux-5IH9V51I/AAAAAAAAKBw/GOqpoyEozQU/IMG_2506_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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We are so in love with our new family member. He is the sweetest puppy and cute as he could possibly be! We are so grateful for Lisa and her family and their wonderful program at Five B, and we know that Mr. Boone will make Mama Bindi and Daddy Bosco proud!</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ndqK99eQqc/Ux-5IlZSyRI/AAAAAAAAKB4/aGpv6vWa9hc/s1600-h/IMG_2527%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-M0xoZekTZ8A/Ux-5JDxlqsI/AAAAAAAAKB8/STpBSJdmMw8/IMG_2527_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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-->Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-29657083307295396362014-02-28T14:09:00.000-06:002014-07-23T14:15:54.894-05:00A New Deck!<p>The deck that Brian built at our last house was one of our favorite features, so building a new one at this house has been pretty high on our wish list.</p><p>Brian did a lot of research and went through the permit and inspection process with this one since it was much bigger and higher off the ground than our last one. It was a HUGE project that took a ton of work. We were thankfully able to enlist the help of my dad, Brian’s dad, the guys in our church small group (who will work for pizza!) and even the kids. The hardest laborer through all of this was Brian, though. I know it tired him out to try to find time to complete it between his regular job, overtime, and other family events we had scheduled. It didn’t help that he would find a free afternoon to work and it would end up raining!</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5LBBFTJ5Yuk/U9AIMBwJtoI/AAAAAAAAKmQ/Ca6fNjiTDgM/s1600-h/10-131%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="10-131" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="10-131" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WuBopPaRpIQ/U9AIM4zNP8I/AAAAAAAAKmU/y5iC-hkhOug/10-131_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="348"></a></p><p>After many many months of starting and stopping, Brian was able to put the last boards down, attach the railing, and sign up for his final inspection. He passed with flying colors. (In fact, the engineer that he was working with praised him, saying that it was one of the sturdiest decks he’d seen in 40 years on the job!)</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e3t5c49Qd4A/U9AIN_aUEWI/AAAAAAAAKmg/aqC8UfwYBiY/s1600-h/IMG_2230%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2230" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2230" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mN3eR-VACtU/U9AIOtWyiTI/AAAAAAAAKmk/tLq8dupB0cI/IMG_2230_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p>Here she is all done. We’ll have to furnish it eventually, but for now we are enjoying the extra functional space out the back door and looking forward to having our new puppy play on it with us!</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MBwUQzHkCLA/U9AIPUTm6uI/AAAAAAAAKmw/DfFfARIfh3Y/s1600-h/1%252520Deck%2525202-28%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="1 Deck 2-28" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="1 Deck 2-28" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e0ShtY6Qcp0/U9AIP0MpqZI/AAAAAAAAKm0/wSCHzSBUQpU/1%252520Deck%2525202-28_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DempYac1M5Y/U9AIQiezQMI/AAAAAAAAKm8/AVaE6Z3kMKQ/s1600-h/2%252520Deck%2525202-28%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="2 Deck 2-28" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2 Deck 2-28" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rrYGK8Jvv2I/U9AIRIvzU6I/AAAAAAAAKnE/Ual-zVmUQas/2%252520Deck%2525202-28_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uK-Emt57eiI/U9AISbFGLQI/AAAAAAAAKnQ/inscc4fUxy0/s1600-h/3%252520Deck%2525202-28%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="3 Deck 2-28" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="3 Deck 2-28" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8XPnAjKuVWM/U9AITMULjwI/AAAAAAAAKnY/iAsvdlw8iKk/3%252520Deck%2525202-28_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p>I think it’s time for a deck warming party!</p>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-5656472185381954702014-02-22T11:58:00.000-06:002014-07-23T11:59:32.165-05:00Disciple Now<p>We had so much fun hosting for the Abbott Conference that we decided to do it again during Disciple Now a few weeks later. This time, instead of having 3 college girls, we had THIRTEEN 11th grade girls! </p><p>Suffice it to say, the house took a bit of a beating.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dYuTKtEplmg/U8_plxLu9CI/AAAAAAAAKlY/1cIYq6gTqgY/s1600-h/Disciple%252520Now%252520Collage%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Disciple Now Collage" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Disciple Now Collage" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I8ASIxuuE4I/U8_pmkrq37I/AAAAAAAAKlg/nK_fWFKK7vU/Disciple%252520Now%252520Collage_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="400"></a></p><p>Explosion aside, we had a great time. Brian grilled hamburgers and we ate out on the (now finished) deck.</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4U_Ps1mlnXk/U8_pnvfYBNI/AAAAAAAAKlo/4omLFwnLdTk/s1600-h/IMG_2398%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2398" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2398" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z820V6e_n6Y/U8_po61cvSI/AAAAAAAAKls/XU-MKo0qEVc/IMG_2398_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a> </p><p>The kids bonded with the girls. Gracie gave a very dramatic performance of Elsa’s “Let it Go” and everyone showed off their moves playing “Little Sally Walker.”</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vRmkR-wP6ks/U8_pqiXNuQI/AAAAAAAAKl4/GwcpwekRELU/s1600-h/IMG_2400%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2400" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qFG54eWOT-M/U8_prUkWfzI/AAAAAAAAKl8/4thWlXegb18/IMG_2400_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p>We are enjoying getting more involved in our new church. This was a fun and lively way to serve the high school students. :)</p>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-88972175555123492922014-02-17T10:37:00.000-06:002014-07-23T11:46:18.600-05:00Rodeo Time!<p>It’s February and that means it’s time for our annual trip to visit the Rodeo. We hit up all our regular spots and had a great time!</p><p>First the kids each got a quick lesson in calf ropin’.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GsU7KElBOA0/U8_ltpAvLLI/AAAAAAAAKiE/FIYhP9brev4/s1600-h/IMG_2282%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2282" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2282" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PdVl8vHFATA/U8_lunqS3sI/AAAAAAAAKiM/CNbXLWBqzb0/IMG_2282_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6DwYzXFfj9Q/U8_lwlg9uGI/AAAAAAAAKiU/04fzrea1kYw/s1600-h/IMG_2285%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2285" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2285" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r9sRFLFb3zk/U8_lxcnEKTI/AAAAAAAAKiY/H8iIrgJltZg/IMG_2285_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="386"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lFBtk1O-aEk/U8_lyS3xsCI/AAAAAAAAKig/c1vZZ4mb0KQ/s1600-h/IMG_2290%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2290" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2290" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qRVHMkN62vk/U8_ly7DDlnI/AAAAAAAAKio/jRuWGbEmZQs/IMG_2290_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="384"></a></p><p>Then it was on to the free samples for an afternoon snack!</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y6nfE8Ko6MM/U8_lz2WRAvI/AAAAAAAAKi0/GDbvA5s2rGw/s1600-h/IMG_2291%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2291" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2291" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5640MLP3qII/U8_l0uBUDlI/AAAAAAAAKi4/qOWLWOyQ5wA/IMG_2291_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmVF01EJF7WeN9VSO35uEt9JmaVMjutsmyM4fjUjWtHY06l19jSAJxyGeN0rPMb3TvuE6TalYLPloLG_TyyiDowltipWqpVrFRdVMusePvoEbQj0h1gzUFa4Rz_atzBSGAJCZsUrkOR8/s1600-h/IMG_2293%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2293" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2293" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8OU6oJ4ZCmI/U8_l2cymQvI/AAAAAAAAKjI/RPO-UbE590k/IMG_2293_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p>Once our bellies were full we made our way over to the petting zoo.</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PIIbOVqBseE/U8_l3MUSEfI/AAAAAAAAKjQ/Bg3ts_HmU1U/s1600-h/IMG_2301%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2301" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2301" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6AeIReLurfo/U8_l3lyY4lI/AAAAAAAAKjU/hrJnY9_zd6c/IMG_2301_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="387"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6PF23Rm17Ws/U8_l4WGsbNI/AAAAAAAAKjk/K6bH-Ir1mCA/s1600-h/IMG_2302%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2302" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2302" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H_UwNnyav2o/U8_l6Ly-lQI/AAAAAAAAKjs/cF7a39-dlww/IMG_2302_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p>We finished our day with dinner (dollar hot dogs!) and rides at the fair.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6Fi8IJvjCWE/U8_l84vU6QI/AAAAAAAAKj0/NI2TdPFUl0Y/s1600-h/IMG_2324%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2324" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2324" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Uy3f8l2T8Gw/U8_l9ijYb8I/AAAAAAAAKj8/ZZebKKm8iWg/IMG_2324_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zay2vqdDNyc/U8_l-hEay7I/AAAAAAAAKkE/qYj1qkSIiuQ/s1600-h/IMG_2338%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2338" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2338" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JxDuFYlD_-M/U8_l_aYOGyI/AAAAAAAAKkI/d9p_jVc3tM0/IMG_2338_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WlfEAG98-PU/U8_mACuo1aI/AAAAAAAAKkU/5EUOSZoHTbs/s1600-h/IMG_2346%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2346" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2346" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dCljlJFqCfw/U8_mBmV8qMI/AAAAAAAAKkY/gAySgreQH6w/IMG_2346_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JpHKlIDbWa8/U8_mCXNQucI/AAAAAAAAKkk/vTuD4X3cpak/s1600-h/IMG_2347%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2347" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2347" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-arl1mr8YuTE/U8_mDg2tcYI/AAAAAAAAKko/B9BqhKIPxjU/IMG_2347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iIwASki8d0s/U8_mEvQiu7I/AAAAAAAAKkw/9YYVbgeMxAw/s1600-h/IMG_2363%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2363" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2363" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pdij35pI6MI/U8_mF9IAI9I/AAAAAAAAKk8/1F2PpCvyLxo/IMG_2363_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p>Noah did plenty of rides, but he was a little peeved about getting left out of a few of them. Here he is trying to argue his case for meeting the height requirement. :)</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mY931_O9h94/U8_mGcV0JgI/AAAAAAAAKlE/hBrcEm5QS_U/s1600-h/IMG_2369%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2369" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2369" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f3cTj5700ao/U8_mHHDQHzI/AAAAAAAAKlM/g1juHpMDBrg/IMG_2369_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="384"></a></p><p>I have a goal to take the kids to see the actual rodeo and one of the shows next year… I love this annual tradition! :)</p>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-33082826455541543182014-02-14T10:43:00.000-06:002014-07-23T10:44:24.406-05:00Valentine’s Day<p>I was feeling particularly festive this year (maybe because Brian isn’t working as much February overtime as he typically does) so we went all out for Valentine’s Day this year.</p><p>I saw a few cute & easy ideas online, so the kids and I made their Valentine’s. Noah & Gracie had fun stuffing their baggies with snowman pieces.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WWd7Qh8sM2Q/U8_XsxoqiOI/AAAAAAAAKec/Z33Qugu91wU/s1600-h/IMG_2222%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2222" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2222" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BpE7Rq-utU0/U8_Xt3rQLOI/AAAAAAAAKeg/p-kl4Yrynh0/IMG_2222_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xaN1wGawOrg/U8_XumPDLzI/AAAAAAAAKeo/4lTAvkDdUhw/s1600-h/IMG_2223%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2223" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2223" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8OKs1QKRxLs/U8_XvEszzrI/AAAAAAAAKew/CQV-BIVN2Sw/IMG_2223_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="386"></a></p><p>Frozen – creeping into every aspect of your life since November 2013.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7b62D3L8n8U/U8_XwJlUJhI/AAAAAAAAKe4/5KKuMFaKqqk/s1600-h/IMG_2233%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2233" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2233" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rsZc3-SvP-M/U8_Xwg0yyvI/AAAAAAAAKfA/Mryg9ghl5u0/IMG_2233_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p>Ben signed each of his cards and then carefully chose which classmate would get which dinosaur.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bV2qiESpGko/U8_XxtUm2dI/AAAAAAAAKfI/HApvSZYrhlI/s1600-h/IMG_2241%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2241" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2241" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ND4ktO3Zznk/U8_Xyist6NI/AAAAAAAAKfQ/kdL93DOeRW8/IMG_2241_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="386"></a></p><p>I got up a little early that morning to make the kids a love-themed breakfast. Brian had brought home some pretty flowers – they became a beautiful centerpiece for our Valentine’s table.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yf0wvyd4MjY/U8_Xzje2s5I/AAAAAAAAKfc/W46CC3LnmiQ/s1600-h/IMG_2249%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2249" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2249" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ggSLBB9hmWo/U8_X17I0EXI/AAAAAAAAKfk/aPpvBwYJEZk/IMG_2249_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p>The menu included heart shaped cinnamon rolls and pink milk!</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jrOSns7I4bY/U8_X3BKRVjI/AAAAAAAAKfs/y4stnJhS7cA/s1600-h/IMG_2242%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2242" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UDVX9lglAzE/U8_X3zAciBI/AAAAAAAAKf0/JXIwpxL5QG8/IMG_2242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yaQcxmGvEhU/U8_X49AbiuI/AAAAAAAAKf4/eWm36c8MHzM/s1600-h/IMG_2252%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2252" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2252" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HViiMTLKcZc/U8_X5h72ytI/AAAAAAAAKgA/xxCULBaPEAM/IMG_2252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="300"></a></p><p>Nom Nom Nom</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j7BIxjHD7Ag/U8_X7NeM64I/AAAAAAAAKgM/_WL2q5ddWiE/s1600-h/IMG_2253%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2253" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2253" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7a_OBsatSv0/U8_X71lwUuI/AAAAAAAAKgQ/4tlqdGDwuvU/IMG_2253_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6uaMLtVwMYs/U8_X8uGgUuI/AAAAAAAAKgU/9vnTEQE_mhA/s1600-h/IMG_2251%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2251" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2251" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CWcZyY5eqL8/U8_X9Tx4_bI/AAAAAAAAKgg/3tsqhIu3Xio/IMG_2251_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="384"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dHyhC1yMqTI/U8_X_lgQzDI/AAAAAAAAKgs/4fVdStdx6-Q/s1600-h/IMG_2259%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2259" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2259" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q7j1STTm7T4/U8_YArc_LaI/AAAAAAAAKg0/X10J4UFw-9c/IMG_2259_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="281"></a></p><p>The final part of our celebration was a fancy steak dinner, complete with little mail boxes for gifts and sugar cookies for dessert (that I made at a girls’ night with my Sunday school chicas!)</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Gst4KV9wMwE/U8_YBx-uSBI/AAAAAAAAKg8/nSvCl4IkgZg/s1600-h/IMG_2261%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2261" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2261" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TjZ4CLMrPoA/U8_YCg2bppI/AAAAAAAAKhE/LEt0iUv57Dw/IMG_2261_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uE-vr9rYgAY/U8_YDIFKq1I/AAAAAAAAKhI/xQ2Tm9jZpJg/s1600-h/IMG_2274%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2274" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2274" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E0h0OFNy_cE/U8_YDl_Np7I/AAAAAAAAKhU/DUtWrijRlm8/IMG_2274_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hdXCoV56Q7g/U8_YFSbx6XI/AAAAAAAAKhc/DHYaeQssKT8/s1600-h/IMG_2268%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2268" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2268" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vOzXFrIer_E/U8_YHbrGFxI/AAAAAAAAKhk/EYK89DLBWPU/IMG_2268_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="300"></a></p><p>I love my four Valentine’s! They make everything more fun!</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cYQdQRI0MB0/U8_YILLKcTI/AAAAAAAAKhs/LSBAvI8MSFM/s1600-h/IMG_2277%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2277" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6yB21SSRpao/U8_YJHwQZ6I/AAAAAAAAKhw/BJb19Rwk8Uw/IMG_2277_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-26052901915101828752014-02-08T08:07:00.000-06:002014-07-23T09:13:05.305-05:00Work Hard, Crash Hard<p>Brian is working hard to finish up the deck and Noah has been one of his best helpers.</p>I was barely able to get him bathed before he crashed on the couch.</p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uxCvTrIfuRc/U8_BwFMzm2I/AAAAAAAAKd0/2Ft-Qjyyv9A/s1600-h/IMG_2213%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2213" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2213" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nhk0AK5efr4/U8_BxCEVu5I/AAAAAAAAKd4/ama16zJ0JLI/IMG_2213_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p>I woke him up to put on his jammies and he caught a second wind. He ran around like a CRAZY person for 20 minutes. Just when I thought I’d have to send him back outside to get out the rest of that energy, I looked over at the couch and saw this. </p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DxxY94I0zNg/U8_ByN8NiCI/AAAAAAAAKd8/Aj8xJCcdB4I/s1600-h/IMG_2220%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2220" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2220" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZawHSNKyoU8/U8_Byg6IH9I/AAAAAAAAKeE/T7dCY8jhiCs/IMG_2220_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="300"></a></p>Being a 2 year old carpenter is tough business.</p>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-49928089642611095642014-02-06T08:58:00.000-06:002014-07-23T08:59:17.779-05:00ABBOTT & Dippin’ DotsLast weekend we had the pleasure of hosting 3 sweet Aggie girls during the Abbott Family Leadership Conference. We’ve never had the opportunity to do this before, and I am so glad we did because it was a wonderful experience. I hope we can continue to do it year after year!<p>During the conference the delegates meet with businesses and people that “live and operate with strong moral, ethical, and community values.” (That’s from the Abbott <a href="http://abbott.tamu.edu/">website</a> – where you can read more about the conference.) They learn about leadership, service, and building strong families. By the end of the weekend I was seriously lamenting the fact that I never got to participate when I was a student!<p>We picked the girls up on Thursday evening and took them home and fed them dinner. Then we just had a casual evening of chatting and getting to know each other. We made them breakfast on Friday morning and sent them on their way to their activities around town. We met up with them on Friday night of for a yummy dinner at Paloma Blanca with all of the other delegates and their host families. They spent the night with us again on Friday, and then we had breakfast and said good-bye to them on Saturday morning. We were SO SAD to see them go! The kids especially loved being with them – there was pretend sword fighting, card games, and other miscellaneous shenanigans. Our time together was too short!<p>I remembered to snap a picture before the girls headed out on Saturday morning. We loved having you, Sarah, Hannah, & Katie! Please come back and visit us!<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2YYPHrh0AdY/U8--9xdfPtI/AAAAAAAAKdE/qSsiFmxRANo/s1600-h/IMG_2188%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2188" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v_bU5XA3yxI/U8-_AnaxmII/AAAAAAAAKdI/5UPA06Ucrgk/IMG_2188_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2188" width="420" /></a><p>On an unrelated note, it snowed Dippin’ Dots in San Antonio this morning.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nZgUt1Uxr9s/U8-_BSEciMI/AAAAAAAAKdM/P1tOFigjdO4/s1600-h/IMG_2195%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2195" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MmyCvG8TGSw/U8-_CG7PEfI/AAAAAAAAKdU/Lv-0HbdvvIs/IMG_2195_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2195" width="419" /></a><p>For the record, it did NOT taste good. :(<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wni-uwFgvN0/U8-_CutJewI/AAAAAAAAKdk/zUMIpaO8imU/s1600-h/IMG_2193%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2193" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CmK0IdLzqWU/U8-_EVtNlPI/AAAAAAAAKdo/NRQMpumc7Lk/IMG_2193_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="387" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2193" width="275" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-42378504993416075602014-01-20T16:12:00.000-06:002014-07-21T17:37:16.479-05:00Christmas in GilmerWe were supposed to have our Barrick holiday celebration over Thanksgiving, but because of Brad being so sick, we rescheduled for January.<br />
Consequently, Barrick Family Thanksgiving became Barrick Family Après-Christmas. It was tons of fun because we were able to exchange our gifts in person and the kids had a grand time trying out new toys and roaming around Grammy & Grandad’s together.<br />
Grace, our social butterfly and animal lover, enjoyed quality time with her cousins AND Grammy’s cats.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bs0gk_6F4vE/U82VcV6fQXI/AAAAAAAAKZs/7sQezXGQSgI/s1600-h/IMG_2176%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2176" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tIr_5vqyv3E/U82Vdxux_hI/AAAAAAAAKZ0/8pJr2OAveQI/IMG_2176_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2176" width="419" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PzvqkSb2_Ek/U82VgJLL_CI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/U3pSFvhaumY/s1600-h/IMG_2099%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2099" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vEmYK7VA8zk/U82VhgTBhWI/AAAAAAAAKaE/9YNFkgKH_kM/IMG_2099_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2099" width="418" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LKY6mygvb9k/U82VjJJJOSI/AAAAAAAAKaM/hqEA-AUDn9U/s1600-h/IMG_2137%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2137" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6Oi_w7Z_Sv0/U82Vj1RbS3I/AAAAAAAAKaQ/Q-5uQqRpStk/IMG_2137_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2137" width="350" /></a><br />
All the kiddos loved rides on the 4-wheeler, but Ben was in his element. This was the first time he was allowed to drive by himself! He was a natural. :)<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K-bwgAhgcUQ/U82VlufyP6I/AAAAAAAAKac/iQYTExF8Hho/s1600-h/IMG_2167%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2167" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Nv3FYjJl18Y/U82VnyuUy1I/AAAAAAAAKag/OuP_ND5BH-M/IMG_2167_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2167" width="419" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9WvHkE-5dwc/U82Vow41DrI/AAAAAAAAKas/J8CpnF1tpZ0/s1600-h/IMG_2160%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2160" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EBukKBBcaXc/U82Vpw-01pI/AAAAAAAAKa0/5yf5L-mzj1o/IMG_2160_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="493" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2160" width="350" /></a><br />
Yes, this photo was staged. Noah wasn’t quite ready to start driving his siblings around.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ma7SgBjltnA/U82VrGOoAJI/AAAAAAAAKa8/hoiAM8Pshl4/s1600-h/IMG_2152%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2152" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s84iqtKEgTw/U82Vr5mL1UI/AAAAAAAAKbA/LE3W8ECoIW0/IMG_2152_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2152" width="420" /></a><br />
We put forth our best effort to try and get a group picture on Sunday morning before church. It’s not easy to get 6 littles to look at the camera at the same time.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xx14MDYzxAI/U82VswzU-mI/AAAAAAAAKbM/yzDUlyAILM0/s1600-h/IMG_2067%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2067" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QXgagkRT-JE/U82VtyN30II/AAAAAAAAKbQ/zrm7apeA4qI/IMG_2067_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2067" width="420" /></a><br />
By this time, Noah & Emmeline were DONE.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IwVRQ-2wNPk/U82Vu1AgN8I/AAAAAAAAKbc/vDqBWeQLiI8/s1600-h/IMG_2089%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2089" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xg9Jb2ihu9U/U82Vw5EEr6I/AAAAAAAAKbk/snux_QubbDM/IMG_2089_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2089" width="420" /></a><br />
In the world of Grace, family photos are not complete unless the cat is included.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BrnP8Ns90Hg/U82VyQyw_2I/AAAAAAAAKbs/d1oh7ZqDTn8/s1600-h/IMG_2055%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2055" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7PYIQ-Q046E/U82VzFIMQ5I/AAAAAAAAKb0/koKAW84ezuA/IMG_2055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2055" width="419" /></a><br />
I love seeing all these little people together – it always makes me wish we lived closer. So many sweet smiles!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uAKM5R1772I/U82V0CbBYMI/AAAAAAAAKb8/b8y-jx6-oA8/s1600-h/IMG_2134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2134" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UmOk6Zv5gwQ/U82V17rVC1I/AAAAAAAAKcE/iEHq3HW1yF0/IMG_2134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2134" width="420" /></a><br />
Emmeline thinks her Aunt is a little crazy.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qI0CnoLB7WI/U82V217MqKI/AAAAAAAAKcM/Hy5nl9INo7k/s1600-h/IMG_2144%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2144" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Pg8v_Ld3EnY/U82V3-fuxUI/AAAAAAAAKcU/D74S_nvCtAA/IMG_2144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2144" width="419" /></a><br />
You can see in most of the pictures that Grace’s face was looking a little rough. She is making a tradition of injuring herself whenever we have big get-togethers in Gilmer. In 2012, it was a cat attack, this year it was a tumble out of the tree house. Oh, there was SO MUCH BLOOD… and her sweet face is puffy as can be. We are going to have to bubble wrap this girl next time we come for a visit. It obviously ruined the rest of her trip.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8dfugW74opE/U82V6OqbJ0I/AAAAAAAAKcc/25495OpBkws/s1600-h/IMG_2142%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2142" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P3LvZDR76cw/U82V72oAhxI/AAAAAAAAKck/eFH0mA8xM2s/IMG_2142_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="491" style="background-image: none; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2142" width="350" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-8150575971657849362013-10-29T19:52:00.000-05:002014-10-27T21:29:59.642-05:00My Despicable Three<div style="text-align: center;">It’s costume time again and I am beyond thrilled that the gremlins agreed to a theme again this year. Last <a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2012/10/second-star-to-right-and-straight-on.html" target="_blank">year</a> I really had to sell the idea of dressing as a group (although the final choice of trio was brought to a kids’ vote). This year, there was barely any discussion. We walked out of the theater after seeing Despicable Me 2 and we were all on a giggling high. I said, “It would be fun to do Despicable Me costumes for Halloween,” and Ben & Grace’s faces lit up! (Noah doesn’t really care what he wears. Like Seinfeld, he will wear whatever he has to wear to get the candy.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0nqTBZMJ1PY/UnBSs9jbcsI/AAAAAAAAJ7M/pYOTEhLD-MA/s1600-h/IMG_1421%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1421" border="0" height="357" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v5IBoewGssE/UnBSuywp0wI/AAAAAAAAJ7U/U04fWiihZ0E/IMG_1421_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1421" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to summer movie fun, these costumes have been in the works since July. In fact, I purposefully bought cheese balls for Ben’s birthday party so that I could save the big plastic jug and turn it into a minion head. I thought I was so ahead of the game. Then I went and waited until the last minute to get any of the actual costume making done (surprise, surprise). I sewed my last stitches this afternoon… just in time to hand them over to B, G, & N and have a little photo shoot when they came home from school. There were some frustrating parts, but I am mostly pleased with how they all turned out. I am 100% pleased that the kids are excited to wear them! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Now on to the nitty gritty of costume making… these photos were my inspiration:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rjlG7GIrbYM/UnBSvQDD-gI/AAAAAAAAJ7c/2BU1_RxgYiA/s1600-h/10-13%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-13" border="0" height="312" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tyDz0BLazU8/UnBSv2uapCI/AAAAAAAAJ7g/DBBqfIn7REo/10-13_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-13" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I made Noah’s costume first, since it was the most involved. I referenced <a href="http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/coolest-homemade-minion-halloween-costume-idea-3.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> and tweaked things as I went. I cut down the container and stuffed some batting inside the head to make it fit better. I drew the mouth where Noah’s head landed and cut that out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kQdSOBJL-T4/UnBSwjsGIkI/AAAAAAAAJ7s/X-tOy9Plv-s/s1600-h/10-134%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-134" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BVjFUPMrXwo/UnBSzE6DN9I/AAAAAAAAJ70/SOjPnmGWZOk/10-134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-134" width="454" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wrapped more batting around the outside before covering the entire thing in yellow fabric. (My mom picked up two plain yellow shirts from a screen printing shop. I used one as Noah’s top and the extra one to cover the head.) The goggles are made from wide black elastic, two canning jar lids spray painted silver, and eyes that I found online and printed. The hair is made from pipe cleaners. The teeth are white foam that I duct taped to the inside of the head. For the overalls, I looked around to try to find some cheap ones online, but I kept striking out. (I needed overalls for both Noah & Gracie). Then I remembered that I had a ton of heavy blue fabric left over from a previous project. I bought a pattern at a 99¢ sale (<a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/patterns/55098" target="_blank">McCall’s 6592</a>), grabbed some buttons when I was in Hancock’s, and ta-da… two pairs of overalls for $3.50.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The finishing pieces of N’s Minion costume were black gloves (Wal-mart) and black boots (Ben’s old rain boots covered in black duct tape). I do not think he could be any cuter. My favorite part? He calls himself a "BeeDo BeeDo”.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0AFsOm3t_Ws/UnBS0YOuP2I/AAAAAAAAJ78/c_wkboPHc14/s1600-h/10-133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-133" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OcipPcxqhEM/UnBS1_FZDII/AAAAAAAAJ8E/Vbi8SDW9XxU/10-133_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-133" width="454" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Little Agnes was up next. I made G & N’s overalls at the same time, so that was done. The only difference is Gracie’s have red buttons, a plain front, and I cuffed the pants up higher the way Agnes’s are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-edGxPflotwE/UnBS2iwiw4I/AAAAAAAAJ8M/EU-BtcS3QTk/s1600-h/10-135%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-135" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NXzllvshrMg/UnBS4WZZjFI/AAAAAAAAJ8U/yoZBNrpC4Eo/10-135_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-135" width="454" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Gracie’s t-shirt is from Wal-mart. (It was in the little boy’s section and had long gray sleeves that I just cut out. Her yellow socks are also from Wally World, and her red scrunchy may have been mine back in the day. (Children of the 80’s… unite!) The biggest challenge of the Agnes costume was the hair. I feel like the wig is a complete train wreck (don’t look too close) but it will have to do. I found it at Jo-Ann's for a few bucks. Have you ever tried to put a cheap wig of hair up into a pony tail (and have it stay)? Well, good luck to you. It was/is a mess. I stitched a toilet paper tube wrapped in black paper to the scalp of the wig and then tied black string around the hair all the way up to make it stand up (something Gracie specifically requested.) I’m fairly certain it will not survive the rigors of trick-or-treating/Fall carnival going… but at least I got a picture of her stand up hair. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Grace’s favorite part of the costume is the stuffed unicorn. She gladly shouts, in her best Agnes voice, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!”</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-InAg8vLzoUM/UnBS5mV44QI/AAAAAAAAJ8c/bgqP3pNNltw/s1600-h/10-132%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-132" border="0" height="501" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iGrBf6dsAtc/UnBS7CRpVTI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/TaCsTqPZ4Eo/10-132_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-132" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben’s costume was last and it was definitely the most simple. The black knit pants and oversized sweatshirt came from… you guessed it… Wal-mart. (At this point I think I deserve some sort of compensation for typing “Wal-mart” so many times in one post). I cut the ribbing off the sleeves and bottom of the sweatshirt and hemmed them to make them look more like Gru’s jacket. I cut the front of the sweat shirt right up the middle and attached an oversized silver zipper. The scarf is made from gray and black fleece and is just pieced together. His bald cap was the hardest thing to track down because I needed it in a child size. I finally ended up finding a kid’s “Lex Luthor Bald Cap“ online. He is wearing his homemade football pads (from two years ago) under his shirt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I think Ben makes a handsome Gru… and he certainly has some Gru-like moves. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kp-QOyc51Hc/UnBS8P_cBbI/AAAAAAAAJ8s/vVX40VZK4Ow/s1600-h/10-131%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="10-131" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qR2_MBakmao/UnBS9Rt2AhI/AAAAAAAAJ80/sy-WRp_FamA/10-131_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="10-131" width="454" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you when the costumes are done and everyone is happy? Have a Despicable Dance Party! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hb40y2cTO-4/UnBS-6HdWgI/AAAAAAAAJ88/bJ-ng7I2Qvc/s1600-h/IMG_1409%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1409" border="0" height="358" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kRPmIAMzlmc/UnBS_zwb62I/AAAAAAAAJ9E/DDIO8f2rwvU/IMG_1409_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1409" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my goodness, I love them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Halloween, ya’ll! I hope you get lots of treats. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">PS. Check out our other Halloween themes:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-of-boo-sulley.html" target="_blank">Monster’s, Inc.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2011/11/frito-pie-fright-night-take-2.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur Train</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-costumes.html" target="_blank">Football</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2012/10/second-star-to-right-and-straight-on.html" target="_blank">Peter Pan</a></div>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-13742311362346621102013-10-14T19:59:00.000-05:002014-03-11T20:00:24.616-05:00Five B Ranch<div style="text-align: center;">
The Barrick family has been on the waiting list for a puppy from Five B Ranch for about seven months now, and today we had the opportunity to stop by on the way back from Grammy & Grandad’s house. We had such a good time and are even MORE excited about the day we will get to bring one of these awesome dogs home!<br /><br />Gracie really liked Bindi Blue. She was a big, sweet girl who will hopefully be having her first litter this winter.</div>
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<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tes2xNA3KTA/Ux-uerqKUDI/AAAAAAAAJ9g/t6zvvc9G_6Y/s1600-h/IMG_1259%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-bwtcbm3lMOo/Ux-ufrjgxEI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/uH1KTsjwFfE/IMG_1259_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br /><br />This little cutie is Bitzy Lou. She was a pup from Lisa’s summer litters that is going to be joining the breeding program when she’s all grown up.<br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vOGDNQr7vio/Ux-ugCi8FbI/AAAAAAAAJ9w/UzCUiedKfRk/s1600-h/IMG_1294%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-cuWqqZLHb14/Ux-ugvoo26I/AAAAAAAAJ94/f5hKsSGV6sE/IMG_1294_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br /><br />My personal favorite Five B doggie is Mr. Bosco. Oh my goodness, I have never seen such a big dog!<br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hmoVqyqkSPM/Ux-uhZuH5OI/AAAAAAAAJ-A/_SNKv8PJkxA/s1600-h/IMG_1291%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-io1ebS-IqL0/Ux-uh3LhisI/AAAAAAAAJ-I/nCOoDKOvuQA/IMG_1291_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br /><br />Pictures do not do him justice. His head… that ginormous head. It was insane. He could not be sweeter, either. Noah was a little scared of him at first.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/--YzhEg6dFcg/Ux-ujeHIRFI/AAAAAAAAJ-Y/Q4b6fEFcgQI/IMG_1262_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /><br /><br />Once he figured out how gentle he was, he just wanted to give him treats...<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-DOYTkmD_398/Ux-uknd8gyI/AAAAAAAAJ-k/gmVeaQStkUs/IMG_1278_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /><br /><br />…and maybe take him for a walk. (We all thought it was best to veto that idea.)<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-uKonGfctGpk/Ux-ul_mUQHI/AAAAAAAAJ-4/bOUpui-81UA/IMG_1279_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /><br /><br />Lisa has two breeding males, but I’m really hoping we get to bring home a little Bosco boy. I mean, seriously, how fantastic is he?!<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-nluqZta605s/Ux-unC4TeBI/AAAAAAAAJ_I/zkJI28q1Zoc/IMG_1276_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></div>
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Be on the look out for the new Barrick boy – hopefully coming to our family sometime in the next year. :)</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DcWnofJIQ3Q/Uj9WO1xMh8I/AAAAAAAAJ3c/u8r-r0cee28/s1600-h/IMG_0714%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0714" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5TwhhVxMuEM/Uj9WPV8W51I/AAAAAAAAJ3k/DrTxVOkUhro/IMG_0714_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0714" width="424" /></a><br />
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PLUS<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NJtjbs3Fw0Q/Uj9WPz4EBVI/AAAAAAAAJ3s/HxJgGNhZGks/s1600-h/IMG_0759%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0759" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HyjHMYThFAs/Uj9WQAMpE7I/AAAAAAAAJ3w/E8UJOYw19_Y/IMG_0759_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0759" width="454" /></a><br />
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= birthday bliss!<br />
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Snuggles from my gremlins.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ai_9xXtBocw/Uj9WQ066d9I/AAAAAAAAJ38/y2ejuJsS61Y/s1600-h/IMG_0737%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0737" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HIwu2EdcNRo/Uj9WRcArIUI/AAAAAAAAJ4E/fI9Lk31GEA4/IMG_0737_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0737" width="422" /></a><br />
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My handsome date.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BHh8RUmYuaU/Uj9WST6wRsI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/v1H_5j9PFAs/s1600-h/IMG_0758%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0758" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-exQ8Koyz7Xs/Uj9WTJimHQI/AAAAAAAAJ4Q/21itBuHpdA0/IMG_0758_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0758" width="423" /></a><br />
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Happy 34th to me and thank you thank you to the hubs and kiddos!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mcWEiiA1PZo/Uj9WToQZGcI/AAAAAAAAJ4c/IScqDgpCNO4/s1600-h/IMG_0755%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0755" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0i35nc0VdrM/Uj9WUNdZnYI/AAAAAAAAJ4k/tlNY6GUN4ms/IMG_0755_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0755" width="329" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-60928616544438158142013-08-16T20:35:00.000-05:002013-09-21T20:42:16.730-05:00Gracie’s New HaircutGracie’s hair has been growing and growing and looking a little scraggly lately. Brian was heading out to get his & Ben’s hair cut and he offered to take her, too. I sent him with a picture of a little girl style with notes under it like "side part on the right" and "a little face frame" and "long layers". God bless him, he didn't bat an eye. Is he not the sweetest hubby/daddy ever?<br />
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I apparently over estimated the skill level of the stylists at Great Clips, but Gracie still came home with a pretty cute bob. The most important thing was she was loving it!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eKCYgLsLyjY/Uj5J-Yp7_oI/AAAAAAAAJ20/EBYX_ZmTkYI/s1600-h/IMG_0701%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0701" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7DczUK6LKVY/Uj5J-8_8icI/AAAAAAAAJ28/l8Vuvt1BKOU/IMG_0701_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0701" width="329" /></a><br />
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One of her swim team coaches gave her that little heart necklace. She loves it and wears it all the time. She calls it her “Am-wu-yet” (Amulet).<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6s4FHQXC0Ds/Uj5J_Tr0-fI/AAAAAAAAJ3E/gzia92mjU04/s1600-h/IMG_0703%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0703" border="0" height="462" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GSS9qAokby8/Uj5J_1d-JRI/AAAAAAAAJ3M/PVA44I0ER6s/IMG_0703_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0703" width="329" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-79911238140477292392013-08-05T13:03:00.000-05:002013-09-21T20:54:32.699-05:00Austin GetawaySweetie, Paw Paw, Dee Dee, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Curtis and Niki all joined together to give Bri and I EIGHT kid free days! I took the week off of work and Brian took a couple days and we headed out of town for a short vacation.<br />
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We made reservations to go zip-lining Sunday morning, so we left the house bright and early. We drove the scenic route and were able to take our time. We hit up a couple antique places on the way, including one that was in and around a family’s home in the middle of nowhere. There were animals (in pens and wandering around) everywhere – alpacas, geese, cats, dogs and 3 or 4 large birds in cages. It was a little different.<br />
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We arrived at <a href="http://www.cypressvalleycanopytours.com/">Cypress Valley Canopy Tours</a> and our tour guides got us started right on time. There were 7 people total in our group and we enjoyed talking and laughing with them while we zipped through the trees – I can’t wait until the kids are old enough to do it so we can go back!<br />
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Geared up and ready to go!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AuatlWQN2gc/Uj3ehdj4_5I/AAAAAAAAJzs/qE8l8675sFk/s1600-h/IMG_0013%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0013" border="0" height="462" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zLCEhfah1ZQ/Uj3ehz1M-uI/AAAAAAAAJz0/RZ8ojM_NRCo/IMG_0013_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0013" width="329" /></a><br />
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There were a number of these rope bridges to cross between the platforms. The pictures do not adequately portray how high up we were… eeeeee!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SImFBk-Yi3A/Uj3einDhrYI/AAAAAAAAJz8/T_y-2w0h1y4/s1600-h/IMG_0009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0009" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aA7RN9zB400/Uj3ejJOQH6I/AAAAAAAAJ0E/bc7BBnOPq2g/IMG_0009_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0009" width="329" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L0QQjQ0xcpE/Uj3ejgbsSaI/AAAAAAAAJ0M/blk2SA8VNLU/s1600-h/IMG_0011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0011" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rHlBclGg3Jc/Uj3ekKrfxbI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/4LXirW8AblU/IMG_0011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0011" width="329" /></a><br />
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We didn’t have the good camera with us, so it was hard to get pictures of us actually zip lining. But I promise we really did it – multiple times – and it was really fun!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wtCgZfXI0Qg/Uj3ektaiSGI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/7DGk68qAd88/s1600-h/IMG_0024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0024" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hHT35jJwBDI/Uj3elNxh1gI/AAAAAAAAJ0g/Asz7uJkJP0c/IMG_0024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0024" width="217" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OA6SRE7LcbY/Uj3elfUjr1I/AAAAAAAAJ0o/Jz958qOlaDM/s1600-h/IMG_0026%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0026" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-06kUb4J1a7s/Uj3el8KFV8I/AAAAAAAAJ0w/5GkiBJ6Wf4w/IMG_0026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0026" width="218" /></a><br />
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This was the last zip line, which was also tandem. Brian and I raced. I cheated and went on “2”.<br />
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He still won. I’m not bitter.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QXy7fLqTWZ0/Uj3emvbptVI/AAAAAAAAJ08/jYuC4zVsb-s/s1600-h/IMG_0020%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0020" border="0" height="319" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bL3WUVmgn2M/Uj3em7-pBnI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/DF-oRrUX6Vo/IMG_0020_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0020" width="424" /></a><br />
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Zip lining was definitely a success! When we were all done we were ready to head to our hotel and change out of our hot and sweaty clothes. We may have also taken a nap. We had to balance out the excitement of the morning! :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6-rd9uWVjy0/Uj3enhXBncI/AAAAAAAAJ1M/B3sCmR-WagY/s1600-h/IMG_0030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0030" border="0" height="305" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DazVISj_Ji4/Uj3eoAMW6uI/AAAAAAAAJ1Q/ckwNYz_bYLo/IMG_0030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0030" width="424" /></a><br />
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On Sunday night we stayed at a hotel near the airport (courtesy of a free night voucher from our travel agent neighbor – thanks Melissa!) Although the location didn’t include the best scenery, the staff was so nice and it was very clean and the room was pretty and comfy. Two thumbs up for the Courtyard Marriott.<br />
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After nap time we headed out to dinner and a movie. We ate at the Catfish Parlour (very yummy) and then we saw The Heat (funniest movie we’ve seen in a LONG time). My stomach hurt when it was over from laughing so hard for so long. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S7HMFX90nak/Uj3eoiuLELI/AAAAAAAAJ1c/vEEGxwml_nE/s1600-h/IMG_0032%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0032" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_-UsQVqBPRw/Uj3epEQUORI/AAAAAAAAJ1g/3vs7jA3F2mo/IMG_0032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0032" width="423" /></a><br />
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On Monday, we checked out of the hotel and headed out to bum around Austin. We walked around and did some shopping on South Congress and ate lunch at Guero’s. Then we drove over to the antique mall. We saw lots of foofy antique stuff but also a lot of cool things like over sized wall letters and stuff. We searched and searched for a “B” but they were fresh out. We did find a large framed mirror that will be perfect for our guest bathroom for $40 – a friggin’ steal! Even the lady who checked us out looked at the tag in disbelief.<br />
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When our shopping was done, we headed over to our second hotel – The Barton Springs Resort. Unfortunately there was a mix up with our reservation and instead of having a suite for us at Barton Springs, like we requested, the lady we were working with mistakenly made our reservation at the Omni near the airport. You know, the side of town that we had just left. It eventually got worked out, although they would not agree to honor the rate we were quoted for a suite and gave us a regular room instead. We were not too impressed with the staff at the Omni. They acted like they were doing us a big favor by letting us stay there, and the room was “eh.” I was much more impressed with the hospitality at the Airport Marriott. They treated us like royalty even though they knew we had a free voucher. That spoke volumes.<br />
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I will say that the property at Barton Springs was BEAUTIFUL. This was the view from our room. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wnfqnkPAH_U/Uj3epk1pfNI/AAAAAAAAJ1s/K9bFyFryvgM/s1600-h/IMG_0051%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0051" border="0" height="319" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sDNINEY0_hI/Uj3eqImQyeI/AAAAAAAAJ1w/QMegmCVuHsU/IMG_0051_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0051" width="424" /></a><br />
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For dinner we went to the Oasis on Lake Travis. Last time we were there was for one of our dating anniversaries (2002? 2003?). A lot of the property has been rebuilt since then after a bad fire destroyed a lot of it in 2005.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5_f3MUJoiaw/Uj3eqq2EspI/AAAAAAAAJ18/UhdYsXiibBk/s1600-h/IMG_0039%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0039" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yqpncMSvNas/Uj3erPl1ISI/AAAAAAAAJ2A/tMrqN6PPIDg/IMG_0039_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0039" width="329" /></a><br />
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It was crazy to see how low the lake is now. The view was still gorgeous.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gJXzbLc2_a0/Uj3erkpdJgI/AAAAAAAAJ2M/oPo4TkVdAIo/s1600-h/IMG_0037%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0037" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-knlfcJdXka0/Uj3esAwiCqI/AAAAAAAAJ2Q/sG9EUuPJd-Q/IMG_0037_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0037" width="424" /></a><br />
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We probably should have waited until a little later so it wasn’t so hot – the sunsets out here are awesome!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XZF99iBnY2o/Uj3esiSyNDI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/DGSaAMjdLFo/s1600-h/IMG_0038%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0038" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pAeCDMQxzuM/Uj3es9dZBZI/AAAAAAAAJ2g/GLDHGSogrtg/IMG_0038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0038" width="424" /></a><br />
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We wanted to hit the pool/hot tub after dinner so we headed back to the hotel. At one point, Brian asked, “Do you think we should go to a club or something?” After we both stopped laughing we pulled into a Red Box and picked up a movie to watch after pool time. We are a wild pair, let me tell you! <br />
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It was a really fun mini vacation! We are so grateful that the kids were in good hands and enjoying themselves in Louisiana. Next up is trying to get some work done on the kitchen cabinets while the gremlins are still gone. :)Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-88198317285153646022013-07-26T10:39:00.000-05:002013-09-21T10:43:00.403-05:00New FriendsWe’ve been having a few play dates lately with some peeps that we’ve just met at church. It’s such a blessing when the mommies, daddies and kiddos all hit it off! They invited us over for swimming and lunch.<br />
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(Ben, Caleb, Jake, Emily, Grace & Noah – Baby Levi was off somewhere taking a nap).<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m5AoI2zie2Q/Uj290GDwCuI/AAAAAAAAJzU/D9Wi9qTYjDs/s1600-h/IMG_0650%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0650" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l2l_7r6KD9Y/Uj290wv8W6I/AAAAAAAAJzc/cSRHegMRkfk/IMG_0650_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0650" width="454" /></a><br />
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Thank you to Sara and the mini Sisams for a fun day ~ and especially for keeping the Teddy Roosevelts flowing! ;)Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-7076241400965124842013-07-25T10:20:00.000-05:002013-09-21T10:25:57.692-05:00Summer Trip to the ZooIt’s been forever since we’ve spent time with the Ivans and Heistands, so Missy, Kristi & I decided to meet at the zoo to see some animals and play in the river area.<br />
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It was so fun to see these two friends play together – they’ve been buddies since the day Ben was born. :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yfg-6NlWU1w/Uj24W-We8YI/AAAAAAAAJxM/2No7XeyOWuM/s1600-h/IMG_0616%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0616" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VphQd4nT4yU/Uj24Xn9-5AI/AAAAAAAAJxU/aQrwqNf1Et8/IMG_0616_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0616" width="423" /></a><br />
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In fact, the picture below was taken almost exactly 7 years ago! <br />
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(Funny side note – in this shot Missy had just found out she was pregnant with the twins – although I don’t think she knew it was twins just yet. During our zoo trip, she announced that she is pregnant for a 3rd time – little Ivan #4 is due in February!)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-StC2-wgyemU/Uj24YCbF-nI/AAAAAAAAJxc/iSZyd0-Js7g/s1600-h/Ben%252520and%252520Mia%252520and%252520Missy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ben and Mia and Missy" border="0" height="437" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KZdjBT0GmI4/Uj24YgEzJII/AAAAAAAAJxk/Q45Rbn_hsIA/Ben%252520and%252520Mia%252520and%252520Missy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ben and Mia and Missy" width="329" /></a><br />
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We visited the bears, monkeys, reptile house & hippos on the way to the river bank. We also stumbled across a little nature activity and the kiddos jumped right in.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-03GZZ2Vz6EE/Uj24Zao-3AI/AAAAAAAAJxs/pkSvFxS647A/s1600-h/IMG_0623%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0623" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w7yDhb4oeuc/Uj24Z5-q0XI/AAAAAAAAJxw/QiHTLdr-1vY/IMG_0623_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0623" width="423" /></a><br />
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We grabbed a quick lunch and then it was swim time. Everyone was grateful for the cool, shady river bank and a chance to dig and splash!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sviT54teEc4/Uj24amnKIkI/AAAAAAAAJx8/qDOpFSGMlzA/s1600-h/IMG_0631%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0631" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AiHU1N-i9QQ/Uj24bMppzyI/AAAAAAAAJyE/yH0OVrU8Oys/IMG_0631_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0631" width="423" /></a><br />
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Oh my Gracie Girl<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uo9LIv8qXqA/Uj24b0C37jI/AAAAAAAAJyM/kk8k-Q5B8O4/s1600-h/IMG_0627%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0627" border="0" height="457" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v5VxsPJB-As/Uj24cY2eRtI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/YJ-NhqreibM/IMG_0627_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0627" width="329" /></a><br />
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And my Noah Bug!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ay1x5i4KR1I/Uj24cuPQl6I/AAAAAAAAJyc/h1Obl7VM8i0/s1600-h/IMG_0642%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0642" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fF8jfz2Cd1I/Uj24dHY7xvI/AAAAAAAAJyg/FqFgIviXzzk/IMG_0642_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0642" width="329" /></a><br />
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Group shot on the river bank.<br />
(Padon was hiding behind Gracie.)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hg-U37SRYno/Uj24d1ySqgI/AAAAAAAAJys/pwKIFmYHj70/s1600-h/IMG_0638%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0638" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZxQP1XS-Px8/Uj24eQmHPUI/AAAAAAAAJyw/RsWeGmoSjYI/IMG_0638_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0638" width="422" /></a><br />
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One last group shot before heading home.<br />
It was a hot, fun day with great friends!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kpXcZSlqIQA/Uj24fEqFAXI/AAAAAAAAJy8/KK8N2hZiE2k/s1600-h/IMG_0644%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0644" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KmaQPVVT2x4/Uj24fgiX4LI/AAAAAAAAJzA/NBeCBM5_y3k/IMG_0644_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0644" width="424" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-11911978825410167352013-07-15T23:29:00.000-05:002013-09-21T00:42:05.262-05:00McKenna Children’s MuseumI’ve been wanting to take the kids up to New Braunfels to check out their children’s museum, so I was really excited that Brian bought some tickets when they popped up on Groupon. The kids really enjoyed the indoor and outdoor play areas (although it was a little drizzly the day we went). I took way too many pictures, but there was just so much to see! :)<br />
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Na na na na na na na na…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGpVwWIQMxWRzYLTMnYlyTz1TbVOxqA_8OL3tUv_WehNN_lKHcQWS6fzEn-OGITy_-NjII3CTUJCwxEzQGymjUAfXf1eGbTyyo1CYAlzUBhVokBT_ScJibMll7pSkIXrMJJarjc9sdM0/s1600-h/IMG_0472%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0472" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N_NJruNK9fg/Uj0vS8IelvI/AAAAAAAAJqo/c2xRvvt4DHo/IMG_0472_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0472" width="329" /></a><br />
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BAT BEN!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-groRLjtRxWw/Uj0vTfoy1kI/AAAAAAAAJq0/cCzD1R_mBdI/s1600-h/IMG_0473%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0473" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WxkDrXZrEeY/Uj0vT2whLWI/AAAAAAAAJq4/44OVxD18QNs/IMG_0473_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0473" width="454" /></a><br />
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They had a small aquarium with some alligators and turtles in it, which apparently caused Ben to make this creepy face.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nVpPqZqE2C0/Uj0vUc4qvjI/AAAAAAAAJrE/-9K4bBnpRPA/s1600-h/IMG_0489%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0489" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AvwNl14qUnk/Uj0vU4Ed_KI/AAAAAAAAJrI/FekK2ShpK1c/IMG_0489_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0489" width="454" /></a><br />
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We headed outside the first chance we got (while there was a break in the rain). Noah made fast friends with Mr. Seal.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K4TmN4xby60/Uj0vVf4n1eI/AAAAAAAAJrU/Z3HRRvykp_4/s1600-h/IMG_0491%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0491" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ru_HM-MSAhM/Uj0vV8sALeI/AAAAAAAAJrY/tw-ZN3697FQ/IMG_0491_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0491" width="454" /></a><br />
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Then all 3 gremlins hopped up onto Mr. Camel.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UOPnW5U8OvU/Uj0vWeXyknI/AAAAAAAAJrk/gfaLhrZ6Jlg/s1600-h/IMG_0531%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0531" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Omt5eqXKvzc/Uj0vWy4BXhI/AAAAAAAAJro/FpXQO0W76vQ/IMG_0531_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0531" width="423" /></a><br />
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Noah tapped out some sweet tunes on the piano…<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iXrp1Nyp9l0/Uj0vXSrdt5I/AAAAAAAAJr0/irOaIVfXM5k/s1600-h/IMG_0494%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0494" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g9mD2yISUUw/Uj0vX1t0wiI/AAAAAAAAJr8/-WluoqvlvyA/IMG_0494_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0494" width="329" /></a><br />
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while Grace made her own music on the xylophone.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6NQ-xqU7S24/Uj0vYpnWVII/AAAAAAAAJsE/7CZaPgROCUQ/s1600-h/IMG_0496%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0496" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fcPL357_i2c/Uj0vZecaCvI/AAAAAAAAJsM/gL1BrS2X0w0/IMG_0496_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0496" width="425" /></a><br />
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Brian & Ben were testing out the different elements on the ginormous water table.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PN2uGpSH4Xw/Uj0vZ4Io7iI/AAAAAAAAJsU/BsHrIXMLOWE/s1600-h/IMG_0503%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0503" border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULI4PMZfAa8LwWVv3pOT1OeKInjsPtTHQzfOO7SOkdEzNR-MTKPDqXj9RIPtgvIp950oP1xAIHRiFAtFzKy_Mr7QpUaGussCwFZ_p4-C0iJH_WJwlYIW3NVDmxANwph23MkvCtmZmENk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0503" width="329" /></a><br />
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Speaking of ginormous, they had this really cool climbing thingy. You can see teeny Grace starting to make her way up.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6mGPm8zT0I8/Uj0va3JuAMI/AAAAAAAAJsk/hMa5fOd2Zug/s1600-h/IMG_0498%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0498" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rwFmm-R5iOU/Uj0vbgpYUUI/AAAAAAAAJss/9RPKJnKN-ow/IMG_0498_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0498" width="329" /></a><br />
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And there’s Ben all the way at the top.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VQK831O5-WY/Uj0vcPH-ojI/AAAAAAAAJs0/tE3b5zkzoes/s1600-h/IMG_0507%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0507" border="0" height="462" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ztja4sGc4b8/Uj0vcv-f2DI/AAAAAAAAJs8/3WF4z4cWkHU/IMG_0507_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0507" width="329" /></a><br />
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Ben put together this see saw in the foam area and then he took his brother for a ride.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GuOpdbXn3CI/Uj0vdZYPQEI/AAAAAAAAJtE/ffO1PvKbPxw/s1600-h/IMG_0525%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0525" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hA_3JQ8OEto/Uj0vd0nJh_I/AAAAAAAAJtI/LYIVwX6qYLA/IMG_0525_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0525" width="424" /></a><br />
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After the kids tried everything outside, we headed back in. Grace went straight for the grocery store.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k-gB8gASaxY/Uj0veerfMnI/AAAAAAAAJtU/oQE7t5mlCJA/s1600-h/IMG_0539%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0539" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-16kxVSrwk1M/Uj0vez0R-KI/AAAAAAAAJtY/Cu7fq8kXU5A/IMG_0539_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0539" width="424" /></a><br />
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Noah, knowing how much his sister loves carbs, reminded her not to forget the bread.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BRRnCJhuMak/Uj0vfd2ADXI/AAAAAAAAJtk/DUVBmYquVOg/s1600-h/IMG_0593%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0593" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_qXAExVD67g/Uj0vf5UGIcI/AAAAAAAAJto/iLgNHKGDhs8/IMG_0593_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0593" width="424" /></a><br />
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With the shopping done and the groceries put away, we headed to the hospital. The boys did a full work up on Daddy in the ambulance.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d8nOuDIKJnM/Uj0vgY5XrHI/AAAAAAAAJt0/bt0ILa29eRY/s1600-h/IMG_0600%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0600" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SYgwea8EudU/Uj0vg4lid7I/AAAAAAAAJt4/cAjXHcwJnUU/IMG_0600_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0600" width="454" /></a><br />
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Gracie scrubbed in just in time to admit this newborn into the nursery.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z_exzeMqy6Y/Uj0vhXcacVI/AAAAAAAAJuE/-AnJSLjMJMk/s1600-h/IMG_0549%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0549" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lCBrJHiXcX0/Uj0vhmglZnI/AAAAAAAAJuI/YLTH4O3q7XE/IMG_0549_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0549" width="423" /></a><br />
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She gave him a clean bill of health.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuqyA_Qmoy-umpYi4to6UKv0Qj8-f-nfO2nJVS4u785wBRFX9l20kz8OTXlE6sNuY8xH-SGQqJHxWecFTkoVrj2gQKQdlErXlV7z8uCc4fyrC4mW2cWI7Agdx0P829pVmQbv3DGrYLWg/s1600-h/IMG_0548%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0548" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HOvIBAMrRs0/Uj0viucGyTI/AAAAAAAAJuY/7tazuZrU3fs/IMG_0548_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0548" width="424" /></a><br />
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Noah headed to the next room to play Dance Dance Revolution (or whatever this floor-video game thing was).<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K3r_5Esndnw/Uj0vjFVwkGI/AAAAAAAAJuk/6Y5QDtEn-Yg/s1600-h/IMG_0554%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0554" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ndmOz1zrslk/Uj0vjlNrllI/AAAAAAAAJuo/WxObBoFYIi4/IMG_0554_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0554" width="424" /></a><br />
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My junior scientist spent some time looking at slides.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gxzrt5rtWhk/Uj0vkAmfJZI/AAAAAAAAJu0/BPHbWhWvx0M/s1600-h/IMG_0602%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0602" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H-Dwy6xW2sQ/Uj0vkke5MNI/AAAAAAAAJu4/Pbo20dZv6Ss/IMG_0602_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0602" width="423" /></a><br />
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Brian did a few more activities with Ben while I took Grace & Noah into the art room.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bzK2xN-OkIc/Uj0vlB7DXdI/AAAAAAAAJvE/nkdfFgnhAJ0/s1600-h/IMG_0558%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0558" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4LDfZQruqd0/Uj0vljBtaGI/AAAAAAAAJvI/pEYSnpUZeBI/IMG_0558_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0558" width="425" /></a><br />
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I love the colors Noah chose for his painting.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sQy4eRMjN7k/Uj0vmAHgrII/AAAAAAAAJvU/WM__Yk8M6Pw/s1600-h/IMG_0560%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0560" border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZhk9g_lBfN7u1AHrjEF1E39K6GTOQ3qhfuSr1TmPMQSv1MRd4zOOatqroUXoY-6aPfVimznMIsAmawl1-AHM0iEF7-NNboyGON3uigED-sty-1KnnmXkPpYCgJmUvGB6Sm5xc4JozWM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0560" width="329" /></a><br />
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I did NOT love how he sucked on his paint-covered fingers when he was done.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-icFSzJtZUZk/Uj0vnHYxPrI/AAAAAAAAJvk/3yobH2qFuho/s1600-h/IMG_0565%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0565" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bAdNGQXs69w/Uj0vnjh2cmI/AAAAAAAAJvo/Uzy_yK35vUI/IMG_0565_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0565" width="422" /></a><br />
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Brian came in to check on us and it was a few minutes before I realized he didn’t have Ben with him. I went out to look for the man child and found him wandering around looking worried and sad.<br />
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His art project pretty much says it all.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PNktlhhXz_E/Uj0voFUfbDI/AAAAAAAAJv0/v6F4bDeW2Us/s1600-h/IMG_0566%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0566" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WpvJLMq_fYs/Uj0vol8e0II/AAAAAAAAJv4/1rYLFgUdQ88/IMG_0566_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0566" width="423" /></a><br />
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“Please tell me where your going from now on!!!! (angry face)"<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0xKbD9zAtlo/Uj0vpOveXOI/AAAAAAAAJwE/fa1Mhyw3P3U/s1600-h/IMG_0568%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0568" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UcAxGF0wozE/Uj0vpp0x6zI/AAAAAAAAJwI/JoOLS7Seres/IMG_0568_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0568" width="424" /></a><br />
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One of the last areas we visited was the space station. Ben put on an astronaut uniform.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cqAMFfE_p_g/Uj0vp9YulBI/AAAAAAAAJwU/1El2jG5IKlQ/s1600-h/IMG_0575%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0575" border="0" height="462" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WxDUf_5Urco/Uj0vqc_Wz8I/AAAAAAAAJwY/ACFZyZKt8Ks/IMG_0575_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0575" width="329" /></a><br />
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Then we took turns seeing how fast we could play the sort the planets game. Brian competed with his eyes closed.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zOuAvG7Kvio/Uj0vquoxqxI/AAAAAAAAJwk/vmz4goAMas0/s1600-h/IMG_0576%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0576" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V_dcbidW174/Uj0vrCS5OzI/AAAAAAAAJwo/AfA8gpdZV68/IMG_0576_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0576" width="423" /></a><br />
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The boys headed outside to run around for a few more minutes while Gracie played dress up on the prairie. She and I were sitting on the teeny couch in the cabin having a nice tea party when a kid climbed through the window behind us and shouted, “I’m robbin’ yo house!” There’s nothing like a little pretend crime to bring you back to reality.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nBIIRzqRVrc/Uj0vrn7wNUI/AAAAAAAAJw0/Ig-0NvhvcUM/s1600-h/IMG_0609%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0609" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-450k-4JOL08/Uj0vr5_mTKI/AAAAAAAAJw4/DQXy2Z21kbM/IMG_0609_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0609" width="354" /></a><br />
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Make-believe burglaries aside, we enjoyed ourselves and would recommend visiting the McKenna Children’s Museum – especially if you can catch one of the Groupons for a deal on admission!Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-68152896268789392782013-07-13T23:38:00.000-05:002013-07-15T08:10:21.781-05:00Ben’s Alien PartyIt took Ben FOREVER to decide on a birthday theme this year. I finally had to threaten to re-use all of the <a href="http://bgbarrick.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-my-little-pony-party.html">My Little Pony</a> decorations in order to get him to make a decision. He quickly came up with an “Out of Space Alien Party”. It was really fun to involve him in so much of the planning now that he's older. He helped me pick the alien to go on his invitations and informed me that he didn’t want his picture on it (like Gracie’s had) because “Everyone I’m inviting knows what I look like.” Fair enough. :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hkPNFgYQHWo/UeN8OFWKFqI/AAAAAAAAJHc/JxfJY00OEM0/s1600-h/Alien%252520blog%252520version%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alien blog version" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-F04xsWd-EC8/UeN8O30vcDI/AAAAAAAAJHk/OTSJ8QcUZ4w/Alien%252520blog%252520version_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alien blog version" width="454" /></a><br />
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We did it at the pool again this year. Good thing because I think<sup></sup> it was 286° outside.<br />
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The decorations were all blue, green & orange to match his invitation.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aGfz9tZE170/UeN8PunqL6I/AAAAAAAAJHs/hvHq9nCP_6g/s1600-h/IMG_0390%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0390" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ki6yLGdQWjQ/UeN8QBsKdFI/AAAAAAAAJH0/isNM9af6Pb0/IMG_0390_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0390" width="423" /></a><br />
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Ben & Brian (& Pinterest) helped me to come up with space themed foods. We had orbit oranges, asteroids (cheese balls), extra-terrestrials (teddy grahams), rocket fuel (orange kool-aid), & planet pops (chocolate covered marshmallows).<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I7cnkkQitzA/UeN8QmWm8rI/AAAAAAAAJH8/Zt0N7mJYNNM/s1600-h/IMG_0383%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0383" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0-fPkySy2Mg/UeN8RHJDXdI/AAAAAAAAJIE/_inhKAv3ync/IMG_0383_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0383" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s0Q6i8YDkt4/UeN8RpAzXEI/AAAAAAAAJIM/sosFvKcZscw/s1600-h/IMG_0384%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0384" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K679evZ0pbQ/UeN8SQ9R8YI/AAAAAAAAJIU/OsOLk_GroUc/IMG_0384_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0384" width="354" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uI5ZiypEnbU/UeN8Sw1KiGI/AAAAAAAAJIc/aDq-FDC-SrQ/s1600-h/IMG_0382%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0382" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3aELurHczuI/UeN8Td8Pi2I/AAAAAAAAJIk/TC3jJlgeHgM/IMG_0382_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0382" width="424" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jjtB0KrvRY0/UeN8T3GPpWI/AAAAAAAAJIs/c-9jzlmHtMs/s1600-h/IMG_0391%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0391" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7Ooq0zglFK0/UeN8UlFJ8FI/AAAAAAAAJI0/qyA9EjHI3c4/IMG_0391_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0391" width="354" /></a><br />
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I would like to go on the record and say that the marshmallow pops were a hot mess (figuratively and literally). They were advertised as an “easy alternative to cake pops". While I’ve never made cake pops, I can say that these weren’t “easy” and certainly didn’t take 20 minutes as the tutorial promised. They also turned into gooey blobs within seconds of being set on the table due to the aforementioned inferno-like temperatures. Ah, well, live and learn.<br />
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I’m melting… melting!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qVEtC_2yZko/UeN8VCDtsqI/AAAAAAAAJI8/RYK60DKk5bg/s1600-h/IMG_0381%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0381" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3YAnW4YO5Hg/UeN8VssqmaI/AAAAAAAAJJE/U2cAlS0GaBc/IMG_0381_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0381" width="354" /></a><br />
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I pinned a bunch of different space and alien cakes that I thought I could maybe pull off and Ben picked his favorite. He requested a flying saucer one. The party started at 4 p.m. I finished the cake at 3 p.m. Slightly stressful. Why can I not learn to decorate the cake AHEAD OF TIME?!?!?! It was all worth it ~ Ben loved his cake and the “red alien with 4 eyes, 3 horns and fangs” as requested.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s-q9YnCVa_8/UeN8WL1BSiI/AAAAAAAAJJM/qs_XSJwGyw8/s1600-h/IMG_0388%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0388" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rnr8_ymPPaA/UeN8WlOF_RI/AAAAAAAAJJQ/VCocNmYqgkw/IMG_0388_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0388" width="354" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SXnxQhPTMM8/UeN8XeebTGI/AAAAAAAAJJY/TQ2p3VedWng/s1600-h/IMG_0379%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0379" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lovPo8SJX1w/UeN8XzI5Q4I/AAAAAAAAJJg/f1_YODyMKZ8/IMG_0379_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0379" width="454" /></a><br />
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We also had cupcakes with little mini aliens on top (fondant wrapped gum-balls).<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zjsK4WyAdwY/UeN8YdDo6qI/AAAAAAAAJJk/WD5mWZ4_d6U/s1600-h/IMG_0385%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0385" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8aIAZx056OY/UeN8Y1WFMdI/AAAAAAAAJJo/Yj1meeLpiYE/IMG_0385_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0385" width="454" /></a><br />
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Ben & his guests got right to playing and splashing around in the pool.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U1owU6VKjY8/UeN8ZtUD5lI/AAAAAAAAJJw/LP5XMIWmBlM/s1600-h/IMG_0412%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0412" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oiWnKyPuydo/UeN8ac6ivUI/AAAAAAAAJJ4/r8YK62RORXs/IMG_0412_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0412" width="454" /></a><br />
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Grace & Noah also found pool buddies to hang out with.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZN71BR9Ev_8/UeN8a27bPZI/AAAAAAAAJKE/eQSAW81an0w/s1600-h/IMG_0407%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0407" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pwHrp-dpQlc/UeN8blAnxGI/AAAAAAAAJKQ/3mKjn3zaVmk/IMG_0407_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0407" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H739rE_kWD4/UeN8cSQDvxI/AAAAAAAAJKc/9kGAiMuZjhI/s1600-h/IMG_0400%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0400" border="0" height="327" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XMApcAT8Qsw/UeN8dGDlyAI/AAAAAAAAJKk/l6Fv7KkHBIA/IMG_0400_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0400" width="454" /></a><br />
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Then we took a quick break to eat the planet pops before they completely liquified.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HqMqyyujEqM/UeN8dtD-ObI/AAAAAAAAJKs/MwesJ46sigY/s1600-h/IMG_0416%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0416" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wjYrDgiEtos/UeN8edFcx3I/AAAAAAAAJK0/I5XXp8-T9OQ/IMG_0416_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0416" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oqvWfx_F6dM/UeN8e8yQGFI/AAAAAAAAJK8/yYTPDZbVFyk/s1600-h/IMG_0418%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0418" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IqrK0sw2whI/UeN8fm1rzII/AAAAAAAAJLE/exndeAmUsSk/IMG_0418_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0418" width="354" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AjdRm7Nht-Y/UeN8gZKN9JI/AAAAAAAAJLM/7ptcjHxT3sg/s1600-h/IMG_0421%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0421" border="0" height="327" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dmr4ShIEU8Y/UeN8hPc21HI/AAAAAAAAJLU/oWZYFu8-7Tc/IMG_0421_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0421" width="454" /></a><br />
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After pops there was a bit more swimming, and then the pizza arrived.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-42m5yk-NnYo/UeN8h0LwYhI/AAAAAAAAJLc/0McdFxpG5Po/s1600-h/IMG_0424%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0424" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-roFsa3OoKIQ/UeN8iXKBDYI/AAAAAAAAJLk/v-xuGjPkyG4/IMG_0424_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0424" width="454" /></a><br />
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This is how aliens eat pizza.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eWm2kPDOF40/UeN8jJ7AtlI/AAAAAAAAJLs/7eew93f7az8/s1600-h/IMG_0423%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0423" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uvcSIF-Oy70/UeN8jhNimxI/AAAAAAAAJLw/TRRVlPCRvmQ/IMG_0423_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0423" width="454" /></a><br />
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Gracie and Daddy enjoying their dinner together.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mtzlafPeDd8/UeN8kvVCy2I/AAAAAAAAJL8/LOr23KkMlHk/s1600-h/IMG_0426%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0426" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N_u13LqWpHU/UeN8lOGJuiI/AAAAAAAAJME/t9g7zyVjKdk/IMG_0426_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0426" width="454" /></a><br />
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For a game, Brian led the boys in a round of Frisbee golf. It was really simple and fun and the Frisbees doubled as flying saucer favors for our friends to take home with them.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BJ-1AjOdG2o/UeN8l7iC6DI/AAAAAAAAJMM/L18Xyhb3G8Q/s1600-h/IMG_0432%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0432" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uEvW6WAJL60/UeN8mZPy_wI/AAAAAAAAJMU/fVe8_bOUZJw/IMG_0432_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0432" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-29vM0RtL8oc/UeN8nBsADRI/AAAAAAAAJMc/Ny3iANHV6sw/s1600-h/IMG_0436%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0436" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_nIKiX0u0Uo/UeN8nthMJXI/AAAAAAAAJMk/zt6FAvJaU40/IMG_0436_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0436" width="454" /></a><br />
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After Frisbee, it was time to sing and eat cake!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3Lbk98JjE8U/UeN8pWMnpuI/AAAAAAAAJM8/TIv5J46jKbg/s1600-h/IMG_0442%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0442" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DtxgExQh7QQ/UeN8p01UvOI/AAAAAAAAJNE/_5nf1t6iNOU/IMG_0442_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0442" width="354" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EF8E-HkRrd8/UeN8qgNZqlI/AAAAAAAAJNM/AyGD8wIU50E/s1600-h/IMG_0445%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0445" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6TxhLqwTgBk/UeN8rGW0SWI/AAAAAAAAJNU/9eT266ipe6o/IMG_0445_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0445" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-80792ZAZh9U/UeN8sHE3F2I/AAAAAAAAJNg/b8ltuXvZMmU/s1600-h/IMG_0448%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0448" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qGj-_Czd5hQ/UeN8ssu30QI/AAAAAAAAJNo/rhtVoIlva5E/IMG_0448_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0448" width="454" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VN1ss0_6Vvs/UeN8tWj2tgI/AAAAAAAAJNw/6sefwW5gzUE/s1600-h/IMG_0460%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0460" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vQAAOPQviqY/UeN8t9Xz0HI/AAAAAAAAJN4/yP_NZfNHUnU/IMG_0460_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0460" width="454" /></a><br />
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Ben had a blast and we are so grateful for all our sweet friends and family who celebrated with him! <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QMpjv5od9SI/UeN8uqWR1WI/AAAAAAAAJOA/bJ5u8N8LZ5c/s1600-h/IMG_0452%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0452" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bqxCF4KJ6AQ/UeN8vVLQU9I/AAAAAAAAJOI/DXJt8l6iHyU/IMG_0452_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0452" width="454" /></a><br />
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Happy Birthday, Ben! We love you as big as the (outer space) sky!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4JfJNxZ7pJA/UeN8wKV09gI/AAAAAAAAJOQ/OG-KbOYPVL8/s1600-h/IMG_0395%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0395" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1OMqJ0ksw9Y/UeN8w_1qOWI/AAAAAAAAJOY/Wm-nCvG5EqE/IMG_0395_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0395" width="423" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-56946801228734248772013-07-11T23:06:00.000-05:002013-07-17T23:10:02.491-05:00Go Stingrays!The neighborhood right next to ours has a swim team and this year Ben & Grace were able to join. I cannot say enough positive things about it – it was the coolest set up. The season started right after school let out and goes for about 5 weeks. We practiced three mornings a week and most weeks there was a swim meet one evening. It is like having your kids in swim lessons all summer long, but it’s 10 times more affordable and involves all the fun of being on a team with your friends and neighbors!<br />
At the beginning of the season, Ben sort of knew how to swim freestyle, but he hadn’t figured out how to take breaths and couldn’t make it very far. This week (week 5) he has developed breathing skills and can swim freestyle the full length of the pool without stopping.<br />
Gracie is on pre-team, which means she has lessons at a separate time from the big kids and she has the opportunity to swim at meets in exhibition heats (they don’t count) with her coaches in the water helping her. For the first four weeks, my slightly fearful girl would only agree to kick her feet and stick her head in the water while her arms were locked in a Vulcan death grip around her coaches’ necks. I encouraged her sweet coaches to push her a little (i.e. stop letting her call the shots even if it means making her cry). Well, lo and behold, one of them let her go in the water and she figured out how to swim on her own! This is good and bad. Obviously we’re so proud of her and how far she’s come. On the other hand, she can only swim as far as she can hold her breath (about 3 feet), but she thinks she’s Michael Phelps. She has a confidence in her abilities that is in no way based on any sort of reality. It makes taking her to the pool super relaxing (note sarcasm).<br />
Anyway, the point of this post is just to say that we love swim team! I took these pictures at their next-to-last meet. :)<br />
B & G and one of their coaches.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2JJ0TnmI9Bk/UedpiyikG5I/AAAAAAAAJXk/Vpogzvthjkg/s1600-h/IMG_0272%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0272" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X4EbRJ32keg/UedpjlmrBKI/AAAAAAAAJXs/toCoc0i0EDs/IMG_0272_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0272" width="454" /></a><br />
Gracie & her teammate Madison.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tr9bu05TofE/UedpkDID3CI/AAAAAAAAJX0/a-9XSTVRy44/s1600-h/IMG_0275%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0275" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aSpvzMDmlas/Uedpkh2VUpI/AAAAAAAAJX8/B7ljLn8iHtM/IMG_0275_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0275" width="354" /></a><br />
Ready for warm-ups!<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KbuUK2Mqw5A/UedplSz1qyI/AAAAAAAAJYE/YBycELsma9Y/s1600-h/IMG_0278%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0278" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O0YcWr0stuk/Uedpl4b5WcI/AAAAAAAAJYM/wG4B1DGUeqU/IMG_0278_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0278" width="354" /></a><br />
Maybe a little too warmed-up.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_C0-t6pyhZ8/UedpmSriICI/AAAAAAAAJYU/X9zwBejm9MU/s1600-h/IMG_0281%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0281" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qBQmrZZ1f_s/Uedpm5ciaVI/AAAAAAAAJYc/PggIh9mZ9kg/IMG_0281_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0281" width="354" /></a><br />
Grace on the starting block for the 1st time ever – NO FEAR!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aOAJduczG_w/UedpnkJpa3I/AAAAAAAAJYk/XdLtZ8NMBk0/s1600-h/IMG_0282%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0282" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GxrHlQl4_bA/UedpoCLGptI/AAAAAAAAJYs/Q14pQi1GNMA/IMG_0282_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0282" width="354" /></a><br />
And she’s off! Her swim cap is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. :)<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JKclA9D1F0c/UedpousZkPI/AAAAAAAAJY0/PIXAgTH7tYw/s1600-h/IMG_0298%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0298" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-spX_P1C46Tw/UedppZsaRsI/AAAAAAAAJY8/R4MGMauSunI/IMG_0298_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0298" width="454" /></a><br />
She said, “I DID IT!”<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l4hmBj7f4RY/Uedpp0NbYjI/AAAAAAAAJZE/7J-l-QrudTM/s1600-h/IMG_0302%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0302" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4hBzWg15A50/UedpqjMV2uI/AAAAAAAAJZM/cZrY-Y2D-mA/IMG_0302_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0302" width="454" /></a><br />
Ben with his game face on.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tE9qf7JKFqU/UedprEawyxI/AAAAAAAAJZU/VxyOMTO9N4c/s1600-h/IMG_0305%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0305" border="0" height="327" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xh8KNVNH0pE/Uedpr-hkoUI/AAAAAAAAJZc/3Y0XGU_DedU/IMG_0305_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0305" width="454" /></a><br />
Go BEN Go!<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1zF-O_g9UqU/Uedpsse4rnI/AAAAAAAAJZk/qtnT_R60ja8/s1600-h/IMG_0311%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0311" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MFff7bd4FCE/UedptJXUXjI/AAAAAAAAJZs/0Zo0iZRG33w/IMG_0311_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0311" width="454" /></a><br />
He said, “Take this picture – V is for Victory!”<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3uznu6u7oc8/UedpttUDzlI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/73iD-fvbRu8/s1600-h/IMG_0317%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0317" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LkVGYCTGkQ4/UedpuNjKamI/AAAAAAAAJZ8/ZcYkLiQLXXs/IMG_0317_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0317" width="424" /></a><br />
The time between warm-ups and the races is for hanging out with friends.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-euRtazNPD8w/Uedpu_YGaDI/AAAAAAAAJaE/o4VHlkw3grY/s1600-h/IMG_0336%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0336" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OqWU4BeXrh0/UedpvUmwcJI/AAAAAAAAJaM/06mH7lR95pw/IMG_0336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0336" width="423" /></a><br />
Ben & Elizabeth<br />
(his teammate & kinder classmate)<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iDBdXZQnOwU/UedpwPD3Q5I/AAAAAAAAJaU/mQK5KtIs1pY/s1600-h/IMG_0340%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0340" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GEo-o8s4TUI/UedpwmS3ZkI/AAAAAAAAJac/pyClmsDSvQ4/IMG_0340_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0340" width="354" /></a><br />
Gracie swimming her race with help from Coach Collin.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--FtSEw718bI/UedpxTbydCI/AAAAAAAAJak/1x9vy3EiSRM/s1600-h/IMG_0350%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0350" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DHht7HGEU1M/Uedpx3IDX7I/AAAAAAAAJas/eX__pRiHCdY/IMG_0350_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0350" width="423" /></a><br />
She was so proud of her ribbon!<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T3hgUXJwHhc/UedpyRVhZNI/AAAAAAAAJa0/o849wIMHRi0/s1600-h/IMG_0358%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0358" border="0" height="492" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ygqHxCw9WL4/UedpzGvjgwI/AAAAAAAAJa8/4hchegjTRu0/IMG_0358_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0358" width="354" /></a><br />
Ben swimming in his heat.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6gPa25QVLPQ/UedpztHSSGI/AAAAAAAAJbE/G4MUznU4yQk/s1600-h/IMG_0361%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0361" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ACf6xGKzHtA/Uedp0ZJvPtI/AAAAAAAAJbM/mrUJu4C7lz0/IMG_0361_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0361" width="454" /></a><br />
Getting stronger each time. :)<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MnCMkz1MHSk/Uedp04OBgpI/AAAAAAAAJbU/Dv9F-ZUhJ60/s1600-h/IMG_0368%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0368" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fgucMpXtIbI/Uedp1YoIyfI/AAAAAAAAJbc/WujoggFlCNo/IMG_0368_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0368" width="354" /></a><br />
Hot dogs and snow cones are a great way to end a swim meet!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7H7AC8X4eLU/Uedp2FuRkdI/AAAAAAAAJbk/8uKACJjavuU/s1600-h/IMG_0373%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0373" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SpGFULGjYXM/Uedp2rrurkI/AAAAAAAAJbs/5Q4KLuzs1qY/IMG_0373_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0373" width="454" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390381099683246007.post-85818732570434078402013-07-09T21:24:00.000-05:002013-07-17T21:35:10.261-05:00Guadalupe River State ParkWhile I was at work & Noah was vacationing in Louisiana, Brian took the bigs to play at the <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/guadalupe-river">State Park</a> near our house. It’s been years since we’ve been – I’d sort of forgotten that this gem is just 30 minutes down the road from us. <br />
I’m sad I didn’t get to join them, but I loved the pictures Bri took. They remind my why I love the Texas Hill Country so much. You would have to drag me away from here kicking and screaming. Just beautiful!<br />
This portion of the Guadalupe maxes out at about 2 feet deep and it’s very calm – perfect for the gremlins to wade around, play & explore.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9ZwYQBnRjq8/UedR981ZRVI/AAAAAAAAJVc/H6RLvRsNNEk/s1600-h/IMG_0215%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0215" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K0kWRJDo8fs/UedR-lLmoTI/AAAAAAAAJVk/JShppDVJ-X8/IMG_0215_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0215" width="454" /></a><br />
Ben was better at the exploring, while Grace was concentrating on the playing.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jRWNtE55X7M/UedR_WnOmtI/AAAAAAAAJVs/sC0F95XKzUc/s1600-h/IMG_0221%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0221" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FALPsw44J5s/UedR_0Wp1-I/AAAAAAAAJV0/PYKTk2wCDBU/IMG_0221_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0221" width="454" /></a><br />
If your brother is ignoring you, just shoot him in the booty. Ta daaaa!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8wIFNUPPH4c/UedSAt5p7KI/AAAAAAAAJV8/oi3mXKxjUTM/s1600-h/IMG_0223%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0223" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-70DI_9Egrfs/UedSCaG2lnI/AAAAAAAAJWE/7pkPJP5Jrv4/IMG_0223_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0223" width="454" /></a><br />
Seriously – how pretty is this?! You have to look closely to see teeny Ben & Grace in front of the giant walls of rock.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ziqieM3sfiU/UedSDblfnfI/AAAAAAAAJWM/qJZJRLsQORg/s1600-h/IMG_0224%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0224" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qYjj7a0cB7Y/UedSDxW_KwI/AAAAAAAAJWU/B9dVzDKyg6U/IMG_0224_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0224" width="424" /></a><br />
My handsome big boy…<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5_r6BE1eUzs/UedSEceiO4I/AAAAAAAAJWc/Ma7e0hXaXpk/s1600-h/IMG_0230%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0230" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zYhcI_oemf8/UedSFHGkIQI/AAAAAAAAJWk/89JVN9b2dJI/IMG_0230_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0230" width="354" /></a><br />
and my silly girl!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QWBIMV6B4HE/UedSF8-0TrI/AAAAAAAAJWs/ZUJFWKYe_Q4/s1600-h/IMG_0269%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0269" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bxTa8QSF8xo/UedSGRQq0YI/AAAAAAAAJW0/dBLMP_fwopg/IMG_0269_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0269" width="354" /></a><br />
Sweet smiles & round bellies. :)<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X3Jehq5Dr_U/UedSG8Nvf4I/AAAAAAAAJW8/MDM5Aswr-KU/s1600-h/IMG_0254%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0254" border="0" height="304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9EkNMqQwDsQ/UedSHkTZrMI/AAAAAAAAJXE/MPhyxM0kzKU/IMG_0254_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0254" width="423" /></a><br />
Yay for a fun day at the river with Daddy!<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DG7ocJe1SJo/UedSIZxYU_I/AAAAAAAAJXM/BZKpgZj_dnI/s1600-h/IMG_0267%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0267" border="0" height="495" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E8MY3X68k0k/UedSJFlASpI/AAAAAAAAJXQ/4KuAbSLv3KI/IMG_0267_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0267" width="354" /></a>Gabihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07990007228459114679noreply@blogger.com0