tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-322081822024-03-05T00:07:08.229-05:00soybutter sandwichgetting through the day 1 snack at a time.mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-5071966603928713892011-05-02T14:47:00.004-04:002011-05-02T15:37:40.303-04:00The Party People are Pooped.<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div>TWO Birthday extravaganzas this weekend...it was a little bit of a miracle that they happened at all. It seems like kids are scheduled every minute of the day (mine included). I can't say whether this is good or bad, but it makes it hard to get a group of kids together. </div><br /><br /><div>G's get together was first (which is strange, since her actual birthday is after Mike's; I can't even remember how she talked me into that). </div><br /><br /><div>As you can see, since this was a group of third-almost-fourth-graders, there were very sophisticated. </div><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602203308583226274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKArBO0PYIOivCOC2QW61lzPbipvi-NebYBreS8LQYKnw1ypC01yICeIPDUksx-9pyAPao4lkQAoK2PJaoiIlbAhI3G-ffVCqubt-FKOA3Ya04C9G1bdNC6O_OimixUKxAqNzxEg/s320/009.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>But throw a 5-year old in the mix and they are more than happy to come down to his level. Quickly. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602203300837146066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpSNgW5L8078dxVUpz2J1TjCDrxwkW3VCdxBKRvPoFHy45QcndAoMQuFKdRdTJeFSB7iB7Cnqps1v-2UKwwPVdtdPEWtiujghxj3mmuirEz8BdUt_WRu5Pv-RJW3HlBoMFIyA7w/s320/010.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Mike's had his party at Chuck E Cheese, or as Nina called it, "Vegas for the under 10 crowd". It is totally like Vegas, the kids eat too much Spongebob Cake, and their tokens are gone before they know it. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 108px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602204603723445538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8jjXtLz3iSTZSnxZ4Yed_ks9AMtp3aimfbKjkfTedf9KQQGSz77xApMX1XMpJ9LY2lNoH46ZfWGUw9buJZvOUvXcjlxuxGgzKf3lBNS9ZPiEg152Ba5W1ZyJeWuAxJ7SrPT8dA/s320/030.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602203295077716098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi691Py3D8bjuHIZtwmq6uH8UpubMyingbUVNzG2X_9OfxktPDfROo-zM1jdkdxCZFQpejLRyxoiyYoiAY0Wfu4bDB1ZwEJ8ySX_VLKcKiBZOLgz9WWZ715OIeRvmmor3eB4ffOhQ/s320/037.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>Fortunately everything that happens at CEC stays at CEC. </div><br /><br /><div>How did Angelina feel? </div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602203290696937810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBa7kakW7AatVQSNIorGsV-EO5PbXsHgZ_TfgXfUxPatYkpmFW9-tSFF7pMpJaz5pQGylcsAR_xCu4ntJAzwUUGjlZ-vXGdsdWOn_LgFBgkn3FvNxnHFU41zMgsjjvdeEZQv0Vw/s320/012.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>two words: Not Impressed. </div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-1706944476015071162011-04-20T21:45:00.006-04:002011-04-22T09:12:38.153-04:00April Vacation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYTtPEg3KQsUvKlm-AUsNwP0Vsukkrb-ZdoIqtI98W0tUuppyG954yLocwiW63MrUMMFzDWjU3Bfdo6cyqJq5srOOZ04jdByIU4pTxUD8vC5ugZiwAo4QOqTl7RgfjOWwbnMpUg/s1600/227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597849812479061106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYTtPEg3KQsUvKlm-AUsNwP0Vsukkrb-ZdoIqtI98W0tUuppyG954yLocwiW63MrUMMFzDWjU3Bfdo6cyqJq5srOOZ04jdByIU4pTxUD8vC5ugZiwAo4QOqTl7RgfjOWwbnMpUg/s320/227.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>G's school put on a parent-child dance this year. The theme was "Fly me to the Moon" and it was super cute or the pictures make it seem that way...Mike, Angelina and I weren't on the guest list. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>What to do, what to do...without Bill and G, we had a lot of options. Instead of dancing and hob nobbing with the Millbury Elite, we played Wii, picked out cookie recipes we want to try on <a href="http://www.foodgawker.com/">http://www.foodgawker.com/</a> and made movies. Movies that will be boring (i promise you) to anyone but those directly related to us. Or scientists measuring the velocity of baby sneezes. </div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9WKDZsdkus">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9WKDZsdkus</a>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-79528813846890924882011-04-10T10:28:00.006-04:002011-04-10T12:15:27.867-04:00Number Three<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593983283256825666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLfan2-RrG-Z4E5DkSWBv4G6yE_6Z4qGOzzNfssfxvArnWpXAHLt0XRE2fzcy5zQDrBtpFIb2uyqHnf07f4BZ2r-UbZY60T2e4LTV1llLAyMw7OC1cGKQTiKQt7IkswveCnfgTA/s320/005.JPG" /> <br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Poor Angie...</div><br /><div>Already three months have gone by and she hasn't had a single post on Soybutter. I really don't think she is taking it personally...in fact, most days I think she is glad that I don't forget her at G's dance class. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593987057206215842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg1yU5yCSeYa7OebH3UXCAUzNA78PEU7diHBL2XLBbwBuHwb7tSZ19xdlj3zvUAZXLAjsMi53V5uZFMGUWF78Jj7rPCddeyjlCTPmrn7Q22NBYysGqzaI08svQAL0qV_sShdfhw/s320/083.JPG" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>She is assimilating nicely into the family. She has learned to assert herself already, her explosive poops are enough to intimidate everyone but Nina. She is learning to share and has a (necessary) patience that her siblings did not need to have. We have routines we share with G and Mike, like mealtimes and bathtimes, and she has routines that are just hers. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593987381517945138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnsxto27Ppbehf2VsECGxWMOrlVjjpmwcyQYUz9jMyi3FmtKuoe5azypPvtIh2Z9CO5WQ5zupvET7qA5g1PD3CBBM4RIMkvJKaCSEaxe5bM10EacgAJvyxGb0TIK9E34UyQhLGg/s320/095.JPG" /> <br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's magical to see the first signs of her personality emerging. She talks up a storm and is already more serious then her siblings were at this age. Her smiles are heavenly, but they are only won with a little effort on our part. I love it, but it was still bittersweet to pack away those tiny 0-3 month outfits this weekend. Fortunately, I know from experience--even more fun times are ahead! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Happy 3-month Angie, my beautiful number 3! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593987893605991026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXJr3zyFM3oqZ0ype0-6ZoVt1LypGQoIA_EVaBe8JFbObltxFv1EnAuFpgORK2UYG-raZ7xAA6qpXZ-MU9FupuP2JxSEOzEEt79JYZ4HqOJ4jUSlK5TYEO64yalTOsi4EW0llWw/s320/134.JPG" /></div><br /><div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-89736425076989883592010-06-28T11:13:00.008-04:002010-06-28T21:19:18.246-04:00Meet Anthony!Anthony is here!<br /><br />He made his appearance this weekend both feet-first and a week early; clearly he heard how many illegal fireworks were puchased in NH by his dad and he didn't want to miss the opportunity to see them on the 4th of July. So we know that: he is punctual, loves surprises and is a bit of a pyro right from the womb. He's going to fit in just fine.<br /><br />Here is Justin doing his best Buzz-Lightyear-Goes-to-Surgery impression.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994744626791474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcahaSwE5HDpbi_KGuWYnkteRlJJ_r2ykCeo1XLYTu-ksbna7rEtAMPCI8M4fQmDWP9ly0_aagkqMwggXrf7YMy0WdZCKvp-WE0Cq4w6JjR6HSkBiJqDJh-EQ2INOKF1Gcofr4g/s320/IMG_1911.JPG" /><br />...and now he's doing an impression of that pole that holds the IVs. All in the name of keeping spirits high. It must be working on Nina, she's smiling while she's actually walking to surgery.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487993173796194274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_B8RmpZ5W84PeKY4Urnuun1_Rrm-uoT-w7cROXwoEI5GBOxd-wH_QjWb2w_zet5Qw1GBwWY24FGgbZMT4EeD8vkpe0Inwy2AAHwctCzJLv_lb1YLa9wJwWqTVyGrvytwYDRSzA/s320/IMG_1913.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy-2nWZfUlW3XNVXhrO0dfFC9DCiwfoyaO3z9EeXeYSXhe5FSdhGv8x4NypTkUlsk-HTmrTvBbO4jEOxdq_KjRnkbSIr1M_nIAWSEP71NcKVLGEpgl2qcayCALSHqWepGGDuCWQ/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG"></a>He's a keeper! (that's actually a nice product shot for the iTouch there too--I'd send it to Apple, maybe get AJ's college paid for...)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487993180748493506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQAMp72Q5kXrwFiWYOMrUILek9wbKhDsw8ywce-bwFjkY-hTLyq0WoU9FYJEGRjUUhsWsxi5xZ74NXuBgIOHC3D6pP9dHBwMJzPGjPQDLfnf6-_bQ2kGMaVJfEBLNwcfPqIrH7w/s320/IMG_1917.JPG" /> </div><div>There's the beautiful boy! He is absolutely perfect! Nina was the picture of grace under pressure during the whole experience. I'm not biased, the nurses and MDs all were amazed at how cool and calm she was from the moment she found out this wouldn't be a typical birth right up until she held Anthony in her arms. Justin was a fantastic birth partner-strong and calm, he kept everyone serene and did absolutely everything right.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487992732698917330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcYNswABEdKkriVOjuPt_3o46DfadyAe4NH8DJYn9qIG5MrG937k85a1-5MHBLOHumTw_ueC8R1n4-hA9Izw5wigpsLVcxrndJ6PKE4XqwjdyisChQ3wP8EsQP7OKU8pjlsxyLQ/s320/IMG_1915.JPG" /> "If I have a monument in this world, it is my son"</div><div>-Maya Angelou<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-33281249297080592722010-05-18T21:32:00.005-04:002010-05-19T06:10:07.952-04:00The D-Word<div><br /><div>Sweet relief. I am NOT good at keeping secrets and even worse at not talking. That stream-of-consciousness thing I do is sort of a compulsion, so I guess this could count as therapy. </div><br /><br /><div>New destination-appropriate outfits are ready...</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472793503082630002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq7A2VqequV0te3yUYKt_z2uphTEIppYcePVzr4GW0gmWLncJQoDdJ79RIt2jsbMl5XLuBcT7BIIerIgifIX6G2BeFfTqryE6WPtrlOdzKbtaG5kg_UIKxD_6wA5ktKnC7gATeg/s320/disney+001.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div>Bags are packed (the butterfly one is Bill's)...</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472793504321557410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4FVw9xGdLx1UclBemFJqTm8aqmhxUgvm04pSYovxv1c0Eb4ZkIFQLYG7RPHyslM2b-4_NIG8RfQgoIylnIHLLWXccpO8aZzyJH0a3zS_z3tptXVhpzDltdbAMiT7Dgc9-jU1bg/s320/disney+002.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Now I just need to make it to tomorrow morning. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It is not quite what I anticipated...but their reaction got better as the morning went on. Michael was very concerned about what kind of fuel the plane runs on (?!). </div></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyPd7vt85HslgfiY3ZhsbSJGIbH-g3AXEREjVTewd1BmMKxLOKN_VWB7aZcsT9Ylxeh9_NNRh6zpzw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-22346733958700229692010-03-31T23:46:00.007-04:002010-04-01T00:02:52.783-04:00April Fool's and Cognitive Psychology<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkngvJgz_rnu5Dnw01vAtEy0vTzsOsGY5O6hqhXlE5_n_6U5XUVYyLmgXTWyqqsqZpMBMNU96RxyqXEig6QZUThpsUWzv4uJpmR1e1UKza0jhrX4nZEqBjT99oaCF-0x6HlvYtQ/s1600/IMG_1604.jpg"></a><div><div><div>yumm....grilled cheese! </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455013699804132178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKjU5-P46_vHUQzLNUXPq_FUz-k8HUbz1hYE4SwVRiIQxvRXp_Dlddk5ANLTb4WUb5gE17DV_QH7eavMmWSat3-9aXFP1eXRQqUuDAB8k6vUo28RnMulaY0mDfVPg55t7WqkRaA/s320/IMG_1603.jpg" /><br /><div>G was a little confused when I served her this last night...but I blamed it on being distracted (long day, can't concentrate, blah blah blah). She found it rather easy to believe that yet again, I don't have my act together. (is there a message for me in there somewhere? that's what sublimation is for folks--let's make some crafts! ) </div><br /><div>Anyhow--this is actually slices of butter poundcake (toasted) with orange-tinted vanilla frosting. It took a few bites for her to believe it was dessert and not a grilled cheese--even after I showed her the frosting. It was interesting how long it took for her switch her thinking and not trust her eyes. Mike would not believe it no matter what we did. He would not try it. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455014230099006978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhZXh0klK8CEEx0tbXdqp9eeJ4dN29ifQ3TcyHwZksQoQx4c1SuKy4iVrKz1qr9S0W5ocIXeTkppY69pXsET1-puI-uXq29yc717hu0jklPEYKmcdd3VoM_WWLGNyvac1WEuPuQ/s320/IMG_1604.jpg" /><br /><div>This is what they are getting at breakfast--its not cranberry juice, it's jello. Whee! THIS is what parenting is all about, playing mindgames with your children. </div><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-53676751277785700032010-01-20T12:47:00.004-05:002010-01-20T13:09:01.184-05:00Holiday Wrap-upThe holiday post is way overdue, but here are some great pics from the holidays. Santa did find our house, and he was good to everyone.<br /><br /><div>X-mas morning...notice the Zhu Zhu pets on the fireplace. They have yet to be played with (downside: out $50 bucks, upside: no lead poisoning! I think its a win).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428881517132233250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPzwqZeG4zAhFKceUcJ37EoyRcVr8K_EY3z1gsSmihybdhx5BhFJPGAJwG4NJ6GPxMWyT8-B1UAbNQNmtxdjDYmfczD1YCekIVfQJMr-RHoz75JPfaIrjM1UfDF-FIKngPCX3pQ/s320/Nutcracker+018.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Gia with her American Girl Doll! This the one with the llama. (as opposed to the one with the horse, the one from the depression, the <em>homeless</em> one--someday I'll learn their names). </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428881520235309170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12d1aKxIjeHdn2MplxK0uZ90f8SPwRuye16XAdJK9o24nBcZnTS2Yo9JMZj15koTCPib372qVTh3fmQhGFoZm44eSEA9SKHhwQUsOVll5L146bHJgnZIhirFqf20m0rpP3JUhLg/s320/Nutcracker+027.jpg" border="0" />And Nina with her American Girl doll. Err...I think this is the one from China....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428881523959524258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm0urNPsvw2RCxoH1mgktTGC8NS_z6MUFRMNfzCt96yIQ0bl-ma8OfC7456k39xeTCIjucg399s8LUODWK25i7ftZ9P6mUUZvEstvWgwXJQbZox-5400lBKcXEs6ws11hVxKzPw/s320/Nutcracker+028.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></div><div>My two little angels eating the holiday dinner. Wait, is that Mike saying grace?!? </div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428881526632434658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOjaOAew7Zmy6wCoi3Cc0KvmkiyukBVwB3U0nC1cL4_w3hEfbBwN8yVgeocmGsOvq7vY7fOA_t9sEANQydMqAhgzhjDE5hEuJcHjOsJhHifrJdYWm6Q-QUkHg_C3UR7UNLE_RIg/s320/Nutcracker+025.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Actually, he is squishing the roll between his hands to mash it flat. Because it "tastes better that way".</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428881533430444882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPNrTdrXhVTh6IYONl0ZTQBM5b2ghwRp6hbUwHeY4cT507oO3PgwPLqSqyjX8y6ucnGbwW9DjXn8MvUJ9E0fPQRGrJg_tIM8-S0vz9gG4_deZ5nrnUotnMbjzTfFFej_GJ_WxOQ/s320/Nutcracker+026.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I hope you all had great holidays!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-14831717016349526072009-12-22T12:42:00.007-05:002009-12-22T18:55:06.023-05:00White no, TAN with a green roofI think that it is pretty standard to hate on your hometown...everybody thinks where they grew up is too small-town, too clique-y. Not surprisingly there is a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2238618469">Facebook</a> page devoted to hating your hometown. I think the real reason most people hate their hometown is because thats where they went through their ackward teenage years and no one likes remembering that.<br /><br /><br /><br />Not the town's fault you made bad decisions at age 14, people.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, some people move BACK to their hometown, in the same neighborhood they grew up in... And while those people's siblings would love to laugh at that, they can't. Because they did the same thing. There is a comfort in your hometown too, and I guess that is what I focus on.<br /><br />Anyway, one of the things I love about Millbury is every year Santa drives through town the Sunday before Christmas. He gets to ride the firetruck and pass out lollipops too. At a function for Gia's school this year, some of the parents who grew up in Millbury were remembering how this happened every year while we grew up. We all remembered running out of the house, shoes on the wrong feet and no coat in December to catch a glimpse. It is one of those little things that becomes a tradition under your nose. <br /><br />I'm glad my kids get to take part in this town tradition too. This year we are especially glad that he got to do a drive-by. The siding we put on last month changed our house color, and we wouldn't want him to be confused on the big night.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418153482669124514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfyRrCxHn2quvRCG3YxZiQs94l0P31l5LS0mnAg4rGwui1RaQ5-aLR-Tho8zB1uiqnbb5U1nHeVDW_QdGuHl7N1StmbTC8yyWJi32w8LMHjeYttDtU5cc8HCUtR10hovBW2rHvA/s320/Nutcracker+016+copy.bmp" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /></script>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-7716562753127878252009-12-10T14:38:00.004-05:002009-12-10T16:45:39.547-05:00The holiday season is in full swing. Our weekends are packed with parties, christmas activities and functions. Last week Gianna danced at the chain of lights. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413724793503477714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS8_abRqBpzChOs4qGCH2yDKIrMNvBK36rKYA_5zMfh9Qy1yxnXfMAd3U4lpGgUNp7q8daR9sE_VkUHxt8RP-pSz8myZybk4AgX0-TUsvbrqSBYw_Y1SQdFiQnOC_2cUjiCxn4A/s320/Summer09+285.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtordnd65OzUJPEDazXF-vTLLP2jDpagAHkUo9c_OyBB5t_TO7g2O1Sl-ohp-kra15sDb5-d0YGIHemutpWCenBS_3nWS_jYc1ot8nwc33mAPB_VYD-htHeCEL169uTGCOc57ow/s1600-h/Summer09+293.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413724787888001810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtordnd65OzUJPEDazXF-vTLLP2jDpagAHkUo9c_OyBB5t_TO7g2O1Sl-ohp-kra15sDb5-d0YGIHemutpWCenBS_3nWS_jYc1ot8nwc33mAPB_VYD-htHeCEL169uTGCOc57ow/s320/Summer09+293.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhYn2JVNTHtozIC1srHH7H5L6pnVB8AwDe9cg-__Ly0aAJL0raoZrc_2HrcPQJCdfbaBQ-FDJygrmU9pJcAg223c4N6iRpw81A6KmF9xAGOlCIA-r3fXIOuz1CqBxdgg1qxwNPg/s1600-h/Summer09+300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413724780852926738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhYn2JVNTHtozIC1srHH7H5L6pnVB8AwDe9cg-__Ly0aAJL0raoZrc_2HrcPQJCdfbaBQ-FDJygrmU9pJcAg223c4N6iRpw81A6KmF9xAGOlCIA-r3fXIOuz1CqBxdgg1qxwNPg/s320/Summer09+300.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Mike slept. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413724779487502338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoO7EfocVwi0Cg1zNJlMM3ckgRTYC2EqzNVI9RLqcKCxOnaJDgmX7kGdUW9HLymZDbBRUsoUA6WLt-PUZDsiRFJHqPyqeOTUkDurT_yK8PnlISGQEqKkh_EAcT-F5SptSWSyxAw/s320/Summer09+284.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Mike is really starting understand Christmas. Like halloween, this is really the first year he can anticipate what is going to happen. This has made for some interesting conversations. Last week he ran up to me, breathless, and said </div><div>" Is Santa watching me now?" </div><div>me: "yes he is, to see if you are being good" </div><div>him: "RIGHT now?" </div><div>me: "yeeess...why?"</div><div>him: "so, right NOW?" </div><div>me: "what did you do?" </div><div>he ran away at that point...</div><div> </div><div>Gianna's list to Santa was very short and simple:</div><ul><li>A horse</li><li>A puppy</li><li>A kitty</li><li>A hermit crab</li><li>A saddle for the horse</li></ul><div>She's going to need to ask for some re-zoning laws as well.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-21000697576333338572009-11-03T21:44:00.008-05:002009-11-03T22:29:50.058-05:00Rock Lobster<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Great Halloween this year, no big events, no one puked in the neighbors breezeway (looking at you, Mike...). </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400080075692720402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH4i4ROO029HnTyo3g_7bWHJ0HYfgV-Abp6tqIdpEdngJCNgPmr5KsqYuZiJDOSi7y0ShfCCHSoQkVRMnIn0Cw3uq5361qPnZXBL5js5LxcK2XT-Oy1Fy1fWxtj2FFqo4a2hgAQ/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>The halloween costumes this year were also pretty low-key. Gianna picked a "dark princess". Frankly, I'm not sure that is a real thing, and I've taken a class on gothic literature. However, since she didn't want to be one of those floozy little Bratz characters, we couldn't really argue. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400080081457122418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi66ZuS13zBuiqalOKD0CC0S7kxSXOl9i0FMbb6x_ffb_31lMRdUqOhmBygPev7ebm9c1hmIYENZZAg2VrfVOdDT_Mue9wuBIjalWhU2VXzhoH5zefbtps-QVI0EKFf0iQroJ-ug/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" /><br /><div>We sort of dropped the ball with Mike's costume. Right up until 2 weeks before Halloween, he hadn't decided, and when he finally did--he wanted to be Wall-E again (which was unfortunate because I had thrown out the remnants of his costumes during a recent playroom-purge session). We were banking on the fact that his three-year-old attention span is only a few minutes long and that Target has a dazzling array of costumes (this strategy works on me and nina effectively as well). </div><br /><div>On the night of Halloween, it was unseasonably warm, which was great for walking around the neighborhoods. The kids got so much candy that their bags broke. We got some treats walking around the neighborhood as well (Thanks Neighbors!). <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400081975353497650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz-0-L99Qi1ysL8nySfXaVFil4M7OfM_uZJhwWpQtmvUhwPelNYqoXsaHO2izvg9Y-emIHyv_rQ_R-CU085YZuVPCk_0KhbrJd1b2uTdOOHl8FcgSSIkfT9_nwLnF8PphVEqDSA/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400084183108715090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUxzaqIHjjdwri6EdQ9AEqX9ZkkjnmMrSHRwdShpODMw_hYQJlOhBdk3cprnR8AzN6ludJenebr2SSSF4Z4Lx6-Zlrq9yQkLTLq0oEUc2MTd17rJrHDXdPP6JuxAkoz_vbGKDDw/s320/IMG_1328.JPG" /><br /><div>The hit of the neighborhood? Defintely Mario's lobster costume (though Nina and Justin's giving out bud light is a very close second). Mario is a BIG fan of halloween (and the trick or treaters were big fans of Mario, its a very symbiotic relationship). </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400081968566477698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSai7pQ2mpzj_BfASoaKrJvQapUQCtE5_q_q-5KILe_rNuvVLqEx0oYfBUnFAuggV98v79mjmdNNXWW1THrCILUYwJfgJaDLFZQ8jzYedJGiuQu8c9I34kxAwZ6kc250-VETGvoQ/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was most disturbing when Gia ran ahead to trick or treat with her friends from the neighborhood (both boys). We are so uncool. already--she's not even a tween. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400080685619552114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidamIS7p_fL8q0PtbuWB4hE2Zba1f7rbRykRZu8JSZ5R96bYuDCclTNOlR2LMoToMNBJPmqsEOLWaUPnSEjXN8Csk79iizpT73QjuVFAhb0fHNiZ7Oa0tgRdYdKxwlXOHzwJCudQ/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>ahhh...the loot! Two complaints: Not a Mounds to be found in all of this candy (my favorite) and not a single piece of dark chocolate (and DOTS, who eats those?). </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400081960037981474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hGSvYvk6y9YvzXtUwg2An7aTCSjiNTUKwbHWggcXuYwlBROGj5fTIWu_xYfjG7U1ZO9F_edXUCVYxM2jBkfEwV9nU9rppiTmub09dRZ2_aryr9q2UKAtjdGRh3xeOyKTfZuywQ/s320/IMG_1331.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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/><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-6650168020205071122009-09-13T14:45:00.005-04:002009-09-13T15:03:01.152-04:00Walk to Cure Cancer 2009What a great day for the Cancer walk!<br />Take a look at the table...and whose that attractive woman handing out mousepads?<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381026002092524610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwR4v30tgxgvKIsRpDTLb4yBR356UuztiL_BnCIusAwS1NL-x8YehAkbCip8t8ENpfJRrN1iRaS6kC0tNxERMhMLJiaGysPFGlrANq_t7YhoaqArNfkejEjYRqC8fzd4zIx22GA/s320/Sept09+001.jpg" /><br /><br />At the beginning of the walk, theBreast Cancer group released pink balloons...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381027151258261602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUqr3ZbSu8IIBO6POhl3F48rSH1vq77S3ju3M6NIRz6M-qTakC_84c__ULnsieqnMv1Rgj44AUlxHFqKk906qXWC-SyfMN3OJhAe8WdAfFzuJ3LjAQpRQyPRvNvYxN7INy3tiNQ/s320/Sept09+012.jpg" /><br /><br />Our team! Kim, Alex and Sam (but Rudy was being shy...)<br /><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381027131498260850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMApdKkDFXwdHuwsp0mtZ6b2prNOOM14gWW6kj2N_6rpQ0uBP0pWwc1z3loRk8s7kZXdPLN8M3ngolU79O3nTLviWOX39ah-LcZrebcwacBhF7xOXOiRtm53Iqxhsm0LLxdMB_kA/s320/Sept09+009.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381027139309567234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fUxtxSHmNQfgym-R_CEWMU8EROvaa48PLK6Y829Rx8tS3nOLdKM87hNVwWhR7qPB_EQ319lDp5gOx8bhRUWZH2zmDL42L_YDuBX1hwUC1HiFUSIFOCXqf1D1WFWNEUfMFSzkOA/s320/Sept09+017.jpg" /></div><div> </div><div>Bill jumped into action to provide the walkers with glucose (in the form of lollipops). Why are you only giving lollipops to the girls Bill?</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381026028909025026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAlA2vdO0BdTPv8VZxqTuv9DmngaxhS29W7wV9ZgdL79i9YbXI-ExDpVnrAKapfF8WKFBij35-l7Yc3VnmuFT0X6RouRUmAjbxuRVmo2nh_h7bp0dYWcdzc4zlByenHP5AUuEWA/s320/Sept09+019.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381027146084914514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pCyWr8Kgl2zNN8tVdsg_Z0xjS8pWkbRwV5ArOF-5aK7ymSX8Mj0BRUKanI_GxZtrcvq3gKXu0BNGevaFQqNNR_SkNM7BHzYqCSzHt9kffKqIp5NDOnCU6yzkg6tSC9rHMsUqpA/s320/Sept09+015.jpg" />Gia was teaching Bill how its done...She was also the resident Tattoo Artist. I think she was the busiest person there! <br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381026013167912546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpw1YgJ7Z9rw9TwYD1NJkI2ew5n3UVxmSPWs_iGv8nEwWX97665SSAo6iPaByG7hLgj4vV-q-Q9xEVQhyOjxFQvhoVLV3r9-2JQOfxSxG0tfUHWTPKPmQCgRVvEYCbx2ab3yylw/s320/Sept09+010.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj19I47epIHsCbPdoAgoP1goKyfBH_u38A77pME2DSKdaHNuDMMDtssHGJskJkUSwle9aEvEjN0kLDYU3kXekPy3q0fqIexK539zZJzue5di6YRAymdhVnlZT2gPN6llqouTIRdA/s1600-h/Sept09+024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381026019201669426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj19I47epIHsCbPdoAgoP1goKyfBH_u38A77pME2DSKdaHNuDMMDtssHGJskJkUSwle9aEvEjN0kLDYU3kXekPy3q0fqIexK539zZJzue5di6YRAymdhVnlZT2gPN6llqouTIRdA/s320/Sept09+024.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I can't figure out why Mike was so tired--he didn't even walk!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIqD4kC_6YAAfx50UiYciR5zYOr_prZyMaLpw5tYtBk3VKCXMUvLmuz_nDNQZBWpnJP53qrAZycEPb1WFBFvs7OxmBwEENn0HWWnuEK7x1Ma6lFNkbTpLfquUhcDyRr1sQHCwMQ/s1600-h/Sept09+025.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381026012155414690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIqD4kC_6YAAfx50UiYciR5zYOr_prZyMaLpw5tYtBk3VKCXMUvLmuz_nDNQZBWpnJP53qrAZycEPb1WFBFvs7OxmBwEENn0HWWnuEK7x1Ma6lFNkbTpLfquUhcDyRr1sQHCwMQ/s320/Sept09+025.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-13973840700963057822009-08-17T16:04:00.004-04:002009-08-17T16:28:37.438-04:00Dark and Stormy<div><div><div><div>During our vacation last week both Bill and I had to leave for mid-week meetings. This meant driving from North Truro (right next to P-town) to Worcester and back. Not fun. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371031643970121058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUGoU1ATac14KkQHaVWMygJgH7giTh4zVAmDZLEi3zonvyksjKUmo57779f1kWPfOI8MVI7o9P2wlCWbMWZl86PqPjxpOXG87UqmCo7TUXQ33K-mD8NB68WMsktLHrBjRAwP21A/s320/image002.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Fortunately, I got to come back Wednesday night and after tucking the kidlets into bed, Nina and Justin took me to the Beachcomber in Wellfleet. This is a very cool bar that is right on the beach. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>We were still sad that Bill wasn't there. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371029468404242802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmhGPrWBBQD-RE2o3T6pV-jZ8gw0Lt3Do6muMbzTa_e3iJuu7HuU0YkFxMd9b_HJIvNMtxD8DrCrHAoOq4ROV7kuX7Sn2Zn0p0i5_olzSwMQ2Ia12_d9zzAFxwQuIQ2WStHoiUA/s320/Summer09+095.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>So we ordered some drinks. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371029483900885538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3h51OPS3Fn4tq146ueFeNX0WSdVkAW9KpKApIbdU_0mfhMbhfVB-NWiPE9l3UKDtXGgNR7hWZmJvQYamaXCOrEskvX6AdKVRWP_XT-54z_gCeup_OAxE0Ls79_FjR_BQerB7Jw/s320/Summer09+098.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>and were much happier. </div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371029493140663970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAP0Wc_ZH_GUjKH8oJDwCCTxWbV1eficymXuaPHjKwtTb9xO6HFbOYvu6-SbEMvS6JIh_GJWYD9uYLd8nkmwL1S3BpaMy0ib9DmhlMpiia-p6JQlwfRtj3pQXZ0Bv7Lx1yLFooQ/s320/Summer09+096.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>even Nina was happy. Despite getting hit on by some very drunk <a href="http://theradiators.org/history3.html">Radiator</a>s fans. </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371029500542449282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfU6moU2nt4p8jQpbiPRu7rRJUeVVMK-a0llcpr0KYNlqGZoTqnEjD1UrQTpkKaUpZOiMLR5xLSlDpG0Uat3X4UB3I8vjc48dSkoRd_AUIKSdgvHRQ_hVoaiY7QAMIpupS7js0Q/s320/Summer09+097.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div>That drink is a <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/10685">Dark and Stormy</a>--which at first we thought was a good nickname for Nina and Justin. But really, Nina is both Dark and Stormy...so maybe we don't draw any conclusions from that except that its a great drink. and I think I want some Burberry pants. </div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-2039736506172344472009-08-17T12:55:00.019-04:002009-08-17T16:47:12.403-04:00Guess what "P" stands for....For vacation this year, we decided to forgo the camper and rent a house in North Truro. Fantastic idea! Two bathrooms! TWO! and that is not counting that outside shower--which is always a crowd favorite.<br /><br />One of the things I love about the beaches at the end of the Cape is how remote they feel. The first day we arrived we drove onto the beach at Race point.<br /><br /><br />Looking right...nobody for miles.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBJGioymvNoeBbAV9pU05GWL5Fex3EPm8bE9uzYvAN2ES4zgO3CcBcP46pNIyoy2uxf0cDkdLjtcVW9SBoKfk7UzLUpDsqL_fLNdXyJFCjWKCPbdgM1aoL8T90_TZtCuZGeBo5Q/s1600-h/Summer09+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370978380323707810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBJGioymvNoeBbAV9pU05GWL5Fex3EPm8bE9uzYvAN2ES4zgO3CcBcP46pNIyoy2uxf0cDkdLjtcVW9SBoKfk7UzLUpDsqL_fLNdXyJFCjWKCPbdgM1aoL8T90_TZtCuZGeBo5Q/s200/Summer09+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YnCNPJzsggRR4QKMZpXE4fpYgtJpCiTueTGEpwQjgrNshikRzppwVGiehqVMAz3TNDeYaBN8Dk3F7_7gyAx9FePvSKCuRHRijWuc-9IW7djk8nZDprftcG2cS8cjQTMA5puP9Q/s1600-h/Copy+of+Summer09+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370978390294260802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YnCNPJzsggRR4QKMZpXE4fpYgtJpCiTueTGEpwQjgrNshikRzppwVGiehqVMAz3TNDeYaBN8Dk3F7_7gyAx9FePvSKCuRHRijWuc-9IW7djk8nZDprftcG2cS8cjQTMA5puP9Q/s200/Copy+of+Summer09+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>Looking left, nobody. Except the two rugrats asking for fruit snacks (I believe fruit snacks are the equivalent of crack for kids).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There's my little addict.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370979401583294658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2mh0NGrsekjwVO14u84VXKhM1JH4aZZ-CWa0nbSerLC2niVn0APDKjVyRsHXqjk0x5CdRirEY14fULHnztQQW1sWeCwBwrgV28ZttLncNiUOuL9DOPHq98vNuI4NOa8qicM7ag/s200/Summer09+008.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>More lightnin' McTween fruit snacks, pleeeeese?</em> <em>I can quit anytime...I pwomise</em>!<br /><br /><br /><br />Every year I have thoughts about going here or there, catching some of the theater in Welfleet, going on a whale watch, taking the kids to the Islands--but it is all for nothing, we spend just about all day every day on the beach.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370979684237911938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB04Pjc2I1KRSkuKIWY3B9uIcgilJTuBdZve-9MRc7HoFX7Ha4Vw32bXzqn_Ax4-6LQBn2f_mH9YMT31ZivuHF7Pj27oi9maDd0hGQhm09H2jEF3DXm_M_9arVKBtrKy2NrqqfPQ/s320/Summer09+011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370981813431201106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L7VlhG9putS9VwZPo9NtVpkC1_hePl0JY9RxduJoErUueG-e-7yaTWFqh0WerKzuK-_BqZJ92YijmdTMjlGDwXTskjSZ49u8CdyHJvbOCf5k0vgGqjuLBiqmZvoDfVn8iL3Hxw/s320/Summer09+017.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988556167397122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsGSjpgba_1r5gO1UWMnf3U4NQUCfz5bEy4oB6F_HRlV0pUF1bExM4XFLGsbfTqqXz3C75WOqG2leNkIQ7cYQe1ODZIaeIq8im24qiIwBiLlqilDV0M_EvOa_yzc3ownEINrW4A/s320/Summer09+069.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370981803889127186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0V0C3QZeQpSyicYrOWEo7j55aGYxLHHN7OzjELaBmWn80QRT4QYQHEvIWAMVOWsHFXDLDkrlJa-q9UNxYZpu1j2eDBBMfxQAe8GFYtq4n_nNFqpXS4sybs8iWwmdAe7AXVG3KQ/s320/Summer09+010.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988559373809986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv-GvoBuXPFFEj5s_63zEC_UNQQ1-GFwu5nCcbbeaD5Av4jM_kh3AoOSN5Cz6J6VES9MOwQdy1W2MfdoAtrpacWXBW74jDr95oKLmcMs6nkx_DN_tnmCRaBu_agfA8vLe9L2eaA/s320/Summer09+072.jpg" border="0" /><br />This striper was a keeper (31 inches long)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988545748210466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rLT68BjB2Iy0eSeD8Ad4tQmW_5tTucn5uHA4NvJmkq9t00SLgKokKUl5mcspnyjOHZgb4zghyKoEnuD-iiqzomLKPTgiyP1oCq3I4Wt5mFwtvqdbRjFzcgcwjG3LqZ5lI6ZTPA/s320/Summer09+066.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>Yes, all those kayaks belonged to us--next year we are bringing snorkels and fins too--I don't care how silly we look. There were whales and seals swimming with us everyday and loads of piping plovers. They are all delicious. (just kidding!!)</p><br /><p>We did do a couple of non-beach activities...we made it to the Truro Vineyard for a tasting.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQij8hgA2S_n5ntSoyPkipg5_yvwJakABsnutbPX9pvv97c4SkTOtfDBrUjnsdqn0ea-Mkg3BeXXTsBp71YknVCir2L2NXug0gbmNh4HTdooNEBs-Ud1njUL7Rz5UDTbL-SX-0Q/s1600-h/Summer09+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370982872679891826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQij8hgA2S_n5ntSoyPkipg5_yvwJakABsnutbPX9pvv97c4SkTOtfDBrUjnsdqn0ea-Mkg3BeXXTsBp71YknVCir2L2NXug0gbmNh4HTdooNEBs-Ud1njUL7Rz5UDTbL-SX-0Q/s200/Summer09+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf3v0rlrEffOVWQLiZMq5uvCjBjVtaciaZUa3AmkAHThSrattj683dD4PJT-slUdUqf7y146z4hsRTciC4CEcOC0lp6xcKcQHJQdOpadKmjS76WvR7-hcaCaDrYLY97o2S4ZWPw/s1600-h/Summer09+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370985518770939794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf3v0rlrEffOVWQLiZMq5uvCjBjVtaciaZUa3AmkAHThSrattj683dD4PJT-slUdUqf7y146z4hsRTciC4CEcOC0lp6xcKcQHJQdOpadKmjS76WvR7-hcaCaDrYLY97o2S4ZWPw/s200/Summer09+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986180408239922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4CBWE0RlHCs28svoeA6fFVo8yNC3OGXXAfqM5mZzZ39USiXfmmQAOQUxH-qg2CH8T_S6-ypEi9qpbnQvW3Ug7tPX9X6kJAESUm2ipKylgrBWQPmd_KZZ4fUvca0eCI05u-9iQg/s320/Summer09+027.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>Yay! We're tipsy!</em><br /><br /><p>Bill scored a fire permit for that night too (because the BEST time to have a fire is when you are buzzed from a wine tasting). That meant everyone had to pile into the truck to get to the beach.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986193181876690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao4n3AO-zJdO9YIursRUPWAog4OUQzFrwNGNRunc_eRFCbveDHshBjp6kOxbXyfZLCKXGtcMYolLkFwvnXyRmmOOKeYMPhA-jLIF8JKL9ORI2_bG8a3Kk6yDX65cQngKmtLdhyphenhypheng/s320/Summer09+036.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />My favorite part was when bill started the fire by shooting lasers from his eyes.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986200790846962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7Ib9FiopSJ-gkzWH8sxdDTUIbZRrFFDjKLaUAQVzIIUR-RCP8ZWzOuTUW_Cofzxd4cOBkGlQjfg1NsWstwcHUOx7LOuF8l30IPx_oTKQOWAfYlodW_L41wD0F5Rq9DihvGyWrQ/s320/Summer09+055.jpg" border="0" /><br />I braved first degree burns for the s'mores, which are, in fact, worth getting second degree burns for. So I made out on that deal.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370994118992479250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TjijRAmSaCGyn8R-SjWe9JDO5q_hWtefJS3PIeufUEnsq6etmdPgwY5MOaKedxCH-IUkGondjeSepJyAVFQ-pSsFHJPTIgZHgLV0YN2RbG5nztSsQlQat-2v5fMewDV4kE7mKg/s320/Summer09+059.jpg" border="0" /> Did you know that beach fires are not supposed to exceed 3 ft in height? Nope, neither did we.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370987292790903714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpktbs5NoE4PXq9gNcF1E32PQstqfHFAT2aHYeBmeWazNlmxK_wogTW4xBuxi6FvwNBrzbQWSb75lvYxRKMSm_-WngNyJS8IgZTT2AuLdYfhXrwTRxFMSh4-tH9CNbeM57GgjNJg/s320/Summer09+045.jpg" border="0" /><br />Lobsta..(of course) was eaten. and the carcass was subsequently played with.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370994129673141970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uaY6fo-k5WHwpCjNVoMR_yLjXQy1RBgMGSYsf9P1ZLUs6XTudJWrROLwerHlR_iTF91TokC28AhJITdDtZq7U2VOMVOrxFMXxbhWO8sLPU99spYYMX_z3uMGSuDsTHfmkH2tXg/s320/Summer09+081.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />As the week went on, things got more and more relaxed. Given what Justin and Bill told Mike that the "P" in P-town stands for, he felt it was more than appropriate not to wear pants.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371010471576809010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ofKDHwVGBLLqWG3jzaEN17KUdy9joSRMsIf3oebRVhRe_YpTN0x-wC2h8gJbHJn6QvWlmgTaMqHqb77wE8s8VR2bXvBKtqxtZUBnvpvOfS0EPQ6yHFben4etk2IwbpBqeOG5g/s320/Summer09+104.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></p><p>Thanks guys, I have enough problems getting him to wear clothes as it is. </p>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-65406236562977946852009-07-14T22:11:00.006-04:002009-07-14T23:01:13.280-04:00The Big Dipper...new and improved with more pekinese!Year two of the Big Dipper..The free ice cream festival in Elm Park that benefits Children's Hospital. Here are Gia and Mike pre-ice cream...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUQwBNNKN0_yKeOhuv_sDOkfL0iKxNOVMyJjECZ2Ao6DBZ0phd0b_l5QrvJCjxe7JudSWjA7ctaAxTYv6I2H3Yx9bYN8w8k8qVD8KAO6rmUMOqF1QnKCTTjE9BV2pnHK4eRFOsw/s1600-h/summer08+023.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358514003058453186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUQwBNNKN0_yKeOhuv_sDOkfL0iKxNOVMyJjECZ2Ao6DBZ0phd0b_l5QrvJCjxe7JudSWjA7ctaAxTYv6I2H3Yx9bYN8w8k8qVD8KAO6rmUMOqF1QnKCTTjE9BV2pnHK4eRFOsw/s320/summer08+023.jpg" /></a> And here's Mario. Nina wasn't sure how he climbed that huge bridge with such short legs. Come to think of it, she asked me how I made it up there too.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaV7E1mmg71kjZrlAlFOn3C4WOFK2XwQf1zOWhtxZ_tvjClA4EMIinqPsrun3svtewYWYbkfoIhou_-ZiDzI-UOeePWpa1r8_HRrEIHYruXBwhUh_sCf5QkICW_DtmZn4a2VqHA/s1600-h/summer08+033.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513993607882034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaV7E1mmg71kjZrlAlFOn3C4WOFK2XwQf1zOWhtxZ_tvjClA4EMIinqPsrun3svtewYWYbkfoIhou_-ZiDzI-UOeePWpa1r8_HRrEIHYruXBwhUh_sCf5QkICW_DtmZn4a2VqHA/s320/summer08+033.jpg" /></a> ah...so cute.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiUycwdHVhs4kZ_fp0m-RTmEHaihp3LuAREDuKR9wbmSJX0V1P-zJW-rAq3U4Va6AC4It9w_zr2elTajFcJKbNU1a7ON2oJZri6VaNL2uRDSdRHZPjVA1ca1m03VVsdw-0i7Ajw/s1600-h/summer08+012.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513990556766306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiUycwdHVhs4kZ_fp0m-RTmEHaihp3LuAREDuKR9wbmSJX0V1P-zJW-rAq3U4Va6AC4It9w_zr2elTajFcJKbNU1a7ON2oJZri6VaNL2uRDSdRHZPjVA1ca1m03VVsdw-0i7Ajw/s320/summer08+012.jpg" /></a><br /><br />During and post-ice cream infusion.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_P0W49YJONdIyWnEnGYXMjAa5s3Ji4K-1D7kvhwuHNJ12PD4JB0IJWWjUkepJ0pNJ183H0fX7QHkRO6MxOvv1EjHF3698YcMjo1KBpg41MjYULt6fTb9MyFdkL8gCJu6ztcXWQ/s1600-h/summer08+015.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513982307628274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_P0W49YJONdIyWnEnGYXMjAa5s3Ji4K-1D7kvhwuHNJ12PD4JB0IJWWjUkepJ0pNJ183H0fX7QHkRO6MxOvv1EjHF3698YcMjo1KBpg41MjYULt6fTb9MyFdkL8gCJu6ztcXWQ/s320/summer08+015.jpg" /></a><br />and then there is the star of the day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRiN4iSaldFTf3zblNesOZoaDmSmbHhkJ6D-c4qL1oKYmnxGQnvA3frnLqjsDlNFgTA6iSyyd_w-xr_we9C0wNqfJynju1fz6ao4hdSdN70nj7yPsLiVn_keVVFP25kD7MpskAg/s1600-h/summer08+013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358513977039375234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRiN4iSaldFTf3zblNesOZoaDmSmbHhkJ6D-c4qL1oKYmnxGQnvA3frnLqjsDlNFgTA6iSyyd_w-xr_we9C0wNqfJynju1fz6ao4hdSdN70nj7yPsLiVn_keVVFP25kD7MpskAg/s320/summer08+013.jpg" /></a><br />Not sure whose kid this is, or why she is sticking her finger up Mario's nose--that's really a bad idea. He was more popular than the kids and just as high maintenance (which is saying something).<br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC4IECURdEQte1wr4ErSpcWBPfOlwzAjZE4cgJPklhjw_wsJ0Bj3RqXzf2q2EhW6m_-_T_utVl9suBPlv2tcahnRkIHVuXgefb6ZrJtuilB825rTemLyeMFI619a1M4KXwSSjBQ/s1600-h/summer08+035.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358515349904207618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC4IECURdEQte1wr4ErSpcWBPfOlwzAjZE4cgJPklhjw_wsJ0Bj3RqXzf2q2EhW6m_-_T_utVl9suBPlv2tcahnRkIHVuXgefb6ZrJtuilB825rTemLyeMFI619a1M4KXwSSjBQ/s320/summer08+035.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PUmftUx1S-KiWd7CmSee5Ue9QK_ZcWq8C0SsUE_NpqMCkHZYzzoohnxi3-iOwERSRe87RKaiM0XCrgpTGrC6xOTjyZOkCe7lBIHrQPCjN2Fedq3qgJF6rU5mKLz0NI6etObqHw/s1600-h/summer08+034.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-48361892063932734962009-07-14T21:35:00.007-04:002009-07-14T22:10:00.227-04:00Barcelona: the food post<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68ZsGwu6UheBLqbSyXji26Ikm-4Dkr37tKNTK7tp0dc7eVPqko72886RQXgCgtxAklglDJMthH1HWjOkN37q4BwUU3AHs6Q5Ikpwqrql-kx5rz9cb-inaPzxfr6VVn9E7nMKLjQ/s1600-h/IMG_0984.JPG"></a>Why am I so freaking happy?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358501494570619282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZFXG8f8uzBAY5mi674YXpj6J7rZQPTaJZ1mo97jBHjq-WdDOn3G4-G2lF8iTPjTIoOolIRmBdkohNPfAeoreiOXJy1kIqb-I8kuefl3JhYXUPdZKg_Avml_wWM9JiUV3FtFq2A/s320/IMG_0985.JPG" /><br /><div><br />Because every morsel of food in Barcelona was absolutely delicious. Tapas were the standard meal for lunch and dinner. Little plates of deliciousness. Yes, those are anchovies. Those were mine. The french fries are Bill's (that can't be a surprise...and he did ask for ketchup. I was mortified).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8MhZT7VfGin1j057nXliapGcYnZWMTkoFUMczMWgOcsbUsNtrTmxQRoEWh3or75HSmxuVlq5NtccDS0Qoq7_dTXtfodDusrryAAoW9LES3WZz59XTdHqlOrblmgUISyLcendsQ/s1600-h/IMG_0966.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499137293684226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8MhZT7VfGin1j057nXliapGcYnZWMTkoFUMczMWgOcsbUsNtrTmxQRoEWh3or75HSmxuVlq5NtccDS0Qoq7_dTXtfodDusrryAAoW9LES3WZz59XTdHqlOrblmgUISyLcendsQ/s320/IMG_0966.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Did I mention it is impossible to get a bad cup of coffee? Unless you go to Starbucks, they do exist there, and they are filled with Americans.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrH3t3Al8-aao5JRVoxX1OGS5jGPOUxXuw5Y0iMu6weMCphjK-2drJF8cgL2F3XAZTj_75mOjnaDbKwy3acOD-b20SHX838PKpEGKVoUwGDHlPIpdgGTmYG8d9KiNTLKx0UKjXQ/s1600-h/IMG_0988.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499134028953074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrH3t3Al8-aao5JRVoxX1OGS5jGPOUxXuw5Y0iMu6weMCphjK-2drJF8cgL2F3XAZTj_75mOjnaDbKwy3acOD-b20SHX838PKpEGKVoUwGDHlPIpdgGTmYG8d9KiNTLKx0UKjXQ/s320/IMG_0988.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />An awesome farmer's market...those are shakes in the lower right, buried in ice with only the straw sticking out.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-mm8GQL9_D3YhjmQEmEvyaNHG6vY92bwgqJIw2gxy0e5PTE2bkfKgBQLXLFmHMDGKQxhq_BmPQYfZQsULaX4p_Qg9uFgY-kgugYiiakgMRyS6yz3aw47ahhSmheeYDq5_udK7w/s1600-h/summer08+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499126000479378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-mm8GQL9_D3YhjmQEmEvyaNHG6vY92bwgqJIw2gxy0e5PTE2bkfKgBQLXLFmHMDGKQxhq_BmPQYfZQsULaX4p_Qg9uFgY-kgugYiiakgMRyS6yz3aw47ahhSmheeYDq5_udK7w/s320/summer08+006.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Yum--Shrimp! With eyes!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsp3pBGbLWzAYGWT_GUq0a8MFpT8JnxxPcae7gpmxxO1PVn8XoEuqe0Le09e91vKfw07fzSzjz17xPFHhAos2fEWwlIRER3laWXyahSRBh1lJViClbyDzyXbcHuP_p5nVFouFLQ/s1600-h/summer08+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499115564655426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsp3pBGbLWzAYGWT_GUq0a8MFpT8JnxxPcae7gpmxxO1PVn8XoEuqe0Le09e91vKfw07fzSzjz17xPFHhAos2fEWwlIRER3laWXyahSRBh1lJViClbyDzyXbcHuP_p5nVFouFLQ/s320/summer08+009.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWIe8wsPYc33dmtTHlb6ED7dr9mgzxtsI50xl2cZmy075zKBjo-kx35AgPx_VUAh62eSn7JMbL2seCD7Do-T_Bq3aiTJlF-5AaKw4hi1uqNzIlYNcxvWy-g6HCHuufwo0uxjrvQ/s1600-h/summer08+007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499114377711010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWIe8wsPYc33dmtTHlb6ED7dr9mgzxtsI50xl2cZmy075zKBjo-kx35AgPx_VUAh62eSn7JMbL2seCD7Do-T_Bq3aiTJlF-5AaKw4hi1uqNzIlYNcxvWy-g6HCHuufwo0uxjrvQ/s320/summer08+007.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Also, everyone starts drinking at noon.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358500268602678994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvQYxRC7XoqHw5kd20R_zKpuYlGDmQXNODL4V9_EjtprAvSIClsmPlAXr_DmLEmf0dYJfIJZu-w0zP4fH4AU8PIQmUFKx8uSfZfSj8w5D7Yvrjnk2AQSoO9h_pZ0mSd6dB6KAWQ/s320/IMG_0987.JPG" /><br /><br /><div></div>possibly another reason I was so happy. just saying.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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/><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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This would also mean that I would get to own a Vespa. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVX_bWWwvb9owk2L35U8BsiPqC1-K29OulvSjj5LPBy_1SjsNqqCIfEiwkkUK4hCyA97tBomLeuTpzb0jblF8tRH4Fg2D5lsDumwiJCpEL64P0S3OeQ9PQB5rFQUMUX0Xxv72HA/s1600-h/IMG_1016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357783223709310962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVX_bWWwvb9owk2L35U8BsiPqC1-K29OulvSjj5LPBy_1SjsNqqCIfEiwkkUK4hCyA97tBomLeuTpzb0jblF8tRH4Fg2D5lsDumwiJCpEL64P0S3OeQ9PQB5rFQUMUX0Xxv72HA/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" /></a> The architechture is like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9lDrxiBglEntt62iqoU2P3O2BA14bJezUk9cj49SBz9n-pckFvkX5wDkjo7mNwSpaY9PjzfCQ3R3Lk0JsEm7GbqDpXZyU_ubavd-HolEDoyMnuy59NkQJOk-wFjoPRthh7erFw/s1600-h/IMG_1002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357783217518364882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9lDrxiBglEntt62iqoU2P3O2BA14bJezUk9cj49SBz9n-pckFvkX5wDkjo7mNwSpaY9PjzfCQ3R3Lk0JsEm7GbqDpXZyU_ubavd-HolEDoyMnuy59NkQJOk-wFjoPRthh7erFw/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" /></a><br />The Sauda Famiglia is a Cathedral designed by Gaudi. While it clearly has elements that make it look like a traditional cathedral, it is very modern as well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357781339881351810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyy8pWr7_JUoLi9XcwxbBLDEo3_ONqTwSUlOgIVgUWRi3kAcYUNODmvUAnXctUEMhvD7R9b6ruKyH9Z6eThHD9Jwgj8sv93kQg65DpzO5zHvJE4MvA11nfXOSOVPUbwXDfanj4Q/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357781345681889922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKt-uYr7oaf1LwgWCcRQ1Kru3mUdfPWQ28uIykqpZiXaBKfxChAgXKwQXZKTRpz92j67ro00kiuLjP_t-lQ_UQYF8TNjPCgzNzfaEo-dsUZvYSPTpQ3ESBF7i9-N_n1KxhkaHIw/s320/IMG_0979.JPG" /><br />The above is a view of the city from the Barcelona Art Museum.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357781334275585554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCkvlIJ79-zEv5nB_whD5JLjf86R3_CoydzoUQV1rAvkTWTWo03e6Z4sRLbTEZr0E-GI43IWKU4CcuCAzIke-cJ0S-KR7mmRUW5BcHhyphenhyphenjXdoItYOC2U8WK1zjgq5qUOLyuPxtEw/s320/IMG_0963.JPG" /> But I did a fair amont of work too..see how tired I was? </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357781348850259762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EEqUSxAfulm0IKEADUI3HP20CTUMka17_QBGdCGfyAVz6irKp0u9FnV1YID9l6SLMVW8VIF6Jr4yC4LZddc5ZOCm7IaSwnsVDLxb_sSi-8kNpUSy7ecyyTNIVJZGxNcwGH5FZw/s320/IMG_0982.JPG" /><br />Actually, that was in the art musuem...but I DID do work...seriously. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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/><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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She likes alfalfa nuggets, head scratches and long walks on the beach.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353293371360486162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY9g4vZ1HNdYyK5lhJ58EyZnB6MTfLSxo7moxXr__BxY4mZdZBULJKhsGAXHDbDiA3nS3ExxSpFuGI5YcEGm_GCjxaYcLDB-WOojH8qK8IKi8c08RVWgCzQA5bdk-WioDjXt-rw/s320/penny.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>Hannah and Gia are having a great time together at the lessons. </div><br /><div>What a sweet picture, two great friends...</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353293369141727170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyv3hlEXpBYdRvpYk4W99MH8aeM5KcfcqS76YxAuzRY-MVIdf2EcBSiThjd1jHOzJaXqqvEZZUOJ1rZKn8vINXKCHlo3DrSjVKistTr_p0nIskBAKbdaXUBrIhXduQ63trveLSg/s320/g_hannah.jpg" /><br /><div>However, here is the whole picture. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353293380719553218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_le-xjgIYV9UiA50bhnxMLKS-BVueW6luCqo2xcpqPGt9Ob0WeILtbMSu7OKPFa8QsKMZmpzlDLoRId9p9gRcoFF2TxPlXq81TXP5ulRmYyO8zGJq99SleuslO80BxPNs_ntzQ/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div>Gotta love little brothers (seriously, is he is a little creepy in this picture or what?)</div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-73777244816902136882009-06-17T21:59:00.002-04:002009-06-17T22:24:26.877-04:00First Lesson!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV595huC8RbKCgEQpWEkZ4dDJQBVkUjYC6cn_IEiYriuAOlv4zuhIxwwhq10QM8XHRuAVaxqfAaF_xgBeuH1m6jE_Hc_cI9xjmYDMM1u715-1cgpRaFia_heA3KvQPt83K-wHqGQ/s1600-h/IMG_0901.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348487393613084578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV595huC8RbKCgEQpWEkZ4dDJQBVkUjYC6cn_IEiYriuAOlv4zuhIxwwhq10QM8XHRuAVaxqfAaF_xgBeuH1m6jE_Hc_cI9xjmYDMM1u715-1cgpRaFia_heA3KvQPt83K-wHqGQ/s320/IMG_0901.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348487380326218018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWXSyRsAVVhOKgfjtqZVPnB0-o1PCKv08j9Li6xulz-TrJ1xk2riInXtdj1VWE0sL1BgJ0HFdm3CiNF90zHjoQXumFlZKC4dAeXpi4Jsbipv3AHFmvQnQUnWgDFLsn4aiJVidZA/s320/IMG_0899.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Gia and Hannah had their first riding lesson today! They did fantastic--both were counting down the days, then the hours, then literally the MINUTES before the lesson. I think that it lived up to their expectations, that is, they are both thrilled to go back. For gia, the biggest challenge was not so much staying on the horse, but being quiet long enough to listen to the teacher. </div><div></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348487391011646162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjP-8suKOsm5PTXjqxgzwFuXHkyppVymoiDqS8XLM5IYhmmajlgril9UtNGYW9lcrU4_fSUTJffuxq4I5do5PQx8xUxbL2HQe-gUAFaFUR5JCOIb24nbQ6vFmasxsC8HWp5YO9g/s320/IMG_0909.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>One of the earliest and most important lessons that I learned through my years horseback riding was that if you demand respect, most often, you will get it. Horses do sense when you are not certain-not necessarily "fear" as the adage says--just that you are not sure what you want, and you probably are not going to follow through. Most of the horses that are used for schooling are very adept at figuring out if you are really going to make them go through their paces or if they can drag you over to the soft, sweet grass and spend the hour that you paid for eating while you sputter about on their back. </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348487399556701138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ip1a6fya2R2pRLBeOYXXh7jEFgzHKd_buySKJXRbOQczZBYWO_u-qH5IsdAYs-gtq9AbTJt6yim_s-6Kpp2GpuLrwpb466RjCtf7yQmTYsx87ApV7ND2H_VOWa_H05ayJifxmA/s320/IMG_0904.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>However, if you demand respect, even if you don't necessarily believe it totally, they will give it--despite the fact that they weigh hundreds of pounds more than you and are so much stronger, they will listen. This is a huge ego boost for a pre-teen. That something, anything, will listen to you and do your bidding--fantastically pleasing. Its's just a little cloying to say that if the horses respect you--than naturally it follows that you will demand respect from others, including your peers--but there <strong>is</strong> a lesson there. </div><br /><br /><div>So, while I expect Gia to swoon at how beautiful the horses are and fall in love with them, I hope she learns a little about her own power too. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348487377171666978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB8R7XRGWEyHFC0nmparP5u2m3LFKaTeehSZCQAkZ_4Fx22rN0viLwPjjVn4phwS0JVjbCACiGHD4iC7jhO-GyED9aX5bj-Cevy_PQt0ty36UkI_r0KBkoCeVAnEUqB5fhlueoA/s320/IMG_0900.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-27349234951653943972009-06-17T21:48:00.002-04:002009-06-17T21:58:45.836-04:00Collections<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4OpgBZpi7p4ULL65c-7792m40sgpzCv_gloKwJc3hyphenhyphenM6QViAqPe7RlcmhPMHrZsFC9FdBH4luJTecIDQM2Z3qmczSH6WCT3rJGK1JwhDLLUgrJjOKb53rq4m3X3fUbzjvluOQ/s1600-h/IMG_0667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348481177780241762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K4OpgBZpi7p4ULL65c-7792m40sgpzCv_gloKwJc3hyphenhyphenM6QViAqPe7RlcmhPMHrZsFC9FdBH4luJTecIDQM2Z3qmczSH6WCT3rJGK1JwhDLLUgrJjOKb53rq4m3X3fUbzjvluOQ/s200/IMG_0667.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4rN0GhAjSuMeVhy_TlDQYamja_Uw5fDUAI4rftPZqsEtgnK6Ke4YJXFEnDQqrFzuymDQ6rwNz6zh6hIM1xhyZLvcRfaQmAIw9NM81NGc_ba814tqneZPSgm7rpGyb7qehc7nqA/s1600-h/IMG_0666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348481173424241282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4rN0GhAjSuMeVhy_TlDQYamja_Uw5fDUAI4rftPZqsEtgnK6Ke4YJXFEnDQqrFzuymDQ6rwNz6zh6hIM1xhyZLvcRfaQmAIw9NM81NGc_ba814tqneZPSgm7rpGyb7qehc7nqA/s200/IMG_0666.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>we have a few collections in our house. Mike and I like to line them up, due to our OCD. </div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-56913002737318289662008-12-29T21:37:00.007-05:002008-12-29T22:29:16.307-05:00Iron Chef Pizza Challenge with special guest judge Danny W.!Two puppies, two kids and Nina (let's be honest, she's a bit of a loose cannon). It's no wonder that we don't normally get guests to Sunday dinner. Sadly, we have to resort to cheap tricks like having Iron Chef challenges to get people to visit. The good news is it totally works!<br /><br /><br />The entries...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa2lsGEk9XgNUUIfGu-ktwonSvzUE7rrTgJi8mH4wwtgfwwhuvo0IgLRtUJP9nTkMhy27_bE20gp8yhw8Iza1ULPKSTrniupt053lqA9PDuQq75Kc_OsnOR6KWAwUgrPhyphenhyphengvLcQ/s1600-h/IMG_0643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285414665926078834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa2lsGEk9XgNUUIfGu-ktwonSvzUE7rrTgJi8mH4wwtgfwwhuvo0IgLRtUJP9nTkMhy27_bE20gp8yhw8Iza1ULPKSTrniupt053lqA9PDuQq75Kc_OsnOR6KWAwUgrPhyphenhyphengvLcQ/s200/IMG_0643.JPG" border="0" /></a>Nina's Tuscan Zucchini and Proscuitto Pizza<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG8fASvizmCrkyMKtYQjEZ7SDa1FTIdRUTFwjzWm6_DLi6fp70FV1xujJLRsVH06hKV7gzwVyWqwJ2meY3oO1lggedfm2bFE5ymDrlXro6NN-iFaVSVgRW6qgBgDHHVXSHIit8Q/s1600-h/IMG_0642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285414660682219634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG8fASvizmCrkyMKtYQjEZ7SDa1FTIdRUTFwjzWm6_DLi6fp70FV1xujJLRsVH06hKV7gzwVyWqwJ2meY3oO1lggedfm2bFE5ymDrlXro6NN-iFaVSVgRW6qgBgDHHVXSHIit8Q/s200/IMG_0642.JPG" border="0" /></a>Mom went all rebel and did a Chicago Deep Dish Sausage Pizza.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TQZs6THOb3ztdBm2qo43AcT7IJISd4Xny_gS3e0FSnAWqHamq7xw4FJIgivX3dtzhsX5oFclDUc8rrEYRjTnlq3y5n3qvDDnEnkjwW7IsJVcKLq-lpeofvxZq6XNj_hKZr-U7w/s1600-h/IMG_0644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285414674468495010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TQZs6THOb3ztdBm2qo43AcT7IJISd4Xny_gS3e0FSnAWqHamq7xw4FJIgivX3dtzhsX5oFclDUc8rrEYRjTnlq3y5n3qvDDnEnkjwW7IsJVcKLq-lpeofvxZq6XNj_hKZr-U7w/s200/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Bill (bill? I know! I was so proud) did a Pepperoni-Surprise Thin Crust. It is way less naughty than it sounds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Me. plain. (I prefer to call it <em>classic</em>) Someone always has to make something non-controversial at these challenges so that the kids have something to eat.<br /><br /><br />But what's this?? a dark horse...a COOKIE Pizza from team Danstin (or Judan?)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285415751111477538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqVVS4sBgPS-bSt-FPxjKpd19q5WWsWYVOk3GN41lfC9p9ra2c06xmJo9CV7Apzsp6DifAEAmtArChjVNmZQUbh603bJW6SvBKz6ew9NReTVAliBHdfD_myb6B-lyrsgZQ4SZmw/s200/IMG_0661.JPG" border="0" />It looks like it has enough red dye #5 to send a small child into a seizure, but it is impossible to be immune to warm-chocolate chip cookie dough with <em>frosting</em>. Totally not fair. That's like putting crack in your pizza.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285417336972068498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjgwXyioxuVTu-1B11nzk9fl8CksYWOQDvHYwlGEshKvj5m1qp5dxQ1Fd3jtQRjn-CSgHg2EVUvbyp3j9fZbH1wmeInwTdPsS7vfJ6VD2f8_xPf9RHrSWBZR3v6jE_WA-rT4sVw/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Gia makes the ballots--she does a great job. But, judging is hard work. Wine is necessary.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285417329242105138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUtMJIwV9ezymzacuaVIL98vIBrZrDXnfxHPxuR6vKKu6paNJiUPFDpfMYmwhMEHivP1pehy_b_0VI-WEXPV60WPudQgKsqS6X3-Y9jt7HbjIlYivL9Y61AF8pNpcgAwmKdw-PQ/s320/IMG_0664.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285417343337089362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H-6flMDf6j6zC91Vlp9EBlTCG_ClTJPNrGEAHt29ZKbwShdhvnP5bw-0zpP_YeUDvDLetQR8Fb_07Hxxi-cI37Ev5WQ2qd106J7fb37d_KmTf0O14uOOYDFtGvZKQVcPxloSBQ/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" border="0" />Of course the cookie won (actually they tied with Nina with 10 points).<br /><div>Good job guys! (though I should warn you Bill is demanding a recount). </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Mario says the next challege should be Purina-related. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285418966916356178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DbH_3Z1Kid2A4TcrgQ7X15QfxlF36fxwRvWVnHlifZMJ-fGjwblMHx7FLXMo9gOCgx8bYvJWBPFhZnG5j-pmLR9ULHpRQ8nbpvt_zpjZop8TU0Wu5TfNy4ESUxQhmOfxkGQ5Qg/s200/IMG_0656.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-26191630034761404742008-12-22T16:13:00.006-05:002008-12-22T20:58:25.835-05:00Gingerbread House of HorrorHoliday baking! One of my favorite traditions! While the grown-ups were making chocolate dipped biscotti and limoncello, we set the kids to making gingerbread cookies for Santa. <div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282797741553004034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGACAkFbOaMAJkYDDMONNJyUC7P1I3ehu3QHQQilQ6Qmtw81cwfBclbWwG-BtjLi4Xducd3GDJoAa1qstl4MTJkjahmZtIwMay0WFGwSeTBcB8WMQJzBKJLF7YAsWe6SfF7KhCA/s320/IMG_0598.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Oh, how sweet! (now THIS would have made a good Christmas card!) </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282797743668095266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDVV4i7v2RroxqESxmV8MTsn9j76ASfxuy2d2IOq1Oecg9XfmvyFpfvOXQvvO-uLoNMgDTdBqHfQdBelUrJW571AYxcOZuVnFbL1Bf-74tEtzlj178MFtWkeua0dipB4sEBiurg/s320/IMG_0596.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Hey look, Uncle Justin is here! Yay! He is just in time to decorate the cookies with the kids! </div><br /><div>Oh, wait. Oh, my goodness. Well, when the kids can't fall asleep at night we'll know its not because they are excited for Santa...its because they can't get these images out of their heads...</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282797755681807842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhz-TH6GWZu2UsYKMeEeg55_VN1zOp0026p76TkP-bGQEcMQHvUG1Fr5rQOfXV84k55JFulxuKqRHJmJI8XHsn-LDFmqivHRd1GivyuWUJXp_MCYnggxW3_y3wp05Ju2sgK4SgA/s320/IMG_0600.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Justin, I think its amazing that for your job, you catch dirtbags all day long and keep us safe from the bad guys. I am consistently impressed at how you maintain cheerful optimism when you get to see some of the nastiest people there are--but dude, my kids won't eat the gingerbread anymore. I think you may be a little sick...but, that's probably why I like you so much! </div><br /><br />I can't wait to see what you do when its time to color easter eggs!<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282798642957154818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrO9TM8StduESzbIRt7PhLs8kvCm0MouWXe3PmjKY2SXXUFApyexu9XS4eZdyMuBU215eDY7gnKRxzGzu4j6Gi1ySi_UuOovf5h-9dVX7SdbuWKCHXaIxsFECojWv16yH-SfLLw/s200/IMG_0601.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-20368396486597452382008-12-17T20:49:00.004-05:002008-12-17T21:24:38.735-05:00Sorry about the lame X-mas card...<div><div><div><div><div><br />But we are probably lucky that mike is in it at all. </div><br /><br /><div>He warned me as soon as I got the camera out. </div><div>"I no take picture with YOU." </div><br /><div>I did not believe him. This kid is 2, I've got 32 years on him, so presumably I should be able to outsmart him. </div><br /><div>He would not pose with Gianna, near Gianna, in the same room as the tree or anything that resembled a Christmas decoration. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945859175459522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7P0x_XGjb2XRjKOkwnbmk0DuNdSfheWdFLNNunA8r1NLX5dZX8W8TVpFLYbJgJBbSfigRx1yam-8Mx_M72L4G58B_BkQaiLR8QyG2aezeAzhANFIFTNhIcj-mZ2jzdq_5LxWNpg/s320/IMG_0552.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Good girl G (She posed like this for about 30 minutes, can you see the strain in her eyes?)</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280949421994570738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNW1T47pLYWI4CRmo3l_6ju_BK01dHiyVqT2PlYYAwWZu8h-WrmEIJQznNM0-ZogKg4vj0BBbRXs3ir_in1GG3squBdKbxyyAOS_HUMxWQiak7UfpCP11OUaBW5yXbjJX2cxVAw/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Impressive G! but where is Mike? </div><br /><br /><div>There he is...can you spot him? </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945873803792018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XHDTQZUVDtVTnkMG-nSTFZyXC6q6nUjYr_5X2bjWGte8Y8bwRqmvCDHdKw9QHj4eg1Wmzg0fCIpyCBv0yqhhXnn_wExVH6coUTjYhiaD9_l-bXBPLza670BxFvgrv90ntvC3jQ/s320/IMG_0562.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Near the end, I resorted to bribery--not a first, nor will it be the last time. But it didn't work! </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945886121257586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM3pMjLiJCxyNPF5XYw1rww2BlOuHNTX_wlFTLxUJNWr753cNceDpZj0R7q3BLBUKsVpugt_PYB66LCFF6CXfd93Ma33gEAsngqhyphenhyphenFpNBPwaV6Naobcdo7UBkxsBQCCYfrBXVYg/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>He sobbed while he ate the chocolate which meant I was still left with no viable picture for the card. How can chocolate NOT work when you are 2?? Chocolate still works on me. </div><div> </div><div>Next year I'm hiring Beth to do my X-mas cards. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-92128906181964992102008-11-28T20:48:00.006-05:002008-11-28T21:25:44.934-05:00Her X-men name could be "Mistress Mastercard"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3zASIpfTSTeSTG7m2owIYxj5iwyr-mYVG7D9kwYLmhhT29opAwcVHpJpJuyi94WJ-d-Jqbkt5eZCcrMQ8ic5bGLG7X7XtodJS_o5-1W5ujqa9TEVAg6ccluJ7JCbprHBl-Ah2g/s1600-h/IMG_0544.JPG"></a><div><br /><div>It is Black Friday and I'm just sitting down to look at my purchases. We took in a good haul this year even though we are not the getting-up-at-4am type (of course, this means we are also not the <a href="http://us.cnn.com/2008/US/11/28/black.friday.violence/index.html">trample-an-employee-for-cheap-walmart-crap </a>type either, so I'm ok with it). If you need to get some shopping done--you need to go with Nina. To say that shopping is a sport for her does not give really give the experience justice--unless maybe the sport is speed skating backwards while jousting. </div><br /><div>After going to IKEA to "look" at beds for Mike: </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273896998129893234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTemAfBmeyO9ilmmAoS_4PCYNMEEt82exkUvCecfMzCF3TTqSYnCVnBmYxOd5paH6KhwQfpZu0MztIBn0j7t6Rr4aXdQc3S1hITDSTmFYZIF16IdCGZMAP4kzmmOMMOpevOj36IA/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" border="0" /> <div>Note that NONE of these boxes contained a bed. Or anything for Mike. </div><br /><br /><div>and this really needs no explanation: </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273896990458763122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYbl0a9s6eEQRLhTE6d7YME8iUud0POcne7YJujisrPhzpl5i01c5bzEbQ9-5W4Km2LiriWSFrxAWBMiTVS-eVVgqr2Td075aaQsk8i76Rr4x8cdWmNjjdSksK-HlN4u32fzHxw/s320/IMG_0544.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>This was today: </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273896991153276082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcwrYwnCKXOqu3PGqOTrTm-Hwxz6K9KnLcjHHPfJtfTTPgwJO6r_84mAnuM45f4KeHX3tDD4Z-oWWhSgL_mV65avNHy7Pkl9gc7uM4rsV1O9dRIB6JfJHRXrPMPHjUXqsg4BYJA/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I should mention that I never really regret the purchases. It's all good stuff, it just happens so fast, its kind of hard to remember how it started. </div><br /><br /><div>We love to think about what different family member's mutant power might be if we were superheros. At least I do. Yes, because I'm a big geek--I know this--no need to belabor the point. Anyhow, Nina's power would certainly be convincing people to purchase as much as they can, in as short of a time as possible. I think mine would be my really loud clapping. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Despite what you see <a href="http://www.colonialironwork.com/work.html">here</a>, my Dad's would totally have to be his ability to tell the same story over and over andoverandover again and NOT remember that he already told you about the time that his buddy Eddy ate his goldfish or that his dog finally had enough of fluffy the cat...Anyway, go to his NEW website and look around! </div><br /></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-33720370724214555352008-11-09T21:02:00.001-05:002008-11-09T21:13:03.596-05:00See, he's not always crying..<div><div><div><div>This week at teamworks didn't start out any better...</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266845932307887890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ex6E1OiZlIpDYLXEG0hW7TE-CY7u78BcStXXn-v492PxWHpjBPKrWZf56H8Oj1N95TWPLCnDTCtsXY9A00ePg66o3kI4_pmIQl_dj3T8XFhD5t10SBFFdl239qCYr4kN9s6OdA/s200/IMG_0518.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>but it ended MUCH better! </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266845131977324370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYHn8zNtI_lhTPUsNx82WMiZNUQRtaOg0185jR_1KAG13rN9ZAOl2LktL4AilUziyQ5xmPADcwJ-Vx-euz5V5VuTwyccQEstRBZutCeiiIl4AYQMxQXD5hAL1sZyNJfedfgJ7fg/s400/IMG_0522.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Yay Mike! I'm so proud of you! </div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32208182.post-32850422383988530582008-11-03T20:48:00.003-05:002008-11-03T20:58:26.540-05:00A pictoral response to the question "How did Mike like his first gym class?"<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBV_pxN0AMWOEUppzSV7-jm6MGenhf0lutRF_LB9KcCKQCZqdS3fPwH4GLWj4cDfyBVr-W-75aXreFtg2BZWgSro-F8NWRzcGgeICL_KbWeN7UC0yCNZPhlsNeuaupVf_lnqcDg/s1600-h/IMG_0507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264615407639112434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBV_pxN0AMWOEUppzSV7-jm6MGenhf0lutRF_LB9KcCKQCZqdS3fPwH4GLWj4cDfyBVr-W-75aXreFtg2BZWgSro-F8NWRzcGgeICL_KbWeN7UC0yCNZPhlsNeuaupVf_lnqcDg/s400/IMG_0507.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, at least he is near the soccer ball.<br /><br /><div>He did come around at the end of class. He even wiped some snoogies on coach Mike. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264615760862105970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6vthf1vShklrVKTDU_aTmMryE_iT6lhxDgWXIFo9_W5gdxSnKO4an5W7VFMjBWDlgvMEYGnnAdTWrisTZctdGtIDMzrMCtLNlwk0HUf9_Jt20S1oixfPsBi1f3fx7AE_9PCdeA/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5726143-1");<br /><br /><br /><br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /><br /><br /><br /></script></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552240933199268141noreply@blogger.com0