tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36187068434823245852024-02-19T04:08:41.376-08:005 Second RuleCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-64721331748295703652010-03-30T10:50:00.000-07:002010-03-30T11:02:46.883-07:00No camera = Slow blogMy corner in Blog Land has been unusually quiet lately because *sob* I have no camera. But don't tell my mom - who gave it to me for Christmas - that it only lasted 3 months in the hands of her supposedly responsible daughter. She'll probably call me and use my middle name "Caitlin Mayme!" or something. I discovered the <a href="http://caitlinperkins.blogspot.com/2010/03/tuesday-top-10-oddities-in-housekeeping.html">dead camera</a> about 2 weeks ago and a reader of this blog suggested putting it in a Ziploc bag with rice and it might regain life. It is still in that rice bag on my fridge and utterly lifeless. It's terrible - Easter is around the corner and my girls have so many fun celebrations and egg hunts this week and I'm learning new crafty skills and slowly becoming a runner and making new friends and there's just so much worth capturing in pictures and I'm left camera-less for the time being. Hope to remedy that soon!Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-28481539921532980812010-03-30T10:34:00.000-07:002010-03-30T10:50:25.118-07:00Monday Meal PlanI believe I mentioned before that I am now cheating on menu planning. By doing this I know I am giving up any kind of Martha Stewart Award but using E-mealz has been the best thing that's happened in my kitchen since it gained a dishwasher. Seriously! No coupons, no recipe books/websites, no list-making, no nothing. Well, except visit the website and print and then off to the store I go. The only downside is that I feel like I'm cheating by continuing to post "my" meal plans each Monday. So they're not mine; but they make my life easier and happier so please accept my disclaimer and my family's un-original meal plan:<br /><br />Monday: Country Style BBQ Ribs, Roasted Onion Potatoes, Apple Peanut Cole Slaw<br /><br />Tuesday: Poppy Seed Chicken, Steamed Rice, Hot Peas<br /><br />Wednesday: Beef & Cheese Enchiladas, Lime Cucumber Salad, Tortilla Chips<br /><br />Thursday: Chinese Roast, Steamed Rice, Stir-Fry Vegetables<br /><br />Friday: Broccoli Cheese Soup, Crackers, Apple Slices<br /><br />Saturday: Italian Casserole, Steamed Green Beans<br /><br />Sunday: Beef and Artichoke Pasta, Steamed Broccoli, Garlic BreadCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-54082521337743853192010-03-22T10:32:00.000-07:002010-03-22T10:35:26.707-07:00Monday Meal PlanMonday: Cajun Steamed Shrimp, Baked Potatoes, Simple Salad, Crusty French Bread<br /><br />Tuesday: Incredible Baked Ziti, Steamed Green Beans, Garlic Breadsticks<br /><br />Wednesday: BBQ Pockets, Mandarin Orange Salad, Mixed Veggies<br /><br />Thursday: Parmesan Baked Fish, Brown Rice & Mushrooms<br /><br />Friday: Rio Grande Soup, Cornbread<br /><br />Saturday: Bacon Cobb Pitas, Chips, GrapesCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-7724464468623153552010-03-16T11:08:00.000-07:002010-03-18T11:58:27.482-07:00Tuesday Top 10: Oddities in housekeeping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBljwWq5QTCYqtf-D1R2M_5xwHEi2xrp-vV0isD6kTWbOHbmjMnva94vH7F8FOlUw3bGmRnor7RMAxvq1B7QRMzyUjcnZqtaMtvIygwjD9O1gLjlj9BUZUP3IJI7O8J6kGFrqfQtFLHPPi/s1600-h/anne_taintor.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBljwWq5QTCYqtf-D1R2M_5xwHEi2xrp-vV0isD6kTWbOHbmjMnva94vH7F8FOlUw3bGmRnor7RMAxvq1B7QRMzyUjcnZqtaMtvIygwjD9O1gLjlj9BUZUP3IJI7O8J6kGFrqfQtFLHPPi/s320/anne_taintor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450049902291993106" border="0" /></a>I had company from out-of-state over the weekend and am just now getting back into the swing of things. Besides, this sun and fresh air puts me in the cleaning mood. A day in the life...<br /><br />1. I have 2 heavy drinkers in the house (milk, that is). So there are sippy cups with us wherever we go. One particularly drippy sippy went unnoticed into the diaper bag with my camera. Yeah. Now there is 2% <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">inside</span></span> the camera and behind the screen that made a heart-sinking <span style="font-style: italic;">squelch</span> when I picked it up. :(<br /><br />2. $5 in the dryer - woohoo!<br /><br />3. There are raisins pressed firmly into the electrical outlet holes behind the highchair. Neither kid was electrocuted, I just checked. Child-proof outlet covers are now on the shopping list.<br /><br />4. Our garbage man (that's probably politically incorrect, sorry) decided to leave my dumpster-size trash bin on the front porch even though the garbage pick up happens in the backyard. Thanks, pal!<br /><br />5. While cleaning out the stroller I find an unopened jar of homemade cherry butter that I most certainly did not make or buy. Odd, but I'll take it.<br /><br />6. Tampons. Everywhere. Apparently someone decided to save me the trouble of unwrapping them and went so far as to remove them from their casings and tucked them back in the bathroom cabinet.<br /><br />7. Up to my arms in dirtied cleaning water and mop-cloth in hand, I hear from behind me "Mommy is very pretty today." That made me smile as I scrubbed her dried bananas from the kitchen floor.<br /><br />8. One toilet down and one to go and the Clorox cleaner runs out. Makes me wish I knew some home-remedy/recipe for making a quick batch of cleaner, but I don't so it'll have to wait. On the list it goes under "outlet covers".<br /><br />9. It is essential to set up a a blockade against invading toddlers after each room is tidied up. Their ability to deconstruct any sense of order is not to be underestimated. This tactic only lasts about 10 minutes but for some reason I still feel compelled to try and thwart their efforts anyway.<br /><br />10. So that's where all the little socks went. Tucked neatly and out-of-sight between the mattress and bed frame in Charli's room. At least that's one thing that can come OFF the shopping list!Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-20693241747183744952010-03-15T12:18:00.000-07:002010-03-15T19:49:51.113-07:00Monday Meal PlanSo, big news in the meal planning department! I'm not doing it anymore!! That's right, I climbed aboard e-mealz.com and the people there are going to give me menus and grocery lists and send me on my lovely shopping/cooking way. It does cost me $5/month (even less with the coupon code I used), but it's such a load off my busy brain and they coordinate with my local Kroger to pick the best meals to fit the store deals so I should come out ahead. Here goes week 1!<br /><br />Monday: Chicken Poulet, Apple Green Salad<br /><br />Tuesday: Egg Casserole, Strawberries, biscuits<br /><br />Wednesday: Corned Beef Brisket, Carrots, Potatoes & Cabbage, Rolls<br /><br />Thursday: Tangy Pork Tenderloin, Cheesy Broccoli, Corn On The Cob<br /><br />Friday: Oven-Fried Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans<br /><br />Saturday: A-1 Pork Chops, Baked Mashed Potatoes, Peas<br /><br />Sunday: Loaded Nachos, Black Beans and Corn<br /><br />Sounds yummy so far, right? It's already more colorful than what I typically come up with. We'll have to wait and see what my soldier and toddler think, the real judges....Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-37835997822738423732010-03-07T12:33:00.000-08:002010-03-07T13:35:03.566-08:00Last minute business trip, turned pleasureIn light of an ongoing battle to get a new Verizon phone (long story), a trip to Nashville, TN became necessary. Just under an hour away, it was borderline "too far to go for a day" with two nap-needing toddlers. But we're new to town and had never been to the famed Opryland Hotel so we decided to just go for it. Go for it we did and what fun we had!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje25cxnLgLy6hqI_8Ya3b7ra_vtvP0Ju_dzIPBYoLvoBJ1ZOA-30SOveRl8q233gnlfFg3rbc0PmmnNKx8UrPaEu8C5L5er3abdS44-9ECr17Vtsnt5kt_ToAh4uVkZtWlK8H9omeVTarf/s1600-h/IMG_0446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje25cxnLgLy6hqI_8Ya3b7ra_vtvP0Ju_dzIPBYoLvoBJ1ZOA-30SOveRl8q233gnlfFg3rbc0PmmnNKx8UrPaEu8C5L5er3abdS44-9ECr17Vtsnt5kt_ToAh4uVkZtWlK8H9omeVTarf/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446001488607152258" border="0" /></a>This would be Charli, ready for adventure!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfE3ITSOMXjF3crhUNA1_x4KkrCbTiJfdMShp-jLpqWwoZRqeDeDxe0aBoVsxplGNP20yVvl6J-aoj-qTxXTqtA2sumwID48hsCUSA66ihCd0v1Mw-WheMb9ZKN424OJCr9Qq5wTkVn48/s1600-h/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfE3ITSOMXjF3crhUNA1_x4KkrCbTiJfdMShp-jLpqWwoZRqeDeDxe0aBoVsxplGNP20yVvl6J-aoj-qTxXTqtA2sumwID48hsCUSA66ihCd0v1Mw-WheMb9ZKN424OJCr9Qq5wTkVn48/s400/IMG_0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446001482925734274" border="0" /></a>And Claire, who is always up for anything. And down with it all.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomwVCOOQ3j01qq52NrUJAeHOHewqWh3irbIHQREOYDREPIfIpdkbd5R9OA_FhdnRSt5PVZ0B3YeaMtFZwklsuRbCqvoXhVZjFv9wBTEccRIP_FDu5ehNL3a0Pf30E-DabQTfhTJqkjRpx/s1600-h/IMG_0449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomwVCOOQ3j01qq52NrUJAeHOHewqWh3irbIHQREOYDREPIfIpdkbd5R9OA_FhdnRSt5PVZ0B3YeaMtFZwklsuRbCqvoXhVZjFv9wBTEccRIP_FDu5ehNL3a0Pf30E-DabQTfhTJqkjRpx/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446001473391332786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nyELNNCw6UwW9Qp5nfel4tWa94ZAup5sjpSD0dyL7m-ucxxBDdmKHOTZRyo-IUrzMDtDFRygisEz74BvSMzZLHM_wFFtYRreSMZeXEyohpS0u9TmOpyfEriF7aOuaj18ycOPjOZ60EU/s1600-h/IMG_0450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nyELNNCw6UwW9Qp5nfel4tWa94ZAup5sjpSD0dyL7m-ucxxBDdmKHOTZRyo-IUrzMDtDFRygisEz74BvSMzZLHM_wFFtYRreSMZeXEyohpS0u9TmOpyfEriF7aOuaj18ycOPjOZ60EU/s400/IMG_0450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446001465851722434" border="0" /></a>"Look, mom, a boat!" We ran around after that tour-boat for an hour. All four of us were mightily impressed by sheer size of it all. Not to mention the smells of spring and fresh food and the feel of tropical air. Now I can't wait to go back withOUT kids!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1v24CaShTftGhKnNtmCAbKKhugQFtXSK26NxAFaJswExCtQiRKj5CW49ZVH2S6HtDUjQ-HsiJo2qkJIZLaF7ojkseg-vAmP8Tvazuu_tUHiDIaG2flh4PZma2Y32FPlXDLvvRD66qZjb/s1600-h/IMG_0451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1v24CaShTftGhKnNtmCAbKKhugQFtXSK26NxAFaJswExCtQiRKj5CW49ZVH2S6HtDUjQ-HsiJo2qkJIZLaF7ojkseg-vAmP8Tvazuu_tUHiDIaG2flh4PZma2Y32FPlXDLvvRD66qZjb/s400/IMG_0451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446000730339272034" border="0" /></a>Taking it all in...</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFE5hwqPhz7VTAedLgQ4lbojXNO3nZy0Zr3SngwmwegUnh4oTeqgH1d0npE47FWGT_77osO8oaeHnVMQrlbiHxPkWvyH4XGBOMhiuUGC9vSHGw-p7iwpqoZqqAwP9P2WLv4dOkEC9cw_z/s1600-h/IMG_0453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFE5hwqPhz7VTAedLgQ4lbojXNO3nZy0Zr3SngwmwegUnh4oTeqgH1d0npE47FWGT_77osO8oaeHnVMQrlbiHxPkWvyH4XGBOMhiuUGC9vSHGw-p7iwpqoZqqAwP9P2WLv4dOkEC9cw_z/s400/IMG_0453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446000716689465746" border="0" /></a>Um, yeah, that's my kid picking the decorative floating flowers out of the fountain pool.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWsboYPlu9Kyjn46jmSXeFdYcbp7UoP5Z1PeAJDF3oUJAZ1WjhFk-9SYmBK3C6hX7HHCPJIcABEcLB_FpZzkpsynAH2ZzjcbMemDUIOsWbxQFnXmUiiu2yCNIUQof5L4GOCFaCua4bIIp/s1600-h/IMG_0454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWsboYPlu9Kyjn46jmSXeFdYcbp7UoP5Z1PeAJDF3oUJAZ1WjhFk-9SYmBK3C6hX7HHCPJIcABEcLB_FpZzkpsynAH2ZzjcbMemDUIOsWbxQFnXmUiiu2yCNIUQof5L4GOCFaCua4bIIp/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446000711429720818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3hWe24tdrkj8grFZsDS-QDFc0i1Nc4uCLmebVXF8dTrSbXhqFcnP_2YPTXNKcsoOxU41VWLNCD-31upxtDdl9Cg9Kv4g6izb7tW5hyphenhyphenZao35h3lAmJAt6AwH63lb7ev4yvH5wyGz1mnte/s1600-h/IMG_0457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3hWe24tdrkj8grFZsDS-QDFc0i1Nc4uCLmebVXF8dTrSbXhqFcnP_2YPTXNKcsoOxU41VWLNCD-31upxtDdl9Cg9Kv4g6izb7tW5hyphenhyphenZao35h3lAmJAt6AwH63lb7ev4yvH5wyGz1mnte/s400/IMG_0457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446000706401467058" border="0" /></a>Claire cannot wait to walk; it's torture for her to see the big sister running free and not being able to keep up.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFL36E37P5F16wVLvo7qORS7ZkIq99vSnplFYtQQ03J_XT9MpRz-duIULcgX63pIsBRtxMFOQzOqPF_LO9GWEfEVR_mtFT5VgWM2qCIG0x_YG0pX4v9-wqgQFvGYsVm5XS2GUFl6uhDIW/s1600-h/IMG_0459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFL36E37P5F16wVLvo7qORS7ZkIq99vSnplFYtQQ03J_XT9MpRz-duIULcgX63pIsBRtxMFOQzOqPF_LO9GWEfEVR_mtFT5VgWM2qCIG0x_YG0pX4v9-wqgQFvGYsVm5XS2GUFl6uhDIW/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445999477746055554" border="0" /></a>Taking a breather,<br />watching the ducks...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89eSSui08YXODLu4rbMdNfcAbf7ocCMJZtQlS2bM50BGaEUWlWHyEV5U4MbiAXKBsim_5C2_PjIar7PCWjEUmUk003lV9Ji_oCNYcxM-efDQGN0irVEJW16Y67r2dkp4a6poPTZy9Bo3x/s1600-h/IMG_0461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89eSSui08YXODLu4rbMdNfcAbf7ocCMJZtQlS2bM50BGaEUWlWHyEV5U4MbiAXKBsim_5C2_PjIar7PCWjEUmUk003lV9Ji_oCNYcxM-efDQGN0irVEJW16Y67r2dkp4a6poPTZy9Bo3x/s400/IMG_0461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445999469187275202" border="0" /></a>I think this has to be where the term "lucky duck" was coined. Wow, talk about a life of luxury for those little quackers!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9TOUpfFpjE8tt4ttddp8eqROYFjV8jxt0oRga4AE_2eIL51ducA-EgkyccAp6drDXypaFl_EXMXCklmPLo5MVT7j-4VX0tBPNaDOmrwWLF3vWNCp1ObzrTgJffZCBRF-Y_nwjSivTarE/s1600-h/IMG_0462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9TOUpfFpjE8tt4ttddp8eqROYFjV8jxt0oRga4AE_2eIL51ducA-EgkyccAp6drDXypaFl_EXMXCklmPLo5MVT7j-4VX0tBPNaDOmrwWLF3vWNCp1ObzrTgJffZCBRF-Y_nwjSivTarE/s400/IMG_0462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445999463643615170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgT6rKfh0-yNojGNinrjMm0eenOmkamOszySV7eLl7bSYrShkYcuUAo2HvsjlrJty7mPW3YPkBchQF8Hx02GcRBvBFJfsAO4EvEJEIt4KbSkjgqAXMAXl_bAzaGMOueFjaydHfbKyTuMj/s1600-h/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgT6rKfh0-yNojGNinrjMm0eenOmkamOszySV7eLl7bSYrShkYcuUAo2HvsjlrJty7mPW3YPkBchQF8Hx02GcRBvBFJfsAO4EvEJEIt4KbSkjgqAXMAXl_bAzaGMOueFjaydHfbKyTuMj/s400/IMG_0465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445998410988488914" border="0" /></a>And off we go again!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjEBzrk9EDbmJnYbC3K2TE2LH3jlKrPzH8v92r3_GzBxP-g9mI_FSrHyAuIj-YZzwFvvuvmRlvBLAEojpkGP1ToZrEVDY6aE95zQsXxMVyplP3ZwOaj0H6qxrCVEpmW60WxfuNw3p4ixv/s1600-h/IMG_0464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjEBzrk9EDbmJnYbC3K2TE2LH3jlKrPzH8v92r3_GzBxP-g9mI_FSrHyAuIj-YZzwFvvuvmRlvBLAEojpkGP1ToZrEVDY6aE95zQsXxMVyplP3ZwOaj0H6qxrCVEpmW60WxfuNw3p4ixv/s400/IMG_0464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445998421981589554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGz1af3-q3QPbqQ5pi29OCt2ZeENeFC64LLt_urb6e6XnaMWv5RtPrc-Mz860UWceXK95ZdDOoJRsOwbfPzPlqiOKWCqQA2RpGM67yoV202znvFE5iKR1f7dnZFRtC6lRQz_BKhxw8BO5/s1600-h/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGz1af3-q3QPbqQ5pi29OCt2ZeENeFC64LLt_urb6e6XnaMWv5RtPrc-Mz860UWceXK95ZdDOoJRsOwbfPzPlqiOKWCqQA2RpGM67yoV202znvFE5iKR1f7dnZFRtC6lRQz_BKhxw8BO5/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445998391042985762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh62Nr5gh6hjRBbLq9V7BzqIOn3UEBASDka4QSYMpKcQligWtDBICyJ1pN-iLYJcsNXd8C3_S7A4VORZtYikDcSCjwzQR8ZDma63dV2eYPPEgzNFY3U5QbpRDjdk39ti0e4vsBlBlcRlu/s1600-h/IMG_0467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh62Nr5gh6hjRBbLq9V7BzqIOn3UEBASDka4QSYMpKcQligWtDBICyJ1pN-iLYJcsNXd8C3_S7A4VORZtYikDcSCjwzQR8ZDma63dV2eYPPEgzNFY3U5QbpRDjdk39ti0e4vsBlBlcRlu/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445998399285866274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCIn2u7A4Z8UquRNKt5OrCUP99x2BniN9uvwNH-Iu4wOR4ziPz5WBIcj2UQiCi_aWbmYxU03xKNun8tEL0btMQA4PWIEL9sN3_a8CW3w5127QvxfxCH7zQhKPoGP2gf9fPij0EsHAcZWe/s1600-h/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCIn2u7A4Z8UquRNKt5OrCUP99x2BniN9uvwNH-Iu4wOR4ziPz5WBIcj2UQiCi_aWbmYxU03xKNun8tEL0btMQA4PWIEL9sN3_a8CW3w5127QvxfxCH7zQhKPoGP2gf9fPij0EsHAcZWe/s400/IMG_0470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445997858864377570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN3LhWr9-fXeH6sZ1fKQZjCqFZ-_WmNvsF75mwte06CV9h8D-5PgB4AjOVjvcujLXHQtTK4ux29YgVACaWHLuf6_kUBfKx__fweNJ54Zljk3ROoQ4QnHCm67nq6X9aYUWaGD3NmczII6I/s1600-h/IMG_0472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN3LhWr9-fXeH6sZ1fKQZjCqFZ-_WmNvsF75mwte06CV9h8D-5PgB4AjOVjvcujLXHQtTK4ux29YgVACaWHLuf6_kUBfKx__fweNJ54Zljk3ROoQ4QnHCm67nq6X9aYUWaGD3NmczII6I/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445997837446672578" border="0" /></a>The glass elevator ride was a BIG hit.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CzukTMeEyWVMc3lUmsSlsF6x2luifV2b5iOW1FPmUdw9Tm380mGep01BacqPZbfqyj8Hvuy7ZZdvrbGtpm1_Uo7NB6e-hYt1SaY_BSL1gi7hmnugRfCXu5UhAWR5oZtaAN1Tw0QKnwWm/s1600-h/IMG_0471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CzukTMeEyWVMc3lUmsSlsF6x2luifV2b5iOW1FPmUdw9Tm380mGep01BacqPZbfqyj8Hvuy7ZZdvrbGtpm1_Uo7NB6e-hYt1SaY_BSL1gi7hmnugRfCXu5UhAWR5oZtaAN1Tw0QKnwWm/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445997846976254690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv6i3qFN7XxGywLYBT3g4wqOQgujXJFmOB06T-VlN4hS1zlpYlZrfTNZBHEkd3aprPK0ngpYJY8d1qhSyw68ZN_rbM5iQWMR0AkYxVkUO9tHgkU1ncOOT1qs-ZD7zoYodbA2e607mIrjg/s1600-h/IMG_0475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv6i3qFN7XxGywLYBT3g4wqOQgujXJFmOB06T-VlN4hS1zlpYlZrfTNZBHEkd3aprPK0ngpYJY8d1qhSyw68ZN_rbM5iQWMR0AkYxVkUO9tHgkU1ncOOT1qs-ZD7zoYodbA2e607mIrjg/s400/IMG_0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445996827987816962" border="0" /></a>We were brave and took the girls to a fancy restaurant in the hotel. Crayons go a long way in keeping us all sitting nicely!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2svQsO-9qO_mufv5wHGLVdYwX_hnrddo2zZpSHex19Z3WSmmwIc-RzQJSymZ3rxW5pyP6VClPyTd1w_OHjAdIudehhjp-j6dqmdaQcEJrn7UuJzOZoagSRR4ufe3oTJLTjtJhOjAKBDq/s1600-h/IMG_0476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2svQsO-9qO_mufv5wHGLVdYwX_hnrddo2zZpSHex19Z3WSmmwIc-RzQJSymZ3rxW5pyP6VClPyTd1w_OHjAdIudehhjp-j6dqmdaQcEJrn7UuJzOZoagSRR4ufe3oTJLTjtJhOjAKBDq/s400/IMG_0476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445996816138481778" border="0" /></a>"Whatcha drawin' daddy?" She was extremely impressed with the cuteness of the house he drew just for her.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe_9HCjfQqJEx_X1ok_6LVA1l9PLt3u54jWl48aMA6WrHaBLo08GXftck6uuEY-xxgeQDrgR-fqUOgudmc7024MSKrupUEyvWDJ0wViBCo9cGhI4zj6X5SQ9Y_eh8oO8XumM1xK__agIZ/s1600-h/IMG_0477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe_9HCjfQqJEx_X1ok_6LVA1l9PLt3u54jWl48aMA6WrHaBLo08GXftck6uuEY-xxgeQDrgR-fqUOgudmc7024MSKrupUEyvWDJ0wViBCo9cGhI4zj6X5SQ9Y_eh8oO8XumM1xK__agIZ/s400/IMG_0477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445996814212422130" border="0" /></a>My littlest Love.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTYdNEYcv7mTENOa1kNkc1gTko4yvWkmP_OoEsUR08FUkeY8f10KODvvxh8y-89Cg6ekiRoLHYiGVRemL80Epf3pnBq_JXCqK7kKFoyHrT9NJBvhtrBDVX-a6OSJIAdEmQw3VKSTqE2ro/s1600-h/IMG_0481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTYdNEYcv7mTENOa1kNkc1gTko4yvWkmP_OoEsUR08FUkeY8f10KODvvxh8y-89Cg6ekiRoLHYiGVRemL80Epf3pnBq_JXCqK7kKFoyHrT9NJBvhtrBDVX-a6OSJIAdEmQw3VKSTqE2ro/s400/IMG_0481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445996804557493794" border="0" /></a>Silly times are never far off with this daddy and his girl.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0ZO8acIcDtDGyvSC4uTW7MwPQF1RuzzOh3XTxQSjBjacYJmfyPrQaAuIGTS5K95la8aaOiNwSj3Wfournax2ErPc64oNJ9-FhDQ2I306VDaoH8r4TksMwHcH-VwULqTe_CoEOv9-Wu7m/s1600-h/IMG_0482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0ZO8acIcDtDGyvSC4uTW7MwPQF1RuzzOh3XTxQSjBjacYJmfyPrQaAuIGTS5K95la8aaOiNwSj3Wfournax2ErPc64oNJ9-FhDQ2I306VDaoH8r4TksMwHcH-VwULqTe_CoEOv9-Wu7m/s400/IMG_0482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445996797210443746" border="0" /></a>Now, how on earth do we get out of here?...<br /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-84961672038586258962010-03-07T12:13:00.000-08:002010-03-07T12:31:41.800-08:00My clowns at the circusA few Saturdays ago we decided to check out the circus that was in town. It was no big-city Barnum and Bailey production, but it nevertheless successfully entertained our almost-1- and 2-year-old clowns. I'll try not to ruin the mood by mentioning the fire hazards and sardine-style bleacher-packing. All in all, it was a great time!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykACWOsJ0RERmkM_5jyvAPksNqgR-JhwtqGS9yzFIisReHkAR2b2gr-Qpi2D30c2tmfjrLYNyTEGmw4Zcyjlt5w-HqIYWjvR3VVXE5yw8fkwFFc6MgeWHT8sIad0Xl2gK9ynWjZDWX_99/s1600-h/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykACWOsJ0RERmkM_5jyvAPksNqgR-JhwtqGS9yzFIisReHkAR2b2gr-Qpi2D30c2tmfjrLYNyTEGmw4Zcyjlt5w-HqIYWjvR3VVXE5yw8fkwFFc6MgeWHT8sIad0Xl2gK9ynWjZDWX_99/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988268956239890" border="0" /></a>Claire and I waited and watched while Charli rode the ponies in the center (and only) ring.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_z7LQ97TtL7HmiiTux9OZDNVIT5B1RKYnTz6YWZJsNNnBMTJ2x3V4ch_J-NcrePxchC2iU6eGfYa3hyphenhyphengt6Df1rIAl7SdnVp_tZ4f2rqSujcYO9haOAHmYvza-vZSySrUS6lLFKcs3TPh/s1600-h/IMG_0430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_z7LQ97TtL7HmiiTux9OZDNVIT5B1RKYnTz6YWZJsNNnBMTJ2x3V4ch_J-NcrePxchC2iU6eGfYa3hyphenhyphengt6Df1rIAl7SdnVp_tZ4f2rqSujcYO9haOAHmYvza-vZSySrUS6lLFKcs3TPh/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988253274019650" border="0" /></a>She loved her $5 ride around the circle. All girl, she already has a thing for horses and she still talks about riding the "baby horsey."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhsZq1Fs9g9NafhDOJM9ufq97jnDVvsofQqbSAa-uxc22ivpsqCmENBp0osGxelQlRyH1KcRT85yCVhWwEYJQUDftC4ngako1Prc5sbVTywpFrj-R1_amULTm47uF3Zw4Qeb3YsALAZi5/s1600-h/IMG_0441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhsZq1Fs9g9NafhDOJM9ufq97jnDVvsofQqbSAa-uxc22ivpsqCmENBp0osGxelQlRyH1KcRT85yCVhWwEYJQUDftC4ngako1Prc5sbVTywpFrj-R1_amULTm47uF3Zw4Qeb3YsALAZi5/s400/IMG_0441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988627542744738" border="0" /></a>"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES..." Yup, she is mesmerized.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQC4nX45Ez9M9wY4D6rVSEhwy1xzTZzQN1Zj8MDTskjfTRP4_WV8FUwOobuVXs1SoT6kLHFor1aKafUTGvcb2QPfS4XhIenIsrPmcm6ALfLSbBLUjtMVSvoqSe9OIyCgS2OPzpSVaivAn/s1600-h/IMG_0438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQC4nX45Ez9M9wY4D6rVSEhwy1xzTZzQN1Zj8MDTskjfTRP4_WV8FUwOobuVXs1SoT6kLHFor1aKafUTGvcb2QPfS4XhIenIsrPmcm6ALfLSbBLUjtMVSvoqSe9OIyCgS2OPzpSVaivAn/s400/IMG_0438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988633518291138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeMj-z4KXV2r25bsNvLSgXWKAMoqBOcs5VQ5c3D-g5pHa2ldYZL4YogmJ3G6CnHHADaEH4DjdiuFJpcUjYDXWAxQp50pSzriuotIP9eBku6BXldgCCiRw34cYtMhWtRcRW4bVGS-fdkjU/s1600-h/IMG_0431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeMj-z4KXV2r25bsNvLSgXWKAMoqBOcs5VQ5c3D-g5pHa2ldYZL4YogmJ3G6CnHHADaEH4DjdiuFJpcUjYDXWAxQp50pSzriuotIP9eBku6BXldgCCiRw34cYtMhWtRcRW4bVGS-fdkjU/s400/IMG_0431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988245272235058" border="0" /></a>Family photo fail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UA7zK3IN_LlNB7YMM3oRLG7ljcthwHW80CPpdX4E08muHvpWdT0oAxsKjCEFfasxDmqXzjFVQaJyBmobKc1kRuvey08IM1MnZvUThTnOuPVrL6RiNyAQOP_75ufI2aArOOFYuhszN7n/s1600-h/IMG_0435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UA7zK3IN_LlNB7YMM3oRLG7ljcthwHW80CPpdX4E08muHvpWdT0oAxsKjCEFfasxDmqXzjFVQaJyBmobKc1kRuvey08IM1MnZvUThTnOuPVrL6RiNyAQOP_75ufI2aArOOFYuhszN7n/s400/IMG_0435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988638456868258" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeWZpKbdtY1ZzwwLLw5WYbivMaMxMj5_3yuet-rfxg4K1QFprtN_9dDd2M0_Wl6SsXciIvRcBy7q_-UwgvfKTzhNKc6INp8IqZrjAOQ1ESarYYbsyy4Kbr1YmQwenUxs4vDZp2ZjeRwOm/s1600-h/IMG_0432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeWZpKbdtY1ZzwwLLw5WYbivMaMxMj5_3yuet-rfxg4K1QFprtN_9dDd2M0_Wl6SsXciIvRcBy7q_-UwgvfKTzhNKc6INp8IqZrjAOQ1ESarYYbsyy4Kbr1YmQwenUxs4vDZp2ZjeRwOm/s400/IMG_0432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445988242630371138" border="0" /></a>She wanted to sit by daddy. He had the cotton candy bag and willingly doles out more sugar than her momma. Lions and tigers and sugar - oh my!<br /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-2412563221676620092010-03-05T11:55:00.000-08:002010-03-05T12:48:08.721-08:00Things I Didn't Teach ThemSo I'm having one of those basic realizations today. We're getting to the point where not everything my kids know are things I've taught them or exposed them to.<br /><br />For example, where I can claim the credit for teaching the importance of sharing or difference betwee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIQ1jfwBqxDBaOb500Vn1bKmEufbX8HDPyvrg1aPi3rSL6pvi9uxq0JB62vt96N3mjqWtJWctHiSBpjOAPOSljk4Dp5EiefMUF2IxOBONT-SCewLiJ2sVS478rPxyXr1fVyTnwTiqg9Kq/s1600-h/images3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIQ1jfwBqxDBaOb500Vn1bKmEufbX8HDPyvrg1aPi3rSL6pvi9uxq0JB62vt96N3mjqWtJWctHiSBpjOAPOSljk4Dp5EiefMUF2IxOBONT-SCewLiJ2sVS478rPxyXr1fVyTnwTiqg9Kq/s320/images3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445248948397212722" border="0" /></a>n red and blue, I cannot explain why my 2-year-old is terrified of bugs. Its this odd and sudden-onset phobia: she sees a no-see-um flying harmlessly in the backyard and is instantly hugging my leg for dear life. If a whisp of her curly blond hair tickles her neck unexpectedly, she shrieks. And while I'm not a big fan of the class Insecta I know for a fact that I've done nothing to instill this fear in her. Hopefully she'll soon grow out of it, but it's a strange and (mostly) cool thing to see her very own traits and personality glitches develop. We all need glitches, after all.<br /><br />Oh, and then there's the shopping thing. And not shopping just anywhere. "My favorite store is Old Navy. Wanna go to OLD NAVY, daddy? I miss Old Navy...." I seriously shop like a man. I have my list; I go in, find my product, make the purchase, and head out. Not this girl. She caresses the manikins on her way to the toddler section. Her face truly glows as she takes items from off the racks exclaiming "Oh this is TOO cute." She'll carry them around until mom decides it's time to leave. Then she hangs each of them back up on the correct rack, smoothing wrinkles as she goes. It's one of those things; I never imagined I'd have a kid who would work in retail one day but it seem to be innately her thing. Well, at least at the ripe old age of 2.<br /><br />Let's not forget about the Claire-bear. If everything she knew and enjoyed came directly from me, she'd ha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA0taK1PguoKA5BRh1u6G_1G_IFvMaGfSFtfs6-KGzA-8oYtjPUouGCvhVIEeC_73s0EmVmltcSgWxJgNODnB8rH3gDDzfnjqbm9xC1xzmDf1OEcCWm2wIaAloNMRGB0NpiKJHSqDsYv3/s1600-h/images1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA0taK1PguoKA5BRh1u6G_1G_IFvMaGfSFtfs6-KGzA-8oYtjPUouGCvhVIEeC_73s0EmVmltcSgWxJgNODnB8rH3gDDzfnjqbm9xC1xzmDf1OEcCWm2wIaAloNMRGB0NpiKJHSqDsYv3/s320/images1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445248937550886530" border="0" /></a>ve a science brain drawn to the puzzles and toys with interesting gadgets and levers and whatnot. I mean you should see her room - it's filled with blinky-lights and low-level educational entertainment options. But no. Her happy place is with a super plush lovey and relaxing tunes. She coos and grins and her eyes roll back in her head with pleasure when she can sink her face into a stuffed lion or puppy dog. And while I like music, I've never been particularly musically-inclined or gone crazy over any band. She will be different; I can tell already.<br /><br />These are small steps away from the apron-strings, I know, but I am still struck by them because I've spent 2 years of my life and the entirety of their lives directing experiences and information flow and all of a sudden the influences are coming from outside and from within them. It's not all about me, again! (I learn this lesson a lot.) It's good. It's the way things should be. I'm excited to see their next development of loves and hates. But I know I'll need reminders that when I can't drive and direct it all, to just sit back and enjoy the ride.Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-59415857688930107062010-03-02T18:20:00.000-08:002010-03-01T19:13:17.872-08:00Tuesday Top 10: I'll Always RememberAfter the end of next week I will officially no longer be the mom of an infant. My babies are growing up. And I'm so glad; I'd have to run away from home if they were diaper-wearing, night-waking creatures forever. But at the same time *sniff*, I'm experiencing these precious moments for the last time as my little Claire masters each new milestone and it makes me realize how fast time really flies. So as we prepare to celebrate her 1st birthday, I am taking the time to acknowledge the precious and fleeting moments that I'll Always Remember.<br /><br />1. Taking 5 minutes to hold you close and breathe you in and kiss your head in the moments after you were born before calling your daddy (all the way in Iraq) to tell him his baby was safe in my arms.<br /><br />2.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibByV2dIPgZhi0iCzPV62WAwaRdH2IKZMP2i909UvgNrtdS8pqtK-ESfnu8V6azlN71i3q5pJRkuxd_z1tGZ7bHx_Xgi99jZv9ftA5EoaxVh8Ip-Zn6AHDBMP9BpzQp0TiIl2fjHiTrc_H/s1600-h/CIMG2686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibByV2dIPgZhi0iCzPV62WAwaRdH2IKZMP2i909UvgNrtdS8pqtK-ESfnu8V6azlN71i3q5pJRkuxd_z1tGZ7bHx_Xgi99jZv9ftA5EoaxVh8Ip-Zn6AHDBMP9BpzQp0TiIl2fjHiTrc_H/s400/CIMG2686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443863385263630242" border="0" /></a>3. The way a warm bath would turn any bad day around for you.<br /><br />4. How few bad days you've ever had. I love your perpetually content and joy-filled spirit.<br /><br />5. The way you'd hold my bottom lip with two tiny fingers while I nursed you.<br /><br />6. Your intensity! That look in your eye when you want something or need to get somewhere NOW. Not frustration or impatience, just enthusiasm and zeal.<br /><br />7. The eager whispering you do when you've just woken from a nap; as if you've got a world of dreams to tell me about quickly and quietly before the noise of the world interrupts our few peaceful minutes together.<br /><br />8.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcxnCBNHaHiB1HtOMDPfdYuBnW852V7fY_3v7BQGG-ZO_6dN6hIpHrUwXznRZDn_TlLC1UBrQXQWq5YbHd_AecJbnWgr_EGVc4LZ9fP5DCZxe5KHA2DyC6ARy58Cgs_Ale45pADXuoyLT/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcxnCBNHaHiB1HtOMDPfdYuBnW852V7fY_3v7BQGG-ZO_6dN6hIpHrUwXznRZDn_TlLC1UBrQXQWq5YbHd_AecJbnWgr_EGVc4LZ9fP5DCZxe5KHA2DyC6ARy58Cgs_Ale45pADXuoyLT/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443863392307868066" border="0" /></a>9. Laying on the sun-room carpet with you in a house on Northrup Street. You watched the wind-chime sing in the breeze and I watched you. Felt your soft tummy rise and fall under your onesie with my hand. Loved you more than ever, just like every day before and since that day.<br /><br />10. The way you happily go to bed at night when your older sister does and then an hour later, without fail, call out to be brought back downstairs where you can pretend to be an only child for the rest of the evening. You are snuggling quite contentedly on daddy's lap at this very (late) moment.<br /><br /><br />Claire, you are my treasure. I love you in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, and underneath the moon. Happy birthday, sweet girl!Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-49557265363341469452010-03-01T20:18:00.000-08:002010-03-01T13:11:58.417-08:00Monday Meal PlanMonday: BBQ on sandwich thins, broccoli sunshine salad, apple wedges with caramel dip<br /><br />Tuesday: <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/soups/creamy-tomato-sausage-and-tortellini-soup/">Creamy Tomato Sausage and Tortellini Soup</a>, rolls, salad<br /><br />Wednesday: Chicken and Beef (grandma's recipe), brown rice and beans, roasted carrots<br /><br />Thursday: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_33851_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html">Barbecue Pork Roast</a>, Rebekah's favorite potato casserole, steamed asparagus<br /><br />Friday: Poppyseed Chicken (Mom P's recipe), <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/honey-roasted-sweet-potatoes-recipe/index.html">Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes</a>, rolls<br /><br />Saturday: Round Steak (grandma's recipe), green beans, scalloped potatoesCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-41350645340559879152010-02-27T11:00:00.000-08:002010-02-27T19:30:08.611-08:00From the archives of my youth...Don't Give Up Now!<br />By Chris Morsink, known to me as "Mom"<br /><br />On a particularly cold day in February, circumstances at our house were rapidly moving from bad to worse - much worse! Our six person household is usually busy but this day made history so I jotted down a few notes - in case I lived to tell about it.<br /><br />I was up to my elbows in a cow's stomach that I was hosing out in the basement washtub. Tomorrow this stomach would be part of our cooperative home school study of the digestive system at the VanBronkhorst's (our pastor and family's) house. Grandma and Grandpa Proctor were coming for dinner in about 30 minutes and I wanted to get this chore done before they arrived.<br /><br />As I worked to clean out the final chamber of the stomach, it seemed that perhaps there would even be time to throw in a load of laundry before our guests came. All four of our laundry baskets / hampers were full of dirty clothes around my feet. Alison toddled by and the smell she left behind meant I would have to get her a clean diaper <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> I started the laundry.<br /><br />"Mom, my nose is bleeding again!" Michael came down the steps trailing great splotches of blood. I dropped the stomach and grabbed a towel to hold under the nose. Oh, no! Now the kitchen floor would need cleaning.<br /><br />"Owwww! Oowwww! Mommy!" John had fallen off a ride-on toy and couldn't seem to walk. With a quick warning to Michael not to bleed on anything I raced to evaluate the bruise on John's leg. "Wahhh - wahhh! Don't touch it!"<br /><br />RIIIING RIIIING RIIIING "Mom, telephone for you," Caitlin called.<br /><br />Right. One child bleeding, one child crying, one child needing a diaper change, at least eight loads of laundry, guests coming for dinner, and one enormous stomach in the washtub. And GUESS who was on the phone! Mick O'Hearn, WOOD TV weatherman, calling for details about speaking to our homeschool group. Ha! Sob. To laugh or to cry?<br /><br />Have you had times similar to my February Crisis Day? The work God has given us to do seems impossible. The stress is too great. The end product of our best efforts is too far off to see. It seems the logical response to the day is to throw up your hands and quit. Scripture disagrees.<br /><br />"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that engangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us." Hebrew 12:1Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-19381604462893851512010-02-26T19:41:00.000-08:002010-02-26T20:07:00.178-08:00Hopscotch and Friends<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPB-0VLrkcJHcckpomKjrfkJ01qeD1U9al8q9g6hhXJt6971xC_gTmW-QZjNMQM5kD3EVC5sGu5aoaeWAD371JcuK7YTsUBLWExC9MYBmfRmRbERtMhejnRjANiOQoK6FoMZzg2bVqioM/s1600-h/IMG_0389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPB-0VLrkcJHcckpomKjrfkJ01qeD1U9al8q9g6hhXJt6971xC_gTmW-QZjNMQM5kD3EVC5sGu5aoaeWAD371JcuK7YTsUBLWExC9MYBmfRmRbERtMhejnRjANiOQoK6FoMZzg2bVqioM/s400/IMG_0389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767740776483042" border="0" /></a>We discovered this great indoor playplace this week. It's similar to our Playworld in concept, but geared more for infants and toddlers. Perfect for us!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SNn75IRNq7J0PHyrpasslu2zTHM3UgriGa-h-_SBDAQBU_NLt0ZIvyrira9bMkvAbgGFGk3vcUskvAtgfksXFf-j1n7lUBu36cexTLacuCdUNGSbEib0fk1U2prybpbQajas9Y36dT3E/s1600-h/IMG_0391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SNn75IRNq7J0PHyrpasslu2zTHM3UgriGa-h-_SBDAQBU_NLt0ZIvyrira9bMkvAbgGFGk3vcUskvAtgfksXFf-j1n7lUBu36cexTLacuCdUNGSbEib0fk1U2prybpbQajas9Y36dT3E/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767235198971698" border="0" /></a>Everything is padded, which is fantastic for this wannabe-walker.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT7BsGANXlWT6NNA1lKfZ1r1b4V9lo6qAr0dSv0gMH1i2Sv-HE-yLcdTJOKBa1EwYvIyslSL44NU5Ktl_Lxuheqpxhj3ii67-icZuwviIIOBhsJRCMI6PMf1nNwfn-Kub0HxkZEmwP6w6/s1600-h/IMG_0393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT7BsGANXlWT6NNA1lKfZ1r1b4V9lo6qAr0dSv0gMH1i2Sv-HE-yLcdTJOKBa1EwYvIyslSL44NU5Ktl_Lxuheqpxhj3ii67-icZuwviIIOBhsJRCMI6PMf1nNwfn-Kub0HxkZEmwP6w6/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767226964594962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHvclZ0quAMvVzT81QpRjHhYUPc4NiojX8TX7WZQ7tqivE-84fg_UAaK-YPKu8twEPKP7ncyfTj5b3WgMTPS2y9IcTcUKJdlzVlIuBbFJclbi5ZTeB8c4ImE7oNJKelFd-Q6QZCyAKa2A/s1600-h/IMG_0397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHvclZ0quAMvVzT81QpRjHhYUPc4NiojX8TX7WZQ7tqivE-84fg_UAaK-YPKu8twEPKP7ncyfTj5b3WgMTPS2y9IcTcUKJdlzVlIuBbFJclbi5ZTeB8c4ImE7oNJKelFd-Q6QZCyAKa2A/s400/IMG_0397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767222314989618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa5kf6g5wmm94m0ShfVuwIpbI7_n7yJiB0fJvNjaPPuHaxv6sMvV_esHiuKSkDfNy4MpOL0u4NGd5079eLDUrHygE1rcx43mPVzCF8Ke7pA9lJrsOs3OgD0rntGN4vaBfS-ZQK3hW61ux/s1600-h/IMG_0398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa5kf6g5wmm94m0ShfVuwIpbI7_n7yJiB0fJvNjaPPuHaxv6sMvV_esHiuKSkDfNy4MpOL0u4NGd5079eLDUrHygE1rcx43mPVzCF8Ke7pA9lJrsOs3OgD0rntGN4vaBfS-ZQK3hW61ux/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767219458123874" border="0" /></a>And the blow up playgrounds are awesome for my monkey. She gets braver all the time!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzez9fpF_WQi9aJBSbQ50s9FTph_n3zP_ogEsXD5C4DmFeEFEOyj29yoCsfqiLdp_t_9Ads4g7qhxRW_LfYmpOODQG43DcfM0LnQFbFGzxuHw4wNXdKLCWdvRkj0DjLTdxOwxIxtv2bg-/s1600-h/IMG_0399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzez9fpF_WQi9aJBSbQ50s9FTph_n3zP_ogEsXD5C4DmFeEFEOyj29yoCsfqiLdp_t_9Ads4g7qhxRW_LfYmpOODQG43DcfM0LnQFbFGzxuHw4wNXdKLCWdvRkj0DjLTdxOwxIxtv2bg-/s400/IMG_0399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442767207109418754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDflSJqPL8WGoqjBOmUwccKi0lPg20XmFyT55HsKr5qWGwiPHi3I4xgMrZ3mub4H1kKNwMejnUcpjPdpbE_2f0ReecLUSS3XXj6qe92X0ve3D8CqvzDVJ3QzUnCNXFC1E1kTL3d1BnPzN9/s1600-h/IMG_0400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDflSJqPL8WGoqjBOmUwccKi0lPg20XmFyT55HsKr5qWGwiPHi3I4xgMrZ3mub4H1kKNwMejnUcpjPdpbE_2f0ReecLUSS3XXj6qe92X0ve3D8CqvzDVJ3QzUnCNXFC1E1kTL3d1BnPzN9/s400/IMG_0400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442766563963395970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfwuhYjm5xu0YW4iVPWLh639BmeLCwgEa0RinT6dy2yhBRNANE-sZmJtbk4SIFqHQZOBTraTS09lTEjpJ4FjD645Jx4j4SYtnUV4ns1w1OxbnH8F33Jw_bxLzsZLQ93kSs6T0sPVBVDef/s1600-h/IMG_0401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfwuhYjm5xu0YW4iVPWLh639BmeLCwgEa0RinT6dy2yhBRNANE-sZmJtbk4SIFqHQZOBTraTS09lTEjpJ4FjD645Jx4j4SYtnUV4ns1w1OxbnH8F33Jw_bxLzsZLQ93kSs6T0sPVBVDef/s400/IMG_0401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442766556294115874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-56Tg7x42TpJz1wyMPlKXpYpJQKbIjdbHm0mB6zG34C5qHCpnFwVDhGs5co7YFpKXEdisE5gemUH9dfXdueJRvDq2fwrgVGnTmGC0eC37gQhwhIL-GSnD9auvEnX_ETds8Pd4zHIN_8O2/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-56Tg7x42TpJz1wyMPlKXpYpJQKbIjdbHm0mB6zG34C5qHCpnFwVDhGs5co7YFpKXEdisE5gemUH9dfXdueJRvDq2fwrgVGnTmGC0eC37gQhwhIL-GSnD9auvEnX_ETds8Pd4zHIN_8O2/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442766547630548146" border="0" /></a>With carts for shopping, a huge playhouse, dress-up, and babies galore...this girl's in heaven! Speaking of shopping, how many 2-year-olds have a favorite store brand? Well, mine likes Old Navy. She asks for her "Old Naybe" outfits every morning. Not sure where she gets it; I'm not a big shopper by any means. Just a girl thing?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1Oxbj9Rh8Q_IiEvjCub3ntEC9AdDWsW0Kg_VOozR7Ds4WM0-bMmGF5a8QNey9spWCXWvOs9CjM1p6Y19wrFpTg-XBYktj12lKdIsnYDxQb91VX-kDeRRfRk495sJb1lhJhaYr_2t4Ab/s1600-h/IMG_0406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1Oxbj9Rh8Q_IiEvjCub3ntEC9AdDWsW0Kg_VOozR7Ds4WM0-bMmGF5a8QNey9spWCXWvOs9CjM1p6Y19wrFpTg-XBYktj12lKdIsnYDxQb91VX-kDeRRfRk495sJb1lhJhaYr_2t4Ab/s400/IMG_0406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442766536342721762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOQXb9wzweWx6VYRcjw5h41j8ceZOts5kEC3M5SHI0mqIgo-8kWITxmAzdeWwyTuNs2b1RUXkMEb_gSJuSBqbxS_fepBqj9qKLY75hVJVmwQLGOUmf1i8XOt4p1FE0OkVrHEU2-J4vOK/s1600-h/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOQXb9wzweWx6VYRcjw5h41j8ceZOts5kEC3M5SHI0mqIgo-8kWITxmAzdeWwyTuNs2b1RUXkMEb_gSJuSBqbxS_fepBqj9qKLY75hVJVmwQLGOUmf1i8XOt4p1FE0OkVrHEU2-J4vOK/s400/IMG_0407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442765908756226178" border="0" /></a>Ready, set, whee!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGJq6RjprpUBjQ6Pbzb62UcVEup8yY0PjWdIE60BOyhcJcOX9k4gWP-VlxeEp0J54TiSfgl6zks_kcuBsDLwJjxOdocEwEvnQuQoKJANSpaBMBK8xtOINQTcMKh53CHIt4BkPlH1rzPpD/s1600-h/IMG_0412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGJq6RjprpUBjQ6Pbzb62UcVEup8yY0PjWdIE60BOyhcJcOX9k4gWP-VlxeEp0J54TiSfgl6zks_kcuBsDLwJjxOdocEwEvnQuQoKJANSpaBMBK8xtOINQTcMKh53CHIt4BkPlH1rzPpD/s400/IMG_0412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442765904275328194" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVTPE8SUr-0t3Hpod210Yef37bxRAVKAHQG1E5_qu4MHEujbHF3b2b3YzyFKpdcS516mN_Q0bTmpLVCtoA5qezQomArvxt8gaB5KnI4Eb5-qEqLUbRdmlsj7G79YlLSEbdBhQtmeypT8l/s1600-h/IMG_0414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVTPE8SUr-0t3Hpod210Yef37bxRAVKAHQG1E5_qu4MHEujbHF3b2b3YzyFKpdcS516mN_Q0bTmpLVCtoA5qezQomArvxt8gaB5KnI4Eb5-qEqLUbRdmlsj7G79YlLSEbdBhQtmeypT8l/s400/IMG_0414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442765894998952770" border="0" /></a>(This is random, but cuteness :))<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcJ6rmha7kBtJh1OtHPPUDToHv6AWBZ9gbLrfTd_s5s5sRDlYIA67d9VDcLGr6dEvq4Ia9khsXHKG3ZRtLPZKwoBjFx9UGqHkxoJ4yxO8QVIfqHgsc8BmkaQ8sbi3OtOoyW0jt2RZX50A/s1600-h/IMG_0417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcJ6rmha7kBtJh1OtHPPUDToHv6AWBZ9gbLrfTd_s5s5sRDlYIA67d9VDcLGr6dEvq4Ia9khsXHKG3ZRtLPZKwoBjFx9UGqHkxoJ4yxO8QVIfqHgsc8BmkaQ8sbi3OtOoyW0jt2RZX50A/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442765884540492354" border="0" /></a>Rockin' it with our new friend, Breannah.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_GzUv6J2cLoJPYO8iUT5Ccw3zNHQyP6yHtBTpzj_iU0w0QwE3XDIomq4l9frYQTOaretV59MTTghcxCHX_GVKp-If_-3F0MdYC0LZeyXGKcH4PXbOmkRbVj6YRaPd2zO2VWR3j540CVn/s1600-h/IMG_0418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_GzUv6J2cLoJPYO8iUT5Ccw3zNHQyP6yHtBTpzj_iU0w0QwE3XDIomq4l9frYQTOaretV59MTTghcxCHX_GVKp-If_-3F0MdYC0LZeyXGKcH4PXbOmkRbVj6YRaPd2zO2VWR3j540CVn/s400/IMG_0418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442765879989387954" border="0" /></a>And then we went to the mall for rides and lunch.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ndvF8RHLO5cQqnjjK_70pBBTTBQcaXgDL8882AJdXnhOgHhPz-gbZ9rxmC0ti-YOT8dm3lDjTnH_w3ciX2NnguPlFPtCGLt40_Exp1xjQ6OiWmlKhAfGz9dgHxuVhbleq3zhLX4OGnVJ/s1600-h/IMG_0420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ndvF8RHLO5cQqnjjK_70pBBTTBQcaXgDL8882AJdXnhOgHhPz-gbZ9rxmC0ti-YOT8dm3lDjTnH_w3ciX2NnguPlFPtCGLt40_Exp1xjQ6OiWmlKhAfGz9dgHxuVhbleq3zhLX4OGnVJ/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442763868016486354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ohyphenhyphen2qGhqOK3fM9L7IRId6pNE5LCdCGj36aYWGq3HLgbZz3VN6tBqaRPVWSQjNuC2CjI0uf59tcoHjVkMO7yCtMJXDvrDkfKNqXmhgQjNY-kRiXQpnZfLGrP7esvWdNGAroH4q1nKd9pL/s1600-h/IMG_0423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ohyphenhyphen2qGhqOK3fM9L7IRId6pNE5LCdCGj36aYWGq3HLgbZz3VN6tBqaRPVWSQjNuC2CjI0uf59tcoHjVkMO7yCtMJXDvrDkfKNqXmhgQjNY-kRiXQpnZfLGrP7esvWdNGAroH4q1nKd9pL/s400/IMG_0423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442763853003032290" border="0" /></a>Somber little aviators.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQQ48gcxbeHlrn4g1-ckTEEScrwe97JDy2eLzDThyucYw38c8YdYFeq1NY0dlJlmGjUriNZOrBanN5JXSHKoW2gzj69ogP8bg8VkjLq8ZhL3uqpWojwIIwCXiOGMgFT3JfurLXScPUMO-/s1600-h/IMG_0425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQQ48gcxbeHlrn4g1-ckTEEScrwe97JDy2eLzDThyucYw38c8YdYFeq1NY0dlJlmGjUriNZOrBanN5JXSHKoW2gzj69ogP8bg8VkjLq8ZhL3uqpWojwIIwCXiOGMgFT3JfurLXScPUMO-/s400/IMG_0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442763839282597890" border="0" /></a>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-16840217994446820252010-02-26T19:20:00.000-08:002010-02-26T19:39:43.714-08:00February, go away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv1ARbbaDUXAEarMRfUfHbn6koev8dOahHG00F4D6A6WXRjhC0DLG4-b-jlDDTnyj0KcltOqDU8Pf6EUcQol3G951c7XfLm-goB2-Xyx0uW-4BvXc6oIlpWDRVioQg4uUbrww-NMVXbsW/s1600-h/IMG_0388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv1ARbbaDUXAEarMRfUfHbn6koev8dOahHG00F4D6A6WXRjhC0DLG4-b-jlDDTnyj0KcltOqDU8Pf6EUcQol3G951c7XfLm-goB2-Xyx0uW-4BvXc6oIlpWDRVioQg4uUbrww-NMVXbsW/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442758393825284978" border="0" /></a>It was getting late but one member of our family had energy to burn. I'd like to thank February for that. There's something about lots of fresh air tiring a kid out that no amount of running around the mall or other indoor playplace can match. Not that I haven't tried. So anyway, I was desperate. First we tried riding in a sleeping bag down a flight of stairs because I remembered that was fun once upon a time. Bruising my aging tailbone quickly reminded me I'm not 10 anymore and so the Couch Slide was born.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrpbVCVyDvnjbewc9xp9hPbttZZxvhdaX1oFG7OJNsvy59AXaUk_JQYA4KkmvX3eRRwTBlOHgM-kV_KN1bIehvqZ2TarSVmkFlouEONS7OkpCcRbth-qy_CkK3ya7FI5YIVLRxG6Acmc8/s1600-h/IMG_0387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrpbVCVyDvnjbewc9xp9hPbttZZxvhdaX1oFG7OJNsvy59AXaUk_JQYA4KkmvX3eRRwTBlOHgM-kV_KN1bIehvqZ2TarSVmkFlouEONS7OkpCcRbth-qy_CkK3ya7FI5YIVLRxG6Acmc8/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442758392068605586" border="0" /></a>Step 1: Stuff couch cushions into sleeping bag. Zip up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86EG-jtvtl-WgnTe5dBoKNCjR-AqFWZv2j3MxCNxl0emBoILUc-uoENQ2hfFnRqWmxgIHsVzNnwwQIdAtWck2i_hXJFsCdDJSiH6hYVVtDQxiwS-RbQVrBZG3YfB-TwbWj4rkZgnv4vxE/s1600-h/IMG_0386.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86EG-jtvtl-WgnTe5dBoKNCjR-AqFWZv2j3MxCNxl0emBoILUc-uoENQ2hfFnRqWmxgIHsVzNnwwQIdAtWck2i_hXJFsCdDJSiH6hYVVtDQxiwS-RbQVrBZG3YfB-TwbWj4rkZgnv4vxE/s400/IMG_0386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442758383270750354" border="0" /></a>Step 2: Prop on a steep angle against the couch. (Pay no attention to the crumbs, etc. in the bowels of my sofa. Sorry, I'm a nurse - I freely use the word "bowels".)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_axfYFwEFQplkwQ461mYJa3MC_8ftaV9IQmCucTTK_bQvMGN3tKMNTy7OnCEjPFhHS0dDTLa1cgsH983vz3WQVNvqJe8ZDZwMuWA1LhK-Oot4Z24FOUpR4B3ydXeLbCT4hhOGVoW73pEp/s1600-h/IMG_0385.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_axfYFwEFQplkwQ461mYJa3MC_8ftaV9IQmCucTTK_bQvMGN3tKMNTy7OnCEjPFhHS0dDTLa1cgsH983vz3WQVNvqJe8ZDZwMuWA1LhK-Oot4Z24FOUpR4B3ydXeLbCT4hhOGVoW73pEp/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442758373289035714" border="0" /></a>Step 3: Scale the slope and squeal with delight as you slide to bottom. P.S. Wear a silk nightie for maximum speed.Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-14145483994961132022010-02-26T18:57:00.000-08:002010-02-26T19:46:06.855-08:00Normal NightsI am happy to announce that I have achieved yet another "normal" in life. Sure, we are in what we hope is a somewhat temporary situation (location- and work-wise) but the day-to-day of it all has resumed rhyme and reason. Micah's work schedule is mostly predictable, I am settling into the neighborhood (I haven't gotten myself lost in a month), the kitchen and I are slowly becoming friends (the smoke detector still screams daily but the end product is more than edible), and we are making friends and getting out more. And - my favorite part of every day - the evenings are chill. Nearly a year after our deployment (I say "our" because it affected each of us in a big way) and I can say that Micah and I know our girls equally well. It's huge to know we both have a good read on their needs and moods and how to deal with those things.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEHzSOSvf4Qk-tH68NeJ_dl6doPpGNCHpvcXOjqira34S2dluni-RaBhZsoWomWs6HDo2MUaR3FyjtXg58cbRzUFaXKmfdikhblPcyKUvXDqeZJ3yq-EFh5D4__cWKZdPt8-SPERUc6I_/s1600-h/IMG_0377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEHzSOSvf4Qk-tH68NeJ_dl6doPpGNCHpvcXOjqira34S2dluni-RaBhZsoWomWs6HDo2MUaR3FyjtXg58cbRzUFaXKmfdikhblPcyKUvXDqeZJ3yq-EFh5D4__cWKZdPt8-SPERUc6I_/s400/IMG_0377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442752866248825938" border="0" /></a>So Micah gets home around 5ish. Charli has helped me make dinner and Claire has successfully emptied the silverware drawer of every last spoon. Claire sits and grins at her daddy with an almost worshipful gaze when he walks in and Charli's first words to him are "want to build a BIG tower, daddy?" and "want to try something NEW?!" And so they do. Every day. While I pour the ice water and scrape the burnt edges off the main course on its way to the table.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYGNAiLDtDd3FfLAiDLgkHM49bkUjiV_5wzpFFwK1-pAaiONiUi6tcOrVOa_MGwtkr4OsFvqnoPi94f11rLPeUk11EaSJfTuLt2gl7BrCrVmWWZQ7ERyiSTUIrBg2DVCCUYO4Y-uWtqr7/s1600-h/IMG_0373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYGNAiLDtDd3FfLAiDLgkHM49bkUjiV_5wzpFFwK1-pAaiONiUi6tcOrVOa_MGwtkr4OsFvqnoPi94f11rLPeUk11EaSJfTuLt2gl7BrCrVmWWZQ7ERyiSTUIrBg2DVCCUYO4Y-uWtqr7/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442752845137325442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After dinner all 4 of us end up on the livingroom floor for blocks and books and, lately, "Yimpics". Speed skating is our favorite. Charli chants, "Let's go, Uh-0h, let's go" in support of the speedy Apollo Ohno.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOglgd5wBeh7mjkOj6eJ_C6LxLw0sAxiMhlSGM7xXTEOTFD4EV-Wx5bygX3mx8vcsh77F0QmxNf0IIKfBH9U4EbtIbkvmLPi75uqTkXdF2DXTuJb2cKs3sDEFF33-zhuRxMEeilli4S4K/s1600-h/IMG_0374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOglgd5wBeh7mjkOj6eJ_C6LxLw0sAxiMhlSGM7xXTEOTFD4EV-Wx5bygX3mx8vcsh77F0QmxNf0IIKfBH9U4EbtIbkvmLPi75uqTkXdF2DXTuJb2cKs3sDEFF33-zhuRxMEeilli4S4K/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442752856989447794" border="0" /></a>We laugh together and tell stories. And sometimes our tired eyes glance at the clock in anticipation of bedtime, but all the while it feels GOOD to have a normal. *sigh*<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxV8C_LJjv2s8nh7S0Pzh8qNUDOO2ZpyKDgzBy0125XQuSERXegxqwCv-ilrbJuc5D-j8ejM9R9esMy6YMVnOZuQq6t17dGz7ZPf8X5RbsdovfM-AbUAjYkkWGoXYLaNRcBXLOu-BIbsh/s1600-h/IMG_0380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxV8C_LJjv2s8nh7S0Pzh8qNUDOO2ZpyKDgzBy0125XQuSERXegxqwCv-ilrbJuc5D-j8ejM9R9esMy6YMVnOZuQq6t17dGz7ZPf8X5RbsdovfM-AbUAjYkkWGoXYLaNRcBXLOu-BIbsh/s400/IMG_0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442752874331227314" border="0" /></a>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-21150894827267822132010-02-24T08:30:00.000-08:002010-02-24T17:11:46.952-08:00Monday Meal PlanMonday: Ham and scalloped potatoes, green salad, applesauce<br /><br />Tuesday: Shepherd's pie, <a href="http://teriskitchen.com/vegetable/grbeans-l.html">roasted garlic green beans</a>, fresh fruit<br /><br />Wednesday: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast-Chicken-Legs-with-Lemon-and-Thyme-238101">Lemon roasted chicken legs</a>, couscous, roasted carrots<br /><br />Thursday: Potato-crusted salmon, baked potatoes, fruit salad<br /><br />Friday: <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/ranch-style-chicken/">Ranch style chicken</a>, Parmesan green beans, <a href="http://www.bbonline.com/recipe/grapevinecabins_wi_recipe1.html">Apple bread<br /></a><br />Saturday: Dinner at Friday's (with a birthday gift card from my dad!)Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-8902900681667018802010-02-16T17:07:00.000-08:002010-02-16T17:22:23.533-08:00Love, from home<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGlra29Pf9CXwVgGbN6lgTcCaFGMWvOALV9VhKvZLTgEx2Tt0077wKCXFhrifC0U5eGkYLWEu-BGXp3Vc_NGH_8cKmExAnJm4f6wNZGKONlkAn0gwtkhm6FPdg8-4eAXtmd61hoBkXId1/s1600-h/IMG_0352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGlra29Pf9CXwVgGbN6lgTcCaFGMWvOALV9VhKvZLTgEx2Tt0077wKCXFhrifC0U5eGkYLWEu-BGXp3Vc_NGH_8cKmExAnJm4f6wNZGKONlkAn0gwtkhm6FPdg8-4eAXtmd61hoBkXId1/s400/IMG_0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439013397567458002" border="0" /></a>The weepy eyes, the runny nose, the common icky February cold. But smiles through the snot and goop because She Got Mail today!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkn1y7mSUWpRUZypK1c6uczyLrQttSeJuszgO20BJhH9vzB7M8u9pH0KsA7QC6Ro24gFftnATDuLeFUPL-nxC7tu3ppgxGOkiOH1_gEbvtK_IMJ5aJMFP310yF8lgcMC7bsNUddlbV2ux/s1600-h/IMG_0354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkn1y7mSUWpRUZypK1c6uczyLrQttSeJuszgO20BJhH9vzB7M8u9pH0KsA7QC6Ro24gFftnATDuLeFUPL-nxC7tu3ppgxGOkiOH1_gEbvtK_IMJ5aJMFP310yF8lgcMC7bsNUddlbV2ux/s400/IMG_0354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439013388433700210" border="0" /></a>Homemade, love-filled cards from Grandma Perkins (and grandpa and aunties). They really made our gray day brighter.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDLpidSXxYdZ-mnMdQ50FZZ8Z0gmjeZMdoaddHlAfO3eQERiYd_02KPzfSuySXYSGX2aub7keE5pz7V94zk4U5xHCOWeNan_RRaEdlLZB0AJ0B9Mv5IZWVR9G68iChg_HhYdX7kM9eNox/s1600-h/IMG_0353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDLpidSXxYdZ-mnMdQ50FZZ8Z0gmjeZMdoaddHlAfO3eQERiYd_02KPzfSuySXYSGX2aub7keE5pz7V94zk4U5xHCOWeNan_RRaEdlLZB0AJ0B9Mv5IZWVR9G68iChg_HhYdX7kM9eNox/s400/IMG_0353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439013381668587554" border="0" /></a>One card for each little lady - a very good thing because sharing is currently becoming our home's new #1 issue.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUnLcGbN_PScAe5paJ05XxTjbcndOyu293CID0MzkeLz11vysbo2ZrxszxCDkqfTcCvXbLr2eWPqIDGghwocKJv2e7yZi2aKj8hT770UMvufMWkQZA-eGN0mhgOP6FqyRIZBBTfY11Z22/s1600-h/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUnLcGbN_PScAe5paJ05XxTjbcndOyu293CID0MzkeLz11vysbo2ZrxszxCDkqfTcCvXbLr2eWPqIDGghwocKJv2e7yZi2aKj8hT770UMvufMWkQZA-eGN0mhgOP6FqyRIZBBTfY11Z22/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439013371774882706" border="0" /></a>Claire feels the love!<br /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-9607071318063838352010-02-13T08:48:00.000-08:002010-02-15T05:27:43.752-08:00Monday Meal PlanMonday: Sweet and sour chicken stir-fry over rice noodles<br /><br />Tuesday: <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/01/2008_the_year_of_the_pot_roast/">Pot roast</a>, roasted potato wedges, salad<br /><br />Wednesday: Baked salmon, roasted carrots, <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/07/cooking-with-ryan-zucchini-cakes/">zucchini cakes</a><br /><br />Thursday: <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/ranch-style-chicken/">Ranch style chicken</a>, couscous, salad<br /><br />Friday: Slow cooker ham and chunky potatoes, broccoli sunshine salad<br /><br />Saturday: leftovers (Micah will be gone for drill)Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-90927224560383597372010-02-13T07:56:00.000-08:002010-02-14T06:48:19.596-08:00Valentine's Mailbag<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAlsdmSnKd4llN6POIGzcFjJxoLKW0ulAUK8TwFHgE6v8wBD7ANnpvuOhxn_lpCEIpZi8oKCiEtVCPpxokvcQnQhZz5N17Mv9mnCByXIPsPbH11-tik2Xw3eRZOOymFgoFvX2gRSD1RTo/s1600-h/IMG_0318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAlsdmSnKd4llN6POIGzcFjJxoLKW0ulAUK8TwFHgE6v8wBD7ANnpvuOhxn_lpCEIpZi8oKCiEtVCPpxokvcQnQhZz5N17Mv9mnCByXIPsPbH11-tik2Xw3eRZOOymFgoFvX2gRSD1RTo/s400/IMG_0318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762670153479682" border="0" /></a>Let the Valentines festivities begin! 2 big packages arrived for 2 little girls today. Soooo exciting!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkag7EXxutnY-ACXJyYnMGwF_JTlwGoBzk8gJGX1oN-iceNvECILKR8_MTIah-8NFDWpxrjLnF6tHfVmjv23eHdBrFLsOWKpNxPa84YdfMy5BgIk9ageK2bymW560uuiKl_jQBNrIRn4__/s1600-h/IMG_0319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkag7EXxutnY-ACXJyYnMGwF_JTlwGoBzk8gJGX1oN-iceNvECILKR8_MTIah-8NFDWpxrjLnF6tHfVmjv23eHdBrFLsOWKpNxPa84YdfMy5BgIk9ageK2bymW560uuiKl_jQBNrIRn4__/s400/IMG_0319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762665078534066" border="0" /></a>Grandma's "present box".<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3id7ZztegX5VRbybr-L9QEw4I2FxtdLSKbglSmueVja_305SyvTKyy5qyWAXbRcef1Kqu2RMEAneUt03TzfS78lcdsG5jV7FHDY8VCE-hViyaES4HxjnvOq9YvvRX6srgjcrIOrCpyMj/s1600-h/IMG_0322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3id7ZztegX5VRbybr-L9QEw4I2FxtdLSKbglSmueVja_305SyvTKyy5qyWAXbRcef1Kqu2RMEAneUt03TzfS78lcdsG5jV7FHDY8VCE-hViyaES4HxjnvOq9YvvRX6srgjcrIOrCpyMj/s400/IMG_0322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762659233265106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3f0uvU9scf_L4C9SZLQFp_jAZw8IIBZF0SAgsZdzXb6IHe4qyL3JnCdvTM05zhPeYl3niyqiNxzMX84hAUP5jReoGyZWJKiV-q1VtIqaTdEJ3bL9DIcxBrIOwQT4NLAYhEidMDMeO99g/s1600-h/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3f0uvU9scf_L4C9SZLQFp_jAZw8IIBZF0SAgsZdzXb6IHe4qyL3JnCdvTM05zhPeYl3niyqiNxzMX84hAUP5jReoGyZWJKiV-q1VtIqaTdEJ3bL9DIcxBrIOwQT4NLAYhEidMDMeO99g/s400/IMG_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762653513719186" border="0" /></a>Claire helps.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bM-PrZZ2fx30-VoJlTnhCfNSmCHF6G-M-ck9I8BSPHB3odhKuVN8fbmMcjrXtJmP9Cgsm-2yFQDr0bwfsNb631s25oUDD0-e_0qtEOi4nN0ozU4mS-C8YyErhEJOPOqdv75l6CKzemLJ/s1600-h/IMG_0324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bM-PrZZ2fx30-VoJlTnhCfNSmCHF6G-M-ck9I8BSPHB3odhKuVN8fbmMcjrXtJmP9Cgsm-2yFQDr0bwfsNb631s25oUDD0-e_0qtEOi4nN0ozU4mS-C8YyErhEJOPOqdv75l6CKzemLJ/s400/IMG_0324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762645556362626" border="0" /></a>A pretty butterfly card with pretty nice gifts cards to Gap and Friday's. Mall and dinner tonight, anyone?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rY0zFYaVyJFvOMhB_c0jAaa2g9rU9Jz2xg0w_IQndfS4KSN-wIa544LRanCwVYL6c9HUzMTrbMfOCafDbC5hJRY0t1jwoeKfVFEcN_YO1KgNTSOaSU5sjgyfWPaODQkkdB7gAEraIWmc/s1600-h/IMG_0325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rY0zFYaVyJFvOMhB_c0jAaa2g9rU9Jz2xg0w_IQndfS4KSN-wIa544LRanCwVYL6c9HUzMTrbMfOCafDbC5hJRY0t1jwoeKfVFEcN_YO1KgNTSOaSU5sjgyfWPaODQkkdB7gAEraIWmc/s400/IMG_0325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762079154390130" border="0" /></a>Stickering the sister.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgdpDiMoqkXndQWYE2Np8JJOPdsy6mTLeCyR6Jcpe6j9t-W6ynmZptSnRt_IBH4GZJqgM_L-8ozAm0A5aCbFF5KqUPIItGbxJZAs2qSClw7CuND71XAYvrSqAZ595Nu0nYICFiN9nvPYC/s1600-h/IMG_0327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgdpDiMoqkXndQWYE2Np8JJOPdsy6mTLeCyR6Jcpe6j9t-W6ynmZptSnRt_IBH4GZJqgM_L-8ozAm0A5aCbFF5KqUPIItGbxJZAs2qSClw7CuND71XAYvrSqAZ595Nu0nYICFiN9nvPYC/s400/IMG_0327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762072826018786" border="0" /></a>Ooooo, sugar!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohr-xaV1O1DlHy6Pki4cMuWcnJBx6XYECc1MWbZDBcZaz5lGW6nr5Gfhawho0kuz477GM3CdntkcS4r2Gg8sQygLKaJYB_bJylCzqpvaKELy4KkhROO24BqbdA8PF13DL4cD3SOSxPr/s1600-h/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohr-xaV1O1DlHy6Pki4cMuWcnJBx6XYECc1MWbZDBcZaz5lGW6nr5Gfhawho0kuz477GM3CdntkcS4r2Gg8sQygLKaJYB_bJylCzqpvaKELy4KkhROO24BqbdA8PF13DL4cD3SOSxPr/s400/IMG_0328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762060389932066" border="0" /></a>Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was exclaimed over. Even an issue of Ladies' Home Journal for mom!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XyFweQH1VD4Q1q6bOY-6f6uFIf4wSf6YMlxUsn7eiPsNpT-doTxsm9qAovlnHGC-KMAqroazXUBvfh96vKHnPgc9AfiTtL-2r45XIKAj-JRR51_F0ElsKF6fzI1tRdutHNy7LIw_D1Mn/s1600-h/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XyFweQH1VD4Q1q6bOY-6f6uFIf4wSf6YMlxUsn7eiPsNpT-doTxsm9qAovlnHGC-KMAqroazXUBvfh96vKHnPgc9AfiTtL-2r45XIKAj-JRR51_F0ElsKF6fzI1tRdutHNy7LIw_D1Mn/s400/IMG_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762051382709554" border="0" /></a>Grandma thought of everything. Even "note cookies" (read: fortune cookies). Charlotte loves breaking them open and passing out the notes. Charli's fortune of the day: Your magnetic personality will take you far. I don't doubt it!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCePwhFc28izyhRPm6EeTCuSfN1oSeAM2droE2kEi7-0Li8sMwrnu603IAe60assd7syWbh7z1bcI6r7IyMjUmjQIreo3tSEcVqsf7uvWky11A8Ivz2aUTvRq06AiVgl3mxMnPNoMtCIDP/s1600-h/IMG_0331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCePwhFc28izyhRPm6EeTCuSfN1oSeAM2droE2kEi7-0Li8sMwrnu603IAe60assd7syWbh7z1bcI6r7IyMjUmjQIreo3tSEcVqsf7uvWky11A8Ivz2aUTvRq06AiVgl3mxMnPNoMtCIDP/s400/IMG_0331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437762049351670002" border="0" /></a>She even got excited about finding her sister's bottle in the box that we had left behind.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqfmjdrK1Zu9deEoAyAjRMzjuwiDQUQs2tOS2ldRw5wMdrVp-CWvaWr1Hz9PGomCDB0SVyQvzm5SvJNLDE0B1HSWssG3XzBwnWelwCn1g-jbyW7baPXKg_mCzwKdxYAi1aW3mFzxKIbjQ/s1600-h/IMG_0332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqfmjdrK1Zu9deEoAyAjRMzjuwiDQUQs2tOS2ldRw5wMdrVp-CWvaWr1Hz9PGomCDB0SVyQvzm5SvJNLDE0B1HSWssG3XzBwnWelwCn1g-jbyW7baPXKg_mCzwKdxYAi1aW3mFzxKIbjQ/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760981255387362" border="0" /></a>More stickers!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv-gY-Ok8unsL59DDVOTja7L-B4eOPJgYMWqqx_sU_PjdsWpaNLuWmUJEJhrIL-sZqFYrE3O1G8P0D7nsd9grhJM0RJJUjtHCK45BYs8htUMPH0zNSE_WBNmh_ZHB8JKgNokXbolgQLDi/s1600-h/IMG_0333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv-gY-Ok8unsL59DDVOTja7L-B4eOPJgYMWqqx_sU_PjdsWpaNLuWmUJEJhrIL-sZqFYrE3O1G8P0D7nsd9grhJM0RJJUjtHCK45BYs8htUMPH0zNSE_WBNmh_ZHB8JKgNokXbolgQLDi/s400/IMG_0333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760975467304386" border="0" /></a>Grandma knows what this girl likes!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGJcDnazO2TIWTSmxa8pLhe2ktJ1c7xetalcroeke9XDPkv6MPAj4OaF5VdBZ0DMFvZObcgk_le4eBWuAqD0gdMTiFhLabW3W4uEiUDYoSQ4J1jVeoopZ5PM-tJM3v9l2sm2KsUT5KCoR/s1600-h/IMG_0335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGJcDnazO2TIWTSmxa8pLhe2ktJ1c7xetalcroeke9XDPkv6MPAj4OaF5VdBZ0DMFvZObcgk_le4eBWuAqD0gdMTiFhLabW3W4uEiUDYoSQ4J1jVeoopZ5PM-tJM3v9l2sm2KsUT5KCoR/s400/IMG_0335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760967913589154" border="0" /></a>Hooray for "potty treats"! (read: M&Ms)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYPyvQ7d-RUydQN1C6tb5_202VmBifslDMia6lf1IDQBZ1H0wYeNTNZYS3CoZCZ6oGcatyAY4DT9LsDenVoH3pGdpXWlTqTOezGUwUnmYrp0LgOFh90SxZMZWNFkai5UwkNCU9RIfspqD/s1600-h/IMG_0337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYPyvQ7d-RUydQN1C6tb5_202VmBifslDMia6lf1IDQBZ1H0wYeNTNZYS3CoZCZ6oGcatyAY4DT9LsDenVoH3pGdpXWlTqTOezGUwUnmYrp0LgOFh90SxZMZWNFkai5UwkNCU9RIfspqD/s400/IMG_0337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760960792941218" border="0" /></a>The candy was broken out immediately, of course.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0oxLKO6H4rcFx5Bv7_iWVHcEB7-Ixhz2nJ6wKFvtPMbS7I1y8G6oOYH5OzPf6o-StkIUhFkfOgUpJHXPx-9RsO3FwbVKUcigRm9y3jfGN35Im9OwZRS-JW6pEzsX-WdPu8LkWZ8YZxu4/s1600-h/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0oxLKO6H4rcFx5Bv7_iWVHcEB7-Ixhz2nJ6wKFvtPMbS7I1y8G6oOYH5OzPf6o-StkIUhFkfOgUpJHXPx-9RsO3FwbVKUcigRm9y3jfGN35Im9OwZRS-JW6pEzsX-WdPu8LkWZ8YZxu4/s400/IMG_0338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760952815591698" border="0" /></a>Pearls for mommy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibB_yaADce2vyd8Dk9ZfLEuvQTOsPYnpn_G1kQEWAAyiMIMtEa_KwaYvo9altcFkT1MhzDDk_2tqwCqXjO2LzhId-gbexgbQNzee2eywKvHRUVpheVCfm1YaUXNkn2EVxJShC-XD4eSEXW/s1600-h/IMG_0339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibB_yaADce2vyd8Dk9ZfLEuvQTOsPYnpn_G1kQEWAAyiMIMtEa_KwaYvo9altcFkT1MhzDDk_2tqwCqXjO2LzhId-gbexgbQNzee2eywKvHRUVpheVCfm1YaUXNkn2EVxJShC-XD4eSEXW/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760022851217458" border="0" /></a>Chicka Chicka ABC - a favorite!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi2hEIbj0S8qazBnsPbf0HFQXTmv5rs-TWSRc_kaBda28kOC-hRgaD_dh7O-m4-ihP8tfR5hryqKWXkVts7TqSJ1hOh8-KHVDjeo5a8kW5ZGNSCaZPaMu1J30a_nBv5UnahuRGPAsUdNQ/s1600-h/IMG_0341.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi2hEIbj0S8qazBnsPbf0HFQXTmv5rs-TWSRc_kaBda28kOC-hRgaD_dh7O-m4-ihP8tfR5hryqKWXkVts7TqSJ1hOh8-KHVDjeo5a8kW5ZGNSCaZPaMu1J30a_nBv5UnahuRGPAsUdNQ/s400/IMG_0341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760018348918306" border="0" /></a>Now a package from Kurt!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cDApmpGyqWogUWX_SxoXocQ4iwHJyyMGW9868SbpbgXoKQDpEsdMu5eL_jwe3Euzyst69Eu3rak8pqxzTDU27JQW3KISAfvCsCxap06vG5K64No5_248zU8zRCZvlLvB8vYgRJwjN8XK/s1600-h/IMG_0343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cDApmpGyqWogUWX_SxoXocQ4iwHJyyMGW9868SbpbgXoKQDpEsdMu5eL_jwe3Euzyst69Eu3rak8pqxzTDU27JQW3KISAfvCsCxap06vG5K64No5_248zU8zRCZvlLvB8vYgRJwjN8XK/s400/IMG_0343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437760004717185202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiObE_IJnZIEwiCFTXc_b4MfJZ0CfClpD_DHPW3Yy2UYD4AFlYKtiAqWx4ULsIHQCd_EkzjEZErE3CFcWNNZCEb24XZDSTe7-GyEl34TZrI3w4m2WGMpGwdsiKkfO8TySerYXVnPCbr7U/s1600-h/IMG_0345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiObE_IJnZIEwiCFTXc_b4MfJZ0CfClpD_DHPW3Yy2UYD4AFlYKtiAqWx4ULsIHQCd_EkzjEZErE3CFcWNNZCEb24XZDSTe7-GyEl34TZrI3w4m2WGMpGwdsiKkfO8TySerYXVnPCbr7U/s400/IMG_0345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437759996887498642" border="0" /></a>Claire loved her puppy-dog card from Kurt!<br /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-33525140300689672152010-02-13T07:49:00.000-08:002010-02-13T07:56:11.263-08:00Breakfast: Got yogurt?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzkXXJbIPx_wZSwBZ_bwHcckhVfZ7FeW2D3UykOVvWYTpwHX8wI0cvFYnPUx5r4wlDIAo-kZa2RIs1MfLVTkWM1YOUPQDK5MdBu7_8edMVYvQpc6TQRqlhQLkz01dG4FOGsfNiWiGsWAM/s1600-h/IMG_0315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzkXXJbIPx_wZSwBZ_bwHcckhVfZ7FeW2D3UykOVvWYTpwHX8wI0cvFYnPUx5r4wlDIAo-kZa2RIs1MfLVTkWM1YOUPQDK5MdBu7_8edMVYvQpc6TQRqlhQLkz01dG4FOGsfNiWiGsWAM/s400/IMG_0315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437757114839133602" border="0" /></a>Breakfast: Got yogurt?Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-59917564036231100762010-02-13T07:19:00.000-08:002010-02-13T07:49:11.455-08:00Let's Go Toppers, Let's Go!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm_48KCdunPVCK2zhXrbLIPCD0-2EbXu79IUjXytjRwXa-w5JHQRvih3usa6EsMf9eypAXQdADfoim2ChnG4MKsgIgra1S35MC7IS7wo_vxBmyaJ3No1WqCuVe1Ih7r-7qwk_M3orlUer/s1600-h/IMG_0313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm_48KCdunPVCK2zhXrbLIPCD0-2EbXu79IUjXytjRwXa-w5JHQRvih3usa6EsMf9eypAXQdADfoim2ChnG4MKsgIgra1S35MC7IS7wo_vxBmyaJ3No1WqCuVe1Ih7r-7qwk_M3orlUer/s400/IMG_0313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437748877961477362" border="0" /></a>Last week we went to see our hometown Hilltoppers take to the court. With a husband on faculty (read: free tickets!!!) it was only fitting that we cheer on our WKU team...at least until halftime (read: tired kids/bedtime). Charli loves basketball and misses Aunt Ali's games so she had a marvelous time watching "the big boys play". In the picture above she was trying to get a good look at Big Red, the rather blobbish red mascot.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqcGBPh9Zi2DZXwYRg5S8DYH8oy8_VyvL4OoBrcCHabFpBxkwA-tMtFE2kwVJOILrqm4US5XHd1X-SfwG64VXFVCR9Rxcv8DKqTrPFSf_i_jQY7NVZtHmVmpLloVFGdUtAP1FxcjIPfX3/s1600-h/IMG_0312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqcGBPh9Zi2DZXwYRg5S8DYH8oy8_VyvL4OoBrcCHabFpBxkwA-tMtFE2kwVJOILrqm4US5XHd1X-SfwG64VXFVCR9Rxcv8DKqTrPFSf_i_jQY7NVZtHmVmpLloVFGdUtAP1FxcjIPfX3/s400/IMG_0312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437748868963196866" border="0" /></a>Claire people-watched and ate popcorn - my kinda girl!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqV3yQmXGS2lo74k_yEgZXWCk5p3Jz0IIgWohTdCvrXOXitE0Up1YV4ECH0KAzf4knzEPHlNTO81NDmTlMtujP622zurWexpXsTy-3MC_K5vYBRhsVCP5frZdUth196NeT-9xsfKXN1mk/s1600-h/IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqV3yQmXGS2lo74k_yEgZXWCk5p3Jz0IIgWohTdCvrXOXitE0Up1YV4ECH0KAzf4knzEPHlNTO81NDmTlMtujP622zurWexpXsTy-3MC_K5vYBRhsVCP5frZdUth196NeT-9xsfKXN1mk/s400/IMG_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437748861176205042" border="0" /></a>An attempt at a self-family-portrait.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaTQQGzAohF6LTB5wPZ1QZK9Z5xUYTCJg86G1E4Gui19Mf31pYZmZdLP5uYlpMBOw9C2n3Jrujh215aITvR67VbrcLHFP1RNZRU87BOCLByiA04bdRNGoExEMT4wK-fbo29xHfnPiqWH7/s1600-h/IMG_0310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaTQQGzAohF6LTB5wPZ1QZK9Z5xUYTCJg86G1E4Gui19Mf31pYZmZdLP5uYlpMBOw9C2n3Jrujh215aITvR67VbrcLHFP1RNZRU87BOCLByiA04bdRNGoExEMT4wK-fbo29xHfnPiqWH7/s400/IMG_0310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437748851431175218" border="0" /></a>Oh, and then there were the "dancing girls" (cheerleaders) - they had Charlotte's rapt attention. I think our team won, but we really just went for the fun and popcorn.<br /></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-48432960126522438872010-02-11T19:28:00.000-08:002010-02-11T19:33:11.645-08:00Bean Box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl9AbuhGg31RR3Y3b-FgukTAPG-PCgIhvBFbNq6__4avx-jKgIxyScc6r-sHGG77F6FP0I938jNhlhfmnK9x9FGFVHW3qrC7Z349ASN37iIc9Qe5643-vpjFhKzd0Ta-ixVVEV3NIH-Lb/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl9AbuhGg31RR3Y3b-FgukTAPG-PCgIhvBFbNq6__4avx-jKgIxyScc6r-sHGG77F6FP0I938jNhlhfmnK9x9FGFVHW3qrC7Z349ASN37iIc9Qe5643-vpjFhKzd0Ta-ixVVEV3NIH-Lb/s400/IMG_0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437193954527396386" border="0" /></a>12 pounds of pinto beans: $11.00<br />1 Rubbermaid bin: $8.00<br />2 dump trucks: $6.00<br /><br />Making an indoor mess that's easy to clean up? Priceless!Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-62537063893899050612010-02-11T19:15:00.000-08:002010-02-14T06:48:47.049-08:00With Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwpkdBcJYHbbiyoEXDyp_6rP8WkJR9jcyi9vriwcBwhPm8nON2QtJxDC3kFgDqAWoN0sKcQrI89OpJf3jSuYMxFYheneO8msel38Vir7bsEJQcb1zQTD4AeExn-QWP6L6_0Efo9RASsU7/s1600-h/IMG_0304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwpkdBcJYHbbiyoEXDyp_6rP8WkJR9jcyi9vriwcBwhPm8nON2QtJxDC3kFgDqAWoN0sKcQrI89OpJf3jSuYMxFYheneO8msel38Vir7bsEJQcb1zQTD4AeExn-QWP6L6_0Efo9RASsU7/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437190808365252066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ijWnEWDgNO4FP-35vKj44YdehHXD7hrjFfCDyFP22_Z9k_Isw1qHEp95bVaOstqyiQijOVrfNgX9lEJFGGp5xIqI9vdRgGgYBOZPiEn2gYNXOC9b0cxySPSA1_I6rI40_5CS-a0523wn/s1600-h/IMG_0306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ijWnEWDgNO4FP-35vKj44YdehHXD7hrjFfCDyFP22_Z9k_Isw1qHEp95bVaOstqyiQijOVrfNgX9lEJFGGp5xIqI9vdRgGgYBOZPiEn2gYNXOC9b0cxySPSA1_I6rI40_5CS-a0523wn/s400/IMG_0306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437190814273160258" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>This was the perfect craft project for a 2-year-old. No scissors. No glue. And pre-applied glitter. Charli worked on these Valentine frames for 20 minutes mostly on her own (at least the sticker application portion) - an epic amount of time for this kid. Grandma, Kurt, Grandpa Morsink, and Grandma Perkins and "Grandpa Toe-toe" were the lucky recipients. As Charli would say, "Ballentines means love"...Happy Valentines to all!Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-48987045320515815332010-02-11T18:40:00.000-08:002010-02-11T19:24:06.685-08:00Me, the Swinger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRwD4Q4Zj3rmLvWp3mtLxzOjA0DCZG3Q9A8loPkvGelwm-42LaaRKEwGRYf-94aR9eQU9qsovyPNGwt30nHGs73hqvF0TS3MjfxtixcRSPGAUpbGQS6_q2EBSvoxlF7naBg7N_lNXxbko/s1600-h/anne_taintor_insanity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRwD4Q4Zj3rmLvWp3mtLxzOjA0DCZG3Q9A8loPkvGelwm-42LaaRKEwGRYf-94aR9eQU9qsovyPNGwt30nHGs73hqvF0TS3MjfxtixcRSPGAUpbGQS6_q2EBSvoxlF7naBg7N_lNXxbko/s320/anne_taintor_insanity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188074143672290" border="0" /></a>Generally, I'm "emotional" only in that I feel strongly and deeply about certain things, but not in the sense of wildly swinging feelings from week to week. Like how I felt a week ago compared to now. It was my first week back from the 7 weeks I spent with family in Michigan and here's what I had to say...<br /><br />"I can't lie. It's been a tough week, but I was totally expecting that. We returned to Kentucky this week and I'm adjusting (slowly) to being the sole caregiver/entertainer of the little girls during the day again. That's not really the hard part for me though; it's not having a schedule of any kind. It was easy to get into a routine of basketball games, mall-ing with friends, and a handful of playdates each week. So this week, in Kentucky, we've gotten creative with our extra hours.<br /><br />I weeded through all of our toys and made a pile of the ones we've out-grown and researched a children's ministry where I'll be dropping them off next week.<br /><br />All of the girls clothes are now unpacked and sorted into "keep" and "give" categories and by seasons in the dressers/closets.<br /><br />4 <a href="http://caitlinperkins.blogspot.com/2010/02/with-love.html">Valentines</a> were made for our families in Michigan. (Dreading the post office trip though; it's a small-town friendly place down here but it takes FOREVER to get through the line.)<br /><br />We've been eating Paleo dinners this week, so cooking by those rules has been an experience in itself.<br /><br />The living room has been re-arranged for no good reason. Unless you count an effective time-killer when the weather outside is lousy as a good reason.<br /><br />Due to our new Paleo lifestyle, we had extra bread on hand. So the girls and I have trekked out several times to the "Duck Path" where the Mallards are always glad to see us coming with a gluten treat.<br /><br />Ceiling-to-carpet cleaning: check.<br /><br />And of course there's always laundry, Legos, and library books when I can't find more productive things to do. I am realizing I need to make a conscious effort to..."<br /><br />And that's where my journaling trailed off as I drew a blank on where my efforts should lead. Or whether I had the mental energy to jumpstart an effort in the first place. During that time I was told that I was "like the least likely person to ever get depressed." Huh, weird. I thought, <span style="font-style: italic;">If this isn't depressed I don't want to know what is.</span><br /><br />That was then. I am now glad to report I am coming out of the most recent week a content wife and mom and woman. The days are once again flowing naturally from one to the next and household strife has been minimal. Actually it's been the best week I've had in almost a year. I love my husband more than ever and our little ladies are thriving. This townhouse feels like home. I finally have my own car again. But the biggest change was the improvement in my own head; my mood swung low and leveled out in a high, happy place. (No, I'm not on drugs!)Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-14753082557933190162010-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:002010-02-08T11:02:55.285-08:00Monday Meal PlanTonight: Chicken and grapes with creamy mustard sauce (and couscous), roasted carrots, pistachio salad<br /><br />Tuesday: Round steak, broccoli and corn, spinach salad<br /><br />Wednesday: Bunless feta burgers (Micah's grillin'), Greek salad<br /><br />Thursday: Baked salmon fillets, sugar snap peas, roasted carrots<br /><br />Friday: Slow-cooker flank steak, sweet potatoes, fresh veggies<br /><br />Saturday: Spaghetti and homemade sauce, garlic toast, spinach salad<br /><br />Sunday: leftovers :)Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618706843482324585.post-21379655424269167072010-02-05T11:59:00.000-08:002010-02-08T10:17:45.014-08:00Up On the Housetop?<h3 style="font-weight: normal;" class="GenericStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}">So I had my Selah cd playing this morning and now Charli is singing with great enthusiasm: "Ho-santa in the hiiiiiiiighest!" Oh no.</h3>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07821980780065862692noreply@blogger.com0