tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13322598640030232172024-03-12T20:43:47.212-07:00Blayne and RachelRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-26008236962285205612011-04-30T20:33:00.000-07:002011-04-30T20:33:27.810-07:00Year 7Dinner at Outback and grocery shopping at Walmart - still a super hot date after 7 years.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtgrorrZBSpz8M757Brk2OPxdELJSAgb2GeVaFx97wa-Z_bXqdZKxCm1LxRxp9vv-TOSwh0ENH34mMz08-9753KzRqZTU4Cwg2KhdjItK6Y5eBWkIjQLhoOyqbtPSBK35k-EqHOAhs9w/s1600/Spring+2011+010.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtgrorrZBSpz8M757Brk2OPxdELJSAgb2GeVaFx97wa-Z_bXqdZKxCm1LxRxp9vv-TOSwh0ENH34mMz08-9753KzRqZTU4Cwg2KhdjItK6Y5eBWkIjQLhoOyqbtPSBK35k-EqHOAhs9w/s400/Spring+2011+010.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />After Blayne brought me home flowers on Friday, Darek was ticked that Daddy hadn't gotten him anything. i told him that Dad got me flowers because we got married 7 years ago and we love each other. Darek spent the rest of the day saying he wanted to get married. He asked Mia if she would marry him and she said Yes - coincidentally we have this picture.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShFeG5wVTZBsF22pCvB8uDT3x80PtsjrEEonlnVskj8w0-R8TBV6GdMuUH0h6cItsEO6hZdpNGN9wQ2y3AafZRJYhSDCW_7gVLs0FvC4ylhGSrHsnk80DsLC_2nIRz7VcMPoFgeMpZAzL/s1600/The+Wedding.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShFeG5wVTZBsF22pCvB8uDT3x80PtsjrEEonlnVskj8w0-R8TBV6GdMuUH0h6cItsEO6hZdpNGN9wQ2y3AafZRJYhSDCW_7gVLs0FvC4ylhGSrHsnk80DsLC_2nIRz7VcMPoFgeMpZAzL/s400/The+Wedding.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-19886683964094655612011-04-24T21:18:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:19:13.761-07:00SpringSaturday was the first day in about 6 months that the weather gave us a break and we could go outside. It was opening day at the zoo and we absolutely loved it.<br /><br />Monkeys<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA14s9aqQJ54LtmpyOyI5AlsZE9CRmGtH4BHrHINzkBoYlyHOCX_CabFA4cMXSXKp4AgkEE8I9wBYrN2knpi5yDlM7lkbHx3W5BWfqzfZwAfdJCNFqjZTBCFj82JrNEgAIb5AnXIgUPJx/s1600/Easter+057-1.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA14s9aqQJ54LtmpyOyI5AlsZE9CRmGtH4BHrHINzkBoYlyHOCX_CabFA4cMXSXKp4AgkEE8I9wBYrN2knpi5yDlM7lkbHx3W5BWfqzfZwAfdJCNFqjZTBCFj82JrNEgAIb5AnXIgUPJx/s400/Easter+057-1.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Running from one animal to the next.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-iT411ny3XVH3saYrKOLGcXdMIx8C6yDKPC_VFeowynQjcUEOisfiFKDfriwdm7v0u26_ektxZLLc3_cfsyh9VhvzUwZYHWLoTkrOwRBVqq6Q9QUrMBSGXxebO21BIR1QOJl8wWbRlJo/s1600/Easter+030.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-iT411ny3XVH3saYrKOLGcXdMIx8C6yDKPC_VFeowynQjcUEOisfiFKDfriwdm7v0u26_ektxZLLc3_cfsyh9VhvzUwZYHWLoTkrOwRBVqq6Q9QUrMBSGXxebO21BIR1QOJl8wWbRlJo/s400/Easter+030.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Easter<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odDuZTS0jYHo48XdLp1TpIZ_qZFL3lj6A5RID1HD69ZC3PmohUHst8zkuGsf3J9GE666gqZ7fLg4JU5a76fRPAbh9o-X6h9nNYQegVkebZSR6HaeNj7NFPYvaqRKmRbwcfZyf3-d7vY7/s1600/Easter+065.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odDuZTS0jYHo48XdLp1TpIZ_qZFL3lj6A5RID1HD69ZC3PmohUHst8zkuGsf3J9GE666gqZ7fLg4JU5a76fRPAbh9o-X6h9nNYQegVkebZSR6HaeNj7NFPYvaqRKmRbwcfZyf3-d7vY7/s400/Easter+065.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />These sunglasses didn't come off all morning except for the last picture.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-z-NqN9NAzX_oUfib9N_JCQ-3B_z3nmis2uEZLeOH4BdigmKRafOuiS6CWBnzBK-RWWLQXSCucfSQ1To0b8z20HdLukgFnAbLpM3DZQhxwDu_pbEncXQIlXz7PQuOT-ezOOiTacghHB5/s1600/Easter+068.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-z-NqN9NAzX_oUfib9N_JCQ-3B_z3nmis2uEZLeOH4BdigmKRafOuiS6CWBnzBK-RWWLQXSCucfSQ1To0b8z20HdLukgFnAbLpM3DZQhxwDu_pbEncXQIlXz7PQuOT-ezOOiTacghHB5/s400/Easter+068.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-84199515935655335982011-02-17T20:32:00.000-08:002011-02-17T20:33:17.682-08:00Must Love DogsMia turned 2 two weeks ago and, although we had some camera malfunctions, it was such a great day. She had been asking for a "Princess Cake" for weeks and probably would have been content with that and nothing more.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS2Q-Pbhwle5LNQF4NMs78JMoHUrYcXxzRiOOpHB0nsOmLeVUt7E5Z55lgRhZBb7RlVThIYEHgkp2iaDhAkZlE1roENA7QL8Mc8iuMqUBAzcVWk5wTvel8r7DRbHFaSu9_jy9KUO1CpCm/s1600/Winter+127.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS2Q-Pbhwle5LNQF4NMs78JMoHUrYcXxzRiOOpHB0nsOmLeVUt7E5Z55lgRhZBb7RlVThIYEHgkp2iaDhAkZlE1roENA7QL8Mc8iuMqUBAzcVWk5wTvel8r7DRbHFaSu9_jy9KUO1CpCm/s400/Winter+127.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KeK1LBu29XfaObbtVOsln5eMyL_uvsghba458bS65FzGkDHgG_vNuf7qXy1DDL_KEoIJZDybmvMbAv2-aRlgi6j0187gMFWus7SQrNs6L27fM6SauVMdAfXSh2euXP5dtsj8LEM2xrlR/s1600/Winter+139.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KeK1LBu29XfaObbtVOsln5eMyL_uvsghba458bS65FzGkDHgG_vNuf7qXy1DDL_KEoIJZDybmvMbAv2-aRlgi6j0187gMFWus7SQrNs6L27fM6SauVMdAfXSh2euXP5dtsj8LEM2xrlR/s400/Winter+139.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br />-Mia is definitely a light in our house. She laughs and smiles all day long.<br />-She speaks amazingly well. When I put her to bed she says, "Bye Mom, see you soon!". <br />-Every time we get in the car (and regularly at home) she says, "I need a song." Or, "I need to dance." And she likes her music loud.<br />-She loves chocolate milk and drinks way too much of it.<br />-She is very independent. She has to open doors herself, she doesn't like to be carried, and she always has to put on her own shoes (she often tries to put on her own clothes, but will let me help with that).<br />-She always has so many "things" that she has to carry around the house, and her purse has come in very handy. Lately it's been the balloon Daddy got her for Valentines' Day (this has been so annoying because she seriously wants to take it everywhere), her princesses from her birthday cake, her FurReal friend (a little cat), and her horse from a gift Polly got her.<br />-She wears her boots all day long (it takes a tantrum to get them off). Even if she's not wearing anything else.<br />-She is a dream come true.<br /><br />Also, Blayne got called to be in the branch presidency of the Spanish branch a few months ago. Mia's nursery leaders there (who don't speak any English), told me that she speaks Spanish very well. She tells them "Si", and always says she wants "mas" at snack time. What a hoot.<br /><br />And, in completely unrelated news, we got a dog. I made the mistake of taking my kids to the animal shelter to "look" at the animals. Both the staff there and my kids were not going to let me leave without a pet. Having a puppy has been a HUGE pain. But my kids are in love with her, so what can you do?<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDT1Xrk833bKmL7TtWO1STjf_oSmECc9uWkDowidyHdLSl3NrzeF-bA_DuYfbRLL8rTykWcf-X36KSh0APIpbK7UNEGZh1wZy_MRiFK9TXR54K0uSwTJoAypEFCfDG9maFTX7giypC-xp/s1600/Winter+158.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDT1Xrk833bKmL7TtWO1STjf_oSmECc9uWkDowidyHdLSl3NrzeF-bA_DuYfbRLL8rTykWcf-X36KSh0APIpbK7UNEGZh1wZy_MRiFK9TXR54K0uSwTJoAypEFCfDG9maFTX7giypC-xp/s400/Winter+158.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nqoAtULJnEk7r-a94a2h-wvteajkzj2KfZRzc5nDqwM1pZLqxV5K6Cay7AU-wSD6KcVtr60RBGu-q9Zig1DQfKa70R2XCQ-o1PKKlnNcGLhiUAuJhTyMjtajRzecHOdwUVoi-lejwCwG/s1600/Winter+183.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nqoAtULJnEk7r-a94a2h-wvteajkzj2KfZRzc5nDqwM1pZLqxV5K6Cay7AU-wSD6KcVtr60RBGu-q9Zig1DQfKa70R2XCQ-o1PKKlnNcGLhiUAuJhTyMjtajRzecHOdwUVoi-lejwCwG/s400/Winter+183.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-22372159193871626252011-01-24T15:23:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:23:47.707-08:00In the MudAbout 20 minutes after playing in the snow, Mia got stuck in the mud. Her little boots really wouldn't come out. She just looked so sad.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvzMkEteDceI8LSI8JgccWUKJSU_7xyb01nyGKaN8-DJKExax41pQC89NfrQbX2albzhPTBSRAtUKSdF0zGm-zdzE7lhFa7Na6xWJyvGRmfyBljgcGPbRJuu1D1hoM2KISaDiVOxN6zcP/s1600/Winter+137.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvzMkEteDceI8LSI8JgccWUKJSU_7xyb01nyGKaN8-DJKExax41pQC89NfrQbX2albzhPTBSRAtUKSdF0zGm-zdzE7lhFa7Na6xWJyvGRmfyBljgcGPbRJuu1D1hoM2KISaDiVOxN6zcP/s400/Winter+137.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-41877739107659992422011-01-05T10:25:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:25:27.362-08:00Mia's favorite gift<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEl4E6uMTlrETmp5nKQSR9GfaKUxAOSCs60LMqYp037FKJFd4dY4pfMlJ_2AU_jLqY59NOFj-wh625CCbeNWXnhWZtKMYduLFIhBUAcbATcfwoo5Pxv9rmF7TT8Pl1y0ypaI5MC7PtDrG/s1600/Winter+092.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEl4E6uMTlrETmp5nKQSR9GfaKUxAOSCs60LMqYp037FKJFd4dY4pfMlJ_2AU_jLqY59NOFj-wh625CCbeNWXnhWZtKMYduLFIhBUAcbATcfwoo5Pxv9rmF7TT8Pl1y0ypaI5MC7PtDrG/s400/Winter+092.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-46968183399449993542011-01-05T10:21:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:24:04.018-08:00This was our first Christmas in our own house and it was WONDERFUL. <br />Darek spent weeks worrying about whether his name would be on the naughty list or not. <br />There were many times when he was sure Mia's would be.<br /><br />My family - Mom, Dad, Luke, Dan, Jeffery, and Jackson - all arrived on Christmas Eve. My sister Grace was with us too. Darek woke up at 5 am and ran into our room telling us that Santa had come (he had seen the presents down the hall). We kept him in our room until 8, got Mia, and the rest of my family was already up. The kids tore into their gifts. We had the breakfast casserole my mom makes every year along with cinnamon rolls. Darek and the boys spent the rest of the week playing video games. <br /><br />We saw Santa weeks before. Darek knew what to do.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ7c3VFHjdGz1nJ-kHKl6GyffyGSIGZCcIc1ZN1jO9hdwBfhxWm_sDHQYva5SX914fWlfCz8QLW9kYVBlmzTajRGLjMan5udDICcDfABKF_CImjxj4Vv2n-keXanwZd_TsOEeK_wWA_O_/s1600/Winter+067.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ7c3VFHjdGz1nJ-kHKl6GyffyGSIGZCcIc1ZN1jO9hdwBfhxWm_sDHQYva5SX914fWlfCz8QLW9kYVBlmzTajRGLjMan5udDICcDfABKF_CImjxj4Vv2n-keXanwZd_TsOEeK_wWA_O_/s400/Winter+067.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Mia wanted to see him, but from a safe distance.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPs4RZuSC8RJnaciZgYy2hbHspoSbPM_umvzu6fycdck1bdEomWnJLbZwfHA2O6BLMC2cRmkrd90zKpr7tGnhsDkzvx_3fS5zRUDo1BJ4p0y5fPyRR9sGar0ngVYvwGmOXzQevP8HeUTb/s1600/Winter+071.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPs4RZuSC8RJnaciZgYy2hbHspoSbPM_umvzu6fycdck1bdEomWnJLbZwfHA2O6BLMC2cRmkrd90zKpr7tGnhsDkzvx_3fS5zRUDo1BJ4p0y5fPyRR9sGar0ngVYvwGmOXzQevP8HeUTb/s400/Winter+071.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />My mom stayed with the kids and the rest of us went skiing. It was a BLAST. Other than my dad, none of us had really been. We took a lesson together and had so much fun. All of the boys picked it up like they'd been doing it for years. Blayne and Dan were speed demons, Luke and I were steady and sure. Blayne was hesitant to go at all, thinking this just wouldn't be his thing because he hates the cold. Within a few minutes, he was loving it and can't wait to go again.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4OXcuBMrIJ4M6eDxN_CeUF86QVtHzt0ATlYOQkEmO4DNarUcmdglsdRcyuofMmkJyupeMhtvLFHpceLiBAmcbFrAe7nsiyWd2fQ7zKSF1vkwQIlBTl6tL4ArWiaSdh7BRldcwSq4NTv3/s1600/Winter+088.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4OXcuBMrIJ4M6eDxN_CeUF86QVtHzt0ATlYOQkEmO4DNarUcmdglsdRcyuofMmkJyupeMhtvLFHpceLiBAmcbFrAe7nsiyWd2fQ7zKSF1vkwQIlBTl6tL4ArWiaSdh7BRldcwSq4NTv3/s400/Winter+088.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC2GkEzbwklLjZY-B-9qHm0jVd_adJBKo_8CJCQKRNw-mn0uYWyLiXEberVn5ZCJzfTqWUgEbSMkGNraie5VbP2D8wNHPyLuxsGZRKIVMO_CLxW3VU4LJq5W9PGgPmmxye0bw1wlsdkI3/s1600/Winter+090.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC2GkEzbwklLjZY-B-9qHm0jVd_adJBKo_8CJCQKRNw-mn0uYWyLiXEberVn5ZCJzfTqWUgEbSMkGNraie5VbP2D8wNHPyLuxsGZRKIVMO_CLxW3VU4LJq5W9PGgPmmxye0bw1wlsdkI3/s400/Winter+090.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-7986001784549912612011-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:02:20.138-08:00We went to the library for story time yesterday. Haven't been since last year.<br />Darek sat quietly on my lap, Mia ran loudly around the room and then out of the room. <br />Darek whispered as we looked at the fish. Mia ran up and down the aisles yelling, "Here fishie, fishie, fishie!"<br />Darek slowly and conscientously chose which books he wanted. Mia indiscriminately threw one book after another off of the shelf and onto the floor. With Mia screaming in my arms and Darek walking quietly behind me, we left.<br />And I'm sure we'll go back. There's not much else to do in the winter.<br /><br />Mia, at home, is the easiest child on the planet. She entertains herself all day long. She is charming and happy and independent. <br />She's still happy when we leave the house, but her independence means she runs everywhere except for where I am. She gets into everything. It makes me crazy.<br /><br />Darek, at home, is ridiculously difficult. He is attached to my hip and wants me to do everything with him. He does not give me any breathing room. <br />When we leave the house, he's incredibly easy. He listens well and is entertained by what's going on around him. It's the best way for me to get some space.<br /><br />Darned if you do and Darned if you don't...<br /><br />After the library, we went to McDonald's. Darek and Mia were best buddies - she's too little to pull herself up in the play area, so he'd give her a boost and they'd laugh all the way down the slide.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnThd_ZqWuDY7ddmTAg9eayFLSXmPSLcJRKPLeDLfd2pOR-6sgdy-SGSRnANFJVaWrh2kh6Si56QXnTLahrwV-WMufW4GxNM-yI6VzKt9hyO4s1WYwwqOqyI6HeO2x4JnMrLvnWlLgIN-f/s1600/Winter+098.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnThd_ZqWuDY7ddmTAg9eayFLSXmPSLcJRKPLeDLfd2pOR-6sgdy-SGSRnANFJVaWrh2kh6Si56QXnTLahrwV-WMufW4GxNM-yI6VzKt9hyO4s1WYwwqOqyI6HeO2x4JnMrLvnWlLgIN-f/s400/Winter+098.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTsFZgLQCDnZXzzFObgLbXp7nMIRZ-Ab4jHGWfBiDzkeQIA6wTLWGpxAW0rDfnnUFnG47dDpXz7S-UMuRdOqqgYSrT8potxG5Ot4LE3_B0ovMKQCmRvIoGUE0433a3_kl4FxUGkF69wFE/s1600/Winter+102.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTsFZgLQCDnZXzzFObgLbXp7nMIRZ-Ab4jHGWfBiDzkeQIA6wTLWGpxAW0rDfnnUFnG47dDpXz7S-UMuRdOqqgYSrT8potxG5Ot4LE3_B0ovMKQCmRvIoGUE0433a3_kl4FxUGkF69wFE/s400/Winter+102.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />But when Darek made a new friend, Mia was on her own.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ArjXGgyscck_JXOLAzN0qJNmGs7B8S0v-tJ-VKi7vk3jXsW7I3rImLkvA34zhPcDkBPpEmClds4wz-GYVwrhcE_CDjuOormDmm6rlA2GSCUhgrcgksBlfSzFRy4lIrqV9y6nj-Tc1PSs/s1600/Winter+108.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ArjXGgyscck_JXOLAzN0qJNmGs7B8S0v-tJ-VKi7vk3jXsW7I3rImLkvA34zhPcDkBPpEmClds4wz-GYVwrhcE_CDjuOormDmm6rlA2GSCUhgrcgksBlfSzFRy4lIrqV9y6nj-Tc1PSs/s400/Winter+108.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-84072770165375318142010-12-06T09:12:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:18:22.722-08:00First LoveGrace came over to eat last night with her boyfriend and two of her roommates. <br />Darek was "taken" with Grace's roommate Megan from the moment she walked in. <br />He asked me her name at least 20 times, trying to make sure he had it right. <br />After we finished eating and everyone was sitting around chatting, Darek, unannounced and with complete boldness, climbed up on Megan's lap, wrapped his arms around her neck and whispered "I love you Megan" in her ear. He kept his arms around her neck for at least a minute, then he climbed down and went about his business. <br />I have NEVER seen him do anything like that EVER in his life. It was absolutely adorable. When I told him I wanted to take a picture of him with Grace's friends, he went straight to Megan.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7JV9mhmc8fjkHpuxNVhyUdZ3LrYXH729AdJWIIaL8jG7w3xw2oHn5yHoGDLpzcgDZpNa9Itr54cLY42bdx2Lg9f73bgfuWNG0ozqhIxZAmE6Jjpa5KRZ4WKiPGFfEW47-VETyzKyv9n4/s1600/Winter+056.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7JV9mhmc8fjkHpuxNVhyUdZ3LrYXH729AdJWIIaL8jG7w3xw2oHn5yHoGDLpzcgDZpNa9Itr54cLY42bdx2Lg9f73bgfuWNG0ozqhIxZAmE6Jjpa5KRZ4WKiPGFfEW47-VETyzKyv9n4/s400/Winter+056.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC08TK1nUndrdmb62g0ZNwH1tNP4mzy9BMVQi82lQLoYQ0D5BepbhuhJZHUN5XyymmLJCD6h81_-HIPbeR-byD1EfySqYMAUokh3uxqPshJPlH-HQp7QyAugxb7nEc761DAJDzS5EUGT-j/s1600/Winter+047.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC08TK1nUndrdmb62g0ZNwH1tNP4mzy9BMVQi82lQLoYQ0D5BepbhuhJZHUN5XyymmLJCD6h81_-HIPbeR-byD1EfySqYMAUokh3uxqPshJPlH-HQp7QyAugxb7nEc761DAJDzS5EUGT-j/s400/Winter+047.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVCaw-aUu1utenRH136yvLukvn96HoHSKwOTCHauUekc5XFWCEBe14aixSGg86FF0Q7ccofcK2wdICkRRMv7-kdVj_JYcnRY4we3w6-7nqNcHA5kLCJrywKsTM3_4J3gmDSMvA44PW4TO/s1600/Winter+035.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVCaw-aUu1utenRH136yvLukvn96HoHSKwOTCHauUekc5XFWCEBe14aixSGg86FF0Q7ccofcK2wdICkRRMv7-kdVj_JYcnRY4we3w6-7nqNcHA5kLCJrywKsTM3_4J3gmDSMvA44PW4TO/s400/Winter+035.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-25473100724149286432010-11-01T20:47:00.000-07:002010-11-01T20:50:29.069-07:00HalloweenI had forgotten that celebrating Halloween can span much more than just a day - not that I would change it. Darek had a Halloween party at school, we went to the Halloween carnival at the local elementary school, the next day was some kind of vendor sponsored city-wide trick or treat event downtown (with a shout out to Kluane for saving us almost an hour of waiting-in-line time), and Saturday was trick or treating. Both Darek and Mia are fascinated by the "scary" parts of Halloween. They loved the automated ghost and witches that would make noises when you walk by, they were into the monsters and scary costumes - kinda weird because I've never liked that stuff.<br /><br />Playing musical chairs at the school carnival<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Yq9Af8HzF88f6KzASe9Yg5KreJx7sCcElZyLwh5FcDPN-riXGGPbYwUjmKOQCGysSJXepdxRAjlj9gR4rxBB2WBizhRg26I7ia3WEJL-I_UuyVk06yxPYpOxU8kl3qPMD_qAMh8DNJw/s1600/Summer+765.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Yq9Af8HzF88f6KzASe9Yg5KreJx7sCcElZyLwh5FcDPN-riXGGPbYwUjmKOQCGysSJXepdxRAjlj9gR4rxBB2WBizhRg26I7ia3WEJL-I_UuyVk06yxPYpOxU8kl3qPMD_qAMh8DNJw/s400/Summer+765.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />A fairy of sorts :)<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh979GALi2X05kg4zKhe2j6OWx-5JJPceSxXQPNjp1PAav-NpZV2VISCj8SUFb00hPWfqtThRO_BKDEN6h40p_n3y93ZrctQIAmwbAtwyGxGz0i7GYluuzXB_1Ben88Nbcf3vchwcuXPd/s1600/Summer+769.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh979GALi2X05kg4zKhe2j6OWx-5JJPceSxXQPNjp1PAav-NpZV2VISCj8SUFb00hPWfqtThRO_BKDEN6h40p_n3y93ZrctQIAmwbAtwyGxGz0i7GYluuzXB_1Ben88Nbcf3vchwcuXPd/s400/Summer+769.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Getting ready to go downtown<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNs7beUmW-HPIQ3TjqEYnWLG4eSRQSGzofIPzI47VsfG-GlcaitvMOO3f9rvQsQsmxt9hNZNgWeNAYvEE-Xcv7viV15J4c9NFKx0MFAvE_o33QbRM7dZfddSEXsEpr_MPs0vOvi-IHfkC/s1600/Summer+770.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNs7beUmW-HPIQ3TjqEYnWLG4eSRQSGzofIPzI47VsfG-GlcaitvMOO3f9rvQsQsmxt9hNZNgWeNAYvEE-Xcv7viV15J4c9NFKx0MFAvE_o33QbRM7dZfddSEXsEpr_MPs0vOvi-IHfkC/s400/Summer+770.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-70607954013954826202010-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:002010-10-21T09:45:39.300-07:00This WeekI couldn't get the kids to go home after they saw this puppy at the park. Darek held it forever (until it would wiggle away and then he'd chase it and hold it again). He's always asked for a dog but now it's gotten crazy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZfT6iNUWhcYnp6TlmQbyzGN2bS1v9aK2l868bUkHc7H4somHThBf5THe8YfIkhasS7paLsugeezrwhILYJioCIVFfZcWvdqPnFKSGv4G5TWESSlXE-XSPq7Hmerz6ICQzfIaVuwVxEaV/s1600/Summer+687.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZfT6iNUWhcYnp6TlmQbyzGN2bS1v9aK2l868bUkHc7H4somHThBf5THe8YfIkhasS7paLsugeezrwhILYJioCIVFfZcWvdqPnFKSGv4G5TWESSlXE-XSPq7Hmerz6ICQzfIaVuwVxEaV/s400/Summer+687.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530538629308215314" /></a><br /><br />Darek has started karate class - my new favorite thing. The truth is, I needed something to get us out of the house, so I decided to find him some kind of class. Punching and kicking and yelling for 30 minutes, along with the discipline thrown in could not be more perfect. And it is possibly the cutest thing ever. Darek behaves SO well and is awed by his teacher.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3b7VuOkRsGmZqmjRHAsaeHTe5nA1KQWg9D4EQ12_xuXHVN3_Rsds9sSa6aVtUyz249x-0dt8vgvpt68rjvMhTTjYcGhs5MsCvJdEryJRN61bxag-2REjdZ0aM2zEv07F63KHs6tSWnho/s1600/Summer+640.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3b7VuOkRsGmZqmjRHAsaeHTe5nA1KQWg9D4EQ12_xuXHVN3_Rsds9sSa6aVtUyz249x-0dt8vgvpt68rjvMhTTjYcGhs5MsCvJdEryJRN61bxag-2REjdZ0aM2zEv07F63KHs6tSWnho/s400/Summer+640.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530538627500377746" /></a><br /><br />This October may be the very best weather I've experienced in my entire life. It's been in the low 70s for most of the month with constant sunshine. We've spent a ton of time at the park.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2xOAQZY6kxSCAnMCdeprfH_HpWeHXEKuwTYoVAPKnmOrc0n92nqWsMnx4euMEzXqQGcwGDpre-5SiZ7cy328CWwpYyXf6DiZ1YCD0M3EWQrZYpHvGtfFJdijVCjRjWhb2x_o3t54O-Cs/s1600/Summer+624.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2xOAQZY6kxSCAnMCdeprfH_HpWeHXEKuwTYoVAPKnmOrc0n92nqWsMnx4euMEzXqQGcwGDpre-5SiZ7cy328CWwpYyXf6DiZ1YCD0M3EWQrZYpHvGtfFJdijVCjRjWhb2x_o3t54O-Cs/s400/Summer+624.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530538623511953138" /></a><br /><br />We went to a friend's birthday party. Let me add that Latin Americans throw the very BEST parties. Incredible food, music, pinatas, a fun jump - amazing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpfLDotgsTHMLRHT55Zt0LmZ62AYQURvmpBNrMa-3aNQzjdUHaR1XWlA-N25t86jnlD91gorP1qOL2JuHwh2MXwghFs7387HtWfgInTmvMZCqmZtwUyk_uU-mmYybqCkzx6SyWN8jFrXu/s1600/Summer+604.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpfLDotgsTHMLRHT55Zt0LmZ62AYQURvmpBNrMa-3aNQzjdUHaR1XWlA-N25t86jnlD91gorP1qOL2JuHwh2MXwghFs7387HtWfgInTmvMZCqmZtwUyk_uU-mmYybqCkzx6SyWN8jFrXu/s400/Summer+604.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530538618531988834" /></a><br /><br />Blayne plays football with the old men on Saturday mornings.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwM_JI7GrU5VmuzLGUhzys6nsK3KYKrwz1nIDUlo83d6xfdmSOZ1cAkSGH7hOOhEkXjaMN64R2CivrX105-H98DSq2dF9tkvGESFfkzAozIc5g3PI2dRYbCele485H4xEoevMVln08XiD/s1600/Summer+592.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwM_JI7GrU5VmuzLGUhzys6nsK3KYKrwz1nIDUlo83d6xfdmSOZ1cAkSGH7hOOhEkXjaMN64R2CivrX105-H98DSq2dF9tkvGESFfkzAozIc5g3PI2dRYbCele485H4xEoevMVln08XiD/s400/Summer+592.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530538613511911858" /></a><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QU2Afj1MLfo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QU2Afj1MLfo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pVjLxQXFy5o?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pVjLxQXFy5o?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-19685557503448477352010-09-29T20:48:00.000-07:002010-09-29T20:50:02.350-07:00Big weekDarek finally pooped in the toilet and he started pre-school: Best Week Ever.<br />After his first poop in the toilet, we gave high fives and hugs, etc., then I told him it was time to flush it. He got upset and said, "No don't flush it, I love my poop. He's my friend, he's like a fish." The poop was a "he"? So I asked him if he wanted me to take a picture of it before we flushed it and he said yes. We took about 6 pictures, some of the poop by itself and then Darek wanted to get in some of the pictures with "him". Darek asked to look at the pictures several more times that night. It was a very proud day for all of us.<br /><br />And then Darek started pre-school. I didn't take any pictures of his first day because he was nervous and I didn't want to make it seem like a bigger deal than it already was by pulling out the camera. School is just two hours a day/3 days a week. It's just a few houses down the road and his teacher is wonderful. He's still getting used to it. On the second day of school he told me he wasn't going - that he would go when he was "taller". But we talked him into it. I'm sure he'll absolutely love it in a few days.<br /><br />Mia got SillyBandz in the mail from cousin Alex and Aunt Katy. No instructions needed on this one.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKiUco92tTzxgCfJVIssd3IfWXzwxqsVlvD6qRDVtFosnmrpWdD4IJUfMHpNF1o1gjoeUJ4Pvhj_BlgUCSQefnlV95kAHgBAzw32RmMFO1D7ioZZws1BLhXNoCn-ngL59T_K9g3gXTB3v/s1600/Summer+484.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKiUco92tTzxgCfJVIssd3IfWXzwxqsVlvD6qRDVtFosnmrpWdD4IJUfMHpNF1o1gjoeUJ4Pvhj_BlgUCSQefnlV95kAHgBAzw32RmMFO1D7ioZZws1BLhXNoCn-ngL59T_K9g3gXTB3v/s400/Summer+484.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />We're still spending all of our time outside. Please let it last!<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTPcsjsmkgOKpffdiPNQtM4PI3bYgw4vzxm3uqKqB8D5Ybz4jCrj2PWZEm0Sa40uNmkYvX0jT77XuOOWlSVzQH-1C6M5KIqzXVylTiNcP43bPh-TYwBCc-stUZqh68mlFEpCKmkWdFMzI/s1600/Summer+532.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTPcsjsmkgOKpffdiPNQtM4PI3bYgw4vzxm3uqKqB8D5Ybz4jCrj2PWZEm0Sa40uNmkYvX0jT77XuOOWlSVzQH-1C6M5KIqzXVylTiNcP43bPh-TYwBCc-stUZqh68mlFEpCKmkWdFMzI/s400/Summer+532.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-61302680604874813562010-09-22T20:42:00.000-07:002010-09-22T20:45:57.617-07:00Oldest ChildDarek monitors what Mia does. He mostly calls her "Baby" and lets me know if she's too close to the street, if she's climbed up on the table, if she's made a mess, etc. <br /><br />There are three nurseries in our ward. Mia was supposed to come to the one that I teach while Darek was assigned to a different one. When he realized that she was going to a different nursery, he cried and said, "I want my Baby..." so now they go together.<br /><br />At Family Night this week Blayne was helping Darek pray - Darek repeated exactly what Blayne said until Blayne said, "Bless Mia that she'll be a good girl." Darek repeated, "Bless Baby that she'll be the Best girl."<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, Darek knocks her down and takes toys and jostles her for attention, but he is ultimately her protector.<br /><br />Giving Baby a ride on his scooter.<br /><a href='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/d9c7f02cc17be757.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/d9c7f02cc17be757.jpg?size=400' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A7Q1_xnfL8d1b7vEaQqMBRyoar44Ie83V6yrzzb4aLnzAlG1IvEDBTSIn2AekIUcBLkRjbrqzBABUe0fqicVNOw59s2lBqY6x-1v3Z3mC6US4l9RRKz9Xlu_yG_u0ETwVNgXphECxUDk/s1600/Summer+457.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A7Q1_xnfL8d1b7vEaQqMBRyoar44Ie83V6yrzzb4aLnzAlG1IvEDBTSIn2AekIUcBLkRjbrqzBABUe0fqicVNOw59s2lBqY6x-1v3Z3mC6US4l9RRKz9Xlu_yG_u0ETwVNgXphECxUDk/s400/Summer+457.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519950040497420466" /></a><br /><br />Mutual adoration<br /><a href='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/2e6300b3ff5210fb.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/2e6300b3ff5210fb.jpg?size=400' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br /><a href='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/aae1a9744358d529.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:4522/be5d8e60c41f50a850dae8e773be412c/image/aae1a9744358d529.jpg?size=400' border='0' alt='' /></a> Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-37507504131092408022010-09-19T21:20:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:23:30.294-07:00Mia4 necklaces, 2 bracelets, 2 babies, 1 pacifier, Darek's shoes. A day in the life of Miss Mia.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tfkW_Ph3EPdJDBz-ehiqIcgBevjorJDVHqIg-Qx-uexbXs_mcLtYGDWYPAMRCTMuyoJhOTM253VBcKQR4OZkWo1Fd-0SzitRyqFjf4I24_76NdnfGedPIZaFTMxgUwtbmIAAnNMwlvp2/s1600/PART951283790872665.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tfkW_Ph3EPdJDBz-ehiqIcgBevjorJDVHqIg-Qx-uexbXs_mcLtYGDWYPAMRCTMuyoJhOTM253VBcKQR4OZkWo1Fd-0SzitRyqFjf4I24_76NdnfGedPIZaFTMxgUwtbmIAAnNMwlvp2/s400/PART951283790872665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518846408731207874" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-78179402602669407902010-09-16T19:46:00.000-07:002010-09-16T19:52:02.207-07:00Marbles and boxesDarek got his first pets last week. It was his reward after getting his jar full of marbles (he earned the marbles through being obedient, helping around the house, etc.). He wanted to name both fish Nemo, but Blayne convinced him to name one Boo Boo (what?). Darek's working on filling his jar again and the next thing he wants is a robot - I'm thinking that could cost more than a $.25 fish.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsztsBLU7X0HkqMDmmw9YAyxPFV-BymawJLJ-1aglA0EIpTfzxm3flbaBhS80BzoMzSvJpYr2j-tIc-hhSFngpMx2MVQtgEB30N4z0UbXs5RDSY-6zCwtljjWyKngTCJVes82glQf4Dmw/s1600/Summer+368.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsztsBLU7X0HkqMDmmw9YAyxPFV-BymawJLJ-1aglA0EIpTfzxm3flbaBhS80BzoMzSvJpYr2j-tIc-hhSFngpMx2MVQtgEB30N4z0UbXs5RDSY-6zCwtljjWyKngTCJVes82glQf4Dmw/s400/Summer+368.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQcB3HwC3CXnRg299Tk6zrL2Fhy2lo8Ak-nthly-D3WMzKyhEf0DTFFNFMPtpd0lorpXlsFo2c5qhdhEDWnaWZoru5hfe77k6Aic7IBlDuYK54h93eu64nUC0t1BZgJJNSktUhB1jXjK9/s1600/Summer+380.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQcB3HwC3CXnRg299Tk6zrL2Fhy2lo8Ak-nthly-D3WMzKyhEf0DTFFNFMPtpd0lorpXlsFo2c5qhdhEDWnaWZoru5hfe77k6Aic7IBlDuYK54h93eu64nUC0t1BZgJJNSktUhB1jXjK9/s400/Summer+380.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Painting yet another box made into a robot. He spends hours on painting projects and there's something so precious about watching a three year old being so thorough and absorbed in something like this. I absolutely love it.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwloX0-qqF9IOVL5LdLw7Izds-s_TzmIR-niSINqPooI2AlrsQn2ybRnBo-eUn79R3i7a51d30HVOTat2hpmzp3DUyB8PFgTPYz8KUfQIEWl8xDoBvKTbkPYTRQmqd22xVLl4EqyM-XJQ1/s1600/Summer+423.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwloX0-qqF9IOVL5LdLw7Izds-s_TzmIR-niSINqPooI2AlrsQn2ybRnBo-eUn79R3i7a51d30HVOTat2hpmzp3DUyB8PFgTPYz8KUfQIEWl8xDoBvKTbkPYTRQmqd22xVLl4EqyM-XJQ1/s400/Summer+423.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />On Sundays we feed the ducks at the river. Sometimes Idaho Falls looks mighty fine.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQHnikEnGIaSjDIlEl2FVU-aRrDnB-JIz625PG8ftOyhOBuYXmCa0RJaqBaxL5EeXKHCK9vnChzUEde_Fl7JmlenGsS2VtUj3Qw4XcyluIMfP8ancjDNfwZu3AeXxVN_l1y3HMpRp-s_Z/s1600/Summer+398.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQHnikEnGIaSjDIlEl2FVU-aRrDnB-JIz625PG8ftOyhOBuYXmCa0RJaqBaxL5EeXKHCK9vnChzUEde_Fl7JmlenGsS2VtUj3Qw4XcyluIMfP8ancjDNfwZu3AeXxVN_l1y3HMpRp-s_Z/s400/Summer+398.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-52487094262559025452010-09-15T18:42:00.000-07:002010-09-15T18:43:15.192-07:00Her Loves Us<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMot-jZhPgxqzXdCVPukw_zOQFcimqh7n78ItXPiiRoIfHacd6gX8y6gWMhXV75nZ3b3jlcOKMENqWhzf483Ir9q2epRR4RcDlsZy5AzBaJsQohy7P1klNNCwb7PSU1rg9OT472OWOjUQ/s1600/Summer+358.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMot-jZhPgxqzXdCVPukw_zOQFcimqh7n78ItXPiiRoIfHacd6gX8y6gWMhXV75nZ3b3jlcOKMENqWhzf483Ir9q2epRR4RcDlsZy5AzBaJsQohy7P1klNNCwb7PSU1rg9OT472OWOjUQ/s400/Summer+358.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />After living with us for 5 weeks, my sister Grace went back up to school at BYU-I last week. The kids LOVE Aunt Grace. One night I was putting Darek to bed and he asked where Grace was. I told him she was with her friends and he said, "Her loves us. Her really, really loves us." And she does.<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-59333038893407606282010-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:002010-09-08T10:42:44.924-07:00Remember When...Remember when we laughed until we cried (and cried until we laughed), and stayed up all night, had crazy drama, and ate cake and ice cream for three meals a day, held hands, shared secrets, and figured out who we were? Some things never change. To the next ten years<br /><br />Then (Liberty Square, Provo, UT. October 2000)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSpv7tyMh2rYdcXeWyQcRCtD8vdE0F_degFjGu65iWrQo9f2WkvDwm5PK6cGVuuhTknV7Y2EP2mdvymSXWKoT9rAVIw0nNI8TwLNkEpQ8b9q_ZY3EcJFJdw-qtceMcCQa2wwth1DNJo-w/s1600/past+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSpv7tyMh2rYdcXeWyQcRCtD8vdE0F_degFjGu65iWrQo9f2WkvDwm5PK6cGVuuhTknV7Y2EP2mdvymSXWKoT9rAVIw0nNI8TwLNkEpQ8b9q_ZY3EcJFJdw-qtceMcCQa2wwth1DNJo-w/s400/past+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514596505932648802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffTLyfnzerPFBsvrmPkEa_ZM2K92RcGZGZT3pGEOg917AMRa24XCI41h-ZM7Dcp_LGqRX21LTntLQ9UIqAEXgQcc3kCos9y3t4G3FW4lBBBSoBzpaOUCtqzZeSzX9H6UBn1umqt-_e2sJ/s1600/past.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffTLyfnzerPFBsvrmPkEa_ZM2K92RcGZGZT3pGEOg917AMRa24XCI41h-ZM7Dcp_LGqRX21LTntLQ9UIqAEXgQcc3kCos9y3t4G3FW4lBBBSoBzpaOUCtqzZeSzX9H6UBn1umqt-_e2sJ/s400/past.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514596494327334018" /></a><br /><br />Now (Together in San Clemente, CA. Husbands and kids at home)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0PlnwnvJ0AH8DnENn_aJ8xjgCjlFIJ_NoDRVRs2sEF4wlr1HBAPcEG6BzpTx0oSf_t56FNmdpD_1QtJeo1Putonb5_bJzGsLyU5jR0S9ABgGnnCPGYOsxmrrC2hnj4B2qrskf3XEQKGW/s1600/present+1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0PlnwnvJ0AH8DnENn_aJ8xjgCjlFIJ_NoDRVRs2sEF4wlr1HBAPcEG6BzpTx0oSf_t56FNmdpD_1QtJeo1Putonb5_bJzGsLyU5jR0S9ABgGnnCPGYOsxmrrC2hnj4B2qrskf3XEQKGW/s400/present+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514596511960611314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbunBzlRCEah5LpDINcvwLEr1_T1KeeTcVDSGgKaZGkzHFowdfTZ3-uG58rwmmrIzJdROpp1LevFLx6XVDUctvIrEeAAClmOgJdKgzM1LCtlG4w7w1qQPm7ZCqrT6N935phlwuzN6lrhs/s1600/present+3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbunBzlRCEah5LpDINcvwLEr1_T1KeeTcVDSGgKaZGkzHFowdfTZ3-uG58rwmmrIzJdROpp1LevFLx6XVDUctvIrEeAAClmOgJdKgzM1LCtlG4w7w1qQPm7ZCqrT6N935phlwuzN6lrhs/s400/present+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514596531247096962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7teRFtTpAJM0oCD8tOlprUdY1ynM21lQBnP6YDASQSy3VtK6Hd50x-j8NRo7zxwVDsdQptfdXquthE4j7x5EZhtCM6A7Jna9a-HrGYmn38KNx4fgc9DQ5aJ8TTi7hY8X7iJTOg0igyy7/s1600/present+2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7teRFtTpAJM0oCD8tOlprUdY1ynM21lQBnP6YDASQSy3VtK6Hd50x-j8NRo7zxwVDsdQptfdXquthE4j7x5EZhtCM6A7Jna9a-HrGYmn38KNx4fgc9DQ5aJ8TTi7hY8X7iJTOg0igyy7/s400/present+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514596522523538706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAjwZdc4TN5OVBpQdQBhZjGSS2sTXnu8VATHpNexC4cAAPLeusuBr_H6jNROKGyiG1PVcVtnEJnNJFYbfPTrpDXyrr_X5yD6vIdbnWKhFADMa0cWAmgNwW59pSibPT0bgXp5G8cpxuuxM/s1600/present+9.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAjwZdc4TN5OVBpQdQBhZjGSS2sTXnu8VATHpNexC4cAAPLeusuBr_H6jNROKGyiG1PVcVtnEJnNJFYbfPTrpDXyrr_X5yD6vIdbnWKhFADMa0cWAmgNwW59pSibPT0bgXp5G8cpxuuxM/s400/present+9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597528678159314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg3i1S_hAJ1EnZ5kC_i3hcZvwKPy5PWkbTAtiJGM_LIueVuUQwWKRXu1Pxy0mAaeT8NnVBbm9ll-oM-cpMjxYXFr0qC665_N-bttXJbwzlvAWaREZreJG8b_8pQk6PqrdZ5QZKBhWoshu/s1600/present+8.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg3i1S_hAJ1EnZ5kC_i3hcZvwKPy5PWkbTAtiJGM_LIueVuUQwWKRXu1Pxy0mAaeT8NnVBbm9ll-oM-cpMjxYXFr0qC665_N-bttXJbwzlvAWaREZreJG8b_8pQk6PqrdZ5QZKBhWoshu/s400/present+8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597412127322722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdd5jXxKSuEghDd5IUD3Qio3jTU_7WKpA5V0tEkKxDtctCGGhI72-AOEg0cx_HhiuuwbmmKxMoarDATqFNDWJ-HRxgarJB8DANW0QzbSnclHe3foAshcKpcSt2EssNo8bFPa5XkBeUKyy/s1600/present+7.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdd5jXxKSuEghDd5IUD3Qio3jTU_7WKpA5V0tEkKxDtctCGGhI72-AOEg0cx_HhiuuwbmmKxMoarDATqFNDWJ-HRxgarJB8DANW0QzbSnclHe3foAshcKpcSt2EssNo8bFPa5XkBeUKyy/s400/present+7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597403778496306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRW40vRzoPY0H_v1z0UBjG71tBgzEAC5YsYI_ME62iNRuZgmuU7PLYghSrwoyAHalEfs9uMknerFgkwelYGRbsydyWKFSf1cDRjYGSm2EWYmRc1biHQnOj9BYUsMBMOeW-X5Nvvoxz8GH/s1600/present+6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRW40vRzoPY0H_v1z0UBjG71tBgzEAC5YsYI_ME62iNRuZgmuU7PLYghSrwoyAHalEfs9uMknerFgkwelYGRbsydyWKFSf1cDRjYGSm2EWYmRc1biHQnOj9BYUsMBMOeW-X5Nvvoxz8GH/s400/present+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597398115173522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpQAIK4in7lW-2pCYfg8TG_C1wp5jnW_BmD4W_wfJdv3UgjPS7Qhawp9nACv_pLzXgfOXu9Rt4Ukvq1CTb2BZmtMqMTWk00R6Q8CuXSxoBW2FKnmb2i7PvG8lU-jV_JlfqcPtxaqFb99B/s1600/present+5.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpQAIK4in7lW-2pCYfg8TG_C1wp5jnW_BmD4W_wfJdv3UgjPS7Qhawp9nACv_pLzXgfOXu9Rt4Ukvq1CTb2BZmtMqMTWk00R6Q8CuXSxoBW2FKnmb2i7PvG8lU-jV_JlfqcPtxaqFb99B/s400/present+5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597386243126434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwJ9O5tbiQcQFYsirdW7BT3DLBmLFWUbYs_hKYWXgdgEz6tdDKdkrx86wNCuUt7w5rK1eeQI0HUOLvBTnv3sjhy_4nrxUGuUWd9kgFeHN2fCpn_2E4JGaPMadAXYmU0gTZC6GmipkZI6D/s1600/present+4.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwJ9O5tbiQcQFYsirdW7BT3DLBmLFWUbYs_hKYWXgdgEz6tdDKdkrx86wNCuUt7w5rK1eeQI0HUOLvBTnv3sjhy_4nrxUGuUWd9kgFeHN2fCpn_2E4JGaPMadAXYmU0gTZC6GmipkZI6D/s400/present+4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514597375614795554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdWTdbG4Kx3axYz3eegsEuCSgnVzxkvD-eAMZNA3FShKb8lBG1l63IS8spTgZNP2JQRlI4NXUuY0-dVZPGRMedskpMdQoHuJeSIEMgTaCOMrY5NBUYXi40anq8TqwVqGFaRVtJRApXwCl/s1600/present+14.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdWTdbG4Kx3axYz3eegsEuCSgnVzxkvD-eAMZNA3FShKb8lBG1l63IS8spTgZNP2JQRlI4NXUuY0-dVZPGRMedskpMdQoHuJeSIEMgTaCOMrY5NBUYXi40anq8TqwVqGFaRVtJRApXwCl/s400/present+14.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514599348126896946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZW5H847NdGWrz1GjrfOE06htk6sGs6-rNT2vPguYu6wukUtBnG3yxcWASiYDfTUU3STl5Zpl2SYuzwCT4FXWrQapVZX0yXtRPnnJtyAibLmHa-Lo6___5rV6Sfs6CMumQeF5W3vXipFv/s1600/present+13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZW5H847NdGWrz1GjrfOE06htk6sGs6-rNT2vPguYu6wukUtBnG3yxcWASiYDfTUU3STl5Zpl2SYuzwCT4FXWrQapVZX0yXtRPnnJtyAibLmHa-Lo6___5rV6Sfs6CMumQeF5W3vXipFv/s400/present+13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514599334680876946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwHd7gf9-FpjoMlnG8tRzp9dTLCWio1KJvasDh2ZqAQKj30LIK_qMU-oq2j4C-OLkb226jC6BXDX1iJiz5Zex6-QnDTpK26oybVR3ih5n6xSpcz79KyFczf1w0DGRxrC7xmkqbvwB7gga/s1600/present+12.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwHd7gf9-FpjoMlnG8tRzp9dTLCWio1KJvasDh2ZqAQKj30LIK_qMU-oq2j4C-OLkb226jC6BXDX1iJiz5Zex6-QnDTpK26oybVR3ih5n6xSpcz79KyFczf1w0DGRxrC7xmkqbvwB7gga/s400/present+12.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514599331603235778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGGTSXe58eZj_CbREFFcmpVSfgGce5sk9EBsvJafJcwQBIRyfwXx9dQj1UD75LKhyphenhyphenZ6KlbckZYyP1aDAMGtrbeexRJ-21L-81JcYJjOWEcKHeVsAoF5M3_SI6W4Nfc0PB3u_8DoQ7WrNy/s1600/present+11.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGGTSXe58eZj_CbREFFcmpVSfgGce5sk9EBsvJafJcwQBIRyfwXx9dQj1UD75LKhyphenhyphenZ6KlbckZYyP1aDAMGtrbeexRJ-21L-81JcYJjOWEcKHeVsAoF5M3_SI6W4Nfc0PB3u_8DoQ7WrNy/s400/present+11.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514599325453729666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zsbKrTEHn3weGbBKx8ZZQaGOJrTatjAUXsN6Hk9wuHurIzO9pMvM3w2zVCMciT7oC00-qxrN9KAAjTYHsQKl9c2tW4-a1DMRDl-PPWYkB3Se7IJOtW9_YT0jRUoqX6PmFZKnhpU7UZTn/s1600/present+10.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zsbKrTEHn3weGbBKx8ZZQaGOJrTatjAUXsN6Hk9wuHurIzO9pMvM3w2zVCMciT7oC00-qxrN9KAAjTYHsQKl9c2tW4-a1DMRDl-PPWYkB3Se7IJOtW9_YT0jRUoqX6PmFZKnhpU7UZTn/s400/present+10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514599322969716818" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-79661340718024193572010-09-07T13:36:00.000-07:002010-09-07T13:37:17.273-07:00Mia puts on jewelry EVERYDAY. She usually wears multiple necklaces and puts all my hairbands on her arm (plus a few silly bandz that Grace gave her). She puts on her own socks and Darek's shoes - she can get his on easier. I absolutely love watching her be a girl.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXctXCFQP2HlvNMxb-29cPCqfhhJ-trTp5Xk7nlS84Er4dvSstBoFYc8EhLZj45hRw2nX23xYHrOS1dIcGHO3dEKQ01H2b8e7PYEuay3Yix1vwiTw9gDZqzpxgPAu-oWf2dum3vrebE4Fy/s1600/Summer+301.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXctXCFQP2HlvNMxb-29cPCqfhhJ-trTp5Xk7nlS84Er4dvSstBoFYc8EhLZj45hRw2nX23xYHrOS1dIcGHO3dEKQ01H2b8e7PYEuay3Yix1vwiTw9gDZqzpxgPAu-oWf2dum3vrebE4Fy/s400/Summer+301.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI43DHpwJ6tbC1tEiJkTe3pGTFZj09gPrzk_zKGmV-VZnYiLvj0RpvhmBTbwgsANv3_LldFwqqwBH4uPLWeQZrc6naGEPEqaA1byuLdwJKyjbEwp_7a1OSGpIFTNEmgFi57lJQ3Iejnu0P/s1600/Summer+312.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI43DHpwJ6tbC1tEiJkTe3pGTFZj09gPrzk_zKGmV-VZnYiLvj0RpvhmBTbwgsANv3_LldFwqqwBH4uPLWeQZrc6naGEPEqaA1byuLdwJKyjbEwp_7a1OSGpIFTNEmgFi57lJQ3Iejnu0P/s400/Summer+312.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Darek was playing "cowboy" and tied up his 4 wheeler with a rope. Then he beat it with a foam bat - I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate game of "cowboy".<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqCW4v8mPaKbBrO0Hrk_GbO1SgetPGCso_d9mZvgJn_VBFKAK7gEuE9jKn92JevABGEGY6n-1t6iYRnDN1mfI6rlw_roFKWR7UFyrJcxCEaDT3mjOoCQLpKF94Xct0h6qIX5of982DN-q/s1600/Summer+342.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqCW4v8mPaKbBrO0Hrk_GbO1SgetPGCso_d9mZvgJn_VBFKAK7gEuE9jKn92JevABGEGY6n-1t6iYRnDN1mfI6rlw_roFKWR7UFyrJcxCEaDT3mjOoCQLpKF94Xct0h6qIX5of982DN-q/s400/Summer+342.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-35432798215263278042010-08-18T20:18:00.000-07:002010-08-18T20:28:38.400-07:00RecentlyAbout every other Saturday Blayne takes Darek to Lowes for their free project. They both LOVE it and Darek gets to paint his project later (I have to attribute all of this info to Ashley, she knows everything). If you want to check it out, go to http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPZVCNNEWZYuTqpvXyaPtEhG_QP_P6CArkYU6jWmRrnUcVBtJi1ikSMbq7QHrO6LpcNe1am4iF9-hIE1v5BwqONusRv9yEFdJg2I4LaN6rchTeyJdcrMHf8plhP_MzC2Iay8yoA9SyEC1/s1600/Summer+256.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPZVCNNEWZYuTqpvXyaPtEhG_QP_P6CArkYU6jWmRrnUcVBtJi1ikSMbq7QHrO6LpcNe1am4iF9-hIE1v5BwqONusRv9yEFdJg2I4LaN6rchTeyJdcrMHf8plhP_MzC2Iay8yoA9SyEC1/s400/Summer+256.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Mia hanging out at Darek's swim lessons<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg983txSkdFszWhRsNvebQ3qBbLLKrMmVUvNNH-_hEcUw8iLT3qJX9SaXg2xbvcqKSyYyw0Up7_HpCD-7N0X_8l5aPdQXvtbp7ksNIqenunaNnnw8AKI9-2-4B_Sh054BThdvMqoTfrkAz/s1600/Summer+267.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg983txSkdFszWhRsNvebQ3qBbLLKrMmVUvNNH-_hEcUw8iLT3qJX9SaXg2xbvcqKSyYyw0Up7_HpCD-7N0X_8l5aPdQXvtbp7ksNIqenunaNnnw8AKI9-2-4B_Sh054BThdvMqoTfrkAz/s400/Summer+267.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Darek at swim lessons. <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR-Yy-fOxqbatdU4J2TuLmvHdFg0r1fbwkOBk9bmGBTWSvXrMcL1-n_u6kW4gGzLBjaC6RNwPfZxEV1iHML8DPwdzsGPbWsgJG6K0-iBYLvLMGNxiksanhQ4WOKu9X3obo6ueFwpFyEnc/s1600/Summer+273.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR-Yy-fOxqbatdU4J2TuLmvHdFg0r1fbwkOBk9bmGBTWSvXrMcL1-n_u6kW4gGzLBjaC6RNwPfZxEV1iHML8DPwdzsGPbWsgJG6K0-iBYLvLMGNxiksanhQ4WOKu9X3obo6ueFwpFyEnc/s400/Summer+273.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Blayne's friend Scott, who is a pilot in our ward, pulled up to our house last Monday night and before I knew it Blayne was yelling, "Scott's taking Darek and I up on a plane, see ya later!" Luckily they left fast - before I had a chance to say no. And thank you Scott for the adventure!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yc3Kwg8c-mre_kqC7OiRurv_7L3JS5k4Wzqo1sdiokLrZhgCD_mrzgM_aspMpk9XPSlJ4gGL-hDY9f2vHndLlUkQUuFEwT4xX1-lrrv4Y1vmRJtS9-C5-oVWBJ5cDOyNgDibx0KTEMQN/s1600/2010-08-09+19.40.40.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yc3Kwg8c-mre_kqC7OiRurv_7L3JS5k4Wzqo1sdiokLrZhgCD_mrzgM_aspMpk9XPSlJ4gGL-hDY9f2vHndLlUkQUuFEwT4xX1-lrrv4Y1vmRJtS9-C5-oVWBJ5cDOyNgDibx0KTEMQN/s400/2010-08-09+19.40.40.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506957409998590770" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-22004578973637865882010-08-08T21:35:00.000-07:002010-08-08T21:37:33.085-07:00Robot BoyKids make the best use of boxes. Darek was pretending to be a robot in this one before I even cut holes in it (pretty dangerous). <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6r4GrUzvLOSjVG4ETUFENWoRyg717h0XBv1-kwWsgBx6k2aHvBx5Jwu36R3l0aphVimXVz-UXVEoDeu68dzZH9uHWqUPiYYJMvs8BJO_8_WPEHeSCCbO3QRPrSEtoe8AR9-mP5OVNNBg/s1600/Summer+225.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6r4GrUzvLOSjVG4ETUFENWoRyg717h0XBv1-kwWsgBx6k2aHvBx5Jwu36R3l0aphVimXVz-UXVEoDeu68dzZH9uHWqUPiYYJMvs8BJO_8_WPEHeSCCbO3QRPrSEtoe8AR9-mP5OVNNBg/s400/Summer+225.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />It took us a LONG time to convince him that it was best to take off his robot box to sleep.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhfeuxtKxpaq3dw3-H8w2ZS1mTRq0NoHoOkJ20i-uEXfFkKK4t-RoHjhHrCzykQ7uJ4yU0QeG2-Eo3inI2zDo-FzJpT1NLYoLvmjXzYzLJIs0Mk0jsjpBB3qgZLOK8RWarvBZsY-R8S2P/s1600/Summer+226.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhfeuxtKxpaq3dw3-H8w2ZS1mTRq0NoHoOkJ20i-uEXfFkKK4t-RoHjhHrCzykQ7uJ4yU0QeG2-Eo3inI2zDo-FzJpT1NLYoLvmjXzYzLJIs0Mk0jsjpBB3qgZLOK8RWarvBZsY-R8S2P/s400/Summer+226.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />He found this poor cat in our garage and followed it around all day. Torture for the cat, fun for Darek. He needs a pet, Daddy.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoCw6uND30vLlP97iPL1OMiTHBSXsybmeeuzcsE0L-jc8n8Mr-slLLi4osplQx2ICcs7ooVZSEQxNbuR7Jqemyz0Wg2FHmO8O9nx3aV2KoJymE3Gi__mzCf92YulaSz14Ik76sjNGJqh6/s1600/Summer+229.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoCw6uND30vLlP97iPL1OMiTHBSXsybmeeuzcsE0L-jc8n8Mr-slLLi4osplQx2ICcs7ooVZSEQxNbuR7Jqemyz0Wg2FHmO8O9nx3aV2KoJymE3Gi__mzCf92YulaSz14Ik76sjNGJqh6/s400/Summer+229.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-75901870809194339252010-07-19T14:34:00.000-07:002010-07-19T14:34:54.159-07:00THIRTYTruthfully I'm not planning on aging gracefully. I'm planning on lying about my age and digging in my heels the entire way down the timeline. But thirty was not as absolutley horrific as I expected. My sister-in-law Katy ended up staying at our house a little more than two weeks and she was like a gift in herself. She cleaned the house and organized my basement and pantry and fridge (I realize that it's a little pathetic that there was so much work for her to do). And to top it off, she watched all of the kids while Blayne and I headed over for a quick trip to Sun Valley. It was our first night without any kids since Darek was born. And It was wonderful - Sun Valley is a great getaway. Then on Sunday, Katy made dinner and a cake and let me take a nap (didn't Blayne get off easy?) Katy and the kids left today and now the house feels so empty (and organized :) We loved having you!<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CiZgAZQiQ8N0UE_kaIuxoBM98ryCXfXbNsSdBe3dxbsSK1sHhkywoJmggEDBmTmwXroXgMpPx2mypPgbL59FrMfFU-_b-MSSEfB0V063U_OTMvusVNUgCZH8vY1uzKIpH_b2DfoVcg66/s1600/Summer+174.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CiZgAZQiQ8N0UE_kaIuxoBM98ryCXfXbNsSdBe3dxbsSK1sHhkywoJmggEDBmTmwXroXgMpPx2mypPgbL59FrMfFU-_b-MSSEfB0V063U_OTMvusVNUgCZH8vY1uzKIpH_b2DfoVcg66/s400/Summer+174.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr74dwDkgaXvzL-BjT3CXTQ80DKCRLCm4R3uULpsgJjEG93ibV9ivhIavci9RMHVG-96lhgKFaSxzpLG6lBl3mTSXQn7UOGcjCM4GSm4CXOp_uh6QTUVZqZp6CeuSYLnl8DtYs5qzAn0e4/s1600/Summer+182.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr74dwDkgaXvzL-BjT3CXTQ80DKCRLCm4R3uULpsgJjEG93ibV9ivhIavci9RMHVG-96lhgKFaSxzpLG6lBl3mTSXQn7UOGcjCM4GSm4CXOp_uh6QTUVZqZp6CeuSYLnl8DtYs5qzAn0e4/s400/Summer+182.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDgq2mMUwrURqwQ2Y0lstJjP2Gr-ESdJAhp7HS_NUjHIB1GjG85yrHG2U_RP6v-BAPDoSuDx4vrNuEHPQ-dl2_j-T1FAo173-F3eiNEjOsrrAn1BJRA56ns0nPBFWIglEjKpZY0RqkAV8/s1600/Summer+191.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDgq2mMUwrURqwQ2Y0lstJjP2Gr-ESdJAhp7HS_NUjHIB1GjG85yrHG2U_RP6v-BAPDoSuDx4vrNuEHPQ-dl2_j-T1FAo173-F3eiNEjOsrrAn1BJRA56ns0nPBFWIglEjKpZY0RqkAV8/s400/Summer+191.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuZxAYX_UYUzgmS_VUMk_Gy_Dpr6u2oAkUwvY5fLt9mSHe7aVP-Zzd7spiL3WXfgxyZSs2tU57F2aPa2uDWhlXRV25GeUNtUqdYb8KgThOwAzCgZcQEQoMdsq6VKaXIRKzdHtjAqLK54Q/s1600/Summer+172.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuZxAYX_UYUzgmS_VUMk_Gy_Dpr6u2oAkUwvY5fLt9mSHe7aVP-Zzd7spiL3WXfgxyZSs2tU57F2aPa2uDWhlXRV25GeUNtUqdYb8KgThOwAzCgZcQEQoMdsq6VKaXIRKzdHtjAqLK54Q/s400/Summer+172.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-69770688623556560002010-07-19T14:25:00.000-07:002010-07-19T14:25:30.734-07:00Bear WorldBlayne's brother Bryan and his wife, Katy, came to visit on July 4th. It was wonderful. They have kids close in age to ours: the boys could not have fought more if they tried and the girls were precious.<br /><br />We went to Bear World (and somehow I didn't get any pictures of bears), but they had these great rides:<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV9zvJC5YUGNqKAobE3VDNE-veGKYV68QwgrHYrP0fuTK_jyATr90dWuO9aWwzjinymvArNPpiSke1liIU0oO4jcTSjFFrWfSW2sZydy7L0yX0VjiAAFqw1Qwywt5eYQalnBiAVinjFQW/s1600/Summer+139.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV9zvJC5YUGNqKAobE3VDNE-veGKYV68QwgrHYrP0fuTK_jyATr90dWuO9aWwzjinymvArNPpiSke1liIU0oO4jcTSjFFrWfSW2sZydy7L0yX0VjiAAFqw1Qwywt5eYQalnBiAVinjFQW/s400/Summer+139.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOD9pE-9RR-FxOrjcyzifSuFPf2gdg-ZYK9iyqOlKqX4lSoYcS5jo8Jq5AjgMFZataGjKw3ADhWrX44MZLKUcZc5Abo8lHKIm5rtvZBgx2HhlWJ_Pr8TXc7lDoIvjWGUIsUUtVFu7PiIV/s1600/Summer+142.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOD9pE-9RR-FxOrjcyzifSuFPf2gdg-ZYK9iyqOlKqX4lSoYcS5jo8Jq5AjgMFZataGjKw3ADhWrX44MZLKUcZc5Abo8lHKIm5rtvZBgx2HhlWJ_Pr8TXc7lDoIvjWGUIsUUtVFu7PiIV/s400/Summer+142.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Cousin Bradley<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvgIXBGwO1F0CVxBU1EsIMKXQJ3uXh0jhIdLhBlx6meeHzokfOUV1mmvDr0v9wDsHpPheYtuG3Kgee8m2U1-hSfPlp_5fdsXmiI3SoMRMeHSzv-n__vvZCXuH-S8qh48AD0hc4OgsqQ2C/s1600/Summer+145.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvgIXBGwO1F0CVxBU1EsIMKXQJ3uXh0jhIdLhBlx6meeHzokfOUV1mmvDr0v9wDsHpPheYtuG3Kgee8m2U1-hSfPlp_5fdsXmiI3SoMRMeHSzv-n__vvZCXuH-S8qh48AD0hc4OgsqQ2C/s400/Summer+145.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJIVzWQkoTmDTx1hHZw7tPEjrdWLVHzVG4bJUnINkbLieTdlhYLoXvS6mzvKmJHUtVavVqY-Gd_3dVCiRxa4wkx3NBGm7F6AsyCeQFXwplBeZSCaWiYa7RLnPXRu835yQwK1KlLuCnt3O/s1600/Summer+150.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJIVzWQkoTmDTx1hHZw7tPEjrdWLVHzVG4bJUnINkbLieTdlhYLoXvS6mzvKmJHUtVavVqY-Gd_3dVCiRxa4wkx3NBGm7F6AsyCeQFXwplBeZSCaWiYa7RLnPXRu835yQwK1KlLuCnt3O/s400/Summer+150.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-22019979452269459212010-07-19T14:16:00.000-07:002010-07-19T14:21:36.456-07:00JulyJuly is my favorite month of the year. With Independence Day and my birthday and the summer sun, it cannot get better. On July 3rd Blayne and I ran the Firecracker 5k - I got first place for the 30-35 age group; kind of a backhanded award since I was still two weeks from being 30 and not eager to get there, but I'll take it. After the race was the city parade. Blayne's parents had come up for the holiday and we had a great time watching the parade together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYIYRBIsZojXpXTFD9F6uBUHhxsZQQbvSH58KFX4MjZiw9VWsJ35JpgdYgH6xX0YluBygNriqWFf5e_hyphenhyphen3IEoU9w2bbww8yPy8KN_MXdy5i2TAdPusa0Ql75GBMRWy6xPrSq7yyTdnJqo/s1600/Summer+104.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYIYRBIsZojXpXTFD9F6uBUHhxsZQQbvSH58KFX4MjZiw9VWsJ35JpgdYgH6xX0YluBygNriqWFf5e_hyphenhyphen3IEoU9w2bbww8yPy8KN_MXdy5i2TAdPusa0Ql75GBMRWy6xPrSq7yyTdnJqo/s400/Summer+104.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495730116791572850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aJVy4jckZh7S5fHrA31zuRrujd68j63suXGGjSRMui6R_ekcLJC8YhcVCnBewJlZO_WongO7lTdOlxgROEsxDZpSWhv801SUVxb6jOO-9lqLqvufG3jxUKNxuXa_yWXSSbfw8C2F-nRA/s1600/Summer+117.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aJVy4jckZh7S5fHrA31zuRrujd68j63suXGGjSRMui6R_ekcLJC8YhcVCnBewJlZO_WongO7lTdOlxgROEsxDZpSWhv801SUVxb6jOO-9lqLqvufG3jxUKNxuXa_yWXSSbfw8C2F-nRA/s400/Summer+117.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495730111000581682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle4uQYFq5lmKUyd9KFFW_txbHlZV7aIe1jt_2mNjsfN9saL2uVEHroku3WjAwrHzlyVz2wuBTOw14UNgYBxVGPfBkJGuT3isdyqpsP-2cJRJzP9LoKeSVaYQOBX_Gc9fykd8nfjTQ1JwC/s1600/Summer+121.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle4uQYFq5lmKUyd9KFFW_txbHlZV7aIe1jt_2mNjsfN9saL2uVEHroku3WjAwrHzlyVz2wuBTOw14UNgYBxVGPfBkJGuT3isdyqpsP-2cJRJzP9LoKeSVaYQOBX_Gc9fykd8nfjTQ1JwC/s400/Summer+121.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495730106156977618" /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-24111203344155090572010-06-29T08:37:00.000-07:002010-06-29T08:41:55.406-07:00This past Saturday Blayne and I ran a 40 mile relay with these folks (yeah, that's just 5 miles per person):<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOU2q4YShDv_PVQPRjaiDVaRW3rQoFaigQNIdXSiuq02Mdc_BvQJE09wJ9OG6WXX-LuyJ8BqxNDQthaDZM986ygPsv8mK89fSyRMlx5_NuiVP0_YFCkJ9ZYg4EHM-QLfCOdyDhvGSsIUn/s1600/Summer+090.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOU2q4YShDv_PVQPRjaiDVaRW3rQoFaigQNIdXSiuq02Mdc_BvQJE09wJ9OG6WXX-LuyJ8BqxNDQthaDZM986ygPsv8mK89fSyRMlx5_NuiVP0_YFCkJ9ZYg4EHM-QLfCOdyDhvGSsIUn/s400/Summer+090.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />After the race they did prizes and the kids jumped in bouncy houses, ate hot dogs, and danced to live music.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFzceUGAgGUSTrUZPCGrX2ssMYVztZqF3KDFpnt5YNaYfUdg4m2miyVpWiFmIIp7bxeQokRIeOAJklkbaXnTyuBiBK-38QygwdEFjIsForFF4EoyGfVOXX4upJs78OjljePiT9HPw3V5v/s1600/Summer+065.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFzceUGAgGUSTrUZPCGrX2ssMYVztZqF3KDFpnt5YNaYfUdg4m2miyVpWiFmIIp7bxeQokRIeOAJklkbaXnTyuBiBK-38QygwdEFjIsForFF4EoyGfVOXX4upJs78OjljePiT9HPw3V5v/s400/Summer+065.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br />And then we got home and they had to play in the dirt before bed. A long, sunny, wonderful day.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP25S4D0ueUYsNEmQV_VtHJHh252bQOsJ7gHucGE1rC3ISGtP6Jo15gj09MDH2dDhNAao9b2RKq6F-F15bfEngb93bs3Lep29CgcVP-b-svddeaNR9O6m1mSOdziglof8bYoUfwz6eply/s1600/Summer+092.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP25S4D0ueUYsNEmQV_VtHJHh252bQOsJ7gHucGE1rC3ISGtP6Jo15gj09MDH2dDhNAao9b2RKq6F-F15bfEngb93bs3Lep29CgcVP-b-svddeaNR9O6m1mSOdziglof8bYoUfwz6eply/s400/Summer+092.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-51527018298843456102010-06-27T17:43:00.000-07:002010-06-27T17:43:19.505-07:00Brothers (in law)Now that Blayne and Joe (my brother)are working in the same industry, they not only get to bounce ideas off of each other over the phone all week, but they meet up all over the place. Here they are in Pittsburgh, PA checking up on an energy investment - it's all about oil.<br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsotMCsGO_AMlzEOxhltYcwFcUQHfPVkvuyUOVrLssTWdS_zuoEJn28amdtapSFOAxUfHqG9aRPWWac6VNJY-7XffBYv-uKRSkai7ax4KnRzgGCVTX6nyRg0gCiWfl3vfMFAehKp5EBcyu/s1600/Picture+012.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsotMCsGO_AMlzEOxhltYcwFcUQHfPVkvuyUOVrLssTWdS_zuoEJn28amdtapSFOAxUfHqG9aRPWWac6VNJY-7XffBYv-uKRSkai7ax4KnRzgGCVTX6nyRg0gCiWfl3vfMFAehKp5EBcyu/s400/Picture+012.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadle_iGfFV3JB2uYQMPsUbzof34zoQo0MERD8yY7APMdQGZhNTJFYM5428-joXyhRSrQ3GVJnGmm54nIXPtcy8byH2rhPjVI_WszO55nMPBoW7SckaKJAfv8aklh-54Jq0zqH-wAtBg3w/s1600/Picture+024.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadle_iGfFV3JB2uYQMPsUbzof34zoQo0MERD8yY7APMdQGZhNTJFYM5428-joXyhRSrQ3GVJnGmm54nIXPtcy8byH2rhPjVI_WszO55nMPBoW7SckaKJAfv8aklh-54Jq0zqH-wAtBg3w/s400/Picture+024.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFLWKcmg9eVAd4rTPd2Icaqe9NYKUunwqzU02egNxhCcoFj_To1pdjI4blY4cB0S5dwINiY_sY_fkAFGjnnhkHMtc25qFzD9SatVLJ06xPLIo4xtEg_GZ2moNb6t5cn7HOXAvAgocVQEq/s1600/Picture+038.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFLWKcmg9eVAd4rTPd2Icaqe9NYKUunwqzU02egNxhCcoFj_To1pdjI4blY4cB0S5dwINiY_sY_fkAFGjnnhkHMtc25qFzD9SatVLJ06xPLIo4xtEg_GZ2moNb6t5cn7HOXAvAgocVQEq/s400/Picture+038.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1332259864003023217.post-68407688552440797012010-06-23T19:45:00.000-07:002010-06-23T19:45:37.583-07:00Lost ToothDarek lost a tooth last Thursday night - yep, that's about 3 years too early and it was totally traumatic. He was playing with a toy dragon that had all kinds of horns and he put the head in his mouth. It got stuck. He started to panic, Blayne went to try to help maneuver it out, and the next second the dragon was out and blood was everywhere. That little baby tooth came out. Darek was screaming - I'm sure it was very painful, the blood was scary, and having the new gap totally freaked him out. After he calmed down, his main complaint was that he wanted his tooth back. He got the idea that if we took him to the doctor, they'd give him a tooth to replace the missing one.<br /><br />Anyway, the tooth fairy left him a dollar, he got a toy and all is back to normal.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivX_FP8MLXrbr9mcMyUyk0rnXwzmFp2WPaEKgIIecZwLJqLGjwRRcYa_6kPYqxNazdPActhQ94_A8npi958Gjrk0kkQ32R-0H1U-8fSTajBQ2qEusl6HfcMjZMWPCFJbHkWVCPslBgbdha/s1600/Summer+009.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivX_FP8MLXrbr9mcMyUyk0rnXwzmFp2WPaEKgIIecZwLJqLGjwRRcYa_6kPYqxNazdPActhQ94_A8npi958Gjrk0kkQ32R-0H1U-8fSTajBQ2qEusl6HfcMjZMWPCFJbHkWVCPslBgbdha/s400/Summer+009.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901978915193559523noreply@blogger.com