tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69949039368079260992024-02-19T02:03:42.644-05:00just livin' the dreamnate jenny grant jack carolineJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-19567202744536812002011-07-06T23:49:00.002-04:002011-07-06T23:57:02.656-04:00I Spy, on the 4th of July...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">... a pirate, the Master of the Grill, two sets of love-birds, a conservative pachyderm, Old Navy's best cowboy boots, pulled pork Cafe Rio salad (only the best in Olney, MD!), Mom's date, a JessieChin original (YUM), someone getting tickled, two Uncles, one tired girl in her silly Dad's arms, and... <br />
perhaps a little bit of skinny-dipping?....<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJjp795HDMGUmdVXv81j-b-aEFNZJnTen3w52lZfxQjMkf0ZfGBCXOw-2Oz4nK251A62l-tv7VsgCf7MOKauNoM4fYXlxZJtYhQINY71jHIDnA6BxrpHEFjdfZ5Y_0tsyZ2yrJ29bh2M/s1600/4th+of+July+2011+collage.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJjp795HDMGUmdVXv81j-b-aEFNZJnTen3w52lZfxQjMkf0ZfGBCXOw-2Oz4nK251A62l-tv7VsgCf7MOKauNoM4fYXlxZJtYhQINY71jHIDnA6BxrpHEFjdfZ5Y_0tsyZ2yrJ29bh2M/s640/4th+of+July+2011+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-91433549701146266182011-06-27T00:35:00.003-04:002011-06-27T00:41:13.344-04:00Hats Off to My 6-year-old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNCu_d9LYXorGWUAfeEVBESmyxXPXL59k9L8ZemXCppryGzgKd8SSplNWLjhWLLf2WMWJUXN2SxQR56u1q9W3WJioTRwjXt54RuO3sYg1uZ3_a_-K81VHPvgOGn0uD_uF1T1HD11RvV4/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNCu_d9LYXorGWUAfeEVBESmyxXPXL59k9L8ZemXCppryGzgKd8SSplNWLjhWLLf2WMWJUXN2SxQR56u1q9W3WJioTRwjXt54RuO3sYg1uZ3_a_-K81VHPvgOGn0uD_uF1T1HD11RvV4/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The big dude turned 6 on Wednesday, and had a rip-roaring great day. He started it off at IHOP with his siblings and best friend Quincy. They had a great time bouncing around, slurping OJ loudly from their straws, and singing "Happy Burp-Day," which ellicited dark glares from a half-dozen high-society senior citizens who proudly dine there. I was slightly amused and slightly embarrassed.</div>The day continued with his cello lesson, where Jack's amazingly patient teacher, Mrs. B, pinned an "I LOVE MUSIC" badge on his shirt in honor of the big day. A surprise appearance mid-day from Dad made the birthday ever so much cooler. Nate managed to join us for lunch, which consisted of hot dogs, Cheetos, orange soda, and a doughnut stack (I threw some cantaloupe in for good measure...)<br />
And in the evening, we were joined by 16 exuberant young humans who came for the <b>JEDI TRAINING ACADEMY.</b> In Jack's eyes, it was a huge success, although his parents were both heard muttering, "this is the last birthday party we'll ever throw" under their breaths from time to time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwEcijB4wtby0kYd_jafpwczMerlGIqKAeAgQsk6hsBpgO9c0w0xOAXyeHnS93CRDdZJBCfFQdJixrddibk5haZBYoB_TXOQSRH_qgdIgbG5roBtHJXl2PCp2X9muQfFDnc-qANONoD4/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwEcijB4wtby0kYd_jafpwczMerlGIqKAeAgQsk6hsBpgO9c0w0xOAXyeHnS93CRDdZJBCfFQdJixrddibk5haZBYoB_TXOQSRH_qgdIgbG5roBtHJXl2PCp2X9muQfFDnc-qANONoD4/s400/IMG_0891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I have attached a letter that I wrote to Jack last Sunday. I try to write my kids a letter at each birthday, but truthfully, I'm about at a sad 45% success rate here. Vowing to do better. I sure love my big 6-year-old boy.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Dear Jack,</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>On Wednesday you're going to turn 6! I cannot believe it. You have grown up so fast. In the blink of an eye, you went from being my little blond, curly-haired 2-year-old to being a big boy graduating from kindergarten. How did that happen?</em></div><em>Thank you so much for a wonderful year, Jack. How I've loved having our mornings together, and especially our little "bus walk" up to the corner bus stop. In the fall we sat on the grass and looked at the leaves. In the winter we huddled together to keep each other warm. In the spring we laid down on the grass and looked at the sky and felt the breeze on our face. And every day, you'd let me give you a little hug right before you got on the bus to join your friends and face the world.</em><br />
<em>I love you very much, Jack. You are a very, very special person. You have a kind, compassionate, and generous heart. You care deeply about the feelings of others, and are sensitive and passionate. You are good with your hands. I love watching you create imaginary worlds in your drawings, marvel at the Lego creations that you build, and have glowed with pride as your little fingers grasp the positions for your pieces on the cello. </em><br />
<em>I want to tell you how proud I am of you for completing this kindergarten year. It's not easy to go to school, surrounded by so many kids, many of whom are not especially kind or sweet. You always try to do what is right, to listen and follow the directions of your teacher, and to be kind to others. I hope you will always do this. And I hope you will always, always know that you have parents and siblings who love you. Home will always be a safe place where you can feel loved and supported.</em><br />
<em>As you turn 6, I have a feeling that there are many wonderful things in store for you this year! You'll start first grade. You'll make new friends! I bet you'll lose a tooth or two. And I know you're going to find joy in things that might be hard, if you keep trying and have the courage and confidence to do so. Tonight, you prayed with tears in your eyes and asked Heavenly Father to help you be brave for your swimming lesson tomorrow. I know that He will, Jack. Trust Him and ask Him, and He will always answer your prayers. </em><br />
<em>I am so grateful to be able to be your mom. You fill my whole soul with joy. I can't WAIT to celebrate your birthday with you on Wednesday!</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Love,</em><br />
<em>Mom</em>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-57237907121897720912011-06-26T23:55:00.011-04:002011-06-27T00:11:10.290-04:00Let's try this again, shall we?It's been a long, long time. I really sort of got sick of writing and have been resorting to little facebook blurbs and writing in my journal now and again. But after reading through some older entries, I feel nostalgic. I want to resume posting, if for no other reason than to document my kids' lives. I'm viewing this as an opportunity to improve!<br />
I came downstairs on this Sunday night to pay bills. How exciting. And then I got sucked in, and have spent the last hour drying my eyeballs out and giving myself a headache from trying to update my stinking blog settings. But, I'm done. It is what it is. I'm no good when it comes to HTML, nor am I crafty or artistic, but I am committing here and now to write more, so I can remember and articulate some of the details that would otherwise wither in my mind.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjjkPYqukwLgMuV0kShtrSd9kY9yyppjdYHf-Qzwco903NJjCH3Nkdgnah13Vfs6D5B7Zka-DuT58EmH8KfRpy8faAHMHuMESF1LKBDx2pRQ-QvjF54FkSlHwRNmpZiV75oiWdghcY8Q/s1600/boys+in+scott%2527s+run+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="0" width="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjjkPYqukwLgMuV0kShtrSd9kY9yyppjdYHf-Qzwco903NJjCH3Nkdgnah13Vfs6D5B7Zka-DuT58EmH8KfRpy8faAHMHuMESF1LKBDx2pRQ-QvjF54FkSlHwRNmpZiV75oiWdghcY8Q/s400/boys+in+scott%2527s+run+lake.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Today was such a great day! I love my life. I love my kids. (Here they are, posing delightfully in a recent photo shoot in Elfreth's Alley.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GqiZGAicOdMYNYsYa3autW1Yc6j0RK0ayXpAkqlDjch7aGqnwioeBptQeHTlquQ2_S_Q-0fYyjkHMlpO-TsiB1VXMDVmirBnMe-1ytes6yGTgy33IowpypTM-ZxpfcTzDI0kqSFuU1k/s1600/P5151195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GqiZGAicOdMYNYsYa3autW1Yc6j0RK0ayXpAkqlDjch7aGqnwioeBptQeHTlquQ2_S_Q-0fYyjkHMlpO-TsiB1VXMDVmirBnMe-1ytes6yGTgy33IowpypTM-ZxpfcTzDI0kqSFuU1k/s400/P5151195.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I love the salad we had for dinner (well, a couple of us ate it anyway...) I love Nate, even when he surprises me by telling me he has a moonlighting shift tonight, tomorrow night, and Tuesday night. Hummph... (Really though, that man works harder than anyone on the planet, and does a darn good job as SuperDad, too...)<br />
For a very brief update: We went camping on Friday night with 7 families! I forgot to bring half of our food, but good thing our friends made up for that. It was a much more excellent meal with all their goodies anyway! The boys' highlight was definitely the 45 minutes they spent splashing around wild and free in Scott's Run Lake. It was a picture-perfect day and, though a desperately short amount of sleep had me feeling sort of intoxicated, we all had a fantastic time.<br />
I feel very grateful for wonderful, talented, and intelligent friends who surround me and inspire me. I feel grateful to be the mother to three intense children who make me laugh and think hard. I feel grateful for my calling as Primary president in our inner-city ward. This opportunity has been one of the most joyful and stretching experiences of my life. I'm grateful for summer nights, good music, sneaky early-morning runs, and the prospect of clean sheets waiting upstairs. Let's see how I do this time around. (I'm wishing myself luck.)Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-55890884190252512492010-12-20T20:39:00.001-05:002010-12-20T20:40:31.070-05:00proof of non-existence...hello. this is nate....<br /><br />or rather, the shell of what was once nate. <br /><br />I don't really exist. <br /><br />ask jenny.<br /><br />:)Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08013037086741283342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-81781151868790622062010-11-02T08:15:00.003-04:002010-11-02T08:16:14.598-04:00Proof of existence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLb9fvC76vBug-6aG7OoGupQrxArleTtGUlY6vVBee97bNz4AAVC2gWsnTZyx5VLqY5ADog19o0eqarPCk4tdsWs0rkueHQzGFq4keExlsh0uQGlS3Q61Ok_6lB_H7iolb9jYJOMIKA/s1600/halloween+2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534925075016826162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLb9fvC76vBug-6aG7OoGupQrxArleTtGUlY6vVBee97bNz4AAVC2gWsnTZyx5VLqY5ADog19o0eqarPCk4tdsWs0rkueHQzGFq4keExlsh0uQGlS3Q61Ok_6lB_H7iolb9jYJOMIKA/s400/halloween+2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08013037086741283342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-15519639365602259752010-09-12T13:48:00.008-04:002011-06-26T23:27:08.135-04:00Remembering<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTedA2RZoXRihqHj5ryg4qadyPmd2fljFd3Yl3PmzfdISE49g&t=1&usg=__C4-3eNwr5b_BzzWi4uIL8agJxJc=" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTedA2RZoXRihqHj5ryg4qadyPmd2fljFd3Yl3PmzfdISE49g&t=1&usg=__C4-3eNwr5b_BzzWi4uIL8agJxJc=" style="display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We sat up until midnight last night watching a great program on the History Channel: "An i-Witness to 9/11." There isn't much to be said that hasn't already been said; not much to show that hasn't already been shown. But Nate and I feel like the day just can't pass by without our acknowledging the tragic loss of life and the reality of our vulnerability, and also reflecting with gratitude on the freedoms offered to us as American citizens.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>I remember</strong></span> like it was yesterday hauling it up Broadway on my cruddy 15-speed bike, trying to make sense of what was happening. I was grateful I'd ridden my bike down to work that day; I was teaching at a music school on West 85th Street while completing my Masters degree. Little did I know that public transit would be completely down for several days, and that having my bike that day got me safely-- and quickly, home. Home to our little apartment, where we held onto each other and watched--along with everyone else--the hellish day unfolding, just 7 miles away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>I remember</strong></span> standing in line for several hours to donate blood that afternoon at Columbia University, trying to DO something other than stare at the harsh images on the TV. We were stunned. It was quiet and somber. I remember Nate quietly and severely telling me he would enlist if it was necessary. Standing in line with us was our good friend, who had received a call the previous evening from the law firm he was scheduled to interview for that morning. The firm was based on the 98th floor of the North Tower. The call had been to reschedule: could he come the afternoon of the 11th, rather than in the morning? As he stood with us, he was blank, almost trembling, with shock.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>I remember</strong></span>, most profoundly, walking that evening from 38th Street (where Nate's parents were staying a hotel; incredibly, they were visiting that week) all the way back home to 122nd and Amsterdam. This walk took us through Times Square at 9:30 pm. As if we were witnessing a scene from Armageddon, Times Square was utterly dark. It was hollow. It was silent. It was completely surreal. We saw a total of 7 people in the 10 blocks between 40th and 50th Street. Five of them were police officers. The moving marquee strips only showed numbers to call to report missing people. There are no pictures of this. I don't think we would have taken any even if we'd had the camera with us, but this is a picture that will always be ingrained in my memory. It is a haunting picture; one that I hope never to witness again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I remember. Do you? Where were you on that fateful day?</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-88625157602525545612010-09-10T13:20:00.003-04:002010-09-10T13:29:23.587-04:00just livin' MY dreamThrew the kids in the car after breakfast and drove up to Manhattan. Spent the day with 2 sisters, 2 boroughs, 2 crepes, and 2 sleeping kids all the way home. Grant even made it home in time for soccer practice, much to his great relief! (Thank you, Rosh Hashanah.)<br /><br />Thought I was seeing things when Nate waltzed in at noon not one, not two, but three days this week. This out-patient gig was an unexpected freebie! Put Jack on the kindergarten bus, put Caroline down for her nap, put my feet up, and sipped a smoothie with my man.<br /><br />Mmm, mmm. Good times.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-45390374700740466612010-09-06T21:25:00.006-04:002010-09-07T08:15:25.347-04:00for the three little people who take up the backseat:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQLDZCpOUSRY6xtgzGUmslfSNQ1pMFQOoXfloklxkeSVlB9o1DsvRe0t9uOegx3QyOHujR-ZHCaU17nk1tx3Yamx-0BO8q9VMKYREozKUS06W7DbHAJflhiVOeFxR6C5bixzS3g2j9Vg/s1600/DSC_0333.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513987098897920706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQLDZCpOUSRY6xtgzGUmslfSNQ1pMFQOoXfloklxkeSVlB9o1DsvRe0t9uOegx3QyOHujR-ZHCaU17nk1tx3Yamx-0BO8q9VMKYREozKUS06W7DbHAJflhiVOeFxR6C5bixzS3g2j9Vg/s400/DSC_0333.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I'm sorry I haven't been very patient this week. I think the end-of-summer restlessness bug was caught by me as much as you. I want you to know that when the house is quiet and the day is done, my mind becomes clear and the events of the day are put in their perspective. And then I go upstairs and I look in on your warm little sleeping bodies, and my eyes are pricked with tears-- how is it that you can grow up right before my eyes? How is it that the "to-do's" so often win over the precious scenes of the present?<br /><br />Thank you for letting me be your mom. Thank you for being my little ducklings, all in a row-- letting me lead you, teach you, lecture you--and all too often, snap at you--and for loving me anyway. Thank you Jack, for sitting down next to me while I folded laundry and putting your arm around me. Thank you, Grant, for coming in today and telling me you'd smile and be good, even if I still wouldn't let you play Wii. Thank you, Caroline, for demanding that I put everything down and sing to you. I thought I didn't have time, but it turns out-- I did.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-57279279661728634982010-08-24T23:15:00.004-04:002010-08-30T21:36:49.769-04:00The Philanthropist<div align="center">Me: </div><div align="center">"Hey Grant, want to come sit with me while I eat my bowl of cereal for dinner?" (Don't ask.)</div><br /><div align="center">Grant: </div><div align="center">"Yeah, Mom. Let's go talk about how we can make the world a better place."</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-10049597962660382392010-08-15T21:08:00.005-04:002010-08-15T21:29:41.004-04:00If I were President, I would...<div align="center">...definitely insist on private time in the W.C.<br /><br />This was my thought today as my (entire) family stood outside the powder room door, chanting:<br />"Hurry Mom, Hurry Mom, HUR-RY MOM!" </div><div align="center">The loudest chanter was the deep booming voice of my husband.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Ah well. Someday....</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-23682298717086765052010-08-13T15:32:00.004-04:002010-08-13T15:43:03.560-04:00a link to enjoy<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoZovLB22Duy3JUEIf8lfGJafg-otw7ClBln1SnLHVC4GJlJmCV3mYI7T9UXj7MVC-ZDoBqDHfjj7HW8PcCUnMlwHZeOUYtEEiVfVyJMsarihGSXzlytbnKv61-awz97aJ6VOBthYVt8/s1600/560_0_resize.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504982279110392914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoZovLB22Duy3JUEIf8lfGJafg-otw7ClBln1SnLHVC4GJlJmCV3mYI7T9UXj7MVC-ZDoBqDHfjj7HW8PcCUnMlwHZeOUYtEEiVfVyJMsarihGSXzlytbnKv61-awz97aJ6VOBthYVt8/s400/560_0_resize.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">need a laugh? or two? or a hundred?</div><br /><br /><br />relax, put your feet up, pop open some bubbly, and enjoy more like <a href="http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/">these!</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-27933114610526821172010-08-13T08:29:00.002-04:002010-08-13T08:30:08.969-04:00you know Nate's on a trauma rotation when......the mere sight of his cell phone # on the caller ID is a thrill.<br /><br />Kinda like he's my boyfriend.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-32929845271588814442010-08-06T23:18:00.005-04:002010-08-13T15:43:39.967-04:00five friday thoughts1. Havertown needs a splash park.<br /><br />2. There was only one day this week that I <em>didn't </em>eat ice cream, despite my best intentions.<br /><br />3. Two skunks have now been spotted 3 times in our backyard.<br /><br />4. I wrote a check for $28.17 at the library. However, I am now only wanted for library fraud in one state: New York. Maybe there's a statute of limitations...<br /><br />5. Grant ate salad this week. I know, right?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-79172572135775239362010-07-12T21:59:00.001-04:002010-07-12T22:00:53.356-04:00Is it odd that...my second son went around spanking every last mannequin at Old Navy today?<br /><br />Just checkin.'Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-68284639646271041612010-06-30T23:02:00.006-04:002010-07-01T07:35:27.038-04:00My husband is a Prophet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14OAwfnnJACX9_KxmnAbKqDaV1wf0pntmPAskT5PL1RBYIb1V7SSs8TUif4SRW7Ke4iJa-oq1AvW91WJGApe5nFupxtPgWfrsW25schqRtLueZcM0V7da7Y1dwT4nEKVX4w2A84KxtR4/s1600/137.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488768504654021842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14OAwfnnJACX9_KxmnAbKqDaV1wf0pntmPAskT5PL1RBYIb1V7SSs8TUif4SRW7Ke4iJa-oq1AvW91WJGApe5nFupxtPgWfrsW25schqRtLueZcM0V7da7Y1dwT4nEKVX4w2A84KxtR4/s400/137.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHq2C7OJRJe7kGhyphenhyphenKNdLxB3GRwjvdVYdDFc6Fy-k4LHProy_0YM8_tDu7YX6vQRBnmZkvEfZja1kMg8MF2yfvXmQD78wGLtmaC0Yg1pGYDCC5Kl8FKEIUISKR6e8hZCFRSgel_q5JgBQ/s1600/Noah's_Ark_Primary_Activity_035.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488768299841218690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHq2C7OJRJe7kGhyphenhyphenKNdLxB3GRwjvdVYdDFc6Fy-k4LHProy_0YM8_tDu7YX6vQRBnmZkvEfZja1kMg8MF2yfvXmQD78wGLtmaC0Yg1pGYDCC5Kl8FKEIUISKR6e8hZCFRSgel_q5JgBQ/s400/Noah's_Ark_Primary_Activity_035.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">I knew I'd chosen a good one when I said yes to his proposal 11 years ago.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">He did tell me, however, that I owe him in <em>so</em> many ways.</div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-28829751654759003452010-06-30T22:39:00.011-04:002010-06-30T22:55:37.994-04:00the Grantologist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoaswhT1PZH5q5Nu0dDKqA0EIL-KddaJo0iHicBH4SfbEYNkV7SEetfTDJeUx3FbT6FMIXolduzDGbaADu5R6Wt5h8pEfYSQAM8Zrwxp1c1kEy5dAQO0gasEwVY_EtR3hVTvoy8H4OmA/s1600/204.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488765691638035890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoaswhT1PZH5q5Nu0dDKqA0EIL-KddaJo0iHicBH4SfbEYNkV7SEetfTDJeUx3FbT6FMIXolduzDGbaADu5R6Wt5h8pEfYSQAM8Zrwxp1c1kEy5dAQO0gasEwVY_EtR3hVTvoy8H4OmA/s400/204.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiJPQBOAUuUO5fD9MyJDQmn6e-CURDvkYWtUSKiWJsRGIn46ZOgADRbnwIlrsLnKWgrwiIwVrTycegQ9njfPlv1TsOt3tRSY1XbjAjxGTxNpH8F_RxPMGv_A0SxfUJpc3oOUY_1qv6Rg/s1600/187.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488765477389879266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiJPQBOAUuUO5fD9MyJDQmn6e-CURDvkYWtUSKiWJsRGIn46ZOgADRbnwIlrsLnKWgrwiIwVrTycegQ9njfPlv1TsOt3tRSY1XbjAjxGTxNpH8F_RxPMGv_A0SxfUJpc3oOUY_1qv6Rg/s400/187.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdQhcbipiu0_m3R_2_sCrBflZqu32ob93w3bqC-ckD7hzH_0rubRZbjGvnYeWxTVI69Vq55ngyzgEDjmURqcQGlIp40W06YFViJmG_Vnn35PKZ-2Gz7wRA1pc6yyG2KimHeFN4xNlx3E/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488764839101033954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdQhcbipiu0_m3R_2_sCrBflZqu32ob93w3bqC-ckD7hzH_0rubRZbjGvnYeWxTVI69Vq55ngyzgEDjmURqcQGlIp40W06YFViJmG_Vnn35PKZ-2Gz7wRA1pc6yyG2KimHeFN4xNlx3E/s400/IMG_3224.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">early morning McDonalds feast with great friend Daxton, on the day he moved away</span><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488764706732283266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIguRvTo6wmRcF_o3vNccGSqJbLM315_un1L2tT8jBxw4UPLfYFKz62Nx-k3IkcTqzncyofesXLLupVSsRVUUxmlHhsBSItozHdXzoVGhN7WKgu6o5M0Qtb5SYFxo2uOeymp5XzlIg64/s400/IMG_3261.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQXM8sebyRZtNgqLHNOX5z3uhQ4vuZHQgi-UJaUYBOJjJnqM0F6CzgdvdQoiuZYfeEL4JILIRN3Xk9JsHiKgMT6oYcQtW1Tnu3d0_0hrbGgeHz3KwKC22otfCYcT92Xlb2rI7rx-8zO4/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488764563573210418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQXM8sebyRZtNgqLHNOX5z3uhQ4vuZHQgi-UJaUYBOJjJnqM0F6CzgdvdQoiuZYfeEL4JILIRN3Xk9JsHiKgMT6oYcQtW1Tnu3d0_0hrbGgeHz3KwKC22otfCYcT92Xlb2rI7rx-8zO4/s400/IMG_3222.JPG" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488764093829342386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjeDSCQ5o7JkRMxFQZhoUxGvIy0hGBFREczep8MZB9arHWfSq52N_ikKYy8o5j5qXpJXA2OO9pSUP540_IG-qlnx4w7DMEO3kyimd7YQ5ymll_LFhZmUzlyWVJLEXOHWSthx-TnQmzsI/s400/180.JPG" />Grant has taken to signing his name on his homework and school projects in a very creative fashion: Grantie, Granter, Gran-terrific, Granteronius, and the Grantologist are some of his choices. Good thing his 1st grade teacher was the very chill Mr. Reynolds.<br /><br /><div><div align="center">G-money (that's one that Nate actually coined) lives for:</div><div align="center">Harry Potter. </div><div align="center">That could just about sum it up, but in non-Potter-reading moments, he can be found</div><div align="center">playing soccer,</div><div align="center">baseball,</div><div align="center">riding his bike,</div><div align="center">making alphabetical lists of things (still)</div><div align="center">trying to talk me into pets,</div><div align="center">making up new words to songs,</div><div align="center">creating and memorizing jokes (some of which are quite good),</div><div align="center">and occasionally, practicing the piano--and, </div><div align="center">even more occasionally,</div><div align="center">unloading the dishwasher!</div><br /><div align="center">Grant is a solid, steady, and thoughtful boy. He's got a sense of humor that keeps me on my toes. He's always in a good mood, and is a friend to many. Including me! I love his "replays" of all his sports-related action moments, even when I have to sit through several dozen per day.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-38780694368282825982010-06-30T22:17:00.012-04:002010-06-30T22:38:14.071-04:00Mr. Jack, the brand-new 5-year-old<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4rBNqMV3nKUggIaBxuKxo5Mg6DLxdRD5IEhWfptfWuwpWM_0rIDVPh8enfqO8nXuQWGuDdrGYSUJtpR8G4yyVXh2TZEz2uG_rLGH64CnPN5sP6FcSGupPN14nHKFaXh8rMOIQHbQDkU/s1600/IMG_3266.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760960757626258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4rBNqMV3nKUggIaBxuKxo5Mg6DLxdRD5IEhWfptfWuwpWM_0rIDVPh8enfqO8nXuQWGuDdrGYSUJtpR8G4yyVXh2TZEz2uG_rLGH64CnPN5sP6FcSGupPN14nHKFaXh8rMOIQHbQDkU/s400/IMG_3266.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps3xwnMoYUCoi5hv-4ZUUusn7pP8gD1kZ0lex5HArWUokBGZPkgolHNnXmqC46Gfmnhbd10bq8zzRKF_vrmvesoO5wdR1HCX3vXKl-Q06x3EW0fDysC9H9pqBS27bh5Nrwg3qCqCXEKw/s1600/IMG_3270.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760725584156818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps3xwnMoYUCoi5hv-4ZUUusn7pP8gD1kZ0lex5HArWUokBGZPkgolHNnXmqC46Gfmnhbd10bq8zzRKF_vrmvesoO5wdR1HCX3vXKl-Q06x3EW0fDysC9H9pqBS27bh5Nrwg3qCqCXEKw/s400/IMG_3270.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGsd5hG1BHlBv74ZaJ9lIVPjwGcLlf5ZOr-XQU-ZLrLMEakHGmy7-xdXnzX9bqrIjfGohDcwghr-pWtj9EMWNzu1pAm4U3V3nwSrenBx1rCy18LPsAo7QMQQcdeg4WxQXSlWfZN2nGPs/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760507135769538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGsd5hG1BHlBv74ZaJ9lIVPjwGcLlf5ZOr-XQU-ZLrLMEakHGmy7-xdXnzX9bqrIjfGohDcwghr-pWtj9EMWNzu1pAm4U3V3nwSrenBx1rCy18LPsAo7QMQQcdeg4WxQXSlWfZN2nGPs/s400/IMG_3272.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek4Q5k8tNoonFgaNCswOkB3_CiXft16ZEONfic0NzGGP-keVFTv-49X7fK7ByAAh8EGEGsvouZQuOY15PvPHoiPqwYZY_tOzPkyIAxSpaGYHT9HItA4QtP1Y1uqKJjKTKm217I6Ns7uQ/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488760374042602994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek4Q5k8tNoonFgaNCswOkB3_CiXft16ZEONfic0NzGGP-keVFTv-49X7fK7ByAAh8EGEGsvouZQuOY15PvPHoiPqwYZY_tOzPkyIAxSpaGYHT9HItA4QtP1Y1uqKJjKTKm217I6Ns7uQ/s400/IMG_3279.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpfZXpUQLD__0sOb79zDrq3613pjV38qAVuj5jgBPV4Spy_F_bXOPmJywZnT9ahNl580zmAIY5p1dM12pzsE4-_ZVVgqNpdHJZcQhJuOz_k2fy_ebP0HTOgKQipGEWxfz7OEPfyzMFfE/s1600/IMG_3315.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488759400264043538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpfZXpUQLD__0sOb79zDrq3613pjV38qAVuj5jgBPV4Spy_F_bXOPmJywZnT9ahNl580zmAIY5p1dM12pzsE4-_ZVVgqNpdHJZcQhJuOz_k2fy_ebP0HTOgKQipGEWxfz7OEPfyzMFfE/s400/IMG_3315.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4SiTyN8SMhHqD7bahP6ZM6lebNaMBTk8sk5fYsAe8BojrI6ZhCFWEcu4bf8tbIW2WhyphenhyphenhLQ7TagnzCQFrIRM-C45DdhOVKpIf-FN5U-5p1phqIEtAkUmhyWI1ciDdrK-1ZXvBfFCUfnM/s1600/IMG_3313.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488759112282380162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4SiTyN8SMhHqD7bahP6ZM6lebNaMBTk8sk5fYsAe8BojrI6ZhCFWEcu4bf8tbIW2WhyphenhyphenhLQ7TagnzCQFrIRM-C45DdhOVKpIf-FN5U-5p1phqIEtAkUmhyWI1ciDdrK-1ZXvBfFCUfnM/s400/IMG_3313.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-omGomuNY4pUcGmC0TQBxLO7dGIaX3KJIwmBrWHDOLJpiRjogbC0osBos_FNICf2EAz09IMWZEl9KninRDyfxZrWdVcirqyOotvIxydAPsIDZl9ZYXj686QCoqCZAfi0I2FjN2Tgv_c/s1600/201.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488758380834185282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-omGomuNY4pUcGmC0TQBxLO7dGIaX3KJIwmBrWHDOLJpiRjogbC0osBos_FNICf2EAz09IMWZEl9KninRDyfxZrWdVcirqyOotvIxydAPsIDZl9ZYXj686QCoqCZAfi0I2FjN2Tgv_c/s400/201.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiFWF2g913hQYfimbsMN5yzMYePTs6j45kAiua0atLW5C27sVuONnGheEvCL9iugJrDvpgZiECg619iegybh5YbMVRnU6Xu9vXRcu_LsKE8ZpSW3kykweU7f1y3YHKfhqxo6I7KWuNWM/s1600/131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488758092003839874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiFWF2g913hQYfimbsMN5yzMYePTs6j45kAiua0atLW5C27sVuONnGheEvCL9iugJrDvpgZiECg619iegybh5YbMVRnU6Xu9vXRcu_LsKE8ZpSW3kykweU7f1y3YHKfhqxo6I7KWuNWM/s400/131.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">Jack continues to prove himself to be the "delightful human" that he declares himself to be. Current loves include LEGOS, LEGOS, LEGOS,</div><div align="center">StarWars wii,</div><div align="center">making stuff (i.e. enlisting me to help him with inventions such as paper-towel-roll sharks, homemade maracas, and animal trappers),</div><div align="center">reading books,</div><div align="center">getting tickled (seriously. And he's so squishy that we can't resist him on his generous offers),</div><div align="center">sword-fighting,</div><div align="center">singing Caroline lullabies before her nap (one of the highlights of my life)</div><div align="center">scripture stories, </div><div align="center">and U-Haul trucks (??), as evidenced by his request for a "U-Haul Truck Birthday Cake".</div><br /><div align="center">Jack is our sensitive, passionate, and loving boy. I adore him. </div><div align="center">Plus, he sleeps in the car on a regular basis!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-42532774641774164142010-06-30T21:40:00.025-04:002010-06-30T22:17:39.804-04:00the Queen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM5eTVWD7iy_v-ZHj_GwZQ1FL-94VC8nraFLaN0nVjCgLZqcmYXNr_LHq9CiR078IwRKMoY4G5uUkgUHEGgxFABXwE61ge0Knm6QWhhQ2Y61o6N-vOHwBMIAgMLXthJfSw6v8-XF-9cM/s1600/154.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488755057200356162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM5eTVWD7iy_v-ZHj_GwZQ1FL-94VC8nraFLaN0nVjCgLZqcmYXNr_LHq9CiR078IwRKMoY4G5uUkgUHEGgxFABXwE61ge0Knm6QWhhQ2Y61o6N-vOHwBMIAgMLXthJfSw6v8-XF-9cM/s400/154.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J7-AMcB6oHtAOhU_4fAWmOoxj_HJAE7zvkID_7Kn74ZCRpB3pvQZyeute5elKo5h8nGEunLhtnOoE_cHIymHAyNi4Up5Pna0NF2FKyJN3Vrzw2LqgheneJtcUU0-gX5_LyFJt7YUPi4/s1600/149.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488754706987707074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_M_Sko2P33SCJLK_N4rqJtRMvacFk0wsOqWPP7l6IcuGsL6FVGQ7UbtwvnljE0BjKXdFT7tsi3hwGZ9yz-PgFcGuDWTaj27cg8MfEll48Z7rwP6Gx7k_tqn7VrPkIeodVv6Xm1tiKw/s400/116.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3gi4sau1EAA0YNqw6xuZbydLpyjOmcFEvXjad-iXqdItoikTVrfYzFleWRKN5yEwdOLOP8XMZ-ta8teVB8nsbaP_0JwjIMRGIbolqEQ5bW-e-iqfy26yRJz2PmHp9DMr3UV57Xr1HAI/s1600/099.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488754240582043138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3gi4sau1EAA0YNqw6xuZbydLpyjOmcFEvXjad-iXqdItoikTVrfYzFleWRKN5yEwdOLOP8XMZ-ta8teVB8nsbaP_0JwjIMRGIbolqEQ5bW-e-iqfy26yRJz2PmHp9DMr3UV57Xr1HAI/s400/099.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioziSrPO3vsfU2A4Zh5rHwL_NIObWAS0-X6Hvb0IKMnO9QpsmNgQN1ycmIeR7TA5ThvQVogBZ3DC1t702st7vBU864MgkMYwAPVGEkIJM4kOBh4m8GnEOVT97jooqDlQFxSM7nMqJufs/s1600/IMG_3280.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488753997989288914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioziSrPO3vsfU2A4Zh5rHwL_NIObWAS0-X6Hvb0IKMnO9QpsmNgQN1ycmIeR7TA5ThvQVogBZ3DC1t702st7vBU864MgkMYwAPVGEkIJM4kOBh4m8GnEOVT97jooqDlQFxSM7nMqJufs/s400/IMG_3280.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsruluf-qMkSbyGfM-syc_KTr_1GwwYh5mLpoRikhSrHNrp4v4lj0KHjXUt2L041SfMEJCQERq2EpUjvpsgnlLjuDb0vsJZW_8b2fgEyxC7nr1iS1jEmy201KBllCLMZSU-xdIin8mU/s1600/IMG_3250.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488753822016518770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRsruluf-qMkSbyGfM-syc_KTr_1GwwYh5mLpoRikhSrHNrp4v4lj0KHjXUt2L041SfMEJCQERq2EpUjvpsgnlLjuDb0vsJZW_8b2fgEyxC7nr1iS1jEmy201KBllCLMZSU-xdIin8mU/s400/IMG_3250.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19CAIUbfSRunRNskYQOihPaotdKIlJcZwwRIKlk_KcS9qm5GUB2IfWBle2fBdQS1OmC4-YajT8JMbqeWR3bYyhqyhILnz8u0kxSvMqQa90rR63LnXRqEh3iZRMRk-yy9wKKkte9KkhHM/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488753542028711570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19CAIUbfSRunRNskYQOihPaotdKIlJcZwwRIKlk_KcS9qm5GUB2IfWBle2fBdQS1OmC4-YajT8JMbqeWR3bYyhqyhILnz8u0kxSvMqQa90rR63LnXRqEh3iZRMRk-yy9wKKkte9KkhHM/s400/IMG_3248.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFrtRp2KqYS0KFEmmbzMQAVtCDkG2VGkkiCK8AUAGsim8mbXizqF0Di03hv5a6KO1x53B79_kO3LRE9fICuIm3WkCk1IX07kDQz0bKDZsULxHiRgsZiz2SSDtMS-A513E6p_PkoFwFkE/s1600/IMG_3218.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488753279507972290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFrtRp2KqYS0KFEmmbzMQAVtCDkG2VGkkiCK8AUAGsim8mbXizqF0Di03hv5a6KO1x53B79_kO3LRE9fICuIm3WkCk1IX07kDQz0bKDZsULxHiRgsZiz2SSDtMS-A513E6p_PkoFwFkE/s400/IMG_3218.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Rockin' out to the Madagascar II soundtrack (thanks, Lori and Lucy!), <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center">anything chocolate,</div><div align="center">"Baby-Daddy-Mama" (all one word, and her obsession), </div><div align="center">"singing" songs at the piano (no one else is allowed within 10 feet),</div><div align="center">babies-- dressing, touching, feeding, mauling (no, I am most definitely not pregnant), </div><div align="center">Elmo anything,</div><div align="center">climbing up slides, but never down them,</div><div align="center">giving<em> "loves- not shoves"</em> (as per Grant's constant reminders),</div><div align="center">and putting her brothers' underwear on her head daily.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">This little lady gives me a run for my money, but we sure love her. </div><div align="center">My life is so joyful because of her!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-24554988531514131702010-06-28T22:25:00.011-04:002010-06-30T21:38:07.207-04:00Blogging, Round II<div align="center"> Hello? Hello!<br /></div><div align="center">Heaven only knows who's still loyal enough to check in around here.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">So.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Nate and I went south to Puerto Rico to celebrate 10 years of marriage.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It was H-O-T!</div><br /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488743521428571570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTzqwSC_7zuR2AVrV2kI6ZwRQX-WTvf_oVKFkKb7mz8C4qAAlQBlAnRDvd2y_hv3YnfIR1MNmz8igTAIUgttWw-AeKs8qx3VTWTFIDxIwxWTRV5GXgYNYBSgsy_yhPflkenc_F3U4c4I/s400/224.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488743366033414706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWH6EnILyQaqpcrBbsQKSIojKS2ZbVJMUR3Kz8CwLeRvsm_9v9cg7AjV8EHn-jzADx7aE-Sl4NDcQ2kCmh7xtH-W6H__YDKECZfv2AvS0hy9EyLzrTT9lWEnj98nJUUN0o_qp4M5vs3o/s400/274.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1SxhLXj9Sdeq0wU2TylXsK77Zxta1bkpuXy-T5gCsAJcfgZVRmViPS7XaU_hibNHIQbMAT-e_jQjKmhcZZbEXe6g09Vtjcubmr5udU1d528kKLp9q7TGFQvPHcq1Rtrl_bkvBK7KFVg/s1600/272.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488743081707413858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1SxhLXj9Sdeq0wU2TylXsK77Zxta1bkpuXy-T5gCsAJcfgZVRmViPS7XaU_hibNHIQbMAT-e_jQjKmhcZZbEXe6g09Vtjcubmr5udU1d528kKLp9q7TGFQvPHcq1Rtrl_bkvBK7KFVg/s400/272.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXNHxbY4kP69DRSnvlGhr1CF1WaQmQsExD5-MUMcnpE5RA6F8xWh-qtO5azoNbgWytVOpvzu4oGy70nlJxFzJ0nsyOzWP8gllYw5ukfgNZQanMFD2RHOunCLzBasTfuMvWLCPJ2W5R8w/s1600/262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742926890676514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXNHxbY4kP69DRSnvlGhr1CF1WaQmQsExD5-MUMcnpE5RA6F8xWh-qtO5azoNbgWytVOpvzu4oGy70nlJxFzJ0nsyOzWP8gllYw5ukfgNZQanMFD2RHOunCLzBasTfuMvWLCPJ2W5R8w/s400/262.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuJKLcN4crnQpZsLHwSkVT_xIPhm3AH70XOCYcISFSpV4-EQJsnBEjGK8sh3OddoJPd3YtwuEfBsvFPLwcTLJZwN76H85_M9g_9cndYbm4UEaWiGEVKhJlu_cwe_x7WnrnAei2Bjf8LY/s1600/258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742787961160514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuJKLcN4crnQpZsLHwSkVT_xIPhm3AH70XOCYcISFSpV4-EQJsnBEjGK8sh3OddoJPd3YtwuEfBsvFPLwcTLJZwN76H85_M9g_9cndYbm4UEaWiGEVKhJlu_cwe_x7WnrnAei2Bjf8LY/s400/258.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_FBAXmJ7zvaANXzDBjEIWQWMqUUy-Dwc2SHUEgTUNq5cUkxb1EalII0XR66KQ9QR2IYY2F6h05OYbzAcLYmk2EQc0fUqSZrEsyHoEtsdi4gAyeEgbFrC2OKf0TWC_8vGwzbFdYmX6Y8/s1600/260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742666283788002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_FBAXmJ7zvaANXzDBjEIWQWMqUUy-Dwc2SHUEgTUNq5cUkxb1EalII0XR66KQ9QR2IYY2F6h05OYbzAcLYmk2EQc0fUqSZrEsyHoEtsdi4gAyeEgbFrC2OKf0TWC_8vGwzbFdYmX6Y8/s400/260.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjd4RhezKDYswFy0Fjx7qA-mZIBmMyLaMnL3T5aYy8Zq1joi3HRggv7kLihNEPc6aKb0r7R5RVmLK-LsI8xvJcXWD19C1oc80casGc1YX4f1wY3z4PQ58YMd3U0dI__Uve3dUsfxnduU/s1600/247.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742535772835266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjd4RhezKDYswFy0Fjx7qA-mZIBmMyLaMnL3T5aYy8Zq1joi3HRggv7kLihNEPc6aKb0r7R5RVmLK-LsI8xvJcXWD19C1oc80casGc1YX4f1wY3z4PQ58YMd3U0dI__Uve3dUsfxnduU/s400/247.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9ijbKtd1zEWoGerlySc50BvPPJ3xcWkRPHjX-N3jj_Pj1v14fsN3gxe9UJ0HjaIp_jM1C6qVaReGSk7JV2lUjzNQABo6NMYTbfw525HJuxVnNEhrnxtrZf5G8EeijkLFisnKevYNWwg/s1600/243.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742427838376466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9ijbKtd1zEWoGerlySc50BvPPJ3xcWkRPHjX-N3jj_Pj1v14fsN3gxe9UJ0HjaIp_jM1C6qVaReGSk7JV2lUjzNQABo6NMYTbfw525HJuxVnNEhrnxtrZf5G8EeijkLFisnKevYNWwg/s400/243.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488742030923256978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kMn0WlELCxvGyFEM3rye3niS4nTBc_DZPWufdc_2n-faMoLxRoIzVwwDOI9Co3XUGJnIFygDZQGF5Nk9OP8dpe_s49r_gaT8VL4OzpefVLv1cWHuZNgh3oTSMxhPkRIxexmqCeWO7XI/s400/222.JPG" />Anyway, while we were there, my email and our blog was hacked into. Picture "Just Livin' the Dream"-- all in Spanish! We instantly and temporarily decided to make the blog private, without sending anyone an invite. Sorry to those faithful followers who were stumped and possibly insulted-- your requests for invites were inspiring, enough so that I'm going to take another jab at blogging regularly. A daunting thought, indeed! Nevertheless, I am fully committed. Stay tuned... <div><div>I must say that I love this man. I love his kindness, his humor, his sarcasm, his friendship, his tolerance (of me), and his amazing ability to balance his obligations with grace and selflessness. And, he's H-O-T. We had a great time, just enjoying each other, and letting everything else....go.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-87934010056587653772010-05-29T22:55:00.002-04:002010-05-29T22:59:56.229-04:00it's all good<div style="text-align: center;">On Friday, after a very long, busy, and tiring week, I was walking up a hill with Jack and Caroline in the jogger. Feeling a lump rise in my throat as I thought of all I <i>could've</i> and <i>should've</i> done to be more of an engaging parent this week, I said, "Jack, I want to be a good mom to you! I'm going to do better!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He said, "It's all good, Mom. You're doin' great."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then he winked at me (one of his sweeeet 4-year-old skillz.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Man, this boy is a product of his dad. And it was just what I needed.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-19350293086287745302010-05-04T17:36:00.002-04:002010-05-04T17:38:10.032-04:00Calling All MothersSome of you know I'm a closet NieNie fan.<br /><div><br /></div><div>But how could you not be when you see something like <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&channelId=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&sourceId=5f9653e760468210VgnVCM100000176f620a____">this</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div>Watch, and be inspired.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-80509634533513350162010-04-25T21:21:00.009-04:002010-04-25T22:13:40.910-04:00we are alive<div>I woke up this morning and decided it was time to get on the ball and post a little update. I'm sure many of our loyal followers have given up on us, but in case you're interested, here are a few pics and a bit of a catch-up for the last couple of months!<div><br /></div><div>Caroline threw our camera into the toilet. So, pics are scarce, but here's a glimpse into our joyfully chaotic world:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Again, camera in the toilet, but I am including this graphic to remind myself that Nate and I had a supremely <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">awesome weekend in Chicago, all to ourselves. </span></span> Ooh, I fell in love with that city! Nate presented his research at a hoity-toity conference, and boy was I proud. We had a great time: a nice morning run together around Grant Park, a little shopping all on my own (whoa),and some good eats made for some great R&R. I love my husband.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ZKk1vlU70ePUzM:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOorFBttpyVB3MfM-3VBq8zcTlTDiJ5D9EFPZCdH7HpdVfB669Pa0Sqf6HeuBM84lbDnzx3TuKbAv-nVZnJ-150RAjnEp9Go5rLBPvr5vtUFYNOGHlRXpzLW7qAc09Osm0vKCn8ezjz0/s400/12-07-2007.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 90px; height: 124px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ZKk1vlU70ePUzM:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOorFBttpyVB3MfM-3VBq8zcTlTDiJ5D9EFPZCdH7HpdVfB669Pa0Sqf6HeuBM84lbDnzx3TuKbAv-nVZnJ-150RAjnEp9Go5rLBPvr5vtUFYNOGHlRXpzLW7qAc09Osm0vKCn8ezjz0/s400/12-07-2007.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Before the camera in the toilet, I caught some pics of the Queenly One in her <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">debut pigtail appearance! </span></span>Man, was I proud of myself for maneuvering this production! Too bad they only lasted 20 minutes. Oh well, there is hope.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu4TdHotlSF9MnJ2Jj7la9U70tiEOuqDMHCynsQahZCZ91qFoBqgKAHS2nGmZKxojnN1KUUuNGXLunHdjk-B-iYkoS7W648e79ul6adj1gZgZfttyc-3mGPyaKYqN-k7-IThTx99s_wU/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu4TdHotlSF9MnJ2Jj7la9U70tiEOuqDMHCynsQahZCZ91qFoBqgKAHS2nGmZKxojnN1KUUuNGXLunHdjk-B-iYkoS7W648e79ul6adj1gZgZfttyc-3mGPyaKYqN-k7-IThTx99s_wU/s400/IMG_2987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464252595596466834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here she is again, busily <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">marching her dolly down the street </span></span>at a remarkable pace. Drive up Hastings Ave and you'll catch her in this pose, at least once a day.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgczXGnjDfCyVH9J5Ay6LYY_LWPLjwjwE_p7uNHItdv0KCEPWOT3DLvU5ZZOL0Wi0gJnIIzaVBySH1SAObV2G-Wh3or95eBQuCwqNTZAbvaUvUMiQp_AQcZbfVMgcJ1mvovZmXrjEmLc/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgczXGnjDfCyVH9J5Ay6LYY_LWPLjwjwE_p7uNHItdv0KCEPWOT3DLvU5ZZOL0Wi0gJnIIzaVBySH1SAObV2G-Wh3or95eBQuCwqNTZAbvaUvUMiQp_AQcZbfVMgcJ1mvovZmXrjEmLc/s400/IMG_2933.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464252404816687874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Looking like somewhat of a motley bunch, although mostly pleased, on a rare free Sunday morning (stake conference was at noon), <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">feeding ducks at Haverford College.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n55b5Nw4DS1qujjtysnPdngpXusD8ifoYb8sayXs1Ow1buZJlK4GKq3jJsG3a3ryz7affm-OQ5BVE3Asm8fxhYwTGXFtxcQCcZ3pn6YbwrOxZeSr7ctYA05Rbbc7_75GBeMQHOegcgc/s1600/IMG_2965.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n55b5Nw4DS1qujjtysnPdngpXusD8ifoYb8sayXs1Ow1buZJlK4GKq3jJsG3a3ryz7affm-OQ5BVE3Asm8fxhYwTGXFtxcQCcZ3pn6YbwrOxZeSr7ctYA05Rbbc7_75GBeMQHOegcgc/s400/IMG_2965.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464252192297579730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy 60th, Dad!</span></span> Oops, did I just say that? We surprised him with every sibling coming to town the week before his birthday. Totally caught him off guard! What a great day!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zoMjCsq2_G3M0sUGsbwLxhZa9WOh5nwwVP-DuahR6B6X9vM0O8F1mv28G6guNPFGsLuyeYS4crc0bcUiKejtPN6zaMilE0LMuWjKyi484D0l_-_Bhyphenhyphen_phyphenhyphenZU9E6rwt01AcE0IkG09bw/s1600/IMG_2924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zoMjCsq2_G3M0sUGsbwLxhZa9WOh5nwwVP-DuahR6B6X9vM0O8F1mv28G6guNPFGsLuyeYS4crc0bcUiKejtPN6zaMilE0LMuWjKyi484D0l_-_Bhyphenhyphen_phyphenhyphenZU9E6rwt01AcE0IkG09bw/s400/IMG_2924.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464251957747529218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Naylor 7</span></span>, plus a couple of Richards offspring</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB99roZXcJaWnRlFyGCwER83ACW2y6Lc7rVOxcdQdxwaxGQmqjYiZstPMuJEbekKCI18RlJrrtSI1F_p1eyZ-zr-VN8SkoehOY7rYMsmyao9Q4ZPpHWClXJjWgzdVyAS139YRG8Psz0A/s400/naylor7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464257446160723842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">Ooh, this is big news. Long overdue. Introducing.... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GAYLE the PRiUs! </span></span> Nate's 12-year-old Suburu bit the dust, and this is his green, eco-friendly replacement.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, my cynical spouse had to include a sarcastic wink at all things green. See pic below.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu4TdHotlSF9MnJ2Jj7la9U70tiEOuqDMHCynsQahZCZ91qFoBqgKAHS2nGmZKxojnN1KUUuNGXLunHdjk-B-iYkoS7W648e79ul6adj1gZgZfttyc-3mGPyaKYqN-k7-IThTx99s_wU/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu4TdHotlSF9MnJ2Jj7la9U70tiEOuqDMHCynsQahZCZ91qFoBqgKAHS2nGmZKxojnN1KUUuNGXLunHdjk-B-iYkoS7W648e79ul6adj1gZgZfttyc-3mGPyaKYqN-k7-IThTx99s_wU/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV1CcmfQtxDilSYo5oU7Evh37PuyzqCm-CnDONPqfHiEBNAf1yYtbFuEeZIwAtHHk9oYHrphik2GjVg1SUX8DMwcj_WjEiZdSqlGf9Bi3Iq3xk6fIc62minKR2FNajAAHLCq1f3y_omE/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV1CcmfQtxDilSYo5oU7Evh37PuyzqCm-CnDONPqfHiEBNAf1yYtbFuEeZIwAtHHk9oYHrphik2GjVg1SUX8DMwcj_WjEiZdSqlGf9Bi3Iq3xk6fIc62minKR2FNajAAHLCq1f3y_omE/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV1CcmfQtxDilSYo5oU7Evh37PuyzqCm-CnDONPqfHiEBNAf1yYtbFuEeZIwAtHHk9oYHrphik2GjVg1SUX8DMwcj_WjEiZdSqlGf9Bi3Iq3xk6fIc62minKR2FNajAAHLCq1f3y_omE/s400/IMG_2971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464251728991955282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeQHWZ2hg9loHxCCBSeyRIRmOhOuwzcSFT3LsNZh8tkKYjFkE5fJes2ZGEblkAWrhM-lxWZ_HCutmy24W5PXqOaC9ZtB13epa2JysDjwj5my6JuQyxZQ2pJpkStsiNOlOxVHZJqy2bVk/s1600/IMG_2969.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeQHWZ2hg9loHxCCBSeyRIRmOhOuwzcSFT3LsNZh8tkKYjFkE5fJes2ZGEblkAWrhM-lxWZ_HCutmy24W5PXqOaC9ZtB13epa2JysDjwj5my6JuQyxZQ2pJpkStsiNOlOxVHZJqy2bVk/s400/IMG_2969.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464251451733314450" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here's most of my sister-in-laws (a couple weren't in this pic) at our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Richards girls' weekend</span></span> in Utah. I love these ladies. We had a fantastic time.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://A8A7301E-2AD5-43BA-809B-7E41F45A106E/IMG_4133.JPG.jpg" alt="IMG_4133.JPG.jpg" /></p></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's to posting more frequently! (But don't get your hopes up....)</div></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-81577680621275970712010-03-02T14:09:00.002-05:002010-03-02T14:17:56.798-05:00Little Miss High Society<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy23LuDHOcOyscR-C4qJjyuIR0h0dSo1rSkyRd6ID-i9dsb5NDvHzEBSDI_njMs_l-zF1RrlmMk5JYCGpbHt3YVGC97BP0gcmqsuNxF7ckoJ1FBs4GH_AbHenjLUqf2wSaiLkUwnG0VE/s1600-h/IMG_2914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy23LuDHOcOyscR-C4qJjyuIR0h0dSo1rSkyRd6ID-i9dsb5NDvHzEBSDI_njMs_l-zF1RrlmMk5JYCGpbHt3YVGC97BP0gcmqsuNxF7ckoJ1FBs4GH_AbHenjLUqf2wSaiLkUwnG0VE/s400/IMG_2914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444117880529959138" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-78905973231324677782010-02-11T14:07:00.010-05:002010-02-14T15:02:44.873-05:00philly must love onions<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Hello everyone, and welcome to the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"> tundra!</span></span> Sorry my kids aren't featured in these photos; they're a bit too delicate for this weather, apparently. And let's not forget: they're trying to preserve their tans from the beach as long as possible. Beauty over fun, boys! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a strange land we live in. I went to the grocery store on Tuesday, before the Big Whammy, to get some "Schtuff." What a trip! No parking spaces. No carts. No eggs. No cheese (as in, NONE.) No bread. No lettuce. No chocolate chips. (c'mon, people!) And... no <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">onions! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you view these pictures, just think about all the people nestled in their little dens, contentedly munching their onions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnzMaXxafZCfgtWpIG0cOf9zQpqT5D319wm1Dvc7lYcTF8l8fzVmJCcry9OQsqUUo6isApNhl1cDUGSYHzVhUkqna65EAtxylA-8GujHazzcDlLjB8mPLf3_ywJCN6ZhZpPn4VntxVUM/s1600-h/IMG_2854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnzMaXxafZCfgtWpIG0cOf9zQpqT5D319wm1Dvc7lYcTF8l8fzVmJCcry9OQsqUUo6isApNhl1cDUGSYHzVhUkqna65EAtxylA-8GujHazzcDlLjB8mPLf3_ywJCN6ZhZpPn4VntxVUM/s400/IMG_2854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437066244622594194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaMWgbCvzoqI1bVOy3XseA8y_H4o3Ot01SFbSg02Fc89Sxo6rcgzVL2jIOCUJkrilSvJM28Mh3du_gHBgozsGf5IOFo5iO6T7HASS_Hv4KFQ8KGWSylRiF4f6DeO7fgN4g2BNf_A9Wec/s1600-h/IMG_2853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaMWgbCvzoqI1bVOy3XseA8y_H4o3Ot01SFbSg02Fc89Sxo6rcgzVL2jIOCUJkrilSvJM28Mh3du_gHBgozsGf5IOFo5iO6T7HASS_Hv4KFQ8KGWSylRiF4f6DeO7fgN4g2BNf_A9Wec/s400/IMG_2853.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437066096596390466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2vtMAGzqIaUadOmbAdGqHoLEngKP53fDN5JE_nMcGhKpE0iFdBVYTfV61p0eGnujPuM7QjnKIwf8BZxuyjNvW-7ROJtQxyiEcfyM7ILuAj9GrvOJTe7zPSUijimAG1PFaCEnzPDYAHQ/s1600-h/IMG_2852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2vtMAGzqIaUadOmbAdGqHoLEngKP53fDN5JE_nMcGhKpE0iFdBVYTfV61p0eGnujPuM7QjnKIwf8BZxuyjNvW-7ROJtQxyiEcfyM7ILuAj9GrvOJTe7zPSUijimAG1PFaCEnzPDYAHQ/s400/IMG_2852.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437065632744027858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou3TqRg1VBAwGhPk5Wh5TYNSJvimUK2JyxnZfw9qHxo0qZPmwTk-tw2OH1Ge0ASOPXpHbvhiB7m_FAKboX0jo7_UmDUinorwK-Pd63uiPT_3zY4wN3Z3PTHOwqbwJwUc3k05sM20qMOE/s1600-h/IMG_2851.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou3TqRg1VBAwGhPk5Wh5TYNSJvimUK2JyxnZfw9qHxo0qZPmwTk-tw2OH1Ge0ASOPXpHbvhiB7m_FAKboX0jo7_UmDUinorwK-Pd63uiPT_3zY4wN3Z3PTHOwqbwJwUc3k05sM20qMOE/s400/IMG_2851.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437065510161925026" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994903936807926099.post-75964231290402640362010-02-09T21:16:00.008-05:002010-02-14T14:59:07.371-05:00a nice little swapperoosky<div style="text-align: center;">we did<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day">this:</a> </span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiFLWi04XC_xce1eDkuldIohbzpVX_1wDHBYFMe9ax4NN2M5I4CDmE-a10p8tUp4cRV4SvoC0Mj8kyhpEovd2rK9TDbZZl5o3T7MALD-3Zucf0ei5AO-fRlFkNpkGOtPtt-3G0f1N61U/s1600-h/IMG_2769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiFLWi04XC_xce1eDkuldIohbzpVX_1wDHBYFMe9ax4NN2M5I4CDmE-a10p8tUp4cRV4SvoC0Mj8kyhpEovd2rK9TDbZZl5o3T7MALD-3Zucf0ei5AO-fRlFkNpkGOtPtt-3G0f1N61U/s400/IMG_2769.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436434341016265298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">for this!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioogNPX-CnnJJb6PWx6wjJhxQFgt_egwTyfD_zkkLh3miqp8YUbm2wOl1ZGGGhmgkrbE5_HTIEPIPecw6UmhEq2wHruoSyusN-RJA-mpTbxbTPsCC6D0y7Eq7VCNj_M-m28cZtgiYHyt0/s1600-h/IMG_2844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioogNPX-CnnJJb6PWx6wjJhxQFgt_egwTyfD_zkkLh3miqp8YUbm2wOl1ZGGGhmgkrbE5_HTIEPIPecw6UmhEq2wHruoSyusN-RJA-mpTbxbTPsCC6D0y7Eq7VCNj_M-m28cZtgiYHyt0/s400/IMG_2844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436434156779492610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">{crummy pic, complete with crotch grabbing, courtesy of one awesome robust German tourist}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And, thanks to the second-largest snow storm in Philadelphia history, we got to stay an extra three days! Cheers to serendipity!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*And, I do have to add: Our "service day" on Martin Luther King Day was so cool. I felt sorta guilty thinking about our selfish reasons for doing a good deed. Philly is absolutely filled to the brim with abundant opportunities for community service, and it was inspiring to see the people who came to help clean up a desolate North Philly neighborhood, not so they could go to Disney, but just because they were committed to the cause. Many of them looked like they came from very humble circumstances. It definitely made an impact on me, and from now on, we plan on doing a day of serious and intense service every MLK day. Cheers to traditions!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14103704279891513489noreply@blogger.com5