tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12696211420148510792024-03-13T11:44:36.589-07:00Through a glass brightlya blog devoted to eliza mae and familyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-68996870645805300692011-06-02T19:01:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:27:51.808-07:00Check up!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuGaOasX9dk/TehAkjdtRvI/AAAAAAAADeo/932HJCwNHeM/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MuGaOasX9dk/TehAkjdtRvI/AAAAAAAADeo/932HJCwNHeM/s400/DSCN0352.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So Eliza had her four year old check up at the beginning of May. She did great and is a very healthy girl. We had to wait a while in the doctor's office, and she was CRACKING me up!!! Apparently the paper dress they had her wear was the most GORGEOUS thing Eliza had ever tried on! She told me to take her picture and also asked me to take a video-- all of the poses and performance are stuff that she came up with from her random little brain! SO funny!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4nlQDV1RzY/TehBSIRGKDI/AAAAAAAADew/fgEyX1pmt5M/s1600/DSCN0355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4nlQDV1RzY/TehBSIRGKDI/AAAAAAAADew/fgEyX1pmt5M/s400/DSCN0355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613808715229964338" border="0" /></a>However, four shots later, Eliza said she never wanted to come to the doctor again and showed her battle wounds... She was a trooper!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-481fpiH6zPk/TehBSefkacI/AAAAAAAADe4/8OWFzkMFVqA/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-481fpiH6zPk/TehBSefkacI/AAAAAAAADe4/8OWFzkMFVqA/s400/DSCN0354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613808721196247490" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Enjoy:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyX1rCkdv4ht3wYtRuR1Dw_YiTcFaqPWXXySuljjwRmgEb-pwcprkCNtWGt-uEm4P6fIYaYW2CC4GezShF9vQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-12405887878608888092010-11-25T18:37:00.001-08:002010-11-25T18:38:41.236-08:00New BlogI meant to say that you can leave a comment with your email address so that I can send you the new blog address. I will not publish any of the comments that have personal emails in them.<br /><br />I've posted the new link to it on my facebook page now.<br /><br />Hope you join me elsewhere on the web! :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-73735536915544044562010-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:002010-11-25T00:06:18.285-08:00Moving to a new blogI started a new blog. I will be posting more consistently on this new blog because I wanted a blog that I felt more comfortable sharing things on.... if ya know what I mean!<br /><br />If you'd like the link to it, please email me!<br /><br />Don't worry if you lurk-- no judgment here. I'll just be flattered that you bother with reading my stuff!<br /><br />If you're my facebook friend, I'll be posting a link to the new blog on there so you can get it that way.<br /><br />I'll miss this blog. I started it when Eliza was just a few months old! But I will not miss the infiltration that's occurred on here...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-81609522572448749532010-11-23T21:23:00.000-08:002010-11-23T21:32:15.446-08:00Miriam shares some smiles<p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyaZ4uOBym9e6bnIwobvz9QbgvRIFFupBvabxeeKDaHJGvKCQFACPkCJa16v7kG5m0nuc19ZpBHz4-cta6YDA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center">Adorable Oma-Miriam time.</p><p align="center">Watch out for poor Reuben at the end though...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-41867936912261916522010-11-21T19:12:00.000-08:002010-11-23T21:23:31.196-08:00Blessed to have Miriam Jane in the Family!<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyZEv-i3AI/AAAAAAAADPw/YPPt8AVMbSc/s1600/SDC11773.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542973548263562242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyZEv-i3AI/AAAAAAAADPw/YPPt8AVMbSc/s400/SDC11773.JPG" /></a> <strong>Family Picture on Miriam's Blessing Day</strong> </div><div align="center">This was the best one we got, believe it or not!</div><div align="center"><br />We had a quick but very fun time visiting Miriam, Reuben, Katy, and Aaron (about a month ago. I know I'm slow, but the pics are worth sharing still!).</div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYdAWWLiI/AAAAAAAADPo/RRyybRXsQ_4/s1600/SDC11782.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542972865463594530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYdAWWLiI/AAAAAAAADPo/RRyybRXsQ_4/s400/SDC11782.JPG" /></a>THE GIRLS!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYcUSSJ2I/AAAAAAAADPg/LizduXPZpII/s1600/SDC11780.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542972853635393378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYcUSSJ2I/AAAAAAAADPg/LizduXPZpII/s400/SDC11780.JPG" /></a> Sisters!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYbnVrzRI/AAAAAAAADPY/YO7wt1zgLg4/s1600/SDC11777.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542972841570061586" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYbnVrzRI/AAAAAAAADPY/YO7wt1zgLg4/s400/SDC11777.JPG" /></a> I was trying to make Katy feel better about being so much shorter than me... so I slouched and made my neck do something super weird in this picture. I am SO selfless!<br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542966662545184466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOySz8rWltI/AAAAAAAADPA/4HuslIudPHk/s400/SDC11770.JPG" /></div><div>Miriam was really really thrilled to have me come visit. I know the love was there somewhere... deep down. Super deep. 'Cuz when I handed her off to her parents (that's what you do with a crying newborn), below is a picture of how she felt less than a minute later... She loves her dad!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542971137899168450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyW4cq5AsI/AAAAAAAADPI/D9Qrmkiukv4/s400/SDC11771.JPG" /></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542966645069430562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOySy7kzvyI/AAAAAAAADO4/dUuxLWndK-w/s400/SDC11763.JPG" /> <div><div>There's pretty Miriam with her other grandmother, Aaron's mother. So cute!</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542966640449943714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOySyqXb-KI/AAAAAAAADOw/kJucQ66B8Ds/s400/SDC11760.JPG" /> <div>There's Reuben taking advantage of no longer being the center of attention. See there is a benefit to having a younger sibling! It makes cookie theft much more feasible!</div><div></div><div>I loved getting LOTS of pictures of Miriam. </div><div>Observe:</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542966629912539634" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOySyDHH8fI/AAAAAAAADOo/gkUVmjQi0fA/s400/SDC11756.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542963196483984178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyPqMl92zI/AAAAAAAADOY/wiWl2rvUABc/s400/SDC11749.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542963191040239874" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyPp4UE6QI/AAAAAAAADOQ/B0MjFYZ_uvU/s400/SDC11748.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542963182434370738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyPpYQRxLI/AAAAAAAADOI/sN3Ojh7ZHQ0/s400/SDC11739.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542963180064186610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyPpPbLoPI/AAAAAAAADOA/Ysjso_zL8WY/s400/SDC11735.JPG" /></div><div>And Eliza...</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542963174226800082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyPo5rcLdI/AAAAAAAADN4/jAsh0iAZuHM/s400/SDC11732.JPG" /> Eliza had the hook-up! She got her own laptop in the car, and I subjected her to the gore of the Last Unicorn on the car ride up and down. I sold the movie to her by telling her that it was her Uncle Robby's favorite! We turned it off before the end when things got super "scarey." <div><div><div></div><div>When I told Robby that she was watching it, he said, "You're letting her watch that?" with this really judgemental tone. Whatever! The movie is <em>deceptively</em> creepy! It starts out all butterflies and unicorns then BAM scary witches, birds with creepy human body parts, and a devil-bull killing all the innocent creatures.... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382740388665026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8Q5o-1sI/AAAAAAAADNg/W00NHbC5ouU/s400/eliza%2Bsmile.JPG" /> <div><div><div><div>But look! she's still smiling POST-The Last Unicorn exposure! Obviously not too scarred....</div><div></div><div>And without further ado..... <strong>COUSINS!!<br /></strong></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382737622937234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8QvVlLpI/AAAAAAAADNY/tsTcsOdRyYk/s400/eliza%2B%252B%2Breuben.JPG" /></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542972823918299106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOyYallLR-I/AAAAAAAADPQ/fA2tGhVHLv4/s400/SDC11772.JPG" /> <div>The picture above is a really great (not) candid shot, No? Well, let me tell you the secret! It's a little bit tricky/conniving. These two cousins were pretty sick of pictures at this point so I knew they wouldn't volunteer to smile at the camera any time soon (soon as in the rest of the month, maybe year). SO while they were looking the other way I yelled, "Wow! Hey!" really loud and when they turned to look at their crazy Aunt Amy/Mama, I clicked a pic - just like Diego taught me (Nick Jr. anyone?).</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542966627326451090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TOySx5ejXZI/AAAAAAAADOg/tudr5API91M/s400/SDC11753.JPG" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8Qt8l8MI/AAAAAAAADNQ/HBYg0FPddPg/s1600/eliza%2B-%2Bmiriam.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382737249693890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8Qt8l8MI/AAAAAAAADNQ/HBYg0FPddPg/s400/eliza%2B-%2Bmiriam.JPG" /></a>Wish we lived closer! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-65536772047219114632010-11-08T19:13:00.000-08:002010-11-23T19:46:48.447-08:00USC Women's Soccer<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8k7bvPBI/AAAAAAAADNw/SVwKYwichdQ/s1600/go%2Bgamecocks.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8k7bvPBI/AAAAAAAADNw/SVwKYwichdQ/s400/go%2Bgamecocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537383084467371026" border="0" /></a>Going to USC Women's soccer games this season has been one of the highlights of the last few months for me! And to my utter delight, Eliza has been loving it too! She is HILARIOUS when she "cheers." And by cheer I mean half scream in horror and half in joyous elation. I think what's really sold her on the whole thing though has very little to do with the soccer. Her loves are the boiled peanuts, bouncy house, Oma & Grandpa, and the presence of the Gamecock mascot "Cocky" who gives out hugs!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8kFSkkEI/AAAAAAAADNo/8ubsLnLeFCk/s1600/eliza%2Bpolka.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNi8kFSkkEI/AAAAAAAADNo/8ubsLnLeFCk/s400/eliza%2Bpolka.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537383069933408322" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-45275324960470782072010-11-08T18:35:00.000-08:002010-11-08T18:54:27.061-08:00This is Halloween!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz6vgOsaI/AAAAAAAADNA/cf3kcnHI2ls/s1600/eliza%2Bhalloweeen.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz6vgOsaI/AAAAAAAADNA/cf3kcnHI2ls/s400/eliza%2Bhalloweeen.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537373563617456546" border="0" /></a>When I asked Eliza what she wanted to be for Halloween, she said that she wanted to be Cinderella, then she said she wanted to be Princess Aurora, then the Little Mermaid (as pictured above).<br /><br />BUT what was lucky was that she just wanted to wear her clothes from her dress-up box!<br /><br />Sooo, Zero cost costume! Sweet!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz7P7gjrI/AAAAAAAADNI/kVyI8lvLGPg/s1600/eliza%2Bhalloween.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz7P7gjrI/AAAAAAAADNI/kVyI8lvLGPg/s400/eliza%2Bhalloween.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537373572321808050" border="0" /></a>I was nice and shared Eliza with Steve on Halloween weekend even though it was one of my designated weekends with her. She hadn't gotten as much time with him as usual since his job has weird hours sometimes. So my Saturday evening was not busy, and I spent most of it grocery shopping. But I like grocery shopping!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz51x1E6I/AAAAAAAADM4/NJ1IWn-Yk-M/s1600/abby%2Bme%2Bhalloween.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TNiz51x1E6I/AAAAAAAADM4/NJ1IWn-Yk-M/s400/abby%2Bme%2Bhalloween.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537373548122018722" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-20844047148835756722010-10-25T15:39:00.000-07:002010-11-08T18:25:44.304-08:00Robot Cow Dance<div></div><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dygA_c_3XsPH1oPln0JjwZ9aCIz1_fraGQfAkxd_7H_iUsPIUqRcTSF8aHCPeVCsnM1TF78BInLb9Oz5uMuvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center">My daughter rocks.</p><br /><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-34728893489615352362010-10-23T18:43:00.000-07:002010-10-23T18:51:52.889-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">October's held some significant events that I didn't really feel like making a big deal about. My divorce was finalized, the anniversary of Amber's death came and went.<br /><br />Some fun times included the state fair, and also cross country season which has come to a close.<br /><br />And here is our very own senior, veteran cross country runner worth recognizing!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TMOPuDH1bSI/AAAAAAAADMw/56nIkOjRtLs/s1600/abby+senior.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TMOPuDH1bSI/AAAAAAAADMw/56nIkOjRtLs/s400/abby+senior.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531422788616023330" border="0" /></a><br />So I got her some roses for senior recognition!<br />She's been a hard-core runner for six years now! Annnd she still went running today on her own, without any coach to tell her to do it! Impressive!<br /><br />Way to go, Abby!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-90345460211780544082010-10-18T20:14:00.000-07:002010-10-18T20:31:04.983-07:00South Carolina State Fair 2010<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591299825836786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0N_Xs1ovI/AAAAAAAADLg/qwYd1P0n_Oo/s400/SDC11687.JPG" /></div><div align="center">A couple of my friends and I got these cuties together to enjoy the kiddy version of the fair. Ya know, the rides with a 54'' maximum and the animal petting zoo fun! This picture was taken inside of the Dizzy Dragon... or in Lucas' case, the hippo!</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591316666534978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0OAWb-TEI/AAAAAAAADMA/Hr85Mol2MEY/s400/SDC11699.JPG" /></div><div align="center">The $5 Pony ride is also quite the hit! Eliza's been talking about it several times everyday. </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591311875454722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0OAElsNwI/AAAAAAAADL4/s31K4_pjjnw/s400/SDC11693.JPG" /></div><div align="center">I was surprised how THRILLED Eliza was with this ride, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she enjoys being in the driver's seat!!! She's my girl-!</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591303964757938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0N_nHoj7I/AAAAAAAADLo/oFpoS3ILZJc/s400/SDC11689.JPG" /></div><div align="center">After riding this fun caterpillar rollercoaster twice last year, I was super excited that I was able to convince Eliza and Sophia to ride it together and without adults!!!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Sophia reported that the ride was AWESOME! </div><div align="center">Eliza told me very clearly that this ride was too scarey. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591310493473474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0N__cM2sI/AAAAAAAADLw/r7tQRVIKDNM/s400/SDC11691.JPG" /></div><div align="center">And then my child fell asleep!!! In the middle of the noisy, crowded FAIR!!! We were waiting in line for the ferris wheel. I guess it was all a bit too much for her? </div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529591673400580962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TL0OVHX_22I/AAAAAAAADMI/EOwOlVC8Z8s/s400/SDC11702.JPG" /> When she finally woke up after about an HOUR, she cheered up pretty easily by chowing down on an Elephant Ear with powdered sugar on it! She devoured that thing with the help of Sophia, and I was lucky to nab a couple bites before the whole thing was gone! YUM! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">And just for you, Katy, we tried to meet as many new friends at The Rocket as possible! :^)</div><div><div> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-10382880894820049842010-09-26T11:10:00.000-07:002010-09-26T11:11:02.466-07:00Thanks for the good weekend<a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E9BDt3FI/AAAAAAAADLQ/BSnu3IgA_Uo/s1600/beach+marsh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E9BDt3FI/AAAAAAAADLQ/BSnu3IgA_Uo/s400/beach+marsh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521277851970427986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My weekends where I don't have Eliza can be very lame. I try to fill them up as much as possible and keep myself busy. Other times in the past, I've spent them in a dark room watching reruns on Hulu and maybe going outside once? oh yeah, to go to church and then come right back inside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But when Eliza is away, I don't stop being her mom. A part of my heart feels far away. I've found comfort in filling my prayers with specific desires I have for my girl and trying to explain my feelings to my Heavenly Father about this challenge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've been doing a little better with these weekends lately! I think I've found a good balance between barricading myself in the dark basement and frantically trying to fill every minute with busy tasks and frantic projects.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For example, I take naps on Sunday's and do some leisurely reading instead of attending two church services.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Also, I have been spending more time with family. I am so so so blessed to have my family with me, so patient and loving towards me.<br /><br />I think I've mentioned before that my Oma (grandma, my mom's Mom), Rosalie, lives here now. She and I got some very fun bonding time this weekend.<br /><br />Thursday we did a yummy home-cooked chicken dinner by Oma and movie night! I picked up the dvd of the newish movie, Valentine's Day, that I got from the library. It was cute in a cliche way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A couple things that this movie stated about love were interesting to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One part had George Lopez's character carrying around a book of Rumi poetry. I hate when movies try to make their content deeper by having someone spout out stuff from some "life-changing" book. It feels like the screen play writer should just get an account on GoodReads or join a book club instead of trying to add references to it in a stupid way in their films.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So George Lopez's character says how Rumi's got it right about love (and the camera zooms to the book cover)-- and says something about how for love to be real, it has be messy and devastating and turn your world upside down.<br /><br />I disagree. I think unhealthy relationships have that intense emotional upheaval to them, but healthy relationships can entail a gradual process of getting to know someone before you unleash all your emotional baggage and boundaries. I believe that love DOES involve some risk-taking and being willing to take a chance on someone by letting them truly and sincerely know you, even in a vulnerable way. <span style="font-style: italic;">However</span>, it doesn't have to involve emotional vomiting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The other thought about love that the film suggested was something that I liked and that I've heard at Al-Anon meetings that I've attended for work. It's the premise that truly loving someone involves loving the WHOLE person-- not just the parts that you like about them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday night</span>, I had gotten coupons for free Chik-fil-a from a co-worker, so I picked up dinner for Oma and myself! Waffle Fries- yummmmm! Later we went OUT to the movies and saw the movie "You Again." It was a funny comedy about facing the people who terrorized you in high school! Nice feel good ending too, so that's nice to have!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span> in Charleston. I drove out there with a friend and cheered for Abby at the Citadel Cross Country race. Then when did some time in downtown Charleston and got the most-wonderful and pleasurable Heiman's Seafood and River Street Sweets! The Shrimp and Grits were HEAVENLY!!!</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E84kZNeI/AAAAAAAADLI/exe9CzFWzYk/s1600/beach.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E84kZNeI/AAAAAAAADLI/exe9CzFWzYk/s400/beach.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521277849691567586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Charleston's such a beautiful area! I love the winding branches on trees that hang over the roads and the spanish moss that hangs down from those branches! The marshes are beautiful, especially below the sunny blue skies like we had yesterday!</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E9nIsg7I/AAAAAAAADLY/aBWoFev94jM/s1600/lawn+chairs+on+marsh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TJ-E9nIsg7I/AAAAAAAADLY/aBWoFev94jM/s400/lawn+chairs+on+marsh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521277862191858610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">This picture reminds me of a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCvgXmg0m1g">Regina Spektor song</a>: </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">"Come and open up your folding chair next to me...<br />Now i’ve been sitting on this abandoned beach for years<br />Waiting for the salty water to cover up my ears<br />But every time the tide come in to take me home<br />I get scared, and I’m sitting here alone<br />Dreaming of the dolphin song…<br /><br />Maybe one day you will understand<br />I don’t want nothing from you but to sweetly hold your hand<br />Till that day just please don’t be so down<br />Don’t make frowns, you silly clown"</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I made it back to Columbia in time to rendezvous with Mom and Oma for the <a href="http://lds.org/broadcast/grsm/0,6220,285,00.html">Relief Society Broadcast</a> at church. It was wonderful. Very spiritually nourishing.<br /><br />Some of my favorite quotes from it:<br /><br />"There is a worldwide hunger among good women to know their identity, value, and importance. Studying and applying the history of Relief Society gives definition and expression to who we are as disciples and followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our faithfulness and service are signs of our conversion and commitment to remember and follow Him." -<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sister Julie B. Beck</span><br /><br />"He (Christ) knows your hopes and sufferings. He hath bourne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah)... We demonstrate our love in Him by placing our faith in Him.... OUR BEST EFFORT IS ALL HE ASKS FROM US." -<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sister Silvia H. Allred</span><br /><br />"The Savior has asked us to do the things which He has done, to bear one another’s burdens, to comfort those who need comfort, to mourn with those who mourn, to feed the hungry, visit the sick, to succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down..."<br /><br />I also really liked how she defined and described compassion as "to feel love and mercy towards others. Show kindness and sympathy." - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sister Barbara Thompson</span><br /><br />"Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: <em>Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other?</em> And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.” -<span style="font-weight: bold;">President Thomas S. Monson</span><br /><br />Choppy quotes by Pres. Monson from my notes:<br /><br />"True charity is love in action."<br /><br />"To pity a man is human, to love is divine... that is... Accepting people for all that they are... Resisting to categorize others.... Recognizing that others are doing their best."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">I miss Eliza, but thanks for the good weekend.<br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-71871327752570616252010-08-30T18:00:00.000-07:002010-09-06T12:21:42.850-07:00"I'm just really gonna focus on my career..."It's been a whirlwind of a month for me and Eliza! Especially on the job front. I accepted a part time job working in a teen addiction recovery outpatient unit.<br /><br />I trained and started on August 20th. I worked from 8:30am until 2pm at The Nurturing Center, then drove a half hour to the addiction recovery center and worked until 7 or 8pm. It was pretty crazy but kept things interesting! Actually, I don't know if I handled the stress very well, but I'm recovering now.<br /><br />The hardest part, though, was that I only was getting to see Eliza for an hour or so in the evenings on Monday and Tuesday and had to rely on Steve and my mom to take care of Eliza while I worked in the evenings.<br /><br />Eliza's also had a ton of trouble going to bed at my house, so most of the time I spent with her in the evenings involved (and still involve) me trying to beg/bargain/threaten/persuade her to stay in her bed and go to sleep! That was pretty painful.<br /><br />Then, a week later, the executive director at The Nurturing Center told me that one of the case managers was taking a job elsewhere and asked if I was interested in doing the full-time job.<br /><br />At first I said no because I felt like I needed to follow through with the new job I had just accepted and worked at for one week. However, I prayed/fasted/fretted and decided that although I would make less money over-all, having a schedule that involved a 8-4 sort of schedule would be the best for Eliza and myself, and I needed to do what was best for me and my family.<br /><br />So as of tomorrow, I'll transition from doing invidividual and art group therapy with parents and play therapy with pre-schoolers to being a "Family Service Coordinator" for the parents at The Nurturing Center. I know I'll miss some aspects of doing therapy, especially working with the kids. But I'll get to do lots of parenting groups, one or two every day. I'll be coordinating lots of resources and referrals in the community, setting goals with the parents, and working with Department of Social Services with the parents who have open neglect and/or abuse cases. It should be a pretty hefty caseload and a lot of responsibility, so I hope I can keep up!!! Say a prayer for me.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to having a "normal" schedule, though! I just realized that I have NEVER had a schedule where I worked full-time 8-4. I was always doing school or working a part-time, strange hours sort of thing. Should be interesting! or normal...? We'll see.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/THxUMIjVYNI/AAAAAAAADKw/9GkMNh61woQ/s1600/HPIM3019.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/THxUMIjVYNI/AAAAAAAADKw/9GkMNh61woQ/s400/HPIM3019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Eliza in her zebra dress that Oma got for her. Zebra's are still her favorite animal, and she would wear this dress EVERY day if I let her!)</span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Eliza started back at pre-school on August 16th at a wonderful little Montessori school in Columbia (The same one she went to in May). She goes from about 8:30 until 2:30 Mon- Thurs and until noon on Friday's.<br /><br />I think she's doing pretty well, but it's hard to know because when we ask her how school went or what she did at school that day, she almost always answers, "I don't want to talk about it." or "Nothing." I thought that response wouldn't come until the adolescent, "I'm too cool for my parents," phase. Oh well.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/THxU06yAbYI/AAAAAAAADK4/yzZpKHvUolo/s1600/HPIM3017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/THxU06yAbYI/AAAAAAAADK4/yzZpKHvUolo/s400/HPIM3017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511373312103574914" border="0" /></a><br />In other news, my divorce is STILL not finalized! Not because there's been any drama-- on the contrary, nothing at all has happened. Nothing. We're just sitting around waiting for our request for a court date to make it to the top of the stack in the county court house. We keep saying, maybe this week! and here we are two months later... still waiting!<br /><br />So for now, "I'm just really gonna focus on my career!" (reference, How I Met Your Mother)<br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-8437529741110708252010-08-01T19:50:00.000-07:002010-08-04T13:11:23.398-07:00With this ring...<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TFYylT3AV3I/AAAAAAAADKo/LjmM3CwC16s/s1600/ring.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500639611447170930" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TFYylT3AV3I/AAAAAAAADKo/LjmM3CwC16s/s400/ring.JPG" border="0" /></a> So I found this ring one day like last year sometime in our house. I thought that it belonged to Abby, so I put it in her room. A few weeks later, it had found its way back into my jewelry box. I took it to Abby and asked her if it was hers because I knew it wasn't mine, and she told me that it was definitely not hers, nor was it my mom's. </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>I told that wonderful story to point out just how randomly and unintentionally I became the owner of this ring. It's lovely, though, and pearls are my birthstones!<br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>I've never worn a lot of jewelry and when I do it's usually just a bracelet or earrings. I've only recently felt daring enough to start wearing necklaces.<br /><br />The one ring I used to wear has been absent for almost a year now. But this simple little ring caught my eye the other day for some reason, and I decided to wear it on my right hand. I was feeling sort of down and just... very single? I don't like to preoccupy my brain with the blatant awareness of my singledom because, ya know, there's a lot cooler and more interesting (and necessary!) matters to occupy my mind!<br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Also, my friend shared this talk by Pres. Hinckley with me that had this gem in it:</div><br /><div>"To you single women who wish to be married ... Do not give up hope. And do not give up trying. But do give up being obsessed with it. The chances are that if you forget about it and become anxiously engaged in other activities, the prospects will brighten immeasurably. …"</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>So this is not me saying that I want to be married or even dating or whatever right now! However! I would LOVE to be free from being obsessed with my marital (or lack thereof) status. I think a divorced status can be the elephant in a room full of young single adults, which is really not a big deal. However, I don't want to define <span style="font-style: italic;">myself</span> by my singledom, even if others do!</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>So back to the ring. I was feeling down, and a definitive goal that I have for myself is that I celebrate my worth as an individual. I have for much of my life, attempted to live in a way that pleases those around me to the extent that I have put my identity in the back seat. No more!<br /><br />Bottom Line:<br />When I put on my ring or glance at it during the day, I remember:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't have to have someone telling me that they love me<br />to know that I am lovable.</span><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-31838935331320618442010-07-19T21:26:00.000-07:002010-07-21T20:05:14.219-07:00Upside Down<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEUlpsgq0FI/AAAAAAAADKg/rtaQObBxq2c/s1600/SDC11555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEUlpsgq0FI/AAAAAAAADKg/rtaQObBxq2c/s400/SDC11555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495840318528606290" border="0" /></a><br />Here's an action shot of us playing Eliza's favorite game these days! All the blood that rushes to her brain probably is making her super smart, uhh....<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-29644090374054017352010-07-19T20:53:00.000-07:002010-07-19T21:21:53.892-07:00Remarkable Videos for the true Eliza fans!<div style="text-align: center;">I know that some people don't care enough to read through the longer posts and especially not to watch 3 minute long, random videos of my child splashing in puddles and playing Wii games with their Oma. BUT if you are one of those TRUE BLUE Eliza devotees, then ENJOY...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Wii Fit with Oma!!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-Fou6aABxQGEHkHgZKXue6RgIDTIg9Mc6NUkXIf5sEetSwfhx3TJoB9giATAEinQ1BZNNYFX7aK3oag8ZTA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Rain Boots!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycoQKJ1YvlJVfbGMkYLZqDWrBGFAYs6RVv0qX2L4fQWWo89Fm2LQV1PFV2IWtCMD_cSfDTnbq5r4IDgRIOfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Family Home Evening: Let us see your smile!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpfDP3zX9M05X5sZrsgvBzgX3feYO0wVxpdovI3IAL4lUlGtnBkOMu8aiuL7zqdyJdFMUmu75wEPUwNJbNXg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-26620340869760209142010-07-19T17:15:00.001-07:002010-07-19T18:19:31.960-07:00Someday my ... Batman? ... will come!<span style="font-family: verdana;">So for the past few months, Eliza and I have had the privilege of having lunch with my dear friend, Will, on Monday's! Will and I have been friends since we were like 17, and he was my boyfriend's best friend. It's been really great to spend time with Will again since I moved back here especially this Spring and Summer!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've never really had a friend that I got to do something with consistently on a weekly basis since I had Eliza, and I've really enjoyed our lunches! Sometimes we have other ambiguous friends join us as well which is a great pleasure too! But it's been a great way to start the week! It can get lonely as a mom, as I'm sure many people know, and I wish our Monday lunches with Will had started a lot sooner! We usually go to a Chic-fil-a where Eliza can flit in and out of the kids' play place while we chat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few Monday's ago a WONDERFUL conversation ensued as a result of Eliza's interactions with a little friend she met on the play place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eliza came back to our booth and looked a little bummed, and I asked her if something was wrong. She was like, "Uhhh, no." But then she said that her new friend, a little boy named Ethan, didn't want to play with her. Awww. I asked Eliza what happened....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">As many of you know, Eliza LOVES to play the game of pretend. Apparently she had been trying to convince Ethan to play the Princess genre of pretend, telling him that she was the Little Mermaid and he was to be Prince Eric.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eliza told us that Ethan refused, however, and told her, "No. I want to be Batman!"</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TET1ZSl8YSI/AAAAAAAADJ4/nCrk2YcC2s0/s1600/batman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TET1ZSl8YSI/AAAAAAAADJ4/nCrk2YcC2s0/s200/batman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495787260135366946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then, in frustration and confusion, they parted ways.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">When Eliza came and told us the story, we couldn't help but laugh. We decided that this dilemma between the sexes is not a new one, nor does it necessarily dissipate with age!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Girls still want to be princesses. AND they want the boys they meet to become their princes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Boys still want to be super heroes. And if a girl happens to come along, they'll probably agree to play with them (but only if it involves a fight! jk).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I find it interesting and a little bit sad, though, that most little girls grow up with these Disney princess stories that almost all seem to end with getting the guy, getting pretty dresses, and getting married in order for their happily ever after to come along.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TET10NwYpwI/AAAAAAAADKI/xX-ftZO7-6E/s1600/princess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TET10NwYpwI/AAAAAAAADKI/xX-ftZO7-6E/s400/princess.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495787722693453570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">(And it's disturbing for me, as a mom of a princess-crazed 3 yr old to happen upon her picking leaves off of a bush, saying, "He loves me! He loves me not. He loves me! He loves me not...")</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, boys are learning about being tough, fighting evil, and using weapons.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worry that this leaves girls codependent and boys emotionally stunted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then at some point in their adult lives, they're supposed to combine/shed these delusional media influences and find some sort of common ground.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, I think this might mean that men and women still continue to play games, but not realizing that they're playing a different one than their counterparts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So now I plan to hide all the barbies and let Eliza only watch violent cartoons featuring super heroes for the rest of her childhood leisure time. She'll thank me the next time she wants to have a conversation with a boy... or have to fight off some ninjas to save a wimpy boyfriend! Either way, she'll be ready!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-22030305059792939662010-07-18T21:03:00.000-07:002010-07-18T22:32:15.336-07:00Super Sweet Synopses<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paragraph 'o Excuses for lack of blogging: Our main computer on which I upload/edit/save photos on got displaced because of the remodeling. I've been using my netbook only. No pictures = boring blog in my mind. Hence, no posts. But we'll see what I can do!</span></span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Good news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I lost 10 freakin' pounds in the last 3 weeks! And as opposed to the last time I lost about that much weight, I don't have an ulcer or random undiagnosed infection like last January! I've been following the basic premise of weight watchers but not doing meetings or paying for anything. I just use their chart to factor in points (calories/fat/fiber). I've been exercising but not as much as I could.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd0BRiBRI/AAAAAAAADJI/tWwKQ-uUytg/s1600/healthy-choice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd0BRiBRI/AAAAAAAADJI/tWwKQ-uUytg/s320/healthy-choice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495479856087041298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Bad news: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We have been living without a kitchen for over a week now because of remodeling! Ahhhhh! We have all been living off of microwavable meals and eating out. I don't know if I'll ever be able to eat a microwavable pasta meal again in MY LIFE! I'm really not trying to be whiny, seriously. Luckily, eating cereal 2 to 3 x's a day has not made me sick of cereal. It's made me AWESOME. Some fav's include Fruit Loops w/ Marshmellows, Lucky Charms, Kashi Berry Crunch, and Cracklin' Oat Bran! (I eat the sugar cereal w/ skim milk for a treat instead of ice cream these days!)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd0dc31hI/AAAAAAAADJQ/7EKTFxbVqdc/s1600/Kashi-GoLean-Crisp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd0dc31hI/AAAAAAAADJQ/7EKTFxbVqdc/s320/Kashi-GoLean-Crisp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495479863650801170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Yummy news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This Half NAked popcorn rocks my socks! I only like it for the name. Kidding, it's really healthy but yummy for the munchies!</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPet-hFXxI/AAAAAAAADJo/rFHQ-bd3iyE/s1600/popcorn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 90px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPet-hFXxI/AAAAAAAADJo/rFHQ-bd3iyE/s320/popcorn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495480851779378962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Good news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I now get to carry a card around in my wallet that says I am Licensed in the State of South Carolina to practice social work at the masters level! What, what!! A card carrying member ... AND my boss actually asked me for my license # the other day for medicaid stuff, and I got to be like, "Check this. Here's my card!"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Bad news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Eliza doesn't take naps.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Good news: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No more pacifiers.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Music news:</span> This song is a little old, but the video is awesome and it's TOTALLY MY LIFE! (totally an original thing to say)<br />Check it out:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wigqKfLWjvM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wigqKfLWjvM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span> <br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Awesome news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Last Monday Abby helped me grilllllllll some of the best chicken you've EVER had in your LIFE on our bbq during a severe weather alert thunderstorm. Yeah, we're that cool. Later that night, we all roasted marshmallows and had s'mores for our Family Home Evening (FHE) treat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Sad news: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eliza wouldn't even TRY to eat a s'more! Nor would she even try a bite of my oatmeal drop/no bake cookies for FHE the week before. That's like the epitome of the FHE treat experience. But no- not one bite. Normally, I'd be like, "Fine! More for me!" But since I'm watching my diet, I was like, "Crap! More for me!"</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPdz1pRSxI/AAAAAAAADJA/6SnidiJv_3Q/s1600/cinnamon_marshmallow_smore.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPdz1pRSxI/AAAAAAAADJA/6SnidiJv_3Q/s320/cinnamon_marshmallow_smore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495479852965382930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Weird news: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Why is marshmallow not spelled marsh</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">mellow</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. 'Cuz that's totally how everyone says it. But I guess a world that spelled all things phonetically, is not a world I would want to live in anyways.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Random news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Now I want to go eat at the Mellow Mushroom. Numm num num.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Movie news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I watched Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. It's plot had some "god" awful holes in it. I saw Eclipse, and it was some super giggly fun. Although, my friend and I weren't always giggling at the parts people were supposed to giggle at. And our giggling might be considered to be more like snickering... It reminded me of how stupid I was when I was 18 years old. Good thing I didn't let any vampire bite me back then, though.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd1PGSQKI/AAAAAAAADJY/K8W409rXyUs/s1600/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-the-lightning-thief-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPd1PGSQKI/AAAAAAAADJY/K8W409rXyUs/s320/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-the-lightning-thief-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495479876977836194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >GREATEST NEWS:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Oma (my grandmother, Rosalie) now resides with us! Yeah, that's four generations under one roof, BABY! We're like one hippy away from becoming a commune... and LOVIN' it!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Doggy news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Oma's pooch, Cali, also resides with us! It's like the most exciting thing that's ever happened for these poodles here. Finnegan's stickin' to the basement. All bets are out for who learns to use the new doggy door first- Finnegan or Cali!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />How-it-relates-to-Eliza news</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: Eliza's pretty ecstatic about Cali and "Oma Rosie" as well!! Hopefully Oma won't get too sick of Eliza's little knocks on her bedroom door.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Literary news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I am reading "Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules," which is edited and introduced by David Sedaris. It's sick, yo. In the good way.</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPetrE1_UI/AAAAAAAADJg/6ueneihxn7I/s1600/book1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPetrE1_UI/AAAAAAAADJg/6ueneihxn7I/s320/book1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495480846560656706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Car news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> My car's in the shop. Lame-o.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Sports news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Dad and I have been rockin' out on the volleyball court! Indoor AND outdoor! That's right! We play with the BAPTISTS! aka our really sweet neighbor who also lets Eliza swim in their pool whenever we want. LOVELY!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Secret News:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Did you actually think I'd write a secret on my blog? Come on! This is for public defamation only!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Mothering news: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I put Eliza to sleep TWICE today by telling her two of my ridunculously awesome princess stories. Sleeping Beauty in the car on the way home from Columbia and Little Mermaid tonight at bedtime... my beautifully detailed accounts were just so gripping that she probably had just no choice but to pass out from excitement....hmm.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Family gossip news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Katy's baby is due this week, and she has a birthday as well! Robby just returned from a wedding with his GURL friend. Not their wedding. Her sister's. Abby spent the weekend in NYC with our great Aunt Julie.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Thoughtful news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Sometimes the people you grew up with turn out to be just like you thought they would. That's probably disappointing for them.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Cuisine news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I made some delectible lasagna for the Branch Brunch today. I didn't personally receive any compliments on it (besides Jean Marie but she doesn't count b/c she would say it tasted good even if you gave her something <span style="font-style: italic;">wretched</span> like refried beans), but I thought it tasted like one of the best lasagnas I've ever made. And I RARELY ever fully like/approve the food I make. Oh, and the pan was empty, so I guess that could be a sort of compliment ... or a sign that single adults will eat pretty much any food as long as it's free. No, but REALLY it was delicious lasagna.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Verb Conjugation news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Eliza really likes to run races. Afterwards, she likes to announce, "I <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">beated</span> </span>you!" I tried to correct her verb usage, telling her, "I <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">beat </span></span></span>you." And Eliza said, "I beated you!" Me: "No, say, I beat you." Eliza, growing frustrated: "No, mommy, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I</span> beated you!" Me: "Ohhh, yes, you did <span style="font-style: italic;">BEAT </span>me." She's already competitive, but not in the race of the grammatically correct.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Oral Hygiene news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Eliza and I are going to the dentist on Tuesday! It's her first time!!! I hope it goes okay. She has some arching on her front teeth from the pacifier and possibly some weakened enamel in the front teeth too. :/</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPeuAGKCVI/AAAAAAAADJw/ypALEw7Lkes/s1600/toothpaste.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TEPeuAGKCVI/AAAAAAAADJw/ypALEw7Lkes/s320/toothpaste.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495480852203309394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Scary news:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> My insurance benefits through USC end next month. This means that I either need to pick up another part time/full time job or get a full time job at The Nurturing Center. Big decision time coming up! Wish me luck. I've had a couple interviews. Let me know if they pay the social workers in your area big bucks! I heard they're paying like about $10/hr more in DC than here for some of the social work positions. Too bad I really, really like it here in SC (most of the time)!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-42449365197857393232010-07-09T10:27:00.000-07:002010-07-09T18:33:29.466-07:00What I'm doing right now....... Is listening to a very sad and tired Eliza cry it out while rolling on the ground in her room. Poor girl.<br /><br />See, it all started with a little newborn sucking on just one little pacifier.<br /><br />Three years, 2 months, and ~5 days later, we took away all the pacifiers. She did pretty well the first two days at my house, besides a rough night of waking up every few hours and crying. But she was happily announcing to people, "No more ba-ba's!" (Babas were what she called her pacifiers).<br /><br />Now she's just sad ... and GRUMPY! and does NOT want to take a nap. And has a hand or finger in her mouth constantly when she starts getting tired.<br /><br />Baba Withdrawals is what we're experiencing here, folks!<br /><br />So all those reassuring stories we heard along the way- puh! Oh how deceiving!<br /><br />"I just told my daughter that the paci fairy came and took away all the pacifiers. She asked for it once and then never again!"<br /><br />"I helped my child collect all the paci's and then we threw them away. They were fine after that!" or "There was a little crying here and there, but not anything big."<br /><br />"We just cut a little bit off the pacifier every night until there was hardly anything left. Then he just stopped asking for it after a while!"<br /><br />Well, good for you! Spread your fiction and picture perfect stories to other "suckers," why don't you! I, however, prefer honesty!<br /><br />We'll add this experience as another chapter of the book, "Things they never tell you about parenting because otherwise you'd never have Kids!"<br /><br />Anyways, I'm trying to dole out lots of validation and reassurance! Praying for patience and for the withdrawal stage to break! It'll come, right? I mean, people eventually overcome opium addictions, so SURELY this too shall pass as well right?<br /><br />Oh, and yes, I packed up Eliza's baba's into a box, and she wants to ship them to her new baby girl cousin! ... AND she hasn't asked for it at all since the first day. She knows that pacifiers are for babies and not big girls and that it's hurting her teeth.<br /><br />And yet, she's still rolling on the floor crying. I'd post a picture, but I think that someone would report me for cruelty to 3 yr olds.<br /><br />Sorry, Eliza, no one but me can hear your screams from the basement...<br /><br />p.s. Steve's on board with this whole plan too... in case you're concerned.<br /><br />p.p.s. Please don't leave any comments about how cruel I am-- I already feel it enough on my own. I'd be happy to let Eliza have a pacifier until she's 41 yrs. old if it wouldn't mess up her mouth and reek havoc on any chance of her ever having a social life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-61784803347108572492010-06-20T20:25:00.000-07:002010-06-20T22:30:03.622-07:00The District<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7lkiammKI/AAAAAAAADIw/RDG9RQpGe7M/s1600/SDC11472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485073812060280994" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7lkiammKI/AAAAAAAADIw/RDG9RQpGe7M/s400/SDC11472.JPG" border="0" /></a> Eliza and I spent last week in DC and Maryland with the handsome man above, Reuben, and Katy, Aaron, and Robby! </div><br />We had SUCH a blast! The best was the time we got to spend with family at...<br /><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">1. The Park!<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ljo7AvCI/AAAAAAAADIo/SgpAEkXL-Cs/s1600/SDC11507.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485073796626955298" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ljo7AvCI/AAAAAAAADIo/SgpAEkXL-Cs/s400/SDC11507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Eliza, Reuben, and I spent HOURS at the two parks that are both just blocks from Kate's house. Since Katy got put on a form of <a href="http://meldau-cummings.blogspot.com/2010/06/update-failed-relaxation.html">bed rest</a>, the three of us tried to give her a break a couple times a day. I know it was really hard for Katy to stay at home while the action was elsewhere.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7liVPagpI/AAAAAAAADIg/Os1hapP1VJo/s1600/SDC11470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485073774163952274" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7liVPagpI/AAAAAAAADIg/Os1hapP1VJo/s400/SDC11470.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7lh4CHkDI/AAAAAAAADIY/UNRm6s52qao/s1600/SDC11466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485073766323556402" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7lh4CHkDI/AAAAAAAADIY/UNRm6s52qao/s400/SDC11466.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kv8S7scI/AAAAAAAADIQ/jzp5LW9ocbI/s1600/SDC11463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072908474364354" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kv8S7scI/AAAAAAAADIQ/jzp5LW9ocbI/s400/SDC11463.JPG" border="0" /></a>Reuben LOVES his walks. He periodically would point out the door to us, saying outside and knock on the door until we let him out. He would climb right into the stroller and say, "Go!" </div><div> </div><div>Reuben knows how to say Eliza and my name now which is AWESOME and adorable!! The first day I was there, I heard Reuben saying my name over and over, and then he walked into the room I was in with one of my sandals. I found out quickly that it is very important to Reuben that everyone wear their shoes! You have to be ready for those walks at all times!</div><div> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">2. The Backyard!</span></strong> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kuVvXssI/AAAAAAAADII/558f02k8MCI/s1600/SDC11475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072880944788162" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kuVvXssI/AAAAAAAADII/558f02k8MCI/s400/SDC11475.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>Katy and Aaron's house is such a neat place! It's got lots of room, some great color, and a fantastic backyard with a deck too! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kYL545dI/AAAAAAAADIA/P6DYgBCOWDA/s1600/SDC11478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072500347430354" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kYL545dI/AAAAAAAADIA/P6DYgBCOWDA/s400/SDC11478.JPG" border="0" /></a> The BALLER!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kXibuvjI/AAAAAAAADH4/HuOf_FZJG4g/s1600/SDC11479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 240px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072489215082034" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kXibuvjI/AAAAAAAADH4/HuOf_FZJG4g/s400/SDC11479.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Katy said that this picture makes it look like Eliza lost a horrendous game of dodgeball. Haha! Instead, it's Eliza playing Sleeping Beauty.</div><div> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3. Bookstore!</span></strong></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kWJA-iNI/AAAAAAAADHw/BgTBTyIMCSg/s1600/SDC11482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072465212115154" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kWJA-iNI/AAAAAAAADHw/BgTBTyIMCSg/s400/SDC11482.JPG" border="0" /></a> We got to go to the church bookstore, and here are some CD's that I wish I could have gotten...umm... but not really.</div><div> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3. Georgetown!</span></strong></div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 384px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072430173913714" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kUGfOAnI/AAAAAAAADHg/UTMY1pG3k-E/s400/SDC11485.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kVHr0jUI/AAAAAAAADHo/hpsG0bSvyXw/s1600/SDC11486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 349px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485072447675075906" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7kVHr0jUI/AAAAAAAADHo/hpsG0bSvyXw/s400/SDC11486.JPG" border="0" /></a>On one of the evenings, Eliza and I took the train into the city to visit Robby! Eliza was SO excited to ride the train- excited enough that she actually SMILED for the pictures!! </div><div> </div><div>Robby and his friend, Myra, walked with us into Georgetown and got some dinner and YUMMY cupcakes!<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jqzqlv9I/AAAAAAAADHY/gaZ29nfj0j8/s1600/SDC11487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485071720746696658" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jqzqlv9I/AAAAAAAADHY/gaZ29nfj0j8/s400/SDC11487.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was a really long line to the cupcake place, but soo worth it!<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jnWYPA_I/AAAAAAAADHI/9l_8aH73YNA/s1600/SDC11489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485071661345473522" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jnWYPA_I/AAAAAAAADHI/9l_8aH73YNA/s400/SDC11489.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jnL9P76I/AAAAAAAADHA/xiRJXlCjEK0/s1600/SDC11492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485071658547933090" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jnL9P76I/AAAAAAAADHA/xiRJXlCjEK0/s400/SDC11492.JPG" border="0" /></a>(Myra gave Eliza a ring pop which won Eliza's heart and tummy!)</div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">4. The Zoo!</span></strong></div><div align="left"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485070578915616562" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ioWA2JzI/AAAAAAAADGo/lqNqEvqBDLA/s400/SDC11495.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">We did a congested version of the DC zoo. We tried to choose parts of the zoo that had places to sit down and not do a ton of walking... not our best idea for the whole bed rest thing, but Reuben managed to fit some rest in.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485071628239504626" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7jlbDKBPI/AAAAAAAADG4/DZTELHn4k44/s400/SDC11493.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ip_OAOZI/AAAAAAAADGw/cgfG961oT-A/s1600/SDC11494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485070607156525458" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ip_OAOZI/AAAAAAAADGw/cgfG961oT-A/s400/SDC11494.JPG" border="0" /></a>Katy was "behaving" herself by sitting down at the aquarium for a while. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7imlNPozI/AAAAAAAADGg/63BYf16L6B8/s1600/SDC11500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485070548634411826" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7imlNPozI/AAAAAAAADGg/63BYf16L6B8/s400/SDC11500.JPG" border="0" /></a>Eliza spotted this stuffed Cheetah and froze, asking me if it was real. I reassured her that it was not alive... I was not exactly sure how to explain that it was dead but stuffed? So I told her that it couldn't hurt her. She pointed it out for the camera.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7imNZPqlI/AAAAAAAADGY/FbhgBHfFkxY/s1600/SDC11501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485070542242294354" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7imNZPqlI/AAAAAAAADGY/FbhgBHfFkxY/s400/SDC11501.JPG" border="0" /></a>There was the Amazon Rain Forest floor where there are these monkeys just out and about. Eliza was kinda freaked out by them. I asked her to take a picture with it in the back, but she did NOT want to turn her back on that thing!! haha. But she wanted a picture of it to show Oma.<br /><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ik1JmqfI/AAAAAAAADGQ/ats1xYq7Qeg/s1600/SDC11502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485070518554372594" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7ik1JmqfI/AAAAAAAADGQ/ats1xYq7Qeg/s400/SDC11502.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5. Food!<br /></span></strong><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" >I didn't get any pictures of myself stuffing my face, but boy did I ever! I got spoiled with Peruvian chicken, treats and shakes from the Brazilian market, Dim Sun yummy-ness with Kate, the cupcakes, a bday cake with amazing homemade frosting by Katy, Greek sandwiches, some of the best Indian food I've had, and homemade crepes almost every morning! It's a good thing I was burning some of those calories off by pushing Eliza and Reuben around in the double stroller!! </span></span></strong><br /><strong></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />6. Family!</span></strong><br /><div align="center"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485069469078102226" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7hnvi9oNI/AAAAAAAADF4/XXWTioNqRYE/s400/SDC11522.JPG" border="0" />Eliza was THRILLED to see Uncle Robby! She was so sad when we dropped him off at the Metro on Friday morning. She kept telling me that she was sad that we said bye to Uncle Robby and kept asking me why he had to go to work.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I also LOVED getting to see Rob! I went to institute with him on Wednesday night too. He's the BEST brother EVER! He really made my birthday week the best one I can remember! He is such a generous, giving, and FUN person! I'm not always very good at being "fun," but Robby helps me out!<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485069442111712306" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7hmLFrLDI/AAAAAAAADFw/W5VvA_ljh1I/s400/SDC11519.JPG" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485069485597861698" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7hotFlJ0I/AAAAAAAADGA/0aA6Cy1iwxE/s400/SDC11524.JPG" border="0" /> It was also WONDERFUL to get to spend time with Kate this week! I know she was really bummed by the bed rest order. She still tried hard to make our DC week fun, but I LOVED just getting to hang out and talk with her. I've missed her SO much since she moved up to Maryland in April! She is such a hard worker and an incredible mom! I don't know how she does all that she does. Despite her and Aaron's busy-ness, they were amazingly kind to let Eliza and us invade their house and make our time special!! <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 278px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485069500910791346" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TB7hpmId6rI/AAAAAAAADGI/RaY_1PabPbw/s400/SDC11525.JPG" border="0" />Thanks for having us! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-69417454432112486462010-06-19T23:34:00.000-07:002010-06-20T05:54:28.130-07:00Dog Children: Best Park Game EVER!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br />Eliza & Reuben Playing at the Park! </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy5XljAETXmAmcecKi1TOj_r4BexBVXVNramqtE7dCIO_I4xvR7Gto0s_Mgmg0gRieJb0nEyVmZ4lTwWWBr-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-15019655126504560622010-06-12T13:11:00.000-07:002010-06-12T13:24:21.737-07:00Cousins & Family @ the Beach!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq2yDf3AI/AAAAAAAADFg/HE0tFokRLQY/s1600/HPIM2799.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq2yDf3AI/AAAAAAAADFg/HE0tFokRLQY/s320/HPIM2799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481983398310304770" border="0" /></a>Here are just a couple of my favorite pictures from the beach vacation we took a couple weeks ago. They are some scenes that I hope to repeat this week as Eliza and I join the DC crowd for the next week!!!! Yay for cousin time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq2bsqtiI/AAAAAAAADFY/MgfTqk9MXTM/s1600/HPIM2791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq2bsqtiI/AAAAAAAADFY/MgfTqk9MXTM/s320/HPIM2791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481983392308966946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq1P1GVnI/AAAAAAAADFI/Uen2GZ17FO8/s1600/SDC11401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq1P1GVnI/AAAAAAAADFI/Uen2GZ17FO8/s320/SDC11401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481983371943237234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq0QjoyGI/AAAAAAAADFA/x6bty_qhtI0/s1600/HPIM2821.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq0QjoyGI/AAAAAAAADFA/x6bty_qhtI0/s320/HPIM2821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481983354958563426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps my favorite family picture ever:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq1uevt9I/AAAAAAAADFQ/Cgkneek2afY/s1600/HPIM2830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TBPq1uevt9I/AAAAAAAADFQ/Cgkneek2afY/s320/HPIM2830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481983380170979282" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-47903862084888224872010-06-05T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-05T17:19:53.046-07:00This is the end. This is the calm.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TArpljp4NjI/AAAAAAAADEw/gMZovwFbpEU/s1600/road.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/TArpljp4NjI/AAAAAAAADEw/gMZovwFbpEU/s320/road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479448728084952626" border="0" /></a><br />I hopped on my bike yesterday and went for a really nice ride. The thermometer said it was 83 degrees outside, but the sun was hiding behind the clouds. There was a really nice breeze.<br /><br />My ride was revitalizing and empowering. There's something wonderful about making my body push itself to it's limits-- feeling my heart pounding in my chest, my lungs reaching for air, and my muscles burning. I felt strong.<br /><br />I like to have destinations for my bike rides, though, and this bike ride will probably have the most significant destination of all the others! I biked over to Main Street in Lexington, across from the county courthouse- my lawyer's office.<br /><br />They had the papers waiting for me at the bottom floor office. I initialed 8 pages and signed the last. My heart was still beating hard from my pedaling, and I could hear my blood beating through my ears as I flipped from one page to the next. My initials, AMM, above the initials that were already there, SAM.<br /><br />And it was done.<br /><br />I picked up my bike helmet and left. I biked some more around Lexington without much thought put into where I was headed. I vaguely thought about how many of those roads were the same ones I biked on 10 years ago... 10 years ago when everything was so much less complicated. I'd never been on a date before, never had a boyfriend, never shared a kiss... Things were so much less complicated then, although, there is great irony in that statement because I would NEVER want to repeat being 14 years old.<br /><br />Things were simpler but far more confusing than now.<br /><br />I may now feel weighted down by more baggage at the age of 24- the pain of heart breaks, the stress of poverty, the loneliness of leaving home and trying to find independence, depression-- BUT the difference is... I am much less CONFUSED and LOST.<br /><br />Somehow, through this divorce, I have found myself again. I don't think that's what usually happens to people when they get divorce. But for the first time in YEARS, I don't feel lost.<br /><br />I have peace. I have a home. I have the atonement working in my life. I have hope and faith.<br /><br />I'm working on having patience!<br /><br />and I have Eliza...<br /><br />... and I still have a friend in Steve. It's not the relationship we had hoped to have with each other, but we've made a decision. No longer husband and wife- now we'll have new titles. Exes, Co-parents, divorcees. To those titles we've signed our names.<br /><br />But the title of friend is what I value most.<br /><br />And I think I'll take another bike ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-14229434533488489012010-05-25T20:09:00.000-07:002010-05-25T21:22:30.559-07:00Your jibberish is sweet, honey<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A few things that have made me happy lately are...</span><br /><ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>Seeing Eliza's pony tail swing back and forth as she chased after Grandpa on a walk, playing tag.</li><li>Spotting Eliza and her Oma jogging in place while playing a Wii game together in the living room -- Hilarious!</li><li>Writing in my journal consistently again!</li><li>Watching the second season of Pushing Daisies on DVD, especially since our satellite is disconnected and Pushing Daisies is BRILLIANT. "Our love is heartier like two blind fish swimming in a volcano at the bottom of the ocean."</li><li>Listening to general conference talks on my IPOD during my commute!</li><li>Baking desserts!<br /></li><li>Lying in Eliza's bed with her while reading her bedtime stories about getting to be a flower girl and getting Eliza's arm around my neck hugs! </li><li>Cuddling with Finnegan while I work on my laptop!</li><li>Eating extra sharp cheddar cheese with green apple slices. Yum!</li><li>Hearing Reuben say my NAME!!! and having him reach out for me to hold him! and watching him and Eliza playing and cracking up over the weekend! </li><li>Feeling the ocean waves crash and splash on me while Eliza squealed with exuberant glee in my arms.<br /></li><li>Seeing family that I've missed SO much at NC outer banks over the weekend! (pics to come)</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-59279983571032168832010-05-18T17:00:00.000-07:002010-05-18T17:00:09.105-07:00Musings on MOM<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQBuM7UaI/AAAAAAAADEo/uSqcNFOr9WI/s1600/SDC11338.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472524487720915362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQBuM7UaI/AAAAAAAADEo/uSqcNFOr9WI/s320/SDC11338.JPG" /></a> I always knew that I wanted to be a mother. I was over-joyed when I found out that I was pregnant with Eliza. It felt like a gazillion Christmas mornings combined when I finally got to hold Eliza in my arms when she was my newborn babe. I have fallen madly in love with this little girl, Eliza Mae. </div><div align="center">~~~</div><div align="center">I'm not going to lie and say that I've loved every minute of being a mom- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">cuz</span> seriously guys, if you just factor in the amount of POOP and other bodily fluids that you have to deal with as a mother and nothing else, you know there are moments that aren't pleasurable. There are also tears and frustration, stress and bewilderment.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">BUT ... she's worth it!<br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472524471389905154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQAxXT4QI/AAAAAAAADEY/BHkOYgFPWtw/s320/SDC11346.JPG" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQBOkSqHI/AAAAAAAADEg/ILtNdUZbXiA/s1600/SDC11344.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472524479228979314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQBOkSqHI/AAAAAAAADEg/ILtNdUZbXiA/s320/SDC11344.JPG" /></a> I love my momma! She's my best friend and confidant! I value her wisdom, virtue, kindness, patience, and guidance-- I could go on and on. She's a beautiful woman who has faced many a challenge and hardship and persevered with such admirable strength and faith. My hero. </div><div align="center">~~~</div><div align="center">This mother's day was hard for me. Not just because Eliza refused to take a nap and had a tantrum during most of dinner. But it was hard. My mom and other dear friends and family helped me pull through it, though. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I want to be better at seeing all of the good things in my life, instead of the sad or bad ones that seem to overshadow me sometimes. I hope that the tone of this blog is a reflection of that effort!<br />~~~</div><div align="center"> My mom and I went to a store the Saturday before Mother's day. As I scoped out the little girls' dress section, Mom took Eliza to another part of the store and let her pick out a present for me! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hehe</span>. Thanks, Mom!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Mom said that Eliza kept saying that she wanted to get me something funny, that would make me laugh. She came up with several colorful necklaces, a "silly" shirt, and a Purple (of course) gift bag that reads, "You look funny when you dance." LOVED IT!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQAc7auUI/AAAAAAAADEQ/KDcdevf0HLw/s1600/SDC11353.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472524465904204098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JQAc7auUI/AAAAAAAADEQ/KDcdevf0HLw/s320/SDC11353.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JP_6vVfPI/AAAAAAAADEI/LLG3-YtyLdo/s1600/SDC11354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472524456726723826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JP_6vVfPI/AAAAAAAADEI/LLG3-YtyLdo/s320/SDC11354.JPG" /></a> I know this is tardy, but THANK YOU to all the moms out there and all the mother figures who have helped nurture and guide me! ESPECIALLY <em>my </em>mom, my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Oma</span>, my Grandma Ruth, my aunts- Aunt Joan, Aunt Barbara, and Aunt <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mer</span>, and many other strong women who have helped me in ways they may never know!<br /><br />Okay, I'm done with the sappy sentiments! Sorry if this post was sort of a stream of consciousness!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269621142014851079.post-61960523150181231182010-05-18T00:56:00.000-07:002010-05-18T01:21:36.646-07:00First Day(s) of School!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472516299122271090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JIlFS343I/AAAAAAAADDg/n9C4MeOYvEo/s400/SDC11299.JPG" />That's right, Eliza started pre-school on May 3rd! It may seem like really random timing since the school year gets out at the end of May. However, Steve started working full-time, so we needed a more full-time gig for Eliza! She started at this WONDERFUL <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_method">montessori</a> school that Abby actually went to about 13 years ago! So Eliza has the same teacher that Abby did! Isn't that cool? <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472516760040506066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JI_6WWAtI/AAAAAAAADEA/1fweqkDJuvs/s400/SDC11300.JPG" /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Eliza always runs "laps" around the front lawn before she gets in the car in the morning! She's always rarrin' to go!)</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472516312094764690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JIl1nwbpI/AAAAAAAADDw/TnFPoumbn-A/s400/SDC11313.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472516303079428706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JIlUCVUmI/AAAAAAAADDo/iLiKfabJBio/s400/SDC11307.JPG" /> <div>2nd Day of School-- Tinker Bell lunch box included:<br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472516315027332226" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F057XcSIH0g/S_JImAi73II/AAAAAAAADD4/HDOTEzJXKLM/s400/SDC11316.JPG" /> She looks sooo grown-up to me!! She's done really well transitioning to this new schedule and environment. Her teacher continues to reassure me that she is doing great and said that Eliza is a very loving child. Eliza cried several mornings during the first week but now walks into her classroom like a pro and gets to work!</div><div> </div><div>It was funny today when we went to the library. We walked to the section that has puzzles in it, and there were puzzles left askew on the ground and shelves. Eliza saw the mess and said, "Somebody didn't clean up their work!" Yay for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_method"><strong>Montessori method</strong></a>! Already sinking in! I love how it teaches kids to be independent and take pride in the work they are capable of doing!<br /></div><div>This summer Eliza will get to spend time in one of her montessori certified teacher's homes along with some fun-filled days with her Aunt Abby on the days that we're working!! </div><div> </div><div>Steve and I really had to scramble to find child care for Eliza. It has taken quite some footwork, and I've been picking Eliza up at 2pm every afternoon and trying to do more of my work from home. I feel like we were very blessed to be able to start at the school that's so close to both Steve's and my job that has such an enriching and nurturing atmosphere, and that I finished school just DAYS before Steve started his full-time job. I appreciate that my hours are flexible, and that I get to be home all day with Eliza on Monday's and Friday's still!! </div><div> </div><div>I know Heavenly Father is watching out for our family and helping us make things work! Recently in Relief Society, one of the discussions brought up the dilemma that faces many mothers who work but still want to be home to nurture their children. It reminded me of how grateful I am for personal revelation, and the opportunity that I have had to be a full-time mom and part-time worker since Eliza was ~5 months old. Financially, it might not be feasible for me to always work part-time, but I certainly cherish the time I do have with my girl!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2