tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77436394049114009222024-03-05T07:49:30.503-07:00Devan and Alex Steele FamilyIt's a good life.AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-2624844669150237162017-03-15T16:25:00.002-06:002017-03-15T16:25:10.710-06:00Leprechaun TrapHannah has been building leprechaun traps in preparation for St Patrick's Day. We've been finding ideas online and she's been running with the project. After finishing this one, she asked me if I could put it online so it would show up in a Google image search. So, just for today, I'm returning to blogging and we'll see if the google robots find our leprechaun trap.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvNJS9b4bjFTJrQbWCZ76JH05lejVbUfnlO2r2GDO6FFTOxuSFJjQywNx-5SM-YrX0b6pN5cWhKj0XpVW1Rx8vpUzsM5ULau5wx7jQdVe2vI3Odw9mYKSlD1CfOjRJlFBcNSDIh3Nnr0/s1600/20170315_143923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvNJS9b4bjFTJrQbWCZ76JH05lejVbUfnlO2r2GDO6FFTOxuSFJjQywNx-5SM-YrX0b6pN5cWhKj0XpVW1Rx8vpUzsM5ULau5wx7jQdVe2vI3Odw9mYKSlD1CfOjRJlFBcNSDIh3Nnr0/s320/20170315_143923.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeYlb8AzC7Iay448RoRMAS-KsLSFeFWoEpIIdGNKkZZ_3ahxGLS9ovizaezSMD4Qzcz3A0vj03xqAcmouEX2FJJtmIVTb6Wwi81BkGsAC4aRlZHxeFnFz4vYqdjy4BcOPradbbKjrRLA/s1600/20170315_143853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeYlb8AzC7Iay448RoRMAS-KsLSFeFWoEpIIdGNKkZZ_3ahxGLS9ovizaezSMD4Qzcz3A0vj03xqAcmouEX2FJJtmIVTb6Wwi81BkGsAC4aRlZHxeFnFz4vYqdjy4BcOPradbbKjrRLA/s320/20170315_143853.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
I'll let Hannah explain her trap to you:</div>
<div>
"the leprechaun climes up the ladder, and wen it steps on the top the toilet paper ,it rips and the leprechaun is trapped. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
you will need: a toilet paper roll , a bag of popsicle sticks, yellow paper, clear tape, and 4 squares of toilet paper."</div>
AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-35915067528447300912014-07-27T01:02:00.001-06:002014-07-27T01:02:11.069-06:00Motorcycle<p dir=ltr>Today Ben was asking Devan to buy a motorcycle.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Devan: When you're as big as I am, then I'll buy a motorcycle. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Ben: Do you hope you won't be dead before I'm as big as you are?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Devan: Yes, I hope I'm not dead before you're as big as me.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Me: Ben, do you hope Dad isn't dead before you're as big as him?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Ben: No, then I'd just buy my OWN motorcycle. </p>
<br/><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><font size="2">Posted via Blogaway</font></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0Puyallup, United States47.144678 -122.3163504tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-46005844403052829372014-07-14T17:51:00.001-06:002014-07-14T18:02:09.665-06:00Monday<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Mondays we babysit and I have school at night, so Mondays are usually our stay home day for the week. I try to catch up on housework after the weekend and do homework before class and the kids fight all day. The days always start out with such big goals and by the end of the day we've all got cabin fever and we're ready for another week of going to the park every day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today we...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Played with Legos</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTNVBtHfk0ueTs0qQTm5n7KSsS0Tj_lziSs9hrh5llNNyZkjfQM3TpHrW41QlUXlXgF4nIs7PDvPGm0Hjm7SH8_b1rVHQ87o2QXslJOR3uYN0em8YNNjQ3QLk8kqrzSkraj4XfYP8QKM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTNVBtHfk0ueTs0qQTm5n7KSsS0Tj_lziSs9hrh5llNNyZkjfQM3TpHrW41QlUXlXgF4nIs7PDvPGm0Hjm7SH8_b1rVHQ87o2QXslJOR3uYN0em8YNNjQ3QLk8kqrzSkraj4XfYP8QKM/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Josh discovered his pictures on the blog and was super excited. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQFdvKJ9ht7gwDw3pZV2Ct9WKzypJUJCH_yL5a_q2JfrdpUuuMe78T7BDzSvVGvOd0W-RofzxKRiDpUMC3H97_s2U1LlSZ2VH-_WxI6aCmnE0kGPmw4ZmBVvG06MAcGrS5FmjRev_kHE/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQFdvKJ9ht7gwDw3pZV2Ct9WKzypJUJCH_yL5a_q2JfrdpUuuMe78T7BDzSvVGvOd0W-RofzxKRiDpUMC3H97_s2U1LlSZ2VH-_WxI6aCmnE0kGPmw4ZmBVvG06MAcGrS5FmjRev_kHE/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
We all worked together to make a bird's eye model of our house out of Legos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CzvmJc2uJvI/U8Rs7iQ8DBI/AAAAAAAAIkg/DztEYWXjs5w/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140714_103636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CzvmJc2uJvI/U8Rs7iQ8DBI/AAAAAAAAIkg/DztEYWXjs5w/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140714_103636.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
Hannah worked hard to make furniture for "Ben's room"...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx59_8pH0Bg3Yxln6At1g9Ihrt2JzxGdCCJZ3o9nfuTzRLVjYeJorIgbhhg6Jbnym6cy9zo_DOqiPcm6ZfL9bF2Ed3BhkfL1KCxVSVUCdh6JdfKpkr0QLCaz0LJ2JH88yJk2DuZqp9Rlk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx59_8pH0Bg3Yxln6At1g9Ihrt2JzxGdCCJZ3o9nfuTzRLVjYeJorIgbhhg6Jbnym6cy9zo_DOqiPcm6ZfL9bF2Ed3BhkfL1KCxVSVUCdh6JdfKpkr0QLCaz0LJ2JH88yJk2DuZqp9Rlk/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
Then Ben dumped a bunch of random Legos all over the section that was his bedroom. He said, "My room's always messy!" I thought it was a good demonstration of his ability to understand symbols. Hannah was just mad that he was messing up her work. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-StEIwJFvyVM/U8Rs0-_IgSI/AAAAAAAAIkY/ex8YyvZKBvM/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140714_105220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-StEIwJFvyVM/U8Rs0-_IgSI/AAAAAAAAIkY/ex8YyvZKBvM/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140714_105220.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
While we were building, someone always wanted to be on my lap, so after lunch we had a long reading time. They all chose books and whosever book I was reading got to sit on my lap. We read about whales and looked on the globe to discover that all the oceans connect. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
Then we babysat 5 friends. </div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElb_h7Q5B8UT7jCqx_-qIVGzwPuYf1pZNugzCIz_i795N6yQw5177UZv45JYrZkruRJue3nEugW590AXAKQDkWOjeS-U58Lyr2wI-bSlSYehlQWgKIvkD6LcGxfN9RlIaIIuaEHuTMXg/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElb_h7Q5B8UT7jCqx_-qIVGzwPuYf1pZNugzCIz_i795N6yQw5177UZv45JYrZkruRJue3nEugW590AXAKQDkWOjeS-U58Lyr2wI-bSlSYehlQWgKIvkD6LcGxfN9RlIaIIuaEHuTMXg/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
Then I went crazy and was SO glad when 5:00 came and I could run away to school. In this heat, getting to go to an air conditioned school and have discussions with adults is my ultimate "me" time!</div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted via Blogaway</span></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-55956194749982154612014-07-14T01:30:00.001-06:002014-07-14T01:40:27.633-06:00Fancy Hannah<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
We've been reading a lot of "Fancy Nancy" books and now Hannah wants to be fancy all the time. For the last few weeks she's worn dresses or skirts every single day. She has shirts and dresses that I call play clothes, which she'll wear if she has to, but what she really wants is to run around everyday in fancy church dresses. The rule is she can't play outside or eat in church clothes. So, we experience a costume change before every meal. I used to tell her she couldn't wear her tights to play outside, but now I just beg her, please, wear shoes over your tights outside!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here she is giving her brothers a ride, wearing her favorite fancy dress and shoes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkbpkAKweTlI06paXWBNkeAtx7UQflzwhHDJppXQUmFMnx3A62y6qvaoCQtB1GWy-_3vsTOjsQpzGyBsML7qiY-gABPDNbIJj8gEtrVYFmIxdcXYDEIob2cpvKJrb6ihHPqcZs2NAq9k/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkbpkAKweTlI06paXWBNkeAtx7UQflzwhHDJppXQUmFMnx3A62y6qvaoCQtB1GWy-_3vsTOjsQpzGyBsML7qiY-gABPDNbIJj8gEtrVYFmIxdcXYDEIob2cpvKJrb6ihHPqcZs2NAq9k/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
She dressed in the same shirt she wore on her first day of school, packed her purse and grabbed a book and asked me to take a picture. She pretended she was going to school. (I don't know why all my vertical pictures are uploading weird. Click on the picture to see the non-distorted image)</div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZtPgER4L-ErOSdPavpYB8dHOBt6Gs31HpNlA4ybh947RCUyFda1CXcHrM7SpVRviVvrS-YWhK1Za2iNc-y1ThmTo0JIC0b7TO5QiWWEnf8cTCWV5C6WM4pOl0e90RSr4REXFkDPFgRc/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZtPgER4L-ErOSdPavpYB8dHOBt6Gs31HpNlA4ybh947RCUyFda1CXcHrM7SpVRviVvrS-YWhK1Za2iNc-y1ThmTo0JIC0b7TO5QiWWEnf8cTCWV5C6WM4pOl0e90RSr4REXFkDPFgRc/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
She and her brothers with their play scarves. These went from butterfly wings, to capes, to whatever this is, in the period of 15 minutes. </div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q5WtAWHO59I/U8OG3c2_usI/AAAAAAAAIf4/7xWuTh57utU/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140630_081228.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q5WtAWHO59I/U8OG3c2_usI/AAAAAAAAIf4/7xWuTh57utU/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140630_081228.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_l_nSjMo1fN83PnwMHgnWgtQJTSELpK2MjDBKknoMqVi9E8AXae9fF1dwYKNV78L_3G76kgAyc1M2gBIgEXqGB4w1FQ_9rBb8bJo5_HmRC8kDEgwoG9l2USzzifgLXWOlkkuKfDi1E90/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_l_nSjMo1fN83PnwMHgnWgtQJTSELpK2MjDBKknoMqVi9E8AXae9fF1dwYKNV78L_3G76kgAyc1M2gBIgEXqGB4w1FQ_9rBb8bJo5_HmRC8kDEgwoG9l2USzzifgLXWOlkkuKfDi1E90/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Even hauling rocks, she was wearing a fancy dress. I guess she slipped past the "no church clothes outside" rule that day. </div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oQXnEQmUDG4/U8OHKE27-cI/AAAAAAAAIgQ/d1gI5Isd0g4/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152806.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oQXnEQmUDG4/U8OHKE27-cI/AAAAAAAAIgQ/d1gI5Isd0g4/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152806.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
And this has nothing to do with anything, just our Lincoln who we babysit looking cute in butterfly wings. The girls were wearing some and he wanted a pair, but then wasn't so sure about them once they were on. </div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f1lKKnPERaA/U8OG75a14PI/AAAAAAAAIgA/RJSUQINnQbk/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_145730.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f1lKKnPERaA/U8OG75a14PI/AAAAAAAAIgA/RJSUQINnQbk/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_145730.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted via Blogaway</span></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-41645434305775077062014-07-11T01:32:00.000-06:002014-07-14T01:44:39.075-06:00Potluck<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
Today we had an unofficial preschool get-together. We did a potluck with 6 of our preschool families. I really just needed an excuse to make and eat potato salad. We met at Wildwood park, which is my very favorite park in the area. It was so nice and shady. My adventurous kids (Hannah and Josh) had a great time exploring the surrounding forest (where I could see them)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wkGM_0Y6g5A/U8OHfCRlNDI/AAAAAAAAIgk/RWmCL3LM9r4/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140710_110441.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wkGM_0Y6g5A/U8OHfCRlNDI/AAAAAAAAIgk/RWmCL3LM9r4/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140710_110441.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GonZonlR-I0/U8OHXvXl5YI/AAAAAAAAIgc/hOqM3Hjo21g/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140710_110515.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GonZonlR-I0/U8OHXvXl5YI/AAAAAAAAIgc/hOqM3Hjo21g/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140710_110515.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted via Blogaway</span></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-76076618739440791982014-07-09T01:17:00.000-06:002014-07-14T01:21:33.937-06:00Field day<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
My friend from church set up an afternoon of summer games for the kids. She made an amazing obstacle course relay, and had balls and parachutes and hula hoops. It was a blast. It was also 85 degrees, so the kids spend a lot of time at the water spigot. I gave my kids their sandwich bags after lunch and that was all the water toys they needed. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5GcjxmaAnVI/U8OEAiBeC_I/AAAAAAAAIfM/preifH7mips/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140709_111742.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5GcjxmaAnVI/U8OEAiBeC_I/AAAAAAAAIfM/preifH7mips/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140709_111742.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OxqWoEwbfZ4/U8OD1CVhsII/AAAAAAAAIfE/ojUHiZGUPPo/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140709_125724.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OxqWoEwbfZ4/U8OD1CVhsII/AAAAAAAAIfE/ojUHiZGUPPo/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140709_125724.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRy0VzTRNCBXUbKsA1DLHv48U73L-pLCqOk4mWGPQDnKSobxeD8dW-W7jZcf_g51Rx53hazxAUUg9QUyX_-UNJO_PFAnOMP6C9to4By58cbFotDeugWpkO6vDf4B4c_oNnM6oFe4B7DRE/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRy0VzTRNCBXUbKsA1DLHv48U73L-pLCqOk4mWGPQDnKSobxeD8dW-W7jZcf_g51Rx53hazxAUUg9QUyX_-UNJO_PFAnOMP6C9to4By58cbFotDeugWpkO6vDf4B4c_oNnM6oFe4B7DRE/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-AvCf6-r-E2ZHu-mDZU2cCxH3d-vzVO7n1Ghdnory0pEoZZul8z-l8mJupi1YnQEjK66Ws53n_vf7MBgOGGckw6ONiQz31nzwMQTDtg72gHDjfbUFYg5mWMoBowgUglZc8UZDs5h3H4/"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-AvCf6-r-E2ZHu-mDZU2cCxH3d-vzVO7n1Ghdnory0pEoZZul8z-l8mJupi1YnQEjK66Ws53n_vf7MBgOGGckw6ONiQz31nzwMQTDtg72gHDjfbUFYg5mWMoBowgUglZc8UZDs5h3H4/ cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted via Blogaway</span></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-14622997400956695502014-07-07T01:12:00.000-06:002014-07-14T01:13:32.372-06:00Our tadpoles all died. It's okay because the pond they were living in at Devan's work also dried up. We gave them a couple extra days of life.<br />
<br />
<br />AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-76797747659709094252014-07-01T01:25:00.000-06:002014-07-14T01:29:07.565-06:00<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L-L4ADxeAOQ/U8OF_iEX3wI/AAAAAAAAIfc/vY4cdjEnYPs/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140702_142505.jpg"><img height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L-L4ADxeAOQ/U8OF_iEX3wI/AAAAAAAAIfc/vY4cdjEnYPs/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140702_142505.jpg cursor: pointer;" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid currentColor; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Painting on one of the hottest days of the year. Ben had the right idea. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted via Blogaway</span></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-84568941401569329642014-06-30T09:33:00.001-06:002014-06-30T09:33:30.745-06:00Tadpoles<div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bk51j7b7OQA/U7GCWB1bYjI/AAAAAAAAFY4/TmCd-BWQf0Y/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152517.jpg"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bk51j7b7OQA/U7GCWB1bYjI/AAAAAAAAFY4/TmCd-BWQf0Y/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152517.jpg cursor: pointer;" height="240" width="320" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7uE03l_GIr4/U7GCiCVHwsI/AAAAAAAAFZM/ssemhphVPzg/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_153344.jpg"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7uE03l_GIr4/U7GCiCVHwsI/AAAAAAAAFZM/ssemhphVPzg/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_153344.jpg cursor: pointer;" height="240" width="320" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8xB-IbgM_E/U7GC06QylpI/AAAAAAAAFZo/NXbsWrgY-PY/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152811.jpg"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8xB-IbgM_E/U7GC06QylpI/AAAAAAAAFZo/NXbsWrgY-PY/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152811.jpg cursor: pointer;" height="240" width="320" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SYE7-FZTPWA/U7GDFMN6A4I/AAAAAAAAFZ8/rlPsmi2P-zU/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152804.jpg"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SYE7-FZTPWA/U7GDFMN6A4I/AAAAAAAAFZ8/rlPsmi2P-zU/%25252Fstorage%25252Fsdcard0%25252F.blogaway%25252F20140627_152804.jpg cursor: pointer;" height="240" width="320" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMq4hyphenhyphenVQFYYnS_N2GE1rnXnxXCYJozZOvmPRhDATJNq17rfse5RvMa-QD0PZAR9G_EAruO2wKeZTBXNjK9gTZyvo0EbIvC3aPlR2DzJXfvD1yHWZ8PnEuTi39t37Igc4iqA1_JSWiQPI/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMq4hyphenhyphenVQFYYnS_N2GE1rnXnxXCYJozZOvmPRhDATJNq17rfse5RvMa-QD0PZAR9G_EAruO2wKeZTBXNjK9gTZyvo0EbIvC3aPlR2DzJXfvD1yHWZ8PnEuTi39t37Igc4iqA1_JSWiQPI/ cursor: pointer;" height="240" width="320" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px;" /></a></div><p dir=ltr>On Friday Devan brought home a can of tadpoles he'd caught out of a ditch at work. They're all I'm varying stages of development. We set up a little home for them in the tub that was once the baby chickens' home. Devan had the kids haul rocks to the I'm a toy truck to the woodpile and then they built the frog habitat. It was all very exciting. We're now trying to learn how to keep tadpoles alive. </p>
<br/><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beanie.blog"><font size="2">Posted via Blogaway</font></a>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0Puyallup, United States47.1446592 -122.3163818tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-38446517678899208692014-02-10T15:11:00.000-07:002014-02-10T22:57:57.637-07:00Assessment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This morning the kids' preschool teacher posted an article on Facebook that went along perfectly with what I meant to write about today. (You can find the entire Washington Post article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/02/06/a-really-scary-headline-about-kindergarteners/ ) Almost all the points brought up in the article were issues that led me to pulling Hannah out of school. I especially want to talk about the section on assessments today. The article listed developmentally appropriate assessment guidelines. They are:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
"1. Encourage policies that protect children from undue pressure and
stress and from judgments that will have a negative impact on their
lives in the present and in the future.<br />
2. Promote the use of assessments that are based on observations of children, their development and learning.<br />
3. Work to ensure that classroom assessments are used for the purpose of improving instruction.<br />
4. Support efforts to eliminate testing of young children that is not intended to improve classroom practice.<br />
5. Eliminate labeling and ranking of children based on standardized tests."<br />
<br />
In the 3 months Hannah was in school, I was shown 3 official assessments of her knowledge. The teacher tested her on things like how many numbers, lower case and capital letters she knew, and shape recognition. The results of these tests varied wildly and every time the assessments showed that she knew less than I knew she did. I wasn't at all concerned though, because I know that kids get nervous in testing situations. Especially my Hannah. Before winter break, the teacher took a day off to get everyone's report cards ready. I was furious. I have zero interest in seeing a report card for my kindergartener.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, so I was in bed and Ben and I were talking about writing. I asked him if he wanted to learn to write his name and he got really excited, so we got out a pencil and paper. We sat on my bed and I showed him how to make the letters in his name. Another thing I love about homeschooling is that we have "school" anywhere and everywhere. Look at those flannel sheets. Isn't that a cozy way to learn to write?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you click to zoom in, you can see his backwards capital B, capital E and he was just about to erase the lines he did for N.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwr8wtex3wxDBOrn89-FuCZ_CWyRBB2HohmBEYEOn-jRzUoMp5PV5Cde3zcXxb5-AReL4uWov_y6A468cYZpgevvUJycyEp4ETSt3a8qTVg6ySUk7u0n-_Tr5cIYqnKuQ6yoMCt_mcz8/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwr8wtex3wxDBOrn89-FuCZ_CWyRBB2HohmBEYEOn-jRzUoMp5PV5Cde3zcXxb5-AReL4uWov_y6A468cYZpgevvUJycyEp4ETSt3a8qTVg6ySUk7u0n-_Tr5cIYqnKuQ6yoMCt_mcz8/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then he asked me to help him write STEELE</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsLGn6C2nts9VzO3-jDLO1gFSSc-9KK6eJkAyq1unWM7TCoM1BY3-xFVOoFLoY6p5rJ8b7OXF27nnUNwM0dTUn54coVh6Luq9rhlH1a6SZmzOmSYYjaVnCvaZ_rXX0Iyhf9rNedSPz0I/s1600/IMG_9707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsLGn6C2nts9VzO3-jDLO1gFSSc-9KK6eJkAyq1unWM7TCoM1BY3-xFVOoFLoY6p5rJ8b7OXF27nnUNwM0dTUn54coVh6Luq9rhlH1a6SZmzOmSYYjaVnCvaZ_rXX0Iyhf9rNedSPz0I/s1600/IMG_9707.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdCxtQk7RWnxY5pxyFv_NMn-FpRv3eVjIg4ZmdrLMjR5HAmcJTWZXyMZsLvNGu7kT-TMWSKlpMqdAkKcZHlH8_AS5fCfhbad_FoXaVrU-8rkWE7ynJ43m9v_tarc5YPb7RhUazSrtHBU/s1600/IMG_9708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdCxtQk7RWnxY5pxyFv_NMn-FpRv3eVjIg4ZmdrLMjR5HAmcJTWZXyMZsLvNGu7kT-TMWSKlpMqdAkKcZHlH8_AS5fCfhbad_FoXaVrU-8rkWE7ynJ43m9v_tarc5YPb7RhUazSrtHBU/s1600/IMG_9708.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Clearly, his letters need work. We spent a lot of the time just working on holding the pencil properly. When Hannah was this age, she could write her name, but it was because she was always interested in writing and drawing. Also, the bones and muscles in boys hands tend to develop slower, so it's normal for them to learn to write later.<br />
<br />
After watching Ben try to write, I decided that he needed to do more work to strengthen his fine motor skills. This was before I'd read the above article, but I was just doing what any good parent or good teacher would do. I assessed using observation and then used that assessment to improve the way I taught. (Principles 2 and 3 above.)<br />
<br />
This afternoon while I was making lunch, I sat Hannah and Ben down with what I told them was a "sewing game." It is designed to help strengthen the small hand muscles that kids need to write and to improve their precision. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz_uICjqMPYEwWbOOPn4H1dF7Dxj5q76jBQk-7518jVSzXMbl5EdwAe0kPD9tRyZLMVMG5N19IH6eDlWJouMZSm0FhiP9ubcQGrJryaaO-LmWvvFYIyowZEjWel1I599LI0iGLVPGtV0/s1600/IMG_9719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz_uICjqMPYEwWbOOPn4H1dF7Dxj5q76jBQk-7518jVSzXMbl5EdwAe0kPD9tRyZLMVMG5N19IH6eDlWJouMZSm0FhiP9ubcQGrJryaaO-LmWvvFYIyowZEjWel1I599LI0iGLVPGtV0/s1600/IMG_9719.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
I took a piece of ribbon, tied a knot in one end and put tape on the other end and gave them colanders to practice weaving the ribbon in and out. Look at all the pinching and grabbing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigurb7MHG9cjnWWwucsa4vKMc0hMnLFIYSIUr8dLKTj4QeRPPf1x3vn9MWOt2xtMrYBQgwfWr7-PpVvl0fM-AmB1E2v8RVVta2AvcBR0fei65bYCZbN0yINneBdGEuaR_kkQWRVD9ZPu0/s1600/IMG_9722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigurb7MHG9cjnWWwucsa4vKMc0hMnLFIYSIUr8dLKTj4QeRPPf1x3vn9MWOt2xtMrYBQgwfWr7-PpVvl0fM-AmB1E2v8RVVta2AvcBR0fei65bYCZbN0yINneBdGEuaR_kkQWRVD9ZPu0/s1600/IMG_9722.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXS4tEGdkQPQhePrVjabOJalFJzkdvDz_vEDjbv0iCrHTV5EkcMYmMZClaj6UIn-GBBfrBkfSn_RaBwV4jTpDcjYDcSVg59wy4qK4u4xIfEHqWpXOykheM-wetJNxakUneLGUlnnXf3I/s1600/IMG_9720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXS4tEGdkQPQhePrVjabOJalFJzkdvDz_vEDjbv0iCrHTV5EkcMYmMZClaj6UIn-GBBfrBkfSn_RaBwV4jTpDcjYDcSVg59wy4qK4u4xIfEHqWpXOykheM-wetJNxakUneLGUlnnXf3I/s1600/IMG_9720.JPG" height="320" width="213" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBwop-UOtOaTsddfyiDTweUuBC0pW0stKWV8O4Lw3yRnLQRl_R5Hl-jRZsyfHKK5psgem7UxRctvNf37dTJsq_Y9aA6sSwSR1myzsQdQ3T-bZR7XT8MA2A_m5U8kvGOfypPjjxW-Tgeg/s1600/IMG_9724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBwop-UOtOaTsddfyiDTweUuBC0pW0stKWV8O4Lw3yRnLQRl_R5Hl-jRZsyfHKK5psgem7UxRctvNf37dTJsq_Y9aA6sSwSR1myzsQdQ3T-bZR7XT8MA2A_m5U8kvGOfypPjjxW-Tgeg/s1600/IMG_9724.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dKyZMS5xxMYUIUvJ8jF5lzAyTm4dskdn0KE6qsbc6J5V45N1nhgJjrPP3Pj_FiPhKMeaznKMyErVSnmQfrJxQVeZTAhE1drRex59bOayY5rGKzon4RyZ03HskbqyvU93NwCxgW09nZ4/s1600/IMG_9730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dKyZMS5xxMYUIUvJ8jF5lzAyTm4dskdn0KE6qsbc6J5V45N1nhgJjrPP3Pj_FiPhKMeaznKMyErVSnmQfrJxQVeZTAhE1drRex59bOayY5rGKzon4RyZ03HskbqyvU93NwCxgW09nZ4/s1600/IMG_9730.JPG" height="400" width="266" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After they got bored, Ben went to the art cabinet and got out some glitter. I was happy to let him play with glitter because squeezing the glue bottle is really good for his little hands and shaking out the glitter right where he wants it to go also improves precision.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CgilpLLykuWzCy5i_3pdd01Kf37wvxaC7cPQNaOIhMNWB4WKsQtxHh23vbQVrZjkeDMLJLBRNiQ-zn_Ey5U7CizWecCIVKXhbIkJvlKgahKF_Xx5eGvUB2YxYynWIXWYszBw1JbpjtE/s1600/IMG_9727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CgilpLLykuWzCy5i_3pdd01Kf37wvxaC7cPQNaOIhMNWB4WKsQtxHh23vbQVrZjkeDMLJLBRNiQ-zn_Ey5U7CizWecCIVKXhbIkJvlKgahKF_Xx5eGvUB2YxYynWIXWYszBw1JbpjtE/s1600/IMG_9727.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8RM6rmuYqpXdnBPZ_WJNB0ApmrmMKI3wvBvYEvDvxQklkkYDaFeLdEQsNQ-5nyxjclRxMRBIrS0tqeRe_MRR6xaSpjdpk2MViT1FclVuTILdeu-sKyvrGTfIeZ-92v3AJNqJrAmrykU/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8RM6rmuYqpXdnBPZ_WJNB0ApmrmMKI3wvBvYEvDvxQklkkYDaFeLdEQsNQ-5nyxjclRxMRBIrS0tqeRe_MRR6xaSpjdpk2MViT1FclVuTILdeu-sKyvrGTfIeZ-92v3AJNqJrAmrykU/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love that I have the time to individually evaluate my children's needs and prepare appropriate experiences for them. People have asked Hannah what she does for homeschool and she can't tell them. She kind of thinks that she isn't doing any school. Little does she know...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-91262552566992792772014-02-09T23:10:00.002-07:002014-02-09T23:56:56.641-07:00Hannah and her DaddyLast night was a dance for primary aged girls and their dads at the church.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ48Wjhc9rhDZKgmtUUb7ci6b_oLv4YaPxR90p2y-xaBdQ0Mto9Tuzi4D-EF_qB0LAtdULwndcM3CFFdqzNEjGyieyrtuD5A-Ptm8uDrD9Rnd2m1AhM_ZF-YA96BzJxxFJQ9MFPbtsSU/s1600/IMG_7846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ48Wjhc9rhDZKgmtUUb7ci6b_oLv4YaPxR90p2y-xaBdQ0Mto9Tuzi4D-EF_qB0LAtdULwndcM3CFFdqzNEjGyieyrtuD5A-Ptm8uDrD9Rnd2m1AhM_ZF-YA96BzJxxFJQ9MFPbtsSU/s1600/IMG_7846.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3LuJZuyfgE2C69WufgK2WNKuHpGAzXLJUCuDscqQQgx_-w7LbOOIsYZQW-bLUg4qAjAtXtQ9AGihh4WxYRN-uYNWzp-De7KMK9buP50nW75XsRm2RrMcMoZJK-JsVX5LBQvE1v0Rk9I/s1600/IMG_7847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3LuJZuyfgE2C69WufgK2WNKuHpGAzXLJUCuDscqQQgx_-w7LbOOIsYZQW-bLUg4qAjAtXtQ9AGihh4WxYRN-uYNWzp-De7KMK9buP50nW75XsRm2RrMcMoZJK-JsVX5LBQvE1v0Rk9I/s1600/IMG_7847.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
They had a milk and cookie bar there and Devan said that the first thing Hannah did was get a cookie for each of her brothers, wrap them in a napkin and have Devan put them in his pocket. I love how she loves her brothers so much. Both boys were home sick with me. We were going to see a movie while Hannah and Dad were at the dance, but then Ben kept coughing until he threw up. He'd been talking about going to a movie theater all day, so I was scared to tell him that we weren't going to be able to go. I said, "You seem like you really don't feel well. Do you think that you're too sick to go to the movie tonight?" He coughed and said, "Yeah, I'm too sick for the movie. I'm also too sick for church tomorrow." And, as it turned out, church was canceled due to the snow. AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-64373877034718319092014-02-07T13:00:00.000-07:002014-02-07T20:58:46.864-07:00Snow Day! Today we got a light dusting of snow, so, naturally, public school was 2 hours late and preschool was canceled. I was supposed to work in Hannah's preschool class this morning, so it was an especially lovely surprise to be able to sleep in until 8 and stay in my pajamas all morning. <br />
<br />
I told the kids to look outside and they were super excited to see the snow. Hannah said, "I guess Dad was wrong!" I asked her if Dad had said it wasn't going to snow today and she said, "No, but he said that it would only snow a little bit." We could still see the grass through the snow, but to this Washington girl, that's a lot of snow!<br />
<br />
Since we weren't in a rush to get anyone off to school, we were able to have a leisurely pancake breakfast. Hannah made pancakes for us for lunch yesterday, so it was Ben's turn to get to cook. We measured out the ingredients (math and motor skills) and Ben and I took turns mixing. Then he and Hannah took turns pouring the pancake batter onto the griddle. We talked about how we know the pancakes are ready to flip when there are lots of bubbles on the side that's up (life skills). I asked the kids where the bubbles come from and Hannah said, "the steam." We talked about how things bake by the water in the dish evaporating, thus turning the liquid into a solid (science).<br />
<br />
Hannah made a pancake shaped like a snowman in honor of the occasion (art).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZAaagvsJgzNNgLytuHo4JgtDIk8BB2cf8Tn8nhjDMhpt5hJPLaO02Wj36gm0FCa_H0VITlQidVWXqaYqPGXe8nujSklyaWlevKU10e9n-kAfBsYLfG8br9I_iD4UX_5_gbH_W7mANc0/s1600/20140207_095355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZAaagvsJgzNNgLytuHo4JgtDIk8BB2cf8Tn8nhjDMhpt5hJPLaO02Wj36gm0FCa_H0VITlQidVWXqaYqPGXe8nujSklyaWlevKU10e9n-kAfBsYLfG8br9I_iD4UX_5_gbH_W7mANc0/s1600/20140207_095355.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Then Ben made a snowman,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qqs8i1ldbV3E6YzKOrqiQwKVlY5jNAeXvPqq2aFtYdZyMe_nCpYzEe74eABG2CpBZaY6QwM4vLvPILZAu1-MXX9QxBpYb_VgWPvxCsVYZ44EGhotdCSUutyDDeBrgvq3236nE0gGaGk/s1600/20140207_095738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qqs8i1ldbV3E6YzKOrqiQwKVlY5jNAeXvPqq2aFtYdZyMe_nCpYzEe74eABG2CpBZaY6QwM4vLvPILZAu1-MXX9QxBpYb_VgWPvxCsVYZ44EGhotdCSUutyDDeBrgvq3236nE0gGaGk/s1600/20140207_095738.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
While we were cooking, our friend Noah came over and tried his hand at pancake making.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkccZo7cn3A8P93ECwN1Deus8v5J4aWUFmjnne_v9Hqa02UrH6KnCJy8Mq8vX3F1OSJC9AOZpnVqFJC4dwf-RW-hLZITcww7SYzsgK0da-P2gT1geS6qWDrhqmxP_du0PkgMXoB8HNq24/s1600/20140207_095945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkccZo7cn3A8P93ECwN1Deus8v5J4aWUFmjnne_v9Hqa02UrH6KnCJy8Mq8vX3F1OSJC9AOZpnVqFJC4dwf-RW-hLZITcww7SYzsgK0da-P2gT1geS6qWDrhqmxP_du0PkgMXoB8HNq24/s1600/20140207_095945.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVyEVWWBxtsnS7zNa98RL-yrxhJu5j6Mj8zWnmVz1cJsedgpfDI-PbPVVsXM223EXp0prTu6J5feDAysJAr_qrlWVnRa3BiaeH69Mmdj0YSndzxuh9nFlUHueBZZXprOA2MXDE0m8hMk/s1600/20140207_100345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVyEVWWBxtsnS7zNa98RL-yrxhJu5j6Mj8zWnmVz1cJsedgpfDI-PbPVVsXM223EXp0prTu6J5feDAysJAr_qrlWVnRa3BiaeH69Mmdj0YSndzxuh9nFlUHueBZZXprOA2MXDE0m8hMk/s1600/20140207_100345.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ben with his mountain of pancakes. While he was pouring the syrup, Noah said, "Wow Ben! That's a lot for syrup!" And Ben said, "Yeah, thanks!" like he thought it was a compliment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIp1bxMasQ7lNkdezVc7Szxb_IP5bDYjoPtC0qfoVKIFX1hQjs2G7cPHz1xgK3-rgCxpQ6mrfuYMzGjwLo1jW-5amqY6LyItlrTu1PSVrGzvJk74qAEQ2D00Da50kpSssQoJNH2ACw21I/s1600/20140207_100652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIp1bxMasQ7lNkdezVc7Szxb_IP5bDYjoPtC0qfoVKIFX1hQjs2G7cPHz1xgK3-rgCxpQ6mrfuYMzGjwLo1jW-5amqY6LyItlrTu1PSVrGzvJk74qAEQ2D00Da50kpSssQoJNH2ACw21I/s1600/20140207_100652.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4wCDra-LBG6vycXuU-KKXTFPb8F5DlKO1e2qAJXI8iGSXcquQBWEw_Za_7fWBkPoooGK3zrHr7MxO634mPgJVhNfA4uJ8FfoFP0WHUTVfkpoN4geROIN52jYQeAer7R7nwjYDrjk4M/s1600/20140207_100721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl4wCDra-LBG6vycXuU-KKXTFPb8F5DlKO1e2qAJXI8iGSXcquQBWEw_Za_7fWBkPoooGK3zrHr7MxO634mPgJVhNfA4uJ8FfoFP0WHUTVfkpoN4geROIN52jYQeAer7R7nwjYDrjk4M/s1600/20140207_100721.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
Noah's pancake was the most awesome!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijqlVd5T3HeRGKVsKaiZK5mPZdjIYjH0c0BXusqnLDQjuuKPHJaCG6lhtq0WWqLqNvTyGbub8BHyJAXO2cO7LQfx3THRFCB4JSByibV_eSDwJMyfg4JGPfWQ_Btr3eGUQ5icTgdQfZE4/s1600/20140207_101040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijqlVd5T3HeRGKVsKaiZK5mPZdjIYjH0c0BXusqnLDQjuuKPHJaCG6lhtq0WWqLqNvTyGbub8BHyJAXO2cO7LQfx3THRFCB4JSByibV_eSDwJMyfg4JGPfWQ_Btr3eGUQ5icTgdQfZE4/s1600/20140207_101040.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-29412977397860322522014-02-07T12:46:00.000-07:002014-06-25T20:24:20.355-06:00Homeschooling<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWINg25HDrqJupiLc_z69N4bmIzUE5w-cGAOzJbOEU1AnKnl5NXYBU_vnTFU45zu4OBP5ifi6RwKTvihQdm-0NtSdRK1KG2BnH7v57g4qgqZuYcMA1whly-RSyEhDG1nX1wgA8r4wGbk/s1600/20131212_111408-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWINg25HDrqJupiLc_z69N4bmIzUE5w-cGAOzJbOEU1AnKnl5NXYBU_vnTFU45zu4OBP5ifi6RwKTvihQdm-0NtSdRK1KG2BnH7v57g4qgqZuYcMA1whly-RSyEhDG1nX1wgA8r4wGbk/s1600/20131212_111408-001.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We're homeschoolers now. After giving public school a chance for 3 months, we decided it just wasn't for us. There are lots of little reasons that added up to something big. Suffice it to say, I'm happier, Hannah is happier, and that makes the rest of the house happy because the last thing you want is two unhappy women. Since winter break, we've been detoxing from school. I'm trying to get my feet under me and decide what my homeschool philosophy is. In the meantime, we've done lots of exploring, lots of field trips, lots of reading.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83OK8r16rL-C0RoMLajbaH7-5eimOoPsXMSFmXxU8OkuCerBXHQALNLVdnnl15qpYf03jP1YYJzA9csmO4-eEb1wtQEpa5I518WJ6McaaobN5IGo5twiDM79IBgXAZHvDfY_7r_EejCU/s1600/20140105_104549-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83OK8r16rL-C0RoMLajbaH7-5eimOoPsXMSFmXxU8OkuCerBXHQALNLVdnnl15qpYf03jP1YYJzA9csmO4-eEb1wtQEpa5I518WJ6McaaobN5IGo5twiDM79IBgXAZHvDfY_7r_EejCU/s1600/20140105_104549-001.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ben's first day of primary</span></span></div>
<br />
My reading for pleasure has seemed to fall through the cracks with all the changes, which makes me really sad. I'm taking 18 credits this semester, which means I'm reading 100 pages a day of text books. But I really love it, because I'm studying education and child development and those things make me come alive. Don't we all learn best when we can study things we're really interested in?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok78D0vqqim_MqFLm7hFruYOym1tX5W_FWJyEfwyYBmnE-zFy7Tas9WoQVH1k3WkEUZh4-tFY_LR4PDNpmlj069op7YlBwvYts0H7WcMyqpdge4IAYuY3MVRSNoBBnUd2tOz7lAlXZYA/s1600/20131218_125609-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok78D0vqqim_MqFLm7hFruYOym1tX5W_FWJyEfwyYBmnE-zFy7Tas9WoQVH1k3WkEUZh4-tFY_LR4PDNpmlj069op7YlBwvYts0H7WcMyqpdge4IAYuY3MVRSNoBBnUd2tOz7lAlXZYA/s1600/20131218_125609-001.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It seems that once you say you're going to homeschool, everyone has opinions and everyone has questions. I love to answer questions, I don't love as much having my parenting questioned. I do, however, realize this is a natural byproduct of making an unusual choice. I thought about starting a new blog to chronicle our homeschool adventures, but instead decided to just use the one I already had. I'm going to try to keep a record of some of our educational experiences and some of the research behind why I do what I do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCgNqPAjsC-e279Qrp1FRn_eTXu8w1sygHqqIpGUkLfXvuLrQ223k3P68NceXGpA494rYlbXTTkaOQ66dcNTctKUS5t7eBE8qSb1mfJ26n-DEw9ujFQuPpNYWvz0pVSgi_Vv0DMeqGE/s1600/20131227_184059-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCgNqPAjsC-e279Qrp1FRn_eTXu8w1sygHqqIpGUkLfXvuLrQ223k3P68NceXGpA494rYlbXTTkaOQ66dcNTctKUS5t7eBE8qSb1mfJ26n-DEw9ujFQuPpNYWvz0pVSgi_Vv0DMeqGE/s1600/20131227_184059-001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
To begin with, I want to share a quote from my very favorite parenting book, <i>Brain Rules for Baby</i> by neurobiologist John Medina. "First, I need to correct a misconception. Many well-meaning moms and
dads think their child’s brain is interested in learning. That is not
accurate. The brain is not interested in learning. The brain is
interested in <i>surviving</i>. Every ability in our intellectual tool
kit was engineered to escape extinction. Learning only exists to serve
the requirements of this primal goal. It is a happy coincidence that our
intellectual tools can do double duty in the classroom, conferring on
us the ability to create spreadsheets and speak French. But that’s not
the brain’s day job. That is an incidental byproduct of a much deeper
force: the gnawing, clawing desire to live to the next day. We do not
survive so that we can learn. We learn so that we can survive.<br />
<br />
"This overarching goal predicts many things, and here’s the most
important: If you want a well-educated child, you must create an
environment of safety. When the brain’s safety needs are met, it will
allow its neurons to moonlight in algebra classes. When safety needs are
not met, algebra goes out the window."<br />
<br />
This concept is going to come up over and over again as we approach homeschooling. <b><i>Stressed brains do not learn well!</i></b><br />
<br />
Medina then shares a story of a flight student who made a mistake while in the air. The instructor yelled at her, thinking it would help her to see the seriousness of the situation and focus more. Instead, she began to cry and, try as she might, she couldn't read the instruments. The instructor landed the plane and the lesson was over. Medina says, "What was wrong? From the brain's perspective, nothing was wrong. The student's mind focused on the source of the threat, just as it had been molded to do over the past few million years. The teacher's anger could not direct the student to the instrument to be learned because the instrument was not the immediate source of danger. The teacher was the source of danger."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1z-l_AQjENcWXUgs35okaJocL4h3HPtGpiJwTjwrMter2G9dmBOnVx2eOIc72Ey6JoVuVLYiKGGdUVi_6UsOKBFkohGQfB7WBcYSv9T0AwD3_KaQclMaJkMdbEu5NaQ_bqlLlGIdHco/s1600/20131223_235416-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1z-l_AQjENcWXUgs35okaJocL4h3HPtGpiJwTjwrMter2G9dmBOnVx2eOIc72Ey6JoVuVLYiKGGdUVi_6UsOKBFkohGQfB7WBcYSv9T0AwD3_KaQclMaJkMdbEu5NaQ_bqlLlGIdHco/s1600/20131223_235416-001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm not saying that pubic school was a source of danger. I am saying that it was a stressful experience for both Hannah and I and, by extension, whole family. In our homeschool work, we will focus on building from where the children currently are, not where I believe they <i>should </i>be based on their age or grade level. I'll understand that all humans learn best when they are safe. A secure learning environment will be my focus rather than reading by age 6.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmbx-rUiA649TZPxwJOcWlKDbIoECOgAARFiUjXU89Z8VeTtNxDD9PyW9SAF-Ck__5HetUARuhGHnJUXDyNEIX_lAtHzrIC-E2w-Ld6N57gbamDr_DFfKhN4eVFXCDrEePCzwiQrvUgA/s1600/20131227_135217-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmbx-rUiA649TZPxwJOcWlKDbIoECOgAARFiUjXU89Z8VeTtNxDD9PyW9SAF-Ck__5HetUARuhGHnJUXDyNEIX_lAtHzrIC-E2w-Ld6N57gbamDr_DFfKhN4eVFXCDrEePCzwiQrvUgA/s1600/20131227_135217-001.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />
Wish us luck as we learn together in this new experience!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeNUsovJ198NcPH1MbIXgV2p71SGIqYs-UQjWpRWFx8u3LxlJJAV2y5tu8yNCejcH5lqZvCIg6bqbievWRqKBGxD5CXR27a9v6fq5c8OTxJdhAjYXA55rv5IL67AjJPdT1UuzyY6rUNg/s1600/20131218_124616%25281%2529-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeNUsovJ198NcPH1MbIXgV2p71SGIqYs-UQjWpRWFx8u3LxlJJAV2y5tu8yNCejcH5lqZvCIg6bqbievWRqKBGxD5CXR27a9v6fq5c8OTxJdhAjYXA55rv5IL67AjJPdT1UuzyY6rUNg/s1600/20131218_124616%25281%2529-001.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-24666952393400951032013-04-13T18:27:00.000-06:002014-02-10T00:10:40.769-07:00Hannah is 5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hannah turned 5 this week! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VzsIWPCcFTav0wpjjozzPGS1cCPOXypxz2IJgN9zestNIV6BYsm7Be8ZbjMjBPvCI9Q6XZnFBJn6LyzVRcT2TBda0ubkMWzLjYOm4XBsjMeTlnWkkoGRkrvqvBbvmT2DfQn1eg-PTZw/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VzsIWPCcFTav0wpjjozzPGS1cCPOXypxz2IJgN9zestNIV6BYsm7Be8ZbjMjBPvCI9Q6XZnFBJn6LyzVRcT2TBda0ubkMWzLjYOm4XBsjMeTlnWkkoGRkrvqvBbvmT2DfQn1eg-PTZw/s320/IMG_1816.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4gNnTrbzm5WCyrFNmp2sEtY6rZvVamPGSxvQeAoa270m4qszS9lFzx3ishfsqBL4A8dDDISj3w-ZPOekrYWDNa92BmN740TwXLd66qGPH1xCABRKbs9uAWKg4Wd-HdVBnO1WCYjo9f4/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4gNnTrbzm5WCyrFNmp2sEtY6rZvVamPGSxvQeAoa270m4qszS9lFzx3ishfsqBL4A8dDDISj3w-ZPOekrYWDNa92BmN740TwXLd66qGPH1xCABRKbs9uAWKg4Wd-HdVBnO1WCYjo9f4/s320/IMG_1817.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_QfOOA028fzUkJU8flVzgfLbX9PNTAa9hIMHY9XVP5zh6DcuUMmPCEr6x5UgsJ0RiyAaHaWEJtgpL5IThCKez9iovgwhw00KcF_xPiwEAdAjKCuGsRgD6hVXRwrXqX21WVlx2N5977w/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_QfOOA028fzUkJU8flVzgfLbX9PNTAa9hIMHY9XVP5zh6DcuUMmPCEr6x5UgsJ0RiyAaHaWEJtgpL5IThCKez9iovgwhw00KcF_xPiwEAdAjKCuGsRgD6hVXRwrXqX21WVlx2N5977w/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5vWQhlIxVb_6KTV2qXR2_A5DqPn7Sp9H0frha4kkvCuYgoaf6WSiaHoRlNn5vh6Lz-E45iXAo3Gl7oYUIqHtoxVkb4R6l2KypQ-nDGPuzdFPHgng0G1KxUi3qU1x7aKGSZsdJ40Gd1o/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5vWQhlIxVb_6KTV2qXR2_A5DqPn7Sp9H0frha4kkvCuYgoaf6WSiaHoRlNn5vh6Lz-E45iXAo3Gl7oYUIqHtoxVkb4R6l2KypQ-nDGPuzdFPHgng0G1KxUi3qU1x7aKGSZsdJ40Gd1o/s320/IMG_1823.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpZOTg-3jjlv7Kpw2UVMb1KrDMVYrjU_Ad4b6Xn7hilKTx0En9l52MwLoAyHq7byO6POnT8RvcxJRl66kZJKfiDhW8swJA1q8z46yeAHTA4FfqXZs_IN4H7hrlYStel6U5MdtIE8ZaIg/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpZOTg-3jjlv7Kpw2UVMb1KrDMVYrjU_Ad4b6Xn7hilKTx0En9l52MwLoAyHq7byO6POnT8RvcxJRl66kZJKfiDhW8swJA1q8z46yeAHTA4FfqXZs_IN4H7hrlYStel6U5MdtIE8ZaIg/s320/IMG_1825.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZCRd6kswp1KBNIsDZxepTxq2y0_xYYCPU9YKeeIZYE24ijk_3DNHznwxsdlElV27srVKRaw9NyRo6TnUHlpTPrm69TYoK3ebO48ObzxXI8Vg85IUWPzdZgLSEzH1-_g_RrdLVocSbh0/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZCRd6kswp1KBNIsDZxepTxq2y0_xYYCPU9YKeeIZYE24ijk_3DNHznwxsdlElV27srVKRaw9NyRo6TnUHlpTPrm69TYoK3ebO48ObzxXI8Vg85IUWPzdZgLSEzH1-_g_RrdLVocSbh0/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ICsLu53S4cjtmXPnpwZVUOTkKcxvlAz4oM835ehAXwKEL9PvR5b6tE2JHEstojbgP7QBvBsabpsgs7kwYmlwvD5Xi1-e6NMdvb06BX06AmKGHWflfcy5QjXu3H76tbFe3QtYPCnM6jw/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ICsLu53S4cjtmXPnpwZVUOTkKcxvlAz4oM835ehAXwKEL9PvR5b6tE2JHEstojbgP7QBvBsabpsgs7kwYmlwvD5Xi1-e6NMdvb06BX06AmKGHWflfcy5QjXu3H76tbFe3QtYPCnM6jw/s320/IMG_1828.JPG" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNYBl4-eWSROXcdZcg47IXKVWuC6VMiPk-iWX8X8YBsyl8449pQ7PzgwmZNb9dTw4YpmfLogCdkllDfnVVUWbWV7W-Xo8j6KHNU9Expj0RK61zio0-ZXto5geZ5Nr2unS2OwXbYmcl4Q/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNYBl4-eWSROXcdZcg47IXKVWuC6VMiPk-iWX8X8YBsyl8449pQ7PzgwmZNb9dTw4YpmfLogCdkllDfnVVUWbWV7W-Xo8j6KHNU9Expj0RK61zio0-ZXto5geZ5Nr2unS2OwXbYmcl4Q/s320/IMG_1830.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeIPyDtiE1c4z13A44SAdkHkfpHO_-sJ0GWY9qmhVgZdK9-jXpzHdqexTHOF31VZEt9ckoT6c0maw2g4-VYL3lKJ494NO47LFOkkPw5zC_Ie2XwaOiseavETVrcSqaLgq6JhKvTtf7Zk/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeIPyDtiE1c4z13A44SAdkHkfpHO_-sJ0GWY9qmhVgZdK9-jXpzHdqexTHOF31VZEt9ckoT6c0maw2g4-VYL3lKJ494NO47LFOkkPw5zC_Ie2XwaOiseavETVrcSqaLgq6JhKvTtf7Zk/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4aqkquwMkS9EUtmDSIwDXOnoGBENT9kTarb3lByu6tNJiAMXkda2gNTQ1u4hnlRIqpQB819CocfLzNRTIFmp3_TXJ6iUA8aQJ4SdQocJPOdrpzEMEqzYY6dmjioF98lmHAMP-MAf-jM/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4aqkquwMkS9EUtmDSIwDXOnoGBENT9kTarb3lByu6tNJiAMXkda2gNTQ1u4hnlRIqpQB819CocfLzNRTIFmp3_TXJ6iUA8aQJ4SdQocJPOdrpzEMEqzYY6dmjioF98lmHAMP-MAf-jM/s320/IMG_1848.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSWbaRSAuQIGkPbOG1ryWILP9LOxQgx-BKjcr1Xmn41tWO1HRFVeFAr_WgdifPRpk0Ilmn5dwyGYm6ZFDOBcaK8vsuk2Hd6VuKu4W69DwsQSRx6cle_LfvJBuxOwiQlzxWMdiD2OmVc8/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSWbaRSAuQIGkPbOG1ryWILP9LOxQgx-BKjcr1Xmn41tWO1HRFVeFAr_WgdifPRpk0Ilmn5dwyGYm6ZFDOBcaK8vsuk2Hd6VuKu4W69DwsQSRx6cle_LfvJBuxOwiQlzxWMdiD2OmVc8/s320/IMG_1897.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyFXfY-Vnk4DCTQggiI0AdhYIVJVyqfPTUXHqm0et8RbEQ45dtMIpZWinFeDupM0ygZ0rLwRYxqrldeTfv_4DvzsjE7voPiYOCPsNO3d2qifXRou8Z8SjLddKn1580NXrO0V-9mDmtJY/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyFXfY-Vnk4DCTQggiI0AdhYIVJVyqfPTUXHqm0et8RbEQ45dtMIpZWinFeDupM0ygZ0rLwRYxqrldeTfv_4DvzsjE7voPiYOCPsNO3d2qifXRou8Z8SjLddKn1580NXrO0V-9mDmtJY/s320/IMG_1853.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bVIlo9dUXEq838pQR3C2_-3UGDHb_0D8kTduxVXeQ3Wd8o6-UiMIgj_BsDjGaRkfO8JL_2KmFW1QhMABizrKohwXeZ7jtOd5KHPRXSh8ahAjrsv7jroWEydw98K9kuATfwWlOQMMYCI/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bVIlo9dUXEq838pQR3C2_-3UGDHb_0D8kTduxVXeQ3Wd8o6-UiMIgj_BsDjGaRkfO8JL_2KmFW1QhMABizrKohwXeZ7jtOd5KHPRXSh8ahAjrsv7jroWEydw98K9kuATfwWlOQMMYCI/s320/IMG_1858.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qUISTUsBuv007JYpGXkY4NiS4MuSc8FgipOGfKiwawerXh4PgNf2lG6U9PQwr0v-E5JIgNKOQPBTt-vxuOa-gHxTf5WbSI13Bz6BQmug3JCti_FoBtvkoZ2i1yplHJegH3pQM2WKmAM/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qUISTUsBuv007JYpGXkY4NiS4MuSc8FgipOGfKiwawerXh4PgNf2lG6U9PQwr0v-E5JIgNKOQPBTt-vxuOa-gHxTf5WbSI13Bz6BQmug3JCti_FoBtvkoZ2i1yplHJegH3pQM2WKmAM/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIYV_Pb8qLAbdAPJ4CdahLq-oTq5Oy-Khx82tUKCqlG1UEM9pRCqvE0dIW1XL8zmWatStr_zQcKwhcHxvQ0xQa4Y31YIkHtrXTL4ebONns-ofmFCu6nX70neYMMPFJnyg7ED8XZvwSxA/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIYV_Pb8qLAbdAPJ4CdahLq-oTq5Oy-Khx82tUKCqlG1UEM9pRCqvE0dIW1XL8zmWatStr_zQcKwhcHxvQ0xQa4Y31YIkHtrXTL4ebONns-ofmFCu6nX70neYMMPFJnyg7ED8XZvwSxA/s320/IMG_1867.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebajLpDR9UZuJREBX1R_TxrGddcK-CgxW3F8gnPgVTL3cVIP0TjzucLXJx133A84Pknv_-G_gFcOD_8sNrpXM8zhCJwMNOxx0A6T6wRVY6KWkaJ6c1xuuWW_YXOIygNSJDDi6-SDKh9Y/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebajLpDR9UZuJREBX1R_TxrGddcK-CgxW3F8gnPgVTL3cVIP0TjzucLXJx133A84Pknv_-G_gFcOD_8sNrpXM8zhCJwMNOxx0A6T6wRVY6KWkaJ6c1xuuWW_YXOIygNSJDDi6-SDKh9Y/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQPDHLX-LyY0BeoEIxcj8OVdT-kTiQOoL1BXMh7raKe4etwGYO6VzO_NAB4PZEYWr6g2UdD4cvTYVxROxIZvb8kanrjqGGtLcjnfWtjLRZBMaj1WNfi0ZN79ggNZ53pqR0gu-SfsEFYU/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQPDHLX-LyY0BeoEIxcj8OVdT-kTiQOoL1BXMh7raKe4etwGYO6VzO_NAB4PZEYWr6g2UdD4cvTYVxROxIZvb8kanrjqGGtLcjnfWtjLRZBMaj1WNfi0ZN79ggNZ53pqR0gu-SfsEFYU/s320/IMG_1894.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbboyWPIc6LdLnkwcy9RPAs_owK6Xz091LiJU6tJHp0DlWzvrDgs34tjwoLZ6XgdtKdhpeDMvsdqf6eFCoFGIEf3PXDesgK62763mw122hvI7pxtUpbeyaElhua-_ZfCyBMd14pjyvqfs/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbboyWPIc6LdLnkwcy9RPAs_owK6Xz091LiJU6tJHp0DlWzvrDgs34tjwoLZ6XgdtKdhpeDMvsdqf6eFCoFGIEf3PXDesgK62763mw122hvI7pxtUpbeyaElhua-_ZfCyBMd14pjyvqfs/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWembOCs-9PTzyKu4_aA-VzZR9FhuezO6tt4eVVHISrddAx06tjwDCPva07PHyH32Z_BDsYy-YDFkf5TqKcccQlInp22qpo-ERNLYyZRd0HqhXKKdWAaMHBdhkNszKTE2huL9gchqDAGQ/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWembOCs-9PTzyKu4_aA-VzZR9FhuezO6tt4eVVHISrddAx06tjwDCPva07PHyH32Z_BDsYy-YDFkf5TqKcccQlInp22qpo-ERNLYyZRd0HqhXKKdWAaMHBdhkNszKTE2huL9gchqDAGQ/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz5NZNRmcWGLWvxub1bILJOIBYHKuwlvLoszfwBpsfZjtuKqHoj0XbN8TGcj31W5cxz-e7FDtejB1Dy9_AoIpqZzsMwwlOlKZ1bBLyaJD3ub18bCAC9X4jonjru_L4L9PeDIK8DQlsns/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz5NZNRmcWGLWvxub1bILJOIBYHKuwlvLoszfwBpsfZjtuKqHoj0XbN8TGcj31W5cxz-e7FDtejB1Dy9_AoIpqZzsMwwlOlKZ1bBLyaJD3ub18bCAC9X4jonjru_L4L9PeDIK8DQlsns/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSSUwYWZhxtoHYUACuYRJnrkMYfyKolOYDa4oOd0JbLemHxDGwJyxx1AaynXIDtt9VWwjptCrgE2B6DtP4e_UnJZJHaIJp4nTPilNjI9OLGujMPEQIb1Wc8WGETg3HK1egR0rez3VXcE/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSSUwYWZhxtoHYUACuYRJnrkMYfyKolOYDa4oOd0JbLemHxDGwJyxx1AaynXIDtt9VWwjptCrgE2B6DtP4e_UnJZJHaIJp4nTPilNjI9OLGujMPEQIb1Wc8WGETg3HK1egR0rez3VXcE/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLNkh2NO3PH2iYVGTJAhPMa6n36Nq4tyv9S9Ca6ADseaJ_J3X4AqNwqKqeZT9gvZwLZq4ZaLeair6U8H0vJ6B07swvMgJ25r5cl6M03bDekvVv7Y-MNp3Q1LzLve2p3WlK_1alI6Jz-8/s1600/IMG_1976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLNkh2NO3PH2iYVGTJAhPMa6n36Nq4tyv9S9Ca6ADseaJ_J3X4AqNwqKqeZT9gvZwLZq4ZaLeair6U8H0vJ6B07swvMgJ25r5cl6M03bDekvVv7Y-MNp3Q1LzLve2p3WlK_1alI6Jz-8/s1600/IMG_1976.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qWKsHn-QtYWTGgKT0jzn_3KA0w2j5Td9DsUtKOKt5-9cnn3nvco-AWPacqHtyc1YCLw-H6PQLMcTtq5E3Ur_JZAiWV923zPex4MwS7i9UtEcMNmGUY8E-SnhQ0OfkwF3CltdzR6mwYE/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qWKsHn-QtYWTGgKT0jzn_3KA0w2j5Td9DsUtKOKt5-9cnn3nvco-AWPacqHtyc1YCLw-H6PQLMcTtq5E3Ur_JZAiWV923zPex4MwS7i9UtEcMNmGUY8E-SnhQ0OfkwF3CltdzR6mwYE/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-58431274420866381472012-11-25T20:52:00.000-07:002012-11-25T20:52:58.810-07:00Trick or TreatingThis year, our preschool president invited all the families from our co-op over for a Halloween party. It was so much fun. I think 9 families were able to attend. We at pizza at her house and then went trick or treating around their neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Before we left home...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sYwzebKm5usrHt5QMuWuaj6YuD05YN-NkQMglVCZ-Un_2HUmP07x0sRE7W1Gcms5B2hCN8YRggOjDEITOIbdM23xAsVtWjuUXwb35CxBBEsP0wT7aEPrwH-7Hu31E5G6wmDOM2vuTzw/s1600/IMAG0627+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sYwzebKm5usrHt5QMuWuaj6YuD05YN-NkQMglVCZ-Un_2HUmP07x0sRE7W1Gcms5B2hCN8YRggOjDEITOIbdM23xAsVtWjuUXwb35CxBBEsP0wT7aEPrwH-7Hu31E5G6wmDOM2vuTzw/s400/IMAG0627+A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Josh was Dumbo the elephant. At first I was worried the costume wouldn't work. It was too long and he kept tripping over it. He was a sad little elephant. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ngPIyKDkQcN27Mp7IJbLNk6L1KoSmrhq1cP_v5X8iHM5zpksoW4vsbYa9VTAUye_utcehMmjUCkiHKLdZr56eFfwPTKaCVZR08IWA5Rk-a6be3YyEDcXgLDdZcq15STwVk2DXTlRIQ4/s1600/IMAG0616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ngPIyKDkQcN27Mp7IJbLNk6L1KoSmrhq1cP_v5X8iHM5zpksoW4vsbYa9VTAUye_utcehMmjUCkiHKLdZr56eFfwPTKaCVZR08IWA5Rk-a6be3YyEDcXgLDdZcq15STwVk2DXTlRIQ4/s400/IMAG0616.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOLmnPf6qPNYrJVrpbepVGRkv9EQ5szb2px1iHJw7u1nVElFfk9LE7WXT59v41ArBhNYw8ojy_0yHJ7gaQFJBx5cFgG1aSv0fkjLP3w9IMtOR-KXxwrjfdwKMUpcPJXYclb3XmpwMip4/s1600/IMAG0617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOLmnPf6qPNYrJVrpbepVGRkv9EQ5szb2px1iHJw7u1nVElFfk9LE7WXT59v41ArBhNYw8ojy_0yHJ7gaQFJBx5cFgG1aSv0fkjLP3w9IMtOR-KXxwrjfdwKMUpcPJXYclb3XmpwMip4/s400/IMAG0617.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGRY6d9v3p_EAoBh4Xzwa03-KniY8M4yCW416AxgY9YQbRsRsgL51YOoWa4VFDiUu55YjKIwC_lZ72Nd93preHKG4DEvSwsrmmCZm4K3_0oGrutMvRCu7lDwxoXdRIjDPbySkV7-pqr0/s1600/IMAG0614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGRY6d9v3p_EAoBh4Xzwa03-KniY8M4yCW416AxgY9YQbRsRsgL51YOoWa4VFDiUu55YjKIwC_lZ72Nd93preHKG4DEvSwsrmmCZm4K3_0oGrutMvRCu7lDwxoXdRIjDPbySkV7-pqr0/s400/IMAG0614.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39suRhpTrUTI3fK-RaPifjMpdpFkzVM-V8bxQFz8pfdK0upXiY5ptokIEpqZ0oOcmTJZTu_ggXgef18lzErl2Qb-8cVHEBEIAUSRJfzzUA7PykvUNunruUnac1INsw_ySO9_BP6Mypew/s1600/IMAG0615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39suRhpTrUTI3fK-RaPifjMpdpFkzVM-V8bxQFz8pfdK0upXiY5ptokIEpqZ0oOcmTJZTu_ggXgef18lzErl2Qb-8cVHEBEIAUSRJfzzUA7PykvUNunruUnac1INsw_ySO9_BP6Mypew/s400/IMAG0615.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then Devan tucked his pants into his shoes so he wouldn't trip and he was a contented little dude. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbGiWqinrxouWWiE9wQSxfu7VCtp015TlP5dH4-SzwwE67q0thIZ9vq3OhjkYJEw_-cuetCAo6BQD-oht2ttUKaRvOQ4sBFUWhV9yd5FpQIELetLXw-6zwdggqFL-mxmZmtNMLapmpbo/s1600/IMAG0632+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbGiWqinrxouWWiE9wQSxfu7VCtp015TlP5dH4-SzwwE67q0thIZ9vq3OhjkYJEw_-cuetCAo6BQD-oht2ttUKaRvOQ4sBFUWhV9yd5FpQIELetLXw-6zwdggqFL-mxmZmtNMLapmpbo/s400/IMAG0632+A.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hannah was a pirate princess.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRofvKjfMA_SPrpv-_PUNLWbogntRBN0TF8q1mFhZ-0m-usuAcG3Kf7eerx6Q3nxVQAumV1OYprLwReqQ3vpIIjsm7M534b-QpJhq6lphjG-7k55nU1KrKMoe47KLvQZg_t2lNXn3LaZo/s1600/IMAG0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRofvKjfMA_SPrpv-_PUNLWbogntRBN0TF8q1mFhZ-0m-usuAcG3Kf7eerx6Q3nxVQAumV1OYprLwReqQ3vpIIjsm7M534b-QpJhq6lphjG-7k55nU1KrKMoe47KLvQZg_t2lNXn3LaZo/s400/IMAG0636.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And Ben was a fireman.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdS67pUPvUlzX_q3QnaTnTCWtwOLTIiUP5Xg6UIngE6NHbYb7I28r0XKQTjsuOTHQ1j9sTayWguIDavgAF0zqM4dTn_WZe_6XX8CZTFh6IDM2pjzGSCGous3drz9mJ-f8nPwBQEwDA7Q/s1600/IMAG0637-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdS67pUPvUlzX_q3QnaTnTCWtwOLTIiUP5Xg6UIngE6NHbYb7I28r0XKQTjsuOTHQ1j9sTayWguIDavgAF0zqM4dTn_WZe_6XX8CZTFh6IDM2pjzGSCGous3drz9mJ-f8nPwBQEwDA7Q/s400/IMAG0637-002.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lots of our preschool friends.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6IWwkdp1YozoWO71fVjW6I2lhhN8JqcpFKjozaOR9VlhhJrJRMxGTXgdNI0XcWPnH-yYfxeDsMFgjLBWCzAX8dY63DfIoIRry7dbfdnfRmT2tTre7uG4xbLCB_ydJsiWj8Jk-D2F690/s1600/IMAG0642+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6IWwkdp1YozoWO71fVjW6I2lhhN8JqcpFKjozaOR9VlhhJrJRMxGTXgdNI0XcWPnH-yYfxeDsMFgjLBWCzAX8dY63DfIoIRry7dbfdnfRmT2tTre7uG4xbLCB_ydJsiWj8Jk-D2F690/s400/IMAG0642+A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All ready to go...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0UtHfSiDLTKdR4_70vY1CWtIPoy5MwwjRWqZ4LIU8-jN60w6UKqXF7xDHMKEgjN_pM7yr2u_xWkfUPt7de5gRLIJB6YAcp25AuyOvAxNgB4_qpA62SYQieYGmpiUiRMyaFu7UXGONmo/s1600/IMAG0652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0UtHfSiDLTKdR4_70vY1CWtIPoy5MwwjRWqZ4LIU8-jN60w6UKqXF7xDHMKEgjN_pM7yr2u_xWkfUPt7de5gRLIJB6YAcp25AuyOvAxNgB4_qpA62SYQieYGmpiUiRMyaFu7UXGONmo/s400/IMAG0652.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All that practicing paid off.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_drtJd9Hiod33mYXNLk6ONVgv2JQDbLJT0JX1ieyv0YRLhThJ7aUKX2z4_hZWYzh7SiWZaAEpxGEWnZpuhY9sLya_vw6fCbKo3gHc5xnWsSYpJWPlAzQBn-3l5vcej3uqa045h8e2ak/s1600/IMAG0656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_drtJd9Hiod33mYXNLk6ONVgv2JQDbLJT0JX1ieyv0YRLhThJ7aUKX2z4_hZWYzh7SiWZaAEpxGEWnZpuhY9sLya_vw6fCbKo3gHc5xnWsSYpJWPlAzQBn-3l5vcej3uqa045h8e2ak/s400/IMAG0656.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They were trick or treating pros.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgwU2it8j4qZPQW3EMeMV2QF-Y9SfUFGsN9CCLimKNvGhba7NClRwQCy3Twkfz4rlXqmom-U6llzhY4S6bJ1_rgbhhYTuPZVlQrvr66fW5Ntz-alkRMBMh4poG8ckz4Wt0zKNRCtBauw/s1600/IMAG0659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgwU2it8j4qZPQW3EMeMV2QF-Y9SfUFGsN9CCLimKNvGhba7NClRwQCy3Twkfz4rlXqmom-U6llzhY4S6bJ1_rgbhhYTuPZVlQrvr66fW5Ntz-alkRMBMh4poG8ckz4Wt0zKNRCtBauw/s400/IMAG0659.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And when Hannah ditched Ben, he did great all by himself. He even went up to the scary houses alone. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9QOLFpc1M451QYdVZr06VAgbHqCG6QvzeBBZdluH8EXb6ZSF8LMSFZrhVpZllL2DSBydTjHCWdRplFRuN9stFMMAabFRuE9AahUpjJ6WOKvWQ1wisNfaWFz7u4rOR_rVTBhgIhipzhE/s1600/IMAG0653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9QOLFpc1M451QYdVZr06VAgbHqCG6QvzeBBZdluH8EXb6ZSF8LMSFZrhVpZllL2DSBydTjHCWdRplFRuN9stFMMAabFRuE9AahUpjJ6WOKvWQ1wisNfaWFz7u4rOR_rVTBhgIhipzhE/s400/IMAG0653.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKWt5aO1zZrIz1oN5pwQysYKXVL8G6am8JCEyPxqnp36JfyykUlGAzQK7ZsxXXHVfdcUvIQlTNjjGtHOhHNYCbstvRMQ98aKhp7xTF0BKkwYjTd_vDg5t3m14-VRKPnlVZOFxJRWMRKA/s1600/IMAG0658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKWt5aO1zZrIz1oN5pwQysYKXVL8G6am8JCEyPxqnp36JfyykUlGAzQK7ZsxXXHVfdcUvIQlTNjjGtHOhHNYCbstvRMQ98aKhp7xTF0BKkwYjTd_vDg5t3m14-VRKPnlVZOFxJRWMRKA/s400/IMAG0658.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD11XXVYHTtBPLa2qpkpcGvcWSR6i2RzIyQe15XELx74Ssl0AiJuVFfsD1gDls9aMik-WJZfasTbApNvEy5pyeXOAd8SFUP_EhdzoTk-SqPqEdYaCRE4Ntph7O8Qjb9WDyjol3uXdBqhE/s1600/IMAG0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD11XXVYHTtBPLa2qpkpcGvcWSR6i2RzIyQe15XELx74Ssl0AiJuVFfsD1gDls9aMik-WJZfasTbApNvEy5pyeXOAd8SFUP_EhdzoTk-SqPqEdYaCRE4Ntph7O8Qjb9WDyjol3uXdBqhE/s400/IMAG0654.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
After we went trick or treating, we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa at their houses. It was a great Halloween!AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-80042949462006503452012-11-25T20:24:00.000-07:002012-11-25T20:24:45.310-07:00Getting Ready for HalloweenWith the stress of the move 3 weeks before Halloween, we didn't do as many fun fall things as I would have liked to in October. We did a few things to make some good memories, however.<br />
<br />
All year long Hannah likes to play trick or treating. She taught Ben how to play last year after Halloween when he was only 1. This year they stepped it up a notch. They figured out costumes for themselves and Hannah came up with the idea of the little house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjZrqwmt1I5VVVVMgeGOOOtKFmEGZn2v8oKOpt9fGay88DPcU6HLSeB5tAjJBjcTjDSbCLJNvRshyphenhyphenHWLp1jeIjxPMn5J9Fa7s_duRajV9SDhohVwKMg8bctDyh-POY7PCUQCcWj_taow/s1600/IMAG0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjZrqwmt1I5VVVVMgeGOOOtKFmEGZn2v8oKOpt9fGay88DPcU6HLSeB5tAjJBjcTjDSbCLJNvRshyphenhyphenHWLp1jeIjxPMn5J9Fa7s_duRajV9SDhohVwKMg8bctDyh-POY7PCUQCcWj_taow/s400/IMAG0573.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3STFDp6FMe26t1oneHDmQI5-vG2NRyt9LRmFBWORQ0ECjJD8cxNkvhqyWV83Ld0fn6s_vLXLssypzzQoiZX2ZhG4sW5Top8Qc0qciIAfJpNN6YIcIs67YCCIWsfmSoN8Upnrnhz2xkg/s1600/IMAG0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3STFDp6FMe26t1oneHDmQI5-vG2NRyt9LRmFBWORQ0ECjJD8cxNkvhqyWV83Ld0fn6s_vLXLssypzzQoiZX2ZhG4sW5Top8Qc0qciIAfJpNN6YIcIs67YCCIWsfmSoN8Upnrnhz2xkg/s400/IMAG0574.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JcUQQQzvYZ9B5pXnhM4CJ0KpT1L0kRnIJ87qmams_it6thHqgjHOvUjtLx0IC4kkHYC2VsM1GOWUYlyZmP_S7s0zUBOZiIk0aM83_Ln1IGFo6BSiiMOrZKyQDkzgOvmSCa0FKY1e6ho/s1600/IMAG0575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JcUQQQzvYZ9B5pXnhM4CJ0KpT1L0kRnIJ87qmams_it6thHqgjHOvUjtLx0IC4kkHYC2VsM1GOWUYlyZmP_S7s0zUBOZiIk0aM83_Ln1IGFo6BSiiMOrZKyQDkzgOvmSCa0FKY1e6ho/s400/IMAG0575.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They made themselves some peanut butter sandwiches after. I helped a little. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixI7cf4Y8n9JjTpLUZSEMy0cu-Z0q1eT8p8yWCqsKDPvo0GmUcp3LhGT0zfSE7iHMHOQRCkutqKYHJlWK1dTapegYHuE5ve1WOg1zJGcH-g_j-zDKZzZPevtEUSmjVrB_ndZt-q52mWw/s1600/IMAG0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixI7cf4Y8n9JjTpLUZSEMy0cu-Z0q1eT8p8yWCqsKDPvo0GmUcp3LhGT0zfSE7iHMHOQRCkutqKYHJlWK1dTapegYHuE5ve1WOg1zJGcH-g_j-zDKZzZPevtEUSmjVrB_ndZt-q52mWw/s400/IMAG0578.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-5NBDT39jK8VDt_od9zAy8d_aILRTLmyJBLWdVQLpi8wk9yF9fUkMJaG2H6QZ2j1YhHBjOldUOXgYcFFnMLe5iyWkiMARD4dra1BVq3bu2kG4SEgatP6EwKLDZ5ASlRV7Fx0Q6HvIb0/s1600/IMAG0579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-5NBDT39jK8VDt_od9zAy8d_aILRTLmyJBLWdVQLpi8wk9yF9fUkMJaG2H6QZ2j1YhHBjOldUOXgYcFFnMLe5iyWkiMARD4dra1BVq3bu2kG4SEgatP6EwKLDZ5ASlRV7Fx0Q6HvIb0/s400/IMAG0579.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the Saturday before Halloween there was "trunk or treating" at church. It was raining, so we did it inside instead of having to go from car to car in the parking lot.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8AeU4eDY-NEpTm-zPwaJGtc1Ye44DfcYwiWwqR4WPQ6IA-ibAOTPULZqr0BXiDs__UrjBo30jJyzolGW5rzxRboLOts7_rkt70LjUAFiZg4zAbmveXSyoO2m5EnfSBM2bpwvwQM7YX8/s1600/IMAG0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8AeU4eDY-NEpTm-zPwaJGtc1Ye44DfcYwiWwqR4WPQ6IA-ibAOTPULZqr0BXiDs__UrjBo30jJyzolGW5rzxRboLOts7_rkt70LjUAFiZg4zAbmveXSyoO2m5EnfSBM2bpwvwQM7YX8/s400/IMAG0589.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Josh was pretty content as soon as he got a couple of pieces. He chewed on this wrapped snickers bar for quite a while.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz0zaBlYpdn8l8zfC871XQUjF9IAVJ2Scy-wgZphUAHV7dERe4qL7lo52Z2J4vO3tYx_Bg7-1GjnCC0aERt2ZuPDSEj2HPAboJklW28JwXuoNe8ZhRVJMoy1uE4BA7yQEpQV3iTVea64/s1600/IMAG0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz0zaBlYpdn8l8zfC871XQUjF9IAVJ2Scy-wgZphUAHV7dERe4qL7lo52Z2J4vO3tYx_Bg7-1GjnCC0aERt2ZuPDSEj2HPAboJklW28JwXuoNe8ZhRVJMoy1uE4BA7yQEpQV3iTVea64/s400/IMAG0590.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCfBBNFvn3lMcEKq-A0NAl8KrLlo3auaYsQzByBeIzsqnUz227ttqENlfYzuvuhijfvWg37okV1aP3naMFbsH3lOFTfiKiuwdeRV7x67AS2EKZ-LUWj48pKqBjWOAGeHcf22HvroSJaY/s1600/IMAG0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCfBBNFvn3lMcEKq-A0NAl8KrLlo3auaYsQzByBeIzsqnUz227ttqENlfYzuvuhijfvWg37okV1aP3naMFbsH3lOFTfiKiuwdeRV7x67AS2EKZ-LUWj48pKqBjWOAGeHcf22HvroSJaY/s400/IMAG0592.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then they gave us doughnuts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikon9WR3Iz-IoC9IU0siOdMgi04VDmBqRwuFuj9apcRW-1KoJZS8rI4Vs1AYQmx9ZOpO6WERuHZzr7tgYPcvVmf8UlNdqmfie7kiDr8-Asu2hRuC4JlIQP_gbmK47A3POS2ngLl1nqYBY/s1600/IMAG0593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikon9WR3Iz-IoC9IU0siOdMgi04VDmBqRwuFuj9apcRW-1KoJZS8rI4Vs1AYQmx9ZOpO6WERuHZzr7tgYPcvVmf8UlNdqmfie7kiDr8-Asu2hRuC4JlIQP_gbmK47A3POS2ngLl1nqYBY/s400/IMAG0593.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx5vzQjAuDfOh9M3_8F4ueefaXRHVoUFB5WjbuzvRFX5xgMHEUtNB3NkL01QyYtauTfa1ykAPNPOSgmP2L1KyG2H_amalm5MYVBmrAgya4II3kPsbP_V3AIAvmiq2b1mNImvPygUxa3M/s1600/IMAG0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx5vzQjAuDfOh9M3_8F4ueefaXRHVoUFB5WjbuzvRFX5xgMHEUtNB3NkL01QyYtauTfa1ykAPNPOSgmP2L1KyG2H_amalm5MYVBmrAgya4II3kPsbP_V3AIAvmiq2b1mNImvPygUxa3M/s400/IMAG0594.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ja8ly2HaUgCktoQkUscxx5Ca9iNZlNVxefxC7QgvgC9gwMTnophB6GTYtyGd2T2cBIhVmQnjz7Wo2f39xqHBj8l_Hy_gphShEUBEd-cEfPTrU7syn73UKnZc1M4tvbNPP3B-JHOv_CQ/s1600/IMAG0596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ja8ly2HaUgCktoQkUscxx5Ca9iNZlNVxefxC7QgvgC9gwMTnophB6GTYtyGd2T2cBIhVmQnjz7Wo2f39xqHBj8l_Hy_gphShEUBEd-cEfPTrU7syn73UKnZc1M4tvbNPP3B-JHOv_CQ/s400/IMAG0596.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Monday before Halloween we were invited over to a friend's house to carve pumpkins. Both Devan and I are really unmotivated when it comes to carving pumpkins, so it was good we went or no pumpkins would have been carved this year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They had a scary man on their porch, but my kids are brave. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yuVsgfYF9oa8et1UYYGK9Ej0gLjNxK-sePpOGF4YJVCaRj4b6YJ8SHRp3WCT_XbflokJ-JR9e3yk5tlzdYXaSQN9x0C6-9j7OttBOvTJxuSvgWuqEAU1UO9y74XJbAKgUXaQVX4J4TU/s1600/IMAG0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yuVsgfYF9oa8et1UYYGK9Ej0gLjNxK-sePpOGF4YJVCaRj4b6YJ8SHRp3WCT_XbflokJ-JR9e3yk5tlzdYXaSQN9x0C6-9j7OttBOvTJxuSvgWuqEAU1UO9y74XJbAKgUXaQVX4J4TU/s400/IMAG0606.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7ysXExXMrjHT_OEuuWa5eJTEZsdZBxWR_iAJph-wBB9rlNjSzGm4scsVF0GLlSnAJpf_DgDXKW5axWL31Vh803gZSF2x4C7yzfnRbB70ZgzlAmLqUh-06njHKiMLsLlhL4BMAjeHdM4/s1600/IMAG0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7ysXExXMrjHT_OEuuWa5eJTEZsdZBxWR_iAJph-wBB9rlNjSzGm4scsVF0GLlSnAJpf_DgDXKW5axWL31Vh803gZSF2x4C7yzfnRbB70ZgzlAmLqUh-06njHKiMLsLlhL4BMAjeHdM4/s400/IMAG0607.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxI-WnsL6P_jn30hTex1-5vtHRE8tuwg8X2V9ZTObQfntgWpmsRS6bvZtt5vTkozETDSPmLLe6nPgvhZvSIk9Jjs0FoBpiVf23_Dxce-Gr-qyNi8KzV5NTqeQ5DtXiki5yPz33XJYLSI/s1600/IMAG0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxI-WnsL6P_jn30hTex1-5vtHRE8tuwg8X2V9ZTObQfntgWpmsRS6bvZtt5vTkozETDSPmLLe6nPgvhZvSIk9Jjs0FoBpiVf23_Dxce-Gr-qyNi8KzV5NTqeQ5DtXiki5yPz33XJYLSI/s400/IMAG0609.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Yesterday I was cleaning out the room where I throw everything I don't want to deal with at the moment (Hannah's room) and I found some Halloween stickers, cookie cutters, and fall sprinkles that I'd bought earlier in the month. I really did have great intentions. Maybe next year...AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-24896794101386920322012-08-26T22:02:00.001-06:002012-08-26T22:04:14.677-06:00Timing is EverythingToday I was at an open house for a preschool friend, Amy, who is moving away (tear.) At one point I looked over at Amy holding a baby girl and made a comment about how cute the baby was. Someone asked me if it was making me want to have another and I said, "No, no, no!" Everyone knows that I want to have more babies, but now is not the time. I made a comment about how strange it is to not be thinking and planning about when I'm going to try to get pregnant again, but it's not even on my mind right now. My friend Maya said, "You just wait, you'll get into your new house and have a little room to spread out. You'll get past the holidays and come January, you'll be twiddling your fingers and that itch will come back." Later this evening we were all in the living room watching our family's (minus Mom's) favorite movie, Cars. I remembered that cute, funny story. I opened my mouth to tell it to Devan and to ask him if he thinks it will be time to start thinking of the next baby this winter. Before any words have left my mouth, Josh sits up, leans over, and vomits big chunks of peanut butter sandwich in my hair. As I'm in the shower a few minutes later, all I can think is, we'll have another baby someday, but not now. So not now. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhz6J1nPHClrphVqUQPXo3XWG1RUPjUY3lha1nv1wuyrA7vY769j33PJ6-64C71gbpXU2z21-sJgfg0wDruJFdIxBTEpKdHcYuYcdMZOUzKjO0ybDe9BrH2vMO88tDeFXUciC_8sdQOo/s1600/8.24.12+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhz6J1nPHClrphVqUQPXo3XWG1RUPjUY3lha1nv1wuyrA7vY769j33PJ6-64C71gbpXU2z21-sJgfg0wDruJFdIxBTEpKdHcYuYcdMZOUzKjO0ybDe9BrH2vMO88tDeFXUciC_8sdQOo/s400/8.24.12+1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
All joking aside. We are in a good place right now. It's so nice to feel joy and completeness in the family I have right now, at this moment. And yes, my children still never wear clothes. AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-15154581479538953442012-08-22T00:55:00.000-06:002012-08-22T00:55:04.071-06:00My return to bloggingIt's been a long absence and I know my many, many readers have missed me. So, to reward your patience, here is a glimpse into life at the Steele home. The day was today. The time was 7:45. Dinner had been eaten, Dad wasn't home yet. The mother was mentally checked out. She peeked in at the 3 children playing happily in the bedroom and then had the audacity to sit on the couch and read for 20 minutes. She could hear them jumping on the bed, but as previously mentioned, she had clocked out for the day and was ignoring everything. Dad gets home, notes mother sitting glassy eyed in her pajamas on the couch, goes in their room, and calmly says, "I don't know how this was allowed to happen<em>." </em>An <em>entire </em>Costco-sized box of goldfish crackers had been dumped out all over the bedroom. <br />
<br />
I don't know how it happened either. As previously mentioned. I'd JUST checked on them and didn't see any giant box of crackers in their possession. They are evil. They look so cute but they are so EVIL. All of them. Even the little one.<br />
<br />
So, I went in and started putting the fishes back in the box (because if you know me at all, you know that there's no way I'm letting an entire box of snack food go to waste.) Still mentally checked out, but at least making an effort to go through the motions. From somewhere far away I hear the oldest and most evil of the three repeating a phrase over and over. It finally registers as, "Squish 'em in, squish 'em in, squish 'em in. It sure does take a long time to squish 'em all in!" Yes, Hannah, it does take a long time to squish all those crackers into your bed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqL3j0e5sGUTvGMBkLWEowSWtT1NcjEkmAC5HMyxkM6DboWUAxrL4Rcl_CFCnRrUELwy4wGvngtbaWrSNPo3MM5A6WARP-2tuoB_6CjlntHzlI47-Uq8nob6qQjhxwDL3edh88lbN07A/s1600/8.21+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqL3j0e5sGUTvGMBkLWEowSWtT1NcjEkmAC5HMyxkM6DboWUAxrL4Rcl_CFCnRrUELwy4wGvngtbaWrSNPo3MM5A6WARP-2tuoB_6CjlntHzlI47-Uq8nob6qQjhxwDL3edh88lbN07A/s400/8.21+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69c2d8kjXGsg0ySwp-y49CyRhXMOjKaI26c0aSOWkg0g-L8tOPN54oufu8YUTSiKMbMMzi0-EgIhVh92RPbk5vRgfQozzxDoiJuSLMrhBFLu7B17R8UhRJ4EyxzkLUaI1vr3CTYUiJG4/s1600/8.21+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69c2d8kjXGsg0ySwp-y49CyRhXMOjKaI26c0aSOWkg0g-L8tOPN54oufu8YUTSiKMbMMzi0-EgIhVh92RPbk5vRgfQozzxDoiJuSLMrhBFLu7B17R8UhRJ4EyxzkLUaI1vr3CTYUiJG4/s400/8.21+2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
Hannah went to time out. I went to a fetal position in my bed. The crackers are still in the bedroom. <br />
<br />
Ben learned how to climb out of his crib a couple of months ago. Since then bedtime has been a nightmare. Tonight I decided to lower his mattress all the way to the floor to see if I could trap him in his crib. Hannah had to sleep in our room all alone, which is one of the worst punishments for her. This isn't a problem for us because we sleep on a mattress pad on the living room floor, which we drag back and forth from our bedroom every morning and evening, just to keep up the appearance of civility, but still allowing us to pass out in front of the TV every night. <br />
<br />
So, Ben's crib situation lasted about 2 minutes until he figured out how to climb out. Not willing to endure another night of sticking him back in bed over and over for two hours, Devan constructed a cage for the boy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0bPzY-0hsZIDsWauSccazaRJ9vYAeNUC96r8TVrSzVoMVLErIBuZCR6R6gqQtdBS7q1MqOJ5nzgC0mACeQ4TpI3FeJCp4-cPmmbCK7aEGcA_1h5Kfxs-zy0lwKFUpsBEZxCgtMjuFgY/s1600/8.21+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0bPzY-0hsZIDsWauSccazaRJ9vYAeNUC96r8TVrSzVoMVLErIBuZCR6R6gqQtdBS7q1MqOJ5nzgC0mACeQ4TpI3FeJCp4-cPmmbCK7aEGcA_1h5Kfxs-zy0lwKFUpsBEZxCgtMjuFgY/s400/8.21+3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Devan stuck the walker on top so he couldn't lift it off of himself. I think Hannah was responsible for the addition of their entire stuffed animal collection. I love his little hand sticking out the side. He'll be glad for such careful documentation when he has to tell his stories in therapy as an adult. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once he was asleep, I took the cage off of him. See, he could have slept in a very nice bed, complete with animal friends and sheets. Instead, he will be spending tonight and perhaps every night in the future on the floor under a cage. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapRLxe6441toZxa-8JHATm_GJ5hXEXyNotziOymSioJJVHa_fcC8aYGd-Eaibqsl9Ft3FjjKNXaMln7VVhr4ERABDA-KZ74dZI0mcbzIRXXnL-okpZrvwsAgKb0a1v9F6_YBiVsqEfEY/s1600/8.21+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapRLxe6441toZxa-8JHATm_GJ5hXEXyNotziOymSioJJVHa_fcC8aYGd-Eaibqsl9Ft3FjjKNXaMln7VVhr4ERABDA-KZ74dZI0mcbzIRXXnL-okpZrvwsAgKb0a1v9F6_YBiVsqEfEY/s400/8.21+4.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And so reader, you can leave your "thank you"s in the comments section because, as always, WE MAKE YOU LOOK SO GOOD!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-80679970878737935922012-06-11T16:46:00.000-06:002012-08-21T16:47:22.237-06:00First Tooth Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the sake of recording... Josh got his first tooth on June 11, 2012. At least that's what I wrote down. I actually think both his front bottom teeth popped in on the same day. Either way, he didn't seem to excited about it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWEzJvGV6vA/T9KCYvJg8qI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/XlsKAWJIcnM/s1600/IMG809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWEzJvGV6vA/T9KCYvJg8qI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/XlsKAWJIcnM/s320/IMG809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-85024415360788202642012-05-31T11:14:00.000-06:002012-05-31T11:14:55.709-06:00Happy Birthday to Us!A couple of weeks ago we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. Since it fell on a Saturday, I think it may have been the first year we went out on our actual anniversary. We took out our bikes that we got for my birthday for the first time. We don't have bike trailers yet to take the kids with us, so it takes the stars aligning to be able to go on a ride. But it was so fun. On the way back we went to Applebees. Actually, we got Applebees take out and then went home and ate it in a completely silent house. We laughed about how we're getting so old. Sitting in a noisy restaurant on a Saturday night having to be interrupted by a server every 10 minutes sounds like zero fun anymore. The silence was beautiful. We picked up the kids, got them home and to bed and then, as usual, couldn't make it though a 30 minute TV program without one of us falling asleep. Not the most exciting, romantic date anyone ever had, but it was what we needed. I completely owe my 5 years of marriage to regular date nights. I go more than a couple of weeks without a few of hours of quiet to talk to my husband and I'm about ready to throw in the towel. Just kidding...sort of.<br />
<br />
Sunday was a wonderful day. We got home from church, got Ben down for a nap and then worked on getting ready for our family birthday party. We tried our hand at Brazilian cooking since we weren't in Salt Lake to go to our traditional anniversary dinner at Rodizio Grill. It was pretty delicious. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaViJlerK08YtlRc0tPSzN5ORDk31zIby8nXAFaIfwf9id6brir-zsmT18thwbRd0q7_L7hmPOK8hFEiQapnDOip9G0vhxJkjUdC2QZf6GcDi52FoJSaQL6HFPBK0_N2zbK8v-a1vvM4/s1600/DSCN4776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaViJlerK08YtlRc0tPSzN5ORDk31zIby8nXAFaIfwf9id6brir-zsmT18thwbRd0q7_L7hmPOK8hFEiQapnDOip9G0vhxJkjUdC2QZf6GcDi52FoJSaQL6HFPBK0_N2zbK8v-a1vvM4/s400/DSCN4776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This one came out blurry, but I love Devan's laugh so much. And I love Josh looking up at him in the background. Hannah took this picture.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFt2onMAYOK7ZUv2B7GtjqrwiNC76mpOux6np2USobYwifU2gbGDugQbhxSSrKEe42ZUyHJ1CwxuVThdTJXclwsDDqVzOV_tuwCkltqC1xsGnYt9JBv_2buxeVKSpJuK5EwrBx_MCVVA/s1600/DSCN4777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFt2onMAYOK7ZUv2B7GtjqrwiNC76mpOux6np2USobYwifU2gbGDugQbhxSSrKEe42ZUyHJ1CwxuVThdTJXclwsDDqVzOV_tuwCkltqC1xsGnYt9JBv_2buxeVKSpJuK5EwrBx_MCVVA/s400/DSCN4777.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
And she took this one. Pictures of Mom and Dad together are hard to come by these days. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STgWNs5xYHw/T7wgERZViTI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/cb6LtuDUIuc/s1600/DSCN4780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-STgWNs5xYHw/T7wgERZViTI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/cb6LtuDUIuc/s400/DSCN4780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As usual, Hannah stayed at the table for a very short time and then was off to play. She found my roller blades and came back saying, "Look Mom! I can skate now that I'm 4!"</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cZU2Gjvchc/T7wgLb7UnEI/AAAAAAAAEpY/2rlUhncMHaY/s1600/DSCN4788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cZU2Gjvchc/T7wgLb7UnEI/AAAAAAAAEpY/2rlUhncMHaY/s400/DSCN4788.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
She spent the next hour and a half skating between the living room and her bedroom. She went from barely being able to stand up in them to being able to skate anywhere with carpet. She's been keeping very entertained with those skates for the last couple of days when it's been raining outside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YYcRGBdmvo/T7whhLTts3I/AAAAAAAAErA/tiIgPgsXfsE/s1600/DSCN4801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YYcRGBdmvo/T7whhLTts3I/AAAAAAAAErA/tiIgPgsXfsE/s400/DSCN4801.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l8oHJc69X5k/T7whkgDMhQI/AAAAAAAAErg/PEYsSpt-dZk/s1600/DSCN4805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l8oHJc69X5k/T7whkgDMhQI/AAAAAAAAErg/PEYsSpt-dZk/s400/DSCN4805.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Misu8WBzLmA/T7whidhayFI/AAAAAAAAErI/n8JR_LLvKIg/s1600/DSCN4802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Misu8WBzLmA/T7whidhayFI/AAAAAAAAErI/n8JR_LLvKIg/s400/DSCN4802.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7hQ_k43XBM/T7whla0R2HI/AAAAAAAAEro/wag1bXDDKc0/s1600/DSCN4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7hQ_k43XBM/T7whla0R2HI/AAAAAAAAEro/wag1bXDDKc0/s400/DSCN4806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpJygWzzsoA/T7wgaUGyszI/AAAAAAAAEqA/Wlr6Kea8dbg/s1600/DSCN4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpJygWzzsoA/T7wgaUGyszI/AAAAAAAAEqA/Wlr6Kea8dbg/s400/DSCN4793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
During dinner, Ben learned how to smile and say cheese when his picture was being taken. We practiced a lot. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UROgWs6wvg8/T7wgIuiqCNI/AAAAAAAAEo4/KULj30C9NIQ/s1600/DSCN4784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UROgWs6wvg8/T7wgIuiqCNI/AAAAAAAAEo4/KULj30C9NIQ/s400/DSCN4784.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmAWwYYq4_g/T7wgbMjk4vI/AAAAAAAAEqI/gyXt1u6QKNM/s1600/DSCN4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmAWwYYq4_g/T7wgbMjk4vI/AAAAAAAAEqI/gyXt1u6QKNM/s400/DSCN4794.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aki-BvbqzAY/T7wgdCgZPKI/AAAAAAAAEqY/FvCGi964lSc/s1600/DSCN4796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aki-BvbqzAY/T7wgdCgZPKI/AAAAAAAAEqY/FvCGi964lSc/s400/DSCN4796.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lXxbFuTeCMc/T7whjBh_4GI/AAAAAAAAErQ/2Oo7HD6Qb_g/s1600/DSCN4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lXxbFuTeCMc/T7whjBh_4GI/AAAAAAAAErQ/2Oo7HD6Qb_g/s400/DSCN4803.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqHA2OjYHctPWvZJ4oqHKcbzfpgUnsLcjF0Y_pdKr2XOzQbNhU7_0jI4LzYw-EmZVJJpEWwa4sTeNDbfgc1Lj_Sf03pTJZ_WwSh7s6JNxM1pjuV52WS9VQqiARY6-2mYjPlyitDAsEfk/s1600/DSCN4804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqHA2OjYHctPWvZJ4oqHKcbzfpgUnsLcjF0Y_pdKr2XOzQbNhU7_0jI4LzYw-EmZVJJpEWwa4sTeNDbfgc1Lj_Sf03pTJZ_WwSh7s6JNxM1pjuV52WS9VQqiARY6-2mYjPlyitDAsEfk/s400/DSCN4804.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Josh tried beans and rice. He didn't love it, but he was a good sport. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C05EMFjn6Fk/T7wgKjpSSgI/AAAAAAAAEpQ/yrx0X1aHb7w/s1600/DSCN4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C05EMFjn6Fk/T7wgKjpSSgI/AAAAAAAAEpQ/yrx0X1aHb7w/s400/DSCN4787.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5anBEh_BZh0JtaIuV8HPniIhjHbFUyohXAEOC8wHKsmVqZn4TmCOOTvJrlmJni-B0kiIIbmMOHTrD0yxDJYujqyVV8zdaXvkAbI3s8NEmCH0x1uDkrbSwSCQzqqeJO-2zv6FxebdRMA/s1600/DSCN4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5anBEh_BZh0JtaIuV8HPniIhjHbFUyohXAEOC8wHKsmVqZn4TmCOOTvJrlmJni-B0kiIIbmMOHTrD0yxDJYujqyVV8zdaXvkAbI3s8NEmCH0x1uDkrbSwSCQzqqeJO-2zv6FxebdRMA/s400/DSCN4790.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UPIeWh_Df6-byEqKSm4yInO-AH6VZxTUIY4AJm9YrQGpZqpxVgOQzLQBx5GuvOAIaD1r6LwWoo8G9MXkV44aXe9_6VeY2uJJmylI60JLQIlK1uABi3lgHAwY8qHaCEF55e7MpP01V_8/s1600/DSCN4795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UPIeWh_Df6-byEqKSm4yInO-AH6VZxTUIY4AJm9YrQGpZqpxVgOQzLQBx5GuvOAIaD1r6LwWoo8G9MXkV44aXe9_6VeY2uJJmylI60JLQIlK1uABi3lgHAwY8qHaCEF55e7MpP01V_8/s400/DSCN4795.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We played for a while after dinner, then got in our pajamas and had our birthday cake. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hannah wanted to do a silly face first. Look at how wet her hair is. That's sweat from skating so much!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz22Q7F6U98/T7wnEBjLgyI/AAAAAAAAEr0/S_WY9U6LrR0/s1600/DSCN4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz22Q7F6U98/T7wnEBjLgyI/AAAAAAAAEr0/S_WY9U6LrR0/s400/DSCN4808.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mK6yw1fL-TLw-RKKrQpvhchFULMZvCY649ziucQkX4wEba6S4-1dZzCEX81TSP1GbZaPsU-AiZx1rnVz8m2dTVcKUT84Q1RUcJfGd9nJemilzehdzbhnFrNuGX3vZwaVvo-9ODYH4Aw/s1600/DSCN4809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mK6yw1fL-TLw-RKKrQpvhchFULMZvCY649ziucQkX4wEba6S4-1dZzCEX81TSP1GbZaPsU-AiZx1rnVz8m2dTVcKUT84Q1RUcJfGd9nJemilzehdzbhnFrNuGX3vZwaVvo-9ODYH4Aw/s400/DSCN4809.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First-time-Mom Alex would have smacked me in the face, but I gave Josh some cake. He got a couple of licks of frosting of my finger, which he loved, then I gave him a little bit of the cake part. He didn't like that very much. He really doesn't like any food except for rice cereal. He won't even eat pureed fruits and vegetables unless they're mixed with cereal.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAwukADC-2TIWIxs58VMfgNfBtvGdbcb-ClmUClp4LX6f1vczmlRd_pRsMcmJjjmywwdf68VKLfbiDXxYqpPiys7UJZk_-SmwgUrEz6HcTY_pCZfZE4vZRGR5lLQnK-Ji46Y_xuJXL6Q/s1600/DSCN4812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAwukADC-2TIWIxs58VMfgNfBtvGdbcb-ClmUClp4LX6f1vczmlRd_pRsMcmJjjmywwdf68VKLfbiDXxYqpPiys7UJZk_-SmwgUrEz6HcTY_pCZfZE4vZRGR5lLQnK-Ji46Y_xuJXL6Q/s400/DSCN4812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mom went crazy and even let the kids have seconds on dessert. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NL8kt6TefaNZPo8ksWFD5gkJ9uZYbgJ-x7ajYjFeDwFNtUl4Z-ck0Utz-7mgY5zorPBBXRqaBgmfRV6ci0u7rLMdlANVjgUD61a_S_IF78DsqaRElf0K4nQleWWK_iaOtAYYyaBDQW0/s1600/DSCN4814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NL8kt6TefaNZPo8ksWFD5gkJ9uZYbgJ-x7ajYjFeDwFNtUl4Z-ck0Utz-7mgY5zorPBBXRqaBgmfRV6ci0u7rLMdlANVjgUD61a_S_IF78DsqaRElf0K4nQleWWK_iaOtAYYyaBDQW0/s400/DSCN4814.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXjxbsY34LQ/T7wnMTivtwI/AAAAAAAAEsU/ju7jae_IBik/s1600/DSCN4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXjxbsY34LQ/T7wnMTivtwI/AAAAAAAAEsU/ju7jae_IBik/s400/DSCN4816.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P08UO4b3cTmumChmMy5Hz_ZxVtz4_ujY_tp6WN_kJQTlTsS4-nsE6zjOTHXh7X-lvU0BlU3QHccJwvSGfzftmhMtJ9iAUv5Y9ojZp6s2O18sf07xx17B1v7iayefROIbZ3U7_rE5ZqU/s1600/DSCN4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P08UO4b3cTmumChmMy5Hz_ZxVtz4_ujY_tp6WN_kJQTlTsS4-nsE6zjOTHXh7X-lvU0BlU3QHccJwvSGfzftmhMtJ9iAUv5Y9ojZp6s2O18sf07xx17B1v7iayefROIbZ3U7_rE5ZqU/s400/DSCN4818.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hannah wanted me to take her picture with Joshua and then at the last minute they both looked away. That's just a wall off to their left, so I don't know what they were looking at, but it made me laugh. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjtrJ-8Hlgk/T7wnQGyI-VI/AAAAAAAAEsk/ON5Agx8lUlQ/s1600/DSCN4819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PjtrJ-8Hlgk/T7wnQGyI-VI/AAAAAAAAEsk/ON5Agx8lUlQ/s400/DSCN4819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trying to get a picture of all 3 kids is always a challenge, but I like all of these, even though none of them are perfect. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCYxcx8hYYvLE8RKMkyPsjw7QQkAFSsRLuKZ00EjRWAJg78aqg6hrEsUQewmUz3rCIwJjMaWPOuO5Vho5uueARuVitO5U3FnhsLExYGXfNBoBN3wJhaXack0Sj8DzckB2r-ByXRp1lvE/s1600/DSCN4820+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCYxcx8hYYvLE8RKMkyPsjw7QQkAFSsRLuKZ00EjRWAJg78aqg6hrEsUQewmUz3rCIwJjMaWPOuO5Vho5uueARuVitO5U3FnhsLExYGXfNBoBN3wJhaXack0Sj8DzckB2r-ByXRp1lvE/s400/DSCN4820+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtZraBxk2Z4/T7wnXul-ciI/AAAAAAAAEs8/w5POBo1bXsQ/s1600/DSCN4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtZraBxk2Z4/T7wnXul-ciI/AAAAAAAAEs8/w5POBo1bXsQ/s400/DSCN4821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0lHs_NPYUgoTyiqUz5SDzzyevSae-Y2gFLZVochLT3HT10fi8lpzLNT6dj3GBkDBXpSHK4JsmLf4mKZMbEDibXCe8Evn9iQC5f_3_pfs33sZ1F3LweLveQwDqIAEpv3wMRV9D9WURc/s1600/DSCN4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0lHs_NPYUgoTyiqUz5SDzzyevSae-Y2gFLZVochLT3HT10fi8lpzLNT6dj3GBkDBXpSHK4JsmLf4mKZMbEDibXCe8Evn9iQC5f_3_pfs33sZ1F3LweLveQwDqIAEpv3wMRV9D9WURc/s400/DSCN4822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zDoSvI11xw/T7wnZnW5HUI/AAAAAAAAEtM/sdWept9Hl8M/s1600/DSCN4823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zDoSvI11xw/T7wnZnW5HUI/AAAAAAAAEtM/sdWept9Hl8M/s400/DSCN4823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsJGeueRtbZCmKc6-SqQgRl6hL6ehFu0ONI0_mW9MuDPbbT8z_GyZwirj8Ap6HnvBuVuYTQZ7Sps7ChYoIH6XNZYsXM47qhQQY4zpmJupF-p_1uPMIKixQ_zsZM7pyFO-McjmBSswPy4/s1600/DSCN4824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsJGeueRtbZCmKc6-SqQgRl6hL6ehFu0ONI0_mW9MuDPbbT8z_GyZwirj8Ap6HnvBuVuYTQZ7Sps7ChYoIH6XNZYsXM47qhQQY4zpmJupF-p_1uPMIKixQ_zsZM7pyFO-McjmBSswPy4/s400/DSCN4824.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a lovely 5 years it has been. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one thinking it, but being married is hard! It's hard to consistently put another adult's needs in front of your own. It's hard choose to love someone even when you're feeling tired or lazy or selfish. I feel like Devan does a better job of pushing through these human inclinations than I do, but I'm working on it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I feel like these 5 years have been so intense with so many pregnancies and so many babies in such a short amount of time. I feel like I'm always being pulled in so many directions that it's hard to give my marriage the time and attention that it needs. I feel like I live my life for those 20 minutes we have together after the kids go to bed before one or both of us pass out from exhaustion. Sometimes I feel like I live a very small life and I'm embarrassed that I haven't seen more or done more. But then we have days like this, when I realize that we are so blessed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I realize that the years are flying past and we will look back at this time as being so sweet and so simple. I'm pretty sure that life only gets harder the longer you live it. The good news is, I'm also pretty sure that we'll grow stronger together to bear whatever comes our way. Someday we will sleep through the night again. Someday we'll be able to get through a conversation without interruption. Someday I'll find something new to whine about. But for now, I'm glad that I'm the person that Devan Steele chose to spend his life and eternity with. Even when it's hard, he's the person I most enjoy spending time with in the entire world. I know that he puts my happiness above everything else in his life and I'm trying to do the same. I fall so, so short, but I'm trying. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday to us!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AE_N_RNgmjg/T7wnjE6g1aI/AAAAAAAAEt0/CUTae7JpZGU/s1600/DSCN4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AE_N_RNgmjg/T7wnjE6g1aI/AAAAAAAAEt0/CUTae7JpZGU/s400/DSCN4829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-10728364439721265592012-02-28T16:07:00.000-07:002012-08-22T01:26:11.384-06:00Party WeekThe week of Valentine's Day was a crazy, fun, fun week. We had my mom's birthday party, a Valentine's Day Party, my dad's birthday party, a girl's night out, and a wedding reception. Then there were all the normal things, and an evening preschool board meeting thrown in, just for good measure. It was a great week, but I also wasn't sorry for a little less stress the next week. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
We started off with Mom's birthday at Renee and Mickey's house on Monday. They put a number "25" instead of "52" on the cake. How kind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNllVfZd4wWCY88I797fIsKhR7vCudyOIm469YsnlcPTK7CqfpilmpNquDaf1KJmCViq9jk2jSCnn6t9kRj2BChz5pzsZb8p0_jY8IOevEyrsMoLK5WC-k7vwoBYhIcefxCAaR6Kcjkbg/s1600/DSCN3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNllVfZd4wWCY88I797fIsKhR7vCudyOIm469YsnlcPTK7CqfpilmpNquDaf1KJmCViq9jk2jSCnn6t9kRj2BChz5pzsZb8p0_jY8IOevEyrsMoLK5WC-k7vwoBYhIcefxCAaR6Kcjkbg/s400/DSCN3864.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-Qp12Lepp4e1rxCa8y6bx0K3aSK9yPt3WIw-7pjv9-8EgjVrOW1gl3gGtLQAlUDT-_xlk66xW8IZE9z6IxWt2Y-iAX08HNcTQcVCXtHXhDOvYA-YIg5VS1Y5ibCTzEJpry6gmUTZ-os/s1600/DSCN3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-Qp12Lepp4e1rxCa8y6bx0K3aSK9yPt3WIw-7pjv9-8EgjVrOW1gl3gGtLQAlUDT-_xlk66xW8IZE9z6IxWt2Y-iAX08HNcTQcVCXtHXhDOvYA-YIg5VS1Y5ibCTzEJpry6gmUTZ-os/s400/DSCN3863.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Hannah really liked the cake.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTWpuEN55sCD0BDcSH1RJN9j6xFU55xY1TtHUKODQieqmTHNbAuiLh7ZKy-_MkIkWH9_RwU5XoTvdArYqasNutCCF0-mAT_hvB_VYjZCGilNwtnCsL2VDA4P5d2PXHyAN-ybRoFzxDEg/s1600/DSCN3867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTWpuEN55sCD0BDcSH1RJN9j6xFU55xY1TtHUKODQieqmTHNbAuiLh7ZKy-_MkIkWH9_RwU5XoTvdArYqasNutCCF0-mAT_hvB_VYjZCGilNwtnCsL2VDA4P5d2PXHyAN-ybRoFzxDEg/s400/DSCN3867.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQp7JJS0AYXXigSd0Zo4efS4KTuqYRf6ecvs9giNbIwDLIv36hVqd41iaUf4Aa4WR62zYEad9egroaV1wIBrwzillV0KlyaSztU1CPQylyUT-Do6zRF5BZt38SMyOOSvhM7tuJv8hwSA/s1600/DSCN3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQp7JJS0AYXXigSd0Zo4efS4KTuqYRf6ecvs9giNbIwDLIv36hVqd41iaUf4Aa4WR62zYEad9egroaV1wIBrwzillV0KlyaSztU1CPQylyUT-Do6zRF5BZt38SMyOOSvhM7tuJv8hwSA/s400/DSCN3868.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So did Ben...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwomXe2qgWTrXRLdMxP-sFYKKSzvW-u1R7xzE8NmLTS7tvvF6nROlWEzXC6g0Nm36Vh2XmyAp3jzfYmW9NIJfi5IydXJ9qhSD5ve6GJZtvt8b3TW0MbyFkzo1Cpw-rv1fWs0yEAGdCMU/s1600/DSCN3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwomXe2qgWTrXRLdMxP-sFYKKSzvW-u1R7xzE8NmLTS7tvvF6nROlWEzXC6g0Nm36Vh2XmyAp3jzfYmW9NIJfi5IydXJ9qhSD5ve6GJZtvt8b3TW0MbyFkzo1Cpw-rv1fWs0yEAGdCMU/s400/DSCN3874.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tuesday night we had 8 extra kids over for a cookie decorating party.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nF_3KJTM6a4/T0wT9Jr3pkI/AAAAAAAAEG0/LJgdjhWpVgw/s1600/DSCN3899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nF_3KJTM6a4/T0wT9Jr3pkI/AAAAAAAAEG0/LJgdjhWpVgw/s400/DSCN3899.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gFh5FYB4xw/T0wUCFMOdzI/AAAAAAAAEG8/Lx0AyN9oRI4/s1600/DSCN3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gFh5FYB4xw/T0wUCFMOdzI/AAAAAAAAEG8/Lx0AyN9oRI4/s400/DSCN3904.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ben didn't decorate a cookie, he just ate the marshmallow and chocolate chip toppings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sn2SJ_o-pQ/T0wUMFaexUI/AAAAAAAAEHM/Y-nTWBCFHTA/s1600/DSCN3918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sn2SJ_o-pQ/T0wUMFaexUI/AAAAAAAAEHM/Y-nTWBCFHTA/s400/DSCN3918.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The little boys got to be boys and smash trucks together (not to imply that Hannah is a boy, she just happened to be there.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v14tY6gY5V8/T0wTj9hL9LI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/2DZFe4S5PDM/s1600/DSCN3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v14tY6gY5V8/T0wTj9hL9LI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/2DZFe4S5PDM/s400/DSCN3881.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAN4qCXrBFg/T0wTpfhkskI/AAAAAAAAEGY/iYycytVwEOw/s1600/DSCN3893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAN4qCXrBFg/T0wTpfhkskI/AAAAAAAAEGY/iYycytVwEOw/s400/DSCN3893.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And the girls got to be girls and play dress up (again, not implying that Nathan is a girl.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMlTOBl815zekSAHAIOgjsbw2XSufFKG96HV2AGJtB3-E9978j36bHLkFDMtwlfl2ggwZGxeYgDLzzLwwgptKQcqAnlTXjusi7XRUtFBIS2garJ11YWe6yYqD-KFdEhvwklZy8siZWvA/s1600/DSCN3925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMlTOBl815zekSAHAIOgjsbw2XSufFKG96HV2AGJtB3-E9978j36bHLkFDMtwlfl2ggwZGxeYgDLzzLwwgptKQcqAnlTXjusi7XRUtFBIS2garJ11YWe6yYqD-KFdEhvwklZy8siZWvA/s400/DSCN3925.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br />
All the littler kids thought they wanted to play in Josh's bouncer.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5IKnsByy6o/T0wT29MVu2I/AAAAAAAAEGs/ttkQL_nuJto/s1600/DSCN3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5IKnsByy6o/T0wT29MVu2I/AAAAAAAAEGs/ttkQL_nuJto/s400/DSCN3898.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Devan took good care of the babies. I'm so lucky that he is so good with kids and he's such a good sport when I want to do crazy things.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzMCyxJ1OVc/T0wUGxbwKCI/AAAAAAAAEHE/VBhbsuCK6FQ/s1600/DSCN3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzMCyxJ1OVc/T0wUGxbwKCI/AAAAAAAAEHE/VBhbsuCK6FQ/s400/DSCN3906.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And, even though I tried not to let them, they all curled up with pillows, blankets, and popcorn and watched a movie for a while. The quiet was nice. Here is the proof of 11 kids and 2 adults in my 900 square foot apartment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xT3sF3Mk23k/T0wQAqEIwRI/AAAAAAAAEFI/erwlCTS3Mok/s1600/DSCN3933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xT3sF3Mk23k/T0wQAqEIwRI/AAAAAAAAEFI/erwlCTS3Mok/s400/DSCN3933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was such a fun night. I think I figured out the age breakdown to be 9, 7, 5, two 3 year olds, two 2 year olds, two 1 year olds, and two under 1. I love having a house full of kids! Everyone was so polite and well behaved. It was a wonderful night for everyone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wednesday was a break, only leaving for little while to play basketball after the kids went to bed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thursday night we celebrated my dad's birthday. We each made individual pizzas for dinner. They were so good, and I used the leftover toppings to feed my family pizza for the next 3 meals. Then we had a gigantic Costco chocolate cake for dessert.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWixTMq_rc/T0wQCt3r9FI/AAAAAAAAEFY/M4Lg5okdeGw/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bWixTMq_rc/T0wQCt3r9FI/AAAAAAAAEFY/M4Lg5okdeGw/s400/3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGaE_rTsBbl-11hW2m-xHs4uF3_9HJ1BMm3yd3F4fkcWgoIgg_8U-BvnZ5lt_UpvpTlZ-C1jc4i5q5aI0hUn_zlEigqJnCs4hPmREkYQVvvS5l-Ma09VG3hcsOrHqUlqwFnw8jw-Y6rQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGaE_rTsBbl-11hW2m-xHs4uF3_9HJ1BMm3yd3F4fkcWgoIgg_8U-BvnZ5lt_UpvpTlZ-C1jc4i5q5aI0hUn_zlEigqJnCs4hPmREkYQVvvS5l-Ma09VG3hcsOrHqUlqwFnw8jw-Y6rQ/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After that party was over and the kids were in bed, I went to an "Alice in Wonderland" themed tea party. It was the most creative girl's night I've ever been to. I have a couple of pictures off my phone, but it was dark and they really don't do it justice. The chairs were arranged in varying heights and the food was all delicious and beautiful. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKsEl8XWibXErYg6ukugENiII919HdtrRTgZBqJGqZVJ_QpFPzkID92pngzbTfwZthupd7-3d4lg9pedr5Ia-2lVt6nbRbdet2g9aMZsT1GgQRTNIChc0GB5VmuoBilUT3BR7nvejL5Y/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKsEl8XWibXErYg6ukugENiII919HdtrRTgZBqJGqZVJ_QpFPzkID92pngzbTfwZthupd7-3d4lg9pedr5Ia-2lVt6nbRbdet2g9aMZsT1GgQRTNIChc0GB5VmuoBilUT3BR7nvejL5Y/s400/4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
An assortment of drinks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecLbdkF4zHI/T0wQDUAvm_I/AAAAAAAAEFo/1onsvQbP8lQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecLbdkF4zHI/T0wQDUAvm_I/AAAAAAAAEFo/1onsvQbP8lQ/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My favorite part (and I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture) was a full skirt and Alice legs hanging from the ceiling. Like she's in the process of falling down the rabbit hole. It was so fun and I stayed out later than I probably ever have as a married person. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friday I slept. I slept in, took a nap, and went to bed early.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday was Brenda Pogue's wedding reception. It was '50s themed and so fun. I threw together a simple poodle dog skirt for Hannah and I wore a dress that I already had that I think is '50s inspired. We danced and ate hamburgers and by the end I was tired and my feet hurt and I was thoroughly happy and worn out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iPJQgU8qBZw/T0wQEA8AlSI/AAAAAAAAEFw/-OtxyqiKDck/s1600/420366_2990624518553_1050326117_33005197_106719468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iPJQgU8qBZw/T0wQEA8AlSI/AAAAAAAAEFw/-OtxyqiKDck/s400/420366_2990624518553_1050326117_33005197_106719468_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-2789721546617373422012-02-27T15:46:00.000-07:002012-02-27T15:46:15.527-07:00A Little ScaryI saw a cute idea on Pinterest to take pictures of your daughter in your wedding dress and then display the pictures on her wedding day. One evening we were bored, so I pulled out the dress and the camera. Then I did a little editing with free online programs and this is what we came up with. Very amateur, but so fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is our old fashioned picture</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_MvsHBF3hnQ/T0wFst_s9CI/AAAAAAAAEEM/TN-c_wCA_P0/s1600/DSCN3764+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_MvsHBF3hnQ/T0wFst_s9CI/AAAAAAAAEEM/TN-c_wCA_P0/s400/DSCN3764+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Innocent little bride</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUWLsLhUZUI/T0wFwsKafRI/AAAAAAAAEEU/gZdlzskmKdQ/s1600/DSCN3765+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUWLsLhUZUI/T0wFwsKafRI/AAAAAAAAEEU/gZdlzskmKdQ/s400/DSCN3765+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbpYmle6oXc/T0wFzNXBa2I/AAAAAAAAEEc/3vNHhuEViGU/s1600/DSCN3770+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbpYmle6oXc/T0wFzNXBa2I/AAAAAAAAEEc/3vNHhuEViGU/s400/DSCN3770+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Tough girl</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NihC9A-ff5s/T0wF4yj7ebI/AAAAAAAAEEk/MsPW_i_x1hU/s1600/DSCN3774+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NihC9A-ff5s/T0wF4yj7ebI/AAAAAAAAEEk/MsPW_i_x1hU/s400/DSCN3774+1.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-30877681068120545942012-02-27T15:36:00.001-07:002012-02-27T16:01:26.398-07:00Where did January Go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNOoRfpD7tQ/T0wDc0jwMBI/AAAAAAAAEEE/KqJ5dgZtOCg/s1600/Children%2527s+museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNOoRfpD7tQ/T0wDc0jwMBI/AAAAAAAAEEE/KqJ5dgZtOCg/s400/Children%2527s+museum.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I really can't remember what we did in the month of January. Probably just recovered from Christmas. And we didn't spend any money, so I imagine we watched a lot of TV. I know that I started February feeling refreshed, so that's a good thing. I was asked to be the Young Women's Basketball coach, which completely terrified me, so Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings I had practice and games. I figured I needed to learn how to play basketball if I was going to try to teach it, so I joined our church women's basketball team and played on Wednesday nights. I'm without a doubt the worst player on the team, but I had so much fun and met some great ladies. Other than that we just kept busy with preschool and some playdates here and there. I feel like we're FINALLY getting into a good grove for the first time since moving here. I'm glad things seem to be coming together a bit. <br />
<br />
One day we went to the new children's museum with Aunt Renee. I really love it. There aren't as many toys there as other children's museums I've been to and I like that. It's mostly things you can climb on and things to manipulate with your hands, which are the favorite activities of Hannah and Ben, respectively.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">Hannah and Ben both love the water tables, but Ben especially. He could play in the water FOREVER!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphCthx03mHZnjGtho3aeaWlE0JipL5ye4KTgPA7jK8LLafXkSatqrlMZ0j7fDQsaTdeuCGu8VBRre7Kk_L0h2YiEBDeifxUdfRaoZyWp-NFMmDs_3EltFMj1hxiQmqZ8nh1KbqO4jbWc/s1600/DSCN3799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphCthx03mHZnjGtho3aeaWlE0JipL5ye4KTgPA7jK8LLafXkSatqrlMZ0j7fDQsaTdeuCGu8VBRre7Kk_L0h2YiEBDeifxUdfRaoZyWp-NFMmDs_3EltFMj1hxiQmqZ8nh1KbqO4jbWc/s400/DSCN3799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DfecUh5L3ZratG0L2KSrAnD7sNl-nSs_UJshsAI6s55vd6nILvLXO1g2BbkWaljawwxGk71S9ljI0pz9VK4gfHsZYlXDk6XKEFP-Ew0WHtsPOPNMFJnqPPw79CBcQ2SLTC3DCQevG4M/s1600/DSCN3801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DfecUh5L3ZratG0L2KSrAnD7sNl-nSs_UJshsAI6s55vd6nILvLXO1g2BbkWaljawwxGk71S9ljI0pz9VK4gfHsZYlXDk6XKEFP-Ew0WHtsPOPNMFJnqPPw79CBcQ2SLTC3DCQevG4M/s400/DSCN3801.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hannah running around in their really cool boat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdih1KPYSMzsC8wnygbMlIuJI5N6sq9qi3-MLo4j8RiNfTPISavAm7T9Zd3T11ghENvSKTfl6xSl6PoGrqRiikCVv7XxCpYgr2xOQnOEajpzPsu-kBY5ovH-hP5XotNCN5IWcGNPzkw/s1600/DSCN3805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSdih1KPYSMzsC8wnygbMlIuJI5N6sq9qi3-MLo4j8RiNfTPISavAm7T9Zd3T11ghENvSKTfl6xSl6PoGrqRiikCVv7XxCpYgr2xOQnOEajpzPsu-kBY5ovH-hP5XotNCN5IWcGNPzkw/s400/DSCN3805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben trying to follow her across the rope bridge. She's too fast for him.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fueOsNtusRg/T0wCrBlywoI/AAAAAAAAEDA/qHst9Gn1Kmk/s1600/DSCN3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fueOsNtusRg/T0wCrBlywoI/AAAAAAAAEDA/qHst9Gn1Kmk/s400/DSCN3806.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben loves this one. It's a series of tubes that you put scarves in and they shoot out somewhere else. The place you put the scarves in is too tall for little kids though, so he needs help.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxszmLqrok0/T0wCDAbWwdI/AAAAAAAAECs/_e1mPcT6Ps0/s1600/DSCN3810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxszmLqrok0/T0wCDAbWwdI/AAAAAAAAECs/_e1mPcT6Ps0/s400/DSCN3810.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh hung out and was a good sport through it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z2X1uZgBDG8/T0wCkNIrz5I/AAAAAAAAEC4/UeSbI2F9V0I/s1600/DSCN3798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z2X1uZgBDG8/T0wCkNIrz5I/AAAAAAAAEC4/UeSbI2F9V0I/s400/DSCN3798.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell Hannah dressed herself that day? I actually think she looks pretty cute.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zF1iVaSTbmk/T0wC2plSwnI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/96N9OOqB6H0/s1600/DSCN3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zF1iVaSTbmk/T0wC2plSwnI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/96N9OOqB6H0/s400/DSCN3811.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hannah rocking her baby brother. He didn't like it much.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5VAWW2F1gA/T0wC6ywbibI/AAAAAAAAEDc/HSqEyc9Cb-g/s1600/DSCN3814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5VAWW2F1gA/T0wC6ywbibI/AAAAAAAAEDc/HSqEyc9Cb-g/s400/DSCN3814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily he escaped.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KaEYkw6tqU/T0wC_IfGSYI/AAAAAAAAEDg/BkrPV8I82ig/s1600/DSCN3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KaEYkw6tqU/T0wC_IfGSYI/AAAAAAAAEDg/BkrPV8I82ig/s400/DSCN3817.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have an amazing art studio. One of the things they can do is paint on the wall. We enjoyed that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNuUUU9qQek/T0wDEUrCokI/AAAAAAAAEDo/WOp4JDJeORw/s1600/DSCN3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNuUUU9qQek/T0wDEUrCokI/AAAAAAAAEDo/WOp4JDJeORw/s400/DSCN3821.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiOlNcogcPA/T0wDKdQsx7I/AAAAAAAAED0/OUBhiyGOqlY/s1600/DSCN3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiOlNcogcPA/T0wDKdQsx7I/AAAAAAAAED0/OUBhiyGOqlY/s400/DSCN3823.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQPlw7QbFKw/T0wDQM3LoAI/AAAAAAAAED8/65fc5EWtraE/s1600/DSCN3825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQPlw7QbFKw/T0wDQM3LoAI/AAAAAAAAED8/65fc5EWtraE/s400/DSCN3825.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-83524370775193673442012-02-27T12:17:00.000-07:002012-02-27T14:55:11.347-07:00Our ChristmasThe day after we got home from our Christmas trip to Utah, we gave our kids their Christmas presents. I'd wanted to do a big "Christmas Morning" but I got too excited. So we did our Christmas morning at night. I made a simple dinner of breakfast foods and we all got in our pajamas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD9XrSj5pWvOfxrw2gIjiIEqj-cPFKOB9KLQI9-oXqW0F7kUOo4YPRuRyFb-wmhZtsjbQaXhNm4scAdYiWNcvr-08OovKf06ILmtbZLwra3-Kf3wHykhj5wEjG8UwSwyLj7dWi-wKub4/s1600/DSCN3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD9XrSj5pWvOfxrw2gIjiIEqj-cPFKOB9KLQI9-oXqW0F7kUOo4YPRuRyFb-wmhZtsjbQaXhNm4scAdYiWNcvr-08OovKf06ILmtbZLwra3-Kf3wHykhj5wEjG8UwSwyLj7dWi-wKub4/s400/DSCN3348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got the kids camping chairs during summer clearance and was finally able to give them to them. I can't wait until we can go camping again!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9BwrfC0O3eTwZUpzoPpun9oDYMKRa_WVxwsDFw9hzapYE3YDhYRi8Y4IwgXehdFROSoySeKIr634XM2wQyhWgh_Kz2RVDHCk8gRvwXAos60vOvEVz2bkiC1CNAqDglgwHCCTd1aUVts/s1600/DSCN3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9BwrfC0O3eTwZUpzoPpun9oDYMKRa_WVxwsDFw9hzapYE3YDhYRi8Y4IwgXehdFROSoySeKIr634XM2wQyhWgh_Kz2RVDHCk8gRvwXAos60vOvEVz2bkiC1CNAqDglgwHCCTd1aUVts/s400/DSCN3353.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got Hannah these sparkley blue shoes. She is a shoe girl. I tried to get her to try them on, but she said, "I'm wearing pajamas. These are church shoes. I'm going to go put them in the shoe basket," and she left to put them away. She's so funny!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2HTL3rlWcs22eDFZwtETcfvT-NwHBt0uBlpYAkrMDEbPdFybcJElZHCB9wT5W_hah6hW__dlu3eCafw-h3BQggt25Ul9iQKFQgkNQiD2PF0CTdlQKLlBnpp0sdYkIawLy1GURaTjRwY/s1600/DSCN3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2HTL3rlWcs22eDFZwtETcfvT-NwHBt0uBlpYAkrMDEbPdFybcJElZHCB9wT5W_hah6hW__dlu3eCafw-h3BQggt25Ul9iQKFQgkNQiD2PF0CTdlQKLlBnpp0sdYkIawLy1GURaTjRwY/s400/DSCN3369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think her very favorite present was a baby stroller that I got at a thrift store for $2. Sorry, holiday Barbie.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YSlGW1ovPZ-L_gLZbyNGrieuzC1yHuOgggSuUiplpqG6r8UurJCO2z_j1NU3jM1kk2ABXCk36FueKsXwMXUtjtBhv-Fhzx5v3nK1hGHh-Vv6I0_CEPxxDG4Buv2SjB7Xj5BdOrdur8E/s1600/DSCN3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YSlGW1ovPZ-L_gLZbyNGrieuzC1yHuOgggSuUiplpqG6r8UurJCO2z_j1NU3jM1kk2ABXCk36FueKsXwMXUtjtBhv-Fhzx5v3nK1hGHh-Vv6I0_CEPxxDG4Buv2SjB7Xj5BdOrdur8E/s400/DSCN3380.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got some new additions to my nutcracker collection. I also got a George Foreman grill, upon which I have been making daily grilled sandwiches. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCYOr6t-5hX04bd2FJdTKrh9DHpmipO3uM5bzMtSkiNtyr7TvOJt3gFkhpGEBCVrT75YpW-5wMBcXrrlb5JWbiAKj8xAZyO9mk_nMmcjXyYtNFA_ldo0yIyGciiwTRo-cgOuqWZR5D-E/s1600/DSCN3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCYOr6t-5hX04bd2FJdTKrh9DHpmipO3uM5bzMtSkiNtyr7TvOJt3gFkhpGEBCVrT75YpW-5wMBcXrrlb5JWbiAKj8xAZyO9mk_nMmcjXyYtNFA_ldo0yIyGciiwTRo-cgOuqWZR5D-E/s400/DSCN3376.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh got the traditional engraved ornament for his first Christmas. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzKd35oXY7UGVbe0c5Z7RO2CSaS6Itf9r1nzlwKe_SZU-Q3pJEMQE1Usvc_YrO-XY-PuYE_ps0eFF4AfJ0d_9yj-Pce89O5287dYRrLugxEunxyXv_NputpaNkAcVPfuRiEucoNS5ngM/s1600/DSCN3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzKd35oXY7UGVbe0c5Z7RO2CSaS6Itf9r1nzlwKe_SZU-Q3pJEMQE1Usvc_YrO-XY-PuYE_ps0eFF4AfJ0d_9yj-Pce89O5287dYRrLugxEunxyXv_NputpaNkAcVPfuRiEucoNS5ngM/s400/DSCN3381.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm a lame-o wife and Devan got things like Beef Jerky, Oreos, and Nutella for Christmas. Luckily, he got some gift cards from other people so he could pick out some toys for himself.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBNGjlqGvpPhoy42n7K4tOAuMNyEHNpPfj2U5MaKKxjnkl_O_AESJzZlYgCbKKWnazIofme97Vg1tN6O6ridETXG3XrNuk9zKotHk8LkOG1wROuc3F6rsve0cRGgFzXNMLlPCRas_Kxg/s1600/DSCN3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBNGjlqGvpPhoy42n7K4tOAuMNyEHNpPfj2U5MaKKxjnkl_O_AESJzZlYgCbKKWnazIofme97Vg1tN6O6ridETXG3XrNuk9zKotHk8LkOG1wROuc3F6rsve0cRGgFzXNMLlPCRas_Kxg/s400/DSCN3393.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ben's main present was a set of 5 Yo Gabba Gabba (his favorite show) Beanie Babies. He was so excited. It made me so happy, because at one, you don't really expect a kid to care about anything you get for him. He opened them and started yelling, "Ga!" for Gabba. He still can't say, "Dad," but he knows the name of his favorite show.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1gY8jZkruMJwsPqMQkFKLDgDIA7LmJpu2sKFeKQm-OF3xLILAhM4TS3vVcq7-LL8jvoHXyGGAytNqpwLOEHNAd_ecKHBZFCuvmSJ4m67Z-EUe1lLM1U4M5uPtNo6JENCZ6fjJ58Kmtw/s1600/DSCN3412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1gY8jZkruMJwsPqMQkFKLDgDIA7LmJpu2sKFeKQm-OF3xLILAhM4TS3vVcq7-LL8jvoHXyGGAytNqpwLOEHNAd_ecKHBZFCuvmSJ4m67Z-EUe1lLM1U4M5uPtNo6JENCZ6fjJ58Kmtw/s400/DSCN3412.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDG8zKAzKB_07IowNCqqzZf9o3uioVDNuSmQXIcuCS0MfRNm8GIgOZ01pkx5LxT_ijI3XoO4_JC9V25JYQlMfn0-byG46FTQqVZmnvQgLnRh4EBai2CDFAAbzJ3oXOFgAAuJTxGsooJ8/s1600/DSCN3415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDG8zKAzKB_07IowNCqqzZf9o3uioVDNuSmQXIcuCS0MfRNm8GIgOZ01pkx5LxT_ijI3XoO4_JC9V25JYQlMfn0-byG46FTQqVZmnvQgLnRh4EBai2CDFAAbzJ3oXOFgAAuJTxGsooJ8/s400/DSCN3415.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxzlfFffmQZGaxuePIwLYt3sxTX8b8rADpMeMPKPc7mgiY_5KfUZ4NzE_nWBf45WgAUgDLCxKLFjfS1tDnTuQRWLua5Gwppi6SUQnpkkt9ggc9iCa_ASoq-bRJOenpGEiRGnTR2_phgc/s1600/DSCN3416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxzlfFffmQZGaxuePIwLYt3sxTX8b8rADpMeMPKPc7mgiY_5KfUZ4NzE_nWBf45WgAUgDLCxKLFjfS1tDnTuQRWLua5Gwppi6SUQnpkkt9ggc9iCa_ASoq-bRJOenpGEiRGnTR2_phgc/s400/DSCN3416.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got Josh a box of a few small things. It's hard because we know he doesn't have any idea what's going on, but we wanted to make sure we showed how much we love him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjUhaeKfUfNRQ4_yLxFcxINd0vXjaDzp09-RqkxmC7U5QEjQbrXv_HbV04YXm2-npNH1Gjl6nrqoI0VGFhbpYMUfOMQfG9RJWzZjScd5lxm3S_N_7xSHQM0EH0Q3kRWj6ZgNnuTOcClo/s1600/DSCN3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjUhaeKfUfNRQ4_yLxFcxINd0vXjaDzp09-RqkxmC7U5QEjQbrXv_HbV04YXm2-npNH1Gjl6nrqoI0VGFhbpYMUfOMQfG9RJWzZjScd5lxm3S_N_7xSHQM0EH0Q3kRWj6ZgNnuTOcClo/s400/DSCN3423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids with all their presents. Looking at this, I feel like I went overboard. I try to never get them anything unless there is a reason like birthday or Christmas or they've earned it in some way. So, all year long, when I see something I really want to get for them, I just save it for Christmas. It turns into a lot of presents sitting in my closet all year. Devan hates that about me. He thinks we should never get them presents during the year AND not get them presents for Christmas.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOxV9xAyY98rdM8rvq98XDNUzKlIE_vWOVTTKKW__r1u9KJfXbyf1lIrgB1kucmACi6ZxwWsNDGehgxE8c0zZAOwaa7f8v_VSGx2abfW_7fu3KPMU0tGARBdHb8Jds6YPmOfJR4ihKc/s1600/DSCN3432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOxV9xAyY98rdM8rvq98XDNUzKlIE_vWOVTTKKW__r1u9KJfXbyf1lIrgB1kucmACi6ZxwWsNDGehgxE8c0zZAOwaa7f8v_VSGx2abfW_7fu3KPMU0tGARBdHb8Jds6YPmOfJR4ihKc/s400/DSCN3432.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a good Christmas.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNALMyR2bhv3ILArZ_9yloXH2WflRFi_a0FT_whEna5oLE7Qr5DIn-U7Ck8KBr0aLmyKhx-5zUdI9hjkROCkAHVm3OxXu9cuzIcvy6qf9TqPcZzB8OYIQRXRZ0ZMOXjklOU_HfTJtJlo/s1600/DSCN3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNALMyR2bhv3ILArZ_9yloXH2WflRFi_a0FT_whEna5oLE7Qr5DIn-U7Ck8KBr0aLmyKhx-5zUdI9hjkROCkAHVm3OxXu9cuzIcvy6qf9TqPcZzB8OYIQRXRZ0ZMOXjklOU_HfTJtJlo/s400/DSCN3434.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743639404911400922.post-82714409601018545312012-02-17T02:14:00.000-07:002012-02-17T02:14:26.829-07:00No Spend JanuaryWe got home from Christmas, looked at our bank account and freaked out. We decided we needed to do something drastic to get our spending under control. And with that, our "No Spend" month was born. We set a few rules:<br />
<br />
1. We can pay bills (of course) and put gas in the car as needed. I also decided that any preschool related expenses were fine too. For example, we didn't have to go on this month's field trip that cost $11, but we decided not to punish Hannah in our experiment.<br />
<br />
2. We agreed that we'd buy milk, eggs and a few leafy greens every week. I didn't want my stomach to fall out or anything from not getting anything fresh for a month. I also broke down and bought 2 pounds of cheese when I ran out of cheese the first week. There is no way I can go a month without cheese.<br />
<br />
And that was about it. No spending other than that. No eating out. No impulse buys at the supermarket. Cut off. <br />
<br />
Now, I feel I need to tell you that I am a food hoarder. Our church encourages us to have a food storage and I love it. I love to buy things when they're on sale and know that if troubles befall us, we'll still be able to eat. We bought half of an organic cow this fall for a screaming deal --$3 a pound. You can barely get ground beef for $3 a pound around here and this meat was 1/3 ground beef, 1/3 steaks and 1/3 roast. So, we're set with meat for the year. We have so much pasta and wheat and flour and sugar. We really are set. The problem is, there have been times when we haven't had money for food, but rather than use the food I have stored, I've continued to buy more on a credit card. I just couldn't bring myself to dip into my safety net of food. Well, I decided that I need to use it for what it's for, and a month where we only make $600 is a month when we probably shouldn't be spending any money on anything. And we didn't<br />
<br />
We did well. We made it the entire month of January only spending money on our bills, gas, and our few predetermined perishables. It was so good for us. We started making bread again. We got more serious about cloth diapering. When we ran out of something I had to either go without or learn how to make it myself. I learned how to make tortillas, granola bars, and ice cream in a freezer bag. I feel like we had more time together as a family too, not having to run to the store 2-3 evenings a week. I lost 5 pounds which was really surprising for me since I was eating far more simple carbohydrates (at meals) and far fewer fruits and vegetables than I was used to. The difference was, this month I didn't have store bought sweets or snacks to binge on at night and I wasn't eating fast food a couple of times a week. If I wanted something I had to make it. So, I did eat popcorn and cookies and I even made potato chips. But let me tell you, if you're making your own potato chips, you are not going to eat them everyday. They took me 3 hours to make 4 cups. But we sure did enjoy those chips and it made them taste even better knowing that my hard work went into them and knowing that feeding my family potatoes with a little oil and salt was so much better for them than anything out of a bag. I learned that almost anything homemade is better than store-bought and it's always cheaper. Tastes better and costs less...hmm...<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN">We were invited to a couple of birthday parties and baby showers. Instead of running out to buy a gift, I had to find things around the house to make things. I felt like it actually took some pressure off. I had to make due with what I had, and if it wasn’t perfect, too bad. I did a ton of sewing. I learned how to make raggy quilts and made 3 in the month of January. I also made superhero capes for the two preschool boys whose birthdays we went to. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">My first quilt with my third baby.</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSOb0do36ItXWMvLw6nnFmB6yvW5X3D4X1ww898TmimbZWGybkgY6R-f4kCalPTpgUUCT6Qz7WZFLD9b4_kKXxy8sqX5iauxEXn1Tvc9EHsk-yw1dNGEv8ZkuECYdcZ4VebJ9vc4_RtY/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSOb0do36ItXWMvLw6nnFmB6yvW5X3D4X1ww898TmimbZWGybkgY6R-f4kCalPTpgUUCT6Qz7WZFLD9b4_kKXxy8sqX5iauxEXn1Tvc9EHsk-yw1dNGEv8ZkuECYdcZ4VebJ9vc4_RtY/s400/untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This month we're back to spending money and it's hard to find a balance. I'm so much better at quitting something than I am at doing it in moderation. I've slipped back into some old habits, but I feel like January made me more mindful of what I spend my money on and what is actually a necessity.AlixSteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628042377554792395noreply@blogger.com0