tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200853842024-03-07T00:36:13.653-08:00San Diego WallsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-24435754510664058282012-01-22T19:18:00.001-08:002012-01-22T19:18:35.250-08:00Adventures in Cooking<p> I cooked cauliflower for the first time tonight. Growing up I cannot remember a single time my Mom made cauliflower and Dan detests the vegetable, so I've never had a desire to attempt a cauliflower concoction.</p><p>Well, since joining a CSA I've been cooking and eating some vegetables that I've never considered before and with very good results. We've had kale, beets and now cauliflower. Dan had one piece and said it was okay which was very encouraging, considering the mere mention of eating cauliflower would cause him to gag. Daniel, who is not a big veggie lover also said it was okay, and Sammy and I really liked it.</p>I used a recipe called <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=99541" target="_blank" title="">Cauliflower Poppers</a> I found on Pinterest. The only changes I made were I mixed the cauliflower with a little olive oil and because I was out of chili pepper I sprinkled on some Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes. I would definitely use this recipe again if we get more cauliflower in our CSA box.<p><br><p><p>We also had some left over chili that I made yesterday. I used a new recipe, <a href="http://penniesonaplatter.com/2011/01/26/spicy-chili/" target="_blank" title="">Spicy Chili</a>, that was really good. I used ground turkey meat instead of beef and added some black beans too. It was very soup like, so I have renamed it Spicy Chili Soup. It was perfect for the cold rainy day we had yesterday. I love finding good new recipes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmqsen_g-LK4qrAjycesnWKADKPBjfw6Rya_E-eVzf4wjoRZeHol5KaUILlHkH53Fm6psAJZLUI8c4IAmkZRres2Vdx1ikS2gqJOdstWaQKTdD5-_rbPhr-pc0k8MuEK4Ng-O-w/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmqsen_g-LK4qrAjycesnWKADKPBjfw6Rya_E-eVzf4wjoRZeHol5KaUILlHkH53Fm6psAJZLUI8c4IAmkZRres2Vdx1ikS2gqJOdstWaQKTdD5-_rbPhr-pc0k8MuEK4Ng-O-w/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1327288667910.2322" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p></p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-71191510606243578792012-01-13T12:12:00.001-08:002012-01-13T12:12:56.231-08:00A whole lotta beef...<p> Tonight I will be cooking up more ground beef than I have probably cooked in my whole life. Although that's not saying much since I rarely cook beef (I am more of a chicken, turkey and seafood girl). Why so much beef? Well, I am helping out with our church's Winter Shelter program and cooking dinner for the guests and the volunteers and decided to do a taco bar meal. Easy and yummy. I've never cooked for this many people (about 20-25), so I hope we don't run out of food. Wish me luck!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3lh71aqGIFCVuO-KuK5I6X4Oycc1UKGTSjiGz5EVXq6BKSDTFWN7m3tBV0ztH56rHcpwIlr2LBa0H4oIch3gFYCPZykLRSnBzdwmZLfBK_qymnYQg5yNJ1MgeNgLvqcz49FOg/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3lh71aqGIFCVuO-KuK5I6X4Oycc1UKGTSjiGz5EVXq6BKSDTFWN7m3tBV0ztH56rHcpwIlr2LBa0H4oIch3gFYCPZykLRSnBzdwmZLfBK_qymnYQg5yNJ1MgeNgLvqcz49FOg/s500/C360_2012-01-13-11-20-43.jpg" id="blogsy-1326485553061.2703" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-9125126522610092492012-01-09T19:08:00.001-08:002012-01-09T19:08:51.223-08:00Things that make Daniel giddy...<div>One of Daniel's favorite stores is Staples. I had to get some stuff at Staples yesterday and took Daniel with me and he was giddy with excitement as he perused the assortment of pens, paper and various office supplies. He is a funny kid I'll tell ya. He really liked this open/closed sign and thought it would look nice hanging by his bed. He decided to save the $6.00 and attempt to make one instead.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm thinking that a Staples gift card might make a good present for his upcoming birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciaoLhy_E-KEeMUEdYT6dGwst3iEiQZIXruXShnTfCixNswFUaAw1W9DThOILHgVkwpuy_wHeGRDG16zU9wUNMOqKLYG_nSaad8-3ktm7uGwW8jlDk9pJ5MFAF55ni7dR80zr-w/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciaoLhy_E-KEeMUEdYT6dGwst3iEiQZIXruXShnTfCixNswFUaAw1W9DThOILHgVkwpuy_wHeGRDG16zU9wUNMOqKLYG_nSaad8-3ktm7uGwW8jlDk9pJ5MFAF55ni7dR80zr-w/s500/C360_2012-01-08-14-08-53.jpg" id="blogsy-1326164886475.5605" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" align="left" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesEvV4YtFOCxJn0RyRCMDtfe54Uo70X0DatcHk1stTzDg7-rYysIHXcTsF45mzt9OF8T5yKRbMUkfMohSRMv3p9UqU8e4HjsZ0pcJaipQ045g5u9uNOGZmwx8vmb4CzrUnOocpQ/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesEvV4YtFOCxJn0RyRCMDtfe54Uo70X0DatcHk1stTzDg7-rYysIHXcTsF45mzt9OF8T5yKRbMUkfMohSRMv3p9UqU8e4HjsZ0pcJaipQ045g5u9uNOGZmwx8vmb4CzrUnOocpQ/s500/C360_2012-01-08-14-09-08.jpg" id="blogsy-1326164275498.2112" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-58961569710588516442011-05-08T21:15:00.000-07:002011-05-08T21:15:04.105-07:00Mother's Day<div style="text-align: center;">So thankful to be the mother of these two boys.</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/AVvXsEiCYa3TiwwhljYWChVR4brAlHBILRPK4aFoErLwEsZqQlOnI37qx0fLEA9aM5YjvimmI32FPhvDEGIJgx6xDSMEilMFC8UwCNvnOShdOAsz9BzI-LeZMKZYIOrjsmnZrVDdDw29PA/s1600/IMG_4291+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYa3TiwwhljYWChVR4brAlHBILRPK4aFoErLwEsZqQlOnI37qx0fLEA9aM5YjvimmI32FPhvDEGIJgx6xDSMEilMFC8UwCNvnOShdOAsz9BzI-LeZMKZYIOrjsmnZrVDdDw29PA/s1600/IMG_4291+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-84154289340685421282011-04-28T19:00:00.000-07:002011-04-28T19:00:23.178-07:00Home Bound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am going on day four of being couped up inside the house with a feverish boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It hasn't helped that we've been having beautiful warm days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least I can work in the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It started on Monday morning with Sammy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A bad headache and an almost 104 fever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poor little guy was miserable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tuesday his temp was down, but he was still not feeling great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wednesday back to his chipper self.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning I was glad he could go back to school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then Daniel came down stairs crying that he had a headache.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, it was the fever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Sammy when off to school and Daniel stayed home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another gorgeous day today too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hopefully by the weekend Daniel will be back to his old self.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We'll have to see about Dan and I.</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/AVvXsEhJH_VZ4g0IW3K8cam3IUW9dvhbFgc5-ljhxFFrXMi8sIRoTsCRdjl4cfvcUQZhUaHfEY3IEmelIhyfBymwZsx8TWx9S_uT-d6GVcpArXTlbRLGImFXa21uV_mQL9Piu6zSl2wYfA/s1600/IMG_4159+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH_VZ4g0IW3K8cam3IUW9dvhbFgc5-ljhxFFrXMi8sIRoTsCRdjl4cfvcUQZhUaHfEY3IEmelIhyfBymwZsx8TWx9S_uT-d6GVcpArXTlbRLGImFXa21uV_mQL9Piu6zSl2wYfA/s1600/IMG_4159+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnXq4cSLiMoZw6mfS-68CeM3vLJE9ZP9FN3yMYcreS9OwrvYOB9zeBL1Nm8z6NGVCzrw5GQ6RWcXJhVClE0hHqG5wfUm7ntzMi6PJQ-jFJdZ7OywLj4Dzy7rsBm4CwJdwZJeT5Q/s1600/IMG_4161+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnXq4cSLiMoZw6mfS-68CeM3vLJE9ZP9FN3yMYcreS9OwrvYOB9zeBL1Nm8z6NGVCzrw5GQ6RWcXJhVClE0hHqG5wfUm7ntzMi6PJQ-jFJdZ7OywLj4Dzy7rsBm4CwJdwZJeT5Q/s1600/IMG_4161+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2AZH_3mIWwS4ol1cx5L-O5GmVNztRoRkYXd8kEm7UsNY-HDG2Q9fUiDfIosF2u06gJ1g6sJq3uaHSH2fz85RZffgEodAD_lOD4hSYsxJunTxZwdw_hgzj3vPRd7dPKLtY83OWw/s1600/IMG_4164+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2AZH_3mIWwS4ol1cx5L-O5GmVNztRoRkYXd8kEm7UsNY-HDG2Q9fUiDfIosF2u06gJ1g6sJq3uaHSH2fz85RZffgEodAD_lOD4hSYsxJunTxZwdw_hgzj3vPRd7dPKLtY83OWw/s1600/IMG_4164+copy.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-73813472657257438022011-04-08T10:24:00.000-07:002011-04-08T10:55:01.097-07:00A Cub Scout HikeYesterday afternoon some of my cub scouts and I went on an adventure. Some of the boys (they don't all go to the same school) had this week off for Spring Break, and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary to break our routine, so I decided to push them a bit and have them hike up a mountain. To be more precise, <a href="http://www.mtrp.org/pop_map_details.asp?area_idno=0&habitat_idno=0&trail_idno=3">Cowles Mountain</a>, the highest point in the city of San Diego.<br /><br />We got to the trail head just before 4pm, with some threatening clouds in the sky, and some threatening looks from the parents. Totally kidding on the second part of that. One thing that has been great about cub scouts from the very beginning three years ago has been the friendship with the other parents. They have been great, supportive, helpful, willing to put up with some of my crazy ideas (like take their little angels up a 'mountain').<br /><br />Four scouts were with us, Cameron, Daniel, David and Malachi, and a fellow parent, Dave, was going up with me. The boys haven't seen each other all week, so there was much to share on the way up. Dave and I were amazed at the unending conversation between the boys. Suzy later asked what they talked about. I have no idea, but it never stopped. Never is too strong a word, the only time it stopped was when one of them biffed it trying to scramble up a steep part. I tried upping the pace to see if I could tire the conversation out of them, no go. All the way up, all the way down.<br /><br />There was one more situation where it got quiet, both times we crossed the first bridge (going up and going down) the boys all were eerily quiet, probably because every other hiker we saw had mentioned the rattlesnake seen near the bridge. I was disappointed that we didn't actually see (or hear) the aforementioned rattlesnake, but the boys sure loved the drama. Cameron's first thing he said to his dad when we got down was, 'I am so glad that i'm alive!'. His dad gave me a bit of a look, and then got the story in a rush.<br /><br />I had a great time with the boys, and seeing their happy faces at the top of the mountain is one of the main reasons why. They had some boyish confidence at the bottom, trusting that us adults wouldn't push them past what they could take. However, when we would point up and say that's where we were going they seemed rather doubtful. When they at last turned the final corner and saw that we were at the top, it was one of those moments as a parent that you cherish, happiness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe9ohslOePYUg_lXwkKd1Xzy2eO4ssfiA0gv1uFnv4l-WgFfb_jKAN8pORQviHe0QM-hsVRWHprQ5pLGn_AAxs056KsGUwTRgNfHhx5T6Dr0Db9w1rmA-CWEgbO90J0zoWhJK/s1600/Bear+Hike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe9ohslOePYUg_lXwkKd1Xzy2eO4ssfiA0gv1uFnv4l-WgFfb_jKAN8pORQviHe0QM-hsVRWHprQ5pLGn_AAxs056KsGUwTRgNfHhx5T6Dr0Db9w1rmA-CWEgbO90J0zoWhJK/s400/Bear+Hike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593272309264688370" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-24691674058435725022011-03-16T07:46:00.000-07:002011-03-16T10:22:46.873-07:00UPS!For those of you whom work in a small business you will know what that sounds like. A man or woman enters your location, calls out in a loud, questioning voice, 'UPS'. There is a nuance to the call. A practiced office worker can tell a lot about the mood of the driver just by the sound of his/her (I throw the /her in there but in reality I can recall only a short two or three month period in the last fourteen years when our UPS guy was actually a UPS girl) call. The place I work, RCK Controls, has changed locations twice in its history and once since I have been around, call it Fall of '97. In all that time we have had, to my admittedly shaky memory, four, maybe five, regular UPS guys.<br /><br />A big chunk of my time working here I was the closest person to the door, so I was most often the person that responded to the call. For a multitude of reasons I felt like I should treat the UPS guys with a lot of respect, and try to get to know them a little bit. These are the guys who bring everything to us, from our new computers, to the Christmas presents for our much loved families. Be nice to the guys who bring you birthday presents for your wife.<br /><br />Last week the people who are normally the first line of response for the UPS! guy in our office were off for lunch. I, being all the way down the hall, was the first responder to the call. When our guy (do they even have names?!?!) made it to my office I signed the pad, exchanged greetings, and as he was leaving he said something that struck me as bizarre,<br /><br />'So, what's all for sale?'<br /><br />My quick-witted response, 'Uh, what?'<br /><br />'I saw the sign, it said, 'Everything for sale.''<br /><br />Me, again, with the snappy repartee, 'Sign?'<br /><br />My brain was spinning and the UPS! guy was growing tired with the game. I searched for anything possible, and that is when I went into my default mode, if I am confused, blame it on my kids.... Got it!<br /><br />'Oh', I said, 'You mean a sign in the window at home!'<br /><br />'Yeah, it looks like you guys are having a pretty good sale.'<br /><br />'Yeah, I think you're right, come by and talk to the boys to see what they'll charge you for some Legos.'<br /><br />'OK, see you later.'<br /><br />'Have a good one, bud.'<br /><br />About three weeks ago Daniel and Sammy had a garage sale. If I recall it was raining pretty good, so the foot traffic was lower than normal in our cul-de-sac, but that didn't deter them. A bunch of toys (I think they even tried to sell some of my scrap wood, they were very excited when I gave them permission) were laid out, signs made, all the things you need to make a little side cash. Unsurprisingly nothing was sold. I think that they may have seen two humans during those three hours on a Saturday afternoon that didn't live under our roof. But, it occupied them nicely for an afternoon, and they didn't burn anything down (that I know of, remember the rain?), so it was a win all around. Unfortunately not all the signs were removed. In our studio window, clearly a prominent position for advertising in the neighborhood, was in bold print,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm6zIpteyxiDZx2gGZnb2_DYgxDZDkL52xQcRuWH3kc6B3eLmSBBtPoeyTSIHYK_eOw9Q5HmUrpBZ4QX7JsHwUdSMd9Mc0cCxHQFYzAAWQq3ekYD4m7eMDQeWYO29xfcUJocL/s1600/NewStore.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm6zIpteyxiDZx2gGZnb2_DYgxDZDkL52xQcRuWH3kc6B3eLmSBBtPoeyTSIHYK_eOw9Q5HmUrpBZ4QX7JsHwUdSMd9Mc0cCxHQFYzAAWQq3ekYD4m7eMDQeWYO29xfcUJocL/s400/NewStore.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584729221887266754" /></a><br /><br />San Diego being the small town that it is, my home UPS! guy is also my work UPS! guy, so when he saw the opportunity to get a good deal he jumped at it. If you are looking for some cheap stuff, come on by. The boys would be happy to sell you some scrap wood or mostly fine army men. Forget Craiglist or Ebay, come see the Walls boys, they would be happy to hook you up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-7005569991438850192011-03-05T22:21:00.000-08:002011-03-05T22:21:26.040-08:00Pinewood Derby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They boys made race cars and then raced each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was Sammy's first year doing the Derby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He made his race car into a pack of gum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjpHff4UXVNxKhIlazRZUvgirG4aOQ36zqASB9Jze_MuYlVr_zh09UOtrWKdM13xIbaZ44qamMWSpnKCFmqlofGNg3CQXof-VQIQUUPDfVNby-X_15j1L3Ieifi9kjb8TidliWw/s1600/IMG_3595+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjpHff4UXVNxKhIlazRZUvgirG4aOQ36zqASB9Jze_MuYlVr_zh09UOtrWKdM13xIbaZ44qamMWSpnKCFmqlofGNg3CQXof-VQIQUUPDfVNby-X_15j1L3Ieifi9kjb8TidliWw/s1600/IMG_3595+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sammy is in the first track.</div><div style="text-align: center;">On your mark, get set...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMpmfKQuSzo0eP5RXR-NDQmUOQHLO90BqTUf27gSYSTBLh1whD5bXYJuRQAYzySKnymd3CHMbkIuC1UZi-AQ41u0qYGrw3oxuggbKX-TR1thTRS4nZdScpCbb78EGP7w1xxPTg/s1600/IMG_3600+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMpmfKQuSzo0eP5RXR-NDQmUOQHLO90BqTUf27gSYSTBLh1whD5bXYJuRQAYzySKnymd3CHMbkIuC1UZi-AQ41u0qYGrw3oxuggbKX-TR1thTRS4nZdScpCbb78EGP7w1xxPTg/s1600/IMG_3600+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sammy came in 2nd place.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazingly there were no tears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENvO6zbwmN6S51X_oachVmhb1uXwIKId2WsXFOWYLJzAk6-nik0IOI7E1keiNLva9Oq3sT35IxR3sNXa3TAugb8rj15e9SL3xFglv2DivydpVCq6kksy9aBHlviAYCTEVQ5S-Sg/s1600/IMG_3603+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENvO6zbwmN6S51X_oachVmhb1uXwIKId2WsXFOWYLJzAk6-nik0IOI7E1keiNLva9Oq3sT35IxR3sNXa3TAugb8rj15e9SL3xFglv2DivydpVCq6kksy9aBHlviAYCTEVQ5S-Sg/s1600/IMG_3603+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then it was Daniel's turn.</div><div style="text-align: center;">His car was an e-racer (eraser).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE6gm0qpdpu4kpyFWPEy8TPK_x9sViWZSyjeGn748QmyDc-QRv0si7jWy6R9qo4_596apK36HMi1FgCUPjcwgBLA4YC0c2rAjhASg0LYwmCiDfBDfbJMzhs1nk_xVrnSmLJu4-A/s1600/IMG_3617+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE6gm0qpdpu4kpyFWPEy8TPK_x9sViWZSyjeGn748QmyDc-QRv0si7jWy6R9qo4_596apK36HMi1FgCUPjcwgBLA4YC0c2rAjhASg0LYwmCiDfBDfbJMzhs1nk_xVrnSmLJu4-A/s1600/IMG_3617+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His is in the first track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE6gm0qpdpu4kpyFWPEy8TPK_x9sViWZSyjeGn748QmyDc-QRv0si7jWy6R9qo4_596apK36HMi1FgCUPjcwgBLA4YC0c2rAjhASg0LYwmCiDfBDfbJMzhs1nk_xVrnSmLJu4-A/s1600/IMG_3617+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZr7WM_0N66m8WR8C-GHJx12OVWIZ41LHlz3zRTUxtjG4Bmk3HxfZFLWroIuy9xd3ynny53JNjczs1hx8lzBpsl3pMmicQDibB3evINV1vh1aiJfma0xX2geLoOmXJchPyUax0g/s1600/IMG_3615+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZr7WM_0N66m8WR8C-GHJx12OVWIZ41LHlz3zRTUxtjG4Bmk3HxfZFLWroIuy9xd3ynny53JNjczs1hx8lzBpsl3pMmicQDibB3evINV1vh1aiJfma0xX2geLoOmXJchPyUax0g/s1600/IMG_3615+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">He also came in 2nd.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s-QAxzq611xreDdYqQBZL7EkfoMFVhQ5vi7eIKmX5cRG5Sjnu2sewkXUuGKX51Bhmw1D8BPeNXASVOWtpPz4yMNLl0iZP6hnon3sev_wlMM3_UAQxmDRwRp9oetVN_gy066CrQ/s1600/IMG_3618+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s-QAxzq611xreDdYqQBZL7EkfoMFVhQ5vi7eIKmX5cRG5Sjnu2sewkXUuGKX51Bhmw1D8BPeNXASVOWtpPz4yMNLl0iZP6hnon3sev_wlMM3_UAQxmDRwRp9oetVN_gy066CrQ/s1600/IMG_3618+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sammy with his den.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Aren't they cute?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS8VFT2P02vIDWD5a68N-SMf3TipZYjyTbGNIHo-uj6luRwrEA8I2USc0OgOqxeJZg3GUeWgWwqeK88yAcUs_4OtD3D9MuQqXFU2rlFHs7UpRn9m5FauoCXI4C6wEo2sSDEW1Tw/s1600/IMG_3635+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS8VFT2P02vIDWD5a68N-SMf3TipZYjyTbGNIHo-uj6luRwrEA8I2USc0OgOqxeJZg3GUeWgWwqeK88yAcUs_4OtD3D9MuQqXFU2rlFHs7UpRn9m5FauoCXI4C6wEo2sSDEW1Tw/s1600/IMG_3635+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daniel and his den.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDMrb7gGaKORmq18PSUKs0bTgxRT4fepmzsa2id_uZrGkPN-XmGIaMtBR07cv7E3Ci1AeOO-L1KquAmtqUleyGc085RQmnd0BYqM4QxHta__Gzgi4iJWTkljy7DoZoOVNCOMpkw/s1600/IMG_3638+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDMrb7gGaKORmq18PSUKs0bTgxRT4fepmzsa2id_uZrGkPN-XmGIaMtBR07cv7E3Ci1AeOO-L1KquAmtqUleyGc085RQmnd0BYqM4QxHta__Gzgi4iJWTkljy7DoZoOVNCOMpkw/s1600/IMG_3638+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big smiley Sammy face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't ya want to kiss it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERdE157wojoLogdkUHtVgWOXXwOcNbPka-L6FPnIbSPy24WAedjar8Bnwv91V5QDvWT-KizqqUgeKIgB2dxls54dy4Rs1zA1HNiV6g6hBZt0xmTRiaRiPWqzODDGgddxMwP8puw/s1600/IMG_3634+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERdE157wojoLogdkUHtVgWOXXwOcNbPka-L6FPnIbSPy24WAedjar8Bnwv91V5QDvWT-KizqqUgeKIgB2dxls54dy4Rs1zA1HNiV6g6hBZt0xmTRiaRiPWqzODDGgddxMwP8puw/s1600/IMG_3634+copy.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-39198393505441758172011-02-28T13:51:00.000-08:002011-02-28T13:51:54.061-08:00Book Bed<div style="text-align: center;">How cool is this bed?</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can close it up during the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">At night open it up, crawl under the pages and fall asleep.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sammy would love this.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://heartanddesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/childs-play-by-yusuke-suzuki.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-42iRFTwnJ67V8WMiH_YH1XHc_11wyKy9demeTLh0j3V8eVPsjLAdNLX10RLm3GPLnAf3hjdmK9w-3zmCtLOgtnm1oP2P_e_y4WiVGCJT4SKlbsQ5-qpLoZT8hXHz6bjWpnq/s640/Yukuke+Suzuki-Childs+Play_SnOOp.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://fotostalgie.net/fotostalgie.html" style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Yusuke Suzuk</span>i</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-75250538904152351592011-02-27T22:02:00.000-08:002011-02-27T22:02:01.212-08:00Sammy Rides a Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sammy learned to ride his bike without training wheels today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It took all of about 10 minutes for him to learn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the story:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daniel and Sammy come back from riding their bikes (Sammy with training wheels) around the block. Daniel says he wants to ride by himself because it is too hard to stay with Sammy (because Sammy is too slow). Daniel likes to ride fast and as he likes to say, "fell the wind in my hair". Sammy, not one to be left behind, basically says, "That's it, I'm taking these training wheels off." Dan is all excited and starts whipping out the tools to detach the wheels. "Wait a minute, Sammy," I say (the voice of reason), "You don't know how to ride yet." "Yeah I do," Sammy says confidently and Dan proceed with the training wheel removal. I have to admit I was pretty skeptical. It took Daniel a while to learn how to ride and the best place to learn is in a big wide open space, not our small cul-de-sac. Well, Sammy jumps on his newly de-wheeled bike and Dan pushes him around for a while and the next thing I know Sammy is riding on his own. You can tell how excited he was by the big smile on his face. Way to go Sammy! You amaze me every day.</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/AVvXsEh0bxfp-wI8ysg43hl_ClfhXzECyCLRnkNYSoS0g3LdMkcKbnS8f-5WlKKiyFkGKnNaok1hNi8-utwQoEpbwpjmKK9AhRAFDrKmm4hyc3Iu3lu4Ad2dCv36FX6k9BCgYpyzvgEeUw/s1600/IMG_3524+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bxfp-wI8ysg43hl_ClfhXzECyCLRnkNYSoS0g3LdMkcKbnS8f-5WlKKiyFkGKnNaok1hNi8-utwQoEpbwpjmKK9AhRAFDrKmm4hyc3Iu3lu4Ad2dCv36FX6k9BCgYpyzvgEeUw/s1600/IMG_3524+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg2cYUyyi1yKjz01q3vNNw4jIMfUNJ-LHpYuh896NkRT8kcEPl5ztGzrsf1IMlkEZqU-6exKyCJIp8ZLRLl2rYLTe-fkgZHDYhkN9-XKQ8zQFlskh3IWAkStLGXBxQvPgpEDtFg/s1600/IMG_3525+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg2cYUyyi1yKjz01q3vNNw4jIMfUNJ-LHpYuh896NkRT8kcEPl5ztGzrsf1IMlkEZqU-6exKyCJIp8ZLRLl2rYLTe-fkgZHDYhkN9-XKQ8zQFlskh3IWAkStLGXBxQvPgpEDtFg/s1600/IMG_3525+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHG6KfA4VTJxmHXskEk2vtcJ-2yQNArm10fLlIbtLEEZRt_s63_CEP1YvlSgv-rVNISXiQGyz-GqrO6KqfvVW-yw2sLe-kbHnN9mC0GsSeQ9svWv_U5MMfL75om4WVurmDBETNw/s1600/IMG_3526+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHG6KfA4VTJxmHXskEk2vtcJ-2yQNArm10fLlIbtLEEZRt_s63_CEP1YvlSgv-rVNISXiQGyz-GqrO6KqfvVW-yw2sLe-kbHnN9mC0GsSeQ9svWv_U5MMfL75om4WVurmDBETNw/s1600/IMG_3526+copy.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-29581038425653347332011-02-03T17:03:00.000-08:002011-02-03T17:03:44.833-08:00Things Sammy says...<div style="text-align: center;">Sammy says some of the funniest things.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like just now he said, "This thing is as stubborn as a yak!"</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had no idea yaks were so stubborn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the other day he asked, "Mama, do you want me to crush this bug like a bug?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This kid cracks me up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqC0mmpQj12zb-t4kYn2cAazHT3zJpHHGgE8ixeUxldr7AXzK0FhBQv6bNfVwwkhCjIAndUI3VioPhB561tSIGyxBEr7A346iRz0ro3HatCvybGSyotKzjDCwEercmGtfIgILYQ/s1600/IMG_2423+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqC0mmpQj12zb-t4kYn2cAazHT3zJpHHGgE8ixeUxldr7AXzK0FhBQv6bNfVwwkhCjIAndUI3VioPhB561tSIGyxBEr7A346iRz0ro3HatCvybGSyotKzjDCwEercmGtfIgILYQ/s320/IMG_2423+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-87167636960146943132011-02-02T21:48:00.001-08:002011-02-02T21:48:53.522-08:00Video: Friendship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxP96r4eMQ9YPFx7iapiGQIXURZM7elaYboSbiJ9uZAetuS-_9QjEruQMoe4H5FOqrkR0OkbL1ljhY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-67398605324678051362011-02-01T19:54:00.000-08:002011-02-01T19:54:46.659-08:00Be scared, be very scared...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes it is a little scary living in a household dominated by male genes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can find Nerf guns, swords and light sabers in almost every room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I often find notes and pictures like these scattered around:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPkr8p25b6feU6BWC3-zCb38jiSpVh5A1nTd2A0uH0t4eQRXdOB6URU9YiDc1YQw2yhNdU4X6rSIYuJghJyKTXU8nababYoH3jx1QzK22-a86E8q12EDOE4tEV7h7eJKAU3K4uw/s1600/daniel-note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPkr8p25b6feU6BWC3-zCb38jiSpVh5A1nTd2A0uH0t4eQRXdOB6URU9YiDc1YQw2yhNdU4X6rSIYuJghJyKTXU8nababYoH3jx1QzK22-a86E8q12EDOE4tEV7h7eJKAU3K4uw/s400/daniel-note.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yikes! Definitely don't want to do any 'evsedrop"ping here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosPx8muSK9-TFt4tBB5i6e2kMlWTLh_ZAlJCv4umlh-EqAwaFuTCV6zkcGWqknty4e6E4E2TUseJVxMKif5uAFh2hAgtCMjSmFao8zCvwcIO2ecl6hwIO8Ec8Nd_NvEuoROOmcA/s1600/daniel-note2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosPx8muSK9-TFt4tBB5i6e2kMlWTLh_ZAlJCv4umlh-EqAwaFuTCV6zkcGWqknty4e6E4E2TUseJVxMKif5uAFh2hAgtCMjSmFao8zCvwcIO2ecl6hwIO8Ec8Nd_NvEuoROOmcA/s320/daniel-note2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Or else what? I don't think I want to know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV2qg6cYB-Uh6hGaYKqr-Kl8pLqyLMHW758-qzgmChstwOTfmCA__dYjETgMOUYQi8RDGpuOCvQvaglksrN9MLEk31TmyfS_c8LGAf0NwXQHFbeaC4SUrnc1Rdqsqoa87TCVn6Q/s1600/sammy-drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV2qg6cYB-Uh6hGaYKqr-Kl8pLqyLMHW758-qzgmChstwOTfmCA__dYjETgMOUYQi8RDGpuOCvQvaglksrN9MLEk31TmyfS_c8LGAf0NwXQHFbeaC4SUrnc1Rdqsqoa87TCVn6Q/s640/sammy-drawing.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>Sammy loves drawing an inventory of weapons. I love that he included pans and cheese as part of his artillery.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-43008517642709479102011-01-31T22:21:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:21:47.237-08:00A Short Film by Sammy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once Sammy saw Daniel's stop motion film he decided to make one of his own. It includes two of his favorite things: baseball cards and rocks. I think the two Lego figures are bragging about whose collection is better. I love Sammy's little voice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwfz1a02nUCKTEspfrUvBiH5FKfNsevtmzqd71qJICB0e8f-vNJYF9jHEK-8qmgMEMY3Ilyksm3-8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-31285111852751191482011-01-30T12:32:00.000-08:002011-01-30T12:32:22.119-08:00Film Debut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got some books for Daniel's birthday about movie making and stop motion animation. Here is his first creation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFajRtx7TtPRYAWTKTHpcyFDnLqhm9O9JoqJu7zXi_5m9ooeCeoBngKpLLKvwp8KUnZR9vuhHjj6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-3040279611404019622011-01-23T22:31:00.000-08:002011-01-23T22:31:49.240-08:00On the Art Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I founds these little pieces of paper on the boy's drawing table. It looks like a Lego game Daniel was making. I love coming across these little bits of creativity by the boys.</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/AVvXsEg7NxUX7TjYvhTThuMZBYaNT1fcw5gjtaaMCYDZmL0DEMy1h5Xo6i-N2nI8FLi8SdbMB-847shrCEUzIu3r4d2r_xYJxzoEzEfehnUgeOcqE1jkrRL0c7JA4wgDtOzAZF641Qnd0Q/s1600/IMG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NxUX7TjYvhTThuMZBYaNT1fcw5gjtaaMCYDZmL0DEMy1h5Xo6i-N2nI8FLi8SdbMB-847shrCEUzIu3r4d2r_xYJxzoEzEfehnUgeOcqE1jkrRL0c7JA4wgDtOzAZF641Qnd0Q/s1600/IMG1.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-59848500429839474142011-01-20T20:15:00.000-08:002011-01-20T20:16:12.768-08:00Tutu's Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Daniel loves comics. Loves to read them and loves to draw them. I especially like it when he makes up his own comics. They are very funny.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, Daniel inspired my to try my hand at it. My Mom (Tutu) loves to drink tea - probably because my Dad is cheap and doesn't like to turn on the heat so it gets cold in their house. We like to tease Tutu because she is continually heating up her tea and then forgetting about it. If Tutu is around there is almost guaranteed to be a cup of tea sitting in the microwave. I can't tease her too much though because, like mother like daughter, I do the same thing. And like father like daughter, I don't like to turn on the heat either.</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/AVvXsEiM50T0jSdKx6-qgVUrN_W23VKzFbdRpv_xZMgWs1nRRysSRTcDTZ4F8VCENE8Tt5JikoaQBJMuzKLXEN0NbAkaPMHLr4yx5XAoFrbT_xCPFwC1WuJHkGKUogAB9APKWhvI235w_Q/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM50T0jSdKx6-qgVUrN_W23VKzFbdRpv_xZMgWs1nRRysSRTcDTZ4F8VCENE8Tt5JikoaQBJMuzKLXEN0NbAkaPMHLr4yx5XAoFrbT_xCPFwC1WuJHkGKUogAB9APKWhvI235w_Q/s400/IMG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-15865624847742450772011-01-16T20:38:00.000-08:002011-01-16T20:38:41.383-08:009 Years Old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday Daniel turned 9 years old!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We had such a fun day.</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/AVvXsEj7UtU-NF9aFAYc81upfZPTOhP-XkRJtF4eZi_mdITBRclL9WN_TQa8O7OF2jSvRELrUGP8i72BzrHPlMgsDATrWA9lIND8RPUhgl3hZcvAo8Jaiktd8Htxaa2HppQnyA4SCBS9lQ/s1600/IMG_2376+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UtU-NF9aFAYc81upfZPTOhP-XkRJtF4eZi_mdITBRclL9WN_TQa8O7OF2jSvRELrUGP8i72BzrHPlMgsDATrWA9lIND8RPUhgl3hZcvAo8Jaiktd8Htxaa2HppQnyA4SCBS9lQ/s320/IMG_2376+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.</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/AVvXsEgjk6onAz0EKZKi_P2fLzWPlIAct4eNemYLAO7q56Vqrb2rS-5wBPvJTYXMP9szenydhxF89dTiaseuLjljq_1yldgSsCfPnxqNzWJUqWIaf8odu93zwvsboroas9G3cx6QmSsahA/s1600/IMG_2379+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk6onAz0EKZKi_P2fLzWPlIAct4eNemYLAO7q56Vqrb2rS-5wBPvJTYXMP9szenydhxF89dTiaseuLjljq_1yldgSsCfPnxqNzWJUqWIaf8odu93zwvsboroas9G3cx6QmSsahA/s320/IMG_2379+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daniel made a list of 'to dos' for the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Eat breakfast</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Legoland</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Go home</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Shoot papa (with nerf guns)</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Create-a-war</div><div style="text-align: center;">6. (my favorite) Mama & Dada play spin the bottle</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/AVvXsEiXn9LYBUyuvoMRpnOIu32_khCRl3zVVA_OZnKiXN6ig1foHQGj7Rl5fF3qy7X9-mPPmz2D2ErF8prKk64tkJ2DT8hN1qDUQTKT2zW2o9LhHU8PT4jQ2fMTjuewyVHLmvEvM-qSkA/s1600/IMG_2381+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn9LYBUyuvoMRpnOIu32_khCRl3zVVA_OZnKiXN6ig1foHQGj7Rl5fF3qy7X9-mPPmz2D2ErF8prKk64tkJ2DT8hN1qDUQTKT2zW2o9LhHU8PT4jQ2fMTjuewyVHLmvEvM-qSkA/s320/IMG_2381+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sammy gave a Daniel a drawing of TinTin (a cartoon character Daniel really likes) he drew for Daniel.</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/AVvXsEihp0Z0A8jedXaWZvAyjWGaafWKFjQb-Is0eCtSO1OCxQiD-xYDclpoKgsv6WNJBaWT_mkjW9aTf4Y3Z9xuzU0X86Yd4vMqVYwckXQN7IlMOwMZZuyM0CSJtVTyYcs7XmDPx27lsw/s1600/IMG_2383+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp0Z0A8jedXaWZvAyjWGaafWKFjQb-Is0eCtSO1OCxQiD-xYDclpoKgsv6WNJBaWT_mkjW9aTf4Y3Z9xuzU0X86Yd4vMqVYwckXQN7IlMOwMZZuyM0CSJtVTyYcs7XmDPx27lsw/s320/IMG_2383+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was a beautiful day.</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/AVvXsEiJ_8bdcmZ449IhtAXzeA2GfPCDAQ2-u6I_MIiIh6hB-9L_lt6nLGEqob7y29NYUZ92mogP9C9DZkjNfAxW5NJr3iWrFri0LuCCGrVYNpkAMLg3sgHqQpBqZgxt3qOCRo7MyRtsYw/s1600/IMG_2385+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_8bdcmZ449IhtAXzeA2GfPCDAQ2-u6I_MIiIh6hB-9L_lt6nLGEqob7y29NYUZ92mogP9C9DZkjNfAxW5NJr3iWrFri0LuCCGrVYNpkAMLg3sgHqQpBqZgxt3qOCRo7MyRtsYw/s320/IMG_2385+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 9 years old!</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/AVvXsEh8onOyruzG3ZFvOTwmYWuU6f0zP9x_NZo6XKeGASrZvBZxq35pjQQLjBlNTEjFchozJJeNqxA60cmsMR3rRJGq9v2cy6wRXbwN1nEArSjr1Qx9E1gMhyHypb9bL8mmPe6x_CBGIw/s1600/IMG_2403+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8onOyruzG3ZFvOTwmYWuU6f0zP9x_NZo6XKeGASrZvBZxq35pjQQLjBlNTEjFchozJJeNqxA60cmsMR3rRJGq9v2cy6wRXbwN1nEArSjr1Qx9E1gMhyHypb9bL8mmPe6x_CBGIw/s320/IMG_2403+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tutu, Papa & Nana came with us.</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/AVvXsEgNefMXQzdaJe7bJR_0uof7JoqVr5sAllVlNvyPzMnZhpw5RKHDEyxIH3Ab7UStu4JyjMKmYIm5_yprZs7fLCAUH7_YEum7eV-zl-UV-9zoDhgCSzsLn98QPBGRyOpqbKRtHND7oA/s1600/IMG_2437+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNefMXQzdaJe7bJR_0uof7JoqVr5sAllVlNvyPzMnZhpw5RKHDEyxIH3Ab7UStu4JyjMKmYIm5_yprZs7fLCAUH7_YEum7eV-zl-UV-9zoDhgCSzsLn98QPBGRyOpqbKRtHND7oA/s320/IMG_2437+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of rides and playing.</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/AVvXsEg-lRC5CN9_rmkXOsewc36cbQrN1_I4xrQVzcFgqzDBPXyuAZMIqwlwkfBz_ixxJgC_GayysV33isJnq4kEi7uGm-2eW4883kr5xH_RihnZoQ4-gjRa3df2sDihCDTep8bicNEMfQ/s1600/daniels+9th+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lRC5CN9_rmkXOsewc36cbQrN1_I4xrQVzcFgqzDBPXyuAZMIqwlwkfBz_ixxJgC_GayysV33isJnq4kEi7uGm-2eW4883kr5xH_RihnZoQ4-gjRa3df2sDihCDTep8bicNEMfQ/s320/daniels+9th+bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hot fudge brownie sundae for dessert.<br />
Perfect ending for a perfect day!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-42521360597309735052011-01-13T20:31:00.000-08:002011-01-13T20:31:49.065-08:00Thursday Evening Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cub Scout meeting for Sammy tonight. They made posters for a popcorn sale.</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/AVvXsEgIylvBXkVOuLUEddRLRPeFE_wOPOeWwUTG4SHwfCQWJfWaPS7E2Pl3PzLE-bWczfChGctdJHRc3gT45yLXamgVK5cc_4DB0G0trAAKRGXdysJ_kKbHRK0N52_ijHp5EE3j_E4aLQ/s1600/IMG_2323+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIylvBXkVOuLUEddRLRPeFE_wOPOeWwUTG4SHwfCQWJfWaPS7E2Pl3PzLE-bWczfChGctdJHRc3gT45yLXamgVK5cc_4DB0G0trAAKRGXdysJ_kKbHRK0N52_ijHp5EE3j_E4aLQ/s400/IMG_2323+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Played a 'sit on a balloon to pop it' game, which they loved, of course.</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/AVvXsEibDFfsjv6XzJfQRJlLF3qnD5oyFzRyOYJnN6eILnQvJe8KekmwecAsBcz3B6jlPcgeiyCINeS-QRaBIx3C-4Z8SMH43ku1FUdy935FYSSq04je_0X7rhUBRlECvu4OMhmoVl_tRg/s1600/IMG_2336+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDFfsjv6XzJfQRJlLF3qnD5oyFzRyOYJnN6eILnQvJe8KekmwecAsBcz3B6jlPcgeiyCINeS-QRaBIx3C-4Z8SMH43ku1FUdy935FYSSq04je_0X7rhUBRlECvu4OMhmoVl_tRg/s400/IMG_2336+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They were so light they needed help popping the balloons.</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/AVvXsEjqeh0zI6c13tA5bZpMAM2-ctPTDiGgzW45TjoaBlyfR7f_G9meay59_K9Raiyj6peiWMoIpsGZNOGyeUCkHkDo0ey3czpS3YK7yP0yAvOEaV4b8cvy5UmAgVHTv17cSC4o4D4c6A/s1600/IMG_2339+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeh0zI6c13tA5bZpMAM2-ctPTDiGgzW45TjoaBlyfR7f_G9meay59_K9Raiyj6peiWMoIpsGZNOGyeUCkHkDo0ey3czpS3YK7yP0yAvOEaV4b8cvy5UmAgVHTv17cSC4o4D4c6A/s400/IMG_2339+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the Moms got in on the fun, although we didn't need any help popping the balloons.</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/AVvXsEgaEqMqVrCaRvwUCsrXorwYtO9V7TFxHlyIJhQzDa23FAaOpHxT50fzzv1zuq7yJAWGh6T6r5P0jVKrSDBCJ_uJ5YOe3DvhECBvL7C8kviFUJLC1FMMit_h73kaCOlG5SFyJvPquA/s1600/IMG_2356+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEqMqVrCaRvwUCsrXorwYtO9V7TFxHlyIJhQzDa23FAaOpHxT50fzzv1zuq7yJAWGh6T6r5P0jVKrSDBCJ_uJ5YOe3DvhECBvL7C8kviFUJLC1FMMit_h73kaCOlG5SFyJvPquA/s400/IMG_2356+copy.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 walked out to a beautiful sunset.</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/AVvXsEhGoVtXho7ww0xSAm_LDY5yhy2cbgYFJ1Zh_Iwsg7T1c52Gvnbqy3EEqC3gmSKNmiV0HXO9AJOJ1ca4343X3wHmA9F4fOhEB9tbZJU7e8lKVV3KzyjVwzl2NMd1TtRGuJI9CtF3ig/s1600/IMG_2362+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoVtXho7ww0xSAm_LDY5yhy2cbgYFJ1Zh_Iwsg7T1c52Gvnbqy3EEqC3gmSKNmiV0HXO9AJOJ1ca4343X3wHmA9F4fOhEB9tbZJU7e8lKVV3KzyjVwzl2NMd1TtRGuJI9CtF3ig/s400/IMG_2362+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Walked down to a little taco street a block from school for dinner.</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/AVvXsEhUf_Q8hW_26p1_UIek0haVFAM49yojWaQ5pkcu6S-rvjq5qt2pTl1zXIgI9KDvrC5Tc88yxY4WOuKet35gb9BWGNMO9ehV8Vbpj7K3iLMAOplJv3AHXqo00kRxqCM3e4o8un4m8w/s1600/IMG_2369+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf_Q8hW_26p1_UIek0haVFAM49yojWaQ5pkcu6S-rvjq5qt2pTl1zXIgI9KDvrC5Tc88yxY4WOuKet35gb9BWGNMO9ehV8Vbpj7K3iLMAOplJv3AHXqo00kRxqCM3e4o8un4m8w/s400/IMG_2369+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And ate so much our bellies ached.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-52435312402645703132011-01-01T19:50:00.001-08:002011-01-01T19:56:44.252-08:002010 Year in Reveiw1) celebrating Daniel's 8th birthday at Legoland - 2) 100th day of school - 3) park day at Balboa Park - 4) Disneyland getaway - 5) a blue ribbon at the speech meet - 6) Dan & Suzy visit Chicago - 7) 4th of July in Portland - 8) Hawaii with the family - 9) church camping trip - 10) celebrating Sammy's 7th birthday at Corvette Diner - 11) drumsticks at Thanksgiving - 12) Disneyland with the McLaughlins<div><br /></div><div>Wow, what a year, 2010!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEej-cg8Z-ThsDN2ZIYdqqKoE_REYGEv_p89kbk3dewQNl0EFqdqzOdIht0SHqm4jNsCnlcdrXc10wR5QOdRh4HZPQBjV983S2gMEVugjYnZkeiRuOpcHxvgWHEpeM8RlQ8UxzDw/s1600/2010+year+in+review+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEej-cg8Z-ThsDN2ZIYdqqKoE_REYGEv_p89kbk3dewQNl0EFqdqzOdIht0SHqm4jNsCnlcdrXc10wR5QOdRh4HZPQBjV983S2gMEVugjYnZkeiRuOpcHxvgWHEpeM8RlQ8UxzDw/s400/2010+year+in+review+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557431045207990386" /></a><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-38004447942131105552010-12-25T13:15:00.000-08:002010-12-25T13:18:51.973-08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTJZXJIEijh6qXkQ5P0j03RNavms_a39aVFpQ_uOVvCtsxYQmReXeU0619FOtCwETmQ1neWAL3fbhlFfGHlG2SiovxctVd3UWnUT393xF2k0fhpKTd3JS4PmgF8yEyyvNA-IarQ/s1600/xmas2010_4x6+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTJZXJIEijh6qXkQ5P0j03RNavms_a39aVFpQ_uOVvCtsxYQmReXeU0619FOtCwETmQ1neWAL3fbhlFfGHlG2SiovxctVd3UWnUT393xF2k0fhpKTd3JS4PmgF8yEyyvNA-IarQ/s400/xmas2010_4x6+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554731810270098786" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Candara, sans-serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-size: 15px; ">Sometimes I look around at my life and shake my head. God does some pretty funny stuff in our lives. As I type this, my beautiful bride of the past thirteen years is watching our two rats, Nibbles & Charlotte, play in our newly decorated Christmas tree. Rats? Yes, our Christmas present to the boys last year was their first pets, a pair of rats. Surprisingly enough both rats survived the year, despite the over-loving attention from Daniel and Sammy. In addition to the rats, much has been new during 2010, but much has stayed the same.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Candara, sans-serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-size: 15px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">We continue to be fortunate enough to attend First Presbyterian Church, San Diego. Both Suzy and I are very grateful for the brothers and sisters that we have here in our church family. God provides opportunities too numerous to count to serve Him, as well as wonderful ways for each of us to grow spiritually. A new aspect of our family’s growth in faith this year has been daily family devotions. Each morning, Monday through Friday, we spend time together praying, singing and studying the bible. No offense to Suzy, but my favorite days are Wednesday and Friday, the days when Sammy and Daniel pick out the music and lead the bible study. Some days all you get is them going through the motions, but some days God really speaks to us through them.</span> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">Another thing that has not changed this year is the boy’s school, they both attend City Tree Christian School, Sammy in first grade, and Daniel in third. Both boys continue to take after their grandparents, as neither has any problems with excelling scholastically. Sammy has been doing a wonderful job with reading, despite his regular complaints that he can’t read, don’t believe him. He still loves to do homework, possibly because he finishes in about two and a half minutes and gets to bounce around and mock his still working brother. Daniel also continues to do a great job reading, in fact he does a bit too good of a job, as we can’t seem to find enough books for him to read. Anyone with suggestions for an almost nine year old who reads at a high school level please let us know.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">Other than volunteering at the boy’s school or church, our most common extracurricular activity is without a doubt Cub Scouts. Daniel is in his third year, and is now a Bear Scout, while Sammy is just getting started and is a Tiger Scout. Earlier this Fall I had the boys on a scouting camping trip here in Balboa Park that was quite an experience. Suzy wisely slept at home, but was able to join us for some of the daytime fun. I don’t know how much the boys are learning about being good citizens, but they both sure love to run around with the other boys and get into whatever mischief that they can find.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">The highlight of the year was without a doubt another amazing trip out to Hawaii. As soon as we got off the plane we started eating ono food, seeing amazing sights and doing wonderful things. Boogie boarding, snorkeling, swimming in waterfalls, spending time with family. Those memories will last a life time. Suzy was able to go up to Portland again for the Fourth of July with Sammy, but this year Daniel stayed here in southern California, attending his first summer camp. Unfortunately for Daniel, he only made it about twenty four hours before having to come home with a stomach bug. Hopefully Summer 2011 he might last more than a day. All was not lost, though, as Daniel and I got to spend a lot of fun time together while Suzy and Sammy were partying it up in Portland with the McLaughlins. Suzy and I also got to sneak away to the Midwest for a long weekend in June for the wedding of some close friends from church. Decatur, Illinois might not be on the list of must see places, but the chance to spend three days hanging out with Suzy made it a vacation that I cherished.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">We are trying plan a trip back East some time in 2011. It has been way too long since we have spent time with the East Coast parts of our family. I also am tired of hearing all of the fun stories from Portland, without enjoying the festivities myself, so hopefully I will be able to go north next year as well.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">You, our family and friends, are a continued blessing in our lives. We thank God for you, and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God continue to bless you and keep you. May His face continue to shine on you and may He continue to look upon you with favor and give you peace.</span></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-76617767427655061122010-10-29T15:20:00.001-07:002010-10-29T15:23:04.151-07:007 years ago today...<div style="text-align: center;">Sammy, oh how you've grown!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxdMhBZoANoLxIb1s-AQZa61MbeYL_I1e6TRs2wkOR8JT_dd1x1r-ewGO-einrJDdee3x_LvwCYSsK1dS4RPrQ16jJVERrmzgUwSMRci-7qnBMA419nUj6bGHm_HUpZHGONtD9w/s1600/031029101223_168+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxdMhBZoANoLxIb1s-AQZa61MbeYL_I1e6TRs2wkOR8JT_dd1x1r-ewGO-einrJDdee3x_LvwCYSsK1dS4RPrQ16jJVERrmzgUwSMRci-7qnBMA419nUj6bGHm_HUpZHGONtD9w/s400/031029101223_168+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533596550951665954" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-92100511267486936132010-10-28T14:38:00.000-07:002010-10-28T14:40:07.404-07:00Koko Crater<div style="text-align: center;">View of Koko Crater from Haunama Bay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Hawaii, oh how I miss you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosyznzSS6kjmIiHFiPPHtrGOTUQNsppfmbNAdjULXDzKCgpurIMI5hhkyNnlqcR7HWOdLFYKTdlJxSu07MIujYgsNF1uhGBsibAnGyIeXwyEdKkwMkWdrESZvI_kCdkGD7JpnTA/s1600/hawaii.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosyznzSS6kjmIiHFiPPHtrGOTUQNsppfmbNAdjULXDzKCgpurIMI5hhkyNnlqcR7HWOdLFYKTdlJxSu07MIujYgsNF1uhGBsibAnGyIeXwyEdKkwMkWdrESZvI_kCdkGD7JpnTA/s400/hawaii.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533214702710105570" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-25562855531577858502010-07-05T20:30:00.001-07:002010-07-05T21:05:08.906-07:00Forest HomeI have heard so much about Forest Home, a retreat area here in Southern California, over the years, but hadn't ever had the chance to go. Suzy went on a Women's retreat there last year, and loved it. Now that Daniel is heading into third grade in the Fall (wait, that can't be right?) he was able to go to Indian Village this year with the school/church kids. Some kids his age have no interest in going to some strange place hundreds of miles away from their parents, out in the woods with the bears and mosquitoes. Not a problem with Daniel. He was sold from the get go.<br /><br />'We get to sleep in a teepee? I'm in!'<br /><br />When I dropped him off yesterday for the bus ride up there he never even said goodbye, I turned to say hi to another parent, and when I turned back around I caught a glimpse of him scrambling onto the bus.<br /><br />'Uh, bye, bud. Have a good time.'<br /><br />Well, lucky(?) for me I got to visit Forest Home much sooner than I expected. Around two o'clock today I got a call from a nice sounding young lady who identified herself as 'Nightengale'. She informed me that Daniel was ok, but he had been throwing up all day. I thanked her for calling and told her that I would be up in about two and a half hours. After checking Google Maps for directions (thank you internet) I hopped in the car and headed north.<br /><br />Two point five hours later I pulled into the parking lot of this enormous facility and realized that I had not a single clue about how to track down my little vomiting nugget among all of these acres and acres of retreat facilities. Thankfully I soon ran into Pat and his golf cart, who called around for me and got me on the right path. As an aside, all of the folks that work up there, while strangely named (excepting Pat I met Buffalo, Sand Piper, Fox Fire and Nightengale) were very nice. Poor Nightengale had to tend to Daniel all day in the medic's teepee and she had the grace to thank him for keeping her company all day. As someone who has taken care of Daniel when he's not feeling well I can attest to the fact that it can be a trying and difficult day, but she seemed to genuinely care about him.<br /><br />No one wanted Daniel to have to go home, so we decided to see how he tolerated a light dinner. Not well, so off we went. Another aside, kids are so into other kids throwing up.<br /><br />'Did he just throw up?!?'<br /><br />'Yes, yes he did, back to your dinner little fellow, nothing to see here.'<br /><br />Quick stop at the bottom of the mountain for Daniel to take care of his business in a gas station bathroom (don't recommend that, an unpleasant experience for everyone), and once more into a bowl while driving south through Perris, but other than that we had a pretty pleasant trip home. Despite his disappointment at having to leave, Daniel was chatty and in good spirits. He's hopeful that he will be able to go back up on Wednesday if he has a good day tomorrow. I don't know if that would be a good idea or not, but I am trying to be open to the idea of another five hours in the car. I guess God will make it pretty clear.<br /><br />All in all, I wish that I could have waited a bit longer before going to Forest Home, but it seems like a great place!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20085384.post-1458918693185861852010-06-25T22:35:00.000-07:002010-06-26T07:43:13.022-07:00My Chatter BoxDaniel had a play date today so it was just me and the Sam-man for most of the day. Whenever I am alone with Sammy I am reminded how much this kid talks. Non stop. All day long. Good thing we still have a "nap time" each day or my head might have exploded from the non-stop chatter. Here sure is cute though. And quite messy when he eats an ice cream cone.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a83ZUbg1KLuPwkyW6WEQNhDUzGvVNa31h0nupI2J-eti7vHdqYot8_A6FgVsYatnQc57wfr-pQcY5lHghN2lrVdvymfRLxKxIrI__8ySl0geG17FOZbRQMmGG9BOO78l3MU78Q/s1600/IMG_9236+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a83ZUbg1KLuPwkyW6WEQNhDUzGvVNa31h0nupI2J-eti7vHdqYot8_A6FgVsYatnQc57wfr-pQcY5lHghN2lrVdvymfRLxKxIrI__8ySl0geG17FOZbRQMmGG9BOO78l3MU78Q/s400/IMG_9236+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091224601818706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2g2glckCHOVxg0J7t9SFWyKg-TydeSh-mn8wG8-s6UjTRlVh_FWZCxqnwY67A2LwDZsvoY4dnlq-3LMk-_1OdLlkI6bYiugvZ3zp_3n5PR-OkQ7G7rNsJUJDewv-oulpCrZBxA/s1600/IMG_9231+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2g2glckCHOVxg0J7t9SFWyKg-TydeSh-mn8wG8-s6UjTRlVh_FWZCxqnwY67A2LwDZsvoY4dnlq-3LMk-_1OdLlkI6bYiugvZ3zp_3n5PR-OkQ7G7rNsJUJDewv-oulpCrZBxA/s400/IMG_9231+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091216592219506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FT5BVgfvqd1eqRqrVUNQ-DaQYgE-20av6J1DEfCSufWW7giY0D0RoUvlte3qQDVThMJmr5v67sPIFf4roJ3ag9WTWc6lGLJXdDyfvfeH-UoHjZvurpemaopuC_IpDC0uH8-SKw/s1600/IMG_9239+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FT5BVgfvqd1eqRqrVUNQ-DaQYgE-20av6J1DEfCSufWW7giY0D0RoUvlte3qQDVThMJmr5v67sPIFf4roJ3ag9WTWc6lGLJXdDyfvfeH-UoHjZvurpemaopuC_IpDC0uH8-SKw/s400/IMG_9239+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487091208053629506" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240777833332371932noreply@blogger.com1