tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740022977023785812024-03-13T04:36:49.396-07:00AF YeatesAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-24616952929665927542013-05-07T16:42:00.002-07:002013-05-07T16:42:57.884-07:00<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soooooo, blogging is dead - most everyone who started a mom blog a few years ago when it was trendy has either turned it into a business (big or small) or given it up. (Me!!) What that means for me is: it's safe to go back into the pool. I was scrolling through the other day to show Paige a picture of herself -and decided to get back to it. This is the only place that I have documented anything about our life and I'm sad that I haven't written anything about the last few years - Clark isn't even on here at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to make this space private, so e-mail me if you would like an invitation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-39831981319417768772011-11-08T12:27:00.000-08:002011-11-08T12:27:19.264-08:0010 Word Catch Up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl5toFHqiro/TrmI0r5PVMI/AAAAAAAABRg/JwGl57Qt2wY/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_1976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl5toFHqiro/TrmI0r5PVMI/AAAAAAAABRg/JwGl57Qt2wY/s640/Copy+of+IMG_1976.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J08G3PZ8Y6Y/TrmJ_Z3sq9I/AAAAAAAABRw/8w-CmNsC1Do/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J08G3PZ8Y6Y/TrmJ_Z3sq9I/AAAAAAAABRw/8w-CmNsC1Do/s640/IMG_2093.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#9</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's what we have been up to, 9 pictures, 10 words or so a picture.... These are all out of order, I tried to rearrange, delete, start over, but it's not happening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#1 Celebrated Birthdays 13, 10 and 4. Happy girls, lucky mama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#2 July: Yosemite: Breathtaking - Paige and Ashlee were airplanes on most downhills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#3 Yosemite in early July - retire here? Yes please !!!!!! Breathtaking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#4 More Yosemite, every stream was overflowing, water everywhere!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#5 More Yosemite - snowball fights in July, on this walk/hike Paige kept yelling "Quick, get more ammo."</span><br />
#6 <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later in July, trip to Seattle to see Chris's brothers. So good to see everyone and have the cousins meet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#7 May- down to San Diego, Sea world with entire population of city one day. Fun trip - lost one set of keys in the Pacific.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#8 End of year events: choir concert for Maggie, looking so grown up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#9 May - trip to Long Beach Washington for me with my sisters and mom. So fun, so relaxing, also the scariest bridge I may have ever been on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, that's pretty much it. School has started - not sure I took any pictures, Paige is in pre-school 3 days a week and loves it. She is still the best buddy to have around and I'm going to miss her next year when she goes every day (but still only half-days - yay!) Ashlee just finished soccer, Maggie finished cross-country a few weeks ago (no pictures) But I did manage to take one picture of Halloween when everyone was dressed up and ready to go - so I'll have to download that and post it later. Now on to Thanksgiving - maybe I'll try and locate a camera sometime this week!</span><br />
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</span>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-79247154220350346892011-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:23:42.561-07:00Spring Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WEhqBfYpOo/Te0iszC7wRI/AAAAAAAABP8/syLCQWxvefA/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WEhqBfYpOo/Te0iszC7wRI/AAAAAAAABP8/syLCQWxvefA/s640/IMG_1801.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8S1CwZ-6TwE/Te0izz9bWXI/AAAAAAAABQA/DMA_n006TuQ/s1600/IMG_1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8S1CwZ-6TwE/Te0izz9bWXI/AAAAAAAABQA/DMA_n006TuQ/s400/IMG_1790.JPG" width="390" /></a></div> During Spring Break this year we made the trek to UT - we had a late break this year - Maggie got Good Friday off and the week after Easter. Spring Break Highlights:<br />
• We got to be there "THE" Easter Egg Hunt. My Aunt Tina puts an egg hunt together every year for willing participants - everybody has an assigned color and certain number of eggs, and then we got to hide eggs for each other (younger "hunters" have to wait inside) The older participants were sure to have some extremely difficult/hard to reach/hard to find eggs. And, it was surprising how easy it was to forget where you put the eggs. It was so fun, and I was happy to be there with the girls to participate in this tradition that we have only ever heard about over the phone.<br />
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• We used real eggs to stuff with candy this year, it was fun.<br />
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• We did some stuff - children's museum, Thanksgiving Point, BYU for the Karl Bloch exhibit, seeing cousins, grandma, etc. etc.<br />
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•After insisting, getting grumpy, insisting some more, my dad still flew out to help me with the drive and then helped me drive back and flew home again. I'm thankful for great parents. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeNb56jtJww/Te0jfT3Y7QI/AAAAAAAABQM/HODKCkl2_6E/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeNb56jtJww/Te0jfT3Y7QI/AAAAAAAABQM/HODKCkl2_6E/s400/IMG_1752.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jC3GIRZap-U/Te0jKDXWd0I/AAAAAAAABQE/DarCza_Xfu0/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jC3GIRZap-U/Te0jKDXWd0I/AAAAAAAABQE/DarCza_Xfu0/s400/IMG_1802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Our eggs, I thought they were so pretty this year.<br />
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Beckam - he wants to live outside.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MhbTZm3kn8/Te0jWbfHK8I/AAAAAAAABQI/JExZG6uYHIg/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="602" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MhbTZm3kn8/Te0jWbfHK8I/AAAAAAAABQI/JExZG6uYHIg/s640/IMG_1769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Ashlee had almost the whole month of April off - our elementary school is on a modified year round schedule. In fact, Maggie is done with school now (her last day was Friday) but Ashlee will be in school until the end of June. Paige is in HEAVEN when her sisters are home. That last picture is one day that Paige and Ashlee spent the morning making mud food - behold a mud ice cream cone. Our dirt is so full of clay, it feels like you could just throw it on a wheel and make a lovely mug... :)Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-23132907915423316332011-06-06T11:51:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:27:53.813-07:00Updating<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DF3agg3Ek8o/Te0eEIVv2eI/AAAAAAAABPs/AIVc1sgbaB8/s1600/DSC_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DF3agg3Ek8o/Te0eEIVv2eI/AAAAAAAABPs/AIVc1sgbaB8/s640/DSC_1204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My parents came to visit in April - the first weekend of the month. Some of our activities included: April Fooling - plain glazed donuts covered with a mix of cocoa powder and olive oil. We almost had both girls, but the "icing" was runny and they licked their fingers first. Ashlee is doing a re-enactment for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZXgln5VhGg/Te0eZh3fmwI/AAAAAAAABPw/eFA-Q5qqVGA/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZXgln5VhGg/Te0eZh3fmwI/AAAAAAAABPw/eFA-Q5qqVGA/s640/IMG_1585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2dE5qNRF4c/Te0epkxA0VI/AAAAAAAABP0/WMBX43yVbwk/s1600/DSC_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2dE5qNRF4c/Te0epkxA0VI/AAAAAAAABP0/WMBX43yVbwk/s640/DSC_1224.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We went to the Beach - I just want to note for the record once again that I really want to live near the beach, like really near, close enough to bike ride/walk near (I need a few more years to work on Christopher for this to even be a possibility) - that bottom beach shot is with my dad's fancy camera, and even though I can't imagine carrying something so big around and taking it out to snap pictures, I covet the kinds of pictures that you can take with it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C2Kkytwmke8/Te0evHlmxbI/AAAAAAAABP4/pnEPpvs6cGA/s1600/DSC_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C2Kkytwmke8/Te0evHlmxbI/AAAAAAAABP4/pnEPpvs6cGA/s640/DSC_1196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We also went back to my mom and dad's old apartment where they lived with 3 small kids - and then 4. It was really cute still, I would live there now. Like always, my parents really lifted my spirits (sometimes I get low, low, low when Christopher is gone) and did lots of projects - pulling weeds, about a million of them out of our mostly clay dirt, and sewing a bottom panel on the curtain in our kitchen. The trade-off of not living close is that we get un-interrupted time with them when they come to visit. </div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-85089024286587427852011-03-14T12:28:00.000-07:002011-03-14T12:29:29.507-07:00Nice . . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CPYwXl3pB_E/TX5ryg_zEdI/AAAAAAAABPk/GKRqR0DvbM8/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CPYwXl3pB_E/TX5ryg_zEdI/AAAAAAAABPk/GKRqR0DvbM8/s640/IMG_1510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eGoxrAKihQM/TX5r4vSBVQI/AAAAAAAABPo/Qa86-YA3684/s1600/IMG_1535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eGoxrAKihQM/TX5r4vSBVQI/AAAAAAAABPo/Qa86-YA3684/s640/IMG_1535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paige likes to dress up and accessorize - some looks are better than others. But, as she says to me if I do something of which she disapproves "I still love you."</div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-40602873765589791312011-03-08T13:32:00.000-08:002011-03-08T13:49:29.294-08:00Derek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uVgEKjMqYSk/TXaVtNdgMkI/AAAAAAAABPc/58qsCLqRWN4/s1600/Oct-Dec10+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uVgEKjMqYSk/TXaVtNdgMkI/AAAAAAAABPc/58qsCLqRWN4/s640/Oct-Dec10+095.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L4SDZxvRsu4/TXaT9gX3JKI/AAAAAAAABPY/ap_KsafhZbk/s1600/Oct-Dec10+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L4SDZxvRsu4/TXaT9gX3JKI/AAAAAAAABPY/ap_KsafhZbk/s400/Oct-Dec10+091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Paige has lots of Barbies - a ragtag collection that she has inherited from her older sisters. I think we have only purchased one Barbie for her - the rest are all hand me downs. Among those dolls is one boy - Ashlee thinks that he is from a Disney movie, I can't remember which, but at our house, he's Derek. Christopher plays the role of Derek - and for about two months right after he got home from his short summer deployment, he was Christopher's constant companion whenever he was home. I wish that I would have written down more of the things that Paige had him doing in the name of Derek, but some that I remember are:<br />
• One Sunday at Church (Derek's last appearance there) I looked down the aisle to see Derek karate chopping Odette (usually that's the girl Barbie's name, but not always) all up and down, it was a little bit loud. When I asked later, Paige said that Odette had died and Derek was helping her. Odette used to die once every 2 or 3 minutes.<br />
• Derek spent about an hour one afternoon throwing up into a plastic cup - he was really sick.<br />
• One day when Christopher got home from work, Paige came running down the stairs with Derek in one hand, Odette in the other, saying "Oh Derek, guess what I'm wearing?" It was a ball dress. <br />
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Derek has come with us to the movies, to church (no longer), to the grocery store etc. etc...<br />
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It was my favorite thing to watch Paige play with her Dad and Derek. He still makes some appearances, but it's not as frequent as it used to be, which of course makes me just a little bit sad.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-44404810663497588652011-03-08T12:32:00.000-08:002011-03-08T14:10:18.663-08:00January and FebruaryJanuary - back to school, lots of rain, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach.<br />
February - school, winter break, no pictures . . .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uUEjNTTZnWA/TXaPpgqbjQI/AAAAAAAABPI/vMntZwMSZ3s/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uUEjNTTZnWA/TXaPpgqbjQI/AAAAAAAABPI/vMntZwMSZ3s/s640/IMG_1978.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SPPexH720co/TXaQAQJawyI/AAAAAAAABPQ/HvMYOsnazws/s1600/IMG_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SPPexH720co/TXaQAQJawyI/AAAAAAAABPQ/HvMYOsnazws/s400/IMG_1964.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uxKEARr4D8k/TXaPUb3eTOI/AAAAAAAABPE/chwpj9LQGWA/s1600/Oct-Dec10+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uxKEARr4D8k/TXaPUb3eTOI/AAAAAAAABPE/chwpj9LQGWA/s640/Oct-Dec10+172.jpg" width="640" /></a></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://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xhs_BIeAP5g/TXaQcG_BLiI/AAAAAAAABPU/9jAqThB6h14/s1600/Oct-Dec10+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xhs_BIeAP5g/TXaQcG_BLiI/AAAAAAAABPU/9jAqThB6h14/s400/Oct-Dec10+174.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6zXACC40sVc/TXaP3vKNZyI/AAAAAAAABPM/7kUSynpyJvE/s1600/IMG_1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6zXACC40sVc/TXaP3vKNZyI/AAAAAAAABPM/7kUSynpyJvE/s640/IMG_1984.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>And now we are into March, and I will try to be a better blogger for all my readers. . . hah! I kill myself. But, I will try to be a better blogger for my own personal benefit.<br />
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After looking at the pictures on the page, I'll add the following: The sunset on the beach was beyond beautiful, the picture doesn't even begin to capture it, and these sunsets are the only point I'm willing to give to CA beaches over the New Jersey shore.<br />
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The last picture is of New Year's morning - we all slept in the family room for New Year's Eve. Christopher was on the floor with Ashlee and Paige and got the worst sleep of all of us.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-56993868390268457542011-01-10T23:38:00.000-08:002011-01-10T23:38:53.452-08:00Christmas Top 10<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwB1h5YZSI/AAAAAAAABOU/JzU_ZM0Jx10/s1600/Oct-Dec10+227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwB1h5YZSI/AAAAAAAABOU/JzU_ZM0Jx10/s640/Oct-Dec10+227.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwBlCvPTdI/AAAAAAAABOQ/B5u7jcLHVdw/s1600/Oct-Dec10+232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwBlCvPTdI/AAAAAAAABOQ/B5u7jcLHVdw/s640/Oct-Dec10+232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwCSpNb6MI/AAAAAAAABOY/KwFcYLdaDS0/s1600/Oct-Dec10+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwCSpNb6MI/AAAAAAAABOY/KwFcYLdaDS0/s640/Oct-Dec10+215.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA2viSlwI/AAAAAAAABNw/AOfSCR6jq1M/s1600/Oct-Dec10%2B120.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA2viSlwI/AAAAAAAABNw/AOfSCR6jq1M/s640/Oct-Dec10%2B120.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA2tR27pI/AAAAAAAABN4/ZX2qG1_lmJg/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA2tR27pI/AAAAAAAABN4/ZX2qG1_lmJg/s640/IMG_1918.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA20k5mOI/AAAAAAAABOA/UkRzmExaVWY/s1600/IMG_1920.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA20k5mOI/AAAAAAAABOA/UkRzmExaVWY/s640/IMG_1920.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA3JOHwPI/AAAAAAAABOI/ZMd2o6jELEg/s1600/Oct-Dec10%2B123.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="588" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSwA3JOHwPI/AAAAAAAABOI/ZMd2o6jELEg/s640/Oct-Dec10%2B123.jpg" width="640" /> </a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Above are some pictures of our Christmas - I sort of hate blogger right now - why is it so hard to put pictures in order? I can't figure it out. Anyway, now that you've enjoyed some pictures of our December - here's a top 10 list about this December:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Activities: Maggie sings with our Stake (local congregation) youth choir at our town's Festival of Trees, we visit the Oakland Temple to see the lights with Christopher's cousin Devin and his family, we also visited a few locally famous streets with lights, as an aside: everyone should take a three year old with them to see lights, it ups the excitement factor by about 5, we all attend a Messiah sing along - two of us love it, 2 of us think it is ok, 1 of us starts to cry shortly after intermission because it is "taking forever" and we have unfortunately obeyed the rules and finished M&M's in the lobby, we attend Christmas Eve service, which Paige blessedly sleeps almost entirely through.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Gifts: this year, I used an idea from <a href="http://www.designmom.com/">Design Mom</a></span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and the girls made each other's gifts: Maggie made pillow cases (pictured above) - on a day that Christopher was home for help with the machine, Ashlee made hair clips and headbands with flowers and Paige made glitter letters. I loved this. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Food: we had lots of yummy food and delivered treats to Primary teachers and neighbors. My favorite this year was chocolate covered popcorn.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Time: We had lots of time to spend together. The girls both had the entire week before Christmas off and even though Christopher didn't have leave, he was able to be home alot.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. The girls let us sleep until 7:30 Christmas morning</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. Ashlee loved that she got to stay in her PJ's all day Christmas day.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. We got a real tree this year. As we are putting it up Christopher tells us a funny childhood anecdote about family friends who thought their tree was just really "thirsty" but really the stand had a leak and they rotted the sub floor. The morning after Christmas, Paige retrieves her calendar from underneath the tree and it is mysteriously wet - turns out we had a little water issue also, not enough to rot the floor, just enough to leave a big red stain from the felt tree skirt.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Gorgeous California weather. The hills are so green and beautiful right now - it reminds me of summer in our little German town HP</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. Christopher got another helicopter and it is a big hit with everyone (one of the pictures above with Paige wincing is her ducking from "Chopster")</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10. Shopping was like going on a date - I love that Maggie is old enough to babysit now, also Paige is old enough to spill the beans about gifts, so we stopped taking her with us. The end. </span></div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-91487179298042076222011-01-10T22:36:00.000-08:002011-01-10T22:36:58.398-08:00November, Try to Remember<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzXqoENiI/AAAAAAAABMw/974QHjbGQzE/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzXqoENiI/AAAAAAAABMw/974QHjbGQzE/s400/IMG_1425.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In November we: drove to Point Reyes State Park, the water was cold, the weather was gorgeous. We had a picnic, walked down the 300 or so steps to the beautiful lighthouse, may have seen a whale breach (we caught only the briefest of glimpses, but the girls insist that's what it was AND, as if to prove the point the sign at the ranger's station, read on the way out, noted that there had been some whale activity to the south of the lighthouse. It was really exciting.) We then walked back up the 300 or so steps and drove home, stopping first above another beach to fight for the binoculars and observe sea lions taking their leisure far below in the dusk. It really is a gorgeous spot and we hope to go back many times. For a first outing, we felt it was very successful. But then, we read our guide book (weeks after - when will I learn) and it seems we missed out on some world class culinary opportunities. So, more exploring of the many hiking trails and food stops is in order.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzXllrohI/AAAAAAAABM4/w9CIVAtzijk/s1600/IMG_1430.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzXllrohI/AAAAAAAABM4/w9CIVAtzijk/s400/IMG_1430.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In November</span>, <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ashlee performed in her school play with the San Francisco Opera Guild. That picture is so grainy, but so are all the others I took - I will figure out how to work our point and shoot better one of these days. It was a thrill for me to watch and I think for her to perform. My favorite parts of the whole play, after her performance of course, were: her phone call home to request permission to audition - I have it almost memorized - it makes me laugh every time I listen to it. "Mom...or Dad...this is Ashlee.I was wondering if I can go to practice for the opera today, it's every Wednesday from 1:45 to 3:00..... thank-you ..... goodbye." She was talking so quietly so no-one could hear her, and she is always so business like on the phone, it cracks me up. And - one of the boys in the play went home after school and showered before practice - every time. Ashlee says the teachers would tell him not to go home, but to go straight to practice, but he always went home to shower and then came back. Ashlee told us about it because she thought it was funny and so do I, kids are just funny sometimes.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzX99s_GI/AAAAAAAABNA/lbU-RjqgVEs/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzX99s_GI/AAAAAAAABNA/lbU-RjqgVEs/s400/IMG_1341.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In November, we went to Utah for Thanksgiving week. We had a really good visit. All of my siblings were there, so that makes twice this year we have all been together. I have a real affinity for UT. now, and it has nothing to do with the state, but just that so many people that I love live there. I don't have that many pictures, I only remembered to get my camera out once while we were actually there. The picture below was taken on the drive over, somewhere in Nevada, which was actually quite beautiful with all the snow.</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, that's it, next up December....</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzYD9w0BI/AAAAAAAABNI/Uk0JJsRxwGo/s1600/Image010.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TSvzYD9w0BI/AAAAAAAABNI/Uk0JJsRxwGo/s640/Image010.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-73437217677640913012010-12-03T17:07:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:07:03.182-08:00Fall Sports<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TPmQ0inujFI/AAAAAAAABMY/jSbYE4L1rpE/s1600/Oct-Dec10+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TPmQ0inujFI/AAAAAAAABMY/jSbYE4L1rpE/s640/Oct-Dec10+037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Fall sports are over (have been for quite some time now...)both Maggie and Ashlee played soccer, and Maggie ran for the cross country team at her Middle School. I love soccer and hope they continue to play. I do not love hyper-competitive parents / coaches. Sometimes they are funny and entertaining (the coach in the green in the background is an example of this) but mostly they are bothersome and make me uncomfortable and even a little angry. It's the only part of youth sports that I don't like. Best memory I have of Ashlee this season (even though I didn't personally witness this, I was with Maggie at her field): While waiting for the game to start, Ashlee dropped and started doing push-ups. She loves soccer and is always excited to play - I am smiling thinking about it right now.<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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TPmQ68IUvzI/AAAAAAAABMc/6G7K2_uRkHw/s1600/Oct-Dec10+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TPmQ68IUvzI/AAAAAAAABMc/6G7K2_uRkHw/s400/Oct-Dec10+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Maggie's back during a race - I am really proud of her - she worked hard at cross country and improved her time by about 1 1/2 minutes during the season. What makes me more proud is the fact that she showed up to try-outs/practice without a single friend (new school, only a few friends). I would not have done that in a million years in school. I played sports in high school, but I always knew someone until my senior year and I probably wouldn't have played that year, but my dad found out about the off-season team for my school and got me to try-out, thanks Dad! Anyway, Maggie is awesome.<br />
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So, there you go - one update down, several to go. . . . Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-13172501966869882852010-10-30T21:36:00.000-07:002010-10-30T21:36:30.094-07:00All Hallow's Eve<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;"></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 style="text-align: center;"> HAPPY HALLOWEEN!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxAGZudRI/AAAAAAAABMA/SJu_G4wINWE/s1600/Oct-Dec10+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxAGZudRI/AAAAAAAABMA/SJu_G4wINWE/s640/Oct-Dec10+110.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxZ-aAE6I/AAAAAAAABMM/MwwFUWa0cKk/s1600/Oct-Dec10+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxZ-aAE6I/AAAAAAAABMM/MwwFUWa0cKk/s640/Oct-Dec10+112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxD0_tCUI/AAAAAAAABME/VkgkPOLqYKU/s1600/Oct-Dec10+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxD0_tCUI/AAAAAAAABME/VkgkPOLqYKU/s640/Oct-Dec10+111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxIVm9EjI/AAAAAAAABMI/7KjKUjx-A04/s1600/Oct-Dec10+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TMzxIVm9EjI/AAAAAAAABMI/7KjKUjx-A04/s640/Oct-Dec10+107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peace Out - Flower, Bride of Frankenstein, Nerd!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(p.s. I will try to post some other updates soon) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-4825075061358680712010-09-14T17:15:00.000-07:002010-09-15T10:47:20.787-07:00Redwoods<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAHKPjbRDI/AAAAAAAABLU/zGBpdBUkYj8/s640/IMG_1658.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over Labor Day Weekend, we took a trip up the North Coast to see the Redwood Trees. On the way up, we stopped at Glass Beach - so named because it used to be the city dump, now all the glass (because it is heavy and didn't get washed out to sea) has been buffed/polished into little pebbles. Christopher says that the thing embedded in the rock in this picture is the rear differential of a pick-up truck. I have lots of thoughts about this beach -</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAHKPjbRDI/AAAAAAAABLU/zGBpdBUkYj8/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAGcIKnUYI/AAAAAAAABLE/rsauOn1kio0/s640/IMG_1727.JPG" width="640" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAH8oxTDNI/AAAAAAAABLk/7AqFvJ0J99M/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAH8oxTDNI/AAAAAAAABLk/7AqFvJ0J99M/s640/IMG_1741.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAEBYwDiLI/AAAAAAAABKs/O4iipfK4uV4/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAEBYwDiLI/AAAAAAAABKs/O4iipfK4uV4/s640/IMG_1674.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAFwX15tfI/AAAAAAAABK0/3qFzI7wFnm8/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAFwX15tfI/AAAAAAAABK0/3qFzI7wFnm8/s640/IMG_1721.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAHjv-FxLI/AAAAAAAABLc/TNOU2oyARjA/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAHjv-FxLI/AAAAAAAABLc/TNOU2oyARjA/s640/IMG_1699.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAGzgKfG2I/AAAAAAAABLM/g7dBJKVH2pw/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TJAGzgKfG2I/AAAAAAAABLM/g7dBJKVH2pw/s640/IMG_1659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The rest of the pictures:<br />
2. Redwood Grove - the trees were AMAZING.<br />
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3. Blurry picture next to the base of a fallen tree - Paige was done with: walking, smiling, using her nice voice, being happy. She had been sick and was a little out of sorts.<br />
4. Christopher trying to re-create a picture he remembers of older brother Michael jumping from a Redwood into his dad's arms. We did this shot with both older girls, twice with Ashlee. I have a hard time pulling the trigger at the right time. These were the instructions he gave - "Mom's going to take a picture of you jumping to me." If you tell Ashlee to jump, if you tell her that you will catch her, if she trusts you - she will really jump. I guess her jump was a little bit too authentic - he meant for her to sort of lean and fall - not jump. The five minutes after this shot were filled with jumping around, rubbing a kicked leg, saying "I didn't mean really jump" and lots of laughing.<br />
5.Maggie being silly, I like that you can see the tree's dimensions in this picture. I don't think this was the biggest one we saw, but read the numbers, they are impressive.<br />
6.They are singing.<br />
7. Beautiful coast line on the bluffs above glass beach.<br />
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We had a great time on this trip - this area of California is so beautiful. I just scrolled back through the pictures - I think the theme is blurry....Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-19749394261025537452010-09-14T16:20:00.000-07:002010-09-14T16:21:36.651-07:00Back to School<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-YP5XkJI/AAAAAAAABKU/BjJTFZ6g0OY/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-YP5XkJI/AAAAAAAABKU/BjJTFZ6g0OY/s640/IMG_1192.JPG" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-gMZnllI/AAAAAAAABKc/90ADvqjZM1Q/s640/IMG_1206.JPG" width="640" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-gMZnllI/AAAAAAAABKc/90ADvqjZM1Q/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-YP5XkJI/AAAAAAAABKU/BjJTFZ6g0OY/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-YP5XkJI/AAAAAAAABKU/BjJTFZ6g0OY/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Girls are back in school - week 4. How old does Paige look in jeans? She begged to have them, I bought them, she put them on once, for 10 minutes to have this picture taken and hasn't looked at them since. Does that sentence sound familiar? It does to me. . . every year at back to school time, I buy them clothes they won't put back on, clothes they insist they love. Paige proudly continues the tradition. We took a whole bunch of pictures for their "back to school" fashion show. I was going to send them to their dad in the desert, but I just downloaded them 5 minutes ago. Anyway, it is fine with me that she doesn't want to put those jeans back on - she's looking a little bit too grown-up for me in that picture.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-mfpGRzI/AAAAAAAABKk/PeOLUO8Z03A/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TI_-mfpGRzI/AAAAAAAABKk/PeOLUO8Z03A/s640/IMG_1208.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The transition has been the roughest on Ashlee - as you can see in the picture above. She is not hanging her head just to avoid the camera, she didn't know I had it out. That is how I left her, waiting in line on the first day. She came home much happier (see her smiling above , after school!), but she still has a few days of crying in the morning, not wanting to go. The whole first week, I reminded her to just take things one day at a time, that things would be better, easier as time went on. She is settling in. I am proud of her for struggling through. It helped that Chris came home the Friday of their second week, he makes everything a little easier for all of us. Maggie is in 7th grade - she has been really excited most days about the new school and new opportunities. Middle school!!!! I can't believe it. </span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-21019089698402762702010-08-17T23:09:00.000-07:002010-08-17T23:11:47.432-07:00Dinner Group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGt2DubgIyI/AAAAAAAABKE/ZJEOcXLVCzY/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGt2DubgIyI/AAAAAAAABKE/ZJEOcXLVCzY/s400/IMG_0900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>One more item that I intended to blog about, but haven't yet - dinner group. A friend from the ward started a dinner group with 4 other ladies some time in the fall of last year. In March, one of the families dropped out and I got to be the replacement. I had heard about the group and was really excited to participate.<br />
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Here's how it worked - every week, you cooked five of the same meal on your assigned day, one for your family and four others to deliver to the other dinner group members. On the rest of the days (Monday through Friday only) you made a salad, maybe cooked some green beans, maybe cooked some rice or pasta (to go with the main dish) and then waited for your dinner to be delivered! I think the rules were - delivered ready to eat by 5, or ready to cook by 3. It was so awesome! We ate dinner at a decent hour every single week night, my kids tried new things, clean-up was a breeze! This my sound like a bit of an exaggeration, but it was like a little Christmas gift 4 days a week. The only drawback was on my cooking day, my kitchen was a DISASTER. and it usually took almost 2 hours to clean everything up, but even then, because I had to have it delivered by 5, we were eating at 6 even on my days to cook. I was really sad to give it up in May when we moved into the TLF. It was one of the best ideas EVER. I took the picture above on one of my cooking days. The kitchen doesn't look too bad in that picture, but that is just at the very beginning of the cooking... by the end, that stack of towels would be down by 4 or 5, those bowls would be at the bottom of an extremely large stack etc....<br />
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I would love to do it again here, and I am sort of keeping my eyes open for potential members.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-26318283460739693202010-08-12T00:09:00.000-07:002010-08-12T00:09:44.496-07:00Family Reunion Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Since I have pretty much given up on sleep...here are some posts about things that happened in the last six months. First up - Family Reunion Recap. My family gets together every other year - the even years for a Reunion. Each time, one sibling and their spouse (if they are married) is in charge - meaning booking the place, coordinating activities, meals, etc...Two summers ago it was our turn, this year it was Geoff and Kristen's turn. They did a great job. The most difficult part is deciding where everyone is going to sleep. Families with babies generally get priority - we are having another baby before the next reunion for this reason alone. (Ha, ha ha) Once everybody is assigned a room, switched rooms and finally settled in, the rest is easy. <br />
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First, a picture of Daniel getting injured during the picture scavenger hunt. Geoff and Kristen ran this activity, it was a lot of fun. Our team probably should have won, but I think they gave it to Daniel's team out of sympathy or something. ;) We were supposed to get a picture of our team carrying another team member (Daniel). Too bad for Daniel that he arrived at the reunion with a serious bruise to the ribs and we (Christopher) did more damage. We thought he was teasing, but as his face clearly shows, he was in a lot of pain. Chris and I were talking later and remembered that when we saw his brother and kids at Bear Lake (same location) a few years ago, he broke his brother's ribs also. Hmmmm.... Better watch your back, it might be you next time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGOSLRrmLRI/AAAAAAAABEA/nUuzpicy3M8/s400/IMG_1220.JPG" width="400" /></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;"></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><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel and his family - Miriam, Eva and Alexander. Miriam is due next month, but they think the baby will come any day now. Their activity was World Cup related - we watched a lot of World Cup while we were there, the kids loved the word search with Daniel's color commentary. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Opa with all of the kids. Paige loved Garrett and still talks about him. Cute kids, right? Grandma and Opa were in charge of Family Home Evening. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGOQzTKVa5I/AAAAAAAABDg/cJFzCcVA4sY/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGOQzTKVa5I/AAAAAAAABDg/cJFzCcVA4sY/s400/IMG_1167.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoff is getting ready to catch a baseball (distraction method) not telling us to stop taking his picture. Is Cameron getting ready to catch the ball or hit his dad? I think Kristen has run like 300 races this year and my mom said the other night that she is doing a triathlon this weekend. Go Kristen! They were great planners and I think when our year comes around again, we'll just pay them to do it for us. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGORFNBy70I/AAAAAAAABDo/YORobYroaTg/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TGORFNBy70I/AAAAAAAABDo/YORobYroaTg/s400/IMG_1157.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, Carly, Beckam. I have been bribing Maggie to braid her hair on the side since the reunion thanks to Carly. She didn't believe me that it was coo, but you know if Carly does it, it's cool. Carly and Andrew planned a game -kind of like Jeopardy. It was really fun and reminded me why sibling relationships are so important to me - we have a lot of history and I really like all of them and now all of their spouses. Plus, how cute is Beckam? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was fun to get together and see everyone. It takes some serious coordinating and some sacrifice (Geoff's kids missed school, Miriam was pregnant and uncomfortable, Carly's parents had just left town etc....) but it is really so worthwhile to get everyone together. We had some structured activities and some unstructured time and it was all good. Some other highlights:<br />
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* riding the boat around the lake - the water was still sooooo cold - it wasn't really swimming temperature yet. But almost everyone still jumped in off the boat - including Maggie and Ashlee.<br />
* the guided tour of the nearby caves - we lucked out and got an accidentally hilarious guide. We will still be quoting him and talking about it at the next reunion. <br />
*seeing Andrew, Carly and Beckam be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple before the reunion...<br />
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Time always goes by so quickly, I am already looking forward to the next time we get together. Sorry, no pictures of Jennifer and Heather - I didn't take very many pics...Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-68153644184342512722010-07-24T12:44:00.000-07:002010-07-24T12:44:07.422-07:00San Francisco<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;"></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;"></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;">My mom sisters are here and we spent the day in San Francisco yesterday - it is a beautiful city and we had beautiful weather and I am so lucky to have family that will come and visit!!!</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;"></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;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TEtBYSa8IJI/AAAAAAAABDY/gPAOkj5X_cc/s400/IMG_1301.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TEtA6ki1z5I/AAAAAAAABDI/SKsoJ9VoMsA/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TEtA6ki1z5I/AAAAAAAABDI/SKsoJ9VoMsA/s640/IMG_1319.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TEtBCS05DYI/AAAAAAAABDQ/AiorMrXuMF0/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/TEtBCS05DYI/AAAAAAAABDQ/AiorMrXuMF0/s640/IMG_1308.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-2139399001334945832010-07-15T22:59:00.000-07:002010-07-15T22:59:52.345-07:00A list....I can't find the chord to hook up to the camera. .. so no pictures yet, but I wanted to make a list of things to remember about this move/summer before I can only vaguely recall the things I never imagined I could forget.<br />
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1. For a brief two to three week period of time this spring, Paige called me mother almost exclusively. She said it with just the right amount of sass and charm to have me hoping it would a permanent thing. It sounded like mudder, and my favorite phrases included: Oh muddder. Mudder, you're silly. MUuDder - holding each syllable a little long and giving me some look when she was mad. Now she will only say mudder if I ask, and if the fancy strikes. <br />
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2. I was reminded how good it feels to work really hard at something physical while we were packing and loading the truck - Christopher was in a great mood all of our packing and loading days, I think it has something to do with "by the sweat of their brow" and also a little bit to do with not being professional movers, so the challenge was finite.<br />
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3. It was fun to be all together in the car for those days - we only stopped to sight see in Nauvoo, but I still loved having all of my family together with nowhere for anyone to go but where we were all going together. (3A. I still don't like hearing "This would be a good time to die." from my husbands lips. He says it almost every time we are all together traveling because in theory we would all go together and no-one would be left behind- of our immediate family. )<br />
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4. Ashlee and Maggie both had great years at school - they worked hard and I was proud of them. Maggie left school on her last day crying. Ashlee's tears came after we were here in the new house and the reality of a new school, new church friends, new everything moved into her little heart with all those boxes coming off the truck. I felt all those emotions with them. . . and hope they have many more happy days than sad coming up.<br />
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5. I can see and feel some of the growth that has occurred in our marriage as we make this transition - and it feels good.<br />
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That's it for now. We have traded beautiful green New Jersey for beautiful golden California. . . I'll try and get it together and post some pictures soon.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-82076628348046229102010-05-08T12:21:00.000-07:002010-05-08T12:21:29.536-07:00ThreePaigie turns three on Monday and she is happily anticipating her big day. Ashlee and I went shopping for gifts today and when we returned home, she came running out to the car asking "Where are the presents?" I told her we couldn't find anything we really liked so we would have to go shopping another day. That was a lie - I don't have time to go shopping another day and there were indeed gifts for her in the back of the car, but also true - I didn't find anything I really liked. There is a big, green moving truck in the driveway and Paige's big day unfortunately falls in the middle of moving week this time, so we only bought small gifts that can be taken in the car without a lot of thoughtful planning. Luckily I had some chocolate covered strawberries back there and those made her forget about the gifts. <br />
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I am happy to have a three year-old who is happy and strong and healthy - both body and mind. I am grateful for it. But I am a little heartbroken that she is three, because it means she is no longer 2, or 1, or just arrived. She's just growing so fast. She is a daddy's girl, just like her two sisters. When she is hurt or offended, she comes to get her daddy and has him beat up the offender, even me, if I have given offense. He started it when Paigie came to him one time over some offense and he asked "Should we go beat her up?" Right now it's all jovial fun - hopefully she doesn't start to take it too seriously. She is very particular about clothes (only dresses, please, unless it's her favorite green skirt.) and shoes and hair. She likes to do tricks for us and color and write us notes. She has vivid imagination often plays very elaborate games with inanimate objects given voices and personalities. She needs a nap, but hates to take one. For the past week she has been sleeping on the floor with her sisters and loves it in there. She still loves her blanket. She loves carrots and broccoli and lettuce, but really no other vegetable. She loves to help - especially if the task seems like one only an adult can do. She hates to pick up her own toys. We love her and are so grateful to be a part of her family. SO grateful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S-W5oVx0ldI/AAAAAAAABDA/NRJbYaEJ5ww/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S-W5oVx0ldI/AAAAAAAABDA/NRJbYaEJ5ww/s640/IMG_0250.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Here is a picture from last year on her day - because that big green truck isn't exactly going to pack itself. Oh how I wish it would.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-7023329897940425772010-04-22T13:59:00.000-07:002010-04-22T13:59:10.834-07:00Because, that's why!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S9C3kSe9eoI/AAAAAAAABCw/4qX8M8V4HG4/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S9C3kSe9eoI/AAAAAAAABCw/4qX8M8V4HG4/s640/IMG_0896.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes, when Christopher dries her hair, it looks like this. FRIZZY, the picture doesn't do it justice.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some funny things she says lately - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm being serious.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh Shasta (learned from me - woops)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Because that's why. (If we ask why about anything.)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">today she was singing "I Am A Child of God" - her version is - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am a child of God, and he has set me free....,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">which is just as true as the regular lyric.</span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-80466549244513144792010-04-20T13:32:00.000-07:002010-04-20T13:45:33.869-07:00Boston<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to Boston a couple of weeks ago - somebody had dressed the <em>Make Way For Ducklings</em> ducks in Easter Bonnets. It was very....charming, that's the only way to say it. I was also completely charmed by the city and daydreamed a few hours away about how GREAT it would be to live there. </span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84GtE0Dj6I/AAAAAAAABCE/qAhfQzzqgCE/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are all the ducklings, following their Momma, wearing their Easter finest. </span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HzRVZ_8I/AAAAAAAABCo/WqFFr7ZYx7o/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HzRVZ_8I/AAAAAAAABCo/WqFFr7ZYx7o/s640/IMG_0469.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HM-xaSWI/AAAAAAAABCU/gNNK1Om6lJI/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HM-xaSWI/AAAAAAAABCU/gNNK1Om6lJI/s400/IMG_0929.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HUZs4ClI/AAAAAAAABCc/XM-MaYutDXE/s1600/IMG_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S84HUZs4ClI/AAAAAAAABCc/XM-MaYutDXE/s640/IMG_0938.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the pictures above: Ashlee listening intently on our walking tour of part of the Freedom Trail. She is so great - she raised her hand to answer almost every question, always stood near him so she could see/focus - I love that about her. She also got a sucker for volunteering to demonstrate what it was like to stand in the "blocks" on Boston Common. Our guide easily consumed 10 Blow-Pops during our tour. After Ashlee was given her sucker, she immediately turned it over to Paige, which kept Paige occupied for nearly 30 minutes. When we were about an hour in, Christopher leaned over and whispered "Look at Ashlee" She was standing very near our guide, looking intently at his satchel. "She's trying to burn a hole in the bag with her eyes to get another sucker." After we walked to our next stop, she came up to me and said "I wish I could have another sucker." He knows her pretty well. She's so sweet to just hand that sucker over to Paige, no questions asked.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also spent a few hours across the river in Cambridge...we walked around part of Harvard and the girls rubbed Mr. Harvard's shoe for good luck getting in. (Although apparently it's not really him, because all of his likenesses were burned in a fire....just a little something we learned while eavesdropping on a guided tour.) So, we'll see in a few years if it works...:) If it does, it will be Ashlee who gets in, Maggie barely touched it.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, I liked Boston. I am not that excited about California. Its bonus - closer to family. And even then, it's still 1 entire day of travel to Utah family, and 2 days to Denver family, so it's not super close. That's about all I can think of. Christopher is looking forward to it much more than I am. When we used to talk about future assignments, if California ever came up, it never seemed great. It still doesn't..... I will try to adjust my attitude about the "governator's" state soon. In the meantime, I am looking forward to de-junking some more and living for a couple of months with just a few of our things - we have way too much. (Although I have already packed a mason jar full of popsicle sticks - that can't bode well for the de-junking part of the packing.)</span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-27834862674568149162010-04-13T10:40:00.000-07:002010-04-13T10:40:32.952-07:00Her Expressions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paige was a big contributor to Family Home Evening last night. She was reading to us from her "scritshures." (The mini-hymnal that I took on my mission with me.) We had to keep reminding her that other people might like a turn to talk. We were also surprised to learn that the "scritshures" contain references to cookies, oreos, and candy. I love how Ashlee was laughing at her/ listening to her/ encouraging her. </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SqiBXZsrI/AAAAAAAABB8/3MS9QxFrip8/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SqiBXZsrI/AAAAAAAABB8/3MS9QxFrip8/s640/IMG_0495.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SpufuheTI/AAAAAAAABBk/-vSo63ls05o/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SpufuheTI/AAAAAAAABBk/-vSo63ls05o/s640/IMG_0500.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8Sp7jD_7_I/AAAAAAAABBs/vmxUhMGWLjs/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8Sp7jD_7_I/AAAAAAAABBs/vmxUhMGWLjs/s640/IMG_0496.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SqSYljhnI/AAAAAAAABB0/jmcXwk1VtFc/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S8SqSYljhnI/AAAAAAAABB0/jmcXwk1VtFc/s640/IMG_0497.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-13433663594946886822010-04-05T21:59:00.000-07:002010-04-05T21:59:20.392-07:00An Easter Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our girls on Easter Sunday - Chris was in charge of taking a picture while I got dinner ready in between sessions of conference, this is the best of 2. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S7q8JbowBQI/AAAAAAAABBU/C7vbJwStsFg/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" nt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S7q8JbowBQI/AAAAAAAABBU/C7vbJwStsFg/s640/IMG_0919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We are having GORGEOUS weather after what felt like weeks of snow and weeks of rain. I love these girls. With all my heart and then some, probably. I was so glad to listen to General Conference - it always helps me see things better, more for what they are and less for what I wish they were or imagine them to be (in both good ways and bad.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Things that I noticed in this picture:</div><div align="center">Paige's feet are getting much too big - that means that the rest of her is getting much too big, darn her. Darn time that is speeding along whether I am ready for it to or not.</div><div align="center">Ashlee's hair is getting really long. She continues to be in constant motion. which is why it's hard to get a good picture of her. I'm sure that she is either mid-laugh or mid-joke or mid-dance move here. We were in line at a store today and music was playing and she was dancing, she can't help herself and most times I love it.</div><div align="center">Maggie is the only one posing - it looks like Paige is pouting. I asked them when they came in if they got a good picture. Maggie said "No, but we got a picture." She is going to a baby-sitting class tomorrow. She is excited to be getting more responsibility. She has also started talking with friends on the phone, just to talk, not to make plans or coordinate things. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We are on spring break this week. We have hopes to travel somewhere at the end of the week. Our list of places to visit/things to do is getting smaller, we are running out of time. </div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-87502048180200221942010-03-19T09:45:00.000-07:002010-03-19T09:45:31.607-07:0072 Degrees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is supposed to get up to 72 degrees today. . . . I want to pack us all up and take us "down the shore..." I know it's not summer yet, but if it was, I would have some things done. Things like - packing up the house, helping C. finish his master's course, going through and cleaning out and getting rid of lots of stuff before we pack up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, I am goind to miss the shore and we are going to go lots of times before we leave. I promise. We will soak up the sun and the salt water, we will walk on the boardwalk, we will eat water ice, and we will be so glad that we got to live in "The Garden State."<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S6OoyTzQUhI/AAAAAAAABA0/wLBoQxQv8S0/s1600-h/DSC01343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S6OoyTzQUhI/AAAAAAAABA0/wLBoQxQv8S0/s640/DSC01343.JPG" vt="true" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S6OpB5CUiEI/AAAAAAAABBE/eFDX49xBQ7k/s1600-h/DSC01378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S6OpB5CUiEI/AAAAAAAABBE/eFDX49xBQ7k/s640/DSC01378.JPG" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-68709774992360542042010-02-13T20:15:00.000-08:002010-02-13T20:18:42.752-08:002 Snow Day Pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d3Wy7AXDI/AAAAAAAABAk/AOh-NksRyYQ/s1600-h/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d3Wy7AXDI/AAAAAAAABAk/AOh-NksRyYQ/s640/IMG_0863.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some things to notice about these 2 pics:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Paige has some serious road rash on her face - she fell when we were at the park before the snow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. After the tent came down we decided to put a mattress on the floor in the living room - for the snow day. We had so much snow this week, we left it up. C. hated the idea at first, but now we all sort of love it. I have been looking around for ideas that assimilate this but aren't so trashy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Maggie and Ashlee are both soaking wet up to their waists. They have been having a lot of fun playing in the snow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Paige isn't wet because playing in the snow goes against her core values. She stays inside and eats snow day food - cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate etc... She is also air-born in the bottom picture. The picture probably doesn't show this, but she is also the cutest 2 year old we know.</span></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/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d3RxaHR7I/AAAAAAAABAc/BBbJxmJio-U/s1600-h/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d3RxaHR7I/AAAAAAAABAc/BBbJxmJio-U/s640/IMG_0867.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3474002297702378581.post-71720048273683676152010-02-13T20:01:00.000-08:002010-02-14T14:38:40.712-08:00The Ski Lesson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse . . . the weather people in Philadelphia (and many other cities, I'm sure) are over the moon about this weather. 72 inches so far this winter "And it's only February!!!!." I love weather people. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dv3kmSz8I/AAAAAAAAA_s/OrAy3GMmv4w/s1600-h/IMG_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dv3kmSz8I/AAAAAAAAA_s/OrAy3GMmv4w/s640/IMG_0876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwAo3N_HI/AAAAAAAAA_0/t_PAf1wm7Dg/s1600-h/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwAo3N_HI/AAAAAAAAA_0/t_PAf1wm7Dg/s640/IMG_0883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwIm3YRYI/AAAAAAAAA_8/6eIT4XBOP9U/s1600-h/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwIm3YRYI/AAAAAAAAA_8/6eIT4XBOP9U/s640/IMG_0889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwYXESSNI/AAAAAAAABAE/dlkEhwqnmXs/s1600-h/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3dwYXESSNI/AAAAAAAABAE/dlkEhwqnmXs/s640/IMG_0880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d0HqCBjXI/AAAAAAAABAM/iAGiYODvVUk/s1600-h/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-OHsHgZRaxc/S3d0HqCBjXI/AAAAAAAABAM/iAGiYODvVUk/s400/IMG_0885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christopher took the two older girls skiing for their first time today. On Friday night, after everyone had picked up their skis, he spent about an hour with the garden hose laced through a pipe, pulling them back and forth so they could practice a little bit. All reports are they had a great time. Ashlee wants to buy skis - ASAP. C stayed with them all day. He is not a perfect father, but, in my humble opinion, he is one of the best. </span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17009337814047580479noreply@blogger.com1