tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54729662532748128692024-03-07T16:59:28.464-06:00Kari and BrentKari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-37112999753084732312015-02-03T21:17:00.000-06:002015-02-03T21:17:17.850-06:00Dear SamDear Sam,<br />
<br /><br />
Happy "Birth"day little one! I've been thinking about this letter for quite some time, but still don't know just what to say. I have so many thoughts going on in my head and in my heart. First of all, I wish I were holding you today! That thought overrides all the rest. Today you should've been in our arms, I should be nursing you, your grandparents and older sister should be visiting, our church and seminary families and my co-workers would all be anxious to meet you. You should be here. But, instead you are with Jesus. We are also thankful for that. If you can't be here with us, I'm so glad you're with Him. And I'm sure that Hannah and John have been "showing you the ropes" in heaven. Not that they really need to - I'm guessing you got there and just went straight to the feet of Jesus - but as your mom I want to think about the three of you hanging out together. :)<br />
<br /><br />
Lots of people have asked me and your dad how we're doing. My answer has been that to be honest, I'm doing way better than I expected. When both Hannah and John were delivered directly to heaven, I ended up getting to a pretty dark place with my grief. With you, Sam, that hasn't happened. I'm so thankful for that! It's not that I miss you any less, or feel less love toward you, I think that the Lord has just been faithful to answer all the prayers that have been offered up for us. When I think of you, it's not with sadness but a sweet memory instead. My pregnancy with you was different and my miscarriage with you was different. I guess it's not unlikely that my grief with you is different as well. <br />
<br /><br />
Your dad wants you to know that we gave you the name "Samuel" because it means "heard of God". Samuel in the Bible was a Nazarite, dedicated to the service of the Lord. As hard as it was for his mother to give him over to God's care, we too have given you over to Him.<br />
<br /><br />
We love you very much and can't wait to meet you one day.<br />
<br /><br />
Love,<br />
Mommy and DaddyKari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-28675548471628934602013-06-07T09:06:00.000-05:002013-06-07T09:06:01.539-05:00Our Baby BoyDear John,<br />
<br />
We should be meeting you today, but instead you are safe in heaven with Jesus. Daddy and I are so happy that He is watching over you, but our arms ache to hold you. I loved knowing that your due date was June 7th since that was my Grandma Swanson's birthday. Even though I know you probably wouldn't have been born on this day, it's been special for me to think of the two of you sharing it together. Since I was born on my Grandpa Swanson's birthday, I think that sort of thing has always meant something to me.<br />
<br />
Heaven has seemed so much closer since I often think of you and your big sister, Hannah, there. I am sure she's helping watch over you and I picture the two of you playing at Jesus' feet. I wish you were playing at my feet instead, and no matter how much I know that you've been given an amazing gift of going straight to heaven and avoiding all the heartaches this earth brings, I still wish you were here. I daily fight that struggle.<br />
<br />
Maybe you could do your Mommy and Daddy a favor? Could you talk to Jesus and ask Him to watch over us? Sometimes we've had a hard time knowing what words to use when we talk to Him, and since you're right there, maybe you could ask Him to help us in our grief. We hope that you get to have a brother or sister, one that gets to be here with us first, but we are trusting that His will is best in all circumstances. <br />
<br />
We miss you every day, even though we haven't seen your face, and we love you so very, very, very much.<br />
<br />
With love,<br />
Mommy and DaddyKari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-18828352298440647892012-08-08T09:31:00.003-05:002012-08-08T09:31:55.107-05:00Favorite Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4-C5MfmkSijoyEnvpoSqxngC1kqNXCIX9_e7q3dG1sY9AH2FgbRBdX5Tcms9EjLOhC0nDcK2CjM9b_M_K0lrARHDvJws0joZo2RV5BqrPTZ1J2OA6aioC1OXM15DhxZGHrSIh3UjCE8/s1600/David+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4-C5MfmkSijoyEnvpoSqxngC1kqNXCIX9_e7q3dG1sY9AH2FgbRBdX5Tcms9EjLOhC0nDcK2CjM9b_M_K0lrARHDvJws0joZo2RV5BqrPTZ1J2OA6aioC1OXM15DhxZGHrSIh3UjCE8/s320/David+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my favorite (freckled) face! Wow, I love this kid and can't believe it's already time for him to start kindergarten this fall. Wasn't it just yesterday that he was born?<br />Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-13104790219574476552012-07-11T08:50:00.000-05:002012-07-11T08:50:40.343-05:00Three Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy 3rd Anniversary to the Love of my life! These last three years have been quite a journey, and I'm so excited to see what the next three years (and 60 beyond that!) hold for us! I love you!!!!Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-13347378623289701792012-07-06T22:02:00.000-05:002012-07-06T22:02:03.480-05:00Christmas with MicaelaHappy Summer!
I realize that it's been close to 100 degrees out, with 100% humidity, this week, but I thought I'd cool us all off by looking at pictures from Christmas! :) Actually, I finally signed back on to Blogger, and I see that I uploaded all sorts of pictures of Micaela's visit at Christmas, but hadn't posted them yet. I'll add a few quick captions, and hopefully this will help you cool down a bit!<br />
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She brought a piece of coal for her dad, since we had talked about the lack of insulation in our home. Funny girl!<br />
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Our one and only Christmas in our house. I did really enjoy how it looked.<br />
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Cuddling in their new blankets.<br />
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Micaela helped add some new ornaments to our tree:<br />
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Being silly..... It was definitely the theme for her visit!<br />
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Making Chicken Ole' - a specialty of Micaela's. Very yummy!<br />
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Then we decided to make a WHOLE bunch of Christmas cookies, and had lots of fun decorating them!<br />
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It turns out I didn't take any pictures of the decorated ones.... bummer! You'll just have to take my word for it that they were cute! :)<br />
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Well, we did have a wonderful visit with Micaela and always enjoy the times we get to spend with her!<br />
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<em>(Now I'll see if I'm able to figure out the new-ish upgrades to Blogger. I guess I haven't logged in for a while....)</em></div>
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</div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-26559147673936861932012-02-04T19:37:00.017-06:002012-02-04T22:16:48.796-06:00Thanksgiving and Christmas 2011First of all, I'd like to say thank you to everyone for your loving comments on my last post about Hannah. We are very blessed with such a great circle of family and friends!<br /><br />Instead of continuing to wonder where in the world I should start with catching up on this blog, I'll decided to just pick something and go with it! <br /><br />Here's a little insight to how we celebrated the holidays. Julie and David invited us, along with our parents and our cousin, Sara, to their home for Thanksgiving. Like most Thanksgiving celebrations around the country, there was a little bit of "resting and relaxing" going on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSlffTRkr_oVNpHzOhKPHGASTHLkKi_PkxqrxzjAmCDVaHWcOEid0oc0Bgs6vc7TcdsER1bUOdaFdNydrQYLHcdUx1iV7k47GyXl3q_Zjjuny5TNl6P2za-I6-6NXxn5OY75KQ_LbT2I/s1600/Family+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476833606442130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSlffTRkr_oVNpHzOhKPHGASTHLkKi_PkxqrxzjAmCDVaHWcOEid0oc0Bgs6vc7TcdsER1bUOdaFdNydrQYLHcdUx1iV7k47GyXl3q_Zjjuny5TNl6P2za-I6-6NXxn5OY75KQ_LbT2I/s320/Family+003.JPG" /></a>At our celebration, there was also a little bit of wrestling and tickling going on between uncle and nephew.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgIwJmRpU1M0qEhr4wBILefHu3_f-f_FxGry7jR6fEU44NPBS0a5q2qXHT5kJAujdvzsTxOBVh_29PXk0fzmqgzAm0Zc_RrodQK6S3b40wrr_4gX4VhWTWzR5afLa4FzCTaGXz-lxKC0/s1600/Family+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476830370185970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgIwJmRpU1M0qEhr4wBILefHu3_f-f_FxGry7jR6fEU44NPBS0a5q2qXHT5kJAujdvzsTxOBVh_29PXk0fzmqgzAm0Zc_RrodQK6S3b40wrr_4gX4VhWTWzR5afLa4FzCTaGXz-lxKC0/s320/Family+002.JPG" /></a>Sara, Julie, and I had a great time reconnecting again!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDWTbxEMVwfbAMt6vuEC0XBPoS4kRAI3RcLTEfp9nwkRO87A80I1TaWGIWbnzGpM7LeCJtEb9NkJ6anFY4zELgmwvVsApxtc76U5CDGzAtRgE01_SjrZ8kivI8oIcslCUv0FlH5y2bfA/s1600/Family+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476338617432866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDWTbxEMVwfbAMt6vuEC0XBPoS4kRAI3RcLTEfp9nwkRO87A80I1TaWGIWbnzGpM7LeCJtEb9NkJ6anFY4zELgmwvVsApxtc76U5CDGzAtRgE01_SjrZ8kivI8oIcslCUv0FlH5y2bfA/s320/Family+006.JPG" /></a>It included a lot of laughing!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKd4YMT4dTJIECjU0u_7gWeWbGnbXi3FlYQKoJsmBGvVDrXXfmieH4ZwpGPAyYaPgGkdL46vYqbxdu-AE_879JPY1CjCGI7tKd_KOx8_wCUAe8DtXAYVPNSQTN3qfW7fr9QqbToSI6S8/s1600/Family+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476335095671026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKd4YMT4dTJIECjU0u_7gWeWbGnbXi3FlYQKoJsmBGvVDrXXfmieH4ZwpGPAyYaPgGkdL46vYqbxdu-AE_879JPY1CjCGI7tKd_KOx8_wCUAe8DtXAYVPNSQTN3qfW7fr9QqbToSI6S8/s320/Family+007.JPG" /></a>Of course there was yummy food as well. There was the standard Thanksgiving dinner, and then there was all the other deliciousness...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-4oRQVEIET8qgX6JilMhyphenhypheng9D5brblv-nEr3v6BGrIOwSos7uEirFDnZNvJhCpkZf0qVxH8a7A6GFNtwEmjq5yVyn-UiKkH2HLTYXmyuSec-nhTYVy2hoHPN0WaUZPgBDjbn9cF0mQ8/s1600/Family+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476331326565618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX-4oRQVEIET8qgX6JilMhyphenhypheng9D5brblv-nEr3v6BGrIOwSos7uEirFDnZNvJhCpkZf0qVxH8a7A6GFNtwEmjq5yVyn-UiKkH2HLTYXmyuSec-nhTYVy2hoHPN0WaUZPgBDjbn9cF0mQ8/s320/Family+010.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Op-EjLweb8zHou4iKySI-uSjDhpE9mXb6xvo7_nMiEjzydR0fH7JUYsuH4vX6701ocUvym7PcoCPZotQWeLZyg26qc7rTKh00QGxEmuBwu4OskT9rpYrMffv7i5JkMBJC4EoZ820qCs/s1600/Family+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705476328142053474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Op-EjLweb8zHou4iKySI-uSjDhpE9mXb6xvo7_nMiEjzydR0fH7JUYsuH4vX6701ocUvym7PcoCPZotQWeLZyg26qc7rTKh00QGxEmuBwu4OskT9rpYrMffv7i5JkMBJC4EoZ820qCs/s320/Family+011.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi_H75k-84FMBlxlt4vP8AcHNpgAu-D3GkH1kBD5_8tuDOsgwPci5Ll11zx4bp2hdPVbz4fz4h2lqXiI_yAhZxtyNp1bD4GsPgI8ZCt6U63O0NVyTXf-JBsJabjlsSWgV2Ve2Gda5lvw/s1600/Family+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705475634480826370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi_H75k-84FMBlxlt4vP8AcHNpgAu-D3GkH1kBD5_8tuDOsgwPci5Ll11zx4bp2hdPVbz4fz4h2lqXiI_yAhZxtyNp1bD4GsPgI8ZCt6U63O0NVyTXf-JBsJabjlsSWgV2Ve2Gda5lvw/s320/Family+012.JPG" /></a>That same weekend David came over to play at Grandma and Grandpa's. There wasn't any snow with the warm winter, so we had a great time playing tag and soccer in the backyard. We ran around so hard that someone needed a water-break.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-D-o-S8oqnQ_tM-V_79-L0_nYxDRQnMZ4VB5vewFvCtHjMtYOeR_-9vbyGmuMPpweOg0141jRgPMoiwRAA69uLOtescS8mTpEPkx9fVBNxg0p1J39zCUnNECux2PCRv18oH84ksEpCw/s1600/Family+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705475630354851250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-D-o-S8oqnQ_tM-V_79-L0_nYxDRQnMZ4VB5vewFvCtHjMtYOeR_-9vbyGmuMPpweOg0141jRgPMoiwRAA69uLOtescS8mTpEPkx9fVBNxg0p1J39zCUnNECux2PCRv18oH84ksEpCw/s320/Family+014.JPG" /></a>My awesome dad. I think the older I get the more I become Daddy's Little Girl.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhfoZK6zQZs264-O6bmFXtIoueNQX1dqbm8vAEx16v-rlu4GzV7HcnGelpsfk0vs0YQm1Xgywk_MSIYf5XSXEzbs6gak-W93EBPOuAWfT5zpRq9q-svzcCMW9zxOvwYkV82sxctS0FRM/s1600/Family+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705475619712923890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhfoZK6zQZs264-O6bmFXtIoueNQX1dqbm8vAEx16v-rlu4GzV7HcnGelpsfk0vs0YQm1Xgywk_MSIYf5XSXEzbs6gak-W93EBPOuAWfT5zpRq9q-svzcCMW9zxOvwYkV82sxctS0FRM/s320/Family+016.JPG" /></a>My awesome husband. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful partner in life!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFYiZO2eBpqoIXC-WlnPhHK169DoUPFiSpq8GxyshiJvk3USU3g3bDd8hiKnOlwleiQprEHu1x3gcOZlZYgwdnwwrxfjPXQ9RJpG5lKgJoj2UGcjr0SAL67ei3IKWEVVnSvXZv1cgceQ/s1600/Family+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705475615337655666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFYiZO2eBpqoIXC-WlnPhHK169DoUPFiSpq8GxyshiJvk3USU3g3bDd8hiKnOlwleiQprEHu1x3gcOZlZYgwdnwwrxfjPXQ9RJpG5lKgJoj2UGcjr0SAL67ei3IKWEVVnSvXZv1cgceQ/s320/Family+017.JPG" /></a>My favorite little guy. What a fun goofball, who is also smart and hilarious and gives great hugs!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uD5opZiUv7i5fCNQEupkV_HO_-dQCkZ_IcG2ZXqu3D0WgskCpEDa8VZAVj6qlDTW6Mhhq7oWOkuisJq_HiqPDvHkSaUnCzrnaRKOXGUjcuDVcSAhu3CXHL9qB-w1NFzKNnEmpUgigRc/s1600/Family+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705475603619245266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uD5opZiUv7i5fCNQEupkV_HO_-dQCkZ_IcG2ZXqu3D0WgskCpEDa8VZAVj6qlDTW6Mhhq7oWOkuisJq_HiqPDvHkSaUnCzrnaRKOXGUjcuDVcSAhu3CXHL9qB-w1NFzKNnEmpUgigRc/s320/Family+018.JPG" /></a>Back in Appleton later that weekend, we got to host some great friends at our house. Jim and Suzy are leaving for Ecuador in a few months, and they just became parents this weekend. I'm sure Stan and Cheryl are excited to be grandparents! It's fun to get to see them each year when they return to Wisconsin!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Si5gZTSbLovw5YsMQNV1gg-8iulowCXQpwN_jx7S1gZUcph_DUGNklxf7RiBxt0qshwjtyb7I2bKlA1fa-Knvx7NI55L6Ggy9L8tfTU0BZjp-cqbehXFyehJDBKFyXaKnRT6Cx6L6tk/s1600/Family+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705474509007214850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Si5gZTSbLovw5YsMQNV1gg-8iulowCXQpwN_jx7S1gZUcph_DUGNklxf7RiBxt0qshwjtyb7I2bKlA1fa-Knvx7NI55L6Ggy9L8tfTU0BZjp-cqbehXFyehJDBKFyXaKnRT6Cx6L6tk/s320/Family+021.JPG" /></a>I'm a big fan of our tree this year. In fact, we just took it down 2 weeks ago because I was enjoying it in our living room so much! I started wondering if we could leave it up all year, but decided against that.... <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVM9-FwEOrYp69gMJaPKXMqxjwbIK_WBLNMlY6f_qoMTiIPA-zFz4wcRnESYkYB4Im2Y3QeKb0Xb_8j9RAAzjTu_M1__XaT2JsFeyDSyb8XZn9aFztm8K2f5CTkMAZiz76bnBH_AkEa8/s1600/Family+025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705474502807995250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVM9-FwEOrYp69gMJaPKXMqxjwbIK_WBLNMlY6f_qoMTiIPA-zFz4wcRnESYkYB4Im2Y3QeKb0Xb_8j9RAAzjTu_M1__XaT2JsFeyDSyb8XZn9aFztm8K2f5CTkMAZiz76bnBH_AkEa8/s320/Family+025.JPG" /></a></div><div>It was fun to experiment with the close-up settings on the camera.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWWM_usIc4aNeQHmz2CKKI4a0DNFav9PRWDZwq5vsgxXekFg94T_mPLpEhisfU6LzTjnKb4yLc1gxzQz-ejVFCsxG-EdTuG8Q3SVxNFKarW1IAo352GTQFifNSyEhhgAXUDAKxQkSllw/s1600/Family+026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705474491977265778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWWM_usIc4aNeQHmz2CKKI4a0DNFav9PRWDZwq5vsgxXekFg94T_mPLpEhisfU6LzTjnKb4yLc1gxzQz-ejVFCsxG-EdTuG8Q3SVxNFKarW1IAo352GTQFifNSyEhhgAXUDAKxQkSllw/s320/Family+026.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3XoJbTsDfq6th-miGtbAUUDPPs7WJdq3BR_3QjmXp92YHYoZOwCBN-zh0ENPaCcbgUeL22b-4pUDXzI1lEvr5mgI_lYQqCA9YY_-5LZFoTF9iluzmkcvSg7VbSjEYNaIhYYe72Ej7Vw/s1600/Family+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705474483803137698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3XoJbTsDfq6th-miGtbAUUDPPs7WJdq3BR_3QjmXp92YHYoZOwCBN-zh0ENPaCcbgUeL22b-4pUDXzI1lEvr5mgI_lYQqCA9YY_-5LZFoTF9iluzmkcvSg7VbSjEYNaIhYYe72Ej7Vw/s320/Family+027.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSzB5XqiUg1BomAi8V1DdHuE3gNRnsZanHZhywZEfE_CA-orlL5L9l2-XAeAvOpTkSzMOsrcJZqQ0Vzu0JKfdQtI8xVJeGtT1OFhDifnp2jyAAq-IyCGijsNfyii0n4m_Bm7WJFA5lkw/s1600/Family+028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705474478375451618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSzB5XqiUg1BomAi8V1DdHuE3gNRnsZanHZhywZEfE_CA-orlL5L9l2-XAeAvOpTkSzMOsrcJZqQ0Vzu0JKfdQtI8xVJeGtT1OFhDifnp2jyAAq-IyCGijsNfyii0n4m_Bm7WJFA5lkw/s320/Family+028.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBLxgX1tMqINchRC_quJiumpJ_QA_JK9IhrsT1OY5VB6t9lSywt2aJ35JSy3efRvNtRU93gr__oMn5fsA-fPnGUcF6eI6HlBLExl0tDNQsAMxlmbuD6wfQsi5PPmkShqiX-lL4kNuQpc/s1600/Family+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705473419295811506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBLxgX1tMqINchRC_quJiumpJ_QA_JK9IhrsT1OY5VB6t9lSywt2aJ35JSy3efRvNtRU93gr__oMn5fsA-fPnGUcF6eI6HlBLExl0tDNQsAMxlmbuD6wfQsi5PPmkShqiX-lL4kNuQpc/s320/Family+030.JPG" /></a>I couldn't find the topper I thought we have, so here's my homemade version.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7uXZwPGi9KWfqnQAfk779MvGAXMyxWrtvfT0MuurclXxLx4huhlpvAcg4wJZioDYE4PzI-q9y_QOfb2fGLdDKV8aXrE5BPP-BYoE2gSy-xXQ1mhKMA9SJTZfA-4ksFgO9I7aoWTKysE/s1600/Family+031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705473410593832146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7uXZwPGi9KWfqnQAfk779MvGAXMyxWrtvfT0MuurclXxLx4huhlpvAcg4wJZioDYE4PzI-q9y_QOfb2fGLdDKV8aXrE5BPP-BYoE2gSy-xXQ1mhKMA9SJTZfA-4ksFgO9I7aoWTKysE/s320/Family+031.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhpgRSPfMSmY9ghoM79ISO9VAGMDyiWpsvCDDAzjGjhlUjOZBM9WS2Y80UalGKjxFAuzxnQFqPFzswqw2H7_wtW03m6DGlzgMs3gjBJuPkQoh1Hno9XT8pMdLn77StWJecnzr6MyxaEw/s1600/Family+032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705473404210962898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhpgRSPfMSmY9ghoM79ISO9VAGMDyiWpsvCDDAzjGjhlUjOZBM9WS2Y80UalGKjxFAuzxnQFqPFzswqw2H7_wtW03m6DGlzgMs3gjBJuPkQoh1Hno9XT8pMdLn77StWJecnzr6MyxaEw/s320/Family+032.JPG" /></a>I enjoy nativity sets, and here's a great one that's been given to me piece by piece over the years.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqJDxTc0DnTlxgniJvvHPx9o0haRF6yY_gW6B8FZm4Ioym0YlOG71SyiMm7q4njJ0LwDCav5rI5AGvkXSmQ4ue3A4AC-6Er_cRmy9xbTqWkBx8QH1cNXlMAh7ZoSRPPUC2_snWDxYLpw/s1600/Family+034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705473396080568210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqJDxTc0DnTlxgniJvvHPx9o0haRF6yY_gW6B8FZm4Ioym0YlOG71SyiMm7q4njJ0LwDCav5rI5AGvkXSmQ4ue3A4AC-6Er_cRmy9xbTqWkBx8QH1cNXlMAh7ZoSRPPUC2_snWDxYLpw/s320/Family+034.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnb_RtNIEqScpRjIY-BUlXjLdAs0zFRz_WQhRSPDDTNsya4MIfEco9byBM9zJ_nu1gvL536K42KSRz3miNdDQzxKonA46nPyrFhguS5OssB1rF6ESxqtd0cf2_RDtYeycZH6zYTpaUf0/s1600/Family+036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705473393153836178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnb_RtNIEqScpRjIY-BUlXjLdAs0zFRz_WQhRSPDDTNsya4MIfEco9byBM9zJ_nu1gvL536K42KSRz3miNdDQzxKonA46nPyrFhguS5OssB1rF6ESxqtd0cf2_RDtYeycZH6zYTpaUf0/s320/Family+036.JPG" /></a>We had a few things going on in Appleton over Christmas weekend, so we went to the Twin Cities the weekend before so we could celebrate with my family. We weren't able to see David and Julie, but my little buddy was able to join us on Friday night for a celebration. Here we are listening to Uncle Brent read the Christmas story.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2y-v_pjhVbvhIj6OFwTjuNJlHv5nJb_ZF1xZXrTkCdOK4l9NRuACluyfeXN22Vfny3kLeYdXocKH6c86sViiupqMZudSmNdKJXbtmGu5LGt2Il5B2KduiDZUuqILFvXJzLXeqW4Vp8c/s1600/Family+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705472353004051170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2y-v_pjhVbvhIj6OFwTjuNJlHv5nJb_ZF1xZXrTkCdOK4l9NRuACluyfeXN22Vfny3kLeYdXocKH6c86sViiupqMZudSmNdKJXbtmGu5LGt2Il5B2KduiDZUuqILFvXJzLXeqW4Vp8c/s320/Family+039.JPG" /></a>Then we had a fun time watching David open his presents from us. Gotta love that excitement!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MTbYXRVL6wOq1GBVNEAd1P7Lk5Fopv1X3xKTOfydaZIjoPWHf80VtcC6fc5CB4oNSzuOMFjWevU-6fanNLs9pUEFSkm-UjWjllHSxX-1U5zyUiWTt30OKIZMxuwpIDbJLF3EqgcWJLo/s1600/Family+040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705472347087767762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MTbYXRVL6wOq1GBVNEAd1P7Lk5Fopv1X3xKTOfydaZIjoPWHf80VtcC6fc5CB4oNSzuOMFjWevU-6fanNLs9pUEFSkm-UjWjllHSxX-1U5zyUiWTt30OKIZMxuwpIDbJLF3EqgcWJLo/s320/Family+040.JPG" /></a>When we were at his house for Thanksgiving, it was easy to see how much fun he had playing with dinosaurs. We knew he'd love this book!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh341TfBsaw3d4jGXOEckwju_bAG_QDNuWc5nSRfBX-rDbZcqRjh4j5dlNL3tdmbBB_yG2Q5VI6lR1hJ_gXvTXOLjthIAGHYkwv07mBK4TIUnoUnYkHzXVlhAI-x5_Q9b1GWD806XFrNng/s1600/Family+043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705472340840633026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh341TfBsaw3d4jGXOEckwju_bAG_QDNuWc5nSRfBX-rDbZcqRjh4j5dlNL3tdmbBB_yG2Q5VI6lR1hJ_gXvTXOLjthIAGHYkwv07mBK4TIUnoUnYkHzXVlhAI-x5_Q9b1GWD806XFrNng/s320/Family+043.JPG" /></a>He immediately went through page by page to read all of the dinosaur names.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAfhU1oQdlyqFAJJiKTI3zkJXPaQ4471pdh0JBjSKVaw-t-fyv_c-1lFcUFdmMue3XDI1oYS2l_v1TT9ZMGjMyE-nsE68Vvv1HdNalPQhMWl9iESBGEqib6J3Ykhu1lysbu6b-2m4CnU/s1600/Family+044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705472327112450210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAfhU1oQdlyqFAJJiKTI3zkJXPaQ4471pdh0JBjSKVaw-t-fyv_c-1lFcUFdmMue3XDI1oYS2l_v1TT9ZMGjMyE-nsE68Vvv1HdNalPQhMWl9iESBGEqib6J3Ykhu1lysbu6b-2m4CnU/s320/Family+044.JPG" /></a>We didn't skip a page!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSGanViBxp5T7rkRX764XiC4OBDu6k0SciddfLcgPhxQiOF8-SmC2eXJ9jLNv0y0toN46841XNtjUPpLM-1jpHqdtfZiJ-5JjOuajsGYKaNHTjIB9_f9ves56DpHQXb84Hj94sxtqhPQ/s1600/Family+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705472324283444802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSGanViBxp5T7rkRX764XiC4OBDu6k0SciddfLcgPhxQiOF8-SmC2eXJ9jLNv0y0toN46841XNtjUPpLM-1jpHqdtfZiJ-5JjOuajsGYKaNHTjIB9_f9ves56DpHQXb84Hj94sxtqhPQ/s320/Family+045.JPG" /></a>He asked for help on the hard names.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfohPEpQEUFfC2Nn7OYPQ7JOJ8i2PhoklDrNk7xUasJS7XJ6D5IXSRjKl2Z1WTCgIsGsTithOtBmVVH2dITPzwipQ0TaQ74sGGpW7CmihS06o_SKOUISBpOWCEEg3dN1mdFbg-H4r0UI/s1600/Family+046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705471277934855634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfohPEpQEUFfC2Nn7OYPQ7JOJ8i2PhoklDrNk7xUasJS7XJ6D5IXSRjKl2Z1WTCgIsGsTithOtBmVVH2dITPzwipQ0TaQ74sGGpW7CmihS06o_SKOUISBpOWCEEg3dN1mdFbg-H4r0UI/s320/Family+046.JPG" /></a>Then it was time for the rest of his present from Uncle Brent and Aunt Kari.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCfUGaxmS6v8Kyg6BMN32iiJR4uQS_re1y6765Rht_BKK1ObIk6IsfDAK35rPWcUmlXhpX_vk6POa-lDcH0yFNuoDSpkSxogkaJh0RlFXMmQCyBIB8jgoEmhIwyDoXz6w0hLU0FzZ23g/s1600/Family+048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705471266594541442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCfUGaxmS6v8Kyg6BMN32iiJR4uQS_re1y6765Rht_BKK1ObIk6IsfDAK35rPWcUmlXhpX_vk6POa-lDcH0yFNuoDSpkSxogkaJh0RlFXMmQCyBIB8jgoEmhIwyDoXz6w0hLU0FzZ23g/s320/Family+048.JPG" /></a>A dinosaur sticker book!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw47Uy7eqLp19S4QSKn3UItdUXlK50dIuxUSc28h4Fpsq2dd20Bo9lPnjBHBiQqcqEzoEnGzYZXAP_OIymxrFyfzCf62XyB6a685GZPgxEwCN26LmU8vc50s13NL5e7YTqfhIgcwulMs/s1600/Family+049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705471262000217858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw47Uy7eqLp19S4QSKn3UItdUXlK50dIuxUSc28h4Fpsq2dd20Bo9lPnjBHBiQqcqEzoEnGzYZXAP_OIymxrFyfzCf62XyB6a685GZPgxEwCN26LmU8vc50s13NL5e7YTqfhIgcwulMs/s320/Family+049.JPG" /></a>It was a hit!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfZWhHJRWT1bY0ooXCwJQYmZSfJjDXoikEUsOmGn0ftzolTYqNBlGeZJHJjqTvQmCWoxKOUqz1JwGNJdPP-vxUIF7TxWDEbx3oct3_9o_F5L9N9hHuA8mkx9xv_0nTLs2r1V3MyydgGo/s1600/Family+051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705471248397433634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfZWhHJRWT1bY0ooXCwJQYmZSfJjDXoikEUsOmGn0ftzolTYqNBlGeZJHJjqTvQmCWoxKOUqz1JwGNJdPP-vxUIF7TxWDEbx3oct3_9o_F5L9N9hHuA8mkx9xv_0nTLs2r1V3MyydgGo/s320/Family+051.JPG" /></a>As you can tell from his grin! Wow, I love this kid!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganbFmmtFWfWvtdafEKfXItVqRS_2-hZHY_j8t0EU3FcWpIT3URW5p9TgY7p3aedUlItBXD_gQ1LGPtt-pvGVqBdv4gxoLGdNQQxFS93CbRtWwa0SJf7P4pIScc0uroAmX3DBOR-lZLT0/s1600/Family+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705471243924622402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganbFmmtFWfWvtdafEKfXItVqRS_2-hZHY_j8t0EU3FcWpIT3URW5p9TgY7p3aedUlItBXD_gQ1LGPtt-pvGVqBdv4gxoLGdNQQxFS93CbRtWwa0SJf7P4pIScc0uroAmX3DBOR-lZLT0/s320/Family+053.JPG" /></a>He also got to open a gift from Grandma and Grandpa, and loved his new flashlight! It has this big light, and then also a powerful beam light and some other fun functions. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVDuJSyvSFtWWwYvyxyzmFT-nM_QPsjIsH86ATP0tMRbop40mHvKnPItmRmoGEKiLa0VKWLrZLaPcgNolcMJQr8ysRFzONk6Bdr3RXjGbEryBgPvtHdnDMBqtgesz_kNRGNecHqMJOPg/s1600/Family+055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705470354997965426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVDuJSyvSFtWWwYvyxyzmFT-nM_QPsjIsH86ATP0tMRbop40mHvKnPItmRmoGEKiLa0VKWLrZLaPcgNolcMJQr8ysRFzONk6Bdr3RXjGbEryBgPvtHdnDMBqtgesz_kNRGNecHqMJOPg/s320/Family+055.JPG" /></a>We love spending time with him!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWaP9KfsA8iW9piJM4MM2YwWFTFJXyIWiuzVzK7nFQjG8AwAQ5y_1g5RXEqJoLFwf3h5onslhNaTswTkqmUdyuFiPXCzKee2HwzqMJTcLaysTw03Br-chB7dTMsQ2Jl1Q-g4uEc8kOTo/s1600/Family+059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705470347980082578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWaP9KfsA8iW9piJM4MM2YwWFTFJXyIWiuzVzK7nFQjG8AwAQ5y_1g5RXEqJoLFwf3h5onslhNaTswTkqmUdyuFiPXCzKee2HwzqMJTcLaysTw03Br-chB7dTMsQ2Jl1Q-g4uEc8kOTo/s320/Family+059.JPG" /></a>And I think he likes us too! :)<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeyx6986q1cksbw2495KqnmpPJTd4Yk79iwfP8wcE5GhMek7qInpsIQYoUykWtSIbsvJbkktVBltonirzt7z5eSWBoqTNR1eGlNudicgPXGHsJD0XjjITIIuHQxD_w7LXKZcLGiAdE1Y/s1600/Family+060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705470345675764562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeyx6986q1cksbw2495KqnmpPJTd4Yk79iwfP8wcE5GhMek7qInpsIQYoUykWtSIbsvJbkktVBltonirzt7z5eSWBoqTNR1eGlNudicgPXGHsJD0XjjITIIuHQxD_w7LXKZcLGiAdE1Y/s320/Family+060.JPG" /></a>No time spent together could be without wrestling or climbing or, well.... boys being boys!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8UBRTvL-Q5JZPW4sB3RJOvIMHaOW6rqd_goymoAmTqQkNIy0MHpXf6Jn4E4ceX5nXAR7KNHwSlCLi9qdZ9OQQzAgutsij2Bvh-bXX0knrmf4n2xr7IAEPuVmXplZJD_-llS1MjeYZy0/s1600/Family+066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705470332600185666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8UBRTvL-Q5JZPW4sB3RJOvIMHaOW6rqd_goymoAmTqQkNIy0MHpXf6Jn4E4ceX5nXAR7KNHwSlCLi9qdZ9OQQzAgutsij2Bvh-bXX0knrmf4n2xr7IAEPuVmXplZJD_-llS1MjeYZy0/s320/Family+066.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbdbnF5VxdQyj-DWHOchgub9wLeHMUJZFXpVp5km72ZoL3yuUZ5XAcoVg6FXmDm-u-IElqMovmpspR3aB3jNTdFGP-t1zJWF5dWSc53yDPyfrhnKqNRGe3lNTihlJkz8M4x9gN3LjIQ8/s1600/Family+067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705470328322905634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbdbnF5VxdQyj-DWHOchgub9wLeHMUJZFXpVp5km72ZoL3yuUZ5XAcoVg6FXmDm-u-IElqMovmpspR3aB3jNTdFGP-t1zJWF5dWSc53yDPyfrhnKqNRGe3lNTihlJkz8M4x9gN3LjIQ8/s320/Family+067.JPG" /></a>I think someone loves his grandparents!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5zS74Nt4PXy9Px8_dKYi8WhySkV2d6TnakW6-tSpfTKPQpDnvTnd9sju94-PDmJ5Dqd02bvm2P3sKi5kOu_eEyVWoJV9YgPbXi3ibIZ_fXuUds1eZoR_bjZoC6uCuRZAU-QwL77PSHc/s1600/Family+072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705469334000832338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5zS74Nt4PXy9Px8_dKYi8WhySkV2d6TnakW6-tSpfTKPQpDnvTnd9sju94-PDmJ5Dqd02bvm2P3sKi5kOu_eEyVWoJV9YgPbXi3ibIZ_fXuUds1eZoR_bjZoC6uCuRZAU-QwL77PSHc/s320/Family+072.JPG" /></a>And I know they're pretty fond of him, too! :)<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s550pKnR8kvGXjnRLvV7JEdVLrlNUiYEeAr0_HvEJ8Z4deBiEqULlFU-BoFAhyphenhyphenAvHMR5w7uwMqHdGORzK8yupB3eqaeFxAlGwq0AMXwtq5fnZ0PH-28hVTdJ3Jo7NnsIn9eEF0gZW0Q/s1600/Family+076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705469323820968978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s550pKnR8kvGXjnRLvV7JEdVLrlNUiYEeAr0_HvEJ8Z4deBiEqULlFU-BoFAhyphenhyphenAvHMR5w7uwMqHdGORzK8yupB3eqaeFxAlGwq0AMXwtq5fnZ0PH-28hVTdJ3Jo7NnsIn9eEF0gZW0Q/s320/Family+076.JPG" /></a>The next day I got my haircut and she curled it. Then we took some of the traditional pictures in front of the fireplace.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCCWkhrz8fsvxaTCAC899TQOt8AYKh_rQYebHmJ7Yhzqi58Wz1Lmjkx5TOTjYq2w-QatH2-zuU946j0_utT5D5SY7Az3u7gRv2OXc7miyu1YAI97JKOGl7TZvXBsIRccv8CPnS3bqm0Y/s1600/Family+082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705469322542771042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCCWkhrz8fsvxaTCAC899TQOt8AYKh_rQYebHmJ7Yhzqi58Wz1Lmjkx5TOTjYq2w-QatH2-zuU946j0_utT5D5SY7Az3u7gRv2OXc7miyu1YAI97JKOGl7TZvXBsIRccv8CPnS3bqm0Y/s320/Family+082.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr-bMdkybvLc5oXXgYBCJSp9sAxA3ZNn4egv8elG2bATHMe3zYwahTGi1qShKmXPq1MMBm_AgXwF9yj-p1yw0pKJogPejSb6aPcgSbpdsVAcTMDHO1RAGplxe_PJljbLf1wO3Vp5DHqs/s1600/Family+083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705469315147065346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr-bMdkybvLc5oXXgYBCJSp9sAxA3ZNn4egv8elG2bATHMe3zYwahTGi1qShKmXPq1MMBm_AgXwF9yj-p1yw0pKJogPejSb6aPcgSbpdsVAcTMDHO1RAGplxe_PJljbLf1wO3Vp5DHqs/s320/Family+083.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyzqv5-qznyYuUfUHxIZua6jgA4aNnmKEyXZ12P-uWmsjCyKjF7LDQAQ2oNfW4j3Am8KJIjshx1wCTvisKjMtfpEWiwWZj6I7CzthwpoMRzB-39WHmHwnyPuuByp1TtJgz1vdC88X0XE/s1600/Family+084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705469310490219506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyzqv5-qznyYuUfUHxIZua6jgA4aNnmKEyXZ12P-uWmsjCyKjF7LDQAQ2oNfW4j3Am8KJIjshx1wCTvisKjMtfpEWiwWZj6I7CzthwpoMRzB-39WHmHwnyPuuByp1TtJgz1vdC88X0XE/s320/Family+084.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5ZS_eDizFyWlC2_H06U3p1K1ys6lReuc8H8LFsbKYgL1Ms40BcnBsPDuXsWZQrJQ8P-lt7RxYr92ryLSD9NEBYRGM41AETU4EkrsBJbFsIcb8UqM6d0r914VJDgBpDIqkbbV4ZDkhpI/s1600/Family+085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705468209681935826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5ZS_eDizFyWlC2_H06U3p1K1ys6lReuc8H8LFsbKYgL1Ms40BcnBsPDuXsWZQrJQ8P-lt7RxYr92ryLSD9NEBYRGM41AETU4EkrsBJbFsIcb8UqM6d0r914VJDgBpDIqkbbV4ZDkhpI/s320/Family+085.JPG" /></a>After our photography session, we got to go to an amazing concert event, called "The Story". It was the story of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation, hitting some of the big stories along the way. There were songs and videos that were <em><strong>incredibly</strong></em> well done! There were big-name artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Selah, The Newsboys, Natalie Grant, and others. I'm so thankful my mom got tickets for her and my dad, and Brent and me! It was such a blessing!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggZ9JuDoaDIsX70aayF6Qh7aei38ib-4_CZ8nMsVyJNtVliTWXWAzZljtDLr76LxEpyaeXMHz_n52wYBQB9jf7cNY-6NLjEEAsIMSq58Bt38xEbvmvf-uIBavjpTCDLK5ZQjwsK50EfI/s1600/Family+089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705468202082233906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggZ9JuDoaDIsX70aayF6Qh7aei38ib-4_CZ8nMsVyJNtVliTWXWAzZljtDLr76LxEpyaeXMHz_n52wYBQB9jf7cNY-6NLjEEAsIMSq58Bt38xEbvmvf-uIBavjpTCDLK5ZQjwsK50EfI/s320/Family+089.JPG" /></a>After we came back, we decided to open presents. I took this picture because it was pretty funny to realize that we all skipped out on wrapping the presents this year! Often times in my family, people are found finishing the last of the wrapping just moments before the opening. I guess this year we just decided to skip it altogether!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWHCIL9cZlGYL6z2H0d9_6wcCrksjfsMM3bDUe6inbR9T5dMXoN6LtFl2zcr43DOmY8A_QqdCuZqkI23VWl2VlAaHT31zPhdNNMh_mblLcMlaTFlNRj-dfeVFtuU1Ivf6ky4mvJTleX4/s1600/Family+091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705468196910546658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWHCIL9cZlGYL6z2H0d9_6wcCrksjfsMM3bDUe6inbR9T5dMXoN6LtFl2zcr43DOmY8A_QqdCuZqkI23VWl2VlAaHT31zPhdNNMh_mblLcMlaTFlNRj-dfeVFtuU1Ivf6ky4mvJTleX4/s320/Family+091.JPG" /></a>My mom purchased a special ornament in honor of Hannah. Thanks, Mom!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjskRhkxzdynWiYYOkuiI12iXhP1sqPZijh3mjqNDxTcDvrhVAj8T7P4K0jZ_aqoaWCIxfOxyO8sI6N5lnasn8EL28iTEwBDQI2RmNVHgD-TH93BCRTNLKXW8rNK5VWCq2GWRgf7ynxk/s1600/Family+093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705468191572904002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjskRhkxzdynWiYYOkuiI12iXhP1sqPZijh3mjqNDxTcDvrhVAj8T7P4K0jZ_aqoaWCIxfOxyO8sI6N5lnasn8EL28iTEwBDQI2RmNVHgD-TH93BCRTNLKXW8rNK5VWCq2GWRgf7ynxk/s320/Family+093.JPG" /></a>On Christmas Eve we had a beautiful service at Hope, and it was easy to see just how hard Brent worked with our choir -it sounded amazing! On Christmas Day we hosted Brent's family for dinner. Here is what our dining room looked like for the occassion.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm5GJUR-nXOBvpI-yaG2UVjmLfskB9aAezSxC4qtcF59GtS9bDO73s-UXB9BhhJvU0sKDBII-kTKm64ziqgbYI2DLDaNUyyVk6_9ZkpqX2oyhkJue5a8a1u7Cz_3XO8cRDYqsjaFGFxU/s1600/Family+099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705468189237051058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm5GJUR-nXOBvpI-yaG2UVjmLfskB9aAezSxC4qtcF59GtS9bDO73s-UXB9BhhJvU0sKDBII-kTKm64ziqgbYI2DLDaNUyyVk6_9ZkpqX2oyhkJue5a8a1u7Cz_3XO8cRDYqsjaFGFxU/s320/Family+099.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVyqY26Fe-6R_Q2D6aXEVNoRqDqDhsJgISKfgMFFs0W2OyzQ8FoaJh0ZYGCcEiFy1Xe1OTP0Rj4cbEZqZ2rpXmbbqDpdHXlvLht1ywEQkSCDbydGZwM_CNkl0TicMKwbHfTKHletAoWk/s1600/Family+101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705467137824325794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVyqY26Fe-6R_Q2D6aXEVNoRqDqDhsJgISKfgMFFs0W2OyzQ8FoaJh0ZYGCcEiFy1Xe1OTP0Rj4cbEZqZ2rpXmbbqDpdHXlvLht1ywEQkSCDbydGZwM_CNkl0TicMKwbHfTKHletAoWk/s320/Family+101.JPG" /></a>We had roast, potatoes, broccoli salad, rolls, and all sorts of other fixings. I just took a few pictures of a few items, mostly as we were waiting for everyone to arrive.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0IASzHaqYcch_qQv2MYYKAEIbL5aYV2qBnHJqa8hzT1oOc_AbscuzXzjqdotvsS7DcdTAXNp7RgURKLA1OfPeQas3VZVlcZ2wwrl-8DkxZraLHdgcrmgvGCvxcMKbmpAOCktj4YuCpI/s1600/Family+103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705467133479442786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0IASzHaqYcch_qQv2MYYKAEIbL5aYV2qBnHJqa8hzT1oOc_AbscuzXzjqdotvsS7DcdTAXNp7RgURKLA1OfPeQas3VZVlcZ2wwrl-8DkxZraLHdgcrmgvGCvxcMKbmpAOCktj4YuCpI/s320/Family+103.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wTWlwyLXniso2FNqfeHH5CzFgeUvstJo3m7uI5Q8ORyOIFOBSP6j58Eggu3u_rBHtC7NmzMBux_BxTtY0-mTTrF2cp8CxBgCA8BTslGuL36gLYMRMGVcCLGF-8W6Ntk1lTYiCB1-hYU/s1600/Family+104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705467125929878050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wTWlwyLXniso2FNqfeHH5CzFgeUvstJo3m7uI5Q8ORyOIFOBSP6j58Eggu3u_rBHtC7NmzMBux_BxTtY0-mTTrF2cp8CxBgCA8BTslGuL36gLYMRMGVcCLGF-8W6Ntk1lTYiCB1-hYU/s320/Family+104.JPG" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvhFWXbHxiMEqdojE4WVXZngpot0GQyn_jNdIUzf-gMNQZ5TX6JswRvD7PGGeYcCx-2CT794rAxnVCi4Ec1COuJdpH_su1OjezAmoK6nfo0ET1cwfaNiPiQxDssD0CO16BKoRZl9eyn0/s1600/Family+106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705467119351641394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvhFWXbHxiMEqdojE4WVXZngpot0GQyn_jNdIUzf-gMNQZ5TX6JswRvD7PGGeYcCx-2CT794rAxnVCi4Ec1COuJdpH_su1OjezAmoK6nfo0ET1cwfaNiPiQxDssD0CO16BKoRZl9eyn0/s320/Family+106.JPG" /></a>Once they arrived, this was the only picture I took, otherwise we were just busy having a great time together! Here's the whole family:<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXKOMKqVWRrfXFtmFehrk21JI5aVTBw81BE_jVmoHVjtMcSnzAzsf9ZNQwugyGC998KIkUl5ZNjpeYRi5ASWFE8vGYLAM_6iWIz1795ieoDbY7PINPS2Kr424GQb9sYJFD95j7Eem3ks/s1600/Family+108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 214px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705467115388423122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXKOMKqVWRrfXFtmFehrk21JI5aVTBw81BE_jVmoHVjtMcSnzAzsf9ZNQwugyGC998KIkUl5ZNjpeYRi5ASWFE8vGYLAM_6iWIz1795ieoDbY7PINPS2Kr424GQb9sYJFD95j7Eem3ks/s320/Family+108.JPG" /></a>Which reminds me to ask you to pray for our family. Brent's grandpa, pictured above, is now on Hospice, and of course that means a lot of difficult emotions for everyone. Please pray for peace and rest and comfort.</div><div> </div><div>Well, there's a little insight to some of our celebrating. I'll do a separate post of our time with Micaela, as it's time to close for now.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-22678282728540073842011-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-29T06:44:42.679-06:00Dear Hannah<div><div>Dear Hannah,<br /><br />My arms are aching to hold you. This is the week we were supposed to be welcoming you into this world, but instead you've been gone from me for a while now. I'm so glad you're in heaven with Jesus, but at the same time your Daddy and I wish you were here with us!<br /><br />I think about you each and every day. I look at myself in the mirror and know that you should be growing inside of me, and now today you'd be ready to meet us face to face.<br /><br />Daddy and I have friends and cousins who are having babies this month, and I know that every time I see those precious little ones I'll be thinking of you playing and growing with them.<br /><br />I'm so thankful that Jesus is watching out for you. If you can't be here with us, you can be with the One who cares for you even more than we could! We read in the book "Heaven is for Real" that Jesus especially loves the children. I get so much comfort knowing that you're with Him and that He can help you understand how much we love you.<br /><br />I will always love you and will never forget you.<br /><br />Love,<br />Mommy</div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-16014269181925495592011-08-29T12:04:00.000-05:002011-08-29T12:10:29.651-05:00Moving InI know you've been waiting for pictures from our house. Me too! :)
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<br />Actually, I had started this post back on July 12th, before we went on vacation to Montana, but then the "publish" button wasn't working for me for some reason. Now we have our house really pretty much all settled, but our data card for the camera broke (luckily just after I had downloaded pictures) . Once we can afford a new card one of the first things I'll do is take pictures of our house, settled in. If you haven't heard yet, Brent got layed off from his job (extreme financial difficulty at the company) and while we were told it would just be for one month, we'll see.
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<br />One good thing about his layoff is that he's made huge progress in fixing up the upstairs apartment. I haven't been able to take pictures during the remodel phase, but I have "before" pictures and we'll at least get something so I can take "after" pictures when we're done.
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<br />In the meantime, to tide you over, here are some pictures during the moving and getting settled stages. We spent a month moving little things here and there every day after work, and then at the very end hired help to move our furniture, some boxes, and of course, my piano. I was really nervous since I had only moved with the help of family and friends in the past, <em>who I trust</em>, but I have to say, it went very well! They wrapped everything so I wouldn't get damaged, and that alone was worth it! That, and the fact that our really heavy piano made it here in one piece!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXqkJN8zVWvr1E82ic0Z4_qc6C8J6YMrlNQzfCmxnO714WnClNKu2RO0JyFaDNRH2N9wJQ2RH7cKN9puJRwuaDhbCULApPON5nxZ1wUK5IPX-sPjn3Of_VKbJPh6s5LzdgEFlB-0F4M/s1600/Appleton+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628669652638950546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXqkJN8zVWvr1E82ic0Z4_qc6C8J6YMrlNQzfCmxnO714WnClNKu2RO0JyFaDNRH2N9wJQ2RH7cKN9puJRwuaDhbCULApPON5nxZ1wUK5IPX-sPjn3Of_VKbJPh6s5LzdgEFlB-0F4M/s320/Appleton+019.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf-Rte6gIH6u7OBpzXLWh5X4pxHUsUHSuIhjJTDesOYToHK0016VwwlOZh6EuTrUEK80KPAxzbXGi1-2BUFkT3WY_RDrL6dXYpUE-YKJg5X2Hi13xuF6Owsb3xKMyBf5n1mGkH25WOwo/s1600/Appleton+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628669352662259794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf-Rte6gIH6u7OBpzXLWh5X4pxHUsUHSuIhjJTDesOYToHK0016VwwlOZh6EuTrUEK80KPAxzbXGi1-2BUFkT3WY_RDrL6dXYpUE-YKJg5X2Hi13xuF6Owsb3xKMyBf5n1mGkH25WOwo/s320/Appleton+025.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_SA5uV52ok1d85llHHvZgh319twwt_L4E8rP8FdJ2-29s5uh0uQSNXz_HaA70aZ_n3pVvXJsg-iWEd58MRiahBe_0WJr27wJHUMXOaxgGo8LsKnfiByt3QO7oZ9K9LjOkG9QoRWPz18/s1600/Appleton+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668750548119074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_SA5uV52ok1d85llHHvZgh319twwt_L4E8rP8FdJ2-29s5uh0uQSNXz_HaA70aZ_n3pVvXJsg-iWEd58MRiahBe_0WJr27wJHUMXOaxgGo8LsKnfiByt3QO7oZ9K9LjOkG9QoRWPz18/s320/Appleton+026.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXRF6acP01HFiHDqli8Rs-Ax_QSF03qwAVGVt0pXZcRLA8p3RX52Mg7l_4-WndBmrsrocmRX7YX3jJywVcb6M2Q5-m2IjGbJ57xHRXCxl6h-JyptrC0apowWl0zxH-DD6SFLaWu93zzE/s1600/Appleton+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668734952266034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXRF6acP01HFiHDqli8Rs-Ax_QSF03qwAVGVt0pXZcRLA8p3RX52Mg7l_4-WndBmrsrocmRX7YX3jJywVcb6M2Q5-m2IjGbJ57xHRXCxl6h-JyptrC0apowWl0zxH-DD6SFLaWu93zzE/s320/Appleton+028.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu5cBZzZMS5CRZm4uMEnWnl_ZGLuyHdb72Sq2S5SZJe-w5O8tkjm0ZQ6C8nl1Ep01JwwG1YSABUT5FI7COT8QGA9Eb3pFZnL9R6in3LBhqzSFpbnw_jPT9KIRbbdtNE-Zy4rKxonPpaA/s1600/Appleton+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668724973749890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu5cBZzZMS5CRZm4uMEnWnl_ZGLuyHdb72Sq2S5SZJe-w5O8tkjm0ZQ6C8nl1Ep01JwwG1YSABUT5FI7COT8QGA9Eb3pFZnL9R6in3LBhqzSFpbnw_jPT9KIRbbdtNE-Zy4rKxonPpaA/s320/Appleton+029.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qU0WWPh4ms1Wef6T-1JS-JwxkJV-fD_zRjbeJp7rSeAn6BlEBbo0FAsjbqZIlhAgjfixPEdNMlO_6MAnu8E1kWfgzij2JNqnuop3w5Fcpt5I_tSxrBi65E23yf6YKYLImh80oRQBGNk/s1600/Appleton+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668706468310658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qU0WWPh4ms1Wef6T-1JS-JwxkJV-fD_zRjbeJp7rSeAn6BlEBbo0FAsjbqZIlhAgjfixPEdNMlO_6MAnu8E1kWfgzij2JNqnuop3w5Fcpt5I_tSxrBi65E23yf6YKYLImh80oRQBGNk/s320/Appleton+030.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpqpl_rFquOk2NsVsv4XuQOWL9lfwOHdVEHsEOD4I0HCq7qbOS70t3IuGJDNQHapoXqIZ8yRd4kvGXwInjlhoj4h4MMrZExXarVsGzTS8evxB4hNbCmmi-7Yowl5o-joEwq_c8GgEscE/s1600/Appleton+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668128384289554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpqpl_rFquOk2NsVsv4XuQOWL9lfwOHdVEHsEOD4I0HCq7qbOS70t3IuGJDNQHapoXqIZ8yRd4kvGXwInjlhoj4h4MMrZExXarVsGzTS8evxB4hNbCmmi-7Yowl5o-joEwq_c8GgEscE/s320/Appleton+032.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB1vEKiZJK1GOYn5in0RcaxB16qa6D5xRTbapkoPrkaUuGAEnWETQRdxj1zLixIam48GziqQgpP9xY6q_kPOpJyRtXzQobsW2uRX_acjvFwtciCtd4mUMxJH17vMLsYdncpmcl3tKNxg/s1600/Appleton+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668120285465250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB1vEKiZJK1GOYn5in0RcaxB16qa6D5xRTbapkoPrkaUuGAEnWETQRdxj1zLixIam48GziqQgpP9xY6q_kPOpJyRtXzQobsW2uRX_acjvFwtciCtd4mUMxJH17vMLsYdncpmcl3tKNxg/s320/Appleton+033.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9gkPNnipD6_knbt3qD3KWiLbFB0kGGGVh2jF3a_8JTUQiWY1lc37mMVCiaYEJLuWstHdHQwd9qyNWWm97Fch_ohVXC5h7ivHkRkAKe_-Wx0vmstU-zvUXWgoCULgrz3ih8zK1txU5lE/s1600/Appleton+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668111304030066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9gkPNnipD6_knbt3qD3KWiLbFB0kGGGVh2jF3a_8JTUQiWY1lc37mMVCiaYEJLuWstHdHQwd9qyNWWm97Fch_ohVXC5h7ivHkRkAKe_-Wx0vmstU-zvUXWgoCULgrz3ih8zK1txU5lE/s320/Appleton+030.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h_UbMVDvMyV58v9-Q1GL7zaAa6TX3pvHeMdqZsU0WVdmgN3-cJfmFQJ5VusNmj16lmgWpaXs29ggkeM_qOKKE25G1xtmXAAAsPyxM6VtGQcxNWINJHfOyq2EKH7e10aPKhleHYBmOms/s1600/Appleton+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668102724459890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h_UbMVDvMyV58v9-Q1GL7zaAa6TX3pvHeMdqZsU0WVdmgN3-cJfmFQJ5VusNmj16lmgWpaXs29ggkeM_qOKKE25G1xtmXAAAsPyxM6VtGQcxNWINJHfOyq2EKH7e10aPKhleHYBmOms/s320/Appleton+031.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYQcskhLtSJjLXvecE3WDULgS6p2zUIsdacYrbiMfZTbn_kxLu4N4ZgrV2hUFU7o7pahfWu84KKaqdxJghe-OVq4_woKufVo3_rDxHDixfF4g62_2Ca_2nbiKypCsFGaYGru-o0I3IRU/s1600/Appleton+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628668093931964994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYQcskhLtSJjLXvecE3WDULgS6p2zUIsdacYrbiMfZTbn_kxLu4N4ZgrV2hUFU7o7pahfWu84KKaqdxJghe-OVq4_woKufVo3_rDxHDixfF4g62_2Ca_2nbiKypCsFGaYGru-o0I3IRU/s320/Appleton+032.JPG" /></a></div>
<br /><div>We've made huge progress since these were taken last month -with basically our main floor all settled. The only thing really left is the final decorating, getting things on the wall, etc. I'll be excited to show you what we've done!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<br />Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-27764588993347593932011-07-15T06:45:00.000-05:002011-07-15T13:40:01.664-05:00Two YearsOn Monday, Brent and I celebrated two years together! I was blessed with a beautiful bouquet of flowers at work and decided I needed a little more practice with my camera before our upcoming trip to the mountains of Montana.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE9JB1n0Aa1S-54j0A4kR3dzRSPmd89i9iKS2DxqEGDqS-sa9mVA_ED_ym14Wv8YYWDLenl_xFVc_Yec9mm1wgVGTguqOGhoDCkKPVYrwFmBJqqPr__YH6oV7ZHQpl0bh_nf9xybpQqc/s1600/Appleton+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628663175655836354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE9JB1n0Aa1S-54j0A4kR3dzRSPmd89i9iKS2DxqEGDqS-sa9mVA_ED_ym14Wv8YYWDLenl_xFVc_Yec9mm1wgVGTguqOGhoDCkKPVYrwFmBJqqPr__YH6oV7ZHQpl0bh_nf9xybpQqc/s320/Appleton+043.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLgqphY4_Lm5E_O8CEGX6r-TXpfVZQFHLg88N1JtCgaIcB4kwumJq2ezf5SsEDlf55fWWnnjRYYOc_5vpxPVp7p7WuFa8OJdQHD_XeAl7mj7wvxtOcDbQ1Ls9O5OMsry8EqeSj8Ulp1I/s1600/Appleton+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628663165169674962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLgqphY4_Lm5E_O8CEGX6r-TXpfVZQFHLg88N1JtCgaIcB4kwumJq2ezf5SsEDlf55fWWnnjRYYOc_5vpxPVp7p7WuFa8OJdQHD_XeAl7mj7wvxtOcDbQ1Ls9O5OMsry8EqeSj8Ulp1I/s320/Appleton+042.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RThHoq1foexEchbnXJfXLutcY4svWBqW80Lg6zIK_Ky-0dhzqV2WTQfznud_laqAakw_JSMveexS6Y_qP8Un1KWNlOJeNFnAdVcfsW6ZsKUmTZCOU3rA7-oNGaEf_ran2y1MRWZfA08/s1600/Appleton+041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628663155986878370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RThHoq1foexEchbnXJfXLutcY4svWBqW80Lg6zIK_Ky-0dhzqV2WTQfznud_laqAakw_JSMveexS6Y_qP8Un1KWNlOJeNFnAdVcfsW6ZsKUmTZCOU3rA7-oNGaEf_ran2y1MRWZfA08/s320/Appleton+041.JPG" /></a>I am so blessed to love this man more than I did two years ago, and can't wait to see what the next 60 years hold for us!<br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdy-kY9MbCzhYb1Gwvh6_2EG-HCK5VE0P3jlku6GPpy6UQNhiNeDB2oG-BQoYkPqqS2B8o9ms_fk9NjXgrSKbl3pvTevPYQBqc3ODrajKUIwnxJOIcwFhGZz1ly_YpEFZUVUILgF3WrU/s1600/Appleton+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628663144920431490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdy-kY9MbCzhYb1Gwvh6_2EG-HCK5VE0P3jlku6GPpy6UQNhiNeDB2oG-BQoYkPqqS2B8o9ms_fk9NjXgrSKbl3pvTevPYQBqc3ODrajKUIwnxJOIcwFhGZz1ly_YpEFZUVUILgF3WrU/s320/Appleton+002.JPG" /></a>I love you, Sweetie, and am so blessed to walk this journey with you!!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-30933477167572276262011-05-26T13:08:00.001-05:002011-05-26T13:09:21.474-05:00Updates....Here are a few posts with updates from one weekend in the middle of May. Enjoy!Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-885338996524193142011-05-26T13:05:00.000-05:002011-05-26T13:08:22.060-05:00Birthday Surprise!I celebrated a birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was a great birthday! Brent had taken me out to our favorite "celebration" restaurant, The Melting Pot, for a delicious dinner. Then, he took me back to Minnesota for the weekend. I was able to celebrate with family and with friends, and had a really wonderful weekend!<br /><br />As we were driving to MN, I got a call from my favorite four-year-old. He told me that there was a birthday surprise waiting for me at grandma and grandpa's house. I asked what the surprise was, but of course was told "I can't tell you, it's a thurprise!" I tried for a good 3-4 minutes to get it out of him, but he held his ground!<br /><br />We got to my parent's house, and walked in and found it all decorated! It turns out he remembered how fun it was to have a birthday and wanted me to experience the same thing! Melts my heart.... :)<br /><br />The table decorations all set for birthday dessert.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvmtgKxunb8AiVVEZPxRY0fy-RiHd-NSyF7s9BRXklXBkzeL-pQ5bQTJhOjMza8zDRVqqTuSM6TrXUY_UunpVPevPzixX8uS8Gaa_r03Cxhv-vvw_QZeGDv0kWiZgEuIv25Xu4i6EC7E/s1600/Family+096.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610857608240434146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvmtgKxunb8AiVVEZPxRY0fy-RiHd-NSyF7s9BRXklXBkzeL-pQ5bQTJhOjMza8zDRVqqTuSM6TrXUY_UunpVPevPzixX8uS8Gaa_r03Cxhv-vvw_QZeGDv0kWiZgEuIv25Xu4i6EC7E/s320/Family+096.JPG" /></a>When I first opened the door, I could see that the hallway had a streamer, and then a bunch of posters that had my name, age, his name, etc. He had fun showing them all to me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oaKcjy8EkhebPqhbFg_EtaM0NrCYzp8-Yo_XHO2-APR4ZNBeUgVmlb89lbmiGuARCAanZx50I7ztk5bkEuU9apXCICMYCxPWefZAIa8iHEpFStyntWDiXGYr4dz4M0luKi36KR_55w8/s1600/Family+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610857604447120930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oaKcjy8EkhebPqhbFg_EtaM0NrCYzp8-Yo_XHO2-APR4ZNBeUgVmlb89lbmiGuARCAanZx50I7ztk5bkEuU9apXCICMYCxPWefZAIa8iHEpFStyntWDiXGYr4dz4M0luKi36KR_55w8/s320/Family+028.JPG" /></a>He also pointed out the smiley faces that he drew for me, but he couldn't really give me a good explanation on why he drew some frown faces or flat faces. He just said "cause I like them!" Weirdo :) Gotta love him!<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62_Tk8AF9yxrEA7L42tap4HYZ5QYaUct1qRZ8SX3MqyrwbnUuDZnYRMspwwP1ee3V08lJdBZQsbnFjEJpAH7wkdPVF1xZPhiXJRLVTvPczreI-Xx43wlelw3hFact_XtLTwoGntYvm2w/s1600/Family+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610857599938647010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62_Tk8AF9yxrEA7L42tap4HYZ5QYaUct1qRZ8SX3MqyrwbnUuDZnYRMspwwP1ee3V08lJdBZQsbnFjEJpAH7wkdPVF1xZPhiXJRLVTvPczreI-Xx43wlelw3hFact_XtLTwoGntYvm2w/s320/Family+029.JPG" /></a>He also decided to be goofy and would only say cheese and look at the camera when he was leaning backwards.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSf6CVSVpaKE0uGWv9BQ-Kwh9QlhTgFgxdu6ZMqCFJLIa2dmcVwS1UD8D3kukj494OFKCBD0O36MEAW_j-lw6FZYzB3TLxTj-NAYeTmf0FmixxXEZ_bdG2pbPjT8MVzQ549aqbmXZqpCw/s1600/Family+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610857593692709746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSf6CVSVpaKE0uGWv9BQ-Kwh9QlhTgFgxdu6ZMqCFJLIa2dmcVwS1UD8D3kukj494OFKCBD0O36MEAW_j-lw6FZYzB3TLxTj-NAYeTmf0FmixxXEZ_bdG2pbPjT8MVzQ549aqbmXZqpCw/s320/Family+031.JPG" /></a>Uncle Brent didn't want to miss out on the fun!<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYtxPtIyeuqgNa5wq-2febvYQlKdiTy3SG1UlaBOOZOW4DylkcsehgrMZ8o7gd9tRbt68gWkCCh4E_eCQf-IjoV0Q3vflnnankJELqlaOfhjNIGa23FU1yDmazDGfgTj63l2KjLi20fM/s1600/Family+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610857581146847666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYtxPtIyeuqgNa5wq-2febvYQlKdiTy3SG1UlaBOOZOW4DylkcsehgrMZ8o7gd9tRbt68gWkCCh4E_eCQf-IjoV0Q3vflnnankJELqlaOfhjNIGa23FU1yDmazDGfgTj63l2KjLi20fM/s320/Family+032.JPG" /></a>Thanks for the super birthday surprise, buddy! You made my day very special, I love you!!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-2693735030772349842011-05-26T12:30:00.000-05:002011-05-26T13:06:47.851-05:00A gift of love...We got a great gift a couple of weeks ago... Lumber! (Not what you expected, huh?)<br /><br />My parents are in the midst of putting in a new deck. The old one gave them 20+ years of great service, but there were a few holes that had rotted through. With little feet running around frequently, it was time to make a change. They gifted the new home-owners with the lumber that was still good. Lucky us! They'll help make some great shelves in the basement. We picked it up with our empty mini-van, but some of it had to be cut in order to fit okay.<br /><br />Before getting started, it's important to follow a few steps. First, put on hearing protectors:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHNs1I8W7wox4x0YplcLzV2YZ-8huRRTNX0FLhowoPsTJBmcODkR0456WmcvC8iMyl9RWWE-g8aWUVS67fj4p2LWWj5xzDPlv4iTvbvlvgyS3MUHtJ3iw_5zoiMvdWn0p3H-LD-IwQOw/s1600/Family+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610840854745771906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHNs1I8W7wox4x0YplcLzV2YZ-8huRRTNX0FLhowoPsTJBmcODkR0456WmcvC8iMyl9RWWE-g8aWUVS67fj4p2LWWj5xzDPlv4iTvbvlvgyS3MUHtJ3iw_5zoiMvdWn0p3H-LD-IwQOw/s320/Family+033.JPG" /></a>Next step? measure twice, cut once.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPleFAvRqVBzvLkJ2ZQs6pOiRrK2TniT-Wcus8qYTKEgfksa4Iig4h1GqU6sNS1pd_vMNhOG8dPPDEV1trEIescjB3Zy4KGq9tW5kGf0k_wAofDhTVFV37am-eoMRQ5YqrRzJgJPpzT5A/s1600/Family+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610840842561822754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPleFAvRqVBzvLkJ2ZQs6pOiRrK2TniT-Wcus8qYTKEgfksa4Iig4h1GqU6sNS1pd_vMNhOG8dPPDEV1trEIescjB3Zy4KGq9tW5kGf0k_wAofDhTVFV37am-eoMRQ5YqrRzJgJPpzT5A/s320/Family+035.JPG" /></a>Next, run around the yard and burn off some energy.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulbyZOIswhW00rkOviPtCbKJNI5xFHHu_dbu-IqjHjgHWmUH2bYtNgcKQo_N2UhRFlzir9GS67eMzWDs5VanOUK3xsE8K0obR5cKToDfROoXI1F61U5VVe0ST-VkCbk_nc9dpHymU2UA/s1600/Family+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610840831543664114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulbyZOIswhW00rkOviPtCbKJNI5xFHHu_dbu-IqjHjgHWmUH2bYtNgcKQo_N2UhRFlzir9GS67eMzWDs5VanOUK3xsE8K0obR5cKToDfROoXI1F61U5VVe0ST-VkCbk_nc9dpHymU2UA/s320/Family+036.JPG" /></a>Finally, load it into an old mini-van.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsioXv22JgKvGkNc4TxB0yzDkAu6qm2Uj_dL7UZvJJEBfZw_2bfOQMpBRpO5IFuO-SODs_6KuwQ1AWzFPXhXnW2FHCM4xs2M8X9fBHZ-U8atoV_teb3DuOBgfLqRgy2nMlTGAyyTkmyo/s1600/Family+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610840828936348562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsioXv22JgKvGkNc4TxB0yzDkAu6qm2Uj_dL7UZvJJEBfZw_2bfOQMpBRpO5IFuO-SODs_6KuwQ1AWzFPXhXnW2FHCM4xs2M8X9fBHZ-U8atoV_teb3DuOBgfLqRgy2nMlTGAyyTkmyo/s320/Family+039.JPG" /></a>I just love this face!<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyIXX713ZkIHD-yhNWtfaIqo9S1BN8GMXmWS0vQgE9SspnuCu9cxL95pJcBdSRe9UgxCO3nOdNwFfge03rlIFKal81-JmsxCr5sOhu3A6avdtDg5sSyIuAaZZMhj1y6eBzEr8UAbfpFg/s1600/Family+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610840819641651154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyIXX713ZkIHD-yhNWtfaIqo9S1BN8GMXmWS0vQgE9SspnuCu9cxL95pJcBdSRe9UgxCO3nOdNwFfge03rlIFKal81-JmsxCr5sOhu3A6avdtDg5sSyIuAaZZMhj1y6eBzEr8UAbfpFg/s320/Family+044.JPG" /></a>Here's my dad, hard at work, always willing to help out his kids. Thanks for the generous gift, Dad!<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v_rtcP_utuN4oXtxMYfth0UfvysEnXb7EA8QdDqbsVb-q6ZxNAOoedDmzQUF9TynIa-Fs7EgKDHMwA7j9Ng0ry3YfgooxOi3NLlQBecJLK8Nkw7Q3JqTlpSlJeQ_I5xEqMtoVjqcxlo/s1600/Family+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610838904673981314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v_rtcP_utuN4oXtxMYfth0UfvysEnXb7EA8QdDqbsVb-q6ZxNAOoedDmzQUF9TynIa-Fs7EgKDHMwA7j9Ng0ry3YfgooxOi3NLlQBecJLK8Nkw7Q3JqTlpSlJeQ_I5xEqMtoVjqcxlo/s320/Family+048.JPG" /></a>David was a big help, making sure to pound a board on the ground like he saw Uncle Brent do, in order to take care of a few sawdust shavings before loading it up.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq7sQnMrtBEG_-tBE7oDXhzEKDEUE30UHZSEL4ns0qQ7Ca1Ft5-iFc2um3WZOO3b9d3pDMOQ6ESlWpQc11ifq0IpJ-iYQuMwBYCGF1YcS0S08Iapuk7EryixKi_24N7k2ONEAw0RCHEU/s1600/Family+050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610838894675155730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq7sQnMrtBEG_-tBE7oDXhzEKDEUE30UHZSEL4ns0qQ7Ca1Ft5-iFc2um3WZOO3b9d3pDMOQ6ESlWpQc11ifq0IpJ-iYQuMwBYCGF1YcS0S08Iapuk7EryixKi_24N7k2ONEAw0RCHEU/s320/Family+050.JPG" /></a>After we finished with the lumber, we wanted to help my dad a bit with his deck project. He had some stone delivered so he could re-slope the ground while the deck boards were still absent. David was a big help, shoveling as much as he could into an ice cream bucket and carrying it around back.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE5MDZ5jhNwyvhRUnVenIHuUeFHIG0Aa22s7JUql4oawDJkAiIZRw4L8i5U-EXs3Vso2DxPCo3T1X3b-61cm-Yxzf14_qVCL9kLGaCesXIhEbdtuObiy1XaVBm7HvAezX-LRQDzsALZM/s1600/Family+053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610838891741866850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE5MDZ5jhNwyvhRUnVenIHuUeFHIG0Aa22s7JUql4oawDJkAiIZRw4L8i5U-EXs3Vso2DxPCo3T1X3b-61cm-Yxzf14_qVCL9kLGaCesXIhEbdtuObiy1XaVBm7HvAezX-LRQDzsALZM/s320/Family+053.JPG" /></a>Showing us how he was helping.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkACKSwRPBDPpNM9ZSmvsnTgvwcSJF8DOByHX5yxLWDanyWD2_p6si1X7W4RfgV1VFo0robwAjOig1f9dnNkqsSUbTH2Nd5HL7crb0IKrpmHTH5AJDabF0zfD45dFbFJ3JDE-8EFIFVU/s1600/Family+055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610838875885117026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkACKSwRPBDPpNM9ZSmvsnTgvwcSJF8DOByHX5yxLWDanyWD2_p6si1X7W4RfgV1VFo0robwAjOig1f9dnNkqsSUbTH2Nd5HL7crb0IKrpmHTH5AJDabF0zfD45dFbFJ3JDE-8EFIFVU/s320/Family+055.JPG" /></a>Watching Uncle Brent get a few scoops into an even bigger bucket.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-tXp-bKon56toMaf-rwAHDEiYVO31au8iChfG12dm1BvwmNUFpFEoNPzBhUKDl-NGodScqmjIfzXto4zKpqiFfSC-29i6JKiTe5nyWHqhOTvh8RHJzOgk5sK99S2Ufv0AAm9rICwmlE/s1600/Family+056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610837702356906242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-tXp-bKon56toMaf-rwAHDEiYVO31au8iChfG12dm1BvwmNUFpFEoNPzBhUKDl-NGodScqmjIfzXto4zKpqiFfSC-29i6JKiTe5nyWHqhOTvh8RHJzOgk5sK99S2Ufv0AAm9rICwmlE/s320/Family+056.JPG" /></a>David loves his grandpa, and clamored over the boards to be able to be near him.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL2s1-4UQG5gUhO-Vh-VzBKr7zyhvTfpcbQY2jEnB-Ztfqmv2lfduojZPjj4wMGsEhjPt6qnQYBSfjDcrDkiBha-XVNHQ981VX82m2pu3sMlULSQTlLCdzqr4Oq26XQkyiGF92NLznXo/s1600/Family+059.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610837691588287458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL2s1-4UQG5gUhO-Vh-VzBKr7zyhvTfpcbQY2jEnB-Ztfqmv2lfduojZPjj4wMGsEhjPt6qnQYBSfjDcrDkiBha-XVNHQ981VX82m2pu3sMlULSQTlLCdzqr4Oq26XQkyiGF92NLznXo/s320/Family+059.JPG" /></a>I love how his tongue sticks out when he's hard at work.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZfD8MbJZVbbdXCAKW03BnxPj4tR-GAzHQF56V-piA1uZuCQYqSVCd0dAjJLLtSf2t4CavyiXI2ZDM8RqHyC3p5y4MqzSnBlAMRlZf23HobUnqruYSnInWGrQl0lLZtjxVDeWlYH1Flg/s1600/Family+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610837690115494322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZfD8MbJZVbbdXCAKW03BnxPj4tR-GAzHQF56V-piA1uZuCQYqSVCd0dAjJLLtSf2t4CavyiXI2ZDM8RqHyC3p5y4MqzSnBlAMRlZf23HobUnqruYSnInWGrQl0lLZtjxVDeWlYH1Flg/s320/Family+060.JPG" /></a>Two peas in a pod.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau0icJK6Cayl2Va6np2E6ovWfy3kIQWUBbyEjz5SIWHZENeKj0zor8wrEsj_8GbG7Eh3yFQ3zCzAqZkyZ0p0J4RaHfk-ZxyWf3ZGUG3AlbJWO5BpSy7bUn5C_4wNVYI15vbvq0Kn6XHw/s1600/Family+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610837681522005570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau0icJK6Cayl2Va6np2E6ovWfy3kIQWUBbyEjz5SIWHZENeKj0zor8wrEsj_8GbG7Eh3yFQ3zCzAqZkyZ0p0J4RaHfk-ZxyWf3ZGUG3AlbJWO5BpSy7bUn5C_4wNVYI15vbvq0Kn6XHw/s320/Family+061.JPG" /></a>He's become such a hard worker, taking it serious and wanting to do a good job. It's great to see his work ethic being developed!<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBmZU1fxXeWn5D5qzHRJA5j9dK_mzI-bHP_UhX0uWBFG85se4zhMGhpyx_UiJ4XJuwI0mcSpGI5yiuim6AkD1uXa75dO8Cxug5nVUmj6E-zVVB5Jn-AVB97m6tDJIOObptO6KAwOSXcI/s1600/Family+064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610837670094939250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBmZU1fxXeWn5D5qzHRJA5j9dK_mzI-bHP_UhX0uWBFG85se4zhMGhpyx_UiJ4XJuwI0mcSpGI5yiuim6AkD1uXa75dO8Cxug5nVUmj6E-zVVB5Jn-AVB97m6tDJIOObptO6KAwOSXcI/s320/Family+064.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-59812660618751712592011-05-26T12:00:00.000-05:002011-05-26T13:07:49.300-05:00Grandpa's are the Best!After a hard day's work, the most logical thing to do is start rolling down the hill. Wouldn't you agree?!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lDnfxCvR8qfmBcT4coA1453Uk6XizG2A7Q0L6OY_O2x0an8bZ1NxQ1LR8T6OUQoJmFN89E7ic6BnKCkeJFCkWAPAZwwBw0zdSKiiJWBY9OXQ3CGPruO_MSlc6Uszqx3mDInu1rTsoIc/s1600/Family+077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610824654441581682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lDnfxCvR8qfmBcT4coA1453Uk6XizG2A7Q0L6OY_O2x0an8bZ1NxQ1LR8T6OUQoJmFN89E7ic6BnKCkeJFCkWAPAZwwBw0zdSKiiJWBY9OXQ3CGPruO_MSlc6Uszqx3mDInu1rTsoIc/s320/Family+077.JPG" /></a>I'm not sure if it's because I missed knowing either of my grandpa's (and I hear they were both really, really wonderful), but I really think that grandpa's are the BEST! I think it's because I get to see such an amazing example here in my own family! We all know this little guy has wonderful parents, a super cool auntie and uncle :) and if you've ever met his grandma you couldn't doubt her love for a second, but one of the best influences in his life is GRANDPA!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyUM4O_OWZgngvVHHkN70HqsqBu55M-mZPNemz8ZU2XEB4odF32WkcxW_6ECrwpP80pVrhAT0oo1BGOHsMkNTn1fPOoZTOh8e5jFsxx95PRkDKz3YfSdbqNNT3Bc9fzLUA2Q606miKII/s1600/Family+084.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610824644541643410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyUM4O_OWZgngvVHHkN70HqsqBu55M-mZPNemz8ZU2XEB4odF32WkcxW_6ECrwpP80pVrhAT0oo1BGOHsMkNTn1fPOoZTOh8e5jFsxx95PRkDKz3YfSdbqNNT3Bc9fzLUA2Q606miKII/s320/Family+084.JPG" /></a>Don't you just love how they're relaxing on a nice spring day? After what must've been an inspiring conversation, it looks like a fun game of "you can't get me" needed to be played!</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6U2WvuJi2WoRrgA9OlWkTq5rBVEZkY0EGgxud_Q8lM-HSfetzzYrsET-kNTcZWBxKvi19RMjmnB_i6qSFjeWli7Vfv8WvtmNOwmHPY2zdo5yn1pVh26bt_nwa0CO486pfqYq4TMp1Wk/s1600/Family+086.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610824638131785842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6U2WvuJi2WoRrgA9OlWkTq5rBVEZkY0EGgxud_Q8lM-HSfetzzYrsET-kNTcZWBxKvi19RMjmnB_i6qSFjeWli7Vfv8WvtmNOwmHPY2zdo5yn1pVh26bt_nwa0CO486pfqYq4TMp1Wk/s320/Family+086.JPG" /></a>I love how excited he gets with trying to stay close but not too close!</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeNvvycxAyJGUHLfD3kCHmY-crUbVxjG6Ua1rjKICdQW7LHA5OB-kqM965cGMsrYiGmSImvTJh02mGuORJ1EQUAoExyrg_h7zO7hTndPjFyjlSRvJDxUrQJIMgQxEU6tozoQE-Zo2vsE/s1600/Family+087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610824634018580162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeNvvycxAyJGUHLfD3kCHmY-crUbVxjG6Ua1rjKICdQW7LHA5OB-kqM965cGMsrYiGmSImvTJh02mGuORJ1EQUAoExyrg_h7zO7hTndPjFyjlSRvJDxUrQJIMgQxEU6tozoQE-Zo2vsE/s320/Family+087.JPG" /></a>Caught!</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWqWdYhg5rZv_V-QwUNhaHbQmqYMUIlskG26cqyhwn_9IW3vMsZIbxRyEp0KlX7z_38sSVVoKYD2yYT6vkmeYEk7tCFW0CurYMgl1637BbowvkI-HmAEUBQhzs79Aa0YLWtJoMhzDv8/s1600/Family+089.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610823565685882706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWqWdYhg5rZv_V-QwUNhaHbQmqYMUIlskG26cqyhwn_9IW3vMsZIbxRyEp0KlX7z_38sSVVoKYD2yYT6vkmeYEk7tCFW0CurYMgl1637BbowvkI-HmAEUBQhzs79Aa0YLWtJoMhzDv8/s320/Family+089.JPG" /></a>Getting tied up...</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-G-nHSWJWLNSfm-7HsDnd-wQIwsMI-NB0yVzeJIm-zS4pwLgq-150IVi2G2ybCbcA0c-MjfogWGgK2x3jy6QMg1_nmCCXZQOlZD56fQZqJQ-z7n81wlSTS3G1I3l9t173k7Ha_iKcNg/s1600/Family+090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610823559611126066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-G-nHSWJWLNSfm-7HsDnd-wQIwsMI-NB0yVzeJIm-zS4pwLgq-150IVi2G2ybCbcA0c-MjfogWGgK2x3jy6QMg1_nmCCXZQOlZD56fQZqJQ-z7n81wlSTS3G1I3l9t173k7Ha_iKcNg/s320/Family+090.JPG" /></a>Flipped over...</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTez72mg_eBhtufh5cFxVd7GPW5TwMaktiOFKQRItJvo7ALAzaIF_2MNa1B-EBQQKal2OAqCnSMLDGZuT-EEVlvSPhK3sFm5c7BikaVou3hlNsrmvZXQzgvlznZrKEC_BTlww0Xml80jo/s1600/Family+091.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610823548524992802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTez72mg_eBhtufh5cFxVd7GPW5TwMaktiOFKQRItJvo7ALAzaIF_2MNa1B-EBQQKal2OAqCnSMLDGZuT-EEVlvSPhK3sFm5c7BikaVou3hlNsrmvZXQzgvlznZrKEC_BTlww0Xml80jo/s320/Family+091.JPG" /></a>And tossed aside.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub0bF45xVSnyPzI4YPNRy7OLMNtw2YNO9u6EfnRPdR0qoZOaKKbAQZ_K_lTt9aD1rYuOa8y69ljBYrNz-N9hSdwu56LixOT2CyKvb_rA7J9K3iJcpHDA7m77OrO0L_uErwsuhVUmXVEU/s1600/Family+092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610823547032919154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub0bF45xVSnyPzI4YPNRy7OLMNtw2YNO9u6EfnRPdR0qoZOaKKbAQZ_K_lTt9aD1rYuOa8y69ljBYrNz-N9hSdwu56LixOT2CyKvb_rA7J9K3iJcpHDA7m77OrO0L_uErwsuhVUmXVEU/s320/Family+092.JPG" /></a>Somehow I don't think he minds! You wouldn't either, now would you, if you had such a wonderful Grandpa?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20xDbXpbKPiHhSFWGv9gFZQ8g7wiTAikNLKbAaGB2xWXC6B2-UHA-7zDhDVUfLTQNRRZs-YQ_YLxOueBYF-STeSbKNLr6bKn_RyHKLkgdLvw-_Edic-Xc6xFIFWVSBzph38qbl5Jn_tc/s1600/Family+093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610823535073328338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20xDbXpbKPiHhSFWGv9gFZQ8g7wiTAikNLKbAaGB2xWXC6B2-UHA-7zDhDVUfLTQNRRZs-YQ_YLxOueBYF-STeSbKNLr6bKn_RyHKLkgdLvw-_Edic-Xc6xFIFWVSBzph38qbl5Jn_tc/s320/Family+093.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-76458181176403268952011-04-18T11:42:00.008-05:002011-04-18T12:47:40.323-05:00Our New Home!<div align="left">We bought a house! </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Brent and I have been looking on and off again for the last year, knowing that we loved our Lakehouse, but that we've both been anxious to own again. It's been the best way to house-hunt, in that it's such a seller's market right now, with great interest rates, but we didn't have to move if we didn't find the right thing. Well, we found it!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">We've also been talking a lot about the possibility of income property, so we kept that in the back of our minds as we looked. We looked all over a couple of the smaller cities around here, knowing that they have some good neighborhoods and some not as good ones. We sure didn't expect to find our home just a few blocks away on the same street!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">It's got really good bones, with great character and old, wide, rich woodwork. The basement is tall enough for my 6'3" husband, and is by far the best basement of homes we've seen in our price range. The home is totally liveable for us right away, and will also be improved by some of the work we'd like to do.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Here's a little tour for you! There are some pictures from the realtor's website, and others that I took in order to remember specific things before we move in at the end of May.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The current owners just put on all new siding and trim this past fall, but they did forget to paint the door red, which will happen soon after we take over!</div><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9g2PhZ_JuK6LP1eQ_pbi3iflUhYrU605H6fsDt5hUkXGl7OBNLMc1qJbj5tVy4y0IAr7bySeOOT2bXTLcthuWX5n6wJMertl7IE02IO_GOOauxTgRdJGOrpJVlNQ658XQ_XNRYgJNLA/s1600/107404820.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596969344465093298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9g2PhZ_JuK6LP1eQ_pbi3iflUhYrU605H6fsDt5hUkXGl7OBNLMc1qJbj5tVy4y0IAr7bySeOOT2bXTLcthuWX5n6wJMertl7IE02IO_GOOauxTgRdJGOrpJVlNQ658XQ_XNRYgJNLA/s320/107404820.jpg" /></a> You can see some of the character with the arched entryway, and you might also notice that there are coved ceilings -which I love! The front windows are all new as well. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHrTHLnxBZBpheMmViqEYp8qOUc79-rqDptk0Cp4X1rVDCFz-DVEqOS4E1kw2clhnelK0JfC4Fu1QEGXJYiSmldsGsF5-iFglgMZadIsMQbW5vmYP7H6iQgPaPosAQn2H5Dpj7p0pnTQ/s1600/80477713.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596969333637930658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHrTHLnxBZBpheMmViqEYp8qOUc79-rqDptk0Cp4X1rVDCFz-DVEqOS4E1kw2clhnelK0JfC4Fu1QEGXJYiSmldsGsF5-iFglgMZadIsMQbW5vmYP7H6iQgPaPosAQn2H5Dpj7p0pnTQ/s320/80477713.jpg" /></a> The wall they have their TV on and the one right next to it should be big enough for our piano and TV -exact arrangement to be determined. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_YsdkWf5EPGeJ_rr9oD5Jp5I-7c8TPpMUlDYs5PhGbK0bWK2vwqqip-DsGsf7_7nFGffqNb2GxjBI5k7sbKkp4E5w1ECwAotqYvJ95du56ADd6tgwvi6IY840_Q0CoD6zdQS-2RAFqg/s1600/Appleton+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596969329768794226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_YsdkWf5EPGeJ_rr9oD5Jp5I-7c8TPpMUlDYs5PhGbK0bWK2vwqqip-DsGsf7_7nFGffqNb2GxjBI5k7sbKkp4E5w1ECwAotqYvJ95du56ADd6tgwvi6IY840_Q0CoD6zdQS-2RAFqg/s320/Appleton+014.JPG" /></a> Standing at the front door you can see the arch to the dining room. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH9nnr_YvJLAR7O7l4ZDGmbU1zpOwgg_KOZHg_zMdTp41Mcy2yOp6ADUrF7Qibtr-n-11ZqvtwjwoEWhYhBrRSipTslgLJIeQmEzSFfteo399IaEngB3cWLoXcISSdpXYg-cXlp2T-FQ/s1600/80477714.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596969321539162658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH9nnr_YvJLAR7O7l4ZDGmbU1zpOwgg_KOZHg_zMdTp41Mcy2yOp6ADUrF7Qibtr-n-11ZqvtwjwoEWhYhBrRSipTslgLJIeQmEzSFfteo399IaEngB3cWLoXcISSdpXYg-cXlp2T-FQ/s320/80477714.jpg" /></a> The living room opens to the dining room, which opens to the kitchen. It's not the same as a square-shaped open concept room, but that's pretty hard to find in a character home. Standing in the kitchen I'll still feel like I know what's going on in other rooms. That door in the dining room leads to the 3-season porch. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvTVD8pfiY8aXJknNn_XGomiJmPaGmf2oVmjWDX092EVqQOrY_RJAKB8PZZWa08LUoSuRiWrPU0__3mYcZ0PVm7bPFHm_iNfiAiZExdUDSmjhBAL_n7jpxJuY3CVxURvIa0E3zsG2fY0/s1600/80477716.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596969316763540626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvTVD8pfiY8aXJknNn_XGomiJmPaGmf2oVmjWDX092EVqQOrY_RJAKB8PZZWa08LUoSuRiWrPU0__3mYcZ0PVm7bPFHm_iNfiAiZExdUDSmjhBAL_n7jpxJuY3CVxURvIa0E3zsG2fY0/s320/80477716.jpg" /></a> There will be plenty of room for my hutches! (I measured!) This picture also shows the door on the left that leads to what will be our office, and through the kitchen you can see the master straight ahead, and then the bathroom is on the right and the guest room on the left. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz0h_fQSA4yz7YQ0W9yF4NEQrSaBIfDVUAFHmeylYz3wgCw9tFLbXhrbdiphIHBUiUtW-kqmXG5a9JA5CJvvzSmYpBRd0oUPTuXO5FMalZgILN8Y38vl633SkPwhD6NDy33J8-xJzd8U/s1600/Appleton+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596968933009296610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz0h_fQSA4yz7YQ0W9yF4NEQrSaBIfDVUAFHmeylYz3wgCw9tFLbXhrbdiphIHBUiUtW-kqmXG5a9JA5CJvvzSmYpBRd0oUPTuXO5FMalZgILN8Y38vl633SkPwhD6NDy33J8-xJzd8U/s320/Appleton+001.JPG" /></a> Looking back at the living room. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjb6lNvCRoWEgR-QWgate2BCt-zLhsqWin0UkbvNIDvSCsL-dXcJgJJXBWq6grPkVwnjVRUlSpEScuGYlgWdm9GWjN2ofufbqtBBSp5hoDVnmVCDluHmYJAhOKQJ0D9snJ5XQMRqsBTU/s1600/Appleton+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596968929835572754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjb6lNvCRoWEgR-QWgate2BCt-zLhsqWin0UkbvNIDvSCsL-dXcJgJJXBWq6grPkVwnjVRUlSpEScuGYlgWdm9GWjN2ofufbqtBBSp5hoDVnmVCDluHmYJAhOKQJ0D9snJ5XQMRqsBTU/s320/Appleton+002.JPG" /></a> The kitchen. It's totally functional now, and we'll definitely be making some changes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW9Ak4EJvmSBXpHaQ-ybC021WGtcDhgtKpAleFRlbpi0MxNPUO810CN2A5aHtb4sEACWjCI8885fZnMnQdmXNCtUJM7HuLGArsTndRK8CXb89dLn4CBr-uMhPacD4g5w4zyWoQi_7Dhs/s1600/Appleton+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596968923856932530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW9Ak4EJvmSBXpHaQ-ybC021WGtcDhgtKpAleFRlbpi0MxNPUO810CN2A5aHtb4sEACWjCI8885fZnMnQdmXNCtUJM7HuLGArsTndRK8CXb89dLn4CBr-uMhPacD4g5w4zyWoQi_7Dhs/s320/Appleton+003.JPG" /></a> The kitchen re-do can't happen first, but when it does I might make this a wall of pantry cupboards.... We'll see.... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiidVC4gCyROOrWdJb9F8d90xPEKN7aYsVAfkdP0rj8T2lkxLozbsVfBlb31kpp7X9iln50exIDGiGX07rihb8mTEHeC-4LQZO6HjdO_G7ah8I7AbRww93sC2Zyl7S8_o5MAYsjkp8HY/s1600/Appleton+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596968922418430562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiidVC4gCyROOrWdJb9F8d90xPEKN7aYsVAfkdP0rj8T2lkxLozbsVfBlb31kpp7X9iln50exIDGiGX07rihb8mTEHeC-4LQZO6HjdO_G7ah8I7AbRww93sC2Zyl7S8_o5MAYsjkp8HY/s320/Appleton+004.JPG" /></a> There's this half-wall separating the dining room and kitchen, and it bugs me. They raised the counters from the main counter, and since it hangs over on both sides there ends up being wasted space. We'll see what happens with this... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9kMH8JnhHGxyt1kRcrtqMDK9k6mxYCeYw5QI4yFxSOM_mp7piPTovuXKsTxEoVU4Dyi_yeA8QDsTtRnEUTdBLYuls0sPZuBdwqMFFIMjBnukEAI4wVge3vRldeSG75jseKhnI1qkedM/s1600/Appleton+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596968915112067346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9kMH8JnhHGxyt1kRcrtqMDK9k6mxYCeYw5QI4yFxSOM_mp7piPTovuXKsTxEoVU4Dyi_yeA8QDsTtRnEUTdBLYuls0sPZuBdwqMFFIMjBnukEAI4wVge3vRldeSG75jseKhnI1qkedM/s320/Appleton+005.JPG" /></a> The master bedroom. The closet is deep and organized in what seems will be a helpful configuration. This room was added on at some point so the two windows don't have the same great woodwork. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI4AHm04RTA2HbSDDLXB-6JnJaDIBMXnOth-5mWHJkJNkDseG3TjNlWZ8Lr5SkUF1JV8rs0XdP5vxm9BGOCTyCVCz7ee60Oxzgd0zFZCDSCqwa63KlWZMrEECcFtQoGKVMkjn1S2oi0I/s1600/Appleton+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966520711606786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI4AHm04RTA2HbSDDLXB-6JnJaDIBMXnOth-5mWHJkJNkDseG3TjNlWZ8Lr5SkUF1JV8rs0XdP5vxm9BGOCTyCVCz7ee60Oxzgd0zFZCDSCqwa63KlWZMrEECcFtQoGKVMkjn1S2oi0I/s320/Appleton+010.JPG" /></a> I snapped this picture so I could remember just how much space there would be for our dressers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsv4a43faxlH-F579SfbgQ-HgRY62ZaNB4REJiqyWH6JzP1lStS-GDiYgJC6O2TFhA38ytXf3Pcf9ij3U3htiMRLQ7dLZj8bj07av9aaf5PR5Ghod3Jbt1xVAEJS1eIp4fKZEy0ThYcI/s1600/Appleton+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966521433444034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsv4a43faxlH-F579SfbgQ-HgRY62ZaNB4REJiqyWH6JzP1lStS-GDiYgJC6O2TFhA38ytXf3Pcf9ij3U3htiMRLQ7dLZj8bj07av9aaf5PR5Ghod3Jbt1xVAEJS1eIp4fKZEy0ThYcI/s320/Appleton+011.JPG" /></a> The guestroom will have enough space for a bed and dresser, but probably not much more than that. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVHq41zasP9bfFffbLOjXP7wXdetWfEMc_aNRL1qqpenu9f9nQPJ0s-wjWwYCQE2xNQ4JFl6POkO-JDCZI91Ntp7Z-hrRNJ63RLsKeZz1Ud00wSF99zKIU0HRxgVJrOatmZsTqGNH7As/s1600/Appleton+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966515464236114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVHq41zasP9bfFffbLOjXP7wXdetWfEMc_aNRL1qqpenu9f9nQPJ0s-wjWwYCQE2xNQ4JFl6POkO-JDCZI91Ntp7Z-hrRNJ63RLsKeZz1Ud00wSF99zKIU0HRxgVJrOatmZsTqGNH7As/s320/Appleton+008.JPG" /></a> This is one room that will proabably stay that color, though, as it's one I like. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsia1TTB14RQdgTmNo8kX9csOxeM61K-OTnFUt2jaQRe8jNvD5JLR_VrrQZYNDn1dFvnzuSxgHAafaGRwPdgftuspueKhBVcxPrL8fJ-0JP8XKTSaLikKD9sFlF8VAvTu4jO8Wj0Ifk/s1600/Appleton+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966509536643506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsia1TTB14RQdgTmNo8kX9csOxeM61K-OTnFUt2jaQRe8jNvD5JLR_VrrQZYNDn1dFvnzuSxgHAafaGRwPdgftuspueKhBVcxPrL8fJ-0JP8XKTSaLikKD9sFlF8VAvTu4jO8Wj0Ifk/s320/Appleton+009.JPG" /></a> We will also use this room as our office/library, but the white walls will go. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQioKHaCE1SWHhSk10jrXNObX0FsIoCDIbwnHPDKTcd7I-kyyTntgYv_FbmAgM3jYYwItc9INRYOWlPnmjeSKE4GYSNeGDoACXYyqXMHhQ3X4qV4vS8MdiT9JDsUOxSalgWrkZibLbTq8/s1600/80477727.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966503256824050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQioKHaCE1SWHhSk10jrXNObX0FsIoCDIbwnHPDKTcd7I-kyyTntgYv_FbmAgM3jYYwItc9INRYOWlPnmjeSKE4GYSNeGDoACXYyqXMHhQ3X4qV4vS8MdiT9JDsUOxSalgWrkZibLbTq8/s320/80477727.jpg" /></a> This helps show the perspective that it's just off the dining room. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8IYF34oBD57JVyccEc0Kc0RhvRbxmGd8b0swBZz5wZcz51nkSdyCSgMgz1I-ShUlS9XwqFjHk4OvmuBsi0pw_E_51RSiEraw7PvDYxem39-jEqxVkC3cWJoEnYODTmXPahcgmOHz_l0/s1600/Appleton+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965999044966370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8IYF34oBD57JVyccEc0Kc0RhvRbxmGd8b0swBZz5wZcz51nkSdyCSgMgz1I-ShUlS9XwqFjHk4OvmuBsi0pw_E_51RSiEraw7PvDYxem39-jEqxVkC3cWJoEnYODTmXPahcgmOHz_l0/s320/Appleton+013.JPG" /></a> I love our new porch! I am excited to get back to reading a good book a lot more often. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzcIdY03v0IG6NYxNhOU9AUopz-xUeZ-btTZN6zniPraN4F2IxFvPETqlaP4Vsq3CRJeEWRhrrLvwe_bmAjgAbT_9tJF8FXPhtS3mgI66GnIncBus2QWzLHd-gFDnBAizMGg3NCw9Y7o/s1600/80477722.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596966001148513954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzcIdY03v0IG6NYxNhOU9AUopz-xUeZ-btTZN6zniPraN4F2IxFvPETqlaP4Vsq3CRJeEWRhrrLvwe_bmAjgAbT_9tJF8FXPhtS3mgI66GnIncBus2QWzLHd-gFDnBAizMGg3NCw9Y7o/s320/80477722.jpg" /></a> Here is our first project. We'll focus on the upstairs apartment so that we can get it rented right away. At first I thought I'd quickly paint the cabinets, but now we're thinking we might just start fresh. I'm hoping to document our progress much better than I've been documenting life lately so you can see just what decisions we make. We've been watching a lot of Income Property on HGTV!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PMJtNKbpdA-bgulB446V0F0SHKBFLP8fAFr2EI2-1gULp_jJOEggzsWaV3Vv-c7S8PliL6N7b42lYtEGPa8GdCI1mO8iJ6CCVPzv79zX6I66EqA57S04wAdA4ekQ9MDSB2SMNxqXJss/s1600/80477729.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965998368105730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PMJtNKbpdA-bgulB446V0F0SHKBFLP8fAFr2EI2-1gULp_jJOEggzsWaV3Vv-c7S8PliL6N7b42lYtEGPa8GdCI1mO8iJ6CCVPzv79zX6I66EqA57S04wAdA4ekQ9MDSB2SMNxqXJss/s320/80477729.jpg" /></a> The space for a table and chairs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTIE6fC3y7_oL46dXKwCK3KhhpsifKGgwuwb1Pg9EFwU-nnzFCprhlLfHo3Ded4X3UGkDIt7lcO3jKmVpOgZgiuYitPWO4RESA3-OWvA_kNo831pQCatqxpHUGQowNJ2evsBDV54jQcE/s1600/80477732.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965991287545698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTIE6fC3y7_oL46dXKwCK3KhhpsifKGgwuwb1Pg9EFwU-nnzFCprhlLfHo3Ded4X3UGkDIt7lcO3jKmVpOgZgiuYitPWO4RESA3-OWvA_kNo831pQCatqxpHUGQowNJ2evsBDV54jQcE/s320/80477732.jpg" /></a> Here's a hallway leading to a back door only used for a fire escape. There's a 'butler's pantry' on the side with lots more space. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVU-6UneIT0RzWXBeBNfFNSmxFEEazioZllcQ_-lEJ-zUEbf2bED9mQ3b_zWL8nErdJLS9LKaxWmbiJz20EghdDb0uKoVA-Cv9YeVsJh6xICBhfPSJVsWA5e17959BzRvEMjv3sGLMfQ/s1600/80477731.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965988078136130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVU-6UneIT0RzWXBeBNfFNSmxFEEazioZllcQ_-lEJ-zUEbf2bED9mQ3b_zWL8nErdJLS9LKaxWmbiJz20EghdDb0uKoVA-Cv9YeVsJh6xICBhfPSJVsWA5e17959BzRvEMjv3sGLMfQ/s320/80477731.jpg" /></a> Here is the master bedroom, which is really quite large. It actually has a sitting area as well. The photographer took this shot from the farthest corner and you can see the closet door on the left and the living room door on the right. It's really two rooms separated with that opening, but there's only one closet so we'll market this as one room. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiz-9uq_2mLvLACK8SHVZ1VKFDZ1fP555WqUcl95aC_OVg4AM6TZQAIKluGONfVjoZwxNfS_v-YvXrrJJ01GdBXHdbmlVSgKYu3CA4ybF4az4dCKqDPu1WUbfBfE4LqwmQkc7nSzhG8Ok/s1600/80477737.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965566567409106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiz-9uq_2mLvLACK8SHVZ1VKFDZ1fP555WqUcl95aC_OVg4AM6TZQAIKluGONfVjoZwxNfS_v-YvXrrJJ01GdBXHdbmlVSgKYu3CA4ybF4az4dCKqDPu1WUbfBfE4LqwmQkc7nSzhG8Ok/s320/80477737.jpg" /></a> This is the living room and looking ahead is that bedroom you just saw. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwYq2iPgX4Un9T3maoeRyEz1w3oHvky286KHtVjbS0QRSVFDtw3SzA8Pnm_yn9SI0wi3s0mcD72B84pgCWaSoykaou8quA1Aua-OU4nFWotgsHzbrrg5DBx0nfnOcziNLuEi3AShckCQ/s1600/80477736.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965563334294402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwYq2iPgX4Un9T3maoeRyEz1w3oHvky286KHtVjbS0QRSVFDtw3SzA8Pnm_yn9SI0wi3s0mcD72B84pgCWaSoykaou8quA1Aua-OU4nFWotgsHzbrrg5DBx0nfnOcziNLuEi3AShckCQ/s320/80477736.jpg" /></a> The other half of the living room, which leads to the kitchen and bathroom. The door frame on the left is for the second bedroom. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1wwb1fYQ1l4Nu5mjAllhP51Xh6H7aMgaqyr53w1m0k8hQxaGo_sCqCvTnK5kbPK7uETkbliJW9hVO6w7VjDMicGxrY3KVHkCWx2xbmRIg0MviivAIW1Oexs-qOZKxOrn1tGj134jjWM/s1600/80477735.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965558247479394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1wwb1fYQ1l4Nu5mjAllhP51Xh6H7aMgaqyr53w1m0k8hQxaGo_sCqCvTnK5kbPK7uETkbliJW9hVO6w7VjDMicGxrY3KVHkCWx2xbmRIg0MviivAIW1Oexs-qOZKxOrn1tGj134jjWM/s320/80477735.jpg" /></a> The second bedroom with original wood floors. I can hardly wait to rip out the awful carpet in the rest of the apartment and see what we've got underneath. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzidHcZNpoOsSYQZhXeLKpJcaHPiII9isyaiQ9DoGm0S_v_epYiygLfWt8DCxd0FdUoKhjGoqu58ivX0jcHP0fdgoF0O8i7ZZgvaGpHFBGHBRwsTKL88egjPkzC1RayNKF6QvQo-I-Qw/s1600/80477734.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596965550058973490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzidHcZNpoOsSYQZhXeLKpJcaHPiII9isyaiQ9DoGm0S_v_epYiygLfWt8DCxd0FdUoKhjGoqu58ivX0jcHP0fdgoF0O8i7ZZgvaGpHFBGHBRwsTKL88egjPkzC1RayNKF6QvQo-I-Qw/s320/80477734.jpg" /></a> The bathroom. The yellow and white sponge painting will quickly be gone. It has a nice counter space, but I'm not certain what to do about the mirror height. Let's just say it would work for my mom, but not for my dad! Right now there's a medicine cabinet to the left of the toilet which allows people taller than my mom to look in a mirror standing up. I'll need to think about this one a while.... There's a nice shower behind the door. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggVvlXgbUVFS_SyzYfftLItv-C8myuE8fshOCMgFeM7ii6z4K4Q9AvM0l3HfnSYrAGNmaeWC7yxDDg7wodumnV_cMbybFzCDVTJvsXNMzMnz7DkG4dQykDZT2B0G5C0XTaZjwtXkZ1-E/s1600/80477733.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596980800605971874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggVvlXgbUVFS_SyzYfftLItv-C8myuE8fshOCMgFeM7ii6z4K4Q9AvM0l3HfnSYrAGNmaeWC7yxDDg7wodumnV_cMbybFzCDVTJvsXNMzMnz7DkG4dQykDZT2B0G5C0XTaZjwtXkZ1-E/s320/80477733.jpg" /></a> There you have it! I'm sure I'll take "before" pictures in an empty house the day we close, but we're hoping to start making some good progress right away on some of the changes we're invisioning.</p><br /><p>Anyone want to come help??!!</p>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-676396050625060412011-02-22T20:56:00.003-06:002011-02-22T21:18:55.309-06:00View from the DeckThe weather here in the Appleton area has generally been much more mild than other places I've lived in the Midwest. It isn't Sunny Southern California and the ocean, but still a nice view!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMyWWxZDBaxegd_uVQ7FGmH1DqZJ25DjdwEsVj05LGZZR1yjTMGEXBnlHGRF__T2tqstibNNVeo_HgAYhvjYCVfLZF2JqdCJKJpeIsB7oCqOl94eJtE0hRQKb2gcLNoPAD_LBs9ujTdk/s1600/Appleton+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576716276601447570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMyWWxZDBaxegd_uVQ7FGmH1DqZJ25DjdwEsVj05LGZZR1yjTMGEXBnlHGRF__T2tqstibNNVeo_HgAYhvjYCVfLZF2JqdCJKJpeIsB7oCqOl94eJtE0hRQKb2gcLNoPAD_LBs9ujTdk/s320/Appleton+002.JPG" /></a> We have pretty sunsets....<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnUATM1n7lK5p7FqNyKf6CWAoSee8JX_TP23H4Ejz-QksZtjVzWy1fLT55ZaYPqU7WZt2erxAUvaepPU6tBwmPTgQdKrTdV8ig86yYFuNIixiiukRXV0lOnbYmi6trWbOkDJsm8G_KGw/s1600/Appleton+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576716264072044610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnUATM1n7lK5p7FqNyKf6CWAoSee8JX_TP23H4Ejz-QksZtjVzWy1fLT55ZaYPqU7WZt2erxAUvaepPU6tBwmPTgQdKrTdV8ig86yYFuNIixiiukRXV0lOnbYmi6trWbOkDJsm8G_KGw/s320/Appleton+004.JPG" /></a> and last week just about all of our snow melted and you could see grass all around. You might even notice that the lake had lost all of the ice, except for just a few feet at the shoreline.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyQ-0X71U0eNmEVU9LudnhJS5IvBp6ylUJUK8BpAFgzsP7af_kIPJEdw6DVsHHF_ExeVKhQM7RlF_K9QJSjpjiIYqn5sicJVDaZ-3Cu0SEUwGpC-w8pjzISk4W8ilPjU-b2nZsxjI_VE/s1600/Appleton+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576716259287379522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyQ-0X71U0eNmEVU9LudnhJS5IvBp6ylUJUK8BpAFgzsP7af_kIPJEdw6DVsHHF_ExeVKhQM7RlF_K9QJSjpjiIYqn5sicJVDaZ-3Cu0SEUwGpC-w8pjzISk4W8ilPjU-b2nZsxjI_VE/s320/Appleton+005.JPG" /></a><br />We really like the view from our deck! Here it is on either Friday or Saturday this past weekend.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4HqU4ZKscaChDOas0I8lH5Ju9d22wNBpA7f1TrDzv6EOexFel0Ultw7Y63IHxyKmH9Iv8dwvVpYxU9Cc5jiJKrqRB1-rcy3uXWVUU6Rt4M49LFvL7z_c07lZ8sjvLe2v1c0R8R0B3I0/s1600/Appleton+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576716258083155554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4HqU4ZKscaChDOas0I8lH5Ju9d22wNBpA7f1TrDzv6EOexFel0Ultw7Y63IHxyKmH9Iv8dwvVpYxU9Cc5jiJKrqRB1-rcy3uXWVUU6Rt4M49LFvL7z_c07lZ8sjvLe2v1c0R8R0B3I0/s320/Appleton+006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Then Sunday came.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkBSS7zIoRsIqmOZ4B2x6chncm9tKSFkFrcxvHmUgyJ-w76kMyNQ-Zlokmm-J7TVrUzzwrvj4cQZpuBk9uliRRp45QOvN8MrdgNbxH3-n19Pf8U9y3aVotrGl7iOFVjXI5irIcPZCJy8/s1600/Appleton+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576715022316062194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkBSS7zIoRsIqmOZ4B2x6chncm9tKSFkFrcxvHmUgyJ-w76kMyNQ-Zlokmm-J7TVrUzzwrvj4cQZpuBk9uliRRp45QOvN8MrdgNbxH3-n19Pf8U9y3aVotrGl7iOFVjXI5irIcPZCJy8/s320/Appleton+007.JPG" /></a><br />And we got more snow. Again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxs2_Kvh7O4XsxlgNpmRmAXWHKZUC2Vwv0oZ6DyNaWHVBuUnjWni1cgzoTY8j6JHEodWK0oB-62nsCyGFS8q6jIldktJyO_jpQ1YrCHmuUnYzT6D6g5e1p0PCG1YgVs3PJ0DvM3Mm7aw/s1600/Appleton+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576715021873412370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxs2_Kvh7O4XsxlgNpmRmAXWHKZUC2Vwv0oZ6DyNaWHVBuUnjWni1cgzoTY8j6JHEodWK0oB-62nsCyGFS8q6jIldktJyO_jpQ1YrCHmuUnYzT6D6g5e1p0PCG1YgVs3PJ0DvM3Mm7aw/s320/Appleton+008.JPG" /></a><br />I heard we got about 10 inches. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrK772OQXLOxIRKoaXfvjoax78dwzcWL1clCOT80Aq1Pq4JTG6eZ9FHxPeLuKJNPeZKSpPiGb9jOo1koj8XmwuexLJH8STQP5ANt1YtxiIg7fjWmk6c2d8LjoDw6C1a6S8evTSrHOK5c/s1600/Appleton+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576715027668594258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrK772OQXLOxIRKoaXfvjoax78dwzcWL1clCOT80Aq1Pq4JTG6eZ9FHxPeLuKJNPeZKSpPiGb9jOo1koj8XmwuexLJH8STQP5ANt1YtxiIg7fjWmk6c2d8LjoDw6C1a6S8evTSrHOK5c/s320/Appleton+009.JPG" /></a> It's pretty. But it needs to melt.</div></div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-60006077518931463692011-02-14T22:03:00.002-06:002011-02-14T22:28:20.758-06:00Valentine's Weekend in Door CountyBrent surprised me with a trip to Door County! He actually had some work to do there, but instead of going on some random Tuesday, alone, we went up together on Friday after work and got to stay in this wonderful Bed & Breakfast! We stayed at The Chanticleer, which I saw on a website as rated the best in Door County. I loved it! They have cabins, a guest house, and we stayed in the restored barn. It was beautiful! Each of the rooms have a different theme. They were tastefully done, with huge rooms, private bathrooms, and a double-sized whirlpool tub in each room! There was a wonderful continental breakfast delivered to our door the next morning, and if it had been just a little warmer, we could've eaten out on our own private balcony. We opted to stay inside by the working fireplace instead. :) I'm looking forward to heading back there again someday!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8gmcZeCFy5_3wr3a9jRtT4MxDWt6LHpulb5oNEDHv1bmZVX6piBj6zRsBjlnVOVTBFZUBU1J5htUY77Mw8V-xavLBQpQbSexLqVzI0mnY60wJe3XzUJzTyQxykUw8QXGUX_gPUyZTxA/s1600/Door+County+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573763259189785842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8gmcZeCFy5_3wr3a9jRtT4MxDWt6LHpulb5oNEDHv1bmZVX6piBj6zRsBjlnVOVTBFZUBU1J5htUY77Mw8V-xavLBQpQbSexLqVzI0mnY60wJe3XzUJzTyQxykUw8QXGUX_gPUyZTxA/s320/Door+County+017.JPG" /></a> Brent did a couple hours worth of work on Saturday, but we had the rest of the day to tour around. Brent said that I could plan that time, so I opted for Sister Bay. When I've spent time in Door County in the past, that's one little town we tend to just drive through. There are so many things you can see or do, we always have to choose our time wisely. I knew Sister Bay has a Scandinavian history, so I thought it would help me feel like home! We had a great lunch, and a fun time in a few little shops.</p><p>We were able to do a few other fun things, but then headed towards my favorite park in Door County: Cave Point County Park. It's become my favorite spot! My friends that I usually travel there with will most likely recognize the little tiny cove that we usually take pictures around. Check out what it looks like with an almost-frozen Lake Michigan! Pretty strange, and unique, and oddly beautiful!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M67Kli-mIl3z-5-70mL45j0tKIkaG8MSo4j3qtMPuCUgPBDVYc8VD7ZXoOjSwq8SgN1WTc343yGJQqZ-NDYofq4gQKYnRRhQx1jK8nXLIxZXzqv7i7fCkTxY4xkpdg0icFwfg4S5odg/s1600/Door+County+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573763256016967698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M67Kli-mIl3z-5-70mL45j0tKIkaG8MSo4j3qtMPuCUgPBDVYc8VD7ZXoOjSwq8SgN1WTc343yGJQqZ-NDYofq4gQKYnRRhQx1jK8nXLIxZXzqv7i7fCkTxY4xkpdg0icFwfg4S5odg/s320/Door+County+028.JPG" /></a> It had been really nice and warm during the day -I could wear just my sweater without my winter coat on, until we got towards later afternoon and right on the lake. Then, it seemed really cold all of a sudden!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgzfNYzdANcMAjRviOPuGU1ylRQBTCLk_0YAiKZZNSQLepV0LmjujpZikZ_A1g2_T5Xi18C0Ay-h6ttNzrTyef3v6wETx251ZXODPw-OwUXlW_sNOEH923TEcsxvo8ZGuadoHAP5vgp0/s1600/Door+County+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573763253908744658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgzfNYzdANcMAjRviOPuGU1ylRQBTCLk_0YAiKZZNSQLepV0LmjujpZikZ_A1g2_T5Xi18C0Ay-h6ttNzrTyef3v6wETx251ZXODPw-OwUXlW_sNOEH923TEcsxvo8ZGuadoHAP5vgp0/s320/Door+County+030.JPG" /></a><br />I've had a number of pictures taken on this little ledge, but this time I couldn't, or wouldn't, sit down on it and dangle my legs over the side. That snow looked too cold!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RTP-4DW3rWTly7tYKljTxGiGGIzJCHiXaTzzrEiZKs6ghPq5yEGFS0Fww5YF6hpkv6RI2K2uJBCUqeMtyWq7pplJedihSWVaLWDUxJ5zHlQA_GJkoYyx9ZFXcKkXHvWAxQW1I06lUxY/s1600/Door+County+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573763245993462818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RTP-4DW3rWTly7tYKljTxGiGGIzJCHiXaTzzrEiZKs6ghPq5yEGFS0Fww5YF6hpkv6RI2K2uJBCUqeMtyWq7pplJedihSWVaLWDUxJ5zHlQA_GJkoYyx9ZFXcKkXHvWAxQW1I06lUxY/s320/Door+County+033.JPG" /></a><br />We couldn't get into the "hole-in-the-rock" that my friend, LaVonne, and I have taken pictures in before. I didn't dare walk on the snow/ice/water that we inbetween those stages every few feet! </div><div> </div><div>We had a great weekend, and I was so glad I got to go along with Brent, even if he worked a little bit! It was way better than him telling me later he had spent a day there without me! :)</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for the fun, Sweetie! Happy Valentine's Day!!<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-56324897003529822002010-12-29T12:14:00.002-06:002010-12-29T12:23:29.727-06:00Merry Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkTDn33ruBWLuroQOj25YC1KC6-teSkpmdxAHR9_fyNFFSj1gyf1QNHJqLxlY1TjW3bIOoyj9Nhr5aa0wQQXk5UKLmi8-FgR-QtalKLi5uy7bMZ9sb3Ul6SD0uKtz28Rh2rr_9_TEb4s/s1600/Family+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556169761034361698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkTDn33ruBWLuroQOj25YC1KC6-teSkpmdxAHR9_fyNFFSj1gyf1QNHJqLxlY1TjW3bIOoyj9Nhr5aa0wQQXk5UKLmi8-FgR-QtalKLi5uy7bMZ9sb3Ul6SD0uKtz28Rh2rr_9_TEb4s/s320/Family+014.JPG" /></a> Merry Christmas everyone! We've had a great Christmas, and this year it's lasting us quite a while. We've had Micaela here with us the last few days and we've had a great time! We are bringing her back today, but wanted to share this family picture with you first.<br /><div></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-55781037911644005782010-12-19T20:54:00.006-06:002010-12-19T22:05:39.794-06:00Peace!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV68bHZ6m7N798dfVqkD7vQStzcsAo_9840jXFJwkhIP8sLQPok0cMm5f2UAm-Ypv7DZEWoMnlMXaNub8EL32dI_vGeF4xPTeiDblyBiGjj6TqpT0yETej0kbYOtp2Ya-PcXni0CQGQto/s1600/Christmas+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552595236099214210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV68bHZ6m7N798dfVqkD7vQStzcsAo_9840jXFJwkhIP8sLQPok0cMm5f2UAm-Ypv7DZEWoMnlMXaNub8EL32dI_vGeF4xPTeiDblyBiGjj6TqpT0yETej0kbYOtp2Ya-PcXni0CQGQto/s320/Christmas+023.JPG" /></a><br />Peace to you! We've been enjoying a number of Christmas celebrations around here in the past week! Brent and I were invited to Christmas parties on Friday night, Saturday night, and this afternoon. They were all lots of fun and a great blessing!<br /><br />We agreed to bring desserts (or candies or treats, whatever you prefer to call them!) so we spent Thursday making the following items. It was nice to make big batches and bring similar plates to each event. I did make a Fudge Truffle Cheesecake for this afternoon's family festival at church, but didn't get a great picture.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtd56BzbFHWXSrmIxW1I3NnkStT_N2FfcsVDJN6Fi1slDB_Abf-N_2C3-E3cauikIPcip3KJIF_3jqENH78G5OgbkobUbng2eLIpJu2yhViFGk8RbteTYX5iU00f8G5lWE99GD6c8np8/s1600/Christmas+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552602375493810930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtd56BzbFHWXSrmIxW1I3NnkStT_N2FfcsVDJN6Fi1slDB_Abf-N_2C3-E3cauikIPcip3KJIF_3jqENH78G5OgbkobUbng2eLIpJu2yhViFGk8RbteTYX5iU00f8G5lWE99GD6c8np8/s320/Christmas+027.JPG" /></a><br />Brent's helped get together a quartet at church that sang at today's festival. I thought I was hitting "record" on our new camera (which I LOVE!) to get a video, but I guess I still have a lot to learn about it. You'll just have to pretend that you can hear how great they sounded!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrhDnqsJuxbiF7YhyZhBN-0Ahjy5GrE8bVatootpLeXE8YkSsUvR1Js3SBjf4SaSdHYMM_uG7NhQcW9HSva0kplMb0VEClhtE8CwQeZ1-kBPqBYZhXIUWgp__cHvAADHXuFMedwTET1E/s1600/Christmas+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552602383582644914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrhDnqsJuxbiF7YhyZhBN-0Ahjy5GrE8bVatootpLeXE8YkSsUvR1Js3SBjf4SaSdHYMM_uG7NhQcW9HSva0kplMb0VEClhtE8CwQeZ1-kBPqBYZhXIUWgp__cHvAADHXuFMedwTET1E/s320/Christmas+046.JPG" /></a><br /><p>Here are a few more pictures of our Christmas tree, taken on my NEW camera! Have I mentioned yet how much I love it?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5RnTavDy0clYlU46XC-QjWyJ2pjLJLNpaIY69PdO2GkbF6wnRYIoaqop-UjDX39f2K37n2-AEmVacVRd8e3Cfs8HdzJkZyBgpMS1DoHo-QdO4I57TMm2eonLFv1E8ZJ4Tu6pO5Lu0mY/s1600/Christmas+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552608897868152674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5RnTavDy0clYlU46XC-QjWyJ2pjLJLNpaIY69PdO2GkbF6wnRYIoaqop-UjDX39f2K37n2-AEmVacVRd8e3Cfs8HdzJkZyBgpMS1DoHo-QdO4I57TMm2eonLFv1E8ZJ4Tu6pO5Lu0mY/s320/Christmas+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUETLB5lcxta2vcyL3ZBKETAfdIZHZCGydrGt1jTQd7UbHx2Y5ijsKQ19rlwCcVetGVtO9ld0RjTf_2f0HqwUHADaCv-4js6URqUfyckInGpuNFdG3OqJxjDTfoPY2UdsBIjg1Y_7IAN8/s1600/Christmas+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552608894335046194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUETLB5lcxta2vcyL3ZBKETAfdIZHZCGydrGt1jTQd7UbHx2Y5ijsKQ19rlwCcVetGVtO9ld0RjTf_2f0HqwUHADaCv-4js6URqUfyckInGpuNFdG3OqJxjDTfoPY2UdsBIjg1Y_7IAN8/s320/Christmas+010.JPG" /></a><br />Yes, that's yours truly, and yes, I'm wearing my Vikings jacket. It takes a lot of guts to wear Vikings gear here in Packerland, but I'm brave enough to stand my ground! It's been quite the year to have to do that! Earlier on the night of this picture, I convinced Brent to take me to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Vikings game that moved unexpectedly to Detroit. Interesting!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc0ry_wdSblVBpU-40B0Fq6o6s_973xBhX2oV_EOOiEYBEfBprXFmlAJJEookCCXA-xgMe4nqHvCVFVCmqT6x6hN9Ipykccy1sGXGtLGfxlBBn-DNn8QhKMXNyt0QGqsF1CdvqhiKB_s/s1600/Christmas+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552608907689808146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc0ry_wdSblVBpU-40B0Fq6o6s_973xBhX2oV_EOOiEYBEfBprXFmlAJJEookCCXA-xgMe4nqHvCVFVCmqT6x6hN9Ipykccy1sGXGtLGfxlBBn-DNn8QhKMXNyt0QGqsF1CdvqhiKB_s/s320/Christmas+021.JPG" /></a><br />There's a little picture of our Christmas season so far. Have a blessed Christmas week!</p>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-17227355453766951232010-11-28T21:50:00.000-06:002010-11-28T22:00:38.574-06:00Thanksgiving CelebrationsHappy Thanksgiving! I hope that you each had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! This post will show you some pictures about our weekend, but first a few housekeeping things:<br /><br />1. Yes, we're still alive!<br /><br />2. I've had problems getting online with my phone. This means I can sometimes <em>see</em> Facebook, or even blogs, but have had a real hard time uploading any messages or commenting on other people's posts.<br /><br />3. My computer has been giving me more and more problems even getting started up, until finally Brent just cleared it out and started over from scratch. It's been a big, long, ongoing hassle.<br /><br />4. I love my new job. I really like my co-workers, my patients, what I actually do, and of course, THE HOURS! I feel normal again -<em>at least as normal as I'll ever be! :)</em><br /><br />5. Brent's been back at the appraisal firm and things seem fairly stable.<br /><br />6. We've gotten much more involved at church and it's been a great way to make friends and have Appleton start to feel like home.<br /><br />7. I have lots of pictures of all the things we've been doing since <em>(gasp!)</em> my last post in July, but being the chronological person I am, I haven't wanted to go out of order. I finally gave up so I could at least get something online, and I have high hopes for back-tracking. Someday.<br /><br />---------<br /><br />Okay, onto Thanksgiving! In fact, it turns out, this should just be labeled "Entertainment by David". I guess I didn't take a single picture of anything having to do with Thanksgiving!<br /><br />We went to the Twin Cities during a snow/sleet/rainfall that made our trip an hour and a half longer than normal. We had Thanksgiving dinner with my family on Thursday, and I'm sure my mom will post a picture of that someday. Afterwards, they had agreed to watch David for my sister and brother-in-law so he entertained us for the rest of the night. Here is is with his favorite truck, carting around his other toys to make a "pile of junk" as he called it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAOZsKv-Ov-bKpXS4XhVEnuVZE3kFCEpOhg_tjfX0FLF7bvodUJC-G-9kF3kp5kVn2MohDk0dIn9R1MeSzRBlD1-JqQA7ax1rqb2ZhmOO9Wxc8dfqAzp7cLUKwJ_nPEjo9xejHWpWOwA/s1600/Family+083.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544790210916845394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAOZsKv-Ov-bKpXS4XhVEnuVZE3kFCEpOhg_tjfX0FLF7bvodUJC-G-9kF3kp5kVn2MohDk0dIn9R1MeSzRBlD1-JqQA7ax1rqb2ZhmOO9Wxc8dfqAzp7cLUKwJ_nPEjo9xejHWpWOwA/s320/Family+083.JPG" /></a> Getting out the Lego blocks, which helped us build a BIG tower.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7fAq9QlPXiUZuPpnR7Lr73H3-6XYbfJbMdCVd-leDRMtcbuUybZpd-XxghIE2w1dp76ChBRaQt3S6s4UuQcHKC0CG_58fUXG2NuQhwbyBNUFhatYHomakklYOHA9eoybOv8CS721H6M/s1600/Family+084.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544790205971029266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7fAq9QlPXiUZuPpnR7Lr73H3-6XYbfJbMdCVd-leDRMtcbuUybZpd-XxghIE2w1dp76ChBRaQt3S6s4UuQcHKC0CG_58fUXG2NuQhwbyBNUFhatYHomakklYOHA9eoybOv8CS721H6M/s320/Family+084.JPG" /></a>My mom serenaded us throughout the afternoon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruu9HxSh9G5o4gO6rlcLhnoaEkqXurW2WMzs_P7fMmoKICrYY0AhEFScbVpVNVSAzlO1uLkkjZIlfuydvJCZWFE-irYJ7xNs0qA1MkVfYxs4XOHz9_u4eDhzsBKiT_id93aYQh3oj3qo/s1600/Family+086.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544790200616673874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruu9HxSh9G5o4gO6rlcLhnoaEkqXurW2WMzs_P7fMmoKICrYY0AhEFScbVpVNVSAzlO1uLkkjZIlfuydvJCZWFE-irYJ7xNs0qA1MkVfYxs4XOHz9_u4eDhzsBKiT_id93aYQh3oj3qo/s320/Family+086.JPG" /></a><br />Brent sat back, watched some football, and probably thought to himself <em>"what did I get myself into marrying into this family?"</em> Actually, he fits right in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggErDV_TDz-ZMDhhcd_9o7H6VNdMnFCleWIoZQmJkYbVcECI3IDjIgxyHf6oSrlrDmDpkNde3ll07-SYVLXOmPv8Rm6kPsNRqBj1paxQYZHdphKWEwAxspHsAsjP91dviRpYPrd6f9LyU/s1600/Family+087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544790195501482578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggErDV_TDz-ZMDhhcd_9o7H6VNdMnFCleWIoZQmJkYbVcECI3IDjIgxyHf6oSrlrDmDpkNde3ll07-SYVLXOmPv8Rm6kPsNRqBj1paxQYZHdphKWEwAxspHsAsjP91dviRpYPrd6f9LyU/s320/Family+087.JPG" /></a><br />We tried to take a Christmas picture, so here is just one of the many to choose from. I don't know if we'll get around to it or not, but I guess you'll have to watch your mailboxes to see! If we don't mail them out, I'll post the ones I liked even better.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-jHl-B0FaAYinWBCaiH9w7ZUhoUyDKf5UAJHBlOk9LjmUUn9UZZY7gpi5rH3IvUSIFqWS9hglCIOOfRt9V5LYTLWCp_iZ-MB62fGlKJEZbEK3MPMSXRolHsN9X1cYY5AC-YCODwoI-8/s1600/Family+091.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544790191882751250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-jHl-B0FaAYinWBCaiH9w7ZUhoUyDKf5UAJHBlOk9LjmUUn9UZZY7gpi5rH3IvUSIFqWS9hglCIOOfRt9V5LYTLWCp_iZ-MB62fGlKJEZbEK3MPMSXRolHsN9X1cYY5AC-YCODwoI-8/s320/Family+091.JPG" /></a><br />The funny part was, that this little guy REALLY insisted on being included in the picture. It's interesting how sometimes he'll ignore the camera or look away, and other times he gets super goofy. <em>This was a goofy moment!</em> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nHycHmk7pfXsqsW9aFnvbd54PpikRLyjNpwc3tfGq8CCyJq9lCx5PBoV7bWgpbbH6Izooedm_77Pfg39D7Y7NOsLpV-5d4fLjmGQbMoVDxqfc97IoBfGK0GuGLO180f_NENvyFHXcg8/s1600/Family+092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544789485420817378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nHycHmk7pfXsqsW9aFnvbd54PpikRLyjNpwc3tfGq8CCyJq9lCx5PBoV7bWgpbbH6Izooedm_77Pfg39D7Y7NOsLpV-5d4fLjmGQbMoVDxqfc97IoBfGK0GuGLO180f_NENvyFHXcg8/s320/Family+092.JPG" /></a><br />At least Uncle Brent goes right along with the goofy-ness.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivagH6uiERMcpGGXk2eNlWSDdO-AtTkkcCmS5tDv0AHD1BZSSCq5ZZLoce2lEnB25rFD4n3CwDe86iJCWtFtM5PfUt2mfrViwHOtSA5jqXmIhCOVq3cgQGGAFHHJ7addm6trJpCU6Md74/s1600/Family+094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544789477650533122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivagH6uiERMcpGGXk2eNlWSDdO-AtTkkcCmS5tDv0AHD1BZSSCq5ZZLoce2lEnB25rFD4n3CwDe86iJCWtFtM5PfUt2mfrViwHOtSA5jqXmIhCOVq3cgQGGAFHHJ7addm6trJpCU6Md74/s320/Family+094.JPG" /></a><br />I sure love these two and their big grins!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_Ceb91lwo33YPY_mfbQbhYnheePs5SytPzTKXX1sdYg5G5E-dJiej_AtjwoZ9gbO55NCodrpnHoQ1Ml67Ol6FRaV33SN2ODRgkFQ7vI-IigUQ6BCeS7uokDZdL4zovoGNOoaOopzWZQ/s1600/Family+099.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544789473979947218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_Ceb91lwo33YPY_mfbQbhYnheePs5SytPzTKXX1sdYg5G5E-dJiej_AtjwoZ9gbO55NCodrpnHoQ1Ml67Ol6FRaV33SN2ODRgkFQ7vI-IigUQ6BCeS7uokDZdL4zovoGNOoaOopzWZQ/s320/Family+099.JPG" /></a><br />Early in the evening, he decided to play "bedtime" and brought a big blanket over and some books and put himself to bed on the couch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBM8K58rYDGwOum4_KkrYaq_NCQO5F0T8APHvHoqXV1M67QMW8f8NwCvyv_40xIBnzy5ogmc6b4JBjb517mFZxCDMssbLcQ6cFCjPSHUbC9Nretbm4a-tBegelRT6oQ3fBgakLYvM-dw/s1600/Family+104.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544789469653981074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBM8K58rYDGwOum4_KkrYaq_NCQO5F0T8APHvHoqXV1M67QMW8f8NwCvyv_40xIBnzy5ogmc6b4JBjb517mFZxCDMssbLcQ6cFCjPSHUbC9Nretbm4a-tBegelRT6oQ3fBgakLYvM-dw/s320/Family+104.JPG" /></a><br />Reading "Pajama Time".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mrKuxc7_dprfaFuHGMzcaMSgtR8BoNfIdbWwVnRJuk2FrSkfn0v2_jkDqzeaQO-lckrCjV7ulZoOH5HHbss0OFwkMO6-hLgt_RLha6aMo0SKhic5jz9DUySByEj9D9i2XMx6_oo6cIU/s1600/Family+106.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544789435290325202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mrKuxc7_dprfaFuHGMzcaMSgtR8BoNfIdbWwVnRJuk2FrSkfn0v2_jkDqzeaQO-lckrCjV7ulZoOH5HHbss0OFwkMO6-hLgt_RLha6aMo0SKhic5jz9DUySByEj9D9i2XMx6_oo6cIU/s320/Family+106.JPG" /></a><br />Grandpa decided to join in on taking a little nap. I guess the only floor space to be found was in a tube. Hmmm.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d52pvDTW_3v3CmWR07Y3u_HolBhTG5Z-_fpAmcLzrkAWRxhgEWfsa9bM0hkZrfVU3eNWjJ-e6-eU_Bb60NiZ_NpiXKD_VyGTu49b1HU4jFiTPgBQ9vSutB1BVQ-vWxZjTMPNcgrXKQo/s1600/Family+108.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544788126058006930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d52pvDTW_3v3CmWR07Y3u_HolBhTG5Z-_fpAmcLzrkAWRxhgEWfsa9bM0hkZrfVU3eNWjJ-e6-eU_Bb60NiZ_NpiXKD_VyGTu49b1HU4jFiTPgBQ9vSutB1BVQ-vWxZjTMPNcgrXKQo/s320/Family+108.JPG" /></a><br />David decided to join Grandpa, and climbed right up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dSizuEOQogvg_PRPGag7H7bmfaI3x3nfW7NTCSSqHUtdOBludLB0dH5hUYHlo0xXuH6JUPK1yiHGC44VXZNYj6Ke5yGS4jx9ihrmzSi_DiyITLHs-zB5Tv4u6e3Iait0YUIu4YfegPo/s1600/Family+109.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544788114309347938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dSizuEOQogvg_PRPGag7H7bmfaI3x3nfW7NTCSSqHUtdOBludLB0dH5hUYHlo0xXuH6JUPK1yiHGC44VXZNYj6Ke5yGS4jx9ihrmzSi_DiyITLHs-zB5Tv4u6e3Iait0YUIu4YfegPo/s320/Family+109.JPG" /></a><br />Goof-ball!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXSfLJYaQwZN0-qTln7Qu7I5mvTGfUz0WROheCQFy5hM4S5yPk6FlCNGNgF2jUPn-cxyxqHujXhQmitpSeu-NxKhUYYqD0nyaYv41l9x1TnUWR19gy3Zz8eHS4mT3wpeOXfBT6iRcNJ8/s1600/Family+110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544788111132060690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXSfLJYaQwZN0-qTln7Qu7I5mvTGfUz0WROheCQFy5hM4S5yPk6FlCNGNgF2jUPn-cxyxqHujXhQmitpSeu-NxKhUYYqD0nyaYv41l9x1TnUWR19gy3Zz8eHS4mT3wpeOXfBT6iRcNJ8/s320/Family+110.JPG" /></a><br />I guess something on the TV caught his attention so he sat right up and stayed awhile.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXxeeA-O3LkDaqSv2XtiZihgrspR-RzHRdJZ12OuLGTdzteUXvPj0gaNeTlcGrR1PcWPEK4PYgNTxfNPWuUFL4X_T_fqAM-l0cBnH23ATr2L05zvuVGw7otDCE01abkkyWXMhf9YTYIM/s1600/Family+111.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544788058303748178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXxeeA-O3LkDaqSv2XtiZihgrspR-RzHRdJZ12OuLGTdzteUXvPj0gaNeTlcGrR1PcWPEK4PYgNTxfNPWuUFL4X_T_fqAM-l0cBnH23ATr2L05zvuVGw7otDCE01abkkyWXMhf9YTYIM/s320/Family+111.JPG" /></a><br />Then, he got really silly and climbed through the tube to try and join Grandpa on the inside. He got a little stuck at the point you see in the picture and of course by now we were all laughing pretty hard!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96IHOLY4XDA7Lkz4BAiWBjQ2boqWFzpYH7bLwsq4idvKEPZCB9Es4YNBRK1PmsE_QZWHASnvjfo8eOcabP0Vp3fMWUicO5zn_aNDDX2ObUDWt7yKnJV8z4CWdcTyPBlIiajVFoF45zTQ/s1600/Family+112.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544788051586290226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96IHOLY4XDA7Lkz4BAiWBjQ2boqWFzpYH7bLwsq4idvKEPZCB9Es4YNBRK1PmsE_QZWHASnvjfo8eOcabP0Vp3fMWUicO5zn_aNDDX2ObUDWt7yKnJV8z4CWdcTyPBlIiajVFoF45zTQ/s320/Family+112.JPG" /></a><br />After the "tube incident" we decided to build a fort. He was pretty proud of it and made a doorway so I could come in and join him. We read books by flashlight and told stories. It was fun! Don't you just love that goofy grin, too?! <em>(I also have to add the side note that I can't look at that plaid wool blanket and not think of my Grandma. It was hers, I miss her daily, and am reminded of her often with little things like this.)</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBGQ7ebZLKIXqXvNgNo3Zqvp_a5ThEcX-KB_0ISsxdZ6ZNzD-dFMSA_w2aXwC8Nf0pMXL_Mq0dLBACj6z5KdjYZb2wGzIiKHFIoGAYmJ86-tnd4HAE6vKk5EmZx_1A-RNgCg1D3RX738/s1600/Family+114.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544787352033143442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBGQ7ebZLKIXqXvNgNo3Zqvp_a5ThEcX-KB_0ISsxdZ6ZNzD-dFMSA_w2aXwC8Nf0pMXL_Mq0dLBACj6z5KdjYZb2wGzIiKHFIoGAYmJ86-tnd4HAE6vKk5EmZx_1A-RNgCg1D3RX738/s320/Family+114.JPG" /></a> </p><p>The next morning, Brent and I did some Black Friday shopping (and found some great deals on things we've been planning on for a while!), then we drove back home during some great weather. On Saturday Brent went hunting with his dad, uncle, and brother-in-law while I stayed home to work on dinner. We had invited his family over for Thanksgiving Dinner Round Two, but after the guys decided to go hunting all day I decided to just think of it as an "Andrews Family Dinner" so it would feel less stressful doing it all alone. It helped! Brent's mom and sister did bring a few things, so that sure helped too. It turns out I didn't take a single picture from our time with them so you'll just have to imagine our fun together.</p><p>Today we were able to have a fun afternoon with friends! Stan and Cheryl were in town visiting and it was SO MUCH FUN to reconnect! We go way back, with connections left and right through family, Bethel, and CLBA activities. I'm friends with each of their kids as well so it was fun to hear updates about each of them!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj5Y8Wq-LK_TnYjiQkOP_RV8TUF_6GvSwOp98ZVweiLmA5aPn1O-Ho-UrRzJJzQheSR9Vhm63f40m174lmE7vj1cMEfEHG_xJR8SHYtA8kAP3K7SpSzi7dCwKb41lSq4OenOSFPWfejE/s1600/Family+116.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544787356929539682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj5Y8Wq-LK_TnYjiQkOP_RV8TUF_6GvSwOp98ZVweiLmA5aPn1O-Ho-UrRzJJzQheSR9Vhm63f40m174lmE7vj1cMEfEHG_xJR8SHYtA8kAP3K7SpSzi7dCwKb41lSq4OenOSFPWfejE/s320/Family+116.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Well, there you have it! A little update on us, and a view of our weekend. Like I said, I'm hoping to backtrack on older pictures, but I guess I should learn not to make promises, and just surprise any of you that might still check this blog! :)</p>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-2853666339226939702010-07-26T20:36:00.003-05:002010-07-26T21:31:29.048-05:00Chicago's Shedd Aquarium<div style="text-align: center;">This post is for all of you to enjoy, but it's especially for MICAELA, who loves all things dolphins!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While Brent and I were in Chicago for our first anniversary, we knew we would visit the Shedd Aquarium. We walked there from our hotel the last morning (we were <span style="font-style: italic;">covered</span> in sweat by the end -it was a HIGH humidity weekend!) and spent quite a bit of time there before heading home on the train. After drying off a bit, it was fun to discover what a great place it is! I'm excited to go back again someday, and especially excited to take Micaela there someday!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7l1C3WW5VuCcvvnmwJIJpQdIRNskclF0pMAziLDcSmblRrSCKvDWEvGCqSnPfaiv3_NkL_AfINe-Xy_bj1UpRhyphenhyphenAfJ-VgFqGzhduw9NPwFc81hb5NzOcGzOrcHw7OcCyv1NrTIDh4BE/s1600/Anniversary+177.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7l1C3WW5VuCcvvnmwJIJpQdIRNskclF0pMAziLDcSmblRrSCKvDWEvGCqSnPfaiv3_NkL_AfINe-Xy_bj1UpRhyphenhyphenAfJ-VgFqGzhduw9NPwFc81hb5NzOcGzOrcHw7OcCyv1NrTIDh4BE/s320/Anniversary+177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497547231989542722" border="0" /></a>There are a ton of pictures here so you can see all the ins and outs of the place, but I'll only highlight a few. Like this one of an anaconda... Yuk!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzuCWq1__wXnzxkiquQoytEp1T92FV5AOdqCqdSmnIjIqpCF7ntV1RAgB24SknQNGpiRFsYazDJ-b0twrqdh3wVzETau1X8bIYKuYIoNXx8UPXOyOBppzZwoXu0pVdPuTUzCSqVB2_Y4/s1600/Anniversary+179.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzuCWq1__wXnzxkiquQoytEp1T92FV5AOdqCqdSmnIjIqpCF7ntV1RAgB24SknQNGpiRFsYazDJ-b0twrqdh3wVzETau1X8bIYKuYIoNXx8UPXOyOBppzZwoXu0pVdPuTUzCSqVB2_Y4/s320/Anniversary+179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497547223476588994" border="0" /></a>Shiny little blue fish. They glowed!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0N-Ipg-GRQdDaM3hOnaXePn5ylwU3F6b6njl_YLWUrFSjz76tAVt_ACzizb8ObeW1Ezr3IQ35UIQQrQddwROPAo5tc0b1cai_Hkm5DH9nfrzd2cDgvGsBgRjte1-pb7JSNISVmo70NM/s1600/Anniversary+180.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0N-Ipg-GRQdDaM3hOnaXePn5ylwU3F6b6njl_YLWUrFSjz76tAVt_ACzizb8ObeW1Ezr3IQ35UIQQrQddwROPAo5tc0b1cai_Hkm5DH9nfrzd2cDgvGsBgRjte1-pb7JSNISVmo70NM/s320/Anniversary+180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497547220677598722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5fb03cn6G-aimf2BVLmzb86SYPEa47rYGoSZYZoQE2Sifnhv7fpiAfnstQNXkOqWupepct9RjEIK5oU9dXoNaaaairaka1JPV_cJ7WP-eUurGFDpoOcHg9ETLW0JExUBgukqjccL3T4/s1600/Anniversary+182.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5fb03cn6G-aimf2BVLmzb86SYPEa47rYGoSZYZoQE2Sifnhv7fpiAfnstQNXkOqWupepct9RjEIK5oU9dXoNaaaairaka1JPV_cJ7WP-eUurGFDpoOcHg9ETLW0JExUBgukqjccL3T4/s320/Anniversary+182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497547214718766402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBcm4k0ZpYaxKQC5cYqjWwxVwOgldvt5RyAFQf587R6cSpZc0qVVyzbzQ8soKPey6-p4NGI268sdNs02fjMDXGsUzU5a9Jq5pKVAOZYtOf9SO-Xgh18cqlmbZtm4x90EELe5i2MEwKzs/s1600/Anniversary+185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBcm4k0ZpYaxKQC5cYqjWwxVwOgldvt5RyAFQf587R6cSpZc0qVVyzbzQ8soKPey6-p4NGI268sdNs02fjMDXGsUzU5a9Jq5pKVAOZYtOf9SO-Xgh18cqlmbZtm4x90EELe5i2MEwKzs/s320/Anniversary+185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497547210573919746" border="0" /></a><br />Please excuse the glare that you'll often see in pictures. Around the top of each tank was a neon sign which was cool, but not great for photos.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlnTn1DJb9D0k9kuASmYPvJcbugoeEOx3K5cw4xYZLt5xLDHmwp5aAH2-Dezkka1LjfHodASYMfBvuHQ06yGMqpDvHJTcVf9eXjx1ZZ9ZzZjcsHlxauEy_edSnVS9SP-9Qrd5ZJmbV6Q/s1600/Anniversary+192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlnTn1DJb9D0k9kuASmYPvJcbugoeEOx3K5cw4xYZLt5xLDHmwp5aAH2-Dezkka1LjfHodASYMfBvuHQ06yGMqpDvHJTcVf9eXjx1ZZ9ZzZjcsHlxauEy_edSnVS9SP-9Qrd5ZJmbV6Q/s320/Anniversary+192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546815314901746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bgs1vZM4SyFMB9ruJfP0dmjf3afAmF8X8F6ZyUYhDdD6FGMuRex_ugVPHAo6DqRwdsFGA-jIrreczqfONPgCbooZZQIGe49ETcnyr3hMPI1ekLJ3Ix1vNy713M0ucmhO7u-7zpWrSo8/s1600/Anniversary+195.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bgs1vZM4SyFMB9ruJfP0dmjf3afAmF8X8F6ZyUYhDdD6FGMuRex_ugVPHAo6DqRwdsFGA-jIrreczqfONPgCbooZZQIGe49ETcnyr3hMPI1ekLJ3Ix1vNy713M0ucmhO7u-7zpWrSo8/s320/Anniversary+195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546803268513522" border="0" /></a><br />Okay. You gotta check this out. Except you might not want to. If you can click on the picture below and see it enlarged, check out the eyes on these eels. YUK! They're <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOOOOOOO</span> creepy! There were these two gross eels (one is hiding back in that hole) that were really light in color, and then they had these beady, blue eyes that just stared at us. They even seemed to follow us around the room. Ewwwww!!! I still get shivers thinking about them. So I had to share with you. Maybe that'll make my shivers go away, or just pass on to you. Enjoy! :)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbF36bhbFgLrF_k4h7mAiffxDic15SVc9tq-54HRsmJPlUlv89XI9quqAHwY_XyrZIup6iUP0HKYlf4JTcmIWtP6t28j0IW3lgENzpQSUgm117DgJHFB9_yVvSN69AvNEiV7q1GEbMlA/s1600/Anniversary+197.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbF36bhbFgLrF_k4h7mAiffxDic15SVc9tq-54HRsmJPlUlv89XI9quqAHwY_XyrZIup6iUP0HKYlf4JTcmIWtP6t28j0IW3lgENzpQSUgm117DgJHFB9_yVvSN69AvNEiV7q1GEbMlA/s320/Anniversary+197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546792591221602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtXBH4wfoNo8oEqXd1qxw2SW1LJ_wtzPGhsOlk2BK_XuBNdjVFGW3kkBK5mJ6QWNPugupl2Hv-cAr4GyGQoanVw0IN2w1G_46aXLsDkZpT6niYYY1ot4P3W3kHoxuDEweq6LK4Z3HSYk/s1600/Anniversary+206.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtXBH4wfoNo8oEqXd1qxw2SW1LJ_wtzPGhsOlk2BK_XuBNdjVFGW3kkBK5mJ6QWNPugupl2Hv-cAr4GyGQoanVw0IN2w1G_46aXLsDkZpT6niYYY1ot4P3W3kHoxuDEweq6LK4Z3HSYk/s320/Anniversary+206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546790413397362" border="0" /></a><br />I made sure to include a person in this picture so you can get the perspective of just how large this crab is. Wow!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHl-bxHgaYHCH_POvI1Y8jWoH50YQORDGEk-DH9Nj0KPwnOpUUCmLUULOjR7jbSS_mlR0-jIe0rhkCEfgo7UJwuB4nF1hZWhMoXV9PPU8u-79N6Nox-wkd0uRmlFIu8zvsWbyBnmZjcwU/s1600/Anniversary+207.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHl-bxHgaYHCH_POvI1Y8jWoH50YQORDGEk-DH9Nj0KPwnOpUUCmLUULOjR7jbSS_mlR0-jIe0rhkCEfgo7UJwuB4nF1hZWhMoXV9PPU8u-79N6Nox-wkd0uRmlFIu8zvsWbyBnmZjcwU/s320/Anniversary+207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546786003717314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPSa3ezPUDUMc2T5jAhrNw6OFLaHPG0tfNnTy9kn4pNjViNAkr8vtUY-tuG-h4uZZqAs4Cz6Xs4LGbSb2DtSoVZA8uKPb4QZKwo_qmWdcUOlaLXt6GUVPDWFQpAPXVJA-c2TrMOPstf0/s1600/Anniversary+209.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPSa3ezPUDUMc2T5jAhrNw6OFLaHPG0tfNnTy9kn4pNjViNAkr8vtUY-tuG-h4uZZqAs4Cz6Xs4LGbSb2DtSoVZA8uKPb4QZKwo_qmWdcUOlaLXt6GUVPDWFQpAPXVJA-c2TrMOPstf0/s320/Anniversary+209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546378867324770" border="0" /></a><br />Can you see who's hiding in here? Nemo!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm79YZ8H7DCE8ZYnZhr0aD2yXDFVEUcWTHmg0b7EbtKWPYKxOibHFc2tfTXtuSJnwgGqHWx8rVD0wbocEMxlowcsAi_NIQR-V1mexXyknLg6_oLEau20DGCcmzsfrciRrdMdcpCYP6O4/s1600/Anniversary+212.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm79YZ8H7DCE8ZYnZhr0aD2yXDFVEUcWTHmg0b7EbtKWPYKxOibHFc2tfTXtuSJnwgGqHWx8rVD0wbocEMxlowcsAi_NIQR-V1mexXyknLg6_oLEau20DGCcmzsfrciRrdMdcpCYP6O4/s320/Anniversary+212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546376313541266" border="0" /></a><br />Check out the HUGE turtle on the ramp.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzar7xz4EokakL78WEueAlu0d8dCmb1LG9BafSO34zEn87xp1V5n3wU7v6D-I3vz3Sz8qREJuyogA41yxbsjQnoowKKmauvG50g4s-btfGXZoQC5WWuiBj703KkdakmkwlNRV8v8Ga64/s1600/Anniversary+218.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzar7xz4EokakL78WEueAlu0d8dCmb1LG9BafSO34zEn87xp1V5n3wU7v6D-I3vz3Sz8qREJuyogA41yxbsjQnoowKKmauvG50g4s-btfGXZoQC5WWuiBj703KkdakmkwlNRV8v8Ga64/s320/Anniversary+218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546373732058402" border="0" /></a><br />Every fish in his tank had this strange bump on the head. Maybe they kept running into each other?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn3Dov73NEPutzAtk6-hBXitjfZndk-n1JA_q9RbboM163_a8vDd8aK0rFwFKURb8KiUqFIH6VzlaBKtAus2vI3VgBCSHQGrQmqP9cRZ6g1p2ecdBCeNWm04e4MZaPy_kt6isZDbEgMQ/s1600/Anniversary+220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn3Dov73NEPutzAtk6-hBXitjfZndk-n1JA_q9RbboM163_a8vDd8aK0rFwFKURb8KiUqFIH6VzlaBKtAus2vI3VgBCSHQGrQmqP9cRZ6g1p2ecdBCeNWm04e4MZaPy_kt6isZDbEgMQ/s320/Anniversary+220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546366499113378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP8bmN5qVgzrL3aikBtKmFUQAxWygiw1kr9Jf4EwvmYEvOwyRockEmUGuRQN8OF5eYTS7sKYaR3s2rLP5ifQhuCbmfZrhMGJFKiKAaynrBsKEF9O0cnDRpMv2qszkNsqCCBdXQWkDmMQ/s1600/Anniversary+221.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP8bmN5qVgzrL3aikBtKmFUQAxWygiw1kr9Jf4EwvmYEvOwyRockEmUGuRQN8OF5eYTS7sKYaR3s2rLP5ifQhuCbmfZrhMGJFKiKAaynrBsKEF9O0cnDRpMv2qszkNsqCCBdXQWkDmMQ/s320/Anniversary+221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497546362444928866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir00cStQNoHbnzv3tvPOmDNxzgiIJBoLhXDRRo1cjZwHo3_dSHEyVKEwp7_BDTz8BftQVWn3Ps1PUNFz2pfFCZoZdTQZPsq_d2jMzOgAz8uEZTU3liabSDTedX9Q8USB8jKevZiTCbUjo/s1600/Anniversary+222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir00cStQNoHbnzv3tvPOmDNxzgiIJBoLhXDRRo1cjZwHo3_dSHEyVKEwp7_BDTz8BftQVWn3Ps1PUNFz2pfFCZoZdTQZPsq_d2jMzOgAz8uEZTU3liabSDTedX9Q8USB8jKevZiTCbUjo/s320/Anniversary+222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545815310732754" border="0" /></a><br />Check out these fish! I think they were called "pencil fish", but now I can't remember and I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment. I'm just trying to get this post published!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fF1i-rFq-H92Ey0U5EgIXU9LO6NM-2SGsuInLiGAr1x4WmHYgZTrTe1FiyE6rvKjm0wx0wtoU1Bdxa6Qm24zLX2pWc68tKiZK5LQ0BoNl5X4Mgc6j-Ds5xQuXC5OwIx2eYGONQXeQ08/s1600/Anniversary+223.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fF1i-rFq-H92Ey0U5EgIXU9LO6NM-2SGsuInLiGAr1x4WmHYgZTrTe1FiyE6rvKjm0wx0wtoU1Bdxa6Qm24zLX2pWc68tKiZK5LQ0BoNl5X4Mgc6j-Ds5xQuXC5OwIx2eYGONQXeQ08/s320/Anniversary+223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545809989057122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYEqR00GwNrn1cX6LqASmBbNSqWVCzVlyLy7a8gxzVsacDWYVpHndEib_LK6nY9ep9p3D3p4WqKl_WrIeW19SoQUYQBoVxdEsY4oJlHthwn-amdYyvzZg_H2tO1xAghCWHmo5-z0Iknw/s1600/Anniversary+224.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYEqR00GwNrn1cX6LqASmBbNSqWVCzVlyLy7a8gxzVsacDWYVpHndEib_LK6nY9ep9p3D3p4WqKl_WrIeW19SoQUYQBoVxdEsY4oJlHthwn-amdYyvzZg_H2tO1xAghCWHmo5-z0Iknw/s320/Anniversary+224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545805630409314" border="0" /></a><br />The dolphins! Finally, right Micaela?!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eD7JNyMHQZ2cjzrsOo3GJXV3xOIDMqzxGNEr-ggecOZR-n5FDPWfBqruqkEcCtiUuSjocaDBhOQCwIXSGtiToGlQwOknzMKZ6sL9o-4DQJa9HdDr1DQcOzTY5BoZ1v7xuPOrEozCQSE/s1600/Anniversary+225.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eD7JNyMHQZ2cjzrsOo3GJXV3xOIDMqzxGNEr-ggecOZR-n5FDPWfBqruqkEcCtiUuSjocaDBhOQCwIXSGtiToGlQwOknzMKZ6sL9o-4DQJa9HdDr1DQcOzTY5BoZ1v7xuPOrEozCQSE/s320/Anniversary+225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545800853231954" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry it's so hard to see these. The lighting really made it tough. This pair kept swimming around together, which was pretty fun.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp00H5iF56bpV36j-pXJrwKXiGH_jCQ3MmiOgbHKE-B6NCtWJt2GhrqgWRxVbaeRZ2Z6EpDTawfuALZ1L2v78agF3NrWX4KHlxp40P3FhEkBkBYtDEYf6EGk8nV0vFZL2QSvpqbdM5SE/s1600/Anniversary+226.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp00H5iF56bpV36j-pXJrwKXiGH_jCQ3MmiOgbHKE-B6NCtWJt2GhrqgWRxVbaeRZ2Z6EpDTawfuALZ1L2v78agF3NrWX4KHlxp40P3FhEkBkBYtDEYf6EGk8nV0vFZL2QSvpqbdM5SE/s320/Anniversary+226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545795541978290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bvw1uETaComLtKqmTykrfgUvLxQHH26kJPU6rzVGChk0fi8B1At9iXXPxnp5DwLuwiQDBou8meVcWwArZfu3sZMkL4SY_n6rl6djbOvxJniNuPcO6fIO3S9EmQjkbUrvOog-5u93JNI/s1600/Anniversary+230.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bvw1uETaComLtKqmTykrfgUvLxQHH26kJPU6rzVGChk0fi8B1At9iXXPxnp5DwLuwiQDBou8meVcWwArZfu3sZMkL4SY_n6rl6djbOvxJniNuPcO6fIO3S9EmQjkbUrvOog-5u93JNI/s320/Anniversary+230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545371396725298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYS_vi2NJ7ezwdVCedyCambiZuDbYa-K6-8sEDbNoCML3tPzwuyG6L_IdaWCZsDDieALxRXJxXtbHpHXvfH-uqHWTXFj_-8SeAiYYoHtZ5bc2DmHKNeYOaRcIl8AxPcLH33f6LQhEkPA/s1600/Anniversary+234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYS_vi2NJ7ezwdVCedyCambiZuDbYa-K6-8sEDbNoCML3tPzwuyG6L_IdaWCZsDDieALxRXJxXtbHpHXvfH-uqHWTXFj_-8SeAiYYoHtZ5bc2DmHKNeYOaRcIl8AxPcLH33f6LQhEkPA/s320/Anniversary+234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545363963942706" border="0" /></a><br />This little fella kept following me around with his eyes. It was pretty cute!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpmdBxVyv2P1VFV1sBH-sj9lzVBTlwjQAJSHUjrupIBL0hscBSUjUs0AzVm6e9WF5gOlvoCUwmA9iGub5cMvzpq6ykCSbbC1yDlVll3tRtAeMorox6TnGvE6zzoq1tB9M-2BsED4Bt50/s1600/Anniversary+236.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpmdBxVyv2P1VFV1sBH-sj9lzVBTlwjQAJSHUjrupIBL0hscBSUjUs0AzVm6e9WF5gOlvoCUwmA9iGub5cMvzpq6ykCSbbC1yDlVll3tRtAeMorox6TnGvE6zzoq1tB9M-2BsED4Bt50/s320/Anniversary+236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545359119474050" border="0" /></a><br />Awwww....... So cute!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7NuHf1cVIpXwTiVivvRVQxG93p0GsO03Dqm8cBCCvu_y2Efm1PmI-MNSSadm0oYtkzdrImxS_qDT7_dvLmr_60FrZagpyDOUg0gBS9n2pUUA54k4Q0DaFMGLixteauv6Jvd_CKP9uaw/s1600/Anniversary+238.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7NuHf1cVIpXwTiVivvRVQxG93p0GsO03Dqm8cBCCvu_y2Efm1PmI-MNSSadm0oYtkzdrImxS_qDT7_dvLmr_60FrZagpyDOUg0gBS9n2pUUA54k4Q0DaFMGLixteauv6Jvd_CKP9uaw/s320/Anniversary+238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545353168744962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ytq8GQP4-rZcWe6wcPesrLMtykxK0UIjNGSIaqjqoNLm-5Wa-c44JH-RsF9YYdl9sqVtPCjMjy-RLFV71srrzQ9mfnakyRXKlryUL0-bj-8WKc2593oeqtMO7WsTO50Tk_ZmKjm568g/s1600/Anniversary+240.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ytq8GQP4-rZcWe6wcPesrLMtykxK0UIjNGSIaqjqoNLm-5Wa-c44JH-RsF9YYdl9sqVtPCjMjy-RLFV71srrzQ9mfnakyRXKlryUL0-bj-8WKc2593oeqtMO7WsTO50Tk_ZmKjm568g/s320/Anniversary+240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497545344884680738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGSazA5KmSrIULkXAlZJxKeRHrOw3I0T6uTQBeWH93xIJqn2oI46hzLu5SaaHi1Ysa-0UBuIHm3TTqqSUG1ACD8Q-NlOmMdBo40KF94pgRYafjAYU08l4JXamBnLKwscEONXAI_DLOZk/s1600/Anniversary+249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGSazA5KmSrIULkXAlZJxKeRHrOw3I0T6uTQBeWH93xIJqn2oI46hzLu5SaaHi1Ysa-0UBuIHm3TTqqSUG1ACD8Q-NlOmMdBo40KF94pgRYafjAYU08l4JXamBnLKwscEONXAI_DLOZk/s320/Anniversary+249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544767424043874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGr0DvU8W4torlssxuKadf5KIDkPTCRSJl6I4Djwzyjp6altP6j6jhLMUsp9utBrWImNnsPs2ezB7_4adQTNjed9sUZSc1SPW441YVnTJXPBJsNrrboh2R_b_ygHukxmzZTiXvSqiGjY/s1600/Anniversary+250.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGr0DvU8W4torlssxuKadf5KIDkPTCRSJl6I4Djwzyjp6altP6j6jhLMUsp9utBrWImNnsPs2ezB7_4adQTNjed9sUZSc1SPW441YVnTJXPBJsNrrboh2R_b_ygHukxmzZTiXvSqiGjY/s320/Anniversary+250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544757279282162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wsAZV9rZd4pTRMK9dhqtSJk3hhx3jqErcg-BuThkq3w4JdrkfVevWX3rmDLD7vunhljUJzrJg12_XlxhZgFKJJRz9uxwIFR95KPHwJ-Rvq9uDp_nDKDcpQr5z7qVSCsnwJiPz1PbUKo/s1600/Anniversary+252.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wsAZV9rZd4pTRMK9dhqtSJk3hhx3jqErcg-BuThkq3w4JdrkfVevWX3rmDLD7vunhljUJzrJg12_XlxhZgFKJJRz9uxwIFR95KPHwJ-Rvq9uDp_nDKDcpQr5z7qVSCsnwJiPz1PbUKo/s320/Anniversary+252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544754773124322" border="0" /></a><br />I love the bright colors you can find in nature!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nCDMWzQd3OIHSR669rEb0UIn7nmDZROITdZu8jQSMwUinovyzxLFGzOeFNwmw2PpbY31pLPJOkj_U9RZHM4nvZ3pcN4Wb6kk6o8Dmnzpffdv9KynQsO1riiBRYjrO62QkZ2y3ciZvPU/s1600/Anniversary+254.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nCDMWzQd3OIHSR669rEb0UIn7nmDZROITdZu8jQSMwUinovyzxLFGzOeFNwmw2PpbY31pLPJOkj_U9RZHM4nvZ3pcN4Wb6kk6o8Dmnzpffdv9KynQsO1riiBRYjrO62QkZ2y3ciZvPU/s320/Anniversary+254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544750015020690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqrVFCqfdU5rMqfKgnAdZYesuQsdaWiPJbTqcB8KaoyrSL5IFXknV0HyrdQb48MXuczW5dYnogl4ywP4tvuE0xZT6uB4NLYQCjjjgYFL42aDmoEyKBYoaOauhLuyLuPwjkwCRlZoeZgU/s1600/Anniversary+260.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqrVFCqfdU5rMqfKgnAdZYesuQsdaWiPJbTqcB8KaoyrSL5IFXknV0HyrdQb48MXuczW5dYnogl4ywP4tvuE0xZT6uB4NLYQCjjjgYFL42aDmoEyKBYoaOauhLuyLuPwjkwCRlZoeZgU/s320/Anniversary+260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544745930735842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXGHebmim69kBCl0kHQyK1OJIfSbnu_Kqio4w8RA9ZFGwAEtwSizhI4MHAkAZ6Q2eH5gIaVt-tGnz4udIv1lb9zKCgBPry13z7hGFjAia8aMuJWt44Dz__1axqKB31I1h4rl_FLsIbJc/s1600/Anniversary+272.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXGHebmim69kBCl0kHQyK1OJIfSbnu_Kqio4w8RA9ZFGwAEtwSizhI4MHAkAZ6Q2eH5gIaVt-tGnz4udIv1lb9zKCgBPry13z7hGFjAia8aMuJWt44Dz__1axqKB31I1h4rl_FLsIbJc/s320/Anniversary+272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544009353135538" border="0" /></a><br />Do you see the little frog? He was pretty tiny!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7RWvgseq6gnWkB3j7DKF8oNrwrE-Xujjm3_s00ztB7Bjpdnq2ZPREkhhDmNtgN4DifrDcSKCHHJGNXxDradCxRUDNTxTkPLlHTxektudE-FysOcjFV9Ez7lO1ubE_wT6G-Lx8TNvmSE/s1600/Anniversary+269.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7RWvgseq6gnWkB3j7DKF8oNrwrE-Xujjm3_s00ztB7Bjpdnq2ZPREkhhDmNtgN4DifrDcSKCHHJGNXxDradCxRUDNTxTkPLlHTxektudE-FysOcjFV9Ez7lO1ubE_wT6G-Lx8TNvmSE/s320/Anniversary+269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497544001922918802" border="0" /></a><br />Can you see the chameleon? He's hiding!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSZdDbX0izmF1ZKtbV-QiJjLO9H3UQhY_6-XKeDnBmm7YkdS0Ll6W6PkVpReMdO45hYelXe82cNm77_oX3ACM_iC-PMW-0CnHymcljaNKG6vB9l9cNdrwJ122wJQyqiHfpcZjPrXHDns/s1600/Anniversary+267.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSZdDbX0izmF1ZKtbV-QiJjLO9H3UQhY_6-XKeDnBmm7YkdS0Ll6W6PkVpReMdO45hYelXe82cNm77_oX3ACM_iC-PMW-0CnHymcljaNKG6vB9l9cNdrwJ122wJQyqiHfpcZjPrXHDns/s320/Anniversary+267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497543994644269266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqfZaUbMRRtYggwvI8uKynjMuIUpPm92-jKBIs2mw4LJNe8ZrFt_2QTyMP_n5lbOzMQQQ14b3msYE1T08y2CNJfr2PkobCLHylon7M2RkUvDHUK3w7Rqldnhw_UyKLTnC5Zyb10g5cZc/s1600/Anniversary+266.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqfZaUbMRRtYggwvI8uKynjMuIUpPm92-jKBIs2mw4LJNe8ZrFt_2QTyMP_n5lbOzMQQQ14b3msYE1T08y2CNJfr2PkobCLHylon7M2RkUvDHUK3w7Rqldnhw_UyKLTnC5Zyb10g5cZc/s320/Anniversary+266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497543984936330258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqx-YnRJ5Qqv987kuUg7-_s62TSLcVcCjdaEopMTGAY-gGuhmwYmBuPuBgvmsfTImH44D79uMvD19wikjcW5WvsqmbS4MQ6rQWbNIcFt5ZyzDc6ZW6Lvbf_r2gESVTmWpZvv6NLR_ZEM/s1600/Anniversary+263.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqx-YnRJ5Qqv987kuUg7-_s62TSLcVcCjdaEopMTGAY-gGuhmwYmBuPuBgvmsfTImH44D79uMvD19wikjcW5WvsqmbS4MQ6rQWbNIcFt5ZyzDc6ZW6Lvbf_r2gESVTmWpZvv6NLR_ZEM/s320/Anniversary+263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497543983908667250" border="0" /></a>There's our trip to the Shedd Aquarium! Did you have as much fun as we did?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I also have three videos, but those don't seem to be processing for me tonight. I often seem to have problems with that. Hmmm.... Micaela, I'll just show you this weekend while you're here, and the rest of you? Well, you should just come visit and I'll show you, too! :)<br /></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-58824674823033176872010-07-13T08:00:00.002-05:002010-07-13T08:00:04.437-05:00The Art Institute of ChicagoWhen we arrived in Chicago, one of the very first things we did was head to the Art Institute of Chicago. It was a beautiful building from the outside,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy6PkFn-HVyxBFCrAU9Jf5WziO0IcT_9e7SvD_KOSQfEfJN6G69l8RLsqF-9rlXmfFGBtJssFg-vLSRViirVCzwo_LM7E-umviOssUaGX5Ckh22czIDTPwLg0gpkqq6qJKxpb1s_QNag/s1600/Anniversary+022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy6PkFn-HVyxBFCrAU9Jf5WziO0IcT_9e7SvD_KOSQfEfJN6G69l8RLsqF-9rlXmfFGBtJssFg-vLSRViirVCzwo_LM7E-umviOssUaGX5Ckh22czIDTPwLg0gpkqq6qJKxpb1s_QNag/s320/Anniversary+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493206737518671442" border="0" /></a>...and from the inside! There was the older-style museum, and they've recently added a modern wing. I'm guessing you can tell which is which.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg175tDvkO2NQ710D3PzLrJGwmshhv5Q1ZSPjlG9Ztynegi14PPMCHXzM9D0Pbwq4c5aqMFTxyKqlrMEwge9SSLkvIJFHBset7rldWSucGe8J3pmOPUEnIgeFBZKcIYshHBDgaA01jxo/s1600/Anniversary+053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg175tDvkO2NQ710D3PzLrJGwmshhv5Q1ZSPjlG9Ztynegi14PPMCHXzM9D0Pbwq4c5aqMFTxyKqlrMEwge9SSLkvIJFHBset7rldWSucGe8J3pmOPUEnIgeFBZKcIYshHBDgaA01jxo/s320/Anniversary+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493206723991180210" border="0" /></a>I'm so glad I took this shot in black and white. I feel like it could be a picture in their advertisement!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FfpxxLJgRx6PQqX31XQ2vdxt-gOF745ATrjB_DWYOGTiW0bU4lOuM2LxFOLE8AQnNaqzGWKtpBUN393T8jws2Neu9GEj4ECBz7-DgwN1_g85EVRELkvaLMkhP7GiDBjD0TtZ-X16TyA/s1600/Anniversary+054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FfpxxLJgRx6PQqX31XQ2vdxt-gOF745ATrjB_DWYOGTiW0bU4lOuM2LxFOLE8AQnNaqzGWKtpBUN393T8jws2Neu9GEj4ECBz7-DgwN1_g85EVRELkvaLMkhP7GiDBjD0TtZ-X16TyA/s320/Anniversary+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493206719312970594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIUpzKyG8SC8Ng1vvjcwVliopGLpIwe3CsbzKcK0wAnT7WXm6bwIBxDAf-IxKHeQgh2EX3ZapR5CAdMXwiJ7Zn0t1GaMD3iyBgauMC43WvWzrrDKDDCsKh5dqvGzZeu7Im-Y57Bt1t0k/s1600/Anniversary+055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIUpzKyG8SC8Ng1vvjcwVliopGLpIwe3CsbzKcK0wAnT7WXm6bwIBxDAf-IxKHeQgh2EX3ZapR5CAdMXwiJ7Zn0t1GaMD3iyBgauMC43WvWzrrDKDDCsKh5dqvGzZeu7Im-Y57Bt1t0k/s320/Anniversary+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493206710468410258" border="0" /></a>Next you'll see just a few of the beautiful and interesting pieces they have at the museum. I'm guessing you'll recognize some of them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNinLvlQI_exKiGoQjpYSu9xKsG9rz12TuMdiV4vYgFAjnCpWBNUiTfQOYBpVGNyW_Q5KZ8vrTcImeCPxPNneGUhOGFCKR7adDKxk565SzA_vYYkc_8owKedkHyEJYvlg0XNksZiIyLKw/s1600/Anniversary+023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNinLvlQI_exKiGoQjpYSu9xKsG9rz12TuMdiV4vYgFAjnCpWBNUiTfQOYBpVGNyW_Q5KZ8vrTcImeCPxPNneGUhOGFCKR7adDKxk565SzA_vYYkc_8owKedkHyEJYvlg0XNksZiIyLKw/s320/Anniversary+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205802980297762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ltqwapxvKxtSjA-8gXIwY0sxOgMQM73IurxW8ikk1EGfsk6oTrtIwaS2lomh6HqLmJvbdwNpAEBQ78uMu5uy_smEEsHpHkrVEewXJ8SvLytpsnsfjXgUVeuBu-th0BXtEc3szFk68U/s1600/Anniversary+025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ltqwapxvKxtSjA-8gXIwY0sxOgMQM73IurxW8ikk1EGfsk6oTrtIwaS2lomh6HqLmJvbdwNpAEBQ78uMu5uy_smEEsHpHkrVEewXJ8SvLytpsnsfjXgUVeuBu-th0BXtEc3szFk68U/s320/Anniversary+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205797306731682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBzK9GXfV-S2mV1rOcQDCTLejNfDQe6g6EcnlYNcvO-dxYDrhUldWwc5G2Zz2VVfv24aIcRoYpTiBQDlpYPrGJOPj5cvTJMAu8EiKnKlVLDGgWPGeMjsuh88MQFydC7TesZDUgPHIlqA/s1600/Anniversary+030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBzK9GXfV-S2mV1rOcQDCTLejNfDQe6g6EcnlYNcvO-dxYDrhUldWwc5G2Zz2VVfv24aIcRoYpTiBQDlpYPrGJOPj5cvTJMAu8EiKnKlVLDGgWPGeMjsuh88MQFydC7TesZDUgPHIlqA/s320/Anniversary+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205793080429378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5w2p6Uubn_Lwjj6DUd0LAzJ9bgmBOoxTogs6tLeRX7kSeYIKmVJuQFg90o2LsPdX52nGw_8wZa6axlVTkSJyPT7UDrdBtjJ4h7p9qAb8MhaeFHXUdI5Vk_yipP-oP9bBQy7euknCA_c/s1600/Anniversary+036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5w2p6Uubn_Lwjj6DUd0LAzJ9bgmBOoxTogs6tLeRX7kSeYIKmVJuQFg90o2LsPdX52nGw_8wZa6axlVTkSJyPT7UDrdBtjJ4h7p9qAb8MhaeFHXUdI5Vk_yipP-oP9bBQy7euknCA_c/s320/Anniversary+036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205787233971666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDql8ftEEcPYwmOM0rNFkbBKAc7HGqfWbGwVvZnZcbm8pVVNGeEl0NQM214zGjrzXMceCHqFWq-uI7tDjxkvio5nZzWFeI9HDu82thHWKeZYjqwu1ieAVmc6iAsLvfz673g8lCqKd_bI/s1600/Anniversary+038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDql8ftEEcPYwmOM0rNFkbBKAc7HGqfWbGwVvZnZcbm8pVVNGeEl0NQM214zGjrzXMceCHqFWq-uI7tDjxkvio5nZzWFeI9HDu82thHWKeZYjqwu1ieAVmc6iAsLvfz673g8lCqKd_bI/s320/Anniversary+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205423184992258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJdzWJ8p5B43S_OYZUbd99PUWq6P1Yp1ZmXdhyphenhyphenGkSLiZdo4ibwHGkTBFnA6ADKw5WGE6LyMSdhvarY8zMAXW6KiQ-2yyBAov-QYjneExAQF78B-YdrVayfg_c4wfy19jzL75UnTKlCgU/s1600/Anniversary+042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJdzWJ8p5B43S_OYZUbd99PUWq6P1Yp1ZmXdhyphenhyphenGkSLiZdo4ibwHGkTBFnA6ADKw5WGE6LyMSdhvarY8zMAXW6KiQ-2yyBAov-QYjneExAQF78B-YdrVayfg_c4wfy19jzL75UnTKlCgU/s320/Anniversary+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205414352311634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA4u5IzCrElD_FPWHn5bQ4Wq8DOf4r_Q9Pie0Jp2flgEux8PKazcBIcELi6bp7RTlCUH-2PV_t03lXthHx2IOBcXQtoYEvCpdM-_0b0SQkb4ddl7pvVxiyRjb4w1bgiFdAAoqRb3hf6s/s1600/Anniversary+045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA4u5IzCrElD_FPWHn5bQ4Wq8DOf4r_Q9Pie0Jp2flgEux8PKazcBIcELi6bp7RTlCUH-2PV_t03lXthHx2IOBcXQtoYEvCpdM-_0b0SQkb4ddl7pvVxiyRjb4w1bgiFdAAoqRb3hf6s/s320/Anniversary+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205407002933922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXP0WH0A2LnJW3IJz-i3kP3rSDp8QXHI59PKMZw7EOhVGc7R-YX2dySoRmdFqunDxmiUHv_yiPgk4dKSlAhwfhFf4KoRxT9Zf0Q7LlI1rp5Mx74IrrXujmL1y4dwD0mVPXAALqYDlcmg/s1600/Anniversary+047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXP0WH0A2LnJW3IJz-i3kP3rSDp8QXHI59PKMZw7EOhVGc7R-YX2dySoRmdFqunDxmiUHv_yiPgk4dKSlAhwfhFf4KoRxT9Zf0Q7LlI1rp5Mx74IrrXujmL1y4dwD0mVPXAALqYDlcmg/s320/Anniversary+047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205395876553906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2I7lXTnEbFU7gJuL2s7dWetie7wOTmZ1Sp61f56WIOUs00et74-Q5FpGI2m42usrN4tuBEY7cSB9IxGrgwHYFB4DkFTAN9XNg0rBNI0Tv2NsNeIS0DtLOMYW731G5wMCDH0XKC_ttFI/s1600/Anniversary+056.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2I7lXTnEbFU7gJuL2s7dWetie7wOTmZ1Sp61f56WIOUs00et74-Q5FpGI2m42usrN4tuBEY7cSB9IxGrgwHYFB4DkFTAN9XNg0rBNI0Tv2NsNeIS0DtLOMYW731G5wMCDH0XKC_ttFI/s320/Anniversary+056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493205393123612242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DIYZAuRNd3f6EjX001ODdOk5koA3qHHP00zjymhiDPU9AXn-42P0ldduKPyk2at59xlP6WZ1-5fOQGzfFMPXF0Wfs7ykj_pP8vo0dujUPQnC-mHIGzJB6rEbjbYu404f-CdkYyhvmqE/s1600/Anniversary+070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DIYZAuRNd3f6EjX001ODdOk5koA3qHHP00zjymhiDPU9AXn-42P0ldduKPyk2at59xlP6WZ1-5fOQGzfFMPXF0Wfs7ykj_pP8vo0dujUPQnC-mHIGzJB6rEbjbYu404f-CdkYyhvmqE/s320/Anniversary+070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493204732269524162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8kIOdgYXu-OMRiokL30eWgvflBY4bTe8-S37o35bPI8CtlOOMrUZE3zCW6O8eD5o0aUI59pYTuPtkjP7M-vphPUScyQEocE5szTq7SN3Eo93lVcgLjOS8Iq1MhBDS-81RuOTWTV6WRA/s1600/Anniversary+068.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8kIOdgYXu-OMRiokL30eWgvflBY4bTe8-S37o35bPI8CtlOOMrUZE3zCW6O8eD5o0aUI59pYTuPtkjP7M-vphPUScyQEocE5szTq7SN3Eo93lVcgLjOS8Iq1MhBDS-81RuOTWTV6WRA/s320/Anniversary+068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493204727035744690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWXy8awF-hvvqdwpNi7OY34eze-0P9_78xT7R9owOaoBKqk92Y4b5sxIQEY3u01_6w624WK0b25fH-zktUwEoSRzT4ncC2ZmR3CuQ2CpAIXRmExh1J2pQPC8C1MmF0UepkO3c0dZ5RMk/s1600/Anniversary+066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWXy8awF-hvvqdwpNi7OY34eze-0P9_78xT7R9owOaoBKqk92Y4b5sxIQEY3u01_6w624WK0b25fH-zktUwEoSRzT4ncC2ZmR3CuQ2CpAIXRmExh1J2pQPC8C1MmF0UepkO3c0dZ5RMk/s320/Anniversary+066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493204718279856738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLph1FjA8xBhTTSoPbyl8qV0Q-EZbGjlOgO9oj0oqL23RVil8-MAcAsNHI0Mixs6zFIbSk5mUyWIs3EOqYvOA8FMi-M9MWwMRY60FwXJ8E4dCGSxxVU2V-fSvQR3udhpRjkaLlI9QDF40/s1600/Anniversary+063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLph1FjA8xBhTTSoPbyl8qV0Q-EZbGjlOgO9oj0oqL23RVil8-MAcAsNHI0Mixs6zFIbSk5mUyWIs3EOqYvOA8FMi-M9MWwMRY60FwXJ8E4dCGSxxVU2V-fSvQR3udhpRjkaLlI9QDF40/s320/Anniversary+063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493204709705671410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimL4DLflDFTlgSW-sGTOCdHdqwlf8wbz3dls9h4SYc_eN22soA0ZkLbUAOY3c2KNrwkk1GAuX-6HQc6sjMWRJVsCe4qOCKAPzuMQQS9qUo_UW9HFcknrSH90bdsDHfziQMaehcb2TtZc/s1600/Anniversary+059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimL4DLflDFTlgSW-sGTOCdHdqwlf8wbz3dls9h4SYc_eN22soA0ZkLbUAOY3c2KNrwkk1GAuX-6HQc6sjMWRJVsCe4qOCKAPzuMQQS9qUo_UW9HFcknrSH90bdsDHfziQMaehcb2TtZc/s320/Anniversary+059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493204706149748882" border="0" /></a>Can you name any of the artists? I snapped a close-up picture of the description of each item, so I could let you know if you really want the information.<br /><br />One unique thing they had was a miniature display. Here are two images of all these miniature little boxes you could look through and see rooms with HUGE amounts of detail! It's hard to tell from the pictures (and the reflections) just what was in each room and what size they really were, but they were really amazing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_liEiq5EDg2VdEdMOhgT5ObevPNy8zSQY_5QOfe9jLcof33c1iyrcTQMudGp8YAK2c7KPVi-jTYy662RP9hsqwHJP4HGojAOXmuGjbrFwkutcunr17MAwouXEeIodKgIHONQnglrbdo/s1600/Anniversary+079.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_liEiq5EDg2VdEdMOhgT5ObevPNy8zSQY_5QOfe9jLcof33c1iyrcTQMudGp8YAK2c7KPVi-jTYy662RP9hsqwHJP4HGojAOXmuGjbrFwkutcunr17MAwouXEeIodKgIHONQnglrbdo/s320/Anniversary+079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493203989176699426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvW355u1DYFITsyig_HdvZvGOMuExfbmqxZXqOTu4EIVwz6QCWxusZvJU6sj_GtGIx28hyphenhyphendfGq7ifKpu9E7xMEZdrFaInUGUwAWKUDFV0smbXcYspofzGagvADjayIH9conMiAg_53jU/s1600/Anniversary+075.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvW355u1DYFITsyig_HdvZvGOMuExfbmqxZXqOTu4EIVwz6QCWxusZvJU6sj_GtGIx28hyphenhyphendfGq7ifKpu9E7xMEZdrFaInUGUwAWKUDFV0smbXcYspofzGagvADjayIH9conMiAg_53jU/s320/Anniversary+075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493203978902229794" border="0" /></a>A statue I was drawn to in the sculpture area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMm4QsF2a0-l_817_sJTHIeH79Q9vuos45-KRABe6dp_yUtceHHZMvTlZiRPU9OpUfcgcYS6T2F1JR5uV7TQz-iMegJkIlsanWXYesQirWupKAwtW6mYEoV3OcJ5zkQ6CgRkx7w6_Spk/s1600/Anniversary+074.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMm4QsF2a0-l_817_sJTHIeH79Q9vuos45-KRABe6dp_yUtceHHZMvTlZiRPU9OpUfcgcYS6T2F1JR5uV7TQz-iMegJkIlsanWXYesQirWupKAwtW6mYEoV3OcJ5zkQ6CgRkx7w6_Spk/s320/Anniversary+074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493203975439786642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUWoiv9PS0NNr0kKic8Xqc_CBw9cOcdSR9toKEizMzBuDjFJS30lJbg0tKzWLtN04DqdW1d9ZhGcw1b5JXEstIBlk4E6Hw9H7Dp7I31b6CS5mPEy2R6xu0JqYpThS8cbnMYtoxmEHd4I/s1600/Anniversary+072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUWoiv9PS0NNr0kKic8Xqc_CBw9cOcdSR9toKEizMzBuDjFJS30lJbg0tKzWLtN04DqdW1d9ZhGcw1b5JXEstIBlk4E6Hw9H7Dp7I31b6CS5mPEy2R6xu0JqYpThS8cbnMYtoxmEHd4I/s320/Anniversary+072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493203970049862690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX6nQjIlSlPN3iim87AM0Jy_MI-cJvHUCRpLjLaQtNc9Riu_433Obx9pClAPETJ1zO0och56y0w8rbMTIW5VSerQvuEtQXDkYwVkzNv4j0R_fwhoj_Xjx4cYMIIgebSdlOZbSDZtbIBU/s1600/Anniversary+081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX6nQjIlSlPN3iim87AM0Jy_MI-cJvHUCRpLjLaQtNc9Riu_433Obx9pClAPETJ1zO0och56y0w8rbMTIW5VSerQvuEtQXDkYwVkzNv4j0R_fwhoj_Xjx4cYMIIgebSdlOZbSDZtbIBU/s320/Anniversary+081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493203993859791938" border="0" /></a>There you have it! Now you can feel like you were at the Art Institute of Chicago with us!Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-35554961156515598322010-07-12T21:24:00.004-05:002010-07-12T21:40:58.665-05:00What a guy...It was our first anniversary on Sunday, the 11th! If we are friends on Facebook, you might have seen that Brent and I went to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate. I took LOTS of pictures, so I have lots to share with you! As I'm sorting through things, however, I wanted to give you a little taste of how wonderful my husband is!<br /><br />On Friday night when I got home, I found our table set, the candles already lit, and this cake sitting on the table! For our wedding, we had an appetizer and dessert buffet -which was exactly what we wanted! But, this meant we didn't have a wedding cake topper to eat on our first anniversary. I had actually set aside two each of the mini petit-fours for us to eat, but my thoughtful husband went one step beyond that, and ordered us a cake! He even picked out chocolate cake for<span style="font-style: italic;"> me</span> with chocolate filling for <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> (and had white frosting for <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>). Notice the red and yellow flowers? Look familiar?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTSv_J5hF7moXxzd1RCUmHg1NStM8KXLp5LdGkOVCRqZJKonzEvlo52JMiFNpn5G4d6pjmnaPgn5ALahTfo0aorDNRZsEBO3liaUWCaR8T0Itp2qYWrj6RQo0e35dhaXMYWND0l3S9aA/s1600/Anniversary+002.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpz4CJCFyD18uY59AeIrARd0-fZpy6toy5L5XSNM8YfGUD_MugvGIWXHFl-zv9ADHE_cpfWQPuYoXLud5v3JCuCYFdfCzvZKqPkqbZKb2Fjyfr9DyzoB3DSW-5w8uLR2Y_Sskls0Opuk/s1600/Anniversary+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpz4CJCFyD18uY59AeIrARd0-fZpy6toy5L5XSNM8YfGUD_MugvGIWXHFl-zv9ADHE_cpfWQPuYoXLud5v3JCuCYFdfCzvZKqPkqbZKb2Fjyfr9DyzoB3DSW-5w8uLR2Y_Sskls0Opuk/s320/Anniversary+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493211469164554066" border="0" /></a>What a guy....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjhvLmVWaASYb50UWpP9VGndaIcay5QD1iGaz-Hw9vTZU5cBPOlbq0wO0aW3X78pCBsFZkZ7lHJSfBhy_7L1Pgrum-XCveELIt87hbNurCsBH-bcQRikW4zSo7fJkCl3-z9najjuT0OY/s1600/Anniversary+006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjhvLmVWaASYb50UWpP9VGndaIcay5QD1iGaz-Hw9vTZU5cBPOlbq0wO0aW3X78pCBsFZkZ7lHJSfBhy_7L1Pgrum-XCveELIt87hbNurCsBH-bcQRikW4zSo7fJkCl3-z9najjuT0OY/s320/Anniversary+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493211465276907778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's a side note: we have a container vegetable garden growing (successfully!) and here is our first tomato of the season. Doesn't it look yummy? We ate it during our anniversary dinner, and it was!!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTSv_J5hF7moXxzd1RCUmHg1NStM8KXLp5LdGkOVCRqZJKonzEvlo52JMiFNpn5G4d6pjmnaPgn5ALahTfo0aorDNRZsEBO3liaUWCaR8T0Itp2qYWrj6RQo0e35dhaXMYWND0l3S9aA/s1600/Anniversary+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTSv_J5hF7moXxzd1RCUmHg1NStM8KXLp5LdGkOVCRqZJKonzEvlo52JMiFNpn5G4d6pjmnaPgn5ALahTfo0aorDNRZsEBO3liaUWCaR8T0Itp2qYWrj6RQo0e35dhaXMYWND0l3S9aA/s320/Anniversary+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493211479771092034" border="0" /></a>My wonderful husband made my favorite meal to celebrate: steak, mashed potato's, veggies, and cake for dessert!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA9SrEY7QgdtvVBl7ilzsGTwGgn80lXosq6EHljoJtFLqgkmmnZ1kZDhrt2AYNNYLljtVCEe4kbbJ5cW5GWU7uHOxv4ubhqzIweEDSL5pd3Kv3-qeUinHruxQJFJG2TTXPT6K8KWtBzk/s1600/Anniversary+007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA9SrEY7QgdtvVBl7ilzsGTwGgn80lXosq6EHljoJtFLqgkmmnZ1kZDhrt2AYNNYLljtVCEe4kbbJ5cW5GWU7uHOxv4ubhqzIweEDSL5pd3Kv3-qeUinHruxQJFJG2TTXPT6K8KWtBzk/s320/Anniversary+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493211462204119234" border="0" /></a>I'm a blessed woman!Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-11351645245022895142010-07-11T06:00:00.000-05:002010-07-11T06:00:00.420-05:00One Year!Happy Anniversary to us! Brent and I have now been married for one whole year. Can you believe it? We're in Chicago while you read this, celebrating our first anniversary, but I got this post ready and set it to publish on the right day. <br /><br />My cousin, Tim, is talented with a video camera and editing tools. He put together our wedding video, and we're so thankful for that! He made one video of all the "getting ready" stuff, which is what you'll see here. There are clips of us arriving to the church, getting ready, seeing one another for the first time that day, taking pictures, hanging out with friends. <span style="font-style:italic;">Just ignore the giddy girl with the strange head-bob. I'm not quite sure who she is!</span><br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8588225&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8588225&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8588225">Andrews Wedding Intro</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/timmyjimi">timmyjimi</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />We're not going to post a link for our actual wedding video, since it's pretty long from the start of walking down the aisle, to the AMAZING singing, to the praise and worship time and the message and the vows and the rings. <span style="font-style:italic;">You get it.</span> If you ever want to see it, come visit, and we'll happily show you anytime! <span style="font-style:italic;">Well, I will. Brent might find something else to do since I think if you're a guy you can only watch a wedding video, even if it's your own, so many times.</span><br /><br />The following is a video that's mostly of our reception. You'll see a few people talk to the camera. It starts with my cousin, Kristen and husband, Josh. They got married less than three months after us so you might remember my post about their amazing outdoor wedding. You'll also see my aunt and uncle, my dad, and then glimpses of many others. Maybe you? What I hope you can see from the video is just how much fun we were all having. We wanted our reception to feel like "game night at Kari and Brent's" <span style="font-style:italic;">(you know, in the middle of the afternoon)</span> so we had actual games available to play, a wide variety of our favorite foods in the appetizer and dessert categories <span style="font-style:italic;">(can you guess which one of us favors which option?)</span>, and freedom to mingle all around the room. We specifically didn't want people to feel stuck in one chair the whole time, that if they had people to visit with, they could do that. That's what Brent and I did! My only regret is that as the bride, when I wanted to walk somewhere specific to talk with someone, I was usually stopped along the way. There were a few people I was really trying to reach across the room to spend some time with, and just wasn't able to. I guess sometimes it's okay to wear a normal dress and fit into the crowd. That time isn't on your wedding day! Anyway, enjoy the video! <br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8706807&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8706807&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8706807">Andrews Reception</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/timmyjimi">timmyjimi</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />Didn't Tim do a great job?! You can check out more of his talent by clicking on his blog link on the side.<br /><br />We really had such a fun day, with absolutely everything turning out just how we wanted it to. If there were any issues or problems on that day, I never once knew about it <span style="font-style:italic;">(a great plug for having an INCREDIBLE wedding coordinator!)</span>. We laughed and cried (the good tears) and had fun and relaxed and I love being able to say that I <span style="font-weight:bold;">remember</span> so much about the day. It was just perfect!<br /><br />Happy Anniversary, Brent! I'm excited to have at least 60 more of them with you!Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-84333519604118336802010-07-09T06:00:00.002-05:002010-07-09T06:00:04.447-05:00Banana Muffins<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I was going to wait with this post until a later date, but because my step-daughter asked about them, I upped the timeline. We were on the phone with her while I was making these. This is for you, Micaela!</span><br />~~~~<br /><br />I really love Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.<br />I could eat them every single day.<br />I don't.<br />I could, but I don't.<br /><br />My husband, on the other hand, likes banana bread.<br />Without chocolate chips.<br />Or in muffin form.<br /><br />I thought I would be an extra-wonderful wife and make him banana bread, but decided that we could compromise and eat them in muffin form.<br />This might have been so I could add chocolate chips to half the batter.<br />But we're not sure about that last part.<br /><br />After the muffins were made, and half of them were eaten quickly, the non-chocolate-chip<br />half sat on the counter for a while.<br />One of us doesn't eat banana muffins as fast as the other of us does.<br /><br />One of us decided to save part of his half, and thought about the very useful Food Saver we bought with wedding gift cards.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxjyVOFZrjeFt3AMd_ZSLmkM-IzqN7lkcF2gp5S3tXBSNg7qjmBRVKMKyYmiorm7ZPP3HTPTie88RJ82UaHGuzdDAr2vO7AKmfDQRe91qMuzI1shyphenhyphenfx_Dcryq4LIDssgMKI3FAfNdCCo/s1600/David+001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxjyVOFZrjeFt3AMd_ZSLmkM-IzqN7lkcF2gp5S3tXBSNg7qjmBRVKMKyYmiorm7ZPP3HTPTie88RJ82UaHGuzdDAr2vO7AKmfDQRe91qMuzI1shyphenhyphenfx_Dcryq4LIDssgMKI3FAfNdCCo/s320/David+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491718746484996994" border="0" /></a><br />It turns out that banana muffins have air in them.<br />They get a little compacted in the Food Saver.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMapjXFVEWwwpQp5-ccMF1iE0I9zTnpVL2qtnfs9l415xibQJsfFDBwyBQ_fetGtDht0V3f2rUuCtpoXFE5aJWKZAOhCglgHYmeBxcj7OzMNb1kHSA5D5RR8jdVxAIWHvOM7_Rf2RhcVg/s1600/David+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMapjXFVEWwwpQp5-ccMF1iE0I9zTnpVL2qtnfs9l415xibQJsfFDBwyBQ_fetGtDht0V3f2rUuCtpoXFE5aJWKZAOhCglgHYmeBxcj7OzMNb1kHSA5D5RR8jdVxAIWHvOM7_Rf2RhcVg/s320/David+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491718741546855314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The lesson here is that banana muffins should be eaten quickly.<br />And they should probably have chocolate chips in them.<br /></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472966253274812869.post-10726493022958579222010-07-07T22:42:00.000-05:002010-07-07T23:04:30.468-05:00Amazing Wedding Presents!<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">[This got to be really long! You better grab a drink, kiss your kids goodbye, and settle in before you read it. Oh, and don't forget to make a sandwich or take a bathroom break first!]</span><br /><br />I'm back to the world of blogging! I'm not sure if anyone's still out there, but if you are, thanks for sticking by me during this way-too-long-hiatus! The latest reason for that, is that I have been working away at something I've been wanting to complete for a long time. Well.... I'm happy to say that we mailed our wedding Thank You notes in the mail this week! Yes, your memory is correct, our first anniversary is on Sunday the 11th, and yes, I had every intention of getting these done within the first three months of marriage. There are many reasons why this didn't happen, and you can read some of them in a post I wrote in March, but the truth is, I wanted to be sure to really express my appreciation in the almost 200 notes to people who freely gave so generously to Brent and I as we began our marriage! We were overwhelmed with blessings!!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[One side note is that I'm still gathering the last few address updates, but if you didn't receive a thank you note and you sent a gift, it might be because there were a few gifts that we could not match to a card. For instance, there were attachments to our Kitchenaid mixer with no card. These things might have been attached to something else, but we didn't realize it until all the paper had been ripped and it was too late. If this applies to you, PLEASE let me know! Of course I want to thank you appropriately for the gift, but if you're thinking it's not necessary, please still let me know anyway!! I'm one of those people who hopes to always remember just exactly "who" gave us "what" for our wedding, so that in 20 years I can tell our kids "So-and-so gave us that for our wedding". Yup, I'll be that kind of mom someday!]</span><br /><br />As we approach our first anniversary (I can't believe how fast that time has flown by!!) I wanted to catch up on some wedding-related blog posts I've planned, so then I can move on to go back and show you some of the other things we've been up to this year. I have great intentions about going back and posting about things in the past, and keeping more up-to-date in the future! :)<br /><br />Brent and I opened our wedding presents in my parent's living room, with just my mom around, even before my dad came home from work, on the last afternoon of our honeymoon. We had cut our honeymoon short by one day as Brent got sick, and we had stopped at their house as a relaxing rest stop between our trip out west and arriving back home in Appleton again.<br /><br />We were going to just open our presents alone at our house, but knew how much my mom would want to see those presents, and I've been thinking now how fun it would be to share with <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> some of the wonderful things we received. I'm risking the possibility that someone might feel slighted by my not taking a picture of their gift, so please know that I DON'T want that to happen at all! I have no intention of showing every AMAZING gift we received, just a few fun pictures of some things I thought you might want to see. You can pretend you were right there with us, ooing and aahing over everything!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgnjUWZ3aauorOSJsYvEx_ft684003LsPQvXaDvYJR16cJEuKbWA8HHbdUuF0vmBwIVPfO8GSo2HRHmg-2MEC3ILp4fVuCzP3Hp-1PjiyPxYqqnSbpKChJDLQYfrGjegPZVa4D_xBXdw/s1600/DSCN1458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgnjUWZ3aauorOSJsYvEx_ft684003LsPQvXaDvYJR16cJEuKbWA8HHbdUuF0vmBwIVPfO8GSo2HRHmg-2MEC3ILp4fVuCzP3Hp-1PjiyPxYqqnSbpKChJDLQYfrGjegPZVa4D_xBXdw/s320/DSCN1458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491353362588573266" border="0" /></a>My mom knew about this gift and had us open it first. Wow!! My dear friends in Bethel's Stitch-a-Quilt made us this beautiful wall hanging!! I love knowing that they all stitched on this, thought about us, and prayed over us as they worked. <span style="font-style: italic;">What a blessing!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdtk7b6kU8XluHNK8H3cATmmBJ8ty6FJ0KDj0LOmGNtjD_uO14-GUCp0zau6-G87PEf2oTr0MzQoreYMZDk1SnSFknOvrUCf7H-cLG7FGEJaRNK2zLQuPy-zLfbLfBpb_Bucq0RuGGUQ/s1600/DSCN1460.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdtk7b6kU8XluHNK8H3cATmmBJ8ty6FJ0KDj0LOmGNtjD_uO14-GUCp0zau6-G87PEf2oTr0MzQoreYMZDk1SnSFknOvrUCf7H-cLG7FGEJaRNK2zLQuPy-zLfbLfBpb_Bucq0RuGGUQ/s320/DSCN1460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491353354208374578" border="0" /></a>Family and friends in Washington gave us this lefse grill...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtg5CqoiMeyg0Sc4fZjIiDZswB4bMDGsYPFHHN004BkYck615OxsowsyFrQd64A294GHNF37rPd9uXUrtNb20_TksUBtyva16_ZAErpJncns2-PzQqnU0WSJ6VDA_sLK9FSHKSg6PDoc/s1600/DSCN1462.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtg5CqoiMeyg0Sc4fZjIiDZswB4bMDGsYPFHHN004BkYck615OxsowsyFrQd64A294GHNF37rPd9uXUrtNb20_TksUBtyva16_ZAErpJncns2-PzQqnU0WSJ6VDA_sLK9FSHKSg6PDoc/s320/DSCN1462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491353348220142802" border="0" /></a>and other friends helped with the pin, sleeve, board, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEs1VkR3usuie8hPrAtGHsX0FsCOc4tis7xHa6PkqomLgmMPgaZLPmeDrsPuWDkV2PqJJg_tQHZw0Guy5DfxqtizR5RTZf5MaHHuewvcbHseBGFjmaRYOPsia1JacfuXurbu6SxxoGps/s1600/Lefse+Fest+010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEs1VkR3usuie8hPrAtGHsX0FsCOc4tis7xHa6PkqomLgmMPgaZLPmeDrsPuWDkV2PqJJg_tQHZw0Guy5DfxqtizR5RTZf5MaHHuewvcbHseBGFjmaRYOPsia1JacfuXurbu6SxxoGps/s320/Lefse+Fest+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491363079317141042" border="0" /></a>Brent and I had a lot of fun putting it to use!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazLXhQlPLLQ9nMBQGRCJzWm6AVesf7V3pjLl9OohS7ZIGGy3nD00fdKqEX7SE8mJy3q22rJTdh0KEe_J88zvgpTczIA9L-vPFQWmcDX8exOBtnfHz1Gnu8lOUaOCXNM3CqEbeEAyy3-U/s1600/Lefse+Fest+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazLXhQlPLLQ9nMBQGRCJzWm6AVesf7V3pjLl9OohS7ZIGGy3nD00fdKqEX7SE8mJy3q22rJTdh0KEe_J88zvgpTczIA9L-vPFQWmcDX8exOBtnfHz1Gnu8lOUaOCXNM3CqEbeEAyy3-U/s320/Lefse+Fest+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491363075915239346" border="0" /></a>My dear friend, Leona, from Team Cameroon 2008, served with my grandparents in Africa and gave us this treasured African chess set! I get a tear thinking about it! The cool story is that these types of figurines are ones that I grew up loving in our home, and have enjoyed having one or two pieces that have been passed down to me. Well, Brent is a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">great</span> chess player <span style="font-style: italic;">(I'm not sure if there's a category for master chess player, but if there is, I bet he qualifies!)</span> and he mentioned to me that he would really like a special chess set someday!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82_NY0mwzsSPa16Yy59P-70wdGgFpBXDKMmKQUrwn0NZcjCyEVL0DfB9GirI1ULhcpO0ATgx4MzpshBWqe9ngbxgLYQZDafbFMQxVC7sCLmxP_vm9aqrJHKIxptMyVQHlr6Ka5KWkx18/s1600/DSCN1464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82_NY0mwzsSPa16Yy59P-70wdGgFpBXDKMmKQUrwn0NZcjCyEVL0DfB9GirI1ULhcpO0ATgx4MzpshBWqe9ngbxgLYQZDafbFMQxVC7sCLmxP_vm9aqrJHKIxptMyVQHlr6Ka5KWkx18/s320/DSCN1464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491353342513429554" border="0" /></a>Look at that great detail! I love the wood grain, and the style of carving! Notice each piece is holding an appropriate tool so you know what it's position is!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisAPRNHMmGO5cUUEAE2Xr_mnS-5C6mfsZUfEHces8HO_bk4joL8Mqtafq4DWK43g-edATVilMw_ahiuwuAZ7LH0nqeKHXlbgS3CVhXYVc-_bvRG5zUBuyN7GrRz-BsAmW5JCSLvt0GDE/s1600/DSCN1466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisAPRNHMmGO5cUUEAE2Xr_mnS-5C6mfsZUfEHces8HO_bk4joL8Mqtafq4DWK43g-edATVilMw_ahiuwuAZ7LH0nqeKHXlbgS3CVhXYVc-_bvRG5zUBuyN7GrRz-BsAmW5JCSLvt0GDE/s320/DSCN1466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491353333156521906" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I wish the lighting were better, but wanted you to see these great pieces! <span style="font-style: italic;">And yes, the king is missing his head, but it's nothing a little super-glue can't handle. It was a pretty clean guillotine cut.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc2Ix_dviR8ExscQvFokdhStbjzV1c0Z9EzXk0yjI12NhAJfgxsjbyJNVhmPq9fn7izQwGWI7w5MRLgGHq800q3M11bCW3kdpQ4kJxacaRJJ_NTX-ARuJhjB2NK1NmUu8S34y8PvQWHY/s1600/Lakehouse+015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc2Ix_dviR8ExscQvFokdhStbjzV1c0Z9EzXk0yjI12NhAJfgxsjbyJNVhmPq9fn7izQwGWI7w5MRLgGHq800q3M11bCW3kdpQ4kJxacaRJJ_NTX-ARuJhjB2NK1NmUu8S34y8PvQWHY/s320/Lakehouse+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491351872565458530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTb_GCkWM4JeL63D0xkJFpvD9piMJCPQ-ZpkSYkZxddp40PmmYIsuRTY6_d9jBfjmpAXNaF_sMdQJeswgxKFUP6n0rjazP-ebRkPQZZeOuWx-h4AINLJLsx6yISr4uYAtARBsEQQ_YRM/s1600-h/Lakehouse+016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTb_GCkWM4JeL63D0xkJFpvD9piMJCPQ-ZpkSYkZxddp40PmmYIsuRTY6_d9jBfjmpAXNaF_sMdQJeswgxKFUP6n0rjazP-ebRkPQZZeOuWx-h4AINLJLsx6yISr4uYAtARBsEQQ_YRM/s320/Lakehouse+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066343074249090" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjX5KuOQ7nowlDsNGWiK2MicyQr89_c6hy7FM6QoyaGrEUR7P0bqeXNpHOtHFawItWqPSZNYJHihv74egetCgYme04LP9chs2VzPaxncaqy0PnuqsTD5k97TCCQUjrYWnoGm5WQ29eIg/s1600-h/Lakehouse+013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjX5KuOQ7nowlDsNGWiK2MicyQr89_c6hy7FM6QoyaGrEUR7P0bqeXNpHOtHFawItWqPSZNYJHihv74egetCgYme04LP9chs2VzPaxncaqy0PnuqsTD5k97TCCQUjrYWnoGm5WQ29eIg/s320/Lakehouse+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066339233149618" border="0" /></a><br />If you know anything at all about me, you might know that I have a ridiculous love of dishes! It just can't be helped. I've tried. <span style="font-style: italic;">Well, not really, I mean, who would want to give up great dishes?</span> For our wedding, it was fun to pick out a new set of everyday dishes, and we were so blessed by so many of you to end up with a new set of Fiestaware dishes, and these beautiful goblets! Here you see a table set for friends who came to visit in the fall, and you can see how well everything works together in our dining room. We also got silverware from Norway that I just love, beautiful water/lemonade/iced tea pitchers that we use all the time, great serving pieces, crystal bowls, and just about anything you could ever want when you invite your in-laws over for Thanksgiving dinner! Either that or just regular dinner with your husband when you decide to eat at the table, since my aunts in Billings always taught me that <span style="font-style: italic;">"every meal is more delicious when you eat on special dishes".</span> I feel like we get to enjoy that every single night!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIa2dKws_VN0hcQ51-b8hg79IyqJLLZQ-EzcZBh6J7xChR5463sX7PSt4oiWvwK0BQzB_feFmX0MwAyu6Cowv034hs1OHecSqf_Z3YPXUn08Z9xW51t3oT_PO3O3FA39WIUcT1EHn_8g/s1600/Appleton+001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIa2dKws_VN0hcQ51-b8hg79IyqJLLZQ-EzcZBh6J7xChR5463sX7PSt4oiWvwK0BQzB_feFmX0MwAyu6Cowv034hs1OHecSqf_Z3YPXUn08Z9xW51t3oT_PO3O3FA39WIUcT1EHn_8g/s320/Appleton+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491351868068150530" border="0" /></a>Here in our living room you can see some of the great plaques/pictures we got, along with some Willow Tree figurines. I just took this picture tonight, and you probably can't tell this from the picture, but I finally got around to organizing our bookshelves by categories that make sense. <span style="font-style: italic;"> I don't know if they make sense to my librarian-husband, but they make sense to me!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlqqSKqA6P9rB76Kn-x5HitWDZpmgXYOTtsM8Nuk2g-ZsGpvMzsCugnyED9V4i2bJDyNTWcO9lSZE4TInihIMtnQHy_gTL0r4azrevQdvT2loQH6PaX_zJK_wY9inCmsqOk4ERMIuHtY/s1600/Lakehouse+011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlqqSKqA6P9rB76Kn-x5HitWDZpmgXYOTtsM8Nuk2g-ZsGpvMzsCugnyED9V4i2bJDyNTWcO9lSZE4TInihIMtnQHy_gTL0r4azrevQdvT2loQH6PaX_zJK_wY9inCmsqOk4ERMIuHtY/s320/Lakehouse+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491351861458653906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex-OucwckklR5ZUOoUWmelvdwyJD0TXa32CYMeyMZSTudjiUeOJHXDc4c4lx4gLLR-gBx6UTmZN7zeW0tXVZwp5MNvnew0lI2u3MeOQdqCAFuSkB0liuqi32L6a5fsP9bx-GyjAtXmPw/s1600/Lakehouse+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex-OucwckklR5ZUOoUWmelvdwyJD0TXa32CYMeyMZSTudjiUeOJHXDc4c4lx4gLLR-gBx6UTmZN7zeW0tXVZwp5MNvnew0lI2u3MeOQdqCAFuSkB0liuqi32L6a5fsP9bx-GyjAtXmPw/s320/Lakehouse+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491348470058692770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(I messed up on the placement of photos, so this caption goes to the above picture. Sorry to be confusing!)</span> In the above picture, you'll also see how lovely the "vintage" games look on our bookshelf. We were blessed to get lots of games, vintage and otherwise, which makes for a great selection on game night! Anyone want to come over and join us?!<br /><br /><br />Below you'll see some of the beautiful Italia candleholders that we use in a variety of ways for decorating. I guess this picture doesn't flatter them to their full ability, so I'll have to change that around and show you a different picture later. You can also see a photo frame that we received, and I want to take a moment from our wedding-present-tour to say how fun it's been to get pictures in our many frames and have them showcase some of our favorite photos! You blessed us with photo frames of all sizes and I love decorating with them on the walls, bookshelves, you name it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOH1_5GA9KZVGtHCESET3akZtZ84AC26W45PHAtyFhwW8GN9cr9fIUCTauntKGmQdGo6se5ojbIj4q7N2h-xWstye0yMFmSFB5pZg_SnG3Slzzs6Irn7_8YFnkbDJatPVmN6X9Uhdtgk/s1600/Lakehouse+010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOH1_5GA9KZVGtHCESET3akZtZ84AC26W45PHAtyFhwW8GN9cr9fIUCTauntKGmQdGo6se5ojbIj4q7N2h-xWstye0yMFmSFB5pZg_SnG3Slzzs6Irn7_8YFnkbDJatPVmN6X9Uhdtgk/s320/Lakehouse+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491348494321495682" border="0" /></a>I've always loved these Swedish crystal vases, and I thought this would be a nice way to give honor to my 1/16th Swedish heritage! <span style="font-style: italic;">I also wanted to show you "cello-guy", the cool cello statue that Brent has. </span> You can just ignore the big water stain on the top of our piano, you can't really see it unless you're as tall as Brent, and besides, it was a free piano and I love it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYmRPs-tMY15OknHajXingoEOdWuUgAz7Abf-IR2l82pwdeGkMMQYz8y7fAjCZZW7E5KCtDMCBwzVsGHiLOVzU9YsnKwiEOMAvY7j_5Str2DDEg3WuaIEAfdtaKTB4wojmPfWDRGI_Og/s1600/Lakehouse+009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYmRPs-tMY15OknHajXingoEOdWuUgAz7Abf-IR2l82pwdeGkMMQYz8y7fAjCZZW7E5KCtDMCBwzVsGHiLOVzU9YsnKwiEOMAvY7j_5Str2DDEg3WuaIEAfdtaKTB4wojmPfWDRGI_Og/s320/Lakehouse+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491348481357798274" border="0" /></a>Back to our kitchen, we were blessed with all the little things that you need in a kitchen to be a good cook, or at least pretend. <span style="font-style: italic;">It's easier to pretend when you have all the stuff!</span> I wanted to show you one of my favorite gadgets: the red spinning, yes spinning, utensil holder we bought with a Target gift card. Don't you just love it?! I sure do!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C2yTbKNPiu08ebrtenUqFZDvqSIVVRIY0WkaH7WPn2IPYgZr9vvv7r-qs0GoTETfL_ybzRI8SoW169zWxaSxQSeM2xrGsqyL8oche4Jum6ykCfRM_yQLFZpK6OYGuHGyEcfEQFPNOIo/s1600/Lakehouse+007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C2yTbKNPiu08ebrtenUqFZDvqSIVVRIY0WkaH7WPn2IPYgZr9vvv7r-qs0GoTETfL_ybzRI8SoW169zWxaSxQSeM2xrGsqyL8oche4Jum6ykCfRM_yQLFZpK6OYGuHGyEcfEQFPNOIo/s320/Lakehouse+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491348475240965554" border="0" /></a>Here you can see one of my favorite corners of our house! It's in our dining room, right next to our sliding door out to the deck. Each of these things is something that I just <span style="font-weight: bold;">love</span>. I'll go clockwise starting on the right. The "yellow girl on the beach" is a print that my wonderful Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Jim gave to Brent and I when we were visiting them in California so they could meet Brent before Jim married us. I love the beach. I love yellow. I love beach hats. I love the style of this print. Then, just recently my mom gave us the red frame, made of old barn wood, which reminds me of a red-barn-wood-frame she and I saw in Red Lodge, MT when we went to visit our aunts in Billings when I was a nursing student and just didn't feel like I could survive one more minute and said to her on a long weekend "let's drive to Billings and see your aunts and go to the mountains". So we did! Ever since that trip I've wished I had purchased the frame but was too poor at the time and didn't think I needed it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Well, it turns out everyone should have a red-barn-wood-frame. It makes life better.</span> Next you'll see a picture of two of my closest friends, taken during a week that I really needed them around. Good friendships are a treasure! Speaking of good friends, in the middle of the picture you'll see a beautiful bowl that Brent and I received as a wedding present, from one of my closest friends who had purchased it in the Middle East just for us right before our wedding. We were so honored she could be back from a mission trip in time to stand up front and support us at our wedding ceremony, and I feel so blessed that she was thinking of us while she was there, picking out something that suits us so well! The blue cake stand is near and dear to my heart. It's from my wonderful friends/family members Tim and Rachel who gave it to us at my bridal shower. Rachel has always been so thoughtful, and she gave this to us knowing she couldn't make it to the wedding. I have this unhealthy love of cobalt blue glass <span style="font-style: italic;">(it goes along with the unhealthy love of dishes)</span> and this cake plate is just beautiful! It's cobalt blue crystal, with a gorgeous natural pattern and texture. Tim passed away last year and this world is worse off because of it. He gets to be with Jesus now, so he's way better because of it, but this world will miss him greatly! I think of Tim often. He was a great teacher of the Bible, a theologian at heart, and had a laugh that was pretty contagious. Anytime I'm in a theological discussion now, I find that it usually relates back to a conversation I had with Tim either at a family gathering, a Youth Ministries biblical studies class, or when I was at the LB seminary building -either auditing a class or trying to support my seminary-student-friends. Seeing this cake plate reminds me of him, even though I'm sure Rachel picked it out and he might not have even know of it's existence, but his name was still on the card. On top of the cake plate is a picture of Brent and I. It goes in this corner since it's one of my favorites (<span style="font-style: italic;">and has a red frame!</span>). Finally, the red rose. It's a real rose that's been painted and shellacked. Or something else. It's trimmed in gold-leaf. It was a gift from Brent the night he proposed to me, to help throw me off for what was to come later in the evening. It worked! So there you have it... the reasons why this is my favorite corner of our home! <span style="font-style: italic;">And, the longest photo caption in the history of photo captions!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIc8gF0KNykQPHxL1WWoiexxxKKNpQlnxWTrpYOAW-pL4AAumxmMvqo21G-9IJ_BwKSgDN2CtoXbB5dWa3bd-QJBMQxb5eSY4wD6TZswuCDw-XAz0icokYdvClX_X_ZckoGUcLUryixA/s1600/Lakehouse+005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIc8gF0KNykQPHxL1WWoiexxxKKNpQlnxWTrpYOAW-pL4AAumxmMvqo21G-9IJ_BwKSgDN2CtoXbB5dWa3bd-QJBMQxb5eSY4wD6TZswuCDw-XAz0icokYdvClX_X_ZckoGUcLUryixA/s320/Lakehouse+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491348471907792930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now if only I could write all that about each and every gift, here on my blog, so the whole world could see just how much I love the clear cake stand that decorates the top of our hutch. Or the softness of our bamboo sheets and towels that I LOVE to use to curl up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeFXvYi12K5xl_iTyyIG-x7e_SleMoBkDi7DigyQ8oniDKpadySGxEEAZ7wMD-Jak-8HSmv8S41zgtBFMKwS55-_nmcdxy8OpkZEQ1ekBbLjUHMvmVSIFv1PIjgh2Q2Dq2T9-BYuw5eY/s1600-h/Lakehouse+025.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>Or the blessing of gift cards. Or the fun camping stuff we're excited to try out. Or the practical stuff like electrical cords. Or the other things that have no practical use but are beautiful and look great in our home!<br /><br />Brent and I feel so <span style="font-weight: bold;">blessed, humbled, overwhelmed, and honored</span> by the way in which we were shown love and generosity. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!<br /><br /><br /></div>Kari, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096314893718305173noreply@blogger.com9