tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13194543526261996802024-03-17T21:03:47.951-06:00A Chicken in the Window Welland other storiesNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.comBlogger1108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-42037289273054893432024-03-11T16:22:00.001-06:002024-03-11T16:22:48.720-06:00Parenting, Snakes, and Pig Bladder Balloons<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Recently, while searching and praying for some parenting guidance, I somehow found myself in an article by Tad R. Callister that was <b><i>completely</i></b> unrelated to parenting. (It was actually an article on Joseph Smith.) Still, it seemed I'd landed there not by accident, so I shrugged and began perusing the article.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was what I read:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="border: 0px; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"The gospel is somewhat like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. When young Joseph came on the scene, perhaps 100 pieces were already in place. Then the Prophet exercised his divine mantle and put most of the other 900 pieces together. ...</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Certainly there have been many brilliant men and women since the meridian of time. Why were they not able to put this puzzle together? Because God had reserved this work for the Prophet Joseph Smith."</span></div></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Somehow as I read, I <b>did </b>see parenting. It felt as if the Spirit was telling me that there were many pieces to the puzzle of each of my children's plans. And some of those pieces<b> I </b>had been given a "divine mantle" to be the one to put into place. And that I could trust God to help me with the work He had reserved specifically for me to do in their lives.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It made me think of Elder Uchtdorf saying (in regard to looking to Christ for the help we need in guiding our children):</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Accept this privilege and responsibility courageously and joyfully."</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway. It meant something to me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOYULWf43SzRig4m_dWescWNd0UWf0VIBfuZX42LI242beTjyKvlB6YiHY3QHa9QgHIMAGAEd2IEADoGpaxUCKB1dqgj_LFogcGj3m_0rVITOGemHHJlMkCx8DVTe6KL-6dxpQKRu66X_2ep7G09eoCsAReyK8dUSlfnp59_hhZjBpEwnFgyXcmfrvdI/s2048/IMG_1294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOYULWf43SzRig4m_dWescWNd0UWf0VIBfuZX42LI242beTjyKvlB6YiHY3QHa9QgHIMAGAEd2IEADoGpaxUCKB1dqgj_LFogcGj3m_0rVITOGemHHJlMkCx8DVTe6KL-6dxpQKRu66X_2ep7G09eoCsAReyK8dUSlfnp59_hhZjBpEwnFgyXcmfrvdI/w640-h426/IMG_1294.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4Rb2t1MjIUIk-gBM3O-doPSUigVNHDHpw3cPXU5QORxobTcDEdCbud1wsg4zXuI4ElNHtEybD44BJnRZqspmTHiJQGzmrXKu6oFaUPNcNeGiVcnniKAG9II4hr4jfwgIq885UHfpSiwHhtSX8U_eZNBjt9g0GxIsG86Rm7VXSUCHO-bsbZZ7-36GiFk/s2048/IMG_1296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4Rb2t1MjIUIk-gBM3O-doPSUigVNHDHpw3cPXU5QORxobTcDEdCbud1wsg4zXuI4ElNHtEybD44BJnRZqspmTHiJQGzmrXKu6oFaUPNcNeGiVcnniKAG9II4hr4jfwgIq885UHfpSiwHhtSX8U_eZNBjt9g0GxIsG86Rm7VXSUCHO-bsbZZ7-36GiFk/w640-h426/IMG_1296.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gKPE1p92hBNhCaQbcbqx7j8ZpGM1SpBdrs64qZrH0FNgFx_KGwuVnDUHCJJ8kZyC8tpBedeZeLDgnBwquor4N5MDBfV9hTJuSQWv0ye6pe2ZKLVEUNz91vD4Uw4DlnJ9yXvAWTjfffmSehj3Z9qUMhBS2XAbzmpma2tADXVcaEsHq-87bHLsWkHqigc/s2048/IMG_1298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gKPE1p92hBNhCaQbcbqx7j8ZpGM1SpBdrs64qZrH0FNgFx_KGwuVnDUHCJJ8kZyC8tpBedeZeLDgnBwquor4N5MDBfV9hTJuSQWv0ye6pe2ZKLVEUNz91vD4Uw4DlnJ9yXvAWTjfffmSehj3Z9qUMhBS2XAbzmpma2tADXVcaEsHq-87bHLsWkHqigc/w640-h426/IMG_1298.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH-Q5fJrpqwmXmauGJMOmOOqpJRu-6yr3GY0LjGeTserQ-A4NhWBrnWZMEX4k_ZyEGUUZte4fYy85BxN0xzfbqwiRYt1RV7YP9oDelH0w3g69MZCFegLrMSVxhbqlHaiAQqvE09xttBt8o7lk0mqApX3_j4OuTvjEszvKzC5kOamN4zL3pSC1oTuhyAc/s2048/IMG_1299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH-Q5fJrpqwmXmauGJMOmOOqpJRu-6yr3GY0LjGeTserQ-A4NhWBrnWZMEX4k_ZyEGUUZte4fYy85BxN0xzfbqwiRYt1RV7YP9oDelH0w3g69MZCFegLrMSVxhbqlHaiAQqvE09xttBt8o7lk0mqApX3_j4OuTvjEszvKzC5kOamN4zL3pSC1oTuhyAc/w640-h426/IMG_1299.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In other news ... a snake poked its head (and a decent chunk of its long, slithery body) out of the side of our fireplace the other day, looked around at the inside of our house, then pulled his head back. </span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was quite alarming. I thought it was fun for my kids to catch snakes so often outside last summer. But I do not find it fun to see one inside my house. Am I really ready for farm life? AM I? (And do you even have any idea how much mud is now constantly tracked into my house? SO MUCH MUD!) </span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But, my kids, who used to weep and need a funeral for any small, deceased critter they ever saw, have become completely unperturbed by all the dead mice and voles we now find left in our yard (complements of our cats), so maybe I can get used to snakes in my house. (No. I cannot.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m1OwaEYD8ZIwmZusCSdR5uG9At5p16N6rivv4GAoP765MB0FNaSjOs9IyVHOQ-aPTfFuwDoDpaPVgOEETgsDdThgMNkDMzHvz8_I70JfKMc7dEi7GaObMthyDwHUHYSuYhrE8q8EvKHv8ZIrh3IeZg_eHitMXnqh6eBg3KcIx16QN9jwamdWyZAGWWc/s2048/IMG_1284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m1OwaEYD8ZIwmZusCSdR5uG9At5p16N6rivv4GAoP765MB0FNaSjOs9IyVHOQ-aPTfFuwDoDpaPVgOEETgsDdThgMNkDMzHvz8_I70JfKMc7dEi7GaObMthyDwHUHYSuYhrE8q8EvKHv8ZIrh3IeZg_eHitMXnqh6eBg3KcIx16QN9jwamdWyZAGWWc/w640-h426/IMG_1284.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9B7KLdp8bIGaERFLSnj_NbD4pWr9CPLhhG9-BvRtxziizWsQIHSPrgDCQzsbBsMy28S0NRUpV_81M9q5qse04fmtgUGwR7Xt8FX2XsAjeTmDOd9fcpuO_injuzFUdSi8InoGldq_HBmYmV30i2q86k3QHr6zb0ZYkAHhXy6NIVXOiKs5Xa2AExUp4Ms/s2048/IMG_1285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9B7KLdp8bIGaERFLSnj_NbD4pWr9CPLhhG9-BvRtxziizWsQIHSPrgDCQzsbBsMy28S0NRUpV_81M9q5qse04fmtgUGwR7Xt8FX2XsAjeTmDOd9fcpuO_injuzFUdSi8InoGldq_HBmYmV30i2q86k3QHr6zb0ZYkAHhXy6NIVXOiKs5Xa2AExUp4Ms/w640-h426/IMG_1285.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(But I have gotten quite used to these views. So ... shrug. Snakes it is I guess.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4uCARJRq_qdKhj9PkOiYB-pMUgYd7gqbLbkSdZf3VH9L3zuLepE2JAsJp1z-Qcn-gZxnLbvxOhChmGWyiZCDIFeOoodRiCZioRkCWEaCufmYl8roMvGFyXDiELFtAXAxsrPW4Xxj-Msdw4P5RA7aIS5MTFi6bqkhTH7MqWIICQBS90_lilLDhe9Xeug/s2048/IMG_1287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4uCARJRq_qdKhj9PkOiYB-pMUgYd7gqbLbkSdZf3VH9L3zuLepE2JAsJp1z-Qcn-gZxnLbvxOhChmGWyiZCDIFeOoodRiCZioRkCWEaCufmYl8roMvGFyXDiELFtAXAxsrPW4Xxj-Msdw4P5RA7aIS5MTFi6bqkhTH7MqWIICQBS90_lilLDhe9Xeug/w640-h426/IMG_1287.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZfZ7JpC8euuCxV-HCa5vy6N1Xg8HpZBZ_uhbmnwA1WKsARpJ7T6ZnhabTBEMa5GEhHf2bR8rxbitiyyJg1KlrCvdVyNnX-Pj8dz2AyKOlNm2EcUexEXtjGSUu5ond1IEphUFzUgEpmqkJgDFMGs4APLmlfCvXZJ1bBBnF5a388jN4wNaLv1Y5t5A0SI/s2048/IMG_1292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZfZ7JpC8euuCxV-HCa5vy6N1Xg8HpZBZ_uhbmnwA1WKsARpJ7T6ZnhabTBEMa5GEhHf2bR8rxbitiyyJg1KlrCvdVyNnX-Pj8dz2AyKOlNm2EcUexEXtjGSUu5ond1IEphUFzUgEpmqkJgDFMGs4APLmlfCvXZJ1bBBnF5a388jN4wNaLv1Y5t5A0SI/w426-h640/IMG_1292.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oehb-iX9I7Gd-8iHKSDuktFXvXhZipfXtPCzaGk-b8rpgpIZv7fEfBOS-wpkc0wMje4v38CShvP26FMUuER6OdebR-SsJxDnYhy8jJy4Ii35eopGYD93p2W6CEnUAEr40_ZEw7dJr5pV_D0pRvDpcMza2xETyoQq1dBFelpBegjev_mm3klKcdPNsJI/s2048/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oehb-iX9I7Gd-8iHKSDuktFXvXhZipfXtPCzaGk-b8rpgpIZv7fEfBOS-wpkc0wMje4v38CShvP26FMUuER6OdebR-SsJxDnYhy8jJy4Ii35eopGYD93p2W6CEnUAEr40_ZEw7dJr5pV_D0pRvDpcMza2xETyoQq1dBFelpBegjev_mm3klKcdPNsJI/w640-h426/IMG_1313.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also, the other day Mike said to me, in regard to the Little House on the Prairie books, "I was surprised how much of the first book was just about homesteading. I'm serious. Like I could take that book and just be in the wilderness and survive. It talks about how to smoke meat, and how to make fun balloons out of a pig's bladder. ..."</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fun balloons out of pig bladders? Maybe we will be OK up here after all.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="x_AppleMailSignature" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The End.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwNjqteG3OPTnSVPDVRykIgrfPNYckn1gOhXWMlxCPjvq9sj4oz9f4MCZSsvgLr0RpATjNcfm5kDfDiLCzJs9GSXagO5bfzf78DO7jI2q3rbpuy5_ZqBpVRiwJGwTMiXfrg2zB57Lp6bLmvOH2mGelCPyH2WlQqtjcZxI39QUMwulvbSEjzWnBF7mYmM/s4032/Photo%20Mar%2009%202024,%204%2043%2048%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwNjqteG3OPTnSVPDVRykIgrfPNYckn1gOhXWMlxCPjvq9sj4oz9f4MCZSsvgLr0RpATjNcfm5kDfDiLCzJs9GSXagO5bfzf78DO7jI2q3rbpuy5_ZqBpVRiwJGwTMiXfrg2zB57Lp6bLmvOH2mGelCPyH2WlQqtjcZxI39QUMwulvbSEjzWnBF7mYmM/w480-h640/Photo%20Mar%2009%202024,%204%2043%2048%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-48415457948810616332024-03-06T11:38:00.001-07:002024-03-06T11:41:00.809-07:00Housemaid's Knee and so on<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The other day Hans was going through a folder in his backpack and came across a little first-grade math test of his. "36 out of 36?!" he exclaimed. "Mom! Do you see this? Look at your boy! He's learning so much!"<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He is! He is learning so much. And he is my boy. π</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhkuzSfI5oumQjvDU3n7DaJbF-KvjWN9ET2Y63ln53dAdhH3yu5jjQwEyAhre5LVHRfuZ0VYoi3NlV390STevi53XqN9paL6PCtzsZCv2cSYZjD37FwXOFw90n0J4dcub9VHxD8_5NKgIv2M75LWG2HSyWrAK59XgN_XJTngdEnN_WcojRnzQlocfLaM/s2048/IMG_1256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhkuzSfI5oumQjvDU3n7DaJbF-KvjWN9ET2Y63ln53dAdhH3yu5jjQwEyAhre5LVHRfuZ0VYoi3NlV390STevi53XqN9paL6PCtzsZCv2cSYZjD37FwXOFw90n0J4dcub9VHxD8_5NKgIv2M75LWG2HSyWrAK59XgN_XJTngdEnN_WcojRnzQlocfLaM/w640-h426/IMG_1256.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anders makes me laugh often. We occasionally turn on music for after-dinner chores. And I occasionally ... find a new song I like and replay it several times. I had done just that the other day when Anders took over the next song choice. "All right! All right! Let me choose one now! ... Oh! Here's a song you might like." And then ... on comes the same song I'd clearly overplayed. Haha. We all chuckled and heard it through again. Then Anders said, "OK. This one is actually by the same artist that sang that song." And then ... he played the same song again. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebr8YllzFlFIzs52dnx7zDOH6S8v3oSteJlJqlkQGIczRI-5VqVY-GH8gqR8i9cum_I5K0dZJIxAubHo4oR_0juUmQhxDKHhGREnPzFwuQzcjl6BpZf6UW0dIOHc7QUJWNhl2gACM19tTRDRJunbwixEF00HTZeIqIn9uWa8mmOQxnbztjane8l5trs0/s2048/IMG_1234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebr8YllzFlFIzs52dnx7zDOH6S8v3oSteJlJqlkQGIczRI-5VqVY-GH8gqR8i9cum_I5K0dZJIxAubHo4oR_0juUmQhxDKHhGREnPzFwuQzcjl6BpZf6UW0dIOHc7QUJWNhl2gACM19tTRDRJunbwixEF00HTZeIqIn9uWa8mmOQxnbztjane8l5trs0/w640-h426/IMG_1234.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgi4_KS29QUdYe8py75UjbYz_S6TylgMU_f3aROP7N-oKGoAfwQAp9_GMI6jUjh1Pm_u8QMxIkdiDWzN_fQpiKbOGeOFrgtYrkguSerO9W82w9_2OVdjDzKBrDsPQ3UE9F5HclSvFQkfQWNKsCm4ttuqSo1dH_yitltFWjWMjL9R4VzDC2JM2dcgb9Wc/s2048/IMG_1235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgi4_KS29QUdYe8py75UjbYz_S6TylgMU_f3aROP7N-oKGoAfwQAp9_GMI6jUjh1Pm_u8QMxIkdiDWzN_fQpiKbOGeOFrgtYrkguSerO9W82w9_2OVdjDzKBrDsPQ3UE9F5HclSvFQkfQWNKsCm4ttuqSo1dH_yitltFWjWMjL9R4VzDC2JM2dcgb9Wc/w426-h640/IMG_1235.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Three days ago I began noticing that every time I knelt down to do something--tie a shoe for a kid, put laundry away in a low drawer, tuck in Hans's trundle bed--it would feel like my right knee had knelt right on a pebble or small shard of glass. At first I thought I actually had done that. But after awhile you start to realize you just don't have that many small pebbles or glass shards in your house (nor stuck in the knee of your pants--I checked). My google search pulled up all sorts of things, but I didn't even have to read anything about it to know which of the many things it might be. My eyes immediately saw, "Housemaid's Knee". Ha! Of course that's it. How could it not be?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYTCW4kXX90u8mt7OvxGThJFVHjpY3FCw5-Ia4poYXruvxURCQ_3bSu2RiC3W67ZMaqcEt6a8b12qlLDTTidk4sRZMe2U33z9VhuUOm2PiT6Gb19Pg0DyH2U_M5Y3erUZmH_ChCeBcXCDCmUsFjZkupyXRfgQEjF_Uwxo9J-p4QxxTilOWwZ0NfU8Ce0/s2048/IMG_1225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYTCW4kXX90u8mt7OvxGThJFVHjpY3FCw5-Ia4poYXruvxURCQ_3bSu2RiC3W67ZMaqcEt6a8b12qlLDTTidk4sRZMe2U33z9VhuUOm2PiT6Gb19Pg0DyH2U_M5Y3erUZmH_ChCeBcXCDCmUsFjZkupyXRfgQEjF_Uwxo9J-p4QxxTilOWwZ0NfU8Ce0/w426-h640/IMG_1225.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3OAjM17mGn85EoGvBus97GcxpWLX1-QLHVzG2Dp-LPUrCz_i2O8mIHBgW9r9NKUPgqjAkrLlm0qptLhGAMNXHjmwAzmSMbKDHniDXbCc-mBMehCl8K8x0mpA0PdgixzualrelY_Z6VQFWwfh8tgBpK961WFeGGMGSfTYsuHc75fz9alEpNBTmiS8pvQ/s3211/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%207%2055%2035%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3211" data-original-width="2408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3OAjM17mGn85EoGvBus97GcxpWLX1-QLHVzG2Dp-LPUrCz_i2O8mIHBgW9r9NKUPgqjAkrLlm0qptLhGAMNXHjmwAzmSMbKDHniDXbCc-mBMehCl8K8x0mpA0PdgixzualrelY_Z6VQFWwfh8tgBpK961WFeGGMGSfTYsuHc75fz9alEpNBTmiS8pvQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%207%2055%2035%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dUc-KKPLlLSnoj4n9BxGADyLELDwHBtYOqgLES2kMb4L7T9nDeYM5hY26lXJXEsCuniWwMGsGoLut1tU5S_AatjmxdF7Kkk2Va22HUd62xSD9CRx3WOxjAJ1JQwwN9miFzEd1thFP4rSNYmzlNhMHOm60GnK4VlaVdOOPyZhQUz4zDMboERi7NEgqzc/s3552/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%207%2055%2045%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="3552" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dUc-KKPLlLSnoj4n9BxGADyLELDwHBtYOqgLES2kMb4L7T9nDeYM5hY26lXJXEsCuniWwMGsGoLut1tU5S_AatjmxdF7Kkk2Va22HUd62xSD9CRx3WOxjAJ1JQwwN9miFzEd1thFP4rSNYmzlNhMHOm60GnK4VlaVdOOPyZhQUz4zDMboERi7NEgqzc/w640-h480/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%207%2055%2045%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNSB7RMQ2rBI1JzNg2-AMjhcWEprTelGcG_04q2FdQfHZWcfc3IRvy1EH_EADCXtrLUKNI-sloXQTEk9vt3pKHT-LTe7yPtLXxEBpbKkSnab6NjaZKiTJ_3FCyUZNUMQ-5P40ZU8chaxJaZe0f3xVZhWbHcdmUHvE6XgQHs57HuRFQKUiYYhzFVo8IQ0/s2545/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%209%2028%2037%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="1909" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNSB7RMQ2rBI1JzNg2-AMjhcWEprTelGcG_04q2FdQfHZWcfc3IRvy1EH_EADCXtrLUKNI-sloXQTEk9vt3pKHT-LTe7yPtLXxEBpbKkSnab6NjaZKiTJ_3FCyUZNUMQ-5P40ZU8chaxJaZe0f3xVZhWbHcdmUHvE6XgQHs57HuRFQKUiYYhzFVo8IQ0/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%209%2028%2037%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Abe did a work presentation down at BYU a weekend or two ago. There were multiple presentations done at this event. And, luckily for Abe, they were being judged. Which naturally meant he won first place and $100. (I just warned him to make sure that $100 dollars wasn't a saving's bond. That was all they ever loved to let us win in Reflection's contests and the like in my day. "You've won a twenty-dollar saving's bond! It will be worth $20 in fifty years!" π
) Look at that slide. How could he <b>not </b>have won ... ? (His proved to be a legitimate $100. Haha.)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTnTCMG8cPxuQrCNYrXcjMXdzPVEOZE5bgBCHuqStCYWojO9lPAy5T3X5xlVF1D9yvC2wFRZjXKQe7hy2I109YRkuUV6IJvdlb1sLIsKo8a6GvV-VWoTjmsZnpqc7KbN3lWhJYz62wpuPu8apyweE7XGFIEnxTIhS8ClBaobbTgmSbpr3mxQ2uz57mbk/s1362/Photo%20Feb%2024%202024,%2011%2049%2051%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1362" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTnTCMG8cPxuQrCNYrXcjMXdzPVEOZE5bgBCHuqStCYWojO9lPAy5T3X5xlVF1D9yvC2wFRZjXKQe7hy2I109YRkuUV6IJvdlb1sLIsKo8a6GvV-VWoTjmsZnpqc7KbN3lWhJYz62wpuPu8apyweE7XGFIEnxTIhS8ClBaobbTgmSbpr3mxQ2uz57mbk/w640-h426/Photo%20Feb%2024%202024,%2011%2049%2051%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of success ... we are not at all surprised, but it was exciting all the same for Daisy to receive acceptance letters for both of the places she applied for graduate school! Now she just needs to decide on where she will be for the next few years!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSXxmRO6e1nExr-ujfCOCYemoVDvDlRfF83Ddvy5-A1zbDEsBzFO619nWPE_GGVgBh8KWIwKWEfcv-bWCPIn_WsLAX72JCEL4D92TwuR1C5uMuHVCDUIzyWcj4NwJ4qaqlAnDyHBEZJ8hRAQ5RzHNVCjd-yZPuBM84bVEoVsu-wcUT33U8S407n-Nd3Y/s1792/Photo%20Mar%2006%202024,%2011%2025%2050%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSXxmRO6e1nExr-ujfCOCYemoVDvDlRfF83Ddvy5-A1zbDEsBzFO619nWPE_GGVgBh8KWIwKWEfcv-bWCPIn_WsLAX72JCEL4D92TwuR1C5uMuHVCDUIzyWcj4NwJ4qaqlAnDyHBEZJ8hRAQ5RzHNVCjd-yZPuBM84bVEoVsu-wcUT33U8S407n-Nd3Y/w296-h640/Photo%20Mar%2006%202024,%2011%2025%2050%20AM.png" width="296" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And to end, a few last photos:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is what it looked like shortly after Mike came to find and rescue me on my Saturday run last week. (And right before an insane hail and wind storm came along--taking down many trees and barns in our area!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRiBBPEdS_xVVcK01rKwlP-OH0984FwkCIYwhusjBzexL6gisfwAw_pI_0dqDtcMJhCld8Dsgf5-kz63FpT28Ia0CJMWceZuGHE_vaMRwDn3l44pJI6-Sddq26A9DpHhytPY5s_cvLQW42WyOaX_dRzDP1pNGAHJjPiusX58AlQ0y8lJY1DGL8iMkYfg/s2048/IMG_1228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRiBBPEdS_xVVcK01rKwlP-OH0984FwkCIYwhusjBzexL6gisfwAw_pI_0dqDtcMJhCld8Dsgf5-kz63FpT28Ia0CJMWceZuGHE_vaMRwDn3l44pJI6-Sddq26A9DpHhytPY5s_cvLQW42WyOaX_dRzDP1pNGAHJjPiusX58AlQ0y8lJY1DGL8iMkYfg/w640-h426/IMG_1228.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY4e7i9W8TLGAids403kd9NxcVuSZwZMU_PTRbR5u_45F-RpDpk-k0NZ5n5rVnu7KgU0c8Gog99wzVMmHEqVrKOHzpT42F3RHSLYM_jEXCg0pvjFm0JkSpWKNaWC4rW7ENI_qZ-ZoViPO_xapLU_Y45Ii0a0TK8x7vYQ7hTedIxmFdHm9oWpdqpJ7S-A/s2048/IMG_1229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY4e7i9W8TLGAids403kd9NxcVuSZwZMU_PTRbR5u_45F-RpDpk-k0NZ5n5rVnu7KgU0c8Gog99wzVMmHEqVrKOHzpT42F3RHSLYM_jEXCg0pvjFm0JkSpWKNaWC4rW7ENI_qZ-ZoViPO_xapLU_Y45Ii0a0TK8x7vYQ7hTedIxmFdHm9oWpdqpJ7S-A/w640-h426/IMG_1229.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Little sweetheart.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglMn5T7ekwG1DGk_YRahSMaB2MRXwz_UWxqFIp1FLnFAyeHxfLJlONJl1kdtxNIpfKPFKke3DjLAqlyVRUE_N3HculX2ZZj93eNjKiZiZ6dSzzsYS-562kNIfLO0YtoBuggd5OpGHUS7QbuiRt_3eQI5YwoNmZTqCQ3lM6zjuZilrJFEKpkLOHmNN66s/s2048/IMG_1240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglMn5T7ekwG1DGk_YRahSMaB2MRXwz_UWxqFIp1FLnFAyeHxfLJlONJl1kdtxNIpfKPFKke3DjLAqlyVRUE_N3HculX2ZZj93eNjKiZiZ6dSzzsYS-562kNIfLO0YtoBuggd5OpGHUS7QbuiRt_3eQI5YwoNmZTqCQ3lM6zjuZilrJFEKpkLOHmNN66s/w640-h426/IMG_1240.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(And you've all seen the hummingbird pillow Shannon embroidered for us before I think?)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qeQxPHLOL8atjQm_9X4LE2yP8x76KbDmNdTYnGDa5vJrZuJX88I2fEuydYcvyyxgK_0UC9s-8BQAzIyk4qbcDyJ_HSQvHN71Op4w-3epxXz0v_EfJFysux4cXseO7kpV7wkEeIpG6eQHGMXAHgrPZ3xrpkCZkPNbG0s3redSzTgk30FaaE0wV3Q7ET4/s2048/IMG_1242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qeQxPHLOL8atjQm_9X4LE2yP8x76KbDmNdTYnGDa5vJrZuJX88I2fEuydYcvyyxgK_0UC9s-8BQAzIyk4qbcDyJ_HSQvHN71Op4w-3epxXz0v_EfJFysux4cXseO7kpV7wkEeIpG6eQHGMXAHgrPZ3xrpkCZkPNbG0s3redSzTgk30FaaE0wV3Q7ET4/w640-h426/IMG_1242.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I will miss these walking-back-from-the-kids'-bus-stop views to the east and west when we move from the rental. (Luckily it will be replaced with other lovely views!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaoZRLlwZYt1mZ-MRPgcDPelNE3Yp8dlHHaAbngoKMoeQJ8Sg1w1IA9cRj6XB8H5P66HqcIdJqeqOSPkUv3Lb-UAKXG0SW9r7RsqTep4W62credAR9EMhLgXzar_1DsmrBa5wY4aGtiWuiRohe3U_lszIrYLljUsqJLZ5XYfXao55fLO1pqOxJJU7aWs/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%2012%2033%2019%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaoZRLlwZYt1mZ-MRPgcDPelNE3Yp8dlHHaAbngoKMoeQJ8Sg1w1IA9cRj6XB8H5P66HqcIdJqeqOSPkUv3Lb-UAKXG0SW9r7RsqTep4W62credAR9EMhLgXzar_1DsmrBa5wY4aGtiWuiRohe3U_lszIrYLljUsqJLZ5XYfXao55fLO1pqOxJJU7aWs/w640-h480/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%2012%2033%2019%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_NL4KNU3Z33eNr8ObfLr-uJ2V6ZyqGsbk1pzR6CmH3T_u_fpD1KIFDE8dyqWWEUBuBIqY2yGwdlpke_L-nK-JQEotpIyr4Pgac5WSKQFbrMCvj6t1AuY0dzyx3tAuJ7PXXzYAR0NoMJZYCqpqD20AkyPgJs827U6OvZV9IqTPFrg2m0dA4YkRqYTfg/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%2012%2033%2023%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_NL4KNU3Z33eNr8ObfLr-uJ2V6ZyqGsbk1pzR6CmH3T_u_fpD1KIFDE8dyqWWEUBuBIqY2yGwdlpke_L-nK-JQEotpIyr4Pgac5WSKQFbrMCvj6t1AuY0dzyx3tAuJ7PXXzYAR0NoMJZYCqpqD20AkyPgJs827U6OvZV9IqTPFrg2m0dA4YkRqYTfg/w640-h480/Photo%20Feb%2029%202024,%2012%2033%2023%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Saturday-morning cartoons:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzL8hSjV1vm-FfPleax3WR3ynIvJLaLCpCRAiVwJjuEZ_6UsYGORjXU6g_UPep6OUyJ9jicJVEdvMYD-R4ncdklEnF-skfIDzK20x2nr-xTRWJkMer3qqYvqi-mIJdTPhnUt1uEUkG1bXXhRUcqS_X0vwaaFucqRSA5h1JQ8EWLDIaHfFPwFoFu_9QAc/s3378/Photo%20Mar%2001%202024,%208%2047%2045%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="3378" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzL8hSjV1vm-FfPleax3WR3ynIvJLaLCpCRAiVwJjuEZ_6UsYGORjXU6g_UPep6OUyJ9jicJVEdvMYD-R4ncdklEnF-skfIDzK20x2nr-xTRWJkMer3qqYvqi-mIJdTPhnUt1uEUkG1bXXhRUcqS_X0vwaaFucqRSA5h1JQ8EWLDIaHfFPwFoFu_9QAc/w640-h480/Photo%20Mar%2001%202024,%208%2047%2045%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some very last-minute scrambling to ready the kids for "crazy-hair day" at school. (Anders was not feeling it.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mA1jsQw-8dPg4uKjWwVYw7AFzDwLJwm-6j_LfZq-4tUkksqoASiA4QJVg2nl8uuEwjrsIaT_4iRY6n2PoeecjbmjzjZpLMIWq1EEfGVH9YpdGQB-hq1MEKAmtF2AVs_7ZnKxxId1ljD1dz9k6a0DsbN8SWGxcTUw22eggB5dx6RZWGa5IkJ4sHbPqOY/s2719/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%208%2023%2054%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2719" data-original-width="2719" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mA1jsQw-8dPg4uKjWwVYw7AFzDwLJwm-6j_LfZq-4tUkksqoASiA4QJVg2nl8uuEwjrsIaT_4iRY6n2PoeecjbmjzjZpLMIWq1EEfGVH9YpdGQB-hq1MEKAmtF2AVs_7ZnKxxId1ljD1dz9k6a0DsbN8SWGxcTUw22eggB5dx6RZWGa5IkJ4sHbPqOY/w640-h640/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%208%2023%2054%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwhBwrRZ8Ny82Xt3icaWbIIO7z8DjP_dUUcwpIdKiOWXR_r6TjbQICX0cYo9y2Z2UvTADNpKtMz49sGjskncf_-W63LalD-DkhazszVpCiirhIKxjnJq-u61VA_2UNN6L5joOFZ1WSYxCkIMjf25hgLyTP2OrvNK8fCPFyQVxp0mVUR_FbiDY17goS3M/s2430/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%208%2024%2005%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="2430" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwhBwrRZ8Ny82Xt3icaWbIIO7z8DjP_dUUcwpIdKiOWXR_r6TjbQICX0cYo9y2Z2UvTADNpKtMz49sGjskncf_-W63LalD-DkhazszVpCiirhIKxjnJq-u61VA_2UNN6L5joOFZ1WSYxCkIMjf25hgLyTP2OrvNK8fCPFyQVxp0mVUR_FbiDY17goS3M/w640-h640/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%208%2024%2005%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Look mom! I made mermaid earrings!"<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-iXHmGSJkWVAPtkhjiquabuzDE-vuy76ICCbOZqHfMk6lr59We8E4ev54X8xj5xCyWhJ-wbWIjUMzLusAuzyZregVqCIts1uepGiH47TwKOd3bQpc1bs-Rz_7Ak59W0-yPhOYOXbNtRsx94r8IEjP8BbhTgAE7Bc_07afyYA9cZhCN48OWXQSUBqAEY/s4032/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%2011%2046%2008%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-iXHmGSJkWVAPtkhjiquabuzDE-vuy76ICCbOZqHfMk6lr59We8E4ev54X8xj5xCyWhJ-wbWIjUMzLusAuzyZregVqCIts1uepGiH47TwKOd3bQpc1bs-Rz_7Ak59W0-yPhOYOXbNtRsx94r8IEjP8BbhTgAE7Bc_07afyYA9cZhCN48OWXQSUBqAEY/w480-h640/Photo%20Mar%2004%202024,%2011%2046%2008%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">That's all for now.</span>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-79966615424856207372024-03-06T10:41:00.005-07:002024-03-06T10:44:02.958-07:00Aggressive pigs and geese, and ... a love letter to Mike.<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike just informed me that he'd found an ad for not one but <b>three</b> potbellied pigs who are (and I quote) "aggressive to other animals and people". π
Exciting news indeed! James (of the James and Helen <i>gentlest of all geese breeds </i>duo π) has begun hissing angrily every time we come within thirty feet of him. (He even bit my--luckily gloved--hand when I was trying to feed the ungrateful brute the other night.) These pigs would make the perfect addition to the farm of utter terror we are developing.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He was teasing me of course--about the aggressive potbellies, not about pigs in general. I had mentioned, as I snuggled up close to him in bed the other night and looked over his shoulder at a screen full of various pigs for sale, that it was unfortunate that the <b>only</b> animal I'd ever told him I really did not even remotely want to have ... had become the sole animal of his interest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"But they're so cute as piglets," he responded in defense.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There was no arguing that. "Yes," I said. "They <b>are</b> cute as piglets." (But my tone carried all Mike already knows about my feelings for adult pigs. [Who, at least from behind, look for all the world as though they should put some clothes on! πAlso, whatever you do, do <b>not </b>google anything like "pig eats man". You will not like it. And your home will become like ours--one where nobody can even talk about pigs without one of their kids mentioning how they will most likely eat us before we eat them.])</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For all of that, Mike's interest in having our kids show pigs at the fair has not waned. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What am I to do with such a husband? What I ask you?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I do not know. But speaking of that particular husband. Look what I came across the other day:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzPJSCwQhoa1lmffCgmTOMSX_SHd7QGZVKxHGU-A4ZuJACpePQLWhCqBcoYHxwb5wT8b7Ke2Yv4C4IFlDxo59TylNJ-jmH4BzKHX82a0MNL94WezmXmcq7IEQ6Qk7fmSDNRhG9Vfg_-MtfmCOjB0LWVNAaaJzPBC51hnXzigNKcaaYF7alfAW5-cs9ZE/s3645/Photo%20Nov%2025%202020,%209%2034%2059%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3645" data-original-width="2430" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzPJSCwQhoa1lmffCgmTOMSX_SHd7QGZVKxHGU-A4ZuJACpePQLWhCqBcoYHxwb5wT8b7Ke2Yv4C4IFlDxo59TylNJ-jmH4BzKHX82a0MNL94WezmXmcq7IEQ6Qk7fmSDNRhG9Vfg_-MtfmCOjB0LWVNAaaJzPBC51hnXzigNKcaaYF7alfAW5-cs9ZE/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2025%202020,%209%2034%2059%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot the month before we were married. (The following year would find me running that same race--nearly nine months pregnant with Abe and hoping, in vain, that the race might put me in labor. π)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But look how young we were. Sometimes I don't feel like we've aged so very much since those early days together, but we are <b>more than twice as old</b> (!) as we were in that photo! I just keep looking at it. And feeling ... I don't even know what exactly. So happy I have Mike, I guess? It's all a bunch of mixed feelings of gratitude, nostalgia, a little missing, awe over all that's been. In any case, whatever it is, indulge me for just a minute in simply trying to tell how I feel about Mike. My great grandkids might read this someday after all. Perhaps they'll want to know how their great-grandma Nancy felt about that pig-shopping husband of hers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So I will try and tell you:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Every now and then (more often than you might suppose), it feels like the depth of my feelings for Mike are going to explode out of me. And they do! More than any other blessing in my life, it is the gift of Mike that has me, with almost no conscious thought, exclaiming my gratitude up to the heavens. Sort of like when you have a newborn and you are just uttering little prayers of awe and thanks all day long. My soul just can't not send those thanks up to God constantly over having my Mike. Every time I snuggle into him before falling asleep at night. Every time I'm out running and have a little quiet to reflect. I just feel so grateful to have him. I tell Mike often how much I love him, but I do not think even he truly knows how much or how often I think about<b> </b>him. I truly long to be near him all of the time. I can hardly pass him in the kitchen or hall without hugging him tightly to me for a minute. I even find myself looking forward to things like Sunday School simply because I can just sit close to him uninterrupted for an hour! I can't explain how much just being physically close to him is a joy and a comfort to me. (I can't tell you how many times just being next to him has been enough to soothe major anxieties and worries.) I don't just <i>miss</i> him when he's away from me, I feel a dull ache in my chest when I know I can't be near him. And if we are ever remotely feeling distant or at odds with one another, I feel utterly wretched and miserable. I have been thinking lately that if all of the struggles of earth life--the tests and trials, and all the efforts to consecrate and sacrifice and serve to keep my covenants with God ... if the <b>only </b>blessing they resulted in was my getting to be with Mike forever, that would be enough. That would make all of this worth it. I genuinely feel that I have no greater blessing in my life. If I were to die, Mike <i>could</i> marry again. In truth I wouldn't want him to be lonesome. (Though I do actually pray often that, if possible, Mike and I will <b>not</b> have to spend very much time away from each other through death!) But also ... I hope he would know (he would know) that he would still be mine. Completely and fully. I relinquish no claim to him ever. He is as much a part of me as my very own soul is. There is something more than just love there. I don't know what it is. But it isn't just poetry. It's something real about how tied I am to him in my very core. I love him so much. I don't know that there is any single thing that I feel more intensely or more strongly than my tie to and love for him. And there is nothing that gives me more comfort than knowing that he really truly will be mine forever--that we are tied in some way that death honestly cannot break, that I never ever ever have to truly be separated from him. I never want to be. There is nothing I want more than just ... being with Mike always. I feel like I just want to keep saying, "I love him. I love him. I love him." And it still can't express it enough. But I don't want to put these words out--to proclaim this truth--only in some future day when one of us has passed on and these words might seem like just the sayings of someone looking back through rose colored glasses. I want to say them clearly <b>now</b>, while we are in the thick of mortality and our own weaknesses and failings and tiredness and worries and stresses and daily demands. This is how I feel for him right now. In the midst of all of it. And I'll stop there. (Though I suppose, after all of that, I can add that ... if he needs a few pigs that's probably ok. So long as they don't eat us.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">π)</span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-56275784827227116952024-02-28T17:02:00.008-07:002024-02-28T17:16:32.469-07:00Cookies on the Counter. (Though there might have been a better title?)<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At about 5:00 a.m. yesterday morning I heard little feet paddle quickly down the hall, past our bedroom door, and into the kitchen. A cupboard opened. Pots and pans jangled. And finally, four-year-old Starling was at my bedside--pan in hand--whimpering, "Mom, I think I'm going to throw up." </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">(Dear little soul: running in the dark to find her own little throw-up pan. π¬)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievgdYoAGVRNLrK8r8iXHK9aGEmueQWN3nDFK75y3UUTCPIO-YxDKkhvB-vWLmrbigydKocVp4piC4KpZyKGrwgGJJDhRdkO0dFl-jknSLPKwBeLZtk-SLH4f2rPoibjaUnlzqkMi5q1-17clzk7gCDhdfYh0V7_14yBEWW_976eoc0_c5pEaYZhgm0So/s2761/Photo%20Feb%2027%202024,%207%2039%2017%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="2761" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievgdYoAGVRNLrK8r8iXHK9aGEmueQWN3nDFK75y3UUTCPIO-YxDKkhvB-vWLmrbigydKocVp4piC4KpZyKGrwgGJJDhRdkO0dFl-jknSLPKwBeLZtk-SLH4f2rPoibjaUnlzqkMi5q1-17clzk7gCDhdfYh0V7_14yBEWW_976eoc0_c5pEaYZhgm0So/w640-h640/Photo%20Feb%2027%202024,%207%2039%2017%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eyDlPMJ9kVD0vVeqsNh4AmJuB8AoqZikbj_N1_s23UvYX6_w4HjqutNyZcJF1R2ckGCUC3d8z24aREgCgo5mOvuftn9gCBLXanTDxwtVXRPteSJ2dkpfota7yu-QLXFGjYv84bEKFVGJqlkivSsXsfzVa6FV1AVzh6N4-Vh1soWzAI87araBxIK1stg/s3523/Photo%20Feb%2027%202024,%2012%2040%2020%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3523" data-original-width="2642" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eyDlPMJ9kVD0vVeqsNh4AmJuB8AoqZikbj_N1_s23UvYX6_w4HjqutNyZcJF1R2ckGCUC3d8z24aREgCgo5mOvuftn9gCBLXanTDxwtVXRPteSJ2dkpfota7yu-QLXFGjYv84bEKFVGJqlkivSsXsfzVa6FV1AVzh6N4-Vh1soWzAI87araBxIK1stg/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2027%202024,%2012%2040%2020%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">She did end up throwing up once--and then fevering the rest of the day. I would have liked to have kept her snuggled safely on the couch without interruption for the whole of it, but we had to venture out a bit. (One of those ventures was to get a prescription for Mette--whose toe has been swollen, painful and infected for over a week now with no signs of improvement. And you know my <i>slight</i> extra-anxiousness over infections--what with my great-grandfather dying from what began as just an infected thumb, and my own horrendous post-surgery foot infection several years back and all. [I wrote a bit about those <u><a href="https://nancyaah.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-foot-infection-and-something-like.html" target="_blank">here</a></u>.])</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But back to the venturing out. It was bitter cold. And I don't use that "bitter cold" phrase lightly. It was probably about 25 (F), but the wind was thrashing about with such icy determination that it felt ... well, as I said: bitter, icy. Much much colder than the tolerable-sounding "25 degrees" would suggest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And it was surprising that I had to take poor Starling out in it as, in general, it truly <b>has</b> been unusual for us to be venturing out this winter. Partly because of the cold, and the wet, and the thick fogs lingering till 2 and 3 in the afternoons, and the early dark. Partly because we have yet to get our kids in any instrument or other lessons up here (so there are very few places they <i>need </i>to be). But <i>also</i> because ... we have to <i>go into town </i>now! It's 15 minutes to get ... <i>anywhere</i>. Which isn't so very far really, but it used to be that running a kid to school or picking up a prescription was a matter of five or ten minutes altogether. And now it seems hard to get <i>anywhere</i> (and back) without planning on an hour. So we've done a lot of sticking close to home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhQ0MHY3yOqM5V9029OCEokRwEp31ePotajt7ZjZJSp2cJSocky6bE1e8iUphzXDjNbPJklnn4LHkFuVkPTZM6_rsWBRF1cUFwj1Ed8jc-F-CiPtoHVQXtfGPBXYTO2-RTkF8tYBHne8ZO5BP6_T62TVdoIBUf5SpJLDKDwv0dDgNeVWPasAP_nSsJGY/s2048/IMG_1209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhQ0MHY3yOqM5V9029OCEokRwEp31ePotajt7ZjZJSp2cJSocky6bE1e8iUphzXDjNbPJklnn4LHkFuVkPTZM6_rsWBRF1cUFwj1Ed8jc-F-CiPtoHVQXtfGPBXYTO2-RTkF8tYBHne8ZO5BP6_T62TVdoIBUf5SpJLDKDwv0dDgNeVWPasAP_nSsJGY/w640-h426/IMG_1209.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some wintry biking with the neighbors while Mike fixes our downed mailbox.)</span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i5XsUHL2h7SOzV9WJ-ocTgcMWLmopoBwlSClbkQikBxUpH7Mdif2A2lmYBN4jarFzAWmewCzIywjKjWwRuuknNCiAYT-mqjQWAWPggesvNxhZW5t0ZOswIHitqoh0gq5M_WqlxQScZOC2_ZZ4BXrQGyQQMuLimQtEHZknzSecgglnLmGmaKN-S2QT34/s2048/IMG_1210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i5XsUHL2h7SOzV9WJ-ocTgcMWLmopoBwlSClbkQikBxUpH7Mdif2A2lmYBN4jarFzAWmewCzIywjKjWwRuuknNCiAYT-mqjQWAWPggesvNxhZW5t0ZOswIHitqoh0gq5M_WqlxQScZOC2_ZZ4BXrQGyQQMuLimQtEHZknzSecgglnLmGmaKN-S2QT34/w640-h426/IMG_1210.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And along with that sticking close to home, I've been doing a lot of baking. Probably not the best thing for the old waistline, but one needs some sort of treat most days </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">(doesn't one?) </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">and with a trip to the store feeling like such a commitment (and our finances--what with our house taking roughly one billion years to sell [more on that later]--not being particularly conducive to lots of trips to the store anyway), baking has been a regular activity. Mostly cookies. (Though cupcakes and fudge haven't been unheard of. And I did talk Daisy into making me her eclairs [declares as the kids like to call them] last weekend when she was up being wined and dined by Utah State [minus the wined part of course π] in an effort to win her over to their graduate program. [Whether they succeeded in winning her over or not remains to be seen.])</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1ryIKQrIQU4bMW2MjZ8dWZQI7_7uAW-hPfdEEqXpU91cVo1kjiDDnXJ2SmpBXy_qganQkOX_61TZb6P8RqjNFgcR_DiZNgA1sHzCkcusxnvxy_BMubu2J994wKRwVOZJ-vbeIoHoO6QB0SKzqQVNDTufml90hSOYpIT0ijMdBvvWUHAsT1b_Lheye3c/s2048/IMG_1216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1ryIKQrIQU4bMW2MjZ8dWZQI7_7uAW-hPfdEEqXpU91cVo1kjiDDnXJ2SmpBXy_qganQkOX_61TZb6P8RqjNFgcR_DiZNgA1sHzCkcusxnvxy_BMubu2J994wKRwVOZJ-vbeIoHoO6QB0SKzqQVNDTufml90hSOYpIT0ijMdBvvWUHAsT1b_Lheye3c/w640-h426/IMG_1216.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43rTymp_khC1ARLAZuG-KCVE3qGNLLmMId5pDb1gz3kqNsjAa47XN5cq1t3847UP1fWMsTvguD57s_THhlVYFrTFg1ftSWTOcY3nVhBNjHNR5uuU7UEf6NrksShxdotuDd2eanQY8DnJWahErh6BDPJjWiXuOCfwPhLECbbAVBofd-u86PkfNBk5gy5I/s2048/IMG_1217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43rTymp_khC1ARLAZuG-KCVE3qGNLLmMId5pDb1gz3kqNsjAa47XN5cq1t3847UP1fWMsTvguD57s_THhlVYFrTFg1ftSWTOcY3nVhBNjHNR5uuU7UEf6NrksShxdotuDd2eanQY8DnJWahErh6BDPJjWiXuOCfwPhLECbbAVBofd-u86PkfNBk5gy5I/w640-h426/IMG_1217.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Part of me has felt <i>some</i> bits of stir craziness. I'm ready to be out exploring parks and watching the kids jump on the trampoline again. (Even my runs have been sporadic. I don't mind running in the cold, but Starling isn't so fond of being in the stroller if it's below 40 ... which it always seems to be.) But also, I'm <b>really</b> grateful for this ability to just be here in my own little home. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Every once-in-a-very-rare while I think back on 23-year-old me with her little acceptance to graduate school in one hand ... and her first ever pregnancy test in the other hand. When I look back at that girl, I see that she was at the start of one of those largely diverging paths in a "choose your own ending book"--though she didn't fully know it herself at the time. And the path she <i>didn't </i>take? It would have been a good one. Fulfilling. And, honestly, she would have been quite good at it, I think. I can see that girl in her alternate life as a biology professor. But the path she did take? The one that, 24 years later, has her pulling a third batch of cookies from the oven for her school kids to come home to (while her little tenth child sleeps snuggled in a fuzzy red blanket on the couch)? I'm glad she took that path. Thanks, 23-year-old me, for gifting me that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuHlhmhKKhTmpY3XEEeAi3ZN-yFCDusS4aN2Ga2oYW5MxX2x9nNE1Nmix9iHU8O0MFnzNQ_z1UUbg7XyGw68vsWfBZKZWaZwf_fBNLcf3Ly9Hz-neSzT9KHm5zA0nWbphuNpdLZczn2-d-6Poj6JwDp_Ocbjq7OAokdAg_ZvZAZftrlZLPgtZCbyjE0w/s1792/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%204%2026%2043%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1792" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuHlhmhKKhTmpY3XEEeAi3ZN-yFCDusS4aN2Ga2oYW5MxX2x9nNE1Nmix9iHU8O0MFnzNQ_z1UUbg7XyGw68vsWfBZKZWaZwf_fBNLcf3Ly9Hz-neSzT9KHm5zA0nWbphuNpdLZczn2-d-6Poj6JwDp_Ocbjq7OAokdAg_ZvZAZftrlZLPgtZCbyjE0w/w640-h296/Photo%20Feb%2028%202024,%204%2026%2043%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-7540353379357680472024-02-23T19:33:00.002-07:002024-02-23T19:33:11.063-07:00One Thing Very Clever, Two Things Moderately Clever, or Three Things Very Dull Indeed<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I'll leave it up to you to decide how to categorize these bits of information. ... :)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Movie Night:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT9obYGoUOsGfOWaZgwzwiUg27t2eM1va6iXJFgPihEr_bj1Z2Tyd2FJqYDnnBNsYiW9MW-yNr8Y6c8n6gyw_k_1Y5PUoAQaAfLJewfmu6IQlBSOVT3RS0Jn1dc-Bzc6bLK4Kg8E9fHp-pHhNTHHVBaLPQbHry3If5VzgbZ7vlox90vLkmLTKEABCHTA/s2048/IMG_1087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT9obYGoUOsGfOWaZgwzwiUg27t2eM1va6iXJFgPihEr_bj1Z2Tyd2FJqYDnnBNsYiW9MW-yNr8Y6c8n6gyw_k_1Y5PUoAQaAfLJewfmu6IQlBSOVT3RS0Jn1dc-Bzc6bLK4Kg8E9fHp-pHhNTHHVBaLPQbHry3If5VzgbZ7vlox90vLkmLTKEABCHTA/w640-h426/IMG_1087.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCA9Gz8OvKTjcKEWK-u6jBq3dMCBlfYUD_5diVCeeU24818XFHygdJT4dhMshkF4NpwW_bo2URolOtTwhwWNYyFnVafDMyTPdLUWyxY7imMvb-LtQR0ZnGeT9rr7sjWYUJh3ZBrmWSBzBPeUXL0MjRzZ29bKrfnE09Rc5beXDZSVH4fy_7LQkujLC6CM/s2048/IMG_1088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCA9Gz8OvKTjcKEWK-u6jBq3dMCBlfYUD_5diVCeeU24818XFHygdJT4dhMshkF4NpwW_bo2URolOtTwhwWNYyFnVafDMyTPdLUWyxY7imMvb-LtQR0ZnGeT9rr7sjWYUJh3ZBrmWSBzBPeUXL0MjRzZ29bKrfnE09Rc5beXDZSVH4fy_7LQkujLC6CM/w640-h426/IMG_1088.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Penny as Alma Hix in <i>The Music Man</i>. Why must they come out at the start of each performance up here and say, "Please don't take any photos of our performance.'? Why? Whyyyy? She did such a great job! I finally couldn't resist and snuck my camera out for these three quick photos. Next year I'll have her ask if I can come for the dress rehearsal or something maybe?<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbt3zHCdmxb7B7OBQTdqb1Bh2QpwMv95Zu4i0RkFySj0MCgbVVbMVpqQnIky2bTHKA3BWbWSuFozEsmK3nd-sHpOl38efCWA8QshWw6v3uBYU8K5hSP3c95Ohv2jS-AxhjFwweSLdeVGqbEkKSRAZrf1jxbkx7g6-_AVMqm2dezr8swBUsSJG-CbwuW8/s2048/IMG_1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbt3zHCdmxb7B7OBQTdqb1Bh2QpwMv95Zu4i0RkFySj0MCgbVVbMVpqQnIky2bTHKA3BWbWSuFozEsmK3nd-sHpOl38efCWA8QshWw6v3uBYU8K5hSP3c95Ohv2jS-AxhjFwweSLdeVGqbEkKSRAZrf1jxbkx7g6-_AVMqm2dezr8swBUsSJG-CbwuW8/w640-h426/IMG_1154.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYHOKnbpKmtCtrHjLWcdkTCd8Bw4LcvbgGYs08h6BHYy_KjdzDbHQKqaRWrU6CqruFDcrjyYN9Luc_mWEbf_RyVZQeqYZxF613H9TFbMmIfIksKaH8HlL39W9Iv5qKb37v26rUa2ZkUXBNPrHxvUtwZwM0ZH0vrjkUXaUh1fzJoI8yDIObjXIHJ5DzNw/s2048/IMG_1155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYHOKnbpKmtCtrHjLWcdkTCd8Bw4LcvbgGYs08h6BHYy_KjdzDbHQKqaRWrU6CqruFDcrjyYN9Luc_mWEbf_RyVZQeqYZxF613H9TFbMmIfIksKaH8HlL39W9Iv5qKb37v26rUa2ZkUXBNPrHxvUtwZwM0ZH0vrjkUXaUh1fzJoI8yDIObjXIHJ5DzNw/w640-h426/IMG_1155.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n7aWI9a4XfAsCWZpt9yIyUbibDvxi6vHjiUiK9jT-LTl6VfYKMT6zZZnMHwc09rb0406_FqHb0luOc0b7xckGrFpVMyp4UIYqpIYon20mjHYOCQmhyi4SDQZV4uq7RDONusWVH-mgTMZE3X1h24hDGkeqe7XxB5Vnf1klLh8-LrN0rxUh84YGYiC2EY/s2048/IMG_1156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n7aWI9a4XfAsCWZpt9yIyUbibDvxi6vHjiUiK9jT-LTl6VfYKMT6zZZnMHwc09rb0406_FqHb0luOc0b7xckGrFpVMyp4UIYqpIYon20mjHYOCQmhyi4SDQZV4uq7RDONusWVH-mgTMZE3X1h24hDGkeqe7XxB5Vnf1klLh8-LrN0rxUh84YGYiC2EY/w640-h426/IMG_1156.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Disco Party:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoGw_4KKghSn4XpoceT6zzmgE98rZTYg2nmmYhWm9SBEljmy8hjH4ZZUMn5N6FdBzSOc04XIeTxElHPIh0bs0RY4NHnQ7s9_KifcnA1GdI_7Tk993lvCY_utqwkxblDWe2VFBD0-HaSXa66-CJ9Yv0B7Y0Ynp4jHuc3sUK-yOOaZhvx9-kRHKoO9wsHA/s2048/IMG_1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoGw_4KKghSn4XpoceT6zzmgE98rZTYg2nmmYhWm9SBEljmy8hjH4ZZUMn5N6FdBzSOc04XIeTxElHPIh0bs0RY4NHnQ7s9_KifcnA1GdI_7Tk993lvCY_utqwkxblDWe2VFBD0-HaSXa66-CJ9Yv0B7Y0Ynp4jHuc3sUK-yOOaZhvx9-kRHKoO9wsHA/w640-h426/IMG_1171.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCAfBuM_oWSddZekcggBLR4p3bnz2D31a8e4tto9qzS4mKemmn6CoM2lieQYpEDxqy2iLgsSeVHzLyw_cE6A0YQXT86J6twONdi_qzZuAwRF0Sz3uB01pA0gar50Zg3_G78-lDnTQ9RV8clSVNnPz094hc2nfJuR4NH9nRWa6RutofZxreNG-AJJ4oxs/s2048/IMG_1178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCAfBuM_oWSddZekcggBLR4p3bnz2D31a8e4tto9qzS4mKemmn6CoM2lieQYpEDxqy2iLgsSeVHzLyw_cE6A0YQXT86J6twONdi_qzZuAwRF0Sz3uB01pA0gar50Zg3_G78-lDnTQ9RV8clSVNnPz094hc2nfJuR4NH9nRWa6RutofZxreNG-AJJ4oxs/w640-h426/IMG_1178.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOqKstYTSeqhzefqrPnY0cfi8EdUsSyaQY1ynPUAl_c_6BBKALaq2bbK2hI4RrbbFgWUaheH6hOQbyMIdFvDkWUoViEu803WdihE4f1P3cvZvRDhZW45fwrmkuUhAOjdevF8LsV0qQGhDr8v2Ka3Dlubn-JewyNB62Zlwo-9L5L-x9p71MPcB9Vbmlck/s2048/IMG_1184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOqKstYTSeqhzefqrPnY0cfi8EdUsSyaQY1ynPUAl_c_6BBKALaq2bbK2hI4RrbbFgWUaheH6hOQbyMIdFvDkWUoViEu803WdihE4f1P3cvZvRDhZW45fwrmkuUhAOjdevF8LsV0qQGhDr8v2Ka3Dlubn-JewyNB62Zlwo-9L5L-x9p71MPcB9Vbmlck/w640-h426/IMG_1184.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFxC7TcLmfEZ-T4e_jM8syXLIQvRCSr9Zy02iEDTm7yWhk4qr9Dh_tbgwsUw5oD3p6AEEywz8JLUX1FzA4PaXAXBg0PSfE-Ayyj1LjwQyvIq_3IuhA0vsucik514WD-MHZpgEMb7n8i9Z_Nm9wAxFnpTfQGSDNUya7zaUHuAzm6kKoHKckSLZnRnktWk/s2048/IMG_1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFxC7TcLmfEZ-T4e_jM8syXLIQvRCSr9Zy02iEDTm7yWhk4qr9Dh_tbgwsUw5oD3p6AEEywz8JLUX1FzA4PaXAXBg0PSfE-Ayyj1LjwQyvIq_3IuhA0vsucik514WD-MHZpgEMb7n8i9Z_Nm9wAxFnpTfQGSDNUya7zaUHuAzm6kKoHKckSLZnRnktWk/w640-h426/IMG_1185.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdRITY_FB8JhV_r3annBS4aX6IADMpHrlltP4vXuQnGlUjg81sfAwH2H7GRzqcp8B-3RrzZYI3VBDeRtPSjUBuSyu3yPtU2SCmK2lj2NODw5fYxC3feHOuO1i3d5jBM2LZefoBC3hs5v827VrUehV3eABVS6T4Q1ujWNJeNVKIW3Q1_xPX9JFhJyhup8/s2048/IMG_1188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdRITY_FB8JhV_r3annBS4aX6IADMpHrlltP4vXuQnGlUjg81sfAwH2H7GRzqcp8B-3RrzZYI3VBDeRtPSjUBuSyu3yPtU2SCmK2lj2NODw5fYxC3feHOuO1i3d5jBM2LZefoBC3hs5v827VrUehV3eABVS6T4Q1ujWNJeNVKIW3Q1_xPX9JFhJyhup8/w426-h640/IMG_1188.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsvjWnWvkljW6E3JtGL5eQEQrBfhl6coK-E5Qmow0MVxbTazxyTUF9HcoFrtX3U1UWwfEsRcXHdyRxXxSy6afNwC0lAoGOtbohFhh0l4wrPUzkwff9Lv35yhCy7dFcZZAcNVOcJnTs-4otvyyHizEile6LEXCUGyX4k-64CDIywfV1DeBUAfkS3SV5EU/s2048/IMG_1194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsvjWnWvkljW6E3JtGL5eQEQrBfhl6coK-E5Qmow0MVxbTazxyTUF9HcoFrtX3U1UWwfEsRcXHdyRxXxSy6afNwC0lAoGOtbohFhh0l4wrPUzkwff9Lv35yhCy7dFcZZAcNVOcJnTs-4otvyyHizEile6LEXCUGyX4k-64CDIywfV1DeBUAfkS3SV5EU/w426-h640/IMG_1194.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The "fuzzy carpet room":<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zDKrIqfEShmAK7qGUJUZTgyRV3ACw2jdDMVMK82JkCZPimq_7tukIN_hRlCeEjdZeAcLvG3-pegJJiTrDQKV7qYwWDvj62AGo-oOv2URHf27dEF8PpAK8qrRINA79kJE4YXi4XgH9t1_N2XZkowZfmVPdMfTPA-5vhsqjEbirT-wO9uWZKAZstW-OSg/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2001%202024,%2011%2016%2029%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zDKrIqfEShmAK7qGUJUZTgyRV3ACw2jdDMVMK82JkCZPimq_7tukIN_hRlCeEjdZeAcLvG3-pegJJiTrDQKV7qYwWDvj62AGo-oOv2URHf27dEF8PpAK8qrRINA79kJE4YXi4XgH9t1_N2XZkowZfmVPdMfTPA-5vhsqjEbirT-wO9uWZKAZstW-OSg/w640-h480/Photo%20Feb%2001%202024,%2011%2016%2029%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Snuggling:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv4h8bEbg3IUiAo7zxSnhP1ls92mFbn0rLwZem0kfjQBG9xVz6Em1HMJIDvEpjVO-7yDlXCvbMMVVAex-5nZBSd-WjO-m0ov8UrjfIULo4_gKUIa108Wgs6sAjc4SOVhqK_uS-wijl6fxOR2Vftf4yk84EfqcZkC8pJadNCtv1YSj4KZaTCilfkdjbrM/s3024/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2005%2053%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv4h8bEbg3IUiAo7zxSnhP1ls92mFbn0rLwZem0kfjQBG9xVz6Em1HMJIDvEpjVO-7yDlXCvbMMVVAex-5nZBSd-WjO-m0ov8UrjfIULo4_gKUIa108Wgs6sAjc4SOVhqK_uS-wijl6fxOR2Vftf4yk84EfqcZkC8pJadNCtv1YSj4KZaTCilfkdjbrM/w426-h640/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2005%2053%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5j1mUE55WVsf90HKrf0on66JkB50-U7IxzmvjbgokCwz2KC-C0AY5ATRI8Wui616FyaD2ZI-8AafZUvqf-4fRaaf9wlIPA9NF6IEsBYy5-gnIvJVtkvhOCzOBOmp_RE4rSm6lhp81ctfAA9fHAV-4LaP-ywMbhZK5pD92encIy4VkqJPqZrs0uDg8F0/s3076/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2006%2030%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3076" data-original-width="2051" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5j1mUE55WVsf90HKrf0on66JkB50-U7IxzmvjbgokCwz2KC-C0AY5ATRI8Wui616FyaD2ZI-8AafZUvqf-4fRaaf9wlIPA9NF6IEsBYy5-gnIvJVtkvhOCzOBOmp_RE4rSm6lhp81ctfAA9fHAV-4LaP-ywMbhZK5pD92encIy4VkqJPqZrs0uDg8F0/w426-h640/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2006%2030%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bunk room:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AykFkvaNAl1ebbnAUG1nyS0NJaAZQ8lLWTDZ-VES9ldOw9x1Lk66xgtTv3MvfbRigVrUQvVs-rI9NdXeeQvWajpw78vvkFL8yRbpd0EupQbfuuwKrv2hOnGSJQnfzXLjLMtdEGYAOhgowMquZYEA_NpmD4g2VGi-Jkpkdmk1BfqQybWMZlvZmAjzo1U/s3620/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2025%2044%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="3620" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AykFkvaNAl1ebbnAUG1nyS0NJaAZQ8lLWTDZ-VES9ldOw9x1Lk66xgtTv3MvfbRigVrUQvVs-rI9NdXeeQvWajpw78vvkFL8yRbpd0EupQbfuuwKrv2hOnGSJQnfzXLjLMtdEGYAOhgowMquZYEA_NpmD4g2VGi-Jkpkdmk1BfqQybWMZlvZmAjzo1U/w640-h426/Photo%20Feb%2002%202024,%2010%2025%2044%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This little goofball. Just found her on my bed like this one day. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStK0YorgkKXj2myA1MjP54deaVhCsNaUVQL0gvgQvA47SE_0nss0m5rAVJunHXlsYhZ83G-CqTe5SPIZhFgJ3PQr83rGw1SrUPMuJ3PRqT2ZIcXsvwDo4zrqv44Ee1kltxMU7WQ_dtChiunrbgdDcZpevuELJU3EtBa9OwoSfXQHlqfSK_uuHJY5HLX8/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2006%202024,%201%2048%2055%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStK0YorgkKXj2myA1MjP54deaVhCsNaUVQL0gvgQvA47SE_0nss0m5rAVJunHXlsYhZ83G-CqTe5SPIZhFgJ3PQr83rGw1SrUPMuJ3PRqT2ZIcXsvwDo4zrqv44Ee1kltxMU7WQ_dtChiunrbgdDcZpevuELJU3EtBa9OwoSfXQHlqfSK_uuHJY5HLX8/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2006%202024,%201%2048%2055%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VqSXAIn-jdg0e5CfxpB6Fublugr_fMJn2kw65j3JtcHn62jIGP-Sr5kgv2kEMCOCgfWrM9j3snwR_IshuOXtZstiluh3x9nQO5G9h3N1gZwWfL16LEjcAHLBz74sZmosq90uQrTUwLWU5gT9JRPTMsBxeBl9pys5rQDnmAEU4fUBMMNlyHoyeh_Jro8/s2895/Photo%20Feb%2008%202024,%208%2059%2046%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2895" data-original-width="1930" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VqSXAIn-jdg0e5CfxpB6Fublugr_fMJn2kw65j3JtcHn62jIGP-Sr5kgv2kEMCOCgfWrM9j3snwR_IshuOXtZstiluh3x9nQO5G9h3N1gZwWfL16LEjcAHLBz74sZmosq90uQrTUwLWU5gT9JRPTMsBxeBl9pys5rQDnmAEU4fUBMMNlyHoyeh_Jro8/w426-h640/Photo%20Feb%2008%202024,%208%2059%2046%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Wearing my reading glasses in a comforter that she dragged from her room ... after me telling her not to drag it from her room.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXqR95GFbASl9HV7Ytl6aeOZ4-RE-sKQZ533PF-_ukhDWdk1UCTYoaKhif73x0D05Qgof6nSohybI3MW-TUSvBBnlfYasnf90YBPgFj6OeN3ajHA_9PmtG5WXe1WxNTLWZ5RR6x4unxn0jyoAXXk-nAlFVZGcBMY90dPItKW1qrf0WoKscx3x3tVrIQM/s2255/Photo%20Feb%2009%202024,%206%2012%2012%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2255" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXqR95GFbASl9HV7Ytl6aeOZ4-RE-sKQZ533PF-_ukhDWdk1UCTYoaKhif73x0D05Qgof6nSohybI3MW-TUSvBBnlfYasnf90YBPgFj6OeN3ajHA_9PmtG5WXe1WxNTLWZ5RR6x4unxn0jyoAXXk-nAlFVZGcBMY90dPItKW1qrf0WoKscx3x3tVrIQM/w640-h426/Photo%20Feb%2009%202024,%206%2012%2012%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Looks like my photos are out of order. Here we all are after <i>The Music Man</i>.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOYXco13xYexzoUQo1Qb6N_ACQz4hdEHhuebewjVgKU_RP879Xnt_y1WBaqpskqnRuQ1uCGX7Rn6sVteQgweuivvVX2MX3kfYi0pqC9kDeDiZyibMoedP9H800A8yhcO5tCptkrnojPoPriTrXXS81QXam_G39kQpw6o_bf7e09oniNWbIvEYSOTd3lI/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2010%202024,%209%2033%2002%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOYXco13xYexzoUQo1Qb6N_ACQz4hdEHhuebewjVgKU_RP879Xnt_y1WBaqpskqnRuQ1uCGX7Rn6sVteQgweuivvVX2MX3kfYi0pqC9kDeDiZyibMoedP9H800A8yhcO5tCptkrnojPoPriTrXXS81QXam_G39kQpw6o_bf7e09oniNWbIvEYSOTd3lI/w640-h480/Photo%20Feb%2010%202024,%209%2033%2002%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Pen with a few friends from the cast. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHG9Jz9QamPy7WSbRHaHpaTfW1yLyj9iC1G8-ffL8GXb0s5qZmM2wdQENA-ISebhWm-aKiEpkbsnSnEzfmgL9Go4hqs4qMYmiCcqzC7dpaAnNQ_hw1OcsJmvSLLV92m7asxsrCy8CJ3q8xZcfovbj-r7qxx8ij8DL1elKuFTN84fGkOHlyMhj7iXWZxI/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2010%202024,%209%2035%2032%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHG9Jz9QamPy7WSbRHaHpaTfW1yLyj9iC1G8-ffL8GXb0s5qZmM2wdQENA-ISebhWm-aKiEpkbsnSnEzfmgL9Go4hqs4qMYmiCcqzC7dpaAnNQ_hw1OcsJmvSLLV92m7asxsrCy8CJ3q8xZcfovbj-r7qxx8ij8DL1elKuFTN84fGkOHlyMhj7iXWZxI/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2010%202024,%209%2035%2032%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Popcorn:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxlWN5JEv544u-rq0-uKTFOYiZukDI2Amt7fsnaxFZ5WS09Qm_WZdBK3w3rHSTfNrbdpRpTAbopQBcVakctG72eZZoRTB5nKc2-sm_G974ixTqRgsfU2hH6gj1m9YbhxD2XDmKEet8BcyhHQ5yQG1mwV8c2X9mW3U1E_WKHmotJMChhb6t8zZogI_g4M/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2011%202024,%2010%2050%2052%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxlWN5JEv544u-rq0-uKTFOYiZukDI2Amt7fsnaxFZ5WS09Qm_WZdBK3w3rHSTfNrbdpRpTAbopQBcVakctG72eZZoRTB5nKc2-sm_G974ixTqRgsfU2hH6gj1m9YbhxD2XDmKEet8BcyhHQ5yQG1mwV8c2X9mW3U1E_WKHmotJMChhb6t8zZogI_g4M/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2011%202024,%2010%2050%2052%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsydwNKEYtuTKK3Jk3KdQZt4lktwYsh265FSyGn3-b4rE0zZLhYOhLuExL1tQKXhHCyyU45MQzgu1WIH41cj4Nqi08Bu9wUWaheUW0EhMbZr_W3SUXgtvEw9QsKOGQChJlrcNl_sHuBGXvVjLgzbznxUrPKSMfkc6v3gbfv_JCsU_hVG7Ghn_9rKu3DfY/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2011%202024,%2010%2053%2012%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsydwNKEYtuTKK3Jk3KdQZt4lktwYsh265FSyGn3-b4rE0zZLhYOhLuExL1tQKXhHCyyU45MQzgu1WIH41cj4Nqi08Bu9wUWaheUW0EhMbZr_W3SUXgtvEw9QsKOGQChJlrcNl_sHuBGXvVjLgzbznxUrPKSMfkc6v3gbfv_JCsU_hVG7Ghn_9rKu3DfY/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2011%202024,%2010%2053%2012%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Penny asking a boy to Spring Fling. (She was dropping it off on her way to the play so we've got this half Penny/half Alma Hix version of herself. :))<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtFh1uFO5VqU-u6me1jNoQBA6ueISLOW8AlAptvuzwHpFvW8zlmJMMtkn-nwKln9F1zlXdQ10xGLmGt9EhlxzaIqz2URgELbAwtd_hu2MreZ8O88TZdJdhPhgnYyz6ml0Rp87e4y5-hu-S92jim-bsbDCKKei4Z0G01QZ1ZlTn_494aamWi0OCYky3ks/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2012%202024,%204%2048%2023%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtFh1uFO5VqU-u6me1jNoQBA6ueISLOW8AlAptvuzwHpFvW8zlmJMMtkn-nwKln9F1zlXdQ10xGLmGt9EhlxzaIqz2URgELbAwtd_hu2MreZ8O88TZdJdhPhgnYyz6ml0Rp87e4y5-hu-S92jim-bsbDCKKei4Z0G01QZ1ZlTn_494aamWi0OCYky3ks/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2012%202024,%204%2048%2023%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Valentine boxes (some of the kids just made envelopes in class). Dais helped Summer make the shape then Summs painted it. Anders made his own:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoXPvmIL1KOLOWIh8qUHF_hEsEl4dbB2uM-OfHrlanj0i3bwJPOrdKWcEZzaQYVJtqcC1dDkPx5hMa-tOu_xO2M3aUQeYqjVWtRZqkKu7XRtk0taMiPjD2TRI_7FITxSKzDyM5tvhM1ZDtHy7K1LLsebNRn81H5o7Brk1pKKIYyto68rJqlKjbX1PDrE/s2573/Photo%20Feb%2014%202024,%206%2025%2017%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="2573" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoXPvmIL1KOLOWIh8qUHF_hEsEl4dbB2uM-OfHrlanj0i3bwJPOrdKWcEZzaQYVJtqcC1dDkPx5hMa-tOu_xO2M3aUQeYqjVWtRZqkKu7XRtk0taMiPjD2TRI_7FITxSKzDyM5tvhM1ZDtHy7K1LLsebNRn81H5o7Brk1pKKIYyto68rJqlKjbX1PDrE/w640-h640/Photo%20Feb%2014%202024,%206%2025%2017%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnuzeLWDbW-E0MicjmKpGt9MFATF4jtPpUt4MwOh4BBpQToFsQ-_-VzVrqcZdJC8c4zlF4-xffhJrNYRqKW1TlZHT3iEAd7-az9AESPTl1eNGrmLCG3U54rp1mMs-GuOQqPlNjoOxYPohG0PaWjMRwMo467R61Ca4f-1Zd53OB12BWFFlHy6WKUBEC8/s3649/Photo%20Feb%2014%202024,%206%2028%2039%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3649" data-original-width="2433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnuzeLWDbW-E0MicjmKpGt9MFATF4jtPpUt4MwOh4BBpQToFsQ-_-VzVrqcZdJC8c4zlF4-xffhJrNYRqKW1TlZHT3iEAd7-az9AESPTl1eNGrmLCG3U54rp1mMs-GuOQqPlNjoOxYPohG0PaWjMRwMo467R61Ca4f-1Zd53OB12BWFFlHy6WKUBEC8/w426-h640/Photo%20Feb%2014%202024,%206%2028%2039%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Oh she's gotten to be the baby for so long. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9FuehWgKVJrORQjMnPn_MAYIhFUOS08aJSrK3U9EoGSatimERt6f1Rulc12TSESj7gBHR-mYE_W-qhVmlucAKng7tO7m2pNp5sTYbyIw1WgBsqZD5ujjZxkw32z18y9MAkp121ToO3kiTGnrLunn6b5A7EgCIHU-jQzKIT74IhdkmtrqOqlJKiZ-Yx4/s3140/Photo%20Feb%2015%202024,%208%2012%2026%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3140" data-original-width="2093" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9FuehWgKVJrORQjMnPn_MAYIhFUOS08aJSrK3U9EoGSatimERt6f1Rulc12TSESj7gBHR-mYE_W-qhVmlucAKng7tO7m2pNp5sTYbyIw1WgBsqZD5ujjZxkw32z18y9MAkp121ToO3kiTGnrLunn6b5A7EgCIHU-jQzKIT74IhdkmtrqOqlJKiZ-Yx4/w426-h640/Photo%20Feb%2015%202024,%208%2012%2026%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A stop at Smith and Edwards after a day of working on stuff in the garage at the Pleasant View house. (Jesse was off to the side. And Summer ... is actually in this photo--hidden behind Anders.) <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyACVPyZSGIGnshRwZTu-cqCpBeiiaXwghyElQsslctml6J4WUC1eUa_EtXucoFKAXG6FgObLnnl-opMjZbv8BYcbrW7d6beQb24srJJOb7Gn3mE_MtnAqdrpeXYncOlnqP6KyDF6artNe1tPbFFy8I9iePFoqSpO81D6p4F6RaZxIY3CGQpun1tNflB4/s3605/Photo%20Feb%2016%202024,%205%2054%2005%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2403" data-original-width="3605" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyACVPyZSGIGnshRwZTu-cqCpBeiiaXwghyElQsslctml6J4WUC1eUa_EtXucoFKAXG6FgObLnnl-opMjZbv8BYcbrW7d6beQb24srJJOb7Gn3mE_MtnAqdrpeXYncOlnqP6KyDF6artNe1tPbFFy8I9iePFoqSpO81D6p4F6RaZxIY3CGQpun1tNflB4/w640-h426/Photo%20Feb%2016%202024,%205%2054%2005%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Just how a kid should look at 7:00 am.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA8NFFl-IeQ4b3PMlMgRtiWe_XyS0rvIDD_LSOGauoFaTWifYURBybfM1kUZa_w5rWwIp7mSr8yFsu3AzcpM__R-R-EccRLte82gwW2Pymb_t5eEkwTs3mcG2AnXgiU-xL1EAlDmz-m_4RA5UBgyBiLRiYg_KCHSmslfNy0ylko-sDOucwOTtmiyDPXU/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2021%202024,%207%2032%2015%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA8NFFl-IeQ4b3PMlMgRtiWe_XyS0rvIDD_LSOGauoFaTWifYURBybfM1kUZa_w5rWwIp7mSr8yFsu3AzcpM__R-R-EccRLte82gwW2Pymb_t5eEkwTs3mcG2AnXgiU-xL1EAlDmz-m_4RA5UBgyBiLRiYg_KCHSmslfNy0ylko-sDOucwOTtmiyDPXU/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2021%202024,%207%2032%2015%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We got a big rooster to ... hopefully bring order to our flock. (Do you know how mean hens can sometimes be to each other?)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIQ39rkgnr07G2XBxGVmCFsAV9pn14c7TKW1s5r75aFnjAf-SwiTXpqlCCNR943-2Xwal6oxyJ1i3EKW2L284J8Bf7gCwMeYwSmO2MGKCNc5yjs-piJr9RXx-9P8rVlE5iR8xQniMruuHFu-iTMi3CZNI_RZCdydvGr9tBGDScMbhL_LlLxcaBhT39KA/s828/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%204%2042%2000%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="828" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIQ39rkgnr07G2XBxGVmCFsAV9pn14c7TKW1s5r75aFnjAf-SwiTXpqlCCNR943-2Xwal6oxyJ1i3EKW2L284J8Bf7gCwMeYwSmO2MGKCNc5yjs-piJr9RXx-9P8rVlE5iR8xQniMruuHFu-iTMi3CZNI_RZCdydvGr9tBGDScMbhL_LlLxcaBhT39KA/w640-h634/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%204%2042%2000%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summer made a little will the other night. It left everyone wondering who would take Skittles the hamster.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLSFOtQmv_mjjHRCVKmG5-OjDJ58mGHLRBjn6i6mNDyGHfe-jP1iXuJUPscHw3kFCeeNhRMW0kOEuiwtXIW9tHquORtLEqYhPiRJ2CpjbOzjE_5pxuHMAKJID55hd9eHCUwByCTzhwaAUC6pEG9SVx8_VSdrFcnhKVlKOfKhKVWEe6xa4BCCi4a7w1rE/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2002%2046%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLSFOtQmv_mjjHRCVKmG5-OjDJ58mGHLRBjn6i6mNDyGHfe-jP1iXuJUPscHw3kFCeeNhRMW0kOEuiwtXIW9tHquORtLEqYhPiRJ2CpjbOzjE_5pxuHMAKJID55hd9eHCUwByCTzhwaAUC6pEG9SVx8_VSdrFcnhKVlKOfKhKVWEe6xa4BCCi4a7w1rE/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2002%2046%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mette decided it to follow Summer's example:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYXKE1tGPSXZHAWi6NLhYLaNUcgWSa_zycgXz3zxCUxCOUCv8Gqfy61TKcYuDb57_nd-b4ImcrOqBGgro0NzoJUkJigNq0CziXaq232-sp9cgy8MJ-ponIA-3XfF2XAgPApyJhpWiqntR4_kWZsoSIWquPa1SEMwrpWDPrfzFDH20CXZSpAeufDmcxDA/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2009%2056%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYXKE1tGPSXZHAWi6NLhYLaNUcgWSa_zycgXz3zxCUxCOUCv8Gqfy61TKcYuDb57_nd-b4ImcrOqBGgro0NzoJUkJigNq0CziXaq232-sp9cgy8MJ-ponIA-3XfF2XAgPApyJhpWiqntR4_kWZsoSIWquPa1SEMwrpWDPrfzFDH20CXZSpAeufDmcxDA/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2009%2056%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hans wrote this great book recently. You see the cover and think, "Meh. Random letters and scribbles. Not too promising." <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2i6gfOW69uvGTTHL4vyg6AkUU0xjktWKpspVqy89y12r2spwJ-U3PhZGcVZk59ulOX_iMIr2lua1IbLd2vZK6gjoQAhireGDemIlIVZEiK8qtsaP7vo8TH3EsGbRYfuGT4e3Y53OWdV5YdpaW4FJ_aQZFLI_W5avnCSXqFKI4KtAq-lljbNPn9zJemM/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2048%2044%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2i6gfOW69uvGTTHL4vyg6AkUU0xjktWKpspVqy89y12r2spwJ-U3PhZGcVZk59ulOX_iMIr2lua1IbLd2vZK6gjoQAhireGDemIlIVZEiK8qtsaP7vo8TH3EsGbRYfuGT4e3Y53OWdV5YdpaW4FJ_aQZFLI_W5avnCSXqFKI4KtAq-lljbNPn9zJemM/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2048%2044%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But then ...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5n-G6a5V2zNdDFxpFQg9BZGH_U3yiaDCnnObmgLOSVWVFnsscnbbJ3JNqyDmsy1TsKW2M8cdx_WIDbq_-q2tNCa5RcPoKlMx8X7Q9FTuwecqpvVZi8dforNokz1fy3XoEA_MPGy1DOnCpunPYOqmN-Jt13gz2jUO5qICtMaa4tf_L1tp9v0s3mTwoxlI/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2049%2009%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5n-G6a5V2zNdDFxpFQg9BZGH_U3yiaDCnnObmgLOSVWVFnsscnbbJ3JNqyDmsy1TsKW2M8cdx_WIDbq_-q2tNCa5RcPoKlMx8X7Q9FTuwecqpvVZi8dforNokz1fy3XoEA_MPGy1DOnCpunPYOqmN-Jt13gz2jUO5qICtMaa4tf_L1tp9v0s3mTwoxlI/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2049%2009%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And ...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrbJsxRE_tpEGqUZsMBOlSlJXbRGEoLq4k_qdOhg0bit2m6rXd33LCxooSTpPX424UpZ348XLk5Ohyeu3kkxMe261X1U2HUtpmn8r0p7K-vvL2uefWCtJKac_NMCacC519mL1JoeKWevkMPzyYFhu8fpqKHwfVp-HLpBmdQ27vm5MG0sn1o35VL_sDyo/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2049%2031%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrbJsxRE_tpEGqUZsMBOlSlJXbRGEoLq4k_qdOhg0bit2m6rXd33LCxooSTpPX424UpZ348XLk5Ohyeu3kkxMe261X1U2HUtpmn8r0p7K-vvL2uefWCtJKac_NMCacC519mL1JoeKWevkMPzyYFhu8fpqKHwfVp-HLpBmdQ27vm5MG0sn1o35VL_sDyo/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2049%2031%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And my favorite part: "TO-NOT-BE contenyoud".<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLRLuPgVB2SAfAsx0tAi-9Du2oR5VDE5tzJM-8YCAZsMD_r7uzfesCp2Aj0ekWrUoqlOLSwihdJuY4UhZyNtN3b7G0x8DJLiRokojGCbuwpCxfqbTaD9Ty_-oE2WPCNd1fCN74cxLQ2_EFdZXC0iFUSESI5nd8ZwKavgi35t2MN9g5nSewnSMgAGTF0Q/s4032/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2050%2000%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLRLuPgVB2SAfAsx0tAi-9Du2oR5VDE5tzJM-8YCAZsMD_r7uzfesCp2Aj0ekWrUoqlOLSwihdJuY4UhZyNtN3b7G0x8DJLiRokojGCbuwpCxfqbTaD9Ty_-oE2WPCNd1fCN74cxLQ2_EFdZXC0iFUSESI5nd8ZwKavgi35t2MN9g5nSewnSMgAGTF0Q/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2022%202024,%206%2050%2000%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of Hans. Here he is at his little patriotic program today. The little girl in front of him recently moved here from Russia. I think she spoke almost no English initially. But said her part with such a cute little Russian accent. Brave girl. But, back to Hans. It's so cute to see the kids come in and then to see their faces light up when they spot a parent in the crowd. It made me so glad I was there for Hansie just because of how much his expression changed once he saw me and Starling.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyBNN3fl5pU2txqllSmvRt7cN6ID3DekYJOz6B2Ay4EmR3McoNVXP3wIO1H_zCi4lWfwh0YM-btpegD2arDr1M_T5PB32B3EXg1CEvEaSwtruVSCk1rGKnQUFY5996IH6bN9y0x48gWrR4eXdeBvr49t2oDN1JEJwXN5n64V9BFvsKay1aNYE0rYD8v4/s3520/Photo%20Feb%2023%202024,%201%2043%2045%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyBNN3fl5pU2txqllSmvRt7cN6ID3DekYJOz6B2Ay4EmR3McoNVXP3wIO1H_zCi4lWfwh0YM-btpegD2arDr1M_T5PB32B3EXg1CEvEaSwtruVSCk1rGKnQUFY5996IH6bN9y0x48gWrR4eXdeBvr49t2oDN1JEJwXN5n64V9BFvsKay1aNYE0rYD8v4/w640-h360/Photo%20Feb%2023%202024,%201%2043%2045%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Though Starling didn't maintain appropriate interest in the program for long. ...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEpptH_tZZz_xY15Ox4lqLhKcPAsJ604ZTH5ChiX1YDHfBLVVr4uWszKM5W0n4B3csN4aWPUCsEDYuVIokx8EZ1xkRmnvZQOguVskVHBKZq91unmDxtMz7TcfZD-ozDKDGcE6oUhKMzDV2C3W5Xq4gij7dfQftoy_QhmIP7c7NMhE8UBF0oqCCeA2piQ/s3088/Photo%20Feb%2023%202024,%201%2051%2034%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEpptH_tZZz_xY15Ox4lqLhKcPAsJ604ZTH5ChiX1YDHfBLVVr4uWszKM5W0n4B3csN4aWPUCsEDYuVIokx8EZ1xkRmnvZQOguVskVHBKZq91unmDxtMz7TcfZD-ozDKDGcE6oUhKMzDV2C3W5Xq4gij7dfQftoy_QhmIP7c7NMhE8UBF0oqCCeA2piQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Feb%2023%202024,%201%2051%2034%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">THE END.</span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-10612913751604535842024-02-01T16:34:00.001-07:002024-02-01T16:34:06.168-07:00A Great Deal Going On<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The other day a friend asked for an update on what was going on around here. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Oh, nothing much," I said with a shrug. (Fully thinking that was so.) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Then I thought of something I could tell: "Abe did just go to Ouray, CO this weekend with Aaron's daughter Josie and two of his friends. It's like this big ice-climbers' mecca, I guess. They even keep sprinklers on the rocks to keep up the ice. Abe went last year and wanted to go again, but they are poor college students and didn't want to pay for a hotel, so they just made it this crazy, grand adventure where they woke up at like two in the morning, drove five and a half hours, climbed all day, then drove back home. It was the first time for everyone he brought, and they all seemed to love it, so that was fun for him. ..."</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp02fzTfCDkhNgRvdIlHG0dqOp999o_yENiG_WyaBrIQIT8Lzi1oJzLeUzRvvkKw7ubEIi5NMCpmKhQHVMLpQP_TBqpEZYHpoo4pBMdLVS9rwl5UxapffeSiq2rr0rPwu8cbVEADXJRIegcCUZMzAH6gqLX5RNo-Gg5sK7ZpgsUlpoNhYaS6XEUVSkSB4/s2040/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%2012%2021%2040%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp02fzTfCDkhNgRvdIlHG0dqOp999o_yENiG_WyaBrIQIT8Lzi1oJzLeUzRvvkKw7ubEIi5NMCpmKhQHVMLpQP_TBqpEZYHpoo4pBMdLVS9rwl5UxapffeSiq2rr0rPwu8cbVEADXJRIegcCUZMzAH6gqLX5RNo-Gg5sK7ZpgsUlpoNhYaS6XEUVSkSB4/w482-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%2012%2021%2040%20PM.jpg" width="482" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Ww3L-4IQvCZyUMDvy4e6S3RNWWHnlddxG_PkiY-RStQKjpt4KiUOrSLRin8CxB8jU52PojHc8pDz8DcOJDT4vJmDmeq-LY5yBtsIMZpRN20Bv6jM4vNHtOlnL31zkJ4t9BZwPBVpFycj3DT057rlKuIjrdfJIpREg9i-uk85ZzAu_nSDbk9ot9T0yw/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%205%2008%2043%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Ww3L-4IQvCZyUMDvy4e6S3RNWWHnlddxG_PkiY-RStQKjpt4KiUOrSLRin8CxB8jU52PojHc8pDz8DcOJDT4vJmDmeq-LY5yBtsIMZpRN20Bv6jM4vNHtOlnL31zkJ4t9BZwPBVpFycj3DT057rlKuIjrdfJIpREg9i-uk85ZzAu_nSDbk9ot9T0yw/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%205%2008%2043%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza0Xvig4MGmfEjimAOlpnYNVooxPNl40EVTKyugtziT-pye9DVc39o-7EgWixp7uVA4Wb8prxj2vj4BvEGoEkx_Z_Zbr51M3rIN-J5T6a_w2FJtNlxLzUGWtc3WyySjn4ZbHj6B22eCJ3l7nlRSfYwfl04arq6Z2N6Tz-2LscRtLxzcUpbLZCd23piK0/s2016/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%204%2012%2006%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza0Xvig4MGmfEjimAOlpnYNVooxPNl40EVTKyugtziT-pye9DVc39o-7EgWixp7uVA4Wb8prxj2vj4BvEGoEkx_Z_Zbr51M3rIN-J5T6a_w2FJtNlxLzUGWtc3WyySjn4ZbHj6B22eCJ3l7nlRSfYwfl04arq6Z2N6Tz-2LscRtLxzcUpbLZCd23piK0/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%204%2012%2006%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbZbrOoFe6B2bIa-hhgHNh8ogc-40RyVTx2hUeMo1BK3cXRR90Lwfwm5tzTwU6zXQ6Ya0BVtT_tRr9QwcJdmEhsz7eURqMNEiL_mgYYtKh3XWA220qFlxnZD7fdXtgUQYV3VwHv_j3ohtYL0CJUfTuNB-U1V7IfiD49xDcb3hh-FQM4KnK1CP50-7Q_g/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%204%2007%2016%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbZbrOoFe6B2bIa-hhgHNh8ogc-40RyVTx2hUeMo1BK3cXRR90Lwfwm5tzTwU6zXQ6Ya0BVtT_tRr9QwcJdmEhsz7eURqMNEiL_mgYYtKh3XWA220qFlxnZD7fdXtgUQYV3VwHv_j3ohtYL0CJUfTuNB-U1V7IfiD49xDcb3hh-FQM4KnK1CP50-7Q_g/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%204%2007%2016%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNzS7CaY2vzT-_Dl2YGK_nggcKyoWxJ2WDswj2Hd1KN-ZkpMwcxyn3oRn55PFGLSxdHT2JCpZqnvImnM-LHgxMm1YAO2bzeeoCso2cHrCsfFpljXa7C57-cncPtpJ0jyGyy0o0-ovahQafEh-Og_R8worA5xwHsDTMf62iWDfJWeBPofxFkLhJS6EXHw/s3024/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2003%2055%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNzS7CaY2vzT-_Dl2YGK_nggcKyoWxJ2WDswj2Hd1KN-ZkpMwcxyn3oRn55PFGLSxdHT2JCpZqnvImnM-LHgxMm1YAO2bzeeoCso2cHrCsfFpljXa7C57-cncPtpJ0jyGyy0o0-ovahQafEh-Og_R8worA5xwHsDTMf62iWDfJWeBPofxFkLhJS6EXHw/w640-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2003%2055%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA_wz4hELiOpHAJGNjEZErqcEU3elHef5bGykoGsG6iaTtykQ5dTPL0rSxd9LUfV7c8WB1vzCMFwg8FgkIH3fpMrtjOG2nirvguZWE1leCDi_TsarN1XiimUc4BYZyMcAwjA3CVdSugq_VZHw1qEKcxYmYo_mTHyr39r-4Szvg0gr_9g0zMKfv_KSKtE/s1512/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2011%2025%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA_wz4hELiOpHAJGNjEZErqcEU3elHef5bGykoGsG6iaTtykQ5dTPL0rSxd9LUfV7c8WB1vzCMFwg8FgkIH3fpMrtjOG2nirvguZWE1leCDi_TsarN1XiimUc4BYZyMcAwjA3CVdSugq_VZHw1qEKcxYmYo_mTHyr39r-4Szvg0gr_9g0zMKfv_KSKtE/w640-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2011%2025%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And then, since my tongue was now a bit loosened: "Oh, and did I tell you Daisy is applying for graduate schools? Isn't that crazy: that we are old enough to have kids going to <i>graduate school</i>? It will be a statistics program, and she's applying at Utah State--which would be nice since she'd be up by us; and then also at BYU--which would be great too since she knows the professors and the area so well now. ..."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And then the floodgates were fully open: "Oh, and Penny went to the prom this weekend. The boy that asked her is just a friend, but when we first moved, she didn't even know if she'd end up going to any dances up here since she was new and didn't know anybody, so it was fun she got asked. They went sledding for the day date and then he picked her up for pictures and they went to Olive Garden, and then, sadly, before dinner even started, he started feeling super off and before long had such an awful migraine that they had to take him home after dinner! I'm sure he felt awful, and he'd spent so much on dinner and flowers and the tickets and everything. I told Penny we could come pick her up or do anything she wanted, but the group she was in had her come with them for a movie and then, by the time the dance started, two other girls who Penny knows showed up to go to the dance stag, so Penny didn't feel out of place with all the couples in the group, and she still ended up having a pretty fun time. Plus, I told her that now she'd always have a great story to tell about going to prom just like I do! [The time my prom date didn't show up--for those of you who don't know!]"</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWGUyhincnPBmy97zHnqeqwGUyrzVuN8ybEfjkYcsfbuoQWF4Hh5V-spZGWtna2oAFSgQpwlDnwxnmXNjDTqFdIY3dYfOwFdcbhzkMx-KHhquuYHuNBaXGIvyRHkPHJVVQmttUAyo1VgJ7nARMy3_DMDO8ecd9BqL7eCpnk18ncyqFx_cmSPQ68SCeQ4/s3569/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2000%2045%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3569" data-original-width="2379" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWGUyhincnPBmy97zHnqeqwGUyrzVuN8ybEfjkYcsfbuoQWF4Hh5V-spZGWtna2oAFSgQpwlDnwxnmXNjDTqFdIY3dYfOwFdcbhzkMx-KHhquuYHuNBaXGIvyRHkPHJVVQmttUAyo1VgJ7nARMy3_DMDO8ecd9BqL7eCpnk18ncyqFx_cmSPQ68SCeQ4/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2000%2045%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDCqYUjFMjEll97O1vDTU2_BY4cn1mWdhx2nmzS2LVlNqUJgdxj-QNmZW_WmGBuzklYsELkd3H_gZFNIoNfUrsur9ohcMV2FMUxyvuj_s4ev1CthnZznaJCnLSbhEz1X_eweo6UQEHMCJfTSGYi8vguYdiWXy5uc6u7H9tPCLkdsNeKnFCjDBpOT492Y/s3009/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2001%2057%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3009" data-original-width="2006" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDCqYUjFMjEll97O1vDTU2_BY4cn1mWdhx2nmzS2LVlNqUJgdxj-QNmZW_WmGBuzklYsELkd3H_gZFNIoNfUrsur9ohcMV2FMUxyvuj_s4ev1CthnZznaJCnLSbhEz1X_eweo6UQEHMCJfTSGYi8vguYdiWXy5uc6u7H9tPCLkdsNeKnFCjDBpOT492Y/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2001%2057%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Notice the Hansie below:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wMUkyYMMKJV7qhsBgK7ADtu1E9zle30gbAVxVL2fJnOwWMOrT5D5V0cf62d1GTJ9W9vBhorWNJzBFOr1EKo_utxe8eb0Q7j_SBmPBFJcS8h7cEgf44YFt-Dhc_KWQxmbHVUO8i5sNUxvJuW2QeaW4EDcfXuAEd8e7XVZP-0JivbSnVja5JoFpQHOOc8/s3286/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2003%2007%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3286" data-original-width="2191" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wMUkyYMMKJV7qhsBgK7ADtu1E9zle30gbAVxVL2fJnOwWMOrT5D5V0cf62d1GTJ9W9vBhorWNJzBFOr1EKo_utxe8eb0Q7j_SBmPBFJcS8h7cEgf44YFt-Dhc_KWQxmbHVUO8i5sNUxvJuW2QeaW4EDcfXuAEd8e7XVZP-0JivbSnVja5JoFpQHOOc8/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2003%2007%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqr43RpSI8CBXgsSXOOTCIjXlBn2MFODO9tzI9NOkEo1Bq5X_UsWGcRQW8hrwW4626RJkpY0UE3kFTwE9TR2IzNoEB_kKCvnOW8ifItKn1P0RwvDada0_co5lN3XCwXF0kp0-VOzh9kN-52VQfoerPLLLRLTr0GiPQ3mXEo6UyWUqtpTDuxwaoCq1b_0/s3913/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2004%2022%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3913" data-original-width="2609" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqr43RpSI8CBXgsSXOOTCIjXlBn2MFODO9tzI9NOkEo1Bq5X_UsWGcRQW8hrwW4626RJkpY0UE3kFTwE9TR2IzNoEB_kKCvnOW8ifItKn1P0RwvDada0_co5lN3XCwXF0kp0-VOzh9kN-52VQfoerPLLLRLTr0GiPQ3mXEo6UyWUqtpTDuxwaoCq1b_0/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2004%2022%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_ihJrPqUgcL22XglIHG5w8862pwHfYuOO7eiGW3jKBwatl8A7CMEcCBEEoXAdkdv_o_kg7Cg_nf56FCTnBU_cCBR90TZ9A1ilNVFCFBelciT6cE3V2Ii4ee0b3o8-gpEYyy6MS41bvbUkKqqpqxjtujXucERNtn6PUV_bO7djV9_kNyq9zJ34-O44TU/s3895/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2004%2024%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3895" data-original-width="2597" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_ihJrPqUgcL22XglIHG5w8862pwHfYuOO7eiGW3jKBwatl8A7CMEcCBEEoXAdkdv_o_kg7Cg_nf56FCTnBU_cCBR90TZ9A1ilNVFCFBelciT6cE3V2Ii4ee0b3o8-gpEYyy6MS41bvbUkKqqpqxjtujXucERNtn6PUV_bO7djV9_kNyq9zJ34-O44TU/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2004%2024%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcFpN0ycz03Wcl7pBJ3-umkMAw7JmEhWARpmIdWRfxioIZQBTwGeSq86TY9o8YC0kF78l4eHoKxqymncq8y8kMrVE8R2TXh9kTpNdbfioSHWumim_uZuL-MDUaYS97jEcbz24CIZ4EifhpyxlRC0BPXooKOv9OjhgiWtpqiyTTdn-DZhH4Wy0xEvIb7Q/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2007%2001%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2688" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcFpN0ycz03Wcl7pBJ3-umkMAw7JmEhWARpmIdWRfxioIZQBTwGeSq86TY9o8YC0kF78l4eHoKxqymncq8y8kMrVE8R2TXh9kTpNdbfioSHWumim_uZuL-MDUaYS97jEcbz24CIZ4EifhpyxlRC0BPXooKOv9OjhgiWtpqiyTTdn-DZhH4Wy0xEvIb7Q/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2007%2001%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9gfaktiL5YEIQXpF29dX0iIMzWYWf_oA5PHPac8hC8hyphenhyphenFbXg8w9zru6T3LJZ_lzOhDESe9TdTd7CYpTFrN1FK9cRazKovWaO1E6wrvSjLQdhHrB7-SryWG5bEjyRKJFx5mrTBuwJv2Imihtet-41JiygYWHo0yaO9H-rsgxf-aQN6AsVBx7HlruBXvQ/s3463/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2007%2015%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3463" data-original-width="2307" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9gfaktiL5YEIQXpF29dX0iIMzWYWf_oA5PHPac8hC8hyphenhyphenFbXg8w9zru6T3LJZ_lzOhDESe9TdTd7CYpTFrN1FK9cRazKovWaO1E6wrvSjLQdhHrB7-SryWG5bEjyRKJFx5mrTBuwJv2Imihtet-41JiygYWHo0yaO9H-rsgxf-aQN6AsVBx7HlruBXvQ/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%203%2007%2015%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpClsHF51rvcuEF19kcCnrBUb0fEAjbUML6bZnAN6W8lGmv2T3AGpBJWA9ZvsttScVUaCPE26UPUL0rPQBZ5OrcSy6ZoAT5xlI-3-lS-3JR0hBzE-cwJ13RJvPH0DlfSnWkn3CNi3zdNgff3VsuV6zXNCQ5iZqBwXRrMiDHgM7C7Ret6bl0AJ9rpiJwrc/s5057/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2035%2013%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5057" data-original-width="3372" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpClsHF51rvcuEF19kcCnrBUb0fEAjbUML6bZnAN6W8lGmv2T3AGpBJWA9ZvsttScVUaCPE26UPUL0rPQBZ5OrcSy6ZoAT5xlI-3-lS-3JR0hBzE-cwJ13RJvPH0DlfSnWkn3CNi3zdNgff3VsuV6zXNCQ5iZqBwXRrMiDHgM7C7Ret6bl0AJ9rpiJwrc/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2035%2013%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA_l-1qhYvIUnNe5eCcftOeUtGYh-z0IrdwJPvmUE9yTcraduORt0-WKWP-Ai8-yJ4DFrGhMaELr1wtLxfG4mpnyvboZxdia2oMAM0WGmbQ5CjkTDR-pBf17SzceMBnWAPaxLIvNCLORGVrp-jrUI2YiU_JES58OJ3vVsxTohyphenhyphenl8H8VEnh8Z9IAm5XKc/s4591/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2035%2019%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4591" data-original-width="3061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA_l-1qhYvIUnNe5eCcftOeUtGYh-z0IrdwJPvmUE9yTcraduORt0-WKWP-Ai8-yJ4DFrGhMaELr1wtLxfG4mpnyvboZxdia2oMAM0WGmbQ5CjkTDR-pBf17SzceMBnWAPaxLIvNCLORGVrp-jrUI2YiU_JES58OJ3vVsxTohyphenhyphenl8H8VEnh8Z9IAm5XKc/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2035%2019%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trying to pass the time while waiting to be picked up with some feverish piano (keyboard I guess) playing. She has one little melody she will play slowly and then ... over and over faster and faster and louder and louder. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMXkUiu0WRA6x_c7J98HQ1d2qjuJBk8PlMd9-Rj02YkmMXmepRDoVgqxty_dHyejPSzhdh2SPYgaacCNn0nkRV5C_zTuXM5pwruP_n2JnaeCz8b-bly9R8UextUkH3LDf5TT-kDQ_-XzIhmTVg-0yg6s6kG_YQMRavmcb7QsGgo0c19u6pY16FQ059Uo/s4498/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2040%2003%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4498" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMXkUiu0WRA6x_c7J98HQ1d2qjuJBk8PlMd9-Rj02YkmMXmepRDoVgqxty_dHyejPSzhdh2SPYgaacCNn0nkRV5C_zTuXM5pwruP_n2JnaeCz8b-bly9R8UextUkH3LDf5TT-kDQ_-XzIhmTVg-0yg6s6kG_YQMRavmcb7QsGgo0c19u6pY16FQ059Uo/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2040%2003%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpX8PiUUePhrIGQbDP2UA41UsAS9TXi0ivOAkDWmPgwudUJzIgv6tWmsdn1c5PgZZcqgaQhqsPKmF549Wvni5SSVE-DnrJlaeov6PtG_HVeuoCJp5KY52lKr1ijRpGDjva8FINFY1XwNDK8ueT4sdW38B7mB3hdvSd1PV_uLW9xoACQkwVcRPC2FnepU/s4816/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2040%2013%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="4816" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpX8PiUUePhrIGQbDP2UA41UsAS9TXi0ivOAkDWmPgwudUJzIgv6tWmsdn1c5PgZZcqgaQhqsPKmF549Wvni5SSVE-DnrJlaeov6PtG_HVeuoCJp5KY52lKr1ijRpGDjva8FINFY1XwNDK8ueT4sdW38B7mB3hdvSd1PV_uLW9xoACQkwVcRPC2FnepU/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2040%2013%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Her nice arm wound from the day date. Sledding with your coat off and sleeves rolled up, it turns out, isn't a great idea.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtirlIbjKL-CeKVj2ojXt8UmWTYtT9auiRo-xscQEiJEERBx2yeq6U3AF6IIaFvlARKcN6i_EDfaPw_eamtU6k9Qe2VENectPl32GmFWuz4bloHAFm_a986LKRjuzBqjxXuOMhAA8zZi8CLdIuopDWE8k5TsSvNpOOx8hoQKEKX5zvOQY-xD98Kq54JQ/s4699/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2041%2028%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3135" data-original-width="4699" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtirlIbjKL-CeKVj2ojXt8UmWTYtT9auiRo-xscQEiJEERBx2yeq6U3AF6IIaFvlARKcN6i_EDfaPw_eamtU6k9Qe2VENectPl32GmFWuz4bloHAFm_a986LKRjuzBqjxXuOMhAA8zZi8CLdIuopDWE8k5TsSvNpOOx8hoQKEKX5zvOQY-xD98Kq54JQ/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2041%2028%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB43ximrqNqkF0ffBHiaAF8lICTUeRuDdx-SUdWTDvi1Jv7yEaGLqV_5cosEav_QATx78Z7KNU_asFo3a29bxxSr0tuHH3OnL07ac3ZxHj7H2_-aTVTKwU1TCpQeO5Q8mllv2UPUurl45MNMZ2CzSz1p8eV-S3X2qrFgM9B3WBx_QgzDIl6-Pzw8TWp0/s5104/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2042%2012%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5104" data-original-width="3404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB43ximrqNqkF0ffBHiaAF8lICTUeRuDdx-SUdWTDvi1Jv7yEaGLqV_5cosEav_QATx78Z7KNU_asFo3a29bxxSr0tuHH3OnL07ac3ZxHj7H2_-aTVTKwU1TCpQeO5Q8mllv2UPUurl45MNMZ2CzSz1p8eV-S3X2qrFgM9B3WBx_QgzDIl6-Pzw8TWp0/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2042%2012%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A very typical Penny face below:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_O_Yc4OK2cqy_TbRMW9ffH89Ya0lPSvNvV1SOPVfDjMFaWWAlnPM0dc1ZT7_0VaV7yjEWdx_Hyn11o1O_RpxqWrIY_LCvnUr_GV_X4zqeBJa4Z0glF6yRvrbMhv8NI2z0cvUwgltTmDhCgso55Xwq6OYXNRp-moUhV7CS0CMWwPTqkGkBI1a_EEGzY4/s3601/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2042%2046%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3601" data-original-width="2401" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_O_Yc4OK2cqy_TbRMW9ffH89Ya0lPSvNvV1SOPVfDjMFaWWAlnPM0dc1ZT7_0VaV7yjEWdx_Hyn11o1O_RpxqWrIY_LCvnUr_GV_X4zqeBJa4Z0glF6yRvrbMhv8NI2z0cvUwgltTmDhCgso55Xwq6OYXNRp-moUhV7CS0CMWwPTqkGkBI1a_EEGzY4/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2042%2046%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyd3FwGCd7ljjHhx3s119WHZTY5WkB5MZf1YzF6o2G_vGHKgV2YPRaUphyphenhyphenMmjUTZ6I1o69veSLy5zmOkelm__snYVwZJp4RCxNNpu6sMgO6IA9TiqqlSXJL1Z-vVYoKdY_6fZrXIWygBj6Hb6D64j02FD0thoCd4Qim4nsWDN-PP-BxC_3MJqbrPc2Yc/s4041/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2000%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4041" data-original-width="2694" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyd3FwGCd7ljjHhx3s119WHZTY5WkB5MZf1YzF6o2G_vGHKgV2YPRaUphyphenhyphenMmjUTZ6I1o69veSLy5zmOkelm__snYVwZJp4RCxNNpu6sMgO6IA9TiqqlSXJL1Z-vVYoKdY_6fZrXIWygBj6Hb6D64j02FD0thoCd4Qim4nsWDN-PP-BxC_3MJqbrPc2Yc/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2000%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We worried a bit that her dress was too simple, so Penny drove it down to my mom who sewed a string of rhinestones on.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-Oztfh7S_Egox2FRvh7epWXUTkc-K3ZzcWfmjVwkJjlf9NxpzmCIZbpe43GmhbKPZy90RvKtSOBy3u4DCVdNQvpqS1Ak2ggxrThFOHZropX086xR9rEvVvdE_Uzzk6aHSTCA_xf9Ps84qgCxsp6vfOokdMXG1xC6B3w6Bl9a4901ZdDA1IpNljZH-4s/s4414/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2005%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4414" data-original-width="2944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-Oztfh7S_Egox2FRvh7epWXUTkc-K3ZzcWfmjVwkJjlf9NxpzmCIZbpe43GmhbKPZy90RvKtSOBy3u4DCVdNQvpqS1Ak2ggxrThFOHZropX086xR9rEvVvdE_Uzzk6aHSTCA_xf9Ps84qgCxsp6vfOokdMXG1xC6B3w6Bl9a4901ZdDA1IpNljZH-4s/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2005%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Every girl loves a dress with pockets these days. In fact, there seems to be nothing that makes my girls happier than being able to say, about a dress, "And it has pockets!"<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DiecFl-upDjPjpmdrnMobxRmLg8HavqLyCdSc_YbYdlM9Kmc12zOCcxZtgUlLHsRgrGsgIVdVSPYb8xNMuk80L2lEXtJLHJ2fmWawV3BFsXMyLrpRpyn_lkvXIKeOUePzNJsIBEGuRX_04GO6_wImrk7Si-X4J1_PHYB-83c6qSvCED6VCkl5ZVfdGI/s4224/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2011%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="2817" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DiecFl-upDjPjpmdrnMobxRmLg8HavqLyCdSc_YbYdlM9Kmc12zOCcxZtgUlLHsRgrGsgIVdVSPYb8xNMuk80L2lEXtJLHJ2fmWawV3BFsXMyLrpRpyn_lkvXIKeOUePzNJsIBEGuRX_04GO6_wImrk7Si-X4J1_PHYB-83c6qSvCED6VCkl5ZVfdGI/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2011%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-58OGnQ3CLWedq2mSsHy3EKrT1kVbTlEnmRg3Kjz3Eewo7KOGuk0PTdHBE_01c8WKahU5LTkesZntj1BY0hmUDtZMo3WmWIW7r62lG5uodAIGdJimnk59W4NDO0g58YvxVNbrWn6QzgnSHlQ1_Jxr6gTQqzWKgtTmKPzW8vCORgn7yDwEPFdmTQrb_Y/s3792/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2036%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3792" data-original-width="2530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-58OGnQ3CLWedq2mSsHy3EKrT1kVbTlEnmRg3Kjz3Eewo7KOGuk0PTdHBE_01c8WKahU5LTkesZntj1BY0hmUDtZMo3WmWIW7r62lG5uodAIGdJimnk59W4NDO0g58YvxVNbrWn6QzgnSHlQ1_Jxr6gTQqzWKgtTmKPzW8vCORgn7yDwEPFdmTQrb_Y/w428-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2043%2036%20AM.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We pulled out the guitar while still waiting. ...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGC6Ro7PelXBsl2bl71_bovIY0WXo1KSrOXMAPhYcFAqnFm5wv6uJjA6mifOXycafJlA6uYiGMwm3m1rd2FXeMgkiSuOZ4xsLPRxTnIHPYwgiSpOS71n7lrHT10S7xkHqC7kaG8uoRdAhLEZS5BvNSnXK4SEiSjy78_nEQGJ0IqJ_QexgZ5x3dGPDja8/s5163/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2014%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5163" data-original-width="3443" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGC6Ro7PelXBsl2bl71_bovIY0WXo1KSrOXMAPhYcFAqnFm5wv6uJjA6mifOXycafJlA6uYiGMwm3m1rd2FXeMgkiSuOZ4xsLPRxTnIHPYwgiSpOS71n7lrHT10S7xkHqC7kaG8uoRdAhLEZS5BvNSnXK4SEiSjy78_nEQGJ0IqJ_QexgZ5x3dGPDja8/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2014%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu-5ijlf0UiuYuxi1wqb3w1BTA7WWpOILV7jfF3YA_stmURPF2JQcA_49CtywZ742poe30CBqfIS0mdn-5irAoxYgdia9GqFLU7R3W7sQ3scuDWD5oKR2Sf1G5nS9Ry5DjC89EjS5JIug825N8uYrxU7qIFV6WhInuyLlBfM65HMVPf4vDYaQ0HujSVM/s5191/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2020%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3462" data-original-width="5191" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu-5ijlf0UiuYuxi1wqb3w1BTA7WWpOILV7jfF3YA_stmURPF2JQcA_49CtywZ742poe30CBqfIS0mdn-5irAoxYgdia9GqFLU7R3W7sQ3scuDWD5oKR2Sf1G5nS9Ry5DjC89EjS5JIug825N8uYrxU7qIFV6WhInuyLlBfM65HMVPf4vDYaQ0HujSVM/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2020%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFk-LiIGzv4EBc5jQKL8GSJTcz5iJMJVVGsIJxoh4v2jf1uDdno3Ubll1CNg2dyTkZ8nSRR8ISf1aGZ2_NUPwLzPMIQ4D6j3Nnv7FS-9pbZ3d4QaICJiRpYGSXNpXspOnYX6AnD0-l7VRDinkmEYAvz-tk0vAZ-lpsLRgOuhj3QCcM1VPWfmKNzfEZ6gU/s4473/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2042%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2983" data-original-width="4473" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFk-LiIGzv4EBc5jQKL8GSJTcz5iJMJVVGsIJxoh4v2jf1uDdno3Ubll1CNg2dyTkZ8nSRR8ISf1aGZ2_NUPwLzPMIQ4D6j3Nnv7FS-9pbZ3d4QaICJiRpYGSXNpXspOnYX6AnD0-l7VRDinkmEYAvz-tk0vAZ-lpsLRgOuhj3QCcM1VPWfmKNzfEZ6gU/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2044%2042%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHbf9JN-J_9QEjDapdbcfkoTly0gOcU-R4DGuql3IhaBluoW0KIwhgjt4EL0WaqW5aETYsLhsqA90SEjZZ12e5ZGBuc6RME9Aymm1i4FBshAJGlC-VueGDvdGl6KQZFcpLf_qSVSeZXtYL4nRirt_0PvoG2pIVEEFK-1lZnUyCWGQc68LnEnHFqoTC00/s4540/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2051%2057%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4540" data-original-width="3027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHbf9JN-J_9QEjDapdbcfkoTly0gOcU-R4DGuql3IhaBluoW0KIwhgjt4EL0WaqW5aETYsLhsqA90SEjZZ12e5ZGBuc6RME9Aymm1i4FBshAJGlC-VueGDvdGl6KQZFcpLf_qSVSeZXtYL4nRirt_0PvoG2pIVEEFK-1lZnUyCWGQc68LnEnHFqoTC00/w426-h640/Photo%20Jan%2027%202024,%209%2051%2057%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And when I finished all that rambling to my friend, I realized, a bit sheepishly, that my nonchalant "nothing much" wasn't quite correct. Or ... even remotely correct.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So I paused without mentioning Jesse's 30-hour project for a class at school, or the startling news that Goldie just finished a <b>third</b> of her mission and is probably finally getting transferred from her first area next week, nor any of the business with selling the Pleasant View house, or getting the engineering reports going on the farm, or the host of things happening in the lives of the many siblings and nieces and nephews Mike and I have, or the host of small things happening every day here with the half of my children who are still elementary-aged (or younger). (For example, Starling asking me the other day: "Mom? Do babies dream in mom's tummies?" I wonder!)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9a_nfA2BMOLJrETA0vMHMknYqxBt6ADBKlmnca689cMTwickAuNnxi-2Y3fnYO38QBAS6SVOGFEGytHxKDq1kCb1NRV1VBVQ9TAoJ85bjNEDNv-DDvlboWj1m17aYg6B4smwLQeow2qps5pFrdwODrut7g0qk_tdFzeCArmwCze8d8aSvWYNdJoOoTf8/s2640/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%205%2021%2001%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="2640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9a_nfA2BMOLJrETA0vMHMknYqxBt6ADBKlmnca689cMTwickAuNnxi-2Y3fnYO38QBAS6SVOGFEGytHxKDq1kCb1NRV1VBVQ9TAoJ85bjNEDNv-DDvlboWj1m17aYg6B4smwLQeow2qps5pFrdwODrut7g0qk_tdFzeCArmwCze8d8aSvWYNdJoOoTf8/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%205%2021%2001%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway, "What's going on around here?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Well. A great deal. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The End.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW1EQEJfqoxrs_Bz_hzp84FcXvLCamJhLVq51CAEulLUjZcJaAUXAPdMBHKqWuHVaZIhdY1Ws2K9n7cFKI4XcKhlNASVLFO4t9kiVrr01tAEmYON19DDfWM3J9fqYyC-w0SeaxxVu23X04uvz87GNLoyGiIvcPbaEgNiI2yXoQ8BGMkS_Sss6m_aXeXs/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2026%202024,%204%2016%2055%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW1EQEJfqoxrs_Bz_hzp84FcXvLCamJhLVq51CAEulLUjZcJaAUXAPdMBHKqWuHVaZIhdY1Ws2K9n7cFKI4XcKhlNASVLFO4t9kiVrr01tAEmYON19DDfWM3J9fqYyC-w0SeaxxVu23X04uvz87GNLoyGiIvcPbaEgNiI2yXoQ8BGMkS_Sss6m_aXeXs/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2026%202024,%204%2016%2055%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-51462310972777286072024-01-26T17:07:00.006-07:002024-01-26T17:21:51.065-07:00Wif, Food Logs, and Lehi's Dream<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Starling always says "wif".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Wif we go to the store, can we get cotton balls?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Wif we go to the library, how many books can I get?"<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Can I paint wif I clean up the tea set?"</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TVYfBmrBhn_qBTSxeCL6xcq5_6TqeDPFtgERz2bLDe6roGK075IsvXcBcNAbEtVL1ChiccJ14GIALyjKVJGm1ARrRQ0_VAX0qmY0R115ll_9m1ipIdB7R7zRguE0Udv8hyoyZ2w5vTNCnKv8v0rlbnPKny4ifoBo2_X5zgrwVqPLXEPuhCr13tFXrbo/s2048/IMG_1069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TVYfBmrBhn_qBTSxeCL6xcq5_6TqeDPFtgERz2bLDe6roGK075IsvXcBcNAbEtVL1ChiccJ14GIALyjKVJGm1ARrRQ0_VAX0qmY0R115ll_9m1ipIdB7R7zRguE0Udv8hyoyZ2w5vTNCnKv8v0rlbnPKny4ifoBo2_X5zgrwVqPLXEPuhCr13tFXrbo/w426-h640/IMG_1069.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Cowgirl with blanket horse.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1GeEREfXZKwK-Ehq_ku9IBI81TN6qOQL4m3cfPvwfmd7ygXZTZByYLtVQ4_Tubj7QEIXhC06cauZJhnhWfW4lI2bTW1zT3bCQpfZ6rRR7m9bK7HCy5oOJ22KE5vyoQWN7wHCV-IjYjdc9pUKhG0N2Vom0iCbwEF1lEm6Y5ryyJS72uaBu8bet-JIYOo/s3520/Photo%20Jan%2018%202024,%202%2053%2058%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1GeEREfXZKwK-Ehq_ku9IBI81TN6qOQL4m3cfPvwfmd7ygXZTZByYLtVQ4_Tubj7QEIXhC06cauZJhnhWfW4lI2bTW1zT3bCQpfZ6rRR7m9bK7HCy5oOJ22KE5vyoQWN7wHCV-IjYjdc9pUKhG0N2Vom0iCbwEF1lEm6Y5ryyJS72uaBu8bet-JIYOo/w360-h640/Photo%20Jan%2018%202024,%202%2053%2058%20PM.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKuimZKaIenG5W37ZDtlvM_f21NN3iiUYnDmV7MIpHrLgO7QRg-zlWIYyf5diELc3JDb3QWdOD9PS5Nxue-XoKbFTnK5qE0bcW5h65TlEx7gYoOxMTEOllNsh_CBP_WasBqLJguvVb63LbEOL3PV4lTmpOWjX6yO2YSiJfbFNFLOKhBVZySHq0q81dtA/s2029/Photo%20Jan%2019%202024,%209%2009%2027%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="2029" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKuimZKaIenG5W37ZDtlvM_f21NN3iiUYnDmV7MIpHrLgO7QRg-zlWIYyf5diELc3JDb3QWdOD9PS5Nxue-XoKbFTnK5qE0bcW5h65TlEx7gYoOxMTEOllNsh_CBP_WasBqLJguvVb63LbEOL3PV4lTmpOWjX6yO2YSiJfbFNFLOKhBVZySHq0q81dtA/w640-h640/Photo%20Jan%2019%202024,%209%2009%2027%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(She lost her cat-cat hat the other day. She was so beside herself, and I was so tired of looking while having her sob, "but I want cat-cat hat" as I repeated that I knew she wanted cat-cat hat but I could not find cat-cat hat, that I finally said a prayer that "wif" it was <i>anywhere </i>in this little house, I could <b>please</b> find it. It immediately occurred to me to check some dresser drawers--where I found it bundled in with some fuzzy socks.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOkeVxB3BoP0LOoxee1wHl4yGDu9DRakGcB8b6XrgNZ9xfXTldMeuYqd14_GrytXSHgQ3kN9A1yQsXpTqTbM1L-QyKPgJ_m3X2K56RCpyR1cRUQ85cdeekf_LU6E5R8_ha8JiNJCJHARgnwPsPFhQjw8UKGsrByiB0ZRJMtDXQccw4QNsPHx1NTVOk8A/s4286/Photo%20Jan%2025%202024,%209%2043%2023%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="4286" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOkeVxB3BoP0LOoxee1wHl4yGDu9DRakGcB8b6XrgNZ9xfXTldMeuYqd14_GrytXSHgQ3kN9A1yQsXpTqTbM1L-QyKPgJ_m3X2K56RCpyR1cRUQ85cdeekf_LU6E5R8_ha8JiNJCJHARgnwPsPFhQjw8UKGsrByiB0ZRJMtDXQccw4QNsPHx1NTVOk8A/w640-h426/Photo%20Jan%2025%202024,%209%2043%2023%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also, here is the "bird fan" (and some other hanging thing) she called for me to come see in the girls' room yesterday. She is forever taping and snipping and cutting and coloring--turning cotton balls and sticks and paper plates and scraps of paper into whatever she dreams up. Fun little four-year-old person.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeSC_v37WJ9626uqQ0VLS500QCNr7N2b8OjnsJf7paW8H66l7up8M6utO3V9Re_05HJs_g3yPeO-N13m6QLCvuEttcF46QA_Q-de1BG_LA2xYnT7Z-Uslqvf5sCGhyphenhyphensGQ1Hbn8_IwavXH611bsgh-uDkcPCt4XK9SzvO-OoFfcw1OnWYA4OJ6J-ZwP-c/s2048/IMG_1079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeSC_v37WJ9626uqQ0VLS500QCNr7N2b8OjnsJf7paW8H66l7up8M6utO3V9Re_05HJs_g3yPeO-N13m6QLCvuEttcF46QA_Q-de1BG_LA2xYnT7Z-Uslqvf5sCGhyphenhyphensGQ1Hbn8_IwavXH611bsgh-uDkcPCt4XK9SzvO-OoFfcw1OnWYA4OJ6J-ZwP-c/w640-h426/IMG_1079.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKlawhgD6T_OFeG73H-NrkBYfXKYtsLuzyb8_eDwqdnQn5Xq_etflCvSZuV38spE7yzOmPZuf-37PkBTFjzfqdJfLsifiVtWDCLLh0PjXZykkkgtsdx1J1O6tfjlpQQKiE1RLvYLNNNvq8vhz6k_3XTEEC2ywRykS0f49QTYFPSXNOiYR_fjc8ChLqhM/s2048/IMG_1082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKlawhgD6T_OFeG73H-NrkBYfXKYtsLuzyb8_eDwqdnQn5Xq_etflCvSZuV38spE7yzOmPZuf-37PkBTFjzfqdJfLsifiVtWDCLLh0PjXZykkkgtsdx1J1O6tfjlpQQKiE1RLvYLNNNvq8vhz6k_3XTEEC2ywRykS0f49QTYFPSXNOiYR_fjc8ChLqhM/w426-h640/IMG_1082.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho667PMDV0B1-rHhjhNvkZf1ZBxsvJl1ELISSv96T8Oa6MuY0Pvys1ipNfnTFFUQ5-qbX6LQj5q4307ZEH0-zr2yzXsNVT8Y-EctopC3KEpeKKFGqEpvXfmRIdfIBvohzWtGAPUPl77Bk8IBAflxt5nkbwuct5nwoXBg4iKSGeul9qSRMRDOzJgmHxre8/s2048/IMG_1052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho667PMDV0B1-rHhjhNvkZf1ZBxsvJl1ELISSv96T8Oa6MuY0Pvys1ipNfnTFFUQ5-qbX6LQj5q4307ZEH0-zr2yzXsNVT8Y-EctopC3KEpeKKFGqEpvXfmRIdfIBvohzWtGAPUPl77Bk8IBAflxt5nkbwuct5nwoXBg4iKSGeul9qSRMRDOzJgmHxre8/w426-h640/IMG_1052.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jesse has to do a three-day food log for his health class. For every single thing he eats he has to record "like one million nutrition facts" (as he puts it). He finds it so unbelievably tedious that he has mostly preferred to just ... starve himself. Hahah. Poor kid. I'm guessing that won't quite teach him what his teacher hoped he'd learn from this experiment; but I wonder ... if that's how diets that have you log all your food and calories into an app prove to be so successful? By just being so tiresome that it becomes easier to ... not eat at all?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But Jesse. Look at this picture I recently unearthed of him for something his seminary teacher was doing. Dearest little boy on his baptism day. Oh how I miss every single past age of each of my kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_GzX9ozO3ejZ5WNKdyj9hF9i9z8kCWolMUI9S_mYvTirtaFi9VkbHtYXEbtsJ4bogSLoLBhY2__VW4RiHr5g4TKMsLcozeV1xk8crcwZdWJ9t0P27MYpSal1_amy8oqb-6hiKU1urSu5ZeGPN8_IbXPg-iBqTNUq7iLdnvK1zRlnjNi7FDolftBh4Hg/s2397/Photo%20Jan%2026%202024,%202%2042%2047%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2397" data-original-width="2397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_GzX9ozO3ejZ5WNKdyj9hF9i9z8kCWolMUI9S_mYvTirtaFi9VkbHtYXEbtsJ4bogSLoLBhY2__VW4RiHr5g4TKMsLcozeV1xk8crcwZdWJ9t0P27MYpSal1_amy8oqb-6hiKU1urSu5ZeGPN8_IbXPg-iBqTNUq7iLdnvK1zRlnjNi7FDolftBh4Hg/w640-h640/Photo%20Jan%2026%202024,%202%2042%2047%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was telling the kids about Lehi's Dream in the Book of Mormon the other day. They've heard the elements of his vision many times, but, perhaps because we were studying the New Testament just prior to our leap into 1st Nephi, Hans declared, "This should be in the Book of Revelation!" Indeed it would fit rather perfectly there. (Why, at the end of Nephi's similar vision he actually sort of passes the baton to John the Revelator if you recall, so Hans was fairly spot on!) Anyway, I loved that my little seven-year-old was making connections about symbolism in scripture. I generally fret that I have taught them jack squat in our 5 minutes of scripture time before school, so seeing that any of it is planted in their little heads is a great reason for rejoicing--even if all that is planted is, "This story seems just as crazy as that other story!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fhxg9OIsdrAXsx2iU7Rb9EZ2LN_qtrH4VBt-r7aI23LZBtEW1TRXxWm0yTPCsk7pXfoHpDOH3SLUU2VEMhTTozTZXRLwz3Z1Vg6gVHVcjbE_LKGBIByBvptQa9ej_NYSsEUpuA9uLqh8myBdgtt3vZCzUNBbeNqrlYpydRH0_aHWCFS87Vc-HEkGwcs/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2023%202024,%204%2006%2028%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fhxg9OIsdrAXsx2iU7Rb9EZ2LN_qtrH4VBt-r7aI23LZBtEW1TRXxWm0yTPCsk7pXfoHpDOH3SLUU2VEMhTTozTZXRLwz3Z1Vg6gVHVcjbE_LKGBIByBvptQa9ej_NYSsEUpuA9uLqh8myBdgtt3vZCzUNBbeNqrlYpydRH0_aHWCFS87Vc-HEkGwcs/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2023%202024,%204%2006%2028%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Hans and his siblings having me send a picture to their Aunt Megan to show her how they felt when they heard she'd stopped by ... while they weren't home to see her.)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YrVnPeiCXJHHSixpmbgXQsZA9KXzEiT9UDwDbVtvPxZFq8rV7Nky2kjq1ER_BFzEAeRLF8Mog1SIt6goxJFgMQLKALgErN0M2IGFtkO9YWomUtxb8jXzdQXY8InBDAWSJxxAMdDtJICywBAjY692Cx94nLHH9ZjsA6s7bldIe5TGCV3JGnN_v6rJn-s/s2048/IMG_1046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YrVnPeiCXJHHSixpmbgXQsZA9KXzEiT9UDwDbVtvPxZFq8rV7Nky2kjq1ER_BFzEAeRLF8Mog1SIt6goxJFgMQLKALgErN0M2IGFtkO9YWomUtxb8jXzdQXY8InBDAWSJxxAMdDtJICywBAjY692Cx94nLHH9ZjsA6s7bldIe5TGCV3JGnN_v6rJn-s/w426-h640/IMG_1046.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Making magna-tile maze houses for Skittles the hamster. (Also, my favorite area of this rental [not that there are many areas to choose from mind] is the girls' bunk-house room and its accompanying little ... I don't know what you call it--it's the area beyond those French doors you can see that they use as a little playroom. Starling just calls it "the fuzzy carpet room". [It does have a very fuzzy, shag-style rug. Bits of that fuzzy carpet are always somehow all over the house.])<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixl3xurDR5gJXJY2dgoMYIe-_BkVvEID2aXZT78FPYC7QWHzFdwOICVAB1tEU7Y6wPfa1WZfKV-p1GqDOrD3JRiUtkSe9HbyVtY4n6v524i3BSNpVgFUciYSFJNQCyEaDd7D4An_8ClkZWIwq69nlSvikf3pfauDYdBADvfJnMucolq8Lv3-0a4eRP3A/s2048/IMG_1047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixl3xurDR5gJXJY2dgoMYIe-_BkVvEID2aXZT78FPYC7QWHzFdwOICVAB1tEU7Y6wPfa1WZfKV-p1GqDOrD3JRiUtkSe9HbyVtY4n6v524i3BSNpVgFUciYSFJNQCyEaDd7D4An_8ClkZWIwq69nlSvikf3pfauDYdBADvfJnMucolq8Lv3-0a4eRP3A/w426-h640/IMG_1047.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tuLJR0ARPmM1wNABgdyInhpWqIxY4GNQke2RfK9UZcp-wN77Xapoq__AlzSZsJKYd0qflH2YlP1jGbYA3gT8H2dhPpFPgzytAae5O9ykZcAy_GtsbsAVcT1KmwnDZxI4kQ0-GXtFaVyPrZxio4B9pR-SL7B8yLoktGUmuB5ryaWHRXRlAXjILJFKj2Q/s2048/IMG_1048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tuLJR0ARPmM1wNABgdyInhpWqIxY4GNQke2RfK9UZcp-wN77Xapoq__AlzSZsJKYd0qflH2YlP1jGbYA3gT8H2dhPpFPgzytAae5O9ykZcAy_GtsbsAVcT1KmwnDZxI4kQ0-GXtFaVyPrZxio4B9pR-SL7B8yLoktGUmuB5ryaWHRXRlAXjILJFKj2Q/w640-h426/IMG_1048.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hey Skittles. I'm glad Biscuit, who they hadn't realized was sleeping on a nearby chair when they got you out, didn't wake and gobble you up. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI5ou853yHA820OW4zoVd44LMDJJZ3wZPbR_UDJE0Nzlq0gEQceYtUKRBwhPRsISeq03jPACRG86nTBbLlgAKWxTPhcpzgeS_YBXD2V0kmeCIoR60CkysXKS4sg9mD1w3LVvvMAinFljHfISidgFQmwdnyhK7A1y4FPHMCTWDI1Qaasoew4nntDQoWrQ/s2048/IMG_1050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI5ou853yHA820OW4zoVd44LMDJJZ3wZPbR_UDJE0Nzlq0gEQceYtUKRBwhPRsISeq03jPACRG86nTBbLlgAKWxTPhcpzgeS_YBXD2V0kmeCIoR60CkysXKS4sg9mD1w3LVvvMAinFljHfISidgFQmwdnyhK7A1y4FPHMCTWDI1Qaasoew4nntDQoWrQ/s320/IMG_1050.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some sort of after-baking shenanigans going on.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljCuBcQLHT6o4OkTLwTCFba-21UFvfc8fioq8oeaCntxRXoXdxvILj2ezLM9iiRPkWt5zRqGRGnk3qUMctu8KTQ8zYf904liaQK9v_xP1kWfIsPonsNugw6m-KQVt6V8_e4bi8-e5zA2_8jd7SpvT8j-FORzEOnZsOqO6Au3_oEGxuLCpjbvUV83eJkE/s2048/IMG_1057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljCuBcQLHT6o4OkTLwTCFba-21UFvfc8fioq8oeaCntxRXoXdxvILj2ezLM9iiRPkWt5zRqGRGnk3qUMctu8KTQ8zYf904liaQK9v_xP1kWfIsPonsNugw6m-KQVt6V8_e4bi8-e5zA2_8jd7SpvT8j-FORzEOnZsOqO6Au3_oEGxuLCpjbvUV83eJkE/w640-h426/IMG_1057.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEtOr0b4CWjDaVtMoDzIdLToR1OpHgVvCEBitc2tTkcnIZ_d5t91Sn4a_nYJEsw3TMOnGbeifyBMjnNcpHsI1TN-A5fYf6qymzvmsAoUaxkg7ca32c7u6Z3KcLDnhAZKPGXKlpCaSdYKjAHKK3_dX53gnESvRM4u6D2gxue8I0YRJJSCM1NHvGhGfzgY/s2048/IMG_1059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEtOr0b4CWjDaVtMoDzIdLToR1OpHgVvCEBitc2tTkcnIZ_d5t91Sn4a_nYJEsw3TMOnGbeifyBMjnNcpHsI1TN-A5fYf6qymzvmsAoUaxkg7ca32c7u6Z3KcLDnhAZKPGXKlpCaSdYKjAHKK3_dX53gnESvRM4u6D2gxue8I0YRJJSCM1NHvGhGfzgY/w640-h426/IMG_1059.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MfFzDfILKk2NtVDK8j_zBu6HGlEyT7iPYs1q_j6Z7IoTlbZBjoA31TsVwcw3fxesMXJj9fYUL3DNV8eJkITH2bjzEV_YOrhOhU6DRABUHWSFQeeXEmSyHsETfZ-zLIfKR4hSj-Blq3KlNlySNtcTmOKDi6vXL8FVG_99w4V0uGjaYfbJLfThHD2uG2c/s2048/IMG_1063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MfFzDfILKk2NtVDK8j_zBu6HGlEyT7iPYs1q_j6Z7IoTlbZBjoA31TsVwcw3fxesMXJj9fYUL3DNV8eJkITH2bjzEV_YOrhOhU6DRABUHWSFQeeXEmSyHsETfZ-zLIfKR4hSj-Blq3KlNlySNtcTmOKDi6vXL8FVG_99w4V0uGjaYfbJLfThHD2uG2c/w426-h640/IMG_1063.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This fog! Will I never stop posting it? No. I don't think I can.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU5gfa1SREVDTWy8h29ELtgqWcE9h5nEN2ZKirKQ5ar_j84OMD0VaOefWJRh6KUB6vAlQ81iakarycfz5_vM_bVGISViBVBG5D8lI-yB8kIbW8du9O8EMPtNWiB_maSIK4QdzPi7fOtK84676IX7ooT6AbWeIUbh-tVI_9Yb0t53KGTdihhv1RfT9QTw/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2022%202024,%208%2041%2023%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU5gfa1SREVDTWy8h29ELtgqWcE9h5nEN2ZKirKQ5ar_j84OMD0VaOefWJRh6KUB6vAlQ81iakarycfz5_vM_bVGISViBVBG5D8lI-yB8kIbW8du9O8EMPtNWiB_maSIK4QdzPi7fOtK84676IX7ooT6AbWeIUbh-tVI_9Yb0t53KGTdihhv1RfT9QTw/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2022%202024,%208%2041%2023%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And lastly, Anders looking through his PokΓ©mon binder when he should have been sleeping. It occurred to me, while looking at these pictures, that I have been trying to get kids to go to bed for over 23 years now. Ah well. What else would I have been doing. (Well, perhaps sleeping myself. But never mind that.)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUb6p0-lPpwqrIT15aoqeVU3YICPlTopUVd0SAt6v3t5q87PzKlhdESsBbFE2-GPzduUo7bBNOLFUHddsVb-rDc1zcg_28RtJ1zjl1jgRhL31WTyyoqC_SSg-vJvW75xeLUOPZIf4isi-ESymZeVHHDbsiEZO2iLmtEXAmIYJlxYwQp6Q4bvYxoZgFQE/s2048/IMG_1064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUb6p0-lPpwqrIT15aoqeVU3YICPlTopUVd0SAt6v3t5q87PzKlhdESsBbFE2-GPzduUo7bBNOLFUHddsVb-rDc1zcg_28RtJ1zjl1jgRhL31WTyyoqC_SSg-vJvW75xeLUOPZIf4isi-ESymZeVHHDbsiEZO2iLmtEXAmIYJlxYwQp6Q4bvYxoZgFQE/w640-h426/IMG_1064.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1atWkcLqXmBSo_P3DGQjxd6x12ofaY8ICPuMNO_2qZ4UcY8j0OjYTlJEzN-hdrkLg1QLHIs8ssOg_6DOvg0ocqguLYJw34kKf934zvt3Pc6-cApKPO28vN9CuABWILmrzYo_7XuEfGbMhcbyHMy_Hy5fTOr972Lb5jV5M0vutHQmBiPsbUXGBO6HMgY/s2048/IMG_1068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1atWkcLqXmBSo_P3DGQjxd6x12ofaY8ICPuMNO_2qZ4UcY8j0OjYTlJEzN-hdrkLg1QLHIs8ssOg_6DOvg0ocqguLYJw34kKf934zvt3Pc6-cApKPO28vN9CuABWILmrzYo_7XuEfGbMhcbyHMy_Hy5fTOr972Lb5jV5M0vutHQmBiPsbUXGBO6HMgY/w640-h426/IMG_1068.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9qBHlg3ofRDarpeFa8G1_gtpkY0jXM-fgDGBYbTOCxGRUTOB156kFPDyc1OqU-jEmusdpC8YtyNM1cnmyTeutQZQivLKDLk_NmeSXdiXi6hJXu_JNdhzLblsmvDA214SDwV6pXWq1xrBKUlhm0W0T1h-njFzeOfEXVFrvcuLZrC715kvVEGZbk7KPdQ/s3243/Photo%20Jan%2022%202024,%204%2012%2024%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3243" data-original-width="3243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9qBHlg3ofRDarpeFa8G1_gtpkY0jXM-fgDGBYbTOCxGRUTOB156kFPDyc1OqU-jEmusdpC8YtyNM1cnmyTeutQZQivLKDLk_NmeSXdiXi6hJXu_JNdhzLblsmvDA214SDwV6pXWq1xrBKUlhm0W0T1h-njFzeOfEXVFrvcuLZrC715kvVEGZbk7KPdQ/w640-h640/Photo%20Jan%2022%202024,%204%2012%2024%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-89860816124738811012024-01-15T17:36:00.005-07:002024-01-15T18:40:54.046-07:00Backhoes and Birthdays<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We've had a great deal more snow since my last post. This morning Mike's uncle showed up to dig us out! Not with shovels or a snowblower like I'm accustomed to, but with the way I quickly noticed, as we drove through the snow to church yesterday afternoon, is the way I will grow much more used to seeing out here in the country:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS9sWwylQUe8NdqYmLNG89DuVCHKx7tnjJW9BZYzBOfr74yEC25R_xPopX6RgQGQhyXHtYRpl-2Oth_Tw48bVvpDGCBFStZxvj-blykVeqv4EtuDRfpVtWrxTynvRpgR_Gl8Vqj5YUokJEG7QWnNx5ZsvAmUVXxBS6FF5oM42IHneQw4thSVA0_ZFrbU/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2014%2042%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS9sWwylQUe8NdqYmLNG89DuVCHKx7tnjJW9BZYzBOfr74yEC25R_xPopX6RgQGQhyXHtYRpl-2Oth_Tw48bVvpDGCBFStZxvj-blykVeqv4EtuDRfpVtWrxTynvRpgR_Gl8Vqj5YUokJEG7QWnNx5ZsvAmUVXxBS6FF5oM42IHneQw4thSVA0_ZFrbU/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2014%2042%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mpde7ybap8B6amLvbFThJZXzh0B3ykAA_UIXIYeB8abWRwJpPDu0zxQ-7DrfjlriorwdfRbTmUtU3pD0TyAyHaqdOIQVpuSGmxyJTvN_HibKfDxiMNpofy7Jg_5EGVuJRtovXHbwLjz5-lXZjFmsVimyZLsUFjCZB-l80LWXFjuD9BPPXyaXIdqrCVs/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2015%2018%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mpde7ybap8B6amLvbFThJZXzh0B3ykAA_UIXIYeB8abWRwJpPDu0zxQ-7DrfjlriorwdfRbTmUtU3pD0TyAyHaqdOIQVpuSGmxyJTvN_HibKfDxiMNpofy7Jg_5EGVuJRtovXHbwLjz5-lXZjFmsVimyZLsUFjCZB-l80LWXFjuD9BPPXyaXIdqrCVs/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2015%2018%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tractors, skid steers, and backhoes seem to be the way.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaelJMc5PlmCTsuJ0h7v4ekS7AQcNG8ttKa2Nmq57l8pBiSxewM9TB0HC8mDY3yZywo1og3SvUJI-Qe-MB3oCLM_mLTyZf9qUjA0RYNW2JmZ0twDOWkGhww9m19itHse125dzRLYFSw5F4NxSzHC4AACXNwlcnjBG3c24HWdVW0o4znrorr3mETvZcsxQ/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2015%2019%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaelJMc5PlmCTsuJ0h7v4ekS7AQcNG8ttKa2Nmq57l8pBiSxewM9TB0HC8mDY3yZywo1og3SvUJI-Qe-MB3oCLM_mLTyZf9qUjA0RYNW2JmZ0twDOWkGhww9m19itHse125dzRLYFSw5F4NxSzHC4AACXNwlcnjBG3c24HWdVW0o4znrorr3mETvZcsxQ/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2015%2019%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGddUfVuw8tsbjg3WEbXWNXe3PBx2bcgM-VEY9CPkkwNXE9xjtnX_3oIfGf49aUFDWqLtRcF-J7XZWf4P6yEkKTCsw_0o-GvV5OwcfIZSp0ZtmZTX94mSNsalHiTv8npPX12IxzDtdPyyr75v6RMgmUv8Mf6MXPerLw5Q1T_e9ojHzRlyZAtt-6bmeKYc/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2017%2019%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGddUfVuw8tsbjg3WEbXWNXe3PBx2bcgM-VEY9CPkkwNXE9xjtnX_3oIfGf49aUFDWqLtRcF-J7XZWf4P6yEkKTCsw_0o-GvV5OwcfIZSp0ZtmZTX94mSNsalHiTv8npPX12IxzDtdPyyr75v6RMgmUv8Mf6MXPerLw5Q1T_e9ojHzRlyZAtt-6bmeKYc/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2015%202024,%2011%2017%2019%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Thanks Uncle Lynn! What a relief to not have to have done that all by hand!<br /><br />In other news:</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hansie boy had a birthday!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Seven!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He keeps talking about how Goldie will, hopefully, be back just in time to see him baptized next year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the meantime, we are back to that little trio of children all being a year apart (7, 8, and 9) which I always like. And seven seems like a pretty good age for a boy to be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_Rj5OrXxPoMbKEnl-wuxXFTKf0wuDUQU70hSNCdSqGHxzkkcpcfxs4cUk3b0kq1iq4PmaHOf-83lA3C9_49ZM-K_k8wp6npfK22P-GfBIF_w4j14hA45RqgJTX7k36nroINwpV2CNDHFXKtt_YLpWuW2IrZf6Nbdb41oMkLdTashghYvucrHhfcAbNc/s2048/IMG_1027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_Rj5OrXxPoMbKEnl-wuxXFTKf0wuDUQU70hSNCdSqGHxzkkcpcfxs4cUk3b0kq1iq4PmaHOf-83lA3C9_49ZM-K_k8wp6npfK22P-GfBIF_w4j14hA45RqgJTX7k36nroINwpV2CNDHFXKtt_YLpWuW2IrZf6Nbdb41oMkLdTashghYvucrHhfcAbNc/w640-h426/IMG_1027.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EFbSwp96jH6fF9Z61FdTPn7OHgESNv1vBqhAS4rMtZSGxnnKmNhuBBMU9a5s5chpA6IkjmZf9dBOnIb3JvsIoR3LxrsY0UwwLaHStCTXT-G22AoKyzxZqd6Tx8HSgFbB5tPEla2rugFjMrAPY91YksajK3TS32K33bR2hAOKBQ2dIbEfm5HSXGr88ho/s2048/IMG_1030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EFbSwp96jH6fF9Z61FdTPn7OHgESNv1vBqhAS4rMtZSGxnnKmNhuBBMU9a5s5chpA6IkjmZf9dBOnIb3JvsIoR3LxrsY0UwwLaHStCTXT-G22AoKyzxZqd6Tx8HSgFbB5tPEla2rugFjMrAPY91YksajK3TS32K33bR2hAOKBQ2dIbEfm5HSXGr88ho/w426-h640/IMG_1030.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ7_ymWCwHyY6na2aBvmTalwmdh9Z3joaf3PNX5lYd8foQG0LUXmXdkc7BkzScXRsbg8q705sHpTi19eCN1ntoIpTNtdgfP9K5XjADknQXAMY06w1Xd6si5k0nGQrGcvF9b94CwMe9N6XyjKFj8cbyY3vDOXNvLWlNkSmeOBw4EwK6zh_2nsAq5fSaF8/s2048/IMG_1031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ7_ymWCwHyY6na2aBvmTalwmdh9Z3joaf3PNX5lYd8foQG0LUXmXdkc7BkzScXRsbg8q705sHpTi19eCN1ntoIpTNtdgfP9K5XjADknQXAMY06w1Xd6si5k0nGQrGcvF9b94CwMe9N6XyjKFj8cbyY3vDOXNvLWlNkSmeOBw4EwK6zh_2nsAq5fSaF8/w640-h426/IMG_1031.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I love that little phase of missing front teeth.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXA1xe8eI3Jpg8LYYoeenR5xgawkvUW2dLHzw_J6ztH_sEiQcaeVfLVpm9Aj0Ff0VVrXCR7zxjzncvqldbahWeSbj_Wgg9IUowEYt2PMLFG3tsyOc_RQGkYXYGTfyyEpW_WoBqKneJnHFT7c0zFYjpWgahGoaqNKmaX4OwaVua2npZR3wsXLVoX2Gb0c/s2048/IMG_1033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXA1xe8eI3Jpg8LYYoeenR5xgawkvUW2dLHzw_J6ztH_sEiQcaeVfLVpm9Aj0Ff0VVrXCR7zxjzncvqldbahWeSbj_Wgg9IUowEYt2PMLFG3tsyOc_RQGkYXYGTfyyEpW_WoBqKneJnHFT7c0zFYjpWgahGoaqNKmaX4OwaVua2npZR3wsXLVoX2Gb0c/w640-h426/IMG_1033.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBZ7wyqyc7cJfkMeiflKtTpDYNo6Kx5IdZxSntH_ih9BJW7mTvWYiB6JlQuRbgJAb1LBpuFR6RuWaxl_S6ojwNuXaJEUqu1gtZ22Mx7eq8A9YvAXON5PYhVEz8BKtCwrsqLXdaMB8Y1dIuOPJFLdVmOg5Vc9anmiH-HeFqxRKd1tdWtgTfZIZ4iMNxE0/s2048/IMG_1034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBZ7wyqyc7cJfkMeiflKtTpDYNo6Kx5IdZxSntH_ih9BJW7mTvWYiB6JlQuRbgJAb1LBpuFR6RuWaxl_S6ojwNuXaJEUqu1gtZ22Mx7eq8A9YvAXON5PYhVEz8BKtCwrsqLXdaMB8Y1dIuOPJFLdVmOg5Vc9anmiH-HeFqxRKd1tdWtgTfZIZ4iMNxE0/w426-h640/IMG_1034.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2oSnSKvqMNC_vHO0VdJHgrSph17rVk6sMLdgRxxPpJJzuVEB8XZwkv0hTAqKwNpJLxD0627QhKw7IechKKYE0JkdWzaX2DCU0_p44Tp10wHrDXiMTH8Gb953Ihg6XpbIzA-ahE9BnE-jvWgnMIlUaKzI4_LeYMpBL_XOPI9wODi_yGQQB7cMnDkLAaU/s2048/IMG_1036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2oSnSKvqMNC_vHO0VdJHgrSph17rVk6sMLdgRxxPpJJzuVEB8XZwkv0hTAqKwNpJLxD0627QhKw7IechKKYE0JkdWzaX2DCU0_p44Tp10wHrDXiMTH8Gb953Ihg6XpbIzA-ahE9BnE-jvWgnMIlUaKzI4_LeYMpBL_XOPI9wODi_yGQQB7cMnDkLAaU/w640-h426/IMG_1036.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxILLiFxMOuIPzkl_2ZOwe6jdlmr1MJoOzqadpehBxaExtBYJpAoft5sHxdarImVxQHnVGCj7v-WhgGk5SwUQOHg-aZoKOMEcXlVu22e3ZxWIxK92eG40PpOR_OuKkG_UBHZSma-kZcsOnAI5fmOI30dmZt2HWKOt7HVve8hD-OoZ3isaq3rlnktk_dY/s2048/IMG_1037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxILLiFxMOuIPzkl_2ZOwe6jdlmr1MJoOzqadpehBxaExtBYJpAoft5sHxdarImVxQHnVGCj7v-WhgGk5SwUQOHg-aZoKOMEcXlVu22e3ZxWIxK92eG40PpOR_OuKkG_UBHZSma-kZcsOnAI5fmOI30dmZt2HWKOt7HVve8hD-OoZ3isaq3rlnktk_dY/w640-h426/IMG_1037.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyE_It2oC0yPh5ZM-S5WG_qBzphJ8Ufag9Q3yHsxbNIJS4-BP_2ePHVILie0qy_ejv_L0gvSV2diKYfk2Hsg9aPGQhJWa2B_PZXAQosED27MNMyOoaOK07abolWuCObIJCd3WGFZ3lysoihw4o3HLjXp8jZIxChdNvelrk-PaioA7_drv30LDdKvega0/s2048/IMG_1038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1i2IM46VBEqasg2iTWUl5P_SmIA6tqKuOwDheMt21tbcIWo7pdR648BcztLQu-7CnGStIABoHX-0Xlr6OYjG8jggdTKXSmNSzOBNZfnBsPRwEwwwrLQVtkLU1xgmr22twCHB_iUYFQql6nYpKM9MLLJJm_fWCq0ArmvwmYQAXs0txAQieJwZ9eALsSU/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2011%202024,%205%2006%2000%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ytq8v3YZAIpLI0A3qaBdl64o2lr31_mYSoYmtX3sAl49HT5CKW7JLxRScTCqP3DtMGFvZV0jASuUsPXp9CMqLsIuL5HOFKgXgFn4wSddTfzlqBQcPELhwxNDVmXR85m5fTNtB9V0d8MHqHIuagfLAm8l2DGq4-9rfcc0W9IzjLqepOG5VJJAqPWB2wg/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2011%202024,%205%2006%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ytq8v3YZAIpLI0A3qaBdl64o2lr31_mYSoYmtX3sAl49HT5CKW7JLxRScTCqP3DtMGFvZV0jASuUsPXp9CMqLsIuL5HOFKgXgFn4wSddTfzlqBQcPELhwxNDVmXR85m5fTNtB9V0d8MHqHIuagfLAm8l2DGq4-9rfcc0W9IzjLqepOG5VJJAqPWB2wg/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2011%202024,%205%2006%2015%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WCs7juLBUhyiMIWxIj4JVD0UGz4Pt-ROylCGqUQcDhw7Qh57-FqnbhHSyJCDnWoN_pXWg9U99xSsTMv6hGPGrm9zsLU6mUW-CitCsWpR867atJwX9USIx6CicjuZelFufsaZyHFehINXtuWZdoO7sbAfL7AvDjPs6GGGvioTZC2KXEWZrM0pQAUs4MA/s2048/IMG_1018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WCs7juLBUhyiMIWxIj4JVD0UGz4Pt-ROylCGqUQcDhw7Qh57-FqnbhHSyJCDnWoN_pXWg9U99xSsTMv6hGPGrm9zsLU6mUW-CitCsWpR867atJwX9USIx6CicjuZelFufsaZyHFehINXtuWZdoO7sbAfL7AvDjPs6GGGvioTZC2KXEWZrM0pQAUs4MA/w640-h426/IMG_1018.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And, before we leave off this post, two last photos:</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Starling and Mette. I don't know anything else to tell you. I just found it on my phone. (I only know it's Mette because she got those roller-skates for Christmas and they have pretty much replaced her actual feet. She has them on at all times.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2sbywYHFIf1bhQtL0XxFSwF9EMAvVN-9BAP7wHzHvwzIHi4P7_sGFIeGV5XgCIXVZF7f38eY61F_jVKdmuHNBo7yVqdHyp9djS23KIxOpHXJLcT7vtGvjZy_HtJcxNmxci4vsvQQ-iN2-3JEyTEE2yk0kpJuy0K6fZB_NigqW45sHB2xINRWgS0dssY/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%2010%2016%2057%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2sbywYHFIf1bhQtL0XxFSwF9EMAvVN-9BAP7wHzHvwzIHi4P7_sGFIeGV5XgCIXVZF7f38eY61F_jVKdmuHNBo7yVqdHyp9djS23KIxOpHXJLcT7vtGvjZy_HtJcxNmxci4vsvQQ-iN2-3JEyTEE2yk0kpJuy0K6fZB_NigqW45sHB2xINRWgS0dssY/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%2010%2016%2057%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>We found a bin of $4 ties at the BDO recently. When we showed Anders the original $70 price-tag on his tie, he highlighted the price and said he was going to wear it with the tag still on for all to see that he had such a rich-boy tie. Classy.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_8D5hMtqatZY008lCWrnJtzx88ltbNArSR6c88GWicnuJItftiz1V5FmagOeYTAM8rtIXTg-aYY4bRkhQjsWajIXIW2DBgb_sUYJ2iqNDrCJQUZiAs7e_Prf7Nrq0bPTwo4Un3RNIpeZKABYCuDrZtHzttCoVgVvnHrKc63nfo1JuNMHr3P1w3QJ7b4/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%2011%2029%2003%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_8D5hMtqatZY008lCWrnJtzx88ltbNArSR6c88GWicnuJItftiz1V5FmagOeYTAM8rtIXTg-aYY4bRkhQjsWajIXIW2DBgb_sUYJ2iqNDrCJQUZiAs7e_Prf7Nrq0bPTwo4Un3RNIpeZKABYCuDrZtHzttCoVgVvnHrKc63nfo1JuNMHr3P1w3QJ7b4/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2014%202024,%2011%2029%2003%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-82435526105769665542024-01-15T17:02:00.002-07:002024-01-15T17:02:30.127-07:00Wind, Snow, and Prayers<p><b><u><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Friday evening.</span></u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The wind has crashed and whirled--mercilessly--for the last 24 hours. All Thursday night I woke expecting (though never finding) a "school is cancelled" notification on my phone, and the fields behind us look swept and barren (though gusts of snow keep blowing--tumbleweed like--over the brittle and dusted grass).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The snow wasn't simply wind-swept off into the sky, however. In fact, it appears that <b>all </b>if it--from<b> all</b> of the stretches of open pasture behind our house--was blown to one central gathering spot at the end of our driveway just where it dips up to meet the road. And three times today (one of the times in tears of frustration) I've found myself desperately shoveling packed and heavy snow away from the tires of cars stuck trying to go into or out of our driveway. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But, as we drove to school this morning (too cold to walk to the bus stop), I looked over my shoulder to see Summer with her head bowed and eyes closed--clearly in a quiet little prayer for our safety and the safety of Mike and Penny and Jesse who had left to work and school before us. And when it appeared the wheels were going to start spinning, one of the other kids said an out-loud prayer that we wouldn't get stuck (and that time we didn't). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Later when we <i>were</i> stuck and I'd shoveled till I could hardly move my arms anymore--only to get just as stuck after two more feet of driving--and it was clear I was near tears, Penny said matter-of-factly and reassuringly, "Well, we just better pray then." (And then, when the shoveling and kids pushing from behind on the second attempt was successful, reminded me that I needed to thank Heavenly Father. [She often reminds me to pray my thanks when prayers have been answered.])</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And of course I know as well as anyone knows that prayers are very often <i>not</i> answered the way we hoped. Still, I thought of Lehi--who wasn't able to really give Nephi <b>all </b>of the things he knew and had experienced but who <b><i>was</i> </b>able to teach him "somewhat in all [his] learning"; and it seemed a small miracle, worth rejoicing over, that somehow I'd managed to teach my kids <i>somewhat</i> of my learning and that they know, instinctively, to pray. They might forget or doubt in periods of their life. But I've seen it in all of them. It's something they know.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUcwMFKxm1r1q1Us8YacTY34DdworgELmTMnbdqleOwu5BxMh9lrVndzsA42NbQuY4KCNpUjww7tOoeEiirJ9qmbSABDg0oS4R5KZNBtcl8akgyodkuWfjsIiCmGoivV0UAAN4ybZmCX7DnLH_R89OUG3P3cN9X0wWT0JnIiOaIijUB4QEiOQk8VWvJQ/s2048/IMG_1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUcwMFKxm1r1q1Us8YacTY34DdworgELmTMnbdqleOwu5BxMh9lrVndzsA42NbQuY4KCNpUjww7tOoeEiirJ9qmbSABDg0oS4R5KZNBtcl8akgyodkuWfjsIiCmGoivV0UAAN4ybZmCX7DnLH_R89OUG3P3cN9X0wWT0JnIiOaIijUB4QEiOQk8VWvJQ/w640-h426/IMG_1002.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis9MKmsGvvFGvG21wv-g7Ca5gGtRAwE4OmkuhQZ75utM-Whw-vWba8v7euZmOUt6ltGUC6iwS3Io4u-4VZXp9eQT6AQxWCAypHFFgAe3ItqsU8Bo6sc8Ns4bDS-wLY1zmMJMFCidVFwR2nqmkZagpluc07NtBxbQuwH7okxB1RaQ-_d5NwdszWQolGFk/s2048/IMG_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis9MKmsGvvFGvG21wv-g7Ca5gGtRAwE4OmkuhQZ75utM-Whw-vWba8v7euZmOUt6ltGUC6iwS3Io4u-4VZXp9eQT6AQxWCAypHFFgAe3ItqsU8Bo6sc8Ns4bDS-wLY1zmMJMFCidVFwR2nqmkZagpluc07NtBxbQuwH7okxB1RaQ-_d5NwdszWQolGFk/w640-h426/IMG_1010.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22P-ZuMejUD8l66iXM0YvJcdhnACh_wCZOaWFu0mBPoVYroCpB05focXxYtpxZGvX1xCykAFc8f9EkBhow2r-CVEy9u4jZGN6Ti5D3Y5I9rTzoNW6uE6JubDwv4QuZp1XbyuaYO1oXZSq5hyyS88CbtLkuluZi08uk_tgPM0ND5rwLK9HkNw1sz2wU5E/s2048/IMG_1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22P-ZuMejUD8l66iXM0YvJcdhnACh_wCZOaWFu0mBPoVYroCpB05focXxYtpxZGvX1xCykAFc8f9EkBhow2r-CVEy9u4jZGN6Ti5D3Y5I9rTzoNW6uE6JubDwv4QuZp1XbyuaYO1oXZSq5hyyS88CbtLkuluZi08uk_tgPM0ND5rwLK9HkNw1sz2wU5E/w640-h426/IMG_1011.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJYdVWdmvZTySGjfeIIC1B670s0nK0I5LOu6DvxSPSxWSmNhjcQ6EKAHXlwvF3lDf4sgR5gLBJPZlqqvoTEKMEKUsoIP1mXrnzQLQrT-OC48k0BXRSbMdmh-p20Yeg3c-FSqHH1eoLscnZLBq49ESvhM7XUeBF7pVhXkhslKrdxe1ld6aaSrOX9rMPuQ/s2048/IMG_1013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJYdVWdmvZTySGjfeIIC1B670s0nK0I5LOu6DvxSPSxWSmNhjcQ6EKAHXlwvF3lDf4sgR5gLBJPZlqqvoTEKMEKUsoIP1mXrnzQLQrT-OC48k0BXRSbMdmh-p20Yeg3c-FSqHH1eoLscnZLBq49ESvhM7XUeBF7pVhXkhslKrdxe1ld6aaSrOX9rMPuQ/w640-h426/IMG_1013.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcgdIXi63ERbE8kDhvKT-L_ItxQJtesBFvQ-2YRIzTsWHCLJJXCu5Rg85xe6JY8lp1jb3HnoDct7D5PGwS2mJh_65KETF8bulcvQiqa4JyjYJb9F0eFaPDOZgfUISRmRlRmzuAuWm6fm8AKlBB7xfIve0-6IRrm1KsslslhA_l_k8InYDiOKNWHyK_w/s2048/IMG_1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcgdIXi63ERbE8kDhvKT-L_ItxQJtesBFvQ-2YRIzTsWHCLJJXCu5Rg85xe6JY8lp1jb3HnoDct7D5PGwS2mJh_65KETF8bulcvQiqa4JyjYJb9F0eFaPDOZgfUISRmRlRmzuAuWm6fm8AKlBB7xfIve0-6IRrm1KsslslhA_l_k8InYDiOKNWHyK_w/w640-h426/IMG_1006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-30232281838021405172024-01-05T13:43:00.007-07:002024-01-05T13:54:13.797-07:00Out with the old and all that ...<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dec. 28th was my 47th birthday. The 29th was our 24th anniversary. And the 1st was ... well, the New Year! (Welcome 2024.)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AhxWOKRdOCBbH2MzhaU1e4eRYXZhkA7QsmibkfkE0A38-x5ocEQVAB49izP-CyDcF4LaEklzNTuOiCnhfS7P4fGvMkM6U6x67hDmKK-mD_03JEslxpHAPRZRX_UqQM-Be6G10vmtv5elcF0TyzRFp8zYoGsF9A6unuEvekhN2TLPIL_uh8Fj_MAATg/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2001%202024,%204%2054%2027%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AhxWOKRdOCBbH2MzhaU1e4eRYXZhkA7QsmibkfkE0A38-x5ocEQVAB49izP-CyDcF4LaEklzNTuOiCnhfS7P4fGvMkM6U6x67hDmKK-mD_03JEslxpHAPRZRX_UqQM-Be6G10vmtv5elcF0TyzRFp8zYoGsF9A6unuEvekhN2TLPIL_uh8Fj_MAATg/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2001%202024,%204%2054%2027%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpADPd_0Z_a02_YXrDyq_NZOmgGemA8xdXiaiqR83QSlY2FS7ejIbuikVMvzBqc7-auy4Y4kV7Q_qb6S6WIvyOyW3YBXjPMv-k6sjI5HRLrH9hOAyCIM6ARx2dr0HgJchRMWYE1gVegEbPcyJ3mBL53x6D41v00YxXwukIau67PeE3Ugr_KFUmggE1UO0/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2001%202024,%204%2054%2034%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpADPd_0Z_a02_YXrDyq_NZOmgGemA8xdXiaiqR83QSlY2FS7ejIbuikVMvzBqc7-auy4Y4kV7Q_qb6S6WIvyOyW3YBXjPMv-k6sjI5HRLrH9hOAyCIM6ARx2dr0HgJchRMWYE1gVegEbPcyJ3mBL53x6D41v00YxXwukIau67PeE3Ugr_KFUmggE1UO0/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2001%202024,%204%2054%2034%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I like celebrating a new year of life for me, a new year of being married to Mike and the new calendar year beginning all as one big event, but I can't say I did a lot of thoughtful reminiscing about the old or pondering and planning for the new. Most of my birthday was spent in a state of packing and readying everything for a trip to the cabin (and then unpacking everything upon arrival at the cabin), and most of the New Year's celebrations were spent with both Mike and I feeling a bit sick but still trying for some bit of "Happy New Year!"ing with the kids.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnDmj4qusJUs9pBSjgzudi4AxnWX-p7lS47WzaizdNmBW5m64ygQG1SGxievzknBgPpvzAajrBxXCC6aOjEWDT9K2OiYT-AfJ9sRS0SLxQ3nRqtW2sWslE868v72Al_Oqx4cU3yuHcPMV9EourLjZRZ6FR6OKIEeJMkrEt655AdSwMLpQmuFRJLzY5UQ/s3574/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2035%2005%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3574" data-original-width="2680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnDmj4qusJUs9pBSjgzudi4AxnWX-p7lS47WzaizdNmBW5m64ygQG1SGxievzknBgPpvzAajrBxXCC6aOjEWDT9K2OiYT-AfJ9sRS0SLxQ3nRqtW2sWslE868v72Al_Oqx4cU3yuHcPMV9EourLjZRZ6FR6OKIEeJMkrEt655AdSwMLpQmuFRJLzY5UQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2035%2005%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Still, just a moment's pause to think about it all even just right now, as I type, does remind me that last year <b>was </b><u style="font-style: italic;">quite </u>a year for us. The packing and uprooting of all our lives and all that had been familiar to all of our children, the adjusting to new places and new people and new schools for all of our kids, our Goldie not only making the move with us but also leaving on her mission. It certainly wasn't nothing. That much is true. And it's remarkable that we lived through so much change when none of it was even known as we rang in the last new year. It's boggling to me whenever I've experienced a year of so much change to think back on year-ago-me and think, "And she knew none of this! Think of that! None of it!" Well. What an interesting business this living life is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway. From the birthday/anniversary/New Year's weekend (in a bit of a mixed order as I didn't take many pictures and have grabbed this assortment from the few I took mixed with ones from Mike and Daisy):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DejlCPqX95lEDvJSYLVkL2983a06oHKl2oFl-8iWbdekbWEpy89TtvJ6_nsmRfepj1ug0K14WgvTPuYQMryZtAFAfc_huDB4nde0KAKbjA4KfZ53Z5JhdY1Sypjtdwf8kmib9Evsw4MBmdOh7ewjDd3njdAx1GAblrhb18RaveTg0N9jCsDiJDJ4CTM/s1391/IMG_2801.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1391" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DejlCPqX95lEDvJSYLVkL2983a06oHKl2oFl-8iWbdekbWEpy89TtvJ6_nsmRfepj1ug0K14WgvTPuYQMryZtAFAfc_huDB4nde0KAKbjA4KfZ53Z5JhdY1Sypjtdwf8kmib9Evsw4MBmdOh7ewjDd3njdAx1GAblrhb18RaveTg0N9jCsDiJDJ4CTM/w640-h426/IMG_2801.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoFTcpbkAIqh7ZvjQhirCKHS4hefkd3_KY60q14o75_A5VMb_ydtW7v1OmvMBQfaeR0AOra99fLOiF3ZVTeTk_bPE0RSc7Jy3vh7Yc5DEeDh-C4pFtdn5OZ9wnh_1h2zp7FEaUzNAZMFvC1myjPXgTBYDdSJTjeYFiUEN5X26zN1oQX-CL8jHNLhxhDM/s1391/IMG_2809.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1391" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoFTcpbkAIqh7ZvjQhirCKHS4hefkd3_KY60q14o75_A5VMb_ydtW7v1OmvMBQfaeR0AOra99fLOiF3ZVTeTk_bPE0RSc7Jy3vh7Yc5DEeDh-C4pFtdn5OZ9wnh_1h2zp7FEaUzNAZMFvC1myjPXgTBYDdSJTjeYFiUEN5X26zN1oQX-CL8jHNLhxhDM/w640-h426/IMG_2809.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Snap circuits.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9l146AQhCverviy0g4TaG2Bvof_6fnn0aN0tGnGfjd5ZaBgM-KVGYEIM9AN3RUGke6CGa4RahoCNefRLGHOjDNOmhtM8qL2M-hSETg7ytDDuQksjipd1wh8qkBbwplbazb9ewZDg-erykPdYR_VhdOERIouWU-Pc1gIjZKYKwAWn7iSrQZpXtzNmW2c/s1391/IMG_2818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1391" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9l146AQhCverviy0g4TaG2Bvof_6fnn0aN0tGnGfjd5ZaBgM-KVGYEIM9AN3RUGke6CGa4RahoCNefRLGHOjDNOmhtM8qL2M-hSETg7ytDDuQksjipd1wh8qkBbwplbazb9ewZDg-erykPdYR_VhdOERIouWU-Pc1gIjZKYKwAWn7iSrQZpXtzNmW2c/w640-h426/IMG_2818.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike took the kids sledding on one of the days when I was feeling the most unwell.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFlGKSdqKwM7bu9q1jScb0nrDiyB_u9KYn0k3l0E_WUUHMmgSSFICoULR_j5G5lLpNJtl5R6ByD6q1VtVbLEjfAMAktko75ZiYAVZJMNiTWpS6Exxqi2YsgERLd4HghR6-lpMteaCHXJuJK07tzm99SlY2Afinzi8gj8Tpwr69ZgSU4GiVXYPP6RSns/s928/IMG_9337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFlGKSdqKwM7bu9q1jScb0nrDiyB_u9KYn0k3l0E_WUUHMmgSSFICoULR_j5G5lLpNJtl5R6ByD6q1VtVbLEjfAMAktko75ZiYAVZJMNiTWpS6Exxqi2YsgERLd4HghR6-lpMteaCHXJuJK07tzm99SlY2Afinzi8gj8Tpwr69ZgSU4GiVXYPP6RSns/w480-h640/IMG_9337.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6CMdHug0YYUMNp_7hg4fP8nK-5MKogKRNCDnfND1byT0WlMk4LLR6xvrXpki-xcJnnvt70QHtGQKyuFmpqPO5DVbkTeKvCunTjygVnV5bUTA5mX64Ab1US75rCEYWAMOH5N1Rt7QvmtQ9fnu2KIPmAtdQvQ0-ehvh762L9DlNzhIsbO8HrCt_d_yBbk/s928/IMG_9340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6CMdHug0YYUMNp_7hg4fP8nK-5MKogKRNCDnfND1byT0WlMk4LLR6xvrXpki-xcJnnvt70QHtGQKyuFmpqPO5DVbkTeKvCunTjygVnV5bUTA5mX64Ab1US75rCEYWAMOH5N1Rt7QvmtQ9fnu2KIPmAtdQvQ0-ehvh762L9DlNzhIsbO8HrCt_d_yBbk/w480-h640/IMG_9340.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJixZHt_UdN0iODG-aQ6IM08HkuVVnLHG1nbt5sYqm71hWDJKPMcf7KjDBsUUh0sgQhZ6Da1iqtNVVARKJfHgsDaAbW9oEEK2boK_OuUUiTmJACKiqZnfC9PF-BGqGSoZlhqhV4QHEmOIhMiQRyEVEv39FAz_FHeju8TfdS_0Xl6UAFkNAq9iM4fuOWA/s928/IMG_9344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJixZHt_UdN0iODG-aQ6IM08HkuVVnLHG1nbt5sYqm71hWDJKPMcf7KjDBsUUh0sgQhZ6Da1iqtNVVARKJfHgsDaAbW9oEEK2boK_OuUUiTmJACKiqZnfC9PF-BGqGSoZlhqhV4QHEmOIhMiQRyEVEv39FAz_FHeju8TfdS_0Xl6UAFkNAq9iM4fuOWA/w480-h640/IMG_9344.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK953OwA0JzaLMRvCKf1iTI-tpc0yT2vqBil8CRmZEYFCUmcJD_x5szHkunrcLUm0FtUIvJFW-vqaD5bwAl4vDtVqrSJIA6Dyan6WTl0iMI35IBlQT8N667rjUifH94cVyIT25hL6bWpbzd9wE0TMredy3450oxblQ962hvWS2IY8dxxYevuIRxohHVZM/s928/IMG_9373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK953OwA0JzaLMRvCKf1iTI-tpc0yT2vqBil8CRmZEYFCUmcJD_x5szHkunrcLUm0FtUIvJFW-vqaD5bwAl4vDtVqrSJIA6Dyan6WTl0iMI35IBlQT8N667rjUifH94cVyIT25hL6bWpbzd9wE0TMredy3450oxblQ962hvWS2IY8dxxYevuIRxohHVZM/w480-h640/IMG_9373.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">New Year's Eve is primarily a night of playing an assortment of games (and having root beer floats). (This year New Year's was also on a Sunday so we attended the Garden City visitor's ward--which was woefully unprepared for the enormous number of people that showed up. They said they set up 920 chairs, and there were still people standing everywhere anyone could stand!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6La8rf-rfvK9f3Rg3G1-aXJKvms6LDLMDCJw_gEm7GGNdxyEa3gVQInbNLoabFCWBthyeHva_QhFFYW7Wb_Jw6jh-ALF6fgEmiVebHB6cn765C3-45vA_FVj73cgea89tSC2XNOTtcV7rAIoRFUjJ4TbHfHmAyIRXBL9ZQ5xRyhoGUfgM_l-HAf2m2Q8/s928/IMG_9374.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6La8rf-rfvK9f3Rg3G1-aXJKvms6LDLMDCJw_gEm7GGNdxyEa3gVQInbNLoabFCWBthyeHva_QhFFYW7Wb_Jw6jh-ALF6fgEmiVebHB6cn765C3-45vA_FVj73cgea89tSC2XNOTtcV7rAIoRFUjJ4TbHfHmAyIRXBL9ZQ5xRyhoGUfgM_l-HAf2m2Q8/w480-h640/IMG_9374.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CZbpDeP2sTWVbIr5KYwu3n5m6C879PeYkU1KDpeEWvAwcPT35aMkXAY2ILI2gmL9uxEszJPlwFDvKbznzAuSk5HVYg19uyQtSmHx5Lp0jJAfO7jWa0qKkHPygjSFJLm9_f-04lAc8qu-VkTSOU_qqeBH_YP5Ba3fB5UBUPGGf0E-PePBO5OLCpMk0kQ/s1236/IMG_9376.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1236" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CZbpDeP2sTWVbIr5KYwu3n5m6C879PeYkU1KDpeEWvAwcPT35aMkXAY2ILI2gmL9uxEszJPlwFDvKbznzAuSk5HVYg19uyQtSmHx5Lp0jJAfO7jWa0qKkHPygjSFJLm9_f-04lAc8qu-VkTSOU_qqeBH_YP5Ba3fB5UBUPGGf0E-PePBO5OLCpMk0kQ/w640-h480/IMG_9376.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I mentioned these aren't in a tidy order. Here I am with the very fuzzy Wrangler blanket Mike gave me on my birthday. (It made the weekend up there much cozier to be sure.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQcGH_xK6p7l-q6hbu0mGtQtxQT-pPjkV_mOqnJiTZd_vGfxhm2kEsTQRX_OdMnRuJlrAcwUwKbWDdwQSfvtOLVQbjQfb8AdkLJQN77SUJxnvwgXYNey40pY7G6GVFlO3xqwnhmMc-NPWab4lEKPg-AqZBp8S3ZqPe00VPL5kvoaxhsggNbk78mhuPjU/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2028%202023,%208%2016%2019%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQcGH_xK6p7l-q6hbu0mGtQtxQT-pPjkV_mOqnJiTZd_vGfxhm2kEsTQRX_OdMnRuJlrAcwUwKbWDdwQSfvtOLVQbjQfb8AdkLJQN77SUJxnvwgXYNey40pY7G6GVFlO3xqwnhmMc-NPWab4lEKPg-AqZBp8S3ZqPe00VPL5kvoaxhsggNbk78mhuPjU/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2028%202023,%208%2016%2019%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike and some of the kids wandered about Garden City one of the days while I went on a run in town (as the roads by the cabin were too icy). I found them again after by this bear.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-pkLgv7Giulum4Mu7NhOT36IeReNIUBjxfh1MqePcdxlXZaVMlG4mO1e1iFW6abc6doLch2U1bCVh7v76MDzqe2-WrSK0oPQLMCyFjURQFiikx4HWXv9-dkvFQW2PipZiayHu0UVjlif9uilAQPkqkjoWf3LcyzCEc3ivuzkjqocbu9rFxtG7bA0-28/s3264/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2007%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-pkLgv7Giulum4Mu7NhOT36IeReNIUBjxfh1MqePcdxlXZaVMlG4mO1e1iFW6abc6doLch2U1bCVh7v76MDzqe2-WrSK0oPQLMCyFjURQFiikx4HWXv9-dkvFQW2PipZiayHu0UVjlif9uilAQPkqkjoWf3LcyzCEc3ivuzkjqocbu9rFxtG7bA0-28/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2007%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCwXbDE2BQ-nn1T1_Ypol1op1dER4nZy2cPL6wpaN5NWII1McZFbp1uPVXyjcsgAAhUTqAvuJTWU4vBGbBmRliL3Z1aFoK_yQ_yCYPH97YyE5oHCthaOIvBHzG9TuOHXlTQEqJtX9yGfWvnsEqOs_D-vHD_X3AyIJDW7uBqP0HX0KzOA_7xZFI69_Fl8/s3264/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCwXbDE2BQ-nn1T1_Ypol1op1dER4nZy2cPL6wpaN5NWII1McZFbp1uPVXyjcsgAAhUTqAvuJTWU4vBGbBmRliL3Z1aFoK_yQ_yCYPH97YyE5oHCthaOIvBHzG9TuOHXlTQEqJtX9yGfWvnsEqOs_D-vHD_X3AyIJDW7uBqP0HX0KzOA_7xZFI69_Fl8/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2015%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpApWDtVidzQjETlRDJ-N5n6y0CftMpVOCYA1b1QpGjrGhFS9PwU2RniZzt2dztLar5Mq6tdFzC8dfmWDyzjOzil2FPsT7rgBETUyQpyppbSBk10e7G7mWO4r0-WL0n0Wt-Q67b2KkJOcPSsydCoysZoIZzDB2Fxe06-DgJdH4SHbF261OjxlzCqEiUs/s3264/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2031%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpApWDtVidzQjETlRDJ-N5n6y0CftMpVOCYA1b1QpGjrGhFS9PwU2RniZzt2dztLar5Mq6tdFzC8dfmWDyzjOzil2FPsT7rgBETUyQpyppbSBk10e7G7mWO4r0-WL0n0Wt-Q67b2KkJOcPSsydCoysZoIZzDB2Fxe06-DgJdH4SHbF261OjxlzCqEiUs/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2013%2031%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNucDXhvPDmtPFI1I3c2OwpccZ46EYMxEr2gBsE1NkxoY7IzWOk4f2XEiyWrOopkEAuKLo8ZJtrT6tVTtA8FGnLHagiYoNZ56U2Hpompw7wo6E15w4sZlJrPsWL3mLuf4A4eHFxaelj4f95DCayDo9Ll1V5FVStIg9jflCZQOwk-FvdZu7aBk7mOCmQ8/s3264/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2017%2022%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNucDXhvPDmtPFI1I3c2OwpccZ46EYMxEr2gBsE1NkxoY7IzWOk4f2XEiyWrOopkEAuKLo8ZJtrT6tVTtA8FGnLHagiYoNZ56U2Hpompw7wo6E15w4sZlJrPsWL3mLuf4A4eHFxaelj4f95DCayDo9Ll1V5FVStIg9jflCZQOwk-FvdZu7aBk7mOCmQ8/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%201%2017%2022%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There isn't much open in Garden City in the winter, but the kids did tend for Mike and I to go to dinner on our anniversary, and Mike did buy me an extra-large amount of chocolate covered raspberries as well as this lovely Beaver Mountain snow cap.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmLc6yUuopZ1CcApm-aT-thYZRLOXhTY38uFSoVcRP862VQvE8JYOA-a3YCkoIHM0KFQB_FhG73e2Zsgkoe8EsXJBsSkvXlvgZcnuCKe2Lf99NQ5YULZPgzlsa3syaFXhXrw5n4HDmVnZymZ1V2PO67tJWD3I80i95OTor9sTiAuaM_29MH33V_r_gAs/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%204%2007%2031%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmLc6yUuopZ1CcApm-aT-thYZRLOXhTY38uFSoVcRP862VQvE8JYOA-a3YCkoIHM0KFQB_FhG73e2Zsgkoe8EsXJBsSkvXlvgZcnuCKe2Lf99NQ5YULZPgzlsa3syaFXhXrw5n4HDmVnZymZ1V2PO67tJWD3I80i95OTor9sTiAuaM_29MH33V_r_gAs/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%204%2007%2031%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQKCKFbDeuVYXoWSL2g8hTJudDu_1zwtnq0dsuUutsWLgow29kkWv5Aw0oTSUa8qvDtYn0vMdRxuoFiJUnh8hLptphp62IO0Eh1fvvs87BGmiPDiBaIL5sAq7zpjLQlnHXX3MJ41kUtkZt0Hk_FdjRoi72TZxN5MUToiasZwNE2dmr-mZQsooFTiYuE8/s3088/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%205%2036%2020%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQKCKFbDeuVYXoWSL2g8hTJudDu_1zwtnq0dsuUutsWLgow29kkWv5Aw0oTSUa8qvDtYn0vMdRxuoFiJUnh8hLptphp62IO0Eh1fvvs87BGmiPDiBaIL5sAq7zpjLQlnHXX3MJ41kUtkZt0Hk_FdjRoi72TZxN5MUToiasZwNE2dmr-mZQsooFTiYuE8/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2029%202023,%205%2036%2020%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNk4I1MDnOZeG636oPmCnE-vhkNcwOjAUZhh3OzSLtq0q6tpJx1XbHrMWmEClsnT9r6ryrXJ_kFBY4Od2Em9_0BzwO9KXstwj3RxMRPIuWGAVwgMNxJBgWrWhYOdo_ne2Cu4-ZpShhVwdd-4vDAVKKHECb5pbL1ohc5EO_i091bn2y99HTYVbmnM2_WY/s3264/Photo%20Dec%2030%202023,%201%2049%2057%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNk4I1MDnOZeG636oPmCnE-vhkNcwOjAUZhh3OzSLtq0q6tpJx1XbHrMWmEClsnT9r6ryrXJ_kFBY4Od2Em9_0BzwO9KXstwj3RxMRPIuWGAVwgMNxJBgWrWhYOdo_ne2Cu4-ZpShhVwdd-4vDAVKKHECb5pbL1ohc5EO_i091bn2y99HTYVbmnM2_WY/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2030%202023,%201%2049%2057%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJMw6EfGHmSn-xhfm5wXVmBuoXHHeH9-LamzNRP8_NUM18k0UM1ZDevK05zU4rvmuKzdv75Kf4BlRxll9rIt-EZxLt_Nnrd6GQbVS8wIY98UXZkILvbTAwNIcmadP8JtBehyphenhyphenuhGjXBxicZDicQXWw33Hch-_XyOnjz0C6hem4JjEz3YvE2zKMF5SnoKA/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%201%2027%2011%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJMw6EfGHmSn-xhfm5wXVmBuoXHHeH9-LamzNRP8_NUM18k0UM1ZDevK05zU4rvmuKzdv75Kf4BlRxll9rIt-EZxLt_Nnrd6GQbVS8wIY98UXZkILvbTAwNIcmadP8JtBehyphenhyphenuhGjXBxicZDicQXWw33Hch-_XyOnjz0C6hem4JjEz3YvE2zKMF5SnoKA/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%201%2027%2011%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSDgpF86wQVYNtAqZ-raCzD15lMoePBnLydVc3g2Uz4hexvLCvetNyphLpuwH5Inv8j2kz5n5qkh6iqZBiE6WV-ScZSdNAMvFHv4CWPHXTeJIenEGxL5dkgVQRL-2CPh8RSlquXamKdTFBwqKoNiDDPUaRFWm7ScL-XlUiJoVUEcsBW2Z9mc6AgWIU7Y/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%203%2016%2050%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSDgpF86wQVYNtAqZ-raCzD15lMoePBnLydVc3g2Uz4hexvLCvetNyphLpuwH5Inv8j2kz5n5qkh6iqZBiE6WV-ScZSdNAMvFHv4CWPHXTeJIenEGxL5dkgVQRL-2CPh8RSlquXamKdTFBwqKoNiDDPUaRFWm7ScL-XlUiJoVUEcsBW2Z9mc6AgWIU7Y/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%203%2016%2050%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcIAXwpSGWe4K-vlxPea2zvbVwq1t5K5nC7WksMvwkU1YKIjY1EmEdfWJRtcoSrKDOBP-7JHGCalmQc64UfOAVAlfLQfuaM9n26vlhujAVUix8QYYKBZxjlw4CtvUApI8o3YGSkB8athA6063Q8W25aHoT8PqgGrCZuze7BmQgrGzB-WoF3S5oGbCLjo/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%203%2018%2050%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcIAXwpSGWe4K-vlxPea2zvbVwq1t5K5nC7WksMvwkU1YKIjY1EmEdfWJRtcoSrKDOBP-7JHGCalmQc64UfOAVAlfLQfuaM9n26vlhujAVUix8QYYKBZxjlw4CtvUApI8o3YGSkB8athA6063Q8W25aHoT8PqgGrCZuze7BmQgrGzB-WoF3S5oGbCLjo/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%203%2018%2050%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMb0IP_MrHbCuF9pIhoZNO3aE-7W39LohFnm3GDQPDjeJXsECNU2pfccIhH3UXxY6TLkFqXgUGQFG5U5QpZgRIKM0GDhGtdm7dBNreBV19PHybLuXG5UfxjmKyl8HVwY642KiK2Fp1ohD-I5ypd3hrTFh3XI59xJyu-fu0b5O4U6bl5meyvXgCDsEDf8/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%208%2050%2056%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMb0IP_MrHbCuF9pIhoZNO3aE-7W39LohFnm3GDQPDjeJXsECNU2pfccIhH3UXxY6TLkFqXgUGQFG5U5QpZgRIKM0GDhGtdm7dBNreBV19PHybLuXG5UfxjmKyl8HVwY642KiK2Fp1ohD-I5ypd3hrTFh3XI59xJyu-fu0b5O4U6bl5meyvXgCDsEDf8/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%208%2050%2056%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I love my kids laughing together.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZMal9BPeMHH5rcxavSJL7QdnzYym61kwn2JOLdfxZvr3wqPIDDZ104HD1jEHnHeOHwX3P-ROr64sX-ETqf_OyHFBdJzThyMBkq318mXJ5fCotjv7fIhoBCuzdMx6x1F5Y3Dz5OGIdRTQdvt3aRxfVCHQY6b7H4dw5OyJDOejfJBuaT7AiFCm0RYOOM8/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%208%2051%2037%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZMal9BPeMHH5rcxavSJL7QdnzYym61kwn2JOLdfxZvr3wqPIDDZ104HD1jEHnHeOHwX3P-ROr64sX-ETqf_OyHFBdJzThyMBkq318mXJ5fCotjv7fIhoBCuzdMx6x1F5Y3Dz5OGIdRTQdvt3aRxfVCHQY6b7H4dw5OyJDOejfJBuaT7AiFCm0RYOOM8/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%208%2051%2037%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After our game playing and root beer floats we drove into town to watch them light that year's giant Christmas tree on fire (no rules against burning pines in proper Sabbath-day observance I don't suppose :)).<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk5OLRkHq3eElhrx_FBJWQcuV4hXszzHDeael_sdLfCIL37EhGfxjDR_oUBHgZp3Cx3DVZnpbrOJ5Zx5WrEeU4R3oBu5KHK8XaSVrVaQk7q7KjbWGxHxtAhGfnscHAJa9hDFGDMRy_tT_F_pKIGfiJYo_NWSTXKecg5lpt2-XC18oAtez_DM4uNndyDs/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2030%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk5OLRkHq3eElhrx_FBJWQcuV4hXszzHDeael_sdLfCIL37EhGfxjDR_oUBHgZp3Cx3DVZnpbrOJ5Zx5WrEeU4R3oBu5KHK8XaSVrVaQk7q7KjbWGxHxtAhGfnscHAJa9hDFGDMRy_tT_F_pKIGfiJYo_NWSTXKecg5lpt2-XC18oAtez_DM4uNndyDs/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2030%2021%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYApT_nTDqwiBv8JqDOywgKWbiUi6khkr4eW-5I09A-XQsnDt_7miJmbzomT9fQh8ZLlozs8PLFzMq8JXfnk-YhRSd9M55Up7Q8982ABnlIoWzyK0LtIljQBdy-_B4NALTNIB1KyNv5nbCHyVGkMWaxr1QpApWKfLRWHl9QB-xovSSAOAIS79hHTYf2Xg/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2030%2050%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYApT_nTDqwiBv8JqDOywgKWbiUi6khkr4eW-5I09A-XQsnDt_7miJmbzomT9fQh8ZLlozs8PLFzMq8JXfnk-YhRSd9M55Up7Q8982ABnlIoWzyK0LtIljQBdy-_B4NALTNIB1KyNv5nbCHyVGkMWaxr1QpApWKfLRWHl9QB-xovSSAOAIS79hHTYf2Xg/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2030%2050%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog9aU_saBZt7RzPYcnSdK9s0RN1uOVAGJ2IywUWYlVBAu4RNYfmcOFgz8wt7aQEmh-tvkYQn-Paub6WpqR-la47NZOBXJh2cOK5A0bkziNR0a8KSzAiPsO0sMqcOduzm3-39vVw4e734x_V5P6lbd6U5VLjUxrY6RO1_CXyySrgFQopAjQC-RphGtlSo/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2031%2051%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog9aU_saBZt7RzPYcnSdK9s0RN1uOVAGJ2IywUWYlVBAu4RNYfmcOFgz8wt7aQEmh-tvkYQn-Paub6WpqR-la47NZOBXJh2cOK5A0bkziNR0a8KSzAiPsO0sMqcOduzm3-39vVw4e734x_V5P6lbd6U5VLjUxrY6RO1_CXyySrgFQopAjQC-RphGtlSo/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2031%2051%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6TUAYmlg33SVk9MkS6RUCk-APv7gTBo69zndoQ6mfZN-NOuAAO00j2-rqyUzpK7ZpVz6HSs8ZzRwZuTYOCA5UHAmsTpc9Hs6799nvH6P7bHS9c3T2ZS8wMtBIZlWuCZtN4PEe2wnzBHZW7H51ZQ2uCY1sfRlM4obuilhpNqB6lJOnFc9Lx8LyFu8hDA/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2041%2009%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6TUAYmlg33SVk9MkS6RUCk-APv7gTBo69zndoQ6mfZN-NOuAAO00j2-rqyUzpK7ZpVz6HSs8ZzRwZuTYOCA5UHAmsTpc9Hs6799nvH6P7bHS9c3T2ZS8wMtBIZlWuCZtN4PEe2wnzBHZW7H51ZQ2uCY1sfRlM4obuilhpNqB6lJOnFc9Lx8LyFu8hDA/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2041%2009%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedhuefAFMYWcT-y95uUvpZpA2wrjzHIZdy6Op6BVBb2tNFOyG6ln3bR9C3IQi39-3jhKVCu55dq1QxajgQugWiyMuUlX_ObdryMOlBJu7Ck2LyzaYAAORs_KEkgLiGTqzs9G5OjBbptZvQAFxqs37NGOALOABl4i6VvC_HgJBrvAEFm7a-F7bndJpWhM/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2042%2052%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedhuefAFMYWcT-y95uUvpZpA2wrjzHIZdy6Op6BVBb2tNFOyG6ln3bR9C3IQi39-3jhKVCu55dq1QxajgQugWiyMuUlX_ObdryMOlBJu7Ck2LyzaYAAORs_KEkgLiGTqzs9G5OjBbptZvQAFxqs37NGOALOABl4i6VvC_HgJBrvAEFm7a-F7bndJpWhM/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2042%2052%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A few of the kids even managed to nab the last of the free hot cocoa cups.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtSu-iCAH_c9Y7Dk6Kq-k_udh7QeMrK5NDQNrkjrhik4dNq_dFKnIouOnkUyFxS1Grk2FJiiua9STMgkpDg2Yt8PMjpBE2elKuseXNxFMhyphenhyphen22L1wkhBjLF6MB6ni5zCXWsyLDt0XvuasbImS6Y3nwVgX6GQejj4qUYltRRN-4JK73AldbEOfAr3QeAMY/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2042%2057%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtSu-iCAH_c9Y7Dk6Kq-k_udh7QeMrK5NDQNrkjrhik4dNq_dFKnIouOnkUyFxS1Grk2FJiiua9STMgkpDg2Yt8PMjpBE2elKuseXNxFMhyphenhyphen22L1wkhBjLF6MB6ni5zCXWsyLDt0XvuasbImS6Y3nwVgX6GQejj4qUYltRRN-4JK73AldbEOfAr3QeAMY/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%209%2042%2057%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnF0dIcJfrPjxtn_Qj3ePPdx8REHY01YWkJThIbPDEXXHwAZa75DOc3w3JBc2jv54NN7Nc0DYRYpNLG9odpLHBBRl-7bf1MkAoyOR6IQP55czRowqncj14uFAhssIjRfm-uQc1ErKyuPhkyvtmQy5ysbFz9RX5BUUEvHct-cLCzidQMTdQEo56vzm4NI/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%2010%2002%2006%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnF0dIcJfrPjxtn_Qj3ePPdx8REHY01YWkJThIbPDEXXHwAZa75DOc3w3JBc2jv54NN7Nc0DYRYpNLG9odpLHBBRl-7bf1MkAoyOR6IQP55czRowqncj14uFAhssIjRfm-uQc1ErKyuPhkyvtmQy5ysbFz9RX5BUUEvHct-cLCzidQMTdQEo56vzm4NI/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2031%202023,%2010%2002%2006%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And that appears to be the end of the pictures. So happy 24 years to me and Mike (now officially married longer than we were single), happy nearly one billion years to me (how can I still think I'm relatively young when I'm nearly an old old woman?), and happy New Year! </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And with that a prompt adieu. </span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-72174694478584459552024-01-04T21:31:00.008-07:002024-01-04T21:40:34.541-07:00Christmas Day 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rdQtOhhW6GDHrTtKaxdnIeAbAIT-7Qwkjk3-B6-TmXise_ph7ciPL6ITGsp8bZ7x_BtiZ2LnrLxmxBbxjlcVv-x_Cy14qzYMGFBP9QGYBqqLLsHLAiFC2vfl2as0DIfonpUMUMB5ptl9g36pDrQZae1hkFFz4lidgD0dggOR7zz8GJJfC_ErNUJ9ttU/s2048/IMG_0897.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rdQtOhhW6GDHrTtKaxdnIeAbAIT-7Qwkjk3-B6-TmXise_ph7ciPL6ITGsp8bZ7x_BtiZ2LnrLxmxBbxjlcVv-x_Cy14qzYMGFBP9QGYBqqLLsHLAiFC2vfl2as0DIfonpUMUMB5ptl9g36pDrQZae1hkFFz4lidgD0dggOR7zz8GJJfC_ErNUJ9ttU/w640-h426/IMG_0897.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Oh Christmas morning is so much fun.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U06OM3slA1i-yCwKUzBkaMvhgdyMvcU9nLipRlYby3oPHEsTP4OzqIGrWcMalxh6erC5HrfzxhwvIhwmJuDzP3A1tp_CXuRK7nlAWVi4dTqiDWdTdqFEmZlP-JaRiO7FCh3P290hlp9A4dHhz_3u0e_xxi0Z0Gj49KoP2Afq75Zjmq4QgsBVIn1DJ4Q/s2048/IMG_0904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U06OM3slA1i-yCwKUzBkaMvhgdyMvcU9nLipRlYby3oPHEsTP4OzqIGrWcMalxh6erC5HrfzxhwvIhwmJuDzP3A1tp_CXuRK7nlAWVi4dTqiDWdTdqFEmZlP-JaRiO7FCh3P290hlp9A4dHhz_3u0e_xxi0Z0Gj49KoP2Afq75Zjmq4QgsBVIn1DJ4Q/w640-h426/IMG_0904.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O-ass-ZYZj9kOA0GTIog6ONa8BaqmHwyzRM7kKiBZIWkhXAfKBawJ4ViPgFOvHiYG2sN_RRdV3bRNNBqXsfWeji9ETWhNdoYmTuqholf3Sz4csg2iOAKQbUvfuuLtk77Jxe3_zwzEOLsovCbAm8nUNqjMFyQ81CjY3SCloezgU2_s98jskpL0mLYUHc/s2048/IMG_0905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O-ass-ZYZj9kOA0GTIog6ONa8BaqmHwyzRM7kKiBZIWkhXAfKBawJ4ViPgFOvHiYG2sN_RRdV3bRNNBqXsfWeji9ETWhNdoYmTuqholf3Sz4csg2iOAKQbUvfuuLtk77Jxe3_zwzEOLsovCbAm8nUNqjMFyQ81CjY3SCloezgU2_s98jskpL0mLYUHc/w640-h426/IMG_0905.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B8JxinCoCbe0XKC2n0Pj9r92srZ8yxo2ZEqRjnbTKwqbKKTONVcRmy6nsbkiAnDjmEAxKG-86D0k9RH-aa_AejQf_lX9I1j76UyeFb8tpNbcKwI8CQzSkg5xGYaFcaBzJu9XMfnzQTzkQcaXwLytyO7GSVw0zK6l7pKITYGBGjqE6cqdCW0D_8xElOo/s2048/IMG_0908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B8JxinCoCbe0XKC2n0Pj9r92srZ8yxo2ZEqRjnbTKwqbKKTONVcRmy6nsbkiAnDjmEAxKG-86D0k9RH-aa_AejQf_lX9I1j76UyeFb8tpNbcKwI8CQzSkg5xGYaFcaBzJu9XMfnzQTzkQcaXwLytyO7GSVw0zK6l7pKITYGBGjqE6cqdCW0D_8xElOo/w640-h426/IMG_0908.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbCQFh9m2iblHLbNFmMeuN_9E-PAD1MD-ViQKMD4fZ-uu73oAX23rBKloS6mD9X9YOJoLTm_KaFMXWLvdKS6N02ZeOX5jwS4r9zrQll95D_vIOfaeozbamGGdikutHWIRJHb_ofxBwncBORL4JHZR5ZmrzLGLbC0BG5zEEDJk8IXXpr8zbzCB7ahwMFA/s2048/IMG_0910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbCQFh9m2iblHLbNFmMeuN_9E-PAD1MD-ViQKMD4fZ-uu73oAX23rBKloS6mD9X9YOJoLTm_KaFMXWLvdKS6N02ZeOX5jwS4r9zrQll95D_vIOfaeozbamGGdikutHWIRJHb_ofxBwncBORL4JHZR5ZmrzLGLbC0BG5zEEDJk8IXXpr8zbzCB7ahwMFA/w426-h640/IMG_0910.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I didn't get as many pictures of this little person as I'm wont to do. (She was right next to my feet so it wasn't the easiest angle for capturing her.) But here she is with her pink boots. (Buying her any clothes ever is a risky business as she will wear so few things, but pink is at least a safer bet.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm0aMr8mxp4EYRdTPFVhB6VvItVBWzedXTHhetVEBKa1d0xx-fubyyak1eFGCYo20ETkGfEbK93Hon023fsd6_ejUNNDrEVptwEsdNKSLNveo2KOQOpEY1MgxE8AY2Q0cJpPTKxvBqQv1Ogd7ApYb1nk3UwGFj9cH8oKIGE8N9oTvesaVoGIjvAuK03E/s2048/IMG_0911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm0aMr8mxp4EYRdTPFVhB6VvItVBWzedXTHhetVEBKa1d0xx-fubyyak1eFGCYo20ETkGfEbK93Hon023fsd6_ejUNNDrEVptwEsdNKSLNveo2KOQOpEY1MgxE8AY2Q0cJpPTKxvBqQv1Ogd7ApYb1nk3UwGFj9cH8oKIGE8N9oTvesaVoGIjvAuK03E/w426-h640/IMG_0911.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHC1f1jiTL3oa0tWNaD3U9jHGVJhyphenhyphen4YG6Rt1mmeTYwyJzaIn6vHtdb94dM1fK9wu2_qrOLSgNMESypHuXtgJNrURHHshgnWo3WmCNztkJczsf0zDPckX5iyS_UJTEK7FCUHlnbnlR10gUjvu_U_BqiIv0daw-qGFAWQbg_SQYwm8vU5z2jlIILtGSAcE/s2048/IMG_0913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHC1f1jiTL3oa0tWNaD3U9jHGVJhyphenhyphen4YG6Rt1mmeTYwyJzaIn6vHtdb94dM1fK9wu2_qrOLSgNMESypHuXtgJNrURHHshgnWo3WmCNztkJczsf0zDPckX5iyS_UJTEK7FCUHlnbnlR10gUjvu_U_BqiIv0daw-qGFAWQbg_SQYwm8vU5z2jlIILtGSAcE/w640-h426/IMG_0913.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Ninja Calico Critters? Yes.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDLGAirwOjjNPKDHO-7Sxs95CCbToysThwH2bz07vGlSZ0-4dewx72fvZeS3S7nmE4J1viH7JAS6Hw5dTUhRcup3FZ71Sg1gHSeNd7z9X6ESOt7BcAJmk5314oL6TfTR-K3A24icahHj2KUu-KA7LBEovEGd5NKWb8wWD2q18zR3Hzz7S4R1OKZAzjgk/s2048/IMG_0914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDLGAirwOjjNPKDHO-7Sxs95CCbToysThwH2bz07vGlSZ0-4dewx72fvZeS3S7nmE4J1viH7JAS6Hw5dTUhRcup3FZ71Sg1gHSeNd7z9X6ESOt7BcAJmk5314oL6TfTR-K3A24icahHj2KUu-KA7LBEovEGd5NKWb8wWD2q18zR3Hzz7S4R1OKZAzjgk/w640-h426/IMG_0914.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGohKJOjHffLIF8UY5-zaq5Hs9bD4MKrMh8KpRgnTlzl6nAbF3HSpdNRsfBolYWgDiFvDiC7DarUvKY0F2eWuFIKk7ZBfJ1W5AvsNf73-Y-d-av1XsMU9ZztU4rEaOtEGZ-ufPAXNCW_a2GLcsJkIEeSyYradbn-9ql8U7EZmW8i7PgsyMjgzHjbvlWCk/s2048/IMG_0924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGohKJOjHffLIF8UY5-zaq5Hs9bD4MKrMh8KpRgnTlzl6nAbF3HSpdNRsfBolYWgDiFvDiC7DarUvKY0F2eWuFIKk7ZBfJ1W5AvsNf73-Y-d-av1XsMU9ZztU4rEaOtEGZ-ufPAXNCW_a2GLcsJkIEeSyYradbn-9ql8U7EZmW8i7PgsyMjgzHjbvlWCk/w640-h426/IMG_0924.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b0zGgZt2giZx1sDPu850-0VsH1is8SIhlXbsF6_Sw5YqhQLXTgIcZOAOUMxvI7d5rdzUxliKoOlJCnHcCxlc5vm6nqBHHfCNv2ak6Wap0VT2jZ6WJE18MK0okql5OvwLE_PEXe7BQ8_aeaxN-0dR2i4dFdFJ_UhAD73Yq124i75N6PVXx9NWCEY3ft4/s2048/IMG_0925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b0zGgZt2giZx1sDPu850-0VsH1is8SIhlXbsF6_Sw5YqhQLXTgIcZOAOUMxvI7d5rdzUxliKoOlJCnHcCxlc5vm6nqBHHfCNv2ak6Wap0VT2jZ6WJE18MK0okql5OvwLE_PEXe7BQ8_aeaxN-0dR2i4dFdFJ_UhAD73Yq124i75N6PVXx9NWCEY3ft4/w640-h426/IMG_0925.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4_rk0bkeSYFLkc6ve3cGRveTyaY_J1mA5e6mcdl6zdE3Kk87Y0egEQz3oFTuOM67isJ1kU99HYzxiaYjgaD9ImosLTqLMZ4DaxgAE33hyphenhyphentVhvhuNK-Hxf0pW1IS1UTKciybg-kzX-NL1gUgRhX6iHQuETof50YBTGhygVAwsdahDzTs3sM-w1aoEDKc/s2048/IMG_0927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4_rk0bkeSYFLkc6ve3cGRveTyaY_J1mA5e6mcdl6zdE3Kk87Y0egEQz3oFTuOM67isJ1kU99HYzxiaYjgaD9ImosLTqLMZ4DaxgAE33hyphenhyphentVhvhuNK-Hxf0pW1IS1UTKciybg-kzX-NL1gUgRhX6iHQuETof50YBTGhygVAwsdahDzTs3sM-w1aoEDKc/w640-h426/IMG_0927.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYVhl1LqaoEXy_NcQQrl8ZurnM6Sfh4k1sD1q0Ybz52MUfDfHe0W_N0F5gwSA5q2qHyhsPavz-m_XJl0axNwbiDj6xl8ZiTsoXDJH_TTOj85lbZtdPaPvDwWD2RpU7EWDcnfd29ok81Nz4dhwKaP_WPRTTB6y6OKLq6-VeAtM0bQEY5tHgUwcPt_Sjqc/s2048/IMG_0929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYVhl1LqaoEXy_NcQQrl8ZurnM6Sfh4k1sD1q0Ybz52MUfDfHe0W_N0F5gwSA5q2qHyhsPavz-m_XJl0axNwbiDj6xl8ZiTsoXDJH_TTOj85lbZtdPaPvDwWD2RpU7EWDcnfd29ok81Nz4dhwKaP_WPRTTB6y6OKLq6-VeAtM0bQEY5tHgUwcPt_Sjqc/w640-h426/IMG_0929.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Not American Girl dolls, but a much more reasonably priced alternative.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0KUbbyZVaH3RMUo_2-md2VEzKDv8GjK3P3rRFBTY87UPzmG2G2IVlkhEDkyT2rIwomMWuCwQp6qA7dPszov2y6oBmXaUk0-1V5YhZh0p68zJSsRoUBpRuV421mnpXz0y6hw7BRRiDIpsxgBkaE8AQ9BzvIJaYpBWyWt7lnoqfEvkDClElgMzhB2tRU/s2048/IMG_0930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0KUbbyZVaH3RMUo_2-md2VEzKDv8GjK3P3rRFBTY87UPzmG2G2IVlkhEDkyT2rIwomMWuCwQp6qA7dPszov2y6oBmXaUk0-1V5YhZh0p68zJSsRoUBpRuV421mnpXz0y6hw7BRRiDIpsxgBkaE8AQ9BzvIJaYpBWyWt7lnoqfEvkDClElgMzhB2tRU/w640-h426/IMG_0930.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy got mostly games--as she loves games more than anyone else in the family (and is often lamenting the fact that nobody will play them often enough with her). I enjoyed playing her new Blank Slate though--just the type of uncomplicated game that is up my alley. "Can I play it while lying on the couch?" I'd asked. The answer was yes, and I was in.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyyHY89TFB1Evx_KAUbYOMLC_qDHropgtyV0-yATAu4j6L9g7H99QNN3zzCJw_RvL60S8NaDo8xb0vB0AZyFpc5uUmdmqOcc-jqJFsSLg7kzpOpCd5H4LtP1hTBhUtmvMih23oTvt2Cp4oClCrud9i4IYmvs5dFeK3ZIah3SfN3qC_md1krsjXwQ8_54/s2048/IMG_0931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyyHY89TFB1Evx_KAUbYOMLC_qDHropgtyV0-yATAu4j6L9g7H99QNN3zzCJw_RvL60S8NaDo8xb0vB0AZyFpc5uUmdmqOcc-jqJFsSLg7kzpOpCd5H4LtP1hTBhUtmvMih23oTvt2Cp4oClCrud9i4IYmvs5dFeK3ZIah3SfN3qC_md1krsjXwQ8_54/w640-h426/IMG_0931.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rPNR03wzqNIArISOftBkN9_BLvGH10nwKQoXyK-Mi7v-U_UelzcuzsQYaNhAMeYs6_6nmmnMnt2PoRsQPRA6MLmH46BYfUtFA5SKrNW4U-gjJwplBh9qgc8IQQ4DPD7NH5IQaTBSQAf6swGNxTqnrJjcoJdNgF8_66GUmGLfUc-fJfnWiJHoGJPlolY/s2048/IMG_0932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rPNR03wzqNIArISOftBkN9_BLvGH10nwKQoXyK-Mi7v-U_UelzcuzsQYaNhAMeYs6_6nmmnMnt2PoRsQPRA6MLmH46BYfUtFA5SKrNW4U-gjJwplBh9qgc8IQQ4DPD7NH5IQaTBSQAf6swGNxTqnrJjcoJdNgF8_66GUmGLfUc-fJfnWiJHoGJPlolY/w640-h426/IMG_0932.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S49n4u4VcXA9StOUE7lw1gCfm2KosyjqDccjxLmBPkKdWHFG9_6PGyIGXA3753LstFVkYnMsmq2iqxDmyHRo6SSnGU6JYhuYHpvqk5pUTtjt8tkzCmQx9sgmV3tMTwTFaBSItD6c3_tawBshwNx98bvjaTGcFt-3b0Q2K8WJCh_wpR-aBjMeLmfciwc/s2048/IMG_0933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S49n4u4VcXA9StOUE7lw1gCfm2KosyjqDccjxLmBPkKdWHFG9_6PGyIGXA3753LstFVkYnMsmq2iqxDmyHRo6SSnGU6JYhuYHpvqk5pUTtjt8tkzCmQx9sgmV3tMTwTFaBSItD6c3_tawBshwNx98bvjaTGcFt-3b0Q2K8WJCh_wpR-aBjMeLmfciwc/w640-h426/IMG_0933.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">New jiu-jitsu gi.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqfvjsmL4oyIV2CoWNYgaBDcliL6cKvCbtwJftfuBtvhZPDe9qkPEga273dw6PeBdFOtY_3iGUFUrM5CKw5pgLUWS5p1tKjegL3WdAdTB0L1Mwl0G2laF7tJp_q2DsLhh-3UmWJtfvhsiTy8GsMuGBaRCXY5D9jc2FZX1uoJ2htl3D9SDydgFYAPLlcM/s2048/IMG_0936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqfvjsmL4oyIV2CoWNYgaBDcliL6cKvCbtwJftfuBtvhZPDe9qkPEga273dw6PeBdFOtY_3iGUFUrM5CKw5pgLUWS5p1tKjegL3WdAdTB0L1Mwl0G2laF7tJp_q2DsLhh-3UmWJtfvhsiTy8GsMuGBaRCXY5D9jc2FZX1uoJ2htl3D9SDydgFYAPLlcM/w640-h426/IMG_0936.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMg2TYyCOkdxPOrv6l0PZyUHs_UtyFsTucWDT5edg1z9QBAYPuv7vEEUgAlYxAE6F6jIj-NPKwNJhtlm4PddsSBhTtdE7rZoBgo9Dm6XmH9OO0mhWkf8y6_vJMEVP_QmyEXawq2vvoevDzyZZZwgPF3Q9sIwDQf-z_a7o3ybZ5efS-ZPrs_RPJ8kKCBI/s2048/IMG_0942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMg2TYyCOkdxPOrv6l0PZyUHs_UtyFsTucWDT5edg1z9QBAYPuv7vEEUgAlYxAE6F6jIj-NPKwNJhtlm4PddsSBhTtdE7rZoBgo9Dm6XmH9OO0mhWkf8y6_vJMEVP_QmyEXawq2vvoevDzyZZZwgPF3Q9sIwDQf-z_a7o3ybZ5efS-ZPrs_RPJ8kKCBI/w640-h426/IMG_0942.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvmdSXbDZKl2Is4Y8pBPm9YSKRB13YyJfhCvB6ncTRpxN6US6dhYHvIYhXCUU4jBWJoGUK28_VOLJIocTcKxoasl1FvDdxSxKeJkJijVs2xg3LIOO5QR4XZYPvNZj-eYpfjKPA7h62v6qBi4drKgA6bu2_sZVNXysdUJ05mFBi2yVn8Tn6PL7-2Guuds/s2048/IMG_0944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvmdSXbDZKl2Is4Y8pBPm9YSKRB13YyJfhCvB6ncTRpxN6US6dhYHvIYhXCUU4jBWJoGUK28_VOLJIocTcKxoasl1FvDdxSxKeJkJijVs2xg3LIOO5QR4XZYPvNZj-eYpfjKPA7h62v6qBi4drKgA6bu2_sZVNXysdUJ05mFBi2yVn8Tn6PL7-2Guuds/w640-h426/IMG_0944.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdYuQZN9tjbLxkX_AvONSQKQe87iwxeP_GtNJt0mB5NJlNng4O_KFU6pimD6s8oB85uo4Z8rcUqgGNdz8RwTLEvDGbZ7drZgTQh_fzcuptvKsf8T6DlumTBWkLGPrExwR6PTXQLUk4rnvkmhPrq3IjxHFZDmwHv_3uTNfVZmDL0U-mEZcjQNiaCGXgE/s2048/IMG_0946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdYuQZN9tjbLxkX_AvONSQKQe87iwxeP_GtNJt0mB5NJlNng4O_KFU6pimD6s8oB85uo4Z8rcUqgGNdz8RwTLEvDGbZ7drZgTQh_fzcuptvKsf8T6DlumTBWkLGPrExwR6PTXQLUk4rnvkmhPrq3IjxHFZDmwHv_3uTNfVZmDL0U-mEZcjQNiaCGXgE/w640-h426/IMG_0946.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">That's right: new undies. (But pajamas too.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN4yghO39R-Jz6uyn6VHYs0jax7bGy1VuqaCWmmMbFeB34lBebrT09Ksu0R8vqBpf8DOtJbGwqpBBGkVe3HtcNUBYT9D4DUMIBe0YFzY3DOiz5wGOmZBaao1jdFWimT2OKKlIVFxl4SAHF4GSflRJiN9SNqc2HQMyOgbuT0367NUr-0ozxW0dMa5R7aY/s2048/IMG_0947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN4yghO39R-Jz6uyn6VHYs0jax7bGy1VuqaCWmmMbFeB34lBebrT09Ksu0R8vqBpf8DOtJbGwqpBBGkVe3HtcNUBYT9D4DUMIBe0YFzY3DOiz5wGOmZBaao1jdFWimT2OKKlIVFxl4SAHF4GSflRJiN9SNqc2HQMyOgbuT0367NUr-0ozxW0dMa5R7aY/w640-h426/IMG_0947.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBin0F-dahKp_IgKp9JtkE0aZ4GhTeOoFhLpBIu6Kj11pXGwjA7LKgtcmj505lVmtwWGEJIriiIByN0X9JfGLlhC9KYA8S_51m2KoKzf1LuaacLcmlcQZD3ZrC2dg0eH4LF9dkg0Z21fC_4TeG2htN05u8kagcg17x79HRP_Apt7esO6H_bsPoUPTVXLY/s2048/IMG_0948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBin0F-dahKp_IgKp9JtkE0aZ4GhTeOoFhLpBIu6Kj11pXGwjA7LKgtcmj505lVmtwWGEJIriiIByN0X9JfGLlhC9KYA8S_51m2KoKzf1LuaacLcmlcQZD3ZrC2dg0eH4LF9dkg0Z21fC_4TeG2htN05u8kagcg17x79HRP_Apt7esO6H_bsPoUPTVXLY/w426-h640/IMG_0948.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was one of the best gifts. This version has all the pictures on one card you can slide in and out. I got it for Daisy so she could make her own versions, and she quickly found an online template to make it so. There was lots of laughter as she determined various sets to make and who to put on them. So far she's made a favorite-cartoon-characters one and a Lord of the Rings one (yes it includes Bill the Pony and the moth that Gandalf whispered to when trapped on Orthanc--you're in trouble if you decide on one of those and the first question is "Is it an animal?").<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DI25_GioKg4RT6aqvTsugTiEyP95yYvIFM-uMIYDnFmmYsmKDG_TSJaWYG3fqF0-b5Do37T4m-vDmuwapinW4gVXogXUjmAuEC8q1xZRgrUbTza-0XfKh2KPlLvGzafJ0BJzcLRw5XZLTMaA5d10ZYLuRWLjOvLZMK_9LpO7lF1IB6gRXV1R8ApMFZw/s2048/IMG_0951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DI25_GioKg4RT6aqvTsugTiEyP95yYvIFM-uMIYDnFmmYsmKDG_TSJaWYG3fqF0-b5Do37T4m-vDmuwapinW4gVXogXUjmAuEC8q1xZRgrUbTza-0XfKh2KPlLvGzafJ0BJzcLRw5XZLTMaA5d10ZYLuRWLjOvLZMK_9LpO7lF1IB6gRXV1R8ApMFZw/w640-h426/IMG_0951.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSwwLxHA35fMiJ-w_Gqo45bvG1WP-RGjAdkGfHMbHTb3CTjbX8og3B0WQW7QVAt8-RvmZUrIFf7xdoGBDdIBIDypl9uW0T02Yw2oLq8D_gQijE7GbGbmfRMlji7pbuCzkMeON8VNTJfiu5LvouS0-ZSy9mwhsxLkGtnUMm58I3pngFy5R_ay_jibvycw/s2048/IMG_0953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSwwLxHA35fMiJ-w_Gqo45bvG1WP-RGjAdkGfHMbHTb3CTjbX8og3B0WQW7QVAt8-RvmZUrIFf7xdoGBDdIBIDypl9uW0T02Yw2oLq8D_gQijE7GbGbmfRMlji7pbuCzkMeON8VNTJfiu5LvouS0-ZSy9mwhsxLkGtnUMm58I3pngFy5R_ay_jibvycw/w640-h426/IMG_0953.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7Rxv4QaDKuc3Ad8RDftfb43QkTqWIvjUAiZfgE-K8hV5UzrSXT5EzTjZVy48uJqKs_oxvp62s4zo171wYKOZ1ly4tNbGquavENJpYm-Sgb7eCFYh4U4UTxWMSBhz71Cwc1odD3lv87-wzytJ0UcjDOD-Dtp37mMGKxL87_hBvxC1rpWoksUwfKlBHM0/s2048/IMG_0956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7Rxv4QaDKuc3Ad8RDftfb43QkTqWIvjUAiZfgE-K8hV5UzrSXT5EzTjZVy48uJqKs_oxvp62s4zo171wYKOZ1ly4tNbGquavENJpYm-Sgb7eCFYh4U4UTxWMSBhz71Cwc1odD3lv87-wzytJ0UcjDOD-Dtp37mMGKxL87_hBvxC1rpWoksUwfKlBHM0/w426-h640/IMG_0956.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmFgNKFHxRi3mGryBGIRKn1qtS37ftnGzcbzzxdoVu9yG58PuicClfMjoUlCay3VGDfcChj59PAnJWp7Dx7aCAXxnL9LI6gne5lXJcUVvFqRbByLknEEryXNL37A2X5v8FW4SLqItkUmgKiYiNddXvM92cb5mU8LdqLjwpjBkrQN40iI-r7Qw5v453Tk/s2048/IMG_0958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmFgNKFHxRi3mGryBGIRKn1qtS37ftnGzcbzzxdoVu9yG58PuicClfMjoUlCay3VGDfcChj59PAnJWp7Dx7aCAXxnL9LI6gne5lXJcUVvFqRbByLknEEryXNL37A2X5v8FW4SLqItkUmgKiYiNddXvM92cb5mU8LdqLjwpjBkrQN40iI-r7Qw5v453Tk/w426-h640/IMG_0958.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtJR08_6B5P7abwyVK0J0nFHg0sSqMXkZVk4iKDHS4Bo53VPUf8gLLxc7Cmhf8mwbhKRSho848hyphenhyphenS5o1lgbgfUOOe_Yr5l1kR4cTvrml9gfzGxdPAuspVTXA75ASmVUFGbogtAEVoSSkSrPBlokFZq6NrgmN9r5zflVe2NPuq5X_r7h77jlMqQCBlR8E/s2048/IMG_0960.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtJR08_6B5P7abwyVK0J0nFHg0sSqMXkZVk4iKDHS4Bo53VPUf8gLLxc7Cmhf8mwbhKRSho848hyphenhyphenS5o1lgbgfUOOe_Yr5l1kR4cTvrml9gfzGxdPAuspVTXA75ASmVUFGbogtAEVoSSkSrPBlokFZq6NrgmN9r5zflVe2NPuq5X_r7h77jlMqQCBlR8E/w640-h426/IMG_0960.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Watching Daisy work on Guess Who boards. (Upcoming version ideas include a family one, an ancestor one for FHE lessons, and a Pokemon one.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPTpR_KOJqznUSth1l0ApPHz8Qiimvg92gQP0ggWJmGE7OXrFsmxq673XKAAr8iV_IsOd8g_Dr-HoFkCdlcvjFT3WWiUsE7x3JPJiO03V4r-6hQX01x-OZvWWDGHLKgYAT9gKOIfyE3xMU3mDYS12xi42vMlyAdG6SnqhKHatQMULtlR6vtmEnf57Cdg/s2048/IMG_0971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPTpR_KOJqznUSth1l0ApPHz8Qiimvg92gQP0ggWJmGE7OXrFsmxq673XKAAr8iV_IsOd8g_Dr-HoFkCdlcvjFT3WWiUsE7x3JPJiO03V4r-6hQX01x-OZvWWDGHLKgYAT9gKOIfyE3xMU3mDYS12xi42vMlyAdG6SnqhKHatQMULtlR6vtmEnf57Cdg/w640-h426/IMG_0971.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GOw-qd_zwUQduI6C1SkrzN3dsJDXG5Zjib6agQC-AVTaMQ6eyCyU6_MwgTjVz6_2VYwEzescnEzkT8lSYc-b8ETuD4Pinf8IE6aVp3ITkT2HFe0frxd6oDYmU5HlpOO10UzGp8TLqJENvEOWI3DUI9AMaVWpn9Foin-9gf9CtXT7rPTxTylQhnGX4Nc/s2048/IMG_0972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GOw-qd_zwUQduI6C1SkrzN3dsJDXG5Zjib6agQC-AVTaMQ6eyCyU6_MwgTjVz6_2VYwEzescnEzkT8lSYc-b8ETuD4Pinf8IE6aVp3ITkT2HFe0frxd6oDYmU5HlpOO10UzGp8TLqJENvEOWI3DUI9AMaVWpn9Foin-9gf9CtXT7rPTxTylQhnGX4Nc/w640-h426/IMG_0972.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3E3mUBIlGA-h7j8TUd99i2GXynLJR6m-SzgiWoNY-sBbwzQDeZHaMAZtvzUmSE8N_EDGyA3UwzeWuFq3OpkdaC9lJZtyOe0x5U5vwxz6ESxy_w27yOz9R83WE1AEGuiRri_UMZydVjHpQ0KjNaFBBKgLx-D57AbgQ4JmYsWTp7O4waO8EKBET-mM1gU/s2048/IMG_0978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3E3mUBIlGA-h7j8TUd99i2GXynLJR6m-SzgiWoNY-sBbwzQDeZHaMAZtvzUmSE8N_EDGyA3UwzeWuFq3OpkdaC9lJZtyOe0x5U5vwxz6ESxy_w27yOz9R83WE1AEGuiRri_UMZydVjHpQ0KjNaFBBKgLx-D57AbgQ4JmYsWTp7O4waO8EKBET-mM1gU/w640-h426/IMG_0978.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bpzfBZnJwdjnohaEMPxZNyZWiRFYg1ZZj0XUcsXtkZDH5BhLx6rhacBcWAxpZEW8K1sTLxzOWSwMkiFyDpfMYB5AxgTf6TbW_G-TK67_NbyWO6Z85KLMa1M5uLtuucyhBhHoSkxUDPRs_5jpv-QnAeMfYg5OOOCilLiMkAVbIYacju0487VaHdO3TgY/s2048/IMG_0979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bpzfBZnJwdjnohaEMPxZNyZWiRFYg1ZZj0XUcsXtkZDH5BhLx6rhacBcWAxpZEW8K1sTLxzOWSwMkiFyDpfMYB5AxgTf6TbW_G-TK67_NbyWO6Z85KLMa1M5uLtuucyhBhHoSkxUDPRs_5jpv-QnAeMfYg5OOOCilLiMkAVbIYacju0487VaHdO3TgY/w640-h426/IMG_0979.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRSWPV1dcLkCfgVyC-JvxjasggIXn6VZ03wsE2yN8aJLUMZUnoxpyP19XGiF4ifh9-wctp0k2nG4xSTmVPGm3tAtBRTdqL77_T-M70FiN1GqbjyXTJCrAE8KaOF2BNDzHWtAcr7fQwmrK9_j2Ws2wVUpxe4LCU-pLPlkQX_i5_5lqWlpDoyOeIggPgso/s2048/IMG_0980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRSWPV1dcLkCfgVyC-JvxjasggIXn6VZ03wsE2yN8aJLUMZUnoxpyP19XGiF4ifh9-wctp0k2nG4xSTmVPGm3tAtBRTdqL77_T-M70FiN1GqbjyXTJCrAE8KaOF2BNDzHWtAcr7fQwmrK9_j2Ws2wVUpxe4LCU-pLPlkQX_i5_5lqWlpDoyOeIggPgso/w640-h426/IMG_0980.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Christmas Night we drove down to Mike's parents', and then I took the younger kids with me a bit further south to my mom's house to read some Christmas books.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaAhuGZeFRcLYWyjzV9xLO-GFu7w8nnLf8wtCAuHnmm_fE-Z9C4H8dmqiTsQs9OGDniMaghexI1cOdrnb9w9yeGA5zSqQ7-7FmMhgyqoS5nSGuCrJIo4oSgEd65fex02FhudJqTq5a6m9xisfcgHPbuuJ8l1bNly6cD1uh-QLC4WI_dkUXYSaKG8qSXY/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2028%2007%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaAhuGZeFRcLYWyjzV9xLO-GFu7w8nnLf8wtCAuHnmm_fE-Z9C4H8dmqiTsQs9OGDniMaghexI1cOdrnb9w9yeGA5zSqQ7-7FmMhgyqoS5nSGuCrJIo4oSgEd65fex02FhudJqTq5a6m9xisfcgHPbuuJ8l1bNly6cD1uh-QLC4WI_dkUXYSaKG8qSXY/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2028%2007%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAernMHcsYBpZ4lB-C80UpUYt0Ep9HuYKjA-_hiEglPXOsND2VQbPiG0yy1XZUJiadXaMi4zpAazjMcpb7Mj3LfPtDXPdU7MysmZFHJ-qhOgG-4Qh_lmvNvWcyBATOwzjAQRBY9kOros_6QjVFrrGcf9YjJIRA6jFO49dka4_6nggXNZDURXmvF-zxRY/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2030%2020%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAernMHcsYBpZ4lB-C80UpUYt0Ep9HuYKjA-_hiEglPXOsND2VQbPiG0yy1XZUJiadXaMi4zpAazjMcpb7Mj3LfPtDXPdU7MysmZFHJ-qhOgG-4Qh_lmvNvWcyBATOwzjAQRBY9kOros_6QjVFrrGcf9YjJIRA6jFO49dka4_6nggXNZDURXmvF-zxRY/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2030%2020%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I love Hans's face here.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoRpK0Fp90-g4H8T5XttS0-D4W7wLx74ttkUHzC8jR0kRulszgoxCBhBJxTuy2-PciurSV8Uf3ZSy4cTics4eSPWcOVwwemjXnOSuWL61r46FpHluBdKL-rqtrml-r8xZECecA5r2yPXeliEhbMxQ4yo8jOuelPa_M9uTt3zTikgswkkHNBNkIrUgJ4A/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2031%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoRpK0Fp90-g4H8T5XttS0-D4W7wLx74ttkUHzC8jR0kRulszgoxCBhBJxTuy2-PciurSV8Uf3ZSy4cTics4eSPWcOVwwemjXnOSuWL61r46FpHluBdKL-rqtrml-r8xZECecA5r2yPXeliEhbMxQ4yo8jOuelPa_M9uTt3zTikgswkkHNBNkIrUgJ4A/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%207%2031%2021%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some out-of-order pictures from morning again.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20kimJQ2v04Bac0AqkT9AVdSjtb7c1mUF2_p4HWjvp8_lPKRSZ3E0dvblyYYJ5HOFVRR361wAz0I1GSiqTTBeAX10HnZc9jOGjTIkp1I7Fp0dCqepmURrNntQ8NFgqdi8VglGgHLVlqRBW0bEdFjhepuLJXAqkHRy77n1qaGoKjinS7f5MS_prmwq0yU/s3520/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2011%2028%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20kimJQ2v04Bac0AqkT9AVdSjtb7c1mUF2_p4HWjvp8_lPKRSZ3E0dvblyYYJ5HOFVRR361wAz0I1GSiqTTBeAX10HnZc9jOGjTIkp1I7Fp0dCqepmURrNntQ8NFgqdi8VglGgHLVlqRBW0bEdFjhepuLJXAqkHRy77n1qaGoKjinS7f5MS_prmwq0yU/w640-h360/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2011%2028%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8BxFTtfApl_tnmfhgh9Jx03uC8nwCk5JZ9TSGdBN86yc1ETZ2_QOriudYv3ZDM0FpnZzkJnUpDZH4CY3PnR3FzZTMHiouwqRzmvtKFrdZNfi2iroGhl_8pkyIXCXb1ZWCt5u8gv3ToPG7mOkoqJDIAdM-_7e3bKa6kRT3NsNlw3aYNdaNRmhBZooxFw/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2048%2045%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8BxFTtfApl_tnmfhgh9Jx03uC8nwCk5JZ9TSGdBN86yc1ETZ2_QOriudYv3ZDM0FpnZzkJnUpDZH4CY3PnR3FzZTMHiouwqRzmvtKFrdZNfi2iroGhl_8pkyIXCXb1ZWCt5u8gv3ToPG7mOkoqJDIAdM-_7e3bKa6kRT3NsNlw3aYNdaNRmhBZooxFw/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2048%2045%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Abe pausing present opening to get himself a lovely breakfast of sprite mixed with apple juice and ... Ritz and easy-squeeze cheese. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4aQAYoHH7idBZv8MYnW_Q-qSm15-NFx8-x8GiXSi-7_txTiTr5gGSTHHqatAHv2u2NXS1aKqxiVWhHY9xSa6W5UjgEjXwDwXrf3hQGmfzcZ85-jkKrejpJ1p50kuR2rVafxwUK3NhAxD1u5Gvmkplv9BgDipKh-HLsY5VM5GS3S35PfRjCvkLjezPJk/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2049%2056%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4aQAYoHH7idBZv8MYnW_Q-qSm15-NFx8-x8GiXSi-7_txTiTr5gGSTHHqatAHv2u2NXS1aKqxiVWhHY9xSa6W5UjgEjXwDwXrf3hQGmfzcZ85-jkKrejpJ1p50kuR2rVafxwUK3NhAxD1u5Gvmkplv9BgDipKh-HLsY5VM5GS3S35PfRjCvkLjezPJk/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%208%2049%2056%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And! Our Goldie girl. Oh we miss her being here with us! She messaged a few photos from opening her presents that morning and later called for all of the kids to eagerly tell her about their presents.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76BHqLy758EOJIHz9Zb4JNCZjxd3EGgYDG-SjXvjKk0yg8IWvztgkdGqlO9z8tEv6XSZest-iyxa48qAc3LWomXwmUp6Muxdc5w10VYlGT-Vi4iW7EpPu7XwsLADTcLaO9v5KOOKRd5vzh6wgBakR__V6fuFBsYUmaIU3hidab3M1JtNMTHF709XVFDQ/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2021%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76BHqLy758EOJIHz9Zb4JNCZjxd3EGgYDG-SjXvjKk0yg8IWvztgkdGqlO9z8tEv6XSZest-iyxa48qAc3LWomXwmUp6Muxdc5w10VYlGT-Vi4iW7EpPu7XwsLADTcLaO9v5KOOKRd5vzh6wgBakR__V6fuFBsYUmaIU3hidab3M1JtNMTHF709XVFDQ/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2021%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc0zTzMXoddoi1PsBdRGpyFMWEnaRkUuDxXFxKtJB5dIEI0n2cxJCSvSBnof1j5RJw392F-SB-JuzKWy46eX9ps4MlZMewG-sb6N2H9YpK9HMiixG3sRpUQb-QNl6b9cIXHC2WhhKT2YkHvzpNQPx3pV1WQFmzbn7KW8Z_DlZqx30xYeK8DEUtZDsTu0/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2025%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc0zTzMXoddoi1PsBdRGpyFMWEnaRkUuDxXFxKtJB5dIEI0n2cxJCSvSBnof1j5RJw392F-SB-JuzKWy46eX9ps4MlZMewG-sb6N2H9YpK9HMiixG3sRpUQb-QNl6b9cIXHC2WhhKT2YkHvzpNQPx3pV1WQFmzbn7KW8Z_DlZqx30xYeK8DEUtZDsTu0/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2025%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This bracelet I had made for her has part of her mission scripture engraved on it: "shall we not go on in so great a cause?".<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedhG8GvUtbm0_CFYYdM6duOAlSTNFliA0_HRHnFrOt28NMMZ3YeCZg4UQA8BF2Jfbg0Zqa9Ut_BO3xuTL8P_5lQPqjQqMOlGiJzzZ7lqtsPp6LMzhc8HFx_iZcVAk4EB28nDHZ6h-Dgzfbm77f5R4RdcVkLpVXSn1gftOOdrzIr2G8-vRMj43M6xp6dM/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2028%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedhG8GvUtbm0_CFYYdM6duOAlSTNFliA0_HRHnFrOt28NMMZ3YeCZg4UQA8BF2Jfbg0Zqa9Ut_BO3xuTL8P_5lQPqjQqMOlGiJzzZ7lqtsPp6LMzhc8HFx_iZcVAk4EB28nDHZ6h-Dgzfbm77f5R4RdcVkLpVXSn1gftOOdrzIr2G8-vRMj43M6xp6dM/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2028%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNjP_yXnBDLWa8CVanteB8f_d8wnQkQnugUYVD-s_aNvY7PMwJvs1GQJuClDDu_eS1X-svSticy54tCX1yHxwJSWiZy80KWnKfEDfhmMElq62jNPdjQ7T1oTFqY1KgKzQeGlVnBGlnrSDS1zoV-2YMiRHQX-3NK6Lr-lluUtLglqfxYV-tcUI12D89DQ/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2030%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNjP_yXnBDLWa8CVanteB8f_d8wnQkQnugUYVD-s_aNvY7PMwJvs1GQJuClDDu_eS1X-svSticy54tCX1yHxwJSWiZy80KWnKfEDfhmMElq62jNPdjQ7T1oTFqY1KgKzQeGlVnBGlnrSDS1zoV-2YMiRHQX-3NK6Lr-lluUtLglqfxYV-tcUI12D89DQ/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2030%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A94jCo04ZWM-_S-j13EN0LtooNP8WgPI_nBXVkdAxOMm98GO048yzJBX4W0C36x92cK24qU_DIb3AKU98gagCbzKb7-J9PbT1de-qIhz2gOwScD_0LIhLzM21BqNRM1Mvm4Gekgqy9tBnzIyU-WxAQkvfI52nCMgdy0tIXtBMDoBCToWY4YXilVc-dA/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2035%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A94jCo04ZWM-_S-j13EN0LtooNP8WgPI_nBXVkdAxOMm98GO048yzJBX4W0C36x92cK24qU_DIb3AKU98gagCbzKb7-J9PbT1de-qIhz2gOwScD_0LIhLzM21BqNRM1Mvm4Gekgqy9tBnzIyU-WxAQkvfI52nCMgdy0tIXtBMDoBCToWY4YXilVc-dA/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2035%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some Pokemon cards the kids seemed to think would be funny to send to her. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzWDdj70L9YhBnr6-wwSPnqEt3iekLEmJhvehTHtEt-BqBFFfAaAxhjSWUglYAP0knnVyYHf78I9S4O5EmtXqJmBUMRaEFsXMQQcUfjSZyNvyLjqLANe_3J0shB291_tYOJ7azdhCT9Z2iFdzundR78zxNoWWdB8Ep8e8fhKbc3m9g4cnAEGKML8Y5os/s2048/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2040%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzWDdj70L9YhBnr6-wwSPnqEt3iekLEmJhvehTHtEt-BqBFFfAaAxhjSWUglYAP0knnVyYHf78I9S4O5EmtXqJmBUMRaEFsXMQQcUfjSZyNvyLjqLANe_3J0shB291_tYOJ7azdhCT9Z2iFdzundR78zxNoWWdB8Ep8e8fhKbc3m9g4cnAEGKML8Y5os/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2025%202023,%2010%2046%2040%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was a very Merry Christmas.</span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-26550936507085839262024-01-04T16:02:00.002-07:002024-01-04T20:34:11.144-07:00The Allred Party/Christmas Eve<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Allred party has morphed and morphed over the years, but, at its heart, it is the party that began back in our childhood at my grandma Wallace's house on Christmas Eve--the single-most exciting and magical night of the entire year during all of my growing up! Christmas the next day, sleeping in my big sister Amy's room with Megan and Shannon while Amy told us stories of Santa sightings, and, mostly, heading over to my grandma's house for hot-fudge sundaes, a talent show full of Elvis and Bing Crosby performances and the like, and our first present of Christmas (usually freshly-made nightgowns for us little girls). It was just such an exciting night!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As our family grew--with more kids marrying and having kids of their own--and my grandma aged, the party eventually moved to my parents' home. And in time, as even grandkids married and began having children, it shifted to a ward gym.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Forever it was our Christmas Eve party, but then, in order to accommodate so many pulled in various directions with in-laws, etc. it became a Christmas Eve morning|afternoon party; and, eventually, a "Saturday before Christmas party" (this year it was a Friday). We went from everyone drawing names for gifts, to just kids drawing names, to white elephant gifts, to putting the kabosh on gifts altogether. And the talent show has less of adults crafting humorous things and more of many little children playing a piano piece or singing a song, but it's still the Christmassy gathering of my family and, with some of my nieces and nephews, one of the few times I even see them anymore, so I'm grateful for how it allows me the chance to stay connected and show them I love them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I didn't get out my camera this year, but managed to steal a few shots from the family text exchange:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUOkIWQDtjekRQ-hrU6f3SGtlXBrrUjvbJ-VxASoIDMnDEumgyWKkAL2gz8vI3vpl4YHt3_PH83k0Vb2znQQTa4OecU9hmhm5v-wx_zzRsMTen7I-VdiXEgqSpu0mwz2iGihKJbi6w7Ro2douvCWUgMKm6U03ZLOf_Gf5ZzPE_80N40Z3xtvGQmRhkpY/s3710/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%206%2014%2030%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="3710" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUOkIWQDtjekRQ-hrU6f3SGtlXBrrUjvbJ-VxASoIDMnDEumgyWKkAL2gz8vI3vpl4YHt3_PH83k0Vb2znQQTa4OecU9hmhm5v-wx_zzRsMTen7I-VdiXEgqSpu0mwz2iGihKJbi6w7Ro2douvCWUgMKm6U03ZLOf_Gf5ZzPE_80N40Z3xtvGQmRhkpY/w640-h500/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%206%2014%2030%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8shrEIUdkPuYT8tZwv0WiqcJbQTrReRWAZX4VWkKRDTE6zfYc17gusUpBfnKMvIPNFbBz6Tquud01rOJ4mSo4l17gtMyUuTJjOLMGD0-hLeTmKg5toKSOZ37nf8_O6rjB5rHS3eQdm9R7qM89VQvFASCDIzlZxNhrXUPlwN2SkLT8AOjPu-mYh4BhT8Q/s4755/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2001%2005%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3170" data-original-width="4755" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8shrEIUdkPuYT8tZwv0WiqcJbQTrReRWAZX4VWkKRDTE6zfYc17gusUpBfnKMvIPNFbBz6Tquud01rOJ4mSo4l17gtMyUuTJjOLMGD0-hLeTmKg5toKSOZ37nf8_O6rjB5rHS3eQdm9R7qM89VQvFASCDIzlZxNhrXUPlwN2SkLT8AOjPu-mYh4BhT8Q/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2001%2005%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5NmabQ7596t7FJo6r20ZHc-2y6NHsXhtMjN4PW1dQZjRzvw7qI2077wuv5BtmYZsr7gLyBl-tYYMzTJAqWxjltGFWVs7b3KcnwkHUIT6t1nxnw88ryLw0eew7GVnG9m5a_R-VVSzUyKgTR_9_A7dsL9hJNumJmBIiT9Oan8b7p1biJ4ORKVxDQw9fW8/s2730/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2008%2009%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="2398" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5NmabQ7596t7FJo6r20ZHc-2y6NHsXhtMjN4PW1dQZjRzvw7qI2077wuv5BtmYZsr7gLyBl-tYYMzTJAqWxjltGFWVs7b3KcnwkHUIT6t1nxnw88ryLw0eew7GVnG9m5a_R-VVSzUyKgTR_9_A7dsL9hJNumJmBIiT9Oan8b7p1biJ4ORKVxDQw9fW8/w562-h640/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2008%2009%20PM.jpg" width="562" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CKjs23UcZLmiMplrvXbboU9iKKHC9ZbUjePAd7g6gqiyY2ELDPwSAMgCtjwOcAwi40jaJCyOlsa7SdB1VY-nD4dO85vp1QZftkMiUfKcItjl5RwvpgXJSw2MRP7KR9N2S-j3Tfjm8NhJujkbyZA1CBzo37H7C_7XUO64dNJd9w2lkkgX6EPE57xgmAg/s4494/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2026%2005%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2930" data-original-width="4494" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CKjs23UcZLmiMplrvXbboU9iKKHC9ZbUjePAd7g6gqiyY2ELDPwSAMgCtjwOcAwi40jaJCyOlsa7SdB1VY-nD4dO85vp1QZftkMiUfKcItjl5RwvpgXJSw2MRP7KR9N2S-j3Tfjm8NhJujkbyZA1CBzo37H7C_7XUO64dNJd9w2lkkgX6EPE57xgmAg/w640-h418/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2026%2005%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anders narrated the Christmas Nativity this year.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBhf2dm9eMz3K8yAw6Dn5J7f3i4esOf9kk_Egz1oxhSSfjMPrtB4uaV6q_Oqb0vWXKNF3h8HkTO_a7jTq-oGVtKUxhWAXr3egOzEjSf_HLC5jORZ-LeO7q-ZOnzqKMTy9IMacmeJLX5Qpd5OfXNqwNMgwZPbBIZaBQuZY7w16KYB1Toi9t1Is51h55g0/s5760/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2050%2034%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBhf2dm9eMz3K8yAw6Dn5J7f3i4esOf9kk_Egz1oxhSSfjMPrtB4uaV6q_Oqb0vWXKNF3h8HkTO_a7jTq-oGVtKUxhWAXr3egOzEjSf_HLC5jORZ-LeO7q-ZOnzqKMTy9IMacmeJLX5Qpd5OfXNqwNMgwZPbBIZaBQuZY7w16KYB1Toi9t1Is51h55g0/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%207%2050%2034%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I took a screenshot of this photo when my nephew posted it. I kept thinking the party seemed smaller than usual this year. None of my brother Rob's kids or my brother Aaron's were able to be there, etc. But this little view rather startled me! Just a fraction of the people there, but look what a crowd! And it is ALL just my brothers and sisters and their families! Look what my parents began when they wed one another!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrM1FPR4-Wy0bhYet_1qk84icMiowIOrZ1FAa0U03TF1GDi3o6Go2QxVlDYv0cJBa7GU9uWCMrvBCpQzWHaFZWBHxLGqLEzRcT9lKBHFIAGxxCnOZbO15bZdEWhN2VglnMB3W2nkr-KWBthwObU2iVNAncnuRY_MRlwETWUvhBrKuihO-ajGQD-f5W3I/s2532/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%2011%2034%2028%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrM1FPR4-Wy0bhYet_1qk84icMiowIOrZ1FAa0U03TF1GDi3o6Go2QxVlDYv0cJBa7GU9uWCMrvBCpQzWHaFZWBHxLGqLEzRcT9lKBHFIAGxxCnOZbO15bZdEWhN2VglnMB3W2nkr-KWBthwObU2iVNAncnuRY_MRlwETWUvhBrKuihO-ajGQD-f5W3I/w296-h640/Photo%20Dec%2022%202023,%2011%2034%2028%20PM.png" width="296" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeZ8BZwTQwlLXGuMfBBPMofWJlornhPVtiHsvifzJg4UZEc53-DOPPWDscHVUs7Y9viKQtBMf5Q3WaIAsNGENI67sdPBcGMLB0NPVOfCoMiyhFep377bwkDZMsElRWcuv6qiD6UnxA3g4p4RwCrJFYoXcLmaIFUWRDAyUKFitwYhUoINGkaAnwL7sudE/s1170/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%208%2014%2040%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1170" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeZ8BZwTQwlLXGuMfBBPMofWJlornhPVtiHsvifzJg4UZEc53-DOPPWDscHVUs7Y9viKQtBMf5Q3WaIAsNGENI67sdPBcGMLB0NPVOfCoMiyhFep377bwkDZMsElRWcuv6qiD6UnxA3g4p4RwCrJFYoXcLmaIFUWRDAyUKFitwYhUoINGkaAnwL7sudE/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%208%2014%2040%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX-bZk5GSDcu29Iu9jKX6sy9wL5i_XhlTK2kP0a2P7nJ-uPpf-lRI9BFeT8TK5TBA0Ar-FIJRHfTr1FfrxkEceoRuRDhvIYQmhTR5pLlSrllV2BOTL0Vq7qDG6ic9ADczkrDJ-PQBoz_TJW9n5kxwSXc-G20gdIqK1z1yIprytvRfpubykmTyGjJh_oI/s1157/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%2011%2053%2006%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1157" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX-bZk5GSDcu29Iu9jKX6sy9wL5i_XhlTK2kP0a2P7nJ-uPpf-lRI9BFeT8TK5TBA0Ar-FIJRHfTr1FfrxkEceoRuRDhvIYQmhTR5pLlSrllV2BOTL0Vq7qDG6ic9ADczkrDJ-PQBoz_TJW9n5kxwSXc-G20gdIqK1z1yIprytvRfpubykmTyGjJh_oI/w640-h436/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%2011%2053%2006%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Starling wasn't interested in taking off her cat-cat hat--even to be an angel (photo above). And my oldest brother Mark who often likes a picture with all of his sisters because, well, he adores us--and rightfully so (photo below).<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh252IyFBdn5KDKVlOSX7rNeoej0kjFkEfkZjx2Hm2IoadMYS7bfqql4vKBOAqb1HEblP7WAYysbXBlHGDRc3n-bU8XLkVwBZAEfUMBwzP0602rdvs8LkOnwUOR7h3Lg7dHptknSZ9mGB5ajF50LktT_ESNNGTwCfDFkSrhNgWfa4P8OPdPvbfjAztE6o4/s1242/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%2011%2053%2025%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1242" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh252IyFBdn5KDKVlOSX7rNeoej0kjFkEfkZjx2Hm2IoadMYS7bfqql4vKBOAqb1HEblP7WAYysbXBlHGDRc3n-bU8XLkVwBZAEfUMBwzP0602rdvs8LkOnwUOR7h3Lg7dHptknSZ9mGB5ajF50LktT_ESNNGTwCfDFkSrhNgWfa4P8OPdPvbfjAztE6o4/w640-h374/Photo%20Dec%2023%202023,%2011%2053%2025%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1iEgiCD7e2yzMUFtxyCZGLtL_O2dk3ZHAeTeHjVbYHgOmbNuVtGDV06fSQzKsNMOa7Agh8QdvcArrnw8Kzgnu-zbre49HtVNpugtENMwX-hCZ8dEFDMUZkW_55-QjhY4HeLV6xstWDT0sjr-xs9mqvaXiFqO42NQHWUEFyDjkfN46yJ1mit2lG9XheY/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2002%202024,%208%2024%2059%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1iEgiCD7e2yzMUFtxyCZGLtL_O2dk3ZHAeTeHjVbYHgOmbNuVtGDV06fSQzKsNMOa7Agh8QdvcArrnw8Kzgnu-zbre49HtVNpugtENMwX-hCZ8dEFDMUZkW_55-QjhY4HeLV6xstWDT0sjr-xs9mqvaXiFqO42NQHWUEFyDjkfN46yJ1mit2lG9XheY/w640-h480/Photo%20Jan%2002%202024,%208%2024%2059%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And since this party is no longer a Christmas Eve party, we now have a Christmas Eve of our own. This year it was on a Sunday, so it was a quieter day than some years (was it more or less quiet than last Christmas Eve ... when everyone was throwing up in our house and we cancelled all activities but a movie in order to survive?). Daisy made gingerbread cookies and let the kids frost some. We had dinner (it really is hard not being able to put leaves in our table or fit everyone around it nicely in this home, but turning the couch around worked all right ...), and then did our nativity and sibling gifts (plus we watched Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas since we hadn't yet this year and it's tradition) before shewing everyone off to bed so Santa could come. Mike and I sat on the couch together (with all the lights but the Christmas ones turned off in the house) when all was set up. That magic from Christmas Eve as children still exists quite strongly during that little bit of time before bed!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xoc7VcIkuHGmBKUmAafBDmHFjhGCVC_WlRlKdfCijnJNffjfkUrpkUcbCDLLwBpAHvDkzIIXC7XVBlAMdL6IcuOoTLPWJWNF0O0cq8dv67Jvf3M7HMI4B1WA7623xmQ87aRpFKpR5VPPXc4iafI_eU4_JvbYvGz1w3W6ap6LHljaaAm6sIKY11ultX4/s2048/IMG_0856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xoc7VcIkuHGmBKUmAafBDmHFjhGCVC_WlRlKdfCijnJNffjfkUrpkUcbCDLLwBpAHvDkzIIXC7XVBlAMdL6IcuOoTLPWJWNF0O0cq8dv67Jvf3M7HMI4B1WA7623xmQ87aRpFKpR5VPPXc4iafI_eU4_JvbYvGz1w3W6ap6LHljaaAm6sIKY11ultX4/w640-h426/IMG_0856.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINtKzziBT_JBC3gdOyy5vPcUIl2hzNKpF7Pi4s3i-mAv2DKh0nWRXq4tox7PgNJBtl2PsNCzNjcwTb2onqddGEbfX2mk0qIS_leHkBbQBypqjwcHv8nIfgdLdcAGgVoMGpciMCG6HGgTr3CwQmcejVPuIj0DsEJFWU7QDFlzUTPlMYGMmvELpH3YCZl8/s2048/IMG_0857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINtKzziBT_JBC3gdOyy5vPcUIl2hzNKpF7Pi4s3i-mAv2DKh0nWRXq4tox7PgNJBtl2PsNCzNjcwTb2onqddGEbfX2mk0qIS_leHkBbQBypqjwcHv8nIfgdLdcAGgVoMGpciMCG6HGgTr3CwQmcejVPuIj0DsEJFWU7QDFlzUTPlMYGMmvELpH3YCZl8/w640-h426/IMG_0857.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We have very little room in this tiny rental living room! So you better not plan on taking too much couch space!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl95i1h4glN_do_kNimva3C8Y0n-sds1FVxzylkesk9-LLyOeFEJx4tY_R0UXvWq1AY-WeAYaexyT4_p5NdnvFCrylC-oPmixhtYN3F5IMPYX3JsmETVrbXy4ikHzo7ABN0KPWvMP6SwmU6GWf7jiXic7alwR49mWAVcZnvC62ZLrwAh6OMdKX-Xo5-5o/s2048/IMG_0859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl95i1h4glN_do_kNimva3C8Y0n-sds1FVxzylkesk9-LLyOeFEJx4tY_R0UXvWq1AY-WeAYaexyT4_p5NdnvFCrylC-oPmixhtYN3F5IMPYX3JsmETVrbXy4ikHzo7ABN0KPWvMP6SwmU6GWf7jiXic7alwR49mWAVcZnvC62ZLrwAh6OMdKX-Xo5-5o/w640-h426/IMG_0859.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX31WQT3UGGlgQnYPSc-cINh_twK4sOiME1lA_j7gg__7i97m2MhFwNr-g8K1QE2LpxLCKA965N-PjYWqAKx73kYx-8HEd8BwLynGMFKgUg_A7RRirskfBq5W3YUIqIIJqgBE-Tk0FXvVrDsCOdilHpOboEQkyFdgu1XwBECAj2ZlyUd6dAa7kX3kKin4/s2048/IMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX31WQT3UGGlgQnYPSc-cINh_twK4sOiME1lA_j7gg__7i97m2MhFwNr-g8K1QE2LpxLCKA965N-PjYWqAKx73kYx-8HEd8BwLynGMFKgUg_A7RRirskfBq5W3YUIqIIJqgBE-Tk0FXvVrDsCOdilHpOboEQkyFdgu1XwBECAj2ZlyUd6dAa7kX3kKin4/w640-h426/IMG_0861.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GRfZxkEeJU7Ux1TSch4UJNBp642lO4JAA8A5bP5rVVhqda8mE-vkLw7Ysfz38Gjqmr2Av7PILE24kHMxJ_kogUlC9gLOWPiCad4TRFBDpNTTn_oxlrbHaVSyr1hJhqIeC_a6u4A9MVRqOPIA7O_ruYUYTTDMDVPGmmjtGTl_6RhD0k0HBKFB3ef3R14/s2048/IMG_0865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GRfZxkEeJU7Ux1TSch4UJNBp642lO4JAA8A5bP5rVVhqda8mE-vkLw7Ysfz38Gjqmr2Av7PILE24kHMxJ_kogUlC9gLOWPiCad4TRFBDpNTTn_oxlrbHaVSyr1hJhqIeC_a6u4A9MVRqOPIA7O_ruYUYTTDMDVPGmmjtGTl_6RhD0k0HBKFB3ef3R14/w426-h640/IMG_0865.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dLw0XpuGTlNlCKd4voBpX0PxvMyvFDUO4j_sxEg_dwdTKCmQ25NjO3O-CDKSQx-OzoplP_Mhv6miKLCgNqR_1KNA6lzd76BlT8rLi2NyIboZ5EAFTxEaYFijIZXIZ9hct6hOL1RsbdvW003W9TFUj1nHW6iip1Zv7R_h67j4mjfb7RsMQqe_Pt-EJYc/s2048/IMG_0866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dLw0XpuGTlNlCKd4voBpX0PxvMyvFDUO4j_sxEg_dwdTKCmQ25NjO3O-CDKSQx-OzoplP_Mhv6miKLCgNqR_1KNA6lzd76BlT8rLi2NyIboZ5EAFTxEaYFijIZXIZ9hct6hOL1RsbdvW003W9TFUj1nHW6iip1Zv7R_h67j4mjfb7RsMQqe_Pt-EJYc/w640-h426/IMG_0866.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpK-lb6XvAxguPmMCFO1F88zJfQ-WEZoNgPo8xySaADPrlLIJd0zErFfXgi-u_3ubjfDleamP2-V9i-eu2hII011AOXipxlWynkkZAikQFDySp6_qonPzo9WrTXKziVG-PN8PybJfl-XZ9fK97nN1BZVilmjDl8KjOFSyU1TE2jJjo9RP6rzYupzWJlk/s2048/IMG_0868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpK-lb6XvAxguPmMCFO1F88zJfQ-WEZoNgPo8xySaADPrlLIJd0zErFfXgi-u_3ubjfDleamP2-V9i-eu2hII011AOXipxlWynkkZAikQFDySp6_qonPzo9WrTXKziVG-PN8PybJfl-XZ9fK97nN1BZVilmjDl8KjOFSyU1TE2jJjo9RP6rzYupzWJlk/w640-h426/IMG_0868.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgx3sZ6yvxtKcuX4V3WS1KAh2PFk2pRugdLkR6Oj9A3SsYX4PeVLaO7oi_MROYEp7gVQevjv5VO_bVt998VrjuPQbtZ1TjttGuY_8oxtRADHKdkT1H-yK7KInn-HP_TYz-e7_iRGLQHs93l1CMOG9nNezBjaqi8FxHNUD0ALYGyRx7HrdTG5jUcZnZuY/s2048/IMG_0872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgx3sZ6yvxtKcuX4V3WS1KAh2PFk2pRugdLkR6Oj9A3SsYX4PeVLaO7oi_MROYEp7gVQevjv5VO_bVt998VrjuPQbtZ1TjttGuY_8oxtRADHKdkT1H-yK7KInn-HP_TYz-e7_iRGLQHs93l1CMOG9nNezBjaqi8FxHNUD0ALYGyRx7HrdTG5jUcZnZuY/w640-h426/IMG_0872.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This might be about the only time Mike pulls out the mandolin anymore. (Though he'll still fiddle if his dad makes him at a Harris party.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4UIUJo3U1Fq2EoD3MNyX41hUjRya7NHYSVKOnmuL3HN_JBCPsJlU2QmCPA1uYd9vhUXZg-q8oxbEN-62hufBpnjMSGR0bIQdGfIjke4eCRcwXR-3jWkyGpOD478iNvC5ODph1zuja9NKruSE8VtK7Zys13IN4iJrsInfen7MEUEEWjEmIF7Bvq_dpn8/s2048/IMG_0873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4UIUJo3U1Fq2EoD3MNyX41hUjRya7NHYSVKOnmuL3HN_JBCPsJlU2QmCPA1uYd9vhUXZg-q8oxbEN-62hufBpnjMSGR0bIQdGfIjke4eCRcwXR-3jWkyGpOD478iNvC5ODph1zuja9NKruSE8VtK7Zys13IN4iJrsInfen7MEUEEWjEmIF7Bvq_dpn8/w640-h426/IMG_0873.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This year they got their gifts for each other at "Five Below"--which was a step up from the dollar store. Abe loved this poster from Anders of that Japanese wave ... with Godzilla thrown in.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JkWR3VA9KNg_Q7TNDSbvuKT-jBkDLkD-rHFgI_4biJublaNH08GiKHf6lqS0MYrPHhFeoX3LvNKHyDHd180a-CHt1DJW_D-LivzW5rvl0B3u6Rlt2fxCphEaeX-YMEveW_srur1oXHV7xdhT6Z9LzDGYa40xjWlSGgfMcwWvgdJ7nweuABAcwb9Sl8o/s2048/IMG_0878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JkWR3VA9KNg_Q7TNDSbvuKT-jBkDLkD-rHFgI_4biJublaNH08GiKHf6lqS0MYrPHhFeoX3LvNKHyDHd180a-CHt1DJW_D-LivzW5rvl0B3u6Rlt2fxCphEaeX-YMEveW_srur1oXHV7xdhT6Z9LzDGYa40xjWlSGgfMcwWvgdJ7nweuABAcwb9Sl8o/w640-h426/IMG_0878.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15zim8_eyZV4RSfR5qXTJGIr_vAs6_V54bukKqNKVeuewqIEyIW-6XZw4gQ9tRhkgpO22MqZDGMMZa4V2bym1u5_kw7NRw9L_kBVRo9wyvFBGOYlspauTzH-W4m8yM8N4kzp4HGQbRxlH0Rp8poUZZKKncxZffxy9qNdFXfR3J8E6GUJ5PCt8MIm56gw/s2048/IMG_0881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15zim8_eyZV4RSfR5qXTJGIr_vAs6_V54bukKqNKVeuewqIEyIW-6XZw4gQ9tRhkgpO22MqZDGMMZa4V2bym1u5_kw7NRw9L_kBVRo9wyvFBGOYlspauTzH-W4m8yM8N4kzp4HGQbRxlH0Rp8poUZZKKncxZffxy9qNdFXfR3J8E6GUJ5PCt8MIm56gw/w640-h426/IMG_0881.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A mini rock-em|sock-em robots from Penny to Anders.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjhHN109x7sueNSIRPT_6fRPOP2niVVIo5j0o2rUa7ZqR4GENv1eSSSkZThmgNIO1UZv9h5dmI9kABovo2BxTnwgCjwLvPAUiqupbSjV8TrbQdjjUVtkJGXajfo0FZXeT34LuYZ6FdWKsfL6h9ShOoUFJ522zhJ09lmW3Ch6X5qaaXgQhCeR4o6_r1IA/s2048/IMG_0885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjhHN109x7sueNSIRPT_6fRPOP2niVVIo5j0o2rUa7ZqR4GENv1eSSSkZThmgNIO1UZv9h5dmI9kABovo2BxTnwgCjwLvPAUiqupbSjV8TrbQdjjUVtkJGXajfo0FZXeT34LuYZ6FdWKsfL6h9ShOoUFJ522zhJ09lmW3Ch6X5qaaXgQhCeR4o6_r1IA/w640-h426/IMG_0885.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeyFkeMHNO1iJA5af0tsQxqPi1QgqmIYHZHveGR-z9CHE-KyTAez4CvnetJsuh2E1qe5wfDXj3eKDzNxI4Z8EQw4Ynj7F2Hc21UV4HPhx26ESEQOqn8RHh1JndWmz_3VCsMaLQ7FNd7zjFZ2yqyjvQGdzifYw6aCszMvHVhgHIhrs6M0hAo-1QrexdZQ/s2048/IMG_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeyFkeMHNO1iJA5af0tsQxqPi1QgqmIYHZHveGR-z9CHE-KyTAez4CvnetJsuh2E1qe5wfDXj3eKDzNxI4Z8EQw4Ynj7F2Hc21UV4HPhx26ESEQOqn8RHh1JndWmz_3VCsMaLQ7FNd7zjFZ2yqyjvQGdzifYw6aCszMvHVhgHIhrs6M0hAo-1QrexdZQ/w426-h640/IMG_0887.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8LeuHRcX6bjNGhZh4NGi3nyPjiXTSir6w9zKqjy4Ek2nV9BL-5DUQjwxgrQAS8HNXN9CTFMr5_Ne-nRdXgUtVQBqVmvJX9jJk1Uu2dvplm_8PxY8VVbFY7ME7V6itUY0Z_drsblF9HbIpBDPPcKWcXVXsugmLxdEULI6skyNr4KSwoUEYeJ_OHEsRO4/s2048/IMG_0888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8LeuHRcX6bjNGhZh4NGi3nyPjiXTSir6w9zKqjy4Ek2nV9BL-5DUQjwxgrQAS8HNXN9CTFMr5_Ne-nRdXgUtVQBqVmvJX9jJk1Uu2dvplm_8PxY8VVbFY7ME7V6itUY0Z_drsblF9HbIpBDPPcKWcXVXsugmLxdEULI6skyNr4KSwoUEYeJ_OHEsRO4/w640-h426/IMG_0888.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5EsaT37gHYUtmHmNZQlyTmsZC4S13qMsl1H-O7pO5RHIFzisI-wYHhVIuQqq5gzwcItXTK7nKq1PY287qaEInvCdc9kWX_IYaVYfONwQzRG_5M2qPkBfsy70-zjlBrOqI9ncrJCBciOi0hw0vMaQ3ERqIBXhE-6tlZrQRA6BX3AGSFQ9WdNspgDWrAg/s2048/IMG_0892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5EsaT37gHYUtmHmNZQlyTmsZC4S13qMsl1H-O7pO5RHIFzisI-wYHhVIuQqq5gzwcItXTK7nKq1PY287qaEInvCdc9kWX_IYaVYfONwQzRG_5M2qPkBfsy70-zjlBrOqI9ncrJCBciOi0hw0vMaQ3ERqIBXhE-6tlZrQRA6BX3AGSFQ9WdNspgDWrAg/w640-h426/IMG_0892.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A toy vending machine from Jesse to Mette.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIb-8V9MayI85PN6wDyAFD_k7cOxwI6kWq032Hd2SiK6tSqFytRJMNi6wG2Iw46dp9djUGNNwKk6Mbe6FXR_BG5SxOa3NrKpCYWWETT6AGbV2m35KhJ7NXQtktkGFM-rDknn7L38dttlBnu_9MbBsks5yhSYZMV7sg1HkeV9K_iwCSNZzLvzm8U9HwY8/s2048/IMG_0893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIb-8V9MayI85PN6wDyAFD_k7cOxwI6kWq032Hd2SiK6tSqFytRJMNi6wG2Iw46dp9djUGNNwKk6Mbe6FXR_BG5SxOa3NrKpCYWWETT6AGbV2m35KhJ7NXQtktkGFM-rDknn7L38dttlBnu_9MbBsks5yhSYZMV7sg1HkeV9K_iwCSNZzLvzm8U9HwY8/w640-h426/IMG_0893.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Starling making some sort of bracelet out of floss and hair elastics. ... While wearing a dress and a nightgown. And apparently I didn't take pictures of everyone else's gifts.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3yAhPlj4FGecBFf4APCgWZu3zr18rXPNV3o8eSYy2Gy1fvQ7QJqMVIgQ4YweXx-e9bvwlo2VAjd36AL972aKHfHMJDs1gOJG5rkkMoxg-7DjxaMzVL1EAPtHIgi6agaolUS_92v4s3yvBzO9Omlqp9GeZG7BD0dcxPhGpFmWxZBVUkFfXD5sKl7z1NA/s2048/IMG_0895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3yAhPlj4FGecBFf4APCgWZu3zr18rXPNV3o8eSYy2Gy1fvQ7QJqMVIgQ4YweXx-e9bvwlo2VAjd36AL972aKHfHMJDs1gOJG5rkkMoxg-7DjxaMzVL1EAPtHIgi6agaolUS_92v4s3yvBzO9Omlqp9GeZG7BD0dcxPhGpFmWxZBVUkFfXD5sKl7z1NA/w640-h426/IMG_0895.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Gingerbread cookies. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqA4p0WB-TiTXZuddqZ477SWe43TOWrDpfkKW6SE5skcaewufwCT01iL-qKGkcnJlOQmTF1Ry3wQP5m6r3ddxnLvXVMFYOID3XcyWyMw6haHXTXVryUI4RwwzMN2bmZKlQb8c1xngugPO8iUEQtC7kki9XNHLYkkq0oPgsu4Hird-2SBLDObHFjHEhvI/s1236/IMG_9300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1236" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqA4p0WB-TiTXZuddqZ477SWe43TOWrDpfkKW6SE5skcaewufwCT01iL-qKGkcnJlOQmTF1Ry3wQP5m6r3ddxnLvXVMFYOID3XcyWyMw6haHXTXVryUI4RwwzMN2bmZKlQb8c1xngugPO8iUEQtC7kki9XNHLYkkq0oPgsu4Hird-2SBLDObHFjHEhvI/w640-h480/IMG_9300.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nj6qC86iT0nJDdD225nWTjB6eWNMNQVQkrAg3t9u299tY-44nvUhW6UyuUy4LvHG_dTFwSaORFmS9Emy3c8rdLmqXpkwOtO80rMbNCQ4d-RFHuBos4smiO_QJjjDuJMmmZ9a64mY2rxYv4aqqVk0tIkHzVYtieEvRKN7aSA9hSjIWbPKbdALVWbBrxQ/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%203%2044%2055%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nj6qC86iT0nJDdD225nWTjB6eWNMNQVQkrAg3t9u299tY-44nvUhW6UyuUy4LvHG_dTFwSaORFmS9Emy3c8rdLmqXpkwOtO80rMbNCQ4d-RFHuBos4smiO_QJjjDuJMmmZ9a64mY2rxYv4aqqVk0tIkHzVYtieEvRKN7aSA9hSjIWbPKbdALVWbBrxQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%203%2044%2055%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dinner.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG2IBwcq3mfVRTYMOrxPgSe9WDsI-rDYoXbUy_UhSTer9pgSFvEniJMikHyHat735rs_I2nGJOSef1HgSH5DfL7n_xuK3zSZdJbDRtj71FEgLLd9GratDSaSY65ceLV_zL9uMRKEzD8wvITI7Nkacz96KRt0bT8FUaJxPGllhU8HSa0sPnigvg_4NtyY/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%205%2022%2040%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG2IBwcq3mfVRTYMOrxPgSe9WDsI-rDYoXbUy_UhSTer9pgSFvEniJMikHyHat735rs_I2nGJOSef1HgSH5DfL7n_xuK3zSZdJbDRtj71FEgLLd9GratDSaSY65ceLV_zL9uMRKEzD8wvITI7Nkacz96KRt0bT8FUaJxPGllhU8HSa0sPnigvg_4NtyY/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%205%2022%2040%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Before bed magic.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHW5m3l9QyFf_Ws9AmH0S7w0sSpuLbGWmI_Rq535GcE6nKGbGoNTgEevZn7wQaQg0JqPg_Y7_dynyqT3_Sn45pofVtQECUGF1jK4eOfJBerSe3rldu1tgz5C4NxsTEaNfLxLrpCRy6JXD2zahs2mex3lLz61bQA8nmxQCGY2AwRfPxMNFq8hHRJTlbk/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%2010%2052%2006%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHW5m3l9QyFf_Ws9AmH0S7w0sSpuLbGWmI_Rq535GcE6nKGbGoNTgEevZn7wQaQg0JqPg_Y7_dynyqT3_Sn45pofVtQECUGF1jK4eOfJBerSe3rldu1tgz5C4NxsTEaNfLxLrpCRy6JXD2zahs2mex3lLz61bQA8nmxQCGY2AwRfPxMNFq8hHRJTlbk/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2024%202023,%2010%2052%2006%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p></p></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-26667654472473685942024-01-04T15:18:00.003-07:002024-01-04T22:08:34.198-07:00Big Kids Home<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Although it's a bit of a sad thing to have kids grow up and leave home, ... having those same kids that grew up and left home <b>come back</b> <b>home</b> is pure delight. Everyone is just <b>so </b>happy when the "big kids" come home for weekends and holidays. And I am perhaps the happiest of all--what with them making dinners, and entertaining their siblings, and pumping up bike tires, and taking down Christmas, and being generally helpful and fun and funny. What a lovely stage to have my older kids in!</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTWRWxBKs0JwEyxkgvmKyQt6fzTFLZggPz8mY2pFgB8WhPRneJlb_RYIGvW4ZOSIYUoxEU2-LmvIuMns22aO63vKEqNFcunpyXnl6PR7wXW0RlECAI5hyphenhyphenccfgCl7G_Wx3cdDxhpO4ca-eQp2krGxaLKzzkW2eeuqoq44ukptVG4jH6gkiTuMoqMNT3e8/s4032/Photo%20Jan%2002%202024,%202%2053%2030%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTWRWxBKs0JwEyxkgvmKyQt6fzTFLZggPz8mY2pFgB8WhPRneJlb_RYIGvW4ZOSIYUoxEU2-LmvIuMns22aO63vKEqNFcunpyXnl6PR7wXW0RlECAI5hyphenhyphenccfgCl7G_Wx3cdDxhpO4ca-eQp2krGxaLKzzkW2eeuqoq44ukptVG4jH6gkiTuMoqMNT3e8/w480-h640/Photo%20Jan%2002%202024,%202%2053%2030%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This trip, among many many other things, had Daisy taking the little kids to choose a square of fabric and then letting them each do a small sewing project under her supervision, and baking cookies and rolls with little helpers, and reading The Hobbit to a younger sibling who was scared and couldn't fall asleep at night. And, also among many many other things, had Abe taking boys to feed the geese, and cleaning out the van for me, and vacuuming under all my couch cushions. (And I'm sorry that my camera thought to come out during baking and sewing, but not so much during Abe's cleaning and helping, but here are a few pictures of said events below.)</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJla09II998jjGmomAs_haOgElrBxZD6o-tEKVb6GtJ_vhT6A6IQ97U9mshlW5p0yt8z6bYDAN-hrBss9q7qABXquew6JVeOVl0LpoHVzjDpByOwdV5vbzxbfKCvg_66Ghwn4L8aqCly-PYQWiQ_rc6oQGMbAMBu_bKqcbc_JsYbyyRBEy_r6FMgwXS0/s2048/IMG_0982.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJla09II998jjGmomAs_haOgElrBxZD6o-tEKVb6GtJ_vhT6A6IQ97U9mshlW5p0yt8z6bYDAN-hrBss9q7qABXquew6JVeOVl0LpoHVzjDpByOwdV5vbzxbfKCvg_66Ghwn4L8aqCly-PYQWiQ_rc6oQGMbAMBu_bKqcbc_JsYbyyRBEy_r6FMgwXS0/w640-h426/IMG_0982.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfb-Le2xMDpxJ_5csp-XzrlZyAdKFr2W3ClzE3skCEGl0f3TeA_au2fA1dAFTDRrTDmlUTcEbbMkVO_SBpXV_x8MJSw7Rq33yJk0TTh6KozvCXyav-Ur3cKywOxEuFlcILbibYfneb2FgqtnxRq6MH8M2BozX1dD-6waePbWETS2AqIBY8CpljcqU3_A/s2048/IMG_0983.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfb-Le2xMDpxJ_5csp-XzrlZyAdKFr2W3ClzE3skCEGl0f3TeA_au2fA1dAFTDRrTDmlUTcEbbMkVO_SBpXV_x8MJSw7Rq33yJk0TTh6KozvCXyav-Ur3cKywOxEuFlcILbibYfneb2FgqtnxRq6MH8M2BozX1dD-6waePbWETS2AqIBY8CpljcqU3_A/w640-h426/IMG_0983.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wpMVq4xTxRpeTwM2jE8B4I_gOv0qO6m6_zY8nPAHEo8-hjzCz-Il54a3P539M5dj5sSoJUI5oweDAtZBI2jaytCuFSVdoC2xPVmUpNFqolwv8LSGWssAv5xRZo8U3HFH__0R7CuCQnV_XuST7ZE5PzXg-_9R9cwsC3G1f7sDndnE59Hj1TgplGpiufM/s2048/IMG_0986.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wpMVq4xTxRpeTwM2jE8B4I_gOv0qO6m6_zY8nPAHEo8-hjzCz-Il54a3P539M5dj5sSoJUI5oweDAtZBI2jaytCuFSVdoC2xPVmUpNFqolwv8LSGWssAv5xRZo8U3HFH__0R7CuCQnV_XuST7ZE5PzXg-_9R9cwsC3G1f7sDndnE59Hj1TgplGpiufM/w640-h426/IMG_0986.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ffQpWfTaMt1JN0rNmViKXqPGdSoQ3wUQ5qoWzHcicrF48_lOvnsgv2O7kUwpJNntcFrRGRAsgncWmqF3Xf_KQ-9JyVderxEzDYqYBuWRWer0dk5WgUkYoN_MgwGgMkjgBF7ZP8Z-rLxHZcB_k3IfcNXLnawfKPKI-jmF47AG6h3jm6E8fLyEDd4gDU/s2048/IMG_0989.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ffQpWfTaMt1JN0rNmViKXqPGdSoQ3wUQ5qoWzHcicrF48_lOvnsgv2O7kUwpJNntcFrRGRAsgncWmqF3Xf_KQ-9JyVderxEzDYqYBuWRWer0dk5WgUkYoN_MgwGgMkjgBF7ZP8Z-rLxHZcB_k3IfcNXLnawfKPKI-jmF47AG6h3jm6E8fLyEDd4gDU/w640-h426/IMG_0989.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JP8X2T8u7pvjW7Yh3LQrJZ7noNP7oE27PC520CjARtI5Rhcq-v6tP_EHg_yJj5_wRGuUNXJ0z6e0Y-r9qfG_BFCTz3ipKpSvRIHsblir461Kg9F3VVkHcyVLYSAUPasGW5D2FTppBnQxF6cGuk-EUbGDAEX-zlFsPv5Mt7_P0ZVRHTXkkJTEcGoMyMs/s2048/IMG_0990.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JP8X2T8u7pvjW7Yh3LQrJZ7noNP7oE27PC520CjARtI5Rhcq-v6tP_EHg_yJj5_wRGuUNXJ0z6e0Y-r9qfG_BFCTz3ipKpSvRIHsblir461Kg9F3VVkHcyVLYSAUPasGW5D2FTppBnQxF6cGuk-EUbGDAEX-zlFsPv5Mt7_P0ZVRHTXkkJTEcGoMyMs/w640-h426/IMG_0990.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkifnQLOBLvfh_rHTMEmewt5X4SqPhT9gEEzJRlXOj1_2u68zMx71jEEKUsfdj1H5DXeizQJG9l6ENw5BY1gpx7u9sm27qofmoLhp6CX8Hct9VJnHu8pb6TrPSo6I5XtbC47_ooa5k5aeY2oAA_oi9IEfKpCzVrX3LuMboeOH2WF6NMwCMJxpnAHQgXM/s2048/IMG_0991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkifnQLOBLvfh_rHTMEmewt5X4SqPhT9gEEzJRlXOj1_2u68zMx71jEEKUsfdj1H5DXeizQJG9l6ENw5BY1gpx7u9sm27qofmoLhp6CX8Hct9VJnHu8pb6TrPSo6I5XtbC47_ooa5k5aeY2oAA_oi9IEfKpCzVrX3LuMboeOH2WF6NMwCMJxpnAHQgXM/w640-h426/IMG_0991.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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font-size: large;">When I think of December I think of Jesse's birthday. And Abe's birthday. And my birthday. And Mike and my's (my's???) wedding anniversary. And Christmas Eve. And Christmas Morning. And New Year's Eve. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It's a lot of big celebratory stuff! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But of course those big things all fall<i> within </i>a host of ordinary and necessary happenings--as all of life's large moments do. Some of those happenings tend to be a bit more festive in December--what with our little, daily Christmas activities and all (though often those "activities" are as simple as reading a Christmas book or having hot cocoa), but it's still a month that, despite its large celebrations, is full of normal living; and some small bits of that living are captured below:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc4zYTULkJ0brNk5J3jWQPzMu0fJxj_k0HRMVFklGXR_hMeu_aDcbZl_GbKmSm2nuoWOYCluO4-cv7LrcRriCTLhkbwmTJWpMxp7kB3MEplEchKBz3FlZmCbYRLugGlaq3nRScBH-G5ciAUwy-e7bTzetyxymJ-B_Mog_fuk9MQ5kDMECM5s-cKUU0RI/s2048/IMG_0853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc4zYTULkJ0brNk5J3jWQPzMu0fJxj_k0HRMVFklGXR_hMeu_aDcbZl_GbKmSm2nuoWOYCluO4-cv7LrcRriCTLhkbwmTJWpMxp7kB3MEplEchKBz3FlZmCbYRLugGlaq3nRScBH-G5ciAUwy-e7bTzetyxymJ-B_Mog_fuk9MQ5kDMECM5s-cKUU0RI/w640-h426/IMG_0853.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For our two cats being outside cats ... they sure show up inside a lot!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwog00FpHedpbm-mP61sw0cxyCAN9YuSutIP8dd8HdAsxgmFgjGBXxvH0UDiKXDW0LQvJqN9OLqLce1OXQRMtI5YySYyUHMIhvyYtUN1vYilfcoxnAhRv1CxDvsdn4KbhDl0wbYwI_uabnHQZ3R0xTuWijLgx24pv9Wgs2whDxsWAkIIn2KBvpP56JRGk/s928/IMG_9318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwog00FpHedpbm-mP61sw0cxyCAN9YuSutIP8dd8HdAsxgmFgjGBXxvH0UDiKXDW0LQvJqN9OLqLce1OXQRMtI5YySYyUHMIhvyYtUN1vYilfcoxnAhRv1CxDvsdn4KbhDl0wbYwI_uabnHQZ3R0xTuWijLgx24pv9Wgs2whDxsWAkIIn2KBvpP56JRGk/w480-h640/IMG_9318.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some sort of family wii time. (Somehow we have developed this terminology in our home. "Have you already done time today?" "Anders! You already finished your time!" "Does anyone want to do family time? (as opposed to individual time)" "We aren't going to do time today." "You lost your time today, remember?" It sounds like we are talking about doing prison time or some such, and I can just imagine the confusion someone at school might feel if one of my kids were to ask them in small talk, "So, what do you usually do for time?" or "How much time do you get?" But it simply refers to the 30 minutes I give them to play a game on the wii or computer or on my phone or whatever. Somehow it has just evolved into "time".)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAshm4caQecDwm8uxvs2T9AbzAbe1S2rrJ5DfBO3mMZaSBWbQtVUfASLEIyPLCdZcalP3rx61-6XVDf8jL1Y5VN9s3vbrlgNgW6gR6a8uGvYWWzoVZrFvitCONdXHZAhGWxHlBtUih3vni9kMwqo6KsLoezv_cdAVwq3LkFb55Bl1-zk0khw7XmGAUk4/s928/IMG_9319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="696" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAshm4caQecDwm8uxvs2T9AbzAbe1S2rrJ5DfBO3mMZaSBWbQtVUfASLEIyPLCdZcalP3rx61-6XVDf8jL1Y5VN9s3vbrlgNgW6gR6a8uGvYWWzoVZrFvitCONdXHZAhGWxHlBtUih3vni9kMwqo6KsLoezv_cdAVwq3LkFb55Bl1-zk0khw7XmGAUk4/w480-h640/IMG_9319.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some model magic ornament making. Hans made this. Pretty cute--especially since all the model magic was white and you had to knead marker strokes into it to get any color.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXGGWhQfhk4pKOV5IFHU33G-pCF2bvClUy2EW9PuTGCUYyksmr7bzAkLrVf7V_KiUB3MtcY6v5QzxgoJRaLHoGqyotJNwtuq-N0ibT6u8b_qYgGgE2SVDe9mJSMibGgFTHP7mu5WtBipdHan8M80muG2wi9EvijtaCZZV7z6bGrCKZ0JOdIb_1bQXW30/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2013%202023,%204%2046%2018%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXGGWhQfhk4pKOV5IFHU33G-pCF2bvClUy2EW9PuTGCUYyksmr7bzAkLrVf7V_KiUB3MtcY6v5QzxgoJRaLHoGqyotJNwtuq-N0ibT6u8b_qYgGgE2SVDe9mJSMibGgFTHP7mu5WtBipdHan8M80muG2wi9EvijtaCZZV7z6bGrCKZ0JOdIb_1bQXW30/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2013%202023,%204%2046%2018%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mette recreated Goldie's old Perry the Platypus ornament.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWIfZO2YmUEuICTLHi8FqyUn9DUue8rMLGOwwZkzxmsyHLll_u7c-O9ReSf1g9IUIb9atgKDuZjtQ4_KT6DJGBmZ4ihxZWKPmHSJMQdoAInNfODR3xCby5VAx_gK5yABYN-nSZJUTiMwpurMxprGhwcp1M5pvJYWqyIz3PxwA3OuGANj7w1mL_QjVxYs/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2013%202023,%204%2056%2043%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWIfZO2YmUEuICTLHi8FqyUn9DUue8rMLGOwwZkzxmsyHLll_u7c-O9ReSf1g9IUIb9atgKDuZjtQ4_KT6DJGBmZ4ihxZWKPmHSJMQdoAInNfODR3xCby5VAx_gK5yABYN-nSZJUTiMwpurMxprGhwcp1M5pvJYWqyIz3PxwA3OuGANj7w1mL_QjVxYs/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2013%202023,%204%2056%2043%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This lovely note that fell off of someone's backside. The neat handwriting might lead me to suspect someone older, but the spelling points to Hans. ...</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoefkqv8dME4-FQLAK2dx4zaevLzf1DDqc0yi4VZCQobI71UcmSbq_b_FBVet6qoRwju7ctgfya2gZkUBmhCoWTBQbopAbvL-J1aVeHk4nkbRm7W83B_rUvhXdKHECEHYzHxuakxz1DSRonyE1Jjm01MRM6CvexPHFUHJx6ep6SFSozPc8_MQ9c9m3Kw/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2015%202023,%209%2016%2042%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoefkqv8dME4-FQLAK2dx4zaevLzf1DDqc0yi4VZCQobI71UcmSbq_b_FBVet6qoRwju7ctgfya2gZkUBmhCoWTBQbopAbvL-J1aVeHk4nkbRm7W83B_rUvhXdKHECEHYzHxuakxz1DSRonyE1Jjm01MRM6CvexPHFUHJx6ep6SFSozPc8_MQ9c9m3Kw/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2015%202023,%209%2016%2042%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy at her best friend Megan's wedding reception (it was also the first temple wedding Daisy got to attend).<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHM7M5l-fjGJIDNsLjpmWir50bVCrXZI6viCZipTuOspr1ucyvK3-DBmFlEO1aLQ_6Ybh_Gt6CqMhRzAH8TduH_qPxxmr6WTXvCwrbDFEjP8G36MlWLU2mM6mfP3Y12b-vQUT98jpjCRfWTScFUcNP04hW_orMc_EeChPDo7kZ0p9t4TBcnxtOl36ZQ4/s1599/Photo%20Dec%2015%202023,%2010%2032%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHM7M5l-fjGJIDNsLjpmWir50bVCrXZI6viCZipTuOspr1ucyvK3-DBmFlEO1aLQ_6Ybh_Gt6CqMhRzAH8TduH_qPxxmr6WTXvCwrbDFEjP8G36MlWLU2mM6mfP3Y12b-vQUT98jpjCRfWTScFUcNP04hW_orMc_EeChPDo7kZ0p9t4TBcnxtOl36ZQ4/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2015%202023,%2010%2032%2015%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My little Hansie.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICC8aLxJr583iCove4nnOtS_F9E5Gbre7uWcGTarujS4PUMSRykNiJUsrA6x7tQgx7H7TNGqTskDS15e0AF3ATJ-TMlXD0DPVRrd_ueee2CDMYn8jDwx8_mDYlGIDYvMs-HC2AseKmN5cbpguf23ckQDC6JjVjAA_QnAwmrPVjdntO4VAM_dzBgc63Ao/s2506/Photo%20Dec%2017%202023,%209%2013%2039%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="1670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICC8aLxJr583iCove4nnOtS_F9E5Gbre7uWcGTarujS4PUMSRykNiJUsrA6x7tQgx7H7TNGqTskDS15e0AF3ATJ-TMlXD0DPVRrd_ueee2CDMYn8jDwx8_mDYlGIDYvMs-HC2AseKmN5cbpguf23ckQDC6JjVjAA_QnAwmrPVjdntO4VAM_dzBgc63Ao/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2017%202023,%209%2013%2039%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Mom! Come look at the bunny I made!" -- Starling. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj35BhcoWak0WbIuVxKewpzS69e9uX-lGtBpuuL2VVz17CPe8fuPKdPDFGO1jJ2T3F_bMnOzUer7D6F2etSAYydvWagjM6kZtVwruwvvl1zkFs9g3TRIJPgb_oM6C-ndnzz8sdxnkWqGE_BdoiwyljAO2SJ8N_pMNxIEjJ8tcUhdpHgzYr-9Sm6AzBho/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2018%202023,%203%2017%2042%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj35BhcoWak0WbIuVxKewpzS69e9uX-lGtBpuuL2VVz17CPe8fuPKdPDFGO1jJ2T3F_bMnOzUer7D6F2etSAYydvWagjM6kZtVwruwvvl1zkFs9g3TRIJPgb_oM6C-ndnzz8sdxnkWqGE_BdoiwyljAO2SJ8N_pMNxIEjJ8tcUhdpHgzYr-9Sm6AzBho/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2018%202023,%203%2017%2042%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We gave Abe an instant print camera for his birthday. He sent us one of his first pictures. Of course he had to take a photo of his instant photo with a non-instant camera (phone). Haha.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_P6fXgfq7d9sGAFKc24dwFjQBG67BmXHnCVbxFZ3K79QJEXzhImNDtAtcqV0XXkItnrZX3kiU2tbrp0wHOCxWxtz4PvU3SjOpDFGKQjywqxYVwEkRtC5qQem3ybeXa7MdVYz_d2InNuz4b_gFj60iIFi_590UeigJFseVL0UTZsXdm2YJ7Q_qzqnsvc/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2018%202023,%205%2008%2028%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_P6fXgfq7d9sGAFKc24dwFjQBG67BmXHnCVbxFZ3K79QJEXzhImNDtAtcqV0XXkItnrZX3kiU2tbrp0wHOCxWxtz4PvU3SjOpDFGKQjywqxYVwEkRtC5qQem3ybeXa7MdVYz_d2InNuz4b_gFj60iIFi_590UeigJFseVL0UTZsXdm2YJ7Q_qzqnsvc/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2018%202023,%205%2008%2028%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A little taped together winter box with a snowman. She's a cute little crafty one.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tk2SOV-E1PvnhbjEMfIxttHWHwsafseY4IN2HvhF98sNxqi1ObwNXF8GS7-RZ7cqE_AX1T9BmFXixJTSeNtnO1X7wutdeTPLvh-shoRxip3vzgumhHReFF1jptsxfBT18vWijodVY_0mkpTZHmnre2GT-ATYhSCv7zfjKIACLK-4mGc7-E0nvlM2Rt4/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2020%202023,%202%2042%2043%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tk2SOV-E1PvnhbjEMfIxttHWHwsafseY4IN2HvhF98sNxqi1ObwNXF8GS7-RZ7cqE_AX1T9BmFXixJTSeNtnO1X7wutdeTPLvh-shoRxip3vzgumhHReFF1jptsxfBT18vWijodVY_0mkpTZHmnre2GT-ATYhSCv7zfjKIACLK-4mGc7-E0nvlM2Rt4/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2020%202023,%202%2042%2043%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The intersection just above my kids' elementary school in Mendon. I think Mendon is one of the most charming towns to ever exist. It's removed from everything else so it remains its own tiny community (while still being close enough to Logan to make grocery shopping, etc. not too big of a deal). It has tiny, cute roads and neighborhoods all bundled together in a little close-knit-tiny-city feel (with a library, post office and parks) but is still circled about by vast stretches of farmland to the east and mountains to the west to keep it feeling remote and rural. I just really adore it and am glad the one school in the town happens to be the elementary that county kids (like us here in Young Ward) attend. Between that, the post office, and my only close-drive for hills if I want a run to contain them, I get to be in Mendon somewhat regularly, and I keep hoping one of my kids will settle in that happy little place someday.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EJaWvlHvC2_8oxPItAizDWAFdeIJUFvFT8XY2725a2HxOhEt7zSCkQzDLRyxoGLSpcJrgNMrK4ecbCt8HxKxZVTzi3LoT3DzReejXhuDl49IpeCp_oGi_pbx51JOVrjyPjDqjfLz2jyPdZYgEy9JMPRF-lcw5jabj-Rng4iUcO3TQlZC4CkLnOopkPo/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2021%202023,%208%2056%2013%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EJaWvlHvC2_8oxPItAizDWAFdeIJUFvFT8XY2725a2HxOhEt7zSCkQzDLRyxoGLSpcJrgNMrK4ecbCt8HxKxZVTzi3LoT3DzReejXhuDl49IpeCp_oGi_pbx51JOVrjyPjDqjfLz2jyPdZYgEy9JMPRF-lcw5jabj-Rng4iUcO3TQlZC4CkLnOopkPo/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2021%202023,%208%2056%2013%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy brought home a little "cat-cat" hat for Starling. (Cat-Cat being the name of her stuffed animal with the same appearance as this hat.) She was much happier with it than this picture would lead you to believe.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr17oufFygTAxzTkPfYuZjBoce5oUT7nMLAnE4zgrn9PHLa_XjcM1kFOR9sAhrTTXQygC9k7Qj4wkZpZZ-mUetdO6G-jfV6uQOZNXcjOXZLFVSCPH_L6EQvx9QvqB9nIOSdji9T75n-a0dq6XAcIkaFyuX1FGq5EZyldriGfkklVbStk_rqGmv1P8_1TQ/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2021%202023,%2010%2038%2001%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr17oufFygTAxzTkPfYuZjBoce5oUT7nMLAnE4zgrn9PHLa_XjcM1kFOR9sAhrTTXQygC9k7Qj4wkZpZZ-mUetdO6G-jfV6uQOZNXcjOXZLFVSCPH_L6EQvx9QvqB9nIOSdji9T75n-a0dq6XAcIkaFyuX1FGq5EZyldriGfkklVbStk_rqGmv1P8_1TQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2021%202023,%2010%2038%2001%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Boys doing sit-ups. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFnXWpxD4EFvSgT_aAHT9u2OqGc-v0ws1L5bu2IhH9ta8E_C3emo5ZccysM_Wup0oDly_opEuGG5U0hVQhoGlQJ3CnwQ5MojFJAk9EnSEQLVLcLkyqf_NPFGLrMHYOSlHU82lsisUkCKo5zOkqgUOhSnczYGqfVgafbyZySpjSk8L8ATvRNDFUTfNPQM/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2027%202023,%201%2028%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFnXWpxD4EFvSgT_aAHT9u2OqGc-v0ws1L5bu2IhH9ta8E_C3emo5ZccysM_Wup0oDly_opEuGG5U0hVQhoGlQJ3CnwQ5MojFJAk9EnSEQLVLcLkyqf_NPFGLrMHYOSlHU82lsisUkCKo5zOkqgUOhSnczYGqfVgafbyZySpjSk8L8ATvRNDFUTfNPQM/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2027%202023,%201%2028%2015%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jesse got his learner's permit! Time to get another child driving! (I have a feeling getting his 40 hours in will happen more easily than it has with our other kids as going <i>anywhere </i>takes a decent chunk of time--even just driving to our ward building and back.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQrpnJx7Wr1Xl-ObtSIvYAhkVGYSV3Octel003sCGNo6FcmNxCDoGKnWf0mwL1_3Ap4KJDIZHhuS5IOVbr8faTjYCMmI9e8MV2PMlr0M5LOFBuUE0TrxNbpuRChVYK30p1EvH7LHQJXVHZuT707IfqafYjggaIGrYvsaiEB1zgoRlg3l7VoGj85frtio/s2953/Photo%20Dec%2027%202023,%2010%2053%2027%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2953" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQrpnJx7Wr1Xl-ObtSIvYAhkVGYSV3Octel003sCGNo6FcmNxCDoGKnWf0mwL1_3Ap4KJDIZHhuS5IOVbr8faTjYCMmI9e8MV2PMlr0M5LOFBuUE0TrxNbpuRChVYK30p1EvH7LHQJXVHZuT707IfqafYjggaIGrYvsaiEB1zgoRlg3l7VoGj85frtio/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2027%202023,%2010%2053%2027%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Part of an Activity Days event for the girls. I'm glad Summer and Mette are so close in age and will likely spend most of their years in youth church activities in the same group!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJW05nvbG4hRdykLiaerQ25zIgT_xbjWhayptgqDwj9lGUQa5wKYlfDq36j8Hu8vEPpnDhMwK8Gv2ZSFxZt7pXIzeiic8NaaPcfdrn5P9FydYSrf-eQCz9h_5XdUS8dbZrOEttm5f-kjXjP0flYDjrY8-o0Qh9jtBejrkJV8WtPic7NSvdLlhTJlXvJQ/s3109/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%206%2005%2006%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3109" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJW05nvbG4hRdykLiaerQ25zIgT_xbjWhayptgqDwj9lGUQa5wKYlfDq36j8Hu8vEPpnDhMwK8Gv2ZSFxZt7pXIzeiic8NaaPcfdrn5P9FydYSrf-eQCz9h_5XdUS8dbZrOEttm5f-kjXjP0flYDjrY8-o0Qh9jtBejrkJV8WtPic7NSvdLlhTJlXvJQ/w622-h640/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%206%2005%2006%20PM.jpg" width="622" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnVl6QQH-oqEdOi_0MyfwMqnqY0FIZpgdqX97GRUPUiKcz7aUEQ8csrKYSPpqtX6xY-AA5gNVvr7pFq821uJNt6xbX5ygAuGxb02Fk8jMvqrE78mqQuorcKj3W211KIQq5zX_JiF1_IBd1PQZw8PZK7z4OM5kYsCJTQrjxEr_crCsXiCJ0njZJJApiaY/s3254/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%206%2005%2027%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3254" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnVl6QQH-oqEdOi_0MyfwMqnqY0FIZpgdqX97GRUPUiKcz7aUEQ8csrKYSPpqtX6xY-AA5gNVvr7pFq821uJNt6xbX5ygAuGxb02Fk8jMvqrE78mqQuorcKj3W211KIQq5zX_JiF1_IBd1PQZw8PZK7z4OM5kYsCJTQrjxEr_crCsXiCJ0njZJJApiaY/w594-h640/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%206%2005%2027%20PM.jpg" width="594" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy's BYU choir had a performance that, luckily, we were able to watch from my phone (which I cast to our TV). We snagged a few screenshots whenever we got to see her, and the kids cheered her on as one would ... if her performance were a football game.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlMjnIlO1hhXvvoFNpdoBFJNGWG7gjklyw2z5q-dks8sBs4H6Rep0pRTVZnewy2UUNTAG6kcH3nxSp5rhmdpy9_BiieyA8dDfn-YtRFWxJR_B6cDO0WO_KsITgsBQu5kZz7uvoK5XRoWkmmOrwqo8e0GcH52Lbb_pO7lGWaMwkdjdh6RE9DGkiujX8s4/s1170/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2044%2047%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1170" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlMjnIlO1hhXvvoFNpdoBFJNGWG7gjklyw2z5q-dks8sBs4H6Rep0pRTVZnewy2UUNTAG6kcH3nxSp5rhmdpy9_BiieyA8dDfn-YtRFWxJR_B6cDO0WO_KsITgsBQu5kZz7uvoK5XRoWkmmOrwqo8e0GcH52Lbb_pO7lGWaMwkdjdh6RE9DGkiujX8s4/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2044%2047%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykSS5HamJn2PlrbZLWUlrUdWqy3AOY0Ww06la7Atq5-IHN4S4Tyx2ypS4Vu77YsZT8-ddL1IDIEHVo87OQ4sL_3ERcYWlGWqbowOUW-2D_lI1TyKLPibNWZNScK1dg3-UqFsFdG5dEQj5YLcoMhWJZaS9mlkoQlzJ6crUPSh6WLiLTsZ92iFGb-y84os/s1755/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2048%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1755" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykSS5HamJn2PlrbZLWUlrUdWqy3AOY0Ww06la7Atq5-IHN4S4Tyx2ypS4Vu77YsZT8-ddL1IDIEHVo87OQ4sL_3ERcYWlGWqbowOUW-2D_lI1TyKLPibNWZNScK1dg3-UqFsFdG5dEQj5YLcoMhWJZaS9mlkoQlzJ6crUPSh6WLiLTsZ92iFGb-y84os/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2048%2021%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xkBKSh_v2BDv18aE7tHUtII6xZfD9bJcHa-bL1ZgxioiyxFIXvLjpobdTLT9o5t_dAetmChHAGJcD-7OMmiE0MHwNFmgW76n_nDv8dxj_phcTLpo2NaFzZnSUR5hLfNIIIGRb2978n3oYRKFVbd-4YEYOvxzUxuffL4jysA1Gpm4ZsMrQs9v6k7V9VA/s1755/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2055%2059%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1755" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xkBKSh_v2BDv18aE7tHUtII6xZfD9bJcHa-bL1ZgxioiyxFIXvLjpobdTLT9o5t_dAetmChHAGJcD-7OMmiE0MHwNFmgW76n_nDv8dxj_phcTLpo2NaFzZnSUR5hLfNIIIGRb2978n3oYRKFVbd-4YEYOvxzUxuffL4jysA1Gpm4ZsMrQs9v6k7V9VA/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2055%2059%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnKK36FWbmRQ21lxO6ttsxdOUnmVQMEj35HdG7fkijj12jKU740QYmdx41ISlGfP36ib86ziF2ufoEXYkx0GSFnoC6tbqTnQSKnCFaE_YaRndCo3P3dwkPY32dK8BnPtZcmA5zQjqeZ3wz9WRLvDGM8Hoa1REgoP2iphck1Weznle8AobrTlnvxyg6mc/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2057%2046%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4032" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnKK36FWbmRQ21lxO6ttsxdOUnmVQMEj35HdG7fkijj12jKU740QYmdx41ISlGfP36ib86ziF2ufoEXYkx0GSFnoC6tbqTnQSKnCFaE_YaRndCo3P3dwkPY32dK8BnPtZcmA5zQjqeZ3wz9WRLvDGM8Hoa1REgoP2iphck1Weznle8AobrTlnvxyg6mc/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%207%2057%2046%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our biggest Christmassy activity this year was the Peter Breinholt Christmas concert. I think maybe the Tabernacle Choir performance was that night as well? Or a host of other events? Downtown Salt Lake was absolutely packed! We spent a great deal of time in traffic before ever finding a place to park--and the dinner we'd intended to get before the concert had to be moved to after the concert; but we all enjoyed the concert so much! I'm not much of a concert goer but went to a fair share of large ones back in my day (U2, Tom Petty, REM, etc.) but I've never enjoyed any concert more than this one. It was just so fun to be there with our whole family (except for Goldie--which really was a loss as she would have loved it as well as any of us could have), and, as I've mentioned before, his Noel album is one all of our kids have grown up associating with Christmas, so it just all felt very happy. (At one point Peter was talking about some songs that aren't actually Christmas songs but that remind him of Christmas because of when he listened to them or was gifted an album as a kid. We thought it was funny that what he didn't know is that if my kids hear <b>any </b>of his songs--even songs not remotely related to Christmas--they think Christmassy thoughts. His voice and style are just too tied with Christmas for them.) I also felt like crying a bit when he played "Jerusalem" as I feel so nostalgic hearing that song. I'm really glad we went and think we will have to do it again when Goldie gets back.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C2lBfFJn8nmOH7VZXcBnCJJJuvJbJCud_YZf8-dAdY7jj6YW5cWmdyk7H1V1rivCFuwOHLGmJ2z82toadLLBivJMmks2SyHmFPhITWwQosiPyHBlREkeQD6Y9dWlY4-Tvuqd_61jagkKrt_fKcmn8npZ_8NZBEjgklm2Qi4CL_IFfX7lwxW3SaCHtCI/s1236/IMG_9255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1236" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C2lBfFJn8nmOH7VZXcBnCJJJuvJbJCud_YZf8-dAdY7jj6YW5cWmdyk7H1V1rivCFuwOHLGmJ2z82toadLLBivJMmks2SyHmFPhITWwQosiPyHBlREkeQD6Y9dWlY4-Tvuqd_61jagkKrt_fKcmn8npZ_8NZBEjgklm2Qi4CL_IFfX7lwxW3SaCHtCI/w640-h480/IMG_9255.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn05gGcggkTN2kfCBg0RLnlhsq3Q8EI5vI5zEICpEHdc-v99rT1Bp85c71zrQfS2sORkn3BB_CEmCfnbLgTPcGiD-PV5WLBokVYgawmS_7ak5CYNLqmEvW190rZTZtSOwFHW7BkJgOIp5FpcMcevpIOdA-kOXlAot2s9rzgXBbkC72hCmYnhmZSbP9d1M/s3147/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2000%2034%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2360" data-original-width="3147" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn05gGcggkTN2kfCBg0RLnlhsq3Q8EI5vI5zEICpEHdc-v99rT1Bp85c71zrQfS2sORkn3BB_CEmCfnbLgTPcGiD-PV5WLBokVYgawmS_7ak5CYNLqmEvW190rZTZtSOwFHW7BkJgOIp5FpcMcevpIOdA-kOXlAot2s9rzgXBbkC72hCmYnhmZSbP9d1M/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2000%2034%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vUXA116eHXfiXdnH9EWWF_0KroqVcxkAqtcyPjZqD8lg2wsxB_LXD4mDTOsQoZTBCSph2yLEtA2SfQPfwcGnub8tRt0c6WUX0zqObopCk2x-dC5mKlKF2VqTpXVWfj0yprgQp3K-W1VHnHgWRieyFoOFlvX0ZY48j58yOz5qQ2AK4JevkSTng6Oklwg/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2000%2054%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vUXA116eHXfiXdnH9EWWF_0KroqVcxkAqtcyPjZqD8lg2wsxB_LXD4mDTOsQoZTBCSph2yLEtA2SfQPfwcGnub8tRt0c6WUX0zqObopCk2x-dC5mKlKF2VqTpXVWfj0yprgQp3K-W1VHnHgWRieyFoOFlvX0ZY48j58yOz5qQ2AK4JevkSTng6Oklwg/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2000%2054%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbJAdvQqloDb8Umki3WcScU80J2Ici_8c5Iig64HgfL6Y4eygEucoAI8JsqilQcfqaFCxA86uCqQObF5LFP67v0z8DEdI5mR_pONgxN1_zH79iH6MSwJ-_K5pvPE82KvuvkySWWedMEjihm1nRcb4yLRix-_j_YGT2cXAISP1ta1xQDcGilhSsv6wAjc/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2001%2004%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbJAdvQqloDb8Umki3WcScU80J2Ici_8c5Iig64HgfL6Y4eygEucoAI8JsqilQcfqaFCxA86uCqQObF5LFP67v0z8DEdI5mR_pONgxN1_zH79iH6MSwJ-_K5pvPE82KvuvkySWWedMEjihm1nRcb4yLRix-_j_YGT2cXAISP1ta1xQDcGilhSsv6wAjc/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%208%2001%2004%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C9Vf3wf5XLpekFhIWdpnKZrUU3oSD9Ku_1lD3XcLTOY8cWhu4ARo9MUmUhzFmW6LmXFd_Zl1ZPjXVNARQHuKF9so_qSDYU-yJC_xTiaVWbqaZRIlg0yMRGG01e5pQGpv7xZr3qWFrNRBDMxZrx8E9425W0gfBNlQFoDXVKxCN93NjrXBgeZiIc-AxoY/s3739/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%209%2052%2017%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="3739" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C9Vf3wf5XLpekFhIWdpnKZrUU3oSD9Ku_1lD3XcLTOY8cWhu4ARo9MUmUhzFmW6LmXFd_Zl1ZPjXVNARQHuKF9so_qSDYU-yJC_xTiaVWbqaZRIlg0yMRGG01e5pQGpv7xZr3qWFrNRBDMxZrx8E9425W0gfBNlQFoDXVKxCN93NjrXBgeZiIc-AxoY/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2016%202023,%209%2052%2017%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And to end ... this little December memory that popped up on my phone. I know I still have a houseful of young children (seven still living full time at home), but I am still sometimes in shock and awe that past me had so many babies to care for at once! Look at baby Summer and Mette. And we were only a year away from baby Hans joining them! (And Starling not too much later!) There were ten kids at home and four of them were four and under! How did I do it? HOW? It was so hard, but also so amazing! So many babies to love! I'm so glad such a lovely and impossible stage of so many kids (and so many of them babies at once) got to be a part of my mortal experience! Sometimes I would cry every day because it was so overwhelming and there were so many needs and I felt often so failing and so tired (especially when Mike's work hours would keep him away from us for great lengths of time). And yet ... I feel so glad! So lucky and grateful that that was my life and my story. And ohhhh how I do miss those babies! (Which is perhaps why we all treat four-year-old Starling as a baby still.) <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSH5Nn-nO2W5MFJSnquooYfD72tH3YmNwhFDGOy2mZlcnstpUA-lgEm7pW2c0XjNPIx_Acvn8UCVcakxJZFKI70jOJpk_0p-px0oxUvXXIIvYFlCTlI0aaWzVVAExk5t6oXj0YCOO41hX5pOmIpcVIRGzWbql6cW9kt9PwOvW1Ickj-4Zwp0CF9feS5A/s2532/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%208%2057%2033%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSH5Nn-nO2W5MFJSnquooYfD72tH3YmNwhFDGOy2mZlcnstpUA-lgEm7pW2c0XjNPIx_Acvn8UCVcakxJZFKI70jOJpk_0p-px0oxUvXXIIvYFlCTlI0aaWzVVAExk5t6oXj0YCOO41hX5pOmIpcVIRGzWbql6cW9kt9PwOvW1Ickj-4Zwp0CF9feS5A/w296-h640/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%208%2057%2033%20AM.png" width="296" /></span></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-51487140812614307772023-12-12T13:11:00.007-07:002023-12-12T13:16:28.101-07:00Abe and Jesse Birthdays<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Today is Abe's birthday. 23. TWENTY-THREE!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He knew he wouldn't be able to escape BYU (nor fit in 4 hours of driving to and from) on his actual birthday, so he came home (along with Daisy) over the weekend to celebrate along with Jesse who turned 15! (This will be my<b> fifth</b> child to spend forty hours of driving practice with. [And I will end that sentence on a preposition so help me. I just read this somewhere online after all: "<span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); color: #040c28;">Yes, it's fine to end a sentence with a preposition</span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">. The 'rule' against doing so is overwhelmingly rejected by modern style guides and language authorities and is based on the rules of Latin grammar, not English. Trying to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition often results in very unnatural phrasings." And if it was online ... it must be true. So.])</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWsgMHT9vEb9mho27W5afeAmtC-Ef8TRcyI6o1nsYCwWWtYCIZtKFd8uPEmrj_4Q9NvlrLqaAGzST9z5GA2By5vHbA6Yb6XOE9O-hiqxXr9-J0pzsWCVO3IOwAiS36IxgL8En0vw4wKStkrdo9YflIO9ytJINZul-S3m5nBP2tbsiqXgiaylVmS58Mv4/s2048/IMG_0840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWsgMHT9vEb9mho27W5afeAmtC-Ef8TRcyI6o1nsYCwWWtYCIZtKFd8uPEmrj_4Q9NvlrLqaAGzST9z5GA2By5vHbA6Yb6XOE9O-hiqxXr9-J0pzsWCVO3IOwAiS36IxgL8En0vw4wKStkrdo9YflIO9ytJINZul-S3m5nBP2tbsiqXgiaylVmS58Mv4/w640-h426/IMG_0840.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlP8utRcmeHerGmpwEm5eq2vT4UXbMib4-sTwuKK_LwLNrkJz1qlABH-eQa3pNhjCdOSZS0pEUo5qPTn2Btzl47NcDG_MbBJt58MXLwg5L5-J5N60EiQMzcR_a3in6oomZOx8baVCfLC5PYURsq0YRKlxT6ODDQc0x6oH1nd5yQWrvSNRDvhPBhR2yLA/s2048/IMG_0848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlP8utRcmeHerGmpwEm5eq2vT4UXbMib4-sTwuKK_LwLNrkJz1qlABH-eQa3pNhjCdOSZS0pEUo5qPTn2Btzl47NcDG_MbBJt58MXLwg5L5-J5N60EiQMzcR_a3in6oomZOx8baVCfLC5PYURsq0YRKlxT6ODDQc0x6oH1nd5yQWrvSNRDvhPBhR2yLA/w640-h426/IMG_0848.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">One of my concerns about moving--<i>especially </i>about having a temporary mid-move rental that wasn't part of our long-term living plan--was that it would just so much <i>not</i> feel like <b>home </b>to our college kids that they wouldn't really want to come around as much. It has made me so relieved and happy to have discovered that, while it may not have the perks of old friends close by and a familiar home ward of people who know and love them, <i style="font-weight: bold;">home </i>really still is ... wherever we all are. That sounds like some catchy phrase from a mug. "Home is where your heart is." Haha. But it has been a great comfort to find it true! And nothing makes me happier than falling asleep at midnight to the sound of the Anders-and-older crew all still up and laughing over some show or game or conversation. (I mean ... it makes me happy in a "please be quite so I can sleep" sort-of-way of course. :)</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But, 23 and 15! That's just so crazy. When we told a bit about each of their births around the dinner table we realized that I was 23 when Abe was born! I could not possibly have imagined up that baby reaching <b>my same age</b>. (Not any more than I can now imagine any of my kids having a 23-year-old child of their own.) </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Time is such a wild thing. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy recently said something to me along the lines of, "I do think I had just a very happy childhood." And part of me thought, "What? But how is that possible? A childhood is what I had growing up with my wise parents. Surely you couldn't have had 'a happy childhood' when I'm still not even sure how to be a mom--much less how to create <i>an entire childhood</i> for anyone! But. ... perhaps somehow, we did. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In any case, here is a fully-out-of-childhood Abe and a nearly-out-of-childhood Jesse!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Vdyw44metJHxBhDNQuEaHSV2w2LD24ArRySqhADBUdxcKKFI0fW97hJBhhYZ19Hu4mfaM7eiE89xy-34xkenM9TDpEN4Ywt-dBk5Z2BLMyuH0EBAx50pFlIEIHthoqzc3E8xmqJdUvmBeZKwceUYHdRA22J3c1v12yy8GJILB_FLX-3VDG__XCV5h4/s2048/IMG_0832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Vdyw44metJHxBhDNQuEaHSV2w2LD24ArRySqhADBUdxcKKFI0fW97hJBhhYZ19Hu4mfaM7eiE89xy-34xkenM9TDpEN4Ywt-dBk5Z2BLMyuH0EBAx50pFlIEIHthoqzc3E8xmqJdUvmBeZKwceUYHdRA22J3c1v12yy8GJILB_FLX-3VDG__XCV5h4/w640-h426/IMG_0832.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUqvGZqSzKZ79dXsrUH4oVZOfbNeSKJw0Q0yOgpC8Uv_TUgfHzS_ouwFMiETYyrd5Zz2U8uVtfrgVxaVcBmRX499jbnzLg0Rhq78F-CQLEEfXKwYeQv22sond6qc92peKUYm8E0c0So4UjVFnYJ1FctxZOsHugKNznrpwgpEoXxoR7KUQWCU20YjSa8w/s2048/IMG_0835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUqvGZqSzKZ79dXsrUH4oVZOfbNeSKJw0Q0yOgpC8Uv_TUgfHzS_ouwFMiETYyrd5Zz2U8uVtfrgVxaVcBmRX499jbnzLg0Rhq78F-CQLEEfXKwYeQv22sond6qc92peKUYm8E0c0So4UjVFnYJ1FctxZOsHugKNznrpwgpEoXxoR7KUQWCU20YjSa8w/w640-h426/IMG_0835.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_e1d0q27K2Pj2cu0fH5k2aGLUmLcBynHlwoEykd6FaJlNrhS4Infha0mm3oDMDptU30ptL8gO-4rxFDHyTbCjc2t96c13734am1ocdVlkledxcrSN08GUeX-TEv8CEsPzxzSuJ2Q1V9RpONLlAkjAv0Dh6dXpsbL5NDTOzS7xednH2Louf09Z6hCTok/s2048/IMG_0837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_e1d0q27K2Pj2cu0fH5k2aGLUmLcBynHlwoEykd6FaJlNrhS4Infha0mm3oDMDptU30ptL8gO-4rxFDHyTbCjc2t96c13734am1ocdVlkledxcrSN08GUeX-TEv8CEsPzxzSuJ2Q1V9RpONLlAkjAv0Dh6dXpsbL5NDTOzS7xednH2Louf09Z6hCTok/w640-h426/IMG_0837.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYtFbtzMNcuiNuNxC740rGZAt2qSIYbwYn8-lWXoQjGJ63-0Vm9yFewqXja6NuR9F_BCObQ1p98lNl3honZod-Q3-iq5dIIt6dAtEj9Lgg32dNxv2LSQLyLiKbfp0FcH0glpmGNjx7d7tbjW2G59HK4k2_PUfjty6aoXyfeJWHFrMV62UpTcvIozbvr0/s2048/IMG_0843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYtFbtzMNcuiNuNxC740rGZAt2qSIYbwYn8-lWXoQjGJ63-0Vm9yFewqXja6NuR9F_BCObQ1p98lNl3honZod-Q3-iq5dIIt6dAtEj9Lgg32dNxv2LSQLyLiKbfp0FcH0glpmGNjx7d7tbjW2G59HK4k2_PUfjty6aoXyfeJWHFrMV62UpTcvIozbvr0/w640-h426/IMG_0843.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvCouOufqigqES97UWmezUMG3lg7NaD4DkgmSnILe5u3BRDJ2iJKd_y-psUVUFv8AZdlDTbN0OT_tha5bp2gP7wrAxSOfHa_SyyoxlQQGCfFejQ_UKcqbcQ25idBibKxs2IpRV14qyfL4Q2I1a77-q4Kdqd1IYI_7NtYthrig4vZjfLJCbgoxjhk12Jk/s2048/IMG_0846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvCouOufqigqES97UWmezUMG3lg7NaD4DkgmSnILe5u3BRDJ2iJKd_y-psUVUFv8AZdlDTbN0OT_tha5bp2gP7wrAxSOfHa_SyyoxlQQGCfFejQ_UKcqbcQ25idBibKxs2IpRV14qyfL4Q2I1a77-q4Kdqd1IYI_7NtYthrig4vZjfLJCbgoxjhk12Jk/w640-h426/IMG_0846.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-yatbQ9-rkb55G6g0DLrN2xI1jQRvIZVL6qSK9wnICVJehxlZLnT52NNTf1pRJ75gI-7JVAD9KWoHArr1akJ9yjovIMH73AIfWriwa6n9N2PT4uClPl2lLDdrAFbRhQhmy4IR-ifKlPFIBX-CSk8XR2dDsTRm1c-rhtdcztI-jI_wjhyphenhyphenH5U9b0ciAig/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2009%202023,%206%2003%2014%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-yatbQ9-rkb55G6g0DLrN2xI1jQRvIZVL6qSK9wnICVJehxlZLnT52NNTf1pRJ75gI-7JVAD9KWoHArr1akJ9yjovIMH73AIfWriwa6n9N2PT4uClPl2lLDdrAFbRhQhmy4IR-ifKlPFIBX-CSk8XR2dDsTRm1c-rhtdcztI-jI_wjhyphenhyphenH5U9b0ciAig/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2009%202023,%206%2003%2014%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Nice work on Jesse's eye-of-Sauron cake, Daisy! Someone commented how it was rare to have something so sweet come out of Mordor.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpQ-zD4kl0vhS85rWZ-Dr6kCtfqxYv1iBQ2fgHaj7V0dlM9cJgX8UJdpVfLzDhkaO8rDHHwMP4YbFlxFd850BYnbTSz5BLdOWw_DRbK1beRC6JJnKtr4gXiXmO4RvZ8T9PtZhWYnFNVaeDaShwh88-kU-sQvEbgasRgKRzEE42mESzDevy3x-txAe43w/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2009%202023,%206%2003%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpQ-zD4kl0vhS85rWZ-Dr6kCtfqxYv1iBQ2fgHaj7V0dlM9cJgX8UJdpVfLzDhkaO8rDHHwMP4YbFlxFd850BYnbTSz5BLdOWw_DRbK1beRC6JJnKtr4gXiXmO4RvZ8T9PtZhWYnFNVaeDaShwh88-kU-sQvEbgasRgKRzEE42mESzDevy3x-txAe43w/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2009%202023,%206%2003%2021%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And, to end, a snapshot from the family group text. I liked this picture Penny took of Jesse helping Abe with a cuff button as they drove to church. (Her caption was pretty great too. Haha.) And below that is a photo Abe sent after hanging the Star-Wars-toy patent posters Daisy gave him.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWubXhsm04HISaty5kNYqK5e9VNyeEuvDrJdf9wO0rIqLY-VnmQV8I32P_ARrzLPvy6K6LfTD3r49kGQXQcSnRtEDdi3gX429bJ_mrqUHTNqWF2tiBVUHFtk-HsCWEE93fr4t0igSmvJteZ9yE1Jxv7vcW90s_LrBTbIXhtqJx5xAShzfLko6C2cYf2gM/s2532/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%2012%2027%2055%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWubXhsm04HISaty5kNYqK5e9VNyeEuvDrJdf9wO0rIqLY-VnmQV8I32P_ARrzLPvy6K6LfTD3r49kGQXQcSnRtEDdi3gX429bJ_mrqUHTNqWF2tiBVUHFtk-HsCWEE93fr4t0igSmvJteZ9yE1Jxv7vcW90s_LrBTbIXhtqJx5xAShzfLko6C2cYf2gM/w296-h640/Photo%20Dec%2012%202023,%2012%2027%2055%20PM.png" width="296" /></span></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-72064759611074169492023-12-06T13:11:00.011-07:002023-12-06T13:22:43.825-07:00A Hundred Million Bits of This and That<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I don't have any specific thoughts to get down today (though my mind has been turning over a host of things lately!), but I just wanted to pile on some photos and moments from the last little bit before we head into all the birthdaying and Christmasing that might want recorded during the remainder of this month.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So. Our first bits of snow and Starling out by her lonesome in all the vastness enjoying it.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg0woXxxXO7kwW71OzTwTtGa1y53o_w4QUsnkeQuiSeri4KY37__VB2xoIJTRVCohKGXyGeM2-DcHE3Imaa8IEBB28T3y2U0WYM4rNUDvzKmFGWNBsQqyegmA5kVggxiK_t0nQFy2F1Vv3F2JoBwNOjSQhFkyr34Z_sSn0iJ7C02cG1ag2kmjqMY7IwA/s5472/Photo%20Dec%2001%202023,%206%2056%2023%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg0woXxxXO7kwW71OzTwTtGa1y53o_w4QUsnkeQuiSeri4KY37__VB2xoIJTRVCohKGXyGeM2-DcHE3Imaa8IEBB28T3y2U0WYM4rNUDvzKmFGWNBsQqyegmA5kVggxiK_t0nQFy2F1Vv3F2JoBwNOjSQhFkyr34Z_sSn0iJ7C02cG1ag2kmjqMY7IwA/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2001%202023,%206%2056%2023%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Starling often runs off and shuts her door. Then I'll hear snipping and taping, and occasionally cries of frustration over the things a four-year-old can visualize but not quite bring into fruition. And then she'll come out with something like this snowman ornament. I love that she even cut out a curved paper hook to hang him. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCy25UxfI2WJNLBP04SHkl4sTmbewFviEBKyurLBeZ9n8SrygLjKbvgtt_N5UxFOX1rqyTdgjhbmoribZeLnO3_AdLRFFASJNQP5G8uQ1ddPsrZUZ4bzPchZ9xVKhVD2N2HL9zvqBc_g1FeXTibHAS1NNdCecKGByHQnKN0TdWlzcJdK43LaqImQx9fs/s4032/Photo%20Dec%2001%202023,%207%2053%2036%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCy25UxfI2WJNLBP04SHkl4sTmbewFviEBKyurLBeZ9n8SrygLjKbvgtt_N5UxFOX1rqyTdgjhbmoribZeLnO3_AdLRFFASJNQP5G8uQ1ddPsrZUZ4bzPchZ9xVKhVD2N2HL9zvqBc_g1FeXTibHAS1NNdCecKGByHQnKN0TdWlzcJdK43LaqImQx9fs/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2001%202023,%207%2053%2036%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Little snowmen dotting the yard.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e4NNkbE47tbvYtjlJGC9KYaB0-IIubqgVTVTQEbe9SVsYKyev6PzcG9QVeX8Qtn2kLkGfWR8_Yh3DCPSOKVfZka9Sfhzy1gW5wnWpXbIWVFzmhOCSvM4ANUfuU0wfAmeU6sRUKhd2bkV3rMGvFj0NbbItQZUV4vsPec-tlMeZLEN-wdwGGVoK1chsS0/s3874/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%202%2002%2037%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="3874" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e4NNkbE47tbvYtjlJGC9KYaB0-IIubqgVTVTQEbe9SVsYKyev6PzcG9QVeX8Qtn2kLkGfWR8_Yh3DCPSOKVfZka9Sfhzy1gW5wnWpXbIWVFzmhOCSvM4ANUfuU0wfAmeU6sRUKhd2bkV3rMGvFj0NbbItQZUV4vsPec-tlMeZLEN-wdwGGVoK1chsS0/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%202%2002%2037%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Running errands one Saturday with a host of grumping and fighting kids.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AY7lEP03Xu0NhRcblV9owzf302g442ihr67RCbZUXghmmKGyDT7QZaYpHaCcK6IWOkbwrDgnu6TcCgLZvNa2WamxCW9u-YVedL20sAYdFW9xqZuqeiMDzx-A2tSu24SabrvW3XYlY-KHpKePVoQRQNS1VigZ7gGH-rxUTZlWBe5e5TifXJalhPZpfdk/s3292/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%203%2025%2030%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3292" data-original-width="2194" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AY7lEP03Xu0NhRcblV9owzf302g442ihr67RCbZUXghmmKGyDT7QZaYpHaCcK6IWOkbwrDgnu6TcCgLZvNa2WamxCW9u-YVedL20sAYdFW9xqZuqeiMDzx-A2tSu24SabrvW3XYlY-KHpKePVoQRQNS1VigZ7gGH-rxUTZlWBe5e5TifXJalhPZpfdk/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%203%2025%2030%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The grass was poking through all of the snow, but somehow they still managed to roll a bunch of balls to create all their snow people. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVhr8HwKeRIQqridzMBrGG-6txlaAzET452cIN8DebgkOyOjXkHWgdmj77baWJaOJOE9QpLb6D9tVKKyTgpDkJBvCZ1FAQh0E2jYrn-ZLlRQ0rkwNxa5I6x4ZFg7z8bICNUKKQX8-CwU2gmaa7upcuV35hx73Dhjtg1h6bz8pqrFXztULJ9Ho1iJIZVo/s5472/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2033%2051%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVhr8HwKeRIQqridzMBrGG-6txlaAzET452cIN8DebgkOyOjXkHWgdmj77baWJaOJOE9QpLb6D9tVKKyTgpDkJBvCZ1FAQh0E2jYrn-ZLlRQ0rkwNxa5I6x4ZFg7z8bICNUKKQX8-CwU2gmaa7upcuV35hx73Dhjtg1h6bz8pqrFXztULJ9Ho1iJIZVo/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2033%2051%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn6uyw3ossCpMkmLXXWac0agBMLvIh6FdJ3WSn77VfbJUQpsgaklYJn8RMMHnmFlwxSR_K5FhaxHAmBzAsPGnTGPLD5uH1ocxNB5iDmi058GAub5AhgYqEz0Hmbti9uiMvq2COtYu9Q335omu0OhAMP3vEe8_HU_8xxNuB3dpH3wrozD1Qw_VI4RLhqs/s5472/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2046%2028%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn6uyw3ossCpMkmLXXWac0agBMLvIh6FdJ3WSn77VfbJUQpsgaklYJn8RMMHnmFlwxSR_K5FhaxHAmBzAsPGnTGPLD5uH1ocxNB5iDmi058GAub5AhgYqEz0Hmbti9uiMvq2COtYu9Q335omu0OhAMP3vEe8_HU_8xxNuB3dpH3wrozD1Qw_VI4RLhqs/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2046%2028%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K3SQnZNUFiXq4T7Ww23pcKie2TTTaOiQ6FnlJEq5BNu2qXWOuI1g7TTIfrU-GnjgaglpXYyon_AAEuks45CISKZqlk0G9YKMBms2rYq7lP4NGXyI_mItiKDWacG10EhdmFhSLVokDZIb7SIvM5o9wq5oCwVkTftdznAMFPtgTzzfHid8kNKx5LGlBco/s3893/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2046%2057%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3893" data-original-width="2595" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K3SQnZNUFiXq4T7Ww23pcKie2TTTaOiQ6FnlJEq5BNu2qXWOuI1g7TTIfrU-GnjgaglpXYyon_AAEuks45CISKZqlk0G9YKMBms2rYq7lP4NGXyI_mItiKDWacG10EhdmFhSLVokDZIb7SIvM5o9wq5oCwVkTftdznAMFPtgTzzfHid8kNKx5LGlBco/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2046%2057%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kfqb5eqR6IrO83QnlFXTjZA4pV6uor2l8Kv7TtnSlA9NrviuHti155HKJGUiQCJWzDy4U_0nuGl0-VALSYGltb9yVQj9OAT7di5qN3l8eOWjAxRlsOChyWCrZJRaeqOHrZkKWgeM-q3PsQ3-QF_eL273VMF466AtpS0PDdanFGBJZfFrDd32Ppl0yQ/s3371/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2009%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3371" data-original-width="2247" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kfqb5eqR6IrO83QnlFXTjZA4pV6uor2l8Kv7TtnSlA9NrviuHti155HKJGUiQCJWzDy4U_0nuGl0-VALSYGltb9yVQj9OAT7di5qN3l8eOWjAxRlsOChyWCrZJRaeqOHrZkKWgeM-q3PsQ3-QF_eL273VMF466AtpS0PDdanFGBJZfFrDd32Ppl0yQ/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2009%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArheavIDGcJNjHOEMwAPiBYqWNpzLA8YwfWBI6EHDmYpii5AIc63D7dFI4cpFbV9JDl6qKb7-PJQmIAmFnfYGDl5AFCV-U_K9G_uBInIqWlKrdlyc26efP6C0qUZHjzEnQ5YR8ZqS-phgFA2R121XGH7RYdTlc3L80ab8JdHaoI1xGaLfKDUkjdYpyBc/s5472/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2037%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArheavIDGcJNjHOEMwAPiBYqWNpzLA8YwfWBI6EHDmYpii5AIc63D7dFI4cpFbV9JDl6qKb7-PJQmIAmFnfYGDl5AFCV-U_K9G_uBInIqWlKrdlyc26efP6C0qUZHjzEnQ5YR8ZqS-phgFA2R121XGH7RYdTlc3L80ab8JdHaoI1xGaLfKDUkjdYpyBc/w640-h426/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2037%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GN6YW2SX-0kOLumOdZj33A9EuHlnKTzz9J2tq2PJ4DVFDBb9PTACyykM4-KN9cRxhgGkFQSLZ-0LAoDpCaRYUGG2-_AOhhHIYggR2a4vQeRcY8FBb_hZtkhkd4CVAezgGf-8K1RhFPG8KoHSlNx9lXkNBC_prgZR-Z9B1Nz1lbNL9vy__kCu46tn9vI/s3655/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2048%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3655" data-original-width="2437" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GN6YW2SX-0kOLumOdZj33A9EuHlnKTzz9J2tq2PJ4DVFDBb9PTACyykM4-KN9cRxhgGkFQSLZ-0LAoDpCaRYUGG2-_AOhhHIYggR2a4vQeRcY8FBb_hZtkhkd4CVAezgGf-8K1RhFPG8KoHSlNx9lXkNBC_prgZR-Z9B1Nz1lbNL9vy__kCu46tn9vI/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2002%202023,%206%2047%2048%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM_4ZDOn08_8O5V3doI4YrXIeGf8Q-IgtyYr_kPiCTlESkkTsx7hp-3I_lQCXI3dTVdNZeVL7q2jYA4joCbCPprNbWmMbxWjRO8CLfyZ9i9Mk3g-6QJ12ucYhRSD8QMeeKHD10p4uXhlp9GxkTEE12d5f-AlncxW-0i6ijAvl2MEA0J8Cia4zg_tV0Kk/s3088/Photo%20Dec%2003%202023,%205%2002%2033%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM_4ZDOn08_8O5V3doI4YrXIeGf8Q-IgtyYr_kPiCTlESkkTsx7hp-3I_lQCXI3dTVdNZeVL7q2jYA4joCbCPprNbWmMbxWjRO8CLfyZ9i9Mk3g-6QJ12ucYhRSD8QMeeKHD10p4uXhlp9GxkTEE12d5f-AlncxW-0i6ijAvl2MEA0J8Cia4zg_tV0Kk/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2003%202023,%205%2002%2033%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This boy lost a big front tooth on Sunday during dinner. He bit into some corn and it twisted his tooth almost out--which caused him a lot of terrified and panicked screeming that needed major soothing. And then ... the tooth came out. And it was all cheery celebration. (I like Star peeking from behind him in the photo he wanted to send to his older siblings.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcrQiWxTNHWmvRFdqzelNdkmX42JpMqJiSjFbBHeTE-gyFeAD8C4F3lu7hqND9QhACrua1-YBGC9Qw5BXTI3srad2sKveLywKgve1FkrhV0gLkzZ6ejnSFiF3de_ac_KV6emj7kE_uOLCW0UsInYGdrO1XbWLsCxOGBY13pBh2vZ_kRR4DiIYj3nbFok/s3088/Photo%20Dec%2003%202023,%205%2002%2048%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcrQiWxTNHWmvRFdqzelNdkmX42JpMqJiSjFbBHeTE-gyFeAD8C4F3lu7hqND9QhACrua1-YBGC9Qw5BXTI3srad2sKveLywKgve1FkrhV0gLkzZ6ejnSFiF3de_ac_KV6emj7kE_uOLCW0UsInYGdrO1XbWLsCxOGBY13pBh2vZ_kRR4DiIYj3nbFok/w480-h640/Photo%20Dec%2003%202023,%205%2002%2048%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D_NJwnhrg9P72xDcpY0ZAOpfBvkyR9uzsE7mKt05Nd4zalEzvWu8FwJefSkfRbxzOhr38LYFcnRPAy_lqEf7anVI4qs6_zXhzrxfQ30pWBbMQWQPv4ezqGiAT8zInKPgFb0Lm-9avsbOvDhnBlr3dAsO57etepJpzrEkncoGKqN_Jkkm2fsBjU5E2CU/s2879/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%205%2002%2002%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2879" data-original-width="1919" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D_NJwnhrg9P72xDcpY0ZAOpfBvkyR9uzsE7mKt05Nd4zalEzvWu8FwJefSkfRbxzOhr38LYFcnRPAy_lqEf7anVI4qs6_zXhzrxfQ30pWBbMQWQPv4ezqGiAT8zInKPgFb0Lm-9avsbOvDhnBlr3dAsO57etepJpzrEkncoGKqN_Jkkm2fsBjU5E2CU/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%205%2002%2002%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIZymJ0gPEpD6qe-CPhEkiUA8xqKQDCGwZmDCHunYOr73uHdEelZBqtE3kn6-Bodxa9b13shRtqFcklL2UZuvF0V7g7NMWVjDLTj8mTqRZY46nWAPKWFgwqod6MMujR7rpoNcN0iiW5iSaZimU5g28koOHq-dKAFo62d0fE1UI447NhqWc1rcjwYJYJo/s2845/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%205%2002%2023%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="1897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIZymJ0gPEpD6qe-CPhEkiUA8xqKQDCGwZmDCHunYOr73uHdEelZBqtE3kn6-Bodxa9b13shRtqFcklL2UZuvF0V7g7NMWVjDLTj8mTqRZY46nWAPKWFgwqod6MMujR7rpoNcN0iiW5iSaZimU5g28koOHq-dKAFo62d0fE1UI447NhqWc1rcjwYJYJo/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%205%2002%2023%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Little person.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvN-eL-QuTFr5YQ50SzofyY5Vb0gMzhKAMfMTZMHwt2xOTLPI8ecE9HyKqit1LpHetCa9whj0of7aBDEqlHvOk8zbqTlGVm81yjfs-rX1QrCQzpBCSA5IGIWCocVcK__I_pXBQ-dGBso97ZVAQtU4-EM1WyZTEa87ONfn10USaw-01cOJdKIqEVdoOIo/s3453/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2023%2019%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3453" data-original-width="2302" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvN-eL-QuTFr5YQ50SzofyY5Vb0gMzhKAMfMTZMHwt2xOTLPI8ecE9HyKqit1LpHetCa9whj0of7aBDEqlHvOk8zbqTlGVm81yjfs-rX1QrCQzpBCSA5IGIWCocVcK__I_pXBQ-dGBso97ZVAQtU4-EM1WyZTEa87ONfn10USaw-01cOJdKIqEVdoOIo/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2023%2019%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu1rcLh9FMj4Gtd93h2q7UB2mAxoV7Q4JL4xcObMGnP2NPQOnhotkG11nWHw7L2ZTfKKjlOjym8xZ_wf4tCWWGVByLwSkQZ_eec0Vrq95el96abaaDvIVKEhaMDzfvpdWSmv3I6xem1zfD2Sx6_NeA7gaKhpO_W2JQXE0snhusn7mznl8hxa8PFFD01w/s2637/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2024%2011%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="1758" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu1rcLh9FMj4Gtd93h2q7UB2mAxoV7Q4JL4xcObMGnP2NPQOnhotkG11nWHw7L2ZTfKKjlOjym8xZ_wf4tCWWGVByLwSkQZ_eec0Vrq95el96abaaDvIVKEhaMDzfvpdWSmv3I6xem1zfD2Sx6_NeA7gaKhpO_W2JQXE0snhusn7mznl8hxa8PFFD01w/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2024%2011%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96lv14Qnt7me9vPJjHQ-LBKyweMHDxSVExcX5J3UNDnse4LTbnxde39myMtkKrBFIHxa0cFSUSmJzwB05Zr7gU1b-SdhUBFra17mmnheilZWg8sD2mXcHxtq3cqzoVCbzL1Ub72jHjdEtF4QDPnq4W1zRzS702Rs8bOOHDy-jDgrclY8K-DiLU7LzGfQ/s2597/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2024%2026%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="1731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96lv14Qnt7me9vPJjHQ-LBKyweMHDxSVExcX5J3UNDnse4LTbnxde39myMtkKrBFIHxa0cFSUSmJzwB05Zr7gU1b-SdhUBFra17mmnheilZWg8sD2mXcHxtq3cqzoVCbzL1Ub72jHjdEtF4QDPnq4W1zRzS702Rs8bOOHDy-jDgrclY8K-DiLU7LzGfQ/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2005%202023,%2010%2024%2026%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A cold and pretty late-November day.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oz1MwuY-w0Lf9m90GT3yUUwN83LYoBOTWr1sG8vkVj6TXqTUBrvb7y-MshdqgNuBqZ5v3shP9hmnSqypffB9eSNqS1TyEsOzGOepbtxe7D5yAOQa9SJeJc78yYLu_LsOiHms4D9EnjDOSGPGFxWf8Z6zrmcOrikPQkvsGsLEnYc43ZMl7f2hyphenhyphenSGLBRQ/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%2011%2027%2007%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oz1MwuY-w0Lf9m90GT3yUUwN83LYoBOTWr1sG8vkVj6TXqTUBrvb7y-MshdqgNuBqZ5v3shP9hmnSqypffB9eSNqS1TyEsOzGOepbtxe7D5yAOQa9SJeJc78yYLu_LsOiHms4D9EnjDOSGPGFxWf8Z6zrmcOrikPQkvsGsLEnYc43ZMl7f2hyphenhyphenSGLBRQ/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%2011%2027%2007%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I get this exact box in the mail every few weeks (with my dupixent/eczema shots all covered in ice). Here Hans and Starling are turning one of them into ... something.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTokq1XK1Txj51i3eKvgPVwPImYkF7DPDPq-OitmnP_mzL-Dzpotxh8pDtg6TRqRjAXXXHXuv578FfXyZQS57WHveh0ESiUnG78Cvs85VIaJ4sHeSNIc_DTPK5Ci7Nkh1ZADcdbOqNUFJ4rc1SvdLOvIgSBtUvECdwXyNHDJW6nLPwIewEoQcgKYyhc2o/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2034%2051%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTokq1XK1Txj51i3eKvgPVwPImYkF7DPDPq-OitmnP_mzL-Dzpotxh8pDtg6TRqRjAXXXHXuv578FfXyZQS57WHveh0ESiUnG78Cvs85VIaJ4sHeSNIc_DTPK5Ci7Nkh1ZADcdbOqNUFJ4rc1SvdLOvIgSBtUvECdwXyNHDJW6nLPwIewEoQcgKYyhc2o/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2034%2051%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We stopped at a little seed and feed store in downtown Logan one Saturday that was right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. The charm, the trees and Christmas decor everywhere, the small-business aspect of it, and even Logan's new outdoor, ice-skating rink just a short walk away. We kept waiting for the romance to play out with Daisy (who happened to be home that weekend) and some owner of the business who she would recognize as someone she'd had a disagreement with from somewhere before. But it never happened. We'll go back. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQY_HP251BABb0ye3dbn6eSl-2xclGEkjm-X7getNPiHkUA-6001xGtfcw33lhwa93P8n391v6BOMAqNNsWKTKd2c-rgEGfNbeq_PbFgn3YgYzDXzVQ1qfpUjovrzRZ5CRPCAe2B0U_OPZWJQLEHgmbvFj2ILYGspwk9cWhTiW7XxEZYacAr3JGIv2tk/s3972/Photo%20Nov%2018%202023,%203%2049%2042%20PM%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3972" data-original-width="2979" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQY_HP251BABb0ye3dbn6eSl-2xclGEkjm-X7getNPiHkUA-6001xGtfcw33lhwa93P8n391v6BOMAqNNsWKTKd2c-rgEGfNbeq_PbFgn3YgYzDXzVQ1qfpUjovrzRZ5CRPCAe2B0U_OPZWJQLEHgmbvFj2ILYGspwk9cWhTiW7XxEZYacAr3JGIv2tk/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2018%202023,%203%2049%2042%20PM%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Making Thankful Turkey Bags for FHE the Monday before Thanksgiving.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiDLRkAUZWH0E4qYbgDjkrV3kqdCANR-4v6iV2gykd80kTuopC2n7XjCeI2uYaU2Wq1LNCuiA7YSo3UkXui6tR12bTtPatAjkKuUznQYBxeALoibBejNNO9nyqPKIBVYY-MvKg7pbBWQEdr3Gk1VVhvR4YbFHvxHUfOBWiaNtMFPBPcvhrtG3KM6QgeI/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2020%202023,%206%2020%2025%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiDLRkAUZWH0E4qYbgDjkrV3kqdCANR-4v6iV2gykd80kTuopC2n7XjCeI2uYaU2Wq1LNCuiA7YSo3UkXui6tR12bTtPatAjkKuUznQYBxeALoibBejNNO9nyqPKIBVYY-MvKg7pbBWQEdr3Gk1VVhvR4YbFHvxHUfOBWiaNtMFPBPcvhrtG3KM6QgeI/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2020%202023,%206%2020%2025%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Kids are funny. Starling stuck a lot of berries from a bush onto a stick one afternoon. I later found it "planted" in a spot of dirt in our front yard. I'll miss odd little discoveries like this about the yard and house when my kids are all grown. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1moTfQMp6UCYGKulGJX0fFp4Y-X7XuofkuBvMS0ydwGYJh_6llo5a7vzW018g0OuynNAKdbsGwfJU06JzDfM6tgVu4c6o0FnorMA6EQlYMNYp6AbCuKq-aEIxnKCDdyo6yOk1sbzc6WUnljZBWWDlPU_NXq61sFUtBWOjD_rn443gV8imLW10pd5AbY/s3618/Photo%20Nov%2021%202023,%204%2011%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3618" data-original-width="2412" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1moTfQMp6UCYGKulGJX0fFp4Y-X7XuofkuBvMS0ydwGYJh_6llo5a7vzW018g0OuynNAKdbsGwfJU06JzDfM6tgVu4c6o0FnorMA6EQlYMNYp6AbCuKq-aEIxnKCDdyo6yOk1sbzc6WUnljZBWWDlPU_NXq61sFUtBWOjD_rn443gV8imLW10pd5AbY/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2021%202023,%204%2011%2015%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I foolishly took no pictures of Thanksgiving. Luckily Mike's brother Jeff (who was in town from Chicago) took quite a few that he shared, so I'll post some of those. The shooting was from the day after Thanksgiving when Mike invited some of the family up to shoot clay pigeons at the farm. It was sooo cold!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr4lKktr_Rusa3rPtdsA-jIwfQ1QfuXLnoD1KaKVA42JVidlTEe64lI5QVNuC2_CrZwoHFgTB8CKSgXdswk0iBS3kqKMCCUylMDtmsU4FXmqiq73aLqnmBed9-O3njyXAyM_CF1wJStL9Dhb4Y5hS0XVUlCvvATCKiVdUnC8IkfAw9yjorXaF9Q5d8hM/s1449/IMG_4622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr4lKktr_Rusa3rPtdsA-jIwfQ1QfuXLnoD1KaKVA42JVidlTEe64lI5QVNuC2_CrZwoHFgTB8CKSgXdswk0iBS3kqKMCCUylMDtmsU4FXmqiq73aLqnmBed9-O3njyXAyM_CF1wJStL9Dhb4Y5hS0XVUlCvvATCKiVdUnC8IkfAw9yjorXaF9Q5d8hM/w640-h426/IMG_4622.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_3L8QnUrxBkgFaIb1inVVRkG2apdzqB2tZcWDHz2kWrOGxfiAbEcZB4T5zCVdrwdanxu-FY2Wrz_3EPjrDSTMmiKt91EbjCSJQRd0pfV9HVmGlVOq48YdlNJ3H0-xJyxcIAaoT7f4eKqeanBDfJaZjRWBJD61x8BkZZjJRuqAOSnt3mkxY0L_AIYkWA/s1449/IMG_4623.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_3L8QnUrxBkgFaIb1inVVRkG2apdzqB2tZcWDHz2kWrOGxfiAbEcZB4T5zCVdrwdanxu-FY2Wrz_3EPjrDSTMmiKt91EbjCSJQRd0pfV9HVmGlVOq48YdlNJ3H0-xJyxcIAaoT7f4eKqeanBDfJaZjRWBJD61x8BkZZjJRuqAOSnt3mkxY0L_AIYkWA/w640-h426/IMG_4623.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXzBRr3_i8KXc20Lga1QSa72CdW330b3-TFKGTmUvAaQpNuhqcEh0YeIErUmQPhToRwJLSVAg8FHK0bDy4cVTP6uZfTSdZKIomlsMXJnhtlpsqL_klgbc1j7hBvdvgb0Cy1zz8Gb7XnHVTvePd8yV-7O4wQO_6MjbIYgh5BeoTzjMSxOe_GXf8N2of_4/s966/IMG_4627.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXzBRr3_i8KXc20Lga1QSa72CdW330b3-TFKGTmUvAaQpNuhqcEh0YeIErUmQPhToRwJLSVAg8FHK0bDy4cVTP6uZfTSdZKIomlsMXJnhtlpsqL_klgbc1j7hBvdvgb0Cy1zz8Gb7XnHVTvePd8yV-7O4wQO_6MjbIYgh5BeoTzjMSxOe_GXf8N2of_4/w426-h640/IMG_4627.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike's brother Greg brought things for a bridge-building contest. I don't recall how little Hansie did here, but Jesse got one of the highest weights. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SK1pgBelV324DoN04IxbjFdVZsls6SccilJKbRX7-s0mgEP0X7M_giH7_O7O8oBd3BYJo8YFpzddHqPOyg-AWf1AVWomqVXECI1A_8tldD_G4c_730_JtrdZhKUxY9qD6p4sIiiNnTL6YB1s0_adk2dZzn7KaPWubpvrSMZGZpilLZ5dhWKiWEy9HmQ/s1449/IMG_4634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SK1pgBelV324DoN04IxbjFdVZsls6SccilJKbRX7-s0mgEP0X7M_giH7_O7O8oBd3BYJo8YFpzddHqPOyg-AWf1AVWomqVXECI1A_8tldD_G4c_730_JtrdZhKUxY9qD6p4sIiiNnTL6YB1s0_adk2dZzn7KaPWubpvrSMZGZpilLZ5dhWKiWEy9HmQ/w640-h426/IMG_4634.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHiU9t4q8Vp2N6HtXI2qMYlDIbLzgFFn07BdmS6yIebhIpQp1POWU6yoMQJMRj3DaKH9zjifpipCq7zTh1r7uUvsxFG7SjeODLCuFSdYnMou2HGE6YeJxvf_P1fai8nYVW_8Lu-I6zkGQ_f-Su5WLRn8fbHMrZuFvP-czgFGlm6z8uofV_v292o9ZP10/s1449/IMG_4642.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHiU9t4q8Vp2N6HtXI2qMYlDIbLzgFFn07BdmS6yIebhIpQp1POWU6yoMQJMRj3DaKH9zjifpipCq7zTh1r7uUvsxFG7SjeODLCuFSdYnMou2HGE6YeJxvf_P1fai8nYVW_8Lu-I6zkGQ_f-Su5WLRn8fbHMrZuFvP-czgFGlm6z8uofV_v292o9ZP10/w640-h426/IMG_4642.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bar dips kept happening. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrGxh7S07BsjFFwb1sdHXCPPJ2z6Bjfnv6bBmhyphenhypheny2e25yIy3j8U3-bhdP8Ahcddk6pJDkAsw7ZY6pyY4pmsW5LpEGxUpPwwloy3JQC-K0-i3zWgnK5JkBnH_SD7POeEjSpiM79nnfCxugQOiBoZ85Nk-yOYFETetFYuPMEhgykMIDu35e1aNvWh1TBVU/s1449/IMG_4656.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrGxh7S07BsjFFwb1sdHXCPPJ2z6Bjfnv6bBmhyphenhypheny2e25yIy3j8U3-bhdP8Ahcddk6pJDkAsw7ZY6pyY4pmsW5LpEGxUpPwwloy3JQC-K0-i3zWgnK5JkBnH_SD7POeEjSpiM79nnfCxugQOiBoZ85Nk-yOYFETetFYuPMEhgykMIDu35e1aNvWh1TBVU/w640-h426/IMG_4656.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Gayle showing the kids some of the old-type of hard-tack Christmas candy they had when she was young. My grandma always had a bowl of that around the house during December, and we actually often got hard-tack in our stockings. (Just a loose handful--which meant stocking lint was often stuck to it. :))<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu_VdyNc5sVbot4naFgbzmOXfA8_WYOPkIucERacn8hHbTLUqixICy2mbnuLCi2MZ2w8EZVOcpDUbDGAUEAgx9yElyb5uQ9gcBvTlTm2mjHDDgx7ERJyiVvJ5BcOm-45AQM1kcROAKyuDtx5i4fIDOh1XufQX7UA1NiNiQr3MfDLGbLTpvCCMI_KrciY/s966/IMG_4670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu_VdyNc5sVbot4naFgbzmOXfA8_WYOPkIucERacn8hHbTLUqixICy2mbnuLCi2MZ2w8EZVOcpDUbDGAUEAgx9yElyb5uQ9gcBvTlTm2mjHDDgx7ERJyiVvJ5BcOm-45AQM1kcROAKyuDtx5i4fIDOh1XufQX7UA1NiNiQr3MfDLGbLTpvCCMI_KrciY/w426-h640/IMG_4670.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqkG64ReiJM2H5GMDn2xntwUOq8fe62FxDit0WMW_rl0tJJ0d2OeMrgRTiilpImku_f4k7294UFLcL5-ZkgMpw29el1K7a83besEcL0HPnfl82G-o-W65dxSTYsNdTbwlCqo-0xfoAlvH12nFvTKhoc2GHeMNcAaP_KFbLsA5BGJJqVu5kYLfrOBlQmU/s1449/IMG_4673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqkG64ReiJM2H5GMDn2xntwUOq8fe62FxDit0WMW_rl0tJJ0d2OeMrgRTiilpImku_f4k7294UFLcL5-ZkgMpw29el1K7a83besEcL0HPnfl82G-o-W65dxSTYsNdTbwlCqo-0xfoAlvH12nFvTKhoc2GHeMNcAaP_KFbLsA5BGJJqVu5kYLfrOBlQmU/w640-h426/IMG_4673.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8YbXVMycfqxSVUbw6GTtbShh-BIJCHSvgEAdtgNI6VXOnP8QKu3QP0PXR3BdNH_fKVrV57fauEOAWaTU2Wbjq1HNNXB8RAak7BcSsbsMsc3VVkJgT13eWh_lZrOJHY_oozPJq8oPI6-q2N2RpXwAOcj2Q9PT5Rk_AgaSjlWYZjvIyCCPfYNbocQFh6s/s1449/IMG_4674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8YbXVMycfqxSVUbw6GTtbShh-BIJCHSvgEAdtgNI6VXOnP8QKu3QP0PXR3BdNH_fKVrV57fauEOAWaTU2Wbjq1HNNXB8RAak7BcSsbsMsc3VVkJgT13eWh_lZrOJHY_oozPJq8oPI6-q2N2RpXwAOcj2Q9PT5Rk_AgaSjlWYZjvIyCCPfYNbocQFh6s/w640-h426/IMG_4674.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ5SRiUeIIWFHi_A1wPlYt8vSpmFma7eKlkDxVnsgVV8RcqIx4bdZdZb7pKAmHQej6mPBI9rbpasCSfI738HpzThcNp21DBYRIBV8LMMQtpOvwhY1JGS1NSmPwqk65yYMdq6HFikVjQWSeDirsJPhGgqz261rQimuAUTFKPcPcpWzcXnRvl924A7cjUI/s1449/IMG_4677.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ5SRiUeIIWFHi_A1wPlYt8vSpmFma7eKlkDxVnsgVV8RcqIx4bdZdZb7pKAmHQej6mPBI9rbpasCSfI738HpzThcNp21DBYRIBV8LMMQtpOvwhY1JGS1NSmPwqk65yYMdq6HFikVjQWSeDirsJPhGgqz261rQimuAUTFKPcPcpWzcXnRvl924A7cjUI/w640-h426/IMG_4677.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBLT6h1ixGT00UnHnJ4kVtaMF3na_iGxCE8FpVPooMlF-ktxELz7IT88twKskX6z0n5VbduyrP9gGHCIsk6qEM7Yd1ucl8iprHmx70LDZLr4nB8MwIXyeEHRCPMUKdOqOuUGZxRQJwT3z1jmDNBmn-MYah2Ih2RbFv3kOgcAIgjv9TpSqo49JsU7QmlU/s1449/IMG_4678%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBLT6h1ixGT00UnHnJ4kVtaMF3na_iGxCE8FpVPooMlF-ktxELz7IT88twKskX6z0n5VbduyrP9gGHCIsk6qEM7Yd1ucl8iprHmx70LDZLr4nB8MwIXyeEHRCPMUKdOqOuUGZxRQJwT3z1jmDNBmn-MYah2Ih2RbFv3kOgcAIgjv9TpSqo49JsU7QmlU/w640-h426/IMG_4678%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8X85WCUlzl8m60fx88ZCgPO1hEiF2HFg0DufXB54NzCF7UCJLas2n0MNVqyNKY2TZ900UbqaU26NayWECsIQPKF46QawsUi0jeNS3I6-7-j4ERuQbyUoxbDgxTNZavTFpx8aX6zGOM30HWdGShbuf2Ijx7ObettlqTjg0002jc10IH-96ykDTZK1lck/s1449/IMG_4679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8X85WCUlzl8m60fx88ZCgPO1hEiF2HFg0DufXB54NzCF7UCJLas2n0MNVqyNKY2TZ900UbqaU26NayWECsIQPKF46QawsUi0jeNS3I6-7-j4ERuQbyUoxbDgxTNZavTFpx8aX6zGOM30HWdGShbuf2Ijx7ObettlqTjg0002jc10IH-96ykDTZK1lck/w640-h426/IMG_4679.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hNk2RTckMI29N3KrR0PJ-DOjjWkEDMB-2h5OQeJ8Z9TzhhrBeS7fki6upyYjp9PsOojzWnx305Fxm3P2b8hPJmikpi8z7F5Wtdwg-GIjJ4V9WnkzGSrHQSdTqx6alvYckjmXFbrI4uejWGfugdEX9zQOKAE9M8CrnSUiO6cRpF9SqD33AvstuYTNSoY/s1449/IMG_4688.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hNk2RTckMI29N3KrR0PJ-DOjjWkEDMB-2h5OQeJ8Z9TzhhrBeS7fki6upyYjp9PsOojzWnx305Fxm3P2b8hPJmikpi8z7F5Wtdwg-GIjJ4V9WnkzGSrHQSdTqx6alvYckjmXFbrI4uejWGfugdEX9zQOKAE9M8CrnSUiO6cRpF9SqD33AvstuYTNSoY/w640-h426/IMG_4688.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpaQiHjPYibJnin6kLE_1svYwcmv5ISOa40u9qSbtFD4lGQ0IpM74pSTmwO33A4zTIR8IACcvidJJqj6JnS8uMkIYFqe9fv2z5TGCR51IDY-qBO_2WLVxLA-rKjRSYMrolchzBgLxhz20GZMSzNzIfvlFPbSxas8LzpFg66cEAc9GxaOLAwj6ilRBzQ/s1449/IMG_4704.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpaQiHjPYibJnin6kLE_1svYwcmv5ISOa40u9qSbtFD4lGQ0IpM74pSTmwO33A4zTIR8IACcvidJJqj6JnS8uMkIYFqe9fv2z5TGCR51IDY-qBO_2WLVxLA-rKjRSYMrolchzBgLxhz20GZMSzNzIfvlFPbSxas8LzpFg66cEAc9GxaOLAwj6ilRBzQ/w640-h426/IMG_4704.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike is a great shot. And Abe, Dais and Pen all shot really well. I, on the other hand, cannot hit a clay pigeon to save my life. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kOWHXOCkhCOKSC_QHLUDb3fhdEmbBPIr8dBJqY_lsU2hLQXH0uEQeZ0yudh6VTzkN_bRBWQ7R567Ht1fzFIFrAfb2a8LVt8JY_tdCdFkbcgI0jTVeo-P9HvSNA0BCVuaw33TWbfavjaYQG4dvutpAU8nW-osgepiR0vNN-1y28Ah6ikX4sotMWyfRPQ/s1449/IMG_4705.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kOWHXOCkhCOKSC_QHLUDb3fhdEmbBPIr8dBJqY_lsU2hLQXH0uEQeZ0yudh6VTzkN_bRBWQ7R567Ht1fzFIFrAfb2a8LVt8JY_tdCdFkbcgI0jTVeo-P9HvSNA0BCVuaw33TWbfavjaYQG4dvutpAU8nW-osgepiR0vNN-1y28Ah6ikX4sotMWyfRPQ/w640-h426/IMG_4705.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnOKFzksuKvDysOpAMPZWcPXefATt_tcoVDNAQ8n6OjHQqcIkBN9NXQw82lRtNggZTadmQ3o4yEdAgnZceMW9II-_9x092LDq0KJGBTxK0EJ-0gmMVF_otneIbRKfnYHooDAe4QdGm9cJaGsZ85Me_2-wNYB8h8iH_aV8LOLSQRFED6lJbrMkyXziXy4/s1449/IMG_4706.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnOKFzksuKvDysOpAMPZWcPXefATt_tcoVDNAQ8n6OjHQqcIkBN9NXQw82lRtNggZTadmQ3o4yEdAgnZceMW9II-_9x092LDq0KJGBTxK0EJ-0gmMVF_otneIbRKfnYHooDAe4QdGm9cJaGsZ85Me_2-wNYB8h8iH_aV8LOLSQRFED6lJbrMkyXziXy4/w640-h426/IMG_4706.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUll4JG0In_k5SwTaqGqDfxU3OFvmSpYdXOca9EoW6skX9ToIg32iyxUlMh0rLtvfC1FJH_UD_SxA658HBFGcm1uZ05ETp9Mwo_dSW2h37tiLj3yYAgoH9rlNUmwn1twRD_RIuonGDJqhDrwRB0VfJ-TbftN_nfgbD2fayV0ZOmTuSVwhHZAtztZ8xAs/s1449/IMG_4707.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUll4JG0In_k5SwTaqGqDfxU3OFvmSpYdXOca9EoW6skX9ToIg32iyxUlMh0rLtvfC1FJH_UD_SxA658HBFGcm1uZ05ETp9Mwo_dSW2h37tiLj3yYAgoH9rlNUmwn1twRD_RIuonGDJqhDrwRB0VfJ-TbftN_nfgbD2fayV0ZOmTuSVwhHZAtztZ8xAs/w640-h426/IMG_4707.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40UG71mfELOn55b19mT2ig-VUgn7m5aJygzE9kjVQgwF6B8BjbLHRzF_zSNxMYzaJ3rjXAxJGCWPI3VqOxnN5eL8ZG59e0zoZC1aTNW5Ywh1mXe3VnODJ7rtzYzO8OJ5_C9De23bj6evxWgmnzY1Bxza5ndFNDWRv2P03jplLfNBtnO374_eSrySK8sk/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%201%2023%2059%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40UG71mfELOn55b19mT2ig-VUgn7m5aJygzE9kjVQgwF6B8BjbLHRzF_zSNxMYzaJ3rjXAxJGCWPI3VqOxnN5eL8ZG59e0zoZC1aTNW5Ywh1mXe3VnODJ7rtzYzO8OJ5_C9De23bj6evxWgmnzY1Bxza5ndFNDWRv2P03jplLfNBtnO374_eSrySK8sk/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%201%2023%2059%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike texted us this from the grocery store one day. Made me laugh.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXrzkZvQcj3L5n1o97ozQ5aXHN8hjDfMM-azkhvUnXKnKVVTMS5lIeIjMNu85l_D0LNr-XCZQ6tJirR-4W13UarRdaJq3xTOMZSS-2ItcHN1OBHh4ZYMdSroqfD1RgnDSuixtes1sCzHVR-1fg7d1xgED4pytmQhT_LjPWc5j4zsUEzFzE5KULslogl0/s1170/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%2010%2049%2007%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXrzkZvQcj3L5n1o97ozQ5aXHN8hjDfMM-azkhvUnXKnKVVTMS5lIeIjMNu85l_D0LNr-XCZQ6tJirR-4W13UarRdaJq3xTOMZSS-2ItcHN1OBHh4ZYMdSroqfD1RgnDSuixtes1sCzHVR-1fg7d1xgED4pytmQhT_LjPWc5j4zsUEzFzE5KULslogl0/w640-h640/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%2010%2049%2007%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The moon out back one evening.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxBaBNkt0GYPucm-2h6TtLU2_mv6X-fSHSqQwYcK5MMRuDsPv_Avz8t3nFg7RzGDQ7xLvuDWQMwfheP6F9Gc68v-CW77JfAkGtUVNeaUND6tYD8Zwe7ivvIhNQ6jRyIn1zj0lrXF-YcpaGRJTPPd-07Yl08ogAuJJubvn5PRC2fmMouG5hoJs5E6dikA/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2011%2017%2021%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxBaBNkt0GYPucm-2h6TtLU2_mv6X-fSHSqQwYcK5MMRuDsPv_Avz8t3nFg7RzGDQ7xLvuDWQMwfheP6F9Gc68v-CW77JfAkGtUVNeaUND6tYD8Zwe7ivvIhNQ6jRyIn1zj0lrXF-YcpaGRJTPPd-07Yl08ogAuJJubvn5PRC2fmMouG5hoJs5E6dikA/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2011%2017%2021%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Decorating the tree. (Decorating the house was quite simple this year ... as there just really isn't much house to decorate!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XQhnSddfA1TuLk1AOGQDHnUXjHxrL_G_W2WgzASepLaW1Sy6OFg8WIwgwi8dtkTtiWC_TCoV_f1RXzqDi3ITqW6dXm0C1_TrCW63-HjH0FUmDO75bbNBBfb7AcHr_bteukJ1TkqqTU5r2TbK5bOs05F40BFvpkDaDqfldmFXHDSp6NCr0qLVv8vlJCg/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2012%2011%2052%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XQhnSddfA1TuLk1AOGQDHnUXjHxrL_G_W2WgzASepLaW1Sy6OFg8WIwgwi8dtkTtiWC_TCoV_f1RXzqDi3ITqW6dXm0C1_TrCW63-HjH0FUmDO75bbNBBfb7AcHr_bteukJ1TkqqTU5r2TbK5bOs05F40BFvpkDaDqfldmFXHDSp6NCr0qLVv8vlJCg/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2012%2011%2052%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnSM0ZBObsD0Upb3SzJumSZ88EVu1Os1M5islOBBAAXZ7tXmFUoLE2rWfi2A8vBSg-Y8FqZgdlE4N2YRtfeKzyxejuTJYgdLMXm9lA1J_NAdmS508AuutNZdGJJSiV-ZRc5PmCYrUokDWcaHIUIEarUZwn1NtT9Bz-D4Seeg5VS9_Naybhy5YCHChnFE/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2012%2012%2023%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnSM0ZBObsD0Upb3SzJumSZ88EVu1Os1M5islOBBAAXZ7tXmFUoLE2rWfi2A8vBSg-Y8FqZgdlE4N2YRtfeKzyxejuTJYgdLMXm9lA1J_NAdmS508AuutNZdGJJSiV-ZRc5PmCYrUokDWcaHIUIEarUZwn1NtT9Bz-D4Seeg5VS9_Naybhy5YCHChnFE/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2025%202023,%2012%2012%2023%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">All the smoke from Mike browning some steaks made for some lovely celestial rays near the windows.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqgTciovrQJWXSVXDZ-cJ30N5x6xvLIW_GRhMb1VP-Pwe2KTGdisx9cR5AiA1Cgs6UuGKorvNsC-cnGmhEA83tta2bpcwDyx9p_-SrlicXkHtSi4ClsaJodPz2_UXPXt1zlP7shMEFTgz-utiQY0QxwLMQ_RCzJhuseGhTurnpcL-cUZMA7LM6KnURg/s3603/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2056%2019%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3603" data-original-width="2402" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqgTciovrQJWXSVXDZ-cJ30N5x6xvLIW_GRhMb1VP-Pwe2KTGdisx9cR5AiA1Cgs6UuGKorvNsC-cnGmhEA83tta2bpcwDyx9p_-SrlicXkHtSi4ClsaJodPz2_UXPXt1zlP7shMEFTgz-utiQY0QxwLMQ_RCzJhuseGhTurnpcL-cUZMA7LM6KnURg/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2056%2019%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt3Otq0daoBvlamFVBhcAy_PkZR8FRFhN5urViAHQguIA4BUOOLlkvydRYqaeEAof4vf_EtYrpJT277pFnag8bNtbH302sylrb2h8OUZZ9unIwwnwYZbvcB4vw7Cuh7ue63R1CUpBOrnO90hNizomo5jNa-8LEP9l8AMiAJf9lBcvFfL9rvoiElqidx8/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2057%2024%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt3Otq0daoBvlamFVBhcAy_PkZR8FRFhN5urViAHQguIA4BUOOLlkvydRYqaeEAof4vf_EtYrpJT277pFnag8bNtbH302sylrb2h8OUZZ9unIwwnwYZbvcB4vw7Cuh7ue63R1CUpBOrnO90hNizomo5jNa-8LEP9l8AMiAJf9lBcvFfL9rvoiElqidx8/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2057%2024%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmeutMST-q__0Bl7eF3pzyktMIiaLiFtd3xT2PUjnq2n8pu__zpVeJhmv3Pv-2mhZzafnqRt5pCskzmj6Uez-0xYhX2zGmpCqlaMjgdSzRPwmryLfi221khKaGM3wg71p5DJD5Az_Er4VtpApWBaDTyUz6rNpmvoKTuT9DlI4ByprX_KRduJEBY731pE/s3339/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2058%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3339" data-original-width="2226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmeutMST-q__0Bl7eF3pzyktMIiaLiFtd3xT2PUjnq2n8pu__zpVeJhmv3Pv-2mhZzafnqRt5pCskzmj6Uez-0xYhX2zGmpCqlaMjgdSzRPwmryLfi221khKaGM3wg71p5DJD5Az_Er4VtpApWBaDTyUz6rNpmvoKTuT9DlI4ByprX_KRduJEBY731pE/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2058%2021%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c8auD8dMi1Ca_6GMEfzw7hC_jQMksPfUqqBNxi256xbNowh4g9fZKar-55N7GX5sUAANERDqlH1PC_Ltu744WTA0Ik0fA_UanNeiA_6wX5siqu4Jq88KqSGR9XL_GPTS6o2-I7MgCbNhktuwIuv9sAdmd6Q0rRGjkpp2i3zR20vtuTS30elu7hmKO3E/s3024/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2059%2049%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c8auD8dMi1Ca_6GMEfzw7hC_jQMksPfUqqBNxi256xbNowh4g9fZKar-55N7GX5sUAANERDqlH1PC_Ltu744WTA0Ik0fA_UanNeiA_6wX5siqu4Jq88KqSGR9XL_GPTS6o2-I7MgCbNhktuwIuv9sAdmd6Q0rRGjkpp2i3zR20vtuTS30elu7hmKO3E/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%202%2059%2049%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anders about to throw an angel squishmallow at me. Nothing celestial about that!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaOPptFLpOVbA9bt-gVNuYQcFl_ygRlHyhVqDO3JIe1pmMAOyt2AQyTyG9xOZqWjwqn9p3c2vmOPlZcHnb9y7AeqOA_Q97_OVRFhhR0Ox_T5LTW1HwCCiXbxJB6xD_Rknx4r50fkCYY2udsZC9rQmjNqqShVR8uQKGCbPEWO04_q81laoaVKzsWWxC3g/s3475/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%203%2002%2051%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2317" data-original-width="3475" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaOPptFLpOVbA9bt-gVNuYQcFl_ygRlHyhVqDO3JIe1pmMAOyt2AQyTyG9xOZqWjwqn9p3c2vmOPlZcHnb9y7AeqOA_Q97_OVRFhhR0Ox_T5LTW1HwCCiXbxJB6xD_Rknx4r50fkCYY2udsZC9rQmjNqqShVR8uQKGCbPEWO04_q81laoaVKzsWWxC3g/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%203%2002%2051%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw9cEgcJmL69A2Gi2kop_qNziF56r_Dfqy0toylaX9w-_G2qmpb0jHR4DTP538MGcp3zH1-pXbJe4aPT9VGUbwmMFQtmTDwFU0GO4T_Lt514HU6CGd7mSSAIJqBstdM01wTDHQr_ieKqxlTcs6YiQoDzXYtuNI5Zh87wALj3m4YUvXZFqZVlvGA9YVSA/s3559/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%203%2003%2022%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3559" data-original-width="2372" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw9cEgcJmL69A2Gi2kop_qNziF56r_Dfqy0toylaX9w-_G2qmpb0jHR4DTP538MGcp3zH1-pXbJe4aPT9VGUbwmMFQtmTDwFU0GO4T_Lt514HU6CGd7mSSAIJqBstdM01wTDHQr_ieKqxlTcs6YiQoDzXYtuNI5Zh87wALj3m4YUvXZFqZVlvGA9YVSA/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%203%2003%2022%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The tree at night. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1qD3v4EmO7muM_FmWjwiRlCoYLo5mD5tAifA6z9fdHjr6uVQzMw_fLxP8bFMkuqpxBTtK6SHLDMwTZmbqk87wUVCKXUW0uQR4yskH3W0PVNqPfdCkzg9Xtt6_S5opCpttf_JepQoFawVK9X7RiXN_TbdROzxG2yek2K2JVDSim_D0y8iJmTqlHovO_M/s5472/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%205%2023%2036%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1qD3v4EmO7muM_FmWjwiRlCoYLo5mD5tAifA6z9fdHjr6uVQzMw_fLxP8bFMkuqpxBTtK6SHLDMwTZmbqk87wUVCKXUW0uQR4yskH3W0PVNqPfdCkzg9Xtt6_S5opCpttf_JepQoFawVK9X7RiXN_TbdROzxG2yek2K2JVDSim_D0y8iJmTqlHovO_M/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%205%2023%2036%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Christmas set up ... and Thankful Turkey bags still waiting to be opened and read. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rr4C1ap1CeF5ceveEA7F9MnS-s5AP7lFZ0gSLnDoISN3DmvUvlIl2UYW0FgkqFM3vmxgN_g4jVm-HBc2V9T3ARBnCp82GNiRWh3lPQR1S5kwMgRZi4WJX6QOLlIumUYSSZw7tkOgHhiD8a3UdGLsSedp6_G-_Bgv1kar81u862l4xu_7RdO6J1kLk5k/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%208%2031%2009%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rr4C1ap1CeF5ceveEA7F9MnS-s5AP7lFZ0gSLnDoISN3DmvUvlIl2UYW0FgkqFM3vmxgN_g4jVm-HBc2V9T3ARBnCp82GNiRWh3lPQR1S5kwMgRZi4WJX6QOLlIumUYSSZw7tkOgHhiD8a3UdGLsSedp6_G-_Bgv1kar81u862l4xu_7RdO6J1kLk5k/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2026%202023,%208%2031%2009%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A few kids braving the cold with me to go feed the geese. (I actually intended for them to stay in the car--which is why they are so unprepared for cold. But they wouldn't have it.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g-zwnhnMyt4boss27La3adjyz9QmNWehCCz3IDSJsRp7dj4Onvp-CTBG5XD4iGBsrhEExcTGn72mLcxArtz37s-11ZHYWhF0IsftoB-s97ocxta7g-o-y_6APdV_h3XkRjt7b0HWgZMGgtLB6QRDmkR2GElqfsaqOgzH16qzqYoZpp_kmLH9e2n1RKg/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%204%2009%2058%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2688" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g-zwnhnMyt4boss27La3adjyz9QmNWehCCz3IDSJsRp7dj4Onvp-CTBG5XD4iGBsrhEExcTGn72mLcxArtz37s-11ZHYWhF0IsftoB-s97ocxta7g-o-y_6APdV_h3XkRjt7b0HWgZMGgtLB6QRDmkR2GElqfsaqOgzH16qzqYoZpp_kmLH9e2n1RKg/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%204%2009%2058%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JNiCIuPxLnVE_seOGrCTTArB_DOJDVm7VmXG7C1u3HORKmGLMCawNpa_035khGShR9-WPFINYFa0cyd7eG3R4mRgf8GsXpjVFU13Hy1A9lmcU0DroaFP3aT3MKycTyE0YqEp-UAPDE9tvGGVlN7_az9Usq-UOFO9A5LQygoLSt3uZWvzj1SW4_0le0w/s2023/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%204%2010%2048%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2023" data-original-width="1348" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JNiCIuPxLnVE_seOGrCTTArB_DOJDVm7VmXG7C1u3HORKmGLMCawNpa_035khGShR9-WPFINYFa0cyd7eG3R4mRgf8GsXpjVFU13Hy1A9lmcU0DroaFP3aT3MKycTyE0YqEp-UAPDE9tvGGVlN7_az9Usq-UOFO9A5LQygoLSt3uZWvzj1SW4_0le0w/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%204%2010%2048%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Thankful Turkey bags. Minus Anders'. Because I don't know where it went. (Jesse, Starling, Summer, Mette, Hans.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvwa0zt5tNTV2MmdwUdKPs-hJFboBztwE2mFMC6sKilmjqo1fd-GDwrfJBDJlzhTlyHU74W7c0gs_vKTisc8mN-j7C41es3YS8pP0EIPdQSi9MF4B48R9qLu5wbdXTFFHa7LcWsv4_UPlQSq1GaucaoxEg8_wo9kuho_au7BDBKSiqUBawu39aeNoZKw/s3604/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%209%2028%2057%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="3604" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvwa0zt5tNTV2MmdwUdKPs-hJFboBztwE2mFMC6sKilmjqo1fd-GDwrfJBDJlzhTlyHU74W7c0gs_vKTisc8mN-j7C41es3YS8pP0EIPdQSi9MF4B48R9qLu5wbdXTFFHa7LcWsv4_UPlQSq1GaucaoxEg8_wo9kuho_au7BDBKSiqUBawu39aeNoZKw/w640-h284/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%209%2028%2057%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The moon one watercolor-looking morning.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY47buWlAUCTmK-BAUvUKcG0OS8jbJuCcEOh5LrfEngR7e8ZR-yrrsXe99AlwIP3YQKMp9U9JvuCSIPCGI4skm5dQOQJVdssIeCrK1bt18BV-S5LNiJ32M1jLIGP5QnhAs4svcOXK8ETT1PKBgTZ6flZZKf2FJZl18_5HcI5tcce1gOcF0IPe0E3EyTA/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2028%202023,%207%2017%2046%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY47buWlAUCTmK-BAUvUKcG0OS8jbJuCcEOh5LrfEngR7e8ZR-yrrsXe99AlwIP3YQKMp9U9JvuCSIPCGI4skm5dQOQJVdssIeCrK1bt18BV-S5LNiJ32M1jLIGP5QnhAs4svcOXK8ETT1PKBgTZ6flZZKf2FJZl18_5HcI5tcce1gOcF0IPe0E3EyTA/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2028%202023,%207%2017%2046%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">How the tree-lights look through those fun little glasses that make all lights have shapes. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9e98a5lUz9c2vpn6bSA0Edr2JugZUY4T1hEof8UUgpV3WDv5TowKRA4aeIZy7X1Cney5sL9qGoMLFmcILAVcY99YwcaKqcy7ecfBWLUTMEIjYsC2FkmcThHjmc9fXCFVSw1SaQbS9Ip1AmqzJSVdSARmFjGSY-L5a0rHmLCystif0KHtdkW0bpMcI24/s3403/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%204%2003%2001%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9e98a5lUz9c2vpn6bSA0Edr2JugZUY4T1hEof8UUgpV3WDv5TowKRA4aeIZy7X1Cney5sL9qGoMLFmcILAVcY99YwcaKqcy7ecfBWLUTMEIjYsC2FkmcThHjmc9fXCFVSw1SaQbS9Ip1AmqzJSVdSARmFjGSY-L5a0rHmLCystif0KHtdkW0bpMcI24/w426-h640/Photo%20Nov%2030%202023,%204%2003%2001%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">With my most recent prescription close to expiring, I ordered not one but three pairs of glasses! I'd had my old conservative-looking pair for years, so, with prices pretty cheap on the Zenni website, I went for some that were slightly more fun. <br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5as0uwnIxZstSpb3qmk0o4GCOqgBzEMcshsAiLPfIPD5m_olOAjy_vcsp_m7TWB1gFwTxHMnKRh_Gr6vB6B5nhgPXu2PyvAlh8zr3W4GVTTMrbNS6E_DAMhroMmwpXV4ozTof9yn0fJwrlygej2HSHm_ctoLodUWT40h_tQd47I7r_9F9KEdZzMHeMg/s3088/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%208%2031%2040%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5as0uwnIxZstSpb3qmk0o4GCOqgBzEMcshsAiLPfIPD5m_olOAjy_vcsp_m7TWB1gFwTxHMnKRh_Gr6vB6B5nhgPXu2PyvAlh8zr3W4GVTTMrbNS6E_DAMhroMmwpXV4ozTof9yn0fJwrlygej2HSHm_ctoLodUWT40h_tQd47I7r_9F9KEdZzMHeMg/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2027%202023,%208%2031%2040%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5s5T3RSUtl5kw6dT8_UhgyZh9su5PqeOquS-vOaEuIrcLKf2R_Me7WQo6Qt7OVcXJ8oHhFCh1em5mlh51WDlH3KmetP_rv-ErpGhSWtxadjBM7pc18yiK-74pXnZxHUJvjOPtGiMBBiHRAFm_5QBvzDuLeMVRtsNexL9VfQCET4L0OmoAqs9GjCPjOI/s2640/Photo%20Dec%2006%202023,%2012%2041%2037%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5s5T3RSUtl5kw6dT8_UhgyZh9su5PqeOquS-vOaEuIrcLKf2R_Me7WQo6Qt7OVcXJ8oHhFCh1em5mlh51WDlH3KmetP_rv-ErpGhSWtxadjBM7pc18yiK-74pXnZxHUJvjOPtGiMBBiHRAFm_5QBvzDuLeMVRtsNexL9VfQCET4L0OmoAqs9GjCPjOI/w426-h640/Photo%20Dec%2006%202023,%2012%2041%2037%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TWf0cZ4rUrHnvF0lSlUvEgyoDB9ndyd5jpzPSEQyU3rQ6Dtsaoq-n6bHFGZWHMfIdkOwlsdxClGDhM-NTfbHNWVSCH8XJE_kYUv651eGBCtaAga4XInE9ttOoBZXptkp32WyVrskTH0QtdRZlrzClOsic_tkvcxioOTHEQ3imiUt3CZ5xoxQaw8aPQg/s3088/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%2011%2011%2018%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TWf0cZ4rUrHnvF0lSlUvEgyoDB9ndyd5jpzPSEQyU3rQ6Dtsaoq-n6bHFGZWHMfIdkOwlsdxClGDhM-NTfbHNWVSCH8XJE_kYUv651eGBCtaAga4XInE9ttOoBZXptkp32WyVrskTH0QtdRZlrzClOsic_tkvcxioOTHEQ3imiUt3CZ5xoxQaw8aPQg/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2024%202023,%2011%2011%2018%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And our little Goldie is doing well in Arkansas. She's on her second companion. (Well, third if you also count her MTC companion I guess.) And her first time being a missionary trainer. And she really seems happy. In her letter today she mentioned seeing a steep dirt road and commenting how she couldn't imagine living on that road in the winter. Then her companion reminded her they were actually already IN winter. :) Probably she won't see snow this year! I keep thinking she's a completely new missionary. And she sort of is, but ... by the end of January she will be a third of the way through!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcBUypVJ9XkZBsbPwjgPgAOdY9BwmyoIJro8SXdJKgs3i5hCXP2o8trhGfqtkuGv7uchaMXoFR4bm3HqiTYBAy3JLtye2ZH1EhC2nhRkPKxohyaDt7dkd9AliIfEil0uxLv-4D5kXuHgRac3EAhyInyWBCjZn-l0JRtSJGEN67Tjntigc_ruYCFwOqW0/s2345/Photo%20Dec%2004%202023,%206%2024%2022%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2345" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcBUypVJ9XkZBsbPwjgPgAOdY9BwmyoIJro8SXdJKgs3i5hCXP2o8trhGfqtkuGv7uchaMXoFR4bm3HqiTYBAy3JLtye2ZH1EhC2nhRkPKxohyaDt7dkd9AliIfEil0uxLv-4D5kXuHgRac3EAhyInyWBCjZn-l0JRtSJGEN67Tjntigc_ruYCFwOqW0/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2004%202023,%206%2024%2022%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCTKgAMcZfHxt6fqSlW2mAWF17DsJA5wDr_C_h0l6h82Ee7oyf-UAp1VAfqL9tVfUf_MHhzMYQEiksY0pdAcohs_Tiyi5dsvt7gfCIPm7tA8kEMIDcVRrT0rCpXiH0Oe8t3EINQRsPTgLF984npREGwQ3POSL0r87E1Afy7WkQntTOfDHN-hVwvvWiZ0/s800/Photo%20Dec%2006%202023,%2011%2045%2001%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCTKgAMcZfHxt6fqSlW2mAWF17DsJA5wDr_C_h0l6h82Ee7oyf-UAp1VAfqL9tVfUf_MHhzMYQEiksY0pdAcohs_Tiyi5dsvt7gfCIPm7tA8kEMIDcVRrT0rCpXiH0Oe8t3EINQRsPTgLF984npREGwQ3POSL0r87E1Afy7WkQntTOfDHN-hVwvvWiZ0/w640-h480/Photo%20Dec%2006%202023,%2011%2045%2001%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-8811511366409820422023-11-17T21:17:00.005-07:002023-11-17T21:34:10.861-07:00The In-Between Season<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We are in that interesting little season between Halloween/autumn and winter/Christmas where some stalwarts purposefully put up a few sparse items in acknowledgement of Thanksgiving (I drove past a house with <b>two </b>blow-up turkeys the other day and even saw some brown and orange lights!), but most of us seem to be somewhere between old jack-o-lanterns still sitting on our front porches and ... fully-lit Christmas trees shining through our windows. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I typically can't resist a strand or two of twinkly lights and a few sneak listens of Christmas songs somewhere in early November but don't get around to actual decorating until Thanksgiving weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrTxFRUNlyOXwZYH-jTRTe_QzpsHfiohNKce9HZR613M5fRlFJo5GBKsnI-8JVGazid2OfswtAjwWOjtkIqWVjxPNLMpymhmI6upy6vcjJongt4NNlG4RtF7utkMlaLexWZKG66aHgYFZWtR8OPCx34Zi0yuW7LWbOjR5kdLVapiHpCmlubFHxQZSrQg/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2008%202023,%207%2019%2056%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrTxFRUNlyOXwZYH-jTRTe_QzpsHfiohNKce9HZR613M5fRlFJo5GBKsnI-8JVGazid2OfswtAjwWOjtkIqWVjxPNLMpymhmI6upy6vcjJongt4NNlG4RtF7utkMlaLexWZKG66aHgYFZWtR8OPCx34Zi0yuW7LWbOjR5kdLVapiHpCmlubFHxQZSrQg/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2008%202023,%207%2019%2056%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We sent Goldie a little package of pre-Christmas cheer though--lights and tiny trees, treats and pictures from the kids, etc.; and it's fun to see her eager to holiday up her little mission apartment. She's usually a hard and fast "no Christmas 'til after Thanksgiving" sort. But her first companion is getting transferred today, and she'll be training a brand-new missionary for Christmas. I wanted to send a few things to make her feel as homey and cozy as possible with all this newness during her first Christmas away from us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimADUrNAB_g03n3o6vSQcHpOJkHmLhe80UksdJKkMrQh4UHOgrr7Lnwy193JpI-5Yv_8EBtTEzgVhhWhNRk_FXiUJ_w7isS1DX9NVS22-FIkAH0B-nTbNivB8ayWqrN6jPGnzTlgUHJlYy9QvCwYbQxC7S4Ee06oRbO9vwaUCHtcH3b_8QGRzx_btthpU/s1920/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2012%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="941" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimADUrNAB_g03n3o6vSQcHpOJkHmLhe80UksdJKkMrQh4UHOgrr7Lnwy193JpI-5Yv_8EBtTEzgVhhWhNRk_FXiUJ_w7isS1DX9NVS22-FIkAH0B-nTbNivB8ayWqrN6jPGnzTlgUHJlYy9QvCwYbQxC7S4Ee06oRbO9vwaUCHtcH3b_8QGRzx_btthpU/w314-h640/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2012%20PM.jpg" width="314" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Looks like she's between holidays herself--what with the kids Halloween pictures and Christmas ones hanging side by side.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFEHjuYstObaB87eckpx4ppzOWuVbhxVYhTVJaAnx2KkRaD71ZJAaq7jHPY4iVTWfCq9q9ukf1UqLoZHcMxmNSdm-WkXcCqGMt-XVT2LiPNAHuL6vxSSzzhNIiWesbgwr_hwFYXv2k4Wa6QtjIV2MLWdFbcfeaw7L4LavKw3dzrPYrkTJRTmlJrpU5qc/s2048/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2023%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFEHjuYstObaB87eckpx4ppzOWuVbhxVYhTVJaAnx2KkRaD71ZJAaq7jHPY4iVTWfCq9q9ukf1UqLoZHcMxmNSdm-WkXcCqGMt-XVT2LiPNAHuL6vxSSzzhNIiWesbgwr_hwFYXv2k4Wa6QtjIV2MLWdFbcfeaw7L4LavKw3dzrPYrkTJRTmlJrpU5qc/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2023%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmLT2_elQEIUsmsHUPUIRB6bf9KJ1KP0lpzvQ-f-piwZmddy3MCEqtxIkfRbapggnOZGeeoa8mkaIOQKTMAST-NrC2rv7yIhVpjGqfOVfT4bG9c3qceNu3C_WaaQvBFfbN8X3F8kRUKVKb6ubp2h7-ivxm5p8KX32O_kowe3nvalRkvpFS_krxFQdqbA/s2048/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2031%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmLT2_elQEIUsmsHUPUIRB6bf9KJ1KP0lpzvQ-f-piwZmddy3MCEqtxIkfRbapggnOZGeeoa8mkaIOQKTMAST-NrC2rv7yIhVpjGqfOVfT4bG9c3qceNu3C_WaaQvBFfbN8X3F8kRUKVKb6ubp2h7-ivxm5p8KX32O_kowe3nvalRkvpFS_krxFQdqbA/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%203%2045%2031%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(I thought a close-up of Jesse's Christmas Guardian [from some Nintendo game?] deserved a spot here.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPil7SBsqjo0NYEv98JCbp7f3xccRW6jgks2FVT7pqBAxRLRhZYSizPKSRCqrW1NUu_e93CnNKqlGG_zGXBawEL21XwsPlAjiDYWF2UwPawmW0q6O0W3nwzycjxJZCGGxCTV75wXOvTL9yO_h_5-Ux0DIH5pNFTq6R-8mGEuM9_xP3kBFlMQPwUsNP2I/s1952/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%206%2021%2019%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1952" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPil7SBsqjo0NYEv98JCbp7f3xccRW6jgks2FVT7pqBAxRLRhZYSizPKSRCqrW1NUu_e93CnNKqlGG_zGXBawEL21XwsPlAjiDYWF2UwPawmW0q6O0W3nwzycjxJZCGGxCTV75wXOvTL9yO_h_5-Ux0DIH5pNFTq6R-8mGEuM9_xP3kBFlMQPwUsNP2I/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%206%2021%2019%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mike is still going to be pretty heavy on work hours throughout November (well, throughout the remainder of this career actually), <b>but </b>they will lessen a bit in December! I got a taste of what having him around will be like last weekend when Daisy came up and sent us off to see Penny's <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i> (Daisy was going with several of the kids the next night), and then let us head up to the cabin for the night while she stayed behind--baking gingerbread cookies with the kids, folding laundry nobody even asked her to fold, and taking them to various places. (Best darn daughter and sister in the west!) </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvFBNnROUeHve3gTSSUsH0UsBfcxGY_EkdPNU629Y4K3AcsxPD1h9cW28AYuJuARoQl5M4ZC7CH3_RZsxPUhB2VVwN7SSErj2aRhIHHJ7QzHCU-6J8iKPJ3Q8JzZW6VaSeVL0Ce138_E9-V5MlVlvdNWzINGqltAPECnhf4kCqqT1-chS8DdJL_1FljA/s3088/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2049%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvFBNnROUeHve3gTSSUsH0UsBfcxGY_EkdPNU629Y4K3AcsxPD1h9cW28AYuJuARoQl5M4ZC7CH3_RZsxPUhB2VVwN7SSErj2aRhIHHJ7QzHCU-6J8iKPJ3Q8JzZW6VaSeVL0Ce138_E9-V5MlVlvdNWzINGqltAPECnhf4kCqqT1-chS8DdJL_1FljA/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2049%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was so nice to just <b>be </b>with my Mike! And I'm anxious for an upcoming Christmas with Mike around a little more than he has been during the past several years' Decembers!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpzPQf0TMdYZzSpMRWuxSoo4PFc-ex9FDLQm2hDkcU740AHp3uWE_DJHARnB9o5NM-J13NmeZhgR-t1D29fV7_v7Wcs0tk3WuR58cxHk0PGjMaskDOnLjaoNgEwFVwKouZN_wGIvlAowOpnZ-JwTWhAdzsCxnAEO1S_wT2BvX0Zir23g3s1IC6SGhg0k/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2010%202023,%209%2050%2048%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpzPQf0TMdYZzSpMRWuxSoo4PFc-ex9FDLQm2hDkcU740AHp3uWE_DJHARnB9o5NM-J13NmeZhgR-t1D29fV7_v7Wcs0tk3WuR58cxHk0PGjMaskDOnLjaoNgEwFVwKouZN_wGIvlAowOpnZ-JwTWhAdzsCxnAEO1S_wT2BvX0Zir23g3s1IC6SGhg0k/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2010%202023,%209%2050%2048%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(After the play. We weren't allowed to take any during the performance sadly.)<br /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I told Mike we needed to do some fun Christmassy things with him around next month, and so he ordered us all tickets for Peter Breinholt's Christmas concert! (Peter Breinholt always makes me feel nostalgic. We listened to him in Jerusalem all the time--especially his "Jerusalem" song; Mike took me to a small concert with Ryan Shupe and also Peter Breinholt when we were first dating; And Peter Breinholt's <i>Noel</i> Christmas album is one of the very first holiday CDs I bought when Mike and I got married. [I almost can't even listen to "Garten Mother's Lullaby" without crying and thinking of rocking my babies in my arms at Christmas time, and it's Peter's "I Saw Three Ships" that we turn on to celebrate each first snowfall]. My kids associate his voice so much with Christmas that if they hear one of his non-Christmassy songs during the rest of the year, ... they ask why we are listening to Christmas music.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway. Here we are. Mid-November. (I placed my very first order of a few Christmas presents today.) And here are a few other pictures from this late-fall/early-winter time of year:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anders' "Mesopotamian war strategies" project. He and his little group did it all on their own. And then we all got to come and see all the 6th-grade, Mesopotamian projects on display in the school library. There was even official voting. The girls likely <i>would</i> have voted for their brother's ... only ... one project was made entirely with Calico Critters. And there their votes went. Nobody could blame them. (Anders' group still got 2nd place--which he was quite pleased with.) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCo9bjbNJ_tKSRS8tdPB_sOeEgwWnok4JioZaqeeW7kW4lgDAqbSzcpqQ7DtqIuz75gahfDw_qnKvHmnTqlDoNAgCl-IBx0NmmUqWdmFmvlu6Gn63F2FJOTS8ayTgsUyBJwfyzNH37PNUx76dstNT6-1j7TG_164QCqpP4hlIi_WNn7eOUgLTjoH50JR8/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2006%202023,%207%2007%2011%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCo9bjbNJ_tKSRS8tdPB_sOeEgwWnok4JioZaqeeW7kW4lgDAqbSzcpqQ7DtqIuz75gahfDw_qnKvHmnTqlDoNAgCl-IBx0NmmUqWdmFmvlu6Gn63F2FJOTS8ayTgsUyBJwfyzNH37PNUx76dstNT6-1j7TG_164QCqpP4hlIi_WNn7eOUgLTjoH50JR8/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2006%202023,%207%2007%2011%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I'm pretty sure I saw two ghost ducks as I drove home the other night. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SwwSjMjEknUFaHG22V5_HdA2uWQJ8X9Q2Lv1XnxEEBVCF6b1ahHM7JSucQwm_V9mZu51yGb888kbf6vxv2H82bPoRgJauC5WU__ixUedod2cXodQlkyuLyXtoZ4nhgjvUHhkMb1JUfXLJwUttxz2wUsS1mXKOg4S-W0MrkQxXg4vDtqXLTFtSX__ews/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%206%2049%2010%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SwwSjMjEknUFaHG22V5_HdA2uWQJ8X9Q2Lv1XnxEEBVCF6b1ahHM7JSucQwm_V9mZu51yGb888kbf6vxv2H82bPoRgJauC5WU__ixUedod2cXodQlkyuLyXtoZ4nhgjvUHhkMb1JUfXLJwUttxz2wUsS1mXKOg4S-W0MrkQxXg4vDtqXLTFtSX__ews/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2007%202023,%206%2049%2010%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQlc3qG-Noa1QAgnG0SOFOyL5OJNt0saW9tJiyjT33MSglCgaAkdtMIqvHwP_vT2BIhxDNVWdqUzUofy_lUSE3zMkpt25ajdkx2KmyoOkj5mvp6de3tkRIYwp4V1EEysMEHRDkmdwhBFr2Pf0wAz0-AwnDlzIZLvwvBYTXh2dYfN1q_YlGFFFvCQJuio/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2009%202023,%203%2003%2017%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQlc3qG-Noa1QAgnG0SOFOyL5OJNt0saW9tJiyjT33MSglCgaAkdtMIqvHwP_vT2BIhxDNVWdqUzUofy_lUSE3zMkpt25ajdkx2KmyoOkj5mvp6de3tkRIYwp4V1EEysMEHRDkmdwhBFr2Pf0wAz0-AwnDlzIZLvwvBYTXh2dYfN1q_YlGFFFvCQJuio/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2009%202023,%203%2003%2017%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhGSDW6uH4bxbJT-hU_5oB9w6YvBJQBb-llbzKfy5BSXhHxAtKe39-u9lyGQhjBjoLvqw1ZYReYsoLVkwGsK9hR4a-1PGfUp8E9qstH-Q8hmhtqycYjyo9yU7bgLplCJwwdNivOliRs7qUu7HQiZaOWZssrR4vSof9CBXBqMcGq-EduNn7mA5Yfx8zrM/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2010%202023,%2011%2030%2017%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhGSDW6uH4bxbJT-hU_5oB9w6YvBJQBb-llbzKfy5BSXhHxAtKe39-u9lyGQhjBjoLvqw1ZYReYsoLVkwGsK9hR4a-1PGfUp8E9qstH-Q8hmhtqycYjyo9yU7bgLplCJwwdNivOliRs7qUu7HQiZaOWZssrR4vSof9CBXBqMcGq-EduNn7mA5Yfx8zrM/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2010%202023,%2011%2030%2017%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Last Sunday evening I was feeling a little heavy and discouraged. Luckily Mike was here. He took the kids down the street to feed apples to his Uncle Jodie's horses ... and then just stuck our kids, bareback, on one of his ponies!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_mv55o2SqtU9j5GiOUk-0DWcdUgRruNt4zNTsRdsEsjpcTxkJ_46oNZnQjJeGrN87IVUprfUrjs7uB8p4LNHobk8H0fjuUVxWrAIY4wWFlPvRMLQFNvEfdszvvCbs0pEXR-30kBUvooRLAgLSVuroh4ZM6oHm57b0CCt0LsS-ccdftoUljzZspvRP98/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2010%2048%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_mv55o2SqtU9j5GiOUk-0DWcdUgRruNt4zNTsRdsEsjpcTxkJ_46oNZnQjJeGrN87IVUprfUrjs7uB8p4LNHobk8H0fjuUVxWrAIY4wWFlPvRMLQFNvEfdszvvCbs0pEXR-30kBUvooRLAgLSVuroh4ZM6oHm57b0CCt0LsS-ccdftoUljzZspvRP98/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2010%2048%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summer below:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalfeJxP3513PRrzt7B2k6oPY7JQ6F5PMWMZgL2OrR47PFCPXIROmZPjUGkb4CYYiPKbUrylcM2LhIJC1fJAFxEyoSzXR_jvQPXLAMKpTsVQqi-wUniCMBmkKoAwE7Wdz-7eltKdQ3k-WCS93pSbpQFpJpra_Ac40_gpArXup8XeuptA-QQKVtzxx5l2w/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2011%2023%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalfeJxP3513PRrzt7B2k6oPY7JQ6F5PMWMZgL2OrR47PFCPXIROmZPjUGkb4CYYiPKbUrylcM2LhIJC1fJAFxEyoSzXR_jvQPXLAMKpTsVQqi-wUniCMBmkKoAwE7Wdz-7eltKdQ3k-WCS93pSbpQFpJpra_Ac40_gpArXup8XeuptA-QQKVtzxx5l2w/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2011%2023%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mette:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStpqYUwNRBzxSK05wViiE-kXIjuDQw-2vuPp_YCTfZwyv-bfqGarlFZfLbsby-5BnmsgTEwrpP_T9TzQoSxXFYblUxjwhPPx_voRyV2suieV7CBUBioxIEip2CbQiPihSKi3S9qcsTzg-rqir9RzMPT5N4cR9ANqGTADeLaAucT8qqtAPVivPUgpVXjo/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2013%2031%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStpqYUwNRBzxSK05wViiE-kXIjuDQw-2vuPp_YCTfZwyv-bfqGarlFZfLbsby-5BnmsgTEwrpP_T9TzQoSxXFYblUxjwhPPx_voRyV2suieV7CBUBioxIEip2CbQiPihSKi3S9qcsTzg-rqir9RzMPT5N4cR9ANqGTADeLaAucT8qqtAPVivPUgpVXjo/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2013%2031%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju21p2Gmiq06V3O8NxhLbFVPc51aYIWpK-jBrz35V1mFpF_S7nPhkAvzfwJMckU4qRowSD7Jhwck6Bn2TxwUmq8-XBp1bnlUq-8yI5WOr4uZ7ARWxAu3Y3VOdx2riDjYbYflnJs0SuOw_wro1ITVfwN6qVaqeP-LYZ-fmNZoJYOwugg4G-QSfU0Bo9eoI/s3506/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2017%2036%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3506" data-original-width="2630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju21p2Gmiq06V3O8NxhLbFVPc51aYIWpK-jBrz35V1mFpF_S7nPhkAvzfwJMckU4qRowSD7Jhwck6Bn2TxwUmq8-XBp1bnlUq-8yI5WOr4uZ7ARWxAu3Y3VOdx2riDjYbYflnJs0SuOw_wro1ITVfwN6qVaqeP-LYZ-fmNZoJYOwugg4G-QSfU0Bo9eoI/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2017%2036%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSc85pUUlwbvnckwKi8_fgQRWuPb1RANW2MlYaplumhtp9xPyoUj-mnqKW9NxghIqT90HWTgD6rk5LfB3PTOyrhpcvY346oqXfPgoHFtVCIrFqd6xjAI6fgWHVHbjJtLE-4NEBzIXxBfwanvGuxrNVbVRCcMADXp0i9acEhOcT8Vn9xqCZD-jzIh3OoI/s2842/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2018%2018%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2842" data-original-width="2131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSc85pUUlwbvnckwKi8_fgQRWuPb1RANW2MlYaplumhtp9xPyoUj-mnqKW9NxghIqT90HWTgD6rk5LfB3PTOyrhpcvY346oqXfPgoHFtVCIrFqd6xjAI6fgWHVHbjJtLE-4NEBzIXxBfwanvGuxrNVbVRCcMADXp0i9acEhOcT8Vn9xqCZD-jzIh3OoI/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2018%2018%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hans:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzbz63ogkaI1f69uF0XeKvenfk8pybSnBqfj30Cb7qRXCmD1gb3bwMnD39EL32YlY4nABB6aFPVdO-jTfjAcFCg6G2mbS2fl6BdADQOlbxGE1DR1CabN6lf-jlhPzeSnCFCBuOFxyTdcPf6PajJjvIP5m3OTzMinKqzmM9ITE9FEWxt1JgZdOOGe8aO4/s3593/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2020%2018%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3593" data-original-width="2695" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzbz63ogkaI1f69uF0XeKvenfk8pybSnBqfj30Cb7qRXCmD1gb3bwMnD39EL32YlY4nABB6aFPVdO-jTfjAcFCg6G2mbS2fl6BdADQOlbxGE1DR1CabN6lf-jlhPzeSnCFCBuOFxyTdcPf6PajJjvIP5m3OTzMinKqzmM9ITE9FEWxt1JgZdOOGe8aO4/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2020%2018%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Penny:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmwZd_lqPkL-ZsrQN1oh6NNtVDtT9nuxFCU-WNFsc6woK_j2FVXjVsqdQ1Cix2Kl-hr7tYsZ9tyUAVgidEJWzUlA1BLdxVnb6AeZ4ZHYXpr34kQaPKN-zmdTQMy7tn5sMgAnZN1QCizIcf8ixUGgYbI__Y-pE_swEIm8pXa1JqpRmpTT3-hTjyKHbj98/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2021%2051%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmwZd_lqPkL-ZsrQN1oh6NNtVDtT9nuxFCU-WNFsc6woK_j2FVXjVsqdQ1Cix2Kl-hr7tYsZ9tyUAVgidEJWzUlA1BLdxVnb6AeZ4ZHYXpr34kQaPKN-zmdTQMy7tn5sMgAnZN1QCizIcf8ixUGgYbI__Y-pE_swEIm8pXa1JqpRmpTT3-hTjyKHbj98/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2021%2051%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg0iZB1k-uH_9evOulGXhurYCQSrLL7Kmh3vgqB89vzDhT5pw9C4kgkDIZytM8LPNn-1hXql8H2PavnjbpsmzC0z0OOUs1Vo3Wn4ACAaXnUwjGBauSBLxt2atK7U-amjuNfpYip_0IXtKyCZyBrdXK0UrUan-uzNqWWrZ1BRje-SFZRpA89S5FXQZFbs/s3597/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2021%2056%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3597" data-original-width="2697" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg0iZB1k-uH_9evOulGXhurYCQSrLL7Kmh3vgqB89vzDhT5pw9C4kgkDIZytM8LPNn-1hXql8H2PavnjbpsmzC0z0OOUs1Vo3Wn4ACAaXnUwjGBauSBLxt2atK7U-amjuNfpYip_0IXtKyCZyBrdXK0UrUan-uzNqWWrZ1BRje-SFZRpA89S5FXQZFbs/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2021%2056%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJPtpYW9F_bbg9Tk7DC7rjG0b7zexnubKP147RTrteBCbcKolDAehkAFnJC6LfMazEJN_Aw21zcLlUwTOs3CtsiByKjgHYxHK175ikzKMGdmrjmVvLBEOkGFNUfgho8J_tUzPPFecHt2hiEHkKL7zUvdHjlplGJRpJxM55LaIYRpn6vGI5hS6gecR7po/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJPtpYW9F_bbg9Tk7DC7rjG0b7zexnubKP147RTrteBCbcKolDAehkAFnJC6LfMazEJN_Aw21zcLlUwTOs3CtsiByKjgHYxHK175ikzKMGdmrjmVvLBEOkGFNUfgho8J_tUzPPFecHt2hiEHkKL7zUvdHjlplGJRpJxM55LaIYRpn6vGI5hS6gecR7po/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2015%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qP4SXRBZ29z8z76a8XOnElG7r_G9fYIepTGPN_GwxMwEaZ6x50HT0Wq5BnEP_xJimz94kLdgTFIaOZh_TrP872bIeTj6M8MfWkjHLDuhSrRCjy2cWJB_Wiz3Lgp-pbeaJ_8KzCwk0tDwqosjyWuPMDLowA9ZbjPulAIi9RKOkZX3cMYQoQGk5dJx5Sk/s3732/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2035%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3732" data-original-width="2799" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qP4SXRBZ29z8z76a8XOnElG7r_G9fYIepTGPN_GwxMwEaZ6x50HT0Wq5BnEP_xJimz94kLdgTFIaOZh_TrP872bIeTj6M8MfWkjHLDuhSrRCjy2cWJB_Wiz3Lgp-pbeaJ_8KzCwk0tDwqosjyWuPMDLowA9ZbjPulAIi9RKOkZX3cMYQoQGk5dJx5Sk/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2022%2035%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hansie riding back home (he only just mastered bike riding this fall):<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiy_HO8ls5VSnQ9TgiP7r2xCjxUOC98EVouDecdPTuwzxYOixPiNFjT0rfniV2l4sKo069cXCjVEsjmjaVSFE2GnoiUIUeZFkCoHi661r0LPF0TOlfHDsyLRZdBPuPEFejmy0drFoysSkpxD0chTQc0948uYiCO3ptG9Za5sR62f9JRXOWEDC4bowz6Q/s3285/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2034%2022%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3285" data-original-width="2464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiy_HO8ls5VSnQ9TgiP7r2xCjxUOC98EVouDecdPTuwzxYOixPiNFjT0rfniV2l4sKo069cXCjVEsjmjaVSFE2GnoiUIUeZFkCoHi661r0LPF0TOlfHDsyLRZdBPuPEFejmy0drFoysSkpxD0chTQc0948uYiCO3ptG9Za5sR62f9JRXOWEDC4bowz6Q/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2012%202023,%205%2034%2022%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trying to have a little family home evening.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWwJo9PM39GZeFM7hu-N3a-DEuxz1m13osDfqhLW7mmlOMv6KjZ8rAN58u5-6abMnX2cORiS36i70NV3RfS9M2sjRTgG2Uqeq7Xq9tkS2wWxaytU1bg4O1cg2iU_K0q7vYpJqwxF7nfYwwKEZl54r9dHT06ixgN-uFTryHhVDdQFjX_cRf-kj6Obyx0c/s3889/Photo%20Nov%2013%202023,%207%2034%2030%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="3889" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWwJo9PM39GZeFM7hu-N3a-DEuxz1m13osDfqhLW7mmlOMv6KjZ8rAN58u5-6abMnX2cORiS36i70NV3RfS9M2sjRTgG2Uqeq7Xq9tkS2wWxaytU1bg4O1cg2iU_K0q7vYpJqwxF7nfYwwKEZl54r9dHT06ixgN-uFTryHhVDdQFjX_cRf-kj6Obyx0c/w640-h426/Photo%20Nov%2013%202023,%207%2034%2030%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This little turkey running in my front door after school:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mqLVfRZ1dEp61pxiSNSoks5uSnnEqQdKnmpKI6ioNDUkPDrQcxaIFWhmg4oc5poZMq1Gv74IPtfhsJYs3tTvcd-pGAix-joH9NfJZs1JhZc6POyVRXTKQOGXuB4c5gE-7ccm1CiNO3073nWJneEPDfizZtcCVBN7T3WEWcpuxX8YCo4Mjv0FX2pBVOE/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2015%202023,%203%2057%2043%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mqLVfRZ1dEp61pxiSNSoks5uSnnEqQdKnmpKI6ioNDUkPDrQcxaIFWhmg4oc5poZMq1Gv74IPtfhsJYs3tTvcd-pGAix-joH9NfJZs1JhZc6POyVRXTKQOGXuB4c5gE-7ccm1CiNO3073nWJneEPDfizZtcCVBN7T3WEWcpuxX8YCo4Mjv0FX2pBVOE/w480-h640/Photo%20Nov%2015%202023,%203%2057%2043%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I love our little bus stop and the morning ritual of walking and talking with neighbors. Did Nala finally have her puppies last night? And did all 11 survive? Do the ward boundaries really extend all the way over to the dump road? Where is Dick taking that old sway back horse to auction? And was it Becky's cows out the other day? (We laughed to hear Mike discovered cow hoof prints right outside our front door.) </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It seems like it would be a slightly better world if everyone had a fifteen-minute chat with their neighbors most mornings.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BwpaVnFogH_oAmilw_gzM0x7Mcx11CyezqqkeM1w83BDRH9iF9EBA1CYTtdqgD0tticPH32anO0C0Eu5pFNBIxu13q5kkC9s1XVQiOI9cWx56rJFlQMetOlf6y9_tmH5rJr_hDEL9CGfiM1XkI1mhCKG5p9qFo0q7KkrCzKOFtBs31emld8cOIwykjY/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2015%202023,%208%2043%2026%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BwpaVnFogH_oAmilw_gzM0x7Mcx11CyezqqkeM1w83BDRH9iF9EBA1CYTtdqgD0tticPH32anO0C0Eu5pFNBIxu13q5kkC9s1XVQiOI9cWx56rJFlQMetOlf6y9_tmH5rJr_hDEL9CGfiM1XkI1mhCKG5p9qFo0q7KkrCzKOFtBs31emld8cOIwykjY/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2015%202023,%208%2043%2026%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And these shows zero depth, but look at my view (first out front and then out back) just from sitting at our kitchen table. I know winters up here last long but think how pretty this will be all stretched out in white!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1PR2CLc4i85G9qdoUXWevtZOmYixXms9CA0hyphenhyphen8DG8J8Z-0NEj2dNCVyttVg83ByYMBP4PZXXbGW3WL16iRvGW2UDFyqGI_IEl31fXfYG0ScSW3erTexU6hT8RVXSsAU4p6NhaiJd62sbJ1rAHav6r49rvoqPHYODiGvzHaaXXWt075AuedrhLzzra6w/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2038%2047%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1PR2CLc4i85G9qdoUXWevtZOmYixXms9CA0hyphenhyphen8DG8J8Z-0NEj2dNCVyttVg83ByYMBP4PZXXbGW3WL16iRvGW2UDFyqGI_IEl31fXfYG0ScSW3erTexU6hT8RVXSsAU4p6NhaiJd62sbJ1rAHav6r49rvoqPHYODiGvzHaaXXWt075AuedrhLzzra6w/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2038%2047%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2Qeg4rDBFb78kfi3OhURvCFOmu83vWGBQNAfqKcmtbr5JaXW-D1oz0wUSxhgKxBkfYSercEwIiYImb418vWhmvMV13DHE7_v8KsNo8bYa1-7DpBnWIkJP-XdxXe6Z2WbLgIKHLHKoyi-0uQvlUtjm-gxGxeqZtXNWACg5uCHHNemWvJP2YLFyNsBDq8/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2038%2051%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2Qeg4rDBFb78kfi3OhURvCFOmu83vWGBQNAfqKcmtbr5JaXW-D1oz0wUSxhgKxBkfYSercEwIiYImb418vWhmvMV13DHE7_v8KsNo8bYa1-7DpBnWIkJP-XdxXe6Z2WbLgIKHLHKoyi-0uQvlUtjm-gxGxeqZtXNWACg5uCHHNemWvJP2YLFyNsBDq8/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2016%202023,%2012%2038%2051%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-67997769367032245332023-11-07T11:54:00.012-07:002023-11-07T12:20:37.540-07:00A Boiled Frog<div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This morning Starling looked at the cattails growing outside the boys' bedroom window and said, "Mom? Are those ... corndogs?" (I don't know why everyone stops at tomatoes and peaches when they might be bottling corndogs for the winter aheadβlike we will be.)</span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In other news, I <span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">realized today that I am the poor, foolish frog gently boiling in a pot of slow-heating water. (You know what Iβm talking about.) And my own husband, it must be told, is the one ever turning up the temperature! β¦</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As you already know, Mikeβs two, large, dewlap, Toulouse geese, James and Helen, now reside at the farm. (Resulting in me regularly needing to drive the kids over to get the geese watered and fed.) (While I was there on Friday, I noticed a bunch of large vehicles towards the back of the alfalfa field near the canal. I didnβt know what they were doing, but it made me nervous since, occasionally, the canal people [and who even <b><i>are</i></b> the canal people?] come along to clear it out and, in the process, dump mud here and there, break off enormous chunks of willow, and make an overall, careless mess of everything.) Also, Mike recently told me of a great money-making opportunity for our kids: trapping beavers for the $50 bounty on their heads! (Beavers dam up the canals around here and cause all sorts of problems.) βBut,β I asked (my doubt undisguised), βwould they have to be dead?β. βOh theyβd <b>definitely</b> have to be dead,β Mike responded. (Which caused me to wonder if he had ever even met our children.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway, today Mike and I were talking on the phone, and I mentioned that it was probably time to start doing some sort of thinking about what to get the kids for Christmas.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">βWe could give them goats,β Mike suggested.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">βBut then Iβd just have to be driving to the farm to feed goats all day!β I protested.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">βWell, β¦β he pointed out, βif youβre already there for the geese β¦" </span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And before I could interject much of anything he continued on: "<span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And then you may as well check a few beaver traps." </span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And, sensing he'd already gone too far he figured he may as well throw in: "And while youβre at it, yell a few swear words at anyone you see messing up my canal.β</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hahahah. Oh my husband. I should have jumped out of that pot long ago (the first time he came home with a chicken probably). </span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At least there is this: </span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVcm7kZgnl4-Gf7YXeMlCl_qForIbCVnpVNXsZaP5UfwNv-6C7TnJpKL33e9MpletMeVLdoUfzs4ooTuVl6EO41esZEDimBqckER6vSgGqKlV3nKEMHRlp2gImB8yKYk0yugY3HfaRxWq9utYtHLyMqZwuJpYTjisioV4mVwsjygTDv8ZkZgQdxuxskA/s3264/IMG_1409.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVcm7kZgnl4-Gf7YXeMlCl_qForIbCVnpVNXsZaP5UfwNv-6C7TnJpKL33e9MpletMeVLdoUfzs4ooTuVl6EO41esZEDimBqckER6vSgGqKlV3nKEMHRlp2gImB8yKYk0yugY3HfaRxWq9utYtHLyMqZwuJpYTjisioV4mVwsjygTDv8ZkZgQdxuxskA/w640-h480/IMG_1409.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I had been worrying that all these fogs I've been loving might not stretch as far east as the farm, so Mike texted me these after driving past the farm on his way to work the other morning. Yes. At least there is that.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> Not a bad place for a frog to boil I suppose.</span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L_pESuNLKSN-Cz-bjlt7EuZ_mO86uUwIlzVnFWUKmZdoupqn5alwJDpjQFg8tgFTHkEK7rB8gTYh3KoG1Bpb5DfmiWwiG008jW7OelazRXf25EFUxZdme7SUfSMlF_AzkczTv8M_qjhLIF4s2qIJa3ZijvUSAVwnirc8KUrI7ac2Eopv2Iu9U5PHrWg/s3264/IMG_1410.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L_pESuNLKSN-Cz-bjlt7EuZ_mO86uUwIlzVnFWUKmZdoupqn5alwJDpjQFg8tgFTHkEK7rB8gTYh3KoG1Bpb5DfmiWwiG008jW7OelazRXf25EFUxZdme7SUfSMlF_AzkczTv8M_qjhLIF4s2qIJa3ZijvUSAVwnirc8KUrI7ac2Eopv2Iu9U5PHrWg/w640-h480/IMG_1410.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-12141517946177349212023-11-04T21:52:00.019-06:002023-11-05T21:04:47.065-07:00The Rest of October<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We had a few mornings with no fog to speak of, so I was glad to wake to it surrounding the house in full force this morning. (Before I saw the fog, I woke to the occasional sound of a shotgun firing in the distance. I suppose guns firing in the city might mean something more alarming, but here it meant only what Mike mumbled as he rolled over in bed--still mostly asleep: "first day of the pheasant hunt". When I got out of bed earlier and saw all the thick fog I wondered how successful the pheasant hunters would find their hunt today! A little blessing for the pheasants I suppose. Oh! And that just reminded me of <a href="https://nancyaah.blogspot.com/2009/11/pheasant-hunt.html" target="_blank">this funny little post</a> I wrote over a decade ago!)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev0Jnk-1n4kvF3vta6WWiAZOCCnpRbdP_8gg5IWxqACf1TfnMUMR6SQayd1N1crfuV71R4BTc0JNb6FPZ6vTgpfM14Y2YXPEsqLuIlSAgpjIeIVUB52Xoc_FQAAvC5FXZgBWz5sHLWMGW25doczZ97zILzC7CE2xJENJ6W8QADujP_CMm7TeAQMZqpZA/s3777/Photo%20Nov%2004%202023,%208%2020%2024%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2833" data-original-width="3777" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev0Jnk-1n4kvF3vta6WWiAZOCCnpRbdP_8gg5IWxqACf1TfnMUMR6SQayd1N1crfuV71R4BTc0JNb6FPZ6vTgpfM14Y2YXPEsqLuIlSAgpjIeIVUB52Xoc_FQAAvC5FXZgBWz5sHLWMGW25doczZ97zILzC7CE2xJENJ6W8QADujP_CMm7TeAQMZqpZA/w640-h480/Photo%20Nov%2004%202023,%208%2020%2024%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMmIMZAtKGJ4Pvhu9CY-uz7U-TbWF4maDJ8aWJZb34dKzSDYH1O4H3thqAHwbcieAf8xFGjzcHH_1GTSFAy5i61HzRRhU5DlKxPCIYyH9s8zqjTWguCRus2AD8XdQukXUIFcfyfMnfN75IlK1Btno9UKNylD2SHdDayIEoeUfDEWRCPQIS2MPeWNsLNw/s2316/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%201%2018%2040%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMmIMZAtKGJ4Pvhu9CY-uz7U-TbWF4maDJ8aWJZb34dKzSDYH1O4H3thqAHwbcieAf8xFGjzcHH_1GTSFAy5i61HzRRhU5DlKxPCIYyH9s8zqjTWguCRus2AD8XdQukXUIFcfyfMnfN75IlK1Btno9UKNylD2SHdDayIEoeUfDEWRCPQIS2MPeWNsLNw/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%201%2018%2040%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anders came home from school like this one day. Playing four-square with a basketball. Sigh. It was for the best perhaps. He hadn't mentioned any trouble seeing, but it turns out his vision had grown much much worse since his last eye exam. Getting new glasses was like seeing the world totally fresh again. I'm a little sad for the boy to have such poor eyesight though. I'm a +1.5 and can't see well without glasses or contacts at all. He is now a +4.5! :(<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVUuXb1Ktz8YglKS4wR0uulDw4Zz7UUhO_av8Ajhs95mdgaUiZ01IfqtjQtp5vsDfd9aoMi0FH8OUCqV4dSNuQgSQXrfQ2lRVhcPRCx5cZWiWw9pkAC9u0TXMUiy0cR-OGMUiQMWui1sJC-O8nCKhfeY6U3cuTPbqb5qAKXQCRb7TIjfM1xShUkQWkaE/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%202%2046%2047%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVUuXb1Ktz8YglKS4wR0uulDw4Zz7UUhO_av8Ajhs95mdgaUiZ01IfqtjQtp5vsDfd9aoMi0FH8OUCqV4dSNuQgSQXrfQ2lRVhcPRCx5cZWiWw9pkAC9u0TXMUiy0cR-OGMUiQMWui1sJC-O8nCKhfeY6U3cuTPbqb5qAKXQCRb7TIjfM1xShUkQWkaE/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%202%2046%2047%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Sometimes Star just asks me to come snuggle. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a25Dy2qrrb3Ue8-NcL9ppZjLxlURSNlQv5mo8qDtLyWtfRDSIqj9e5_B5nLVTMANHJggkbxW4H9UXiVzBnKcAmFHmJUoTI2HTe5DRb4RK76zOW14KGYUxkrlN7JB8Dp6LJoPu3-j0xvtvAbensyR_DOtM3J9quAf9calY__A8zPjXyBmOUW8f1Nef-Y/s2263/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%203%2014%2039%20PM%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="2263" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a25Dy2qrrb3Ue8-NcL9ppZjLxlURSNlQv5mo8qDtLyWtfRDSIqj9e5_B5nLVTMANHJggkbxW4H9UXiVzBnKcAmFHmJUoTI2HTe5DRb4RK76zOW14KGYUxkrlN7JB8Dp6LJoPu3-j0xvtvAbensyR_DOtM3J9quAf9calY__A8zPjXyBmOUW8f1Nef-Y/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%203%2014%2039%20PM%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A full moon.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9GbGU1WuV2qQlyYFUDghDZAih1bd3GUcEqfGOjgMiOKmozAYgdfpKE3F-c5EVWl9OTG9fj0gwzlMtmIvqwqgEI8ygiVVEZ6oGUipMlXf04gjKWo7CU0TLdQ6DEmnb-0d352zRFsQARPJaHcVTlyjhJ0sHxh0TKs9k5tvWBIeZF7Ntip2CjXiCDPYOOc/s4815/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%2011%2057%2059%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="4815" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9GbGU1WuV2qQlyYFUDghDZAih1bd3GUcEqfGOjgMiOKmozAYgdfpKE3F-c5EVWl9OTG9fj0gwzlMtmIvqwqgEI8ygiVVEZ6oGUipMlXf04gjKWo7CU0TLdQ6DEmnb-0d352zRFsQARPJaHcVTlyjhJ0sHxh0TKs9k5tvWBIeZF7Ntip2CjXiCDPYOOc/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%2011%2057%2059%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy curling the girls' hair for cousin Grace's reception.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWjtDf3cu2oCe-Etfin3EjWuT2xQsweh0E6HY-jEsGk-7uOO9vIGd5ghLIx7UGT79bzLvlQH0iHbkDBs4CqAlsfaGi0AdVZ4yuQ8Ya9UnVzevuXh__NICXmE3jDNf_wMjaQpe1c834_iJZ-p_lEQ3fHKu7Jf5Rx7zwvlHOhRNPpkikoh7OHC72U7rGD8/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%203%2043%2000%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWjtDf3cu2oCe-Etfin3EjWuT2xQsweh0E6HY-jEsGk-7uOO9vIGd5ghLIx7UGT79bzLvlQH0iHbkDBs4CqAlsfaGi0AdVZ4yuQ8Ya9UnVzevuXh__NICXmE3jDNf_wMjaQpe1c834_iJZ-p_lEQ3fHKu7Jf5Rx7zwvlHOhRNPpkikoh7OHC72U7rGD8/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%203%2043%2000%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5uQa2b8LwhVOqW6WChC76hvv6wXnS1RST15et3PuMVQDdCeRYwBRIhwb6tHdjjD4OtuHQDxxkibP9FtIVJQ-3c9MF44MPuFE8GGXYKivMDUCnprfBG_54OA1exufEbW6BzgWiUymb-0ff7nW0TJiIrzEZaabTCuzTe1YmIL0_ui6xXtW_hMpBlIQ7M/s3402/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%203%2043%2039%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3402" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5uQa2b8LwhVOqW6WChC76hvv6wXnS1RST15et3PuMVQDdCeRYwBRIhwb6tHdjjD4OtuHQDxxkibP9FtIVJQ-3c9MF44MPuFE8GGXYKivMDUCnprfBG_54OA1exufEbW6BzgWiUymb-0ff7nW0TJiIrzEZaabTCuzTe1YmIL0_ui6xXtW_hMpBlIQ7M/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%203%2043%2039%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We've been without a piano since our move! And we really can't fit one in the rental. But when Daisy came up last weekend we had her pick up a keyboard Mike had seen on ksl on her way! Just in time for Christmas music!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-xK0KqhXIIzxlx1I94lsSunaaNEoLJ_Ara29-2RYxLqSBnFYdQiX-8ILgp_-edmKXcg2JWYNiIZSw_Q18TCFLDHq_O5vq2_peGm1fh8euP0ii4cE1XHutSEcr2qaKQDeSff8Dc27eDEo0sKz1rhQIjCcPlVOWTMJY6XeqzlK7qa6aXEA2xbJxUDZ-eM/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%209%2026%2034%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-xK0KqhXIIzxlx1I94lsSunaaNEoLJ_Ara29-2RYxLqSBnFYdQiX-8ILgp_-edmKXcg2JWYNiIZSw_Q18TCFLDHq_O5vq2_peGm1fh8euP0ii4cE1XHutSEcr2qaKQDeSff8Dc27eDEo0sKz1rhQIjCcPlVOWTMJY6XeqzlK7qa6aXEA2xbJxUDZ-eM/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%209%2026%2034%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Daisy caught this picture of Starling watching, from the girls' room window, our first official snowflakes fall. (We won't count it as the first actual snowfall since those flakes you see were about all it was.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPwPKdaL1l61mnsvwi1pKovT0gKe-CQYx01fLwIZoeIy18b_xB3TnlzflMaBgUrSnXcl2YiukbEs3q2GeAop3tqvQ4uwkY_h-yyKAvMNMFi5bfnVQdOk1lAakw9-xwbM4lm2mNEDu1tt2DgRrKtOwaFAUjAxQs0_Ropy5sLE0TyO514tKTE0h4yx0yJ0/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%2012%2055%2050%20PM%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPwPKdaL1l61mnsvwi1pKovT0gKe-CQYx01fLwIZoeIy18b_xB3TnlzflMaBgUrSnXcl2YiukbEs3q2GeAop3tqvQ4uwkY_h-yyKAvMNMFi5bfnVQdOk1lAakw9-xwbM4lm2mNEDu1tt2DgRrKtOwaFAUjAxQs0_Ropy5sLE0TyO514tKTE0h4yx0yJ0/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2028%202023,%2012%2055%2050%20PM%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And a few photos of little Cherub.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8aLYiiu-fNvSnYx-ZgVKt5NHSQGf-F_gCMrUAdxskck8fJVtqYoYm68y0Hj8ja4tqi-WhWL4vZn3lK1o7q2g1q4RUTSEmShPHWmPdR0LkfpbZYdX4nqtE6VbgZEobp97Wrkg357o9fblGRUAwNIdHRlc9uqRbsG7NlwL9DqPwzXsFZDNvdEBUAXFjNo/s3648/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2014%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8aLYiiu-fNvSnYx-ZgVKt5NHSQGf-F_gCMrUAdxskck8fJVtqYoYm68y0Hj8ja4tqi-WhWL4vZn3lK1o7q2g1q4RUTSEmShPHWmPdR0LkfpbZYdX4nqtE6VbgZEobp97Wrkg357o9fblGRUAwNIdHRlc9uqRbsG7NlwL9DqPwzXsFZDNvdEBUAXFjNo/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2014%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMRms269kWCARp2IDmAAZeNqmtCNXFd_VAmyEzJTHtVOADsaEnn-FIIzZ8j-cCbwMTWAN-7-iiQLWg_t75wvP8ZDwZIgLGCi_tNOv9IcOlABjHTqPhaPcQlD2pkbBQNjZDFt6VV1bzLgyyKJ9xKB6Hw6WdCAnt2vOPkJVfA9OpiNIVhqSUGfR6GtCz5A/s5472/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2018%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMRms269kWCARp2IDmAAZeNqmtCNXFd_VAmyEzJTHtVOADsaEnn-FIIzZ8j-cCbwMTWAN-7-iiQLWg_t75wvP8ZDwZIgLGCi_tNOv9IcOlABjHTqPhaPcQlD2pkbBQNjZDFt6VV1bzLgyyKJ9xKB6Hw6WdCAnt2vOPkJVfA9OpiNIVhqSUGfR6GtCz5A/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2018%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This four-year-old person will not speak to other adults. She generally won't even acknowledge anything they say. What's to be done with such a person? I sometimes marvel at how she will just quietly wait and not utter a single protest if I am talking to someone for a length of time at the grocery store or while she sits in the jog stroller. (When her siblings would have long been interrupting and moaning, "mommmmmm! mommmm!") And if I have to take her along to an appointment at a doctor's office or to the school or some such, she just sits quietly on my lap the entire time. No wiggling and running about. And yet at home she runs and yells and makes demands and chatters away. She refuses to wear anything but what she chooses or to let me do her hair. And she seems to feel that any friends of her young siblings should rightly be her best friend. Such a little person.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-bXm6NlkVGiPbXMJyJkKz8OpYzT3-DFgMNZYvBRW1ytcZBazMwwdY8sfsSoKOSvcaStqP3k4enACAjWCg6CP1L06YFL41xSqSvjGb9QOXcOR0VcZkt5t8a5ejAOUAWh1X3u6YkfT7s6KZvnUYPWhXsiUolxCBgu2SWRd-Z4M9PGjW9Kwk2WJYUsATps/s3434/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2042%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3434" data-original-width="3434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-bXm6NlkVGiPbXMJyJkKz8OpYzT3-DFgMNZYvBRW1ytcZBazMwwdY8sfsSoKOSvcaStqP3k4enACAjWCg6CP1L06YFL41xSqSvjGb9QOXcOR0VcZkt5t8a5ejAOUAWh1X3u6YkfT7s6KZvnUYPWhXsiUolxCBgu2SWRd-Z4M9PGjW9Kwk2WJYUsATps/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2042%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gng1WLI5Sy7pF4WiANCAfz1-2_A0-oAHyAfTDWIGtPnPCPybKuBtkntvW1RAYYJkRxBaL3U-M-Wu2WXtAhrRUx4g_hqvc1x4YUJEJVkukvXM5NAtBZ5d5ulxvSrT_dzJ7ZWdoEAVPUJVJhHjnnX-bKjhdgHjBCR_4lx7aJuCUopD0rsPI7QA42-bxRM/s3648/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2051%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gng1WLI5Sy7pF4WiANCAfz1-2_A0-oAHyAfTDWIGtPnPCPybKuBtkntvW1RAYYJkRxBaL3U-M-Wu2WXtAhrRUx4g_hqvc1x4YUJEJVkukvXM5NAtBZ5d5ulxvSrT_dzJ7ZWdoEAVPUJVJhHjnnX-bKjhdgHjBCR_4lx7aJuCUopD0rsPI7QA42-bxRM/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2039%2051%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA-CPFNAiubn2b4DdZH8POMD_JCElk5M0TMHerSfOjO0r1oJz7bk3qCsRkrGY8YyVtKZ-IYBgk8dtTTqXF86NbDm0b9Fqr37214yPkoCnNkI0fmlNAE6mJt2MfPLDmGFz_dINqPlUnalgzQ3LXtnAxrQWFsTE5XtD8xdrRACPKoK0PjnsylQo7AYxa6A/s3648/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2041%2025%20AM%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA-CPFNAiubn2b4DdZH8POMD_JCElk5M0TMHerSfOjO0r1oJz7bk3qCsRkrGY8YyVtKZ-IYBgk8dtTTqXF86NbDm0b9Fqr37214yPkoCnNkI0fmlNAE6mJt2MfPLDmGFz_dINqPlUnalgzQ3LXtnAxrQWFsTE5XtD8xdrRACPKoK0PjnsylQo7AYxa6A/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2041%2025%20AM%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDRTMEGKtNU7HyIiYLUXBz6BB1_K6pfyckOG_UP15QEa3BY63XpqkAlu-DZMd_hNZVNivcX_UpqoqAScaNe8b0TP85cdxCM8qsKXKVlqcdj8ERPeB6Ht-PshaTcx6snn46MSnQ00ajtRQtVzR2qY9Aa2OrKmupgpMieNsOTy3zAsBqNwLTui-jfx3BBs/s5472/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2046%2021%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDRTMEGKtNU7HyIiYLUXBz6BB1_K6pfyckOG_UP15QEa3BY63XpqkAlu-DZMd_hNZVNivcX_UpqoqAScaNe8b0TP85cdxCM8qsKXKVlqcdj8ERPeB6Ht-PshaTcx6snn46MSnQ00ajtRQtVzR2qY9Aa2OrKmupgpMieNsOTy3zAsBqNwLTui-jfx3BBs/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2025%202023,%207%2046%2021%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMljqmxxeuO849OQGqoMEaY4-JvpN4lhM9ZNJ4e8Sjk522aMTw2UII-NYReVDwePamSEwxi6dy4TbdhzADseytV5x1s0UaEsmSEbnF5276yL9iAMJpBrKDtt8gwaB3wNZh2HLZRnijDhj2-RXdX4dE-Cv2FWzgoJ6ns74uxbG-VXixNXmNlkPP7j45Y8/s5472/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%2011%2022%2056%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMljqmxxeuO849OQGqoMEaY4-JvpN4lhM9ZNJ4e8Sjk522aMTw2UII-NYReVDwePamSEwxi6dy4TbdhzADseytV5x1s0UaEsmSEbnF5276yL9iAMJpBrKDtt8gwaB3wNZh2HLZRnijDhj2-RXdX4dE-Cv2FWzgoJ6ns74uxbG-VXixNXmNlkPP7j45Y8/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2027%202023,%2011%2022%2056%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And of course, we can't post "the rest of October" without these pictures! Here the kids were before leaving for school on Halloween:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mette's black hairspray stained the shoulder of her white shirt completely black by the end of the school day. And her hair itself faded enough that she said it just looked like gray hair (an old Jasmine?) so she showered (we had to wash her hair about five times) before the the evening's celebrations.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKsL9DgFX16EnfzM84EBNaa7VZ72egMzeOf2ONjPxZGVEQG1dwwB3vagaaKqw31pJSKJFEBYScxj6K9YobbeAlDep1tFQKLqsRhDXMqn4w8cuKZvhzTMjg9yJplGE-9QIpFZPlihfmCh7Ge8akJBTo6dX4A1Ygau-bi036_P1tvEFKhxbRwJkv1H96Es/s3319/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2010%2001%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3319" data-original-width="2213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKsL9DgFX16EnfzM84EBNaa7VZ72egMzeOf2ONjPxZGVEQG1dwwB3vagaaKqw31pJSKJFEBYScxj6K9YobbeAlDep1tFQKLqsRhDXMqn4w8cuKZvhzTMjg9yJplGE-9QIpFZPlihfmCh7Ge8akJBTo6dX4A1Ygau-bi036_P1tvEFKhxbRwJkv1H96Es/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2010%2001%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPIYvW2wMX6916mkRtcBhFXKUpDU_P4dd9WkeVyxWTJ9hgTQCdpbqcmUQGxc6q8_ySC4NhpFrvt2yCz5RxGz01b2Vd4CF3Zpcz1TnR8aNu7Dd_GXwNe_mFlvm8Qdop-9hPUXiUiBM5CJGAKOaojlDxfeficaAWWaj1u73U7woQREphb1NNTGvM7wUzlA/s3527/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2032%2038%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3527" data-original-width="2351" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPIYvW2wMX6916mkRtcBhFXKUpDU_P4dd9WkeVyxWTJ9hgTQCdpbqcmUQGxc6q8_ySC4NhpFrvt2yCz5RxGz01b2Vd4CF3Zpcz1TnR8aNu7Dd_GXwNe_mFlvm8Qdop-9hPUXiUiBM5CJGAKOaojlDxfeficaAWWaj1u73U7woQREphb1NNTGvM7wUzlA/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2032%2038%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkKqPYnDWsHTUVPWDAwqvXdLv5GbkA5OFp8aMWcPxEtzaB-SETA9NW2PaFJaX3MthZphdqaZlDX3D3YfQb2TrNAZnzW933jV8CD32PKyFs9JBGS_ghC9A1kcqC4uz6iBvaJX-sTdgFoYcMpIjaF5_DYAIF_G8IhWbHlnPjAcMVsPt2Byp08DMh0Miujo/s3667/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2033%2004%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3667" data-original-width="2445" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkKqPYnDWsHTUVPWDAwqvXdLv5GbkA5OFp8aMWcPxEtzaB-SETA9NW2PaFJaX3MthZphdqaZlDX3D3YfQb2TrNAZnzW933jV8CD32PKyFs9JBGS_ghC9A1kcqC4uz6iBvaJX-sTdgFoYcMpIjaF5_DYAIF_G8IhWbHlnPjAcMVsPt2Byp08DMh0Miujo/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2033%2004%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summer (Merida from Brave) didn't have such trouble with her orange spray fading or getting on things, BUT<b> </b>the can quit working and would not spray when I'd only done <b>half </b>of her hair! With the school bus coming we had no choice but to pull part of the non orange side back a bit in hopes it would blend and shrug over her half orange hair. She was a good sport about it. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbTEwDxU9u0RsnhbsrA9mtJIc5oCVeyUYaQ_7THt_-1rjW-UincFXgxDt-izBQvRkk1qbK5dsaZn5GBJQNifbo0o7ip5DZG02fAAarma9ATI4BETMQGEnA4MVGBeGmf8mKWDofi07Zvr-sIgzM13LxQ1oOB39tnX-dHspgjRGQNi0FhatvKT7zSRf_-k/s2925/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2033%2029%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2925" data-original-width="1949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbTEwDxU9u0RsnhbsrA9mtJIc5oCVeyUYaQ_7THt_-1rjW-UincFXgxDt-izBQvRkk1qbK5dsaZn5GBJQNifbo0o7ip5DZG02fAAarma9ATI4BETMQGEnA4MVGBeGmf8mKWDofi07Zvr-sIgzM13LxQ1oOB39tnX-dHspgjRGQNi0FhatvKT7zSRf_-k/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2033%2029%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here they are with the bus-stop crew:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyJIyiR04OZWvn2GdoRq0dVlPdWhmPp_ublJLgbm7TCHYoC9egpJeFBm61x92ib7-2N1d8Sx5d82VRLrm3NjpMd_IIz_f3ZHsoSCBsCSvgTAzt5obAr56i20_xl418gWv6Y8ZECA2STG6IqEorzALIPVgA7DrGQ6ARdbi34dL08yXaVRKVaFn-35J0UQ/s3017/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2043%2041%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2011" data-original-width="3017" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyJIyiR04OZWvn2GdoRq0dVlPdWhmPp_ublJLgbm7TCHYoC9egpJeFBm61x92ib7-2N1d8Sx5d82VRLrm3NjpMd_IIz_f3ZHsoSCBsCSvgTAzt5obAr56i20_xl418gWv6Y8ZECA2STG6IqEorzALIPVgA7DrGQ6ARdbi34dL08yXaVRKVaFn-35J0UQ/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2043%2041%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>And little Hansie: always the last to board what with all his demands for one last hug and one last goodbye and so on.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmxdvDH1b9BD-DQI1Pm5Hx2CVRF_ASVl63kUw7uiHjqCk0YR49BXtPI7138ghPceZqkgVjleaGE_rRPTe4MaTGnqj0xojrEl8haZx7CiVcatoXQwvPzWFhCJ_4ilZIkLRJfXQIR5D20PUXhL5WlsueE82N4xO2YV3q875IInjMR8qCcfi6K8vFWiLAPM/s2762/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%2010%2027%2004%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="2762" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmxdvDH1b9BD-DQI1Pm5Hx2CVRF_ASVl63kUw7uiHjqCk0YR49BXtPI7138ghPceZqkgVjleaGE_rRPTe4MaTGnqj0xojrEl8haZx7CiVcatoXQwvPzWFhCJ_4ilZIkLRJfXQIR5D20PUXhL5WlsueE82N4xO2YV3q875IInjMR8qCcfi6K8vFWiLAPM/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%2010%2027%2004%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Penny went to school wearing a yellow shirt with a "Hello, my name is Life" sticker on it. She carried a basket of lemons with her. And Jesse wore the tried and true Charlie Brown shirt. Sadly I didn't get a photo of them. And nothing from Daisy or my little missionary. But Abe sent a photo of how he went about campus--just as he did last year. (When I asked how it went getting the paint back off he replied, "I took a shower and looked in the mirror and promptly took another shower.")</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-iVvdBxBr-yPHpelEgWpGxVd9aiyS7eJ2z7cbGJXtKLTBLObH2MxnX8-RwcVyhRO4U6fi9igaODfjYww7qsJxPvRmI7CDC9m9j7-HTH1GijmD4zP210vCjyZcrnDjQsWg2kb2iH4_J0qwvxXUDzaArsvH5p7QMTa4gT4GReCQr_Z7vtbFoiS10otdvE/s2363/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2052%2037%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2363" data-original-width="2363" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-iVvdBxBr-yPHpelEgWpGxVd9aiyS7eJ2z7cbGJXtKLTBLObH2MxnX8-RwcVyhRO4U6fi9igaODfjYww7qsJxPvRmI7CDC9m9j7-HTH1GijmD4zP210vCjyZcrnDjQsWg2kb2iH4_J0qwvxXUDzaArsvH5p7QMTa4gT4GReCQr_Z7vtbFoiS10otdvE/w640-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2052%2037%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa6D87_WpO5au6X9CMr_mGx9wvI6MN8AO5pSNnBmJ_jhN_4Ku4v6RQHrFUpEIi4bDoeaU-_5tDf5WjbkQXAsjKmLvz4JVW1M08OIr2wacf7OLV35_e_Hezz07srQcHiMEti-7Q4TiCmORlrmaOirXzTr3KkfEksgh26OSjH7dcfdFy4K5G1MYwSdECro/s2867/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2053%2047%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="1912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa6D87_WpO5au6X9CMr_mGx9wvI6MN8AO5pSNnBmJ_jhN_4Ku4v6RQHrFUpEIi4bDoeaU-_5tDf5WjbkQXAsjKmLvz4JVW1M08OIr2wacf7OLV35_e_Hezz07srQcHiMEti-7Q4TiCmORlrmaOirXzTr3KkfEksgh26OSjH7dcfdFy4K5G1MYwSdECro/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2031%202023,%208%2053%2047%20AM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here some girls are all ready to trick-or-treat, only ... where would they possibly go? I certainly don't see any houses!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9kh4hs6sb8BWRIll2DLVAOZCHpK8EmVmN8HQ1qRVB1l23q5soL7N8JNbNCni2JgX73S7xdiAIaIN7iXs6kWBgYzN2KhcdCG0fFgtMZwCsZtBy5zfMn1bSt0uvFO-afMIK1EZ9aYeGMM5_JzjzgKqmxuXxCz_dXc7ZksJ55IrGQWcR9VoF7lRTlpzpZY/s2048/IMG_0742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9kh4hs6sb8BWRIll2DLVAOZCHpK8EmVmN8HQ1qRVB1l23q5soL7N8JNbNCni2JgX73S7xdiAIaIN7iXs6kWBgYzN2KhcdCG0fFgtMZwCsZtBy5zfMn1bSt0uvFO-afMIK1EZ9aYeGMM5_JzjzgKqmxuXxCz_dXc7ZksJ55IrGQWcR9VoF7lRTlpzpZY/w640-h426/IMG_0742.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was a little strange not having our same tradition for Halloween night just laid out for us! Usually the older girls walk the younger kids around to the neighbor's in our cul-de-sac, and then Mike takes them around the block while I stay to hand out candy. Then the younger, more-tired-out ones get dropped back off to me while Mike takes the rest to his mom's and then to various houses in the ward.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But out here we weren't even sure that any houses in our ward would be prepared with candy to pass out (since trick-or-treaters don't usally opt to trick-or-treat along lonesome country roads). We went to the mutli-ward trunk-or-treat ... just late enough to see the last car leave. Then we drove up to a little neighborhood of closely packed houses. It reminded me a lot of our Halloweens up in our WA neighborhood but I missed seeing familiar faces at the doors. The kids had fun though and Penny and Jesse trailed along with us to watch their siblings (and to run, unabashedly, up to the houses with bowls of candy left for people to take one from). And when that was all done, several of us stopped by the party our neighbor's were holding in their garage. I'm excited to figure out more fully what our new traditions here will be as the years go on (and I'm glad we've still got quite a few years of young trick-or-treaters to help us establish them!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxiFyFWYGk8ljB_LFlg-6nUIqh4L7MNUDnyIzCCCEOPjscw34-2AkhTFONZzgf0xc8r-oZ0hyphenhyphenKS0aCPBAZefU6xstnVvI3-k9eEe0bQapzuSA3cJzTTQGvmosLi26iFga4NTRZL34m6B0s63rVQcaSuxS9GZ6wQxRQL04E0h-6Y5wqa9NjhWi4qCAuc0/s2048/IMG_0713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxiFyFWYGk8ljB_LFlg-6nUIqh4L7MNUDnyIzCCCEOPjscw34-2AkhTFONZzgf0xc8r-oZ0hyphenhyphenKS0aCPBAZefU6xstnVvI3-k9eEe0bQapzuSA3cJzTTQGvmosLi26iFga4NTRZL34m6B0s63rVQcaSuxS9GZ6wQxRQL04E0h-6Y5wqa9NjhWi4qCAuc0/w426-h640/IMG_0713.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was surprised when Starling decided, last minute, on the wolf instead of her pink princess dress! (That wolf costume, first worn by Abe, has served us well for two decades now!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jC0-ukcgOq05oZPnZKc6_5cF7IP4UNXL6ZOwjEA29aleOfqlKDvUNHqrVyc3qPQ0vwsWalkWmld14bsxC7yD_Cl-vH7B3JxS44igJ20ey0xk1OhPfUF79ENtjDShxC725o-x7CCppcR7mRIHGi7at_QYt0Z05AMT8iTDp6SgW9HC4U7KgQDhPny-qdI/s2048/IMG_0714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jC0-ukcgOq05oZPnZKc6_5cF7IP4UNXL6ZOwjEA29aleOfqlKDvUNHqrVyc3qPQ0vwsWalkWmld14bsxC7yD_Cl-vH7B3JxS44igJ20ey0xk1OhPfUF79ENtjDShxC725o-x7CCppcR7mRIHGi7at_QYt0Z05AMT8iTDp6SgW9HC4U7KgQDhPny-qdI/w426-h640/IMG_0714.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RrcYIjO65ZNlCIcHsLfECA5XSlJE8ZP0jXANSOtJw3qYpyKCWdGLBTCCW4WhO-zXXD4Xq8bgM6KGECLq2qglDYaeJ_VZAb5_pgWwHd1mB0bOtm5nlHNdQSGkWe3AgYfqQwai5YD-oqJEr57rGLnicpB9pNKRI2g9z8-b8r33b_xvSQHFBA2UOIXgAHY/s2048/IMG_0716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RrcYIjO65ZNlCIcHsLfECA5XSlJE8ZP0jXANSOtJw3qYpyKCWdGLBTCCW4WhO-zXXD4Xq8bgM6KGECLq2qglDYaeJ_VZAb5_pgWwHd1mB0bOtm5nlHNdQSGkWe3AgYfqQwai5YD-oqJEr57rGLnicpB9pNKRI2g9z8-b8r33b_xvSQHFBA2UOIXgAHY/w426-h640/IMG_0716.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuCq1dpyEufr-8ih4yRPCafSCT4WkR0ZPAmTuWBJgHpsOQAfZSdehIhCHlnHsi6h_sDHIIS_QE8k-xqoSOkhtuLn1JSstGcLVA02qqUPKajNPeprvk8DYwvvMHV31Jd1-FnssBUEEh5_4fJ4K6KZzNgj7WxhNKZgmbTqwpSGyfV90DC5waUawWuxTroc/s2048/IMG_0720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuCq1dpyEufr-8ih4yRPCafSCT4WkR0ZPAmTuWBJgHpsOQAfZSdehIhCHlnHsi6h_sDHIIS_QE8k-xqoSOkhtuLn1JSstGcLVA02qqUPKajNPeprvk8DYwvvMHV31Jd1-FnssBUEEh5_4fJ4K6KZzNgj7WxhNKZgmbTqwpSGyfV90DC5waUawWuxTroc/w426-h640/IMG_0720.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOasgdgekllwXvTQ7kSqztAtJkGrWTda2KF4wcpoAo6rSvTEZ_nBR4TguRG5QVZaULA6_xyeqgvRmQNWTJMLNAnpit2N28bPyDoX12r1Vadv6yWworBgAHJyKvHRCtKpr0cEGgNe_ida7TuYZARpKOKb96DqQyw4rTsMC8H3JckmO9DJpC9c4uLqAbBg/s2048/IMG_0721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOasgdgekllwXvTQ7kSqztAtJkGrWTda2KF4wcpoAo6rSvTEZ_nBR4TguRG5QVZaULA6_xyeqgvRmQNWTJMLNAnpit2N28bPyDoX12r1Vadv6yWworBgAHJyKvHRCtKpr0cEGgNe_ida7TuYZARpKOKb96DqQyw4rTsMC8H3JckmO9DJpC9c4uLqAbBg/w426-h640/IMG_0721.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2GWKl2Z3Hxax3LxY9RXT7iKQldWK84pDvriNbnGd-aP8Kg2fuMYg8lQjVrwg6S1IaPgkESqxqKl-qbPuxqC7XQCbSwDSYYL-UztBQAMStoMojhfzBzq_FnJykPhGgT8DaowHfgI_FBpcqcTiUDMtcluonX-XEs4O9-XKTM_Kn3QTS6hSFlJggGklotg/s2048/IMG_0722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2GWKl2Z3Hxax3LxY9RXT7iKQldWK84pDvriNbnGd-aP8Kg2fuMYg8lQjVrwg6S1IaPgkESqxqKl-qbPuxqC7XQCbSwDSYYL-UztBQAMStoMojhfzBzq_FnJykPhGgT8DaowHfgI_FBpcqcTiUDMtcluonX-XEs4O9-XKTM_Kn3QTS6hSFlJggGklotg/w640-h426/IMG_0722.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(As you can see, poor Anders had to wear his glasses like this for several days while we waited for his new ones to arrive!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ydi4zK-SqzVBCgihv4eqV_4JQfF-VMCDFMUmwtVNeUxhOXGwBaLurxzfnyt2k9T4H_YQtsRsK6Szu-6lwMUJNUX4UzjbQ79JZySzISS-R-fGhk5-LX8icOGStS0d4dSly2h5JA-BZNSFkaQuYm-eWGpCUhUybPXOaI4P5K__AhYbboFQCadSizJL-8/s2048/IMG_0726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ydi4zK-SqzVBCgihv4eqV_4JQfF-VMCDFMUmwtVNeUxhOXGwBaLurxzfnyt2k9T4H_YQtsRsK6Szu-6lwMUJNUX4UzjbQ79JZySzISS-R-fGhk5-LX8icOGStS0d4dSly2h5JA-BZNSFkaQuYm-eWGpCUhUybPXOaI4P5K__AhYbboFQCadSizJL-8/w426-h640/IMG_0726.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKWG31R2AvI6RWQUHa3vvjrnHDpC6rKEgFBCELXBwzcP3NsnKyQam4sw7RhmGSlKK2xzO6uTH1henYZdxtggLqPLOFOH5qguKkUr3pLAhM6uyI39752eS42M_F_xh_mpuRMW9WaJZ1AjTxrI-H7yMS5ca0nJJrUSFEhOr1YUmj473b5Y-7HL7tL-1o0/s2048/IMG_0727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKWG31R2AvI6RWQUHa3vvjrnHDpC6rKEgFBCELXBwzcP3NsnKyQam4sw7RhmGSlKK2xzO6uTH1henYZdxtggLqPLOFOH5qguKkUr3pLAhM6uyI39752eS42M_F_xh_mpuRMW9WaJZ1AjTxrI-H7yMS5ca0nJJrUSFEhOr1YUmj473b5Y-7HL7tL-1o0/w426-h640/IMG_0727.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEbgt2XiM9djRd_ge_FnRnOKoBw3yQuVBMi_-8DuHHbyA2BxZaMe8mxCdidJw5O-VV0FjnHUH22fwtc45u-a1ivv0760hupAUpH0SIN_sQhGUGqvgYJv-KKLB7tCHbipbh1Vk1zohHfwcAOUvTC91DDGCTxtAA4Qk2U8A0WL61DXZm-ZGMC5gSd8-kEY/w640-h426/IMG_0738.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRRjcNedD5sWfEfpISOMAwM4lfATKHB0G5lIewHBg7rcqZ0gTJTORzjyTVK-UJ6qfKViqNMm1ZY99pbKPnajy8-BpOMp4z1qoHCeWNee34700AwsMEh0h6uqSXEEQD2m7ymHk2BRdestOKXo3bFs2XpaOFKt7q8-w0S9orgKu6rM3znI37iGljV_Pdcw/s2048/IMG_0743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRRjcNedD5sWfEfpISOMAwM4lfATKHB0G5lIewHBg7rcqZ0gTJTORzjyTVK-UJ6qfKViqNMm1ZY99pbKPnajy8-BpOMp4z1qoHCeWNee34700AwsMEh0h6uqSXEEQD2m7ymHk2BRdestOKXo3bFs2XpaOFKt7q8-w0S9orgKu6rM3znI37iGljV_Pdcw/w426-h640/IMG_0743.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxLiNWgc3EVNQLdB8LOXpeJtSY1TtoJ_-NaaNA8rcaILHBHpm5U1UGP6V3KvRs-eLs1ivkPoaJCP96U2ua2rkOTcZZsTl6iul_TNrlKjGlqUrZTdAwujZbZsJRNayBv-LQcLphUw-3t4-_F4jv350K3dGetU8TdYcYAujDF-Fy9zs7OrgFHwfKkRz7QU/s2048/IMG_0745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxLiNWgc3EVNQLdB8LOXpeJtSY1TtoJ_-NaaNA8rcaILHBHpm5U1UGP6V3KvRs-eLs1ivkPoaJCP96U2ua2rkOTcZZsTl6iul_TNrlKjGlqUrZTdAwujZbZsJRNayBv-LQcLphUw-3t4-_F4jv350K3dGetU8TdYcYAujDF-Fy9zs7OrgFHwfKkRz7QU/w640-h426/IMG_0745.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(It did seem a little sad to have nobody at all see our jack-o-lantern lit porch! But I guess the coziness was mostly really for us!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5c0cvclmoKcJnWKa88tOu0uIYtCmsc9qadhU8CqfymYS7eZPltr5krneYBylxgNdspnO3DF1uB_OvTbJ6J3MkBRRpzS1IWbtrdb8wMPwzbX7yideBOezyvcM_VyWkdOOx8vbG0npF0XlQ5UKmWE4JyO3zfnUzsfgxk0ybAn1YwjbfziQ5UzCNZmr9NI/s2048/IMG_0748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5c0cvclmoKcJnWKa88tOu0uIYtCmsc9qadhU8CqfymYS7eZPltr5krneYBylxgNdspnO3DF1uB_OvTbJ6J3MkBRRpzS1IWbtrdb8wMPwzbX7yideBOezyvcM_VyWkdOOx8vbG0npF0XlQ5UKmWE4JyO3zfnUzsfgxk0ybAn1YwjbfziQ5UzCNZmr9NI/w426-h640/IMG_0748.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And now I should probably start considering Christmas for all these kids of mine!</span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-26911842290322702622023-11-04T19:36:00.006-06:002023-11-04T19:41:05.947-06:00A Reception<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My niece Grace got married. Shannon had asked Summer and Mette to help with clearing tables, etc. at the reception. They didn't actually end up needing to do much of anything at all (since most people nicely carried their own plates to the garbage), but they dressed up in their Easter dresses and felt very important all the same.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVIsb8ri_7s_wcn7eRRw7yxEd3zEroMRr3aSxHrCJ153oyvJEpNatXlT0pmtqW3DLRfVWIdkvT6SXd1ENFtXOkt6H90w3tjpqTsWRomHsCeG-ZyEUQmfbUO2Gq45E1GWeWGg-B_b49VST0w1HjzcaFSU7xfEuEabJXV3t9eB0K7K3NTx9furCRTgG7Yk/s2048/IMG_0577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVIsb8ri_7s_wcn7eRRw7yxEd3zEroMRr3aSxHrCJ153oyvJEpNatXlT0pmtqW3DLRfVWIdkvT6SXd1ENFtXOkt6H90w3tjpqTsWRomHsCeG-ZyEUQmfbUO2Gq45E1GWeWGg-B_b49VST0w1HjzcaFSU7xfEuEabJXV3t9eB0K7K3NTx9furCRTgG7Yk/w426-h640/IMG_0577.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><p>Also it turns out that Hans can really cut a rug. There were very few young kids there, so when they started the dancing, my kids felt hesitant to go join in with all these twenty-somethings. Except for Hans. He went right over and began dancing his heart out. (Luckily that encouraged his sisters to eventually join in. They had so much fun.)</p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY4TpMzs_6b1FAfyr2YhSkNDfsTkjuydMsG-J5hkVfIIpLT2yZ63Yoa08UZejccquO-6jzRCrTahgyqN1U5wL8aq04qTEYBmikn-YzHDqPd4Eh6pWH1LF3PUXhFPEPf4SW6KUCRIE17RWnzIJt_-ebuTwtw2BthIJl26ri1uSlBKL4jV1XlQMz9Wv3mE/s2048/IMG_0527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY4TpMzs_6b1FAfyr2YhSkNDfsTkjuydMsG-J5hkVfIIpLT2yZ63Yoa08UZejccquO-6jzRCrTahgyqN1U5wL8aq04qTEYBmikn-YzHDqPd4Eh6pWH1LF3PUXhFPEPf4SW6KUCRIE17RWnzIJt_-ebuTwtw2BthIJl26ri1uSlBKL4jV1XlQMz9Wv3mE/w640-h426/IMG_0527.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Kjqjolrb-0Y1bP3hdepk8DdpLhM0ugeac_Cq3niHI28GrX7pTlHvzlWtDOGb-ZBP3KQDmwz_YTPyM282MmzVR0Idysq6-YkAe_d_Uvnvki4GLnTa7AW8Cxqkj9jTTEocp0osYvGEqpCLm_dFy-I85dprwF2Vyscjy5p4hAJo1ezzvTEjO2RH4hVNjmo/s2048/IMG_0528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Kjqjolrb-0Y1bP3hdepk8DdpLhM0ugeac_Cq3niHI28GrX7pTlHvzlWtDOGb-ZBP3KQDmwz_YTPyM282MmzVR0Idysq6-YkAe_d_Uvnvki4GLnTa7AW8Cxqkj9jTTEocp0osYvGEqpCLm_dFy-I85dprwF2Vyscjy5p4hAJo1ezzvTEjO2RH4hVNjmo/w640-h426/IMG_0528.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-B_t55rTB3AnZDXzUreKiKH_nFzm2lQzHUzquI4LbQUlfYNcWGO0dZSBW1V1ssMFL8fRQXfCC8zES0GwzPKwZkwgVnT37d60KWKSkJCgYedRlvPV-lk15OuHz-TvIfuv7MyJnkMWs8YB4CNgxNpz8wLTJpZEdLOwG_QQpDXoe7a_Li3OnHmrh1PYiJA/s2048/IMG_0546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-B_t55rTB3AnZDXzUreKiKH_nFzm2lQzHUzquI4LbQUlfYNcWGO0dZSBW1V1ssMFL8fRQXfCC8zES0GwzPKwZkwgVnT37d60KWKSkJCgYedRlvPV-lk15OuHz-TvIfuv7MyJnkMWs8YB4CNgxNpz8wLTJpZEdLOwG_QQpDXoe7a_Li3OnHmrh1PYiJA/w640-h426/IMG_0546.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Shan conveniently planned the reception at a building right next to Mike's work, so he was able to walk over and join us for a bit! That was happy! (Also Shannon did so much work and such an amazing job--and in such a short amount of time--pulling this amazing celebration off! I keep telling her she's John Travolta with a brain tumor in the movie Phenomenon. There is literally no making sense of all she creates and learns and accomplishes in her days. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ7zeSUBkzH8QMcobvIUCQqxZFpCS30sJEJU3k-Evhth_9gRvD3VbFIN8pBJ6VfD2BHXkpM2i12TFYPJpMQqqBqwXSWlSZElLcw_qFPHr6y_j1pcuvpvKjIfgc40GNEteKOSQWM0driIWCaf95IgbKKjnu4OzYlZxuD4CUXlOSEzbGPxIZCAXwpAuDjI/s2048/IMG_0593.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ7zeSUBkzH8QMcobvIUCQqxZFpCS30sJEJU3k-Evhth_9gRvD3VbFIN8pBJ6VfD2BHXkpM2i12TFYPJpMQqqBqwXSWlSZElLcw_qFPHr6y_j1pcuvpvKjIfgc40GNEteKOSQWM0driIWCaf95IgbKKjnu4OzYlZxuD4CUXlOSEzbGPxIZCAXwpAuDjI/w640-h426/IMG_0593.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURo07nDjA3wmB_8D8KLOVe8Eci_LN711JmV-yJQqbwdyH7qf5WRv88Ueq0hr4hN1qKUwXiTRKzYqWW1pVqc_7aKfJOmBzSzAmjCxKSQqf199tIES3ElRAw3fxxwSjilY6waqXfa1xCIS7L3apB-TTA_D_ne0BRGV1rq5aG3VNi-SqZtJWCPQ2KrtxOog/s2048/IMG_0630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURo07nDjA3wmB_8D8KLOVe8Eci_LN711JmV-yJQqbwdyH7qf5WRv88Ueq0hr4hN1qKUwXiTRKzYqWW1pVqc_7aKfJOmBzSzAmjCxKSQqf199tIES3ElRAw3fxxwSjilY6waqXfa1xCIS7L3apB-TTA_D_ne0BRGV1rq5aG3VNi-SqZtJWCPQ2KrtxOog/w640-h426/IMG_0630.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjo8PF4yijKQCZAIkhN-G8pocQNnDFYwfUGNPG2b8748QJLcYOoeGccm1d3l7KcaxWmZaccp85au1iF2F4uUsABVvwDDNhm9WYuzkoLVCLhyphenhyphen3rceYtjuevhSbCzaS9LP2uODjdswoe0T975YOINUQLliVb6R80I1iwkx5_mH1HBKpyzrSxK20jNgGdD8/s2048/IMG_0631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjo8PF4yijKQCZAIkhN-G8pocQNnDFYwfUGNPG2b8748QJLcYOoeGccm1d3l7KcaxWmZaccp85au1iF2F4uUsABVvwDDNhm9WYuzkoLVCLhyphenhyphen3rceYtjuevhSbCzaS9LP2uODjdswoe0T975YOINUQLliVb6R80I1iwkx5_mH1HBKpyzrSxK20jNgGdD8/w426-h640/IMG_0631.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdoHxL8v8wabC9cwhjn7vHyMpQVj_GiOg2DOF-9qyWRmeCIeXI_1o-Pqp2EzgFO7xRyCxAYuvOakloTD_9OoI2AcoNgGotxW6vKzdua_OvBqzu-Pvz2w6Gr_hpUhOue8N7Av-qkBkJknYZmuLinNRaytUC-IUpqCGIcwlKTdLna4d23M3ZfP2tv8P3Zs/s2048/IMG_0674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdoHxL8v8wabC9cwhjn7vHyMpQVj_GiOg2DOF-9qyWRmeCIeXI_1o-Pqp2EzgFO7xRyCxAYuvOakloTD_9OoI2AcoNgGotxW6vKzdua_OvBqzu-Pvz2w6Gr_hpUhOue8N7Av-qkBkJknYZmuLinNRaytUC-IUpqCGIcwlKTdLna4d23M3ZfP2tv8P3Zs/w640-h426/IMG_0674.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQxXZNvZU9dGTgCCnKEaSHgEZ8aZhsn7xhv_5Dfx931jU5vR7xkXkZLxoCN7KSYDscC-xR9zIhssXAxC3Vuw2dSbwnQXDHn2fIIeoa_kNAalYfEbnTcFL9bguKfLp1xKJXmGc9vZBrKVl3puMC4S8fcgZn7qW10f7HoFXDBG6XaoW0UHrvfXclYwmZTg/s2048/IMG_0675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQxXZNvZU9dGTgCCnKEaSHgEZ8aZhsn7xhv_5Dfx931jU5vR7xkXkZLxoCN7KSYDscC-xR9zIhssXAxC3Vuw2dSbwnQXDHn2fIIeoa_kNAalYfEbnTcFL9bguKfLp1xKJXmGc9vZBrKVl3puMC4S8fcgZn7qW10f7HoFXDBG6XaoW0UHrvfXclYwmZTg/w640-h426/IMG_0675.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiTXZ_Ut0dOHzJL5vsJ0xVWZtuM24uUIv9-s2Jwuj_VX5ToFi55Ka7spToQtrxqpZWf3prXiUX0QoQvp-9eqFVwJ0BCfF3-HJc8Xg6mI4KgKg_o-LarFByfsQSHoWBTqZ8aFThNBAEzaDpc8NVqAMjMEdFoPvMRfNZQ3-nCrfWe3oQ1vZXnJvfOF9jvU/s2048/IMG_0676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiTXZ_Ut0dOHzJL5vsJ0xVWZtuM24uUIv9-s2Jwuj_VX5ToFi55Ka7spToQtrxqpZWf3prXiUX0QoQvp-9eqFVwJ0BCfF3-HJc8Xg6mI4KgKg_o-LarFByfsQSHoWBTqZ8aFThNBAEzaDpc8NVqAMjMEdFoPvMRfNZQ3-nCrfWe3oQ1vZXnJvfOF9jvU/w640-h426/IMG_0676.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSY6PDc0NsPu5cQdd4u_7OXbBrg50o2Arh21sAQD2ca_DoIJJKJK63Rp2PVsXuNfvBVCaLm6omImssdygKSMEnThKv8UFiNozp4m66lb1zVCayrqaRoTKZzV-8QWShlQOMrXvXQ7K60gHZrmMp3R6S4bToBg6SglW6K2MDJVsNabuWidquOA2dg_ra84/s2048/IMG_0699.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSY6PDc0NsPu5cQdd4u_7OXbBrg50o2Arh21sAQD2ca_DoIJJKJK63Rp2PVsXuNfvBVCaLm6omImssdygKSMEnThKv8UFiNozp4m66lb1zVCayrqaRoTKZzV-8QWShlQOMrXvXQ7K60gHZrmMp3R6S4bToBg6SglW6K2MDJVsNabuWidquOA2dg_ra84/w640-h426/IMG_0699.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What fine little trollibuses these sisters are. (Have I ever mentioned how my dad was famous [infamous?] for using <b>all sorts </b>of names for his children? So so many. Far beyond the usual pet names we all give our little ones. And even when we were fully grown. I don't think the above is even a word. I just recall him saying, "What a fine young trollibus [trolibis?] you are" on occasion. And I'm sure we all were.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtJ2atQmXfRwAqjXvaofBhXpudyRcyUcF9TNvBewH4z6Mtwt3uw-cSzqFvpdi1Pjwfauu6qN5CeIPTQOizM0uZkW3GEEgw2QpV5REwMncYT09NbQzOUA6OUq6mXfgE3ix8jyN1-gytjyYPvf_yOeoPlcvOPRuJW8V0jtNPyo0UIseqzPRUuPLqABQQhM/s2048/IMG_0701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtJ2atQmXfRwAqjXvaofBhXpudyRcyUcF9TNvBewH4z6Mtwt3uw-cSzqFvpdi1Pjwfauu6qN5CeIPTQOizM0uZkW3GEEgw2QpV5REwMncYT09NbQzOUA6OUq6mXfgE3ix8jyN1-gytjyYPvf_yOeoPlcvOPRuJW8V0jtNPyo0UIseqzPRUuPLqABQQhM/w640-h426/IMG_0701.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_TDJcMzs0iEjGQTFCw6Og4LwcpGbyFWyIYknmsnFBipFGczvbAQWArfr_KpprRbcq9odexHOz_NzW2whH-0fQAepDYx7JvaxJy0ie3YhckQh3v8DcmPKkQ8YSb9RhpoXgHCxTryk6BTIpDNc3vs1xuEFNjr1-Pp3ylru33z_rGM56Yy6JHyDyFelyDY/s2048/IMG_0705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_TDJcMzs0iEjGQTFCw6Og4LwcpGbyFWyIYknmsnFBipFGczvbAQWArfr_KpprRbcq9odexHOz_NzW2whH-0fQAepDYx7JvaxJy0ie3YhckQh3v8DcmPKkQ8YSb9RhpoXgHCxTryk6BTIpDNc3vs1xuEFNjr1-Pp3ylru33z_rGM56Yy6JHyDyFelyDY/w640-h426/IMG_0705.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I never really see the resemblance that must be apparent in us. But it must be there. All my growing up I'd have strangers come up to me and say, "You must be an Allred!" And at the reception I was sitting with Shannon and Megan for a minute and I heard someone say, "Oh look! They <b>must </b>all be sisters!" (Though heaven knows how my parents got daughters with both my color of hair and Amy's color!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvDnGt6boLverQJtk9mL-I0YuzCyEoQQR_TSaZAdGb9lwYBAhMolnVkcoxrXwysJ9rzuWw0QOzxYUTOFOyuu_-93aIxP-8t0L8bcqdIcmr3j4eq5Me2CelqycmfcbuGEl6K3cs0B9rHcWG3TA2ZYivCWw8OjS-dv9U_q8sFl-XAPBzqInvYeNOgReNGw/s2048/IMG_0708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvDnGt6boLverQJtk9mL-I0YuzCyEoQQR_TSaZAdGb9lwYBAhMolnVkcoxrXwysJ9rzuWw0QOzxYUTOFOyuu_-93aIxP-8t0L8bcqdIcmr3j4eq5Me2CelqycmfcbuGEl6K3cs0B9rHcWG3TA2ZYivCWw8OjS-dv9U_q8sFl-XAPBzqInvYeNOgReNGw/w426-h640/IMG_0708.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-68039444335170479582023-10-24T20:17:00.004-06:002023-10-24T20:19:52.741-06:00Gingerbread Men, Scripture in Me and My Kids, Etc.<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Mom," Summer asked me, as we were driving somewhere the other day, "if you were older, but like not too old, and all your kids were grown, could you adopt a kid so you wouldn't be lonely?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Yah, I think you could," I responded.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Then I heard her muse to herself, "So you could just do that <i>instead </i>of make a gingerbread man."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Who would just run away and get eaten by a fox," I added to her musings. :)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW2DzK_-BAOQCzy9R0JIwkMjGJZiGIXI6PweviTkl53B0vM7iL9-hDj9ZQHruHfYFaQaAVIGHXCoQ3Nq6b2YyEoE0UID12vHdqK1kHhx2sKPxHvXfF5GJ51V_MMCRgIGgLRdTRjLOLM2SHDsEKN8BGTCmVIETsdTSWUoHOMPBltSbeajlH1eUa6ZP2Jw/s2048/IMG_0431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW2DzK_-BAOQCzy9R0JIwkMjGJZiGIXI6PweviTkl53B0vM7iL9-hDj9ZQHruHfYFaQaAVIGHXCoQ3Nq6b2YyEoE0UID12vHdqK1kHhx2sKPxHvXfF5GJ51V_MMCRgIGgLRdTRjLOLM2SHDsEKN8BGTCmVIETsdTSWUoHOMPBltSbeajlH1eUa6ZP2Jw/w640-h426/IMG_0431.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">(Though I certainly wouldn't mind having a couple of tasty gingerbread folk <i>along with</i> these later-in-life babies of mine!)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I often pray that the things I teach my children will be <b>in </b>them. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">(I am no longer referring to gingerbread men who "run run" as fast as they can. :))</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> I don't care if they recall <i>where</i> the knowledge came from, I simply hope that somehow those things will be there--to grow and expand with the experiences they have, and to be called upon by the Spirit and woven together with scripture and other truths they learn and are taught by others.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Not often, <i>but every once in a while, </i>when I'm reading a mission letter or listening to a testimony or comment from one of my kids, I'll hear it: I'll catch a glimpse of <i>my</i> own<i> </i>testimony and assurances spoken in<i> their</i> own language and with <i>their </i>own understanding.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It comforts me that maybe God really is magnifying my stumbling and small efforts. And it brings to mind these hopeful words from Isaiah:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in my mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever."</span></b></i></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And it makes me wonder how many of the truths that have become <b>my</b> very own ... have roots back in the things my parents taught and exemplified, and their parents before them, and their parents before them. ...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A woman spoke in our ward on Sunday. She spoke about the scriptures and of something her mother used to say to her that became "scripture" to her. As she talked, I recalled these words of promise to the early elders of the church as they headed out to teach:</span></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"[T]hey shall speak as moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation."</span></b></i></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I think Elder Teh summed up well what I feel and hope about all of this (scripture becoming our own and passing that to our children in how we speak so it becomes their own) when he said:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"[A]s we are increasingly coming to know the Savior, scriptural passages and the words of the prophets become so intimately meaningful to us that they become our own words. It is not about copying the words, feelings, and experiences of others as much as it is coming to know for ourselves, in our own unique way, by experimenting upon the word and receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost."</span></b></i></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But! Back to the less serious. ...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here is a birthday sign for Anders (from Abe) that I forgot to add to Anders' birthday post. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mJnSYibFKE-KFigF3IPSWUyQ_zmprKXKrpJiOsdxm0A90g3PrAbWQzrmnsh_FEmQkP5t4EdFoKI-lUinC9hka0C0_uD8GRfqhp82s3XHMsPUuZNYqvCpgShRH2-pno1vjgMxAsiyjWXZQKNazQjb05hjteF_PuDIsivUN4VMiOefYfGTqqWLSgWb-7Q/s1248/Photo%20Oct%2002%202023,%2010%2040%2059%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1109" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mJnSYibFKE-KFigF3IPSWUyQ_zmprKXKrpJiOsdxm0A90g3PrAbWQzrmnsh_FEmQkP5t4EdFoKI-lUinC9hka0C0_uD8GRfqhp82s3XHMsPUuZNYqvCpgShRH2-pno1vjgMxAsiyjWXZQKNazQjb05hjteF_PuDIsivUN4VMiOefYfGTqqWLSgWb-7Q/w568-h640/Photo%20Oct%2002%202023,%2010%2040%2059%20PM.jpg" width="568" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And here Anders is with a nerf "gun" from a friend at school. We didn't even have a friend party. His friend just heard it was Anders' birthday and brought him a gift the next day. (And another friend brought him a giant cookie!) I am so so grateful for every kind kid and every person who has stepped out of their own comfort zone to make my kids feel comfortable and welcome here!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtShRJpV6Mlfk0XTCt74F3Eau-h1Kn-_dur-JW29rtbPCNkJNhsVQ2N4BoeypVjKWOOzyKWqQELvmPh_Xl4usjkL7YEKLT6ugDPczpLwR1LTfbJ1FGxyGjnIB1Vh3Q2-7pJOAYivK42iv1JtIBo53ButTfLEfDMMZa__8RNzKpvMMouoYf38Yk7AtLNY/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2004%202023,%204%2008%2041%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtShRJpV6Mlfk0XTCt74F3Eau-h1Kn-_dur-JW29rtbPCNkJNhsVQ2N4BoeypVjKWOOzyKWqQELvmPh_Xl4usjkL7YEKLT6ugDPczpLwR1LTfbJ1FGxyGjnIB1Vh3Q2-7pJOAYivK42iv1JtIBo53ButTfLEfDMMZa__8RNzKpvMMouoYf38Yk7AtLNY/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2004%202023,%204%2008%2041%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And, the electric fence is off for the next few months! Our landlord rented the field behind us to a woman who kept two horses (different from the herd of horses that were kept for some time in the field just beyond that), but she moves them during the winter months, and they've been gone for several weeks now. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So, when our landlord (Chris) stopped by to winterize something the other day. I asked, "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you, do you still want that electric fence kept on now that the horses are gone? Or am I ok unplugging it?"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He gave me a slightly pained smile and replied, "Yah. You can unplug that. I thought it was already off actually ... and just found out the hard way that it wasn't." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hahaha. Poor fellow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Anyway, with the fearsome fence off, my kids have been venturing much further afield:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvj4KwouebNnANTAEfr-S8OFAfujfUZIcHBcG8FqeJTIVjKpD7yGWE0x-LNxY8f0AvHSYC8JqqdSi0SXO5HeIY0lNhcXIqIUMkzvTEowUTuexlDMek8e0UjRlTND3h2PXMBXS-m1zihsBRCR14lAdDCR2Hize5U85E56LzSz6n5A3MH1sPge1mzETBoA/s2048/IMG_0436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvj4KwouebNnANTAEfr-S8OFAfujfUZIcHBcG8FqeJTIVjKpD7yGWE0x-LNxY8f0AvHSYC8JqqdSi0SXO5HeIY0lNhcXIqIUMkzvTEowUTuexlDMek8e0UjRlTND3h2PXMBXS-m1zihsBRCR14lAdDCR2Hize5U85E56LzSz6n5A3MH1sPge1mzETBoA/w640-h426/IMG_0436.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(<i>Much further</i>. Anders and Hans told me their stuffed animals were exploring outer space when I asked what they were up to out there.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA0fqmbn4NfNu1-B-tP7v0XyfuGkMxY77oM3e3XvyUtoHNrpuIsU5QJf3y26Ksm2y6zSNsL2KTbTyoYNfuWBbQf6JA4OWkQwRbAnqZMdQlOTmsEr20YvRw0QLwOqSI7VCaqhQ_Z6Q_MVOMWI9rrUkKSvDF5p2vz9a3flJKDJTSCbqjzR6gWJsQqutYXo/s2048/IMG_0438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA0fqmbn4NfNu1-B-tP7v0XyfuGkMxY77oM3e3XvyUtoHNrpuIsU5QJf3y26Ksm2y6zSNsL2KTbTyoYNfuWBbQf6JA4OWkQwRbAnqZMdQlOTmsEr20YvRw0QLwOqSI7VCaqhQ_Z6Q_MVOMWI9rrUkKSvDF5p2vz9a3flJKDJTSCbqjzR6gWJsQqutYXo/w640-h426/IMG_0438.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht21tWdu9H486D6AHO3OKYlLvm5EbUJfEYvliuOQCiq9aDb13ScOo3zLea2alA01EblDPH48bes3KoV8WZnHcMsUm-hLbJx5REj1E5RblzewxxJd1NPdODvKCDsSF_ZB-o4uJfWEbZBvXr0vFdF8_c1bNENS1eN3higltbXIYasZMU7PJezvnnOTRXWcg/s2048/IMG_0439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht21tWdu9H486D6AHO3OKYlLvm5EbUJfEYvliuOQCiq9aDb13ScOo3zLea2alA01EblDPH48bes3KoV8WZnHcMsUm-hLbJx5REj1E5RblzewxxJd1NPdODvKCDsSF_ZB-o4uJfWEbZBvXr0vFdF8_c1bNENS1eN3higltbXIYasZMU7PJezvnnOTRXWcg/w640-h426/IMG_0439.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUky42R2r8KXHe5UkX3RK8PlElhK0jo096IipjLy9-4Q_piaVznegmFF9G4XcfPQdfTzN4AbOzG2YqzhooZMm5OCVE6VG2haC5qqT41cd6j2H4MH80yTbq1vdQGe52CVsPOWNkTBPEkrfm6bLWlzAXyeaeDSwEw0ppwzbhjnFAYTyZDuenuu2GrwwR_rQ/s2048/IMG_0440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUky42R2r8KXHe5UkX3RK8PlElhK0jo096IipjLy9-4Q_piaVznegmFF9G4XcfPQdfTzN4AbOzG2YqzhooZMm5OCVE6VG2haC5qqT41cd6j2H4MH80yTbq1vdQGe52CVsPOWNkTBPEkrfm6bLWlzAXyeaeDSwEw0ppwzbhjnFAYTyZDuenuu2GrwwR_rQ/w640-h426/IMG_0440.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGjbLQSmlVbVQTZw_WsPHYM9U62wx9MFUX9eYwB3-oK01vvPAeUNB8nK2L_8AT8D_mnHowQyVLCcm6-uoHdhwwuRWa41W-li-p8eWyrnEb7Qf4EbaEKCCTP0SufpHMbKAisf1b7LUZZVTkqKu0XIhs9Dq2vsNol8ZB3w6CHRMXUkJKHfp8VBjD6OfJjY/s2048/IMG_0446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGjbLQSmlVbVQTZw_WsPHYM9U62wx9MFUX9eYwB3-oK01vvPAeUNB8nK2L_8AT8D_mnHowQyVLCcm6-uoHdhwwuRWa41W-li-p8eWyrnEb7Qf4EbaEKCCTP0SufpHMbKAisf1b7LUZZVTkqKu0XIhs9Dq2vsNol8ZB3w6CHRMXUkJKHfp8VBjD6OfJjY/w426-h640/IMG_0446.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Meanwhile:<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3aS0W8xQL2BcaOaPSiJ4uJuh4eoBmc0T2S_xjuZ4uzhyjQHnZ7Rovrc_3DonBTr9W4W_EGtLM1Zwc9rXpMcYD8B-4kNDpu3D4q9H7LyL0XxDfBlU-ehi9EXwDTqWp5VUwKvJAtloY_PL9ngUF2eDjGtZbABXL6bxDmrrZ9UBI8B1WxbN47CFDysRgEs/s2048/IMG_0443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3aS0W8xQL2BcaOaPSiJ4uJuh4eoBmc0T2S_xjuZ4uzhyjQHnZ7Rovrc_3DonBTr9W4W_EGtLM1Zwc9rXpMcYD8B-4kNDpu3D4q9H7LyL0XxDfBlU-ehi9EXwDTqWp5VUwKvJAtloY_PL9ngUF2eDjGtZbABXL6bxDmrrZ9UBI8B1WxbN47CFDysRgEs/w426-h640/IMG_0443.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxbR1f2OBseZLfrZ9svpc8U0H3YltuXVbOMrLydifANsJ_2_ukBAVWv-T6uQTmgGM08So3xf_pl0Li7Y4yHchZ4G3O5HbsD2wQJCFxoC5voYcu0pqkXdBcmq-JL_4_mKJoW4X9DJQfNB4NZSMPhgqLqo-WTeetMNrMHGqr4Cbq2HHe4bpsRMDvH5R8vw/s2048/IMG_0441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxbR1f2OBseZLfrZ9svpc8U0H3YltuXVbOMrLydifANsJ_2_ukBAVWv-T6uQTmgGM08So3xf_pl0Li7Y4yHchZ4G3O5HbsD2wQJCFxoC5voYcu0pqkXdBcmq-JL_4_mKJoW4X9DJQfNB4NZSMPhgqLqo-WTeetMNrMHGqr4Cbq2HHe4bpsRMDvH5R8vw/w426-h640/IMG_0441.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also, we almost missed (mist? haha hoho) the bus this morning. Usually the fog has faded by the time we walk to the bus stop, but not today!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjHJHks4mPO_yDnfP9zUyVNOcM-lqP6C5xlffWMhZxtyiwrxm2cwHLEih9BB_90ZOkRH9SAxRGoXJd_k44YaOyN21sfdQ_YdCS35bKXmmHJN0bpuiy23Bk4Gekpfs8SuO_z7wS6NirCcmXpv20eEttSCZ5oV_CirTW_UYIpIpIYnqbgEF34rafxe4t6s/s1640/Photo%20Oct%2024%202023,%208%2038%2010%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1312" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjHJHks4mPO_yDnfP9zUyVNOcM-lqP6C5xlffWMhZxtyiwrxm2cwHLEih9BB_90ZOkRH9SAxRGoXJd_k44YaOyN21sfdQ_YdCS35bKXmmHJN0bpuiy23Bk4Gekpfs8SuO_z7wS6NirCcmXpv20eEttSCZ5oV_CirTW_UYIpIpIYnqbgEF34rafxe4t6s/w512-h640/Photo%20Oct%2024%202023,%208%2038%2010%20AM.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We usually see the bus lights a full mile away, but we had no warning it was close at all until we suddenly saw it materialize through the mist--with us still a ways from it! (I should add: their pants. It was in fact pajama day.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And we will end with this small hodgepodge:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Painted rocks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglskkNIXLMToQmHXvP14r1T_I-M0BqoOI4yANo1Nu43h0MDJi1_wfCn_qt8Q76w1KQ8sr_aUOa-kgVkedwkH3uH7-Q5o5YkXuOBeTzoPNRpV47JFZ3JzkWRCCQaL987IoCg6xaRL9fpa8TS1qyfCOgQiK0I6_0STTXxkDFcRTiQKQ1r0Kiv-2U-EwnkiY/s2048/IMG_0433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglskkNIXLMToQmHXvP14r1T_I-M0BqoOI4yANo1Nu43h0MDJi1_wfCn_qt8Q76w1KQ8sr_aUOa-kgVkedwkH3uH7-Q5o5YkXuOBeTzoPNRpV47JFZ3JzkWRCCQaL987IoCg6xaRL9fpa8TS1qyfCOgQiK0I6_0STTXxkDFcRTiQKQ1r0Kiv-2U-EwnkiY/w640-h426/IMG_0433.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At the farm to feed the geese. (Eek! That reminds me I need to get over there to get them fed again!)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzkYmz3F09m-W4qQiUXK8Fy4KLAcEu_RYbs8Cf1w7vzrjWJqSRRPXOJYIM62Fg468KURxWZfHSM038RM-zecoCyFRjwjB0oZj78TVRC6TGcJjR1op6x-1vbW9Ixa29Xw-O6_pXgLHZdbKb8iqO8ivpmhx57Fs467XuPszp-cq_llX0rgGu7nVDUh68xo/s3753/Photo%20Oct%2021%202023,%202%2047%2010%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3753" data-original-width="2502" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzkYmz3F09m-W4qQiUXK8Fy4KLAcEu_RYbs8Cf1w7vzrjWJqSRRPXOJYIM62Fg468KURxWZfHSM038RM-zecoCyFRjwjB0oZj78TVRC6TGcJjR1op6x-1vbW9Ixa29Xw-O6_pXgLHZdbKb8iqO8ivpmhx57Fs467XuPszp-cq_llX0rgGu7nVDUh68xo/w426-h640/Photo%20Oct%2021%202023,%202%2047%2010%20PM.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVymlgP39lmH72sUfuG22Ln_KIf7DpfSWPGNl4O0Tz6nrTA28QUqMhnbUapCsIjs-_JsLpEBSLOBfJmbgpmn6YHsUOwbSjsN1vpfyk5DxUoTkKo8w57R2w2vWQU9nuM2ncgaDAXgamun7fT0MOodLQ7my1fBT-2gXXBpj-OQS_mnfDjcMJDWksmNg_4k/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2021%202023,%202%2053%2055%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVymlgP39lmH72sUfuG22Ln_KIf7DpfSWPGNl4O0Tz6nrTA28QUqMhnbUapCsIjs-_JsLpEBSLOBfJmbgpmn6YHsUOwbSjsN1vpfyk5DxUoTkKo8w57R2w2vWQU9nuM2ncgaDAXgamun7fT0MOodLQ7my1fBT-2gXXBpj-OQS_mnfDjcMJDWksmNg_4k/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2021%202023,%202%2053%2055%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A Christmas tree at the park. In October. (Who? Why?)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqUn9yXdG5owweL4S1FZ-45NT2YWU266enGzm37-zeF2RJUD8yb5ykyf20Z1IBx8T5VsN5txqp278Ei0x7-ZRoLZwZdXbiAliPAFgyqWBjY03Kih-vsvWPdydQtIJOHfEQWKPz2ByEUngjCLg12rRoqbG0EPrBQ9AdqPAYWgaSinOoFnYL3x9kLVOwnw/s3390/Photo%20Oct%2022%202023,%205%2017%2058%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3390" data-original-width="2543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqUn9yXdG5owweL4S1FZ-45NT2YWU266enGzm37-zeF2RJUD8yb5ykyf20Z1IBx8T5VsN5txqp278Ei0x7-ZRoLZwZdXbiAliPAFgyqWBjY03Kih-vsvWPdydQtIJOHfEQWKPz2ByEUngjCLg12rRoqbG0EPrBQ9AdqPAYWgaSinOoFnYL3x9kLVOwnw/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2022%202023,%205%2017%2058%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A lovely, artistic photo :) one of the kids took of my nightstand (after they'd knocked down the hummingbird Daisy needle-felted me).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjoKrF3n1jmxZdhsEr1LYeelDo2sfS0E5WgRggRH7TJRmAeQIZFoyipmHLtdxOQI6l3EVovoFBYnpIFzzNQgL-0YRI5MOrKkKfBb5yD5WJ7DyJXZ5HW3TO95KCp2G6blMqz7FBje1D5P4D0qH0UwQ3J9zjKqP4k_NryxxWkalO_gfL0NuGqkqowphjx4/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2023%202023,%204%2054%2005%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjoKrF3n1jmxZdhsEr1LYeelDo2sfS0E5WgRggRH7TJRmAeQIZFoyipmHLtdxOQI6l3EVovoFBYnpIFzzNQgL-0YRI5MOrKkKfBb5yD5WJ7DyJXZ5HW3TO95KCp2G6blMqz7FBje1D5P4D0qH0UwQ3J9zjKqP4k_NryxxWkalO_gfL0NuGqkqowphjx4/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2023%202023,%204%2054%2005%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Little friend ready to go in the stroller. (It's going to be tricky to get her to switch to wearing pants with winter approaching. She currently wears this dress, her pink dress, and, surprisingly, a red dress.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJawHghtJs4d_NZ2PJznj2mqiwP3NHlQiBKRGcU9XZJaPB_5kQlNk6MM6hszt1x1rnaZ7CETGUXB4W036OFmRbwNK7ZxkdmnMmiTHuuNLy957gWt80ddImEe-rqqISsa9Ks2MQb7H1gZbyaoNAL7BJSCOiWKn2u2a0p5S8HBNU8xQPQHpfyUULVOWWoOc/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2023%202023,%2011%2054%2021%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJawHghtJs4d_NZ2PJznj2mqiwP3NHlQiBKRGcU9XZJaPB_5kQlNk6MM6hszt1x1rnaZ7CETGUXB4W036OFmRbwNK7ZxkdmnMmiTHuuNLy957gWt80ddImEe-rqqISsa9Ks2MQb7H1gZbyaoNAL7BJSCOiWKn2u2a0p5S8HBNU8xQPQHpfyUULVOWWoOc/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2023%202023,%2011%2054%2021%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The End.</span>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-36529761580060903362023-10-21T13:01:00.004-06:002023-10-21T14:41:46.550-06:00To and From the Bus Stop, and Fogbows.<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When you live in the county, apparently, the school bus generally just picks the kids up right outside of their own houses! <i>But</i> ... since we live on a dead-end street (skinny enough that it would require an eighty-point turn for any bus to turn back around), we walk down to the end of the street, cross Mendon Road, and wait in Aunt Sarah's driveway. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On our way we gather a little troop of people. Admittedly my four elementary kids (plus Starling bundled in her stroller) make up most of the troop, but our next-door neighbor (Kelli) and her three kids walk out as we come by, and then, a little further down, their grandma (Becky) comes out (with their little cousin who she watches in the morning). And we all continue on--we three women and nine kids--to the bus stop. We call to the kids running ahead not to cross the road without us (cars go so fast on that road!), and we call to everyone to move to the side when the bishop's wife comes along our road on her way to helping with reading groups at the school. We tell the kids to quit kicking Sarah and Garth's gravel into the canal as we wait, and I prep Hansie to be ready to run to the bus when it arrives: "Just hug me right now so you're ready to get on the bus when it comes, and you just need one hug and kiss on the head--you don't need to keep running back for more while the bus driver waits." (He still usually runs back for one last hug.) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And then we walk back--chatting about things like how soon Kelli will be able to tell if her dog is pregnant, and how on earth her hip could be giving her problems when she had surgery on it just this May, and we talk about my house still not selling, and about when Becky and Dick will bring their cows down from where they've been grazing in Morgan, and about the time Dick hit a construction sign (in the middle of the road in the fog) and thought it was a person (he was searching in terror in the fog for some time for the "person" he'd hit before finding the broken sign and realizing what had happened), or the time someone else hit one of their escaped pigs and it was scream-squealing so loudly that he thought<i> it</i> was a person. (Becky had to practically smack him to get him to snap out of his horrified repetition of "I hit a child! I hit a child!". "It was a PIG!" she kept telling him--as she motioned to Dick to find some way to put it out of its misery and stop its screaming. "It was not a child! It was just a PIG!")</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Also, a crazy thing: here we are, with only these few houses on our street, and my kids so happy to have three great friends right next door. Having friends next door when houses are so spread out to begin with seemed impossible luck. But now we've discovered that these friends placed so conveniently ... are actually my kids third cousins! When we spoke in church and Mike mentioned his Hansen relatives, Kelli made the connection. Abraham Hansen [who we named our Abe after] was not only Mike's second-great grandpa, but hers as well! And thus third-great-grandpa to all of our kids! Such a small world!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Another thing about the roads here--I feel obligated to wave to every car that ever passes by; especially when I'm out running. I don't recall ever paying attention to passing cars before, but now, chances are pretty high that any car driving past me is in my ward, and, even if they aren't, they have most likely just moved over into the other lane to make sure not to hit me on our skinny roads and so deserve a wave of acknowledgment. I like the feeling of community that the small business of everyone waving and nodding to each other as they drive by creates.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But back to walking to and from the bus stop in the mornings. Becky and Kelli each depart to their respective houses first on our way back, so there is always a strip of just empty road that Starling and I walk in quiet. The other morning as we walked this stretch, I pulled out my phone and took a photo or two of the fog.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Well, this first picture was actually looking north from our house before leaving in the morning.)</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciZxmsdjtfsnUCv0kXNGULxN4rqbLChysYJx7tf8fRFAHNVB-4oLsawzJnk1bjtlBd9kiLqRV7HLO6FA2WjxB5vw4G3rkwHD8RfZyYWnr55ALO5phYFElmf2FhE9BKcjt3skAXGnH7SWtSMa5e_WSf-Jd8qMNiLdhZyfyUx3-hvvBn-1RAFy25hoWcb0/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2006%2053%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciZxmsdjtfsnUCv0kXNGULxN4rqbLChysYJx7tf8fRFAHNVB-4oLsawzJnk1bjtlBd9kiLqRV7HLO6FA2WjxB5vw4G3rkwHD8RfZyYWnr55ALO5phYFElmf2FhE9BKcjt3skAXGnH7SWtSMa5e_WSf-Jd8qMNiLdhZyfyUx3-hvvBn-1RAFy25hoWcb0/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2006%2053%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> But I took this from the view to my right as I walked home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2K9ey8Dt0G5SXNni9U9g0xzeKLy0HCxDcirjJ46UbA5GV_cjyBAc6gph-fndciIMWoJVtaD-JYoxYiGIeRA5D5VbxoYeuaMQmQXBL6jP_mkN6t5tTlS5zdv_8ptnr0smn3UbxBijpoyGi_h41f6pBbHjb_3N1Uj7sSCBk5ObURiIs2Eeb9jPHMz_GlI/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2049%2006%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2K9ey8Dt0G5SXNni9U9g0xzeKLy0HCxDcirjJ46UbA5GV_cjyBAc6gph-fndciIMWoJVtaD-JYoxYiGIeRA5D5VbxoYeuaMQmQXBL6jP_mkN6t5tTlS5zdv_8ptnr0smn3UbxBijpoyGi_h41f6pBbHjb_3N1Uj7sSCBk5ObURiIs2Eeb9jPHMz_GlI/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2049%2006%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And then I took this of the view to my left:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGP5dFFvU7BWoStIb6noVMw8YcQFs55BBYOUCZqPZx0XwUB4_qZ3Lvm52EoNwCBl6eayENoi0yq96_QrOYhWXEUWKzuZxkk0XXYfrsYrXc35tkvdBDPmV7BF1AQvAVEq-f6Tid_zmbXwevfCJokA5nTNQsSQSl1f3x5362l9MdgOfTcTGndANXXMNSJE/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2048%2056%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGP5dFFvU7BWoStIb6noVMw8YcQFs55BBYOUCZqPZx0XwUB4_qZ3Lvm52EoNwCBl6eayENoi0yq96_QrOYhWXEUWKzuZxkk0XXYfrsYrXc35tkvdBDPmV7BF1AQvAVEq-f6Tid_zmbXwevfCJokA5nTNQsSQSl1f3x5362l9MdgOfTcTGndANXXMNSJE/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2048%2056%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And noticed that a streak of white seemed to be forming in the dissipating fog. And then, there wasn't just a streak, but a full rainbow composed completely of fog!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUXeH6OFXcv_0ioNf2LAXJuhtQQzQb_UXEMgmT-4S3hjHlK7z-L4nvLEOWqFobIW7VhyFtjI2Nyrkm8x_t176nKv5KxUSN_eYj7aiOU23iu95xevZHuXqHSAbfBbSBtuyhvvQOZT6c7bhVSC_fpSWTdZGOeyCgUZ36ZJXNkv-lhcZTHpNtg7jReTuxwU/s3458/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2050%2040%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2305" data-original-width="3458" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUXeH6OFXcv_0ioNf2LAXJuhtQQzQb_UXEMgmT-4S3hjHlK7z-L4nvLEOWqFobIW7VhyFtjI2Nyrkm8x_t176nKv5KxUSN_eYj7aiOU23iu95xevZHuXqHSAbfBbSBtuyhvvQOZT6c7bhVSC_fpSWTdZGOeyCgUZ36ZJXNkv-lhcZTHpNtg7jReTuxwU/w640-h426/Photo%20Oct%2019%202023,%208%2050%2040%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I texted it to my sisters with a questioning, "Fog rainbow? Halloweeny ghost rainbow??" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I looked them up later and they are a recognized phenomenon--though far less common that an actual rainbow. (The smaller water droplets of fog mean that the color is very weak--if discernable at all.) They are called fogbows, ghost rainbows (just as I'd joked to my sisters!), white rainbows, cloud bows, and, if you are a mariner, sea dogs (why?). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is the first one I've ever seen, and it was only there for a few short minutes, so I'm grateful I happened to be out just then and now feel like I must see them again! (And assign some sort of superstitious sign to them--as surely those mariners calling them sea dogs must do.) </span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-51008019656104364432023-10-18T17:10:00.015-06:002023-10-18T22:00:19.063-06:00Fog, Abundance, Geese, Eclipse<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I've been thinking often lately how grateful I am to God for giving us so many opportunities to learn things we could never learn just drifting through a life of pure ease. Oh sure, sometimes I'm too busy crying and lamenting how hard, complicated, messy and unknown (as in unknown how to manage, figure out or accomplish) these situations are to feel even an ounce of gratitude. But, even then, some part of me recognizes that all these challenges--in relationships, in raising children, in callings, in confronting complicated situations, etc.--are really giving me so much increase in my understanding and ability. And all of the things I learn here really are precious to me. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I think often of Christ descending below all things and ascending above them in order to comprehend all things (D&C 88:6). I'm grateful for, in my own small sphere, those descending moments--the things that simply come to me through living mortal life, and the opportunities I am given through covenanting to serve in His kingdom--that allow me to comprehend and know and become things I never was before.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was thinking of one of those things just today actually. I was recently asked to serve as the Young Women's Camp Director in this new ward of ours. It's never occurred to me, with others who have helped plan camp for my girls, that this calling was anything stressful. But I cried and lost sleep after receiving the call. I know older me will look back at this version of myself and laugh that it felt so overwhelming and hard to me when it's really not something that would cause many people any stress at all. But planning and organizing big things is something really uncomfortable for me. It's not something I would ever choose to do on my own. But even today, as I prayed about this, I knew I would be glad for the things I will learn: the people I will connect with, the delegating and planning and organizing I will learn, the new skills I will develop that will likely serve me well in future calls and family events, the extra chance I will have to learn that God does "provide means" and "prepare the way", etc. As much as I balk and want to, like Lot's wife, turn back from challenges, I am grateful that the Lord does give me opportunities to develop and grow like this.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In other news, my sister Amy told me this photo I took the other morning looked like βthe cover of a Western who-done-it".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yczzK0oqhHAF1xO2QqXC1CVT7OtiHLyBlE_6hQdi0Lw2yDDCw3ODLEmg2eEmMjyWnYiH7YRdnDldaou3r8o1Jn9-mygAGdBFhBZCl_yfV5yLjyKNG4L-l6u-X5QWpFKJTAL5w3dqF-6VdszRxlFpsGzlXsBoAv1Ahc5Mf_3j89L9ZTzBer03Crpe3LY/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2016%202023,%207%2025%2045%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yczzK0oqhHAF1xO2QqXC1CVT7OtiHLyBlE_6hQdi0Lw2yDDCw3ODLEmg2eEmMjyWnYiH7YRdnDldaou3r8o1Jn9-mygAGdBFhBZCl_yfV5yLjyKNG4L-l6u-X5QWpFKJTAL5w3dqF-6VdszRxlFpsGzlXsBoAv1Ahc5Mf_3j89L9ZTzBer03Crpe3LY/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2016%202023,%207%2025%2045%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is just out our back windows again. I asked someone the other day if the fog here was typical. When they said yes, I was surprised that the tone of their yes sounded a bit like they'd said "ugh, yes, isn't it awful?". I suppose it can be quite dangerous for morning driving. But it is just so magical for someone unaccustomed to fog! I can hardly believe we get to have it so regularly!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also this is interesting. My elementary kids just told me that their principal knows all their names. ALL THE NAMES OF ALL THE KIDS! What? There are nearly 500 kids in their school. How is this possible? I still only have the smallest handful of names down from my ward and neighborhood here. Anyway, I'm impressed. And grateful he would go to such effort to make sure all the kids in his school feel they are personally known.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And apples and pears. Our neighbor back in Pleasant View insisted we come back and pick apples from his backyard again this year. We could've easily gotten six times as many and hardly made a dent in his supply. I wish there were some way to keep them fresh long enough that we could have collected fresh apples for the whole year! (Last year, as you may recall, we made cider with his apples, but this year I didn't think I had it in me.) But! We have been very blessed by others generosity when it comes to produce this year! Apples from the Preeces, we had corn brought to us all through the end of summer from Aunt Sarah, and our neighbors the Whittiers have supplied us with more fresh apples, tons of green beans, and a load of tomatoes. And, while this isn't produce, we probably have about five dozen eggs in our fridge from various people. How nice to benefit from so much sharing! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I have 2 Cor. 8:14 up on our fridge as a theme of sorts for our family for this year. <b>"... that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want ..."</b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My kids have so much. Kindness, and intelligence, and light, and truth, and humor, and friendship. I have probably driven them to near madness talking to them about how there is so much of sadness and insecurity and loneliness and so on just even in the lives of those they see at school and that, if I'm going to send them off into this world away from the security of our home every day, I want it to be so they can push back the darkness and bring goodness and light in a million small ways to everyone around them. "Reach outside of yourselves, include people, say hi, smile at people, be a good example, say kind things." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I want them to give of their abundance! And I feel they have a mission to do just that!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But ... I must admit, perhaps this year we have actually more fully experienced <i>the other half</i> of that verse (and not only in produce): <b>"that their abundance also may be a supply for your want"</b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And that's a pretty great thing as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuHObb34gJy342sqMRnsMK0Mr1zXObK6VeTEMHedVA5ZGRN7E-SlAYKySfONr868sCfKR6oluvbAuDlfCOYjVmNIDhm-arOhaCGMwDSl0XGnYMXrSxK8VeC0aWNW8T7h1-JI6Eg8QFskF7Oe2cM7NpMuQIpIvFG-Jc9cX3lonEWWcXVaRpC9t_26E8U8/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2007%202023,%202%2017%2013%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuHObb34gJy342sqMRnsMK0Mr1zXObK6VeTEMHedVA5ZGRN7E-SlAYKySfONr868sCfKR6oluvbAuDlfCOYjVmNIDhm-arOhaCGMwDSl0XGnYMXrSxK8VeC0aWNW8T7h1-JI6Eg8QFskF7Oe2cM7NpMuQIpIvFG-Jc9cX3lonEWWcXVaRpC9t_26E8U8/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2007%202023,%202%2017%2013%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Moving on. ... Abe competed in his first offical jiu-jitsu competition. Maybe that isn't fair. His others were probably official? But they were just with students from BYU and another college down that way. But this one was at an official jiu-jitsu gym with serious students of jiu-jitsu. He got third place in his weight class! He had to do a lot of matches (and said he felt like throwing up after nearly every one), but it was cool for him to do so well! And since the ACME (applied math) program is so intense at BYU that Abe seems to me like a first year med student this year--weighed down by impossible hours of study--I'm glad for any bit of just good old fashioned fun he can manage (even if it usually means paying for it later)!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLDY_6nsCkZoNng6SBy_vxs7TzzN2KcZrv6wRzLZSzvQNvAwbDLVvKNy65PH2Zf6S06n33vNe5SHSTRHOg4n8XP1JeKznAZAej96mMJ_oM90Vu78j8FYI2jkgX6mapU3fEo4NbZIrC1gB5SI1Wm33Y82xklu7r9XEZVBAWI9aKFD3EDd-outctVF4RlQ/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2007%202023,%205%2019%2003%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLDY_6nsCkZoNng6SBy_vxs7TzzN2KcZrv6wRzLZSzvQNvAwbDLVvKNy65PH2Zf6S06n33vNe5SHSTRHOg4n8XP1JeKznAZAej96mMJ_oM90Vu78j8FYI2jkgX6mapU3fEo4NbZIrC1gB5SI1Wm33Y82xklu7r9XEZVBAWI9aKFD3EDd-outctVF4RlQ/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2007%202023,%205%2019%2003%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGz-Lc5UYeZCkQDb-YnBcYWL9i0SkvazD9gedLxujXuhuq5i688WaiYtaBRQt5WEBBGX8FhN8e4LuDt4ke6g8D7ti9wzy_IACoivyuRwp-ZBmBE33hNZ0BaKMULoDGOaHjVurzi0WxhxkBdFwfDKmOvuK8aoOnIIqqy_2gGfJbc4s1Z9UX6lghy7xd9c/s1334/Photo%20Oct%2008%202023,%2012%2033%2054%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGz-Lc5UYeZCkQDb-YnBcYWL9i0SkvazD9gedLxujXuhuq5i688WaiYtaBRQt5WEBBGX8FhN8e4LuDt4ke6g8D7ti9wzy_IACoivyuRwp-ZBmBE33hNZ0BaKMULoDGOaHjVurzi0WxhxkBdFwfDKmOvuK8aoOnIIqqy_2gGfJbc4s1Z9UX6lghy7xd9c/w640-h360/Photo%20Oct%2008%202023,%2012%2033%2054%20AM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also, we finally brought the geese up to the farm (they've been staying in Mike's parents' backyard these last months). We made them a little enclosure around the old metal chicken coop (the one Mike made clear back when we were first married with just a few little kids and were living at our Fruitland Drive house). They really are kind of fun. (These geese of ours.) Not perhaps the smartest creatures I've ever seen. But not mean like I always assume geese will be. And they do love to follow us around. Even following us right back into their enclosure every single time we let them out (and then likely cursing when they realize they've fallen for it again).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuRFZj8dkAvehzVkhlbp35gkbhzP1D5Y8PyvRHz52zvwCIGJoZhYXcY8dx_YIAs9V83RF77GtWRLpuT2joRavcg9H0e7CFyLdSjPWnKUIFXc7KtlDIU8JEd-nQNszC8hB6S76ZgKawpTbjT2jkmZG7Au_k-IpBtvsWCcIbOVhbX4PmKaKSVLTUKQrHJ4/s3264/Photo%20Oct%2013%202023,%204%2035%2022%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuRFZj8dkAvehzVkhlbp35gkbhzP1D5Y8PyvRHz52zvwCIGJoZhYXcY8dx_YIAs9V83RF77GtWRLpuT2joRavcg9H0e7CFyLdSjPWnKUIFXc7KtlDIU8JEd-nQNszC8hB6S76ZgKawpTbjT2jkmZG7Au_k-IpBtvsWCcIbOVhbX4PmKaKSVLTUKQrHJ4/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2013%202023,%204%2035%2022%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hey James and Helen! (We still never know for sure which one is which.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW4Qhr4ksOfPYWq8TMK8uTr_NdYzX-owyVvIiK3pCEqw5UmeBmgHhmIlcsUsEhZ0pKxIbuvjAtXLMX3vPNVL6da9hOtIKUvF9ftqZ34JRBHM5R7OnrPYmgY5ecpGugbBwyA23Q88bFi2hIZ_eFGmd61UY4SPygrvZfNCN0kJr8BV2Hlho23bKiTWexW8/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2020%2050%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW4Qhr4ksOfPYWq8TMK8uTr_NdYzX-owyVvIiK3pCEqw5UmeBmgHhmIlcsUsEhZ0pKxIbuvjAtXLMX3vPNVL6da9hOtIKUvF9ftqZ34JRBHM5R7OnrPYmgY5ecpGugbBwyA23Q88bFi2hIZ_eFGmd61UY4SPygrvZfNCN0kJr8BV2Hlho23bKiTWexW8/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2020%2050%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The farm. Looking like it wishes we would come live there already. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-v-d8hO4-nfTH27spVslmLrs9xOlVSrelRs6HDJygsH_jgOonifsqlG2hGMAwCDSdTlcgFSlthDkLeQ9Evt10FPTbacGXVm6NZtxFjEAQz8K0_uhisw1Pd8Jl9Z2rDJL5QNDo8E8343bFJ2bvbpbNfkmEtdNTfNkko1TNaKhtGxn1_2HEIA7MAC4nsw/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2022%2027%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-v-d8hO4-nfTH27spVslmLrs9xOlVSrelRs6HDJygsH_jgOonifsqlG2hGMAwCDSdTlcgFSlthDkLeQ9Evt10FPTbacGXVm6NZtxFjEAQz8K0_uhisw1Pd8Jl9Z2rDJL5QNDo8E8343bFJ2bvbpbNfkmEtdNTfNkko1TNaKhtGxn1_2HEIA7MAC4nsw/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2022%2027%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIIX62CKjvRb_IguY2TEM63mPS9QuP57cpuSPX8fesUVXvoNlcuLiNiH_WHGu69t2JbZLClc9GvwF_HzhYapxJES6W_GoZUF1MUowml-SHGcyWvcz0-F0dXdg7zKLP9qJ9RMpjKXUe5NplMn7gJF04-WdgCiaskxRAr6EIMQpaguA8mptSVN7axafJNc/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2027%2008%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIIX62CKjvRb_IguY2TEM63mPS9QuP57cpuSPX8fesUVXvoNlcuLiNiH_WHGu69t2JbZLClc9GvwF_HzhYapxJES6W_GoZUF1MUowml-SHGcyWvcz0-F0dXdg7zKLP9qJ9RMpjKXUe5NplMn7gJF04-WdgCiaskxRAr6EIMQpaguA8mptSVN7axafJNc/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2027%2008%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The goose enclosure.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnsZrc2cAJTwR-pxS7yTGQKa89bpb7NqmGuBN7Z3xWcjXkFQAnDxWUQFy3eLg2ihLRg2UgKAGISk_2Z89_DS-7XV5rmU4FzCu-LHVSovpR8bIZvDAhimmGDjKLhhmvce4oA7FWLBBGfXKJvzT3DJ1leWWoUCKest2X1ioXoRsQFr1rTLZ-KPSulvff9E/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2027%2015%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnsZrc2cAJTwR-pxS7yTGQKa89bpb7NqmGuBN7Z3xWcjXkFQAnDxWUQFy3eLg2ihLRg2UgKAGISk_2Z89_DS-7XV5rmU4FzCu-LHVSovpR8bIZvDAhimmGDjKLhhmvce4oA7FWLBBGfXKJvzT3DJ1leWWoUCKest2X1ioXoRsQFr1rTLZ-KPSulvff9E/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2027%2015%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ0JEBp5bIaw_7yfBbB_uEtfCMUehVLZNP0P8gjhHKDaxwS0cMhqGlojSngNeyVDFo-GNDqjZtniEZFPKs9VO8aJ1dFYBtMpBELEWcn8AfLa8pmR4YjwhNaQq5W8DM8s1rI0vW-0x56A17W5T3A_XRUiwna_MyPRinQnJ_1e-k4nW012VaI6Rjm-9bPU/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2028%2046%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ0JEBp5bIaw_7yfBbB_uEtfCMUehVLZNP0P8gjhHKDaxwS0cMhqGlojSngNeyVDFo-GNDqjZtniEZFPKs9VO8aJ1dFYBtMpBELEWcn8AfLa8pmR4YjwhNaQq5W8DM8s1rI0vW-0x56A17W5T3A_XRUiwna_MyPRinQnJ_1e-k4nW012VaI6Rjm-9bPU/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2028%2046%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwurHuv3vnxnbo3msOUI82PC91zGLnBjw1zq7rGXCxrM4j4liboph4RlBy6kmtGeaPINYoUCXjmmWep8-8tzFYQWH4wXvU33-mFTKVTzuGQzgupxf1nXI44GCRd49J-70eiU2mvSFyJXG7ziCPjav583KQ0-2jcdCm2vRW_F1JxLZTIfN6ufvFPHG8sI/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2031%2021%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwurHuv3vnxnbo3msOUI82PC91zGLnBjw1zq7rGXCxrM4j4liboph4RlBy6kmtGeaPINYoUCXjmmWep8-8tzFYQWH4wXvU33-mFTKVTzuGQzgupxf1nXI44GCRd49J-70eiU2mvSFyJXG7ziCPjav583KQ0-2jcdCm2vRW_F1JxLZTIfN6ufvFPHG8sI/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2031%2021%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzAXWUrtNiCDHDGrQcbdiR6afolv1rl8qizoeuj9Np8YJGMEswy2-ZufoN8UOuBhyphenhyphenGSVuKhvz7TwdtTGjKPE1Ad5ArGXgax4HsmKo4D9DCRv00vua6NXDMHj80w-ezXHs1WhzhIM36GpTKM3rWdFwYqsn0vfYtLCSF2gRih0PUbY_vwf4cykiKU3C_8s/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2033%2009%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzAXWUrtNiCDHDGrQcbdiR6afolv1rl8qizoeuj9Np8YJGMEswy2-ZufoN8UOuBhyphenhyphenGSVuKhvz7TwdtTGjKPE1Ad5ArGXgax4HsmKo4D9DCRv00vua6NXDMHj80w-ezXHs1WhzhIM36GpTKM3rWdFwYqsn0vfYtLCSF2gRih0PUbY_vwf4cykiKU3C_8s/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2033%2009%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I like these goofy little faces I sometimes find on my phone:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TdVH0vFQ_XPQ3EnPbHp0WbPniLLDu-AFQHuWt2mlYo8Bj-GbqEQX6SBLkQ_Y8UVlFn4TTLR3ysXUlqAAIw159gFeIQ8ncG34JNMCvj79WtOwFrojQbqu2f5XBR7CBUwDojUwS36ZoG9XtU-pY3ZLgHVlh4qpjzIypO30_i1e0Y-qfu-rdjcXOnhd564/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2011%202023,%208%2004%2044%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TdVH0vFQ_XPQ3EnPbHp0WbPniLLDu-AFQHuWt2mlYo8Bj-GbqEQX6SBLkQ_Y8UVlFn4TTLR3ysXUlqAAIw159gFeIQ8ncG34JNMCvj79WtOwFrojQbqu2f5XBR7CBUwDojUwS36ZoG9XtU-pY3ZLgHVlh4qpjzIypO30_i1e0Y-qfu-rdjcXOnhd564/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2011%202023,%208%2004%2044%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(I heard Starling, off by herself in the girls' room today. She was playing Calico Critters. "Marry me so we can have babies." I heard one critter say. Then, "Babies? I don't like babies!" came the angry retort from the other.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And this is cool! Goldie got to go as part of the very first missionary session in the Bentonville, AR temple! That will be cool to remember being a part of!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-XgeGNeQf8I2fPFoaXMAveuQEb887hBgHsb6b5UHbAbWq2jFtyAojOw6Fm4y-TbgU9EeF3BBchxFPqVMio3VMkgctpnuxltVDbeYgWV7YPx8rewCpTyTQ3bUjStTmzZd17hIn121daaTl8gIiPckG6rXH6HdQp8z4KX4sBfHVbZe2YOibn_IB8pGU_g/s2048/Photo%20Oct%2011%202023,%209%2043%2001%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-XgeGNeQf8I2fPFoaXMAveuQEb887hBgHsb6b5UHbAbWq2jFtyAojOw6Fm4y-TbgU9EeF3BBchxFPqVMio3VMkgctpnuxltVDbeYgWV7YPx8rewCpTyTQ3bUjStTmzZd17hIn121daaTl8gIiPckG6rXH6HdQp8z4KX4sBfHVbZe2YOibn_IB8pGU_g/w640-h480/Photo%20Oct%2011%202023,%209%2043%2001%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />We had a partial solar eclipse here on Saturday. Sadly there were thick clouds here through the peak portions of the eclipse. But they parted for a little bit and we all got to take a look through Anders' recently-acquired eclipse glasses. We are excited for Goldie that AR will be in the path of a big eclipse next year! </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuVOPiGEZu2WiqIDFdxFLcEw5CLlCjp58CfD7yCbZPMBL_pXx5nHNF3iJVI_RXEUhBAMYYRtBHn241K71WUI1bnwgCAdmSMTNZ-siTbSTRq9FeTlnzV_L_SnEDuUpOpoQpSrQKCi7s5Q1VkrvGcdldZfIyyt7OwtKLupsBM07OFcwpgnKeLSWdW3WI6M/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%2010%2052%2017%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuVOPiGEZu2WiqIDFdxFLcEw5CLlCjp58CfD7yCbZPMBL_pXx5nHNF3iJVI_RXEUhBAMYYRtBHn241K71WUI1bnwgCAdmSMTNZ-siTbSTRq9FeTlnzV_L_SnEDuUpOpoQpSrQKCi7s5Q1VkrvGcdldZfIyyt7OwtKLupsBM07OFcwpgnKeLSWdW3WI6M/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%2010%2052%2017%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTzYqmOAZRDC0l8DmSOiTnDPzD0tLM0ljE1BFQ0pipn_wGopK_IBrAceV4iuyhkNuA7JUvboKjkrIhdEAJ4B0rehAC5cEz5cLUD4Gqbp77TcFE_yepCNXRBvmH1usOm6tVuUfBp_oRD7sb0GGUZGx2dbZwqm5UrFOu3qZeCKtLs-pajC2V3qGB4VzMnA/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%2010%2054%2005%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTzYqmOAZRDC0l8DmSOiTnDPzD0tLM0ljE1BFQ0pipn_wGopK_IBrAceV4iuyhkNuA7JUvboKjkrIhdEAJ4B0rehAC5cEz5cLUD4Gqbp77TcFE_yepCNXRBvmH1usOm6tVuUfBp_oRD7sb0GGUZGx2dbZwqm5UrFOu3qZeCKtLs-pajC2V3qGB4VzMnA/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%2010%2054%2005%20AM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here Abe and pal Noah view the eclipse after attending their friend Zach's temple wedding:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx130Yuel7NuT1QAgh3pHiCtPu6w8bjeKNanxe9hrTXjmYTzaQb_FU4mKgdCCJ-B4J_N7ZK1WfkJaFYirH2_SPiduaAMcH_2lOlgfwtC8An3m8RuZK7OXj23fJVgmryCH9TeMYF32M76quwM4uIBAPhAZ9-51H50PGsJdPxvFqWeFdS0ql1CJJXJKboZ4/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2000%2005%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx130Yuel7NuT1QAgh3pHiCtPu6w8bjeKNanxe9hrTXjmYTzaQb_FU4mKgdCCJ-B4J_N7ZK1WfkJaFYirH2_SPiduaAMcH_2lOlgfwtC8An3m8RuZK7OXj23fJVgmryCH9TeMYF32M76quwM4uIBAPhAZ9-51H50PGsJdPxvFqWeFdS0ql1CJJXJKboZ4/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2000%2005%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprqz6Z-lz8pISro8mss58Ay5IHoQ4fba8rSkfs9SxTMOni0YLmjwIgzgf8g1lE84NAEufRusLSlbnSw9OHdHlBrKzNH8LtdDgR-r3LCif5GiTiNoq2wQqqg7763q42lpG3mc3JJUC-RtH270w07sEPV3dfhtDBPVqID-H9OgwQH9Mh8nFA1571tHJOMc/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2000%2009%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprqz6Z-lz8pISro8mss58Ay5IHoQ4fba8rSkfs9SxTMOni0YLmjwIgzgf8g1lE84NAEufRusLSlbnSw9OHdHlBrKzNH8LtdDgR-r3LCif5GiTiNoq2wQqqg7763q42lpG3mc3JJUC-RtH270w07sEPV3dfhtDBPVqID-H9OgwQH9Mh8nFA1571tHJOMc/w480-h640/Photo%20Oct%2014%202023,%201%2000%2009%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And that's all. But more soon I am sure! I seem to have been blogging a lot more often the last while.</span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-77852478486069747402023-10-18T15:17:00.012-06:002023-10-18T22:10:13.556-06:00Learning When We Don't Even Think We Are<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was thinking the other day of Nephi, after a pretty negative experience and while feeling "much cast down", being told: "Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; ... with unwearyingness .... [T]hou hast not ... sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever ...."</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nephi is then promised he will be made "mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works". He's told that everything he asks will be so completely in line with the Lord's will, that it will <i><b>always</b></i> be granted. He's repeatedly promised "power". "[I]f ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done," he's told.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I don't know why it seemed novel, I know we learn and grow through experience, but as I thought about these verses the other day, it suddenly occurred to me that these blessings didn't just poof into existence in Nephi at that moment (just because he was awesome), rather they were the <i>natural outcome</i> of those years of unwearied service to God. They were the natural fruit that came from enduring and pressing forward. Might in deed, faith and works; comprehension of God's will--and a perfect desire to seek it; power from on high: Nephi <i>received</i> those things and had actually <i>become</i> those things, likely without fully realizing it, through the process of seeking God's will along the paths, and in the responsibilities and challenges, that made up his mortal journey.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Recently I had a cool little moment where information and understanding was brought clearly to my mind that, to my shock, I realized I had learned through a series of lengthy and tedious experiences where it never occurred to me I was learning anything at all! There was sudden enlightenment and awareness, a comprehension of things I hadn't comprehended before. It was all there, developed in those tiresome experiences, but not shown to me until an event called upon those understandings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It made me wonder what other things God might have taught me or trained me in (or might currently be teaching me or training me in) through the ordinary challenges and moments of life that I simply haven't realized yet; and I felt a renewed sense of awe over how amazing God is at wasting nothing of our experience. I feel this new confidence that He is using all of our experiences (where we muddle along, reaching for him and pressing forward, but often not knowing what we are to be learning) to teach all of us so much more than we yet realize--things that will become plain to us when future experiences call upon the need for that knowledge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was telling my sister Shannon some of these thoughts, and she told me how she'd just been thinking about an earlier Nephi. Shannon said how she hadn't really paid close attention before to the fact that Nephi was eight years wandering in the wilderness. And sure he had a handful of truly miraculous experiences in those eight years, but most of the time was probably just ... day after day enduring and moving forward with "unwearyingness" in what he was called to do. Likely, through much of that experience</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">, he didn't feel he was learning or gaining or becoming anything at all, and yet, by the end of that time, he had developed the faith to build a boat when the Lord commanded him to, the faith to survive when chained up on that boat for days, etc. Did he recognize he had been becoming "mighty in faith" in the daily routine of that journey?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Shortly after this discussion I had the opportunity to talk with someone who was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by a life circumstance. They could see nothing good that they were becoming through it. (In fact they felt more discouraged and less capable to being of use to God and their fellowman than ever.) But I found myself testifying to them (with words that did feel surprisingly mighty) that they were learning incredibly important things through this experience and space of time. And it didn't matter that they couldn't see it. I told them with a new and absolute certainty that there would be moments ahead when things would come into their life that would show them that they had actually learned invaluable things during this time--things they'd had no idea they were learning!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And that is all. I just felt to record this here rather than in my "spiritual journal" where I usually record these types of thoughts. </span></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319454352626199680.post-13557983511899485292023-10-13T15:46:00.001-06:002023-10-13T15:46:20.617-06:00Grasshoppers, Halloween Costumes, and Missing Mike<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hansie is so dear. I took the kids to parent teacher conference last week. Hans paid very close attention to every question his teacher asked--replying with thoughtful and clearly-spoken answers. At the end of our little meeting his teacher said, "Well, do you have any other questions or worries?" Hans thought for a moment then said, "Well, I don't much like when the kids at recess stomp on grasshoppers. I don't mind when they just scare them away, but I don't much like them stepping on them."</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I don't much like it either. Cute boy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6EBw5ifVenvkZ17etyXG-mjZIhXGVy6roOQDxMwZplvJ1D8M4m_M6KI1Nrzf2Hn9iCDj6XnawvHofvQxi1dRpBJjbQ156bb0KzL6xO5REs6nFbZBXTOd60czWelzyun_z7y0HAzh0n7EpzQGY8LPbH7t8nu9tBXVPm8kwN8WmIeLD7tZdNHTE1DQZdM/s2048/IMG_0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6EBw5ifVenvkZ17etyXG-mjZIhXGVy6roOQDxMwZplvJ1D8M4m_M6KI1Nrzf2Hn9iCDj6XnawvHofvQxi1dRpBJjbQ156bb0KzL6xO5REs6nFbZBXTOd60czWelzyun_z7y0HAzh0n7EpzQGY8LPbH7t8nu9tBXVPm8kwN8WmIeLD7tZdNHTE1DQZdM/w640-h426/IMG_0410.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We got the Halloween costumes out yesterday. I put it off as long as possible because, despite all the pleas, warnings and instructions I might ever give, within minutes the costumes are spread hither and yon, separated from all their matching parts, scattered and stepped on.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlEDo3590IpY2caLUC8jIg2XjZ81dc15svycCUvPtGaCfyTsJCDlAjK6IY97llSJuJnMsS_XPlpjN58uGdN9aQLWuDQG5gzKPCTx5qhPG7m3EWxYy90zYAHF-MgrrwOx7QMZEDGzXZTnrtCeb0mY33Ev2fvDn0Ylns29CclNuoeXH4By1sk7nzDilHJE/s2048/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlEDo3590IpY2caLUC8jIg2XjZ81dc15svycCUvPtGaCfyTsJCDlAjK6IY97llSJuJnMsS_XPlpjN58uGdN9aQLWuDQG5gzKPCTx5qhPG7m3EWxYy90zYAHF-MgrrwOx7QMZEDGzXZTnrtCeb0mY33Ev2fvDn0Ylns29CclNuoeXH4By1sk7nzDilHJE/w640-h426/IMG_0411.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIYIQrlLVF6azBJ-qrzdQqD3UjlsKFY-OtRFjq4TqpN3AB0nD8pHTzHlmQQfh205z2tjOXFaqcecV_s0lPY09TbMLiRFBrVwmpM6vR6iAjW0IdzeqwH6bbP2zCEaDnGAi1AEaytoZ2YEBag8spIVI0Z7dqK8zkdUIzOn-XrW_23Sh_9GDxM-obbQUn_I/s2048/IMG_0412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIYIQrlLVF6azBJ-qrzdQqD3UjlsKFY-OtRFjq4TqpN3AB0nD8pHTzHlmQQfh205z2tjOXFaqcecV_s0lPY09TbMLiRFBrVwmpM6vR6iAjW0IdzeqwH6bbP2zCEaDnGAi1AEaytoZ2YEBag8spIVI0Z7dqK8zkdUIzOn-XrW_23Sh_9GDxM-obbQUn_I/w640-h426/IMG_0412.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AYDFK0_qXnaBhoag1v9mihlkbSAZ5iMyN83uyYyZQaLi68k56kL5swvExDLlkTiQCWpFm5YO2RrC3Q2T_MamX3HYH6r1Z7OHWOa69JPOqN44aFpNXfXfqE6ZdRlhO9JATPPV6_KoF0t-R6kXzLIZxdasgQIP5kMG_C-DeD36xyHa3h6A12WkCfILjUk/s2048/IMG_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AYDFK0_qXnaBhoag1v9mihlkbSAZ5iMyN83uyYyZQaLi68k56kL5swvExDLlkTiQCWpFm5YO2RrC3Q2T_MamX3HYH6r1Z7OHWOa69JPOqN44aFpNXfXfqE6ZdRlhO9JATPPV6_KoF0t-R6kXzLIZxdasgQIP5kMG_C-DeD36xyHa3h6A12WkCfILjUk/w640-h426/IMG_0415.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The kids started by putting on <i>actual </i>costumes. Princesses. Skeletons. Witches. Wolves. But before long they were wearing Darth Vadar masks with snoopy heads, Sherlock Holmes hats with vampire capes, and witch dresses with pioneer bonnets. Had I thought to take more than these very few photos I could have had photos of about 1000 different costume arrangements. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2QzHAIxaR1OiVDX18mBjRreFZQazYJcATYAlTjmBeIOitlRcrb9RrfdGWsszdzMcUBR8JC6LlQsvWWtvSBoFTR3ed3cqndS6wdT3hQ-0jgriUJpOCw2oJcO3h_A1cuE5Ve_BjZHLatju-b_htooAwefnN0qKLGgoNRyYGv-Q7IZqzD9ptbIDmh4a8A/s2048/IMG_0420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL2QzHAIxaR1OiVDX18mBjRreFZQazYJcATYAlTjmBeIOitlRcrb9RrfdGWsszdzMcUBR8JC6LlQsvWWtvSBoFTR3ed3cqndS6wdT3hQ-0jgriUJpOCw2oJcO3h_A1cuE5Ve_BjZHLatju-b_htooAwefnN0qKLGgoNRyYGv-Q7IZqzD9ptbIDmh4a8A/w426-h640/IMG_0420.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Hans cleverly realized that this torn shirt from an old "hobo" costume quickly turned our wolf into a werewolf.)<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13qVV64y0nUegQeY5botN39T4ZVMusyI1g_cNz_zYUtbJt_-gkev4ApEM_cnlLo58vzMUoPdFKapntRrIP5k9U9LKGTgtbBnBj1t5Hxc1Oxzt0Pd7KLqIuEgMni1gh0hSuyASX9kxaqET-M1AuHMU7LycG8-UWy1mCTUTwcbZKaStZYJ5P8LNWaFQpP0/s2048/IMG_0422-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13qVV64y0nUegQeY5botN39T4ZVMusyI1g_cNz_zYUtbJt_-gkev4ApEM_cnlLo58vzMUoPdFKapntRrIP5k9U9LKGTgtbBnBj1t5Hxc1Oxzt0Pd7KLqIuEgMni1gh0hSuyASX9kxaqET-M1AuHMU7LycG8-UWy1mCTUTwcbZKaStZYJ5P8LNWaFQpP0/w426-h640/IMG_0422-2.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here everyone is, post costume frenzy, watching a Fall-Break-Night movie.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hbSCYcW-Uv9ZWf70U1sMxA0mgMUQSG8KiHVZPjdMegUry7I3AzLyyX0QbHRAfJhTBqnOj42b-YYGQ2Ajqji7Q1MifAe5Wcyl8viITW7EZAVsMgq9FCbj1w2u8gjmQjmZ4LxgJQzYcqvCaV8VyzAfWClLt7ZCCtIU0Lr7qWFGcpmrmQb1zvNC1r8y3M/s2048/IMG_0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hbSCYcW-Uv9ZWf70U1sMxA0mgMUQSG8KiHVZPjdMegUry7I3AzLyyX0QbHRAfJhTBqnOj42b-YYGQ2Ajqji7Q1MifAe5Wcyl8viITW7EZAVsMgq9FCbj1w2u8gjmQjmZ4LxgJQzYcqvCaV8VyzAfWClLt7ZCCtIU0Lr7qWFGcpmrmQb1zvNC1r8y3M/w640-h426/IMG_0423.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The other day I looked out my window and noticed the craziest and coolest light! Storms were moving and we seemed to be caught between one going and one arriving--setting us in a spot of bright between sharp darks. I rushed out to capture these few photos:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjytGqBaXe1SCvZH0nVoWsscOvmofE38RC40qMN6zXFZm_qy6b4iZEvPctrl6eSbmFmDRbEoHuY-CR3RjYFAyIiVmOO1gqKIVqw6hyphenhyphenQ17Nn2P9WGlEqImG2Y3GgwCpDdBDCYTMXsOdVRnJ1o4uTg0YLa9kxi1jw3cpuTrt6ze5lfKqLEw70oGE4uNpMQ/s2048/IMG_0335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjytGqBaXe1SCvZH0nVoWsscOvmofE38RC40qMN6zXFZm_qy6b4iZEvPctrl6eSbmFmDRbEoHuY-CR3RjYFAyIiVmOO1gqKIVqw6hyphenhyphenQ17Nn2P9WGlEqImG2Y3GgwCpDdBDCYTMXsOdVRnJ1o4uTg0YLa9kxi1jw3cpuTrt6ze5lfKqLEw70oGE4uNpMQ/w640-h426/IMG_0335.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSmAThEsqRZye4g0mF6QYWgUeUUMc3o80_5uuUQ_alm6nbfsnEVIKMQSibOJzxa0-jBWTLrpvcej3C9tO9iTFsAIRnVA12l8RFvmozq1s5lPZYooJffyCvjlEN5i6PdKVyR1OOEJT4GgFBtQyxCraqh7BnYUhkmZkkqo3R8dqkG8aLhyphenhyphend63aImQYao8w/s2048/IMG_0336-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSmAThEsqRZye4g0mF6QYWgUeUUMc3o80_5uuUQ_alm6nbfsnEVIKMQSibOJzxa0-jBWTLrpvcej3C9tO9iTFsAIRnVA12l8RFvmozq1s5lPZYooJffyCvjlEN5i6PdKVyR1OOEJT4GgFBtQyxCraqh7BnYUhkmZkkqo3R8dqkG8aLhyphenhyphend63aImQYao8w/w640-h426/IMG_0336-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSnHorxijhd4rl6euZDdseuvQhtKngPOGVy_ecNy5NCW0tEdRDG-_LI3LvaHlLUJu0WqUjYtxtbVZJVkkZ9iJcK9J-6yaCTIn-WMjP6BzO671eRqyKh6Ty34wbF1QfCQF0aygJQ8NEgRPtDlOY6NQxRrq5O6N6PP7FSzf5QbS3QQCxAP9P6c5tXbbnxk/s2048/IMG_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSnHorxijhd4rl6euZDdseuvQhtKngPOGVy_ecNy5NCW0tEdRDG-_LI3LvaHlLUJu0WqUjYtxtbVZJVkkZ9iJcK9J-6yaCTIn-WMjP6BzO671eRqyKh6Ty34wbF1QfCQF0aygJQ8NEgRPtDlOY6NQxRrq5O6N6PP7FSzf5QbS3QQCxAP9P6c5tXbbnxk/w640-h426/IMG_0339.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAsp9MYNVDaicb7Y-5GNrGK0EjBD8cxugwB0kQ1Xs7fMrBbUD47_S_cFka4N7dLYD5RkkFT2tchO7J3J3aPrcgdauVr_aSWuupMPnS19MBBfA-MnBHK2xtiEKNmeuX16kO54CmvUCLM8Asf6KxrytUS3k8q3whrg8zFvTc_j_Ugx1kVO3gcq_wTxc9PY/s2048/IMG_0341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAsp9MYNVDaicb7Y-5GNrGK0EjBD8cxugwB0kQ1Xs7fMrBbUD47_S_cFka4N7dLYD5RkkFT2tchO7J3J3aPrcgdauVr_aSWuupMPnS19MBBfA-MnBHK2xtiEKNmeuX16kO54CmvUCLM8Asf6KxrytUS3k8q3whrg8zFvTc_j_Ugx1kVO3gcq_wTxc9PY/w640-h426/IMG_0341.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI_3K6F1jDN3p_00ZkBWwKDBpn1x9D2q6O0HRddyo1OpRadDoYDeC3jmHLOssK2OCa0AnzqvOKfzf3devoiw-McwNuSTe-QQJi8T5NtGK68Xk1jDbAEBPUlONrDkvawDQ0W83sz3PYS4LjN01XnU-DaaGfO-_9VWCZxd6mwZm_jBeeJH2wQiziefc6qE/s2048/IMG_0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI_3K6F1jDN3p_00ZkBWwKDBpn1x9D2q6O0HRddyo1OpRadDoYDeC3jmHLOssK2OCa0AnzqvOKfzf3devoiw-McwNuSTe-QQJi8T5NtGK68Xk1jDbAEBPUlONrDkvawDQ0W83sz3PYS4LjN01XnU-DaaGfO-_9VWCZxd6mwZm_jBeeJH2wQiziefc6qE/w640-h426/IMG_0343.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdKcrC-GCHybnZXX_vi1dGf7Bur_wcryqnWf20mFsv-1X4VDAd1YwUfMGPrZJmnO_XUHDnHmFWWS4KBjMwujvjdOp5n45IQoStMfVtouPwDU9pA-XYc02Hl0HWNdGZTLyk1OZZH8M2kooh9AiI-LQ5SW3U-nY9D1VXJ5uP_weyF9Azkgt22VX5zpPlco/s2048/IMG_0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdKcrC-GCHybnZXX_vi1dGf7Bur_wcryqnWf20mFsv-1X4VDAd1YwUfMGPrZJmnO_XUHDnHmFWWS4KBjMwujvjdOp5n45IQoStMfVtouPwDU9pA-XYc02Hl0HWNdGZTLyk1OZZH8M2kooh9AiI-LQ5SW3U-nY9D1VXJ5uP_weyF9Azkgt22VX5zpPlco/w640-h426/IMG_0345.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But then the clouds moved again and the moment of drama was past. (You can see the streak of light they'd been in--back beyond the cows.)</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0jrUn2NptrAW_xJLZfDu8jCRt9cJoIT471i4X2yRZrt_Vtyr490PhAzfSHuMRaOOpvt6qpTZm-R2TBRvoRahu9uJ1jsKglk6ZqQOIG1X697v_DdvePZ8t42ZHa8rg1NYWO7P7Y4_3Bqdcv58BO8aL4Z1ZpiVRLwjRnrRUqC9US1pN4IO8IMZiHYaACA/s2048/IMG_0352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0jrUn2NptrAW_xJLZfDu8jCRt9cJoIT471i4X2yRZrt_Vtyr490PhAzfSHuMRaOOpvt6qpTZm-R2TBRvoRahu9uJ1jsKglk6ZqQOIG1X697v_DdvePZ8t42ZHa8rg1NYWO7P7Y4_3Bqdcv58BO8aL4Z1ZpiVRLwjRnrRUqC9US1pN4IO8IMZiHYaACA/w640-h426/IMG_0352.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmGlkqs13V1wumuYpIhGMxFgtcfU9VmqB7kbUMCkux7Bv-Rj2vSVS5xTKAOSU0wGbQAgu8UF0P0gtqyOrAEs-icPVvkHAljfiu_1kuemV5MruPOzPAbUykuJ1k5hCTT1V2pFd-c08aZ8l5C6nj-yP3izu-6P40X5rbLWRoL3Pu5FmbvBFcTFLTdXG_JE/s2048/IMG_0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmGlkqs13V1wumuYpIhGMxFgtcfU9VmqB7kbUMCkux7Bv-Rj2vSVS5xTKAOSU0wGbQAgu8UF0P0gtqyOrAEs-icPVvkHAljfiu_1kuemV5MruPOzPAbUykuJ1k5hCTT1V2pFd-c08aZ8l5C6nj-yP3izu-6P40X5rbLWRoL3Pu5FmbvBFcTFLTdXG_JE/w640-h426/IMG_0356.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">---------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Little friends out at night:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD_ny11NXohhmvDmekMI55022S06Qk-Bx9wyWXFtKmmk6o8lAIg_oKSfP7iVNfkbJeKzDjPuWWVw4Qyigx8sdvoH6Eyc_Y_oowmbRDE3XIqmJ6YEtn2uIN4TnopVzqela2f7leNndjuNG2TdbTFTq1zJtL68wiQbdnfv_PKgraKTbjOWipfPBjkB5EQM/s2048/IMG_0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD_ny11NXohhmvDmekMI55022S06Qk-Bx9wyWXFtKmmk6o8lAIg_oKSfP7iVNfkbJeKzDjPuWWVw4Qyigx8sdvoH6Eyc_Y_oowmbRDE3XIqmJ6YEtn2uIN4TnopVzqela2f7leNndjuNG2TdbTFTq1zJtL68wiQbdnfv_PKgraKTbjOWipfPBjkB5EQM/w640-h426/IMG_0403.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">---------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And that's all. Except ... I miss my Mike. I miss him so much. He's down to about three and a half weeks of madness, and we've been doing it--surviving and managing. But I just love him so much and feel sort of a dull ache all of the time wishing he were <b>here with us</b>! He has been coming up after work every day ever since getting the house projects done a few weeks ago, so he's here by about 10 or 11 pm. I worry about him driving back and forth on so little sleep and have a constant prayer going for his safety, but it is good to at least have him next to me at night. I just love him <b>so much</b>. I feel so lucky that, of all the people in the world, I'm the one that gets to have him. I don't know that it's so much that absence makes the heart grow fonder (it just seems to make my heart grow achier, and even when he's here regularly I am always already saying prayers of gratitude for him), but absences <b>does </b>make me realize how wonderful all the completely ordinary moments of having a husband and father around really are!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But at least I have this little person nearly glued to my side at all times. That's some solace! :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73z7IgeRrJrVyhl17JNKJTryEKl-8VObPkKxhOJbtRLq8gtGwLYeanIKynXq0CujXzDhbv8NUowPER6EXJJ1kJVdZtCRSRNmeynx3K29q2n-D_2yj3HL7VW2Q_LugXhIF2eDsNi7gsOHdKq89BL4hDDFAhu_2CtK7W7GQQusOPOTqGFRbLs8_8AM9T7E/s2048/IMG_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73z7IgeRrJrVyhl17JNKJTryEKl-8VObPkKxhOJbtRLq8gtGwLYeanIKynXq0CujXzDhbv8NUowPER6EXJJ1kJVdZtCRSRNmeynx3K29q2n-D_2yj3HL7VW2Q_LugXhIF2eDsNi7gsOHdKq89BL4hDDFAhu_2CtK7W7GQQusOPOTqGFRbLs8_8AM9T7E/w640-h426/IMG_0370.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXUWWapYgoOzwNRTLM1VP9aKWiRStN9Tod77YOWxRsefPgc5_hFXKwHBPcHM54fhOmUjhq3PnNpTR2SIfhE0hluMIY6sFn0yH7J5-ZgosHdWfjRW2lO9VvXN5ugkgjjgMEj1bEmyWAi3D4IJOcfzWYbSkr9BQCOvpmdAtoiW_FD2m6rD71mFsDn_DQmk/s2048/IMG_0383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXUWWapYgoOzwNRTLM1VP9aKWiRStN9Tod77YOWxRsefPgc5_hFXKwHBPcHM54fhOmUjhq3PnNpTR2SIfhE0hluMIY6sFn0yH7J5-ZgosHdWfjRW2lO9VvXN5ugkgjjgMEj1bEmyWAi3D4IJOcfzWYbSkr9BQCOvpmdAtoiW_FD2m6rD71mFsDn_DQmk/w640-h426/IMG_0383.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Weo1J32SzLm-n2sRtOw-DrLejeup6wz1dYCKX8QU55MafSD-6uy7xko6MF2greFnZBnjCk0M9-9F1_uPHyfcyEYtpe7uiTeVWtG6SJt2KmUG_PjclBi4H4ebYXYKHR7fxOtSNXTqMzi0chSZc0ESZkSHxsmQnF7l81WL-QHN_KBvP81wGSihDlSAXkA/s2048/IMG_0388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Weo1J32SzLm-n2sRtOw-DrLejeup6wz1dYCKX8QU55MafSD-6uy7xko6MF2greFnZBnjCk0M9-9F1_uPHyfcyEYtpe7uiTeVWtG6SJt2KmUG_PjclBi4H4ebYXYKHR7fxOtSNXTqMzi0chSZc0ESZkSHxsmQnF7l81WL-QHN_KBvP81wGSihDlSAXkA/w640-h426/IMG_0388.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKGi6LCrPvWyD-hjSlghyphenhyphen23mJNm0hMb3QchZ22Cf_E8z7ji4IRbtWczkppZvS5Hw-Y3xgVvuayc22znoj3Mrxd1nGfQQOm0zyXr05zzMT_duQHyWp-yRXTTjnGmUCwsyvnt14PoZRxli3524kPQjnsEEnAjVesyq7wvMJxArIF1V2UmQUIX_ZCjzVZHw/s2048/IMG_0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKGi6LCrPvWyD-hjSlghyphenhyphen23mJNm0hMb3QchZ22Cf_E8z7ji4IRbtWczkppZvS5Hw-Y3xgVvuayc22znoj3Mrxd1nGfQQOm0zyXr05zzMT_duQHyWp-yRXTTjnGmUCwsyvnt14PoZRxli3524kPQjnsEEnAjVesyq7wvMJxArIF1V2UmQUIX_ZCjzVZHw/w640-h426/IMG_0397.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045958241240870948noreply@blogger.com1