tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22482925192537168322024-03-13T08:52:38.647-07:00My Two SonsOne Mum. One Husband. Two Annoying Dogs. Two Future Rock Stars. Lots & Lots of 70s Kitsch.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-14179374994648041942011-08-08T19:56:00.000-07:002011-08-08T19:57:36.039-07:00We're Over at WordpressCome over!
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<br /><a href="http://twolittlerockstars.wordpress.com">twolittlerockstars.wordpress.com</a>
<br />laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-9510370166641596462011-07-01T21:14:00.001-07:002011-07-01T21:15:59.559-07:00Time in a Bottle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZZ6laHg6NBBPEGAUGDef6kanklNgy6BnIeC7ZKgWKC2YwgQKBw73hTRaE_8l6FLchTwwhzVf3iiwmzb_eg60JS8au1neqOY-L5wE3afutaT4HwPV4O8id3j_fCJYqACIP_2GxAr9jwzK/s1600/tumblr_lnor9nKaYz1qzagugo1_400.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZZ6laHg6NBBPEGAUGDef6kanklNgy6BnIeC7ZKgWKC2YwgQKBw73hTRaE_8l6FLchTwwhzVf3iiwmzb_eg60JS8au1neqOY-L5wE3afutaT4HwPV4O8id3j_fCJYqACIP_2GxAr9jwzK/s320/tumblr_lnor9nKaYz1qzagugo1_400.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624603697588632770" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="caption"><p>The only light in my kids’ room. Their little nightlight. I tried to get a picture of the fireflies we caught that are sitting on their windowsill, but it wasn’t working out. </p> <p>Noel stayed up a little late and he and I watched the fireflies we caught in a jar next to his bed as he went to sleep. He gasped each time one lit up. At one point he said, “They’re happy.”</p></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-77282469569623480422011-07-01T11:09:00.000-07:002011-07-01T11:24:00.063-07:00Summertime!Aside from blazing hot temperatures, I love Summer. It brings out something in me that the Winter has put to rest. As soon as the sun shines and the temperatures rise, I want to head for the pool and spend time outdoors. Yet another reason I'm happy that we moved to the mid-west from Texas, is that we can spend time outside in Summer without our faces melting off. When we have to go somewhere, I don't want to cry, and I am okay with doing more than running from the house to the car, and to a destination with air conditioning. Here's a quick peek at what we've been up to:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMNjPx2zQeiGdAUM772yO73MGwYlES4nLGa2UjXWdspLMvV2dnPXdlKiDbYtXMlvN6ajez4sTGc2AXXbFpTWpnjXl37N07aAkR4LOqTv2y5Y_woWa64BXzJMIZ9edjRNhdrBl_59am79k/s1600/lennon+pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMNjPx2zQeiGdAUM772yO73MGwYlES4nLGa2UjXWdspLMvV2dnPXdlKiDbYtXMlvN6ajez4sTGc2AXXbFpTWpnjXl37N07aAkR4LOqTv2y5Y_woWa64BXzJMIZ9edjRNhdrBl_59am79k/s320/lennon+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624449131850701826" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExWObD0uQznGTVeeP71_2c_WA5BEtd8wZR2Qs77mAyu_LFggVAruIV-zlT9xPQdEZcS1u9UmZtAIJugPxNV_G1GFb1YnYGdktTIJQljRq8ZzZkMNPxbvDbJFKLyKuoUBbtyIHtRSIvFhb/s1600/pool+noel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExWObD0uQznGTVeeP71_2c_WA5BEtd8wZR2Qs77mAyu_LFggVAruIV-zlT9xPQdEZcS1u9UmZtAIJugPxNV_G1GFb1YnYGdktTIJQljRq8ZzZkMNPxbvDbJFKLyKuoUBbtyIHtRSIvFhb/s320/pool+noel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624449128901715490" border="0" /></a>We joined a pool in the suburbs, but our awesome 'hood also has this adorable wading pool at the park, bored lifeguard included. These photos were taken on the first day of Summer. The high that day was something like 75 and the boys were freezing, but they HAD to go swimming.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P2sOVxAuEmdD-ZqoxeL5GKK0eNcx5dM2GFmNtiRNCuAG4fTcitG99Uk-IBvX3akxoOcgwnLLUWpEiQHT18FyBCHvC0-ODKzcYYcq1go7ypkdcuW-KvEEqZatZHjTY_0e6kpHkynzvncJ/s1600/bookworms.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P2sOVxAuEmdD-ZqoxeL5GKK0eNcx5dM2GFmNtiRNCuAG4fTcitG99Uk-IBvX3akxoOcgwnLLUWpEiQHT18FyBCHvC0-ODKzcYYcq1go7ypkdcuW-KvEEqZatZHjTY_0e6kpHkynzvncJ/s320/bookworms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624449136245843202" border="0" /></a>They have also been spending a good amount of time at the library. The public library has a summer reading program with incentives like a family pack of baseball tickets if you conclude the 12 hours of required reading. Noel & Lennon have earned a book bag and silly bands so far, and have 6 hours to go until they get the baseball tickets. I'm proud of my little bookworms. They love filling out their little cards each day after they've done their reading. Have I mentioned that Noel taught himself how to read? It's true: I'm sending him off to Kindergarten already knowing how to read. I'm pretty sure we've earned some bragging rights.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-56955125919297332922011-05-19T10:33:00.000-07:002011-05-19T11:05:59.018-07:00where does the time go?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjmSYzs3ak7yxvlh3F_SHnX41EyiGNTGrFps-iIWyAYqucBnk3JXx0f_FllkGvTtME4hulXTxm-RvDg9T9uxlOK4YOr4bl8GGj6bvO6JHm47JNqFBERE7-SC-AJqZTcCbOyesoGdxHfbH/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjmSYzs3ak7yxvlh3F_SHnX41EyiGNTGrFps-iIWyAYqucBnk3JXx0f_FllkGvTtME4hulXTxm-RvDg9T9uxlOK4YOr4bl8GGj6bvO6JHm47JNqFBERE7-SC-AJqZTcCbOyesoGdxHfbH/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608482362597916482" border="0" /></a>i've probably written this 8 billion times by now, but really...WHERE? these boys are just growing up so darn fast.<br />yesterday, we had noel's first t-ball practice with kids from his kindergarten.<br />as you might imagine, it was AWESOME and hilarious and adorable.<br />the kids and parents were great and i have a good feeling about the school and his class and the families that we will get to know this year. it all feels very right.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ14b2U-MXkTKZqIHtr4UTkjRR-tHDUOdWUshM_KQcYv7bFm9KFxvoucQ8lSEsb_JzWMBV8RACA2-qbi3IFZPcedNcn-iUoiHX35YoQl6J68xHPjsnjM3a9ErIUzN8qYDzBfQMSV7Q8dbn/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ14b2U-MXkTKZqIHtr4UTkjRR-tHDUOdWUshM_KQcYv7bFm9KFxvoucQ8lSEsb_JzWMBV8RACA2-qbi3IFZPcedNcn-iUoiHX35YoQl6J68xHPjsnjM3a9ErIUzN8qYDzBfQMSV7Q8dbn/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608482359474806370" border="0" /></a>a few weeks ago, our neighborhood had an art festival. i got their faces painted. the next day, they wanted them done again, so i did it myself. here's how it turned out. one of the face-painters at the fair stopped me and asked if there was another face painting booth somewhere. if so, it was a renegade. they were supposed to be the only ones there. when i told her i did it myself, she said i was talented. maybe i have a future...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKrAV2lpxsDXOOt1bjbTnhWLaW16NRuXgEhs2DWruH20Fc5BbRNihYniRSTnBJeMDRW49Y0Xnoj0lEAOlj7Kegf6-NIPBBMKj1leHRv8d12u21dggeY57bU9US1A6JtuLdeH3-vFpCuoE/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKrAV2lpxsDXOOt1bjbTnhWLaW16NRuXgEhs2DWruH20Fc5BbRNihYniRSTnBJeMDRW49Y0Xnoj0lEAOlj7Kegf6-NIPBBMKj1leHRv8d12u21dggeY57bU9US1A6JtuLdeH3-vFpCuoE/s320/IMG_0350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608482359307153522" border="0" /></a>even though they can really go at it, these guys are pretty good buddies, and i love that. it will be weird when they lead more separate lives next year...i hope it doesn't change their relationship too much.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhm3sI1srcIbPtmSZIaRnLJy-GMcCVLIpepb49LEnHCfNyk9nHpR5aCWRUIHGv3G1VLN3cN_cpOFIXfY6T4amh4u1vEbJJzZfBQBlHNn67pLVAZsakt3Lnqdg5TX1ieDl8kSYrTjDxwdv/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhm3sI1srcIbPtmSZIaRnLJy-GMcCVLIpepb49LEnHCfNyk9nHpR5aCWRUIHGv3G1VLN3cN_cpOFIXfY6T4amh4u1vEbJJzZfBQBlHNn67pLVAZsakt3Lnqdg5TX1ieDl8kSYrTjDxwdv/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608482367784349682" border="0" /></a>if there ever was a class clown...<br /><br />i'm ready for summer and to have a bit more time to devote to my boys. i have a feeling that a lot of things will change next year. i feel their little-child-ness dwindling away...<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-52875088725473659692011-03-11T09:25:00.000-08:002011-03-11T09:38:53.063-08:00Oh Yeah...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4O4f4IW8GgSw1iMpYLrNXnYxBeaYRsY9ru7Q3ePDOz_3tppewIXzCTJ5_J1hqm_wmQNdjVHyYCUIPeIXFn4d8Kv_6xse5-MUAmzeHQJyLwJHbQc3tkNi8PTNK25Npwb1ZPg-INvS47c4/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4O4f4IW8GgSw1iMpYLrNXnYxBeaYRsY9ru7Q3ePDOz_3tppewIXzCTJ5_J1hqm_wmQNdjVHyYCUIPeIXFn4d8Kv_6xse5-MUAmzeHQJyLwJHbQc3tkNi8PTNK25Npwb1ZPg-INvS47c4/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582877457059482498" border="0" /></a><br />Lennon Had a Birthday...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq8oTgM2riusjqPrPY_E7xxpbOvDSRjwhR3FxgeLubi84k8mNKESQNHxvcVM0ktofMQiCV8ozvVA7GaJC8wtPYuuBZ6Cko-9MUf1gWDZAl2gh56Fq9q3CO3HplPxhtzCr-sKF8NExSnOR/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq8oTgM2riusjqPrPY_E7xxpbOvDSRjwhR3FxgeLubi84k8mNKESQNHxvcVM0ktofMQiCV8ozvVA7GaJC8wtPYuuBZ6Cko-9MUf1gWDZAl2gh56Fq9q3CO3HplPxhtzCr-sKF8NExSnOR/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582877425673063730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />February 19th, he turned the big T-H-R-E-E. I didn't forget about it, but I've been busy working. Blah.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLtrcwfWRplUNL9nfoU3StLLOV08-gHk3PJ6c-f5SMiGrLMvCe8G2TsMiMugXMApIiB0-Ybh9lryMIzARwQS6_W4ARzbh4S8omGHcFc0RF_08B1OT1m-UQKxXw-TcisLdXD6Ia3pwJ65a/s1600/IMG_0547.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLtrcwfWRplUNL9nfoU3StLLOV08-gHk3PJ6c-f5SMiGrLMvCe8G2TsMiMugXMApIiB0-Ybh9lryMIzARwQS6_W4ARzbh4S8omGHcFc0RF_08B1OT1m-UQKxXw-TcisLdXD6Ia3pwJ65a/s320/IMG_0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582877437454660034" border="0" /></a><br />This is the only thing that stinks about having kids with two birthdays so close together. It's sort of like if you had a birthday right around Christmas...it might get put on the back burner just a little. It was great fun though, and he loved it when we sang "happy birthday". He's funny...he likes attention, but not too much. If he's given more than he wants, he gets shy and grumpy. He's such a silly little guy and I love him to pieces.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD_XMJqaR36SOrjwMnZVqmbvBACf06y-a-tReDb-N8S0q5OUPqggNlVEwCVdks2MxKxnWmBLos1udDzox0d_hbqxBZu-HkYZYhRtBmjm4BgEYIWwWJP3ute_cI2a-T0vIIzmUYe_jUhVY/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD_XMJqaR36SOrjwMnZVqmbvBACf06y-a-tReDb-N8S0q5OUPqggNlVEwCVdks2MxKxnWmBLos1udDzox0d_hbqxBZu-HkYZYhRtBmjm4BgEYIWwWJP3ute_cI2a-T0vIIzmUYe_jUhVY/s320/IMG_0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582877432440375314" border="0" /></a><br />We even ran into a Storm Trooper at his party. Perfection.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66bBzUWDrur3K89NBM7JiRycQ983DvPK8ijsotGV1-QFdfAm5mBdKnZiRBTRJTTaIClh4GjGq4MiV-DmqQV7obO35C5x792uYIh3iORibJXN_44KMgPnKrqgp56j-k-VaktX1hLo3fIXw/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66bBzUWDrur3K89NBM7JiRycQ983DvPK8ijsotGV1-QFdfAm5mBdKnZiRBTRJTTaIClh4GjGq4MiV-DmqQV7obO35C5x792uYIh3iORibJXN_44KMgPnKrqgp56j-k-VaktX1hLo3fIXw/s320/IMG_0551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582877449269583714" border="0" /></a>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-19795840392543260012011-03-11T09:12:00.000-08:002011-03-11T09:15:26.145-08:00Yesterday's Happiness<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLXGEVUUWDSb5EV3SJCFTFGpcnbrgolHITBh_V0GSTuCE_ZKZd5GzW_iV-gzKH_11CnTtNpqtwRyDuPWI2f4bbPwcijfQvqIu9_8WvywFMiGSmHOO7p7CCF7ocd3zX3hozaxbkqhZNF8/s1600/tumblr_lhv89tiztr1qzagugo1_400.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLXGEVUUWDSb5EV3SJCFTFGpcnbrgolHITBh_V0GSTuCE_ZKZd5GzW_iV-gzKH_11CnTtNpqtwRyDuPWI2f4bbPwcijfQvqIu9_8WvywFMiGSmHOO7p7CCF7ocd3zX3hozaxbkqhZNF8/s320/tumblr_lhv89tiztr1qzagugo1_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582871808289372978" border="0" /></a><br />sunshine.<br />running.<br />laughing.<br />searching for saber tooth tigers.<br />best friends.<br />big hills (even if they're called "suicide hill").<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-57802109486607022762011-02-14T18:27:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:31:55.004-08:00Today's Happiness-Valentine's Day Edition<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEBNqcEQp9ym0zh1Fw9b307TmCLPb8K4q4h1_IkjXVpLCnxAz7sQHlwsGuy4z2gIQkebSQ6lUC9wt1SK6ZZgXGtKrcrqM4TDIJd-FPnyTIomuTlLqaa1uCZ40Jk0jX9n6j8Fs6OXRLZbQ/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEBNqcEQp9ym0zh1Fw9b307TmCLPb8K4q4h1_IkjXVpLCnxAz7sQHlwsGuy4z2gIQkebSQ6lUC9wt1SK6ZZgXGtKrcrqM4TDIJd-FPnyTIomuTlLqaa1uCZ40Jk0jX9n6j8Fs6OXRLZbQ/s320/IMG_0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573737551030292018" border="0" /></a><br />From my three guys.<br /><br />I'm not a big ooey gooey Valentine's person, but isn't it incredible that love can make your heart just about burst?<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-65803479755322812662011-02-13T20:07:00.000-08:002011-02-13T20:10:39.553-08:00Today's Happiness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbK4lBoQBqGKK8rgPFXo4_NqVtSRcbhlkG5ba0Rk2EedQiBVuRrvnID1JgsLGTmSqlUpR3ceYwT7FONaAg3-mntW92dxBEUT3VfWsNyN5sLQG0P3U0mQD1FY2i4eoOSYduqD8dE0d__uz/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbK4lBoQBqGKK8rgPFXo4_NqVtSRcbhlkG5ba0Rk2EedQiBVuRrvnID1JgsLGTmSqlUpR3ceYwT7FONaAg3-mntW92dxBEUT3VfWsNyN5sLQG0P3U0mQD1FY2i4eoOSYduqD8dE0d__uz/s320/IMG_0464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573392478493842834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWF0WcMW0oOYu-7AHE6KNt8RzU01yZAKsUdoC_XAia_BRMevBZcHDcLzAxyR8mc3KLweTWyO9X4UNffEIMQ1tyAgJrybBQ_8dknnWxRd6YA4D4tCZ5bFaYakn2echXgN97WLqmv4k70eq/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWF0WcMW0oOYu-7AHE6KNt8RzU01yZAKsUdoC_XAia_BRMevBZcHDcLzAxyR8mc3KLweTWyO9X4UNffEIMQ1tyAgJrybBQ_8dknnWxRd6YA4D4tCZ5bFaYakn2echXgN97WLqmv4k70eq/s320/IMG_0461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573392474609542226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Noel said, "We look like rockstars."<br /><br />I just adore my two little rockstars...<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-83591037593086582862011-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:002011-02-10T12:09:13.412-08:00I Like To Steal Ideas, but Only Ones That Are BrilliantMy friend <a href="http://mylbp.wordpress.com/">Amy</a> is posting something she's calling "Today's Happiness". I'm going to join her, because it's just a darn good idea. And you know, I might call my version "Yesterday's Happiness", because these were actually taken yesterday. In fact, I think one was taken two days ago...so I may not even be stealing anyone's ideas at all...<br /><br />Anyway...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIkfRAgN_lEtnnIiQn6rkFHQP53cZIIOLtUkvZJHigBdPZ0tSgnlwejOnVZ7Ats1-lpLlJcUE4qlxAtf1v5Q3lVsLzyWU4AuCKgWf7xMzJRp_7GcrCp3rWHys8wzI_0y3F871vTY9sHyy/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIkfRAgN_lEtnnIiQn6rkFHQP53cZIIOLtUkvZJHigBdPZ0tSgnlwejOnVZ7Ats1-lpLlJcUE4qlxAtf1v5Q3lVsLzyWU4AuCKgWf7xMzJRp_7GcrCp3rWHys8wzI_0y3F871vTY9sHyy/s320/IMG_0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572149998838869954" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday, Noel read a book to me. One that he'd never seen before. He picked it up, and read it to me. I helped him with maybe 4 words. Happiness? Big time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YUwMZumHe5B4iF6LSU7QY0P7GGixjMwGLVPANg632vhyphenhyphen8n94CKUldeRyFGdb-6S4RPNZDXleLQcROUujVih8MYTP_LKjH06GXLBRUdhrHB80J4xuMmPCKdDOV-ItBf9HdWGJXGC0CkS/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YUwMZumHe5B4iF6LSU7QY0P7GGixjMwGLVPANg632vhyphenhyphen8n94CKUldeRyFGdb-6S4RPNZDXleLQcROUujVih8MYTP_LKjH06GXLBRUdhrHB80J4xuMmPCKdDOV-ItBf9HdWGJXGC0CkS/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572150000648594994" border="0" /></a>And he's just so silly. He makes me smile and laugh a million times a day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;">What are you happy about today?</span><br /></div></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-48053044866254184052011-02-01T10:25:00.000-08:002011-02-04T06:37:15.892-08:00Celebrating NoelFive years ago, I was itchy, and uncomfortable, and felt horrible.<br /><br />I'll be honest, I had no pregnant glow...in fact, when I was gearing up for my next visit, I was planning to ask the doctor when she thought we could talk about induction, even though I was only 35 weeks pregnant.<br /><br />The day of my appointment, I saw the dip stick turn GREEN, and I knew something wasn't right. The doctor came back in, and told me to head to the hospital, where she hoped to see my liver serum tests turn around, and if they didn't, we'd be having a baby, for my safety...and we would worry about the baby when he arrived. Not the words you want to hear, even though I was so ready not to be pregnant. I immediately felt panicked and started to cry, not for me, but because I thought when Noel was born, he'd be whisked away to the NICU. A million thoughts raced through my head and I was nervous and scared. My wonderful doctor said she was pretty sure we'd see my numbers go down with a day of rest and some IV fluids, and I'd be sent home on Friday.<br /><br />The numbers went up.<br /><br />I was napping in my hospital bed, alone, when the nurse came in to tell me the news that they would start inducing me that afternoon. I felt so calm. I started making calls. First, to Elliott, who I told to come back to the hospital, then to my parents, who wanted to be there when the baby was born, but were 8 hours away. They got in the car and left within the hour.<br /><br />The greatest team of people were with me for the next 26 hours. The nurse who started the Pitocin explained everything to me in detail, and had also been a NICU nurse. She was the most comforting person, and although I can't remember her name, I will never forget her. She just had this <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> about her that made us feel so good about everything. She kept saying that when Noel was born, she'd do everything in her power to make sure he didn't have to go to the NICU, and if he did, she'd see to it that she, personally, was his nurse.<br /><br />That is the kind of patient care everyone should receive.<br /><br />My doctor was off that weekend and her colleague was with me as I labored over the next 26 hours. She, too, made me feel incredibly secure in a situation where I normally would have been scared out of my mind.<br /><br />My husband was a rock. He was calm and reassuring. We excitedly watched our son's heart beating on the monitor...We talked about our life together, and what our future would be like. He transformed that day from a husband into a dad.<br /><br />After a long, long day of seeing family and friends and laboring, Noel was ready to make his entry into the world. Once he was ready, he quickly showed his adorable, tiny self...and he CRIED-the sound we hoped to hear from him. As the doctor showed him to us for the first time, I thought, "I can't believe he has blonde hair."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxRB630Azpcnt4VspW72GbtqK_qja-uWYmXy1hkRaUvCPAKBUPsRwZwKDfBnetWxu-8wwiMSA2ne_tzQNNCyk9-QsXg2QqDgf76pDlIY_TdFvqMa2TrXMBpjep5fsm88ucTpQMtjjrAJQ/s1600/HPIM1977.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxRB630Azpcnt4VspW72GbtqK_qja-uWYmXy1hkRaUvCPAKBUPsRwZwKDfBnetWxu-8wwiMSA2ne_tzQNNCyk9-QsXg2QqDgf76pDlIY_TdFvqMa2TrXMBpjep5fsm88ucTpQMtjjrAJQ/s320/HPIM1977.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569842157549069938" border="0" /></a><br />He was so tiny: only 4 lbs. 9 oz., but he was strong and healthy in every way. He never cried. He slept a lot. He ate a LOT. He loved to be held. He was an angel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNDVk2SEjBkdM9iFcAQiIyeUn09NfDSJYAxgDalu9-MbTwtpVVQtFlMEl1QPhRnrAJQya8M7f8E6hmkWX1oUfVoLtUX11sS7NuZb-TOq70QvwOfvntWZyxG8_keaUVrYuW9m4DhSrjQdO/s1600/HPIM2326.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNDVk2SEjBkdM9iFcAQiIyeUn09NfDSJYAxgDalu9-MbTwtpVVQtFlMEl1QPhRnrAJQya8M7f8E6hmkWX1oUfVoLtUX11sS7NuZb-TOq70QvwOfvntWZyxG8_keaUVrYuW9m4DhSrjQdO/s320/HPIM2326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569842162745858162" border="0" /></a><br />He grew, and grew, and grew...into the wise, wonderful, silly, fun, crazy, goofy, cool FIVE year old that we celebrate today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4osrYj5fLHnrF5BIXFUo-E0klSGH1YrpPFWu-lJ0wTggS7h0fFy23e5KcywbBIiDpr7RAQgOZtID3hlyqmAJzkZmG-220N2XI-pXSt1nPVxFkh8mfBzC1iPJHFlKTgbCc-rJk93rQ85F/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4osrYj5fLHnrF5BIXFUo-E0klSGH1YrpPFWu-lJ0wTggS7h0fFy23e5KcywbBIiDpr7RAQgOZtID3hlyqmAJzkZmG-220N2XI-pXSt1nPVxFkh8mfBzC1iPJHFlKTgbCc-rJk93rQ85F/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569842167868264098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3KfehLcfvAOYghCm4Jl8krdeQwpFybH6UEHMCvRGA60MMjiembAR6tSWy2YAbRxkS21BRFGHjX90RVLlnJ8uxwh96ITz1fmUQek1rdyGD90RhtaSQjy7OECHuzqUlwABNM2b5tgB6Q9/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3KfehLcfvAOYghCm4Jl8krdeQwpFybH6UEHMCvRGA60MMjiembAR6tSWy2YAbRxkS21BRFGHjX90RVLlnJ8uxwh96ITz1fmUQek1rdyGD90RhtaSQjy7OECHuzqUlwABNM2b5tgB6Q9/s320/IMG_0196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569842169414233346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Noel, YOU are simply a gem. Thank you for being you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QAVj9KiFHOAVtYOPl5XoFe7uVCArcw_ih4S2gtebz5KJs-PMRKubZtm64BRn3tXrGtzQX9xP3BjaKbPglbG27v60RqRPJNxJ_zjz74-X3ZOt2UXlgxrB0KJtbruK9-HG6HvCmzrHVXsj/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QAVj9KiFHOAVtYOPl5XoFe7uVCArcw_ih4S2gtebz5KJs-PMRKubZtm64BRn3tXrGtzQX9xP3BjaKbPglbG27v60RqRPJNxJ_zjz74-X3ZOt2UXlgxrB0KJtbruK9-HG6HvCmzrHVXsj/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569842164633818514" border="0" /></a><br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-61536581601396364052011-01-27T13:45:00.001-08:002011-01-27T13:56:26.559-08:00Date!Sorry to leave that sad post up for so long and leave it hanging there...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IvJDqbui4XQuwei8Q-Wu_cOy17Kfug3SLHgR2WprV_ruat01byonoPuP7UmjohrTG2b-5zenw-2RR-n3PXJ7KBE-3GqPqAEcYrMxGEFQ-XVU7VqtMB76HZpMCg3tu_Q2DczKn6Go6Jm8/s1600/img2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IvJDqbui4XQuwei8Q-Wu_cOy17Kfug3SLHgR2WprV_ruat01byonoPuP7UmjohrTG2b-5zenw-2RR-n3PXJ7KBE-3GqPqAEcYrMxGEFQ-XVU7VqtMB76HZpMCg3tu_Q2DczKn6Go6Jm8/s320/img2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566986880110457970" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow we're taking the boys to my parents for a sleepover at my parents' house and heading to <a href="http://www.visitlawrence.com/">Lawrence</a> to see one of our all time favorite bands, the <a href="http://old97s.com/">Old 97's</a>. We've been going to Old 97's shows for years and years. I actually introduced Elliott to this band, which is a rarity in our relationship.<br /><br />I think Rhett & Co. are bringing a little taste of Texas with them. It's a whole 43 degrees today, and it's going to stay that way through Sunday. It's sunny & I can see patches of grass. I know it's 70 or something in Texas, but 40 is not 0, so...whatever.<br /><br />I've got the creepy-crawlies in my nose and head, so it better go away before tomorrow. If not, I will resort to DayQuil, and I take no responsibility for my actions.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-49401552311672375382011-01-06T22:06:00.000-08:002011-01-06T22:15:34.277-08:00Missing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsmIAvY7Tj3r3yFUevo0HXcbITXFqnQ_Uq6QZQ0X7u0Vissgnmxn1Tqnx_Nv6UhgnCWBMRzXwLFieWJ7wRz2t_Up9lMEbgImjvKxi05mqTf326sFrK9CoLolx8jO69qDrBxFUcNGVj1xq/s1600/22254_1330786591857_1296754723_977240_7291842_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsmIAvY7Tj3r3yFUevo0HXcbITXFqnQ_Uq6QZQ0X7u0Vissgnmxn1Tqnx_Nv6UhgnCWBMRzXwLFieWJ7wRz2t_Up9lMEbgImjvKxi05mqTf326sFrK9CoLolx8jO69qDrBxFUcNGVj1xq/s320/22254_1330786591857_1296754723_977240_7291842_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559323609382810578" border="0" /></a><br />I should go visit my grandparents' gravesides.<br /><br />I've never even been to my grandmother's. It's sort of like, maybe I'm a little bit in denial still, even though it's been almost 5 years. If I go, and see the marker, it will make it all real and I'll totally lose it.<br /><br />She is everywhere here. And I wish like hell that she was <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> here.<br /><br />The other day, I had the fleeting thought to pick up the phone and call her. I haven't had one of those moments in a long, long time.<br /><br />Will I ever get over this?<br /><br />Being home. It's wonderful. And there's there teeny weeny little part that feels completely empty without her here too.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-53122492937862656692011-01-05T19:33:00.000-08:002011-01-05T19:51:23.147-08:00The Clone WarsThere are times when it is really really extra hard to be gracious and grateful for what you have, like just being a parent. This job is not always easy. It's not all wine and roses, not all fun and games. Some days there is whining and shouting and "I don't want to!" <span style="font-style: italic;">from everyone</span>. There are so many times when I wish they would just. be. quiet. for 30 seconds. Just 30 seconds!!!<br /><br />Then, there are those times when I'm putting them to bed, and it's just the three of us, because Elliott gets a rare night out. I still have work I need to do, and it's already 8:30, so that means it's going to be a late night (again). But, we're laying there, and they're finally settling down, and Lennon puts his arm around me and says, "You're cute. Can I hug you?" <span style="font-style: italic;">(Are you crazy? Of course you can hug me, you insanely adorable little guy.)</span> Noel keeps asking for lotion, so I tell him that when Lennon's asleep, I'll get him some. Finally, Lennon's asleep, and I get the lotion. Noel tells me that I'm mean for not getting him the lotion sooner. I let it roll off. I say, "Am I meaner than Oscar the Grouch?" "Yes," he replies. "You're meaner than a saber tooth tiger," I tell him. And he giggles. "You're meaner than a T. Rex."<br /><br />And it goes on like this, until we can think of no more mean things, and we're quietly giggling...<br /><br />"You're meaner than Luke Skywalker," I say. "Hey!" he laughs. "That's because you're not mean. You're sweet and nice and I love you."<br /><br />"You're meaner than C3PO."<br /><br />And we say goodnight, and say that we love each other.<br /><br />I go back a few minutes later to give him an extra kiss. "Goodnight Storm Trooper."<br /><br />"Goodnight Clone Trooper."<br /><br />And even though I still haven't started that work, this seemed more important.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-32552438180176308382011-01-02T15:43:00.000-08:002011-01-02T16:00:09.158-08:00The 2011 BandwagonWhat are your hopes for 2011? Here are mine:<br /><br /><ol><li>Work less. Spend more time with my family. Working from home doesn't equate to being able to spend more time with the ones you love. It also means maximizing work time so that it's all done in the most timely fashion. So, less navel-gazing while working & more working = more time with the dudes. Simple enough, right?</li><li>More time reading & writing. I figure the more I read, the better writer I become. I want to write less "OMG"s and "LOL"s and more things that are meaningful. Once again, simple enough...</li><li>Cook more meals at home.<br /></li><li>Buy from the farmer's market as much as possible.</li><li>Go on walks. We live 1 block from a sweet walking trail. It's so easy...<br /></li><li>More time with real folks, less time engaged in cyber-space. I want "My Two Sons" to flourish this year, but I need to spend less time on Facebook. <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't we all?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Time suck.</span> Now that we're closer to family & friends, this shouldn't be hard to do. I may need some accountability. I deleted my Twitter last year, but I want to keep Facebook. Perhaps check it once a day? When I post my link to my new blog post? </li><li>Be a great wife & mom. My patience and kindness took a major hit in 2010. I don't like it. I want to be different. I also think this is related to #6.<br /></li></ol>Tell me what your wishing for this year...laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-15600784568481560142010-12-26T13:39:00.000-08:002010-12-26T13:57:15.759-08:00Christmas HangoverI love Christmas. <span style="font-style: italic;">Who doesn't??</span><br /><br />As an adult without kids, I liked Christmas, but now? It's just so much better. Hearing the squeals as they open gifts. Hearing "WOW!" over something Santa <span style="font-style: italic;">knew</span> they wanted, or "Thanks for getting that for me," or hearing little Lennon say, "Where's Santa? I wanted to give him a hug and say 'Thanks'," is something i can't put into words. These kids...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPvfpEkePAK-RlCJ6GXsPFHfbGd-TGUSrYFoHMySDwtnJoDT7wCgAPi_KZVM04k9Gc4qkyP6RYff0Ght1vqvTQBpuyHvJOtFzxIODhEHaFkeZz-VHnmv6urBtV5y7Q_EljZvknBRODrSB/s1600/DSC09867.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPvfpEkePAK-RlCJ6GXsPFHfbGd-TGUSrYFoHMySDwtnJoDT7wCgAPi_KZVM04k9Gc4qkyP6RYff0Ght1vqvTQBpuyHvJOtFzxIODhEHaFkeZz-VHnmv6urBtV5y7Q_EljZvknBRODrSB/s320/DSC09867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555110871757427202" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEFZMT307BylOD7vxpP-vfnLgfXfZh9UX97zUlN0wGmU4l50xws50HiKtsZ3_utlx7bWJOtTdYlYasI5hRdMyXd6brlecxkzyTK-ki287WjFYWnn8WoUvZGt1Dxxk4fHZKTrahRUjNCHv/s1600/DSC09835.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEFZMT307BylOD7vxpP-vfnLgfXfZh9UX97zUlN0wGmU4l50xws50HiKtsZ3_utlx7bWJOtTdYlYasI5hRdMyXd6brlecxkzyTK-ki287WjFYWnn8WoUvZGt1Dxxk4fHZKTrahRUjNCHv/s320/DSC09835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112203672067442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqRU2Mrf2M-6sQlaeEg9OeIybqIDyH0qRvkCP_izxbE8-lzYRnJHY2kg7kPJVtIhkEkjhAtFtnEwcj53WK7FToNodCRPNNyruZ0Vx5s8jbzv-WVhjjlg5-ZJjMcEqtNTKjjI88BO04G7S/s1600/DSC09814.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqRU2Mrf2M-6sQlaeEg9OeIybqIDyH0qRvkCP_izxbE8-lzYRnJHY2kg7kPJVtIhkEkjhAtFtnEwcj53WK7FToNodCRPNNyruZ0Vx5s8jbzv-WVhjjlg5-ZJjMcEqtNTKjjI88BO04G7S/s320/DSC09814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112215013551026" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GreI0jvTjH1-xAqS1-SPtx5DN2NqYPGU_LU0ZNRpWUYNWZKN3l-PFe-1H23HxDkCy3EN2-5UoqkdGCDADVzEOcNPefMgmubOsFhUz2VmjL6ZDsTe1WJvWVcByeEHUA4odGzMkCKMrhu_/s1600/DSC09795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GreI0jvTjH1-xAqS1-SPtx5DN2NqYPGU_LU0ZNRpWUYNWZKN3l-PFe-1H23HxDkCy3EN2-5UoqkdGCDADVzEOcNPefMgmubOsFhUz2VmjL6ZDsTe1WJvWVcByeEHUA4odGzMkCKMrhu_/s320/DSC09795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112210053058226" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqFguTuwJ8Z2DnlAFI7J3ELfgcKyJ12O_NclExCaiw4-qVpcCOs97dfhUAFvb62twH_GI_hEn-9_1QnnVfJlNJ92-N9NrNCAcq2gozkqUvOxe2tfGbja4Wgxq1LIBL7FpNpueGEKLqaGr/s1600/DSC09822.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqFguTuwJ8Z2DnlAFI7J3ELfgcKyJ12O_NclExCaiw4-qVpcCOs97dfhUAFvb62twH_GI_hEn-9_1QnnVfJlNJ92-N9NrNCAcq2gozkqUvOxe2tfGbja4Wgxq1LIBL7FpNpueGEKLqaGr/s320/DSC09822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112207435059442" border="0" /></a><br />They are something else...I tell ya.<br /><br />We had such a great day. I want to make every day more like Christmas. Of course, without all the hoop-la and gifts, but with the good feelings and glad tidings. Who couldn't use more <span style="font-style: italic;">joy</span> in the every day?laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-26704962195847382562010-12-22T22:44:00.000-08:002010-12-22T22:54:45.034-08:00Last Christmas...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSpKg-hTLJqAJfPEUwvNwsloEW6suJ6S90P4eHF3dTwhL2MZ4CYgSSB6B7G8lA5kA4Stw_9w2qdThALOMrnCWcXtgaJftO7je1xm41W-IQHxA2NgFhhnlfl-Rwu4PvkcUwvF6YHV7b28D/s1600/DSC07454.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSpKg-hTLJqAJfPEUwvNwsloEW6suJ6S90P4eHF3dTwhL2MZ4CYgSSB6B7G8lA5kA4Stw_9w2qdThALOMrnCWcXtgaJftO7je1xm41W-IQHxA2NgFhhnlfl-Rwu4PvkcUwvF6YHV7b28D/s320/DSC07454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553766197870173746" border="0" /></a><br />A year ago (well, almost), it snowed on Christmas eve, at our old house<br />in Texas.<br />It <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> snows in Texas.<br />People will talk about it for eons.<br />It probably snowed an entire foot-which was the biggest snowfall on record.<br />It was incredible...and beautiful.<br />And it was the <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span> last Christmas for us to have there.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDpqdd9zZi07kqtjhyItRy2sB3O5z-Kfe3fZqtsFupGCEIoPEmzONouSx860rpykg542kEzk3UhMCo6VMpfKBWKQqBMmogJmUm0qneiGB8MiEtunT4-VTF8o7QG9pxw9neFhuMgHZLbg5/s1600/DSC07942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDpqdd9zZi07kqtjhyItRy2sB3O5z-Kfe3fZqtsFupGCEIoPEmzONouSx860rpykg542kEzk3UhMCo6VMpfKBWKQqBMmogJmUm0qneiGB8MiEtunT4-VTF8o7QG9pxw9neFhuMgHZLbg5/s320/DSC07942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553765523526869954" border="0" /></a><br />Even if they don't remember it, I know we'll never forget it.<br />And I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> thankful for the memories we will make this year...<br />and for years to come.<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-89389834946715115892010-12-21T16:33:00.000-08:002010-12-21T16:39:33.994-08:00A conversation between my two sonsLennon: "Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle all the way!"<br /><br />Noel: "No, Lennon, sing this one: 'Jingle bells! Batman smells! Robin laid an egg! Batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker ran away! Hey!'"<br /><br />Lennon: "Jingle bells! Batman smells! Batmobile! Batmobile! Joker ran away! Hey!"<br /><br />Noel: "No...Lennon...that's not right...it's not Batmobile! Batmobile!"<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">minutes later....</span><br /><br />Noel: " Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! Batmobile! AND THE JOKER RAN AWAY! HEY!"laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-79702478384480961702010-12-20T21:42:00.000-08:002010-12-20T22:54:38.789-08:00Finding the Words<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRek5dzZtElwK3f42eYh0Y7LByylLWU9guuZ0u8iFsotzf8x4VayrOdMqzlJ7ONRfTxTeuDyy_ED_9iRmxlCqpE84M36JL6xnOjloEmR2F3pODqbtiE_8UgX-YiDnD8fyzwXBcHy7q3rl/s1600/DSC09758.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRek5dzZtElwK3f42eYh0Y7LByylLWU9guuZ0u8iFsotzf8x4VayrOdMqzlJ7ONRfTxTeuDyy_ED_9iRmxlCqpE84M36JL6xnOjloEmR2F3pODqbtiE_8UgX-YiDnD8fyzwXBcHy7q3rl/s320/DSC09758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553008219276941074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn0C_hY40ZC4n7kPQftKENnUrKPTRoHQVhgEIKewy4WGsXhIyGju8UFwh2nzitHr9XTf4FQiQLF84CwQEVgzGey1wA23jTB96I8v1BPZlXePoHc5WnJptkFH9r6wGrxWZtMwKtbJZoWs9/s1600/DSC09760.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn0C_hY40ZC4n7kPQftKENnUrKPTRoHQVhgEIKewy4WGsXhIyGju8UFwh2nzitHr9XTf4FQiQLF84CwQEVgzGey1wA23jTB96I8v1BPZlXePoHc5WnJptkFH9r6wGrxWZtMwKtbJZoWs9/s320/DSC09760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553007603869063010" border="0" /></a>Last night I heard something <a href="http://www.jacobswellchurch.org/">here</a>, that I want to try and put into words of my own, but I'm not sure how just yet...<br /><br />Instead, I post these pictures. And once again, just looking at them, I'm at a loss for words.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you want to listen to what's got me so tongue-tied, you can listen to it </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://jacobswell-mp3s.s3.amazonaws.com/20101219%20-%20Jessi%20Marcus%20-%209.mp3">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. I hope it touches you too.</span>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-14559411418626156522010-12-19T05:09:00.000-08:002010-12-19T05:38:43.312-08:00Move Over, Williams-Sonoma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarahturnerjensen#%21/photo.php?fbid=10150110809030420&set=a.53016805419.88882.747505419"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjYvJMIZPkW9z9kUgd7vqoyvOOyg9uqvjr1WQXkGGjeL2t1X5y1d-C9WCYlxnGV6iseD76jr9xLCVMyonH02YoqqlktelX48_aB2wzlsDItUXJnleKob718GIkLQzuJHjhawjMrUeC1QI/s320/155343_10150110809030420_747505419_7981312_738633_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552383448855348946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm always looking for a new holiday goody to share with my family & give away to friends. I love to bake, but cookies can become a bit of a chore and a mess (although they are FUN). Candy and fudge need thermometers and that gets tricky when you have small people that want to "help". Measuring temperatures while two kids fight for real-estate in the <a href="http://www.mylearningtower.com/">Learning Tower</a> and arguing over who gets to stir and pour the lava-like concoction can get a little taxing.<br /><br />This year, I decided to go with Peppermint Bark, which seemed like something everyone could participate in pretty safely, and it just sounded <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span>. My old blogging friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sarahturnerjensen">Sarah</a> started my wheels turning with this picture, and last night I went to work on my test batch. We'll be making more for gifts today, because, y'all...it's friggin' amazing. The recipe is from Bon Appetit, December 1998, and can be found in detail <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Layered-Peppermint-Crunch-Bark-5739">here</a>. This is all you will need:<br /><br /><div><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><li class="ingredient">17 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), finely chopped</li> <li class="ingredient">30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)</li> <li class="ingredient">7 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped</li> <li class="ingredient">6 tablespoons whipping cream</li> <li class="ingredient">3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract</li><span><br />Folks, this is so easy. And so much less and <span style="font-style: italic;">so much better</span> than what you will buy at a store. Not to mention, you can package it up nice & pretty your very own self and make it your own. Nothing says Christmas and holiday spirit like a home-made, hand-packaged gift. That is, if it makes it to the intended parties and not into your tum...<br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153);" href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Layered-Peppermint-Crunch-Bark-5739#ixzz18Z1NSEew"></a></span></div></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-70421478732482469732010-12-18T09:50:00.000-08:002010-12-18T10:03:39.632-08:00Alexander<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8WwU9cDr49ThhJSZZ-BCvstyn6o29BFG1EIvAD6qbn5RbWE3sBYxuDHXR-i8dsqGLi1AacH976pfTn2zSzNG0zCw5zYt91ouGzaxF44ABGBe-6jFiVaP8fKsBJp1oh2v9qwNk7jMQFDt/s1600/ALEX2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8WwU9cDr49ThhJSZZ-BCvstyn6o29BFG1EIvAD6qbn5RbWE3sBYxuDHXR-i8dsqGLi1AacH976pfTn2zSzNG0zCw5zYt91ouGzaxF44ABGBe-6jFiVaP8fKsBJp1oh2v9qwNk7jMQFDt/s320/ALEX2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552081360739049138" border="0" /></a>Today, we're headed down to the <a href="http://www.coterietheatre.org/alexander.aspx">Coterie Theatre</a> to see a live version of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Terrible-Horrible-Good-Very/dp/0689711735">Judith Viorst's classic</a>, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day". We're all very excited. In 7th or 8th grade, I memorized this book for a speech contest, where I completely bombed. And I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">bombed</span>. However, I still LOVE this book. Noel & Lennon do too. There's also a cute HBO Storybook musical version that they dig, and Lennon likes to walk around singing, "I've had a TERRIBLE! I've had a HORRIBLE! I've had a TERRIBLE! HORRIBLE! NO GOOD! VERY BAD! DAYYYYYY," which I need to catch on video. I hope the live version lives up to the book and musical versions with which we're already familiar. I've heard good things. I'm hopeful everyone will enjoy themselves.<br /><br />I've also got chicken pot pies in the oven, and my mom is bringing over apple crisp...somehow I don't think <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> is going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-16836333387314015402010-12-17T04:18:00.000-08:002010-12-17T05:12:44.312-08:00The New City & Christmastime<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vihKngD-_nHIIG-om55bofdnqBjnTgSN733sDaU-Jia7KNudNZetKyjnkpI-Hc0TWFtO70Xb1Wx9ZtVPFDXCxE1yQM7irD3Uep8-5VVa70a7VW8Sir09-f9D7JvOjyPgWNbUl_zqK9QO/s1600/DSC09698.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vihKngD-_nHIIG-om55bofdnqBjnTgSN733sDaU-Jia7KNudNZetKyjnkpI-Hc0TWFtO70Xb1Wx9ZtVPFDXCxE1yQM7irD3Uep8-5VVa70a7VW8Sir09-f9D7JvOjyPgWNbUl_zqK9QO/s320/DSC09698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551637494494630818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />Growing up, I considered Kansas City a one-horse town and could not wait to bail on it as soon as I could. I flew the coop to college and headed straight for Manhattan...KANSAS. So, of course, my skin still crawled for more "stuff to do". After college, I headed for the "big" metroplex of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now, I can't complain too much about the place that I called home for 12 years, although I wasn't immediately taken with the city. Texas really is a world of it's own, and the people there, particularly the ones that were born and raised there, are crazy in love with the state. Now, there's nothing wrong with a little loyalty, and after 10 years or so, I'd given in to this loyalty a little and sipped the Kool-Aid. Texas <span style="font-style: italic;">ain't</span> bad, but Dallas and Fort Worth, I found, really had no more to offer than Kansas City.<br /></div></div><br />And I missed home.<br /><br />And every time we visited, we wondered, "Why aren't we here?"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1c5tgTKFb5E_P2mH6H74bEwBnGxqyxvsLehtnuusBe6URPRhmVAmNOFZ3cdQZfcmwZLKAsw4sewLQxA-lIfWnY3NMNpoK3s0eKWQSlqAt8jR5T3RaaVIsm7Zq11I6JWXVTvfJnza1Rri/s1600/DSC09719.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1c5tgTKFb5E_P2mH6H74bEwBnGxqyxvsLehtnuusBe6URPRhmVAmNOFZ3cdQZfcmwZLKAsw4sewLQxA-lIfWnY3NMNpoK3s0eKWQSlqAt8jR5T3RaaVIsm7Zq11I6JWXVTvfJnza1Rri/s320/DSC09719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551637103355062450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And guess what? THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO. I'm not all that familiar with the dream and idea behind the city, but the way it is laid out, especially where we live, is so conducive to walking places. Our neighborhood, within blocks, has tons of restaurants, 2 grocery stores, coffee shops, even a five and dime. And there are lots of neighborhoods just like this, close by. There was nothing like these neighborhoods where we lived before anywhere, unless it was some lame shopping center with the same stores as the one down the street. You know the ones...the Kohls, the Chili's, and of course, the Starbucks.<br /><br />With the boys not being in school right now (they'll start at a pre-K in January!), we're constantly on the prowl for activities. We're able to find something to do almost every day, despite the cold weather. Even just a trip to our OUTSTANDING branch of the library is an exciting event. It has it's own ART ROOM for kids. Just sitting there for your use. Free. There are incredible art galleries, historical buildings that have been restored and now contain museums, children's museums, outdoor ice skating rinks, farms with petting zoos...and these are all things we can do without even getting on the highway.<br /><br />During the holidays, this city turns into nothing short of magic. It's like everyone is infected with the spirit. <a href="http://www.countryclubplaza.com/events/plaza-lights">The Plaza lights</a> seem to inspire everyone to decorate their homes to the nines. The weather is chilly, there's usually snow on the ground, as everyone prepares to celebrate this season with their families. There are Christmas tree lightings to attend all over the city, holiday concerts on every corner. Last night, the boys and I walked home from the grocery store and decided to take a different street to see the lights. I love the creative, outlandish, and simple ways people choose to decorate their homes. I wanted to come home and get crazy on the front yard, but we just don't have enough lights. It would be pretty pathetic compared to some of our neighbors. And speaking of my neighborhood, did I mention that the boys' picture was <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/15/2523369_a2523202/star-shots-new-mural-at-city-union.html">in the Kansas City Star</a>?!?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnTmfLRhlQ98MMIUpD7RleGf_SrGQWFtQh5wZ2WtdbZoxfhuP5pY5WHUsPAA4N2s8hFr-d_APpWdLHmZdWWzalsqHUBXnfcUYDZmd45eUI8P2vIf4KDJw-PAkIgzM21KIwOqkut5Xayc4/s1600/DSC09703.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnTmfLRhlQ98MMIUpD7RleGf_SrGQWFtQh5wZ2WtdbZoxfhuP5pY5WHUsPAA4N2s8hFr-d_APpWdLHmZdWWzalsqHUBXnfcUYDZmd45eUI8P2vIf4KDJw-PAkIgzM21KIwOqkut5Xayc4/s320/DSC09703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551637860324888770" border="0" /></a><br />Perhaps the stars will fall from my eyes one day again, and I will once again think of Kansas City as a one-horse town, but I hope they don't.laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-20783419820783926712010-12-02T08:52:00.000-08:002010-12-02T08:55:53.205-08:00Whirlwind<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM22RVhFxqrtGS9zVC5xe-5-TLqmvBaCSrFeYWHm_iruq1d9wlSOW7y8C5yokW4dRQTLStb3ZKzm3-5bflVB7O6GDc7qi3mQBKhVhkyP65TV_XXVXR52nbJ15VoUFhBUluXH2xOSPKvFU/s1600/DSC09503.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM22RVhFxqrtGS9zVC5xe-5-TLqmvBaCSrFeYWHm_iruq1d9wlSOW7y8C5yokW4dRQTLStb3ZKzm3-5bflVB7O6GDc7qi3mQBKhVhkyP65TV_XXVXR52nbJ15VoUFhBUluXH2xOSPKvFU/s320/DSC09503.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're in a new city...well, it's not new to me, but to the rest of my people, it's new. It's colder here, but we're enjoying the prospect of seasons, something we didn't really have in Texas much. We're also enjoying our new house with a pretty front door.</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVhm5_2fCfhrVYVqKSMkIgo9RRPbLxYQSVsg9y-VsKr9cTjesnFzJ0Fz1KK6jPDFqtCZ8ZoCILZ6GIQ0hBRfMqTBYXnGM64ONrQqtaa97TGpQ7TRw-QCR4CPMDdKZJ2UyNIYke66LZigt/s1600/DSC09519.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVhm5_2fCfhrVYVqKSMkIgo9RRPbLxYQSVsg9y-VsKr9cTjesnFzJ0Fz1KK6jPDFqtCZ8ZoCILZ6GIQ0hBRfMqTBYXnGM64ONrQqtaa97TGpQ7TRw-QCR4CPMDdKZJ2UyNIYke66LZigt/s320/DSC09519.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We loved dressing up for Halloween and going trick or treating in our really cool new neighborhood with it's cute shops that gave out candy. Everything is so accessible and we enjoy walking to the coffee shop and childrens' bookshop and the restaurants. There's also a school right across the street with a play ground and a big area to ride bikes and trikes. Grandparents are a mile away. If we take the car to their house, we can't even finish a whole song by the time we're there.</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPEVF7kLGmJ_CyWU4m1G1ma0uf42Kmdl_6nCWnxjKd682F2LkJ3VPOoGTaivJ27zzAljRXTL5x_qnJGS8p16r965jiAvpDi3KJzz5e3XNpTLiqLHoQvhcApfUdoYKererFnZTFHAoSB-r/s1600/DSC09528.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPEVF7kLGmJ_CyWU4m1G1ma0uf42Kmdl_6nCWnxjKd682F2LkJ3VPOoGTaivJ27zzAljRXTL5x_qnJGS8p16r965jiAvpDi3KJzz5e3XNpTLiqLHoQvhcApfUdoYKererFnZTFHAoSB-r/s320/DSC09528.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We have a front porch. And the trees turn all sorts of beautiful colors, and the leaves fall<i> in droves</i>, and we throw them. We have friends that are my old friends with kids who have kids and now they're friends with my kids. These metamorphases are pretty amazing and wonderful.</div><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZGbm7Z9XmCHaTorvQJNH5RrWzwalP0vlh8CKpA27I9ZPrndnGllg-eWDiP5GM7wQ3o6pByS4NyaqvbgUdhxa8jpuGv7Ntcgy-UXGyMsh5SSdSJHaE_uKfL3iItsr0CKF0_gHaOXskFtD/s1600/DSC09548.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZGbm7Z9XmCHaTorvQJNH5RrWzwalP0vlh8CKpA27I9ZPrndnGllg-eWDiP5GM7wQ3o6pByS4NyaqvbgUdhxa8jpuGv7Ntcgy-UXGyMsh5SSdSJHaE_uKfL3iItsr0CKF0_gHaOXskFtD/s320/DSC09548.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We spent Thanksgiving with some of our favorite family and it was divine. The boys had their first sleepover with their Neena and Grandpa. They didn't miss us a bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've put up our tree, the stockings our hung. <a href="http://elfontheshelf.com">Markle</a> is quietly keeping tabs and making sure two little lads mind their p's and q's. We look outside for snow, and we wait to see the quiet blanket so we can rush out and enjoy it...I think we are home.</div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-77471964791650513212010-10-17T19:24:00.001-07:002010-10-17T19:41:02.020-07:00The Tour of Brotherly Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-0FU0phJmNgnrmckevt_MaWNGlh6cfHBkOxvFwea5D4YaA-D0amdqer3H-cXlCRnLnXlWrvvc938YgtEWZiq-RJLBk62rjnovERYCtOrbIxyx8shocPoT2brm3OfTXno0PWcgbxJwCJ/s1600/DSC09462.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-0FU0phJmNgnrmckevt_MaWNGlh6cfHBkOxvFwea5D4YaA-D0amdqer3H-cXlCRnLnXlWrvvc938YgtEWZiq-RJLBk62rjnovERYCtOrbIxyx8shocPoT2brm3OfTXno0PWcgbxJwCJ/s320/DSC09462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529209555498039362" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://localhost:51466/d3b8622fc8108cfd6233370f61f59eb1/image/3802242a4d33f31c.jpg"><img src="http://localhost:51466/d3b8622fc8108cfd6233370f61f59eb1/image/3802242a4d33f31c.jpg?size=320" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />The past couple of times Noel & Lennon have trotted out the instruments, I've taken out the camera and started snapping photos. All of them but this one are candid. They had both been placing the pick on their eyes, and I thought it would make a good picture. Noel would not oblige once I asked them to take one together. Still, a good future album cover shot.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></div></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LM3qRxD3EcCtE2IkrDfAuf1_k2_WeydIJI818CsdQwwlEdfUPGiAVdgt90oG27s8cSaa6a83Y-us58sUmGaMZ1oVcxWoTYijxx2-y6Do8T-jlev0KsUjILpuEZuis_c9sKQ-K6WRO_2N/s1600/DSC09464.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LM3qRxD3EcCtE2IkrDfAuf1_k2_WeydIJI818CsdQwwlEdfUPGiAVdgt90oG27s8cSaa6a83Y-us58sUmGaMZ1oVcxWoTYijxx2-y6Do8T-jlev0KsUjILpuEZuis_c9sKQ-K6WRO_2N/s320/DSC09464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529209768309761394" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">I am going to make a habit of taking these pictures while they play. They aren't really playing anything at this point, but it is fascinating to see them study the guitar and bass and see the different sounds they can create as they turn knobs, flip switches, use the picks to discover sounds on the strings: up, down, sideways...they don't just make noise. They are discovering. I am seeing young musicians as they teach themselves their craft.</span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;">Don't be afraid to let your kids play around with your things...teach them respect for them, but let them learn from them. You will be amazed.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;">I also love this picture because they are doing the exact same thing, the exact opposite way, which pretty much sums up them to a T.<br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsy0LLkXL1refmBtfJNsbMxyzlnRlxsMCcLD8J-FVRcoXHEhP78ncw7Rep_9Oc_lz_WRKla7gXELYXuFPTVkYo_pgWGgTyZcnPHDCGXU8gpXLcozvHMKruZSu2A5HA8HxA8Cp7pjO2rFH/s1600/DSC09466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsy0LLkXL1refmBtfJNsbMxyzlnRlxsMCcLD8J-FVRcoXHEhP78ncw7Rep_9Oc_lz_WRKla7gXELYXuFPTVkYo_pgWGgTyZcnPHDCGXU8gpXLcozvHMKruZSu2A5HA8HxA8Cp7pjO2rFH/s320/DSC09466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529210046503715010" border="0" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;">Another insert in a future album cover, right? They look like they are so deep in conversation, discussing the recording of their latest song. Mark my words...</span></div></span></span>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-64232725909820654982010-07-11T20:47:00.000-07:002010-07-11T20:48:17.430-07:00Just because it's hilarious.<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV2bflbHUK7GUAJH10W9M_lvDsjD7P1yOGfIpn23cS12FWmwqzlLPCW5rgJqRYDaPhqahXfd164_KJ1OmCHw0zLusEXwolJSYUBezHr5KKQTNpZtqAeuAUKOosoBkdo5NKOVC9oA9DIvn/s1600/DSC08610.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV2bflbHUK7GUAJH10W9M_lvDsjD7P1yOGfIpn23cS12FWmwqzlLPCW5rgJqRYDaPhqahXfd164_KJ1OmCHw0zLusEXwolJSYUBezHr5KKQTNpZtqAeuAUKOosoBkdo5NKOVC9oA9DIvn/s320/DSC08610.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm pretty sure you could write a book just based on the characters in this picture.</i></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248292519253716832.post-20760825037722532762010-07-10T15:28:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:41:48.767-07:00The BabesThey aren't babies anymore, but they are still and will always be my babies. I held Lennon in my lap today before his nap and smelled his hair. He still smells like a baby bunny. I swear.<br /><br />Their favorite new game is ET. We love to play ET hide, in which Noel pretends to be ET hiding in the stuffed animals.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqkxm9K9nM-SPdcAdoXWNu6nTLkAq61IjdMXSWx3ORxuHh_mofn3ZRptr9BoOEB4P7c8TEv9-aJzvdKSR-gQ3aCfj_oCWfz24FB7NIwZ7bTTUXHMxrw5HHhS3Aky7jFWg0afox08pYDuo/s1600/DSC08561.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqkxm9K9nM-SPdcAdoXWNu6nTLkAq61IjdMXSWx3ORxuHh_mofn3ZRptr9BoOEB4P7c8TEv9-aJzvdKSR-gQ3aCfj_oCWfz24FB7NIwZ7bTTUXHMxrw5HHhS3Aky7jFWg0afox08pYDuo/s320/DSC08561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492410003159281730" border="0" /></a><br />We've been spending lots and lots of time at the YMCA swimming. Neither have fully mastered swimming, but we're going to put them in lessons in August and continue to swim this year at the indoor pool when the weather changes. I fully expect them to be little dolphins by next summer.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoTy4qzqbIoseoEKThxXMvji6kaXHQYdBWqRVbz2uOqIcf4RABPpPZ-TSC0-cnM-GMIrcgjXdNJUNp4i2WFb64kwAa1A6Nicc3GDNDcMiAcA6sbKF5d7x_39EDNpXet6AIhXB0RNOERxH/s1600/DSC08613.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoTy4qzqbIoseoEKThxXMvji6kaXHQYdBWqRVbz2uOqIcf4RABPpPZ-TSC0-cnM-GMIrcgjXdNJUNp4i2WFb64kwAa1A6Nicc3GDNDcMiAcA6sbKF5d7x_39EDNpXet6AIhXB0RNOERxH/s320/DSC08613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492409475864655234" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't the little swim robe the cutest? Costco, of course. Goggles too. They are both under the impression that goggles are <span style="font-style: italic;">the coolest</span>.<br /></div>laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07458889389524617312noreply@blogger.com1