tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27829318659525279462024-03-13T13:18:21.870-07:00You are my SonshineSomeday everything will all make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion. Smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-45614267048942675872011-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:56:54.298-08:00Grateful Sunday (way overdue)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So let's not talk about it. I just don't want to talk about it!!! Ok, I'll mention it once, but never is it to be brought up again. I have fallen off the face of the earth for the last, ummmm... 2 years. Lots has changed in my life in the meantime. Some of which I'd prefer to forget, but much more that I'm profoundly grateful for.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1. My brothers and sisters, their spouses and children. They say blood is thicker than water? That friends are siblings God forgot to give you? I don't know about all that, but I do know that if given the option, I certainly would've chosen mine.</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntHyie4ZqymvcsHvwtS3mhGL1VXDWrhGxQcD00ot_AugDISgGfpfRN1zz8UveGtOJroD-f5B9qOwfJ-ZDr591SN9W_R2ROJVujfvFexN9lU-yIaf-ODfBAbN3kdkAZfjOBtm3vkc9Wz0/s400/IMG_1112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557791969068154258" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>2. Adam Levine. What! Come on. Have you seen him? Better still... have you seen and heard him? Then you know what I'm talkin about.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsl-EWoEDKrKkidGlx-sJOLcPTMYmBoC-BMydM_VqmF968VSfO0UB6MeKKpG6pu8Rzlh5rbn5ygRytGzpUjwIsKX3Um1t6rhDq_AnhSy8izInouIOPIGzmFZCygZIerg35XfOLOyUNlw/s400/IMG_0646.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557793206374865522" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. David. Yup. Probably weren't expecting that one. Well, how could I not be grateful? His hard work has allowed me the enormous blessing of staying home with my boys. T & C adore him, and he is another influence for good in their lives.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2D0cF94YDfmXpXmUUSScYLF52rez73mEhw_SJWmSYLvDWFVb2qOzFh4NpxNaCFrL8PWOMwTTN9gS-u9QmxLV1OM0PqFUjSrabnHJEHKTVHmzYngDZx-mQEv4l8kXpH8TM4IDTVRltdA/s400/IMG_6254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557795716113507298" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. The smell of Christmas in my house. It's about to get torn down and dragged out to the curb, but the smell instantly floods dozens of wonderful memories to my mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. My health. And healthy boys. With the exception of a few minor colds and breathing treatments, we have been blessed with the gift of health. I fully understand the significance of this gift, and I'm grateful to count this among my many blessings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Weekend at Bernies. Complete with Floppy roast beef. I you know, you KNOW. If you don't, you probably never will.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVomfjsFZkIeK74AllXQ6Zajf6r-hIwL865IYhgip4x2_fZXHSe8_xs9XjkBYSOrh8v0YGI1-aWCvw4PBu2ZVPRxK86VzPP7ycajVj7u6-0-JdhspgNj_G3lOyB5X-I9MknsZBor2dy-0/s400/IMG_0607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557800043281089330" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Summer. How many days of rain have we had this year? Summer's gonna feel SOOO good when it finally arrives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhlSqFBx4ez6l0Ve7ymKwsCzZbjQKKGOo21m6QMHMYHpwSg3E37j9I6FR9_u5Y_zEDAOvehHOMyE2zpwTfiRt1pVKrdxMBIS_bD5u6I1uY_o88WI5AcoKVbOFPGKR5IFXUEOToQkkGWE/s400/IMG_2115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557800590324000498" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-40675916297882201412008-12-14T16:52:00.000-08:002008-12-14T17:18:31.158-08:00Grateful Sunday1. My cell phone. I don't know how I ever survived without texting capabilities. (except for this morning when a text came in on FULL volume seconds after the opening song ended in Sacrament meeting - argh...my own fault). <div><br /></div><div>2. My girls - you know who you are. Where would I be without you? My life exists as it is because you have loved me. Through laughter and tears, you have stuck with me. You endure my endless phone calls and drama galore. And all without judgment. What more could I ask? Love your guts, girls.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Tess Paskey, my wonder-stylist. I've been with this amazing woman for nearly 10 years. She has become such a good friend, she knows what I want without even needing to say it. Besides, I change my hair every 2 months. I need a superhero to keep up with me...</div><div><br /></div><div>4. The New Testament. I have such a love for the scriptures. I am currently reading the New Testament, and it is amazing to me how much closer I feel to my Savior by reading about his life. In Matthew, then Mark, oh yes, and then Luke. I find something new every time I read, and it brings such peace into my home.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. The snow. Have I mentioned how much I love snowboarding? I know, it's been a while, but how I love to feel the wind stinging my face as I race down the slopes on a beautiful sunny day. I have yet to enjoy LIVING in the snow, but I enjoy visiting just fine. </div><div><br /></div><div>6. Christmas songs. I have always had a passion for music. I learned the piano and flute as a young child and I've always loved singing and dancing. Especially at this time of year, I love the song Silent Night. It moves my heart every time I hear it. </div><div><br /></div><div>7. My piano. How could I mention how much I love music without a nod to my out-of tune, scratched, chipped, hand-me-down piano. I don't care. I just love the way the sound that emanates from the dusty coils vibrates in my ears. </div><div><br /></div><div>8. My fireplace. How I love to sit on cold, rainy nights, right in front of the flames for an instantly gratifying heat. I don't have to wait for my own body heat to fill the surrounding area, I can just relax, and most often, fall asleep enjoying the warmth. </div><div><br /></div><div>9. President Monson. Is it weird to say that I have looked forward to him being prophet since I was a little girl? I have always been drawn to Thomas S. Monson. His demeanor draws me in and I'm captivated by his stories and sincerity. I have such a special place in my heart for this man, especially as a prophet of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>10. Faith. Yes, I'm grateful for faith. Because there are times when life is tough and it seems like things never going to get easier or better. Faith gets me through. When I feel overwhelmed and discouraged, I'm reminded to have faith, and a simple perspective change alters my existence. I'm grateful for faith, and also that we can pray for faith, and it comes. </div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-3190602390271920132008-12-12T11:40:00.001-08:002008-12-14T17:27:47.523-08:00More Christmas cheer<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Last week I took the boys to the Christmas Train to see Santa. Santa only comes after 5, so it's a chilly adventure in the middle of December, to say the least. The temperature makes no difference when Santa is waiting for you at the end of the windy train ride, though. We waited in line for about 20 minutes, enjoying the lights and music, building the anticipation to see the big guy!</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66BBW_tb-ECEmt9pulJuxnBD8xm9s7dzD2DL1g0LNfscUcnhRjzY_B7qXic8dq6ZZTClLhEEWGSnDKnUG65QDqdIU91vsT9aO-9drUVLavdkiqAqcEqsLqWsCdDZLaD_ObR2zbqfMF3Y/s1600-h/IMG_0748.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66BBW_tb-ECEmt9pulJuxnBD8xm9s7dzD2DL1g0LNfscUcnhRjzY_B7qXic8dq6ZZTClLhEEWGSnDKnUG65QDqdIU91vsT9aO-9drUVLavdkiqAqcEqsLqWsCdDZLaD_ObR2zbqfMF3Y/s400/IMG_0748.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994804978082530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNxhmAgNKhnZ1AQaBch1oAVPV4fE2Uy7Etmo8YiCIPB8GuJ74kGv7jZcXUiO0_pOnGSSB656v38TUuscIPciar4YaelUudd5i-IUbeCCHdHOgYo9JUzjCtNFCvO8UgiIM5ni27p5_m84/s1600-h/IMG_0763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNxhmAgNKhnZ1AQaBch1oAVPV4fE2Uy7Etmo8YiCIPB8GuJ74kGv7jZcXUiO0_pOnGSSB656v38TUuscIPciar4YaelUudd5i-IUbeCCHdHOgYo9JUzjCtNFCvO8UgiIM5ni27p5_m84/s400/IMG_0763.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994799016892674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83x9fxHiuxpnVdJ4yMYrgtURsXDVS3JVwuo_v8mJygRONuMGeAzaDE0kttG4pqVhJU9ji_vbv1Obywi42uzTkvpGhSOZXsN93rs79LWInANHcIqq0Hfselw22FSkG4Ld6wdF_vtEY2yw/s1600-h/IMG_0776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83x9fxHiuxpnVdJ4yMYrgtURsXDVS3JVwuo_v8mJygRONuMGeAzaDE0kttG4pqVhJU9ji_vbv1Obywi42uzTkvpGhSOZXsN93rs79LWInANHcIqq0Hfselw22FSkG4Ld6wdF_vtEY2yw/s400/IMG_0776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994783994827010" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">The train and trees are dripping in little twinkling lights. They really make the park look magical.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUpihg5kv05yMxKgud3xvHzsO9rc1IgpJawpDhtGyE6HXME_Bg-OI_h9O6aGLhy5rJwGI-jweihgPNoAmvTpGleFjiW8hFl2zkNL7yBK2s6cdAly_zNmpLgTEo0AG4hi5GI3MVI8gZeA/s1600-h/IMG_0777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUpihg5kv05yMxKgud3xvHzsO9rc1IgpJawpDhtGyE6HXME_Bg-OI_h9O6aGLhy5rJwGI-jweihgPNoAmvTpGleFjiW8hFl2zkNL7yBK2s6cdAly_zNmpLgTEo0AG4hi5GI3MVI8gZeA/s400/IMG_0777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994766340355602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGxa-feclGGp52Wb0Jsvt7WRRa60DzX1B6zVZAsO3UbsGhUOUbF6SCC2ztBZ5LD1EnYw7ysS-Vxpt8EddoyglX22MfQ9_5OVGtaIS4iKQgBBNL7JnMQ4tYq6-JUg7Oru8o9mOjhVVaAg/s1600-h/IMG_0790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGxa-feclGGp52Wb0Jsvt7WRRa60DzX1B6zVZAsO3UbsGhUOUbF6SCC2ztBZ5LD1EnYw7ysS-Vxpt8EddoyglX22MfQ9_5OVGtaIS4iKQgBBNL7JnMQ4tYq6-JUg7Oru8o9mOjhVVaAg/s400/IMG_0790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278993042030954658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPt2_l_SUeh9cIpmf3PqPuAjUwh-M646dOuv7z0BN056qrZ2snrlB7wn4csHtUOtTRjtruQsfS2jXnvOWYe6sxbqJF4wVfSCHHzf3077Y0wJ_WXrZYIRDBVGhvk7l5SfP5wrMZmbdrwo/s1600-h/IMG_0796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPt2_l_SUeh9cIpmf3PqPuAjUwh-M646dOuv7z0BN056qrZ2snrlB7wn4csHtUOtTRjtruQsfS2jXnvOWYe6sxbqJF4wVfSCHHzf3077Y0wJ_WXrZYIRDBVGhvk7l5SfP5wrMZmbdrwo/s400/IMG_0796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278993027015826514" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">We finally arrive, and my camera decides to act up. In my anxiety to get the camera working and not make the gobs of people behind me wait, I forget to flip up the flash. Nice. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAurTUg8nf-_Jpzfz2uCUTWr7u5DM573kWLe7xD7dTeNqo1mOb38PIW4-UJ30ue85cwKA1Dg8bgpCO3GUI6VpTi63eohCZkSEhoPZpXZ6AkcROGkl7Mj6deA0oef0jN8aaSuY6W8kk8Y/s1600-h/IMG_0802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAurTUg8nf-_Jpzfz2uCUTWr7u5DM573kWLe7xD7dTeNqo1mOb38PIW4-UJ30ue85cwKA1Dg8bgpCO3GUI6VpTi63eohCZkSEhoPZpXZ6AkcROGkl7Mj6deA0oef0jN8aaSuY6W8kk8Y/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278993017362893410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEB3sOrA8SVfzgfLKkg-pWsQO4C7VZxmzI0ok65CM_JE4WIZaTa57NzxqB6GMgLe1Q-V33y6Soit3ivd4hMZ-KfND-_tEkjsiTAauuZ2dVApCLS6YwH_q11opqc__Q2iuhxR9dqkxlCc/s1600-h/IMG_0812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEB3sOrA8SVfzgfLKkg-pWsQO4C7VZxmzI0ok65CM_JE4WIZaTa57NzxqB6GMgLe1Q-V33y6Soit3ivd4hMZ-KfND-_tEkjsiTAauuZ2dVApCLS6YwH_q11opqc__Q2iuhxR9dqkxlCc/s400/IMG_0812.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278993011411615138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEJsKdDSZKgLLftd94QFvdIFq8bxa9B0zNm9mQG0zf_W4bsLVHfBih58C7D8dgeyK-SfociKV_zJurxK0ITPMcBRnntR7yL8U0afgvSjGE3Rf9sLif8q-WpU2eI6b_sDTJLz5pdjNv1M/s1600-h/IMG_0815.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEJsKdDSZKgLLftd94QFvdIFq8bxa9B0zNm9mQG0zf_W4bsLVHfBih58C7D8dgeyK-SfociKV_zJurxK0ITPMcBRnntR7yL8U0afgvSjGE3Rf9sLif8q-WpU2eI6b_sDTJLz5pdjNv1M/s400/IMG_0815.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278993001365709778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">That was fun, but I sooo need some hot chocolate 'bout now!<br /></div></span></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-34924360703311231082008-12-12T11:18:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:38:44.698-08:00Once Upon a Disney ChristmasChristmastime at Disneyland is one of the most magical sights I've ever witnessed. Fake snow dons the top of the castle, It's a Small World is a whole new holiday wonderland, and there are Disney characters running amok sporting santa hats and scarfs.<div><br /></div><div>We got very lucky recently as we walked in the park to find the Christmas Mickey photo line very short. We hopped right in line, and lil C immediately objected to anything involving a camera OR Mickey Mouse. The whole tantrum routine, you know. I bribe him to stay in the stroller with a sucker until we get all the way up to the front. As I'm readying my camera to capture the holiday moment, I look down to find my stroller flipped backwards on the ground, and Caleb snuggled so deep in Mickey's arms I could barely see his little body. He has this magical moment with the sweetest Mickey I've ever seen. Mickey holds his (or, more likely, her) hand out for Trey who has his reservations, but captivated, tentatively creeps in for a photo. <br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECQZIu3CeqxBlXbGUEhabzXcc2c63fxtF0J0gKisHuwk9okt2vh6khYyFJR5V2a5G6x8zTeudHcjaqSNpzG4HDatVv6MoluqHGUeBwIGvjlRO8auq65aeOZDY9lKarxqJ6qeEq78Tf-I/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278986089628105666" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0TsgALWkCgsEMBj7qyF3MNoYi3Skk8IJQp6Hnt8dfQPR4CU-RJMUt2LhErMZkutyaikhQL8MqcKNGbiC8ZltGLae9_H57HwvD0insInYxvEM8LwMlfpkSy5c_yqsFzf1IkqEJlT74DU/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278986094529717762" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjLsrUpi1IJXki_IbIWJJiwNznHGhRt16CLDbxoImGU9r1D0BZBPZKIuSIbwdFQ2VPUxYkbflrgYK8nE1QyWOhiI9BzZEHfoMG5wSoYwTgbe5eG5SR3Ay9IUBXv4YaD7WmD69uilaPjc/s400/IMG_0522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278986100512999634" /><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas Mickey rocks.<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-57530351051766967302008-11-23T23:01:00.000-08:002008-11-24T01:56:39.085-08:00Haven't we had enough 8 already?8 Fave TV shows:<div><br /></div><div>1. Amazing Race (the only reality show I've ever considered subjecting myself to applying for)</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Lipstick Jungle (representin' for Cashmere Mafia too. RIP)</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Man vs. Wild - and boy is he.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. The New Adventures of Old Christine - LOVE Elaine, and laughing so hard it hurts. Perfect combo</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Extreme Makeover Home Edition : my weekly dose of happy tears.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Survivor - STILL can't get enough</div><div><br /></div><div>7. The Office - how could this not be in your top 8? What's not to like?</div><div><br /></div><div>8. Pushing Daisies. love love love</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8 Favorite Restaurants:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. CPK - cause we'd wither away and die at our house without Kids Curly Mac and Cheese.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Chipotle - been a faithful follower since the Irvine conception. Yumm-o.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Beach Pit - little slice of heaven in Newport Beach.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. El Cholo - Only the originals in LA. Something happened when they moved to Irvine.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. BJ's - never in my life have i been willing to surrender body parts for dessert b4 BJ's. Pizzokies are a life experience everyone should have.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Northwood Pizza - Just call me wt. i don't care. How many of you can walk 2 minutes for hot, fresh, yummy pizza. AND have a cute boy smile at you while he hands you your call-in-order cheese pizza?</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Benihanas: many happy memories...</div><div><br /></div><div>8. Hali'imaile General Store: on the road to Hana. Amazing gourmet oddity in the middle of the jungle, in the middle of Maui. I'd buy a plane ticket just for a meal here. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8 Things that Happened yesterday:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Sat inches from a Clydesdale horse's butt for a ride down Main Street, Disneyland. I felt like an ignorant tourist...but kinda liked it!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Watched my kids polish off their 900th plate of DiDi pasta. Gag. Don't know why they still fancy the stuff after this many years.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Took a bath. With fabulous grapefruit bubble bath from Origins (i could die a happy woman in that store). Had to wash away the smell of horse butt.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Fed our newest addition to the family: Aladdin, our blue/black Gourami fish. Caleb's cannibal Gourami (Tigger) killed and ate Trey's previous fish, Genie Blue Train. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. Wasted like 3 hours on Facebook.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Got my boys' clothes out for church and thought how huge they are. Why do they have to grow so fast? </div><div><br /></div><div>7. Didn't do laundry (I was on Facebook, remember?). </div><div><br /></div><div>8. Walked across the street to Northwood pizza where a cute boy smiled as he handed me my call-ahead order of a large cheese pizza. Pretty good end to a pretty good day!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8 Things I am Looking Forward to:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Christmas. I LOVE seeing my kids faces when they open their gifts. That's my favorite Christmas gift.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Caleb being at least 40 inches tall so we can FINALLY ride some decent rides together at Disneyland!!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Trey being 46 inches so he can ride Indiana Jones already and stop asking me every day if he's tall enough and please measure him again to be sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. Summer - I miss the warm beach and Wild Rivers. Flip flops, sunscreen, tan little backs, shorts, and sunhats. Everything that is summer in Southern California.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Going to the temple. Doesn't get any better. Well, it does, but not here.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. 24 Hour Fitness Group Expedition. We get new choreography, and I really need something new. It's been WAY too long.</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Twilight Monday with the girls. Giddy giggle...</div><div><br /></div><div>8. NO MORE DIAPERS!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8 Things on my Wish List:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. IKEA kids round table.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Own a home (don't care where).</div><div><br /></div><div>3. New couches (11 1/2 years and still counting).</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Weekly date nites.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Snowboarding this winter. And being able to take Trey with me. I think he'd rock the slopes.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Vacation with the whole fam. It's been quite a while...</div><div><br /></div><div>7. The people I love to know how much I love them. </div><div><br /></div><div>8. To finish the New Testament b4 2009.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8 People I'm tagging:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Randi m</div><div>2. Lea - you need an update, darling (almost as bad as me...)</div><div>3. Michelle</div><div>4. Karlea</div><div>5. Wendy Frenchy</div><div>6. Whit</div><div>7. Nicki</div><div>8. Judy</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-39670434358555481072008-10-17T21:43:00.000-07:002008-10-17T23:23:20.977-07:00Five Alive<div style="text-align: left;">My sweet Treyden,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How I pray each day I can show you how much I have loved you for 5 amazing years of living. You are so easy to love! You are always right there with a smile, hug, thumbs up, high five, or a kiss on the nose. Your sense of humor is unrivaled. You bring a laugh to my soul each day I have the privilege of spending with you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UFwwM9UFDb1hbBgQ4_K7wGTtFfCUqLAHhGbAJd_RaKDkbjfBHcygHLvh8Sk3yttMhf06G8B2BJWLnSm6B5EUxd3QKOXiDkLZKZvYq_ME36-aTcXrIqWwYCfzM4YV9SJcVJTX0NrrUh0/s400/20071009_0017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258355740705061954" />You have such a contagious passion to run and jump and play. You exude such joy and love of life. You love to laugh, and are rarely found with a scowl or tears on your face (and if so, not for long). <br /><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRm0LWVgeFaahvv6CWDN7GXTS3Un5HnWMbXCx066As9Xxe8YkVW0OjjVVxftmftKdep4j_pSUZuDV1zGoFmpa2tyiruV1FYQwObIylcKXLKiJrZ78DQEbRO8kgmjh1z8QVBcKanZDfvXA/s400/IMG_3177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258355743375595826" />Caleb has adored you since the day he was born, and it's no question why. You care for your little brother with such dedication and sincerity. He is your best friend, and you frequently tell (and show) me so. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFYugZTP4F9uXxZVIZB-qx6AhtWMxUuaU0GzCoff8knsfYM9h3EzrC_jVZoarzwclW1JWIycP78kTiHiG_y3a9jq8xRZFzQ03Qrw1BkbKnTtL7yRlaE_SP8qbOHzdzfU8u8iU6HQcvXI/s400/IMG_3241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258355752907487330" />You have the most obedient spirit. You make me look like such a great mom, and yet I know the secret: you came this way. No matter how many mistakes I make as your mother, no matter how impatient I am, you give me 100%, and you ALWAYS forgive. You have such a gift for forgiveness and meekness of heart. And always with sincerity. I see so much of my Savior in you. And don't ever forget: you came this way.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85Zgemv95PTYmunLtBeFqk2fsa8vEwK4TB3Syvqyu6yQ4Ho7Nb7LylKsOBoiclMOESMDz3ZYUN-FwRTYGMo0iCgBQ80W0-YMgP0GmJNynAUqvWd-1NLC_OzLwqcUxj7bEYPzfH_oTMPI/s400/IMG_3408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258355761437525794" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADAia6d_13NtKjw4UZhaNS8KnTJ_zctQQqiYsXDRM_lDAvrli0sbBVnOpL23TXZ60wfVi5ZA4EwQnTZmxnkat-NpVF7UQsCkwC32kxIfcsHTB1RCI1poosbWRKeiP6ZkK3SEP48Cv6Xk/s400/IMG_3288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258355757655738994" />You accomplish the impossible by being inherently obedient and having a free spirit at the same time. You will try anything once. You love most anything quirky, unexpected, or out of the ordinary, and you have a WICKED memory. I have to be vigilant in my conversations with you, because you'll remember I promised you a Pump it Up Party a year ago, and you hold me to that promise.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXORq05rdec4s3zQxRGGatWLKp8Lu9kEGxvdUZiZ8ZAfUboecj2f3HIWyGpPJfCDBrt4g-rZe8FdvXcchaoaa79D3hCYhJdxTUs6nYMMdDuxQszEXKrty5Jq5XmSRxVW9NWpWc2iWmXvo/s400/IMG_4730.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258359344778684802" />I cannot help but smile when I see your adorable dimples. Your smile is impossibly contagious.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwkeG0MXxXbDUIx6S4T_BGg53UUc0KdFwoy8CqFTZEtNZjLiYuHqf2B8EFmy9Dp1BzNIeRcDrb6Fnt_kjq6NBvBvmfzRn-Kj8-7HSOm1O6XhrQXcRSr3xXWXXVKboIQppIeJ8hwEFS98/s400/IMG_4097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258359334630884658" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6N_imScdkQgMIioCep96r1pUxcKVZDLuBL2spahBfaKfZQX1HayQIbFi2duIJKbDJO0jmyHNMSwX7ngakPkP-lOXMXW0W7BukH_kwzD-bhzB7dMJiuFVisP1_tf2t5TVezXVZYVryBY/s400/IMG_5761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258362297388363154" />You have developed such an affinity for superheros, and the reason is simple; the greatest strengths you possess are superhero worthy. You are definitely one of my personal heros.<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDHDSzIhveK125VZoqbwZvetji6JvRx-aWdciOTYFiCfjkrD9dEiEexQUkLVQqZ6q8GdXn5f4mtPEcK-kG_Wi7US-AeF4-RWzAIfzQZSAB-lF94rPj7qNY8wAse8S-idClyPJ-T7BwoU/s400/IMG_5776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258362303497765282" />When you are sleepy, you can and will fall asleep anywhere, and arousing you from sleep is not possible. On the other hand, when you wake in the morning, you are bright and bushy tailed from the word go. </div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrY7BNP69RhEBmz1PjIx9PmkiuOP2Afggw_WZNahXisKuXoumE2AB0vu19VvgDxl3W0s6eM4MS5c2QJvHUX8F1-GHAteH9eMaYs7ZNrHqQk9ckqvOHvPEg15DMDjDUFeK4tvqBTfK93s/s400/IMG_3956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258359332525108322" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8AfLu-f7M0cnyL4-PT44D-j5gRdllrTsAtJmuGUjLwykshPett5XJwQ2YIozdqqWmXOYjsQXnXL1bwlSagLxA0l5cVdpjCUwcJuJrWoCc8CvgjWQliQGOYTjiOtP3hKQ2R6ZHg98wm4/s400/IMG_5362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258362285780736098" />Your gorgeous brown hair is the envy of any coif-savvy adult. And you love your long hair, even in the dead of summer. It is your trademark, and I love it, even when it takes 5 minutes just to rinse the shampoo out of your hair. </div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpC1lL54VH8IG0gECiNHlBz2TRN4PaTf8rXIQslVg7BiLYoJR_dVHTyFoWy9pP0mbCIPBf64k5GdtuqmzmAlNuiB5LJjEsnvLgbLxAEfEdBRfIWZF2s-QjICXrt_I4GXOSOFaGWFd5wGQ/s400/IMG_5521+.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258362275369233794" />You LOVE the water, and this last summer you taught yourself how to swim. The lessons you took after you had learned this skill only built your confidence in the water. I can't keep you away from any body of water, no matter how small.<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SeQsaQhAdC2nFCicxrAho_VNmaczgP_tpTjLfXdRhiMGcWzmLydHVmJkIdU0dzd2wwun94VoNnwDXic7r9_epHlrwKI-WxaFU8Wz6_gzTzAIfSPnD_vg9rW5p1cSCw47_wQ4Dp1_DqE/s400/IMG_4934.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258359346070130114" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmpzblOL1ubrSOnLHLwHklsqQQkDfuPqknexdvGEAiqBj-wvIilSHlJMbMqUjbuIt9ZEdyWrWG3SmJYDUXhYHrJrKfBmA-DtsjN0XzpZsON7fDOwVUdU9D9C8ibJcp1A7xLwYvFX6m34/s1600-h/IMG_5915.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmpzblOL1ubrSOnLHLwHklsqQQkDfuPqknexdvGEAiqBj-wvIilSHlJMbMqUjbuIt9ZEdyWrWG3SmJYDUXhYHrJrKfBmA-DtsjN0XzpZsON7fDOwVUdU9D9C8ibJcp1A7xLwYvFX6m34/s400/IMG_5915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258363803473892674" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">You aren't the best eater, but you have a love for chocolate like I've never seen before. There are days I look at the lunch I've packed for you, and every food group involves chocolate. </div><div style="text-align: left;">You have developed a love for rollercoasters this year. As your increasing height allowed you access to more and more attractions at Disneyland, you have braved them with admirable courage, and it kills you that Caleb isn't able to join you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n3WyA-8cHB3h7vR2od8No6cCeEorPplnnYlibr-U9RIiMC5FQe4PawHEnyqj9RkJYCM7kpzzjmQ4stEeuPvgucfX4QwV93Jh9U7-gzs-6kIZ9crKtsU02UfPb_P4lhDNWZk1w-DNEvw/s400/IMG_5245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258362273898226162" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABpPzA1PYZCVH1u9br0E63wsUeUm5KcW33Ow_KfAh77STvp2fVuI1c82dAOSjMjPjJ9gGi-A45vI4tG7ja3TeZi_rbjzEEGa2yM4VeZ0Fn6tiewDa9aATzrEJL71Z7nEbv7UjIZBgI00/s1600-h/IMG_6301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABpPzA1PYZCVH1u9br0E63wsUeUm5KcW33Ow_KfAh77STvp2fVuI1c82dAOSjMjPjJ9gGi-A45vI4tG7ja3TeZi_rbjzEEGa2yM4VeZ0Fn6tiewDa9aATzrEJL71Z7nEbv7UjIZBgI00/s400/IMG_6301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258363811308052098" /></a></div><div>You have touched the hearts of so many in your 5 years, most of all, mine. I love you more than any mother has ever loved her child, and I thank Heavenly Father every day for your love. Happy 5th Birthday, T!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-27118689161412529902008-09-16T00:57:00.000-07:002008-09-16T01:26:25.874-07:00May I please please please beseech you?Ok, I know I'm an Oprah junkie. I promise I don't belong to any Oprah religion, there is no Oprah shrine in my home, I just connect with many of the causes she stands behind. <div><br /></div><div>I was horrified as I watched a couple of recent episodes. The first focused on Elizabeth Smart and the story of her strength and how she has overcome unthinkable obstacles in her horrendous ordeal of being kidnapped from her SLC home, IN HER BED in the middle of the night. She was kept captive by 2 monsters for NINE MONTHS and repeatedly raped and molested. I felt so moved by the strength of her spirit, but i also felt my boiling blood coursing through my body, motivating me to want to DO SOMETHING to somehow...even amidst my feelings of helplessness...somehow make a difference to help STOP THIS ATROCITY happening to the children of our nation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was still emotionally charged as I watched (more like experienced) another episode on child predators. As Oprah shared EXPLICIT details on the evil actions of child predators, I was consumed with emotion. I wanted to scream STOP!! I DON'T WANT TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO THIS!! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGET THIS IMAGE IN MY HEAD!! Just tell me how to make a difference and I'll go on my way. As I continued to watch, I began to understand the purpose for her candor. By the time I had heard an hour of gut-wrenching stories of vulgar exploits on innocent children, even INFANTS... I couldn't NOT get off my couch and run right to my computer to take a stand. </div><div><br /></div><div>SO , the purpose of my post is to inform you of a bill in the senate that will help protect our children. It's a bi-partisan bill that will provide more funding for child predator task forces and law enforcement to investigate and apprehend child predators. It is scheduled to be up for the senate's vote at the end of September, so action needs to happen NOW. Please please please take the time to call, email, AND/or write your senator to STRONGLY URGE them to pass this bill.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is senate bill 1738 - Protect our Children Act. You can either google it yourself, or read about it on <a href="http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20080911_tows_predators"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">oprah's website</span></a>: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20080911_tows_predators . On this site they have more information about the bill, as well as links to your local senators, and how to contact them by phone, email, or snail mail. Please, take the time to take a stand for something that is important to ALL OF US!! Spread the news, tell your friends and neighbors, there's NO REASON this bill shouldn't pass. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are interested in the Oprah episode that has me up in arms (it takes a force of nature to get me this upset), go to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.oprah.com">Oprah's website</a></span>, and you can read about it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-68571895684730229362008-09-15T22:55:00.000-07:002008-09-15T23:04:46.321-07:00Go Go Go Coaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ2Q3A8c_hknYCEMutAZzWX0knCyalinL3hSD0BkfaEOO9psSGJo3s8bMXzHFtEHJT47Mn93DpXhrxNFKagh1l7YMM6YWoPZLx-LM46PsP5TpdMJpTGxuLTMyUWSVGbe6z7PPVv3Ppao/s1600-h/IMG_6082.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I love to laugh. It's probably my favorite past-times. I got a fantastic giggle out of these photos, and I thought I might share. All is status-quo as the miniature rollercoaster situated in kid-crazy Toon Town begins...</span><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ2Q3A8c_hknYCEMutAZzWX0knCyalinL3hSD0BkfaEOO9psSGJo3s8bMXzHFtEHJT47Mn93DpXhrxNFKagh1l7YMM6YWoPZLx-LM46PsP5TpdMJpTGxuLTMyUWSVGbe6z7PPVv3Ppao/s400/IMG_6082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246494533565863234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlPY33Gt3n4gwMZ7vKunanRw1VZpcv55zdcxPrDOgzACZ_yeD0iF5OkpMI-w9NEBFQM3I5_qALF8RN7IIQz05s2FfGhHrvCwYsR1qakhbA_MMrOagNHsuSGYZzpLEyg5F0jtsm6yPOgM/s1600-h/IMG_6084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlPY33Gt3n4gwMZ7vKunanRw1VZpcv55zdcxPrDOgzACZ_yeD0iF5OkpMI-w9NEBFQM3I5_qALF8RN7IIQz05s2FfGhHrvCwYsR1qakhbA_MMrOagNHsuSGYZzpLEyg5F0jtsm6yPOgM/s400/IMG_6084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246494540170963202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MmOq8f5KaukdnfGxm2xeuhid3XSrR4sKN9QcctqnrRiUlw87u_RJmkoLcMDpcfEr2SdsMWc_0suzvA9xF2gP0OhQ7e3RfiitpajLQKCjx9vn412kS1BZnhWWrgzGXcZej2WjcFTQhNQ/s1600-h/IMG_6085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MmOq8f5KaukdnfGxm2xeuhid3XSrR4sKN9QcctqnrRiUlw87u_RJmkoLcMDpcfEr2SdsMWc_0suzvA9xF2gP0OhQ7e3RfiitpajLQKCjx9vn412kS1BZnhWWrgzGXcZej2WjcFTQhNQ/s400/IMG_6085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246494549048462402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XTcvgSTuE_qtBYAuRew5dVWxdw4-kHEYZxtgAqD9bFQG1xpb65OOcGCxrrri3NP1VH42OEkrrk7CMBcQmihQoteUkeWjh88uhuwsgx-tAlAEx5Vk_avRcPbwpS7-fZlyPssS71R0PNE/s1600-h/IMG_6086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XTcvgSTuE_qtBYAuRew5dVWxdw4-kHEYZxtgAqD9bFQG1xpb65OOcGCxrrri3NP1VH42OEkrrk7CMBcQmihQoteUkeWjh88uhuwsgx-tAlAEx5Vk_avRcPbwpS7-fZlyPssS71R0PNE/s400/IMG_6086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246494554204513890" /></a>Maybe you think I'm a mean mommy for torturing my sweet 3-year old on this seemingly horrific rollercoaster. For your information...he BEGGED to go on it again. 2 more times, in fact. I guess there's no surprise Caleb is certifiably an adrenaline junky. Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-26168065437396154512008-09-15T22:32:00.001-07:002008-09-15T22:55:24.586-07:00First day of the last year...<div>Because Trey is an October birthday, he has had 2 wonderful years of preschool at ECLC (Early Childhood Learning Center), and one last one to go. He absolutely LOVES school. The only thing that he struggles with is not being able to take his newest toy to class to show his friends. This year, his teacher is Ms. Erin. I'm so proud of my preschooler!!</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu_LCJHfH67M1XSWmFrMRMMzNZYuAZklHAthi59s74CAKj5_e3pDDocQAcK-wmfonJup2R-qwADw6Uz9u5M6EUWFC2WsYB7zEGDW7MQfRcAAPz7xDrIRbN4B3GlDvIPmPy9IxilGc0rU/s400/IMG_5990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246488685975546994" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfNeOm7q2eSpvTivR0rqpbPXta-FNodRNaVsyJnDtGqLd-It32mzPpeJlfIMb7NrlN16wQPr043-i1fqpXPmCehqrHpLOxovKObfo8bD8nyUYy6K3xST9zSuRdw9LEX4RdRSbapJneY8/s400/IMG_5993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246490609071776466" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EDXhpNrZm7kw4v6n0qlXvpFT4JZEd-sxQZHqtEphyeLGO2nBo2mORJa11Ngd8QiZaoPU9aypM7PPl5RLBFOUI77rtzBS2NFMZwCd1DbhMP2iMWqs3GQMY5gKMGvHicmtvfw6BFepjCw/s1600-h/IMG_5994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EDXhpNrZm7kw4v6n0qlXvpFT4JZEd-sxQZHqtEphyeLGO2nBo2mORJa11Ngd8QiZaoPU9aypM7PPl5RLBFOUI77rtzBS2NFMZwCd1DbhMP2iMWqs3GQMY5gKMGvHicmtvfw6BFepjCw/s400/IMG_5994.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246488692738002482" /></a>I know I may be entirely biased, but is this not the cutest little preschooler on the planet?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BYKrj1-htVSkQD1K5uBa6oVfiswl-CfL1-PfJlJo74prv1vKDqf0CVhiwscwg5-_CVo2crxxnOqd2T8Yn7fMdH1dyZrQSPnfHCaCZv801p15VArHpGTRlrqDk9Ru-omyEVzkh5vBbWs/s1600-h/IMG_5996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BYKrj1-htVSkQD1K5uBa6oVfiswl-CfL1-PfJlJo74prv1vKDqf0CVhiwscwg5-_CVo2crxxnOqd2T8Yn7fMdH1dyZrQSPnfHCaCZv801p15VArHpGTRlrqDk9Ru-omyEVzkh5vBbWs/s400/IMG_5996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246488707354605138" /></a>Here's to one last year of preschool. The last homework-free year in the Wheeler household.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-44419116353088838612008-09-05T22:34:00.000-07:002008-10-08T12:03:40.802-07:00Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'courier new';">Treyden and his sweet A, have been friends for what seems like always. Soon after we moved here, nearly 4 years ago, T and A discovered chemistry that's undeniable, even at the age of 2. You call their relationship what you want, yin/yang, girl meets boy, or simple friendship. Look and see for yourself.</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEn6-KFWiLkcrpEi5_9FOfiMYYSq5dszik8RQFMRF7ZlP3PlTj2KAc_vSyAjKB-0Qmxu30UsRqQDUKgU3dm0Rc7DtpcUyb-tw8KbJ_X0a_6efUQW7rQ8L7606slfqjC5N7G_BUiYNDL8/s400/K-I-S-S-I-N-G+aug25+05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147045218352434" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL_iwTnRS8A78PXCkkggJrM1HOOA5L5tckvSjzx4BVp2wnPeAOD6fCK9EIHwLDah_-bKK6SYl02J-g5BIK115e-Ss5weg1fJRZvKt36gARyZG2eqlB58ssg0Q30cdvm6Ru7van6NTF_w/s400/20061023_0023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147050496105250" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHjxxpRircdmsmfevEhCDTqIExGb8t97TBGQJl7q1eY6zUKnbPyS7-t4S6sYGUftZ9JYLSIPTr5sgK5Y1QHS65RqdL1mAk89eGGJk7I_HJrAKwzLocpO1-Q80PGyfkzNFh05QM8JfuEM/s1600-h/20070219_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHjxxpRircdmsmfevEhCDTqIExGb8t97TBGQJl7q1eY6zUKnbPyS7-t4S6sYGUftZ9JYLSIPTr5sgK5Y1QHS65RqdL1mAk89eGGJk7I_HJrAKwzLocpO1-Q80PGyfkzNFh05QM8JfuEM/s400/20070219_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147665129995154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz7oysU7Xm9sKNudQPmkolrMY5O6YIgkEM1W09ZsqbBWlH6AklrALWpWjg1AC9aCJCqfVBP3jFJRH5c0srffVX4fwY_WpSV9S3gXqTdeH-fmaZYtipGHnZ9Rq3qxQyRplldWDrKH84N8/s1600-h/20071017_0136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz7oysU7Xm9sKNudQPmkolrMY5O6YIgkEM1W09ZsqbBWlH6AklrALWpWjg1AC9aCJCqfVBP3jFJRH5c0srffVX4fwY_WpSV9S3gXqTdeH-fmaZYtipGHnZ9Rq3qxQyRplldWDrKH84N8/s400/20071017_0136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147670534740386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUgExkhO3dTlYDYpfh9AoywYMdCVvdOfEOsMzEGqYYcc0c7SyPt9kdss0qcebOdJCwb4ByXNe_NLUcWMWUEJCRivylZ_n-wpDVqxRXswfMyF2-Uc_hu1hI6h84Iq8LmALI9ZBbkrjnhc/s400/20061208_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147053007960290" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXcpSxgeonxbc2CjEUgZD8F74mJbmYpQx1XekaJ1jA4-FLvT-Kpqso56S-UYgm-gGjkoS2AKfVz9GrwRHF3axoC8D0mZgVX002Yc1sUDU25nvntnI966GnLBJT0RA0KqBSSsnFTq9GRY/s400/20070217_0025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147062006511570" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPjS5VngIt4W9RxaFEksqiWBtef66TiI8uQEv7T-j8e-krRxNyhdWfh7PTKfuX0teRa5Ss_ktQ-WwyIlHL_Wq_cBst7tRWaBnO5aVpv7GejBFfFkSSp23aghIT4V56nuwIwwNnj2pOtU/s400/20070129_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147058549999570" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVhT_sF9uehlPZhJuh-uK3LnX8s9FuP3ecvu2QEym8POfC0HEY0YSnj1B1O42oKv1t4yDQ19N0QTN7i48biIUcoZ0vkvfupgUAxjK5ZUaSqKGIbd9VnBJ1Xq5WtEvdMCNPFwifxJYCsQ/s1600-h/IMG_5853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVhT_sF9uehlPZhJuh-uK3LnX8s9FuP3ecvu2QEym8POfC0HEY0YSnj1B1O42oKv1t4yDQ19N0QTN7i48biIUcoZ0vkvfupgUAxjK5ZUaSqKGIbd9VnBJ1Xq5WtEvdMCNPFwifxJYCsQ/s400/IMG_5853.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243147671051284002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Since the unfortunate event of A's parents dragging her away to Chino Hills, Trey has seen much less of his dear A. Trey was beside himself last week when I told him A was coming to the Lagoon. They played as if no time had ever passed.</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIEyqiFRYzSk6S9D2PgSc2TBFYjce78bT9bxz-dHsq-tg88TQTvd1gmDbCeKFFX6nECXrk6Us7ycTEQHMnlukHbCSXYwsFo79vZtkHIVQOz1L4hfApSm9P8vUYCVR4BBax8uc0K4Gr8I/s1600-h/IMG_5823.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIEyqiFRYzSk6S9D2PgSc2TBFYjce78bT9bxz-dHsq-tg88TQTvd1gmDbCeKFFX6nECXrk6Us7ycTEQHMnlukHbCSXYwsFo79vZtkHIVQOz1L4hfApSm9P8vUYCVR4BBax8uc0K4Gr8I/s400/IMG_5823.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242781400965341682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0fK06Z6k_GJf2J2yvdAJywJINcnCskRyvlx43KoWLu34CeVWXX3uFPcv762ye7U6N9KPmGcwdu4jLNXMdpUBYjPAg017ImR9tKd1eCm-UPNwkfeB55sRwIndLfyMCQhnIIwXJPP8pjw/s1600-h/IMG_5835.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0fK06Z6k_GJf2J2yvdAJywJINcnCskRyvlx43KoWLu34CeVWXX3uFPcv762ye7U6N9KPmGcwdu4jLNXMdpUBYjPAg017ImR9tKd1eCm-UPNwkfeB55sRwIndLfyMCQhnIIwXJPP8pjw/s400/IMG_5835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242781404903734626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQDyE6OuKqJElw5ZLLTYxNThX11QOJvznFDLzXJr_Z-NEces9vqs7_ATP0FnyvXpH4MBXwSSVRGCsFopAYOiuXE2QgRBG8q0P5ofhZTAATjAH7zT879zVhcwYPkHjWTR56THatyhzllg/s1600-h/IMG_5839.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQDyE6OuKqJElw5ZLLTYxNThX11QOJvznFDLzXJr_Z-NEces9vqs7_ATP0FnyvXpH4MBXwSSVRGCsFopAYOiuXE2QgRBG8q0P5ofhZTAATjAH7zT879zVhcwYPkHjWTR56THatyhzllg/s400/IMG_5839.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242781413973865890" /></a><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0_BWVXNyJKU_ogpXWinwiprGxN4KqWqKh8xOOghggwtNHrjuB4gVbRXiTtPh3tx-5LS1ij08gUa7gFQznqZ6i9-3gHgRP-GnxxYWpL-3oZZuMpwukt0rL-MDMnXjkwUMsP7VmBrVUUw/s400/IMG_5846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242781424472156066" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnLppePUH4GirEotkF9W3n2k_i8tlfXiu4HDbMOr6yuO4pXdKRFm0rHMZoRlRjfKnK6kgoUZX6O4GRCHLCSmaAicbnVIg087XuSfZysX8uJDVerx56u2cvbSk5uMXMVd-CKJHsxhYM-0/s1600-h/IMG_5849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnLppePUH4GirEotkF9W3n2k_i8tlfXiu4HDbMOr6yuO4pXdKRFm0rHMZoRlRjfKnK6kgoUZX6O4GRCHLCSmaAicbnVIg087XuSfZysX8uJDVerx56u2cvbSk5uMXMVd-CKJHsxhYM-0/s400/IMG_5849.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242781418406455986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Ahhh. Young love... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-23511450584602933502008-09-05T22:16:00.000-07:002008-09-05T22:33:54.997-07:00Mommy surfer hero<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">I've lived in Southern California roughly 90% of my 3 decades on this planet. I've had a love affair with the world-famous coastline appropriate to it's majesty and allure. I grew up body surfing, sunbathing, and boogie boarding on the beaches of this beautiful state, and I've also learned a healthy respect for the power and intensity of the surf. Nonetheless, my dream of learning to truly surf has remained alive without realization all these years. My good friends, beautiful and amazing Eva, and her abnormally wonderful hubby Mat, helped make my dream a reality. Mat was generous enough to bring a foam board for me to learn, AND take on the responsibility of my boys. Eva risked humiliation and embarrassment galore as she accompanied me out into the surf amongst a dozen or so much more experienced surfers. My body didn't leave my board, but I was able to overcome my fear of wiping out enough to catch a handful of waves into the shore. Thank you, my dear friends for the experience which wouldn't have happened without you.</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOrUBZC3NklN7GXs-ZT_UWCUJjf3nXzICmmiAXFu9ZhbY3z54q6cBKfGTyvaxupOX-IDlHFCy2JWKaVZfkoitqA3Kpi9ZX6O3Om_JFs4DpQ1o1fwJAMp-xMr2izMcgYe2K5Z_LAU_o_U/s1600-h/surfer+girl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOrUBZC3NklN7GXs-ZT_UWCUJjf3nXzICmmiAXFu9ZhbY3z54q6cBKfGTyvaxupOX-IDlHFCy2JWKaVZfkoitqA3Kpi9ZX6O3Om_JFs4DpQ1o1fwJAMp-xMr2izMcgYe2K5Z_LAU_o_U/s400/surfer+girl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242773510423460082" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">As I walked freezing and exhilarated back on shore to relieve Mat of bbsitting duties, my 2 screaming children came running towards me. "MOMMY!!! YOU DID IT? Were you scared? Did you have fun? Mommy, you cool surfer mommy. You my best mommy, you beautiful giwul." They were even more excited and proud than I was.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Wow. A notch in my belt for a memory I'll never forget. </span></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-73282002835969087752008-08-26T20:59:00.000-07:002008-08-26T21:43:18.203-07:00Are you kidding me?<div>Some of you may recall me posting about the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://youaremysonshine.blogspot.com/2008/05/fyifishie-mask.html">adventures of being Caleb's mommy</a></span>. We just returned from an afternoon visiting the doctor AND dentist. Let me flash back to about 3 1/2 weeks ago...I was getting ready for the day while the boys played in the family room. As is so typical with 2 little boys, they started chasing each other around the house. Well, this particular morning, again, like most others, I hear KK start to scream. You see, Caleb has no volume control. His trademark scream is the same volume and intensity whether Trey has just touched his balloon or shut his hand in the front door. Because his hand HAS been shut in the door and I am embarrassed to say I ignored it thinking Trey had just touched his balloon again, I went to check on him just to make sure. Unfortunately Caleb had plowed face-first into the CORNER of the family room wall. I could see immediately the point of contact going from the top of his nose, all the way down to his already-swelling chin. He was starting to bleed, but I couldn't really tell the significance of the injury because he wouldn't let me look in his mouth. I tried giving him popsicles, but he said they hurt, and even Spiderman ice packs were terrifying to him. His little face swelled up to the point he was almost unrecognizable. I called his pediatrician to see if we needed to come in, but they told me that if his nose were broken, it would be crooked (which it wasn't), and if his teeth weren't loose (which they weren't), there wasn't much they could do. The next morning I could better see the extent of his injuries. He would let me barely lift his throbbing lip to see what was going on in his mouth. He had pushed one of his front teeth completely up and in, and his gums looked like hamburger. He was even still occasionally bleeding even 2 days later. This photo was taken the next day, and if you look close, you can see the lovely red line down his sweet face.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTJ0FD9pSvxER3Wb1KIRBM5GLWklJbeo8yDlFmnsa4R3plQixARxwLBNAJZ9tCfykvciMI9qY3TifWgM3aJDidOD6UONip0WlBhpq2cZARcHTIlJJINbJY53yfwf22JDWAKzHCNJv0gY/s1600-h/IMG_5604.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTJ0FD9pSvxER3Wb1KIRBM5GLWklJbeo8yDlFmnsa4R3plQixARxwLBNAJZ9tCfykvciMI9qY3TifWgM3aJDidOD6UONip0WlBhpq2cZARcHTIlJJINbJY53yfwf22JDWAKzHCNJv0gY/s400/IMG_5604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239043874270475010" /></a>Fast forward 3 weeks later... The tooth that has been displaced is now gray and dead. I remembered that his dentist had told me if this happened, we would need to pull the tooth to prevent infection. I call the dentist and they don't have openings for 2 more weeks. Argh...this tooth is quite ugly inside his adorable little mouth. I don't want to wait 2 weeks, but even more pressing, he's developed a cold which I'm nervous could be a secondary infection from the tooth. I decide to err on the side of caution, and I take him into the doctor. She sends me right downstairs to another pediatric dentist AGAST that my dentist wouldn't take him immediately. After spending an hour at the doctor, poor KK isn't thrilled about walking right back into another waiting room. Well, after x-rays (and another gasp as I mention my experience with previous dentist), Caleb's injury is apparently MUCH worse than even I thought. The tooth is obviously dead, but he has actually BROKEN a bone inside his mouth. The bone that holds the root in place on his front teeth has been cracked. I about started crying. My poor baby has been walking around with a broken bone in his MOUTH and I didn't even know. They told me to put him on a soft food diet for the next few weeks. After the bone is healed - about 8 weeks - they'll basically do a root canal without taking out the tooth (the only good news of the day). <div><br /></div><div>This humbling experience brings back horrible memories of spending a Sunday in the ER with Caleb nearly 2 years ago. He wouldn't walk, had a fever, and we were nervous he had another urinary tract infection. After a few days of tests, we were referred to a orthopedic surgeon who does x-rays of KK's leg and tells me he's cracked his knee cap. This is at least a week after his injury. I felt like such a horrible mommy. Most kids break arms and sprain ankles, mine breaks his mouth and knee. </div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, today was a very sobering experience as a mother. After we got home and I checked my messages, I notice my house is dead silent. Those of you who are parents know - this is NEVER a good thing. I walk into the entry hall, and here I find Caleb right where I left him when we walked in the house. Poor Caleb. Trey at least found his bed to crash in...<br /><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqScV6oFzD4_vps6P10MgFVFgF24PryfUMCq0FrwMtRtMcXY184M_tQfuNYSt-tJSsKQeXJjbVnq0RjWYANV3u14iUR7zgnbvi2WJpmJ1y8ToTJIT-UC0G3wztrZ6jG2ZtYleW9JWiB4/s1600-h/IMG_5818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqScV6oFzD4_vps6P10MgFVFgF24PryfUMCq0FrwMtRtMcXY184M_tQfuNYSt-tJSsKQeXJjbVnq0RjWYANV3u14iUR7zgnbvi2WJpmJ1y8ToTJIT-UC0G3wztrZ6jG2ZtYleW9JWiB4/s400/IMG_5818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239043879536486194" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-55428255570283008812008-08-24T23:59:00.000-07:002008-08-25T05:31:55.535-07:00Grateful Sunday<div style="text-align: center;">I love how a particular day of the week, Sunday - in fact, can elicit a sense of gratitude and perspective in my life. God has blessed me with so much, I can't help but thank Him.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>1. My job. It's not often people have as much passion as I do about what I get paid for. I honestly I believe I would still take the time and effort (I'm not making any promises) even if I didn't get paid to do what I do for a living. I love my students, the music, and how it makes me feel to make others happy (and in pain at the same time :)).</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEMhJzHTRU9RSRcHqRWswUvBwchxiGcz33LLVnRDKpz3mylIE1eombtu74ty5iywrPKckM9bap7e-6OfrO6mrXGygcnRIR9QK3nnGKBiAZDlfYpEXiIIIYqQCwn7ug2-GQfN8Ifg2eOE/s200/growing+tree.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238410935408683218" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLdFEV-Nl4rOI6MauZhQVf8iORY4-S0lGvLKvsbmu8eFEJfEZx2_vOnMTEDEzRMuh8bl7nlVLL35IW76LqaXqY-APS3aylO4NAL5CKxda7iiV5BRY41likUnTLV-6lngVkpUgTTW-pkg/s200/group+X.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238410931681232850" /></div><div><br /></div><div>2. My sweet Lucas. You changed the shape of my heart in just a few short months. You'll always be my little coconut. Memories of you send a smile to my face.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mOWXVF1cATfjis1OUhTb3rZzbyCiWr4Og_38P39S1W7WsKktR98mNl1olbu6L7GJ4wIGDHpxthhhv1oc-S4ZW54bOa8MRbB44JxbMHWPmr8MiIOzqAJ10GX9SVG9w4kxkhro6t1Shvo/s320/20070911_0003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238416895524650738" /><br /><div>3. Like many un-ashamed, fully-grown women around the country - I'm grateful for the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. She's proof that even us (LDS) stay-at-home moms can have wild and vivid imaginations worth putting down on paper and selling for (lots of) good money.<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5wrfpYskxBoIOuZQx5RMm1N4FKoPjLoeuAP7-qfnpXVNQKOBZxqftY4F2IpQRwOD-gZ9yzw4fxzKdW3cF6FX24s9HvUm6lm6TtK1m9yOcyLw7b0PN7lHRNVr3VG5I7rrL6pUsr7e9wg/s200/twilightcover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420926978872226" /><br /></div><div>4. Burke Williams Day Spa. The things a good deep-tissue massage can do for the body is so powerful, it seeps into the soul. <br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqqMWQ9lPl_biFY5X7ZH4hKCuMdWPuERvpTnV9b3_wycp1WKrit8fWYjWxmvJxqx0tbwxCCCQCGXt6A5JyPu4tcXOT0cT-t9DJiZqwz9M5w2FQFrrnGmNIcKMfzqvyVk1dXbujcaAklI/s200/massage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420932952214530" /><div style="text-align: left;">5. Jenna Byers. I love this girl beyond measure. She has been the one to catch my fall many times in my life. She has been present with me during the darkest, as well as happiest moments of my life. Please forgive me, dear friend, for the photo. This happens to be one of my happiest moments - a bright shining light cutting through the dark fog. The sock slide...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52hZhcLks0ANlbMXqtVVexceX3Sz4A7-oIE3oNIJNyZtBFRMyv_IGo9Vn2lnlmNZDHUVYtr5ZaTiu_JsrPwl6OA_kQt3wtGCnpTNmI_WCF7d722dVjr69ShyhQaxt_JUef_LRr4yV2Gg/s320/IMG_4409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420324739799074" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. David Mark Wheeler. I'm grateful for the love. I'm grateful for the smile that always reminds me how deeply I love him. I'm grateful for the journey no matter what the cost; the reward outweighs all else. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOecSIIIrW4ekC2iJaZML5t2vAJk6Xu5eXdJWjSe0RNSa043VuTYSZd6RLbmofLm8Cl23FfeQ88Nzv19XkZDEJi96EZ3ES545ajs0vrm6WH6Q6CtJ7M2sY9g6GRPwxhz9ZSmpF7cFVDM/s320/20070202_0052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420331057468962" /><div style="text-align: left;">7. My car. I know, so profoundly materialistic in the midst of the loves of my life, but still. One doesn't understand the benefit of remote ignition, until you have it. Or a back up camera, or GPS, or so many other features I love about my precious car.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT_0KODzDSdRlD7uaQmDkri2HSWge3o1gf5h16PIT6g-ePFrn_lCyymtGOUg7nPe3QyliPG9xQkdcEUdppoX_bi9F7w7CQbm-gGMYtUW5XzEagnvcAhZk9lkFHFp-nnTDhgcoL_X3gT4/s200/ltz.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420930072598242" /><br /></div><div>8. The 2008 Beijing Olympics. I have just relished watching history in the making. I've loved the stories of true heart and passion and dedication to a craft. I never am so vocal in my tv-watching as when the olympics are on (except maybe while watching The Office).<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyjhXffzOhhyphenhyphenzdkfbtEHObH9qM0ZySqMBERHgqyuaPYe-cb9l-jhvmqsgJBMiYZRBkbumfsQqebUn_H_jtoooX-aYakjHtENohK0yuL22bO4PYSMbryUOaaj4EId3BKrkbnn92bQC-Bk/s200/08new_beijing_logo.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238422299864768466" /><br /></div><div>9. How could I remember so many bright shining lights in my life without mentioning my Treyden. How I love this face. I have a song for each of my children that reminds me of their arrival and how I felt about them at their birth. Treyden's song is so befitting, "I Knew I Loved you Before I Met You." Nothing could be more true. He's so perfect for me, he reminds me why I love being a mommy. T has the best monologues, and makes me laugh and smile every day. My favorite phrase (and probably will be for a long time), is, "mommy, you beautiful guwil". He always knows how to make me feel loved.<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wN5RJ0i1OL13DPUTgKNg5VBQSNCSG3YzvIp0fKKebuBEC9Z2-u1M95vb2wsVM0SJ2Wm7jR7PBjzOqtJb0-Z6YHZQoJ8zqwDC0NbBOhuGiw1sL8QyzE0JkPFSeAD0pvNkIsoyVr2Zr08/s320/IMG_5362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420344656093826" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Last, but NEVER least, Caleb. You challenge my notion of reality and the way life should be. You teach me so much about love and patience. You love me with a passion I've never felt before you, and I don't know if I'll ever understand, and maybe I don't want to. You are such a great example to me of conviction and persistence. I know Heavenly Father sent you straight to my arms (with your thumb in your mouth). </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOAsq5CGqL8XkhYmst41tvnT3LnuJJEPgdywIfO9ThBL2Cqyf-GfNkDiieKABdFUU50CW9rVyMDThbzxfTi0WZH7phzP4MciXoc8cMnOkZrICK1esK3kP93SZhaZnKwEF2O-e3KsYRZQ/s320/IMG_5378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238420352937745186" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-40786395346674911722008-08-04T00:08:00.000-07:002008-08-05T14:54:29.239-07:00Yo Ho Yo Ho a little boy's life for me...Can I just proclaim my love for little-boyhood. I love to live life through the eyes of my preschoolers. The passion they find for the little things in life is mesmerizing. What an existence to live for a new Star Wars toy, or a trip to Sea World. How simple life seems when the worries us adults carry are put into perspective by a child without a care. It makes me realize how truly foolish I can be as my biggest worries usually turn out to be nothing at all. And what does worrying accomplish anyway? Children place importance on the things that we cannot live without: laughter, family, love, sunshine, care-free play, friends, good food, hugs and kisses (a hi-five must always accompany every hug and kiss in my house), and saying, "I love you".<div><br /></div><div> Caleb's latest boyhood obsession is pirates.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-gPd1CgdZ2RWtxTWZmDn_oI06N61slY4WWujb5QZLmAhPbGzRPaE5okLP4knOQIPotdnlZEgZq9sYdieVC8pfEN_hZNEFxGErI7UY1Uge6xR_tDM63hhCXHXaj7EZnn_xrQMDQdS1qs/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230559228949168354" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX_j4DEwFouZ8UP3XN-meaBWEVygQAh59ZGSRJ0osybTNMpifEjvPSqj00hfV-MxexFGxr_nI9OMNO3Ojl6DfEjZ_HRkXXBeQhIBKIHekFRm3RwwKWvmcj9xRJl1Pr3BqbaXeT5URdgg/s320/IMG_5604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230559236911270754" /><div style="text-align: center;">Trey has turned into my resident fish. He loves the water and lives for any opportunity to wear his "oggle-globes" (even the bathtub). He's so smart - he is teaching himself to swim and I'm so proud of him!!<br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBjboQB_QsRi9vORySHutG4D65_DB0RSM5FqePbxnlxyZsmqLCLYPxsrmR3zPEQao_XF3SeBkI7ofAcCyMQazCU0RX2lThF-8O4QDCt0zxV4tXnh14RBcGSUY2WP08cNqFHeMpArmkTE/s320/IMG_5494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230560202562317266" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CJSnzGIxQPTkT6niepu_D1hWrlphbOfv7dTQjNINR7lvfgWtWCIRp54kn68I4IejNjeQ1mDyuP5eKImtNARtasHPYnl0DxWcy_ulOImqNzNJDDdbzfFlacYUxU5SHuw1tDZ3tMdkvmU/s320/IMG_5521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230560209373278626" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoq8kQFE4Q4TAJB457wSRrY0hbuGLAHHA-T2r6-_KPohunstP7-IJcUgoQO_V5-HtBPtC6Nna7U5D2S6s25wefLKn5snSXpvaCgCblRqFOI_I1TBruxZ3vYhtA1z_0mmEmdpPZDdywUg/s320/IMG_5507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230560220490393426" /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-55042368826061823692008-07-26T21:08:00.001-07:002008-07-27T20:37:33.792-07:00I remember when...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(41, 48, 59); font-size:13px;">1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, just about anything you remember!<br /><br />2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you!"...misty water-colored memories, of the way we were...."</span>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-42249800516431224232008-07-26T20:27:00.000-07:002008-07-26T21:22:52.226-07:00200 Have and Have-nots<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(10, 3, 10); line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><strong>200 Have and Have-nots</strong></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(10, 3, 10); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 48px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(10, 3, 10); line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So I pulled this from a friend's blog. All of the items bolded are life experiences I can say I've had thus far in my life. Looks like I have some adventures to go on. If you feel so inclined, copy and paste into your own blog. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(10, 3, 10); line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>1. Touched an iceberg<br /><strong>2. Slept under the stars</strong><br />3. Been a part of a hockey fight<br /><strong>4. Changed a baby's diaper</strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">5. Watched a meteor shower </span></strong><br /><strong>6. Given more than you can afford to charity</strong><br />7. Swam with wild dolphins<br /><strong>8. Climbed a mountain</strong><br />9. Held a tarantula<br /><strong>10. Said "I love you" and meant it</strong><br />11. Bungee jumped<br />12. Visited Paris<br />13. Watched a lightning storm at sea<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise</span><br />15. Seen the Northern Lights<br /><strong>16. Gone to a huge sports game</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty </strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope</strong><br /><strong>20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment</strong><br /><strong>21. Had a pillow fight</strong><br />22. Bet on a winning horse<br /><strong>23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">24. Built a snow fort</strong><br /><span style="">25. Held a lamb</span><br /><span>26. Gone skinny dipping</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">27. Taken an ice cold bath</span><br /><span style="">28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">29. Seen a total eclipse</span><br /><strong>30. Ridden a roller coaster</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">31. Hit a home run</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking</span><br /><strong style="">33. Adopted an accent for fun</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors</strong><br /><strong>35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment</strong><br /><strong>36. Loved your job 90% of the time</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">38. Watched wild whales</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">39. Gone rock climbing</span><br /><strong style="">40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach</strong><br />41. Gone sky diving<br />42. Visited Ireland<br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant</strong><br />44. Visited India<br />45. Bench-pressed your own weight<br /><span style="">46. Milked a cow</span><br /><strong>47. Alphabetized your personal files</strong><br />48. Ever worn a superhero costume<br /><strong>49. Sung karaoke</strong><br /><strong>50. Lounged around in bed all day</strong><br />51. Gone scuba diving<br /><strong>52. Kissed in the rain</strong><br /><strong>53. Played in the mud</strong><br /><strong>54. Gone to a drive-in theater</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">55. Done something you should regret, but don't </span>(should I admit this?!?!)<br />56. Visited the Great Wall of China<br />57. Started a business<br />58. Taken a martial arts class<br />59. Been in a movie<br />60. Gone without food for 3 days<br /><strong>61. Made cookies from scratch</strong><br /><span style="">62. Won first prize in a costume contest</span><br /><strong>63. Got flowers for no reason</strong><br />64. Been in a combat zone<br />65. Spoken more than one language fluently<br />66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone<br /><strong>67. Bounced a check</strong><br /><strong>68. Read - and understood - your credit report</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy</span><br /><strong>70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">71. Called or written your Congress person</span><br />72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over<br /><span style="">73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">74. Helped an animal give birth</span><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">75. Been fired or laid off from a job</span> </strong><br /><span style="">76. Won money</span><br />77. Broken a bone<br /><strong>78. Ridden a motorcycle</strong><br />79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph<br />80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing</span><br />82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days<br /><span style="">83. Eaten sushi</span><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">84. Had your picture in the newspaper</span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">85. Read The Bible cover to cover(does the Book of Mormon count?)</span><br /><strong>86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about</strong><br />87. Gotten someone fired for their actions<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">88. Gone back to school </span>(still haven't finished yet, but have been back)<br /><strong>89. Changed your name</strong><br /><strong style="">90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands</strong><br />91. Eaten fried green tomatoes<br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">92. Read The Iliad</strong><br /><strong>93. Taught yourself an art from scratch</strong><br />94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt</span><br /><strong>96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language</strong><br />97. Been elected to public office<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care</strong><br />100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you<br /><span style="">101. Had a booth at a street fair</span><br /><strong>102. Dyed your hair</strong><br />103. Been a DJ<br /><strong>104. Rocked a baby to sleep</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours</span><br />106. Raked your carpet<br /><strong>107. Brought out the best in people</strong><br /><strong>108. Brought out the worst in people</strong><br /><strong>109. Worn a mood ring</strong><br /><strong>110. Ridden a horse</strong><br />111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap<br /><strong>112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe</strong><br />113. Buried a child<br /><strong>114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play</strong><br />115. Been inside the pyramids<br /><strong>116. Shot a basketball into a basket</strong><br />117. Danced at a disco<br /><strong style="">118. Played in a band</strong><br />119. Shot a bird<br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">120. Gone to an arboretum</strong><br /><strong style="">121. Tutored someone</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">122. Ridden a train</span><br />123. Brought an old fad back into style<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">124. Eaten caviar</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant</span><br />127. Published a book<br /><strong>128. Pieced a quilt</strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">129. Lived in an historic place</span></strong><br /><strong>130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage</strong><br /><strong>131. Asked for a raise</strong><br /><strong>132. Made a hole-in-one (Does mini-golf count?)</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">133. Gone deep sea fishing</span><br /><strong>134. Gone roller skating</strong><br />135. Run a marathon<br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">136. Learned to surf</strong><br />137. Invented something<br />138. Flown first class<br />139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">140. Flown in a helicopter</span><br />141. Visited Africa<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">142. Sang a solo</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">143. Gone spelunking</span><br /><strong>144. Learned how to take a compliment</strong><br />145. Written a love-story<br />146. Seen Michelangelo’s David<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">147. Had your portrait painted</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">148. Written a fan letter</span><br />149. Spent the night in something haunted<br />150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane<br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">151. Ran away</strong><br />152. Learned to juggle<br /><strong>153. Been a boss</strong><br />154. Sat on a jury<br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">155. Lied about your weight</span></strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">156. Gone on a diet</span></strong><br />157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget<br /><strong>158. Written a poem</strong><br /><strong>159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">160. Gotten food poisoning</span><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission</span></strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">162. Hiked the Grand Canyon</strong><br /><strong>163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks</strong><br />164. Gone to the opera<br />165. Gotten a letter from someone famous<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">166. Worn knickers</span><br /><strong>167. Ridden in a limousine</strong><br /><span style="">168. Attended the Olympics</span><br />169. Can hula or waltz<br /><strong style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books</span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">171. Been stuck in an elevator</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">172. Had a revelatory dream</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">173. Thought you might crash in an airplane</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">175. Saved someone’s life</span><br />176. Eaten raw whale<br />177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint<br /><strong>178. Laughed till your side hurt</strong><br />179. Straddled the equator<br /><strong>180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing</strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival</span></strong><br />182. Sent a message in a bottle<br />183. Spent the night in a hostel<br /><strong>184. Been a cashier</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">186. Joined a union</strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">187. Donated blood or plasma</span><br /><strong>188. Built a campfire</strong><br /><strong>189. Kept a blog</strong><br /><strong>190. Had hives</strong><br />191. Worn custom made shoes or boots<br /><strong>192. Made a PowerPoint presentation</strong><br />193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course<br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">194. Served at a soup kitchen</span></strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube</strong><br /><strong>196. Know CPR</strong><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">197. Ridden in or owned a convertible</span></strong><br /><strong>198. Found a long lost friend</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; ">199. Helped solve a crime</strong><br /><strong>200. Commented on a friend's blog. </strong></span></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-23807575557007630542008-07-03T21:18:00.000-07:002008-07-03T21:18:00.671-07:00I Love you to the moon<div style="text-align: center;">Caleb, KK, Cakers, Yoda.. Happy 3rd Birthday!! My sweet little Firecracker born on the 4th of July. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFCoTQgdbpyPutSpeuTDopdiyO2NguhQ08toGnpZDIpaVFUc-N8Bj15WsXrtESxN1JC6q9EhMZLhWpHyHb26W5n6iK9w_ZDfGY8vke-qxqdRDJnXirOysItgvl4XYG8ndEMnhCID_emA/s1600-h/sleepingnewborn+jul05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFCoTQgdbpyPutSpeuTDopdiyO2NguhQ08toGnpZDIpaVFUc-N8Bj15WsXrtESxN1JC6q9EhMZLhWpHyHb26W5n6iK9w_ZDfGY8vke-qxqdRDJnXirOysItgvl4XYG8ndEMnhCID_emA/s320/sleepingnewborn+jul05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218683194421146930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK2Ftv7MhWJtOIv_6YqOdHuQaC5TB_Z90assl3Enhkc_ybch3hK1HLyj4AP2PO9gI_lxb8q4x1VWHVAU9xdltBVDJHEbvi_i3LINWNV7NS_M0CtdoHNWxMc_ObUZOnbJLR0QSzdiLysE/s1600-h/exersaucer6+jan25+06.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK2Ftv7MhWJtOIv_6YqOdHuQaC5TB_Z90assl3Enhkc_ybch3hK1HLyj4AP2PO9gI_lxb8q4x1VWHVAU9xdltBVDJHEbvi_i3LINWNV7NS_M0CtdoHNWxMc_ObUZOnbJLR0QSzdiLysE/s320/exersaucer6+jan25+06.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218681319122137634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQTLdlKilGZfQxYlUIEjCswnCEy8DV4fcHjhYXIy1QpV0I0HWO5e1loEjFzKMiZPo00uz7jhVB582g-ZCk7u97mjrgzg7LtzOcZAaX47IcjMe5qTR2Dc-gf_LiNLrBfFASFCGVpTn9l4/s1600-h/yellow+tent+jan16+06.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQTLdlKilGZfQxYlUIEjCswnCEy8DV4fcHjhYXIy1QpV0I0HWO5e1loEjFzKMiZPo00uz7jhVB582g-ZCk7u97mjrgzg7LtzOcZAaX47IcjMe5qTR2Dc-gf_LiNLrBfFASFCGVpTn9l4/s320/yellow+tent+jan16+06.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218681324484265842" /></a>My life changed the day you were born, and there's no going back. I'm officially smitten with you. You've taught me so much, well beyond your allotted offering in your 3 short years. You love to laugh and to cry and very little in between. Everything about you is big, except your stature. You certainly make your presence known when you walk into a room (especially Sacrament meeting). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O4MvOKHH1iy-grcQRxCtCBO3HJRJ06_a7WV_3k0xnyD0z1SQk2qeMEpjVNBsOkT8iE2zrLZx7kxPdRspU5e0OCtlidvw8nBTcB8fUED1_bgn5ID2904Y6YR7JIspiTgKnxSmawENUis/s1600-h/Peanut+beard+dec16+05.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O4MvOKHH1iy-grcQRxCtCBO3HJRJ06_a7WV_3k0xnyD0z1SQk2qeMEpjVNBsOkT8iE2zrLZx7kxPdRspU5e0OCtlidvw8nBTcB8fUED1_bgn5ID2904Y6YR7JIspiTgKnxSmawENUis/s320/Peanut+beard+dec16+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218681329015694098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkDkO4BygKuGczE7_UEfOS4kGcxE9U-ADt0kdo3UB3df5PuwbPZFrnz3UBCH19Du-REK4wK7qIQxHrT-j0X7jbC14lJgPsKuXLZJomVFqrRUI_KemnnPKgQ_rMpSjHrVqPxxWthuRVA/s1600-h/sittin+nov23+05.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkDkO4BygKuGczE7_UEfOS4kGcxE9U-ADt0kdo3UB3df5PuwbPZFrnz3UBCH19Du-REK4wK7qIQxHrT-j0X7jbC14lJgPsKuXLZJomVFqrRUI_KemnnPKgQ_rMpSjHrVqPxxWthuRVA/s320/sittin+nov23+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218681330731217746" /></a>Everybody who knows you loves you. In fact, you had a Caleb Fan club by the time you were walking. You have charisma and charm. You are witty and clever. You're smarter than I often give you credit for, and where you lack knowledge, you make up for with persistence and effort.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vp1k9nmOOU7RO7ZeIsLUQFEwwuL6I0Rhc8nV97WbA6dwqeFPdWmiI_u3EPBUy63dKUOfF8PPW0wxsxrL5wE2l9UZMg5LRFkuJUbimJGh98eL-5ycrar0siOJmnSOJi7N58zlIFklfLM/s1600-h/jesterface+oct31+05.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vp1k9nmOOU7RO7ZeIsLUQFEwwuL6I0Rhc8nV97WbA6dwqeFPdWmiI_u3EPBUy63dKUOfF8PPW0wxsxrL5wE2l9UZMg5LRFkuJUbimJGh98eL-5ycrar0siOJmnSOJi7N58zlIFklfLM/s320/jesterface+oct31+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218681334605374530" /></a><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSxlSHMLoDx8JucvOW9rvAt9IPdihmo2cwlPhQX0Egdtb5a86ZRhJpfdFUpXD3W9DgLlcMrmz7CkDNSz6xmtZOSMJtUAw1lbs_yvoBp-qT-sy0iUgl28XiVORXjcSb9X57N0pEMaAr1Q/s320/20060527_0009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218678746777417154" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8cZruXtOz4ClHxSZ62z75C8UWM5a9MHkG9loMZ2y9ZyAEPqTZ6VhqV2ReMbLKYgR-yXvInWTgK9ozSuHVgGP-6XroRwXzGu1oweu_rY-HtmwAU_JkAyb4PYyFGOy8y0VoMWsA2ZDCrM/s1600-h/20061228_0107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8cZruXtOz4ClHxSZ62z75C8UWM5a9MHkG9loMZ2y9ZyAEPqTZ6VhqV2ReMbLKYgR-yXvInWTgK9ozSuHVgGP-6XroRwXzGu1oweu_rY-HtmwAU_JkAyb4PYyFGOy8y0VoMWsA2ZDCrM/s320/20061228_0107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218678719377351506" /></a>You have such a zeal and zest for life. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and you're not afraid to show it. You are persistent, stubborn, and downright difficult sometimes. At the same time, you love with your whole heart, you are kind and generous, sensitive and independent.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PnNK0pxRCbnxehZnN3dgDAwJkDTo-vgbEXz4WBNr_UQczCZdAD3zyY4zSRJSj20s28_TH1-F5tYoLKNbpnR85n7UcWodjKcuRcNGBPrCOnQipLOpIMDeGeJxvXL-SeZjwBDA3yTih5M/s1600-h/20061129_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PnNK0pxRCbnxehZnN3dgDAwJkDTo-vgbEXz4WBNr_UQczCZdAD3zyY4zSRJSj20s28_TH1-F5tYoLKNbpnR85n7UcWodjKcuRcNGBPrCOnQipLOpIMDeGeJxvXL-SeZjwBDA3yTih5M/s320/20061129_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218678727023554562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ktT-X1lrHoJsbNn44A5wnRC_vP1WNkhbgR5lM_C_PXmT5wq6s8tJlzoKfqpQtr35OCzNk-LW_xdh8dLiIKZZtT7ED2k20zuAZt__bSBae-VFk2gq4w1CkcD9tsddNvd3I7W9r9BLRVg/s1600-h/20060917_0077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ktT-X1lrHoJsbNn44A5wnRC_vP1WNkhbgR5lM_C_PXmT5wq6s8tJlzoKfqpQtr35OCzNk-LW_xdh8dLiIKZZtT7ED2k20zuAZt__bSBae-VFk2gq4w1CkcD9tsddNvd3I7W9r9BLRVg/s320/20060917_0077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218678735190385490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOb-zmEx4KF5Zlb7VlCCpHG60GXA-snnvdPWoHocoZbF2MviX6JT7v0vENI_99T-6lCmQ0FkvITu9pNqN9SmZ7XN6YWUHbC0MpKOkYuq-c6BDx1xl_q2UQDsM01AWU4gLDzCoT6CTGLQ/s1600-h/20060620_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOb-zmEx4KF5Zlb7VlCCpHG60GXA-snnvdPWoHocoZbF2MviX6JT7v0vENI_99T-6lCmQ0FkvITu9pNqN9SmZ7XN6YWUHbC0MpKOkYuq-c6BDx1xl_q2UQDsM01AWU4gLDzCoT6CTGLQ/s320/20060620_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218678741403793938" /></a>You are adventurous and live with vigor and without fear. You are a fast learner and there is no end to your curiosity. You have a thirst for knowledge well beyond your years. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnuyCUud_6rZTwiQUnewSttYtT7TKEzTarvgjXhF3D0sr3wQIoQ3ICuy58WSnZcZNZmJd-_dDTryDOJ-TH0GhhcC0oyyPxXktzwvDP0UqUtm4vCI5h8vg7lded6XzqGGrxiBjkg9OF2E/s1600-h/20070224_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnuyCUud_6rZTwiQUnewSttYtT7TKEzTarvgjXhF3D0sr3wQIoQ3ICuy58WSnZcZNZmJd-_dDTryDOJ-TH0GhhcC0oyyPxXktzwvDP0UqUtm4vCI5h8vg7lded6XzqGGrxiBjkg9OF2E/s320/20070224_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218675219875683602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyYxQUatwo_hzMes6gxCbOsutNGqhGhUVyI-qkbRGUbQrfQsTfh10eSpvvfik1JZSOckeB3KlBApvlKV-psCT8HVUAGTyxiiNNzkWrvabLTNPjxm2r1DasWDtVB6GduIlmVh16HVUqYw/s1600-h/20070504_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyYxQUatwo_hzMes6gxCbOsutNGqhGhUVyI-qkbRGUbQrfQsTfh10eSpvvfik1JZSOckeB3KlBApvlKV-psCT8HVUAGTyxiiNNzkWrvabLTNPjxm2r1DasWDtVB6GduIlmVh16HVUqYw/s320/20070504_0013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218675230709072818" /></a>You've had a special love and admiration for your big brother since the day you were born. Perhaps you decided in the life before this to come to our family as brothers. The 2 of you have a bond that's eternal and love that's everlasting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn6BgdzBXBTVqjlCEH5fc_WceqM1VsJ0IxXs2za4OHZFcDPv4GCTqYOL8AZoHSKaWowjUDBJGGJOSTYgzTrm78fvocf3LMSLIBjE4vWwtD4ERCfadgGd7PkpDigtktf1LbaDWoFXavtE/s1600-h/20070520_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn6BgdzBXBTVqjlCEH5fc_WceqM1VsJ0IxXs2za4OHZFcDPv4GCTqYOL8AZoHSKaWowjUDBJGGJOSTYgzTrm78fvocf3LMSLIBjE4vWwtD4ERCfadgGd7PkpDigtktf1LbaDWoFXavtE/s320/20070520_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218675232340853474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHJX43JQsAzdnBegkhC0k0Drm6J3_x1TlZabtVuyrI2LwrH91mlhUgS6roFNPOiomn_L0WVf-ZTZeO2F6nCZvZaCFtWo6bJoEh1S7RgFyZhib85CXZ0iwYkZrAUMv7eJJyR9UMUQ2ud0/s1600-h/20070224_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHJX43JQsAzdnBegkhC0k0Drm6J3_x1TlZabtVuyrI2LwrH91mlhUgS6roFNPOiomn_L0WVf-ZTZeO2F6nCZvZaCFtWo6bJoEh1S7RgFyZhib85CXZ0iwYkZrAUMv7eJJyR9UMUQ2ud0/s320/20070224_0036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218675240843900754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiEzoO0vVYcfd-3LrM5jdcaNOF6-XwPT1RZfffw2qS7_VmvJY_g2E2SkfR3ulI98FIZPZLYH0Upm6JednYMduXoGw79IxXyZ5yRCVM3lV3FJp3zNNznVX6EHTYlwIwElOgZWf9952dsQ/s1600-h/20070129_0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiEzoO0vVYcfd-3LrM5jdcaNOF6-XwPT1RZfffw2qS7_VmvJY_g2E2SkfR3ulI98FIZPZLYH0Upm6JednYMduXoGw79IxXyZ5yRCVM3lV3FJp3zNNznVX6EHTYlwIwElOgZWf9952dsQ/s320/20070129_0023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218675246694577026" /></a>You're a momma's boy thru and thru. You still love to lay your head on my chest and suck your thumb. You have a passion for climbing and high places - often much higher than is of comfort to your mother. You care only for your own opinion of yourself, never that of others. You've always had your own secret agenda, and only the lucky ones are invited into your circle of trust. <br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NvMM_94DQHs8EMOmt9G6aqa2KXfMQGdjAL59xZjTo55DCA9ylElV82bfB3eXbhuIXGDqPAxusRxziq3UBHkf-pjVgNuGhCJdKrObVLQojasQem-muci3JKml9cqjAffxgUqmXq7diZg/s320/20070810_0025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218669846981426978" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkPtLG2fpEstiX2kwlsLnLJUv51nYoVS3Vt-q3PVhaySNSGn7rQQNlMi-jxvGCK9tj4QaLhfuQnYzBjIx84LAuIxlcQvk6hanM9GmwmdVmgpDsWdriTUhyphenhyphenkudslhou9dD_2SMvnx0ymc/s320/Caleb.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218669840651602018" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCaIlyo63YXUNM7jM4gl-CJT5GznIY3fl868Ntm8pu5zSvzRs9SbMRIvVWwJzTE_YVnkM4NE_xtkEHLJ4fzDQsgTN2X-VaKgHvT8DA9lrLQJAZi8NPEc-VsJm0d0vJ9zBPvfezWO3zVs/s320/IMG_3374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218669836284888258" /><div style="text-align: center;">Your beautiful baby blues can melt my heart and curdle my blood within the same moment. Your emotions are unpredictable, and yet so sincere and true, there is never a moment that I wonder how you're feeling.<br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8-y0QkhH0AkAf3cB_9bW_YmW4Wh3lbgzCBsIXhiNuR_pUMMO-0Lf9mHzyfxngyCbbV0oonADLZmguUluG1KqlZZn2Cm_5rx1dGNcIWGCJVIeiacl7E1mdIx4xBaH3KhLLqjQODyxeC8/s320/IMG_3979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218669829628879938" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6A0yAvDzj5gaYdOJP2JgbA0gg7gokGSPmiZqzF6VSesR9SXtYIIPZs27MN6r-NVVQUh0zhzQeJakom0V8Egd9Va6Wl-holyQt8kvrOyJYgJ3PcJyJYe36viNaqXcDi8OkzXMZ0utr3CM/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218669827022001538" /><div style="text-align: center;">What a blessing it is to be your mommy. I love you to the moon and back again. <br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-43278769189067334152008-07-03T21:17:00.000-07:002008-07-03T21:17:12.346-07:00Happy 1st<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPYT_7a8z9Hdyd9Rc6pS9ylU0duSgOCaf92utdVAb94-X8HJnHQXBYkbxZ6rv6quIvtTccO4INzz1PSG6ull0gQDY6dWADNNB0p12Ek3U9LXi_ABVpyXXPgR5EeRAOxXebVZp-RptZVQ/s1600-h/20070704_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPYT_7a8z9Hdyd9Rc6pS9ylU0duSgOCaf92utdVAb94-X8HJnHQXBYkbxZ6rv6quIvtTccO4INzz1PSG6ull0gQDY6dWADNNB0p12Ek3U9LXi_ABVpyXXPgR5EeRAOxXebVZp-RptZVQ/s320/20070704_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218970973453363058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC21spO2gxUZEXn2fExvuRd4325ZbAF80kKYXSg1XaZJlmv_NNVB4BP_KIe29-tI9fdw8GSuh77jX1GVHGZk3gUwkJZIvdsbHYN55aF4tO7oLyoVZqSWNRMNHAEeToEIZNM_dH7xuO2W4/s1600-h/20070707_0063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC21spO2gxUZEXn2fExvuRd4325ZbAF80kKYXSg1XaZJlmv_NNVB4BP_KIe29-tI9fdw8GSuh77jX1GVHGZk3gUwkJZIvdsbHYN55aF4tO7oLyoVZqSWNRMNHAEeToEIZNM_dH7xuO2W4/s320/20070707_0063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218970973670472242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFlV1MhfWEsP9hHba_rRSI7BWjsS2a9d7Zt9wJZpvM5qpm80c3ILndo3VZWfJEGInj0ONRRmaxPyGCJyC17XUyeo8_ki8IZogTP-Z3jIEWWno7kGIg521oREXrOFeDT6C3A4Ztu2tRO0/s1600-h/20070713_0034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFlV1MhfWEsP9hHba_rRSI7BWjsS2a9d7Zt9wJZpvM5qpm80c3ILndo3VZWfJEGInj0ONRRmaxPyGCJyC17XUyeo8_ki8IZogTP-Z3jIEWWno7kGIg521oREXrOFeDT6C3A4Ztu2tRO0/s320/20070713_0034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218970981040729714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxA8GlsogZuoIeYHtHuFFK-hMaLDjneiANgAsnSc36BncEbx8qIqHM-OOzNWckMGhpPCLEQf6NWXtepVzEzvAVHrWFdVTwbOw7uC0t4qH4wDHUxZPbKFigq9po_0WIidLIb5De1yl4jg/s1600-h/IMG_3053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxA8GlsogZuoIeYHtHuFFK-hMaLDjneiANgAsnSc36BncEbx8qIqHM-OOzNWckMGhpPCLEQf6NWXtepVzEzvAVHrWFdVTwbOw7uC0t4qH4wDHUxZPbKFigq9po_0WIidLIb5De1yl4jg/s320/IMG_3053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218970984290543810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fjz2HjIG9B8JZe7W_G2IG_Q3UcBvXnmegCwGolqi68kOkNGLIfUDqCoVPtjntvWtWQJAvPX6O9Wexl0HXT2A-Nj-D3lhJ_jq1UVDUvWMy_1XCEdxgD2s4Bo-AYf099hCG_pZxl_IVlM/s1600-h/IMG_1993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fjz2HjIG9B8JZe7W_G2IG_Q3UcBvXnmegCwGolqi68kOkNGLIfUDqCoVPtjntvWtWQJAvPX6O9Wexl0HXT2A-Nj-D3lhJ_jq1UVDUvWMy_1XCEdxgD2s4Bo-AYf099hCG_pZxl_IVlM/s320/IMG_1993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218970992119269042" /></a><br />To my angel boy, Lucas. You will carry a piece of my heart with you for the rest of your life. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to give it to you, and to take a bit of your soul with me. I pray you are happy and healthy. I love you forever my sweet Lucas. Happy First Birthday!!Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-35117350344959644452008-06-18T21:21:00.000-07:002008-06-18T21:53:36.630-07:00Let's get this party started!!<div>Let me just start by saying that I love summer and everything about it. I love the sunshine - it has such a magical power to make me happy. I love being in the water and going to the beach and warm, balmy evenings. I love not wearing shoes and walking in the grass and sand in bare feet. I also love seeing my kids participate in all the fun activities summer has to offer. We have already had so much fun at Disneyland and Wild Rivers. I haven't been to Wild Rivers since I worked there, oh...15 years ago! What a BLAST!! </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzgswgXDTsW_YnzwujPSYZUl4z_iL9wPmDc38j-C5g_J1k1VNrJ-cUHG_vNeLvkK2KdCg2tF0d98kXR8ndJny1jb-u47iTWRPZMhCeenBHMpFB8wi28ijpB0ojcm0vamalTa5VfRJkaQ/s1600-h/IMG_4889.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzgswgXDTsW_YnzwujPSYZUl4z_iL9wPmDc38j-C5g_J1k1VNrJ-cUHG_vNeLvkK2KdCg2tF0d98kXR8ndJny1jb-u47iTWRPZMhCeenBHMpFB8wi28ijpB0ojcm0vamalTa5VfRJkaQ/s320/IMG_4889.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213447943274525986" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">Trey is such an adventurer. He has no fear in the water and loves to experience it all. There is a little kiddie wave pool basically INSIDE the bigger wave pool made for boogie boarding. The waves wash over a concrete barrier and into the kiddie wave pool. Trey had such a great time just getting washed over by the walls of water.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzw0TQurqUKEDSwVDmF2lZKYPrYrZlG0nzaYDyPgAsr3RctDI_FG6clVIrNCkoe45O7vP_qhKXftu9gq1DVtaAnX5dLUYrL7FAGckyFZz0GZF9VKHGFIYbfYS2flAldo6w69IEy69zIM/s1600-h/IMG_4904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzw0TQurqUKEDSwVDmF2lZKYPrYrZlG0nzaYDyPgAsr3RctDI_FG6clVIrNCkoe45O7vP_qhKXftu9gq1DVtaAnX5dLUYrL7FAGckyFZz0GZF9VKHGFIYbfYS2flAldo6w69IEy69zIM/s320/IMG_4904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213447950728279570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There is a great waterfall that Trey just loved to walk and stand under. He was mesmerized by how the water looked as it fell and splashed.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Sma6n_h-VaQHIYwHSO6Via1zbokT2pWd2OkW5IkZinhphp1twMfrFa7tQSujeo5oDJfVjV8tZ56qmnMnnAPXb26AK_7tv2BZJvshUgVqYIorR2xIwG0KsZlTXeM13LuohWuMRKta8U/s1600-h/IMG_4906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Sma6n_h-VaQHIYwHSO6Via1zbokT2pWd2OkW5IkZinhphp1twMfrFa7tQSujeo5oDJfVjV8tZ56qmnMnnAPXb26AK_7tv2BZJvshUgVqYIorR2xIwG0KsZlTXeM13LuohWuMRKta8U/s320/IMG_4906.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213447957919668274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQiEZMKOEgMXhJXovk0uOOsVZvvVJPek-cXg5jjkqaz9fCE5jvSSdqbjou3CONcjrVroe9iKP9mkBPiJ9AjbuYYmmqvQ8O7zCObId5hnkxk0hOUqGqihr6UvUyzdqigIYgXOAkB8gxlM/s1600-h/IMG_4877.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQiEZMKOEgMXhJXovk0uOOsVZvvVJPek-cXg5jjkqaz9fCE5jvSSdqbjou3CONcjrVroe9iKP9mkBPiJ9AjbuYYmmqvQ8O7zCObId5hnkxk0hOUqGqihr6UvUyzdqigIYgXOAkB8gxlM/s320/IMG_4877.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213447967025794082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Caleb is a little less adventurous, but still without fear in his activities of choice. He loves to go down the slides head first.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4SIz3mpHtumYD-rjsj4fHQYP-_qI8BXvlfSJJ1fWBthuWQlF4PhdVknb0u-dHkjAGbPLc1Wem10RMnujqIjQ8oP4uljITEnL0ywuQCqv4Q5rO4tP7xAcghx5iaAmRwvLrSdzHxBmfgg/s1600-h/IMG_4829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4SIz3mpHtumYD-rjsj4fHQYP-_qI8BXvlfSJJ1fWBthuWQlF4PhdVknb0u-dHkjAGbPLc1Wem10RMnujqIjQ8oP4uljITEnL0ywuQCqv4Q5rO4tP7xAcghx5iaAmRwvLrSdzHxBmfgg/s320/IMG_4829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213446492487859538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOZWfQAPJgrymYjEfwQaACzbHyzu7-xj821oekxPsim30D3khb-iCtenGhbcnWzOpcZvyOgsut8ihBWa5SZ1rPEA7q1Na63iGjlnOpX5RfH0C1R2VDmcyLaUgtX59co2uCKmFG5g6EGI/s1600-h/IMG_4857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOZWfQAPJgrymYjEfwQaACzbHyzu7-xj821oekxPsim30D3khb-iCtenGhbcnWzOpcZvyOgsut8ihBWa5SZ1rPEA7q1Na63iGjlnOpX5RfH0C1R2VDmcyLaUgtX59co2uCKmFG5g6EGI/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213446502661754610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1JGdmmkwDSo7V05eiT-QIH4GJ8hyV6i0lx0tDurVwEqgeDvtK4ECQZUW5hiwQh9YdhVD3eaEHFaKKUFPMT-Vk2AZCiDcPUUSTJSjkoFnZBZLvI8ftCVdN8pnJruNXHHUn7w1h1_zmJA/s1600-h/IMG_4865.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1JGdmmkwDSo7V05eiT-QIH4GJ8hyV6i0lx0tDurVwEqgeDvtK4ECQZUW5hiwQh9YdhVD3eaEHFaKKUFPMT-Vk2AZCiDcPUUSTJSjkoFnZBZLvI8ftCVdN8pnJruNXHHUn7w1h1_zmJA/s320/IMG_4865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213446505536544434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISA_dXr9Bupkb9R2OFxNF9WjCWJ62pu9kSUNll0uYfDNNDagUtwLsoYIvds-YOioaQY0-C2mjn_Y9n06XbGLWn5zknhtUTLdlDKmVBvpdGTAQQXdRaQvhpEnmlQsIRGBd6JwzTs4OI0Q/s1600-h/IMG_4880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISA_dXr9Bupkb9R2OFxNF9WjCWJ62pu9kSUNll0uYfDNNDagUtwLsoYIvds-YOioaQY0-C2mjn_Y9n06XbGLWn5zknhtUTLdlDKmVBvpdGTAQQXdRaQvhpEnmlQsIRGBd6JwzTs4OI0Q/s320/IMG_4880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213446514447491010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2JcK5zvaL3hRqDt8QWIK5JpR6pkZhLJuaqCl-Obx5ZPJR40DDoLueXpRLFAhMkKQyWaa7heb32rDEHoqE5hu16HYM-bwW2kaIt4UjXRse7OI6RTQR5KKvhr8fu9nJSSx1mlyeLUqg9E/s1600-h/IMG_4881.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2JcK5zvaL3hRqDt8QWIK5JpR6pkZhLJuaqCl-Obx5ZPJR40DDoLueXpRLFAhMkKQyWaa7heb32rDEHoqE5hu16HYM-bwW2kaIt4UjXRse7OI6RTQR5KKvhr8fu9nJSSx1mlyeLUqg9E/s320/IMG_4881.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213446521866589842" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is a frequent place for Trey - underwater. The first time we went, I put him in a non-descript navy bathing suit. I had such a hard time spotting him among groups of people, especially since he loves to go under water and hold his breath. The second time a red suit was a little more spottable.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMDteDTCdwpFf4bvO5akzMP8b1Ug3HQCE2JwzxnGMkcZgPKWS9fCStH_Vf7gS0CV7N6J-C1l__XX7JD7VUsqJoPGZSLsn3ZxKtMPt_A-GwKd59e39rImlv14bgu2iB1ePySNic-8r_-Y/s1600-h/IMG_4797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMDteDTCdwpFf4bvO5akzMP8b1Ug3HQCE2JwzxnGMkcZgPKWS9fCStH_Vf7gS0CV7N6J-C1l__XX7JD7VUsqJoPGZSLsn3ZxKtMPt_A-GwKd59e39rImlv14bgu2iB1ePySNic-8r_-Y/s320/IMG_4797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213444345641253890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We also were sooo lucky to hit up a new ride at Disneyland called Toy Story Mania. As passholders, we got a reservation to preview the ride before it opened to everybody else. This ride is the bomb!! If you love the Buzz Lightyear ride, multiply it by 10 and you've got this Toy Story Mania ride. It's 3-D with lots of interactive games and is waaay cool. We went on in 4 times within our reserved time slot, and it just wasn't enough.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95BJoQbL3L04Q9V1vSph47lAR6Sk-vj6yMAc-KtRwqg3B4wFav-99yrvG1C1OWMVM8NToZikjANJjjfH2owS3a6kyHbQ6lqOBXUJph5uf7BSw-d-qOH5L8bAYS9kwm6X80vPAlOYsHgM/s1600-h/IMG_4801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95BJoQbL3L04Q9V1vSph47lAR6Sk-vj6yMAc-KtRwqg3B4wFav-99yrvG1C1OWMVM8NToZikjANJjjfH2owS3a6kyHbQ6lqOBXUJph5uf7BSw-d-qOH5L8bAYS9kwm6X80vPAlOYsHgM/s320/IMG_4801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213444355433893170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyobZDApBymEfJonTk96Jb-fpuOCDrTVE-OYo_eqUT7yBWF9igAoCwv4HsG8RDkHQF_iJGIARd3KeQGUnpFNOQu6GChD34pe0E8SXhjzE3kigChywNfoqfOTgIV4esgznycNRmi5fRYU/s1600-h/IMG_4819.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyobZDApBymEfJonTk96Jb-fpuOCDrTVE-OYo_eqUT7yBWF9igAoCwv4HsG8RDkHQF_iJGIARd3KeQGUnpFNOQu6GChD34pe0E8SXhjzE3kigChywNfoqfOTgIV4esgznycNRmi5fRYU/s320/IMG_4819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213444362470681602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wsEY_-sfiSe04V46nXc-ZKZkuMc1xLqU9b3Ay6EzWYm0rRBWSd3USVYEuc7SX_V5Bpbk54IdEyMRJmoZcFVb5J55Sg2AMK2zylHcka83BizDwTIlxUmSX99OivO3zvJDXOKCaFv8BKk/s1600-h/IMG_4820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wsEY_-sfiSe04V46nXc-ZKZkuMc1xLqU9b3Ay6EzWYm0rRBWSd3USVYEuc7SX_V5Bpbk54IdEyMRJmoZcFVb5J55Sg2AMK2zylHcka83BizDwTIlxUmSX99OivO3zvJDXOKCaFv8BKk/s320/IMG_4820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213444366372082114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo5gGdpeU2iv24BumTRjh8ODAOHX9VPeWviokDrTryCv5ShHDS8WpWad1C_pTrNk6cIFoVg3lqeSob48z23MVtc4a66KTvuQwBGcm6w5SR5Zn-46tVP34inGTb5rqYxmvKDYyV8OChuQ/s1600-h/IMG_4825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo5gGdpeU2iv24BumTRjh8ODAOHX9VPeWviokDrTryCv5ShHDS8WpWad1C_pTrNk6cIFoVg3lqeSob48z23MVtc4a66KTvuQwBGcm6w5SR5Zn-46tVP34inGTb5rqYxmvKDYyV8OChuQ/s320/IMG_4825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213444376418590514" /></a><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-47625872977229166682008-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:002008-06-09T21:17:53.754-07:00MY New Earth<div style="text-align: center;">Some of you may recall me raving about this book in a <a href="http://youaremysonshine.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html">previous post.</a></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNVoxezjXSv69viHabhF2Gln4KKBryEJj4E21_zXftCx3bxmwSko85wX9eTKCTKn9Wop1psmvUww6a84cvV0bwXLmkTjkZJR-GXCz-yLyYsef798mYT-XnoXLbaKy5UhDzFe00Gwus9c/s1600-h/new+earth+pic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNVoxezjXSv69viHabhF2Gln4KKBryEJj4E21_zXftCx3bxmwSko85wX9eTKCTKn9Wop1psmvUww6a84cvV0bwXLmkTjkZJR-GXCz-yLyYsef798mYT-XnoXLbaKy5UhDzFe00Gwus9c/s320/new+earth+pic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210087838883707346" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>I've read the book through twice now, and I continue to be amazed at how revolutionary the ideas and perspectives taught in this book are. Especially since many of the ideas are basic and fundamental principles of the gospel, just presented in a more left-brained kinda way. I've been brought to such an awareness and enlightened state by this book, I can't keep it to myself. Although I feel that I understand the concepts taught in the book, I'm certainly not perfect in implementing them. I do know this, when I am successful in implementing the principles I've learned in this book, I'm able to recognize and become fully aware of the enormous happiness and peace in my life that was already there to begin with, I just closed my eyes to it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I understand that some of these principles may not make total sense without reading the book, but some of my favorite points include: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ol><li style="text-align: left;">First: definition of the ego. Everybody has an ego, it is basically the power within you to cover up or mask the true happiness and joy that is within us all. It craves and creates conflict, suffering, anxiety, and unhappiness. It's purpose is selfish and limiting. It exists to make you feel sorry for yourself, create excuses, create fear of the future and hold on to pain of the past. It is basically walking through life with your eyes closed - in a state of unconsciousness. </li><li style="text-align: left;">You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that's already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Sometimes letting go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Resentment is the emotion that goes with complaining and the mental labeling of people and adds even more energy to the ego. Instead of overlooking unconsciousness in others, you make it into their identity.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Sometimes the "fault" you perceive in another isn't even there. It is a total misinterpretation - a projection by a mind conditioned to see enemies to make itself right or superior.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Nonreaction to the ego in others is one of the most effective ways of going beyond the ego in yourself.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Somebody becomes an enemy if you personalize the unconsciousness that is the ego. Nonreaction is not weakness, but strength. another word for nonreaction is forgiveness.</li><li style="text-align: left;">A grievance is a strong negative emotion connected to an event that is kept alive by compulsive thinking, by retelling the story in the head or aloud. While you think about and feel your grievance, it's negative emotional energy can distort your perception that is happening in the present or influence the way in which you speak or behave toward someone in the present.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Ego takes everything personally. The truth - in any case - needs no defense. The light or sound does not care about what you or anybody thinks. You are defending the illusion of yourself, or rather, the mind-made substitute.</li><li style="text-align: left;">All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it, since awareness and ego are incompatible.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The underlying emotion that governs all the activity of the ego is fear. All it's activities are ultimately designed to eliminate fear, but the most the ego can ever do is to cover it up temporarily with an intimate relationship, a new possession, or winning at this or that. Illusion will never satisfy you - only the truth of who you are, if realized, can set you free.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it. Freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it. Unhappiness covers up your natural state of well-being and inner Peace - the source of true happiness.</li><li style="text-align: left;">One of the ego's many erroneous assumptions is, " I should not have to suffer." Suffering has a noble purpose: the evolution of consciousness, and burning up of the ego. As long as you resist suffering, it is a slow process because the resistance creates more ego to burn up. When you accept suffering, however, there is an acceleration of that process that is brought about by the fact that you suffer consciously. </li><li style="text-align: left;">In the eyes of the ego, self-esteem and humility are contradictory. In truth, they are one and the same.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The ego cannot distinguish between a situation and it's interpretation of and reaction to that situation.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Unconscious thoughts that feed the feelings of discontent or resentment: "there is something that needs to happen in my life before I can be at peace, and I resent that it hasn't happened yet. Maybe my resentment will finally make it happen"</li><li style="text-align: left;">Often the unconscious beliefs are directed toward a person and so "happening" becomes "doing": "you should do this or that so that I can be at peace. And I resent that you haven't done it yet. Maybe my resentment will make you do it."</li><li style="text-align: left;">The extent of the ego's inability to recognize itself and see what it is doing is staggering. it will do exactly what it condemns others for and not see it. When it is pointed out, it will use angry denial, clever arguments, and self-justification to distort the facts.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The body cannot tell the difference between an actual situation and a thought.</li><li style="text-align: left;">"pain body" is an accumulation of old pain we carry with us.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now, and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?</li><li style="text-align: left;">Your sense of who you are determines what you perceive as your needs and what matters to you in life - and whatever matters to you will have the power to upset and disturb you.</li><li style="text-align: left;">You may ask, What are the things that upset and disturb me? if small things have the power to disturb you, that who you think you are is exactly that - small.</li><li style="text-align: left;">You might say, 'peace is all I want", until the phone rings and BAD news comes. Something becomes more important to you now than inner peace. If peace mattered to you more than anything, and if you truly knew yourself to be spirit rather than little me, you would remain non-reactive and alert when confronted with challenging people or situations. You would immediately accept the situation and thus become one with it rather than separate yourself from it.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The more limited, the more egoic the view of yourself, the more you will see, focus on, and react to the egoic limitations, and the unconsciousness in others. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Who you are requires no belief. It does not even require your realization since you already are who you are. But without realization, who you are does not shine forth into the world.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance. Whatever you think the world is withholding from you, you are withholding from the world.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Whatever you think people are withholding from you - give it to them. You don't have it? Act as if you had it and it will come. Soon after you start giving you will start receiving. You cannot receive what you don't give.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The decision to make the present moment into your friend is the end of the ego.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Nonresistance, nonjudgement, and non attachment are the 3 aspect of true freedom and enlightened living. They have deeper purpose: to make you aware of the fleetingness of every situation. When you become aware of the transience of forms, your attachment to them lessens, and you disidentify from them to some extent. Once you see and accept the transience of all things, you can enjoy the pleasures of the world while they last without fear of loss or anxiety about the future.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Whenever you are upset about an event, a person, or a situation, the real cause is NOT the event, person, or situation, but a loss of true perspective.</li><li style="text-align: left;">If you take credit for what you accomplished, the ego has returned.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Anxiety, stress, and negativity cut you off from the greatest power. The illusion that you are separate from the power that runs the universe returns. You feel alone, struggling against something or trying to achieve this or that. But why did anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important.</li><li style="text-align: left;">The conventional notion of success is concerned with the outcome of what you do. Don't let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment. What is that? there is a sense of quality in what you do, even the most simple action. Quality implies care and attention, which comes with awareness. Quality requires your presence.</li><li style="text-align: left;">let's say that you are a businessperson and after 2 years you finally manage to come out with a product that sells well and makes money. Success? In conventional terms, yes. In reality, you spent 2 years polluting your body as well as the earth with negative energy, and made yourself and those around you miserable and affected many others you never even met. The unconscious assumption behind all that action is that success is a future event, and that the end justifies the means. But the end and the means are one. If the means did not contribute to happiness, neither will the end.</li><li style="text-align: left;">When you want to arrive at your goal more than you want to be doing what you're doing, you become stressed. When there is stress, it's usually a sign the ego has returned.</li></ol></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-71215702504695502462008-05-20T21:03:00.000-07:002008-05-20T21:22:22.104-07:00Tell me the Stories of Jesus (as told by Treyden)<div>Remember me telling you the <a href="http://youaremysonshine.blogspot.com/2008/04/grateful-sunday.html">story of how my Treyden blows my mind (see #7)</a> by singing all 3 verses of the primary song we learned in primary that Sunday? Here you go...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGDHsEgEHtrT021w5BLlTlv24sRaC_Vcgq3TcGwYbroJK4SCggNtBSz75s8Q4bh6RPgJwojpC599ih2tWR_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-68183044297500143362008-05-20T20:40:00.000-07:002008-05-20T20:59:47.544-07:00FYI...fishie mask.<div>My little Caleb has run into more random injuries, illnesses and conditions than I thought a healthy little boy could eek out in his measley (not quite) 3-year existence. We've run into a NASTY urinary tract infection, which was apparently due to a condition called urine reflux. He had a procedure about a year-and-a-half ago to take car of that. He has cracked a knee cap (don't ask, I have NO - honestly - NO idea how it happened), multiple black eyes, speech delays, and I've performed the Heimlich maneuver on this little one half a dozen times. The current issue is viral asthma. The poor kid has had "bronchiolitis" 5 times in the last 4 months. We do breathing treatments (fishie mask) every 3 or 4 hours and they seem to eventually go away, sometimes sooner than others. EVERY time he gets sick he has trouble breathing and coughs incessantly. We just came back from the allergist today and there was good news and bad news. Good news: he doesn't have any allergies. Bad news: he has viral asthma - not bronchiolitis. That means that every time little Caleb gets sick, it goes right to his lungs and his asthma kicks in. He coughs so much at night I'll sometimes go in while he's sleeping and do 2 or 3 breathing treatments. You'd think, especially knowing my Caleb, he'd fight tooth and nail to prevent this inconvenience. Amazingly, it works so well, he ASKS me for fishie mask. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish I had known more about allergies and asthma to understand my options months ago so we weren't fumbling through this condition. If your child coughs and coughs every time they get sick, he/she may also have viral asthma. I wouldn't have found out if I hadn't asked my pediatrician about asthma (moms know WAY more than doctors). So, there's your fyi...</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc37F15SOFecBAefYCyIXAa2AuFrWyb2Wc6foILRemM5nEu5mltvP8tY8FCgghyzdMTvKQH_l_OgfQNUZDdATlUe6l_KV9cSoHbuTr25gD3o7mTKGopgoGHQds8x_ytzOizHXd38HtjA/s1600-h/IMG_4662.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc37F15SOFecBAefYCyIXAa2AuFrWyb2Wc6foILRemM5nEu5mltvP8tY8FCgghyzdMTvKQH_l_OgfQNUZDdATlUe6l_KV9cSoHbuTr25gD3o7mTKGopgoGHQds8x_ytzOizHXd38HtjA/s320/IMG_4662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202671637175412610" /></a>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-32734536345084149152008-05-09T00:16:00.000-07:002008-05-09T00:29:17.246-07:00Punk Baby<div style="text-align: center;">We've tried the faux-hawk successfully for about a year now. It has totally fit Caleb's personality and looks adorable on him. Well, my baby is going to be 3 in 2 - count 'em 2 months. I thought it was time to graduate to the real mccoy. My philosophy on hair: It'll always grow back. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that when our trusty Kathy pulled out those clippers and they vibrated my baby's blonde tresses away, I was nothing if not eager to see how it would look. I had no fear about the prospect of having to pull out my own clippers when we got home to "fix" mommy's poor choice. I'm quite happy to say - I couldn't be more pleased with my punk baby, and OH YEAH - it's real. No faking this hawk. AND those of you who know my sweet Caleb, can tell, this coif fits my punk baby like a glove. I loved the looks I got from the teenagers as I walked through the mall. Especially the ones who also pointed at his black vans. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVYg0X29mAzmQKMjR8vbRRv_KTLtl9cl7tvAr4sbyWJZjUEfsLnr6tzxUuuVH6FJGcNVPIzZapZ2I4K_YjlGhmQPsepJvQFBcWI5h0LlD1jtd5pCETbPUsgcYeyuXTc3MDY4eQE1IXBs/s1600-h/IMG_4645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVYg0X29mAzmQKMjR8vbRRv_KTLtl9cl7tvAr4sbyWJZjUEfsLnr6tzxUuuVH6FJGcNVPIzZapZ2I4K_YjlGhmQPsepJvQFBcWI5h0LlD1jtd5pCETbPUsgcYeyuXTc3MDY4eQE1IXBs/s320/IMG_4645.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198274231506388978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZB4rBpPBA9Yst1J-ylqQ3SOYMGSQl8IBrGiFl2UMTb9jagQxTQL5c8OPU4OsqkarG9RUHtR0S0GmtWtTBPPsg9vVbizIqXm8H2fyKe9MlFMbc1gitRn1kgqSgo2NQURH5Wj-X2cj4Ts/s1600-h/IMG_4641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZB4rBpPBA9Yst1J-ylqQ3SOYMGSQl8IBrGiFl2UMTb9jagQxTQL5c8OPU4OsqkarG9RUHtR0S0GmtWtTBPPsg9vVbizIqXm8H2fyKe9MlFMbc1gitRn1kgqSgo2NQURH5Wj-X2cj4Ts/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198274244391290882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKOlh5v_Ae2ItKyNWcNwLhBxN0ddpId9sha4rr0W2aj6GWaB81ULofZKoDqEVOO4lLJeb8NycyX3JucTUZMICb8_pPTFO8cLvYpJ45OCDDUlxuQvvoq9UgdOfcuIqCPnEUf-Xq0hhsss/s1600-h/IMG_4634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKOlh5v_Ae2ItKyNWcNwLhBxN0ddpId9sha4rr0W2aj6GWaB81ULofZKoDqEVOO4lLJeb8NycyX3JucTUZMICb8_pPTFO8cLvYpJ45OCDDUlxuQvvoq9UgdOfcuIqCPnEUf-Xq0hhsss/s320/IMG_4634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198274248686258194" /></a>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-71094976893398321992008-05-09T00:02:00.000-07:002008-05-09T00:15:55.932-07:00May I introduce you...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...To Genie Blue Train...</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer1YQsUeFR0tQsKg8uuD2inJ3eQt150py4YLI7HpUmjrwTV-NNZBsc-PndHC_3aliWrARIBfBr41xUEYU2Fg_EmQOlmFdqiEhyUQCQfJGdpzrPp3UNxIZKV6vOZ9V8xt8pjE6EBWDAaM/s1600-h/IMG_4607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer1YQsUeFR0tQsKg8uuD2inJ3eQt150py4YLI7HpUmjrwTV-NNZBsc-PndHC_3aliWrARIBfBr41xUEYU2Fg_EmQOlmFdqiEhyUQCQfJGdpzrPp3UNxIZKV6vOZ9V8xt8pjE6EBWDAaM/s320/IMG_4607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198271156309804978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and Tigger.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly3pHR51s3hj_DmRRb4MNCmzwrSlTBjnENI157iLcySYoQuwTYkrORp66yh039RmROlIq9SCUzdy703cVKx9uyjNAHpgmiWkPws380xmGAJmv8vydfV_szwDGRgSZjuRkCtRNN7MBZKc/s1600-h/IMG_4598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly3pHR51s3hj_DmRRb4MNCmzwrSlTBjnENI157iLcySYoQuwTYkrORp66yh039RmROlIq9SCUzdy703cVKx9uyjNAHpgmiWkPws380xmGAJmv8vydfV_szwDGRgSZjuRkCtRNN7MBZKc/s320/IMG_4598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198271160604772290" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">We have a brilliant (thank you Jenna) system in our house to elicit positive behavior. It is called the "black rocks". Whenever the boys demonstrate positive behavior (sharing, eating well, no fighting while mom's in the shower...you get the idea), they earn a black rock (or 2 depending on HOW good the behavior). Once they earn enough black rocks to fill up their treasure chest, they get a treat. In the past it's been a trip to the zoo, picking out a toy at the toy store, but this last black rock treasure chest went towards 2 very finicky, shy fish. Trey and Caleb were beside themselves as we walked into Petsmart this week with some minor criteria in mind; Trey: HAS to be BLUE, Caleb: feeshee!!, mom: no filters, no heaters, no lamps. Now that our beloved Tigger and Genie Blue Train are home safe at last, we're battling a new set of criteria: mom: DON'T TOUCH THE FISH!! DON'T FEED THE FISH! DON'T PUT ANYTHING IN THAT TANK OR THE FISH GO BACK TO THE STORE (or in the toilet - depending on what it was and how long it was there). <br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFNNELiqYG8Z1NRmDv4uRj-0Ha38RdiO_5mWU6KofBkOFMskMkZHKGzVFnFLUzTMn-USvMqq8t8W1Z0ZPWF7ZB01XPFCjSsbcuUdI4unVGcwfC4EBt3tgy6-INdrZ0LGHO3SNOSH5g0s/s1600-h/IMG_4611.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFNNELiqYG8Z1NRmDv4uRj-0Ha38RdiO_5mWU6KofBkOFMskMkZHKGzVFnFLUzTMn-USvMqq8t8W1Z0ZPWF7ZB01XPFCjSsbcuUdI4unVGcwfC4EBt3tgy6-INdrZ0LGHO3SNOSH5g0s/s320/IMG_4611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198271164899739602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcrT0ONMZ_zhcUicjdr4cUPjg5vDxTZEB_GYAqHPtAJOvFaOt38Q0r8vKVkKcg3aATj9Y890LTIyu-OCB0Y86HnD48n-_zstlTRahFot2IqaoQt2OQUtkY6YZf4_30qOND4pdYIFU6ro/s1600-h/IMG_4593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcrT0ONMZ_zhcUicjdr4cUPjg5vDxTZEB_GYAqHPtAJOvFaOt38Q0r8vKVkKcg3aATj9Y890LTIyu-OCB0Y86HnD48n-_zstlTRahFot2IqaoQt2OQUtkY6YZf4_30qOND4pdYIFU6ro/s320/IMG_4593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198271169194706914" /></a><br /></div></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2782931865952527946.post-13913515649547288822008-04-27T20:37:00.000-07:002008-04-27T21:38:44.187-07:00Grateful SundayI have so much to be grateful for in my life. My top 10 at the moment:<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>1. Being a mom. I'm so grateful that I'm blessed by the love of my children. They give love freely, and most often, I'm the recipient. Parenthood has taught me so much about selflessness on so many levels. I try to savor every moment with them as if it were my last.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHz7agzFSVNAfnqvAQ5TE-TjBNo_FJz6NbIzybYB7_boWKEhP8FP_zhuxwvch9zwgcrr_FGgspYnRNleNqT9oU7jQjpU7bTwk1t34kAGOGVHrpz-nYoQjoln2xv_DpfDLkYhVMI7Jczs/s320/20060916_0073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194140925164268466" /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_W-7Vlpg9QEKiAUS9FVnvpL9rPlggSUjT7t5f-1VFXx7a6i7CyUB3nraSh5eV4mB8jz1ZV5MlYHdmRsYcUuJMaHI8B1zL66fb00beRsIAkV77g1UXs2JZv73DDecu2Nl8uVbJsBJoIc/s320/mom+n+Trey+sleepin+may31+04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194140933754203074" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. The temple. It is such a miracle to me to be sealed to those I love most in this world. I'm so grateful for my testimony of eternal families. I love the spirit I feel when I enter the temple and the peace it gives me to be in the house of the Lord.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Vkz1bmyTL5ALNqg-IVUslKjDHH3KQVkw1tulIDaukUIj5Lo8gsMz1XgCB_bS4m_jGRBmMsrkhD7widnNZrD62q627GDZ9UnLFcebUg02XuoTRSgvJbncdGFdXpSqXd_Ldirg-ll_A4/s320/SD+Temple+BW.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194142269489032194" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Disneyland. I've created some wonderful memories here with my family. I'm grateful for the way it brings me closer to my children. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_J8ek4a7e6ZETHSGUA7F4wKIpVtUzegSjBwPBZaYfCKpIpNxBjR4EkB5yFRZfQMphhSn9wwv0bMIhwTwMv-r0Ys1AN-dGG09Aw0EIIMBV0Yuts5xE5LcqS8ru8tndSJjPGi8xUb1qhk/s320/IMG_4354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194142278078966802" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. My Friends. I'm blessed to have the most caring, giving, loving friends a girl could ask for. Most of them will never know how much they have blessed my life forever. I love you!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. A book entitled <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A New Earth </span>by Eckhart Tolle. This book has brought me such a deep spiritual understanding. It has helped me understand life in way I never thought I could. It has changed who I am. It helps me understand how to attain peace and happiness in a very deep and permanent way. Go Oprah!! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOIYGPgqWYJM6cBw1vi45GRhjsil_fDZbgBXAK0636v0MckYTW2bw_3-CyoG2Zbx6gR2rFM6dRRYUAOozKG9RJXsblCf-cLHBgWuWel6eFHsxmVWatKT7VdMRUo8PpmcTJDlzd006sQk/s1600-h/new+earth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOIYGPgqWYJM6cBw1vi45GRhjsil_fDZbgBXAK0636v0MckYTW2bw_3-CyoG2Zbx6gR2rFM6dRRYUAOozKG9RJXsblCf-cLHBgWuWel6eFHsxmVWatKT7VdMRUo8PpmcTJDlzd006sQk/s320/new+earth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194140933754203090" /></a>6. The Atonement. It is such a blessing to know that I don't have to do it all by myself. The feeling of knowing I'm never alone brings such security and joy. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for the Atonement.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4-FK9CxUKdFfOt3Jp9QEyjZVorreJpxbLdp6auCSLi_hyOX03XAdQGz9yzjoAC2rl6v8aHxklwCQ1GOQbMuJVFTxODWq1AypnMEsvGQjmVAvx7V9Vrwz_Yl7uLcl354CM8o2_nG377I/s1600-h/gethsemane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4-FK9CxUKdFfOt3Jp9QEyjZVorreJpxbLdp6auCSLi_hyOX03XAdQGz9yzjoAC2rl6v8aHxklwCQ1GOQbMuJVFTxODWq1AypnMEsvGQjmVAvx7V9Vrwz_Yl7uLcl354CM8o2_nG377I/s320/gethsemane.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194140942344137698" /></a>7. Primary songs. I'm the Primary chorister in my ward, and there is nothing sweeter than hearing the 5th ward primary sing <a href="http://broadcast.lds.org/churchmusic/Primary/PR_IfTheSavior_eng.mp3">"If the Savior stood Beside Me"</a>. Today I told my primary that hearing them sing is music to my ears. I told them if they sang really well, I would thank them for the music to my ears with a treat that was sweet to their tongue. I've never heard them sing more beautifully. (hey - I'll take what I can get - I don't care if I have to bribe with sugar). I also love to see my beautiful boy as he silently sits in the front row - too embarrassed to sing. Every night before bed, he blows my mind by singing the whole song - all 3 verses. My Treyden inspires me. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8. Yoga. This is triangle pose - one of my favorites. Yoga is my sanity. It gives back 10 times what I put in. Even teaching I feel a peace and stillness at the end of an hour of practice that I struggle to find anywhere else.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8D_V-IXRL0jkbaQ7e3aV3IQw1VVYpirIdsPZ36-AIBduB_BuVvXEBvIWXmHdudvt7_FHudfXauh_T9kxM1WIU5L4GVVdqWRwOK7G1iNziun4wm4Z73-5XWNd2VxxBGRFenJAd1ieh2Q/s1600-h/triangle+pose.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8D_V-IXRL0jkbaQ7e3aV3IQw1VVYpirIdsPZ36-AIBduB_BuVvXEBvIWXmHdudvt7_FHudfXauh_T9kxM1WIU5L4GVVdqWRwOK7G1iNziun4wm4Z73-5XWNd2VxxBGRFenJAd1ieh2Q/s320/triangle+pose.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194140946639105010" /></a>9. Prayer. Heavenly Father is just genius. He gives us a line of communication that's always open, always free, always connected, and he always gives us the answers if we just ask and then listen. I gained a testimony of prayer when I was 14, and I've never lost or forgotten what a powerful tool prayer is if you use it correctly. I truly consider prayer one of my greatest gifts.</div><div><br /></div><div>10. My bed. No explanation necessary.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916735261398623739noreply@blogger.com5