tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28392294658569496942023-11-16T08:48:34.686-07:00Never a Dull Moment...Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-47134291953969919572010-09-22T20:04:00.000-06:002010-09-22T20:04:27.829-06:00Paige's Baptism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2y-wYNYcMWI1LpZV3AJsu2p2judUG_OARGX-kv-9xzt8xnQO8uVSomxcnp8w83MM0lUZxL2HN7J1cYaYlK8HzSaj-ZfqBKDi1g2GDjpLuhYFCsZGSp1dQI9Bn-ozfjQ6wPuZxIxt7UQ/s1600/100_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2y-wYNYcMWI1LpZV3AJsu2p2judUG_OARGX-kv-9xzt8xnQO8uVSomxcnp8w83MM0lUZxL2HN7J1cYaYlK8HzSaj-ZfqBKDi1g2GDjpLuhYFCsZGSp1dQI9Bn-ozfjQ6wPuZxIxt7UQ/s400/100_4935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can't believe this has really happened!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did my little girl grow up and turn 8?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL3808w1SK7ORTVE5il-eFWGTPMC3SfGWzEvVgaeL1GziOf6YpyTmJISFZSzNY3O2v8byN4527Z7xi-UC6I5b2IaSMeEvca7N7fuuyGPW0j0C65zie9Lu-8h8TWXI9uvKpfhzUTjwoNg/s1600/100_4932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL3808w1SK7ORTVE5il-eFWGTPMC3SfGWzEvVgaeL1GziOf6YpyTmJISFZSzNY3O2v8byN4527Z7xi-UC6I5b2IaSMeEvca7N7fuuyGPW0j0C65zie9Lu-8h8TWXI9uvKpfhzUTjwoNg/s400/100_4932.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paige Brookelynn Vincent was baptized by her father on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUeKqMaWeh9tG0hji54On4WVIuKpKb2XbPURCs_1T_055efRCD7F9R6bEuNvdn50OPyeBF-lNWmFK_0HntwyFR3ExGDcPSAleQPbZCXr5yhphfTgh3v_VSuKSjiVyeqEe_o2ZRB5cwYI/s1600/100_4936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUeKqMaWeh9tG0hji54On4WVIuKpKb2XbPURCs_1T_055efRCD7F9R6bEuNvdn50OPyeBF-lNWmFK_0HntwyFR3ExGDcPSAleQPbZCXr5yhphfTgh3v_VSuKSjiVyeqEe_o2ZRB5cwYI/s320/100_4936.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Paige was lucky to share the day with two of her little friends, Madelyn Dobbins (on her right) and Julia Zeyer (on her left). These little girls were so cute and SO excited!! Paige was the last of the three to be baptized that day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWqkd7KBwRt9W6podYD3sIxKq59QvBO7UmG4hkMHsv-lcvZSnoaWhbrbvYZFBMv71RCzDhj0s4sND6Gp8ei1_6DjRczRyFDFgJaba_-f0pn9XuAwECZzSOY9hyCcJSTR50irMEI_N4QA/s1600/100_4940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWqkd7KBwRt9W6podYD3sIxKq59QvBO7UmG4hkMHsv-lcvZSnoaWhbrbvYZFBMv71RCzDhj0s4sND6Gp8ei1_6DjRczRyFDFgJaba_-f0pn9XuAwECZzSOY9hyCcJSTR50irMEI_N4QA/s320/100_4940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After Paige got out of the water, I met her at the top of the font stairs and took her into the dressing room. She started giggling and squealed to me, "I can't believe I really just got BAPTIZED!!" Paige had chosen her Grandpa Terry to give the opening prayer and her Aunt Valerie to give a talk on the Holy Ghost (who both did an amazing job!!) She asked Grandpa Lynn to be a witness and also asked her cousin Brady, who she looks up to and just adores.<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4lZvrW-Cr1yQMeoBToS4xNNjdGsQzgvj0V1-PK_AoeEGqtjyLrvmBIkjyn4jlyjFyq_7hgptSjOPY1hPokS5qoWsV1S3ZylFsBQWL-Q7-melUX1pg9zftIfqayey5OGNwmV_I_FQhmc/s1600/100_4945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4lZvrW-Cr1yQMeoBToS4xNNjdGsQzgvj0V1-PK_AoeEGqtjyLrvmBIkjyn4jlyjFyq_7hgptSjOPY1hPokS5qoWsV1S3ZylFsBQWL-Q7-melUX1pg9zftIfqayey5OGNwmV_I_FQhmc/s320/100_4945.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paige with her "twin cousin", Katherine</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paige invited SO many guests and friends to watch her! She wanted to share it with everyone she knew!! After the ordinance, we invited all her friends over for a hot-dog barbeque. It turned out great and she was just thrilled to be "Queen for the day".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBfeMSBFaJ9H_aCytZTacUclE8otFz_BmPpxUOZsxZk7FPXVWiVwjJGmtcg9vmU9K3qTcS_SNZ74ExV1YtqX1A_5y539g7ZdiUDAhPYbmfyXb5RIkoivujTvlDhUlBDQIhscsSwgRcDg/s1600/100_4950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBfeMSBFaJ9H_aCytZTacUclE8otFz_BmPpxUOZsxZk7FPXVWiVwjJGmtcg9vmU9K3qTcS_SNZ74ExV1YtqX1A_5y539g7ZdiUDAhPYbmfyXb5RIkoivujTvlDhUlBDQIhscsSwgRcDg/s400/100_4950.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3eA4v7EDRAqkznoVcBGtOusNTCSiif86B4b3HDWvsBme2s0Vk7XYg_CC9tb-LbEUC75fxy6wfO3o_bonaCKUoqZ58YGNtU7u7MQvTN07SrUze6v3Cn_CUc5FXxh2Si7eeMfeeggQOUQ/s1600/100_4959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3eA4v7EDRAqkznoVcBGtOusNTCSiif86B4b3HDWvsBme2s0Vk7XYg_CC9tb-LbEUC75fxy6wfO3o_bonaCKUoqZ58YGNtU7u7MQvTN07SrUze6v3Cn_CUc5FXxh2Si7eeMfeeggQOUQ/s320/100_4959.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paige was super excited to be able to pick out her own set of scriptures and have her name put on them. Unfortunately, they spelled her name wrong the first time, so they ended up replacing the first set with a much nicer, more expensive set because they didn't have the ones she had originally picked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHCoD7WMOiPfJwoXKILdzT-87VdHaQ2A080RlypE4-v9TUtQzTpFFsQQJvYX6mscLW5Ij4HwF1oSH_OSEzYJamzh5bETe7Keh8Xrf96UjEMNkJW5IPXC0Mfkfd_KbSsg-03K3QlP0xVE/s1600/100_4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHCoD7WMOiPfJwoXKILdzT-87VdHaQ2A080RlypE4-v9TUtQzTpFFsQQJvYX6mscLW5Ij4HwF1oSH_OSEzYJamzh5bETe7Keh8Xrf96UjEMNkJW5IPXC0Mfkfd_KbSsg-03K3QlP0xVE/s320/100_4961.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a tradition of Grandma and Grandpa Vincent to give each of their grandchildren a comforter when they get baptized to represent the Holy Ghost. Aunt Valerie found this white fluffy one that truly warms you right up! Looks like Paige isn't the only one that loves it! Sadly for Bode, this is the last time he will ever be allowed to snuggle under it since he drooled chocolate and big sister has forbid him to ever touch it again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are so proud of our little Paige-a-Roo! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-62672777594169855582010-08-05T19:57:00.001-06:002010-08-08T18:22:09.710-06:00Bode Vincent-VanGogh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywqMb5r50wekli1A6ymWQQUpmKrL53UbmiUlmT7cm1bYqGYM9ilppA-_tiysvA4Ab6YMaF-C17eTg7Y0_kaVz-FjQujA8wPrqR_AWE4lnYr_TXloequ9dIGxc2kaTaT97KWDDUwszUnw/s1600/100_4757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywqMb5r50wekli1A6ymWQQUpmKrL53UbmiUlmT7cm1bYqGYM9ilppA-_tiysvA4Ab6YMaF-C17eTg7Y0_kaVz-FjQujA8wPrqR_AWE4lnYr_TXloequ9dIGxc2kaTaT97KWDDUwszUnw/s320/100_4757.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QUjif0U-EVaeXPu5UYDxa-uSwHZej6ucqf0salNW2iYZIuUSgCenWhL9Ed_SzCvQRg5sVKGHDeqpUq3c2fHqPbDIicBiV95moAEVALjZVmc0xXcvV_FdOtMsoMf0jnXJQvF86AkhRu8/s1600/100_4758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QUjif0U-EVaeXPu5UYDxa-uSwHZej6ucqf0salNW2iYZIuUSgCenWhL9Ed_SzCvQRg5sVKGHDeqpUq3c2fHqPbDIicBiV95moAEVALjZVmc0xXcvV_FdOtMsoMf0jnXJQvF86AkhRu8/s400/100_4758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It appears that Bode may have a future in art. One might think that by documenting and photographing such a display that I encourage this behavior, or even tolerate it. That is not the case. This is simply a test of "one day I might think this was cute". Today is not that day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoiDGOBjg8CoRt82KRV7vpIrKgf1DobTBqodSRnrlzFnwJCE51hN_GOdtvNP7RJun5NeiEr8iwHyVB5T6RDCuLYqFtmKOMBBds9Wg-klRWhlgq09FZmZkh1vV-t_u7ISfvzX1rJbyMyU/s1600/100_4761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoiDGOBjg8CoRt82KRV7vpIrKgf1DobTBqodSRnrlzFnwJCE51hN_GOdtvNP7RJun5NeiEr8iwHyVB5T6RDCuLYqFtmKOMBBds9Wg-klRWhlgq09FZmZkh1vV-t_u7ISfvzX1rJbyMyU/s640/100_4761.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly, this is not the first time Bode has tried to "express himself" in the art world. His displays have been found several times in the past month or so. You would think that big sisters would learn to put their markers away, especially after mommy has thrown so many of them away! Bode's "works of art" have been found in purple on the entryway tile, royal blue on the living room wall and my bedroom door, pink on the toilet seat, red on the antique white buffet, black Sharpie on the basement fireplace, and today pink in his bedroom. All markers have been disposed of in such a dramatic manner that the girls think they have "struck it rich" since I offered them a quarter for every marker they could bring me to chuck in the trash. $11.75 later (plus the cost of 3 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers) I think we can FINALLY put this era to rest. </div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-69948577833733443272010-08-04T14:10:00.000-06:002010-08-04T14:10:39.633-06:00Big changes for the Bod-ster<div style="text-align: center;">As sweet as Bode has always been, he has always been a sickly little boy. It seems like he was prone to catching every little bug and it would take him weeks to get over. At one of his recent sick visits, another doctor in the practice asked me if I was concerned about him being developmentally delayed. I hadn't really thought much of it until that point. To me, he was just perfect just the way he was! But I scheduled an appointment with his regular doctor to discuss it. I talked to Dr. Lash about how Bode didn't talk and I was concerned about him snoring. Sleeping next to Bode had actually made me wonder on several occasions if he had apnea like his daddy. Bode has had a positive strep test 5 times since Christmas so Dr. Lash sent us to an ENT to rule out tonsils before we jumped into sleep disorders. I "self-chose" Dr. Garner Meads. He was in my stake growing up and had taken Paige's tonsils out when she was just a few months older than Bode. I was told that tonsillectomy's are no longer common in children under 3 or 30 lbs. due to scar tissue later in life that created problems. But, he told me that Bode's adenoids were huge and needed to come out and that his ears needed tubes. There is a fluid behind your ears that helps with balance and hearing. Bode's was at a dead stand-still. Dr. Meads told me that Bode wasn't talking because he wasn't hearing! I was crushed!! How was a mommy supposed to know her baby couldn't hear if he responded to my voice? He rephrased...Bode couldn't hear clear sounds. To him, everything sounded like it was underwater. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2FLW6rcd9maTrzXMlL18YpdHsMnkaOnBXshvESxGw6PqcyDWbO2GMgeHFHJtg9dCY74AAOt6_tnjuhsSveEqXUiVfnNF0ML8FLaBb1N_17xErlFOIrRfmER1u8xzi4SrjHwdM9CaNQc/s400/bode-car.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: blue;">Bode, just hours after surgery</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We scheduled surgery as soon as possible, which was the following week. June 25, we took my sweet boy in to have his adenoids removed at the South Towne Surgical Center. The girls had spent the night at Aunt Marnie's so they could sleep since we had to check in at 5:30. It went beautifully! They were completely done within 40 minutes and we were able to just sit with BoBo while he woke up. Dr. Meads told us that his adenoids were blocking more than half of his airway and were hiding severe infection underneath them. He was put on antibiotics to kill that and we were told to let him rest for the day and he could eat and play when he was ready. After picking up the girls, Bode and I went in to bed for a long nap, considering I had come straight from work to Bode's surgery. He and I slept nicely for several hours before he wanted to get up and play. They weren't kidding about kids bouncing right back from surgery! That evening Bode played outside in the backyard with the girls and wanted Cheetos for dinner. He was very tired the next several days and would nap for 4-5 hours every afternoon, but never acted like he was in pain. Little trooper!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmRIBfGBzwFm7oelMNHEumrdkWajPF7iA0oHpD2OQLWvHwKM1rf9OBzMr9TqNiwTHSFwQPLIQ3C35fzrT501StqrfF9xTgEVUt2VfZC24o34vtL9a3m1G2c9J0jRZEMyMtNMuD2lTF7s/s400/100_4752.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been several weeks since Bode's surgery, and his post-op appointment went well. It took a second round of antibiotics to kill all the infection left behind from his adenoids, but he is one healthy, happy boy now! We could almost instantly see a difference in him. He has started saying a few words: Mom, Da-Da, Ba-Ba (bottle), HOT (every time we get in the car), help, more, and of course...ball.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shortly into his recovery, I decided that the poor little guy had suffered enough and but his beautiful locks off! With the heat of the summer, a full head of long hair was just making Bode sweat. My cute hairdresser, CoriAnn was super excited to give him a makeover. I know nothing about boy hair, so I gave her free reign. It took a little getting used to. He just looked like such a big boy! But I absolutely LOVE it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bode is such a little comedian and has such a sweet little laugh! He has his cute little quirks that we just love! For example, he has to have his Dora pillow right in the middle of Steve's and mine, BUT our pillows are not allowed to touch his, and if anyone lays on his pillow, he pushes them right off. He likes to be tucked in with his blue polka-dot snuggle blankie, which he will search out if it's not there. He holds his binky in one hand while he drinks his bottle and does a quick change and hands the bottle off to you when he is done. Bode is truly the product of two big sisters because he loves to push babies in the doll stroller and always wants to play with the shopping cart outside. But yet, he is all boy in that he has quite a throwing arm, and LOVES to play with cars, trucks, trains and BALLS! He will make "choo choo" sounds and wants to throw ANYTHING round. I took him grocery shopping with me last week and the first thing he saw was a display of grapes. He instantly pointed and asked for some "balls". With a face like that, what mom would say no?</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-2638571426653420572010-07-26T00:06:00.002-06:002010-07-26T00:16:06.483-06:00Where the Wild Things Are...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIxLfxcx9BbZzqu35kKOvlz6B3vLHpdydEZv0Lwwj1jvYrwIIS3b1_yn2BgTg3FK7tJ7tfo1KXm5vq9ALKJMBRIbmhG-bpALFmugHVT0wIHbt0_oUO92Gd2y_LEqFoABUGmKubpadXt4/s1600/100_4671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIxLfxcx9BbZzqu35kKOvlz6B3vLHpdydEZv0Lwwj1jvYrwIIS3b1_yn2BgTg3FK7tJ7tfo1KXm5vq9ALKJMBRIbmhG-bpALFmugHVT0wIHbt0_oUO92Gd2y_LEqFoABUGmKubpadXt4/s400/100_4671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498092978652565266" border="0" /></a>Wow, this seems like a long time ago!! I have always tried to avoid going to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cemetery</span> right on Memorial Day, but this year we had to make an exception. Actually, I have been avoiding it all together since my favorite one-or-a-kind burger place, Eat A Burger, went out of business on my mom's birthday in January. That has always been a pick-me-up after visiting my mom's grave. But this year, we met my dad and Terry for french toast at Kneader's and then headed off to the cemetery. My dad decided to join us! Who knew it would be such a party there!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReF_LkvxUvU3rIg5550h4CrGxV9eo0sL72h7fm8wlmwUkBNRhXk1Z0dCGetojTw9Z7Vxeb5K8vwYZSgA8ifCEcr6fxQFOpQX4Us4cq21kPdqA4Nm52t2OuVdxVwQPKa-XLLfUSvR9Yy8/s1600/100_4675.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReF_LkvxUvU3rIg5550h4CrGxV9eo0sL72h7fm8wlmwUkBNRhXk1Z0dCGetojTw9Z7Vxeb5K8vwYZSgA8ifCEcr6fxQFOpQX4Us4cq21kPdqA4Nm52t2OuVdxVwQPKa-XLLfUSvR9Yy8/s400/100_4675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498092971951393250" border="0" /></a>Yes, it was terribly crowded, and yes, parking was a nightmare, but there was also a HUGE Memorial Day celebration! There were hot dogs and soda, a bagpiper (Steve was in Heaven) and a face painter! The girls absolutely LOVED it! This lady was so fantastic and so quick!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dPgx2ZrSJicL-OQGNiACQx6oQT7BuC229NMCYTn2IqS1LEAjpXWulLM2WpqAWps2gLBaQ-0GV040rsbRpSv5v9hr6x3Ob8DgmkG7lCQSWrBC6vPcfVQLi81d-i3AehFwd-6RvLXHmVY/s1600/100_4676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dPgx2ZrSJicL-OQGNiACQx6oQT7BuC229NMCYTn2IqS1LEAjpXWulLM2WpqAWps2gLBaQ-0GV040rsbRpSv5v9hr6x3Ob8DgmkG7lCQSWrBC6vPcfVQLi81d-i3AehFwd-6RvLXHmVY/s400/100_4676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498092964588301586" border="0" /></a>And just LOOK at the great creations she made out of my two little animals!<br />(And yes...I got her number!)<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-57760550862901289872010-07-14T14:23:00.002-06:002010-07-14T14:43:23.952-06:00The Dancing Ladies!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOxjsQsMk2YxXnDFLFyc-dLiyk2BqUiT5ksJX14BanT34BWG-w39Yw6Nwp7i5mOw48TITJHRRkpU3Y_fn1kBywd5w7404bBTnQsR_U0wOHZ7EiZIYSzXQFS-tHPZ7cIMMQsqDlp5ro9Y/s1600/may2010+005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOxjsQsMk2YxXnDFLFyc-dLiyk2BqUiT5ksJX14BanT34BWG-w39Yw6Nwp7i5mOw48TITJHRRkpU3Y_fn1kBywd5w7404bBTnQsR_U0wOHZ7EiZIYSzXQFS-tHPZ7cIMMQsqDlp5ro9Y/s400/may2010+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861971186550002" border="0" /></a>This really is my favorite time of year. Not only is the weather FINALLY starting to warm up, but the girls have their spring dance recital!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dmvrJuUor3bTns4HD6mv6xZN6GBh2XprpQ9qSAMe3Hgxxzj2UFEQ6is98a0_uzM6v_QIizlH94WhecrawGh-aQdL_WM3BqzMgjIJzWe3Ljpt1ETY-0MMNq9Me4Wo24XMm00cGQmR9sw/s1600/100_4678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dmvrJuUor3bTns4HD6mv6xZN6GBh2XprpQ9qSAMe3Hgxxzj2UFEQ6is98a0_uzM6v_QIizlH94WhecrawGh-aQdL_WM3BqzMgjIJzWe3Ljpt1ETY-0MMNq9Me4Wo24XMm00cGQmR9sw/s400/100_4678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861962209294850" border="0" /></a>I think it's that overwhelming sense of pride I get as a mother when I see my little girls on stage, looking SO beautiful, performing something they have worked so hard on. I just LOVE it!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZzB6zty9UjIUyU49ZM9q-lqKeGNcUKTkFEgbFaJzffcYpVrH3s5dyrulLjXLDyr-wYTGd9bT99I6-STrR8Qx7BhwsCZ-G6L42b8ZWgKTMEBguLw5KxxUnJ3eJOnIrQfe9nQTNDIaXuc/s1600/100_4681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZzB6zty9UjIUyU49ZM9q-lqKeGNcUKTkFEgbFaJzffcYpVrH3s5dyrulLjXLDyr-wYTGd9bT99I6-STrR8Qx7BhwsCZ-G6L42b8ZWgKTMEBguLw5KxxUnJ3eJOnIrQfe9nQTNDIaXuc/s400/100_4681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861460841948946" border="0" /></a>This year, Paige took a jazz/tumbling class. Although she is a really good dancer, I think she prefers the tumbling. She is getting "quite bendy" as she tells me. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2qdXcw0KbK20frql7JogGpoxeAE0J86p8cXPC3GeBzMKzq7o9RvmnYeHeFfIXo8KZzfVfUts-EEbRcd-BjW_T_Ma_NRnCNyw9I7btLQbQ9mIPjbHnExZjTf8uUC6NTIvUJOVd2YRc5Y/s1600/100_4682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2qdXcw0KbK20frql7JogGpoxeAE0J86p8cXPC3GeBzMKzq7o9RvmnYeHeFfIXo8KZzfVfUts-EEbRcd-BjW_T_Ma_NRnCNyw9I7btLQbQ9mIPjbHnExZjTf8uUC6NTIvUJOVd2YRc5Y/s400/100_4682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861449872403506" border="0" /></a>Paige met her cute friend Camry in kindergarten last year. They have such a fun time playing together, but with the new school opening in our area, Camry moved to the new school for first grade. Luckily, she wanted to take dance with Paige so they still got to see each other once a week!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtz2f2msrYrMxlDH-uPqq5qxRWBXnRgk8-2kX7pjNWvBiDJzS_-9HoGFkjIc_PhMtmrCejkiVdYjum2KwSW8eZqWxfoTYSstzwDFpi0_7PwB05E3O8YIwXuXJ7yeevLEW-KYGVfm0VWc/s1600/may2010+009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtz2f2msrYrMxlDH-uPqq5qxRWBXnRgk8-2kX7pjNWvBiDJzS_-9HoGFkjIc_PhMtmrCejkiVdYjum2KwSW8eZqWxfoTYSstzwDFpi0_7PwB05E3O8YIwXuXJ7yeevLEW-KYGVfm0VWc/s400/may2010+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861442763560306" border="0" /></a>Claire took ballet/tap this year. I have been so impressed with how quickly she picks up on things in class and when she performs she is never the girl watching everyone else. She knows her moves! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSoO4Y4p0VRSRilkydi5wnS0fLDJ2sR18Pvz-ly3sbAH6CQfFk5FOOx3ZD7o0VbajORcsDj-srMga5sLOwSLMUCg6KnkiprU-TMZuKoUYFoeSRO_mzqGk_lbypdMhzzzQstLvX-hW-g/s1600/100_4685.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPSoO4Y4p0VRSRilkydi5wnS0fLDJ2sR18Pvz-ly3sbAH6CQfFk5FOOx3ZD7o0VbajORcsDj-srMga5sLOwSLMUCg6KnkiprU-TMZuKoUYFoeSRO_mzqGk_lbypdMhzzzQstLvX-hW-g/s400/100_4685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861426882821682" border="0" /></a>Claire is in the same class with her friend Ali. I don't know if they love taking dance together so much as the tradition of our families going to kids night at Chick-A-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fila</span> after class almost every week. Poor Claire had a rough recital day this year. There she was on stage in her cute little foam curlers for dress rehearsal practicing the finale when she started to feel sick. She stood up, turned around and went running for Paige. Suddenly I hear Miss Tiffany in the microphone yelling my name. "Brooke Vincent...Brooke Vincent!! She's puking!!!" So with all the grace an overweight mother could muster, I ran to the stage and since the stairs were flooded with dancing girls I jumped onto it, pulling myself up with my enormous butt high in the air. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AHHH</span>...a mother's love. Poor Claire had handfuls of vomit, dripping onto her feet and all over the stage. After a little cleanup (and a Coke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">slurpee</span> on the way home) she was fine. Claire took a long nap that afternoon and was ready to roll by recital time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplySv74IIstuS05aMokBXUXsWeO6xilRuL3k27GaCOF7P9wEG7QFDg8uhLPDIMwMV64mldlSkXoa6Q7m7e_PjKAXF3OoDfG6SJZHX_qff534l3kRFhggSmrk-zvctC6Q0MJr6VhSVePI/s1600/may2010+006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplySv74IIstuS05aMokBXUXsWeO6xilRuL3k27GaCOF7P9wEG7QFDg8uhLPDIMwMV64mldlSkXoa6Q7m7e_PjKAXF3OoDfG6SJZHX_qff534l3kRFhggSmrk-zvctC6Q0MJr6VhSVePI/s400/may2010+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493861418575785074" border="0" /></a>Just LOVE these girls!! They danced so well, and looked so amazingly beautiful!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-54593440845052980942010-07-06T13:10:00.004-06:002010-07-06T14:00:07.724-06:00Another Golden Start...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnml9wYcpMV75QWAExXMuFYtbvwotXJh9LvEv8dsLACMdGRgIk-1eDkvlpoR_-ZBm_DWyGHEzRQ62a_U6rsBTjSBeRsZhcIgJh2AtKX2qE4nI6Gw6rBkqFxXiCOFuNd7xa8XrLFpHk4k/s1600/100_4614.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnml9wYcpMV75QWAExXMuFYtbvwotXJh9LvEv8dsLACMdGRgIk-1eDkvlpoR_-ZBm_DWyGHEzRQ62a_U6rsBTjSBeRsZhcIgJh2AtKX2qE4nI6Gw6rBkqFxXiCOFuNd7xa8XrLFpHk4k/s400/100_4614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490878033465137506" border="0" /></a>We have another graduate from Miss Kathy's Golden Start preschool! My baby girl had her last day last month and was so excited to show us what she learned at her graduation program.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52GtUa_lOZgFEMA1RKnO0MTw1hDNHnDlvUYflgN3Q96NOMxyAN1mQYbdeDfwvgSPR2WPVlJtBsPskTVNNOlCBrWV_MvD86D8gSU6YPuqUEDI3NmMsBDChwH8u5Pd6Pdy_6qI-7j7YujA/s1600/Collage27.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52GtUa_lOZgFEMA1RKnO0MTw1hDNHnDlvUYflgN3Q96NOMxyAN1mQYbdeDfwvgSPR2WPVlJtBsPskTVNNOlCBrWV_MvD86D8gSU6YPuqUEDI3NmMsBDChwH8u5Pd6Pdy_6qI-7j7YujA/s400/Collage27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490876845116242338" border="0" /></a>Granted it was the same program as when Paige graduated, but it was equally as special to me to watch Claire sing and dance on stage. I love Miss Kathy's rendition of the Three Little Pigs and in their nursery rhyme portion Claire got to play Old Mother Hubbard with her little friend Ella as her dog that didn't get a bone.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZemyltUT96uWnFISnCFvcmDyuzNNHNFzFbQhq7_pXwBRgnYK29xXSNK_rvWH7kn9IAO9LBav-CLu2dptcSw70uFggSBDO-yfyeDxrXKGbNOeYua6uZEnPOkIlE7pj9L5bgvcp9LlqwA/s1600/100_4648.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZemyltUT96uWnFISnCFvcmDyuzNNHNFzFbQhq7_pXwBRgnYK29xXSNK_rvWH7kn9IAO9LBav-CLu2dptcSw70uFggSBDO-yfyeDxrXKGbNOeYua6uZEnPOkIlE7pj9L5bgvcp9LlqwA/s400/100_4648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490876838820846386" border="0" /></a>No graduation program would be complete without self-portrait's adorning the theatre and a slide show of the great year they had!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rNJxdfMXOLpY-y6F9xnixQ61qHVLWQo3EOG8x_bABqV8co8CRwxMr0LB_sUdj6OrdmizlnS0V2veGiUwodE-MmOVeqNgj7lktcfnwY1gEii9VgGzJuPSJ4v_SVsaiYfqcpPT2hgTwL8/s1600/100_4647.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rNJxdfMXOLpY-y6F9xnixQ61qHVLWQo3EOG8x_bABqV8co8CRwxMr0LB_sUdj6OrdmizlnS0V2veGiUwodE-MmOVeqNgj7lktcfnwY1gEii9VgGzJuPSJ4v_SVsaiYfqcpPT2hgTwL8/s400/100_4647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490876824320432946" border="0" /></a>Thank you Miss Kathy! We are so grateful for everything you have taught our sweet girls. Can't wait until <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bode's</span> turn! But for now, we will just count the days until kindergarten!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-89036287145797416382010-06-22T13:33:00.003-06:002010-06-22T13:46:23.405-06:00Formal Night<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy4_kO_-wx31HUlhX4taRfucZrIddVPTc5tGDeP1c3VkFoxvVVgLOeqC7mrxjm7y8kuHu7RJR483aKjBR3CDJeecX9-gqNV9V3daeIgARcmgCEpKQx8HcdQJG-Bx1h2fZL_i9A1LZJgY/s1600/100_4568.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy4_kO_-wx31HUlhX4taRfucZrIddVPTc5tGDeP1c3VkFoxvVVgLOeqC7mrxjm7y8kuHu7RJR483aKjBR3CDJeecX9-gqNV9V3daeIgARcmgCEpKQx8HcdQJG-Bx1h2fZL_i9A1LZJgY/s400/100_4568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485684691886380306" border="0" /></a>Our last formal night on the ship was by far better than the first. Probably because no one was sick! During the past week, we had become very close with our waiter, Cupid from St. Vincent. Earlier in the week I had asked him if Creme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Brulee</span> was on the menu again during the cruise. We had it on the first night and I had been dreaming of it ever since! Tonight he showed up with a special surprise...Creme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brulee</span> for everyone!! I couldn't have been happier! I actually think Steve got up and hugged him! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtKCGAVGNYVnAyylJFw9P0HZQMslaUFQvoNU77f0p1lG-OP-pRsLt8YEBwuZELUwuYY-KNzJTJvQzoh0_9MY-ffeoVyZUhwZpVkaO8NX4h9AxQ0pwuYUx9vzvRSwfFLSAzTI0acum2mc/s1600/100_4571.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtKCGAVGNYVnAyylJFw9P0HZQMslaUFQvoNU77f0p1lG-OP-pRsLt8YEBwuZELUwuYY-KNzJTJvQzoh0_9MY-ffeoVyZUhwZpVkaO8NX4h9AxQ0pwuYUx9vzvRSwfFLSAzTI0acum2mc/s400/100_4571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485684682005065714" border="0" /></a>Kirk, however, was not so appreciative of the dessert. So, Steve began making jokes to Cupid about throwing Kirk overboard. He must have thought Steve was incredibly funny because he kept bringing other staff over, telling Steve to tell them about the "splash in the night".<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Vqn3zq7CZyreG-0SGodEfoPRoQ9ZqifoJQM3qI-mK0oVdXCq7HNHvUAAeeDtH9NsRq7M5ThA6f0Bv53Lmt4N8c4SDl6c3jQ341vrdde2pODP_BiGti6rfjsaFJi_B3Gm2VE64vT3GU/s1600/100_4574.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Vqn3zq7CZyreG-0SGodEfoPRoQ9ZqifoJQM3qI-mK0oVdXCq7HNHvUAAeeDtH9NsRq7M5ThA6f0Bv53Lmt4N8c4SDl6c3jQ341vrdde2pODP_BiGti6rfjsaFJi_B3Gm2VE64vT3GU/s400/100_4574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485684672213740066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPV7yStxwlDRBBrRhQ6mVAQc13QvEd5wZ6eYkFWii_qxyYCpOXY5Oj9VENYli84wvNXYHCrv2RFlMxgyCkdDsy6xYvTq9rr0WqXYEjLkya2CyKRCYULUD7tXhTP9WKrMUx1ORWcPdyg0/s1600/scan06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPV7yStxwlDRBBrRhQ6mVAQc13QvEd5wZ6eYkFWii_qxyYCpOXY5Oj9VENYli84wvNXYHCrv2RFlMxgyCkdDsy6xYvTq9rr0WqXYEjLkya2CyKRCYULUD7tXhTP9WKrMUx1ORWcPdyg0/s400/scan06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485684671166795010" border="0" /></a>Throughout the cruise, I was set on getting just one good picture of the two of us. Since it really has been since our engagement pictures over 10 years ago. So I dragged Steve to every photographer on the ship. I'm sure to Carnival's joy, we found several!! I think we spent more on pictures than tips!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIlSWcM8MHIHRB_lqTQT-hXjyseF25T95qtlXMgn1LuwukT9f0wNVF-euWE6H7ywi8Fk8Bs-Sq93SGTTWWzckotSSZIH7N6qOWMgBuKUCDf7ob5X9bRAbF0_6haUEpARr5gcGfuaqhOs/s1600/100_4688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIlSWcM8MHIHRB_lqTQT-hXjyseF25T95qtlXMgn1LuwukT9f0wNVF-euWE6H7ywi8Fk8Bs-Sq93SGTTWWzckotSSZIH7N6qOWMgBuKUCDf7ob5X9bRAbF0_6haUEpARr5gcGfuaqhOs/s400/100_4688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485684661972946146" border="0" /></a>Steve and I are so grateful to be able to spend the week together. It was so nice to get away and remember each other a little bit, since that seems to get lost in the shuffle of kids and daily life. And it was even better to have such great friends to share it with!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-47124144206307368452010-06-09T17:36:00.002-06:002010-06-09T18:02:19.340-06:00Last Stop...St. Maarten<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91nENZ1aK6yqJ_Z6QPLHptlw4ycu4aBDcRfS9CnEsU4L3lsOHckuzySUOEuJqDukBorG3wjClWQQWlYEendGghVEHc0_xeGt0dyrW24W2bHMKa3VMKIU6552S0DsvfAuhsR8H69VoSKk/s1600/100_4537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91nENZ1aK6yqJ_Z6QPLHptlw4ycu4aBDcRfS9CnEsU4L3lsOHckuzySUOEuJqDukBorG3wjClWQQWlYEendGghVEHc0_xeGt0dyrW24W2bHMKa3VMKIU6552S0DsvfAuhsR8H69VoSKk/s400/100_4537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480922961894697186" border="0" /></a>Our last stop...We had no plans for our day in St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Maarten</span>. Our friends, Kirk and Teresa, are scuba certified, so they had planned to go an a two-tank dive. Alan, Amanda, Steve and I planned to do some shopping and head to the beach! The cruise port there was kind of weird. It let you off in a very small shopping center, but to get to the main part of the island, you had to ride a water taxi. They loaded us in like sardines and they were blaring a steel drum song about "Welcome to St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Maarten</span>." It reminded me a lot of Will Smith's "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Beinvenido</span> a Miami!" Once on the water taxi, Steve tried to clean his sunglasses on his shirt and overestimated his strength, snapping the frame and popping out the lens. He was not happy, but once again, I was laughing at him! Luckily for him, we found a sun visor as we stepped of the boat and wandered until we found a drug store to buy some super glue. The locals there were VERY pushy. This one guy kept following us around just begging us to rent some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ATV's</span> from him to ride around the island. We had heard from our waitress in Orlando to NEVER let the salespeople put jewelry on you. Once it was on, you just bought it. As we were shopping, we walked past a jewelry store where a man and woman were talking with their friends at the door saying, "I just thought they were trying it on me for size, but I just bought a $8000 diamond bracelet!" So, I guess it is true!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcCZzWaXZdj4DBEIY6VChiG9UVXQOmovU6wLx3AcRUucQtaxC3SrK1JRh5NzXNHwoYIC2vyZJwR0jocTOpvXu47tRmQ70eadNAW_bbyDIbp1QHTFZbhnVQWsHRkgNT4PIrwMuTNzYayA/s1600/100_4538.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcCZzWaXZdj4DBEIY6VChiG9UVXQOmovU6wLx3AcRUucQtaxC3SrK1JRh5NzXNHwoYIC2vyZJwR0jocTOpvXu47tRmQ70eadNAW_bbyDIbp1QHTFZbhnVQWsHRkgNT4PIrwMuTNzYayA/s400/100_4538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480922954448361186" border="0" /></a>At this point in our trip, Steve had caught the bug that had been floating around. He was not feeling great, so we laid low today. We rode a CRAZY taxi van to the other side of the island to Orient Beach. It was beautiful...the water was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">turquoise</span> blue and perfectly warm, the sand was white and soft on your feet. We hadn't intended on swimming at a nude beach, but there were a few there who were topless that definitely shouldn't have been! It was here that we saw more banana hammocks than we ever care to again in our lives! Since I don't believe in photographing myself in my swimwear (maybe in another 50 lbs!) this is all we got...no one we know is in the water here, but this is where we spent the afternoon! Before we met our taxi to head back, we decided we were starving and stopped at a little restaurant on the beach. We didn't realize that since we were on the French side of the island, all the prices were in Euros. We ended up with a $6 bottle of water!! Life is expensive on the beach! We thought we were living it up by ordering calamari and cheeseburgers, but apparently not since halfway through our meal, a waited walked over to a little well next to us, picked out a fresh lobster and took it, LIVE, to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">some one's</span> table. I guess they agreed that it was "the one" they wanted for lunch, took a few pictures of it, and sent it back to be cooked up!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZAy1_t_n6vge5kTbgMmRuu8G47DHtqW-oOu1OinmJ9rVr-k5nhCm6SKpdc-15EncO1MUorj7E0K45g-QGWPV55ref0SXr1gmaR6JljAdMxkEVr1bj7vNlSTzz02WiEmQN32kHBRtV_4/s1600/kitchen+tour.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZAy1_t_n6vge5kTbgMmRuu8G47DHtqW-oOu1OinmJ9rVr-k5nhCm6SKpdc-15EncO1MUorj7E0K45g-QGWPV55ref0SXr1gmaR6JljAdMxkEVr1bj7vNlSTzz02WiEmQN32kHBRtV_4/s400/kitchen+tour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480922940508913154" border="0" /></a>Once we left St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Maarten</span>, we had 2 days at sea. If you have been on a cruise, you know that the food is spectacular! I casually mentioned to our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">maitre'd</span> one night that I would LOVE to see their kitchen. I guess he liked us, because he told us if we kept the information on the down low, we could sneak into a kitchen tour the next morning that was just for Platinum guests! Seeing the kitchen really was one of the highlights of the trip! It was amazing to me! They told us that they actually stock the ship with 2 weeks worth of food, just in case something happened and we got stuck at sea. They had one big board with pictures of all their menus. Then they separated it into sections where each dish was prepared. Each section had a list of menu items, directions on preparation, and photos so they could make the display attractive to the eye...because the food is equally as beautiful as it is delicious!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-30797786215486317562010-05-29T19:09:00.003-06:002010-05-29T19:53:37.442-06:00Another Day in Paradise...St. Thomas<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySM2iVVNKUoNrghnYKnNgmD60HA6UdghKA6A6d8mU2JyrZcVnD8LFYagNuqxg_oeisDRP2Mz5wJEBaTxmz-Lwl_9UI-gQ8_k6ZRLimgfMSuLKydP8AOD-5jm_pxyEdwI5U8mSxFT_bPc/s1600/scan01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySM2iVVNKUoNrghnYKnNgmD60HA6UdghKA6A6d8mU2JyrZcVnD8LFYagNuqxg_oeisDRP2Mz5wJEBaTxmz-Lwl_9UI-gQ8_k6ZRLimgfMSuLKydP8AOD-5jm_pxyEdwI5U8mSxFT_bPc/s400/scan01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865778813705282" border="0" /></a>Our next stop was in St. Thomas. The hottest island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. No, seriously...we melted off the ship to get to that island! Not thinking about the heat, Steve got off the ship in a dark T-shirt. After about 10 minutes of that, we began our search for a lighter color shirt for him to keep off a little bit of heat. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAH1ernjjW-CD6C75xeo0-jM3oWjlkvoncm9mHhE1rs0pWA3nJmEHgmY3MHlLclSiWMm3Vk8Uh9A_EEq5_CQ0LL5jlXJ3qpU1B14ZvW19sMuiDtRDkkgINBxP5hL9gypIDR2acj9pe6Q/s1600/100_4520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAH1ernjjW-CD6C75xeo0-jM3oWjlkvoncm9mHhE1rs0pWA3nJmEHgmY3MHlLclSiWMm3Vk8Uh9A_EEq5_CQ0LL5jlXJ3qpU1B14ZvW19sMuiDtRDkkgINBxP5hL9gypIDR2acj9pe6Q/s400/100_4520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865773937615474" border="0" /></a>After shopping with Alan and Manda most of the morning, we had to split off for our various excursions, but not without taking in a little bit of the local wildlife. Steve wandered right up to this giant iguana, thinking it was some sort of statue, but when it moved, it scared the crud right out of poor Steve-O. I seriously can't remember the last time I have seen Steve move so fast or jump so high, and he got no sympathy from us...we were laughing too hard!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65eZQMliCKBg6rwaXRaMKmK_3jBf-iPZ-rTBrHrF27t9G6OvmpAVvnELjfm_VlvLQZrEUZxDA4A6bexvrXY33ErwqY76exvRbWt9p3l5ANRuVv6ZWCZhccBvWezbkEvWR5IZ-DafT9M4/s1600/100_4521.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65eZQMliCKBg6rwaXRaMKmK_3jBf-iPZ-rTBrHrF27t9G6OvmpAVvnELjfm_VlvLQZrEUZxDA4A6bexvrXY33ErwqY76exvRbWt9p3l5ANRuVv6ZWCZhccBvWezbkEvWR5IZ-DafT9M4/s400/100_4521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865767430072482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s-dauf1gOVVFDBikDAk8QoyZkko9qcqkfbytYcCmKhQptz8RnjfItn78DQBc8Ln6q0G0CqKa1xeIBxcPJmwTdlrxYMlmvJbqyRdsL-nrq3mc0-w83uIhwtQuwS5bcQ-EwrLZ5rkhJl4/s1600/100_4522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s-dauf1gOVVFDBikDAk8QoyZkko9qcqkfbytYcCmKhQptz8RnjfItn78DQBc8Ln6q0G0CqKa1xeIBxcPJmwTdlrxYMlmvJbqyRdsL-nrq3mc0-w83uIhwtQuwS5bcQ-EwrLZ5rkhJl4/s400/100_4522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865757826655314" border="0" /></a>After our "iguana encounter" we stumbled upon this funny little photo spot. It was almost like you stepped into a box to have your picture taken. The sea creatures certainly aren't realistic (I don't even know if that's the look they were going for) but it turned out to be one of my favorite pictures of us.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpOLDb6d25NGwaG6w7-IvvFeiWEhrh7BwPEdXQpuvypM3meBe4QunE1T64sE2Gvudqp-UiAfZhord0uE5FMyryMcdO7V_l6qe2oumUwfDET8vac1HSdU2Tu048MPA3POYqFici344M78/s1600/100_4526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpOLDb6d25NGwaG6w7-IvvFeiWEhrh7BwPEdXQpuvypM3meBe4QunE1T64sE2Gvudqp-UiAfZhord0uE5FMyryMcdO7V_l6qe2oumUwfDET8vac1HSdU2Tu048MPA3POYqFici344M78/s400/100_4526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865273420594322" border="0" /></a>Alan and Amanda went off to their excursion of the Coral Gardens, while Steve and I met Kirk and Teresa for the "BOSS" adventure! This really was the primary reason we went on this cruise. Steve and I had gotten hooked on the Travel Channel and found this great excursion and honestly based our cruise choice on which ship would take us there. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6_46uFx-cxTq-lkvtncjNgL0DCW2v6apPevUeh5-wZXqphFCM1wkY6A1iplUf826C4g4hDWAGUNy_0HPbWcEV60fy2lAHfVs-Y0KAGhgHqEdPNSa0Mz6mnkVIL0DJeC6Wg5CARCZsog/s1600/100_4528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6_46uFx-cxTq-lkvtncjNgL0DCW2v6apPevUeh5-wZXqphFCM1wkY6A1iplUf826C4g4hDWAGUNy_0HPbWcEV60fy2lAHfVs-Y0KAGhgHqEdPNSa0Mz6mnkVIL0DJeC6Wg5CARCZsog/s400/100_4528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865263561594210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(the view from our little boat)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikubyxRKQIsLM5fulDZsBBpKThTYjk7whdlE6n-AcHpREWRBAxHkRJUGK9o775mGkLhGhAw9qFhHjW6vw3kjz0N7heb3j7kxiKAKyaaCS0F19r2pfoeY3BceamNgaDIOC_dBMR_n7iF3g/s1600/100_4662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikubyxRKQIsLM5fulDZsBBpKThTYjk7whdlE6n-AcHpREWRBAxHkRJUGK9o775mGkLhGhAw9qFhHjW6vw3kjz0N7heb3j7kxiKAKyaaCS0F19r2pfoeY3BceamNgaDIOC_dBMR_n7iF3g/s400/100_4662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865255789957714" border="0" /></a>We boarded a small charter boat that would take us to the small island where we were going to go underwater. While on the boat, I was chosen to be the "model" on how to use the scooter. BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible Scooter) is basically a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">jet ski</span> with a bubble on it that is pumped full of oxygen for you to put your head in. It works like turning a bowl upside down and putting it underwater...some physics law that I don't understand will not fill the bowl full of water. We were divided into 4 groups, and ours went first. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmnumvF-7r5_KQwnhJRkOuEfASXEIVdgpNHAIiT9GxKdo64BVL0nOKYfgDRNIBhOOleKHlr6Rh-BtpLcTWcOHcIMm2M1EO2k5ZPilSbKKIOsBOEWDOHXUfYQdbyoGhOxz0PyWb5CIeac/s1600/Collage25.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmnumvF-7r5_KQwnhJRkOuEfASXEIVdgpNHAIiT9GxKdo64BVL0nOKYfgDRNIBhOOleKHlr6Rh-BtpLcTWcOHcIMm2M1EO2k5ZPilSbKKIOsBOEWDOHXUfYQdbyoGhOxz0PyWb5CIeac/s400/Collage25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865250749952674" border="0" /></a>It was truly amazing!! You only freak out for a minute before your brain tells your body that you can still breathe, even though you are underwater. Trained scuba divers took us down and we were to follow them around. The first thing we saw was a stingray!! So awesome!! We got down about 8 feet and puttered around after the divers for about 20 minutes. The divers had a bottle full of food for the fish that they would squeeze and fish would swarm you! They would swim so close to you that they sometimes brushed against you, which really freaked me out! But at least our diver got some great shots of Steve and I in our BOSS helmets. I'm the one with the fish tail right over my face, and Steve is hiding right behind that striped fish. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTVAf2AO-t0KOnb56_MVYw2bJizC5CKUUa5V0X5oy7gZUpM3PvU130qiWcWDnIFLBSWr2p65I4nTQo7LRm3IFRClD2c-DyvxH_EIbGz1heBHOu5OkyBWBfQ1hXDrXpwMgWmH7viU-zaM/s1600/snorkel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTVAf2AO-t0KOnb56_MVYw2bJizC5CKUUa5V0X5oy7gZUpM3PvU130qiWcWDnIFLBSWr2p65I4nTQo7LRm3IFRClD2c-DyvxH_EIbGz1heBHOu5OkyBWBfQ1hXDrXpwMgWmH7viU-zaM/s400/snorkel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476865243819929858" border="0" /></a>I thought I would be so disappointed when our turn on the scooters was over, but we had the next hour or so to snorkel while the rest of our group went on the scooters. I think we preferred snorkeling over the scooters. It was so relaxing to just float in the ocean, watching the fish swim and hear nothing but your own breathing. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJvPW1qD1qLF5ggvsPYTeMErJMSeAHv0N3UKXJA0PqMuYuanvS-oXGI3i-jBLkLehyEzrpcv-HVfpM53FMkM6N95rRowwQAdymMgnLHjasOvhd-1vL8VQ1lf1pNs6Ci0lAJM631osgY0/s1600/0426-pict0376_2_resize.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJvPW1qD1qLF5ggvsPYTeMErJMSeAHv0N3UKXJA0PqMuYuanvS-oXGI3i-jBLkLehyEzrpcv-HVfpM53FMkM6N95rRowwQAdymMgnLHjasOvhd-1vL8VQ1lf1pNs6Ci0lAJM631osgY0/s400/0426-pict0376_2_resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476864544338477186" border="0" /></a>We had been told that we "had" to ride the tram up to Paradise Point. Unfortunately, none of our friends wanted to join us. So, Steve and I took the ride and loved it! The scenery was amazing...especially once you got to the top. There was a great little bar up there where we ordered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pina</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Coladas</span> and the best beer battered cheese fries we have ever had. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_CdC2JY5x_AkC6q5uEqN3-33Uw5T4PVtRd-gkbUMGjdGM_nU15uE5V9kttApY5t9-3TbiSS8VnqaH-4KRYwMY_6f-Z6qDAbaPka7RrXN5dIrkZhFfoxz17epcZhkkscTVPinNc9EFk/s1600/charlotte-amalie-harbor.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_CdC2JY5x_AkC6q5uEqN3-33Uw5T4PVtRd-gkbUMGjdGM_nU15uE5V9kttApY5t9-3TbiSS8VnqaH-4KRYwMY_6f-Z6qDAbaPka7RrXN5dIrkZhFfoxz17epcZhkkscTVPinNc9EFk/s400/charlotte-amalie-harbor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476864540671228002" border="0" /></a>Tonight was the one night we were sorry that we had booked early dining. Our meal was served at 6pm and we didn't get back on the ship until almost 7. But of course, only an idiot would go hungry on a cruise! It gave Steve and Alan a chance to try out the sushi bar before we headed to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Panini</span> Grill on the back of the ship. We turned in early tonight...the combination of sun and water wore us right out. But we enjoyed the perfect end to a perfect day...Room Service...grilled cheese, PB&J's and cookies & milk on the balcony. <br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-23624172588363918102010-05-24T18:42:00.005-06:002010-05-24T19:16:00.414-06:00Nassau, Bahamas<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvcnHyBgZWU4B9aPN0Hc_8Dlkn6dC2DnaHDAme-97JjYNV4aPwnE3JHhuTQNg7AN6bDKhc95WBcYXxKfuF34rSEXShhRuORbh9fOMND9jwejblTXb_Tch4F51or7lneJydAQ_VbKENt0/s1600/100_4498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvcnHyBgZWU4B9aPN0Hc_8Dlkn6dC2DnaHDAme-97JjYNV4aPwnE3JHhuTQNg7AN6bDKhc95WBcYXxKfuF34rSEXShhRuORbh9fOMND9jwejblTXb_Tch4F51or7lneJydAQ_VbKENt0/s400/100_4498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002545519837890" border="0" /></a>Our first stop was in Nassau, Bahamas. Unfortunately, we were only scheduled to be there for 5 hours. This worked out for me, because I woke up that morning sick as could be! But I had been looking forward to cruising for 10 months, and dang it, I was going to the Bahamas!! So, doped up on Tylenol, we headed off the ship.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8TW5XJnyXP3q27FqopJqfM5yLqMSaoW_L0gjkObRHl2qfV7JGQhXj9irVRm9NnatsHQyt6uLUZMEnG4YjXZMzULhKa7Z7lfo-VaFI8zf-T5_yc7j86CvTL7SGT9B3qQSr9AYL16d9KI/s1600/100_4506.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8TW5XJnyXP3q27FqopJqfM5yLqMSaoW_L0gjkObRHl2qfV7JGQhXj9irVRm9NnatsHQyt6uLUZMEnG4YjXZMzULhKa7Z7lfo-VaFI8zf-T5_yc7j86CvTL7SGT9B3qQSr9AYL16d9KI/s400/100_4506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002537009642354" border="0" /></a>It had been advertised that we were traveling on Carnival's largest "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">megaliner</span>". But when we pulled up next to Royal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Caribbean's</span> Oasis of the Seas, we felt like we were sailing on a dingy! Now, THAT is one massive ship! The good news for us was, in talking to some of the people on it, they said it was TOO big and they would never sail on it again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWOHNAM1RE-PAbZ4QMFFuRWEu4xv_GGeJDr1Dx5CW5QGpqwz499OOwQzBjiHtMsINtNOuhZRjbgIgLuQFq79wtBQFdFFrNsOo2tK86i2Y7OQjNp-F9pEIAwDa_iJhJjVAbuAHGXaVPbo/s1600/100_4500.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWOHNAM1RE-PAbZ4QMFFuRWEu4xv_GGeJDr1Dx5CW5QGpqwz499OOwQzBjiHtMsINtNOuhZRjbgIgLuQFq79wtBQFdFFrNsOo2tK86i2Y7OQjNp-F9pEIAwDa_iJhJjVAbuAHGXaVPbo/s400/100_4500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002240057482226" border="0" /></a>Our first stop was a recommendation from our new friend, Karla, from the wing place in Orlando. She told us for $10 we HAD to go on a horse and buggy tour. They loaded us all into one little buggy, (I am literally sitting in Amanda's lap here) took a few pictures, and then told us it was illegal to have so many people in a buggy.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkZLp3tvMx_6P02TfXoMsOoY5gw_w_pubr406buiOtkYp9ZMigBrhEt4QAZCS6hewgBHSXJ5ATIl3YD3wfpw2dOuJqUkI-03l3_VcenPRnK4Aqe28J_KMzHmdxh3xyJ8Ufmtj5CYB_so/s1600/100_4501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkZLp3tvMx_6P02TfXoMsOoY5gw_w_pubr406buiOtkYp9ZMigBrhEt4QAZCS6hewgBHSXJ5ATIl3YD3wfpw2dOuJqUkI-03l3_VcenPRnK4Aqe28J_KMzHmdxh3xyJ8Ufmtj5CYB_so/s400/100_4501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002227762139362" border="0" /></a>So, Steve and I got into our own buggy and went away on our tour. It lasted about 20 minutes, and was kind of fun, we just could barely hear our tour guide. Any time I would catch something he said, I would have to turn to tell Steve, and then miss the next part. Probably wouldn't do it again, but I wouldn't say it was a total waste either.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iWiV2eLTWA-DFbY_6bXVr3ho6aPHAhR6ryKlFSzXMBDWsiMX8_4-pBrw_KF88VQA37BMXvK9RSJWrpiOPCq-umK8Eugf4UGVBQtm4Lrv3WbiSzmDjrj_EcOFfybOXbdw_gSK1WzK5W8/s1600/bahamas.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iWiV2eLTWA-DFbY_6bXVr3ho6aPHAhR6ryKlFSzXMBDWsiMX8_4-pBrw_KF88VQA37BMXvK9RSJWrpiOPCq-umK8Eugf4UGVBQtm4Lrv3WbiSzmDjrj_EcOFfybOXbdw_gSK1WzK5W8/s400/bahamas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002221488630434" border="0" /></a>Since we weren't there for long, we didn't book any excursions in Bahamas. Instead we went to the infamous Straw Market, which is a glorified Tijuana. They sell everything there from watches and belts, to knock-off designer purses and T-shirts. Of course, they specialize in "straw items" so we had to barter some cute flip-flop purses for the girls and had them embroider their names on them for us. We also scored some pretty cool coconut shell turtles and then went off in search of a drug store because by this time, my Tylenol was wearing right off<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>! I remember coming here with my family when I was little and always drinking Bahamas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Goombay</span> Punch from a can. When I saw it at the drugstore, we just had to get some! However, it was not NEARLY as good as I remembered...what I wouldn't have given to trade it for a Diet Coke. It was like drinking pure corn syrup! Steve was a trooper and downed the whole can, but I didn't feel well enough to fake it. Sorry, babe! We stopped at a little restaurant for some lunch where we ordered Conch Chowder (which Steve really liked) and Bahamian Fried Chicken, which was no different than American fried chicken...just really dry. At that point, we were ready to call it a day and headed back to the ship.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb8yVNyz3Pav2eCxBVGelLqCe_vx-0ZmRrHjy6NgAzKExQE65CH3L5I5Rwl-d7cmitI02IjytqvY8ZlDQKkP1953B82d48JnjkeB38uap3tllcLtf4vdv5MkK2YzApKiay2OG-m-dTh0/s1600/100_4508.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb8yVNyz3Pav2eCxBVGelLqCe_vx-0ZmRrHjy6NgAzKExQE65CH3L5I5Rwl-d7cmitI02IjytqvY8ZlDQKkP1953B82d48JnjkeB38uap3tllcLtf4vdv5MkK2YzApKiay2OG-m-dTh0/s400/100_4508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475002203496072962" border="0" /></a>Nassau, Bahamas is known for its Atlantis Resort. It is a huge beach resort with fancy aquariums and water parks, but just to walk through was over $100 per person. So we passed on that, but stopped for one quick photo.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the rest of the day was a blur for me. The medication I took made me feel better, but it also knocked me out for the afternoon. So, while I napped, Steve went wandering the ship and woke me up in time to get ready for our first formal night. I got all dressed up in my new formal dress that I won on E-Bay, got my hair all curled up, and insisted that we have pictures taken before dinner. (But, they did NOT turn out cute at all, and for $24 a piece, I was NOT about to bring one home as a souvenir...so just take my word for it...We looked HOT!) I made it to the table, and wouldn't you know it, it was prime rib and lobster night. I ordered my prime rib, still not feeling great, and tried to smile while we waited for our food. Our sweet little Maria, our assistant waitress, came around with the bread basket and that was all it took for me. I looked at Steve with tears in my eyes, told him I was sorry, and ran for my room. My formal night ended in my room, with my poor Steve, eating dinner dateless. He did return and report (later, when it was safe to talk about food) that it was the BEST lobster he had ever had, but even better was the shrimp that came with it. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">disappointed</span>, but hoped to get better FAST! So, after a little more Tylenol, we went out to Karaoke and hit the sack pretty early, glad there was a sea day ahead of us to give me some time to rest!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-46826020072491457172010-05-17T17:50:00.007-06:002010-05-17T18:33:25.862-06:00A week on "The Dream"<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3_Y2Lq5ev8z8LFaAe2s7heomeuw9uP8ctFw7JQvPu86qIzMSCWTlTVtyO7tgQ8ZFYxHg0clqVi2TCZQxtIkHOUJZUL6xLdw4gyKOsboFemc3W-i5sVHLtJM6Pfz6xEoa3ZeDRVxAiv0/s1600/carnival_dream.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3_Y2Lq5ev8z8LFaAe2s7heomeuw9uP8ctFw7JQvPu86qIzMSCWTlTVtyO7tgQ8ZFYxHg0clqVi2TCZQxtIkHOUJZUL6xLdw4gyKOsboFemc3W-i5sVHLtJM6Pfz6xEoa3ZeDRVxAiv0/s400/carnival_dream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397429913297714" border="0" /></a>I will never forget the squealing reaction from our rented Grand Marquis as we caught our first glimpse of the Dream. Even from far away, the ship was massive!! It is the newest in the Carnival fleet, taking it's first sailing in September last year. Steve and Alan dropped us off with our luggage while they went to return our "pimp wagon". I'm sure it wasn't long, but the anticipation to get on the ship seemed like they were gone forever! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz3p45cI7y5Kkzx57n1xK1KEMrGGdMSV_t8G63FjzkyFEa1PEyVM6aHoF6fAeBlHIavvPS1wwH1SW2bMTFchfG3ko2bKJ-gu8GCJJk-v5z1hgAYmab6nkNiofw7aweB57v6_oqiSeYdk/s1600/100_4481.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz3p45cI7y5Kkzx57n1xK1KEMrGGdMSV_t8G63FjzkyFEa1PEyVM6aHoF6fAeBlHIavvPS1wwH1SW2bMTFchfG3ko2bKJ-gu8GCJJk-v5z1hgAYmab6nkNiofw7aweB57v6_oqiSeYdk/s400/100_4481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397276892677090" border="0" /></a>This was our 3rd cruise and Steve and I have never stayed in a room with a balcony. This ship offered something new...no other ship on the water has it...it was called a Cove Balcony. We figured we would try it out since we wouldn't really know the difference. They sell these rooms for substantially less than the other balcony rooms, saying that they are more enclosed. We fell in love with it the second we walked in. (I think our friends did too!) <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZv_eva5VZ1Ma8wexMvHaVmu0zrjXk_ypgBtcGC0FhKcRlFXyi6rv74mR8O2iOG-wBnwYzV2uOoQK5HX_nH4WwaZyI-G3VlN8CM4Sj-qMqGHzXKpmCSKlzTe538ZKokn1A_wgbMcQmwg/s1600/100_4489.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZv_eva5VZ1Ma8wexMvHaVmu0zrjXk_ypgBtcGC0FhKcRlFXyi6rv74mR8O2iOG-wBnwYzV2uOoQK5HX_nH4WwaZyI-G3VlN8CM4Sj-qMqGHzXKpmCSKlzTe538ZKokn1A_wgbMcQmwg/s400/100_4489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397268706824946" border="0" /></a>The room was absolutely perfect. We loved to sit out on the balcony and watch the waves crash into the ship. There were many nights we just listened to the sound of the waves. We LOVED being close to the water instead of up on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> and 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> floor in the "more premium" balconies. We met our neighbors as we set sail. A cute little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Spanish</span>, salsa-dancing, couple from LA. We never learned their names, but if they heard us come out, they would pop their heads over to say hello. We met our room steward, Johnnie, right away since there were no electrical plugs near the bed for Steve's C-PAP machine. Luckily, he loaned us an extension cord, otherwise it would have been a VERY, LONG week! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SAJ4BbR1iKxBOZcFsrSUnhHtJNjxw4t3aBxfYYkMUdzgl2tyQ7-Koua44bCuftHuVWs9pKNduXHvDrvhpr_k7g8faSWC8LzaqePCsqrUjuS2NWyjIf7ckVi-beFX3-lmmwtG3-TluqA/s1600/100_4487.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SAJ4BbR1iKxBOZcFsrSUnhHtJNjxw4t3aBxfYYkMUdzgl2tyQ7-Koua44bCuftHuVWs9pKNduXHvDrvhpr_k7g8faSWC8LzaqePCsqrUjuS2NWyjIf7ckVi-beFX3-lmmwtG3-TluqA/s400/100_4487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397260897190802" border="0" /></a>We were able to do a "room tour" of the Olsen's balcony room on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> floor. Their balcony seemed the same size, but it was enclosed in glass. You were able to see everyone else on their balconies and it overlooked one of three hot tubs on the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> floor deck. We were thrilled with our balcony since it sat just under the lifeboats giving us shade and it was much more private than the ones upstairs. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rXR78PNzQkBiO4NrQZgYQ45UakfrttlRHKso0v_Gaz0XAu_VtdYpYEgSLTqDsVY2mWuGu02CkPeXZNImGa-47tpYhMp19w61RmkuM2ISPwbUebs-dChtlLerFRUv0cbNQfK-7UEwvPU/s1600/100_4493.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rXR78PNzQkBiO4NrQZgYQ45UakfrttlRHKso0v_Gaz0XAu_VtdYpYEgSLTqDsVY2mWuGu02CkPeXZNImGa-47tpYhMp19w61RmkuM2ISPwbUebs-dChtlLerFRUv0cbNQfK-7UEwvPU/s400/100_4493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397251463905042" border="0" /></a>Steve sat out on the balcony early one morning and swore he saw birds diving into the water. After watching them for a while, he remembered how far we were from land and realized there was no possible way there would be birds clear out here. He took a second look and found they were not birds, but flying fish!!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINWmDux5i4nHRS3yxypZ47IW5bZTXS1EgPBj7eAVa1DG1LXcRiY1n0P_ViesSBwOIkOMohDuRbBQex-nEGu3J5Vw6vANlFWKI-Xg4C57-h242uxk8tkykYrF6yClKWX1XlaQUlvxiW3o/s1600/cruise.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINWmDux5i4nHRS3yxypZ47IW5bZTXS1EgPBj7eAVa1DG1LXcRiY1n0P_ViesSBwOIkOMohDuRbBQex-nEGu3J5Vw6vANlFWKI-Xg4C57-h242uxk8tkykYrF6yClKWX1XlaQUlvxiW3o/s400/cruise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472397237834234018" border="0" /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-66807454806022821902010-05-17T14:20:00.003-06:002010-05-17T18:39:44.508-06:00Islands of Adventure!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUGpEJ5-YLrZujazG_FWgn4A4fkx6caHG2uBKT1yiEbMars0na-IeOwqjqh06DRzjPDPHKnEkOKgLIfQCg0VXPCsR0WUbTy921RbkOqBFULfHjGwHEe4CSVfdEBeR7AIbzp6eJMRrbZA/s1600/100_4477.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUGpEJ5-YLrZujazG_FWgn4A4fkx6caHG2uBKT1yiEbMars0na-IeOwqjqh06DRzjPDPHKnEkOKgLIfQCg0VXPCsR0WUbTy921RbkOqBFULfHjGwHEe4CSVfdEBeR7AIbzp6eJMRrbZA/s400/100_4477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337673486772978" border="0" /></a>About a year ago, Steve and I decided to celebrate our 10-year anniversary in a BIG way. We planned a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Caribbean</span> cruise! We had gone on a cruise for our honeymoon and couldn't wait to go again. We invited all our friends to join us, but ended up with 3 couples. Our good friends, Alan and Amanda Andersen joined us along with our neighbors, Kirk and Teresa Olsen. We decided to make the most of our very expensive airfare and spend a little time in Orlando before we got on the ship. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Olsens</span> chose to see Kennedy Space Center, while <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Andersens</span> came with us to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. We had an absolute blast! We did get a little homesick for the kids when we met Popeye and Olive Oil (the girls' new favorite show) but it is more of an adult themed park, so all in all it was so great to not have kids with us!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF9tXuPEnjIQ1EuO_-ZGA4ivToxdxFN63qrRgmKT_dUt5J3J5re2Y7zkwVQ3ECemZAbO10a80lwEPErRshrWt0hq8YMAlBdxglaAEJxTcGnsVFXjqjdxJrvmtQTaVG7ECjljU7a_TC14/s1600/100_4476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF9tXuPEnjIQ1EuO_-ZGA4ivToxdxFN63qrRgmKT_dUt5J3J5re2Y7zkwVQ3ECemZAbO10a80lwEPErRshrWt0hq8YMAlBdxglaAEJxTcGnsVFXjqjdxJrvmtQTaVG7ECjljU7a_TC14/s400/100_4476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337463653424066" border="0" /></a>A big part of the park was themed after Marvel Comic Heroes. Not being a big comic fan, I didn't know most of them, but they had a small parade a few times a day when all the heroes came out on 4 wheelers and then went off in separate areas for pictures and autographs. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Spidey</span> was the only one I knew!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4HWIlrYMIE8QKgAQy9AANH39c5qLJIkzFLfw1WCqIPeYFShMoitoWcwJh2srX31nFVexpzgrzYrSTEpXTfrCzF-C6HCpFA0BW9vIP-Kg1Nx71RO7qkOJm_bP0lxtZ56azGkWCPwJivs/s1600/PG_v_thumb_2_tcm13-4772.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4HWIlrYMIE8QKgAQy9AANH39c5qLJIkzFLfw1WCqIPeYFShMoitoWcwJh2srX31nFVexpzgrzYrSTEpXTfrCzF-C6HCpFA0BW9vIP-Kg1Nx71RO7qkOJm_bP0lxtZ56azGkWCPwJivs/s400/PG_v_thumb_2_tcm13-4772.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337457741089394" border="0" /></a>This park has some of the best rides of all time! Dudley-Do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Right's</span> Rip Saw Falls was just as fun as we remembered. It is a log ride on speed!! There isn't just one drop where you get soaked...there are about 10! And there are waterfalls everywhere, so by the time you get off, you are completely drenched!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRzKCzTdKPGTf6zlo9eJmmmYExXH5xLZDj9ya5oYwa5PCmutfhvFAo2LIFyMbMKDtZ9zoFJBRFpAor0rD36EZMgbxgEl8uDJ9is8kBjgbhJV4CpQ_cn_UZxkiFmf2kZKpmR32fkadg04/s1600/PG_v_thumb_1_tcm13-4607.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRzKCzTdKPGTf6zlo9eJmmmYExXH5xLZDj9ya5oYwa5PCmutfhvFAo2LIFyMbMKDtZ9zoFJBRFpAor0rD36EZMgbxgEl8uDJ9is8kBjgbhJV4CpQ_cn_UZxkiFmf2kZKpmR32fkadg04/s400/PG_v_thumb_1_tcm13-4607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337455017180482" border="0" /></a>The Incredible Hulk is just that...INCREDIBLE!! This one was one of our favorites on our trip here 10 years ago. They shoot you out of a dark tunnel at 60 miles an hour right into a barrel roll! It is no surprise that you reach the end completely out of breath, but so worth it! (If you still have your wallet and sunglasses in your pocket!)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF2TR6XsnLDmle3AAcMTlBMyrfSxIOplTROqgdUDwdr8RB2ozQCO3N2Ocsk4BQlaaWbqIaWdMkVSJW9W6CPQc7L_bHzt0RebdXq8-zlzy95x6WE_XaiXVfrU12ILTd1mG3EOS4o98vjQ/s1600/PG_v_thumb_1_tcm13-4416.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF2TR6XsnLDmle3AAcMTlBMyrfSxIOplTROqgdUDwdr8RB2ozQCO3N2Ocsk4BQlaaWbqIaWdMkVSJW9W6CPQc7L_bHzt0RebdXq8-zlzy95x6WE_XaiXVfrU12ILTd1mG3EOS4o98vjQ/s400/PG_v_thumb_1_tcm13-4416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337445801058818" border="0" /></a>Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges was a new one to us this trip. When we went before it was shut down for repairs. Once we were soaked from Dudley-Do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Right's</span>, we decided we might as well get all the wet rides out of the way. I thought you got wet at Rattlesnake Rapids at Lagoon??? That was NOTHING compared to how soaked we got on this ride. It was hilarious though. We wrung our clothes out most of the day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTbQCzydFsQGNAse3iC-D-ahvI_KPB0C18QomPK3H37tIG6n_p9SQg44zxaU9Ef78MceGnrw45szdd2Zo7rCwSOZYm8clJb2i6GLwX0eLFHcgspZ1ToCcvXVMdnW1BqOiY8looveew-o/s1600/PG_h_thumb_3_tcm13-4617.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTbQCzydFsQGNAse3iC-D-ahvI_KPB0C18QomPK3H37tIG6n_p9SQg44zxaU9Ef78MceGnrw45szdd2Zo7rCwSOZYm8clJb2i6GLwX0eLFHcgspZ1ToCcvXVMdnW1BqOiY8looveew-o/s400/PG_h_thumb_3_tcm13-4617.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472337441100705154" border="0" /></a>And I think my all time favorite ride at the park is still The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. It is an interactive 3-D ride where you get caught up in a battle between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Spidey</span> and all his comic-book <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">villains</span>. The graphics are amazing and the ride is totally worth the wait.<br /><br />The hours were cut short at the park that day due to some high school graduation bash, but I think we were pretty much ready to be done anyway. By the time we left, my socks were still wet inside my shoes and I was definitely ready to sit for a while! We headed back to our hotel for a while and then went off in search of some dinner. When we are out of town, Steve and I like to eat in places we can't get here. Sometimes we miss and wish we were at an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Applebee's</span> instead of the dives we find, but this time we totally scored. There were <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">billboards</span> for Hooter's everywhere, so the guys kept joking that they wanted wings. Manda and I called their bluff and agreed! No we didn't end up at Hooter's, instead we found a true hole in the wall called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Flyers</span>. I will admit now, I was nervous walking in to the place. And after talking to the waitress I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">afraid</span> to walk out. She told us it was NOT a good neighborhood and to be very careful walking to our car. She lived 2 blocks away and refused to walk to work it was that bad. However, the wings were AWESOME!! I think the best wings we have ever eaten. It's sad that there is only one and it has been weeks since we've eaten there yet we are still talking about it! She was able to give us some great tips and advice for our cruise and what to do and what not to do on the islands, which was very helpful. After dinner, we headed back to our hotel to try and get some sleep before we got on the ship the next day!!! So excited!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-27672922248039221552010-05-06T18:37:00.002-06:002010-05-06T18:47:48.266-06:00Little "Bo" Peep?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoUdmSjbknaVgfJKVPNA8tLs7xAVv1iK2CpB3Z80RS4gafXYqIw1ojlcMGtEWsikTEadJCxKZ_ux8keDVX6bWlb7mx1HvvMaJmx_aHVTHm0sf_zDAmDsjU5c9awlgj-PZ6ha7dLQKfTc/s1600/100_4428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoUdmSjbknaVgfJKVPNA8tLs7xAVv1iK2CpB3Z80RS4gafXYqIw1ojlcMGtEWsikTEadJCxKZ_ux8keDVX6bWlb7mx1HvvMaJmx_aHVTHm0sf_zDAmDsjU5c9awlgj-PZ6ha7dLQKfTc/s400/100_4428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322136744834706" border="0" /></a>I really hate stupid people! I hate stupid people who make comments about my little boy looking like a "hippie" with his beautiful long curls or strangers who insist he is a girl. Surely no one in their right mind dresses their little girls in dinosaurs and skeleton bones?? And if one of my "daughters" had hair like this, don't you think I would doll her up in ribbons and bows?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18AYuHVOt_KKt5bUQ7M1IPBQJ0_TaSlwUVurF1BiPQVZZ8vHoeYn8EZueUy8MxR0t1C_qQRq-S2GxRq1x0S61rfGYoLNieegmFdklv7LDkP_A5lvyo9z14JLjKuWDFEBDG9JfazMkycI/s1600/100_4423.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18AYuHVOt_KKt5bUQ7M1IPBQJ0_TaSlwUVurF1BiPQVZZ8vHoeYn8EZueUy8MxR0t1C_qQRq-S2GxRq1x0S61rfGYoLNieegmFdklv7LDkP_A5lvyo9z14JLjKuWDFEBDG9JfazMkycI/s400/100_4423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322113302407602" border="0" /></a>I finally had enough. It nearly broke my heart, but my little boy could no longer be mistaken for a baby sister. It was time for his first hair cut!!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DJFxBD3NVPtY2jN2xfzD0dItLmjVq_ams1tw7ZUb_c758FLde-YsFPUiG9Cq9fhjFpQjSXxG9PyeHEvsdbXTTOszTmDiE9yroloY2wkfh1YwGUV0ThVF3VeVRjNZ7z5Krkf_0Fs04c/s1600/100_4437.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DJFxBD3NVPtY2jN2xfzD0dItLmjVq_ams1tw7ZUb_c758FLde-YsFPUiG9Cq9fhjFpQjSXxG9PyeHEvsdbXTTOszTmDiE9yroloY2wkfh1YwGUV0ThVF3VeVRjNZ7z5Krkf_0Fs04c/s400/100_4437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322097044620098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS16m9FXaIeka0mbZ4tNnwqGTQhSRdrYSGo4CWQZFhuiGj-WlMVF4D7GEdE2Bw0asxn3SUephByQU_MfKhjr79ZqBy_hp2GF-rACQsEx493KW_m7qlFp4khVynp8hh04JveOdji2VnOpQ/s1600/100_4443.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS16m9FXaIeka0mbZ4tNnwqGTQhSRdrYSGo4CWQZFhuiGj-WlMVF4D7GEdE2Bw0asxn3SUephByQU_MfKhjr79ZqBy_hp2GF-rACQsEx493KW_m7qlFp4khVynp8hh04JveOdji2VnOpQ/s400/100_4443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322085833822434" border="0" /></a>I gave my hairdresser, CoriAnn, specific instructions. Less bang, a little shorter, but still shaggy. (That's in, right?) Luckily, she knew just what to do and he did great!! Most of all, he still looks like my sweet Bode...just a little more "boyish".<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G2sOEfL8d58dWENCw0Oae0VGrQ2f6vZrMxGQr_ik5QKEd8-AEriBJ1zS2zj3UuMrTjG19ofujBZoW6VduCh91yAnw8dI_bzp5wdEQcdNQFCt7ths0hh-RDcPLHHRY0jP-1X-VEnUjQM/s1600/Collage23.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G2sOEfL8d58dWENCw0Oae0VGrQ2f6vZrMxGQr_ik5QKEd8-AEriBJ1zS2zj3UuMrTjG19ofujBZoW6VduCh91yAnw8dI_bzp5wdEQcdNQFCt7ths0hh-RDcPLHHRY0jP-1X-VEnUjQM/s400/Collage23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468322061586902354" border="0" /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-35308701024195739822010-05-06T18:26:00.002-06:002010-05-06T18:37:44.018-06:00Easter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhra_-xVbwX8kr-EJJ8RP0NAkEq-ZRFKt85J_kB-StJs7v2yw3po6rItf75A1QkF-bCzMIta7cZ1YWwiygRLaqLPip4r12_QG2ulAnItM3OOXIhNeGkUIekQf0Fyb0eAE3-lIYvqwm5k/s1600/Collage24.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhra_-xVbwX8kr-EJJ8RP0NAkEq-ZRFKt85J_kB-StJs7v2yw3po6rItf75A1QkF-bCzMIta7cZ1YWwiygRLaqLPip4r12_QG2ulAnItM3OOXIhNeGkUIekQf0Fyb0eAE3-lIYvqwm5k/s400/Collage24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468318490100346402" border="0" /></a>Easter was definitely a different day this year. Surprisingly, it fell on the same day as General Conference. We started a tradition with the Vincent family to get together on Conference Sunday for breakfast, but changed it up a little this year. Instead of the traditional "Ziploc omelets" I made Grandma Terry's Ham and Cheese Croissaints. I actually think they were a bigger hit than the omelets! We rushed off for Conference and breakfast in our jammies to Aunt Valerie's house and came back much later in the afternoon for our egg hunt. No surprise, it was freezing, so luckily it didn't last too long! Of course the girls cried over who got the most eggs, while Bode was content to listen to the rattle of just one and spent the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out how to get the candy out!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQbKOYfsD7ranBd77ZUoraf6GjtnqD8s-XUs2kumXWg6zMnPLBD5W68yPBw1F6XltgSjx_d1LOQsrFtILhcL6vsmKRi6ad09XUDWpzSzf6ScE53qVa5aJVOMt7oxDNlEiAzACFh334hY/s1600/100_4410.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQbKOYfsD7ranBd77ZUoraf6GjtnqD8s-XUs2kumXWg6zMnPLBD5W68yPBw1F6XltgSjx_d1LOQsrFtILhcL6vsmKRi6ad09XUDWpzSzf6ScE53qVa5aJVOMt7oxDNlEiAzACFh334hY/s400/100_4410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468318471236122370" border="0" /></a>No pictures of it, of course...but a funny Easter memory for this year. Bode has developed an obsession for Elmo! The girls never really cared for Sesame Street, but I guess Elmo is the male version of Dora since that was their big thing. So, the Easter bunny brought Bode a stuffed Elmo in his Easter basket (along with the Cadbury creme eggs seen here...a BIG HIT with the boy!!) As expected, Bode picked up and started walking just a few days before Easter. He was so thrilled with his Elmo that he refused to loosen his grip on the little red monster when he lost his footing and completely FACEPLANTED into the carpet. I tried (really hard) to hold back my motherly gasp and waited for the wail. Instead, he sat up, checked out Elmo and looked up to Steve and I with his big hazel eyes and said, "WOAH!!"Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-2403590403090257362010-03-15T13:55:00.003-06:002010-03-15T14:06:08.589-06:00Not to be left out...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlSc3nIek5MOp-47_y0jKNZ3MSoHH0tg2F5Yr5jmu7SGBIsjdWyIS7rhFMyxl4RZe5Xu6ozGYiiY3oLt3sRQfbE4ic7S_H6y5dP_71Pz3s635F2cLOR_zFpqmZE2XCOG-qypTRnY6Fkw/s1600-h/Collage22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448952021584852018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlSc3nIek5MOp-47_y0jKNZ3MSoHH0tg2F5Yr5jmu7SGBIsjdWyIS7rhFMyxl4RZe5Xu6ozGYiiY3oLt3sRQfbE4ic7S_H6y5dP_71Pz3s635F2cLOR_zFpqmZE2XCOG-qypTRnY6Fkw/s400/Collage22.jpg" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">CLAIRE HAS A TWIN TOO!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I guess it worked out perfectly fitting to name my Linda Claire after my sweet mother, since she turned out to be another Linda Palmer clone. I've been told all my life that I look just like my mom. In my early years I hated it...I don't know why, I guess I just wanted to be original. But now that I'm older, I LOVE people to tell me how much I am like her, and not just in looks. Now I have my little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Clairey</span>-Boo to carry it on. From the day she was born, I knew she had come straight from her Grandma Linda's arms and brought a piece of her with her. She looked just like her! When we helped my dad clean out the house before he moved, I found this little red and white polka dotted outfit that I remembered from pictures of myself. Of course I snagged it, wanting to take pictures of Claire in it to compare the two. I took the pictures, but never did anything with it...probably because Steve told me our baby looked like I had wrapped her in a loofah!! But now that I put the two together...HOLY <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">TWINNERS</span>!</span></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-16354261745517393302010-03-04T13:36:00.002-07:002010-03-04T13:40:26.849-07:00Look-alikes<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_UDC3yKcgMKr7dl49JnxRqdh-R0ib-5ZMU9V9jLFJ1XovvLnDR9XeesSvHIUTX1XIF5TJVEvM-TL_PqwKBoczSW0u_Ny0YCx9BpZllciYhsdsC5UlBiGyVUqhpWGIcx1AjJk-S9zSaY/s1600-h/Collage20.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444880553678980082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_UDC3yKcgMKr7dl49JnxRqdh-R0ib-5ZMU9V9jLFJ1XovvLnDR9XeesSvHIUTX1XIF5TJVEvM-TL_PqwKBoczSW0u_Ny0YCx9BpZllciYhsdsC5UlBiGyVUqhpWGIcx1AjJk-S9zSaY/s400/Collage20.jpg" /></a> In talking with my sister-in-law recently, she noted how much she thought Bode looked like how she remembered Steve as a baby. I had been thinking Bode was a baby boy twinner of Paige's and since she is a clone of her daddy, I guess it all comes full circle. So, compare for yourself...Daddy is the larger photo on the left with Paige in the lavender on the top right and Bode in the navy on the lower right. All babies are around 6 months.</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-90280600076548712372010-02-28T18:24:00.003-07:002010-02-28T18:42:04.659-07:00FIVE!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFercwhjJ4jLDDageNnZc6VVQxvM_H1MlK8sQwNrCPRaZ8JnFBuTNdYLHNuBr4nsLFlwFfRx6gAJQ-Nn2A00Oh-QlKLIH3aoNbpTx-PDMFLBnECZl0sOc9FZ9i0Ri_brH5ZbtsN5dPTBw/s1600-h/feb10+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470826964727858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFercwhjJ4jLDDageNnZc6VVQxvM_H1MlK8sQwNrCPRaZ8JnFBuTNdYLHNuBr4nsLFlwFfRx6gAJQ-Nn2A00Oh-QlKLIH3aoNbpTx-PDMFLBnECZl0sOc9FZ9i0Ri_brH5ZbtsN5dPTBw/s400/feb10+019.JPG" /></a> It's hard for me to believe that my baby girl is now 5 years old. Where does the time go?? She started counting down to her birthday around Christmas time, and was anxiously awaiting the day. She got to celebrate at preschool...but due to lack of planning ahead, I forgot to send birthday treats. So instead, Paige, Bode and I waited outside Miss Kathy's house with 10 purple Happy Birthday balloons for all of her friends. She was surprised...and THRILLED!! Especially since there were 2 friends absent from her class that day, so she got to take 3 balloons home. We took her to dinner that night at the Training Table, her choice (have I got her trained well or what??) But it still killed her to wait until Friday when... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IHNK-Fl4__TZsv31ByhmZxfNy5Vog6zE8psJHZ1qXZot0RLO0PusbrrAylb6bneDm1sllrar_Fx4T3XXS7PWPyuJBqyMwWuMmu4gyo27gwkBc9JJfUjBpAU0sORsyZnIeiLSJLRRNsA/s1600-h/feb10+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470820226549458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IHNK-Fl4__TZsv31ByhmZxfNy5Vog6zE8psJHZ1qXZot0RLO0PusbrrAylb6bneDm1sllrar_Fx4T3XXS7PWPyuJBqyMwWuMmu4gyo27gwkBc9JJfUjBpAU0sORsyZnIeiLSJLRRNsA/s400/feb10+014.JPG" /></a> WE GOT TO GO TO CHUCK E. CHEESE!!! Claire has planned this birthday party since we went there 2 years ago for a cousin's party. She was dying to ride the clock and win a prize. I really was ANTI, but with a winter birthday, your options are limited. I loved the idea of not having a dozen 5 year-olds destroy my house, but did not love the idea of eating cardboard pizza for a hundred bucks. She didn't seem to notice that mom didn't pop for the "Birthday package", which meant we didn't have a happy birthday tablecloth or a balloon. She did want the token crown, but seemed to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">satisfied</span> by the light up tiara I had brought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9oah6N6PlIJr61TN2udNzS8CNI3QBv9B_-AJq_1LRefb2ffxWYvIIweMpB3VTrF4PVkAvJ_72qxe2ShFvtC0RmVVai4UDIi7wKjmuwyRRrCssT4fTuq918m4ldQy_2QJCqVBHwpMNO0/s1600-h/feb10+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470808686543650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9oah6N6PlIJr61TN2udNzS8CNI3QBv9B_-AJq_1LRefb2ffxWYvIIweMpB3VTrF4PVkAvJ_72qxe2ShFvtC0RmVVai4UDIi7wKjmuwyRRrCssT4fTuq918m4ldQy_2QJCqVBHwpMNO0/s400/feb10+015.JPG" /></a> Claire had such a great time playing with her friends and opening presents. It seemed like the perfect party...everyone had fun!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLodDu_Sk61LyKzKVMjuON3Ea8i9CumarmUm3sgSLemsBqTlkbZuOfjh4gK6vLFq-vpWDiRB6lCOB6-lPh0rtrt5IsEcL-AceBBs5_fYIoVQ1Y6pGAz-EhP35erL7Qmly6DwjaO1ZYtkA/s1600-h/feb10+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470807346756786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLodDu_Sk61LyKzKVMjuON3Ea8i9CumarmUm3sgSLemsBqTlkbZuOfjh4gK6vLFq-vpWDiRB6lCOB6-lPh0rtrt5IsEcL-AceBBs5_fYIoVQ1Y6pGAz-EhP35erL7Qmly6DwjaO1ZYtkA/s400/feb10+030.JPG" /></a> There was a little drama over the cupcakes. She really wanted a princess cake from Costco, but mom really wanted cupcakes since they were easier. We went to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Walmart</span> and poured over the design book for about half an hour. When we went to put in our order, the kid told me I had to give them exactly 24 hours notice...not 21 like I had. So I took a sad and dejected little Boo elsewhere. Luckily, Sam's Club had Valentine cupcakes up the wazoo and everyone got a ring!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQTfli_KveVy1ZWHHhom4hZX27jvtwaMRSjonWOmE1Zfq-_S01Ca6sAgsoCvTj7cznMA2LRLuT44vwo5yB1dXs-U0xCLuEn22iqjYTg-Y1514t7omjcwrY_tyjVn7qkVVuqAenIqOKuo/s1600-h/feb10+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470797653487122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQTfli_KveVy1ZWHHhom4hZX27jvtwaMRSjonWOmE1Zfq-_S01Ca6sAgsoCvTj7cznMA2LRLuT44vwo5yB1dXs-U0xCLuEn22iqjYTg-Y1514t7omjcwrY_tyjVn7qkVVuqAenIqOKuo/s400/feb10+023.JPG" /></a> The party went on to Sunday where we had raspberry delight ice cream at Grandpa and Grandma's house and even more presents!! Claire was very disappointed the following Monday morning when she woke up asking, "What are we going to do for my birthday today?" Apparently birthdays are now <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">birthweeks</span>.</div></div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-20533079107257144672010-01-30T16:40:00.002-07:002010-01-30T16:58:21.275-07:00A little more mobile...<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe_8TU1apoX7Dc4Zuz0DW0xSxyA7C1khcPXtCEhWnosHPr7C2Ynw3M_p4DJNpFD7W4jEZQDGVfHx-CueIGnaiDtHF4z6wYqTmVabLK-l5cuveYNiIqL5nxGpj7Q1QB_VqhHKUuAnMIg8/s1600-h/jan10+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432683132892541330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe_8TU1apoX7Dc4Zuz0DW0xSxyA7C1khcPXtCEhWnosHPr7C2Ynw3M_p4DJNpFD7W4jEZQDGVfHx-CueIGnaiDtHF4z6wYqTmVabLK-l5cuveYNiIqL5nxGpj7Q1QB_VqhHKUuAnMIg8/s400/jan10+016.JPG" /></a>Apparently, Vincents only make stubborn children...I'm sure they don't get it from their mother. They do things in their own time, when they want. All our children have been late bloomers as far as baby milestones are concerned. Paige had a decent excuse (you'd be late walking too if your legs were covered in plaster!) But Claire and Bode are no exception, I guess. So it comes as no surprise that at 15 months, Bode is still not walking. He is perfectly content to crawl around the floor. So for Christmas, Santa brought Bode a little ride-along walker toy to encourage a little more mobility. <br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCYyMlpY5qq4lyS1z_vIsk3WvLUBIdhLHuVAV2azWQ78XTd4D4AdPplt5Butw7dwvBhxa8TtmkFbjHw-22l71R5JdS5tP0UqBI5TsCvub4q-IIr_SWMnIsgXs8zleLgypOcwu6pCxUJg/s1600-h/jan10+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432683118933256866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCYyMlpY5qq4lyS1z_vIsk3WvLUBIdhLHuVAV2azWQ78XTd4D4AdPplt5Butw7dwvBhxa8TtmkFbjHw-22l71R5JdS5tP0UqBI5TsCvub4q-IIr_SWMnIsgXs8zleLgypOcwu6pCxUJg/s400/jan10+015.JPG" /></a> It took him a few days to get the hang of it...but he has really got it down! He runs this thing from one end of the house to the other, usually with two giggly little shadows following after him. <div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJm4gsZIFrjkHAi2T2JvUonh8gHLmOmyDGMj3FyxmjYsZFv9qSmF6HQlOrNqEpj3k7k6rx8pasjhUOrk7eK72xY-qL_Lc1G2NYjv79DzQVZe2iphPtzRXhUq5r08jHxQq5tIA6cQI4TY/s1600-h/jan10+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432683115983416210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJm4gsZIFrjkHAi2T2JvUonh8gHLmOmyDGMj3FyxmjYsZFv9qSmF6HQlOrNqEpj3k7k6rx8pasjhUOrk7eK72xY-qL_Lc1G2NYjv79DzQVZe2iphPtzRXhUq5r08jHxQq5tIA6cQI4TY/s400/jan10+014.JPG" /></a> He can get it going so fast, that it was hard to capture a decent picture of him doing it! But at least he looks like he is having fun! He particularly enjoys doing laps around the kitchen table and the island. <em>Notice his proud big sister cheering him on! So cute!<br /></em><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56ia8hsBoVBXkKtk3sgZbIk-I7SyDQfnQvKOnEmoNSZwZbMzHfShZF8qlAlj0auS3X4iSG6ZXx40htdid_7qsqztgisGW3Sioy8S4LBggAXFWn7TnftvwqNy3A-uWeUn2Ld0ezAOxFws/s1600-h/jan10+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432683104641437298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56ia8hsBoVBXkKtk3sgZbIk-I7SyDQfnQvKOnEmoNSZwZbMzHfShZF8qlAlj0auS3X4iSG6ZXx40htdid_7qsqztgisGW3Sioy8S4LBggAXFWn7TnftvwqNy3A-uWeUn2Ld0ezAOxFws/s400/jan10+013.JPG" /></a>Note: He has also mastered pushing the baby doll stroller. No, this does not mean he will grow up with "issues". It means he is going to be a good daddy someday...when he's 40 and I finally decide to let my baby boy out of the house. On second thought...maybe he'll just be a really great uncle!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipug_UDTmtH1Fa4DgxYXQXlurDGidb5Iyse7SAE_gJAJLQwTx8hkpgotmmp3txuaJiHCg48ZVUCdvKA3GARMPGtr-07tbiutd7O5AkoPJ3REtOHv6LIDc4qtEPFxpkebJPjiIP9DgflCY/s1600-h/jan10+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432683098076826978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipug_UDTmtH1Fa4DgxYXQXlurDGidb5Iyse7SAE_gJAJLQwTx8hkpgotmmp3txuaJiHCg48ZVUCdvKA3GARMPGtr-07tbiutd7O5AkoPJ3REtOHv6LIDc4qtEPFxpkebJPjiIP9DgflCY/s400/jan10+017.JPG" /></a> Such a proud, though kind of goofy, little smile! </div><div align="center">P.S. Just yesterday, Bode made a little bit more progress. He stood by himself in the middle of the floor! Just long enough to clap for himself and everyone to scream and yell, but still...</div></div></div></div></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-17829194710290154632010-01-16T15:00:00.003-07:002010-01-16T15:39:57.846-07:00Christmas 2009<div align="justify">WOW!! It's hard to believe that Christmas was already almost a month ago! It seems like December was such a whirlwind, it has taken this long to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">recoop</span>! I think the most exhausting part was Bode. He caught a horrible cold the first of the month and 3 doctors visits, 2 prescriptions and a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">nebulizer</span> later it had turned from cold, to strep, to ear infection, to secondary pneumonia! He and I spent a good chunk of Dec. 23rd with Dr. Lash trying to figure out why he was so sick and what we could do to make it better! Luckily, we had caught it in time where his oxygen level was way down, but not low enough to be hospitalized...so Bode got to spend Christmas at home! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We spent our Christmas Eve with the Vincent family, in between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">nebulizer</span> treatments. Paige, Claire and our cousin Katherine were all so excited to check out <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">NoradSanta</span> and see how close he was getting. Claire was ready to leave and go home to bed the second we got there, he was so afraid we would miss him! Of course, we ended up staying later than we planned...and then by the time we each opened Christmas <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">jammies</span>, this is what Paige left for Santa. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK_xsJST0CGsiy4xdYahRe06nzA26b2Uo_E_WsT_aHfag7TJ17Z0Yq-6c2fpvIjKJzfUZv8h-X0c9NIYdPjQenmQCdVJphU3OxpHO2h6XdGswvQiQNqkY-Q1dFr68iPpvCF2uxxM6ddw/s1600-h/dec09+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427462738460349154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK_xsJST0CGsiy4xdYahRe06nzA26b2Uo_E_WsT_aHfag7TJ17Z0Yq-6c2fpvIjKJzfUZv8h-X0c9NIYdPjQenmQCdVJphU3OxpHO2h6XdGswvQiQNqkY-Q1dFr68iPpvCF2uxxM6ddw/s400/dec09+001.JPG" /></a> He absolutely LOVED it! We know because this Christmas, <strong>Steve and I got to meet Santa</strong>! It was the most magical Christmas we have ever had! All 5 of us got in our new <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">jammies</span> and snuggled up in our bed to watch Christmas Story for a little bit and we all fell asleep. I felt a tap on my shoulder and awoke to find Santa standing next to me! Steve woke up to the sound of a man's voice in the bedroom (kind of gives a guy a panic attack, you know!) He asked us to follow him into the girls' bedroom. We went in to find a partially made <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">bunkbed</span>. Santa explained to us that the elves had packed the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">bunkbed</span> so well in the boxes for transport that it took him longer than expected to unpack and assemble. Santa knew our girls had been so good this year and deserved this extra special present they had asked for. But Santa needed to move on to our neighbors, so he asked if Steve and I could finish up for him. We were glad to help. I think Santa's happy "Ho, Ho, Ho's" and jingle bells must have been a little too jovial, because as I was bringing flannel sheets from the basement where Santa had left them by the fireplace, I saw Paige walking out of our room and right across the hall into hers! You should have seen the shock on her face!! It was priceless!! She had asked for the bunk bed, but never in her wildest dreams actually thought they would get it. She knew just how anti-bunk bed her mama is!! I quickly told her how we met Santa, so she and I hurried to check out all the windows to check all the neighbors roofs' while daddy finished putting the final touches on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">bunkbed</span>. But that Santa is pretty quick, we could not see him anywhere! Paige was a great help making beds and wanted so badly to wake up Claire to tell her Santa had come and brought them just what they wanted. But we knew she needed her sleep. So we snuggled the girls in their own separate beds and got a little sleep before morning.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHTQWVYgqO7oSUxzIC-vyL45DfgHNgMaVm6959_FC7QhjlPSpoAqpFMLErsNIaxER9NzDUQuevWqEqH1tk8dDTqvGUIlqrLbjZ3dGpdArEjqiiUGMs5qBCPuSuGvTPOeqBwp6FJuRXP8/s1600-h/dec09+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427462731358104898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHTQWVYgqO7oSUxzIC-vyL45DfgHNgMaVm6959_FC7QhjlPSpoAqpFMLErsNIaxER9NzDUQuevWqEqH1tk8dDTqvGUIlqrLbjZ3dGpdArEjqiiUGMs5qBCPuSuGvTPOeqBwp6FJuRXP8/s400/dec09+006.JPG" /></a>We ended up waking Claire up around 8:30 so that we could catch her reaction on video. She opened her eyes, looked up at the bunk bed, and hopped out yelling, "Yes...I knew it!!" Unfortunately, our little "booger boy" didn't wake up quite so bright eyed.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYXRnMyXtTRupFISzCDHLpF7Xh6vwRD7F1gLZ-uPJmVftUyRYJWWB8CffwCLcCe1YZudVHYTJixjUX28ZFY17jUs070bGkHfu4FQGN_VK4TbaUbhFVr-5Acu8U4iv9DolGibzLeb4heo/s1600-h/dec09+055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427462722245489426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYXRnMyXtTRupFISzCDHLpF7Xh6vwRD7F1gLZ-uPJmVftUyRYJWWB8CffwCLcCe1YZudVHYTJixjUX28ZFY17jUs070bGkHfu4FQGN_VK4TbaUbhFVr-5Acu8U4iv9DolGibzLeb4heo/s400/dec09+055.JPG" /></a> The kids had a great morning. No fighting, taking turns opening gifts...it was a wonderful morning. Even Bode got into opening gifts this year. Although we knew that <strong>long</strong> before Christmas. For some reason he was drawn to the present under the tree to Paige from Mom and Dad...he opened it 3 or 4 times before Christmas Day. Paige was really sweet about it though, she even re-wrapped it herself!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-woBVlbR7T_lSS5TA6v_P_J2J_0WWYhBMujnitVchnHqCFeiOIT6yhyOzpXV-lJBI78juuazCBnaoyHKv1xBOMB6nTVY8_DSbRvtjC0Xz3qoolXKy9JRny6xFWTzZydUAZvSi6ucPGs/s1600-h/dec09+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427462714579628178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-woBVlbR7T_lSS5TA6v_P_J2J_0WWYhBMujnitVchnHqCFeiOIT6yhyOzpXV-lJBI78juuazCBnaoyHKv1xBOMB6nTVY8_DSbRvtjC0Xz3qoolXKy9JRny6xFWTzZydUAZvSi6ucPGs/s400/dec09+035.JPG" /></a> The girls looked so darling in their Christmas "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">zippies</span>" and I absolutely LOVED the gingerbread man applique on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bode's</span> cute little bum!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhHyzXAAPDPVCyCWyXbh-Q3gjSaeXJQ3rdEs46Kmlg9xphk7Oipqa27UJIpPizC_OXS-IGwJgbZ-wFWYJfiCtWqofFDDYleQCjBalH4bawkwfI2YOn-W8iJAW3GPnaWjlJisEl7GA8qg/s1600-h/dec09+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427461949161125202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhHyzXAAPDPVCyCWyXbh-Q3gjSaeXJQ3rdEs46Kmlg9xphk7Oipqa27UJIpPizC_OXS-IGwJgbZ-wFWYJfiCtWqofFDDYleQCjBalH4bawkwfI2YOn-W8iJAW3GPnaWjlJisEl7GA8qg/s400/dec09+043.JPG" /></a> One of Claire's favorite gifts was the Lil' Kins kitty that Paige picked out for Claire by herself. She has not let it go, and named her Whiskers.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7BcqZ4q-2T2nF1vVgB1dlsNVw8h6_SEHpzvmjF1om2yOU2p55V8AiX5MYlKjLZ8uZXfSV4FzumhJu9OcRif6kplGsvJIYywvV2AFTWX-Q22UbUyj8IUn6idB6GpwUpMurwhEoDq2ew8/s1600-h/dec09+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427461943510648562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7BcqZ4q-2T2nF1vVgB1dlsNVw8h6_SEHpzvmjF1om2yOU2p55V8AiX5MYlKjLZ8uZXfSV4FzumhJu9OcRif6kplGsvJIYywvV2AFTWX-Q22UbUyj8IUn6idB6GpwUpMurwhEoDq2ew8/s400/dec09+027.JPG" /></a> Bode was thrilled with his roller coaster toy. It even entertains his big sisters for a while!<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgQ2a8sx9-QyaIBmyjqOtwCB6sGeDOM9UCfYf_VGvslErf9fMoeMFkmwV7SRbwlI6bqwvKBacl6UYOySdOMnXKijJZwXvwTrqLJWnyELqCucXaz4SOXqniBtQwbha5aUy_zG3B9qkdzc/s1600-h/dec09+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427461940353354546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgQ2a8sx9-QyaIBmyjqOtwCB6sGeDOM9UCfYf_VGvslErf9fMoeMFkmwV7SRbwlI6bqwvKBacl6UYOySdOMnXKijJZwXvwTrqLJWnyELqCucXaz4SOXqniBtQwbha5aUy_zG3B9qkdzc/s400/dec09+037.JPG" /></a> Paige was dying for her very own sewing machine. She is becoming quite the domestic diva!<br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx9TxYyjuPm7rQfNkoPGu2xOO99Pv3-FfSuaeIH6zJymsTJuFlbiycgxIsPyWrZLXvKZMdexsELcdv-vydXuDU7L_WdvG6_dyWC85_adGdMYP-7zb5xasAHM2bfcTL_CNzg9Jq0ONqBM/s1600-h/dec09+030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427461928638488402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx9TxYyjuPm7rQfNkoPGu2xOO99Pv3-FfSuaeIH6zJymsTJuFlbiycgxIsPyWrZLXvKZMdexsELcdv-vydXuDU7L_WdvG6_dyWC85_adGdMYP-7zb5xasAHM2bfcTL_CNzg9Jq0ONqBM/s400/dec09+030.JPG" /></a>Poor little Bode was such a good sport through the whole morning. You can tell just by looking back at the pictures just how awful he felt, but was still finally able to squeak out a few little smiles.<br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPAbHvVmbCseh_fiItVf-5-RXEXdS64mHlYeh40AdT84IUYBUIxoR4Q6cEsS4ksQrBJZ_E9skzemMJIPXjdGSkh0XkuTYEnNiUWVSG3wu0prXjroXxgv2EoaNd2qgpkjf3HMEVXsTpcg/s1600-h/dec09+053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427461920123536562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPAbHvVmbCseh_fiItVf-5-RXEXdS64mHlYeh40AdT84IUYBUIxoR4Q6cEsS4ksQrBJZ_E9skzemMJIPXjdGSkh0XkuTYEnNiUWVSG3wu0prXjroXxgv2EoaNd2qgpkjf3HMEVXsTpcg/s400/dec09+053.JPG" /></a> After the festivities were over, I pulled the bubble bun out of the fridge to rise for a little bit while Steve and I snuggled Bode back in our bed to get him back to sleep. It was pretty comfy in there because the next thing we knew, it was 3 hours later! I was shocked that we had napped for that long! I ran to check on the girls, feeling immediate guilt that I slept through Christmas morning, but was relieved to find the 2 of them with all their new Christmas Barbies and Littlest Pet Shop happily playing on the top bunk! The only real drawback was when I got to the kitchen and found the bubble bun had more than doubled...there were butterscotch covered rolls over the top of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bundt</span> pan, across the stove, down the front of the oven and onto the floor. So, although Christmas breakfast was kind of a bust, I think the rest of the day more than made up for it! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-6909768434319494552010-01-05T16:14:00.002-07:002010-01-05T16:44:58.290-07:00Claire's Christmas Program<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv9o0ZmxaR0bP2aa7zogV0yuHKhm4rRiQlLMh7xZVOxyf5sBUctDde75BGPe2M06lJws2nc3i0Mv3EwKeby5rD3mEm_VV5V0KmjV1I-i7JcXZNdTByYbX5DIw4svII-ml4mOa7Ro-bsY/s1600-h/dec09+057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423398695950775858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv9o0ZmxaR0bP2aa7zogV0yuHKhm4rRiQlLMh7xZVOxyf5sBUctDde75BGPe2M06lJws2nc3i0Mv3EwKeby5rD3mEm_VV5V0KmjV1I-i7JcXZNdTByYbX5DIw4svII-ml4mOa7Ro-bsY/s400/dec09+057.JPG" /></a> On Claire's last day of preschool in December, she had her Christmas program. It was absolutely darling! Steve and I loved every minute of it! We were so proud of our little Boo!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGLEFmXTIG3_7M-Sv4cNpiyi2613OugMrcVCMUDb0ZhmJbxTIJgEu9DhrrHOMveZPBBhILQeEmMXJOyjFRmrOEpmHx2Yb7Qy3FfYpneRJSmzxeI3KBapqEfBPpkV51aLNT1rLrLHau74/s1600-h/dec09+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423398693410494082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGLEFmXTIG3_7M-Sv4cNpiyi2613OugMrcVCMUDb0ZhmJbxTIJgEu9DhrrHOMveZPBBhILQeEmMXJOyjFRmrOEpmHx2Yb7Qy3FfYpneRJSmzxeI3KBapqEfBPpkV51aLNT1rLrLHau74/s400/dec09+061.JPG" /></a> She and her cute little class of 10 sang several numbers, each with props and actions. <br />Our personal favorite:<br /><em>I took a lick of my peppermint stick</em><br /><em>And I thought it tasted yummy!</em><br /><em>It used to be on my Christmas tree</em><br /><em>But I liked it better in my tummy!</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpBRZMD17KNKPxCdZ2TH7bP5eELdDNIrJzcv70YvkUCJECgVskEDwNmQ1tJLV9uAKuVcmAPmgmFGAgK69DpF2Tb_MmsraZ73O-RuccQO2QxwonNH8ZRcuZfQrhR_Ruy7p34xaIR6UwdM/s1600-h/dec09+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423398682689060290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpBRZMD17KNKPxCdZ2TH7bP5eELdDNIrJzcv70YvkUCJECgVskEDwNmQ1tJLV9uAKuVcmAPmgmFGAgK69DpF2Tb_MmsraZ73O-RuccQO2QxwonNH8ZRcuZfQrhR_Ruy7p34xaIR6UwdM/s400/dec09+060.JPG" /></a> The class also played a number with chimes, Christmas Bells are Ringing, with each child having a certain note to play.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIADlKxo93gAyqjrmvJ2geVEQK_wxm7MeCD4ArLovVMtQdY55aMYqM2_xW_f9jHjTdh5xaouXGmnnt0tlRi7y5QfFWVoTIlWsECeBf3HPpF0qf3B8Q7BshtQOO_OiYQo2U-QjS6DrObQ/s1600-h/dec09+062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423398678292394146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIADlKxo93gAyqjrmvJ2geVEQK_wxm7MeCD4ArLovVMtQdY55aMYqM2_xW_f9jHjTdh5xaouXGmnnt0tlRi7y5QfFWVoTIlWsECeBf3HPpF0qf3B8Q7BshtQOO_OiYQo2U-QjS6DrObQ/s400/dec09+062.JPG" /></a> And of course, no Christmas program would be complete without Rudolph!</div><div>The Christmas program was just a small taste of what's to come in the Spring...so we can't wait!</div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-187275363853525072010-01-01T21:30:00.002-07:002010-01-01T21:39:36.721-07:00Christmas Recital<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xU1xID8UUNNMt6r6JgmMQHKKFoy_e_o_cbDJoR3mj4m3i0ziwD4z1aiAn8AIFFFl1s-1idFsxXumDQeROmhwONKkLFAKpbnz9N3CXk9rPzGbZaed3rkXqxhja5joo3ZWlVRQ-2keCPs/s1600-h/dec09+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421995968717606002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xU1xID8UUNNMt6r6JgmMQHKKFoy_e_o_cbDJoR3mj4m3i0ziwD4z1aiAn8AIFFFl1s-1idFsxXumDQeROmhwONKkLFAKpbnz9N3CXk9rPzGbZaed3rkXqxhja5joo3ZWlVRQ-2keCPs/s400/dec09+005.JPG" /></a> What can I say? I'm a sucker for little girls with curly hair and makeup in dance costumes!</div><div align="center">Dance recitals are 2 days of the year that I really look forward too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa33b4lYzBLnDY33oq7_sL08nqcsZ3yOm8OE10PnLebxnfVfcq9lb4fu9qtQ4CT1B4nzSaw-ta1XIJwqJURPeOzVWy9b41xqgCnvZgAu95KBBEKGvUQG2qWD-PCgsflr90KUqHREYS54/s1600-h/dec09+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421995967465033218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa33b4lYzBLnDY33oq7_sL08nqcsZ3yOm8OE10PnLebxnfVfcq9lb4fu9qtQ4CT1B4nzSaw-ta1XIJwqJURPeOzVWy9b41xqgCnvZgAu95KBBEKGvUQG2qWD-PCgsflr90KUqHREYS54/s400/dec09+002.JPG" /></a> We were so impressed with their performances this year! We can see so much growth and improvement in their dance skills.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj6QLfRKlNN41CXYXJFIssq_YWXW13clJCtpzrv7cb5yrdlw2tyuGiKg_7RDl-Swuf4-Xu1YNATyBraOpjMiRFfVZDe4GQVdb_qjnNXQQZqYmMOKLoTEcQKXBfk_KXlapTUUp-KcEUeI/s1600-h/dec09+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421995956016287842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj6QLfRKlNN41CXYXJFIssq_YWXW13clJCtpzrv7cb5yrdlw2tyuGiKg_7RDl-Swuf4-Xu1YNATyBraOpjMiRFfVZDe4GQVdb_qjnNXQQZqYmMOKLoTEcQKXBfk_KXlapTUUp-KcEUeI/s400/dec09+014.JPG" /></a> Claire's costume included a bright red cowboy hat that I was really nervous would fly off. But she danced like a star and it stayed right where it was supposed to. Surprisingly she was not shy at all...happy to share her talent at all family functions the whole month of December and stole the show at the recital.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu2Fzgr38ZKOv-VAeZq_wtZCbfKI3Af-1Q5OsD7Q41sv3ipuksVHyG5hK2V-W3O4FQ2nsUtRd6HEhDHEQlCK5Q8yTbzNw758WPbJ5IZ2TuwjkUAPlRB7HPFCCYdAJq_t4j_c8w329Gb8/s1600-h/dec09+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421995948100120034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu2Fzgr38ZKOv-VAeZq_wtZCbfKI3Af-1Q5OsD7Q41sv3ipuksVHyG5hK2V-W3O4FQ2nsUtRd6HEhDHEQlCK5Q8yTbzNw758WPbJ5IZ2TuwjkUAPlRB7HPFCCYdAJq_t4j_c8w329Gb8/s400/dec09+013.JPG" /></a>Paige was so excited to have a new friend in her class this year. Camry was in her kindergarten class last year, but due to boundary changes, she is going to a new elementary this year. They both really look forward to Tuesday nights so that they have at least an hour a week to see each other. Both did a great job "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!"<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesr7kXu6fPpAvXKsKR8UXyJD2UT3ZzRaBg93c43ABA-xNorI5FhXDSFDSQadktuDn7_ltX3LfjodC6_AcFzbw3uewa-iiDxkRq1MZn1ea6XtfDwrooCnbD3QkgSTpQSrqOAOmnkVJ9cI/s1600-h/dec09+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421995939837167682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesr7kXu6fPpAvXKsKR8UXyJD2UT3ZzRaBg93c43ABA-xNorI5FhXDSFDSQadktuDn7_ltX3LfjodC6_AcFzbw3uewa-iiDxkRq1MZn1ea6XtfDwrooCnbD3QkgSTpQSrqOAOmnkVJ9cI/s400/dec09+016.JPG" /></a> Claire and her little friend, Ali, are excited to be dancing together again this year. Both little ladies did a darling rendition of "Lasso-ing Santa Claus".</div></div></div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-78953977273720956342009-12-14T18:32:00.002-07:002009-12-14T18:57:46.581-07:00He's Home!<div align="justify">The much anticipated day has finally arrived! Last week, my nephew Brady, who is really more like the brother I never had, returned home from his mission in France. We counted the days for weeks, and once the day came, we started counting hours. So imagine my surprise to answer a phone call from a "Pay Phone" (I didn't even know those existed anymore) to hear Brady's voice on the other line! He had a layover in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Cincinnati</span> and had "a few American coins" and wanted to call someone who wasn't at work. Thank goodness for working nights! It was so great to talk to him for a few minutes, and only made me that much more excited to see him!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPtL-E_uxy7TisXVFpBPQN7JVTBpbu5AWaZnv49KG6znWH1eFiZWdGAE3BCR2MD2m2wOYANXh1P-PXsgyz7P99bkOll-Ise5KadD0ZvIK0JnA-zlab_12WkCG1vJ4SY_WI9jtHb0ExUc/s1600-h/dec09+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415272491356099234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPtL-E_uxy7TisXVFpBPQN7JVTBpbu5AWaZnv49KG6znWH1eFiZWdGAE3BCR2MD2m2wOYANXh1P-PXsgyz7P99bkOll-Ise5KadD0ZvIK0JnA-zlab_12WkCG1vJ4SY_WI9jtHb0ExUc/s400/dec09+004.JPG" /></a> Despite the massive snow storm, he had quite the welcoming committee. All his cousins, aunts and uncles came out, along with some mission companions and some friends. The whole baggage claim erupted into excited squeals and tears when we saw him come down the escalator. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqUct79w_AsgJOMv8Ys7938CiZ_p6oIonf5LeGRJ_rZ5WuncO13-bynCDgKMgq8QZt8tUjOlvtJ5yMSP1sSln8J7sOMfIuOJMNodEBdJy0Bmr5Ae6v4WTARqtCcy2V1qhoAhZ5R6OUlw/s1600-h/dec09+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415272484689498546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqUct79w_AsgJOMv8Ys7938CiZ_p6oIonf5LeGRJ_rZ5WuncO13-bynCDgKMgq8QZt8tUjOlvtJ5yMSP1sSln8J7sOMfIuOJMNodEBdJy0Bmr5Ae6v4WTARqtCcy2V1qhoAhZ5R6OUlw/s400/dec09+018.JPG" /></a> His reunion with his twin sister, Ashley, was so touching and sweet. We wondered if she really knew what was going on and had made bets on her reaction. She just clung to him, stepping on her toes to kiss his cheek, and then stepping back to stare at him. She wouldn't let him out of her sight and didn't let him get far without her on his arm.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVGmSuVQi3FNLpIgdY2BZzFemNP9mfpT2v0w8bV0ssm7SP2lW7LTM4R8tclHG_AC_kIdKQ7fOMy-pwH-ebcgzQ4Jv-eZpPt9_KsSZIwR71ebveN14WoMq29vg7hziaWAVkd9wZwYeYIs/s1600-h/dec09+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415272482213393586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVGmSuVQi3FNLpIgdY2BZzFemNP9mfpT2v0w8bV0ssm7SP2lW7LTM4R8tclHG_AC_kIdKQ7fOMy-pwH-ebcgzQ4Jv-eZpPt9_KsSZIwR71ebveN14WoMq29vg7hziaWAVkd9wZwYeYIs/s400/dec09+019.JPG" /></a> He brought French chocolate to share with all his little cousins, which was a big hit. Although I'm not sure he needs the bribe for friendship. Our whole extended family just loves Brady so much, and all the cousins look up to him and were literally bouncing off the walls to see him.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hG1xpIZDi2OsFmJQBjVKyGTdzYFAxQj5us1iHO7xwlPX6RYEbWyAA6Bc3H5FWj1_R3qnnoNt_PzeGoCaiT_1VocrUj8bXz01ri1iSkS8_VGu6BfmX-hpveAiYjPWhcJO_Y1m4-gYy1M/s1600-h/dec09+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415272472116185602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hG1xpIZDi2OsFmJQBjVKyGTdzYFAxQj5us1iHO7xwlPX6RYEbWyAA6Bc3H5FWj1_R3qnnoNt_PzeGoCaiT_1VocrUj8bXz01ri1iSkS8_VGu6BfmX-hpveAiYjPWhcJO_Y1m4-gYy1M/s400/dec09+036.JPG" /></a> Steve and Brady have always had such a special relationship, he was especially excited to see him. His coming home brought back many sweet memories of when he returned from his mission in Leeds, England. So he has been able to reminisce for the past few weeks and share his experiences there with the girls. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvms1np47bJYKlVTyQRPzW1V1k0D5GzP0I_FxC-Qxn2Q66uPAL8Kt02zdDxDnIFqKfbO-VDyP4YCvjA1EV8VO4AeeNR6N7AxTBLDC2KmqtfkY49tsCWQWyX6HFlepDYpn_IR11sMM8ZM/s1600-h/dec09+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415272470630580930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvms1np47bJYKlVTyQRPzW1V1k0D5GzP0I_FxC-Qxn2Q66uPAL8Kt02zdDxDnIFqKfbO-VDyP4YCvjA1EV8VO4AeeNR6N7AxTBLDC2KmqtfkY49tsCWQWyX6HFlepDYpn_IR11sMM8ZM/s400/dec09+037.JPG" /></a> We were most excited for Brady to meet his newest cousin, Bode! The day Brady flew out to France, he was able to call us from the airport to say goodbye. We had just found out that we were expecting a baby and Brady was the first person we told. Like the rest of us, Brady seems to just love him already and I know they'll be the best of friends. </div><div> </div><div>We have been able to spend some time with him the past few days. The girls just can't get enough of him. He has taught them the French way of kissing both cheeks when you leave, and Paige just eats it right up, while Claire remains a little shy and just gets the giggles. I was able to share my birthday with him at his homecoming where he did an amazing job speaking. We are so glad his experience was wonderful and are so excited to have him home. We love you, Elder Page!</div></div></div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-7584379513436374322009-12-09T13:40:00.002-07:002009-12-09T13:49:13.915-07:00Here comes Santa Claus...<div align="center">There are definitely perks to having grandparents in assisted living. Aside from the health and care benefits for them, Legacy House throws some pretty great parties! Last weekend, Santa and Mrs. Claus made a visit. They brought breakfast for everyone and were happy to have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">grandbabies</span> sit on their laps. It was surprisingly not busy so were able to walk right up and make our Christmas wishes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwDqwBoYrt7cqgjCaKy5ML7O-AZJwszQI7spe-5gLNBPzDtE3E6Za7M6qxBo-fmMbkpeXNeUoXoQZmsT-vVOye-uOANdL8WYBAuLKV7PGfYc7i2OT9n3f7zID7N7e8-49w5DzfY1Wb2I/s1600-h/dec09+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413339411733432546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwDqwBoYrt7cqgjCaKy5ML7O-AZJwszQI7spe-5gLNBPzDtE3E6Za7M6qxBo-fmMbkpeXNeUoXoQZmsT-vVOye-uOANdL8WYBAuLKV7PGfYc7i2OT9n3f7zID7N7e8-49w5DzfY1Wb2I/s400/dec09+042.JPG" /></a> Paige told Santa that she wanted a Nintendo <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">DS</span>. Mrs. Claus told us that their electronic elves were really busy this year and they would really try to hold one aside, but <em>just in case</em> they were out (thank you, thank you!!) did she have a back up idea? She then asked for a sewing machine.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJHilOWbrhoUSWITyBzao4S1IkEGZgZG80qpa3ZWJLJgqm-9Lg1QTaXxuMPvIBsbNxFtARbDF9sEmfElko3MwozX2MYLByRO5p9TouEqDBlxAgpVSanOk06MhFRE5wk0nD5pHL9gIfcQ/s1600-h/dec09+040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413339402418512034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJHilOWbrhoUSWITyBzao4S1IkEGZgZG80qpa3ZWJLJgqm-9Lg1QTaXxuMPvIBsbNxFtARbDF9sEmfElko3MwozX2MYLByRO5p9TouEqDBlxAgpVSanOk06MhFRE5wk0nD5pHL9gIfcQ/s400/dec09+040.JPG" /></a> Claire wasn't much easier to please. She promptly asked for a bunk bed. She promised that she and Paige would take turns sleeping on the top. And then she would like a "real live toy cat" to sleep with her in it. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucJj9SxxdRTW87FaizqeyPsNQFUm5f_ER7B63inEZOJ1TmF3pScr-a8McJu6jZhTW5WIYC6PjEMX_TLtDq5wd4vNi9ycAqNM1V6v_EzklNrDGL9wzHA8oHQWOJpLOq8YMgmNvsQ3JktY/s1600-h/dec09+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413339400136648530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucJj9SxxdRTW87FaizqeyPsNQFUm5f_ER7B63inEZOJ1TmF3pScr-a8McJu6jZhTW5WIYC6PjEMX_TLtDq5wd4vNi9ycAqNM1V6v_EzklNrDGL9wzHA8oHQWOJpLOq8YMgmNvsQ3JktY/s400/dec09+043.JPG" /></a> Thankfully, Bode was easy. He whispered to Santa that he wears a size 3 diaper and he likes the baby wipes from Costco.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI5zKRBi6CLgRl31CZyGlbltSpffaou7CL_thwEsE9fI5RhkgB1vz5VQl6lqEx8D91w7akxd-_2YfLrMHXw6vZ6wv5J3pxVLS8kNiuqWeeBNU0sqq6EBod0S53MHChJbK8yGlJXW4oHM/s1600-h/dec09+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413339391009453090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI5zKRBi6CLgRl31CZyGlbltSpffaou7CL_thwEsE9fI5RhkgB1vz5VQl6lqEx8D91w7akxd-_2YfLrMHXw6vZ6wv5J3pxVLS8kNiuqWeeBNU0sqq6EBod0S53MHChJbK8yGlJXW4oHM/s400/dec09+044.JPG" /></a> Merry Christmas!!</div></div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-71868616838070534952009-12-01T14:55:00.003-07:002009-12-01T15:18:11.362-07:00Thanksgiving 2009<div align="center">Thanksgiving is always one of my favorite holidays. I love getting all dressed up in new outfits, heading to Little America where we eat our hearts out and leave the mess. This year was a little different with a smaller group. Dean and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kendyl</span> were headed to San Diego for...you guessed it...SOCCER! And Terry was hosting dinner at her house for all her kids. We were able to sit in the Idaho Room that we like, and were seated in a perfect spot with a hideaway corner for the kids to play when they were bored of food. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9R5im1kWFGkqUMsOpdIbbVry_ICfwdiUoCjQS9txuSpyDXAXbIJbu2Nbd5iefJvbuaPMzvCOMG83lVCjQZZlOLmTOqXwuZDn8YOh-V5_LRbVGRiCfDk-yEJWdASbbyB7GEHONgp7IFs/s1600/nov09+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410391099394454242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9R5im1kWFGkqUMsOpdIbbVry_ICfwdiUoCjQS9txuSpyDXAXbIJbu2Nbd5iefJvbuaPMzvCOMG83lVCjQZZlOLmTOqXwuZDn8YOh-V5_LRbVGRiCfDk-yEJWdASbbyB7GEHONgp7IFs/s400/nov09+012.JPG" /></a> From the looks of it, Bode got bored with the food rather quickly. He was actually really good, I think he ate more than both the girls combined, but being up earlier than usual didn't sit well with him and he was rather tired.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsktf2xkSmZ7SiyJo-dzaN5g0TujhKEg6XdBiQ5sPDr5ZEipfLSDd1-fKZLB86MjrYrQxZW-VgEO7bispjLHYgmn76ES0Dq9bpEIJcFKYmX0EP2e52AsX1nq3tYcTREGrO87ErDD-Mms/s1600/nov09+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410390798245429890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsktf2xkSmZ7SiyJo-dzaN5g0TujhKEg6XdBiQ5sPDr5ZEipfLSDd1-fKZLB86MjrYrQxZW-VgEO7bispjLHYgmn76ES0Dq9bpEIJcFKYmX0EP2e52AsX1nq3tYcTREGrO87ErDD-Mms/s400/nov09+018.JPG" /></a> But never too tired to have dessert!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AwVxL75h9Leo-EM6TjTBpmU7niqI-sD4HKyVanVjU6mu4BQJSMXBx8NXRBStbAxhvGKhN_A_lzoB2cjvOb64BfKGpwD1UE0KKPwAEKqSHYnApqrEIb2srjE9XB_EmM8zzgG9cI_IOiI/s1600/nov09+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410390794000712546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AwVxL75h9Leo-EM6TjTBpmU7niqI-sD4HKyVanVjU6mu4BQJSMXBx8NXRBStbAxhvGKhN_A_lzoB2cjvOb64BfKGpwD1UE0KKPwAEKqSHYnApqrEIb2srjE9XB_EmM8zzgG9cI_IOiI/s400/nov09+014.JPG" /></a> Claire's favorite part was the chocolate fountain. She kept coming back with stick after stick, saying, "Look what I stabbed for you!" She says she also loved the potato salad and the macaroni and cheese was pretty good too.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU8KVJINDKDrKyqI68bKWKu6Tv68Vvc6FzyInC3BRlkMk-Aal5knv9r0V5KnXBDehrPJk860QwSdAL0BYAqIRvPsyAOFOdMPxpYKyxVjIPC1nQ4_6lJHjLQiV3b1edvdrZSypYaoTmBc/s1600/nov09+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410390785269276498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU8KVJINDKDrKyqI68bKWKu6Tv68Vvc6FzyInC3BRlkMk-Aal5knv9r0V5KnXBDehrPJk860QwSdAL0BYAqIRvPsyAOFOdMPxpYKyxVjIPC1nQ4_6lJHjLQiV3b1edvdrZSypYaoTmBc/s400/nov09+015.JPG" /></a> Paige says the ice cream sundae bar was her favorite part of Thanksgiving. Although she did love the mashed potatoes and "moon rolls" (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">croissants</span>). She truly is my daughter!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl3aDv5g_6ju3kFl4hio8sxegveCiiuZlpfn5Ibp_L3HDBjDV5BblAUnomu3PLOphJeLO1hfp3mUyQuVCqc1aZBzEOxcfMATM7Mtjr1hyzzHXKrOj_E3o8NyKXYPoubggllv-GOAEzYY/s1600/nov09+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410390771538878626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl3aDv5g_6ju3kFl4hio8sxegveCiiuZlpfn5Ibp_L3HDBjDV5BblAUnomu3PLOphJeLO1hfp3mUyQuVCqc1aZBzEOxcfMATM7Mtjr1hyzzHXKrOj_E3o8NyKXYPoubggllv-GOAEzYY/s400/nov09+021.JPG" /></a> Bode did finally conk out about halfway through, which meant I got to snuggle him while Steve brought my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">croissants</span> and bread pudding. Not a bad gig! Steve and my favorite's included: prime rib, ham (incredible this year!), pork roast stuffed with sausage, pumpkin cheesecake, bread pudding with rum sauce, and of course <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">croissants</span> and shrimp! Can't say either one of us had a bite of turkey that day! Some memorable moments from this year were: </div><div>Michelle dumping her glass of water into Rob's lap. Inevitably that guy gets soaked at Thanksgiving every year. At least this year it wasn't pee! </div><div>Marnie requested a "bottle" of Diet Coke from our little foreign waitress. She brought her a kids cup with a lid. Marnie had to think hard of a way to convey to her what we wanted was a pitcher since we were going through quite a bit. </div><div>Dad's story of "Bruce".</div><div>Steve and Rob playing "Dirt" at the after party.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3pikSX6KLBKdM9bhXlZEYcq8QCKFK0Fb3QQ9Su1IaIyvSNxWgCc_PNDsWJ5ilu4E0jJlpKxqfwzS-3skgBqiifuE4751NefWgTqqlakjxDZ0NqIknXEjOAPEx-3SM8wN3ZyexZ4ppEU/s1600/nov09+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410390766453713890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3pikSX6KLBKdM9bhXlZEYcq8QCKFK0Fb3QQ9Su1IaIyvSNxWgCc_PNDsWJ5ilu4E0jJlpKxqfwzS-3skgBqiifuE4751NefWgTqqlakjxDZ0NqIknXEjOAPEx-3SM8wN3ZyexZ4ppEU/s400/nov09+029.JPG" /></a> All in all it was a great holiday. I can't help but well up thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for this year. I think top of the list is my dad. It has been one HELL of a year for him. I know there were times when it would have been easier for him to just give up and let go, and I am so grateful he kept fighting. I still get so touched to watch him finally be able to eat again. And here he stands, at 89% he claims, still 30 lbs and a gall bladder lighter. He is such an important man in my life, I can't imagine it without him. Thanks for a great day, dad! We love you!</div></div></div><br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839229465856949694.post-88835031785329763802009-12-01T14:48:00.003-07:002009-12-01T14:55:19.945-07:00Believe<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQie5wIDfp_7rcfPkNcETg9VCGkDMY3IXnlIYa4lWxYVufLd5nMpFiF0qSwQzNQbo0a-deA48zqhgxbmPHLOg9PnS5GtNFFnaoFrr_mKBogd7ukiv0Q9ThTLKVeOBSmL4h2xkudMlrmaE/s1600/nov09+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410388046806713890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQie5wIDfp_7rcfPkNcETg9VCGkDMY3IXnlIYa4lWxYVufLd5nMpFiF0qSwQzNQbo0a-deA48zqhgxbmPHLOg9PnS5GtNFFnaoFrr_mKBogd7ukiv0Q9ThTLKVeOBSmL4h2xkudMlrmaE/s400/nov09+035.JPG" /></a><br />Growing up my sisters and I always looked forward to General Conference, but probably not for the same reasons most people do. My dad always hosted a McClure Super Saturday. Mom would make butterscotch bubble bun, Dad would put together a craft for us to paint, there was always a "No Whining" sign to be displayed and the Diet Coke was plentiful. By the end of the day, my sisters and I had laughed so hard we nearly wet ourselves and I'm pretty sure Dad was happy to show us to the door. Last Christmas, he re-instated Super Saturday by cutting out these <strong>Believe</strong> letters with the intention of getting together in the Spring for finishing. Apparently his pancreas had other plans, because it was just last weekend that we actually did it! I chose to "think out of the box" like my dad always encouraged us to, and made my set a little less traditional than my sisters and more "whimsical". I wasn't able to finish there since I had forgotten my stain and Mod Podge, so I promised to submit a picture so dad could admire my work. I haven't heard his opinion yet, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out!<br /></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09543362283335897000noreply@blogger.com2