tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319285632024-03-07T15:20:23.251-08:00Moments & MusingsWe are "Before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones... For the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him" Ezra 8:21-22
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.comBlogger392125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-3534887847024094172023-09-17T12:30:00.001-07:002023-09-17T12:30:00.152-07:00Memory Verse - 1 John 4:7<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;</b> and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.</q> <cite>1 John 4:7</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-76117377488372797932023-09-10T12:30:00.001-07:002023-09-10T12:30:00.146-07:00Memory Verse - 1 John 5:14<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q>This is the confidence that we have in him, that, <b>if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.</b></q> <cite>1 John 5:14</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-33790604269418898282023-09-03T12:30:00.001-07:002023-09-03T12:30:00.202-07:00Memory Verse - Proverbs 27:1<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.</b></q> <cite>Proverbs 27:1</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-9147304979677851342023-08-27T12:30:00.001-07:002023-08-27T12:30:00.140-07:00Memory Verse - Proverbs 9:10<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:</b> and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.</q> <cite>Proverbs 9:10</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-13268626814738405292023-08-20T12:30:00.001-07:002023-08-20T12:30:00.140-07:00Memory Verse - 1 John 4:19<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>We love him, because he first loved us.</b></q> <cite>1 John 4:19</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-87400715660593998012023-08-13T12:30:00.001-07:002023-08-13T12:30:00.128-07:00Memory Verse - John 5:24<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,</b> and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.</q> <cite>John 5:24</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-67066099096447788322023-08-06T12:30:00.001-07:002023-08-06T12:30:00.137-07:00Memory Verse - 2 Corinthians 8:9<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q>Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, <b>though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,</b> that ye through his poverty might be rich.</q> <cite>2 Corinthians 8:9</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-49538946454042710052023-07-30T12:30:00.001-07:002023-07-30T12:30:00.146-07:00Memory Verse - Romans 14:12<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.</b></q> <cite>Romans 14:12</cite></div></div>
ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-12387422868395166982023-07-23T12:30:00.001-07:002023-07-23T12:30:00.152-07:00Memory Verse - Romans 5:10<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.</b></q> <cite>Romans 5:10</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-73283877992767147722023-07-16T12:30:00.001-07:002023-07-16T12:30:00.133-07:00Memory Verse - 1 John 3:1<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.</b></q> <cite>1 John 3:1</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-53668473709596842302023-07-09T12:30:00.001-07:002023-07-09T12:30:00.126-07:00Memory Verse - Matthew 6:33<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.</b></q> <cite>Matthew 6:33</cite></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-18367207630973318212023-07-02T12:30:00.001-07:002023-07-02T12:30:00.143-07:00Memory Verse - Hebrews 9:27-28<div class="memoryVerse"><div class="english"><q><b>It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.</b></q> <cite>Hebrews 9:27-28</cite></div></div>
ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-16725649491412644892020-05-20T00:33:00.000-07:002020-05-20T00:33:21.051-07:00Growing Pangs<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGE8lVzCbSRbfpoPmDIn1Osb7AmhZahAXRZ8wdSxIAbxPh87QY4L9oxKEWJDRps0B-hf3zFIQYaB7mq-1-4w19n_05hG4dgwhBjGH8BRnYlO_xGrX2R0xUvt3tmHCUyiSz-HvpQ/s1600/IMG_20200519_164516R.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGE8lVzCbSRbfpoPmDIn1Osb7AmhZahAXRZ8wdSxIAbxPh87QY4L9oxKEWJDRps0B-hf3zFIQYaB7mq-1-4w19n_05hG4dgwhBjGH8BRnYlO_xGrX2R0xUvt3tmHCUyiSz-HvpQ/s1600/IMG_20200519_164516R.jpg" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
She melts my heart - 8.5 months today.</div><br />
I think it was just last week or maybe the week before that she learned to crawl. Now she's threatening to furniture walk. I'm not ready for her to grow up this fast.<br />
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ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-23913992961181586692020-05-09T08:48:00.000-07:002020-05-09T08:51:18.560-07:00Schooling at Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-L871Fd2bO0-8tunqoIDAH-tF2_H7eJ-t4s-uvOPufq4VVG2GzK6DS1GdKvUfn-NzwKComoNI9eeOjYvLuS7Qy5UaZTzlBxlHUHN8PIZoZFTpJHe0KSN46lQLxIAFEOVwnDQ2Q/s1600/IMG_20200427_153601R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-L871Fd2bO0-8tunqoIDAH-tF2_H7eJ-t4s-uvOPufq4VVG2GzK6DS1GdKvUfn-NzwKComoNI9eeOjYvLuS7Qy5UaZTzlBxlHUHN8PIZoZFTpJHe0KSN46lQLxIAFEOVwnDQ2Q/s640/IMG_20200427_153601R.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 9</div><br />
I was going to write this post a few weeks ago... but I had to get around to selecting and resizing the pictures I wanted to include (my 'spare time' is after the baby is done nursing for the last time and before I fall asleep where I'm sitting). That was a few weeks ago - now I have so many pictures, I'm going to have to do multiple posts if I want to include them all. Here's to not getting distracted too long between posts!<br />
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Life here has been very busy. We've been adapting to a new hybrid type of schooling - not quite public school, yet not quite homeschool either, and I think we've finally gotten a rhythm figured out. I love it, and I think most of my kids have found it mostly enjoyable. And I thought I'd give you a glimpse of what it's like here with two high-school students, 5 different grade elementary students a preschooler, and a now very mobile 8 month old!<br />
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Where to start....<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopXKv5o8uCVAunQ4-1wfGMBv8a-jUt9i3cyQgwXRqge_vNg-DsCh3H17v9-Kb7Ozg0QkA1RyWEgMJTNKiSRLN6eDHdr0F2zUPqDaXVC2PRxMRtSLvqdQstRj68nABVDGx1UcUHg/s1600/IMG_20200331_170227R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1500" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopXKv5o8uCVAunQ4-1wfGMBv8a-jUt9i3cyQgwXRqge_vNg-DsCh3H17v9-Kb7Ozg0QkA1RyWEgMJTNKiSRLN6eDHdr0F2zUPqDaXVC2PRxMRtSLvqdQstRj68nABVDGx1UcUHg/s640/IMG_20200331_170227R.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
(Shepherd on Duty - PC (G8))</div><br />
Having all the kids home for school, means that I can afford to have a shepherd out with our sheep for a much larger part of the day. Once all the kids have 'checked in' online, I figure out what order they'll each have an hour of Shepherd Duty. It gives the shepherd a chance at some peace and quiet alone time, and it makes juggling 4 computers between 7 students a little easier. Usually, two shifts are completed before lunch and then 3 more are done before supper time.<br />
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We mostly work at the dining room table for the offline assignments and at any given time, there's probably two or three kids there where I can easily switch between them. When lunchtime rolls around, we pack everything up, stack it on the end tables in the living room and bring it back out again when class time resumes.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAUXZoOOWSBpwpcZIcC3hrFNZzblG3W8MSsWi-A5yfAsqW-NEYclN_Gb0dLvT3ipU1vPLISN5rqYVb251NWqyK0etHa_qytG6Ko1-_SzzOVTyHXzu9buwC2QVQmTfl_30YryydA/s1600/IMG_20200408_101227R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAUXZoOOWSBpwpcZIcC3hrFNZzblG3W8MSsWi-A5yfAsqW-NEYclN_Gb0dLvT3ipU1vPLISN5rqYVb251NWqyK0etHa_qytG6Ko1-_SzzOVTyHXzu9buwC2QVQmTfl_30YryydA/s400/IMG_20200408_101227R.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoC630ErxWP03H4Cx45dnIuTLg_PsPZk3pix6UvcPNfo9nQF7HUaHDQoI5zlWr-ir59-ozRw9do8PTAgLBUeKYAES0VppHsOclQXTHkxWS_IsqFoPYX5Nx-h198aO4-ZYSAH8tA/s1600/IMG_20200331_104606R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoC630ErxWP03H4Cx45dnIuTLg_PsPZk3pix6UvcPNfo9nQF7HUaHDQoI5zlWr-ir59-ozRw9do8PTAgLBUeKYAES0VppHsOclQXTHkxWS_IsqFoPYX5Nx-h198aO4-ZYSAH8tA/s400/IMG_20200331_104606R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Cricket (preschool), Dolly (G9) and QB (Kindergarten). Then there's QB again, Ricka (G3) and Emma (G7) in the shadows.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp7Dt9mrV6UBjT2Bq9D0qvmi8tdtubR0tIFEWn7oT4u1y244d2fFZhRD_7sCi_wkJCXU4k-A8vZ4IMYRULPoYdqObCvIR0Od54epbDJ2W0W6kXekomEd-mNdE4z_0CkVMicamAQ/s1600/IMG_20200421_105924R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1000" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp7Dt9mrV6UBjT2Bq9D0qvmi8tdtubR0tIFEWn7oT4u1y244d2fFZhRD_7sCi_wkJCXU4k-A8vZ4IMYRULPoYdqObCvIR0Od54epbDJ2W0W6kXekomEd-mNdE4z_0CkVMicamAQ/s400/IMG_20200421_105924R.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Cs99KLkJRF-x5QrdT8RDSPgPnZTd5_5uVHVTwazu4EQcBOmWJtBVUXNX5hLiZTbSyqkkK8QELU8tAKOREGFlKK2dSFh2pC5Jfu0cANtY-Po5_X9EEWu8aR028TCahKUayY_uA/s1600/Apple+Trees.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Cs99KLkJRF-x5QrdT8RDSPgPnZTd5_5uVHVTwazu4EQcBOmWJtBVUXNX5hLiZTbSyqkkK8QELU8tAKOREGFlKK2dSFh2pC5Jfu0cANtY-Po5_X9EEWu8aR028TCahKUayY_uA/s400/Apple+Trees.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Hard at work - In the house (Hal -G1), and out of doors - Butler (G5). QB doing a number sort while Ricka and Hal share a computer behind him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoKytIb1NBC7UD3l4_J9_XyGifmgbQgx1s27jSIAqP2Qoi91aV1Dpix8hMbdlRDVbnPKOIvUMfhDyJAfivomtJC1OVKJ26wAscxgpSDpruXZm6gyEBS_P9fMgsGPRhUZr5D5reg/s1600/IMG_20200429_144151R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoKytIb1NBC7UD3l4_J9_XyGifmgbQgx1s27jSIAqP2Qoi91aV1Dpix8hMbdlRDVbnPKOIvUMfhDyJAfivomtJC1OVKJ26wAscxgpSDpruXZm6gyEBS_P9fMgsGPRhUZr5D5reg/s400/IMG_20200429_144151R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Math Games<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ucl8AZLMm59aRMDaFc1UEDIBgL_oyc7oTTcTNnavNNhzExPitZ3_wgJymPPfw6AQ1Dop8Q0HPIejGezzoJ35jDlWrSHcScrbL5J4ri9x_Ty437QKr-umHM37ySSf-sKJc73xsw/s1600/IMG_20200405_214919_BURST001_COVERR.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ucl8AZLMm59aRMDaFc1UEDIBgL_oyc7oTTcTNnavNNhzExPitZ3_wgJymPPfw6AQ1Dop8Q0HPIejGezzoJ35jDlWrSHcScrbL5J4ri9x_Ty437QKr-umHM37ySSf-sKJc73xsw/s400/IMG_20200405_214919_BURST001_COVERR.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaxRRhKAe-nqP5ssRQ9fdHO2PkjR4L3l59p5caUgReNRUEoKWojmZtqL9LwVlo9gqgnLipTY3aTV-b91v_gR02XPlvVUBWGexCPK0wRz7N0pZFFxAuMoBiwJK0BtaH9Ds_L6llw/s1600/Joshua+TypingR.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaxRRhKAe-nqP5ssRQ9fdHO2PkjR4L3l59p5caUgReNRUEoKWojmZtqL9LwVlo9gqgnLipTY3aTV-b91v_gR02XPlvVUBWGexCPK0wRz7N0pZFFxAuMoBiwJK0BtaH9Ds_L6llw/s400/Joshua+TypingR.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Typing</div><br />
Beside the bookwork and online assignments, there's plenty we do that's not in groups at the table. Some of the favorites include:<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7h4LZ-rKkNIcvzrd9XqLcd6a7_pLCa-Jn3yPgX1Onw4C5T8-FFHFTso4ZV0GOS33gXnnyqoJzbPx3pCx-079vSiM-r8vJlp3E90HLoZQy4hcbYpOzGXvH2EghFpkRcblDun_cg/s1600/IMG_20200406_110836R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7h4LZ-rKkNIcvzrd9XqLcd6a7_pLCa-Jn3yPgX1Onw4C5T8-FFHFTso4ZV0GOS33gXnnyqoJzbPx3pCx-079vSiM-r8vJlp3E90HLoZQy4hcbYpOzGXvH2EghFpkRcblDun_cg/s400/IMG_20200406_110836R.jpg" width="286" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mA6tNDuzHvMfJdf0SqF87eDkP9MjbH0Ywr9nmQJjwxLpnnPPsrGHKy2MSeCf3jr-gMe64MawY50Om3uPuy26gzTLRp6bJl5nZ6OJWIP7cGnosEjzse9Fti20O7HP4PASETROIA/s1600/Classmate+Name+Exercise.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mA6tNDuzHvMfJdf0SqF87eDkP9MjbH0Ywr9nmQJjwxLpnnPPsrGHKy2MSeCf3jr-gMe64MawY50Om3uPuy26gzTLRp6bJl5nZ6OJWIP7cGnosEjzse9Fti20O7HP4PASETROIA/s400/Classmate+Name+Exercise.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Art Projects - Here's Butler's first assignment. ........................................... And PE - Trampoline Time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8n8eimAL8q7EGFRVk_VmzQBGZrPd0itN2ncY-aBm-Lt4YK8WtSZtaOK5Ki3vuctoiXflwgkYzYb7VQvLOw8GIuGLP2jUIHOFCLjQunfOHI6QE8O4C8sMNB3n6LMTSvGV77GH-A/s1600/Playing+around+just+for+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1000" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8n8eimAL8q7EGFRVk_VmzQBGZrPd0itN2ncY-aBm-Lt4YK8WtSZtaOK5Ki3vuctoiXflwgkYzYb7VQvLOw8GIuGLP2jUIHOFCLjQunfOHI6QE8O4C8sMNB3n6LMTSvGV77GH-A/s400/Playing+around+just+for+fun.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEoH1DrGCc-T0mTCEEy562gG5gbKN1V0rQAA3T4AbS-hrFavXdFjTaypywTtg5b6rxR-WcyWJR_3cNJFdTn7MtKPR9sY0yaZlol_IT2QBqHYVl8JJIET5dkIOv3TIn_WCFRcW_w/s1600/Scavenger+Hunt+-+Display.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEoH1DrGCc-T0mTCEEy562gG5gbKN1V0rQAA3T4AbS-hrFavXdFjTaypywTtg5b6rxR-WcyWJR_3cNJFdTn7MtKPR9sY0yaZlol_IT2QBqHYVl8JJIET5dkIOv3TIn_WCFRcW_w/s400/Scavenger+Hunt+-+Display.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Music - Butler on the Piano. Science - Scavenger Hunts outdoors.</div><br />
And Cooking - which could be classified as Science I guess... Sir ordered a new wok, and some of the kids got to observe it's conditioning process. If I were my mom, I would have made them all write a report on the process... 'just saying!<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_6oZfpeO6mBEwqV8_LbaPQaW2qD_vAQ3CuB5mB7SXGgq5F6q0S4YeiBkoy3akDAHQdNopXN-Ertl3zk0TmZ6lFpjunz1qjObXsOYezeZYqgaaL3_ynMnZeL6dhlRvCdXtluucw/s1600/Making+Sweet+n+Sour+sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_6oZfpeO6mBEwqV8_LbaPQaW2qD_vAQ3CuB5mB7SXGgq5F6q0S4YeiBkoy3akDAHQdNopXN-Ertl3zk0TmZ6lFpjunz1qjObXsOYezeZYqgaaL3_ynMnZeL6dhlRvCdXtluucw/s400/Making+Sweet+n+Sour+sauce.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwxac4UvSQwjxSDSNdLmRldl704zYe3LpeAVfDC3gqpV_3NxRTTih0Lrun2FVVq3seIA_tqN38eaIIQBK5oDAqoky7gDjeYNEOb16HRngo2PgWFdKZmRy-0ezVRylQXfoBAhYpg/s1600/IMG_20200402_092601R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwxac4UvSQwjxSDSNdLmRldl704zYe3LpeAVfDC3gqpV_3NxRTTih0Lrun2FVVq3seIA_tqN38eaIIQBK5oDAqoky7gDjeYNEOb16HRngo2PgWFdKZmRy-0ezVRylQXfoBAhYpg/s400/IMG_20200402_092601R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
QB making Sweet and Sour sauce... for Sweet 'n Sour Pork of course! Here, Butler was making Sausage for a Biscuits and Gravy breakfast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwfV5Y3fPr1TAFEmMFRvi-I9nqytPckWiPlzKwlh6dyalapU-_bj_6Ld0mN0aKsCBvEEf_zoGtYBeA1bZ4_UNt2xLEK-uvVKMb_kb1YEg42V5-YlTJLcR-tbFYCtcaPSzMQT5aQ/s1600/IMG_20200423_150851R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwfV5Y3fPr1TAFEmMFRvi-I9nqytPckWiPlzKwlh6dyalapU-_bj_6Ld0mN0aKsCBvEEf_zoGtYBeA1bZ4_UNt2xLEK-uvVKMb_kb1YEg42V5-YlTJLcR-tbFYCtcaPSzMQT5aQ/s400/IMG_20200423_150851R.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqpYhalWC10BBKNYeRJ_IQQvBXLYYjJKJPoC6dfN40Q5RkmvrCYpmrYs39mNnADOPvhpueKK2L1c5T-bzhGZUGMG4EIuUobHdEVrTBufwuZL2GfBm_IpN5wwN5hm7pHSAhwQX-w/s1600/IMG_20200423_152841R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqpYhalWC10BBKNYeRJ_IQQvBXLYYjJKJPoC6dfN40Q5RkmvrCYpmrYs39mNnADOPvhpueKK2L1c5T-bzhGZUGMG4EIuUobHdEVrTBufwuZL2GfBm_IpN5wwN5hm7pHSAhwQX-w/s400/IMG_20200423_152841R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
As the wok was being cured - heat reactions. ........................... Trying it out for the first time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNysm101POZMuktaz7A5SZmZG_wNahxvHItTf7IzhLgnEStORFSxYONlq6BW6Gbm8e063EI34AUOS8lAHndSR1eNQvQ4wssACrUmh3U15HqehNnLUJE8_aKRw_cV6xYb9AtalEA/s1600/IMG_20200418_194147R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNysm101POZMuktaz7A5SZmZG_wNahxvHItTf7IzhLgnEStORFSxYONlq6BW6Gbm8e063EI34AUOS8lAHndSR1eNQvQ4wssACrUmh3U15HqehNnLUJE8_aKRw_cV6xYb9AtalEA/s400/IMG_20200418_194147R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PoKMswPp4DePEeN8sZh5F1GmuRP2rjqlTUm3mNu2zV3RIYQrD6nOPViUbF4qzZYzfj2nj8x3_ctztewFLMTOe872V9cBM5baRYbrMc8dwUpXjKW5IGwKNKzU6N-q7XGPKgfshQ/s1600/IMG_20200418_194133R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PoKMswPp4DePEeN8sZh5F1GmuRP2rjqlTUm3mNu2zV3RIYQrD6nOPViUbF4qzZYzfj2nj8x3_ctztewFLMTOe872V9cBM5baRYbrMc8dwUpXjKW5IGwKNKzU6N-q7XGPKgfshQ/s400/IMG_20200418_194133R.jpg" width="357" /></a><br />
Seasoned and Tried .............................. The Results - Homemade Chinese Food! It was better than take out.</div><br />
After lunch, and before we get back to the actual 'lessons', I have the kids participate in a group 'class' that I call, Sportsmanship. At first I was met with protesting, and eye-rolling and there were a number of times when 'participation' was exacted it seemed, by tooth and nail, but over time, my persistence paid off, and 'Sportsmanship' is now a cherished part of our school days. For about an hour after lunch, I would supervise a group interaction activity that would require my children to display teamwork, kindness, patience, encouragement and teaching by example towards each other. It usually takes the form of a board game, card game, puzzle or even an Afternoon Tea. I do know, that sometimes you have to make an effort to take time out to play - to enjoy each other's company. Sometimes these occasions are less than peaceful, but practice makes perfect, and slowly we're all benefiting from the lessons we can glean during this little time together! Now the days that we don't actually fit 'Sportsmanship' into the schedule, the kids make sure I know it wasn't their decision! And that makes me happy.<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkRwJ_whjuYDrggEOYVmlaDzbdwuLr4AKuq7iI2ioBZIPVXyU1udd05r3L7r27p92inaMkwJGMWIo0nKrWFacMaVHEcGgEqPFAJlNEcaJoq1us_jjGywU-KugxXyBJRgKCQ0Nvw/s1600/After+lunch+%2527Sportsmanship%2527+class.+Catan+-+Teamwork+and+patience.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkRwJ_whjuYDrggEOYVmlaDzbdwuLr4AKuq7iI2ioBZIPVXyU1udd05r3L7r27p92inaMkwJGMWIo0nKrWFacMaVHEcGgEqPFAJlNEcaJoq1us_jjGywU-KugxXyBJRgKCQ0Nvw/s400/After+lunch+%2527Sportsmanship%2527+class.+Catan+-+Teamwork+and+patience.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2-e7UBz3lrm0IRGPgBT4uOqo2fei3nHwSZFKQSisScmd5me31hMNB1Edg6nYPPnglLpsOnEBV6hFoxZa0IhiVMJOCsw0Fa1p3__RMtUoGJuKcr1yl50xu14_W-CNnlCYmGG5Vw/s1600/IMG_20200414_135430R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1000" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2-e7UBz3lrm0IRGPgBT4uOqo2fei3nHwSZFKQSisScmd5me31hMNB1Edg6nYPPnglLpsOnEBV6hFoxZa0IhiVMJOCsw0Fa1p3__RMtUoGJuKcr1yl50xu14_W-CNnlCYmGG5Vw/s400/IMG_20200414_135430R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Sportsmanship - Settlers of Catan. .......................... Sportsmanship - Ticket to Ride<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-n5875hCRpiJ62jpv1x1iDCT_r6x2guwybnekqhlfSOt_SPc0RsS-Kut2dilR3NmaDYxhNjes8IZwUJft8ERspCQAq4hJNBl2oZ_CohNYheO6pgq4fb2-joHOLnU_dl3T4fPXw/s1600/Peaceful+Focusing+-+yay%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-n5875hCRpiJ62jpv1x1iDCT_r6x2guwybnekqhlfSOt_SPc0RsS-Kut2dilR3NmaDYxhNjes8IZwUJft8ERspCQAq4hJNBl2oZ_CohNYheO6pgq4fb2-joHOLnU_dl3T4fPXw/s400/Peaceful+Focusing+-+yay%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUy2VqoH0zeKzNWizeTOqIB1cn-7T58pkrJt6bLnLQopkIH2TUshoSJgqhd4SEhuDhDcKR7JBTt_fjYJGT8eU8KqJpHagoVB-K1Bhl0PCFjcIsU6g9aomAWAOfMSbxhEUnKBDRQ/s1600/Afternoon+Tea+and+Cookies+-+Manners+and+table+etiquette.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1000" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUy2VqoH0zeKzNWizeTOqIB1cn-7T58pkrJt6bLnLQopkIH2TUshoSJgqhd4SEhuDhDcKR7JBTt_fjYJGT8eU8KqJpHagoVB-K1Bhl0PCFjcIsU6g9aomAWAOfMSbxhEUnKBDRQ/s400/Afternoon+Tea+and+Cookies+-+Manners+and+table+etiquette.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Sportsmanship - Geography 3D puzzle. ......................... - Afternoon Tea and Cookies</div><br />
And yes, there are moments where it seems all is against a smoothly operating schedule. Kids get up late, dawdle getting breakfast, baby decides she needs a 'mommy only all the time' day and wants to nurse four times before noon, assigned shepherds balk and protest the shift they're given and procrastinate getting out the door, bookworms disappear into invisible crevices around the house. <strike>Someone</strike> everyone wants a snack 10 minutes after we get started on their lessons, some kids take too long 'checking in' online to see if they have assignments or they get 'distracted' by a game on the computer, other kids 'don't have any' or 'don't know' if they have any assignments for the day (or week or in some cases). Some kid will take advantage of the chaos and just disappear and I'll find them outside somewhere in a tree or in the dirt. Lunch gets started late, takes too long, doesn't get cleaned up right away so we can get on with the day. Cricket gets into yet another mischievous adventure like toothpaste cocktails in the bathroom, sharpie murals on my bedroom wall, or letting the dogs out of the kennel without supervision. The phone will ring, the printer runs out of ink... and so on. But I wouldn't trade these days for anything - They are treasures in the chaos that is my life, and I'm so thankful and sometimes overwhelmed by the privilege of getting to see them firsthand! <br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb7p6RIitJenPu4FFc69r7ZV5TyQlOY2rPdNW71rYCX7miug5THixYqz1HAFqtrSss1RInPzxwgt1kCteLnxW4D9zQz6zPS7NhqSW-P_BA0W9R-LFy3LMdISK3o9Y7wPxgdCGUA/s1600/Apr+14-17+Reading+Log.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb7p6RIitJenPu4FFc69r7ZV5TyQlOY2rPdNW71rYCX7miug5THixYqz1HAFqtrSss1RInPzxwgt1kCteLnxW4D9zQz6zPS7NhqSW-P_BA0W9R-LFy3LMdISK3o9Y7wPxgdCGUA/s400/Apr+14-17+Reading+Log.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWDzPRAKCnJoJWVuBlsw-ILYq_Am_4GCMcDHemXGoleUw0tF460N14oWvl7LqulpdkIh5qMugSrfZ5duttJQlNgGDrvsJ-auvon9E425j1Hqob-xpooucay32BYImjPDpeg7ItA/s1600/IMG_20200416_101236R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWDzPRAKCnJoJWVuBlsw-ILYq_Am_4GCMcDHemXGoleUw0tF460N14oWvl7LqulpdkIh5qMugSrfZ5duttJQlNgGDrvsJ-auvon9E425j1Hqob-xpooucay32BYImjPDpeg7ItA/s400/IMG_20200416_101236R.jpg" width="282" /></a><br />
Ricka's Reading Log - "I can't remember the books I read, because I read so many". And then there's Hal - Playing Hooky.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2ZuYBloXX5zEIYfUBfy49SDwiVsGZL2efWr1mYq928algCG6W16UlZ-OZuOfOwW4L8RoNmX6s-3_0EE0WtGj7YBR00X8BTorudivuokFaS76FaYbG0OM3P-KUJqyBLEoJecVoA/s1600/IMG_20200416_101816R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1000" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2ZuYBloXX5zEIYfUBfy49SDwiVsGZL2efWr1mYq928algCG6W16UlZ-OZuOfOwW4L8RoNmX6s-3_0EE0WtGj7YBR00X8BTorudivuokFaS76FaYbG0OM3P-KUJqyBLEoJecVoA/s400/IMG_20200416_101816R.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuuBjRduMlNQgmuRJ1MoeCbYXFZrKhYO74_8h4SLqPgTFxYGR7al7UK2MSJqE6CxJ4srp_8mqdgAhfBuUzzjeXhfEH3kao9cYzP8zod25RN4HmRKdp0DRDDaSGDtujn-h8OmpxA/s1600/IMG_20200501_123721R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="1000" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuuBjRduMlNQgmuRJ1MoeCbYXFZrKhYO74_8h4SLqPgTFxYGR7al7UK2MSJqE6CxJ4srp_8mqdgAhfBuUzzjeXhfEH3kao9cYzP8zod25RN4HmRKdp0DRDDaSGDtujn-h8OmpxA/s400/IMG_20200501_123721R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
NOT doing school ........................And a Picnic Lunch</div><br />
One of the assignments Butler has had each week, has been a themed 'nature walk' that he has to take and document with photos. The nice thing about that has been that I've been getting a pretty interesting picture collection. Although, there's not much to say about these pictures individually, I have enjoyed them and thought they might be worth sharing.<br />
<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ggTNFdA3qYNEexl7KNayrGWsrf_-qBq9xr4xoFabBUDSvra9ARsRPUqnm5GAlVq47-VfcmBt7BVp4OTs-2QH0H-C7YjmuH8oGfwUxX3zojKPTGMGD9eFxmhVL0IUaYT48YY7A/s1600/IMG_20200420_121017R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ggTNFdA3qYNEexl7KNayrGWsrf_-qBq9xr4xoFabBUDSvra9ARsRPUqnm5GAlVq47-VfcmBt7BVp4OTs-2QH0H-C7YjmuH8oGfwUxX3zojKPTGMGD9eFxmhVL0IUaYT48YY7A/s400/IMG_20200420_121017R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqq7Wj3N_xcI41jewQsQRJUaA41nGRJaDKS7RpKEdSp_3BfaK7KtL2CRAlG_gRglKvM4T0NcMC2u2-c5SdfToaiX_60lQTLFTjY284tsSKUj-OnDPitiAxooG4xeeaEV552tkLQ/s1600/IMG_20200420_144916R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqq7Wj3N_xcI41jewQsQRJUaA41nGRJaDKS7RpKEdSp_3BfaK7KtL2CRAlG_gRglKvM4T0NcMC2u2-c5SdfToaiX_60lQTLFTjY284tsSKUj-OnDPitiAxooG4xeeaEV552tkLQ/s400/IMG_20200420_144916R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEEdCD5fCdyNMrt__US2yy6rwrORaXeSg1NXkNbafMbbl1a0TK5bNhUcn-OdaS67l2jNwMD0iI6soXf5Y8AyPcFUsWC671VZBCn8yBqwYUtVh8kXIhWnhBxhpbYDqJrHdFqYnUA/s1600/IMG_20200420_143909R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEEdCD5fCdyNMrt__US2yy6rwrORaXeSg1NXkNbafMbbl1a0TK5bNhUcn-OdaS67l2jNwMD0iI6soXf5Y8AyPcFUsWC671VZBCn8yBqwYUtVh8kXIhWnhBxhpbYDqJrHdFqYnUA/s400/IMG_20200420_143909R.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
cherry blossoms..........more cherry blossoms ...................willow tree<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHo8HvzlM4ySbqEPD4m24xCoxNc2r2EHmlIw25JgM21-915p0HhCbtRFdorooZemTN5E9TahqUk0o-8RJRsaI0_d4CscHn2K0nPUZXdtMoOCtetu8cfV8xb2gD7xfH6rPP3pUcQ/s1600/IMG_20200429_104849R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHo8HvzlM4ySbqEPD4m24xCoxNc2r2EHmlIw25JgM21-915p0HhCbtRFdorooZemTN5E9TahqUk0o-8RJRsaI0_d4CscHn2K0nPUZXdtMoOCtetu8cfV8xb2gD7xfH6rPP3pUcQ/s400/IMG_20200429_104849R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_0O3s1YRhTpKK5nyISeq_W24TTGAgFp9uGsRFEaY2yz-o-8mUKqE0U6gtnr7EANgdVlSu0C_08QUt6ozGQLWT1m_NMMdieYebRpscHm5bteGhGMQYKv5aQPzlA9_clsGrLH5pw/s1600/IMG_20200429_105310R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_0O3s1YRhTpKK5nyISeq_W24TTGAgFp9uGsRFEaY2yz-o-8mUKqE0U6gtnr7EANgdVlSu0C_08QUt6ozGQLWT1m_NMMdieYebRpscHm5bteGhGMQYKv5aQPzlA9_clsGrLH5pw/s400/IMG_20200429_105310R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9ZL0AryJ8PQdF8EttqH8YnIHw069omAzPS-NYet2W4BqbVR5d2pobSi6RGdMpn_qjo0Ibihl5IYIDLgdl_vJ1AYrJ0jp1KWRR1YZfCIBVN5gc9odX4ICJpFt6_wqnsYq8_CTfw/s1600/IMG_20200422_154919R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9ZL0AryJ8PQdF8EttqH8YnIHw069omAzPS-NYet2W4BqbVR5d2pobSi6RGdMpn_qjo0Ibihl5IYIDLgdl_vJ1AYrJ0jp1KWRR1YZfCIBVN5gc9odX4ICJpFt6_wqnsYq8_CTfw/s400/IMG_20200422_154919R.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Bricks and mortar ..................More bricks ................ fences<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhqvrzwBuFhz3iTLy4JKkEo8O064tXMRwMRFNJ9J52g8k6QJIaw4NEGofYulQHx6R8HB5Jp_QODvEYqYSjn4WMV56fKi48xlnZcX4GsFN5Rj2NG2Ap1Fvq6C0nwRU1ZK0-5TtJg/s1600/IMG_20200420_144238_BURST001_COVERR.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhqvrzwBuFhz3iTLy4JKkEo8O064tXMRwMRFNJ9J52g8k6QJIaw4NEGofYulQHx6R8HB5Jp_QODvEYqYSjn4WMV56fKi48xlnZcX4GsFN5Rj2NG2Ap1Fvq6C0nwRU1ZK0-5TtJg/s400/IMG_20200420_144238_BURST001_COVERR.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZWkl3dSOv_uIQJl5bCqSluohNa87yqx3NpD3HcbjWMYxKqtkzg-YqPLMZmpnzWGZJ1PeeXfdu2GlWlxP2PDG1LjSQXMDS1x0UA5J0jelqEC2U4W12zYdcGKobHQQO3f5tdqR0A/s1600/IMG_20200420_144345R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZWkl3dSOv_uIQJl5bCqSluohNa87yqx3NpD3HcbjWMYxKqtkzg-YqPLMZmpnzWGZJ1PeeXfdu2GlWlxP2PDG1LjSQXMDS1x0UA5J0jelqEC2U4W12zYdcGKobHQQO3f5tdqR0A/s400/IMG_20200420_144345R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArwnEG0T32AmyIWdQmBQauqdg-LcLHXGebhq73zKAvoY9XcHEBP_up_5HpKoybYzUNnuY9HbGgfOfgpi5DD8Sys3-KVzPiyEC5XPUwWVb9d9RMxRYcQ8r5p_Fa8GON6MIafHHeQ/s1600/IMG_20200428_164916R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArwnEG0T32AmyIWdQmBQauqdg-LcLHXGebhq73zKAvoY9XcHEBP_up_5HpKoybYzUNnuY9HbGgfOfgpi5DD8Sys3-KVzPiyEC5XPUwWVb9d9RMxRYcQ8r5p_Fa8GON6MIafHHeQ/s400/IMG_20200428_164916R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
salmonberry .................Maple ....................Apple set up<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JlgNHES3RobLhWLXKX60gaFfIykBtJ7-ch4zNrlOutnJMAt3zqQS3eXNgJePzp8PgT7RgXnMNX06cwWs348x6jKV_MC1s45aJVxdBXynZ-b77VyNsb5FtNe2W2fEF2wLPEJ85Q/s1600/IMG_20200422_154537R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JlgNHES3RobLhWLXKX60gaFfIykBtJ7-ch4zNrlOutnJMAt3zqQS3eXNgJePzp8PgT7RgXnMNX06cwWs348x6jKV_MC1s45aJVxdBXynZ-b77VyNsb5FtNe2W2fEF2wLPEJ85Q/s400/IMG_20200422_154537R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VB5G_hVkLNv6w7m7nwevtnL4iZWadaqEJlm-ZE1Q2lk4sAxxv3KBMUbRx_LDoEHjnPkx0EizBOxX127TYJ4NzFzvNoz2Zq9SMYCW8gn52GFIHPuBKRCQVteCTV11E6gh8uocBQ/s1600/IMG_20200422_154830R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VB5G_hVkLNv6w7m7nwevtnL4iZWadaqEJlm-ZE1Q2lk4sAxxv3KBMUbRx_LDoEHjnPkx0EizBOxX127TYJ4NzFzvNoz2Zq9SMYCW8gn52GFIHPuBKRCQVteCTV11E6gh8uocBQ/s400/IMG_20200422_154830R.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
tree bark ........................hay close-up</div><br />
Then there's Little Miss Cricket. When she's not bringing me gifts or keeping Pixie entertained (which is VERY helpful), she's usually getting into all sorts of mischief. I have to make a mental note of her outfit first thing in the morning, and be sure to ask why particular clothing items have changed throughout the day. She wants so much to be involved in this new world of school, but there's only so much time I can spend with just her, and her attention span is only so long. When these limits have been reached, then she finds ways to keep herself busy whether it's washing the bathroom down with soggy bits of toilet paper, 'picking' my Rhubarb plant like we did together previously, 'washing' her shirt in the sheep's water trough or packing all her dollies and doll gear outside to the garden or play house where she forgets them until 15 minutes after I've tucked her into bed. Of course, by that time, she desperately needs them, and I have no idea where in the dark I'm going to find them. I love her independent and creative approach to life!<br />
<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTt2yAyybQkYWZoPMggk8Mv2D6YmNEPVFe3XROsAS3cVt3rjlTkFSZ6TAemwJcxWn3RMBoOavavr4o0j00U_PikgQw_RdIUMbJU5CihEmBCGKADX29B57QhQCtFqZ847BG93KAA/s1600/IMG_20200420_122519R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTt2yAyybQkYWZoPMggk8Mv2D6YmNEPVFe3XROsAS3cVt3rjlTkFSZ6TAemwJcxWn3RMBoOavavr4o0j00U_PikgQw_RdIUMbJU5CihEmBCGKADX29B57QhQCtFqZ847BG93KAA/s400/IMG_20200420_122519R.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jT8LUUMXsThJOE5XQoZ3Ep3fb0HWcQvMwgB-CeOaTNpmkUoAXISii8adr_T4t6bNUwRSWjZPhraNLr9nRtBryGTBCay_XlKTrGJy5H6m_gjEJwhN6hHAPmTa309C1xW9LVwRQQ/s1600/IMG_20200428_122958R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jT8LUUMXsThJOE5XQoZ3Ep3fb0HWcQvMwgB-CeOaTNpmkUoAXISii8adr_T4t6bNUwRSWjZPhraNLr9nRtBryGTBCay_XlKTrGJy5H6m_gjEJwhN6hHAPmTa309C1xW9LVwRQQ/s400/IMG_20200428_122958R.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Proud gift-giver ..............................playmobil display</div><br />
And that pretty much encapsulates our school days in general. Gradually we're figuring out routines, but we must be enjoying this adventure, because it most definitely does not seem like we've been doing this for more than 5 weeks already! <br />
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That's just how time seems to disappear though - one moment you're savoring early morning baby snuggles in a squeaky rocking chair and the next, you're staying up late trying to navigate important teenager chats at the kitchen counter. And it all happens in the blink of an eye!<br />
<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFun1Zja_vPe8kVEIZBK3Tgxc64KF6WqbmVp9s7UZNq-rv57c2XkX_eaSmZDheArCl-OpnVCgHkP6wkJ_F8vXn9Bo38r-gPpRIwb6VA4jQJ1UDUlH8wc4QPlOdWfsIFAEGqHYZjQ/s1600/IMG_20200427_072448R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFun1Zja_vPe8kVEIZBK3Tgxc64KF6WqbmVp9s7UZNq-rv57c2XkX_eaSmZDheArCl-OpnVCgHkP6wkJ_F8vXn9Bo38r-gPpRIwb6VA4jQJ1UDUlH8wc4QPlOdWfsIFAEGqHYZjQ/s400/IMG_20200427_072448R.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Morning snuggles from a sleepy baby<br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-26099559198647236012020-04-28T23:58:00.000-07:002020-04-28T23:58:00.433-07:00The Price of Progress<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivHJkz9m3FdE9SQmAQ3dLLy28gEaSW3_9fFoA3Oxq59abTMOxd-g2ONEfAjYyM0ns4MBP3ePHVxe5GbFp05JRh7r1uQLSquNSn9BId6VkK02OEQTKzizygwS-btpLRSJ6KBouWg/s1600/IMG_20200427_210507_2R.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivHJkz9m3FdE9SQmAQ3dLLy28gEaSW3_9fFoA3Oxq59abTMOxd-g2ONEfAjYyM0ns4MBP3ePHVxe5GbFp05JRh7r1uQLSquNSn9BId6VkK02OEQTKzizygwS-btpLRSJ6KBouWg/s640/IMG_20200427_210507_2R.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-52297376497021468512020-04-10T09:23:00.000-07:002020-04-10T21:35:49.724-07:00The Saga of Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdxrVrLxJA476E7XvgjK045JqU7Qb0dYgSlv_076_isllcXCWKlelqmZt2CpEAzwd2AfOwCbSc3a_18LhH0b1L-ZLCYZDf11Ls1uBt8mAyIl-A2vOuZDijCpGDNp40v8dhL8R-A/s1600/IMG_0620R.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdxrVrLxJA476E7XvgjK045JqU7Qb0dYgSlv_076_isllcXCWKlelqmZt2CpEAzwd2AfOwCbSc3a_18LhH0b1L-ZLCYZDf11Ls1uBt8mAyIl-A2vOuZDijCpGDNp40v8dhL8R-A/s640/IMG_0620R.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
June 2017...</div><br />
My girls have inspired me. Or life is beginning to settle perhaps, because on more than one occasion recently, I've found myself wanting to write. For a long time, even the thought of writing seemed overwhelming. It takes so much energy navigating through life itself, there never seems to be any energy left to spend time recording it. Maybe it's temporary and won't last, but while all the factors line up, I'll write.<br />
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Life here is an oasis. We've been staying home, laying low, avoiding the rest of the world for more than 3 weeks now. From what I read, life is almost incomprehensibly different for many many people. Cooped up in their homes, isolated from the people they used to interact with, working, schooling, living - alone. But not here. We have space to breathe, conveniences and services that make it possible to exist in what seems like a protected bubble. Sir works from home - so there's no difference there, now the all the kids will be learning at home, but I've dabbled in teaching some of them at home before, so it's not something <i>really</i> new. True, I haven't tried teaching 7 students at different levels before, but with teamwork and cooperation, eventually we'll have an established routine that works for us. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm looking forward to it at the moment. Then there's the actual social aspect of all this isolation. I came to the conclusion, that I probably led a rather isolated social life already. I mean, after 2 weeks there were almost NO perceivable differences in my social interactions. And now it seems like I'm connected to even more people because everyone is isolated and interacting remotely. I'm ok with that. In fact, I'm really happy in my chaotic little corner.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoYxTjKTcG0-TdGWR0M_FAoYWBQfn8Atin8y52BK143sLhKmjHvYBc_etOJiYyevndaoU-XWTDhUspEPSyIlx2dkGPyT5hah9OqSgRGTVgHb4rQgro5fxThpoXHFu7Ra33Ic0LQ/s1600/IMG_20200112_172358.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoYxTjKTcG0-TdGWR0M_FAoYWBQfn8Atin8y52BK143sLhKmjHvYBc_etOJiYyevndaoU-XWTDhUspEPSyIlx2dkGPyT5hah9OqSgRGTVgHb4rQgro5fxThpoXHFu7Ra33Ic0LQ/s400/IMG_20200112_172358.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Dolly</div>My little people are growing up. They have been doing that for a long time now, but now some of them are really beginning to look like it. Dolly... well, she's not the pouty-lipped, little blond flibberty-jibbit anymore. She's a conscientious, intelligent and very capable young lady stuck in that awful stage between a child and adult. She willingly, or at least mostly uncomplainingly takes on many of the tasks that always fell to me. Very often, I don't even have to ask, as she finds needs and addresses them of her own accord. Now it seems as if she shares a great deal of my work. I am ever so grateful for her help and it would be better for me to remember to express that more often.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8qOlBL2769DnnIi4aKr5BpBg7-txjMUeO6GHhYC6WSDAz8tm5ZbZmKJRkFySoujl3gqnocIORCq0pn60n_DuA-adYwP7BnX7KTniXnPVpgwSSu3l6KgTV4Qiznds0QeElu-Ug/s1600/IMG_20200112_173530.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8qOlBL2769DnnIi4aKr5BpBg7-txjMUeO6GHhYC6WSDAz8tm5ZbZmKJRkFySoujl3gqnocIORCq0pn60n_DuA-adYwP7BnX7KTniXnPVpgwSSu3l6KgTV4Qiznds0QeElu-Ug/s400/IMG_20200112_173530.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
PC (and Pixie)</div>PC is going to pass me up in height this year... I can sense it. Already, I catch myself getting irritated with him because I think he's squawking at me or rebelling against my decisions or instructions when really he just got excited and his new voice is just trying to catch up to his emotions. But I appreciate his growing strength - it makes life so much easier for me now. Just the other evening, we were doing barnyard chores together. I commented that we'd need to refill the chicken feeder. I was on my way to the barrel to hoist the 45lb feed sack over my shoulder and carry around to the other side of the barn, but he was closer. He didn't wait for me to get there, but pulled the sack out of the barrel and onto his own shoulder clearly not struggling under its weight. As I uselessly followed him to assist with the feeder lid and chicken house door with just a flashlight, I thought to myself, 'I would have done it, but my arm is much more comfortable not having to.' Dislocated elbows seem to take centuries to heal completely.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglClgX7m4tOBhpcunONn9jJd2GXmN1Qd4oIQ-rDDupgp3EuI_n_s3KDBMRkZCXCeNd1Mw81191ZDG9_pl-QjWolcNiZjxPWAYKAxPtaFROo7pVnUE7kScTU7zOi_L03Iyt9-v8rA/s1600/IMG_20200402_133546.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglClgX7m4tOBhpcunONn9jJd2GXmN1Qd4oIQ-rDDupgp3EuI_n_s3KDBMRkZCXCeNd1Mw81191ZDG9_pl-QjWolcNiZjxPWAYKAxPtaFROo7pVnUE7kScTU7zOi_L03Iyt9-v8rA/s400/IMG_20200402_133546.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Emma (and Pixie)</div>Emma is getting taller too, although I'm not sure if she's still ahead of Butler in stature. She's gradually stepping into a role of being a guide and helper to the younger children. This has taken great willpower, and continues to cost her much in the way of patience. She is very capable of being responsible and reliable, but still works on being cheerfully willing. I can relate or understand her take on many things, but I'm not sure that's always a good thing as sometimes I feel like I'm being too tough on her. However, she never ceases to surprise me and humble me with her ability to sincerely reach out to others. For all her no-nonsense, impatient approach to life in general, she has an incredible skill when it comes to meaningfully and thoughtfully expressing care and kindness.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0YmQ2lzy7RLxw129kOvc_gkZf79_H2nO4_OvtAry-vOWm3UIrr-V4JqrWK6v-xG6n7WioZsNduTyIa4MOZYoXKAdhyphenhyphenKLgraQsOJEsl4B3j1wngzL9GOpxRpt2ubUc2egF006eA/s1600/IMG_20200331_104840.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0YmQ2lzy7RLxw129kOvc_gkZf79_H2nO4_OvtAry-vOWm3UIrr-V4JqrWK6v-xG6n7WioZsNduTyIa4MOZYoXKAdhyphenhyphenKLgraQsOJEsl4B3j1wngzL9GOpxRpt2ubUc2egF006eA/s400/IMG_20200331_104840.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Butler (and Pixie)</div>Butler. Definitely not the tiny toddler rolling firewood rounds across the front lawn anymore, but still just as willing to try as ever. He gets himself into more trouble for silliness than <strike>any</strike> all of the other children combined, but generally it's because he just embraces life with an enthusiastic gusto and willing attitude. Now mind, he's not ALWAYS willing to do tasks, but he is my 'go-to' guy when I need a helper for the more unpleasant or just difficult jobs. I really value and appreciate this trait of his, and I hope he never loses it. He thrives on being outside and is definitely a hands-on kind of person. <br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxrXOklZY62p9PpdcBgLKRr0vXhudLF_rt_xfLvxphDggko3LWljjCHrrScLkjrQT0VpSrK7VBcXryvN0pCoFJwK4utNT3AHFZznFrBwafx8qivK-XIfUjiOMJXP81dHx-MHXuQ/s1600/IMG_20191218_092730.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxrXOklZY62p9PpdcBgLKRr0vXhudLF_rt_xfLvxphDggko3LWljjCHrrScLkjrQT0VpSrK7VBcXryvN0pCoFJwK4utNT3AHFZznFrBwafx8qivK-XIfUjiOMJXP81dHx-MHXuQ/s400/IMG_20191218_092730.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Ricka</div>Ricka is another of my kids that seems to be growing up fast these days. She still loves books (you may remember the baby in a basket with a book pictures I posted <a href="https://moments.csanyi.ca/2012/10/october.html">(here)</a> years ago, and she still would rather not participate in any activity that remotely resembles 'work', but she does tend to be one of my kids that notices when the littlest is getting fussy or when I'm getting frazzled by the said littlest getting fussy, and faithfully comes to aid by keeping the little one entertained. For this I am very thankful. Yes, it seems like an easy job, or a way to get out of doing other required activities, but I love the fact that she sees the need and addresses it without waiting to be prompted. Ricka likes to sleep, and is probably the hardest child of mine to get moving in the mornings, but she is fairly independent and capable of doing many tasks without constant supervision once she gets going.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKsIuDqwns8A082dRMaPakmIiRI-UCAmJnDAENPGujJlz59eD4DJWrmn08cKhECmv0hgPPlPmxedVBuSf7SVlAvqBKVkYMwiH44OslNug36y7VjDbDbZzcsgDcLqTTXK7fi1_0Q/s1600/Pirate+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKsIuDqwns8A082dRMaPakmIiRI-UCAmJnDAENPGujJlz59eD4DJWrmn08cKhECmv0hgPPlPmxedVBuSf7SVlAvqBKVkYMwiH44OslNug36y7VjDbDbZzcsgDcLqTTXK7fi1_0Q/s640/Pirate+Dinner.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Clockwise from top left: Dolly, QB, Butler, Hal, Cricket and PC</div>Then there's Hal. Toothless Hal currently, as he just handed me his 6th (SIXTH!) tooth just a day or so ago. I think four of them came out in the last 3 or 4 weeks. Hal has never waited for anyone to get to him. He's always one step ahead of me. When he was little, he started to crawl before I even noticed he was getting close. He didn't wait for me to stop procrastinating on potty training him, he just started using the bathroom like all the big kids by himself, and now he's reading like a second grader - and no, we never worked through the alphabet together. He's never waited for me to 'get to him'. He just goes ahead on his own. It's nice, but trust me, that boy has made me cry many times because he keeps growing up without me. If I'm not careful, I'll blink and he'll be moving out already.<br />
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QB... He's looking less and less like a toddler all the time. He started Kindergarten this past September, and he seemed too little to be sending off to school, but he's grown up so much in the past 7 months, it's not funny. He's itching to start reading like everyone else, and he practices and practices his little sight words every chance he gets. He is physically almost the same size as Hal, and he delights in being mistaken for his brother or assumed he's 'the other twin'. QB has an extraordinary sense of humor and adventure. He's willing to try strange foods, and he quietly laughs to himself at many of his other siblings' cases of drama. He's fun to watch. I think the most distinct thing about QB is his quietness and perseverance. This is noticeable because he's quiet until he's had too much and then he just explodes. Then he gets upset and embarrassed because he lost his temper.<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2VnOE6JIuqoiUMlPhzWkHFp7UX83CymtIacDs2Oxpb0qfOSdHqE_fcfMi7mVonDhR0JWZYiFSjModE7bPqDfF1626rNH_dBT5nCIty0XcPs1L7C8-6L-QBeO3KAlGNequ54wmw/s1600/IMG_20200406_173141.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2VnOE6JIuqoiUMlPhzWkHFp7UX83CymtIacDs2Oxpb0qfOSdHqE_fcfMi7mVonDhR0JWZYiFSjModE7bPqDfF1626rNH_dBT5nCIty0XcPs1L7C8-6L-QBeO3KAlGNequ54wmw/s400/IMG_20200406_173141.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
Cricket... (and Pixie)</div>It's been so long since I've written anything, I couldn't even remember what I called Cricket here. Cricket is THE BOSS. Or so she thinks (and tries to enforce). She's just a itty bitty thing, but don't let her size fool you. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it. She's the one who waves the flyswatter around regally in an older sibling's face (like Emma for instance) and says, "Emma! Say, 'buzzzzzzz'!" Emma obediently buzzes as commanded and - SWAT! Cricket triumphantly walloped her sister with the flyswatter. When I called Cricket out for hitting her sister, she very seriously explained, "I was swatting flies." Aside from trying to control her older siblings, she loves to entertain her baby sister. It's adorable, and they get on quite well, actually. Although, I do have to explain from time to time that some things aren't allowed. Like when I gave Criket a bag of cheetos at lunch time, and got busy getting Sir's lunch collected and delivered to his office. When I got back, and picked up the then fussing baby, I noticed the tell-tale orange powder on the onesie collar. "Cricket, I asked "Did you feed Pixie some of your Cheetos?" "No." she confidently began, "I just gived her a lick."<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtr6GEoAQdoM08V5LwgztTvyIYTw2wOXIdtbwiUxwMIcZhmhZAo7FvPUGR0WUxS67RLkJTCkbM4cdyw6ZFmh2bVqDFjW5CbeH2lY1XQZzLMs-9OFkNLMJCBvnYJVMm5l11qat5Q/s1600/IMG_20200406_173808.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtr6GEoAQdoM08V5LwgztTvyIYTw2wOXIdtbwiUxwMIcZhmhZAo7FvPUGR0WUxS67RLkJTCkbM4cdyw6ZFmh2bVqDFjW5CbeH2lY1XQZzLMs-9OFkNLMJCBvnYJVMm5l11qat5Q/s400/IMG_20200406_173808.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
So ready to crawl</div>And that brings me to my caboose. Sadly, I have never even mentioned my youngest daughter here before and she's already 7 months old. I will adopt Dolly's blog name for this little treasure, and call her Pixie. She really is an adorable delight that has every single person wrapped around her little fingers. From Daddy playing special music for her on his phone, Cricket 'licking the dirt off' fallen soothers, Dolly documenting all the little milestones in pictures (something I'm very very thankful for), PC scooping her up and walking her around in any direction she leans, Emma and Ricka constantly battling over who 'gets to hold Pixie' because the other girl is 'supposed to be doing something else', Butler playing music CDs for her in the boys room so she can dance and the little boys offering her countless toys the moment she makes a peep. This baby is loved, and she knows it. I was worried for a bit that she'd never learn to sit up on her own, crawl, roll over or pretty much anything else babies are supposed to do because she is always being doted on, but in spite of all the attention, she has managed to cut her own 4 teeth (yes, they are very sharp), sit all by herself until she gets too excited about something and loses her balance because she's bouncing too much, and she's almost crawling. She inchworms forward and crawls backwards much to her frustration right now.<br />
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<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIio4UKvB8Aaxmm-m4TR7BKraHJbS28Th-p1v4TROYH8aR7LTfoaX2gf1pZkGU7KQgzVdJgWb1Bu3ukNpx4HFPAbq9OvoWsy0s0u7FKnKCF_-ORGMGFZFqOAgnOt97adcNi_qixA/s1600/After+lunch+%2527Sportsmanship%2527+class.+Teamwork+and+patience.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIio4UKvB8Aaxmm-m4TR7BKraHJbS28Th-p1v4TROYH8aR7LTfoaX2gf1pZkGU7KQgzVdJgWb1Bu3ukNpx4HFPAbq9OvoWsy0s0u7FKnKCF_-ORGMGFZFqOAgnOt97adcNi_qixA/s400/After+lunch+%2527Sportsmanship%2527+class.+Teamwork+and+patience.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
Clockwise from bottom left: Hal, PC, Emma, QB, Dolly, Ricka and Butler</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-56439067818019165192019-07-23T17:36:00.001-07:002019-07-23T17:36:35.132-07:00A New Generation<div align= center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsfaw8VDpJVHyasyeDdCbFAXAAnMo8VI9yCfjkOQMLzDhCYHC_So7NycWsuXN6_EbTaebPc1ZSrT1C3SAYeK1I6WveTQvplIgodQyigbcv6T8IVw3umSkKIwMKCpAabkVrntzaA/s1600/IMG_20190723_170414.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsfaw8VDpJVHyasyeDdCbFAXAAnMo8VI9yCfjkOQMLzDhCYHC_So7NycWsuXN6_EbTaebPc1ZSrT1C3SAYeK1I6WveTQvplIgodQyigbcv6T8IVw3umSkKIwMKCpAabkVrntzaA/s400/IMG_20190723_170414.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><br />
Not that long ago there was this little girl, with blond hair that gradually turned brown as she grew older, whose stories lived here. Then one day I looked, and not only was she a teenager, but she wanted to write her own stories and capture her own memories just like her mama had done once upon a time when there seemed to be more time in the world.<br />
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Anyway, when this little girl, who here has been called 'Dolly' asked me if she could start her own blog. I replied, "Sure. Go ahead!". I was surprised by her reaction of pure shock and delight. It was as if she had thought it was some great privilege far beyond her reach and she fully expected to be denied. The truth is, the privilege is mine. Where I don't have the time to capture the little moments in pictures and play with the words to make the pictures come alive anymore, I still get to see these wonderful memories being preserved as see through the eyes of my own little (and not so little) ones.<br />
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So, if you come here to see the little things that happen in my wonderful corner of the world, and again find my words to be old and still, be of good cheer! There is another place where the record of these things is being written. Dolly has her own blog that she has called<a href="https://csanyimemories.blogspot.com/"> Memories in the Making</a>. Take a peek, and cheer her on. She has the potential to keep you enthralled and entertained.<br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-14480053124264593202018-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:002018-02-01T16:29:03.620-08:00World Travelers!Today, and yesterday if you want to be technical, we traveled over 4000 miles at speeds close to 1000 km/hr for nearly 10 hours to reach the other side of the world. It's been a wonderful adventure so far, and worth every second of the insane stress and frenzy that preparing for it caused.<br />
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About 3 weeks ago, Sir found out he had to go to London, UK and participate in some special meetings for his work during the first week of February. We started to talk about what he could do while he was in London for work and before I knew it, Cricket and I were going with him! At that point, the only person in our family that had a passport was Sir. So for the last 20 days or so, we've been packing and planning, and doing everything to get us ready to go and we managed to pull it off!<br />
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I promised the 7 kids that were going to be staying home with Grandpa and Grandma C. that I'd send them pictures of our trip. These are the pictures from our trip so far. Wednesday, January 31st and Thursday Feb 1st. They are not in order because I uploaded them weirdly, and I can't stay up long enough tonight to fix them. It's already after midnight here in London.<br />
<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDKucCRTVYR8fRuxoom1g1_qZqSGSKIA4OCwmk2v_h1PUWQ15ggUY5wOknpSwXqMksqGFAw1VoAEhCTcTfiYoxLn6r2kvlarRpEuO5OKxakrRdLVsCTCHQxgmWitubK2mYdWRIQ/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDKucCRTVYR8fRuxoom1g1_qZqSGSKIA4OCwmk2v_h1PUWQ15ggUY5wOknpSwXqMksqGFAw1VoAEhCTcTfiYoxLn6r2kvlarRpEuO5OKxakrRdLVsCTCHQxgmWitubK2mYdWRIQ/s400/IMG_1280.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
This sign looked like a person wearing moose antlers to me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAxo3XcSKrCNs_VrAUx6KAF6-qVhfFJH3dlNC6AdmKHA-sbzsrBQnu2mmwyFUyaSBHmr18ejT_xU3O45RfptTO2AyZyOcmx03vpCJBSH21UWvMSt8ItB9NbLm0U4n7h8MfSEkOA/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAxo3XcSKrCNs_VrAUx6KAF6-qVhfFJH3dlNC6AdmKHA-sbzsrBQnu2mmwyFUyaSBHmr18ejT_xU3O45RfptTO2AyZyOcmx03vpCJBSH21UWvMSt8ItB9NbLm0U4n7h8MfSEkOA/s400/IMG_1281.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
The hallway/tunnel down to the subway from the airport.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK1v4OrVq00pj4IILgKvCp5gzHpz7fDfqBwYBjjx48jZcbMWlWxjsR3nvp7xXLmrwvlnQAf3tpsiFOlxwoHlGASy-vhNMEqOH-B8AXPSnEF1jn2BL2Rwol-YcFfzAoSPkV_ep0g/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK1v4OrVq00pj4IILgKvCp5gzHpz7fDfqBwYBjjx48jZcbMWlWxjsR3nvp7xXLmrwvlnQAf3tpsiFOlxwoHlGASy-vhNMEqOH-B8AXPSnEF1jn2BL2Rwol-YcFfzAoSPkV_ep0g/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
London chimneys and a sunset - taken from the subway train.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E906K5PR4-eKHHDqPN2DWLD8dv27AMWnt6Pmv1YKCJ0CDIvVLraUMsRgjCq_NPZ2NeRaWmtmGoW129DfMSDsBMctzZazDRGEv9CYEy9K3Yezi3mivYVYG7nqEZH1uCR4kKCLSw/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E906K5PR4-eKHHDqPN2DWLD8dv27AMWnt6Pmv1YKCJ0CDIvVLraUMsRgjCq_NPZ2NeRaWmtmGoW129DfMSDsBMctzZazDRGEv9CYEy9K3Yezi3mivYVYG7nqEZH1uCR4kKCLSw/s400/IMG_1291.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
Looking back at the station on the walk to our hotel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMykgU860hOM8s6LJjvaUgi3IcD7vsr6_CNuLz-BtPUaTSwycNUufHsi_u3iexFqScre5o9AXzfuJOqdgCmqCDLYfkMSMm9kGmO7yRVquUv16PjhxUcjJISOHJo14WODdZJNUyg/s1600/IMG_1292.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMykgU860hOM8s6LJjvaUgi3IcD7vsr6_CNuLz-BtPUaTSwycNUufHsi_u3iexFqScre5o9AXzfuJOqdgCmqCDLYfkMSMm9kGmO7yRVquUv16PjhxUcjJISOHJo14WODdZJNUyg/s400/IMG_1292.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
Our hotel room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVXByBv6O1LlqPjS1f2su_43N7r7mpBrB9Q_DqFXPVkfg9MPRm4kGZeIHoXB56n4OSv7_xDFhpLT40dQlY41zGyMO910cY0IOdVG4eOReY5t_fx-bdZnZZLNj8WPc0HoyjyeHyw/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVXByBv6O1LlqPjS1f2su_43N7r7mpBrB9Q_DqFXPVkfg9MPRm4kGZeIHoXB56n4OSv7_xDFhpLT40dQlY41zGyMO910cY0IOdVG4eOReY5t_fx-bdZnZZLNj8WPc0HoyjyeHyw/s400/IMG_1294.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
From a different angle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2z1y_WpNM1W-pUKvG9-jZVEq0HlZvAfqSn8is-GOLzND21rnylU6NoOzuQpyTpNByBcGuIxWHy_AaYlTCASx_UxXRRmQ85hwOOSyzcXM0eJIGBCIQHX40NppuuBjPlhFxlEAeQ/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2z1y_WpNM1W-pUKvG9-jZVEq0HlZvAfqSn8is-GOLzND21rnylU6NoOzuQpyTpNByBcGuIxWHy_AaYlTCASx_UxXRRmQ85hwOOSyzcXM0eJIGBCIQHX40NppuuBjPlhFxlEAeQ/s400/IMG_1295.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
And another angle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7YTraYkG4bR2RWvkISxUHyqYgcZgMFU1E9nwdWTaConWFG6GR_1Q-75IoQhuiDlgAGqiV19Lvl5wQftV9uSzPAFbsZadiBu-6G7lIn8uuCkuXyA-qAnjMneEpecM6dKsMRbh4g/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7YTraYkG4bR2RWvkISxUHyqYgcZgMFU1E9nwdWTaConWFG6GR_1Q-75IoQhuiDlgAGqiV19Lvl5wQftV9uSzPAFbsZadiBu-6G7lIn8uuCkuXyA-qAnjMneEpecM6dKsMRbh4g/s400/IMG_1296.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1gyD3LeWcbcklPAfMVAgX_s7T27-Hj_gxl6Clq4aqhu7J3F7SKeEuImwJ9FTMGD3Cyv64V9ka6GjhYnsOM1DiNSgEfXIUKQBgQdVDQEYFBCrONopSSNJ_xJ6HMr3zNnZHQPhnw/s1600/IMG_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1gyD3LeWcbcklPAfMVAgX_s7T27-Hj_gxl6Clq4aqhu7J3F7SKeEuImwJ9FTMGD3Cyv64V9ka6GjhYnsOM1DiNSgEfXIUKQBgQdVDQEYFBCrONopSSNJ_xJ6HMr3zNnZHQPhnw/s400/IMG_1298.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
Cricket at Dinner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVMnWH0Byyal-TDcBGQYBqzO-XARxAgGtvaf_E6a9008RMQn8fSHp3NEy5_3G_6UGgivJ55K1W-M4ceclHBe11kNm8CbWlwtl7uecc9oy1R0BLx9rd59spGHm_XIt3BzX-H3CdQ/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVMnWH0Byyal-TDcBGQYBqzO-XARxAgGtvaf_E6a9008RMQn8fSHp3NEy5_3G_6UGgivJ55K1W-M4ceclHBe11kNm8CbWlwtl7uecc9oy1R0BLx9rd59spGHm_XIt3BzX-H3CdQ/s400/IMG_1258.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
Just before going through security in Vancouver, Canada.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHme0eJdVRs5-P2P3DkmGRS6Ie7NW4xJw7lZ-DJ3-j7GbyBueiO40uV3xx4f10eUvIUScJq0Uf7zq9hD-q_w8P9apiBkNOOKxGVMjuIhKqB4UeGaLw0yLPrZ9OxomTsKsoeYRsQ/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHme0eJdVRs5-P2P3DkmGRS6Ie7NW4xJw7lZ-DJ3-j7GbyBueiO40uV3xx4f10eUvIUScJq0Uf7zq9hD-q_w8P9apiBkNOOKxGVMjuIhKqB4UeGaLw0yLPrZ9OxomTsKsoeYRsQ/s400/IMG_1260.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
A model plane in the Vancouver airport.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kAaWMkx7kh-kXnsNBdT5KlgDsYeIUKEk5ko2IYzMBfGTd5knJdjfsFxRCtPU7zeyyO_hr9n1wF0C4Gmeg6Mn3DIxlD8CC1QK3_rFpUVuCpsrq6UYBVK8XYFCl86k0n1EbVRs6A/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kAaWMkx7kh-kXnsNBdT5KlgDsYeIUKEk5ko2IYzMBfGTd5knJdjfsFxRCtPU7zeyyO_hr9n1wF0C4Gmeg6Mn3DIxlD8CC1QK3_rFpUVuCpsrq6UYBVK8XYFCl86k0n1EbVRs6A/s400/IMG_1262.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
Cricket's reaction to a photo book the other kids made for her before we left.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMTCEd4o1MqY3v4yg-uyAhwlcF1TzmkBwvkFdckuOkVe9B7E-jznrcHuDXINhjyC0UTbH9OxOM-MV2jYEPkoBM70lR6slEwDdQ8fBG_3Zrm0zBaexWK5nmxW4C0ROfWnz7NPgkA/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMTCEd4o1MqY3v4yg-uyAhwlcF1TzmkBwvkFdckuOkVe9B7E-jznrcHuDXINhjyC0UTbH9OxOM-MV2jYEPkoBM70lR6slEwDdQ8fBG_3Zrm0zBaexWK5nmxW4C0ROfWnz7NPgkA/s400/IMG_1263.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
A really BIG fishtank in the Vancouver airport - on our way to our departure gate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdaK4b19ELNQFMrhtobsnzgaWhf4I8ihu190jd-t6FgJfmaLKGkKneoWXq6dzRUB8plSpdw38JCA3GHoCVt3CwOHDDZLupKqlBaAPnbV0SAiI0aD0wnKG9tLaDV9JM-qglfB6kg/s1600/IMG_1266.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdaK4b19ELNQFMrhtobsnzgaWhf4I8ihu190jd-t6FgJfmaLKGkKneoWXq6dzRUB8plSpdw38JCA3GHoCVt3CwOHDDZLupKqlBaAPnbV0SAiI0aD0wnKG9tLaDV9JM-qglfB6kg/s400/IMG_1266.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
A closer look at the fish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6e-MLVt931Hhgm3P1YdOLqHPSoxQBaKIcuNgDLOiiAgCLmY-94SWINvX5PiE6dBvwI-2e0VckwwzAx82ZN01U1GJqpCk91B2zkkbRGghOgpHJqRrxpq_CmSPj5FF2joZaGoTlA/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6e-MLVt931Hhgm3P1YdOLqHPSoxQBaKIcuNgDLOiiAgCLmY-94SWINvX5PiE6dBvwI-2e0VckwwzAx82ZN01U1GJqpCk91B2zkkbRGghOgpHJqRrxpq_CmSPj5FF2joZaGoTlA/s400/IMG_1267.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
A giant chess board in the Vancouver airport - still on our way to our departure gate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWD2GC5R_FG1l8AKfHqYsiLV7cQRx1YBRsF0cQhwgBu-OXV3ZjV9Fhvll23UVTfJQ2qgwEcSRsxaJ_3Zt_90B9BgnmQ_rU8rsT1neUd1pi25ypkjnBkkraroq1SbzYNsWh-iYM_g/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWD2GC5R_FG1l8AKfHqYsiLV7cQRx1YBRsF0cQhwgBu-OXV3ZjV9Fhvll23UVTfJQ2qgwEcSRsxaJ_3Zt_90B9BgnmQ_rU8rsT1neUd1pi25ypkjnBkkraroq1SbzYNsWh-iYM_g/s400/IMG_1274.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><br />
Watching the planes while we waited to board in Vancouver.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjV6NvGgiYw8kWkm15298JowpfcYMqS3omXyljYb3U45NR5u3Vuwt83Z5i8FCcSlT1euhLcLDfPoCdu3qtJ9KZgBLBMyK7z_5oRs0RG0ylmd0YALv1lMNY3yhIuKDUEAl5ZqH7w/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjV6NvGgiYw8kWkm15298JowpfcYMqS3omXyljYb3U45NR5u3Vuwt83Z5i8FCcSlT1euhLcLDfPoCdu3qtJ9KZgBLBMyK7z_5oRs0RG0ylmd0YALv1lMNY3yhIuKDUEAl5ZqH7w/s400/IMG_1282.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
The Subway train coming into the station at the airport in London.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7q2koi8dRlpaRFUpAe1luPq-0fRsyVsse_3L2hyGbYxfNHZMgNGUVD5IwD6BMBkmFXwUEBCJsAFV1b1xPaWXWXdqeewCCH8JMFFaTiVe0NzzGJjHNLJ9Xx-n6MSb5qFshTpPUg/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7q2koi8dRlpaRFUpAe1luPq-0fRsyVsse_3L2hyGbYxfNHZMgNGUVD5IwD6BMBkmFXwUEBCJsAFV1b1xPaWXWXdqeewCCH8JMFFaTiVe0NzzGJjHNLJ9Xx-n6MSb5qFshTpPUg/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /><br />
</a></div>My favorite picture from this post. Cricket telling her daddy something special as we waited to board our plane in Vancouver.<br />
<br />
And now it's half past midnight, so I'm going to bed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-19963792380163665782016-12-20T20:14:00.001-08:002016-12-20T20:14:43.248-08:00Spur of the Moment, Sunday Evening Photo Shoot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVVfKfJueycgNyGgSaboOUrGOntujn8zM8gWXT74Mq9tkl_3S8Efp3ZIgxFzOzTklRXfurLIxvmOR47AQCm9YjciST7aYRsQbsxwT2TQoWZ3hJ8OLe7VEKhQKycsGbRqE4b5xKw/s1600/IMG_0098R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVVfKfJueycgNyGgSaboOUrGOntujn8zM8gWXT74Mq9tkl_3S8Efp3ZIgxFzOzTklRXfurLIxvmOR47AQCm9YjciST7aYRsQbsxwT2TQoWZ3hJ8OLe7VEKhQKycsGbRqE4b5xKw/s640/IMG_0098R.JPG" width="436" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aLVLwXXzkGm9zyEKi9qVDBuwBLVxNwhQr0fpwSAUWSf8cfuXXBpStxO_V8Xcr8bWkZHkNCvXIJd8YJMKoCAAxYQbc8LJ-NMQjy5zRZqiKtYS73MWI4sFKRlBqLjrxEy1bENLbg/s1600/IMG_0103R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aLVLwXXzkGm9zyEKi9qVDBuwBLVxNwhQr0fpwSAUWSf8cfuXXBpStxO_V8Xcr8bWkZHkNCvXIJd8YJMKoCAAxYQbc8LJ-NMQjy5zRZqiKtYS73MWI4sFKRlBqLjrxEy1bENLbg/s640/IMG_0103R.JPG" width="434" /></a><br />
The two year old.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OOMVvsZWcAk0IxHXswwyaDnqTovYFtW2szh38sTyRColfwJIzRXXN5Bgs33TeNvKp-M5wCSRH9vRxdA9VflsY60kRJcCHGo3LJyNmnfN4Mo32SHlGeqQpXH8w8iXf-VAuTl9-w/s1600/IMG_0107R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OOMVvsZWcAk0IxHXswwyaDnqTovYFtW2szh38sTyRColfwJIzRXXN5Bgs33TeNvKp-M5wCSRH9vRxdA9VflsY60kRJcCHGo3LJyNmnfN4Mo32SHlGeqQpXH8w8iXf-VAuTl9-w/s640/IMG_0107R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
The boy who never smiles for pictures.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVsUK22D9oBKOxzSzL8rVCj8yZOI1ZM4kCIczli8q0TPDZ2Oq1tP6Jz6lvhHaUcd_3JhZ8J4tCTaV351SGfTTDBUQ0hjgaTPDChpaswLsesdIt_g_G1J85JxNvhNh7HGgAgkp6w/s1600/IMG_0106R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVsUK22D9oBKOxzSzL8rVCj8yZOI1ZM4kCIczli8q0TPDZ2Oq1tP6Jz6lvhHaUcd_3JhZ8J4tCTaV351SGfTTDBUQ0hjgaTPDChpaswLsesdIt_g_G1J85JxNvhNh7HGgAgkp6w/s640/IMG_0106R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuXM8MVQHqgOAzivfqOku6dkR-WjBfirpFFhxiet8-_59Nu2mWuCfvrku6dVuZrkFwVQjq_JYIqBvfX8Ews7u5nmypyJHgkOqRRxkwWj44d8wWYmx1BrMzFUmGprGOlZd0VZv_w/s1600/IMG_0118R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuXM8MVQHqgOAzivfqOku6dkR-WjBfirpFFhxiet8-_59Nu2mWuCfvrku6dVuZrkFwVQjq_JYIqBvfX8Ews7u5nmypyJHgkOqRRxkwWj44d8wWYmx1BrMzFUmGprGOlZd0VZv_w/s640/IMG_0118R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Three months old already!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk2oWD7Ldlbk68SOu5GOLGVnPrwkSxmvup8m_NPuAMEMhlAyj2ggwmBf_fsBpOrxK0LDUeV7C_vlowhouwpIPYs3PJwLBK-TCozRJwuSmulrqsunZgnSb2Fbpqmjo4Viy_4GjMA/s1600/IMG_0123R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk2oWD7Ldlbk68SOu5GOLGVnPrwkSxmvup8m_NPuAMEMhlAyj2ggwmBf_fsBpOrxK0LDUeV7C_vlowhouwpIPYs3PJwLBK-TCozRJwuSmulrqsunZgnSb2Fbpqmjo4Viy_4GjMA/s640/IMG_0123R.JPG" width="435" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_m-0j7OxnT9NjZ-Oka1S9vSOnS2g2yepAe3ChKVlEvCXTx052361610lHtNdC5yinlCYsNNzvSrnVGcHpl0BuZqMA1M_2cjQiJBZd0AQ0bT3tQjgBbQOeui0vDr2VDVrwqazyw/s1600/IMG_0125R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_m-0j7OxnT9NjZ-Oka1S9vSOnS2g2yepAe3ChKVlEvCXTx052361610lHtNdC5yinlCYsNNzvSrnVGcHpl0BuZqMA1M_2cjQiJBZd0AQ0bT3tQjgBbQOeui0vDr2VDVrwqazyw/s640/IMG_0125R.JPG" width="482" /></a><br />
Almost four years old.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9HXbxhQ04vXQNxUTHsYLCkYC0efcuWa75hQIHnfA06v5ONtkWd27D_BQNS4SxsEGTCiUqYkNYw0s8twu5-TLwz3WITU1MkkU0TnNiv2D8KeCWsKqbNwIl2lmeEl_aC6DI0H9ng/s1600/IMG_0129R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9HXbxhQ04vXQNxUTHsYLCkYC0efcuWa75hQIHnfA06v5ONtkWd27D_BQNS4SxsEGTCiUqYkNYw0s8twu5-TLwz3WITU1MkkU0TnNiv2D8KeCWsKqbNwIl2lmeEl_aC6DI0H9ng/s640/IMG_0129R.JPG" width="517" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2d7BxMDQ-Qfpu9sAWB0rWi7lJWhAJMSbycIY_yZbbmmdpi_fNJxC111ZHgNp_dY3ALZVZvNZrM2jvskbwTMttpvRmSiyn5MV0_0KyD3ybV4jzZcezvcaiui05rnmOVlopC6a8A/s1600/IMG_0115R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2d7BxMDQ-Qfpu9sAWB0rWi7lJWhAJMSbycIY_yZbbmmdpi_fNJxC111ZHgNp_dY3ALZVZvNZrM2jvskbwTMttpvRmSiyn5MV0_0KyD3ybV4jzZcezvcaiui05rnmOVlopC6a8A/s640/IMG_0115R.JPG" width="469" /></a><br />
Being silly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0IzM6sAAQ3jlLnGDrBK_EYMwkv_lX-T_-q3kukNk-xPKTRodaZC5msz8ND6M6dapsGRb0r3OQ7pyCScF5yniLe-Y_jeMDZE_QKKGBvZJ4Ah6PW3xH7n50K2uHI6kvp2Cf9jiwA/s1600/IMG_0132R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0IzM6sAAQ3jlLnGDrBK_EYMwkv_lX-T_-q3kukNk-xPKTRodaZC5msz8ND6M6dapsGRb0r3OQ7pyCScF5yniLe-Y_jeMDZE_QKKGBvZJ4Ah6PW3xH7n50K2uHI6kvp2Cf9jiwA/s640/IMG_0132R.JPG" width="363" /></a><br />
Stair-step line-up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ60FZL8U54jMqDRXg2PhjeGc9VPwxXmWhiHiIKo4m25KO3PAc7uHZVdRIFLFRDR8yG4m2y117MGvcrS_N_3H4QeXjrRZPjb2DQ9LtqvWXvxJGMfZ_uKFa4FTY89n07QOOW5SHpA/s1600/IMG_0134R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ60FZL8U54jMqDRXg2PhjeGc9VPwxXmWhiHiIKo4m25KO3PAc7uHZVdRIFLFRDR8yG4m2y117MGvcrS_N_3H4QeXjrRZPjb2DQ9LtqvWXvxJGMfZ_uKFa4FTY89n07QOOW5SHpA/s640/IMG_0134R.JPG" width="445" /></a><br />
Not quite the pose I was looking for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jlXW_pjzIQFHutqH0NOQ558-wMqyx-q4BcqeDkEI4YORr1dByAk1CsWnkBwiL6Ex1JAwOCL-Cg2hlSY_alcAkfi2iANVDVSF1KmfDtbQgRQ4WgNBctPpGLeVBD5ICcZ5ZyfMYg/s1600/IMG_0142R.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jlXW_pjzIQFHutqH0NOQ558-wMqyx-q4BcqeDkEI4YORr1dByAk1CsWnkBwiL6Ex1JAwOCL-Cg2hlSY_alcAkfi2iANVDVSF1KmfDtbQgRQ4WgNBctPpGLeVBD5ICcZ5ZyfMYg/s640/IMG_0142R.JPG" width="640" height="235" /></a><br />
This is harder than it looks!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuwjbeRMH-aK0-5iZ3-GjQD-3awlwAoHAaAeP4jUKp6c2JkMx0xNhs1xF6dzCv8lcWOIqb0XGaVcAzIfcmScGd_h0UyOh3DxvWcw14BLTf2HGOh2Ax1LjNJUizEAoCXp1az1-UQ/s1600/IMG_0139R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuwjbeRMH-aK0-5iZ3-GjQD-3awlwAoHAaAeP4jUKp6c2JkMx0xNhs1xF6dzCv8lcWOIqb0XGaVcAzIfcmScGd_h0UyOh3DxvWcw14BLTf2HGOh2Ax1LjNJUizEAoCXp1az1-UQ/s640/IMG_0139R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGzi6N8n0i2n1GrFFepbeYAV452x2kAgILilIIp-zF0__aA8Ib3DSqfVlZEKlJb52uTMcBYyOziDsZGg2GoZgwAv9H-WR263F_8LOlroT1p-cjxonwPXphAJeo5ylT_9IMj9Q1Q/s1600/IMG_0143R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGzi6N8n0i2n1GrFFepbeYAV452x2kAgILilIIp-zF0__aA8Ib3DSqfVlZEKlJb52uTMcBYyOziDsZGg2GoZgwAv9H-WR263F_8LOlroT1p-cjxonwPXphAJeo5ylT_9IMj9Q1Q/s640/IMG_0143R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
The <i>smiles</i>!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNxzX1qJ9xjBK5femP8biG9PSTQ7f9Mhis6WPzP5kjG5y_q_I8qHhZBVBw8H-jwXqOCYOw4T-KOnGTetBSGil3-kGgtC56rD1mt8-9zVvZi0i8jx8rduXV9GbSp99k_WLsSGLZA/s1600/IMG_0147R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNxzX1qJ9xjBK5femP8biG9PSTQ7f9Mhis6WPzP5kjG5y_q_I8qHhZBVBw8H-jwXqOCYOw4T-KOnGTetBSGil3-kGgtC56rD1mt8-9zVvZi0i8jx8rduXV9GbSp99k_WLsSGLZA/s640/IMG_0147R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Real life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjgeRPnNNGI5C_8bblMaStMHVwkEVu-U0zTC_1-HOUoyj7HY_YK-CBRaVPCGSXuolT3veXA4hWM15eaLPdLnbmrVwte7ambtj-mUOYVe6Mue4S9z15OfG8qWCYWZ_-637BQvp9A/s1600/IMG_0150R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjgeRPnNNGI5C_8bblMaStMHVwkEVu-U0zTC_1-HOUoyj7HY_YK-CBRaVPCGSXuolT3veXA4hWM15eaLPdLnbmrVwte7ambtj-mUOYVe6Mue4S9z15OfG8qWCYWZ_-637BQvp9A/s640/IMG_0150R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
If at first, you don't succeed...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUd0Fd0OVha3eEP0cYSt6NS42ZmEgy55jCX2jZKX7QgD9XlCpDM16dyVFOV6ZabXIXcEA-_IkV2ov3vzkbrAtYP-nChbiz9hxg7shrZCDspanH4NR7jdVYcs9PSMhhfwmMgPFoQ/s1600/IMG_0151R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUd0Fd0OVha3eEP0cYSt6NS42ZmEgy55jCX2jZKX7QgD9XlCpDM16dyVFOV6ZabXIXcEA-_IkV2ov3vzkbrAtYP-nChbiz9hxg7shrZCDspanH4NR7jdVYcs9PSMhhfwmMgPFoQ/s640/IMG_0151R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Try, try...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yKvmRK5-a33kTFjyuBoSFvAtwqDbOLQBwtInpcyQzlfRDFzyjJakWPyV1sVulDP2jGEyWO3y3baqYUNeo7pGktcsr1U3UhQJEBz6FsV7tDoljFK6-I2DUcUlraJqJiPcdXr4Q/s1600/IMG_0154R.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yKvmRK5-a33kTFjyuBoSFvAtwqDbOLQBwtInpcyQzlfRDFzyjJakWPyV1sVulDP2jGEyWO3y3baqYUNeo7pGktcsr1U3UhQJEBz6FsV7tDoljFK6-I2DUcUlraJqJiPcdXr4Q/s640/IMG_0154R.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Again! All Eight.<br /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div></div></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-79974469839107492612016-09-01T07:31:00.000-07:002016-09-01T07:31:32.915-07:00Introducing...<div align="center">3:03 AM, Thursday, September 1, 2016.<br />
<br />
8 lbs 14 oz, 20.25" long.<br />
Mother and baby are both doing well.<br />
<br />
<i><b>"A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple,<br />
of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard<br />
us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended<br />
unto the things which were spoken."</b><br />
Acts 16:14</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfekYT3Y3tCQp9Nmwb6FR5hz10uJS_ZAgIAKjx28r_PLWaK1yalWQCcHbNDXYHVnxt8Jzp9lvV7rI0bbRvbKWBkYjKbtvx9sPrcGQv86Tt6lbZAlp7d97-KrVfcT9j6oAFw6Zww/s1600/IMG_20160901_062834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfekYT3Y3tCQp9Nmwb6FR5hz10uJS_ZAgIAKjx28r_PLWaK1yalWQCcHbNDXYHVnxt8Jzp9lvV7rI0bbRvbKWBkYjKbtvx9sPrcGQv86Tt6lbZAlp7d97-KrVfcT9j6oAFw6Zww/s400/IMG_20160901_062834.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a><br />
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</div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-72281817744077984102016-08-31T22:57:00.000-07:002016-08-31T22:57:50.070-07:00Preserving Summer (aka Nesting)<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4BckC9iKOvuiJcpenOYdyjTZO6m__orGEfrUIQif8paU9GZA_Rx73SClzEjJ8NBfG52UKTtrNhwdWnke2pYBnMwmpsb-hmLtY97z3v-sKim58OBwqQpfhDy95W9SlwdHxwYpng/s1600/SAM_2025R.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4BckC9iKOvuiJcpenOYdyjTZO6m__orGEfrUIQif8paU9GZA_Rx73SClzEjJ8NBfG52UKTtrNhwdWnke2pYBnMwmpsb-hmLtY97z3v-sKim58OBwqQpfhDy95W9SlwdHxwYpng/s1600/SAM_2025R.JPG" /></a></div><br />
So this is a lot of what's been keeping us busy lately. There were also swimming lessons for almost half the kids and miscellaneous school prep for the older 5. And all but QB got to spend at least one Tuesday with Grandma C at the cousin's house across the border. But now pretty much all the canning I wanted to do is done (we probably should make more applesauce though) and the official due date is tomorrow, so we're down to the waiting for baby game.<br />
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What I love most about this picture though is how much time it represents that I was able to spend with various individual children. <br />
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Over 100lbs of butternuts (25lbs pictured here) were collected over five days of swimming lessons at the local park. While the kids in lessons were swimming most of the others played on the playground and one or two kids would help me collect shopping bags or feed pails of nuts off the ground at the park. This gave me time with just about all the kids individually. Later when we dried the nuts in the dryer, it was Dolly who spent hours washing out the walnut stain that was left behind each time we dried a batch of nuts. I'm sure she was happy to see the long range forecast with record temperatures and no cloud cover that prompted the nut drying process to be moved outdoors. Without the threat of rain, we spread the butternuts across the driveway and let the sun dry them for us.<br />
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This pail of apples came from the two trees we have, and I got to spend time with Hal and QB picking them up off the ground. Well, I carried the pail and they picked up the apples since they are already a lot closer to the ground and can bend over better than I can currently. :) These apples are the best of what we collected and have been reserved for school lunches. We collected other apples and pears from the neighborhood trees and Granny sent bags of windfall apples from her house to us via Grandpa and Grandma C. Butler was my one-on one applesauce maker - we made 6 quarts, but then ate one quart right away because everyone loved the samples from our canning leftovers. QB especially loved the 'app-sauce!' and in spite of his size, he probably got the lion's share of what we put out for dinner. The plan is to make more since we still have buckets of apples sitting outside the front door, but they can wait until after the baby comes.<br />
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The 4½qts of hazelnuts were Ricka and Dolly's specialty. They were my 'hazelnut hunters' and we had a lot of fun wandering the property identifying trees together. Ricka still brings me an odd hazelnut that she finds every once in a while.<br />
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PC nearly did all the work involved in making the 10 pints of peach salsa and he willingly helped me pit and chop a whole pail of plums that I needed for later. Emma worked with me to make one of the two batches of plum jam including picking the crab apples in the sheep field that we needed for making the jam pectin. We ended up with a total of 5 pints of plum jam and 4 more of plum jam/sauce (those didn't set up quite as nicely as the first batch). <br />
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Dolly worked in tandem with me to make the first two batches of peach jam which was a really fun project because she did all of her batch herself after watching me and copying what I did on my batch. She took a few minutes longer to get her batch off the stove, and ended up with a darker jam that set up better than my lighter colored batch. It was a rainbow after the thunderstorm type of thing and I was really thankful for that because she had worked so hard and thought she ruined everything by letting the jam cook longer than it was supposed to. For the other batches of peach jam I had random helpers that came and went, but we ended up with a total of 16 pints and the kids gobbled one up in sandwiches the first few days after we made the first batch.<br />
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The five older kids collected the one pail of pears that we let ripen in the living room for a week before I turned most of them into baby food. Any leftover peaches and plums were also turned into baby food and we ended up with a total of 18 half pints of baby food split between the three flavors. It works out to about 36 jars of store-bought baby food. Again, I had random helpers during the baby food batches, but they came and went and helped while there was something that kept them interested in the job at hand. One of my favorite quotes was from one of the older kids, "Don't worry Mommy, when I grow up, I'm going to do canning too!" And it was immediately followed by a sibling's enthusiastic, "Yeah! me too!".<br />
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I think it was rewarding to all of the kids when we collected everything we put up during the month to take a picture and they could see all their hard work in collecting and preparing the bit we did all in one place. And it's rewarding to me to see all my children learning and appreciating the value of projects like these while they're still young.<br />
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<div align=center><b><i>"Go to the ant.... consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."</b><br />
Proverbs 6:6-8</i></div><br /><br />
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ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-92064607350696757802015-11-24T17:21:00.000-08:002015-11-24T17:21:59.786-08:00The Three Little Pigs - Chapter 1<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlkkhtyoP3BbudiD_cEOr2v4ysCbfvjMf8N6QRKUMHEHdD9078PM1QX3faQ0nBm8am6d4NELjhcl5mkRMqf8BMl_t5Jpuhp07LunBjdmpBKlLEC5LZJFuoarpEx1mybVSnXrFCg/s1600/IMG_9603R.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlkkhtyoP3BbudiD_cEOr2v4ysCbfvjMf8N6QRKUMHEHdD9078PM1QX3faQ0nBm8am6d4NELjhcl5mkRMqf8BMl_t5Jpuhp07LunBjdmpBKlLEC5LZJFuoarpEx1mybVSnXrFCg/s1600/IMG_9603R.jpg" /></a><br />
Our Three Little Pigs</div><br />
Perhaps the newest story in our life will revive my writing skills... one can always hope. Meet the stars of our latest adventure! Sir dubbed them 'Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla' when we brought them home this past Saturday, but I think they're fast earning their own names already. When I'm doing the chores, they get called 'Boss, Rojo and Chip'. <br />
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Today I moved them from their stall in the barn out to their yard for some sunshine and grass and they had a blast digging and smacking to their hearts content. Once Freckles got over her initial fear of them, her natural guarding instincts took over, and she has decided they're her personal pets. She tried getting them to play with her, but that resulted in Boss and Rojo threatening to take her on in a wrestling match. In the end peace was established and Freckles took up her post in the pig pen to keep the newbies safe.<br />
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Guard Dog on Duty</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>About a month ago or so, we decided that since chickens had worked out so well for us over the past two years that we were probably ready to move on in our 'farming journey' and expand our horizons a little. Since Sir isn't as excited about my dream of a milk cow as I am, we settled on something a little less time-consuming and work-loaded and agreed on pigs instead. The first step was visiting the local livestock auction to observe and learn what our options might be. Almost every Saturday we'd watch the sales take note of the prices, condition and variety of what went through and then we'd go home and work on reconstructing our barnyard to include a pig pen. Finally one day we registered as buyers, but since we still had work to do to be completely ready, we set our bidding limit pretty low so we'd only end up buying if the pigs were ridiculously cheap. The first week we didn't even bid, the week after that the price exceeded our limit and we backed out of the bidding, the following week we couldn't make it to the sale and then there was last week.<br />
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We had plans for the evening, so to save time between the auction and when it would be time to go, we decided to take two vehicles to the sale. That way I could go home and get something done and Sir could run some errands after the auction. He took the two oldest kids and headed to the sale and I was going to join him with the rest of the gang once I finished making lunch and putting shoes on little people. Of course I was running late as usual, and even though I arrived at the auction two minutes before the sale was supposed to start, I could hear the bidding already in full swing. As I herded my little people in the door to the auction ring, I heard the auctioneer slam his hammer and say, "Sold! How many do you want?" and then I heard Sir's voice reply, "Two.". I rounded the corner with my sleeping infant in his car seat in one hand and my foot-dragging toddler in the other to find Sir motioning to me to go pick out two pigs. I plunked the carseat down, let go of the toddler and stepped up to the ring to make a selection on a heartbeat's notice. To buy myself time, I asked for gilts (female piglets) because I couldn't tell if the males were boars or barrows (gelded males) and the ringman ran his grease crayon down the back of the first gilt he found. As she scurried away, I realized she wasn't the healthiest looking piglet of the lot and tried to get him to change her for another, but I guess that was against the rules. The auctioneer said once they put a color on them, there was no switching, but I could choose a third pig for the same price if I wanted. Sir gave me a quick nod, and I picked out two other pigs tossing gender preference to the wind in favor of hardiest looking. <br />
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It turned out we got a second gilt and a barrow and once we got them home and in a warm stall with food and water they all looked great. I still have to weigh them so we can chart their progress, but they're smart little guys and have been adjusting and fitting into our barnyard menagerie quite well.ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-29248747449482783232015-09-24T11:28:00.001-07:002015-09-24T11:28:18.216-07:00Just Like That<div align=center><b><i>"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."</b><br />
James 4:14</i></div><br />
Last night my sister called me. I asked her how she was doing, and for the first time, I heard her speechless. She started to say something, but it took three tries before the words finally tumbled out. The house was gone.<br />
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The house we grew up in - toast. Literally - it had burnt to the ground. Our parents weren't at home, but the pets inside and everything else was lost. The house, pump-house/shop - all gone. It wasn't just the place I grew up in, the place I went to school at or the place I discovered a myriad of things. It was home. I spent 21 years there. Every wall and corner held a memory and it's hard to fathom that it's not there any more. I know what I feel about it, is nothing compared to what my parents must be going though. They raised 5 kids without running water for 8 years, without a telephone for 10 years, without electricity. They watched their little ones learn to walk, talk and love in that house. A lifetime of memories.<br />
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It's hard to imagine the old piano, Dad's 12 string guitar, his banjo, Mom's treadle sewing machine, her cupboard of keepsakes where she put all the treasures we gave her, the 410, the bread table or the storehouse gone, but they are. The chimney my grandpa built in the 70's was still standing last night, but that doesn't really make a dent in the enormity of the loss.<br />
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I thought maybe I could help by giving my parents a place to get away from it all - since there's not much else that really can be done, but then I realized they probably don't even have their documents like passports and birth certificates and licenses any more so that won't work for a while either. Besides, they're going to thinking of basic stuff for a while, like clothes to wear, replacing Dad's breathing machine and sorting out where they're going to start over from.<br />
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At least the rest of my siblings are there - I know when things happen, you want to know your kids are close and safe, and my parents have that.<br />
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<div align=center><b><i>"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.</b><br />
Matthew 6:8</i><br />
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And that is real comfort and Hope.</div><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-83895480409948576452015-04-19T23:18:00.002-07:002015-04-19T23:18:46.229-07:00You're Invited To The....<div align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JjWr6OCmOKYuapeV3n2nf_eEJNwcJgHDIQd3dA_05aMiol9cVeRIN-AmFb7BSXWxjITl44L2co8ctJrz3VuwTcoY-IoQtPymMKAzLoIwPrkj4lIOaB7ArBb5HJ0f1CT1vchV1g/s1600/Richmond+SSTreat+2015.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JjWr6OCmOKYuapeV3n2nf_eEJNwcJgHDIQd3dA_05aMiol9cVeRIN-AmFb7BSXWxjITl44L2co8ctJrz3VuwTcoY-IoQtPymMKAzLoIwPrkj4lIOaB7ArBb5HJ0f1CT1vchV1g/s1600/Richmond+SSTreat+2015.png" /></a>
<br>Please come and be encouraged with us!
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<br><i><b>"Jesus called a little child unto Him..."</b>
<br>Matthew 18:2</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31928563.post-18989885904332120432015-02-10T11:01:00.001-08:002015-02-12T13:43:08.013-08:00Dips and DustingsFor Dolly's birthday dinner, she asked for a Calamari appetizer. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, so before I lose the scraps of paper I made my notes on, I thought I'd write it all down here where I can find it a lot easier later.
<br>And while I'm in a recording mode, let it be noted that Dolly made dinner by herself (mostly) Monday night. Tuna Casserole (she followed a recipe out of her new cookbook) and perfectly cooked green beans. She'll never understand what a treasure to me that milestone was, but it's one I'll savor for a long time.
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<span style="font-size:140%;"><b>Deep Fry Calamari Appetizer</B></SPAN>
<br><i>Serves 8</I></DIV><ul>
<li>680 g. calamari pieces
<li>1 red pepper
<li>½large onion
<li>1&12;c. flour
<li>&34;tsp. ground black pepper
<li>&3tsp. salt
<li>2tsp. paprika
<li>vegetable oil for frying</UL>Thaw (if frozen) and drain calamari. Slice pepper into ¼" strips. Thinly slice onion across the grain to make ¼" or smaller half-ring strips. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Heat oil to 375° in a large skillet. In turns, dust and fry calamari, peppers and onions for 2-5 min until golden. Drain and keep in a low temp oven until ready to serve. Layer peppers and onions throughout calamari on a platter and serve with a dip of your choice.</DIV>
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<span style="font-size:140%;"><b>Chipotle Dip</B></SPAN>
<br><i>Makes about 2 cups.</I></DIV><ul>
<li>2 Tbs. pureed Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
<li>¾c. mayonnaise
<li>½c. plain yogurt
<li>½c. sour cream
<li>1 tsp. Liquid Smoke</UL>Mix all ingredients together and serve! Super easy, and delicious! </DIV><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ioihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09310285433823428951noreply@blogger.com0