tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49086421810591194092024-03-13T19:32:52.287-05:00this mare eats oatsmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.comBlogger1368125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-26353522529329114902016-11-01T23:51:00.000-05:002016-11-01T23:51:01.619-05:00FaceTime fail<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past week, Ryan was traveling for work. This isn't unusual as his new position will have him traveling throughout his territory about 50% of the work week. However, this time, he wasn't in his territory; he was back at John Deere headquarters and rubbing shoulders with some of our Iowa favorites, the Oakes family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just can't say enough good about this family. I miss them dearly. So, because we knew Ryan was at their house, we took the opportunity to FaceTime him and sneak in a chat with five of our favorite Iowans. The kids had just gone to bed, but Haley was adventurous and got them up (serious mom points right there). We had a great chat and it was so good to see all of their faces and hear their voices. I miss them. Ryan misses them. Leah misses them. Kate misses them. And they all miss Jane...especially Adam. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The chat was wonderful. We caught up on all things church, school and extracurricular. We sang. We made funny faces. We laughed and smiled. And then it was time for goodbyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After we hung up, Kate lost it. I don't think she had really processed our move until that moment and the result broke my heart. In just a few minutes, I heard all of the following phrases:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I just love Abby so much." (This was spoken once while smiling, multiple times after while sobbing.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I want a play date with Izzy."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can we both go to Utah at the same time and play at the same park together?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"How about we drive to Nebraska and they drive to Nebraska and we have a play date."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can't Mr. Tyrus just get a new job and they can move to Washington too?" (This is my solution, by the way.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I wish we had never moved."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can we move back to Iowa?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can they move somewhere close enough for you to drive me over to play?"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I just miss them so much."</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mom heart hurt for her little sobbing heart. She was feeling so many emotions all at once - emotions I have felt many times over the past few months - and she was just so confused and frustrated and sad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving is hard no matter how big or little you are. I'm grateful to have had such good friends in Iowa - friends that we long to be with. And I hope we can make friends like the Oakeses here in Washington. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the meantime, we'll work on that job in the Pacific Northwest for Mr. Tyrus and a wedding in 20+ years for Jane and Adam. </span></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-14051805949664010452016-06-05T00:30:00.003-05:002016-06-05T00:30:59.081-05:00A delicious lie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw6WjtN8KpSomCsmey6V4QUxE06AcoaNnq41cQyxJbgz-0F18ZevC3jvsDDJ7ncxUGycRZsfgksIA3Ai2c2zFN7a7i4J8_-cTUgJueNPqb2GwkwBIWXmBTox8rFsKYrvSEnl-sVfENqvO/s1600/Kate+fancy+june+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw6WjtN8KpSomCsmey6V4QUxE06AcoaNnq41cQyxJbgz-0F18ZevC3jvsDDJ7ncxUGycRZsfgksIA3Ai2c2zFN7a7i4J8_-cTUgJueNPqb2GwkwBIWXmBTox8rFsKYrvSEnl-sVfENqvO/s640/Kate+fancy+june+2016.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to record the following conversation I had with Kate earlier this week. This girl, I tell ya. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thursday morning, Kate and Leah went to my friend Haley's house for a little bit while I was at a doctor's appointment. When I picked them up and got in the car, I asked Kate what they did and if they had a good time. This was our conversation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Did you guys have fun at Miss Haley's?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Yes! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: What did you do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: We ate a yummy snack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Oh really? What snack?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Crepes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Grapes?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: No. Crepes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Crepes? The ones that look like really flat pancakes?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Yes! Those ones. With that chocolate stuff, what's that called?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Nutella!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Yah! Tella! And strawberries. And bananas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Seriously? That was your snack!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Yah. It was yummy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Did Leah eat some too?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: No. She didn't want any. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Intermission</i>. Feeling a serious need to up my snack game when Haley's kids are at my house (they usually get something amazing like veggie straws), I texted her to tell her thank you for such a delicious snack for my girls. She responded with: <i>"Ummm...that is a classic case of Kate telling tales. I served crackers and grapes!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yah. Nice Kate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I continued our conversation after her quiet time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Kate. What was your snack again at Miss Haley's house?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Crepes. And what's that chocolate stuff?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Nutella. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Yah. Crepes and tella. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Kate. I'm going to give you a chance to tell me the truth about your snack today. Think about your answer. What did you really eat at Miss Haley's house?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: [Pause] Crepes and tella. With strawberries and bananas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Kate. I talked to Miss Haley. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Why...what did she tell you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Kate. I'm giving you one more chance to tell me the truth about your snack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: [Pause.] [Still pausing.] Crackers. And grapes. And fruit snacks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: Thank you. Why did you lie to me about a snack?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: I fought you might be mad at me for lying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: No, not why did you lie to me about lying about your snack. Why did you lie to me and tell me you had crepes in the first place?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Oh. Because I really wanted crepes and tella. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom: [Sigh.] If you wanted crepes and Nutella, just tell me you want crepes and Nutella (heaven knows I want it too!). You don't need to make up a lie about eating it when you didn't!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate: Oh. Okay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seriously! Thankfully she's usually not a very good liar - I can, way more often than not, see right through her. But this was executed perfectly. And with detail! And for no reason at all! I'm glad it was about something as silly as a snack, but worried about what she might lie about in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Suggestions...and prayers...and chocolate all accepted. </span></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-60931101365866148622016-04-29T13:52:00.000-05:002016-04-29T13:52:46.051-05:00changed for the better<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mid-March, I found myself staring into the mirror, with a sullen expression on my face. I just wasn't happy with the sagging skin, the muffin top, the bags underneath my eyes. For a moment, I let myself forget that I had just given birth one month before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One month.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And not only was I just one month postpartum, I was still a full month away from getting medical clearance to work out because of having a c section. All this and I was already unhappy with the way my body looked. I was already not good enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was telling a friend about this experience, she expressed to me that after her first child was born, she was sharing some of these same grievances with her mom. To which her wise mother responded something to the effect of <i>when I was your age and having children, no one expected us to have a baby and bounce right back to our normal selves. They didn't expect us to act or look like nothing had happened to our bodies...because something HAD happened! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've really tried to keep that in mind as I transition back to a non-pregnant weight and size. Something DID happen to my body. Something incredible. Something amazing. Something miraculous. And I'm so grateful that it did. I'm so grateful for a cherubic infant who snuggles into my curves and sagging skin. Who grabs hold of my muffin top with her tiny, chubby fingers, with no intent to ever let go. Who stares just above the dark circles that hang below my eyes and peers into my soul. Because when she does, I catch a glimpse of heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm so grateful for my angelic Leah, who reminds me every day that our bodies - functioning or not - aren't the only things that are important. It is our spirits, our souls, that truly have worth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm grateful for my silly Kate and that she mixes up words sometimes. Because it's so much better to hear "Mom, I think your shirt is too big for you" as I exercise than what she actually means - that I'm too big for my spandex shirt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm so grateful for my own mother who never valued herself (at least in front of me) based on her physical fitness, but did show that taking good care of your body was important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm grateful for a husband who, when I'm indulging in a much-too-big bowl of ice cream at the end of a really long Thursday, doesn't say a thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I'm so grateful for Jane. I'm grateful she is reminding me that my body changed because she is HERE. She is in my arms! A living, breathing miracle. And with that reminder, I hope to remember I'll <i>always</i> be good enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(I know, you really wanted to see a picture of my curves. You get Jane's instead.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3N5cWCnmeNSHYPAx2Hhz9mowBvJkpexW-aL6PQuDvgLDl0l-1vukt3tnQpjp78PsM7Wfu8uiBX1RdKpNg-AR8R545HvcrUknf3DE4UYnCmuE0AJgFH3m9H5KM-_srQAUcTJ2hzUPhO5ja/s1600/changed+for+the+better+jane+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3N5cWCnmeNSHYPAx2Hhz9mowBvJkpexW-aL6PQuDvgLDl0l-1vukt3tnQpjp78PsM7Wfu8uiBX1RdKpNg-AR8R545HvcrUknf3DE4UYnCmuE0AJgFH3m9H5KM-_srQAUcTJ2hzUPhO5ja/s640/changed+for+the+better+jane+post.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-84537387036945144492015-12-31T00:08:00.000-06:002016-04-22T00:09:18.669-05:00december in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love everything about December - the smells, the lights, the traditions, the people. I love watching the simple joy of my children as we spend time together as a family. I love the time I take to slow down and focus on my Savior and see the goodness in the world around me. There's a lot of hustle and bustle this time of year - places to be, gifts to buy, things to check off my to-do list. But my favorite moments are the quiet ones - sitting in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, watching the snow fall softly to the ground, singing a favorite carol. And I'm grateful for each of those moments and more this December. </span></div>
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<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-35390172887710335952015-12-01T00:03:00.000-06:002016-04-22T00:04:09.851-05:00november in an instant<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>“I believe that appreciation is a holy thing--</i></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>that when we look for what's best...</i></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>we're doing what God does all the time...</i></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>we're participating in something sacred.”</i></span></h1>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Mr. Rogers</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudF7g9agPF9igTK7Xvh2ErsJKTNFhkiqZ-TWvmUrvd0mN4XcWMLFaLhbiJ9EmpqFKjF1tzjAASL_cRaw-ByH_eZhQCtvYjQBbk7LvJFSoM40D7wC0P1PFO-mh49-7m_JzEzuvEY3sALDj/s1600/2015november+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudF7g9agPF9igTK7Xvh2ErsJKTNFhkiqZ-TWvmUrvd0mN4XcWMLFaLhbiJ9EmpqFKjF1tzjAASL_cRaw-ByH_eZhQCtvYjQBbk7LvJFSoM40D7wC0P1PFO-mh49-7m_JzEzuvEY3sALDj/s640/2015november+in+an+instant.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-64850981552872908472015-11-01T23:58:00.000-06:002016-04-22T00:11:01.545-05:00october in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">L.M. Montgomery said it best when she penned, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Incredible Team Leah Bean support, fall leaves, weekend trips to Minneapolis, birthdays, two cute girls in their Halloween costumes, and baby GIRLS...I really am glad I live in a world - <i>my </i>world - where there are Octobers. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIZu5Cc__d57r2rfY5Tu78U76KkoMWWxSiAl4TyRLP8rCCE0FjxvKGv6mGMOHx4q4F35740yiEBkMJ1skksvdhNOLMPE6MfzYz6g03HOXEuWn75SdbyhW69PJkdIsGT0sci9VN-rbxsOE/s1600/2015october+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIZu5Cc__d57r2rfY5Tu78U76KkoMWWxSiAl4TyRLP8rCCE0FjxvKGv6mGMOHx4q4F35740yiEBkMJ1skksvdhNOLMPE6MfzYz6g03HOXEuWn75SdbyhW69PJkdIsGT0sci9VN-rbxsOE/s640/2015october+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-4532006144121530702015-10-01T23:53:00.000-05:002016-04-21T23:54:11.117-05:00september in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We spent September recuperating from our August adventures. The girls settled into new school routines (2nd grade! Preschool!) and we added some extra curriculars. Ryan traveled for work. We geared up for our 2nd annual Team Leah Bean virtual 5k. And we traveled to the Big House to cheer on our Cougars (but apparently didn't cheer loud enough for them to score any points). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fall is in the air, we're back into our routines and it feels good. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgVp9Q0KbGg1aDHZcO0bt8KadXvr_rmXngyTavy-euxMWs-fDbj1A4gSO-6ySxJUIyhhExbRB6vJHAoACUGH3PHjMVysnFK_TRoGBrvuyQU0wcX447HDM4ecKPwQV2NfTkJm43w7rWLfE/s1600/2015september+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgVp9Q0KbGg1aDHZcO0bt8KadXvr_rmXngyTavy-euxMWs-fDbj1A4gSO-6ySxJUIyhhExbRB6vJHAoACUGH3PHjMVysnFK_TRoGBrvuyQU0wcX447HDM4ecKPwQV2NfTkJm43w7rWLfE/s640/2015september+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-71755008680375433932015-09-01T23:49:00.000-05:002016-04-21T23:50:22.217-05:00august in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">August flew by altogether too fast. We snorkeled in the ocean, we played with grandma, we took a day trip (read: 10 hours in the car) to Indianapolis, we started school!, we swam, we camped, we cleaned. Maren went on a girl's trip to Chicago. And our sweet little Leah was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a really good month spent with even better people. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIejk57ZPi3o_cdYlwtc4YBeRfMxTRXOQhgUvm8wGw4Q1w3zw2oAUtj2tXzX3t8GSXwzHCbmBBVDXxg2IpNupdspvaQpGEF2OCJmwl-ijQZdzWRa_OHsJUIYo_HqGgcnUS22xr6gApRhoX/s1600/2015august+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIejk57ZPi3o_cdYlwtc4YBeRfMxTRXOQhgUvm8wGw4Q1w3zw2oAUtj2tXzX3t8GSXwzHCbmBBVDXxg2IpNupdspvaQpGEF2OCJmwl-ijQZdzWRa_OHsJUIYo_HqGgcnUS22xr6gApRhoX/s640/2015august+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-35076160490941330632015-08-01T23:34:00.000-05:002016-04-20T23:35:54.116-05:00july in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You start out with Utah, throw in a little heat and humidity in Iowa and end with Cancun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">July was basically an Iowa sandwich with a really tasty bun on <i>both </i>ends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Throw in some swimming, star-studded golf, Nauvoo, neurology and GRANDMA and you've got a pretty great month. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-p3aiALLLiFPKU3Mzn7JXiGcxdqugK5lNWyBo9J4h6TxjvbmWA60pEYGEBt9bI171qioAvSzZabi7hz-2oRlvQ1UY9mIK3TF3SC8e2_ybs9yP3Ria-kt6Yb5xczFjFYggP71nzp3gT4y/s1600/2015july+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-p3aiALLLiFPKU3Mzn7JXiGcxdqugK5lNWyBo9J4h6TxjvbmWA60pEYGEBt9bI171qioAvSzZabi7hz-2oRlvQ1UY9mIK3TF3SC8e2_ybs9yP3Ria-kt6Yb5xczFjFYggP71nzp3gT4y/s640/2015july+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-10962361215456779542015-07-01T23:22:00.000-05:002016-04-20T23:23:48.329-05:00june in an instant<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Summatime, summatime, sum sum summatime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunshine, swimming, sweat, strawberries, seizures. <i>Almost </i>everything about summer is simply glorious. I do tremble with fear thinking about long days that lead into long weeks with me as the sole entertainment for my children. But, I do love it. And I REALLY love it on swim days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In June we spent three whole days driving so we could run for two days straight. Really, we did. Good thing we love so much about Utah and the people who live there (and the people who visit there the same time we do). And lucky for the Laytons, they all put up with us and our bathroom-flooding shenanigans (that's a story for another day). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U0omymcXbcdmvRpDdooV02ru-lvYkEwZxqn0-MgrfsDursAXrqSf8B4wKcedKzZAvtnkMy36PijRSqiXserHY9iy5NekGCXNohXr_r4MG17j6RAS_OQaON135qogtDFiyQ4zTAp_Ud-T/s1600/2015june+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U0omymcXbcdmvRpDdooV02ru-lvYkEwZxqn0-MgrfsDursAXrqSf8B4wKcedKzZAvtnkMy36PijRSqiXserHY9iy5NekGCXNohXr_r4MG17j6RAS_OQaON135qogtDFiyQ4zTAp_Ud-T/s640/2015june+in+an+instant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-52329319299229690242015-06-01T23:04:00.000-05:002016-04-20T23:05:07.078-05:00may in an instant<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Twelve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tucson. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tulips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tornadoes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Three. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May had a little bit of everything. Most of it good. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pA5boodZONGg27jN4qcmjz7euk-cq4_sUwNNvuaKbu7bIOB-I_0Mh_pGVxOM2aXLXdDTyK-cSh0gAxuIDJ9OCHDhPw-HEM4NyhMMj750xtSrvWhONKspH6_fmHEV7FbYdPdCOAeJbUEH/s1600/2015may+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pA5boodZONGg27jN4qcmjz7euk-cq4_sUwNNvuaKbu7bIOB-I_0Mh_pGVxOM2aXLXdDTyK-cSh0gAxuIDJ9OCHDhPw-HEM4NyhMMj750xtSrvWhONKspH6_fmHEV7FbYdPdCOAeJbUEH/s640/2015may+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-74158903569780555612015-05-01T22:53:00.000-05:002016-04-20T22:54:05.394-05:00april in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Growing up, I was never one to appreciate the spring. I couldn't understand why some people chose it as their favorite season. After living through another Winter That Shall Not Be Named, I completely understand. Spring, and April in particular brings new life. Hope. Rebirth. Joy. Warmth. We celebrated the birth of our Savior. We enjoyed time with friends...outside! And we marveled at the beauty...and warmth...of God's creations in spring. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VMA1ZLr1DUAcGaD21tJJWVVfcKe3GNSEMnvbNU0ke0oCUpq74Sxbcgeet3aWaJEFG8QfsyM6urkAxaL6O0KUN2ubPUKoRtsO5Cnk58-J3uhdF-QkTHNIHg99q8cnjVNsq0O2m8jCQdg4/s1600/2015april+in+an+instant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VMA1ZLr1DUAcGaD21tJJWVVfcKe3GNSEMnvbNU0ke0oCUpq74Sxbcgeet3aWaJEFG8QfsyM6urkAxaL6O0KUN2ubPUKoRtsO5Cnk58-J3uhdF-QkTHNIHg99q8cnjVNsq0O2m8jCQdg4/s640/2015april+in+an+instant.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-67066834078778633922015-04-27T23:15:00.000-05:002015-05-05T22:13:57.598-05:00a lesson for them and a reminder for me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZHqmZa2PVJ5AcQeaqKJ-bOL3ltM9kMuI1jFABRmXfkKpf-zo5_O6sqvAh_ZM0oyoN5o3NxeGvim7UzikKr1HjxPUWgFZzhVO9VqpUQCMowuUcIoFY9OkO6zMuci695ndR_6bprbQRH0F/s1600/leah+sunday+introduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZHqmZa2PVJ5AcQeaqKJ-bOL3ltM9kMuI1jFABRmXfkKpf-zo5_O6sqvAh_ZM0oyoN5o3NxeGvim7UzikKr1HjxPUWgFZzhVO9VqpUQCMowuUcIoFY9OkO6zMuci695ndR_6bprbQRH0F/s1600/leah+sunday+introduction.jpg" height="504" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, the boundaries of our local church congregation (ward) were changed. Our former ward ended up being split three ways and our current ward boundaries now include families from both Illinois and Iowa. We longer meet with many of the close friends we have made the past nearly two years and our congregation as a whole is much smaller. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Change can be hard, and it takes time to adjust, but I honestly was more worried for my girls than I was for myself. Kate went from having 17 friends in her nursery class to 4 boys younger than her and (luckily) one girl just her age. For Leah in particular, change is tricky. Though she seems to adjust well, there are a lot of logistics that need to be considered. New faces are most likely not familiar with her hyperventilating or breath holding. A seizure mid-service might make some individuals uncomfortable or scared. New kids in her own Sunday School class might not know how to interact with or include her. A whack in the face from her uncontrollable hands can be quite startling, not to mention painful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday, her new Sunday School teacher (who already knew Leah quite well), asked me to come in and talk with Leah's class about Leah and Rett syndrome. I planned to do it with Leah by my side, but her seizures had a different plan, so she was sleeping next to her dad (don't worry, he wasn't sleeping) on the couch in the foyer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I entered the room solo to teach about 10 seven, eight and nine year olds all about little Leah. It ended up being not only a lesson for them, but a reminder for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I asked for two volunteers (all ten jumped out of their seats). When I picked two, we'll call them Billy and Sarah, I asked them to come to the front of the room. Billy was to think of something he did this past weekend that Sarah didn't know about. Billy thought for a moment and then mentioned he was ready. I then asked Billy to tell Sarah all about what he did BUT he couldn't use his hands and he couldn't speak at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The look on his face was priceless. But, he thought for a moment and then began. Only he started to use his hands, so I had to tell him that wasn't allowed. He thought again and then started making motions with his body. Moving his body back and forth, trying to move his face, even making a few grunting noises. Eventually he began to nod his head up and down, back and forth. Sarah's face was drawing a blank and Billy was getting kind of frustrated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After about a minute, I asked Sarah to tell me what Billy did this weekend. As you might guess, Sarah was stumped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then explained that Billy just must not have been thinking of anything at all. Otherwise he would have been able to tell Sarah all about it. Billy quickly interjected - he WAS thinking about something. It was just impossible to do it without his voice and hands! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, we asked Billy to tell us what he did - with his voice. He explained that he watched a Harry Potter movie with his sister. His head bobbing was his attempt to spell out the name of the movie with his head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We then had a great discussion about how Leah has thoughts just like they do. She has questions and comments. She has answers to the teacher's questions. She has funny things to say and comments about her weekend. But she has a body that doesn't allow her to communicate those thoughts very easily, if at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We then spent a minute talking about how Leah CAN speak with her eyes, as well as other ways she can participate and be included in class. We talked about her breathing, her hand movements, her seizures. We even talked about her broken finger at length - way to make me feel like super mom all over again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My heart swelled as these kids asked question after question about Rett syndrome and had ideas about how they could talk with her. And I noticed for the rest of the day how friendly they were to her. Not in a condescending way, but in an "Hey! I really like you!" kind of way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Knowledge is power, my friends. And knowledge in the hands and minds of these kids as they learn to navigate this world alongside peers who are different from them is <i>extremely </i>powerful. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And reminding a mom of that knowledge is an important and humbling thing too. Especially when said mom has been struggling to be patient lately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Change can be hard and it does often take time to adjust. I'm grateful for a group of eight year olds for helping me to speed up that adjustment time and embrace the change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Picture of Leah after church on a Sunday stroll. Church dress, sagging socks, tennis shoes, slept-on ponytail hair, sunglasses and spilled-on spring jacket. The girl can pull off any look, don't you think? </span></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-29748583248032379982015-04-01T22:24:00.000-05:002016-04-20T22:29:31.851-05:00march in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">March was a month of traveling - Ryan traveled, I traveled, we all traveled. I traveled south to warmth, he traveled waaaaaay south to even more warmth, and we all traveled north to...not warmth. But if an inability to decide whether its hot or cold doesn't define March in Iowa, I'm not sure what does. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-34517255436404261072015-03-22T14:33:00.000-05:002016-04-29T15:24:23.654-05:00spring break in mis-wok-ee<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn't until about two weeks before spring break that I realized Leah had a neurology appointment in Chicago smack in the middle of our free time during the break. With me getting home from Salt Lake on Tuesday, we only had the end of the week to play...and her appointment was on Friday afternoon. These aren't just appointments you can reschedule - unless you're okay waiting six months. And we're not. I was a little bummed seeing as we wanted to go somewhere new (Chicago is lots of fun, but we've done it a few times and wanted to explore!). Ryan suggested Milwaukee and I wasn't over the moon about it, but figured it was better than nothing. Just a short drive north of Chicago, it was the best option for the amount of time we had given her appointment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived a little later than we would have liked, but still took some time to explore the area near our hotel. We ran into the Fonz and Leah loved the elevators they had for her stroller on the river walk. Kate apparently had a rough day and relaxed by drinking a late night glass of water from a wine glass. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next day we explored Discovery World - an innovation, science and technology museum with hands-on exhibits. It had a music factory, an aquarium, an enormous exhibit of the Great Lakes and surrounding regions, a Les Paul exhibit and so much more. We spent hours exploring inside and out with a great, windy view of Lake Michigan...where we got a perfect family photo. (And, thanks to the reciprocal pass from our local museum, it was FREE!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That night, we walked over to the Milwaukee Public Market to eat. It was a hoppin' (read: crowded, notably so with a large special needs stroller) place to be on a Saturday night, but lots of fun. We ate some great food and bought some local popcorn to take home. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We spent the night in watching a movie as a family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next morning, we decided to hit up the Harley Davidson Museum on the way out of town. It was incredible! SO many Harleys from the first one produced in 1903 to current day. I loved the Harleys through history - especially the wartime effort, the wall of engine covers and, of course, all of the posters and ads. i can only dream of designing that well. We learned all about engines and tires and so much more. And we learned Kate was born to be wild. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a fun, quick weekend getaway with our girls to (ask Kate calls it) Miswaukee. It's fun to explore new places and learn new things!</span></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-47036880156904575492015-03-01T22:34:00.003-06:002015-03-01T22:34:45.405-06:00february in an instant<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">February brings a chill to my bone, literally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Iowa sure knows how to do winter. With a high of 42 for the month (not accounting for wind chill - I can <i>assure </i>you it felt like 42 exactly one day of the entire month and we spent it playing outside) and a low of -19 (still not accounting for wind chill - I can also assure you it felt much colder than -19 at many points during the month), and 15+ inches of snow (I know, we've got nothing on Boston in that department, but the WIND, I tell ya), it was miserable, on most days, to go outside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My front entryway was a snowy, salty mess of coats, boots, hats, mittens and scarves. There were tissues scattered throughout the house every single day. And Ryan happened to be out of town (in very warm places) during each major snow storm. With the exception of one fabulous friend on a particularly snowy Sunday morning, I single-handedly kept our driveway and walks shoveled (and burned a lot of calories doing it!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Luckily </i>our time inside was well spent celebrating birthdays, valentining, reading good books, exercising, snuggling up to movies and eating yummy food to keep us sane. And we had one picture-perfect snow day that we spent sledding in our backyard with friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some good times were had, but I'm ready to put this chilly February in the books. </span></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-53004857894141160812015-02-28T19:15:00.000-06:002015-02-28T19:15:28.452-06:00On being selfish...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About a month ago, my husband asked me, “So, do you still
blog?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was an innocent question. At the time, my last post was
three months prior. Lots had happened in the three months since I had written
anything down on my beloved blog. Lots that I would, normally, post about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Yes,” I answered him. “I just needed a break.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He didn’t probe any further, my answer was sufficient for
him. But I continued to think about it. And the <i>why</i> behind my simple answer. I love to write. I love to record my family’s
history. I love to sort out my thoughts and emotions not by speaking, but by
using those 26 familiar letters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it was true, I did need a break. More than that, I
needed to be selfish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last October I was not in a good place. I was tired. And
grumpy. And sad. And overwhelmed. And feeling inadequate. And lonely. And <i>just not enough</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can’t pinpoint one single reason, but I could give you a
list of one thing after another that slowly but surely began to bring me down. One
negative thought led to another, and again to another, and another. Things that
shouldn’t normally matter weighed upon my shoulders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wasn’t as good as this person. I wasn’t as capable as that
person. I wasn’t as patient as her. I wasn’t as knowledgeable as him. I wasn’t
as fit as I used to be. And I just wasn’t feeling like ME. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I took a step back and made a decision to be selfish. To
focus on myself. To not wallow in my own misery, whether it was real or imaginary.
To live by the words of Gordon B. Hinckley, when he said, </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>“</b></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for
yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you</b> </i>[and I would
add <i>or that you may say about yourself</i>]<i>.
<b>Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life
with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong
purpose in your heart.</b></i></span><i><b>”</b></i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had plenty going for
me. I have a handsome, loving, hard working husband. I have two beautiful,
strong, courageous daughters. I live in a safe, friendly (albeit cold)
community. My daughter goes to a wonderful school where she gets great support.
I have a warm house. A working car. If I budget correctly, I have plenty of
money each month for the things I need. And despite my destructive thoughts, I </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">was</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> a good, capable, patient,
knowledgeable, fit person. But I just felt like I was drifting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I let go of some
extra things in my life. Some permanently (hopefully). Others just for a time.
And I focused on me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I continued to write,
but just for me. With my little pen (PaperMate Flair, medium tip, if you were
wondering). In my little notebook. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I joined a fitness
challenge where, over the course of 8 weeks, I lost more than 15 pounds (most
of which I had gained during my poor-me phase) and gained a lot of strength and
confidence. I came in thirteenth place out of 126. (I have to mention that
the top 12 got a monetary prize, so I kind of felt like I came in fourth in the Olympics, but that’s a story for another day.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I worked on a few
other personal goals. I checked in on myself daily and weekly. And sometimes
hourly. And I improved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I steadily climbed out
of my pit. And hopefully I carried out others I had pulled down with me a few
months before. The climb wasn’t easy. Sometimes it hurt. And even though I feel
like I’m out of that particular pit, I’m sure there are rocky paths and mud
pits and debris on the path ahead. But taking the time to refocus and take care
of <i>myself</i> was just what I needed to
give me the strength and confidence to continue to carry myself and my two
littles up and over and around the mess. And to see the beautiful scenery on
the way, which was something I was completely missing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the end, being
selfish actually helped me to be more aware and more in tune and more selfless
for those I <i>need</i> to focus on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So yes, I still blog. I
took a break. To be selfish. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now, I’m back. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*I will be filling in some of the gaps from the last few months, simply for my own benefit (hmmm...selfish) and they will be postdated. </span></span></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-52730601503839750112015-02-24T22:07:00.000-06:002016-07-12T22:08:43.187-05:00To remember...<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nothing extraordinary here. Just a moment I want to remember. She might be reading Little Miss Naughty (and that might be a book she can relate to well at times), but I always want to remember her still chubby cheeks and fingers, her tiny little toes, her stick-straight hair, how much she loves her red blanket and ugly pink bear. Some days can crawl by and she knows how to push my buttons, but she brings light and joy and life to my days and I'm ever so grateful for her. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Especially during naptime. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzK579uw4u-JSVa4wksGCSzNN9oFV3MKNUTk6HcikP9Tcb1OSsyQTfod6kao9LkAm4wTjsKMqgO5a2hxdP2vxn67JbsrEDlHWWuA26Tn48go5skU8MrpjbN_gsivQGevKWbUClf7PRcV/s1600/feb2015+to+remember+kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzK579uw4u-JSVa4wksGCSzNN9oFV3MKNUTk6HcikP9Tcb1OSsyQTfod6kao9LkAm4wTjsKMqgO5a2hxdP2vxn67JbsrEDlHWWuA26Tn48go5skU8MrpjbN_gsivQGevKWbUClf7PRcV/s640/feb2015+to+remember+kate.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-21153938020557543092015-02-22T22:00:00.000-06:002016-07-12T22:00:35.108-05:00Eight is Great<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH061mGSBSuuQ-RUhhi2RCQGXnYlS3YzJIg2fG28LTN2FQE6g2ZMW9zEZUO-4mtBOjPA1S2uXZ_rdlKaDO__Vjltrw9N5xbMg79oEyI1p2ez9aiy8e6p9nIvhNXAshe229vD7TKoFHBmnz/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH061mGSBSuuQ-RUhhi2RCQGXnYlS3YzJIg2fG28LTN2FQE6g2ZMW9zEZUO-4mtBOjPA1S2uXZ_rdlKaDO__Vjltrw9N5xbMg79oEyI1p2ez9aiy8e6p9nIvhNXAshe229vD7TKoFHBmnz/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great01.jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eight years ago, this little one surprised us with her arrival a few weeks early. In the eight years since, she has continued to surprise us...and teach us...and humble us...and stretch us...and make our whole world simultaneously crumble to pieces and burst with joy. She is happiness and strength and courage and perseverance and love personified. Happiest of eighth birthdays to our little Leah-licious. </span></h1>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate and I surprised her for lunch at school on Friday. We brought Wendy's (including TWO hamburgers for Leah, which she devoured in no time). </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWzZCNe3miLSfOXr3W6QOMDjSnqa_1NH-1CxULpNPWYjH_axzJrSCWc2br3rRPlN6M58xQ5FWh3nsyIb90QJ16YcCI0eg-6J3seb7Gnn0hkYO8uJOYhQbVEj2S_bz9rAl2gsxF9_Hysq7/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWzZCNe3miLSfOXr3W6QOMDjSnqa_1NH-1CxULpNPWYjH_axzJrSCWc2br3rRPlN6M58xQ5FWh3nsyIb90QJ16YcCI0eg-6J3seb7Gnn0hkYO8uJOYhQbVEj2S_bz9rAl2gsxF9_Hysq7/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great02.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She was spoiled with presents, but I think her favorites were her horse socks and the card from the Oakes family with 8 things they love about her. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7QUhVr1PBCPlfDZQEXaa8Uy6kWIhBnpII4fhNYWIoa5thv5AIhSbHA4IHlYQj94IK3EdFnCYcx45KBARbHR1R3tFQq2ddb4kONpTpc7Mi_G-rIZ0Tq1JMcP1fLshlJ-3CxhuoVlWq7kD/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7QUhVr1PBCPlfDZQEXaa8Uy6kWIhBnpII4fhNYWIoa5thv5AIhSbHA4IHlYQj94IK3EdFnCYcx45KBARbHR1R3tFQq2ddb4kONpTpc7Mi_G-rIZ0Tq1JMcP1fLshlJ-3CxhuoVlWq7kD/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great03.jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She loved her 8 cake - and blew out the candles all on her own. There are positives to her heavy breathing, I guess!?! We celebrated with cake and ice cream with our Iowa favorite - the Oakes family!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUoGoNkEn1d1VN6A0fbUR8VcOX9WBJX1P8D2s4vEQyRr13LtBUf3jdkaqJL03KOE8gQKg7uiF4OHDnioD6ceR74l41LUp7fbbmxqkjoCIMRVlanhMArCAVX0CdTcvuVSJFWcOGrTrmnSP/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUoGoNkEn1d1VN6A0fbUR8VcOX9WBJX1P8D2s4vEQyRr13LtBUf3jdkaqJL03KOE8gQKg7uiF4OHDnioD6ceR74l41LUp7fbbmxqkjoCIMRVlanhMArCAVX0CdTcvuVSJFWcOGrTrmnSP/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great04.jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoZ_TkGp3ulEKZHpHrpGMaAT4CPLRqqtFtt7vAGt8VsssQByBnEocxxwBCj9RYk6RCZBf0YvssoLsVD9tBiIbcNTzyVZtlSl8IbIMqYBKpJnxEQN14hj8_kP-_I6BK8XOzlxWJ-FNAvas/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoZ_TkGp3ulEKZHpHrpGMaAT4CPLRqqtFtt7vAGt8VsssQByBnEocxxwBCj9RYk6RCZBf0YvssoLsVD9tBiIbcNTzyVZtlSl8IbIMqYBKpJnxEQN14hj8_kP-_I6BK8XOzlxWJ-FNAvas/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great05.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And one of my favorite things is on their birthdays, kids at Leah's school can pick a book to donate to the school library. Then, once it's all barcoded and in the system, the birthday girl or boy gets to be the very first person to check it out and they get their name in the front. Leah's was a perfect fit and it made us all so happy to read it! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaZ3p0y927hcXD9GoIzalaplxfzngjPHUoy90Cvh2-MG_CCAAzvA_Os_61IHaZyeRGo9UtvdFhYBlEPDZlRxp-KStyZF-5enYeoPqTRz_b3OED98EKYGjDw0gas1Uo46SEkA-AnYG-qur/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaZ3p0y927hcXD9GoIzalaplxfzngjPHUoy90Cvh2-MG_CCAAzvA_Os_61IHaZyeRGo9UtvdFhYBlEPDZlRxp-KStyZF-5enYeoPqTRz_b3OED98EKYGjDw0gas1Uo46SEkA-AnYG-qur/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great06.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyURh_QbNFqKE2sJnPev7ulaltjpJsE2c98ToBtWK1O4lsIe8T0B4CQHDNGsCJc7mZON24wMEYWcDz5Ufh8bv1_d7iDmkD0LwmyZpi4UDiN5DQqQhP7KnG76_7zV8l7LaZyV7d6YMinJgp/s1600/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyURh_QbNFqKE2sJnPev7ulaltjpJsE2c98ToBtWK1O4lsIe8T0B4CQHDNGsCJc7mZON24wMEYWcDz5Ufh8bv1_d7iDmkD0LwmyZpi4UDiN5DQqQhP7KnG76_7zV8l7LaZyV7d6YMinJgp/s640/feb2015+leah+eight+is+great07.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-47841274106201598122015-02-21T21:44:00.000-06:002016-07-12T21:45:34.670-05:00Pajama Party<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eight good friends filled our house today to celebrate our sweet eight year old. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They wore their pajamas, made cereal necklaces, decorated pillow cases, tied simple fleece blankets, opened presents, played Pin the PJs on Leah, ate pancakes and donuts (little sister wasn't allowed at the big table) and doted upon Leah like you would not believe. These are good girls with good hearts and they're good for my heart. I'm so glad they could all come and celebrate our eight year old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Based on her giant grin we couldn't wipe off if we tried, I think the birthday girl had a great time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I need a nap! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_SBIWuOWvEvGjcrThvgytNEnf9Nkvw8wFA9HMQkbHvlEuG5y3fDKWRQmXmipaaZfckHR5-OvpBcn9axp7NQDChPBlhjsHDUS0rKqgspkcFFxppMn5TaxFbA14yXWDuVYeqLy2qnCKhd/s1600/feb2015+leah+pj+party01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_SBIWuOWvEvGjcrThvgytNEnf9Nkvw8wFA9HMQkbHvlEuG5y3fDKWRQmXmipaaZfckHR5-OvpBcn9axp7NQDChPBlhjsHDUS0rKqgspkcFFxppMn5TaxFbA14yXWDuVYeqLy2qnCKhd/s640/feb2015+leah+pj+party01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-64028613600803777222015-02-20T21:19:00.000-06:002016-07-12T21:20:22.063-05:00These are a few of my favorite things<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I co-hosted a seriously fun favorite things party with my good friend Jill tonight. It was so much fun! So many wonderful ladies + their favorite things + a rousing (and a little heated) exchange/stealing process = tons of fun. And hopefully no hurt feelings! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I, of course, wrapped my gifts in brown paper packages tied up with strings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can't wait to do it again!</span><br />
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-90879511587653344472015-02-15T20:33:00.000-06:002016-07-12T20:34:10.414-05:00Virthday? Balentine's day?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Valentine's Day is a big day in our house. And not because it's the day of love. But because it's dad's day! Ryan is the valentine of all three girls in our house AND it happens to be his birthday! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We did do some different things to celebrate both of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We frosted cookies (Leah obviously used her computer to tell us what color frosting and sprinkles should go on the <a href="http://thismareeatsoats.blogspot.com/2011/06/sugar-cookie-extravaganza-44.html">used-to-be-monthly</a>-but-recently-annual sugar cookies). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The girls checked their envelopes for a daily surprise leading up to Valentine's Day. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQ0e5HNDLaQ0XG7StT_sndrmVQx3hwgfewdeohRQUjNEklgg7Heu9v9sjAjexVtR-Iq_zd491thrBZJnW3wRZEM6RcFz3j3oRK_o10PxP0gUsgCSM2vss2Y86MueQAk5O5excampl6vUj/s1600/2015feb+virthday02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQ0e5HNDLaQ0XG7StT_sndrmVQx3hwgfewdeohRQUjNEklgg7Heu9v9sjAjexVtR-Iq_zd491thrBZJnW3wRZEM6RcFz3j3oRK_o10PxP0gUsgCSM2vss2Y86MueQAk5O5excampl6vUj/s640/2015feb+virthday02.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had fun creating our own valentines to give to friends at home and church as well as classmates and teachers/helpers at school. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnQSdFU6Uxyensow2EkmOTYNizEqtOAuO-mv4mfIB0zCNf8JhsU7Zy4581B8K6efVIxkc9jK8gE_8K_tD5zFsXL173Gn0__83qUKtb0TFeck6o-EhgmoKVQqeXP4loB587o8rMGBywFDt/s1600/2015feb+virthday03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnQSdFU6Uxyensow2EkmOTYNizEqtOAuO-mv4mfIB0zCNf8JhsU7Zy4581B8K6efVIxkc9jK8gE_8K_tD5zFsXL173Gn0__83qUKtb0TFeck6o-EhgmoKVQqeXP4loB587o8rMGBywFDt/s640/2015feb+virthday03.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This dynamic duo teamed up to create a seriously fabulous valentine box - a monster Leah! Leah was the brains, Ryan the brawn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The girls I work with at church gave a "heart attack" to Bishop Moose, the ecclesiastical leader of our congregation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leah had a class party - that Kate was more than happy to attend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For Ryan's birthday, we started the day out with my first-ever attempt at eggs Benedict. It was deliciously successful, albeit time consuming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We gifted Ryan with a few small items - Kate was happy to open them all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The girls also gifted him with naps: the best gift of all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We made him his favorite pink cake...and then helped him eat it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> And then Ryan and I went out for a hot night on the town - to Village Inn - because when you only have a babysitter for 3 hours and the waits at every restaurant are 3+, you keep it classy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy 34th birthday and happy Valentine's day to our main squeeze!</span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-67912147540975778492015-02-10T15:12:00.000-06:002016-07-11T15:12:44.872-05:00Wonderfully Wintry W day<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's preschool lesson was brought to you by the letter W and the number 12. We learned about Winter, working out, ate watermelon, drank water and so much more. And, because Valentine's Day is coming up, they also got to decorate a little bag and exchange cards and treats with one another. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a fun-filled, busy, quick day of learning. I always have so much fun with these kids! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-41404280169149120772015-02-07T23:50:00.000-06:002016-07-11T14:51:33.694-05:00Frozen and some fabulous friends<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Leah went to a fabulous Frozen birthday party today. I'll be honest: sometimes I actually </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><i>dread</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> the fact that Leah gets invited to birthday parties. I know. Horrible. But it is often such a glaring reminder of all that she can't be. All that she could be if it weren't for Rett. It's extra work for me and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want me hanging at her side at every party and get-together she goes to. It's hard to watch the other parents drive up, drop their kids off and drive away with a few hours to themselves. But, such is life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Today, though, was a different story. Leah has such an incredible group of friends. They include her. They help her. They adapt to her needs. They play with her. They talk with her, not at her. Watching these seven year olds adapt to her needs and joyfully include her in every game and craft makes this mom's heart swell. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Don't mind me. I'll just let these girls take over, step back and snap a picture to remember this moment forever. </span></div>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141031502595666446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908642181059119409.post-43165523601515051702015-02-07T22:38:00.000-06:002016-07-11T14:39:19.099-05:00a perfect snow day<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was a perfect snow day. And I dare say we've earned it this year! </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of snow dumping down this week + warm temps today (I took my coat off!) + a killer hill right in our backyard + great friends = a perfect combination for a great snow day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So much fun hiking up and racing down, building snow chairs and men and just enjoying time outside without getting frostbite. Thanks for coming, Oakeses! I'll take another day like this, please, Iowa. </span></div>
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