tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025739224292711182024-03-28T02:13:42.248-07:00hazel and companyErin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-42417235769208494652014-09-02T08:58:00.000-07:002014-09-02T08:59:10.215-07:00Art Club: Salt dough and Sharpie Doodle Shirts<div>
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For our second Art Club we started with making sharpie dyed shirts. This is such a super fun technique! And so great for kids (and adults!) of all ages.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a practice/example shirt I made.</td></tr>
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Seriously, I could sit around doodling on shirts or my socks or pillowcases or...well, just about anything....all day. Really. Give me a few snacks. Pop in a fun movie like My Big Fat Greek Wedding or, my latest favorite, Austenland. And hand over the sharpie. Yep. I'd be set for a doodling marathon.<br />
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You can check out my tutorial for <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2014/07/tie-dyed-fireworks-tee.html">this project here</a>. The only difference is that while some of the kids used cups, others drew free hand. I loved seeing what they came up with!<br />
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Next we got busy with salt dough. Oh! This stuff makes me feel a bit nostalgic. My mom made this for us all the time. In fact, I don't think she ever bought store bought play dough. But she was always mixing up a batch of this stuff for my friends and I. </div>
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Have I mentioned how awesome my mom is? Yep. She really is. </div>
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Salt Dough </div>
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1 cup flour<br />
1/2 cup salt<br />
1/2 water<br />
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Mix it all together. Voila! You've got salt dough. Tough stuff, right?<br />
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For Art Club I made a giant batch of this stuff. I think I used about 8 cups of flour, 4 cups of salt and 4 cups of water.<br />
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I got out a bunch of rubbers stamps, play dough tools, rolling pins, toothpicks and other random things we found around the the house and let the kids go wild with them. </div>
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I lined cookie sheets with wax paper and the kids put their projects on them to dry when they were finished. </div>
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We had a few minutes left at the end so first we played a few drawing games. <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2014/07/art-club.html">The blind drawing game</a> is definitely a favorite. </div>
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And then we broke out the pipe cleaners again.<br />
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This Art Club thing is so fun!</div>
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-50623449967978394602014-08-01T12:31:00.001-07:002014-08-01T12:32:00.062-07:00Invitation to Play: Straw Rocket Races<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Now this was fun. </div>
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I mean, of course rockets are fun. Duh. But I had no idea just how much fun the kids would have with this project. I mean, I think they would've made rockets all day if possible.</div>
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I set everything up for this Invitation to Play on the table and told the kids when they were done with their chores and stuff (they each have a list of things they need to do each day) then they could come make straw rockets. </div>
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Later, after their dad surprised them by coming home with his horse to give them and some friends rides in an empty field nearby, the kids got busy. </div>
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And their friends joined in on the fun!</div>
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Everyone made their rockets and then they lined up in our living room. I said "Ready, set....blow!" Sam was the first winner. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM0KYn1lsButhDda2l0y0wqor6BvzuYVz27g7H6Gf6ZzEo2aEC-IY9tWhd92BvAq2wLHpuWGCzP36oTVWCVfI61lI35vv4Hngp0cALN5DQDH7-wgQo2WhD3sVnYcwZ4Xp-5FjSC6gW20/s640/blogger-image-224570248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM0KYn1lsButhDda2l0y0wqor6BvzuYVz27g7H6Gf6ZzEo2aEC-IY9tWhd92BvAq2wLHpuWGCzP36oTVWCVfI61lI35vv4Hngp0cALN5DQDH7-wgQo2WhD3sVnYcwZ4Xp-5FjSC6gW20/s640/blogger-image-224570248.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then they all scurried off to make improvements to their rockets or make new ones. I gave them a certain amount of time to work and then we had another race. Over and over again. It was so great! </div>
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There was a lot of laughter. And cheering. And busy hands being creative. </div>
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<b>Straw Rockets</b></div>
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Straws</div>
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Crayons</div>
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Paper rectangles (wide enough to wrap around the straw and as long as you want) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUEg3leYpZU3AS6kfR0-UcGnTPkIPLa3RE22n_vr3AKGEEyRD4OoDuQ6en6Qlt_v37QlEXLCbV8EGeZKb27a3T1g-awQiY-K7jkYELnXwRY9fjpLmA6Dll5fZ_exp7d3d62XDXwiLivo/s1600/blogger-image-1123161054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUEg3leYpZU3AS6kfR0-UcGnTPkIPLa3RE22n_vr3AKGEEyRD4OoDuQ6en6Qlt_v37QlEXLCbV8EGeZKb27a3T1g-awQiY-K7jkYELnXwRY9fjpLmA6Dll5fZ_exp7d3d62XDXwiLivo/s640/blogger-image-1123161054.jpg" /></a></div>
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Color the paper rectangles. Form into a tube. Tape together. Fold down the top and tape. Slip your straw rocket onto your straw and blow! </div>
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Try experimenting. The kids cut slits in the bottom of their rockets. They tried using two straws. They attached a small paper airplane to a tube. See what you can come up with! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTGSeBfZwsLVEe5fiKJ3VYN0wTkVQKjyWiGS5zDBgygFg8dGDi4-DiYEtHTtmDcsrWc6HoiXm7phbdX60N5Fvf62VreMamNulX-rUeBaIws5b3VgthHys2QPu2tD5TBE4SMb_XlkoZUo/s640/blogger-image-570551846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTGSeBfZwsLVEe5fiKJ3VYN0wTkVQKjyWiGS5zDBgygFg8dGDi4-DiYEtHTtmDcsrWc6HoiXm7phbdX60N5Fvf62VreMamNulX-rUeBaIws5b3VgthHys2QPu2tD5TBE4SMb_XlkoZUo/s640/blogger-image-570551846.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam is a little red in the face since he was chopping weeds<br />
right before the big races.</td></tr>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-52813425087575442842014-07-25T14:08:00.003-07:002014-07-25T14:11:45.856-07:00Tie Dyed Fireworks Tee<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L4K5LpGIunl9ZlKvDe8of5Iv0tbI5VLh7Rqic6UHGCZfk7sIFuLIfV9s9zKaJGWoph_wSNyI-BlLFuX_h7pykHg-xCkpbVaH1dK00CMnga9RCY7pXZ5Yb7ciZASgT1ZxUsczayvSZBU/s640/blogger-image-1848800050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L4K5LpGIunl9ZlKvDe8of5Iv0tbI5VLh7Rqic6UHGCZfk7sIFuLIfV9s9zKaJGWoph_wSNyI-BlLFuX_h7pykHg-xCkpbVaH1dK00CMnga9RCY7pXZ5Yb7ciZASgT1ZxUsczayvSZBU/s640/blogger-image-1848800050.jpg" /></a></div>
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So. </div>
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We don't often go out in public in matching shirts. For that matter, we don't usually do it at home either. </div>
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BUT when an arts project results in awesome shirts like this...then, yes. We're going to strut around town in them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeTxOpzxxGu6LuVqPqJL2r9FjO1eSye49Q8GWLFqb1yeOyQVI63PkUoJ12WQHY3lMcda0lqV95iUonr1PAqB6PYvN7-KWxjgggI4T6vJju3TkIA8VjGxYKqvICQ405Ve_1tmHZHJZZ-Y/s640/blogger-image--1449612823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeTxOpzxxGu6LuVqPqJL2r9FjO1eSye49Q8GWLFqb1yeOyQVI63PkUoJ12WQHY3lMcda0lqV95iUonr1PAqB6PYvN7-KWxjgggI4T6vJju3TkIA8VjGxYKqvICQ405Ve_1tmHZHJZZ-Y/s640/blogger-image--1449612823.jpg" /></a></div>
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Please ignore my we-are-going-to-be-late-and-lose-our-good-spot-mom hair. With a pen sticking out of my ponytail, too. *sigh* It's a miracle my family allows me to be seen in public with them.</div>
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Anyway, yesterday was Pioneer Day! And if you live anywhere other than Utah...you probably don't have a clue what I'm talking about. </div>
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It's a lovely day full of bonnets, wagons, throwing candy and remembering the hard work and sacrifice of the Mormon pioneers who made the long trek to settle in Utah. Yep. Because nothing says, "Thank you, pioneers!" quite like chucking candy at small children. </div>
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In celebration of this important holiday we made fireworks tees. We tried this technique at Art Club recently and I thought it would make a fun patriotic shirt, too. This idea came to me on July 4th when I was perusing their aisles and saw the t-shirts on sale. Too bad I didn't think of it, say, on the 2nd, eh? Oh well, there's always next year. </div>
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(If you want to skip past all the chatter to the instructions for making these awesome tie dyed fireworks shirts, go ahead. I won't judge.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxq6lzN6YjVKpvs-gzJVaJkt_1HOkWxWCR-BQ6uwXv28fZL3F_qPM-2FzySaJFGpe1Yjz7atEXHTYgni2DzGDruY0p3c3YLeosbv7m953MRaFcy5GhODFbForm5VeLUlSBdiwH_-spMc/s640/blogger-image-381686990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxq6lzN6YjVKpvs-gzJVaJkt_1HOkWxWCR-BQ6uwXv28fZL3F_qPM-2FzySaJFGpe1Yjz7atEXHTYgni2DzGDruY0p3c3YLeosbv7m953MRaFcy5GhODFbForm5VeLUlSBdiwH_-spMc/s640/blogger-image-381686990.jpg" /></a></div>
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One of our fun traditions for the fourth of July and Pioneer Day is to go a little bit early for the parade, grab our favorite seat and then eat a picnic breakfast together. This year it was bananas, yogurt, juice and powdered donuts. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoe73yYSwyhhFavnzRe30yr3dv3zsparOJwIljUeowDQ4XF1jnrikN3sQRWPJn8Ggu_QdIRl3J7fzJp1NnlUqYTlHAD4PpoRoAlGhXfwMPK6Zaj8qbL7HBGpsKCc6KocK-2ophdTS2As/s640/blogger-image--1086147368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoe73yYSwyhhFavnzRe30yr3dv3zsparOJwIljUeowDQ4XF1jnrikN3sQRWPJn8Ggu_QdIRl3J7fzJp1NnlUqYTlHAD4PpoRoAlGhXfwMPK6Zaj8qbL7HBGpsKCc6KocK-2ophdTS2As/s640/blogger-image--1086147368.jpg" /></a></div>
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I think Molly liked the powdered donuts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcUUrAPipVU-EP5ud3_LsSHs1fDjVUAViwf3YeE35NFNoR9LmLDFIDSxxVWRmlGgmQ0DrZAKPMrT692fvNCa8oHGvSORpR1FPh-ILd13mcBdsSwuEhh46mRGc-w10VSUO3Aj0l6ZtnXE/s640/blogger-image-447029736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcUUrAPipVU-EP5ud3_LsSHs1fDjVUAViwf3YeE35NFNoR9LmLDFIDSxxVWRmlGgmQ0DrZAKPMrT692fvNCa8oHGvSORpR1FPh-ILd13mcBdsSwuEhh46mRGc-w10VSUO3Aj0l6ZtnXE/s320/blogger-image-447029736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That picture is what happens when I let my teenager use my phone. Wow. Such a nice and flattering shot of me, son. Thanks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27y6i7-mIQ8nap8eaMmEgYFxcRgz6RKZ7aWt224Tmrkbr6xwJY6qgDtpkH7ckkt9Mr9sx923P-VBt9tHO6fuJuhGx4EolNO_XWZCjHrC6DSLZdpCWB4inLrZAsNo1wWtunFEtW06J6vI/s640/blogger-image-1240564651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27y6i7-mIQ8nap8eaMmEgYFxcRgz6RKZ7aWt224Tmrkbr6xwJY6qgDtpkH7ckkt9Mr9sx923P-VBt9tHO6fuJuhGx4EolNO_XWZCjHrC6DSLZdpCWB4inLrZAsNo1wWtunFEtW06J6vI/s640/blogger-image-1240564651.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love watching the sweet relationship between my oldest and my youngest. Imagine a world where every teenager had to help take care of a wee little sibling AND was also fiercely loved by that small creature. That would be amazing. </div>
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Ok. Onto the instructions....</div>
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<b>Tie Dyed Fireworks Tee</b></div>
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Supplies: </div>
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Cotton shirt</div>
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Red and blue sharpies</div>
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Rubbing alcohol</div>
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Rubber bands </div>
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Eye dropper or snot sucker (hmmm...I'm not sure what the real name is of those things) </div>
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Disposable cups or yogurt containers in various sizes</div>
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This is such an easy project. Take the cups and put them into the shirt, maybe about three at a time. Pull some of the fabric over the cup and then use a rubber band to hold it in place. </div>
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Now color the fabric circle with the sharpies. Try lines, squiggles, dots, hearts....anything you can dream up! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsgFbG1CKi-t3NjQVLsCWBmd_RLkFAzKTe9AY9VDhG8NynsVMsMjHG3zI6wXV5WSD8beGUE2kDJU2K1cw1b6fuvNmxTydkZVPo32XmDzv_aTx2D5hIBFwN4tul-Q5RYN0c4nCCvga6vA/s640/blogger-image--299733629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsgFbG1CKi-t3NjQVLsCWBmd_RLkFAzKTe9AY9VDhG8NynsVMsMjHG3zI6wXV5WSD8beGUE2kDJU2K1cw1b6fuvNmxTydkZVPo32XmDzv_aTx2D5hIBFwN4tul-Q5RYN0c4nCCvga6vA/s640/blogger-image--299733629.jpg" /></a></div>
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After you're done with a circle, drop rubbing alcohol on in the middle of it. Start with a little and go from there. The alcohol will probably spread farther than you think it will.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLZFxDKdcgxzYzSJdrE93CnKuGXlN2-qnHjedCjO7bpnIHzy8r9KbX_v0oJiAGCpibljEAnGq0P6pamKxym6W8V_-Z7jRw4pKM5Ot-2XB_sXHpl-sM0kSc2ruFeCjXoTQJ2smSBgAftI/s640/blogger-image-1910776164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLZFxDKdcgxzYzSJdrE93CnKuGXlN2-qnHjedCjO7bpnIHzy8r9KbX_v0oJiAGCpibljEAnGq0P6pamKxym6W8V_-Z7jRw4pKM5Ot-2XB_sXHpl-sM0kSc2ruFeCjXoTQJ2smSBgAftI/s640/blogger-image-1910776164.jpg" /></a></div>
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Let it dry, take cups out, move to a new spot and repeat until you have as many fireworks as you want. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEUg51_bR4sMP7pSP2A0x5XKArbm16rYoOVuCclEo7aZiWm4G26wzizvKHYqEktANPokScNrjJOvfbgoXiqpgtb4poTBkG-krJQLWgoddej4zAgJ1g0PTg_MW66brNtG55cmsW4UNuY0/s640/blogger-image-2003605099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEUg51_bR4sMP7pSP2A0x5XKArbm16rYoOVuCclEo7aZiWm4G26wzizvKHYqEktANPokScNrjJOvfbgoXiqpgtb4poTBkG-krJQLWgoddej4zAgJ1g0PTg_MW66brNtG55cmsW4UNuY0/s640/blogger-image-2003605099.jpg" /></a></div>
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We found that lines and dots end up looking like fireworks the most, once they've had alcohol put on them. But random scribbling is fun, too!</div>
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Now, to set the colors. We tried heat setting some different shirts we did and then washing them. But....sadly, some of the colors faded. So, I'm going to try ironing our fireworks shirts really good to see if that helps set the colors better. </div>
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Every now and then we even get my cute husband to do art projects with us....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlR2bLWOgpoeGIsqiVQ0FKSYS4ADIm2XA7ux4VWDAoKCswv4ifOAnA3jdFemXCsQSkdldvYDgim23LYPae3FqXhfMDAy6qZTYTttEKSzo8CZ0WG8P6IHiXX7OLyERppnCuhj2VCQ8Q7o/s640/blogger-image-1715003693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlR2bLWOgpoeGIsqiVQ0FKSYS4ADIm2XA7ux4VWDAoKCswv4ifOAnA3jdFemXCsQSkdldvYDgim23LYPae3FqXhfMDAy6qZTYTttEKSzo8CZ0WG8P6IHiXX7OLyERppnCuhj2VCQ8Q7o/s640/blogger-image-1715003693.jpg" /></a>Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-83993150003514713062014-07-23T19:24:00.001-07:002014-07-23T21:27:27.779-07:00Dying Patterned Fabric<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
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I am a huge fan of <a href="http://refashionista.net/">Refashionista's blog </a>and the crazy incredible things she does with a pair of scissors, a sewing machine and loads of Rit dye. I mean, seriously, that chickadee is amazing. </div>
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My favorite thing I've learned from her is....</div>
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You can dye patterned fabric!</div>
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Ok. The rest of the world is probably thinking, "Well, duh." But this was news to me. I mean, I'd just never thought about it. </div>
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So, when I stumbled across this fun skirt at a thrift store today for $5 (sorry, blurry pic)....</div>
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and it fit and I liked the styl and I can never have enough skirts, but I wasn't super keen on the print. So, I grabbed two bottles of denim blue Rit dye at Walmart...</div>
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headed home, popped it into a small load in my washing machine with hot water, threw in the dye and two cups of salt and...</div>
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Voila! I love it. (Although it's not this purple in real life!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oOHntG6mL0BPJiLjhGn4Dm1s4Itwy_xDHZ2UjmtlqDzvQxMxmnO2bU1ZohmWY5eKsvRzfTj09lZtWZ-4Bi1C2-c0L1Fntq44wrUU-DsLabQU6PQygOjTyT6Eor0P5m9DnrsRxA5Cdrg/s640/blogger-image--1863231759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oOHntG6mL0BPJiLjhGn4Dm1s4Itwy_xDHZ2UjmtlqDzvQxMxmnO2bU1ZohmWY5eKsvRzfTj09lZtWZ-4Bi1C2-c0L1Fntq44wrUU-DsLabQU6PQygOjTyT6Eor0P5m9DnrsRxA5Cdrg/s640/blogger-image--1863231759.jpg"></a></div><br></div>
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I can't wait to wear it. </div>
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<br>Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-73700520865268101082014-07-10T22:47:00.000-07:002014-07-11T00:05:33.213-07:00Art ClubI have been wanting I do more art with my kids for awhile.<br>
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So, I started an Art Club. </div>
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I was pinning and pinning and pinning all sorts of fun and artsy projects. I'd been collecting arts and crafts books for ages. And I'd done a fair amount of projects with my kids. </div>
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But every summer I planned to do more.</div>
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And then I didn't. </div>
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But art is soooo important! I want my kids to have the opportunity to create and dream and express new ideas, to work on something that doesn't have a right or wrong answer and to gain confidence in their creative choices. </div>
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An awesome friend of mine, Elaine, started <a href="http://www.elainevickers.com/blog/how-to-start-a-book-club-for-kids">a super fun book group</a> for kids last summer. I'm thrilled my kids get to be involved in it. And not only do they get exposed to new and interesting books and get to participate in fun book-related activities, it got me thinking...</div>
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What if I did something similar? But all about art? An Art Club? I could invite some of their friends. Then it would be on our calendar. I'd be commited. </div>
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And because I'm impulsive, I jumped right into it. I sent Facebook messages to the mommas of my kids' friends. Kids came. And we made art! </div>
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For our first meeting, I decided to start small. I wasn't totally sure how many kids were going to come. We began with some drawing games.</div><div><br></div><div>I love drawing games! <br>
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The first one we did, The Scribble Game, involved scribbling all over a piece of paper. And then they passed that paper to their neighbor. Next they looked for images in the scribbles. You know, like when you're staring at a textured wall or floor with random squiggles and suddenly you realize a face is staring back at you? Your brain has organized the mess into something? Right? (Or is that just me?) And when they found something, they outlined it with a sharpies.<br>
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The other drawing game we played, which produced a lot of giggles, was the Blind Art Game. Everyone closed their eyes and I described a scene...</div><div><br></div><div>Draw a house. Add the windows and the doors. Now draw a tree and a bird sitting in the branches....</div><div><br></div><div>I loved the moment when they opened their eyes and looked at what they'd created. Ha!<br>
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Next we made mosaics of our names using bright pieces of torn construction paper.<br>
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Next I gave each of the kids a paper divided into triangles (sorry! No picture of this one). And then I told them to fill in each of the triangles with drawings to represent the things about them that makes them special and unique. </div>
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When there was about twenty minutes left, I got out a big drawer full of pipe cleaners. We sat on the ground and made stuff. </div>
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I loved watching what the kids came up with! Crowns, hand cuffs (or ankle cuffs), people and unicorn horns. </div>
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Then one girl started making guns from Despicable Me. And they were off....fart guns, freeze rays....you name it, they can probably make it out of pipe cleaners. </div>
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I love, love, love how a group of kids (or adults, for that matter) feed off of each other's creativity. You never know what they'll come up with next. For instance...</div>
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Here's Sam as an undercover unicorn Greek god. Awesome. </div>
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-1459392014579356542014-02-27T08:23:00.000-08:002014-02-27T08:23:48.605-08:00doodley embroidery<br />
I love to embroider.<br />
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But I'm a total beginner. I've embroidered, like, 3 projects in probably 10 years. It's just not something I've made time for, but I love the look of it and I'd love to do more (loads and loads) of it.<br />
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A few years ago, on a whim, I bought this fun book...<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doodle-Stitching-Fresh-Embroidery-Beginners/dp/1600590616/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393515237&sr=8-1&keywords=doodle+stitching">Doodle Stitching. </a> And it is awesome. I love the fun projects. And I love Aimee Ray's approach to embroidery. Doodling. Brilliant. </div>
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And I love to doodle, as illustrated by my latest writing notebook. </div>
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So, months and months (and months) ago (before Rory was born), I took a jean jacket of Zoe's and got busy. I didn't plan anything. I just started doodling. With thread....</div>
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It was super fun! It's an excellent thing to do while watching a movie. And isn't this such a great way to upcycle a coat? Or imagine what you could do to jean pockets. (I'm kind of excited by the possibilities. Yep. I love embroidery.)</div>
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Next...that jacket got plopped in a plastic box and shoved into a corner. We had Rory, school started, I attempted to shower more than once a week (sometimes failing), winter came, Christmas chaos and then, finally, a few weeks ago I worked on it some more. </div>
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I'm happy as a lark about that butterfly. Oh, and I love how the words turned out there above the sun. You can't see them too well in the picture, but it says, "hello sunshine". </div>
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It's not done. I still want to add all sorts of things to it. I want it to be really colorful and fun. But Zoe wanted to wear it anyway. </div>
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She told me after the first day she wore it to school, that she went around showing everyone the back and saying, "My mom made it." </div>
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Cute girl. </div>
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Molly is anxiously awaiting for me to start hers. Luckily, I have a jean jacket all ready for it. She's requested a mermaid and a girl playing on the playground. Hmmmm. This will be interesting. </div>
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A friend asked me about this funny tradition of ours the other day. After telling her all about our present ball she decided to try it this year. And I thought it would be a great thing to blog about, just in case anyone else wants to give this nutty, chaos-inducing tradition a shot.<br />
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So, here's the general idea. We save all the wrapping paper from holidays and birthdays all year long, wrapping and wrapping it all around a present. And then on New Year's Day we make a game of it and tear it open.<br />
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Now for more of a detailed explanation. </div>
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On Christmas we save all the paper and ribbon. We stuff it in bags or boxes and then it gets shoved to a corner in the food storage room in the basement. Then I forget about it for awhile. But when I run downstaris for a can of corn or black beans I see the bags and remember. At some point I actually think to pick up prizes for the middle of our new ball. (Obviously this may not be the best way to go about doing this.)<br />
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Finally I take some time and get wrapping! And our new present ball is begun.<br />
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Then throughout the year I continue to add to it. After someone's opened all their birthday presents, we stuff the used paper into a bag. Sometimes I ask the kids to add the next layers. They quite like it!<br />
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Finally, on New Year's Day we play a crazy game.<br />
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You'll need:<br />
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Pair of dice<br />
Two cooking spoons or oven mitts<br />
A massive present ball<br />
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Gather your posse in a circle. The first person rolls the dice, hoping for doubles. If they don't get them then they pass the dice to the next person. The first person to get doubles gets to start opening the present ball. But, of course, if they used just their hands it would be waaaaaaay too easy. No, this needs to be a challenge. We've been saving that paper ALL YEAR! We're going to make this game take a bit more time.<br />
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So, they must either don oven mitts or use spoons (or maybe even both!) to unwrap the present. While they're going to town, tearing paper and throwing it willy nilly through the air, the rest of the eager participants continue to roll the dice, hoping for doubles and then passing them onto the next person.<br />
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Whoever gets the next doubles gets to take over the fun task of relieving the ball of its paper. This continues until, finally, someone manages to get to the middle. Then...Eureka! Whoever gets their first, wins the contents.<br />
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Now, a word about that center. It wouldn't be too much fun for all the participants if just one person won, right? So, we like to put some suprises in the center for everyone and then one fun thing for the winner. This last year I put punching balloons, chocolates (this would not normally be the case....but I didn't get the present ball wrapped until...THE DAY WE DID IT! Yes. That whole having-a-baby-thing put me a bit behind last year.) and a package of scented markers.<br />
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So, who won this last year? (well...it was New Year's Day....so, this year!)<br />
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It was Molly.<br />
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And there just might have been a bit of help from her cute brothers in that matter.<br />
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-30241300324251982532014-02-19T08:15:00.002-08:002014-02-19T08:15:45.211-08:00one of the happiest families on earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Holy Hannah! We were so excited to get to this place. We started planning this trip early on last year. I didn't want to buy the kids loads of things for Christmas, toys and more clothes and all the other stuff they don't really need. It all just ends up under their beds or pushed into closets anyways. I wanted to take that moula and put it towards a fun trip to Disneyland instead. I'd much rather have great memories than more things. Luckily, I got Ryan on board with the idea. And then it was easy peasy to convince the kiddos. </div>
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But we didn't want to go at Christmas time because it would be way tooooo busy. So, we went at the end of January instead. </div>
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And, boy, did we have fun!</div>
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Molly didn't remember our last trip, so this was like her first time! She was over-the-moon, bouncing-off-the-walls excited.</div>
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<br />First up, Space Mountain!!! Yes. We were slightly thrilled about this prospect. Oh my. This is our very favorite ride! Sadly, Molly was still too small for it. And since Ryan gets motion sickness, he held Rory (although we got him on it later on in the vacation and it didn't make him sick! Although...he didn't want to go on it again). </div>
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We must have jumped on the Haunted Mansion, at least, a thousand times. Seriously! I have no idea how many times we rode this. The kids love it. And it's one we could all go on, Rory included. Although I'm </div>
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not so sure how much he loved it. </div>
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Especially when we got stuck on it for about 15 minutes. Ack! We were right near a ghost jumping up from behind a grave, too. Molly just stared at it. It was totally freaking her out! I didn't want to go on that thing again. And I didn't think she'd ever want to, either. But she did! The very next day we were back on it again. </div>
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It was so great going at this time of year! We walked onto most of the rides. There were hardly any lines. It was awesome!</div>
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The kids got into a bit of pin trading. That was something new for us and totally fun. </div>
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Grizzley Rapids. Weston's favorite ride at California Adventure. He went on this with a lot...with his brothers, with everyone and even running off to go do it by himself a few times! </div>
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Molly wasn't tall enough though. So, we watched for them. And, of course, I took pictures of her....</div>
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I asked each of the girls what kind of princess dress they wanted me to make for them. Molly chose Ariel's pink dress. </div>
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This little girl was (mostly) so good and patient about the rides she couldn't go on. I think it helped that we prepared her for it. I showed her pictures of the rides she could ride and we talked about them. And I warned her there were some she couldn't do. </div>
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The Ladybug ride was the one she was most excited to try! And look at that face! Yes. She was definitely loving it.</div>
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Zoe asked me to make her Sleeping Beauty's dress. So, our girls were very very pink for one of the days. </div>
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Oh! I love this family of mine. I love that we were able to take this crazy fun trip together. And I love the memories we built.</div>
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We splurged and took the family to Ariel's Grotto for lunch one day. The girls loved meeting so many princesses at once. They chatted with each of them and got their autographs and pictures taken with them. It was great!</div>
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Although Rory wasn't too impressed with those sparkly-dressed ladies. </div>
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Maybe it's crazy to bring a baby along to Disneyland, but I think he had fun! In other news, I have no idea what Ryan was looking at. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUes1nEWTRDngu4scKRRL3YgsAtADxbeejNwHx7CJvuhMfHdGQTbBIs5-IsH0ajLoKybuLhmwZDCVCK7EeolJfcehUTPQbGdSC6uJEq9jHSJoNfrFzdhXOlb9zTutNuX4alU8F-gOYpRU/s1600/disneyland2014-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUes1nEWTRDngu4scKRRL3YgsAtADxbeejNwHx7CJvuhMfHdGQTbBIs5-IsH0ajLoKybuLhmwZDCVCK7EeolJfcehUTPQbGdSC6uJEq9jHSJoNfrFzdhXOlb9zTutNuX4alU8F-gOYpRU/s1600/disneyland2014-54.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></div>
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California Screamin' Oh my! Zoe was really looking forward to this. She was finally tall enough for this ride and she could. not. wait. And her brothers were pretty excited, too. </div>
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And I think the next picture speaks for itself about whether or not they enjoyed the ride...</div>
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We even managed to convince Ryan to go on that one later. And he loved it! It didn't even make him sick! So, he went on it again. I was so happy he could ride it! </div>
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I love this blurry shot of my little princess. This was her for almost the whole entire trip. She practically danced everywhere! I have this lovely, snapshot of a memory of her walking down the Disneyland Main Street toward the exit on our first night. All the bright lights were shining. We'd had a great day. And we were definitely under that magical Disney spell. Molly danced and twirled down that twinkle lit street, parading along, happy as a lark. Everything was completely perfect and wonderful in her life. It was the best.</div>
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These boys went on the Grizzley Rapids quite a bit together. I love that they were able to spend time together, laughing and having fun. </div>
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Family trips are the very very best. </div>
<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-12170511203692133952014-01-14T08:43:00.001-08:002014-01-14T08:45:13.364-08:00Back in the Healthy SaddleOy.<br />
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The holidays knocked me over with a giant candy cane, dragged me into a dark corner strung with twinkle lights and, while singing a rousing chorus of Jolly Old St. Nicholas, stole every bit of self-control in my possession.<br />
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*sigh*<br />
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On the bright side, we had loads of fun! Sitting around in our jim jams, playing games, munching on chocolate, watching movies, playing with new toys.....oh! The fun we had. It was a great break.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIseWdWSiE6VlXNj41KOTKa0SSMLvoA3zd_nTR83N1p6pzLoHFtnZ63Uvra-BMCDkak_SfGNrJLhfF02zhWAb40HAgsS7V_RBGxQNTHfjGLKPdMnfgmjE2ubJbdi9B6gDoNq5XXKuc5w/s1600/12-2013christmasmorning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIseWdWSiE6VlXNj41KOTKa0SSMLvoA3zd_nTR83N1p6pzLoHFtnZ63Uvra-BMCDkak_SfGNrJLhfF02zhWAb40HAgsS7V_RBGxQNTHfjGLKPdMnfgmjE2ubJbdi9B6gDoNq5XXKuc5w/s640/12-2013christmasmorning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the chaos of Christmas morning! Wrapping paper everywhere, everyone all smiles, the shouts of excitement, <br />the extra snuggles...I love it!</td></tr>
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But now I'm ready to get back in the healthy saddle. I'm also going to attempt to get back into the blogging saddle (which I seem to fall out of on a regular basis!). <br />
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So, giddeyup!<br />
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-91158865097937949192013-11-02T22:35:00.000-07:002013-11-02T22:35:04.311-07:00Halloween <br />
I'd planned on writing up a nice post about our fun Halloween. But...wooh. It's been quite the week. And I'm still trying to recover. So, here's some Instahalloween fun instead...<br />
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The obligatory Halloween pose on the front porch and The Sorting of the Candy.<br />
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Trick or treating in clown shoes is no treat. And my new Facebook profile pic.<br />
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Hopefully next week I'll manage to share more than this!<br />
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-13366340670158506562013-10-28T09:10:00.000-07:002013-10-28T09:24:29.224-07:00Week 3 of Getting HealthyThis week I lost...<br />
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One measly pound! But, at least, I'm going in the right direction.<br />
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<a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-change.html">My New Project: Getting Healthy!</a><br />
<a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/10/week-2-of-my-new-project-getting-healthy.html">Week 1: 4 pounds</a><br />
<a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/10/week-2-of-getting-healthy.html">Week 2: 3 pounds</a><br />
Week 3: 1 pound<br />
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Total: 8 pounds<br />
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Here's what I thought/learned/tried/ this week:<br />
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#1: It is really hard to eat healthy when you're not prepared.<br />
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My cute husband went camping this last week with his dad, brothers and uncles (and our oldest son for a couple of the days). And, as it always seems to happen, the weeks he's gone...everything is crazy. My critique group met (which means I was writing and critiquing late at night), there were two parties the kids went to, two mornings my oldest had to be at the school by 5:30, the primary program practice for the kids at church, a giant shopping trip to Wal-mart (I'd avoided the place for too long) and....just....everything else. It all seemed especially hard for some reason.<br />
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This made it hard to eat as healthy as I wanted. For example, one night I planned on making myself a salad and maybe a sweet potato. I'd made chicken nuggets and fries for the kids that weren't at the primary program practice (where they were having pizza). Because of the general running-around-with-my-cut-off-kind-of-thing I ended up grabbing chicken nuggets and fries as I passed the oven in and out of the kitchen.<br />
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This was repeated in various forms throughout the week.<br />
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Not the best way to have dinner. Or to eat healthy. *sigh*<br />
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So...<br />
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#2: I need to do prep work.<br />
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I need to pick a morning or evening each week and prep some of the veggies, etc. Wash my lettuce, chop up celery, etc. This should make it much, much easier for me to grabe the right stuff when I'm in a hurry. Because the odds are...with 6 kids, I'm going to be in a hurry again!<br />
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#3: This baked onion ring recipe is fantastic.<br />
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I took a photo of ours, but my camera died before I got it downloaded.<br />
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#4: I finished week 3 of the Couch to 5k program<br />
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Woo-hoo! (Like my thumb selfie?)<br />
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#5: In celebration of 3 weeks of running, I bought myself a present on Etsy from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/2VintageGypsies?ref=shop_sugg">2VintageGypsies</a>...<br />
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I fell in love with these vintage cloissonne earrings and had to have them. Good think I had a reason to buy myself a gift.<br />
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#6: With any venture in life, things don't always go how you want. The important thing is to keep trying. </div>
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Ok. So, I think I need to recommit myself to my goals. I've gotten a bit lazy with my eating habits again. Running around like a nutter makes it hard to stay focused on the eating healthy thing. But I need to be prepared for those busy times and still make healthy food choices.<br />
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Now on to week 4!<br />
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-53003762236212615232013-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:002013-10-23T07:33:51.020-07:00Mary Poppins Costume {It's a jolly holiday with Mary!}<br />
Last year, Zoe wanted to be Mary Poppins for Halloween. At first I thought she meant she wanted to dress up with the coat, scarf and hat with flowers, etc.<br />
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But no. She wanted to wear the white and red outfit. The jolly holiday with Mary outfit. The girly-ruffly-outfit.<br />
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The much-more-difficult-to-make outfit.</div>
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Oy! I wasn't sure about that. It seemed like a time-consuming costume. I asked her a couple times if she was sure. And, I admit, I tried to convince her to wear the traditional Mary Poppins garb. But, no luck. She stuck to her guns. And I'm glad she did! This costume turned out to be pretty easy to pull together! And she looked so darn cute in it.<br />
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I found the white skirt and umbrella from <a href="http://www.haloheaven.com/">Halo Heaven.</a> Then I made red ribbon bows and sewed them to the skirt. </div>
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For the top, I whipped up a long sleeve peasant blouse from lace with <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2011/04/a-love-letter-to-simplicity-5695.html">my all-time favorite sewing pattern, Simplicity 5695</a>. Next I took a rectangle of lace, serged the edges, sewed down the middle of it with elastic thread to gather it and sewed the to the front of the blouse and topped it with a red bow. I also added red ric rac to the cuffs of the sleeves.<br />
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In the picture below you can see her little white and lace trick or treat bag. I just made it out of some white t-shirt knit, added ribbon handles and glued a red flower on.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBihMVCSPOkmqZboSn5I83v63WB3BSGIe1POMdxkfHbvHQsKV3SXVXI8QB6n0SrvPNCsYyFahNiJX7K2ufysQ71Z1z_OaxzAdhL1P_xv4hyWfgwknulUOmIo-BbY0ez5jOkdRnfqFhoo/s1600/10-12marypoppins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBihMVCSPOkmqZboSn5I83v63WB3BSGIe1POMdxkfHbvHQsKV3SXVXI8QB6n0SrvPNCsYyFahNiJX7K2ufysQ71Z1z_OaxzAdhL1P_xv4hyWfgwknulUOmIo-BbY0ez5jOkdRnfqFhoo/s640/10-12marypoppins2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her dad, who had been working very long hours, rushed home and through this chimney sweep costume together.<br />
Yep, he's the cutest dad ever.</td></tr>
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For the belt, I cut red velvet out in the shape of wide belt which comes to a point in the front, sewed white ribbon to the front and sewed velcro to the back to close it around her waist.</div>
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I snagged her hat in the little girl's section at Wal-mart and added tulle and red flowers with a glue gun. She threw on a white shirt, white tights and some red shoes she already had and....voila! </div>
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Mary Poppins was ready for her jolly holiday!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up to these fun parties...</span></div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-91248931200753244412013-10-22T05:00:00.000-07:002013-10-23T07:34:08.998-07:00Red Velvet Oreo Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*** Warning: Unhealthy, sugary, super yummy recipe ahead. Proceed with caution. I'm eating healthier and running again. But I still have a house full of kids (and a husband) that love sugary sweets and snacks. I'm trying to healthify a lot of their foods, too, but I'm not going to throw the sugar out of the house completely.*** </div>
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Emmett was bored the other day and decided to bake something. He wanted to make homemade Oreo cookies, but we didn't have any chocolate cake mixes. We did however have red velvet cake mixes...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNeiwVBYrjw90YsADog3Nbtu9jlcXDzbO6otxQbuqutSKuG19zVh9otztJ3K617vywh_v7q8kcUQugaY5qCRFLPKAN0KItsme-4GP3KqSlD5OanX9jgEF86ZLjhPyspgjtmhPjw1p30c/s1600/10-13redcookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNeiwVBYrjw90YsADog3Nbtu9jlcXDzbO6otxQbuqutSKuG19zVh9otztJ3K617vywh_v7q8kcUQugaY5qCRFLPKAN0KItsme-4GP3KqSlD5OanX9jgEF86ZLjhPyspgjtmhPjw1p30c/s400/10-13redcookies.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Emmett suggested using them. It turned out to be a really awesome idea!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbIZJuAva4Dsze0vTtj-lIIAkSqGy1lu-6VUv8ah_MBumqZ2k9bUqxHehain6H5hMcoltplutMYnWp8Pwv0GNS4x6r8NwUgD7TvsKbcx_ApTxh9LjqPZRhW2ts6lBrgVkwRwKamF_FgU/s1600/10-13redcookies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbIZJuAva4Dsze0vTtj-lIIAkSqGy1lu-6VUv8ah_MBumqZ2k9bUqxHehain6H5hMcoltplutMYnWp8Pwv0GNS4x6r8NwUgD7TvsKbcx_ApTxh9LjqPZRhW2ts6lBrgVkwRwKamF_FgU/s640/10-13redcookies2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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Things got a bit messy when he was mixing the cookies up. See all the red splatters on his shirt? </div>
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Be prepared to get your hands dyed a bit red from all the food coloring when you mix these bad boys up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKdnPk6KEKlSvyOJT5EQ8_25HOnF0-bcps66DskNoZ8ds_tmptynfGC4Re4KJBoJWVS0FOj_nBjeM25PYdBvJMn-92Ed1s3yHkhAucLauMqSEZ6h8mx9Jp9nv37abMjf9HL-NzKV8Vvk/s1600/10-13redcookies4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKdnPk6KEKlSvyOJT5EQ8_25HOnF0-bcps66DskNoZ8ds_tmptynfGC4Re4KJBoJWVS0FOj_nBjeM25PYdBvJMn-92Ed1s3yHkhAucLauMqSEZ6h8mx9Jp9nv37abMjf9HL-NzKV8Vvk/s640/10-13redcookies4.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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This kid was so proud of his cookies! He couldn't wait for everyone to have one (and neither could we!)<br />
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<b>Red Velvet Oreo Cookies</b><br />
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2 boxes of Red Velvet cake mix<br />
1 cup shortening<br />
4 eggs, slightly beaten<br />
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Filling<br />
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1 8 oz. package of cream cheese<br />
1//2 cup butter or margarine<br />
4 cups of powdered sugar<br />
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Mix together the boxes of cake mix, eggs and shortening in a large bowl. The best way to get it nice and mixed is to use your hands. Yep, that's right, stick your hands into that gooey mess and get busy. Kids love this part!<br />
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Roll dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 7-11 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the pan before moving them. They'll flatten as they cool.<br />
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Soften the cream cheese and butter and whip in the powdered sugar. Scoop some of the filling onto one cookie and top with the second cookie. Now try to refrain from consuming the entire batch of cookies yourself. It will be hard. But you can do it.<br />
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Maybe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxeFcpqNSzH2s_h0Fmh8S8AYX9N-C22CZ5o4L5TTAlvnSlQYjOcgg4PbCKNrN2QZcM1x1Q4FIXlHtjRQ9fAujj5OFbbHgqio2spbEg74dpxCbbaN9jEVKDMxy7ATBeSJ-CZtD5eRXIgs/s1600/10-13redcookies5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxeFcpqNSzH2s_h0Fmh8S8AYX9N-C22CZ5o4L5TTAlvnSlQYjOcgg4PbCKNrN2QZcM1x1Q4FIXlHtjRQ9fAujj5OFbbHgqio2spbEg74dpxCbbaN9jEVKDMxy7ATBeSJ-CZtD5eRXIgs/s640/10-13redcookies5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wouldn't these make a fun Christmas cookie? Or for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day? Or even a great 4th of July cookie? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxS9twVhBtK-Hegw3Z6Nu3gz-mTzryssT7PzQwpVLAZic10C0ZGu2W8eP0CAw6MZyEODv7ZZnUM3xpokciUUqhejw5QhR83WQ4PyR3oUSPh2Ceji5NRwNvqFGI6rLREagl70BF76oKro/s1600/10-13redcookies8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxS9twVhBtK-Hegw3Z6Nu3gz-mTzryssT7PzQwpVLAZic10C0ZGu2W8eP0CAw6MZyEODv7ZZnUM3xpokciUUqhejw5QhR83WQ4PyR3oUSPh2Ceji5NRwNvqFGI6rLREagl70BF76oKro/s640/10-13redcookies8.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">And it makes me wonder...what other cake mixes would make great Oreo cookies? I think we're going to have to do some experimenting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up to these fun parties...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craft-OManiac</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skip to my Lou</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sewcando.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sew Can Do</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sugar Bee Crafts</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com/">The Blackberry Vine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sew-much-ado.com/">Sew Much Ado</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.livelaughrowe.com/">Live, Laugh, Rowe</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://redheadcandecorate.com/">Redhead Can Decorate</a></span></div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-67100714737211379402013-10-21T15:54:00.000-07:002013-10-21T16:01:48.372-07:00Week 2 of Getting Healthy3 more pounds gone! Woo-hoo!<br />
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<a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/10/week-2-of-my-new-project-getting-healthy.html">Week 1: 4 pounds</a><br />
Week 2: 3 pounds<br />
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7 pounds total gone!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insert shameless advertising: If you like my earrings, <br />
you can get them in my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HazelAndCompany?ref=si_shop">Hazel and Company</a>!</td></tr>
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Alright, here's what I thought/learned/tried this week....</div>
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#1: Buy new clothes.</div>
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So, after you've had a baby and your clothes don't fit...go buy some new ones! Years ago I was on a trip out of town with a fun friend. I'd just had my first daughter and my clothes weren't...erm...fitting too well, yet. One day I wore some black loungish pants. Looking back I realize how bad I must have looked! Clothes and losing weight, etc. came up. My sweet friend said something (very nicely) about buying jeans that fit even though I was trying to lose weight.</div>
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Yeah. I needed that advice. I didn't want to spend money on clothes that (I hoped) would only fit me for a short time. But it's so much easier to get truely motivated to change your life if you feel good about yourself! And wearing baggy clothes or too tight clothes is not going to help you feel better about yourself. At all. </div>
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#2: Getting healthy is about eating more. </div>
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Yep. It's true. It's about eating more...of the good-for-you-grub! I think a lot of us look at getting healthy as having to deprive ourselves of all the foods we love. But no! We shouldn't look at it like that. Instead of focusing on what you can't have, focus on what you CAN have. Yummy salads full of vibrant colors, juicy fruits, crunchy grains....healthy food does not have to mean rice cakes and water (yuck.)</div>
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#3: Bananas rock.</div>
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Once you start eating healthy, fruit becomes your candy. I love it when I get to the point that an apple sounds fantastic. Where as before, I wanted cookies, cake and other high-fat foods, once I cut those things out, I start wanting juicy fruits. I love it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CTfdyw37KWVvwCYzSMfpp0tXav-ZYo_UyP4iHGIZxSkHvwXOJkZqO5ItpYhNLCWh8sHi6VoHGdnRyRTxJF65l0b4YlHeCt1s60d3K9R_K22AFyXrOCxmYLYQP_aBAljwBSbD_IYJPJw/s1600/snack1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CTfdyw37KWVvwCYzSMfpp0tXav-ZYo_UyP4iHGIZxSkHvwXOJkZqO5ItpYhNLCWh8sHi6VoHGdnRyRTxJF65l0b4YlHeCt1s60d3K9R_K22AFyXrOCxmYLYQP_aBAljwBSbD_IYJPJw/s640/snack1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love, love, love grapefruit!</div>
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#4: Pick an anthem. </div>
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Who doesn't love a good song that gets you all pumped and motivated and ready to take on the world? If you're like me and you're trying to get healthy, consider finding yourself an anthem to get you excited. Play it before you work out, while you work out, when you're feeling low or when you just want to smile and feel good!<br />
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Mine is Now is the Start by A Fine Frenzy. I love this song!<br />
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#5: I love to snack when I'm writing. In the past I might have had M&M's or maybe a bowl of dry cereal. That's not going to work anymore. This week I saw bags of snap peas at the store. I grabbed a couple. And they made an awesome snack while I was trying to outline my chapters for the week.</div>
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#6: My favorite breakfasts....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8z9tdudGilVdFKXDlsCbCyvk1NzcWo9WAR5BVQA7n63XyZr7adydjY5_sDvabPzeJXzTFUfEF-v-FQ8eN4nvqefQoaxdrWso1C_K4A2wgB0c6bksaFKwLU1KorXCijUPjz3pKYb_OpA/s1600/breakfast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8z9tdudGilVdFKXDlsCbCyvk1NzcWo9WAR5BVQA7n63XyZr7adydjY5_sDvabPzeJXzTFUfEF-v-FQ8eN4nvqefQoaxdrWso1C_K4A2wgB0c6bksaFKwLU1KorXCijUPjz3pKYb_OpA/s640/breakfast1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Grape-nuts, banana chunks and milk.</div>
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Scrambled eggs with fresh salsa, half a blueberry bagel with butter spray and milk.</div>
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I also like the salsa cooked right in the scrambled eggs. </div>
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#7: Favorite lunches...</div>
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Giant salad of spinach leaves, romaine lettuce, broccoli chunks, bits of roast beef, sliced green onions, garlic croutons and a small drizzle of poppyseed dressing. Yum!</div>
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Small salad of spinach and romaine, olives, shredded parmesan cheese, small amount of bacon bits and poppyseed dressing (love that stuff) and some white rice, ham and soy sauce. (I'm making myself hungry by writing this post!)</div>
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Medium salad of turkey, spinach, romaine, carots, croutons and more poppyseed dressing. And a roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pickles and mustard on one of those thin sandwich bread stuff. </div>
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#8: I do not like zuchini. Until now...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkC_8lJhnlIHBGkYYcp2g_UIgVW_kObJuxb_BwC5hpyzw_vqaQB-R_CVSFpqbTejxEB_MmHHzJZkVYa3A1-03jVsm9jtYHjukRyvSeNA_IHQUhkhWTYBgOK_xVDBMKzz7_WkTkpQ20s/s1600/zuchini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkC_8lJhnlIHBGkYYcp2g_UIgVW_kObJuxb_BwC5hpyzw_vqaQB-R_CVSFpqbTejxEB_MmHHzJZkVYa3A1-03jVsm9jtYHjukRyvSeNA_IHQUhkhWTYBgOK_xVDBMKzz7_WkTkpQ20s/s640/zuchini.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I tried <a href="http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/07/baked-zucchini-fries/">this recipe for zuchini fries</a> from Budget Bytes (such a great site). And even though they aren't as pretty as hers...I was in a hurry and couldn't dip them one at a time. Instead all of them in the egg at once and then all in the panko coating. This is not the best way....But still...They were so good! And amazingly enough, a large portion of my kids even liked them (the rest managed to choke them down). We tried dipping them in spaghetto sauce. Yummo! I could have eaten the whole pan myself! We will definitely make these again.</div>
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#9: Week 2 of Couch to 5k done.</div>
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<img height="200" src="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/9130b5fc34ea11e3850422000a1f9a85_6.jpg" width="200" /> <img height="200" src="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/df04fb0a367d11e3b6fe22000a9f12db_6.jpg" width="200" /> <img height="200" src="http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/e110c164382a11e3ba2422000a1f9376_6.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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Sometimes I read during the walking parts. Sometimes I work on the shoppin list. But I always wear unmatched socks. Life with six kids does not lend itself to matching socks.<br />
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Alright, bring on week 3! I am loving this.Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-31818449167228223152013-10-18T11:01:00.002-07:002013-10-18T11:10:17.704-07:00We Ran Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend I ran away with my handsome cowboy...</div>
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We were long overdue for a good trip away . What with a new baby, the firefighting season and then the deer hunt, we hadn't had a lot of quality time together. So, we decided to take a (late) anniversary trip. And we didn't want to drive far, so we decided to simply go down to St. George. </div>
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My awesome and wonderful mom agreed to come watch our kids, well most of them. We brought our cute little Rory along on the trip.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't he have the best smile? That's one of the things I loved<br />about him on our very first date, that great big happy grin.</td></tr>
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And do you want to know the best part of this trip? </div>
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We didn't have any plans! I'd gotten us a hotel room in St. George. But that was about it. We were open to whatever. We just wanted time. Together. To talk and laugh and chat and enjoy each other without little ones needing our atention.</div>
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So, as we were driving along the freeway, Ryan asked if I wanted to go drive out to a spot where he's been on some camp outs with our oldest son and the other scouts in our ward. I said, "Sure!" Why not, right? I didn't really care what we did. I just wanted to be with him. </div>
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We drove out to a place they call Babylon or Sand Cove on mega-bumpy roads. What a beautiful place it is out there! Sometimes we really take for granted this lovely place we live. I mean, come on! Look at those colors!</div>
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We'd packed us some sandwiches and grapes, so we munched our lunch while I fed Rory. Then we decided to get out and hike around a bit. We held hands and talked about everything under the sun. Literally. :) He is such a fun person to chat with. He has a great sense of humor. He even let me ramble on about the plot of the new book I'm writing. And he offered some great suggestions for my magic system! Yep. He's an excellent husband of a crazy fantasy writer. </div>
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Later when we got back in our suburban and were heading back toward the main road, we spotted this Desert Tortoise. Of course, we had to check him out! His little neck reminded me of Rory when he stretches his little skinny neck up.</div>
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Back on the road, we headed toward an outlet place to check out microwaves. Our's broke and we really really need a new one! When we got there I wanted to rest my eyes for just a bit more. Ryan realized we were close to Sand Hallow. So, he started heading that way. When I woke up we checked it out. It's so big! We need to go back there with our kids. Then this guy needed a break from his cage (aka car seat)...</div>
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Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?! He's a pretty fun traveling companion.</div>
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We eventually got to St. George and checked into our hotel. I fed Rory again (yep, he's a hungrey fella) and we headed to dinner at one of our very favorite restuarants, The Olive Garden. We went there on our honeymoon so, it's a popular spot for us on anniveraries.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We both ordered the same thing, Chicken Parmigiana, which is what I always order there. And it was fantastic, as always. Rory was a wee bit grumpy, so after a bit I had to plop him in the sling and put him to sleep. And then I proceeded to eat the rest of my dinner while trying not to drip sauce, noodles or chicken on his head.</span></div>
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Ryan and I talked about going to a movie, but decided to just hang out at the hotel and watch TV. MNy cute man went out for milkshakes at Icebergers later. I asked for a mini cookie dough shake. I'm trying to be healthy. I had no idea their minis were GIANTS! I couldn't believe it when he walked back in with two humungous shakes! </div>
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I love getting away with Ryan. It's so nice to spend so much uninterupted time together!And I also love it when we have a little one to take with us on our trip. It was great spending time with that little guy. I love our happy brood of kiddos, but it's nice to have the chance to focus on just one of them. I've heard some mommas talk about how they don't like being tied down to their babies when they're nursing. </div>
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Personally, I love it. Love, love, love this time. Love him needing me and being the one who gets to take care of him. Being a momma is the best (Ok. Sorry for my foray into the sunny hills where the birds are singing and the roses bloom....I know blogs can sometimes make everything sound so lovely and perfect. It's not. Babies are loads of work. But still, I love it.)</div>
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The next day we slept in and grabbed a late breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles and sausage at the hotel. Yum! Those malted hotel waffles are the very best. </div>
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I met a super nice lady in the waffle line. We got chatting about this and that, what we were in town for, where we were from. Sometimes my family laughs at me about all the strangers I start chatting with wherever we go, but it's fun! I love meeting new people and learning abou them.</div>
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Later Rory started fussing after Ryan and I sat down and started to eat. This nice lady offered to take him while we ate our food. How nice is that?! She sat nearby and played with him and we were both able to eat with full use of both hands! Fantastic.</div>
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We did a bit of shopping at the nearby outlet mall. Rory needed new jammies since he's growing out of his so fast. In a store I spotted Ryan checking out some little girl skirts that were ruffled and sparkly. "Whatcha doing?" I asked. </div>
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"I was trying to find the price. I thought Molly would like this." </div>
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How cute is that? </div>
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Next we went to see Red 2 in the theater and loved it! Such a great flick. </div>
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Afterwards, Ryan took me to Chic-Fil-A for lunch because it is my very very (cannot write very enough times) favorite restuarant in the whole entire universe. And I was extremely good and didn't order the 12 piece nuggets for myself and instead got the Cobb Salad, which was heavenly. </div>
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I tried to eat healthy on this trip, but...well, actually let's say, I tried to eat <i>healthier</i>. I still ate breaksticks at The Olive Garden. And I enjoyed half of that giant cookie dough shake. I loved the waffle and sausage for breakfast. And I let myself have some of those little bits of shang-ri-la called Chic-Fil-A nuggets. Because even though I'm eating healthier, I'm still going to let myself indulge every now and then. And sure I probably could've dropped another pound if I'd stayed away from all the extra fat and calories, but, oh well. It was fun. And the food tasted great. </div>
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Next....(Now this shows how much that man loves me!)...I ran into Target to do some quick shopping while Ryan drove around with a sleeping Rory. I dashed through the aisles, throwing things in my cart and whipping into the dressing room to try on clothes. I think I was in and out of there in 45 minutes. That's a personal record. </div>
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On the way home, Rory was a bit sad. But we didn't want to stop because we needed to get back so my mom could get on the road and get home. I pulled out a container of Tic Tacs hoping Rory would like the noise. And boy did he ever...</div>
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Isn't that the best sound?<br />
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We came home to happy, huggy kids who'd had a great time with their Grandma. My mom made us Chicken Tetrazinni (which was very very good!) so were ableto simply belly up to the table after we saw her off. Isn't she the best?<br />
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Yep. It was a great trip. Great to go and great to come home, too.<br />
<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-56790818024633687712013-10-14T11:44:00.000-07:002013-10-14T13:49:05.689-07:00Week 1 of My New Project: Getting Healthy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Four pounds gone! Boo-yeah!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbkSfKK6OYKu2uSBR0xL_rZIi8kJQNW70XNJUUybLZ5EL38awGrLA-JTxCYLnnBYyFEe4CQtMEqKtcwdD1S_Wb3GjNNI4dA-ZM00siqajO7EdHmKGv3Fe91HN_i5xotT80uxVDGBBhlo/s1600/10-13healthyme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbkSfKK6OYKu2uSBR0xL_rZIi8kJQNW70XNJUUybLZ5EL38awGrLA-JTxCYLnnBYyFEe4CQtMEqKtcwdD1S_Wb3GjNNI4dA-ZM00siqajO7EdHmKGv3Fe91HN_i5xotT80uxVDGBBhlo/s640/10-13healthyme.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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I had Ryan snap a picture of me after church yesterday. I'm always trying to help him become a better photographer. And I've taught him alot (as if I'm some kind of pro! But it's not hard to teach more to the guy who cuts people's heads off in pics), but obviously I need to clue him in more about shadows and such, hence the interesting lines on my face! </div>
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Ok, so back to the task at hand....FOUR POUNDS! I'm thrilled with that. Especially since this week I had Chicken Parmigiana at The Olive Garden, a cobb salad at Chic-Fil-A, waffles, eggs and sausage at a hotel AND half of a mini cookie dough shake from Iceberger (have you seen their <i>minis</i>??? Oh my heavens. I think my whole family could have shared it. We had no clue they were that big.) Normally I wouldn't have eaten out so much, but my cute husband and I went on an overnight getaway with just our little Rory for company. It was awesome. </div>
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I started the <a href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml">Couch to 5k program</a> and ran three times this week...</div>
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One of the nice things about having my husband furloughed is that he's home in the morning to take care of the wee babe so I can run on the treadmill. Although that last run I had to do on Saturday night at 10 o'clock. With our getaway, it was that the only time that worked out. </div>
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Here are some things I realized, tried and/or thought about this last week...</div>
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#1: I love to run. Love, love, love it. I can only run hard for about 3 minutes before needing to slow down, but still, I love it. I love the feeling of pushing my body, of making it work hard.</div>
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#2: Once you jump on the Eating Healthy Bandwagon, it's fun and it gets easier. No! Really. I mean it. I like to look at healthy recipes (on Pinterest, of course) and try new ones. Check out this recipe for <a href="http://melissaknorris.com/2012/10/17/pioneering-today-baked-garlic-and-butternut-squash-recipe-and-freezer-tips/">Garlic Roasted Butternut Squash. </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWwqFJ-RKz5e7kncpR4rCoYb1pcH-BFjXme9lbUgeLXkKX1zQ2o8qY9PsKAtINHO3Ffg8fBvBqmpv_1__yxUw8O8h5Ym6pzeiC7MoCq7absZQTTZw3GzRHwbpszKY5FDfpDkswo-RM7s/s1600/10-13butternut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWwqFJ-RKz5e7kncpR4rCoYb1pcH-BFjXme9lbUgeLXkKX1zQ2o8qY9PsKAtINHO3Ffg8fBvBqmpv_1__yxUw8O8h5Ym6pzeiC7MoCq7absZQTTZw3GzRHwbpszKY5FDfpDkswo-RM7s/s640/10-13butternut.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I made this yummy stuff last night and it was absolutely fantastic! I could have eaten that whole bowl myself. And that garlic-covered squash made our house smell divine. A large portion of the family even liked it! And it was, at least, eatable by everyone. A few of them had to point out it wasn't there favorite (code for "I really don't like this.") But they were able to eat it without dry heaving, so I call that a success! </div>
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#3: I feel so much better about myself and life in general when I'm eating healthy and exercising. I realized that even if I didn't lose any weight whatsoever I would still want to live like this. </div>
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#4: I love sweet potatoes. With a passion. I already knew they were great. But I realized I love them simply cooked in the microwave and then with calorie-free Parkay spray and Vege-sal. Yum! And I can eat as much of that as I want on the AHA plan. Yummo! </div>
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#5: I like making treats for my kiddos. So, I need to come up with or find a good selection of healthy treats to make for them. And I will take any and all suggestions and thoughts on that matter. They eat a lot of bananas, yogurt, sliced apples, cheese sticks and things like that. But it's nice to actually make something for them, something like a healthy cookie or yummy smoothie. </div>
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#6: My kids adore <a href="http://www.71toes.com/2012/12/shelleys-everyday-flat-bread.html">this flatbread recipe</a>. This last week I tried making it with half whole wheat and sprinkled a bit of cheddar cheese on top. I also used olive oil in the pan and on top of it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLC1QnfXw-5KfeVEHq6VG_HmRTEOs8lS2a7vI7R642qRdQJeQ8OCWEqfGyi2r002lDah1yWEMtcWNhegKMc02GhYXGaH1T-bcjXrmRP-9QvbbAuH-uCWXgjeTfxl3yX5cgIcsANDBqQg/s1600/10-13wheatflatbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLC1QnfXw-5KfeVEHq6VG_HmRTEOs8lS2a7vI7R642qRdQJeQ8OCWEqfGyi2r002lDah1yWEMtcWNhegKMc02GhYXGaH1T-bcjXrmRP-9QvbbAuH-uCWXgjeTfxl3yX5cgIcsANDBqQg/s640/10-13wheatflatbread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The family loved that flatbread so much that only a teeny tiny piece was left by the end of the night. </div>
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#7: One oreo is okay and just enough. I realized this week that one of my main problems is that if something is tasty then I think in order for it to be satisfying I must be able to eat as much as I want of it. Um...yeah, that path doesn't lead to anywhere healthy. But I also don't think it's a good idea to swear off every high sugar/high calorie/just not good for you kind of food. It's about moderation. So, when my husband pulled out the package of Oreos he'd gotten for his birthday (this man loves cookies dunked in milk) I had one. I enjoyed it. It tasted great. And that was enough. I think it would be much harder and I'd be more likely to throw myself off this Getting Healthy Bandwagon if I tried to completely swear all the sugar off forever. That's just setting yourself up for failure, right? I also had half of one of these donuts this last week...</div>
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Zoe got to take in a treat for her fake birthday (since her real birthday is in the summer) and she requested pink glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles. How could I resist?!</div>
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In other news, this skirt I'm wearing in the above picture....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2M2UnYFOPrZrdd4YCEU_7s5i88M0Nyg6AuO3T40lo2R46DuHlKRBfzSmBAg_zPH5U245Lwc85qvSwak1aCwfdJiNWtEgiNOZY6zGXrOZ_8ZPpexGEe3chX2j78-bic8L966djhOufrY/s1600/10-13circlesquareskirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2M2UnYFOPrZrdd4YCEU_7s5i88M0Nyg6AuO3T40lo2R46DuHlKRBfzSmBAg_zPH5U245Lwc85qvSwak1aCwfdJiNWtEgiNOZY6zGXrOZ_8ZPpexGEe3chX2j78-bic8L966djhOufrY/s640/10-13circlesquareskirt.jpg" width="456" /></a><br />
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...is made with the <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/01/twirly-dance-skirt-tutorial.html">same tutorial I use for my Twirly Dance Skirt</a>, only in my size. Thought I'd share that just in case you wanted to make one for yourself! They're easy, comfortable and super fun to wear (and if you get the fabric for $2 a yard like me, then they're super cheap, too!)</div>
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One more things....</div>
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I loved how many people messaged and commented about how they're trying to get healthy, too! Yay! I'm so excited that so many of my friends and I are traveling the same direction. Thank you for your support and encouragement. I really really appreciate it. </div>
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Wait. I lied. I have another thing...</div>
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This week I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HazelAndCompany?ref=si_shop">Hazel and Company!</a> In honor of the fun government shutdown and the fact that my husband is furloughed and not able to work, you can get 25% off all your purchases with the coupon code IAMTHEBREADWINNER from now until Saturday, the 19th! </div>
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<a href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/043/1/5439285/il_570xN.511713997_p0aw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Large Orange Chrysanthemum Earrings,Statement Earrings, Metal Filigree Boho Earrings, Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/021/1/5439285/il_570xN.501683848_cz3f.jpg" width="142" /></a><img alt="Turquoise Filigree Drop Earrings, Boho Filigree Earrings, Statement Earrings, Fall Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/019/1/5439285/il_570xN.512931501_ieps.jpg" width="143" /> <img alt="Moss Green Lacy Circle Earrings, Metal Filigree Boho Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/018/0/5439285/il_570xN.511749618_1n82.jpg" width="142" /> <img alt="White Lacy Raindrop Earrings, Boho Filigree Earrings, Statement Earrings, Fall Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/043/1/5439285/il_570xN.511804773_gbmr.jpg" width="142" /> </div>
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<img alt="Large Bubble Gum Pink Victorian Cloud Earrings, Metal Filigree Boho Earrings" height="200" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/023/0/5439285/il_570xN.498541052_gkn5.jpg" width="150" /> <img alt="Soft Yellow Lacy Raindrop Earrings, Boho Filigree Earrings, Statement Earrings, Fall Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/043/1/5439285/il_570xN.511713997_p0aw.jpg" width="142" /> <img alt="Large Purple Victorian Medallion Earrings, Statement Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/020/0/5439285/il_570xN.492883126_aow0.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Silver Lacy Circle Earrings, Metal Filigree Boho Earrings, Bohemian Hippie Chic Earrings" height="200" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/041/1/5439285/il_570xN.511711473_avb4.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<b>Now back to the main topic....So, for those of you also trying to get healthy, how are you doing? What are your struggles? What are you doing that's working? How did you do this last week?</b></div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-42128874184768360302013-10-09T11:04:00.001-07:002013-10-09T11:11:34.636-07:00inspired by my son {and yes, this post probably sounds like an after school special}<br />
This boy.<br />
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<br />
I am so proud of him.<br />
<br />
So, here's the story. A few weeks before school started, I was out to lunch with a group of girlfriends. One of them mentioned how she'd become one the Cross Country coaches for the high school on our side of town.<br />
<br />
I picked her brain.<br />
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I thought Weston might like to give Cross Country a try. He was involved in band. And he loves computers. But since I didn't want him to become the pasty kid in the basement who stares at a screen all day, I thought it would be great for him to get involved in something active, that got him moving and also let him be part of a team. My friend assured me it wasn't too late to join, although they'd been meeting for awhile and there was a meet coming up.<br />
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I came home and told Weston all about it. I wasn't sure what he'd think. The practices were at 7 in the morning. He'd have to get up super early and get himself to the school (we had a new baby and his dad was gone fighting fires). But he said he wanted to give it a shot.<br />
<br />
I thought he might decide it wasn't for him. I know teenage-me would not have wanted to give up sleep in the summer to run. But I was completely wrong. He liked it. He wanted to keep going. Yay!<br />
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And then it came time for his first meet. He was told he had to run the three mile course in under 30 minutes in order to run in the rest of the meets for the season.<br />
<br />
It was probably one of the hardest runs for him. His back had been bothering him a week or so before. He thought it had gotten better. But when he stretched before the race he pulled something. As he started the race, his back began to ache again. Running made it worse. It was aching him so bad that he ended up walking for part of the course. He really struggled with this race.<br />
<br />
But he finished it.<br />
<br />
And...he was last. It had taken him around 33 minutes.<br />
<br />
Oh! I felt so bad for him! I encouraged him to talk to his coach and tell her about his back. And also let her know he wanted to get faster before the next meet. He did and she said he could race again.<br />
<br />
Yay! He kept going. He went to the practices. They were (and still are!) tough. Cross Country takes up quite a big chunk of his after school time. But, still he's enjoying it.<br />
<br />
And he eventually did the 3 miles in under 30 minutes. Which was awesome.<br />
<br />
We've gone to all the meets we could. At every one of them, Weston has improved his time. It's so great!<br />
<br />
Last week the meet was at Cedar High. It was the same course at the beginning of the year, the one he did in 33 minutes. <br />
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It was a bit of a chilly day...<br />
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These cute brothers of Weston's wanted to be right by the fence so they could cheer him on when he went past...</div>
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Would you like to hear what this freezing cold-looking girl asked me right before I snapped this picture?</div>
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<br />
"Mom, can we get some ice cream?"<br />
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What?! Funny girl. She didn't like me laughing at her though. Which....is why she looks kind of grumpy in that picture.<br />
<br />
We cheered Weston on every time he went around the track. He'd shoot us quick smiles as he went past.<br />
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At the beginning of the race his stride was very small. I couldn't understand why he wasn't running with a larger stride. But at the end of the race, he lengthened out those long, long legs and took off. It was so fun to watch him go!<br />
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As he was coming in for the last turn, some of his friends who had already finished the reace ran across the field to encourage him.<br />
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"You've got this, Weston!" they shouted.<br />
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It made my little momma's heart so happy to see them cheering him on. Because you know what? He was last again. But who cares! He ran that course in 28 minutes (and some seconds...I wish I'd taken a shot of him going over the finish line with his time! Urgh.)<br />
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That's less than 10 minutes a mile. There's no way I could run that fast or for that long (right now anyway...hopefully I will soon!)<br />
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I'm so proud of this boy! He beat his own time. He said, "I didn't walk once."<br />
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And he probably could've done it even faster but he twisted his ankle at the beginning of the race (which is why his stride was so small to begin with) Maybe this course is his arch nemesis.<br />
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This has been a hard thing for him. Everyone on the team had been running together for weeks before he joined. They were already running faster and farther. But Weston still gave it a shot. And he didn't give up! He stuck with it. </div>
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He's a pretty awesome example for this mom of his. </div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-60179660532269510512013-10-07T08:17:00.001-07:002013-10-07T16:45:58.151-07:00A ChangeI have a new project.<br />
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It's one I've been thinking about for weeks.<br />
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It's going to be hard at times.<br />
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It's going to take me months of work.<br />
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I'm probably going to want to give up many many times.<br />
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But it's going to be really great, too.<br />
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My new project is...<br />
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me!<br />
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It's time to get this after-baby body healthy.<br />
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<br />
I kept meaning to have Ryan take a picture of me this weekend for my Before Shot. But we were too busy having fun with our kiddos. I kept forgetting. So, I'm going to use an unflattering shot from when we had our son snap some pictures of us on our anniversary.<br />
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Now I want to point out that this post is not about dieting. It's about getting healthy. I love my body. It's given birth to six beautiful and wonderful children. I'm so grateful for all that it's been able to do. But I need to treat it better. I need to make big changes, lasting changes.<br />
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You might be wondering why I'm sharing this on my blog. <i>"Um...isn't this kinda personal stuff, Erin?" </i><br />
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Well, I keep thinking I'm going to start, to eat healthier and get excercising, but then...I don't. There's always reasons to indulge on unhealthy food. Dinner out with girlfriends, a holiday or I simply pass by the donuts at Lin's.<br />
<br />
And then I never quite get around to excercising. Even though I love to run! Well, I loved it when I got over the this-is-the-worst-thing-I've-ever-tried-to-do-and-I-think-might-shrivel-up-and-die part at the beginning. I've done the Couch to 5k program twice now (slacked off and had to start over!). And I really really love it. I am one of those people who never ever thought she could be a runner. But after a high school reunion a few years ago where a good friend of mine talked about running I decided I would give it a shot.<br />
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I'm so glad I did!<br />
<br />
I really did grow to love it. I especially loved that time alone to listen to books on my iPod, listen to music or simply let my thoughts wander. But at the beginning of this last pregnancy I was tired and sick and I felt like dreck.<br />
<br />
And...I stopped running. Oh! I really regret that.<br />
<br />
Now I have to start over. I haven't been looking forward to it. It's going to be hard. And it's going to hurt. And I'm not going to like it.<br />
<br />
At first.<br />
<br />
But I need to do it. I need to start. Today.<br />
<br />
I love this saying...<br />
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So. Today. Yep. I'm ready.<br />
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Now you might be wondering what I'm going to do to get healthy. Well, eating more fruits and veggies is obviously on the list. But my main plan is the American Heart Association eating plan. Which I guess could be called a diet, but it's more like just sensible way to eat, the way we should be eating. I've gotten healthier by following it before, so it's time to give it another shot.<br />
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I feel loads better when I'm doing it. Things like bananas become a yummy treat (instead of those Lin's donuts or <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/10/now-heres-cookie-that-brings-back.html">these cookies</a> which I posted about on Saturday. Oh. I'll have to stop posting about goodies!).<br />
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And I'm going to do the Couch to 5k plan again. It will be a bit tricky with a small baby around. It's not as if I can go on a run while the kids play. I'll need to find times I can go when my husband can watch the baby. Or maybe when he's sleeping and I can get on the treadmill (and put my oldest in charge of listenting for when Rory wakes up)<br />
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It won't be easy. But it's going to be worth it.<br />
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So, back to why I'm sharing this on my blog. What better way to stay on track, to keep myself motivated and not slip back into old habits than to declare it to the universe, to the world or....to the three people who read my blog? And I'm planning on updating here and there about my progress.<br />
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Anyone else trying to get healthier? I'd love to hear from you!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-5539769074500485032013-10-05T17:39:00.002-07:002013-10-22T12:30:10.890-07:00Double Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Now here's a cookie that brings back memories.<br />
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I grew up in the National Park Service. I was born in Ohio, moved to the swamps of sourthern Florida when I was two and lived there until the summer I turned 13 when we moved to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.<br />
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My mom loves to bake. Bread, cookies, cakes. You name it and she's probably whipped it up. And she not only loves to fill the bellies of those she loves with goodies, but she loves to give them away, too. I can't even begin to count how many plates of treats she asked us to deliver to our neighbors in those parks. Bachelor park rangers, friends who helped us with something or just because she thought they needed something sweet. And this is one thing (of many!) that I love about her. She has a beautiful, generous heart.<br />
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These Double Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies (aka lovely bits of yumminess) were one of her favorites to whip up. And still are!<br />
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<b>Double Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies</b><br />
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2 1/4 cups flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
1 cup butter or margarine, melted<br />
3/4 cup light brown sugar<br />
1 package (4 servings size) instant chocolate pudding<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips<br />
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Mix flour with baking soda. Combine butter, sugar, pudding mix and vanilla in large mixer bowl; beat until smooth and cramy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture; then stir in chips. The batter will be very stiff. Drop tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.<br />
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And then devour them.<br />
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Or, you know, you could give some away to a sweet neighbor or friend who needs a little love.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up to these fun parties...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craft-OManiac</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skip to my Lou</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sewcando.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sew Can Do</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sugar Bee Crafts</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com/">The Blackberry Vine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sew-much-ado.com/">Sew Much Ado</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.livelaughrowe.com/">Live, Laugh, Rowe</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://redheadcandecorate.com/">Redhead Can Decorate</a></span></div>
<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-49655938654036155842013-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:002013-09-30T07:40:56.779-07:00Perfect {Half} Whole Wheat Bread<br />
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My favorite whole wheat bread is from Great Harvest. But since they raised their prices I have a harder time shelling out the $5 a loaf.<br />
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Luckily I came across the bread recipe (on Pinterest, of course) for <a href="http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/03/28/rosebuds-butter-topped-white-bread/">Rosebud's Butter Topped White Bread</a>.<br />
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Isn't it beautiful? Oh! I love homemade bread. It makes my house smell glorious. It tastes fantastic. And an added bonus is I feel like a domestic goddess when I can serve this up to my family.</div>
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This bread is perfect for sandwiches, great for French Toast and regular toast, too.The original directions call for all white flour but I like to make it with half, or sometimes more, whole wheat flour. </div>
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The whole family loves this bread and some even think it's better than Great Harvest's. I'm not sure I completely agree with that. But I do love it quite a bit. And I definitely love the price tag more than Great Harvest's! </div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-13520657942134018262013-09-27T21:44:00.001-07:002013-09-27T21:44:37.255-07:00back to school(I'm finally getting around to posting this.)<br />
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I was not excited to see my crazy brood of kiddos go back to school.<br />
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There was so much more I wanted to do with them! We never got to The Lake on the Hill. We didn't finish our art journals. We didn't get to as many parks as I'd wanted to. We didn't finish the library summer reading program. I had crafts and games and art projects and and and....oh! There's always so much more I want to do with them.<br />
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Summer is never long enough. But this one seemed shorter than the rest. Well, not always....those middle-of-the-night-nursing-the-baby-wondering-if-I'll-ever-sleep-again kind of nights went pretty slow. But that sweet newborn really limited the amount of things we were able to do together.<br />
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But instead of regretting, I should focus on what we did get to do. The kids got to welcome a new little brother into our home and family. They got to hold and cuddle and watch and sing to and love a new little person. They got to watch his little hands curl around their fingers, touch his tiny toes and marvel over his soft little sounds.<br />
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No, we didn't get to do all the activities I'd wanted to somehow magically squeeze into the small cracks, small windows of time left over after taking care of Rory, but what they did get to do was much much better.<br />
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We started out the first day of school with a yummy breakfast of waffles, strawberries and whip cream. Yum!<br />
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I snagged some shots of Weston and Emmett before they took off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHs2WkihbC66Myxnw7F85FxUpb98T3eg80ijLufRkqsnR78u_HS1mQmLhDyosjA_7ATsz7wEyzAbp1irKGUrMUhm2rLeNAIVziEGjWinrEi4EZqiRPCkg9yAV0x4GRtJyz0q3wxJN_18/s1600/8-13backtoschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHs2WkihbC66Myxnw7F85FxUpb98T3eg80ijLufRkqsnR78u_HS1mQmLhDyosjA_7ATsz7wEyzAbp1irKGUrMUhm2rLeNAIVziEGjWinrEi4EZqiRPCkg9yAV0x4GRtJyz0q3wxJN_18/s640/8-13backtoschool.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are some good lookin' boys. (Yes. I'm biased)</td></tr>
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I have a son who is a Freshmen in high school. Wow. That is quite amazing. And he's been growing so fast lately! This kid is almost six feet tall. This is not surprising seeing as how tall his dad and other relations are, but still. I used to be able to walk next to him with my arm around his shoulders. Now I would need a stool to do that. </div>
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And Emmett! This is his first year in middle school. Wow. He seems so young! I can't believe he's not in elementary school anymore. He was a bit nervous about going to a new school, but now he's loving it. </div>
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I told these handsome fellows I'd take a silly pic....</div>
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Ha! They crack each other up on a regular basis.</div>
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Niiiiiiice one, boys.</div>
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After those two left to walk to school, I needed to finish getting the next two out the door. Zoe was super excited to have her hair done up in foam curlers the night before. And this was their maiden voyage. There's probably some rule about not experimenting on your daughter's hair the night before the first day of school. The possibility for some deep emotional scarring is a bit likely. But, luckily, her hair turned out great! </div>
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The kids were all excited about their first-day-of-school clothes. I surprised Emmett and Sam with their shirts from Zulily. The bots' backpacks came from their, too. I adore on-line shopping. Especially when I have a newborn.</div>
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I'd wanted to make Zoe a fun and bright dress for the first day of school, but couldn't quite get around to it. (But I did a few weeks ago. You can read about that <a href="http://hazelandcompany.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-patchy-playtime-dress.html">HERE</a>.) She decided to wear the outfit I'd made her for her birthday. I love how this t-shirt skirt turned out. And I whipped up that fun pink feathered headband the night before. </div>
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Let's pause for a minute to notice their shoes. These kids were thrilled with the shoes they picked out (Weston's came later) It's a good thing my brother is a Nike bigwig so we can get a great discount. Oy! Back-to-school shopping is expensive!</div>
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Sam's and Zoe's silly pics...</div>
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Goofy kids!</div>
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Zoe adores her teacher and first grade.</div>
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Sam is super happy to be in an advanced 4th/5th grade class. And he thinks his teacher is the coolest, bestest ever. (He is pretty awesome.) But it's also more of a challenge which is so great for this kid.<br />
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Sadly, I don't have pictures of the older two with their teachers. I told Weston I could gat all his teachers in the lobby for a picture. For some reason he wasn't on board with this idea.<br />
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So, the start of another year.<br />
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It's always such a bittersweet time. I love to watch my children get excited about new classes, new friends, new shoes and new experiences. But I sure do miss this house being full of them, full of their plans, laughter, friends and chatter.<br />
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But hopefully I can squish in some of those fun things I planned for the summer into free Saturdays. </div>
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-1321157093497929132013-09-24T15:06:00.002-07:002013-09-25T13:00:14.820-07:00The Patchy Playtime Dress Tutorial<br />
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I whipped up this easy dress for Zoe this summer. The idea stemmed from Cheri over at <a href="http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/p/about-me.html">I am Momma Hear me Roar</a> and her Upcycled T-shirt Dress. But I wanted to try doing gathered tiers instead.</div>
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I started with a thrifted top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4_VyPLKeZ2hXTq_kdSgOlKhsEEJ3g699zdBxfuHSbLClaYwRIo8pvfSlexQVB_cXmDueu8aBrGDi0SVl3TJcdkzwDZuzMwVKvTltE0p_2fbIde6B0wWKe7-pgEbbIgs0hpGq9b7fRnM/s1600/playdress13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4_VyPLKeZ2hXTq_kdSgOlKhsEEJ3g699zdBxfuHSbLClaYwRIo8pvfSlexQVB_cXmDueu8aBrGDi0SVl3TJcdkzwDZuzMwVKvTltE0p_2fbIde6B0wWKe7-pgEbbIgs0hpGq9b7fRnM/s640/playdress13.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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I cut the bottom off of it and then took two more shirts and cut them the length I wanted, cutting the pink one wider than the purple and the teal wider than the pink. </div>
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The teal was plain so I made a quick posterboard stencil and added pink hearts.</div>
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Then I simply gathered the pink tier, added it to the purple top.</div>
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Then I gathered the teal and sewed it to the pink.</div>
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So easy. And now Zoe has a super comfy t-shirt dress to play in. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpa8jEv2__QnoL6iaCSWjSqg4xC_aOMPYDdOyamuMiav5loEQCM9uol2gfF3RmhGjxPmFp6RGtBM7GFqpADiWKunMwTN1qEt3n1QFoU-IlChApxVnq3bAWJWNtiLtQiiVX5ra-HiqvoQ/s1600/playdress3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpa8jEv2__QnoL6iaCSWjSqg4xC_aOMPYDdOyamuMiav5loEQCM9uol2gfF3RmhGjxPmFp6RGtBM7GFqpADiWKunMwTN1qEt3n1QFoU-IlChApxVnq3bAWJWNtiLtQiiVX5ra-HiqvoQ/s640/playdress3.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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Great for climbing trees!</div>
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Oy! I adore this girl, her giggles, grins and great big hugs. She is silly and makes me laugh everday.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up to these fun parties...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craft-OManiac</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skip to my Lou</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sewcando.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sew Can Do</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sugar Bee Crafts</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com/">The Blackberry Vine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sew-much-ado.com/">Sew Much Ado</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.livelaughrowe.com/">Live, Laugh, Rowe</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://redheadcandecorate.com/">Redhead Can Decorate</a></span></div>
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-84528666037363743772013-09-21T10:10:00.000-07:002013-09-21T14:09:35.717-07:0016 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(I've been trying to get to this post alllllll week!)</div>
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16 years? Wow. Time is funny. That sounds like a long time, but it doesn't feel like it's been as long as it sounds. Weird. </div>
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This summer Ryan went on three big fires and was gone for a total of almost 6 weeks. He finally came home for good on our anniversary, September 12th. Which was the very best. I'm so thrilled to have him hom that I'm not even giving him a hard time about that massive beard. Well....at least, not too much.</div>
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We had Weston snap some pictures of us before we headed out on our date. And we were not trying to match!</div>
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Ryan and I started going to the Market Grill when we were in college and dating. He took me there the night of the Winter Formal and when he came to pick me up for the dance (after dinner and we got changed) he asked me to marry him. That was a pretty great night.</div>
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So, we often go back there for anniversary dates. I love it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRVT4BJ7ZD4mMd9T906P0FZwQzdivMy0UBJaPN3YU2DmkU2T14br1DTaA0UYpf11VC_5R1PqImjsqwewA4RwttSMQXH_PPJJsnoz5oN3luC45Z4mxJmRte4-K28_yv4W_BWYd2SnxPNc/s1600/9-13ryanandianniversary4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRVT4BJ7ZD4mMd9T906P0FZwQzdivMy0UBJaPN3YU2DmkU2T14br1DTaA0UYpf11VC_5R1PqImjsqwewA4RwttSMQXH_PPJJsnoz5oN3luC45Z4mxJmRte4-K28_yv4W_BWYd2SnxPNc/s640/9-13ryanandianniversary4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I don't know what it is, but I love their salads! And they're just simple iceberg lettuce salads, but they taste so good. It's probably because I'm always starving when we go. </div>
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Love this handsome cowboy of mine! It was so nice to spend some time with him without our happy and fun brood of kiddos in tow. Well, we did have one tag along...</div>
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But Rory just sat through the meal staring and smiling at me. And that's just fun. Who doesn't like to have a constant admirer hanging around? </div>
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It's a bit of a yellow picture, but this is our favorite dish at the Market Grill, their giant portioned Chicken Fried Steak and mashed potatoes. Seriously, so so so good. Oy! This picture is making me hungry.</div>
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At first I wasn't sure what to give Ryan for our anniversary. And then I got to thinking about how hard it is for us to get away on dates. And not because we don't really have the time or it's hard to get a babysitter (we have a teenage son now! It's awesome.) But more it's just hard to remember to schedule it into our day to day life, so I gave him this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZMmAoHS-gzJF0r6y_HCmn5d3aOCjPXjj-jXTyWsy4mCAIAXIwgeKOQbRed97g3GU5pi8TaSxAWwjrjy55X_UohqpU2Fl4ZqomOY9j1fXhiwRFVfnLpDxzDNrKWzbgJS98dB0V27_jFA/s1600/9-13anniversarygift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZMmAoHS-gzJF0r6y_HCmn5d3aOCjPXjj-jXTyWsy4mCAIAXIwgeKOQbRed97g3GU5pi8TaSxAWwjrjy55X_UohqpU2Fl4ZqomOY9j1fXhiwRFVfnLpDxzDNrKWzbgJS98dB0V27_jFA/s640/9-13anniversarygift.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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17 Dates for our 17th Year. And I filled it with envelopes...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnraTrfPutKjS1DOcp2igQyazamPN-m-y0kDZvXrYeGEnq40rIwVpQ6F8YZvB0Tgxsc1hrwwF9ZMtQdsBMerE0DIH-D7VGV89g9wpMMO_NOVloVRz213DMiCtDKEEmQgjN0dHftP06Iyo/s1600/9-13gift2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnraTrfPutKjS1DOcp2igQyazamPN-m-y0kDZvXrYeGEnq40rIwVpQ6F8YZvB0Tgxsc1hrwwF9ZMtQdsBMerE0DIH-D7VGV89g9wpMMO_NOVloVRz213DMiCtDKEEmQgjN0dHftP06Iyo/s640/9-13gift2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And in each envelope there is either a gift card for that date (that was <i>a lot</i> of driving around town to pick all those up!) or there is some moolah to cover or go to the expense. Some dates are places to go out to, but some are ideas for staying in. </div>
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It can be hard to squeeze in a "going out" date every week. So, I thought it would be nice to have a few stay-in-dates. </div>
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Ryan was really excited about this present! And I am, too. </div>
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(Should've written the Historic Theater on that one!)</div>
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Ryan brought me this lovely bouquet of roses in the middle of the day. Well, they were much prettier a week before! I forgot to snap a picture of them when he first gave them to me. They remind me of peaches with their pretty peachy yellow color and bright red edges. Lovely. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTSRptGS_qNrmie3i3T0H22tJ74nDk20jNGoXCNc8ArYWXC8atabJIvAtyTOBE662xbK8ahf6mufuZbMkkYoGwO49CkVc6qooYsNXhpDF5HZT04EWsOjcfuK_FOkE3vPXjgi91oDqsj0/s1600/9-13roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTSRptGS_qNrmie3i3T0H22tJ74nDk20jNGoXCNc8ArYWXC8atabJIvAtyTOBE662xbK8ahf6mufuZbMkkYoGwO49CkVc6qooYsNXhpDF5HZT04EWsOjcfuK_FOkE3vPXjgi91oDqsj0/s640/9-13roses.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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And then later that night he gave me another bouquet of flowers! He said he couldn't choose between them and thought I'd like them both. He was very right. I love sunflowers, too. </div>
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Since he'd been gone fighting fires he told me I'd have to wait a bit for my anniversary gift. He planned a surprise date for this last week. We were going to go out on this last Thursday night. But then...well, there was a dental emergency for one of our children who had a bit of a biking accident. So, we went out last night instead. He was very mysterious about the whole thing. He gave me a clue. "I'll get to watch you."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Mysterious driving me on our date.</td></tr>
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What? I couldn't figure it out. </div>
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Then we had to pull over to nurse the baby real quick and while we chatted he told me he was taking me shopping for clothes. "Whatever you want, no matter the price." Wow! That was a pretty sweet and awesome gift! After having a baby, my wardrobe is....somewhat limited. </div>
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So, we went to Downeast Outfitters and I picked out some jeans, two scarfs and two shirts. It was so much fun! And Ryan followed me around holding Rory and telling me to choose certain things. Like a very very bright orange shirt. Um, no...I don't think so. And then I'd try things on and he wanted to see. Which is where the "I'll get to watch you" clue came from. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory made a new friend at the store. He smiled and chatted with his little buddy.<br />
It was the cutest thing. </td></tr>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-75748209920989625192013-09-17T08:09:00.003-07:002013-09-25T13:00:33.116-07:00Cheesy Bacon French Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBFPcnL_7wWg0Ltq1dRodzWBsNBH-bQbYz6gZIwdR-Q2Lt0vF0sgljM-bGrcilGmAPWmozv473aEG3suJLLfyDlUUskRa3zRKt6c5hqMk3S1FoTjmdBM4zGtAP8scs6Z_B0fwn0gJYkI/s1600/cheesybaconfrenchbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBFPcnL_7wWg0Ltq1dRodzWBsNBH-bQbYz6gZIwdR-Q2Lt0vF0sgljM-bGrcilGmAPWmozv473aEG3suJLLfyDlUUskRa3zRKt6c5hqMk3S1FoTjmdBM4zGtAP8scs6Z_B0fwn0gJYkI/s640/cheesybaconfrenchbread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yummo, right?</div>
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I threw this bread together last week out of ingredients I had on hand and it was a huge hit at the dinner table! It made such a great side dish to go along with our spaghetti and salad.</div>
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And the best part? It's so so so easy!</div>
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<b>Cheesy Bacon French Bread</b></div>
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Loaf of french bread</div>
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butter, softened</div>
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Mozzerella and Cheddar cheese, shredded</div>
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Bacon bits (the real kind...not that cardboard imitation stuff)</div>
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Green Onions, sliced</div>
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Ok. Now...as with a lot of my recipes....I don't actually know the measurements. I just kind of throw it together. </div>
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Cut your french bread in half, slather each slice with butter (yes. this is a very healthy recipe.), sprinkle liberally with cheese, shower the bread with bacon bits (oh, why, oh why does bacon have to be so tasty?), add the green onions (which I just slice with my kitchen scissors. so easy.) Then bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and the bread is crispy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRblfv52dHgexfVtVlXk7jWBVNVZqX-MjcaqvE6JAM23D6c0jbxFN8u-IhmtwPVfcadpNnsulM65jOIIW-IH2lVxa2obA15XPR_TI1Cus4C5JtSaInLJ8Cw2HR2avxI24oHeED7DpNNXo/s1600/cheesybaconfrenchbread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRblfv52dHgexfVtVlXk7jWBVNVZqX-MjcaqvE6JAM23D6c0jbxFN8u-IhmtwPVfcadpNnsulM65jOIIW-IH2lVxa2obA15XPR_TI1Cus4C5JtSaInLJ8Cw2HR2avxI24oHeED7DpNNXo/s640/cheesybaconfrenchbread2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Easy, right? And, oh so good!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO3cxoExcFDVpeUy1BPRSrtmGwIcZDkngHID-vjjNt5PzJ06LaqYsMJQXcQTDJRO9rLpvra0Vb67S7BhST7ahmrRPEJtG9Jg-YwUvc0Vdr6q0f4eqIGiDR6Cq_iZszW_7NwJJRbb84fg/s1600/cheesybaconfrenchbread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO3cxoExcFDVpeUy1BPRSrtmGwIcZDkngHID-vjjNt5PzJ06LaqYsMJQXcQTDJRO9rLpvra0Vb67S7BhST7ahmrRPEJtG9Jg-YwUvc0Vdr6q0f4eqIGiDR6Cq_iZszW_7NwJJRbb84fg/s640/cheesybaconfrenchbread3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This picture was my kids' idea! I can't remember who suggested it, but they thought it would be funny to have their hands all reaching for the bread. I love it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mO1-_YPbLUJfnjJJ4rmTjAmnM7etqtlHbbrSsNrhae9bnwv5GwMDO93xF7VPpN76G0vip72_yLAMwkyYWFLCLNhNx7fu2Bd42ZS02drpcVzBYFKQbsvTduDpFySAqdLh-P_xS6tM6_4/s1600/cheesybaconfrenchbread4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mO1-_YPbLUJfnjJJ4rmTjAmnM7etqtlHbbrSsNrhae9bnwv5GwMDO93xF7VPpN76G0vip72_yLAMwkyYWFLCLNhNx7fu2Bd42ZS02drpcVzBYFKQbsvTduDpFySAqdLh-P_xS6tM6_4/s640/cheesybaconfrenchbread4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Yep. This bread was a huge hit.<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up to these fun parties...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craft-OManiac</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skip to my Lou</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sewcando.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sew Can Do</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sugar Bee Crafts</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com/">The Blackberry Vine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sew-much-ado.com/">Sew Much Ado</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/">Savvy Southern Style</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.livelaughrowe.com/">Live, Laugh, Rowe</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://redheadcandecorate.com/">Redhead Can Decorate</a></span></div>
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<br />Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002573922429271118.post-47876559052549238582013-09-13T21:33:00.000-07:002013-09-17T09:24:48.487-07:00I have a new loveThis summer I finally picked a dslr camera and ordered it.<br />
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I've been looking at different ones for ages, but I could never decide which one to choose. Oy! There are so many choices. And when I looked at them on Amazon the reviews would say things like, "This is the best camera in the whole fiddlydig universe!" and also, "Even if there were no cameras left in the world but this one, I still wouldn't use it."<br />
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Ack! So, yeah, I had a hard time choosing.<br />
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To solve this problem, I didn't actually pick one. I chose two that I liked, sent the links to my cute friend <a href="http://amberjunestudios.blogspot.com/">Amber</a> (who is a photographer and her husband is a super impressive professional photographer) and let THEM choose.<br />
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And so, this is what I got...<br />
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<img height="400" src="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/cc7f50e8d51611e2802422000a9e014e_6.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The Nikon d3200. </div>
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And I am so in love with this little red beauty. </div>
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Of course, I'm still learning how to use it. I also bought this book...</div>
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y1Gm381JL._SX260_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_.jpg" /></div>
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I had hoped to get it well before Rory came so that I'd have ample time to learn how to take great photos, but I kind of put it off until the last minute. I was lucky to get it before I went into the hospital! </div>
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Now here's a look at some of my favorite photos from this summer from my very favorite camera...<br />
(warning: not all of these are the best photos...some are just some of my favorite moments)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXqAACr5tTJXnYnRj2ieenB3RdAm4D7QhukfLY1qdKxpjneAQNKAm1QonAelfhb7fLGGlXehS9I-oH7C9bYo67YVPu_NU6gyOuR9LEEPYCkExJIKuWVAu6BIK1qrqIqLAdRlixdHlkzw/s1600/westonreunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXqAACr5tTJXnYnRj2ieenB3RdAm4D7QhukfLY1qdKxpjneAQNKAm1QonAelfhb7fLGGlXehS9I-oH7C9bYo67YVPu_NU6gyOuR9LEEPYCkExJIKuWVAu6BIK1qrqIqLAdRlixdHlkzw/s640/westonreunion.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that handsome kid!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfQbC_cCiYTSdikGAIGtGdpiFFFj85plN6qcEVA_fbQ2wfHAA-hhz-Xy8DVjCXxxjBTx0TVuP84hyphenhyphenCWi0CcCeakQk2ejxEA3Tx_cuEo3_ezl-EL74cTIEXHMSj0nvbNER5Ahsgnphr-g/s1600/sillymolly3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfQbC_cCiYTSdikGAIGtGdpiFFFj85plN6qcEVA_fbQ2wfHAA-hhz-Xy8DVjCXxxjBTx0TVuP84hyphenhyphenCWi0CcCeakQk2ejxEA3Tx_cuEo3_ezl-EL74cTIEXHMSj0nvbNER5Ahsgnphr-g/s640/sillymolly3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly's crazy eyes.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Hrn47nW-BV8lAjWbmglCFtEOKVwFvMsyhfRR9Pokn6roeT47eXzTLn9Fhyphenhyphen2Cq3SlzEffsnrS8Xmkfv-4sD10IjMLkbq8GEDUNh4LCtQOc7tLFVak6V8iAJaSzqspfdaOok-1kaTNF8/s1600/zoebday13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Hrn47nW-BV8lAjWbmglCFtEOKVwFvMsyhfRR9Pokn6roeT47eXzTLn9Fhyphenhyphen2Cq3SlzEffsnrS8Xmkfv-4sD10IjMLkbq8GEDUNh4LCtQOc7tLFVak6V8iAJaSzqspfdaOok-1kaTNF8/s640/zoebday13.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing Mother May I? on Zoe's birthday, her choice. <br />
That's Sam in the background taking an alligator step.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFqveY-e3l7_eMUhGTxUwVAd9HQI890tKg_DH6RUCLmAsJEAvK9zzxaaUcdgilf3OBFg4QVB3qsRDgb90P27mRS2uALruO-BlJTESQO-yHsXa3R6ev7qnZpmc_D8AdQ0LGUiR-tQoog8/s1600/zoeparty2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFqveY-e3l7_eMUhGTxUwVAd9HQI890tKg_DH6RUCLmAsJEAvK9zzxaaUcdgilf3OBFg4QVB3qsRDgb90P27mRS2uALruO-BlJTESQO-yHsXa3R6ev7qnZpmc_D8AdQ0LGUiR-tQoog8/s640/zoeparty2013.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe's princess birthday party. I made her a comfy Belle dress out of t-shirts.<br />
And even though it didn't quite turn out how I planned, she adores it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TD4TNO5BFChaFFmlID_2laFxSA6WCi7Xu1AvrNzFkeMQHa6Yx8f0Q6grXdC80OqgjY8LMICS3HVTuyE9vBqbZOeLd74Rn0QmSyxqqgHQU1YC6AppSt49VdoOAcvxI_1iMYN8RtDL390/s1600/6-30-13newrory3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TD4TNO5BFChaFFmlID_2laFxSA6WCi7Xu1AvrNzFkeMQHa6Yx8f0Q6grXdC80OqgjY8LMICS3HVTuyE9vBqbZOeLd74Rn0QmSyxqqgHQU1YC6AppSt49VdoOAcvxI_1iMYN8RtDL390/s640/6-30-13newrory3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding my Rory for the first time. <br />
They only let me have for a few seconds before this whisked him away.<br />
Oh! I love those first moments. First sight. First cuddle. First nursing.<br />
Love it all. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1Zk-t5zoVkCWS_CQZmHP2ByAJogjI4knH7Ty2_aJ-XVsXrXg_E9ubUd48MQzQaGr2tnpUm-1G86jdcRihcAAS8bMjMiTKWR11zCK-L9EPzjWt-v70eK7XB9d65OWl1Q70XA6o4Ub6Jk/s1600/ryanroryhospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1Zk-t5zoVkCWS_CQZmHP2ByAJogjI4knH7Ty2_aJ-XVsXrXg_E9ubUd48MQzQaGr2tnpUm-1G86jdcRihcAAS8bMjMiTKWR11zCK-L9EPzjWt-v70eK7XB9d65OWl1Q70XA6o4Ub6Jk/s640/ryanroryhospital.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweet daddy holding his wee baby.<br />
Is there anything better than this?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl1EWMXwXu3yF8Hp0lyH11Zc-46YL2sopzry-9AkqGvkzxaUaxfPIkJHjwV4Ga2qbvIWfl0ih5kxMK8gwQHf33FTSpOtlddDnaqbHw2D2TjKey9jOpyabRvuuQkdkLVfmPh57aJyDoSY/s1600/hospitalkidsrory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl1EWMXwXu3yF8Hp0lyH11Zc-46YL2sopzry-9AkqGvkzxaUaxfPIkJHjwV4Ga2qbvIWfl0ih5kxMK8gwQHf33FTSpOtlddDnaqbHw2D2TjKey9jOpyabRvuuQkdkLVfmPh57aJyDoSY/s640/hospitalkidsrory.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids getting to see their new brother for the first time.<br />
Oh! They couldn't fill their eyes enough with the sight of him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInvJUwWT4jJs7nnDEPFhEp4vA_xpX4vIS36L0al8HLLBlNO-wLOOuMpn8MGJv6TXfPGgP6EGmJ7a345Y0H4283UmRrIzQJcNRwlg91k7LiV74Gp9mhwWXeqa8m9QaiHXq1P1Ts0OTevI/s1600/6-30-13newrory4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInvJUwWT4jJs7nnDEPFhEp4vA_xpX4vIS36L0al8HLLBlNO-wLOOuMpn8MGJv6TXfPGgP6EGmJ7a345Y0H4283UmRrIzQJcNRwlg91k7LiV74Gp9mhwWXeqa8m9QaiHXq1P1Ts0OTevI/s640/6-30-13newrory4.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, in all my hospial gown glory, getting to <br />
snuggle a sixth baby. And feeling very blessed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPKIGAFauOH27n0HK-NLrMCmAnCPAjdGzu9OUNYErZcrjhOxndc2EqBRT0zXIHxe_Efc29ra1ugwiNCQlQAJiu5FsW_t7KU434NM1JTOwKH7WH0GE-kL07tzcTpL0iu8iEUdKsujJn1U/s1600/newroryandmymom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPKIGAFauOH27n0HK-NLrMCmAnCPAjdGzu9OUNYErZcrjhOxndc2EqBRT0zXIHxe_Efc29ra1ugwiNCQlQAJiu5FsW_t7KU434NM1JTOwKH7WH0GE-kL07tzcTpL0iu8iEUdKsujJn1U/s640/newroryandmymom.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My most amazing and fabulous mother cuddling her new grandson.<br />
Isn't she beautiful? I adore her. And any time spent in her company is never enough.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE2Ql_2puxWbpu94sttIczvC4GR9wlpEzenEAp60GHSZOvvOEUsR7xhkIX4ae2MMHrX6YiL6a6ngttgikdZM6taq-y-rYccFCPY4HowHiFFIPmpKIq5KNYTDDYNCiJAfYhZD-kdFqaeo/s1600/newrory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE2Ql_2puxWbpu94sttIczvC4GR9wlpEzenEAp60GHSZOvvOEUsR7xhkIX4ae2MMHrX6YiL6a6ngttgikdZM6taq-y-rYccFCPY4HowHiFFIPmpKIq5KNYTDDYNCiJAfYhZD-kdFqaeo/s640/newrory.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't stop taking pictures of this guy. Look at those smooshy, kissable cheeks!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4ayM5loz-GRguBTjUY5p7XLr0TtV8dY1AVvDCRB06xW6DvycrT0yY5zisZar37s8fAcqb5Yw0qEOjlT87N9dvmxojiROo6vKN5IDw6aA72TWZZHQDDhCxCgHG08X0tnQ7ihSrHQLahM/s1600/roryandme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4ayM5loz-GRguBTjUY5p7XLr0TtV8dY1AVvDCRB06xW6DvycrT0yY5zisZar37s8fAcqb5Yw0qEOjlT87N9dvmxojiROo6vKN5IDw6aA72TWZZHQDDhCxCgHG08X0tnQ7ihSrHQLahM/s640/roryandme.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He looks like he's really studying me!<br />
(possibly worried?!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHfwDD35e3RJQlUsZt5gsIxMrJipcoMBdFnaNIFNPrJI9TGElvZcI2zuYuP2WSmsnREw2t85HeyQJ1NIPonYNkrqegniOdguWFSjWXxu7zSY2ZcvirGUaVKa_e9-Y1_W_0MPiO1x3uQ4/s1600/7-13newrory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHfwDD35e3RJQlUsZt5gsIxMrJipcoMBdFnaNIFNPrJI9TGElvZcI2zuYuP2WSmsnREw2t85HeyQJ1NIPonYNkrqegniOdguWFSjWXxu7zSY2ZcvirGUaVKa_e9-Y1_W_0MPiO1x3uQ4/s640/7-13newrory.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't get enough of this face. Love, love, love him!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXirEDTWZXu3ZGPnaeDnx_33SjA3_rjglIGodm4D2UQHZN9gIEJlE4pfuK_GaL2a8ka3iqhjdUegSZ7v_0DGc6izTPwIIlHU8guyMCj2fuRAA7rO8oueQY3baLNx-exLqXvdx2S0po8/s1600/7-13welcomehome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXirEDTWZXu3ZGPnaeDnx_33SjA3_rjglIGodm4D2UQHZN9gIEJlE4pfuK_GaL2a8ka3iqhjdUegSZ7v_0DGc6izTPwIIlHU8guyMCj2fuRAA7rO8oueQY3baLNx-exLqXvdx2S0po8/s640/7-13welcomehome.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah. The kids were pretty excited to have us come home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95Isbi5FN4KBgTziFYKxFXjF_OxKYnhAwcRb-iOw2Qp-3XIGth8ryoh3SDOeRXOYmpVLa57rCLGDPYco8x9zhmf0mpt-oSz6WlQ-JUa5TUgp8qdlqBs0DTJRazoPVUkJiHRHcPgndrAk/s1600/7-13roryhome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95Isbi5FN4KBgTziFYKxFXjF_OxKYnhAwcRb-iOw2Qp-3XIGth8ryoh3SDOeRXOYmpVLa57rCLGDPYco8x9zhmf0mpt-oSz6WlQ-JUa5TUgp8qdlqBs0DTJRazoPVUkJiHRHcPgndrAk/s640/7-13roryhome.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OH! They were over-the-moon thrilled to finally have us back. They couldn't<br />
stop watching that baby. It is just the sweetest, best thing<br />
to have a new baby in your home. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZCXkvjHVyW7C04INhP9r-drMXfvMt0Tn5Ts1ui9JZhZoQHNN0TANvLV555qoGMfdg1b74ZhfQgipVJzTogg-EhuA8Im_MkrXVo0SeY2rNulAGcH_L0zWVfT1C90mcZDgTs3kIykJaIQ/s1600/kidsandrory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZCXkvjHVyW7C04INhP9r-drMXfvMt0Tn5Ts1ui9JZhZoQHNN0TANvLV555qoGMfdg1b74ZhfQgipVJzTogg-EhuA8Im_MkrXVo0SeY2rNulAGcH_L0zWVfT1C90mcZDgTs3kIykJaIQ/s640/kidsandrory.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can one momma be this lucky? I love these kids more than I ever could have possibly imagined. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwfet6bjnIlfoOLoypGUDXcyTfSVLuApJxQwX9hEOMjIwBNW9pdCRmJDREOg-JB0H34YJ-KYCEMt-82k1T_xA1hKl9q0cWH7aSNdRT7poOfp8ivyvmXAufDlPapTsrDVyvDhNV3eqeOs/s1600/Emmettwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwfet6bjnIlfoOLoypGUDXcyTfSVLuApJxQwX9hEOMjIwBNW9pdCRmJDREOg-JB0H34YJ-KYCEMt-82k1T_xA1hKl9q0cWH7aSNdRT7poOfp8ivyvmXAufDlPapTsrDVyvDhNV3eqeOs/s640/Emmettwater.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had so many great rain storms this summer!<br />
And the kids tried to make the best of it.<br />
(they LOVED it!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Ijz-6bZsNnpF0raHjuPzCzUQSRf6gaN_Xi9oCOatZU8c5FQ6qRUm6EWdGXkymX7gs3W9fkwjKLtJgCFcZ6uPeR7XFu1qlrUS73lMCiCnkJD5q7tEvZQA2vGjFKFbxCOLbXG_Q6fWy0/s1600/Mollyplayingwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Ijz-6bZsNnpF0raHjuPzCzUQSRf6gaN_Xi9oCOatZU8c5FQ6qRUm6EWdGXkymX7gs3W9fkwjKLtJgCFcZ6uPeR7XFu1qlrUS73lMCiCnkJD5q7tEvZQA2vGjFKFbxCOLbXG_Q6fWy0/s640/Mollyplayingwater.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this bouncy, muddy, blue-eyed girl. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDZNWPqUshReiMeFTpdAZQN_9cFJYMYxAlR9zIKVfvChru-dxsbafrQ4O5GIIITuHETfMLG51XGdAgf8U-vXj0FFMfgAjfDUI15dNgh2TjvUs6iIIOhXlVNWxxrQYzksFjAR_jnxc7w8/s1600/roryinsling4-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDZNWPqUshReiMeFTpdAZQN_9cFJYMYxAlR9zIKVfvChru-dxsbafrQ4O5GIIITuHETfMLG51XGdAgf8U-vXj0FFMfgAjfDUI15dNgh2TjvUs6iIIOhXlVNWxxrQYzksFjAR_jnxc7w8/s640/roryinsling4-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I adore slings. I love having my wee baby right up close to me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr06hOdaA5Zt-8YL-2w36ZvTDv8SQFqVBZ8l-VwZRF8Q6hQwt7dg5RYSyEfYjUPUrTKLQ7UWkogaFEuGP2G_FtGXVT404kH4nR2wzmkx53zHdNO9grxyP0ATETxn4BTs0bpeOHYHT7CKw/s1600/zoe4-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr06hOdaA5Zt-8YL-2w36ZvTDv8SQFqVBZ8l-VwZRF8Q6hQwt7dg5RYSyEfYjUPUrTKLQ7UWkogaFEuGP2G_FtGXVT404kH4nR2wzmkx53zHdNO9grxyP0ATETxn4BTs0bpeOHYHT7CKw/s640/zoe4-13.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe got a little wet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkQCMgWd3x3NnNB29Xtry7aKL97tfZ1mtsXLlHiEfMiANJ7m9uSdTd4lm-oEaQwN_wBKpGmTiPZId9J4GyrG8FgUYqRjdElgGW7t3yoLqKhWPMsT_bYiCzDx-yF30H4HcYSgb9XwH9pQ/s1600/girlsumbrellas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkQCMgWd3x3NnNB29Xtry7aKL97tfZ1mtsXLlHiEfMiANJ7m9uSdTd4lm-oEaQwN_wBKpGmTiPZId9J4GyrG8FgUYqRjdElgGW7t3yoLqKhWPMsT_bYiCzDx-yF30H4HcYSgb9XwH9pQ/s640/girlsumbrellas.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh! The joy of umbrellas and a rain storm!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ_HxERyOkbJjaOGDHZHTyrsKE4ut8zG4y-hwFe8KzSXx0A4sj_8abpI2Oi7qHDK2FpU6hHAvICQgkm8QH4e7T8kJFQP3y8NOTguYC4JnpS_KrVUJRNDL9_8rZBTMJmbX0DyHXcDrKM8/s1600/DSC_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ_HxERyOkbJjaOGDHZHTyrsKE4ut8zG4y-hwFe8KzSXx0A4sj_8abpI2Oi7qHDK2FpU6hHAvICQgkm8QH4e7T8kJFQP3y8NOTguYC4JnpS_KrVUJRNDL9_8rZBTMJmbX0DyHXcDrKM8/s640/DSC_1033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took lots and lots of photos of those little guy!<br />
(obviously)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn6WsGg0bdCPKvuYAMd6BfLbH1nVdrXLnT_Jw3LfoCVPqCAiB8ULQqFuo53PvJzL4hvb4f8rm6NehhiVm_F5iKbD4H6rPhyKmH4PWUJdP0azSLjLa0ICb4FFrI5msf-eILCR9XDUdyyc/s1600/girlsinwoods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn6WsGg0bdCPKvuYAMd6BfLbH1nVdrXLnT_Jw3LfoCVPqCAiB8ULQqFuo53PvJzL4hvb4f8rm6NehhiVm_F5iKbD4H6rPhyKmH4PWUJdP0azSLjLa0ICb4FFrI5msf-eILCR9XDUdyyc/s640/girlsinwoods.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little girls up in the woods during Weston's 50-miler Scouting middle-of-the-week dinner with the families.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqhy1zGV-pWjupbk93zKZo0XAQNJO0lLWKhr7MCdKabksYNpzdRjFIC60RqhpK5WLpbjvNC9FfaWdiwaqqo_i0ViQUTa154VIBYDRG0Old5pbwV9nFLn23El9jySU3vejvT5bD7aHLtI/s1600/kidsforts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqhy1zGV-pWjupbk93zKZo0XAQNJO0lLWKhr7MCdKabksYNpzdRjFIC60RqhpK5WLpbjvNC9FfaWdiwaqqo_i0ViQUTa154VIBYDRG0Old5pbwV9nFLn23El9jySU3vejvT5bD7aHLtI/s640/kidsforts.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More rain. More fun.They created a village. <br />
And apparently there were some buffalos in the back yard for them to hunt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAnp3EumjhXROVY5RyGZ9QN1uf1DqCXw2L5l5atgzjmZ219kOtdAYmv66g-gvr6Q0jhBdR4f7Y8FTvcfjPjshN0cAU42BSb3v6skNmNoPR6KWvzx9t1_T9HQjLrwhAN3Ht9C5QiDb_HY/s1600/slingbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAnp3EumjhXROVY5RyGZ9QN1uf1DqCXw2L5l5atgzjmZ219kOtdAYmv66g-gvr6Q0jhBdR4f7Y8FTvcfjPjshN0cAU42BSb3v6skNmNoPR6KWvzx9t1_T9HQjLrwhAN3Ht9C5QiDb_HY/s640/slingbaby.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's so cute in that sling!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem_p-6fnirCpfQmmQmmboMwaqxERY6d55pG4B0XcP79kXDyWUjzhWFbOwLy5Thc_DyUlKHDSZx1A5p-IMlQGoZDF_ENrcOTpSwEUvR6xOLO9N8gcYKY2D0dL8lkq5580pPwokT4zjZ4Y/s1600/snowconestand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem_p-6fnirCpfQmmQmmboMwaqxERY6d55pG4B0XcP79kXDyWUjzhWFbOwLy5Thc_DyUlKHDSZx1A5p-IMlQGoZDF_ENrcOTpSwEUvR6xOLO9N8gcYKY2D0dL8lkq5580pPwokT4zjZ4Y/s640/snowconestand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids tried to make their millions with a snow cone shack.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMlDA_Vhs136Wrf_EsKS8VTr26DFRPdWspUgnXE4eoYWT2tvsJjDV9qwMtbK8h3H8l96cYiOhyMeqbM6xB52Qzpb5Zg5zpWXFQ2_kmbqCoKNwatI2Vm-B_4-W1z0GEch9w8R_dkPyUAE/s1600/ballerinamolly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMlDA_Vhs136Wrf_EsKS8VTr26DFRPdWspUgnXE4eoYWT2tvsJjDV9qwMtbK8h3H8l96cYiOhyMeqbM6xB52Qzpb5Zg5zpWXFQ2_kmbqCoKNwatI2Vm-B_4-W1z0GEch9w8R_dkPyUAE/s640/ballerinamolly.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only is she absolutely adorable...<br />
She has excellent fashion sense.<br />
(Check out her shoes.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnZEgPfClz5kcnbQ2q68unkKwUwrKo_ntdVwhnhAXc3xcGNDdhaaWrbFsgXjuwG1ZU0_Y_cYtFLilm2j1wgzCniFGMNnO36QLHBisDgPUROmcTGgaB5Yo3AeuBdD8wpk3P-gDfK_ltXM/s1600/westonbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnZEgPfClz5kcnbQ2q68unkKwUwrKo_ntdVwhnhAXc3xcGNDdhaaWrbFsgXjuwG1ZU0_Y_cYtFLilm2j1wgzCniFGMNnO36QLHBisDgPUROmcTGgaB5Yo3AeuBdD8wpk3P-gDfK_ltXM/s640/westonbike.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boy.<br />
Look at him!<br />
I think he grew a foot this summer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD76YTgsUMsAka1u2uVTFo_uqXo4vhyelSJjDDDrBXFeqGaNoX7Ub_oknUmbxIhx0sPZ4eSW3lKi16VAhXUP3oUEn2F3ZwA9lUGnzGSVB2JsAKrpTOony7p7i-v9ZWyXX2ibyUoj21DAI/s1600/mydadrory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD76YTgsUMsAka1u2uVTFo_uqXo4vhyelSJjDDDrBXFeqGaNoX7Ub_oknUmbxIhx0sPZ4eSW3lKi16VAhXUP3oUEn2F3ZwA9lUGnzGSVB2JsAKrpTOony7p7i-v9ZWyXX2ibyUoj21DAI/s640/mydadrory.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fantastic dad and Rory.<br />
Oh! This man is incredibly incredible. I don't know how<br />
I managed to be blessed with such amazing parents, but I was.<br />
This man is such an example to me. He is patient and kind and<br />
so amazingly smart. And check out that smile. He's<br />
quite the handsome fellow, too!<br />
(and now you know where Molly got those blue eyes!) </td></tr>
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Erin Shakespearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15794751563128418926noreply@blogger.com2