tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78327812776709243012024-03-14T05:14:56.088-04:00The Life and Times of Bendy RugglesJaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-74737436593404749282010-10-01T13:29:00.000-04:002010-10-01T13:29:01.720-04:00Six Word Fridays: What's Been Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxqsI1TqxarHLzPWmaWxuKc6tfTPCp0_21jdd95JZo8eSatBeUzPeim3ImZgORauk3F73FNLYaUQsvK-AMW1j5O5G4fD91HNFPZTgUaAu9LlqMnEvBDu1dV1r4oKq2GAuJrIFVWOpdOMq/s1600/101_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxqsI1TqxarHLzPWmaWxuKc6tfTPCp0_21jdd95JZo8eSatBeUzPeim3ImZgORauk3F73FNLYaUQsvK-AMW1j5O5G4fD91HNFPZTgUaAu9LlqMnEvBDu1dV1r4oKq2GAuJrIFVWOpdOMq/s320/101_3346.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Apple picking this weekend. Can't wait.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Pumpkins, petting zoo and hay rides.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Great photo opps, and cider donuts!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dad, Liz, Dru, Jack, too. Yay!</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Horrible family news. Praying really hard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fall is my favorite. So wonderful.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crunchy leaves, light breeze, hoodies... Ahh. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Buying a Halloween costume pretty soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ilyana is still growing too fast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Been wanting a baby. Not yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not the right time for that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully soon, though. I love squidgeons.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Illy keeps asking. She'd share us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or so she says. We'll see.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Life's been crazy. I don't know.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Every time we decide, things change.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Guess that's how it goes, huh?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-6647475740946253522010-08-30T09:26:00.000-04:002010-08-30T09:26:58.563-04:00DO FUN STUFF!!!!<iframe align="middle" border="0" height="719px" src="http://dofunstuff.net" width="480px"><p><p>Sorry, your browser does not support iframes.</p></p></iframe><br />
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So, the day has come for the launch of <a href="http://www.dofunstuff.net/">DO FUN STUFF!!</a>, an amazing charity album whose proceeds will go to graduate students who wish to make Smith Magenis Syndrome their field of choice. If you click around the widget above, it explains pretty much everything better than I could. And if you'd like to be an awesome person, just clickity-click on the <a href="http://www.dofunstuff.net/">DO FUN STUFF</a> link and you can grab this widget yourself and pass it along on your blog. The more we can raise awareness about this, the better. Make some noise peeps!!! And buy the album. Take a listen, it really is some fantastic music :)<br />
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xoxo,<br />
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JadeJaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-88639041122018394452010-07-13T15:36:00.001-04:002010-07-13T15:41:39.522-04:00Summer Reading List Book 2 of 10- Relentless Review<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=020202&fc1=F9F5F5&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=055359172X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I lied. The next book I chose to read was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Relentless</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"> by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Koontz"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Dean Koontz</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">. I finished it on 7/5/2010. I did actually start reading the Thai cookbook already, but I am having a hard time finishing it... It's not the best instructional cookbook and I'm finding it difficult to get through just reading the recipes rather than cooking them... I find myself thinking as I read it, what's the point? So my thought now is to still finish reading it, but at the end cook a fabulous Thai meal for my family with recipes from the book along with photos and my review. So that will be more time consuming than I had originally thought and I've put it on the back burner for a bit. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Without giving too much away, the basic plot of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Relentless </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">is this: the main character is a well-renowned author. He gets a horrible review from a famous critic and is miffed about it, but under advisement of his wife and agent, doesn't do anything about it... Except show up to a place where he happens to know the critic will be having lunch. He runs into him in the bathroom and his son almost pees on the guy by accident, but nothing else is really said and there is no big confrontation. Well, it turns out that the critic is a major psychopath and he then goes on to terrorize the author throughout the book. You're not getting any more details out of me here! ;)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">liked this book. I definitely thought it took a while to get going in the beginning...in fact the first time I picked it up, I read 21 pages and didn't go any further with it for months until a week and a half ago- but after it got going, it was an interesting read overall. I find that Koontz in general is hard to put down once you get sucked into his plot line, and this one was no exception to that. It wasn't one of his best- it didn't grab me the way </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Good Guy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">False Memory</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">From The Corner Of His Eye</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"> did- but I read it all in about two full evenings anyway, and it surely wasn't one of his worst, either. I found the last paragraph a little bit trite and semi-disappointing, but I can see how it would have felt like it was left hanging if he didn't put SOMETHING there... I just wish it would have felt more meaningful, or relevant to the overall story. A solid "B" :)</span></span>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-43791998432656762162010-07-09T15:43:00.000-04:002010-07-09T15:43:02.809-04:00What She Says #5- Nuggets of Wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVLtGJ498T0_AV9uOr4psYBc1Fqovx8ErManZ_ugx37WDxR1WYnMnUhuWTUB6_g09W7xxjRqLhpoyfQDScGkeF_bntefGIi90teADW7nvSJXahU-IULmu0NWg9hTrhcWyF5BiuEimSyNW/s1600/PG2-1+Will+Ill+rock+throw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVLtGJ498T0_AV9uOr4psYBc1Fqovx8ErManZ_ugx37WDxR1WYnMnUhuWTUB6_g09W7xxjRqLhpoyfQDScGkeF_bntefGIi90teADW7nvSJXahU-IULmu0NWg9hTrhcWyF5BiuEimSyNW/s320/PG2-1+Will+Ill+rock+throw.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photo from last year on a hike)</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Monsters like to break things... And Daddies like to fix things."</div><div style="text-align: center;"> -Ilyana Arana Shayla, 7/1/2010</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-7188387705036144512010-07-01T16:30:00.000-04:002010-07-01T16:30:26.835-04:00Our Favorite Time To PlayOur favorite time to play lately is definitely dusk... we get home and unpack our days' lunches, purses, toys, get out of any uncomfy clothes we've been wearing, and then we inevitably start to hear the kids outside pushing toys around, and our new neighbors (who we've become fast friends with lately) son is outside our window screeching in his playful little boy laugh and yelling "Ee-yana? Ee-yana?" That's how we know it's time to go out and play.<br />
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It's wonderful when the sun starts to set, the days' heat starts to settle down, and the temperature is just right for running and dancing... And, while the bugs are out, we rarely notice due to the mad infestation of white spiders with creepy black stripes on their legs that has inhabited our porch. This is not my first choice of bug repellant, but we keep trying to get rid of the suckers and they just procreate more. We vacuumed them, then we squished them, and now, I think I'm starting to accept them since I don't know what else to do. I suppose if there comes a point that I can't walk outside without having one land on me, something will have to be done for good. Here are some of the latest photos of the Bend from one of our wonderful summer dusk evenings:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM38VuLHxO-z82nj51etInULrvYe2ORJdTkxLECt1l8qvqIusKqCxYP684G-VfOHKlQeW64Qnzmuw04qgX-SQfcF2oBcgAmPRf9GA01ypL_3biqDviII6qOAmLwIongYV2821Yq5_jyuxX/s320/DSCF2154sized.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dancing in the dusk...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaNjjSQE3y1KlNs0Pq6tgrT2b1VykjzBuft-oQ7vYL8bC8c1CZ-BxQWvfWLMzu7E_Fr-q2NVhSc_0G8MeQ18mwVdEXJKUREliKXFKp-ixfFenlYyW3_xZjdpE9i2Ub6oyNiYP6PAGKB6L/s320/DSCF2161sized.JPG" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is her "pose" haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GxEAQIbsQS5FJAzeWGZ4pr38OFt_uzT7DXDrTdjDcYr8kyJxvoKvN9knREhyphenhyphenkHmGBkZhN-EzYZo5LqQ13Kh0t4ft0qgWknGyw9WbQ1QMRM6-daOZ_f2V_CIuE9OQJUJRP9eichRIQdL3/s1600/DSCF2171sized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GxEAQIbsQS5FJAzeWGZ4pr38OFt_uzT7DXDrTdjDcYr8kyJxvoKvN9knREhyphenhyphenkHmGBkZhN-EzYZo5LqQ13Kh0t4ft0qgWknGyw9WbQ1QMRM6-daOZ_f2V_CIuE9OQJUJRP9eichRIQdL3/s320/DSCF2171sized.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mMSMuQjWP9Cj7KnaUX7ZPB2-svha_IRPCH1obGUac4VxnQkmMwDk0uS7Q1DjTkC6EaCvSmUOJa52PsGCKy8mC5i-3oGk1J0NiFldgJSZFHG845acynZRO8iCVLE2fOCS5HLdrDf8TuuB/s1600/DSCF2170sized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mMSMuQjWP9Cj7KnaUX7ZPB2-svha_IRPCH1obGUac4VxnQkmMwDk0uS7Q1DjTkC6EaCvSmUOJa52PsGCKy8mC5i-3oGk1J0NiFldgJSZFHG845acynZRO8iCVLE2fOCS5HLdrDf8TuuB/s320/DSCF2170sized.JPG" /></a> Smooches for Momma :o)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTum6DCi5xWL12Fj1rFyu4Sw2Pl5hELcf4ZbXLa0PS0KEuM_jFBHJdKRDCsodmJIIJErqUmKzeeMSA9stQOmsNytET3K_UdGZ66JOxvnoOWrfGqmXRvvZa8WoYnxi4oaqo7isT4B1S9dl4/s320/DSCF2169sized.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I feel like I just couldn't be any luckier... <3 xo</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-1493010254282350512010-06-20T10:00:00.004-04:002010-06-20T10:00:03.431-04:00--Happy Father's Day Dada Ruggle--<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Father's Day to the best darn Daddio in town.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjT0odDE8ZRkqL2-nWgxfSoZmMvmbjhqvCZNQF0wFVr-cEoE_ZbdWV_-8EDV9F738YVRqjQi9lFc66dqkkErWifsKet-ycldm5MYfL3ywtUlNn7XAM0lF0SSlJ9vbvw1VSbrnWGS4ktcL/s1600/dad+and+ill+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjT0odDE8ZRkqL2-nWgxfSoZmMvmbjhqvCZNQF0wFVr-cEoE_ZbdWV_-8EDV9F738YVRqjQi9lFc66dqkkErWifsKet-ycldm5MYfL3ywtUlNn7XAM0lF0SSlJ9vbvw1VSbrnWGS4ktcL/s400/dad+and+ill+002.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know what I would do without your hugs...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your smooches...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMgQPf6i3J1XJ-X457W2HDsgpoZbFrLnqyoxNK4Uy5l-mSLRcIefwARVHMiHkTN4MJOhfrCH9LQciJl4jFL4RwCsPmNwHkqpx1krguiD31fyplQ2ed4u4bg5kvjFtDtEEK0XSgid_bZjP/s1600/dad+and+ill+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMgQPf6i3J1XJ-X457W2HDsgpoZbFrLnqyoxNK4Uy5l-mSLRcIefwARVHMiHkTN4MJOhfrCH9LQciJl4jFL4RwCsPmNwHkqpx1krguiD31fyplQ2ed4u4bg5kvjFtDtEEK0XSgid_bZjP/s320/dad+and+ill+005.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijN1MT3CgMYGeTE2-mrq_WvEjf5ZrZOLC7Yw4nen8vPLGPSYwWLLzOx0Leb5qVmkjicxeeN0s9yoqHeyOJnkImtfkley8gmZ6IOKeWfHr7HoYAw4hviIQJUQrGm-aRLvZJANj8DnrlcZi/s1600/dad+and+ill+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijN1MT3CgMYGeTE2-mrq_WvEjf5ZrZOLC7Yw4nen8vPLGPSYwWLLzOx0Leb5qVmkjicxeeN0s9yoqHeyOJnkImtfkley8gmZ6IOKeWfHr7HoYAw4hviIQJUQrGm-aRLvZJANj8DnrlcZi/s320/dad+and+ill+004.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Or all of our crazy memories together. You make my heart feel super happy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehCKRye3wvDByyU2L-d41WD2pYscLBZSp2sywKkgU6pcxggLouU8fXr7Kcs4PCfXQ1-kckMvdpeHnpnVFYr1Uxc-7BikVRRUTSA9yW3TtVaJzWC8vV6bySnwqHGrXEtnAGzXTUKmKQphB/s1600/dad+and+ill+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehCKRye3wvDByyU2L-d41WD2pYscLBZSp2sywKkgU6pcxggLouU8fXr7Kcs4PCfXQ1-kckMvdpeHnpnVFYr1Uxc-7BikVRRUTSA9yW3TtVaJzWC8vV6bySnwqHGrXEtnAGzXTUKmKQphB/s320/dad+and+ill+006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziPtx6xRkJ2a0xzIeA__ZGdHb4KfsMndvr0w80IfiZDabHvzZxhmepWO-KEtZ3K9Y7-om-85l9bUaI-5zplftldBKQA8mYGkCuzbuiYpAmTLDC7BqBeiUZYT3wlA8DncgT9w6DzIgRCcu/s1600/dad+and+ill+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziPtx6xRkJ2a0xzIeA__ZGdHb4KfsMndvr0w80IfiZDabHvzZxhmepWO-KEtZ3K9Y7-om-85l9bUaI-5zplftldBKQA8mYGkCuzbuiYpAmTLDC7BqBeiUZYT3wlA8DncgT9w6DzIgRCcu/s320/dad+and+ill+007.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love you Dada. Big, big, big.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">~Your sweet little Snug Bug Ruggle</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-72112408236846723772010-06-17T19:38:00.001-04:002010-06-17T19:38:39.119-04:00Summer Reading List Book 1 of 10- Pretty Dead Review<iframe class=" yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=0A0A0A&fc1=FBF7F7&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003GAN43G" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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I finished <i>Pretty Dead</i> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesca_Lia_Block">Francesca Lia Block</a> on 6/6/2010. I was looking forward to reading this book as Block has been one of my favorite authors for years. Her books <i>Violet and Claire </i>and <i>The Hanged Man</i> left me astounded and I immediately fell in love with her imagery. Her insight into the characters she creates always made me feel as I knew each one personally- I had seen into their deepest, darkest secrets. I was hoping <i>Pretty Dead</i> would have the same depth of character and vibrant imagery that I had first come to expect from Block's work.<br />
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As predicted, <i>Pretty Dead</i> was a very short read- a few hours at best. The story revolves around a beautiful girl named Charlotte who loses her twin brother and is so devastated by that loss that she chooses to become a vampire in an attempt to feel less. Although she now has immortality as well as beauty and wealth, she is never the same again and is always searching to fill the void left by her brother's death. Her decision to live forever plagues her as she feels no connection to the world around her... Until one day when she finally befriends a girl named Emily. Everything is fine and dandy until Emily dies too (ostensibly a suicide), leaving her alone once again. The story unfolds from there, and Amazon actually reveals more about it if you're curious but I won't blow it all (I feel like they give a lot away)... Suffice it to say that there are a few twists and turns.<br />
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The narrative of the story does read much like poetry, which is typical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesca_Lia_Block">Block</a> and one of the things I appreciate about her so much. The characters are generally well developed, although I didn't find them to be quite as "round" as I had hoped and found some of the characters in her other novels to be... But the biggest fault I found with this novel was that the plot itself sort of fell flat. It was somewhat predictable overall and to me, definitely not one of her best. That's not to say I didn't enjoy reading it; I still did, and I think I would still recommend it to those tweenage girls out there looking to read something fun and cool and beautiful sounding. But for intensity's sake, and for those adults who enjoy delving into young adult fiction like myself, there is something lacking here. If I had a friend who was interested in Block, I would definitely point them in the direction of- again- my two favorites by her... <i>The Hanged Man</i> and <i>Violet and Claire</i>. Each of those books gave me goosebumps when I read them and have such intense imagery that some of it has stuck with me over the years.<br />
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Maybe I'm just getting old and slowly outgrowing this genre, and if I went back and re-read either of those books, they wouldn't feel as meaningful now as they did when I read them ten years ago. It's possible. Maybe I'll have to test that theory one of these days. Next up... Book 2! Which will either be <i>Thai</i> cooking, or <i>The Woods</i>. Not sure yet!! :)Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-26896962029819893452010-06-06T12:00:00.000-04:002010-06-06T12:00:04.144-04:00An Open Letter to My (Not So) Baby Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX0SbCk51DBcKq4RaXX1sjyuXJpfN2M9aGTnr1-g9XlHKwz1eLkhSPtbgKvfhxd0-jfQQifc90wwkwDJtFT6vog5tGoRCNnJPlpKAdXz1QYYqPpkaaKkLkIyB4FyuIwjC8RDQdATqResL/s1600/DSCF2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX0SbCk51DBcKq4RaXX1sjyuXJpfN2M9aGTnr1-g9XlHKwz1eLkhSPtbgKvfhxd0-jfQQifc90wwkwDJtFT6vog5tGoRCNnJPlpKAdXz1QYYqPpkaaKkLkIyB4FyuIwjC8RDQdATqResL/s320/DSCF2136.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Ilyana:<br />
Ever since your birthday on May 9th, you look so big to me. It's like overnight, my little squishy baby girl has vanished. Now, I know that's not the case, but prior to your third birthday, you still seemed to me like a toddler... You were still loving Dora, still needed help with your shoes, and didn't go to the potty all by yourself. You turned three, and overnight, it's like BAM! Here's this little girl that tells me stories and runs around and goes pee all alone and can put on her OWN shoes (all the while asking "are these the right feet, Momma?") and is actually BIGGER than some of the other kids, and shows them how to play and much prefers Chowder to Dora (oh thank GOD! I like Chowder, and those freakin' Dora songs were getting really old). She helps with the dog, she doesn't like brushing her teeth or hair (don't worry hon, we make you do it anyway... pure torture, I know), and she has LOTS and LOTS of opinions about everything and isn't afraid to express them. You are becoming a girl.<br />
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It breaks my heart and makes me proud and shakes me to the core than I helped create this AWEsome (in the true sense of the word, not like the, "totally, cool man" way) person that I just know will keep blowing me away as the years go on. You are so beautiful, ridiculously smart, and a hilarious little joke-cracker. You are incredibly empathetic and sensitive at times... You can always tell when me or your Daddy is feeling down in the dumps and you never fail to find a way to make it better, whether it be with a hug or a compliment ("Daddy, you're a good guy"... "You're so BEAUTIFUL Mommy!") or just a snuggle and a big belly laugh. It's so odd to be in this position; I feel like I'm mourning the loss of my little baby, and YET, and yet... I want to freeze you in time today, because what you are today is more amazing than I could have ever hoped... And YET, again, I can't wait to see what you will become. I just know that as the years go by, you're going to keep surprising me and making me feel like the luckiest Momma around. <br />
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You love playing at the park, running around outside, watching movies, your doggie Deuce dingle (or as you call him, "Buddy"), your family, your cupcake blankie, and shopping (just like your mom...). You aren't afraid to approach any and everyone you meet, so you make friends pretty much wherever we go. You have an elephant's memory (something Cey-Cey used to always say to me when I was little!!) and can recall even the smallest details about things we did months ago. You pick up colloquialisms from us very easily and will pull them out at the most unexpected times for a good laugh ("Mommy, why do some dogs poop?" ... "All dogs poop, honey, just like people." ..."You're KIDDING me, Momma! You're just joking!" as you wave your hand in a dismissive manner)... We've been really careful what we say around you lately because you're SO verbal and smart that I know if we slip up, you'll be dropping an F-bomb at a really inconvenient time!<br />
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Lately, you've been going through a phase where it seems like every. little. thing. is a battle. You HAVE to argue about what you wear, how long we play outside, whether or not you go to daycare, when you go to bed, whether you shower or not, brushing your hair/ teeth, what we listen to in the car, etc. etc. You yell at the top of your lungs whenever I'm on the phone in the car (simply because you don't like that I'm not paying attention to YOU right then) and you screech when we sing a song you don't like. Everyone always talks about the "terrible twos" but you were a peach when you were two... I can tell our real challenge is going to be this year of three- now that you know what you want and you want it NOW and you are willing to fight for it. It's exhausting, and I feel like some days, all I say is "No!", "Not now..." "Stop that!" or "Come here Ilyana!" which makes me feel like the evil Mom of the year... But in truth, even on days when I heave a big sigh of relief at your bedtime, I'm still so proud that you are growing into an independent, crazy-haired smart little cookie. I wouldn't trade your strong will or fiery nature for anything- it's who you are and even when it's hard, I love you for it. I want you to know that every day, I wake up and thank my lucky stars that I have this healthy, gorgeous, loving little girl to call my own. When you were in my belly, I never could have imagined just how much you'd change our lives and make us grow, or just how much I could possibly love you. I thought I loved you then, before you were born... And I know I did, but it baffles me that the love I felt could just grow and grow and grow over these past three years. How is that possible? I don't know what I would do without you, my little princess, Bendy Ruggle, Lulu the ladybug, snug-bug-rugg, widgeon, noodle nose, pinchy-bum girl. Thanks for being in my life, and for making me so proud. I never could have hoped for more.<br />
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All the love in the world,<br />
<br />
~~Your crazy Mumma~~Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-85647845469435569922010-06-04T17:22:00.004-04:002010-07-09T15:16:15.668-04:00Summer Reading List<div style="text-align: left;">The title of this post is pretty self-explanatory... These are the books I *hope* to read this summer. I picked ten, to try and stretch myself, considering I rarely read anymore so I doubt I'll actually get through them all. However, I truly used to LOVE to read, so I want to make more time in my life for it. I've piled all ten of these picks at the end of my bed on an unused shelf (well... it was being used by junk, which I moved. ha.) I decided on three somewhat educational books, one cookbook, and six fiction. I know that seems largely skewed towards fun, but again... Haven't read much lately. Want to get it back in my life and for it to STAY there, so I am trying to make sure I'll enjoy it :) Some of these are ones I've started reading before and never finished, some are ones I got with the intention of reading and haven't started. I'll include a picture and a short blurb about why I chose each book. I'm also hoping to post thoughts about each book after I finish it, to hold myself accountable... We'll see how that goes ;) So... Here they are, in no particular order:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">(1) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=040404&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=040404&fc1=F5EDED&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=076792973X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)</i> By David Bach<br />
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I got this book a while back because I was hoping the author could dispel the myth for me that being eco-friendly is too expensive. I'm interested to see what kind of ideas he puts forth and whether they are realistic and worth trying.<br />
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(2) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=080808&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=080808&fc1=FBF7F7&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=031608736X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Eclipse</i> By Stephenie Meyer<br />
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I started reading the Twilight series long before it became such a <i>thing</i>. About a year before all the hubbub about the books began, I was browsing in Borders with a gift card I had received and came across them. I thought they looked interesting and picked up the first two. It was right after I bought and started reading <i>Eclipse</i> that they blew up and turned into the teenybopper fad of the year, and for *some* reason, I lost all interest in the middle of the third book. Since I did thoroughly enjoy the first books, I think it's only right that I give them one more chance and try to finish them up.<br />
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(3) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=040404&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=040404&fc1=F9F7F7&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=031606792X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Breaking Dawn</i> By Stephenie Meyer<br />
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Have to finish up the series! ;)<br />
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(4) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jbbhhTTIJPn4MiMola-1MIfRpqbKBzER_4Vd3v-l3VLSUntRa1OUUaI3YBWB_6DGUKQafAquA9eEnk3qENEiRdCxmEJeZpKqE06mcyqKH0tXwY6T3KQE-7iwAoWn1vqbr1g3-uEKyJ17/s200/thaibook.JPG" width="152" /><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Thai/Fred-Sandman/e/9780760783054/?itm=1&USRI=thai+fred+sandman"><i>Thai </i>Edited By Fred Sandman</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Thai food. I want to eat more of it. I want to learn to cook it. The end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(5) </div></div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=060606&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=060606&fc1=F5F3F3&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002SB8MZ4" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Welsh Girl</i> By Peter Ho Davies<br />
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Another book I found when browsing after getting a gift card for a present... I've always been intrigued by wartime stories, and this one is also a love story... It seems like it will be right up my alley.<br />
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(6) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=0E0E0E&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=0E0E0E&fc1=F7F5F5&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1603420428" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i> Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill: How to Grow & Overwinter 165 Tender Plants</i> By Alice and Brian McGowan<br />
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I've had this for a while and I'm always lamenting about my horrible plant abilities. I figure maybe I should try to educate myself and do something about it?<br />
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(7) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=0E0E0E&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=0E0E0E&fc1=F9EFEF&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0451221958" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Woods</i> By Harlan Coben<br />
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Just a fun crime drama book :D<br />
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(8)</div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=060606&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=060606&fc1=F9EDED&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003GAN43G" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><strike><i>Pretty Dead</i> By Francesca Lia Block </strike> Finished on 6/6/2010!!<br />
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She's long been one of my favorite authors, and I don't care who knows it or judges because her books are short and are aimed at a younger crowd. Her words are always beautiful poetry and I love the way she sees the world. This is one of her new ones, that I hadn't read, and I know I'll devour it in one sitting... It's a quick read (195 <i>very</i> small pages) but I'm looking forward to it. Other amazing books by her? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Claire-Francesca-Lia-Block/dp/0064472531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275685890&sr=1-1">Violet and Claire</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hanged-Man-Francesca-Lia-Block/dp/0064408329/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275685942&sr=1-1">The Hanged Man</a>, just for starters.<br />
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(9) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=060606&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=060606&fc1=F5F1F1&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0142000280" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Getting Things Done</i> By David Allen<br />
<br />
A National Bestseller that I've seen mentioned in a few different places, I snatched this up when Trent over at <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/">The Simple Dollar</a> recommended it and started doing his series about it. I've been reading The Simple Dollar for a while now and respect Trent's opinion. He said it's the one book that has improved his life the most. I figure we could all use less stress and more productivity in our lives, so I'm going to give this method a shot.<br />
<br />
<br />
And finally, number (10) </div><iframe class=" nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu nsqrwcjfvqwwlofnkmhu yulmlxvwepmhurvmwkal" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=040404&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=040404&fc1=FFF9F9&lc1=0000FF&t=theli0ad-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=055359172X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><strike><i>Relentless</i> By Dean Koontz </strike> Finished on 7/5/2010!!<br />
<br />
Another of my favorite authors; another brand new book we bought and never read.<br />
<br />
After I finish up with these books, I hope to try and pass some of them along on <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php">PaperbackSwap</a> :) I signed up on there and have yet to use my account, but I am thinking if I do get back into reading, this could be a great way to keep those costs down when there are new books I want to read. Wish me luck... Reading, here I come (again)!!!</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-27080637205481747802010-06-04T10:53:00.000-04:002010-06-04T10:53:36.046-04:00Ten Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zrAES83tLCw624wU6n7VMScYtTLG8q6SY7QL_7CXygjApNpWCGdsriQlZESl3IQomuuF0uScUtaCTxRYZ32AqaWtIyaGraaU02Q4n8R7NGbAqZHfxzLrsqEz21Gz9ORm0WnNiVcGOnQb/s1600/family+easter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zrAES83tLCw624wU6n7VMScYtTLG8q6SY7QL_7CXygjApNpWCGdsriQlZESl3IQomuuF0uScUtaCTxRYZ32AqaWtIyaGraaU02Q4n8R7NGbAqZHfxzLrsqEz21Gz9ORm0WnNiVcGOnQb/s320/family+easter.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Ten years today. We've been through a lot and I won't lie, sometimes, it's been a struggle... But I don't think anything worth fighting for is easy. I hope you know that I still love you with every inch of my soul, and I wouldn't want to live my life with anybody else. We have an amazing little family, and I am so proud of what we've overcome to create it. Thanks for sticking it out with me.<br />
<br />
So many people have told me before that they don't know how we've done it; we were so young when we started, have been through so much, and had so many chances to walk away... I always smile and think to myself that I don't know how we wouldn't have. I can't imagine walking away and being able to stay away. I'm drawn to you and love you with the kind of passion that makes me want to fight for it. For us. For everything we want to become, and for our dreams- yours, mine, ours. Our little girl's. It still sets my heart a-flutter when you compliment me, and I still think you're a sexy beasat ;) Love changes over time... Things have settled down, for sure, and it's hard when you realize that the initial flame you had has somewhat died down... But it's settled into something that's really irreplaceable. Into something that I can fall back on when I feel like I'm losing it, into something that I can rely on, something that I know is more solid than any two-week flame of lust. Thanks for being my rock, and a better Dada Ruggle than I could have imagined. Here's hoping for ten more...<br />
<br />
<br />
xoxo~~<br />
<br />
Your wife. <br />
<br />
PS: We need to get more pictures of us together. Notice the one I used? It's from Easter 08... lol! ;)Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-52801723918317151542010-06-03T16:06:00.001-04:002010-06-03T16:10:11.112-04:00Ilyana Turns Three at Chuck E Cheese's!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Better late than never!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had been warned about doing the whole birthday at Chuck E's thing by others in the past... About how they rush you off your table, and it costs an arm and a leg, and the kids get overwhelmed, yadda yadda yadda. The thing is, growing up, my Mom used to take my brother and I to Chuck E Cheese almost every Friday, so for me, it's a place of happy memories, of fun and games and food and laughter. Sure, it's loud, and obnoxious, and LOUD, and I know that by the end of the visit, we'll all feel like zombies... But that's all part and partial to the experience, right?! Right. So we figured that while Ilyana is at the age that she truly enjoys the experience, and gets SUPERTHRILLED over it, and actually BELIEVES that Chuck E is a for-real, life-size giant mouse who only wants to party and get down and celebrate with you, we'd take advantage of that bit of innocence and let her have her Chuck E party. So we did. And overall, it didn't disappoint. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was dancing (this was in front of a screen that projects you onto some TV's above your head for everyone in the place to watch you) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rp7QqEebYVWB3Fs3mYlQWA7rta76eeC7nMZdgQBaaw3C9RabkClBkWOnA_ckf8YiliEV9EHAiNMBe1_DdLyJ46W1mhbzy1u_cc2gEza5MLEhbnM8IB0Y5jMXIgXpT14vABoHYLVcnI0w/s1600/bday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rp7QqEebYVWB3Fs3mYlQWA7rta76eeC7nMZdgQBaaw3C9RabkClBkWOnA_ckf8YiliEV9EHAiNMBe1_DdLyJ46W1mhbzy1u_cc2gEza5MLEhbnM8IB0Y5jMXIgXpT14vABoHYLVcnI0w/s320/bday2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And eating...</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCeEKxjAQBig_wg2WVlM-xqGXnppnRUteEUtyIxe4NIEwc20zY6EtFXfWFUigF1XscRt-BgN4Ah8LUOEjmek5_sEtUMeAlhvq7nUlcI5_PpAPIfDezAAZ2teVK-y5mjj57Y07_DL-dHCe/s320/bday3.jpg" width="240" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Owen, Dru and Jack enjoying some pizza!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir188ClmxyBdCfROYG91c7C5KV0HilG7vIRrB1efH2_6BvQu80jNP7uT3DgIz6uLrbXAD-QMina5Xd68Ek6WFVflX-Chq6wv4a7qN8c-9hY81UEoD0cKxL7xMFW7RfN3M6NinUN5j3_dSL/s1600/bday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir188ClmxyBdCfROYG91c7C5KV0HilG7vIRrB1efH2_6BvQu80jNP7uT3DgIz6uLrbXAD-QMina5Xd68Ek6WFVflX-Chq6wv4a7qN8c-9hY81UEoD0cKxL7xMFW7RfN3M6NinUN5j3_dSL/s320/bday5.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mitch, Bobby and Lizzie having lunch! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were lots of rides, games and a jungle gym:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQq74eXrHrwzXBCDPvm5w9MTshfJjuRSXycyWQMb1v2dEZLVTLvB3Ebh1rXPKy7CqfpSwSZtjajGV2AYGIIIeSeRQYEDsUIkTc4WLRJPM1rE995heCeT5Co7Nj_mgvG8xEWqR6kILaliI/s1600/bday26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQq74eXrHrwzXBCDPvm5w9MTshfJjuRSXycyWQMb1v2dEZLVTLvB3Ebh1rXPKy7CqfpSwSZtjajGV2AYGIIIeSeRQYEDsUIkTc4WLRJPM1rE995heCeT5Co7Nj_mgvG8xEWqR6kILaliI/s320/bday26.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys (Bobby, Jack, Mitch, Owen) all lined up playing skee-ball together! Love this pic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoQQvwEXe_K-Xw12c-J_2loDD7grRK8s5piv02KG-mlC_rHdXjZ460bZ6-eaICUWLfTMa5R4yIpIix4QfiWUyz2GhZOcPM_38VDSErZBi8y3S4ODX0VM12iPmY9aHgcrWqJ_U7wLM_oLZ/s1600/bday9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoQQvwEXe_K-Xw12c-J_2loDD7grRK8s5piv02KG-mlC_rHdXjZ460bZ6-eaICUWLfTMa5R4yIpIix4QfiWUyz2GhZOcPM_38VDSErZBi8y3S4ODX0VM12iPmY9aHgcrWqJ_U7wLM_oLZ/s320/bday9.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jack and Dru in the crazy jungle gym tube cage thing! Jack doesn't look happy or anything, does he?! lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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And okay, one ride in particular that was VERY popular with the birthday girl. I'm pretty sure everyone at the party took her on this Merry-Go-Round at LEAST once ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zyAiNp8ZW9-Fskeg6-YePZd0n6HvFmEaZnegZsUnSNd9f6_FMe8wW2Sj8_FSCyUd-VynQUFKDW52LiGY6W4tdi2JSUrkfHDtK0B1vYXFH3nE7ql-0-TebCs5aqKEQETImGKDKh6lXFp_/s1600/bday25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zyAiNp8ZW9-Fskeg6-YePZd0n6HvFmEaZnegZsUnSNd9f6_FMe8wW2Sj8_FSCyUd-VynQUFKDW52LiGY6W4tdi2JSUrkfHDtK0B1vYXFH3nE7ql-0-TebCs5aqKEQETImGKDKh6lXFp_/s320/bday25.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uWKW3eu21LmjM8D1JOs3bS-e1aMbk0P8MZMVGRteNp5B7PDsgaXaOO92QhSLH0gpH3_ugkLT6wS9FkhsNj9Fm5YUD9k-RYKNy1kkL3FEgH7ugUsQRbXShEcSpf0Uh6mIMHTUZZvQpLBG/s1600/bday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uWKW3eu21LmjM8D1JOs3bS-e1aMbk0P8MZMVGRteNp5B7PDsgaXaOO92QhSLH0gpH3_ugkLT6wS9FkhsNj9Fm5YUD9k-RYKNy1kkL3FEgH7ugUsQRbXShEcSpf0Uh6mIMHTUZZvQpLBG/s320/bday6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7dKWw_DCDa_zUvR0Ou7-vGf2ZITslkcqg0WfsPponx00DORpywvYaLeltgwjbZu3RvJbk4RSyiyamk4MrK3y5sFY_I1h52mACs87O1ciXu5PotJc4mNi_TLQ902oultcriOg1QqD8uvz/s1600/bday16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7dKWw_DCDa_zUvR0Ou7-vGf2ZITslkcqg0WfsPponx00DORpywvYaLeltgwjbZu3RvJbk4RSyiyamk4MrK3y5sFY_I1h52mACs87O1ciXu5PotJc4mNi_TLQ902oultcriOg1QqD8uvz/s320/bday16.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">FYI: the "Mare-Go-Round" as Illy calls it, is a great spot for candid shots :D</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, we had <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Too-Much-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx">cake</a>! The recipe came out pretty good, which I was nervous about since it was my first time making it... But she loved it, and I got compliments from others too. Gotta love <a href="http://www.allrecipes.com/">Allrecipes</a>! It's my go-to and it never disappoints with new yumalicious-ness. ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66x3B8xcwGGZHDb901riedZ806rMbBX9-sWcDXq8wTDGG0qH5xFpPQ7NfnKcN-gZHJ0Xa2koWGcHUlSY9tsmT9aqMYhQ9-JgXQ7JWLmNvRaUe8OFAKRiCFLbjfN_yII0SsVCKa3HJvYCx/s1600/bday8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66x3B8xcwGGZHDb901riedZ806rMbBX9-sWcDXq8wTDGG0qH5xFpPQ7NfnKcN-gZHJ0Xa2koWGcHUlSY9tsmT9aqMYhQ9-JgXQ7JWLmNvRaUe8OFAKRiCFLbjfN_yII0SsVCKa3HJvYCx/s320/bday8.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Birthday girl and her cake!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiAOT9w3k0TD6D3vLs__YcgxHAeL78mUqL6uwi7Ml0qqVorMkuLRvLVMFvglvszRkScnpOHAnbsRHgDSWeCoHldGWXYqBdxC49VDdkEQCpP3GdN69vRZZpuvlhSISvvDRWkhXJ2i0Z4Nr/s1600/bday7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiAOT9w3k0TD6D3vLs__YcgxHAeL78mUqL6uwi7Ml0qqVorMkuLRvLVMFvglvszRkScnpOHAnbsRHgDSWeCoHldGWXYqBdxC49VDdkEQCpP3GdN69vRZZpuvlhSISvvDRWkhXJ2i0Z4Nr/s320/bday7.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birthday girl, Mama Rugg (me), purty party cake... and annoying balloon string which ruined a perfectly awesome picture! GRR!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM9QvhKVlQK_k4hhcgXLqet6riN4ag60NxgfXZGeasmS9AcAUJqc2RChfOgo9TsY5bgpRc4w2ehY-12iOtCnIFAjn-MWwQEmxbG2VciFyHtjQrTVxfYXQosswORpvXMnlwQBObpD1nR1m/s1600/bday11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM9QvhKVlQK_k4hhcgXLqet6riN4ag60NxgfXZGeasmS9AcAUJqc2RChfOgo9TsY5bgpRc4w2ehY-12iOtCnIFAjn-MWwQEmxbG2VciFyHtjQrTVxfYXQosswORpvXMnlwQBObpD1nR1m/s320/bday11.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and Will singing **HAPPY BIRTHDAY** to our little princess, barely believing she's already THREE!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were presents galore... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvdkN6rco9kL5pkkxGDmFvuLBQdSpZ2_OoTxP1w3K6Zilui6OZqY7_dZnSYD52gYSnwuyZ6_2gNtzaMeY-JPhyphenhyphenQptMBCYkbrzO9CfNE0xF0_LlF8CXiIIeEHxWo2h7HTUEkJkqcZftsR/s1600/bday20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvdkN6rco9kL5pkkxGDmFvuLBQdSpZ2_OoTxP1w3K6Zilui6OZqY7_dZnSYD52gYSnwuyZ6_2gNtzaMeY-JPhyphenhyphenQptMBCYkbrzO9CfNE0xF0_LlF8CXiIIeEHxWo2h7HTUEkJkqcZftsR/s320/bday20.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Zhu-Zhus up the wazoo! We have a whole Zhu Zhu empire now. Great marketing on those things, the way they sell kids on this glorified cat toy and then have you buy all the parts separately. lol. I knew we'd be getting into those fadd-ish multi-part toys eventually, but who knew it would come so fast?! It seems like it's only been overnight since she was just my little widgeon... *sigh* And yes, I do call her my widgeon. I make no apologies. ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ilyana was bowled over in anticipation waiting to see the Chuckster himself... He came out, and they hugged, and it was incredible to see the awe in her eyes and the happiness thinking that he cared about her lil' ol' birthday! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQPOFSMr7bX9JFRryew5UeEoA3qDrCyMJl6DrSZyWnr_Ryq16y-Fv-31mRy230UrK_G4O0_WHKx7RoHECYx5Q8gxPFHq5fXqys4VlugYlNDUSgItLKEomjpEwmpXLPgPbffyRwI6qiUau/s1600/bday12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQPOFSMr7bX9JFRryew5UeEoA3qDrCyMJl6DrSZyWnr_Ryq16y-Fv-31mRy230UrK_G4O0_WHKx7RoHECYx5Q8gxPFHq5fXqys4VlugYlNDUSgItLKEomjpEwmpXLPgPbffyRwI6qiUau/s320/bday12.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Waiting in anticipation with her puffy *birthday girl* token hat on... Here he comes! I can see him Mommy!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqrEc6emBVMyhkAnYOO9SATnyULBlXDxZLuOTXq86rh7C_8xW8X1QzOjPKWT5cXgbF43Vbq1F9JTrREBkRNVZ7dooTa2UKa6yoY07r0cnWN6tdP8nNoQwKVkXee3hZ1V9CHtbmnhzVhqB/s1600/bday15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqrEc6emBVMyhkAnYOO9SATnyULBlXDxZLuOTXq86rh7C_8xW8X1QzOjPKWT5cXgbF43Vbq1F9JTrREBkRNVZ7dooTa2UKa6yoY07r0cnWN6tdP8nNoQwKVkXee3hZ1V9CHtbmnhzVhqB/s320/bday15.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, Chuck! Where have you been all my life?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNbV-Xk91g_8Acfe3HhPGC-Fv5r-wRVVwvUv_DqzLI2hHJhZT4jUWXJFbgyMHtkbxPym-VbR_9dk69kxrnARn0i9yl2k2A8U7EsstJNbfeNqXaHFR0i3eYr_dYEqwZ1ZNs1Uvi1hIg-Qn/s1600/bday17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNbV-Xk91g_8Acfe3HhPGC-Fv5r-wRVVwvUv_DqzLI2hHJhZT4jUWXJFbgyMHtkbxPym-VbR_9dk69kxrnARn0i9yl2k2A8U7EsstJNbfeNqXaHFR0i3eYr_dYEqwZ1ZNs1Uvi1hIg-Qn/s320/bday17.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now do you see why we had to do the party here this year? Her face says it all. Pure elation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But the one thing that we had most of at the party this year, as with any birthday with our incredible family, was... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4nax9YrOew6-5wt8ycA516zRKAUrm67e6Tyzq8vWCTX5I_fsv8dkSJiuIrNgYF_33MGhfPy9eoROCgAdHfYnFcu9xqyYatu-KhQFSiA0SKQYWtkNF9xV2dsqB37QawjeX6MxmEz9InC/s1600/bday19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4nax9YrOew6-5wt8ycA516zRKAUrm67e6Tyzq8vWCTX5I_fsv8dkSJiuIrNgYF_33MGhfPy9eoROCgAdHfYnFcu9xqyYatu-KhQFSiA0SKQYWtkNF9xV2dsqB37QawjeX6MxmEz9InC/s320/bday19.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Owen and the Illmaster.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbUWbe_70I7bXjH5FuS5avAIuPBoL2KYvNnXljVUyGg9fJLY7a10RoV_PpzJtAeLTZLU9CJ9EL9ESIDsNe5yl08S7CxWRee0InDqZBvbzAp79aSKdxrX2zCpyi2DTa7kpy0ggtjzCNWo6/s1600/bday13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbUWbe_70I7bXjH5FuS5avAIuPBoL2KYvNnXljVUyGg9fJLY7a10RoV_PpzJtAeLTZLU9CJ9EL9ESIDsNe5yl08S7CxWRee0InDqZBvbzAp79aSKdxrX2zCpyi2DTa7kpy0ggtjzCNWo6/s320/bday13.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nana, enjoying watching the kids play and have fun! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1nhGZtrZzzeWbmuIkbMVc9C-ofBHre-BkrRpmBM9admbkZRattmNPL5IQYG52Pt4hOGhXKVMq_MFpIeQSXWHgFUTI47SLSKfa4VlW3h88JIPedRATTh83Mxf9vfuviCJbOoYJy4ITIj3/s320/bday14.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
The guys! L to R: Will, Mitch, Bobby, and Matt. Another good pic!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While it wouldn't be my first choice for a party in the future, for all the reasons I was originally warned about (the bill does add up, and they definitely don't give you enough table time), I'm so glad we gave her the chance to enjoy the Chuck E birthday experience this year. She really had a blast, and everyone else seemed to have fun, too. For me, that's what it was all about... My heart and soul was turning three... Three?! THREE!!! And I wanted her to truly enjoy every minute of it. I know she did. My only regret is not getting more pictures, but then again, when ISN'T that a regret of mine?! ;) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Widgeon. You light up my life.</div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-80484323616444973422010-05-18T15:37:00.007-04:002010-05-18T16:30:42.292-04:00Easter Hunt RewindAs promised, here I am again with some new(ish) photos from Easter... Go me! They mostly feature the infamous egg-toy-candy-junk hunt since this was only the second time (the other was last year's Easter) that I've hosted a holiday at my house, and I spent most of the weekend in the kitchen prepping, cooking, and creating a meal for the fam rather than taking pics. Last year was smaller, too, so I was a little worried about my ability to pull this off at all... but thankfully, everything went well, everyone had fun (or else they're lying to me... hehe) and none of the food was undercooked, overcooked, or burnt! YAY! Also, nobody got sick. woot woot! I had this weird fear that people would get sick after, and if they did, they would be afraid to eat my food forevermore. lol. Here's what was on our delectable menu:<br /><br />APPETIZERS<br /><br />* Chips/ dip<br />* Crudite/ dip<br />* Deviled eggs (of course!)<br />* Bacon wrapped jalepeno poppers (soooo good! These were a hit with everyone, and the guys were pretty much fighting over them. I admit, we made them for dinner one night after this... tee hee)<br />* Veggie pizza deal-io... Not sure what it's called, but it's good! You roll out some crescent dough, bake it, spread with a mixture of cream cheese and dressing, and top with assorted veggies. Yum.<br /><br />MEAL<br /><br />* Ham with citrus honey glaze. Nom nom nom...<br />* Lasagna<br />* Rosemary buttered dinner rolls<br />* Green bean casserole<br />* Roasted cauliflower<br />* Loaded mashed potatoes (with bacon, chives, sour cream...)<br /><br />DESSERT<br /><br />--notation: this was the one area I was bummed about... I just never got around to making the other dessert I had planned, which would have involved fresh fruit deliciousness... But, alas, the main meal comes first I'm afraid! :) So instead I only made...<br /><br />* These adorable easter <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easter-chicks-cupcakes/9d2aa4ab-706b-49fe-9b77-2e4c0ae7049b">chick</a> and <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/lamb-cupcakes/d1ef22c3-806a-4986-b209-0cee0554da0b">lamb</a> cupcakes!!!! Found from <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com">Betty</a><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com"> </a><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com">Crocker</a> (please excuse the photo, it's a cell phone one and I didn't take it, but I wanted to keep it real and show the actual cupcakes we- my Mom and I- made, mistakes and all... not the purty presentation cupcake pictures from the recipes)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREYvgJeLi6s6t0SxUS0rlktV2kx2vEzRmKXRh7xkpm5z4VFU7DkunI8-GVvr3uODdA_QiCliz42BZ0pycx2iqtR9UR0RtNsV7K9xImi_EpwR2srKgIItTKvJv9WL0Yqbj_h1EGkGJqYPj/s1600/cupcakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREYvgJeLi6s6t0SxUS0rlktV2kx2vEzRmKXRh7xkpm5z4VFU7DkunI8-GVvr3uODdA_QiCliz42BZ0pycx2iqtR9UR0RtNsV7K9xImi_EpwR2srKgIItTKvJv9WL0Yqbj_h1EGkGJqYPj/s320/cupcakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706184705096130" border="0" /></a><br />Aren't they cute?! And really, not all that hard, either. Although after hours of cooking and hiding and wrapping and visiting and fun, I wouldn't say they were thrilling to make. But they did add a touch of whimsy and fun to the meal... which is sort of what I was going for :)<br /><br />Here's a recap of what else I captured from that morning. Which wasn't a whole lot. I didn't really get ANY photos of our lovely guests, aside from the one at the end with Illy and her cousin Alli... but what can I say, it was a busy day for me! Enjoy! :D<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-Pn_hw5JFJfIwNWz-VAvyMZ1zBTNg7SLWUV_EnRhxdp9PuLafwOrZ5yPTYgaD40x6-aWjrhoOQz9ct_rZQUNZpGEJhhYCmlJxFZkgGzIy1eyS0yCPqPpR38YE65CdxtYiOOnznPzFvfs/s1600/Easter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-Pn_hw5JFJfIwNWz-VAvyMZ1zBTNg7SLWUV_EnRhxdp9PuLafwOrZ5yPTYgaD40x6-aWjrhoOQz9ct_rZQUNZpGEJhhYCmlJxFZkgGzIy1eyS0yCPqPpR38YE65CdxtYiOOnznPzFvfs/s320/Easter1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705300802045250" border="0" /></a><br />The beginning of the hunt! It starts at the top of our stairs and winds down into the living room...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWcOSmRZbzzFVyUYLrgFKD-aloyUOYJI9tz-4XacTZdEp4NRNGGwGxI_RjKv26u2RC7GYHgWzVESGcllc9sBmhgMifmT8qL6FcVwTxs1ELf8Vwt205Q-SW2bry_I8HsrvKCLEkc5Yf5Nc/s1600/Easter3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWcOSmRZbzzFVyUYLrgFKD-aloyUOYJI9tz-4XacTZdEp4NRNGGwGxI_RjKv26u2RC7GYHgWzVESGcllc9sBmhgMifmT8qL6FcVwTxs1ELf8Vwt205Q-SW2bry_I8HsrvKCLEkc5Yf5Nc/s320/Easter3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705308524584514" border="0" /></a>Where lots of goodies left by that big ol' bunny are to be found. Here, Illy poses with a new My Little Pony. On the head. Yes, typical pose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAlqMpIUbrTrQlOJIIcHdfYapU09Iu8mfDdj5Jsk8H2nf-lOyP2gKCCDjPlgzEEzsFCoCpLcgmM3Ks9u9K5z4NKwXKsRDBA6QB6qQ12DKRS2bzWFGdiWy4lftxq0wzSsor87Y8jy9TGg_/s1600/Easter2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAlqMpIUbrTrQlOJIIcHdfYapU09Iu8mfDdj5Jsk8H2nf-lOyP2gKCCDjPlgzEEzsFCoCpLcgmM3Ks9u9K5z4NKwXKsRDBA6QB6qQ12DKRS2bzWFGdiWy4lftxq0wzSsor87Y8jy9TGg_/s320/Easter2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705305768389106" border="0" /></a>Owen looks less than fully awake and entirely THRILLED to be hunting, don't you think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuTmx8SDaE7wypPHlYxAmTZG6BRp71_LGr6w8pOxxc54WGLwUmsdwcwJWI_tbFEbPJ1ed-s2H5vAxEss4WAxjhZRu-LBbjkIKqb2egsWtCef-R63d_TJgMWJrqgGDowT2eBq3ZnUyWS2/s1600/Easter4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuTmx8SDaE7wypPHlYxAmTZG6BRp71_LGr6w8pOxxc54WGLwUmsdwcwJWI_tbFEbPJ1ed-s2H5vAxEss4WAxjhZRu-LBbjkIKqb2egsWtCef-R63d_TJgMWJrqgGDowT2eBq3ZnUyWS2/s320/Easter4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705318074674674" border="0" /></a>But it didn't take him long to locate his basket o' goodies and start digging through. Chips, candy, gifts, and THIS cool new tee shirt, perfect for the occasion:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSYqb_CukR9Vmlnkn_qdC2BuwgE2bT9KcZQs_1QBbeBLpRq9X-LNDAvu6qUl15mdmGqjH3LLKBUqm7GOy6bDQV1ugW_yGk-E8hMr-8-AOIpRGznolSjDAhWLDb4FSuJwR4yoPSVPSbFRH/s1600/Easter5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSYqb_CukR9Vmlnkn_qdC2BuwgE2bT9KcZQs_1QBbeBLpRq9X-LNDAvu6qUl15mdmGqjH3LLKBUqm7GOy6bDQV1ugW_yGk-E8hMr-8-AOIpRGznolSjDAhWLDb4FSuJwR4yoPSVPSbFRH/s320/Easter5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705325499990402" border="0" /></a>You can't see it fully here, but it says "Hanging with my Peeps" and has a picture of that infamous easter marshmallow candy ;)<br /><br />It wasn't long before the hunt moved outside... Being that is was a nice, warm morning, we really couldn't have expected that Bunny to keep all the eggs cooped in the house, could we?!<br /><br />He hid them in all sorts of funny places... By the bushes in the mulch:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcs-9hLAU2h3WuLRk7AxhkbyBlfBEfCYjWVTkjuF12ndPhAHiOTLLmmhib_9ukZ-eg5td3ShZZF0kFwbI0jjxPHK1w_h1-DbXepx9oOWpdiqpLqP9fRO1O11rlHSfGjaFFU-_PAwsrwLe/s1600/Easter6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcs-9hLAU2h3WuLRk7AxhkbyBlfBEfCYjWVTkjuF12ndPhAHiOTLLmmhib_9ukZ-eg5td3ShZZF0kFwbI0jjxPHK1w_h1-DbXepx9oOWpdiqpLqP9fRO1O11rlHSfGjaFFU-_PAwsrwLe/s320/Easter6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706190165417890" border="0" /></a><br />In the corners of the deck:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6wgxNzeGDs1Qb0bn8AKOnMUhVB30Z1stxcYDYAY-zh2g4eiHvF_XrtAcTxRyaYUgnXn8P-DGTTuyH10cokZFUvpqCmwOG3wlXymy8FIODd5NGe-x6XEjyDhxgCviCVUPhlZ0ahtbQcxN/s1600/Easter7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6wgxNzeGDs1Qb0bn8AKOnMUhVB30Z1stxcYDYAY-zh2g4eiHvF_XrtAcTxRyaYUgnXn8P-DGTTuyH10cokZFUvpqCmwOG3wlXymy8FIODd5NGe-x6XEjyDhxgCviCVUPhlZ0ahtbQcxN/s320/Easter7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706195535159602" border="0" /></a>and ALL over the yard... Here's Illy running around to make sure she hasn't missed any!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCaxKCIvTPff7L8E7ZvFSTeM_IB5hYVuAtP-zZyAt7SNoQjRkaKobQ6KjeKG-bRhSUIArp2Fb_NFFvICVbaxF0jQMq93oTcZrBsEwb6KhYDqvVDvXqOqfFHI5UcDrxzHd00_UtEsJ8UqM/s1600/Easter8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCaxKCIvTPff7L8E7ZvFSTeM_IB5hYVuAtP-zZyAt7SNoQjRkaKobQ6KjeKG-bRhSUIArp2Fb_NFFvICVbaxF0jQMq93oTcZrBsEwb6KhYDqvVDvXqOqfFHI5UcDrxzHd00_UtEsJ8UqM/s320/Easter8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706201650961154" border="0" /></a>We finished up the hunt with a nice little soak in the sun...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlZw3mC6-PW5DsMjfzP9vJ-tipBjfSzVAGzut9DPGn6qt8BHYmk41ETdDVoamfkfX73FEVo9jNf1BSCrcbIUrgHNrecisUjwD4nc4Dl_pWlvwFiptG8hbfeNrDjoBpEE_AFmhhu-EOHZX/s1600/Easter9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlZw3mC6-PW5DsMjfzP9vJ-tipBjfSzVAGzut9DPGn6qt8BHYmk41ETdDVoamfkfX73FEVo9jNf1BSCrcbIUrgHNrecisUjwD4nc4Dl_pWlvwFiptG8hbfeNrDjoBpEE_AFmhhu-EOHZX/s320/Easter9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706204187678690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Side note- I love this picture of my brother, the lighting is great and he looks so OLD. When the heck did he get to be so grown up?!<br /><br /></span>And a quick count of candy-booty acquired.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb-ryRar0EYWkKlZG5PXpqGJeUr4jp9-oElbPZPoYfJu3wcCtugLzxqHgXaXfc7vq48oLhH6i3ZtU8QtYm9Hv1W2GqI-9uDSQNIQqnjitOboaHsrRS6DdCq_63K07mQj6mex5Kp3U5lB2/s1600/Easter10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb-ryRar0EYWkKlZG5PXpqGJeUr4jp9-oElbPZPoYfJu3wcCtugLzxqHgXaXfc7vq48oLhH6i3ZtU8QtYm9Hv1W2GqI-9uDSQNIQqnjitOboaHsrRS6DdCq_63K07mQj6mex5Kp3U5lB2/s320/Easter10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706337409336962" border="0" /></a><br />Look at all those eggs! She's been sneaking candy ever since this very day... lol.<br /><br />And then it was off to the kitchen for me for pretty much the rest of the day, although I did get a few nice breaks to chat with everyone and enjoy their company. It was really a great time, and as much work as it is, I'm looking forward to hosting again next year (hopefully!). We are truly blessed to have a wonderful, fun family that we love spending time with. And I won't get all sappy and say much more, other than, thank you all who came. It was a blast :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And two more quick snapshots for the road!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWuMKqdbx0cX8NNnU6BLVXQxmS2XqPVybeXxqj5w08rEBMSKPC5E5ysL4Xpx0V6VgeHwyU0N6myI7ILFsEpEoJjtEc4yJq6E3JcWLzBygPDQY3g28LP_yXPO9vYQf-nfJE_h13uzUqn2m/s1600/Easter12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWuMKqdbx0cX8NNnU6BLVXQxmS2XqPVybeXxqj5w08rEBMSKPC5E5ysL4Xpx0V6VgeHwyU0N6myI7ILFsEpEoJjtEc4yJq6E3JcWLzBygPDQY3g28LP_yXPO9vYQf-nfJE_h13uzUqn2m/s320/Easter12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706347565388578" border="0" /></a>Illy and Alli, hamming it up!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiVl5IKO4LrlZx088az6S27a5HFyH4RGsbaHfX8Rov61prtX2sAYXgqOn8FsTz0L8MpxTq1OOO-vPTlH9K62k25yYQjqR_OVJ_TYkx952AADBG7zkAOvmpocBBFeSs4t_gZtAxCpOb6Gj/s1600/Easter11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiVl5IKO4LrlZx088az6S27a5HFyH4RGsbaHfX8Rov61prtX2sAYXgqOn8FsTz0L8MpxTq1OOO-vPTlH9K62k25yYQjqR_OVJ_TYkx952AADBG7zkAOvmpocBBFeSs4t_gZtAxCpOb6Gj/s320/Easter11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472706343119933890" border="0" /></a>Candy overload?<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-27268705468346059202010-05-13T13:02:00.006-04:002010-05-13T13:36:32.361-04:00Spring Is Finally Here!<div style="text-align: center;">For some reason, this winter seemed to drag on, even though we didn't have that much horrible weather... I think maybe it had to do with the bad economy, it was just too much, too overwhelming to think about combined with the dreary, cold, gray weather. We're thanking our lucky stars the sun is BACK and enjoying it as much as we can right now! Here are some new photos from the end of winter/ early springtime~<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc6RiwekhpmsRUiUywWGklqavFoxvwZs1Ar31Q2PmXB95B35NkGbSWlsPX2P3ClQ78FjIrU_Oh4a1p5MCPhnY0WPzxwoNhJoX4EwmGCrp7N_ERuse2kMKnlnrI3LDRkfbavCV2gqu4QHp/s1600/illysticker2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc6RiwekhpmsRUiUywWGklqavFoxvwZs1Ar31Q2PmXB95B35NkGbSWlsPX2P3ClQ78FjIrU_Oh4a1p5MCPhnY0WPzxwoNhJoX4EwmGCrp7N_ERuse2kMKnlnrI3LDRkfbavCV2gqu4QHp/s320/illysticker2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470804483004620738" border="0" /></a>March- Starting her own fashion trend?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP0nrtwFhXQyl7woljZn9osijWPrZuRl8ugh1R-hAOLg37d-5GFV1utj9vWs-YfhthiKJD-gB_SlADjH0ZJ7OcL032vMGpdB4m5dXU12EQiAuWrVrEudy1mUwN7GYHR56i9sGEeUjpIns/s1600/babiesstickerssz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP0nrtwFhXQyl7woljZn9osijWPrZuRl8ugh1R-hAOLg37d-5GFV1utj9vWs-YfhthiKJD-gB_SlADjH0ZJ7OcL032vMGpdB4m5dXU12EQiAuWrVrEudy1mUwN7GYHR56i9sGEeUjpIns/s320/babiesstickerssz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470804461497109122" border="0" /></a>All the COOL kids are doing it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkDdrcFVc921WIxauqeH5xhM6rwjnhazksWoemSfok-plycX3xcQsbZYgEH6wkmRQT9bBudsSS6u8_sxAFp1WJWb5wMxsO4zOTYYMHO87dC_2mIJRfGP8ZcNXUOgLCTcn3-Aw_3TUzd2E/s1600/illysticker1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkDdrcFVc921WIxauqeH5xhM6rwjnhazksWoemSfok-plycX3xcQsbZYgEH6wkmRQT9bBudsSS6u8_sxAFp1WJWb5wMxsO4zOTYYMHO87dC_2mIJRfGP8ZcNXUOgLCTcn3-Aw_3TUzd2E/s320/illysticker1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470804466103698466" border="0" /></a>Well, I guess if it makes you happy! And yes, we went out in public like this. Don't judge ;)<br /><br /><br />I love this next set of pictures but I figure I should give credit where credit is due... I had no part in the taking of these adorable photos, it was one of those (blessed!) nights when hubby offers to cook the meat on the grill, saving me time and energy... So they were outside playing and grilling, and I was inside doing sides and washing dishes, but he stuck his head into the window and told me to hand him out the camera because she was having such a good time... All of these ones were taken on 5/4/10.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQZi6XWHDDNVrtcg4FfciMZx3WBxgBhutLOelZH4JHHW7ZCult00LxLI2OuGQHQJ8B_OtUKVmDTLAtTKg1AU3UTw2Zf9pL725SvYD_pGMFHDzOsEFjahJUbU8bvoCzhGinO6AOMMjdq25/s1600/5.4.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQZi6XWHDDNVrtcg4FfciMZx3WBxgBhutLOelZH4JHHW7ZCult00LxLI2OuGQHQJ8B_OtUKVmDTLAtTKg1AU3UTw2Zf9pL725SvYD_pGMFHDzOsEFjahJUbU8bvoCzhGinO6AOMMjdq25/s320/5.4.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806101497506626" border="0" /></a>Peek a boo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFyElCYdkUXzgrO47ZClQL9gCRT5Y00_4GeXop5itR1nCwmDBNuCb5HaiB0aUr7PJSFvdOOaGKi-1wSvEWp7Soz_bXIrnKSCL1WpY8ilabS96EAS0Y5qcvoh2Oj5lpo4iIk1xv1t9j7S/s1600/5.4.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFyElCYdkUXzgrO47ZClQL9gCRT5Y00_4GeXop5itR1nCwmDBNuCb5HaiB0aUr7PJSFvdOOaGKi-1wSvEWp7Soz_bXIrnKSCL1WpY8ilabS96EAS0Y5qcvoh2Oj5lpo4iIk1xv1t9j7S/s320/5.4.2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806122482122306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE35rztfsSlXcIcel0QUegpWu-w4lKmFgmUFTzJAJ9Yaj9hijAN_rcPLserOUG0oHi7c6TEKCCI18MLaPh1DhBFXyudWDiN1j-usMbcspPUqeuR7ZFKuVvfPy0_UXpI_6PXKZAFmLycsVY/s1600/5.4.4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE35rztfsSlXcIcel0QUegpWu-w4lKmFgmUFTzJAJ9Yaj9hijAN_rcPLserOUG0oHi7c6TEKCCI18MLaPh1DhBFXyudWDiN1j-usMbcspPUqeuR7ZFKuVvfPy0_UXpI_6PXKZAFmLycsVY/s320/5.4.4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806127378930258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCaTqJcYKFtqtehExkZ2p87_DZyFE0_XcesC216XppNawUXfxFyoLbvJ-X4gOo02JyJxjw9FGzn9WlkGm6-8u3BOigq2jD24mKAcM-SKGF9-ZRbwWqxYUfVRzOkSvX7meb5Ty1aH7siAl/s1600/5.4.5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCaTqJcYKFtqtehExkZ2p87_DZyFE0_XcesC216XppNawUXfxFyoLbvJ-X4gOo02JyJxjw9FGzn9WlkGm6-8u3BOigq2jD24mKAcM-SKGF9-ZRbwWqxYUfVRzOkSvX7meb5Ty1aH7siAl/s320/5.4.5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806106816092946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DeNFtT0nCtsHKSZyoEr7Tv_P1WOSHyJEmNPT6QCnIpduM4iKcFoO93M06tVG8JghA-wGstmm9xlgE9nbTUiIPGhMkR-hTHX-nJVB6GLdI3L9HZmO29NB_y5LFEReNbpOtUnjxIKOLr4W/s1600/5.4.6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DeNFtT0nCtsHKSZyoEr7Tv_P1WOSHyJEmNPT6QCnIpduM4iKcFoO93M06tVG8JghA-wGstmm9xlgE9nbTUiIPGhMkR-hTHX-nJVB6GLdI3L9HZmO29NB_y5LFEReNbpOtUnjxIKOLr4W/s320/5.4.6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806952038149170" border="0" /></a>In deep concentration...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G42bTGzwNXL6locpEnc8DPEPX8GL9e_xI21M6teEwCyjYMxG5tk1VWG2HahyphenhyphenrT_lNXDWCIBfap8FGGvwnQO5FqMSMo4AP3oFp5PvxosBcEtsm8x4yXW1stZxvy7uCwBv9O4tqoKbIPp2/s1600/5.4.7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G42bTGzwNXL6locpEnc8DPEPX8GL9e_xI21M6teEwCyjYMxG5tk1VWG2HahyphenhyphenrT_lNXDWCIBfap8FGGvwnQO5FqMSMo4AP3oFp5PvxosBcEtsm8x4yXW1stZxvy7uCwBv9O4tqoKbIPp2/s320/5.4.7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806955074900770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkArPHU86miihHRBfkO74-xEe994K-gODpS7s2jmmOeuhK5h6T4_7C2EmH_f1p5FPPFZBSpYwmHlfThUEdvbBmicSXmHvad_rrOCzG28M0vHrzpgS2Xol5H7cpYhC_veH9X_dYOfveCviF/s1600/5.4.3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkArPHU86miihHRBfkO74-xEe994K-gODpS7s2jmmOeuhK5h6T4_7C2EmH_f1p5FPPFZBSpYwmHlfThUEdvbBmicSXmHvad_rrOCzG28M0vHrzpgS2Xol5H7cpYhC_veH9X_dYOfveCviF/s320/5.4.3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470806113516274514" border="0" /></a>Those croc boots are her absolute favorite shoes lately. I know a lot of people aren't big fans of the Croc brand, but I love them because she can put them on herself, they are easy to clean, and they have all different styles now! It doesn't hurt that I always find super deals on them, either ;) I believe I paid $7.99 for those boots, with shipping? Pretty awesome. I just got her a pair of Croc maryjanes for the spring and summer- I figured her feet would get pretty sweaty running around in rainboots once it gets up into the 80's and 90's, but you have to admit, they look pretty adorable even with shorts :)<br /><br />I do have a few more posts in mind that are coming up. And yes, I know I haven't been keeping to my 2-posts-a-week goal since I posted it... I also know excuses are just that and aren't worth anything, but I am working on it! Between planning her party, having her party, Mother's Day, visiting, and then me feeling like crap-ola these past two days (horrible cold!! ugh!) and barely being able to think straight, I haven't gotten to it. But I will! Easter pics and Ilyana's 3rd Birthday post coming up soon... <3 ~Mama Rugg<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-49996296611664877472010-04-29T13:53:00.003-04:002010-04-29T15:07:19.405-04:00Summer Goal SettingI have a list of things in my head that I feel I've been slacking on lately and I would really like to pick them back up... So I thought if I get them down somewhere, maybe I will be more likely to hold myself to these resolutions. I almost hate to call them "resolutions" because that word sort of has the connotation of something that you decide to do, but give up on within the week. These are NOT those kind of resolutions! ;) I have already started on some of these things, but I think I need more motivation and OOMPH behind my thoughts, so without further ado, here are my summertime goals (and beyond!):<br /><br />1: Take more pictures. I don't have ANY new pictures uploaded on my facebook since last November (crazy!) and haven't taken many even if I had tried to upload them. I used to take photos of Bendy almost every day, and I would really like to get back into documenting more of our life and her growing up. I have my excuses/ reasons... Clunky camera is hard to drag around with me; batteries never charged when I need them, etc etc... But it basically comes down to, I have to COMMIT and bring it and just do it, baby! I am aiming for new pictures EVERY week. I don't want to say how many because I feel like that is setting myself up for failure, but I WILL take my camera with me to places, and I WILL document this summer!<br /><br />2: I feel like this almost goes hand-in-hand with #1, but I want to keep up with the blog. At least two posts every week. I always feel like I have nothing to blog about if I don't have new pictures to share, so I think this should be easier to stick to once I have #1 down.<br /><br />3: Working out... This is a running to-do list item, but I have not been getting to it as much lately as I want, and frankly, that sucks! I would really like to feel COMFORTABLE in a bathing suit (bikini? I don't want to commit to something unreachable yet, but possibly...) this summer. I want to be more fit so I can feel more comfortable in my own skin and not always be worrying about how I look! My goal for this item is 4 times per week at least with cardio, and strength training at least 2 times, but more often than that for abs.<br /><br />4: Take the family camping AT LEAST once this season! We wanted to go last year and never got to it, and it's something I love... I enjoyed it a lot as a kid, it's a great, cheap, fun way to relax and spend some time together, and I know Illy will love it! So on the list it goes for this year :)<br /><br />5: Visit with three friends that I haven't seen yet this year. I'm glad we have online social networking now, because if it wasn't for that, I feel like I would have lost touch with everyone! My social life has taken a nosedive since we moved to the middle of nowhere, and I definitely want to make some time to reconnect with some of my best buds :) I think a goal of 3 is reasonable, and I have some people in mind, but hopefully it will be more than that!<br /><br />6: Take Bendy to the beach at least once... This is kind of an every summer goal because I grew up on the beach and love it (didn't love it so much when I lived there, but I guess that's they way things go!) but my hubby is not a big fan so we don't always make it over there. I am taking her this year even if it's just us two :)<br /><br />7: Try a new food. Just because. I love food, and I like trying new things, and I want to branch out more. So there you have it.<br /><br />8: Pay off a debt. Any one of the old ones on my credit report. We are trying to get closer to buying a house, and we have to do this first. Given our current situation, this one might not be achievable, but I am putting it on my list to remind me to work towards that.<br /><br />9: Go hiking at least twice.<br /><br />10: Visit the Farmer's Market at least twice per month... This is kind of a fun one, but also good for our health! I love the local Farmer's Market and I can't wait for it to start up again this June :)<br /><br />That's it for now, but I may keep adding and updating this list as time goes on. I'd like to at least come back and cross things off, add dates, etc. once they have been achieved. Wish me luck! Summer summer, here I come! You know what they say... "It's summertimeeeee, and the livin's easy..." I can't wait to be cruising around with the music blasted and the sunroof open in the nice warm weather! We had snow here just yesterday so I'm really hoping spring is on its way for GOOD now!<br /><br />~JadeJaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-75609648136163473292010-03-10T12:32:00.002-05:002010-03-10T12:34:55.272-05:00(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday #27- Four Generations<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM1Jr9n5nHdavW6dZKkMABCG4-dNB2hsvR_cvDnHfL-1fvNvtCiuJv_XP-JrR6DRleffToOIBWttMWwoL96Wmsu1MRUlzAHvYHzR4NXQw66o9j3ybnF3aPrsCWcltVPiKdYi4OLcC7imK/s1600-h/Four+Generations+Good+Pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM1Jr9n5nHdavW6dZKkMABCG4-dNB2hsvR_cvDnHfL-1fvNvtCiuJv_XP-JrR6DRleffToOIBWttMWwoL96Wmsu1MRUlzAHvYHzR4NXQw66o9j3ybnF3aPrsCWcltVPiKdYi4OLcC7imK/s320/Four+Generations+Good+Pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059466937710706" border="0" /></a>Picture taken on Thanksgiving 2009- L to R: Nana, Bendy, Pep (my Dad) and me. If you look over Nana's shoulder, you can also see my Pep (Pep's Dad) watching over us. Lots of love in this photo. Miss you Pep.<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-17158013581742273292010-03-10T12:03:00.007-05:002010-03-10T12:31:37.179-05:00Our Life Lately- Catching Up<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlrz5mlYaCrxdrZqe0EyK2qWzIH4P9WBokl4F48ZnCqNfJmAJZiCyVKsGlTWPGIzb1gZcQKu_-_MCHQVjGtW36bqEFVqdgMajSdY9scgQb6D8dHE9k33mUAW4UuT7fVqAXxL09TEqSopl/s1600-h/November+103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlrz5mlYaCrxdrZqe0EyK2qWzIH4P9WBokl4F48ZnCqNfJmAJZiCyVKsGlTWPGIzb1gZcQKu_-_MCHQVjGtW36bqEFVqdgMajSdY9scgQb6D8dHE9k33mUAW4UuT7fVqAXxL09TEqSopl/s320/November+103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447058945782096434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WP3LkaO4Pg4g8nnBmKyx9bNMdjpzKPO0k__hnAADZqJ6sZ8JjyS4Dss6baas78ssZ1E9V88RHco4RtuSU6YyKJhkhyphenhyphenc_qEtTg70aAXu-0G7bSjToUcJGnr5Br6xqxHuH4I-_boyWjvNU/s1600-h/November+104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WP3LkaO4Pg4g8nnBmKyx9bNMdjpzKPO0k__hnAADZqJ6sZ8JjyS4Dss6baas78ssZ1E9V88RHco4RtuSU6YyKJhkhyphenhyphenc_qEtTg70aAXu-0G7bSjToUcJGnr5Br6xqxHuH4I-_boyWjvNU/s320/November+104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447058953675264450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A couple of photos taken in November 09 (yes I am behind!) the night we were putting up our Christmas tree.<br /><br /><br /></span></div>I have been horrible about updating the blog and taking photos lately. The other day, Bendy, you looked at me and you looked like such a <span style="font-style: italic;">girl</span>... Not a baby, not a toddler, but a <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">girl.</span></span> It makes my heart ache to think that I have only taken a few random photos in the past few months, and have missed so much I could have documented about this time in your life... but I guess all I can do is try and be better about it now that it's come to my attention.<br /><br />It's been difficult lately with life flying by at its usual rapid pace, and on top of that, there are a lot of changes that may be happening in our life soon and your Daddy and I have been trying to prepare for them. With thoughts of these big upcoming shifts constantly knocking around in my head, the worrying, the stress, the wondering if everything will pan out how we hope... Well, it's been taking up a lot of space in my brain and I haven't had a lot of time to focus on other things besides work, keeping the house in order, chores, shopping, and the changes. I know I am not being specific here, but these are <span style="font-style: italic;">big</span> changes and there isn't a lot more I can say about it here until things are finalized and I am sure what's happening. I want to be sure, and ready to take the leap, before we announce what's going on.<br /><br />You have been in a bit of a mood lately, it seems like maybe the proverbial "terrible twos" are starting a little bit late for you. Or maybe, I'm hoping, it will just be a SHORT phase and only last the next few months. Whatever it is, you've been a little button-pusher lately, always testing boundaries, being bossy, not wanting to share with the other kids at daycare when you bring a toy with you, yelling and interrupting and well... <span style="font-weight: bold;">TESTING.</span> You are feeling out the boundaries for what you can get away with and what you can't, what you can control and what you can't, and whether or not you can get a different answer out of one parent than the other gave you. It's certainly trying, but then you inevitably pull out all the cuteness stops and get us right back on your side with that smirky, beautiful little smile. When I was brushing your teeth the other day, I did notice you had a molar in there that was only halfway through your mouth. I thought we were past the two year molars already (yeah, I know, shiteous parenting, I <span style="font-weight: bold;">maybe</span> should know whether or not my kiddo has all her teeth yet, but really, give me a break, she's my first and I don't know exactly how many teeth kids are supposed to get! *ahem*) but I guess I was wrong. I'm wondering if perhaps the crabbiness and bossiness has something to do with the molars...<br /><br />Last weekend, during a particularly frustrating shopping trip which included you running around the grocery store like a maniac (I had let you push the mini-cart to keep you occupied, which worked out great in the beginning but backfired on me towards the end when you were too tired to listen or pay attention to where you were driving the damned thing) and rolling around on the dirty floors in front of the other customers on a SATURDAY (aka one of the busiest shopping days at the grocery store), I heaved a heavy sigh. You knew you had been bratty and you immediately knew I was just tired and on my last leg that day, and you looked up at me and said "Mommy. Look me in the eyes. I'm very worried about you, and I'm very sorry." It pretty much made me melt, and made the whole day seem a little bit better. You know just the ways to cheer me up, even when you're the source of the frustration in the first place :)<br /><br />Your birthday is coming up pretty soon, and I've already booked a spot at Chuck E Cheese for the party. We haven't done one of these at-a-location shindigs yet, but you had so much fun at the last few Chuck E parties you were invited to, and enjoyed it SO much, that we thought this year would be a perfect time to try it out. I've already sent out invites and we're hoping it will be an incredible time for you. You deserve it, sweet pea. Daddy and I haven't decided yet if we are going to tell you about the party being at Chuck E's or if we'll just tell you it's your birthday but let the Chuck E part be a surprise... I wish we could know what you'd like better. Funny story: when I was turning three (I think? Mom? Is that right?) I begged for weeks to have a surprise party. I don't think I really knew what it meant, just that it would be fun and all my friends would be there, and I certainly didn't realize that asking for a <span style="font-style: italic;">surprise</span> party kind of defeats the purpose. But Cey-Cey managed to pull it off, had sent me to Bushka's house the night before and nobody had told me it was my birthday. When Bushka brought me home and I was greeted with a loud <span style="font-weight: bold;">"SURPRISEEEEE!!!" </span>at the door by my family and friends, I was terrified! I screamed and ran and hid under the stairs in the hall in our apartment complex, and it took a lot of coaxing for Cey-Cey and Pep to get me back out. I wouldn't want to freak you out like that! So we'll definitely let you know it's your birthday... But I'm thinking you might like the special surprise of Chuck E Cheese more if we wait until we get there to let you know that's how we're going to celebrate.<br /><br />I have a few new(er) pictures that I have managed to take over the past few months that I keep forgetting to upload onto the computer. I am going to try and get those up here soon because god, you are growing so fast... and I really want to keep this going so you can look back someday and see how loved you were and how much we enjoyed all of our time with you. No matter what changes we go through as a family, no matter how worried/ stressed/ preoccupied we become with other things, <span style="font-weight: bold;">THAT</span> will never change. You are the light of our life and you make me smile each and every day.Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-69224915850403665922010-01-20T12:07:00.003-05:002010-01-20T13:05:13.601-05:00Your First Movie Theater Experience<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eurMhSw7hCZbzpaUfBpRPUYn3loXZTFkuO3ytDWIvxlqNISD3mzYilSzaCLGV7GaSf-D0hOHnISQwY0v7ZY8_CiOxUoxaTRjJzB2KvUbz4_H2LFsSRdC56AL0zOS9tofUqudnVGu91eo/s1600-h/The-Princess-And-The-Frog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eurMhSw7hCZbzpaUfBpRPUYn3loXZTFkuO3ytDWIvxlqNISD3mzYilSzaCLGV7GaSf-D0hOHnISQwY0v7ZY8_CiOxUoxaTRjJzB2KvUbz4_H2LFsSRdC56AL0zOS9tofUqudnVGu91eo/s320/The-Princess-And-The-Frog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428870949621279250" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9MrXuhxdeXKPoJRDr5DTkLztm7nTFlGneHmNh-EWylVAdpgax5BEEMpQK0m5_238AmaxiXRc8EU-n3_9CY4jiOxHwXlyz10CGcV18QiDjvJwCCh74Y10X9aR08ujpwLEtuNzJFNrg0RV/s1600-h/trailer-princess-and-the-frog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9MrXuhxdeXKPoJRDr5DTkLztm7nTFlGneHmNh-EWylVAdpgax5BEEMpQK0m5_238AmaxiXRc8EU-n3_9CY4jiOxHwXlyz10CGcV18QiDjvJwCCh74Y10X9aR08ujpwLEtuNzJFNrg0RV/s320/trailer-princess-and-the-frog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428870955012838370" border="0" /></a><br />To my crazy little whack bean:<br /><br />We took you to the movie theater for the first time ever this weekend. We went to see Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", which you've seen the previews for and been getting excited about recently. You already own a pair of PJ's with the Princess on them that you got for Christmas, too.<br /><br />I have to admit, I was excited to see it myself- I knew that the music from it was getting rave reviews all over the place, and TIME magazine voted it the BEST movie of 2009. I convinced your Daddy that we needed to take you to see this new Disney movie and we decided last weekend was a good one, since I had to stop by Cey-Cey's house anyway to get my coupon binder back. After seeing The Princess and the Frog, I have to agree that it was probably one of my favorite movies from 2009, as well. The characters were great, and it was a wonderful return to the classic animated Disney flick with great music to accompany it. I'm a total Disney freak, and I grew up with those classics- ones that you will probably be familiar with yourself before too long- so it was very nostalgic for me. We'll definitely be buying that Blu-Ray when it comes out :D Don't get me wrong, I love the new computer animated (CGI) Disney/Pixar movies, too... but it had been a while (almost ten years I think!) since they'd done one in the classic style, and I definitely think it was a long time coming. Disney always pulls off a great balance between touching emotion and interesting storyline for adults and fun, silly characters and constant action for children. But, I digress.<br /><br />I was a teensy bit nervous taking you to the theater, but to be honest, I wasn't THAT worried. You're one smart little cookie and you are VERY well behaved when you want to be :) So I knew that if I explained the situation to you, you'd handle it like a champ. And I was right.<br /><br />We told you over and over on the way down that there would be other people watching the movie too, so if you needed to talk to Mommy or Daddy, you'd have to make sure to whisper. When we got there, I took you to the potty (Bravo on potty training by the way! You are doing great these past few days...) while Daddy got us our tickets, soda, popcorn and Sour Patch Kids.<br /><br />We settled into the row right behind the platform they have for wheelchairs and whatnot- which is pretty close to the front of the theater. It turned out to be a good thing towards the end, because about 15 minutes before the end of the movie, we heard a little girl in the back yell "I'm TIIIIIRRREEEDDDDD!" and then you could just feel all the kids in the theater getting antsy at once. The other girls that were in the row with us stood up, and so did you, but it was fine because of the stadium seating (see, being picky about theaters DOES pay off!) and the fact that there was nobody in front of you, so you had room to stand and wiggle a bit without bothering people.<br /><br />It was so adorable to see you sitting in that movie seat. You don't quite weigh enough to hold the seat all the way down, so you were having a lot of fun bouncing up and down in it. These are the moments when I smack my forehead and wish I had a smartphone with a decent camera- I never remember to bring my digi with me for things like this, and I so wish I had a picture of you enjoying your first movie, munching on popcorn. You really thought you were the cat's meow sitting in that seat, sharing snacks with your parents :D<br /><br />Through the ENTIRE movie, you remembered to whisper instead of talking... Granted, it was a somewhat elevated whisper ;) but it made me smile every time. You're such a good listener, and I'm so proud to bring you places... People are always amazed at how smart you are and how well you behave. I tell you, little girl, you just shine like a star.<br /><br />Every time a kid would walk by us with their parents during the movie, you would poke your little head out from your seat, look at them, and in the loudest whisper you could manage, say "HIIII!" It was so funny to see, because every time you'd do that, the other kid would kind of stop, look around for you, and wave or smile back...I swear, if it hadn't been a movie where you had to sit and be quiet while it was playing, you probably would have left that place with a boatload of new friends.<br /><br />We had such a great time taking you out this weekend, and it made me more confident that you can handle events like that well, even if you are required to be quiet most of the time. I feel so blessed to have you and your Daddy... The day out together was so fun, just getting to spend some quality time together and laugh and smile and gain some perspective... That no matter how tough these economic times get, we have each other and THAT is something to be grateful for.<br /><br />As we were watching the movie, you were so enraptured by the music and the big screen in front of you... And I looked over your head at your Daddy and together we shared a smile that was really meaningful to me. Though we didn't exchange a word, I think we both felt the same way: in awe and gratitude over having such an amazing little girl, and proud of ourselves for having created such a close-knit family. We've had some rough times over the years, but I would do it all over again if that's what it took to be where we're at right now. With all the saddening news and shocking images that have been circulating over the past week from the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/19/haiti.earthquake/index.html">earthquake catastrophe in Haiti</a>, it really makes me pause and remember how happy I am, and how, in the big scheme of things, our life is pretty damned good.<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-20264190865374604722009-12-15T11:45:00.007-05:002009-12-15T12:43:29.246-05:00Catching Up! Halloween 2009 :)<div style="text-align: center;">I am so far behind on blogging right now it's not even funny!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />With all of the Christmas shopping, decorating, visiting, partying, and general merry-making I just haven't had a lot of extra time lately, and to be frank, I haven't really been in the writing mode... I absolutely love the holiday season and I have really been enjoying it and putting some energy into it this year. Being able to combine my new hobby- couponing and deal seeking- with the holiday preparations like SHOPPING and cooking is so much fun! Plus, what little extra bits of time I have found here and there have been totally eaten up by trying to keep my house clean- (HA! yeah right, every time I clean up one mess another one sprouts in a different location, it seems) and spending quality time with my amazing little Ruggle. But I am really trying to get back into the swing of things now and my goal is to be all caught up with major event posts (ie, Halloween, Thanksgiving, tree decorating, and Christmas itself) by New Years.<br /><br />So, without further adieu, here are the photos from Halloween this year! Bendy wanted to go as a bumblebee at first, but we agreed on a spider costume, since her two middle names mean "spider fairy" :) That is a long story in itself, which I'm not sure if I've told on here or not, but will have to wait for another day if not.<br /><br />Later, as we were explaining to her the meaning of her names, she decided she actually wanted to go as a spider fairy! I told her she could wear her light-up wings and bring her wand, and she'd be the only little spider fairy trick-or-treating in town... So she started off as a spider fairy, in the beginning of the night:<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k7muhPTWoLlI50mICh7WHK1KEiQu16sc4RRCIed5VHYNV4_rK_PUPZLvCkt9l9WcAA4a2tpam4XlIBu8NChi_KvFO63BF8V6dvaa-em0iGokTi2OT9P-HX-Q873MsfSo2vAksZEJTSoI/s1600-h/spiderfairy1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k7muhPTWoLlI50mICh7WHK1KEiQu16sc4RRCIed5VHYNV4_rK_PUPZLvCkt9l9WcAA4a2tpam4XlIBu8NChi_KvFO63BF8V6dvaa-em0iGokTi2OT9P-HX-Q873MsfSo2vAksZEJTSoI/s320/spiderfairy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415508763518068002" border="0" /></a>At home just after getting dressed!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw3gEq8mgFhW-oJqs16wwbSedWdZMwojLw4ErKXbLCrI_MOdP26qPL-auEAWxrEgxYj_BCLALsr9_Ch1cJBZx9OMp_7tXAcJl6vm7F9y3oO1oU9byQ300-Y8UlkWHBuQMgw9DddJ6uhvv/s1600-h/spiderfairy2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw3gEq8mgFhW-oJqs16wwbSedWdZMwojLw4ErKXbLCrI_MOdP26qPL-auEAWxrEgxYj_BCLALsr9_Ch1cJBZx9OMp_7tXAcJl6vm7F9y3oO1oU9byQ300-Y8UlkWHBuQMgw9DddJ6uhvv/s320/spiderfairy2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415508770958703922" border="0" /></a><br />Full look at the costume. I am absolutely in LOVE with Old Navy's Halloween costumes. They are made of fleece, so they're nice and warm- awesome for those of us in climates where snow on Halloween is really possible- are very reasonably priced, and super cute to boot. See the little baby spider sticking out of her pocket?<br /><br />Before we even left our house, though, she had shed the wings and wand. Which was fine by me- fewer questions about what she was going as meant less explanation, which meant? More. CANDY! ;) Oh and also less for her to carry, which turned out to be a very good thing.<br /><br />We started out our trick or treating at the <a href="http://www.powerhousemall.com/">Powerhouse Mall</a>. We did the same last year because they start their trick-or-treat earlier than most of the other places in our area, and it's also nice because it's sort of small (each store has a couple of employees sitting out front handing out candy)... So it's a good place for the kiddos to get a feel for how the whole trick-or-treat deal works, in case they don't remember, it doesn't take a long time to get through, and is inside, so if there is questionable weather, which there was this year (we ended up finishing trick or treat in a drizzle) you don't have to worry about it!<br /><br />Here are some pics from the Powerhouse:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIZ0UoVdve-WBGgD3CeNaJOF9C1Vd55hY4RR1lOBcAG5Vf7S3kEzpSKwcn7-GNHrneLh4c_MZ6ZuwxIB_-zT0gSBlPMA81tIkq9fMbGckmzmR4uOoVOFdpiBFdCANLUEt-syo0Y5S36t3/s1600-h/daddioandillmaster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIZ0UoVdve-WBGgD3CeNaJOF9C1Vd55hY4RR1lOBcAG5Vf7S3kEzpSKwcn7-GNHrneLh4c_MZ6ZuwxIB_-zT0gSBlPMA81tIkq9fMbGckmzmR4uOoVOFdpiBFdCANLUEt-syo0Y5S36t3/s320/daddioandillmaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415513153071214850" border="0" /></a>In the parking lot with Daddio waiting to go in...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM-4bAeMt_bOTMtqJzvhuHrY97pRCPDzgBdY2HVvObVHQKTQ-sphxw7Yot5CGuI94KTls-FYc0cTMudpenKaWpqDBeqnDnpbb-V6gnKg14G9SfzqfgGb5-jR2uepDD6OPVajF-sxA2F4G/s1600-h/powerhouse1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM-4bAeMt_bOTMtqJzvhuHrY97pRCPDzgBdY2HVvObVHQKTQ-sphxw7Yot5CGuI94KTls-FYc0cTMudpenKaWpqDBeqnDnpbb-V6gnKg14G9SfzqfgGb5-jR2uepDD6OPVajF-sxA2F4G/s320/powerhouse1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415508776347415810" border="0" /></a>One of her first stops in the mall! She wasn't sure if she wanted to grab that candy or not... But after a couple minutes, she really started getting the hang of it :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgXGIdHsvfFouznf0pO7rFSbzhVGyJNsvRZ6z4UtoWbu6WpaRjGeUxcgCHBLmdpjB85W5O4zXBgb8cks9_3ZEx_A6xyW1rQTONaMhrljBgwKrGtvuCWDAEBb1eMqbDy7MH9XGDq8OyzQo/s1600-h/withdada.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgXGIdHsvfFouznf0pO7rFSbzhVGyJNsvRZ6z4UtoWbu6WpaRjGeUxcgCHBLmdpjB85W5O4zXBgb8cks9_3ZEx_A6xyW1rQTONaMhrljBgwKrGtvuCWDAEBb1eMqbDy7MH9XGDq8OyzQo/s320/withdada.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415508778722526498" border="0" /></a>Walking through the mall holding Daddy's hand.<br /><br />She kept on grabbing Dum-Dums out of every basket in the mall... I was trying to hint to her to grab the Reese's and Snickers, but she loves lollipops so much she wasn't listening... Kind of stinks cuz Dum-Dums cost what, like a buck a bag or something?! lol... I would have happily bought her a bag of Dum-Dums to trade for a bag full of Reese's, Snickers and Starburst ;) Although in a way I'm glad she went for the lollipops, then I wasn't as tempted by her stuff, and my thighs don't need more chocolate! lol<br /><br />While we were at the Powerhouse, we ran into one of her friends from daycare, whose Mom also happens to be a coworker and friend of mine. I wasn't too surprised, because she's the one who tipped me off to start at the Powerhouse, so I knew she'd be heading there too at some point! Here's Illy bug and her friend, "M" posing for the other camera! I couldn't manage to get one with the both of them looking at me and smiling, so this was the best shot I could find:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwBloW9uqD3XS1RLTqjII9ODhOBVqObDJjBj2WKa8HXglPwKrDqefOgqsT-nkFbfvArtUnPxIKcaQXDzAPzTR3HbNYt1ujCd2aMTQRtt6d_1RmVgwKfqMKZWOd_jAVXgGUvF6BxvfIJdz/s1600-h/makenzieandill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwBloW9uqD3XS1RLTqjII9ODhOBVqObDJjBj2WKa8HXglPwKrDqefOgqsT-nkFbfvArtUnPxIKcaQXDzAPzTR3HbNYt1ujCd2aMTQRtt6d_1RmVgwKfqMKZWOd_jAVXgGUvF6BxvfIJdz/s320/makenzieandill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415508780441750258" border="0" /></a><br />And this was the other one I tried getting before they ran away, but I was just a second too late, Illy was already done posing and pointing in another direction... At some candy? I think. lol.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIODbtAZm5skU18KYyKooA_RwhJtyrCDNu5a1JKy1HrzByeXBYtHQLWljSXH0t-XvwWlXN6WlN2PT-cPRwqex4DDLpJujU6DxqgnNqcwedEkC_DB994aznQr9ZIEXbffzW3yhRG_UHwduE/s1600-h/reach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIODbtAZm5skU18KYyKooA_RwhJtyrCDNu5a1JKy1HrzByeXBYtHQLWljSXH0t-XvwWlXN6WlN2PT-cPRwqex4DDLpJujU6DxqgnNqcwedEkC_DB994aznQr9ZIEXbffzW3yhRG_UHwduE/s320/reach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415513139308360866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then it was time to head back home to Enfield and do our town's trick or treat. We went out with our neighbors and their kids, "K" and "B", who were dressed up as a princess and a cowboy. The pictures of the three of them together are just precious:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh39g_6lE-OB3-5SoAyTkCild44cewnyVdO8xLK2_BTwsoBrHetX3M8oAwmH82upCM78p0yD3ki2RYGT751W9pC8F4MVtwjvVSMoCCcOK7X51KP0QVrO83mNxwW45TzAdxZ5uNm0HMHLl/s1600-h/kaybryceandill2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh39g_6lE-OB3-5SoAyTkCild44cewnyVdO8xLK2_BTwsoBrHetX3M8oAwmH82upCM78p0yD3ki2RYGT751W9pC8F4MVtwjvVSMoCCcOK7X51KP0QVrO83mNxwW45TzAdxZ5uNm0HMHLl/s320/kaybryceandill2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415513150045791810" border="0" /></a>Hmm.. Take 1: B's hat is missing, Illy is zoning out and playing with her face... Nobody is looking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70wzPmO5t74jCC6bqCh4AG4GGHeIPiaS-kvX3zzhcjPGyO9I5tV5ISrKp5QZXbNA1gffUNSonmOD6ogoxpTxL94ZFuz08vRRGD-YTqJN4xbr7d5b_1-QfOVI05X6aVvhilKem0-XsSAyy/s1600-h/kaybryceandill3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70wzPmO5t74jCC6bqCh4AG4GGHeIPiaS-kvX3zzhcjPGyO9I5tV5ISrKp5QZXbNA1gffUNSonmOD6ogoxpTxL94ZFuz08vRRGD-YTqJN4xbr7d5b_1-QfOVI05X6aVvhilKem0-XsSAyy/s320/kaybryceandill3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415513147688494370" border="0" /></a>Take 2: B's hat is on, but I got his Dad's hands in the pic! Only Illy is looking. Let's try this one last time...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5jm2kwheFZBLy8hpWPIWypKWHJ6ykyBIA40Cjyx1Eh-lJ5Y9DRUbTu4M1XlCcjIlq_-gFGtOnPRO4CSxUB5_S9JgrYQLvzm1pK31XZ0PS8-gWkPZdwSNIB-wg98u5Ff-zLgWw_qqN0hl/s1600-h/kayleighbryceandill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5jm2kwheFZBLy8hpWPIWypKWHJ6ykyBIA40Cjyx1Eh-lJ5Y9DRUbTu4M1XlCcjIlq_-gFGtOnPRO4CSxUB5_S9JgrYQLvzm1pK31XZ0PS8-gWkPZdwSNIB-wg98u5Ff-zLgWw_qqN0hl/s320/kayleighbryceandill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415513143714251762" border="0" /></a>Take 3: Cheese! I think this is the best of the three... I think? lol. B has his hands on his face... Illy is looking up but not at the camera. But K has a great big smile and everyone's costume is on and complete. I call that a win :)<br /><br />We thought the rain might just miss us, because as we were getting ready to go, it seemed like it was holding off, but as soon as we started walking down our road, the drizzle began. Luckily for us, it was pretty warm out, and the rain stayed at a light drizzle all night, so we were able to finish our trick or treating comfortably, with some minor adjustments:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr1OAGIOfZPkdzYWg1IG3PoZTDCbfPYfWeg_dn9wGir5SdEqLTpALyz81tNTNPRw6jUoe-MLyUTRW3LuEyHXzaoRkxli4TiP-tw4lrAx81_jfuyqjqTa4BXUOv1PQh95KjF6BE1jkrWfs/s1600-h/cumbrella.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr1OAGIOfZPkdzYWg1IG3PoZTDCbfPYfWeg_dn9wGir5SdEqLTpALyz81tNTNPRw6jUoe-MLyUTRW3LuEyHXzaoRkxli4TiP-tw4lrAx81_jfuyqjqTa4BXUOv1PQh95KjF6BE1jkrWfs/s320/cumbrella.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415514742455134530" border="0" /></a>This was the "cumbrella" (as she called it) that Illy carried around all night. It's K's, but they were nice enough to let us borrow it because we don't have one (whoops!). Even when it would stop drizzling for a while, she needed to have it. To be carrying it at ALL times when she wasn't gathering candy. Definitely prolonged the trick or treating a bit! lol.<br /><br />Ilyana also made up a little ditty to sing as we walked in between all the houses, and soon all three kids (okay, okay, me and Will too!) were singing it: "We're on our way to trick or treat, trick or treat, trick or treat, we're on our way to trick or treat..." It was so cute listening to them sing and being so excited about the night! I think it made Illy feel pretty cool too, that she made up a song that K was singing, since she looks up to K as the bigger girl. :)<br /><br />So we walked around a couple of neighborhoods in our area, gathered a good amount of sugar booty, and then headed down to the Fire Station. They were giving out candy and cider and doing some crafts with the kids... But the coolest reason we were headed down there had nothing to do with the events that they were holding for everyone... We went down there for THIS, in particular:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ7FmkxSM-hE5ZYTYOuzC4yL33mTPLkihhQPvuZixgNCv51Ef039Z1KrP6tZOW5yWj0LpSO1mHVYZ6szdjWcsmfmiOgWplwhon5WBQHeIyawQz5eMSKeZB9MBUqO5SsXMSoqpdSjZ-oo8/s1600-h/firetruck2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ7FmkxSM-hE5ZYTYOuzC4yL33mTPLkihhQPvuZixgNCv51Ef039Z1KrP6tZOW5yWj0LpSO1mHVYZ6szdjWcsmfmiOgWplwhon5WBQHeIyawQz5eMSKeZB9MBUqO5SsXMSoqpdSjZ-oo8/s320/firetruck2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415514757065141554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1KJ7E_QQ96hOhmzxgWdKArRhSldkPG5Yy4xyse9MSJVGphDdivj_TgZf22N5GHusakIECi8klMCxNpCpsbeZu9S6A0MXNdLHsUKCc6s4ZMVAJM2jpMDB-CNGOBlfN-X-hD6zCmH1_U2O/s1600-h/firetruck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1KJ7E_QQ96hOhmzxgWdKArRhSldkPG5Yy4xyse9MSJVGphDdivj_TgZf22N5GHusakIECi8klMCxNpCpsbeZu9S6A0MXNdLHsUKCc6s4ZMVAJM2jpMDB-CNGOBlfN-X-hD6zCmH1_U2O/s320/firetruck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415514750541892498" border="0" /></a><br />The pictures aren't great (I was trying to take them through a rainy windshield in the dark... gimme a break! lol) but they are of Illy and B sitting in the firetruck! Yes, our neighbors happen to know one of the firemen, and he was nice enough to let our little pumpkins sit in the big red seat and pretend they were driving! They loved it, and it was the perfect topper to a wonderful Halloween night.<br /><br />We had a blast this year- it was so much fun watching the girl get the hang of trick or treating and actually understand it fully- she was really too young last year to totally grasp what was going on. Even with the drizzle, it was a great night out in warm weather with friends and my wonderful family, and it won't soon be forgotten. :)<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-42880957402879974832009-10-15T12:14:00.013-04:002009-10-15T14:51:52.623-04:00Apple Picking at Wellwood Orchards, 10/11/09<div style="text-align: center;">I love apple picking.<br /><br />My Dad used to take me every year when I was younger, and it's always been a tradition I knew I would continue with my own children. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and being out in nature, with the crisp, cool air uniquely smelling of fall and the gorgeous views... Well, it's just incredible.<br /><br />Watching the leaves turn around you as mother nature begins her preparations for the deep freeze puts things into perspective and reminds you that the old adage "This, too, shall pass" is not just a silly phrase.... And yet, while life continues to move along, with so many things changing, and my little bend continues to grow "bigger and bigger each day" (as she would say!) , some things will be the same, year after year.<br /><br />We went to <a href="http://www.sover.net/%7Ewellwood/">Wellwood Orchards</a> last year and absolutely loved it. With all they had to offer- the u-pick apples, pumpkins, the petting zoo, wonderful views, hayrides, freshly made cider doughnuts and various other goodies... It was a no-brainer that we go back there again this year.<br /><br />It was a chilly, overcast day, but through our whole vacation last week, this was the first day that seemed to have promising weather (read: no rain). We decided to tough it out and figured we could warm ourselves up with hot cider if needed :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTThFWFb3JalPvb03TdGGUQsughNjrWbEBi8bV3zYlfv5_-uBFHSuX1N2kjS6jjSUiEgikOkSA22BOkMCUlJqHQYr_TnWaXGxYgFSKrDlF8hE4sdChBD69ix_nvY2HSC17W6WeXNQ7xKAF/s1600-h/ApplePicking+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTThFWFb3JalPvb03TdGGUQsughNjrWbEBi8bV3zYlfv5_-uBFHSuX1N2kjS6jjSUiEgikOkSA22BOkMCUlJqHQYr_TnWaXGxYgFSKrDlF8hE4sdChBD69ix_nvY2HSC17W6WeXNQ7xKAF/s320/ApplePicking+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861925191626466" border="0" /></a><br />We were struck by the old look of this barn against the clouds when we pulled up, so Will took a couple of shots of it. I'm pretty sure he's going to enhance this one in photoshop, but I already like it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqHWZ5qp8IBgU5SOWOtyYjV-GWCW6n-J8ibRscEmM1G0ysPDZ2nOKhnSwLlUpYe4afqWn8zLuuX5pWezJfTorKH0jx9H7OGf-M003oEejLcJCCvYOt6dt5RgQtq__eZIDeLjOenjftBA5/s1600-h/ApplePicking+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqHWZ5qp8IBgU5SOWOtyYjV-GWCW6n-J8ibRscEmM1G0ysPDZ2nOKhnSwLlUpYe4afqWn8zLuuX5pWezJfTorKH0jx9H7OGf-M003oEejLcJCCvYOt6dt5RgQtq__eZIDeLjOenjftBA5/s320/ApplePicking+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861930961535442" border="0" /></a>There was a pretty hefty breeze right when we arrived... luckily it warmed up soon after, but in this picture the poor Bend was freezing her little bum off. Hence the funny face. We decided to go into the store to warm up, grab our apple bag, and get some fresh doughnuts and hot cider to warm our bones :)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0529HSM_cE6b3Yop7LdYFKHG_9GnNUe7q-P2L2VcazXc3IsNupe3CmeqgQ_jWihwZy0qi_z-MyCZ45wmVE-flNvthaA4fmoJJDSUenBV-thGij7ny6uoKbhzcmLlEn49WF1AApeGvmii2/s1600-h/ApplePicking+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0529HSM_cE6b3Yop7LdYFKHG_9GnNUe7q-P2L2VcazXc3IsNupe3CmeqgQ_jWihwZy0qi_z-MyCZ45wmVE-flNvthaA4fmoJJDSUenBV-thGij7ny6uoKbhzcmLlEn49WF1AApeGvmii2/s320/ApplePicking+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861944599587410" border="0" /></a>She thought this was the funniest thing!<br /><br />She actually wanted to be a honeybee for Halloween originally... I had decided we would go with an <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com">Old Navy</a> costume again this year because last year the one we got was really good quality, really warm, really cute and a really good price... So I had her go onto the website with me and try to pick one she liked. Well, of course she picked the honeybee, which was the ONLY one not on sale! You know me, can't pay full price for something when I could get it cheaper... So I had her pick her next best fave, which was the spider. And since her two middle names mean "spider fairy" I told her she could wear fairy wings and bring her wand, and be the only little spider fairy trick-or-treating! So it worked out in the end... But she definitely got a kick out of being a bee for a minute here!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs4MaWqe5-o_FFlTGppidPJ_U1rNKVFIk_ZrTzAhDwT_iuVzWDEQQu_SFi7CxZPGGNXygPGK5SkAUzspqo5FAJhF0gGtA4CPtPO6sbSfV0scOylC_K2hpt7SfyWXCKRq-a45KuqVBb1p8/s1600-h/ApplePicking+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs4MaWqe5-o_FFlTGppidPJ_U1rNKVFIk_ZrTzAhDwT_iuVzWDEQQu_SFi7CxZPGGNXygPGK5SkAUzspqo5FAJhF0gGtA4CPtPO6sbSfV0scOylC_K2hpt7SfyWXCKRq-a45KuqVBb1p8/s320/ApplePicking+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861947495429698" border="0" /></a>She was trying to look down to see how her body changed into a bee... lol!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ3PFyLVso8Y97dH8vrJ1yMQ65438qvdnIgmScDxC-RILlwmyUXqYwirb_0n2iwVivb_jaSvAZ8fm0IDp0fzPmsKyg5egYQrZQcik78d2Ueb5o7SHNz9wzgnYPi4Ta-vY2X68qejJhiU3/s1600-h/ApplePicking+029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ3PFyLVso8Y97dH8vrJ1yMQ65438qvdnIgmScDxC-RILlwmyUXqYwirb_0n2iwVivb_jaSvAZ8fm0IDp0fzPmsKyg5egYQrZQcik78d2Ueb5o7SHNz9wzgnYPi4Ta-vY2X68qejJhiU3/s320/ApplePicking+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861934133338306" border="0" /></a>Going to say "hello" to one of the chickens that escaped from the petting zoo! And some random lady's butt. Sorry about that, but there wasn't really a way to crop it without cutting off Bend or the chicken. *sigh*<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHo_4bwsdKt0CIl0brfAJXtc1lOSY2C4G-zQvPxUoxg50sbwuthdjkvYahzdGU6vKrkCoGIR2npWGXoNi_jLKsUAAhegICrNSzhdz2QAL6C6VrLg_G2_rjxaPLSMkg-edZkXam8iptHYM/s1600-h/ApplePicking+037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHo_4bwsdKt0CIl0brfAJXtc1lOSY2C4G-zQvPxUoxg50sbwuthdjkvYahzdGU6vKrkCoGIR2npWGXoNi_jLKsUAAhegICrNSzhdz2QAL6C6VrLg_G2_rjxaPLSMkg-edZkXam8iptHYM/s320/ApplePicking+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869823347105474" border="0" /></a>Pumpkins and squash and tractors, OH MY!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImALWkVPPWq11njSFseC8RsWpMuZFIu44SBKXqMZ_2K12BhjDjYWKdUDik3y_RgrwOiQ0ByC2KlQbgUcRyR6NZi6-VZqG9lGk-pp-fH3ICjZH8zByaKr1HrmhC0JkZFaJwU696GRPOZjg/s1600-h/ApplePicking+038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImALWkVPPWq11njSFseC8RsWpMuZFIu44SBKXqMZ_2K12BhjDjYWKdUDik3y_RgrwOiQ0ByC2KlQbgUcRyR6NZi6-VZqG9lGk-pp-fH3ICjZH8zByaKr1HrmhC0JkZFaJwU696GRPOZjg/s320/ApplePicking+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869616835669730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13tGDyk9fuv3pWcatSqjAIq3hzyu6-VEGwezmlJlvxIApKyozNRrrR6RW9LY-hFu6L912RzE6o92f17lQ-ig7gdtNyhbtXUXqdWfNCmcYgiJyivV5RNqt4eCtmHAD94wucGVEeSL59UeE/s1600-h/ApplePicking+040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13tGDyk9fuv3pWcatSqjAIq3hzyu6-VEGwezmlJlvxIApKyozNRrrR6RW9LY-hFu6L912RzE6o92f17lQ-ig7gdtNyhbtXUXqdWfNCmcYgiJyivV5RNqt4eCtmHAD94wucGVEeSL59UeE/s320/ApplePicking+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869610248808738" border="0" /></a><br />Ilyana hanging out with Daddio, waiting for the "hay"ride. They didn't actually use hay on this one... They opted for the more high-tech option... Benches!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM9bid6GF3yEFMAgLVK1tHfMbRDFvEuTlJMBMU_q-KUgwIFX1sziCCuwbbghQaLqLGUrM-29UKsqgAi3JwbCdN1CtLK3nCoZQc9KAUTjtA1hPfY7EPGpMX7x7CGlcLt-EcVo6xoO1oU7_/s1600-h/ApplePicking+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM9bid6GF3yEFMAgLVK1tHfMbRDFvEuTlJMBMU_q-KUgwIFX1sziCCuwbbghQaLqLGUrM-29UKsqgAi3JwbCdN1CtLK3nCoZQc9KAUTjtA1hPfY7EPGpMX7x7CGlcLt-EcVo6xoO1oU7_/s320/ApplePicking+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869607182276146" border="0" /></a>Ilyana and I... on her first hayride :D She had a blast, absolutely loved it! She kept asking all day if we could go back on the hayride...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tV6hgXGBpWrdcTN5KXnIYcdg5bSB3iXhkIBMZhp4g-jdEg4Hw6GG7plYjpWf4YOnaWQ2teHrg-QpfTlHK32hTDGudZUTlHN7W9JqXlmrRpvGXdG4_6S9FfEJTz_ITPxQ_EF3H5y22Re4/s1600-h/ApplePicking+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tV6hgXGBpWrdcTN5KXnIYcdg5bSB3iXhkIBMZhp4g-jdEg4Hw6GG7plYjpWf4YOnaWQ2teHrg-QpfTlHK32hTDGudZUTlHN7W9JqXlmrRpvGXdG4_6S9FfEJTz_ITPxQ_EF3H5y22Re4/s320/ApplePicking+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869598218946850" border="0" /></a>For posterity! This is what your first hayride looked like, Bendy Rugg :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0pj2HvXLym7d9J3ketdnbxCCu4A3oyS6e4J6zSlW27yI9t7C-SjL1ondIh8tlknVf0EqtO_-74wMC0PtlqWpAWbchzn1wOFDq_tHLN-yId2Cb3CMQ37pOpamCPK3tzX4otbSByGyR4pS/s1600-h/ApplePicking+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0pj2HvXLym7d9J3ketdnbxCCu4A3oyS6e4J6zSlW27yI9t7C-SjL1ondIh8tlknVf0EqtO_-74wMC0PtlqWpAWbchzn1wOFDq_tHLN-yId2Cb3CMQ37pOpamCPK3tzX4otbSByGyR4pS/s320/ApplePicking+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392869592875717778" border="0" /></a>And this is the view, looking back down onto the store, from the hayride up into the orchard.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx94S2sGuN5D6s-RFw7HfH_nENi6Q7Kfl4Wdc3GluhxpF83yQru7ZbHCych45odB52orA45KaH4nPTKET3uVUQCR84btLAr7cxFT_3if9Sn1v_YhYNv3vNqtpYjbrjwXf2aWXNKhXhyIq/s1600-h/ApplePicking+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx94S2sGuN5D6s-RFw7HfH_nENi6Q7Kfl4Wdc3GluhxpF83yQru7ZbHCych45odB52orA45KaH4nPTKET3uVUQCR84btLAr7cxFT_3if9Sn1v_YhYNv3vNqtpYjbrjwXf2aWXNKhXhyIq/s320/ApplePicking+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866804132129986" border="0" /></a><br />Ilyana and Daddy, scoping the trees for the best apples left! Turned out, this was the second to last weekend of u-Pick apples this season, so most of the types had already passed. Good thing we made it!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uMKacOWsnim8SVPgVNEaZG0f8NmuuX8wLVGMjK9zxZEFRJd_0yV3S4d8kZZqpruiDmDQ3zIm3Nn48mMKoBkb5J8b68z7_xwDJM04oDvRPjUlF8tkfNhoZArO_-wQNIQzJdV4jSXC32rU/s1600-h/ApplePicking+052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uMKacOWsnim8SVPgVNEaZG0f8NmuuX8wLVGMjK9zxZEFRJd_0yV3S4d8kZZqpruiDmDQ3zIm3Nn48mMKoBkb5J8b68z7_xwDJM04oDvRPjUlF8tkfNhoZArO_-wQNIQzJdV4jSXC32rU/s320/ApplePicking+052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866801041050322" border="0" /></a>Taste test... Result? Semi-bitter but yummy! We grabbed a couple of those for baking...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6DHMQsNIvbaEH8cmAihNLbdVoUtoT5_LXCHTV0GM9ZoXGD6_KJZE5GZDf9BBp5NVzGyFpXRj0Q7QgikvsB8ANzI26BPOLZeZGbhk1l7Qph8lM_OUuKoTz3w2P8qMfwp0GIeF1BU5cXP0/s1600-h/ApplePicking+049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6DHMQsNIvbaEH8cmAihNLbdVoUtoT5_LXCHTV0GM9ZoXGD6_KJZE5GZDf9BBp5NVzGyFpXRj0Q7QgikvsB8ANzI26BPOLZeZGbhk1l7Qph8lM_OUuKoTz3w2P8qMfwp0GIeF1BU5cXP0/s320/ApplePicking+049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866797894707586" border="0" /></a>I absolutely love this picture of Ills and her Dad. It's a little dark, I need to have Will touch it up still since I'm not as good in photoshop as him... But still, one of my faves from the day. Can't you just feel the love?!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1grJsWI61HW6XDf6I-vOpO3TAxu5l6fPmRXHjihCp_ienUrpzPkIPGHNfh5a8W32NEYNOg-fpT_rw612ylVXa2koywRR92yBQDgDGUv5XZOG79CsNTvibq8Si1A7uV-cdk4LbFl3GNrR/s1600-h/ApplePicking+056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1grJsWI61HW6XDf6I-vOpO3TAxu5l6fPmRXHjihCp_ienUrpzPkIPGHNfh5a8W32NEYNOg-fpT_rw612ylVXa2koywRR92yBQDgDGUv5XZOG79CsNTvibq8Si1A7uV-cdk4LbFl3GNrR/s320/ApplePicking+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866780275752898" border="0" /></a>Through the leaves shot of me and the Bendy. I like this one :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszVmzo0gimq_pym27kAtSG26mxrOzf2NhwY2SNoRJNSiL9fpIpsyraEA52dGyX-dv6EwEg5zcUfYXvP5koMpFUyTq_8KwjCn3vqT4PEIUUV1OjFcxTx9ZSliEdPklCoKKm7129F6oxOxs/s1600-h/ApplePicking+058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszVmzo0gimq_pym27kAtSG26mxrOzf2NhwY2SNoRJNSiL9fpIpsyraEA52dGyX-dv6EwEg5zcUfYXvP5koMpFUyTq_8KwjCn3vqT4PEIUUV1OjFcxTx9ZSliEdPklCoKKm7129F6oxOxs/s320/ApplePicking+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866193340549586" border="0" /></a><br />She was getting frustrated that she couldn't get the apples down, so I was showing her how to twist them off.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmex-akOkoR8xFqhjZ__RsyoeiJgyK17ppN3lnCQJQx_It60Ck0dixxBodkefQV7Pew0WWaw2gidVckkidgvjAmNCwyR-P38b0vqMKIFQse-rGBLpEUfvMeVW_AxJBobjtqCpAAC75hhY/s1600-h/ApplePicking+059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmex-akOkoR8xFqhjZ__RsyoeiJgyK17ppN3lnCQJQx_It60Ck0dixxBodkefQV7Pew0WWaw2gidVckkidgvjAmNCwyR-P38b0vqMKIFQse-rGBLpEUfvMeVW_AxJBobjtqCpAAC75hhY/s320/ApplePicking+059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866186840063186" border="0" /></a>The best apples are always up high, where they get lots of sun... So we find creative ways of getting at them! Here's Bendy sitting on my head trying to reach one...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ4qGnnFNkWfNQ9HDL7bf4koDMLwqFAOX2X_Kq3EgQmc-NmxVulmRsfPREkVhSKHbvdgSeb61x4rbUKljHPAD-6YWuL9BRroLTHDeM2FLNvcZ3O10lNrwa7D53GBZI5nBqkaiZ4SSawta/s1600-h/ApplePicking+060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ4qGnnFNkWfNQ9HDL7bf4koDMLwqFAOX2X_Kq3EgQmc-NmxVulmRsfPREkVhSKHbvdgSeb61x4rbUKljHPAD-6YWuL9BRroLTHDeM2FLNvcZ3O10lNrwa7D53GBZI5nBqkaiZ4SSawta/s320/ApplePicking+060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866185012187506" border="0" /></a>And here she is getting a lift from her Dada.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowfsDtMJAMWAHPbj_5dKxJCnNDLjvpCzxmPyqP4HO2dQqXSx9xI9pYfuVRZmqfcojR4C1sX-VSOFXC_CDrm_PwAibDEC8HjfHNEuUsGTFrbaPYjtxEOJMGlNoEcAS39gSNLuuvQw1gKt0/s1600-h/ApplePicking+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowfsDtMJAMWAHPbj_5dKxJCnNDLjvpCzxmPyqP4HO2dQqXSx9xI9pYfuVRZmqfcojR4C1sX-VSOFXC_CDrm_PwAibDEC8HjfHNEuUsGTFrbaPYjtxEOJMGlNoEcAS39gSNLuuvQw1gKt0/s320/ApplePicking+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866172557141010" border="0" /></a>For about half the time that Will and I were picking apples, Ilyana was busy playing "Where's Ruggle?" She thought it was awesome to keep running away from us and hiding between the trees. Ahh, sweet freedom!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HxOaXuggoWxKVE5fyojoNCrLiB9wIFxc70byFUAGs5NJZghzrh3dYWMAGb3l9_zEhh36uOk5CYC1zP6VXppE6ejnXB_Xli7W5sEu9JCfMamgL0bT_t2DZxB60TTRfxumTmPwZL9VYpij/s1600-h/ApplePicking+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HxOaXuggoWxKVE5fyojoNCrLiB9wIFxc70byFUAGs5NJZghzrh3dYWMAGb3l9_zEhh36uOk5CYC1zP6VXppE6ejnXB_Xli7W5sEu9JCfMamgL0bT_t2DZxB60TTRfxumTmPwZL9VYpij/s320/ApplePicking+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392866171794635474" border="0" /></a>Bendy hider...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqdzgdo-Fz_YDhWEWYTUVfyLbNewiiixGDUJHjdNEtVZLhWKCNVT4-v6QYYPMCBnTGWsWSO1M3pdeQX_dcJ2Cd45PqEklp0Fl2v2-FWyECj1aivAz1AiPloQ04bCxd4hN9HMkZW5QTAs3/s1600-h/ApplePicking+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqdzgdo-Fz_YDhWEWYTUVfyLbNewiiixGDUJHjdNEtVZLhWKCNVT4-v6QYYPMCBnTGWsWSO1M3pdeQX_dcJ2Cd45PqEklp0Fl2v2-FWyECj1aivAz1AiPloQ04bCxd4hN9HMkZW5QTAs3/s320/ApplePicking+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865698989612690" border="0" /></a>There she is!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKILzSwbW1nBDIUcoCKjaPvJIT60zuH2JKm7r9jJacrDdGcOLxe1owSK06AexTgdHE1hDxQ3MmSno_fxsnVLsjnN9wlhK5EbHoJWyHHh8ESE7BM07zEZhJryXhce4XmdHoJAUErbBYfg6/s1600-h/ApplePicking+070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKILzSwbW1nBDIUcoCKjaPvJIT60zuH2JKm7r9jJacrDdGcOLxe1owSK06AexTgdHE1hDxQ3MmSno_fxsnVLsjnN9wlhK5EbHoJWyHHh8ESE7BM07zEZhJryXhce4XmdHoJAUErbBYfg6/s320/ApplePicking+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865692058647858" border="0" /></a>"I finally caught you, you crazy little bean!"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwH_ZgEMdJKxTSyiGsMVMeWxy0-43WV3Xb50HHIPDNQqzfx-PdexrMZOgxS7nopkA4ij1mRAxLVLFYafM6VbXjsW1ono0bmW02-vEDchL73gIh81nvIcLSARCp3QX1fvBfZD6JyuCwxr4/s1600-h/ApplePicking+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwH_ZgEMdJKxTSyiGsMVMeWxy0-43WV3Xb50HHIPDNQqzfx-PdexrMZOgxS7nopkA4ij1mRAxLVLFYafM6VbXjsW1ono0bmW02-vEDchL73gIh81nvIcLSARCp3QX1fvBfZD6JyuCwxr4/s320/ApplePicking+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865682869599218" border="0" /></a>Or maybe not... She went limp like a rag doll and didn't want me to pick her up. Apparently "Where's Ruggle?" was far too fun a game to give up so easily.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN3D7duOoQB52FqLKmxOZp_h7RFT9opolxgHH2iy7hsRJM0kfMi2AAvBvz8TtnWFjGrEwpbMOTEhIp00IuaJyHbD0nh8Ii20hZuMVQQtI1b9Y2_ldsfkK4c2DaZwN6pUPmwUVHM9ofseU/s1600-h/ApplePicking+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN3D7duOoQB52FqLKmxOZp_h7RFT9opolxgHH2iy7hsRJM0kfMi2AAvBvz8TtnWFjGrEwpbMOTEhIp00IuaJyHbD0nh8Ii20hZuMVQQtI1b9Y2_ldsfkK4c2DaZwN6pUPmwUVHM9ofseU/s320/ApplePicking+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865680178971282" border="0" /></a>But then I told her Daddy needed her help. And since she LOVES to help with anything grown-up, she rushed right over. She was standing next to him. He would grab the apples, hand them to her, and she would drop them in the bag. Now that's some good teamwork. :D<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNLQczXkSmjQwWCpo1aOQt11NO9cQoVi22sxE90zrCtKmgzkZViZ0SDQQGfUMksMzTvE702ez8ZxISd2822A0IB9s2M317WT_c9nIdUzhONj3uhC2GMBpL7j0F0q_s1dqODg81J2vtmSq/s1600-h/ApplePicking+075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNLQczXkSmjQwWCpo1aOQt11NO9cQoVi22sxE90zrCtKmgzkZViZ0SDQQGfUMksMzTvE702ez8ZxISd2822A0IB9s2M317WT_c9nIdUzhONj3uhC2GMBpL7j0F0q_s1dqODg81J2vtmSq/s320/ApplePicking+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865674058106034" border="0" /></a>Whoops, dropped one!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAehJ_NXo-UMyEX8OT0n8fP3DwCn8dFU94A3b8OXu8dgHFnPu6B2SOoJ8wITZ2lXQq_7ar2iawuGUec24r8ILJppeSNo53J1GMj_vpzneOQGvbAW8bN2LRmZQG0PtJ-RXDEuWKvTyhavld/s1600-h/ApplePicking+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAehJ_NXo-UMyEX8OT0n8fP3DwCn8dFU94A3b8OXu8dgHFnPu6B2SOoJ8wITZ2lXQq_7ar2iawuGUec24r8ILJppeSNo53J1GMj_vpzneOQGvbAW8bN2LRmZQG0PtJ-RXDEuWKvTyhavld/s320/ApplePicking+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865204898624514" border="0" /></a>Gorgeous views of the mountains. Here we're looking down on the store- on the bottom left- from up in the strawberry patch area.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDqI7HAm9X78JsmbmLXQ4AUbzJqj5zLcuMLhIwf5aLtUkpAAdqlFVmxebsRfhIyXN938k2cUntDV9NSdTqmotbekcCnlt7gBOrcDAJRALLq8k4aU_svsZ4KfuoyLNXb2c56Ojes31kfR3/s1600-h/ApplePicking+085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDqI7HAm9X78JsmbmLXQ4AUbzJqj5zLcuMLhIwf5aLtUkpAAdqlFVmxebsRfhIyXN938k2cUntDV9NSdTqmotbekcCnlt7gBOrcDAJRALLq8k4aU_svsZ4KfuoyLNXb2c56Ojes31kfR3/s320/ApplePicking+085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865199485887394" border="0" /></a>More views... And my handsome hubby :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFHpvalsuY4o3zuk7acWDtT11VJp7sOA5-zX-ds0IuHhTfhaWeJAeqpzZDAp-DabrQLFSN2zZnWRu4qzN23jP6t-AsqJpsSoeooGN3bY35JuXdfKetFvTpXhRdJrkD25buVrAcEcRZZRg/s1600-h/ApplePicking+087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFHpvalsuY4o3zuk7acWDtT11VJp7sOA5-zX-ds0IuHhTfhaWeJAeqpzZDAp-DabrQLFSN2zZnWRu4qzN23jP6t-AsqJpsSoeooGN3bY35JuXdfKetFvTpXhRdJrkD25buVrAcEcRZZRg/s320/ApplePicking+087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865195782216706" border="0" /></a>She was a little crabby here... Something about not wanting to share something that wasn't hers with another little boy there. Yes, we're working on sharing... lol<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6lo3L9mxo2OczFbHpQYRRNjMsSjnsNVxRGHYWGedMfb2qgLszkJR_WYwjelmXrKfXhEe0e_8kT8ZpYWlRzo1uAtDZC3Mb8j2wA_CwJtGG9RsL6w6QZ5-5Ur6dPHAjJsixQseaeOXcQ6i/s1600-h/ApplePicking+092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6lo3L9mxo2OczFbHpQYRRNjMsSjnsNVxRGHYWGedMfb2qgLszkJR_WYwjelmXrKfXhEe0e_8kT8ZpYWlRzo1uAtDZC3Mb8j2wA_CwJtGG9RsL6w6QZ5-5Ur6dPHAjJsixQseaeOXcQ6i/s320/ApplePicking+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865188360213778" border="0" /></a>"What's that?"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxuBqtpJgtv7jhRlZDEBIEY84FCtJ_2f1fLKtG619tmLyciKBelJ-cNwZSAkvksKIF2cxYIfUqO-KNVZcMoFDS167dQjVsrbYIPFTCOA3eW0kvSbko8eKbnRco5XG4rPyDSzZltxGWMvw/s1600-h/ApplePicking+094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxuBqtpJgtv7jhRlZDEBIEY84FCtJ_2f1fLKtG619tmLyciKBelJ-cNwZSAkvksKIF2cxYIfUqO-KNVZcMoFDS167dQjVsrbYIPFTCOA3eW0kvSbko8eKbnRco5XG4rPyDSzZltxGWMvw/s320/ApplePicking+094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392865181189266066" border="0" /></a>Pretty girl. Finally has enough hair for it to blow in the breeze! :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksN9XZRkKPbG2bjwuG6fh3aN62D6lOZuN-hrkXJJikAi2kuSvMhS25UjJrjp0ZxuvFIEI5GJZw1bmIPdCoLv-I19OXW4ELpmXrntm53bndlJmEImRlA37iTW8ShigwoklR1MZFL1oaNhC/s1600-h/ApplePicking+096.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksN9XZRkKPbG2bjwuG6fh3aN62D6lOZuN-hrkXJJikAi2kuSvMhS25UjJrjp0ZxuvFIEI5GJZw1bmIPdCoLv-I19OXW4ELpmXrntm53bndlJmEImRlA37iTW8ShigwoklR1MZFL1oaNhC/s320/ApplePicking+096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863668925961602" border="0" /></a>Dada and the Rugg<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADW-PkS8iDvv6-uFiWStNl60LuAUy_QxlnnTI5wnU3clAXEkCkaRNpTPlKR2cY6jYhH-YhULUyGb8ciqDNOPGuxWUbPV0uT2Qaudf3tj7XwdEMqu_gDf33NGAbE4A3ekcnvVaw04rAruc/s1600-h/ApplePicking+099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADW-PkS8iDvv6-uFiWStNl60LuAUy_QxlnnTI5wnU3clAXEkCkaRNpTPlKR2cY6jYhH-YhULUyGb8ciqDNOPGuxWUbPV0uT2Qaudf3tj7XwdEMqu_gDf33NGAbE4A3ekcnvVaw04rAruc/s320/ApplePicking+099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863668086607762" border="0" /></a>Watching the hayride head back down...<br /><br />We were sort of trying to do a new version of <a href="http://bendyruggles.blogspot.com/2008/10/pickin-bapples.html">last year's apple bin photos</a> with this next series... But with the bad lighting on this overcast day, we didn't have as much luck. These came out good, but not as good as the ones from last year... Those are still some of my all-time favorites of her :)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDexhyphenhyphenZkZPzDZ_f8URjN27Uo_EslDsTKPVAN75TLjQTp4rXE9GJXMn2Izc6XW54NoEfAe-L2RYWSXyyP_6-91qkxppEdggCVJp3Bf52Ym_TgS75l7avcUk1af35eGRJzCKy8cXuGgA91Y/s1600-h/ApplePicking+121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDexhyphenhyphenZkZPzDZ_f8URjN27Uo_EslDsTKPVAN75TLjQTp4rXE9GJXMn2Izc6XW54NoEfAe-L2RYWSXyyP_6-91qkxppEdggCVJp3Bf52Ym_TgS75l7avcUk1af35eGRJzCKy8cXuGgA91Y/s320/ApplePicking+121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863656320967714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv9dgPfVck2cmSq2mXFP7vnL9883f_59LDff_ypofDjxyMt7IWasNlZ26FbNX0QB13AWDtdFNYaEud-RmtaOJDfVQzQL2SqgFpRBcZ9Bir_sIbgAPb2s7pH3TSQlmfxCUqoLINGM0eiic/s1600-h/ApplePicking+120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv9dgPfVck2cmSq2mXFP7vnL9883f_59LDff_ypofDjxyMt7IWasNlZ26FbNX0QB13AWDtdFNYaEud-RmtaOJDfVQzQL2SqgFpRBcZ9Bir_sIbgAPb2s7pH3TSQlmfxCUqoLINGM0eiic/s320/ApplePicking+120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863651628154578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EDpnBRPxPMf74lWrdCadiBltbCX9TFFnvRoB6bV4WewsIJLp6hUU8o9GZNshhyXSeGAup_kO8z5aRh8-qBvFNXrGRks7vx2olE0yVUvjDyIdvUjiZ1ICUOYHH6KOGVS7NmOOkvCX4cUR/s1600-h/ApplePicking+119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EDpnBRPxPMf74lWrdCadiBltbCX9TFFnvRoB6bV4WewsIJLp6hUU8o9GZNshhyXSeGAup_kO8z5aRh8-qBvFNXrGRks7vx2olE0yVUvjDyIdvUjiZ1ICUOYHH6KOGVS7NmOOkvCX4cUR/s320/ApplePicking+119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863643728338274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOMmZOcVWtPiihiat6RyFwLJsmT5KuBKJI0knOHs9BN_d6LproQL_E1MHFemipU-_E8bpnUcN6WIqn6e4UvPuDOMkwoXpgFV-C4rBydqayiohaM1uHOybdm1HE04tM6RBa_g1aeFI8uco/s1600-h/ApplePicking+118.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOMmZOcVWtPiihiat6RyFwLJsmT5KuBKJI0knOHs9BN_d6LproQL_E1MHFemipU-_E8bpnUcN6WIqn6e4UvPuDOMkwoXpgFV-C4rBydqayiohaM1uHOybdm1HE04tM6RBa_g1aeFI8uco/s320/ApplePicking+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863098882565618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXSz0eRVEiOoToZRLEtLcELzl2cURJg7djJag9Wlroi-EN4s4mYrwTu308GzJd2nI6CY9B4G3WoHGvEnYlKElELevL5EEPlASN3zP58M_o9FYCj3uBSRFu8SMNPNJZPAIxVZ18sJRK3kE/s1600-h/ApplePicking+112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXSz0eRVEiOoToZRLEtLcELzl2cURJg7djJag9Wlroi-EN4s4mYrwTu308GzJd2nI6CY9B4G3WoHGvEnYlKElELevL5EEPlASN3zP58M_o9FYCj3uBSRFu8SMNPNJZPAIxVZ18sJRK3kE/s320/ApplePicking+112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863095308896354" border="0" /></a>Why are you taking so many pictures of me??<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgUlOxIqlChNh3LNxyMraAyyNHU0lE4bUHvj-Nuj6DyWChWJC-b78wjyuswa0N22S_qLEiWEwbXxDH13DrImCIbMvbBX59E6NGlr_H6sFl7KLbOtMJ66okakZ1kVRN3AQjRbwlhVtR7w7/s1600-h/ApplePicking+109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgUlOxIqlChNh3LNxyMraAyyNHU0lE4bUHvj-Nuj6DyWChWJC-b78wjyuswa0N22S_qLEiWEwbXxDH13DrImCIbMvbBX59E6NGlr_H6sFl7KLbOtMJ66okakZ1kVRN3AQjRbwlhVtR7w7/s320/ApplePicking+109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863088236280450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYzehHuYho1JFn4BlEi7ieybmbSwsalIADL5IGe1EClbvcBv6YKViSQA-8Lb-gSlhLUUXD3T63AIxpsHSK-RHRxxBYLwAs7AYN2OzK-AFLDn2cQu1sH3hqVGCEppyqqFYbBPykg2TgdrN/s1600-h/ApplePicking+127.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYzehHuYho1JFn4BlEi7ieybmbSwsalIADL5IGe1EClbvcBv6YKViSQA-8Lb-gSlhLUUXD3T63AIxpsHSK-RHRxxBYLwAs7AYN2OzK-AFLDn2cQu1sH3hqVGCEppyqqFYbBPykg2TgdrN/s320/ApplePicking+127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392862272555034338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OHTy9cSnefWlHt1KpwrZhrAUaiXwPzFLap9G59laKKdvjxMXMF0m8b-6YrN9LR1AR_zVfVB5oy-xJOzn7zNYcTHIgN2rtra-5Ax0yFevD_ACh2MNoER01S16oXFMdYC5vTC47591rZ9S/s1600-h/ApplePicking+128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OHTy9cSnefWlHt1KpwrZhrAUaiXwPzFLap9G59laKKdvjxMXMF0m8b-6YrN9LR1AR_zVfVB5oy-xJOzn7zNYcTHIgN2rtra-5Ax0yFevD_ACh2MNoER01S16oXFMdYC5vTC47591rZ9S/s320/ApplePicking+128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392862266487594498" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDlhN0Vzd1BsS8uXGRTiUzdOOVfFGSeNnmL2STA4yFTXfH44p-z3PS_ctMQVOFdeXhVlw-7meDAlBumHxQr6FdMbl3pvBWNekb-wiQeWP3eR0aHgcJxeMjd4mS3tFW4AX_B3_F80Xqol4/s1600-h/ApplePicking+130.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDlhN0Vzd1BsS8uXGRTiUzdOOVfFGSeNnmL2STA4yFTXfH44p-z3PS_ctMQVOFdeXhVlw-7meDAlBumHxQr6FdMbl3pvBWNekb-wiQeWP3eR0aHgcJxeMjd4mS3tFW4AX_B3_F80Xqol4/s320/ApplePicking+130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392862263275777234" border="0" /></a>*Peek*<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_UF6otd7awWYIyGM1OIGq7uc-S4_QnOEnAtgRcK0-ypm01mhmVA5C327BUVcTSRqjy5-OMR-UDPtbKQerKEOOHVoqicGr_y2or180rFshqfE9QBbmsbrGk4NUn05CPRyUimhbpt2zQ1n/s1600-h/ApplePicking+131.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_UF6otd7awWYIyGM1OIGq7uc-S4_QnOEnAtgRcK0-ypm01mhmVA5C327BUVcTSRqjy5-OMR-UDPtbKQerKEOOHVoqicGr_y2or180rFshqfE9QBbmsbrGk4NUn05CPRyUimhbpt2zQ1n/s320/ApplePicking+131.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392862253447499506" border="0" /></a>Nom nom nom...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafG4AyHTvYS5o1ikwaO16eTmHgirff2kwKlj0mB6DPph7VYo4lOA_e4KXMPVipH83mz0Dnzrv-t3KKh_2U_Rr9OnlZk05p9A-M2K_6soQMI2gK_DPHapO57tqjfxDvlqk2r4Ul3u9CAhp/s1600-h/ApplePicking+132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafG4AyHTvYS5o1ikwaO16eTmHgirff2kwKlj0mB6DPph7VYo4lOA_e4KXMPVipH83mz0Dnzrv-t3KKh_2U_Rr9OnlZk05p9A-M2K_6soQMI2gK_DPHapO57tqjfxDvlqk2r4Ul3u9CAhp/s320/ApplePicking+132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392862250202358386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j3WsSSCwdCX5-agoZ9aOvXUNpJzqv1aTF3tYWDzVRvq7nnLTOFBbG5MST1xMMLNoSyGZ7ticjCegZeH5wmeNJZiHd3zzIlXPgLS3CUv4iukP5aVcIgwHpuEDkDa4uZqci5SwDK476dZm/s1600-h/ApplePicking+125.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j3WsSSCwdCX5-agoZ9aOvXUNpJzqv1aTF3tYWDzVRvq7nnLTOFBbG5MST1xMMLNoSyGZ7ticjCegZeH5wmeNJZiHd3zzIlXPgLS3CUv4iukP5aVcIgwHpuEDkDa4uZqci5SwDK476dZm/s320/ApplePicking+125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863081657177170" border="0" /></a>And here she is trying to pet chickens that escaped from the petting zoo... Those tricky chickens are masters of evasion, though!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruYlpA1D-GKIfNiDwWN-SbFV2TjWU2C6c-80gkig4RkKDIAKKO8515RTK5Ay43RbAWA0v_2yoqiY_latECJGIpNdA-a7W5TozSsbnNS5hKakjVKmCqCfzZd2CZVwJ6B6WkKzAkM7uwHnx/s1600-h/ApplePicking+126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruYlpA1D-GKIfNiDwWN-SbFV2TjWU2C6c-80gkig4RkKDIAKKO8515RTK5Ay43RbAWA0v_2yoqiY_latECJGIpNdA-a7W5TozSsbnNS5hKakjVKmCqCfzZd2CZVwJ6B6WkKzAkM7uwHnx/s320/ApplePicking+126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392863078114175906" border="0" /></a>And this is just a bunch of bins full of apples, stacked up together. I thought it looked cool.<br /><br />We had so much fun at Wellwood this year, and we'll definitely be returning again! Hopefully next year with some family and/or friends... It's an experience for sure, and those cider doughnuts are DELICIOUS!<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-2068118804195453012009-10-13T15:57:00.004-04:002009-10-13T16:19:56.073-04:00Filling Daddy's Shoes!<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes, you just want to be a grown-up, so you try and imitate the things we do.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHP-WP6LoSy3v42_KXQoMbKEiNr7CknIvE7L4O6pbbZpXPcWrAqM-V8caOTYiRJO2o6XE3Eig6KRzX-2TnxdIdT_RlVOWrof4v-apmDpAW3t3gh2O8apr5vi84mntkieP_ZJbbGalw_4Z/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%284%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHP-WP6LoSy3v42_KXQoMbKEiNr7CknIvE7L4O6pbbZpXPcWrAqM-V8caOTYiRJO2o6XE3Eig6KRzX-2TnxdIdT_RlVOWrof4v-apmDpAW3t3gh2O8apr5vi84mntkieP_ZJbbGalw_4Z/s320/DadShoes91309+%284%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178348429564354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's pretty funny to watch you piece things together in your head sometimes... like- "Hmm, how can I be just like my Daddy? I know! I'll wear his SHOES!"<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5lu6S7cdQG_G3MZf227zEQ_gWx90BSoErNKkeYogwj1HwCFbmLErtwiK5jSZJDDTp6Ma0ldlqZ__6cs4siqxs_ldrofbyTj3AkU19rKALdLvJ4RLYEyBaGGXlEWAHyZjIL-PZY8jnNok/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5lu6S7cdQG_G3MZf227zEQ_gWx90BSoErNKkeYogwj1HwCFbmLErtwiK5jSZJDDTp6Ma0ldlqZ__6cs4siqxs_ldrofbyTj3AkU19rKALdLvJ4RLYEyBaGGXlEWAHyZjIL-PZY8jnNok/s320/DadShoes91309+%283%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178352255799042" border="0" /></a><br />"I'll sit on the floor and put them on, no matter how long it takes me... You know what they say! If at first you don't succeed, try, try again..."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YrtEX2EeCyV9D1F6ZzCuX2GSA5rQGw85MqQTL7EHlgK1fkny5VBxrCVgGImDBKH59YEDwZti2vHVusYjRggeiOwaOU9cefAu0EEMZ_Ttao8SZBWHbMqnWXRYqc1LSp8bh_W9hGksrguH/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%285%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YrtEX2EeCyV9D1F6ZzCuX2GSA5rQGw85MqQTL7EHlgK1fkny5VBxrCVgGImDBKH59YEDwZti2vHVusYjRggeiOwaOU9cefAu0EEMZ_Ttao8SZBWHbMqnWXRYqc1LSp8bh_W9hGksrguH/s320/DadShoes91309+%285%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178359588827410" border="0" /></a><br />It's a little bit of a task to walk when your shoes are many MANY sizes too big. But you, my princess- you are nothing if not determined and headstrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnXg0c6kpzZU7Q12NgjNTT-RiTlogELn04TzG3PEkBDCD7dBPx7Z6nxpmxcbWVqrhZ7GcEpE5TDJOfY3j019vH960LYvCCxdY6Vpkyzl2pYDi_flbtr5uuw97HlaY6dSxWDKWlpNRBml0/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%288%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnXg0c6kpzZU7Q12NgjNTT-RiTlogELn04TzG3PEkBDCD7dBPx7Z6nxpmxcbWVqrhZ7GcEpE5TDJOfY3j019vH960LYvCCxdY6Vpkyzl2pYDi_flbtr5uuw97HlaY6dSxWDKWlpNRBml0/s320/DadShoes91309+%288%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178364086342802" border="0" /></a><br />So you just stood for a minute, thought about your next move...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuTBNuRQFlqlM6FNt5KBGc5VI_tOIMDvvGkt5cw0KFuNMVXNECdEXm_-mWVkqj-PYS-CnxmW5Z86URsh74IlA7ze5ohJKFK5mcnMqxbILyeSmWNtuzWsQkqP-yzkJgUjYO5MAO6gAEeJ4/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%286%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuTBNuRQFlqlM6FNt5KBGc5VI_tOIMDvvGkt5cw0KFuNMVXNECdEXm_-mWVkqj-PYS-CnxmW5Z86URsh74IlA7ze5ohJKFK5mcnMqxbILyeSmWNtuzWsQkqP-yzkJgUjYO5MAO6gAEeJ4/s320/DadShoes91309+%286%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178612894632978" border="0" /></a><br />Did a little stretch...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlwCr1YQD2Ncfsn8rl3GZGqvouMcDet7wl8m7vOmMRLMy9M0H4zpC_tXykd1DhRL0GJEw2etcT4me2QShA6Vm5rMrH0lJiG3Eo11oss_M0VybVsHoJCCqX_QNITO38RAvD7d3cm7oymV8/s1600-h/DadShoes91309+%287%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlwCr1YQD2Ncfsn8rl3GZGqvouMcDet7wl8m7vOmMRLMy9M0H4zpC_tXykd1DhRL0GJEw2etcT4me2QShA6Vm5rMrH0lJiG3Eo11oss_M0VybVsHoJCCqX_QNITO38RAvD7d3cm7oymV8/s320/DadShoes91309+%287%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178375953654610" border="0" /></a><br />And got on with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohV2E0zBK5tBDIAmfelJoSNImoR9DsVIXrqc3YvhXKzxGem8iwADRJDY4TNnyz9xEB93zJTh7Thbzho3fwK1JK5ugZAytuG3xjKdYUlxIDX3rFQvThqX8wO-sgPWn4mDwfJ7qTc0uh1hT/s1600-h/DadShoes91309.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohV2E0zBK5tBDIAmfelJoSNImoR9DsVIXrqc3YvhXKzxGem8iwADRJDY4TNnyz9xEB93zJTh7Thbzho3fwK1JK5ugZAytuG3xjKdYUlxIDX3rFQvThqX8wO-sgPWn4mDwfJ7qTc0uh1hT/s320/DadShoes91309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392178623275901906" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that's a lesson you'll be able to pass on to many people in life... When faced with an obstacle, don't give up. Pause, think, reflect, stretch, then plow ahead with reckless abandon :)<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-22150691529252666402009-10-01T11:31:00.003-04:002009-10-01T12:34:28.236-04:00Three Generations of Spunk<div style="text-align: center;">Pictures taken on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 at Cey-Cey and Grumps' house.<br /><br />Three generations of spunky, wonderful, loving women (not to toot my own horn or anything! hehe)-- Cey-Cey, Me, and the Bend Ruggle herself!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGu4xFulvtAF001RpabAq2g_WlD6JLy_6Kh-zSu8p91-JuOYK55zT6_4wDJWxb8oifzyNO_YrRDSXZLBUQDO2Rd2l0JFRxCw4fvRFf3IlBMZIDvskaatEqYE6Y16NakOceBq31Lm-f98z/s1600-h/3gens4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGu4xFulvtAF001RpabAq2g_WlD6JLy_6Kh-zSu8p91-JuOYK55zT6_4wDJWxb8oifzyNO_YrRDSXZLBUQDO2Rd2l0JFRxCw4fvRFf3IlBMZIDvskaatEqYE6Y16NakOceBq31Lm-f98z/s320/3gens4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387669002315469890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-35w22RS_9gQ-YAJri3JE4rRrz6deCd9AnUZt-aX56bVAMMQ4HgwqosqHmMg0GZROSYXkjFVgcxo6_s7JUoekNBCRT3eUaBTERolOU3ZqBp6KOGG15ccVkxAAW8YZ4RJkNUB3mn98-Te/s1600-h/3gens3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-35w22RS_9gQ-YAJri3JE4rRrz6deCd9AnUZt-aX56bVAMMQ4HgwqosqHmMg0GZROSYXkjFVgcxo6_s7JUoekNBCRT3eUaBTERolOU3ZqBp6KOGG15ccVkxAAW8YZ4RJkNUB3mn98-Te/s320/3gens3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387668997222423298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FXiTcpT73C9pVSoPe5M4-1iuUqQDyd7MUxoZpDlHVWTq05U4LY_MUh3jggmhqo83-6gs9vsDLgFwnDXhskoStxJ6snTYw22M5U9QPliiuLY29t9-q0qgSBtBpop1-TAeTJ4uNKpKmQQL/s1600-h/3gens2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FXiTcpT73C9pVSoPe5M4-1iuUqQDyd7MUxoZpDlHVWTq05U4LY_MUh3jggmhqo83-6gs9vsDLgFwnDXhskoStxJ6snTYw22M5U9QPliiuLY29t9-q0qgSBtBpop1-TAeTJ4uNKpKmQQL/s320/3gens2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387668987014844978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Pl4s3zKhbjIX3oUdJoXSC9ZTnEkZqcOUDXvutRHvhp09vDBBLjOe6Xaf8dIro6wt517TN89xuB-Jvh9dG1Lf9NfPlnpG752XrWm2JSIWh_K8nPy7ENcB2uIW7DB4E_oAa0R8LFpN3ot/s1600-h/3gens1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Pl4s3zKhbjIX3oUdJoXSC9ZTnEkZqcOUDXvutRHvhp09vDBBLjOe6Xaf8dIro6wt517TN89xuB-Jvh9dG1Lf9NfPlnpG752XrWm2JSIWh_K8nPy7ENcB2uIW7DB4E_oAa0R8LFpN3ot/s320/3gens1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387668985200842002" border="0" /></a><br />You are my two favorite *girls* in the world :)<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-92079779088878750962009-09-22T11:52:00.006-04:002009-09-22T12:49:05.991-04:00What She Says... About TV & More<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r-Ua6Ztzqmc2mgXOBfgkja-ItZvKU-BB2G1j8D54Z0LfFYsIU6ImR5j9d-7vwxqMpteTwba0GW3ujdF70eny5wVUlCm4j4TaUi_59cYS9zVmHdIM1pLEFjnfXx3pzt-tv6FT7bvYY0c9/s1600-h/bend9-12ceyceygarden2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r-Ua6Ztzqmc2mgXOBfgkja-ItZvKU-BB2G1j8D54Z0LfFYsIU6ImR5j9d-7vwxqMpteTwba0GW3ujdF70eny5wVUlCm4j4TaUi_59cYS9zVmHdIM1pLEFjnfXx3pzt-tv6FT7bvYY0c9/s320/bend9-12ceyceygarden2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384322093696219634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH9k0AE6G5mKT6ii7kcMz0V-cXalOeTw7p8DKcBmONH7Bo8LpITVyKmb_5WWIw015_b9BdYmt07hiI4HKKKgqh6oohtFrosJnDfjO55ag0FjniM4mfWPFb0ifrwnI5SWtn7E38k8tUOXa/s1600-h/bend9-12ceyceygarden1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH9k0AE6G5mKT6ii7kcMz0V-cXalOeTw7p8DKcBmONH7Bo8LpITVyKmb_5WWIw015_b9BdYmt07hiI4HKKKgqh6oohtFrosJnDfjO55ag0FjniM4mfWPFb0ifrwnI5SWtn7E38k8tUOXa/s320/bend9-12ceyceygarden1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384322089952073826" border="0" /></a>Pictures of Illy playing in Cey-Cey's garden, 9/12/09<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />One day after work last week, I was doing the dishes and Will was doing some work on his computer, so Ilyana was playing in the living room with some kind of a cartoon on the TV in there...<br /><br />She called out to Will and said: "Dada, can you turn on the news?"<br /><br />He kind of looked at her baffled, and then said, "Okay, honey, bring me the remote and I'll turn the news on."<br /><br />She carried in the remote to him, he changed it while she watched, and once the "news" (it was Daily Show, so not *news* news, but still...) came on, she said: "Okay, I'm just gonna go watch the news now."<br /><br />And she did.<br /><br />My girl is such a character. Although I am glad she's showing some interest in current events. Ha!<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />A couple nights later, we were all eating dinner in the living room with the TV on... **As an aside: Yes, I know we should really try to eat at the kitchen table (and without the TV) more, but when your kitchen table is small and doubles as a mail station/ computer desk, it makes it hard. I am just happy we manage to all eat together every night.**<br /><br />Ilyana had been watching her show while I was getting our plates ready, but when we came out to eat, Will grabbed the remote and started looking for something we might all enjoy. Well, Illy wasn't having that. As he flicked through the channels, she goes:<br /><br />"Dada, I want to watch my show."<br /><br />"Dada, I want my show on...."<br /><br />"Dada..."<br /><br />He finally picked something, and as soon as he clicked "enter" to go to that channel, she shouts:<br /><br />"DADA! That's not VERY NICE!!"<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night, she was drying off with her towel after a shower, and I told her to come in her room to get in her diaper and pjs... She did, and after that was done, she looked at me, looked at her towel and said, "Let's have a picnic!"<br /><br />She proceeded to lay the towel out flat on the ground and said "See, it's a picnic!" And then grabbed a bunch of her kitchen setting toys and had a mini-picnic with us right before bed... She made us some "SCUN" to eat (I have no idea what kind of food that's supposed to be, but I told her it was delicious!) and we had to pour the "tea" into our mouths because we couldn't locate any of her cups... And yet, it was still one of the best picnics I've ever been to :) She makes me smile every day... I love you Bendy Ruggle!<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-65758298105365824832009-09-11T14:40:00.006-04:002009-09-11T15:23:36.855-04:00Crabby Girl In a New Coat...<div style="text-align: center;">I bought Ilyana an awesome jacket for fall from Old Navy this past spring when all the winter stuff was on sale... Now I can't remember whether or not it was when they had their "additional 50% off all clearance" sale or not, but either way, the tag, when I took it off this morning, said $4.99. So I either paid $4.99 for this gem, OR a ridiculously amazing $2.50. I think it is SO cute! I want one for myself! It's fleece-ey feeling on the inside, super comfy, and perfect for this sweater weather we've been having! This morning, when Will saw her, he couldn't resist getting a few snapshots (ok, ok, I MIGHT have suggested that I could use a couple new pics for the blog, but still... he had already grabbed the camera). She was in a little bit of a crabby mood- you can see it in the pics, I'm sure. But here she is, this morning, all dressed to go to daycare in her brand-spankin'-new jacket!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I-H9zocfkeVFd2kunMW6kUHaE6XE0cJDde5bHtWvt9arWEpLdeTkpIUuypdhJXcpeux1h1N-zyfRZoXagvd-YDtHtIAfZO9l_Y30AFZwf6sV6FIRaphVM7beomGf-ttnyhh9YBDozRuA/s1600-h/DSCF2872.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I-H9zocfkeVFd2kunMW6kUHaE6XE0cJDde5bHtWvt9arWEpLdeTkpIUuypdhJXcpeux1h1N-zyfRZoXagvd-YDtHtIAfZO9l_Y30AFZwf6sV6FIRaphVM7beomGf-ttnyhh9YBDozRuA/s320/DSCF2872.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380281763301456818" border="0" /></a>He did manage to get one big smile and a "CHEEEEEESEEE!" out of her before we went outside...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUZzKPRzn8QEZKymWKOm_UhX-Q5IuprnICFaCr5qtBJhv3lzpSYHCzkJBg9TfOZzEhxHGmVAa5ZOg2urDdwNycS0mqdXl3AF49B84JSqWlcPWrdAxYv5Tl7IiDmOjIb0PF7s_WWId_NnS/s1600-h/DSCF2875.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUZzKPRzn8QEZKymWKOm_UhX-Q5IuprnICFaCr5qtBJhv3lzpSYHCzkJBg9TfOZzEhxHGmVAa5ZOg2urDdwNycS0mqdXl3AF49B84JSqWlcPWrdAxYv5Tl7IiDmOjIb0PF7s_WWId_NnS/s320/DSCF2875.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380281772942367410" border="0" /></a>But it was all downhill from there...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pxr7_EqYAKnQONJZBfr4X_nenKNOzU7wNqx-YRgAzp_5koTB6aZYVoeefFQzIuSZxdJ6NL78wHNPLQui89MBTEN4UXB1FrW1icwE5G-44Ki2xXG4soN1RqxdM9PdsA4vq5zn6zGrch6j/s1600-h/DSCF2874.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pxr7_EqYAKnQONJZBfr4X_nenKNOzU7wNqx-YRgAzp_5koTB6aZYVoeefFQzIuSZxdJ6NL78wHNPLQui89MBTEN4UXB1FrW1icwE5G-44Ki2xXG4soN1RqxdM9PdsA4vq5zn6zGrch6j/s320/DSCF2874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380281765585342306" border="0" /></a>"Dada, I'm very cold." That's what she said here... Kind of made me feel bad... But, I mean... She was wearing a fleece jacket. It was almost 50 degrees outside. It's not like she was out in a blizzard in a bikini! Sheesh. If she's already cold, I guess I better bust out the mittens, cuz' it's only getting colder! lol. We live in New England, baby! Time to toughen up! ;)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7-QFjGFt50xKxGigzcNT3YZK41SvBKGn67CiwMUceKDyPyTd86t_s_H8tY9EhCoeEAlZ8fZ4mdXNvQU2FZI-nNnPA_EvoajrM-y9j9X2UAJueVjgZjI-sGbcU4kgtcBN6MII9b5i8im/s1600-h/DSCF2876.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7-QFjGFt50xKxGigzcNT3YZK41SvBKGn67CiwMUceKDyPyTd86t_s_H8tY9EhCoeEAlZ8fZ4mdXNvQU2FZI-nNnPA_EvoajrM-y9j9X2UAJueVjgZjI-sGbcU4kgtcBN6MII9b5i8im/s320/DSCF2876.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380281777760759346" border="0" /></a>And this one. I just love it. My handsome husband and beautiful daughter, looking sweet, with the fallen leaves from the tree in our front yard in the background.<br /><br />*sigh* I love the fall. It's my favorite season.<br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-81757599519580789152009-09-08T15:47:00.004-04:002009-09-08T16:10:17.108-04:00First Attempt At Fondant!I know it's been a while. At least I feel like I'm not alone in this bloggy funk... As I've been surfing the blogosphere these past few months (yes, yes, I am still reading everyone! lol) I've noticed the theme of lost mojo kind of floating throughout posts, a strand tying many of us together this summer in our absence.<br /><br />There was one day in particular that TWO of the people I regularly read- <a href="http://issascrazyworld.com/">Issa</a> and <a href="http://mammatalk.blogspot.com/">Mammatalk</a>, if you wanted to know- both posted about this phenomenon. I feel semi-guilty for not posting as much as I had hoped... But then I start to think again on who this blog is really for, and I cut myself some slack. If it's been a slow two months, then it has... I'm not going to force my own hand at keeping our memories recorded. When something exciting happens, I know I'll get it in here :) In the meantime, I've decided that everyone's mojo must be off on a tropical vacation together... Speaking for myself, I know my mojo is probably in Hawaii, a place I've always wanted to go, sipping Pina Coladas and getting the tan I can never achieve on a much more gorgeous beach than we have here in New England. I've come to terms with that... I'm just hoping it's considerate enough to bring me back some kind of a tchochke or at the very least "My mojo went to Hawaii and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"...<br /><br />Now then. Onwards with today's post, I suppose!<br /><br />Yesterday I was watching Cake Boss- which I actually don't like as much as Ace of Cakes, but you know, that's what was on- and I decided to FINALLY try and make some fondant. I've been wanting to for a while- I love watching these types of shows and have always been amazed at how beautiful the cakes come out- but I've been a little intimidated. It just looks daunting. Rolling it out big enough? Not ripping? Getting the color right? Eeeeeek!<br /><br />Last night, though, I decided to go for it! I made marshmallow fondant- for two reasons... (1) I had heard it was easier to make, and I had the ingredients on hand; and (2) I have also heard that regular fondant tastes like CRAP. This fondant tastes SUPER sweet, but at least it tastes ok.<br /><br />We decided on making a strawberry shaped cake (hubby helped me with this! I can't take ALL the credit) since the cake mix I had was strawberry flavored. Yes, I used mix... I wanted to focus my energy on dealing with the fondant, not making cake from scratch. Next time perhaps :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's how it ended up:<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7NX8-Oj14DEcTSJz3EY-BZOpdfu72o1dRezDvWqqK5ezw6l3c2xBvUTLy4CV58j1AJZvn5sNBxJXhFfvJrUIH4y_dgfNNLSj7v9iOSAUr_sHzBXeJJnN-_kPmAnmQZbyrQVZqfavFBJ/s1600-h/Strawberrycake1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7NX8-Oj14DEcTSJz3EY-BZOpdfu72o1dRezDvWqqK5ezw6l3c2xBvUTLy4CV58j1AJZvn5sNBxJXhFfvJrUIH4y_dgfNNLSj7v9iOSAUr_sHzBXeJJnN-_kPmAnmQZbyrQVZqfavFBJ/s320/Strawberrycake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379189150317918466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIHgg_J21RslTp1GwTlWfGFVsyUziZIzxeAymfL33W2cM2qc-AtwcPq-mcb6uaurVaV3Q-M_SpeYv_i6ru4Vj6EJZ5viFN4rwfYfcOHdTDk3VAajgwHfBn0Evh9-ftvlV55SG6xQZyK0H/s1600-h/strawberrycake2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIHgg_J21RslTp1GwTlWfGFVsyUziZIzxeAymfL33W2cM2qc-AtwcPq-mcb6uaurVaV3Q-M_SpeYv_i6ru4Vj6EJZ5viFN4rwfYfcOHdTDk3VAajgwHfBn0Evh9-ftvlV55SG6xQZyK0H/s320/strawberrycake2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379189154675554498" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty cute for a first try, I think! Will had the great idea of using the mini chocolate chips for the "seeds" on the strawberry. I learned quite a bit from this one time, and I think maybe for Illy's next birthday I'll try something with fondant now that I have attempted it once... I won't be as scared of it as I was anymore!<br /><br />So, what did I learn, you ask?<br /><br />(1) Fondant kneading is a WORKOUT. Eep, it took forever to mix those colors in! I think next time instead of mixing the color into the fondant after making the batch, I'll make smaller batches and drop the food coloring in while I'm mixing the batch originally. That way I don't have to mix twice... Although I'm sure it's good for your biceps, if that's what you're going for!<br /><br />(2) Fondant does NOT like to be red. This color? On my strawberry? Yeah. That was about 3 different doses of the "Super Red" color, which I assume is supposed to look like a firetruck. At least, that's what it looks like on the cap. And then some brown, too, to see if that would darken the color. It didn't. I finally gave up adding color and decided I'd have a pink strawberry and live with it. In the future... Avoid reds. lol!<br /><br />(3) Don't use frosting as your glue to hold things together. Or, if you do... Use very small brushes, and very small amounts. I ended up with white frosting "glue" coming out at my seams and on the top of the cake, which totally stunk! Grrr...<br /><br />(4) I also had some issues with ripping- so next time, I'll keep the rolling surface very well powdered (with powdered sugar)... and also cut the fondant bigger than I need it to be. I had a couple areas that didn't look so neat on the edges because the fondant wasn't big enough to "wrap" around the bottom of the cake.<br /><br />That's all. I have to say, I am proud of myself! It's not perfect, but for a first try... At least it's recognizable as a strawberry! :DJaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832781277670924301.post-59926069697672616422009-08-01T09:00:00.000-04:002009-08-01T09:00:04.581-04:00Things You Love... Part 1?<div style="text-align: center;">Illy bear-<br /><br />I don't know if you've noticed a trend, looking back at these photos from whatever age you are now (at least I hope you're doing that... that was the whole purpose of this blog :D). There is one item that can be found in many, many photos of you... And many days on your body, as well. Can you guess from the picture below?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjynevQyGQpkxgicDtppcxCdgRWLrGAVsJjkMa21NwRmykIvedZs7EphDT6xgDiWEnHMk8kYE2lTqBT-HVCZyOpTqq7szKijGRtXm7ofi9Y1CcYiU2qYQg3meZpDoN5TgBY2H8gwNEOUY/s1600-h/up61709+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjynevQyGQpkxgicDtppcxCdgRWLrGAVsJjkMa21NwRmykIvedZs7EphDT6xgDiWEnHMk8kYE2lTqBT-HVCZyOpTqq7szKijGRtXm7ofi9Y1CcYiU2qYQg3meZpDoN5TgBY2H8gwNEOUY/s320/up61709+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364296972493522866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's your rainbow necklace. The very first thing that you EVER picked out on your own, unprompted by either your Dad or I. Your very first fashion choice, the very first thing you felt a NEED to own.<br /><br />You and I were shopping in Wal-Mart one day, walking through the toddler section to check if there were any clothes on super-clearance, when you looked up at me with this sweet little smile and pointed to the rack with all the hair thingamabobbers, gloves, hats, and other random accessories on it and said "Mama, I want THAT."<br /><br />So I stopped, because we weren't even looking at that rack. It must have just caught your eye. I thought about it, and you had been very well-behaved that day, so I figured I would get you what you wanted. I picked up a headband and said "Oh, you mean this?"<br /><br />"No, Mama. THAT." *points at the rack again*<br /><br />I picked up a package of elastics: "This, you mean?"<br /><br />"NO, Mama. THAT." *points*<br /><br />I picked up a cute little baseball cap: "This?"<br /><br />"NO, Momma. I want THAT." *points*<br /><br />Finally, I came to the rainbow-colored necklace and bracelet set- "This?"<br /><br />*Big grin cracks across your face* "Yeah. That." And you took it from me, immediately started playing with it, and remained content the rest of the way through the store.<br /><br />Ever since that day, you've loved your necklace. It's your big statement. You wear it with anything- which is perfectly fine with me, since being multi-colored, it always matches :) You usually don't wear the bracelet- opting instead to let your Dora doll wear it as HER necklace.<br /><br />When we got home the other day, you walked in the door and the first thing you said was "It's so nice to see you, necklace!" since you had forgotten it at home that morning. Now THAT's love. :D And (aside from your Mommy and Daddy- and of course, the rest of our awesome family), it's one of the first things you've developed an attachment to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kXuBgw7SvgKsRLJbx6_keUbJKvRlr4awkPpXiTBS2M9BAPIEhOcCDa7EksnF_QkrOeyy45WFNmPZQWjrF1n46A-6anwILvnoVK6WnGD4ZDtdodMuhyphenhyphenmV27r73hWhIAMsjwYrkmrBdNtJ/s1600-h/PG9-2+Ill+dock+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kXuBgw7SvgKsRLJbx6_keUbJKvRlr4awkPpXiTBS2M9BAPIEhOcCDa7EksnF_QkrOeyy45WFNmPZQWjrF1n46A-6anwILvnoVK6WnGD4ZDtdodMuhyphenhyphenmV27r73hWhIAMsjwYrkmrBdNtJ/s320/PG9-2+Ill+dock+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364296472831604066" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jaden Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711181837109867842noreply@blogger.com9