tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47426081737276116902024-03-13T07:27:01.502-05:00Durbin FamilyBrycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06097460255422191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-34461776919032868012015-12-27T00:25:00.001-06:002015-12-27T00:25:26.287-06:00Day of the dead homeschool study and wreck it Ralph Halloween<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nZXhrrz3JWo/Vn-EMVucIzI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/h9Y9BW_glAE/s640/blogger-image--320273307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nZXhrrz3JWo/Vn-EMVucIzI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/h9Y9BW_glAE/s640/blogger-image--320273307.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c_0AL1zTbZU/Vn-ER5kjTZI/AAAAAAAAD7o/yw7DZuPShLg/s640/blogger-image--1761607878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c_0AL1zTbZU/Vn-ER5kjTZI/AAAAAAAAD7o/yw7DZuPShLg/s640/blogger-image--1761607878.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5vMpN9dzs0/Vn-EVCYbizI/AAAAAAAAD7w/zdmfZgydnno/s640/blogger-image--103576253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5vMpN9dzs0/Vn-EVCYbizI/AAAAAAAAD7w/zdmfZgydnno/s640/blogger-image--103576253.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HUeApDUaL6E/Vn-EO7X3K8I/AAAAAAAAD7g/2kKwv_AZD8Q/s640/blogger-image--1187815508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HUeApDUaL6E/Vn-EO7X3K8I/AAAAAAAAD7g/2kKwv_AZD8Q/s640/blogger-image--1187815508.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-23029703883310408442015-12-26T10:24:00.001-06:002015-12-26T10:24:09.619-06:0010 year anniversaryFor our 10th anniversary Bryce and I went to a pepper field project dinner in Decorah. It was absolutely amazing.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zh_1Tp-C27M/Vn6_HNIvTkI/AAAAAAAAD64/LkdvmpNlFfs/s640/blogger-image-983758133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zh_1Tp-C27M/Vn6_HNIvTkI/AAAAAAAAD64/LkdvmpNlFfs/s640/blogger-image-983758133.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Q8ayPw6yRw/Vn6_FVN5kaI/AAAAAAAAD6w/8gd3LzicEnE/s640/blogger-image-1012972139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Q8ayPw6yRw/Vn6_FVN5kaI/AAAAAAAAD6w/8gd3LzicEnE/s640/blogger-image-1012972139.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E8aP30UJxdo/Vn6_IjuBK5I/AAAAAAAAD7A/3t97LPHnzQY/s640/blogger-image--2040407297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E8aP30UJxdo/Vn6_IjuBK5I/AAAAAAAAD7A/3t97LPHnzQY/s640/blogger-image--2040407297.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9AFDr44DkYo/Vn6_KFRTzeI/AAAAAAAAD7I/vUfTI8L7mXU/s640/blogger-image-1971585585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9AFDr44DkYo/Vn6_KFRTzeI/AAAAAAAAD7I/vUfTI8L7mXU/s640/blogger-image-1971585585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-12182370287395024252015-10-14T22:07:00.001-05:002015-10-14T22:07:07.372-05:00Karen<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L3mkKkAXCnk/Vh8YWWCZ1II/AAAAAAAAD5s/Gv5uSIqSrAw/s640/blogger-image--200762326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L3mkKkAXCnk/Vh8YWWCZ1II/AAAAAAAAD5s/Gv5uSIqSrAw/s640/blogger-image--200762326.jpg"></a></div><br></div>In August we bought Karen Ito from Japan home to live with us. She is fantastic. She loves playing with the kids and hanging out with the family. She also is her own person at school. She has lots of friends, even those that don't hang out together. She has more difficulty with English then the other students and it is sometimes a struggle to keep her grades up, but she is very studious and works very hard. My favorite moments with her have been late night campfires where she and the boys play hide and seek in the dark and thrift shopping- she bought gorgeous homecoming dress at goodwill for $3.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HCj5LZfG1gs/Vh8YSqfZr7I/AAAAAAAAD5c/mnJBNIFtUZc/s640/blogger-image-1713634655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HCj5LZfG1gs/Vh8YSqfZr7I/AAAAAAAAD5c/mnJBNIFtUZc/s640/blogger-image-1713634655.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Karen has taught us how to count to 10 I Japanese but hasn't talked much about her country. In fact she doesn't even communicate with her family out of fear she will be homesick. I'm worried about this but it seems to work for her. Our biggest surprise has been her American appetite. She is a size 1 and can eat three or four helpings of food. She loves Everything unhealthy and refers McDonald's over our favorite restaurants. Everyday she brings her own lunch to school of a Nutella sandwich, chips, and not sure what else. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a0Wsqng6iQA/Vh8YUkYXanI/AAAAAAAAD5k/12l9S_5xoZM/s640/blogger-image--1078964041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a0Wsqng6iQA/Vh8YUkYXanI/AAAAAAAAD5k/12l9S_5xoZM/s640/blogger-image--1078964041.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>She has been a breath of fresh air for our family who has felt stress I entertaining our family at the same time errands need to get done, etc. I wish she could stay forever.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-26096315801474182512015-10-14T21:53:00.001-05:002015-10-14T21:53:35.146-05:00MadisonJust came back from a three day vacation with the Dallenbach family. <div><br></div><div>Day 1- children's museum, swimming at hotel, and a meal at Ella's deli</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T-TX2Z6AjkY/Vh8VIKw6RII/AAAAAAAAD5A/xjjIZ5zoTPo/s640/blogger-image-293802606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T-TX2Z6AjkY/Vh8VIKw6RII/AAAAAAAAD5A/xjjIZ5zoTPo/s640/blogger-image-293802606.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vbeMY8Ue7Qw/Vh8VJ0PsXxI/AAAAAAAAD5I/eE141O5eCrA/s640/blogger-image--247103266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vbeMY8Ue7Qw/Vh8VJ0PsXxI/AAAAAAAAD5I/eE141O5eCrA/s640/blogger-image--247103266.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 2- Madison farmers market (cheered on paddle and portage racers), Capitol, zoo, swimming and birthday party with the giuntas, state street dinner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8lF5X_SdRRI/Vh8VEXhUg4I/AAAAAAAAD4w/TROl0Qs7Dsw/s640/blogger-image-1023693049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8lF5X_SdRRI/Vh8VEXhUg4I/AAAAAAAAD4w/TROl0Qs7Dsw/s640/blogger-image-1023693049.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lTz5DWM0d7c/Vh8VLnxrIaI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/QA-_qLpm8AY/s640/blogger-image-1982051173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lTz5DWM0d7c/Vh8VLnxrIaI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/QA-_qLpm8AY/s640/blogger-image-1982051173.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eUfMXXhdC3w/Vh8VGM3plVI/AAAAAAAAD44/vK7bAWrp9a4/s640/blogger-image-393158290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eUfMXXhdC3w/Vh8VGM3plVI/AAAAAAAAD44/vK7bAWrp9a4/s640/blogger-image-393158290.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 3- mount horeb art fair, pizza at the grumpy troll, cave of the mounds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-66732373220341227572015-07-21T18:46:00.002-05:002015-07-21T18:46:49.651-05:00Link- Age 6<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">1. What's you favorite color? Blue</span><br />
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. What's your favorite toy? Legos </span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. What's your favorite fruit? Pears</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. What's your favorite movie? The Lego Movie</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. What's your favorite show? Ninjago</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. What's your favorite thing to dress up in? Batman Pajamas</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">7. What's your favorite game? Lego movie video game</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8. What's your favorite food? Pizza </span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">9. What's your favorite animal? Cat</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">10. What's your favorite song? Everything is Awesome</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">11. What's your favorite book? Elephant and Piggie Books</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">12. Who is your best friend? Van</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">13. Where's your favorite place to go? Lego Land (Even though I haven't been there yet</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">14. What's your favorite thing to do outside? Imaginary Play- Avengers</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">15. What's your favorite thing to drink? Juice</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">16. What's your favorite holiday? Christmas</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">17. What do you sleep with? a bed</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">18. What's your favorite thing to ride? roller coaster (never been on one)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">19. What's your favorite number? I don't have one</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">20. What do you want to do when you're older? Be a Ninja Jedi</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f3ffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not much change from last year.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-36277260740371109262015-07-15T22:06:00.001-05:002015-07-15T22:06:44.448-05:00Link and the school age dramaParenting is hard. Emotions are hard.<div><br><div>Link has been having a hell of a time being the awesome kid he is around others. </div><div>Today he told me at robotics camp recess he let everyone know that he needed them to wait for him to climb the ladder. Then he told me they laughed and made fun of him for being scared and sliding on his belly. Ugg, heart ache. I knew he stopped playing and was cranky, but he never tells me the real story until weeks later. Well, today we went to the ladder and practiced climbing until it wasn't scary and I told him how much I admire him for not making fun of others and knowing himself well enough to let them know he needed space.</div><div><br></div><div>That same group consists of this kid named garret, who honestly, I'm not a big fan of. Link, Jameson, and garret are the older kids as brandys. Link and Jameson get along great, but garret ignores him, rolls his eyes when he sees him, etc. But the hard part is that Jameson chooses garret over link to play and goes along with not letting link in from time to time. I have no idea what to do. I've asked for advice. I've told brandy. My next idea is to pull my mom's trick and have garret to our house by himself. I hope this can happen before links birthday next week but I'm uncertain. Link is so sad he dreads going to brandys, even has mentioned he sometimes wishes he was dead. Seriously, 5 year olds say this? What am I going to do when he is 15? This is so different than at kinderhaus where link had a best buddy and lots of admirers. I keep reminding him that there are people who adore him and try to set up play dates with them.</div><div><br></div><div>Now in addition to this or because of this, I don't know, link has had a major temper lately. Seeing inside out has helped tremendously. We are trying to cool anger as our first response. </div></div><div><br></div><div>Good golly.</div><div><br></div><div>On the 18 month old side, Felix is doing great. He has almost all his teeth in but the canines. He is signing more, bye, all done, up, nurse. He is saying mama, batman, ball, and pretty close on some other words too.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-74730439979445580162015-07-05T21:52:00.001-05:002015-07-05T21:52:58.940-05:00Thoughts and emotions on the 4thThis weekend I hung out with my cousin Amy and her husband John.<div><br></div><div>Amy's dad is a stout republican and she is not sold, but talks to him daily. She called Jeb bush personable and even when she took a "inside with" test and sided with Hillary Clinton she said she would never vote for her. Just then the future flashed before me. I see the election being between Hillary and Jeb. And unfortunately I see Jeb winning. It is weird to say but I think more people dislike women in power then they care about other races in power. I hope I'm wrong, but it is my prediction.</div><div><br></div><div>We spent most of the day in Indy and then today went to the Manchester water park and backbone beach. I wanted to rent a paddle boat but, gasp, I weigh to much. I would have tipped link and I and with Bryce on to even it we would have been over the 400 lbs limit. I have been denied things because of my weight before, but the fact that my weight affects my child breaks my heart. If Bryce and I were both 175 I'd be fine. 😰</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-54732721585261422222015-06-14T14:31:00.001-05:002015-06-15T22:38:09.105-05:00Getting rid of itMy mind is leaving me and I feel like even if I would quit everything I would still feel overwhelmed. <div>
In order to help with this I have been trying to purge as much as possible. Cleaning out the shed and bins in our house. I did an "It's all free sale" and was glad to see almost everything go.</div>
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<br></div><div> A few months ago Bryce and I tried to make some hard decisions in our life. One's I'm constantly going back and forth on. One of those was staying in Elkader or moving to Decorah. </div><div><br></div><div>Here's our reasoning</div><div><br></div><div>Elkader</div><div>1. Elkader is closer to family and friends we already have, even if they don't live in town</div><div>2. A stronger art community is developing in Elkader </div><div>3. More guys like Bryce are coming out of the woodwork. He's finding friends.</div><div>4. Community theater in Decorah doesn't compare to the opera house in Elkader</div><div><br></div><div>Decorah</div><div>1. We have several friends with kids Links age who are homeschooling and would like to be in the network </div><div>2. They have a strong art community already and ArtHaus</div><div>3. Pleasant valley and the events that we want to be a part of are there</div><div>4. If we wanted to go live somewhere else for a year, we would have no problem finding renters</div><div><br></div><div>We decided to do the following</div><div>Stay in Elkader, move to a bigger house and make our house into an Art Haus.</div><div><br></div><div>So we started going on this path but it feels like the world is telling us wrong choice.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1JqsAk8pvuc/VX-Zl6WSONI/AAAAAAAAD2o/fhqvRvUD70g/s640/blogger-image--1749242624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1JqsAk8pvuc/VX-Zl6WSONI/AAAAAAAAD2o/fhqvRvUD70g/s640/blogger-image--1749242624.jpg"></a></div><br></div>
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We found the perfect house and nothing has compared but it needs a TON of work and the bank (forclosure) won't go down on the price, even after being on the market for three years and no other potential buyers. The bank won't give us a loan with Bryce's credit debt, so my mom was going to help, but they seriously won't budge an inch. So no house, no art center.</div><div><br></div><div>That great art community that I saw growing is getting together to put on art in the park. Then<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> one of the board members started putting a lot of negative energy toward me to the point I quit. The others freaked out so I decided I will still do marketing on the side, but I am not attending meetings anymore. They still include me in all e-mails and I find myself starting to get upset at some of the silly things, but then I remember I'm no longer connected and it eases my stomach. But that community is fizzling.</span></div>
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I've also quit the Opera House Players. This one still brings tears to my eyes, but after several years of playing itty bitty roles I was hoping for something that I could sing and act a little more on. I auditioned for Shrek recently and I didn't get any of the three minor characters I "auditioned" for. What makes me hot is that they all went to brand new girls. The OHP has no problem taking chances on new people, they do have a problem however giving me a role I would like. I often get the tiny remains. Last year I slipped into a larger tiny role, but was originally only given the maid, pretty humiliating, and was the only person left out of a dance number I clearly could have been in. This year lots of things seemed to be in my favor, a good last show, characters that didn't need to be skinny, proven dedication. The fact that I didn't get anything has made me realize it truly is never going to happen, so I'm done. The hardest part for me is that no one is even going to notice. I've been fooling myself for years. I caught myself thinking, if they need me someday they will give me a call (which they sometimes do when they don't have the right people), but then started laughing. If they ever really needed me they would have given me a part. I'm just not cut out for this stage.</div><div><br></div><div>So, here we are again. Back at wondering if Elkader is the right decision. I'm a little concerned with the housing market in Decorah. It moves very quick and it is expensive. I'm also uncertain about work, being that I am not near a stopping point yet with the extension, but do want to be home with my boys. Friends also get me. 15 min to strawberry turns into 1 hour 15. Naomi and Casey just moved back. Nao and I have been having lunch together and we get each other so well. I was a little worried we would start off awkward, but it was like the old saying. We've also been hanging out with Sophia landis more, but she has decided to go back to school and is leaving next month.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh why does the world not revolve around me?</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-9574837574987987732015-05-27T20:26:00.001-05:002015-05-28T23:40:37.947-05:00DadMy relationship with my dad is complicated. I truley admire him. He is an entrepreneur and someone who strives to do it all. I adore that growing up our bookshelves were filled with books that were basically books on homesteading. He can talk to anyone about anything and he rarely gets discouraged if someone says something rude in return. He is humble about his intelligence but so smart. One of my favorite things to do is work alongside my dad and just listen to him talk. You can tell he is an observer of life and finds interest in the world. He is tender hearted, prone to large amounts of tears when watching commercials.<div><br></div><div>But beyond this I don't quite know how to talk to my dad anymore. He has changed a bit from when I used to live with him in ways that break my heart. I truley feel I gained my trust in people and lack of harsh judgement from him and yet I've seen him become paranoid, putting locks on everything and feeling no one is to be trusted anymore. I have heard him talk like there is no good in the world. I often believe he is depressed and though I have voiced this to a few people I know my dad trusts I feel there is little I can do then watch and hope he never opens his gun cabinet with the thought in his mind. </div><div><br></div><div>I want my dad to be happy. I know he struggles with self worth. My dad was a state wrestler, he put a lot of value in his bodies abilities and he knows he has limitations now. My dad was homecoming king, he had and has many admirers but he is more of an introvert than people realize, he would much rather alone for long periods than with others. This doesn't keep people close and he notices this but doesn't realize why they don't stay. </div><div><br></div><div>I also want my dad to think beyond himself like he used to. I think this is something a lot of people with depression go through, a lot of self-centeredness because they want to be happy and they can't get there. To this day my dad complains about a father who never told him he was loved and yet, he doesn't see that he himself has become this father. Every "I love you" I mutter is answered with "yep". That feeling I had as a child that he would throw himself in front of a bus to save me is gone. Sometimes I think if I was hit by that bus he wouldn't be thinking about me, but how awful life was for him that a daughter died before him, but also "she didn't really wasn't around much anyway, except when she needed something." It's hard to feel like this is the way he thinks of me and not know how to change it. He isn't interested in just hanging out with so much on his to do list.</div><div><br></div><div>I guess one major thing I am really saddened by is his role as a grandpa. I was expecting more. Today I was realizing how I'm sure he doesn't really know how to be a grandpa. My grandpas both died when I was very young so he never saw one in action. And I don't think he was raised with much contact with his grandparents. So I shouldn't be surprised that he is constantly more worried that he will scare them than he is in noticing how much they adore him. He keeps his distance, refusing to hold them as infants and saying "he doesn't like me," when they cry. I always hoped my kids would feel the same love I had felt as a child from my dad, and even more.</div><div><br></div><div>I love my dad. I hope I see him rise out this behavior, that he doesn't become that grumpy old man that I never imagined he would become. I hope he finds happiness somehow, trust in the world again. I hope he says "I love you." sometime, to one of my kids.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-40772127366590108842015-05-14T21:25:00.001-05:002015-05-14T21:25:08.544-05:00Nyc/DC vacationBryce left for nyc two Saturday's ago and for one week I plowed through life as a single parent, he'll bent on changing life as we know it when Bryce gets back. Needless-to-say life with two kids has somewhat distanced Bryce and I and we were not slowing ourselves down to enjoy one another. <div><br></div><div>Then came the following Saturday where we did just that. I went to nyc without the boys to spend 5 days with just Bryce. It was just what we needed. We found so much joy in one another's presence and less and less fault in ourselves and each other every day.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is the run down. </div><div><br></div><div>Day 1: I got to NYC around 2. We hung out with Ted and Mason. Mason went swimming and we took delight in watching our 6-year-old nephew swim and cannon ball and be just an amazing little boy. Then we went out to dinner with them for some more family conversation. Ted is such a great dad and it showed while we were there. Bryce and I finished the night by going to the Broadway musical "a gentlemens guide to love and murder" suggested to us by cheri and Jonathan. We had fantastic seat, the kind where you see the sweat droplets and Broadway suddenly seems so real. The show was hilarious!!! Totally worth seeing if you ever find yourself in NYC. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kAwHLbWA_6A/VVVY2Zl2XcI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/JfsvGWUbTD8/s640/blogger-image--399706757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kAwHLbWA_6A/VVVY2Zl2XcI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/JfsvGWUbTD8/s640/blogger-image--399706757.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Day 2: We started with breakfast at the apt with Ted and Mason. I really wanted to go boating so we walked across Central Park with Mason on his scooter. However the boats were not yet out for the season. So we looked at the Alice in wonderland statue, watched some toy sailboats and walked back. Then we went down to Goldman Sachs where Ted works and he showed us his office area. It was pretty impressive with a smart elevator and great views. It was right beside the new World Trade Center, which will open for visitors at the end of the month, and the memorial which we visited after getting lunch. Ted and Mason then went to the park and we tried to decide what to do eing it was Mother's Day. We decided to go to another show, Wicked. Our seats were not bad, but far enough away it seemed more Broadway. The show was great though. Prior to the show we also went to Rockefeller center and couldn't resist the lego shop, even without link. We ate at rosa Mexicana, a favorite or ours near their apt and then got to see Lori when she came back from California that evening.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pKuUKz6RIgA/VVVY916enqI/AAAAAAAAD0o/SMkt13_Hndg/s640/blogger-image--1865442093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pKuUKz6RIgA/VVVY916enqI/AAAAAAAAD0o/SMkt13_Hndg/s640/blogger-image--1865442093.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 3: We took off early to hop on the bolt bus down to Washington, D.C.. The bus ride was about 4 hours, but nice. There was some wifi and lots of time to relax. When we go to union station, we went to our hotel, the w. The w is a kind of rock star hotel. We stayed in one if san fransico once and there were funky Buddhas everywhere, in DC, it was funky presidential things. The hotel was right next to the White House and the rooftop bar was open and the view of the mall was fantastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UMw4SuGSLQU/VVVYzxxqtnI/AAAAAAAAD0I/GPz_tJrc6XY/s640/blogger-image--1483274470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UMw4SuGSLQU/VVVYzxxqtnI/AAAAAAAAD0I/GPz_tJrc6XY/s640/blogger-image--1483274470.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 4: We met a high school friend of mine, Tyler Lechtenberg, at the White House for a private tour. He is a speech writer for the Obamas and actually could only accompany us half of the tour because he had a meeting with the First Lady that afternoon. There were no pictures and it was a work day so the west wing was closed, but we got to see the east wing and the main floor of the White House center. Tyler's tour was casual and one do funny. "This thing is cool" etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzXlZ8QrY1U/VVVY44jNIwI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/f0EHgl9p1FI/s640/blogger-image--309347336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzXlZ8QrY1U/VVVY44jNIwI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/f0EHgl9p1FI/s640/blogger-image--309347336.jpg"></a></div><br></div>We had a little more time before we had to journey back so we walked to the mall and popped into the American history museum. We weren't sure what was there, but we were delighted to find the Washington God statue and Julia child's kitchen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U3c_HKQHDp0/VVVYwzhb5sI/AAAAAAAAD0A/Ny3gh3rGqzs/s640/blogger-image-345136053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U3c_HKQHDp0/VVVYwzhb5sI/AAAAAAAAD0A/Ny3gh3rGqzs/s640/blogger-image-345136053.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aZFYHi52ebo/VVVZAmFwcUI/AAAAAAAAD0w/cqbn6Qm_wEo/s640/blogger-image-1913968294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aZFYHi52ebo/VVVZAmFwcUI/AAAAAAAAD0w/cqbn6Qm_wEo/s640/blogger-image-1913968294.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At Union Station that afternoon we boarded the Bolt Bus again. I'm not sure if he told me then or not that a bolt had caught fire that morning or not, but either way I'm glad we got on because our other option was Amtrak. Midway through the trip Bryce saw on the news that train had jumped the track and people had died. So weird having just passed them hours prior s they lined up to board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xV2IkxizKmg/VVVYuEJIC6I/AAAAAAAADz4/j5sigqTECXs/s640/blogger-image--682455578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xV2IkxizKmg/VVVYuEJIC6I/AAAAAAAADz4/j5sigqTECXs/s640/blogger-image--682455578.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 5: my birthday. We stayed that night with Bryce's editor, John Biggs and family. We talked a little with his wife, Asia who had just left her job and then went to park slope to meet Bryce's friend Laura, who had just left her job. Later that day we realized these two worked together and quit together. Small world. Before meeting Laura and her adorable, two-year-old Wade, we took breakfast at this cute chain restaurant or Belgium quinine. We also went to a couple of toy stores and I picked out a push puppet for my birthday present. We went to a book store and when we entered Bryce told me he knew the cashier. I told him he didn't, but he decided to introduce himself anyway. Turns out they did know each other, though this was the first time they ever met. Phillip is a write Bryce has illustrated for, he even writes limericks for "wait, wait, don't tell me". When Bryce introduced himself, Phillip jumped up and gave him a hug. After those small shops where I was in heaven (I should open a children's book and toy shop, I adore them so much) we walked around prospect park and then up to a pie shop to meet Laura. I had birch beer float pie which was great. Bryce had a lemon chess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-24PFnKp-Xz0/VVVY7CgWsUI/AAAAAAAAD0g/00TL5Fnxae4/s640/blogger-image--995308795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-24PFnKp-Xz0/VVVY7CgWsUI/AAAAAAAAD0g/00TL5Fnxae4/s640/blogger-image--995308795.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then, we went home</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-88451950107256783442015-05-05T23:16:00.001-05:002015-05-05T23:27:30.087-05:00Beltane<div><br></div>LI must have been a pagan in a past life because when I read anything about holidays and such I'm like, yeah, I know. I asked a Wiccan friend of mine for some references for festivals and such and she gave me the title, circle round. I love this book. And one line that I resonated with were the most important holidays being Halloween and May Day, which just happen to be my two favorite holidays. <div><br></div><div>Beltane is another word for May Day and the Mother Earth and green man (Robin Hood) are celebrated as spring arrives and fertility is among us. This year to really celebrate link and I made May Day baskets and snuck them on doorsteps, read the story of the maypole, did flower identification, left milk out for the fairies and went to a fairy festival with pleasant valley villagers.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2aGHrEGOSfw/VUmVs2wIjXI/AAAAAAAADzI/1b_aHsKrKKc/s640/blogger-image-630718789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2aGHrEGOSfw/VUmVs2wIjXI/AAAAAAAADzI/1b_aHsKrKKc/s640/blogger-image-630718789.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Link and his fairy teepee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R1fvQxhHjmk/VUmVg4hhDJI/AAAAAAAADyc/o0jVocIp7eU/s640/blogger-image--1719402624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R1fvQxhHjmk/VUmVg4hhDJI/AAAAAAAADyc/o0jVocIp7eU/s640/blogger-image--1719402624.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Building the winter effigy with Daniel rotto</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YD8moUqI8zM/VUmVq4jKUaI/AAAAAAAADzE/lfF0pwJIvlE/s640/blogger-image--133302603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YD8moUqI8zM/VUmVq4jKUaI/AAAAAAAADzE/lfF0pwJIvlE/s640/blogger-image--133302603.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Liz leading the children in songs. She has a natural talent for this.<br><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--jTsf5D4kIc/VUmVi75CW8I/AAAAAAAADyk/XsbB27tQmDA/s640/blogger-image--282631584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--jTsf5D4kIc/VUmVi75CW8I/AAAAAAAADyk/XsbB27tQmDA/s640/blogger-image--282631584.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The maypole dancers lying under,diamonds in the sky formation</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kuXeK-xpL1M/VUmVm8ORrcI/AAAAAAAADy0/doDEeoiBPWY/s640/blogger-image--1207053051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kuXeK-xpL1M/VUmVm8ORrcI/AAAAAAAADy0/doDEeoiBPWY/s640/blogger-image--1207053051.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Felix decorated in face paint</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gMNBdpSqnyw/VUmVpA_YOYI/AAAAAAAADy8/DZNeX1fTTGM/s640/blogger-image-812855937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gMNBdpSqnyw/VUmVpA_YOYI/AAAAAAAADy8/DZNeX1fTTGM/s640/blogger-image-812855937.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chasing the green man</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8p5M-Rc-78/VUmVlNVBGtI/AAAAAAAADys/bTnsg-081ps/s640/blogger-image--406267417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8p5M-Rc-78/VUmVlNVBGtI/AAAAAAAADys/bTnsg-081ps/s640/blogger-image--406267417.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The daffodil crown I made for myself</div><br></div><br></u></font></div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-66896565573340853962015-04-01T11:16:00.001-05:002015-04-29T14:32:45.125-05:00April fools eveWhat a great evening full of jokes and Link was in on all of them this year and it was fantastic.<br />
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The Bruxvoort Colligans came over for dinner.</div>
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First we offered them tea. That was stuck in place. Some got tea, some got Jello.<br />
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Next we pretended it was Sam's 10th birthday and baked him a cake.</div>
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What, no meal, just dessert?</div>
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With trick candles.</div>
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And the cake was meatloaf and mashed potatoes.</div>
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We followed that up with dessert.</div>
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Yum, brownies!</div>
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With nuts!</div>
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They loved them, we finished the whole pan.</div>
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After great conversation, Sam and Link playing in the backyard and some video games when it got dark they went to put on their shoes. That no longer fit. Tissues in the toes.</div>
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And a text on their way home makes me know they saw the final prank. "Just married" on the back window! </div>
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Such fun!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-38798416328198585612015-03-24T23:11:00.001-05:002015-04-01T20:37:37.394-05:00You're a good man Charlie Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ctTbYTyEnIY/VRI1QQXapUI/AAAAAAAADuc/10PKoVAjUoo/s640/blogger-image--1798150414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ctTbYTyEnIY/VRI1QQXapUI/AAAAAAAADuc/10PKoVAjUoo/s640/blogger-image--1798150414.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KSIQZLYORY8/VRI1SeRfBFI/AAAAAAAADuk/hwvRzIJ5DbM/s640/blogger-image-74348484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KSIQZLYORY8/VRI1SeRfBFI/AAAAAAAADuk/hwvRzIJ5DbM/s640/blogger-image-74348484.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pYsM3zfQLe0/VRI1U8YDjuI/AAAAAAAADus/d_JbG0r54O4/s640/blogger-image-1258228551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pYsM3zfQLe0/VRI1U8YDjuI/AAAAAAAADus/d_JbG0r54O4/s640/blogger-image-1258228551.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happiness is a sweet gift from the cast, filled with slips of paper with favorite memories. Oh and that one awkward note that read "despite what my face looked like, I don't hate you."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hpyNpYfyWnQ/VRwZ5dML0eI/AAAAAAAADxI/oD48PeKcO-I/s640/blogger-image-226256939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hpyNpYfyWnQ/VRwZ5dML0eI/AAAAAAAADxI/oD48PeKcO-I/s640/blogger-image-226256939.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-6516152766587079672015-03-24T22:50:00.001-05:002015-03-29T19:10:15.558-05:00Felix-almost 15 months<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>This poor second child. They're right, milestones become less noted. Sometime this month Felix started walking. He's really good now. He babbles a lot but still doesn't say many recognizable words. He's very stubborn, but very cheerful as well. He loves to play peek-a-boo. He also adores his brother. So kids toys really are of no interest when Legos are around. He has lots of uncontrollable curls that I can't bear to part with. He is super energetic and keeps us on our toes. His fine motor skills are superb (even able to assemble some Legos and take toothpaste lid off and on screwing it) and he shows so real smarts with recognizing when writing is upside down or sideways.<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rrTP71UCaXg/VRIwf-DUv3I/AAAAAAAADto/c5FnEhTf1Ew/s640/blogger-image-81853461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rrTP71UCaXg/VRIwf-DUv3I/AAAAAAAADto/c5FnEhTf1Ew/s640/blogger-image-81853461.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s4YgrFOCFXU/VRIwkKXeuLI/AAAAAAAADt4/s6Sf9UeYOMQ/s640/blogger-image--904110149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s4YgrFOCFXU/VRIwkKXeuLI/AAAAAAAADt4/s6Sf9UeYOMQ/s640/blogger-image--904110149.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XyIbYpoeD5I/VRIwh6v6pmI/AAAAAAAADtw/r_IdWCc28xM/s640/blogger-image--448271960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XyIbYpoeD5I/VRIwh6v6pmI/AAAAAAAADtw/r_IdWCc28xM/s640/blogger-image--448271960.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i6txbU378yc/VRI0pawieiI/AAAAAAAADuU/yToC42XS06U/s640/blogger-image--2129506171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i6txbU378yc/VRI0pawieiI/AAAAAAAADuU/yToC42XS06U/s640/blogger-image--2129506171.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-86791824771864796632015-03-24T22:30:00.001-05:002015-04-14T11:10:32.460-05:00Mainstream holidays and religionWhen Link used to go to Joan's house to daycare someone's favorite movie was Jack Frost and Link has this mainstream view of holiday chapters now that I don't really like. And he thinks they all look like they do in that particular movie. So he believes in the tooth fairy, but he says not other fairies.<br />
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I don't combat him, but I ask a lot of questions and share a lot of stories. This year I emphasized the saints of St. Nick, St. Valentine, St. Pats, and now that it is Easter, Jesus. The story he mostly gets is that we celebrate people teach us to love one another. The same goes for Buddha. His favorite song right now is Mason Jennings, "oh Jesus I love you, and I love Buddha too". He likes to argue Easter is really about the Easter bunny and st. Pats is about leprechauns. I'm trying not to squash that magic, while also helping provide him with some magic of closer to life legends.</div>
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Nevertheless here is out leprechaun trap.<br />
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The gold was stolen but we didn't catch a leprechaun.</div>
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We had a great St. Pats day this year mixed with library, green eggs, cookies, a fantastic parade, shamrocks, wearing green, homemade corned beef and cabbage, etc.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-76711613163538334612015-03-24T22:20:00.001-05:002015-04-29T13:23:01.650-05:00Lincoln- 5.5<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Link is five and a half.<br />
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He thinks it's funny to take 100 selfies and send texts from parent to parent of Minecraft world photos.</div>
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He doesn't like the lyric "the past is in the past" but he likes the song "Let It Go".</div>
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He thinks he looks ugly when wearing socks and underwear so he always takes his socks off before his pants.</div>
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We just finished reading <i>Charlotte's Web</i> at night, but this was Mom's pick; he always picks a Lego magazine which he anxiously awaits in the mail.</div>
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Link loves to spend all his time with his Legos or playing video games, which he has to earn chore points to play. He also likes to watch a YouTube channel called Evantube where a young boy named Evan reviews toys like Legos and Minecraft.</div>
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When not behind a screen or a Lego brick, you will still see him part of that superhero world as he forms ice balls and power throws them at imaginary villains, avoids lava between sidewalk cracks and stand on every sewer hole in order to change costumes like in the video games.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-22238910367195798622015-02-28T22:23:00.001-06:002015-03-24T22:22:49.187-05:00Valentine's<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the spirit of st. Valentine we made love notes for our friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1rbbEk4gkU/VPKUUz__v-I/AAAAAAAADsQ/8CQyLceQI0w/s640/blogger-image-332634508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1rbbEk4gkU/VPKUUz__v-I/AAAAAAAADsQ/8CQyLceQI0w/s640/blogger-image-332634508.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-81739471317050197232015-02-28T22:22:00.001-06:002015-02-28T22:22:48.692-06:00Weaving baskets<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we were at effigy mounds at the beginning of winter we bought this basket kit. Now that it is getting closer to Easter I thought we would give it a try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Perfect activity for link. It's not messy, something he can do, and he is excited with the results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-js4CotnFNlE/VPKUEtro8lI/AAAAAAAADsI/EO5BV2fymc0/s640/blogger-image-1241230989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-js4CotnFNlE/VPKUEtro8lI/AAAAAAAADsI/EO5BV2fymc0/s640/blogger-image-1241230989.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lyP1ubZWyJs/VPKT7eefN7I/AAAAAAAADr4/8bQfjZsyuig/s640/blogger-image-1974805811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lyP1ubZWyJs/VPKT7eefN7I/AAAAAAAADr4/8bQfjZsyuig/s640/blogger-image-1974805811.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mgD5AZn9bIw/VPKT9ZHm6fI/AAAAAAAADsA/qRwsoOftp2U/s640/blogger-image-697641657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mgD5AZn9bIw/VPKT9ZHm6fI/AAAAAAAADsA/qRwsoOftp2U/s640/blogger-image-697641657.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-70850046010953614982015-01-28T00:25:00.001-06:002015-02-26T10:38:14.246-06:00Homeschool updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We got some great homeschool kits for Christmas. Link was excited to make this volcano until he realized how messy plaster is. But he stuck with it and did a great job. We had fun painting it too.</div>
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Paleontologist work was exciting to until e realized how much patience you had to have. We are still about in the same place.</div>
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Also showing a little more interest in piano, now that buddy Zach has shown how fun it can be.</div>
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I'm still on the fence about homeschool. I always imagined living so close to the school Link would be itching to go where all the kids were walking to. Recently I asked him about his interest and it was the opposite. He doesn't want to go where all those scary kids are going. Maybe all the more reason to go? I don't know.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-51340283280623625042015-01-28T00:16:00.001-06:002015-02-26T10:37:55.585-06:00And we are backAfter Christmas Link's lego mini figures suddenly all went on strike. They left notes promising to return with better behavior and suddenly attitude began to change back around. Bryce and I supported each other in discipline and Link has returned back to the fun loving, kind soul we knew was down in there. Most of the mini figures have returned and he doesn't seem to even care about the rest. Maybe he just had too much. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-56828166780415199102015-01-28T00:10:00.001-06:002015-01-28T00:10:47.936-06:00Milestone birthdaysOn the 31 my grandma turned 90. We threw her a surprise party, took her out for dinner and then had a party at my brothers.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GnpBKyB4pTg/VMh9UCD0SMI/AAAAAAAADn8/Re6iQH-TGwY/s640/blogger-image-1308687108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GnpBKyB4pTg/VMh9UCD0SMI/AAAAAAAADn8/Re6iQH-TGwY/s640/blogger-image-1308687108.jpg"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></a></div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B5nCZ7c2ftM/VMh7jxGCBMI/AAAAAAAADng/2SDwho8jxvQ/s640/blogger-image-842015428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B5nCZ7c2ftM/VMh7jxGCBMI/AAAAAAAADng/2SDwho8jxvQ/s640/blogger-image-842015428.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2enrKeXRi1E/VMh9XKM6gdI/AAAAAAAADoE/bfJU3L9sZIY/s640/blogger-image--786168371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2enrKeXRi1E/VMh9XKM6gdI/AAAAAAAADoE/bfJU3L9sZIY/s640/blogger-image--786168371.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On we celebrated Felix's first birthday a little early. We entertained those who were present at Felix's actual arrival. Trish and family, Sadie and family, and Karin (although she was sick and couldn't attend). We had traditional good luck food (sauerkraut and pork and black eye pea salsa). Since the stores were closed and I forgot to make a cake I had to make one from scratch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FkOVIGgBmOM/VMh9SoWcWnI/AAAAAAAADn0/63wvTgp0TXw/s640/blogger-image-1671071053.jpg"></a></span></div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WKSzpep_Tx4/VMh9YxZ7xWI/AAAAAAAADoM/AlaDCZRVzyI/s640/blogger-image-387917928.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vrdhe2_5CiE/VMh9RNrJZSI/AAAAAAAADns/TrFrPOEOXew/s640/blogger-image--1099111135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;">On Felix's actual birthday we went and celebrated my aunt Amy's 50th. They share birthdays.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div><br></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-70391185325595774872015-01-27T23:40:00.001-06:002015-01-29T23:00:25.379-06:00Christmas 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A handcrafted barn from etsy was our biggest splurge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We don't usually give Santa gifts, but this year link heard a lot of "what did Santa give you?" And was wondering. I was conflicted not wanting to reject any magic of the season, but not really enjoying the creepiness of modern day Santa. (We do celebrate the legend of st. Nick). I told him in response he can say anything he got because everyone gives in the spirit of st. Nick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-45g6xG9x-co/VMh2NBSzKqI/AAAAAAAADnA/kchC5HMOObw/s640/blogger-image-506114461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-45g6xG9x-co/VMh2NBSzKqI/AAAAAAAADnA/kchC5HMOObw/s640/blogger-image-506114461.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No tree this year, but we did get some decor up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2E2sgBPOj7I/VMh2LVOxwEI/AAAAAAAADm4/uhR2NOm9tAQ/s640/blogger-image-700435555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2E2sgBPOj7I/VMh2LVOxwEI/AAAAAAAADm4/uhR2NOm9tAQ/s640/blogger-image-700435555.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Iowa we did a white elephant Christmas at Dustin and vahidas before we went to Kentucky.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3CAe8-jqGHs/VMh3GraF1ZI/AAAAAAAADnI/Ul7tZ4k2I2w/s640/blogger-image--1255976032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3CAe8-jqGHs/VMh3GraF1ZI/AAAAAAAADnI/Ul7tZ4k2I2w/s640/blogger-image--1255976032.jpg"></font></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Christmas at Papas usually means endless showing of The Christmas Story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LUgjL9mT4g4/VMh2I999ETI/AAAAAAAADmw/wrpQt9JrhSk/s640/blogger-image--344312045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LUgjL9mT4g4/VMh2I999ETI/AAAAAAAADmw/wrpQt9JrhSk/s640/blogger-image--344312045.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stayed at Laura's. We hadn't seen them her since before she and Bryce's uncle got divorced so it was a little different, but still good times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CCPlJjWj0H0/VMh0x9Hw6BI/AAAAAAAADmc/FF9Kt1IOzeg/s640/blogger-image--233365270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CCPlJjWj0H0/VMh0x9Hw6BI/AAAAAAAADmc/FF9Kt1IOzeg/s640/blogger-image--233365270.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9oiaLvCk5XI/VMmdLVWvhJI/AAAAAAAADqE/bj0-WxOfIcQ/s640/blogger-image--1493200184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9oiaLvCk5XI/VMmdLVWvhJI/AAAAAAAADqE/bj0-WxOfIcQ/s640/blogger-image--1493200184.jpg"></a></div>I always like to get out of the house a little to drive through the trail of lights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This year the weather was warm in Paducah.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3OXxJtMkZdw/VMmaviPflaI/AAAAAAAADpg/s041YkL3RHU/s640/blogger-image--1208241273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3OXxJtMkZdw/VMmaviPflaI/AAAAAAAADpg/s041YkL3RHU/s640/blogger-image--1208241273.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Uncle John had added a game room to the garage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ftHVwRmWvlo/VMmdJuOPl_I/AAAAAAAADp8/A6g2PnvJZAs/s640/blogger-image-507772401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ftHVwRmWvlo/VMmdJuOPl_I/AAAAAAAADp8/A6g2PnvJZAs/s640/blogger-image-507772401.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Felix met papa for the first time. He wasn't feeling well but I asked a ton of questions and he shared lots of stories. We heard he went to the hospital the day after we left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EFa1oMLPR_g/VMmdRjqLUjI/AAAAAAAADqc/tnYUyohOJV4/s640/blogger-image--497596185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EFa1oMLPR_g/VMmdRjqLUjI/AAAAAAAADqc/tnYUyohOJV4/s640/blogger-image--497596185.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We swug around to see the Marshalls in Cincinnati. It had been 6 years since we all were together and our families had all substantially grown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bTOJBqHX6J0/VMmdIEJM9CI/AAAAAAAADp0/ynRi8YzywHk/s640/blogger-image--1758590164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bTOJBqHX6J0/VMmdIEJM9CI/AAAAAAAADp0/ynRi8YzywHk/s640/blogger-image--1758590164.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kKWIKng6sMI/VMmdGP1AotI/AAAAAAAADps/q1-Klxs2qLI/s640/blogger-image-1650716076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kKWIKng6sMI/VMmdGP1AotI/AAAAAAAADps/q1-Klxs2qLI/s640/blogger-image-1650716076.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Since we were over that way anyway we went up to Columbus <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">to meet up with Phil and Teresa and the girls. There was a lego exhibit at the art museum replicating the city. 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At 5 years old he is finally starting to express his desire for boundaries in every way possible. He argues that kids can make up the house rules too and parents should do what he says. <div><br></div><div>Needless to say, Bryce and I have been watching YouTube clips of super nanny and spending lots of time encouraging one another to keep up the good work of being patient, calm, and collected. Boy is it draining. </div><div><br></div><div>I'm also thinking a little bit more about putting him in kindergarten next year. I don't want to call kindergarten daycare but at this point in time it's kind of what I am looking at it as. I want to homeschool but need to work during the day. Links other option would be daycare and I don't know of any in the area that would take a 6 year old. It would be good for him to be with some more kids his age. Plus school is free. I don't feel like he will learn anything more academically than he already knows. I hope it will not crush his spirit or joy of learning. There are a lot of things I am nervous about. He doesn't like competitive play, he doesn't like getting dirty, he likes to play one on one with others. If he does go to kindergarten I am not going to look at it as something he needs to be at all the time. When he needs breaks we will take them. </div><div><br></div><div>My life really feels like a mess right now. If I was a stay at home mom I feel like it would be less stressful. But I love my job and don't want to quit. I also make little money so I don't want Bryce to quit either. Why didn't I quit six months in when I didn't like it. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-28877220573441010102014-12-22T14:28:00.001-06:002015-01-22T02:19:04.883-06:00Felix developmentsFelix is showing a lot of language development. He is starting to imitate some signs (though not consistently). I think I have seen nurse, all done, and bye.<br />
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He also is doing a very good job imitating noises, from a scream to a burp to just normal conversation. He loves to sing along to songs and drum. He often is finding cylindrical things like markers or blocks to drum. He has long been using a low sound for cars and he also does it for cows mooing and boo.</div>
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His socializing is improving. He has gone from giving everyone eyebrows ( the common reply I got from strangers was "oh, he doesn't like me.") to giving out smiles. </div>
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He understands no pretty well. He seems to understand he shouldn't be putting everything in his mouth. Link still doesn't want him around his Legos though. But while the cats away...<br />
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He still holds on while walking around things but he is a fast crawler and can do all the steps very easily. </div>
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He is about 25 lbs, has lots of curly red hair with a double cowlick in the middle that is impossible. He loves to pinch and feed himself peas, carrots, beans, and puffs.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742608173727611690.post-26966587550128834112014-11-12T21:47:00.001-06:002014-11-12T21:47:34.038-06:00Halloween 2014Halloween was on a Friday. we had just gotten back from Minneapolis the day before and were a bit exhausted. Still we had fun. I bought my entire witch costume dress, hat, jewelry in Elkader. The tights and makeup at Walmart. Bryce shaved the beard to paint his face. We found his costume at target. I got links vampire costume second hand. I knew he didn't care much if he was a vampire so I bought the Lego hat for him on etsy and added some felt teeth, eyebrows and hair. We made hands out of can coozies. I sewed Felix's mummy costume on the drive to Minneapolis. Lots of cheesecloth on a hoodie and some old pants. He doesn't like anything on his head right now so I knew I wouldn't get away with a hat.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6uL6LMd9_WU/VGQptPdYtJI/AAAAAAAADjg/V3SlX-dd9tQ/s640/blogger-image--1575005244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6uL6LMd9_WU/VGQptPdYtJI/AAAAAAAADjg/V3SlX-dd9tQ/s640/blogger-image--1575005244.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After work we went to the library for some games.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yaEIRGSCpkU/VGQpxmGy9sI/AAAAAAAADjo/E8ZFnQWNteg/s640/blogger-image-743725195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yaEIRGSCpkU/VGQpxmGy9sI/AAAAAAAADjo/E8ZFnQWNteg/s640/blogger-image-743725195.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is link throwing sacks into the toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Felix wasn't liking the cold so Bryce stayed home with him while Link and I went trick or treating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cF1K3-jh6dw/VGQp1EGXP7I/AAAAAAAADjw/qJgZqaCJo14/s640/blogger-image-1088040814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cF1K3-jh6dw/VGQp1EGXP7I/AAAAAAAADjw/qJgZqaCJo14/s640/blogger-image-1088040814.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we got home we broke a bunch of glow sticks, put on a pandora rave station and danced into the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vpGehdX7uUo/VGQpowB-qHI/AAAAAAAADjY/zCrPDlWwEAY/s640/blogger-image-1565872206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vpGehdX7uUo/VGQpowB-qHI/AAAAAAAADjY/zCrPDlWwEAY/s640/blogger-image-1565872206.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0