tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50140590552553053542024-02-20T11:01:15.605-08:00Something to Chuckle AboutSonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-15837365670541114042012-02-23T11:34:00.001-08:002012-02-23T11:35:23.847-08:00Judsen MatthewI thought that weather or not I have any readers left out there...I know it has been forever, that I would go through the story of our journey to become parents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2LR9ARQunC6yr2DiXWQq9H7PLrTa51WTt2r2QMZo4Yo8xA9JJq_RBbxc9PHdYTbg-CCTBob7TbKCllVot56UqckaAklCOJsQ3D4_f1S1DY2nEDLG9dhES0tYSCMugsYwOKKM4XOdg5iy/s1600/baby5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2LR9ARQunC6yr2DiXWQq9H7PLrTa51WTt2r2QMZo4Yo8xA9JJq_RBbxc9PHdYTbg-CCTBob7TbKCllVot56UqckaAklCOJsQ3D4_f1S1DY2nEDLG9dhES0tYSCMugsYwOKKM4XOdg5iy/s320/baby5.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was probably at 40lbs</td></tr>
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It all started with the excitement of the positive test back in May of 2006. Our hearts raced with excitement and anticipation at the news that we would become parents. We had choose to wait for 3 years after we were married to work the kinks out...do those kinks every really get worked out?!? But needless to say we were <strong>ready</strong> and <strong>excited</strong> for this baby. As the first few months past and my belly began to grow so did our excitement. We found out at the ultra sound that we would be having a boy! I was so exited and baby quickly turned to <em>Junior</em>. The process of getting the nursery ready and picking names, registry for all the baby accessories quickly consumed my time. My bond with "Junior quickly formed with every kick, turn, hiccup, and trip to the bathroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxqp79nQoqa3iPXMuapuMjS32UUiVODImo3gHI5RcPyPAb0xf6F1ejTz1yR1lwhes-5dLQGzWYOa969QUhw0gq5yyW6UIxFW_hS_pXkhT0Jecf4dC403rj4CktN1BH74dkpbfgLiPxbxw/s1600/newborn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxqp79nQoqa3iPXMuapuMjS32UUiVODImo3gHI5RcPyPAb0xf6F1ejTz1yR1lwhes-5dLQGzWYOa969QUhw0gq5yyW6UIxFW_hS_pXkhT0Jecf4dC403rj4CktN1BH74dkpbfgLiPxbxw/s320/newborn1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I will be the first to admit that I became huge. I always anticipated being this cute pregger momma, but as the months past the scale numbers continued to increase the average 30-40 lbs went right out the window. We were knocking on the door of 50 and my chins had doubled and my thighs and arms quickly gave notice to the weight gain. With every doctor visit that I didn't hear the words "significant weight gain" I quickly rain across the street to get a double cheese burger. I got many comment's to the effect of I was either going to have twins or a 10 lb baby...don't you just love those. Everyone was always telling me how beautiful I was...which is really just code for how huge I had gotten. But I knew the belly was there for a reason and began to embrace the weight and indulged in many things I wouldn't have normally had (welcome back into my life mayo)! I mean at this point what is an extra 5lbs. I remember the first time I couldn't get past my husband in the bathroom because of my belly or the time I hit one of my students in the head with my belly as I turned around. It was a whole new world to me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKx84P_hE_mKF59GseZev53fVqYEQM-vBkAPDLOrNgG4XWpLNz66gQi_e249y3JXtZ_iul2lGK5r0Q8pXW_7-3p-c1yAgLCCc1otMzbL7CTZvTTf2KLu39hpMmRNAAgvReKjIzVffA4n8/s1600/baby1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKx84P_hE_mKF59GseZev53fVqYEQM-vBkAPDLOrNgG4XWpLNz66gQi_e249y3JXtZ_iul2lGK5r0Q8pXW_7-3p-c1yAgLCCc1otMzbL7CTZvTTf2KLu39hpMmRNAAgvReKjIzVffA4n8/s320/baby1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Wj64uRehFSAkk9SnvZB9zikXPyhDBoWkA77lS0Ptx64DqhGDHiHE-Ai0Jf01T4p0_0BVMGDuWvLN5XIdXKPq-2vk_jwOtq1D15zC7BUYJ_YQCFQnpILDTwJUopoHdsS-vaOkhirplKgL/s1600/baby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Wj64uRehFSAkk9SnvZB9zikXPyhDBoWkA77lS0Ptx64DqhGDHiHE-Ai0Jf01T4p0_0BVMGDuWvLN5XIdXKPq-2vk_jwOtq1D15zC7BUYJ_YQCFQnpILDTwJUopoHdsS-vaOkhirplKgL/s320/baby2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hog-tator was Jud's nickname.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our sweet baby finally decided to come into the world 2 days after his due date (when my Dr assured me he would come early...of course). I was set to be induced the morning of the 13th of Feb, but went into labor on my own early that morning. As the pain increased I wasn't shy to ask for the epidural. Once that baby kicked in it was all rest and relaxation until the pushing. For most of the day I laid in the bed and my husband napped by my side. It wasn't until after lunch when we got the go ahead to start pushing. After about 5 sets of pushes I asked if my Dr. should be in here for this. To which my sweet nurse replied, "Oh sweetie, we have a long way to go!" <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In-love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mercy I mean I was anticipating some pushing but as the minutes went by and then the hours I was getting exhausted. Although I couldn't feel the pain...thank you Jesus, I was getting tried. Luckily just before the 2 hour marker sweet <em>little</em> Judsen Matthew came into this world. My 9 lb 11oz 21 1/2 inch sweet baby was laid on my chest crying with the most amazing cone head. I believe my first words were..."<em>He's huge"</em> (and he was). I can't tell you the emotions you feel at that exact moment. I had no idea I could love someone so much who I knew so little about. This was my baby for the rest of his or my life. I was responsible for him, my little bundle who was perfect!<br />
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This is only the beginning of the journey. Of course the easy part was over and now the hard part began. We were responsible for teaching and training him. For loving him and equipping him with all the skill he would need to live in this sometimes nasty world. But for those first few months all we could do was ooh and awe over him. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First family picture.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And so the journey begins.Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-82159534446459532882011-09-06T11:43:00.000-07:002011-09-06T11:44:59.263-07:00A Must ReadSo my dear friend Jennah sent me this blog to read and I was so moved that I thought I must share it with you. It is amazing to see the relationship that our Mighty Lord wants to have with us. It is a little bit of a read but totally worth the 10 minutes it will take you. I really have nothing more to add but WOW! Read it and you will know why. Thank you sweet Jesus!<br />
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<a href="http://takeheartinitiative.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/all-i-hear-is-wedding-bells/">http://takeheartinitiative.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/all-i-hear-is-wedding-bells/</a>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-61956505917554706362011-08-30T12:41:00.000-07:002011-08-30T12:41:11.354-07:00Crafting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-EEUb1nKxL3-x8LzWkJKB0YjvOS2pga_BpDxVyGd5_IbDgxhP5INWMDnHL4heH-9U3S2xmzxrGj8_GyrN97UY9gJ6e4GqbVPmyJjUiZcySWURcD8dnA2tYLH23emcGyuvQklH7lXx2FG/s1600/wisconsin+203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-EEUb1nKxL3-x8LzWkJKB0YjvOS2pga_BpDxVyGd5_IbDgxhP5INWMDnHL4heH-9U3S2xmzxrGj8_GyrN97UY9gJ6e4GqbVPmyJjUiZcySWURcD8dnA2tYLH23emcGyuvQklH7lXx2FG/s320/wisconsin+203.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabinet Door untouched ready for my husband <br />
to use in our laundry room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I have had a little crafting bug lately and when it hits I am always looking for new little projects to work on. I thought I would share a few fun, practical ideas that can easily be made. We are literally talking about a few minutes of time. So my craft ideas today all came from the idea of using a simple cabinet door. Now we have a wonderful wonderland call Gopher Unclaimed Freight in St. Cloud and they always have a plethora of cabinet doors of all sizes and shapes ranging in price from $2.00-$8.00. Not to shabby huh. So with these fun little canvases came two of my ideas. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v4oSOlmvHyqwrTb-fimNSxZYS6voCV1pGG10iMgEvYiIiuI34cld7azKaLHi9qXfnx70YWVQHJg7f1vL9t4MwHZJl7wdKcBfQmMtvY4v7bnCLhk3xhoRoWwm6HXIJvDTzOW0QVy7X0Lu/s1600/wisconsin+202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v4oSOlmvHyqwrTb-fimNSxZYS6voCV1pGG10iMgEvYiIiuI34cld7azKaLHi9qXfnx70YWVQHJg7f1vL9t4MwHZJl7wdKcBfQmMtvY4v7bnCLhk3xhoRoWwm6HXIJvDTzOW0QVy7X0Lu/s320/wisconsin+202.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalk Board</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The first is a simple chalk board. All I had to do was paint the outside trim a color and then paint the interior with chalk board paint. Simple enough and you would never guess it was a $3.00 door!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5jcEw8wdl8DRMCBCgFpxYiLI5GeKYy78UdJ8WM6o5qko0IzXnGxnOw1EY9GvI0g8xMD526yhzxxwqvCZw-ijp1qMtRYQZDyOmyJawjzfAAKXIeDJYYudt5kaFx-qVewxFBcOdGS1m1ka/s1600/wisconsin+197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5jcEw8wdl8DRMCBCgFpxYiLI5GeKYy78UdJ8WM6o5qko0IzXnGxnOw1EY9GvI0g8xMD526yhzxxwqvCZw-ijp1qMtRYQZDyOmyJawjzfAAKXIeDJYYudt5kaFx-qVewxFBcOdGS1m1ka/s320/wisconsin+197.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelry Board</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The next idea came when we began finishing our walk-in closet. I wanted a nice place to store my jewelery. So once again I took a cabinet door and painted the outside trim a color and then the background white. I then bought some silver little hooks from the hardware section in Target and screwed them in the door. Walla! A piece of art for my closet and a very functional one at that. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love crafting projects that are so easy and turn out great! Happy Carfting! </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjYOF5aC_9S3Bjho4VuIOOYwxgNKl8gFwGN1qemE1nzY-qqwRwcXoM7eyZgRZSHa92IfJW8oJaFTyS1_lxPdynZRtwHjc2_G6poPnRWEcj9huFdcJhq2WPJDAFxZ43KIVkUYIQtuCWZA_/s1600/wisconsin+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjYOF5aC_9S3Bjho4VuIOOYwxgNKl8gFwGN1qemE1nzY-qqwRwcXoM7eyZgRZSHa92IfJW8oJaFTyS1_lxPdynZRtwHjc2_G6poPnRWEcj9huFdcJhq2WPJDAFxZ43KIVkUYIQtuCWZA_/s400/wisconsin+200.JPG" width="300" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our closet with the use of some of those cheap cabinet<br />
doors from Gopher. More closet to come!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-86717863256253372512011-08-20T08:15:00.000-07:002011-08-20T08:15:42.240-07:00Oh For the Love!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tbtElP9bF_x2pTMdDDWjDDMGnJSJSNQ8yautEB-4CTFRNVTPSwtTIsSkgzX3Qu2HbXZs5L27EElRaH96piy5hJ182gINPSmI1_SGp3UvF9_JSxdLPrH37-p4bxFUJkVxzk6tU0wESPC4/s1600/tree+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tbtElP9bF_x2pTMdDDWjDDMGnJSJSNQ8yautEB-4CTFRNVTPSwtTIsSkgzX3Qu2HbXZs5L27EElRaH96piy5hJ182gINPSmI1_SGp3UvF9_JSxdLPrH37-p4bxFUJkVxzk6tU0wESPC4/s320/tree+frog.jpg" width="320" /></a>Thursday night did not start off well when I stumbled into our house after a long day of work. I opened the front door with my hands full of supplies from the day only to let a little green tree frog into our house. As I was assess my best line of action for getting it out and making a plan, I set a bag I was holding down on the corner of the couch. Well that was a bad idea, taking my eye off of the little sucker for just one quick minute led to its disapperance. I searched high and low figuring it couldn't have gotten far. But...no luck! I could find it anywhere. I decided to take the bag into the kitchen and begin getting ready for bed. As I picked up the plastic bag I was horrified to discover that red gatoraide was leaking onto my cream colored sofa. I mean really...this is not what I wanted to deal with at this time of night. So now I have a tree frog loose in my house and a huge red stain on the sofa. I begin to work franticly to remove the stain...which I was prettly successful with. Next stop the shower. You see, Matt and I had just got home from a long day of roofing a house. Yep it's true, I can help roof houses. It's one of my new fangeled hobbies, okay can I really call it a hobby...nope. I really don't much like it, but I do like the extra money it brings into our family so this momma gets her peaches up and that roof and helps out her man. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So anyway Matt and I were completely and totally exhausted from the long day. We crawled from the shower into bed only to discover how hard it was to get relaxed and turn our brains off. I mean my thoughts were going everywhere from the roofing job to my hurting feet, the tree frog that was loose in my house, and the new red spot on the couch. Matt and I both took turns tossing and turning and bottom line...not sleeping. I finally drifted off to sleep and I can't for the life of me tell you what woke me up but something did. It must have been talking of sorts because I felt the need to look out my window. When I did I was completely panic stricken at what I saw. I lept into bed and grabbed my protector and told him that someone was in our yard and just ran across the street. By this time my heart is pumping and adrenalin racing. I mean I never really thought in a million years that when I went to the window I would discover someone in our yard...but there they were. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lt-N1MhgpMtCg28CjOMshwt-BskBuRXw-1pPXHON-YkNI5yrXV73jevfq8BnvzH32YOy0HZy59t3X9pX-6-at5-dBmUNmQnO9DuSDUbrQWba4xmtVzUDyE0TBcFlBq-8MMWlQci52m_W/s1600/DSC00022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lt-N1MhgpMtCg28CjOMshwt-BskBuRXw-1pPXHON-YkNI5yrXV73jevfq8BnvzH32YOy0HZy59t3X9pX-6-at5-dBmUNmQnO9DuSDUbrQWba4xmtVzUDyE0TBcFlBq-8MMWlQci52m_W/s320/DSC00022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My protector lept into action to assess the situation. As we went back to the window together we noticed another body in our yard and then another. All of a sudden this looked less like a raid or invasion on our house as some sort of prank. The pranksters would run across the street and then back into our yard. Back and forth they went. I could hear the giggles of girls as their attack was executed. It then hit me and I knew just what was going on.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrUGBcfCx0HrObjFzcHsVelm1DIZImRtC9oeKpKEtI9y-AqfrQX4vP9qQ6wJevsnTBCaiF_-Qv1KUr3YFRz0vFB1TvIeDsZIIPACQnZJc6BX4A1IM-E2l38XXTrJ8gTRHiFTmjd3LyGya/s1600/DSC00021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrUGBcfCx0HrObjFzcHsVelm1DIZImRtC9oeKpKEtI9y-AqfrQX4vP9qQ6wJevsnTBCaiF_-Qv1KUr3YFRz0vFB1TvIeDsZIIPACQnZJc6BX4A1IM-E2l38XXTrJ8gTRHiFTmjd3LyGya/s320/DSC00021.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were being Flamingoed. Yep that's right...in the morning we awoke to a yard filled with pink Floridian flamingos scattered about. Mad...no! It made me chuckle and I was certain that the boys would love this discovery when they awoke. Needless to say Jud could not believe his eyes and wondered how all of these "penguins" got in his yard. He was certain that I would be mad at whoever had done this! Brodee actually ventured out into the grass...which doesn't happen often...to check out these pink unusually birds. So thank you Dassel Ambassadors for the fun excitment for my boys and I. I might have got a very interepted night of sleep but it was worth it in the morning. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">P.S. The red spot came out but that little tree frog as not yet been captured.</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-1843428716827542772011-08-15T19:31:00.000-07:002011-08-15T19:31:04.877-07:00Where, Oh Where Have I been!So you know it's bad when you can't log into your blog because you can't for the life of you remember your password or login name...and you can't for the life of you figure out how you are going to retrieve that information. Needless to say after much trying and digging I uncovered the crucial information needed to bring you this much over due update. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLztXn0krwKp9ACxMbkPaA8dXnOUVUrKpoGVWcOTR5ywP17TYrFbIp_UCxhFmKermwVezXALfUPI8p1SltKhob__7xG1Q3ilr6fLXUcj7ku_sm-frojsZ8fr8yfJT-fw2toZHQd7SiLyo/s1600/1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLztXn0krwKp9ACxMbkPaA8dXnOUVUrKpoGVWcOTR5ywP17TYrFbIp_UCxhFmKermwVezXALfUPI8p1SltKhob__7xG1Q3ilr6fLXUcj7ku_sm-frojsZ8fr8yfJT-fw2toZHQd7SiLyo/s320/1-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay so where was I? I wish I had some great story about some amazing summer travels or about a much needed media fast or a huge summer project that has eaten every last spare minute...but the truth is...well I just took a break. I even many times wanted to blog to you dear readers but as you and I know that never happened. I did realize that I missed the blogging community and the freedom I had to share some of my most meaningless and meaningful thoughts. So with that being said I am back..for now. Back to hopefully brighten your day, give you something to think about, chuckle about if you will. A lot my dear friends has happened in these few short months and I hope to share some of those moments with you. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b60JEcgWVO08CI9UUXwaGb4FVY8JJO22vuk73XokpWtBi6PJUgjYhKZsXVsQbr7uNPLBVAXw8RCRMDQOTDxB90QueWeWi9UPuREEl-7bQRD3BCDWrJiItG5F2hTwi9xK6pLiigvBBOz2/s1600/1-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b60JEcgWVO08CI9UUXwaGb4FVY8JJO22vuk73XokpWtBi6PJUgjYhKZsXVsQbr7uNPLBVAXw8RCRMDQOTDxB90QueWeWi9UPuREEl-7bQRD3BCDWrJiItG5F2hTwi9xK6pLiigvBBOz2/s320/1-9.jpg" width="320" /></a>Totally threw the pictures in to show you how big my sweet, precious boys are getting...plus I think a blog with pictures is well...better. Okay I am pledging to you my readers that I will blog at least one more time this week...cross heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye! Amen!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-4371270830096516162011-05-18T19:21:00.000-07:002011-05-18T19:21:43.809-07:00Sitting Back and Enjoying the Show<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQarw_1VhmCSiUzPAZgNALJjsVODtDVm7FsG3LH5sQDiiiLMUeF-1IRUFAHD63qPCi3U2Kh7VXSGZyoRlKCvNAwDJnYQ9l6xn1EG5jQj3b3AkEyquYYowAGc7I7-zlR_-9GkffBMODcq0O/s1600/blog+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQarw_1VhmCSiUzPAZgNALJjsVODtDVm7FsG3LH5sQDiiiLMUeF-1IRUFAHD63qPCi3U2Kh7VXSGZyoRlKCvNAwDJnYQ9l6xn1EG5jQj3b3AkEyquYYowAGc7I7-zlR_-9GkffBMODcq0O/s320/blog+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our House</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have had the amazing pleasure this year of sitting back and watching the wonderful show that the good Lord performs every spring. The greening of the grass, the budding of the trees, the pushing through of the plants, and the blossoming of the dandelions. This year is quite different than last. To begin with, last year at this time I was 35 weeks pregnant and huge...yes, I truly was huge, ask anyone. Second we had no grass, just a whole lot of dirt with weeds in it. And thirdly we had no landscaping!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrdQm86q85B1gH-0pI5gOfJQyXHL1YCpI15PiRnDiRaOhg4pz0LP_oJKVh6J8R84i5a9k2NsDCyfW72uBDrFRvDK_CTWYtMSzgtPCaDV_b9ZKWjm_vKK2JaPbpl3tj40ebzgegCU9Ks2w/s1600/blog+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrdQm86q85B1gH-0pI5gOfJQyXHL1YCpI15PiRnDiRaOhg4pz0LP_oJKVh6J8R84i5a9k2NsDCyfW72uBDrFRvDK_CTWYtMSzgtPCaDV_b9ZKWjm_vKK2JaPbpl3tj40ebzgegCU9Ks2w/s320/blog+026.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side of our house...notice no deck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So...needless to say their was no enjoying the show last spring just a whole lot of putting on a show. Can you imagine me 35 weeks pregnant bending over picking up muddy hoses, dragging them around the yard...my feet getting stuck in the mud, losing flip flops, all for the sake of the perfect yard. Mercy! The landscaping was another fiasco...but thanks to the help of momma Sue quite successful. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB_BlJYMu_gKv_D124urAlOU3nRWObMbrSzNxyOg3cM6XxJELPHZGYOOCeUasQqYm29KNFE4T0izkjDgV7naGM1KVQfkEhpU4VXfSP-kd4b9-ykgyXo1f7XRWsO2z6_wP20NXZqdxClRv/s1600/blog+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB_BlJYMu_gKv_D124urAlOU3nRWObMbrSzNxyOg3cM6XxJELPHZGYOOCeUasQqYm29KNFE4T0izkjDgV7naGM1KVQfkEhpU4VXfSP-kd4b9-ykgyXo1f7XRWsO2z6_wP20NXZqdxClRv/s320/blog+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our septic tank--retaining wall built by Matt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR6CPMzFF06iz3vd0s0I3tGY58EKx6tWaw6yiRfl1lXHyjMvA1rmPZE-SaY7jh8qgbaRH9vPA2AcvF6qA1MKVSPHQAz64MyWBElIfh4dA35a8g6efqbKnWRIWNhzGXHT8ogEYRwcGDCDb/s1600/blog+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR6CPMzFF06iz3vd0s0I3tGY58EKx6tWaw6yiRfl1lXHyjMvA1rmPZE-SaY7jh8qgbaRH9vPA2AcvF6qA1MKVSPHQAz64MyWBElIfh4dA35a8g6efqbKnWRIWNhzGXHT8ogEYRwcGDCDb/s320/blog+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Mamma Sue's Landscaping</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuGvg5SDFH_BTYR8284HmJLvOokr8T5rOb_0fp8jYCOTjy4rbtWBgjcFNh45ceCRwBs-6Dn_Y15hudI5mik68mESREcABb0Wk1A1f9st32wEMS-S4Qg5X6EYybR0Bt3YjULMYsAfHoQbn/s1600/blog+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuGvg5SDFH_BTYR8284HmJLvOokr8T5rOb_0fp8jYCOTjy4rbtWBgjcFNh45ceCRwBs-6Dn_Y15hudI5mik68mESREcABb0Wk1A1f9st32wEMS-S4Qg5X6EYybR0Bt3YjULMYsAfHoQbn/s320/blog+030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful colors!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLF3HIAVW1jSuqEvwQn-RNIem2h63-P-TUpIfVLgAZ5X5OienfOgNOK09Kd8vjEkzrmBK3Mc38esXJ8RPU34D_NMGI-XSSTcDu44yrsgIo0Kt7ohDGMXa-8tBysQJmUKnGGtg2TNxLcr8/s1600/blog+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLF3HIAVW1jSuqEvwQn-RNIem2h63-P-TUpIfVLgAZ5X5OienfOgNOK09Kd8vjEkzrmBK3Mc38esXJ8RPU34D_NMGI-XSSTcDu44yrsgIo0Kt7ohDGMXa-8tBysQJmUKnGGtg2TNxLcr8/s320/blog+028.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the way the hostas open!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBke4SRaQhX8s_tKxZoHvA8dd_o3jmM1SAlIqConamqyvTBh_JKE0-DBp4XbV-bRD9LvZoNwQx2HgkP6v0EVl79RjsRCfW98JTCvPsraJBiBYUDX3a1kAdKE-krA7ZRQIMhyphenhyphenl1xa09qIOv/s1600/blog+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBke4SRaQhX8s_tKxZoHvA8dd_o3jmM1SAlIqConamqyvTBh_JKE0-DBp4XbV-bRD9LvZoNwQx2HgkP6v0EVl79RjsRCfW98JTCvPsraJBiBYUDX3a1kAdKE-krA7ZRQIMhyphenhyphenl1xa09qIOv/s320/blog+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The late bloomers...literally!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBzPnFjssg_W1HH4QtIB3IStNb3HfMlaK7gI8PIRwT6h4AEYgkmcVrzWRflpTiLCrUBlmzI7VxCqb4s8semwqrawnJt4wKHMz-1pNEqNVl5-BYvbhr2IoJCEx6uIud7BcueW4OLuXA4GC/s1600/blog+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBzPnFjssg_W1HH4QtIB3IStNb3HfMlaK7gI8PIRwT6h4AEYgkmcVrzWRflpTiLCrUBlmzI7VxCqb4s8semwqrawnJt4wKHMz-1pNEqNVl5-BYvbhr2IoJCEx6uIud7BcueW4OLuXA4GC/s320/blog+068.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pear wreath given to me by Allie that my hubby HATES! I love the color it adds to the door...perfect!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3HMUqPcZeObQiiYCS3wfBF19d5YzW0PNvZMRBst1z0vYoU-uQ4WUVw9dM0mY6Vxhyphenhyphen8fmPUf-RBBhTnZX4dY6owlkJ1BPONpk3sQfRi0boQtwMG5vqRGDIRbiGDbXNnnDcxgsg8h_vvcV/s1600/blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3HMUqPcZeObQiiYCS3wfBF19d5YzW0PNvZMRBst1z0vYoU-uQ4WUVw9dM0mY6Vxhyphenhyphen8fmPUf-RBBhTnZX4dY6owlkJ1BPONpk3sQfRi0boQtwMG5vqRGDIRbiGDbXNnnDcxgsg8h_vvcV/s320/blog+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another wall Matt built with the help of friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV465c_dZY8pD4qNkZIDfpfvcbLVmwdMfXd07Xw8Xh8q6bGmci-vPvjlX5GlsuR-iM3GmECPKbkYF7BAkfIuqnnaI_nKKNGaiO6FC0Fxa-0PjBiqaT2yR6YhdxFd46rSvRIYfF3E61GiS/s1600/blog+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV465c_dZY8pD4qNkZIDfpfvcbLVmwdMfXd07Xw8Xh8q6bGmci-vPvjlX5GlsuR-iM3GmECPKbkYF7BAkfIuqnnaI_nKKNGaiO6FC0Fxa-0PjBiqaT2yR6YhdxFd46rSvRIYfF3E61GiS/s320/blog+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new Maple Trees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcIxu6knhFiqNA9u65trQqlsWXEzPU4Opabq1hlzKce9pUPQ0FAOJ-uGsfVyydDvAbUFCRk4CG89_dJGD5Tuuo-xxIfR1iFiOpfOpAjnX73f6r15aA1YzDZKfbwFwNOSqgl48-nz4r5MM/s1600/blog+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcIxu6knhFiqNA9u65trQqlsWXEzPU4Opabq1hlzKce9pUPQ0FAOJ-uGsfVyydDvAbUFCRk4CG89_dJGD5Tuuo-xxIfR1iFiOpfOpAjnX73f6r15aA1YzDZKfbwFwNOSqgl48-nz4r5MM/s320/blog+040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Tina Crab Tree...not flowering yet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So this year was easy...fun. It was fun to see everything come back and looks so beautiful. All we needed to do was fertilize and weed...not too bad. I thought I would give you a little glimpse of the show that has been unfolding in our yard this spring. Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-16222851993086195122011-05-09T05:51:00.000-07:002011-05-09T05:51:16.473-07:00Time to Switch it Up <div style="text-align: left;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr30n6Ot7CHUsHdojYmDQWpyKuNJb4n_0gbXePjyddk5DTyOszZqR9dC7edkehnTuR_JtuP2K_xdeuXlwKwf8pimMr9df__-qsjohGwNAogFKSMCkZuAE2Y-IPUcFH9aN3k1VnBQrUFowh/s1600/florida+2011+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr30n6Ot7CHUsHdojYmDQWpyKuNJb4n_0gbXePjyddk5DTyOszZqR9dC7edkehnTuR_JtuP2K_xdeuXlwKwf8pimMr9df__-qsjohGwNAogFKSMCkZuAE2Y-IPUcFH9aN3k1VnBQrUFowh/s320/florida+2011+238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...sorry the best I had!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay so I did it...it was time for a change. Normally I leave this sort of change up to the professionals, but the timing and money just wasn't right so I did what needed to be done. With that being said... I give you my new dark ash brown hair. Now if I could please explain. Here is the deal; we are getting family pictures taken at the end of June and my hair was in desperate need NOW of a coloring. So the dilemma... get it done now and it won't look good for the pictures or wait and suffer through for another good month. That's when it hit me. I once read in a magazine that if you are going to color darker you aren't going to hurt your hair by using a home kit (don't worry I'll add that one to my coffee table book). You know I'm a sucker for what I read in a magazine...so there you have it! Problem solved. I simply bought the box at target--L'Oreal Paris 4A Dark Ash Brown cooler...because I had a coupon...and embarked on the self-coloring journey. </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxYmA-qJZTEc35jKJQsMw9eyHf6QjuN5NZw7ZiOdRkUnpnMSf2oBVT8xRizh0-qga4-y8g5tA3aCTK6X6it9TNFMuW47O7eFgOdGgbrKMxS1y_7qSdyLC2gQ0-Gz6A66PCWMutNwuinuM/s1600/blog+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxYmA-qJZTEc35jKJQsMw9eyHf6QjuN5NZw7ZiOdRkUnpnMSf2oBVT8xRizh0-qga4-y8g5tA3aCTK6X6it9TNFMuW47O7eFgOdGgbrKMxS1y_7qSdyLC2gQ0-Gz6A66PCWMutNwuinuM/s320/blog+009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice all the hair dye on my forhead.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have been on this journey before, but not since college, so I felt a little rusty. Needless to say I read the box, then reread the box, and then gave it another quick read. Once I felt I had mastered the 3 easy steps it would take to take me from a highlighted warm brown to an almost black I began the process. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Pour, shake, shake, and begin applying, first to the roots and grays...yes there were a few of those, and then all over. It was painless . Then the 25 minute wait. I was kind of like a young girl waiting for her prom date, impatiently pacing to see what my lovely locks would look like. I tried to keep myself busy cleaning the kitchen, but was relatively unsuccessful. The minutes on the clock ticked oh so slowly. Finally 25 minutes..Hallelujah! <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8syiChNvSNoEZzltrYKpErNwk3trtxLCyXnuSs9XlDpsWemxYHLjhDg10rmm8P1RGimWYQiSy8Zvlkh8AEy1v2yGFc393kOLUKZaUbVw6zLDDmwF1MV0IQ8974ojlBYPu7Y8G5kvymW6/s1600/blog+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8syiChNvSNoEZzltrYKpErNwk3trtxLCyXnuSs9XlDpsWemxYHLjhDg10rmm8P1RGimWYQiSy8Zvlkh8AEy1v2yGFc393kOLUKZaUbVw6zLDDmwF1MV0IQ8974ojlBYPu7Y8G5kvymW6/s200/blog+024.JPG" width="150" /></a>Rinse...it was time! Up to my bathroom I marched, oh so ready for the transformation. Oh course when it was done, it was straight for the hair dryer and flat iron I needed to know just what I had gotten myself into and what the end product would look like. Yes, pleasantly surprised and happy! I do feel a little more of a tan is needed to pull off the color, but I will work on that. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Overall I am very happy with the experience! Angela at Robert Micheals Iwill see you in a few weeks, but for now Dark Ash Brown I thank you!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgB6MY6vfzFFHtpwa0DRILRLFO9DYzlr6aaI-6eylBDJTiY1mISo8wjX1QVY61kXGq8K4EPHFzfBZ848K2ZKiqX7bN3ceDuPK1ypBf5rHPNS0mZFJiA1luFlP5fhWrw2yKMPrEOFpig_S/s1600/blog+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgB6MY6vfzFFHtpwa0DRILRLFO9DYzlr6aaI-6eylBDJTiY1mISo8wjX1QVY61kXGq8K4EPHFzfBZ848K2ZKiqX7bN3ceDuPK1ypBf5rHPNS0mZFJiA1luFlP5fhWrw2yKMPrEOFpig_S/s400/blog+021.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the cheesy self portrait...Just trying to show the hair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-75547090337813198642011-05-04T12:17:00.000-07:002011-05-04T12:17:13.686-07:00And It's Official<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMCrNQERxZYP1VeiPM_CXjVfEySYwUF_CO_ieTrMD-TcxG0B4KN7KZIFaFl94L1mmZl5lhI_bc40s6A8SbPIN3ylSr6qerpoy-_G3v7Xu6InuOSML7Hym5uCOYzi3bklEzs44B62ZUH-z/s1600/ebay+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMCrNQERxZYP1VeiPM_CXjVfEySYwUF_CO_ieTrMD-TcxG0B4KN7KZIFaFl94L1mmZl5lhI_bc40s6A8SbPIN3ylSr6qerpoy-_G3v7Xu6InuOSML7Hym5uCOYzi3bklEzs44B62ZUH-z/s320/ebay+012.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Crawler</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have a crawler! That's right dear readers, Brodeehondro can crawl. Now this whole crawling business was a slow and painful process, quite different than with our first born Jud. Judsen was crawling by six and a half months and was walking by 9 months. Brodee, well at a whupping ten and a half months, he has it mastered...but who is comparing. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Poor little Brodee is at a disadvantage in that most of our home is covered in hardwood floors. Jud had the luxury of learning to crawl on carpet which is easier to move on and also easier on the head. Brodee has a hard time keeping himself from slipping and he is in the constant state of bruise. Weather the bruise be purple, green, or yellow remnants can be seen somewhere on his head. The idea of outfitting him with a helmet has crossed my mind.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With crawling of course comes mobility and this is something that mom needs to get used too. The good old baby gate has come out of storage, the bed is no longer a safe place for him to be set, and who needs a dog when your 10 month old can crawl...floor cleaned. I did have a scary moment with mobility yesterday when I went to the bathroom. While in the bathroom I could hear this gaging noise and when I came out Brodee had the <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?page=2&ppg=12&cm_sp=LN-_-2+for+%2420+Wallflowers-_-Starters&cp=4090259.4090324.4090326.4432043&categoryId=4147324">wallflower</a> out of the wall and in his mouth. Mercy! He had already puked up breakfast at the pungent taste of the sweet smelling flower. Like any good mom, I myself, quickly gave the wallflower a lick to see just what Brodee had gotten into! Yep, I know why he puked. I quickly read the label, gave him something to eat and drink...to get rid of the taste, and called Matt to alert him. Needless to say he smelt good and was fine, as for the wallflower...well it was moved!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_0qnXpyHq4Fv9xLBVsjpPyufS2WGeeb9IBzY4YhF8ATsfuq6qxQhmfJ1wVlIjiKp09wlPIWy098SV2X8fUDXCraJ_M2H9JNY0q3R0lWBmI_bDar9jGLr8KREsu1e8BQ3VT3oWRJAsCia/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_0qnXpyHq4Fv9xLBVsjpPyufS2WGeeb9IBzY4YhF8ATsfuq6qxQhmfJ1wVlIjiKp09wlPIWy098SV2X8fUDXCraJ_M2H9JNY0q3R0lWBmI_bDar9jGLr8KREsu1e8BQ3VT3oWRJAsCia/s320/wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Wallflowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I must say Brodee has become much happier with his new freedom of mobility and I am very happy for him. I just need to do a little rearranging of his environment! Good times in the Whittaker house! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-31309741211287824112011-04-18T12:15:00.000-07:002011-04-18T12:16:52.746-07:00Springing Spring <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42RCg5eNdmLgL3BtAAuwKi_hSjquyg6c_OCi-IKrCGz_Lf5nn0SuguD2dkqiM9fXpGrlZWH449EzlbcqywALL41Hijc7snFME0NWCZddHxDtJsljQdCv4pvuulJ3vQLO7IR9pQAaihkpU/s1600/pillow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42RCg5eNdmLgL3BtAAuwKi_hSjquyg6c_OCi-IKrCGz_Lf5nn0SuguD2dkqiM9fXpGrlZWH449EzlbcqywALL41Hijc7snFME0NWCZddHxDtJsljQdCv4pvuulJ3vQLO7IR9pQAaihkpU/s320/pillow2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her's</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Spring has Sprung...okay <em>no</em> it really hasn't here in Minnesota. Again I hear the dreaded word "<span style="font-size: large;">snow</span>" and think when in the world will this eternally long winter end and spring begin. But with all that negativity about snow and winter I still have the spring bug. This bug has bitten me and inspired me to do some brightening up of my house. As I looked around all I could see was drab, dull colors so I decided to take on the misson of adding some much need spring colors into my house.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDiE-RsiMvJrGTRLHmY65BK5lYLejjSuMrbg4s3yaBXayaLleG-PWuHVrOcb7L8cP_DhFbOFang6kCUFvrgBwxItm4VhZCs7ve4r_Uol7mZUFmbjM8-TU-yx5RtUJv9VHwKSkgFrtKSr-/s1600/blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDiE-RsiMvJrGTRLHmY65BK5lYLejjSuMrbg4s3yaBXayaLleG-PWuHVrOcb7L8cP_DhFbOFang6kCUFvrgBwxItm4VhZCs7ve4r_Uol7mZUFmbjM8-TU-yx5RtUJv9VHwKSkgFrtKSr-/s320/blog+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My first project was inspired by the blog <a href="http://www.theletteredcottage.com/">http://www.theletteredcottage.com/</a> ! First let me say...<em>Love it</em>! She is amazing and has great ideas. In her blog she called it <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/how-to-make-pillows">pillopalooza</a> and so I will too. If you click on pillopalooza she will link you to the exact fabrics she used. Most were purchased at <a href="http://www.fabric.com/">http://www.fabric.com/</a> one of my new favorite fabric sites. So I pulled out the trusted sewing machine and set to work. If you want directions on how to make the pillows you can click on her site. This was a fun, easy, quick, fresh update to my living room and I do absolutely love them!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSjdYeIu6c8xcRxcN5_eJqxGjpJtO3DzVqXrB8EmgTcGJFCROqspRb8ZqFZ3OwkORRfVPYHHyxVJE-a6CLhS9r5ELWykWPDx70ry0cL-8MSj66hNLgLT9KR7S63a1UszBw6v1-lxfM2GS/s1600/blog+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSjdYeIu6c8xcRxcN5_eJqxGjpJtO3DzVqXrB8EmgTcGJFCROqspRb8ZqFZ3OwkORRfVPYHHyxVJE-a6CLhS9r5ELWykWPDx70ry0cL-8MSj66hNLgLT9KR7S63a1UszBw6v1-lxfM2GS/s320/blog+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Fabrics</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX_stxQmBCREtxMKuaf1neCPBOmQwlp4Eo65-OCG819ukLKclIZS656HINJ9XTkWHDstWBejjaLQzZbbNb0TnHCMmsUrtQPylP_rhmI7JuZHbhRBul7q7vih99ijXO-XWikwfCxXQKVGp/s1600/blog-craiglist+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX_stxQmBCREtxMKuaf1neCPBOmQwlp4Eo65-OCG819ukLKclIZS656HINJ9XTkWHDstWBejjaLQzZbbNb0TnHCMmsUrtQPylP_rhmI7JuZHbhRBul7q7vih99ijXO-XWikwfCxXQKVGp/s320/blog-craiglist+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next I set to work on some of my shelves. I began adding bright colors. I decided to pull in greens, yellows, pinks, and blues. I found bright paper to add to frames and cute flowers to add to bud vases. I also thought that lemons were just what the doctor ordered so I began pulling them in as well. So for under $30 dollars I felt like I gave my house a little....and much needed "Spring Lift"! Now if Spring could only get here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVN0wTjFwNMvLHVXmoajhWGJTwSdLG57mogrXJW_gzcl0Fy5b2oAfWA-8WVoB-HnCVBVnHMkcuYxAOFfjZbEhCpdQ4phyphenhyphenIqFdxLG4P7E0T5Ez4yaefKZKSakZ3niUKaiyeXHbVNA-GJaJ/s1600/blog+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVN0wTjFwNMvLHVXmoajhWGJTwSdLG57mogrXJW_gzcl0Fy5b2oAfWA-8WVoB-HnCVBVnHMkcuYxAOFfjZbEhCpdQ4phyphenhyphenIqFdxLG4P7E0T5Ez4yaefKZKSakZ3niUKaiyeXHbVNA-GJaJ/s320/blog+011.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8XZpA5C04voVpg79wVFiVlse8wB-Q-ERdHHMVbWLxRBfYSiiuWKce8gVVv63KcTYw9lGqbhK5WbS44B_tyHgIY3WyTlHVtnPfbu2vGpxqA2kKXxKmOdF9zZTCfsJh5sLfayl3h9e-ouU/s1600/blog+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8XZpA5C04voVpg79wVFiVlse8wB-Q-ERdHHMVbWLxRBfYSiiuWKce8gVVv63KcTYw9lGqbhK5WbS44B_tyHgIY3WyTlHVtnPfbu2vGpxqA2kKXxKmOdF9zZTCfsJh5sLfayl3h9e-ouU/s320/blog+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-53170276311484817402011-04-14T12:09:00.000-07:002011-04-14T12:09:30.974-07:00My Love-Hate Relationship with Forts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK-zblvRu7PBo8eUx2BOvsuJmyo-_BwdG39tTSIkovEEXhV49mTj1BdpPscHBVkSutMH_dsHW9kov4ja9yKd9MAkTIgwWGw8XW99TUEY742lx_hOfJZmc8i1O9GcwLAAa7sJmvpqxCiUF/s1600/blog+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK-zblvRu7PBo8eUx2BOvsuJmyo-_BwdG39tTSIkovEEXhV49mTj1BdpPscHBVkSutMH_dsHW9kov4ja9yKd9MAkTIgwWGw8XW99TUEY742lx_hOfJZmc8i1O9GcwLAAa7sJmvpqxCiUF/s320/blog+036.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todays fort...I talked him into building it in <br />
his room and not the living room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Forts...a word all moms know and even cringe at! We are full blown into the "fort" age at our house. Daily my home is being transformed into some sort of fort. Some days I'm a better mom than others and I will partake in the building of the fort. Some days I am not such a good mom and I ban the making of any sort of forts. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The idea of all the cushions and pillows coming off the couch or bed or all the chairs being pulled into some sort of mystical shape in the middle of the room doesn't always strike me as "<span style="font-size: large;">fun</span>"! I like <em>neat</em>, I like <em>order</em>, and no part of those first two words coincides with fort. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhUMH6BLHaIs3dWhqw0Hfih_nOodtRPDO9h0Sjgwm75pUT3L1KMSqT2MFofXq2BW6an78nS9vdB7dbFtU5ZLdUYd-sMkawVGUqQBg6PsUHXnPg7ECs6SFyIa5WPvDS3SOjvlxn9oxGogz/s1600/blog+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhUMH6BLHaIs3dWhqw0Hfih_nOodtRPDO9h0Sjgwm75pUT3L1KMSqT2MFofXq2BW6an78nS9vdB7dbFtU5ZLdUYd-sMkawVGUqQBg6PsUHXnPg7ECs6SFyIa5WPvDS3SOjvlxn9oxGogz/s320/blog+041.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Star Mom let him sleep in his fort <br />
at naptime...little boy heaven!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But and it is a big but, the word fort also equates with the word <span style="font-size: large;">FUN</span>. Nothing brings Judsen more joy then sitting in his fort, playing in his fort, being "the Man" of his fort. When he has a fort to play in, he is in little boy heaven and I do love the joy that it brings to his little life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I know dear friends that our fort building days have only just begun and that in the future there will be only bigger, larger, more elaborate forts. Brodee very soon will get involved with the fort building and playing. So I clench my teeth and say....Bring it on! (and pick it up!)Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-54493055639452426022011-04-07T19:54:00.000-07:002011-04-07T19:54:12.444-07:00Spring Break<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well hello Dear Readers,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I first must start by apologizing for a few things: First I am sorry that it has been so long since a new post...no excuses. Second I am sorry for the amount of pictures that you are going to see of me in my swimming suit...SO SORRY! And thirdly, my husband says I always need to have at least three things in a list, I am sorry for the stream of consciences that this is going to be written in. With my apologize out of the way I thought I would give you a little picture tour of our wonderful Floridian Vacation! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqubzRiDbCVgDZm-XS0UEvHfsnS8xEqov0fYUuHpCMC2x2mjUG2hkf6Jhps1FobEXw2O7bi_kQOxIsAEw6pDDSKYFi99sI_E3UIs8EnUochMAw8vODi6dsDCdzh51Jqb2IuEoyuwACNkSB/s1600/florida+2011+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqubzRiDbCVgDZm-XS0UEvHfsnS8xEqov0fYUuHpCMC2x2mjUG2hkf6Jhps1FobEXw2O7bi_kQOxIsAEw6pDDSKYFi99sI_E3UIs8EnUochMAw8vODi6dsDCdzh51Jqb2IuEoyuwACNkSB/s320/florida+2011+033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brodee 9 months.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpyrSZiX_iD7xmTQzG4wpTCbs4Ja0Wx4PpK97Q2smThyphenhyphen7FzN1yVOeONpPYitEDA2mnQGIoQM1qWmU5n464ct4rMYIg5VXMtkaiAg83EK3928bt0LP4Cu6XQ4EG9zEa1Qpu__UyW3JQKii/s1600/florida+2011+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpyrSZiX_iD7xmTQzG4wpTCbs4Ja0Wx4PpK97Q2smThyphenhyphen7FzN1yVOeONpPYitEDA2mnQGIoQM1qWmU5n464ct4rMYIg5VXMtkaiAg83EK3928bt0LP4Cu6XQ4EG9zEa1Qpu__UyW3JQKii/s320/florida+2011+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Swimsuit and Rash guard that<br />
Auntie Minta got him for Christmas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My dear Brodeehondro absolutely loved the pool and warm weather. Let's be honest that last time he was really outside was last summer when he was only a few months old, so this was like a new experience for him. He loved sitting in the water and splashing as well as eating all the pool toys!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOi0Er-1xME8Ga-NCOl0BhIc0l_FF5P9LFuLiNDNuDWIkO3bZmgvN2LNLv6i8ROVqPfynSei1StBKoUFNdPYK8yR6yuOXDfXoAXLNXwmnH2mRl7uf3KWctVnC2C91UGQTnwJQ4OzJwdgd/s1600/florida+2011+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOi0Er-1xME8Ga-NCOl0BhIc0l_FF5P9LFuLiNDNuDWIkO3bZmgvN2LNLv6i8ROVqPfynSei1StBKoUFNdPYK8yR6yuOXDfXoAXLNXwmnH2mRl7uf3KWctVnC2C91UGQTnwJQ4OzJwdgd/s320/florida+2011+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys loving the pool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> This was the pirate pool at our place. Jud had fun going down the slide and playing with the various squirters. The whole family enjoyed the festivities of this pool! I might have even got my hair wet...and that's a big deal!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqK5Jqwg_MByKNcgN2mJMokrxorcolevKGO1RB9lsebWxOc2FKqn0nJwVvUiup_2ZRp4YZbw432Xv_GgI6Qt5qw_OpjjbYKaD-W8cV99bw5aNQJ9B6DDkq44zf9kWvsVArBBLweC1DNg5/s1600/florida+2011+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqK5Jqwg_MByKNcgN2mJMokrxorcolevKGO1RB9lsebWxOc2FKqn0nJwVvUiup_2ZRp4YZbw432Xv_GgI6Qt5qw_OpjjbYKaD-W8cV99bw5aNQJ9B6DDkq44zf9kWvsVArBBLweC1DNg5/s320/florida+2011+063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfzhcpiJMW4ViMZ8UXtEl8O0ku3VnJWYUwsxis2PF1v5OmJzcDGHvBTHnS33lzkEy4FTWkT-9OWN2KYjk-SJUZ0RRZLDnqTK6f8o0f9ufCyWylXk_1skGt9P-gId2QnmN4aWL9NjdRH-9/s1600/florida+2011+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfzhcpiJMW4ViMZ8UXtEl8O0ku3VnJWYUwsxis2PF1v5OmJzcDGHvBTHnS33lzkEy4FTWkT-9OWN2KYjk-SJUZ0RRZLDnqTK6f8o0f9ufCyWylXk_1skGt9P-gId2QnmN4aWL9NjdRH-9/s320/florida+2011+071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwLhMsqakBV-JIAEhx_gx7UTbfs7NEMDyPRxmk8s8ON1-mPtO008i8yK_z3djpQslPUmoGcQ6Z3gz7j2Edxlrz3bEO0SfP77qXp5ZUXJQw2OOPnZawJj3BssGEdijfYIRgpDr_bBp4-fa/s1600/florida+2011+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwLhMsqakBV-JIAEhx_gx7UTbfs7NEMDyPRxmk8s8ON1-mPtO008i8yK_z3djpQslPUmoGcQ6Z3gz7j2Edxlrz3bEO0SfP77qXp5ZUXJQw2OOPnZawJj3BssGEdijfYIRgpDr_bBp4-fa/s320/florida+2011+096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Matt called this flotation device--Jud's Bra! He loved to swim with it on. He felt comfortable swimming around the whole pool. I think he looks cute in it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64z5z_xL9u0T_XDf9bK9MXKBl9w97CgBxczx9A77AzP3QShc4QGUcfCXRh3edS3MnH53bBcNHwl2O3dc0IZ9f8gkgCs1GBiefYD7qTiidurmj9DD5lYbSy8lwOEoaPqwGFqj85OCyO9JX/s1600/florida+2011+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64z5z_xL9u0T_XDf9bK9MXKBl9w97CgBxczx9A77AzP3QShc4QGUcfCXRh3edS3MnH53bBcNHwl2O3dc0IZ9f8gkgCs1GBiefYD7qTiidurmj9DD5lYbSy8lwOEoaPqwGFqj85OCyO9JX/s320/florida+2011+102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy7lvdmfaPjDWOdJzWM0IZkbRiuIAHKZlzDnCQDD5VhDVtS2jBdu_6B2N_zmH4nIDZVyJwOc5YPCt9f5T0blDKODN09ECxMErTBip8ik898jjtoTM0bClpOJCf9DNOWpnSOm9oR9s2x29/s1600/florida+2011+125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy7lvdmfaPjDWOdJzWM0IZkbRiuIAHKZlzDnCQDD5VhDVtS2jBdu_6B2N_zmH4nIDZVyJwOc5YPCt9f5T0blDKODN09ECxMErTBip8ik898jjtoTM0bClpOJCf9DNOWpnSOm9oR9s2x29/s320/florida+2011+125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the face B-Road!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1XRV6syC0nDF31cnq6YIgEeGuQthUwfMDHsmtpHZ1RLzkynHjpQhlbuZu_9FoAf6yy8gWo5B57w5hE2yNjlSKh54FgnggDarv-aRhspqniDpKfq14zqFU0Jm3aJc7ryk-yRbvormfny4/s1600/florida+2011+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1XRV6syC0nDF31cnq6YIgEeGuQthUwfMDHsmtpHZ1RLzkynHjpQhlbuZu_9FoAf6yy8gWo5B57w5hE2yNjlSKh54FgnggDarv-aRhspqniDpKfq14zqFU0Jm3aJc7ryk-yRbvormfny4/s320/florida+2011+137.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brodee enjoying the splash-pad in the pool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> This was the day we went to the beach. Brodee stayed back at the resort with Grandma Sue. Jud loved playing with this boggie board. He really liked pretending that we was surfing. Much to dad's dismay he had more fun playing with it on land! The beach was a great day!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-uCUESK4ahwR92UKOkOLLSz1Ll8KVZDoHQSu9QIDPvyEK-jsqfHOjcoHGaohihhztOECd5PMlhofn4OnrjPJI217PI28YY0y4EOuFfmZORd_GZwsYTi2xKIOepdfQOJpRj0G04ufqchyphenhyphen/s1600/florida+2011+189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-uCUESK4ahwR92UKOkOLLSz1Ll8KVZDoHQSu9QIDPvyEK-jsqfHOjcoHGaohihhztOECd5PMlhofn4OnrjPJI217PI28YY0y4EOuFfmZORd_GZwsYTi2xKIOepdfQOJpRj0G04ufqchyphenhyphen/s320/florida+2011+189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm0xIcd-LXbI8odAgBFVlwekZDzif_pZCLytRQ9rs5j5dlpZ6KFBV9wcWCFQ6w00wNJL9m4xEaKmZ6gzRKhFAWHphy3tRq06wxWjXRwBfmtbrABbRMMUt7hJ6ocEOx_7yL6W-4y0po_wy/s1600/florida+2011+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm0xIcd-LXbI8odAgBFVlwekZDzif_pZCLytRQ9rs5j5dlpZ6KFBV9wcWCFQ6w00wNJL9m4xEaKmZ6gzRKhFAWHphy3tRq06wxWjXRwBfmtbrABbRMMUt7hJ6ocEOx_7yL6W-4y0po_wy/s320/florida+2011+190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADjaoi5Zyh34vY1v6MHBkPMcXDhVN3Q_Os5_3P1CB26CrapyTJWYwR4ifXa3cG2P2_-jM3DX12buKPjkBsy3gVcbtUSy99NLLNtej_sBTt6xysfxcBmDq2iCxPzC66XfuTHYI1-9EkVmu/s1600/florida+2011+185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADjaoi5Zyh34vY1v6MHBkPMcXDhVN3Q_Os5_3P1CB26CrapyTJWYwR4ifXa3cG2P2_-jM3DX12buKPjkBsy3gVcbtUSy99NLLNtej_sBTt6xysfxcBmDq2iCxPzC66XfuTHYI1-9EkVmu/s320/florida+2011+185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This was another one of Matt's ingenious ideas...and no it will not be our Christmas card next year! No swimming suit Christmas cards! On a side note--don't you wonder how many pictures you are in of other people you don't know. Take for instance the person in the sunglasses in the back. We have no idea who he is and yet he made it into our family picture. I'm sure I have made it into may a peoples pictures...the question is how many? Something to think about!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9byOaNpykSoilRFEBZihw8bj2FLzBSDVUuMUHder_CFZZCh9Lb-6GtQARGX4dlztNAiDMK-jbRZUWuuM0XPyXb12G7Mn5PhCMJk5-y4l6XY91fvzj-myAuTmG3yei0zeDHqTutRTuQTe/s1600/florida+2011+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9byOaNpykSoilRFEBZihw8bj2FLzBSDVUuMUHder_CFZZCh9Lb-6GtQARGX4dlztNAiDMK-jbRZUWuuM0XPyXb12G7Mn5PhCMJk5-y4l6XY91fvzj-myAuTmG3yei0zeDHqTutRTuQTe/s320/florida+2011+087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRyfcfFifwgQBPyXTP8Wsanl1V6WkEod8nqb_eOytNtfd8hKfu8RRN3kHYitvA9CKf3-MWcUTBqr2rL046bDZTclJ5xKPkTfH-8ZfLlD8hhNE2Z08hmqQsMVS0lQNWDEnq9Ymd4uMIAZY/s1600/florida+2011+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRyfcfFifwgQBPyXTP8Wsanl1V6WkEod8nqb_eOytNtfd8hKfu8RRN3kHYitvA9CKf3-MWcUTBqr2rL046bDZTclJ5xKPkTfH-8ZfLlD8hhNE2Z08hmqQsMVS0lQNWDEnq9Ymd4uMIAZY/s320/florida+2011+257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't this make a great Christmas Card! Ha</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbfkXje1jdvAQmVJplf-1j5lAmwGPwNLg9LFV6q9-z3Kpsu-iQyKfC3MHFMKlCQTi9j1UP57c1otm9FhhUdwbQAuCcaZFusWNDLZiLLYud3gQFzUHeWFsXZPZrF9afI42jJqP0Kd_BCX-/s1600/florida+2011+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbfkXje1jdvAQmVJplf-1j5lAmwGPwNLg9LFV6q9-z3Kpsu-iQyKfC3MHFMKlCQTi9j1UP57c1otm9FhhUdwbQAuCcaZFusWNDLZiLLYud3gQFzUHeWFsXZPZrF9afI42jJqP0Kd_BCX-/s320/florida+2011+239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was a wonderful vaction. We were able to relax and have fun as a family. I feel so blessed for the opportuintes that we have. Okay so now that I am back I promise to be better about writing! Keep posted!</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-20254593209641553912011-03-23T18:19:00.000-07:002011-03-23T18:19:43.183-07:00Things That Made Me Chuckle Today<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TAMn4KJLxveCn83ZGby3pjtZbJI6VGjTvupAF6u4QeF73MuA-_hkdCFd3mlU4VktA7sUv_YGTBer_OljA7dSnuXNfEof3HaH7y1HoihvvjF8SMqfUCwI8OqKZo71oiN5COseestkqOH3/s1600/bedtime+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TAMn4KJLxveCn83ZGby3pjtZbJI6VGjTvupAF6u4QeF73MuA-_hkdCFd3mlU4VktA7sUv_YGTBer_OljA7dSnuXNfEof3HaH7y1HoihvvjF8SMqfUCwI8OqKZo71oiN5COseestkqOH3/s320/bedtime+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My kids constantly keep me giggling and today was no exception. I just thought I would share some of hysterical moments with you! I am fully aware that they may not be as funny to you and I might not do them justice as I retell them too you but please do your best to visualize with me!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jud (4) and I were sitting eating lunch together and he asked if you had to be old to be married, which of course I responded yes too. (Jud at other times gets very nervous about getting married and leaving us) I saw him sit there for a minute and think as he ate and then he said. First I am going to have lots of birthdays, then I'm going to get married. I think I will go on lots of trips and then have babies. Just made me chuckle--Matt and I never took advantage of the lots of trips--where does he come up with these things.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG0tJhtlkV-ZnAA70doz-tSPpJbG6yXk4tWZuk50dpcVyNUvk9UNuKvb_J6N_ovjh-olAVi3seE07yfOTP3wRpovh8ujtNrMU6Zopsca_DWbpWsOnodh7aY_h1Lor1q3WAjpUoXj1a1D6/s1600/blog+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG0tJhtlkV-ZnAA70doz-tSPpJbG6yXk4tWZuk50dpcVyNUvk9UNuKvb_J6N_ovjh-olAVi3seE07yfOTP3wRpovh8ujtNrMU6Zopsca_DWbpWsOnodh7aY_h1Lor1q3WAjpUoXj1a1D6/s320/blog+018.JPG" width="320" /></a>Brodee saw Jud in the tub upstairs and started to go crazy...he <span style="font-size: large;">loves</span> tubbies. So I decided to put Brodee in the kitchen sink so that I could start dinner. He absolutely loves to play in the sink and it is a good way for me to get supper started and also a great incentive for me to wash my floors. Jud was upstairs and I yell for him to please bring down a towel for his brother. He comes down with the towel he just used and says just as plain as day, "I'm sorry mom there is kind of a lot of hair on it, I was wiping my pe..., I mean <em>man berries</em>, because their was a hair, so sorry!" All I can say is thank you Matt!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavTXLfPmRu44_7UPAAUj4VS6X1se2_zkfIrvXDSpBTt-ICi0hU9e_EIFYNtw-M1FTMgoubctzkZY4eeGFAncPCLcJO178Yxv_MeI7748be5Ah5uS-Xx7PWVkBeyGXpnkXMJ63F7aZoYa-/s1600/bedtime+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavTXLfPmRu44_7UPAAUj4VS6X1se2_zkfIrvXDSpBTt-ICi0hU9e_EIFYNtw-M1FTMgoubctzkZY4eeGFAncPCLcJO178Yxv_MeI7748be5Ah5uS-Xx7PWVkBeyGXpnkXMJ63F7aZoYa-/s320/bedtime+069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Brodee signing please--how can I say no to that face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have been teaching Brodee to sign please, which is a really handy thing to do...here is the only problem. When he actually starts to get it and use the sign it is virtually impossible to not give him what he asks for. Brodee will see something and immediately his hand starts pulling on his shirt and mom caves and gives in. Mercy-- I'm such a sucker!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBBWYhoZT25pKtUA0HUMF487nG7tSrFu4oD295Lh71Qn3DGQ2r7G9Sb1T4fVl3IH1nEc4siclVc33N3_8_w09TBg8BN1cfDVMK4pofZHrni9DJgojciksEhn_OOOxidIy9nc-FUx1fpTX/s1600/blog+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBBWYhoZT25pKtUA0HUMF487nG7tSrFu4oD295Lh71Qn3DGQ2r7G9Sb1T4fVl3IH1nEc4siclVc33N3_8_w09TBg8BN1cfDVMK4pofZHrni9DJgojciksEhn_OOOxidIy9nc-FUx1fpTX/s320/blog+034.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were having family supper together and we are trying to teach Brohan to use a sippy cup. We made the unfortuante mistake of not getting rid of the bottle early enough with Jud and we are trying harder to be more proactive this time. So we crack out the cup--which he loves--as a chew toy! How do you teach a kid to actually use it. I take the cup, put it to my mouth and suck on it and then give it back. To which he chews like crazy. I then take it back and repeat the motion--but this time I can hear and then see my wonderful hubby across the table making the sucking sound and motions. Busted--he makes fun of me for opening my mouth when I feed Brod so it is nice to bust him in the act!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotBhOicsItGJF3iHFTWczlRSnOAAsnJr3yL4Of-EV1Q5nT0KAPYV0lsUjNOK-rax0UCF-A8FMTWLOtutJF4Y27BAV96MJvKwh3XFTUvRGwezPNjtkqIwBIlLfyQayRq7IHA4lI2kzmkq1/s1600/blog+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotBhOicsItGJF3iHFTWczlRSnOAAsnJr3yL4Of-EV1Q5nT0KAPYV0lsUjNOK-rax0UCF-A8FMTWLOtutJF4Y27BAV96MJvKwh3XFTUvRGwezPNjtkqIwBIlLfyQayRq7IHA4lI2kzmkq1/s320/blog+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It felt good to laugh today as we got hammered with snow earlier. And even though we did get a snow day out of it, all my hard work of shoveling snow back on the driveway to melt it was completely earsed and wasted. I felt so defeated! My boys definately helped lighten the mood today! Boy do I love them--all of them!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-67022572979613650322011-03-18T10:36:00.000-07:002011-03-18T10:36:58.289-07:00A Poem-- Oh Ear InfectionI go to bed at ten o'clock,<br />
and listen to the clock go tock.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When finally at eleven,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I drift away to a piece of heaven.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When all of a sudden I hear a noise,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The sound of cries from one of my boys.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I lay and hope that it will stop,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But it doesn't and so I hop.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Down the hall into Brod's bed,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All I see is his popped up head.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know right away what the problem may be,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9byd5Yg2u_4uMvs1cOJUPJmabAc1BGe8jw1mKxOGb5gv3Qwp0QLyOslcTfOp_W-dnOiZIOVC8ggCjhLPuLi2o8F9jycDwFAicLDPkRxdD2epZl0FAwv0C16tvmHx-5JUw9J7XQTEG43D/s1600/bedtime+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9byd5Yg2u_4uMvs1cOJUPJmabAc1BGe8jw1mKxOGb5gv3Qwp0QLyOslcTfOp_W-dnOiZIOVC8ggCjhLPuLi2o8F9jycDwFAicLDPkRxdD2epZl0FAwv0C16tvmHx-5JUw9J7XQTEG43D/s200/bedtime+093.JPG" width="200" /></a>For I've been through it before and no strange you see.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">An ear infection with no doubt it is,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm a mom--a certified wiz!</div>I pull him into our bed for the hopes he will rest, <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">but he keeps flopping around it was the true test.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So finally at about midnight,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I decide I am going to make this a really true fight.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First for the Tylenol, drops, and a bottle,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">then on the couch I try to coddle.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He's not having it, he wants to play,</div>Dada, Mama, yaya he starts to say.<br />
His cute little smile takes over my heart,<br />
and on my lap he gives a big fart.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG8uVmbElIn-uneoNoaVy5w3zkt1kDnPbKhBOMNmTTf3BsngiHTFzOGwRK42YHWYmI6O3Kd193kzU_t8yF4bNEnO62e2Dw2NahXEBq8JBNMW-QkVWX5NBYhyphenhyphen-KTm6bWsU2-10CZ25TUY5/s1600/boys+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG8uVmbElIn-uneoNoaVy5w3zkt1kDnPbKhBOMNmTTf3BsngiHTFzOGwRK42YHWYmI6O3Kd193kzU_t8yF4bNEnO62e2Dw2NahXEBq8JBNMW-QkVWX5NBYhyphenhyphen-KTm6bWsU2-10CZ25TUY5/s200/boys+002.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best hehavior, loving our midnight date.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So of course there at midnight a big poop he makes,</div>Changing his diaper, the cake this takes!<br />
I decide it's in my best interest to <strong>not</strong> try and sleep,<br />
Playing with toys we don't make a peep.<br />
<br />
It's funny how happy Brodehondro seems to be,<br />
He knows he should be sleeping, but instead is free.<br />
He's on his best behavior so I won't put him down,<br />
Smiling, talking, being silly, acting like a clown.<br />
<br />
So finally at one o'clock we lumber upstairs,<br />
I lay him back down and wonder how he will fairs.<br />
He lays right down and closes his eyes,<br />
Not even one noise or a little cries.<br />
<br />
I hobble back for a few hours of rest,<br />
It will be five at its very best.<br />
That would be nice, oh wouldn't it,<br />
But at five o'clock I hear a fit.<br />
<br />
Back to his room to pop in the nuk,<br />
and he sucked on it and that's all it took.<br />
Now for another hour or so,<br />
before the morning starts and I'm ready to go.<br />
<br />
Ready to go, might be a stretch!<br />
A pot of coffee I'm off to fetch.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">An appointment at the chiropractor I quickly made,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The memory of last night I want to fade.</span><br />
<br />
So I hope it will help him sleep through the night,<br />
And I won't see him again until the sun is light!<br />
I love my dear son and will put on a smile,<br />
But I don't mind if a seem him for quite awhile!Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-4251071731041233402011-03-15T12:00:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:00:12.592-07:00Handy Hubby<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2aRxOXpL5SLzt6UahkNyLDthpliXXfe42KDL6qxEcWt4GQty1rOBgwgADmG6haWzoH2904GyGQ3ZLaFNo862p3fpqf-kYOqwVhu6jAJOMnXfOtcQ_c33CAsEDWiaphdUZOOBA_mBbmKT/s1600/blog+346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2aRxOXpL5SLzt6UahkNyLDthpliXXfe42KDL6qxEcWt4GQty1rOBgwgADmG6haWzoH2904GyGQ3ZLaFNo862p3fpqf-kYOqwVhu6jAJOMnXfOtcQ_c33CAsEDWiaphdUZOOBA_mBbmKT/s400/blog+346.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am very thankful that my wonderful, dear husband is so handy! Their really isn't anything that he won't try tackling, okay...except when it comes to cars--we leave that to the professionals! Matt has helped build a good share of our house and he has done many other projects on it. One thing he is really good at doing is woodworking. He loves to make furniture pieces and has made many for our house. Seeing as how</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <strong>he</strong> is a teacher and <strong>I</strong> am now a full time domestic engineer, money is not something that we have a ton of. That is where I am so blessed to have a husband that is able to make affordable pieces for our house. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa4nm4KVdBipriCv6qXj1SXs26sQ05h_C6LIE-O0hSjZrChGL0hxKP5DN4YQaM0lFKDoO_63qHRaSoHMptHT46uxp41Cwq1L4QOVsqGeSq5nvHO0pcKn9f3Ad2FBpVE5G4QHxr8-JuTeV/s1600/pbarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa4nm4KVdBipriCv6qXj1SXs26sQ05h_C6LIE-O0hSjZrChGL0hxKP5DN4YQaM0lFKDoO_63qHRaSoHMptHT46uxp41Cwq1L4QOVsqGeSq5nvHO0pcKn9f3Ad2FBpVE5G4QHxr8-JuTeV/s320/pbarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The<a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/brady-4-piece-charge-sort-entryway-system/?pkey=cstorage-benches"> Pottery Barn</a> One!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The latest project that my husband tackled was this locker system for our back entryway. I saw a system very similar in the <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/brady-4-piece-charge-sort-entryway-system/?pkey=cstorage-benches">Pottery Barn</a> magazine and thought that it would be perfect for our needs. Needless to say it wasn't perfect for our pocket books. That is where his handy skills came in, he was able to custom make this piece so that it fit perfectly in our back entry. He fashioned it exactly off of the Pottery Barn one but for a fraction of the price. It is perfect for storing the kids jackets, hats, mittens, snow pants, and tons of pairs of shoes. The big drawers allow me to hide away the shoes not being used to clear out unnecessary clutter.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDbJsmigaX57kX_k2G2DyIHIzFaOcxZljNuVwfY_njrKo8fKlZSA4eQ1IMqoKHMbSVhxYa1jitSrp1aAsaJCXyPhd14BmWt2dmuVbAJpHLNqa7QMGqu4Vj01PCzaCxD1u0RgP6CLITZiH/s1600/blog+348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDbJsmigaX57kX_k2G2DyIHIzFaOcxZljNuVwfY_njrKo8fKlZSA4eQ1IMqoKHMbSVhxYa1jitSrp1aAsaJCXyPhd14BmWt2dmuVbAJpHLNqa7QMGqu4Vj01PCzaCxD1u0RgP6CLITZiH/s320/blog+348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The baskets allow me to keep everyone's things separate and easily accessible. I found the baskets at Target for $5.00 a piece and added the numbers to give it a fun feel! I am so pleased with the way that it turned out and I so look forward to filling it up and using it! Thank you dear husband!</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-63367932043267426722011-03-09T13:37:00.000-08:002011-03-09T18:28:16.403-08:00Round 2 <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBu71dNMmn8qLBhXUBlp8Aw55jWIGRNwg1KocYct6_uoUROGfVqEGQ6i72T5IawwuMQvwT_3HXikgbjehjr2DdcF5kbXaTkim34N-MM7DdcDJjZPUjul61r1HBbKUIF2htToP_Y4E-AtZ/s1600/dentist+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBu71dNMmn8qLBhXUBlp8Aw55jWIGRNwg1KocYct6_uoUROGfVqEGQ6i72T5IawwuMQvwT_3HXikgbjehjr2DdcF5kbXaTkim34N-MM7DdcDJjZPUjul61r1HBbKUIF2htToP_Y4E-AtZ/s320/dentist+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready or not here we go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Back to the dentist we went yesterday afternoon to begin the process of filling the first two of the six cavities. To say that I, mom, was a little nervous was an understatement. Jud on the other hand was nothing but excited. I was trying to gently tell him some of the process without scaring him. I tried to tell him about the little mask that the gas comes through and about some of the instruments for filling the "sugarbites". I said mommy will be there in case you get a little scared...to which he replied "<em>mom</em> I like the dentist, I'm not afraid." Okay well if he is not worried then I shouldn't be either. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYIcH7pxufDh_92rCIKy86yY13OCbsTLDl7vgeI9QSbE_f_jOG4nQ1E7nO4c8SMMeKM8QhOXiatP0pUFwIomMVVoq-FbfIN2uExWBlhNlXdXMnq5ssERetdUxUYDBkLCVpWRnmgRTuMQw/s1600/dentist+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYIcH7pxufDh_92rCIKy86yY13OCbsTLDl7vgeI9QSbE_f_jOG4nQ1E7nO4c8SMMeKM8QhOXiatP0pUFwIomMVVoq-FbfIN2uExWBlhNlXdXMnq5ssERetdUxUYDBkLCVpWRnmgRTuMQw/s320/dentist+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to a happy place!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Matt got home in time to take Brodee so Jud and I could go together. When we got there Jud was very quiet, I started wondering if he was getting a little nervous. When we get back to the room and Shelly (love her too) starts explaining everything to Jud, I begin to clam down a bit. Jud hops up in the chair, puts on the sunglasses, and then the gas mask. I feel myself getting a little choked up for no good reason. It's just weird to see my baby like that. When I say, <em>like that</em>, I don't really know how to explain it, he could still answer and was awake, he was just very, very peaceful. They then had him open his mouth to put in the "tooth pillow" so that they could begin working. Like any good mom my mouth immediately opens with Jud's, as if to show him how to do it. The only thing is he's not looking and me and I am just sitting there, in the corner, with my mouth wide open (don't tell me you haven't done it before). They start the process of filling the cavities. It is amazing the amount of instruments they can stick in his mouth...let's be honest I struggle to get my fingers and floss in there and they can have about 4 different instruments--AMAZING! Jud does an excellent job, he doesn't even flinch once.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLJYRoRZauenml74efTqxDD4UjzEnhIScDPrj0tXpWW6gfdWFIYirAbhjU_v9s4UytaJS6GDqQ-0EAVkqp5ia1CNnCLqV2eWsMzl98gSxc2cYL2K42H42M_uAMMSpYBLb15AFt7c7Oa4g/s1600/dentist+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLJYRoRZauenml74efTqxDD4UjzEnhIScDPrj0tXpWW6gfdWFIYirAbhjU_v9s4UytaJS6GDqQ-0EAVkqp5ia1CNnCLqV2eWsMzl98gSxc2cYL2K42H42M_uAMMSpYBLb15AFt7c7Oa4g/s320/dentist+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dr. Ness and Shelly do an amazing job of explaining what they are going to do. This makes Jud and myself more comfortable! They work quickly and thoroughly. I don't think we were there but 30 minutes when they announced that they were done. We stopped at two for day one, the next four will be tackled at our next appointment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On our way out Jud gets to raid the prize bucket for his glorious little prize--the thing that makes coming to the dentist such a wonderful, enjoyable experience for him. We leave with a little parachute man, a sticker, an small army guy (all of which probably totally less then a quarter) and a large smile. It was a success, we made it! One more appointment left and we can declare ourselves cavity free once again! Thank you Ness<a href="http://www.dasseldentist.com/"> Dentistry!</a> </div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-87153173028765164662011-03-07T13:07:00.000-08:002011-03-07T13:07:34.065-08:00Something to Chuckle About: Monday Morning<a href="http://somethingtochuckleabout.blogspot.com/2011/03/monday-morning.html?spref=bl">Something to Chuckle About: Monday Morning</a>: "Sleep something that every mother covets! Every night when I lay my unwashed faced on my pillow I say a little prayer for a good night..."Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-47329235932899957792011-03-07T11:52:00.000-08:002011-03-07T12:18:54.474-08:00Monday Morning<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Sleep</em></span> something that every mother covets! Every night when I lay my unwashed faced on my pillow I say a little prayer for a good night's sleep. One has to go into the night <em>believing</em> that they will have a good nights sleep, otherwise you automatically set yourself up for failure. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmLsRMRhMweeGTTtJSmKY3PXTv5gOhPaEuzwo_C4MG-8K97sJWieK0KtRqe9IdoYH0e9o8DPIGtYdVkLsUO5w1OV2VJZ_XMkbvtk6DUTunbBlfdysVCj5BrZmWzS6yIE1OmvowDdQeSQ/s1600/bedtime+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmLsRMRhMweeGTTtJSmKY3PXTv5gOhPaEuzwo_C4MG-8K97sJWieK0KtRqe9IdoYH0e9o8DPIGtYdVkLsUO5w1OV2VJZ_XMkbvtk6DUTunbBlfdysVCj5BrZmWzS6yIE1OmvowDdQeSQ/s320/bedtime+088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brodee saying good night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last night started much like any other night in our house. Brodee was laid down with a kiss and a nigh-night, which he returned with a big smile and...boom he's asleep. In my head I say "sweet, one down." About an hour or so later we start getting Jud ready for bed. We read the books, brush his teeth--with his new spin brush--and then snuggle. Matt and I decided that we would do family snuggles in his bed, if you can remember back, he has a queen sized bed! Matt get on his P.J's--his underoos, and Jud decides he is going to wear jammies like dad..i.e. underoos. I, on the other had, am in jeans and a sweatshirt. So we lay there talking about the day, about his Sunday School lesson, about playing with one of his favorite friends Carter Nelson, and the fun that we will have tomorrow. We finally drift asleep, and when I say <em>we</em> I mean W<em><strong>E,</strong></em> about 20 minutes later. At 1:00 a.m. I proceed to wake up, drenched in my own sweat and somewhat frantic. I wake up Matt and we go stumbling into our bed. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqpYiqK0WeUlyqYECylMp-Tp0vecm0LKnDmEYPjs61vHc2Ix4E-2XZ2vojB1pX0TzGqdznt8fuGHwtjPULOemSnGT8ZbYbmA-NaV4DzZfo17u-21noMw7kYIBUtJA2V0wtnukswtMu6Yy/s1600/bed+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqpYiqK0WeUlyqYECylMp-Tp0vecm0LKnDmEYPjs61vHc2Ix4E-2XZ2vojB1pX0TzGqdznt8fuGHwtjPULOemSnGT8ZbYbmA-NaV4DzZfo17u-21noMw7kYIBUtJA2V0wtnukswtMu6Yy/s320/bed+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "Special" Bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As we get all snuggled into our cold bed and drift asleep I say to myself, I can still sleep for six hours....wonderful. And it was wonderful until about 4:30 when I hear Brodee crying. I wait for a few minutes thinking that he will stop, and of course he doesn't. I secretly hope Matt will get up, but he doesn't. So I go in, give him his nuk, and with my eyes still shut so that I won't officially wake up, crawl back into bed. All is well for about 30 minutes, when again the crying starts. The crying is again greeted with a sigh and a secret hope that I won't have to get out of my warm bed. This time I decide that I am going to feed him so that he will sleep until about 8:00. I go in, again eyes almost shut, feed him, rock/snuggle him for 5 minutes and lay him down. Perfect--I still have 2 good hours of glorious sleep! Not so fast, again I hear crying! Now I must let you know that Brodee <em>normally</em> sleeps through the night, if he does wake up it is usually about 5:30-6:00 and then it is only to eat, so this night is quite out of the normal. This time, sleep walking, I go grab him out of his crib and decide enough is enough, into our bed he comes. Once there he nestles into my warm body and he is out. I again get comfortable, look at the clock, and try to drift off to sleep for my last hour and a half of rest. Just as I drift away <strong>again</strong> I hear.....Mom, I wet the bed, Momma, I wet the bed! Oh mercy, no rest for the weary! Just for the record Matt is <strong><em>still</em></strong> sleeping. I race into his room before he has the opportunity to yell again and wake up, the now sleeping Brodee. Once there we go through the drill of getting changed, going potty, and pulling off the sheets. Normally I would pull him into our bed, but with Brodee already there, there isn't any room. So I have to improvise, I make a bed for him on the floor in his room and, being the good mom that I am, lay on the floor with him. There we are snuggled on the floor, it's now 6:00 a.m. and I have been attending to my wonderful kids since 4:30. I am hoping that Jud will fall back asleep but, no luck! Now, I am not about to get up yet, so I tell him to get a few books to look at and read quietly as momma lays--trying to sleep on the floor. This was not one of my finest ideas as I was never able to really sleep. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSh9XOEdydOJkM2tBgkadoHf9Sr0k6JbQMUyzxY_8_mPCAqImINtAOTqWlHR8GaAAQG7mouI3w7D1FCdKTrKWLz_OJwcEiqlNbcBy4rG4AcbDJNaddAy45RpJqxjDgcIHUouak8PI5AKW/s1600/bed+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSh9XOEdydOJkM2tBgkadoHf9Sr0k6JbQMUyzxY_8_mPCAqImINtAOTqWlHR8GaAAQG7mouI3w7D1FCdKTrKWLz_OJwcEiqlNbcBy4rG4AcbDJNaddAy45RpJqxjDgcIHUouak8PI5AKW/s320/bed+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Finally at 6:55 Matt comes in Jud's room, chuckles and tells me to go lay in our bed for my last ten minutes of sleep. When I get in our bed I am greeted by a big smile from lovely little Brodee and that is my official <em>good morning</em>. I am tired, cold, and a little crabby, but seeing that big smile and hearing his excited grunts I can't help but be thankful for my wonderful family. Needless to say, I came downstairs, put on a pot of coffee, and cut myself a generous-sized breakfast bar. Good-morning Monday!<br />
<br />
P.S. Jud goes back to the dentist tomorrow for the first of the six cavities to be filled...stay tuned!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-68346221326115310802011-03-04T08:31:00.000-08:002011-03-04T08:31:45.360-08:00Favorite Things<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay so even though our initial 2 blogs have died, favorite things did not go down with them. I still have favorite things and I still want to share them with you. So with that being said....I give you my next favorite thing,...<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.scotchblue.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotch-BlueBrand/Scotch-Blue/">Blue Painter's Tape</a></span>! </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tgSc-NKMeWYdjsYOwt8IxAhBWD76oe8-4l4ZsMdAYaLPwhn3g8JLxLVEBC6rTdtOZMEKcn31TmyITd1lVFcDtBy3QkYIXwrTVUC21zy9CI_PxZASXseotbOXcSy0wvPCq6v3OsdMg70H/s1600/more+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tgSc-NKMeWYdjsYOwt8IxAhBWD76oe8-4l4ZsMdAYaLPwhn3g8JLxLVEBC6rTdtOZMEKcn31TmyITd1lVFcDtBy3QkYIXwrTVUC21zy9CI_PxZASXseotbOXcSy0wvPCq6v3OsdMg70H/s320/more+001.JPG" width="320" /></a> I love this tape for reasons other than you might think. Although it is painters tape, I actually use it very little for painting. I do like the tape for creating strips and lines as shown in Jud's room. However as a mom I love this tape for a whole other reason. This tape is so wonderfully safe that it is great for children to put on the walls, the floors, and their bodies. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I was painting in Jud's room and creating his red strip he saw me using the tape. He asked if he could use some and I had no fear or reservations in letting him. He created his own little masterpiece on the wall using the tape. I didn't have to worry about it leaving a sticky residue or it peeling the paint off. Jud was able to creatively express himself while his mom was busy painting...<em>perfect</em>!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VszGwrxu3jeEamQ_hK0-cPploXZ53ZG52ryr_YYKXxUOAGPxOzG3lDEpaBE8oeZFj52TBRbkWew9Kf6pqpQd0FI4N19s-QhPrZChM56Lzha9wktEFjC7JOQMJSMTSTkuasDbo0YSeOvB/s1600/blog+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VszGwrxu3jeEamQ_hK0-cPploXZ53ZG52ryr_YYKXxUOAGPxOzG3lDEpaBE8oeZFj52TBRbkWew9Kf6pqpQd0FI4N19s-QhPrZChM56Lzha9wktEFjC7JOQMJSMTSTkuasDbo0YSeOvB/s320/blog+010.JPG" width="320" /></a>Another excellent use of this tape is to put on the floor. Jud and I will make roads for his cars or obstacle courses for his scooter (in the basement). We do have wood floors and I didn't want to worry about a sticky residue that could be left behind by masking tape. Jud really enjoys when he can take a small scissors and cut his own pieces for the roads. We have had roads going all over the first level of our house. I mean, besides the eye soar of the blue tape, it is good, destructive free fun. If you have carpet it is still safe to makes <em>roads</em> on that as well!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1xmor6TxK3_Omi-Hp79_7ltqTHxlGGXtlK_D8ieWsKvQZCVQ1fRpcChCtZKq_eSt6es0ae7C0uuEk4jy56BqFy4c1JEV_YhfBiDe7LttYpNm2pBcjNzfe1wbGluAVoTochA8sUlhUtES/s1600/a+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1xmor6TxK3_Omi-Hp79_7ltqTHxlGGXtlK_D8ieWsKvQZCVQ1fRpcChCtZKq_eSt6es0ae7C0uuEk4jy56BqFy4c1JEV_YhfBiDe7LttYpNm2pBcjNzfe1wbGluAVoTochA8sUlhUtES/s320/a+001.JPG" width="320" /></a>Lastly, Jud loves this tape for taping <em>shooter arms</em> on himself. He will tape toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls to his arms. He likes to pretend he is a transformer and tapes random pieces of tape on his body...great! No harm done! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now you too can be able to see the wonderful uses of this glorious tape. If you leave a comment or become a follower you can be entered into this drawing. There will be more than one winner so don't be shy! If you have another use for this wonderful product please feel free to share. Good luck to you!</div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-71288634015249507612011-03-02T08:29:00.000-08:002011-03-02T08:29:18.542-08:00Zuppa Toscana is What's for Dinner TonightSoup season <em>should</em> be nearing an end, but here in Minnesota winter is refusing to leave. So with that being said I would like to share a great soup recipe with you. The recipe I am going to share comes from the Olive Garden. It is their soup <em><span style="font-size: large;">Zuppa Toscana</span></em>, and it is fabulous!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C7w6RSGzFYQcN67Mm9_p3ZSZXCDL32dVO0n1Hv2HaYBEmoaN5YOPUnZEv-UMvAKwsriMl_6hghm3G0Ls_k2pKnxwp2y-wQb9bBzpSFhMTcpxKmIk0hiOHe96u-F23iM-pgWHcLW51jRp/s1600/zuppa+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C7w6RSGzFYQcN67Mm9_p3ZSZXCDL32dVO0n1Hv2HaYBEmoaN5YOPUnZEv-UMvAKwsriMl_6hghm3G0Ls_k2pKnxwp2y-wQb9bBzpSFhMTcpxKmIk0hiOHe96u-F23iM-pgWHcLW51jRp/s320/zuppa+008.JPG" width="320" /></a><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></u></strong></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 lb ground sausages (i.e. Jimmy Deans)</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 1/2 t. Crushed Red Pepper</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 t. Garlic Puree</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">10 c. Water</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">5 cubes Chicken Bouillon Cubes</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 c. Heavy Whipping Cream</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 lb Potatoes--3 Large Potatoes scrubbed and chopped--the skins can be left on</li>
<li>2 c. Chopped Kale</li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First brown your sausage and drain the extra fat. Then add the crushed red pepper. You can put less red pepper in according to taste, the red pepper does make it spicy--we like spicy. Once that is done add the garlic puree and stir. In a large pot put the 10c. water and chicken bouillon cubes, add the sausage mixture and heat that until it boils. Once that is boiling add potatoes and cook for 15-20 minutes--until potatoes are soft. Then add the heavy whipping cream and kale--simmer. This can be made ahead of time and reheated. I personally think that is best after it sits awhile. It is perfect served with a crusty bread or bread sticks and some kind of salad.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I do hope that good old Mother Nature decides to let spring come, but until then go ahead and enjoy and nice warm boil of soup. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">P.S. This might not be the most kid friendly meal--Jud doesn't like it--but Matt loves it! </div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-11779867826437475672011-02-28T10:30:00.000-08:002011-02-28T10:30:28.764-08:00A Mother's Guilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1lPtT7LhmbiSKHenJsOcJsH_WGvK94cJ1y69ybWs1vsnWXaPJg2FKeEenVVVnMCtAUwctHdL3hmxPIxtIjQmLZl0LfW8Sog1aHc9gXKVsTXtC6wf2UX14w6mYIQ9MxIBUkFj75SDMQIw/s1600/dentisblog+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1lPtT7LhmbiSKHenJsOcJsH_WGvK94cJ1y69ybWs1vsnWXaPJg2FKeEenVVVnMCtAUwctHdL3hmxPIxtIjQmLZl0LfW8Sog1aHc9gXKVsTXtC6wf2UX14w6mYIQ9MxIBUkFj75SDMQIw/s320/dentisblog+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the dentist!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>If you could have only seen my face when I heard the shocking news. I really wish I had a picture to share with you from that exact moment, the horror that filled my face and tears that welled in my eyes. Okay, I think I probably need to back up a little bit and start from the beginning. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF39nOQrbCOubYz5JQ7cAeOc-HIo8C5Zl0-Bx6mA4POwidawWvllBYWKDBjuVlBBFoqVAELfJE2vm7908kauADZgIKzdA0exwViJkjp3aaWvPDm9-xO6nFQ0xegO1AQ3zT60fepP_gSe8/s1600/dentisblog+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF39nOQrbCOubYz5JQ7cAeOc-HIo8C5Zl0-Bx6mA4POwidawWvllBYWKDBjuVlBBFoqVAELfJE2vm7908kauADZgIKzdA0exwViJkjp3aaWvPDm9-xO6nFQ0xegO1AQ3zT60fepP_gSe8/s320/dentisblog+009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bad news just about to be delievered.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Judsen my delightful 4 year old, had the privilege of going to the dentist for the second time in his life. I say privilege because he could hardly sleep he was so excited. He was counting down the hours and kept asking when it was time to go. Well when the time came and we got to the dentist he was the perfect patient. He got up in the chair, answered all the questions, opened his mouth wide. He had no fear, only smiles. Next in came the oh so wonderful Dr. Ness. He took a look at the x-rays, he looked in Jud's mouth and then he delivered the news....6 cavities. My mouth fell open and I instantly felt myself getting blotchy (that's what happens when I get nervous). I didn't even know what to say or do, in my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine hearing the news. I wasn't expecting to hear news of 1 cavity let alone 6. Jud of course was oblivious to the severity of the news that was being delivered. I on the other hand couldn't get over the guilt of <em>this is all my fault </em>(of better yet Matt's)! </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzZ2R9Dny2AqcapLQjVlsi3WwUzKrgw6N3xD5FDJAGoumECGnEKABnpFBrM-EomTAVpCHE8Lnm3tDaX3HxQEAO_1IwtVy1ef7XjjNGPLVk_C40IHWIFjkpHQsPGOdmksBlguWAqKh2wU3/s1600/dentisblog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzZ2R9Dny2AqcapLQjVlsi3WwUzKrgw6N3xD5FDJAGoumECGnEKABnpFBrM-EomTAVpCHE8Lnm3tDaX3HxQEAO_1IwtVy1ef7XjjNGPLVk_C40IHWIFjkpHQsPGOdmksBlguWAqKh2wU3/s320/dentisblog+006.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Jud getting digital x-rays...much safer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is where the guilt comes into play. Let's be honest, at hardly 4 years old these cavities are not Jud's fault, the blame--if their is blame--falls on Matt or myself. We do brush his teeth every night, but that is about the extent of it. Floss, well I'm not great at flossing my own teeth so we can pretty much guess that I'm not doing his. So... is their room for improvement...you betcha! I left the dentist that day armed with an assault full of tools to fight these little --sugar bugs--as they were explained to Jud. We had the new tooth brush, the floss, the floss picks--dinosaur shape, the kit to get our water tested for fluoride, and a new spin brush. I wasn't about to let this happen to our family again. I kept reminding and reassuring myself that these are baby teeth, we can learn and do better. The staff at <a href="http://www.dasseldentist.com/">Ness Dentistry</a> was amazing! We love Dana, the dental assistant that Jud had that day! She is so sweet, gentle, and for this mom reassuring and non judgmental. <a href="http://www.dasseldentist.com/">Ness Dentistry</a> is great with kids and also on the cutting edge of dentistry with their digital x-rays, cancer check, and well much more. They are also amazing with adults...even those who, to say the least, aren't religious flossers. If you want to check them out here is their website: <a href="http://www.dasseldentist.com/">http://www.dasseldentist.com/</a> If you mention <a href="http://www.somethingtochuckleabout.blogspot.com/">somethingtochuckleabout</a> or Sonia Whittaker you will receive $50 off of your first visit. I'm not plugging them because of some great kickback for me, but because we truly love going there and I believe you would too! </div></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9IyEb59tPa6EBpHD2u4UeXv1EDsnx_bf-1wxR0QBIhW9KXZ9z73NSoAX1_dvhnuzFIHfHN-fvym_E4bnIW0wxTccI8Uj-vkl9XwFRIBYjO7BLvtvGEvZqLS8qqBh6JIJLw75thXGgOqs/s1600/dentisblog+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9IyEb59tPa6EBpHD2u4UeXv1EDsnx_bf-1wxR0QBIhW9KXZ9z73NSoAX1_dvhnuzFIHfHN-fvym_E4bnIW0wxTccI8Uj-vkl9XwFRIBYjO7BLvtvGEvZqLS8qqBh6JIJLw75thXGgOqs/s320/dentisblog+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana cleaning Jud's teeth</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Stay tuned, Jud gets his first two cavities filled March 8th. I will let you know how that goes. No worries he gets <em>gas</em>, can't wait to see that!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">P.S. They also sent us home with a toothbrush for my 8 month old. Okay I get the hint...this will not happen again. </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-41640017860705484332011-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:002011-02-26T08:35:22.133-08:00Thirty Something <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS9GIY6gNBuCGK3Lj4piEs_QKtVfnbxukkcF0Jc1NiQrehVqpmzcIJ1CTa_n8q0BJrrlxNpWiRz_plYPexqcODVrw-ofxbNkcbTUr-q4oEhBNNpAKv3z3kAMCsiB1gUeocysyeF_9h9kX/s1600/dentisblog+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS9GIY6gNBuCGK3Lj4piEs_QKtVfnbxukkcF0Jc1NiQrehVqpmzcIJ1CTa_n8q0BJrrlxNpWiRz_plYPexqcODVrw-ofxbNkcbTUr-q4oEhBNNpAKv3z3kAMCsiB1gUeocysyeF_9h9kX/s200/dentisblog+012.JPG" width="200" /></a>It is official, I have now entered the thirty somethings! Okay to clarify I am now <em>into</em> my thirties--31. To this I say <span style="font-size: large;">WOW</span>, not because I am mortified to be getting older (because I'm not), but simply because I just really can't believe it. In my heart of hearts I feel about ummm...26. I realize that I am no longer in the youthful days of college, but to be in my thirties well that just doesn't seem quite right. However with that being said, I embrace you 31! My life at 31 is wonderful! I love my husband--we have almost been married 8 years, crazy! I love my boys--Judsen 4 and Brodee 8 1/2 months. I love that I get to stay home with them and take a break from teaching. I love my home that we built a little over a year ago. I love my friends and family! I love my church! I love the Lord and well... I just love where I am in life. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMMsBWYyJL92ZpvNpNZuig9078-a5aJCW8hX_ztfTYTOYULMvmFisaGQ1578-HHhbKujOdilnp0f67__tlLWTIMpJ6Z7oZdQWMUDea47ONdyX4pjfz440aum99lojSi5kjaQln5swu-2H/s1600/dentisblog+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMMsBWYyJL92ZpvNpNZuig9078-a5aJCW8hX_ztfTYTOYULMvmFisaGQ1578-HHhbKujOdilnp0f67__tlLWTIMpJ6Z7oZdQWMUDea47ONdyX4pjfz440aum99lojSi5kjaQln5swu-2H/s200/dentisblog+011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">See how the little hairs up front stick straight up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">But</span>, and this is a big but, what I don't love...gray hairs. That is right you heard me and I'll say it again <em><strong>gray hairs</strong></em>. Where in the world did these little buggers come from and when did it happen. How can I have none one day and then BAM, like a slap in the face 15. Now friends I will be sharing photos so you can see what I am talking about, but not only do I have, the oh so wonderful pleasure of having gray hairs I also have baby hairs. You know the hair that starts to grow back after you lose half of your head of hair to post pregnancy hormones. These hairs are small, fine, they stick straight up, and now added to the list....gray! To this I say why?!? Have no fear dear friends these hairs are not embraced, welcomed, invited, or for that matter allowed to stay. They will be gone just about as fast as they were first found, but the reality is that they are there. Thank you mom and grandma's! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am sure that there will be many more <em>little joys </em>that come with getting older, but I am also excited for what each day brings. I look forward to what God has ahead for me and my family! So if that means a few more gray hairs then I say--bring them on (let's be honest they will be covered in dye anyway)! Life is good and every year I live is one year closer to meeting Jesus! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuXtIypWcHacTckRRsQtB9c9W-XXrGMMp28zDEDd8SeE_vyh6Axfe33CXg4J1S7-onUnDimeELZuWzhePqlxGW7sRrWJjLVBpVuLUM6cIpS3bazLTQ-HONnEtQENtESGjffXMA2GPuQpw/s1600/bedtime+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuXtIypWcHacTckRRsQtB9c9W-XXrGMMp28zDEDd8SeE_vyh6Axfe33CXg4J1S7-onUnDimeELZuWzhePqlxGW7sRrWJjLVBpVuLUM6cIpS3bazLTQ-HONnEtQENtESGjffXMA2GPuQpw/s320/bedtime+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family--taken 2 weeks ago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014059055255305354.post-51592325263651015412011-02-25T08:43:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:52:39.445-08:00So Please Stick with MeDear Devoted Readers,<br />
<br />
Again I would personally like to apologize for the whirlwind on an adventure that we have taken you on. The co-blogging idea that seemed so ingenious to start with turned into a nightmare to keep up with and I am sure a little/very confusing for you our wonderful readers. So those days are over we have left behind thebestcombination.com as well as dietcokeandcheezits.com and I now give you... somethingtochuckleabout.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDBmy7i3lEwemZo0aun7kE0-2cQ3PGn37EgheEU_C2S9TlEy4cWYdzCFFp_bHqOLeQjaVIYMjA6emVPplwqqDuKGzsd_bezB2hxR9nAnKlZxIPCM3SKL7WnlskTzUYHR0BUe9vRpWPkqp/s1600/fam+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDBmy7i3lEwemZo0aun7kE0-2cQ3PGn37EgheEU_C2S9TlEy4cWYdzCFFp_bHqOLeQjaVIYMjA6emVPplwqqDuKGzsd_bezB2hxR9nAnKlZxIPCM3SKL7WnlskTzUYHR0BUe9vRpWPkqp/s320/fam+048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you can put a face to the writing--My Family!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hope that my blog does just that, gives you a reason to chuckle each week. I hope you feel you are able to develop a relationship with this unknown entity on the other side of your computer screen. I hope that you are able to chuckle along with me as I share about myself, my family, and some of my crazy ideas. My plans are still to share ideas, recipes, favorite things, stories, and advice with you. So here we go again...let the funtimes begin!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Okay on a sidenote...my site is under development now and not complete. So please keep checking back!Sonia Whittakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820053633543152202noreply@blogger.com2