tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25628588104290752132024-03-15T18:09:50.041-07:00Munch!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-47132830234704776072012-04-02T10:49:00.000-07:002012-04-02T10:49:33.243-07:00Why Google+ Destroyed this BlogLast year, when Google+ was created, Google (in all of its wit and wisdom) decided that all photos from a single Google account should be made public and accessible from a Google+ profile.<br />
<br />
A Google account includes all Blogspot blogs and Picasa accounts associated with that user, since Google owns both of those entities.<br />
<br />
Naturally, upon seeing photos of my daughter, my house, our family pictures, and all of the goofiness that I published on other Blogspot blogs, I panicked.<br />
<br />
I erased the folders from my Google+ profile.<br />
<br />
This also erased all of the photos therein, deleting them from Picasa and from Blogspot.<br />
<br />
As an SEO, I pretty much HAD to sign up for a Google+ account, as it was whispered by so many SEO knowitalls and self-proclaimed gurus to be a "Facebook killer".<br />
<br />
Well it failed.<br />
<br />
And I lost these photos for naught.<br />
<br />
This blog will remain live; however, I will never use Blogspot again, nor will I rely on a Google product again; the only exception being Gmail.<br />
<br />
Should I choose to pick up and write another blog about Halle, it will be on Wordpress and I will post about it here.<br />
<br />
Thanks, Google.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-6898960492114363982010-12-12T11:18:00.000-08:002010-12-12T11:18:04.115-08:00Teaching Computer Skills to your ToddlerDo you have any idea how many carelessly thrown-together, shoddy games for toddlers are made by advertastic sites in the hopes of making more money for offering something slightly "educational"? It's bite-sized spam and yes, mostly written by non-native English speakers. I wonder how many hours were put into this programming masterpiece: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOl_SksuAjI/AAAAAAAACbY/DVgv0UkpSHA/s1600/crappy+kids+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOl_SksuAjI/AAAAAAAACbY/DVgv0UkpSHA/s320/crappy+kids+game.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't know what's going on here and frankly, I'm a bit frightened myself. </i></div><br />
So Halle, at two and a half, is an alphabet whiz. She knows her colors, her opposites, and her numbers. She doesn't need any educational aids for those - but I would like to encourage her to learn how to <i>navigate</i> a computer. Pressing keys (one at a time, not a blitzkrieg), using a mouse, clicking and dragging, operating the wheel, and so on. It's difficult to find quality games these days. Sigh. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.elbuhoboo.com/games-for-toddlers/games-for-toddlers-marine/games-for-toddlers.php">El Buho Boo</a> is the only thing I've found thus far, but Halle adores it! She constantly asks me to start the "ink game!", in which you press any ONE key to animate fish, shellfish, and other sea creatures such as a squid who inks. If you're two years old, it's hilaaaarious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmAWp2ebcI/AAAAAAAACbc/RG-m08DpQQs/s1600/Toddler+computer+skills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmAWp2ebcI/AAAAAAAACbc/RG-m08DpQQs/s400/Toddler+computer+skills.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Since Christmas is on it's way, does anyone have a recommendation for games or software? She's always been fascinated with my laptop but as I've never allowed her to touch it, she'd pretty much given up. Now she's hesitant to use it and I never meant for that to happen. I'm sure it's just a matter of time, and a couple more ink games! <br />
<br />
Oh, and since we're talking computer lessons, I couldn't help but let her try out Microsoft Paint. The classic, minimalistic application that the dinosaurs used to make graphics with. Here is her first MS Paint drawing ever, world!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TQUezyWFuDI/AAAAAAAACdM/ofuHBL6go8o/s1600/Halles+first+experience+with+MS+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TQUezyWFuDI/AAAAAAAACdM/ofuHBL6go8o/s640/Halles+first+experience+with+MS+paint.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-3602216495351703922010-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:002010-11-21T14:04:11.029-08:00Summer & Autumn 2010 Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmIvE7YhkI/AAAAAAAACbg/8-uosCk4w3U/s1600/100_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmIvE7YhkI/AAAAAAAACbg/8-uosCk4w3U/s400/100_2340.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I don't get to see Halle every day anymore, I've been more motivated than ever to make every moment with her count. So we've been exploring the neighborhood...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJLu1x8HI/AAAAAAAACbk/b8aUHH2S3_U/s1600/100_2241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJLu1x8HI/AAAAAAAACbk/b8aUHH2S3_U/s400/100_2241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJh5rnNWI/AAAAAAAACbs/E1P8UKvjf7k/s1600/100_2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJh5rnNWI/AAAAAAAACbs/E1P8UKvjf7k/s400/100_2252.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJX1qZukI/AAAAAAAACbo/W2ef2DEGl7g/s1600/100_2245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJX1qZukI/AAAAAAAACbo/W2ef2DEGl7g/s400/100_2245.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJsNgvOjI/AAAAAAAACbw/7PotJLFinM0/s1600/100_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJsNgvOjI/AAAAAAAACbw/7PotJLFinM0/s400/100_2253.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJ19NPNLI/AAAAAAAACb0/TmlRTsA0qGY/s1600/100_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmJ19NPNLI/AAAAAAAACb0/TmlRTsA0qGY/s400/100_2254.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... and Greensboro's Center City Park, which Halle calls "The Water Park"...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLTKcl5zI/AAAAAAAACcA/5cAue1xXljk/s1600/100_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLTKcl5zI/AAAAAAAACcA/5cAue1xXljk/s400/100_2180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLBmxiqpI/AAAAAAAACb8/Eyp6mw8t3js/s1600/100_2179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLBmxiqpI/AAAAAAAACb8/Eyp6mw8t3js/s400/100_2179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmKsil_VeI/AAAAAAAACb4/CZTc-SLTOJQ/s1600/100_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmKsil_VeI/AAAAAAAACb4/CZTc-SLTOJQ/s400/100_2178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLjn_zkVI/AAAAAAAACcE/bxzTUGlYKPU/s1600/100_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmLjn_zkVI/AAAAAAAACcE/bxzTUGlYKPU/s400/100_2262.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmL5TQzxyI/AAAAAAAACcI/qVBMeoArczc/s1600/100_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmL5TQzxyI/AAAAAAAACcI/qVBMeoArczc/s400/100_2266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and enjoying lots of porch time... and treats!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmMeFeahzI/AAAAAAAACcM/fI6Ors4tMJI/s1600/100_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmMeFeahzI/AAAAAAAACcM/fI6Ors4tMJI/s400/100_2306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQE1EmZoI/AAAAAAAACcQ/CSBz4ooXRqc/s1600/100_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQE1EmZoI/AAAAAAAACcQ/CSBz4ooXRqc/s400/100_2309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQPQP0jGI/AAAAAAAACcU/Qqw6fpYo4Rg/s1600/100_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQPQP0jGI/AAAAAAAACcU/Qqw6fpYo4Rg/s400/100_2310.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... spending time with family... (and eating the bread for the ducks!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQxn6SvFI/AAAAAAAACcY/CHqHyiyaZ8g/s1600/100_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmQxn6SvFI/AAAAAAAACcY/CHqHyiyaZ8g/s640/100_2193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...making lots of silly faces...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmRvG2epKI/AAAAAAAACcg/zc76nBafSbw/s1600/100_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmRvG2epKI/AAAAAAAACcg/zc76nBafSbw/s320/100_2347.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmRKhUFG_I/AAAAAAAACcc/7eZxdWsdcwU/s1600/100_2346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmRKhUFG_I/AAAAAAAACcc/7eZxdWsdcwU/s320/100_2346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmScITYrpI/AAAAAAAACck/ElO_ZoIbKEk/s1600/100_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmScITYrpI/AAAAAAAACck/ElO_ZoIbKEk/s320/100_2348.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmTI7xzDxI/AAAAAAAACco/9nZMg8y7O4w/s1600/100_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmTI7xzDxI/AAAAAAAACco/9nZMg8y7O4w/s400/100_2349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and getting so tired that <strike>we</strike> she falls asleep in the strangest places.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmUrPS2hyI/AAAAAAAACcw/HY7qjbQOJ8k/s1600/100_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmUrPS2hyI/AAAAAAAACcw/HY7qjbQOJ8k/s400/100_2375.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmUPud6pVI/AAAAAAAACcs/oXeJuZBnAjA/s1600/100_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmUPud6pVI/AAAAAAAACcs/oXeJuZBnAjA/s400/100_2257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmVHK12jDI/AAAAAAAACc0/UU7QSoywRrA/s1600/100_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TOmVHK12jDI/AAAAAAAACc0/UU7QSoywRrA/s400/100_2183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(with her bakah over her head.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Was going to post a video here but I can't convert the file and Blogspot is taking foreeever! I do make too many empty promises of video.... yikes...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But it's all so worth it. She's the most well-mannered and obedient kid you'll ever met. She's affectionate, smart, and has a surprisingly good sense of humor, for a toddler. She'll never be a fiend like <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/10/god-of-cake.html">this hilarious girl</a> was... Allie Brosh, hilarious blogger and owner of <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html">an amazingly "simple" dog</a>. You won't be able to help laughing out loud, I promise.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-41854319904951635452010-11-04T14:23:00.000-07:002010-11-04T14:23:22.668-07:00HALLE-ween 2010You know it's been too long when your grandmother tells you to update your blog. And well it has!<br />
I've got video to post soon as well, so in the mean time, here's my favorite kitty cat there ever was.<br />
Her eyes almost look green in these pictures... maybe it's just the green blanket behind her. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjH5oL1iI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Kv8mH37FsY4/s1600/Halle+2010+468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjH5oL1iI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Kv8mH37FsY4/s640/Halle+2010+468.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjJ93_wEI/AAAAAAAACaU/z8Rh3ysefYA/s1600/Halle+2010+470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjJ93_wEI/AAAAAAAACaU/z8Rh3ysefYA/s640/Halle+2010+470.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjL8n6rDI/AAAAAAAACaY/iu-Se8sCacY/s1600/Halle+2010+472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjL8n6rDI/AAAAAAAACaY/iu-Se8sCacY/s640/Halle+2010+472.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjN5GI57I/AAAAAAAACac/_fjU-w0KyvA/s1600/Halle+2010+473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjN5GI57I/AAAAAAAACac/_fjU-w0KyvA/s640/Halle+2010+473.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjQ-vSAtI/AAAAAAAACag/eOUKEQV4ITQ/s1600/Halle+2010+478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjQ-vSAtI/AAAAAAAACag/eOUKEQV4ITQ/s640/Halle+2010+478.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjTxlSdKI/AAAAAAAACak/LyfOV9nKNw4/s1600/Halle+2010+479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjTxlSdKI/AAAAAAAACak/LyfOV9nKNw4/s640/Halle+2010+479.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjVl2XJLI/AAAAAAAACao/5T78F0ZukQ8/s1600/Halle+2010+481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjVl2XJLI/AAAAAAAACao/5T78F0ZukQ8/s640/Halle+2010+481.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjY3AXGmI/AAAAAAAACas/ZbqDZaOI1Dk/s1600/Halle+2010+482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjY3AXGmI/AAAAAAAACas/ZbqDZaOI1Dk/s640/Halle+2010+482.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjazfiaUI/AAAAAAAACaw/O55dGfYFBfE/s1600/Halle+2010+483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjazfiaUI/AAAAAAAACaw/O55dGfYFBfE/s640/Halle+2010+483.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjc5S96FI/AAAAAAAACa0/t4JmlS0Ho_4/s1600/Halle+2010+484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjc5S96FI/AAAAAAAACa0/t4JmlS0Ho_4/s640/Halle+2010+484.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjeLOkWXI/AAAAAAAACa4/_0yLS3bQy9M/s1600/Halle+2010+488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjeLOkWXI/AAAAAAAACa4/_0yLS3bQy9M/s640/Halle+2010+488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjkLvXdQI/AAAAAAAACbE/h1OGA4OZJO8/s1600/Halle+2010+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjkLvXdQI/AAAAAAAACbE/h1OGA4OZJO8/s640/Halle+2010+500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjmCFLb9I/AAAAAAAACbI/yQEFCIQOhLE/s1600/Halle+2010+501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TNMjmCFLb9I/AAAAAAAACbI/yQEFCIQOhLE/s640/Halle+2010+501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Also, Halle likes to say "dingbell" instead of doorbell. Love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-88303607037298545522010-09-29T15:38:00.000-07:002010-09-29T15:40:45.632-07:00Cousins Sharing a SecretMy dear, sweet, adorable, impossible-not-to-love niece <a href="http://upsidedownexclamationmarks.blogspot.com/">Nayeli</a> is a big fan of her cousin. She loves to watch the videos I post and likewise, one of Halle's favorite things online is Nayeli's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7GnNdRqwG4">"Sleeping Bunnies"</a> video. Please watch it if you haven't - it's just too cute to miss!<br />
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We both got to spend some time with Nayeli and her mom this past weekend and had a BLAST! My dad, the ever ready Papa-razzi - or Puppyrazzi - took a handful of precious photos. It looks like they're sharing some serious toddler secret or posing for a painting of cherubs! Everyone says their kid is a little angel, but these girls seriously look like angels!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNy-WRWaLI/AAAAAAAACYw/PnSylNMwoU8/s1600/Nayeli+2010+138+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNy-WRWaLI/AAAAAAAACYw/PnSylNMwoU8/s640/Nayeli+2010+138+%282%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzIICzG8I/AAAAAAAACY8/ZpVkbJ4JUL8/s1600/Nayeli+2010+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzIICzG8I/AAAAAAAACY8/ZpVkbJ4JUL8/s640/Nayeli+2010+145.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzOIhPIlI/AAAAAAAACZA/3yxZ6fj5GTQ/s1600/Nayeli+2010+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzOIhPIlI/AAAAAAAACZA/3yxZ6fj5GTQ/s640/Nayeli+2010+146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzRmFP46I/AAAAAAAACZE/7BAVYRPguic/s1600/Nayeli+2010+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzRmFP46I/AAAAAAAACZE/7BAVYRPguic/s640/Nayeli+2010+147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzUvpbHoI/AAAAAAAACZI/vcF95NRDDic/s1600/Nayeli+2010+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNzUvpbHoI/AAAAAAAACZI/vcF95NRDDic/s640/Nayeli+2010+148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNy7lk2yTI/AAAAAAAACYs/CSUcV1Tn3DA/s1600/Nayeli+2010+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TKNy7lk2yTI/AAAAAAAACYs/CSUcV1Tn3DA/s640/Nayeli+2010+112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Pals. Totally going to be BFFs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-913215558846517252010-09-25T20:24:00.000-07:002010-09-25T20:24:08.883-07:00Munch - Now a Universal Term of Endearment.Halle carried her baby doll around as we sleepily played in her bedroom this morning at the god-forsaken hour of 10AM. As she held it, rocked it and swayed with it, she cooed, "It's okay. Come on, Munch."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">~</div><br />
My wonderful, 5-month pregnant sister-in-law Rethsey surprised <i>and floored</i> my Mother by flying in from Boston for a visit with my nearly 2 year old niece in tow. It's amazing how much you love your own kids, feeling your heart muscles easily shatter any previous notions your capacity for love; in the same regard, your nieces (and nephews, I'm sure) summon up another new ballfield of tenderness. My little darling niece, Nayeli, who calls me Hae, had me at her"Si". Her pronunciation of the word should be declared a national treasure.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">~ </div><br />
Sometimes Halle has a hard time falling asleep in her new room. Plus, it's been a little over a month that we turned her crib into a big girl bed, so she's got a lot on her plate right now. Just tonight, I laid down next to her on the floor where she was cuddling with her big puppy plush dog and her tiny red wagon and I started singing a couple of Oldies songs to her. She's really into being petted on the head right now, and I love that she lets me fawn over and dote on her.<br />
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Most nights, when Brad or I say "I love you!", she'll say, "Uh-huh." or "MrrHrrr" with a pacifier. But at the times of the day she feels closest to you, she'll offer up her most honest, organic declarations of love. This is what I live for. People without children, they just can't possibly understand how a sighing, sleepy toddler unexpectedly saying "I love you" as they move in and out of dreams can make you suddenly realize that you've lived your whole life to be in this one, single moment. My life being put in perspective in a room full of talking Elmos and not resenting a second of it. And it's so much more than I could've wanted it to be. <br />
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PS. I know. Pictures. Soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-11117766550454996652010-09-24T23:16:00.000-07:002010-09-24T23:16:30.835-07:00Scooty Spiders and Comfort FoodWhat an incredibly thoughtful and nurturing spirit Halle has! She's been known to say, "Good job, Mommy!" or "That's a GREAT idea!" in an encouraging fashion but tonight she caught me offguard.<br />
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There were two spiders on my ceiling. The quick ones that don't seem to prefer to use their web.. output... function.. whatever. So they eluded me, going behind my couch/BED and into the cracks in the wall where the ceiling fan meets. I didn't have a panic attack but I did sigh fairly heavily, saying things sort of like "Oh MAN!", "Crimony!", and "Where the BERMUDA SHORTS are you buuuuudddddy?". Having a kid makes you improvise cursing, and I'm kind of hoping that Halle will end up the creative benefactor of my arachnophobia vocab. Cursing, if anything, should be colorful, right?<br />
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<i>Sidenote: I warned my neighbors in advance about the tendency for tourets-esque, shouty conversation during the evenings. I figured I might as well get it out of the way. </i><br />
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Halle could tell I was a bit flustered but gave little nonchalant eye contact, breaking her rapt focus on The Burbs and her happy tiny bowl of a small handful of post-dinner wavy chips. When I sat down, she asked me, "Did you get'im Mommy?"<br />
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"No baby, those guys were really fast. <i>Siiiiiiigh. </i>They got away from me." <br />
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"This for you, Mommy," she said, handing me a potato chip and then patting her tummy. "It make you feel better."<br />
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She kept insisting on giving me the last of the chips after that. If there's one lesson she's learned about spiders so thoroughly at her young age, it's that Mommy is scared CHIPLESS of spiders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-51036417985193302132010-09-07T13:47:00.000-07:002010-09-07T13:47:00.802-07:00First Day of PreschoolSo it's almost been two months since my last post. It's been a very hectic couple of months to say the least and I'm not going to blog about it. I will, however, show you this ADORABLE photo of my big girl on her first day of Preschool! Or Dayschool! Or whatever you want to call it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TIakmY7XLDI/AAAAAAAACVg/lvTMwjrK1WA/s1600/Halle+-+First+Day+of+Preschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TIakmY7XLDI/AAAAAAAACVg/lvTMwjrK1WA/s320/Halle+-+First+Day+of+Preschool.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>My Big Girl!</b></div><br />
Brad took the photo on his cell phone but I know there are more to come. I heard she was the only one that cried - I'm guessing that Daddy may have shed a tear or two, though. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-72232673929523815472010-07-18T20:55:00.000-07:002010-07-18T20:55:01.694-07:00This Week In CuteYeah, about that video I promised... here it is!! A couple of explanations first. One, Halle has been into playing dress-up (somewhat, she's extremely picky!) this week, especially her tutu and her butterfly wings. We've been talking a lot about Halloween because of that, naturally. Dora the Explorer has convinced her to be a kitty-cat for Halloween.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEPLCffCt6I/AAAAAAAACQ0/dMQhMqF558Y/s1600/Dora+Costume+Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEPLCffCt6I/AAAAAAAACQ0/dMQhMqF558Y/s200/Dora+Costume+Cat.jpg" width="141" /></a></div> Anything but the Dora the Explorer costume! Is this not the most BORING costume you've ever seen in your whole freakin life?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEPLPlcF5VI/AAAAAAAACQ8/sXhL5gqPpew/s1600/Dora+Halloween+Costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEPLPlcF5VI/AAAAAAAACQ8/sXhL5gqPpew/s320/Dora+Halloween+Costume.jpg" /></a></div>I love that she's into Dora the Explorer. I don't remember watching as many cultural shows as a kid and I'm really proud that Halle shows interest in learning where Dora and Kai Lan (another show on Nickelodeon) live on our globe. I'm hoping if she doesn't at least learn a few words, she'll at least understand that Spanish is a foreign language, and not to <i>moo</i> when she hears Telemundo. 'Cause that's racist, ma'am! <br />
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Two, she's a bit vain... it's almost impossible to photograph or videotape the girl without hearing her request, "see it? See it? Again? See it?" So that's what that's all about.<br />
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Oh, and one last thing! I've never used music in the background but this time I thought I would try it out. You all get to be my guinea pigs! Yay! It's from one of my all-time <b>*favorite*</b> movies ever, <i>Amelie</i>. It translates really well with those cute/silent moments of childhood. You'll see. And if you hate it the music, well, I ask you: what did an accordion ever do to you?<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T8N_X5ASAzk&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T8N_X5ASAzk&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-67914703119999794502010-07-18T01:14:00.000-07:002010-07-18T01:14:41.578-07:00Picasa Fun Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzXoz9YzI/AAAAAAAACP8/8uAQ1Ftduno/s1600/100_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzXoz9YzI/AAAAAAAACP8/8uAQ1Ftduno/s640/100_1887.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzgAxPF2I/AAAAAAAACQE/Ez72cMdWNwA/s1600/100_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzgAxPF2I/AAAAAAAACQE/Ez72cMdWNwA/s400/100_1845.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzqGveW4I/AAAAAAAACQM/z6-dRT5xjBg/s1600/100_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKzqGveW4I/AAAAAAAACQM/z6-dRT5xjBg/s640/100_1881.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKz3Ct3IOI/AAAAAAAACQU/Fqwc-wYDFCY/s1600/DSC00077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKz3Ct3IOI/AAAAAAAACQU/Fqwc-wYDFCY/s400/DSC00077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0BXQTDtI/AAAAAAAACQc/aiS0eA0weTg/s1600/100_1901+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0BXQTDtI/AAAAAAAACQc/aiS0eA0weTg/s640/100_1901+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0P2H2PDI/AAAAAAAACQk/QUFsNyjiYzM/s1600/Halle+244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0P2H2PDI/AAAAAAAACQk/QUFsNyjiYzM/s640/Halle+244.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0qFJzCkI/AAAAAAAACQs/D6rnu4KskY8/s1600/100_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEK0qFJzCkI/AAAAAAAACQs/D6rnu4KskY8/s640/100_1891.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-8828742815475566542010-07-18T00:53:00.000-07:002010-07-18T00:53:31.727-07:00The Animals of Our Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKkfolFgQI/AAAAAAAACPM/mTKSG1MhLVM/s1600/100_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKkfolFgQI/AAAAAAAACPM/mTKSG1MhLVM/s400/100_1838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cole / "Coles Mine"</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our Coles Mine is one of two kittens Brad adopted from my friend Buffy. If ever there was a runt, it <b>wasn't</b> Cole. She's your typical dominant huntress: after eating a moth, she misses it and searches the walls for new prey. Occasionally (and with hesitation) she'll accept affection. This is why we were so surprised when Cole opened up to Halle, allowing her to not only squawk around her but pet her, pull her tail, and rock her in the rocking chair to "Rockabye Baby". She may seem unsocial, but that's only because she's "on the clock" at all times, keeping the house in check with her constant wakeful surveillance. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKoANl4J7I/AAAAAAAACPU/-4U6zqDFOEc/s1600/100_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKoANl4J7I/AAAAAAAACPU/-4U6zqDFOEc/s400/100_1859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Calla / "Calla Leetz"</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If ever there were a "toy cat" to rival a "toy poodle", it would be named Calla. And she would eat ice cream. Yes, blogosphere, <i>ahem</i>, we have a bowl licker. When Halle toddles nearby, her terrified eyes grow exponentially larger, anime-style. She'll run <i>like the dickens</i> from Halle but after bedtime, when Brad indulges in a big bowl of Neapolitan or Black Cherry ice cream, Calla patinetly watches from the corner until she gets the chance to polish off the rest of it. Oh, and she meows like a twelve year old boy whose voice cracks. She's always walking the line between pathetic and adorable with me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKrVT95OAI/AAAAAAAACPc/QO5N0-jcVv4/s1600/100_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKrVT95OAI/AAAAAAAACPc/QO5N0-jcVv4/s400/100_1541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Olive </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What can I say, she's a dog that belongs to a breed that has been overestimated. Olive, whose theme song is Led Zeppelin's "All of My Love" or "Olive My Love" depending on your ear, is a boxer mix who is submissive to her feline housemates. It's kind of humiliating to watch, actually. She gets them back, though. Sometimes she wanders into Brad's study and eats their food. Brad definitely gets angry when this happens, but deep down I cheer for her, just a little bit, in getting the last word with those mean ol' cats. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Since I'm a little bit biased about the animals here, and because Olive is so much more submissive to Halle, here's some cuddly Olive-as-a-pillow photos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKteKvI54I/AAAAAAAACPk/0BhH6gFHG6g/s1600/100_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKteKvI54I/AAAAAAAACPk/0BhH6gFHG6g/s320/100_1910.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKxSggEbfI/AAAAAAAACPs/9vIZ3Zm9vI0/s1600/100_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKxSggEbfI/AAAAAAAACPs/9vIZ3Zm9vI0/s320/100_1914.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKyDUsgjjI/AAAAAAAACP0/ewGZYKjgmJE/s1600/100_1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TEKyDUsgjjI/AAAAAAAACP0/ewGZYKjgmJE/s320/100_1917.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last but certainly not least is <b>Ah-Ah</b>, the Bear. Halle named him herself and they're best friends. When I showed her this picture and asked her who it was, she exclaimed, "Oh! It's Ah-Ah!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Videos coming tomorrow!!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-90020127751021205462010-07-07T11:16:00.000-07:002010-07-07T11:16:10.078-07:00Little Moments<b>#1 Anatomical Concepts</b><br />
<br />
Before diving into yard-work, I decided to put on a bikini. That way, I could join Halle in the pool if I felt like I was going to keel over. I get the top on and turn around to Halle, who is sitting on the bed. She asks, "Boobs on?"<br />
"Yes, Halle, I've got my boobs on now."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>#2 Streaming Subconscious</b><br />
<br />
Last night, as she laid in her crib waiting for the sandman, Brad and I could hear her sing song-y chatter from the living room OVER the television. We hit mute and took a seat in the dark hallway outside her door. This is what we overheard:<br />
<br />
"Red ah stop an' green mean GOOOOOOO!"<br />
<br />
"Wait, Daddy, wait!"<br />
<br />
"Rockabye Halle over teetops HALLE<br />
When the wind blows, cradle will HALLE<br />
When bow breaks, cradle 'll HALLE..."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">~ </div><br />
Listening to her dreamy rantings are like watching Telemundo and knowing only light conversational Spanish. Not only does she have a toddler lisp, there's a pacifier in her mouth and she's singing/howling the words that are only occasionally audible. I really wish my camcorder could pick up the sound!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-41700612339615560732010-06-30T23:39:00.000-07:002010-06-30T23:39:27.835-07:00On the verge of cracking up.I don't know <i>why</i> she restrains herself from laughing, but it's apparent she does. Her sense of humor resembles Brad's in that they both like being silly, absurd, and a bit sneaky or sly. Just check out these expressions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtR12NejBI/AAAAAAAACLs/pBrxaL2n0gg/s1600/Pre-bahaha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtR12NejBI/AAAAAAAACLs/pBrxaL2n0gg/s640/Pre-bahaha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtSMg9E3iI/AAAAAAAACME/1Liz7SUUgo0/s1600/pre-bahaha2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtSMg9E3iI/AAAAAAAACME/1Liz7SUUgo0/s640/pre-bahaha2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div> This might be one of my favorite photos of her! It's so Halle. Shes' got a bit of food on her chin, a clever little grin, a hint of curls in the back, and it's tied up nicely with the bokeh effects in the background. Nice shot, Dad!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtR5gd2oBI/AAAAAAAACL8/t_15RxzT2bw/s1600/prebahaha3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtR5gd2oBI/AAAAAAAACL8/t_15RxzT2bw/s640/prebahaha3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here are some other cute photos that I thought about turning into LOLHalles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTWur4RUI/AAAAAAAACMM/T69jmFqp1Ng/s1600/magic+beans+mdear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTWur4RUI/AAAAAAAACMM/T69jmFqp1Ng/s640/magic+beans+mdear.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She's either an imp or she's trying to sell Aunt Robin some of her magic beans. Or, y'know, both.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTZnD9nhI/AAAAAAAACMU/D6Ebe-LG4s8/s1600/no+way%21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTZnD9nhI/AAAAAAAACMU/D6Ebe-LG4s8/s640/no+way%21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> No way! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTc9A-45I/AAAAAAAACMc/d4gESpopiJc/s1600/that+is+the+question.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTc9A-45I/AAAAAAAACMc/d4gESpopiJc/s640/that+is+the+question.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Is she performing the skull scene from Hamlet or singing a fugue?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTekxnbwI/AAAAAAAACMk/etRqDT6xaAU/s1600/sweeetie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCtTekxnbwI/AAAAAAAACMk/etRqDT6xaAU/s640/sweeetie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There's my sweeeeetie!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-56622713823260127122010-06-29T12:52:00.000-07:002010-07-09T22:06:57.352-07:00Fireflies and MosquitosRain, sleet, snow, soup-like humidity, bitter cold, it makes no difference to our Leetles. She's an outdoor girl and recently caught her first firefly - by herself! We try to enjoy the daylight while it lasts... that is, if we're not being hunted and snacked on by mosquitoes too badly. We don't just have mosquitoes. We are the unwilling hosts to a biblical plague of them. I spend all my time focusing on slapping them away and before I know it, it's dark outside. Our outdoor <a href="http://www.csnlighting.com/">lighting</a> is minimal so things had to change.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpOAj_LPCI/AAAAAAAACLk/jjWtTfR9P84/s200/patriotisnt.jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
So I bought a couple of these at Walmart (or as Halle says, "Wow-Mowt") - citronella candles to ward those evil spirits off. Except without the touch of what I call patriotisn't - tacky July 4th decorations. Sidenote: Yes, July 4th is awesome and there are tasteful Independence Day themed decorations.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpHUfrx5CI/AAAAAAAACK8/3xlSCD6Jkvg/s1600/mosquito+clip+on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpHUfrx5CI/AAAAAAAACK8/3xlSCD6Jkvg/s200/mosquito+clip+on.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I also bought one of these and I'm glad I did. It's all I need. Because in place of bug bites, the last thing I need to worry about is setting myself on fire. I'm not exactly a swan, folks. Seriously, these clip-ons kick some serious mosquito butt. I can't tell you how much I enjoy the thought of annoying the mosquitos in equal and opposite revenge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In light of the lighting situation, however, it's come to my attention that solar lights don't cost as much as I previously thought! I'm browsing through CSNlighting to find one that looks the best in our yard. They don't have the one I initially liked in stock, unfortunately, so I might get one of these classy, normal ones instead:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMXkT9ZzI/AAAAAAAACLE/MSVnOy4uYFk/s1600/CSNlighting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMXkT9ZzI/AAAAAAAACLE/MSVnOy4uYFk/s320/CSNlighting+1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMYfEVJwI/AAAAAAAACLM/hE_Jxzck63M/s1600/CSNlighting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMYfEVJwI/AAAAAAAACLM/hE_Jxzck63M/s320/CSNlighting+2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMYzbJvTI/AAAAAAAACLU/-3lfqn5WXas/s1600/CSNlighting+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpMYzbJvTI/AAAAAAAACLU/-3lfqn5WXas/s320/CSNlighting+3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Decisions, decisions... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's really too bad that they're out of these. Isn't it cute?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpNFplpvHI/AAAAAAAACLc/sRjmFlr83Fw/s1600/CSNlighting+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCpNFplpvHI/AAAAAAAACLc/sRjmFlr83Fw/s320/CSNlighting+4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's like a friendly little snail, kindly lighting my way...<br />
<br />
This post brought to you by the lovely folks at <a href="http://csnstores.com/">CSNstores.com</a>! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-74547723416626078302010-06-28T14:46:00.000-07:002010-06-28T14:46:39.093-07:00Holden Beach 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkV_X6L0WI/AAAAAAAACHc/INtWtg-qMAk/s1600/HB0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkV_X6L0WI/AAAAAAAACHc/INtWtg-qMAk/s400/HB0.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWDIak0AI/AAAAAAAACHs/zfzLfmp91Nc/s1600/HB2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWDIak0AI/AAAAAAAACHs/zfzLfmp91Nc/s320/HB2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWFfWMalI/AAAAAAAACH8/1u54qxWeMcs/s1600/HB4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWFfWMalI/AAAAAAAACH8/1u54qxWeMcs/s400/HB4.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWHCdTTRI/AAAAAAAACIE/i-wVFev6X1U/s1600/HB5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWHCdTTRI/AAAAAAAACIE/i-wVFev6X1U/s400/HB5.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWY57qD4I/AAAAAAAACIM/gGdz8MVB2co/s1600/HB6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWY57qD4I/AAAAAAAACIM/gGdz8MVB2co/s400/HB6.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWaeud0PI/AAAAAAAACIU/hcZnA8XUK3o/s1600/HB7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWaeud0PI/AAAAAAAACIU/hcZnA8XUK3o/s400/HB7.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWcXc9JeI/AAAAAAAACIc/im-uPNp9q1M/s1600/HB8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWcXc9JeI/AAAAAAAACIc/im-uPNp9q1M/s400/HB8.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWd3z0GFI/AAAAAAAACIk/AzsMljFWxJQ/s1600/HB9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWd3z0GFI/AAAAAAAACIk/AzsMljFWxJQ/s400/HB9.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWfI8m9hI/AAAAAAAACIs/S_NHU2cxvgY/s1600/HB10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWfI8m9hI/AAAAAAAACIs/S_NHU2cxvgY/s400/HB10.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWgfwJa8I/AAAAAAAACI0/I3pxT69xtsM/s1600/HB11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWgfwJa8I/AAAAAAAACI0/I3pxT69xtsM/s400/HB11.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWuZOGdgI/AAAAAAAACI8/GfZRaDWR9xk/s1600/HB13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWuZOGdgI/AAAAAAAACI8/GfZRaDWR9xk/s400/HB13.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWwxBRomI/AAAAAAAACJE/zCl_FTezto4/s1600/HB14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWwxBRomI/AAAAAAAACJE/zCl_FTezto4/s400/HB14.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWyZ2lMVI/AAAAAAAACJM/v4K-axWwtBU/s1600/HB15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWyZ2lMVI/AAAAAAAACJM/v4K-axWwtBU/s400/HB15.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWAiJc_HI/AAAAAAAACHk/X6yZUTK0n7U/s1600/HB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWAiJc_HI/AAAAAAAACHk/X6yZUTK0n7U/s400/HB1.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWEeirkSI/AAAAAAAACH0/tF0J_v8iEdc/s1600/HB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkWEeirkSI/AAAAAAAACH0/tF0J_v8iEdc/s400/HB3.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkW0DpbLBI/AAAAAAAACJU/SEz6W0v5X8w/s1600/HB16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkW0DpbLBI/AAAAAAAACJU/SEz6W0v5X8w/s400/HB16.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkW1pD_jNI/AAAAAAAACJc/oZGiaQ3VRCQ/s1600/HB17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkW1pD_jNI/AAAAAAAACJc/oZGiaQ3VRCQ/s400/HB17.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXGy0KDEI/AAAAAAAACJs/LhmrQVl84H0/s1600/HB18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXGy0KDEI/AAAAAAAACJs/LhmrQVl84H0/s400/HB18.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXMDHg4dI/AAAAAAAACJ0/3jS-M4noxu0/s1600/HB19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXMDHg4dI/AAAAAAAACJ0/3jS-M4noxu0/s400/HB19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXMv_LsqI/AAAAAAAACJ8/HF-qB7jCDuI/s1600/HB20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXMv_LsqI/AAAAAAAACJ8/HF-qB7jCDuI/s400/HB20.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXNKItx1I/AAAAAAAACKE/87orL-WDDcM/s1600/HB21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXNKItx1I/AAAAAAAACKE/87orL-WDDcM/s400/HB21.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXNm6t09I/AAAAAAAACKM/e7440w4quzw/s1600/HB22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXNm6t09I/AAAAAAAACKM/e7440w4quzw/s400/HB22.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXOxqqYpI/AAAAAAAACKU/SrjAKY9IArE/s1600/HB24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXOxqqYpI/AAAAAAAACKU/SrjAKY9IArE/s400/HB24.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXQPyrqoI/AAAAAAAACKc/RZwCI93KdAM/s1600/HB25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXQPyrqoI/AAAAAAAACKc/RZwCI93KdAM/s400/HB25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXUrEnWsI/AAAAAAAACKk/hNxwCvVxxBU/s1600/DSC00031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXUrEnWsI/AAAAAAAACKk/hNxwCvVxxBU/s400/DSC00031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXVvKty2I/AAAAAAAACKs/OZXP44eFtBo/s1600/DSC00036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TCkXVvKty2I/AAAAAAAACKs/OZXP44eFtBo/s200/DSC00036.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-81419823476764782042010-06-19T22:05:00.000-07:002010-06-19T22:10:45.727-07:00This Week In CUTE.I've been a bad blogger. It's been a rough month, to say the absolute least. But alas... a new video has emerged! From out of the stress and fog emerges CUTENESS!<br />
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The first scene was taken moments before washing and eating blackberries we picked from our backyard. The berries were a complete surprise and since they showed up, we'd anticipated the sweet day they'd ripen. YUM! It makes me want to grow vegetables! There's something triumphant about eating a zucchini you'd watched blossom and grow, and a triumphant zucchini is much tastier than a purchased zucchini.<br />
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A quick scene shows the cats at the door... and their number one fan.<br />
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Are you ready for a new level of cute? New decibels of laughter? Get ready and don't say I didn't warn you! She gets <i>really</i> wound up right before bedtime. She gets hyper and in a good mood, so Brad can't help himself. Amazing what parents will do millions of times just to hear their kid laugh. (But it's so worth it!)<br />
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<object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EDGoPa_Pbak&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EDGoPa_Pbak&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-29571519922452007042010-05-28T23:39:00.000-07:002010-05-28T23:40:31.089-07:00Aha!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACu2ZtK9BI/AAAAAAAAB_0/-C7amArsZfs/s1600/100_1824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACu2ZtK9BI/AAAAAAAAB_0/-C7amArsZfs/s400/100_1824.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACu7ij2gaI/AAAAAAAAB_8/Dm9AqbJCfSc/s1600/100_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACu7ij2gaI/AAAAAAAAB_8/Dm9AqbJCfSc/s400/100_1825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvAmMg_3I/AAAAAAAACAE/l6zOzYUVLZo/s1600/100_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvAmMg_3I/AAAAAAAACAE/l6zOzYUVLZo/s400/100_1826.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvGOTpQEI/AAAAAAAACAM/mU4UK-Vwtv0/s1600/100_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvGOTpQEI/AAAAAAAACAM/mU4UK-Vwtv0/s400/100_1827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvLZ_DvEI/AAAAAAAACAU/AzVcJebkyjw/s1600/100_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvLZ_DvEI/AAAAAAAACAU/AzVcJebkyjw/s400/100_1830.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvQwEg3zI/AAAAAAAACAc/xpJ2rY77EfM/s1600/100_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvQwEg3zI/AAAAAAAACAc/xpJ2rY77EfM/s400/100_1831.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvWaO5oaI/AAAAAAAACAk/k3gKAwf-Utc/s1600/100_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvWaO5oaI/AAAAAAAACAk/k3gKAwf-Utc/s400/100_1834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
That last picture is my favorite because it's so unlike her. It's a worried, <i>oh my goodness gracious</i> face, but it actually comes from her impersonation of Boober from Fraggle Rock. In the Fraggle Rock theme song, Boober sort of mutters the last line to himself, then says hmph! That's her favorite part!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACztGiIm3I/AAAAAAAACA0/KzXbLYL-upk/s1600/Boober+Fraggle+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACztGiIm3I/AAAAAAAACA0/KzXbLYL-upk/s320/Boober+Fraggle+Rock.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmph!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, it's worth mentioning to you other failed cooks out there: DON'T BUY CHEF-BOYARDEE PIZZA KITS! It will only make you feel worse about your seemingly innate failure to blossom in your kitchen. You'll get a sad pizza no matter how much you roll and pinch at the dough, strain to evenly layer the sauce, and don't even get me started on the "cheese" which is usually a priority when it comes to pizza, but with Chef Boyardee it's even worse than sprinkling parmesan cheese because it burnt so easily.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvfjzoxkI/AAAAAAAACAs/0C7Hf0qMUe0/s1600/100_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/TACvfjzoxkI/AAAAAAAACAs/0C7Hf0qMUe0/s320/100_1837.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's what you'll get! Halle and I took a couple of bites and dumped it. The whole thing. Into the garbage. The crust wasn't crunchy-gummy, it broke a pizza slicer. Don't buy the Chef Boyardee Pizza Kit! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-21998304584063025452010-05-28T20:23:00.000-07:002010-05-28T20:23:42.224-07:00Tried To Upload Some Photos But...my laptop is rejecting my memory card.<br />
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Halle had me cracking UP today! She's got a great sense of humor and sometimes I don't get the joke as quickly as I should...<br />
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For lunch, Halle was eating a hot dog with some olives on the side. At one point, Halle said, "too much hot dog, Mommy."<br />
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So I asked her, "do you want another olive now?"<br />
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To which she replied, "Yeah. Doggies."<br />
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I was confused for a minute... "Doggies?" I said. Then it hit me. Our dog named Olive. She wants an olive.<br />
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I said, "Ohhh, you want a doggy named Olive!" <br />
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And then guess what she did? She slapped her knee. With a mouth full of olive. <br />
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You've got to keep on your toes with this girl!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-78527381753879214562010-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:002010-05-20T20:41:31.716-07:00She Does Take After Me After All!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She wouldn't be a child of mine if she didn't have an irrational phobia here or there. Who <i>knew</i> Carousels would reduce her to morbid wonder? Last weekend, my parents and I went to Burlington's City Park, which is a sudden, small town, mini-amusement park bursting with laughing screams and rolling wurlitzer tunes. All of her favorite things were there: airplanes, trains, boats, and carousel figurines such as horses, cats, rabbits, even pigs... none of these things can carry her interest whenever it's too loud. She wanted to make the Carousel stop and yet she wanted to understand why other kids loved it, much less tolerated it. We wandered from the train (<i>also</i> too scary) for some strawberry ice cream. <br />
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This is pre-ice cream Halle:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X9KhjUMnI/AAAAAAAAB8I/SUJT228wIFA/s1600/saturday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X9KhjUMnI/AAAAAAAAB8I/SUJT228wIFA/s400/saturday6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">....somebody</span> <span style="font-size: small;">pick</span> <span style="font-size: large;">me</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">UUUUPPPP!</span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But post-ice cream Halle was much more lackadaisical!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X8_vXu75I/AAAAAAAAB7g/4SVYJtj-wZE/s1600/saturday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X8_vXu75I/AAAAAAAAB7g/4SVYJtj-wZE/s400/saturday1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_eEhOOsI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/bkq6XRf3XCg/s1600/saturday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_eEhOOsI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/bkq6XRf3XCg/s400/saturday2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_g6yJD7I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/KOkEMlIc2_0/s1600/saturday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_g6yJD7I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/KOkEMlIc2_0/s400/saturday3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_iYBnPlI/AAAAAAAAB8g/m8cqnTcPSG8/s1600/saturday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_iYBnPlI/AAAAAAAAB8g/m8cqnTcPSG8/s400/saturday4.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_js7fj2I/AAAAAAAAB8o/aILSgatTFfA/s1600/saturday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_X_js7fj2I/AAAAAAAAB8o/aILSgatTFfA/s400/saturday5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-38514057082266699432010-05-17T15:06:00.000-07:002010-05-17T15:06:38.947-07:00Silly Boys.Halle got to play with my adorable cousins, Max and Luke, on Saturday. They get such a kick out of entertaining her, and they're always so careful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4E01O89I/AAAAAAAAB5g/6Ig0EPiyF-A/s1600/100_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4E01O89I/AAAAAAAAB5g/6Ig0EPiyF-A/s400/100_1799.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4XZ4Dd5I/AAAAAAAAB5o/kLx-iE4ecJA/s1600/100_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4XZ4Dd5I/AAAAAAAAB5o/kLx-iE4ecJA/s400/100_1800.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4qtVZNQI/AAAAAAAAB5w/ufuC56OYrqc/s1600/100_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G4qtVZNQI/AAAAAAAAB5w/ufuC56OYrqc/s400/100_1804.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G47z5AsGI/AAAAAAAAB54/ilTv62C6oWU/s1600/100_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G47z5AsGI/AAAAAAAAB54/ilTv62C6oWU/s400/100_1805.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5L7q_WpI/AAAAAAAAB6A/nvFddfIaKTc/s1600/100_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5L7q_WpI/AAAAAAAAB6A/nvFddfIaKTc/s400/100_1806.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5exmHfyI/AAAAAAAAB6I/4I820K-KO8w/s1600/100_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5exmHfyI/AAAAAAAAB6I/4I820K-KO8w/s400/100_1807.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5xy-oeZI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/h3VsNWQxCSA/s1600/100_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G5xy-oeZI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/h3VsNWQxCSA/s400/100_1808.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6FHuEsAI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/_snDSr_hYmg/s1600/100_1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6FHuEsAI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/_snDSr_hYmg/s400/100_1809.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6OGSwbtI/AAAAAAAAB6g/RB1IKK6WlHU/s1600/100_1811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6OGSwbtI/AAAAAAAAB6g/RB1IKK6WlHU/s400/100_1811.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6VrU7JsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/RODMd5XG_dA/s1600/100_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6VrU7JsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/RODMd5XG_dA/s400/100_1814.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6jUFeEDI/AAAAAAAAB6w/65_dd__UJFc/s1600/100_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6jUFeEDI/AAAAAAAAB6w/65_dd__UJFc/s400/100_1818.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6wpXVE6I/AAAAAAAAB64/KtuveKufAzo/s1600/100_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G6wpXVE6I/AAAAAAAAB64/KtuveKufAzo/s400/100_1819.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G69k330qI/AAAAAAAAB7A/zqzmjlFm6L0/s1600/100_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G69k330qI/AAAAAAAAB7A/zqzmjlFm6L0/s400/100_1820.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G7L4XcB6I/AAAAAAAAB7I/VqLCuKporvU/s1600/100_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S_G7L4XcB6I/AAAAAAAAB7I/VqLCuKporvU/s400/100_1822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b-sGKkxOFMo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b-sGKkxOFMo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-43839466814322070842010-05-14T14:50:00.000-07:002010-05-14T14:50:09.774-07:00Hamming it up between tricks.What can I say, the child is brilliant. She also knows... and this may come as a shock... how to be downright SILLY. Toddlers. They're eager little sponges when they're not eager to make you laugh. And she's eager alright.<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SxJjyJhD-hs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SxJjyJhD-hs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
As a side-note, I'd like to mention that sillyness IS something I encourage. She knows a lot more letters than that. Just sayin'.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-60291455266788404072010-05-12T07:13:00.000-07:002010-05-12T07:14:01.206-07:00Rain, Rain, Go Away<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnicYAyxFGo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnicYAyxFGo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-47616015656410906942010-05-08T21:00:00.000-07:002010-05-08T21:00:40.037-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-Yp3491eeI/AAAAAAAAB3c/EAglcD4S6rY/s1600/1124974040_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-Yp3491eeI/AAAAAAAAB3c/EAglcD4S6rY/s640/1124974040_l.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Bottom, from Left: Me, Robin, and Richie. Top, from left: Robbie, Mom, and Dad)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I wasn't exactly cherubic. </b></div><br />
During my childhood, my Mother was a neverending well of encouragement, grace, and patience. Every poem, painting, or puff-paint t-shirt I made was received as a four-star masterpiece. She always knew the right thing to say, whether to put me at ease or put me in my place. I struggle to manage myself with her aplomb and be as calm and composed as consistently as she was.<br />
<br />
During my teenage years, I gave her a run for her money. I wouldn't be surprised if there were days she didn't recognize me. I would lie, complain, skip homework, break curfew and defiantly light candles in my room. I even left them burning one day! I was a heart attack. She loved me anyway; she engaged me in conversation, listened when I spoke, wasn't afraid to roll her eyes and say "Oh, Goll..." but never discouraged me from being myself.<br />
<br />
As a 25 year old mother now myself, she is still emotionally educating me. My mother is still the person I call in the middle of a kitchen catastrophe or when I suspect my daughter has contracted the Mad-Avian-Swine Flu. She's a Mommypedia but even when she doesn't have all the answers, she offers invaluable reassurance. Sometimes she laughs at me. Sometimes all three at once. The point is, I would be uninspired, wild, and skittish without my Mom. I would be a feral cat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-Ypnw1sVqI/AAAAAAAAB3U/XJYzRnTUHkU/s1600/Christmas+2007+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-Ypnw1sVqI/AAAAAAAAB3U/XJYzRnTUHkU/s320/Christmas+2007+116.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-21721162726630672942010-05-07T10:55:00.000-07:002010-05-07T11:03:03.664-07:00Happy Almost Mothers' Day! It's a little early, but in the spirit of Mothers' Day, I decided to post a few links to get everyone into the Mothers' Day spirit! And to remind those of you ingrates who may have forgotten to buy or make a card that your time is running OUT. <i>Your Mama raised you better than that.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RTuxol3TI/AAAAAAAAB28/yd6Dv0JuoBU/s1600/Elliott+Erwitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RTuxol3TI/AAAAAAAAB28/yd6Dv0JuoBU/s400/Elliott+Erwitt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.binscorner.com/pages/n/no-matter-how-busy-you-are-but-share-som.html">No Matter How Busy You Are But Show Some Love to Your Parents </a></div> This first link is to an outright Shel Silverstein rip-off, and even though that should bother me, it's just so cute and quirky! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RT13xoiCI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Fkq4y7sKwNk/s1600/Sergio+Pessolano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RT13xoiCI/AAAAAAAAB3E/Fkq4y7sKwNk/s400/Sergio+Pessolano.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2010/02/16">Somebody's Mother</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found this poem on one of my favorite poetry sites, The Writer's Almanac. It has less to do with mothers and more to do with the elderly, but it's still a sweet story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RT-bTGq6I/AAAAAAAAB3M/wQFzEX-zpLM/s1600/black-white-mother-child-woman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S-RT-bTGq6I/AAAAAAAAB3M/wQFzEX-zpLM/s400/black-white-mother-child-woman.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of posting this last link, I'll go ahead and post it here. It's so true. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>For All Moms</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>(Past, Present and Possibly Future) </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually <br />
mentions that she and her husband are thinking of <br />
"starting a family." <br />
<br />
"We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do <br />
you think I should have a baby?" <br />
<br />
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping <br />
my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more <br />
sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous <br />
vacations...." <br />
<br />
But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my <br />
daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want <br />
her to know what she will never learn in childbirth <br />
classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds <br />
of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a <br />
mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw <br />
that she will forever be vulnerable. <br />
<br />
I consider warning her that she will never again <br />
read a newspaper without asking "What if that had <br />
been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house <br />
fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of <br />
starving children, she will wonder if anything could <br />
be worse than watching your child die. <br />
<br />
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish <br />
suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she <br />
is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the <br />
primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. <br />
<br />
That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop <br />
a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's <br />
hesitation. <br />
<br />
I feel I should warn her that no matter how many <br />
years she has invested in her career, she will be <br />
professionally derailed by motherhood. <br />
<br />
She might arrange for childcare, but one day she <br />
will be going into an important business meeting and <br />
she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will <br />
have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep <br />
from running home, just to make sure her baby is all <br />
right. <br />
<br />
I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions <br />
will no longer be routine. That a five year old <br />
boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the <br />
women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. <br />
That right there, in the midst of clattering trays <br />
and screaming children, issues of independence and <br />
gender identity will be weighed against the prospect <br />
that a child molester may be lurking in that <br />
restroom. <br />
<br />
However decisive she may be at the office, she will <br />
second-guess herself constantly as a mother. <br />
<br />
Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure <br />
her that eventually she will shed the pounds of <br />
pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about <br />
herself. That her life, now so important, will be of <br />
less value to her once she has a child. That she <br />
would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, <br />
but will also begin to hope for more years -- not to <br />
accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child <br />
accomplish theirs. <br />
<br />
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny <br />
stretch marks will become badges of honor. My <br />
daughter's relationship with her husband will <br />
change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she <br />
could understand how much more you can love a man <br />
who is careful to powder the baby or who never <br />
hesitates to play with his child. I think she should <br />
know that she will fall in love with him again for <br />
reasons she would now find very unromantic. <br />
<br />
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will <br />
feel with women throughout history who have tried to <br />
stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. <br />
<br />
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration <br />
of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to <br />
capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is <br />
touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the <br />
first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so <br />
real, it actually hurts. <br />
<br />
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that <br />
tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret <br />
it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, <br />
squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer <br />
for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal <br />
women who stumble their way into this most wonderful <br />
of callings. This blessed gift . . . that <br />
of being a Mother.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">via <a href="http://www.robinsweb.com/inspiration/forthemoms.html">RobinsWeb.com</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562858810429075213.post-29063097396610166322010-04-29T16:27:00.000-07:002010-04-29T16:27:41.508-07:00Do You Know Why I Pulled You Over Today, Ma'am?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S9oUsdRvECI/AAAAAAAAB18/aKPTqQNYE_w/s1600/sunglasses+pose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S9oUsdRvECI/AAAAAAAAB18/aKPTqQNYE_w/s400/sunglasses+pose.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Also, Halle can now write the letter H... should she be able to do that? Am I raising a <a href="http://www.cartoonspot.net/family-guy/images-family-guy/Stewie-Griffin-A.gif">Stewie Griffin</a>? Do I need to watch my back?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2