tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49002953565832676572024-03-13T23:16:12.159-04:00We are outnumbered !Just a place to jot down our happenings!Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-85192789735513262082013-02-10T22:00:00.000-05:002013-02-10T22:00:11.768-05:00Going to try to start blogging again<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not sure how dedicated I am going to be to blogging. And let me all warn you there will probably be A LOT! of Disney ramblings as I am in the process of planning our trip in October. It will be almost seven years since our last trip and the first time we are staying onsite. I am just a little excited. <br /><br />I remember that excitement when we took Zac for the first time, seeing Disney through your child's eyes is truly one of life's magical moments and this time I get to see the expression and wide eyes of Cassidy and Jax.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So right now when I have spare time I am usually surfing Disney sites and reading my "Unofficial Guide to Disney World." Trying to prepare as much as possible before our trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other news, Cassidy is thriving in kindergarten. She is so sweet, she's made so many friends. We just enrolled Jax in a pre-k class. He would be eligible for kindergarten in the fall, but feel he could use another year under his belt before he starts "real" school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's day!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-83046671811537167682009-08-29T15:40:00.003-04:002009-08-29T15:52:46.769-04:00Why does it always seem . . .<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>that most things in my household are the EXCEPTION to the rules.<div>I was reading an article the other day about fertility. It stressed that 35 is not a magic number and a woman's fertility doesn't drop drastically, in reality it doesn't take a nosedive til age 38 --- hmmmm the year I got preggers with Cassidy and really falls off the charts at 40, HAHAHA when I got preggers with Jaxon! </div><div><br /></div><div>The article got me thinking about other things my family seems to buck the trend on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Boys are harder to potty-train than girls --- Well, Zac was trained at a little over 2 and never had an accident. We are finally starting to make progress with Cassidy at age 2 1/2 (after much stubbornness and "NOs") and a few accidents, but not too bad. We'll see where Jaxon falls on the spectrum in another year or so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Formula fed babies are sicker than breastfed babies (DISCLAIMER!!!!! I am NOT suggesting that breastfeeding is not the best for your baby, it just never worked for me, I blame my boobs!) Zachary has been on antibiotics twice in his life -- age 4 for his first and only ear infection and at age 7 for a mild case of walking pneumonia where he actually threw a tantrum because he had to miss school for two days because he felt fine. Cassidy has had one sick appt in her 2 1/2 years and Jax has had 2 in his first year. I do believe (DISCLAIMER AGAIN!! this is my thoughts for my kids) that this has very little to do with how they were fed as babies and more to do with the heredity because Chuck and I are never sick either.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I know there are a couple more, but at the moment I hear that naptime is over, so I will stop here . . . . oh yeah --- I LOVE my in-laws! LOL</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and here is a scrapbook page I made earlier this week, I am becoming addicted to digital scrapping and having so much fun doing it. That is my mom, I look NOTHING like her! I was always jealous of her darker complexion and dark hair --- can you believe as a child I hated being BLONDE! :D</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuutlfFkMl6IYlIX0UD6KrELlsUNC67h9wujY40ToDGuev3DOHIUgZNkBMe57JNLiLEPgGSOZU2IK71WY8g8QQSPv75wfPcgZLMIkfgMf_UfFk-C4Z4_9VRuHwSaWdfvOEQbvChJugzXs/s400/smallergrandma.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375475716101352450" /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-52716987801890585872009-08-08T14:06:00.004-04:002009-08-08T14:18:08.892-04:00Where Did These Adorable Kids Come From ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo5jFQTG27ELaDb2ufRovWMDVAvBiuX1ZQ4oYpMifY2IZmfksxSZ43vrwBLvQDhDD74B_uZnuG51X6DXJFMnm1Rf1O63E1OsbylSjiDGdr6Sd-HwuLWfbSgFYq31dbUoswTmJrDHcB-o/s1600-h/625007153_31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo5jFQTG27ELaDb2ufRovWMDVAvBiuX1ZQ4oYpMifY2IZmfksxSZ43vrwBLvQDhDD74B_uZnuG51X6DXJFMnm1Rf1O63E1OsbylSjiDGdr6Sd-HwuLWfbSgFYq31dbUoswTmJrDHcB-o/s400/625007153_31.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656803133049234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5FVB0fngM9SemkpVHSaIsZW7ljCV571km_1gtNSb19cEli2RnjoZyBisYBUuNGBsqq4vmSVo5Wvdg5RVVOrHqaDuxKcmb7bbc2VDr3-r6gp-dZuwo3BKjeq_bAR31ci5zy3C4UKlzMU/s1600-h/625007153_26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5FVB0fngM9SemkpVHSaIsZW7ljCV571km_1gtNSb19cEli2RnjoZyBisYBUuNGBsqq4vmSVo5Wvdg5RVVOrHqaDuxKcmb7bbc2VDr3-r6gp-dZuwo3BKjeq_bAR31ci5zy3C4UKlzMU/s400/625007153_26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656570720173138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimLypu0q0Q3gEyv6lMc1QGxZCMsJBZ2RP36eJOi9AnFzj9Sk6zcTIyO4fFi1ToviHepKhiNzjS2PaDAJTRbfT0fr-DcAOQmITBALWiW-Hu86lRpjayfMJANEyjZ1m1IsnkxBn7M2TZak/s1600-h/625007153_22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimLypu0q0Q3gEyv6lMc1QGxZCMsJBZ2RP36eJOi9AnFzj9Sk6zcTIyO4fFi1ToviHepKhiNzjS2PaDAJTRbfT0fr-DcAOQmITBALWiW-Hu86lRpjayfMJANEyjZ1m1IsnkxBn7M2TZak/s400/625007153_22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656562350414850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtieb7fdzjDlfuVkMrinRZnI89ibQXOsG4lpXGSgcor9T-EVEPzj-wcqTeMK6LiEnR6-Uxq-XjVQNk0npeBk0TisHN_GJoVV3L1ZpWL2o0tpuqxGr0D1ZSPKOMAphu8S6pa0oBn8W4Sk/s1600-h/625007153_17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtieb7fdzjDlfuVkMrinRZnI89ibQXOsG4lpXGSgcor9T-EVEPzj-wcqTeMK6LiEnR6-Uxq-XjVQNk0npeBk0TisHN_GJoVV3L1ZpWL2o0tpuqxGr0D1ZSPKOMAphu8S6pa0oBn8W4Sk/s400/625007153_17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656558131605538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o2_N4l6Vs5LfK4NPJdqdF3e2S4d27AkI8lwWs53cAUzpkDjGXfGjwBO0FLOW-rWrmNizkIEwuldM2d_-6e35SHBQj0d3_dzBPQwj5zDFH-rjNGZLRH4DgQAIy5HkNtwISLEKYRcl8K8/s1600-h/625007153_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o2_N4l6Vs5LfK4NPJdqdF3e2S4d27AkI8lwWs53cAUzpkDjGXfGjwBO0FLOW-rWrmNizkIEwuldM2d_-6e35SHBQj0d3_dzBPQwj5zDFH-rjNGZLRH4DgQAIy5HkNtwISLEKYRcl8K8/s400/625007153_09.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656554629522626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfq-BgBTx37XTRJfJfXq7H4ohjhtRrmSIad6h3b-EtXH5ZEKJDfCzWexhYszYv_qzicE1ByoTEOEaBa47Gco4mDtkiLvOl8Q50by8vbNy9Meh-SIaD-tQPAgxYlpArmqOY2xzjCCUKWRk/s1600-h/625007153_03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfq-BgBTx37XTRJfJfXq7H4ohjhtRrmSIad6h3b-EtXH5ZEKJDfCzWexhYszYv_qzicE1ByoTEOEaBa47Gco4mDtkiLvOl8Q50by8vbNy9Meh-SIaD-tQPAgxYlpArmqOY2xzjCCUKWRk/s400/625007153_03.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367656554415780546" /></a><br /><div>Holy Crap! I can't believe Jaxon turned a year old. It honestly feels like yesterday when I was thinking possibly maybe I might be pg, but in reality after all those years of NEVER actually being pregnant who was I kidding.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was a bit panicked when the reality of having two under two set in. But now that we are a year into it I can honestly say it was not nearly as hard as I thought. Cassidy is still a pretty happy and easy going child. She rarely gets annoyed with Jaxon is even more mellow than her. They both take nice naps in the afternoon to help with my sanity and the fact that Chuck works from home Wed & Fri also helps. Zac has helped this summer, not often, because I hate to ask him to help with the kids too much, I don't want him to resent them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today's picture sessions went incredibly well. The gal taking the photos was just wonderful. Cassidy was being a bit defiant about the idea of having her photo taken so we started with Jax. Of course that smiley boy was easy pickings for the photographer. Then the photographer asked Cassidy if she wanted to take the pictures, of course, this worked like a charm and a couple wonderful pictures of Cassidy followed. The most difficult picture, as I'm sure you can imagine, was getting the three of them together. The boys were easy, but getting Cassidy situated close enough to Zac was the trickiest, she kept moving off a little by herself. But in the end we got a beautiful family picture that we will cherish for years. It captures their personalities -- Cassidy, our little diva; Jaxon, our little clown; and Zac, our smartass! and I say that with love.</div><div><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-72947132261931089802009-06-15T10:56:00.003-04:002009-06-15T11:22:04.126-04:00A FAN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OHJeRj4uZmpeTnQYWxunG9Rt-OZLxV3q4Hs70nqpne7oyAXjWeuQSWIFWuHI1yoOyp7TyaZD02epZks3bMmkE0hTQ6zFty5AXS0HkdBJduXjfX5cN5GHYPv3Tl91h_en0eiV8ljOi60/s1600-h/pensteam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OHJeRj4uZmpeTnQYWxunG9Rt-OZLxV3q4Hs70nqpne7oyAXjWeuQSWIFWuHI1yoOyp7TyaZD02epZks3bMmkE0hTQ6zFty5AXS0HkdBJduXjfX5cN5GHYPv3Tl91h_en0eiV8ljOi60/s400/pensteam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347574573376768994" /></a><br />Anyone who really knows me, knows I'm a hockey nut. I'm a fan of the game as well as a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I believe a fan follows their team through thick and thin and accepts when heir team struggles and still proudly wears their team's apparrel. Then there are fans (I'm related to one) who come out of the woodwork when the playoffs roll around and their team is making a run for the championship. They couldn't name the coach of the team or name players that were traded during the season, etc. but gladly jump on the coat tails of the team.<div><br /></div><div>Also being a fan means accepting defeat graciously. Maybe having watched my child play sports for over 10 years make you realize that calls get screwed up, any team can beat any team on any given day -- that's why you play 9 innings, 3 periods, 4 quarters. It's not over til it's over. AND as important as skill is, luck has more to do with winning then some people would care to admit. A lucky bounce this way or that, a rebound in the right direction, etc. may make the difference in a game. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have a handful of very close friends who like me are Penguins faithful, through thick and thin wear our Pens gear, display our team on our vehicles, even when earlier this season things looked grim and there was a coaching change. It's a long season and while I certainly didn't get to see as many games as I would have liked, I often followed the games online. </div><div><br /></div><div>After all these years I've learned it's best to do my talking when the game is OVER and not before, and not to whine, which makes this victory so much sweeter. I know I have enjoyed my team as a gracious fan.</div><div><br /></div><div>So with that said, Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins, I am so very proud to be a fan.</div><div><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-4008184310280875122009-05-07T08:58:00.003-04:002009-05-07T09:35:36.784-04:00When it rains it pours!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RZgytVkFYWv2sK2H0797sJZREqgt9-zgsGaiCWsGx3UpnGuVD3oHxeHGWqy7aQUmt6ZV06yJLOGiFKi4KF0U_t4s-EQck5PCO_eU8HeH9KFx7c_0JVrBMdkPQwJcnvB3v35iE9mR69o/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RZgytVkFYWv2sK2H0797sJZREqgt9-zgsGaiCWsGx3UpnGuVD3oHxeHGWqy7aQUmt6ZV06yJLOGiFKi4KF0U_t4s-EQck5PCO_eU8HeH9KFx7c_0JVrBMdkPQwJcnvB3v35iE9mR69o/s400/022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333075084854457922" /></a><br />It's been an eventful week. Apparently we wanted to keep with the dreary weather with our dreary events. I would like to see the sun for more than an hour or two, maybe today, before the next rain system comes through. But on the bright side, the "unsettled" weather is supposed to be gone for Mother's day and next week looks brighter.<div><br /></div><div>On Saturday we were rearended. It was quite a big hit, the guy must have totally been not paying attention. We were on our way to Zac's baseball game and it was a field we had never been too before, so we weren't driving all that fast as we were looking for a road (out in the boonies where the GPS didn't work). We saw the road and Chuck stopped to turn left . . . lots of oncoming traffic. We both looked behind because it was a quicker stop, but the car was about 2 blocks behind us, so neither of us continued to watch him and waited to make the left. All of a sudden we heard screaching, in that split second I was looking around thinking who is that? never thinking it was the guy behind us. And then BAM!! Of course, as soon as it was done I was screaming, are the kids ok, are the kids ok? Jaxon cried for about 20 seconds as I think he was startled out of a doze. Zac proudly announced that it was the "THIRD" accident he's been in (none were all fault). Zac was closest to impact as he was in the third row of the van, but he was fine and quickly crawled out. The guy did try to get around us, but didn't quite make it, so our major damage is the back passenger side of the van and his front driver side was a mess. He screwed up his axle and the car was not drivable.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most important thing, of course, is that we are all fine. Zac's neck was sore a bit the next day, but we haven't heard any complaints since. And I've learned not to ask, if it bothers him he'll say something, if I say something it just reminds him to get some sympathy! ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>We will be replacing two car seats and will need a rental for about a week (the adjuster figured we'd be out of the van for at least that long). Since fitting two car seats and a teenager in the back of Chuck's car would not be a pretty sight, we will have to get a rental. Which is all covered by insurance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Sunday, Jaxon was especially cranky. He still tried to smile and be happy, but he just would cry all of a sudden. No fever, BUT an occasional tug on the ear. So since he wasn't sleeping well either, I decided on a Monday morning pediatrician visit. As all you moms know, calling the peds on a Monday morning is so much fun, NOT. </div><div><br /></div><div>So Monday morning rolls around and I'm greeted by a smiling infant AND a feverish, snotty toddler, who was on her way to losing her voice. Normally, I wouldn't have taken Cassidy to the ped because she gets a cold like this every 6 months or so, but since I was already going I made an appt for both. I was only on hold about ten minutes and had an appt for 9:40. Chuck had emailed work to say he was going to work from home, so he could help me with the kids and get the van stuff squared away. So we both went to the docs. Cassidy was quickly confirmed as a cold and Jaxon was confirmed with a double ear infection and prescribed bubble gum medicine.</div><div><br /></div><div>So a couple days later everyone is on the mend. Cassidy did lose her voice, but it's back in full force and Jaxon slept through the night last night and is back to normal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then yesterday when Zac came home from school he said his cell phone wasn't working (the screen would keep disappearing). Well it's only a couple months old and still under warranty, so I told him to get his butt outside and help dad with cutting the grass and we would probably have time to run to the AT&T store before his 8 o'clock game. So we head to the AT&T store, I stayed in the car with the munchkins for a while, until Jax was ready to get out. Then I ventured in with both kids. Luckily, things were moving quickly when I went in. They replaced Zac's phone without much fuss and we headed back to the van . . . buckled everyone in . . . and then CLICK CLICK CLICK -- the battery was dead. UGH!!! The lights and radio came on, so we knew it just needed a jump, but we didn't have cables. Now this wasn't the end of the world because across the street was an auto store, but we only needed a jump. Thankfully, our bestest friends were home and they only live about 5 minutes from where we were and Jim was there before we knew it giving us a jump. This is the 3rd or 4th time we've needed a jump in the last couple years (mostly due to Zac leaving something on in the van after we vacate it!) so Chuck is going for a new battery later today. We grabbed some Taco Bell and headed home and got Zac to his game on time -- HOWEVER, he was a whiney brat about it, because he likes to get there earlier than the coach asks so he can throw with one of his friends and proceeded to whine about it for the whole 2 minutes it takes to get to the field. I was in no mood and told him to stuff it because our household no longer only revolves around him!! I admit it did when he was the only one for 13 years, but gimme a break!</div><div><br /></div><div>So after dropping him off I run to my mom's to let her pooch out because they are on vacation and head home to make myself presentable because I'm working the concession stand. Kiss everyone goodnight and am excited that I get to miss out of bedtime duties for the first time in . . . FOREVER? no not really but feels like it. I get to the field with Zac's hat, because Mr. Whiner who was complaining I didn't get him there earlier enough forgot his hat. And as I'm watching them warmup I feel PLOP PLOP PLOP . . . not a light drizzle, but BIG drops. Oh joy. At least I'd be in the stand if it rains. Suffice to say, at 7:55 it decides to POUR. With all the rain we've had recently it didn't take long for our field to look like a big old mud puddle. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a 15 minute discussion with the umps (at least I was smart enough to grab an umbrella, since the parking lot is quite a distance) it was decided no game. So we headed home (first had to pick up my mom's dog cause he spends the night with Zac) and headed home. Everyone was asleep; Cassidy in her crib and Jaxon on Chuck's shoulder. Of course, about 90 minutes later our little fusspot woke up crying and didn't put himself back to sleep, so 15 minutes on my shoulder sent him off to dreamland and HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!! So I'm taking that as a sign that things are going to be getting brighter.</div><div><br /></div><div>And with that said, the sun has come out . . . even if it's just for the day.</div><div><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-54762580363773672222009-04-09T15:12:00.003-04:002009-04-09T16:06:27.520-04:00Lil bit of this and that<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6dq4c2GbzwSfoyweVWjiGMKzAioeBwx9v0P3IfmFuG1msS7A_k2DQz4O_yEdvpDOENXWwT3pDMIOkRGpg7IuaZf7pwOgm0cKguyqNNtPU-2f7iXniVhOpHrJ1bfOaLTkDoH0DOsdqfw/s1600-h/P4080091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6dq4c2GbzwSfoyweVWjiGMKzAioeBwx9v0P3IfmFuG1msS7A_k2DQz4O_yEdvpDOENXWwT3pDMIOkRGpg7IuaZf7pwOgm0cKguyqNNtPU-2f7iXniVhOpHrJ1bfOaLTkDoH0DOsdqfw/s400/P4080091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322772376318995554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF8rdW5wA-b1n8105Wukt_zmzSY-g0KIo1qa8U3R5bdkx3i205-yxi44LGtEReuLK0NwfN0XnVHsScUWKPl1741ojw7rB3yzRt9TKZpOdNlFqaUrlrvYdonl-3YrbHMFX7KqELp20QuE/s1600-h/P4080098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF8rdW5wA-b1n8105Wukt_zmzSY-g0KIo1qa8U3R5bdkx3i205-yxi44LGtEReuLK0NwfN0XnVHsScUWKPl1741ojw7rB3yzRt9TKZpOdNlFqaUrlrvYdonl-3YrbHMFX7KqELp20QuE/s400/P4080098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322772373077301970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU5G_lRR3BVqKNC6GrECW5occbzChJwjSq8on26T1SChGJht8lf2a9mtVMDbiy8s93EEArOLa3HxpENk837wu3enaBhia5XEC62pRyMsVOCOKWoIgA7r2pai6VR4Db8ggHRRxMcodsAU/s1600-h/P4080103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU5G_lRR3BVqKNC6GrECW5occbzChJwjSq8on26T1SChGJht8lf2a9mtVMDbiy8s93EEArOLa3HxpENk837wu3enaBhia5XEC62pRyMsVOCOKWoIgA7r2pai6VR4Db8ggHRRxMcodsAU/s400/P4080103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322772366937335698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCerrlhZhbcxTQyxHytdwszMA3Qucyut_0rRbmgvKR5VIutyiTlxSDO_sMyWN2idloEutXR5VPVeZVuColqKgTgh719drCW4NVr7gYEq9K-hvXdpO8l59Ls_04ZXgH7souGOjWDVFecc/s1600-h/P4080096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCerrlhZhbcxTQyxHytdwszMA3Qucyut_0rRbmgvKR5VIutyiTlxSDO_sMyWN2idloEutXR5VPVeZVuColqKgTgh719drCW4NVr7gYEq9K-hvXdpO8l59Ls_04ZXgH7souGOjWDVFecc/s400/P4080096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322772367315556466" /></a><br />So here are some pictures of the "coloring of the eggs". Things went pretty well, Cassidy didn't want to share the colors (no surprise there) and she certainly didn't understand the concept of being gentle with the eggs, so there are several cracked color eggs in the box. We will probably give it another go on Friday with another half dozen or so eggs. Zac loves hard-boiled eggs, so there's no worry about getting sick of egg salad here.<div><br /></div><div>On to other tidbits. Zac was actually ASKING for a haircut. I always promised myself that I would never whine about my kid getting a haircut. As long as he washes it on a regular basis and runs a brush through it, I swore I'd never be one of those parents who makes their kids get a haircut. So far I've been pretty good about it. So now that baseball started and he put a baseball hat on and got these cute little flippys under the hat, he has been bugging for a short haircut. Well if you can see above, it's not all that short, but he's happy with it, and that's fine with me. He had a gentleman cut his hair this time and gave him an edgier cut, so for now, he's content. Of course, I also noticed at dinner last night that he's sporting a hint of a mustache. Since he's so fair skinned and has blonde hair it isn't extremely noticeable, but it's there.</div><div><br /></div><div>And since several of my mommy friends have made "poop" posts over the last month or so I thought I'd have to share one. I don't think I ever mentioned that Cassidy has been diagnosed with a type of chronic diarrhea. Now it's not as bad as it sounds, it has to do with the fact that her movements are never solid, which always makes for a very messy cleanup. Luckily, she only goes every other day (sometimes even a bit longer) but when she does go, break out the wipes! So I am looking forward to when she gets a bit more interested potty training. For now she'll sit on the potty with the diaper, she'll tell me right after she poops with a loud "I'm STINKY!" </div><div><br /></div><div>This morning while cleaning up her toxic waste, it was so delightful to hear Jaxon behind me, grunting and pushing . . . . . Jaxon is a dainty pooper LOL. He prefers to leave me "little presents" several times a day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Weekend.</div><div><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-64435365662948901392009-04-02T10:29:00.003-04:002009-04-02T10:33:51.477-04:00Da Easter Bunny!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC57X1QzwcLKbKiS0zyHrgIw0eV_UxxR6dnhtxONiPEniWzNb015Nvg4d97JcqHod7i7jRJBkKrtZg12WbtgTv8Al0kcPDYNzgZSAsW5Tf450G__uRiYQDyJ0CLHquJxjIbNJdzgMju4/s1600-h/bunny09.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC57X1QzwcLKbKiS0zyHrgIw0eV_UxxR6dnhtxONiPEniWzNb015Nvg4d97JcqHod7i7jRJBkKrtZg12WbtgTv8Al0kcPDYNzgZSAsW5Tf450G__uRiYQDyJ0CLHquJxjIbNJdzgMju4/s400/bunny09.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320101253306247762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the picture from the Easter Bunny visit. If you notice Cassidy is not looking especially thrilled. Luckily, once again her big brother came to her rescue and sat with her. Notice the hand on her face. This is her "if I put my hand here, you can't see me" gesture. She does this at home when she doesn't want her diaper changed, or when someone comes over and she doesn't want to talk to them, this is her way to "hide".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jaxon was oblivious to da bunny and even tho Zac isn't smiling, he offered to be in the picture of his own free will because he knows teenage girls eat up these pics with him and his little brother and sister. He took a wallet picture and posted it on his facebook page. . . he is way "smoother" than his father ever was.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-7208299825248363692009-03-25T14:48:00.003-04:002009-03-25T15:28:34.332-04:00If you think babies are expensive . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXiYmYwYjJyTCl9VHiRFMRrMnapaYsUz6aXPs3I8Rxo18rFawgM_jHkKWZQWD3VlgO4jGIwYAAmMjvBw9ab5PqUT1e0E7_ZrUSS_tG0Lzw9AM1lw-i9kN09uI2rTjtpgT_jrKIbNNwKQ/s1600-h/P3140136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXiYmYwYjJyTCl9VHiRFMRrMnapaYsUz6aXPs3I8Rxo18rFawgM_jHkKWZQWD3VlgO4jGIwYAAmMjvBw9ab5PqUT1e0E7_ZrUSS_tG0Lzw9AM1lw-i9kN09uI2rTjtpgT_jrKIbNNwKQ/s400/P3140136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317208766438533490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She may look petrified, but she LOVES this slide . . . there's a little bump and she goes airborne and flies down this slide.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudQTumfsMw9jPdzRb4cNJK31W3w_TOg2TMUPeQrpzVzJ_UD-GAmQhLZvP86w-k0UvlfgKwFmNPg4-5OUuIEvaJT2l_vjNZ5axYoZKKQ-Nm28WchP78jYuCFtY7WmvADE4BhIofrvgkg/s1600-h/P3140134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudQTumfsMw9jPdzRb4cNJK31W3w_TOg2TMUPeQrpzVzJ_UD-GAmQhLZvP86w-k0UvlfgKwFmNPg4-5OUuIEvaJT2l_vjNZ5axYoZKKQ-Nm28WchP78jYuCFtY7WmvADE4BhIofrvgkg/s400/P3140134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317208767352817474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Jax take a slower side slide than little miss daredevil.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>When I look back to when Zac joined the family, I really don't see how he added that big of an expense to our way of living. Yes, I became a SAHM and lost my income, but our lifestyle changed immensely. We would eat out 5 times a week, and that didn't include the 5 or 6 buck lunches we'd buy at the work cafeterias every day. We bowled in a couple leagues, we went to movies regularly, we went out dancing/drinking at least once if not twice a week. Now I never was into clothes or fashion, but I did need to maintain a work wardrobe, etc. So most of those activities diminished. And even tho I formula fed (not my choice, but it is what it is . . . or was) and used disposables, I guess I didn't see it as a huge monthly expense.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, these with these two little peanuts I realize that babies are INEXPENSIVE!! I can feed Jaxon for less than $3 a day and it costs about a $1 a day to diaper both kids. Jax eats about $1.50 of formula a day and I'd guess about a $1.50 in yogurt, cereal and baby food. Cassidy probably costs about $5 a day to feed. Most of their toys are presents or I found at yard sales or Craigslist. Not so easy to find an almost new iPod touch at a bargain basement price at a yard sale ;)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't get past NOON to feed Zac for $3 . . . every morning starts with a huge bowl of cereal and or a couple poptarts and a glass of milk . . . his school lunch is $2 and then there's the 10 a.m. break he gets from class and he goes to the store and gets a bag of Jalapeno kettle chips every day . . . I however, do not fund his snack, that comes from his money he earns by doing various chores. We are extremely lucky because he probably eats more like $5 in lunch, but my SIL is a cashier in the lunch line and no matter how much stuff my kid piles on his tray she charges him for the basic lunch. I'm sure we'll have huge sticker shock next year and he'll have to reel in his eating habits next year when he will have lunch at his home school (he eats lunch at the Tech school this year).</div><div><br /></div><div>He comes home from school and heads straight to the pantry for a snack. Now, I remember why my parents always hid goodies, if you want to actually eat some of those chocolate covered pretzels you bought or hershey kisses or trail mix or cookies, you better hide them because they will vanish! You will open the pantry 4 days later and find ONE item left in whatever container you look in, because, Zac will never eat the LAST goodie. Dinner he eats as much as me or Chuck and of course there's that evening snack finished off with a HUGE glass of milk. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can find second hand clothes for 25 cents for the peanuts, consignment shops, yard sales, and handme downs outfit the peanuts 90% of the time. One pair of jeans for Zac is easily $20 and sneaks are about $25, and I can be thankful that he doesn't care that his clothes doesn't come from Hollister (SERIOUSLY a joke, IMO) or Kmart. I do get his jeans at Old Navy when they have a sale and Aerospastle has wonderful sales. Even tho we don't buy expensive items for him, his wardrobe, which is considerably smaller, than the peanuts probably costs twice as much as their wardrobes put together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there are the miscellaneous activities that pop up: $25 for a field trip, plus money for lunch, $100 to sign up for baseball, $35-40 for baseball cleets, $12 for baseball socks, $10 to repair a catcher's glove because a new one would cost $90. You try and convince him he doesn't need a new baseball bat (easily at least $100) and to use the one he has and use team bats, going to the movies with friends; hanging out at the hockey rink/baseball games (can I have money for a drink/snack?).</div><div><br /></div><div>I won't go into how much hockey costs, because that is a very expensive sport that many do not participate in, so that wouldn't be fair to compare that to the peanuts . . . but all those extracurricular activities cost money, there are dues for girl scouts/boy scouts; there are fees for karate/dance/gymnastics . . . and some have quite the price tag.</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you think babies are expensive . . . JUST WAIT!! </div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-48772884449410061612009-03-22T16:24:00.005-04:002009-03-22T16:47:58.593-04:00An early trip to the "Zoo"I have zoo in quotation marks because it's not really a zoo, I will never think of it as a zoo. It was called a game preserve for the better part of my 41 years, so I have a hard time thinking of it as anything other than that. It is very small, with a limited assortment of animals, that can be traversed leisurely in about 60-90 minutes.<div><br /></div><div>When Zac was little we got a season pass every year and we would go at least once a week, it was wonderful, we knew all the animals names from talking to staff, we could identify which arctic wolf was which and knew their favorite hiding spots, we saw a llama being born, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now that we have two little munchkins I am glad to say we will be frequenting our little game preserve again. This is wonderful because earlier this year there was a debate from the county that it would be cheaper to close it. Which would have been a huge bummer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish I was a more adventurous mom when it comes to driving, I'm a country bumpkin who prefers backroads to highways. I wish I would happily hop on the turnpike and travel 90 minutes to get to "The First Zoo in the USA" in Philly, but truth be told I am a complete wimp in heavy traffic ESPECIALLY when carrying such precious cargo as my children.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, we had a pretty warm day for early March and headed off to the game preserve. We were anxious to see the new animal exhibit! PENGUINS, we now have penguins, JACKASS penguins to be exact. And they did not disappoint. Unlike many of the animals, they didn't hide in their cave, hang back from the visitors. No sirree, these little guys were happy to swim and stand as close as the fence would allow.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IyN2G6f26GXdAvu0A1E0HUCWeyilla90xcvkgWVGLPzJfkRNLSnbInAmqFWaieZBhfV_79VDUUkhNI1T_fhri8j36wBuF5VzVQJ3SSZ_WEAuUrmxPLQyjr1D8QsvWcKjpxMD6rnyEdE/s400/P3070123.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316113300678395410" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Over the years of visiting the zoo, we have learned that the camels enjoy eating seed pods from the trees. Since half the pods land outside their enclosure we always are happy to treat them to the ones they can't get on their own.</div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnZrfBc1e7EC5wd-jWr4eD1JFbJf9bXNve11FknZhUkLJZ4qhv_dozudSs-BCVWSYt-VHcTpTfWV1Ub53ozHWhVR9c5ErK9ANecdJJxg2NfZB9sq7xUgCiR2bKkq2-XrMs4amiKnk8sY/s400/P3070120.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316113291966561730" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I was a toddler, my parents and grandparents have pictures of me feeding the animals in the petting zoo. Of course, in the day when parents weren't neurotic about a llama slobbering on their child or suing the zoo a deer nipping. So there are wonderful pictures of me feeding deer, llamas, sheep and goats. When Zac was little it had dwindled a couple llamas and goats.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, sadly, they just have goats. One of my most cherished pics of Zac is him sitting next to a baby llama and hugging his neck. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Stupid people ruin it for everyone, if you are worried your poor little angel </div><div style="text-align: center;">might get nipped or nudged or whatever, stay out!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EKRU6Zb_s9HnubSG14qdtKzwbQBAHK2Jj13GBxmWS4pYBJmL7MaGM_xXf5S1j0-BFWJMPXUdvUXbDwel2QbiQG5JNWJr1geV-9-UoOd9qpvAZfW78vERxBVtlcrRCU0qGsLatUurwkc/s400/P3070125.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316113284495247922" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Cassidy and the Jackass Penguins!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0LYQIEvYzqJr0vtV3HvWIGemdXjhhGE_gqHFwlsTDCSdZptq4DxKKj_aWRDE-SNkR5eIvzILTbZxcglLH-zCSB2kxHLkdbyzzKZfq1Zqa0gZEtSPeZOFHh0Tbk57pLPd8hTqmmxR_EE/s400/zacncj2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316113309313083506" /><div style="text-align: center;">This pic is too sweet for words.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-53180249660286044312009-03-14T22:55:00.002-04:002009-03-15T15:14:28.977-04:00Thank you, Jackie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj20wgcJPI0jBun5BbVrFpllbWn3txT1_-ppy9fN03fHi5LUcdc0__u7uCWZ-5kdWBmYeo_7XyeKTIXUF5qBqDvVRrju-u6d8mfEYCh1rT5Ds-dhRyzE31xzV-KDVPFnJX5dPaeBO6Hs/s1600-h/kreative_blogger_award.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj20wgcJPI0jBun5BbVrFpllbWn3txT1_-ppy9fN03fHi5LUcdc0__u7uCWZ-5kdWBmYeo_7XyeKTIXUF5qBqDvVRrju-u6d8mfEYCh1rT5Ds-dhRyzE31xzV-KDVPFnJX5dPaeBO6Hs/s400/kreative_blogger_award.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313243103594906754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 217, 255); line-height: 20px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The rules of the award state that I must list seven things I love, and then to pass the award on to seven bloggers I love to read. Here we go!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 things I love - aside from the obvious or previously mentioned...(my husband, kids, family...)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Well if I can't include family the first thing that pops to mind is BON JOVI, and along with him music in general. I have always loved music. I remember calling the radio station when I was about 10 and requesting Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce. I always loved the radio and making mixed tapes. When I was 10 my cousin gave me my first cassette that wasn't a tape off the radio. It was Heart's Little Queen, I wore that tape out . . . in case you aren't aware that was the Heart album with Barracuda. I played that song over and over again, so much so apparently that my dad learned it, and a friend at work whose wife made ceramics made him a fish and a mermaid, each with a tag -- one read "Barracuda" and the other red "Bare-cutie". This began my love affair with rock and roll, and eventually, in the early 80s, my love affair with Bon Jovi. My room was plastered with posters and I played their songs over and over. I am thrilled that even almost 30 years later they are still rocking their fans. Zac has been to a concert and enjoys some of their songs. ME, I love EVERYTHING except songs from This Left Feels So Right . . . their acoustical attempt to rearrange their classic songs, I just couldn't get the concept. But everything else, I could listen to over and over again. Jon just turned 47 on March 3, and damn if he don't make 47 look absolutely gorgeous!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. My iPod . . . This little gadget is so frikkin amazing, it has made me fall in love with music even more. I have a classic 20G ipod, it is just about full of my favorite tunes. I just made a playlist for Cassidy, so when she wants to dance, I just push a button. Zac has the iPod touch and that is even more amazing!!! Even Zac says, "what kind of gadgets will Cassidy and Jaxon have when they become teenagers". </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. My Computer/Internet -- I honestly think these things have helped keep me sane these last 15 plus years as a SAHM, it's probably been an important part of keeping my marriage pretty much bump-free. It allows me to connect to adults and talk about kids. For a long time (before the peanuts came along) I was a huge trivia player in chat rooms. I would play and host games, I started by asking trivia questions, but as I became more and more comfortable I would play my music and it was basically "name that tune & artist" . . . of course, everyone knew my games would have at least ONE Bon Jovi song if not more. I have made many friends online, those who don't frequent the internet will never understand. I even traveled to North Carolina for Snotfest ---- a beloved interned friend with the nickname Snotrokit, opened his home one weekend a year for anyone who was willing to make the trek. It has been going on for a few years now. We went in 2006 before I knew I was preggers and I haven't been able to get back since because of babies or pregnancy. I hope to get back in a couple years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. Sports -- Watching them. I also think this is a huge contributing factor to my happy marriage. I am perfectly happy to spend a Sunday watching football, hockey, or baseball (neither of us are basketball fans). I think when it comes to baseball I am a bit more obsessed than Chuck. Chuck runs a fantasy league and I take pride in being the only gal in it, I've won it a couple years and have always cashed in some winnings. I have a few rules for my fantasy teams -- NO YANKEES (booo hiss) and only cute guys . . . which isn't hard. My favorite players are catchers, probably has to do with Chuck being a catcher. I do miss him playing, he does get bugged to join an over 40 or over 45 league occasionally, but his knees are fragile and it's probably only a matter of time til he needs surgery so he's always leary . . . I would never tell him he couldn't. His baseball years were some of the best years of our lives and we made so many friends and had lots of great times.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5. My house -- although it has gotten quite a bit "smaller" since we moved in as a family of three, thinking we'd never have a child in the third bedroom . . . dubbed the "yellow room" for the first several years we lived here. Of course, now that's Cassidy's room now. I wouldn't be surprised if this girls favorite color is yellow, it is the first color she can consistently identify correctly. Of course when we found out about Jaxon it presented us with a dilemma . . . we gave Zac the option of the yellow room (the smaller of the kid's room) or moving into the basement . . . of course as most teenagers would choose, he picked the basement. It's his cave, he does usually come up in the evenings to watch tv with us. I also love my house because I am so close to my parents. Zac disappears to my parents often. We spend several nights a week in the warmer months sitting in their backyard (or my Aunt & Uncle's who live next door to my parents). My parents are so in love with these two little surprises it's ridiculous. I enjoy watching Zac go to the same schools I did, he's now in a newly built high school, but I'm so proud he plays Ice Hockey for my high school.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6. Sleep . . . this one really needs little explanation. Sleep is elusive for me many nights, I guess I have insomnia, I have never taken anything to help me sleep because of my dislike for most things medicinal. There are many nights I am looking at the clock 2 hrs later. So yes, I do like to sleep in when I get the chance.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7. Photos/scrapbooks . . . My house is filled with photographs, walls and shelves are cluttered with tons of frames. I also love to scrapbook. I have 8 scrapbooks for Zac and am working on books for the munchkins. Digital cameras make it so easy to take so many pictures and spend time picking the best ones to frame or tell the story of a day. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OK, I didn't nominate anyone for this award, because everyone's blog that I frequent has already got this reward. If I missed you, I'm sorry.</span></div></span>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-76685149278723960652009-03-09T14:40:00.005-04:002009-03-09T14:51:20.973-04:00Why<div>Why do the "holier than thous" insist that their God and their way is the only way. I have been told that I'm going to hell and quite honestly I'm fine with it, because if the God these people speak about is so nitpicky; my quirky, rebellious self doesn't belong behind the pearly gates.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, in conversation at a sporting event I was told I'm going to hell because I don't go to church every week. Now, I know the intended message behind this "threat" is to make me go to church every week. But if I truly believe that God is sitting up there with a scorecard and anyone that doesn't attend church regularly is going to hell, I don't want to go to heaven . . . . there won't be ANYONE I want to spend eternity with there.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My God doesn't care if I talk to him in a specific building at a specific time on a specific day. He's just as happy to listen to me while I lie in bed at night. There are lots of people who find something inside the walls of a church, I'm not one of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>So as the saying goes, It's not God I have a problem with, it's his FAN CLUB! </div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-34074703873881922742009-03-05T09:53:00.003-05:002009-03-05T09:56:54.886-05:00In Desperate Times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iYzYCHX_5K1_FkmG9eGWQBspXK1jYfZNhYf6JcqEPXGkXpDCzQbCaQG3oDQhsYVjxMQpMfkM2dFCu23-jlKAyZcg9KTFib7TcQF4FMKCsMoVU6gnD6PiZa8XSKfdkF_ouBq4hJKlMFY/s1600-h/P2190066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iYzYCHX_5K1_FkmG9eGWQBspXK1jYfZNhYf6JcqEPXGkXpDCzQbCaQG3oDQhsYVjxMQpMfkM2dFCu23-jlKAyZcg9KTFib7TcQF4FMKCsMoVU6gnD6PiZa8XSKfdkF_ouBq4hJKlMFY/s400/P2190066.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309717204183554546" /></a><br />Desperate times call for desperate measures. Jaxon drools more than my first two combined. He goes through about 3 or 4 bibs a day, I mean they are drenched. AND on top of that if the soaked bib is accessible to are bratty dog, she will steal it and head to her crate to chew a nice hole in it. So one morning when I opened the bib drawer it was bare . . . except for some pink and purple bibs, so yes, Jax is doning his first pink wardrobe item. Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-3416790317179501262009-02-10T07:32:00.003-05:002009-02-10T07:41:22.702-05:00MIA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvME0pK1Gwz_n49oHEsjGK4fO0OQ2P7A7We6G5LmIXCRfKrzwPGvZOea-Gom7484IKkxalSoAPgY1NI1skRm96ZbWB9VbJwVHL_LNiSGMFZqmY33aV8W4fVjzc11hbKejiLNDQ1H14ow/s1600-h/hedidit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvME0pK1Gwz_n49oHEsjGK4fO0OQ2P7A7We6G5LmIXCRfKrzwPGvZOea-Gom7484IKkxalSoAPgY1NI1skRm96ZbWB9VbJwVHL_LNiSGMFZqmY33aV8W4fVjzc11hbKejiLNDQ1H14ow/s400/hedidit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146292779633346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf9XiEGd8tP6nLYQhPhpGPlScXgy7-YFvibsMDtrVskpQcFL8qZVFXqCpYgY01C0DtoPm_MOpVgmRwm8aWAOm5FECxoiKKOds57c6a7YJxUPqvt9YRE9qDPV-biaoc2Ln4_b4auslz0w/s1600-h/cassidyeaster08.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf9XiEGd8tP6nLYQhPhpGPlScXgy7-YFvibsMDtrVskpQcFL8qZVFXqCpYgY01C0DtoPm_MOpVgmRwm8aWAOm5FECxoiKKOds57c6a7YJxUPqvt9YRE9qDPV-biaoc2Ln4_b4auslz0w/s400/cassidyeaster08.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146284796952690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvI87D_ggy0n4c0bD4clxmfIPB4Dit-bnQ3oQfEH658kNLLBsS9CnHwYzrKpWJeDijZYxYhZbXY-2tLZp2kRd1fdrOtQ96r-YwEwFQ4D6F5u5LEzus5Meodrk0amiELV_Oa3bJP29IAI/s1600-h/daddysgirl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvI87D_ggy0n4c0bD4clxmfIPB4Dit-bnQ3oQfEH658kNLLBsS9CnHwYzrKpWJeDijZYxYhZbXY-2tLZp2kRd1fdrOtQ96r-YwEwFQ4D6F5u5LEzus5Meodrk0amiELV_Oa3bJP29IAI/s400/daddysgirl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301146281786026066" /></a><br /><div>This is what I've been doing the last few weeks. I'm redoing all of Cassidy's scrapbook pages from last year and all of Jax's. I've barely made a dent. It took me a while to play with Photoshop Elements and figure out layers and all the other fun stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>I know many people prefer the paper scrapbook, and you know what, I did it for about 12 years and I enjoyed it immensely. Now trying to keep up with three kids and all my pictures are digital so it works out much better. I can find so much more elements (decorations) for my pages online than I could in a store. I can add the look of dimension without my books getting thicker. Plus it is SOOOOOO much cheaper. I can get a page printed out for about a dollar. There are many tutorials and freebies available. I'm hooked. Now all I have to do is catch up!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Above are a couple of the layouts I made in the last couple days and yes, I LOVE Photoshop!</div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-38974033206837058862009-01-26T13:39:00.005-05:002009-01-26T14:47:44.392-05:00I'd like to thank the academy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf5wTYfPDMUvNECd-0kVt6D01Yoo-ijUXMZwI_EOiF-WEeAcflsC5bqt7iDn3H6Fyfj_AY6J-Z-yRBykE9WaCDSNCg-pc6lFIfRzMCAJF2RsK7UjVInu4Qiy17T5KBl_-Vsp6DL0dGaE/s1600-h/th_Honest_Scrap_Award.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf5wTYfPDMUvNECd-0kVt6D01Yoo-ijUXMZwI_EOiF-WEeAcflsC5bqt7iDn3H6Fyfj_AY6J-Z-yRBykE9WaCDSNCg-pc6lFIfRzMCAJF2RsK7UjVInu4Qiy17T5KBl_-Vsp6DL0dGaE/s400/th_Honest_Scrap_Award.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295674387950284178" border="0" /></a><br />I have been given an award by MaryBeth over at <a href="http://irishembi.blogspot.com/">Because I Said So</a>. I recommend checking out her blog, she has a way with words.<br /><br />It is the Honest Scrap award, sorry, but I can't help but wondering if it should be Honest Crap award? The recipient of this award to list 10 honest things about themselves -- make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep. Pay attention because at the end of my 10 things, I'll be awarding the "Honest Scrap" award to seven lucky friends.<br /><br />Here we go:<br /><br />1) It was made abundantly clear that we frequent McDs too much for two reasons 1) Cassidy was in her car seat, talking to her window . . . or should I say "placing an order" to her window, she was saying "chicken nuggets and french fries". Also when we see the golden arches she starts saying in a deep voice "CHICKEN NUGGETS".<br /><br />2) I have always disliked my name "Danielle". When I was growing up it was a very odd name. I still have never met anyone that is older than me with my name. I spent many years in grade school correcting teachers on the first day of school that it wasn't "DANIEL". But I do love Dani, probably because I am and always have been a tomboy. Teachers used to confuse me and a boy in school, his name was Blaine. I always kept my hair short and despised girly clothes.<br /><br />3) Even tho I love our darling little pup Corki, in hindsight, she was a BAD decision made in grief. When we found out her mom died after delivery her litter and the breeder offered us a pup, we should have thought about it longer. Training a pup and raising a toddler does not mix, plus after agreeing to take a pup we found out another little surprise was on the way. It is 100% my (and Chuck's) fault that she is a chewer, we never trained her properly.<br /><br />4) I drink WAY WAY WAY too much Diet Coke. And for whatever reason, I prefer it from the fountain, so usually at least once a day one of us is making a "soda" run. Of course, while I will drink gallons of soda in a week; I have a cow if any passes Cassidy's lips. As a friend mentioned last week, if we mom's followed the "toddler diet" we be much fitter. Because we never let them eat the junk we do.<br /><br />5) I don't wear jewelry. I don't even wear my engagement/wedding rings. I have holes in my ears which only get filled on the rare occasion. The only thing I wear regularly is a necklace. I have a necklace my father made for me when I was about 10, he made silver jewelry and it's my name "DANI" that hangs vertically. Amazing I never lost it. I did give it to my first boyfriend and after we broke up, I had to steal it back, so I learned to never give it to anyone ever again.<br /><br />6) My favorite parts of the day include getting the peanuts dressed, for whatever reason, I totally enjoy picking out their clothes for their day. Of course, at that point, they are clean, stain-free, dry because they haven't drooled or spit up yet.<br /><br />7) I am addicted to finding bargains on kids items. Yard sales, craigslist, e-bay, consignment sales and I LOVE LOVE LOVE and appreciate hand-me downs. I'm looking forward to spring and the start of yard saling season. <br /><br />8) I get cabin fever, easily. After 15 years of being a SAHM, I have realized I need to get out of the house a couple times a week to stay sane and so the rest of the family can stand to be in the same room with me. Whether it's a trip to CVS, visiting family, or one of Zac's sporting events, it does the trick.<br /><br />9) My kitchen theme is CHICKENS! LOL The wallpaper is . . . . wait for it . . . chicken wire! I don't have much wall in my kitchen so it's mainly the soffet above the cabinets and one wall. I have an open kitchen/dining room. I have a cast iron rooster bell, a chicken swag on the soffet and one above my stove. I have a chicken recipe box, bookends, statues and other knickknacks on my counter. It's been about 5 years now and I still like it, so that's a good thing.<br /><br />10) I am an insomniac. It takes me on a good night, at least 20 minutes to fall asleep. I have always been like this. My way to deal with it is that I will lie in bed, eyes closed and "daydream". For years those dreams would be that I was pregnant or we had another child. Well, since that dream finally came true, I now think about what my dream house would be . . . or that Jon Bon Jovi moves in next door. <br /><br />I hope you learned a little about me.<br /><br />So now I pass this on to Seven Friends:<br /><br />Loki at <a href="http://loki-the-mischievous.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Random Insanity and Drunken Ramblings</span></a><br />Angela at<a href="http://thatchercade.blogspot.com/"> "Thatch" the Journey Now in Progress</a><br />Kirsten at <a href="http://garrettweston.blogspot.com/">The Burkes</a><br />Jenn at <a href="http://laceybug3.blogspot.com/">Lacey</a><br />Keeling at <a href="http://runrunintothesun.blogspot.com/">Confessions of a Mommy Blogger</a><br />Emily at <a href="http://cosmicemily.blogspot.com/">Cosmic Et Al</a><br />Kelly at <a href="A%20Goddess%20Rising">A Goddess Rising</a><br /><br />I hope I didn't hit anyone up that has already received this award, I tried to check. <br /><h1 class="title"> </h1>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-24054853798104703222009-01-22T14:42:00.002-05:002009-01-22T15:23:39.098-05:00Hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVTSZQVaYckN9zjvyiNGDGoVjTZdoXzKe1OMPB3rXJKNtWX7wqI4-ZGIo4QVUGSwomuQUcfE-XpIKgu4Rl0MO8mUZMvyIMeNlA9b9VzXANoriklhqozAiTOqZ0FGx1BzzxVpH9IohMEo/s1600-h/grincloseup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVTSZQVaYckN9zjvyiNGDGoVjTZdoXzKe1OMPB3rXJKNtWX7wqI4-ZGIo4QVUGSwomuQUcfE-XpIKgu4Rl0MO8mUZMvyIMeNlA9b9VzXANoriklhqozAiTOqZ0FGx1BzzxVpH9IohMEo/s400/grincloseup.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294216380780913266" /></a><br />I watched the inauguration the other day as Cassidy dumped every mega block, peek a boo block, and every toy in Jaxon's bin on the floor. It gave me a feeling of hope. Don't get me wrong, I don't think everything is going to be magically "fixed"; I am not expecting a miracle. But one thing I have learned from my Mommy friends who live outside of the U.S.: the world already has a more positive perception of the U.S. One comment sticks in my head "the rest of us look to America to lead the way."<div><br /></div><div>While we've had many wonderful blessings over the last eight years, it's not easy to forget the jobs that Chuck has lost due to outsourcing outside of the U.S. and the sense of uncertainty that comes from that. Then there was my typing job, which basically dwindled to next to nothing, and they only wanted me to do weekend work, so it was no longer worth it. Guess who's doing that typing now? Yup, someone over in India. It is actually cheaper for them to send it there to get typed, come back here to be edited, and send it back to be finalized. Now, I certainly wasn't making mega bucks from this typing job . . . the basic rate was 40 cents per 1000 keystrokes, with an average page being about 2,500 keystrokes -- so $1.20 a page. It was an interesting job, and most weeks paid for our groceries.</div><div><br /></div><div>The job Chuck currently holds is the first job he lost, ironic. But he's now a contractor, working for an outsourcing company. Ninety percent of the support staff that he works with are in India. It is the way of the IT world. It always seems like you are waiting for that other shoe to drop. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all we have rode out those waves and are better for. We've realized that a dip in salary is worth it, because Chuck gets to work from home twice a week. He is gets to see so much more of the peanuts this time around, and realizes why some days I get NOTHING done. He is a valued resource at his job, and that's great, he was given a great raise this year . . . but in the end, if the hammer falls, often times it doesn't matter if you are the best employee in the world, the decisions are not made by anyone who even knows your name.<br /><div><br /></div><div>So yeah, I'm a sappy optimist who is looking forward some positive changes ahead, no matter how small. If nothing else, I know we will get a small increase in income at least once this year if not twice . . . when Jax comes off formula that will give us another $60 or so a month, AND if we get our stubborn little girl to use the potty that will be an increase of about $40 a month. LOL Hey, it's something to look forward to, right!</div><div><br /></div></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-5035328032128993892009-01-13T19:08:00.003-05:002009-01-13T19:17:44.122-05:00I'm so Proud<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-zdrvybZvkx28JJ7eN-lTwgxdXTVXb5Nm46Itl0eGz7vFTmaE_tAoEJHITiA9Y7QTR6813rqTAlD5lDMpFeBaHsBdFDFne9xNL4R50ynqbzDnlL0hGWU8iXbKXFHml2B6Hfdbr-4SDw/s1600-h/PC250024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-zdrvybZvkx28JJ7eN-lTwgxdXTVXb5Nm46Itl0eGz7vFTmaE_tAoEJHITiA9Y7QTR6813rqTAlD5lDMpFeBaHsBdFDFne9xNL4R50ynqbzDnlL0hGWU8iXbKXFHml2B6Hfdbr-4SDw/s400/PC250024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290935185681629122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I forgot to post this picture with the Christmas shots. This is Zac getting his Wii. As you can see he was very happy. Of course, as goes our life, it worked for two weeks and died. Thankfully, Best Buy refunded our money, but they were out of stock. Also the Wii ate a game and we were unale to retrieve it, so we did lose out on that. I am happy to report tho, that Zac was only without a Wii for a few days, when Walmart got them in stock. He called every store within a 20 mile radius, every day when he got home from school to see if anyone had them.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ZX5t1lE8-F0Y7_w_waOSTas1QF1xZcZSKs5qlWvn87spYd1POA-_E4uaM6ltqVEVOgC3X3toSKGJksW5n0tfCM9LeRBbqLdEM7mM2EqVqY4qq042axS-0xjqGTN71_y_hg5rg-Lpi0/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ZX5t1lE8-F0Y7_w_waOSTas1QF1xZcZSKs5qlWvn87spYd1POA-_E4uaM6ltqVEVOgC3X3toSKGJksW5n0tfCM9LeRBbqLdEM7mM2EqVqY4qq042axS-0xjqGTN71_y_hg5rg-Lpi0/s400/scan0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290935187583289202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here is my Junior Varsity hockey player. I need to find some pictures of him when he first started playing and scan them in. He's grown so much, he's taller than me now and his feet are HUGE! <br /><br />And last, but not least, Zac brought home a certificate from his technical school today as he was selected as student of the month. Both the tech school and his home school make mention of this, so he was excited. I truly hope he can stay on this engineering course, he'll be able to earn quite a few college credits and even attend college a couple days a week as a high school senior. I have given him an incentive, I put it in his head that if he does stay on this course he would have to have a vehicle to be able to drive to the college, because school does not provide transportation back and forth between college and high school. Hey, whatever works, right!<br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-79018377190732868292009-01-08T13:44:00.006-05:002009-01-08T15:48:23.424-05:00Odds & Ends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafIRGsXqbTRpxA1YTc20bbfR1ncFCkK1xEDWkqDP2WXtPBxNCCgQu1LsxrLTun9SDzfcbx4N360tbCtFB3GX6KmRXBwFKqolpLZ8zZt1leGZ7xo7nepH9V435Kt8vsV9SOdiqfAL4uVk/s1600-h/PC300113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafIRGsXqbTRpxA1YTc20bbfR1ncFCkK1xEDWkqDP2WXtPBxNCCgQu1LsxrLTun9SDzfcbx4N360tbCtFB3GX6KmRXBwFKqolpLZ8zZt1leGZ7xo7nepH9V435Kt8vsV9SOdiqfAL4uVk/s400/PC300113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289021816046412738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Well our big guy started cereal. I was going to wait a while longer because he didn't show much interest, but all of a sudden when he saw us eating he would get fussy and start drooling. Now, he's a big puddle of drool most of the time, I swear! I am seriously trying to figure out which is worse . . . a baby that spits up, or one that drools the entire time he is vertical. The drooly baby certainly goes through more bibs than my spitter-uppers ever did, AND he needs one on all the time, not just when eating, so it covers up his cute outfits.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND4-sY3CHe6NvKQc_W6ZEzcMWmDoDhF3voHJQd-w9LmrqyFm24n86x-F_JGou2828tnUzEGosBCqaPvNJw5cLj22PyUe3BryPKuMjTlWNmIip7wR3hvXoO-JI8wsUZl-3TZOnMjq_06M/s1600-h/PC300096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjND4-sY3CHe6NvKQc_W6ZEzcMWmDoDhF3voHJQd-w9LmrqyFm24n86x-F_JGou2828tnUzEGosBCqaPvNJw5cLj22PyUe3BryPKuMjTlWNmIip7wR3hvXoO-JI8wsUZl-3TZOnMjq_06M/s400/PC300096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289021809748521010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">As you can see by the "GRABBINESS" he already wants to feed himself. So we start each meal with two spoons, one for him and one for us. And he does does pretty darn good too. He's far less messy than Cassidy! LOL</div><div style="text-align: center;">So far we have only done oatmeal (more nutritional value than rice cereal in my opinion, and mine's the only one that counts!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did buy some squash this week, but I'm holding off, I'm not looking forward to even stinkier diapers.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYruOhWZkDgVjmdsc6AF2Wgv4nqzmcHh09a3ZAaLTelC3iebvV8n-x2EJBRfioM9f2PNN_e82La7hol3FzQJ8PN5xw5b1bKtJA6BaK6NyAHj8VvyuVRSsmgHvevCzMJTuIOhPi-LlpCOs/s1600-h/PC260077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYruOhWZkDgVjmdsc6AF2Wgv4nqzmcHh09a3ZAaLTelC3iebvV8n-x2EJBRfioM9f2PNN_e82La7hol3FzQJ8PN5xw5b1bKtJA6BaK6NyAHj8VvyuVRSsmgHvevCzMJTuIOhPi-LlpCOs/s400/PC260077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289021800863336722" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are, this was Christmas night at my parents' house</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBwPQhgEwASBfXcPbuRnJwQI9fw3y011Mqb2epNXgpcz7lX1Tt224Zq8UKgTLhEB9s820KsVWGYXoZXZUgflA9GhtcsnY8xWYwtmQyhV5-Q5HViKGxXbUqW8g_nXWDreVf_BQPcgsZRY/s1600-h/PC250065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBwPQhgEwASBfXcPbuRnJwQI9fw3y011Mqb2epNXgpcz7lX1Tt224Zq8UKgTLhEB9s820KsVWGYXoZXZUgflA9GhtcsnY8xWYwtmQyhV5-Q5HViKGxXbUqW8g_nXWDreVf_BQPcgsZRY/s400/PC250065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289021789676441826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Jax and his new giraffe, apparently, it's quite yummy. It's so soft and opens up into a pillow. I want one!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPTzlOSv8C87teJpUzVU7JgC0gFROXluSidPdC5LqC33iQE11OhDDblQIiFzkmzkiuwvtwMl-X-I6HgNo7iIz7iL1SQ96DWIek43dTQUaiVdKjKLGzrcI55w7gE6H2aFss2aI-Wg9Tss/s1600-h/PC250043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPTzlOSv8C87teJpUzVU7JgC0gFROXluSidPdC5LqC33iQE11OhDDblQIiFzkmzkiuwvtwMl-X-I6HgNo7iIz7iL1SQ96DWIek43dTQUaiVdKjKLGzrcI55w7gE6H2aFss2aI-Wg9Tss/s400/PC250043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288996677323580866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Cassidy, tasting some of her cupcake. Her new kitchen was the BEST Christmas present. She loves it and plays with it every day, she loves to bring everybody something to eat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem8sHRQVe0QLv5zOeTevFtdm4C-1ebZcZlCYRzAxjU04EMjsCjJVSxeC024aQ6vutAH1g8x-K_ZhIeD4cBAnfzf0u4Cg_b_JKR7W_Jwrqz9teHxFsmgigo3_ocTFWrAcaQVUaZGoHzrw/s1600-h/100_0179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem8sHRQVe0QLv5zOeTevFtdm4C-1ebZcZlCYRzAxjU04EMjsCjJVSxeC024aQ6vutAH1g8x-K_ZhIeD4cBAnfzf0u4Cg_b_JKR7W_Jwrqz9teHxFsmgigo3_ocTFWrAcaQVUaZGoHzrw/s400/100_0179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288996671174011890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cassidy, Jaxon, and Grandma (my mom) She's not really grumpy, but it was the only picture where both kids were looking at the camera. Doesn't it always work that way, you get the kids looking like you want, but whatever adult is in the picture didn't cooperate! Go figure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!! May 2009 bring you lots of love and laughter!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yes I know I have to update my header, the holidays are over, maybe one day when Jax decides that he needs more than a 15 minute nap I'll get to it.</div></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-55124387201114730582008-12-30T22:12:00.002-05:002008-12-30T22:34:39.662-05:00Way too close for comfortOn Saturday, December 27, four boys from Zac's school and one graduate from his school were in a tragic accident. They were heading to the movies when they encountered terribly dense fog, and crashed head on into a pickup truck. One of the boys was killed, the other four were in critical condition; today two of the boys were upgraded to good condition. They are good kids, all in boy scouts together, working toward their eagle scout badges, good students. It's terribly sad.<br /><br />Four of the boys are juniors at Zac's school (Zac is a freshman), he knew them to see them, but not close. The driver graduated from school last year, is attending college, and is the older brother of one of Zac's baseball teammates. We are friendly with his parents, and eerily enough, we have ran into them while out and about twice in the last week, including the day before the accident.<br /><br />This is every parents' worst nightmare. Zac will be turning 15 in a month, his best bud will be turning 16 this summer and some of his friends are already driving. The days are approaching when he will be heading off with a friend, I don't think he'll be content staying home playing Wii with his mom and dad on Fri/Sat nights forever.Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-46927552380004940482008-12-22T16:22:00.002-05:002008-12-22T16:48:17.072-05:00You'd think the 3rd kid would be a piece of cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw7_GiEIrWk8e8iBRVbgYcuPS3bB1GgfgS_mpXjzMmejZzFzBTyuqnnIdXD8WU9123l90BKHhYsAXD7g__d3879zYWxCGs5pmW37VEY-oQ8iius5_9Z9bP1z78rOa-qkqDOHKkICT5KI/s1600-h/PC130003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw7_GiEIrWk8e8iBRVbgYcuPS3bB1GgfgS_mpXjzMmejZzFzBTyuqnnIdXD8WU9123l90BKHhYsAXD7g__d3879zYWxCGs5pmW37VEY-oQ8iius5_9Z9bP1z78rOa-qkqDOHKkICT5KI/s400/PC130003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282734443209868578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmb4FtFy_QABS-8_6eucKUMLx-9cP8RDi2ghsPC9fWkOMlmaKgwQLWzBS12uYDgEtRgj9oTC3a_xKT2bdAkP8k3aHYj_CDAUlIWjdPzA5ulC7hDRbhMHTY46OY3bx_g2w7Dh314odxCs/s1600-h/PC150022-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmb4FtFy_QABS-8_6eucKUMLx-9cP8RDi2ghsPC9fWkOMlmaKgwQLWzBS12uYDgEtRgj9oTC3a_xKT2bdAkP8k3aHYj_CDAUlIWjdPzA5ulC7hDRbhMHTY46OY3bx_g2w7Dh314odxCs/s400/PC150022-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282734433939257282" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I have kinda figured since Jax's birth day that he was going to be our "oddball" after he spent his first night in the NICU. He is definitely a fussier baby than Zac or Cassidy were, but not so much so that he ever fit the definition of "colic", but there definitely was a slight resemblance to colic.<br /><br />Jaxon never liked a pacifier, Zac & Cassidy both loved the pacifier for about 4 months, then they were done with it. Jaxon is a thumb sucker (finger and whole hand, also).<br /><br />The biggest difference between Jax and his older siblings is the one I have the most trouble with. Zac and Cassidy would fall asleep while eating or in the bouncy seat or the blessed swing. They then became little rag dolls that could easily be transferred to the crib for naptime/bedtime.<br /><br />Jaxon does not fall asleep with the bottle (which experts say is a good thing, pffffft), endures the bouncy seat and never took to the swing. But to fall asleep, Jax wants to be rocked . . . and rocked . . . and rocked. And then you have to gingerly take him back to his room, transfer him to his crib, all the while holding your breath and praying that the dogs don't bark or Cassidy doesn't follow you down the hall, yelling loudly (a favorite past time). I can't tell you how many times one of us has taken him back to bed and come back to the living room 5 second later holding a wide-eyed, giggling little boy that woke up on the way into the crib, mumbling under our breath.<br /><br />I have always enjoyed having my babies fall asleep in my arms and holding and nuzzling their head, cheeks, and neck. But this little booger is driving me nuts. Not only is he difficult to get to sleep, he cat naps.<br /><br />So today, I rocked him for a decent amount of time, he still wasn't asleep. I knew he was ready for a nap so I put him to bed awake (GASP! I never attempted this with the older two til they were close to a year). He fussed for a bit, then was quiet. Then he started crying. As he seemed to be getting louder I thought, oh well, I tried. Upon entering his room, he was crying, but his eyes were closed. So I went to the crib and patted his bum for about a minute. He calmed down, never lifted his head, just layed peacefully, his eyes heavy. I backed away from the crib, watching closely, I could tell he was going to doze off. Just then, my little shadow came barrelling into the room yelling MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY. I quickly darted to block her entry and closed the door. Jax never even budged. I didn't hear another peep for about 40 mins, he didn't settle, I got him, he ate a bottle, fell right back to sleep and has slept for a couple hours.<br /><br />The one plus to having another needy child when you have an infant is that I can't always go running when he starts to fuss and I've realized that if I give him some time, many times he falls back to sleep. I don't know when I'll try and put him down awake again, but I certainly won't be waiting til he's a year old like I did with Cassidy.Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-27943009720617218452008-12-19T10:55:00.002-05:002008-12-19T11:07:07.801-05:00God Help her, Cassidy has my sense of style<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz-hmXyAzsucYTRednPvxUrAiStb5cZez36AROYhcWajKvyFIQCweSetTBUSqx9L5SLE5dNq_bgNVsPrbdT71iMdp157Ry9DymJDj74EE8DhcP3cWg-Bw_8TKptekv9MAKS1flrIaV6Q/s1600-h/PC170029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz-hmXyAzsucYTRednPvxUrAiStb5cZez36AROYhcWajKvyFIQCweSetTBUSqx9L5SLE5dNq_bgNVsPrbdT71iMdp157Ry9DymJDj74EE8DhcP3cWg-Bw_8TKptekv9MAKS1flrIaV6Q/s400/PC170029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281531370464445218" border="0" /></a><br />Cassidy is always very quick to help me fold laundry, or more accurately WEAR laundry. For whatever reason she gravitates toward underwear, namely mine or Chuck's.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGhKBmrtlQHGBKjiBJ1SCnsLNoNY1Gxv81Uz3rz8PcqoI2HvtIehbBNQb7ZIkE9VHqGpdM-v1563nhQhQbpvIw4cqu0admNKYrHVLQFrvYlLxsGtKafZ_wkYMrHvF2m9pvIKCzoLTjgk/s1600-h/PC170027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGhKBmrtlQHGBKjiBJ1SCnsLNoNY1Gxv81Uz3rz8PcqoI2HvtIehbBNQb7ZIkE9VHqGpdM-v1563nhQhQbpvIw4cqu0admNKYrHVLQFrvYlLxsGtKafZ_wkYMrHvF2m9pvIKCzoLTjgk/s400/PC170027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281531366610216466" border="0" /></a><br />Today her ensemble consists of a lovely blue crocheted toilet paper cover (made by my Grandma and I just can't part with it, even tho it's cheesy) her "skirt" is a pair of Chuck's boxer briefs as is her chic scarf.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithjxMBh37woC7wnaKc91932FRgz3IfWcyp_53cvbirgTy57zFQjLEAZKqBPHNRi-mQv7QpTjtPltVQxHOblCJiaFdMgDCGHpxuZ3HvLx2KfPnwpdYLumbGyzSiNBtDpf1DPZAi2JvFMU/s1600-h/PC170032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithjxMBh37woC7wnaKc91932FRgz3IfWcyp_53cvbirgTy57zFQjLEAZKqBPHNRi-mQv7QpTjtPltVQxHOblCJiaFdMgDCGHpxuZ3HvLx2KfPnwpdYLumbGyzSiNBtDpf1DPZAi2JvFMU/s400/PC170032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281531352261255506" border="0" /></a><br />I imagine Jax is thinking "I'm never going to let my sister dress me!"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr6eQ7sr4NhpqfRmYyOPesTxdBt0CQkJ0d1Mf2qquuqck8YNM7WMYT6ScMBXbqwIhrmKbpugQyW5TY0s6MNcHdSVHjyMhkUuopH5ROmWSF2-nb_n0TPkAvT7WyFAxfZgKhZX7hoJH4dw/s1600-h/PC150014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr6eQ7sr4NhpqfRmYyOPesTxdBt0CQkJ0d1Mf2qquuqck8YNM7WMYT6ScMBXbqwIhrmKbpugQyW5TY0s6MNcHdSVHjyMhkUuopH5ROmWSF2-nb_n0TPkAvT7WyFAxfZgKhZX7hoJH4dw/s400/PC150014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281531351741381170" border="0" /></a><br />And here is just a picture of how we spend time in the morning. Jax loves his taggies, and here he is playing with his taggie ball and Cassidy is munching on her cereal and raisins.<br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-3655972421563704452008-12-13T18:50:00.007-05:002008-12-13T19:14:04.077-05:00So how do you decorate your tree?? (if you have one)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs55KC-d-oBp-xvxa6jkRWILOMKjAPLMO89wUxn3NqDoFzGQr41l43d88joT6KoqbsTTsikQNH8IrH1alpZptNYkYhjUGWqZ3HoGq83zUSjQWM7RTc4QCHgizMSr4D_GAq5IWSfai2g8/s1600-h/PC130061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxs55KC-d-oBp-xvxa6jkRWILOMKjAPLMO89wUxn3NqDoFzGQr41l43d88joT6KoqbsTTsikQNH8IrH1alpZptNYkYhjUGWqZ3HoGq83zUSjQWM7RTc4QCHgizMSr4D_GAq5IWSfai2g8/s400/PC130061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279427543220896642" border="0" /></a><br />So here is our tree, it's decorated a little more than halfway, the ornaments along the bottom are stuffed or wooden Disney characters that we find scattered around the house. When we find them we put them back on the tree for little hands to remove later.<br /><br />My tree has changed over the years, currently most of the ornaments fit into one of four categories.<br /><br />The first category: Baby's 1st Christmas, I think there are 10 ornaments of this type.<br /><br />The second category: Hockey ornaments, Zac has been playing hockey for almost 10 years and we have accumulated quite a few ornaments over the years.<br /><br />The third category: Eeyore. I've been an Eeyore freak forever and Chuck and my mom have given me quite a few ornaments over the years.<br /><br />The fourth category: Ornaments with specific meaning to someone in the house, whether it be an special ornament for a love oned passed on (including the four-legged variety), favorite cartoon characters, favorite sports teams.<br /><br />Over the years I have collected enough ornaments to fill three trees, and every year I get pickier and pickier about what I put on the tree. I have saved the ornaments Zac has made over the years, ones that haven't fallen apart. And I will give them to him one day, and I will do this with the little ones too.<br /><br />Our tree is an artificial one, the critters in the house used to bring the live ones crashing to the floor, so we bagged that. It is prelit and fiber optic, so no need for garland and tinsel.<br /><br />And if you noticed, I don't have the typical star or angel at the top of the tree, I have a teddy bear, he's holding a red and green balloon and a couple presents. My mom gave me this tree topper 19 years ago, for my first Christmas after Chuck & I bought our first house. I have been looking for a new tree topper, but I still want something unique, like a penguin.<br /><br />SO, HOW DO YOU DECORATE YOUR TREE?<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbCe5RHvD54rNamKtFODu_5G8t8K2s-uRIn17zlNI_yWaPJ9j-wKu8L5EIU6dKxEd-BpCliATVCBWA45MhMjOItHO8LUpLYRIoHHOYg_IO7D2aALP-nOS6lU_jG6G-fLNJV-VHtCWXig/s1600-h/PC130004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbCe5RHvD54rNamKtFODu_5G8t8K2s-uRIn17zlNI_yWaPJ9j-wKu8L5EIU6dKxEd-BpCliATVCBWA45MhMjOItHO8LUpLYRIoHHOYg_IO7D2aALP-nOS6lU_jG6G-fLNJV-VHtCWXig/s400/PC130004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279427540347302690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Chuck and the peanuts.<br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-2522613411279175682008-12-10T13:09:00.009-05:002008-12-10T13:36:17.593-05:00Our Holiday Family Photo Shoot<div style="text-align: center;">And here we go!! Instead of traversing the mobs of shoppers on Black Friday, I decided to dress my kids in their Christmas outfits and attempt to get a couple good shots to use on our Christmas cards. I waited til Jaxon was fresh from his nap, dressed him and THEN wrestle with the toddler. As a typical toddler, you just never know what mood she will be in when you want to get her dressed. Some days she's sweet as pie and I get her dressed in a minute, other days she's a little Tasmanian Devil and it's a wrestling match.<br /><br />Below are some of my favorite shots.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wiSeQYNEd4lTOhQX36wKELFnrG0ISDW0xshoR4Hrbfd6O6N4SvRKeHBHDaQ0qzwqo0I69ROkT-xMzNiYudEzzslKn8w3BHkRhN61foA4RtIs1uPG-StsPErQp6tGJeOhFQb3pdmRezk/s1600-h/P1010006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wiSeQYNEd4lTOhQX36wKELFnrG0ISDW0xshoR4Hrbfd6O6N4SvRKeHBHDaQ0qzwqo0I69ROkT-xMzNiYudEzzslKn8w3BHkRhN61foA4RtIs1uPG-StsPErQp6tGJeOhFQb3pdmRezk/s320/P1010006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278226263376738562" border="0" /></a>After getting Jax plopped in his box, Zac sat down next to him and then we just let Cassidy roam about a bit. I didn't want to rush it because she is not at all interested in "posing".<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmLwjzxGSjkfkzNeLi948Zph0AMviZEe1NncW60nfJJEpS89NtNsAG71dgk-odczXsihrIMkSYkhrsBVKNjvgp7j6_Wh8OOSSeiolpLqPiSYKdnEE-EQ0FbEoGaOJTgQm3_rYfny4PF8/s1600-h/P1010010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmLwjzxGSjkfkzNeLi948Zph0AMviZEe1NncW60nfJJEpS89NtNsAG71dgk-odczXsihrIMkSYkhrsBVKNjvgp7j6_Wh8OOSSeiolpLqPiSYKdnEE-EQ0FbEoGaOJTgQm3_rYfny4PF8/s320/P1010010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278226274670440962" border="0" /></a>Here are my boys!!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hsvAFlj_TfQElRMyUsMUHcFyMYXK8zg3HwAkMlsmZ5t-cH_4SDb6fVXLBS7LBB-60fe4-HFZIrLdm38U6oC3lvSEl-aOtrCUMYv3uNDLZYInNAk3bFqt4n-zLGls-zuCqoICKDGRHNE/s1600-h/P1010005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hsvAFlj_TfQElRMyUsMUHcFyMYXK8zg3HwAkMlsmZ5t-cH_4SDb6fVXLBS7LBB-60fe4-HFZIrLdm38U6oC3lvSEl-aOtrCUMYv3uNDLZYInNAk3bFqt4n-zLGls-zuCqoICKDGRHNE/s320/P1010005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278226259113956258" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Cassidy and her big brother, she absolutely worships him and loves when he takes the time to play (rough house) with her. She loves to listen to music, so Zac has been getting her to listen to his favorite music. Whenever she hears "Let it Rock" by Kevin Rudolf and Lil' Wayne she yells for Zac to come and dance with her.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq8tV0jKNAOVYmwd4ST4XKyhcrRZ3XfJdkcNBKs9Q7bNNDiAFwUpPUYN_VsRml97MOdt3e6rVrqz_mk0yhuVjWprR8CxIJrVR438OUtk0nsO4cS8x8q13LU_2vGiVU7wF4Gua4scG2Os/s1600-h/P1010019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq8tV0jKNAOVYmwd4ST4XKyhcrRZ3XfJdkcNBKs9Q7bNNDiAFwUpPUYN_VsRml97MOdt3e6rVrqz_mk0yhuVjWprR8CxIJrVR438OUtk0nsO4cS8x8q13LU_2vGiVU7wF4Gua4scG2Os/s320/P1010019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278226276004440514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are our little peanuts in the box together.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvS1ZFG7Y_Px2hsSryWvxO1TgOk2mNOUk_IH9AEH0GuAgJnbc8I2xPs4OQeNFhaihWe0GGPtGaWDtDJq6cFvYK1K0o8tJJW9WmtvU3C6C6a8nhnmtyU7Gs4XZ1I09mYbMe95qFBUQJgw/s1600-h/P1010021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvS1ZFG7Y_Px2hsSryWvxO1TgOk2mNOUk_IH9AEH0GuAgJnbc8I2xPs4OQeNFhaihWe0GGPtGaWDtDJq6cFvYK1K0o8tJJW9WmtvU3C6C6a8nhnmtyU7Gs4XZ1I09mYbMe95qFBUQJgw/s320/P1010021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230372467536770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bLiq8dLpX8gXVFjo1wx7y-hsJ4OSo1_nrX7P6b9xjKv_5UfTXtmK0aApyFaLPbwEGqKZ9Ecq3I1Rx-4fRjEGT6DQbBYMCDo7jne7Ghd1JbFu0h1QhzbgypUbtFKsnX5-pa2XABwm59c/s1600-h/P1010020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bLiq8dLpX8gXVFjo1wx7y-hsJ4OSo1_nrX7P6b9xjKv_5UfTXtmK0aApyFaLPbwEGqKZ9Ecq3I1Rx-4fRjEGT6DQbBYMCDo7jne7Ghd1JbFu0h1QhzbgypUbtFKsnX5-pa2XABwm59c/s320/P1010020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230361507432434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzT6ietsaYP8htC2sKoLVWAX96NDmcKm57Cb4-Rzc5JNgazzemTvZ4TqyU3coNnJBMtYN9NSSGuqq52pVMbDr4zqCeCdbZlQ1aq3Lrcs5LazQx7IZA6xErR5SxqXbIYxmSqCM3zv7pZr0/s1600-h/P1010009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzT6ietsaYP8htC2sKoLVWAX96NDmcKm57Cb4-Rzc5JNgazzemTvZ4TqyU3coNnJBMtYN9NSSGuqq52pVMbDr4zqCeCdbZlQ1aq3Lrcs5LazQx7IZA6xErR5SxqXbIYxmSqCM3zv7pZr0/s320/P1010009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230363907790018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYutomboL8ZrKSAzEfrnIIJusWIfqRmWaVAngE6zhIm2gP0L8u27-_0iDp9yNWhqzuX7l_xrR98-LRekfjw7t8Q3CZhJcLGoftfy-Nv89LkLHSp6uJ7Ur-V6GPUWzPHc_cUu2pxdbSdcU/s1600-h/P1010025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYutomboL8ZrKSAzEfrnIIJusWIfqRmWaVAngE6zhIm2gP0L8u27-_0iDp9yNWhqzuX7l_xrR98-LRekfjw7t8Q3CZhJcLGoftfy-Nv89LkLHSp6uJ7Ur-V6GPUWzPHc_cUu2pxdbSdcU/s320/P1010025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230350732191314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And here are the pictures I picked for our card.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIAyk8gblKqR8iObE4PdfVhpgL-ksfbNg-ZaqhUALIv2hlbTH3WzWFihibhx2Zve0qMb8j63QOm6GVHIVD6UmXAm2HYWnw3bZgIIXbFswmx8yFn9odDO5rgfkXH1K3ZNhW_g3oX_5GSk/s1600-h/nonamexmascard.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIAyk8gblKqR8iObE4PdfVhpgL-ksfbNg-ZaqhUALIv2hlbTH3WzWFihibhx2Zve0qMb8j63QOm6GVHIVD6UmXAm2HYWnw3bZgIIXbFswmx8yFn9odDO5rgfkXH1K3ZNhW_g3oX_5GSk/s320/nonamexmascard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278231169848058322" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-10172337067247443822008-12-08T13:02:00.004-05:002008-12-08T13:43:29.935-05:00Snow Fun<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE0Ws3mf8uXOecADQZi3vDbfIgI2uPj1IozUCxkYvtq1mbmmE7dexLjgW6e-6JCKLe1pJQTldCCAljpsc2WhFkmwFJqH0K9Kn3Whx5sLW1o7P0WCp0pLYlZ5ySOxEzKwR2eMlyyVicmo/s1600-h/PC070043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE0Ws3mf8uXOecADQZi3vDbfIgI2uPj1IozUCxkYvtq1mbmmE7dexLjgW6e-6JCKLe1pJQTldCCAljpsc2WhFkmwFJqH0K9Kn3Whx5sLW1o7P0WCp0pLYlZ5ySOxEzKwR2eMlyyVicmo/s320/PC070043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277482053671369474" border="0" /></a><br />Here's our little snowbunny. She was so excited to get out in the snow. We had been outside the previous evening when it was snowing. She was looking up at the lights in the parking lot and giggling as it was hitting her face. Notice in the above picture she had her mittens on.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNkrcdhH571xVpmYosFFb88uJohQrj_D9uvKlghjF-plkSGnB-4rWaYczH1DposQjsyU61BxjOOYw8LIuZiv15TkFz1ZIdaXUHnoKRQ8ThZOX-WL1wmZJ-YQR8L-RVvk8_4JHZk_vQxw/s1600-h/PC070046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNkrcdhH571xVpmYosFFb88uJohQrj_D9uvKlghjF-plkSGnB-4rWaYczH1DposQjsyU61BxjOOYw8LIuZiv15TkFz1ZIdaXUHnoKRQ8ThZOX-WL1wmZJ-YQR8L-RVvk8_4JHZk_vQxw/s320/PC070046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277482051261340226" border="0" /></a>This little girl is truly after her Daddy's heart. Shoveling already. Heck, we have to promise the moon for Zac to lift up a shovel (ok, not really, but it seems like it at times). Notice in the above pictures, the mittens have been TOSSED.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikysQdp4KPyC63zNB8ZoZbgx8K9sODjtknl7ij8_1JYxtOxHFmMydCNpdUd-mWOqKefs8hIFcOZ6cvm3Gj-a8rpWyG1t4PcJ9h7o7YDrs-2FKYsZ4yf31t8SqZri83_r55cskiTx_uZPY/s1600-h/PC070050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikysQdp4KPyC63zNB8ZoZbgx8K9sODjtknl7ij8_1JYxtOxHFmMydCNpdUd-mWOqKefs8hIFcOZ6cvm3Gj-a8rpWyG1t4PcJ9h7o7YDrs-2FKYsZ4yf31t8SqZri83_r55cskiTx_uZPY/s320/PC070050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277482047321138322" border="0" /></a>Of course, being my stubborn child, she was not interested in her "baby" sled (seen in the background) she wanted to ride on the big sled, with her big brother. Now we only had about half an inch of snow, so the only sledding was down the driveway.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9onjh0w7KQoiCTvfYvrXUfU2rZCeb2UtwyhB0kNRREPYe9pAlfeHgWvO4iMkJgXXZa4RBGKpgR0q260W4uEZz5ILSNvj321RN-slu93j6P1GCi785SZQAu6sD0kIMN4aNbb0TYGueKFU/s1600-h/PC070052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9onjh0w7KQoiCTvfYvrXUfU2rZCeb2UtwyhB0kNRREPYe9pAlfeHgWvO4iMkJgXXZa4RBGKpgR0q260W4uEZz5ILSNvj321RN-slu93j6P1GCi785SZQAu6sD0kIMN4aNbb0TYGueKFU/s320/PC070052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277482041470186930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Weeeeeee! So we were only outside about 15 minutes. It was too cold and windy, the windchill was in the single digits and since she refused to keep her mittens on, Cassidy and I went back inside while Daddy & Zac shoveled. Jax was snoozing in his nice, toasty warm crib the whole time.<br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-19352676654654142112008-12-05T21:01:00.002-05:002008-12-05T21:16:13.307-05:00Santa Plus my Three<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjthU3Uv7EikLnQM91rUX-5FI5XN6X5GthdXV-qP63K_y0p26v2rRkF7Cg-UyXAmzlJb5vh7CLcE_Pq8R1XaFycnSWQAG5yfDidHTg_tQAY9bRyvtPSuWExWIaK2Pm_QqETiKVsTVXha4/s1600-h/scan0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjthU3Uv7EikLnQM91rUX-5FI5XN6X5GthdXV-qP63K_y0p26v2rRkF7Cg-UyXAmzlJb5vh7CLcE_Pq8R1XaFycnSWQAG5yfDidHTg_tQAY9bRyvtPSuWExWIaK2Pm_QqETiKVsTVXha4/s320/scan0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276491962892325554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thank Goodness for big brothers!!! <br />We've been chatting about Santa for a couple weeks with Cassidy, and she was all smiles and excited at the "thought" of Santa, but as many parents have found out over the years, the idea of Santa and Santa in books and on TV are all wonderfully joyful moments in a toddlers mind.<br /><br />Then there is actually meeting Santa, touching Santa, and heaven forbid, sitting on Santa's lap.<br /><br />As we stood in line, all smiles and talked about seeing Santa, sitting on his lap, Cassidy jibbered jabbered away, she saw him walking through the mall to his "living room", smiled and waved. She watched the family in front of us go visit Santa. The little girl (probably about 4) was giving Santa her pacifiers, she had a baggie full of them, in exchange for her Xmas presents. However, when it came time for that little boy and girl to sit on Santa's lap, they just about strangled their poor mom. Cassidy didn't seem to notice the terror in their eyes, luckily, they didn't scream or cry, just clung to their mom.<br /><br />Then it was our turn, I had Jaxon, Zac had Cassidy. She was all smiles and waved to him, but at the first movement of Zac attempting to hand her off to the Jolly Old Guy, her hands wrapped around Zac's neck in a vice-like grip. We had planned for this problem and Zac happily sat next to Saint Nick and I handed Santa Jaxon. Jaxon was happy and content as he had a full belly and just woke from a short snooze.<br /><br />I don't know how many teenage boys wouldn't think twice of sitting with Santa with his little sister and brother. But Zac never balked at the idea. I'm sure many teenagers would be mortified at the thought.<br /><br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900295356583267657.post-15039138337313207592008-12-04T19:16:00.003-05:002008-12-04T21:09:04.280-05:00My two little peanuts<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrfF-mHhVZf0yZHrfA0Lvw8EM6ab6Elo552Q4YNs6urgbBGC9Q0RvgjR4kX2QXj236kpQxeY_gBJWXHK2sivfDT3P2c_dL5dcPtRIk_yJMW0_XQNJPa_kG_Y1KuQy60ruDLa-LScyK5M/s1600-h/PC030005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrfF-mHhVZf0yZHrfA0Lvw8EM6ab6Elo552Q4YNs6urgbBGC9Q0RvgjR4kX2QXj236kpQxeY_gBJWXHK2sivfDT3P2c_dL5dcPtRIk_yJMW0_XQNJPa_kG_Y1KuQy60ruDLa-LScyK5M/s320/PC030005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276119046497735010" border="0" /></a>For whatever reason, the expression on Cassidy's face just makes me giggle every time I look at this picture.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniyhdgQxfhn0m97G46-VMrqUrSLt3dSfL9laCNrdJJRl4rYKTh6OQJWGpEWgzC2p3rTDfym6KPXUu6oFWe1uFozW3r0iIS5-HRy6mtnI6L16RQu1vBhyphenhyphen1-39NRpEoqmaQL8HE5J1vkBo/s1600-h/PC030013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniyhdgQxfhn0m97G46-VMrqUrSLt3dSfL9laCNrdJJRl4rYKTh6OQJWGpEWgzC2p3rTDfym6KPXUu6oFWe1uFozW3r0iIS5-HRy6mtnI6L16RQu1vBhyphenhyphen1-39NRpEoqmaQL8HE5J1vkBo/s320/PC030013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276119055935169714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's out little guy, he likes to sit and watch everything that's going on. Of course, he lights up whenever Cassidy takes the time to pay attention to him. </div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2uxEsyJpWr_ejAxYDrg9CtMUzE897ZtE2ue1CpWtoArJO-8bdBRn16k6lgygX9K6_vuc889_JvDIWSIPvVmvdmSDfj-v0rdlrSsBfLetZ7luv5SWAEtJmIBhx9uh_afmXQrC8-X3aWM/s1600-h/PC030015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2uxEsyJpWr_ejAxYDrg9CtMUzE897ZtE2ue1CpWtoArJO-8bdBRn16k6lgygX9K6_vuc889_JvDIWSIPvVmvdmSDfj-v0rdlrSsBfLetZ7luv5SWAEtJmIBhx9uh_afmXQrC8-X3aWM/s320/PC030015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276119063594609698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are my two little peanuts with Cassidy's penguin, we are trying to get her to accept Penguin as her lovey because her other lovey is a crocheted blanket that is falling apart and is just gross cause she's chewed on the ends. It has started to unravel a couple times and I've knotted it, but I don't think it will last as long as a lovey should. So we've been lugging Penguin everywhere we go and take it out of the crib and leave the blankey in the crib. It's working a bit, so we'll have to wait and see if we have success. The reason we picked the Penguin is that it's from Build a Bear and I can go get another one (or two) made so we have backups.<br /></div>Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769576197572204198noreply@blogger.com1