tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6538217668160364292024-03-12T16:02:04.325-07:00Big BenWatoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-88940616583405136352012-09-21T10:48:00.001-07:002012-09-21T10:48:41.459-07:00No Fires HereHere are a whole bunch of photos taken at a friend's super fun birthday at the local fire department. Ben loved pretending to drive the ladder truck!<br />
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<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-42235183169813264752012-09-21T10:28:00.000-07:002012-09-21T10:28:02.822-07:00Recipe for Haycorn SoupBen has been collecting acorns in our neighborhood, usually to throw in the river, and he's been reading some classic Winnie the Pooh stories. That's how I came up with the idea of Haycorn Soup, and Ben assisted me in writing the recipe. Here it is.<br />
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I would suggest an ingredient, and Ben would tell me how many. Then he helped me with the directions. FYI, we did not yell when we pretended to eat it.<br />
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Here's Ben collecting acorns.<br />
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Here is Ben in the wooded area by our house inspecting the crabapples. They were the only challenge, as they were too high up, so I had to precariously perch on the kitchen stepstool and yank on the branches.<br />
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Whew! Back from woods shopping. <br />
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Here's Ben mixing it up on the back porch.<br />
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Bon Appetit!</div>
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<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-31406368238025955472012-08-18T13:08:00.002-07:002012-08-18T13:11:31.676-07:00Summertime Adventures Finale Extravaganza Part Bazillion: Elevator Birthday Party of AwesomenessOn the morning of his party, Ben happily awakes and explores the decorative birthday wonderland and backporch elevator village. He opens his fantastic aircraft carrier toy. Daddy
shows him how it works and tries to keep from stealing it away to play
with it himself.<br />
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Guests arrive! Popcorn and lunch are eaten. The kids play so well and quietly that I'm in shock.<br />
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Hey, Chris, what's wrong? Did you get lost?<br />
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Anyway, time for the elevator birthday cake, as Chris clearly needs some sugar to wake him up a bit. The Happy Birthday song is accompanied by Ben and Madeline's impromptu dance.<br />
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Then it's pinata time.<br />
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Are elevators the easiest, weirdest, and best birthday party theme ever? Possibly. Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-41822502627018804502012-08-18T12:47:00.003-07:002012-08-18T12:51:03.381-07:00Summer Adventures Part 3: A Whole Buncha StuffHere is Ben, playing in the sprinkler:<br />
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Reading Llama Llama books to sick animals in bed: <br />
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Cruising on the Casco Bay Ferry: <br />
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Taking a hike on Macworth Island:</div>
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Eating Rainbow Jello Cookies:<br />
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And attending Campfire Storytime in pajamas at our library:<br />
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<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-42974038217838422922012-08-18T12:27:00.000-07:002012-08-18T12:27:26.351-07:00Summer Adventures Part 2: StorylandOn the way home from Montreal (that was in June, FYI), we stopped in North Conway, NH, to stay the night and spend a day in Storyland. It was fantastic! I highly recommend it for young children. Ben's favorite parts were the ball pit and the talking treehouse thingy with buttons all over it to push. Buttons! These people really get kids.<br />
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<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-88561285650411891612012-08-18T12:12:00.001-07:002012-08-18T12:13:58.248-07:00Summer Adventures Part 1: MontrealOne is probably not meant to post a bazillion photos to a blog about everything one has done over the course of a summer, but here I am, doing it. First installment: our weekend trip to Montreal. Here we are on the drive up there by Mount Washington.<br />
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In Montreal, we took it easy on our second visit, mainly exploring our neighborhood on foot instead of trying to take the subway all over the place for tourist attractions. Ben and I went to several playgrounds, a great children's bookstore, and Atwater Market. I'm sorry I didn't get a shot of the pastry shop and bakery in Atwater because it made me so happy I nearly cried. You've certainly never seen anything to compare to it in the States.<br />
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We had a lovely picnic just over the border in Vermont, with fresh bread and pesto from Atwater Market and a view of the mountains (best picnic spot ever!). We also stopped for a photo op at Crawford Notch in New Hampshire. Dismal Pool, anyone?<br />
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Coming up next: Summer Adventures Part 2: StorylandWatoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-11550016659515136132012-04-09T07:27:00.018-07:002012-04-09T07:57:54.989-07:00Easter WeekendDying eggs:<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pO-WlAXqEf4/T4L4P70oZOI/AAAAAAAACAk/0zIJGAeid_w/s1600/IMG_3221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pO-WlAXqEf4/T4L4P70oZOI/AAAAAAAACAk/0zIJGAeid_w/s400/IMG_3221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729414628608861410" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0HOP72mNA4/T4L3-JcuppI/AAAAAAAACAY/9wwRqYZLYro/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0HOP72mNA4/T4L3-JcuppI/AAAAAAAACAY/9wwRqYZLYro/s400/IMG_3222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729414323029059218" border="0" /></a><br />Posing for the camera before the Easter Vigil:<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yOPLCNy44U/T4L3u7ezjHI/AAAAAAAACAM/Yn5EvDIM6Ng/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yOPLCNy44U/T4L3u7ezjHI/AAAAAAAACAM/Yn5EvDIM6Ng/s400/IMG_3227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729414061581634674" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7hLG3D7TFo/T4L3f4f9YvI/AAAAAAAACAA/8BT5t_mw4Rw/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7hLG3D7TFo/T4L3f4f9YvI/AAAAAAAACAA/8BT5t_mw4Rw/s400/IMG_3231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729413803083129586" border="0" /></a><br />Playing with treats from the Easter Bunny and grandparents on Easter morning:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UEIgGTFaPk/T4L28yUmXKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/G5QRWu5v6nA/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UEIgGTFaPk/T4L28yUmXKI/AAAAAAAAB_o/G5QRWu5v6nA/s400/IMG_3235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729413200129449122" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wT_qjfeJ5SA/T4L3RyR_9oI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IjGmlkkMWXE/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wT_qjfeJ5SA/T4L3RyR_9oI/AAAAAAAAB_0/IjGmlkkMWXE/s400/IMG_3239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729413560895796866" border="0" /></a><br />Mommy deboning and butterflying the leg of lamb (in gory contrast to everyone else's Easter photos of mommies in sundresses in gardens):<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMHtaE-gvtI/T4L2fIbdQcI/AAAAAAAAB_c/b4WidAMF9T8/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMHtaE-gvtI/T4L2fIbdQcI/AAAAAAAAB_c/b4WidAMF9T8/s400/IMG_3241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729412690667717058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr2_XQ043oU/T4L2OVBKchI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/45mnajcocBw/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr2_XQ043oU/T4L2OVBKchI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/45mnajcocBw/s400/IMG_3242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729412401989317138" border="0" /></a><br />Making a smushed pillow sandwich:<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kjh2NfFmmEg/T4L1-sIbfFI/AAAAAAAAB_E/vqPPqnVX_dA/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kjh2NfFmmEg/T4L1-sIbfFI/AAAAAAAAB_E/vqPPqnVX_dA/s400/IMG_3243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729412133315902546" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUb0nAZzLII/T4L1oIdQs-I/AAAAAAAAB-4/K3kNlS35n10/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUb0nAZzLII/T4L1oIdQs-I/AAAAAAAAB-4/K3kNlS35n10/s400/IMG_3245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729411745782477794" border="0" /></a><br />Egg hunting with friends:<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0e1JsRRynaw/T4L1RMKk3yI/AAAAAAAAB-s/uIZSVzNYUYU/s1600/IMG_3247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0e1JsRRynaw/T4L1RMKk3yI/AAAAAAAAB-s/uIZSVzNYUYU/s400/IMG_3247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729411351640858402" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vp2ZB24Ru90/T4L05uzFR-I/AAAAAAAAB-g/2O4mnoHCxbE/s1600/IMG_3249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vp2ZB24Ru90/T4L05uzFR-I/AAAAAAAAB-g/2O4mnoHCxbE/s400/IMG_3249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729410948620699618" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIbezw4qP7c/T4L0kTkZfBI/AAAAAAAAB-U/Kbb1x94QyF0/s1600/IMG_3252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIbezw4qP7c/T4L0kTkZfBI/AAAAAAAAB-U/Kbb1x94QyF0/s400/IMG_3252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729410580534098962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLcj-OJEN38/T4L0I4C29NI/AAAAAAAAB-I/JrCnklXGzYM/s1600/IMG_3254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLcj-OJEN38/T4L0I4C29NI/AAAAAAAAB-I/JrCnklXGzYM/s400/IMG_3254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729410109289198802" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnqV8IoBKO8/T4Lz5nbAmwI/AAAAAAAAB98/ZIWXubMqZSM/s1600/IMG_3255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnqV8IoBKO8/T4Lz5nbAmwI/AAAAAAAAB98/ZIWXubMqZSM/s400/IMG_3255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729409847129053954" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z58bFwlUbf0/T4LzpredMAI/AAAAAAAAB9w/m9lwiJ4BjEs/s1600/IMG_3256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z58bFwlUbf0/T4LzpredMAI/AAAAAAAAB9w/m9lwiJ4BjEs/s400/IMG_3256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729409573339344898" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Easter, everyone!Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-66264676868928978332012-03-29T18:03:00.001-07:002012-03-29T18:03:39.461-07:00Let's Think of Something To Do While We're Waiting<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PlfOET4FYvE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-61304484383677513422012-03-08T12:09:00.005-08:002012-03-08T12:13:33.733-08:00First Ride on a Real Bicycle<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_As8UEcaxA/T1kSx2a97kI/AAAAAAAAB9k/0XC9Hv47uG0/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_As8UEcaxA/T1kSx2a97kI/AAAAAAAAB9k/0XC9Hv47uG0/s400/IMG_3210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717621849555070530" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0YTOpCsMq4/T1kSchBpsWI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/zhuPOgB33x8/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0YTOpCsMq4/T1kSchBpsWI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/zhuPOgB33x8/s400/IMG_3211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717621483034489186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ChX0H-VG1oM/T1kSQgmJ3DI/AAAAAAAAB9M/iDDhfLE7GqQ/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ChX0H-VG1oM/T1kSQgmJ3DI/AAAAAAAAB9M/iDDhfLE7GqQ/s400/IMG_3212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717621276760726578" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-14016117428236654882012-03-05T10:53:00.012-08:002012-03-05T11:25:38.152-08:00In Like a LionIt's been a strange winter in Maine, as we didn't get much snow at all the February. Then on March 1 we had a snow day and received about a foot of snow. The wind was blowing it around pretty hard, so we all stayed in. Here's a record of what we did to entertain ourselves.<br /><br />First, here's a shot of the whiteness out the window (Ben is watching it come down at his little table):<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp_2PsyInsU/T1UTGiewSAI/AAAAAAAAB9A/09pbtIGnyyA/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp_2PsyInsU/T1UTGiewSAI/AAAAAAAAB9A/09pbtIGnyyA/s400/IMG_3190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716496305072654338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ben spent some time doing the colors activity from his busy box (he really likes the colors and numbers pins), while Chris stretched out on the sofa.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6zZY7vvdHuE/T1US6kL6JPI/AAAAAAAAB80/MN_IrJ8cKl4/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6zZY7vvdHuE/T1US6kL6JPI/AAAAAAAAB80/MN_IrJ8cKl4/s400/IMG_3199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716496099372049650" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWZf-LskGVE/T1USrzXP2FI/AAAAAAAAB8o/2hSdozk8DhY/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWZf-LskGVE/T1USrzXP2FI/AAAAAAAAB8o/2hSdozk8DhY/s400/IMG_3194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716495845748103250" border="0" /></a><br />The cat made her presence known.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9SIyHdWDWk/T1UR0ZDoXwI/AAAAAAAAB8c/bKIQDH9tr6s/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9SIyHdWDWk/T1UR0ZDoXwI/AAAAAAAAB8c/bKIQDH9tr6s/s400/IMG_3197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716494893793697538" border="0" /></a><br />Then Ben and I did some yoga.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gg9hfBA0jzM/T1URTapRalI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/jV44ffVAcPg/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gg9hfBA0jzM/T1URTapRalI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/jV44ffVAcPg/s400/IMG_3200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716494327284329042" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jtp7QoxBm_s/T1UQ8kMmfOI/AAAAAAAAB8E/53KZnBw8XrE/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jtp7QoxBm_s/T1UQ8kMmfOI/AAAAAAAAB8E/53KZnBw8XrE/s400/IMG_3203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716493934711438562" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7TpNAv0BNc/T1UQMm-GQwI/AAAAAAAAB74/Hn6BzHsgn0Q/s1600/IMG_3206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7TpNAv0BNc/T1UQMm-GQwI/AAAAAAAAB74/Hn6BzHsgn0Q/s400/IMG_3206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716493110822191874" border="0" /></a><br />Again, the cat made her presence known. (Gosh, yoga is so relaxing for me.)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpB8D__mpCo/T1UO3D8n4HI/AAAAAAAAB7s/iFIHw6Jwr1Y/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpB8D__mpCo/T1UO3D8n4HI/AAAAAAAAB7s/iFIHw6Jwr1Y/s400/IMG_3201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716491641131884658" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acq6GRagT-I/T1UObjkz-lI/AAAAAAAAB7g/dLY0k_98yNk/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acq6GRagT-I/T1UObjkz-lI/AAAAAAAAB7g/dLY0k_98yNk/s400/IMG_3204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716491168585611858" border="0" /></a><br />Ben generally is really excited to join in in the yoga for the first 5 minutes, then gets bored and looks for something else to do.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDx4W4BkA-w/T1UNy9TusJI/AAAAAAAAB7U/RqpS02S8vQg/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDx4W4BkA-w/T1UNy9TusJI/AAAAAAAAB7U/RqpS02S8vQg/s400/IMG_3207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716490471118647442" border="0" /></a><br />Then Ben and Chris sat on the sofa and read quietly while I cooked something.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PWqFGOEEXc/T1UM6duB_PI/AAAAAAAAB7I/y7xLstM71U8/s1600/IMG_3208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PWqFGOEEXc/T1UM6duB_PI/AAAAAAAAB7I/y7xLstM71U8/s400/IMG_3208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716489500566355186" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-60235400652570420802012-02-21T11:21:00.000-08:002012-02-21T11:53:14.125-08:00The True Meaning of Presidents' DaySometimes I go a little crazy trying to entertain my child without the TV. Like this time:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOcw7PPnr08/T0P1HQaV-LI/AAAAAAAAB68/YTiq3KpT7zM/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOcw7PPnr08/T0P1HQaV-LI/AAAAAAAAB68/YTiq3KpT7zM/s400/IMG_3155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711678257449269426" border="0" /></a><br />"Mommy? Why did you put a bag over my head?"<br /><br />Yeah, that monster shopping bag wasn't a hit with him, judging from his long-suffering expression, which made me all the more prone to collapse on the floor in hysterical laughter. Then I am met with an expression like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P856ObGqAUs/T0P04sE-NeI/AAAAAAAAB6w/QarMAnSqmss/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P856ObGqAUs/T0P04sE-NeI/AAAAAAAAB6w/QarMAnSqmss/s400/IMG_3157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711678007177786850" border="0" /></a>"Hmmm. Now I'm suspicious of you, Mommy."<br /><br />Several indoor activities work well. Receiving presents from grandparents:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfCZRTjqzKo/T0P0cUleIBI/AAAAAAAAB6k/XrMqevTquXQ/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfCZRTjqzKo/T0P0cUleIBI/AAAAAAAAB6k/XrMqevTquXQ/s400/IMG_3163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711677519835308050" border="0" /></a><br />Eating Valentine candy:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8jf-g9M0RI/T0P0Jf0Ux3I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/T665BNmrEnc/s1600/IMG_3174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8jf-g9M0RI/T0P0Jf0Ux3I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/T665BNmrEnc/s400/IMG_3174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711677196432885618" border="0" /></a><br />Reading:<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZeYS04mb0o/T0PztErDj1I/AAAAAAAAB6M/HIEu0sPMQz8/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZeYS04mb0o/T0PztErDj1I/AAAAAAAAB6M/HIEu0sPMQz8/s400/IMG_3178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711676708109913938" border="0" /></a><br />"You think I'm going to put down my books just to hug Daddy? You're WRONG."<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6_Zec8XNWbg/T0PzYqQmCRI/AAAAAAAAB6A/RyhJWDDjkZ0/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6_Zec8XNWbg/T0PzYqQmCRI/AAAAAAAAB6A/RyhJWDDjkZ0/s400/IMG_3180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711676357422221586" border="0" /></a><br />And putting puffballs in an old milk jar. As soon as I dump these out, Ben has to sit down and put them ALL back in again. It's serious work. (This is one of many items I'm accumulating for Ben's "busy box," inspired by <a href="http://secondstorywindow.typepad.com/home/2011/10/toddler-time-busy-bag-exchange-part-3-freebie.html/">this post</a>.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ITVmkGYCgDI/T0Pywis-U2I/AAAAAAAAB5o/YqjBq_Wwqg4/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ITVmkGYCgDI/T0Pywis-U2I/AAAAAAAAB5o/YqjBq_Wwqg4/s400/IMG_3186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711675668199002978" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYkRlJkWDs/T0PzDfFrSqI/AAAAAAAAB50/Cp3HGuYIZTU/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYkRlJkWDs/T0PzDfFrSqI/AAAAAAAAB50/Cp3HGuYIZTU/s400/IMG_3188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711675993646385826" border="0" /></a><br />"You think my hair looks like <span style="font-style: italic;">what</span>?"<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_bAHzxUnuQI/T0PyINd65RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/gA4OdsS9ZrM/s1600/IMG_3189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_bAHzxUnuQI/T0PyINd65RI/AAAAAAAAB5c/gA4OdsS9ZrM/s400/IMG_3189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711674975303951634" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-25611616038272485592012-01-22T13:11:00.000-08:002012-01-22T13:16:48.613-08:00ReadingBen has had a literacy boom. He can read just about any word now, and he is excellent at reading simple books (those with just a few words or one sentence per page). This morning he read the word "important" without any help. He has also given up his nap, but it works out perfectly because he's so happy reading and entertaining himself that he just hangs out in his room for a couple of hours every afternoon and has quiet time. I like to spy on him via monitor and keyhole.<br /><br />Here he is reading a chapter from Arnold Lobel's <span style="font-style: italic;">Frog and Toad Together</span>. Even though he's read this several times and has bits of it memorized, he is genuinely able to read it as well. His favorite chapter is about eating too many cookies--something we can all relate to in our house!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UGUUoF10bM8" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-90135180721304774392011-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:25:20.311-07:00Wild Things Part 2This week I went decorating and baking crazy, preparing for our Wild Rumpus. First order of business, add some wild things to the house. Here's an illustration from the book for inspiration:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/166fb61.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 688px; height: 313px;" src="http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/166fb61.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And here are three of the wild things. The redhead looks a bit like a muppet to me, but Ben recognized them all and was pretty excited. It was nice to have a Halloween monster that was also a familiar literary reference, and not too scary for the kids (although I've seen Spike Jonze's movie, and those wild things scared me!).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-REUWrWRrYNk/Tq2iYz7UMMI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/VIoaZHBy7c0/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-REUWrWRrYNk/Tq2iYz7UMMI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/VIoaZHBy7c0/s400/IMG_2969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669366053068878018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7UhpGC0IGo/Tq2iNtmnn8I/AAAAAAAAB5E/G2-9D92ring/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7UhpGC0IGo/Tq2iNtmnn8I/AAAAAAAAB5E/G2-9D92ring/s400/IMG_2968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669365862392897474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FX_Q53wMATA/Tq2h3J9AA1I/AAAAAAAAB44/-c1z414lcR0/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FX_Q53wMATA/Tq2h3J9AA1I/AAAAAAAAB44/-c1z414lcR0/s400/IMG_2997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669365474865972050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VNB8R6Vj2w/Tq2hphkMluI/AAAAAAAAB4s/AXbGefH0amc/s1600/IMG_2999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VNB8R6Vj2w/Tq2hphkMluI/AAAAAAAAB4s/AXbGefH0amc/s400/IMG_2999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669365240686221026" border="0" /></a><br />I carved our pumpkin and Ben lay down next to it, had a conversation with it, and gave it a kiss.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o3HLkGXyCTw/Tq2hNZrfHPI/AAAAAAAAB4g/Onpu1puthlU/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o3HLkGXyCTw/Tq2hNZrfHPI/AAAAAAAAB4g/Onpu1puthlU/s400/IMG_2988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669364757532974322" border="0" /></a><br />I baked pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (decorated like wild things) and mint julep brownies (these are the best brownies I've ever eaten). These two recipes had so much butter in them that I'd rather not think about it, but it was great fun to abandon all health concerns and make massive amounts of decadent sweets for a crowd. I also made Nutter Butter ghosts because I thought Ben would love them, which he did.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfN2uviLsjo/Tq2gnwY0DjI/AAAAAAAAB4U/4K7kg_004UQ/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfN2uviLsjo/Tq2gnwY0DjI/AAAAAAAAB4U/4K7kg_004UQ/s400/IMG_2992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669364110793641522" border="0" /></a><br />And I made some slimy mozzerella eyeballs (in balsamic and olive oil), which were yummy and wonderfully funny to look at!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi2QASKHnHI/Tq2f4ILMAnI/AAAAAAAAB38/hiRAnlgmdvI/s1600/IMG_3011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi2QASKHnHI/Tq2f4ILMAnI/AAAAAAAAB38/hiRAnlgmdvI/s400/IMG_3011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669363292545221234" border="0" /></a>And, yes, I see that misspelling now. Ga! How embarrassing! Even editors need editors.<br /><br />In spite of the 5-10 inches of snow forecast for last night and a mild cold going around that everyone seems to have acquired this week, we had a good crowd and a lot of fun.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGmrsf4lDAA/Tq2fg0det3I/AAAAAAAAB3w/RMP8zaUN3KU/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGmrsf4lDAA/Tq2fg0det3I/AAAAAAAAB3w/RMP8zaUN3KU/s400/IMG_3012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669362892116244338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3U0ZbvwWjU/Tq2fVOk5ZLI/AAAAAAAAB3k/l2_5jZck5XI/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3U0ZbvwWjU/Tq2fVOk5ZLI/AAAAAAAAB3k/l2_5jZck5XI/s400/IMG_3013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669362692968244402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a55gX8MkXY8/Tq2fN8ipgiI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/7OUR_UWJ4i0/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a55gX8MkXY8/Tq2fN8ipgiI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/7OUR_UWJ4i0/s400/IMG_3014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669362567867892258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1wNXzC4pJgo/Tq2ejKn03rI/AAAAAAAAB3A/UWb4Y5uWw9c/s1600/IMG_3017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1wNXzC4pJgo/Tq2ejKn03rI/AAAAAAAAB3A/UWb4Y5uWw9c/s400/IMG_3017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669361832913329842" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Ben after a few hours in a house filled with people:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xfQ4DQdFUKE/Tq2etP99UaI/AAAAAAAAB3M/ePS3GQejpeE/s1600/IMG_3015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xfQ4DQdFUKE/Tq2etP99UaI/AAAAAAAAB3M/ePS3GQejpeE/s400/IMG_3015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669362006147027362" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and I wore my mom's German dirdl and went as Snow White (or rather, an aging Snow White with freckles). I put a felt crown on Chris and informed him he was Prince Charming, although I threatened to put scary makeup on him and make him the evil queen if he didn't behave. Here, Mom, I thought you'd like a photo:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LV4ex55ZPns/Tq2d-SuHG-I/AAAAAAAAB20/DG5IlgcPZsQ/s1600/IMG_3000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LV4ex55ZPns/Tq2d-SuHG-I/AAAAAAAAB20/DG5IlgcPZsQ/s400/IMG_3000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669361199432014818" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't this dress just make you think of Christmas? Don't I look like someone who resides in a Gingerbread House? Well, in a few weeks I'll be jumping into advent with gusto, and maybe I'll have to pull the dirndl out while we're applying gumdrop buttons to gingys. So many things to do! I love holidays.Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-29691749301242907272011-10-30T11:26:00.000-07:002011-10-30T11:47:29.026-07:00Wild Things Part 1Ben and I are both big fans of Maurice Sendak's classic <span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Wild Things Are</span>. In fact, the copy I read to Ben is the copy I had as a child. He has memorized all of Max's lines to call out when we're reading it: "I eat you up!" "Let the wild rumpus start!" "Now stop!" When I asked him if he'd like a wolf costume like Max for Halloween, he said yes.<br /><br />Just for a visual reference, check this out:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVQ9Kx4OjiQ/TnbYYVB1aVI/AAAAAAAAAf8/_mD3aegChp8/s640/where-the-wild-things-are-max1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 495px; height: 369px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVQ9Kx4OjiQ/TnbYYVB1aVI/AAAAAAAAAf8/_mD3aegChp8/s640/where-the-wild-things-are-max1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, Max. You naughty boy.<br /><br />Now here's Ben's version of Max. I just attached ears, buttons, whiskers, and a tail to a white sweatsuit. He was pretty comfortable in it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVt3Cjw3Z4A/Tq2bKdQwJuI/AAAAAAAAB2o/NfYhV5KzV-s/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVt3Cjw3Z4A/Tq2bKdQwJuI/AAAAAAAAB2o/NfYhV5KzV-s/s400/IMG_2977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669358109885212386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XybDdcU1BnU/Tq2bB-op-VI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Ij8UAMV5GZA/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XybDdcU1BnU/Tq2bB-op-VI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Ij8UAMV5GZA/s400/IMG_2979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669357964225018194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yO_hI_ZbpWI/Tq2aLNQ3ZBI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/sr_gFa8phDc/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yO_hI_ZbpWI/Tq2aLNQ3ZBI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/sr_gFa8phDc/s400/IMG_2980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669357023258960914" border="0" /></a><br />Our first event was our town's Halloween on Main Street. Every Friday night before Halloween the town cuts off traffic on Main Street, and you can trick or treat at all the businesses and library, etc. Thousands of people show up in really excellent costumes. My favorite this year was a boy dressed as a headless man, carrying his own head.<br /><br />Ben trick-or-treated several places, greeted with plenty of "aawww, how cute!" from those doling out candy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WbxgK2HMNV0/Tq2Z3hXx64I/AAAAAAAAB2E/tTOgcpFxPYY/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WbxgK2HMNV0/Tq2Z3hXx64I/AAAAAAAAB2E/tTOgcpFxPYY/s400/IMG_2981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669356685059287938" border="0" /></a><br />Then he got tired of walking and Chris carried him home.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkDaKvC3S2U/Tq2YfQ8q5RI/AAAAAAAAB14/gP8yay-Qs38/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkDaKvC3S2U/Tq2YfQ8q5RI/AAAAAAAAB14/gP8yay-Qs38/s400/IMG_2986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669355168822125842" border="0" /></a><br />The next post will contain photos from our party!Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-71281990832144205532011-09-07T16:57:00.000-07:002011-09-07T18:48:46.744-07:00Some things are more fun than other things.So, the second day of school was not so hot. Ben knew what was coming and was forlorn and weepy the whole time. But once we got in the car and were driving home for lunch, he told me he had fun and played with the kitchen and phone at the school. So who knows?<br /><br />On to more cheerful topics, such as...da da DA DA! Washing the cars! This gets done about once a year at our house. Seriously. It's too hard to bother with in the winter, and we just don't get around to it when the weather is nice. But the cars finally filled up with sand to a point that we were happy to bid it adieu.<br /><br />Here are the Callaway men washing the cars:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYVo8y2Ebgc/TmgF2g8hOmI/AAAAAAAAB0w/jO84uQC1Wng/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYVo8y2Ebgc/TmgF2g8hOmI/AAAAAAAAB0w/jO84uQC1Wng/s400/IMG_2649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649772166651132514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndfFmYImzMs/TmgGGiwlnQI/AAAAAAAAB04/tFk5fRjKvw8/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndfFmYImzMs/TmgGGiwlnQI/AAAAAAAAB04/tFk5fRjKvw8/s400/IMG_2650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649772442015866114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL6GbTRj1HU/TmgGgVeJTfI/AAAAAAAAB1A/AHk0CsBpxhE/s1600/IMG_2651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL6GbTRj1HU/TmgGgVeJTfI/AAAAAAAAB1A/AHk0CsBpxhE/s400/IMG_2651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649772885125451250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm5NSlL3Q7w/TmgGyZ0AFaI/AAAAAAAAB1I/0oUX-VV98DU/s1600/IMG_2652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm5NSlL3Q7w/TmgGyZ0AFaI/AAAAAAAAB1I/0oUX-VV98DU/s400/IMG_2652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649773195528508834" border="0" /></a><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SHTm00ZXI8o" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Also, Ben's dad is turning 40 tomorrow. I made him some brains cookies (not made of real brains) with a Venn diagram about what zombies and professors have in common. He liked it a lot! And it's the gift that keeps on giving, because I've promised he can take the cookies to his office, eat them all himself, and then bring the empty jar home (not more than once a week) for a refill. The almond-y brain-colored cookies are delicious and are going to be a new cookie staple for us. Also, I filled out the jar with some choco-chip in the back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwC2jdqbQbM/TmgIanY4f8I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/0k0CVns52iA/s1600/IMG_2658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwC2jdqbQbM/TmgIanY4f8I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/0k0CVns52iA/s400/IMG_2658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649774985879257026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkzbRVzBt9w/TmgIrzFaDZI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/08Zx4wifX0E/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkzbRVzBt9w/TmgIrzFaDZI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/08Zx4wifX0E/s400/IMG_2653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649775281076571538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xORSQEhr1Q/TmgI8Rw5eKI/AAAAAAAAB1g/_oDyJnXDZsg/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xORSQEhr1Q/TmgI8Rw5eKI/AAAAAAAAB1g/_oDyJnXDZsg/s400/IMG_2654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649775564189956258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JhWy9JGDzA/TmgJOJfmbLI/AAAAAAAAB1o/HpD0F8q-mNM/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JhWy9JGDzA/TmgJOJfmbLI/AAAAAAAAB1o/HpD0F8q-mNM/s400/IMG_2657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649775871207566514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qv9bsIyP_c0/TmgJipDz_uI/AAAAAAAAB1w/yie_b5t5PrA/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qv9bsIyP_c0/TmgJipDz_uI/AAAAAAAAB1w/yie_b5t5PrA/s400/IMG_2655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649776223278333666" border="0" /></a><br />Check out the dude as the Zombie Professor. A bunch of his Halloween photos popped up in Google Images. I'll bet he never dreamed he'd be immortalized on a jar of Happy Lobes Brain Cookies. Excellent costume and very convincing demeanor, mister!Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-43545127066193434602011-08-31T10:40:00.000-07:002011-08-31T10:53:59.977-07:00The First Day of SchoolBen was so ready for his first day of school that he cried this morning because we weren't leaving the house early enough. Chris and I dropped him off together, and he didn't even care that we left. He ran up to the door giggling madly and elbowed another poor kid to get in the door. When I picked him up, Ben was exhausted, and his teacher reported that he had a very good first day, that's he's very smart, but he didn't understand "circle time" so they let him explore on his own a bit. Nice teachers! Also, he tended to be quiet in a big group. No surprises there. I'm thinking maybe we'll work on circle time at home with our stuffed animals.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_4XWSZK2hM/Tl50rqavASI/AAAAAAAAB0o/jXYGpTxCjLo/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_4XWSZK2hM/Tl50rqavASI/AAAAAAAAB0o/jXYGpTxCjLo/s400/IMG_2647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647079276238799138" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnpgnHeJiE4/Tl50chTjrDI/AAAAAAAAB0g/txTmNz-haGk/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnpgnHeJiE4/Tl50chTjrDI/AAAAAAAAB0g/txTmNz-haGk/s400/IMG_2644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647079016094739506" border="0" /></a>
<br />I slept fitfully last night and felt twitterpated when dropping him off, so I just kicked myself out of the classroom quickly and ran 3 miles home. Then I made the mistake of walking to and from school to pick him up, which is about 4 more miles of walking. The first day of school wore me out!
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<br />First day report card for Ben: B+
<br />First day report card for Dad: What is the letter grade for completely nonplussed?
<br />First day report card for Mom: Q (Seriously, there is no rational grade for the mess that is me.)
<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-2239392503540840362011-08-21T10:08:00.000-07:002011-08-21T11:06:02.012-07:00Alphabet Birthday WonderlandBen began his first day as a 3-year-old by demanding that Chris and I sing "The Alphabet Song" <span style="font-style: italic;">instead of</span> "Happy Birthday" to him when we got him out of bed. He then went downstairs and was thrilled to discover letters and balloons hanging from the ceiling. He thought they were pretty much made of awesome and unicorn dust.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vsa3Gwu85VE/TlFGZ4D9qiI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/pEODeXXfxQo/s1600/IMG_2563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vsa3Gwu85VE/TlFGZ4D9qiI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/pEODeXXfxQo/s400/IMG_2563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643369218431625762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QKF0yaR0fk/TlFGO6O0wAI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/kKUh5rCYglM/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QKF0yaR0fk/TlFGO6O0wAI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/kKUh5rCYglM/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643369030035488770" border="0" /></a>
<br />After drawing our attention to all the letter decorations, he settled down to opening some gifts. He read his name spelled out on several of the presents (he is recognizing lots of sight words these days).
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVCO9dtfPKY/TlFF9GjLLpI/AAAAAAAAB0I/s0rmaBXZ1r8/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVCO9dtfPKY/TlFF9GjLLpI/AAAAAAAAB0I/s0rmaBXZ1r8/s400/IMG_2567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643368724104425106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8-THwJueS4/TlFFXfoAutI/AAAAAAAABz4/C8UIH0GU8dU/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8-THwJueS4/TlFFXfoAutI/AAAAAAAABz4/C8UIH0GU8dU/s400/IMG_2580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643368078000569042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yT6Ftm4V_y8/TlFFJPD9_xI/AAAAAAAABzw/tWoRYv9dm3I/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yT6Ftm4V_y8/TlFFJPD9_xI/AAAAAAAABzw/tWoRYv9dm3I/s400/IMG_2582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643367833036259090" border="0" /></a>
<br />When he got to this fantastic wooden spelling toy, he set aside everything to play with it for a bit. It's so rewarding when your child actually <span style="font-style: italic;">really likes</span> a gift you've chosen for him, am I right? I never know whether something will illicit ecstasy, apathy, or horror (as was the case with some Kipper felt puppets I made him last Christmas--he now loves them).
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<br />The party commenced at 10am.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNEuboYS85g/TlFEae7LeWI/AAAAAAAABzo/LCQpNXNoL8M/s1600/IMG_2585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNEuboYS85g/TlFEae7LeWI/AAAAAAAABzo/LCQpNXNoL8M/s400/IMG_2585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643367029840509282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyOaeJb2uV0/TlFENHYXo2I/AAAAAAAABzg/dITh5dGWTCg/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyOaeJb2uV0/TlFENHYXo2I/AAAAAAAABzg/dITh5dGWTCg/s400/IMG_2586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643366800182190946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42HwgQRpJWI/TlFD9coJA3I/AAAAAAAABzY/HljeOO1sEk8/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42HwgQRpJWI/TlFD9coJA3I/AAAAAAAABzY/HljeOO1sEk8/s400/IMG_2587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643366531007578994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvVNLVlydzA/TlFDtPQKMkI/AAAAAAAABzQ/9Jair-tb65I/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvVNLVlydzA/TlFDtPQKMkI/AAAAAAAABzQ/9Jair-tb65I/s400/IMG_2588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643366252539425346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8nB8ZZvau-A/TlFDec8OdOI/AAAAAAAABzI/VIyqYuzTeqU/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8nB8ZZvau-A/TlFDec8OdOI/AAAAAAAABzI/VIyqYuzTeqU/s400/IMG_2589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643365998515877090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xUUslfFMvY/TlFDSbdQ7vI/AAAAAAAABzA/IPEzxn58Ig8/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xUUslfFMvY/TlFDSbdQ7vI/AAAAAAAABzA/IPEzxn58Ig8/s400/IMG_2590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643365791959150322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0jV_g4tlOU/TlFDELNjFFI/AAAAAAAABy4/UdMVh7AmrCw/s1600/IMG_2591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0jV_g4tlOU/TlFDELNjFFI/AAAAAAAABy4/UdMVh7AmrCw/s400/IMG_2591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643365547080094802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTF6KaWxzmU/TlFC0_KnUhI/AAAAAAAAByw/AyJrfNKH1ow/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTF6KaWxzmU/TlFC0_KnUhI/AAAAAAAAByw/AyJrfNKH1ow/s400/IMG_2593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643365286148526610" border="0" /></a>
<br />The most popular items were the alphabet elevator, a bowl of Scrabble Cheezits, and some mason jars filled with candy on the table. FYI, that's pretty much all you need to keep children (or adults!) happy for a few hours.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yiQ8XeWh8_8/TlFCgnW2_mI/AAAAAAAAByo/e3E8UgBQfoQ/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yiQ8XeWh8_8/TlFCgnW2_mI/AAAAAAAAByo/e3E8UgBQfoQ/s400/IMG_2595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643364936160050786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etZG5rtkUS0/TlFCOneMqhI/AAAAAAAAByg/k-incYW1J-A/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etZG5rtkUS0/TlFCOneMqhI/AAAAAAAAByg/k-incYW1J-A/s400/IMG_2596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643364626953185810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7XVyeMedks/TlFB9kNg2mI/AAAAAAAAByY/8-DzkjFb4k4/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7XVyeMedks/TlFB9kNg2mI/AAAAAAAAByY/8-DzkjFb4k4/s400/IMG_2618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643364334020123234" border="0" /></a>
<br />Ben politely shared his elevator, snacks, and toys and was excited to see some of his friends arrive, but as the crowd grew, our little introvert snuck out to the back porch to have some fun time by himself. Look, bubbles!
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<br />Before long his friends joined him. (Doesn't it look nice out there? It was. The temperature stayed quite pleasant while the party lasted--at least as far as the not-eight-months-pregnant guests were concerned.)
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<br />After some buttermilk biscuits with ham and sweet iced tea (I fell back on Southern favorites this year), we enjoyed some alphabet and number cupcakes. Ben liked them very much and chose the letter B, for obvious reasons. Below he is staring intently at the cupcakes and refusing to look at anyone singing "Happy Birthday" to him.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzRXgOYAxxY/TlFAcYRXJEI/AAAAAAAABx4/eNQrZYBYXhk/s1600/IMG_2605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzRXgOYAxxY/TlFAcYRXJEI/AAAAAAAABx4/eNQrZYBYXhk/s400/IMG_2605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643362664367727682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oQ9h7YAJ4/TlFANDU0ZRI/AAAAAAAABxw/IiR6Md8006o/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oQ9h7YAJ4/TlFANDU0ZRI/AAAAAAAABxw/IiR6Md8006o/s400/IMG_2606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643362401047045394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEruZiNCUMQ/TlE_yxRBG_I/AAAAAAAABxo/gB5mOrWqbVk/s1600/IMG_2607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEruZiNCUMQ/TlE_yxRBG_I/AAAAAAAABxo/gB5mOrWqbVk/s400/IMG_2607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643361949522664434" border="0" /></a>
<br />A great strategy for eating cupcakes is to lick off all the frosting first.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nM7A4CJ1mV8/TlE_Z1yerUI/AAAAAAAABxg/c2sXDHIcyus/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nM7A4CJ1mV8/TlE_Z1yerUI/AAAAAAAABxg/c2sXDHIcyus/s400/IMG_2608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643361521240026434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EfxMX0GQmw/TlE_AI7cxqI/AAAAAAAABxY/YO1M_FglswE/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EfxMX0GQmw/TlE_AI7cxqI/AAAAAAAABxY/YO1M_FglswE/s400/IMG_2610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643361079701325474" border="0" /></a>
<br />The party ended with a book exchange.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQsT3GefIAU/TlE-SgglFtI/AAAAAAAABxQ/9BwddjKVCIc/s1600/IMG_2612.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQsT3GefIAU/TlE-SgglFtI/AAAAAAAABxQ/9BwddjKVCIc/s400/IMG_2612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643360295757092562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5HYec45PYhg/TlE9_KiNyAI/AAAAAAAABxI/IIYqiAdAvxk/s1600/IMG_2617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5HYec45PYhg/TlE9_KiNyAI/AAAAAAAABxI/IIYqiAdAvxk/s400/IMG_2617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643359963440859138" border="0" /></a>
<br />After nap time (Ben didn't actually sleep, but Mommy, who'd been up since 5am, did), Ben opened yet more presents and Skyped with relatives. We had a great day! As I told Chris that evening, "All these parenting experts suggest that plying your children with junk food and presents is a bad thing, but Ben has been in a super mood all day! I've changed my mind; the key to avoiding whining is to just give him candy and toys all day long."
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<br />Thanks to everyone for making Ben feel special on his birthday.
<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-74932097470205162362011-08-17T12:32:00.000-07:002011-08-17T12:43:19.514-07:00At Higgins Beach on an August Morning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYMkB_Y4Qc/TkwZ0IFAmhI/AAAAAAAABxA/2qqfuuDhDnI/s1600/IMG_2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYMkB_Y4Qc/TkwZ0IFAmhI/AAAAAAAABxA/2qqfuuDhDnI/s400/IMG_2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641912816500775442" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-50090106015094743782011-08-16T17:11:00.000-07:002011-08-16T17:30:58.263-07:00Not a BoxThe other week a mom friend called to tell me that she and her co-workers had received new desk chairs at her office. Whereas everyone else was excited about the chairs, she, as a fellow mom, was excited about the sturdy cardboard boxes that the chairs arrived in. She brought one over to me and, BEHOLD, I have transformed it into The Alphabet Elevator for my son, whose two favorite things in the universe are the alphabet and elevators.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5APkh1chhI/TksLXTmYh4I/AAAAAAAABv4/TTvvIkLYh78/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5APkh1chhI/TksLXTmYh4I/AAAAAAAABv4/TTvvIkLYh78/s400/IMG_2521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641615453237839746" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAi5Z7mLYCo/TksKhZl722I/AAAAAAAABvw/hNuvnmytj8I/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAi5Z7mLYCo/TksKhZl722I/AAAAAAAABvw/hNuvnmytj8I/s400/IMG_2523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641614527133637474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0639e1-Jgtw/TksKTQpgRrI/AAAAAAAABvo/JvMzrDisx-E/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0639e1-Jgtw/TksKTQpgRrI/AAAAAAAABvo/JvMzrDisx-E/s400/IMG_2524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641614284214519474" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Here's a shot of the interior button panel. I also cut a round hole in the lid to let in light, which looks like the dim, round lights in the elevator at our library.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spogrGDnMx8/TksJ5yzsf9I/AAAAAAAABvg/vlb061HhcnY/s1600/IMG_2525.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spogrGDnMx8/TksJ5yzsf9I/AAAAAAAABvg/vlb061HhcnY/s400/IMG_2525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641613846707470290" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Everything is better with a giant Z, A, E, or H painted on it:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAAL-0dIEm0/TksJq6o77sI/AAAAAAAABvY/CT_OcYI4RF4/s1600/IMG_2526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAAL-0dIEm0/TksJq6o77sI/AAAAAAAABvY/CT_OcYI4RF4/s400/IMG_2526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641613591111790274" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUOF7zcxljA/TksJWgmKOwI/AAAAAAAABvQ/bDt7wurgLgw/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUOF7zcxljA/TksJWgmKOwI/AAAAAAAABvQ/bDt7wurgLgw/s400/IMG_2527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641613240523438850" border="0" /></a>
<br />The box is, much to my chagrin, just large enough that I can squeeze into it with Ben, and he knows it. Tonight I was required to cram myself in and out the door multiple times, scrunch up next to Ben inside, and sing a composed-on-the-spot elevator song about 500 times. Later Chris made up for my mild discomfort by telling me, "You're pretty much the coolest mom in the world because you make things for him all the time and you make up songs all the time. AND you never scream at him or blow smoke in his face." *Sniff, sniff*
<br />Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-17013728564859568272011-07-24T12:42:00.000-07:002011-07-24T12:45:19.305-07:00Arky ArkyHere's the mural of Noah's Ark that I painted on the wall of our church nursery this past week. It may not be theologically accurate--that's up to you to decide. The adults love it and the kids ignored it. Oh well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-no8aqfKxiVQ/Tix2BwyVjfI/AAAAAAAABvI/BCqo7DVVUnU/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-no8aqfKxiVQ/Tix2BwyVjfI/AAAAAAAABvI/BCqo7DVVUnU/s400/IMG_2414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633007006581624306" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-58785597928405634202011-07-16T10:19:00.000-07:002011-07-16T16:52:44.187-07:00Fun in a Fabulous Felt FortA couple of months ago Jackamo brought to my attention a clever felt playhouse designed to fit over a card table. It was for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/missprettypretty">sale on Etsy</a>, with various cute decorations, and I thought, "I could make that! For less!" It is also the solution to my quandry this year: I wanted to give Ben a playhouse, but our home doesn't have the space for a permanent one.<br /><br />So I drew up plans for a felt fort to slip over our dining room table, making each panel one of the seasons. Ben was thrilled as soon as I brought home the light blue felt for the main part--I didn't even think about it, but it's the same color as his favorite blankets. I decorated the two long side panels back in June, and he was really excited to see the snowman and sailboat. I decorated the short panels this week. When he woke up this morning and saw the front door with the little doorbell and the mailbox full of letters, he was VERY enthusiastic. He crawled in and started reciting a Kipper cartoon where Kipper and Arnold make a table fort. Plus, he can't enter the fort without pressing the doorbell and saying "Ding dong!"<br /><br />In the original design, the side corners are sewn up, but Ben likes to be able to crawl out under any of the side flaps, so I left them unsewn. The panels don't hang as neatly, but it's easier to fold up and store away when we actually want to use our dining room table to DINE upon. A friend who was visiting with us this week announced "That is the coolest play fort I've ever seen." I think he secretly wants one of his own, but he is 6'5", and that would probably call for more felt than I can manage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQXGosTOS04/TiHNOzFhzmI/AAAAAAAABvA/4q5Jbz2vgJQ/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQXGosTOS04/TiHNOzFhzmI/AAAAAAAABvA/4q5Jbz2vgJQ/s400/IMG_2386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630006663305088610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUDBTjGCSZU/TiHMyqEH_qI/AAAAAAAABu4/byp0o_cpMvU/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUDBTjGCSZU/TiHMyqEH_qI/AAAAAAAABu4/byp0o_cpMvU/s400/IMG_2387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630006179846946466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuz5c3nyyKg/TiHMYQhJxkI/AAAAAAAABuw/EmcroCV_r-0/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuz5c3nyyKg/TiHMYQhJxkI/AAAAAAAABuw/EmcroCV_r-0/s400/IMG_2390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630005726312777282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQIUKNsvNLU/TiHLuqVN4GI/AAAAAAAABuo/IaeYbWph2nU/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQIUKNsvNLU/TiHLuqVN4GI/AAAAAAAABuo/IaeYbWph2nU/s400/IMG_2391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630005011687530594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tw8KXywmSIA/TiHLF0-kB9I/AAAAAAAABug/YaUcHh4nob8/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tw8KXywmSIA/TiHLF0-kB9I/AAAAAAAABug/YaUcHh4nob8/s400/IMG_2396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630004310170666962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy0SgEgw-WQ/TiHKRoNgvMI/AAAAAAAABuY/c_epj1Du4oc/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy0SgEgw-WQ/TiHKRoNgvMI/AAAAAAAABuY/c_epj1Du4oc/s400/IMG_2397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630003413390507202" border="0" /></a><br />As you can imagine, I really enjoy making this kind of thing. It's a lot more fun than creating a stodgy piece of art for adults, and it's so rewarding when Ben actually enjoys the playthings I make for him. When I was little, my sister and I were constantly making forts, and Ben is the same--he's a kid who'd rather hide in a fort and read and pretend instead of playing ball outside. I don't know if that's my influence or just his natural preference.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iYoZx5IcqO4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />My next project in mind is transforming the unused space in Ben's low-ceilinged, deep, attic closet into a reading nook. I'll let you know if I ever get around to it.Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-40658369103384843312011-07-13T16:17:00.001-07:002011-07-13T16:17:47.735-07:00Hysterical Dinnertime<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0Od1A3KOHiw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-72721682700762406692011-07-13T10:40:00.000-07:002011-07-13T11:30:29.305-07:00Summer FunAfter an enjoyable trip down South to visit all the relatives, we returned to Maine and brought summer weather back with us. Sweaty! But mostly pleasant. Here are a few things Ben is doing to beat the heat.<br /><br />Honing his artistic skills on the back porch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgUnhb_W80g/Th3kHapr0II/AAAAAAAABuQ/8Ja-9yDTIfc/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgUnhb_W80g/Th3kHapr0II/AAAAAAAABuQ/8Ja-9yDTIfc/s400/IMG_2347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628905925347364994" border="0" /></a><br />Trying out a new pair of shades:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwSi3W4SMc8/Th3j3N6jljI/AAAAAAAABuI/w2Q0YT6bEP4/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwSi3W4SMc8/Th3j3N6jljI/AAAAAAAABuI/w2Q0YT6bEP4/s400/IMG_2352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628905647050561074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Having hysterics while smearing melted chocolate chips on the wainscotting:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qwsXhpi-Xg4/Th3jnDxk9PI/AAAAAAAABuA/BKwfTqu-4Mk/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qwsXhpi-Xg4/Th3jnDxk9PI/AAAAAAAABuA/BKwfTqu-4Mk/s400/IMG_2360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628905369450640626" border="0" /></a><br />Playing in the wading pool and picnicking:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk4h6B3GJcA/Th3jY1y1SoI/AAAAAAAABt4/lg1lE3y-mfY/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xk4h6B3GJcA/Th3jY1y1SoI/AAAAAAAABt4/lg1lE3y-mfY/s400/IMG_2367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628905125179640450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JjL7dpwiWtQ/Th3is-vkQ1I/AAAAAAAABtw/4TnUSSsTVfo/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JjL7dpwiWtQ/Th3is-vkQ1I/AAAAAAAABtw/4TnUSSsTVfo/s400/IMG_2372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628904371667616594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxaH4xwsCsY/Th3hbfufa-I/AAAAAAAABto/Dt_AH4MIIRY/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxaH4xwsCsY/Th3hbfufa-I/AAAAAAAABto/Dt_AH4MIIRY/s400/IMG_2375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628902971772201954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtQow96DF9s/Th3gd3RX4ZI/AAAAAAAABtg/TcZ0-WUDibg/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtQow96DF9s/Th3gd3RX4ZI/AAAAAAAABtg/TcZ0-WUDibg/s400/IMG_2380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628901912940634514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoLmyPh0EM8/Th3c5irWWdI/AAAAAAAABtY/OMJHjfBP9Yo/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoLmyPh0EM8/Th3c5irWWdI/AAAAAAAABtY/OMJHjfBP9Yo/s400/IMG_2382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628897990402267602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And of course, hugging blankie. Because it's never too hot for blankie.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJoeRbpFvgU/Th3cD4NbORI/AAAAAAAABtQ/P_hLp36VL-Y/s1600/IMG_2351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJoeRbpFvgU/Th3cD4NbORI/AAAAAAAABtQ/P_hLp36VL-Y/s400/IMG_2351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628897068469401874" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-46292484026697136082011-06-13T11:54:00.000-07:002011-06-13T11:55:35.977-07:00Tasty!<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1RJFCh0Edkc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653821766816036429.post-59653016356524638352011-05-30T11:10:00.000-07:002011-05-30T11:28:18.549-07:00Spring Fever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6CTRPWPLps/TePhhDkbZGI/AAAAAAAABtE/4xdx-MWs4vY/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6CTRPWPLps/TePhhDkbZGI/AAAAAAAABtE/4xdx-MWs4vY/s400/IMG_2291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612577518643799138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">What do you do when it rains and rains and seems it'll never stop?</span><br /><br />Rearrange the family room furniture (include a couch fort):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1zFLEtBekc/TePhJ7YY9eI/AAAAAAAABs8/lRp45PkQ-70/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1zFLEtBekc/TePhJ7YY9eI/AAAAAAAABs8/lRp45PkQ-70/s400/IMG_2293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612577121308833250" border="0" /></a><br />Sit in the bookcase and eat cookies with a friend:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju-ptM9LJyw/TePg7EG6apI/AAAAAAAABs0/7MpdYMe6lJk/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju-ptM9LJyw/TePg7EG6apI/AAAAAAAABs0/7MpdYMe6lJk/s400/IMG_2298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612576865953409682" border="0" /></a><br />Revamp the play space (theme: "alphabet obsession"):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI7mlTLVZmM/TePgPtgJmYI/AAAAAAAABsk/Hhfj9OrnbnQ/s1600/IMG_2302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI7mlTLVZmM/TePgPtgJmYI/AAAAAAAABsk/Hhfj9OrnbnQ/s400/IMG_2302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612576121150871938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">What do you do when the sun finally comes out?</span><br /><br />Go to a parade!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yM0UEEPtDM/TePfPcaffvI/AAAAAAAABsU/Rg-Zo983ADU/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yM0UEEPtDM/TePfPcaffvI/AAAAAAAABsU/Rg-Zo983ADU/s400/IMG_2304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612575017052110578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPHuUw-U8T0/TePfoRAqCxI/AAAAAAAABsc/gwqBxoatIW8/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPHuUw-U8T0/TePfoRAqCxI/AAAAAAAABsc/gwqBxoatIW8/s400/IMG_2312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612575443487689490" border="0" /></a>Watoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.com0