tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33755837771223695602024-03-05T22:58:04.000-07:00The Red HenLife isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. . . It's about learning to dance in the rain.The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-63057433869390787962009-11-13T07:00:00.000-07:002009-11-13T07:00:10.072-07:00Daily MadelineThe other day we were driving in the car, just Madeline and I. As usual she was talking NON-STOP. I like to say the if her eyes are open, her mouth is going.<br /><br /><br />So there we are driving along, Madeline talking and talking and talking, while I can barely get in an "uhh huh" or "Yep" or "Hmm". If I don't make appropriate noises she accuses me of not listening to her and then demands that I turn my rear view mirror down so I can SEE her while she talks to me!!<br /><br /><br />The next thing I hear is "Hey Mom, do you know what will happen if you talk too much?!"<br /><br /><br />"Well, do you?"<br /><br /><br />"Your <strong><span style="color:#990000;">LIPS</span></strong> will <strong><span style="color:#990000;">FALL OFF</span></strong>!! This means that <strong>YOU </strong>should stop talking so much!"<br /><br /><br />Me: "Oh really?" <em>(my first real words of the conversation)</em><br /><br /><br />Madeline: "Yeah, so you better be careful!"<br /><br /><br />I honestly could think of nothing to say. I guess you always see the beam in your neighbor's eye instead of the mote in your own <em>(or is that the other way around? I can never remember.)</em>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-7802205249331296552009-11-11T14:20:00.008-07:002009-11-11T22:11:22.064-07:00Halloween 2009I LOVE Halloween! It is one of my favorite holidays. I don't really like the blood and gore aspect, but more of the fun, witchy part.<br /><br />For about the past 4 years we have hosted a Halloween party at our house for my family. I am the oldest of eight kids <em>(7 girls and 1 boy, in case you're keeping score)</em>. Each year everyone wanted to see the kid's costumes, and even though we all live relatively close, it seemed an impossible task for Halloween night.<br /><br />So, me being the party queen and having a husband who indulges me, I decided that we should have an annual Bronson Family Halloween Party, . . . and . . . . a tradition was born!<br /><br />We always have yummy food - of course everyone knows that you can't get together without something tasty! Then all of the adults go into a different room of my house with their candy and the kids go from door to door and "Trick-or-Treat."<br /><br />I wanted this Halloween to be <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">"Super".</span></strong><br /><br />Don't you just love the Captain America costume? Mark wore this to work for his office Halloween party and won the $100 Grand Prize!! He said it was worth all the crazy looks he got while driving on the freeway!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-zu5iRCGx44pqWXr3mytzdb9G-pHP5kcd1KqyN-F4ZgOC30n9Oj00Chade2wFdH6q_kXSfX5l5wOLSxFSQ_lsQUVFdGJfgQ56x2Yoglfu_uQDogGr-JyaDt5vDRykZryOTkL2FqcNPk/s1600-h/Capt+America+_+Supergirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061642838929042" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-zu5iRCGx44pqWXr3mytzdb9G-pHP5kcd1KqyN-F4ZgOC30n9Oj00Chade2wFdH6q_kXSfX5l5wOLSxFSQ_lsQUVFdGJfgQ56x2Yoglfu_uQDogGr-JyaDt5vDRykZryOTkL2FqcNPk/s400/Capt+America+_+Supergirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year we had quite a crop of Super Heros. Here we have Jack - aka Darth Vader, Hans- aka a Storm Trooper, and Bronson aka Spiderman. Love Bronson's mean tough guy face!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OwRHqVqLO5ooM7ntILCkQz3i5Ns-W-v8Cmox5zh7Zgd6O4Eb4UOMRZaXHYrdp9ANRiiJM8MMPMDzqtyl9nLok8UE6a8M6V-yMUVKC2ox1_FApaXRVKWScgf1Du5XPYIUBoyctX75pfg/s1600-h/Super+Heros.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061326238314402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OwRHqVqLO5ooM7ntILCkQz3i5Ns-W-v8Cmox5zh7Zgd6O4Eb4UOMRZaXHYrdp9ANRiiJM8MMPMDzqtyl9nLok8UE6a8M6V-yMUVKC2ox1_FApaXRVKWScgf1Du5XPYIUBoyctX75pfg/s400/Super+Heros.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course all of the Sisters get into the act as well.<br />L-R: Norma, Jana, Julie, Sheryl, Breanna, Jade.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PFgkaPVi-NfBvnktjim1ghpKit-Vw3SBXvqhCEF71g1FGK6htoehMS4vEACagfhB1eF4U_1BjlxWTs07_GlWqucOYILcfQ88YODAQ3ggwyXpnWCVvdUpnCTpM9K5QciLjjqXCwGQ19M/s1600-h/Sisters+Halloween.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061324422496674" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PFgkaPVi-NfBvnktjim1ghpKit-Vw3SBXvqhCEF71g1FGK6htoehMS4vEACagfhB1eF4U_1BjlxWTs07_GlWqucOYILcfQ88YODAQ3ggwyXpnWCVvdUpnCTpM9K5QciLjjqXCwGQ19M/s400/Sisters+Halloween.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's my sister Hollie - she's Hannah Montanna. <em>(flashing the "I Love You" sign instead of the "Rock On" sign.)</em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlxeuT4Ebj-v6Z2dxggImCP8VPR7PeDPWiLRJAbVvXd0WfpNMMhIgCj6TPF8xq7m8RJNeuqYqJzvox8ywnJ8NPB3DsmcdnI9z9Y2vZYBP3vFaSwmLavgO9WetIkFINUeqXLOuMw8Hk_A/s1600-h/Hollie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061316039439714" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlxeuT4Ebj-v6Z2dxggImCP8VPR7PeDPWiLRJAbVvXd0WfpNMMhIgCj6TPF8xq7m8RJNeuqYqJzvox8ywnJ8NPB3DsmcdnI9z9Y2vZYBP3vFaSwmLavgO9WetIkFINUeqXLOuMw8Hk_A/s400/Hollie.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div> </div><div>This is my sister Julie. She came dressed as an oven with two buns in it. She's expecting twins in April!! Clever Jules, clever!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FyOSX9gEg69tk1UnbvZX6qSzSMLFm1FcnVUGXK-c9pS9SjhSP82Sq2REmzDypmDf8nJxNZs-ai0ECNHOBq6vXgv9oYZPkLa9DfVxlyJqItu29o-r96wcrYgh1rcqjqG0Lwi5q1ySIzc/s1600-h/Julie+Buns+in+Oven.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403060498259645714" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FyOSX9gEg69tk1UnbvZX6qSzSMLFm1FcnVUGXK-c9pS9SjhSP82Sq2REmzDypmDf8nJxNZs-ai0ECNHOBq6vXgv9oYZPkLa9DfVxlyJqItu29o-r96wcrYgh1rcqjqG0Lwi5q1ySIzc/s400/Julie+Buns+in+Oven.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>This is my sister Julie <em>(aka Buns in the Oven Jules)</em> with my neice Kat. Yep I did say NEICE! When she first came to the party, one of my other sisters, Doreen, didn't recognize her and thought that Jordan must have brought a friend!! I guess that she figured that since she had been working like a mexican in Grandpa's orchard for the past couple of weeks, she may as well dress the part. Seriously, I am totally diggin' that stache!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyG_Ff9YNepBU5ExEl8xni81Y70webiOnUUaEylnPdh3W6EdK0P-N7LPoWk4Svtm0m8sEjKVlgAXbYZtRMPb4lgLy8TG7m1VOkwmiXex8-V0SUmlpz58iZne9xgc70N6MvXmHMkNjkJA/s1600-h/Julie+_Kat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059276962015330" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyG_Ff9YNepBU5ExEl8xni81Y70webiOnUUaEylnPdh3W6EdK0P-N7LPoWk4Svtm0m8sEjKVlgAXbYZtRMPb4lgLy8TG7m1VOkwmiXex8-V0SUmlpz58iZne9xgc70N6MvXmHMkNjkJA/s400/Julie+_Kat.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Here's my nephew Drake aka Rasta Man. We don't overlook any ethnic group in my family!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyER8ogkT8Hgq6Z-gqty1mKi31z0YUWYIf30RerVgdx4FIPD2yDVeLWgPwBdmBAmu3w32c24YAoX0cNKsv4_Tq46EkGExn9xSCj2m-UYGObEg1qlx-BYYozDpxR037ZTk1yq3NPY4dso/s1600-h/Drake+Rasta.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403060500774891314" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyER8ogkT8Hgq6Z-gqty1mKi31z0YUWYIf30RerVgdx4FIPD2yDVeLWgPwBdmBAmu3w32c24YAoX0cNKsv4_Tq46EkGExn9xSCj2m-UYGObEg1qlx-BYYozDpxR037ZTk1yq3NPY4dso/s400/Drake+Rasta.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>The little ladies: Breanna, Oakley and Madeline.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_gj8QquxzP1xnb9i4N1xtziHRXItDEkPPUsucV_mmd8ZGKeHqDKKdslMTIogH0TAvb4a9GH8RdPmFjGrgUJn-8kgMdAXwKL8RNRA-T7Icn26Dmmu-K2V1l5M4jKMadXknAs5JXF5R-E/s1600-h/Girls+Halloween.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059274515149890" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_gj8QquxzP1xnb9i4N1xtziHRXItDEkPPUsucV_mmd8ZGKeHqDKKdslMTIogH0TAvb4a9GH8RdPmFjGrgUJn-8kgMdAXwKL8RNRA-T7Icn26Dmmu-K2V1l5M4jKMadXknAs5JXF5R-E/s400/Girls+Halloween.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Since I was the master of ceremony, after we all had sufficient time to digest our food and the kids were about to start a mutiny, I called them all together with their bags to begin the Trick-or-Treating. This is my official "I'm in charge" stance. The boots TOTALLY rocked the costume! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdPWmq0UjkSzBMOM150TmeZIbQ5w1Cz3T3VmhC9mkzDBnfw9GUy2nrVaAGuTCnwJEggiERnTCts1j3sfsHSEXTImP4hmg8dhhWLGObd_b7UBsu4-DdK2oa6YHmYsA_0bp0pYZHVXJQ0Q/s1600-h/JBH+Halloween+Super+Girl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061311614561794" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdPWmq0UjkSzBMOM150TmeZIbQ5w1Cz3T3VmhC9mkzDBnfw9GUy2nrVaAGuTCnwJEggiERnTCts1j3sfsHSEXTImP4hmg8dhhWLGObd_b7UBsu4-DdK2oa6YHmYsA_0bp0pYZHVXJQ0Q/s400/JBH+Halloween+Super+Girl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>I didn't get too many pictures of the Trick-or-Treating action since they were all pretty speedy, but I did manage to get one of my neice Lily. I think she is still unsure about just <em>taking</em> candy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEz2ZwXkgARoXACSwpfJWHErEhyphenhyphens73qXGlzqiDTp1A4xC7mgxnhy21Q5CB1XpewBk9SwhVvGGFyicUlWas5zONgweS7h1DYKBNd4oRlI5RRl2PSxQChb40UTBK0hLXI5X5WEGjneg8dc/s1600-h/Lily.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403060505814166786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEz2ZwXkgARoXACSwpfJWHErEhyphenhyphens73qXGlzqiDTp1A4xC7mgxnhy21Q5CB1XpewBk9SwhVvGGFyicUlWas5zONgweS7h1DYKBNd4oRlI5RRl2PSxQChb40UTBK0hLXI5X5WEGjneg8dc/s400/Lily.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After he was done, Hans brought his candy to Hollie for her to "check" it. REALLY?!? - you are worried about the quality? Hollie was only too happy to oblige, seeing as how she took some of her favorites for closer inspection!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA2qaY5BcLtPKBRw4_k8QW5pfzeMkMAbS0pykCH65NsUGyMQT9QOoRpOga6tc0Euizjj-VF7fYhsm73bH57TroUPCCE-bJUdFZueeJN2o9Z2E43DYackHFwWl-AD2EYfbEaqXjrjgryg/s1600-h/Hans_Hollie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059271739996354" style="WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA2qaY5BcLtPKBRw4_k8QW5pfzeMkMAbS0pykCH65NsUGyMQT9QOoRpOga6tc0Euizjj-VF7fYhsm73bH57TroUPCCE-bJUdFZueeJN2o9Z2E43DYackHFwWl-AD2EYfbEaqXjrjgryg/s400/Hans_Hollie.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Here's Madeline - I think she's enjoyed one too many chocolate bars!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHARID6S4S2Xgh-fKpqr-zpk-ZkcurBPAW6zFBqj0Hij7XII7CJXR_oysFOV787aJewWidv9E1AG2v4pG1zNtU9ZpdNjPoZAQ_iCqIQkbCMMuJoDBlG01U2dK6aqacJGdJoZOFkl9Jq8Q/s1600-h/MEH+Chocolate+Face.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403060517354246962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHARID6S4S2Xgh-fKpqr-zpk-ZkcurBPAW6zFBqj0Hij7XII7CJXR_oysFOV787aJewWidv9E1AG2v4pG1zNtU9ZpdNjPoZAQ_iCqIQkbCMMuJoDBlG01U2dK6aqacJGdJoZOFkl9Jq8Q/s400/MEH+Chocolate+Face.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div> </div><div>The next night (Halloween) Jack, aka Darth Vader informed me that he was too big to go Trick-or-Treating with his PARENTS and asked if he could go with his friends Connor and Mayson - - and THEIR Dad, Jack aka Big Jack.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfl2U4UmCZh7owQF2Io0lpWQlcJLSeat0joSNklLP9xyjF6zJX-hIwhfeyrESAiAcSK2FlzOKsix9kmFFnJLkDphCTPUwGy-JSiNotPyh5329h5t9zmL6DGHov21p9vVCrhm1LRivy1o/s1600-h/Darth+Vader.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403060512339825458" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfl2U4UmCZh7owQF2Io0lpWQlcJLSeat0joSNklLP9xyjF6zJX-hIwhfeyrESAiAcSK2FlzOKsix9kmFFnJLkDphCTPUwGy-JSiNotPyh5329h5t9zmL6DGHov21p9vVCrhm1LRivy1o/s400/Darth+Vader.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>So I called Connor's Dad and told him that obviously <strong>THEY</strong> were <strong>MUCH</strong> cooler than we were and asked if it would be OK of Jack went around the neighborhood with them. He looks pretty happy about that!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFHv3bJdnadUzAgmdwV0TI35GJDzjBFjIJm6g7Ax8IOwZp-_8pfzdeW7yVLpF5M6Yq3AX1348EE92fdX59e2frbobBw32z4_EiBzwuY5WMudd5RQphIo3hPR_xrgdzJC5V2IIdYIVmyA/s1600-h/JRH+Darth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403061317116960130" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFHv3bJdnadUzAgmdwV0TI35GJDzjBFjIJm6g7Ax8IOwZp-_8pfzdeW7yVLpF5M6Yq3AX1348EE92fdX59e2frbobBw32z4_EiBzwuY5WMudd5RQphIo3hPR_xrgdzJC5V2IIdYIVmyA/s400/JRH+Darth.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Jack is a sweet boy though. While he was out he went to a house where they were giving out lip gloss and he asked if he could have one for his sister since he didn't think she would make it that far. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>He also scored two pair of these goggles. They were the hit of the night! </div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oao1UhX9QUuHSwF-8DO8VdPu57OgeEBbeCxfVZwQ7FRk5IFw95PVCWjOQh4C5no_eSqNQpFi5bhqNy2yd250jvPhDf7TFGTLiM62fiBm7J79tMuFlsDSAXFWdjlL7pwFDhcRhhfA3XQ/s1600-h/JRH+Zombie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059267600760194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oao1UhX9QUuHSwF-8DO8VdPu57OgeEBbeCxfVZwQ7FRk5IFw95PVCWjOQh4C5no_eSqNQpFi5bhqNy2yd250jvPhDf7TFGTLiM62fiBm7J79tMuFlsDSAXFWdjlL7pwFDhcRhhfA3XQ/s400/JRH+Zombie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He actually got one pair for Madeline and one for himself, but she refused to put them on saying they were "too creepy". However, Mark was a willing participant in the scary eye fest! </div><div> </div><div>Later that night Mark put them on on the back of his head and told the kids that they had better behave since he had eyes in the back of his head and nothing would get past him!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuefCMzXg-K0z75dAnVbMxbKV1GU6-GhgmuRq6IczqK0SFouCoC2W7GTQ6CLJcYv4BXrV4FPQrg-18aqln5zk15G_5vYnFEVDGbX19VIGXvn4QqkcEIOaqagvRIqhDYsLa9DpQ_osq2f0/s1600-h/116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059261769150370" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuefCMzXg-K0z75dAnVbMxbKV1GU6-GhgmuRq6IczqK0SFouCoC2W7GTQ6CLJcYv4BXrV4FPQrg-18aqln5zk15G_5vYnFEVDGbX19VIGXvn4QqkcEIOaqagvRIqhDYsLa9DpQ_osq2f0/s400/116.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-60507798774889169032009-11-11T10:32:00.009-07:002009-11-11T14:20:40.782-07:00Fall 2009My parents have apples - - LOTS of apples. Over 500 trees, the majority of which my sister Norma and I planted one year while in High School during our "Spring Break".<br /><br />While we all still lived at home the Fall season meant picking and selling apples. If you have never picked apples, let me tell you this is HUGE amounts of work!<br /><br />First you have to pick them, then sort them as you put them into the boxes to make sure you don't get any bad ones. Then you top off the boxes and get them ready to load onto the tractor to be put in the barn and then onto trucks to take around town to sell.<br /><br />Now, selling is it's own kind of work. Loading the apples from the barn to the truck, constantly shifting and rearranging the boxes to make your display look nice, lifting the boxes into your customer's cars. You get the idea - lots of lifting = one bad back!<br /><br />This year my neice Katherine, who is almost 16, was telling my sister Julie how she hoped that she didn't see anyone she knew while selling. Julie said "Well, how do you think I feel? I'm 32, pregnant and STILL selling apples!" Good Times - Good Times!!<br /><br />Since we have all grown up, moved away, and have our own families it is harder and harder to get back to help like we used to, but we all still try to do as much as we can.<br /><br />This year I took Jack and Madeline with me since it <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>is</strong></span> a family affair.<br /><br />Madeline started out strong - look at those picking skills! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-X16M7V3H6Tz4iL6ArLz7eLb5tI7XwKjcJXPFOB4u5Q85mP918s6wClWF6PXCOpxKP8B7GY1AckkLJEGFa_G8r_L7-ppcR2-cmo7ekGWnLuGD24ECJXBQiYV1isb602ObbAixrBVjx8/s1600-h/MEH+picking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402950604741543426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-X16M7V3H6Tz4iL6ArLz7eLb5tI7XwKjcJXPFOB4u5Q85mP918s6wClWF6PXCOpxKP8B7GY1AckkLJEGFa_G8r_L7-ppcR2-cmo7ekGWnLuGD24ECJXBQiYV1isb602ObbAixrBVjx8/s400/MEH+picking.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then she got distracted by the dog - Rocky. I think she is either trying to give him some sort of command or offer him an apple. I'm pretty sure he's not interested in either option.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNZ8d_7t778aPu3uLyQ2qSU3XdBE51jdtXmLe0Y0EA4xAQa8snW2y6p-w90hAdjpSNJWC3X_ffA0qGblpiE3wcMqWg1RLUpI1qoeAzxZYxdyPBpGnq2PnxYC9IjPew5Kwzp-ozuuLKbc/s1600-h/MEH+Rocky.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402950598572436722" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNZ8d_7t778aPu3uLyQ2qSU3XdBE51jdtXmLe0Y0EA4xAQa8snW2y6p-w90hAdjpSNJWC3X_ffA0qGblpiE3wcMqWg1RLUpI1qoeAzxZYxdyPBpGnq2PnxYC9IjPew5Kwzp-ozuuLKbc/s400/MEH+Rocky.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So she just settles for petting him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbmavA95LXpoaHPH37bR0Skl39slIGRc5Ett-iitXKsrTiWSJcj_iygJHuxkAYNhlzsI-YJBe6xr_zJ_AprypArvUWumV7O-5-r2n2pvmJcXvKAr79iRutjby0WHZS_R7g6rHWJd0evU/s1600-h/MEH+Rocky+Pet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402949486604512994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbmavA95LXpoaHPH37bR0Skl39slIGRc5Ett-iitXKsrTiWSJcj_iygJHuxkAYNhlzsI-YJBe6xr_zJ_AprypArvUWumV7O-5-r2n2pvmJcXvKAr79iRutjby0WHZS_R7g6rHWJd0evU/s400/MEH+Rocky+Pet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next, we needed some boxes moved to a better location in the orchard so we could fill them. I knew just the two people who could fill the position.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv3Ua3MiWl6xjy2vYrj4An1oVuDGz4YZ4pciKX1U1QqHshVR24Z-dC-9PynKbdlDaOng7u6tAshDVxL93HP4N-kn0QdTSP7Xeuo17Sjwl3S-iQXagS4P4VqM4IswnRAX7g4qlEXSV4vk/s1600-h/MEH+Box+on+Head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402949479896609554" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv3Ua3MiWl6xjy2vYrj4An1oVuDGz4YZ4pciKX1U1QqHshVR24Z-dC-9PynKbdlDaOng7u6tAshDVxL93HP4N-kn0QdTSP7Xeuo17Sjwl3S-iQXagS4P4VqM4IswnRAX7g4qlEXSV4vk/s400/MEH+Box+on+Head.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apparently Jack is trying the "No Look" approach.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoFmXoAI1oZ4eYdWYR_O-iwgU2J3c9LZSpUo29O0FX6rskeSn6NtwZSBqGNEohWo3M3L5fgNcCLa6RS2kW_8SUNbWfYz9Ydxsmze3_Z5e8dGQgYdXJJnYvXkVrqNMnZIJHxQevp1UT94/s1600-h/JRH+Box+on+head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402949478003604642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoFmXoAI1oZ4eYdWYR_O-iwgU2J3c9LZSpUo29O0FX6rskeSn6NtwZSBqGNEohWo3M3L5fgNcCLa6RS2kW_8SUNbWfYz9Ydxsmze3_Z5e8dGQgYdXJJnYvXkVrqNMnZIJHxQevp1UT94/s400/JRH+Box+on+head.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After all that hard work Jack and his cousin Hans decide to pose for a photo op. Neither one looks thrilled - I think they are waiting for Grandpa to come back with the tractor so they can try to catch a ride!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RiIcNNe1QnyR0amtp03tFHUqeZnGFWkd6LH4ZTiGGgK3BtF4nsCmbZmrOC0oT_ZZhOcPHQLj4xOz4JsMpqC_wumMNaK7X883udTz2FCu8T-n93TbAAMN_upAG-eP5KuaJhgyKfNAze4/s1600-h/JRH+Hans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402949474254493090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RiIcNNe1QnyR0amtp03tFHUqeZnGFWkd6LH4ZTiGGgK3BtF4nsCmbZmrOC0oT_ZZhOcPHQLj4xOz4JsMpqC_wumMNaK7X883udTz2FCu8T-n93TbAAMN_upAG-eP5KuaJhgyKfNAze4/s400/JRH+Hans.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's my neice Katherine. She's laughing because I just caught her <span style="font-size:180%;">texting</span> instead of <span style="font-size:180%;">picking</span>. Ohhh, BUSTED!! Notice that her basket around her neck is <em>empty</em>. . . . hmmmm. Actually, she really is a hard worker.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrGoPAsI4n2n04wq0DprSoZ22GS8HMCxA6tQehT8iEZwU9vBE4bQDOOvK8S3M_OMDKPR9ZSZmGpi2ar3_aCmUJSUHHPguYiEoLPJKqbQjkLsgXEIb_4sqvcgSXxKCmRi2ZwvfTmA9i5k/s1600-h/Kat+Orchard+Laugh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402949463250242546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrGoPAsI4n2n04wq0DprSoZ22GS8HMCxA6tQehT8iEZwU9vBE4bQDOOvK8S3M_OMDKPR9ZSZmGpi2ar3_aCmUJSUHHPguYiEoLPJKqbQjkLsgXEIb_4sqvcgSXxKCmRi2ZwvfTmA9i5k/s400/Kat+Orchard+Laugh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of hard workers - - This is my nephew Drake. His job is to load the full boxes onto the tractor, ride around to the barn with my Dad and then unload them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0jd-pmPv7Fnm9GZNZux4ZU4Q1tUPYf_WX7OoF8M6wO3w-ecQVR7FyHvuoHU59daQCMtqT1k0CPPfglzf2p-TLmF2JgISEQDFYjU82tYkg3nt-0-fgVVHaKQHVLMy5aFC6wksVx-2ktU/s1600-h/Drake+Loading.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948851565749826" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0jd-pmPv7Fnm9GZNZux4ZU4Q1tUPYf_WX7OoF8M6wO3w-ecQVR7FyHvuoHU59daQCMtqT1k0CPPfglzf2p-TLmF2JgISEQDFYjU82tYkg3nt-0-fgVVHaKQHVLMy5aFC6wksVx-2ktU/s400/Drake+Loading.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Madeline the Supervisor - she is making sure all the boxes get loaded properly, with the help of Grandpa.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPk5fBuQPlcM_3mMkz3yvdquCUOU3BkYT2yB6G3TWjmDhrJECFsl7Ve4OJSZ8o5NGmG5-sXHNJXkuZnwVFF0XYcQOEBNGffbXN1BEIDelM57A1CqvzrMSKTUAPZ8piQA6NXRwIHJj-Lo/s1600-h/MEH+on+tractor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948858299068834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPk5fBuQPlcM_3mMkz3yvdquCUOU3BkYT2yB6G3TWjmDhrJECFsl7Ve4OJSZ8o5NGmG5-sXHNJXkuZnwVFF0XYcQOEBNGffbXN1BEIDelM57A1CqvzrMSKTUAPZ8piQA6NXRwIHJj-Lo/s400/MEH+on+tractor.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Here's Drake having some fun on the way to the barn! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5wKx00bKmbNmt2VWz-mPHy6dRxOkMWJOxVMPd56YFctS7Z730CBCPlDaEhygQqd8buYbdMFIJix9pXElPOivDAQONmdUcLMwcjLPWs3uZNZedby2Eyroo31TXq-cIvywJbc9yWmWG7Y/s1600-h/Drake+on+tractor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948847084701106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5wKx00bKmbNmt2VWz-mPHy6dRxOkMWJOxVMPd56YFctS7Z730CBCPlDaEhygQqd8buYbdMFIJix9pXElPOivDAQONmdUcLMwcjLPWs3uZNZedby2Eyroo31TXq-cIvywJbc9yWmWG7Y/s400/Drake+on+tractor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After all that hard work we decide to go to Grandpa's pumpkin patch and pick out a few pumpkins. Wait! Who gave that boy those HUGE pruners?!?! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRQcfDQ31JxD5xJVZkLY0Xy6yOF0VgmLb_sbZkG-i3IJkKFofBajSaVXgCG800yBehq_YfKKXtIQsRa_JQ664BL4TLbkZK9hgCumQxg4cPOJKI-i2x39FpsmnCnSyGsQCSR0tdXJptDg/s1600-h/Pumpkin+Patch+JRH.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948838277059890" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRQcfDQ31JxD5xJVZkLY0Xy6yOF0VgmLb_sbZkG-i3IJkKFofBajSaVXgCG800yBehq_YfKKXtIQsRa_JQ664BL4TLbkZK9hgCumQxg4cPOJKI-i2x39FpsmnCnSyGsQCSR0tdXJptDg/s400/Pumpkin+Patch+JRH.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Oh, yeah, that would be ME - Another Mother of the Year incident! </div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVMdBEPu_q-P2bCPMmX1tUpfzlON26BA_LIYS_UaDI7DV0rUDwuU7-rYDMf8HCZ3AMA6GuUKV5wLVJiyTxZKoSR9dXZ2GJkz6ISxPdfJt55moAAmCJJ8cSkvq9IF5Stl5EFXbwYVlqCI/s1600-h/Pumpkin+Patch+w+kids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948842046956674" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVMdBEPu_q-P2bCPMmX1tUpfzlON26BA_LIYS_UaDI7DV0rUDwuU7-rYDMf8HCZ3AMA6GuUKV5wLVJiyTxZKoSR9dXZ2GJkz6ISxPdfJt55moAAmCJJ8cSkvq9IF5Stl5EFXbwYVlqCI/s400/Pumpkin+Patch+w+kids.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Happy Fall Ya'All!! </strong></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-80075722300793441862009-10-27T15:55:00.003-06:002009-10-27T16:16:02.797-06:00Daily MadelineI have been trying to eat more healthy and getting my kids on board has been a challenge - - to say the least! <br /><br />Last night Madeline and I had the following conversation: <br /><br />Madeline: "Mom what's for dinner tonight?"<br /><br />Me: "Chicken - and YOU get to choose what vegetable we have with it!"<br /><br />Madeline: "Noooo, I hate vegetables!"<br /><br />Me: "Well, here are your choices: Green Beans, Corn, or Broccoli. Which of those would you like to choose?"<br /><br />Madeline: "None! I HATE vegetables!"<br /><br />Me: "Do you know that in some countries there are little children who don't <em>get</em> to eat vegetables and they don't grow strong and healthy <em>and</em> they can't grow up to be ballerinas. Wouldn't that be sad?"<br /><br />Madeline: "Uh huh." <em>(sounding totally unconvinced)</em><br /><br />Me: "So which would you like to choose?"<br /><br />Madeline: "Umm, I choose that country to live in."<br /><br />I cannot win people!The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-65439620727015974412009-09-09T06:00:00.000-06:002009-09-09T06:00:01.429-06:00Swiss Days aka Sister's Day Out!Each Labor Day weekend the city of Midway has a celebration called Swiss Days. There are lots of things going on, but the big draw for the Bronson girls is the Swiss Days boutique.<br /><br />This year we all met in the parking lot of Albertsons to load up in the Fun Bus <em>(aka Doreen's Expedition)</em> and drove up together.<br /><br />They have all kinds of booths at Swiss Days - food, crafts, wrapping paper <em>(the longest line in the whole place - go figure!).</em> The fun thing about it is every day things are now "Swiss".<br /><br />For instance there are "Swiss Hamburgers". <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMizijxJJkKAw3ZIazKnpoGFj6uek6z8bbm-RP-TSUpoLr8BJbJl6MvLbKYEhleHj_7fgkUbz_cPBp1_RO0ue98dF0Pj5LRI3Xvq_g2TqPiF2v8tR6_sQ8SGvOhqY7oP85NB-u22SBYHc/s1600-h/047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212653691871090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMizijxJJkKAw3ZIazKnpoGFj6uek6z8bbm-RP-TSUpoLr8BJbJl6MvLbKYEhleHj_7fgkUbz_cPBp1_RO0ue98dF0Pj5LRI3Xvq_g2TqPiF2v8tR6_sQ8SGvOhqY7oP85NB-u22SBYHc/s400/047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"Swiss Chicken"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIol8RUQeRv4e16aLQc7v1Fw5GNjuOXwvQD7lvAKGbBf8nUvxoVcJ0RnrDi5uEOdq0z6YuFMqyQ20cuC6nf7oHQWIXfLEE_KIJ49P3nOmn8Q4HLbv6vSEunzuKJwDXMvfOwTK37w_U4/s1600-h/053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212642954597202" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIol8RUQeRv4e16aLQc7v1Fw5GNjuOXwvQD7lvAKGbBf8nUvxoVcJ0RnrDi5uEOdq0z6YuFMqyQ20cuC6nf7oHQWIXfLEE_KIJ49P3nOmn8Q4HLbv6vSEunzuKJwDXMvfOwTK37w_U4/s400/053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And ohhh, the "Swiss Nuts and Kettle Corn!!" Speaking of nuts. . . er, I mean these are my sisters <em>(L-R)</em> Norma, Julie, Doreen, & Heidi.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwNgP-Kfc0Zp6Prhg3F9InkUqpOOm4es077S_MpUezuICLrOaWxZWdj2VrWtZch9zxcV6TluX0yDA10BXBh58eqcbsJb1p0qyFEU9MpIVmhUFi3b9G7uwZ4R6uB35JbUjndUsyaURpMQ/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212641021915202" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwNgP-Kfc0Zp6Prhg3F9InkUqpOOm4es077S_MpUezuICLrOaWxZWdj2VrWtZch9zxcV6TluX0yDA10BXBh58eqcbsJb1p0qyFEU9MpIVmhUFi3b9G7uwZ4R6uB35JbUjndUsyaURpMQ/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some booths really go all out with the Swiss theme: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yOVkhNtyCkgDcalb05CPhYI5zrtYWN7Oo8eRTlHmiFM5L_GzcvZ8AlIpFIbeiYksZeh6D6o0ot5EQLX0oPLi15aQ1jZssgliKp9h-iW31in6-7NpH26Jk0xTrZ4ZsDc-NImAcOipos/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212870455940546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yOVkhNtyCkgDcalb05CPhYI5zrtYWN7Oo8eRTlHmiFM5L_GzcvZ8AlIpFIbeiYksZeh6D6o0ot5EQLX0oPLi15aQ1jZssgliKp9h-iW31in6-7NpH26Jk0xTrZ4ZsDc-NImAcOipos/s400/048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Or the literal translation - - old people in bags.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrnar9ZqiP7VXZN2f-EjDd-PW3F2Lx7ncbHx1CS54DD0A1b3uoWRmvtDabMlagRJn0gcKOMaI5-7Ti5yqx7U95k7LQlMs2KgyNU5lJavWfP9-0W8q2eZel60wXCTD1-fjAcTe_YLWQzg/s1600-h/049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212860406113746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrnar9ZqiP7VXZN2f-EjDd-PW3F2Lx7ncbHx1CS54DD0A1b3uoWRmvtDabMlagRJn0gcKOMaI5-7Ti5yqx7U95k7LQlMs2KgyNU5lJavWfP9-0W8q2eZel60wXCTD1-fjAcTe_YLWQzg/s400/049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Of course nothing says "Swiss" like a Swiss Miss taking a smoke break. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn3cEcyvqOaX0JsWyXFL-KH-jDUbKmyg3hD9IsEUnfbC6FOoHPodwnQ7OiNRZA0Qz19Hx-2cHt_SI0GiPDZxPhquIMLmY6GjUzxrFHqdJcSBgVnj4s7If_EKbP0zYg-1UezRKlmG2coU/s1600-h/056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212633033480802" style="WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 255px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn3cEcyvqOaX0JsWyXFL-KH-jDUbKmyg3hD9IsEUnfbC6FOoHPodwnQ7OiNRZA0Qz19Hx-2cHt_SI0GiPDZxPhquIMLmY6GjUzxrFHqdJcSBgVnj4s7If_EKbP0zYg-1UezRKlmG2coU/s400/056.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Here's a better "action" shot!<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTbowreNhkOmFc_Na8aqt1-xDGPbFJ4Z5U2dSF8IKA2XCjTjfGjvkJRpWC5fC0eMM6KTvNG4g9PvLoHSzpRC1ntzTGSTl-_6CkG0-mH8lu9A8cSAlnGKhKYiKRhbTMZkMEB2qYOKt7Yw/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212627791520962" style="WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTbowreNhkOmFc_Na8aqt1-xDGPbFJ4Z5U2dSF8IKA2XCjTjfGjvkJRpWC5fC0eMM6KTvNG4g9PvLoHSzpRC1ntzTGSTl-_6CkG0-mH8lu9A8cSAlnGKhKYiKRhbTMZkMEB2qYOKt7Yw/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lest you think that this shopping excursion is for the weak - think again! Here is a "battle wound" that I received while trying to make my way through the crowds.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvpLJyans4kd17AEKmbb_tAUyC7H9X45nTfyjBbg4PJiFvR6Rc5iEfZ_-WYx_JP0zi2anHYHYjdLqDx83ZRsasRBYafmfuK6Qz84ZzS9Jx0nQDi20JVAHPl2gy7C7qJx0Muu0cYPEfrk/s1600-h/058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212113848206834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvpLJyans4kd17AEKmbb_tAUyC7H9X45nTfyjBbg4PJiFvR6Rc5iEfZ_-WYx_JP0zi2anHYHYjdLqDx83ZRsasRBYafmfuK6Qz84ZzS9Jx0nQDi20JVAHPl2gy7C7qJx0Muu0cYPEfrk/s400/058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While I fixed my battle scar, my sisters decided to take a little break and down some water and asperin.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqysNLsEl4BMPDibWhn3hF9myogJgorwYX4QUD5aWlYqSZSmROpqAOReBTirAN-TOeomh2xIj8SoSVVaWm2ckQPdUySs7gLLrBvlA13EaGAjvYgnhV6mXF0YWsWZuF8VUNlGn0NAG2Oc/s1600-h/062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212105405682386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqysNLsEl4BMPDibWhn3hF9myogJgorwYX4QUD5aWlYqSZSmROpqAOReBTirAN-TOeomh2xIj8SoSVVaWm2ckQPdUySs7gLLrBvlA13EaGAjvYgnhV6mXF0YWsWZuF8VUNlGn0NAG2Oc/s400/062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year Madeline came with us and while we took a little break she had some R&R on the swings. Doesn't she look like she is having a great time?! Thanks Aunt Julie for the push!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ84iKZkx3JKRPIIfc48kNVnRd4y55blImNQzXqX_L12NsjqMJ5NGy6ZcYViie5Ppcq7rt4m0LW1TjRMjeSg2W_D0akqLK7alAA6aswWR_Z8o61d8dacUPnz9yOJBcQbqAvvSORB5EoQ/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212097707740882" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ84iKZkx3JKRPIIfc48kNVnRd4y55blImNQzXqX_L12NsjqMJ5NGy6ZcYViie5Ppcq7rt4m0LW1TjRMjeSg2W_D0akqLK7alAA6aswWR_Z8o61d8dacUPnz9yOJBcQbqAvvSORB5EoQ/s400/061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Until next year. . . .<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_I9G5Txw9_ninkFOGlGpZNRekAfpQZFSgxjzNP7iHWwKqxOqxUXzYDpBIwbRNLv_8fAqn3jvniI_cVejdOUBjGt8Jl_CsHh6jcegF0yGEHV4eZodw1ER-ApWBhNM0rldN0TAYVtpA6o/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379212088514624450" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_I9G5Txw9_ninkFOGlGpZNRekAfpQZFSgxjzNP7iHWwKqxOqxUXzYDpBIwbRNLv_8fAqn3jvniI_cVejdOUBjGt8Jl_CsHh6jcegF0yGEHV4eZodw1ER-ApWBhNM0rldN0TAYVtpA6o/s400/063.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-69174911793690908162009-09-08T14:40:00.001-06:002009-09-08T15:17:46.188-06:00Montgomery Family ReunionA few weeks ago we attended the Montgomery Family Reunion. Montgomery is my mom's maiden name and this year she and her twin sister Ann just happened to be in charge of it.<br /><br />There was lots of food and fun and then there were the <span style="font-size:180%;">GaMEs!!</span><br /><br />There was a fishing pond for the kids. Madeline scored lots of bracelets - enough to go up each arm. Then she saw a little girl crying because she didn't get any, so without me even saying anything to her, she went over to this girl <em>(I honestly don't know who she belonged to)</em> took off one arms worth of bracelets and gave them to her. She told her not to cry because she would share with her. What a sweetheart!<br /><br />Next my uncle Earl brought out the marshmallow guns. Now, I <strong>KNOW</strong> he brought those thinking they would be great entertainment for the <em>kids</em>, however I'm sure he didn't realize that some of those <em>kids</em> would be 35 or 40!! Sorry - no pics - too busy trying to dodge marshmallows!!<br />We also had a series of sack races. THIS is when the fun begins!!<br /><br />Here they are in the first race - yes that is my B-I-L Brandon on the far right working really hard to beat those rotten kids!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IHa0DbzflflsU7N3voaaD_JHv5lgJ6kbjognJA3VKhZrmSn4KeEMXgjlrdeF12EMu22wnk7rKfffUnLVIb5_4dsgAzCmF4JdXmotug9cEWrVLq6FMSwc8RiVB93IqTxZCt1ydkB_jWY/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379196947593546402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IHa0DbzflflsU7N3voaaD_JHv5lgJ6kbjognJA3VKhZrmSn4KeEMXgjlrdeF12EMu22wnk7rKfffUnLVIb5_4dsgAzCmF4JdXmotug9cEWrVLq6FMSwc8RiVB93IqTxZCt1ydkB_jWY/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next in the second race we have my B-I-L Todd sizing up the competition. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmuX4In_l8VGD8pP3Z3tFZx3sl1zky2t2FfQAxcmJxdoytxP-uCy_KIIHKJbfhUcUCCp9ubOFbyYIlWIv5iNcZNoAkn6bRNS3OFqz8c64cJOH3nZaUIjWzH2-We88qy8MOraFa36MXEw/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198012529258978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmuX4In_l8VGD8pP3Z3tFZx3sl1zky2t2FfQAxcmJxdoytxP-uCy_KIIHKJbfhUcUCCp9ubOFbyYIlWIv5iNcZNoAkn6bRNS3OFqz8c64cJOH3nZaUIjWzH2-We88qy8MOraFa36MXEw/s400/028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And they're off!! Oh, looks like Todd is falling behind. . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OfPMcIwtESYzkrngHnSHg7pdbkeLtq1MT0AVk6Uut40itz2LZeyAQjjgjARoMpLL5paOxxJU9FsU4gsGw5B827pj5wmLmAf-OmmanTqXagvTmBVeDdNf1DqY-mo6fKUGhdcdnCTXqwA/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198027354261218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OfPMcIwtESYzkrngHnSHg7pdbkeLtq1MT0AVk6Uut40itz2LZeyAQjjgjARoMpLL5paOxxJU9FsU4gsGw5B827pj5wmLmAf-OmmanTqXagvTmBVeDdNf1DqY-mo6fKUGhdcdnCTXqwA/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next, Madeline decided that she wanted to get in on the excitement. First some coaching: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GdXlW41pgl1TmkzwaZFZgcOR1kwebzsJYvUtOztACUP6i86Pox9DBpYw_joo-UpteY_kVTqdy_Kn-ruLN5KSaREOr6adxgMKCTNG9x6GOMEkwvMhfjnrtu3FOz7XST-j6sK6lSyVO5c/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379196981340830402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GdXlW41pgl1TmkzwaZFZgcOR1kwebzsJYvUtOztACUP6i86Pox9DBpYw_joo-UpteY_kVTqdy_Kn-ruLN5KSaREOr6adxgMKCTNG9x6GOMEkwvMhfjnrtu3FOz7XST-j6sK6lSyVO5c/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A little apprehensive at first. . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi2aqR-30b6VaD_NqhYopNn3vVEjWHoPyG6AZLtDO96kNfaNykloK7wfSrde2Y9Gzgsvy0QcKCsFVBWb49nZOK4PDGksY-3p_bgwiOHytLK8lNUDKp1QnAOVpkAM61d6Tu_9Z1sXaAn4/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379196974134963810" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi2aqR-30b6VaD_NqhYopNn3vVEjWHoPyG6AZLtDO96kNfaNykloK7wfSrde2Y9Gzgsvy0QcKCsFVBWb49nZOK4PDGksY-3p_bgwiOHytLK8lNUDKp1QnAOVpkAM61d6Tu_9Z1sXaAn4/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But then she REALLY gives it her best shot! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIiHF2PPHFNPX5CqZ35RdjQVGk-ND1F_F1PcsYUM50GaS0ounyyZUYSHI99WxxkEHY2kPJ6nWDkDSkjKQrk1Kj56AxDkWsrs2w0sMBRkCj1BOT9ZDjjlWDsCRdDHftuZOs_njDqh7zAU/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379196953425746050" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIiHF2PPHFNPX5CqZ35RdjQVGk-ND1F_F1PcsYUM50GaS0ounyyZUYSHI99WxxkEHY2kPJ6nWDkDSkjKQrk1Kj56AxDkWsrs2w0sMBRkCj1BOT9ZDjjlWDsCRdDHftuZOs_njDqh7zAU/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R10iVbVzhOyYKMMfnVmij5MtlRm5K2Lhg6G8O1KdJD_ktoS246T9YakTPUspju5azwyWbmZRpnhNRr-m82N5lLcO7m54YJ75NEZafqk913rIiYHC_2GsOx38HITZLw-cL4Z9icBWM10/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379203254864280898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R10iVbVzhOyYKMMfnVmij5MtlRm5K2Lhg6G8O1KdJD_ktoS246T9YakTPUspju5azwyWbmZRpnhNRr-m82N5lLcO7m54YJ75NEZafqk913rIiYHC_2GsOx38HITZLw-cL4Z9icBWM10/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the end it was just too much effort - but hey she looked cute, isn't that what counts?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP__UwKJ5duUej7wH1QDBqIrEZ-hT0Xv-vxjFOSVG1APl3nBS-MHQtjwE_vdyWuAZ_0LeS59YxonQoDHi7Jy1bEBswLXp12WMfsjrCmoPnAvjh0YwgjX1fmzmFUjeoajvSw5tLMF5Z0k/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379196962095653554" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP__UwKJ5duUej7wH1QDBqIrEZ-hT0Xv-vxjFOSVG1APl3nBS-MHQtjwE_vdyWuAZ_0LeS59YxonQoDHi7Jy1bEBswLXp12WMfsjrCmoPnAvjh0YwgjX1fmzmFUjeoajvSw5tLMF5Z0k/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After the sack races we had a 3 legged race. My uncle convinced my sister Sheryl and I to join. We did a few practice runs then then it was race time. There was high excitement - we were racing against my other sister Doreen and her husband Brandon. They had been talking a lot of SmACk to us about how they were going to kick our trash, blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />Well, in the end Sheryl grabbed Brandon's shirt to hold him back and we managed to knock them down and go in for the win!! Here we are with our prize. <em>(All that for a Twix bar?!?)</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTmABUJgzWljxqM5jEbFK7G5R3AGsC_Bpr1FUcuxp7IYM-qDafLTtvGbTgnB8rSNsbPGdgBmjtArGGpkjwTCq0UmmiBRLPZjg85rnni3w1Be2NqngTGf6O5bLTLQbeDXC_xkO7KGDCXg/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198034423163970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTmABUJgzWljxqM5jEbFK7G5R3AGsC_Bpr1FUcuxp7IYM-qDafLTtvGbTgnB8rSNsbPGdgBmjtArGGpkjwTCq0UmmiBRLPZjg85rnni3w1Be2NqngTGf6O5bLTLQbeDXC_xkO7KGDCXg/s400/032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the other games was to pick pennies out of Jell-O with chopsticks. Madeline and Katie loved this game. I'm not sure how many pennies they got out, but the Jell-O sure tasted good! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ycyKPHSV35lIQx2FO7qc1KZ5tTqxZERCFVqyU4slBOYcHzWZoxvWQ1F5DRM6ru0Sopq9IpTjytIiCTxwW4m7DOmRyIj_NHIT-z3UdmIVho925ktyFNbv3MlCjwQ_z5TNjL_XCaC1QuM/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198564605395954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ycyKPHSV35lIQx2FO7qc1KZ5tTqxZERCFVqyU4slBOYcHzWZoxvWQ1F5DRM6ru0Sopq9IpTjytIiCTxwW4m7DOmRyIj_NHIT-z3UdmIVho925ktyFNbv3MlCjwQ_z5TNjL_XCaC1QuM/s400/039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Let me give you a warning about my family. If by chance you leave your camera unattended at any family function, you never know what you will get. Here's a prime example.<br /><br />This is my sister Norma and her husband Curtis. I know what you are thinking - not so bad right? Wait for it. . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJLwpYBflFb0zfHc30AZFz4jj9tc0JGpeC11BkdcwnZMNJpiTqwu1DgIrI6wbA3sDJK5whx_7cwSOISOULlNT4xR7qDdj0T-Lo2x1d-qB4ekmPDHHFNVxeVUf2pHBKpPWKEMO2uv2ltY/s1600-h/033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198041560265410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJLwpYBflFb0zfHc30AZFz4jj9tc0JGpeC11BkdcwnZMNJpiTqwu1DgIrI6wbA3sDJK5whx_7cwSOISOULlNT4xR7qDdj0T-Lo2x1d-qB4ekmPDHHFNVxeVUf2pHBKpPWKEMO2uv2ltY/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the next picture on my camera. My Dad and brother clowning around.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UsILg2svAkma_MBVrcZIiVsB8LtGKXINNO_WFpMycMvs7j1Qi1XyLhUqeFUAZ9YKRt6UPK5_xwGn4VArfr4oaZ2Tp9kpemCz1HcOVEB82EmK7gGl5Z7DWO4T2TMkU33liO7wO0Wezgk/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198550952410354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UsILg2svAkma_MBVrcZIiVsB8LtGKXINNO_WFpMycMvs7j1Qi1XyLhUqeFUAZ9YKRt6UPK5_xwGn4VArfr4oaZ2Tp9kpemCz1HcOVEB82EmK7gGl5Z7DWO4T2TMkU33liO7wO0Wezgk/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh and here is my niece Katherine - showing her <strong>true</strong> feelings about family reunions.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtyYqRB_IDFhfWLVPRYMZP-qGDJ2DVoKOERSzwqWY_cE0zAZfos9n7DX5-S-beOuDRLPj2ZDh8uxoQnZKS-hv2hkx4N1smQ948U_iRAPVhJS9JsbHSCMMtfrJD0OQBdWhJkF_X8i0Te8/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198560327705074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtyYqRB_IDFhfWLVPRYMZP-qGDJ2DVoKOERSzwqWY_cE0zAZfos9n7DX5-S-beOuDRLPj2ZDh8uxoQnZKS-hv2hkx4N1smQ948U_iRAPVhJS9JsbHSCMMtfrJD0OQBdWhJkF_X8i0Te8/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This reunion took place while my Dear Husband was out of the country. All of the other B-I-L's kept asking about him. I think my B-I-L Christian summed up all of their feelings perfectly when he said "So you have to leave the country to get out of something like this -HUH?!?"<br /><br />All in all we had a pretty good time. It was nice to see relaitives that you don't see very often <em>(or didn't realize you had!)</em>. However I think my nephew Caleb had the best time of all.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Amh5fyh_IVaPboQ1WJgfolBCFzzEmod9cLSH9U9LI5TYoy-0o9zub2s2S1SoU5Nj2QJutoDiq9x_gw5oPjEAC7GnL6p9fpfYRPyX1hEjd2jvoTi3lOd33F766GnD3PauRR0SWRWiIbM/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198574609680610" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Amh5fyh_IVaPboQ1WJgfolBCFzzEmod9cLSH9U9LI5TYoy-0o9zub2s2S1SoU5Nj2QJutoDiq9x_gw5oPjEAC7GnL6p9fpfYRPyX1hEjd2jvoTi3lOd33F766GnD3PauRR0SWRWiIbM/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div>He was soaked by the time they left. I can laugh and think it's funny because it's not my kid!! Go Caleb!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkdCFiKqXDIHp6Fi4WCyEMcFWp0qARzRhvdNRCHaFWhWzi4BsBi7_bCX17xv4N__MykM-1eWu2yrcd9tQ-RWcexvOX2DnvfLeHa6Uq4YLvcOhxXYvDEbuWrXCNYnE9U9MKwarkSWxw8Y/s1600-h/044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379198968103722098" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkdCFiKqXDIHp6Fi4WCyEMcFWp0qARzRhvdNRCHaFWhWzi4BsBi7_bCX17xv4N__MykM-1eWu2yrcd9tQ-RWcexvOX2DnvfLeHa6Uq4YLvcOhxXYvDEbuWrXCNYnE9U9MKwarkSWxw8Y/s400/044.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-45504838188396857682009-09-08T14:01:00.004-06:002009-09-08T14:27:53.193-06:00ANOTHER Mother of the Year!A few weeks ago my Dear Husband had to go to Guatemala and then Mexico City for work. He left on a Sunday and it was a L O N G day for me alone with two kids. <br /><br />Each Sunday night Lehi City hosts an Arts in the Park with different performers. It just so happened that this particular Sunday was Charley Jenkins in the park. I really like his music and needed to get out of the house. I called a few sisters and we arranged to meet at the park. <br /><br />We set up our chairs close to the playground so that we could keep an eye on the kids while we watched the show. The kids would play for a minute then run back to our seats for a rest and then it was back to the playground. Here is my niece Oakley with my sister Norma. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8kt1quDzVDLe_Lpz7LlIkhTmcLRyy2jgHl1VOBQHQ0V7i6Xyw3hdeVq3eUZm9Ep8HGJNPfRWIwJQr9NVKcJWlyxz275r8lXtuti4IuBDLvlW-074ngLxTdLoi0I5_A9_CNvVEqdGbB4/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379192533823981042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8kt1quDzVDLe_Lpz7LlIkhTmcLRyy2jgHl1VOBQHQ0V7i6Xyw3hdeVq3eUZm9Ep8HGJNPfRWIwJQr9NVKcJWlyxz275r8lXtuti4IuBDLvlW-074ngLxTdLoi0I5_A9_CNvVEqdGbB4/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We are all sitting there waiting for them to work out some bugs with the sound system and the next thing I know a woman comes on the stage and says "We have a little lost girl". She is holding this crying little blonde girl in her arms. I squint up towards the stage and think to myself <em>"Hmmm, Madeline has a pair of shoes like that."</em> <br /><br />That's when my sister nudged me and said "Jana, that is Madeline!" Oh Right - - of course it is! I then have to run up to the front and retrieve her. Now, just so you know. . . we hadn't changed spots, I hadn't moved and Madeline had been back and forth between me and the playground several times up to this point. What made her decide she was lost right then, I will never know! <br /><br />She sat on my lap for about 10 minutes and didn't seem any worse for the wear. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea90NgO2lJ6ydJIMzBC33OLGiyq3oR76tGDDkhbD1XvSgYgXivPrdoH4cI6DfPINEEnu9p2mzRQNVwZMFGreYpY-KnsEkLEOBrJs8A8etzxldB1EKFGhYbJzzF9siVUBbBD5uUJhLR_M/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379192523027216898" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea90NgO2lJ6ydJIMzBC33OLGiyq3oR76tGDDkhbD1XvSgYgXivPrdoH4cI6DfPINEEnu9p2mzRQNVwZMFGreYpY-KnsEkLEOBrJs8A8etzxldB1EKFGhYbJzzF9siVUBbBD5uUJhLR_M/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then when the music started she decided that she needed to bust a move. . . This was hysterical to watch. She was standing on the bleachers and dancing for all to see! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYXoF7W2xvwkTDgQQe1dln17cdDJDaec7hjPBldNRCfTavt2OaR8o5FRuMj3asw7SHGvyv5uhF-GjdWKcPqoGnjr0Ibu0ngGV9DI0Eoz8BYPbf9E-7YbJvIWSt0Ou6tK_Ow_ZD4EaB9Q/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379192517244267522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYXoF7W2xvwkTDgQQe1dln17cdDJDaec7hjPBldNRCfTavt2OaR8o5FRuMj3asw7SHGvyv5uhF-GjdWKcPqoGnjr0Ibu0ngGV9DI0Eoz8BYPbf9E-7YbJvIWSt0Ou6tK_Ow_ZD4EaB9Q/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What can I say? The girl has skillzzz!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u7xNeRBRFc7xOM2K_jMtqmzjVjTvFWtl-nMduAmEnXEp4EJMYzuBHRMQLI9SjnyHfLkGE6LWCP1yK6RoZvs1ZLuEKU3_5FohnWH6zLvn6iH0_NgE1yN63ZNp8MQpft0iTbvVe-D18ss/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379192508889609442" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u7xNeRBRFc7xOM2K_jMtqmzjVjTvFWtl-nMduAmEnXEp4EJMYzuBHRMQLI9SjnyHfLkGE6LWCP1yK6RoZvs1ZLuEKU3_5FohnWH6zLvn6iH0_NgE1yN63ZNp8MQpft0iTbvVe-D18ss/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and don't worry, I have my Mother of the Year speech all ready for when they deliver that prize! <br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-36243039650446196152009-09-08T13:30:00.002-06:002009-09-08T13:57:12.850-06:00First Day of SchoolJack started Kindergarten last week. He goes in the afternoon with his "best bud" Mayson. He was very excited to ride the bus. <br /><br />When I told him that I would go down to the bus stop with him each day he informed me that he did NOT need me to go to the bus stop with him, AND lest I get any crazy ideas, he could walk home by himself too. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7iFxAlVipTV8h15YutxVDhcEmlW5-USJsUVP92zrKVjaPPITIa-4psk7cPEBmZODzKH1JKoTaH6NzCchQm10TnJfOrSaZFRkmVLKiUV7Qvvg3a8hdC07yQtztKk2mW40XzfkWQHrSJs/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379183274020735762" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7iFxAlVipTV8h15YutxVDhcEmlW5-USJsUVP92zrKVjaPPITIa-4psk7cPEBmZODzKH1JKoTaH6NzCchQm10TnJfOrSaZFRkmVLKiUV7Qvvg3a8hdC07yQtztKk2mW40XzfkWQHrSJs/s400/016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Well, the bus stop is .25 miles from our house and if you are a 5 year old boy there is a lot of "dinking around" that can happen in those .25 miles. So we came to a compromise - Jack leaves the house and picks up his friend Mayson. I wait for about 5 minutes and then drive down in the car with Madeline to make sure they get on the bus. <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f39dUsNVf-BeSE3B9rJeUjzTdTD9CUSilzPYYbIVl1-EqdSCGtaO_DSEPkZVNwrQEDZggUk73dcR32PB7zT43LvXVfRDvgUmAk1WmBu70dhThS0jFv0tWiCLc13C8jGvvWExHoNBTU8/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379183292757405586" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_f39dUsNVf-BeSE3B9rJeUjzTdTD9CUSilzPYYbIVl1-EqdSCGtaO_DSEPkZVNwrQEDZggUk73dcR32PB7zT43LvXVfRDvgUmAk1WmBu70dhThS0jFv0tWiCLc13C8jGvvWExHoNBTU8/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiI9tNp8G_UbZ9VZ4cflbRnWpmpAt0LHc9FqGt4SzgGJJgn6Xef-toawNT2vGiCl5LrtZcGs40-CmLal8ZpY2ER7aAlVO3tkyUgcglIqjsFtsaHJyxea13vYblE2LdcGwO9joCTgukDU/s1600-h/017.JPG"></a>Madeline started pre-school the following week. She goes in the morning. I know you are thinking "Wow she didn't plan that one too well." But I figured this is the last year that I will have Jack at home and it would be good for us to spend some one on one time together while Madeline is at pre-school. </div><div> </div><div>Right after I took this picture of Madeline I started to walk her to the door. She turned to me and in her most reassuring 3 year old voice said "It's OK Mom, I can do this." Huh? Are you 3 or 13?!? <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnjVwo5-KmKiLhCxr-9c1c6CYm43HZ1CFwOUWb0q2qxzFundunakm1UZ0ie_jaMopWIsgqiw3ojNgjx5M17sJyhJ4I9PpcP6XiYJOkFMutCyFhWwHLiZhNSWaGxZk739_uBPriL_UOY0/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379183300091259730" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnjVwo5-KmKiLhCxr-9c1c6CYm43HZ1CFwOUWb0q2qxzFundunakm1UZ0ie_jaMopWIsgqiw3ojNgjx5M17sJyhJ4I9PpcP6XiYJOkFMutCyFhWwHLiZhNSWaGxZk739_uBPriL_UOY0/s400/046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-45931454438609997992009-09-02T08:00:00.000-06:002009-09-02T08:00:07.379-06:00Meet My Son. . . G.I. Joe?Jack's latest superhero obsession is G.I. Joe. A few weeks ago we went to Costco and they had Halloween costumes. <em>Already?!?</em> Jack was drawn to them like a moth to a flame. <br /><br />He immediately found a Snake Eyes costume. In a moment of weakness and rationalization that almost every day is Halloween for Jack, I bought it. <br /><br />You see Jack loves to dress up. Some days I will find him and his little gang all dressed as Batman, or Indianna Jones, or Spiderman <em>(both black and red).</em> Other times it's Buzz Lightyear, a Power Ranger or a Ninja. Last week he had 6 chopsticks from the kitchen between his fingers using them as Wolverine claws! He does get points for creativity. <br /><br />So the day came that we went for his Kindergarten Evaluation. He sat at the front of the room while Mrs. Peterson talked to him to see what he knew and what he needed to work on. I was at the back of the room filling out paperwork. <br /><br />Toward the end I hear the following conversation -<br /><br /><strong>Mrs. Peterson:</strong> "So shall we call you Jack in school this year? Is that what you would like to be called?" <br /><br /><strong>Jack:</strong> "No, you can call me G.I. Joe."<br /><br /><em>Me - thinking to myself: Say what?!?</em><br /><br /><strong>Mrs. Peterson:</strong> "Oh, is that what your Mom and Dad call you at home?" <br /><br /><strong>Jack</strong> <em>(looking my way out of the corner of his eye):</em> "Uhh, No. But <strong>YOU</strong> can call me G.I. Joe." <br /><br /><em>At this point I am biting the inside of my cheek trying not to laugh.</em> <br /><br /><strong>Mrs. Peterson</strong> <em>(without missing a beat):</em> "Well I think for school we are going to call you Jack."<br /><br /><strong>Jack:</strong> "<em>Sigh</em>. . . . OK."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VOIU1zFcX0imichybOvx8LzCOUlLte0vGwzSmAadXdaJY0WpAquBCczKkotx3wToiWmjq9XiltNQsLBjRghC5yDGHx1qHYmApUdeB86wIA4SdaDGrrYUPNAmJDKDis0iZkcCpDwDAUA/s1600-h/GI+Joe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375237286869572962" style="WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VOIU1zFcX0imichybOvx8LzCOUlLte0vGwzSmAadXdaJY0WpAquBCczKkotx3wToiWmjq9XiltNQsLBjRghC5yDGHx1qHYmApUdeB86wIA4SdaDGrrYUPNAmJDKDis0iZkcCpDwDAUA/s400/GI+Joe.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-58128825842836228862009-09-01T06:51:00.000-06:002009-09-01T06:51:00.562-06:00Quilting / Decorating project AKA Madeline's RoomAbout 5 or 6 years ago, my sister Heidi introduced me to the hobby of quilting. Well, maybe hobby is not quite the right word. Some of the words that come to mind are <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">obsession</span></strong>, <em><span style="font-size:130%;">sickness</span></em>, <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">money pit</span></strong> - - you get the idea.<br /><br /><br /><br />The first quilt that I did was for Jack's room. That lead to some pillows and then some curtains to match.<br /><br /><br /><br />When it came time to move Madeline from her crib to a big girl bed, I decided that I would use my skills to make her bedroom over last summer. <br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some pictures of the finished project. First I started with the actual quilt to go on the bed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5-KHw17XtckzQiMvLwnHanj8NBi1DnsZ-LAoYnm15QEtdqVQ25quvrcHxa5I1mmB7P8na9TQzldHau_2gDY76hiHOC4wZdSqxfTWWqOSwYT4PPKvj-0nHcY_Jh_jq8xchUEYpWTBaWQ/s1600-h/076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229481437306562" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5-KHw17XtckzQiMvLwnHanj8NBi1DnsZ-LAoYnm15QEtdqVQ25quvrcHxa5I1mmB7P8na9TQzldHau_2gDY76hiHOC4wZdSqxfTWWqOSwYT4PPKvj-0nHcY_Jh_jq8xchUEYpWTBaWQ/s400/076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here is a close up of the quilt. There was a lot of piecing involved and it was pretty time consuming.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnOQiPW6r-GsTNJf4uTVWjgFSsLHJJZYG-T2piCz_WDYKhKjedMCalBcaxKd9aKG15KlFXX9bpSxythP59rx6RLQdSX2p5t14WhbggYLeN_dTxiFU8icZjp2K2BMUiqvmlmQ0s4fvV8w/s1600-h/088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229190861414450" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnOQiPW6r-GsTNJf4uTVWjgFSsLHJJZYG-T2piCz_WDYKhKjedMCalBcaxKd9aKG15KlFXX9bpSxythP59rx6RLQdSX2p5t14WhbggYLeN_dTxiFU8icZjp2K2BMUiqvmlmQ0s4fvV8w/s400/088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Which then led to throw pillows.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMersQIvNy2448waMdoF5LYvAzL13fBwkE9VCeznGBD3Eft_TrtYmVTO-4yj-PJUc3FLPSABgcuN_z6rVPMl2HpvdMIWInEWVbafN9U8aeJLZYSU27tQXKZU-PC9Rg0P-gcPQsS7JVJEk/s1600-h/087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375231043158547026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMersQIvNy2448waMdoF5LYvAzL13fBwkE9VCeznGBD3Eft_TrtYmVTO-4yj-PJUc3FLPSABgcuN_z6rVPMl2HpvdMIWInEWVbafN9U8aeJLZYSU27tQXKZU-PC9Rg0P-gcPQsS7JVJEk/s400/087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you are going to go to all that work, you might as well have a custom bed skirt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3m9fK__fSllRJTjXwOB-EWKb6Jfa2w_ifUYnLCuxc7TSPlvv0obH_wiy6SL8taFVPq375ohEyqZc_zKr_JWyB_-YUNz68OmSGDXYbVm2U9CvBdxJ8gPRGf3pTXh9o0Ly0_CeINKPOok/s1600-h/089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229189123389266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3m9fK__fSllRJTjXwOB-EWKb6Jfa2w_ifUYnLCuxc7TSPlvv0obH_wiy6SL8taFVPq375ohEyqZc_zKr_JWyB_-YUNz68OmSGDXYbVm2U9CvBdxJ8gPRGf3pTXh9o0Ly0_CeINKPOok/s400/089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Which made me think that curtains would be a good addition. <em>(Anyone read the book "If you Give a Moose a Muffin"? Do you see some similarities here?) </em></p><p>These curtains look cute, but they were a pain in the neck to make! As for her letters that spell out her name they are wood covered with scrapbook paper. I made Jade go with me several times to Robert's Crafts so that we could each buy one letter at 40% off. There are LOTS of letters in this girl's name!</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sKwFwpVB-d7ahojUseNVND0PiiqarTEi8yZbm3H_Z9VaMs8z7phMz06GX7nBidSv-F_hyphenhyphenDeL0YfbLUt8FMDQh-mEOXtdLxuH66fRndEHgquSG6DHbVs9__vVfijGPIpXrN1B-kMbWO0/s1600-h/079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229474467857394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sKwFwpVB-d7ahojUseNVND0PiiqarTEi8yZbm3H_Z9VaMs8z7phMz06GX7nBidSv-F_hyphenhyphenDeL0YfbLUt8FMDQh-mEOXtdLxuH66fRndEHgquSG6DHbVs9__vVfijGPIpXrN1B-kMbWO0/s400/079.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next I found some cute "frenchy" pictures on eBay. Notice the cute crown hooks that I found at RodWorks. Now if I could just get her to actually <em>use</em> them. . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYPjolImW4HDtTCT-SdsGS9W9GC0po7clmQj1sc_Sfpv-1t8mSSv9GI-WJh6_dQ09fZBEGLJYECfjVD5i5ZTlSCgpmJOdSWdb5Uxz_Nmuoh4vY45wtkyJz73zpI4up37HbKiW-U1M74E/s1600-h/084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229209961872610" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYPjolImW4HDtTCT-SdsGS9W9GC0po7clmQj1sc_Sfpv-1t8mSSv9GI-WJh6_dQ09fZBEGLJYECfjVD5i5ZTlSCgpmJOdSWdb5Uxz_Nmuoh4vY45wtkyJz73zpI4up37HbKiW-U1M74E/s400/084.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>I found some cute paper at a fru-fru boutique and bought it, not quite knowing what I was going to do with it. Then I had a great idea - tear the sides and mount it on an artist's canvas painted brown and distressed. Add some ribbon at the top and a cute wall hanger and you are set! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdrUcGsxLkI1Zz2Ex2HKu2K6xruG5QtIS25L376v4Qv4XTVIR1PEXItIEy8p33VPgcCP4xi58wF3vMTvb5VFx1ck0coEz8QPLXXPQ2oSNsnp_cBB4Xo9M_uvI8orIJdUYjRPDCDRzYLM/s1600-h/081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375229199228497858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdrUcGsxLkI1Zz2Ex2HKu2K6xruG5QtIS25L376v4Qv4XTVIR1PEXItIEy8p33VPgcCP4xi58wF3vMTvb5VFx1ck0coEz8QPLXXPQ2oSNsnp_cBB4Xo9M_uvI8orIJdUYjRPDCDRzYLM/s400/081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you haven't noticed, I love all things French. My dear husband is always telling me "We Are Not FRENCH!" As a joke he started calling France The Motherland. Now my kids think that the Eiffel Tower is called The Motherland! They sometimes ask if we can go to The Motherland. It drives Dear Husband crazy and secretly I smile inside. </p>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-64704358573280045052009-08-30T20:55:00.000-06:002009-08-30T20:55:00.679-06:00Surfing on the LakeOne of the great things about living on the lake is you have lots of friends that have boats. Our friends Eric and Minnette have a boat that you can surf behind. It has tanks that fill with water from the lake along with some "fat sacks" that you pump water into that sit on your seats on one side so that you can get a bigger wake. <br /><br />On one hot day in July we went out for a quick surf. Mark was out first. He hasn't surfed very much but claims it's pretty easy. <em>(I have yet to try it</em>).<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26CXyyhWoVE9P1moYbE6NMFRbWmBl0PaG3Bq4_p33CwR3HAKxnq-SRk9db0AXUxTXXVdGoKT-eppTSVj3sETnqauDrK9o_T5F8DfjdLkDAwUIaZOcQeEdVoAWgaarTaK05C324a5X6rE/s1600-h/109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214845211313762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26CXyyhWoVE9P1moYbE6NMFRbWmBl0PaG3Bq4_p33CwR3HAKxnq-SRk9db0AXUxTXXVdGoKT-eppTSVj3sETnqauDrK9o_T5F8DfjdLkDAwUIaZOcQeEdVoAWgaarTaK05C324a5X6rE/s400/109.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here he is getting a feel for the water. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuETaC-adK7asIo_xaAOxQ3BMgsQmipwV8S5Rj0KckW0GOFYUk30TEW8gys23Zf0zAcC01zgCh9IIIOmqyW_kENtRSxCTQgyccs0YHD5hkdP0xWoXO-5UtXT8EgnWUmpdQK7Qp_eIgYDc/s1600-h/110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214842623879138" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuETaC-adK7asIo_xaAOxQ3BMgsQmipwV8S5Rj0KckW0GOFYUk30TEW8gys23Zf0zAcC01zgCh9IIIOmqyW_kENtRSxCTQgyccs0YHD5hkdP0xWoXO-5UtXT8EgnWUmpdQK7Qp_eIgYDc/s400/110.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Trying to find the "sweet spot" so he can throw the rope into the boat and really surf. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeGwB4X9z9n5PIVTEwbKLt0CT7DaGdmEwZl7NrnsNEkH-oFkNEhwOhrxLO8sOvdSUdKvdsHBRzLy2jH0X6vb3zohK7lrBYrf41x72UTehcLbd0ajg-bXLxYv-VnEmiOa_gs015uaOKfU/s1600-h/111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214647464144786" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeGwB4X9z9n5PIVTEwbKLt0CT7DaGdmEwZl7NrnsNEkH-oFkNEhwOhrxLO8sOvdSUdKvdsHBRzLy2jH0X6vb3zohK7lrBYrf41x72UTehcLbd0ajg-bXLxYv-VnEmiOa_gs015uaOKfU/s400/111.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He tossed the rope, but can't quite hang on - he's on his way down in this pic. Bummer, try again. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrDRBvLFfviVw4l8pX6t5LpaoJ65g1i7eP3LQZER67s-0mnD0gB19ZkjtYiCNcq02KTkVWvj52dkEGHIaUmoBdHm-FVJ6Q4pJPb-uS1Fnz_mVaGVxkkZxJA-PuyLhtMOxWAe5JGJvT9A/s1600-h/113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214640573310370" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrDRBvLFfviVw4l8pX6t5LpaoJ65g1i7eP3LQZER67s-0mnD0gB19ZkjtYiCNcq02KTkVWvj52dkEGHIaUmoBdHm-FVJ6Q4pJPb-uS1Fnz_mVaGVxkkZxJA-PuyLhtMOxWAe5JGJvT9A/s400/113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now our friend Eric gets out. But wait, he's got company. This is Alli - she just turned 3 and loves to surf with her Dad. Notice how she is hanging onto his life jacket while he tosses the rope. </div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr46mPtjdAwbVGnWbwpjTm4CKXEIXcNrmCXaiH2O7QJR_LdGxri8MKlqASoV4qeKG0wYm4foEz8Hv_pZFezkpFbV7_DQ54XEvN9h9wT7F6CIa6sTmFuAl2pSpr0luU6Q4czSnqlKXRoc/s1600-h/117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214621767378562" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr46mPtjdAwbVGnWbwpjTm4CKXEIXcNrmCXaiH2O7QJR_LdGxri8MKlqASoV4qeKG0wYm4foEz8Hv_pZFezkpFbV7_DQ54XEvN9h9wT7F6CIa6sTmFuAl2pSpr0luU6Q4czSnqlKXRoc/s400/117.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yeah, catching some waves on Utah Lake! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEiGq3THQb5wv4ox9dzcbNorfGEPxWja3RA4u0QO0Jq-hskC-FsaPAX55W0F5fVx_5pNXqTehx94jkIB2JezKVrqWoXAkIV9SLC52u8navknHYsHToJxUhBfuopYVcQVCqC3tpImqtqo/s1600-h/118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214631437280178" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEiGq3THQb5wv4ox9dzcbNorfGEPxWja3RA4u0QO0Jq-hskC-FsaPAX55W0F5fVx_5pNXqTehx94jkIB2JezKVrqWoXAkIV9SLC52u8navknHYsHToJxUhBfuopYVcQVCqC3tpImqtqo/s400/118.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Alli gives it a thumbs up!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9QwE3yQXaweyll-aPW6TdhS5H6Vl6yjNpxcP2LMB8frVNFXkzjLVE33gTs4HrDI0FbYe_Cfm-L8p4q15kPTxgqDDL_pTK0ptFGjk47uLB9YubSl_u_YMBGlYJIl8flmZJYwwoAasRJc/s1600-h/122.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375214620956518306" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9QwE3yQXaweyll-aPW6TdhS5H6Vl6yjNpxcP2LMB8frVNFXkzjLVE33gTs4HrDI0FbYe_Cfm-L8p4q15kPTxgqDDL_pTK0ptFGjk47uLB9YubSl_u_YMBGlYJIl8flmZJYwwoAasRJc/s400/122.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-43084442345152924372009-08-30T08:00:00.001-06:002009-08-30T08:00:03.040-06:00Children's MuseumOne Sunday afternoon, Jack decided to get some sun while reading the Sunday paper. First he started with the comics.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yhKxHcVZkz-lb4OkiRL6rB8FTGzcCHS1_0FK-t3PO1PjHV-pESFfbhUtFTYTGLhcZdDJFAMRjkLD3qsJ9MPzAIDTrqHjTHf21jmOOZWxFPDDKRdTTlErv0w3abhUBAFAqOMvi8uqDDE/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198771416115858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yhKxHcVZkz-lb4OkiRL6rB8FTGzcCHS1_0FK-t3PO1PjHV-pESFfbhUtFTYTGLhcZdDJFAMRjkLD3qsJ9MPzAIDTrqHjTHf21jmOOZWxFPDDKRdTTlErv0w3abhUBAFAqOMvi8uqDDE/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Then he came to something that <strong>REALLY</strong> caught his attention - an ad for the Children's Museum at the Gateway. They were having a buy one get one free offer - just our price.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVrR9BHFxqzYombITgcg3xFXqBWr44a2IpSklWI2xhhUikj7BlXvyRDjLba2PuGrZOmWeo1l8pUCbn9nyVweht8nCfiCsBxWdAcF0PyTx8GUHRTJ_X6f1DiM2Z1F1ysmcQYOnUB1__SI/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198763299924498" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVrR9BHFxqzYombITgcg3xFXqBWr44a2IpSklWI2xhhUikj7BlXvyRDjLba2PuGrZOmWeo1l8pUCbn9nyVweht8nCfiCsBxWdAcF0PyTx8GUHRTJ_X6f1DiM2Z1F1ysmcQYOnUB1__SI/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we arrived, the first thing they tried out were the musical instruments.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RwE4ABE-XTCqDulkdCq2eilDDrVAEZhGn4BwCHY7EX4Vp5Sf5SYkeuV7ZfLZt7AQkkedWRdayPCpEn3mwp0eAlO2uRkrDQ4VqhHPxkGApp6bMdwJMnrpSl4xyXlzjlXXMcqNWiPmDIU/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198751811743570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RwE4ABE-XTCqDulkdCq2eilDDrVAEZhGn4BwCHY7EX4Vp5Sf5SYkeuV7ZfLZt7AQkkedWRdayPCpEn3mwp0eAlO2uRkrDQ4VqhHPxkGApp6bMdwJMnrpSl4xyXlzjlXXMcqNWiPmDIU/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Madeline concentrating very hard.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0QGQmBbNATr6OGSExBDQsqabmG_tnIGsIfBmQ1JIR2bJ_IoY9NBXSeY5XGAm2kkV2rzMT2lC-aRpgcAqQme1ygqNFHw6vggv3lGfzMVESZA1oaSExOy8-yS-wHnV4DKOwJNngT-9qpw/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198465554699570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0QGQmBbNATr6OGSExBDQsqabmG_tnIGsIfBmQ1JIR2bJ_IoY9NBXSeY5XGAm2kkV2rzMT2lC-aRpgcAqQme1ygqNFHw6vggv3lGfzMVESZA1oaSExOy8-yS-wHnV4DKOwJNngT-9qpw/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we came to a play house. It had everything you might find in a real house, including a mouse hole in the wall. There was a button to push that turned on a light inside and you could see the mouse's house complete with furniture made from thread spools, etc. However, the mouse family must have been at the people museum as they were no where to be found.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXLxXZRKfUJDsPtrjF4-kID7nWuyqHcnmTuAVSjWvZ56hihDbRIS91jte4RU-L_RBNl2Utv7SLuTaEeKvLJBRINNjd71pk-iWAYBql5XImL3zLhEDLUTYCURLkJMP9SnkOA-4nQjPShQ/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198459082706482" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXLxXZRKfUJDsPtrjF4-kID7nWuyqHcnmTuAVSjWvZ56hihDbRIS91jte4RU-L_RBNl2Utv7SLuTaEeKvLJBRINNjd71pk-iWAYBql5XImL3zLhEDLUTYCURLkJMP9SnkOA-4nQjPShQ/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was a really cool water play station.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RCb-mS5jq8cp5xFd9fkT4p4dd3Psm8RfuTckg73g41sltQu5SH7lYg4H2ffrbtLakzYTvHS006yk4eyf0p6pUseJW1lKGo8GQCj5l7EYBNBr2OlKOzQZhy_zHnfoiGlYwq670C16L8M/s1600-h/033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198452223030482" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RCb-mS5jq8cp5xFd9fkT4p4dd3Psm8RfuTckg73g41sltQu5SH7lYg4H2ffrbtLakzYTvHS006yk4eyf0p6pUseJW1lKGo8GQCj5l7EYBNBr2OlKOzQZhy_zHnfoiGlYwq670C16L8M/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We spent quite a bit of time here since water is the <em>ultimate</em> kid magnet.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbljPW3a8RmlPJFeYKU429wqUhKEcT0VXcKnHpEA7gzB0C-3MTU0xeoj3jZmpJYuULPUjrrTkCunfix3zgD1V-KDXMBOzYEZ27l0jLl-2UkixRFPogCl9qPt32S-n1RI853rwIyUvRXpY/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198444993825506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbljPW3a8RmlPJFeYKU429wqUhKEcT0VXcKnHpEA7gzB0C-3MTU0xeoj3jZmpJYuULPUjrrTkCunfix3zgD1V-KDXMBOzYEZ27l0jLl-2UkixRFPogCl9qPt32S-n1RI853rwIyUvRXpY/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They had lots of dress ups. Jack and Madeline tried out the cowboy outfits first.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAFHkPLAetpM-ayl7xVWlmpXXKIi7wst1t3-fih_S4EcAx7C_0sFCxxg1RsWfbxP4VPDFlbJdfSD2sO7DED2k0rx6J9FY8QIIod8Mk2SfI_7qFZyQ65LKgRJYDD6FOJgAU32tQInN_-4/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375198440585798770" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAFHkPLAetpM-ayl7xVWlmpXXKIi7wst1t3-fih_S4EcAx7C_0sFCxxg1RsWfbxP4VPDFlbJdfSD2sO7DED2k0rx6J9FY8QIIod8Mk2SfI_7qFZyQ65LKgRJYDD6FOJgAU32tQInN_-4/s400/036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apparently these boots were NOT made for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">walkin</span>'<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNtnUXpzPuAYcES7P7PnP-2MWpx6yixOMmSkSallKIG_KpZu1mbudQtJjBhFj_cyD83bA-aBbeWF67N6jv3l4uP2rcv4a49HtLCUNFWCayibCX8k6MYAua5cSrVr-AwNW_pKXWghXmgc/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375197690107064642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNtnUXpzPuAYcES7P7PnP-2MWpx6yixOMmSkSallKIG_KpZu1mbudQtJjBhFj_cyD83bA-aBbeWF67N6jv3l4uP2rcv4a49HtLCUNFWCayibCX8k6MYAua5cSrVr-AwNW_pKXWghXmgc/s400/048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jack gives up on the boots and decides to throw some hay for the horse.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uNdkYPayEylH0WoYCIVQqOouIri2_c-_uSIxyr5SXKbAJc5mqSdShPCe0NTyW29bFog4oj6YGM3qvKlkWw2piis3WOZvpBkjyhiR2p3c8Kas2h97Zr98ruWYxqSTE-1zD4987L6YjxY/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375197696060862834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uNdkYPayEylH0WoYCIVQqOouIri2_c-_uSIxyr5SXKbAJc5mqSdShPCe0NTyW29bFog4oj6YGM3qvKlkWw2piis3WOZvpBkjyhiR2p3c8Kas2h97Zr98ruWYxqSTE-1zD4987L6YjxY/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Meanwhile, Madeline decides that she is going to ride that pony.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Cypg3sBAFaWkQCWVPR9E4y-7w3XnzI1UfmHQzcIrFx-8MbylR5jgFsOqb0pJx-GLeMTRMjrRSA9Te8HuQLsOUFasEo7sT84EEFRXnO0R9qYQ33A_GmWqi-wPt6YYSxCqNXTCFuQb6lM/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375197681118973842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Cypg3sBAFaWkQCWVPR9E4y-7w3XnzI1UfmHQzcIrFx-8MbylR5jgFsOqb0pJx-GLeMTRMjrRSA9Te8HuQLsOUFasEo7sT84EEFRXnO0R9qYQ33A_GmWqi-wPt6YYSxCqNXTCFuQb6lM/s400/041.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we go over to the supermarket. It is laid out just like a real supermarket, complete with shelves stocked with cereal and canned goods, a produce section, bakery, deli and meat counter. </div><div></div><div>Madeline immediately takes charge and becomes the checker. My job is to be the shopper. She goes into full character mode. Asking me how I am doing today and if I found everything OK. I tell her that I have some coupons and she informs me that her store doesn't take coupons. I tell her I don't have the money to pay for everything unless I use my coupons and she sweetly informs me that I will have to put some things back. REALLY?! Wow, this pretending is too much like real life. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fcSihSY227WKE0jCnpf7AQ2NkF5p45Gg8omcEfZu-d_DNj3Mx-kS7nyLke-CN4SMqeDDUMxgDtnfsdjktlDyZjVXXco1m-Wen-r4PmnFAkQT8Hs9s3tIt14WE-8N-7qZ0OPlGh8u7gg/s1600-h/050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375197675322537538" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fcSihSY227WKE0jCnpf7AQ2NkF5p45Gg8omcEfZu-d_DNj3Mx-kS7nyLke-CN4SMqeDDUMxgDtnfsdjktlDyZjVXXco1m-Wen-r4PmnFAkQT8Hs9s3tIt14WE-8N-7qZ0OPlGh8u7gg/s400/050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Meanwhile Jack is busy delivering the mail. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-2P3gvuD8PDzXgpMpphJ5Dvb2NGGlGoW9JuaIbfjNOUJBqaqPmrBDWf0fDVizihPLL57kKJqexN9HMtU8KaLb7P8cFVNXvvpTgmHm-FPEzsUkwOUopLB8iEip1x_xr5awtpynxmXq6E/s1600-h/053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375197664865608882" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-2P3gvuD8PDzXgpMpphJ5Dvb2NGGlGoW9JuaIbfjNOUJBqaqPmrBDWf0fDVizihPLL57kKJqexN9HMtU8KaLb7P8cFVNXvvpTgmHm-FPEzsUkwOUopLB8iEip1x_xr5awtpynxmXq6E/s400/053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we went up to the roof where they have a <em>real</em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LifeFlight</span> helicopter. It is pretty cool. You can sit inside as a passenger, go up front and be the pilot or there is a control tower that you can use to guide the chopper. Really cool.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2Qr7g8qy4JnDNwGZ1zml3n1YIjt2JOKU8qC3-OM46CpSClywrzC5fFi8H-NHRw5bdmfAGRjv_UMCSdw1Q0mToBInJyu7a_J6ZKxe9PovYGTR8k4Dq-huAeNo1ARIpS6el8MmtCg7MfQ/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375196730604637474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2Qr7g8qy4JnDNwGZ1zml3n1YIjt2JOKU8qC3-OM46CpSClywrzC5fFi8H-NHRw5bdmfAGRjv_UMCSdw1Q0mToBInJyu7a_J6ZKxe9PovYGTR8k4Dq-huAeNo1ARIpS6el8MmtCg7MfQ/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After that it was lunch time so we met Mark at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">McDonald's</span> that was just across the way from the museum. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McDonald's</span> is probably my LAST choice for lunch, but luckily it was at the food court and we were able to get something else to eat. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>After lunch we went back to the museum and Jack decided to be a fireman for a while. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fy0sxpC7AEHRbKi7XNVnT0F7-WSERvnay7kaMK77zZUaWBj49dU67evwfcO3B7FgquPgX2d4Iuv2AFQdpg35eZmfOvoRmjXhq0z3ayJ1oH1poleEQY56ltUB8MZaX8CBQTcvN7bJeEc/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375196724336436386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fy0sxpC7AEHRbKi7XNVnT0F7-WSERvnay7kaMK77zZUaWBj49dU67evwfcO3B7FgquPgX2d4Iuv2AFQdpg35eZmfOvoRmjXhq0z3ayJ1oH1poleEQY56ltUB8MZaX8CBQTcvN7bJeEc/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Shortly after that they spotted a car at the gas station where you could pump your own gas! <em>Get right out of town! This is the greatest thing ever! </em></div><div></div><div>Jack immediately assumed the position of authority and started pumping the gas while telling his sister that HE was driving and she should stay on her side of the car. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uvHad_CtDWlFcHSUGSgRLe1mwWKqUHl8qrE4ZCHzAbzjAqucWTtw9yqUqYZ-UfaEm6D1G6cdZDmaUuLBJbeSU9eO5eT_MHNBAaWclDlkcZFYUnI-RxneJUxcTW0oCPIVa63eieJ3WQ8/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375196718072669778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uvHad_CtDWlFcHSUGSgRLe1mwWKqUHl8qrE4ZCHzAbzjAqucWTtw9yqUqYZ-UfaEm6D1G6cdZDmaUuLBJbeSU9eO5eT_MHNBAaWclDlkcZFYUnI-RxneJUxcTW0oCPIVa63eieJ3WQ8/s400/060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, that worked well didn't it? </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSf19gA3bMT2_p7X7Cn1ks9RqLwqoUi2sEHSDy7QNrleCt3gJLODaTEQkHdrgS4mxYH2-BXUu-v3lfKdDVBbUcsi0jbFPBz3kEWPxp2-zP3C96eE2wAkJyr7PYjzzN-7mDixX7xjxCoo/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375196708491714418" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSf19gA3bMT2_p7X7Cn1ks9RqLwqoUi2sEHSDy7QNrleCt3gJLODaTEQkHdrgS4mxYH2-BXUu-v3lfKdDVBbUcsi0jbFPBz3kEWPxp2-zP3C96eE2wAkJyr7PYjzzN-7mDixX7xjxCoo/s400/061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next Madeline thinks to herself "how hard can this be?" and decides to pump her own gas.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqIdgYGme8DEZiNv2Dc5yaoP-2UHJYoTVJVh0SEn_9VEcm7TBpPf-2Zyrk0HbuNdS5h1Ja6hZhMMWDG4PKYLp9NxeKCRbpYbzxYfau_PLhPBS07gcUdZ19piheGXCv3hVcZsNVUZvctI/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375196703604055394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqIdgYGme8DEZiNv2Dc5yaoP-2UHJYoTVJVh0SEn_9VEcm7TBpPf-2Zyrk0HbuNdS5h1Ja6hZhMMWDG4PKYLp9NxeKCRbpYbzxYfau_PLhPBS07gcUdZ19piheGXCv3hVcZsNVUZvctI/s400/063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Shortly after this I decided that I was done, done and done with the museum. We had spent a total of 4 hours in the museum - not including lunch. All in all it was a really fun day and they have been begging to go back ever since. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-46732483679882568672009-08-29T19:30:00.001-06:002009-08-28T18:42:08.166-06:00Lehi Round Up DaysThis year we went to the Lehi Round Up as we do every year. We missed the all horse parade since we were driving back from Reno that day, but we were able to do some other fun things when we got back.<br /><br />Pioneer Party had a Kids Day on Friday - there were games, candy, a pig to pet <em>(both Jack and Madeline declined to pet the pig)</em> and you could learn to rope a "cow".<br /><br />Here is Madeline showing off her cowgirl skills. <em><span style="font-size:130%;">Love</span></em> the boots with the shorts - cute if you're 3, not so much if you're 40!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox1i4hKajvQ7tesX-_YOjqsztX1rFsfUT7LODmxio_PEycr6JLUmRxNqdqOtwzCS3-9uggRiqRzwovrOBD52e8-ANzOqI7ejI59BD-36fuNfRAYwFIy-HXhTKLNRNan0Uzsff_7AYYfc/s1600-h/CIMG0998.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145403585233026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox1i4hKajvQ7tesX-_YOjqsztX1rFsfUT7LODmxio_PEycr6JLUmRxNqdqOtwzCS3-9uggRiqRzwovrOBD52e8-ANzOqI7ejI59BD-36fuNfRAYwFIy-HXhTKLNRNan0Uzsff_7AYYfc/s400/CIMG0998.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After all that fun and excitement we walked down the block to Reams Boots & Jeans where the Lehi High School FFA club <em>(Future Farmers of America for those of you who don't know)</em> was selling hot dogs, chips and a drink for $2. Such a deal!!<br /><br />Here are Jack and Madeline sitting on the porch of Reams. Yep, that is a regular Coke that my boy is drinking. What can I say?! Mother of the Year!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrCaRrxcQWg1pFip4UoAY-8Fa8BNlaB5RRJbLfwgMp4ybxjYq02-VQmXENqA5wpqJFpgdJ2n_QmVjsdZTnL2ARLgCyivieduD6KVAcNy_oPXQDdLl-r46rAgCYE3Y6D-S3SfYCYz9RXk/s1600-h/CIMG0999.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145409357515266" style="WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrCaRrxcQWg1pFip4UoAY-8Fa8BNlaB5RRJbLfwgMp4ybxjYq02-VQmXENqA5wpqJFpgdJ2n_QmVjsdZTnL2ARLgCyivieduD6KVAcNy_oPXQDdLl-r46rAgCYE3Y6D-S3SfYCYz9RXk/s400/CIMG0999.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next morning we went to the parade. Each year the whole clan gathers at the same place and we all watch together.<br /><br />Here are Jack and Madeline waiting for the parade to start. All the kids get front row seats. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NKi975Mr71RUdpZGAsEGJgtWeKAjm0uUxEZS-y-bJ8Z4MC__hPccBfgWeAoo1N0XeEDmRuWDgdPUkPrPRof9m6fzrbhib8T4El-MyF48D_PMnhyphenhypheno7dH0ufjKpbMZs6cw9GKu1wmztac/s1600-h/CIMG1006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145419868296050" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NKi975Mr71RUdpZGAsEGJgtWeKAjm0uUxEZS-y-bJ8Z4MC__hPccBfgWeAoo1N0XeEDmRuWDgdPUkPrPRof9m6fzrbhib8T4El-MyF48D_PMnhyphenhypheno7dH0ufjKpbMZs6cw9GKu1wmztac/s400/CIMG1006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since Jade and Willy didn't want to be considered kids, they sat a little further back with the adults.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qgl2TKrxD8vr8Xc3sZ0GgOa_OqLSWki9SNZ4KeEkl3sd6itLwWhBPcZW4lErzhwdc_J_OZ26_WFCLX8RLLC_OXoU0LnGW8VY4D73gh4c2dUyBp86uA7v4MQZNMnxn0pt1HqUal_ykM8/s1600-h/CIMG1007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145425565514034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qgl2TKrxD8vr8Xc3sZ0GgOa_OqLSWki9SNZ4KeEkl3sd6itLwWhBPcZW4lErzhwdc_J_OZ26_WFCLX8RLLC_OXoU0LnGW8VY4D73gh4c2dUyBp86uA7v4MQZNMnxn0pt1HqUal_ykM8/s400/CIMG1007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is the love of my life and me. He really doesn't like parades, but is always a good sport and comes with us anyway. Notice my B-I-L Stephen in the background - - should he <em>really</em> be in the <em><strong>adult</strong></em> section?!?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QCLoO7HDc23b-tn3V6CE-0E4-oi0TVzFTPk2jHKV_6B9_KKklPn9NHkjRINZPnM7dIDuOXRF3z6HfgNHBzbzIG-nt9l6oG6ugKKAMH5trxAgtlPzXb47tdS9iIHDlEqPILsoaY_YB_8/s1600-h/CIMG1009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145989667961794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QCLoO7HDc23b-tn3V6CE-0E4-oi0TVzFTPk2jHKV_6B9_KKklPn9NHkjRINZPnM7dIDuOXRF3z6HfgNHBzbzIG-nt9l6oG6ugKKAMH5trxAgtlPzXb47tdS9iIHDlEqPILsoaY_YB_8/s400/CIMG1009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Later that night we went to the Round Up Rodeo. This is an old fashioned rodeo, held outside and complete with hard metal bleachers to sit on.<br /><br />My entire family gets tickets together on the first day that they are sold and we all sit together. This is only some of my family - the rest are at the snack stand getting a rodeo burger and cokes. You need fuel to be able to yell, whistle and clap for 2 hours! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IRFpDoKNQqG1DSRWawgY2OQ94DWuiseRGnQtItN7hUUDPqOqDb1xNytRP8TcX_6nSpi-rgsETIl8tGEER5cE7VbTLfCoedcSVN5taFIopH7oqqQnMmTV42NO17bB-5nB7Mn1bqr813o/s1600-h/CIMG1016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375146004046026834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IRFpDoKNQqG1DSRWawgY2OQ94DWuiseRGnQtItN7hUUDPqOqDb1xNytRP8TcX_6nSpi-rgsETIl8tGEER5cE7VbTLfCoedcSVN5taFIopH7oqqQnMmTV42NO17bB-5nB7Mn1bqr813o/s400/CIMG1016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's my cute nephew and niece - Bridger and Oakley. They actually came without their parents <em>(my sister had her class reunion)</em> and were very well behaved! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_oi3EPuu47qIkOIfR4R-CDfQWd0fFnFXhoIA3LyOkBSx5RUQW2iI1wgZddGPMNI421ymfw11iHlyjDNtB59j_RuUiUA3WyWg002claerlUW9wPfpLr0JSVDFj9IGEpbX_fcB6prGblw/s1600-h/CIMG1019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375146015362743506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_oi3EPuu47qIkOIfR4R-CDfQWd0fFnFXhoIA3LyOkBSx5RUQW2iI1wgZddGPMNI421ymfw11iHlyjDNtB59j_RuUiUA3WyWg002claerlUW9wPfpLr0JSVDFj9IGEpbX_fcB6prGblw/s400/CIMG1019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now comes my favorite part - when the queens come out with the flags while they play God Bless America as a prelude to when the National Anthem is sung. It moves me to tears every year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW85HHmfEkqjvXGmGrvN9zvvYLdGDRtYbftQfrMfRLFAtDmmAdHiEP_efsKuEIFbAAoEc8MKDpby_c3oC5pexJPwjfOF1iSzZrrekcI2IO9VDxhEgerTo-Xr2PEOWmLAtROuxWDVoa1XE/s1600-h/CIMG1023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375146025397103794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW85HHmfEkqjvXGmGrvN9zvvYLdGDRtYbftQfrMfRLFAtDmmAdHiEP_efsKuEIFbAAoEc8MKDpby_c3oC5pexJPwjfOF1iSzZrrekcI2IO9VDxhEgerTo-Xr2PEOWmLAtROuxWDVoa1XE/s400/CIMG1023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here we are - happy family at the rodeo. My dear husband doesn't really like the rodeo, but again gets bonus points because he goes every year with me and actually seems to enjoy himself.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmQYFO8MBo7f0QxnAihaT84QghEUEPoLzxfypQnR8V-6_51RnvqHEB5f6Zh0RcLOxn5jx5NtlDRkfdMvPozRvb1pX98MiCJHL3OBvRgMnsEFJ85F0W4Sj_bZG4n4jQ5a6S8vejARJOE/s1600-h/CIMG1014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375145999239267762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmQYFO8MBo7f0QxnAihaT84QghEUEPoLzxfypQnR8V-6_51RnvqHEB5f6Zh0RcLOxn5jx5NtlDRkfdMvPozRvb1pX98MiCJHL3OBvRgMnsEFJ85F0W4Sj_bZG4n4jQ5a6S8vejARJOE/s400/CIMG1014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While we were waiting for the rodeo to start I snapped these pictures of my two angels. I swear they are either the best of friends or sworn enemies. Lucky for me they are usually friends.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlJ_aDID6L9qHaoiU4sRCA_VZR6XjBTBlPwIbJNEpJw4ZTIGFnOtv0qEYywdcNYcBjqsSXJuK1Fvc5-_EKue883GyVjhXWwMCDssO_JLQGRrsqlB6da-G1ms2pVtx_ljRbDX_tq_FXOE/s1600-h/JRH_MEH+face+to+face3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375147071692908338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlJ_aDID6L9qHaoiU4sRCA_VZR6XjBTBlPwIbJNEpJw4ZTIGFnOtv0qEYywdcNYcBjqsSXJuK1Fvc5-_EKue883GyVjhXWwMCDssO_JLQGRrsqlB6da-G1ms2pVtx_ljRbDX_tq_FXOE/s400/JRH_MEH+face+to+face3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGGy6ZZGwzR8nOz2KwZ1Abq-jtpqDVgkuphBoVHL3c39fib8osoWk40hFfsE0mCbGKcFpyCNOcFYWWiNX-77oUrf9bDJWdcqekVSD7qEBuQabIpbkXDCSs0JJyBC5_E-TUpkf2IvH150/s1600-h/JRH_MEH+face+to+face+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375147075392750946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGGy6ZZGwzR8nOz2KwZ1Abq-jtpqDVgkuphBoVHL3c39fib8osoWk40hFfsE0mCbGKcFpyCNOcFYWWiNX-77oUrf9bDJWdcqekVSD7qEBuQabIpbkXDCSs0JJyBC5_E-TUpkf2IvH150/s400/JRH_MEH+face+to+face+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy Trails . . . until next year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6_qgTF_OvyaMfRUpoBm9zrXIckvp1EI9o4pDzmKk72JZV1QHVElN1kvAJbrn9zC1Ju4FAvEyY3T_5b4oa8y6g5bbEhrjq4DlJeGXALIdy4sLQR9s1vs6NuqJVHoD8NTyYyc1KTkIINw/s1600-h/JRH_MEH+face+to+face.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375147062803040018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6_qgTF_OvyaMfRUpoBm9zrXIckvp1EI9o4pDzmKk72JZV1QHVElN1kvAJbrn9zC1Ju4FAvEyY3T_5b4oa8y6g5bbEhrjq4DlJeGXALIdy4sLQR9s1vs6NuqJVHoD8NTyYyc1KTkIINw/s400/JRH_MEH+face+to+face.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-33024368344399771592009-08-29T18:53:00.000-06:002009-08-29T18:53:00.211-06:00July 4th 2009The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. For the record I actually have three holidays that I absolutely <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">love</span></strong>. The 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas. <br /><br />Each year for the 4th of July we have The Driveway of Fire at our house. This all started about 15 years ago when we couldn't really afford to go to the Stadium of Fire held at BYU each year and decided to do the redneck version instead. We invited our friends and family and ta-da! a tradition was born - <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The Driveway of Fire</span></strong>. <br /><br />We start things off right with a potluck BBQ. It is a BYOB affair. At the Harris house this means "Bring Your Own Beef" or whatever you wish to barbeque along with something to share. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeM5aP3jGlJqJGjfuaNn2D19xez8DvnLULV-OcMZDBzLHMOOS9LQtdrJdbD5iCtWpZUGbOZ8a74a0ZSQCcqJJ25pNBoSEZExYaTfYlRfYngucpAsUNvYQPmsF1aUHS14cnvg5hQQ2pYk/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183040625035026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeM5aP3jGlJqJGjfuaNn2D19xez8DvnLULV-OcMZDBzLHMOOS9LQtdrJdbD5iCtWpZUGbOZ8a74a0ZSQCcqJJ25pNBoSEZExYaTfYlRfYngucpAsUNvYQPmsF1aUHS14cnvg5hQQ2pYk/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here are my neice, Oakley and Madeline enjoying some yummy chocolate cake. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOXwBjXbVTqqyWRwQrBckv388RTVD2WmN7WH3OKQeah4hX9bs5TeyuKcaivu13ssxn086Jl8mjHgELdV45cns5Rlc6xGHNWAB7cFPWeU1RYze0V-ib1D7L_Vs1t2PHkUnGZ7DIxlXam0/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183052324147474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOXwBjXbVTqqyWRwQrBckv388RTVD2WmN7WH3OKQeah4hX9bs5TeyuKcaivu13ssxn086Jl8mjHgELdV45cns5Rlc6xGHNWAB7cFPWeU1RYze0V-ib1D7L_Vs1t2PHkUnGZ7DIxlXam0/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we sort of hang around, let our food settle and wait for darkness. <br />These fine people are my parents, Sherman & Vickie. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdC3HUqLRz-oTvZy29bUKT2F0cEOe3pREKo_GTZcXUdkUNVF_sQ7QKeomX3Ecx6FJ_R2W2jL5mS2tkUB3nuVNB1oMR7QFOH_YYQ0ODc_P5yiMzo7eXR8r5mrHXTBaMrLb75Nd2hsN3v0/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183054528838850" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdC3HUqLRz-oTvZy29bUKT2F0cEOe3pREKo_GTZcXUdkUNVF_sQ7QKeomX3Ecx6FJ_R2W2jL5mS2tkUB3nuVNB1oMR7QFOH_YYQ0ODc_P5yiMzo7eXR8r5mrHXTBaMrLb75Nd2hsN3v0/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Jordan - just chillin'.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdYzQrcq1dl8oxPOqwfcV7Klmfxl2m4X22AZrKdNiRExZgeYAs4X-aO8LorOiso96ASl7TsDeg6X1Fko2bdpH8oysT2_66_4joxvboIea1LNm73XlYpeW_wvJe52lPIw5RcCVQkkY-8E/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183061866698194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdYzQrcq1dl8oxPOqwfcV7Klmfxl2m4X22AZrKdNiRExZgeYAs4X-aO8LorOiso96ASl7TsDeg6X1Fko2bdpH8oysT2_66_4joxvboIea1LNm73XlYpeW_wvJe52lPIw5RcCVQkkY-8E/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My sister and her teenage son Drake decide to make some of their own fun and show us their best gang banger look:<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_kr1wm9fyUlKanFJ4a6yKyjWYxwcHSyX5bnv3cDAwfcNor2k6b44UmBIb3zWuhRsSV4s7W5TdixF7eu_rsBPFxjjvCn82CszAGej0_OGyStBoYowlAcX8FN5wZipImSmmWYhJlfJs6I/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183539928110866" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_kr1wm9fyUlKanFJ4a6yKyjWYxwcHSyX5bnv3cDAwfcNor2k6b44UmBIb3zWuhRsSV4s7W5TdixF7eu_rsBPFxjjvCn82CszAGej0_OGyStBoYowlAcX8FN5wZipImSmmWYhJlfJs6I/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Drake is having a hard time keeping a straight face to look mean and tough. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QHwDOPp5VTveG0oShzTKvUb09GKUTmKOmF6vpqo4vlNG2WeQBRRWLFQR-wa2yz3S-wz9ESpQN8PKLGpVLp3yNTzd2OQfDTY4hIS9vzBE8XlGEmm9scfTOYzJRC9NJsM3hxAlAFR_YGs/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183550325893362" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QHwDOPp5VTveG0oShzTKvUb09GKUTmKOmF6vpqo4vlNG2WeQBRRWLFQR-wa2yz3S-wz9ESpQN8PKLGpVLp3yNTzd2OQfDTY4hIS9vzBE8XlGEmm9scfTOYzJRC9NJsM3hxAlAFR_YGs/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As soon as his Dad gets in on it, it's all over for Drake. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv3dK4txuav0pwdhba3QIGpvCdAK5cziAMECcGMWIVpUhdG_OWi156sMTgo_Q23I5XYdBRrA8F8gjdHURL61PZhXHfagHYH-NiK8dgujxI0NPojxxnwGcCT9Xnta4gopjT_ToktLA5P4/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183561864444178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv3dK4txuav0pwdhba3QIGpvCdAK5cziAMECcGMWIVpUhdG_OWi156sMTgo_Q23I5XYdBRrA8F8gjdHURL61PZhXHfagHYH-NiK8dgujxI0NPojxxnwGcCT9Xnta4gopjT_ToktLA5P4/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile there is a furious battle happening on the trampoline. Jack and my nephew Bridger are trying to settle a score for the galaxy. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyokf6M41dNs7IAac2IFQ1oOwi4qIRBgFkx_kgVmrNjRxHh-N6i3rfj3k4azy3qVODjC5zfoYnOZRc53LCSk8WIZtCg9CmoK7AkriBYPP_AYypBFxwvajwN6-SgU6p_SA8GuW-niOCqhs/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183565626130354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyokf6M41dNs7IAac2IFQ1oOwi4qIRBgFkx_kgVmrNjRxHh-N6i3rfj3k4azy3qVODjC5zfoYnOZRc53LCSk8WIZtCg9CmoK7AkriBYPP_AYypBFxwvajwN6-SgU6p_SA8GuW-niOCqhs/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">FINALLY</span> it is dark enough to begin the show. Since we live in a cul-de-sac now, we no longer have to limit the action to just the driveway. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BLnQJ6uhbo-liJo8ywu4bDlCi0os1WyPmNSe5fwzlMZEECfG7eTTXNaBcFVrCge2dRcsV0l4cO_KfgDbkzTM1LoUMlKeVQAB979L16Rt8y9CFjFcAMl9InTDRsFUQx4qyWZ0RmVwlv0/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183574182351666" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BLnQJ6uhbo-liJo8ywu4bDlCi0os1WyPmNSe5fwzlMZEECfG7eTTXNaBcFVrCge2dRcsV0l4cO_KfgDbkzTM1LoUMlKeVQAB979L16Rt8y9CFjFcAMl9InTDRsFUQx4qyWZ0RmVwlv0/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Jade showing off her MAD sparkler skillzz! None of these pictures turned out very good, but you get the general idea!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h6WfcqCtLKwcIAVkKsoam-4vikw5nj0BeLxU_2au21LKnhLYb7BOmrTA3xCqdwki3Gw_OMKFbYmcz9XlsboXiOcN25cj2Q35ISrt6R9cxlM-E-YX9S37YGYcNcgf5AyiWxD09e9KLIY/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183753567659298" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h6WfcqCtLKwcIAVkKsoam-4vikw5nj0BeLxU_2au21LKnhLYb7BOmrTA3xCqdwki3Gw_OMKFbYmcz9XlsboXiOcN25cj2Q35ISrt6R9cxlM-E-YX9S37YGYcNcgf5AyiWxD09e9KLIY/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> At the end of the night <em>(or whenever all the fireworks have been lit)</em> everyone goes home happy. This is me and my sister Norma giving you our best "sparkler smile". <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lVuxUkzYy9QL-pldxes0CDJ12eulQG0BnEWa_P9gUO-TiA4ARR2wImV1OdPuIkhQeDTPE1Cb8xoHLK3UWiBhjtpKpXN47uprARZoYLlqmoLHTaBEconybs_Rio5tkamY1y20Ni0CB4k/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375183764473059122" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lVuxUkzYy9QL-pldxes0CDJ12eulQG0BnEWa_P9gUO-TiA4ARR2wImV1OdPuIkhQeDTPE1Cb8xoHLK3UWiBhjtpKpXN47uprARZoYLlqmoLHTaBEconybs_Rio5tkamY1y20Ni0CB4k/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-50744336654604223222009-08-29T17:47:00.000-06:002009-08-29T17:47:00.285-06:00Tale of the Fishing Pole (a tragedy)We thought it would be a good idea to buy the kids a fishing pole. It would give them something to do while on the boat <em>(besides pick at each other)</em> and they could entertain themselves when we went camping. <br /><br />We went to Wal-Mart and found a Spiderman pole for Jack but they were completely out of anything remotely girl. So we went to another Wal-Mart. Again the same result - nothing girl, they were totally sold out. Who knew there would be such a run on feminine fishing poles?!? Finally in desperation we tried the local Target and - - JACKPOT. Of course it was a few dollars more than it would have cost at Wal-Mart, but we figured it would be a small price to pay. <br /><br />As soon as we got home the kids just had to try them out. They insisted that we fill the kiddie pool so they could "fish". While they were waiting for the pool to fill, the "fished" over the bannister to the basement.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_onaItvjfNIL-8XmQIgvZsS3LCPag190i2fvqEyto12hdQo4BxGpgq56APgIWyA1TKhHtFXku_v6mND-OqZgTOWK0nti7PjDPp5stxYMwiogswECp08yAQyrsS0_6a6_6HF63Rqg9w8/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375166996749962018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_onaItvjfNIL-8XmQIgvZsS3LCPag190i2fvqEyto12hdQo4BxGpgq56APgIWyA1TKhHtFXku_v6mND-OqZgTOWK0nti7PjDPp5stxYMwiogswECp08yAQyrsS0_6a6_6HF63Rqg9w8/s400/075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few hours later we went down to the lake so they could try them out for real. First we tried it off of the dock. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfog4R34TbzM3mEtf27J9PWTvJMi6D2KyLfyBy2LzXnO2QrGOEjuXB1d-k2VsyGDurGXTW31H9_rDiXbfKFkDWUSydewtjq3sLMAF7pe5uYrVmL7tmy1jWcbBR0UFYdcpn0Cxotrd6_YY/s1600-h/MRH+Kids+on+dock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167557134790018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfog4R34TbzM3mEtf27J9PWTvJMi6D2KyLfyBy2LzXnO2QrGOEjuXB1d-k2VsyGDurGXTW31H9_rDiXbfKFkDWUSydewtjq3sLMAF7pe5uYrVmL7tmy1jWcbBR0UFYdcpn0Cxotrd6_YY/s400/MRH+Kids+on+dock.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Madeline - always stylish!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKcxF98SbXPQ6U3a0q3vKKvLh9rWx_U4whXn4kPoeFFTJEHCVV-FWluwH4a3QP1xqFTjdeGGqAInMW-8zgLk6iekrvBfAWkgyGOS_oPfjBxBc6nGKixNOfY1ZYVAGtwXXRdf4xxoLz3A/s1600-h/Madeline.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167550727434882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 361px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKcxF98SbXPQ6U3a0q3vKKvLh9rWx_U4whXn4kPoeFFTJEHCVV-FWluwH4a3QP1xqFTjdeGGqAInMW-8zgLk6iekrvBfAWkgyGOS_oPfjBxBc6nGKixNOfY1ZYVAGtwXXRdf4xxoLz3A/s400/Madeline.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Notice the sign Jack is standing next to.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjrhr_gr6oY9UWiPORVLwQDbUIDqgmlFjKFv-tnx3RxiqRf6WmjYAMhTmhfVFpqTbJgRVX2cVewqUkPxZR1NjNK_G0s_q_26Ksg_2gLWvBA9TPXiBevv_EWTF58O5u6lhzpe0zEfmPac/s1600-h/Jack+no+fishing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167541339761202" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjrhr_gr6oY9UWiPORVLwQDbUIDqgmlFjKFv-tnx3RxiqRf6WmjYAMhTmhfVFpqTbJgRVX2cVewqUkPxZR1NjNK_G0s_q_26Ksg_2gLWvBA9TPXiBevv_EWTF58O5u6lhzpe0zEfmPac/s400/Jack+no+fishing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jack - making a cast.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgtrYHoBiveCOKsfrQMlXHivb-XrUiV8jYqyXQbAk_OEpQnlwcaVL_-HgleuWbB_suXJDKRFAowZ_r_ATmaaGR6Hfni9nHaTy4UWymVXoxlbI6h4ru7gLhiXkp3ixNeM9S1P-R3-q5U/s1600-h/084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167029696801714" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgtrYHoBiveCOKsfrQMlXHivb-XrUiV8jYqyXQbAk_OEpQnlwcaVL_-HgleuWbB_suXJDKRFAowZ_r_ATmaaGR6Hfni9nHaTy4UWymVXoxlbI6h4ru7gLhiXkp3ixNeM9S1P-R3-q5U/s400/084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once we got out on the boat Mark showed the kids how to cast. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM__GbCkn6rgumD9pM2jkKRaPohaStA1WD9nk0zp7Izof3LFgfsMGtIR57h5_aF6o_lmBKk6PsCb7kmp3nDkrxst0in24McqDFwqWRdUCPRdPfDMh_bnMAlX-Qggu-D5Hi0EbNjJvt4Ec/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167003937617394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM__GbCkn6rgumD9pM2jkKRaPohaStA1WD9nk0zp7Izof3LFgfsMGtIR57h5_aF6o_lmBKk6PsCb7kmp3nDkrxst0in24McqDFwqWRdUCPRdPfDMh_bnMAlX-Qggu-D5Hi0EbNjJvt4Ec/s400/078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For a while he casts and then the kids reel it in. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Ah20kqnHITHuxX-tYcz620NALhs_v7AnCkg8BaFIXCgySjnbX95wU0skTQ0MIMYSjpsS-F56MdQiQPqpHqK4iwK0-xb-yusjptAz0E5AxQ5IIXzCzBr5R7jjxRRlju_jbeQ6lj26eM/s1600-h/081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375167020603976834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Ah20kqnHITHuxX-tYcz620NALhs_v7AnCkg8BaFIXCgySjnbX95wU0skTQ0MIMYSjpsS-F56MdQiQPqpHqK4iwK0-xb-yusjptAz0E5AxQ5IIXzCzBr5R7jjxRRlju_jbeQ6lj26eM/s400/081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The poles have a small plastic "thing" on the end to prevent the line from going into the reel. There is a spider on the end of Jack's pole and a pink butterfly on the end of Madeline's pole. </div><div> </div><div>Each time after Mark casts Madeline's out and she starts to reel it in, as it gets closer and she can see the pink butterfly she gets really excited, seems surprised and shouts "I caught a fish, I caught a fish!!" This happens numerous times within a 10 minute period. Each time she is surprised that she caught a fish. <br /></div><div>Finally the kids try to cast on their own. Jack is doing a good job, although it doesn't go very far. Madeline then decides that she is going to do a REALLY big cast and yep, you guessed it - - she casts and throws her pole into the lake!! Mark jumped in and tried to find it, but the water was too dark and he couldn't find it. </div><div> </div><div>Madeline was sad and Mark was mad. His comment was "We just spent $13 on a stupid Barbie fishing pole that lasted less than 4 hours!!" I told him that someday it would be funny. Not today, but someday. </div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-52173617518873730732009-08-28T16:58:00.000-06:002009-08-28T16:13:47.579-06:00Reno, NV - San Francisco TripSince we hadn't been to visit Mark's parents much, we decided that we would plan a trip to visit them and then maybe go to San Francisco for a visit and try to see the Broadway play "Wicked".<br /><div><div><div><div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div></div><div>We tried to get tickets to Wicked when it came to Utah, but I was blocked out of the site when it opened due to too much traffic and then they were sold out when I was finally able to get back into the site. </div><br /><div>Mark's cousin was getting married on Father's Day weekend and so we figured that would be a great time for a visit. There was only one small hiccup. On the Friday and Saturday of that weekend my sister Julie and I were participating in a boutique for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lehi</span> Round Up Days and I would have to be there for all of Friday at least.<br /></div><br /><div>I talked to my sister and worked it out so that I would work the booth on Friday with her and then have Jade come as my backup Saturday afternoon. </div><br /><div>We decided that Mark and the kids would leave on Friday morning and drive to Reno and I would fly down on Saturday afternoon in time for the wedding reception. I thought this was an EXCELLENT plan since every other time we have traveled somewhere it is usually ME that makes the 9 hour drive from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">SLC</span> to Reno by myself to leave the kids with Mark's parents, while my dear husband flies to wherever we are going and then I meet up with him there. </div><div></div><br /><div>Shortly after they had left our house I got a call on my cell phone. It was Dear Husband informing me that the DVD players that we have for our car finally died and so after less than an hour he pulled over at the nearest Target and promptly purchased new ones.<br /></div><br /><div>Later on that afternoon he called to inform me that apparently they were doing a tour of each and every rest stop and bathroom between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SLC</span> and Reno <em>(about 530 miles).</em> He was quite <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">exasperated</span> and I sweetly mentioned that maybe he should not let them drink so much. . . . to this he replied that they were NOT drinking all that much, but that both had bladders the size of a skittle! </div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">AHHHH</span>, revenge can be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">sooo</span> sweet! </div><br /><div>The next day I flew to Reno and it was so nice - it only took 1 hour instead of 9, I read a magazine, no one was asking for a snack, drink or to go to the bathroom. But best of all I never heard "how much longer?" one time!!<br /></div><br /><div>We went to the wedding reception that night. It was at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Harrah's</span> Auto Collection in Reno and there were lots of really cool old cars to look at. Jack and Mark loved it! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwretd6i6L_U1gmv6jn-LvxmHRFxuRhhmsxKQ8nYNdqj4-77bmTPFez7aYJlUIVgkFL6xSzRevz66D9MhbczoQ_YGDJRfCEEDg5N5cqf7TXylh4-haBGfdNDRxpx2F7z5W1FuFNxywEbo/s1600-h/CIMG0890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375061785437586594" style="WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwretd6i6L_U1gmv6jn-LvxmHRFxuRhhmsxKQ8nYNdqj4-77bmTPFez7aYJlUIVgkFL6xSzRevz66D9MhbczoQ_YGDJRfCEEDg5N5cqf7TXylh4-haBGfdNDRxpx2F7z5W1FuFNxywEbo/s400/CIMG0890.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Here I am with the kids. I think that Jack has some sort of vendetta against me - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">every time</span> we try to take his picture he pulls some sort of funny face or is not looking at the camera!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycpV6YdgnGJ23EOTwqcuN5T3-P69ud5jHYUf7PE_gdETT3FctKFbWf4Ap09wu6JxLYHvk0_pylRVFfeWPgk9ESYjgEthPooWSJi_juQ3ZFjOXTMfU5xy2VejdxBPCS89SX1OYI3-slLo/s1600-h/CIMG0895.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375061801061037250" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycpV6YdgnGJ23EOTwqcuN5T3-P69ud5jHYUf7PE_gdETT3FctKFbWf4Ap09wu6JxLYHvk0_pylRVFfeWPgk9ESYjgEthPooWSJi_juQ3ZFjOXTMfU5xy2VejdxBPCS89SX1OYI3-slLo/s400/CIMG0895.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After several tries, Jack insisted that he take a picture of Mark and I. Not too bad for a five year old!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIcG9UfLb4GoyKWj1WCVqA4Joh-7V5vzGKxfX_7ydyz6Nafq7Y3WrzAS5wBKq6-WZCPxdxpiBGh9sEt8Qu8menarVG6NbQXP7KhtQU-DX6HKKLyM4BDzM5boOZyxYm00-9UJdn39O57w/s1600-h/CIMG0891.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375061789000894034" style="WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIcG9UfLb4GoyKWj1WCVqA4Joh-7V5vzGKxfX_7ydyz6Nafq7Y3WrzAS5wBKq6-WZCPxdxpiBGh9sEt8Qu8menarVG6NbQXP7KhtQU-DX6HKKLyM4BDzM5boOZyxYm00-9UJdn39O57w/s400/CIMG0891.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day was Father's Day. Mark wanted to go to Nevada City, CA <em>(not too far from Reno)</em> to see the Nevada City Classic bike race. This is the oldest bike race in the country AND. . . . Lance Armstrong and Levi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Leipheimer</span> were scheduled to race! </div><br /><div><br />The Nevada City is really a cute town. We got there plenty early and watched some of the other races and walked around the town. Here is a picture of one of the houses - doesn't that look so quaint and small town American? I loved it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3oN_KZusQK5lqHelXAxCyaW0yc_KC0WPcNIvSCvqaBiHTXAITKceDVPpP6i3Zgj9l-UBXSGLvmN5GlzW4QjyQ2x3LXTTBO5wQdd7XAtzC3-OAH-YPtjjG1FPvWzkFDPGMW98XYBTM0M/s1600-h/CIMG0900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375069280988784354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3oN_KZusQK5lqHelXAxCyaW0yc_KC0WPcNIvSCvqaBiHTXAITKceDVPpP6i3Zgj9l-UBXSGLvmN5GlzW4QjyQ2x3LXTTBO5wQdd7XAtzC3-OAH-YPtjjG1FPvWzkFDPGMW98XYBTM0M/s400/CIMG0900.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is a picture of their Chamber of Commerce building. I totally fell in love with this cute town!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneCAFFcOcWb0HJ7CoJkjacFt_AV22HrvDEsOiwgSHlc81yVkO9GIcenRWWFRNShmbMBzrLyLUg9LP8u_TQb4IFLqi7sqQt13WqoTo3EBNqCRIy5W7pUsYNHdRSfQ5RvV7s-fXUVvTcmk/s1600-h/CIMG0949.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375064780810937714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneCAFFcOcWb0HJ7CoJkjacFt_AV22HrvDEsOiwgSHlc81yVkO9GIcenRWWFRNShmbMBzrLyLUg9LP8u_TQb4IFLqi7sqQt13WqoTo3EBNqCRIy5W7pUsYNHdRSfQ5RvV7s-fXUVvTcmk/s400/CIMG0949.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The race was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">criterion</span> which means that they set up a sort of track and then the riders race around it a certain number of times instead of it being one long strung out ride over several miles. This is the best race to go and see since you get to see the riders more than once.<br /></div><br /><div>This is at the start of the race. The race official is giving them rules, guidelines: "this is this and that is that, blah, blah, blah." </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_vS84lPjCIVcfEi9aa3H99EZYRGx90toKyAXOtuXcDqQFogLPNzE6ZScfqhOQw9MgAr2Pht1PGHEA4Vc_Wt0g-5P0jCrhKbtbebZGClhiAmetvfawqesWPHlF5oV1NILlXZQKWivEQ4/s1600-h/CIMG0910.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375064753173602626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_vS84lPjCIVcfEi9aa3H99EZYRGx90toKyAXOtuXcDqQFogLPNzE6ZScfqhOQw9MgAr2Pht1PGHEA4Vc_Wt0g-5P0jCrhKbtbebZGClhiAmetvfawqesWPHlF5oV1NILlXZQKWivEQ4/s400/CIMG0910.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There were LOTS of people there and when it came time for Lance and Levi to ride we totally had to jockey for our spots. People kept trying to crowd us out. If you know anything about us Bronson women, you know we don't take too kindly to that. At one point I had to totally "box out" against the railing while Mark found a bathroom!<br /><br />Here are some pics of Lance and the race. They are not very good because we were at the start / finish line and they were going pretty fast each time they sped by. My little pocket camera is not really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">equipped</span> to get really good action shots.<br /></div><div>This is right at the first, everyone is trying to get clipped into their pedals and get going. Lance is on the far right in the black and yellow "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">LiveStrong</span>" jersey with his head down. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpysSCc6FeiW_Ufq7-4bvSRfCtdfZZDhJjBdGlbX8wbqOgU_TPuag1VK0MZ-Aa8_jvI54vmp4LsKAWsaUa1_az5HZj77_FXUttL4HSXlLdO_3K46czMXcLzoIigKlS-itbVX1tONCzBU/s1600-h/CIMG0921.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375064761094462322" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpysSCc6FeiW_Ufq7-4bvSRfCtdfZZDhJjBdGlbX8wbqOgU_TPuag1VK0MZ-Aa8_jvI54vmp4LsKAWsaUa1_az5HZj77_FXUttL4HSXlLdO_3K46czMXcLzoIigKlS-itbVX1tONCzBU/s400/CIMG0921.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><div>Here they are racing by. If I had known that we were going to the bike race, I would have brought my good camera, instead of just the "slip in your purse pocket one". Oh well - next time!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRudRZ9KXLaxBS95tIHjcyY9Lr4ntITn0jlZfEOckZMeaH2YxmurCzymmF8gO6PQQDYtzQIYVI5Q5R4KDUFITAdfftdc5IvEvTnYpMkfeIH5RDJGKXjwFei4mRnBNTHos21nz4XnOEeZ8/s1600-h/CIMG0932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375064769651101762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRudRZ9KXLaxBS95tIHjcyY9Lr4ntITn0jlZfEOckZMeaH2YxmurCzymmF8gO6PQQDYtzQIYVI5Q5R4KDUFITAdfftdc5IvEvTnYpMkfeIH5RDJGKXjwFei4mRnBNTHos21nz4XnOEeZ8/s400/CIMG0932.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>This is probably the best shot of Lance that I took and he is looking down!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ARRGGHHH</span>!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1t0ephRe4o6YqCzbh0PHKlLUYA58jQN1yUTl_ZGIISD-iSNX27ldaeFMNPtAoY-qbDt50ztRDXU_PjgWjeym3YeR7WtSWEA8fx4wP_gFReoDxXVDtwS08rwJ8veYs354Y9ouKrEz75g/s1600-h/CIMG0935.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375064777644672914" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1t0ephRe4o6YqCzbh0PHKlLUYA58jQN1yUTl_ZGIISD-iSNX27ldaeFMNPtAoY-qbDt50ztRDXU_PjgWjeym3YeR7WtSWEA8fx4wP_gFReoDxXVDtwS08rwJ8veYs354Y9ouKrEz75g/s400/CIMG0935.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>It was really cool to see them ride and Mark really liked it. I commented to him about how skinny those biker boys were and he said "Well dear, you don't haul your butt up the French Alps carrying around an extra 12 pack of Twinkies and Ho-Ho's". Good point. I guess I will never ride the French Alps!<br /></div><br /><div>Jack and Madeline were happy that they got to spend some "alone time" with Grandma and Grandpa Harris too.<br /></div><div><br />On Monday morning we got up and drove to San Francisco. Mark's parents came with us and we took the kids too.<br /></div><br /><div>Here we are at the entrance to Chinatown. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzym6znBVyqTnDk6li0C7lmSmRMrW7BaCelBgaoI4qkl2p04RcGdHlS3k2XPGSKUS-tBApBFXxewvcy6uniBmeMlbSrWwNd7CD79aRz2kM1nTwH1m9gFQvbZF-aqIH6GDQ-noZx0aZxQ/s1600-h/CIMG0952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375061807830364898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzym6znBVyqTnDk6li0C7lmSmRMrW7BaCelBgaoI4qkl2p04RcGdHlS3k2XPGSKUS-tBApBFXxewvcy6uniBmeMlbSrWwNd7CD79aRz2kM1nTwH1m9gFQvbZF-aqIH6GDQ-noZx0aZxQ/s400/CIMG0952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Check out Jack's face - doesn't he look thrilled to be here?!?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbHG5lpfNNXMhHKK9Gy7OB8ZO8XhgphT_0Mok6ZQbVmbn9HsUAlFV6osbKdJc4Ux_BFhqAVZJH-UARJVNE9iR5fWZ5EhdyJyTpla8yKg109uDe5ouOUpJgy3R6FoyqJcdXoD-XXv-UQ8/s1600-h/CIMG0954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375061814214438946" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbHG5lpfNNXMhHKK9Gy7OB8ZO8XhgphT_0Mok6ZQbVmbn9HsUAlFV6osbKdJc4Ux_BFhqAVZJH-UARJVNE9iR5fWZ5EhdyJyTpla8yKg109uDe5ouOUpJgy3R6FoyqJcdXoD-XXv-UQ8/s400/CIMG0954.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kids LOVED Chinatown - what's not to love with all the cheap crap spilling out of doorways? The oriental ladies all raved over Madeline and her hair. At almost every shop we walked by the oriental lady standing in the door would make a comment about how cute her hair was. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ohh</span>, so cute hair on little one!" <em>(say with a thick <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Chinese</span> accent for full effect)</em><br /></div><br /><div>We walked away the proud owners of a couple of ninja swords and a china girl dress and a stuffed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Chinese</span> cat. The best $20 we spent since they both played with them non-stop.<br /></div><br /><div>Mark and Matt are always telling Jack they are going to "take him down, down to Chinatown for some rice and noodles". I think this is from some movie, but I'm not sure which one. Anyway, when it came time for dinner, Jack wanted to rice and noodles in Chinatown! You know what they say. . . .when in Rome. . . . </div><div></div><br /><div>That night Mark and I went to see Wicked and the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa at the hotel. The show was awesome. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Definitely</span> my favorite. This picture is not very good - my camera was acting crazy, I think it was the lighting. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NcN-BdFgd0vVc9UYNmBW9DqMpxi0bYHKuwGlX22uZWkCXjlFPa3W_PCwdVuvFXP2QbRt0pDjsW1mpzO8pw-UhS4nrh8kzIYo94OX3urVTpA9MQ77UKwrGsVMve7mWTj1E2n2z_QFpf4/s1600-h/CIMG0957.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074045476429538" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NcN-BdFgd0vVc9UYNmBW9DqMpxi0bYHKuwGlX22uZWkCXjlFPa3W_PCwdVuvFXP2QbRt0pDjsW1mpzO8pw-UhS4nrh8kzIYo94OX3urVTpA9MQ77UKwrGsVMve7mWTj1E2n2z_QFpf4/s400/CIMG0957.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When we got back to our hotel room that night this is how we found Jack and Madeline. How adorable is this?!? </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBsoq98hSf_hBGOW7T30juQ0WT9C8bCV1C9dj-V8Z3jzZ_1g5Kg_R6GgjV8kXv2WYTD__5sZ15CYqwCVWcaun8ok1M5dhbhUq1hwzDS5DAus3a99qE3zJUXWFQ_xcYU6ChR6G10oc-3g/s1600-h/CIMG0963.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074030242623922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBsoq98hSf_hBGOW7T30juQ0WT9C8bCV1C9dj-V8Z3jzZ_1g5Kg_R6GgjV8kXv2WYTD__5sZ15CYqwCVWcaun8ok1M5dhbhUq1hwzDS5DAus3a99qE3zJUXWFQ_xcYU6ChR6G10oc-3g/s400/CIMG0963.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Oh, while we are on the subject of our hotel room let me tell you about the crazy miscommunication we had. I reserved the room online through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Priceline</span>. I then followed up with a phone call to make SURE that our room had two beds in it. They assured me that it did. I again checked with the clerk at check in that our room had two beds and was assured that it did.<br /></div><br /><div>We get to our room and sure enough we had two beds. . . .two TWIN beds!! I went down and tried to switch rooms and was told that they were sold out for the night AND their hotel did not have rooms with two queen beds, only twins. I then asked for a roll-away bed. Only to be told that since the rooms were so small they didn't HAVE roll-away beds! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">OY</span>! </div><br /><div></div><div>I went back <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">upstairs</span> and told Mark the bad news. He was NOT happy, but at this point there was not much we could do. So that night we each slept in a twin bed and SHARED with one of the kids. Good times, good times. Like I always say "if nothing crazy ever happened on vacation, you wouldn't remember it."</div><div></div><br /><div>The next morning after a yummy breakfast we went to Pier 39 for more sight seeing. The kids loved the sea lions and we spent about 20 minutes just watching them. </div><br /><div></div><div>Here we are at Pier 39. It was really windy! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8m6HsKdSnl7olVyGWblXBkfCkusPVrjCi_Ifefed4rPmA36_2DhLcpvbB0dVvz24whMX0XmnwNdKglL0rxegHT6-kPgMq7VJBs0UiB6yXeTzRsO3xRwGGd_cppcQogGBXtK4sdfIWM4/s1600-h/CIMG0967.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375137648725011922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8m6HsKdSnl7olVyGWblXBkfCkusPVrjCi_Ifefed4rPmA36_2DhLcpvbB0dVvz24whMX0XmnwNdKglL0rxegHT6-kPgMq7VJBs0UiB6yXeTzRsO3xRwGGd_cppcQogGBXtK4sdfIWM4/s400/CIMG0967.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What trip to the Pier is not complete without giving money to the "robot man"? He stands there completely motionless and then when you put $$ into his cup he starts making robotic noises with his mouth and moving like he's a robot. Jack stayed as far away as possible from him and Madeline would NOT put the money into his cup.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B-CrICtTSioGjvjmSMtZL2Qh8Q5eiTQOwdVFBTXagRve0088seHYA1I7qbaPCEbZioayV70geJ_j4inkTolPwTWopjgRQfOu_oUPYIOmt63MPgJkH7mvzKWX8ZDeBB8DQlx39iBmslk/s1600-h/CIMG0965.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375134454520196338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B-CrICtTSioGjvjmSMtZL2Qh8Q5eiTQOwdVFBTXagRve0088seHYA1I7qbaPCEbZioayV70geJ_j4inkTolPwTWopjgRQfOu_oUPYIOmt63MPgJkH7mvzKWX8ZDeBB8DQlx39iBmslk/s400/CIMG0965.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>There were also guys break dancing, putting on quite a show. This picture is for my B-I-L Curtis. One year on our family camping trip we decided that we would have a family talent show after dark. Curtis brought his own cardboard and proceeded to BREAK DANCE right there in the dirt! It was hysterical! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWKanTBy0TPwtOeXTyxQjaTkeXFg1ahXQLCJXYkCemyNbvvrx_OLCNis0Eh1DmUuwwkkNyxUB-LT94cpdBVnfGvv4ECsSW6K0xPRhrpQycVrM5ddBMdjx6LuE7fKSMd9XJ1JpMw7jENc/s1600-h/CIMG0972.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375134444546667106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWKanTBy0TPwtOeXTyxQjaTkeXFg1ahXQLCJXYkCemyNbvvrx_OLCNis0Eh1DmUuwwkkNyxUB-LT94cpdBVnfGvv4ECsSW6K0xPRhrpQycVrM5ddBMdjx6LuE7fKSMd9XJ1JpMw7jENc/s400/CIMG0972.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had a good time and wished that we could have stayed longer. Maybe when the kids are a little older and can walk further!! Ha, Ha. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-81519254064974085082009-08-10T14:27:00.013-06:002009-08-28T16:16:09.307-06:00Summer 2009 - Catch UpThis summer I have been completely inadequate in updating my blog. I am now trying to play catch up so you can see what has been keeping us so busy this summer. I will break this into several different posts, so as not to bore you too much!<br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>First is the <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">Princess Festival</span>. Attended by none other than our princess Madeline Elise. </div><br /><div>Here she is with the "golden ticket" to get into the festival. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_5294R7ThSc6jARk7_TSq__nqEb3PogjTb9m9JUvTqiGbpQ3ZDMV4Q19_C0r6WAoJQyXdNzhp92a5hDSLfUgCNUi4H45fFlI8EAXrkL3n8eHcjep4hBULMY1KB7jvNwyKo4qm2t5sHQ/s1600-h/CIMG0798.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368441689781693698" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_5294R7ThSc6jARk7_TSq__nqEb3PogjTb9m9JUvTqiGbpQ3ZDMV4Q19_C0r6WAoJQyXdNzhp92a5hDSLfUgCNUi4H45fFlI8EAXrkL3n8eHcjep4hBULMY1KB7jvNwyKo4qm2t5sHQ/s400/CIMG0798.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>The annual Princess Festival is put on each summer by a family in Lindon, Utah. It is held at their home and on their property - which is pretty amazing. The cost was nominal <em>($25)</em> and the proceeds went to benefit a charity that they set up to help the people in Kenya have safe drinking water, and make their lives better. It lasted about 90 minutes, but if you're 3, ninety minutes is just about right.<br /></div><br /><div>First the Blue Fairy came to lead them on their journey. They visited several different sites around the property and solved a mystery and helped the Blue Fairy with different fairy tales.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoi7SvPdeulbdfQDqdElNZRG33NcY_ymKgxvwHQfeJ0Wj3-GmiqZ0nFiooRtRShGr_CyqUzAAaS2rCiPVqhWm4HeVvzVeyraiyeT39Hu3chJ1qZNE-dsbX9_CG0aK0-ntOI47yBcT64o/s1600-h/CIMG0811.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368441708754116578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoi7SvPdeulbdfQDqdElNZRG33NcY_ymKgxvwHQfeJ0Wj3-GmiqZ0nFiooRtRShGr_CyqUzAAaS2rCiPVqhWm4HeVvzVeyraiyeT39Hu3chJ1qZNE-dsbX9_CG0aK0-ntOI47yBcT64o/s400/CIMG0811.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbmHpD8iGijIFAziVqDRfyJ-JR0Umiyt3CoS9JZTYhG-TXMWd3Zlc1balmwtBGBNAm1Lz9HGSqL2BBOdZqC0ek-iJ4bGDIHDFdf1_BiEGEcvZLeIKM0WoKwTKDVvO99xliXzjg40YErA/s1600-h/CIMG0811.JPG"></a><br /><br />The first stop was a cottage like Snow White's. I thought this sign was pretty cute on the outside of the cottage: <em>(I think I need one for my house!)</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pyz9it-Jq8XzyorYInZCDtXv1m6H21Rx6IWQdy1R4m3Xxhjnf0LHvFkvTj3kZeXhDK3V4eZoULbSDdVz-0akDwoPmE2SXRnT128_jRAu0G34oZ4cDmxHUrlwo1BvYUpJ8UnjZ6ozMK4/s1600-h/CIMG0813.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368456610609298978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pyz9it-Jq8XzyorYInZCDtXv1m6H21Rx6IWQdy1R4m3Xxhjnf0LHvFkvTj3kZeXhDK3V4eZoULbSDdVz-0akDwoPmE2SXRnT128_jRAu0G34oZ4cDmxHUrlwo1BvYUpJ8UnjZ6ozMK4/s400/CIMG0813.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Next they got to go to the castle: </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0eoqqsbRk7dYffBV9uQqsFOc2cKEwSDj8sDuNSZqADj5AHJ3cZ7f3S8saX6_TCWrO5y8R6rHx_3AeGjIFxj_0P2yqObpzaTjfUV4gJuGXGHmh_miHrKndHVgC79ZKNLbFEHj0_b25D4/s1600-h/CIMG0816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368455993890875778" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0eoqqsbRk7dYffBV9uQqsFOc2cKEwSDj8sDuNSZqADj5AHJ3cZ7f3S8saX6_TCWrO5y8R6rHx_3AeGjIFxj_0P2yqObpzaTjfUV4gJuGXGHmh_miHrKndHVgC79ZKNLbFEHj0_b25D4/s400/CIMG0816.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>And as EVERYONE knows - what's a castle without a drawbridge to walk across?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV8DCepd4z_unZ7Qr_DSp38JfgP3VLLkMtpwsbaj9CAH1pCXs6W8v_XitTwTfMfm-ZiJdfco6hOSui4j3WLmIuYBBAFRp97Cm8gdFfs4zjZBpxH5ZlHlKbKV3yT0HScinBblnhriDv9s/s1600-h/CIMG0817.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368456003340076290" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV8DCepd4z_unZ7Qr_DSp38JfgP3VLLkMtpwsbaj9CAH1pCXs6W8v_XitTwTfMfm-ZiJdfco6hOSui4j3WLmIuYBBAFRp97Cm8gdFfs4zjZBpxH5ZlHlKbKV3yT0HScinBblnhriDv9s/s400/CIMG0817.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div>While in the castle they met <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cinderella</span> scrubbing the floors. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpXbnbHK4NIdLST0_4iWENiQM-Hp20UkDVY6pq5KJJEc0yHVGDgWcGNh62WppxmYrm3LTWNVxeYgNT9CRe-wIHfJ5OdVYMLaEhmkIXa_LhZCNIPKmi6V7LzIDbcRQIqNeptCEi0Ycp5A/s1600-h/CIMG0824.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368456010961240834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpXbnbHK4NIdLST0_4iWENiQM-Hp20UkDVY6pq5KJJEc0yHVGDgWcGNh62WppxmYrm3LTWNVxeYgNT9CRe-wIHfJ5OdVYMLaEhmkIXa_LhZCNIPKmi6V7LzIDbcRQIqNeptCEi0Ycp5A/s400/CIMG0824.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Next her "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sisty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Uglers</span>" as Madeline calls the ugly step sisters, came and were mean! But the Fairy Godmother came and made her beautiful and then the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sisty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Uglers</span> were sorry and ran off crying! <em>(this is Madeline's version of how it went down)<br /></em><div></div><div></div><br /><div>The grounds were very beautiful. It was really quite amazing considering that this guy built all of this for his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">grand kids</span> - mostly granddaughters at his home so the they would love to come to visit. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTIlxL8zl8HZNeACjouExnSbjsQFfrXBM6FYQWSRdH-KQSQyMXqGWGPI1a_we7RUEveOC-tgpbER9HWtXzBnaoTR1x52LHbEOWNV0wECePJaSKXneGdNE_PaskxUwSv6dGSRfn14PgyU/s1600-h/CIMG0804.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375055990681095778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTIlxL8zl8HZNeACjouExnSbjsQFfrXBM6FYQWSRdH-KQSQyMXqGWGPI1a_we7RUEveOC-tgpbER9HWtXzBnaoTR1x52LHbEOWNV0wECePJaSKXneGdNE_PaskxUwSv6dGSRfn14PgyU/s400/CIMG0804.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>After they solved several princess "mysteries" there was a grand ball with all of the princesses in attendance. <em>(sorry there are not more pics - I am having issues with Blogger today)<br /></em><br />When it was all over we got to take a picture in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Cinderella's</span> coach. All in all a fabulous experience for MY princess.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP1GzkpBWZS0iI5qw65RYHNn2jdOADEnbQVRP_s9RVGOXcbLyxgq8rVTROU8puOhMLg-4IkTCsz0y5js6HOG3gKhtyUf6GCLzwjocdrMMivPjlDgjmdpPg5HIwFwkvkaEwNUQ_mQ4wR8/s1600-h/CIMG0869.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375056000026612146" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP1GzkpBWZS0iI5qw65RYHNn2jdOADEnbQVRP_s9RVGOXcbLyxgq8rVTROU8puOhMLg-4IkTCsz0y5js6HOG3gKhtyUf6GCLzwjocdrMMivPjlDgjmdpPg5HIwFwkvkaEwNUQ_mQ4wR8/s400/CIMG0869.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-52896117205402367472009-06-14T16:02:00.009-06:002009-06-14T18:13:03.197-06:00Little Red Riding Hood '09For the past two years I have rode in the Little Red Riding Hood women's only ride to benefit women's cancer research.<br /><br />This year I talked my friend Mari into riding with me. Mari and her husband both road bike and we <em>(Mark and I)</em> usually try to ride with them on weekends.<br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01IrXwAmbI3WGqw9roXn7mvSG3tIkcGeu3a7LBW39uCcrb2fmgIvoah4bxdJQ-xkwAVb8mdMT0Jhu_XkhK4ZdsyaDCsfmOI1auWUFIBKSjLV-O5nJmEXRgNK3HUSBP2POb4PY4RmuXjc/s1600-h/166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347316401310927074" style="WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01IrXwAmbI3WGqw9roXn7mvSG3tIkcGeu3a7LBW39uCcrb2fmgIvoah4bxdJQ-xkwAVb8mdMT0Jhu_XkhK4ZdsyaDCsfmOI1auWUFIBKSjLV-O5nJmEXRgNK3HUSBP2POb4PY4RmuXjc/s400/166.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Here is Mari - just before we started. Do you love the arm warmers with the sleeveless jersey?! She's bringin' sexy back!!<br /><br />We decided that we would have a girls weekend and do the ride in Wellsville. Wellsville is a really small town in northern Utah just outside of Logan. It is beautiful. </div><div><br /> </div><div>We left Friday afternoon and on our way to Logan had a CELEBRITY SIGHTING!! Yep folks, that IS the Jazz Bear on the motorcycle. If you ask me it would take some seriously MAD skills to ride that Harley with the Jazz Bear head thing on! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFBkNjMAkU7I8jhuMZe76LFgyGB4EacrRIq7wBDbVqEb1RWY8F9E6-CdQVRfkiWLuZ2KdBssXcVSYqaNJhFtUL7aXzLfyy04F3p9P4oymz77e45g4Twu6bL0AowYULCmJhYl4EzGHijI/s1600-h/164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347316400111511906" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFBkNjMAkU7I8jhuMZe76LFgyGB4EacrRIq7wBDbVqEb1RWY8F9E6-CdQVRfkiWLuZ2KdBssXcVSYqaNJhFtUL7aXzLfyy04F3p9P4oymz77e45g4Twu6bL0AowYULCmJhYl4EzGHijI/s400/164.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>We got to Wellsville and went to the starting area. They had several booths with vendors selling jewelry, biking jerseys, shorts, etc. and purses. They also had a Hawaiian Luau for dinner and it was really good. We didn't stick around for the entertainment portion because if you've seen one chubby Hawaiian man in a grass skirt - you've pretty much seen them all! </div><br /><div></div><div>When we got to our hotel in Logan, it was a little weird for me. I didn't have anyone asking to go to the ice machine, needing a snack or begging to go to the pool - what's a girl to do?!? </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>The next morning we drove back into Wellsville to get ready for our ride. We had made jokes about NOT taking our husbands - - who was going to pump up our tires? What if we got a flat? THEN WHAT?! </div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Mark didn't think this was too funny - I told him that he didn't appreciate good humor. Usually when we ride he is in charge of the mechanical part <em>(tires, chain, etc)</em> and I am in charge of water and snacks. FYI - I am AWESOME at filling water bottles and getting Gatorade. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I brought our pump and after getting a tutorial from my dear husband, I felt pretty confident in using it. You see road bike tires have long and skinny valve stems and they are somewhat temperamental. </div><br /><div></div><div>I pumped up Mari's tires without a problem and then moved onto mine. I started in the back and when I went to pull the pump off of the valve stem, the top half came off in the pump! AGGHH!! So I thought I would do the front and then deal with the back again. This time when I took the pump off, the tip came off in the pump. REALLY?!? Are you kidding me? I broke BOTH valve stems? </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>We decided to ride to the starting line before my tires went completely flat and see if we could get one of the guys from the bike shop to fix them. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>When I pulled up and explained to the nice young man that was helping what my problem was, he was like "Wow! You broke BOTH valve stems?! That takes some skill!" Then he proceeded to call some of his other worker friends over to tell them that I had broken both valve stems. I was quite the celebrity for a minute. </div><br /><div></div><div>Then they noticed my bike and all the pinkness. He said - "well you may have broken both valve stems, but your bike looks good! I like all the pink." I then told him the story about how for Mother's Day I asked for a sewing machine and my dear husband heard "road bike". So then I decided that if I was going to ride, I had to look cute, hence all the pink. They thought it was a great story and all swore they heard road bike when I said sewing machine! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2fgc2DScYvQ9VX4xNjfE8KeqdmMmi-0Qc-2lRXjoJsSH2hCa6N5KRKTb2JMAUaGVxd2XVeKbyhbKJ1Au24h4UXFpvztQ3dorzxXpnJjJR-xz3s_Fos78XCtR0Udt4hUGtF3LWuwMhLA/s1600-h/167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347316408999996802" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2fgc2DScYvQ9VX4xNjfE8KeqdmMmi-0Qc-2lRXjoJsSH2hCa6N5KRKTb2JMAUaGVxd2XVeKbyhbKJ1Au24h4UXFpvztQ3dorzxXpnJjJR-xz3s_Fos78XCtR0Udt4hUGtF3LWuwMhLA/s400/167.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Notice the pink tires that Santa brought to me this year. . . .</div><br /><div>Here we are just before it was our turn to start. We did 47 miles this time. We decided that since it has been cold and rainy and both of us have rode <em>maybe</em> 30 miles in one ride, we should play it safe and go for the shorter distance.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4KTnfO1BrUFQ1K2jnQHiOTKA53hmEtJNMjXD08NoezFPPeKdTyTllV3GhVDJj-BSNJ7fCerKK9pod3OnhR2W2a4sbeDD1W_TuhVV3NI2n01N6EjO3-Lkaz6yfHr740r9hVCt3qeRrCA/s1600-h/168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347316417841875426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 338px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4KTnfO1BrUFQ1K2jnQHiOTKA53hmEtJNMjXD08NoezFPPeKdTyTllV3GhVDJj-BSNJ7fCerKK9pod3OnhR2W2a4sbeDD1W_TuhVV3NI2n01N6EjO3-Lkaz6yfHr740r9hVCt3qeRrCA/s400/168.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The weather was great <em>(mostly)</em>. Not too cold and the wind wasn't really an issue until the last 6 miles. Then, the last 6 miles of our ride the wind really picked up. We were going uphill to get to the finish and those last 6 miles felt like 60!</div><br /><div></div><div>This was my view for the majority of the ride. Mari is an awesome rider and usually faster than me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYZFiKr7yPylR-NcGpIH8UlpUyRcobOq6G0l0UqDXd0RkayomxrVL4v-uI4C0sSkP9v5tGnVc7HBYgfawkMERLVQ-mtMZRXnXHh-7F8v7CqkSZ7R1VzzWcigd8qO0yBW9k0y_OHABi-E/s1600-h/169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347316422594411442" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYZFiKr7yPylR-NcGpIH8UlpUyRcobOq6G0l0UqDXd0RkayomxrVL4v-uI4C0sSkP9v5tGnVc7HBYgfawkMERLVQ-mtMZRXnXHh-7F8v7CqkSZ7R1VzzWcigd8qO0yBW9k0y_OHABi-E/s400/169.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>I told her that she needed to get shorts with words on the back so I would have something to read! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>After we got to the finish we were served a Mai-Tai mocktail, complete with a drink umbrella and then given a lei. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>We took full advantage of the free 15 minute massage <em>(heaven to my tired muscles!)</em> and then went to eat. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Besides the usual Subway sandwiches, they had a chocolate fountain this year! Ohhhh, chocolate! That made it totally worth it!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCPzywpHCdcQiz7gwWODLihvqbHekgHJwmLQsQG-QxgqeL9eybq0O7EaOOJ3A-iWJPKZVhg8KljcOPH3I6F9aK_WRAuEBp8qq9lsf3VlDQMmG3CFjOpxVf7HNm2JPyHVgtvxyJdxY6w4/s1600-h/172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347335702192640434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCPzywpHCdcQiz7gwWODLihvqbHekgHJwmLQsQG-QxgqeL9eybq0O7EaOOJ3A-iWJPKZVhg8KljcOPH3I6F9aK_WRAuEBp8qq9lsf3VlDQMmG3CFjOpxVf7HNm2JPyHVgtvxyJdxY6w4/s400/172.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>After we had our fill of chocolate covered <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">everything</span></strong>, we took a short catnap on the grass and then headed home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-iiLqUlLsPTXwU0PN_YvJ9_jBfyn27jguSuTm3h8DGDaJkUZ0sdtFWr6tMOj8zK5f4NbjCVOVLP_VXOj5pFSTqBu8MjK1ZyA1gf0yjVK2Jw-pEw34R3S-wtQNul0xposvnjzgfUqZhU/s1600-h/171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347335697423488098" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-iiLqUlLsPTXwU0PN_YvJ9_jBfyn27jguSuTm3h8DGDaJkUZ0sdtFWr6tMOj8zK5f4NbjCVOVLP_VXOj5pFSTqBu8MjK1ZyA1gf0yjVK2Jw-pEw34R3S-wtQNul0xposvnjzgfUqZhU/s400/171.JPG" border="0" /></a> All in all it was a fun weekend. maybe next year we'll let the husbands come. . . . or not!<br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-51865808681340138472009-06-14T15:15:00.007-06:002009-06-14T16:02:15.548-06:00Last Day of SchoolI know that I haven't updated my blog for over a month now, but for some reason the month of May was totally KRAZY for me. I can't really remember anything specific, but it just seemed super busy.<br /><br />I always try to take pictures of my kids on the first day of school and on the last day of school to see how they have changed during that time.<br /><br />As usual, I couldn't take a picture of Jack without Madeline being in it too. She is convinced that she must be in every picture.<br /><br />Here is Jack <em>(and Madeline)</em> on Jack's FIRST day of Pre-school: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wAH6r5SNa7_DTGkK0z_UFr7_5zqVJyYdjthUK-nTtsI18FkeYCnpdGawiTo5h1dcCObGH5nwIe4lGQYD656b3Mh77xbmLMr6YnDiXiSL2PxVvps9PT0YqRhwitI8HG6kJ9XDuo3X3gA/s1600-h/Jack+preschool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243434393472364546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wAH6r5SNa7_DTGkK0z_UFr7_5zqVJyYdjthUK-nTtsI18FkeYCnpdGawiTo5h1dcCObGH5nwIe4lGQYD656b3Mh77xbmLMr6YnDiXiSL2PxVvps9PT0YqRhwitI8HG6kJ9XDuo3X3gA/s400/Jack+preschool.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And here they are on Jack's LAST day of Pre-School:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_6K4RIfzHnCOrkcPIfR7UQUv_04frA4HdxJWT2z1ra3PCtxh0_KhcWoDM5bXjLSgqIGB6-_56GjCccT_n68BvWfM-a-34lKcrBl-5OGEcRjJQ6jL0IFel9WNZTeb-mwKRS3yfmOk5f0/s1600-h/136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347305241410929378" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_6K4RIfzHnCOrkcPIfR7UQUv_04frA4HdxJWT2z1ra3PCtxh0_KhcWoDM5bXjLSgqIGB6-_56GjCccT_n68BvWfM-a-34lKcrBl-5OGEcRjJQ6jL0IFel9WNZTeb-mwKRS3yfmOk5f0/s400/136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This picture is a little blurry - but it was the best of the <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5</span></strong> that I took. I could not get them to hold still at the same time!!<br /><br /><br />Next year Jack will be in Kindergarten. He has already informed me that he can get on the bus himself and does NOT need me to walk him to the bus stop <em>(it's a quarter of a mile away).</em> I think he will have to put up with me for a while since there is just soo much mischief that he and his friends can get into between here and there !!The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-31333067368921676632009-05-02T18:54:00.003-06:002009-05-02T18:57:35.774-06:00Madeline ChroniclesAs I have mentioned in the past, Madeline is a talker. . . . with a capital "T". If her eyes are open, her mouth is going. <br /><br />When she goes to bed at night she usually has to "talk herself down" as I like to call it. Also when she wakes up in the morning she "talks herself up". <br /><br />Last week she was having a hard time going to sleep and I could hear her singing. I stopped by her door to see what she was singing and it was The Hokey Pokey! I quickly went to my room and laughed out loud. <br /><br />The Hokey Pokey?! REALLY?!? She is such a character!The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-24126528090830245722009-04-17T09:48:00.003-06:002009-04-17T10:10:27.196-06:00This is April?!Yesterday, April the 16th, we woke up to 3 inches of SNOW on the ground. What? you are asking yourself, surely she must have the dates wrong and be talking about January 16th or February 16th. But no, it truly was <strong>the 16th of April</strong> and there was <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">SNOW!!!</span></strong><br /><br />Jack and Madeline resigned themselves to staying inside for most of the morning <em>(if not the entire day)</em> and found a great way to entertain themselves. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGaSikHfKlkqKmmksclqJyRtcl64dAPaSatz62D7OJ04AOUQ2J5T8Fuya_FxpY9TBqNCiOLbc571WsuHrHZ1pAgEgFMKrmic5hqylG5ziov5-yTldGRYY90Yr3KoqtOEKmvm2O5crZ-s/s1600-h/PICT0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325689253278458114" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGaSikHfKlkqKmmksclqJyRtcl64dAPaSatz62D7OJ04AOUQ2J5T8Fuya_FxpY9TBqNCiOLbc571WsuHrHZ1pAgEgFMKrmic5hqylG5ziov5-yTldGRYY90Yr3KoqtOEKmvm2O5crZ-s/s400/PICT0007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />They decided to get Madeline's bike and scooter out and ride it down the hall from her room, through the family room, into the kitchen, make a loop around the island and back down the hall to do it all over again. <br /><br />To be completely honest, my first instinct was to shout over the commotion of the bike and scooter and Madeline's "hooping and hollering" <em>(honestly, that girl is NEVER quiet except when she's sleeping - but that is a post for another day)</em> and sternly inform them that bikes and scooters were <strong>OUTSIDE</strong> toys and we do not live in a jungle gym. <em>(Similar to living in a barn, but a slightly different location) </em><br /><br />But then I thought better of it and made them stop for a picture. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLyQ4wNoP3g2Ab9tURne0XOJw_OB1l0AW2-7K7pQpExiBqC2Nt3Z3mq6ji5u5ZIFoTTaaDPYr5IchOuEPqye-vxi5ADCCTa56-t-eibrRjklgQADLwXk-AJa8bUdnb_dQmaFKNhc4DOQ/s1600-h/PICT0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325689248011236658" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLyQ4wNoP3g2Ab9tURne0XOJw_OB1l0AW2-7K7pQpExiBqC2Nt3Z3mq6ji5u5ZIFoTTaaDPYr5IchOuEPqye-vxi5ADCCTa56-t-eibrRjklgQADLwXk-AJa8bUdnb_dQmaFKNhc4DOQ/s400/PICT0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Really, what's a Mom to do? When life give you lemons. . . . .<br /><br /><div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-89532703391912375622009-04-05T20:56:00.001-06:002009-04-05T21:00:10.230-06:00Daily JackWhile we were driving home from Pre-school Jack and I had the following conversation: <br /><br />Jack: Hey Mom, when are you and Dad going to Hawaii again? <br /><br />ME: (slightly taken aback) Uhhh, I don't know. Probably not for a while. Why? <br /><br />Jack: Oh, just wondering - I think I would like to stay at Grandma's again for a while.<br /><br />ME: Oh really, why is that? <br /><br />Jack: I would just like to go there alone without you and Dad. <br /><br /><br />Hmm, I'm pretty sure that what happens at Grandma's STAYS at Grandma's!The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-71734579672916248472009-04-05T20:51:00.003-06:002009-04-05T20:55:46.154-06:00Daily MadelineOn Saturday Mark was "helping" Jack and Madeline clean up their rooms. Madeline was having a hard time staying on task - she's 3 AND she has the total Red Neck disease. . . . "Oh, somethin' SHiNy! I must check it out!" <br /><br />Anyway, Mark was getting after her and she said "Dad you are being MEAN! I'm going to cry"<br /><br />She then proceeds to try to fake cry, stops mid boo-hoo and says "Hey, it's not working!"<br /><br />Now I'm not quite sure if she meant that she couldn't cry on demand or that it was no impact on her Dad whatsoever - probably some of both. <br /><br />I've said it before, but I will say it again . . . 4 little words . . . "RUN FOR MY MONEY!!"The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-8696280328563233922009-03-26T08:00:00.000-06:002009-03-26T08:00:01.915-06:00Just like Jade<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6wuRn69q-OXZuO4wlPtYSTaab6U5sHZa4dJlPHPBmfPz00_ZD8BnQjy9JGSP-Ln_jcFDsC6mTOtjszfv0AXg8HfROqjGR97v7Q5Fsez8BZOY4wYOTR2aST1O8XkkzoAe-veRhskm64w/s1600-h/PICT0019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316810468059266946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6wuRn69q-OXZuO4wlPtYSTaab6U5sHZa4dJlPHPBmfPz00_ZD8BnQjy9JGSP-Ln_jcFDsC6mTOtjszfv0AXg8HfROqjGR97v7Q5Fsez8BZOY4wYOTR2aST1O8XkkzoAe-veRhskm64w/s400/PICT0019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The other morning Jade came home from work at Costco and put her hat and hairnet on the kitchen table. She works in the Deli and is required to wear the hairnet, which doesn't make for a very good hair day. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Along came Madeline. She picked up the hat and hairnet, put it on and exclaimed "look, I'm just like Jadie!" Hey mama, I'm Jadie now!" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2H08te04Dv6Ah9lvZLgN2WYdYb2tAuFLDK3xh_P-0wYmfvQuEOWeCcWUw_rTdOLLRqMwvFcOhStxlIPGeooVRHWyvyRnjcHaMsMHtmZKX_kPB2EZtnsSNicnaKug78PL5HunHb6-iYE/s1600-h/PICT0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316808886742041170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2H08te04Dv6Ah9lvZLgN2WYdYb2tAuFLDK3xh_P-0wYmfvQuEOWeCcWUw_rTdOLLRqMwvFcOhStxlIPGeooVRHWyvyRnjcHaMsMHtmZKX_kPB2EZtnsSNicnaKug78PL5HunHb6-iYE/s400/PICT0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I guess it just goes to show you never know who is watching you. . . .<br /></div><div></div>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375583777122369560.post-30341825515459209892009-03-25T15:27:00.005-06:002009-03-25T15:38:52.209-06:00Hope It Gives You Hell = Mother of the Year (again)So, even though I'm the big 4-0, I still like rockin' music. One of my favorites is "Gives You Hell" by The All American Rejects. Every time it comes on in the car I crank it up and sing away.<br /><br />This is all well and good, except that this morning after getting home from taking Jack to pre-school I hear Madeline <em>(age 3)</em> singing at the top of her lungs in her room. . . . ."Find a man that's worth a damn. . . . . . hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell."<br /><br />Oh yes, that <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Mother of the Year Award</span></strong> will look stunning on my mantle!<br /><br />Click Here to see the video and hear the song:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kju9VU2B7Bk">YouTube - The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell Official Music Video w/ Lyrics</a>The Red Henhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14363493842871024557noreply@blogger.com4