tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904224623342992512024-02-22T04:21:27.988-06:00Aspiring AmeliorantSeeking to be an agent of change-- making {my|your|their} life more {beautiful|organized|simple|fun|healthy}kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-65393064489551561602013-11-19T12:20:00.001-06:002013-11-19T12:20:43.192-06:00He doesn’t quite get pretending yet<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/10948110266/"><img title="077" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="077" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyXjzcLgR_MA9Mfbhi69UIsi4aCsPZlu5XFu75nvoiLxSx9Ia8WwBaxkIrhEL3xGQ4TvkIsgCfj4Qq5oBLtDjV5mS9GL-FsyDSDgw1cGVUb6IfODn6TpvjegO9OMhNBkvPryAikvkIw1P/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>Big Brother is a sensitive soul.  His comforting hugs have gotten me through more than a few rough patches recently.  But that makes it all the funnier when we play pretend.</p> <blockquote> <p>BB: (with chomping arms) An alligator is eating Mommy! <br />Me: It’s eating me? <br />BB: An alligator is eating Mommy with his sharp teeth! <br />Me: (in mock horror) Oh, no! <br />BB:  (suddenly concerned) Don’t worry Mommy, it’s okay. <br />Me: Oh, okay.  I’m all right. <br />BB: (resuming alligator arms) An alligator is eating Mommy! </p> <p>Repeat.</p> </blockquote> <p>A few weeks ago, we were practicing for Trick-or-treating.</p> <blockquote> <p>Me: Okay, I’m going to pretend to be the neighbor.  When you get to the door, what do you do? <br />BB: Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring. <br />Me: (opening door) Hello? <br />BB: Hi! <br />Me: Can you say “Trick or treat”? <br />BB: Trick or treat! <br />Me: Here’s a treat! <br />BB: <br />Me: What do you say? <br />BB: I like my treat! <br />Me: Good.  Can you say thank you? <br />BB: Thank you! <br />Me: You’re welcome.  Happy Halloween!  Have a good night. <br />BB: But I’m not ready to go to bed!</p> <p>Or</p> <p>Me: You’re welcome.  Bye! <br />BB: I don’t want to go bye bye!  I want to see Mommy!</p> <p>Again, repeat.</p></blockquote> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-18951401561628780952013-11-11T21:12:00.001-06:002013-11-11T21:12:40.432-06:00Instant gratification<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dLeByOAcjmgCx9b5DGIsjPpskhLtiDvvQ0OQC_xjT-ZicM1xoQKtZbANRnpPn8K_UF0EvFufxIMsgxGpsvDqoT6CAi_eKeKkqA2vfwLzr4WS-GJW55n43IuOX1vPGB8tOKusvB8lXREk/s640/blogger-image-1628315915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dLeByOAcjmgCx9b5DGIsjPpskhLtiDvvQ0OQC_xjT-ZicM1xoQKtZbANRnpPn8K_UF0EvFufxIMsgxGpsvDqoT6CAi_eKeKkqA2vfwLzr4WS-GJW55n43IuOX1vPGB8tOKusvB8lXREk/s640/blogger-image-1628315915.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Instant gratification sewing. Fabric purchased at 7:30, cut out at 9:20, and sewn at 10:00. Polar fleece baby hat from <i>Polarfleece Pizzazz.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And instant gratification blogging to (maybe) get me back in the groove, although I did have to retake my crappy iPod photo at least three times before I stopped getting the backspace and return keys confused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hopefully instant gratification in the reduction of time spent hunting for hats for the kids.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div>kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-60287951991134374412013-02-28T12:32:00.001-06:002013-02-28T12:32:33.139-06:00I may have a problem<p><a title="Pile o' Stripes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8514504094/"><img border="0" alt="Pile o' Stripes" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8516/8514504094_a413dc44e9.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Over at Made by Rae, she’s talking about what she likes in boy’s clothing, namely <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2013/02/more-color/">color</a>.  So that got me to thinking.  And I happened to have the laundry sitting beside me.  And it’s pretty obvious what I like.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-48209603895331736752013-02-25T17:02:00.001-06:002013-02-25T17:02:20.271-06:00Celebrate the Boy(s)!<p>Well, I have some grand plans for how I’m going to <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/celebrate-the-boy">celebrate the boy</a>s in my life, but it’s good to start small, right? </p> <p><a title="Before and After" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8508667222/"><img border="0" alt="Before and After" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8237/8508667222_6e050f4e95.jpg" /></a></p> <p>These pajamas are totally cute, and I love them.  But my kid is large-of-foot and long of limb, so I cut off the existing cuffs and feet and added my own.  Super comfy and super cute.  And that marked the end of my successes.</p> <p><a title="Green pants" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8507551503/"><img border="0" alt="Green pants" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8376/8507551503_b0fcc252a1.jpg" /></a></p> <p>These pants just needed the male half of a snap.  Unfortunately, the waistband is super-thick, and try as I might, it was not to be.  I’m looking for someone local with an industrial snap press, but I’m not super-optimistic that I’ll find someone before the pants are outgrown.  Particularly since I made these pants <a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2012/04/kids-clothes-week-un-sewing.html">almost a year ago</a>.  Luckily I have another kid!</p> <p><a title="Washi tape fail" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8507554215/"><img border="0" alt="Washi tape fail" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8517/8507554215_6c42a56155.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Speaking of failures, the washi-tape-on-the-wall trick always looks super cute when other bloggers do it.  But this is what kept happening to me.</p> <p><a title="Shirts" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8508663646/"><img border="0" alt="Shirts" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8516/8508663646_da51dc13a5.jpg" /></a></p> <p>And then I took a timeout to celebrate the big boy in my life.  The one who goes to work so we can stay home and play.  Thanks honey!</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-62282495449092382942013-02-19T15:44:00.001-06:002013-02-19T15:44:53.744-06:00Making plans<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepm6Lw5p62etJynCpQqsvOVu-jJmwqEgFw59SMi91hjFRrZYLsV4m4ZtcTPWxfZa1MdwHIIgPSaccw-5eRN7vBh6QcUD6oIEC83nfSMOwIra4SbNjue2uwBmz-XzE5G31SgqkV8KrU7I7/s1600/d4.jpg" width="556" height="177" /></p> <p>So here’s a little timeline of life lately:</p> <p>Christmas break—Decide it’s time to educate myself.  Tell A. that his birthday present to me is a <a href="http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2013/01/registration-opens-today.html">Curves Sewing Class</a>.</p> <p>January 3—Register for the class, cut out a little bag for <a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2011/02/birthday-buddy-in-hood.html">my birthday buddy</a>.</p> <p>January 5—Work on the bag.  In the middle, hear sewing machine go ker-chunk.  And stop.  Completely.  Call Mom to ask if there’s anything she thinks I should try.  We agree that it’s probably best to take it in (it’s been a while since it’s had a tune-up, but still!)</p> <p>January 10—Actually have a chance to take the machine into the repairman.  It’s going to be three weeks.</p> <p>January 14—Curves class begins.  I read along, but it’s totally a hands-on class.  I do things I should be doing anyway, like cleaning my basement, organizing the Christmas haul, and cleaning the floor under my table (which has become decidedly more of a challenge due to Little Brother’s <a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2013/02/8-months.html">eating preferences</a>).  But, it’s still sad.</p> <p>January 27-29—Everyone feels yucky.  At first, I attempt life as usual, which results in me carrying Big Brother out of Target wrapped in my coat because his pants are a lost cause.  The next day, I wised up and everyone took extra naps.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8490527682/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoJDIUPkcGfckmWQqp5tXVphHa74lKv7XkZ0q3glPvb-Xvp6tTo1t844KV6nOYvrDnqDIwtP7vjSdPlWC70Xs_jA7275UvmwtHb1lKS9jf-ngb_-NkPOzt2H0lGvndc4Ll-jPL3dOJssa/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a> </p> <p>January 30—My machine is well again!  I pack up the boys and go pick it up that very afternoon.  That evening I did the first project from the Curves class—a scalloped bunting.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8490510102/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="047" border="0" alt="047" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV09R2I7pCahGkfy5b8hPiq4Uw6pLkjuIl1T14bR9l3P52cxwJxqtXCDCoakmx8Oniso6P8McQSo6lb79QAjSYMlhMZngXtW6AomebnGRCbIYVBJ_1jpcrFgG48v4Y_5B4YeVdU2AS1hFC/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>Beginning of February—I was a good girl and continued to clean the basement rather than exclusively returning to sewing.  I did finish the little bag (really cute, but I forgot to get a picture), and I did two more of the curves class projects (which I apparently haven’t taken pictures of yet).</p> <p>February 15-18—The motivation for my basement cleaning shows up in the form of the birthday buddy herself, her parents, and her brother.  We had a grand time.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3695" border="0" alt="IMG_3695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANtBu29Qoqqw5UPq8i9NRtTVyCGmHFekr6XeUDRkzRmAx63bdrjaanyFqeYLBg8mxo5rN_6oS4wOXXg4GVzEaVhM3XwjSEjqddhgh7KaSv3TY8XBx60luSkuaZmHoDXQoLM-mcsInw3VA/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="373" /></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3699" border="0" alt="IMG_3699" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsqEtYQJoJTq6gv7V6ifgQC4Y5a9Nq-1q-IMOKyoeNnA8QowvxdWIZ7jDRVY0pvWtcukHCEfolDBZTSxYQdr2fLr6sOF2KKuO5dp4j-wW4iAtOOEGW48HFjFDfJNSHfnraHxIyVH_tn9o/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="373" /></p> <p>(Photos courtesy of Morgan MacDonald, who unfortunately stayed behind the lens.  Contact her for <a href="http://www.paperravenediting.com/">your editing needs</a>).</p> <p>So what’s in store for the future?  Well, Celebrate the BOY is coming up, and I kind of want to play along.  I was going to make my Easter clothes first, but I think I’ll reorder things a little.</p> <p>And before that?  A couple more curves projects that I’ve already pulled fabric for.</p> <p>And sometime?  I’ll get to the other half of the basement.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-46639251098916223572013-02-05T12:39:00.001-06:002013-02-05T12:39:38.555-06:008 months<p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8435578305/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="035" border="0" alt="035" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7a8cq7AbfmVnG-Fu2uIZgsFwgltJkE0v00G1aim0rvqyX01aMhPgTBDtAz4Bh1WKu0-zFSvQ3DuVL9x-rATrhg83RgdQ1fs8Swg-4YB20iBKB1mCTKyHu-pAj1zTTvMjpHCTTsvbHCc6/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>What a great smile, right?</p> <p>I’ve already already revealed the <a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2013/01/he-sits-he-crawls-he-stands.html">biggest accomplishments</a> recently, but we’ve got some catching up to do.  Little Brother’s newfound mobility means lots of new interesting things to investigate, including the printer (a past favorite of his brother’s), the front window, and our basket full of balls (the knobbly football is particularly fun, as it doesn’t seem to roll the same way the others do).</p> <p>He is also quite the eater, now that his parents have gotten with the program and stopped trying to put those silly spoons in his mouth.  His favorite food for flavor and ease of eating is blueberries, and I’m having quite a time keeping up with the demand, since Big Brother demands “berries table” too.</p> <p>He likes to be where the action is most of the time, but plays pretty well on his own at happy times.  He and Big Brother are sharing a room now, but I’m not sure either one really notices (The three of us had some kind of stomach bug earlier this week and we took a nap together in my bed.  Big Brother definitely noticed that one.  He’s been fixated on it since).</p> <p>His hair, which is light brown (of the variety that I predict will end up being dark brown)  could stand a trim around the ears and in the back.</p> <p>He has two teeth (since before Christmas) and another one is coming in on top.</p> <p>He doesn’t like getting in his car seat, though doesn’t seem to mind it once he’s there.  He enjoys being the shopping cart seat-rider for short periods, and even got to exercise his stroller riding skills while we were in California.</p> <p>He still makes the best baby noises, and he’s very tolerant of enthusiastic brotherly love.</p> <p>We love you Little Brother!</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2013-02-01" border="0" alt="2013-02-01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNggOyvPKamFmx1cYA7aqH7BypwpDUtcc06mWcoRiwb7vQWXvLX0IOjZXbYkJqqjOlTfsGiMj3W86EgjC7wLN4aDTjZXFH8fn1PkTl5djNCwzy3Oiay06uUoNLKcx7GPbytT4tg292PdkN/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="865" /></p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-74797976703329806482013-01-25T20:28:00.001-06:002013-01-25T20:28:57.210-06:00He sits! He crawls! He stands!<p>Little Brother started sitting up on his own shortly before Christmas, and just this week has started crawling all over the place (sometimes standard crawling, sometimes with one leg straight, sometimes with one foot up on the ground).  And now, pulling up to stand!</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8415917370/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="132" border="0" alt="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofugCVeLWkg5WRdQr1xmUf-hknwOsfrLAHTHF0glkjkhEACmQtgOxNTi4W6F53xBQ3aIo5VsNdNQh7yrcSWLQ4weF5N7UZIchlDe7-o_6Km4Hejw-d4I9hv5B65BOwYmQdSiN7a78OgdP/?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-57494210071487232162013-01-09T14:02:00.001-06:002013-01-09T14:02:18.272-06:00Wonderful time of year: Part I<p>I love traditions of all shapes and sizes, and part of my favorite thing about being a mom is establishing family traditions.  But part of that is figuring out what works for our family, and in what form.  So as we start to pack up the Christmas decorations and music and books, I want to take a moment to reflect.  And to share some pictures.</p> <p>We start on the first Sunday of Advent.  Our Advent wreath is some fake greenery formed into a ring around a thrift store candleabra.  We light the candle(s) before dinner and after eating sing a verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” and extinguish them (using a fancy schmancy snuffer, which makes it ever-so-fun).  Doing the “an-els” was also big motivation for Big Brother to take his plate to the kitchen.  He was  a little enthusiastic with the snuffer, but did a great job with some assistance.  This year I think we did verses 1, 4, 6, and 7 (at least as they’re numbered in the Methodist hymnal we use).  We switch verses every week, but sing multiple verses on Sundays.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8365582542/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFlSZSY8DTueXiXiFR9FmsBTfP2H9jpSJJfQCcfFhubFU_ImdQAEjaRl0Jml1ANYXR88pHEZL_3rx7cuQkWSGOwMev0xx2jV4lY_eKy6VnnqBfU1XQKxfw6KDA26wWfGInpBRrRdDMbrd/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>Then, on December 6th, the presents start.  St. Nicholas Day is a fun new thing for me, but dovetails quite nicely with my fond memories of hanging my stocking by the chimney with care.  We have special orange pecan French toast (no significance, just a favorite) and discover the contents of our stockings—toothpaste, lip balm, socks and the like.  Oh, and a magazine.  A very important component.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8365634362/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="071" border="0" alt="071" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXOfq5HPVpu1oznFfROXTvga33GA-ETYGNATcWfcWT47-vz8_tS6pOrfm_pDNMGZ0ETHudtGBS8KMuiT4XGsneVT8x6mhbEU0vz8RXmguyJvzdEUQSNbk-Sv4OY82uCm8KE8pKUJRo5wy/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="373" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8365650386/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="084" border="0" alt="084" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UR7hJ7CCGDzIX0Tp0rWdv5gr9PAtwj7V2DVqguZH738DRTpschILOye1uTmA35kEBvmyiIHyq-0tDp1YJ2utEeSYQtcJr7WaER8qaunUS4X9aYvMtoN7TkyWcOt22lUnU3T0kxR7Qork/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8365657182/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="092" border="0" alt="092" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4_bG_xGd2YfMwE_onM70rJFCDJk8fyGb2KD8mxs-ZaZFjM1-ZCPTWB1DgqHC5TUEjjTfzfADxVeMG-5gXcoEmdnnFWNBtnvML5B1DJQAq7oBKGh2XfPF1MeaVQofsK7WqZ-8pstFSnil/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8364596711/"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="101" border="0" alt="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5T0TdBFs6txKhpipZ5nj5iCwDpOpHm7YC-ipRRGSCGpd3oZbv6oepw2cMtdFa1PFeOouCMi-lvbfiriK481gKKcdCCefa22sqzEYRTrckOXFeXj-u7zIq_R7_pTlC8Dd8_zz0Dr3Covr/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>And uploading these pictures has used up my time allotted, so I’ll have to continue next time.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-83189139995122956412012-11-14T13:18:00.001-06:002012-11-14T13:18:52.069-06:00Rest in Peace Little Handknits<p><a title="yarma" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8009485059/"><img border="0" alt="yarma" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8036/8009485059_f5b4dd5789.jpg" width="480" height="480" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a title="012" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/6766991449/"><img border="0" alt="012" src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7029/6766991449_605b131176.jpg" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> <p>I just called the last place I could think of that they might have been left.  </p> <p>Goodbye <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aspirant/milo">little vest</a>.  You were soft and warm, even if you did get yellow dye on a couple of Little Brother’s onesies.  You took a lot of drooling abuse, but you kept trucking.</p> <p>Goodbye <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aspirant/stella-pixie-hat">little hat</a>.  This would have been your third winter with us, keeping Big Brother’s big head warm.  You were fun and spunky and made cold days just a little bit sunnier.  You even made it into Grandma and Grandpa’s Christmas cards.  I particularly loved the specks of chartreuse-y-lime in your yarn while I was knitting you.</p> <p>(links are Ravelry links).</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-22991240612044849272012-11-14T12:56:00.001-06:002012-11-14T12:56:46.808-06:00A week in pictures<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8179960946/"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWnol2oPdd2QwlN1u7uWxqtkXwkjrpjCCEJVJH86w76nl6alQJCWVnh4bNB6LJE0jt6NerTW5UdQeOxSou7U1i0CXDCXPeQw-p9Zrth9E2JYt6LOMQNk1fvIuZZFs216yjUqsCclszxZl/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/8180157367/"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr_bLEenHivRe8OJENpG9dOkugsFDBi7h3k23Sksopgrh2CjL_zlExIyU2xpQj68HgWJR8lYG6D4Ow_hOBFA-axOEvUWcffQoqGw6eoM7UxbIlpuUqlMzv3eNjL8lgydT1TQS87ACAIjY/?imgmax=800" width="560" height="420" /></a></p> <p>Mini baking soda and vinegar volcanoes.  Yet another activity where what I thought would be cool (fizzing!  foaming!) was not nearly as cool as something else (smooshing the baking soda around with his hands).</p> <p>It’s fun hanging out in Mom and Dad’s bed on a lazy morning.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-49380064125265524362012-11-05T20:16:00.001-06:002012-11-05T20:16:57.651-06:00A week in pictures<p>Yes!  Just one!  Because there are some good ones this week.</p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:3bb945d6-f43d-4379-85b0-21c11ee37f50" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97gxNTWM-jW6DRAzsDv12eZsUlIk64FO_voGr-lYvRZ3_RW9wLVKbtaL8k20aL9B8wt3nSRbWCr9WAFjAoWXYMV3BcDp8kymGnmlkMCdfq7kjbFIImLViH0k03TCeVG4cj59FRyj8WWs-/s400/043.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:dd46308c-06f5-401b-8776-f9dada90618e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX4vH3-_QUJFcjYA4Rw_lR20s5_rRUVkTI_cJe-ordKopp0AZ4lNXp-TOqwNRVap3KsbfPDeCYNdgSJheHjmzRVTWtrao1ZGVKpX7WMf3v_mkNjxRSQqRjizwQAFF0OZT1eX5I2PQIiBP/s400/045.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:a882c7e8-3f88-4338-9509-f82c86d5e7fd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlwCvuPEbktudjMBCr3JzxOf9XwF7v7a_QyAsvTvoUKpE_LMuFhdBmWolyh1S3hQalgcgCwXD-pQCCmfeanjZeO9x76OttBJjjDYllgxRXlRBMSf3078yZjpaWDfkkmJieCS7V7_vVQNH/s400/055.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:04df819d-9782-47c3-bb4a-6995b9bc17d1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZCC-AkNaiO2VFyx59PcSd8hqYCdIt_ciKTGcxHpdhT9InjdDAVg4_iZbtdGyM9nsj6SO3WCDEQGzROIgXKQkFJmMWBYGvXxXq4qx8Y4MbXrzBa-DZ8ZHhte5wUk0BPTsJGwM3lH1-Rvo/s400/003.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:4d51bea0-65fd-4fe7-b7da-511275b39725" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgl2W9VEjETKzgT-SDzOSyhSRidaDuCQ-bjvLwZrz2_v8hpiCp9wQ1VHX6RLJveZt8F0iHrla0sdIUl4GyMiWOtL__IZtAcg5tzAwwmtk-5YEi_385I3nvkcQHtt-dBsWV5JXdqQ2GESt/s400/002.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:fc0b7155-37ca-4e6d-9193-5b6834339aee" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/20111026?locked=true" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6QPITwyBAS5VT6J-gIGQGBKpdLtlGls3fF8szhqEcufh_khiDU5pmBo53eI7mhaCKG-blPRsr6TqkDWy_3vpeH8J1LZLB4T_F_gsKhBH-oaSB0Htg_NrTWQ7htvLG32MdfwzzZvx578Q/s400/005.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p>Yes!  Halloween!  I’m a bad sewing mommy and didn’t make either of my children’s costumes.  I didn’t have any fun ideas, and thus lack of motivation to go to the crazy lengths that I see other sewers online going to.  So we had a daytime racoon/nighttime hot dog (you’re welcome Dad), and a skeleton trying to eat his candy before it has even been unwrapped.  We made it to probably 7 houses before calling it a night.  But it was fun, even if the two times I attempted to get video, no one answered the door (come on people, get with the program.  Lights on==Halloween fun, okay?)</p> <p>Big Brother is disappointed in my cleaning efforts.  He got out the vacuum, took all the cushions off the couch, and then left the vacuum there for me.  I did not take the hint.  In my defense, I did vacuum the sofa within the last two weeks.</p> <p>For those of you who can’t tell what’s going on, Big Brother is taking Little Brother’s measurements (so he can sew him some clothes, don’t you know?).  After careful observation, he recorded the results in his notebook.  He did this back and forth at least 10 times.  Meticulous, that one.</p> <p>My artistic endeavors.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-3153168823464521262012-11-02T19:44:00.001-05:002012-11-02T19:44:03.449-05:00Five months<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:d312af66-303c-42f1-a69d-cbe5f99e8be1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsQifI0r5DagPfy4Gh1ZToIVz3_51UGI_xv29wSrQGogM6DRAnazhWCWsr5vHuTGw1ENDISKc5GGDzZ5RQ8zZPc8Sx2qBj7Urvmr3qJw5rW7vew1u7XWwyVGg3q61FLmU8UcBUJZGd53L/s600/2012-11-01.jpg" width="480"></a></p></div> </p> <p> </p> <p>Little Brother is five months old!  He and Big Brother are starting to really interact, and boy, can they crack each other up.  He’s starting to reach out and grab things, which is making Mom and Dad’s lives a lot more interesting.  Particularly Mom, whose long hair is proving quite tempting to the chubby little fingers. </p> <p>Lots of people say he has an old face.  We’re thinking that’s mostly because he’s relatively lean-of-face.  He’s still cute and chubby, but he was in the 80th percentile for height and the 40th for weight at his last doctor’s visit.</p> <p>He is almost ready to sit up—he leans way forward whenever we try it and supports himself on his hands.</p> <p>We love him!</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-14745439168202868252012-10-29T17:25:00.001-05:002012-10-29T17:25:42.466-05:00Two weeks in photos<p>This does seem to be turning into more of a bi-weekly thing than a weekly feature, eh?  Little Brother usually gets short shrift in these things, so you’ll see a little extra from him this time.</p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:5a4853cd-f132-4f7b-b4bc-1a5b027db020" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ2efqhbe2bQvFKpAjpxj1HEYoZM2KQxWMkfFzpaVweNZqyW6K1xhsAQYCUrNUalCvDsl7rWMsHpKAdOQfuu1PpsE6A-tE9GYxTbQUs89-nS4D6UcLAwPtepz3B7NP7qG796EHdQMRo_S/s400/006.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:0b69b1bd-2d09-46fe-bc62-983f6fc8ffe7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn8aQ83yFIO8vvQkn8VEAD5y3SU91UX-exxYkO3Fk0tRAxNWuMLHLG-PzTRNLnoLQzV5QVI4aZicYt_FkCAlsbm3JJJyFu_0_kVeulJlKWf0BIVS1_pI_ifeAzNkESMtOX4ubPkkpFNQd/s400/026.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:037652fd-42e1-4e34-916b-3d56b03a1f9c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxoJ_VxmjNGqESH4fc-DnQVks0esqKx9Aqo-4CfoY98qMBXXk_QgVrtyYKaLwu4Zbe1wE9wpg5_n6BYsi2_cRgaKHcMNwAm94cG-RJhc0qD3Tbb7YXKD2DstdWTQlYOy3qYaHPqtEzh-K/s400/038.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:04fc1b70-cb26-4ef2-9ad6-a4df1a90dd2d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzIyUiDyrCjsB6crObhdz58BHUw7DEzRtqKrvL_HR5F9oOmYe_3qWSOSh0R8VL8ulgiY6Ewv2j9RO3XVz-4R1RZSJfNQDvVu_xm72T-Cq-W1ZxlGGE1hyphenhyphenlRQbZ__OW8IzyIfbqsLw2XFl/s400/054.JPG" width="299"></a></p></div> </p> <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:2c642e2d-f25e-420b-b392-6c9841ae7932" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcjUwzkQefiAGRjWWI5hbzHigWBF9Evt3ZR7VyjW9GyyniTxeb5Ub-z8898ka1px5m72UWK_zvQWru0pEiN3bqnP9VAvBlbMS7EHaeQReRUM85gK03vw-pX9ja5mPhfmv8sg6jGLnClCd/s400/074.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:c35b0eba-194c-4597-98c3-f2f8132f31db" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7m-Bo702tolrVQzSjkvf_7kYAHdCnnkX3sT9TEdWqiGRXSz2kPdzLu4qs6xcvhQF8ygva_4CN1brFac6blRUx62aKtuYfu_bxJoyeInBamGUQLuDtkxq0RrPveBhhks-SpfoSKymICrs/s400/083.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:d7afde36-be9a-497a-a486-c09a223962fb" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wFtDpldSG0skg1KG7YjIQvwxZddmgOaDpXJ2o393mliIs2S0k-J3xbVdoj8bxExy0nhB-GI_3O11gclC_92lSyfIcCMMGML7dH-UMqu81MRLuQR7AokXkTxIZAJhWDjRByn0AvobS1aW/s400/085.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:3d060433-fa32-4aaf-b5c1-a871b8a7091c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUFQcoFm7UneAC6Iv-pJrRfXfEIdzFB05M3r7t4Uy76lz9MBstxM-xumiWiF5Y5diUe1V99JQeXP7MYHOyGnfsE1loYHNdiB9zWABdUnAkCsgfCJM3oeCvgAWXu1iQP-eIXyYAqqYepaS/s400/089.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p>Weekend walk.</p> <p>Big Brother pulled the wagon all the way to the end of the little Nature Walk behind our house.  It was a long walk.</p> <p>Doesn’t he have beautiful eyes?</p> <p>This is my view on these walks.</p> <p>Big Brother’s photography skills are improving.</p> <p>He’s good at holding his head up.  He just doesn’t roll over.  Whenever you’re ready, little guy.</p> <p>I posted a similar picture on Facebook, but this one has bubbles!</p> <p>A. remarked that Big Brother’s overclothes were kind of incongruous with the bow tie, but I finally remembered this week that the playground is often wet and/or dirty so overclothes or a change of clothes are needed.  Overclothes are easier with Little Brother in hand, so there you have it.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-49560916789512637112012-10-15T14:07:00.001-05:002012-10-15T14:07:43.683-05:00Two weeks in photos: Chicago and before the party<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:0c0f46aa-4659-4776-812d-bab1e73fd3c7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtQcpj3gzP-qIPpu_E2uZ4z6TLq1o6Wl4IG0BBOHPUDKN-H0blusA3PvrxxB8otrqSKbs3pv05-SeCiJL9bVii52Q_y_0UnxLxtLhtoJ5Hy65W7nrO2tOg8q1oOJEyieuDZu6MVKjtjuk/s72/004.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtQcpj3gzP-qIPpu_E2uZ4z6TLq1o6Wl4IG0BBOHPUDKN-H0blusA3PvrxxB8otrqSKbs3pv05-SeCiJL9bVii52Q_y_0UnxLxtLhtoJ5Hy65W7nrO2tOg8q1oOJEyieuDZu6MVKjtjuk/s400/004.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:558b6d6f-e1ad-4502-a30a-f23394ee5331" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpjnfEZBXOxQYg28pqtTGC01qlQ21hrpPghkGIm50iQf5xiNb0KXk5hevoZWQMJ8kynJowOaGWtvstYdqI8CAEdTvtBe1aXFROyMSrl0A9R53HegmzWeEwZX91qf5h-fzDrjSD8EaNiwi/s72/008.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpjnfEZBXOxQYg28pqtTGC01qlQ21hrpPghkGIm50iQf5xiNb0KXk5hevoZWQMJ8kynJowOaGWtvstYdqI8CAEdTvtBe1aXFROyMSrl0A9R53HegmzWeEwZX91qf5h-fzDrjSD8EaNiwi/s400/008.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:f6742776-87aa-4992-89b5-b565b05aafe8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKxGcDNEs0fy7qRhAKxAwyhKeR9Ay-tW0VEaiHwHnm1PbZc8RN64S-XuyWla_DfSG1Y29aXpkfw6o8GrnlmXiOhf7SsHEPeyBRkTeuy1eMn1kA6eUlqeF4y0iFb8nYr2bVS_yNUcM9UaF/s72/006.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKxGcDNEs0fy7qRhAKxAwyhKeR9Ay-tW0VEaiHwHnm1PbZc8RN64S-XuyWla_DfSG1Y29aXpkfw6o8GrnlmXiOhf7SsHEPeyBRkTeuy1eMn1kA6eUlqeF4y0iFb8nYr2bVS_yNUcM9UaF/s400/006.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:04c22be7-26a4-4857-a453-dedea32f2456" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDctFW9BEhTrcLEYwVVTrKIHJowJoP1b8kH2o0T5HDol0MQq8yYALx6hjR8W5FRJTX55EYGu3Z5-XkXyKD-pUvr48bZgrn2t1oA3zuA54weKLwWfh-CK0hqEFkxFC8oVRK8HMrS7vFVk7n/s72/015.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDctFW9BEhTrcLEYwVVTrKIHJowJoP1b8kH2o0T5HDol0MQq8yYALx6hjR8W5FRJTX55EYGu3Z5-XkXyKD-pUvr48bZgrn2t1oA3zuA54weKLwWfh-CK0hqEFkxFC8oVRK8HMrS7vFVk7n/s400/015.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:172dfeed-fbbd-4fdb-ac5e-25c7ff072be5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ezs9b1OjdWL7n4MT9giloVsTy8g20rWkO5XGTtnIrX8KML9AqV0z2-dXL82ubFmMTyq4Fxm04uPPrlQDwjiKiwv1I-Mu3BhbC7CQ7T3YBxYhheeq0rwM1H3SLWcigwFnFL0LzVaLmxti/s72/whole%252520family.jpg" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ezs9b1OjdWL7n4MT9giloVsTy8g20rWkO5XGTtnIrX8KML9AqV0z2-dXL82ubFmMTyq4Fxm04uPPrlQDwjiKiwv1I-Mu3BhbC7CQ7T3YBxYhheeq0rwM1H3SLWcigwFnFL0LzVaLmxti/s400/whole%252520family.jpg" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:6aeadb45-f5b6-472b-8e90-f8c4daba636e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110514714349179327733/AspiringAmeliorant?authkey=Gv1sRgCOORnZmJzZSJjAE" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt6VC4AAtCxVDV0ENg7xJm_far6eoA4MKHL0N17nGn5qo5Vp5u_5NZ2dySk1YN5qb0Z7efF3GJkHdmb3qM18r3G0aJ_n5ZJDlAN6lpWW74afJlnVZtB0E1Mu6g1Bj8JM3nR4vN6OSqjQC/s400/017.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:22690872-47ee-4819-ac94-cbae528611ea" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn28WdSC324iS5t5pWUFVBXCnx25mrxbMuh5Y0NPKII7-fcc9eE9fl-MqezeB7wDt5CcTlCPfG3kQBTw_pI-BCyImdLeJpr6YG4RAkoZF5fsUoqn3nK5v5mh7qW654zVxDjyZu8tLri-ni/s72/020.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn28WdSC324iS5t5pWUFVBXCnx25mrxbMuh5Y0NPKII7-fcc9eE9fl-MqezeB7wDt5CcTlCPfG3kQBTw_pI-BCyImdLeJpr6YG4RAkoZF5fsUoqn3nK5v5mh7qW654zVxDjyZu8tLri-ni/s400/020.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:bf3efc85-020e-4184-a59d-56265095b161" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWMVW1uEn_vC3zCamF443IUpZq_dEOm4mflOHsk_9GRpD3TlT4cmqrmT6ppCa93RHfwhKO5XdsfqKGJhbBTNTzXk7qZYPLQ_h_KGsodiOW_PCKZqbPe5k6KPq6wBlpqFPtSU4MWfDPRIg/s72/044.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWMVW1uEn_vC3zCamF443IUpZq_dEOm4mflOHsk_9GRpD3TlT4cmqrmT6ppCa93RHfwhKO5XdsfqKGJhbBTNTzXk7qZYPLQ_h_KGsodiOW_PCKZqbPe5k6KPq6wBlpqFPtSU4MWfDPRIg/s400/044.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <br /></p> <p>Boy, it’s been a busy two weeks.  And I think I say that every time, so maybe you should take what I say with a grain of salt.  At any rate, we’ve been cleaning, and travelling, and guest-having, so I think that totally counts.</p> <p>It’s amazing how empty our family room feels (and sounds!) with the soft furnishings removed.  Less amazing is how often that happens (read: very infrequently).</p> <p>Our two prettiest trees (lucky us, they’re in the front of our house), have already colored and dropped their leaves</p> <p>While travelling, Dad invented a new mode of transport.  Big Brother was a fan.</p> <p>Look!  It’s the whole family!</p> <p>Whole family shot graciously provided by my college roommate who came to Chicago (from Nebraska) for football, pizza, and a quilt.</p> <p>The Bean—source of many wonders.</p> <p>After a trip to the Big City, everyone has to pitch in assembling the new Ikea furniture.</p> <p>The rest of the two weeks was a party, so I’m going to wait until I have some more pictures of the festivities in my hot little hands.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-8094552837129830682012-10-01T20:11:00.001-05:002012-10-01T20:11:52.171-05:00Four months*<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:e32927da-ac5e-4c34-85ab-b6b1fe22b112" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXVXwgE7PcOrQZuJBC89cYH5n_3ztPov-eUFDuaeq98VZ-mInvZrkHykWMDyfCBBhLjYMaYZEW7e9tD28EktAs5BQLnNn2cgEuncXdQ8BiK5vaYl7_52vWxcUDh9x0T1I2Fsnn2pweOVo/s72/Collages3.jpg" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXVXwgE7PcOrQZuJBC89cYH5n_3ztPov-eUFDuaeq98VZ-mInvZrkHykWMDyfCBBhLjYMaYZEW7e9tD28EktAs5BQLnNn2cgEuncXdQ8BiK5vaYl7_52vWxcUDh9x0T1I2Fsnn2pweOVo/s400/Collages3.jpg" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p>It’s true!  He’s four months old!</p> <p>I never did get a three month update up… sorry about that.  </p> <p>At four months, Little Brother is the giggliest, happiest baby around.  At least when Dad’s home.  He loves chilling out where all the action is, whether it’s at the dinner table in his Bumpo, at knitting night at the yarn store, in the jumper, or just laying on a blanket.  If people are around, doing their thing, he’s generally content.  </p> <p>He likes sitting better than reclining (the swing is about to be retired to the basement).  </p> <p>He takes a little nap in the morning, and a gigundo nap in the afternoon.  </p> <p>He’s skinnier than his brother was at this age, though I am about to put away some of the 3-6 month clothes, partly because the cloth diapers make his already long torso a little bit too long for the smaller onesies. </p> <p>He continued to drool like a maniac.  When he first started, I thought maybe he was teething super-early.  Nope.  </p> <p>He likes Big Brother, but Dad is definitely his favorite. Except for the whole milk thing.</p> <p>This month he went on his first bus ride, and discovered his toes.  </p> <p>He’s such a great little guy, and we’re so happy he’s a part of our family!</p> <p>*It’s difficult for me to know whether Little Brother turned 4 months old yesterday or today.  Actually, I suppose it’s difficult for anyone to know;  I think “Leap Babies” get a year older on different days, depending on state law.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-85114362492177960062012-10-01T13:30:00.001-05:002012-10-01T13:30:34.852-05:00Photos from the week<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:73b7c3c7-e08d-4403-8f77-e14d17732f55" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrBL8eT48GrY6Mnai6jUuR95l4nBMuS8OM3lq8yB2JWH-u6zHjbNpUqllVHIz-ubNzSI7_UmwrueRXVT9Z6qj0whEYeI43NkdyQPWwCZ6q54v2gdHXAjJKIz1geJyq-DPuhnTAiZr8OyY/s72/003.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrBL8eT48GrY6Mnai6jUuR95l4nBMuS8OM3lq8yB2JWH-u6zHjbNpUqllVHIz-ubNzSI7_UmwrueRXVT9Z6qj0whEYeI43NkdyQPWwCZ6q54v2gdHXAjJKIz1geJyq-DPuhnTAiZr8OyY/s400/003.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:eda6861a-1c51-473f-8993-4391c8716c1d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO88Enp7Cb0SjCzZRXnJKiJIc2ENGo_FWnoskMqbjAHAwWzy851jOXBfdiB-utq7RBMmYPM4vvGWrqUglrmFhABz-97DCWp79536_0O-FlamYaEgT0CozMkrhH8X4gW2GMqldgt_BMTCQ/s72/013.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO88Enp7Cb0SjCzZRXnJKiJIc2ENGo_FWnoskMqbjAHAwWzy851jOXBfdiB-utq7RBMmYPM4vvGWrqUglrmFhABz-97DCWp79536_0O-FlamYaEgT0CozMkrhH8X4gW2GMqldgt_BMTCQ/s400/013.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p>We’re not anywhere near school age around here, but things still feel like they are shifting into a slightly higher gear.  Library story time started again after a summer hiatus, and for the first time we went to toddler time at the main library, rather than baby time at our local branch.  While we’ll miss Miss Jeanne and the other babies, toddler time was pretty awesome.</p> <p>We’ve found ourselves in Kalamazoo a couple times this week.  Rather than waiting in the bank parking lot for our rendezvous, we headed across the street to the McDonald’s Play Place.  Big Brother loved the little airplane cockpit the most.</p> <p>Football makes a good after-church activity, especially when you had to get up for the early Mass.  The matching gingham shirts were purely accidental, but they do look quite cute.</p> <p>Four month post for Luke to come…</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-79527208452573747022012-09-24T13:24:00.001-05:002012-09-24T13:24:11.381-05:00Sad lack of photos<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:2ebfcd8e-1a6b-485a-a894-e9d98cf8544c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PUCX9r4jNGMxLi7TWTBQLYal8-uJ_yWG-Xt0E8sPXoVJ1B8zib9ThDSm0_AtesdEmz4M1oeeHVWGnpLG64u836dwmNi_GhuJwkfdgB0szaRBevI7rrNlsJSwa2xqQbG-B0ICYS8byKlk/s72/011.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PUCX9r4jNGMxLi7TWTBQLYal8-uJ_yWG-Xt0E8sPXoVJ1B8zib9ThDSm0_AtesdEmz4M1oeeHVWGnpLG64u836dwmNi_GhuJwkfdgB0szaRBevI7rrNlsJSwa2xqQbG-B0ICYS8byKlk/s400/011.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:44032ab1-0dc8-4812-b201-11f21b874377" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PqMDMAocvYjbgjJ48pGTYjg1rRltgt-4xevHzCsyT31foQxDDlRG1Tl_YHdJTO6KPUBOHOeQ2hPtGrBfyFDe-fD4vhZcJrn3Vk-5_czja1peOejwaQxJ5AExFPbwYTh91DqbMY2Ql0vn/s72/032.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PqMDMAocvYjbgjJ48pGTYjg1rRltgt-4xevHzCsyT31foQxDDlRG1Tl_YHdJTO6KPUBOHOeQ2hPtGrBfyFDe-fD4vhZcJrn3Vk-5_czja1peOejwaQxJ5AExFPbwYTh91DqbMY2Ql0vn/s400/032.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:884c9b78-e79e-4ace-a966-b5031f95c731" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvMletr97-ziUMVyA99OfJT9yYepY0TsSUtl_JpezVIAslChtDbWPRJ4gQm2zUk94tmYviRf_xnUW8WRM8N10DIENBpFgz4sgwb_Xm8VYL3GIs2Q70JwD8yw0VjnLY2U4JCIGPPxgY1jq/s72/052.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvMletr97-ziUMVyA99OfJT9yYepY0TsSUtl_JpezVIAslChtDbWPRJ4gQm2zUk94tmYviRf_xnUW8WRM8N10DIENBpFgz4sgwb_Xm8VYL3GIs2Q70JwD8yw0VjnLY2U4JCIGPPxgY1jq/s400/052.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p>I owe you (or myself in ten years) two weeks worth of pictures.  But I just emptied my camera and there wasn’t a whole lot for the taking.  I’ll blame it on having too much fun, and then on being sick, and then on having fun again.</p> <p>Little Brother (almost 4 months now) is growing by leaps and bounds.  The semi-reclined position, as seen in car-seats, swings, and bouncy seats?  That’s for babies.  He’d like to sit, thank you.  Or at least play with his toes.</p> <p>It’s a little bit of a lie.  I did take some pictures.  It’s just that a number of them were pictures of sewing projects I was preparing to put in the mail.  Little Brother accompanied me outside for the photoshoot.</p> <p>Big Brother is really starting to show his imagination (or actually, he’s just getting really good at imitating us).  He’s warming up to his doll (which, apparently I never blogged about… for shame!), and I recently found him attempting to diaper his brother.  He wasn’t going to have much luck, as the baby was doubly swaddled, but it’s pretty funny to watch the process through his eyes.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-61403769372357739742012-09-11T12:44:00.001-05:002012-09-11T12:44:45.445-05:00Photos from the week<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:7923198b-99e7-4727-8e52-ee5ea6d5207c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPMql6-nvdYHzfVTgo-yAm7UQuRquckCLnxfelabKKOtt6eOrxbAwuA4f-hx3_xofJgjwumRvJ13l741kWUnVPqfNDNyk0cFZnnovOtYmofdeJnUf-2KWa0qgdOAD836WY62yX6CibF3m/s72/086.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPMql6-nvdYHzfVTgo-yAm7UQuRquckCLnxfelabKKOtt6eOrxbAwuA4f-hx3_xofJgjwumRvJ13l741kWUnVPqfNDNyk0cFZnnovOtYmofdeJnUf-2KWa0qgdOAD836WY62yX6CibF3m/s400/086.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:2a9043c8-3aee-4309-bea2-a905ebeeacd9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUFFzClcNV2vJoWVBUQF0zDa9D5l3wTOWz5O3PeTmGhJmNGEek_O2lFgEwAVvm0s1wfQlrRu6kUmL0YcUBivAkScv8rmuoFhva5ObBtehhgMi95K96lhec1MCK0NRvmmZ3tXH4CVAfxaG/s72/031.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUFFzClcNV2vJoWVBUQF0zDa9D5l3wTOWz5O3PeTmGhJmNGEek_O2lFgEwAVvm0s1wfQlrRu6kUmL0YcUBivAkScv8rmuoFhva5ObBtehhgMi95K96lhec1MCK0NRvmmZ3tXH4CVAfxaG/s400/031.JPG" width="300"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:8c712e47-0ccd-4de7-a4ab-2b75ebe25fa3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dDDlmEr5mgPzuBt6E6YsfCdWe0h83OQdOxfMfE9eUbBikBQnxGDrrGvOlGV4AfVBak0zYvQSCYpLmBOVOwispch1GWxVHtCdm3s-sUZ2uj7Q0NWcR-SCUAB927ezHGp075t1PUbW7lO4/s72/050.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dDDlmEr5mgPzuBt6E6YsfCdWe0h83OQdOxfMfE9eUbBikBQnxGDrrGvOlGV4AfVBak0zYvQSCYpLmBOVOwispch1GWxVHtCdm3s-sUZ2uj7Q0NWcR-SCUAB927ezHGp075t1PUbW7lO4/s400/050.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:084044b3-60c1-43c8-abe3-e8d1081f6b11" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1oYnKjyVY18z9Ug9Q0n7GEkhlQWE_ARDqsj0s39qgOFxbf9U2tjtgp006k70b3HvhpRWGBgEMNRlUvabDWePZid7mKK6xCdmq4hAJc6_XDZxgkNdgVjk9NbCik0X2bIJhR4CrBoJ4Yy/s72/056.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1oYnKjyVY18z9Ug9Q0n7GEkhlQWE_ARDqsj0s39qgOFxbf9U2tjtgp006k70b3HvhpRWGBgEMNRlUvabDWePZid7mKK6xCdmq4hAJc6_XDZxgkNdgVjk9NbCik0X2bIJhR4CrBoJ4Yy/s400/056.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:fe97ad0d-c541-4f49-8186-88e508900719" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHa5AwfAgUU39P0yQSSeWtKwX3MrUIOLhYE7iXv_KdTHLOklWH95uOv96buj9XShIUOwEzQwLW-QG5sST5iAUxhllJ50GRNWNsxnCW8H4V057ljJqS_3EXFADpxnA_n6U-rG7JSRJvjqz/s72/066.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHa5AwfAgUU39P0yQSSeWtKwX3MrUIOLhYE7iXv_KdTHLOklWH95uOv96buj9XShIUOwEzQwLW-QG5sST5iAUxhllJ50GRNWNsxnCW8H4V057ljJqS_3EXFADpxnA_n6U-rG7JSRJvjqz/s400/066.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:56f52c4f-e2c9-4c17-828a-b81eae27ad91" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLx4SjDtkLpX-TyuWf7zTSIpIXDpvfaIQ2ol2V7cn2Xc2-UqFkSLaxexh3XR7O9zt-bisOirjmFXUIZc1LDcFkbbcnY3H4-m4sOHC3bMRbHy3-IB06QIEFghZYJCAlO8rVIaVTqI125FF/s72/072.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLx4SjDtkLpX-TyuWf7zTSIpIXDpvfaIQ2ol2V7cn2Xc2-UqFkSLaxexh3XR7O9zt-bisOirjmFXUIZc1LDcFkbbcnY3H4-m4sOHC3bMRbHy3-IB06QIEFghZYJCAlO8rVIaVTqI125FF/s400/072.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:5699989e-f143-42ff-8b7d-ddfb1c2d0542" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYQ2CMUl_d6tq1EzI94aVA__EZbSpjoj-nj-wAAQQC6rrjBUF997DxP-LcgGH6UecCgOEFfXblzwCpAx3yXcQ38zDSVYei2P2_rCfRroKwd8EntquA-iDqUh9Qo9UOD7M0eyPzVY4yj6A/s72/103.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYQ2CMUl_d6tq1EzI94aVA__EZbSpjoj-nj-wAAQQC6rrjBUF997DxP-LcgGH6UecCgOEFfXblzwCpAx3yXcQ38zDSVYei2P2_rCfRroKwd8EntquA-iDqUh9Qo9UOD7M0eyPzVY4yj6A/s400/103.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p>I noticed two themes from this week’s pictures:  outside time and sleep (or lack thereof).  First we have Labor Day wherein I attempted to enforce family togetherness by taking us all to the playground.  It was too darn hot.  We made it about halfway there before we turned back, but the boys enjoyed the nice grass and attempted pony rides.</p> <p>I sometimes resort to desperate measures to get my semi-communicative toddler to take a nap.  He was in the crib, gesturing madly at the changing table.  I asked him whether he wanted to put on his pajamas (they were on top).  He nodded, so we proceeded to remove his clothes and don the pj’s.  Except that as soon as the clothes came off he freaked out some more.  This (and still no nap) is the end result.</p> <p>Just boys being cute.  Big Brother is going through another “I should hold the baby” phase.  It’s entertaining, if a bit stressful.</p> <p>I have never, ever had this happen before.  Big Brother has fallen asleep in the stroller or in the car, but never just in the middle of the floor.  Another missed nap (he napped for twenty minutes in the stroller on the way home from the store, and thought that was sufficient), and at 4 pm, my house was quiet for longer than I like.  I woke him up a few minutes later, he sat beside me on the couch for a few minutes, and then he was out again.  I left him that time.</p> <p>Went to the neighborhood art/craft fair on Saturday.  Not too much we wanted to buy, but a gorgeous walk, and a fun playground.</p> <p>Our church picnic was Sunday after church.  Mass and the lunch itself were not so hot.  It was the first week of choir again, so I had both the boys in the pew, and, wouldn’t you know it, Little Brother was more upset than he’s ever been (and I still don’t know why).  Then we stayed in the sanctuary talking and barely found a place to sit (the family sitting at our table told their teenagers to sit elsewhere to make space for us).  But we got snow cones!</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-6886775958788974662012-09-07T17:08:00.001-05:002012-09-07T17:08:44.702-05:00Keeping my hands busy<p><a title="Age of Brass and Steam" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/7949952046/"><img border="0" alt="Age of Brass and Steam" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8175/7949952046_a4d8340ccf.jpg" /></a></p> <p><a title="Brass and Steam with Big Brother" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25898628@N04/7949945020/"><img border="0" alt="Brass and Steam with Big Brother" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8033/7949945020_4eb1401753.jpg" /></a></p> <p>When I asked my cousin to teach me how to knit, it was explicitly so I could have a crafty pursuit to do in college when space and time were both at a premium.  Knitting, so I had heard, had the potential to be a social craft—something I could work on while talking about Great Ideas and all that.  Little did I know it would also be what I turn to whilst blathering about nothing at the breakfast table.</p> <p>My toddler is not a particularly quick eater, except when it comes to cherries, but I want to set a half-decent example and not race away from the table as soon as I’m finished with my food.  Don’t get me wrong, I still make my escape to throw laundry in the wash/do other jobs that are just easier when my helper is strapped in and entertained, but I like to have something sitting beside me to keep me at the table a little longer, and not scurrying off to the computer.</p> <p>Enter knitting.  This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchief">Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief</a> (Ravelry link).  I saw it on a <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2012/01/yarn-along.html">Yarn Along post</a> at Small Things (can I tell you how much I love the things she knits?  They’re beautiful, but simple enough to do without overtaxing one’s brain).  I liked the look of it, but loved it more, I think, when I saw the name of the pattern.  I am such a sucker for good names—anything with a sort-of-geeky name gets extra points in my book, which may be why my queue also includes a shawl called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scalene">Scalene</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aspirant/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchief">Notes</a> on Ravelry.</p> <p>Oh, and I know I still owe you a 3 month post for Little Brother.  I’ll work on it this weekend.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-81210142600843984042012-09-03T19:21:00.001-05:002012-09-03T19:21:25.773-05:00Photos from the week<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:cee57c29-7b80-473d-956f-fc3b1493e8a7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb8eyO7yDsgyTmsyVkWCsY_pPh5lOpQzC6hVtEZQ-1CPnF_AYElHlD1-LtiBqxhfVbnpF9VFmNDb28szJK0Y4BNPcC62zVkgdBDiS3r94CNgm6Ot1DKlqh8gWdNmEaTOtTXmhOzIP-8ya/s72/011.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb8eyO7yDsgyTmsyVkWCsY_pPh5lOpQzC6hVtEZQ-1CPnF_AYElHlD1-LtiBqxhfVbnpF9VFmNDb28szJK0Y4BNPcC62zVkgdBDiS3r94CNgm6Ot1DKlqh8gWdNmEaTOtTXmhOzIP-8ya/s400/011.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:f47f8ec5-e820-437f-a590-acd1aa017e6e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Q4Q_16rDFh6_fscmQmX4Nbtpj9DQ-h5jOl1zwtLDCMZBZOe0szjq71-P1UFUSZiTpXQeqx4J1GmWfvC3f99zotDlK5Mr8neYRSTHZ4XJIt4g0EFObaVX3gVtRhf4Cg6oZ6YuLTfZmkX/s72/030.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Q4Q_16rDFh6_fscmQmX4Nbtpj9DQ-h5jOl1zwtLDCMZBZOe0szjq71-P1UFUSZiTpXQeqx4J1GmWfvC3f99zotDlK5Mr8neYRSTHZ4XJIt4g0EFObaVX3gVtRhf4Cg6oZ6YuLTfZmkX/s400/030.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:c4dff481-b8b4-4381-8669-b5d1994e1900" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9dm2iaebtHpY_0_xnlo6i2DqfwCVQ3lutHwuAOqKUNboZo6ZPMcbD8MpTjzbQgszA5qKZ8ET4SRrcuzK5wPRqOvnxU05woOVCi_KJZssQSlQafv7Aho_NhwpsIAT1G19DzkzdabKZ3FC/s72/056.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9dm2iaebtHpY_0_xnlo6i2DqfwCVQ3lutHwuAOqKUNboZo6ZPMcbD8MpTjzbQgszA5qKZ8ET4SRrcuzK5wPRqOvnxU05woOVCi_KJZssQSlQafv7Aho_NhwpsIAT1G19DzkzdabKZ3FC/s400/056.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:51CF81A4-8F44-4a2c-8837-198C090B9994:eba7d9a6-a376-412a-a2a0-b55510ef23be" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqHQerogBjMosjeKE-jTxfjEP4DfUJMKnEF0nvBn3FzA_chpxBV1JzNdV2RXMAXbb9ld-yeRu6qF7PRoz8Pn1WQH0t-z-P9zZRi-72_YPC7dpK50qRDIzseoi6f68OD9Nhq93LSqbG-gU/s72/039.JPG" atomicselection="true"><img style="border-right: 2px; border-top: 2px; border-left: 2px; border-bottom: 2px" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqHQerogBjMosjeKE-jTxfjEP4DfUJMKnEF0nvBn3FzA_chpxBV1JzNdV2RXMAXbb9ld-yeRu6qF7PRoz8Pn1WQH0t-z-P9zZRi-72_YPC7dpK50qRDIzseoi6f68OD9Nhq93LSqbG-gU/s400/039.JPG" width="400"></a></p></div> </p> <p>Last Wednesday we finally made it to storytime at the local ice cream shop.  Just for showing up, kids get free ice cream, and a free book.  The boys were nice and shared their ice cream with us.</p> <p>Little brother turned three months old (a post with a picture from our photo shoot to follow).  He celebrated by attempting to roll over.  Big brother had to help comfort him when he got tired of pictures (Big brother is saying “shhh” in the picture).</p> <p>We had two trees taken down in our side yard.  I contemplated asking the tree guys where they were going next, because Big brother was absolutely glued to the window most of the time they were here.  The big piles of mulch where there used to be 35+ foot trees are still disconcerting.</p> kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-89951428486311905242012-08-27T21:44:00.000-05:002012-09-03T19:40:35.149-05:00Two weeks in pictures<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdozLpuPOp2Gc-VCLUSI37a9qhb4_46kx0IHoEGJ4ono3mB2dXkUTw9FjViBpSVhbQsp4MPVcBxwzCZz7e1vB4E-Bdc8-6f5CaWxcZDt9ad05-ftFOcIgDlZ0t1RlaAJ9d_WCCUgLpHJSn/s1600/030-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdozLpuPOp2Gc-VCLUSI37a9qhb4_46kx0IHoEGJ4ono3mB2dXkUTw9FjViBpSVhbQsp4MPVcBxwzCZz7e1vB4E-Bdc8-6f5CaWxcZDt9ad05-ftFOcIgDlZ0t1RlaAJ9d_WCCUgLpHJSn/s400/030-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We were on the road last Monday, so here's a double photo dump. I finally got Little Brother to smile for the camera. He smiles for us a fair amount, but when the camera comes out, it's all business. <br />
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We hit the road for Ohio last Thursday after A. got off work. Big Brother was asleep before we even started playing "Family Vacation," and Little Brother wasn't too sure what he thought of that musical interlude. Both boys enjoyed time with their great-grandparents, cousin, and aunt and uncles. Big Brother also enjoyed his first hot dog at the "World Famous" Hot Dog Shoppe. <br />
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We drove back on Monday, just in time for Grandma S. to arrive for the Quilt Show. Unfortunately, when she's here, I seem to slack off on the pictures, so you'll just have to imagine it. We brought a cold back from Ohio, and had a really rough night with Big Brother right after she got here. Welcome to Michigan Grandma!<br />
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Big Brother has been rapidly developing new interests, including rice hair treatments and fort building. Also, helping me sew, going for tricycle rides, telling us he needs a diaper change, and cheering for my high school football team.<br />
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<i>9/3/2012. Edited to fix broken picture link.</i></div>
kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-50007884602621925352012-08-14T13:10:00.000-05:002012-09-03T19:38:46.895-05:00Photos from the week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH5GCUEvrSLiisuuLp3ojhnxSw2gjbVPbe8jZNt3isa1BinrBaHZnzAo2iHpvOvEmkrWFX9l0T5CGL8uh-sIuTh0w8r9OaUpCzUu2XbH8nDsEPYCZhAa_33WoMDoNHa-Isp35ykFWGZCz/s1600/005.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH5GCUEvrSLiisuuLp3ojhnxSw2gjbVPbe8jZNt3isa1BinrBaHZnzAo2iHpvOvEmkrWFX9l0T5CGL8uh-sIuTh0w8r9OaUpCzUu2XbH8nDsEPYCZhAa_33WoMDoNHa-Isp35ykFWGZCz/s400/005.JPG" /></a><br />
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More time outside this week, despite<a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2012/08/photos-from-week.html"> my foreboding</a> about the coming autumn. We finally brought Big Brother's Tee-Ball set outside. Thus far, the best part is putting the ball on the tee.<br />
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Our sophisticated outdoor storage solution. <br />
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Big Brother's self portraiture. <br />
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When Big Brother gets up from his nap, Little Brother is usually
asleep. When we hear Little Brother stirring, Big Brother perks up,
signs "Baby," and after I confirm that it is, indeed, the baby, he runs
to the bassinet to peer inside.<br />
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I've gotten on another be-a-cool-mom-and-do-fun-sensory-stuff kick.
We tried shaving cream+fingerpaint. A lukewarm success. Hands had to
be wiped every ten seconds. And it's not like the child usually has
qualms about getting messy, at least when the mess is edible.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1828651505"><br /></a>
<a href="http://aspiringameliorant.blogspot.com/2011/02/wordless-wednesday-game-time-with-dad.html">Gametime</a> reprise.<br />
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<i>9/3/12. Edited to fix broken picture link. </i>kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-13412172646086897022012-08-06T10:25:00.001-05:002012-08-14T13:10:29.940-05:00Photos from the week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXUH1mR6-zeW_8LE3hGa9sC_3eBv36aUz9E79O0Lap5aViOzJHvayQTlrTNZMSSH2E4WlLKJSWUgTHwcFKFQ8rolny9iDLQ51CO6JZlSVzUo2oqMlc9lZwncJ1WcN4lms_OcW54sQt-FE/s1600/267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXUH1mR6-zeW_8LE3hGa9sC_3eBv36aUz9E79O0Lap5aViOzJHvayQTlrTNZMSSH2E4WlLKJSWUgTHwcFKFQ8rolny9iDLQ51CO6JZlSVzUo2oqMlc9lZwncJ1WcN4lms_OcW54sQt-FE/s400/267.JPG" /></a><br />
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It feels like summer is coming to an end. School supply sales are all over the place, and just this morning it was a little cool to be out in short sleeves. The nice part of that is that it's also now cool enough to use the oven! We made a couple loaves of banana bread, and even had soup for dinner once! We've also made a couple of servings of juice in the new blender. Grape strawberry juice is delicious! <br />
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Big Brother has developed an interest in blankets and actually snuggling underneath them, so Little Brother's new quilt from his great-grandmother is a big hit for both boys. <br />
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My aunt came through on her way north to pick up my cousin from camp, and brought some new toys for Big Brother, including some blocks that belonged to my sister and me. Mom gave them to our cousins when we were older, and now they're coming full circle.<br />
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kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-78926025904252567982012-07-31T18:00:00.000-05:002012-07-31T18:00:00.741-05:00Two months<br />
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Little Brother is two months old!</div>
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This month he went on several road trips around Michigan, slept through my cousin's concerto performance, learned how to smile (about once a day), started watching the Olympics, continued to receive lots of love from his big brother, gotten his first round of shots (like a champ), finished the library summer reading program, had a growth spurt or two, slept, and ate. What a difference a month makes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN4jlUskFpoVkGc2nokeew0HWUJIM31VChi0E9N-zeKRzFXEagCaSe0ss9blflLw26jn5utDJWfwZCuLYIlj0UAq4k2Lx1fWt6SuZL3FJx8fnR1MgywXOwVe_dhLGjYgi9zrW3BRJ4dxf/s1600/2012-07-31.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN4jlUskFpoVkGc2nokeew0HWUJIM31VChi0E9N-zeKRzFXEagCaSe0ss9blflLw26jn5utDJWfwZCuLYIlj0UAq4k2Lx1fWt6SuZL3FJx8fnR1MgywXOwVe_dhLGjYgi9zrW3BRJ4dxf/s400/2012-07-31.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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</div>kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290422462334299251.post-39937948663364349212012-07-31T13:04:00.001-05:002012-07-31T13:04:43.784-05:00This week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKElFD9C_Z4LdmAiVP7njVquGeSkTQEMFIEQXReFHRi5L6mRy3y8mIEaPkoFTYdlZ4hi40TCuIFUfzo7Ray4Ls7ksuBAA6iZARUgIK7sWktlDa3wNCXYAlhTXGfXvgllVNoGrV0OEg5qJ/s1600/097.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKElFD9C_Z4LdmAiVP7njVquGeSkTQEMFIEQXReFHRi5L6mRy3y8mIEaPkoFTYdlZ4hi40TCuIFUfzo7Ray4Ls7ksuBAA6iZARUgIK7sWktlDa3wNCXYAlhTXGfXvgllVNoGrV0OEg5qJ/s400/097.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a><br />
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It seems Peter can't make up his mind about water. On the one hand, he loves water--drinking it, pouring it, splashing it. On the other hand, we went to the neighborhood splash pad and he just stood there watching. Chasing the other kids was far more fun. But going to the lake with Dad? Nothing better. </div>kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206478948267638645noreply@blogger.com1