tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21502868012128532142024-03-12T22:41:02.337-07:00Moms for XanaxA chronicle of raising the family, keeping the home and trying to maintain my sanity...with and without the Xanax.Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-33442070868428883332011-11-16T07:30:00.000-08:002011-11-16T08:09:46.731-08:00First Haircuts<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Coco had her first haircut this week. She doesn’t have all
that much hair, but what she has was, in her words, <b>“a hot mess”</b>. <i>I wonder where
she learned that?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think first haircuts strike fear and sadness in the hearts
of most mothers. <b>Sadness</b> because the baby is growing up so quickly. <b>Fear</b>
because you don’t know how the child is going to react when the scissor appears
in the stylist’s hand. Luckily for Coco (and I) she has been watching her
brothers <b>happily</b> get their hair cut for the last two years.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here’s Vincent’s first haircut at 23 months. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFySwdZmM6TjZ2fFa2mdnc1yS9KNqjSuxXAzzfsIed14KJGhlp3jt1li2Vuxo0LqEigMXF6P2wR-YSx5hQF4g5_GHTK-Cf0oR6wZVJEqYnYKSEe65N9mtG6_oVoPcmBNFpdMJGffYgZ-6/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFySwdZmM6TjZ2fFa2mdnc1yS9KNqjSuxXAzzfsIed14KJGhlp3jt1li2Vuxo0LqEigMXF6P2wR-YSx5hQF4g5_GHTK-Cf0oR6wZVJEqYnYKSEe65N9mtG6_oVoPcmBNFpdMJGffYgZ-6/s640/IMG_2601.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And Franklin at 18 months. He has always had the <b>best hair</b>
in the family.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD5woC7Os5OvZcCPCOCPJifbmsADOZrbE9F-NtTXg3jHMbhQBoP_eLwuZVtpG2gD0jgO-sJ2qpSK9NEsLskjx0KbwSOSYuZJk6p-PmQxEoNmrFDqGYiv3eyVbczi5ZBydXcuEg-oDCAOZ/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD5woC7Os5OvZcCPCOCPJifbmsADOZrbE9F-NtTXg3jHMbhQBoP_eLwuZVtpG2gD0jgO-sJ2qpSK9NEsLskjx0KbwSOSYuZJk6p-PmQxEoNmrFDqGYiv3eyVbczi5ZBydXcuEg-oDCAOZ/s640/IMG_2120.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Coco choose to sit in the big kid seat- no cars for her.
Apparently she didn’t get the memo that explains why parents fork out $20 for a
two-year-old’s haircut- so they can get a cute photo in the car. So sad for me!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdIdH2yMdlpba_bng77gPdCkz5O57m0FcmltWGLYPgUYxgHjgGZQDvJhk5FavVBfinEV86a6LktVmD1Q5vLJvNcXFiuntIkun9ubbl5n6au9dv1Um5tOXzFXqfpGr_k_CtKH0SNbztOU7/s1600/IMG_0796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdIdH2yMdlpba_bng77gPdCkz5O57m0FcmltWGLYPgUYxgHjgGZQDvJhk5FavVBfinEV86a6LktVmD1Q5vLJvNcXFiuntIkun9ubbl5n6au9dv1Um5tOXzFXqfpGr_k_CtKH0SNbztOU7/s640/IMG_0796.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She did, however, choose to watch Dora the Explorer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3YVxe6XOqL54s1-g9c60mmnD03pU11YLUXROCbwOnUCXjyJwCXnJde20BhzMiZ0GDz_WUCwi4IlS8_C5lYUG6JbkSADKPqEZxU5S2famamNx1KxYaQGUuTAq5dACgISN64ovRadOu2D_/s1600/IMG_0806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3YVxe6XOqL54s1-g9c60mmnD03pU11YLUXROCbwOnUCXjyJwCXnJde20BhzMiZ0GDz_WUCwi4IlS8_C5lYUG6JbkSADKPqEZxU5S2famamNx1KxYaQGUuTAq5dACgISN64ovRadOu2D_/s640/IMG_0806.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wendy cut her hair. We only get haircuts when we can get an
appointment with Wendy. This may seem silly, but Franklin got a very bad cut
once when Wendy wasn’t available. Luckily Wendy fixed it the next day. Wendy is
five months pregnant. You better believe we will get haircuts before she goes
on maternity leave.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3NDPSeNPKHe_SFuKCfn2BIUkUnSTlerBORRmNjJMo_bI9uHngy6U1B37jYrrO81AtJ85vf5lr_fc4YyMpjSbayQzUgnd7Uh5PZ2piGoMh_vHebjpN5j1uYL7WrhXFUcXB3ORcDBZ6zeQ/s1600/IMG_0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3NDPSeNPKHe_SFuKCfn2BIUkUnSTlerBORRmNjJMo_bI9uHngy6U1B37jYrrO81AtJ85vf5lr_fc4YyMpjSbayQzUgnd7Uh5PZ2piGoMh_vHebjpN5j1uYL7WrhXFUcXB3ORcDBZ6zeQ/s640/IMG_0810.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Coco received a nice blow out and style. I was envious.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9obz7p-FXYEQyKxsIMPhD-0DP1WifHoGSrIpIZW-beIO4-nynQ4ib9ydsi9xN2xbJFLtzxp_8fGdh-lAK9YzBDuMFyP0-UWGanNjti8x1Qp6St0aS-JFX8_HgpaV1P2QKt867QK09oml6/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9obz7p-FXYEQyKxsIMPhD-0DP1WifHoGSrIpIZW-beIO4-nynQ4ib9ydsi9xN2xbJFLtzxp_8fGdh-lAK9YzBDuMFyP0-UWGanNjti8x1Qp6St0aS-JFX8_HgpaV1P2QKt867QK09oml6/s640/IMG_0814.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When we were leaving Wendy commented that she didn’t look as
much like a baby anymore, to which Colette said, “I’m not a baby, I’m Coco.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP86l5Sqnyty47L0ErurBLb871swHN0YLL2PS160PmUrdCXGwzyM96MguI-EjPlv3Gh2Wup7POdQpaIjZ9au0fPYd9wkdYt7YQGik8WWL0nd0DWi4FYnSCAQW23SOQ8PIyLj6q-aXmvjN/s1600/IMG_0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP86l5Sqnyty47L0ErurBLb871swHN0YLL2PS160PmUrdCXGwzyM96MguI-EjPlv3Gh2Wup7POdQpaIjZ9au0fPYd9wkdYt7YQGik8WWL0nd0DWi4FYnSCAQW23SOQ8PIyLj6q-aXmvjN/s640/IMG_0817.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>She’s not a baby, she’s my Coco.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-8826564442499028012011-11-14T15:31:00.001-08:002011-11-14T15:41:07.091-08:00Fun Size Me!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was 12 days past Halloween and we had a <b>vat</b> of candy
left. This is not from lack of attention. We all have a piece after lunch and
dinner and sometimes after school. I have been known to raid the bowl at
midnight while <s>shopping online</s> making my to-do list. At this rate, we
will still have Halloween candy left after Thanksgiving. This is against my
motherly sensibilities, <i>and religion.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since it was rainy and cold this weekend the oven was
calling my name, so I decided <b>Candy Bar Cookies</b> were necessary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is an awesome way to use up Halloween (or any) candy,
and you can use any variety you want. I used 7 Reese’s cups and 7 Snickers fun
size bars. The batter was looking a little sparse at the end so I threw in 2
Butterfingers. <i>I hate lonely batter.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYAEm6OH_XXMobxhXbEqopa78TMMGqQRRMhQDbNPteHpXNtYF_aAVqPZdW2zkJIcG4hMy4-iVWl4aHpB046kz63gUB47w86Z3halSkU2CbIP86n8Cx8sd3a7U1nZaIkiu8I5jHy6fOBJp/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYAEm6OH_XXMobxhXbEqopa78TMMGqQRRMhQDbNPteHpXNtYF_aAVqPZdW2zkJIcG4hMy4-iVWl4aHpB046kz63gUB47w86Z3halSkU2CbIP86n8Cx8sd3a7U1nZaIkiu8I5jHy6fOBJp/s640/IMG_0779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You may be thinking that if my goal was to get rid of all
this candy in my house it is counter productive to mix up sugar and eggs and
butter to mold said candy into little baked calorie bombs. <i>You are totally
correct, but you can learn from my mistakes and shortcomings.</i> The beauty of
this recipe is that you can freeze the batter and use it later. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Better yet,</i> line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and
roll the dough into individual cookie balls. Pop the sheet into the freezer
until the balls are firm, then put them into a large baggie in the freezer.
Pull out a few balls and bake them when ever you want something yummy, or the
house to smell really good! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know I used the word balls a lot in that paragraph. <b>Get your mind out of the gutter please. We are talking cookies here.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Candy Bar Cookies</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 cup butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon baking
powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 1/2 cups flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">14 fun size candy
bars, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to
350 degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cream together
butter and the sugars until fluffy I find this is the most important step in
any cookie recipe. <i>Put your finger in there for a taste. </i>Beat in eggs and
vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until blended. Stir in the
candy bars. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I use a small scoop, on a silpat (or greased cookie sheet).
In my oven this takes 12 minutes. If you have a good oven, I would check them
after 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm2SlH8iSi5dV7WocdvLvEouHIt9ygYj8UsdJ8_seVbK98cCDlKDr0PpnvTMbzBYH1zm67vNauYObcev4boaugYHv1DKCMBF73nQ0Ytjt2lhXm0uPwzpTLuuR_sbnkgYnzCg_tIgTRHY-/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm2SlH8iSi5dV7WocdvLvEouHIt9ygYj8UsdJ8_seVbK98cCDlKDr0PpnvTMbzBYH1zm67vNauYObcev4boaugYHv1DKCMBF73nQ0Ytjt2lhXm0uPwzpTLuuR_sbnkgYnzCg_tIgTRHY-/s640/IMG_0778.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I will tell you that the cookies with the Butterfingers were
the best. <b>And a word of warning... </b>if you used a caramel candy don’t be
impatient and pop one of these cookies straight from the oven and into your mouth.
The caramel gets really hot, <i>not that I would know this from first hand
experience.</i> Not me.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVePnHuB8uhbS4V0OWqpucWWF6EgaNhEmyPPV54N8F-4BEnb7Gs3OdeDSL6Wx6v8Ev3HkBzUdJKul2eY4Ryn2Q6JNpDeYqKPMSSqK9MmKw0VetCUYW9PYZd7jXb67qIGxsPA17kg2dSIC/s1600/IMG_0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVePnHuB8uhbS4V0OWqpucWWF6EgaNhEmyPPV54N8F-4BEnb7Gs3OdeDSL6Wx6v8Ev3HkBzUdJKul2eY4Ryn2Q6JNpDeYqKPMSSqK9MmKw0VetCUYW9PYZd7jXb67qIGxsPA17kg2dSIC/s640/IMG_0787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Go use up the extra candy!</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-67766577827507967172011-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:002011-11-09T10:41:21.208-08:00Thanksgiving Menu Contenders 2011<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are celebrating <b>Thanksgiving</b> with my in-laws this year.
Before you pity me, I want to make it clear that <b>I love my in-laws</b>. I am SUPER
jazzed. The boys are counting down the days until we see their
cousins while I try to prepare for any weather contingency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays- all about
family and food and football. No last minute gift purchasing. No worrying about getting a
seat at midnight mass. Your jeans still fit because you are yet to munch on
Christmas cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Booze can be added to any
recipe and it is totally acceptable...<i>if not expected. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My sister in law has already ordered the turkey and I am
trying to decide on a couple of side dishes I want to make for Thanksgiving
dinner. Normally, cooking at someone else’s house on a holiday would send me
straight to the bottom of a bourbon bottle, but my sister in law has the most
A-MAZ-ING kitchen ever, and she is refreshingly laid back about other people
working in it. <i>We are very different.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here’s what I am thinking about this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H8ARf6uOfPj3V0RyJu8Lv1WTPOAhsx_-I7bjxwBURlC5Xp64nk3stYxjO5VIToCGgvQwW3NaAZJCmaoTxA68diFtdxmnrnt0APJ9N3_Q-JdQ2XBPBibeeUdhASNbM6JL2p0n5VenIllB/s1600/PW+sweet+potato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H8ARf6uOfPj3V0RyJu8Lv1WTPOAhsx_-I7bjxwBURlC5Xp64nk3stYxjO5VIToCGgvQwW3NaAZJCmaoTxA68diFtdxmnrnt0APJ9N3_Q-JdQ2XBPBibeeUdhASNbM6JL2p0n5VenIllB/s640/PW+sweet+potato.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I made this <b><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/soul-sweet-taters-step-by-step-recipe/" target="_blank">sweet potato casserole recipe</a></b> from PW last year.
It got rave reviews and requests to make it again. It is always good to have a
tried and true on the list.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving dinner is incomplete without <b><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/361859/cornbread-bacon-leek-and-pecan-stuffing" target="_blank">stuffing</a></b>, or
dressing, depending on your political leanings. I have to admit that I am a big
fan of good old Mrs. Cubbison’s stuffing shoved in the turkey, but since the
turkey is pre-ordered, we need an alternative. I hear my mother in law used to
prepare full Martha Stewart dinners for Thanksgiving. In her memory, I am
considering this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been eyeballing this <b><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/parker-house-rolls/" target="_blank">Parker House Rolls</a></b> recipe since last
Thanksgiving. My concern is baking at a high altitude...<i>a mile high, but who’s
counting</i>... which I have never done before. A recipe for disaster? Perhaps, but
look at all that butter...I think it is worth the risk.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBE55Ytu39CSoTuYaNZETdFWtWxWTEi9uA1rTEwXBo-VwTzb1DpPusxrDGQIW8kCFS8lWmDORJsIsDTxGhY-BFUbspoVYxegIhyphenhyphenTL9KpOtFkk6jafqvR14hEtQt9-xwuGIhrWMtRV6g77/s1600/OBB+pumpkin+cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBE55Ytu39CSoTuYaNZETdFWtWxWTEi9uA1rTEwXBo-VwTzb1DpPusxrDGQIW8kCFS8lWmDORJsIsDTxGhY-BFUbspoVYxegIhyphenhyphenTL9KpOtFkk6jafqvR14hEtQt9-xwuGIhrWMtRV6g77/s640/OBB+pumpkin+cheesecake.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This <b><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/11/layered-pumpkin-pie-toffee-cheesecake/" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pie Toffee Cheesecake</a></b> might have to make an appearance on the
dessert table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The first Thanksgiving that Patrick and I were dating we
were both spending the holiday with our families so I made a <b>Cranberry Tart</b> for
him a couple days before. At his request, I have made it every year since for
Thanksgiving breakfast. <i>This will be the 12<sup>th</sup> year.</i> It is perfect to
eat while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, a new tradition since VW saw
the ginormous Elmo balloon a few years ago. Here’s the super simple recipe, if
you are interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Cranberry Tart</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 eggs, beaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 ½ cups sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">½ cup butter, melted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 cup all purpose flour, sifted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">½ cup chopped nuts (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 cups whole cranberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">whipped cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Preheat over to 325 degrees. Combine all ingredients in the
order listed. Pour into a well-greased 10-inch pie pan. I am going to try
baking spray this year. Whatever you use, make sure you grease it well. Bake
for 50-60 minutes, until done. Don’t under bake! Serve warm or cold or at room
temperature. Top with whipped cream, either fresh or from a can. It’s all good!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI28mZtJEDQ_YTE8xqybxT6G5ErEd_s4OqKm6QONIz0zhC8UR95f_j5mEVs7acu2ce94OnW70zTo6hkB-2beovWw6nzueRw1-fP5B2CzBWRr1vxK6nVkgRRFkzBEmFE_PpVTRZgx2p3Vt5/s1600/flatirons+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI28mZtJEDQ_YTE8xqybxT6G5ErEd_s4OqKm6QONIz0zhC8UR95f_j5mEVs7acu2ce94OnW70zTo6hkB-2beovWw6nzueRw1-fP5B2CzBWRr1vxK6nVkgRRFkzBEmFE_PpVTRZgx2p3Vt5/s640/flatirons+snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">And I am hoping some of this will show up on
Thanksgiving too!</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>What’s on your Thanksgiving menu this year?</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-22529648473301992092011-11-07T08:01:00.000-08:002011-11-07T11:40:58.912-08:00Choosing Happiness<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was asked recently why <b>Mom’s for Xanax</b> is so happy. I took
offense to that comment, because it seemed that “happy” was used in such an
artificial, saccharine way. I don’t really view it as a “happy blog”. I
think it is more of a chronicle of our growing family <i>with some of my random
thoughts thrown in here and there</i>. The intent is certainly not to blow sunshine
up anyone’s behind. <b>I fully recognize that life is not always rainbows and
lollipops. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There is a lot of crappy stuff lurking around that I could
blog about. The economy in general, and the housing market in particular, are a
wreck. The downfall of a moral society can be witnessed daily by watching
<i>Jersey Shore</i>. What is the deal with gas prices? My three beautiful children are
not perfect, in fact sometimes they can act pretty ugly. Laundry is not filling
my soul with joy, and don’t get me started on diaper changing. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the only thing I have control over is my <b>attitude</b>,
so I <b>choose to be happy</b>. Choosing happiness isn’t always easy. It feels good to
vent and complain and be generally morose. And there are always people who are
willing to bitch with you. But in the end, this whining and complaining and
yuckiness get you nowhere. It lingers in your affect making you bitter and no
fun to be around. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So when I want to be a <b>complete hag</b> here are some things I
do to choose happiness. Maybe some will work for you:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Do something as soon as you wake up in the morning that
makes you happy.</b> For me it is a
cup of coffee. Maybe it is going to the gym, or praying, or calling your mom.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Do something nice for others.</b> Make it a habit. They may not
appreciate it at first (or ever), but you are setting an example for the people
around you. I have a <a href="http://moms4xanax.blogspot.com/2011/05/do-something-nice.html" target="_blank">list of ideas here</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">
if you need inspiration.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ditch the negativity.</b> It can be as simple as turning off the
television when the news is bringing you down or not engaging in a conversation
that will cause needless anxiety. On the other hand, it can be hard to cut out
negativity when it is a person in your life that is causing it. Is it time to
reevaluate friendships and other relationships that are draining you?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Count your blessings, especially the small ones.</b> We can
easily take the big stuff like our health and family for granted, but the small
things are reasons for happiness too. Sleeping well at night, a vacuumed floor,
opening the mailbox and not finding a bill are all small things that can provide
a touch of happiness to your day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Turn a negative into a positive.</b> Doing that laundry means my
children have clothing to wear. Dirty dishes in the sink are a result of a home
cooked meal. Patrick’s late night work call means he is still contributing
value to his workplace. Is an overbooked social schedule really a bad thing? It
means you have friends!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, <b>remember that this too shall pass</b>- whether it is a
headache, a really bad week, or eventually...hopefully...the crappy housing
market. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrX9ig15aLlTrVMvE9ubhZ9kdlTouPXONVq4BhYMkg1vL-dsq02VuZjZPgiPFTao-P0c2bRTYCR30yqOMXGkipc9w57hhPQzDZVZmOcaqXChOTT8BmenvUa-R_QU-A9PeWQ3YTkln0oP9/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrX9ig15aLlTrVMvE9ubhZ9kdlTouPXONVq4BhYMkg1vL-dsq02VuZjZPgiPFTao-P0c2bRTYCR30yqOMXGkipc9w57hhPQzDZVZmOcaqXChOTT8BmenvUa-R_QU-A9PeWQ3YTkln0oP9/s640/IMG_0279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Patrick turned 40 last Friday</b>. The kids and I ventured out
in the rain to stuff his car full of helium balloons while he was at work. Laughing and pulling a trick on daddy’s birthday made the kids happy. Thinking of
Patrick trying to get in the car made me happy. Driving home with the balloons
so the kids could have them (I would have released those suckers) made Patrick
happy. <i>Sometimes it's the little things that create happiness.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Am I happy 24/7? No. Unfortunately Patrick
often gets an earful when I have had a particularly long day. But in general, <b>I
choose happiness</b> in life and in my blog.</span>
</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-11470716752618761412011-11-02T14:03:00.000-07:002011-11-02T14:03:21.368-07:00How About Them Apples?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you read this blog occasionally, you will remember that
we had a <b>crazy amount of apples and pears</b> from our apple picking adventure a
few weeks ago. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am happy to report that we ate them all, <i>in one form or
another</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We made <b>Crockpot Applesauce</b>, <b><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/butternut-squash-and-pear-soup-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Butternut Squash Soup</a></b>, <b><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/apple-carrot-muffins/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Apple Carrot Muffins</a></b>, and <b><a href="http://www.familycircle.com/recipes/slow-cooker/slow-cooker-desserts/" target="_blank">Fruit Crumble</a></b>. All were delicious, but the kids especially
like the applesauce and muffins. Patrick and I have the fruit crumble to blame
for us each gaining a pound that week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have linked a few of the recipes above if you are
interested. You can still get some awesome apples from the farmers market and
Trader Joes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For the <b>applesauce</b>, all you do is peel, core, and quarter 8
medium to large apples, place them in the slow cooker with ½ cup of water and
cook on low for about 6 hours. When you can stir them and they fall apart you
know it is done. Add cinnamon or nutmeg or apple pie spice, depending on your
taste. I also add a pinch of brown sugar, or a fourth a cup, or a half a cup.
<i>Try to act shocked</i>. I have made this 4 times since apple picking. The kids love
it and the consistency and taste is so much better than store bought. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After peeling a few apples by hand, I realized I need one of
these for next year. It's from William Sonoma.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don’t ask me where I would store it, but I would make life
in September, October, and November a lot easier next year!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-80261642697437017712011-10-31T08:03:00.000-07:002011-10-31T08:03:34.966-07:00Moe the Spider<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the spirit of <b>Halloween</b>, and all things creepy, I would
like to share with you an ongoing obsession in our house- <b>SPIDERS</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The mere mention of spiders sends Patrick running to the
other room. <i>It is quite comical</i>. He hates them- all 6’5”, 225-pounds of grown
man is, dare I say, <b>AFRAID</b> of spiders. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boys on the other hand adore all things arachnid. When
we visited our family in Boulder this summer we made a trip to the <b>Butterfly
Pavilion</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ITDV9NAbcUg-kuBWLUI8d71-NX1SeF7gIQHinweIgPWT7ctcyC-NdWksDrO_JhHXGLjImeU5Sqo56EQFtsvDDZTNnDu8J7RdRE_X9rktllBb8gq3gx51yRVvJ7fcWELUsh7rY0r7bfHb/s1600/IMG_9521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ITDV9NAbcUg-kuBWLUI8d71-NX1SeF7gIQHinweIgPWT7ctcyC-NdWksDrO_JhHXGLjImeU5Sqo56EQFtsvDDZTNnDu8J7RdRE_X9rktllBb8gq3gx51yRVvJ7fcWELUsh7rY0r7bfHb/s640/IMG_9521.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There, in addition to an <i>amazing</i> butterfly habitat, which you
could stroll around, was a fantastic insect room. It was full of ants and bees
and SPIDERS!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sZUizwEATMfOa7Nv2W1a1F6TdfD8KB02wYdBxHuR3ZIhTL9bRKMHkovrDkAjoUe5UHdqLCN0mF3zuEuqe-8vINO-acb8LQLp1_2NIVjJ-RfLIG5_u_6MbszwFKithFU0bQQWb5Da9QOw/s1600/IMG_9458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sZUizwEATMfOa7Nv2W1a1F6TdfD8KB02wYdBxHuR3ZIhTL9bRKMHkovrDkAjoUe5UHdqLCN0mF3zuEuqe-8vINO-acb8LQLp1_2NIVjJ-RfLIG5_u_6MbszwFKithFU0bQQWb5Da9QOw/s640/IMG_9458.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is Franklin, <i>my brave boy</i>, holding <b>Rosy the Tarantula</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXZIFT3HKPFEMiVVW2k7aa9Issx9Yo_Q0ufW8sgGbMdPtcfM6UvbsGbl6pGoHSKGuuwQoqT3QDAZTsMkTDLHpKJ9CpGA2Z83bc92BS1hYhHCnvADI5FeaMUccpoRutP4IPR0icGj3mwwo/s1600/IMG_9453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXZIFT3HKPFEMiVVW2k7aa9Issx9Yo_Q0ufW8sgGbMdPtcfM6UvbsGbl6pGoHSKGuuwQoqT3QDAZTsMkTDLHpKJ9CpGA2Z83bc92BS1hYhHCnvADI5FeaMUccpoRutP4IPR0icGj3mwwo/s640/IMG_9453.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And our family’s personal favorite, the <b>Black Widow</b>. Patrick
mumbled something about it reminding him of me. I pretended not to hear, <i>but a
woman never forgets.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5cQt7oK_n-hlDCqwEyonmnSFE8fHhtHrvFQ2tmHHzektXhBWy4QnKckC2hiHk_HgowbHrYaNlCpGJHGf6UWQxgACNDjuioFBUySIoz1lb_xyRj1gplDqyhtjKO3c3xihmjHtsouFhXO3/s1600/IMG_9452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5cQt7oK_n-hlDCqwEyonmnSFE8fHhtHrvFQ2tmHHzektXhBWy4QnKckC2hiHk_HgowbHrYaNlCpGJHGf6UWQxgACNDjuioFBUySIoz1lb_xyRj1gplDqyhtjKO3c3xihmjHtsouFhXO3/s640/IMG_9452.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Colette shares her father’s distain for the live ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds0B0j79nF-QuKZb2oKQZ_aKASafV7UL5IZY2vlVplSihQBBOzlWYmHwxiKR0u0vYBJz7hcWkCSCLB2aFRYW16Me2IVWsF-jExFC8NDJmeGoeQcuLcs65LUfabX76p4T1mlzWsmr4kAUj/s1600/IMG_9565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds0B0j79nF-QuKZb2oKQZ_aKASafV7UL5IZY2vlVplSihQBBOzlWYmHwxiKR0u0vYBJz7hcWkCSCLB2aFRYW16Me2IVWsF-jExFC8NDJmeGoeQcuLcs65LUfabX76p4T1mlzWsmr4kAUj/s640/IMG_9565.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlWgmYoIOjqs9QRPLtgjN606oAw0XgAcAMw3ZddCdAWOWtxiduS3-SUoM8dwrbzNZNkR_RU77QWC_hnBvzExkH_8BqiN8XZEm0Y7HyV4nUoiU3jvCtG6kjjQUDT9W6FW8YSvMSH-zPoAM/s1600/IMG_9554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlWgmYoIOjqs9QRPLtgjN606oAw0XgAcAMw3ZddCdAWOWtxiduS3-SUoM8dwrbzNZNkR_RU77QWC_hnBvzExkH_8BqiN8XZEm0Y7HyV4nUoiU3jvCtG6kjjQUDT9W6FW8YSvMSH-zPoAM/s640/IMG_9554.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pretending to be spiders in a <b>“spider web”</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boy’s obsession extends to pretend spiders as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZl8GZ6RcDthece5kc371Jrv-TFtYa9h-5HNEbMLWhDLfwisBPuo_l5cgQExVWp40IAIJ4AFE3ZRSpja1Ks_2FkdlBqsjmAuMHQjX205lsGFrziajexKB13gho5i5OMUNlJAcvmEGLVAJ/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZl8GZ6RcDthece5kc371Jrv-TFtYa9h-5HNEbMLWhDLfwisBPuo_l5cgQExVWp40IAIJ4AFE3ZRSpja1Ks_2FkdlBqsjmAuMHQjX205lsGFrziajexKB13gho5i5OMUNlJAcvmEGLVAJ/s640/IMG_0460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Meet </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Moe</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, the squishy black Target dollar bin finger puppet.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A few hours after he became a member of our family he was
lost somewhere in the house. The boys were <i>beside themselves</i> with worry. I
reassured them that he was around somewhere. I was forced to eye Snoop’s poop
for Moe’s remains. Everyday they asked if I had found Moe yet. <i>It became a part
time job</i>. Two weeks later, Moe was found shoved between Franklin’s headboard
and mattress. The children rejoiced. Angels sang. If only I had changed the
sheets sooner the reunion would not have taken so long!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since Moe’s “return” the boys have decided to keep him in a
box with the rest of his spider family, were he will never be lost again. The
box also houses <b>Meanie</b>, his mother. I’m not sure when we will have a Eanie and
Miney, but there is a warm bed consisting of a washcloth waiting for them. And
we love our yarn spiders as much as the others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrsvpjRv-t8pDhLLOP9yHwMFQx0cvTEGyQYPR7I9ogQx6x7t2aCotpNbRcDbHvrcYbf86bvpsfBMbHPj5MUDya7QURx-Ayh6BpodX1pFJTfPQilmKKpMRdde-9RC09puUy7AEUB9Yhcd2/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrsvpjRv-t8pDhLLOP9yHwMFQx0cvTEGyQYPR7I9ogQx6x7t2aCotpNbRcDbHvrcYbf86bvpsfBMbHPj5MUDya7QURx-Ayh6BpodX1pFJTfPQilmKKpMRdde-9RC09puUy7AEUB9Yhcd2/s640/IMG_0471.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spiders- they make Hexbugs look so cuddly!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!</b></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-87751650295693166292011-10-28T17:10:00.000-07:002011-10-28T17:10:36.699-07:00Preschool Pumpkin Patch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think I have mentioned here before that I LOVE the kids’
preschool. The teachers and instructional aides and principal are amazing. The
parents are very involved. There is a very loving, positive atmosphere, and the
kids have so much fun!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of my <b>favorite</b> activities of the year is the <b>Pumpkin
Patch</b>. This year I got to take Franklin and a group of his classmates around to
the various activities. It is staged on the bluff next to the church. When the
kids walked over from the school building they were in awe! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uX0jhrN6gxNPLSUQ8cqhk2FYxsXOELc9KrWgiKyfpSUgUxbZlkFjviITD3lqUJTiXry0J9dLHocJvmS3g5qu70hxHqasSBev5nX4beNd0yBod_RA8lZsEHApZ70FaxpF8lSyS5Mzt0he/s1600/IMG_0220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uX0jhrN6gxNPLSUQ8cqhk2FYxsXOELc9KrWgiKyfpSUgUxbZlkFjviITD3lqUJTiXry0J9dLHocJvmS3g5qu70hxHqasSBev5nX4beNd0yBod_RA8lZsEHApZ70FaxpF8lSyS5Mzt0he/s640/IMG_0220.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There were pony rides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Cow” milking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52eWZITKIAlvT4m8gjTlxCze8zcYqnQCh4ihGEzSWI_NQNEwlaFtE4SvbHEzTqzcCX1OhQ9QJPi6242ux3aRe-fODClMB-EJT1VWzE4k8st_IZY-Q_hcfB3iWuRaTRISEKVVXC7BZcbxX/s1600/IMG_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52eWZITKIAlvT4m8gjTlxCze8zcYqnQCh4ihGEzSWI_NQNEwlaFtE4SvbHEzTqzcCX1OhQ9QJPi6242ux3aRe-fODClMB-EJT1VWzE4k8st_IZY-Q_hcfB3iWuRaTRISEKVVXC7BZcbxX/s640/IMG_0243.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bunnies and goats and chickens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBOzC_UAHPb6ij1Dh_Ph_vzEvqrNtn6TF9EMQ_CdPswWwOZAm-9Ws-CPMYuFplAm5asrLa0lVO72AX7iUU80FHQqLvdn4vKEs75n_7qgrvI3pj_Jwa0RD2LMlrWnE1ylxloeZBGwDzlkt/s1600/IMG_0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBOzC_UAHPb6ij1Dh_Ph_vzEvqrNtn6TF9EMQ_CdPswWwOZAm-9Ws-CPMYuFplAm5asrLa0lVO72AX7iUU80FHQqLvdn4vKEs75n_7qgrvI3pj_Jwa0RD2LMlrWnE1ylxloeZBGwDzlkt/s640/IMG_0296.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bobbing for donuts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqYmAr8t_XJwoTjMNkOLhvjBz0u82dkPlIp3wzTxMtpwK3ZZ_okYZTLarh9bluRjlm9Np3L3qc-gzoDjGTtY2cJJDMeJtpd1djT842zolMQTwIRuzmukwwnPdgzU3Ye4DJuQgD2LzjqGd/s1600/IMG_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqYmAr8t_XJwoTjMNkOLhvjBz0u82dkPlIp3wzTxMtpwK3ZZ_okYZTLarh9bluRjlm9Np3L3qc-gzoDjGTtY2cJJDMeJtpd1djT842zolMQTwIRuzmukwwnPdgzU3Ye4DJuQgD2LzjqGd/s640/IMG_0200.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A scary, wretched, evil witch... who happens to be the boys’
<i>favorite</i> teacher.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRujd0nN1h3cC4rcOe7xa3finZI6cC1wD9j210TvY3aUuDx06fm1aBY0qWjcxH3EKhYdDbNCropqLOkHdQuT5BJ8fN80yOrogG2F-VQDdJH9tcxUYSGf0J-quKnOJab2ENerbmBFlvMguy/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRujd0nN1h3cC4rcOe7xa3finZI6cC1wD9j210TvY3aUuDx06fm1aBY0qWjcxH3EKhYdDbNCropqLOkHdQuT5BJ8fN80yOrogG2F-VQDdJH9tcxUYSGf0J-quKnOJab2ENerbmBFlvMguy/s640/IMG_0214.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A haunted house made by Vincent’s class, and many, many more
activities. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYdopP6SZxkhBhr2HCLxwM_BtSD8FbUfgqKHydKzFtBpMwpd3t4_2WJHmmLRzPlHjTesi_pfBuKKOYuG23LL5WWmSBw0ueXEmynrq75LEeFlGxq4xU9IdebIosNgjtkk7yifqxF3u_tGP/s1600/IMG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYdopP6SZxkhBhr2HCLxwM_BtSD8FbUfgqKHydKzFtBpMwpd3t4_2WJHmmLRzPlHjTesi_pfBuKKOYuG23LL5WWmSBw0ueXEmynrq75LEeFlGxq4xU9IdebIosNgjtkk7yifqxF3u_tGP/s640/IMG_0336.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They “bought” pizza for lunch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUSZvl6vi0BPcrNAPX4BWZik5-ltWKbH5VOohtjtK8nAHD8rS3P_3PgoTlcrpuUA_DtIuOalAkcG7V0IMWB0I53DVxNEv7Std7o4Wr_84eDt-sqdzaDhC-FXD3TVMYc9e_YZZj5oBHAia/s1600/IMG_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUSZvl6vi0BPcrNAPX4BWZik5-ltWKbH5VOohtjtK8nAHD8rS3P_3PgoTlcrpuUA_DtIuOalAkcG7V0IMWB0I53DVxNEv7Std7o4Wr_84eDt-sqdzaDhC-FXD3TVMYc9e_YZZj5oBHAia/s640/IMG_0351.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There was The Monster Mash and lots of singing and dancing. The
kids all got to pick out a pumpkin to take home, along with candy and other
treats...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Like these.....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar3QRBdZcObAxyTGTbTDbTZUTgbbH8WQQ0DAu4bNk_BgoaIT-3JZJT4cIeLDTvNdakKzDH-hssRhweFcuZ-gPzbkZxIGYTgHGwisJ_hyphenhyphen1HJuWsN_ipLiaWXt8pCWTmUEgZhptkhhR1IuW/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar3QRBdZcObAxyTGTbTDbTZUTgbbH8WQQ0DAu4bNk_BgoaIT-3JZJT4cIeLDTvNdakKzDH-hssRhweFcuZ-gPzbkZxIGYTgHGwisJ_hyphenhyphen1HJuWsN_ipLiaWXt8pCWTmUEgZhptkhhR1IuW/s640/IMG_0318.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Early Halloween!</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-88592483886673774042011-10-27T14:07:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:08:00.246-07:00Halloween Parade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boys had their <b>Halloween celebration</b> today at school. It consisted of a <b>"parade"</b> through the elementary school and church offices with <b>classroom parties</b> following. Last year when I arrived to Vincent's classroom to walk with him in the parade he was teary eyed. He was afraid I had forgotten and wouldn't be there. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This year when I arrived, <b>Captain America</b> told me (very politely, after a hug and a kiss) that he wanted to <i>"walk with my friends."</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Huh? Are you kidding me? I hope the shock didn't register in my face. Of course I said he could walk with his friends. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgX3N9lYrlSIEza3-KdN8TpJMmeToXAMNf3qF2m5WF2INBxa3MH7V_tILj990mOgFFdF776vuNQV4Hde6tSWm4caa2-c9dMILxs_J7FTA5K02bY6vgLopBMFbtoWAmrTHbHq_eA44zcx/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgX3N9lYrlSIEza3-KdN8TpJMmeToXAMNf3qF2m5WF2INBxa3MH7V_tILj990mOgFFdF776vuNQV4Hde6tSWm4caa2-c9dMILxs_J7FTA5K02bY6vgLopBMFbtoWAmrTHbHq_eA44zcx/s640/IMG_0419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then I went to <b>Thor</b>'s classroom (aka: Franklin). He was thrilled to see me, <i>but wanted to hold his teachers hand instead</i>, and walk with Spiderman (aka: Ryder).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8KBjcLZyF3F8WbN7g8meZRC4pJDITYb2UmsOCp8jMTgSLPIVrs6Ne7IJc8TPFPABX1IBK6xzAwdzkTqcj8DR6k6sscOM1kaNEf8dsSBFBUgmm6FvYC2HzhZUi4Cp8y2PDqLpBs7Q4l1K/s1600/IMG_0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8KBjcLZyF3F8WbN7g8meZRC4pJDITYb2UmsOCp8jMTgSLPIVrs6Ne7IJc8TPFPABX1IBK6xzAwdzkTqcj8DR6k6sscOM1kaNEf8dsSBFBUgmm6FvYC2HzhZUi4Cp8y2PDqLpBs7Q4l1K/s640/IMG_0417.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoLMGIhZY448vQHTv_1ViP6S4AR1UVRsXv0MSEa2DvYZJwkpzEoSDo_JKPqVVygg3WeHR6O2g0grBCKs7-jRnAJ1iDv6bAiJiZYiEjTqoZeBF5VMgk0N7JcW5VNAtS_JtJfPlWlHBI0ND/s1600/IMG_0431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoLMGIhZY448vQHTv_1ViP6S4AR1UVRsXv0MSEa2DvYZJwkpzEoSDo_JKPqVVygg3WeHR6O2g0grBCKs7-jRnAJ1iDv6bAiJiZYiEjTqoZeBF5VMgk0N7JcW5VNAtS_JtJfPlWlHBI0ND/s640/IMG_0431.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another parenting moment, where you are thrilled and sad at the same time. I was a little weepy on the way home, but I still have my <b>Supergirl</b> Coco to myself...<i>at least for now!</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07HnqYaDPVd8SlL2nnB0wWzkD9MoaBxxoiITWy_J2pFvBcunOCWCvvpubCuYvBSwxVadbIDivX_EidSpxfJwWyz5Ew0LFO5xYz0FG04U7MDMO5uPXcQiaHgqkZuQ-gnIBN8P4dt4hQOEu/s1600/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07HnqYaDPVd8SlL2nnB0wWzkD9MoaBxxoiITWy_J2pFvBcunOCWCvvpubCuYvBSwxVadbIDivX_EidSpxfJwWyz5Ew0LFO5xYz0FG04U7MDMO5uPXcQiaHgqkZuQ-gnIBN8P4dt4hQOEu/s640/IMG_0451.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-41657531586131301132011-10-26T11:23:00.000-07:002011-10-26T11:23:43.207-07:00Celebrating and Recovering<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We just came off what might be the <b>busiest</b> three weeks <i>of my
life.</i> It included lots of school activities and commitments, a traveling
husband, a visiting uncle, the half marathon, Vincent and Coco’s birthdays and
parties, and Patrick’s early birthday getaway. Throw in getting ready for
Halloween and doctors appointments, soccer, swim lessons, and all the
day-to-day stuff, and <i>I’m not going lie</i>, that <b>Xanax</b> prescription looked pretty
<b>damn tempting</b>! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I did a lot of it to myself. Growing up birthdays were a big
deal in my family, and I have <b>promised</b> myself that I will do the same for my
kids. It would be more manageable if each child had their own birthday month,
but with two kids sharing a birthday week, it is hard! <i>I want them both to feel
special.</i> I don’t want either to feel slighted because their birthdays are
within three days of each other. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenkW1a6jxfXpEXm1ZpfDSYBqsbtUkHi77g5H-nmrdr0iR6LmMtJeExn_gcOsxukc5uRYLZM0ZzSXpwZszkzRV50kqOdkbY50Oe8lyoNncAoQocQreE0WXspLFpAhyphenhyphen_SGUEHwPhlbfpfUJ/s1600/IMG_9735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenkW1a6jxfXpEXm1ZpfDSYBqsbtUkHi77g5H-nmrdr0iR6LmMtJeExn_gcOsxukc5uRYLZM0ZzSXpwZszkzRV50kqOdkbY50Oe8lyoNncAoQocQreE0WXspLFpAhyphenhyphen_SGUEHwPhlbfpfUJ/s640/IMG_9735.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Vincent turned five this year.</b> Where has the time gone? Was
it only five years ago that I could nap whenever I wanted and sleep in on the
weekends?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG0QUJXUBZc0KWmZ3xdFVyqyeLE8sffRo776mKl2ekDVcd-eGc3Sro7c8168fU7ZRGAmMexWaWNeM0pZK38Kg5TKq6ayaxwKmtE77RxbyNQIhXf7NE1OEXzGWKGDAFlMax8uFUt2JSlWo/s1600/IMG_9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG0QUJXUBZc0KWmZ3xdFVyqyeLE8sffRo776mKl2ekDVcd-eGc3Sro7c8168fU7ZRGAmMexWaWNeM0pZK38Kg5TKq6ayaxwKmtE77RxbyNQIhXf7NE1OEXzGWKGDAFlMax8uFUt2JSlWo/s640/IMG_9811.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We celebrated his birthday with cupcakes and presents and
his favorite meal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOgjig_uuyIZmoNPFpgAiB6cN02ZlDmL4JJ7yIt2YjmO3PGp0ph0Btw_0mNyivdNPBX7u4WkjcDzZ33eM1U4fuMa_UXcC5Egd-v_eNzAdt7QJzbduxy3jw1fT0GFwaKSRHgBoGCjKMV3e/s1600/IMG_9856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOgjig_uuyIZmoNPFpgAiB6cN02ZlDmL4JJ7yIt2YjmO3PGp0ph0Btw_0mNyivdNPBX7u4WkjcDzZ33eM1U4fuMa_UXcC5Egd-v_eNzAdt7QJzbduxy3jw1fT0GFwaKSRHgBoGCjKMV3e/s640/IMG_9856.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He had a birthday celebration at school, complete with fruit
kabobs and marshmallow pops.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3s9FWscB1Vonq0xhtb1rqcUiIMliRe_U1lqTSEV2m2FGdmdWNUxImzcaTcAMUc3vXEUEAcm6VyYIZ8B4LXHBJW91Phn-UT7LlKT1HhjjA3nH9y9-idjKErFEuJZNWoHry1z_mpylM6qp/s1600/IMG_9761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3s9FWscB1Vonq0xhtb1rqcUiIMliRe_U1lqTSEV2m2FGdmdWNUxImzcaTcAMUc3vXEUEAcm6VyYIZ8B4LXHBJW91Phn-UT7LlKT1HhjjA3nH9y9-idjKErFEuJZNWoHry1z_mpylM6qp/s640/IMG_9761.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Legos and Hex Bugs were a huge hit this year. <i>Franklin was
excited too.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWemDVEywhb2uFXbQvQRweLCGIFp1TlXRi3wxCU0T29oxn0YuwejApL71CVjyabckxK4If8046R7HrzFzpvgq9ci3NkcIX3eC3MENRcDny345xh0KelBbaX0hm_9qT4UK2YYClIoRnwD47/s1600/IMG_9877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWemDVEywhb2uFXbQvQRweLCGIFp1TlXRi3wxCU0T29oxn0YuwejApL71CVjyabckxK4If8046R7HrzFzpvgq9ci3NkcIX3eC3MENRcDny345xh0KelBbaX0hm_9qT4UK2YYClIoRnwD47/s640/IMG_9877.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Colette turned two,</b> three days later. She is such a sweet
girl, <i>my baby.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPK3ck2wGCouEw0SDFF08CW7hol3XjGyn2NKI7gbV_IIHrAG0fKYsjomnb44fRhL7CkjC1MTRiET9Ee9C4hGoO993k1BzRoLBOTyBtQPg4E7DyVUm6jIIx4fT8ZiQXioOg-VMyONy6gHN/s1600/IMG_9914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPK3ck2wGCouEw0SDFF08CW7hol3XjGyn2NKI7gbV_IIHrAG0fKYsjomnb44fRhL7CkjC1MTRiET9Ee9C4hGoO993k1BzRoLBOTyBtQPg4E7DyVUm6jIIx4fT8ZiQXioOg-VMyONy6gHN/s640/IMG_9914.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Colette got a cake and presents.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUui3Z4awGmuPfor16Q0eNW7VQXPaTBtDm4bh5AUi9ZuckMaJXOW_xW5qOrdAFpf_SyhRi_SkxFY2ieP2cCp2BZmKTVp_iA1yAGIluR7JS-whNUXFJD39ayvKOHC08dARG0Mo9ocnSac7/s1600/IMG_9889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUui3Z4awGmuPfor16Q0eNW7VQXPaTBtDm4bh5AUi9ZuckMaJXOW_xW5qOrdAFpf_SyhRi_SkxFY2ieP2cCp2BZmKTVp_iA1yAGIluR7JS-whNUXFJD39ayvKOHC08dARG0Mo9ocnSac7/s640/IMG_9889.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She loves her babies, and princesses and Dora, and Scooby
Doo.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We finished the week with a joint party, <i>something I don’t
think I will be able to get away with forever,</i> but Vincent happily agreed to
this year. We are <b>blessed</b> to have such amazing friends and an awesome school
community.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9Cw_pbE6QwhrpJI58cxSRIowZmxr8jpuRZYI2QA47f2nbxFmWTiE4Vly7Uv360t48DHQvPHaZJHnnQ-Ggtw40n5t2peSyrtjJnbLz-bAGvaC6Pd-05x1yRzHk46IHttDA8W1NYeaLKYA/s1600/IMG_9942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9Cw_pbE6QwhrpJI58cxSRIowZmxr8jpuRZYI2QA47f2nbxFmWTiE4Vly7Uv360t48DHQvPHaZJHnnQ-Ggtw40n5t2peSyrtjJnbLz-bAGvaC6Pd-05x1yRzHk46IHttDA8W1NYeaLKYA/s640/IMG_9942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNp0JDje2q82HjayaBsVDzIRxB_ZeQ3xWlYBPuDEcoinHOolAEoxQ79xYc6VEI4LOn-eVvelSklnPtIcuRyqRshWeUcZXFvdGW43yRJ53khEhxnZBuPtnCEpeVJFYnFBna919UeldQoWv/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNp0JDje2q82HjayaBsVDzIRxB_ZeQ3xWlYBPuDEcoinHOolAEoxQ79xYc6VEI4LOn-eVvelSklnPtIcuRyqRshWeUcZXFvdGW43yRJ53khEhxnZBuPtnCEpeVJFYnFBna919UeldQoWv/s640/IMG_0011.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I love my little Libras</b>, <i>both born on Wednesdays</i>. They are
kind and loving and concerned for others. They are helpful and obedient.
Vincent is a pleaser and a perfectionist, which can cause him frustration. Coco
is fastidious and girly. As Coco gets older I see so much of Vincent in her.
They both ask for permission to do things and say sorry and please and thank
you without being prompted. I would like to say that this is the product of
brilliant parenting and take full credit for their awesomeness, but then there
is Franklin who totally shoots the nurture theory to you-know-where. <i>Franklin
is awesome too, just in different ways!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So,<b> happy birthday to my oldest and my youngest</b>. Mommy and
daddy love you and are so proud of the children you are becoming.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vr7tnVONceTClYkcQYeO8Su-iS21VU-wIectWzY1POEBRKCs32_qcM9-1ugMmuRc47GwE4Lp6yQizEQ6kug4b05fDI3VzeJsfDrWowBdA2pfZieriqsSE7Xo1u5uzN1KuQcQkoawFozu/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vr7tnVONceTClYkcQYeO8Su-iS21VU-wIectWzY1POEBRKCs32_qcM9-1ugMmuRc47GwE4Lp6yQizEQ6kug4b05fDI3VzeJsfDrWowBdA2pfZieriqsSE7Xo1u5uzN1KuQcQkoawFozu/s640/IMG_0141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Will someone please remind me about October in June? I need
a lot of time to get ready.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-20766800235472962042011-10-12T08:11:00.000-07:002011-10-12T08:24:27.311-07:00Diet Coke Detox Diary<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>68</o:Words> <o:characters>388</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>476</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">About two years ago I realized that aspartame wrecks havoc on my system. Now, I don’t consume anything with aspartame, including diet soda. <b>Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda</b> is a totally different story, and has been my go to non-alcoholic beverage ever since. I can easily chug a six-pack a day. <i>I have come to realize it is a sickness.</i> Therefore, I’ve decided to break my addiction to Diet Coke with Splenda. In an effort to be held accountable, I give you my progress.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqJe1jXhVWLyXNBGKZOU90WOWYUyz7qomyXA8MLEZJtQzcBNZP9EzXtfW86VSUz1HASxvEoT-8rx5v_n1KNuYMziQwg9HPLA0X4edksZfY81GC-SS83z6kPsuOALVGlFl9DuHUS1mVUc6/s1600/4xDC.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqJe1jXhVWLyXNBGKZOU90WOWYUyz7qomyXA8MLEZJtQzcBNZP9EzXtfW86VSUz1HASxvEoT-8rx5v_n1KNuYMziQwg9HPLA0X4edksZfY81GC-SS83z6kPsuOALVGlFl9DuHUS1mVUc6/s400/4xDC.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662623997153472802" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>153</o:Words> <o:characters>874</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1073</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Day 1- Wednesday:</b> It is rainy and dreary out. I get lots of emails and baking done. The kids are playing together nicely, shooting each other with their new cap guns. I drink coffee most the day because it is cold out. This seems to help me not think about DCw/S and I don’t go through caffeine withdrawals. My friend is in labor, so that is also a nice distraction- <i>for me, not her!</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><b>Day 2- Thursday:</b> My Godson is born. I have a lot to do before I can get to the hospital for a visit. I don’t have time to think about my addiction, or partake in it. I drink an ice tea in the evening. It’s no soda, but it is better than water. When I return from the hospital I tell Patrick that I am giving up DCw/S, his response is, <i>“Why the hell are you doing that? DCw/Splenda is your thing.”</i> I explain to him that it is full of chemicals and that the hot doctor on <b>The Doctors</b> says you shouldn’t drink it. Plus, it is expensive considering how many I drink daily. More importantly, my stockpile has run out and I refuse to shop at chain grocery stores. <i>He laughs at me.</i></span><!--EndFragment--> </span> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFsY0Shz_DbHd1_EnkihB84yijAfvlWLpWZTt9SmCHmQ3LCjxo-kQZdsXBSK72FxXfqBu0TcNc4RGSi_3XjgtfIIRzBx-CntapXZ5I9V-hNFIGBD0rU5yAUvXq2RpPQDXsbf51dXFaeML/s1600/DC+w%253AS.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFsY0Shz_DbHd1_EnkihB84yijAfvlWLpWZTt9SmCHmQ3LCjxo-kQZdsXBSK72FxXfqBu0TcNc4RGSi_3XjgtfIIRzBx-CntapXZ5I9V-hNFIGBD0rU5yAUvXq2RpPQDXsbf51dXFaeML/s400/DC+w%253AS.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662624000487657714" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>144</o:Words> <o:characters>823</o:Characters> <o:lines>6</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1010</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Day 3- Friday:</b> I cling to my morning cup of coffee like a junkie to a cigarette. I’m sluggish in Zumba. I tell my friend Bridget that I am on day 3 of DCw/S detox. She gives me a <i>horrified</i> look and asks if I have given up all caffeine. I tell her I haven’t, and am trying to drink tea instead of soda. She informs me that tea makes her stomach upset. I mentally file this away in case I fall off the wagon and need a plausible excuse as to why. I suffer my first caffeine withdrawal headache. I try not to snap at the children. <i>I snap at the children.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><b>Day 4- Saturday:</b> Patrick’s brother Jimmy was in town for business this week so we got to spend the day with him. We went to lunch (iced tea for me) and played around at his suite at the St. Regis. Then we hit the beach for an hour or so. The kids had fun running from the waves. I don’t know what it is about the beach- maybe the glare off the water and sand, but I never leave without a headache. A venti Starbucks iced coffee was needed stat.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span> <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbddeIUA2CoTTPb8D-5PrG4g3UFW1GVNPa_B4EV7oN-iyitx7KQ-JUcVe60QscSC6rgPFPH5b5iQg3fMKC-uEsv6cgsCKgQVELIn2iU4TlKwfOuci4nEVlfqyixuQqADvlH6bBPe06SBa/s1600/Run+Long+Beach.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbddeIUA2CoTTPb8D-5PrG4g3UFW1GVNPa_B4EV7oN-iyitx7KQ-JUcVe60QscSC6rgPFPH5b5iQg3fMKC-uEsv6cgsCKgQVELIn2iU4TlKwfOuci4nEVlfqyixuQqADvlH6bBPe06SBa/s400/Run+Long+Beach.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662623989349521330" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>147</o:Words> <o:characters>842</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1034</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Day 5- Sunday:</b> I realized when I got up in the morning that this was probably the worst week, besides next week, to start my detox. This realization came at 5:30 in the morning when I hit bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway. <b>At 5:50 a.m.!</b> I was armed with my coffee, and pushed through. I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon and met my time goal. They had coconut water at the finish line. <i>It has a lot of electrolytes but it tastes like ass.</i> In the evening Patrick and I hit Toys R Us for some birthday present shopping. I really needed a pick me up, but I resisted. Patrick still doesn’t understand why I am doing this- <i>he is probably concerned for the children. </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><b>Day 6- Monday: </b>We are gearing up for a crazy busy week. Additionally, it is the day of the week that I try to get the big household chores done. My feet hurt from kicking so much butt last week. I don’t really want a DC today, until Monday Night Football. If the Bears win, I win the pool for the week. <i>The Bears lose</i>, so I tie with my best friend. <b>Ugh!</b></span><!--EndFragment--> </span><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxqvqinJbieCUhZ0Q0gmcNrT559hrtvBFwYEgbVIQdadAbW9EVMVrGETZ7B_Iy8w1PmAroxfHmGmE5t0I2TH-KMUJFLSMts1oD5mfhiORAXQnyu35ejk3ZpccOyLLhmtvn_48eRG6Us4Q/s1600/IMG_9818.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxqvqinJbieCUhZ0Q0gmcNrT559hrtvBFwYEgbVIQdadAbW9EVMVrGETZ7B_Iy8w1PmAroxfHmGmE5t0I2TH-KMUJFLSMts1oD5mfhiORAXQnyu35ejk3ZpccOyLLhmtvn_48eRG6Us4Q/s400/IMG_9818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662623987452864610" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>78</o:Words> <o:characters>447</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>548</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Day 7- Tuesday:</b> It is Vincent’s <b>fifth</b> birthday! <i>Where has the time gone?</i> I am helping with picture day at school, I have a birthday party, a class party, and two at home celebrations to prep for, as well as soccer camp stuff to get ready and the photo fundraiser this weekend. Coco and I are away from the house all day. Patrick picks up ice cream for the cake on the way home, and offers to pick up “anything else”. I know this is code for DC w/S. <i>But I don’t want it.</i> This is the first day I haven’t NEEDED it. We celebrate VW at home in the evening. No DC for me- cake helps.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-73089064369454196832011-10-07T13:21:00.001-07:002011-10-07T13:33:43.626-07:00Welcome Dominic!<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>106</o:Words> <o:characters>607</o:Characters> <o:lines>5</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>745</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I think if you ask most parents they will agree that <b>nothing</b> transforms your life as much as the birth of your first child. You focus changes from yourself to this new little life you have been entrusted with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You suddenly become acutely aware of the fact that <b>you don’t know anything! </b>I remember when Patrick and I became parents. There was so much we didn’t know. But we muddled through it. Everyone survived. We were better with subsequent babies. <i>They also survived.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">This shift has begun for my dear friends <b>NaKesha and David</b> as they welcomed their first child, <b>Dominic</b> into the world yesterday...after 26 hours (<i>yes, 26 HOURS</i>) of labor, a fact I’m sure he will hear from his mother many, <i>many</i><span style="font-style:normal"> times. <b>He is perfect in every way.</b></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6izTrZwTc3_WiYmHXjTiE1yVfGJBTks6vp9IpX3xHLAucxMvvfECLOxB4_zElDMUYGjQsh-LtuIbLRMpH6XihAvj56GdqfgcuwbLmWZfZ4qcQfVxzPxdoMCad7jee5P3WoPVbkK2fFzI/s1600/IMG_0192.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6izTrZwTc3_WiYmHXjTiE1yVfGJBTks6vp9IpX3xHLAucxMvvfECLOxB4_zElDMUYGjQsh-LtuIbLRMpH6XihAvj56GdqfgcuwbLmWZfZ4qcQfVxzPxdoMCad7jee5P3WoPVbkK2fFzI/s400/IMG_0192.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660848480267357714" /></a><br /><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>166</o:Words> <o:characters>950</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1166</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">As you learn to be a parent, there will always be questions that only time, and the baby, will answer. When he is an<b> infant </b>you wonder when he will sleep through the night. Does he like to be swaddled? Will he take a pacifier? When will he smile, and will it be at me? Is he going to keep that red hair? Will it get redder?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When they are <b>toddlers</b>: Will he talk early? Will he be afraid of the dog? When will he get rid of those diapers? Does he like tacos, or prefer spaghetti? Will he be a morning person or a night owl? Is he going to sleep with that lovey until he is a teenager? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When they are <b>school age</b>: Will he be the class clown or a bookworm? Will he make friends easily? Will he prefer the arts, or sports, or enjoy volunteering? Does he need glasses? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">As a <b>teenager</b>: Will he choose the right friends? Where will he go to college? Will he break curfew? Will the cops call me if he does? Will he be a safe driver? When will he learn to do his own laundry?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>26</o:Words> <o:characters>153</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>187</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">And as an <b>adult</b>: Will he be a doctor or <i>God forbid,</i><span style="font-style:normal"> an attorney? Maybe a landscape architect, or a priest? Will he get married and have kids? Will he travel the world or be a homebody?</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--EndFragment--></span><p></p> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB1_MLwfpbeYNd30JSs_v6qV2-kX-9ZmX3mBQaOI8MUKVB8o_yjdqwwwkRXnIDJuW11SLrfsaWGPCncRxmJGEWSkMUY8-_1Am_L9-X9zJ1euVfGptmLTypCyhGqbMzVgy6XoHWX-Ui4K4/s1600/IMG_0198.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB1_MLwfpbeYNd30JSs_v6qV2-kX-9ZmX3mBQaOI8MUKVB8o_yjdqwwwkRXnIDJuW11SLrfsaWGPCncRxmJGEWSkMUY8-_1Am_L9-X9zJ1euVfGptmLTypCyhGqbMzVgy6XoHWX-Ui4K4/s400/IMG_0198.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660848472591376994" /></a><br /></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>61</o:Words> <o:characters>348</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>427</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Only time will answer these questions, but no matter what Dominic does or becomes one thing is known-<b> he will always be loved</b>. Loved by his parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, maybe one day his brothers and/or sisters. And <b>always</b> by Patrick and I, his Godparents. <b><i>Always.</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Thank you NaKesha and David for humbling us with the honor and privilege of being a special part of Dominic’s life. We <i>promise</i> to be a support to you and him. <b><i>Always.</i></b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sqnSu64kL0UOzleQ0wipSK2ykuAjlQl_8sQi9NrQFiYsAL9wQqQruopUDW5t9ePnnGBEQgvlEbgXNWkSA5twkYTBfMwiauotXbeHVyfwm7i_MBg0QF5k52TYlGlUFp87UMDNWGv_37qc/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sqnSu64kL0UOzleQ0wipSK2ykuAjlQl_8sQi9NrQFiYsAL9wQqQruopUDW5t9ePnnGBEQgvlEbgXNWkSA5twkYTBfMwiauotXbeHVyfwm7i_MBg0QF5k52TYlGlUFp87UMDNWGv_37qc/s400/IMG_0195.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660848468222640322" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-20402674519009241262011-10-04T13:21:00.001-07:002011-10-04T14:02:14.104-07:00Good Pickin'<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>147</o:Words> <o:characters>842</o:Characters> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1034</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">For the last few years I have been wanting to take the kids <b>apple picking</b>. It seems like there was always something that prohibited it. Last year we were getting ready for the kids’ Godmother’s wedding. <i>I’m sure those apostrophes are all wrong. I apologize to the grammar police out there.</i> The year before that Colette was an infant. This year I found only one weekend day from September thru November where nothing was planned, therefore I had no excuses.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">With super hero movies in the DVD player, we headed about 2 hours southeast to <b>Julian</b>, which by Southern California standards, is apple country.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">After careful research (we <b>Yelped</b> it- <i>duh</i>), we decided on two orchards to visit.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The first was <b>Raven Hill Orchards</b>. The orchard is run by Irish brothers, complete with heavy accents, and they have 7 varieties of dwarf apple trees- perfect for the kids to reach. The end of the rows are marked with the varietals, <i>but the owner told us the best thing to do was eat the fruit off the trees to decide what we wanted. </i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtw1QGKTAUQgEf-FPENCcgECTE-q1H67oexrF15HJ2AYx2CIVhabDKkDl1G6GtzjxTw37bz0IEeODVmmMc5tnQkMY-ecFjWbDzwpW2QW4HPYNvW2j3QAet_5rJQ4j00JVOdMMu73CPTJ5/s1600/IMG_9656.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtw1QGKTAUQgEf-FPENCcgECTE-q1H67oexrF15HJ2AYx2CIVhabDKkDl1G6GtzjxTw37bz0IEeODVmmMc5tnQkMY-ecFjWbDzwpW2QW4HPYNvW2j3QAet_5rJQ4j00JVOdMMu73CPTJ5/s400/IMG_9656.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740945628172162" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>11</o:Words> <o:characters>67</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>82</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Vincent reminded me that his favorite apples are <b>Fujis</b>, so we started our search.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny8pWF0z44E4KyRa2BWgYJUQB3ZnhzxdoDgfv4IOyuISusw3IJg7a2GcMR0bnMc6AgnKbLCy-GklHLy1icug-7IEACY2lKS9NxC6O2AWzzDFa3n1GqZjATKZx6gYu3tMcrYGn6lwvmgPV/s1600/IMG_9661.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny8pWF0z44E4KyRa2BWgYJUQB3ZnhzxdoDgfv4IOyuISusw3IJg7a2GcMR0bnMc6AgnKbLCy-GklHLy1icug-7IEACY2lKS9NxC6O2AWzzDFa3n1GqZjATKZx6gYu3tMcrYGn6lwvmgPV/s400/IMG_9661.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740940558937714" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>13</o:Words> <o:characters>77</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>94</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We often forgot to look at the end markers, so we took the owners advice and <b>ate as we went. </b></span></span></div><div><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0tBHHR5fiYHF4PjKNQ20lof97lpJNbn__oZHCjOijtk037MstSDp0s9oIXdpfBw8GXa5g__kkBE7GP6HgGYHtREFcHC10fvVnrEIqto5oGohjOxCKEy0Cov5VFcxOJatrH31waDfS8t0/s1600/IMG_9670.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0tBHHR5fiYHF4PjKNQ20lof97lpJNbn__oZHCjOijtk037MstSDp0s9oIXdpfBw8GXa5g__kkBE7GP6HgGYHtREFcHC10fvVnrEIqto5oGohjOxCKEy0Cov5VFcxOJatrH31waDfS8t0/s400/IMG_9670.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740936106380370" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1</o:Words> <o:characters>8</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>9</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And ate. </span><!--EndFragment--> </b></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5dMCf6EgC-Jvh68SgdPvL7avseufIF5q3wUt_6I1gDH4Z4w3VnU36ATD-sbvLLVXcjc07uYX9aXQ3ujclS7bajskOmT7XfgD_9gMygazJ6mX72vDBqu5Bfe_BwL5hCNr9xK3TFjwdHr/s1600/IMG_9691.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5dMCf6EgC-Jvh68SgdPvL7avseufIF5q3wUt_6I1gDH4Z4w3VnU36ATD-sbvLLVXcjc07uYX9aXQ3ujclS7bajskOmT7XfgD_9gMygazJ6mX72vDBqu5Bfe_BwL5hCNr9xK3TFjwdHr/s400/IMG_9691.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740934319419298" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1</o:Words> <o:characters>8</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>9</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><b><i>And ate. </i></b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">About 45 minutes into our picking, Vinny bit into an apple and declared it a Fuji. <i>I gave Patrick a skeptical glance</i>, but when we got to the row marker, sure enough, it was a Fuji! The kid knows his apples!</span><!--EndFragment--> </span> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrCg8f05cc5AnWFFhVisTk-6y_PGZiDBn85OFPE3yXaIbHhkohs0lgKlUjsrrywKpezrlqJEyU_tsZbO2OSe_34N3UDW951QcW5wYhTZ890KiRGjv_YM2QioEAlXZn81940fDTwqc9CWK/s1600/IMG_9707.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrCg8f05cc5AnWFFhVisTk-6y_PGZiDBn85OFPE3yXaIbHhkohs0lgKlUjsrrywKpezrlqJEyU_tsZbO2OSe_34N3UDW951QcW5wYhTZ890KiRGjv_YM2QioEAlXZn81940fDTwqc9CWK/s400/IMG_9707.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740044646896146" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>6</o:Words> <o:characters>39</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>47</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Franklin had fun running up and down the rows.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xmA-p9I8IkjAPdw8rZHSVWjRlRsVY9-J5Kn65uabqFCf6qivvytVCp3r5ErutDw0WmLK6Yta83k9eKSRo34cUd2B0ZErkC7ho3WdYBLgJqrPxqAvpcc-gRpuqCqBgMR1DRBDCVFAc_tu/s1600/IMG_9710.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xmA-p9I8IkjAPdw8rZHSVWjRlRsVY9-J5Kn65uabqFCf6qivvytVCp3r5ErutDw0WmLK6Yta83k9eKSRo34cUd2B0ZErkC7ho3WdYBLgJqrPxqAvpcc-gRpuqCqBgMR1DRBDCVFAc_tu/s400/IMG_9710.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740042153287474" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>27</o:Words> <o:characters>157</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>192</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We picked <b>Empires and Pippins, McIntoshs and Fujis</b>. I think each child consumed five apples in the hour we spent roaming around. Patrick and I ate a few too. <i>It would have been rude not to.</i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG_A2sMWfnQVRhJd-ENtSDHAYq5kmcj9q3gMD4R42vAnr-zNEXdtEXZ0_xDJYaUwtDH-okQUY0OIpSYDxQu20CuKg2ZY9oe9FXEw4enoqH_-Pjf0gOO3qCNWbY_MhsbJqwIHcuF-rUbVT/s1600/IMG_0173.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG_A2sMWfnQVRhJd-ENtSDHAYq5kmcj9q3gMD4R42vAnr-zNEXdtEXZ0_xDJYaUwtDH-okQUY0OIpSYDxQu20CuKg2ZY9oe9FXEw4enoqH_-Pjf0gOO3qCNWbY_MhsbJqwIHcuF-rUbVT/s400/IMG_0173.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659740036266136642" /></a><br /></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>68</o:Words> <o:characters>390</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>478</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Our second stop was <b>O’Dell’s Organic Orchard</b> where we got to pick pears. Tasting was not encouraged, but the kids did it anyways. I have to admit that after the apple tasting it was hard to tell the kids not to sample the fruit. <i>So I joined in</i>. We decided the uglier the fruit the better it tasted. We then sought out the lumpiest, most multicolored pears we could find. We picked <b>Bartletts, Anjous, and Boscs</b>. The orchard also has chickens and horses, and farm equipment.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYdzCOV5vcGET50ZacqMSzuGRARnYk2VW2sa1_TvhJFYSgQyspzZw_krMLXZmRFwNZd0aW7wJwBTSZcudSE-TYtBsBECPUGn7Syq8NqLoEXuhbow9_SM-K5_AN8dkBemHSjIHa42yLwnh/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYdzCOV5vcGET50ZacqMSzuGRARnYk2VW2sa1_TvhJFYSgQyspzZw_krMLXZmRFwNZd0aW7wJwBTSZcudSE-TYtBsBECPUGn7Syq8NqLoEXuhbow9_SM-K5_AN8dkBemHSjIHa42yLwnh/s400/IMG_9728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659739446922336482" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>76</o:Words> <o:characters>434</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>532</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We went for BBQ for lunch. It was good, but living in the South for a few years has ruined all hopes I have of finding decent BBQ in CA. A big shout out to <b><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g49026-d398573-Reviews-Gary_s_Barbecue-China_Grove_North_Carolina.html">Gary’s in China Grove, NC</a></b> and to <b>Kelly and Scotty</b> for introducing us to it. <i>We miss you guys.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">On the way out of town we stopped at the <b><a href="http://www.julianpie.com/indexNext.html">Julian Pie Company</a></b> to pick up a whole dutch apple to go. At this point in the day I had 14 pounds of apples in the car, and could have baked my own pie, but I <s>was tired</s> like to support the local economy. <i>It was the right thing to do.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>31</o:Words> <o:characters>179</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>219</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When we got home I told the kids we were having pie and ice cream for dinner. They didn’t believe me until it showed up on their dinner plate. It was declared the <b>best dinner ever</b>. Fitting for the <b>best family day ever</b>.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> </p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijevTvmctTh6fVW1WDzmpjLcIjH8XMkwg13jnPGGEW9Za0Zmy2lI6Z_cWwwXIoKQ4_wlmwyuuW3XncoeSjEYn-GUxRXH6KOBzN-T7AB5Y5zztyzUBwRFfBbWUqa6y2-s9geYRfIk5LUtd/s1600/IMG_9715.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijevTvmctTh6fVW1WDzmpjLcIjH8XMkwg13jnPGGEW9Za0Zmy2lI6Z_cWwwXIoKQ4_wlmwyuuW3XncoeSjEYn-GUxRXH6KOBzN-T7AB5Y5zztyzUBwRFfBbWUqa6y2-s9geYRfIk5LUtd/s400/IMG_9715.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659739439892546850" /></a><br /><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>9</o:Words> <o:characters>54</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>66</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Now what am I going to do with 20 lbs of fresh apples and pears?</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-31847010642135236872011-09-30T14:17:00.001-07:002011-09-30T14:25:53.930-07:00Pumpkins and a Grocery Store Tangent<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>84</o:Words> <o:characters>484</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>594</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">While I am still wondering where the first 9 months of the year went, I am <b>so jazzed that tomorrow is October 1.</b> I think of October as the month of all things pumpkin...<i>including my two little pumpkins born in the middle of the month. </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Pumpkin is a wonderful source of beta-carotene and potassium, and very versatile in baking. When you add pumpkin to a recipe there is no need for added oils. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Taking this into consideration <i>and acknowledging the importance of a healthy lifestyle</i>, I decided to make these <a href="http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/11/pumpkin-white-chocolate-chunk-and-candied-ginger-blondies/">Pumpkin White Chocolate Chunk and Candied Ginger Blondies</a> from Picky Palate.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><!--EndFragment--> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwVcekj3E3ahRxZdrhZX6SuuomQKFj4aooH3rxvk64ACg2FLwFzcf_PegzeOy21sBJSXCXcqEJopIJ4ZFlG3GG8018l3AsBK1dcWVTxexhxF37HY0QB3bSeRatSvXQSmVOPU8wRKAeCRQ/s1600/pumpkin+brownies.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwVcekj3E3ahRxZdrhZX6SuuomQKFj4aooH3rxvk64ACg2FLwFzcf_PegzeOy21sBJSXCXcqEJopIJ4ZFlG3GG8018l3AsBK1dcWVTxexhxF37HY0QB3bSeRatSvXQSmVOPU8wRKAeCRQ/s400/pumpkin+brownies.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658265207437457090" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>232</o:Words> <o:characters>1324</o:Characters> <o:lines>11</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1625</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I did it for my healthy...<i>because pumpkin is so nutritious.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>These blondies are super yummy.</b> They sound very sweet, but they really aren’t- they have a perfect balance of pumpkin, spice and chocolate. The ginger candies on top add a nice kick, but are a bit much for my kids. If you are not a fan of ginger candy, leave them off- they are an acquired taste, in my opinion. These blondies are just good without them.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">For those of you who are not fans of white chocolate chips, <b>I highly recommend the white chocolate baking bars from Trader Joes</b>. They don’t have that fake chocolate taste and can easily be chopped up in place of chips.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Speaking of Trader Joes‘s, I have completely stopped shopping at the grocery store. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I have been a captive to the big chain grocery stores for years because it was the only place I could shop and keep all three children contained in one cart. Now that the boys have enough self-control to walk in the store without touching everything <i>or breaking out in a wrestling match</i>, I have a lot more freedom to shop where I want. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Trader Joes is my go to store. </b>They are clean and well stocked, prices are competitive and often pretty cheap, and the employees are pleasant and helpful- <i>what a concept!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><i> </i> </span>I was already sick of the awful customer service and quickly rising prices at the big chain<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>stores, but this summer when they announced the stalled union contract negotiations and potential for another grocery worker strike I decided to stop shopping at traditional groceries all together.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">If it is not stocked at Trader Joes, Sprouts, Costco or Target, I don’t need it. </span><!--EndFragment--> </span><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipE_Cv_KmltbY9sQD-9wY8KyLct4u-XvH2n8CBSkaB6oT-7dPXzqgNKeu9C9KuEpL1JafGVQWW0a1MH8O8HpzKMPp3yQVeaKcaFmyFKrv59F0CfKtcWStTrDF3OmminNcZ243BZ9tdK2mO/s1600/IMG_9636.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipE_Cv_KmltbY9sQD-9wY8KyLct4u-XvH2n8CBSkaB6oT-7dPXzqgNKeu9C9KuEpL1JafGVQWW0a1MH8O8HpzKMPp3yQVeaKcaFmyFKrv59F0CfKtcWStTrDF3OmminNcZ243BZ9tdK2mO/s400/IMG_9636.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658265206899859218" /></a><br /><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>27</o:Words> <o:characters>154</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>189</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I was able to get all the blondie ingredients at Trader Joes and the kids picked out this happy but <b>ugly pumpkin</b> for the porch. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">Go enjoy some pumpkin yumminess. Happy October everyone!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-3765581166797872152011-09-26T15:22:00.001-07:002011-09-26T15:45:59.861-07:00Wisdom Teeth, Tomato Soup and Tyler Florence<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>213</o:Words> <o:characters>1215</o:Characters> <o:lines>10</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1492</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">As I told you last week, we have had a lot of dental appointments this September. <b>My poor sweet husband had the unpleasant one.</b> Patrick had four wisdon teeth removed. He also had a molar removed, which was cracked due to the wisdom teeth. Then there was a bone graph...because of the lost molar...due to the wisdom teeth. <i>It is a vicious cycle.</i> Anyways, the poor guy has had it rough the past week. His jaw is still sore and the bland diet he has been adhering to is boring. I bet he is dreaming of <s>me</s> <b>Doritos</b> at night.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In other September news, our <b>tomato plants</b> are still insane. It has gotten to the point that I cannot use the tomatoes fast enough. We have given them to friends, piled them on salads, topped tacos, added them to pasta and quinoa, made fresh salsa and guacamole and Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Given Patrick’s current state and our out of control garden, I figured it was time to call in the big guns- enter the <b>Barefoot Contessa</b>. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Are you familiar with the Barefoot Contessa? Her real name is Ina Garten and she is a cookbook author and TV host on the Food Network. I’m going to keep it real here and admit that <b>she kind of creeps me out</b>. She has been married to her husband Jeffery for over 40 years. She speaks very fondly of him on the show...<i>often and in a weird way.</i> Then at the end of most of the episodes he shows up to eat. The whole thing gives me the willies. If you have seen the show you might know what I’m talking about...<i>or maybe it’s just me.</i></span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UD8PZoySnMuCihT4bKwSIQNn4_FJQHgO8hfV2RhqwOhhgftm9hGDFqmPwFkbDmatL6cq4axKsbQZIzPmTuDjv9lm2kPN9T0jRgMsSZC_3o7fnTazP0AFln-Ak8ak_S98ujfPWKQxnESE/s1600/FoodNetworkHumor.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UD8PZoySnMuCihT4bKwSIQNn4_FJQHgO8hfV2RhqwOhhgftm9hGDFqmPwFkbDmatL6cq4axKsbQZIzPmTuDjv9lm2kPN9T0jRgMsSZC_3o7fnTazP0AFln-Ak8ak_S98ujfPWKQxnESE/s400/FoodNetworkHumor.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656797612792432578" /></a><br /><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>62</o:Words> <o:characters>358</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>439</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Anyways, she has a couple things going for her. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>First</b>, I have never tried one of her recipes that I didn’t want to make again, and again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Second</b>, and more importantly, she is <b>NOT</b> skinny. This is good because <b>I do not trust a skinny food professional</b>. Paula Dean, Emeril Lagassee, Mario Batali and Ina Garten could all stand to drop a few lbs, but as food professionals it is necessary for them to maintain a certain weight for <b>credibility</b>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyad9U-Cyli0BrDBlfhbbmCxmCGi2p32q9ZoSZIjj_rzNWrM7Pn4yKUSqiEWytjBWxL8t36voiG-5_D_YCTeDQwDPTv3fb1n1QJdhbw32LF9-LVQDshVKmz4u7UCQj9GnVILvLX9k-YsLy/s1600/TF-+Stirring+the+pot.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyad9U-Cyli0BrDBlfhbbmCxmCGi2p32q9ZoSZIjj_rzNWrM7Pn4yKUSqiEWytjBWxL8t36voiG-5_D_YCTeDQwDPTv3fb1n1QJdhbw32LF9-LVQDshVKmz4u7UCQj9GnVILvLX9k-YsLy/s400/TF-+Stirring+the+pot.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656797610863400850" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>11</o:Words> <o:characters>66</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>81</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">And a quick shout-out to <b>Tyler Florence</b>...you are <i>perfect</i> just the way you are! </span></span></div><div><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbP0ed6B0PiAcOuDdN5swRt3fDuGtaQny5vcbYXP_ox6N2kVtCsc43dkIWjCJ64zXp8o9LAB_MZMUTzmIbyHTpePoHFw3aKaP00PXiFLYhVZl77AZ8NWD870poOOF54-HNISK5iZl5ti4/s1600/TF-Jeffrey+Ufberg.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbP0ed6B0PiAcOuDdN5swRt3fDuGtaQny5vcbYXP_ox6N2kVtCsc43dkIWjCJ64zXp8o9LAB_MZMUTzmIbyHTpePoHFw3aKaP00PXiFLYhVZl77AZ8NWD870poOOF54-HNISK5iZl5ti4/s400/TF-Jeffrey+Ufberg.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656797604463328258" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">photo credit: Jeffery Ufberg</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><b>PERFECT!</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I made Patrick this <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cream-of-fresh-tomato-soup-recipe/index.html"><b>Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup</b></a> from Ina Garten this weekend. It did not disappoint. Vincent ate a whole bowl of it and sopped up what he couldn’t spoon with sourdough bread. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Colette fell asleep at the table after eating hers. This alone merits my praise- <i>it’s like a lullaby in a bowl! </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Patrick got a nice reprieve from yogurt and applesauce, and t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">he garden is four-pounds-of-tomatoes lighter. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><b>Perfect.</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0YHp-8STLDll9Kwv0TT2QDIxm9c-l7L1S183n-inMqb8_xYD1kW-ytbluxF2if5XDZVloRSlnAR4xyXLpRuEqZyECs69zLj49w1t24V4yGRmyWLbdu4jXeemg__2S0EOnvoyPrd7jU1Y/s1600/tyler+with+pepper+mill.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0YHp-8STLDll9Kwv0TT2QDIxm9c-l7L1S183n-inMqb8_xYD1kW-ytbluxF2if5XDZVloRSlnAR4xyXLpRuEqZyECs69zLj49w1t24V4yGRmyWLbdu4jXeemg__2S0EOnvoyPrd7jU1Y/s400/tyler+with+pepper+mill.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656797601361906722" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">photo credit: Southern Living Magazine</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><b>PERFECT!!!</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-69253637530735848202011-09-23T08:28:00.000-07:002011-09-23T08:28:58.358-07:00Happy First Day of Fall!<style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I love FALL! I adore just about everything <span style="font-style: italic;">fallish</span>, from football to apple picking.<span style=""> </span>Here are the things I am most looking forward to this Fall 2011:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O27dkcPysjcjNtDRdDjN9NJqkZIUA0lCO7k3oQ3whhfhALBhqRr0kU8QHJijzNpoEDGJBUTSKIwMJ9ZdLnOoZCd6x2Hq_2hyphenhyphenImj0RXm73TfzXdih2f57HW8Grad8AwIxuFdVXwlLnAdm/s1600/pumpkin+muffins.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O27dkcPysjcjNtDRdDjN9NJqkZIUA0lCO7k3oQ3whhfhALBhqRr0kU8QHJijzNpoEDGJBUTSKIwMJ9ZdLnOoZCd6x2Hq_2hyphenhyphenImj0RXm73TfzXdih2f57HW8Grad8AwIxuFdVXwlLnAdm/s400/pumpkin+muffins.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416442976528930" border="0" /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Pumpkin muffins are the easiest thing in the world to bake and they make your house smell super yummy. It is like having a cupcake for breakfast...not that I have ever done that. <span style="font-style: italic;">Never</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ever.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">There was a canned pumpkin shortage last year, so if you plan on making anything with canned pumpkin this season, stock up. I would hate for anyone to miss out on “getting your pumpkin on.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the recipe I like to use for <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/09/easy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/">Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins</a>, from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Best Bites</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">It’s very complicated.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Soups</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- In my book, the most homey comfort food is a big bowl of soup, preferably with a crusty bread, but at least with crackers. You can find my favorite taco soup recipe <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://moms4xanax.blogspot.com/2011/02/ole-for-audrey.html">here</a>. I have also wanted to try some of the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.soupchick.com/">Soup Chicks</a> recipes. The great thing about soup is it can be thrown in the crock pot on a busy day. </span></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JF4STco4Yv8JhRzoxqEsd1AthgQ3Cu3vF1HCUDi510zwKwL6WJxxYCz7sBHirU91-pFia_gbqwoFWulnaFo6fDBpDOpwpalHBIirqGDeMaElqG8RbT34f_bCOgYyZRUkYeT9mQuZRJTF/s1600/urban+outfitters.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Sectio</style><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ3RJY3l28DUmwjInfH0efRqyH6O3v5-V78axAVBXLagWM0gKwGbfdgRfbVjVglgbXV4e07rqbTONtdhcWsl8HiDHzbZ6FNYFs7X81aOqS8fJOks74ImqpvA4ETgK9BAoQ_eqSPhAmE1E/s1600/buddah+bowls.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ3RJY3l28DUmwjInfH0efRqyH6O3v5-V78axAVBXLagWM0gKwGbfdgRfbVjVglgbXV4e07rqbTONtdhcWsl8HiDHzbZ6FNYFs7X81aOqS8fJOks74ImqpvA4ETgK9BAoQ_eqSPhAmE1E/s400/buddah+bowls.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416117910261026" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style><span style="font-size:130%;">How awesome are these <a href="http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=219856396&sellerid=31283658">Buddah Bowls</a>? Love!</span><br /><br /><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Sweaters and Jeans</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- If I could, I would wear jeans <span style="font-style: italic;">everyday</span>. And on most days I can- it is a job perk of being a SAHM. Now that the weather is cooling down (maybe) I am looking forward to some nice jean weather, with a few sweater and jacket days thrown in.</span></span></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYlXMfCsoT-JIHNVO_DDvDPScsO-ImzHBczlyXR90pbGNistB5Ka2VUpCz9TABHwBMSb265cnQ0iVUoZN8xeSQknIQFMJuZMh-LQ5juJYurgzvEZnZ-3o8IRk4Y97VCTlYNVkrX24U-Cc/s1600/jcrew+sweater.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYlXMfCsoT-JIHNVO_DDvDPScsO-ImzHBczlyXR90pbGNistB5Ka2VUpCz9TABHwBMSb265cnQ0iVUoZN8xeSQknIQFMJuZMh-LQ5juJYurgzvEZnZ-3o8IRk4Y97VCTlYNVkrX24U-Cc/s400/jcrew+sweater.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416114179236146" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style><span style="font-size:130%;">How cute is this <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/sweaters/crewnecksandvnecks/PRDOVR%7E48675/48675.jsp">jcrew sweater</a>? </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span>It's available in lot of colors, including orange. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Swoon.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOhmwwSf2_QdBTn68NhcIGf_xc49q4TomIZJyV6ms1cK3PrT7u6YPR_FWsGAatlzvtmlHxINGtO7xwM-6XHz-qrljUrYBBwBneGhN9LqymxB7cMN1MaCpV4LNExE99MOqtHQDyiL9-D2c/s1600/puffer+jacket.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOhmwwSf2_QdBTn68NhcIGf_xc49q4TomIZJyV6ms1cK3PrT7u6YPR_FWsGAatlzvtmlHxINGtO7xwM-6XHz-qrljUrYBBwBneGhN9LqymxB7cMN1MaCpV4LNExE99MOqtHQDyiL9-D2c/s400/puffer+jacket.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416110801314514" border="0" /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Or this </span><a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5736&pid=858756&vid=1&scid=858756002"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Gap Puffer jacket. </span><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Thanksgiving Dinner- </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's all about the potatoes, gravy, turkey, potatoes, cranberries, buttered rolls and pie...<span style="font-style: italic;">and potatoes. </span><span>This is always how I dress when I serve Thanksgiving dinner.<br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCfLvaCNX5sVHlFQSoX11BJenHgteg0CTEEzgtAC72zX8oW0S77Fr1pzr6Y901uFQWg3lmXgXWlXiUlwZdfHdg7E5hSG7Q04KP3hBCnpvb3vmoMNvVsmB_vpdEj4fdKBmooUEewigNJnx/s1600/red+heels+thanksgiving.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCfLvaCNX5sVHlFQSoX11BJenHgteg0CTEEzgtAC72zX8oW0S77Fr1pzr6Y901uFQWg3lmXgXWlXiUlwZdfHdg7E5hSG7Q04KP3hBCnpvb3vmoMNvVsmB_vpdEj4fdKBmooUEewigNJnx/s400/red+heels+thanksgiving.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416109035912946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Pie</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- I have never met a pie that I didn’t like. I am thinking of trying <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/dreamy-apple-pie/">Ree’s</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>this year. Come to Mama! </span></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9Pn8zFYOlclty57E57KJ-IJybD10FrrFDYLriW0PgoLRQSCF-0SMObCN2WPRfG0-aLG3VoB8wBBdMoBCFE6VbSVHJqbmSs2Nv0dOqLh10WiUK-AQofxrV_k0G9TN1B8-a1ZGGr_wbBcT/s1600/PW%2527s+Dreamy+Apple+Pie.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9Pn8zFYOlclty57E57KJ-IJybD10FrrFDYLriW0PgoLRQSCF-0SMObCN2WPRfG0-aLG3VoB8wBBdMoBCFE6VbSVHJqbmSs2Nv0dOqLh10WiUK-AQofxrV_k0G9TN1B8-a1ZGGr_wbBcT/s400/PW%2527s+Dreamy+Apple+Pie.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655416103087976818" border="0" /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>My Godson</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- Due to arrive October 2<sup>nd</sup>, but I predict he will keep his mother pregnant <span style="font-style: italic;">and miserable</span> for a few extra days. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">CANNOT</span> wait to meet him!<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Pumpkin Spice Lattes</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- PSL’s need no introduction or explanation. <span style="font-style: italic;">Word.</span></span></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtI2Te8fJ8ofCOn_TRfd7uSHNcEZz4nw2RsMNOicwSWZzL3zYrJ72KepsqcnT4b3jlK5LLYxNAuih3EUMp5bHKwZja7eANcWu6HAGi8e72v25_ysPeB7cCZmw3YaEn-gvY_1OzHJFbBCu/s1600/PSL.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtI2Te8fJ8ofCOn_TRfd7uSHNcEZz4nw2RsMNOicwSWZzL3zYrJ72KepsqcnT4b3jlK5LLYxNAuih3EUMp5bHKwZja7eANcWu6HAGi8e72v25_ysPeB7cCZmw3YaEn-gvY_1OzHJFbBCu/s400/PSL.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655415602081195570" border="0" /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Orange and all other fall colors</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- Living in SoCal, we don’t get the beautiful fall colors that other regions get to enjoy, so I have to get my fix at the pumpkin patch, and with whatever centerpiece I can throw together for my kitchen table. This was last year’s pumpkin patch adventure.</span></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRft8Qa-CxwPKArNYSZ_hi7d1051hGjUDSgvKH-koDQ4gkYfV1wPUl8j2fAFL0-UJFivBiyfGgESVjmx5A8C_DyVlWeK3RTsxan54FLJVW5zpfFO7ALFLEpniFKDAMx9wgjNsZD9z7hII/s1600/IMG_5267.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRft8Qa-CxwPKArNYSZ_hi7d1051hGjUDSgvKH-koDQ4gkYfV1wPUl8j2fAFL0-UJFivBiyfGgESVjmx5A8C_DyVlWeK3RTsxan54FLJVW5zpfFO7ALFLEpniFKDAMx9wgjNsZD9z7hII/s400/IMG_5267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655415596873514498" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5v3e0sUAnLt3dDhIectfS5-U1KEvHpJu7aLswo3jhk17j1or87-DFj0ojJnCX49w0rrdMU5OCuGGDmrX_xM7WtHXr30fE7GMzJYAoO6YyhfQ-OinynLCCbVzuznP39-aWG676MaQB3Ej/s1600/IMG_5420.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5v3e0sUAnLt3dDhIectfS5-U1KEvHpJu7aLswo3jhk17j1or87-DFj0ojJnCX49w0rrdMU5OCuGGDmrX_xM7WtHXr30fE7GMzJYAoO6YyhfQ-OinynLCCbVzuznP39-aWG676MaQB3Ej/s400/IMG_5420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655415596961994866" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38IFmov2RERBzsRIy7h34NqappBv7iQWnSHJzxvkUDnd0dDKVg2OpVodONaRxfp89xzFOyddgxKlnGM1QG3g-J0O2ezxRc5t4EAqlyyoMLezRqyABuNcOVUH8QnBN5k3JZSuyCT7H61ZJ/s1600/IMG_5433.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38IFmov2RERBzsRIy7h34NqappBv7iQWnSHJzxvkUDnd0dDKVg2OpVodONaRxfp89xzFOyddgxKlnGM1QG3g-J0O2ezxRc5t4EAqlyyoMLezRqyABuNcOVUH8QnBN5k3JZSuyCT7H61ZJ/s400/IMG_5433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655415593601196930" border="0" /></a><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Caramel Corn</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- Yes, it has a lot of sugar and you have to pick out the old maids first, but on a cool fall day homemade caramel corn is so yummy and <span style="font-style: italic;">totally worth the effort</span>! You can eat it while watching football, or at the park, or at 1:00 in the morning while watching the new episodes of Saturday Night Live. It is a flexible treat. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunday-rerun-harvest-caramel-corn.html">This is next on my “to try” list.</a></span></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PCnLS5fwDViDfpAUb0qIg2twfG6Uf4YPPR_TjqExhqIXftCRjNNNgN0W2TYZAmwhyphenhyphenmBZdDrhHGclxwtvELOcTnaz7mh8PqaVoQLrrtabgco8dwAEQAvlhf7B625UOA_uChMVkGNk_Xls/s1600/inbetweenlaundry+CC.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PCnLS5fwDViDfpAUb0qIg2twfG6Uf4YPPR_TjqExhqIXftCRjNNNgN0W2TYZAmwhyphenhyphenmBZdDrhHGclxwtvELOcTnaz7mh8PqaVoQLrrtabgco8dwAEQAvlhf7B625UOA_uChMVkGNk_Xls/s400/inbetweenlaundry+CC.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655415587415788850" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I think the thing I like most about fall is that it ushers in the two seasons I most associate with family. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Halloween</span> rolls into <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thanksgiving</span>, which quickly turns into <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas</span>. Add to that <span style="font-weight: bold;">8 family birthdays</span> and you have yourself three months of get-togethers... <span style="font-style: italic;">and food. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Food and family- my favorite things <span style="font-style: italic;">no matter what the season!</span></span></p><br /><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-54678094953315740732011-09-21T12:57:00.000-07:002011-09-21T13:12:04.799-07:00Adventures in Dentistry<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>112</o:Words> <o:characters>640</o:Characters> <o:lines>5</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>785</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The kids had their dentist check-ups and cleanings this morning. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I <b>DREAD</b> taking the kids to the dentist. I have <b>vivid memories</b> of my childhood dentist. He was a horrible, wretched man. He had no bedside manner. He wouldn’t let my mom stay with me when I needed fillings- and I needed a number of them before turning 6. I remember biting his latex covered fingers-<b>hard</b>.<i> It was my only defense</i>. He died a few years later, at a pretty young age, in a horrific speedboat accident. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Luckily, my kids <b>love</b> their dentist’s office. The staff is patient, calm, and kind. The kids all sit lined up in their chairs, in the same room where they can see each other<i> and me</i>. They watch cartoons while their teeth are being cleaned. They get to pick out a toy when it is all over.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSrXGqhrTEPC3UMOO64iFzoQapR0wsuLEar2pRGl99mEgiHPjnbB8zPIVhJkPfMLMuFDXEN__23IR2t2S81vU11cCVMxeF2Wrk7uqUTA3vYp54BDF5tOAQx9LGWJbj5u5sXVZnVkkRd6T/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSrXGqhrTEPC3UMOO64iFzoQapR0wsuLEar2pRGl99mEgiHPjnbB8zPIVhJkPfMLMuFDXEN__23IR2t2S81vU11cCVMxeF2Wrk7uqUTA3vYp54BDF5tOAQx9LGWJbj5u5sXVZnVkkRd6T/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654905368224942850" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>64</o:Words> <o:characters>367</o:Characters> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>450</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sweet, sweet Vincent. He is such a trooper! He has already had some <b>extensive </b>dental work done- most of it before he turned four years old. I felt terrible and cried for days when I learned the state of his teeth. I brushed and flossed him everyday since the time those teeth had come in. I never put him to bed with a bottle- in fact he stopped using a bottle when he was 16 months old. Juice was an occasional treat. <i>Where had we gone wrong? </i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QtZQ0izIMEEFJWKEY5TSgtVRmAmpig7gJw9HVvLo3RHV5Y9S7gSj26J2-0ulg6mYNKnstpETSIadkYD4x60P6SMFQXYpKSOYT3UJumw2JnGD06B_GpUb0prztdfOLHvKOfK7zFwaoWL0/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QtZQ0izIMEEFJWKEY5TSgtVRmAmpig7gJw9HVvLo3RHV5Y9S7gSj26J2-0ulg6mYNKnstpETSIadkYD4x60P6SMFQXYpKSOYT3UJumw2JnGD06B_GpUb0prztdfOLHvKOfK7zFwaoWL0/s400/IMG_0148.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654905363811990130" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>62</o:Words> <o:characters>357</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>438</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">It turns out that it is a combination of <b>genetics</b> (my contribution, not Patrick’s) and a <b>compromised immune system</b> his first year of life (due to his bad kidney) that left his teeth weaker than most. It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid, who still remains cooperative at night when we brush- and <b>we brush a lot</b>... <i>with prescription toothpaste</i>. We had a good report today. Nothing needs to be done. I feel like we have dodged a bullet.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92LtwbagtjBqlawIUUsgCfjsRvgKYlnoBV8PWogdjLpZ1uxQ92QrpSKdhgvKA2tLDO6jnjtn3u5DWyHFeKquaWzcK6boW5BQBw-DQoROJrM1TKdnKKz-8JCGyOoQuuN9XlAOaIP7WCia9/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92LtwbagtjBqlawIUUsgCfjsRvgKYlnoBV8PWogdjLpZ1uxQ92QrpSKdhgvKA2tLDO6jnjtn3u5DWyHFeKquaWzcK6boW5BQBw-DQoROJrM1TKdnKKz-8JCGyOoQuuN9XlAOaIP7WCia9/s400/IMG_0149.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654905354543255890" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>31</o:Words> <o:characters>179</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>219</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Then there is Franklin. While Vinny tells me when it is my turn to brush and wants his teeth flossed, Frank turns and <b>runs the other way</b>. I struggle with him every night. Of course, <i>his teeth are perfect.</i> Go figure. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7s394WpFXwxFI0uZS-Opgm6igNibjDLGNFnw8ITVCXjIVeZqztt4zOYMjFPOqORzmigh-09jwK2GHcSPgR-Yxq5CrZclrfyEPGJROWqoOWcYV_hUXD003MprpdP0wYAD0GshUYf4eXcP/s1600/IMG_0150.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7s394WpFXwxFI0uZS-Opgm6igNibjDLGNFnw8ITVCXjIVeZqztt4zOYMjFPOqORzmigh-09jwK2GHcSPgR-Yxq5CrZclrfyEPGJROWqoOWcYV_hUXD003MprpdP0wYAD0GshUYf4eXcP/s400/IMG_0150.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654905345988512818" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>51</o:Words> <o:characters>294</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>361</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">And Colette. We are <i>still waiting</i> on her last molars to come in, which is fine because there is lots of room in there. Her teeth are looking more like Franklin’s than Vincent’s, without Franklin’s overbite. Third times the charm, I guess.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We have a really fantastic dentist, <i>but I’m happy not to see him for another 6 months. </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I hope he is not a boater.</span></b></p> <!--EndFragment--><div><br /><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-63533175872502688192011-09-19T14:05:00.001-07:002011-09-19T14:22:34.178-07:00Manageable Mornings<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>745</o:Words> <o:characters>4252</o:Characters> <o:lines>35</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5221</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Occasionally readers will email blog topics they think I should write about. I appreciate feedback and suggestions so very much, and I keep a running list of requests/ideas. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">For the last few weeks a friend who will remain nameless (<i>Bridget aka Anxiety Gal</i><span style="font-style:normal">) has been harassing me to write a series about how I run and structure my days. And when I say harass... <b>I mean harass</b></span>. I think she has brought it up everyday. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">She suggested I call it, <b>“Setting Yourself Up For Success”</b><span style="font-weight:normal">. I love this title because it accurately describes why I do some of the occasionally militant things I do during the day...day in and day out. And it sounds so much better than a series entitled, </span><b>“How Anal-Retentiveness Can Work For You!” </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">For the purposes of tagging the series, look for <b>“Winning”</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> under content. Again, it sounds better than </span><b>“Tiger Blood”</b><span style="font-weight:normal">. <i>Thank you, Charlie Sheen!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">So without further ado (no I have not been drinking this morning), I give you the first installment in the “Setting Yourself Up For Success” series... insert mental drum-roll...<b>Manageable Mornings!</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I firmly believe that the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. This may be scary to you, especially if you are not a <i>morning person</i><span style="font-style:normal">. Believe me, I am <b>NOT</b></span> a morning person either. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">When you are frazzled, rushed, disorganized and just generally grumpy in the morning it seeps into the rest of your day. Your afternoons are spent trying to catch up or are written off all together. By the time bedtime rolls around you may look around your home (and family) and think, “what did I accomplish today?” And, “why am I in such a crappy mood?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">A big trick to successful mornings is getting things done the night before. Here is what it looks like in our house- maybe you do some of the same things.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Pick out your clothes the night before and make sure they are ready.</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> For school mornings this means making sure the kids’ uniforms are hanging on the door the night before. On swim lesson mornings I put their trunks and swim suit next to their beds. Church outfits are picked out Saturday night. This applies to me as well. If I am going to the gym after preschool drop off, I make sure my clothes are laundered and ready to go in the morning. Mornings are not for choosing what to wear, looking for clean underwear, or locating an errant shoe. Ironing does not happen in the morning...but that never happens in this home. The weather is no excuse- check the weather channel for updates the night before. <i>You get the picture.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Have a dumping spot...and use it. </b><span style="font-weight:normal">I have a spot by the front door that I dump every thing I need to take with me in the morning. Things you would find here (depending on the day of the week) would include forms that need to go to school, towels for swim lessons, packages for UPS drop off, my gym bag, bank deposits, dry cleaning etc. I hate forgetting things and even more than forgetting things I hate rushing around before dashing out of the house trying to locate everything I need. If you have a lot of stuff you could keep a basket by the door and take the basket to the car with you. The key is that this spot is not for clutter to collect, it is for things you need to take to the car for the morning.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>What’s for breakfast?</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> Figure it out the night before and get it prepped. I set the table with what ever we need- bowls and spoons for cereal, cups for milk, etc. Slice the melon. Make the OJ. Lay out the vitamins... or vodka...or Xanax- <i>whatever it takes</i></span>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Prepare lunches the night before so they just have to be packed in the morning.</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> Once they are packed in the morning, put them in the dumping spot so they are not forgotten at home. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Get up before the rest of the family.</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> Have a cup of coffee, shower, get dressed, check your email. Whatever you need to do to be ready for the day, do it before the kids wake up. Tend to your personal needs. Start the day happy. <i>There is plenty of time later for it to go south!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Plan to leave early and be on time.</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> I cannot tell you how many times this has saved my behind. When you calculate how long it is going to take you to get somewhere, </span><b>add 15 minutes</b><span style="font-weight:normal">. Mornings are crazy, and even with preplanning there is going to be a hiccup here and there- a child has a hard time waking up, someone doesn’t want their hair combed, the dog won’t go to the yard...</span><b>traffic!</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> If you plan for these unexpected things in advance, they won’t be such a big deal if they happen. You won’t be screaming like a banshee because you are feeling stressed and rushed. Most importantly, you won’t be late. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">My remedial algebra teacher in high school (<i>yes, I said</i><span style="font-style:normal"> </span><i>remedial...I’m not a math gal</i><span style="font-style:normal">) would say, “Be on time when time matters and time always matters,” or something to that effect. This is so important, <b>especially to teach our children</b></span>. Being late causes needless anxiety and makes you look like you don’t care. When kids are late to events they miss out on stuff. Don’t do that to your kids! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">So this is how I make my mornings manageable, and start the day off on the right foot. Some people like to make their beds first thing in the morning. This is not top on my priority list, but if it works for you, go for it!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-2TzktsOMmMEr-ycCs5Jaee2MGawx8PaacDkAij5upcNLs3wp5xzLOHJ8h7eBA-7gIqXf3sk6q1l1EvaBDM2m6ywFZCOr5t_VbfZqPIcPJ4AD4C1mqfmNB1EGCs-Oz2E9XFVoHhplTGn/s1600/IMG_9619.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-2TzktsOMmMEr-ycCs5Jaee2MGawx8PaacDkAij5upcNLs3wp5xzLOHJ8h7eBA-7gIqXf3sk6q1l1EvaBDM2m6ywFZCOr5t_VbfZqPIcPJ4AD4C1mqfmNB1EGCs-Oz2E9XFVoHhplTGn/s400/IMG_9619.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654180466507259602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sIWLFDQPZ10r0GNQXoPtO6xF9m-YI8YUUo0sTw7mG9tF8SMAPWpia4hIawNgLrQWKOtpmDpmGTGV-O96Y2x35K8Yb8E00zZDuSdHjqaEesbbkQgejhm5R7G6r7O8f5w3YqN7UFmhJphw/s1600/IMG_9622.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sIWLFDQPZ10r0GNQXoPtO6xF9m-YI8YUUo0sTw7mG9tF8SMAPWpia4hIawNgLrQWKOtpmDpmGTGV-O96Y2x35K8Yb8E00zZDuSdHjqaEesbbkQgejhm5R7G6r7O8f5w3YqN7UFmhJphw/s400/IMG_9622.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654180462132787906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2F8rbdJV2I3Kbhlxt6geowCj9oX61MStq8RHCp2djp4Po1ngpf5msl_QPcINwa80t9rKsJwK-3c_lRv3F6Myc177qoXAHDWzMAPELqyi-94q4ZM83ioSuauXdUHxKEEhceYNQITjRBrB/s1600/IMG_9625.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2F8rbdJV2I3Kbhlxt6geowCj9oX61MStq8RHCp2djp4Po1ngpf5msl_QPcINwa80t9rKsJwK-3c_lRv3F6Myc177qoXAHDWzMAPELqyi-94q4ZM83ioSuauXdUHxKEEhceYNQITjRBrB/s400/IMG_9625.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654180459627953426" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>61</o:Words> <o:characters>352</o:Characters> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>432</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The boys had their first day of school last week. We were on time. We didn’t forget anything. I didn’t raise my voice. <i>These photos pretty much sum them up.</i><span style="font-style:normal"> I hope Franklin never looses his <b>zest for life</b></span>, and I hope Vincent learns that <b>he doesn’t have to be perfect</b><span style="font-weight:normal"> to be amazing.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">My algebra teacher also said, “Life is like a burrito- don’t get all wrapped up in it,” or something like that.</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"> <b>I love a good breakfast burrito!</b></span></span></p><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-63016135805604399622011-09-16T07:52:00.000-07:002011-09-16T07:52:55.936-07:00Resurfacing Day!<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>131</o:Words> <o:characters>708</o:Characters> <o:lines>54</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>35</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>917</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Our schedule was shot to <i>you-know-where</i> earlier this week when the city decided to shut down the neighborhood to car traffic for 24 hours in order to repave the streets. The streets were not bad to begin with, but <b>I’m not complaining</b>- it is nice to live in a city that doesn’t wait until there are potholes to get something done.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Anyways, I really didn’t want to fight for a parking space on the street then walk with the kids to and from the car for <i>five blocks...uphill both ways...in the rain</i>, so I did something unheard of- <b>I rescheduled all of our appointments for the day, and prayed no one had to be taken to the emergency room.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We got lucky- they paved our cul-de-sac first thing in the morning. However, the adjoining streets were done last- go figure!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Vincent watched the guys work for an hour, occasionally joined by his siblings. And I had a great excuse to sit on the front porch sipping coffee in my PJ’s at 7:30 a.m. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK8Z70686UcmyAlR1gzLuEybwi9Y_pGBFaC0cmHOzBBmd46cq_pKWO_NIO6pKsFUnG4ve_cUGJ72e-x92rI1x5plf4tMS_DUZKeR79U8PEoJf7Ncmk7WjXw1auS_ezuLbaWBnoeg3umnA/s1600/IMG_0134.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK8Z70686UcmyAlR1gzLuEybwi9Y_pGBFaC0cmHOzBBmd46cq_pKWO_NIO6pKsFUnG4ve_cUGJ72e-x92rI1x5plf4tMS_DUZKeR79U8PEoJf7Ncmk7WjXw1auS_ezuLbaWBnoeg3umnA/s400/IMG_0134.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652276949045129890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-_n2WlUe-Jnd_fIDZHoRCL4s-cqw-zN2YRo2BGigMB2vbowmekuH5upj-vU08_CHY7bfglqe7v6er4OfZ_ptaGVgCZVqjNjHGppDnPsoXzh-vdvhHoZe41V-jXpmRQwC2gczHuX1XB8I/s1600/IMG_0132.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-_n2WlUe-Jnd_fIDZHoRCL4s-cqw-zN2YRo2BGigMB2vbowmekuH5upj-vU08_CHY7bfglqe7v6er4OfZ_ptaGVgCZVqjNjHGppDnPsoXzh-vdvhHoZe41V-jXpmRQwC2gczHuX1XB8I/s400/IMG_0132.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652276942729539602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2SbolKJgFboYH4dp2B1X6uQCyJEm_2azR6ATxrBekmF0Sf4gFPhvL9j3fndBEQMkZDnry_GkRfjIpsxqaQZVaL6l5ByY1bI31JGuYgGQh88383E-SDK7YTgGwpAIuGcw8sIxwiiQTZ8y/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2SbolKJgFboYH4dp2B1X6uQCyJEm_2azR6ATxrBekmF0Sf4gFPhvL9j3fndBEQMkZDnry_GkRfjIpsxqaQZVaL6l5ByY1bI31JGuYgGQh88383E-SDK7YTgGwpAIuGcw8sIxwiiQTZ8y/s400/IMG_0130.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652276938585405442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD58d01tcDNJBy9GUKLRrTsyVcaQXbiBpVkVWzGZHLQTXHlZhqxvHex2pVygkysEn6Pe6I3iEBV-rB8bOArpg5KhDGp3-uV7JyG8v1suXolVyO6PHxW0AtRyR0AG8uy3H0npqkvqu281I6/s1600/IMG_0129.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD58d01tcDNJBy9GUKLRrTsyVcaQXbiBpVkVWzGZHLQTXHlZhqxvHex2pVygkysEn6Pe6I3iEBV-rB8bOArpg5KhDGp3-uV7JyG8v1suXolVyO6PHxW0AtRyR0AG8uy3H0npqkvqu281I6/s400/IMG_0129.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652276934242827554" /></a><br /><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>10</o:Words> <o:characters>56</o:Characters> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>72</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Most importantly, no one split his or her head open while it cured.</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-9183964946599084582011-09-14T10:02:00.001-07:002011-09-14T10:28:03.509-07:00Colorado Road Trip<div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>92</o:Words> <o:characters>497</o:Characters> <o:lines>38</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>24</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>644</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">I can hardly believe it has been 6 weeks since our family road trip to Colorado. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We covered<b> 2500 miles</b>, and only heard “are we there yet” once. <i>I think I was the one who said it!</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We spent six <i>awesome</i> days in Boulder. We hiked. We visited the Butterfly Pavilion, and Sweet Cow Ice Cream. We made our presence known on Pearl Street. We played at the recreation center pools. We ate...<i>alot</i>. I went for some great trail runs. We made a total of 13 coffee runs. <b>It was for everyone’s health and safety.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">But the best thing about the trip was hanging out with family.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Trying to catch the lightning on the iphone.</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHDQRl0SO1VfKSG1Pujp_JlmvcFLv22UHFNI4NkZx_ZhIDoibf7ymYlqvBfZijHkL4TT40aIRxYb1AeNqEhIE7QErrQBtU1txfe3z1_hqzHBmgv6WW-QZs6SwjVnynpPU1S3Cen-lp9Qv/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHDQRl0SO1VfKSG1Pujp_JlmvcFLv22UHFNI4NkZx_ZhIDoibf7ymYlqvBfZijHkL4TT40aIRxYb1AeNqEhIE7QErrQBtU1txfe3z1_hqzHBmgv6WW-QZs6SwjVnynpPU1S3Cen-lp9Qv/s400/IMG_0221.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265816978449330" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>2</o:Words> <o:characters>14</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>18</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Blowing bubbles.</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo5YaxpqylTbkm85KQ4U7yCK4qNayzqleFKUm-jKQdw70R3VUyjHJziHYiLat1zC6FRXjiXr78eEfyhDS3udMs4SfDfSKmKaQI7gBKb_Zcd3oquOugdfmUrRpKeOs_6qZcOg79RmCo_GX/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo5YaxpqylTbkm85KQ4U7yCK4qNayzqleFKUm-jKQdw70R3VUyjHJziHYiLat1zC6FRXjiXr78eEfyhDS3udMs4SfDfSKmKaQI7gBKb_Zcd3oquOugdfmUrRpKeOs_6qZcOg79RmCo_GX/s400/IMG_8970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265811682447634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYIONeLvlJNTAg-FXNJKXengjduIAg_czJZiUaX-mi4dovni4MXKF3u94CFDbkZSutdjFjKZJjetUmiW2B_d7ftdCR6gKl4UbNrd8ONUJU57ohU4A_tz7syuPBgh6miIhpyBEKPmVnSAD/s1600/IMG_9006.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYIONeLvlJNTAg-FXNJKXengjduIAg_czJZiUaX-mi4dovni4MXKF3u94CFDbkZSutdjFjKZJjetUmiW2B_d7ftdCR6gKl4UbNrd8ONUJU57ohU4A_tz7syuPBgh6miIhpyBEKPmVnSAD/s400/IMG_9006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265270659819858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sSjIFqIUrwioiPxTOg2YOsq6OGWITVounfkF-iQxAEwXp4adMHBSue7mSUnySOq5518cVd9y-T-WDClDhqMC0sv4aGcmOaR2tNwQIBEndPNSsbeMMcpPu7YNwc0G12AuWFmU0lo-C83c/s1600/IMG_8994.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sSjIFqIUrwioiPxTOg2YOsq6OGWITVounfkF-iQxAEwXp4adMHBSue7mSUnySOq5518cVd9y-T-WDClDhqMC0sv4aGcmOaR2tNwQIBEndPNSsbeMMcpPu7YNwc0G12AuWFmU0lo-C83c/s400/IMG_8994.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265268567989106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbCGlAGUMUorwBvN9NvLlIJrcUaCEKWpP8AW5QDb4TOrVwaCcX7D7bhoPZMhDuMEXBz5HG7OYGkv4DG5qUdnyNQtdi6kQp3BGuT1pH1j7klxOkaBrXJLUoRjFMLyP3ELo0FdaLdqEW9Qz/s1600/IMG_8989.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbCGlAGUMUorwBvN9NvLlIJrcUaCEKWpP8AW5QDb4TOrVwaCcX7D7bhoPZMhDuMEXBz5HG7OYGkv4DG5qUdnyNQtdi6kQp3BGuT1pH1j7klxOkaBrXJLUoRjFMLyP3ELo0FdaLdqEW9Qz/s400/IMG_8989.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265264604984402" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>4</o:Words> <o:characters>22</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>28</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Playing ball in the yard.</span></b></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0MCZAozh09LCGktvcw60f0Jg78ReTiF9WJwgmd9QHxb8z2WIJAE3cy-3YjWUbe04xK-Tl1oB4Hx8h_kR03-LE-KomTn-a5PHkj9XT1WiSLRndLlEmXvFbRm-18iylMfD05V54mgMDC88/s1600/IMG_9134.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0MCZAozh09LCGktvcw60f0Jg78ReTiF9WJwgmd9QHxb8z2WIJAE3cy-3YjWUbe04xK-Tl1oB4Hx8h_kR03-LE-KomTn-a5PHkj9XT1WiSLRndLlEmXvFbRm-18iylMfD05V54mgMDC88/s400/IMG_9134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265260707195490" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>3</o:Words> <o:characters>20</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>25</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The kids being with their cousins.</span></b></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhjDvMwjN-DBfYz76ipul1ALFCMRsS-g4JGMbWDVuKaBLxWVEDI8L-0tvHASy6KA0Pyqoubc9elyT4516A8PFS-CWXfddDvn-35HAMUgrT2sufFVxExe0AEYV51VyrPtQwKFzsfIawC1m/s1600/IMG_9523.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhjDvMwjN-DBfYz76ipul1ALFCMRsS-g4JGMbWDVuKaBLxWVEDI8L-0tvHASy6KA0Pyqoubc9elyT4516A8PFS-CWXfddDvn-35HAMUgrT2sufFVxExe0AEYV51VyrPtQwKFzsfIawC1m/s400/IMG_9523.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652265251568869522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYISsafpG1Z88TmpeA3We1JrTltxbl5Ajx6RSgpn8nXaO6aaFwcxWsyvjk6N2nLSSz59lMYHhmsCkAvoCQKusczWwpGkFhMP4J22qQw4SHYNPphkwIYJc8bP9d1Kajh3HjGE6Zguz04dwT/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYISsafpG1Z88TmpeA3We1JrTltxbl5Ajx6RSgpn8nXaO6aaFwcxWsyvjk6N2nLSSz59lMYHhmsCkAvoCQKusczWwpGkFhMP4J22qQw4SHYNPphkwIYJc8bP9d1Kajh3HjGE6Zguz04dwT/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264108774417378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWHAwE8Vk8WxLkTWS_nrxQ2g5QGSFnv8nht9sVT8v1wwnRDvz9i_OxmBUX-WnwNe3tqJsIYgSGval2NO5qTMgSolu-m0soc_x3KL79BRZZ0Sd-gzzH3Lgn0rk8UqiT0WNfHMSNmgdzSJn/s1600/IMG_9421.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWHAwE8Vk8WxLkTWS_nrxQ2g5QGSFnv8nht9sVT8v1wwnRDvz9i_OxmBUX-WnwNe3tqJsIYgSGval2NO5qTMgSolu-m0soc_x3KL79BRZZ0Sd-gzzH3Lgn0rk8UqiT0WNfHMSNmgdzSJn/s400/IMG_9421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264105112045938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze69wEhzApCcIn5i2gFp4ro5MkWMew4juQkxhoRM-tf9YAAbc7lfc1YUqzvpW1PjildCz6u3r9hYQS9mqX816qfzn-TvLGZb6EWXG9Ixx9B14f0cOCJTIB6fQwzuEe_7ghT0xelj4ifHe/s1600/IMG_0264.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze69wEhzApCcIn5i2gFp4ro5MkWMew4juQkxhoRM-tf9YAAbc7lfc1YUqzvpW1PjildCz6u3r9hYQS9mqX816qfzn-TvLGZb6EWXG9Ixx9B14f0cOCJTIB6fQwzuEe_7ghT0xelj4ifHe/s400/IMG_0264.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264100365177634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYNWsCML58GTnNbFWOUZ9EC5IGD-zhHO7TEO-SnVLe2pk1nKETWdMEViugvHxEglqxtHPvK7IV9O7ymuAy_OTR-FIatMhp_NAlLR9UHvQ-bV8ngUOsWEjdLldy1BkrQ6aa91tf7pUEYBB/s1600/IMG_0363.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYNWsCML58GTnNbFWOUZ9EC5IGD-zhHO7TEO-SnVLe2pk1nKETWdMEViugvHxEglqxtHPvK7IV9O7ymuAy_OTR-FIatMhp_NAlLR9UHvQ-bV8ngUOsWEjdLldy1BkrQ6aa91tf7pUEYBB/s400/IMG_0363.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264090735893074" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>4</o:Words> <o:characters>25</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>32</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><i>Totally worth the 2500 miles!</i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZfWxHHtsM4IJXg-erisamKuk7jgaI3cq1MqzS1jF9EIzf1-LzE-gWduS8BHzRMZhSmL1czvPKxAQ_WWiF-c3LPlRi9fVEiqmfR81MkJfIoTw10AZfaXLSOT2Fl8-5DLibk__UJT_h1yF/s1600/IMG_9053.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZfWxHHtsM4IJXg-erisamKuk7jgaI3cq1MqzS1jF9EIzf1-LzE-gWduS8BHzRMZhSmL1czvPKxAQ_WWiF-c3LPlRi9fVEiqmfR81MkJfIoTw10AZfaXLSOT2Fl8-5DLibk__UJT_h1yF/s400/IMG_9053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264085838041730" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-80428679557287881232011-09-05T11:51:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:01:36.347-07:00REBOOT!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhig8v7MY5yeEiCnEzJkDfT81_p2SaZqi-zc3NG8uPcNmd49IfHwph6DE0sRocxkKdb2MmBwpiuzELr-AV6p1hUi2zgu0LUwtt4tDSCddgkkwfOoM8JctnzTUfJAVaJTXKGIdoG41uXv3o0/s1600/IMG_0057.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhig8v7MY5yeEiCnEzJkDfT81_p2SaZqi-zc3NG8uPcNmd49IfHwph6DE0sRocxkKdb2MmBwpiuzELr-AV6p1hUi2zgu0LUwtt4tDSCddgkkwfOoM8JctnzTUfJAVaJTXKGIdoG41uXv3o0/s400/IMG_0057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648950305719000578" /></a>
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<br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone. It’s Hilary. This is my blog, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mom’s for Xanax</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. I have neglected it for the past month. Thanks for your emails and messages- </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">all is well</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Earlier this week I was talking with my dear friend (we were running on the treadmill side-by-side so we were probably more like </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">gasping</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, or </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">mumbling</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, but it resembled the English language). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was lamenting the end of summer. This is unusual for me because I hate the heat, I fret over the proper SPF level, and have a general distain for swimming pools. All this aside, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am sad to see the summer go</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My friend, who is a very good listener (and when you are on the treadmill, it is so much better to be the one listening) asked me why I thought this was. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I came up with two reasons. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The first is that school is starting next week and I am sending both boys off to preschool. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BOTH</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> of them. They are getting so big. It is happening too fast! I am going to miss my buddies, even if it is just two long days a week. Poor Coco is not going to know what to do without her brothers to follow around. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am certain I am very boring.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The second reason why I am sad to see summer go was not as easy to articulate. What it boils down to is this: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I took advantage of three months of doing nothing except what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> It sounds very selfish, doesn’t it? But my dear friend summed it up in a much nicer way- she said I took the opportunity to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“REBOOT”</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. That is EXACTLY what I did!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I said no to things I would usually say yes to doing but didn’t really want to...then curse the fact that I said yes when I knew I shouldn’t have. I ran...</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a lot</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. We splashed at the water park on Friday afternoons. I cuddled with the kids in bed at night when it was well past all of our bedtimes. We went on vacation, and visited family. I cut my hair...</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">short.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I quit reading two different novels in the middle because I just wasn’t enjoying them. We ate a lot of Golden Spoon frozen yogurt. I quit dusting. We tried every fruit snack known to man. I moisturized.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Is it any wonder why I don’t want the summer to end?</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> The school year brings schedules and responsibilities, the two things that I usually relish and find comfort in. But this summer I realized that only doing what is expected of you isn’t always very satisfying. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Alas, we will go back to school next week. We will be punctual and appropriately dressed. Our lunches will be nutritious. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I will dust the house. </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But I will still run a lot, and cuddle too long, and stop reading books if I don’t like them, because what good is a reboot if you don’t retain the lesson you learned from it? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And what a glorious </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">reboot</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> summer, it was!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-87960331595755576232011-08-10T12:28:00.001-07:002011-08-10T12:33:57.795-07:00First Tomatoes of the 2011 Season<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We picked our first tomatoes of the season this morning. In about two weeks we will be <i>overrun </i>with them. We will be eating a lot of <b>Caprese Salads</b> and <b>BLTs</b> in late August and September!</span></div><div>
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dyaEIcokNxG6b-Z0TtxP0axEEV8l9V2StIMlrsTKSbxnoxb3962I7vHW6Qa2VdJ8hk_H0TnDo8mIkJJ5WrYbxMduHnUQ6nrzhyphenhyphenJQn6W0BfsEYrYTd_kbxalNYJW3xe1YYHw-g9EQju_R/s1600/IMG_9607.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dyaEIcokNxG6b-Z0TtxP0axEEV8l9V2StIMlrsTKSbxnoxb3962I7vHW6Qa2VdJ8hk_H0TnDo8mIkJJ5WrYbxMduHnUQ6nrzhyphenhyphenJQn6W0BfsEYrYTd_kbxalNYJW3xe1YYHw-g9EQju_R/s400/IMG_9607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639311762804818194" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanks for your concerned emails regarding <i>my two-week blogging hiatus.</i> We were enjoying a family road trip/reunion in <b>Boulder, CO</b>. Pictures of that will be up soon. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the meantime we are enjoying some post vacation relaxation...<b>and tomatoes</b>!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div>
<br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="<span class=" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-40315992822506865442011-07-27T08:40:00.000-07:002011-07-27T08:48:50.780-07:00Wordless Wednesday...Scenes from the kitchen table<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Some <b>scenes from the kitchen table</b> this week....</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuQOmtT8oecUBFGRpnWDmhd5jIyBwTw1BgD4-ZUgpjNj7Vodgpu-EHWcy1fbmBh34_MQqY_7x-DQq9FrNI7IX4UMDN6jQVrH9pSR02bHoDMLvjD1yLUvhlit_B78XYIjV7rTdM6lSSkR1/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuQOmtT8oecUBFGRpnWDmhd5jIyBwTw1BgD4-ZUgpjNj7Vodgpu-EHWcy1fbmBh34_MQqY_7x-DQq9FrNI7IX4UMDN6jQVrH9pSR02bHoDMLvjD1yLUvhlit_B78XYIjV7rTdM6lSSkR1/s400/IMG_0018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634058024765906258" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Coco has learned how to finish her cereal by watching daddy. </span><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C-KTf4-7mFYcjkU5wNNGbvkWtHGhOvrYns7f6xjDnkDpUvn2_0og-xSyuT51ZlHNX1R-DLqDej8Zqcr3Q0MkNMR7xANEbs-ZV9rJDs34zlExIWex5fIY-xFw6v8vRUO4lpyofkYqOxYL/s1600/IMG_7667.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C-KTf4-7mFYcjkU5wNNGbvkWtHGhOvrYns7f6xjDnkDpUvn2_0og-xSyuT51ZlHNX1R-DLqDej8Zqcr3Q0MkNMR7xANEbs-ZV9rJDs34zlExIWex5fIY-xFw6v8vRUO4lpyofkYqOxYL/s400/IMG_7667.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634058023143544434" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Franklin patiently waiting for dinner.</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKJ-MP93lAu-FvZFEOqd4Pz8mORLd8yZ7VXjekafHfn0Bvs9Ps8hQPYRFzcWnrmFhfH7U7cpOjtBB3FG7GSyXunJPcwxVQJ64uzBxHUrX7Aucp-ZW_5kfN_oJ72JGB1qH8lQ9FNYvf3PP/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKJ-MP93lAu-FvZFEOqd4Pz8mORLd8yZ7VXjekafHfn0Bvs9Ps8hQPYRFzcWnrmFhfH7U7cpOjtBB3FG7GSyXunJPcwxVQJ64uzBxHUrX7Aucp-ZW_5kfN_oJ72JGB1qH8lQ9FNYvf3PP/s400/IMG_7666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634058018988131586" /></a><br /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Wednesday!</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-62347170472945718132011-07-21T13:41:00.001-07:002011-07-21T13:58:40.461-07:00Sidewalk Chalk Painting<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We pulled </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“paint with sidewalk chalk”</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> from our </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summer Bucket List</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> this week. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I would give credit to whoever came up with the idea, but it is all over the web right now so it will have to suffice to say that t</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">his was not my brainchild</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is a cheap and easy activity, but gets messy fast.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCZixf1NVOtssMrihDLvq7Y75vLM-tNMLfc8ASgMzwJEajLC2NKWu4s9k1-k29f1HntPhGFMHtY_28HWtubKOnvNuo9cYIfBSBzpp_I7_Fwdaa9IBWZwD8SvXFq4Gllbc366XgzMina5q/s1600/IMG_8854.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCZixf1NVOtssMrihDLvq7Y75vLM-tNMLfc8ASgMzwJEajLC2NKWu4s9k1-k29f1HntPhGFMHtY_28HWtubKOnvNuo9cYIfBSBzpp_I7_Fwdaa9IBWZwD8SvXFq4Gllbc366XgzMina5q/s400/IMG_8854.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910619847243042" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We took sidewalk chalk and smashed it into a <b>fine powder</b>. The kids used their little plastic hammers from their toolboxes...because a broken finger is <b>NOT</b> on the Summer Bucket List. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy9ivImk_B5WDqTMUOtNhqZrlGfcp17W47L6jxcf8hD6ixmcrlOsxy_M-vkR4E8zHFM5gRacqr1DWGBuT2nazQmaXiF0FeUbqRLDQ1nkFxM3ojtriwgFrkT7ljp4m_S7x-kQX_HEs0eoL/s1600/IMG_8859.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy9ivImk_B5WDqTMUOtNhqZrlGfcp17W47L6jxcf8hD6ixmcrlOsxy_M-vkR4E8zHFM5gRacqr1DWGBuT2nazQmaXiF0FeUbqRLDQ1nkFxM3ojtriwgFrkT7ljp4m_S7x-kQX_HEs0eoL/s400/IMG_8859.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910609517349442" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vinny used my kitchen mallet. <i>I used a rubber mallet.</i> This was wonderful for releasing pent up </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">aggression</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> energy. You can use new chalk, or the leftover small pieces that are hard to hold.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_ydfkenoJjke2iE-RHclK5FsYguluAliR_UJ5Ihg_-b63YSA9W9iETCl75HXWejfvScQaraJQ9V8gnpCGtIaY4YcoC1FmE6E06MJOeGVeGI2ojzn8PSrJ-1eKk7wlY0jKp0ZdtznVQ2w/s1600/IMG_8863.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_ydfkenoJjke2iE-RHclK5FsYguluAliR_UJ5Ihg_-b63YSA9W9iETCl75HXWejfvScQaraJQ9V8gnpCGtIaY4YcoC1FmE6E06MJOeGVeGI2ojzn8PSrJ-1eKk7wlY0jKp0ZdtznVQ2w/s400/IMG_8863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910606580666370" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We put our chalk powder in <b>low vessels</b> so that it wouldn’t tip over, but you could use disposable plastic cups too.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCDsRcqEQoY2qrUBqUPT89XNEHoNZbfdIqxb5jHwW5Uu02VtQ7gNTlNPZvhm25ht7t6ccoM-0G4YRHqp53keSXhZo3Z3gry1g3Jp7NrwDD7litnN0OGWOvwOTHN3O6XZKaHCwspSfbLY/s1600/IMG_8866.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCDsRcqEQoY2qrUBqUPT89XNEHoNZbfdIqxb5jHwW5Uu02VtQ7gNTlNPZvhm25ht7t6ccoM-0G4YRHqp53keSXhZo3Z3gry1g3Jp7NrwDD7litnN0OGWOvwOTHN3O6XZKaHCwspSfbLY/s400/IMG_8866.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631909565543156914" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then, we <b>added water</b> and stirred until it was the consistency of paint. <b>Tada!!!</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWEECdHC4VdlVHRxof6l17BNgKCfLTnv7t6ic_MiA-M3ESX7gtxrGBEk6JVWOK9Md2MYXDLzR_E0O5bKCfLU93Jw8AyTzt926ZUf9K4CHMu1GsHVGjFgGjU2_L0HJqh_NoBRDXtMFU1Vx/s1600/IMG_8868.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWEECdHC4VdlVHRxof6l17BNgKCfLTnv7t6ic_MiA-M3ESX7gtxrGBEk6JVWOK9Md2MYXDLzR_E0O5bKCfLU93Jw8AyTzt926ZUf9K4CHMu1GsHVGjFgGjU2_L0HJqh_NoBRDXtMFU1Vx/s400/IMG_8868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631909559120471538" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids had <b>so much fun</b> painting with this stuff.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ejsbWT6yX-JeX_Z1zxX9lH4EvkqnbfgrvRmLQvtfPbeVxVbRJLRaN2t18DDdrEJo_Mkm8z4-XTTXsqGclmzl8i36QunirEhtCs5hXq5w7Azh2GDJOORggNhXO8G5xt-dUWMBVHMNo9v/s1600/IMG_8873.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ejsbWT6yX-JeX_Z1zxX9lH4EvkqnbfgrvRmLQvtfPbeVxVbRJLRaN2t18DDdrEJo_Mkm8z4-XTTXsqGclmzl8i36QunirEhtCs5hXq5w7Azh2GDJOORggNhXO8G5xt-dUWMBVHMNo9v/s400/IMG_8873.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631909555475396562" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Coco had to be wiped from <b>head to toe </b>when we were done, but it comes of the skin surprisingly easy.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJmEE9xgCvoZkLm2tZenU4noGC_RMo8vY-mwafL4L_ptuZ1uXjxdCLIlpJo2l9ncDCMnNMDZFO5gXkyW86b-KcotejKzoH66b0MFkJBtTkJJAvl35y4J-HcqOnQsRmx3iOlTI8871v4lx/s1600/IMG_8876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJmEE9xgCvoZkLm2tZenU4noGC_RMo8vY-mwafL4L_ptuZ1uXjxdCLIlpJo2l9ncDCMnNMDZFO5gXkyW86b-KcotejKzoH66b0MFkJBtTkJJAvl35y4J-HcqOnQsRmx3iOlTI8871v4lx/s400/IMG_8876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631909548405346402" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I tried to convince them to paint more in the sun so that my photos wouldn’t have shadows, <i>but it was hot</i>. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorramsqMUnqco_PUoyDUYGMkxsK8uKtdMd32LuhI9H0KHCNZWUkYh0eKApMyfVL93_w44wpGa4nDBqP0ke-5DKiMnSr0nAFQsCvU12oPKZ1KQUO_cfdJsjCIeYgvk1SApOh0jjvY2ytp_/s1600/IMG_8882.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorramsqMUnqco_PUoyDUYGMkxsK8uKtdMd32LuhI9H0KHCNZWUkYh0eKApMyfVL93_w44wpGa4nDBqP0ke-5DKiMnSr0nAFQsCvU12oPKZ1KQUO_cfdJsjCIeYgvk1SApOh0jjvY2ytp_/s400/IMG_8882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631909544472785730" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the paint dries, <i>which it does quickly</i>, it looks like chalk on steroids. It washes off easily, but since we did it in the courtyard, I don’t mind if it hangs out for a few </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">weeks</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> days. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Isn’t that what summer fun is all about?</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-79688413229049299192011-07-19T15:04:00.000-07:002011-07-19T15:33:34.795-07:00Ponys and Cake!<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We visited <b>Irvine Regional Park</b> for a birthday party this summer. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We come to Irvine Regional for the pumpkin patch every year, but we’ve never taken the time to explore the other fun things this park offers- maybe because the kids were smaller and a little harder to wrangle. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There is so much to see and explore here. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boys decided they wanted to <b>ride the ponies</b>. I was not convinced this was a great idea, because Vincent has a tendency to get anxious at the last minute <i>(I wonder where he gets that from)</i>, but I went with it.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FJ3b825BGuSShTcsvqbkXuflbo16uHZzUGqFP57x1lKu5W6C3CCb06CpQ86LCyketazxFvOxgFudPoQ2XLdJ2GzgdbEHFToDI0sZ02LOTMXFikiMWY4sQNHZ4cxrX5Pg71rnoSO7Tixa/s1600/IMG_8251.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FJ3b825BGuSShTcsvqbkXuflbo16uHZzUGqFP57x1lKu5W6C3CCb06CpQ86LCyketazxFvOxgFudPoQ2XLdJ2GzgdbEHFToDI0sZ02LOTMXFikiMWY4sQNHZ4cxrX5Pg71rnoSO7Tixa/s400/IMG_8251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631190541719698370" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To my delight, they loved it! Vincent was not scared <b>at all</b>. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Wst_XCL_Fnv3_3vRRnw-NB6gsb6EK408e0Uik5Smafz-dv90XroZj2w3e76fACN-qhpQ4YbpUN3KNiXz_qoYaTNZi3tc_RizGuzp13m5qYd23lgwQAdZbY-0uuEOkEbi3_hzO7TVfrm/s1600/IMG_8232.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Wst_XCL_Fnv3_3vRRnw-NB6gsb6EK408e0Uik5Smafz-dv90XroZj2w3e76fACN-qhpQ4YbpUN3KNiXz_qoYaTNZi3tc_RizGuzp13m5qYd23lgwQAdZbY-0uuEOkEbi3_hzO7TVfrm/s400/IMG_8232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631190535988748482" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> was especially surprised by how <i>calm</i> <b>Franklin</b> was on the horse. He would reach down and stroke Jacks’s neck and talk to him. <b>It was terribly sweet.</b> </span></span><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"></span><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BYdmzzrvV0xRvAkaGPovTBBLmZB9f2COMNfQWW_Im7MG6FtntJXBZzEfD1kOwIQU2rKF-jqxjxB9fIFnRrbFAuezWohpMUx7xGTzGZ_yvwVx3WstDRZSJsKksVdyDkkLFW6Ar8jJsZjC/s1600/IMG_8256.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BYdmzzrvV0xRvAkaGPovTBBLmZB9f2COMNfQWW_Im7MG6FtntJXBZzEfD1kOwIQU2rKF-jqxjxB9fIFnRrbFAuezWohpMUx7xGTzGZ_yvwVx3WstDRZSJsKksVdyDkkLFW6Ar8jJsZjC/s400/IMG_8256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631190535825309874" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We may need to get one....or visit a dude ranch...or move to Wyoming. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love me some cowboy boots.</span></i></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpST7lKo3parCsHgMjjEIDCSbeUQZAGjR9XG3LL_NyY3j8bcqxJHQcOLRFBDQIsmNOeS80_HzeqMYjoc4uANtNpXYaDl4ROCdt1MGmOTvg0nb03kkYy5LLDPevdUUG0WbclAgBsK518HM/s1600/IMG_8271.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpST7lKo3parCsHgMjjEIDCSbeUQZAGjR9XG3LL_NyY3j8bcqxJHQcOLRFBDQIsmNOeS80_HzeqMYjoc4uANtNpXYaDl4ROCdt1MGmOTvg0nb03kkYy5LLDPevdUUG0WbclAgBsK518HM/s400/IMG_8271.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631190009182864530" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Trails</b> wind through the park, which is great for horseback riding and biking. You can rent both horses and bikes if you choose, or bring your own. You seriously forget you are in Orange County when you visit here. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVuapnBO0ctFtk2snk851CqXM3wvunU2-mNEYepzuQPOhzU3Ev7wNv-ZxzZ_iTDiMwpgZGVOPpGoy-PkkF4c0h1r5-74K7hwVBtG6qcVON-rWekPO6VOUFHy9JAfuW7fz6zSE_XD1Gp5-/s1600/IMG_8364.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVuapnBO0ctFtk2snk851CqXM3wvunU2-mNEYepzuQPOhzU3Ev7wNv-ZxzZ_iTDiMwpgZGVOPpGoy-PkkF4c0h1r5-74K7hwVBtG6qcVON-rWekPO6VOUFHy9JAfuW7fz6zSE_XD1Gp5-/s400/IMG_8364.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631190002758625714" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is cool and lush and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">quiet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> The <b>ponds</b> are calm and beautiful. You can rent paddles boats. I think that would be a blast <i>when the kids are older.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are picnic areas tucked all over the grounds, some can accommodate large corporate events, and there are both small and large <b>playgrounds</b>. </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYYynZHQjRdtAm-lx35Bq_dKUcDbOt3-F7u3XH5HCJ5C4sH15ujpcshKik39TTZd1PwUhVJ4Fb-w3sJOx45zVnf8QvA7a81fHNt4izEh905_uyi-JBJPxJDDTubdSmKE9Q53fyOqXNTvo/s1600/IMG_8367.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYYynZHQjRdtAm-lx35Bq_dKUcDbOt3-F7u3XH5HCJ5C4sH15ujpcshKik39TTZd1PwUhVJ4Fb-w3sJOx45zVnf8QvA7a81fHNt4izEh905_uyi-JBJPxJDDTubdSmKE9Q53fyOqXNTvo/s400/IMG_8367.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631188687369645570" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is the birthday boy, <b>Odin</b> with his cake. He is so stinking cute, <i>and just as sweet.</i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtinsddgHLWP5Zz7r5FmD8us_kqG0hGcH0f7mpzIc-qTAFrDJ3d3176ELeuAZ_i6AEWYJLYbvwe5JydLS6IBoKaVu9XihTXGym3-f9fwzEMPcbcML8_r2wIp-G2r91emF58QpLOIXc-i6M/s1600/IMG_8296.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtinsddgHLWP5Zz7r5FmD8us_kqG0hGcH0f7mpzIc-qTAFrDJ3d3176ELeuAZ_i6AEWYJLYbvwe5JydLS6IBoKaVu9XihTXGym3-f9fwzEMPcbcML8_r2wIp-G2r91emF58QpLOIXc-i6M/s400/IMG_8296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631188676753450130" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And the aftermath.</span></b></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m6uB0iaj7DvLPJYIfYvIo-ZVUzQwnbrgusWoGaaB3KCothX1wEeS6SeP38k4x3EvwuGsH5R_5d6uL8ybwA9wvOoT7k99d6N5sZ0KM8qsH1g5T_24HsOPVYvJ_QMCmtYcnwSV_8WY4yls/s1600/IMG_8342.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m6uB0iaj7DvLPJYIfYvIo-ZVUzQwnbrgusWoGaaB3KCothX1wEeS6SeP38k4x3EvwuGsH5R_5d6uL8ybwA9wvOoT7k99d6N5sZ0KM8qsH1g5T_24HsOPVYvJ_QMCmtYcnwSV_8WY4yls/s400/IMG_8342.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631188672571310994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vincent loves this photo. Isn’t that what turning a year old is all about? I would totally do that now if I could get away with it! <i>Maybe for 40.</i></span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyzTQlCLvxRG4-2kUtMWeiuxwBzIRU3NdWoNfX9XELCCMqj_EINwPdoCwLkWMlARtWR4wfH_y-IGj1gnbziKHOk8vpq25ztLcTyfCAK2ZbHw0vJNfe7DYMODcralv9T4lmwAGCsXPl1Zd/s1600/IMG_8291.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyzTQlCLvxRG4-2kUtMWeiuxwBzIRU3NdWoNfX9XELCCMqj_EINwPdoCwLkWMlARtWR4wfH_y-IGj1gnbziKHOk8vpq25ztLcTyfCAK2ZbHw0vJNfe7DYMODcralv9T4lmwAGCsXPl1Zd/s400/IMG_8291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631188669211981490" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Odin’s mom Nicole made these <b>delicious push-up cakes</b>. How cute and fun is that? If you are in the OC and want some for your own party send me an email and I will get you in touch with her. <i>Nicole is amazingly creative.</i></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pi5wjpuMQMsYMqNlpHl8aGWvmrJdiOQjmjBsUOaShQAyDitmyO7GGIcIc3xsoLpgMC9Rv-M_vDt8zwvkXQWesPNT4fpBeJsLMvqq_ZEOgW_Lr8EGoBejFDtYICj99wT-ID62hw55bfVo/s1600/IMG_8375.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pi5wjpuMQMsYMqNlpHl8aGWvmrJdiOQjmjBsUOaShQAyDitmyO7GGIcIc3xsoLpgMC9Rv-M_vDt8zwvkXQWesPNT4fpBeJsLMvqq_ZEOgW_Lr8EGoBejFDtYICj99wT-ID62hw55bfVo/s400/IMG_8375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631188661890294802" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The park also has a <b>train</b> that runs through it. I have been surprised every Halloween that the kids haven’t asked to ride it. <i>I have a feeling this Halloween will be the year. </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t feel right including Irvine Regional in the <b>Summer Park Tour</b> because it is so much more than a playground destination. I really don’t know how to “rank” it. I wouldn’t pack a picnic and the children on a whim and come over, so I am going to put it on the bottom. <i>This is not a reflection on the park, rather a flaw in my system.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>If you are following along, here is the current ranking:</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.0pt;margin-left:52.0pt;text-indent:-24.0pt;line-height:20.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#262626"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Aurora Park<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.0pt;margin-left:52.0pt;text-indent:-24.0pt;line-height:20.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#262626"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Starlight Ridge Park <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.0pt;margin-left:52.0pt;text-indent:-24.0pt;line-height:20.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#262626"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Community Center Park<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.0pt;margin-left:52.0pt;text-indent:-24.0pt;line-height:20.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#262626"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Seaview Park</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.0pt;margin-left:52.0pt;text-indent:-24.0pt;line-height:20.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:#262626"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Irvine Regional Park</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150286801212853214.post-81168635858764683902011-07-17T12:03:00.001-07:002011-07-17T12:27:21.280-07:00Happy National Ice Cream Day<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In recognition of July 17th being </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">National Ice Cream Day</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I thought I would share some fun ice cream related stuff with you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">piece of awesomeness</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> has replaced my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer as my favorite small kitchen appliance. Never did I think those words would leave my mouth. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’m sure it is a temporary promotion.</span></i></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVv4zTN3M2oFcXRq7PzSakjhrlBWbzN5q75sm0IPPae7OiVOrqnf1-fR9fX1pN_c57CYy6gcC8v59V-Lg_qFLqsDgimE7JV-M_QABPM9tnkdEonBTmZFIwDx8Cc6-k7buuxHp9HEPdzSY/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 416px; height: 416px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVv4zTN3M2oFcXRq7PzSakjhrlBWbzN5q75sm0IPPae7OiVOrqnf1-fR9fX1pN_c57CYy6gcC8v59V-Lg_qFLqsDgimE7JV-M_QABPM9tnkdEonBTmZFIwDx8Cc6-k7buuxHp9HEPdzSY/s400/Unknown-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630400045049447250" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. I was hesitant to buy an ice cream maker. I thought it would be messy and take up a lot of room that I could otherwise use for hiding my secret stash of Peanut M&M’s. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then ice cream prices started going up. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I refuse to spent $6.99 for Dryers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. REFUSE! So I picked up one of these babys at Costco when they had it for a great price with an instant rebate. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you- the stuff you can make in this sucker is way better than the stuff from the grocery store </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(except Ben and Jerrys.....I still love me some Ben and Jerry’s).</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> It is </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">super easy</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to use, the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">kids love helping</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> with it, and you can make it for cheaper than buying. LOVE!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I got mine in red, but look at all these fun colors you could get for yourself.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97f3CMvsFliTWuVyDGD9b4XyUM2PdiPNDfifqyS8jK_UaUDwLh1OaJDyCIOjKG68UW47t0WyeKjJadLt3Kd2LnHIxBvvHpxsyFV8kP08Tvl-NSQVDbbj1-lL4KJDe9ozOpEY7B0x86Gpr/s1600/images-2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height:284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97f3CMvsFliTWuVyDGD9b4XyUM2PdiPNDfifqyS8jK_UaUDwLh1OaJDyCIOjKG68UW47t0WyeKjJadLt3Kd2LnHIxBvvHpxsyFV8kP08Tvl-NSQVDbbj1-lL4KJDe9ozOpEY7B0x86Gpr/s400/images-2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630400038840420450" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And here are some <b>fun Etsy ice cream finds</b> if you really want to celebrate National Ice Cream Day in style (with links):</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71chyo04dbNGRh1qRlK3yLY6dB0vLXORhRGFbOGWKr7Navt1Z6A9uVG6A5U7XhcsmoErt-l-6gchBljMGMlRl2tdO-VKJGasZJ0b7rVnhfcqXoYMHLMjRN_MEY24XNS4sVtWUSCgZHRZ/s1600/il_170x135.243972760.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71chyo04dbNGRh1qRlK3yLY6dB0vLXORhRGFbOGWKr7Navt1Z6A9uVG6A5U7XhcsmoErt-l-6gchBljMGMlRl2tdO-VKJGasZJ0b7rVnhfcqXoYMHLMjRN_MEY24XNS4sVtWUSCgZHRZ/s400/il_170x135.243972760.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399835846881026" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74077620/vintage-my-ice-cream-your-ice-cream"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vintage ice cream spoons.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> These would be super cute as a little anniversary gift.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5cwz9rdbCje8dpR5IM5j_7MgP9tbVqENBPnB1VJSaqlQ4Pp8vzJBQ2xn5B76AOKfoCbooL8P8pR2-SQ6ScujECccYa0U_OiF9ViJgLXRe-eTlYHowL-egLhieX1X1eg2ubY7dzecUAza/s1600/il_170x135.216236441.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5cwz9rdbCje8dpR5IM5j_7MgP9tbVqENBPnB1VJSaqlQ4Pp8vzJBQ2xn5B76AOKfoCbooL8P8pR2-SQ6ScujECccYa0U_OiF9ViJgLXRe-eTlYHowL-egLhieX1X1eg2ubY7dzecUAza/s400/il_170x135.216236441.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399830103634178" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67876305/the-travelin-snack-bag-in-i-scream-for"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Traveling Snack Bags</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. Reusable, washable, and I love the clip on the side.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKIa8pLPoG1P8oyHb0ocsyQ70fNPur_SFrtZAGtymPj80ZjgjekBf3grggPF9v5IyGcqRSBgOrGuvtGTWDYgbLYGhGT_P8_BVzegcrXzH2AxxhVuNHlp6LpcdMoc6Q7ywdnHDGLqoLBbf/s1600/il_170x135.253474102.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKIa8pLPoG1P8oyHb0ocsyQ70fNPur_SFrtZAGtymPj80ZjgjekBf3grggPF9v5IyGcqRSBgOrGuvtGTWDYgbLYGhGT_P8_BVzegcrXzH2AxxhVuNHlp6LpcdMoc6Q7ywdnHDGLqoLBbf/s400/il_170x135.253474102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399832236793186" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77923991/you-me-how-sweet-screenprint-12-x-19-in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This screen print</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> would be fun in the kitchen.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJw1N91FOeYLIxlkoUjAAHXwyRzlTIuBnJjg5lPcaI6Yw77HS2O9sDy4kv2hrgPwfHL8CuAH4x6Pla5VJdg-VEd9XmyDIL9xaBsxAtf0XYczFawcrtiqK0hjy6Q7zdfl-XE6dMbbqd1MC/s1600/IMG_8947.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJw1N91FOeYLIxlkoUjAAHXwyRzlTIuBnJjg5lPcaI6Yw77HS2O9sDy4kv2hrgPwfHL8CuAH4x6Pla5VJdg-VEd9XmyDIL9xaBsxAtf0XYczFawcrtiqK0hjy6Q7zdfl-XE6dMbbqd1MC/s400/IMG_8947.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399561909274258" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Any National Ice Cream Day celebration would be </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">incomplete</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> without eating ice cream. We whipped up a batch of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">vanilla</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> last night and the kids had </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">crushed M&M’s and cherries on top</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpy06rRyEmbE7sJWpb7dySbDYuEk15_jSmkYCGviPxU9nBlCOnwWI6LDQbZ81tIiiTDrlopXU3h1uNmNfF4BEwYbr46ofG7u4roMg-BfQVFq_WCcsgOhr8U4c5NoA6TBwbMBXGfJhPy9Y/s1600/IMG_8960.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpy06rRyEmbE7sJWpb7dySbDYuEk15_jSmkYCGviPxU9nBlCOnwWI6LDQbZ81tIiiTDrlopXU3h1uNmNfF4BEwYbr46ofG7u4roMg-BfQVFq_WCcsgOhr8U4c5NoA6TBwbMBXGfJhPy9Y/s400/IMG_8960.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399559380571330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialxDmb1JdtpDM-gTtaubIvfKuUT0k7OX9Rrx0RYdEVrn9f6RePjsofJqY3ikczdzeaV9n2MaCTyvs8ebjjMq-4GQhhjqG-FaBFKbOMeyR_oKnOj4FTO3Ows_tcHOBA9LQGZwxebkYGiDu/s1600/IMG_8957.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialxDmb1JdtpDM-gTtaubIvfKuUT0k7OX9Rrx0RYdEVrn9f6RePjsofJqY3ikczdzeaV9n2MaCTyvs8ebjjMq-4GQhhjqG-FaBFKbOMeyR_oKnOj4FTO3Ows_tcHOBA9LQGZwxebkYGiDu/s400/IMG_8957.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630399554175299138" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I made </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Drunken Cherry Jubilee</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to top the adult's ice cream.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 ½ cup fresh pitted cherrys</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">½ cup dry red wine</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">¼ cup cherry preserves (add more if you want it a little sweeter)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 tabelspoon Ameretto (or Almond Torani Syrup)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons lemon juice</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">Bring the first 3 ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, stirring frequently for 5 minutes. Add the last two ingredients. Stir. Serve on top of your favorite ice cream- warm or at room temperature.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As Franklin would say, it was “wicked”! </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now go eat some ice cream, and thanks for reading!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div><a href="http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/?action=view&current=HRH.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i39/hrheilig/HRH.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766779346185871812noreply@blogger.com1