tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332168362024-03-18T23:00:35.010-04:00Life with QuiltsLife is crazy with 3 kids but it's manageable with quilt making.ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.comBlogger524125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-87505905062754906292013-06-04T23:12:00.000-04:002013-06-04T23:12:00.006-04:00BSN! I'm not sure where to start here. I haven't used this blog in a long time, obviously. It seems like the more you use Facebook, the less you blog. There's a sense of instant gratification with a quick post/update in the limited time you have in between papers, classes, exams, and the long list of things that need to be done to run a house. I did find time to binge on Doctor Who and visit with friends and family. You have to maintain your sanity somehow!<div>
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I am now an official college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing! I completed 4 years of nursing school and managed to graduate with honors. All the while keeping three kids alive, not killing the dog, and had a husband working in another state the last few months. It was hard and worth every minute! I still have to take the NCLEX to get my nursing license, but I'm going to take the test in Colorado. You see, we are in the process of relocating our family back to Colorado. It'll be good to be home, but it's a bit bittersweet. We have been here for 7 years and have made some great friends whom we will miss dearly. Anyone want to buy a 122 year old house? </div>
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This summer I am hoping to have a little bit more time to work some quilts. I squeaked out a few baby quilts this last year. I'll try to share what I've worked on and hopefully, just maybe, I can start to blog again. </div>
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The direction of my life has changed from a stay at home mom quilting and canning, and morphed into a soon to be working mom. I don't want to stop doing the things that I love. I will try to find a way to incorporate it in. I am excited to pursue nursing. It's amazing how far I've made it on my path to becoming a midwife. When I started nursing school it all seemed so far away. My next little goal is to get through grad school by the time I'm 40. I think I can do it in three years! 40... I just said 40... am I that old already? </div>
ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-77057698640080938252012-08-28T22:07:00.000-04:002012-08-28T22:07:08.535-04:00Summer's endI started my senior year of nursing school today with mixed emotions. I'm so glad to be so close to done and so not ready to give up the leisure of summer for classrooms and studying. I didn't get to lounge all summer long. The externship kept me busy all through June and July. I sadly didn't think it was a great experience. I didn't seem to get along with my preceptor and I don't know why. I'm usually pretty good at getting along with people and working with different personalities. Just could figure her out. It was also disheartening to see delivery after delivery augmented, induced, or sectioned. The only natural births I saw when I was there the mom literally came in pushing. Shouldn't be that way, IMO.<br />
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(I have no decent segway here) So, there was a huge storm that hit just our town and it did more damage than the hurricane last summer. Ripped out trees and took out power lines all over town. They declared a state of emergency and we had a curfew for a couple nights. It was crazy!<br />
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The day after the externship ended we started our vacation/visit to Colorado and Kansas. We had a great time as usual. The farm is full of fun for all ages. I get to see my mommy, the kids get to see the animals, and we get to eat fair food for a few days. The big kids got to show hogs! I even put a quilt in to be judged, my mom suggested it, and got a blue ribbon, thankyouverymuch.<br />
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Hannah was driving the pickup truck, Simon was driving the skid loader behind it, and Seth was driving a tractor. Only on the farm!</div>
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We left the farm with a few tears. The kittens couldn't come home with us. </div>
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My friend Laura came with us on a trip to ride the <a href="http://georgetownlooprr.com/">Georgetown Loop</a> and go on a mine tour. I have to give credit to Laura's mom for the idea.<br />
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We got to see lots of wonderful friends and family as well. We went to the zoo, swimming, ate at a ton of yummy places (like a <a href="http://hapasushi.com/">sushi bar</a> with naughty names for rolls), and went to a place called Jump Street which has tons of trampolines. Oh, and cousin time was a must. We even got family photos taken. I can't wait to see them all! Fun was had by all. Ok, Dan didn't have the best time when he was stuck in the airport for a day...<br />
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Kids at the Denver Zoo! (Thanks, Amy for getting us in!) The Elephant is very photogenic, no?</div>
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One of the highlights for me was seeing<a href="http://thebloggess.com/"> The Bloggess</a> (Jenny Lawson) at the Tattered Cover. She's is so awesomely bizarre and hysterical. Love. Her. I've been reading her blog for many years. Her book is snort-out-loud funny. She was brilliant in person and I'm glad I got to see her.<br />
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I have been working on a quilt too. I'm always working on something! I love Anna Maria Horner's fabrics! </div>
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ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-87033327267219495362012-06-25T12:10:00.000-04:002012-06-25T12:10:05.977-04:00June milestonesWe now have a high schooler. Hannah "graduated" from eight grade. I didn't graduate from 8th, we had a continuation. She's delighted and excited, I am too. I am also feeling a little old.<br />
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Simon will be in middle school and Seth will be in 1st. Everyone in leveling up. :)<br />
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We also decided to get a rescue dog. This is Jake. He's a Hound mix. Everyone who sees him says he is a Beagle. He's going to have a great bark if he's Hound/Beagle mix!<br />
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I am doing my externship. It's not exactly what I expected. I have so much theoretical knowledge and such limited practical, hands-on experience. There is also a learning curve with my mentors personality. It's not that we don't get along, just trying to figure her out. The hospital I am at has no midwives that work there so it's all very medical. Not a bad thing. I'd just love to see some natural and well supported births instead of induced and augmented ones.ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-6132656582572501112012-06-05T13:19:00.000-04:002012-06-05T13:19:28.648-04:00Costa RicaI am still reeling from my week long trip to Costa Rica. I saw the beauty of the coast and the forests, but I also saw the slums. Abject poverty in third world conditions. They have an illegal immigrant population of native Nicaraguans that come in. They are outside of the government healthcare system. In some ways it's similar to what happens in the US. They come and work the jobs like picking coffee berries for 2 dollars a baskets.<br />
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The clinic we worked at was a few minutes drive from one of the slums in Alajuelita.<br />
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Here's the pharmacy where we filled prescriptions the doctor handed through the window and the office where he saw the patients. We would also help by pulling files, taking BP, temp, height, and weight. The doctor would let you sit in on the exams and explain in English what they were there for.<br />
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A beautiful young girl outside of the clinic.</div>
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We weren't allowed in the slums. It isn't safe apparently since you have to walk in, but they drove us to the edge on the dirt road.<br />
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This was outside the soup kitchen that we went to visit.<br />
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I did get to see some of the tourist things while we were there. Our first day there we went to a coffee plantation, had a traditional breakfast, went to Poas Volcano, and a waterfall.<br />
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On Friday we had a short day at the clinic. We went to the beach and I went ziplining for the first time ever! It was so much fun. By the way, it was incredibly hot when we went ziplining, hence my lovely sheen of sweat.<br />
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I truly enjoyed my time there even though I didn't speak enough of the language. Our house mom spoke only Spanish. Thankfully, the other girl we were rooming with for the week spoke more than I did and she helped a lot! I don't know if I'd ever get used to throwing my toilet paper in the trash or living behind fences. However, I did like the fruit. Fruit is always in season. I could get used to that!<br />
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FIMRC is doing a great thing in Alajuelita and other places in the world. I am very glad I went. It's eye opening. Would I go back? Yes. I think the next time I do a mission I want to be a nurse or working on my Master's so I can do midwifery work abroad.<br />
<br />ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-37463945100888833642012-05-08T17:22:00.001-04:002012-05-08T17:22:09.601-04:00Spring<br />
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Spring is slipping by so quickly. I've hardly had time to get out there and enjoy it. I'm in the last two weeks of my semester and it's rather hectic. I did get to head into the city with kids over Spring Break. We had a full and fun day. We saw Dan's new office down in the Wall St. area. went to the Central Park Zoo, walked around the park, and went to the Met. I love Central Park. We even ended up in a Occupy Wall Street march on accident.<br />
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I'm getting ready to go on my medical mission trip to Costa Rica in a few weeks! I'm so excited to go. I have to take a gift to my homestay family and I'm not sure what to bring them. This is going to be such an incredible experience. Hopefully, one I can repeat again.<br />
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Maybe once I'm back I can squeeze a few projects in around my summer extern program.<br />
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God, I'm already looking at grad schools... Sometimes, even it the midst of the constant chaos, it feels like things are coming together just fine.ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-70431806640918889212012-04-01T20:15:00.004-04:002012-04-01T20:36:11.838-04:00highlights<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-az0SIKOhpz8g8lRtHhf-oMf9h2ygY9HRV3nELADRb-r5PR7y9NMwbpvbVPHEJ4DSfWJWLvRpe3AfbHySrVdnf8P3qUGFVl-xymQ3MS6bHf-TKzIOlE0iXCwtTBtxG3wmt6je_g/s1600/IMG_5360.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-az0SIKOhpz8g8lRtHhf-oMf9h2ygY9HRV3nELADRb-r5PR7y9NMwbpvbVPHEJ4DSfWJWLvRpe3AfbHySrVdnf8P3qUGFVl-xymQ3MS6bHf-TKzIOlE0iXCwtTBtxG3wmt6je_g/s400/IMG_5360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592137892688258" /></a>Time flies by and I forget to update so here are some highlights from the last month-ish. <div><br /></div><div>Seth had an awesome 6th birthday party. He cut his cake with a sword. He loved it.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedNlPbsDVAXivFSzzr3I0_SPmzdevD6TlKIwmfYRvP-bOh0-HnW8OjGu5GM0J2dTf0W-VEeLiS8MMZDF1GiKyWtonV0IC-YSjQCrN_InG61gQYyYQVRD81HcQ2e_grf5vkC5WXw/s400/IMG_5346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592146852022706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Hannah placed 3rd at State on bars. (That's not her score in the picture.)</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5318vay3YnowJn3ED6gT02MBrROGKpjGPizc5P8yH9-M2qgO0ywkqnvhrOKkb8sHWchVbka7iqK6fbf8kbQ43F7vmPy2EECS-za1ZXLIkl8MSC8_Yf0HdGOyccrT51YsV-yUrYA/s1600/IMG_5300.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5318vay3YnowJn3ED6gT02MBrROGKpjGPizc5P8yH9-M2qgO0ywkqnvhrOKkb8sHWchVbka7iqK6fbf8kbQ43F7vmPy2EECS-za1ZXLIkl8MSC8_Yf0HdGOyccrT51YsV-yUrYA/s400/IMG_5300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726591370770890050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div>I had some friends come to visit for a weekend. I feel loved and had a wonderful time. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CNXk6M8NHlVh3nH6boc20S4RP16263Hs9dBie_MDuVVCjdmVrNfddfrRum0xqtClsb1IRgTtoL_5BUzNmdwstHB_YRBbGZsPUy7uMw5G01oP3SBb8zB3R5hQM1jXtVRdAD7FaA/s400/IMG_5380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592704485230034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Simon's FPS team went to state. They didn't make it to Internationals... maybe next year. Simon also moved from Cub Scouts up to Boy Scouts. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi238eKluOOdhktGbbPH5ECdPlE1SIV4YV9jlTBl31gtwMbtNrQcfkdx4uPfB6ODzbLZl5xhYbHpBkQX84XOlKpX1pLDGRyL2-w-ZrKSjuiRbBHQ6oDeAFkhHvvkvrdg0fiitEErA/s400/IMG_5388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592713255532818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div>Dan has a new job up in the city. It's a huge adjustment for us all now that he has a big commute like this. He likes the new job, so hopefully all the traveling back and forth to the city will be worth the adjustments.</div><div><br /></div><div>My semester is cruising along. I registered for next semester already. I can't believe I only have two more semesters to go after this one! Getting my BSN seemed so far away for so long and now it's just around the corner. </div></span></span></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-78944070417952011492012-02-10T15:53:00.004-05:002012-02-10T16:13:04.790-05:00update<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8698asc40XlMVpQdqMsCZXRDUOR_Bh8rwCB2VN_E2_FJAj-QZJgV0lGCCa3NiuUbmdfQXGiLDo1UFgZYy4qPoknwvADij_j3LPJ-JtXSyyWiKVBXayyJ5vd-WnGGjYZsVO-T_w/s1600/IMG_1061.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8698asc40XlMVpQdqMsCZXRDUOR_Bh8rwCB2VN_E2_FJAj-QZJgV0lGCCa3NiuUbmdfQXGiLDo1UFgZYy4qPoknwvADij_j3LPJ-JtXSyyWiKVBXayyJ5vd-WnGGjYZsVO-T_w/s400/IMG_1061.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707613570304268722" /></a><br />Poor little neglected blog. Things are a bit chaotic around here, but that's normal, right. The semester is in full swing. I am taking 17 credits this spring. So, what's everyone else up to?<div><br /></div><div>Braces. Again.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuqGjkPXsQ3WK-q05Ec4zv458lmEpa9Fjc5GxKNQcU5XOpTEAHZb55BCELkZxNFKPGDvvtoXsURU71T_-oISfUfwuaRTXXf7BPEBEUNY5n6thzZcN7D0fFItjNTwxOC28Y8AiwA/s400/IMG_1060.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707613573347716050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>She refers to them as medieval torture devices. Can you argue with that? And, she's doing fantastic with gymnastics. She's going to States again this year!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUYqphoD7M_Vl5uIqjVKr0qPCWm64YcMK1q7G7Ml3MOF5wFmHFJsXM9moX8wqUC1JB5G3RcB3mbW2LhmqXSFUzTXwbofnbLf32HTehhVxVxurWM5PFviQsGyWYwQH2gKFEhy97w/s400/IMG_5166.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707615868032369234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Simon is about to move up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6XBySS6K2tPO4kVKPanhQlXFHDibZ8AklIoc_5J0-22Anr1iaMRWp54ZQ6fKSDFZX7rDqCnII4CqDiCiuBhZUi7mLV6TpUQQAgqffebvx-NZ7ourEq60VCedd-BJZlkVItH3wg/s400/IMG_5248.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707613582932196946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>And, he's doing FPS like Hannah did. His team came in first place, so they are going to States. It seems to be a theme around here. Maybe he'll get to go to International like Hannah did in 5th grade.</div><div><br /></div><div>The big chaos around here is Dan was let go from his job. They reorganized and it put him out. So, he's looking. Hopefully it won't take long to find new employment. I'll continue to trudge my way through school. If I get to see this view every morning when I have clinical it'll be just that much easier...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8wjNthb63Z5_uiBMQcRQVEMZe1U3PkypTHTziLlpa5BzpDHWtc22MzDodl6bFG2g0GRqOQHQ0w5WObgyiJ1I_sFpprOMpfb-mS74ZYgIbU4FsM9yDaZmJwnBT-1twSJrFAsbIQ/s400/IMG_1054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707617358144360306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-66191372987918973692012-01-07T18:14:00.005-05:002012-01-07T18:26:27.087-05:00Gettin' crafty<div style="text-align: left;">Sewing makes me happy. Since my little break started I've managed to do a bit of sewing and hope to do some more. I got the throw size quilt basted, quilted, and bound.</div><div><br /> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxQ_nmhdqPH7Jjnr-z11zBbr2yA2UFdrSInkrFwpq9dUc1ezSRACiuR5HLb7cZ5S3Id62BMSjAqYyes1U0KmzmbzPEUu63b9r5wbtpoqPVDZXOFqs-M6AQS0iE5vLam0U5pB8Cg/s400/IMG_5140.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695034448531629218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSCqDa_HLpPkCnON7qh3e4dQCmU_Kgfphgf_sscQrL2LV12ehFK34tKvpn1OxAr82G4wJTj8Ufx9Uqdz-YcbAvLvVe0_COaRnkRon9NK2easMTv4ByOQMweSk6mWdOarp5QdG/s400/IMG_5142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695033393612816946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>I made myself a new bag! I got the pattern and fabric on my trip to NYC with Amy and Monica Back in November. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXkiI9VfQsYtDnJDQiFdEu6V3u8cJgVJWsgh0Z7p77kd64mI1Et-608BAzAIvSK9iV8Im6GKWZ_tLc9DYLaispnDBPu4C-JFYjf0AfQK-i82-VS4EapgK0Q4ERIijo8ynriuv/s400/IMG_5145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695033549826680050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>And, I made some more coffee cup cozies for friends. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Y4CoIfJVAwSXcBW1B9CEIfBPjg-HDkgqoGCOH_nDcULt6pIVZkYQ8dgjW_9Kr48bB-h4Kxus_CZt_0Go4sXSYN9lne8XBmZ2NPStZHx-rUdXf0cX31UqajAadbZQqmu8N2pT/s400/IMG_5144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695033546003662594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>I think they're adorable. Hopefully others think so too. What do yo think?</div></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-82929343324813419352012-01-06T09:13:00.006-05:002012-01-06T10:31:40.068-05:00mini vacation<div style="text-align: left;">December was a whirlwind of semester finals, Simon's 11th birthday, Christmas, and my mom coming to visit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I am on winter break until the 23rd of Jan. Nothing could sound sweeter to me. I do have things to do for school while on break like apply for a nurse extern position, order books for next semester, and try to get the house in order before I can't keep up. Once the spring semester gets under way I can't seem to get anything done around here. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KLkmLrBvcb0nyqON660S2hEbzq3bKYZVj3Zb2wNx1bHgzjDZaBij3D9wR37lBMIWcQop9gfdketHk7vOOq8r1DoGqBUgs2rSlT3cheRWvQ5q8yfPsv7JGfyptzpQG_7nZtqr/s400/IMG_4993.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694535617097999970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Simon is 11 now. I am always amazed at how quickly they are growing. We had a nice little party here at home with some of his friends. He asked for a drawing tablet as a birthday/Christmas present. I try to make sure he feels like his birthday is a separate thing and doesn't get mixed into the holiday. He has figured out that if he wants something big he can ask for it as a gift for both. As long as it's his choice.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year my mom and little (littlest) brother came out from the 25th-31st. It was a great visit. We were pretty mellow and didn't do a ton of touristy stuff. We went to the Statue of Liberty and walked around Princeton one day as well. Ellis Island is really fascinating. It was freezing when we were on Liberty Island to see the statue. Cold + water + wind = damn cold. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EQRnggledd_gmi9BUh-RDDhXJEidUmcI86czQbaoPD4Wjrl0Pag5WTaAzB-U0bM8aBBvwTZomC3qPVfpAeEUBXlr4c7JoAmZcLlPS1om1SStLTHAf0R0p9feoGxPBVLEe5nf/s400/IMG_5063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694535625887331922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Rebuilding Ground Zero. </i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrRhvqqO79NNAj7a4SqgthBMIVQrNBD5NCzjw7KHyJyGBWSm-agrOCRljKmr9jZWLHA61w3_WIuCbc9up-FRO8w_l1S-BMIE6oGuNe24DMZaer9rrpAXda7SUgJ8Jb8LRiJQ9/s400/IMG_5066.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694537692086338978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Seth didn't appreciate Ellis Island like we did. Think he might be a wee bit bored? </i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIi3oshezCgq2k6KaMluTt_v1vhCCgCwAMGXLUbZ3la1WrCejg-lk_muQdkmtCb3O8p41UurwPjZixaGc_NfcKX5ZlOSXagNpa902mW07I0EsV-VzEmZx31xEAy_R3bgGKjj0/s400/IMG_5071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694537708426131490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Close sleeping quarters in the dormitory on Ellis Island. </i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><br /></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApAG1QEuG_81OTRNRGMADgecVsnO7OSP7nHYMhz7H-eUfIIiQLgzR4-5wg67Ugtb-wN6Ew31PbGUsTykaqcEAfA7RcRdMZ0KdLg-Pmp0GgDfRqzm5pb3X7vU9zMdvVVaI8TCV/s400/IMG_5080.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694535636031113554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>Three little popsicles. </i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXWloq7gd667KdnsSQCPrUJQPMeOsW5J7qyTpj49sYbuV7G_wG01935aEi0jBrMwXW2B5Xn8V3j9hZ2XwQRiut_UIGeCyX27TtsepNAcx7PddO5kt8AIujqf7VUpNdIVC6sip/s400/IMG_5088.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694537688740294978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>There she is, in all her glory. </i></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk_p6IJiTBj38MfGsiELpGQY-75CkJpugjH76WBkIet_B2S2xg4dDheCwGqmj3XFob6Lr0rv8_lnEOgLCP2BtXqYrs4yppcqfovVfWWeblSvmygNWUcz5_OVIUxzOXgtrl5R8/s400/IMG_5102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694536559235350882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>Hannah and her Uncle Paul. She loves him, he hates having his picture taken.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWhWt7CjThzb90mIMKs2QW6C4zadnnRLIUTkxykfFTNftT8jFuXqx9Y-ZgUrLTRlldRoWwkIdwTq2sSfx89frIYdwUZxD2EZuwzRtbOzFuNCzUZxQMDTyw7lwkJJH5i5KQuX-/s400/IMG_5118.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694536565981402674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Hot chocolate was just what we needed after walking around the statue... and freezing. </span></i></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasRM27cGJkhxCuzfIZANGPh0S-BnfiJb5mtdzrLaJb-BnFyP7n3L5YGRJCXBvQtNN7ih7gD9Ary-qkIB6mYkwJe7ldYctz9e3k61mBwDGCCXZPZJCLMAJJSrUM7l5whqnUdzD/s400/IMG_5123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694536580291120386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>Enjoying the ferry ride back to Liberty State Park.</i></span> </div><div><br /></div><div>I am planning on enjoying my little mini vacation from school. I still have to get up every morning and get the kids off to school, but then I can mostly do what I want. I already <del>devoured</del> read the Hunger Games books. I've sewn. I've watched movies. I could get used to this...</div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-57861695852894265002011-12-17T13:28:00.004-05:002011-12-17T13:47:44.250-05:00birds<div style="text-align: left;">I've been slowly working on the bird ornaments. They are super cute, no?</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVbdBIzNYsZzQyIWb1R-7VTcFzy01egNJ0P8bFoyZYwbg12vBc7LeVzJ9ajfoOEe6qHaRvc6EHE4nytoq6lz3kQMnkH8vtNOmFWANqz55FhC6atxvxfJ9CSe7mVkB1ta0zICl/s400/IMG_4952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687169087420791810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Y_P7Sv7QvXkPXGTUFpAMTMgg9LrEA1xKwOuunmPf-bsI0BOdfWqIP-Wl8xiaApDKEWYeLCSQgyeJ6BMnGcZQ3N3ZEtjTnz3fQ_uO6n8OoantVLNeQfFW8T94_xESDYm-h0EN/s400/IMG_4960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687170404393365186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>And I made a reversible coffee cup cozy. </div><div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx4Uh_yOMqKa4YiSjTGiZGF0oMxCjHgYFRD4IFEobHbSBUUphm3qurSVsYcdKxugg90SFUf9xeX4X-ng56wOa_5NUdO2Kb2OHcvWcY02Obb6QdYst2K5cZ1g7CI4f-QUKaNWo/s400/IMG_4957.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687169094545428610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjfAAO4O8-jACpZErCUpihokZqOD0bWmOZf4U0ZZdfDxsKZ-dWMoSdf7uaJbOkcb-qgJVHgjQ8zCh45Br4sc2kRKw0a-7jwmlE0rCjMwawrluIGrStipcRp-5ZcY4CysHUcVw/s400/IMG_4958.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687169108901337330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Finals are almost over. I took my first HESI exam yesterday. Holy crap that was a hard ass test. You think you know things and then you take a test like that. I only got a 79% on it. Not a stellar grade and if they were basing it on the points I don't know if I passed or not. Crazy. Is nursing school over yet? Another semester down, 3 more to go!</div></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-40187951197463109592011-12-09T12:35:00.005-05:002011-12-09T12:44:02.774-05:00faces<div style="text-align: left;">I'm a bit biased, but I think this is awesome sauce right here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sad face</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYggozWAQQ9Gz_t_3ypvO7SDHD7IyjeJVCEm5KFx4TZW5hhI7tZ5Jxw_wRQXfHUSeYteZTjJl8JCAqA5z_oG1FQqQBS6TCN-K2ntEaLlcubODTa6T0mVh7PiJTdu8P7RG5sLsE/s400/IMG_4943.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684184163457185330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Mad face</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IDf5sM5aGgEYwmUOusUPcqs8uZVzecMAHfWSapjr5F05fx-JTklf1zERkNrDsWSsOuY47sRiEkgecTts_otls5qrUqSZPjvHAmae5e2NSs1IBqwlSDEoGJFl4SjOzDQ_LYy5/s400/IMG_4944.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684184166316591458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Happy face</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPcJMzUHeD920Iwrx_DZirzf4gm-pW7aegLFQzVtdiAKc0aKNp09dWqq3mz23-bXPX0IXfwGbsloI7vTLZu8go_l0T54SgwUkNEVZfoOQPGoOM6t8a1ipFJZumWt_5MRx2CZp/s400/IMG_4945.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684184179825617458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>"I love Mommy" face</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rvitQhoc1cg9c2bvfipvBG9kbVDBhqXcW3USda75FdVh-FSSw_LrDAeuJCxuuHePOgFrJixEW3iotqg0PZHJUo4HHaJm_J5vSMvCMqnFthj4BR5_UCEk34W8maWPGIxIBLMv/s400/IMG_4946.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684184269971490674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>I think the last one is my favorite "face" by far.</div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-66766325971215471162011-12-03T09:44:00.005-05:002011-12-09T12:35:19.826-05:00Ice skating in Central Park<div style="text-align: left;">One of my oldest and dearest friends came out to visit with her daughter for a few days before heading down to DC. We decided to take a day trip up to the city and have a little fun. I pulled the kids out of school for the day. We went to see the tree in Rockefeller Center and ice skating in Central Park.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_lt7wDmfms1rBSoZyt7fAFKvWl0BvR-mP93TgUtY78g39gzARvaspA9AMtmm7SHo5Etha97TXeYQNeeb-Q-f6HkGRujZSzolLR0NntkyOvJ1Y0g7xzlEOMBbfsLLKUMdKJAQ/s400/IMG_4893.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684179566588303490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-9YEXDqkfadG7SjJCRx4LSNhxgRJMQwm4kyROZQNEyUGpMXtax_G664Mtx0C0WCBS-b2DSdGX5viR7I-RdQ40lW5ZBTD1sWMuOC30wceDdMDhYu-o8sXcfFYkxhUdxsoHh7f/s400/IMG_4903.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684179580236573186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5eR5HB5XvT9hbOmcNcvUcfErb4JAVGTXHPpwy8jRT-AgWxgHgxsepRNDhIN1tpNXun9l4MX5taTTgvXCX2YU-4XTzuaUqMZgmsyPdwbozt9T2yrj2-92BoQIq9U-wds6MtHi/s400/IMG_4914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684179616753857250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>I had a wonderful day. The weather was perfect. The kids were great (minus Seth acting like a demanding 5 year old from time to time).</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieumETgipCzsBd4NDjI_o76Vary-rTgWvsIHR62Kz2MadluIGSZ0TcGsABXXvx6qgMBRP5tlayfc2B2Ukk5vBxnab4yNXVxlzp-XQ2INTpHtHiATS2yRWKzEexfTZJwW5Wdu6I/s400/IMG_4932.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684181089491973250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">At the very end of our time ice skating Hannah fell. Her skate caught on Simon's and down she went. So hard that she split her chin. She needed to go to the doctor. It looked to me like it needed stitches. We had to decide if we should head to a hospital in NYC </span>with all the kids or<span class="Apple-style-span"> head home. With such a minor injury we could potentially wait for hours to be seen in the ER. We are about an hour from the city so we decided to head home. Long story short, five hours after she hit her chin we returned home from the ER with her little chin glued shut.</span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHFGeApjbRal1ltgx8xFjyQ_hCuut7yCSmgk3KZM2Pfc9KG4EDzRzgWbVMWUgUTprh1XD_99agr_uwzwt1pESosWNrdFJLsnZBPLyVA3zfVmBaFTJqiUxsd8SRe461VDvZmlU/s400/IMG_4948.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684181091775318546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>The day ended with dermabond instead of hot cocoa, but at least we'll all have a story to tell about the one time the kids ditched school to go ice skating in the city.</div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-71849152948908015412011-11-19T21:20:00.006-05:002011-11-19T21:51:31.797-05:00Black belt<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs-am6W8XGRQkbBpzStR-Jp4flyKO6bkuDPOK2zrueYKk4O-SvJVV3ZJui3GqU2QRQ4n-8wAy6U_WMOVBX4mPFPDhdCQ4iJWMgA_G-ZfCPUC3QvgkxvQGxuo_IeAbtHhDDqBS/s400/IMG_4733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676899020393937490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;">After many years of hard work, Simon has become a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do! It was no easy feat either. He spent four months working on booklet that required him to write essays, do physical achievements, book reports, meditation, fasting, and a teacher recommendation. Then last weekend he had three days of testing. He had a written test on the origins of TKD and about the Masters he has. Day two was an endurance hike followed by a 3 mile run. The hike wasn't easy by any mean. I went with him. I thought I was in good shape... phew, it was hard! The hike was beautiful though! We were in Bear Mountain, NY. It's on the Hudson River and part of the Appalachian Trail. So, breath taking. I wish we'd been there a month earlier when the leaves were changing.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHp2IvJ39NXZCgx21YWxovRmcwUiEAu8ZcfHvNZrlaqHdqdAqR0878xSCVamUoWgkazQCJ9Kj7WLROYrA64CrLji5uOu1P4NQuSrB9m59Y8xIOvexanhZlIhp_gzAFnFMP7PI/s400/IMG_4725.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676899008556167218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiKqznsiOLSx61tbCv-BlmARD_5fRg_OU9MXepUJfvaM4bCnXvXqzJ5y7odM9VqT-m-e4iCMhUR9hyphenhyphencfghDyTOS_wXZfOb2TCt0rbfvbRUogZyGCgzOwMxPxVo11iCxENyKfk/s400/IMG_4741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676901239324995922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaFGad-8jyaubSmo0UfD70Z4dodXDA5L71cLPfsx0ireJERVOvvmrrRGTC3R7JMmbiZ7maZrAxSxXnFMzN90aDAFBsLO5rHBO04Y3aZMmpj-Uu6kRlWSzbk5sCX4tqvttB5te/s400/IMG_4742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676899029783260626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>Then day three was about forms, sparring, and board breaking. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_IHEmPAIMpTlhLXI7ic7pyFtcv5x4zNVo7G_Q6ZEYu7mW5d-jExED2y3V2s3BB3e57vPdvr01Y3UwwRjFhpE1oeMYt7fuppctxzlFpnZ5OpBe1DhI1CqDii3sLvDOG9NRams/s400/IMG_4774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676901217131781826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRubInHON8GEdO5zM-IeEuvjPri2PvQ7hGDzacUA8L63nIBdCYY9VTi79rWHNYSd-A2hNS77190TtqK7IY_gqnOY4HsgXjpRj7I8TWGILgAbltwFLNqyJakz3seooGMK1sVg3K/s400/IMG_4786.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676901210808322450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>He did a fantastic job with everything! We are very proud of him. He was presented with a trophy, new uniform, and a black belt! </div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfpQbHaW54bO9KxtaK0IwuC4ctLV4SVNq5bGmx6M-azpop5ZDJt0H2OJBIolcWx0lspjFbH55XyeAswuf9u-TwWFFFHHnP8Mq0Gi2pzp_-TZZSkI-AkrC-6qLSOGF3k8UarLU/s400/IMG_4862.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676904139943797330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-51829852488315786932011-11-11T11:15:00.006-05:002011-11-11T11:53:04.204-05:00October... no, it's November!<div style="text-align: left;">Where did October go? Wow, time slips by so quickly! My poor little blog feels abandoned. I've been swamped with school this semester. With OB and Peds in one class there is a lot to cover! I've got lab twice a week too. Then the kids seem to be involved in every activity under the sun. Dan and I have to coordinate who's getting which kid to what place at what time. Chaos I tell you, chaos.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, what have I been up to...</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to my brother's wedding! I got to see my nephew while I was there too. Got my mom her wedding quilt finally. It was done within a year. That's gotta count for something! I took Mallory her quilt as well when I went to Denver.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05qt0MnFLosuNFHUaRRWnpoRTvKJl25H0DAjYqipLrlhP3BGEicu5qyhRzcrUNPivXNUZoeKR5B-ZySCGFl-kZGwc7Hlxe7ay93aZUv8Z__dXdx3tKyuDonTQjKimHENYUpso/s400/IMG_4659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673776634193894482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:85%;" ><i>My little brother is married to a wonderful person! Welcome to the family. </i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6MmgQWzamKYQ31RlSxIp8Qpke_xcHdcCU8OTaWXQoITqusfA5Xi5SKLSPAkSYF0f5yBzAcCDaqobw5E84J0Cn0TqzcEx3a0OefZQiLuUjCvoLgzsu4FfmbS-n5IVUzpa3o-x/s400/IMG_4699.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673776614539454946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Jack is adorable and I love his red, red hair.</span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo5vf43uRUk6HKU8n9sXXC3BR5GG9X5VuR8mvnkLEsT0-pJhcJJOnMKNXP-rcqRcotakpxYgF37GjhFWvhDRfed1YWngXzKNrGVCB-YAzDf7v5607D_616iyW79jZJZDnxz-H/s400/IMG_4614.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673777736610092978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Love the quilting. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div>I sadly missed Hannah's 13th birthday so I could go to Colorado and see my brother get married. Dan was awesome and let Hannah have a slumber party. There were 4 extra teenage girls in the house. I bet he wore ear plugs all night. :) I told Hannah if I wasn't there then her birthday didn't happen. 13 is too old. I'm not ready. Teenagers are a whole new creature. Start praying for me. For the next 13 years we'll have teenagers in the house!</div><div><br /></div><div>Halloween was a blast. We did a Zombie Crawl in Asbury Park.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_6o4QATztvB4KPcsj8HKA3nQ7uHB3eBNlR7yEKuahMpcW5LcZlpqyc2Hq0I6axVZyMCF2biD9nkLVejmHnGp0ypW18BR_4kbpjObhUx_g0F34kycGZ9_EbtFF9ueOyZzC13j/s400/IMG_4587.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673777732206185026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Brains! </span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAohMLrfWXLYp_ErS4Exam2m15YM7Ncvuh3FaBr7-pUVrLCS7_-NqxRzzFJuXcukPbTwtwbsNZPJKf4Ao5PZSMNjlczgKsJGaHvdgtSNH_iIMcjBGPqvOsBaznCUAByaySDj7/s400/IMG_4713.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673776607862980226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Darn, he's cute. </span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, I'm hoping to make ornaments again this year. I found a <a href="http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/2008/05/16/bird-mobile/">bird pattern</a> that I love! When I took this photo with the bird on the book I thought, "This shit is for the birds." The research class is by far the hardest to wrap my brain around this semester! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYoLeKoiDPr4SaqrauGFNHw4XXsqEtVKugMe1PvYbDFZQR5u1l9JtvQLi_whSsMo_O8qnK8Kn-Rn-GT_qcbqObY-YTLQEK-bKsIQKfKTVKE70pxbDznbQ5zCLd2ql_EKQeRRv/s400/IMG_4722.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673779397067694418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I'll try to blog more often. My mommy already grumped at me for not blogging enough...</span></span></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-78221222004675823882011-09-15T21:10:00.007-04:002011-10-09T23:12:28.765-04:00Firsts<div>Seth is in Kindergarten. It's the first year I've had all of them in school full time.<div><br /></div><div>It's also soccer season around here. Seth is playing for the first time. He's liking it so far and is going right after the ball! Simon is playing too and his games are at the same time as Seth's. So, Dan and I are taking turns getting the kids to the games. Hannah is also playing soccer at school. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't mean to go so long without using my blog, but I'm having problems with iPhoto and moving the photos around in the blog posts. Here are some pictures from the last month. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seth's lemonade stand.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQqQGyrgdIsuKK7K4I8N7BMVIEB8_m21NczE_oVsz_vbZy6qDjLfFEwOn_gPH6xYO2MZSvliQQdHdp7vRuWICqRPF9hEFofV1TudaYgT0g1gPqDTHTJNx1iJaydBzymJKJ0U5/s1600/IMG_4536.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQqQGyrgdIsuKK7K4I8N7BMVIEB8_m21NczE_oVsz_vbZy6qDjLfFEwOn_gPH6xYO2MZSvliQQdHdp7vRuWICqRPF9hEFofV1TudaYgT0g1gPqDTHTJNx1iJaydBzymJKJ0U5/s400/IMG_4536.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661694277934634866" /></a><br /><div>New Anna Maria Horner fabric I got. Squee! I can't wait to use it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCwBr0INRPWk3Sie1sSPddiaa2G7CtbEX6g4wXVDNS88l2ICccFxKMKbZTERfg2kImJA-Fi0TtmtPx0fMi7JyjtFtjn4pMvl9zWCp_RwddPnbLFpsjgDU7GzG1cBP3IT7IRmM/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCwBr0INRPWk3Sie1sSPddiaa2G7CtbEX6g4wXVDNS88l2ICccFxKMKbZTERfg2kImJA-Fi0TtmtPx0fMi7JyjtFtjn4pMvl9zWCp_RwddPnbLFpsjgDU7GzG1cBP3IT7IRmM/s400/IMG_4532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661694268414326002" /></a><br /></div><div>I am apparently math illiterate and made WAY too many 9 patch blocks, so I am going to make a throw size quilt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1PfodhKrw3HghTWfSCTpA2EHHtZf5ChH2vpbXgIWMkoV5j-QeVR00L8ntYRwjzr1Y1XCb6l9A2g1engiPLEib8mRrv5noU4SXKlVQslHYi-Bzx6YXSRmGxvSBRDNlQngSSw/s1600/IMG_4529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1PfodhKrw3HghTWfSCTpA2EHHtZf5ChH2vpbXgIWMkoV5j-QeVR00L8ntYRwjzr1Y1XCb6l9A2g1engiPLEib8mRrv5noU4SXKlVQslHYi-Bzx6YXSRmGxvSBRDNlQngSSw/s400/IMG_4529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661694076820679554" /></a><br /></div><div>Simon playing soccer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjsrPLdwvUUSfHz512n0aiu2UzwEyiafN3fgJ8YCCAEXF9HLWCbT6UNRY_422gGNtuKgXqR6k4KPmdv8KoLKvhtbxNuAz00HtlOCqHOygThdNSC0anstJihQXBbm8s2QQoknT/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjsrPLdwvUUSfHz512n0aiu2UzwEyiafN3fgJ8YCCAEXF9HLWCbT6UNRY_422gGNtuKgXqR6k4KPmdv8KoLKvhtbxNuAz00HtlOCqHOygThdNSC0anstJihQXBbm8s2QQoknT/s400/IMG_4527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661694073883764258" /></a><br /></div><div>Seth playing soccer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ1EujRcO-TLVjjX5Av9WuJHEvnpMa4LdQl-Ws5jlBMdi_ECG4RHiK2VMZW-bf0vAWdOGh_N5Lmv2QvKpQ0BDml36tTz5RXQQuWoy7DOKCrCscZQKylXpKJKav1ww2cAPKedM/s1600/IMG_4504.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ1EujRcO-TLVjjX5Av9WuJHEvnpMa4LdQl-Ws5jlBMdi_ECG4RHiK2VMZW-bf0vAWdOGh_N5Lmv2QvKpQ0BDml36tTz5RXQQuWoy7DOKCrCscZQKylXpKJKav1ww2cAPKedM/s400/IMG_4504.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652764365161609682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hannah being adorable at Seth's soccer game. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xRFDPICc87TIHx1Trz-0NgNtYIyNtS3G6ikphjfMsPUAOaY9IOclVZZNbMjWoAjjeNgjXJpuh-zgWlTxQSGcgBpxRojpQFu8h0w-Z5wwLu-bA7ODTwTo7UwQQIMy_Uq8IYNu/s1600/IMG_4508_face0.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xRFDPICc87TIHx1Trz-0NgNtYIyNtS3G6ikphjfMsPUAOaY9IOclVZZNbMjWoAjjeNgjXJpuh-zgWlTxQSGcgBpxRojpQFu8h0w-Z5wwLu-bA7ODTwTo7UwQQIMy_Uq8IYNu/s400/IMG_4508_face0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652761669903972722" /></a><br /><br /></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-84839883022501105622011-09-02T22:57:00.008-04:002011-09-03T00:10:52.409-04:00Big and little<div style="text-align: left;">Lots of things have happened since the last time I posted. Some little and insignificant things and others quite big.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I made two baby quilts and baked some goodies! That was awesome to be able to do. Me stuff. I do still miss my stay at home mom gig. I had it good. I like school too, it's just harder to juggle all the kid stuff, fun stuff, my stuff, etc. </div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUaeB7Ro5LvrORO0KD5rn4PhubbOZvyzrN0Ap5WbjqlYYFey4iDGamUqACvEMdQXtMfbAyWk7nsfdiUerzX5CvaDfb-Yaj2N0Ok3m3BCdXwAPLanEVUOIVtFbLB93xs-TzB9H/s400/IMG_4419.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFBsvMmYbe7M3Kv-SB-QpLPxtRgzqg5yTJomU8XubLdwh8D8Nphv3MZS9Z1UfzOS4vqiKOM4H_IPc8GQGX7jAITi36EfMWGVJd3OYg6sb4dVruVnGXYfoP_fB4cpvolOdMbbr/s400/IMG_4421.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >This one is for our friends Mark and LeAnn. They're having a little girl! </span></i></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEnCu6hmg1kRAO5t3OjLZr84jtG99cNz2akmBfqg3iIDPtk3XgzmKk2R5CU0moPb0VtWtVyYBDX7T6CkkvxGyTLBdR4SPm7FqJrSUyrUjRecbhL1u26DwQV6CqBMJe_zDS5O0/s400/IMG_4405.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>A friends daughter is having a boy. I'll get a better picture of this later. It's adorable. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6c_yM1idiE8fxBez8OszOahIGMafTY4VXDfxmpWV8dbGCMpLuxUHvgOMB0GvacSNr4KbXuEBYgYSJeX0eDUCoLeOVhzV3wpvMmeynkFa0mQkJHdv88iW0qlLQARsnvy61k4J/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6c_yM1idiE8fxBez8OszOahIGMafTY4VXDfxmpWV8dbGCMpLuxUHvgOMB0GvacSNr4KbXuEBYgYSJeX0eDUCoLeOVhzV3wpvMmeynkFa0mQkJHdv88iW0qlLQARsnvy61k4J/s400/IMG_4424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647968488883421042" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Peach Cobbler, oh yea.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div>So, we had a hurricane hit us. Yeah, I said hurricane. I can't believe we actually had a hurricane. Thankfully it was only a Cat. 1 when it hit us and the southern portion of the storm fell apart before we had to go through another 6 hours of wind and rain! Lots of old trees came down all over town and they took out power lines with them. We lost power for 4 days. 4 long days. <div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza2Aof11XNmSju1myxjQI9PFKT8NM-DhAtCbVuwzhoPLERZLQZqMknfzZ4oZ_88m6xXfgeUHv1Qm_8fP7pqinwjYrHM_WPJ0MKIYAEaQlyC_SrX2tmvjRqIepMxSu9UXY4ZhF/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza2Aof11XNmSju1myxjQI9PFKT8NM-DhAtCbVuwzhoPLERZLQZqMknfzZ4oZ_88m6xXfgeUHv1Qm_8fP7pqinwjYrHM_WPJ0MKIYAEaQlyC_SrX2tmvjRqIepMxSu9UXY4ZhF/s400/IMG_4440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647966713831548370" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGg-BT0sP20lbl8W4A-Wnkvv9p0S9hcsK4Ob7r_NcWGhUzOhiVbrCZvE9aLMA6OFQLIi6a72U4pEmWd8p1bA8XBTS3EwaumM3-HiUgwhUbndmk_BIX5kZtr7Q1Qj6wx91YUlMr/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGg-BT0sP20lbl8W4A-Wnkvv9p0S9hcsK4Ob7r_NcWGhUzOhiVbrCZvE9aLMA6OFQLIi6a72U4pEmWd8p1bA8XBTS3EwaumM3-HiUgwhUbndmk_BIX5kZtr7Q1Qj6wx91YUlMr/s400/IMG_4432.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647966318702185330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >He was pretending it was falling on him. </span></i></div>
<br /><div>Now, it's back to school time. I started this week and the kids start back next week. I hope this year is a good one. I have peds and OB this semester. I am excited and worried. I know I want to be a midwife and I also know the way women have babies in the hospital isn't optimal. I dread seeing labor after labor augmented and sectioned for failure to progress. Ick.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Hannah will be in 8th grade, Simon 5th, and Seth starts Kindergarten. He's not a baby anymore. Well, no matter how old any of them are they're still my babies. I have the stretch marks to prove it.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We went to Ocean Grove last week with a friend before hurricane Irene came through and we went back today. The shore line changed. It's crazy that a little hurricane was strong enough to do that. I am so glad the hurricane wasn't stronger! Now, it really looks like nothing happened to it at all.</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMrBUqSxBJHnt2KWdjRgC9RVU2sxOUgDYF4U1OGJoYrJBDM7zQay-5H4S4RS7AXSzypeZCZSjywdvUsEtD33oG6u1qWuMSgysEHPulyF4KFo-jl8tv96cIgpPTjmLUQaUh5n7/s400/IMG_4466.JPG" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IWuxEhg8VbEiVbg840iOkvCwYyhf1TbrkiuIOB8ORRndW617b0VGf-_aHM_EwJwmhDweVTutLwImhnircxz0kBLc4kgDgrhSAOp597baSuaocNbRcE6ClyHBNO5P19A17cCO/s400/kids+beach.jpg" /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy your Labor Day weekend! </div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-60450302548503104242011-08-19T19:30:00.006-04:002011-08-19T20:05:53.901-04:00Summer time in Kansas<div style="text-align: left;">All work, and then play! We were there when the county fair was happening and when you have animals at the fair you have to be there to take care of them. My kids didn't balk and cry about</div><div style="text-align: left;">having to help out. Oh, no. They were up at 6 am fighting over who got to do the farm chores first. They fed the cattle, barn cats, chickens, and fetched the eggs from the hen house. All in a days work. Then you can play! </div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifegm70i3_KLqM799et_wjOwYlPY9mTDmuq8FH0FqOaGDuCMkEhkMG72y0StSKD-qPLY6LW5Kxg1IvEuT-yt4WB3zV6hyphenhyphenXuu6u_RWj7wBmuQ8URLPOMXPeOyCJ4XNBw3qK6xaH/s400/IMG_4359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642719504901782370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>It was awfully hot too. Over 100. Yuck. What better way to cool off then with a trip to the creek. It grossed me out since I could see all the life crawling around in it and you couldn't see the bottom of the creek. My mind goes to places where there are leeches and little fish eating at your toes, while the little water spiders crawl over you... yuck.</div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwTPaMT7JY95aLgsVzsxPGx1IYAePewqKrP0aTWwy7hOziaghCP_8EDtqFePtoWr8kiotNmlKn6VhnYHaLOL3PZqo4LWjqGGDDFeBp1W4IE0HDbdtqe8WU45gYp9cThJfUUjE/s400/IMG_4332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642715455602277522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcV2BYJ-jHASvt4i1Gz_jTVTrH8WR1CDl7kG0N-OrPOaUhMmiRCr2VHuhCxmH59ROv1kbpUDAn4qgtsImAXaKY_qYjvaDZ6ntLPna-ANmhrog3DFxw_lqQbE69UsNfOuiuBZT/s400/IMG_4338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642715442855228050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Looking for crawdads. </i></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hannah got to drive the tractor and a pick up truck! She also learned how to carry chickens so they don't freak out.</span></div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eXxZOSUw1Lj2LU0YsIsbMyMtjrVLo_S6dkVzeBfK2V0CVDwsf6WlbpmWgiW5vOMOjgxaoSVpBZK3J6gaixKcvBQAzcsnvkJ2R-oJG2I4xe8HNAHkiQex7zJ8xc3EJKW4XKDA/s400/IMG_4356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642715446515854818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIYzbZ59ugxvWAutt4Vd-lBi3gJIMf4JI8vNmHSeQqjFDqDf3vs8Ie1CV7SXkxB_-F5I6r39X0p3h1R0UDbsqqNUIUgRL73E9-0nCqsK6YJM8Xwg2D-j7sVzc4zM73-hJWwU1/s400/IMG_4371.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642717422144168210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div>Simon ran off during the fair and adopted a new family. He helped them with their calf and even learned how to rope.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Seth's little chicken won Reserved Champion. The adorable little chicken is very docile and let Seth touch her. Maybe it's because she can't see what's coming.</div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rTymA0F42hc8m37E7hOeNtaatKZ-FHjTzAg8pOY7vrTnt6v2_Z_6JQJ5UJKvwbceRwAJMGjE71oRVgZfeaWGPt6DQMjUYNUwkQL11zWRPxUsFayxJkqZ-wm5Xq9tYZRXHKAu/s400/IMG_4375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642717426439223202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>An adorable calf thought Seth's pants were edible and Seth thought that was super funny!</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKX40AG8NM7PGgnORU-0RrSRPrFVlxqJJuJB4oeV0CD5yNDwU8AWtuJeY1JyMV0WgZawy5DOaLs-w4RIz-Z_ZAimPQA8gWGvwOfkPjULA15wMpp9s3bTDVHALUFW4zYZfdny4/s400/IMG_4402.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642719511002974290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>My little brother showed his hogs. Poor Pork Chop... your fate awaits you...</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtYT6E18y7_bDjYuXFeUS22vmorLm6Y8iecHe4Aarws-cfOWY7gJ1LBbGOHjrNruwVDt3fzGCH0o5OpZK3ReDv573jX9fAgkmbNlt6DySRp9tvX0_SFXL9aVV8mCl2_0jWRG0/s400/IMG_4381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642719851887558930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div>And what fair is complete without things like funnel cake.</div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hLFTiaAP3RKUsu0oO_euY0I6zZtwD1CI9KLTekXc9stBBPzcJv4AHxLLDippetPXqHOJDh_tzFIJp2QKtjB7MBYp2mNcbWA5B8tGsm-sqmXcGGZAMZt_iC-VKMcxVroQ4M8z/s400/IMG_4388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642717427623541522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>The week went by too fast and the request for a longer trip next summer started before we even left. "We should come out for a whole month next time, Mom. No, wait. Two months!" So, until next summer I can think of sitting on the porch with my mom and watching the sun set on the farm. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ28bUGgt7QbPg1Xn9kMlid_iTsFzO4FUv2u29-_UnGt0mlWDsThMNDzV9sJSUZdklf3Bu3wqzZ1v0cz4NMYBHpW-6x06PamutkI5_59DrWahuVI6am7I8uRNCO4xawhrlEuG/s400/IMG_4362.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642719507281658002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-29214838081378762722011-08-01T08:44:00.006-04:002011-08-11T11:22:52.902-04:00Dublin
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLXl5XxRETaFNgVgbF6WOA_Ff8aCysQxAIWF7TtlW6KOp83VJrj42wnYH2yDUWU4rvC3RXU3xXgt8cMe5vlCWm310gkAHxnrup-DB26u4Twg3hx87xWDOHg0dfaD-UquxxLk4/s1600/151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLXl5XxRETaFNgVgbF6WOA_Ff8aCysQxAIWF7TtlW6KOp83VJrj42wnYH2yDUWU4rvC3RXU3xXgt8cMe5vlCWm310gkAHxnrup-DB26u4Twg3hx87xWDOHg0dfaD-UquxxLk4/s400/151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612986735423874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The River Liffey. Also, known as the Sniffy Liffey.</span>
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<br />The last leg of our journey, Dublin. We flew in from Edinburgh.
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<br />Day 9- Sightseeing again. We saw Phoenix Park, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and Trinity College where the Book of Kells is.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TXS-cgyucJ-MmO10vqm8SqeT21evTr6-ZLBBHS7EcP8N5Z8t3zdPpDhwk3rrRL0CcpIjPZ7hVQly2HxkBs5UvyNEUY9nwsnh_JThZRTmZd650O3HtVsQYEbER7n2CZMeZfru/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TXS-cgyucJ-MmO10vqm8SqeT21evTr6-ZLBBHS7EcP8N5Z8t3zdPpDhwk3rrRL0CcpIjPZ7hVQly2HxkBs5UvyNEUY9nwsnh_JThZRTmZd650O3HtVsQYEbER7n2CZMeZfru/s400/032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639610858955224386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Phoenix Park. Deer roam free here. The park is twice the size of Central Park.</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0YA6DciNL4e2LFAwZB1JiiMOMC-hZXtMEG1r7_Xo_IeoKPxXfaCVHGYHE8E9u92S-FvTHkC6vJFGH4TwXWqWpzsUeKRZ9WIunoRCY0hhRWzgX__wyh9oCb2as-RVTmEliLvv/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0YA6DciNL4e2LFAwZB1JiiMOMC-hZXtMEG1r7_Xo_IeoKPxXfaCVHGYHE8E9u92S-FvTHkC6vJFGH4TwXWqWpzsUeKRZ9WIunoRCY0hhRWzgX__wyh9oCb2as-RVTmEliLvv/s400/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639610854542487954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >St. Patrick's Cathedral. </span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW42q7QbFFTusHpS6F-kl0PqyybKZTkC0ChUSbHLwQHlshyphenhyphenqwHS2mAGz79JuF76gM92HZh14uyLO2NrC-EZTG2B2gck7ejG80d3XXOpZ9rTQacwLuuUHBy89vs4ammRSI7D3P/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW42q7QbFFTusHpS6F-kl0PqyybKZTkC0ChUSbHLwQHlshyphenhyphenqwHS2mAGz79JuF76gM92HZh14uyLO2NrC-EZTG2B2gck7ejG80d3XXOpZ9rTQacwLuuUHBy89vs4ammRSI7D3P/s400/041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639610868557851746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Bono's hotel.</span>
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<br />U2 is obviously a big deal around here. They are pretty awesome after all. Joke I heard- What's the difference between God and Bono? God doesn't think he needs to be like Bono.
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<br />We walked from Trinity College to the Guinness Brewery.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cjv4PNfsYlpQ8dPu7uO_jvNxg3nnlftyd_v7feyFVIzlwGXjnQSmot582VulhjDcr77aEbDWq0SbZOzpCtY86U5lmPszGqTAU3FXn9USIhJxxKUGKy1WjVPjrogtwc5A2OKS/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cjv4PNfsYlpQ8dPu7uO_jvNxg3nnlftyd_v7feyFVIzlwGXjnQSmot582VulhjDcr77aEbDWq0SbZOzpCtY86U5lmPszGqTAU3FXn9USIhJxxKUGKy1WjVPjrogtwc5A2OKS/s400/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612318295088514" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptbdiIMF1Mbn3pu9EnJl2ubLYNZJu4BmodlI6v1jrJ9qck_C3WbSRufjlEb_MI9k1ArJczieMd6JnJrEZx5R7mlfkRGLrHljJTEMr5tS4YhDl06CoARTVQz6nEzuJDd1xBNYE/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptbdiIMF1Mbn3pu9EnJl2ubLYNZJu4BmodlI6v1jrJ9qck_C3WbSRufjlEb_MI9k1ArJczieMd6JnJrEZx5R7mlfkRGLrHljJTEMr5tS4YhDl06CoARTVQz6nEzuJDd1xBNYE/s400/078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612325561936818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Christ Church Cathedral. </span>
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<br />Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease for the land the brewery is on. I think he had some serious long term goals, or maybe they were drinking heavily.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RtcsHXlBVgZrvOJMq06rurQusb1_amFpqGapqg57Dr8LrJjeLO73KtYlyvPJyK9aTLJwBcuDStvD2kJyMEVdureNUnhyvFt3w1VqAH6tSYpeXr0xUNjjGS6nqStVtB-_N6YB/s1600/089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RtcsHXlBVgZrvOJMq06rurQusb1_amFpqGapqg57Dr8LrJjeLO73KtYlyvPJyK9aTLJwBcuDStvD2kJyMEVdureNUnhyvFt3w1VqAH6tSYpeXr0xUNjjGS6nqStVtB-_N6YB/s400/089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612334636483234" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qUi3UAiv3SdRgRlylHlCCzq0hQKNnMmOmMxWyNEbVed23mLqcpVfqlmWUgveGfzP9OqE4cEcnoDtw_UPe31I36CxTOFXDhn7blh5mEXS5tFi-NniVoCeIwlsqmZMUFwHS5p/s1600/108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qUi3UAiv3SdRgRlylHlCCzq0hQKNnMmOmMxWyNEbVed23mLqcpVfqlmWUgveGfzP9OqE4cEcnoDtw_UPe31I36CxTOFXDhn7blh5mEXS5tFi-NniVoCeIwlsqmZMUFwHS5p/s400/108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612328742219330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Official beer at Guinness. </span>
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<br />We had dinner at the oldest pub in Ireland, established in 1198! I had the Irish Stew and it was delicious.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1aknxYLjyNOGMqAibapl1OXEBG2MjVJWPJnd8RabPIKohiokR6fW9m3IVVxVldtLHPWyUoZRqX-f-LHEAp3XChuqpvxZ58F6JmoDdAvbo3bdaSoxBbNtJQ7pJ3vOHpRiP0RM/s1600/147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1aknxYLjyNOGMqAibapl1OXEBG2MjVJWPJnd8RabPIKohiokR6fW9m3IVVxVldtLHPWyUoZRqX-f-LHEAp3XChuqpvxZ58F6JmoDdAvbo3bdaSoxBbNtJQ7pJ3vOHpRiP0RM/s400/147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612983113495298" border="0" /></a>
<br />Later in the evening we went to a bar close to the hotel where they had a comedy night. It was pretty entertaining. The comedians were novice, so some of the jokes were good, some not so much, and truly there were some we didn't understand.
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<br />Day 10- Side trip to Powerscourt and Glendalough. Powerscourt had beautiful gardens surrounding a rebuilt castle. I wish the orginal was still standing, but it burned down. Glendalough is an old Monastic settlement that was abandoned in the 10th century.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qhIcIYNS2VUW95yjyB80SEuuWu0e8RvJCh4Zbi7hUwNzXCDp3UTYBtSDyXylhC2mnUWHD6kIW48CZi8DC8Q2Se1FDvZ8AWhnELLCK-rDld5ZrPBC3iaL86yLlXVuYm7Y51U2/s1600/211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qhIcIYNS2VUW95yjyB80SEuuWu0e8RvJCh4Zbi7hUwNzXCDp3UTYBtSDyXylhC2mnUWHD6kIW48CZi8DC8Q2Se1FDvZ8AWhnELLCK-rDld5ZrPBC3iaL86yLlXVuYm7Y51U2/s400/211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639612988543378130" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzOK_P9PiUjYPE_5USslw3D1LZ9Ia64zlK4qjAl58WgJ59n6YNGNc-SL5i3MKFrJ_XtNq2ohqy7Bc3T-OejBmYepUkiaBCfqlhzk4y1rDEbazG6wdpyV75-fReA-z2PfZPQ9S/s1600/217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzOK_P9PiUjYPE_5USslw3D1LZ9Ia64zlK4qjAl58WgJ59n6YNGNc-SL5i3MKFrJ_XtNq2ohqy7Bc3T-OejBmYepUkiaBCfqlhzk4y1rDEbazG6wdpyV75-fReA-z2PfZPQ9S/s400/217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639614006963132866" border="0" /></a>
<br />I walked up to the upper lake at Glendalough. It was really pretty, yet crowded.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIRkueYgvK3ILbDAvLEAV8DLJXMSPltqdYWgqjEAT549-KeVfZXYWGn4BvQFnK1Mipkk6lEFwPzb0tx06Mgzce2uKIQ8_j0bKeqwcsf5lDwgUy_AgC6MHGOt_xQ2SyZy-fot9/s1600/285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIRkueYgvK3ILbDAvLEAV8DLJXMSPltqdYWgqjEAT549-KeVfZXYWGn4BvQFnK1Mipkk6lEFwPzb0tx06Mgzce2uKIQ8_j0bKeqwcsf5lDwgUy_AgC6MHGOt_xQ2SyZy-fot9/s400/285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639614013739285010" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiEt0h2rVZD3JNSXY8D4syafi-YEWM3NY5B-_CbXuSnD4Zm8Pp34E6a3wJvVd3b_MOGD3dDrBsBdQoC1RaqHqyPaX9XwAnGQ6SAm6Tvs2xfShOGFVEST5DYsT8uBe6Hota8B2/s1600/294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiEt0h2rVZD3JNSXY8D4syafi-YEWM3NY5B-_CbXuSnD4Zm8Pp34E6a3wJvVd3b_MOGD3dDrBsBdQoC1RaqHqyPaX9XwAnGQ6SAm6Tvs2xfShOGFVEST5DYsT8uBe6Hota8B2/s400/294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639614017536159410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Lower lake.</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj_Dw6Uep6IriyqxMde6bNHK2xKKogfTb63kKCQWSuOm1oH4x6w35FbFMbd79LWzdV27hN1Fb0diJLjsrmP9f4XHptLCu-4zbUYKYC9ZamcrJIP-axRs_Ofr6FYETWhpdFt5n/s1600/306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj_Dw6Uep6IriyqxMde6bNHK2xKKogfTb63kKCQWSuOm1oH4x6w35FbFMbd79LWzdV27hN1Fb0diJLjsrmP9f4XHptLCu-4zbUYKYC9ZamcrJIP-axRs_Ofr6FYETWhpdFt5n/s400/306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639618347703071490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Upper lake. </span>
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<br />We also did this optional evening of Irish dance, music, and traditional food. It so wasn't worth it. I think we are about 30 years too young to appreciate the show. I was expecting a pub atmosphere with actually traditional dishes, and good music. It was more of a Irish version of the Country Dinner Playhouse.
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<br />I am so glad Dan and I finally got to go on such an amazing trip. I hope we don't have to wait another 15 years for the next one! Some things we decided after the whole deal is, we can do this on our own without a tour company setting the pace, and we want to do a castle tour of the Scottish Highlands.
<br />ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-43636311899640606492011-07-25T10:52:00.008-04:002011-07-25T23:34:18.395-04:00Edinburgh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOPuP1v0kIf7sl4CazRH7izm_EsCjZCp_QVkQvXY85RD8Z900a5sKDSYG8M3qLt38ZI-Eu_U8huFV1E2jJMwU5eIsmZmrBuTAJhKTgI1Z63LcD6WVBl2Ov0Bf63HGZrtK0GmO/s1600/380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOPuP1v0kIf7sl4CazRH7izm_EsCjZCp_QVkQvXY85RD8Z900a5sKDSYG8M3qLt38ZI-Eu_U8huFV1E2jJMwU5eIsmZmrBuTAJhKTgI1Z63LcD6WVBl2Ov0Bf63HGZrtK0GmO/s400/380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633435398239024690" border="0" /></a><br />Love, love, love Edinburgh! Old town is a multi-leveled part of the city. Edinburgh Castle is at the top of the hill and all down the Royal Mile are little stair ways leading to streets lower down. Some streets you walk over have another street a few levels down below you. It's so cool.<br /><br />Day 5- We took a train from King's Cross in London to Edinburgh. For those of you who are Harry Potter fans you'll recognize the train station. This is where Harry took the Hogwart's Express from platform 9 3/4.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLgTFmzE-kTAO_7B-KByW-pe-v1MtGpguuBP9JL0c2sStHrH0lKO68JGnc5qrjCIN09aq57fbmHM0uis_pH5XznEkjePZECEJy1xEKVYAAv4bWrIxoPXjVeMXn08fSM0D0eeu/s1600/king%2527s+cross2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLgTFmzE-kTAO_7B-KByW-pe-v1MtGpguuBP9JL0c2sStHrH0lKO68JGnc5qrjCIN09aq57fbmHM0uis_pH5XznEkjePZECEJy1xEKVYAAv4bWrIxoPXjVeMXn08fSM0D0eeu/s400/king%2527s+cross2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633435399620689282" border="0" /></a><br />Day 6- Sight seeing again! Around Holyrood Park, saw the Salibury Craigs, and then Edinburgh Castle. From there we walked down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Place.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DEoskrVTa05QPUY5JwbLZSXdFcs2iMmcnnNmIkt3m8FRDHzCdPyIf5Biwz-pV8hWs31qG8ly0_zr_TWmECMGNjWx8bXSrDfqATuNKrfOydPppJ1TptYAJ-9OUQ0JbkyLO9SZ/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DEoskrVTa05QPUY5JwbLZSXdFcs2iMmcnnNmIkt3m8FRDHzCdPyIf5Biwz-pV8hWs31qG8ly0_zr_TWmECMGNjWx8bXSrDfqATuNKrfOydPppJ1TptYAJ-9OUQ0JbkyLO9SZ/s400/053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633492859095770130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Found my new home! </span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzRQ4Vn1fKbk6RQ3iIzTGYeQsgTVVenkWjRXYC48ch48CtFdZ-U9P5kFVLleRrLc0lCwYfgNhGL_PwsvNGXvXHxeyrCATvuI9m20wvtMS_hzeqN3muM-gsc21TqCKYv4awaxU/s1600/082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzRQ4Vn1fKbk6RQ3iIzTGYeQsgTVVenkWjRXYC48ch48CtFdZ-U9P5kFVLleRrLc0lCwYfgNhGL_PwsvNGXvXHxeyrCATvuI9m20wvtMS_hzeqN3muM-gsc21TqCKYv4awaxU/s400/082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633490757079488018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Front entrance to Edinburgh Castle.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRqBj90TDzygixb1Bz4opUafQgdW5V6vcg5Qae5CQCmunoiL5nKldP6UVcbuAAImJcbj9T6YoBjWXMRP_CS1FVQDRDertQX8k7klcJTQ2dOmTxkqyzWQPWRTUz5T4QyYmwIkc/s1600/181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRqBj90TDzygixb1Bz4opUafQgdW5V6vcg5Qae5CQCmunoiL5nKldP6UVcbuAAImJcbj9T6YoBjWXMRP_CS1FVQDRDertQX8k7klcJTQ2dOmTxkqyzWQPWRTUz5T4QyYmwIkc/s400/181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633490760330729986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Holyrood Palace.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkROpQUe9j954Rxs7Kdn-Sr64V3xjKhZxkkVOv4lxBz4vmpSiwwGBE-uGuveEAG4AfZQnSb8hWuWAW-Y1W7DaFPkx9-oqbTIsmJAXZiXfFruWo_CRobiysnShcMqNeCtzQGGz/s1600/201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkROpQUe9j954Rxs7Kdn-Sr64V3xjKhZxkkVOv4lxBz4vmpSiwwGBE-uGuveEAG4AfZQnSb8hWuWAW-Y1W7DaFPkx9-oqbTIsmJAXZiXfFruWo_CRobiysnShcMqNeCtzQGGz/s400/201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633490762576366210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Remnants of Holyrood Abby.</span><br /></div><br />Day 7- We took an optional tour to St. Andrews. We aren't into golf, but it's the birthplace of golf for those of you who might like to go there someday. We went to the ruins of the castle and cathedral. The castle was so much fun. During a siege on the castle the attackers would dig mines under the wall of the castle. The defenders of the castle would dig a counter mine in haste to stop them. We got to crawl through the mine. It wasn't more the 3 feet high in some areas. The tunnel ended across the street up against a house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBPjiVQuteWhSt23syOWQJ4TmUYN-8cNa_JiLnLEB9KtsYubq-KrWU5UFW7pt_3_bigKE6zzNap953RRZHsoorUvKez4WbGWfWwr4-tSQaPhfyzXQyViQ0lDbmKEwichP8Exx/s1600/250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBPjiVQuteWhSt23syOWQJ4TmUYN-8cNa_JiLnLEB9KtsYubq-KrWU5UFW7pt_3_bigKE6zzNap953RRZHsoorUvKez4WbGWfWwr4-tSQaPhfyzXQyViQ0lDbmKEwichP8Exx/s400/250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633492863359194530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Ruins of St. Andrews Castle.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYFvY5XMGGH153xJ2EOZCANSuQfXfjNf_AWhg91ll-P38HCzuzvlHlVqUcnTEWykERirjbKsxAU7AZAB_dDmTrB8XUhDC5lCH-ASTfikiyG_thmvh-iosBTcXwwaCAj02AQ-t/s1600/265.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYFvY5XMGGH153xJ2EOZCANSuQfXfjNf_AWhg91ll-P38HCzuzvlHlVqUcnTEWykERirjbKsxAU7AZAB_dDmTrB8XUhDC5lCH-ASTfikiyG_thmvh-iosBTcXwwaCAj02AQ-t/s400/265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633492866639103442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Mine tunnel.</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lKoWRDG8qWQrKbxPC_SIRkZm8UF6MVRMkxMaTfSjpxrcz_mVbO-WQunKtC5mISRoGl1DfY0LZ94GUR7d6K2b6TwvJWpfM4NS7DTixHLLGQApITdSrgUR9sOlVCUYeu5sU2FF/s1600/289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lKoWRDG8qWQrKbxPC_SIRkZm8UF6MVRMkxMaTfSjpxrcz_mVbO-WQunKtC5mISRoGl1DfY0LZ94GUR7d6K2b6TwvJWpfM4NS7DTixHLLGQApITdSrgUR9sOlVCUYeu5sU2FF/s400/289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633494431363939010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Tower at St. Andrews Cathedral site. We climbed up the narrow spiral staircase for a 360 degree view.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGvmyr6-AAmT0rhaoWlxHA3E5bnXmJsbHKMrH-86qUKf8pWfC1YFDCxsHt_mBTiH-vZ1jIdZiBl_j0aj7-uLqyIJ5kFmYjKAdBiLkVd7HV6HBF_mCyn2BlUdzx7a0EhZt4sbe/s1600/307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGvmyr6-AAmT0rhaoWlxHA3E5bnXmJsbHKMrH-86qUKf8pWfC1YFDCxsHt_mBTiH-vZ1jIdZiBl_j0aj7-uLqyIJ5kFmYjKAdBiLkVd7HV6HBF_mCyn2BlUdzx7a0EhZt4sbe/s400/307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633494440572556578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >You could see the castle ruins in the distance on the shore.</span><br /></div><br />We went to a science fiction bookstore called Transreal. Dan was so excited to find signed books from a couple of his favorite authors that live in Edinburgh. We also went to the coffee shop where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter! From where she sat she could see Edinburgh Castle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO9lOsst2sjc7eLSJZWde7UU7X3Fm7UDGocaQfhfRSLlr_wq6ra-QK6N8rrmNCImw1pu6hAS2ioAHNXCrPMcs239Hjk6_DfYM0Jwk4Mh-FXwsyIfppJr6WaHbl9tWzUco-fsu/s1600/334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO9lOsst2sjc7eLSJZWde7UU7X3Fm7UDGocaQfhfRSLlr_wq6ra-QK6N8rrmNCImw1pu6hAS2ioAHNXCrPMcs239Hjk6_DfYM0Jwk4Mh-FXwsyIfppJr6WaHbl9tWzUco-fsu/s400/334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633494442795566434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The Elephant House.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZt0PkSptq5y8_b2juJgj8msoZ9GGBP6w5pMTE08CieK1L0-ctZBBzgPofhC_bfM14j_rVh60R2c_U7tbH3v3YbP9p3jXFru8KZgBH7IL2eYtgyM_Q1PfM2-0vVdvJtT_ts5i/s1600/335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZt0PkSptq5y8_b2juJgj8msoZ9GGBP6w5pMTE08CieK1L0-ctZBBzgPofhC_bfM14j_rVh60R2c_U7tbH3v3YbP9p3jXFru8KZgBH7IL2eYtgyM_Q1PfM2-0vVdvJtT_ts5i/s400/335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633495679909142546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >J.K. Rowling pictures on the wall.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThIYL7WWPOKNywPSdFFLromb4MV6s_sgim5ATOz5NCPYbne089IZbWZPcHUiygOtAau7lyhItzESyNX_mxEH04SmX6t2xZ8psq9YD6EKbxFsBIALL6ZH0Lnrojx2iB3kAMnF6/s1600/336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThIYL7WWPOKNywPSdFFLromb4MV6s_sgim5ATOz5NCPYbne089IZbWZPcHUiygOtAau7lyhItzESyNX_mxEH04SmX6t2xZ8psq9YD6EKbxFsBIALL6ZH0Lnrojx2iB3kAMnF6/s400/336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633495687032262386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Her view as she wrote...<br /></span></span></div><br />Day 8- Before heading off to Dublin I walked around for a while by myself. Dan's foot was hurting pretty bad and we wanted to give him some time off of it before we went to Dublin. I went back to The Elephant House for pictures and then I walked over the park on Princess Ave. It was so lovely. I wish Dan had been with me to see it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn53QXYvxN26_GbZ0ZlilEAubTJRjCSSbqpPwUQaySmYefPyO2ZYJXYMmDItrvY4ffLkN1hHkLTQoAAnickI1sBFY8bUdX2D9pEqbR35n_s0r-2NotWkmdGNkYkL74iasheYf/s1600/356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn53QXYvxN26_GbZ0ZlilEAubTJRjCSSbqpPwUQaySmYefPyO2ZYJXYMmDItrvY4ffLkN1hHkLTQoAAnickI1sBFY8bUdX2D9pEqbR35n_s0r-2NotWkmdGNkYkL74iasheYf/s400/356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633495689345567138" border="0" /></a><br />Lastly, how could you be in Scotland without seeing this...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J_o5BeaYAYsOm2hkqyCTpHbXaI6YNhrJXRhdmWdJhpdQVmYD49xXHbvuh9Riu2VYqyJ7RTJxR3vbUOMjk4YSkiGpNGrtHcz1gUyRYYw5mz82A3eVG3S4sXZyw6iyz27rJocq/s1600/381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J_o5BeaYAYsOm2hkqyCTpHbXaI6YNhrJXRhdmWdJhpdQVmYD49xXHbvuh9Riu2VYqyJ7RTJxR3vbUOMjk4YSkiGpNGrtHcz1gUyRYYw5mz82A3eVG3S4sXZyw6iyz27rJocq/s400/381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633498307730911586" border="0" /></a><br />Then off to Dublin...ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-13110658749396913912011-07-19T17:18:00.003-04:002011-07-20T19:19:13.990-04:00LondonI don't quite know where to start. London is a phenomenal city. I feel like we barely got a glimpse of it even though we were there for 3 days. We were staying a nice part of town called Kensington. On our first day there we wandered around a bit, but didn't go do the big touristy stuff.<br /><br />Day 2- Sight seeing tour of London. After the tour Dan and I hoped on the tube from Gloucester station and went back to the Tower of London. We walked around there for a while looking at the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7AjBAOWZQOgqV6JZAuMYClQDWVFYv8meUArXJgwMqve3GKnBXkk-wuBjQKP59LXTM47lb-aunsrxbbvlLnjprNH4jokciYq8b8JfHJ8V_72OfoktLYVU6lZbHapgOLpz5_rT/s1600/057.JPG"><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/AVvXsEhK7AjBAOWZQOgqV6JZAuMYClQDWVFYv8meUArXJgwMqve3GKnBXkk-wuBjQKP59LXTM47lb-aunsrxbbvlLnjprNH4jokciYq8b8JfHJ8V_72OfoktLYVU6lZbHapgOLpz5_rT/s400/057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631517963320067746" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnbsr57_qD_RRCVDZiqe6HngoeA96shS_Qx8nr3HkhsTmzEYX5UdctYdQMTNitgafULEannYOXzDwYcxCZio-9lgfjL8f1sbaaMhlMHsBH3H_zfk9mjoe3kXWDpReR-rqXvRe/s1600/080.JPG"><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/AVvXsEjfnbsr57_qD_RRCVDZiqe6HngoeA96shS_Qx8nr3HkhsTmzEYX5UdctYdQMTNitgafULEannYOXzDwYcxCZio-9lgfjL8f1sbaaMhlMHsBH3H_zfk9mjoe3kXWDpReR-rqXvRe/s400/080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631523597908868946" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-JVrg28jmzXD5hHMSdqLq79beRHCxnMASQXvTW02kDIPtZquopXjilKcc2_V5STUupq0tszv68ChwioQaaEWZxCp8m2D6erEtfSc3h4WkWd3qOVdV2Dzpbj1QrVsbJvPrjY4/s1600/091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-JVrg28jmzXD5hHMSdqLq79beRHCxnMASQXvTW02kDIPtZquopXjilKcc2_V5STUupq0tszv68ChwioQaaEWZxCp8m2D6erEtfSc3h4WkWd3qOVdV2Dzpbj1QrVsbJvPrjY4/s400/091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631523595955420690" border="0" /></a><br />Next up was Big Ben, which is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself, Parliament, London Eye, and Westminster Abby.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBEW3iLtMOzG-So4X1VjtBX0QIt1dyNsvcmiTMN8ZEpcWOF3IN3IPhf7JrN5G8ZVLI-d0fsPRNV_VpBr7QIFn_jg3rLayDDtN7H2DMGAyjGXM9Wh9fInkhudwGkp-Z9jSFJ8Z/s1600/106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBEW3iLtMOzG-So4X1VjtBX0QIt1dyNsvcmiTMN8ZEpcWOF3IN3IPhf7JrN5G8ZVLI-d0fsPRNV_VpBr7QIFn_jg3rLayDDtN7H2DMGAyjGXM9Wh9fInkhudwGkp-Z9jSFJ8Z/s400/106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631517972354463010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">London Eye, right before it started raining again. </span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLmJKR_z2c5T8MUWobgoy2f3fEl2QF6Y7Qdwna0GtuhBzrylGiw4Fiw1MG1Ozgp7u41dscVCC-wYzkBWI9LfLR_6dJdaQcaLEUUHqe2OdUOIsysUr5d_jkzQyzR_ea4eFM71/s1600/145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLmJKR_z2c5T8MUWobgoy2f3fEl2QF6Y7Qdwna0GtuhBzrylGiw4Fiw1MG1Ozgp7u41dscVCC-wYzkBWI9LfLR_6dJdaQcaLEUUHqe2OdUOIsysUr5d_jkzQyzR_ea4eFM71/s400/145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631517983156618658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Westminster Abby.</span><br /></span></div><br />After our long day of sight seeing we went to see Harry Potter at the cinema.<br /><br />Day 3- Our trip to Bath and Stonehenge. To be honest I didn't quit know what to expect with Bath and it was a really wonderful little town. I love the old buildings and it was really interesting to learn that the hot springs were used by the Romans.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1w85bhhSOjqA9kFakBWtKv_xrSG5WVU6H8O58_e4hpEBK9cgC_MaAZxGUq_kYYqgwgykcPgCy8bk6MD4OskM6x9cP1t0mny4YGnfW33TYBzulTdI9sfj7mvCpK-020FgWnvf/s1600/170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1w85bhhSOjqA9kFakBWtKv_xrSG5WVU6H8O58_e4hpEBK9cgC_MaAZxGUq_kYYqgwgykcPgCy8bk6MD4OskM6x9cP1t0mny4YGnfW33TYBzulTdI9sfj7mvCpK-020FgWnvf/s400/170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631520210957687490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The hot spring pools used to be at ground level.</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7S3S5mc2XmcVNbUFwiX8cZGFZVkhBNQ8fzywo10bIjxtOdoO5l6YA1wGUzN2HfXZtTVQVWh30d_uuJwkuV2SjUiUn8rmoiVVR5zqnwy0HtVj_Lvghc-s_6f5ASG3Au6v_DlB/s1600/206.JPG"><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/AVvXsEjm7S3S5mc2XmcVNbUFwiX8cZGFZVkhBNQ8fzywo10bIjxtOdoO5l6YA1wGUzN2HfXZtTVQVWh30d_uuJwkuV2SjUiUn8rmoiVVR5zqnwy0HtVj_Lvghc-s_6f5ASG3Au6v_DlB/s400/206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631520227706691522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Eating pasties for lunch.</span><br /></span></div><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJbSQwIRhbH5W5HhFeL7-ZevcGcNDrrcOFMiNvJrG1Fobx6MGjm6xK38-nhgM_gipdyZDLSDPmxav5XGqg7iMwEhhe75Gj1ibzXLKSsyd3xsRY0PApKWZHbZSj-9XxV5dCB_A/s1600/223.JPG"><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/AVvXsEjPJbSQwIRhbH5W5HhFeL7-ZevcGcNDrrcOFMiNvJrG1Fobx6MGjm6xK38-nhgM_gipdyZDLSDPmxav5XGqg7iMwEhhe75Gj1ibzXLKSsyd3xsRY0PApKWZHbZSj-9XxV5dCB_A/s400/223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631523604200991042" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqecvdWk4C8t0Q9Ym2ZJb5EL2etlT5EJn9B7GB6RLHa_FRmSfjOsJ71BhYB7MUOIAuSBidi9Vi8Q0_yL3IyqNQPY-R9ozgHXfn5Ra-6o_5IBTSw0KZ7FSKQhiqTQwme79zo8RT/s1600/232.JPG"><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/AVvXsEhqecvdWk4C8t0Q9Ym2ZJb5EL2etlT5EJn9B7GB6RLHa_FRmSfjOsJ71BhYB7MUOIAuSBidi9Vi8Q0_yL3IyqNQPY-R9ozgHXfn5Ra-6o_5IBTSw0KZ7FSKQhiqTQwme79zo8RT/s400/232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631520218644927186" border="0" /></a><br />I love the little things that are different. Let's play a game called, we say- they say. Yield- give way, carry out- take away, movie theater- cinema, under contract- under offer, to rent- to let, cell phone- mobile. There were so many little things, like the direction traffic goes. It's apparently so complicated for tourists that they labeled the ground all over the city.<br /><br />Blogger and the internet are done cooperating with me. I can't seem to add any more photos. I'll post more later when I can.<br /><br />Day 4- Edinburgh...ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-78340065436531882712011-07-14T09:48:00.005-04:002011-07-14T10:40:12.018-04:00friend visitIt's so awesome to have someone come visit you! Laura has been able to come out and see us twice since we moved here. I know Jersey isn't exactly a destination hot spot, but we had a great time.<br /><br />We were in the annual Kazoo Band. It's so much fun to be part of.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBs9rSpXoNHvynKImtkqW45yyKcA9Z6Vhx_Us2qmiNNSC-0mauLCY3YoxIoagypcutHt4kC7niKXtP2d82e7mstXttncnre9Wa94oxPAqMj0Ze3mrE07pbUiEbC-9XjHiuDe5/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBs9rSpXoNHvynKImtkqW45yyKcA9Z6Vhx_Us2qmiNNSC-0mauLCY3YoxIoagypcutHt4kC7niKXtP2d82e7mstXttncnre9Wa94oxPAqMj0Ze3mrE07pbUiEbC-9XjHiuDe5/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629208125759169890" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNA_-SzbVkOD54d7a6ieJBWcBcEB_XJ25buB7V890RJSPRL5rL1SmGfwI8XdJOXeZIavi6pVS3JmG2zyLHJIYcC37bsENSZYTiZY3gaop4yIHQLguCT6DqtumEbW9RjnUNzPT/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNA_-SzbVkOD54d7a6ieJBWcBcEB_XJ25buB7V890RJSPRL5rL1SmGfwI8XdJOXeZIavi6pVS3JmG2zyLHJIYcC37bsENSZYTiZY3gaop4yIHQLguCT6DqtumEbW9RjnUNzPT/s400/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629208131845519554" border="0" /></a><br />Went to Long Street Farm, which as you all know I love that place. Then a huge neighborhood BBQ followed by 4th of July fireworks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxbeZ-3xTcHTIKMmKFGk6DOfBh3V4SDanYQifmZAyNgxdN9aTLKasVEW3iQ8w-I2r-VdQonesAdCFeadH5DhqNpCy-70u4RK5sdGyr0Z6_AuOy7HYoJFw3RSb4jh10vnliSJO/s1600/049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxbeZ-3xTcHTIKMmKFGk6DOfBh3V4SDanYQifmZAyNgxdN9aTLKasVEW3iQ8w-I2r-VdQonesAdCFeadH5DhqNpCy-70u4RK5sdGyr0Z6_AuOy7HYoJFw3RSb4jh10vnliSJO/s400/049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629211954899406578" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPBpOMflLgUMd-opRLFVLPwKTZiBdYSkQQCuH1aovVUcROrScBsmCyEgD91p_heX_gzGdYaP1sMalIU8ECFOphsWH3W82VJicrlksHfYEVaUzNd7DywcN1NjJyr-TIRII5qaZ/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPBpOMflLgUMd-opRLFVLPwKTZiBdYSkQQCuH1aovVUcROrScBsmCyEgD91p_heX_gzGdYaP1sMalIU8ECFOphsWH3W82VJicrlksHfYEVaUzNd7DywcN1NjJyr-TIRII5qaZ/s400/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629208137440743346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://themoth.org/">The Moth.</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">-</span> We listened to unscripted story telling. It was really interesting. There were funny, bizarre, and even some sad moments. The joys of story telling.<br /><br />Coney Island- Laura took the big kids on the famous Cyclone roller coaster. It's apparently a pretty fun, yet rough wooden coaster.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x0t2I4GY1lwP-BUcIhdEYyoJzuIYUvrdi8weXjvAsvDP2bFn3wzpBlnV4o_jaOPntuzymnHFdESY28M_jeEqBwm4gc1K9_G_TFu40okUyJkIwYp2MkkEGvx1YC7wOamrZBou/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x0t2I4GY1lwP-BUcIhdEYyoJzuIYUvrdi8weXjvAsvDP2bFn3wzpBlnV4o_jaOPntuzymnHFdESY28M_jeEqBwm4gc1K9_G_TFu40okUyJkIwYp2MkkEGvx1YC7wOamrZBou/s400/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629211960031809906" border="0" /></a><br />The kids even convinced Laura to roller skating after our day at Coney Island.<br /><br />Ocean Grove beach- The kids can play for hours on their boogie boards. Then, some yummy Hibachi for dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusgM67HOFTMPLyh2zO0LhggmsYm-KYWrNbD-09FQ4HSC_Efe678v1HRH1VsXskG_AR9ajPgMm_fNf-G391AO16TQ2ZPBplDJnsgOLHJyOD1uoArhdAiVs9Uj8NV9U7R9uW4Px/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusgM67HOFTMPLyh2zO0LhggmsYm-KYWrNbD-09FQ4HSC_Efe678v1HRH1VsXskG_AR9ajPgMm_fNf-G391AO16TQ2ZPBplDJnsgOLHJyOD1uoArhdAiVs9Uj8NV9U7R9uW4Px/s400/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629211961698591970" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday we hit Philly. Went to the Franklin Institute and the City Tavern for dinner.<br /><br />Sadly Sunday we had to send her back on a plane to Denver. I am so glad she came out here to see us! It was so wonderful to spend time with her. I have some awesome friends. She taught Hannah how to knit, too. Now, who's next?<br /><br />Once she left I was in serious hurry mode. I had homework, a quiz, an exam, three kids to pack up, a house to clean, and laundry to do. All is well now. We sent the kids off yesterday on a big jet plane solo. It's hard to watch all your babies get on that big plane alone. Hannah told me after they landed that Seth was sad I wasn't with them. It kills me. He'll have fun with his Gramma and Grampa. (Yes, I spelled those wrong on purpose.) Alas, they had to go somewhere, so Dan and I can go on our trip. We leave tonight. London, here we come! I'm so excited!ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-45086066842483533312011-07-01T09:45:00.005-04:002011-07-01T10:26:42.285-04:00UpdateI'm such a slacker. I had every intention of updating my blog more this summer and I obviously haven't. Oops.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8vSH2Qb6wwPSmC9jF04NoOb_I4aOQxsulpjWEGBoaaJCYN9HRo6Yxk7zMQVktDajpqng5QkP5M6_WLdu_WPmnyClQIykW5HePhVnmEXZtthW-Ydo9zLLd9h8wjqMmbkgvNMi/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8vSH2Qb6wwPSmC9jF04NoOb_I4aOQxsulpjWEGBoaaJCYN9HRo6Yxk7zMQVktDajpqng5QkP5M6_WLdu_WPmnyClQIykW5HePhVnmEXZtthW-Ydo9zLLd9h8wjqMmbkgvNMi/s400/060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624385796058953026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2yyCkVTyy1nxwh4CBu4YEsIkKYk9ORFv3hZiVHrx6EYcOUDRotDmaqRFoQpPyXc4ogiVa-wZxwyAkalqA9OCgrDHwhjFbzztkWRW2UcLfklOKuQK4aHXH8HeGimc48zjBmaB/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2yyCkVTyy1nxwh4CBu4YEsIkKYk9ORFv3hZiVHrx6EYcOUDRotDmaqRFoQpPyXc4ogiVa-wZxwyAkalqA9OCgrDHwhjFbzztkWRW2UcLfklOKuQK4aHXH8HeGimc48zjBmaB/s400/063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624381501604919970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Last day of preK.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaU4615M1g96m1XfhoWYUc9-VtZYaXIIalhWLHzMKhtDSgNE2eVJDNX8zO04IQe2heGtSp5rL1WgE1SmdDuCGaU8-kzbEsfTX1w6InMHb1bq_OHMoFvUIDkvclezMbCfibjky/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaU4615M1g96m1XfhoWYUc9-VtZYaXIIalhWLHzMKhtDSgNE2eVJDNX8zO04IQe2heGtSp5rL1WgE1SmdDuCGaU8-kzbEsfTX1w6InMHb1bq_OHMoFvUIDkvclezMbCfibjky/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624381505964656290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Last day of school for the big kids. Seth was still sleeping when Hannah had to leave at 7:15 for school.</span></span><br /></div><br />School ended on the 20th. Woo, hoo. Oh, wait. Now I have to entertain them everyday to make sure they don't spend all day picking on each other... I do love summer though. Lightening bugs, beach, swimming, hydrangeas, vegetable garden, fresh fruit, BBQ, smores, and fireworks.<br /><br />Some bugs I could do without. Like this bug we found buzzing around in Hannah's room. It's an inch long... creepy, no.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2IJv2mp87wmUR8ADTEu6Qp4547a_i5J0z1dtKcr06eS46nMHr_Y5HKe_BvfCxkYaVqjp1Rex53dUH04D9WzSjjWfMpYqv6EfFlfJBUju9qwKrVfHaCa8CZMGtnMBjWACrOPu/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2IJv2mp87wmUR8ADTEu6Qp4547a_i5J0z1dtKcr06eS46nMHr_Y5HKe_BvfCxkYaVqjp1Rex53dUH04D9WzSjjWfMpYqv6EfFlfJBUju9qwKrVfHaCa8CZMGtnMBjWACrOPu/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624384042293441698" border="0" /></a><br />I finished the nine patch quilt top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZQ3v1lV-ZKiXfH3bgPDH9vWGT8-aILX2pV4SuUw1Q8XYrxKDasu2-HJKgaIZDD6eQfsQn3nrhqFxZpRI1FZtx_JEoojUbFetFeylNdOt_Yl7VWsZ7DC_QR9LB0ajvro4Wa8Q/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZQ3v1lV-ZKiXfH3bgPDH9vWGT8-aILX2pV4SuUw1Q8XYrxKDasu2-HJKgaIZDD6eQfsQn3nrhqFxZpRI1FZtx_JEoojUbFetFeylNdOt_Yl7VWsZ7DC_QR9LB0ajvro4Wa8Q/s400/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624381513137408450" border="0" /></a><br />I think the quilting will make it all come together. You'll see. Next up is a baby quilt for Mark and Leann. Finally, someone is having a girl! I've made this pattern before and it's super cute.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVpdsY4O9Fj2JXlCeR5OfxwngNq-Xc0LVHlTSjdORPCFVmkGsQiPviuU6Tl0uXGifH8juzh7if9bm_TS0mcnz8UN1EyORCw5F9ta-1jWCbmpSX2vHFvAsE6ZLrlob6s0wf1VH/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVpdsY4O9Fj2JXlCeR5OfxwngNq-Xc0LVHlTSjdORPCFVmkGsQiPviuU6Tl0uXGifH8juzh7if9bm_TS0mcnz8UN1EyORCw5F9ta-1jWCbmpSX2vHFvAsE6ZLrlob6s0wf1VH/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624384047005334626" border="0" /></a><br />Dan and I are preparing for our trip to Europe. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have to ship my babies off on an airplane all by themselves. Start praying that they'll behave themselves and act perfect for Gramma Stella. Then, Dan and I board an international flight to London! Squee! Our honeymoon, 15 years after we got married...ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-55177285320567300702011-06-19T08:22:00.004-04:002011-06-19T11:07:26.166-04:00Camping<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP0Jez49ziA1oV08-78zozlOeWEZiWHULZfjFzoY-AMVqa7sM2lApH-UuGan0rf2LyRPQf2p4kzmXCogqvzF_r3X_XkGF5n_77stCygN_Dm88MeDMxONdTfJIkancsAHr_Dg5/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP0Jez49ziA1oV08-78zozlOeWEZiWHULZfjFzoY-AMVqa7sM2lApH-UuGan0rf2LyRPQf2p4kzmXCogqvzF_r3X_XkGF5n_77stCygN_Dm88MeDMxONdTfJIkancsAHr_Dg5/s400/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619943903710287298" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend I went camping with some of Hannah's Girl Scout troop. We camped close to Hersheypark, so the girls could go to the park on Saturday. We got there fairly late to set up camp and the girls all had a really late dinner, but we were all in good spirits. Around 3-4 in the morning I could hear thunder in the distance. I knew it was coming our way. And, boy did it. The rain pounded down on the tent for a couple hours. The lightening was very bright and the thunder was loud. The tent started leaking! I pulled everything away from the walls, grabbed a towel and covered Hannah and I, and I used a blanket to cover the other two girls in the tent. Then, I tried to sleep and not think about the tree above us getting struck by lightening or getting washed into the river behind us...<br /><br />The rain let up in the morning and we had a fun day at Hersheypark.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflpu-D6e5OtJMEeTH_-LkaUpjxF9acvmUYibSzNQw4crRf8ck1ZSG8JYh34QHJn1Wlgo8efBN7Rc3JPAzEAMRvqnLqEcOgBHYZuOmfAAMPBJp9_dC4RJmcQB8EDkLkYH9utyO/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflpu-D6e5OtJMEeTH_-LkaUpjxF9acvmUYibSzNQw4crRf8ck1ZSG8JYh34QHJn1Wlgo8efBN7Rc3JPAzEAMRvqnLqEcOgBHYZuOmfAAMPBJp9_dC4RJmcQB8EDkLkYH9utyO/s400/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619943907840027122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hannah's in the last car.</span><br /></span></div><br />All was well until we got a call that we had to move our campsite because the weather forecast was for 2 inches of rain and there was a flash flood warning. We took a vote amongst the girls to see if they wanted to go through another night like the one before or pack it in and go home. They voted to stay. I wanted to declare mutiny.<br /><br />The troop leader fixed it up so we could stay the night on the floor in a large convention hall at Hershey Lodge. It looked like a refugee camp that night with all the troops that had to leave their campsites due to the rain. Some people had their tents flood, collapse, etc. Crazy!<br /><br />Amazingly, through all the crazy rain we had a fun weekend. I'd even do it again!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vPcFgdTb6TGRfeIk7MyfYd_sU8uOb35q_b-g0nBkJsNVtdXRqXNfhIQ7CNM7U5UiScsFstyeieQxyPY6YDxsR19VpvA_SqZhLGITkUtOzs3rMEswi4QOmrGPi2-WKFqoxhox/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vPcFgdTb6TGRfeIk7MyfYd_sU8uOb35q_b-g0nBkJsNVtdXRqXNfhIQ7CNM7U5UiScsFstyeieQxyPY6YDxsR19VpvA_SqZhLGITkUtOzs3rMEswi4QOmrGPi2-WKFqoxhox/s400/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619943901166727442" border="0" /></a>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-9062206292033936762011-06-04T20:02:00.003-04:002011-06-04T20:08:10.534-04:00super cuteI made some darn cute kids! Of course, I am biased, but wasn't Seth cute today?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N-chUu5CodtovNLley7pV77gk8AXqZdpnWw3a50eTtpTvvN9bJajUBQwgSrNPktiLRg73fTNPkxyBmF9I1sie12E-pZ36nMOIRbrH_Ap7auKFjn5HMSYQzaxGpbg6HBQiem9/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N-chUu5CodtovNLley7pV77gk8AXqZdpnWw3a50eTtpTvvN9bJajUBQwgSrNPktiLRg73fTNPkxyBmF9I1sie12E-pZ36nMOIRbrH_Ap7auKFjn5HMSYQzaxGpbg6HBQiem9/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614520314561883938" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRAdhfwsAtWNMS2_PChkHRiempag_z5hCdFYDEwaPzKRScggu2v4NAZs8Xu_4XRtLcPlbJx4qZWKd8lOwldryMxtbuxvresyOBPEoG_b2s2f1MIYBOsR2sxIAmvrVHsm05Edg/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRAdhfwsAtWNMS2_PChkHRiempag_z5hCdFYDEwaPzKRScggu2v4NAZs8Xu_4XRtLcPlbJx4qZWKd8lOwldryMxtbuxvresyOBPEoG_b2s2f1MIYBOsR2sxIAmvrVHsm05Edg/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614520318064598418" border="0" /></a><br />Super cute!ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33216836.post-48991856171475412222011-06-01T14:59:00.003-04:002011-06-01T16:10:06.978-04:00Sew savvyI have thoroughly enjoyed not having any classes. I miss my day job. You know, back in the day when I was a stay at home mom. Le sigh... My summer class started today. I am hoping to still have some "me" time this summer, even thought we are going to be busy.<br /><br />So, I saw this <a href="http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-other-bag-in-quilts-more.html">messenger bag on a blog</a> and fell in love. I had to make it for myself!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMeH1HCv6BOpKUR7pNJ72SsyO51r2spNeSleqQEgOnPyfd2Aq4vHk8x1fGKFVkv3kVbFN6PFYrDFb86VzULA2aCUL_1qlIz28EqmDK78ueIyYOmaTDmRaxM_9YYtEhvzsAxVf/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMeH1HCv6BOpKUR7pNJ72SsyO51r2spNeSleqQEgOnPyfd2Aq4vHk8x1fGKFVkv3kVbFN6PFYrDFb86VzULA2aCUL_1qlIz28EqmDK78ueIyYOmaTDmRaxM_9YYtEhvzsAxVf/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613341942090098578" border="0" /></a><br />If by chance you decide to make one yourself and like mine, I made a few slight changes. I opted for using a patterned fabric instead of a linen and I didn't make the cute hexagons. The fabric was busy enough. Also, I used canvas instead of batting to help strengthen the bag. I didn't want it to feel too puffy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYwPqr-10YOTMgKSNulix_gIBbxLP9ILYrfXp4DQ47goK7ipxWOexSzVfITmJ_Dz_8dS-iyTy_OyaBwacVoMCeLkqOsJdmsSSV6hHnaf8cgHA6g6jDJBsh8ApQ6rHNXBBcw_v/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYwPqr-10YOTMgKSNulix_gIBbxLP9ILYrfXp4DQ47goK7ipxWOexSzVfITmJ_Dz_8dS-iyTy_OyaBwacVoMCeLkqOsJdmsSSV6hHnaf8cgHA6g6jDJBsh8ApQ6rHNXBBcw_v/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613341947025421378" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYtVX4nJRjQIuHxvMRK7k9iNFsF47b13mp5EfWzce-bBrfjXHCJIGEqMZRJZLKwCnWVaqp5lAS10OG5WfpKKOouxEXQRUM5Ql1x-mcFpXmtwMXJEErx7PThw-o-UrlF1XsRfn/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYtVX4nJRjQIuHxvMRK7k9iNFsF47b13mp5EfWzce-bBrfjXHCJIGEqMZRJZLKwCnWVaqp5lAS10OG5WfpKKOouxEXQRUM5Ql1x-mcFpXmtwMXJEErx7PThw-o-UrlF1XsRfn/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613341952846739378" border="0" /></a><br />Whatcha think? Adorable, no? It's only 9 x 7 x 2. I like all the little pockets on the front and the big one on the back. My iPhone fits so nicely and I know right where it is! It's not lost at the bottom of the bag where I can't find it.<br /><br />I delivered the baby quilt. All wrapped up. You can't go empty handed so I brought banana nut muffins too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTwYjpviiBmF8tNxMdWpYioA-vTjzthiLBfORsyZwtECYsZkAr_TC6iiepT9b4RmEYga1yjb9tChyphenhyphenz0qxSDV8Spq1GYWP1SqAe427xnzWCdIj8A8HFsq8Uu7erOcdND8M49IM/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTwYjpviiBmF8tNxMdWpYioA-vTjzthiLBfORsyZwtECYsZkAr_TC6iiepT9b4RmEYga1yjb9tChyphenhyphenz0qxSDV8Spq1GYWP1SqAe427xnzWCdIj8A8HFsq8Uu7erOcdND8M49IM/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613345394966225346" border="0" /></a>ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018384922813669204noreply@blogger.com1