tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15801921771959591252024-03-13T04:10:01.900-07:00Ang4him - A Moment in my LifeAnghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-89299067861348260052011-03-27T19:56:00.000-07:002011-03-27T20:05:57.511-07:00Austin's 1st Award in Public School<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">** ** WARNING ** **</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">This is another post containing a tremendous amount of gushing from a very proud Momma!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Last month I wrote about my daughter receving her 1st award in public school (they just started attending in January). This month I am proud to say my son, Austin (1st Grade) has received a Citizen of the Month award as well! His comment regarding the award was, "Now I just have to get the student of the Month award next time."<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As with Tyler's award, we were asked to attend an assembly where the award was presented to Austin. We were very proud to attend this on Friday morning. He received a certificate, a book and a bracelet in school colors that indicates he recieved the Citizenship Award.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">His teacher wrote:</div><blockquote><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Austin is an awesome student. He has a great attitude and made friends quickly in my class. He takes his time with his work, doing the best he can and using neat handwriting. He is always kind to others, and follows our classroom and school rules. He is a great citizen and a good example for other students. He always has a hand up to volunteer and answers questions. I enjoy talking with him - he always has an interesting story to share! I am proud of his achievements!</div></blockquote>I was tempted to ask about what kinds of stories he always tells, but to be honest I was kind of afraid to find out. I've heard his stories before!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JEG1q_9CucU/TY_6u3bh-BI/AAAAAAAABXE/VMeIA83zan0/s1600/Austin+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="0" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JEG1q_9CucU/TY_6u3bh-BI/AAAAAAAABXE/VMeIA83zan0/s320/Austin+Award.jpg" width="0" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin with his award and the book he chose (one full of riddles!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-36675968525430782262011-02-24T14:59:00.000-08:002011-02-24T14:59:08.043-08:00Tyler's 1st Award in Public School<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">** ** WARNING ** **</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">This post contains a tremendous amount of gushing from a very proud Momma!</span></strong></div><br />
Today my baby girl received her first award in public school. Shaun & I are so proud of her. After attending private school for 2 years and doing the homeschool/co-op thing for 2 1/2 years she was very nervous to start public school last month. But she has been doing wonderful. Within days she had made lots of friends and as I mentioned in my last post, she has even dealt with the "mean girl" thing. <br />
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On Tuesday I received a call from her teacher asking us to come to an assembly today where they were going to surprise Tyler with an award. It was the February Citizen of the Month award for February. After less than 2 months at the school, she has received her first award (can you tell this mommy is excited and proud of her little girl?!)<br />
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The commentary from the teacher said:<br />
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<blockquote>Tyler is a pure pleasure to have in class! She shows great citizenship and has a kind and respectful attitude towards her classmates and class work! She genuinely shows care and compassion for school! She is always on her best behavior and really shows pride in her school work!</blockquote>Afterwards we spoke to her teacher briefly and she went on to affirm what she had written for the award and to tell us that academically Tyler is doing wonderful as well. She said report cards will be coming out next month and we'll see then how wonderful Tyler is doing. <br />
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They gave her a Certificate of Character which will of course go in her school book. They also allowed the children receiving rewards pick out a book that was supplied by the school PTO (she chose a book by Roald Dahl). She received a book placard to go inside the front cover that says the book was received by Tyler as a reward from the PTO for being a good citizen.<br />
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Okay - this mom is done gushing, at least for the moment!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhAmUP6d8hU/TWbiO7OnwsI/AAAAAAAABWI/d0CL0K4JE-A/s1600/Tyler+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhAmUP6d8hU/TWbiO7OnwsI/AAAAAAAABWI/d0CL0K4JE-A/s320/Tyler+award.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler displaying her Certificate of Character</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-22597308215675091092011-02-22T10:22:00.000-08:002011-02-22T10:22:04.967-08:00Public School - Oh My!After two and half years of homeschooling (while working full-time) the Lord has put my family on a new path. It has been bittersweet for me as I really did love teaching my kids and wished I could do so full-time. And I had reasons I preferred homeschooling for my children, but God has other plans and I trust that He knows best.<br />
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While a part of me is disappointed (and I dare say at times feels like I have failed) there is another part of me that is relieved and enjoying this new period in our life. I had not realized how much I had been missing with the kids because I worked full-time and many of our schooling sessions outside fo the co-op were in the evenings and weekends. Now, they have homework I help them with 4 nights a week (and that is if there is anything left other than reading - since my dear husband usually does the other homework with them before I get home!) Fridays and weekends are now free of homework other than reading. I find I'm able to enjoy my children more now and they are enjoying spending time with me more.<br />
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Don't get me wrong - if I had a chance to homeschool again I would do it - but only if we are in a position where I can do it full-time during the day and not work another job at the same time.<br />
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We have run into some of the things I had feared already. In the past two months my daughter has run into the "mean girls". One girl was her friend and then was not because Tyler was not "girly" enough (she got dirty at recess because she does handstands and cartwheels in the grass - I guess in 4th grade that is not an activity that makes you "popular"). Then a couple days later she was Tyler's friend again and as of today she is not again.<br />
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But Tyler seems to have made a lot of friends and I found out that she has made a point to befriend and play with a girl that others were picking on. She did not understand at first why the other girls were mad at her for doing so, but we had a long talk about what it really means to be a friend. I think she will do just fine and I am very proud of her. I know the Lord is watching out for her and we have given her a good foundation to build upon.<br />
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Austin is doing well too. He has not made as many friends as I would have expected but he seems to really enjoy school and thrive. He is amazing when it comes to his schoolwork. He really does not struggle at all to grasp any of the concepts. His issue is focus - a math page that should take 10 mins and that he understands totally can take up to 30 minutes or more because after each problem he wants to talk about an example that is simlar to the problem, what the problem reminded him of and/or something totally unrelated.<br />
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Jesse of course is still in preschool with Cheri, but he constantly asks me how many more months it will be until August when he gets to start Kindergarten. He is so excited. He knows so much already and is definitely prepared. My only concern is still his speech. We did go through the school district to get him tested, however per their standards the sounds he struggles with are not fully developed at his age. I guess that gives me some comfort but I'm still not totally convinced. But I will take it one day at a time for now and keep a close eye on him. God will take care of him just like my other two precious children. After all, He loves them even more than I ever could. And that is alot!<br />
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I'll have another post/announcement soon. I just got a call from a teacher today with some news that I will share soon. It is a surprise so I don't want to spill the beans yet.<br />
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So I will leave you all with a Valentine's Kiss from Jesse. Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0WfH15SX2g/TWP-wQkaeBI/AAAAAAAABVs/27MAPrVXklM/s1600/Jesse+V-day.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0WfH15SX2g/TWP-wQkaeBI/AAAAAAAABVs/27MAPrVXklM/s320/Jesse+V-day.bmp" width="191" /></a></div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-37140958291365217532010-12-12T18:07:00.000-08:002010-12-12T18:07:58.339-08:00Charlotte's Web LapbookWe've discovered lapbooks this year and love them! Tyler has done two for books she has read. Our first attempt was with "The Courage of Sarah Noble". I've included some pictures below. One of the ladies in our co-op found instructions online for this one along with the templates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3S-G02wI/AAAAAAAABUk/Wv1c3_7Q8zE/s1600/IMAG0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3S-G02wI/AAAAAAAABUk/Wv1c3_7Q8zE/s320/IMAG0061.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler's Custom Cover for "The Courage of Sarah Noble"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>The various sections inside included listing the members of the Noble and Robinson families in alphabetical order and coloring a map of the 13 colonies and tracing the route Sarah and her father took to their new home. On the other side they did a pocket on Measuring Fear. For various situations that Sarah found herself in throughout the story, the kids rated on a scale of 1 to 5 how scared they would have been. The looked up various vocabulary words in the story and wrote them out on the moccasin book. And they looked up various forest animals and plants that were mentioned through the story and wrote facts about each one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3VVOgGaI/AAAAAAAABUo/2IrnDZt22gk/s1600/IMAG0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3VVOgGaI/AAAAAAAABUo/2IrnDZt22gk/s320/IMAG0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Tyler's 1st lapbook</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3QuduXeI/AAAAAAAABUg/rL9o9by_Rxk/s1600/IMAG0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV3QuduXeI/AAAAAAAABUg/rL9o9by_Rxk/s320/IMAG0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animal & Plant facts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our second attempt which we just finished was a lapbook for "Charlotte's Web". One of the mother's in the co-op came up with the ideas of what to include and we came up with our own creative ways to showcase these elements. While looking for ideas I found a wonderful site with tons of templates. <br />
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<a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.php">Homeschool Share - Lapbook Templates</a><br />
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Below is a video I took of Tyler's lapbook for Charlotte's Web and each of the elements we added. I apologize as the video is a bit blurry, but it is good enough to show all the different items. It is sideways as well and I can't figure out how to turn it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9AC1z5XpNZrmenJg3kFCaQkH9-7En5iVqmLEJnCmIj2hVBGIhFN7kHZs9VcDzwbE8qqkZHjtzu6SpsYCMcQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Pictures of the lapbook:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV88ng-62I/AAAAAAAABUw/o_bzD1l2Y4s/s1600/IMAG0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV88ng-62I/AAAAAAAABUw/o_bzD1l2Y4s/s320/IMAG0053.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cover - we keep it closed with a small piece of velcro. Tyler can't stand it. She hates the sound of velcro!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV8_ABfClI/AAAAAAAABU0/MPf7RD9WguU/s1600/IMAG0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV8_ABfClI/AAAAAAAABU0/MPf7RD9WguU/s320/IMAG0054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of our lapbook</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9Bai6znI/AAAAAAAABU4/xLsaKr05qqQ/s1600/IMAG0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9Bai6znI/AAAAAAAABU4/xLsaKr05qqQ/s320/IMAG0055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animal Facts - Pigs, Rats & Spiders. Tyler picked a picture and fact about how humans can catch and eat rats if necessary in an emergency. Ugh!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9DqMVNqI/AAAAAAAABU8/LBugFQvk_ZI/s1600/IMAG0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9DqMVNqI/AAAAAAAABU8/LBugFQvk_ZI/s320/IMAG0056.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our questions - this one is about whether Templeton was a villain or hero</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9GiGtI0I/AAAAAAAABVA/cjuprNL2Ky4/s1600/IMAG0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9GiGtI0I/AAAAAAAABVA/cjuprNL2Ky4/s320/IMAG0057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider facts - these were some of Tyler's favorites that we looked up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9Ihtc8WI/AAAAAAAABVE/PQK8V0xpFd8/s1600/IMAG0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9Ihtc8WI/AAAAAAAABVE/PQK8V0xpFd8/s320/IMAG0058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Similes - Tyler wrote down all the similes we found in the book. I was surprised we did not find more. The purple circle are the 10 characteristic Tyler thought were important in a friend.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9K8aeT7I/AAAAAAAABVI/wtBmpQJx_bw/s1600/IMAG0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TQV9K8aeT7I/AAAAAAAABVI/wtBmpQJx_bw/s320/IMAG0059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vocab Words - we had 20 words from the book that Tyler looked up and included on these cards. This book has a lot of very good vocab words for kids to learn.</td></tr>
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Next Attempt? We are doing lapbooks for our Social Studies/History samples to be turned into our charter school at our next meeting. Tyler and Austin will both be doing one to showcase what we are learning over the four week learning period. I'll share those once they are completed.Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-25061484056692269172010-06-20T17:39:00.000-07:002010-06-20T17:47:10.803-07:00Accountable Kids - ReviewAbout a month ago I did a post called <a href="http://ang4himmylife.blogspot.com/2010/05/accountable-kids-journey-begins.html">Accountable Kids - The Journey Begins</a>. We are now just a little over a month into the program - we have implemented 3 of the 4 phases. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I originally decided to try this program because I have friends who have raved about it. My children are not bad kids by any means, but to be honest - I was exhausted. They are so active (daughter just turned 9 and my boys are 5 1/2 and 4 years old). In addition, I was tired of repeating myself and feeling like no matter how much time I spent cleaning the house, I had little whirlwind messes following right behind me. I work full-time and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">homeschool</span> two of my kids. My house usually takes a back seat because I often feel that I have to choose between keeping up the house and spending time with my family.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xTGaLQNI/AAAAAAAABTk/VXg6b575RMw/s1600/IMG00212-20100531-2051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xTGaLQNI/AAAAAAAABTk/VXg6b575RMw/s320/IMG00212-20100531-2051.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our boards - painted in each child's favorite color - of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The <a href="http://www.accountablekids.com/">Accountable Kids</a> program helps parents to teach their children accountability and responsibility. And it empowers children because they learn that they are a productive part of the family - thereby developing a healthy self-esteem and confidence. And it helps to teach children to take pride in what they do and discourages attitudes of entitlement.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've used chore charts and stickers with my daughter before but they never stuck with my family. This is different because it is about more than just doing some things around the house to earn a prize. And I don't have to go out of my way to buy special expensive prizes to give the kids. </div><br />
The key to teaching your kids responsibility is consistency. I realized I lacked in this area in some ways. I've still not totally got it figured out, but this program is great because it helps me to be consistent with the kids.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xUmnUMLI/AAAAAAAABTo/vJfBlRFAt30/s1600/IMG00278-20100620-1445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xUmnUMLI/AAAAAAAABTo/vJfBlRFAt30/s320/IMG00278-20100620-1445.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of Jesse's board - our 4 year old - extra chore of cleaning the bathroom is split between all three children, each has a section that they are responsible for completing.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are four phases to the program:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The first step introduces the concept of core chores (daily chores expected of each child for which no payment is received). They are also introduced to tickets which can be earned by completing all chores on time. These tickets are used for things they've been doing in the past already (television, video games, etc) for which mom & dad want them to realize they are privileges, not things they are entitled to get. This was huge for my children. They are learning to manage their own television time now. The first night we did this my 4 year old actually spent almost 5 minutes really thinking about whether or not he wanted to give up one of his tickets to watch television before bed. I think he handed me his ticket and then took it back about 3 times before he finally decided he was willing to trade one of his precious tickets for television privileges.</div><br />
A list of items that will cause a ticket to be lost is also created. These are things that will cause the child to lose an earned ticket immediately, no warning. For our family these include hitting, kicking, fighting, whining, and being disrespectful. It was a real eye-opener for the boys the first time they wanted to watch television but could not because they had lost their tickets and could not trade one in for t.v. privileges. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The best behavior card is also introduced in the first step which had become a coveted prize in my family. The kids are allowed to use it just like a ticket, but I've found for them it is more of a reward to just have it hanging on their board. They use it last and many times will bypass privileges just to be able to leave the best behavior card on their board.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The second phase introduces the privilege pass which helps parents to address specific bad habits that they want to replace with new behavior. Also the date card is introduced. I was a little leery of this one at first, because I did not want my kids thinking they had to "earn" time with Mommy & Daddy. But I've found we can still spend time alone with each of them as we used to - this is just an added extra special time that they can earn. And it does not have to be expensive either. My kids love to just go out back after dark with a blanket and look at the stars alone with one of us. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The third phase introduces extra chores which the children can earn bonus bucks for doing. These are turned in the end of each week for real money which they can spend as they see fit. Savings can also be introduced at this point. For our children half of what they earn during the week is going to their "savings" account which we track on sheets posted on our wall. At any time they can see what they have in their savings. The half that they get to keep really helps to develop confidence in them too. When we go somewhere now my kids are asking if they can buy something instead of asking me to buy it for them. And they are putting much more thought into what they ask for, even my 4 year old. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>You also introduce the helping hand card. This makes the kids <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">consciencely</span> think of something nice to do for someone else during the day. My kids love each night sharing what they've done for their helping hand during the day. Many days they have more than one thing to share.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the last step you introduce the family forum and quiet time. We've not gotten to this step yet with my family, although we do already kind of do the family forum since we meet briefly each week on Sunday to turn in bonus bucks and review the ticket lists posted on our refrigerator (list of items tickets can be traded in for and list of things that will cause the children to lose a ticket).</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think one of the main reasons I love this program is because it is so flexible. I've tailored it to fit each of my kids and as they get older some of their extra chores will become core chores. As I see what is and is not working with each child I can add and subtract things as necessary. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The key to this program and I think anything you do to teach your kids responsibility is consistency. I've still not got this totally figured out, but the boards are a visual reminder to me each day to be consistent, just as they are a reminder to the kids of what they need to do as a part of this family. I've seen a huge improvement in my daughter - she thrives on this. The boys also love the program. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xYw1pZFI/AAAAAAAABT0/FUaisYnnqSw/s1600/IMG00283-20100620-1450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xYw1pZFI/AAAAAAAABT0/FUaisYnnqSw/s320/IMG00283-20100620-1450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys cleaning the table after eating</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One big change has been mornings. Since we both work we have a certain amount of time to get us and the kids ready each morning. In the past I would find myself rushing and many times yelling and threatening the kids in order to get us all out the door on time. Now most mornings the kids are all ready way before I am. They get up and know exactly what to do and get it done. Every once in awhile we'll have a bad morning but they don't earn their ticket for morning chores if they are not done and/or if Mommy has to remind them of what needs to be done. I've found we never have two bad mornings in a row. Not earning their ticket is reminder enough to get them back to helping out as they should.</div><br />
My middle child struggles the most with the program (he finally just earned his first Best Behavior card today!). He has trouble thinking ahead to consequences, but even though he struggles I have seen an improvement in him too. It is just coming a little slower. And part of it is consistency on my part. I've noticed when he starts getting difficult again, it is usually because I've become a bit slack in being consistent and sticking to my guns on certain things.<br />
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Overall, this program has been wonderful for my family and we've stuck with it for over a month now. That is big for us. I will be traveling to see family in August and I'm looking forward to taking this program with me and continuing it while we are away from home. <br />
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If you are struggling to teach your children responsibility and accountability, if they are getting to the point where they feel they are entitled to things or if you are just tired and frustrated - I would highly recommend <a href="http://www.accountablekids.com/">Accountable Kids</a>. There has been some times of testing where I've been discouraged, but I chose to stick with it and I'm seeing the improvements, sometimes little, sometimes big. I find myself repeating myself less and less (and if I do it is usually because I'm not being consistent with the program) and I'm finding it so much easier to get the kids to clean up after themselves and help keep the house clean. I'm actually able to spend time with my kids now and focus on them. In the past I was always thinking in the back of my mind about all the things I still needed to do. They have more confidence and I am less stressed and exhausted. And I'm seeing more cooperation between the kids. It is Amazing! A definite God-send for my family<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xXVON97I/AAAAAAAABTw/7QwuHDGcpJc/s1600/IMG00282-20100620-1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TB6xXVON97I/AAAAAAAABTw/7QwuHDGcpJc/s320/IMG00282-20100620-1449.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler vacuuming the front living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>To learn more about the program visit their website at <a href="http://www.accountablekids.com/">Accountable Kids</a> - watch both videos on the main page. They explain about the program and will answer many of your questions. And I definitely recommend getting the kit which includes the book. There are so many helpful ideas in it. I read it cover to cover before I started the program and I'm still constantly referring to it for ideas.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Note:</strong> By doing this post I'm taking advantage of another wonderful part of <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">th</span>is program. Currently if you write a blog review of the program you can get a "rebate" on part of your original purchase price. I would be writing a review either way and in fact I had already posted about our initial experience last month <span class="goog-spellcheck-word"><a href="http://ang4himmylife.blogspot.com/2010/05/accountable-kids-journey-begins.html">here</a>. How amazing is that?!</span></span>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-58763256934834373082010-06-01T16:08:00.000-07:002010-06-01T16:08:28.608-07:00Spirit of Control in Raising ChildrenBelow is a great article I found by Norm Wakefield regarding the Spirit of Control. This is the second of a three part series, but I'm referencing this one here because it deals with parent/child relationships. I found this article very enlightening. I will definitely be approaching the raising and disciplining of my children differently after this. Many of the things I do may not change but it really made me rethink where my trust lies during these times and my reasons for doing what I do.<br />
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Elijah Ministries - Chariot of Fire Newsletter<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritofelijah.com/chariot/chariot0808.php">Spirit of Control - Part 2 by Norm Wakefield</a><br />
August 2008Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-39588639757613461542010-05-29T14:52:00.000-07:002010-05-29T14:52:02.148-07:00Austin's Favorite Person in HistoryAs their last History assignment this year (and our last sample to be turned into the charter school) I had each of the kids write about their favorite person in History from this year. Tyler had read a book about Helen Keller and absolutely fell in love with her. So of course her paper was on Helen Keller. She did quite good on it too.<br />
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Austin's favorite person was George Washington. His writing is pretty legible, but just in case you can't make it all out, it says the following:<br />
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<blockquote>My favorite person in history is George Washington. He is famous because he was our first President. I like him because he cut down a cherry tree.</blockquote><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TAGL8fYbY5I/AAAAAAAABTg/JkYkXU4zevI/s1600/IMG00198-20100529-1443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TAGL8fYbY5I/AAAAAAAABTg/JkYkXU4zevI/s320/IMG00198-20100529-1443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TAGL6xozmlI/AAAAAAAABTc/oklkf-LFFCo/s1600/IMG00199-20100529-1443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/TAGL6xozmlI/AAAAAAAABTc/oklkf-LFFCo/s320/IMG00199-20100529-1443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-60495486523876922342010-05-27T19:46:00.000-07:002010-05-27T19:49:28.346-07:00Gardens & PondsLast year our garden met with catastrophe. The only thing that survived were Shaun's jalapeno peppers. We were invaded by mice. Shaun said it was like a flashback to the Secret of Nimh only with mice under a tomato plant rather than rats living under a rose bush. There were many evenings I would look out the back window to see Shaun with a shovel chasing a mouse across our back yard.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">However, so far this year the garden if flourishing. I might even have some zucchini to grate up and freeze for bread. Last year I had some, but only due to the generosity of our daycare who grew some gigantic zucchini! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The garden is pretty much Shaun and Tyler's domain. Tyler loves to putter around in the garden. Partly because she takes after her grandma who has a green thumb and partly because her Daddy is out there with her. Personally, I did not inherit the green thumb - in fact I think I have a black one. I could kill a fake plant. Really! I have killed an aloe vera which I was told could survive anyone.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our broccoli - one of the few green vegetables I actually like. <br />
But only when it is steamed with some garlic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rm0wi-mI/AAAAAAAABTU/VvE7-_HRMRs/s1600/IMG00192-20100527-1918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rm0wi-mI/AAAAAAAABTU/VvE7-_HRMRs/s320/IMG00192-20100527-1918.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have some strawberry plants here - and some more broccoli.<br />
Shaun said we have 6 broccoli this year - I don't like it that much!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rlZ2jW-I/AAAAAAAABTQ/yYcy3WnKm8c/s1600/IMG00191-20100527-1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rlZ2jW-I/AAAAAAAABTQ/yYcy3WnKm8c/s320/IMG00191-20100527-1917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A forest of carrots and some corn here - and something else that Shaun knows what it is.</td></tr>
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Shaun and Tyler have also been working on the landscaping around the pool. The backside of the pool now has a variety of flowers and plants growing along the wall and they've revived the pond. We even have a new friend for the pond - two adorable little turtles. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler admiring the newly revived pond. <br />
Daddy still needs to hide some of the hoses but it is near being completed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rilBCY1I/AAAAAAAABTI/I2OPE13vflA/s1600/IMG00194-20100527-1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S_8rilBCY1I/AAAAAAAABTI/I2OPE13vflA/s320/IMG00194-20100527-1920.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely Turtle family - the best kind, ones that don't have to be fed and won't waddle away!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-4454640517835837352010-05-14T18:48:00.000-07:002010-05-14T18:49:24.821-07:00Accountable Kids - The Journey BeginsI have recently started something new with my kids called <a href="http://www.accountablekids.com/">Accountable Kids</a>. I'm usually pretty skeptical about programs that say they can "give you a new kid in days" but I have a friend who raved about this and after checking out their website and watching the videos I was impressed. It is a tool to help parents be consistent while teaching their kids about responsibility and accountability. It helps to discourage attitudes of entitlement and gives your children a sense of accomplishment as they become part of the family by helping out around the house and are allowed to make choices regarding how they spend their time. As you implement the different steps they also begin to learn about money and how to manage and make decisions about money they earn.<br />
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I decided I would start blogging about our journey in the hopes that someone else may find it helpful, if not at least amusing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-364MwabHI/AAAAAAAABS8/7I3PsNeuK4c/s1600/AK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-364MwabHI/AAAAAAAABS8/7I3PsNeuK4c/s320/AK.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Accountable Kids wall. The top board (mini board) is where the extra tickets and Best Behavior cards hang. The kids call it "Mommy's board".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-365ZfLuSI/AAAAAAAABTA/EqfmzItGp-A/s1600/accountable+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-365ZfLuSI/AAAAAAAABTA/EqfmzItGp-A/s320/accountable+kids.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the kid's boards. Each of them of course chose theirfavorite colors. Right now for the 1st step we only use the first three pegs.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>DAY 1</strong><strong>:</strong></span><br />
(5/11/10) I finally ordered my stuff the Sunday before Mother's Day and had it by Thursday. I read the book that comes with it in less than 2 days. We painted our boards on Mother's Day and started the program this last Tuesday. I won't go into tons of details right now because if you are interested you can visit the <a href="http://www.accountablekids.com/">website</a> and watch the videos for an overview. Also, I will be doing a blog post review in the next few weeks. They have a deal that if you blog a review within 45 days you can get a 50% refund!!<br />
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Prior to the first day I had talked to all three kids about the first phase of the program (there are 4 steps that you phase in until you are doing the entire program). On Tuesday, I walked through each of the kids chores with them. We went over list of items that you could trade in tickets for and a list of items you can lose tickets for as well. The first day I did not take any tickets though. As they did something they were not supposed to I would just tell them "You would have lost a ticket for that." <br />
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The kids all loved being able to move their chore cards from the start peg to the finish peg and loved earning their tickets as they got each grouping of chores done. Jesse especially loved the tickets. That night when it came time for the boys to watch some television before bed he actually put a lot of thought into whether or not he really wanted to turn in a ticket for this privilege. I think he gave me his ticket and then took it back about 3 times before he decided he did want to watch television bad enough to trade in the ticket. At one point he asked me if he would get his ticket back after he was done watching television.<br />
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Before bed I warned the kids that the next day they had to do their chores on their own and we reviewed the rules for losing tickets so they would be ready for the next day.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">DAY 2:</span></strong><br />
(5/12/10) This was our first day with the kids doing the chores on their own and actually having tickets lost. Usually in the mornings I'm running around the house like a crazy woman trying to get myself and the kids ready and have everyone out the door on time. This morning the kids each got up, finished each of their chores (making beds, getting dressed, eating breakfast, etc) without me having to say anything to them. In fact they were done with about 15 minutes to spare and no fighting - they were actually helping each other! It was amazing! It was harder to get my dear husband up that morning than all the kids put together.<br />
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Jesse informed me today that he did not want to ever lose any tickets so he was going to be "good forever!"<br />
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Austin did end up losing three tickets this first day, two before I was even able to get him home after picking him up from the friend who watches him after school. That night he traded in the one ticket he still had for some time on the computer before bed. After that he realized his younger brother was still watching television in our room when he went to bed. He wanted to watch some too, but I reminded him he had to trade a ticket for it and he had no tickets left. We had a bit of a melt down at that time, but mommy stuck to her guns and made him go to bed.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">DAY 3:</span></strong><br />
(5/13/10) Enjoyed a second peaceful morning of no raised voices or having to bother the kids to get ready for the day. In fact, as I was waking up Jesse, Austin got up and stumbled out of his room towards the kitchen. All of a sudden I heard his stumbling steps stop and then come scurrying back into the room where he proceeded to make his bed. Without saying a word he finished and headed back into the hallway to move his "make bed" card and then to the kitchen to eat breakfast.<br />
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Jesse lost his first ticket today and was devastated. At first when I asked him why he was having to give me a ticket he gave me a very sad and pathetic face and said "I just don't know." But we talked it through. Austin chose to use his tickets for some computer time and a back and foot rub from mommy. Tyler had been saving up her tickets and was able to watch a couple shows she likes on t.v. as well as spend some time on the computer today. All three kids are managing their time doing things such as watching television much better now that they have to earn the privilege and are limited on how much they can do it. And they love that they have choices.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">DAY 4:</span></strong><br />
(5/14/10) The program warns that after awhile the novelty will wear off and they will begin to test their boundaries to see if mom and dad are going to be consistent and stick to the rules. I figured it might take a bit more time before this day would hit, but this morning it happened. The boys did their chores but I had to remind them to check their boards. They both lost tickets when I had to tell them a second time to not run in the house (one rule for losing tickets is if they have to be told something twice). We had a little pow wow at the boards and they both acknowledged they understood why they were losing a ticket. <br />
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Then it happened, even with warnings from mom about how their time was running short - Austin did not get all his chores done before it was time to go. I met all the kids at the boards and Austin still had his toothbrush and toothpaste in his hands. I hated to be such a stickler but I knew I had to stick to the rules. He did not have all his chores done in time so he did not earn his ticket this morning. And to make matters worse, I drove the point home by giving Tyler a "Best Behavior card" for not having to be told or reminded to get her chores done before she started playing and doing other things and because she actually helped her brother with one of his chores (finishing of packing his lunch). I think this made a pretty big impression on Austin. <br />
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We all discussed again how their chores are their responsibility and mommy should not have to tell them to do it - the board and cards are their reminders. We also discussed how they should be getting their chores done before they start playing so they make sure they are ready when it is time for everyone to leave. <br />
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I must say though, even with a little bit of testing and the set backs today, things are still so much better than just a week ago. I'm so amazed at how all three kids are responding to this and how it helps me to be consistent. The visual reminder of the boards and cards are great. On Sunday we will introduce the next step and the kids are already excited about that.<br />
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I'm curious to see how the weekend goes as this will be our first time having everyone home all day long. Could be interesting!Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-25543944312445227882010-05-05T20:36:00.000-07:002010-05-05T20:38:26.727-07:00Happy Birthday JesseToday is our youngest son's 4th birthday.<br />
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A couple of days ago Shaun asked Jesse what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. The response was, "Strawberries and blueberries and whipped cream and sprinkles! Oh . . . and Pears!"<br />
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Shaun tried to convince him that pears would not taste very good on his cake but each time Jesse would reply with, "I WANT PEARS!!!!"<br />
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When I came home that day (oblivious to the arguements that had been going on between these two) Shaun told Jesse to tell me what kind of cake he wanted. After he did I told him I did not think pears would taste very good on his cake. The response was "Ok, Mommy."<br />
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Shaun of course was ticked. "You argued with me all day and now when mommy tells you the same thing you just say 'Okay Mommy'!" Jesses just smiled.<br />
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Below are pictures of the cake, everything he wanted minus the pears.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3bbhR9VI/AAAAAAAABRs/DqAAF8Ve0sM/s1600/Jesses+bday+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3bbhR9VI/AAAAAAAABRs/DqAAF8Ve0sM/s320/Jesses+bday+cake.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse's cake: the cake was chocolate and white cake swirled because he wanted "a little bit of white and a little bit of chocolate brown."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3dDI14NI/AAAAAAAABRw/fy9oQnaj2NU/s1600/IMG00133-20100505-1831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3dDI14NI/AAAAAAAABRw/fy9oQnaj2NU/s320/IMG00133-20100505-1831.jpg" tt="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse - very happy with his cake. He pretty much just ate the fruit off of it and left all the rest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3e4VCx8I/AAAAAAAABR0/5x438-0xGrk/s1600/Jesse+cake+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I3e4VCx8I/AAAAAAAABR0/5x438-0xGrk/s320/Jesse+cake+close+up.jpg" tt="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up so you can see that it does in fact have sprinkles - Orange Sprinkles - Jesse's favorite color</td></tr>
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After we had cake we let him open his gifts. He had asked for coloring pages, crayons, pencils and math. We ended up getting him a giant Cars coloring book, some crayons and a remote control car. The controller is a laser that you point on the ground in front of the car and the car moves toward the laser light. When he opened it Jesses said, "Oh look. A gun and something else. Oh, it's a race car and a gun you can boom it with!" Because of this he doesn't quite understand yet to point the laser on the floor in front of the car instead of pointing it at the car. He'll get the hang of it eventually though, I hope!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I4y4ew5tI/AAAAAAAABR4/oeu6y__Z3VM/s1600/IMG00142-20100505-1850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I4y4ew5tI/AAAAAAAABR4/oeu6y__Z3VM/s320/IMG00142-20100505-1850.jpg" tt="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse's remote control car. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I40cCsqeI/AAAAAAAABR8/PgJLSwXZijY/s1600/IMG00143-20100505-1856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I40cCsqeI/AAAAAAAABR8/PgJLSwXZijY/s320/IMG00143-20100505-1856.jpg" tt="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse coloring - he does a pretty good job of staying in the lines - when he chooses to do so.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I42ZkFiqI/AAAAAAAABSA/5sHwIqlS0wE/s1600/IMG00141-20100505-1849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S-I42ZkFiqI/AAAAAAAABSA/5sHwIqlS0wE/s320/IMG00141-20100505-1849.jpg" tt="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse's GIANT coloring pages</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-28935729357962149362010-05-01T19:56:00.000-07:002010-05-01T19:56:22.947-07:00Austin's BugYesterday Austin turned his Spiderman sandwich container into a bug catcher. He spent the day gathering grass, stick and other things for his bug's new home. I've not actually seen this bug but based on how much stuff he's put in this container - I'm sure there is more than one in that thing.<br />
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We've convinced him to leave the container outside, but if he had his choice he would check it every half hour. This morning before we left for his t-ball game he checked on it again. After his game we had a birthday party to go to and on the way we had the following conversation.<br />
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<strong>Austin:</strong> Mommy, I just called my bug and he's scared at home all by himself!<br />
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<strong>Me:</strong> What?<br />
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<strong>Austin:</strong> I called him and he answered me on his little tiny bitty phone and told me that he is scared.<br />
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<strong>Me:</strong> Oookay. Well, maybe you should call him back and tell him a story that will make him not scared because it is going to be a few hours before we head back home. We have a birthday party to go to, remember?<br />
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<strong>Austin:</strong> I don't have to call him back anymore. He has really really good ears and can hear stuff far away. He has amazing eyes too and can see very far.<br />
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I thought that was the end of the conversation. Apparently, I was wrong.<br />
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On the way home we had the following conversation.<br />
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<strong>Austin:</strong> I think I need to check on my poor bug again. I guess I'll call him again.<br />
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<strong>Me:</strong> I thought you did not need to call him anymore because he can hear too well.<br />
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<strong>Austin:</strong> No Mommy! I can tell him a story and he can hear me but I'm going to ask how he is and I can't hear that good. So I have to call him so I can hear his answer.<br />
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(Duh - why didn't I think of that!)<br />
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Later while talking to Shaun I found out he had told Shaun that he had loved the bug so much that the bug had run away. Then he explained to us that when he had called him on our way home he didn't actually get to talk to him because the bug wouldn't stop talking the WHOLE time. Shaun and I got a real kick out of that, considering that is one of our frustrations with Austin at times!Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-51527830918715700032010-04-13T22:36:00.000-07:002010-04-13T22:36:26.907-07:00Our Recent Homeschool ProjectsThis year we seem to be getting a better hang of this homeschool thing and getting more creative regarding different projects. Here are a few that we've been working on the past few months.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Weaving</span></strong> - I found a nice little bag at a book fair that comes to my work. For $15 I was able to get Tyler a small loom with yarn and everything else necessary to learn how to weave. Below are pictures of her first attempt. The boys want her to make them blankets now. I guess if she stuck to it she could do squares the size of the loom and then sew them together. Her weave is not real consistent yet, but for a first attempt I think she has done a wonderful job.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VLxoU6WvI/AAAAAAAABQk/B3BhINRt-O0/s1600/Tyler%20weaving%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VLxoU6WvI/AAAAAAAABQk/B3BhINRt-O0/s320/Tyler%20weaving%202.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VLoybgz2I/AAAAAAAABQc/YqOkO7hwAzs/s1600/tyler's+weave+project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VLoybgz2I/AAAAAAAABQc/YqOkO7hwAzs/s320/tyler's+weave+project.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Pottery</strong></span> - a friend of mine from work makes pottery. Mostly vases and coffee mugs. She was kind enough to share a few hours on a Saturday with us to show Tyler how to use a pottery wheel. The wheel was a bit large for Tyler, but from what Jennifer said, she did a great job for it being her first time using one. I went out and got her a cheap kids version to practice with some and told her if she continues with it and shows me she is serious I would look into getting her a real wheel. She is already making plans to take over part of Shaun's shed and trying to figure out where she can sell her masterpieces and for how much. The boys even tagged along. They did not use the wheel, but they got to play with the clay too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNgB6bUdI/AAAAAAAABQo/dUwKNLAYxC8/s1600/IMG00079-20100403-1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNgB6bUdI/AAAAAAAABQo/dUwKNLAYxC8/s200/IMG00079-20100403-1522.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin's Masterpiece</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNrvfiL2I/AAAAAAAABQw/rzuJf8zXc60/s1600/IMG00072-20100403-1117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNrvfiL2I/AAAAAAAABQw/rzuJf8zXc60/s320/IMG00072-20100403-1117.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler getting instructions from Jennifer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNw4JJtWI/AAAAAAAABQ0/_8GFZCyN5H4/s1600/IMG00075-20100403-1119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VNw4JJtWI/AAAAAAAABQ0/_8GFZCyN5H4/s320/IMG00075-20100403-1119.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler's masterpiece</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse doing his thing</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Solar System</span></strong> - Tyler and I have been spending a few weeks now on the solar system. We did one really fun experiment where I made a landscape in a box of tinfoil covered in clay. We then covered the box with a piece of paper with a graph and she used a small wooden dowel to measure the terrain using the graph. We used different colors to represent the different depths and she charted the colors on a duplicate graph So one color was the valleys and another was the mountains. Due to Venus being so covered in clouds of gas they've used a process similar to what they use to map the ocean floor to understand the terrain of Venus. It involves sonar and this project was to help Tyler understand that process a bit better. I was surprised at home much she enjoyed it. We just might do it again!<br />
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We also made a solar system. Not the traditional one that you usually see though. We did one to scale using modeling clay for the rock planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Pluto - I know, it is no longer a "planet") and paper to reprsent the gas planets. We did not do the sun because it would have been 11.5 feet in diameter if we'd done it to scale and I was just not up to doing that. Shaun actually agreed to Tyler's request to hang this in our front living room so if you happen to come over in the next few weeks you'll probably find it hanging there still. Here are some pictures. It was kind of fun to see how big the other planets are compared to each other.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "rock" planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars to scale. <br />
You can see a part of Jupiter the first gas planet too. <br />
HUGE compared to the first four planets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VQUhWwCKI/AAAAAAAABRE/FtkuwYpahxo/s1600/planets4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VQUhWwCKI/AAAAAAAABRE/FtkuwYpahxo/s320/planets4.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Gas" Planets and the non-planet Pluto. <br />
It is the tiny little gray dot you see hanging to the right of the pink planet which is Neptune.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VQPPOqzsI/AAAAAAAABRA/x_YZZUVQ2ro/s1600/planets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VQPPOqzsI/AAAAAAAABRA/x_YZZUVQ2ro/s320/planets.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the planets together to scale. Pretty cool to see the differences in sizes.<br />
Pluto the non-planet is a little tiny gray dot just to the right of the pink planet (Neptune)<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>More Science - Plants:</strong> </span><span style="color: black;">Our final current project at the moment is a Venus Flytrap. This was a request made by Austin, fulfilled by daddy and having to be upkept by mommy who has been known to kill an aloe vera plant (which I was told could not be killed!) So the poor things does not have much of a chance. But we did do some google searches on how to care for them and have made a little home for it which we hope will keep it humid and warm enough. Tyler caught herself an ant the other day and I'm sure if anyone had been watching they would have gotten a good laugh at us trying to feed the ant to the plant. I still don't think the plant got it and I have no idea where the ant ended up. Not sure I want to know either. The good news though is they apparently usually only eat once or twice a month. At first I was worried I was going to have to figure out a way to collect up insects every day for this thing. I'll keep you posted on how this little guy fares in the Smith household. It could be interesting.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VSxzcuFjI/AAAAAAAABRM/wfXFfurVXEc/s1600/Venus+flytrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VSxzcuFjI/AAAAAAAABRM/wfXFfurVXEc/s320/Venus+flytrap.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VSzBkYuaI/AAAAAAAABRQ/oBDxTrfVIoM/s1600/Venus+flytrap2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S8VSzBkYuaI/AAAAAAAABRQ/oBDxTrfVIoM/s320/Venus+flytrap2.jpg" width="240" wt="true" /></a></div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-34714113704488056302010-04-06T22:23:00.000-07:002010-04-06T22:23:49.902-07:00A Birthday Note to My Daddy!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7wWuML8HrI/AAAAAAAABQU/LzM58EhjSKM/s1600-h/Dad+&+Me+-+Jul+75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7wWuML8HrI/AAAAAAAABQU/LzM58EhjSKM/s320/Dad+&+Me+-+Jul+75.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture of Daddy & Me<br />
July 1975</td></tr>
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April 7th is a special day. Why you may ask? Well, it is because today 55 years ago the Lord put a very special man on this earth. He was just a little wrinkly, squalling baby held in his mother's arms that day, but God knew the plans He had for that baby. Plans for him to become a wonderful, strong and smart man who would raise two children of his own. <br />
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Just over 35 years ago this little baby had become a man and held in his arms for the first time a little pink bundle which would change his life forever. That little bundle was me. Daddy was young and I'm sure pretty unsure of himself, but I also know he was excited. I've heard many times the story of him driving home in the early hours of the morning with his window rolled down, yelling at anyone who was awake that he had a little girl.<br />
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I was a huge daddy's girl growing up and I still am to this day. My daddy taught me from a young age that I could do anything if I was just willing to work at it. He taught me about hard-work, honesty, love and family. He was a rock in my life when things were rough. He was the one who took me fishing and hunting. He spent hours with me and my horse Liberty when I used to compete. He was at every event my brother or I ever had and he was always cheering us on - letting us know that he thought we were the best and that he was proud of us.<br />
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And now it is our turn to be proud of him. After working at the same company for almost 35 years, my father found himself out of a job when they shut down the sawmill. Due to injuries received on the job years ago, he is not able to stay in this line of work. So they are sending him back to school At the age of 55 my dad is going back to school. This is a whole new ballgame for him. Just like 35 years ago, I know he is pretty unsure of himself. But I also know that he will jump in and do the best he can do - and I know that his "best" is going to be awesome. <br />
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So Daddy, when you read this I just want you to know that I'm very proud of you. You read that essay to me that you wrote in class the other day, the one about me and how you thought I was smart, how you were proud of me and how I've never disappointed you. Well, it was easy to do daddy, because I had a great example to follow all these years. I am who I am today because I had a wonderful daddy who has always loved me and supported me. I've never had a reason to doubt that.<br />
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So Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you and I'm very very proud of you!Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-83421945700525738752010-04-03T19:42:00.000-07:002010-04-03T19:43:48.103-07:00Resurrection Cookies - Smith House 2010I've made resurrection cookies 2 years ago with my daughter, but this year I decided to be brave and do so with all three kids. We made it through and they actually all paid attention quite well and really were excited about it. I must say I was a bit surprised when I asked what happened to Jesus before He was resurrected and my three year old popped up first to say "He died!" Now the same dear boy almost had his fingers taken off when he decided to sneak a taste from the bowl while the mixer was in it on high speed, but over all it was great.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7RLZsk2I/AAAAAAAABO8/CXtiVSKVQIw/s1600-h/IMG00080-20100403-1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7RLZsk2I/AAAAAAAABO8/CXtiVSKVQIw/s320/IMG00080-20100403-1908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys watching as I spoon out the "tombs" <br />
(Photographer: Tyler)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7lBw1IAI/AAAAAAAABP4/yM5KN3SyFMk/s1600-h/IMG00081-20100403-1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7lBw1IAI/AAAAAAAABP4/yM5KN3SyFMk/s320/IMG00081-20100403-1908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One finished sheet of our resurrection cookies. <br />
Ready to be sealed into the oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
While dishing the mixture onto the cookie sheet to make the mounds representing the tomb Jesus was buried in my daughter informed us the biggest cookie was going to be for her. I replied by asking her if that is what Easter is all about. <br />
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Austin pops up with "I want the smallest one!"<br />
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I smile and said, "I guess Austin gets the whole the last will be first concept." I was actually kind of proud of him until...<br />
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"Yep, the last will be first, which is me! And that means the first will be last, that's you!" he actually cackled after saying this while pointing to Tyler.<br />
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But I still think they got the idea of the whole thing and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to see the expressions on their faces in the morning when they open the "tomb" they sealed tonight.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7mYMEJjI/AAAAAAAABQI/equhrpiW5UU/s1600-h/IMG00082-20100403-1909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7mYMEJjI/AAAAAAAABQI/equhrpiW5UU/s320/IMG00082-20100403-1909.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting the two sheets in the oven - to be left overnight.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7oCCci2I/AAAAAAAABPM/cGvACgCAtn4/s1600-h/IMG00083-20100403-1912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S7f7oCCci2I/AAAAAAAABPM/cGvACgCAtn4/s320/IMG00083-20100403-1912.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids "sealing" the oven with tape until morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-84253941129344314182010-03-25T19:42:00.000-07:002010-03-25T19:42:56.436-07:00Lessons LearnedWhen I picked up the boys from daycare today they were playing with a big plastic bat and ball. You know, one of those huge ones that look like a flimsy plastic caveman club from the Flinstones. As one of the older boys took the bat I warned Austin to back up so he did not get hit. Of course, my dear 5 year old doesn't think Mommy knows what she's talking about. So he happily stayed right where he was and in the next moment fell down holding his cheek screaming. <br />
<br />
After some comforting and an ice pack on his red cheek we had a little talk about listening to Mommy and about not standing close to someone when they have a baseball bat in their hands. Imagine if it had been one of the t-ball bats they use for practice and games!<br />
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I told Austin to make sure in the future that he does not stand too close to anyone who is holding a bat. He agreed and I told him to listen to Mommy next time so he does not have to learn his lesson the hard way. It was quiet in the car for a few moments after this. Then I hear Austin speak up.<br />
<br />
"You know what I decided Mommy? I think it is better to learn my lessons the easy way from now on!"<br />
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Now only if he would remember and live by this. Someone I have a feeling this conviction will not be long lived though.Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-46414985662662638662010-03-21T21:41:00.000-07:002010-03-21T22:31:05.262-07:00Risk Taking according to AngYesterday was a day full of risks for me. Please don't judge me as being too pathetic.<br />
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<ul><li><strong>Lunch at a non-drive-thru restaurant with the family:</strong> Yesterday was Opening Day for Pony Baseball. Our middle child is playing t-ball this year so we all piled into the Tahoe and headed over to the ball park in the morning for the Opening Day parade and Austin's first game. After over 2 hours at a crazy ball park packed full of people we all piled back into the Tahoe and decided to have a sit down lunch at IHOP. Now this may not seem like a big deal but for our family, it is. Since the boys were born we have rarely done this. When we eat out we either go through the drive-thru or choose take out. The kids actually did pretty well. I think it may have had something to do with the fact that they were giving out pictures of Sponge Bob Square Pants for the kids to color. Austin will be the first to tell you that they are not allowed to watch this so I think they thought it was pretty cool to get to color a picture of him. After the game we went home and laid the boys down. They both swore they were not tired, but I convinced them to lay in our bed to "rest" while watching a few cartoons. It was not long after this I walked in and was greeted to this picture. <br />
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<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S6bxrQWuoeI/AAAAAAAABOI/ucjIUhVAFgo/s1600-h/post%20game%20nap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S6bxrQWuoeI/AAAAAAAABOI/ucjIUhVAFgo/s320/post%20game%20nap.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div></li>
</ul><ul></ul><ul><li><strong>Driving on E:</strong> After the game myself and three of my girlfriends had plans to go out and watch a movie and have some dinner. I rarely go out and do this. In fact, the last time I remember going out for dinner and a movie with a girlfriend was when I switched jobs three years ago! On my way to pick up one of them I realized my gas gauge was very near E. Growing up I had it put in my head that if you ever got down to half a tank it is time to gas up. I've grown out of that mentality now, probably not a good thing, but I have. Yesterday I was running a bit later than I wanted to so I decided to go for it. The good news is I made it home last night and this morning the car started no problem and I made it to a gas station.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li><strong>No Fandango:</strong> I don't go to the movies very often anymore. I have a couple girlfriends from work who "kidnap" me from work for my birthday each year. But other than that the only movies I see are 2 or 3 times a year with my daughter. I always order my tickets ahead of time on Fandango and print them. I don't want to take a chance that the movie is sold out or that I have to stand in a long line and get a bad seat or worse - I might miss the previews! But my printer is dead right now. We can make copies with it but no luck printing anything from our computers. So I decided to risk it. We got to the theater less than 30 mins before the movie started. I got my tickets and we even made a quick trip to the snack bar for soda and popcorn. AND I did not miss any of the previews!</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li><strong>Sushi:</strong> I make many people cringe because of how raw I like to eat my red meat - but I am NOT a sushi person. When I worked in internal audit and traveled the group I worked with were sushi fanatics and they always drug me along with them. I got pretty good at finding other things on the menu that I liked. I was brave once and they fed me some sushi. It was eel and was disgusting. Afterwards they admited that the eel had smelled "a little funny". Nice to know after! But last night my friends talked me into giving sushi another try. It's been almost 10 years, maybe my tastes will have changed. I did order some seared tuna just in case as a fall back (red tuna of course!). But I must say - I loved what they had me try. I think I just might have to give sushi another try.</li>
</ul>So - all in all - yesterday was a day of risks for me. But it was a wonderful day full of people who are very special to me. I really need to do this stuff more often.Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-68603315565518140592010-01-18T17:24:00.000-08:002010-01-18T17:24:17.591-08:00Science Time - VolcanoThis week we learned about mountains for Science with Austin (Kindergarten). His favorite part was the volcano we built. We found a bottle and made a mountain out of modeling clay and he searched the yard for the perfect rocks to push into the clay before it dried.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UIMQpD4bI/AAAAAAAABMs/KHrN0_TAX9Q/s1600-h/Austin%27s+Volcano+pre+eruption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UIMQpD4bI/AAAAAAAABMs/KHrN0_TAX9Q/s320/Austin%27s+Volcano+pre+eruption.jpg" /></a><br />
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Then once it was dried we mixed up the necessary ingredients and waited for it to erupt. We did not have to wait long! Austin and Jesse were both so excited to see that it actually worked. I think they were expecting something to explode into the air, but I had warned them that was not how it worked ahead of time. They were still pretty impressed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UImpKzZQI/AAAAAAAABM8/rehYHjlOswM/s1600-h/Austin%27s+Volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UImpKzZQI/AAAAAAAABM8/rehYHjlOswM/s200/Austin%27s+Volcano.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UIialL9BI/AAAAAAAABM0/mIO84hjHhBE/s1600-h/Austin%27s+Volcano+Erupting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UIialL9BI/AAAAAAAABM0/mIO84hjHhBE/s200/Austin%27s+Volcano+Erupting.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Afterwards we dumped out everything the best we could and cleaned it up. When daddy and Tyler got home we were going to try it again, but with a twist. They were surpised when it erupted BLUE lava! Austin's choice of course. Jesse is still voting for orange and I'm sure Tyler's vote would be purple.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Austin also wrote up a paper about his project so we can turn it in when we have our monthly meeting with our Supervising Teacher.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UJMQUOtVI/AAAAAAAABNE/RHooDyOUJmY/s1600-h/Austin%27s+Volcano+Paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1UJMQUOtVI/AAAAAAAABNE/RHooDyOUJmY/s400/Austin%27s+Volcano+Paper.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-50672870016866249942010-01-16T23:51:00.000-08:002010-01-16T23:54:27.714-08:00Time at the ParkToday we took a walk down to the park. It is pretty close and we should do it more often. The kids love it and it is a nice little bit of exercise. I forget how much I actually enjoy being out there walking and watching the kids run around.<br />
<br />
Was a little chilly today but within 5 minutes Tyler had her jacket off. Jesse as usual climbed up things that I really believe a 3 1/2 year old has no business climbing. Austin then tries to follow suit and part way up decides he is in over his head and I have to come to the rescue. Maybe we'll go again tomorrow if it is nice!<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures for my family and friends to enjoy. Especially those of you who don't get to see them very often. They are all growing up so fast!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tyler trying to save Jesse from falling into the "Lava"<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(we built a volcano today that we are going to set off on Monday if it is dry)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K-tSBuKxI/AAAAAAAABLU/qg8PZUOayhg/s1600-h/IMG00238-20100116-1518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K-tSBuKxI/AAAAAAAABLU/qg8PZUOayhg/s320/IMG00238-20100116-1518.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh NO! I think Jesse's toes may have gotten burned off by the "Lava"<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K-4s0zhmI/AAAAAAAABLc/-_c8bMyJWsw/s1600-h/IMG00239-20100116-1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K-4s0zhmI/AAAAAAAABLc/-_c8bMyJWsw/s320/IMG00239-20100116-1519.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tyler being dramatic and cheesy<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_Alr-qeI/AAAAAAAABLk/BtNo1dBhbdc/s1600-h/IMG00240-20100116-1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_Alr-qeI/AAAAAAAABLk/BtNo1dBhbdc/s320/IMG00240-20100116-1519.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another "Lava" rescue - Jesse looks really upset here but in reality it was all acting. He's pretty good!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_Xu2nDuI/AAAAAAAABLs/BquGfbKZhoA/s1600-h/IMG00244-20100116-1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_Xu2nDuI/AAAAAAAABLs/BquGfbKZhoA/s320/IMG00244-20100116-1520.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jesse climbing one of the things mommy thinks no 3 1/2 year old should be attempting. I'm not usually what you would consider an overprotective mom but I tend to stand close by when he insists on climbing this to get to the top of the slide. He's barley tall enough to reach from bar to bar!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_t5LfYoI/AAAAAAAABL0/gf21ltaT85g/s1600-h/IMG00242-20100116-1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_t5LfYoI/AAAAAAAABL0/gf21ltaT85g/s320/IMG00242-20100116-1519.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Austin attempting to be brave like his little brother - he's a bit nervous here and Tyler is trying to help him. He wants help but doesn't seem to trust her enough to allow her to do it.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_7qwEbQI/AAAAAAAABL8/vaz9-ptlxvo/s1600-h/IMG00241-20100116-1519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1K_7qwEbQI/AAAAAAAABL8/vaz9-ptlxvo/s320/IMG00241-20100116-1519.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the point where mom comes to the rescue and Austin practices his death grip on the bars and then mom - usually around my neck!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAJXjImUI/AAAAAAAABME/cHHvlrnQ0Is/s1600-h/IMG00243-20100116-1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAJXjImUI/AAAAAAAABME/cHHvlrnQ0Is/s320/IMG00243-20100116-1520.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice the single tear under his right eye (on our left) - he had fallen down pretty hard and scraped up his fingers. But here he is telling me it is all better - Mommy kisses heal anything!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAaMkuspI/AAAAAAAABMM/0D_gfn5uFXM/s1600-h/IMG00245-20100116-1521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAaMkuspI/AAAAAAAABMM/0D_gfn5uFXM/s320/IMG00245-20100116-1521.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slide time - of course the only one Jesse will go down is the biggest one in the park.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAlJjTe2I/AAAAAAAABMU/XHUe7LYeGxA/s1600-h/IMG00248-20100116-1521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAlJjTe2I/AAAAAAAABMU/XHUe7LYeGxA/s320/IMG00248-20100116-1521.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Austin going down the slide - this was our second attempt. The first just got a very small part of his head - he slides down this thing pretty fast!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAyZctSXI/AAAAAAAABMc/bMEzs4tpChs/s1600-h/IMG00249-20100116-1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LAyZctSXI/AAAAAAAABMc/bMEzs4tpChs/s320/IMG00249-20100116-1522.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tyler being dramatic again - there is no real fear here for her. She's been climbing this same thing making Mommy nervouse since she was about Jesse's age.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LBABvK_pI/AAAAAAAABMk/FbJYzTT1Qfs/s1600-h/IMG00250-20100116-1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/S1LBABvK_pI/AAAAAAAABMk/FbJYzTT1Qfs/s320/IMG00250-20100116-1522.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was supposed to be a Smith Kid Train but Austin got a little impatient (and a tad bit scared) waiting for everyone to get lined up together.<br />
</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-86396725384394073142010-01-09T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-09T12:47:23.646-08:00Austin's Instructions for Making MilkAt lunch today Austin instructed me in how to make milk. Here are the steps (in his words) in case you did not already know how it is done.<br />
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1. The farmer gets a bucket and puts it under the cow.<br />
2. The cow squeezes the farmer<br />
3. The farmer squeezes the cow really hard<br />
4. The cow farts<br />
5. The milk comes out<br />
6. The farmer puts the milk in the carton<br />
7. The farmer puts the milk on the shelf at the grocery store where it says 'MILK' in big letters<br />
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And that is how milk is made. All of a sudden milk is not quite as appetizing anymore after step 4.Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-38059085446625045912009-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:002009-12-30T20:01:00.475-08:00Happy Birthday to ME!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzwhM4pzg2I/AAAAAAAABLE/XzKgrSV67Vs/s1600-h/My+35th+BDay+cake.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzwhM4pzg2I/AAAAAAAABLE/XzKgrSV67Vs/s320/My+35th+BDay+cake.bmp" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today was my birthday! Growing up birthdays were a big deal and one of the perks was no chores on your birthday. I've never outgrown that mentality of birthday's being a very special day.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So today, I turned 35. I don't feel 35 - at least not most days. And very rarely do I feel that age mentally :)<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today was special, not because of anything big that happened but just because I was able to spend the day with people I care about and love.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First stop was to see my dear friend, Pearl for a new do. She does an amazing job on my hair, the only bad thing is that I don't go see her as often as I should. Not only is she my hairdresser, she is a dear friend. I spent a lovely morning treating myself to a rare cut and color and visiting with her. While there, my cousin April popped in and I was able to spend some time visiting with her as well. I don't see her as often as I would like either!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then I headed off to work where my boss and co-worker took me to lunch at Mongolian BBQ - one of my favorite restaurants. After I tried to go back to work, but she would have none of that and shoo'd me out of the building. So I decided to go see my friend Gina who was off work this week. She just got a new apartment and I spent a few hours visiting with her and another friend while helping her unpack. (I think I did more watching than actually helping, but we had fun visiting!)<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I then spent some time at Starbucks sipping on a delicious peppermint white mocha and then went in search of a book for me to treat myself too. I ended up at a little used book store in the small town I live. I've been wanting to pop into this place for awhile now, but never found the opportunity. This place was absolutely wonderful. They served me pomegrante tea and gave me a tour. I ended up with a new Ted Dekker book!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then at home I found that Shaun and Tyler had gone to <a href="http://www.icingonthecupcake.com/">Icing on the Cupcake</a> to get cupcakes for my birthday, including red velvet with cream cheese frosting. Yummy! And of course Shaun had to stuff 35 candles on the cupcakes!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I'm off to take a nice warm bubble bath and start reading my new book. What a lovely day!<br />
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</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-32758059022386565212009-12-29T11:13:00.000-08:002009-12-29T11:22:26.547-08:00Christmas 2009<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpUZNKqrrI/AAAAAAAABK8/jEIG25140ps/s1600-h/IMG00163-20091224-1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpUZNKqrrI/AAAAAAAABK8/jEIG25140ps/s320/IMG00163-20091224-1940.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Jesse with his Pillow Pet</span><br />
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</div>This Christmas was very nice. It was just us and the kids. We had spent time in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas cleaning out toys and making room for things we knew were waiting under the tree for the kids. This is the first time we've done this and it is amazing how great it was.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpUUrxTMWI/AAAAAAAABK0/7RxF67K86h8/s1600-h/17840_219323602709_617217709_2939205_6776620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpUUrxTMWI/AAAAAAAABK0/7RxF67K86h8/s320/17840_219323602709_617217709_2939205_6776620_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Tyler showing off her Lego creation</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Also, the kids did not get alot of junk this year. I don't feel like we have "stuff" all over the house like I have in past years. For the most part we had a lego Christmas and spent the morning building things with the Legos. Oh - and the motorcycle!<br />
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</div>We expected Tyler our daughter to be the daredevil who would be out on the bike every chance she got. And we expected our son, Austin to be the one to avoid it. He doesn't even like to be in the garage when Shaun starts up his Harley. But we have been surprised. Tyler wants nothing to do with the bike at this time, but Austin can't get enough. He has even had a couple mishaps already which he has just brushed off with a laugh and kept going. So now we need to get some more gear with him to keep him safe (we have training wheels on the bike right now, a helmet and gloves). And we need to take him out somewhere to really let him practice riding and getting the hang of it all.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm very happy about this. Austin is our drama child and can be extremely whiny at times. However, when he is on this bike that all flies out the door. I think this is going to be an amazing opportunity for Shaun and Austin to bond as I have been wanting them to be able to spend more time together.<br />
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Jesse of course wants to ride the bike too but at this time we only allow him to be on it with Dad. The little guy can't even touch the foot pegs very well yet! I think he'll be counting the time until he gets to ride by himself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpURaDVbPI/AAAAAAAABKs/kaPbtcHkoNM/s1600-h/17840_219747627709_617217709_2941662_5436385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzpURaDVbPI/AAAAAAAABKs/kaPbtcHkoNM/s320/17840_219747627709_617217709_2941662_5436385_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Austin's favorite "toy"</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">I am amazed at all the blessings in our family. And I'm looking forward to see what God has in store for us in the New Year.</span><br />
</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-3670648814434133732009-12-26T23:52:00.000-08:002009-12-26T23:52:25.867-08:00Austin's On-stage Debut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzcRmXuj75I/AAAAAAAABKk/XCnOwilQYFw/s1600-h/Take+a+bow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzcRmXuj75I/AAAAAAAABKk/XCnOwilQYFw/s320/Take+a+bow.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Last week Austin had his on-stage debut. He was a penguin, a very adorable one at that. We've discussed for quite some time now how he will most likely end up on stage one day so this year we signed him up at the local theater to perform in their winter/Christmas performance. <br />
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His part was not big - just one of many penguins that waddled up on stage towards the end of the 2nd act and sang a single song. I must say though he was very adorable. He practiced his penguin waddle for weeks. And mom even made his costume! For those who know me very well, I'm sure you can imagine the look of panic in my eyes when they announced that we had to make our children's costumes. But made it I did and it turned out pretty good. Thank you Lord for velcro and staples!<br />
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While we still think he'll be on stage one day, I think I'll wait another year before we sign him up at the theater again. For the little ones they have them sit with you until their cue. So they sat with us for the 1st act and most of the 2nd act for three performances over a 2 day period. He was so cute onstage, but prior to that each performance I almost lost my patience (okay, I DID lose it!). He just does not have the ability to sit still and quiet that long when he is excited about getting up on the stage. And I refused to let him just run around and disrupt other parents and grandparents who were trying to watch their precious ones onstage. Each performance we ended up in the lobby for a period of time. Given, by the third performance he was getting better though.<br />
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The first performance though was my favorite. After the kids sang their song they were to sit while the big kids did one more song before they all took their bows. After the song was done Austin stood a tad bit longer than the other penguins so he could bestow a huge dimpled smile and big wave upon the audience. All my frustration wrestling with him through the performance just melted away at that point. There is a very good reason the Lord made this one so stinking cute and funny.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzcReaWTL8I/AAAAAAAABKc/mNQfk19RqCg/s1600-h/Austin+Penguin.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/SzcReaWTL8I/AAAAAAAABKc/mNQfk19RqCg/s320/Austin+Penguin.bmp" /></a><br />
</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-35358341839632418562009-12-20T17:32:00.000-08:002009-12-20T17:32:34.768-08:00God's Little Blessings<blockquote>Grant me the patience to deal with my blessings!</blockquote><br />
This is a quote I saw for the first time a few years ago and I can so relate to it. I love my children dearly but at times I have had the urge to just run away to a cabin up in the woods with my Bible and journal for some peace and quiet.<br />
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My boys drive me crazy at times, but I know that if I was away from them for any period of time I would be missing them desparately. They make me laugh and down below all that obnoxiousness they are sweet and loving boys. I would miss Austin's sweet dimpled smile and the way he comes in at night just to give me a kiss and say he loves me (even if it is all a ploy to stay up a few minutes more!) and I would miss my "Jesse loving" - those sweet hugs and kisses that he so freely gives. And all the cuddling with my sweet little boys - I know it won't last forever and I need to cherish it now.<br />
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Today at house church Austin decorated an index card with stickers and then handed it to me and asked if I could send it to God for him. He said it was a birthday card for Jesus. <br />
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Then on the way home he asked me why nothing was new. He said that everything looked the way it had always looked and nothing was new. I was not sure at first what he was talking about but I think he must have heard something about God making all things new. His next words to me were:<br />
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"Mommy, I want things to be new cause I want to see Jesus face to face because I'm tired of not seeing him all the time!"<br />
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The dear little boy has such a big heart and has such good intentions. So - Lord, please grant me the patience to deal with my sweet, beautiful, exhausting blessings!Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-80256601143948025892009-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:002009-12-19T19:10:48.708-08:00Help! I'm talking and I can't shut up!A couple weeks ago I saw a shirt with this caption and immediately thought of Austin. When I told Shaun about the t-shirt he asked me why I did not buy it for him. I think I'm going to have to have one made up. Especially after today - the boy has talked non-stop and the thought actually crossed my mind at a few points to duct tape his mouth. I know bad mom - but I did not act on it! He seriously talks non-stop even in his sleep!<br />
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I think today he told me over a dozen times that he was going to be quiet and then barely took a breath before he was off talking about something else.<br />
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Tonight for dinner he was eating corn dogs, and it is NOT the first time he has eaten them. Not by a long shot.<br />
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"Mommy, something is <em>freaking</em> me out about this hot dog and bread mixing thing!" <br />
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This is after we had talked about having mac & cheese and hot dogs for dinner. But we realized we did not have hot dogs - Austin's solution was to pull the bread off the corn dog and then cut up the hot dogs to go in the mac & cheese. We settled with corn dogs though because he didn't want mac & cheese. (He informed me of this after his solution to the missing hot dog problem).<br />
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After this he tried to convince me that the corn dog had given him a brain freeze. But knowing him - I guess it could be possible.<br />
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For dessert he was allowed to have one piece of my homemade peppermint bark which he calls candy bark. I should have seen this one coming - <br />
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"Daddy, why do they call it candy bark when it does not actually even have real bark in it?" Good question, actually.<br />
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Wondering if I should hit the "publish" button yet - he is still awake after all - there may be more to write tonight.Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580192177195959125.post-84287283163974694752009-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:002009-12-08T19:15:06.832-08:00Christmas Lights & Green Eyed Monsters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/Sx8PB89RTOI/AAAAAAAABDg/Kj64-_suIV8/s1600-h/Green+Eyed+Monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/Sx8PB89RTOI/AAAAAAAABDg/Kj64-_suIV8/s200/Green+Eyed+Monster.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Tonight after picking up my youngest from daycare I choose to take a bit longer route through the neighboring blocks so the kids could enjoy some of the Christmas lights. Jesse gets so excited when he sees the lights "Christmas Lights! Christmas Lights!" he says over and over.<br />
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As we passed one house I noticed a brand new Camaro sitting in the driveway. I made a comment about the car and Austin asked me what a Camaro was. I told him it was the very nice car that was sitting in the driveway - one that mommy would really like to have. I told him it was a "sweet" car.<br />
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"Do you know who's going to come now Mommy?" Austin asked me.<br />
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"No, who?" I asked.<br />
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"The Green-Eyed Monster is going to come now. And you know what he is going to tell you? He is going to tell you that you can ride any car you want and that you can steal that one. But you can't listen to him Mommy! Ok?"<br />
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Wise advice from a 5 year old.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/Sx8PJJP-1sI/AAAAAAAABDo/P3I1TJd-gqg/s1600-h/Camaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qAvogivcZZQ/Sx8PJJP-1sI/AAAAAAAABDo/P3I1TJd-gqg/s320/Camaro.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Anghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14120407713130612385noreply@blogger.com1