tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26118532252532822522024-03-13T09:45:36.639-04:00the bovard family singersour story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-61446456166226525672012-11-07T22:00:00.000-05:002012-11-08T06:36:22.678-05:00max's dogsOn Sunday, we found out about the tragedy at the <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/child-killed-in-pittsburgh-zoo-exhibit-660606/">Pittsburgh Zoo.</a> The story was almost too much to handle. Naturally being parents of a child that age and having been a frequent patrons of that zoo, five minutes from our home, we couldn't help but feel shock and unbelievable sadness for this family.<br />
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However, our family's story varies from some others who are outsiders grieving. Last year Max chose these dogs as his Kindergarten animal report. During a visit to the zoo, he had fallen in love with them. We visited the zoo many times to take notes, observe their behavior, and hope to catch a zookeeper in the vicinity to chat with. Max read several books and articles about these dogs. We learned that they are one of few carnivores that care for the elderly and ill in their pack. He was especially intrigued by their communication with each other while they were hunting. They use a series of clicks and other noises to convey messages to each other in order to bring down large prey. The have an unbelievable speed that allows them to exhaust extremely large prey by outrunning them. In Africa, they are feared by farmers as predators but because of their desire to chase their prey, they are typically not a concern to trapped animals. AND typically they walk among people in Africa without bothering them at all.<br />
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Our bright, sensitive son, has been quiet for a few days. His non-quiet times have been overly emotional seemingly overtired outbursts of strange behavior. Deetch and I have been watching closely wondering, if maybe, it's been about these dogs. He has been eeking out tidbits of information, hints of sadness.<br />
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"It's not their fault, that's what wild dogs do. They are carnivores."<br />
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We were so scared about this comment. What's wrong with my six year old?<br />
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"All the kids at school keep talking to me about <i>my</i> dogs. I keep telling them it's too sad and not appropriate to talk about"<br />
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Today I asked for prayer at Bible Study...just for my sweet son who needs to find the words to express what this situation is doing to his little sweet heart.<br />
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After school today I asked him how he was and mentioned that the kids were still talking about the dogs. I asked him how he was handling it. <br />
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He said "I feel so sad for that family. I feel guilty for loving those dogs so much. I feel like it's my fault."<br />
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Throughout talking with him, I was able to figure out that he didn't feel guilty or at fault for that little boy's tragic death but for loving them even in spite of what had happened. His lip quivered throughout the conversation and he finally was able to accept that those dogs are wild and unpredictable. Being out of the environment God had created them for made them react differently than the dogs were had studied. He seemed to have a lighter heart when he finished talking but he definitely still was thinking a lot about what had happened....<br />
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Learning about how to handle your kids and teaching your kids how to handle life is my greatest challenge. Max is on a different plane than Talia. He is a thinker while she is much more carefree. Seeing his angst and sadness about this loss was incredible. How now do I teach him about compartmentalizing things and remembering sadness but not being paralyzed by it...whew. It truly never ends. But what a joy it is to know them....our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-3183410594042085912012-11-04T01:31:00.001-05:002012-11-04T01:31:23.879-05:00it's been way too long*i stopped writing in this blog regularly a while ago. i miss doing it because it was a great way to document all the great things my kids are doing. i have so much more time to keep track of them now that i'm not working but i allow dumb things to keep me from doing the FUN parts of life. . .i'm going to try to make this journal happen more often...i love reading people's blogs....why not share our life too!*<div>
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Since I last wrote seriously which I guess was the beach post....so much has happened in our neck of the woods. I was laid off at WPSD. I had been working there as a Middle School Counselor for five years and really "loving" my job a lot. I really loved the kids a lot and the teachers so much. My supervisor was really terrific. He was supportive and really kind. I enjoyed the majority of my job but there were definitely a lot of things that were, like any job, extremely grating. In spite of those things, I was devastated to be laid off. It didn't come as a huge surprise for many reasons but the pain of the termination of my job was excruciating. I don't think I recovered from the shock of it until the next school year began. However, I found myself in the new position that I had always desired to be at home with Max and Talia. </div>
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Max was beginning Kindergarten and Talia was two. It was difficult figuring out what to do with my time. What was I supposed to do with my days? I had always worked. I wasn't used to being home all day. I am not a domestic person. So I through myself into the kids. I was helping out at Max's school. I was trying to make adult play dates. Kid play dates. Anything to fill my time. I ran into so many walls. All the time I had spent building my career everyone who had been staying home was building their playgroups and friendships....there was no room for a new/old mom. It was so isolating. I felt so alone. I joined Bible Studies, book clubs, anything to find my fit. I was volunteering trying to do anything....it was really difficult. I didn't have any friends that were at home during the day. Everyone was carrying on with their lives.</div>
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Max was doing half day Kindergarten so we did so many trips after school. We would visit museums, playgrounds, parks, and our pool. We did so many crafts and library trips. It was a great year for the three of us for learning and growing closer together but I really missed adult interaction. Chris would come home from work and call me his puppy. He said I would jump on him and talk to him non-stop for hours on end until he was exhausted. He is an introvert so I'm sure he was ready to pass out when he walked through the door and my hyper activity was the last thing he needed. =/</div>
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When the Spring finally came, I had gotten us into a decent schedule and felt more developed. I had made some friendships at Max's school with some mom's in his class and then became more connected. By the summer we all were grounded and my security and identity were definitely back on track. I had lost all sense of myself with that loss and allowed it to dent my confidence. </div>
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During the Summer we were crazy. My sister had a huge surgery on her brain tumor which was a huge success. Then we went on a life changing camping family retreat where my family was able to serve and minister to other families. Max went to overnight camp for the first time. Max joined the swim team and earned the MVP. He also plays soccer and tennis. Talia just started dance class and she totally loves it. We are constantly so mesmerized by the hilarious stuff they are saying. Max is so smart. He's reading so well and he loves doing math work. He's fascinated by lightening and wants to learn how to harness it for electricity. Talia is so hilarious. I was talking to her about learning to fingerknit and she said "will it make my fingers bleed?" Small snippet of my daily life. </div>
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I have no hard feelings (any more) towards WPSD. What a huge favor they did for me...they gave me my life to enjoy. Pure joy. </div>
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our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-78099901410942197282012-03-14T14:17:00.003-04:002012-03-14T14:30:39.297-04:00"mama, i had a dream"it's 2:17 pm. i am sitting inside, i'm not sure why...because it's officially the most perfect day we have had in months. i suppose i'm waiting for talia to fall asleep. she has been laying down for almost 18 minutes and said "i had a dream". she uses this as a lure to get me to come and lay with her. we pray and she falls asleep. she is magical to me. i never wanted a daughter. it was the princess thing. the drama factor. teaching someone about their period. ~ugh.~ but she has swept me off of my feet. she sings "the wizard of oz" at the top of her lungs. she tells stories that start with "once upon a time" and end with someone dying from being farted on (obviously her brother's influence). she makes plastic jewelry look regal. she is everything i didn't realize i always wanted in a daughter. <div><br /></div><div>not to mention she loves me. she kisses me. she makes me feel so great. after all it is all about me right? <div><br /></div><div>"mommy?" she just called me....she needs me. she hates napping. she wants to be with me all the time. dishes. laundry. painting. organizing. cleaning...she may not recognize that being done. </div><div>she's out of bed now. </div><div>"talia, what?" </div><div>"i'm going potty." </div><div>"you went before you got into bed"</div><div>"uhm"</div><div>"are you pooping?"</div><div>"yes...."</div><div>......silence.......</div><div>"mama i pooooooop"</div><div><br /></div><div>oh, i hope this here internet is arahnd til her weddin'. i wanna read it durin' her toast!</div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-73929013501964860432012-03-12T23:32:00.002-04:002012-03-13T00:02:54.882-04:00it's been (almost) two years....i used to love this thing...and i've dropped it like a bad habit...my camera is totally tweaky right now and desperately needs a tune up so there will be no pictures of my lovely babes today...<div><br /></div><div>i read an article tonite in this magazine that chris got as a gift about a "pill" to help you forget things you want to forget. it was not a pill but really a therapeutic approach about reliving the event in order to avoid PTSD. reliving the event thru aggressive direct questioning. the approach was not successful with burn victims at all and actually caused more trauma than those who did not undergo that counseling approach. it was successful for EMS workers who had seen terrible sights in car accidents and other rescues that haunted them long after...</div><div><br /></div><div>it got me to thinking about the traumas that were reoccurring in my own life. how those that i was able to process through with my friends, family, chris...do not haunt me. so many i have let those go. after i brought them into the Light. i gave them as much detail as necessary for me to heal from them...and they were gone. for me, i talk right away. i don't hold things in. . .they need to come out. but those few deep hurts. the ones that i CAN'T share. </div><div><br /></div><div>the-too-embarrassing-to-tell-anyone-secrets. </div><div><br /></div><div>those ones.....those are the ones that pop up again. those are the ones that make me empathic as a counselor. but that also holds me prisoner in a place of unrest and unforgiveness. i remember the names of those that have hurt me. i remember the places and the words and the actions. i wish there was a pill to take that away. </div><div><br /></div><div>everyday i am closer to finding that through the unfailing, unconditional Love that says their words are not My words. their words were pain filled hurting words. My words are perfect Life giving words. and i remember how many times <i>my </i>words have been so destructive and so tearing down and people have probably had to forgive me. . .<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-49385661730980651712010-07-31T05:12:00.003-04:002010-07-31T05:20:04.924-04:00bittersweet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/TFPpzPMWvKI/AAAAAAAABsA/HdjNEqcIF9Y/s1600/P7103762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/TFPpzPMWvKI/AAAAAAAABsA/HdjNEqcIF9Y/s320/P7103762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499996636410461346" /></a>we are heading to my family's vacation spot. the greatest place on earth. this was taken two years ago when we all were together. this year it's minus one. chris isn't coming with us because he has a busy time at work. he's sacrificing his vacation for the good of our family. what a babe! <div><br /></div><div>this blog will (hopefully) be updated daily so we can let him know what's going on with us...it's hilarious, i've been so emotional about everything and he's living the life of a bachelor and loving it. i'm sure he misses us but i'm sure the guitar music, junk food, and beer are flowing like milk and honey. (i'm not making assumptions, i checked the bank account before i did this)</div><div><br /></div><div>we love you bub...sooooo much!</div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-31497387740130162802010-04-25T23:50:00.004-04:002010-04-26T06:42:11.541-04:00"'but somewhere in my youth or childhood, i must have done something good"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S9UOSAh09qI/AAAAAAAABq8/ry61eIESC9o/s1600/_3303979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S9UOSAh09qI/AAAAAAAABq8/ry61eIESC9o/s320/_3303979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464289425426282146" /></a>we've had a really fun spring. nothing overly remarkable but having the weather be so lovely for so long has been just amazing. we are making some fun plans for the summer. we want to put a deck on the house and get a swingset. so lots of fun things to look forward to. <div><br /></div><div>the most amazing things have been the kids naturally. max is signing so much now. tonite he sat down on my lap and signed "color-what?" (voice off) and pointed to a bunch of different things in the room. he really loves using ASL when he knows what to say. he enjoys it so much. he's getting closer to reading everyday. he totally gets phonics and knows it well but english is such a tricky language...he gets a bit frustrated. he loves star wars and tom and jerry. he plays with his ds as much as he can but would drop all of those things to play outside with his beloved nina. he is developing more and more friendships that he talks about often. he is becoming so dynamic and interesting. he loves to chat and i love listening to him. at times, it's really overwhelming and tough to follow but he's delightful. </div><div><br /></div><div>little miss T. our joy. our smiley little princess. she cries a lot easier than max ever did but somehow it's working out ok. she's so adventurous. she climbs on everything. she LOVES playing outside. she wakes up and walks straight to the door. she is signing too. she signs "more", "milk", "want", "sleep", and she says "yesh"--(yes). she hugs her babies so hard and then throws them down. she loves cooking and pouring tea. max has shown her to pour hot tea on people to get a reaction. it's funny. she laughs from her gut all the time. she loves reading...FINALLY. she has never seen baby shows. she disregards TV. she rips books like she's paid to do it. she LOVES me! i love how snugly she is. she puts her head on my shoulder as soon as i pick her up. she buries her head in my neck and just lays there. every morning we lay in bed together and chat. </div><div><br /></div><div>~and of course our honorary kid nina....she has been with us since the beginning so she often feels like ours. she is such a girl...she loves everything pink and frilly. she loves shoes and she is very matter-of-fact--"jessa, that's not the way i always do it!" she likes to wear her hair in a messy bun/ponytail like me--who'd thought someone would WANT that?? it's my fallback. :) she loves people a lot. she treats talia like a little queen. she is bright and sharp and is max's best friend. ~</div><div><br /></div><div>not excluding sasha...she's a babe too...she wasn't in the picture though...</div><div><br /></div><div>i was singing my title tonite to T as i was putting her down...from "the sound of music" --and of course, started crying, i love this little family i have so much more than i can explain on a silly blog. but i'm so grateful that they're mine. </div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-71346120090394137402010-04-05T23:15:00.003-04:002010-04-05T23:41:50.201-04:00spring breakthe best part about working at a school is the breaks. we had a really great time. i had to work on the first monday but we had such a great week. i took very few pictures during the week. i'll post them later. <div><br /></div><div>spring cleaning~celebrating easter on palm sunday with my family~we went to the zoo with carly to celebrate her 35th birthday~we went to johnstown for a day~we threw a shower for stacy's baby vickboy~threw a 35th birthday party~had two egg hunts~a scavenger hunt~played outside for countless hours with friends~had a couple fires~dyed eggs twice~opened three easter baskets (each kid had three)~stayed up past 3am for two nights with amazing friends~caught up on greys anatomy~read a great book~laughed with my kids~rejoiced with dear friends and their third child's birth~sighed a huge sigh of relief when a friend had an ALMOST tragedy~watched chris play surprisingly well in a soccer game~and most recently dealt with sick kids~i'm sure there was more...but i don't remember...what a surprise!</div><div><br /></div><div>we had a fabulous time and i love the crap out of them. </div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-85361379132243553532010-02-22T00:26:00.002-05:002010-02-22T00:45:48.903-05:00fun weekend with nina<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWi9V5gKI/AAAAAAAABqw/a-AjRseemnc/s1600-h/maxntal1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWi9V5gKI/AAAAAAAABqw/a-AjRseemnc/s320/maxntal1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440936089654755490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">francine, hereafter referred to as MIL (just kidding i hate that stuff)</div><div style="text-align: center;">gets professional pics taken of the kids, bc we don't. we love snapshots and have over 5000 pictures of them. so why invest into something contrived? (our opinion)</div><div style="text-align: center;">so she takes them...they are always so cute...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWi-KMfmI/AAAAAAAABqo/5gGgh9uH7fA/s1600-h/_2203143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWi-KMfmI/AAAAAAAABqo/5gGgh9uH7fA/s320/_2203143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440936089874103906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">this picture is the reason i posted something tonite. this is the bottom of the archway btn the dining room and living room. there is a blue mouse hole there that i put up months ago for max. he LOVES tom and jerry. A LOT! we limit their TV watching ~probably more than necessary~ but he zonks out and becomes a drone if he is given the opportunity to watch TV...so we watch just a little bit a day. he always picks tom and jerry. we watch star wars the cartoon, together at night sometimes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so today someone knocked the mouse hole off of the wall. he asked for tape, we were out so he found the duck (duct?) tape and fixed it. it wasn't until later that i saw how he fixed it. i love that he didn't want it to be perfect, he simply wanted it back up. when i made it, we were out of black paper. it had to be blue. i was disappointed. he, on the other hand, hugged me when he found it after his nap. he was delighted. now, seeing the tape like this, in my goofy ways, i went to fix the hole and put the tape behind it. hide the repair work, but i left it. he fixed it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">and now it's perfect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BOUNCE U</div><div style="text-align: center;">super fun place. we took max on his actual birthday. he loved it. nina loved. </div><div style="text-align: center;">tonite a friend had his birthday there. up late bouncing and eating cake...</div><div style="text-align: center;">is there a better way to spend a friday night?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWiRaHhZI/AAAAAAAABqg/zUv2ap5N41Q/s1600-h/_2193118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWiRaHhZI/AAAAAAAABqg/zUv2ap5N41Q/s320/_2193118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440936077861291410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWJWgwYHI/AAAAAAAABqY/6y_RxKOc7O0/s1600-h/_2193103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWJWgwYHI/AAAAAAAABqY/6y_RxKOc7O0/s320/_2193103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440935649734582386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWJFxd_FI/AAAAAAAABqQ/06tD_9FJWMA/s1600-h/_2193122_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWJFxd_FI/AAAAAAAABqQ/06tD_9FJWMA/s320/_2193122_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440935645241277522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWIoNW07I/AAAAAAAABqI/fQ_KILN83Mw/s1600-h/_2193092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWIoNW07I/AAAAAAAABqI/fQ_KILN83Mw/s320/_2193092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440935637305185202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max has finally agreed to marry her. </div><div style="text-align: center;">i think it's because she loves to WATCH <i>HIM </i>play video games and doesn't request a turn.</div><div style="text-align: center;">that's the life.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWIYTurhI/AAAAAAAABqA/4Xf_tI1g20c/s1600-h/_2173081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWIYTurhI/AAAAAAAABqA/4Xf_tI1g20c/s320/_2173081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440935633036946962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">apparently, my SIL erin, was nicknamed "erin danger" when she was talia's age. adventurous and fun loving, my favorite story was how she walked right into the pool, clothes on and everything during chris' swim lessons when he was six, she was one! my MIL said that she sunk straight to the bottom and was staring up at her from the pool floor. obviously she's fine but she really gave them a run for their money. that's how talia is. i never strapped max into the cart at the store. he just sat and observed. when she was seven months old, i turned for a minute at the checkout line and she was sitting on the conveyer belt. she's constantly up the stairs, climbing on shelves, up on tables....tonite, she figured out how to get on the couch. she's WILD. she also can cry real tears when you disagree with her plan. she's really good at getting people wrapped around her little finger and then raking them over the coals. she's so sweet though...you can't help but squeeze her...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWH281YTI/AAAAAAAABp4/xgIKcT8NmE4/s1600-h/_2153070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S4IWH281YTI/AAAAAAAABp4/xgIKcT8NmE4/s320/_2153070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440935624082546994" /></a>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-84017197827331300662010-02-13T21:20:00.003-05:002010-02-13T21:35:52.464-05:00another year passes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3dedtaH_NI/AAAAAAAABpw/CUt1dAlSFWk/s1600-h/_1192866.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3dedtaH_NI/AAAAAAAABpw/CUt1dAlSFWk/s320/_1192866.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437918939571551442" /></a>i have these people in my life. they are small and have changed my life. their birthdays are one month apart and seeing them become older little people has been very emotional. talia turning one and max turning four were both ....well, emotional for me.<div><br /></div><div>as cliche as it is, i didn't know i could love people like this. they both have taken complete control of my heart. sometimes i hold them so hard that they squeak. i get angry with them and a simple look from them of sadness about my displeasure brings me to my knees. i am changed. i have become a mother and the process has changed me. </div><div><br /></div><div>as full of fault as chris and i are, somehow the best of us has been passed on to them. i feel so incredibly blessed just to know them. </div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-66940983576246088402010-02-10T21:58:00.002-05:002010-02-10T22:18:25.275-05:00my strong willed gal<div style="text-align: center;">talia eve bovard</div><div style="text-align: center;">i know that you shouldn't compare your children but it's impossible not to a little bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">max was easy like sunday morning. he always seemed to know right from wrong at a very young age. he never pushed the limits. he just knew somehow...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzU1GcjNI/AAAAAAAABpo/QZMm0G7YOi4/s1600-h/_2082992.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzUayTVtI/AAAAAAAABpg/oEtDmPzayVU/s1600-h/_2093014_2.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;">then there's this one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">so smiley, so sweet, so loving, but WOW!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzT3MDHgI/AAAAAAAABpY/eLrxr3HC0xU/s1600-h/_2083010_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzT3MDHgI/AAAAAAAABpY/eLrxr3HC0xU/s320/_2083010_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436815960235515394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">tonite, she wasn't hungry. we had french toast, which she loves...but for whatever reason,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she wasn't hungry. i thought she was eating slowly-then i caught her.</div><div style="text-align: center;">she was shoving the pieces ~very slowly~ down beside her in her chair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">when caught she smiled. i asked her to pick them up and she did. then she cried. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzTp_0X_I/AAAAAAAABpQ/r0F-P4iuDLo/s1600-h/_2083009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzTp_0X_I/AAAAAAAABpQ/r0F-P4iuDLo/s320/_2083009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436815956694556658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">see her little barrette- not a great picture.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzTKl9S4I/AAAAAAAABpI/yvzV90fonyM/s1600-h/_2083003_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzTKl9S4I/AAAAAAAABpI/yvzV90fonyM/s320/_2083003_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436815948264590210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">her favorite spot. in this chair reading. hilarious.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzUayTVtI/AAAAAAAABpg/oEtDmPzayVU/s1600-h/_2093014_2.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzUayTVtI/AAAAAAAABpg/oEtDmPzayVU/s320/_2093014_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436815969791203026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">here's my other wild thing...LOVE them both.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S3NzU1GcjNI/AAAAAAAABpo/QZMm0G7YOi4/s320/_2082992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436815976855014610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-5206484423384328972010-01-23T23:23:00.006-05:002010-01-23T23:48:33.006-05:00christmas in review --there is another new one below<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i hope they always adore each other the way they do now. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM5CpajJI/AAAAAAAABo4/2W70F9-U8os/s1600-h/_C292555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM5CpajJI/AAAAAAAABo4/2W70F9-U8os/s320/_C292555.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430159056060451986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">i'd definitely take 2 of her.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM4j1DKpI/AAAAAAAABow/5lij9XT0fYQ/s1600-h/_C292547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM4j1DKpI/AAAAAAAABow/5lij9XT0fYQ/s320/_C292547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430159047787752082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">my mom bought them these "guido" outfits...they </div><div style="text-align: center;">actual shine in the light.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM4C04baI/AAAAAAAABoo/iFZ5y9keeHM/s1600-h/_C302593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM4C04baI/AAAAAAAABoo/iFZ5y9keeHM/s320/_C302593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430159038928678306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">LOVE this picture...he's hard core.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM36SkIrI/AAAAAAAABog/zznI_EppapQ/s1600-h/_C262500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM36SkIrI/AAAAAAAABog/zznI_EppapQ/s320/_C262500.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430159036637258418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">we went sledding at night and she had like 14 layers on. </div><div style="text-align: center;">she didn't make a peep. she had a great time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">we were at a friend's grandparent's house, </div><div style="text-align: center;">perfect hill. </div><div style="text-align: center;">we went in for hot chocolate and</div><div style="text-align: center;">the grandma said to max "make yourself at home"</div><div style="text-align: center;">he started jumping on their couch.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i glared at him and he sat down, muttering, </div><div style="text-align: center;">"i do that at home. what the heck?"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM3_niSfI/AAAAAAAABoY/XjIOy2E24mE/s1600-h/_C292537.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vM3_niSfI/AAAAAAAABoY/XjIOy2E24mE/s320/_C292537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430159038067395058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">happy birthday jesus cake</div><div style="text-align: center;">IMPOSSIBLE to get them all to look--forget smiling...</div><div style="text-align: center;">just 8 eyes on the camera would be a success</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMJVSGUMI/AAAAAAAABoQ/WQN_xkVKsrY/s1600-h/_C242468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMJVSGUMI/AAAAAAAABoQ/WQN_xkVKsrY/s320/_C242468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430158236429209794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">never in the history of time has a one year old child been </div><div style="text-align: center;">so grateful for</div><div style="text-align: center;">a gift. we didn't buy her anything and my parent's</div><div style="text-align: center;"> bought her a</div><div style="text-align: center;">playhouse for the yard. when she got her first gift,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> she held it and stared at it</div><div style="text-align: center;">for soooo long. she just looked grateful for </div><div style="text-align: center;">someone thinking of her...hilarious</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMJBoRhMI/AAAAAAAABoI/FsaKBzHqqlQ/s1600-h/_C242437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMJBoRhMI/AAAAAAAABoI/FsaKBzHqqlQ/s320/_C242437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430158231153509570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">my family</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMI9b-k1I/AAAAAAAABoA/Cm_1PLSgtvs/s1600-h/_C232418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 127px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMI9b-k1I/AAAAAAAABoA/Cm_1PLSgtvs/s320/_C232418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430158230028194642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max's school production...HUUUUGE meltdown before the show. </div><div style="text-align: center;">we bribed him</div><div style="text-align: center;">with an early christmas gift and he promised to "sing his heart out". </div><div style="text-align: center;">the girl in front of him</div><div style="text-align: center;">was a wild gesturer and he was overwhelmed by her. </div><div style="text-align: center;">as he came down to his seat, </div><div style="text-align: center;">he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">"that wasn't so bad"</div><div style="text-align: center;">we said, "here's your nerf gun!"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMIrWN5II/AAAAAAAABn4/hLSzdwKX5EE/s1600-h/_C172358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMIrWN5II/AAAAAAAABn4/hLSzdwKX5EE/s320/_C172358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430158225172194434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">last but definitely not least, this is max on the</div><div style="text-align: center;">polar express</div><div style="text-align: center;">we went with friends/neighbors to ohio to ride a train </div><div style="text-align: center;">intended to look like the polar express. </div><div style="text-align: center;">a bit overpriced.... </div><div style="text-align: center;">i was looking out the window</div><div style="text-align: center;">at the "north pole" thinking </div><div style="text-align: center;">"wow, this looks a lot like blawnox"</div><div style="text-align: center;">when he looked up at me and said</div><div style="text-align: center;">"i'm really glad we came here. i'm having so much fun."</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was fun...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMIbc5x0I/AAAAAAAABnw/QfjzOrmZeko/s1600-h/_C102326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vMIbc5x0I/AAAAAAAABnw/QfjzOrmZeko/s320/_C102326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430158220905269058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">thanks for reading...leave a comment so i know i still have a fan base...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-20023573887567758062010-01-23T22:47:00.004-05:002010-01-23T23:22:59.228-05:00oh blog, it's been waaaay too long...<div>i remember when life was simple, pre-talia, i could blog while max played or after i put him to sleep at night. now that we have miss T, life has dramatically changed. (for the better, that goes without saying, but i will). </div><div><br /></div><div>as most of you know, we have not been hurting for snow at all in pittsburgh. we have seen a lot of accumulation here...it's been lovely. i am a sun worshipper and despise being cold, wet, snowy and i now know that i felt that way because of how quickly snow melted here. grey days with dirty snow are the winters that i remember. this year, it rarely stopped snowing for days and seeing the windy, tree filled roads that we live near covered with snow was gorgeous. it's all gone now and i'm not upset at all....today was GORGEOUS!! it was warm and sunny--we needed LIGHT jackets...no hats and gloves...lovely...global warming my butt...glaciers formed and are still around on the three rivers...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">a sunny day after the snow finally slowed down</div><div style="text-align: center;">our home</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDcAjJqRI/AAAAAAAABno/Ltf2AoaL_Fk/s1600-h/_1082836.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDcAjJqRI/AAAAAAAABno/Ltf2AoaL_Fk/s320/_1082836.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430148661676452114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">my boys are camping out tonite...watching "star wars, the clone wars"</div><div style="text-align: center;">as of right now, 11:21, he is still awake...ugh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDcO6h7oI/AAAAAAAABng/TQlS1A2F118/s1600-h/_1222897.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDcO6h7oI/AAAAAAAABng/TQlS1A2F118/s320/_1222897.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430148665532608130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max is like me...LOVES sledding and playing in the snow for a SHORT while</div><div style="text-align: center;">he said and i quote...</div><div style="text-align: center;">"mama, i can't WAIT to swim!"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbzFQBDI/AAAAAAAABnY/1M0PFLZTqrg/s1600-h/_1072807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbzFQBDI/AAAAAAAABnY/1M0PFLZTqrg/s320/_1072807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430148658061378610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">talia loved the snow and played outside for over an hour. she stands at the door and begs to go out...she doesn't mind rain, snow, sleet, or hail---perhaps she'll be a mail-woman.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbpJ2l-I/AAAAAAAABnQ/UmaXtB92biQ/s1600-h/_1072810.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbpJ2l-I/AAAAAAAABnQ/UmaXtB92biQ/s320/_1072810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430148655396329442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"i'm the pittsburgh jedi"</div><div style="text-align: center;">that's what he says...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbJKmejI/AAAAAAAABnI/UYneovPMktQ/s1600-h/_1072827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/S1vDbJKmejI/AAAAAAAABnI/UYneovPMktQ/s320/_1072827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430148646809532978" /></a>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-62984311200861545112009-12-14T01:44:00.002-05:002009-12-14T02:09:28.326-05:00christmas, christmas time is near....<div>well, friends it's been way too long. i just took my math final (LAME) so i'm up exceptionally late this evening. we have had a really great couple months. lots of fun things and watching my talia grow from a baby to a walker...she's right there...she'll be one in two and a half weeks...my baby....</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgY14CAaI/AAAAAAAABm8/Bg_2E_BQDyw/s1600-h/_B202133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgY14CAaI/AAAAAAAABm8/Bg_2E_BQDyw/s320/_B202133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414980844366463394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max loves these jumpers...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgYeiRwXI/AAAAAAAABm0/WYAvzlN4yVA/s1600-h/_B192106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgYeiRwXI/AAAAAAAABm0/WYAvzlN4yVA/s320/_B192106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414980838101205362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">perhaps you'll remember this from a few years past</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgYBCt2eI/AAAAAAAABms/J0BTqpxmgkY/s1600-h/_B021649.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgYBCt2eI/AAAAAAAABms/J0BTqpxmgkY/s320/_B021649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414980830184200674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"mama, look i got some boobies!"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgX52NCPI/AAAAAAAABmk/WoDG4frieIc/s1600-h/_B071800.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgX52NCPI/AAAAAAAABmk/WoDG4frieIc/s320/_B071800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414980828252670194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">chris and i are not emphasizing santa claus that much because we really want the holiday to be focused around Jesus' birth. well, along the same time that we decided to down play st nick, we started to talk about a "pez fairy" that comes at night and fills his pez containers...this is yoda, he's broken now...but we are starting a collection...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgXkTyh2I/AAAAAAAABmc/4_bIN-pDavY/s1600-h/_B252190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SyXgXkTyh2I/AAAAAAAABmc/4_bIN-pDavY/s320/_B252190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414980822471182178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">merry christmas!!!!</span></span></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-10763028618829320982009-09-30T23:22:00.003-04:002009-09-30T23:34:43.227-04:00proud mama<div style="text-align: center;">my corner office</div><div style="text-align: center;">*i wish i had better pics. it's a great place to work*</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SsQhqmA7lmI/AAAAAAAABk0/b33ehJfzfAs/s1600-h/_9191197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SsQhqmA7lmI/AAAAAAAABk0/b33ehJfzfAs/s320/_9191197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387468069884630626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"mom dad</div><div style="text-align: center;">talia xam"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SsQhqR5PFSI/AAAAAAAABks/FddkWNvYN58/s1600-h/_9191195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SsQhqR5PFSI/AAAAAAAABks/FddkWNvYN58/s320/_9191195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387468064483644706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> this blog is VERY braggy...from a proud mama</span></div>a few months ago, around when talia was born, max started becoming obsessed with writing letters. then his name. he loves phonics too. he gets frustrated with "c's" that say "kuh" and other things like that but he loves to write and asks me to spell things all the time. i phonetically sounded out "happy birthday" and he wrote it all, the "th" needed some help but it was incredible. we never even practiced writing his letters. we have magnets and toys, blocks and stuffed letters. he just one day decided to write...it's amazing to see him become BIG! i thought i would show a sample of his writing as well as a picture of my office at work...he loves to play there and as one of our interns commented, "what kid wouldn't want to". since i'm working on my play therapy certification, i have all sorts of great toys, a sandbox, mirrors, books, chalkboard, and loooots of craft stuff....he always wants to come to work with me. he would love it there and of course, they would love him....<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-70249778919531755202009-08-23T11:56:00.010-04:002009-08-23T13:25:31.049-04:00whatta summer!!!<div style="text-align: center;">as fall approaches, it is bittersweet. i am headed back to school tomorrow...ugh. max begins preschool in sept. but there is so much to look forward to with the changing seasons. namely sweaters, leaves, playing outside in the crisp change, the time change, and ultimately the holidays...and besides, once christmas comes...summer is right around the corner...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">here is a small summary of our summer...last week, my dad got us tickets to idlewild for the rest of the season AND next year...what a great way to end the summer. they are open on weekends until october...who knew??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">with the changing of the seasons, comes a change in attitude for me. more on that to come...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4aS_tR1I/AAAAAAAABjw/ttBvbycxDy8/s1600-h/_8130635.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">idlewild park</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">such a fun place...and another pool to use!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1WXPZoLI/AAAAAAAABi4/4fOjz-kQpTU/s1600-h/_8140789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1WXPZoLI/AAAAAAAABi4/4fOjz-kQpTU/s320/_8140789.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204857485893810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1WPwCASI/AAAAAAAABiw/O6jYx-jrnow/s1600-h/_8140768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1WPwCASI/AAAAAAAABiw/O6jYx-jrnow/s320/_8140768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204855475274018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF02EqKXEI/AAAAAAAABio/FzO2iIhj6c8/s1600-h/_8140721.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF02EqKXEI/AAAAAAAABio/FzO2iIhj6c8/s320/_8140721.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204302742051906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">swimming</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the most common activity of our summer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">as much as weather would allow</div><div style="text-align: center;">my babies are so gorgeous when sun kissed </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF015l_KEI/AAAAAAAABig/hiqZC968Xz8/s1600-h/_7260123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF015l_KEI/AAAAAAAABig/hiqZC968Xz8/s320/_7260123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204299771750466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF01YoeC5I/AAAAAAAABiY/wkezyO7j30Q/s1600-h/_8070448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF01YoeC5I/AAAAAAAABiY/wkezyO7j30Q/s320/_8070448.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204290923793298" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4ZxiP6vI/AAAAAAAABjg/jlvO8Xi8uVI/s1600-h/_7260110.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4ZxiP6vI/AAAAAAAABjg/jlvO8Xi8uVI/s320/_7260110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373208214618761970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF01BdFrEI/AAAAAAAABiQ/Nu9u-Gs5JDk/s1600-h/_8070478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF01BdFrEI/AAAAAAAABiQ/Nu9u-Gs5JDk/s320/_8070478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204284702043202" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">the beach</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">nothing is better than going on vacation to the beach. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">the ride down wasn't bad...the ride home i almost drove off a cliff. ROUGH!</div><div style="text-align: center;">that being said, it was a fun week. a lot of sun, no pressure to clean, cook, etc.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFuhdpTMRI/AAAAAAAABiA/UQ01imq0Sjk/s1600-h/_7210023.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFuhdpTMRI/AAAAAAAABiA/UQ01imq0Sjk/s320/_7210023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373197351602303250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFug5X6a-I/AAAAAAAABh4/JjaRHJeIwDM/s1600-h/_7219983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFug5X6a-I/AAAAAAAABh4/JjaRHJeIwDM/s320/_7219983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373197341865700322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFugpe3W8I/AAAAAAAABhw/IMIUKuylPqk/s1600-h/_7210017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFugpe3W8I/AAAAAAAABhw/IMIUKuylPqk/s320/_7210017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373197337599892418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFugGqimRI/AAAAAAAABho/fBseJRpo1Uk/s1600-h/_7210011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFugGqimRI/AAAAAAAABho/fBseJRpo1Uk/s320/_7210011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373197328253622546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">best of friends</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">right now, all they have is love for each other</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">once she's mobile, hopefully that will continue</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFuf2oNDmI/AAAAAAAABhg/e2m-yoYfXCg/s1600-h/_7219998.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFuf2oNDmI/AAAAAAAABhg/e2m-yoYfXCg/s320/_7219998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373197323948854882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt74Uzc_I/AAAAAAAABhY/PMNs7lq0FNM/s1600-h/_8110571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt74Uzc_I/AAAAAAAABhY/PMNs7lq0FNM/s320/_8110571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373196705929065458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt7ayVpfI/AAAAAAAABhQ/wcOOVBUNVok/s1600-h/_8110566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt7ayVpfI/AAAAAAAABhQ/wcOOVBUNVok/s320/_8110566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373196697999877618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">fun with friends</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt7FWnJHI/AAAAAAAABhI/7CB7gFFOr8I/s1600-h/_8080500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt7FWnJHI/AAAAAAAABhI/7CB7gFFOr8I/s320/_8080500.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373196692246439026" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1Wwt3GJI/AAAAAAAABjA/Gbkab9AkLp0/s1600-h/_6309351.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1Wwt3GJI/AAAAAAAABjA/Gbkab9AkLp0/s320/_6309351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204864324540562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtLd5_XbI/AAAAAAAABgo/mZRNJUrkoJ0/s320/_7260091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195874203557298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtLpkAB0I/AAAAAAAABgw/bMpfmT3CV4c/s1600-h/_7260100.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtLpkAB0I/AAAAAAAABgw/bMpfmT3CV4c/s1600-h/_7260100.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtK3aJWwI/AAAAAAAABgg/8uJIPc3jHOY/s1600-h/_7129661.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtK3aJWwI/AAAAAAAABgg/8uJIPc3jHOY/s320/_7129661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195863869446914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsciVV5pI/AAAAAAAABgA/s7WjJhEOGAg/s1600-h/_7039503.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsciVV5pI/AAAAAAAABgA/s7WjJhEOGAg/s320/_7039503.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195067938170514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtKJIdozI/AAAAAAAABgQ/mi0LsyIJ0pQ/s1600-h/_7039450.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtKJIdozI/AAAAAAAABgQ/mi0LsyIJ0pQ/s320/_7039450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195851447247666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4aPeFHsI/AAAAAAAABjo/mzn303LrJeA/s320/_8130675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373208222654340802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">bike and scooter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">max learned to ride both and we spent A LOT of time on both</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt6h5r2vI/AAAAAAAABhA/G2hiteRZNn0/s1600-h/_7139779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt6h5r2vI/AAAAAAAABhA/G2hiteRZNn0/s320/_7139779.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373196682729872114" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt6NR6juI/AAAAAAAABg4/yQdrKRR2w_c/s1600-h/_7139756.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFt6NR6juI/AAAAAAAABg4/yQdrKRR2w_c/s320/_7139756.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373196677194354402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">planets</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he has become so obsessed with space. he knows</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">all the planets and some facts about each. we are getting</div><div style="text-align: center;">a telescope for christmas. he found this at a playground </div><div style="text-align: center;">and started telling kids about planets...they weren't interested.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtLpkAB0I/AAAAAAAABgw/bMpfmT3CV4c/s1600-h/_7260100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtLpkAB0I/AAAAAAAABgw/bMpfmT3CV4c/s320/_7260100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195877332551490" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">blueberry pickin'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtKXT3_HI/AAAAAAAABgY/6EHyDu7KBZY/s1600-h/_7129637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFtKXT3_HI/AAAAAAAABgY/6EHyDu7KBZY/s320/_7129637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195855253208178" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">fourth of july</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">we stayed at the hilton, we felt spoiled! it will be our family</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">tradition from now on. it was so great not having to go through traffic to get home. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4ZqO0YZI/AAAAAAAABjY/twTlOSRSIBk/s1600-h/_7129729.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4ZqO0YZI/AAAAAAAABjY/twTlOSRSIBk/s320/_7129729.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373208212658217362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsccB8rQI/AAAAAAAABf4/v_IkDRBFmbg/s1600-h/_7039434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsccB8rQI/AAAAAAAABf4/v_IkDRBFmbg/s320/_7039434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195066246212866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFscMRE4pI/AAAAAAAABfw/iZFPAWh3KcA/s1600-h/_7039396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFscMRE4pI/AAAAAAAABfw/iZFPAWh3KcA/s320/_7039396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195062014698130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">rainy days</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and there were plenty</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">library, dinos, science center...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's hard taking pictures with two kids</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsbx5nZGI/AAAAAAAABfo/NN9kNVKT5CE/s1600-h/_6309333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFsbx5nZGI/AAAAAAAABfo/NN9kNVKT5CE/s320/_6309333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373195054936974434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">proud poppy</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr3v__SiI/AAAAAAAABfg/6CH1nADxp6k/s1600-h/_6199163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr3v__SiI/AAAAAAAABfg/6CH1nADxp6k/s320/_6199163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373194435951544866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">keystone state park</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">halfway btn pittsburgh and johnstown</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">our meeting spot for our parents</div><div style="text-align: center;">that is...until we got idlewild memberships...</div><div style="text-align: center;">that's going to jazz up our halfway point jaunts</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr3eBUa3I/AAAAAAAABfY/5OSHCf0M9_A/s1600-h/_6199085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr3eBUa3I/AAAAAAAABfY/5OSHCf0M9_A/s320/_6199085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373194431125285746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">swingin' is her thing</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2w2-RcI/AAAAAAAABfQ/cynBjKWiFXo/s1600-h/_6128758.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2w2-RcI/AAAAAAAABfQ/cynBjKWiFXo/s320/_6128758.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373194419002295746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">reunion of old friends</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2g5gXbI/AAAAAAAABfI/TaA20Xq62Jk/s1600-h/_6128710.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2g5gXbI/AAAAAAAABfI/TaA20Xq62Jk/s320/_6128710.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373194414717951410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">slip -n- slide</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the solution to hot days before the pool opened</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2HBAq0I/AAAAAAAABfA/-c4VkkZCkWQ/s1600-h/_6048658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFr2HBAq0I/AAAAAAAABfA/-c4VkkZCkWQ/s320/_6048658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373194407770106690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">sitter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">she's upright! and soon will be fully mobile</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrIupy1CI/AAAAAAAABe4/2vS-Re7NasU/s1600-h/IMG_4588.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrIupy1CI/AAAAAAAABe4/2vS-Re7NasU/s320/IMG_4588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373193628136166434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;">soccer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">as if the van wasn't enough...i officially became a "soccer mom" ugh...</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrIbG1rbI/AAAAAAAABew/ahBQqUfZI-M/s1600-h/_5288643.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrIbG1rbI/AAAAAAAABew/ahBQqUfZI-M/s320/_5288643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373193622889278898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrH-FtFsI/AAAAAAAABeo/JfiVWM5JKbA/s1600-h/_5288609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrH-FtFsI/AAAAAAAABeo/JfiVWM5JKbA/s320/_5288609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373193615099893442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">mamere</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrHnVlBII/AAAAAAAABeg/t0IA40oUW08/s1600-h/_5088418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrHnVlBII/AAAAAAAABeg/t0IA40oUW08/s320/_5088418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373193608992457858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">hockey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this became a twice weekly event in our lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">he's really good and SUPER fast...</div><div style="text-align: center;">boo hoo to running. more time off...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpFrHfTrG2I/AAAAAAAABeY/32VlN2_OSrg/s320/_5078382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373193606836984674" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">my bff's</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF1XeHxjvI/AAAAAAAABjI/rXXUBq0CTNc/s320/_8140693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373204876512825074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">so great to have carly off all summer with me. we had a blast hanging out. we laughed and talked into the night many times...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SpF4aS_tR1I/AAAAAAAABjw/ttBvbycxDy8/s320/_8130635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373208223600691026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">stace...married...lovely...and an incredible friend...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm the luckiest person in the world. </div><div style="text-align: center;">from family to friends...it doesn't get better than this...</div></div></div></div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-90176624582840130872009-08-20T10:05:00.003-04:002009-08-20T10:18:05.420-04:00ahhhhh summeroh wow...what a morning. i thought since it's a YUCKY day AGAIN...perhaps today would be a fun science center day. typically, i hate trips to places like this because the cost is soooo high but my parents got us a membership for max's birthday last year so we can go for free....great deal!!! $100 for a year OR almost $30 a person per visit...yuck...so i got up early, thanks to talia being sick but i was off to a great start. i had the whole house clean yesterday...but of course after the kids are awake for five minutes it's a wreck...not the kind that typically cares about that stuff...i refuse to let it get me down...carry on..."let's leave at 10" i tell the kids. they are both stinky from playing hard yesterday and without a tubby last night, i fear they will be viewed as "the dirty kids" at the science center. (did i mention nina is with us this week?) well, breakfast, baths, fighting with max over his outfit, talia's nap...it's already 1015 and i'm not showered yet. so our ten o'clock depart time is not going to happen...<div><br /></div><div>as i face returning to work next week with nothing but dread in my heart, i look back over this summer of chaos and missed departure times and i realized so quickly that i got tears in my eyes that i have NOTHING but pure, unadulterated love for these kids. being home with them is beyond the greatest way i could ever pick to spend my summers off. i've never been more tired, dirtier, and less organized but i wouldn't have changed one minute of my summer, except maybe to add six more months to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>lastly allow me to mention that i walked past max's room and the door was closed...i could hear them talking strangely and clearly playing make believe. i peeked in and he and nina were putting in mr potato head mouths in their mouths and talking to each other. you can't pay for this kind of entertainment. </div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-19082014152750854162009-08-15T05:26:00.002-04:002009-08-15T05:30:54.333-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SoZ_n4htFBI/AAAAAAAABeQ/aIAikoZzG8k/s1600-h/Maxwell+Zane+078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SoZ_n4htFBI/AAAAAAAABeQ/aIAikoZzG8k/s320/Maxwell+Zane+078.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370119928851272722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">this is max when he was younger than talia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">he is hilarious...</div><div style="text-align: center;">tonite he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">"stacy, hey stacy. who do i thank for dinner?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">(we were at her rehearsal dinner)</div><div style="text-align: center;">she said "bart's mom and dad" (she pointed them out)</div><div style="text-align: center;">he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">"hey thanks for the swell meal."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">without ANY prompting from me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-46693814388429027552009-08-13T22:36:00.002-04:002009-08-13T22:41:57.043-04:00accountability<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SoTORihQw-I/AAAAAAAABeI/ECeYnKMMHB4/s1600-h/Misc+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SoTORihQw-I/AAAAAAAABeI/ECeYnKMMHB4/s320/Misc+012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369643456451888098" /></a>this is a picture of me (in the red) the christmas before our wedding...ugh, i thought i needed to lose weight...well, i won't post a similar picture of me now...it's NOT due to having babies....i just got lazy...i'm writing this done as a form of accountability...pray that i can kick it into overdrive and get back on track....thanks pals...our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-31988441939216632202009-07-31T10:40:00.003-04:002009-07-31T10:50:02.946-04:00party for pirates...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDB7hZQwI/AAAAAAAABdg/7qCauEbXmCE/s1600-h/_7280175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDB7hZQwI/AAAAAAAABdg/7qCauEbXmCE/s320/_7280175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364634912820904706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">yesterday we were invited by our friends/neighbors to a pirate party...we dressed up and were ready to get some loot...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBiE__qI/AAAAAAAABdU/F45-DxIXlng/s1600-h/_7280183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBiE__qI/AAAAAAAABdU/F45-DxIXlng/s320/_7280183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364634905990921890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">here are the girls...talia has red bloomers on underneath that you can't see...she really loves the big kids...nina happened to have this denim corset...coincidence? i don't think so...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBQvYH9I/AAAAAAAABdI/KvHnlN2GFLQ/s1600-h/_7280165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBQvYH9I/AAAAAAAABdI/KvHnlN2GFLQ/s320/_7280165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364634901336825810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">this is pierce..max's pal...fortunately we had plenty of dress up clothes for our pirates but he actually WAS jack sparrow...so cute...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBBW7eaI/AAAAAAAABc8/PdJJgOAiBnc/s1600-h/_7280174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDBBW7eaI/AAAAAAAABc8/PdJJgOAiBnc/s320/_7280174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364634897207753122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">is this convincing or what??</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDAy5zG7I/AAAAAAAABc0/Ef5-mn0MUJo/s1600-h/_7280169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SnMDAy5zG7I/AAAAAAAABc0/Ef5-mn0MUJo/s320/_7280169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364634893327473586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">couldn't pull him away from fishing things out of this "pond"...love this picture of my favorite pirate...apparantly this is age appropriate...my friend emily's son, phin is on the same beat. right now, we are planning a pirate's birthday..it was all he's been talking about. i want a boat cake, etc...then, after the party, he said he wanted a teenage mutant ninja turtle party...he has one shirt and saw an episode on youtube...now that's his obsession. hopefully it'll come back to pirates...i got some GREAT ideas at this party...</div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-30395895949003098372009-07-29T00:05:00.002-04:002009-07-29T00:09:02.773-04:00troy hill<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the scariest road in the burgh...</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Kn7bcddI/AAAAAAAABcs/MboWkZ9PNio/s1600-h/_7260121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Kn7bcddI/AAAAAAAABcs/MboWkZ9PNio/s320/_7260121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363728468538062290" /></a>we have been so busy. today is the first time we made it to the troy hill spray park. it is hidden completely. we drove up literally the steepest road in pittsburgh. the park is pretty hidden away...drove past it twice. it was a really great day. the hill was unbelievably steep. and the area was a lot like appalachia. it was an interesting day. super fun but really a run down neighborhood. a little sad and overwhelming...our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-83403061492691960692009-07-28T23:38:00.006-04:002009-07-29T00:04:58.701-04:00summer summary...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FasFIQFI/AAAAAAAABck/Ure6KtGJTxk/s1600-h/_7260110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FasFIQFI/AAAAAAAABck/Ure6KtGJTxk/s320/_7260110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722743521493074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">talia is the easiest baby to deal with in the whole world...she is so laid back...she so rarely cries and she just is so easy to care for...she loves the water, she loves to play and chew on every thing in sight...she's just so delightful...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Fai4OFuI/AAAAAAAABcc/qhKjrVi6TKQ/s1600-h/_7260109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Fai4OFuI/AAAAAAAABcc/qhKjrVi6TKQ/s320/_7260109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722741051430626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max and ella playing in the garbage at the playground. max, of course, found bb's and decided to store them in a popsicle wrapper. he really loves finding them and holding them in whatever he finds. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FaSui26I/AAAAAAAABcU/YX-dosCCTOw/s1600-h/_7260094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FaSui26I/AAAAAAAABcU/YX-dosCCTOw/s320/_7260094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722736715881378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">lucy bindewald. she's hilarious. so cute...she called me "jess" babe!!!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FaIvOIhI/AAAAAAAABcM/xotT9gXtTsc/s1600-h/_7260092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FaIvOIhI/AAAAAAAABcM/xotT9gXtTsc/s320/_7260092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722734034362898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">another picture that will appear in the slideshow at their wedding...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FZ7K0RHI/AAAAAAAABcE/Pot0m2YXEzU/s1600-h/_7260090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FZ7K0RHI/AAAAAAAABcE/Pot0m2YXEzU/s320/_7260090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722730392011890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">so we get to the waterpark to play in troy hill...i have 800 bags of stuff for my kids...</div><div style="text-align: center;">i forget one thing...talia, aka baldy, her hat. thank goodness chris always leaves bandana's in the car...she looked so cute...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FKGH7zyI/AAAAAAAABb8/mznMcos13pw/s1600-h/_7230076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FKGH7zyI/AAAAAAAABb8/mznMcos13pw/s320/_7230076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722458454806306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max at the beach...walking home after eating great seafood..</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJ-AX2BI/AAAAAAAABb0/d2Nj4oY8aY4/s1600-h/_7210004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJ-AX2BI/AAAAAAAABb0/d2Nj4oY8aY4/s320/_7210004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722456275605522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">baby pool...super fun...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJQNb1zI/AAAAAAAABbs/pfiX45oQjB0/s1600-h/_7219983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJQNb1zI/AAAAAAAABbs/pfiX45oQjB0/s320/_7219983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722443982362418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">bw3 had a clown at their restaurant who could make killer balloon puppets. max got a sword and this goofy hat. when he got sick and threw up at the restaurant, he decided that he hated that hat...he's very strong willed...talia wore the hat for 2 hours...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJb3RGGI/AAAAAAAABbk/YZlavDWNea8/s1600-h/_7169943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FJb3RGGI/AAAAAAAABbk/YZlavDWNea8/s320/_7169943.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722447110608994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">max was SO BRAVE this year. he loved the ocean and wasn't afraid. he really learned a lot about the waves and the animals of the ocean...he is practically swimming.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FI0BCnDI/AAAAAAAABbc/ps8fkLo_Eq0/s1600-h/_7169920.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_FI0BCnDI/AAAAAAAABbc/ps8fkLo_Eq0/s320/_7169920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722436414184498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">3 generations of bovard men</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E39dLTvI/AAAAAAAABbU/BBMpPUAPgas/s1600-h/_7169899.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E39dLTvI/AAAAAAAABbU/BBMpPUAPgas/s320/_7169899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722146890338034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">to infinity and beyond...max l-o-v-e-s buzz lightyear...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E35yqmuI/AAAAAAAABbM/zZNKzWAsEHs/s1600-h/_7139883.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E35yqmuI/AAAAAAAABbM/zZNKzWAsEHs/s320/_7139883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722145906727650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">the second bird that fell out of his nest...he didn't survive...it was sad...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3RqyNEI/AAAAAAAABbE/eWbdR7hM73c/s1600-h/_7139811.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3RqyNEI/AAAAAAAABbE/eWbdR7hM73c/s320/_7139811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722135136252994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">four kids under 3...mission impossible to get them looking at the camera...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3Rih8JI/AAAAAAAABa8/NB4RrRTd8go/s1600-h/_7139777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3Rih8JI/AAAAAAAABa8/NB4RrRTd8go/s320/_7139777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722135101632658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">here's hoping that we can take off the training wheels before the first snowfall...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3GPlpwI/AAAAAAAABa0/FV7X4CoVzbc/s1600-h/_7139757.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_E3GPlpwI/AAAAAAAABa0/FV7X4CoVzbc/s320/_7139757.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363722132069394178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">so cute on his little scooter.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ej3iipaI/AAAAAAAABas/GpFftWwC_aw/s1600-h/_7129729.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ej3iipaI/AAAAAAAABas/GpFftWwC_aw/s320/_7129729.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363721801704842658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">he really loves her best of all...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ejmgl1vI/AAAAAAAABak/dpayHZifMXA/s1600-h/_7129677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ejmgl1vI/AAAAAAAABak/dpayHZifMXA/s320/_7129677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363721797133260530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">it's so shocking that she is almost seven months old...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_EjFqIMaI/AAAAAAAABac/c2IqTkyGm4w/s1600-h/_7129661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_EjFqIMaI/AAAAAAAABac/c2IqTkyGm4w/s320/_7129661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363721788314890658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">here's emma..my dear friend erin's daughter...i have so much to be thankful for with developing a close relationship with erin...total babe.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_EjMRglfI/AAAAAAAABaU/dmlL3yoQ_og/s1600-h/_7129637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_EjMRglfI/AAAAAAAABaU/dmlL3yoQ_og/s320/_7129637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363721790090679794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">blueberry picking...so much fun. didn't get enough berries...it's not easy with little peanuts...max picked soooo many. he did an amazing job.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ei1GrBdI/AAAAAAAABaM/TZBXBh3u8kA/s1600-h/_7129634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/Sm_Ei1GrBdI/AAAAAAAABaM/TZBXBh3u8kA/s320/_7129634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363721783871210962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> my guys LOVE hockey. they play either hockey or lacrosse every day...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we have had a terrific summer. max and i have grown closer than ever. he is so sharp and really loves learning about all sorts of things. he is so ready for preschool. he is starting on tuesday and thursday mornings. he is playing soccer and will be taking little classes here and there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">four weeks until i go back to work...not excited about that AT ALL!!! but i can't get a better schedule. it's dreamy...</div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-32484726313089170572009-07-23T02:37:00.003-04:002009-07-23T11:09:44.849-04:00timein the blink of an eye, my son has gone from a brown, huge eyed baby to a big kid. yesterday afternoon i saw him open the elevator, hold the "special" button so the door doesn't shut, and ask a fellow occupant which floor he was going to. when we arrived at his floor, max told him "see ya later". he helped me drag the cooler to the beach two days ago, when i suggested he hand me his shoes, he said "no mama, i'll carry them". he also has mastered jumping into the pool and going under water without holding his nose...as a sun/water worshipper myself...i couldn't be more proud...<div><br /></div><div>it's so cliche to say that time flies, it's almost a completely ludicrous statement but truer words were never spoken... :)<div><br /></div><div>max was JUST BORN!! but he wasn't, talia was...she has replaced him on my hip...but she is nearly crawling...we just bought our house...but it's nearly a year. </div><div><br /></div><div>and finally, vacation just started and it's nearly over...</div><div><br /></div><div>it's been a fun week. the kids have loved the ocean and have smiled all week.</div><div><br /></div><div>that is, until last night. . .<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>after MUCH discussion, we ended up having dinner at buffalo wild wings...much to my chagrin, mainly because we have a BW3 in pittsburgh...are we REALLY hitting a local chain in SC?? lame...but we did...after hearing max say for the 3rd time that he didn't feel right, he proved it to me by puking on my shoes...so we left and walking into the condo he was sword fighting with daddy, running around...we thought it was over exhaustion...two more pukes later on that night told a different story.</div><div><br /></div><div>(long story short...it's s 730 am and i am just now released from duty...my mother in law is taking them for a walk...don't think ms talia slept like an angel through all that...she is amazingly good but...everyone has their breaking point...)</div><div><br /></div><div>so here i am...i just turned 32 this month, i have an unbelievably supportive, loving husband, two amazing children, a job that most people would kill for and yet the complaining appears...</div><div><br /></div><div>"time, please slow down..."i'll take early mornings with little ones who rise with the sun, i'll take little to no warning about impeding vomit, pacifiers that roll 5 miles away when the holder smiles, awkward comments by toddlers to the tune of "mama, did you see that little adult?", and most of all sticky, slobbery, peanut buttery, kisses that make me know i was born for this...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-14290575974862619982009-07-17T00:32:00.004-04:002009-07-17T01:11:50.833-04:00going to carolina....in-nn my van...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SmAH82MNoiI/AAAAAAAABZs/qILmVrHpar0/s1600-h/P7103812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SmAH82MNoiI/AAAAAAAABZs/qILmVrHpar0/s320/P7103812.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359292298491175458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SmAHVoDp-mI/AAAAAAAABZk/3oQGeAslJjk/s1600-h/P7164151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SmAHVoDp-mI/AAAAAAAABZk/3oQGeAslJjk/s320/P7164151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359291624682289762" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">if it wasn't for images like this....i don't know how i'd feel right now...<br /></div><div><br />i honestly could cry...it was a ROUGH week...this time last week, i was so excited for cepek's wedding. i couldn't wait to see jenn...it was a great weekend. we saw old friends and reconnected, we laughed, we stayed up soo late, and it was a beautiful wedding.<div><br /></div><div>the monday hit...</div><div><br /></div><div>max was sooo grouchy. his latest "behavior" is when he asks for something and he is told he can't have it immediately he then recants and denies he ever wanted it....it looks a like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>max: (upon waking up) can i have a lollipop?</div><div>mama: sure after lunch you can have one...</div><div>max: i don't want a lollipop (cue tears)</div><div><br /></div><div> OR</div><div><br /></div><div>max: (after seeing me lift talia up and kiss her) I WANTED TO KISS TALIA</div><div>mama: ok, go ahead...(lowers baby to his level)</div><div>max: i can't kiss her now (cue pouting)</div><div>mama: (baffled, even though she should be used to it - ignores him)</div><div><br /></div><div>ugh, long week. finally think we broke him of it...i hope. the beauty is...he only does this at home. he doesn't do it with people around. thank God...</div><div><br /></div><div>he is starting to "hold it" while he sleeps. he has a sticker chart so that he can earn a set of lacrosse sticks. he only has two left to earn...he asks every morning if he has enough and then sheds REAL tears when he realizes he still has more. it's his first behavior chart so it's to be expected!</div><div><br /></div><div>i called poison control THREE times this week. i haven't ever called them before...the first time was because talia ate a bit of her butt cream...more than a bit...she was fine...then she ate almost an entire oak leaf...(we do watch our kids - it blew off of a tree while she was in her exersaucer. and tonite, max was spraying this foot spray on my feet, thank you stacy for the relaxing peppermint spray for tired feet, he pulled a dumb and dumber and sprayed her in the face instead of my feet . both times fine...but the woman on the phone laughed really hard about this being my 3rd call. she also encouraged me to keep her away from bottles on vacation since people tend to change up bottles to mislabeled or non-labeled bottles...i was a bit embarassed to answer her next question..."how old is she?"</div><div><br /></div><div>so, following the same theme, 3 major house issues occurred this week as well....</div><div>first, water in the basement...ugh. figured it out...the humidifier was leaking. made a phone call to the company...changed the filter...still leaking...today was very hot...humid....yucky to not have the air on...we haven't even used it til yesterday night...</div><div><br /></div><div>ants, ants, everywhere - thank God not in our underwear...what a sick little rhyme!?! i'm so grateful for those little Bates motel ant traps...</div><div><br /></div><div>and finally, today water from the toilet was leaking into the kitchen sink...gross!!! i had no dishes in there....rare...divine intervention!!</div><div><br /></div><div>chris went to the dentist at 545 and come home at 715. in that amount of time, talia had a huuuuuuuuuuuge poop in her car seat (cleaning her, the seat, the clothes), our darling next door neighbor fixed the toilet (it wasn't dripping pee or poop stuff...), i did two loads of laundry, and used the shop vac to clear the humidifier line...yeah, formal dinner DID NOT happen...</div><div><br /></div><div>all this to say....tomorrow we leave for my favorite kind of vacation...it's not dewey...but it's salt water and sand...THAT'S the important part...i wish my family was going...parents and siblings and nieces that is.</div><div><br /></div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-82569543007379509622009-07-12T00:00:00.004-04:002009-07-12T00:14:09.068-04:00max<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhC3Jq4PI/AAAAAAAABYQ/IOCNc9Vi6l0/s1600-h/_7049538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhC3Jq4PI/AAAAAAAABYQ/IOCNc9Vi6l0/s320/_7049538.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357419933526057202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhC828BHI/AAAAAAAABYI/J0QheguudN8/s1600-h/_7039422.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhC828BHI/AAAAAAAABYI/J0QheguudN8/s320/_7039422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357419935058101362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCj4-4KI/AAAAAAAABYA/rZM1nVC-fd0/s1600-h/_7039490.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCj4-4KI/AAAAAAAABYA/rZM1nVC-fd0/s320/_7039490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357419928355791010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCaP7qbI/AAAAAAAABX4/xHO9aZsvVG8/s1600-h/_6199068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCaP7qbI/AAAAAAAABX4/xHO9aZsvVG8/s320/_6199068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357419925767694770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCGqaPQI/AAAAAAAABXw/5Ta2QeJlS1A/s1600-h/_7049565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllhCGqaPQI/AAAAAAAABXw/5Ta2QeJlS1A/s320/_7049565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357419920510041346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">my boy is 3 1/2 years old.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>he loves talia so much. he greets HER when i walk in the door. he wants to hold her and squeeze her...</li><li>if it's not red or orange...he doesn't want it</li><li>he LOVES buzz lightyear. he has a t-shirt with buzz on the front. he hits the button on the shirt and his wings/arms pop up</li><li>he loves fireworks but he was exhausted and fell asleep in the middle of the booms. but he told everyone is was the best show he's ever seen...</li><li>he is hilarious</li><li>he is (almost) always honest...hasn't figured out how to lie yet...</li><li>he loves to play outside with sports equipment</li><li>he is currently using a sticker chart to get him a lacrosse stick...he needs to wake up dry for 12 nights...then they're coming home to us...</li><li>he is staying at my parent's house tonite...he stayed up til 1030 saying "i miss mummy" cute...sad but cute...</li></ul><div>in a nutshell, he's a babe!! all in favor say "eye" all those opposed can go soak their head... :)</div></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611853225253282252.post-2067025339232379972009-07-11T23:49:00.008-04:002009-07-12T00:00:00.273-04:00miss talia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllePBr7l2I/AAAAAAAABXo/_EkZwvRopl8/s1600-h/_7049584.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SllePBr7l2I/AAAAAAAABXo/_EkZwvRopl8/s320/_7049584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357416843977660258" /></a>my sweet 6 month old baby<div>here is a short list of her MANY accomplishments:<br /><ul><li style="text-align: left;">sits very well on her own</li><li style="text-align: left;">rolls front to back AND back to front </li><li style="text-align: left;">looooooves to stand (holding on naturally)</li><li style="text-align: left;">she has taken steps in her walker...mostly backwards but still...</li><li style="text-align: left;">she smiles ALOT so she can warm even the most cold hearted</li><li style="text-align: left;">working on raspberries...we got nothin' yet</li><li style="text-align: left;">almost clapping...</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;">let me tell you...talia is a dream baby...she is mellow, relaxed, sweet...she's terrific. max was easy too. he was the same way...he just slept better than her. to this day he still needs a two hour nap every day. most kids his age that we know aren't napping anymore but he needs it...along with 10 hours at night...he's a sleeper...talia, on the other hand, was up with us til midnight last night...without a peep. we were with some friends at a restaurant...she was FINE! she barely made a peep...now granted, we don't do that often but she is so resilient and easy...dream baby...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i always say to max "why is mommy so lucky?" and he replies with "cause she gets two babies!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">truer words were never spoken...love them both to bits...</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WDsASg9bdy0/SlldotwlCKI/AAAAAAAABXY/O32xubPRWoA/s1600-h/_6269303.JPG"><br /></a><br /></div>our story....http://www.blogger.com/profile/06801039813031391087noreply@blogger.com2