tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68251740293514122492024-03-05T18:30:26.926-05:00Gloria in Excelsis DeoTraditional Catholic living in the modern worldKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.comBlogger4089125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-83132518887554167012024-01-31T14:47:00.002-05:002024-02-02T15:46:07.674-05:00January 2024<h1 style="text-align: left;">January 2: First Day Back to Homeschooling Blues</h1><p>We are so far behind that I started my elementary aged kids back at homeschooling today instead of waiting till after Epiphany. (Although, I realize with discouragement that starting back three days early won’t help our being a month behind already.)</p><p>Even though this was a soft start covering only (1) CCE memory work, (2) math, and (3) catechism--end-of-semester tests, which they are apparently FAILING despite our doing one-on-one catechism lessons four days weekly all semester--it took us all the livelong day and we are still not finished. That is three measly subjects out of nine normal ones. </p><p>I got up at 6:00 a.m. I devoted all my time to them. I didn’t take time for myself to so much as brush my teeth or hair until noon. </p><p>Today I still didn’t manage my resolution to exercise daily (or ever!) come hell or high water. Eighteen years and my health remains utterly the last priority. Today I was not managing the middle schooler or high schoolers whose school has not yet resumed. I did not bake the family's bread, which I am a week late doing. Still haven’t planned meals for this week or placed a grocery order: how many nights can we eat “leftovers plus frozen pizza”? It's 4:15 p.m. with no groceries or plans, so I guess we're going to find out!</p><p>In the face of my boys being flibberty gibbets and rascals, to put it generously, I raised my voice, I took away privileges. </p><p>I’ve been homeschooling for twelve years, so I am not ignorant or naive. My three elementary boys still need me to be 100% involved in each of their subjects . . . Which means for math alone that I’m agonizingly walking through about 75 questions daily. Very few of their subjects can be grouped together. So that is nine subjects times three boys = my needing to teach 27 subjects individually each day . . . While also managing the older three (who need constant supervision and intervention to stay on task), cooking all the meals, doing all the cleaning and laundry, doing massive amounts of home and schedule administration, all of Thomas’s medical stuff, and more. </p><p>What left is there to simplify?</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>CCE memory work daily and alternating week presentations</li><li>Math </li><li>Phonics or spelling </li><li>Grammar </li><li>History </li><li>Handwriting </li><li>Vocabulary </li><li>Catechism </li><li>Science</li></ul><p></p><p>That's it. I'm not even doing the bare minimum of a classical education, which would by definition include at the Elementary level: Latin (and probably Greek, too), Literature, and Writing (like, essays), Geography, Poetry, Art, and Music. I had to give up those dreams years ago.</p><p>I can't even do the bare minimum.</p><p>I've been teaching from 8:00 to 4:30 and I still have two more subjects to teach a kid. Then figuring out what to make for dinner out of nothing.</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 3: Boxed Mac and Cheese</h1><p>This is a confidential space where nobody has to confess that they sometimes feed their kids BOXED MACARONI AND CHEESE. </p><p>Now that we have that out of the way: I will share that I JUST discovered that one can buy the powdered cheese mix to make mac and cheese onself! For a large family, this is much cheaper than buying numerous of those ridiculously small boxes of mac & cheese. </p><p>Also, our Thomas cannot tolerate normal pasta, so I buy Good Wheat pasta (very high fiber and higher protein). Now I can combine Good Wheat pasta with the powdered cheese mix for the flavor of good ol' boxed mac and cheese that is a healthier version. (Last night, he filled his bowl three times!)</p><p>Yes, I know how to make homemade macaroni and cheese from a roux and so forth, but it's great to have a convenient option, too.</p><p><b><a href="https://a.co/d/ge4fygQ" target="_blank">The Hoosier Hill Farm</a></b> mix seems pretty decent. The ingredient list is only six ingredients that seem good and normal, plus two artificial colors. (Hoosier Hill Farm makes a version without any artificial colors as well.) I compared ingredient lists of Annie's boxed mac and cheese to Hoosier Hill Farm and it is virtually identical.</p><p>I found one more brand of cheese mix on Amazon that seems to have a very long ingredient list, probably full of worse foods. I will link in comments. The macros are also less healthy than the Hoosier Hill Farm.</p><p>For families who serve boxed mac and cheese, I'd say that you can thank me later for this tip, but we all want to remain anonymous . . . .</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 4: Wisdom Teeth</h1><p>Our eldest had his wisdom teeth extracted and all went beautifully well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbYKIOIvJafVRhXAMxaJw4R-rV1dNf6TqJklinRjG5eMvKeAs0bNHxzqkGS8xvDUjomNkpo66nsUlTaOKJJITLE9td2ij68dkxOs9rx0YLCyguO1fjkuRdEIBjwOPMw0s0zAUz1jdGoLTKFgAcTDQV3IA_q1qjR3McbBiN04tGtsiEE_yfhBeqHXjpzE/s4032/1-4-24a%20John%20wisdom%20teeth%20extraction.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbYKIOIvJafVRhXAMxaJw4R-rV1dNf6TqJklinRjG5eMvKeAs0bNHxzqkGS8xvDUjomNkpo66nsUlTaOKJJITLE9td2ij68dkxOs9rx0YLCyguO1fjkuRdEIBjwOPMw0s0zAUz1jdGoLTKFgAcTDQV3IA_q1qjR3McbBiN04tGtsiEE_yfhBeqHXjpzE/s320/1-4-24a%20John%20wisdom%20teeth%20extraction.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 4: The Ronald McDonald House</h1><p>This afternoon, Mary and I had the most lovely experience volunteering at The Ronald McDonald House. (Not that I will post any pictures of my beautiful teen against her wishes!) </p><p>When Thomas got sick, we were blessed to live seven miles away from a Level 1 Trauma Hospital and a national neuroblastoma expert, but many families going through prolonged medical crises are not so fortunate. </p><p>We hope to put in more volunteer time there again. </p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 5: Pulling Myself Up by my Bootstraps</h1><p>Thanks to my sweet friends for encouraging me after my public tantrum about how hard homeschooling is.</p><p>It is really hard. None of us homeschooling parents chooses it because it is the easier way.</p><p>Because I've been at this for 15 years, I've had to pull myself up by my bootstraps multiple times yearly the entire time, and this is no different. I made myself a new schedule that is very close to our rhythm of life anyway, but I hope will keep me on track.</p><p>Of course, we're taking this so-called schedule into the coming week when (1) my husband will be gone for five days, (2) my eldest and second driver will be out of commission recovering from wisdom teeth removal, and (3) it is Thomas's annual cancer scans, so I can just write my massive "scanxiety" insomnia into the plan right now. This hoped-for school plan will be "blown out of the water" this coming week, but at least when I get lost, I have a map to try to get back to my goal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVsaOfM5pCGVVwMRd_n_DvAQnaItHhDJUxAQTp1nX2tIdBJANRLMsdkFIc8Zyv6TPKURPbQofDjWZoIB2YCK_C0HXnVhoVNL4AIuSHrDEFLRraPPeolpgzeQyqkd3w5sZyz4QZSUcEmm2qLhVjIJDXgTGpRvwOKd2byKQKycwIXzA8NbqsHKMvhAI79w/s701/415040178_10160998686488360_4429106489258757011_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="597" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVsaOfM5pCGVVwMRd_n_DvAQnaItHhDJUxAQTp1nX2tIdBJANRLMsdkFIc8Zyv6TPKURPbQofDjWZoIB2YCK_C0HXnVhoVNL4AIuSHrDEFLRraPPeolpgzeQyqkd3w5sZyz4QZSUcEmm2qLhVjIJDXgTGpRvwOKd2byKQKycwIXzA8NbqsHKMvhAI79w/w515-h604/415040178_10160998686488360_4429106489258757011_n.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vqbH1iybJksKhAOs78LkL6p9n0uQZWZPr8g58DfLzIsovPBi1LLSZ44alxOBmkGJ-rtN6LqHNiy-49HYzH30podwP79IVqL2EED94MH_b8eF5VcMywRvhIequ1gEtOco8RkDqe8OO83QZRaRC_JgXpMI0tW7x_Qk0C49UN9R-sLJJjPtuYXCzlFipEE/s4032/1-7-24b%20Margaret%20school%20work.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vqbH1iybJksKhAOs78LkL6p9n0uQZWZPr8g58DfLzIsovPBi1LLSZ44alxOBmkGJ-rtN6LqHNiy-49HYzH30podwP79IVqL2EED94MH_b8eF5VcMywRvhIequ1gEtOco8RkDqe8OO83QZRaRC_JgXpMI0tW7x_Qk0C49UN9R-sLJJjPtuYXCzlFipEE/s320/1-7-24b%20Margaret%20school%20work.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daily school laid out for our 7th grader</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAXpG_8p008g97JIdJoatejzs5rLNzU6iAuCsvQt2kgSoqEQ1Wi2_0lC0zqoRHdcnOVfezqBMgTcdYapdlXbWHzjixuUkgD8IZf8yGcXLYC67icBurM8tSCSP-814f9Jh2882TNVrmtt0yCTaSwpJr66DS8G_thdBvRfSxwzkIoV8A0YJ61O5HCFRUX8/s4032/1-11-24a%20Margaret%20school.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAXpG_8p008g97JIdJoatejzs5rLNzU6iAuCsvQt2kgSoqEQ1Wi2_0lC0zqoRHdcnOVfezqBMgTcdYapdlXbWHzjixuUkgD8IZf8yGcXLYC67icBurM8tSCSP-814f9Jh2882TNVrmtt0yCTaSwpJr66DS8G_thdBvRfSxwzkIoV8A0YJ61O5HCFRUX8/s320/1-11-24a%20Margaret%20school.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daily school laid out for our 7th grader</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEOuoG6ZYwRxKPHAQzhOQ15HeFeDUcCfbRTul5AY_Jk6GH3kuTLQc0ENUGrV6RF2cVcn4MGl_khrF1h842MbsrSZqeJMNgEq2R6btofZuPPYp6r2E7tZCrE44iyAxNApuWtEA61FP5he2ssYP2CUa3qKD_Hirf8DeFxHKTf0C50u-wLlKm3HzMALCoPQ/s4032/1-9-24a%20John%20Tilly.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEOuoG6ZYwRxKPHAQzhOQ15HeFeDUcCfbRTul5AY_Jk6GH3kuTLQc0ENUGrV6RF2cVcn4MGl_khrF1h842MbsrSZqeJMNgEq2R6btofZuPPYp6r2E7tZCrE44iyAxNApuWtEA61FP5he2ssYP2CUa3qKD_Hirf8DeFxHKTf0C50u-wLlKm3HzMALCoPQ/s320/1-9-24a%20John%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4WshIPmXYEwuA2ezCJOm4OBHw3xHz06SPZXiSR4gzIU30VwkJNlvyL25ci6dGyCiBg9VOhqZ68o4NKMmomJN0xes_cxeAn2lZa2lJ1KdvuYjxXKcnxRwfse609pgVLtbKtJNV6Ip3VGUQQvyGg5wI87N9uSD7hp_6WrInqpW6Bu-joI5IiaCz4_YUBg/s4032/1-22-24a%20John%20Nicky.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4WshIPmXYEwuA2ezCJOm4OBHw3xHz06SPZXiSR4gzIU30VwkJNlvyL25ci6dGyCiBg9VOhqZ68o4NKMmomJN0xes_cxeAn2lZa2lJ1KdvuYjxXKcnxRwfse609pgVLtbKtJNV6Ip3VGUQQvyGg5wI87N9uSD7hp_6WrInqpW6Bu-joI5IiaCz4_YUBg/s320/1-22-24a%20John%20Nicky.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 6: Epiphany</h1><p>Happy Feast of the Epiphany!</p><p>Years ago, I wanted to place emphasis on this holy feast day, which is more celebrated in (Catholic) Europe than in (Protestant) America. Epiphany has been formally celebrated since the end of the second century, even before the formal celebration of Jesus' birth. So, in our family, on Christmas the children open gifts from other family members (grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.) and on Christmas they open their gifts from us, their parents. It's very fun!</p><p>Tonight we will attend Mass and a festive potluck party with fellow Catholics. Also, on the list over the Epiphany octave is to bless our house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_-Bdp7217Fh-Dt9zqg6-EbE6VbxuTwvYSwc7yTa-MKI-A3NL4-xbPhJdrmzWt6w7YwJXrY4VxusceIm7Vsc2PgF9CLd3ta677k-mxa5xk5m9SQNeETEUxiUx7HXZTHV3ggxSq2W2WKjSk-BeGeO49miKfdMd2R2EQ7zokvswJeLzAjMJOMuiX_kf_XI/s869/1-5-24%20Epiphany%20Eve.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_-Bdp7217Fh-Dt9zqg6-EbE6VbxuTwvYSwc7yTa-MKI-A3NL4-xbPhJdrmzWt6w7YwJXrY4VxusceIm7Vsc2PgF9CLd3ta677k-mxa5xk5m9SQNeETEUxiUx7HXZTHV3ggxSq2W2WKjSk-BeGeO49miKfdMd2R2EQ7zokvswJeLzAjMJOMuiX_kf_XI/s320/1-5-24%20Epiphany%20Eve.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn9yL-F3hrKSxwRJwjSzsJ6UZZCiz9rkBQIu1H7dB4FRnPPFKrSeqAyTihdGkxzyQ0-IbS8yU7TtgR-TlSy6_A8jL1GTyBv8WuQ31CH4l52a_qUMYOtGkXKFbGc8jWFqnGBHHfZ8_Nv-ZZMK4pk8hTD9POSv51Y_ywvTNbSLw638wmH5v9XWdERB8BRw/s4032/1-6-24a%20Epiphany.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn9yL-F3hrKSxwRJwjSzsJ6UZZCiz9rkBQIu1H7dB4FRnPPFKrSeqAyTihdGkxzyQ0-IbS8yU7TtgR-TlSy6_A8jL1GTyBv8WuQ31CH4l52a_qUMYOtGkXKFbGc8jWFqnGBHHfZ8_Nv-ZZMK4pk8hTD9POSv51Y_ywvTNbSLw638wmH5v9XWdERB8BRw/s320/1-6-24a%20Epiphany.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDthTE9BUrmT9du9rANiPPRSG8oNRun6cQz0QiJuugOf0Sx7mjNnJlyslSBRtCmAGs5SdvIDHvPkElSMetIOICYAKDZrjllejG87XpK_7PGooWYtexFhmzQZvDRgRSqDYh6tVDzw2pTZf8tCd532-VuFzLahW6KJrk0njM_MuDzW7IMlxSprTI4cRUQ4/s4032/1-6-24b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDthTE9BUrmT9du9rANiPPRSG8oNRun6cQz0QiJuugOf0Sx7mjNnJlyslSBRtCmAGs5SdvIDHvPkElSMetIOICYAKDZrjllejG87XpK_7PGooWYtexFhmzQZvDRgRSqDYh6tVDzw2pTZf8tCd532-VuFzLahW6KJrk0njM_MuDzW7IMlxSprTI4cRUQ4/s320/1-6-24b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ-0h0Y44dCvIofQTNwqpFfVmGG3QgiQV-mjwkVKzUASHUYF1y24dj88DjxbOX5BFMFxO3A0MisAVqfdCnIevGtstQ3Maf3J72qFf2wdIn8MfHm1ofX931YvO9-E0eWgEGwuLyWdiWkmSoSf50hKfyNxU1zuHcMsZKdj4xymc17NDvccxE6ghYheOc3Q/s4032/1-6-24f.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ-0h0Y44dCvIofQTNwqpFfVmGG3QgiQV-mjwkVKzUASHUYF1y24dj88DjxbOX5BFMFxO3A0MisAVqfdCnIevGtstQ3Maf3J72qFf2wdIn8MfHm1ofX931YvO9-E0eWgEGwuLyWdiWkmSoSf50hKfyNxU1zuHcMsZKdj4xymc17NDvccxE6ghYheOc3Q/s320/1-6-24f.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKL6gIqFtAeJty3lJp4WPdpCNus8ETpJY3ghwaS6Z6gTpeO7XpeL23-IBIAD-pCp1kLqktbLDxCJQfFbj0OxITR3fNfpkgdAHr-7bDkuAtTTSoKqk3U5CDE2XoKzTZNDIdgOhNWVdhWbOe-qttwwKOLJax1HjwxK0w0JZyxLNrSb5lkZE7aYyXnqsm-4/s3135/1-6-24g.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2893" data-original-width="3135" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKL6gIqFtAeJty3lJp4WPdpCNus8ETpJY3ghwaS6Z6gTpeO7XpeL23-IBIAD-pCp1kLqktbLDxCJQfFbj0OxITR3fNfpkgdAHr-7bDkuAtTTSoKqk3U5CDE2XoKzTZNDIdgOhNWVdhWbOe-qttwwKOLJax1HjwxK0w0JZyxLNrSb5lkZE7aYyXnqsm-4/s320/1-6-24g.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENxxhtjeO44HfSdKUbIAykT3U2J5ZAqu-pSVaO_vE5Cb9-lEKsrrp9k94Zf0O11RVgiwy5NMLZMoZ54DNR3flBPpyI_E7lWIOJGSUq98C-HM9eDpm0GEjK8MjJPEqtG-Z6a7Xr_GUCpiUXZyX9GGD9Y2n7fjiso55rmXxAmd6HvEg0OHP8migh95LpyU/s1999/1-6-24h2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="1999" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENxxhtjeO44HfSdKUbIAykT3U2J5ZAqu-pSVaO_vE5Cb9-lEKsrrp9k94Zf0O11RVgiwy5NMLZMoZ54DNR3flBPpyI_E7lWIOJGSUq98C-HM9eDpm0GEjK8MjJPEqtG-Z6a7Xr_GUCpiUXZyX9GGD9Y2n7fjiso55rmXxAmd6HvEg0OHP8migh95LpyU/s320/1-6-24h2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjVPcxgoI3kKaGJlCm6KbztEYKQ9jQhmRNpeOBXGeWQqOBLkSz7_WXnW7rYytpydAm1Q4wPOOPxlDVgj0JPfaeRtBCl9nZnuaSTrxXpL4opDxia3E0ImqN17C37791v7ZZXQkAWOxwF4gmpGVWVwX6t5r985r5-wlGf3lhr-UiTdJwu79Er0438_PYRU/s4032/1-6-24i.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjVPcxgoI3kKaGJlCm6KbztEYKQ9jQhmRNpeOBXGeWQqOBLkSz7_WXnW7rYytpydAm1Q4wPOOPxlDVgj0JPfaeRtBCl9nZnuaSTrxXpL4opDxia3E0ImqN17C37791v7ZZXQkAWOxwF4gmpGVWVwX6t5r985r5-wlGf3lhr-UiTdJwu79Er0438_PYRU/s320/1-6-24i.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L5NJP_qE2kPOQfWtu0byc6_QTitw7ZEwspbE4UXEIt6WmvcRyoPnr7Za1lkmdDu15Gs9obhlFlK6YmTosVh-aySH284I3A9K2yIH19kY2PSXy-ZGntnKTshY1X_-2iFIAP632O6YI-TRkeGrfVDZWRzppxK-ksCaZBq8a9B-hXMqG5chO5BbgGZDJg8/s4032/1-6-24j.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L5NJP_qE2kPOQfWtu0byc6_QTitw7ZEwspbE4UXEIt6WmvcRyoPnr7Za1lkmdDu15Gs9obhlFlK6YmTosVh-aySH284I3A9K2yIH19kY2PSXy-ZGntnKTshY1X_-2iFIAP632O6YI-TRkeGrfVDZWRzppxK-ksCaZBq8a9B-hXMqG5chO5BbgGZDJg8/s320/1-6-24j.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPMTah_lususm9DaiYrSgk4Ri4iKHqlrasbiuGXsSFPTJw6_prIYm-zibAVYnDLhLQCXwV-0INeStr_17lrAvzLdiBc611F58OJM94wIS10DAVwSW52T404hWV92OMsFIbKpzT_2OGGJQHN2cDMXpcQRD8J_zWU0PBA4xV7czhoaO3LsBP1KapGH6GtE/s4032/1-6-24l.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPMTah_lususm9DaiYrSgk4Ri4iKHqlrasbiuGXsSFPTJw6_prIYm-zibAVYnDLhLQCXwV-0INeStr_17lrAvzLdiBc611F58OJM94wIS10DAVwSW52T404hWV92OMsFIbKpzT_2OGGJQHN2cDMXpcQRD8J_zWU0PBA4xV7czhoaO3LsBP1KapGH6GtE/s320/1-6-24l.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 7: St. Valentine's Day</h1><p>Heads' up to my Catholic mom friends! This February 14th offers a (painful) catechism lesson for our children! Ash Wednesday, on which we abstain from meat and fast under pain of mortal sin, trumps the fun celebration of St. Valentine's Day. This will give me a chance to remind our own kids about the ranking of feast days and that St. Valentine's Day is celebrated in a secular way with chocolate and flowers, but does not rank any higher than any particular saint's day (which is every day), whereas you only get one Ash Wednesday each year . . . Sorry, kiddos! You can save your candies for another day!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 8: Epiphany Home Blessing 2024</h1><p><i>Started outdoors in the quite chilly temps</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJDyGxmwAG6EXOrb1uEcU1QC7030UhJjz7MoqQFr_prFVeTKAz0VFvK59LLEPM5NRkk5lg9UJ8FzSOjye2sFE5ZpxnOFXpOKEm3JBgp_wxfMyorMTT8jLBFPDtgd8XwjlDDINnLXOM0NtTr4vnM9_xtSTue-V1vCaX7Hy4fvL_DOL2iAqeDa06FKO89A/s4032/1-8-24a%20Epiphany%20house%20blessing.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJDyGxmwAG6EXOrb1uEcU1QC7030UhJjz7MoqQFr_prFVeTKAz0VFvK59LLEPM5NRkk5lg9UJ8FzSOjye2sFE5ZpxnOFXpOKEm3JBgp_wxfMyorMTT8jLBFPDtgd8XwjlDDINnLXOM0NtTr4vnM9_xtSTue-V1vCaX7Hy4fvL_DOL2iAqeDa06FKO89A/s320/1-8-24a%20Epiphany%20house%20blessing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 8: Activity Dice</h1><p>I am incorporating Activity Dice into our homeschool morning and hope I stick with it. We paused deskwork for only 15 minutes but what a power punch: the boys had the most fun, were laughing wildly, and we all got our hearts pumping. Even I participated, which led to the hilarity. (You are decidedly not going to see pictures of me waddling like a duck.) Afterward, the boys were willing to go back to deskwork. Link to Activity Dice in comments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucTTR0tFOWA4sPRleZOtPJ1TFDNC9F4-Krs5h-6tYG7q_RypPpaTimMk83ANllq05hzTYdy3UHV7YlC0TeS7uEtQ9h0SVX-ewnVgdebz5WVJ8l8VO9Xup-s8KmWLW5F2U4OwjN_R59dy4DelnmwPJcUhX4_ml6WZX_J4EPRjv-ybzMc0uf5sj1xqRXQ/s4032/1-8-24b%20exercise%20dice.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucTTR0tFOWA4sPRleZOtPJ1TFDNC9F4-Krs5h-6tYG7q_RypPpaTimMk83ANllq05hzTYdy3UHV7YlC0TeS7uEtQ9h0SVX-ewnVgdebz5WVJ8l8VO9Xup-s8KmWLW5F2U4OwjN_R59dy4DelnmwPJcUhX4_ml6WZX_J4EPRjv-ybzMc0uf5sj1xqRXQ/s320/1-8-24b%20exercise%20dice.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 8: Violin Recital</h1><p>Congratulations to Mary for performing J.B. Accolay's violin Concerto No. 1 at a recital with Del Mondo Music Academy! Mr. Vasily is a wonderful teacher. (If I had permission to post the video of her performance, you know this mama would . . . .)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMkVWVg_UmKM2ARgMl-0Mz07Eoa0qJGpo9BC3NccWfh4KSMb5OIFXMPXOCNX_NRw0RQLkYOL57ZXBC0btLkwlQpiGmz49x0AQTkkgSgjLDt8fDovMDpHZ-LgxsZIbNp93qFqAq9pM4QUNtKKwWYQuJFeXPJxzipgmn95q4QUU3lZ68RlnTAGBi0i4zD8/s4032/1-7-24d%20Mary%20violin%20recital.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMkVWVg_UmKM2ARgMl-0Mz07Eoa0qJGpo9BC3NccWfh4KSMb5OIFXMPXOCNX_NRw0RQLkYOL57ZXBC0btLkwlQpiGmz49x0AQTkkgSgjLDt8fDovMDpHZ-LgxsZIbNp93qFqAq9pM4QUNtKKwWYQuJFeXPJxzipgmn95q4QUU3lZ68RlnTAGBi0i4zD8/s320/1-7-24d%20Mary%20violin%20recital.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Click for video of <b><a href="https://youtu.be/ptsu--Umj7c?si=fiZsNtT572k1UgM_" target="_blank">Violin Concerto No. 1 by J.B. Accolay</a></b></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 8: Tilly</h1><p>She really tries to be elegant, bless her heart.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtbtlbXvUIv6PBjv4TfH_ZGCDXJVEE_GP1VVG8dejC_P8PiUSw7U4yN0bL7_hV_h1VRvBvIxRBwZ6_WtHQgH-knp49ZeXJb1I7TWWu8GfWSqGp8R2XhAvHpyNwkI4pks_Xifv-f-Zeg94MB_ZsR7tD9CeJCd5prt7o-EUIYud1mIi56sVaMRT1OuWqWE/s4032/1-8-24c%20Tilly%20static%20electricity.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtbtlbXvUIv6PBjv4TfH_ZGCDXJVEE_GP1VVG8dejC_P8PiUSw7U4yN0bL7_hV_h1VRvBvIxRBwZ6_WtHQgH-knp49ZeXJb1I7TWWu8GfWSqGp8R2XhAvHpyNwkI4pks_Xifv-f-Zeg94MB_ZsR7tD9CeJCd5prt7o-EUIYud1mIi56sVaMRT1OuWqWE/s320/1-8-24c%20Tilly%20static%20electricity.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">January 9: Deluge</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzPt566AUfwobcNXOC7AVig2S8I78oKZPdbPRWAkqh7nQXoqc9cW3WATJxLPY41vTt4lI6XUC9zfwvSit3GXTyGGwQKsP4RfVJBABZ92VkoxFGZ0OcPpstbBZNmeDGMpdANKiEmU9E-hzbTq5VANm0Ok3Gpz2Be_-2Yf1ck1MvJmosNEEe_CQzR0V0k8/s320/1-9-24b%20rain%20flood.JPG" style="color: #0000ee; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our dry creek was an actual, fast-flowing creek.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXazEprPmK36B-vivwNTdouN_BCqT1vv3TG-R6q7oQ84ivR2BpNHFB5qdw56VIv3o-0g0nIhFwbM1We-4Evw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 9: Table Topics</h1><p>We are three weeks into using <b><a href="We are three weeks into using Table Topics at dinner, and we are all enjoying it. Our family dinner behavior needed improvement. Without a plan, and with two very tired parents (not) guiding things, conversation was led by kids, loud, often devolved to picking or fighting. Now the kids are all very interested in grabbing the questions at the start of the meal. We are learning interesting things about each other! This also gives us a reason and framework to tell children to be silent, listen to the speaker, rotate answers in a certain order. There is seemingly no end to the variety of selections published by TableTopics or other brands, so I imagine we will have material to work with for a long time. TableTopics Family - 135 Conversation Starter Cards for Game Night, Mealtime, Building Parent-child Relationships, and Bonding Together with Table Topics " target="_blank">Table Topics</a></b> at dinner, and we are all enjoying it. </p><p>Our family dinner behavior needed improvement. Without a plan, and with two very tired parents (not) guiding things, conversation was led by kids, loud, often devolved to picking or fighting. </p><p>Now the kids are all very interested in grabbing the questions at the start of the meal. We are learning interesting things about each other! This also gives us a reason and framework to tell children to be silent, listen to the speaker, rotate answers in a certain order. </p><p>There is seemingly no end to the variety of selections published by TableTopics or other brands, so I imagine we will have material to work with for a long time. </p><p>TableTopics Family - 135 Conversation Starter Cards for Game Night, Mealtime, Building Parent-child Relationships, and Bonding Together with Table Topics </p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 10: Scanxiety</h1><p>PRAYER REQUEST</p><p>Thomas is having his 3-year cancer scans tomorrow (Thursday). Chris and I would appreciate prayers for (1) the scans to be clean and (2) peace for our family. Chris is out "slaying dragons" and has unavoidable travel all week (to three different states!), so he can't attend the scans as he'd like. And that means I'm home managing alone and experiencing "scanxiety" through the roof.</p><p>Today (Wednesday), I took Thomas and his brother to Nuke Med at the main hospital to receive his SSKI (medicine to protect his thyroid) and his MIBG injection (radioactive medicine that "sticks" to neuroblastoma cancer cells). Ever a homeschooling mama, I tasked Joseph (age 10) with navigating us through the maze of the hospital by following signs alone, all the way to our appointment, and all the way back out, onto the neighborhood streets, into the right parking garage, and to our car. He did great!</p><p>The boys and I brought our books, which caused every single staff person who entered the room to comment and share appreciation that we weren't staring at screens, which was so nice (especially since I do stare at screens too much). On our way out, a nurse recognized my boys, let her elevator leave without her, just so that she could rave on and on about how last time she saw my boys, they were also reading books, and here they were again reading books, and she was so glad for them. </p><p>In order to alleviate my PTSD, pit in my stomach, and racing heart this afternoon, I've whiled away the hours NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING HOMESCHOOL, but instead baking four loaves of bread and fervently cleaning the house. </p><p>Given that tonight I'm scheduled to wake up by alarms twice in the middle of the night to stop Thomas's tube feeding, switch to clears, and then stop the clears before he is NPO, and given that I am scheduled to have Grade A Insomnia in between alarms, I plan to binge read "Gone With the Wind" and binge watch fluff television to pass the time.</p><p>As for Thomas, he announced to me cheerfully, "Tomorrow is going to be one of the best days of the year!" I asked him why and he referenced going under general anesthesia: "Because I get to take a four-hour nap! And then at bedtime, I won't be tired, so I will get to stay up super late and read!" So, our little fella isn't nervous or stressed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin9N6F2M33fh6fY6eJPAvcTfKez22Ex57igRmbyTkFE23bkmundtFqC9aVj_8fehSbh5Vnva4n0iwW4RMVz3vrsyfzsmBjl78GHQuFrdU05wW4DK_RfEtQTH7pj1Si8gm-carBEcWnkdi5xRNjwsqJcooDtViWb6dff38nvjiEgnF4Cbv7zZwyPZzHbo/s4032/1-10-24a%20MIBG%20injection.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin9N6F2M33fh6fY6eJPAvcTfKez22Ex57igRmbyTkFE23bkmundtFqC9aVj_8fehSbh5Vnva4n0iwW4RMVz3vrsyfzsmBjl78GHQuFrdU05wW4DK_RfEtQTH7pj1Si8gm-carBEcWnkdi5xRNjwsqJcooDtViWb6dff38nvjiEgnF4Cbv7zZwyPZzHbo/s320/1-10-24a%20MIBG%20injection.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 11: No Evidence of Cancer!</h1><p>Thomas's 3-year cancer scans were clear! He has no evidence of disease! Praise God for this blessing.</p><p>Now Thomas will see Oncology Survivorship only once a year (perpetually . . . and then as an adult will see an oncologist who specializes in children who survived cancer). Thomas sees 11 specialists for 27 routine appointments per year (plus Mom stopping by the pharmacy for him 2-3 times monthly) . . . but we have scratched the Solid Tumor Team OFF his list of physicians!</p><p>Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE8NOfGdvK3cW5zgyu8jvm_PSSSb1ZLMhPiLb9hBW2RBsPw-4vWAx7Vq3YblGTx19pQRtEsjnpjkAemLRTAZWN8pmeFWTBAF8Y2B2a1RhIXWEsW4AMRpGjHKFaKjAuRNg1gj9988pI7pAcEs_B1Cps-9b-6SOd34F4ZR2toKUbV8FH3GxcADckGhHAnI/s345/KRIEITwdhibEXae-800x450-noPad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="345" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE8NOfGdvK3cW5zgyu8jvm_PSSSb1ZLMhPiLb9hBW2RBsPw-4vWAx7Vq3YblGTx19pQRtEsjnpjkAemLRTAZWN8pmeFWTBAF8Y2B2a1RhIXWEsW4AMRpGjHKFaKjAuRNg1gj9988pI7pAcEs_B1Cps-9b-6SOd34F4ZR2toKUbV8FH3GxcADckGhHAnI/s320/KRIEITwdhibEXae-800x450-noPad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 13: Goals</h1><div><div>This is how I’m feeling these days. </div><div>(Substitute “maintain a career” with “teach six grades in a rigirous homeschool.”)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZap9BLOjgYaiseNXsYHhYFElALyB_jHC7TNsF-SbvKauRyGWDLmyLK2Yjowg9lKl7kN6TLUKiDpINaGj4c62rTt9jimKXWgho5eNwGH2PPrLoDsTC4xmr4jyDCwqMv-EhQUYgVpIAvA_ossw838ApTWTZKSmgy4nDXowJ1XEbdeq3J9_tvnGGxqo4Qyo/s658/Screenshot%202024-02-02%20150415.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="658" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZap9BLOjgYaiseNXsYHhYFElALyB_jHC7TNsF-SbvKauRyGWDLmyLK2Yjowg9lKl7kN6TLUKiDpINaGj4c62rTt9jimKXWgho5eNwGH2PPrLoDsTC4xmr4jyDCwqMv-EhQUYgVpIAvA_ossw838ApTWTZKSmgy4nDXowJ1XEbdeq3J9_tvnGGxqo4Qyo/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-02%20150415.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 13: Pet-Sitting Sweet Bailey</h1><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ1eDNRczviCyKRtwfMuQrsTD2wWUZ4jh0hebpqKTHyQTyFTGjSgbVllz4nwdFdjzVKndkWTJeLD5X9sOGAq_aRrIBhkSa3GZRxm766meC0lvZeETlJCRNsy1ngxlq74RXkPWuWuAFdHiopzAhBJmrV8aO0-dMT0vsT6rzIGHxIilJmhi79ivcGKNGU8/s4032/1-13-24b%20Bailey.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ1eDNRczviCyKRtwfMuQrsTD2wWUZ4jh0hebpqKTHyQTyFTGjSgbVllz4nwdFdjzVKndkWTJeLD5X9sOGAq_aRrIBhkSa3GZRxm766meC0lvZeETlJCRNsy1ngxlq74RXkPWuWuAFdHiopzAhBJmrV8aO0-dMT0vsT6rzIGHxIilJmhi79ivcGKNGU8/s320/1-13-24b%20Bailey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXP9ZeUcuIkvAxGezGi1R_yTKCR4wccQXxOnm6FiQz8SCzTe5maJRGHRhtmhXzrG2OC6MVZXl4iW0hjAl6wPzj23GSr-O9uFq51MqYiK_rCQ6tO_n4yQoMDmQgVcgRewugLxPdfOsUyFKDxMeRHtfJxTLOYzm6YOt0nY08eeQEkrtY9k3YfXV2ZQn3pE/s4032/1-13-24c%20Bailey.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXP9ZeUcuIkvAxGezGi1R_yTKCR4wccQXxOnm6FiQz8SCzTe5maJRGHRhtmhXzrG2OC6MVZXl4iW0hjAl6wPzj23GSr-O9uFq51MqYiK_rCQ6tO_n4yQoMDmQgVcgRewugLxPdfOsUyFKDxMeRHtfJxTLOYzm6YOt0nY08eeQEkrtY9k3YfXV2ZQn3pE/s320/1-13-24c%20Bailey.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 14: Nate Bargatze Tour</h1><p>Merry Christmas to us! We went to the Beef ‘N Bottle Steakhouse and then to see Nate Bargatze on tour!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryFXCJsTS2uwou-c-igg8tW_Yoop8K0x7kJY8Dq2K_QhXXy_5E2K5MOqvywMHA14UxWHwPegns4-rQkr4IHJLMSBA_EhAX0q14mrdjXBoUeNhpu-nX4xrnA0rH04KqaqiAeD38ehFZIDybfdX1B8dOSOIs1Ut3N6FmYpmh4GWybaTci19s2s7OcHNBLk/s2926/1-14-24b%20date%20night.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="2209" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryFXCJsTS2uwou-c-igg8tW_Yoop8K0x7kJY8Dq2K_QhXXy_5E2K5MOqvywMHA14UxWHwPegns4-rQkr4IHJLMSBA_EhAX0q14mrdjXBoUeNhpu-nX4xrnA0rH04KqaqiAeD38ehFZIDybfdX1B8dOSOIs1Ut3N6FmYpmh4GWybaTci19s2s7OcHNBLk/s320/1-14-24b%20date%20night.JPG" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 16: Happy 11th birthday, Joseph!</h1><p>This boy is utterly so full of ENERGY AT ALL TIMES. Someday that will serve him well! He loves building and launching rockets, building Legos and filming stop-action movies, doing science experiments with chemicals, and running around outdoors every afternoon. He reads voraciously two to three fat novels weekly: classic literature, boyish adventures, fantastic stuff. I have to be alert to go back into his bedroom to force "lights out!" and "no more reading!" or he'll stay up till midnight frequently, reading his little heart out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAGzuJaxs9bPJe4RsH5A03xdkOwu2Tg7OwiI2unhJyu9Z3FQfxYLJlc6qYH1H0buHcsUvPtyZA_WBi24upZZNyNiJy-h7L6Iyn34DSbKwBuyt6jEia2ey8MLJLtF8inNUk5zalXi4mD0iPTqa9MsVgw21Lzsu5muBR2p89B8E-8u-V4SQjPFjXtj5OdQ/s4032/1-15-24c%20Joseph%20birthday%20cake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAGzuJaxs9bPJe4RsH5A03xdkOwu2Tg7OwiI2unhJyu9Z3FQfxYLJlc6qYH1H0buHcsUvPtyZA_WBi24upZZNyNiJy-h7L6Iyn34DSbKwBuyt6jEia2ey8MLJLtF8inNUk5zalXi4mD0iPTqa9MsVgw21Lzsu5muBR2p89B8E-8u-V4SQjPFjXtj5OdQ/s320/1-15-24c%20Joseph%20birthday%20cake.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pl0wAaTJB1XsCkg5PhXBQSKcT7RQAQuVAVs-wco53NiqRmfPzqBwa3kbzUDd3bQ532inNNE16_b5BqHE625W2XIni8xfnT93INrgS8WpRRgiHEDABJyvbFCFvQjsMA0-VwlFAwo9BzstcDLdyj5AvYAA2cB3frEaRMNON1IMDA-lrY2bGkctoZE80ng/s4032/1-15-24d%20Joseph%20birthday.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pl0wAaTJB1XsCkg5PhXBQSKcT7RQAQuVAVs-wco53NiqRmfPzqBwa3kbzUDd3bQ532inNNE16_b5BqHE625W2XIni8xfnT93INrgS8WpRRgiHEDABJyvbFCFvQjsMA0-VwlFAwo9BzstcDLdyj5AvYAA2cB3frEaRMNON1IMDA-lrY2bGkctoZE80ng/s320/1-15-24d%20Joseph%20birthday.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRdhcE5JYuy4Wf4UoNqn8HzuP2v9Kzzzj5IBJlxJ__ACWL3YSfQwmWv7Yreuzcp7kDPmhJfUqvU8muOZQN4TsS9EuAEqpNEf-atnAJA4B5JF91XFpa-FHRHNje6iKLn1GTNVlX9N3YWi5YIdq2fIk8o6YjwDcy55uJ-GjvxVwlLAuk59ffHuqSmdW6hM/s4032/1-15-24e%20Joseph%20birthday.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRdhcE5JYuy4Wf4UoNqn8HzuP2v9Kzzzj5IBJlxJ__ACWL3YSfQwmWv7Yreuzcp7kDPmhJfUqvU8muOZQN4TsS9EuAEqpNEf-atnAJA4B5JF91XFpa-FHRHNje6iKLn1GTNVlX9N3YWi5YIdq2fIk8o6YjwDcy55uJ-GjvxVwlLAuk59ffHuqSmdW6hM/s320/1-15-24e%20Joseph%20birthday.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 18: Know Your Place, Stay in your Place</h1><p>Medical Mamas will understand completely and other mamas will get a glimpse behind the curtain . . . </p><p>My feeling dejected about all I am UNable to accomplish is not a new theme (just ask my long suffering husband, although he won't confirm because he is more polite than me). This week, as I'm trying to discern if I can take on an additional duty, I calculated how many medical visits I attend annually. Spoiler alert (as they say): It is about 100 visits annually NOT counting any sick or injury events.</p><p>Given that I homeschool (which isn't going to change) and schooling basically doesn't happen when I'm absent from the house, disrupting the school two to three times weekly helps explain my frustration. </p><p>I had started to think that "Thomas's medical care is sort of equivalent to just a woman running a large family, like all my friends, and they're getting by!"--and then I realized that a little math was in order.</p><p>"Katherine, get yourself a CLUE."</p><p>Thomas's medical appointments alone, which include having to drive to Levine's to do stand-alone labs with regularity, is 37 annually.</p><p>My driving to the specialty pharmacy for Thomas's specialty medications (requiring a parking garage, no drive-through option) 30 minutes each way three times monthly means 36 trips. (The fee to have them mail me the prescriptions would be significant.) [EDIT: I will clarify that we interface with three pharmacies, and two mail for free, but the third one is the one I have to visit so often. In the world of medical complexity, different pharmacies manage different things.]</p><p>Then there are five other kids with a well-visit each per year, one in braces, and two being monitored for braces, plus my own physicals and labs (separate visits) and a couple of specialists. I take all six kids to the dentist simultaneously (twice per year) and then I go on a separate trip.</p><p>I'm counting 99 medical visits per year WITHOUT anyone getting sick or injured and without considering Thomas's fever protocol that means I take him to the ER for any significant fever at all. Some medical symptoms mean his doctor has me take him in for labs in order to determine if he needs to be seen. This also doesn't count all the tracking of food and meds for Thomas, charts and graphs, regular questions by text and email to his doctors, and the so many additional phone calls I receive from his medical team. For example, Thomas has an Oncology Survivorship appointment this coming Friday, so I spent from 9:00 p.m. to midnight preparing paperwork to take to that appointment.</p><p>Right now, we're battling Thomas's recurrent cellulitis, which is a deceptively nonchalant skin infection that can become sepsis and death quickly (for any kid, not just an immunocompromised one). This has already required texting his doctor photos every day, going to the pharmacy, and taking Thomas in to get the infection cultured. Considering Thomas's last go-round involved three infections over six weeks and finally needing to be inpatient for a couple of days at Levine's for IV antibiotics and drainage under general anesthesia, I am just preparing my heart for this infection NOT to be simple.</p><p>So, maybe it's time I face a true COMMITMENT to year-round homeschooling to accommodate our slower accomplishments, right? Maybe it's time that I have a "come to Jesus" conversation in which I finally let God put me in my place: this is where he has me now, and what I can accomplish is all I can accomplish, whether I like it or not. (Clue: my petulant answer is "NOT.")</p><p>As Fr. Shawn--recently beloved and CANCELLED priest--says: "Know your place, stay in your place."</p><p>Obviously, prayers for my acceptance of God's will are appreciated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn8VdmCiUExzIGPpNsENOP1SKXIC80_izy-3ZC0IuA_V6ZivlaePZFEOsbXLkeW831evWqY1IAeZOVoxEtgbyoXergvj3zuN5KdM_c-yfFmbmtVdzLstwVecGC_QtPvn-vCf4BmsakRAqG_sJiKAxg-zUq6Ty4r2aVYiG4vGHwjVUY1vfQXSsOMxlkwg/s4032/12-28-23a%20Thomas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn8VdmCiUExzIGPpNsENOP1SKXIC80_izy-3ZC0IuA_V6ZivlaePZFEOsbXLkeW831evWqY1IAeZOVoxEtgbyoXergvj3zuN5KdM_c-yfFmbmtVdzLstwVecGC_QtPvn-vCf4BmsakRAqG_sJiKAxg-zUq6Ty4r2aVYiG4vGHwjVUY1vfQXSsOMxlkwg/s320/12-28-23a%20Thomas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 19: Survivorship Appointment</h1><p>Today marks the three-year anniversary of Thomas being discharged from two months in PICU to the Oncology floor. One of the Attending Surgeons recently told some fellow ER doctors in front of me that Thomas is as sick as a kid has ever been at Levine's Children's Hospital and survived. </p><p>I didn't know that. Sobering.</p><p>Today Thomas is in a much better station in life: he attended his annual Survivorship Appointment at Oncology! (Chris was gone on business travel, so he attended via FaceTime.)</p><p>The Survivorship Program is wonderful. We were seen one at a time by a phlebotomist, a nurse, a dietician, a social worker, an education specialist, a child life specialist (to make sure Thomas understands all about his past medical history in an age-appropriate way), and finally by the doctor who runs the program. Afterward, Thomas's oncologist and Miss Hailey, his beloved child life specialist stopped by for a social visit.</p><p>Everything went well! The most exciting news for Thomas is that he has grown to four feet tall! He's been waiting for that for a long time.</p><p>Some little updates:</p><p>We no longer have to monitor Thomas's heart muscle health with echocardiograms. After studying pediatric cancer patients for years, the national protocol has changed because elevated occurrence of heart muscle damage is not seen in children who received the particular dose of doxorubicin that Thomas received (only in children who received twice as much).</p><p>Doxorubicin can cause damage to the arteries, so that monitoring normally begins at age 10. However, Oncology is going to consult with GI because they may start monitoring Thomas earlier than 10 years old based on all his GI involvement and absorption issues.</p><p>Thomas will continue to be monitored annually into his 20s before he switches to Adult Survivorship.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumKz57JVfLWu0HylYLTtS_-LPNbo2JZUBYJWsHgLoZCBNa5UP0jDLkoQbpI2vMkrpFxJHSnv8FDNG41NXIvg518AlNJ2vI7HK_l6AHs-RKyINC930phFWRT4IMF9ppvFZykXXc1szDnkC4AkFFn5nB1VYTX9zyDazv9ykInayfWOzcV5o72pSxIFqV4g/s4032/1-19-24b%20Thomas%20art%20oncology%20clinic.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumKz57JVfLWu0HylYLTtS_-LPNbo2JZUBYJWsHgLoZCBNa5UP0jDLkoQbpI2vMkrpFxJHSnv8FDNG41NXIvg518AlNJ2vI7HK_l6AHs-RKyINC930phFWRT4IMF9ppvFZykXXc1szDnkC4AkFFn5nB1VYTX9zyDazv9ykInayfWOzcV5o72pSxIFqV4g/s320/1-19-24b%20Thomas%20art%20oncology%20clinic.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH6s1GHYd-hnPHhsaqe3WvLb3er-NXfmJV4HW9_JlmqDK9wUnn20KGYsn6kwJ_LKvLypJ9a1u6Ow32YMH0vA33GZxK7LGSg3m1_zSIYb8yvE4G8MMU2crTVB-8OTMQ3e54eMq0XVnlBQbdP2KZDWMnZj_hwCAQ6t6xkIwMLXo93OxaAhTpkZozLmugBQ/s4032/1-19-24c%20Thomas%20Dr%20Pope%20Oncology.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH6s1GHYd-hnPHhsaqe3WvLb3er-NXfmJV4HW9_JlmqDK9wUnn20KGYsn6kwJ_LKvLypJ9a1u6Ow32YMH0vA33GZxK7LGSg3m1_zSIYb8yvE4G8MMU2crTVB-8OTMQ3e54eMq0XVnlBQbdP2KZDWMnZj_hwCAQ6t6xkIwMLXo93OxaAhTpkZozLmugBQ/s320/1-19-24c%20Thomas%20Dr%20Pope%20Oncology.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACGf8M-jW_WbXHp2jROGR_7tr-grD9BKdTOkqXrxp-H1UC-b4XUyF3XqDXABTVVRDjmPS1TFxcTGkaZN-RyrxcPtUH9nJRnz5Rgwf79JxUFiulKamwkTjribgliP75BYR1vLun49WRyt2M6V4dyqjugH9VNHq1U8MgXKZ5_4qag_wm_uNX6bJATn2ePI/s4032/1-19-24d%20Thomas%20Hailey%20Weber%20Child%20Life.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACGf8M-jW_WbXHp2jROGR_7tr-grD9BKdTOkqXrxp-H1UC-b4XUyF3XqDXABTVVRDjmPS1TFxcTGkaZN-RyrxcPtUH9nJRnz5Rgwf79JxUFiulKamwkTjribgliP75BYR1vLun49WRyt2M6V4dyqjugH9VNHq1U8MgXKZ5_4qag_wm_uNX6bJATn2ePI/s320/1-19-24d%20Thomas%20Hailey%20Weber%20Child%20Life.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 22: Year of Wonder</h1><p>I’m enjoying so far using <b><i><a href="https://a.co/d/bY1V8NF" target="_blank">Year of Wonder</a></i></b> with the kids. My goal is twice a week at lunchtime to read aloud that day’s description of classical music and then play the piece via my phone. (Note that I would not hand off the book to a child to read aloud because some of the plot descriptions of operas, for example, are a little spicy.) So far, we are having fruitful conversations describing what we hear and sharing what we like or dislike. It is less than a ten-minute investment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesxQe0SS6j_iZlZoKEfvBGp0fmo9FL0g8GSOneHidyRWrr2xp-gGPAoMUSyxH4iLOr22wbYFKzfzAH-Kkz3mSM9ipMK2zoTXCqV1pIwHNuNayRcWTQvVZH0fK4pNHMYlz7NJmLsMWZjbPICS8T05sng710wsRNE_jKfRske7zidH0iBVfvXJSnqwcFfs/s4032/1-22-24b%20Year%20of%20Wonder.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesxQe0SS6j_iZlZoKEfvBGp0fmo9FL0g8GSOneHidyRWrr2xp-gGPAoMUSyxH4iLOr22wbYFKzfzAH-Kkz3mSM9ipMK2zoTXCqV1pIwHNuNayRcWTQvVZH0fK4pNHMYlz7NJmLsMWZjbPICS8T05sng710wsRNE_jKfRske7zidH0iBVfvXJSnqwcFfs/s320/1-22-24b%20Year%20of%20Wonder.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 22: Homemade Pizza Crust</h1><p>This weekend, little David was my baking assistant. I baked enough cookies to last for three dessert nights (froze two portions worth) and baked homemade pizza crust and froze them for use this coming Friday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqTmuaGsG6Z2keI7ghBbhhkUItrHy75PHjkVXD8VDwWwIq2gs78KudfJalZZ4_LAhJzLCfc3RW7fvdOfoYaLAxUv41e5HGJWd90ljLv2CO5tQfmgMCpyKQc4RU0AgqOUpJyUnGyqLwU9ewp2HTZu39PGtUUrlUs8UoTPjWxpy1K58gi97bGDYYjFCzg4/s4032/1-21-24b%20David%20baking.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqTmuaGsG6Z2keI7ghBbhhkUItrHy75PHjkVXD8VDwWwIq2gs78KudfJalZZ4_LAhJzLCfc3RW7fvdOfoYaLAxUv41e5HGJWd90ljLv2CO5tQfmgMCpyKQc4RU0AgqOUpJyUnGyqLwU9ewp2HTZu39PGtUUrlUs8UoTPjWxpy1K58gi97bGDYYjFCzg4/s320/1-21-24b%20David%20baking.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMBMdmhSlRZLP1Sd01iVSd4oGNrdoAv80me7rV9puICzxW7U_3Xs2hR-Uf9_InbcajX4duV-njUuq8x74gcJPwNf2RQCnwTFMwtZ4t8hMtL7tEJSFG_hPN1NxZgURGNNjCcTumRHBVMGH_O7Y9Lf-Qaj3rGPaPFqvWf2gsz50D6tM6F1En9iyHSIIRh4/s4032/1-21-24c%20homemade%20pizza%20crusts.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMBMdmhSlRZLP1Sd01iVSd4oGNrdoAv80me7rV9puICzxW7U_3Xs2hR-Uf9_InbcajX4duV-njUuq8x74gcJPwNf2RQCnwTFMwtZ4t8hMtL7tEJSFG_hPN1NxZgURGNNjCcTumRHBVMGH_O7Y9Lf-Qaj3rGPaPFqvWf2gsz50D6tM6F1En9iyHSIIRh4/s320/1-21-24c%20homemade%20pizza%20crusts.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 23: Blood Donation Heroes</h1><p>Not a week goes by that I don't look at Thomas playing happily and think of the 93 strangers who donated blood products to save his life.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcg8V_Ya2sXDWHgGnR6EpoU5i9aDepS6CH2qlaB6LGwrhyuZGJ_hqCidYBYzRkFiHx2sX8RBteLgmNA0lHY2SMKZXAlkZyXyWhIHjTHGUxNG9BI_Q2XIDyWvYpYSVi73en6ByFR2gxlXmZLl63Gneku_giu5JletZ2JFILdd-CoKGZxZ4-W75K9B4YAE/s620/Screenshot%202024-02-02%20151102.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcg8V_Ya2sXDWHgGnR6EpoU5i9aDepS6CH2qlaB6LGwrhyuZGJ_hqCidYBYzRkFiHx2sX8RBteLgmNA0lHY2SMKZXAlkZyXyWhIHjTHGUxNG9BI_Q2XIDyWvYpYSVi73en6ByFR2gxlXmZLl63Gneku_giu5JletZ2JFILdd-CoKGZxZ4-W75K9B4YAE/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-02%20151102.png" width="312" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 24: Madama Butterfly</h1><p>Our girls got to enjoy seeing Opera Carolina’s <i>Madame Butterfly</i> last night. As disappointed as I was to be unable to attend due to this irritating cough, I was so grateful that Chris could take them in my stead. Plus he brought me home macarons from the Ritz!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujoHRAoFwL6FyvOnWirhx1P0SLQLc_LRhuYZ6lwyuQsPgZZ2SOzUcU1nnBY7PrY_SpIO214k4Yxs0b8R8ZuCacjaRZa4q9ao6sBvO1BVbtQMgpBce71Uuf6Fnw6IMec4iatW2RAwJUCoUj9VR37O-qhjGEAp-G4s-acotzTcmzgLSCpP_d6QPk1Ice_4/s4032/1-23-24d%20Madama%20Butterly.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujoHRAoFwL6FyvOnWirhx1P0SLQLc_LRhuYZ6lwyuQsPgZZ2SOzUcU1nnBY7PrY_SpIO214k4Yxs0b8R8ZuCacjaRZa4q9ao6sBvO1BVbtQMgpBce71Uuf6Fnw6IMec4iatW2RAwJUCoUj9VR37O-qhjGEAp-G4s-acotzTcmzgLSCpP_d6QPk1Ice_4/s320/1-23-24d%20Madama%20Butterly.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmyxws2LTQdj6vL8nO9fGndcm8aoO1v9RTvCQWD3Bo0ue5hyTWe4qXxAkvRAp3tGhdBo3neaVhUwANYLFRkj3aKpfHaQbvRNjHniQR_gR8tCPPT8c10wzUMnoFRnro_da8Scc8gHAy5xhLuimn2H7SieNznrhZ6hAoQ354KhM9_QZwA7KUju5Lz4OMK0/s4032/1-23-24e%20Madama%20Butterfly.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmyxws2LTQdj6vL8nO9fGndcm8aoO1v9RTvCQWD3Bo0ue5hyTWe4qXxAkvRAp3tGhdBo3neaVhUwANYLFRkj3aKpfHaQbvRNjHniQR_gR8tCPPT8c10wzUMnoFRnro_da8Scc8gHAy5xhLuimn2H7SieNznrhZ6hAoQ354KhM9_QZwA7KUju5Lz4OMK0/s320/1-23-24e%20Madama%20Butterfly.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0NKh-fuekcWkh2C0YqoCPLmgls_9B0gWz3aBTn-uFjeZm__lkhQKzapsj6D0hrCgN7N8nlYIB8xUYE5idSO-DOT3ZNV9UdXw4o7zS2elCRfEhFAebA6o47bDA8X3sqeJKsIDgwfE4VMj_nc-IRDYwzvPnytMf1k5tJ8is_lOxrJVQlxDjIeRS9IKOnk/s3024/1-23-24f%20Madama%20Butterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="1739" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0NKh-fuekcWkh2C0YqoCPLmgls_9B0gWz3aBTn-uFjeZm__lkhQKzapsj6D0hrCgN7N8nlYIB8xUYE5idSO-DOT3ZNV9UdXw4o7zS2elCRfEhFAebA6o47bDA8X3sqeJKsIDgwfE4VMj_nc-IRDYwzvPnytMf1k5tJ8is_lOxrJVQlxDjIeRS9IKOnk/s320/1-23-24f%20Madama%20Butterfly.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t9jcl4Eos16Vu5WSs91rE8cdB056YFJhNMLlh9ljwe4CFyye9zLJri3tj8b8P0BqUWGQ0A8yJGZOQsOH7cwzjdWDth8m0E0DNe6YdiowJmdQhTyZKptFJLfDA3zu4Bf6U9ScZLIi8CGKCVO7yVLj0TZNtNdpOH2di4Sq0nfkn7EjNHkGxGJeqOAGi_E/s4032/1-23-24g%20Madama%20Butterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t9jcl4Eos16Vu5WSs91rE8cdB056YFJhNMLlh9ljwe4CFyye9zLJri3tj8b8P0BqUWGQ0A8yJGZOQsOH7cwzjdWDth8m0E0DNe6YdiowJmdQhTyZKptFJLfDA3zu4Bf6U9ScZLIi8CGKCVO7yVLj0TZNtNdpOH2di4Sq0nfkn7EjNHkGxGJeqOAGi_E/s320/1-23-24g%20Madama%20Butterfly.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m8VXrL0i_K4yv-LJBTN2qvvFs777om9fe-NSQn9MuTN9PQBrRPNMiwRWsFqCC7vopvA5TOVz_st-WOggHuU0fJf4xdrxga-GNzuINQqI0LUFiUzztkzyO2c_AXu4Kd39mmhAHA7Xz6AnkyVG7Mk-xnT70N4RXlJvONSTeDXTxOlf_wCYNomsGhE23ew/s4032/1-23-24h%20Madama%20Butterfly.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m8VXrL0i_K4yv-LJBTN2qvvFs777om9fe-NSQn9MuTN9PQBrRPNMiwRWsFqCC7vopvA5TOVz_st-WOggHuU0fJf4xdrxga-GNzuINQqI0LUFiUzztkzyO2c_AXu4Kd39mmhAHA7Xz6AnkyVG7Mk-xnT70N4RXlJvONSTeDXTxOlf_wCYNomsGhE23ew/s320/1-23-24h%20Madama%20Butterfly.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYAXTEEDSaG_W2RttQaxUFBHZtyj5qahrTpz9yNv723sLdBuDiZ6XV2kBqkyEEGabdN6f2PUO2MgPCHLtn7phLKeDvIxS1bXQ639eDQB61l4xt2pZ8SU_0gICBd7TWAlZOYGqdRnSXyHQh4fOYTcAyhsVdsA7wkRStUkw2vzvOvw9gVrdcAuIJ4LcdYc/s2459/1-23-24i%20Ritz%20Carlton%20dessert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2120" data-original-width="2459" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYAXTEEDSaG_W2RttQaxUFBHZtyj5qahrTpz9yNv723sLdBuDiZ6XV2kBqkyEEGabdN6f2PUO2MgPCHLtn7phLKeDvIxS1bXQ639eDQB61l4xt2pZ8SU_0gICBd7TWAlZOYGqdRnSXyHQh4fOYTcAyhsVdsA7wkRStUkw2vzvOvw9gVrdcAuIJ4LcdYc/s320/1-23-24i%20Ritz%20Carlton%20dessert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr8JwPPLNxKX7sQckfTMRUN-hC9ArrIBGhBpfWhGOIjnpdaZf_TlcVDUd8mYn30hy_Fli5TKh6ralQQ-Nsf0LYeVvPm3j1GQUMltYnSJWsjB4_jt6UpzGvrf_R3Wv7k-rW28fYV96ULoJ6iZdtFwaUwiIYFo1KbE5bF_Aift4XvvZe5Ddrq4IkhGD67c/s4032/1-23-24j%20Ritz%20Carlton%20macaron.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr8JwPPLNxKX7sQckfTMRUN-hC9ArrIBGhBpfWhGOIjnpdaZf_TlcVDUd8mYn30hy_Fli5TKh6ralQQ-Nsf0LYeVvPm3j1GQUMltYnSJWsjB4_jt6UpzGvrf_R3Wv7k-rW28fYV96ULoJ6iZdtFwaUwiIYFo1KbE5bF_Aift4XvvZe5Ddrq4IkhGD67c/s320/1-23-24j%20Ritz%20Carlton%20macaron.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 25: Cicadas</h1><p><a href="https://www.charlottestories.com/over-1-trillion-cicadas-awakening-in-2024s-rare-brood-alignment-not-seen-since-1800s/?fbclid=IwAR0lfe0aZaPwhBKnuvAAqLwe6XYvn-YV_A_FCht8BBJNlGWFLuNCIZySQ0E" target="_blank">Over 1 Trillion Cicadas Awakening In 2024’s Rare Brood Alignment – Not Seen Since 1800s</a></p><p>I remember discovering cicadas when we moved to Charlotte. We moved into our home in early summer 2008 and later that summer were taking an evening walk. The sound was deafening! I had no idea what the sound was. I then wondered if cicadas should have been part of the disclosures in the home sale. Talk about an ignorant California girl!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 25: BROOM FOUND </h1><p>For three days, my broom and dustpan were missing. Can you envision how icky my entire wooden-floor downstairs and, in particular, my kitchen gets over 3 days with 8 people and 2 dogs living in it 24/7? I searched everywhere that the broom shouldn't even be: every bedroom, every bathroom, the garage, outdoors: nothing! I was starting to as myself, when does a housewife buy a new broom and dustpan? </p><p>This morning: the broom and dustpan appeared in my pantry as if nothing awry had ever occurred. Maybe the Broom Fairy returned the set to me. All I know is that I stopped homeschooling immediately in order to sweep the downstairs and felt so much satisfaction dumping the piles of dirt and dog hair into the garbage can!</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 29: Healthier French Toast</h1><p>Success!</p><p>I figured out how to make homemade French toast sticks that Thomas loves and that he tolerates well. </p><p>He loves the ones in the frozen department at the grocery, but they make him violently ill. </p><p>These ones: I swapped the ratio, so used two eggs plus just a splash of milk to coat the crisped toast. Then while cooking, I sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar (a little goes a long way). Yay!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ8Fhe08ME0i4g_QmezuRnwyhPd7v7q94EURsz6MOyddmDpjaCLHUvGImCH9RqQMfZI6IZmJfRsWEbLaFFFcet9r5t_GSo66CXQihizeDQjtfirShZmwmeSdfc02Aoy8MJFpOzwZJQrNcXD95-HYPSx0ttB7ns7qMM41WUU8V0RmY_dcBN4pVu9djy5c/s4032/1-27-24a%20French%20toast%20for%20Thomas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ8Fhe08ME0i4g_QmezuRnwyhPd7v7q94EURsz6MOyddmDpjaCLHUvGImCH9RqQMfZI6IZmJfRsWEbLaFFFcet9r5t_GSo66CXQihizeDQjtfirShZmwmeSdfc02Aoy8MJFpOzwZJQrNcXD95-HYPSx0ttB7ns7qMM41WUU8V0RmY_dcBN4pVu9djy5c/s320/1-27-24a%20French%20toast%20for%20Thomas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 29: Family Dance</h1><p>We had a fun time Saturday night at the St. Ann Family Dance. The crowd was petite because of the torrential rain but the Heberts are so skilled at teaching dances and working a crowd, that we all still had a great time. Imagine how enjoyable it will be in good weather with a big crowd! Hope you’ll join us next time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyuadjB0AjuxzEl4lT0s4BUIUl1gBxDJIeeacLV4xWgYxww_AutpnJL67DV7AXpEUqPqAl-Ba_4Hkh-z7uRbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO_4djs6BNPxX5KDuIZynW041YBXXix4IOcnqrTGdRn9KXODAYzOWxX-Hel7fsCSfz-9ZNmyUUheptO4sFzEITiJJllAkc-UEuJfbeBwIpt83Ect3iOF-6Z-kVZvESbxPTMA8AVPsVY4DAenFhfk5XAYCcNyW4bM-90b8TNmq-oury8t0acMDksfscc8/s4032/1-27-24e%20family%20dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO_4djs6BNPxX5KDuIZynW041YBXXix4IOcnqrTGdRn9KXODAYzOWxX-Hel7fsCSfz-9ZNmyUUheptO4sFzEITiJJllAkc-UEuJfbeBwIpt83Ect3iOF-6Z-kVZvESbxPTMA8AVPsVY4DAenFhfk5XAYCcNyW4bM-90b8TNmq-oury8t0acMDksfscc8/s320/1-27-24e%20family%20dance.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3jbykmngdQ0jSg56nEUpmR8Vq4nVkMw8KO42EKjJIWzH6qj-o09v89tOQXcrsDLoapqEKurjwo7jJE-2glZt0rx2DibIniGaRCbymVu4dQxwiarzbhlu-8XVLHUlUSQNjdThyphenhyphengruXq6UffUrvLce8NGhC0PPFhSTQXgSQ9bccj31rS00uaQ6rb8ImDo/s4032/1-27-24f%20family%20dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3jbykmngdQ0jSg56nEUpmR8Vq4nVkMw8KO42EKjJIWzH6qj-o09v89tOQXcrsDLoapqEKurjwo7jJE-2glZt0rx2DibIniGaRCbymVu4dQxwiarzbhlu-8XVLHUlUSQNjdThyphenhyphengruXq6UffUrvLce8NGhC0PPFhSTQXgSQ9bccj31rS00uaQ6rb8ImDo/s320/1-27-24f%20family%20dance.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhhHGEu4zGQIB1AIODXDpZsn1cMDBm1PsPDVGsowWX9wSZWTwflOkk251HYfykvH3s1g8jxQ5CWJmiqHOkYb3TxuyuK3ufJb9pvT1bIp_NLDWMX49DPXKovf3MuwmLwV2Xz0GfuSrSBW9u2V-49bpXf8tDVANKZjSs3ji-lyNhXqI3Q1Obw1X2chvudQ/s4032/1-27-24h%20family%20dance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhhHGEu4zGQIB1AIODXDpZsn1cMDBm1PsPDVGsowWX9wSZWTwflOkk251HYfykvH3s1g8jxQ5CWJmiqHOkYb3TxuyuK3ufJb9pvT1bIp_NLDWMX49DPXKovf3MuwmLwV2Xz0GfuSrSBW9u2V-49bpXf8tDVANKZjSs3ji-lyNhXqI3Q1Obw1X2chvudQ/s320/1-27-24h%20family%20dance.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHa7mF_6DAQrWVGJNKprA5q9l7N-FOlY86Dd6ZJFELUxuMpNBTmGbwfeHrxjHkB91VHiYtZfjOqRQFC585UEhhy1CVSmTsp-ip1m9VASCELwIeESamPOrNJNcSlEUGOVMjHytuh6-oERt1Bbw3rxA_FUqZ_uR_kavxqQhMjR5Wd4xjSmN5qyh2nw2NKo/s4032/1-27-24i%20family%20dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHa7mF_6DAQrWVGJNKprA5q9l7N-FOlY86Dd6ZJFELUxuMpNBTmGbwfeHrxjHkB91VHiYtZfjOqRQFC585UEhhy1CVSmTsp-ip1m9VASCELwIeESamPOrNJNcSlEUGOVMjHytuh6-oERt1Bbw3rxA_FUqZ_uR_kavxqQhMjR5Wd4xjSmN5qyh2nw2NKo/s320/1-27-24i%20family%20dance.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdJWuIx0r347o0dHCKBg2HsbSoPoKHsBH3Zd2fwghktAfrh7ILms8A7cM-Bxg4copP8GhqUhayFgPXhpU3RCTp913da0aIYTy_PhIb7RrQM1CZfdp-BIQI1J8ACZYXAtgjMwG-ziFOfNLVFw5tNxFRTuJLvhRasfVcmRYH_6oi8qMNLtHb_1CVjzYp1w/s4032/1-27-24j%20family%20dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdJWuIx0r347o0dHCKBg2HsbSoPoKHsBH3Zd2fwghktAfrh7ILms8A7cM-Bxg4copP8GhqUhayFgPXhpU3RCTp913da0aIYTy_PhIb7RrQM1CZfdp-BIQI1J8ACZYXAtgjMwG-ziFOfNLVFw5tNxFRTuJLvhRasfVcmRYH_6oi8qMNLtHb_1CVjzYp1w/s320/1-27-24j%20family%20dance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-by_qZSJ5P0Gwrd8gq9DO7Dk5YMVANbPm-AHE9ArccKRbm51L6Hdpu1DD-QRxFCb2TVXa8HBQLGlJ9Q9pfWmpGaTOYlq30Hq3tKn7gYTU8pU8uma7tU_IPfYLtnmvlTRBYtjcnVB5A-doJXe-GwbX18OC2499hM58lRVTqT0Ts5r8T2_VoYKyfq9pg/s4032/1-27-24k%20family%20dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-by_qZSJ5P0Gwrd8gq9DO7Dk5YMVANbPm-AHE9ArccKRbm51L6Hdpu1DD-QRxFCb2TVXa8HBQLGlJ9Q9pfWmpGaTOYlq30Hq3tKn7gYTU8pU8uma7tU_IPfYLtnmvlTRBYtjcnVB5A-doJXe-GwbX18OC2499hM58lRVTqT0Ts5r8T2_VoYKyfq9pg/s320/1-27-24k%20family%20dance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 29: Wasps</h1><p>This is our collection of bug poisons in the garage: note that the wasps have built their nest on the bottle of wasp poison. Touché.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBigzctb5to0WiQ-IZQ7WI6j8w6gx0PAOIkuRH-sK-l1Uju5KPZ2RDogtDKqfol7nP3w_8poxtBCjybZAuZhdZIdGli2cI8CxEYQWxs_ov5QBvOPFp6LhERHcWO9CvWEaB_XnA_e2SftDu1H79Lpqpm8x2CS8ol-HbxSE0SrPcsswUqP2EjpnSswMD9O8/s4032/1-27-24c%20wasp%20nest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBigzctb5to0WiQ-IZQ7WI6j8w6gx0PAOIkuRH-sK-l1Uju5KPZ2RDogtDKqfol7nP3w_8poxtBCjybZAuZhdZIdGli2cI8CxEYQWxs_ov5QBvOPFp6LhERHcWO9CvWEaB_XnA_e2SftDu1H79Lpqpm8x2CS8ol-HbxSE0SrPcsswUqP2EjpnSswMD9O8/s320/1-27-24c%20wasp%20nest.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkD5bMvLu0eFKR1h5tjpzMa615OKtx-K5cVYS1lMhfHQianJ8IScAIZG8Jvs6eULWM2K0r3ZEYxCV-Nsyxxvv8weA6Se2mJt5NAe-cgj3q9rURVpyLDyv3ZH4ukciAhzNeT3pvKrDuTD_iCYd0OndvUVQ08Uy-QzuFXAMNONLQ_h_GkqlZDaRA2QGm4/s2100/1-27-24d%20wasp%20nest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkD5bMvLu0eFKR1h5tjpzMa615OKtx-K5cVYS1lMhfHQianJ8IScAIZG8Jvs6eULWM2K0r3ZEYxCV-Nsyxxvv8weA6Se2mJt5NAe-cgj3q9rURVpyLDyv3ZH4ukciAhzNeT3pvKrDuTD_iCYd0OndvUVQ08Uy-QzuFXAMNONLQ_h_GkqlZDaRA2QGm4/s320/1-27-24d%20wasp%20nest.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 28: A li’l tip concerning pharmacies</h1><p>If your doctor sends in a prescription and you receive an alert from the pharmacy that the medication is temporarily “out of stock,”—an update repeated, for example, for five days—do please know that if the pharmacy has anything less than the full amount prescribed, it will declare it “out of stock.” Go ask a pharmacist in person and you might just hear, “oh, yes, we have five days’ worth in stock, just not ten days’. Did you want me to fill half the order for now?” YES, PLEASE, I WOULD.</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 28: Happy 18th anniversary to us!</h1><p>We went to Indian food and a movie and just chit chatted—and not even solely about the children! </p><p>While growing up, I didn't know many marriages that survived the culture of death that obliterated my parents' generation like a nuclear bomb. Now I look around at my age-peers and see a bunch of us trying so hard to rebuild a culture--one family at a time--after apocalyptic destruction of the foundation of society (marriage).</p><p>So, Chris and I praise God for "boring times." We praise God for hauling ourselves to church on Sundays, having kids, and saying our family prayers. Happy anniversary and may God please grant us many more.</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 29: Driver's Ed</h1><p>Mary (15) finally got to complete her behind-the-wheel training! She should have her learner's permit in about two to three weeks.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Morning Visitor</h2><p>David (6) has let me know what toy he’d like to buy with his Christmas Amazon gift card. I saw this catalogue clipping slide under my bathroom door while I was getting ready and thought everyone was still sound asleep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TfeVDSerwm8fFyxtbdOUUqGGPOIp-34fWC_EnFqWfcXW8MfrGEyXYJC8LSS5SANYofGQ94tPYztfiu-L5zlrOsFlfEZ5eCE0ZTJjxssDDuBYFIlyRAQp9olWS7h_0esMva2Oh4g12tJLWQwykYTHQ7xntPgtxrLLZFQsxUXxtitsecwllt07hjvRABg/s4032/1-29-24b%20David%20slides%20catalog%20to%20me.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TfeVDSerwm8fFyxtbdOUUqGGPOIp-34fWC_EnFqWfcXW8MfrGEyXYJC8LSS5SANYofGQ94tPYztfiu-L5zlrOsFlfEZ5eCE0ZTJjxssDDuBYFIlyRAQp9olWS7h_0esMva2Oh4g12tJLWQwykYTHQ7xntPgtxrLLZFQsxUXxtitsecwllt07hjvRABg/s320/1-29-24b%20David%20slides%20catalog%20to%20me.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVHE4Dq6_nUqUvJc2HyyFbjYeOjqNlR7tMbXVDZ5LK3Dke7lmwEr1jrIeF-YTI_jsg8Yt9VfRnv3Z4DCradPdHSjj870MkdGvemzCPbqprSCawPGXtNXw51rKK-Db7ZjjgOA_Ies3ZHaV82zAp0is7W6AIaUCW7AfS4gkqfvTvN5Eref1csxgjmdt_qo/s4032/1-29-24a%20David%20slides%20catalog%20to%20me.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVHE4Dq6_nUqUvJc2HyyFbjYeOjqNlR7tMbXVDZ5LK3Dke7lmwEr1jrIeF-YTI_jsg8Yt9VfRnv3Z4DCradPdHSjj870MkdGvemzCPbqprSCawPGXtNXw51rKK-Db7ZjjgOA_Ies3ZHaV82zAp0is7W6AIaUCW7AfS4gkqfvTvN5Eref1csxgjmdt_qo/s320/1-29-24a%20David%20slides%20catalog%20to%20me.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Such healthy free play in action!</h1><p>My three boys plus boys from two neighboring families built these two “city islands” connected by a bridge. The “buildings” are a church, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, etc. the building with a pine needle sprig is the car wash. Day Two and improvements to the engineering continue . . .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXMDtBSG6YISW7ZVhdggi5VJ4Rp3eS2bUMIAlux00xxdbu304ohK2CvCh9Pl-MH2P6Ukb0YfyAKsWADHb1hUmUR3pklxL66a2zPCARt5X1aT01fiYs9pysikgFnP_4in1GKIUK5G9iGfF3Cu9CIdU_dHITlJeZhkT_RzhxZX9EKh3fx_yZ65lMjNYqjc/s4032/1-28-24c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXMDtBSG6YISW7ZVhdggi5VJ4Rp3eS2bUMIAlux00xxdbu304ohK2CvCh9Pl-MH2P6Ukb0YfyAKsWADHb1hUmUR3pklxL66a2zPCARt5X1aT01fiYs9pysikgFnP_4in1GKIUK5G9iGfF3Cu9CIdU_dHITlJeZhkT_RzhxZX9EKh3fx_yZ65lMjNYqjc/s320/1-28-24c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWs8DOGQd8Bwvyhz_8EEBIP5V0kNRJJ3-ForBYP4_yn4Qjh7H6kLhvEHKKLTeA6sJMU8reH4_2TdiP09zDIRzOIswhEwE6S74LDG5yJGpcfWLmrMAYvM185WhFuywD63_wt008VgbErb5nz8a9uy8eP0Lw_4aqIcttSDjuBGgS1gd6UVXOZYWjzpEtfI/s3020/1-28-24d.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="2959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWs8DOGQd8Bwvyhz_8EEBIP5V0kNRJJ3-ForBYP4_yn4Qjh7H6kLhvEHKKLTeA6sJMU8reH4_2TdiP09zDIRzOIswhEwE6S74LDG5yJGpcfWLmrMAYvM185WhFuywD63_wt008VgbErb5nz8a9uy8eP0Lw_4aqIcttSDjuBGgS1gd6UVXOZYWjzpEtfI/s320/1-28-24d.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZVv3K4cnAwRxIBC7IlzpaGoL5sLRmDsidYk8cVB80cfAT0qFpSP-YU6rLJE1vx_re-XyWKs6EViX3I5K5Kk3CtLry5npPRHSbxVytIKwR7hoFudXlZTWwKFDNhCxjVKkgSt75oK4i_lxK1bovOR1_iJMfH2YX1CwLMVihgOf6fG_4jcr01iKtPPPrfU/s4032/1-28-24e.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZVv3K4cnAwRxIBC7IlzpaGoL5sLRmDsidYk8cVB80cfAT0qFpSP-YU6rLJE1vx_re-XyWKs6EViX3I5K5Kk3CtLry5npPRHSbxVytIKwR7hoFudXlZTWwKFDNhCxjVKkgSt75oK4i_lxK1bovOR1_iJMfH2YX1CwLMVihgOf6fG_4jcr01iKtPPPrfU/s320/1-28-24e.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Daily dose of puppy love</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KhjXY_za4PWaemK46B5Wg0-7fxn5NMr2chGoW8eUjMvBMyDwEKUi0_BV16QlsE7pGf9kTwKFUslm0h8klbUDdm7YRAkCe4fhmoM9thEcaFu2GAXalX8N83MSjNv8LEBcRV2M4Einz5h9EW-uypadd2H7w1aw9ZEeC-FO6ia1VcZ9-FZbpL0h4X5hODo/s4032/1-28-24f%20Nicky%20Tilly.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KhjXY_za4PWaemK46B5Wg0-7fxn5NMr2chGoW8eUjMvBMyDwEKUi0_BV16QlsE7pGf9kTwKFUslm0h8klbUDdm7YRAkCe4fhmoM9thEcaFu2GAXalX8N83MSjNv8LEBcRV2M4Einz5h9EW-uypadd2H7w1aw9ZEeC-FO6ia1VcZ9-FZbpL0h4X5hODo/s320/1-28-24f%20Nicky%20Tilly.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 31: Handwriting Aids</h1><p>I want to share two resources that have been very helpful in improving one of our children's handwriting. The first photo is from a few months ago and already showed a lot of improvement from how atrotious this child's natural handwriting is. The latter photo is how well the kiddo can write with effort (and time) today. Four months ago, we began using <b><a href="https://clevereli.com/" target="_blank">Clever Eli grooved handwriting practice</a></b> and I also purchased <b><a href="https://a.co/d/5WRQ29I" target="_blank">a handwriting paper with yellow on it</a></b>. I have taught six kids handwriting, and only two have had this hard of a time of it: I wish I had found these resources for the earlier kid who needed help. Resources in comments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh3A6IGd6kf7Nn_W6iFrW3hd2qlxi7Zrv6098rndNrpHDs8SDtjHHv5PVBfHwo3aUwRfZWAMYGUMFlgJVSNMzFy6r8ro23ZFFharAZ04iIMglOxosKputk57WbxepmtNwOE9VDJ-H2grQIxKyXC8DPaJcq71NJY_sUKz_tlkjkSoLZSzoFUIJEwahMy4/s884/IMG_6575%20Joseph%20handwriting.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh3A6IGd6kf7Nn_W6iFrW3hd2qlxi7Zrv6098rndNrpHDs8SDtjHHv5PVBfHwo3aUwRfZWAMYGUMFlgJVSNMzFy6r8ro23ZFFharAZ04iIMglOxosKputk57WbxepmtNwOE9VDJ-H2grQIxKyXC8DPaJcq71NJY_sUKz_tlkjkSoLZSzoFUIJEwahMy4/s320/IMG_6575%20Joseph%20handwriting.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDWELFrXqCSgqJ4Hjh3Stkxx0U5xOXNLoiAiQTUDP1s2uAos_iN6UvDshtrtqa_3vL_uao7xXaxjy5_IR-hMfo97NR3jIji__hYqQioSW9OQs6xbmUNJoyeENGommBqy0WHtrZKqv_FmlzBjkJSQxUxzGS4FkzPXtmDy3maj45fMZcOxFViIG-x-aLcA/s4032/1-30-24a%20Joseph%20handwriting.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDWELFrXqCSgqJ4Hjh3Stkxx0U5xOXNLoiAiQTUDP1s2uAos_iN6UvDshtrtqa_3vL_uao7xXaxjy5_IR-hMfo97NR3jIji__hYqQioSW9OQs6xbmUNJoyeENGommBqy0WHtrZKqv_FmlzBjkJSQxUxzGS4FkzPXtmDy3maj45fMZcOxFViIG-x-aLcA/s320/1-30-24a%20Joseph%20handwriting.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Bath Day</h1><p>She does not like bath day, but at least she gets the Big Fluffy Blanket treatment afterward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQIT3Kp8PNWLoNqIQ3wrRkAi1xdw0oYZuUXcneWN2_oCWEky1fCgIpm4G4rzXGn2nC_hIlJjg3pVnd6a7Z1NetIyOPE7CE0dZRTunLwAu_bv8UBridtC0diiYA13bAITAdeZPLIHzvhEC8m-ln6iTRpEHxTlpVddBExNmZZcgmwHJImsdkSwTZ2OAkaI/s4032/1-30-24g%20Tilly%20after%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQIT3Kp8PNWLoNqIQ3wrRkAi1xdw0oYZuUXcneWN2_oCWEky1fCgIpm4G4rzXGn2nC_hIlJjg3pVnd6a7Z1NetIyOPE7CE0dZRTunLwAu_bv8UBridtC0diiYA13bAITAdeZPLIHzvhEC8m-ln6iTRpEHxTlpVddBExNmZZcgmwHJImsdkSwTZ2OAkaI/s320/1-30-24g%20Tilly%20after%20bath.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTonJ5zLlbb0s0stEJQH06Q7HYI1aky0fPZgT3fxhpXxzOAoAT9utqHkpGyjW-E7HIB9yWCgZh0mT7vjHWAi-r3U0HQ72lTUDwSJkm_iIBssm2hPQ91foNihg0zE_ptOMNwDrkGsheAUkMJiSVLFwsF9DZiYZMflnTPPScQJFkvErmedm77ZqyIHhWVe0/s3691/1-30-24h%20Tilly%20after%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="3691" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTonJ5zLlbb0s0stEJQH06Q7HYI1aky0fPZgT3fxhpXxzOAoAT9utqHkpGyjW-E7HIB9yWCgZh0mT7vjHWAi-r3U0HQ72lTUDwSJkm_iIBssm2hPQ91foNihg0zE_ptOMNwDrkGsheAUkMJiSVLFwsF9DZiYZMflnTPPScQJFkvErmedm77ZqyIHhWVe0/s320/1-30-24h%20Tilly%20after%20bath.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Gratitude for a Day in the Life of Taking Care of Sweet Thomas </h1><p>These are Thomas's daily meds, divided up at five different times throughout the day. He also takes an additional two oral meds every time he eats by mouth. He also receives tube feeding overnight using a highly specialized formula ($10,000/month) with another medication so that he can absorb the nutrition ($18,000/month)--and we are astonishingly grateful for health insurance that covers it 100%. We are also so grateful for pharmaceutical companies that choose to make three prescriptions that Thomas takes that are used by only a minute percentage of the population--yet the company makes them anyway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo82o3Qzwqj12iIe-CBeED7Jcywd6bMqPop0NxrRa550h-VXXTozIrNuUggCumfM9rgNxzDPPVhep2KPCqywjl0tdMk4lPihIKzHvPloW1RV6e5XRzQnkOHHwnOh6gOYIpMgrRKApW6tQ69Qf0sRoOsBihdZQSQi-DHBudaTZxps1qcixEqODk9W52_0/s4032/1-29-24c%20Thomas%20medications.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo82o3Qzwqj12iIe-CBeED7Jcywd6bMqPop0NxrRa550h-VXXTozIrNuUggCumfM9rgNxzDPPVhep2KPCqywjl0tdMk4lPihIKzHvPloW1RV6e5XRzQnkOHHwnOh6gOYIpMgrRKApW6tQ69Qf0sRoOsBihdZQSQi-DHBudaTZxps1qcixEqODk9W52_0/s320/1-29-24c%20Thomas%20medications.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 30: Irregardless</h1><p>This week I watched the new <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-James-Irregardless/dp/B0CHH3V2H4#:~:text=Watch%20Kevin%20James%3A%20Irregardless%20%7C%20Prime%20Video&text=Beloved%20actor%20and%20comedian%20Kevin,parenting%2C%20marriage%20and%20getting%20older." target="_blank">Irregardless</a></b> comedy stand-up special with Kevin James and want to recommend it.</p><p>In short: I was shrieking with laughter so loudly, tears pouring down my face, that my teens came upstairs to check whether I was okay.</p><p>It is so hard to find clean humor these days, but this comedy special is clean without the dulling overtones of "I'm purposefully clean because I'm a Christian." Now, it does happen to be that Kevin James is a devout Catholic: his humor is so fantastic while simultaneously being family-friendly.</p><p>Highly, highly recommend. Chris and I have both watched it this week--him on his business trip, me at home--and I plan to have the kids 12+ watch it with us this Friday night.</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">January 31: Beautiful Baking</h1><p>Margaret (12) baked us this cake today: both delicious and beautiful!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8d7XWg_zJeaULPKOwHpRybGzuklOkVUmZQIqQ2FKxJUqkOdsfRIir-nlaPmQthvL1f-apLqoDTC6vJ2HOPJz3lPNDI9JD56Rlu3J0tcrLM8KJpzBsB05SLjcqy8VRCxNDHNcYQ6YN7PudBPaLg_24oqUg_06KV4SM8J8C8jlPc-BjN_xHBLE6fyZE7w/s4032/1-31-24b%20Margaret%20cake.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8d7XWg_zJeaULPKOwHpRybGzuklOkVUmZQIqQ2FKxJUqkOdsfRIir-nlaPmQthvL1f-apLqoDTC6vJ2HOPJz3lPNDI9JD56Rlu3J0tcrLM8KJpzBsB05SLjcqy8VRCxNDHNcYQ6YN7PudBPaLg_24oqUg_06KV4SM8J8C8jlPc-BjN_xHBLE6fyZE7w/s320/1-31-24b%20Margaret%20cake.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-18848629123970034492023-12-31T13:18:00.001-05:002024-01-24T14:24:00.893-05:00December 2023<p>Dec. 2: Thomas caught climbing a tree quite high and finding a new nest for our collection</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykv1LYaJ0g7m3326IZanu1hjdiHX1QU2M_WXlQ749h5PodpqbF8O8KDoDovHdwIYvXHaloGUV1hyIC-DMZxBukt5fEVgn_mYi2BNxNEpw4QNINKjF2QS6BwLlEmBvxKCRZYUOT_2s9cZrxKPWuZVTvv8Hhbu9G1jUOE-agtsHnOIVRp7hTjpB4Lq-ijI/s869/12-2-23%20Thomas%20climbing%20tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykv1LYaJ0g7m3326IZanu1hjdiHX1QU2M_WXlQ749h5PodpqbF8O8KDoDovHdwIYvXHaloGUV1hyIC-DMZxBukt5fEVgn_mYi2BNxNEpw4QNINKjF2QS6BwLlEmBvxKCRZYUOT_2s9cZrxKPWuZVTvv8Hhbu9G1jUOE-agtsHnOIVRp7hTjpB4Lq-ijI/s320/12-2-23%20Thomas%20climbing%20tree.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMMrOEFzChCs24b0C2nI-pyYznwjDC1AGmCqRLaRxBwB2eOmi2thiY0Fjbm-gyYZq0EiQQN2nCeNJgQ9evVwBei4K3juEG_4Lo1LVBW8GupDJjfN80yRzwF_bqiqD9vA8fXvtpgkmoGXdPwNkd6u-gosRdtcy7QK-Lo6Adfsgej8bkrcgbHyYLJgJm88/s869/12-2-23%20Thomas%20found%20nest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMMrOEFzChCs24b0C2nI-pyYznwjDC1AGmCqRLaRxBwB2eOmi2thiY0Fjbm-gyYZq0EiQQN2nCeNJgQ9evVwBei4K3juEG_4Lo1LVBW8GupDJjfN80yRzwF_bqiqD9vA8fXvtpgkmoGXdPwNkd6u-gosRdtcy7QK-Lo6Adfsgej8bkrcgbHyYLJgJm88/s320/12-2-23%20Thomas%20found%20nest.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We just adore how Tilly flaps her tail every time we look at or speak to her.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk966FcS0-1PbH7UeUhsgeIzgQstqVMkIHnO2eofQGcGtQj7MxZe3rCNIjFllfSTOYSSAoZCMfmYbMjOBCA68GrfeEAnY0KwIWp3O9c8Vg1MLwJ0v15iT4xNAII0JQslYREi6hF6fj5Sd3amWp32mLi0ASEdtrDGLxiNVmumUlp-Vt5KTOVE2dailDQ80/s1159/12-2-23%20Tilly%20in%20warm%20laundry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk966FcS0-1PbH7UeUhsgeIzgQstqVMkIHnO2eofQGcGtQj7MxZe3rCNIjFllfSTOYSSAoZCMfmYbMjOBCA68GrfeEAnY0KwIWp3O9c8Vg1MLwJ0v15iT4xNAII0JQslYREi6hF6fj5Sd3amWp32mLi0ASEdtrDGLxiNVmumUlp-Vt5KTOVE2dailDQ80/s320/12-2-23%20Tilly%20in%20warm%20laundry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxJ7wpSbDAltH5141dqfznmSbv72yWa3m1U_kn7qV0LP_AG1h6msEWH6zDj-noMo5SioUSumhwnrMnhSBvRg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>Dec. 3: Our Christmas card photo!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4cRyN0XP8_vgzvuLKOWl1gWyyCtcXbmoyytsFg16j7bA1uDZSforYUkOhdwy1qJStaRpmvUUygNnDnYCSNWIHLhGmYPmQC0_T8SqMyw5dv70mCeRnk4tRtLo1Up6rDjzQGg6EijUzPdRbop8XvuXC_etdJUYzNlNg6cHT3H6AlSnNeNrwFW0Cb23oIk/s1159/12-3-23%20Christmas%20card%20image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4cRyN0XP8_vgzvuLKOWl1gWyyCtcXbmoyytsFg16j7bA1uDZSforYUkOhdwy1qJStaRpmvUUygNnDnYCSNWIHLhGmYPmQC0_T8SqMyw5dv70mCeRnk4tRtLo1Up6rDjzQGg6EijUzPdRbop8XvuXC_etdJUYzNlNg6cHT3H6AlSnNeNrwFW0Cb23oIk/s320/12-3-23%20Christmas%20card%20image.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 3: To my Charlotte-area friends: <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/leonadesch?fbclid=IwAR3Ezle-Vbf4mNCkQ34OZrZFgbkJo06FbbDORUUxC_yzauk9BzqqMgR566U" target="_blank"><b>please help support four-year-old Leona Desch</b></a> in her new cancer diagnosis. We used to attend the same parish until the family moved to a neighboring town.</p><p>Dec. 3: To my Charlotte-area friends: <a href="https://www.givesendgo.com/GBDJD?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=GBDJD&fbclid=IwAR0ZYsTH1hsJxPL0nVcTWJCU6R_HNv6f7rJ6N-8GpbRGUWsXuUj0RYrTKsE" target="_blank"><b>Please help support seven-year-old Max Stephen</b></a> in his new cancer diagnosis. His family belongs to the Catholic homeschooling community in Columbia, SC, and I know that so many of us have friends down there.</p><p>Dec. 4: Happy 17th birthday, John!</p><p>Chris and I are enjoying watching John's journey into responsible young adulthood. In his junior year, he is taking three high-school courses and one dual-enrollment course, as well as participating in an audition-only theater group, Fraternus, Honor Society (where he is an officer), a pro-life club, an economics club, two church choirs, and a swing dance class. We certainly can't keep up with him, but he does it all with a smile!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpY-DvP2jDwRZVL5fiCuKFr6l8Le3a-rXrWOw82AhMkplX8Yb_4D8P-kyKX0LK4Rr6sqt55h2wsuGZAWn0D5M8vfCzPSYdk33KlkXgiXeQEvh85fUduHHpv4lXulGsML8p9fUfTfNRv2eCWCugqGmPGLuF-dPkYysncVNcF-omHd_phh9j3NHDRGb1ro/s869/12-5-23e%20John%20headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="579" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpY-DvP2jDwRZVL5fiCuKFr6l8Le3a-rXrWOw82AhMkplX8Yb_4D8P-kyKX0LK4Rr6sqt55h2wsuGZAWn0D5M8vfCzPSYdk33KlkXgiXeQEvh85fUduHHpv4lXulGsML8p9fUfTfNRv2eCWCugqGmPGLuF-dPkYysncVNcF-omHd_phh9j3NHDRGb1ro/s320/12-5-23e%20John%20headshot.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9nDaI2XL5WCuyCme95-DGIgfLOeCr0l37nlL3GhQsYnSIdGJO_965BIsnTqUsdRbUJFDKJ3y95d-9KFv8T1jJXBssxuTaqTofIOYdAvBIteBjs53VmliOkqq5Sj_fRyfiDbOfYX8TdQoIEmTgDE_VC8W01duPqMvk5UZBz42t_3vhQ4pAGRAQBM_CeM/s1159/12-4-23c%20John%2017%20birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9nDaI2XL5WCuyCme95-DGIgfLOeCr0l37nlL3GhQsYnSIdGJO_965BIsnTqUsdRbUJFDKJ3y95d-9KFv8T1jJXBssxuTaqTofIOYdAvBIteBjs53VmliOkqq5Sj_fRyfiDbOfYX8TdQoIEmTgDE_VC8W01duPqMvk5UZBz42t_3vhQ4pAGRAQBM_CeM/s320/12-4-23c%20John%2017%20birthday.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qEmQ048zdqVBIzksoxkm6cOfi7xE47HnXQmSg7pdVh5YgVTjjkBpbOGXmKrmovIlLhF8pPTGDcNpumZnbEMiZRTKsu64Ary1dLgNLtyZq5zEKpaOaGHfMvVBhVbFz7PdyL230by7oXzY47SoVoqTSRjkLPtmZkHNmL1_FbH6w-N9b6waKYIEv_0i9eM/s1920/12-4-23%20John%2017%20birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1920" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qEmQ048zdqVBIzksoxkm6cOfi7xE47HnXQmSg7pdVh5YgVTjjkBpbOGXmKrmovIlLhF8pPTGDcNpumZnbEMiZRTKsu64Ary1dLgNLtyZq5zEKpaOaGHfMvVBhVbFz7PdyL230by7oXzY47SoVoqTSRjkLPtmZkHNmL1_FbH6w-N9b6waKYIEv_0i9eM/s320/12-4-23%20John%2017%20birthday.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7KGYKfAu7TJRnFkSxS9EO7Wb5uZUJYfb8lZMjgWrXKiIZlzk95tBNh1Td4pavoJ_8Zm7cDMnWK4U4T_d7fE4c973kttYncywYeykTHLddDO30bCWZ49kDkvg3l_wk5wdS-E2vkfiwg7xapDGY4MtV7ys31X8eFkYiLCHho9IlrR6gZC0CipGiUNQ7G0/s1159/12-3-23h%20John%2017%20birthday%20lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7KGYKfAu7TJRnFkSxS9EO7Wb5uZUJYfb8lZMjgWrXKiIZlzk95tBNh1Td4pavoJ_8Zm7cDMnWK4U4T_d7fE4c973kttYncywYeykTHLddDO30bCWZ49kDkvg3l_wk5wdS-E2vkfiwg7xapDGY4MtV7ys31X8eFkYiLCHho9IlrR6gZC0CipGiUNQ7G0/s320/12-3-23h%20John%2017%20birthday%20lunch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Dec. 4: Both Margaret and Thomas won recognition in a local parish art contest!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuNBvp5UEDCbKAxXb_R24q55MyJQJMa7mfJ2H9NTc4E8YqNgHNIMpfIT4LnxVW5nbvRjIuwOlwK2mjL3GABaLjAGufln9vHadSn71tcJg1vulTWALZUFfURT55nCjda0fbr_P_YSFLZ4jjKvjSdmH2afPB6S3L9uOcUnX_iFS6Avmbc0TzYt1jxWbfao/s869/12-4-23e%20Margaret%20art%20contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuNBvp5UEDCbKAxXb_R24q55MyJQJMa7mfJ2H9NTc4E8YqNgHNIMpfIT4LnxVW5nbvRjIuwOlwK2mjL3GABaLjAGufln9vHadSn71tcJg1vulTWALZUFfURT55nCjda0fbr_P_YSFLZ4jjKvjSdmH2afPB6S3L9uOcUnX_iFS6Avmbc0TzYt1jxWbfao/s320/12-4-23e%20Margaret%20art%20contest.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQaATyhZyr0K5u5d7duYRkv934-_zCyWHoc-IpKLfrSUoJaxFkbKkSiEuK2tWWiJM7ahb6_SKPtMieY3ahejnvqx0A3B_9nQSP6ZbutoJUMvqO_KUFxlK80QlRC4D6ZrQJBc8eWO0hycxFq8ty7lGKCbG1pWfm2D9ZZu9gmzQ7Qng9OP_BtMB15NLXAk/s869/12-4-23f%20Thomas%20art%20contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQaATyhZyr0K5u5d7duYRkv934-_zCyWHoc-IpKLfrSUoJaxFkbKkSiEuK2tWWiJM7ahb6_SKPtMieY3ahejnvqx0A3B_9nQSP6ZbutoJUMvqO_KUFxlK80QlRC4D6ZrQJBc8eWO0hycxFq8ty7lGKCbG1pWfm2D9ZZu9gmzQ7Qng9OP_BtMB15NLXAk/s320/12-4-23f%20Thomas%20art%20contest.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Dec. 5: We are currently reading aloud Little House in the Big Woods. After reading how Ma poured each child a gingerbread man-shaped pancake, the boys asked me to do the same this morning. Even with my modern conveniences, I am nowhere near as competent as Ma. Certain boys stood around as “backseat drivers” criticizing roundly until I threw a tantrum, told them I’m a terrible cook and they’re stuck with me, and I left the room. So there is ANOTHER way I’m not as good as Ma Ingalls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdtuEWt50dqVHtxI1loXIH1p9tV0TjfL2NdEU7225j6ycbFyaELuvEdT7crpMph8GKl4Fl3UfP-EuQK8YS0dLt46GeJbiQZ6VV5yJL9H2AldP9MGM22H8AY9zQBrdtxpBTOW-ZFpITwhnvUiShB9QugoOEjspNOPDKAl6-EEf8Ud1LOlxxAilEsSH69g/s3023/12-5-23a%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3023" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdtuEWt50dqVHtxI1loXIH1p9tV0TjfL2NdEU7225j6ycbFyaELuvEdT7crpMph8GKl4Fl3UfP-EuQK8YS0dLt46GeJbiQZ6VV5yJL9H2AldP9MGM22H8AY9zQBrdtxpBTOW-ZFpITwhnvUiShB9QugoOEjspNOPDKAl6-EEf8Ud1LOlxxAilEsSH69g/s320/12-5-23a%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k8W60Lxpg-12uvssZvKxGH7t9QeTYrVVi9AoXuEwEdcIYgtdQRoZP33cWrV0x-E-4mlYGs7pd9NU4xhHF-ftryLCzwRW9mM0t18d0m4l_SJZkuQKpncsoNBc-Ey63ydokjTWWF2f62gUe0IGd7I2alM3FeP7U_u3M4WWkwYCdeYAKgOl1TrQcmJxCZQ/s4032/12-5-23b%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k8W60Lxpg-12uvssZvKxGH7t9QeTYrVVi9AoXuEwEdcIYgtdQRoZP33cWrV0x-E-4mlYGs7pd9NU4xhHF-ftryLCzwRW9mM0t18d0m4l_SJZkuQKpncsoNBc-Ey63ydokjTWWF2f62gUe0IGd7I2alM3FeP7U_u3M4WWkwYCdeYAKgOl1TrQcmJxCZQ/s320/12-5-23b%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkifVfw-FjeNtiWqHi_pEpBgm0lD86sg0pADQqDzIEaqCzWPRranqIkN1rUDDvPpS92w8BO6V-Od4Wd6ou1B3sYp4KJXo15jNvSCVfT_tBDLreBfMhPAlDHTibYKQgXYA2E1DAF0zvP91FRwgQRyk92U38BK2S1UlwwJg5kq-aEqsID5aXFwDPn6c3SY/s4032/12-5-23c%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkifVfw-FjeNtiWqHi_pEpBgm0lD86sg0pADQqDzIEaqCzWPRranqIkN1rUDDvPpS92w8BO6V-Od4Wd6ou1B3sYp4KJXo15jNvSCVfT_tBDLreBfMhPAlDHTibYKQgXYA2E1DAF0zvP91FRwgQRyk92U38BK2S1UlwwJg5kq-aEqsID5aXFwDPn6c3SY/s320/12-5-23c%20angel%20pancakes.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 5: Three years ago yesterday, we came a hair's breadth away from losing Thomas. I'm always uncomfortable mixing that memory with our firstborn John’s birthday, although they fall on the same day. We thank God, the Levine's medical team, and our whole community for helping us save our boy, who is currently very stable and full of eight-year-old boy energy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk-SdGPRuMUWaiW8U1JrC7vT8RYJQoz0aOsPVlM_uo-EYmc-9rV-703cu79sAhdx9SStb5bRSf33GEse6IFUkfxJ3w0N6sfDMjx3AjR8Pwd7lIcFeviV2c_IspCdjCpiBOPFU11sXzF5PbEvIcuOZf6ijUwGxCGRQLo7xBHeXY4xUL2vBaVDr7OE-1kE/s1607/12-5-21%20old%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1607" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk-SdGPRuMUWaiW8U1JrC7vT8RYJQoz0aOsPVlM_uo-EYmc-9rV-703cu79sAhdx9SStb5bRSf33GEse6IFUkfxJ3w0N6sfDMjx3AjR8Pwd7lIcFeviV2c_IspCdjCpiBOPFU11sXzF5PbEvIcuOZf6ijUwGxCGRQLo7xBHeXY4xUL2vBaVDr7OE-1kE/s320/12-5-21%20old%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXKEp2d7jQHu9zo6pc6uvrgMBKiKYfdygbyPs6Du8KqNI1nwFKIMStTB1c-Asrj1HveNmn8ywSxEl8ubsAk9UJLyAzjxwsHRa7hFP_lQPixf5LnGnS_LE68Fk6At6ga1KFjWH-loPkumb9dBs3pZM3fkAIpAB90484Ss1N4zazpoRknRnN47SGDqlcRQ/s982/12-5-21b%20old%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXKEp2d7jQHu9zo6pc6uvrgMBKiKYfdygbyPs6Du8KqNI1nwFKIMStTB1c-Asrj1HveNmn8ywSxEl8ubsAk9UJLyAzjxwsHRa7hFP_lQPixf5LnGnS_LE68Fk6At6ga1KFjWH-loPkumb9dBs3pZM3fkAIpAB90484Ss1N4zazpoRknRnN47SGDqlcRQ/s320/12-5-21b%20old%20photo.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHWH0zjcJ1uK3Bq67zJhOgPoEGV4gmYsBWOFaosLjoQTNGXVZmxVMHzZbW08ffJJO7UnnbZa67-XkjKBMvkLbjHnQvhK2NGj4PuK6fr4aM4XA3GQAoUx69u_rBeBoWfV7477bunfTfP2-Kf7U1NolZ4dc8OBXUIAxBi28UpOim90q19ndxj3docoIxy0/s1179/9-23%20Thomas%20old%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHWH0zjcJ1uK3Bq67zJhOgPoEGV4gmYsBWOFaosLjoQTNGXVZmxVMHzZbW08ffJJO7UnnbZa67-XkjKBMvkLbjHnQvhK2NGj4PuK6fr4aM4XA3GQAoUx69u_rBeBoWfV7477bunfTfP2-Kf7U1NolZ4dc8OBXUIAxBi28UpOim90q19ndxj3docoIxy0/s320/9-23%20Thomas%20old%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 5: My 6- and 8-year-olds are trying to convince me that this should be a "very special" dessert night because it is the EVE of St. Nicholas' feast day. Good luck with that, boys!</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 6: Feast of St Nicholas 2023. The boys were so excited last night that it took them an hour of giggling to fall asleep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNkiI6G4mCPP0_kIEgpoMcDYdWraEpvBa28saRQ_kdN6_u4Z-qyCcKZ14rqiaSfQOA5u9Tq86gBkrzTVPGg5tmhNTdO4chfuXr9PWHUfWcF1xE_E5IdTkEOnD3UspVQeuktbkwPEPcWOeclCqKTL4k92mUsCkCcqQgWH02p8aYv2OKLjZsKwmGNRQ_Eo/s1345/12-5-23i%20St%20Nicholas%20Day%20Eve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1345" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNkiI6G4mCPP0_kIEgpoMcDYdWraEpvBa28saRQ_kdN6_u4Z-qyCcKZ14rqiaSfQOA5u9Tq86gBkrzTVPGg5tmhNTdO4chfuXr9PWHUfWcF1xE_E5IdTkEOnD3UspVQeuktbkwPEPcWOeclCqKTL4k92mUsCkCcqQgWH02p8aYv2OKLjZsKwmGNRQ_Eo/s320/12-5-23i%20St%20Nicholas%20Day%20Eve.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2OJFSCodXpEis6tefyG_xlMBgSIO79lPsimsbEfmWoKnilDG4TRfYWpeKKr-Tc0WkLKGGT8ICdc_sHiA2HQulDIYoZnrN6KPRjWwFnhQGRA0ws7Cm4BZdAIeQo7X23w7wEsoZEDVkGP3HdM5wDJJfn-iTaf4JsfT2z7rnqeZb50l07acIRszLRspg70/s1159/12-6-23a%20St%20Nicholas%20Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2OJFSCodXpEis6tefyG_xlMBgSIO79lPsimsbEfmWoKnilDG4TRfYWpeKKr-Tc0WkLKGGT8ICdc_sHiA2HQulDIYoZnrN6KPRjWwFnhQGRA0ws7Cm4BZdAIeQo7X23w7wEsoZEDVkGP3HdM5wDJJfn-iTaf4JsfT2z7rnqeZb50l07acIRszLRspg70/s320/12-6-23a%20St%20Nicholas%20Day.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Joseph has been doing experiments like a mad scientist since he received a new science kit on St. Nicholas day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9OPj7M2MQK_KDFWgj8a8bHQKMvj755wo72gpCVj2Rbzj-AMqxK6RxQRn4DulQYEsl4MMve4lIQd2vlVfTIr8ERuHzNGnFPecZa8SJTF6-IuG8RMrobNqOF_9CBH5M9P0R7qvtYfyuk0sDQMKxaqJcKpuyZfffSnAR10Horwo6DmiQhvm42_7XELZRQA/s1159/12-6-23b%20science%20kit%20Joseph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9OPj7M2MQK_KDFWgj8a8bHQKMvj755wo72gpCVj2Rbzj-AMqxK6RxQRn4DulQYEsl4MMve4lIQd2vlVfTIr8ERuHzNGnFPecZa8SJTF6-IuG8RMrobNqOF_9CBH5M9P0R7qvtYfyuk0sDQMKxaqJcKpuyZfffSnAR10Horwo6DmiQhvm42_7XELZRQA/s320/12-6-23b%20science%20kit%20Joseph.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QEtQ2WSCQjyMuHdApLQO496L5mmQ4sFX8i7xOGjeN_6exzE1yNkWDhgdlWuLAmC0UsDs3dxfhoXdYgOqygI4SWmCfhRGoix3GL2t63MN9iL_6zUAG3MwWdtOoC_ZnLmlKBALeQpenNYCMSQfRHKbQAMSOAjKKcLPQWyRLDCwMu5yL8Faid4-oKaaqNk/s4032/12-12-23a%20science%20kit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QEtQ2WSCQjyMuHdApLQO496L5mmQ4sFX8i7xOGjeN_6exzE1yNkWDhgdlWuLAmC0UsDs3dxfhoXdYgOqygI4SWmCfhRGoix3GL2t63MN9iL_6zUAG3MwWdtOoC_ZnLmlKBALeQpenNYCMSQfRHKbQAMSOAjKKcLPQWyRLDCwMu5yL8Faid4-oKaaqNk/s320/12-12-23a%20science%20kit.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 6: The younger boys and I had a wholesome, fun time at the Pineville tree lighting ceremony. We ate hot dogs, explored the city library, did crafts, and watched the Dickensian carolers, circus jugglers, and balloon artists. The boys played on the faux snow field and then warmed up by the fire.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJq2OuvwoUVUMa6fnoQYqFPV4-reF-ww7DV3rUK9cFhWpHc3sIKiCRshFfH0GUCmNPTtqzMl_fFllNAaPhuvFq6n2OYzj6iP4q2p1htB4n7iVIKwfPAgSL_an-ri59I-u3RDktOEFvL3ximajXEp2OZEU8s37m3TYIynxgw1PmF_n-IWcsflHO2LaUPY/s4032/12-6-23f%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJq2OuvwoUVUMa6fnoQYqFPV4-reF-ww7DV3rUK9cFhWpHc3sIKiCRshFfH0GUCmNPTtqzMl_fFllNAaPhuvFq6n2OYzj6iP4q2p1htB4n7iVIKwfPAgSL_an-ri59I-u3RDktOEFvL3ximajXEp2OZEU8s37m3TYIynxgw1PmF_n-IWcsflHO2LaUPY/s320/12-6-23f%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKX4DP3I6AtXYfUy9R0BwiIJjcZPg2kEy1ASQCDvzzbcyMHbEGpHUBGyyJm7I0OdQTXsZZOdYQLDUUChY5FAZugo9BwiLlLJN8hA2db2yaNlDzXhvQfJsqeqwSCw9wRxWfG4mqXlOAvEpjPCAY45yxMirvTsMTUXmIeSaWc-X5zYCUu7SiFfP78RMB68/s4032/12-6-23g%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKX4DP3I6AtXYfUy9R0BwiIJjcZPg2kEy1ASQCDvzzbcyMHbEGpHUBGyyJm7I0OdQTXsZZOdYQLDUUChY5FAZugo9BwiLlLJN8hA2db2yaNlDzXhvQfJsqeqwSCw9wRxWfG4mqXlOAvEpjPCAY45yxMirvTsMTUXmIeSaWc-X5zYCUu7SiFfP78RMB68/s320/12-6-23g%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VLqMs51bXMW5Sur_4_B-_rU-sVTYooUczshTvfk_YszsQFF2nco61sXa-xOrBX99qeKIbN4kRCzBVZrdfrth4akC5wZeyG_7p1LMb7-Y0zFzZRLcyJig4dsiz6kJdOizh2jCctFYoMYeC9DtZ_IWFl5H2LJNXARX251S0GoNULslZmoKSTvgo0v7oNk/s4032/12-6-23h%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VLqMs51bXMW5Sur_4_B-_rU-sVTYooUczshTvfk_YszsQFF2nco61sXa-xOrBX99qeKIbN4kRCzBVZrdfrth4akC5wZeyG_7p1LMb7-Y0zFzZRLcyJig4dsiz6kJdOizh2jCctFYoMYeC9DtZ_IWFl5H2LJNXARX251S0GoNULslZmoKSTvgo0v7oNk/s320/12-6-23h%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_udpQWjO54Nshy7tLpRtc_JAoQ2wAIcoSe7OkHiZZfrbJ__Ny90ma447AHiCeYUbQZVDExLR0C6ob95cvIK_hyphenhyphenDJCIZaoX27Z3Q6Bm41dFfn3W0G-ZU-1ceLI6ujMUSAscm3zSrQqGoT14x0FMJVdh8otDT_F97eOYlsPHxzFuI20lxH1_jVWCobksJk/s4032/12-6-23i%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_udpQWjO54Nshy7tLpRtc_JAoQ2wAIcoSe7OkHiZZfrbJ__Ny90ma447AHiCeYUbQZVDExLR0C6ob95cvIK_hyphenhyphenDJCIZaoX27Z3Q6Bm41dFfn3W0G-ZU-1ceLI6ujMUSAscm3zSrQqGoT14x0FMJVdh8otDT_F97eOYlsPHxzFuI20lxH1_jVWCobksJk/s320/12-6-23i%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS8lSuFxW3suhE03vzONYXlTX9cbBotzbYdBD5zzNP6JBUuVHd9mgDgXNSNlNhXc9uqKmIlu3GqmbQxfa2dJan6RRJ0t8FSJi0M6TwZV3ZZAVgbWYVScG9hXj-e30yYJbld-ELGbs67-Ttfz6KWZC-8prM4gpbRWfWC36RjqoK5J_azvMA9FsDjxuJB8/s4032/12-6-23j%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS8lSuFxW3suhE03vzONYXlTX9cbBotzbYdBD5zzNP6JBUuVHd9mgDgXNSNlNhXc9uqKmIlu3GqmbQxfa2dJan6RRJ0t8FSJi0M6TwZV3ZZAVgbWYVScG9hXj-e30yYJbld-ELGbs67-Ttfz6KWZC-8prM4gpbRWfWC36RjqoK5J_azvMA9FsDjxuJB8/s320/12-6-23j%20Pineville%20tree%20lighting.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 7: David is cute.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWucF5JJdCYfCy6e7fXEVhNXAxLKRu7mMiRSn7ojVLuLdPmhw9h5L1S5J9KOeDJRZrqZ5aNymk0R_6Qlk5MJzZz6xyIid7KD7LUwulDdeyhiOVYKsadKHabwnSTkys-g-kPEYEJhJE1_Q8ZtRplc4XAhMf_tAbgFhNxFqY2puUviBX21_TD4HYqf49vQ/s4032/12-7-23a%20David%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWucF5JJdCYfCy6e7fXEVhNXAxLKRu7mMiRSn7ojVLuLdPmhw9h5L1S5J9KOeDJRZrqZ5aNymk0R_6Qlk5MJzZz6xyIid7KD7LUwulDdeyhiOVYKsadKHabwnSTkys-g-kPEYEJhJE1_Q8ZtRplc4XAhMf_tAbgFhNxFqY2puUviBX21_TD4HYqf49vQ/s320/12-7-23a%20David%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY-k7hVPqz-2MB6GgXghl4QI9FzmNfuiXS_GR1B3_xsMAGlcay9hAQ-VMVB2Ya5LmgwvZYy_rWn3ZufJLxPwis1Eqi73b22lC81o9btNE4gotp0SrG2OOtIR07FEewMD9nmNUUnHGb0jAauWgzSEeOMCb7y88piqzB7hbUP4wm_ug6uWXF8iExqzWwqQ/s3088/12-7-23b%20Chris%20David.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY-k7hVPqz-2MB6GgXghl4QI9FzmNfuiXS_GR1B3_xsMAGlcay9hAQ-VMVB2Ya5LmgwvZYy_rWn3ZufJLxPwis1Eqi73b22lC81o9btNE4gotp0SrG2OOtIR07FEewMD9nmNUUnHGb0jAauWgzSEeOMCb7y88piqzB7hbUP4wm_ug6uWXF8iExqzWwqQ/s320/12-7-23b%20Chris%20David.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 7: Christmas gift idea: Our children of all ages have so greatly enjoyed coloring <a href="https://catholicartworks.com/Product_Pages/books/b_portfolios.htm?fbclid=IwAR2EHYRUH7zgBotj30u9fVvcx6KmcYhXrwMwe264_PNopDu2g1ZCLvjITnw" target="_blank"><b>these 11x14 vellum prints of saints</b></a>. I've used them in my house for coloring quietly while I read aloud stories at the table. There are something like 22 different sets of 16 drawings each, for only $15 per set.</p><p>Stocking stuffer idea? Household tip? You decide!</p><p>About two months ago, I switched us to using <a href="Stocking stuffer idea? Household tip? You decide! About two months ago, I switched us to using Swedish discloths in an effort to reduce our reliance on paper towels. We were spending probably $20-30 per month on paper towels. These dishcloths do an amazing job! I use one or two dishcloths throughout the whole day, let them dry overnight at my sink (they dry within probably an hour), and each morning I toss yesterday's dirty dishcloths into the dirty hamper, grabbing a fresh one for the day. I spent $15 on a set of 10 and apparently they can last hundreds of washes. This is one of those tips that is going to make the older generation roll their eyes at my "discovery."" target="_blank"><b>Swedish discloths</b></a> in an effort to reduce our reliance on paper towels. We were spending probably $20-30 per month on paper towels. These dishcloths do an amazing job! I use one or two dishcloths throughout the whole day, let them dry overnight at my sink (they dry within probably an hour), and each morning I toss yesterday's dirty dishcloths into the dirty hamper, grabbing a fresh one for the day. I spent $15 on a set of 10 and apparently they can last hundreds of washes.</p><p>This is one of those tips that is going to make the older generation roll their eyes at my "discovery."</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 8: Mary and Margaret had the opportunity to be flower girls in a friend's wedding on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByYpVAOu9D4HZR9Omr3OxT3fvJSluw6K-3xmg59GD_VKrZF5hn0jXNXLJXtKOpJUHqE4obE7BUz3p99eaJTn2dGIdblzwPgH7Q-I6bMNKA7aWpwADvqn4z0zkFLbp6CcAdiPnRzSTpme4kYxtt3FvZj2qdR7ET9td3mRtgzgyMjsCxgAMAhYoEGD8PUE/s1263/12-8-23c%20Alisha%20wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1263" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByYpVAOu9D4HZR9Omr3OxT3fvJSluw6K-3xmg59GD_VKrZF5hn0jXNXLJXtKOpJUHqE4obE7BUz3p99eaJTn2dGIdblzwPgH7Q-I6bMNKA7aWpwADvqn4z0zkFLbp6CcAdiPnRzSTpme4kYxtt3FvZj2qdR7ET9td3mRtgzgyMjsCxgAMAhYoEGD8PUE/s320/12-8-23c%20Alisha%20wedding.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 8: What a wonderful option for students who have these interests! Truly amazing: it is a 6-year program <a href="https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/" target="_blank"><b>at St. Joseph the Worker </b></a>in which the student graduates with a BA in Catholic Studies as well as having done three years of formal internship in his or her chosen trade, preparing him or her to take the journeyman's exam. While they earn a LIVING!</p><p><br /></p><p>The most shocking comparison <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/home-alone-fans-shocked-250-percent-increase-grocery-prices-iconic-shopping-trip?intcmp=fb_fnc&fbclid=IwAR33r04U_Y9XI6JUWbIh4p5myHR9b8ZH-c17EuJzyRUyBYb7_pQXGCAQveM" target="_blank"><b>in this article</b></a> is not that the shopping items cost $20 in 1990, but . . . "Last year, the same grocery list cost $44.40, and this year, it costs a whopping $72.28 in 2023." I can tell you that for at least a year, so many of my female friends and I are exchanging tips about how we are trying to cut grocery costs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 9: There is a bustling artisan market from 8:00 to 4:00 at St. Vincent de Paul today, just in time for Christmas shopping! I dropped off my teen to volunteer and got a sneak peak of the parish hall packed wall to wall with artisans’ wares. I will be returning later with all my kids to shop!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q2AyhA7N_66Rra5ZuEIE5LxZc8S1xlUSmA6fNZbzxXX8sRa3QJAW_gqzZePmllSq96RDUomb8zgMdBIzt13QQqCwMh3eujLbizaJCx3KXRUY5-0uKER6t1_GKdKx70gWmF3bQsTP36BH10vrIo6rjIFWfR8YwjA2ApzvQAivNqtOQ0YLFQQq5YQmeI4/s4032/12-9-23a%20St%20Vincent%20Artisan%20Market.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q2AyhA7N_66Rra5ZuEIE5LxZc8S1xlUSmA6fNZbzxXX8sRa3QJAW_gqzZePmllSq96RDUomb8zgMdBIzt13QQqCwMh3eujLbizaJCx3KXRUY5-0uKER6t1_GKdKx70gWmF3bQsTP36BH10vrIo6rjIFWfR8YwjA2ApzvQAivNqtOQ0YLFQQq5YQmeI4/s320/12-9-23a%20St%20Vincent%20Artisan%20Market.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 9: I read the story of little Leo earlier this year (<a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/love-humor/little-leo/?fbclid=IwAR3FkBNvZLz6DaThXZ3L5akbaBPX5C_ptSj9AjnFINf2-aGHfrTuVKphHo0" target="_blank">excellent article in comments below</a>), but it's another thing to see these video clips of his smiling self. I reflect how beautiful it is to see parents and community embracing those with disabilities and even life-limiting diagnoses when the history of how the disabled were treated is so utterly horrific and recent. God gave little Leo to this couple and this couple gave up seven years of their own agenda, sold their home, and devoted themselves to giving Leo joy. It's a lovely story.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 10: Chris and I were delighted to watch the children at church perform in a nativity play last Sunday. The young children were absolutely darling!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVPJu-oDa2Tu4mKKV4_y-WLqVdxo5uVjwmh3fWVsZfTsyNk-lvbAe17kuW2Z3XDZy6SnPhVDXAx4B4Bx-6BvGV8OkKUTjD4hg7yBU5WpOOEvPpobtrmrJXFjmkWJBTe_EMuiVZSUd6dLdyRVruDqPHLRDDgP9ZVNFaC4aGYdJUhz9hQuhGlw6BB2fd0k/s4032/12-10-23b%20nativity%20scene.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVPJu-oDa2Tu4mKKV4_y-WLqVdxo5uVjwmh3fWVsZfTsyNk-lvbAe17kuW2Z3XDZy6SnPhVDXAx4B4Bx-6BvGV8OkKUTjD4hg7yBU5WpOOEvPpobtrmrJXFjmkWJBTe_EMuiVZSUd6dLdyRVruDqPHLRDDgP9ZVNFaC4aGYdJUhz9hQuhGlw6BB2fd0k/s320/12-10-23b%20nativity%20scene.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYw50i37dgnjYXjS0o5pE-dk8yUpgXAtTAC4X9rpwQqetpilK1tkFUWjl6XXh6OCL5bVyZo3yiOpWstULg1jKR8J0swnNFgkTE8QdDcMz0ErKVkcplym62-rdHxYdj8z9NqefjYuQlAkT8FPZkI-VJFzONStv9LNuOiOSMH9_3rbbH96yB9WqUX2WAag/s4032/12-10-23d%20Nativity%20Play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYw50i37dgnjYXjS0o5pE-dk8yUpgXAtTAC4X9rpwQqetpilK1tkFUWjl6XXh6OCL5bVyZo3yiOpWstULg1jKR8J0swnNFgkTE8QdDcMz0ErKVkcplym62-rdHxYdj8z9NqefjYuQlAkT8FPZkI-VJFzONStv9LNuOiOSMH9_3rbbH96yB9WqUX2WAag/s320/12-10-23d%20Nativity%20Play.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUM7L9KeIh2ja7X-ppVOJWRbAmppyx-XVmgQoBra3vSNDuwz6uL360svYZp8Qr6b8sxeazshkKdROP_8v2FucugB2Ud-6Ao4XMW41a82s6jyzzIc5k4162q9UOSO8pUqlul1ktdZj9Oxfrz2jm4I4lfJcKx9_AmtCc7Wvh6uMoYncmKCJGJwTmowhjek/s4032/12-10-23e%20nativity%20play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUM7L9KeIh2ja7X-ppVOJWRbAmppyx-XVmgQoBra3vSNDuwz6uL360svYZp8Qr6b8sxeazshkKdROP_8v2FucugB2Ud-6Ao4XMW41a82s6jyzzIc5k4162q9UOSO8pUqlul1ktdZj9Oxfrz2jm4I4lfJcKx9_AmtCc7Wvh6uMoYncmKCJGJwTmowhjek/s320/12-10-23e%20nativity%20play.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e9pS_nnDoZ0YYKhkPVfh7JDnLN-pDVOUZb4A0OJRu5TVzOP9QvKOm4Ql97ij2Gj8H96JqlKUMgf6d8by08phKMcDKS5-gcyag0rE78TCsPT5Is2QQcSPS8M60kQY1togJ3DBPmr4qTd5tF1kNfW9hkslbTIIpGwrbR_HvE92iK8WeGmQAdnA38rzW4E/s4032/12-10-23f%20nativity%20play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e9pS_nnDoZ0YYKhkPVfh7JDnLN-pDVOUZb4A0OJRu5TVzOP9QvKOm4Ql97ij2Gj8H96JqlKUMgf6d8by08phKMcDKS5-gcyag0rE78TCsPT5Is2QQcSPS8M60kQY1togJ3DBPmr4qTd5tF1kNfW9hkslbTIIpGwrbR_HvE92iK8WeGmQAdnA38rzW4E/s320/12-10-23f%20nativity%20play.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-z1x0bai5e-xzR-t0QQKk_KurPXAYk_hE1gMMK7OuIzuldTw8gB9k0mfZvW8UE15c6UTmGVjyea7uCDbGKj5fwQSf1HFzT19SHI76HvpqSHCmgUXBN3AoPMlnzCf37d7q7dmLCVVGumIRMOR_gFhTrBRz6PzGNwAbrqOULe-aDjV6E86u2ZP1Y59P4g/s4032/12-10-23g%20nativity%20play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-z1x0bai5e-xzR-t0QQKk_KurPXAYk_hE1gMMK7OuIzuldTw8gB9k0mfZvW8UE15c6UTmGVjyea7uCDbGKj5fwQSf1HFzT19SHI76HvpqSHCmgUXBN3AoPMlnzCf37d7q7dmLCVVGumIRMOR_gFhTrBRz6PzGNwAbrqOULe-aDjV6E86u2ZP1Y59P4g/s320/12-10-23g%20nativity%20play.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpo3OVJknn0fvYaMt0-W2bU6oF_TIGjU6zN_mJ15f9h5d6HIarNU606uo5fQr3NOXixioLZK87Ia5FZh9OpJiPyuN31vz4eQbx7pEP1OaBMWpkx3K7HbbqhGbEOiBJHjOCX2qt3yT6jEp-OI3aGMBiOl9qSoYGVJcmGup6QIcdLyCjfxBXtjDyFPkslQ/s4032/12-10-23h%20nativity%20play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpo3OVJknn0fvYaMt0-W2bU6oF_TIGjU6zN_mJ15f9h5d6HIarNU606uo5fQr3NOXixioLZK87Ia5FZh9OpJiPyuN31vz4eQbx7pEP1OaBMWpkx3K7HbbqhGbEOiBJHjOCX2qt3yT6jEp-OI3aGMBiOl9qSoYGVJcmGup6QIcdLyCjfxBXtjDyFPkslQ/s320/12-10-23h%20nativity%20play.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjTzO7Qt42e8zDAG0rY14dBLIMaw5I2o8gaClyT3fKMyWpalUDVM3uGJRgP-e279budvr9Kx9vxwe3LJMOkgexY_2pfZjdYAnZJZ56GiVCkd3dKIiGMHUQPOr0fcrfp9IwonAz0X8YQSl23cSpsCiwEcR_c4fEiyc6Y4GkC5AjjCFowwMS-R81GPOkeU/s4032/12-10-23i%20nativity%20play.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjTzO7Qt42e8zDAG0rY14dBLIMaw5I2o8gaClyT3fKMyWpalUDVM3uGJRgP-e279budvr9Kx9vxwe3LJMOkgexY_2pfZjdYAnZJZ56GiVCkd3dKIiGMHUQPOr0fcrfp9IwonAz0X8YQSl23cSpsCiwEcR_c4fEiyc6Y4GkC5AjjCFowwMS-R81GPOkeU/s320/12-10-23i%20nativity%20play.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 12: Soaking wet Tilly during Sunday’s storms, ready to call the dog abuse hotline to report us for taking her outside (!) for potty checks . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1L8VpxdkQhiMEREQagqdKgokul3xtJe0r2VTo6ZFKIuaEaI0NDmlLU84_DbbNS-Ll17r7fY471tCkg2O9HR6u0a-fsHKb1acKPPL4RlmLMy45iOqDUd-wKT_hmXATS20SJ-R9Bs_eJZb5vKzbi5i-4dhyphenhyphenlWQ9x3SwmjLNYtjTDWuz7Tzb9JG4p0xAyE/s4032/12-10-23a%20Tilly%20rainstorm.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1L8VpxdkQhiMEREQagqdKgokul3xtJe0r2VTo6ZFKIuaEaI0NDmlLU84_DbbNS-Ll17r7fY471tCkg2O9HR6u0a-fsHKb1acKPPL4RlmLMy45iOqDUd-wKT_hmXATS20SJ-R9Bs_eJZb5vKzbi5i-4dhyphenhyphenlWQ9x3SwmjLNYtjTDWuz7Tzb9JG4p0xAyE/s320/12-10-23a%20Tilly%20rainstorm.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I finally figured out why our dogs were freaking out, barking at my books, and climbing furniture! (See their orange ball on the books.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnAEr04SNkI1GeiI-Hkr1DYUyvyEezZYDxrMEwi4AebIQ2HQt5_bzfYSMCWSmrognOskuz_NfCa5Qev-WfXu9BEItj7CNSAdyXlMv3CkTwT4iRdhsglLsshM9S1jbWg_yFFRxvOP3TPgZyE4zV9K39ndIC-kaa_1lgowFXlStJcb2Nkfr16iwzKb7rR0/s4032/12-12-23d%20Nicky%20Tilly%20orange%20ball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnAEr04SNkI1GeiI-Hkr1DYUyvyEezZYDxrMEwi4AebIQ2HQt5_bzfYSMCWSmrognOskuz_NfCa5Qev-WfXu9BEItj7CNSAdyXlMv3CkTwT4iRdhsglLsshM9S1jbWg_yFFRxvOP3TPgZyE4zV9K39ndIC-kaa_1lgowFXlStJcb2Nkfr16iwzKb7rR0/s320/12-12-23d%20Nicky%20Tilly%20orange%20ball.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I have been raking leaves for weeks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WjujLf3IHeq1AMwHV_pEvPXQvvCvNu2bg1RqNGm15zUCkpypePVCza5n2ezE8Fjz4Wvhr5YeH9vBB57b50JUEK5_twsIu_9zvP9O6sTg0tzD1qp3GKFjw4E5jgwtBdhnKTCBcbnpxLMdKzQU7bkQqdDnOAAJ6rOoGhWqvX0TG_Cs6LaTklmcE57crJw/s4032/12-12-23b%20leaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WjujLf3IHeq1AMwHV_pEvPXQvvCvNu2bg1RqNGm15zUCkpypePVCza5n2ezE8Fjz4Wvhr5YeH9vBB57b50JUEK5_twsIu_9zvP9O6sTg0tzD1qp3GKFjw4E5jgwtBdhnKTCBcbnpxLMdKzQU7bkQqdDnOAAJ6rOoGhWqvX0TG_Cs6LaTklmcE57crJw/s320/12-12-23b%20leaves.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 13: Feast of St. Lucy 2023</p><p>Yesterday, I was so exhausted and had even laid down for an afternoon nap where I experienced a fierce interior battle about whether to bake homemade cinnamon rolls. My husband was out of town and I’d gotten only four hours of sleep: I had then run errands, filled 28 bags of leaves, done required Christmas planning, and had utterly failed to do any school with the elementary boys. But I remembered the Feast of St. Nicholas only last week when I baked FULL-sugar gingerbread cookies, which promptly made Thomas very sick. He asked me with disappointment and a bit of betrayal, "Why didn't you make low-sugar cookies so I could have some?"</p><p>Cue the sword through my heart, stabbing me again every time I remember his little face.</p><p>I reminded myself that I got to keep Thomas. Many parents of cancer kids don't get to say the same. Thomas survived the cancer and everything else. So, the least I can do is accommodate family festivities so he can eat without becoming violently ill, RIGHT?</p><p>These cinnamon rolls are made with freshly milled flour (all the fat and fiber helps!) and the sweetener is sucanat. I added powdered sugar glaze to one tray, but not the other.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ38l9uSwxt6BDy38jtxIHxV5ksuhEJ48flhGVp4bK4V3-lFVRgF3U0IacaecOrzdzAl1L96sk_XrKiK36XyPpgPgFlYYGi3W9R9U7b21Ui2SANfgQHckuXgl5lw5nOU6od40l-LYswM_PTk18NtDOpRYR3wHyAPFu7EKKbXh8lExx64G9J026LrrkGWY/s4030/12-13-23a%20St%20Lucy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="4030" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ38l9uSwxt6BDy38jtxIHxV5ksuhEJ48flhGVp4bK4V3-lFVRgF3U0IacaecOrzdzAl1L96sk_XrKiK36XyPpgPgFlYYGi3W9R9U7b21Ui2SANfgQHckuXgl5lw5nOU6od40l-LYswM_PTk18NtDOpRYR3wHyAPFu7EKKbXh8lExx64G9J026LrrkGWY/s320/12-13-23a%20St%20Lucy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 14: Congratulations to John for performing in the Eagles' Wings Studio fall recital today! He sang solo "Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" and performed in a skit from the movie "Elf." He has very much enjoyed the first semester of classes and we, his parents, have loved watching him gain in self-composure and stage presence.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhOaiTRHVN-qO1JEB1tH_eeAYBsR1ZhgWwrzE77kp3buRJTDMZbbOzqp36spsBiSojp-tgGW1uEZSEzSUjBQMOv9uzdaYcEfzPo0an-vbsb_IipmQ8gKgvbuK3QkjyS_WQK3_WbffWe_BUfdYbqsdXvzccNObybkx1PY9l4WFjgMYmK4zHsDhaVpExfc/s4032/12-14-23c%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20Christmas%20recital.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhOaiTRHVN-qO1JEB1tH_eeAYBsR1ZhgWwrzE77kp3buRJTDMZbbOzqp36spsBiSojp-tgGW1uEZSEzSUjBQMOv9uzdaYcEfzPo0an-vbsb_IipmQ8gKgvbuK3QkjyS_WQK3_WbffWe_BUfdYbqsdXvzccNObybkx1PY9l4WFjgMYmK4zHsDhaVpExfc/s320/12-14-23c%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20Christmas%20recital.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>When I removed the dogs' sweaters after our 30-degree walk this morning, Tilly dug her sweater out of the bin, smoothed it out on the floor, and took her first nap on it. So, I guess she really does prefer when I leave her sweater on all day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lOMOHRRXRjYXc_TgqdekUMMjvk2PaectHzBFw4-BVx7q2u-O2xsM8uC9BzUKnMHz-EUh29saDRgf0yGhUuetCP1GgA34ELDPkdr9PgSmJasGwHP0KqDzfyo61gstfA_EO_Yybl3VSpcLSSfswcxmzNvyTSeaNzxWgSf0trbPb80fhalv2A2I4jijAs8/s4032/12-14-23a%20Tilly%20on%20sweater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lOMOHRRXRjYXc_TgqdekUMMjvk2PaectHzBFw4-BVx7q2u-O2xsM8uC9BzUKnMHz-EUh29saDRgf0yGhUuetCP1GgA34ELDPkdr9PgSmJasGwHP0KqDzfyo61gstfA_EO_Yybl3VSpcLSSfswcxmzNvyTSeaNzxWgSf0trbPb80fhalv2A2I4jijAs8/s320/12-14-23a%20Tilly%20on%20sweater.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>This is really big news! Neuroblastoma has a high rate of relapse and extremely poor prognosis once it has relapsed. When Thomas's cancer treatment was cut short due to his surgical complications--his oncologist said his body couldn't continue with cancer treatment--we later requested for Thomas to receive DFMO, a daily oral drug that massively cuts down on relapse rate. We were told no because Thomas didn't fit in one of the clinical trials: that's how clinical trials work. Well, three years later and DFMO is now available to *all kids* with neuroblastoma! Thomas remains NED ("no evidence of disease") despite not being given DFMO.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVrXAlJVtlXenPt3cljsMAFN71vv0uS_eSwOoqCYCA1CpDRH4pdX7Pc8e-Su8sX53rc248JVQYgu3TDTfXVbFPewXKqaCUDkmIeLHCcoTQze_y9OTwCqpbJmLmtKuLDeEshbxhm0rezQQxG-vCr6tdQEh602dqFIn3ClmeBEnlEHe7LgUZzNseNc0PKU/s1080/410451544_760447659447866_6406109363651542362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVrXAlJVtlXenPt3cljsMAFN71vv0uS_eSwOoqCYCA1CpDRH4pdX7Pc8e-Su8sX53rc248JVQYgu3TDTfXVbFPewXKqaCUDkmIeLHCcoTQze_y9OTwCqpbJmLmtKuLDeEshbxhm0rezQQxG-vCr6tdQEh602dqFIn3ClmeBEnlEHe7LgUZzNseNc0PKU/s320/410451544_760447659447866_6406109363651542362_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 14: Annual hayride in our neighborhood! So blessed to be with our children!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT3CRz2j8sZlQDEyHVTYIWd5h_YejoY6RZI_UvpRnJb6MEHYXdHP2D27QDXMFl2VyQ-gejJ4DuMRzIOXP4ID6ORgnsrqAKFJuXD4chbv0_6fukEXv5QECiMfODI37Mxg1snwV_d7hBIjjl4XZWEw6rHHhIys3-Tixc0VrDPuo49a-MQqY1rJ8VCQDll4/s4032/12-14-23g%20Park%20Crossing%20sleigh%20ride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT3CRz2j8sZlQDEyHVTYIWd5h_YejoY6RZI_UvpRnJb6MEHYXdHP2D27QDXMFl2VyQ-gejJ4DuMRzIOXP4ID6ORgnsrqAKFJuXD4chbv0_6fukEXv5QECiMfODI37Mxg1snwV_d7hBIjjl4XZWEw6rHHhIys3-Tixc0VrDPuo49a-MQqY1rJ8VCQDll4/s320/12-14-23g%20Park%20Crossing%20sleigh%20ride.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 15: Mom, John, Mary, and friends went to see <i>Wonka</i> in theaters. Highly recommend for all ages!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDszup9EFo6f7Piw3H9LlHE0wiDdbtDubT52lGj5vVPLadw9a9jEZdmdfzDijo27Ua_ekfcj8RdFRmFA6ErmnUKgUhHgSgN7rfQs54Rsbqbco30dk_8UcPLYKsum2xBa3Kp4sMJ6zCOHhTgl28DPFP9wJZE2srYr_inBgaWedc1gYrvDO22vCsx0qipSo/s4032/12-15-23e%20Wonka%20movie.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDszup9EFo6f7Piw3H9LlHE0wiDdbtDubT52lGj5vVPLadw9a9jEZdmdfzDijo27Ua_ekfcj8RdFRmFA6ErmnUKgUhHgSgN7rfQs54Rsbqbco30dk_8UcPLYKsum2xBa3Kp4sMJ6zCOHhTgl28DPFP9wJZE2srYr_inBgaWedc1gYrvDO22vCsx0qipSo/s320/12-15-23e%20Wonka%20movie.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 18: Dutch babies made with fresh milled flour</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYnhMl07oUSo-OTrm2UlOupNwIq59OXv9Llbx94LGjwIubqEfVzwyGo7MRaroV11KtGOy0Y9UDKlQXNjSmurMctFdBB85Ggyp8XSwLs9rKoYIS9VRMzxjaiXylO_8ah8xAfJM1GmIiT_o0A3t_uivB2BumIB9ybbZAAaufNQDuiwd9Q0tQ0m6z9jagCY/s4032/12-18-23b%20fmf%20dutch%20babies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYnhMl07oUSo-OTrm2UlOupNwIq59OXv9Llbx94LGjwIubqEfVzwyGo7MRaroV11KtGOy0Y9UDKlQXNjSmurMctFdBB85Ggyp8XSwLs9rKoYIS9VRMzxjaiXylO_8ah8xAfJM1GmIiT_o0A3t_uivB2BumIB9ybbZAAaufNQDuiwd9Q0tQ0m6z9jagCY/s320/12-18-23b%20fmf%20dutch%20babies.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 18: Billy Graham Library 2023</p><p>John performed with a subset of Eagles' Wings Studio at Billy Graham Library on Monday night, when it was oh-so-cold and windy! Our family had never visited the Library and learned about its local Charlotte history, so it was a neat experience overall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9YCAHhcAdtC8NpaEfkp6jmkrXrdKnMEyLyNth2n9rL3_gnXkG8qNS5n6N3BCZh1qU2Wf03ELyfafGe5yq83B8mODvRntk-gHSheNyBW3AIHCgIDS-jbw_R_DcpcSY4IpnKyF3ET7XCA5DOgj_GTaxG1ZXfIP0yxDrtqCoOOQ5tMjIjh6ohXArmvuagk/s4032/12-18-23d%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9YCAHhcAdtC8NpaEfkp6jmkrXrdKnMEyLyNth2n9rL3_gnXkG8qNS5n6N3BCZh1qU2Wf03ELyfafGe5yq83B8mODvRntk-gHSheNyBW3AIHCgIDS-jbw_R_DcpcSY4IpnKyF3ET7XCA5DOgj_GTaxG1ZXfIP0yxDrtqCoOOQ5tMjIjh6ohXArmvuagk/s320/12-18-23d%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-WYELI6AHuxGum7vzcGUnlfSnuoPOwVSqWgQXpsjakn5N4ZuPVl1Yb1PnQR0xmEmniBgX1pm60yC3st_sPNe1s4osk_PloqJuxuIFOYrvmm7g8-dKsJNSKo6iLo0FoZRuHztgB-uzlsdWQk_DviKyZaArS-7AlQTaSiNGlqGOkQiDoqcx2W1GsGyt5U/s4032/12-18-23f%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-WYELI6AHuxGum7vzcGUnlfSnuoPOwVSqWgQXpsjakn5N4ZuPVl1Yb1PnQR0xmEmniBgX1pm60yC3st_sPNe1s4osk_PloqJuxuIFOYrvmm7g8-dKsJNSKo6iLo0FoZRuHztgB-uzlsdWQk_DviKyZaArS-7AlQTaSiNGlqGOkQiDoqcx2W1GsGyt5U/s320/12-18-23f%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyBLgKbxETI8YBlGQC3Bk_oKLYRM6skQF-exPRxf_p95UuSaPpxoOZMTK75ipCfJ0FJ45FwoHJIDqrmNUmFUA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjdGZiCcG2wXG4cSKS9h13E1PrONACx73zL15W6debb62usVHl4g4G9T1TxX5la8_0GYV5RqQaoafIFg_DTtPAmVdB7LEUD06ple5MmMeFjnwvR3I7g2sbyL3y9Q8vGKt5l2OueD61a94MvFeWHAhzcMLsYN1AkIZJg7nc-Jn1zFsyBw9a8mbBjO5GvQ/s4032/12-18-23h%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjdGZiCcG2wXG4cSKS9h13E1PrONACx73zL15W6debb62usVHl4g4G9T1TxX5la8_0GYV5RqQaoafIFg_DTtPAmVdB7LEUD06ple5MmMeFjnwvR3I7g2sbyL3y9Q8vGKt5l2OueD61a94MvFeWHAhzcMLsYN1AkIZJg7nc-Jn1zFsyBw9a8mbBjO5GvQ/s320/12-18-23h%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0CvIaPsQNdzc7TIW1yOhe8nZK60-9dFD8rlHFUTjXTkIW50ce7PgMjJErTUxUEHQ11F-w-xDmPCVCt6RO0bskRnUAk5cnKawp8U0XqDAANm7FB0qeS3xTaYGSDIKSDRlvQMUvxOTcPT_pcBD5tSmkAdG9Vzv9NuKLt8r6_fej_9bT-zgwB03r8XuyyQ/s4032/12-18-23k%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0CvIaPsQNdzc7TIW1yOhe8nZK60-9dFD8rlHFUTjXTkIW50ce7PgMjJErTUxUEHQ11F-w-xDmPCVCt6RO0bskRnUAk5cnKawp8U0XqDAANm7FB0qeS3xTaYGSDIKSDRlvQMUvxOTcPT_pcBD5tSmkAdG9Vzv9NuKLt8r6_fej_9bT-zgwB03r8XuyyQ/s320/12-18-23k%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdWGuinr5ZsXgIToc0eR2Wvyy5Bdw3gPC3me8xgZkE69iaeUfSD4vjj_4apkMWrAD3HyojCZuc200AS744bzzqJjLooB0hbRkLqngeMu0Fw0fk33Zz05dmQqWbKvKVXQy8EXnKwEuBQL5mALCHjnU3ZoNPncmzbD_sYe3-1G8rdO1g-trUfg8l-QpvcU/s4032/12-18-23l%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdWGuinr5ZsXgIToc0eR2Wvyy5Bdw3gPC3me8xgZkE69iaeUfSD4vjj_4apkMWrAD3HyojCZuc200AS744bzzqJjLooB0hbRkLqngeMu0Fw0fk33Zz05dmQqWbKvKVXQy8EXnKwEuBQL5mALCHjnU3ZoNPncmzbD_sYe3-1G8rdO1g-trUfg8l-QpvcU/s320/12-18-23l%20Eagles%20Wings%20Studio%20at%20Billy%20Graham%20Library.heic" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 19: So much truth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebf6n9UA9oVXtlstMcsvAHCqxtqe7DoR87yjrnhig429acUtm60jel3lMK-pz3XvMpMA73q0CM63otiVAbWN4CMaeke95tK3IF-FXOMawnluGsin5mZkiHuB8ZI8utAGenGTctRF5UczN59VRqzKBhovAR1JL9UEh7u-NYshMeniE9_jKj0WnW4gO-TM/s857/411682425_18011377988105351_5025635690671242231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebf6n9UA9oVXtlstMcsvAHCqxtqe7DoR87yjrnhig429acUtm60jel3lMK-pz3XvMpMA73q0CM63otiVAbWN4CMaeke95tK3IF-FXOMawnluGsin5mZkiHuB8ZI8utAGenGTctRF5UczN59VRqzKBhovAR1JL9UEh7u-NYshMeniE9_jKj0WnW4gO-TM/s320/411682425_18011377988105351_5025635690671242231_n.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 19: Homemade cookies (fresh milled flour!) and peppermint bark for neighbors</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_FXfYpSYCIdux0GaeP3xTSREp8LWf3rFBA7DRuyVLLqht49INsq-xiPQ1Yq6Hw6OS2vCbeC6dBlhgnb6xmYwkV5xFJBkEJP3neT-xN05hnDCAa4fkV_d9sA5b2j-Mnv7gOwyd96dXhR4HGOg6bvRvcgQuU9knJ0trR8hH2yBlsZ4iZpLTJ1NUbj3oME/s4032/12-19-23a%20Christmas%20cookies%20for%20neighbors.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_FXfYpSYCIdux0GaeP3xTSREp8LWf3rFBA7DRuyVLLqht49INsq-xiPQ1Yq6Hw6OS2vCbeC6dBlhgnb6xmYwkV5xFJBkEJP3neT-xN05hnDCAa4fkV_d9sA5b2j-Mnv7gOwyd96dXhR4HGOg6bvRvcgQuU9knJ0trR8hH2yBlsZ4iZpLTJ1NUbj3oME/s320/12-19-23a%20Christmas%20cookies%20for%20neighbors.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 20: It can only go up from here! </p><p>I am sitting down to plan my Christmas Eve and Christmas day menus, so I went to my family blog to look back at last year to see what I cooked. I ended up having to look back many years to find my festive meals because it turns out that we haven't had a "Norman Rockwell Christmas" in at least four years!</p><p>2019: The kids were very sick, took David to Urgent Care on Christmas Eve, and really he should have gone to the Emergency Room.</p><p>2020: Thomas was in hospital fighting for his life. A generous family brought us a Christmas dinner.</p><p>2021: Thomas had cancer scans on 12/23, which always means numerous hospital visits in the days before and after. I kept the Christmas meal very simple because Thomas still required so much care.</p><p>2022: Our heater was disabled for an entire week and it was in the 40s in the house. At least one of the kids was sick with a virus and visited our doctor. Thomas landed in the hospital on 12/26 for an inpatient stay and the same day Tilly went to the emergency vet overnight due to electrocution. I don't even remember Christmas cooking and doubt I did any without heat.</p><p>2023: Who even knows what will happen? But clearly I can lower my self-expectations because any meal I can manage to cook and any way we can remain healthy and stay at home will be a joy and a gift!</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 20: Twas (nearly) the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . . . except in my garage! A mouse had a party in my bin of hats and gloves (but not in any of the other seven bins for the rest of my family) where it chewed holes in my entire collection of warm knit hats, as well as leaving pellet "calling cards" throughout. Sigh.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 21: Kannapolis Christmas 2023--always fun and always cheap, but definitely very cold this year (~35)!</p><p>Older children no longer allow me to post their beautiful and handsome countenances on Facebook, so I will post just my joy-filled wee ones, and then ready myself for the complaints (from the same teens) that I "only post the younger kids on Facebook."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiiKTtR71fVpeUQKdO0mLDaGnfP3cvo_5uaXvyezn7zt4Sw3Bs7WSR6ZXfRtfbRmYifZLvnQD3RIvkKp_9wCtivLNxX57jL-t0yYJHupdS5Ap-R94qxw06dimWytfzpqIagJhQRasX0zlldavN4QV2vCS3z338QZdLcs3dab-u5xK_FcqlMwWwD3lMX8/s4032/12-20-23c%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiiKTtR71fVpeUQKdO0mLDaGnfP3cvo_5uaXvyezn7zt4Sw3Bs7WSR6ZXfRtfbRmYifZLvnQD3RIvkKp_9wCtivLNxX57jL-t0yYJHupdS5Ap-R94qxw06dimWytfzpqIagJhQRasX0zlldavN4QV2vCS3z338QZdLcs3dab-u5xK_FcqlMwWwD3lMX8/s320/12-20-23c%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0aVcfsPHvJepnSsZGJSZ2twqGLmSlk9GoSottnQG7iVgWpBys-teB7X1hmMwEzDtWliN9dd5mAXWJgqLBbJw50MS3pkBYKfDBrmn3Yl0GEoKpGnk_Quo7iKFR557KDDzYbaMZT1Fj3sXdR2tDQjmDY_25KDqhhAohfq59ZRs5gH1YQo6JNaAxdzHnME/s4032/12-20-23e%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0aVcfsPHvJepnSsZGJSZ2twqGLmSlk9GoSottnQG7iVgWpBys-teB7X1hmMwEzDtWliN9dd5mAXWJgqLBbJw50MS3pkBYKfDBrmn3Yl0GEoKpGnk_Quo7iKFR557KDDzYbaMZT1Fj3sXdR2tDQjmDY_25KDqhhAohfq59ZRs5gH1YQo6JNaAxdzHnME/s320/12-20-23e%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPcfJjTy5ZpZ2MpLXhh9ge-KPbwnjqhKPj517DPmBs2H2AU0LN9fymz6stoWReZP8VeSj_fqahDnOtgRiYLtA7z3rmxYf5_vyiQvaHc227UAgeFuEN2dQb4eXOc0exU-QtLocNLNOiSHFU6DkzzCRSHNyRUxxqMD2UIM6lbf2yDor7F66eyCoD9TPvA/s4032/12-20-23g%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPcfJjTy5ZpZ2MpLXhh9ge-KPbwnjqhKPj517DPmBs2H2AU0LN9fymz6stoWReZP8VeSj_fqahDnOtgRiYLtA7z3rmxYf5_vyiQvaHc227UAgeFuEN2dQb4eXOc0exU-QtLocNLNOiSHFU6DkzzCRSHNyRUxxqMD2UIM6lbf2yDor7F66eyCoD9TPvA/s320/12-20-23g%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnQL21sFH99P213ufos06UXYDuvSIsa-GT0cSkM186Cna-SqeaWO1r3MF4ScKCOmVBxiOJF3MekB0x5F_WzmD5G2n-Fh301gBI19Jo1B1lfG9nt733nwBgdmlYSMIHBPmG_tSj-o0c7HhJ20q8_-0e7DJew2x0wfwLZaOVMCy890T80WTOuPSYinLgc/s4032/12-20-23h%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnQL21sFH99P213ufos06UXYDuvSIsa-GT0cSkM186Cna-SqeaWO1r3MF4ScKCOmVBxiOJF3MekB0x5F_WzmD5G2n-Fh301gBI19Jo1B1lfG9nt733nwBgdmlYSMIHBPmG_tSj-o0c7HhJ20q8_-0e7DJew2x0wfwLZaOVMCy890T80WTOuPSYinLgc/s320/12-20-23h%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWOPgANrneVRbhk3qYgFhNlKx0xCN8OV7G1MA2wVTRNSbLAx5RGSI0rVUs6WB9mZu2wkZ3U2BEIFni95IpJTr9NmwnljdnJFVomMWHAYMgL87cksT48qfV7J3rnW04IdvJXOYmP2qffbO3gjO8q4tXcJ5EZ3Y7_pZwl89PAlVsY98gyEc8HiQyVg0ONw/s4032/12-20-23i%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWOPgANrneVRbhk3qYgFhNlKx0xCN8OV7G1MA2wVTRNSbLAx5RGSI0rVUs6WB9mZu2wkZ3U2BEIFni95IpJTr9NmwnljdnJFVomMWHAYMgL87cksT48qfV7J3rnW04IdvJXOYmP2qffbO3gjO8q4tXcJ5EZ3Y7_pZwl89PAlVsY98gyEc8HiQyVg0ONw/s320/12-20-23i%20Kannapolis%20Christmas.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI665M3uhkboSGZBdCOASioFPc5wzetwIQydoIWZ56JE1Tp2y1NC4OsQvva6097RU-2TOlJUw8xQNKkhXw3LqJUmL-u-N69WYRtombObvvgfV5h8fEhp35LWZqukehhLosRORZxFyNY2ji_Ag9zrZPBpVWMpihPdLDp1NCmq2hSANTeip0bpwIeNgT4ds/s4032/12-20-23j%20Kannapolis%20Christams.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI665M3uhkboSGZBdCOASioFPc5wzetwIQydoIWZ56JE1Tp2y1NC4OsQvva6097RU-2TOlJUw8xQNKkhXw3LqJUmL-u-N69WYRtombObvvgfV5h8fEhp35LWZqukehhLosRORZxFyNY2ji_Ag9zrZPBpVWMpihPdLDp1NCmq2hSANTeip0bpwIeNgT4ds/s320/12-20-23j%20Kannapolis%20Christams.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 23: Ready for Christmas Eve 2023!</p><p>This year Advent is the shortest it can be: The Fourth Week of Advent is only one day long and is Christmas Eve! That makes homemaking tough because half of Christmas Eve, we'll be gone at Sunday's Mass and then in the evening, we will head back to Christmas Mass.</p><p>Most years, our family decorates the tree on Christmas Eve itself, but this year we did housecleaning on Thursday and Friday, then on Saturday the 23rd did the decorating and baking. I could not possibly do this without very competent children: this year was the first year I went upstairs to wrap gifts and told the kids broadly, "Just do the decorating, dears!" They did it *all*.</p><p>The evening ended with Chris taking the top four Christmas caroling with a big group of friends!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnzTSTtTmR_g_7Yw-buOG0hUkdNOKRQCaBl384Vu10okYCXRUcSRMV3HI2bVxoEoLHzIixyLFqNpyM1sDduJPTcyEosT7AcsthJ49T9o710ek9AWWbz_VGPdDVYg0wfQnIptvjpY_eVZQIEu5qC8jgbYIut8MRNnket9RKWOQ8tZhBHzbE9y1N6HVxBQ/s4032/12-18-23c%20Christmas%20lights%20exterior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnzTSTtTmR_g_7Yw-buOG0hUkdNOKRQCaBl384Vu10okYCXRUcSRMV3HI2bVxoEoLHzIixyLFqNpyM1sDduJPTcyEosT7AcsthJ49T9o710ek9AWWbz_VGPdDVYg0wfQnIptvjpY_eVZQIEu5qC8jgbYIut8MRNnket9RKWOQ8tZhBHzbE9y1N6HVxBQ/s320/12-18-23c%20Christmas%20lights%20exterior.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4lwnRhTTgTzWtibGV05aOrEabHf3LYmN2KHh-uaxR0Xi0NpSmLZ1Q6ekkB9XjO8_UbhLdGS46bi1xLbTB99QjsktH-s3uaH1O82Hq4qk_DIuUIrcQi-HMYrCCh0TUyITc5T1-HnDqv1FcIWEpyjgSOaxh8vfQHmeZ04BOWjiRmWoUm8kyS7K9Jpy5p0/s4032/12-23-23a%20Christmas%20tree.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4lwnRhTTgTzWtibGV05aOrEabHf3LYmN2KHh-uaxR0Xi0NpSmLZ1Q6ekkB9XjO8_UbhLdGS46bi1xLbTB99QjsktH-s3uaH1O82Hq4qk_DIuUIrcQi-HMYrCCh0TUyITc5T1-HnDqv1FcIWEpyjgSOaxh8vfQHmeZ04BOWjiRmWoUm8kyS7K9Jpy5p0/s320/12-23-23a%20Christmas%20tree.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yvgITe9qHcmyvNN77kpjrZwur61zU5j_4mNd4-3j5bNy2MNJ735T5-swWUMNro8nvjjbkhdAOEvQYYmfs-csWv5OaxHtZsAuMIi4D3pl7VDnWmpALph0Us8IHBXQj7PEUTSSTNcTsE4aJpwC5bRLPkL-YqDCPp2o3gMOeGTxUb-2ew6lIPFXNSU2uC4/s4032/12-23-23b%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yvgITe9qHcmyvNN77kpjrZwur61zU5j_4mNd4-3j5bNy2MNJ735T5-swWUMNro8nvjjbkhdAOEvQYYmfs-csWv5OaxHtZsAuMIi4D3pl7VDnWmpALph0Us8IHBXQj7PEUTSSTNcTsE4aJpwC5bRLPkL-YqDCPp2o3gMOeGTxUb-2ew6lIPFXNSU2uC4/s320/12-23-23b%20Christmas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eshw1YNvcEfvsjFuxJR9ZxPcW8qeCXI3E02y0oeNLTVO41gPw4XqEmewXe_5NvjMKG1p5pX1iJXNY5ROqN7mF12IgU6CMoOwepGEhYWmT5yyrGkDZ3WO1Uz0JFBrYfPJY5cCtBKS469quI7B2CQ7uHtM_i2GV61-yEg5lavTPGOgbvQLTULR4cErCBE/s4032/12-23-23c%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eshw1YNvcEfvsjFuxJR9ZxPcW8qeCXI3E02y0oeNLTVO41gPw4XqEmewXe_5NvjMKG1p5pX1iJXNY5ROqN7mF12IgU6CMoOwepGEhYWmT5yyrGkDZ3WO1Uz0JFBrYfPJY5cCtBKS469quI7B2CQ7uHtM_i2GV61-yEg5lavTPGOgbvQLTULR4cErCBE/s320/12-23-23c%20Christmas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobot9bjlZfxfWSpX6IzhS6lq_QWZhI3PwySc-UCT8V1VvGZ9-LANYWYn4lC0-JTkalqpUw8tyIZ0ALJDG-imOjC8dsOCbqsSUzfvmFPhvJy6Nek8snMuRaR7EVbLHXcYQ5nXien19rDpntgHYK2-x_ITgzzRGAKcVCrFg3tBLCQL0dyRq_sCyjlg09fM/s4032/12-23-23d%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobot9bjlZfxfWSpX6IzhS6lq_QWZhI3PwySc-UCT8V1VvGZ9-LANYWYn4lC0-JTkalqpUw8tyIZ0ALJDG-imOjC8dsOCbqsSUzfvmFPhvJy6Nek8snMuRaR7EVbLHXcYQ5nXien19rDpntgHYK2-x_ITgzzRGAKcVCrFg3tBLCQL0dyRq_sCyjlg09fM/s320/12-23-23d%20Christmas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOFB6-Fz9MGpGZhyphenhyphen523hoSj5U8KvndnAFcO1ErZkZgKkHQWSlxQS7ycLjPgJy8Wn4E7lkx5jkFFVAg_oBs6rtUPWVfycB_ABm16tsTlVq6TnJvtzQpw6qxSBvf7VGB9L7SQrH08HmUlXWd1iw0q4c9O5FIZGJ1KsMfLIoA26yYyy0nihI9DjxCNkoA3Y/s4032/12-23-23e%20Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOFB6-Fz9MGpGZhyphenhyphen523hoSj5U8KvndnAFcO1ErZkZgKkHQWSlxQS7ycLjPgJy8Wn4E7lkx5jkFFVAg_oBs6rtUPWVfycB_ABm16tsTlVq6TnJvtzQpw6qxSBvf7VGB9L7SQrH08HmUlXWd1iw0q4c9O5FIZGJ1KsMfLIoA26yYyy0nihI9DjxCNkoA3Y/s320/12-23-23e%20Christmas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNalxveAdeMeqPHute84sMbuemAWQbWjnAhRiWtkMnoyQcTDmjKKAuFjeMteazN8x7iOz823Xj4mLYPrfQ6qCD1mlnSswRdSw4y8kkk26VDAld3kdtK6zRAr-SEFSVcm1r-pzdq-rrJ9as_jq7aR540aCsWnYaKz5lYi6YLbnGDGpPEDwT8PAcTouYEs/s4032/12-23-23g%20Christmas%20caroling.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNalxveAdeMeqPHute84sMbuemAWQbWjnAhRiWtkMnoyQcTDmjKKAuFjeMteazN8x7iOz823Xj4mLYPrfQ6qCD1mlnSswRdSw4y8kkk26VDAld3kdtK6zRAr-SEFSVcm1r-pzdq-rrJ9as_jq7aR540aCsWnYaKz5lYi6YLbnGDGpPEDwT8PAcTouYEs/s320/12-23-23g%20Christmas%20caroling.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2pa6UREIGARyB4fezWYD8TXPxbCcKhWCYbF6GIf48WCtAbrXyG1vQFdD7A3srOpZXj9tsmf7ymqVC-Sp7yHakv_xODPud-ga7AwyTPQkLk6jY0_XrjGi2UosAt9dLGlMbsTykXGezUpeYyvj0lfJNw5-R7LcuTeJl-8xuTYhsWWEHBDwpHtNVQ1AgI0/s4032/12-23-23f%20Christmas%20caroling.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2pa6UREIGARyB4fezWYD8TXPxbCcKhWCYbF6GIf48WCtAbrXyG1vQFdD7A3srOpZXj9tsmf7ymqVC-Sp7yHakv_xODPud-ga7AwyTPQkLk6jY0_XrjGi2UosAt9dLGlMbsTykXGezUpeYyvj0lfJNw5-R7LcuTeJl-8xuTYhsWWEHBDwpHtNVQ1AgI0/s320/12-23-23f%20Christmas%20caroling.heic" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Dec. 24: Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent and the Vigil of the Nativity!</p><p>“Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.”</p><p>- St Andrew’s Litany of Christmas</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw2DW1IXy2PzLKdxk_ohserApxk_Rjs_wpI4-qH3VWwDFOUm2y_Z7R9A3F_w_dVr3jjFPvjQSjLbUGvfpNAbzbuut3K19vhCFNWxGDlXVcz8PToH4shrLfG_hmSBwy-rVh6M-ON9sWOJwetYwBL4FL8pC-cnYruUrHzuS7fleQkDN2ZE4VPI2bG7ZmKc/s2048/12-24-23%20David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw2DW1IXy2PzLKdxk_ohserApxk_Rjs_wpI4-qH3VWwDFOUm2y_Z7R9A3F_w_dVr3jjFPvjQSjLbUGvfpNAbzbuut3K19vhCFNWxGDlXVcz8PToH4shrLfG_hmSBwy-rVh6M-ON9sWOJwetYwBL4FL8pC-cnYruUrHzuS7fleQkDN2ZE4VPI2bG7ZmKc/s320/12-24-23%20David.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEHCpCfKv6_en80sOhoz4DcyyH7LrzZb2jvposebbOwYrL_WxvGZSUl4ZnTG5HExJvFwIB7vrCj8yyrggPqRIAjuJuJ7IHOg-Z0bJWsRTnP1gIdKOoUtrz3-XMG8of3SfGg2RRPlY_ZiZ_qmgG4OGHlM63MLwjRUPGxYa0eu2hdwcOT7rLgCyo1i5sEM/s4028/12-24-23c%20Christmas%20Eve%20dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="4028" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEHCpCfKv6_en80sOhoz4DcyyH7LrzZb2jvposebbOwYrL_WxvGZSUl4ZnTG5HExJvFwIB7vrCj8yyrggPqRIAjuJuJ7IHOg-Z0bJWsRTnP1gIdKOoUtrz3-XMG8of3SfGg2RRPlY_ZiZ_qmgG4OGHlM63MLwjRUPGxYa0eu2hdwcOT7rLgCyo1i5sEM/s320/12-24-23c%20Christmas%20Eve%20dinner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv9YhmN0bajJK5UdqZJGZBpfVDCwd_GK5IaI63jU4HUfTtzLV-_UmG8PuzMesCGlx2pbXbUMRaPSl9H4WSr2MNQUpW_Qlfyv_a7QPGTQMRL3VoeCQve_Lk3iL6bpdpRi5HxnCFsy8idbKSGYukBM6Mt-qfeOAyJj-rAzmhkRhSeAj86MIlmj0W5I0mPU/s4032/12-24-23d%20Christmas%20Eve%20dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv9YhmN0bajJK5UdqZJGZBpfVDCwd_GK5IaI63jU4HUfTtzLV-_UmG8PuzMesCGlx2pbXbUMRaPSl9H4WSr2MNQUpW_Qlfyv_a7QPGTQMRL3VoeCQve_Lk3iL6bpdpRi5HxnCFsy8idbKSGYukBM6Mt-qfeOAyJj-rAzmhkRhSeAj86MIlmj0W5I0mPU/s320/12-24-23d%20Christmas%20Eve%20dinner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 25: Midnight Mass 2023</p><p>For the first time in maybe a decade, our family attended the same Christmas Mass! For quite some time, Chris and the growing number of older kids would go to Midnight Mass while Mom and the wee tots would go to Christmas morning Mass. This year, this early bird went way out on a limb and attended Midnight Mass with them: it was exceedingly hard for me to be awake, but it was beautiful and extremely festive.</p><p>John was on his feet for eight hours straight, including one hour of schola practice, two and a half hours of singing Matins, and an hour and a half of singing Mass. Mary and Margaret sang in the choir. I just showed up and enjoyed things, including the wildly festive party afterward. The table of beautifully crafted food was replenished over and over and over again.</p><p>We got home at 3:00 a.m. while the party at church just kept on going!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tNutX4OuIVWqGFJBoJnDrIhyphenhyphenxWATjKHs4zwvkEK1T90iE7ttr52C8f1RrQvsvjWZRDDjq1a-NvITMD1l9LZaQYuGeWP2RYFN3LMsbtLDbY96bt5TxCHI2r3VpRqaytqKJNwP4VbebsWX6B81oTb2GX_9OQsgqj8eGAwcbqJinzbdlfsBzCXi0YIQfbs/s3786/12-24-23g%20Christmas%20Eve%20gifts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3786" data-original-width="2681" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tNutX4OuIVWqGFJBoJnDrIhyphenhyphenxWATjKHs4zwvkEK1T90iE7ttr52C8f1RrQvsvjWZRDDjq1a-NvITMD1l9LZaQYuGeWP2RYFN3LMsbtLDbY96bt5TxCHI2r3VpRqaytqKJNwP4VbebsWX6B81oTb2GX_9OQsgqj8eGAwcbqJinzbdlfsBzCXi0YIQfbs/s320/12-24-23g%20Christmas%20Eve%20gifts.JPG" width="227" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiAxYr_hUT2qeksvnmwypW3qbstsGsls6LRAQjlzzSf5xYDcfUmaRmsyGe6JlKlXACITtwYAb8oJMVeogwEOIX8wGcGCC6bJbWZbngN91mcQduS7SR3D4MzFL_cJgSRo3f7iAvwysfPdruajmZzn7PB2LTVLEFjZLW-iPZ-NHDYvr0Sv_SzP_4BU56Ps/s4032/12-24-23h%20Christmas%20Eve%20John%20schola.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiAxYr_hUT2qeksvnmwypW3qbstsGsls6LRAQjlzzSf5xYDcfUmaRmsyGe6JlKlXACITtwYAb8oJMVeogwEOIX8wGcGCC6bJbWZbngN91mcQduS7SR3D4MzFL_cJgSRo3f7iAvwysfPdruajmZzn7PB2LTVLEFjZLW-iPZ-NHDYvr0Sv_SzP_4BU56Ps/s320/12-24-23h%20Christmas%20Eve%20John%20schola.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa0cPLcWFj6VFHpvV718qpxMohA2q1JECeAtoFjI-nSRCbquTvNpCvSMd1TzhbJNAfhpa-ykusnDueRXMyxF8xBDzruaHsv1XuPcsIMHbT2wWkS4MjTimlJ17o8lJufwhC-PglwgmYLFy73_iz50gTNY3GvpfrVeaLIGJI8k66yk4IMyVmIzXxalvVmk/s4032/12-24-23i%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa0cPLcWFj6VFHpvV718qpxMohA2q1JECeAtoFjI-nSRCbquTvNpCvSMd1TzhbJNAfhpa-ykusnDueRXMyxF8xBDzruaHsv1XuPcsIMHbT2wWkS4MjTimlJ17o8lJufwhC-PglwgmYLFy73_iz50gTNY3GvpfrVeaLIGJI8k66yk4IMyVmIzXxalvVmk/s320/12-24-23i%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcDl1w6YCOtoJ-_SCCkijvT7cGGTKNhF5w4lEC63y3mThx-5kKVghndto9Q3zcDNnp3fzFvhIrolzzrTGYH9LQVmYF_amyxtngPqQaO7Mxy61VZvB5Frmko8Juqr3AHuE1jCt5bVQCNmGhI8k3Qsw782L0_yYV0DDJjJmCSQ7FTXcFpG0Zj4-Ya9r8Ns/s4032/12-24-23j%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcDl1w6YCOtoJ-_SCCkijvT7cGGTKNhF5w4lEC63y3mThx-5kKVghndto9Q3zcDNnp3fzFvhIrolzzrTGYH9LQVmYF_amyxtngPqQaO7Mxy61VZvB5Frmko8Juqr3AHuE1jCt5bVQCNmGhI8k3Qsw782L0_yYV0DDJjJmCSQ7FTXcFpG0Zj4-Ya9r8Ns/s320/12-24-23j%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7gOT43O6vIPzIocnLOPwDfghDHO7FuKmbANVFjhU5Pgc-FyLtob7NapK5c7_r-XjcJG6Dm5faOUb5wEcvbvH8y5I5gyJ51DQ2VTLxi9dRGsOHaiLbHYtUTrW3GJIjp4YobAnbZzGEJDQAJnQncYjgsBzS1kAV-MjTFgJYJosIij1ozdvWhjhtW1GLg8/s4032/12-24-23l%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7gOT43O6vIPzIocnLOPwDfghDHO7FuKmbANVFjhU5Pgc-FyLtob7NapK5c7_r-XjcJG6Dm5faOUb5wEcvbvH8y5I5gyJ51DQ2VTLxi9dRGsOHaiLbHYtUTrW3GJIjp4YobAnbZzGEJDQAJnQncYjgsBzS1kAV-MjTFgJYJosIij1ozdvWhjhtW1GLg8/s320/12-24-23l%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wz4hyphenhyphen3wYTIRh8FiRVh9qLoXUtH0vgJgMw3XsBjdLkuPPjpB2d09JkUSCNTHNG-COqJpe8K-71Xq4Y-BuSS9IN-ukxCP7aYNY-vdzIzyGv_jc1aQEcVUw1kCxdocU0GCw_XF-JfqgV84AZUn46gvGgd8JHiywXkgaESEsez3pw99PJJTntoTIuR8Kypo/s4032/12-24-23m%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wz4hyphenhyphen3wYTIRh8FiRVh9qLoXUtH0vgJgMw3XsBjdLkuPPjpB2d09JkUSCNTHNG-COqJpe8K-71Xq4Y-BuSS9IN-ukxCP7aYNY-vdzIzyGv_jc1aQEcVUw1kCxdocU0GCw_XF-JfqgV84AZUn46gvGgd8JHiywXkgaESEsez3pw99PJJTntoTIuR8Kypo/s320/12-24-23m%20Midnight%20Mass.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Christmas Day 2023</h3><p>After having arrived home at 3:00 a.m., it was a Christmas miracle that at 7:15 all the children, parents, and even dogs were still asleep. Then the doorbell rang when our six-year-old neighbor wanted to show our boys his new RC car. The dogs went wild barking and thus our day began! Ha! It is a moment that will go down in family lore. </p><p>N.B. I have many more pictures that fall under the category of older children not wanting their photos posted on FB. Humbug!</p><p>Christmas dinner menu (not pictured):</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Beef bourguignon </li><li>Leftover ham</li><li>Brussels sprouts</li><li>Cornbread stuffing</li><li>Sweet potato casserole</li><li>Dinner rolls</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksBdcm-f1gAhzQMaoevUyJ1oYpMJI6N2HWM2lDuA9-fq-nV29HAluyEqkNqv-sdOzaYaMwHbC3ad-hK6EleHwVg6VBVDOWEI0SLAXqLKSx1khz-Epa30HVadNWuvQCjmqTaU5MEQ6WGdvyI13wOP30xN4B_ufKfDmldMQpdSbEHYzLAziECrVRME7jwg/s4028/12-25-23a%20Christmas%20breakfast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="4028" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksBdcm-f1gAhzQMaoevUyJ1oYpMJI6N2HWM2lDuA9-fq-nV29HAluyEqkNqv-sdOzaYaMwHbC3ad-hK6EleHwVg6VBVDOWEI0SLAXqLKSx1khz-Epa30HVadNWuvQCjmqTaU5MEQ6WGdvyI13wOP30xN4B_ufKfDmldMQpdSbEHYzLAziECrVRME7jwg/s320/12-25-23a%20Christmas%20breakfast.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8YOf_qtca65AY_P1k-RYE7fgd1VlYRePskttwfzC49I2z-BcvQaGm7vR1mEm9ulV4w2Yv89UwsafPgsZIGHOpRPy3VdShqer2PYVo6y31_VlRlgU8fsMqyV8feOrOr95KcZT_16GOotQ2RWRnnTZN8NH1-pjqX2wFkLsVTnW4xJY6Mn-bD5bTB3_cxk/s4032/12-25-23b%20Christmas%20breakfast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8YOf_qtca65AY_P1k-RYE7fgd1VlYRePskttwfzC49I2z-BcvQaGm7vR1mEm9ulV4w2Yv89UwsafPgsZIGHOpRPy3VdShqer2PYVo6y31_VlRlgU8fsMqyV8feOrOr95KcZT_16GOotQ2RWRnnTZN8NH1-pjqX2wFkLsVTnW4xJY6Mn-bD5bTB3_cxk/s320/12-25-23b%20Christmas%20breakfast.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF9DkP8Rz1R9amK1eH42HWymnSq-cmXMk5UY6nk-m5_wVddNnKkB8uElHXXCnONlEpNB4MM3fXq-tQI9d5B4hojNSpyj7Vhl8xNrlU362GDsrGi0ySuKsjcNDlJszLjyXx3VsAh_3fHhiPoNlzIoyspwo2hBUmDMNeCz43SumHTcgvcEwRA3ZWomq8hI/s4032/12-24-23e%20Christmas%20Eve%20stockings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF9DkP8Rz1R9amK1eH42HWymnSq-cmXMk5UY6nk-m5_wVddNnKkB8uElHXXCnONlEpNB4MM3fXq-tQI9d5B4hojNSpyj7Vhl8xNrlU362GDsrGi0ySuKsjcNDlJszLjyXx3VsAh_3fHhiPoNlzIoyspwo2hBUmDMNeCz43SumHTcgvcEwRA3ZWomq8hI/s320/12-24-23e%20Christmas%20Eve%20stockings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0RI55z_BkLHbY7GeoP53pfkl4FPm7bzA5E-5_5tEYViT-ONnjQmdiVOIuMqtUaY4Ec5WfhNiIoczy87f_5UKKmo0zQRNcdbY8D_sBOd65IO01asGSjLjoE-y0dqHrEcFiOhnMjeU0JXgrC_x77eQyIk3TgoiEuxwXz6FEdyzHcsesvv80yMfoXKZhuo/s4032/12-25-23i%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0RI55z_BkLHbY7GeoP53pfkl4FPm7bzA5E-5_5tEYViT-ONnjQmdiVOIuMqtUaY4Ec5WfhNiIoczy87f_5UKKmo0zQRNcdbY8D_sBOd65IO01asGSjLjoE-y0dqHrEcFiOhnMjeU0JXgrC_x77eQyIk3TgoiEuxwXz6FEdyzHcsesvv80yMfoXKZhuo/s320/12-25-23i%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk5JhxNxz8yTiVVRqX90_FLKLYTYWXLCC9z2pom0aR6qUXOHp_C7Ps9XhViJ4GCk2_YkiAZmgPV1HnZV38U6Wdu3aDE7wWW0mawRg8A8N4QpJqbI36YGJ9_YkIUTsk5HoH6GF5yshfFfGGB0k4emlm8uiNIWberOYSy5e7_rwzF1QMNlEM1krAHn9_aQ/s4032/12-25-23j%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk5JhxNxz8yTiVVRqX90_FLKLYTYWXLCC9z2pom0aR6qUXOHp_C7Ps9XhViJ4GCk2_YkiAZmgPV1HnZV38U6Wdu3aDE7wWW0mawRg8A8N4QpJqbI36YGJ9_YkIUTsk5HoH6GF5yshfFfGGB0k4emlm8uiNIWberOYSy5e7_rwzF1QMNlEM1krAHn9_aQ/s320/12-25-23j%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLTy1JJ1qcyMhB9tA5uyGdSXGKnYj4LS63uTsRocc40BRuXMsPf3DIYSyLWb3b_AEundIhSo5UWX8Zl3AMd0n5SbusqXLe4zj0Ea07tV-RNZku4tWnx2_UQBZZc8QBuvZKrsulKSHSX2e8aprdzbgVgQPBer3gOHKhO9YfypfrDLwvy_rWqE-RfmvV6I/s4032/12-25-23l%20Chris%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLTy1JJ1qcyMhB9tA5uyGdSXGKnYj4LS63uTsRocc40BRuXMsPf3DIYSyLWb3b_AEundIhSo5UWX8Zl3AMd0n5SbusqXLe4zj0Ea07tV-RNZku4tWnx2_UQBZZc8QBuvZKrsulKSHSX2e8aprdzbgVgQPBer3gOHKhO9YfypfrDLwvy_rWqE-RfmvV6I/s320/12-25-23l%20Chris%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcWzxRbewYigP-UlLs_eRNwXzW0yqSQfEHd4auI24q3DG54sXGmsvxiP46PqdGAf43Kh8IeBEiyUDK02rkGeMjipFFTiz_DmdN4mzDw6DArZ5pz_D7UPwJaTmCQ83Bnt4c5eHAWmZ2toU6Rjsti01-lWBEHAJf0NMglCoTElQKZErWCr-y5dMhC49ZSs/s4032/12-25-23m%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcWzxRbewYigP-UlLs_eRNwXzW0yqSQfEHd4auI24q3DG54sXGmsvxiP46PqdGAf43Kh8IeBEiyUDK02rkGeMjipFFTiz_DmdN4mzDw6DArZ5pz_D7UPwJaTmCQ83Bnt4c5eHAWmZ2toU6Rjsti01-lWBEHAJf0NMglCoTElQKZErWCr-y5dMhC49ZSs/s320/12-25-23m%20Christmas%20morning.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Dec. 26: But do they love each other, really? </p><p>(Nicky and Tilly in their cave beneath my desk)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUVKDk1yDOz1Pb3waHJWWgk8l6Dq4joduWB5ApmBZU_y-H1m0uugXKjgYcAEheZhrrcz5V3VIP9DL36RE6qiu9Aib3YDL8d4Ictdbw0ChY5YkHBBwYMdbqKJ5_ZCXh6W8974XTM18Yjk-cSksbzMRIFUG2_JGugRzMVkOxLnarEwPEAi_vDcw4cajwnI/s4032/12-26-23a%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUVKDk1yDOz1Pb3waHJWWgk8l6Dq4joduWB5ApmBZU_y-H1m0uugXKjgYcAEheZhrrcz5V3VIP9DL36RE6qiu9Aib3YDL8d4Ictdbw0ChY5YkHBBwYMdbqKJ5_ZCXh6W8974XTM18Yjk-cSksbzMRIFUG2_JGugRzMVkOxLnarEwPEAi_vDcw4cajwnI/s320/12-26-23a%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaZQRG1ye1bYT6dA8bT4cas37crasWbQ-oBMGlxECesp-eGcJCCMxXCBMUwie6ubxI4ljqLsONSn8ewQEFTMHzpzCyEO2RLpWg2lr786dqYtc2bWIWZZMehmz73clqWQD0uPi4DRqWBcolsPSdwZzpdCKEk7uIjyW6RY4viDAmQgVse8r8oLeG3u-91c/s4032/12-26-23b%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaZQRG1ye1bYT6dA8bT4cas37crasWbQ-oBMGlxECesp-eGcJCCMxXCBMUwie6ubxI4ljqLsONSn8ewQEFTMHzpzCyEO2RLpWg2lr786dqYtc2bWIWZZMehmz73clqWQD0uPi4DRqWBcolsPSdwZzpdCKEk7uIjyW6RY4viDAmQgVse8r8oLeG3u-91c/s320/12-26-23b%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Dec. 26: Our beloved friends invited us over for making gingerbread houses, followed by eating a taco lunch together. We are blessed!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5BHgOU7q-FguwE4cxrv9zEbIXITEHc37gwzkJGEm0nnC94_3a477coekkjCUi9apCRAmTH_VkXY4EHQ4TKVfycTj6GMo8jDVbCRsx4x9CwekDZYSHRfP6rUkHCDNdhqaP8nQkfhpw_eHHMRXwf39Y32ODzVJiQk7-Nxtw1O6dKkDHNHhgsdAV85xff4/s4032/12-26-23c%20gingerbread%20houses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5BHgOU7q-FguwE4cxrv9zEbIXITEHc37gwzkJGEm0nnC94_3a477coekkjCUi9apCRAmTH_VkXY4EHQ4TKVfycTj6GMo8jDVbCRsx4x9CwekDZYSHRfP6rUkHCDNdhqaP8nQkfhpw_eHHMRXwf39Y32ODzVJiQk7-Nxtw1O6dKkDHNHhgsdAV85xff4/s320/12-26-23c%20gingerbread%20houses.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C8ySfuQxpws1mwujycvl5FCPbHZZITilLGTkXnGpVEqbUZ6KZXmr80rMOpUKL28S6a-yfoXD-lsfZ3R6BN5tRCA7SYXSFWa5jDpDv-VvIKwuv7K7KlRGQNcI-St6ujb44rcGpRKesHlV1xFVd2xk6EWkVOdrFj2BKv4Rmc75NDyXlwaCEoJ4zse3OYg/s4032/12-26-23d%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C8ySfuQxpws1mwujycvl5FCPbHZZITilLGTkXnGpVEqbUZ6KZXmr80rMOpUKL28S6a-yfoXD-lsfZ3R6BN5tRCA7SYXSFWa5jDpDv-VvIKwuv7K7KlRGQNcI-St6ujb44rcGpRKesHlV1xFVd2xk6EWkVOdrFj2BKv4Rmc75NDyXlwaCEoJ4zse3OYg/s320/12-26-23d%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbjj4BG6u7XyeRVOzTImHtPX_svocGHcV33xTGv8gCF_-VwuuZlhZ_1RUQHuznTNGhHvK1gtQufP8LXtNliQA5SEkRmZiQqZU9ORK33bN3qb8utBPLdcpB8modwaZwvuBBqUwAA7N_5otzIN0Omt8gmcuR2hofnskkK2E8l4OIThoGc0VgLMbXDocTjI/s4032/12-26-23e%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbjj4BG6u7XyeRVOzTImHtPX_svocGHcV33xTGv8gCF_-VwuuZlhZ_1RUQHuznTNGhHvK1gtQufP8LXtNliQA5SEkRmZiQqZU9ORK33bN3qb8utBPLdcpB8modwaZwvuBBqUwAA7N_5otzIN0Omt8gmcuR2hofnskkK2E8l4OIThoGc0VgLMbXDocTjI/s320/12-26-23e%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfsZS77ze2GeEub-crmQgQGNjJVMiTeKpi-EPjxjFwFp2K0WvyrQgxi55p7ClbXUllKFkpjmSKrDS1ID91XfQrw07t1syWyrlju08xuvG1nvsmkNvcXOQKzNFCzzF-opHA8KS3Xbl5WlmMYno4ZFTiQO_Tfw7HFgSqE3TsFiOvp-UjtKorb4PNTOHU1c/s4032/12-26-23f%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfsZS77ze2GeEub-crmQgQGNjJVMiTeKpi-EPjxjFwFp2K0WvyrQgxi55p7ClbXUllKFkpjmSKrDS1ID91XfQrw07t1syWyrlju08xuvG1nvsmkNvcXOQKzNFCzzF-opHA8KS3Xbl5WlmMYno4ZFTiQO_Tfw7HFgSqE3TsFiOvp-UjtKorb4PNTOHU1c/s320/12-26-23f%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkHehWIKUaepTkocsfu82UNrHJv-ZAUjD0tejhUJXqB88ePj6v-iEOnJV6sh94xV1xIe8dbhrag1yZgDj6e8PX-OMcINHmYmFEl04WQqz3BQ10jh7v6J5a0Tl4Col2MTV4hLwv-W2eUmDPP-aKeuxm_yAVKaPHIO2TXv7Fvi9_d4SLllWhPF36KvU-QM/s4032/12-26-23k%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkHehWIKUaepTkocsfu82UNrHJv-ZAUjD0tejhUJXqB88ePj6v-iEOnJV6sh94xV1xIe8dbhrag1yZgDj6e8PX-OMcINHmYmFEl04WQqz3BQ10jh7v6J5a0Tl4Col2MTV4hLwv-W2eUmDPP-aKeuxm_yAVKaPHIO2TXv7Fvi9_d4SLllWhPF36KvU-QM/s320/12-26-23k%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mrjWEzSFplpAJgp2FcZ6lkoJf2E0R3PU5x8EwOJeq8m7Qv1WtBZdK25LroRppbLJMhZgCXGuj3oIHrTuBAhXZgWdKCKn_LjERwJU5TRj1MWEYM2_e1t3Q60bvdGpfoC8YV-PT1GvSustXK5Syefp17YwFh-LNJSSlYtwAlvqLZU4iUxP0OEFdPJ3y90/s4032/12-26-23m%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mrjWEzSFplpAJgp2FcZ6lkoJf2E0R3PU5x8EwOJeq8m7Qv1WtBZdK25LroRppbLJMhZgCXGuj3oIHrTuBAhXZgWdKCKn_LjERwJU5TRj1MWEYM2_e1t3Q60bvdGpfoC8YV-PT1GvSustXK5Syefp17YwFh-LNJSSlYtwAlvqLZU4iUxP0OEFdPJ3y90/s320/12-26-23m%20gingerbread%20house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Dec. 27: We joined our homeschool community for annual ice skating!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBjg_69kfES6BGAm-JHWuJtg4D32Cc4MixqNXhA7UBhw7IcjSisixKYmZJOY6HHDzUJMt5ZbXOAusPqJsZOLtptLzHyesFcmaa-OzmLASOxEf0GyqYKEdsjZayroEwmD84jwyJDfAszTSkHqZFYFFjuKGRhS1mkI8GkMzZFFpgQkJBnB1xDWVNzUjbts/s4032/12-27-23a%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBjg_69kfES6BGAm-JHWuJtg4D32Cc4MixqNXhA7UBhw7IcjSisixKYmZJOY6HHDzUJMt5ZbXOAusPqJsZOLtptLzHyesFcmaa-OzmLASOxEf0GyqYKEdsjZayroEwmD84jwyJDfAszTSkHqZFYFFjuKGRhS1mkI8GkMzZFFpgQkJBnB1xDWVNzUjbts/s320/12-27-23a%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtrnpr645IExcJBUroxiOnIF4CfrmlAcDDOznO3RCGT4sfCpkwi9Dl3wzezJ16ZOcz1OlTtfE1KulKWyy_MmHbvh4V2UIeprKJvZpaZvn1ITHn9IvZNRyu0ooZwGE62ApKS5NUQXT_DksYX2qLSpq8RqgCkRT0_Crn-Kki3vnKNC3wNP3_xopTTl9XIM/s4032/12-27-23b%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtrnpr645IExcJBUroxiOnIF4CfrmlAcDDOznO3RCGT4sfCpkwi9Dl3wzezJ16ZOcz1OlTtfE1KulKWyy_MmHbvh4V2UIeprKJvZpaZvn1ITHn9IvZNRyu0ooZwGE62ApKS5NUQXT_DksYX2qLSpq8RqgCkRT0_Crn-Kki3vnKNC3wNP3_xopTTl9XIM/s320/12-27-23b%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6SGlFpxVw-wnf4V0zB0Py_9Qyvft28xgqRJrleOD8ZJqP5pYkc9aioyKWPunJZRiyYMJLN6vdN81rGTMVsO-_oGpT35xhwC3VBjT9GuQz_9IS9Kv1YR09-3txw8OockXjkbAyQiBiSaxVxhXra0E3WRSpQJyCaZlkRTBllkDN3N5eM5-ELzz66L5d-8/s4032/12-27-23c%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6SGlFpxVw-wnf4V0zB0Py_9Qyvft28xgqRJrleOD8ZJqP5pYkc9aioyKWPunJZRiyYMJLN6vdN81rGTMVsO-_oGpT35xhwC3VBjT9GuQz_9IS9Kv1YR09-3txw8OockXjkbAyQiBiSaxVxhXra0E3WRSpQJyCaZlkRTBllkDN3N5eM5-ELzz66L5d-8/s320/12-27-23c%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQah5P503IE-CsVWFWtrI0SiwdkjITC_oXeQm1ux-4GJE9in43Y7DO0sdIqwRqnASnyDsclpHfv-XWJrTay0VDY8mdG8C2ysEitqS9kh8uOWdmBFuUU7ojPYx1SCl9POXhbjuUWlP7FZ9LhAVeotDJ5bQLZGpUH4If_OAWgFlG4YYV4ixLcqu3UKeWB4U/s4032/12-27-23d%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQah5P503IE-CsVWFWtrI0SiwdkjITC_oXeQm1ux-4GJE9in43Y7DO0sdIqwRqnASnyDsclpHfv-XWJrTay0VDY8mdG8C2ysEitqS9kh8uOWdmBFuUU7ojPYx1SCl9POXhbjuUWlP7FZ9LhAVeotDJ5bQLZGpUH4If_OAWgFlG4YYV4ixLcqu3UKeWB4U/s320/12-27-23d%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2Xeo9f3MWjrO2aAs9QmEF5l7V7vh5l6OjqxOUhfNom1sFaL9Eu3QIeTdiFoiHvUXrnUwo8K7Q1LOTKfoBfg6F8PSLSz3YzJKpJhoDPgUKVYwhwKgjpmOIwsBFBlMzWKdpIb_D7a2iqhOQKgixwzb6lcbhA7n5hPhj0S1CZIOXhxlP2GUU3Fo0sN5-5k/s4032/12-27-23e%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2Xeo9f3MWjrO2aAs9QmEF5l7V7vh5l6OjqxOUhfNom1sFaL9Eu3QIeTdiFoiHvUXrnUwo8K7Q1LOTKfoBfg6F8PSLSz3YzJKpJhoDPgUKVYwhwKgjpmOIwsBFBlMzWKdpIb_D7a2iqhOQKgixwzb6lcbhA7n5hPhj0S1CZIOXhxlP2GUU3Fo0sN5-5k/s320/12-27-23e%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xeQsiJ4YRG9f5kh-K9g7DtRvCWcw7VRXPl_znvXuPiOdye_2YWaq99uBzl37ujgY0D0fCZxH72IN2kwi2xNsipis37a5AduzzAmMlXP-jdqYAS9hnaEhdeRbAMYwbE1kHIwyxJDbR_cXUIUe3WQU3Qh2_1nphXd8OG33LiiyR6xvWjfXZEjHmo1Zcm4/s4032/12-27-23f%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xeQsiJ4YRG9f5kh-K9g7DtRvCWcw7VRXPl_znvXuPiOdye_2YWaq99uBzl37ujgY0D0fCZxH72IN2kwi2xNsipis37a5AduzzAmMlXP-jdqYAS9hnaEhdeRbAMYwbE1kHIwyxJDbR_cXUIUe3WQU3Qh2_1nphXd8OG33LiiyR6xvWjfXZEjHmo1Zcm4/s320/12-27-23f%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif078cJIsStwU_5_h6xKWu-5gsNOjio3gDciT6APHg7TIcZ1iz8v6ceqY1XOQ7iPC7UjexwjjwPFdEk1cJSKBStaKjmNhVFGhUzDmQ2CvUbwOw6G359L9jHGR1oEUYQPTcW4vdHp3fMymq2xdY4jmwtXofZA9PaOoJkDdQxl0MraBasMEZgKdOymsCf0U/s4032/12-27-23g%20ice%20skating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif078cJIsStwU_5_h6xKWu-5gsNOjio3gDciT6APHg7TIcZ1iz8v6ceqY1XOQ7iPC7UjexwjjwPFdEk1cJSKBStaKjmNhVFGhUzDmQ2CvUbwOw6G359L9jHGR1oEUYQPTcW4vdHp3fMymq2xdY4jmwtXofZA9PaOoJkDdQxl0MraBasMEZgKdOymsCf0U/s320/12-27-23g%20ice%20skating.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Dec. 28: Thomas wrote this himself:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJUXuSwI9s07k144PbwvzlMOIaUZpjLc9Un_YiFwNObPNvwVG-AXoqEcol9eQBn5r7fSAnx-XxlWgjnAoKg0OlOM0p50rXiQ2ehn-nDGLs-zzGoZenGjNL80sjjyPslm9RQ8VDMINTVx1KJ_MAEcSsSNjOop38r02HFhEMy4IeQzgqAhyphenhyphen3YSBDL8tQ5c/s4032/12-28-23a%20Thomas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJUXuSwI9s07k144PbwvzlMOIaUZpjLc9Un_YiFwNObPNvwVG-AXoqEcol9eQBn5r7fSAnx-XxlWgjnAoKg0OlOM0p50rXiQ2ehn-nDGLs-zzGoZenGjNL80sjjyPslm9RQ8VDMINTVx1KJ_MAEcSsSNjOop38r02HFhEMy4IeQzgqAhyphenhyphen3YSBDL8tQ5c/s320/12-28-23a%20Thomas.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Dec. 28: Yet another Christmas caeli!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZrdtntjLA2JgIbz0i5g8aBZInrzu4tABEYfnPPk2X4zyeIhyphenhyphen4gv6mn75v-6LM7G5y1jdpZVyQj1mRKqS6k6LsCmogO5gpefoxb8NHK1J9W_bZ38P0lOBc6HpKAfX-hJXZ1pPdZ1K6d9fAojmgkFOWQ6Q4KLP9D1Hg0ZJzGwkO0olqlaDVgVE72R0tLw/s2048/12-28-23b%20Christmas%20dance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZrdtntjLA2JgIbz0i5g8aBZInrzu4tABEYfnPPk2X4zyeIhyphenhyphen4gv6mn75v-6LM7G5y1jdpZVyQj1mRKqS6k6LsCmogO5gpefoxb8NHK1J9W_bZ38P0lOBc6HpKAfX-hJXZ1pPdZ1K6d9fAojmgkFOWQ6Q4KLP9D1Hg0ZJzGwkO0olqlaDVgVE72R0tLw/s320/12-28-23b%20Christmas%20dance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7gHxSrKSmL_h8BW9XhkOXf25RDp-u1_9dz8AKQqFYJKrb9fAKgdDJURc9oicz9vaqjWApixgIlbuki5xsj86UADXOzRuF5T2IffVSpDQYHZsV4oLimCFjnWerLG7EblTIm6nAtkfWVD37osA0F-CiTzT7PZx1CREHV5WK8kAsCukp8dZH2YmZTzCWNw/s960/12-28-23c%20Christmas%20dance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7gHxSrKSmL_h8BW9XhkOXf25RDp-u1_9dz8AKQqFYJKrb9fAKgdDJURc9oicz9vaqjWApixgIlbuki5xsj86UADXOzRuF5T2IffVSpDQYHZsV4oLimCFjnWerLG7EblTIm6nAtkfWVD37osA0F-CiTzT7PZx1CREHV5WK8kAsCukp8dZH2YmZTzCWNw/s320/12-28-23c%20Christmas%20dance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Dec. 30: <b>Bishop Jugis announces changes to Traditional Latin Mass offerings</b></p><p>Published: 26 December 2023</p><p>CHARLOTTE — Four parish churches in the Diocese of Charlotte have been granted permission from the Vatican to continue offering the Traditional Latin Mass, Bishop Peter Jugis has announced.</p><p>Abiding by Pope Francis’ new norms shifting the Traditional Latin Mass to non-parochial churches, Bishop Jugis sought a dispensation for the four parishes in geographically diverse locations that have traditionally served the faithful who have an affinity for the old liturgy.</p><p>St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes in Charlotte, St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon, and Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro may continue offering the old form of the Mass, which uses prayers and a liturgical calendar that pre-date the Church’s reforms of the Second Vatican Council.</p><p>Five other parishes that have been offering the Traditional Latin Mass in their parish churches, less frequently and for smaller groups, may no longer do so, Bishop Jugis said in a Dec. 6 memo to priests. Mission churches and non-parochial chapels that have been offering the Traditional Latin Mass were not affected by the Vatican’s decision and will continue as directed by the bishop.</p><p>The changes, which take effect Jan. 9, are part of the bishop’s stated goal of a “smooth and orderly transition to the new course charted by ‘Traditionis Custodes’,” Pope Francis’s 2021 norms that are intended to make accommodation for the celebration of the old form of the Mass for those who remain attached.</p><p>The Vatican body charged with implementing the pope’s instruction, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, permits the four parishes to continue offering the Traditional Latin Mass until Oct. 2, 2025, Bishop Jugis explained.</p><p>After that, the decree from the Dicastery for Divine Worship states that the parishes will need to ask again for permission to continue offering the old liturgy, at which point the Bishop of Charlotte may seek an extension of the dispensation. This request must detail the number of participants in the Latin Mass and describe the steps taken to lead them to participate in the current form of the liturgy.</p><p>In what he described as an effort to promote unity in the Church, Pope Francis restored limits on the celebration of the old liturgy that had been allowed or expanded by his predecessors St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.</p><p>“Traditionis Custodes” (“Guardians of the Tradition”) declared the liturgical books promulgated after the Second Vatican Council to be “the unique expression of the ‘lex orandi’ (law of worship) of the Roman Rite” and directed bishops not to establish any new groups or parishes in their dioceses devoted to the old liturgy.</p><p>The pope’s instruction also does not permit the continued celebration of the pre-Vatican II form of other sacraments and rites, such as confirmation or marriage.</p><p>In his December memo, Bishop Jugis also noted that priests who are already permitted to offer the Traditional Latin Mass may continue, at the locations and times now permitted.</p><p>He thanked the clergy for their “continuing ministry to the holy people of God as we proceed to implement the provisions of the Motu proprio ‘Traditionis custodes.’”</p><p>Copyright 2024 © Catholic News Herald</p><p><br /></p><p>Dec. 31: New Year's Eve!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpxkgenMKJ17r1XrBxUwDjL0YI-oW9eVfpb809Wh54af0fJpx5On0l020V_Iz9OWsKXEolg1R3EzfI8XFMzk5VKGZn6PaEtrB-_NnLBPu5kswNd0yWWQ0I_jD2R1lh55NSRpxe3ZL29QuxIRyhqosrrMl1ZFHCWuRGDTt_6dYHtLuKFQ0quFDmKggVHQ/s4032/12-31-23c%20New%20Years%20Eve%20roasting%20hotdogs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpxkgenMKJ17r1XrBxUwDjL0YI-oW9eVfpb809Wh54af0fJpx5On0l020V_Iz9OWsKXEolg1R3EzfI8XFMzk5VKGZn6PaEtrB-_NnLBPu5kswNd0yWWQ0I_jD2R1lh55NSRpxe3ZL29QuxIRyhqosrrMl1ZFHCWuRGDTt_6dYHtLuKFQ0quFDmKggVHQ/s320/12-31-23c%20New%20Years%20Eve%20roasting%20hotdogs.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK1TSOU3bTvXBUf2lItoflX9kanM1ye1oK3X9nHq68xaV19FApAqhOvVqdRDPe9NrUe3AoBDjyqonbkSReY6C9f6P87MbSyPPmn5bCWYpNfoAgEBS5RYmOYNDBDOFzmvLGobx24gnoSYH1-kUoSoIYwcFLhDKCJ1XmEOTW9rQ_VDhajyNnDUJDppRJC8/s4030/12-31-23d%20New%20Years%20Eve%20fondu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="4030" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK1TSOU3bTvXBUf2lItoflX9kanM1ye1oK3X9nHq68xaV19FApAqhOvVqdRDPe9NrUe3AoBDjyqonbkSReY6C9f6P87MbSyPPmn5bCWYpNfoAgEBS5RYmOYNDBDOFzmvLGobx24gnoSYH1-kUoSoIYwcFLhDKCJ1XmEOTW9rQ_VDhajyNnDUJDppRJC8/s320/12-31-23d%20New%20Years%20Eve%20fondu.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Random Dog Pictures</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ88FJahkBt7ZDBc6qugThOBfbzRopENgUTyw26af5DMUT4aWbc5-4o1hEH_bei4tvf8MNwMMcT3XcfXXkyf-9mSygAO8fla22IfL8EB8GYU5kEB5776eNKd8M_oF6W2bYtpPe7Kek7qkI1-UcspPht9BfTztQ9aSBadRVNsDxRUrTzYk5qkVKc3ud9I/s4032/12-11-23a%20Joseph%20Nicky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ88FJahkBt7ZDBc6qugThOBfbzRopENgUTyw26af5DMUT4aWbc5-4o1hEH_bei4tvf8MNwMMcT3XcfXXkyf-9mSygAO8fla22IfL8EB8GYU5kEB5776eNKd8M_oF6W2bYtpPe7Kek7qkI1-UcspPht9BfTztQ9aSBadRVNsDxRUrTzYk5qkVKc3ud9I/s320/12-11-23a%20Joseph%20Nicky.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcM2SECWM5lpB5sTJ1mAHGA6HLTh7l5CteGWLuyHqBKGLLR_r3tCuKnTkwcEYfrb7BilcoT41Gt0DhW2aPhGXHEd8zDsINlc7h5YDac43sc87TYiP17fNML239ey3BxlbQrXBNPVW9MqrIh6uFGsVHuqO-lgzFxrem3vH1SUF-iDYQB8B-rsSV9I37NQ/s4032/12-11-23c%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcM2SECWM5lpB5sTJ1mAHGA6HLTh7l5CteGWLuyHqBKGLLR_r3tCuKnTkwcEYfrb7BilcoT41Gt0DhW2aPhGXHEd8zDsINlc7h5YDac43sc87TYiP17fNML239ey3BxlbQrXBNPVW9MqrIh6uFGsVHuqO-lgzFxrem3vH1SUF-iDYQB8B-rsSV9I37NQ/s320/12-11-23c%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVS6rLFMUk_ttB6P1bb4c-2bq1vIUWOHav8fDLdQmz-xVyEVntbSxjO0usRBE_gJob6ID5ipwvseiF2jE8mnquNOb48ViVUW47RTGzjViHSMt6HOtM1iqdUZXOxBKUtgT6Ksh5PAXh4slwSQminJvECTBaF42pZNJm-eontNw7dC7xvdvAp2Ua4lp0m4/s4032/12-13-23c%20David%20Nicky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVS6rLFMUk_ttB6P1bb4c-2bq1vIUWOHav8fDLdQmz-xVyEVntbSxjO0usRBE_gJob6ID5ipwvseiF2jE8mnquNOb48ViVUW47RTGzjViHSMt6HOtM1iqdUZXOxBKUtgT6Ksh5PAXh4slwSQminJvECTBaF42pZNJm-eontNw7dC7xvdvAp2Ua4lp0m4/s320/12-13-23c%20David%20Nicky.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhictP5B5tJvPmnC0M_dmUr9WmFNlWdkI9GhyphenhyphenCSLxds05p8S3XaQHNTOEddwuP01yeXRRIZq2oLYQwizhhfa-ZO_UzXyiPzSPJ2Rh4vFD5SFsPsr1wobD84Uzua5vUpzcr0TDJdZxJ3CY1P4DN0pVCXHdMb2E6JxKpOHSIN2eeZfMSqWYX6B0JvN0MYmeQ/s4032/12-13-23d%20David%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhictP5B5tJvPmnC0M_dmUr9WmFNlWdkI9GhyphenhyphenCSLxds05p8S3XaQHNTOEddwuP01yeXRRIZq2oLYQwizhhfa-ZO_UzXyiPzSPJ2Rh4vFD5SFsPsr1wobD84Uzua5vUpzcr0TDJdZxJ3CY1P4DN0pVCXHdMb2E6JxKpOHSIN2eeZfMSqWYX6B0JvN0MYmeQ/s320/12-13-23d%20David%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8mDayjHkiB4oQppe_dyUJoICVJ3TYKPzmr858KbQZD9csIZ1asniW2SengM7kmhaSYgx9u0aGtn9UKc56oGYlrQF6FuN7yKxev4UGgOqcrOG1P23__z05iZU2dGZsE28194IBOjSLJt7VFId6KITmwRnhssC6Grru11-Y7ZoYm_LnQZJi9ct50Ey0ZY/s4032/12-16-23c%20Tilly%20princess%20pillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8mDayjHkiB4oQppe_dyUJoICVJ3TYKPzmr858KbQZD9csIZ1asniW2SengM7kmhaSYgx9u0aGtn9UKc56oGYlrQF6FuN7yKxev4UGgOqcrOG1P23__z05iZU2dGZsE28194IBOjSLJt7VFId6KITmwRnhssC6Grru11-Y7ZoYm_LnQZJi9ct50Ey0ZY/s320/12-16-23c%20Tilly%20princess%20pillow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB3gZqjeXXFVvCF2GUtKa7U197xw42tnhTAuJE8ZpHe_pw6R2nuSErEvVPPzBhZBj0gufxG2w8Dk2IQrN4NkCahwe2mBJIFue-ma3SQfgqkoGRSzGSWbjh-oDJKFkRyR5WFLuXFaTyWYc_YFjuThPDYqaHlBKYcNmKxntpHVcNxgUpcSFMM9Lez7N6sA/s4032/12-18-23a%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB3gZqjeXXFVvCF2GUtKa7U197xw42tnhTAuJE8ZpHe_pw6R2nuSErEvVPPzBhZBj0gufxG2w8Dk2IQrN4NkCahwe2mBJIFue-ma3SQfgqkoGRSzGSWbjh-oDJKFkRyR5WFLuXFaTyWYc_YFjuThPDYqaHlBKYcNmKxntpHVcNxgUpcSFMM9Lez7N6sA/s320/12-18-23a%20Nicky%20Tilly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsZ2aofs38eo2vED9Ue-cTW83IiBzUOoTx52U5Gzl_y5QUoO10h7I1swk5CSY1w48iIXEE3FFUjC3QreAUu1Krq7cN12e8Bdycu0ZdkNF43LaNv4GbcOZ6GdlJG2FjedjTH2ru6Ch4UGyING1MAKdU25KDoe66qHxy8E0HmBNtANtw9C2grIz53HaxKg/s4032/12-19-23b%20Tilly%20warm%20laundry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsZ2aofs38eo2vED9Ue-cTW83IiBzUOoTx52U5Gzl_y5QUoO10h7I1swk5CSY1w48iIXEE3FFUjC3QreAUu1Krq7cN12e8Bdycu0ZdkNF43LaNv4GbcOZ6GdlJG2FjedjTH2ru6Ch4UGyING1MAKdU25KDoe66qHxy8E0HmBNtANtw9C2grIz53HaxKg/s320/12-19-23b%20Tilly%20warm%20laundry.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMewYBqpgsEF2JZEwYITcBakrpq6G8jEmH3ATI1DL0wwdMc0DFA9JKds1L3yqvTc2ccXfkyHvVme68J1W-1c7YW5jjndWPla6uha8qrZL5r8NVoHqbZoplY0vVPqprGmSUFqTqy71F6jVS1J2unQeSTy8qVkK9ODWHb-Y_jJbbDnK1whvtWkUmbijSrwk/s4032/12-22-23a%20Tilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMewYBqpgsEF2JZEwYITcBakrpq6G8jEmH3ATI1DL0wwdMc0DFA9JKds1L3yqvTc2ccXfkyHvVme68J1W-1c7YW5jjndWPla6uha8qrZL5r8NVoHqbZoplY0vVPqprGmSUFqTqy71F6jVS1J2unQeSTy8qVkK9ODWHb-Y_jJbbDnK1whvtWkUmbijSrwk/s320/12-22-23a%20Tilly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-62601678374093556212023-11-30T09:53:00.001-05:002024-01-24T11:10:14.150-05:00November 2023<h2 style="text-align: left;"> All Saints Day party 2023</h2><p>We enjoyed a great parish party, as always! The kids began by playing saint-themed games, collecting candy and trinkets at each station. Then we did a parade of saints around the church and prayed a Litany of Saints at the grotto. More games ensued before the Cake Walk, at which kids win home-baked goods, each of which has the name of a faithfully departed soul attached: we will pray for that person this month. At the end of the party, we each took home a special kit so that as the children eat their Halloween candy throughout the month, they will pray for a soul by name each time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpDPd4b39IYP8STvqF7MjSFMGm6n7PFnXSq6Zw-o2V1KZzf5xRk_UWRev1Ej3H6ngTGwMdQigEn88gAyxXlJMXc3b7KPO75BNdTsGv1D4uJK6vBGirglX0tYO3f_l8-0_MeauqrvvCRAY4-GN7WHKJ_WqGhJhDn-ydiF6kyS4Fz7jppjyrQKwCfm31Ms/s1179/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpDPd4b39IYP8STvqF7MjSFMGm6n7PFnXSq6Zw-o2V1KZzf5xRk_UWRev1Ej3H6ngTGwMdQigEn88gAyxXlJMXc3b7KPO75BNdTsGv1D4uJK6vBGirglX0tYO3f_l8-0_MeauqrvvCRAY4-GN7WHKJ_WqGhJhDn-ydiF6kyS4Fz7jppjyrQKwCfm31Ms/s320/IMG_6221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHouuJqXEYBd6iT7QLHbWnkCmnT_JoousZOwdx1BIhIN8l3Jje-HH2IG3aznUZ7SQmnOoCdeCDGkHKnuhet89JrJWnGa3vBSRNpJkgyejyqw-9bWtfont8D3QFaWfGRthcpwrlNEvyS0SAMy4268rbMsgApZFAxVpcOiObNoPQvOqusQ-1qizOiHeBJr8/s1179/IMG_6224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHouuJqXEYBd6iT7QLHbWnkCmnT_JoousZOwdx1BIhIN8l3Jje-HH2IG3aznUZ7SQmnOoCdeCDGkHKnuhet89JrJWnGa3vBSRNpJkgyejyqw-9bWtfont8D3QFaWfGRthcpwrlNEvyS0SAMy4268rbMsgApZFAxVpcOiObNoPQvOqusQ-1qizOiHeBJr8/s320/IMG_6224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6SeGo8HyX4SkDwIktlrPQDS9G2v6RZ0016twiz3XclylzcuvZqOPtqlzwValrWLBFlgpI1AtnGXc8e1pBQhI9WyQROxxUsoAz3NzjxFuEOcV0HcfYRxwKOEsdiUmhNA28B9TlnbE2dhxCcccfiD0aFBb77TOQwb9DtDAh7maAWu9XqVODCGGwG8o8E4/s1179/IMG_6212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6SeGo8HyX4SkDwIktlrPQDS9G2v6RZ0016twiz3XclylzcuvZqOPtqlzwValrWLBFlgpI1AtnGXc8e1pBQhI9WyQROxxUsoAz3NzjxFuEOcV0HcfYRxwKOEsdiUmhNA28B9TlnbE2dhxCcccfiD0aFBb77TOQwb9DtDAh7maAWu9XqVODCGGwG8o8E4/s320/IMG_6212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QMP9Lmffoqc0E_1-twASO6DwM09j3Sw-QzmfA3xD_z8i_bAvaBfY4xZOPZxMJbHX7RYqfh_kLxONRXUYYoYuRAxYCWVDNDVqyEafs4O4_en16sbbiQUmH6bb9qiniQrnnQCVe5HF_i6MozsNLtNAeMiwTZiUvRs2RtAUTixgF4ZLMGsINxG3HBXSncg/s884/IMG_6213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QMP9Lmffoqc0E_1-twASO6DwM09j3Sw-QzmfA3xD_z8i_bAvaBfY4xZOPZxMJbHX7RYqfh_kLxONRXUYYoYuRAxYCWVDNDVqyEafs4O4_en16sbbiQUmH6bb9qiniQrnnQCVe5HF_i6MozsNLtNAeMiwTZiUvRs2RtAUTixgF4ZLMGsINxG3HBXSncg/s320/IMG_6213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5WaXwPhRmgwtYTfEKCeRXvWzizjSFK0j53ThEaHW4bRkviNXpOZP8ySOW1M48Zat-_dv0Y2mfRABgDfGDxvIJW5wYWmZFPmylOe95zzrT9LfdboYzJZvJ7KjQb5EsPmc5HranOA3eDGh1W-uvInODdv_9crJfCbejyzTA5PDjYoTRooGrk1njtpK1Yk/s1179/IMG_6215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5WaXwPhRmgwtYTfEKCeRXvWzizjSFK0j53ThEaHW4bRkviNXpOZP8ySOW1M48Zat-_dv0Y2mfRABgDfGDxvIJW5wYWmZFPmylOe95zzrT9LfdboYzJZvJ7KjQb5EsPmc5HranOA3eDGh1W-uvInODdv_9crJfCbejyzTA5PDjYoTRooGrk1njtpK1Yk/s320/IMG_6215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkJclPhwIt7G1G1eszzruYxK-h3pMcq5McAA9lImlnvtMR3H8qbbw9677Cji-3obvCjy6FhgEn_MInPKNm58wLAT0VlrMWEnXprxrJqamOZDG6cu0ePHdC2TUEoUdemSZHoY0wVLSE3Yyi7GQqXtBS3J2_9RutgRQ2faYJGvlDNmhC898UssAqGe8u-w/s1179/IMG_9983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkJclPhwIt7G1G1eszzruYxK-h3pMcq5McAA9lImlnvtMR3H8qbbw9677Cji-3obvCjy6FhgEn_MInPKNm58wLAT0VlrMWEnXprxrJqamOZDG6cu0ePHdC2TUEoUdemSZHoY0wVLSE3Yyi7GQqXtBS3J2_9RutgRQ2faYJGvlDNmhC898UssAqGe8u-w/s320/IMG_9983.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZkQRSd1AsV2ihRMyyTHkcn3hPSwTsr7mH4a_-8CyIwV3L_2X8NWY77HkotJIzHtPYZJQ_1Bo2HzxTvSp4QpbdUo4KYYFEKBDnhdMOTyDwWS7Yh3uCihll7DmzZkhDnorR88I0Sf6DN3Q3Q7U13Srr2mfjX_7NM3j6bhYOxAjAHOMgvsSF7L3edOV3h0/s884/IMG_9990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZkQRSd1AsV2ihRMyyTHkcn3hPSwTsr7mH4a_-8CyIwV3L_2X8NWY77HkotJIzHtPYZJQ_1Bo2HzxTvSp4QpbdUo4KYYFEKBDnhdMOTyDwWS7Yh3uCihll7DmzZkhDnorR88I0Sf6DN3Q3Q7U13Srr2mfjX_7NM3j6bhYOxAjAHOMgvsSF7L3edOV3h0/s320/IMG_9990.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Chris took Mary and a friend to see <i>The Scarlet Pimpernel</i> on stage in Greenville, SC. (John was supposed to go, but was sick!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMk7bS-3reh0nRT1KccJIkbeLkJp92os3MV8oT0TcO1Wi3vHgoARxXkYcL6PwDmS12BwB2DVSFeJ4orDuxK5mkPW1O68IvescahfSFBuXPcDTwjNi1yWko-ePI2P-wiYEYc9_A5x6FpEd4Ku3X9MpQX8-9km_fB8S1jzhrGlGncWOC7I9BMCb1jwt7Qw/s264/IMG_7976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="264" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMk7bS-3reh0nRT1KccJIkbeLkJp92os3MV8oT0TcO1Wi3vHgoARxXkYcL6PwDmS12BwB2DVSFeJ4orDuxK5mkPW1O68IvescahfSFBuXPcDTwjNi1yWko-ePI2P-wiYEYc9_A5x6FpEd4Ku3X9MpQX8-9km_fB8S1jzhrGlGncWOC7I9BMCb1jwt7Qw/s1600/IMG_7976.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu_C2hbgS5LpcJwR-vDXTz7CDFWLYa7fSM3BNiABFQWrv3brEnv-DpDdU0ebXJRoKKBoMyAx6Up7qiaGjS_O_fSZmpYdSFoe2jbNAP-y3cKIfUYRliF1uG1RSwhc6wBa8Wkn27VECTxbtb-UHQWFgexCc6-EoSVjczusJBrneZ3KjjN0Ys78e0iCyhhg/s1179/IMG_7980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu_C2hbgS5LpcJwR-vDXTz7CDFWLYa7fSM3BNiABFQWrv3brEnv-DpDdU0ebXJRoKKBoMyAx6Up7qiaGjS_O_fSZmpYdSFoe2jbNAP-y3cKIfUYRliF1uG1RSwhc6wBa8Wkn27VECTxbtb-UHQWFgexCc6-EoSVjczusJBrneZ3KjjN0Ys78e0iCyhhg/s320/IMG_7980.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Yes, I did buy our two doggies a little sweater for these 30-degree morning walks. And, yes, we did all squeal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q4YdEEAmEnAEobIogn8lJo_RNPNoj39kz3Mtg-p9KuJI7pEva_wTz3RlJFdK5GhWWKi-vnKzzsYxaUeLEAxUXgz9-7rVgKmSO2DpxrggcPuraz6GyrRc7RZjXAVy2Y93K6iVZ_HqZXgEleByiY0Ip_SMhYXkB0jw7gEPKRfODzlKWWJR60Yx-XuXA2I/s1179/IMG_6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q4YdEEAmEnAEobIogn8lJo_RNPNoj39kz3Mtg-p9KuJI7pEva_wTz3RlJFdK5GhWWKi-vnKzzsYxaUeLEAxUXgz9-7rVgKmSO2DpxrggcPuraz6GyrRc7RZjXAVy2Y93K6iVZ_HqZXgEleByiY0Ip_SMhYXkB0jw7gEPKRfODzlKWWJR60Yx-XuXA2I/s320/IMG_6245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My first attempt at biscuits made with freshly milled flour went well enough! Next time, I would make some petite like the recipe calls for, but I'd make some with double dough for the older members of the family who like a large biscuit like is sold in cans at the grocery store.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs72PVhFyb1hrFN4oa92SB1kUTYvHvpJdJtOG6MJX2DezGLoKa68SJAx1kbfQzIdccYk-nnV0spCDuWwp7fpgksJE5mFTIXUV0k80hUfoDGub2_gAuoQIk318aUivaUPP4oEPuPMNCK59LJH8p6pc4ftboOQEs0SCDaivL5c4e6TzuN-zXt6iFVpBxGyk/s4030/IMG-6251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="4030" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs72PVhFyb1hrFN4oa92SB1kUTYvHvpJdJtOG6MJX2DezGLoKa68SJAx1kbfQzIdccYk-nnV0spCDuWwp7fpgksJE5mFTIXUV0k80hUfoDGub2_gAuoQIk318aUivaUPP4oEPuPMNCK59LJH8p6pc4ftboOQEs0SCDaivL5c4e6TzuN-zXt6iFVpBxGyk/s320/IMG-6251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Nov. 4: We enjoyed perfect weather for the annual parish carnival today! I have pictures of only one kiddo because all the others were running around independently.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuKwgK-beUVePjSZne-Wqv1weoTeVN4Cc-OtzNOQ1yC9rQ0cLNb2chHaDts0ESCwUQIBdR3yqyn9Bqqn-10jH3p76JHETTGCoX3N8ivWsc1R0_K0BJaNw6einkJgOL_EPFlA6ApfsEss1CvVFm_TtLYg4hHK96_9NdiL6MAB3O307o98zNhVPHGFBAjI/s884/IMG_6253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuKwgK-beUVePjSZne-Wqv1weoTeVN4Cc-OtzNOQ1yC9rQ0cLNb2chHaDts0ESCwUQIBdR3yqyn9Bqqn-10jH3p76JHETTGCoX3N8ivWsc1R0_K0BJaNw6einkJgOL_EPFlA6ApfsEss1CvVFm_TtLYg4hHK96_9NdiL6MAB3O307o98zNhVPHGFBAjI/s320/IMG_6253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQYmBJBvR9LMQevjNOMNRwB3I_WHY_ankZ97gGAKnbWkICbiQPvMj4bLYVoKmUQr17BDrWSzZD1aD8t5P9j6qOZBozlSnDL63vvpVRP3musRoSTUZqOJ0oveNpXb4_hOQEtmsgQ5yZGaZ8Juayh6hWSq8fq8xYr-vc_SAY4iMQvH01iZJttvB2gZzE5c/s884/IMG_6254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQYmBJBvR9LMQevjNOMNRwB3I_WHY_ankZ97gGAKnbWkICbiQPvMj4bLYVoKmUQr17BDrWSzZD1aD8t5P9j6qOZBozlSnDL63vvpVRP3musRoSTUZqOJ0oveNpXb4_hOQEtmsgQ5yZGaZ8Juayh6hWSq8fq8xYr-vc_SAY4iMQvH01iZJttvB2gZzE5c/s320/IMG_6254.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEORSwIm1n5RvQoD0ITwjwabTlfasp-y3lOAJpGj-OU4tJjfPkJETsbfFICNKGXkGPvqU3Wd6U6iESxXHZ-BKaXm12kqsD4qb15qrnZR4jpUBA-jMjK0mQ5fnadMP65WcB-NPOuDmR7e-3BG9VgAFkhmvAi1Nih7CI4HXCqs6L9TFtk-hV5zA_S7tkec/s884/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEORSwIm1n5RvQoD0ITwjwabTlfasp-y3lOAJpGj-OU4tJjfPkJETsbfFICNKGXkGPvqU3Wd6U6iESxXHZ-BKaXm12kqsD4qb15qrnZR4jpUBA-jMjK0mQ5fnadMP65WcB-NPOuDmR7e-3BG9VgAFkhmvAi1Nih7CI4HXCqs6L9TFtk-hV5zA_S7tkec/s320/IMG_6255.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRii5Inj23rPIXvuZ9XIHduUQj1ziMVjaW0TtMv56mc36ZnUSQvCO1mfmPHwbXR2PLwHZ8egkqVzBZwF78H-z8FfTy8atI2teyLo-xe_c6R7gs3g7F4q3UD_Y2nd8hB333GulO9uoZzc-M8eMAOig2wKq2kgqhrN9S9Zs6fV4SGtbm11zZXMxJPckO5E/s884/IMG_6260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRii5Inj23rPIXvuZ9XIHduUQj1ziMVjaW0TtMv56mc36ZnUSQvCO1mfmPHwbXR2PLwHZ8egkqVzBZwF78H-z8FfTy8atI2teyLo-xe_c6R7gs3g7F4q3UD_Y2nd8hB333GulO9uoZzc-M8eMAOig2wKq2kgqhrN9S9Zs6fV4SGtbm11zZXMxJPckO5E/s320/IMG_6260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM2hrlQzoqy89orx5u2zOpSoVFF236q3gBHgTaB1-Z8u57KQ69d33Y_sHW69g_9Tp8iVygb1pBTfS8rRTyPkHg5Dp8v6t5Q0QOAe0aQuDka5wagiQgvnEUn9MRldt8nzAnGPOl6xwH82S5gN3nJj28Y_HR3mLJpbrqZ2vQYKhw4OHxWc1zmY_6TOBOYU/s4032/IMG_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM2hrlQzoqy89orx5u2zOpSoVFF236q3gBHgTaB1-Z8u57KQ69d33Y_sHW69g_9Tp8iVygb1pBTfS8rRTyPkHg5Dp8v6t5Q0QOAe0aQuDka5wagiQgvnEUn9MRldt8nzAnGPOl6xwH82S5gN3nJj28Y_HR3mLJpbrqZ2vQYKhw4OHxWc1zmY_6TOBOYU/s320/IMG_6266.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF8CfPJo_8Wa4G4jRuRc_Z1xtJhk9dbCDoOch_HjYlj6OHz0qtQEAL0yneSaytefYi6zlUH2jMdQqd0W_vlPzzIglwV8XiQo6BtH0quyo7i1P3LKOiLPjwDsby6IdyG40X7DF30YHPjDOz5q8pUcvJQxrFyeU0bP4dXWMhafeHSRGIkpRcJcR7S85BAQ/s1179/IMG_6268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF8CfPJo_8Wa4G4jRuRc_Z1xtJhk9dbCDoOch_HjYlj6OHz0qtQEAL0yneSaytefYi6zlUH2jMdQqd0W_vlPzzIglwV8XiQo6BtH0quyo7i1P3LKOiLPjwDsby6IdyG40X7DF30YHPjDOz5q8pUcvJQxrFyeU0bP4dXWMhafeHSRGIkpRcJcR7S85BAQ/s320/IMG_6268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Chris and Margaret travelled to Atlanta for a few days to lend support while Uncle Mike was in the ICU. Praise God, he recovered.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O2LZoPnAyctR10j18aysQ2X5DA-ETGNcvC-gdagEL3KnEf6OoiKUZR6MzvQi8ORrLXqxpiMse5GU0esoQLnYyxy-GdxpK4-hs9fhEXJE8yArKqO5UuGf6sn-_xiFfnR3oymYdBdx4TWuuI6xz5HbHZ35mOF9QHgFQbtIlkXPLmONLWpqMruOjIK2lYA/s1179/IMG_7958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O2LZoPnAyctR10j18aysQ2X5DA-ETGNcvC-gdagEL3KnEf6OoiKUZR6MzvQi8ORrLXqxpiMse5GU0esoQLnYyxy-GdxpK4-hs9fhEXJE8yArKqO5UuGf6sn-_xiFfnR3oymYdBdx4TWuuI6xz5HbHZ35mOF9QHgFQbtIlkXPLmONLWpqMruOjIK2lYA/s320/IMG_7958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT80D2WGKuv-_od6Fw8KMD40Fytk7QNfUMjT6j_7eYrlBYeIocRrin89xTloAN2LfK3L0oH2_UF6vhdhq7YTzjS_o3h0DkUzZaLJDbOa857chiIA_EF5qqSCEyye3_vf3yY2k3di9vKIf_5Ez3dBA1lhAn5q39wpjmyUrjFv70WJBK6xePtL9Hc2iYMo/s884/IMG_7961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT80D2WGKuv-_od6Fw8KMD40Fytk7QNfUMjT6j_7eYrlBYeIocRrin89xTloAN2LfK3L0oH2_UF6vhdhq7YTzjS_o3h0DkUzZaLJDbOa857chiIA_EF5qqSCEyye3_vf3yY2k3di9vKIf_5Ez3dBA1lhAn5q39wpjmyUrjFv70WJBK6xePtL9Hc2iYMo/s320/IMG_7961.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Chris can pretend all day long that he doesn't miss the dogs when he's gone from home. They certainly miss him.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8MLNylU-xXxBT0FfucSOsX4LpeldbnyApWuSxWmCrRFLdo1DMP_uUHKRbpsziNrxAu7ZSX2u2FATsPYVrH88u52eAEC1DVw0e2wUS7anVN8O0YdwHbVrWWjMNzNHmpbUv4jN-9wTUgJDxsceF3gLaM8qoJgczZ1iuGmTojHl7e8yZAeeSvhxnKvNKCc/s1179/IMG_7973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8MLNylU-xXxBT0FfucSOsX4LpeldbnyApWuSxWmCrRFLdo1DMP_uUHKRbpsziNrxAu7ZSX2u2FATsPYVrH88u52eAEC1DVw0e2wUS7anVN8O0YdwHbVrWWjMNzNHmpbUv4jN-9wTUgJDxsceF3gLaM8qoJgczZ1iuGmTojHl7e8yZAeeSvhxnKvNKCc/s320/IMG_7973.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHavHckc5GoHzqHy2oRgacvrXFf8otrRtyt2N5k9TtzC7D9RAR7bmJa0ivJzjgyg8_fp7ur3qX-Xa6nhXNsdeM6mNaWPhsNi9iEsHDQqZiUi2bEhWbpkJ1HEvrhsqSRW8hafyKUQxOteERw-ELxnxuKt2gPDMOe915wLcdDhcO9-CIWyKobOgYIGpSOs/s1554/IMG_7974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1554" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHavHckc5GoHzqHy2oRgacvrXFf8otrRtyt2N5k9TtzC7D9RAR7bmJa0ivJzjgyg8_fp7ur3qX-Xa6nhXNsdeM6mNaWPhsNi9iEsHDQqZiUi2bEhWbpkJ1HEvrhsqSRW8hafyKUQxOteERw-ELxnxuKt2gPDMOe915wLcdDhcO9-CIWyKobOgYIGpSOs/s320/IMG_7974.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>When a cement truck makes a surprise visit directly in front of your house, you stop bothering trying to teach the homeschool lessons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5MFmhi72h9tk6O9PPDtNeEH5Jo298Z-udDsRrFK4dyQf47ZdBXY7Vt_9odhtVtEWry2DVbR1gX1vvoSMWNSSwHlubqjPoJ9B8zt0FBGTxQwyDtZrB-ddVuTZ5vtikrXw4a4VktKTRaTscxEXIBBk2TkuObdyQnN9jwRYra3Q9r_pLquNPn8rHRiAStg/s1179/IMG_6278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5MFmhi72h9tk6O9PPDtNeEH5Jo298Z-udDsRrFK4dyQf47ZdBXY7Vt_9odhtVtEWry2DVbR1gX1vvoSMWNSSwHlubqjPoJ9B8zt0FBGTxQwyDtZrB-ddVuTZ5vtikrXw4a4VktKTRaTscxEXIBBk2TkuObdyQnN9jwRYra3Q9r_pLquNPn8rHRiAStg/s320/IMG_6278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>November 7, 2023: The day my last baby son, David, age 6, learned that he really cannot marry his Mama . . . Even if Daddy dies? . . . Even if become a grown-up?</p><p>“Never?”</p><p>“No, not ever, but sons can always visit their mommies as often as they want.”</p><p>And then he crawled in my lap, hugged me, and got a little teary. </p><p>And now I will take my sad little heart away. If you’re a Boy Mama, you know!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XT6sdpFhCZyQ8msPUByW-SbUs-PfXgUrIAqsNYbwganNyUk9prd5YGYtKLhPto2YjL_blLuU3vDOBwUGRsDq2Ir58QQ0B9wiKlwKSgvLiiPg0WyO7AH2gGcF2_z0nb4lNH0ZYWYfMxgP1M_QGyJQwzdb6xWfChaXnftTw2t314lMD6iePTnGaqffJ8o/s1080/399923823_10160918786958360_7629951341056025539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XT6sdpFhCZyQ8msPUByW-SbUs-PfXgUrIAqsNYbwganNyUk9prd5YGYtKLhPto2YjL_blLuU3vDOBwUGRsDq2Ir58QQ0B9wiKlwKSgvLiiPg0WyO7AH2gGcF2_z0nb4lNH0ZYWYfMxgP1M_QGyJQwzdb6xWfChaXnftTw2t314lMD6iePTnGaqffJ8o/s320/399923823_10160918786958360_7629951341056025539_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visiting friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMzDtE7Kl6yPkdJMDKF5FskCyf8eVbgbZva-NQd_DDH_Pn_vtOQpI__rOjsfStQb-XT2MQrdMU64Z9ssirOmPDMghJ5p1qW-DoXs3xk7v1GTK9rU0i_R305ygq9sKF5C9_OUyzUx97OcRjGQaNFSasFxlzjKGG-nB1_9McC8qcV8dhYR7aQnoeP8uaN0/s1041/image000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1041" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMzDtE7Kl6yPkdJMDKF5FskCyf8eVbgbZva-NQd_DDH_Pn_vtOQpI__rOjsfStQb-XT2MQrdMU64Z9ssirOmPDMghJ5p1qW-DoXs3xk7v1GTK9rU0i_R305ygq9sKF5C9_OUyzUx97OcRjGQaNFSasFxlzjKGG-nB1_9McC8qcV8dhYR7aQnoeP8uaN0/s320/image000000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>For my fellow tubie friends . . . Inspiration!</p><p><i>"André Rieu invited a 15-year-old singer to perform onstage at his huge concert in the Netherlands. Emma is not your average high school student, she has a rare stomach disease but also has a remarkably beautiful and angelic voice. She showed a rare grace onstage, totally unexpected for a 15-year-old. A video of her passionate performance went viral getting 11 million views, and it's not surprising, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when she was done. Emma’s stomach is paralyzed and she can only eat through a tube going into her stomach. Rieu said that the teen with a “beautiful voice” had a dream of being a singer and wasn’t going to let that slow her down. Emma absolutely knocked it out of the park, displaying powerful honesty and emotion through her singing, which was simply stunning to watch. <a href="https://www.themusicman.uk/emma-kok/?fbclid=IwAR2FOHI0rgMPsQ3lkqROgvWP-5gc0otsX1-e29e5D-NKrue6Xe2QUw0OgWs" target="_blank">Watch video in comments below.</a>"</i></p><p><br /></p><p>I tried my hand at freshly milled flour applesauce muffins, as the kids were not in love with the texture of diced apple in the muffins last time. Each muffin has as much protein as an egg plus 4 grams fiber. They were a hit!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BQYFHIp1LhIfd1ESOAQZTk_yC0y8Ov_h1x4nyKYiZ1gYJEKQ3jK4_6XAEFhyphenhyphen2kgERKcdOYbcVSenhCDKhUOWc99zNXAA_WXcrCfAqqPLYaxvQ8iHlUSIXWnoauvgFJ6qBaVbBT97SkBWjrSPSf1KfxecAcuhAA7lZJ7nuF1qMGwHOIeqkIjSpHicNe0/s1423/IMG_6290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1423" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BQYFHIp1LhIfd1ESOAQZTk_yC0y8Ov_h1x4nyKYiZ1gYJEKQ3jK4_6XAEFhyphenhyphen2kgERKcdOYbcVSenhCDKhUOWc99zNXAA_WXcrCfAqqPLYaxvQ8iHlUSIXWnoauvgFJ6qBaVbBT97SkBWjrSPSf1KfxecAcuhAA7lZJ7nuF1qMGwHOIeqkIjSpHicNe0/s320/IMG_6290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Idyllic neighborhood play among these little friends!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jY3zbaqLvhNiM2cI2ZDgPHnsUJM5N_Atk4VuJW4aDdqEEJbYL9jxTqH5XgiSmSSyyK6Zfrn3zKwmh0QTCmRPw6EXywcbPNmVMxPyflL3M9fARw9eFEVjKK3Ee1w64kzH-NudIL9JnaWkwBAL3OVouJPT2W_ZcxvmJTLW0Z0v9mqENGobI5qHmEZYWZ4/s884/IMG_4078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jY3zbaqLvhNiM2cI2ZDgPHnsUJM5N_Atk4VuJW4aDdqEEJbYL9jxTqH5XgiSmSSyyK6Zfrn3zKwmh0QTCmRPw6EXywcbPNmVMxPyflL3M9fARw9eFEVjKK3Ee1w64kzH-NudIL9JnaWkwBAL3OVouJPT2W_ZcxvmJTLW0Z0v9mqENGobI5qHmEZYWZ4/s320/IMG_4078.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><p>Congratulations to Thomas on his First Confession! Look at his huge smile. Given that he had his Confirmation and First Holy Communion at four years old due to his cancer, this is his last sacrament of youth!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGm20BK9H_Wj4wW6d8AH5j494AC58uO8P7vI_ZotPovjkyseGlTGkS2c19rPn7w2imLzR2hTxCXCj5oD_vLdgjHCQ5OEOs2z8hccNqj0AMrSTR9WSaKwJ5ctJHwDDGPJlxJ0bLb1Yp5hyphenhyphenH6RjUK0XYtYjGwrjupV9HRCo1q7Sd7fYYiwoDwxtGzE8HQg/s884/IMG_6303%20first%20holy%20communion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGm20BK9H_Wj4wW6d8AH5j494AC58uO8P7vI_ZotPovjkyseGlTGkS2c19rPn7w2imLzR2hTxCXCj5oD_vLdgjHCQ5OEOs2z8hccNqj0AMrSTR9WSaKwJ5ctJHwDDGPJlxJ0bLb1Yp5hyphenhyphenH6RjUK0XYtYjGwrjupV9HRCo1q7Sd7fYYiwoDwxtGzE8HQg/s320/IMG_6303%20first%20holy%20communion.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMoQvmKMtGdiurxIRd9Fl0y-9mtPn7M_NHzrTM8y2X9k2gMzLIG1INN31dAfDjZt9MgJ9W4nOPFC6f7z2aFwX6aCo6zZG04e2Gu7jLEA4Cek3jPE8HQ9EJOF5Sp5rqDiDSvq5EPc1Op2vTOlEIia2x19LOOklI-ZWQtBtvlwHLgVU7-xtDZH7bytnCn8/s884/IMG_6305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMoQvmKMtGdiurxIRd9Fl0y-9mtPn7M_NHzrTM8y2X9k2gMzLIG1INN31dAfDjZt9MgJ9W4nOPFC6f7z2aFwX6aCo6zZG04e2Gu7jLEA4Cek3jPE8HQ9EJOF5Sp5rqDiDSvq5EPc1Op2vTOlEIia2x19LOOklI-ZWQtBtvlwHLgVU7-xtDZH7bytnCn8/s320/IMG_6305.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I wuv our wee pups.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_myT2BHlAoiIcG6uKcSh4WDOJ2QzmmqDWAdcO0PZI2v_E5bTrYRZxh49DquzDHMLKZpHzdRZMmC3waaccLDbysGrS0q1hlsjQz_g36E_GC0yptNZo6IgFPJTmwwbMFgj2gvfWdfhZue5_1qWJQnyCrC1YUEKp5OLAd23TnoVUlVv9AmtQ6774BConr0/s884/IMG_6308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_myT2BHlAoiIcG6uKcSh4WDOJ2QzmmqDWAdcO0PZI2v_E5bTrYRZxh49DquzDHMLKZpHzdRZMmC3waaccLDbysGrS0q1hlsjQz_g36E_GC0yptNZo6IgFPJTmwwbMFgj2gvfWdfhZue5_1qWJQnyCrC1YUEKp5OLAd23TnoVUlVv9AmtQ6774BConr0/s320/IMG_6308.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://youtu.be/JYqfVE-fykk?si=JzJzrfejFWmkTlBk" target="_blank"><b>This (totally clean) SNL skit</b></a> about America's ridiculous systems of weights and measures had me laughing, especially as a homeschool mother because I'm mired in teaching all these nonsensical systems of measure to my elementary aged children, while half the time I'm secretly looking up the info on my phone!</p><p>“Mama, I’m going to sit outside and read Angel Food.”</p><p>(‘Angel Food for Boys and Girls’ by TAN)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiVlDCd_E6atLKvwzmtp8WaDUSUvhCPlXEJmBQqIUTfDhbyDgA9yh4e609d9vKP_F7tXvQv8wjR1NpN9Bi_t43iRazNT9PHK58qNqCxUXa0x8f-Bl6ZfC_ke_CWzG_gEb7yrXckVKgDPynCqKlffchtHx_N3u_iJBQWe9DAYXwPjAeD4d-P1wLJ7kyIM/s4032/IMG_6313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiVlDCd_E6atLKvwzmtp8WaDUSUvhCPlXEJmBQqIUTfDhbyDgA9yh4e609d9vKP_F7tXvQv8wjR1NpN9Bi_t43iRazNT9PHK58qNqCxUXa0x8f-Bl6ZfC_ke_CWzG_gEb7yrXckVKgDPynCqKlffchtHx_N3u_iJBQWe9DAYXwPjAeD4d-P1wLJ7kyIM/s320/IMG_6313.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I have tried not to post political things for a decade, but I'm at my breaking point. I just can't even.</p><p><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-11/bishop-strickland-relieved-of-pastoral-care-of-us-diocese.html?fbclid=IwAR2qa2fXTn85YlUiOhCrtD0PGjWzH3caQiFDaAUK4hzI8BRUMon9FneDSHM" target="_blank"><b>Bishop Strickland relieved of pastoral governance of US diocese</b></a></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Happy 15th birthday, Mary!</h2><p>We had the most fun yesterday celebrating this young woman! Mary is helpful to her family, responsible at all her pet-sitting and babysitting jobs, she mysteriously loves math and physics, and is a beautiful performer of piano, violin, and organ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2AyP8sP_HCqBhTtxL9bkLNBE4CCKp5sC-jSdiWsPsj8y5DLXy6QMUbIcw7yojPbYACe8l_Ky_aAWO-sswWBfmJNZOcVgWNDXiNmAvzmaw36fPAQ9fZFtwfDH_Y51SgaI-CUFQJZWO8q4GiH5MFQaSiaPSO-_RuLOtCuujsdNotcIJAC3t71d4J-bPyU/s884/IMG_6326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2AyP8sP_HCqBhTtxL9bkLNBE4CCKp5sC-jSdiWsPsj8y5DLXy6QMUbIcw7yojPbYACe8l_Ky_aAWO-sswWBfmJNZOcVgWNDXiNmAvzmaw36fPAQ9fZFtwfDH_Y51SgaI-CUFQJZWO8q4GiH5MFQaSiaPSO-_RuLOtCuujsdNotcIJAC3t71d4J-bPyU/s320/IMG_6326.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VHI9iAkSFJQU8fRXoWzIArQ-gEWgCY617Jurt9f_sl18zJuCjhsx7hUSr5Kfc4VleWb1_cKXyR6YL1btiuLA2xF8q-XW-aHcev6_jBC78nTXC_2_CwAfOqf57_ltSDZp6x0oa3V9ABAAggvmSuDGK8IxRmn9SjVI1DtyaygvhHRS-b8ETHz1TCSXAWw/s884/IMG_6329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VHI9iAkSFJQU8fRXoWzIArQ-gEWgCY617Jurt9f_sl18zJuCjhsx7hUSr5Kfc4VleWb1_cKXyR6YL1btiuLA2xF8q-XW-aHcev6_jBC78nTXC_2_CwAfOqf57_ltSDZp6x0oa3V9ABAAggvmSuDGK8IxRmn9SjVI1DtyaygvhHRS-b8ETHz1TCSXAWw/s320/IMG_6329.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyl2cfEpVHnWgxzf-Xsxa_xzxsc0ib9sD85J2bZiVVH9Pb1gjwQSqmhcm9JTyTkjBn7i_-4iencQGETm95fLDaT0NEWspo4g03irgdEskOyxU2jZ9imfIPIx0Os2KhmaZC2ubfDVwB9utaGVx697iAgeHwhj6UQ34VfkF1wKXaTWBeFdjo9ML-5nYzz4/s1231/400087067_10160926705753360_4243256188138279582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyl2cfEpVHnWgxzf-Xsxa_xzxsc0ib9sD85J2bZiVVH9Pb1gjwQSqmhcm9JTyTkjBn7i_-4iencQGETm95fLDaT0NEWspo4g03irgdEskOyxU2jZ9imfIPIx0Os2KhmaZC2ubfDVwB9utaGVx697iAgeHwhj6UQ34VfkF1wKXaTWBeFdjo9ML-5nYzz4/s320/400087067_10160926705753360_4243256188138279582_n.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><br /><p>Beautiful story of charity at our local hospital. If you click through to the video of Jane’s Fund paying off a family’s mortgage the day before their child died, that social worker was Thomas’s social worker during treatment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JUKcnuazcx_BEE8GwqWFHzvhBzZTm862JwaCy5RvhusEXKpqOk8sJ_xNu0WwF7x8Kx_HtxFiHWeoJgMpCIv5P2MegJcz60u-1_xcglmkf2-HcJb3ZB0LMxnsyiS9PHcoLr56zbZuDnonj43zBT5o244qkoWBME5S_Bwd0RDpTLxReCwDKuikTiD7Ecs/s1368/401794875_908746987276152_6795931026932460565_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JUKcnuazcx_BEE8GwqWFHzvhBzZTm862JwaCy5RvhusEXKpqOk8sJ_xNu0WwF7x8Kx_HtxFiHWeoJgMpCIv5P2MegJcz60u-1_xcglmkf2-HcJb3ZB0LMxnsyiS9PHcoLr56zbZuDnonj43zBT5o244qkoWBME5S_Bwd0RDpTLxReCwDKuikTiD7Ecs/s320/401794875_908746987276152_6795931026932460565_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Five months for this sparkling Charlotte teenager to go from diagnosis to death.</i></p><p><i>Abrupt way to say it? Yes.</i></p><p><i>Truth? Also, yes.</i></p><p><i>The Good, the Bad, and the Always Real. Sometimes, like in Jane Harrell’s case, it’s a mixture of all three.</i></p><p><i>Beautiful 17-year-old Jane was diagnosed with DIPG in March of 2021. Some of you reading this might have just gasped. You know those four letters. You know DIPG has no cure, and no survival rate. To hear those letters attached to your child is to start a fight that, so far, only has one ending. DIPG. DIPG. Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. A highly aggressive brain tumor. It appears in an area of the brain that controls many of the body’s vital functions. Breathing. Hearing. Balance, and gait. Blood pressure. Heart rate. All those things, and more, affected.</i></p><p><i>To understand how Jane’s family is now helping others, you have to first understand their daughter. They say she remains the quiet force behind the charitable good occurring in her name, she just leads from a perch high above.</i></p><p><i>So let's go back in time a bit. To when Jane started having vision loss, frequent falls, and dizziness. She gets on Google and begins to diagnose herself. She decides, from internet research, she has a brain tumor. She pleads with her mom on the way to an MRI scan not to proceed.</i></p><p><i>“You and dad don’t deserve the pain of a kid with a brain tumor,” she says. “It’s too much for one family.”</i></p><p><i>Mom Jane, who gave her own name to her daughter, smiles and reassures Little Jane. She tells her she doesn’t have a tumor and the scan will be fine. Mama Jane is not only a mother of four—Jane being the oldest—but also a doctor herself. She doesn't think it's that serious. So, she’s stunned when called back from the waiting room and the radiologist tells her a tumor in her daughter’s brainstem needs urgent attention.</i></p><p><i>From there, the fight begins. The Janes go to radiation together.</i></p><p><i>“10:20am each morning, for six weeks,” says Mama Jane. “We share a waiting room with Breast cancer Debbie, prostate cancer Doug, and lung cancer Johnny. All over the age of 65, all radiating for a cure. They share. We listen. Do we belong here? Is it a mistake? The bell rings. Another patient celebrates victory. Yet, neurosurgeons and oncologists around the country have the same conclusion about Jane: St. Jude’s to help her as she dies. We end up with ER visits at 3am, Mountain Dews, and pizza. 911 calls. ‘Please don’t wake the neighbors with sirens and lights.’ That’s what I think. Whose life are we living? Jane chooses no feeding tubes. No shunts. No breathing machines. She gets to a point she can no longer climb the steps to her bedroom. A broken bladder. How long can one survive on Acai rainbow bowls and laugh at enemas and catheters? Jane does. She’s too sick for Make-a-Wish, but has one ask: One more ordinary day at school.”</i></p><p><i>One doctor tells her she can go, another says no.</i></p><p><i>“What is there to lose with months left to live?” Mama Jane says. “We go. She laughs, cries, vomits, and sleeps all the way to that final day of school. Extraordinary hours. Hugs. Thank you’s. Pinky promises instead of goodbyes.”</i></p><p><i>Though Mama Jane is a brilliant woman who knows how to read an MRI, pediatric cancer rocks you. Twelve hours after diagnosis, hearing the pediatric neurosurgeon saying, “inoperable,” and clinical trials only to “help those who come next,” Mama Jane and Little Jane are lying in a bed.</i></p><p><i>“She asks, ‘Why me?’ Mama Jane says. “She says, ‘I thought I was going to change the world.’ We stare at the ceiling together. I say to her, ‘You will and you are. You are the brightest light, and God is undefeated.’ Then, silence.”</i></p><p><i>Near the end of the five months, Jane tells her mom, “Hospice beds in dining rooms are for old people. You can’t ruin the childhoods for Piper, Max, and Sam [her younger siblings]. I need to die in a hospital.”</i></p><p><i>It's that wisdom, bravery, and refusal to feel sorry for herself during a time of dark despair, that is the spark which planted the seed for Jane's Fund.</i></p><p><i>This past January, the Charlotte-based 501©3 was established. It is new. You'll see on its Facebook page a whopping 89 followers. But since January—in ten full short months—Jane and Mike Harrell have poured more than $1-million dollars back into the community. It’s a “trust-based philanthropy” movement. They’re helping other families who have lost a child or are going through hardship in our community, and doing so by building relationships with hospitals, social workers, and schools.</i></p><p><i>In fact—read this next sentence closely—Jane’s Fund has paid off completely, or paid significant portions of, SEVEN mortgages for families caring for a dying child. It has supported rent, car payments, and home safety upgrades for six more.</i></p><p><i>Jane’s Fund also bought computers for 800 graduating seniors in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to go to college.</i></p><p><i>Find out more on its website, here >> http://shinelikejane.org</i></p><p><i>And, lose your heart with this video of a family finding out their house is paid off, the day before their own 17-year-old passes away >> https://vimeo.com/869657917?share=copyout</i></p><p><i>Many of the families Jane’s Fund has helped, as it turns out, are also #MollysKids.</i></p><p><i>Writing this on a random Tuesday morning to share with you. When you find good, share it. Ten months, giving away $1.2-million. That's something to shout. Can’t wait to see what’s next for this determined Charlotte family, being led by their daughter's spirit.</i></p><p><i>In the meantime, hug your kids. (Or if they're already at school and have a phone, maybe text them. Parker just got an unexpected, "I love you.")</i></p><p><i>Please, Mama Jane and Mike, keep us updated on what your new foundation is doing and the remarkable in Jane’s name.</i></p><p><i>-Molly</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The boys found this large orange spider in the backyard. I believe it is not venemous, but it still made me shiver.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkrLriOHb9Z3ml5VJnSOyA1Z95UxS_qKZoRPLLe8_VmcmjWmAkEB3R8XJecL9uKlI0qjfoWthZg2dV65ILMkGiKlna9u303K031CcLutYhOfCRyyR6d8O9Lryy-a-wtri3L29DpItWwGpicGGrvV3YQjC5y9EfiWrN_9sEFq3cDe8p_4dvdEmUd10FjQ/s884/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkrLriOHb9Z3ml5VJnSOyA1Z95UxS_qKZoRPLLe8_VmcmjWmAkEB3R8XJecL9uKlI0qjfoWthZg2dV65ILMkGiKlna9u303K031CcLutYhOfCRyyR6d8O9Lryy-a-wtri3L29DpItWwGpicGGrvV3YQjC5y9EfiWrN_9sEFq3cDe8p_4dvdEmUd10FjQ/s320/IMG_6378.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w4V_Cbzf0DzPbDTER41VFr5Zpz4ZjNjmPCgsLzBCtkVPQdEAUweOdxfbKoo76pPhhdI-eGCY208wapW9y1m6tLDHfB43UfK9Jl2vTqtAdsrLtz44tMhotkGQuGFNHyD5_NfS1Vofc9zw0cIZ3qWQFDyeD5wokR841974BsxRLbjxSaHjtRyqBduEEV0/s884/IMG_6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w4V_Cbzf0DzPbDTER41VFr5Zpz4ZjNjmPCgsLzBCtkVPQdEAUweOdxfbKoo76pPhhdI-eGCY208wapW9y1m6tLDHfB43UfK9Jl2vTqtAdsrLtz44tMhotkGQuGFNHyD5_NfS1Vofc9zw0cIZ3qWQFDyeD5wokR841974BsxRLbjxSaHjtRyqBduEEV0/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy second birthday to our precious Tilly! Her birthday gifts were some jerky treats and a new tie-out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwgwqqTKZoSJnTxtkuEd5CLuySk62swP4bXRV1-sdWPAuT78iPt0SsfJWYL71Ynrq870Da1fbU1hTnMWikneL0spXtyx_8stBUeWEB2XrGxmIaNh8vp0xRkXVsJQVvgT1pVNKHbV_lpmbon0w13g3C_m8v4KdeI1f6bVZ6Ztguf1EamSG6X8jT4tempw/s884/IMG_6385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwgwqqTKZoSJnTxtkuEd5CLuySk62swP4bXRV1-sdWPAuT78iPt0SsfJWYL71Ynrq870Da1fbU1hTnMWikneL0spXtyx_8stBUeWEB2XrGxmIaNh8vp0xRkXVsJQVvgT1pVNKHbV_lpmbon0w13g3C_m8v4KdeI1f6bVZ6Ztguf1EamSG6X8jT4tempw/s320/IMG_6385.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m8-7r-bQW6jYXMCiNqJ_1GyNiaygiOXiiwooGrf4s2iAdh2_Dx3172UPe52aujo2VTYGVk-4oDdahFDQ13UoYp0w35vySUa_5vvsSwzHHyalhlc2GPWLT2_JxuVTt6DIjxECqXJYqgJgWJ3c5LqAcoUXpDIgrubXUd9B_c3eqMc9u62ysGzBQTFv3Lc/s884/IMG_6390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m8-7r-bQW6jYXMCiNqJ_1GyNiaygiOXiiwooGrf4s2iAdh2_Dx3172UPe52aujo2VTYGVk-4oDdahFDQ13UoYp0w35vySUa_5vvsSwzHHyalhlc2GPWLT2_JxuVTt6DIjxECqXJYqgJgWJ3c5LqAcoUXpDIgrubXUd9B_c3eqMc9u62ysGzBQTFv3Lc/s320/IMG_6390.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are almost done reading aloud “Mama’s Bank Account.” I had read this to the oldest three and we’ve watched the movie, so now it’s time for the boys 10, 8, and 6 to listen. Fantastic book that all ages tiny to adults should enjoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkNfqyZKrIu-Q5J0ie6VZ2bsCtrfX3tCKFjTLbamGQQU4LhdUGJKA2ytccVMBtHvmlIOrwof0cXjFgeyMHdMlFEBXrcvQkzyk5CQRjJz2CEuuoh1zWFydp4lKjaOT9kUQiU1trQeG-xF6dbkdF2JuEi24dNOqiB0JN1TXdx9pSWqjEweUg4X6HYVnFM4/s425/71RvmZOZMpL._SY425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkNfqyZKrIu-Q5J0ie6VZ2bsCtrfX3tCKFjTLbamGQQU4LhdUGJKA2ytccVMBtHvmlIOrwof0cXjFgeyMHdMlFEBXrcvQkzyk5CQRjJz2CEuuoh1zWFydp4lKjaOT9kUQiU1trQeG-xF6dbkdF2JuEi24dNOqiB0JN1TXdx9pSWqjEweUg4X6HYVnFM4/s320/71RvmZOZMpL._SY425_.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Spontaneous trip to brother’s ice cream shop to celebrate finishing the first semester of our elementary-age co-op!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yTcpsxgcN0JF3aHuVsoKWYJ2PdnmYVrXYHcfbD6xi8RuUI-ZHpZTIDxu3ILX9kOampQJv_EdflGq1XxvvY0PXFmI_5wB5iLdclqjiaIjIiMi7qnxa88WytQHieGW0m_Hs8dpyCakQqL__zIHGwTRxu6rA6uEBsnU2xyqHR8NoysMtRzmb7OfZQOHDy8/s884/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yTcpsxgcN0JF3aHuVsoKWYJ2PdnmYVrXYHcfbD6xi8RuUI-ZHpZTIDxu3ILX9kOampQJv_EdflGq1XxvvY0PXFmI_5wB5iLdclqjiaIjIiMi7qnxa88WytQHieGW0m_Hs8dpyCakQqL__zIHGwTRxu6rA6uEBsnU2xyqHR8NoysMtRzmb7OfZQOHDy8/s320/IMG_6410.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Nov. 18: Today is the three-year anniversary of our dear Thomas having his ressection surgery to remove a softball-sized tumor. It is a day of deep emotion for us parents, one that defines the nuanced meaning of bittersweet. Our son's life was saved by his skilled medical team and God. However, this anniversary began what should have been a five-day hospital stay and turned into 132 days; what should have been a smoothe recovery but led to 93 blood transfusions and the death/loss of four organs plus permanent damage to three other organs; the day that led to LIFE but a LIFETIME of disability. We rejoice in our son Thomas's life, even though it is now a life of challenges allowed by God's providential will that we did not foresee when Thomas was born.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VqwJ8dlRHS3GPybqJE3XVf1wCm5NeTeEzwnS6N6a5KUqHbszlXomc1lIjE98qMagJ8jn3U1pviBJ4bNpGVX-AaP-VG2U0Jzlup1rP-52yytlKMnE6PowGBJK9z4zGE_dekYvuhwQOqcGYZxgO-UVXXlHuyNvASlt0vpwmL0pZHLggTmbsmDndjz7pF4/s4032/11-18-20a%20Thomas%20day%20of%20surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VqwJ8dlRHS3GPybqJE3XVf1wCm5NeTeEzwnS6N6a5KUqHbszlXomc1lIjE98qMagJ8jn3U1pviBJ4bNpGVX-AaP-VG2U0Jzlup1rP-52yytlKMnE6PowGBJK9z4zGE_dekYvuhwQOqcGYZxgO-UVXXlHuyNvASlt0vpwmL0pZHLggTmbsmDndjz7pF4/s320/11-18-20a%20Thomas%20day%20of%20surgery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21vrGHPcRpUXeu6uphh4m0q_9Ey5NehUkqZtk27UkcYn5TFHcfFJx8eAKow5kp3GfjUEBCkEA1GfCs1hyCSGLEtc-JUQ-Ouf7w-wdTpknymNe8axQ8OerHQf3TycVLdFtk0w8-4C4NcCN7jKlF59N0CNbhKD-9-HCzI13l_iTU7X0-57gH0zUnju49Ls/s4032/11-18-20b%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21vrGHPcRpUXeu6uphh4m0q_9Ey5NehUkqZtk27UkcYn5TFHcfFJx8eAKow5kp3GfjUEBCkEA1GfCs1hyCSGLEtc-JUQ-Ouf7w-wdTpknymNe8axQ8OerHQf3TycVLdFtk0w8-4C4NcCN7jKlF59N0CNbhKD-9-HCzI13l_iTU7X0-57gH0zUnju49Ls/s320/11-18-20b%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98CBccThauMEvdqvtzWVsR7I4FriY6J7Pc1GrigIB5JZMyOFd599gotkYCxE9ZM-AIlqFBWejtE0F-VpFfClVhVUMQ63khsC7jOCTqHx2HAu1nAXZbdxvLR9tyOORPB6GT2OkEYxrom1VBdbIrd7N7zvzn3bc_EtdsoZja00ufBiXLzPj4pJlzdgK-UQ/s4032/11-18-20c%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98CBccThauMEvdqvtzWVsR7I4FriY6J7Pc1GrigIB5JZMyOFd599gotkYCxE9ZM-AIlqFBWejtE0F-VpFfClVhVUMQ63khsC7jOCTqHx2HAu1nAXZbdxvLR9tyOORPB6GT2OkEYxrom1VBdbIrd7N7zvzn3bc_EtdsoZja00ufBiXLzPj4pJlzdgK-UQ/s320/11-18-20c%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaggvEgvV3g1Bk3Y5iwsTx1ssG6WsJQhyphenhyphenPjW0Tc08UuQHtVcSaHoY8IUhyphenhyphenJcwOqRMSyJ9vDnsYBp4DCBefolRdXugHsOHaKFx7Ized8x-94-gvpR086gXLQwNBdRA_KJFG0cDsTPh3EJfR7IhPOAr1LRbfskcL2JxlP57XreH8bvEey_vNcAaYbhp2gA/s4032/11-18-20d%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaggvEgvV3g1Bk3Y5iwsTx1ssG6WsJQhyphenhyphenPjW0Tc08UuQHtVcSaHoY8IUhyphenhyphenJcwOqRMSyJ9vDnsYBp4DCBefolRdXugHsOHaKFx7Ized8x-94-gvpR086gXLQwNBdRA_KJFG0cDsTPh3EJfR7IhPOAr1LRbfskcL2JxlP57XreH8bvEey_vNcAaYbhp2gA/s320/11-18-20d%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv5B0ilUoNNAJaZoRoAzVekd1c5o_uuKPmxMNM-fZe3NkhEZF_HF5eCsS9EAHuhjqCaR0_9W9fPg0xabms4JbGiSLCVxm-VTNnsJ5_kvWC1yQC_Nt4lMIX7jGBSw39ZzxpQd9qxIUZbNk2T_YFw2Sz2_inFTny7BKi6FIZCoxc-fejWC1gVKn8_15TEQ/s4032/11-18-20f%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv5B0ilUoNNAJaZoRoAzVekd1c5o_uuKPmxMNM-fZe3NkhEZF_HF5eCsS9EAHuhjqCaR0_9W9fPg0xabms4JbGiSLCVxm-VTNnsJ5_kvWC1yQC_Nt4lMIX7jGBSw39ZzxpQd9qxIUZbNk2T_YFw2Sz2_inFTny7BKi6FIZCoxc-fejWC1gVKn8_15TEQ/s320/11-18-20f%20Thomas%20surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBChApF-tXTVvOJiE4CIaGdu3pco4vJrVBbCXp8XX5IoXLsg_MfWAYVp4m5P8ini4knaoBF-EhxwWiCCK9Fz2WmNhbJoklZRWN7gPYM91fMtVqeQdTnSATSrLSK7Jbf-q3FjJY8k8lahzQaPr4KfKmLuysBS2nHNz3CHgTCB6C9D2pTM-owwLsR94SBs4/s4032/11-18-20g%20Thomas%20surgery%20rosary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBChApF-tXTVvOJiE4CIaGdu3pco4vJrVBbCXp8XX5IoXLsg_MfWAYVp4m5P8ini4knaoBF-EhxwWiCCK9Fz2WmNhbJoklZRWN7gPYM91fMtVqeQdTnSATSrLSK7Jbf-q3FjJY8k8lahzQaPr4KfKmLuysBS2nHNz3CHgTCB6C9D2pTM-owwLsR94SBs4/s320/11-18-20g%20Thomas%20surgery%20rosary.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Fall masquerade dance 2023</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc5zg9uEACfOihysKy7M9_v0VUggTSJYmhoAAjGM1ghiJOilBQ4aJhlrUMURS_jyhHnxQQrhYyTpXD7xc8K0I-btC1sGoURbscozmB5u1Fr-WgoIMysmNFnohWmQcp3Pa7k_3ZPoP_hbMu5UlZxYOW0nkHOPmC9aeeS0qhNXqKBBkW1Ie7C7smlJm1zs/s884/IMG_6443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc5zg9uEACfOihysKy7M9_v0VUggTSJYmhoAAjGM1ghiJOilBQ4aJhlrUMURS_jyhHnxQQrhYyTpXD7xc8K0I-btC1sGoURbscozmB5u1Fr-WgoIMysmNFnohWmQcp3Pa7k_3ZPoP_hbMu5UlZxYOW0nkHOPmC9aeeS0qhNXqKBBkW1Ie7C7smlJm1zs/s320/IMG_6443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGyWhNa41-VxcqCYmE9CfDc-sTmY3kpZX9xewE43n957Pv74eSEJB5YiutNbE_hgoDUDzpn6EgYmO4v3-WDcK_-jlZznH_w6PLb1m192ZCmGtLvTotlmHZs7dz4ahMrN1eDzMuK_W0-oA_hyaMAF-Hsn8CXOIUPO7NGYqIz7VdsRtpfduMdxbonbbsxQ/s884/imagejpeg_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGyWhNa41-VxcqCYmE9CfDc-sTmY3kpZX9xewE43n957Pv74eSEJB5YiutNbE_hgoDUDzpn6EgYmO4v3-WDcK_-jlZznH_w6PLb1m192ZCmGtLvTotlmHZs7dz4ahMrN1eDzMuK_W0-oA_hyaMAF-Hsn8CXOIUPO7NGYqIz7VdsRtpfduMdxbonbbsxQ/s320/imagejpeg_0.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9IprDdpwwZgwKqlENoaPK25UkHbXhP1ZnR3Gk9Dap42meSpPzzo_DMWLKKmaW4eTDOkOdnkm16tlG-_OJpWzBmCC3FN811zVwpaKSPElRfP4JD8Du-eUL0vFaD_pfmtd2W2OoYcImxSYbMe3Kdxmteu0bItUUFTcOOdEPItawekejy0mIwlZK14zjdo/s884/Resized_Resized_20231119_211707(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9IprDdpwwZgwKqlENoaPK25UkHbXhP1ZnR3Gk9Dap42meSpPzzo_DMWLKKmaW4eTDOkOdnkm16tlG-_OJpWzBmCC3FN811zVwpaKSPElRfP4JD8Du-eUL0vFaD_pfmtd2W2OoYcImxSYbMe3Kdxmteu0bItUUFTcOOdEPItawekejy0mIwlZK14zjdo/s320/Resized_Resized_20231119_211707(3).jpeg" width="155" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwajhlMC0Xsi9kOBIhHzglPfdXi4ynmHd12L6iCnGXKnf5Ei-iuM-cf7TDdr5uMbuMFZuNtEgCQ2t04ZF1zAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dec. 8: Our birthday gift to Mary (November) and John (December) were tickets for themselves and two friends to the Charlotte Symphony.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdltFOh9b0BwL0ABWDsUyd9IA8vQCcLKfjm8u8g2IyokID3OzYsSKTdRVa9VSlFRgKkrnZF9GuT99GXTzW1iAT3qKM7LgH6tgyJ-ubhT-QAw9zyyMPsZJ9I78WF2gLuDQrOm-RFdtmK9L6QXTLmwDvDYOAd9g_7IAyghz55Kb4kfcfKoLdfw2JOmxGoNw/s1179/IMG_0796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdltFOh9b0BwL0ABWDsUyd9IA8vQCcLKfjm8u8g2IyokID3OzYsSKTdRVa9VSlFRgKkrnZF9GuT99GXTzW1iAT3qKM7LgH6tgyJ-ubhT-QAw9zyyMPsZJ9I78WF2gLuDQrOm-RFdtmK9L6QXTLmwDvDYOAd9g_7IAyghz55Kb4kfcfKoLdfw2JOmxGoNw/s320/IMG_0796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YCZQ4xietnjGNaisY80BJ6g-GJEPGv-6MAWs8EI8vI2KzbGQOCVI4QcTqiFDun8F12V_aJaex7fAE9VdV2I8xWMLN5hB-xQcHCfBbxHpnsf9d_s2lkThyphenhyphen38OVeLakSPVLSOr-nGO5z7ucPoiOlhj2cnhEex97iI7f-BFrW-_QKPAS9vGVGS1bqgsICs/s884/IMG_0802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YCZQ4xietnjGNaisY80BJ6g-GJEPGv-6MAWs8EI8vI2KzbGQOCVI4QcTqiFDun8F12V_aJaex7fAE9VdV2I8xWMLN5hB-xQcHCfBbxHpnsf9d_s2lkThyphenhyphen38OVeLakSPVLSOr-nGO5z7ucPoiOlhj2cnhEex97iI7f-BFrW-_QKPAS9vGVGS1bqgsICs/s320/IMG_0802.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDU8s0Vy1HpTDZD0PvXRRFcm6ZmHbGmCzPoaSWszN60ge4ghIkE_W00_Fyr4q7pIceCit75qo22DZrX7tX8f17PkW8z3Z3-yrKse4WVoisRBUMWUApjO3gZbGkW1nW4Skhr58TMClqnbHZfE0jy4_al7vp38LcH74rhLiLmjW58gtIEvwj5srmiQc38/s1179/IMG_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDU8s0Vy1HpTDZD0PvXRRFcm6ZmHbGmCzPoaSWszN60ge4ghIkE_W00_Fyr4q7pIceCit75qo22DZrX7tX8f17PkW8z3Z3-yrKse4WVoisRBUMWUApjO3gZbGkW1nW4Skhr58TMClqnbHZfE0jy4_al7vp38LcH74rhLiLmjW58gtIEvwj5srmiQc38/s320/IMG_0805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tilly loves Bailey, the beagle who lives on the other side of the fence. Nicky doesn't love Bailey so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjQ4riwSv9CM4cldtvR32hncyZsGri8yWtGTba-NMjuBf3omKPQPAIBqy4sdOzInZyR5w6cldhLqUdO79vLILVOmxlIHIRCwCzUyms7TlRlOeCfFjZ6qqd1JWZodeclfpkm_5r6fv7mb4o03ji-fqfcX7yrPtqpJ_RE-DEHNTlSgXUycAOCrqe-JsTQo/s1179/IMG_6238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjQ4riwSv9CM4cldtvR32hncyZsGri8yWtGTba-NMjuBf3omKPQPAIBqy4sdOzInZyR5w6cldhLqUdO79vLILVOmxlIHIRCwCzUyms7TlRlOeCfFjZ6qqd1JWZodeclfpkm_5r6fv7mb4o03ji-fqfcX7yrPtqpJ_RE-DEHNTlSgXUycAOCrqe-JsTQo/s320/IMG_6238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>New cement was poured throughout our neighborhood, which we discovered after Tilly left a permanent paw print for generations to come!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05sheuBhzzG7bZ_DUOFKzaJ1IHts1-kzX5MTrBi0uFeA_oX9Rz220GDWUugmcTL0V53CemocgCUzjdkTTsCAZxHo5iMdwoU-igKazDzbPdxAFf_m6a25T4J43uCVxqumdvbW_By0TrMdG0v2zWWwrBDtb_P5QwZ9hsJv20xeE5f59IjyHlZ5CR_2SLAY/s884/IMG_6282%20Tilly%20foot%20print.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="884" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05sheuBhzzG7bZ_DUOFKzaJ1IHts1-kzX5MTrBi0uFeA_oX9Rz220GDWUugmcTL0V53CemocgCUzjdkTTsCAZxHo5iMdwoU-igKazDzbPdxAFf_m6a25T4J43uCVxqumdvbW_By0TrMdG0v2zWWwrBDtb_P5QwZ9hsJv20xeE5f59IjyHlZ5CR_2SLAY/s320/IMG_6282%20Tilly%20foot%20print.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We found a fallen, empty nest (from a hummingbird?) and added it to our science collection.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9MOiHmQLI_E3mHvCWxxz_HoD7gM8Mq038u0BUWRPkafF33ty64szu4yvzpchsZ6dKzgoHxREkVVDiyQkzG0-sfiuLMKl-XKw2uMXrmZDukpG8Sho0MiX-vTv8lrtNkpCh8S5BpZaxaJK3LAnmbGWitPq5n8i9qAS2U0PAmUGSgxUiBc-7UmkuCAkVbE/s884/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9MOiHmQLI_E3mHvCWxxz_HoD7gM8Mq038u0BUWRPkafF33ty64szu4yvzpchsZ6dKzgoHxREkVVDiyQkzG0-sfiuLMKl-XKw2uMXrmZDukpG8Sho0MiX-vTv8lrtNkpCh8S5BpZaxaJK3LAnmbGWitPq5n8i9qAS2U0PAmUGSgxUiBc-7UmkuCAkVbE/s320/IMG_6324.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I've been having pretty good success picking one morning per week to make a really big batch of pancakes, which serve as breakfast for several days over the week. The younger boys also enjoy them as a quick snack they can grab independently. I LOVE the nutrition. </p><p>One pancake (1/4 cup batter = 4" pancake) has as much protein and fat as an egg . . . plus 17 grams whole grain, 3 grams fiber, and all the vitamins inherent in FRESHLY MILLED FLOUR, such as 14% RDA of calcium (equivalent of 4 oz milk) and 7% RDA of iron (equivalent of 3 cups raw spinach). If all my kids eat is one of my homemade pancakes (no eggs, no sausage, no fruit), I'm still *so* happy and satisfied about their breakfast!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqo_X66rE6fqXz_d7WlJU5xxuKgYyFo-wkm4DmGmvIKqpvpPgpjtSkNEYGfZVyDZTPZlNaVWi_qWrnMmxgBL4VILPSkvgus6OwKvtTha0_sDwrC7Qu2RDrUA14ud2GG7N0WHfAYIWOk2XbUZEk0wIuv70aH3yzIR4iuD12TiJNOnK8izHihPSwKX6zUU/s884/IMG_6449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqo_X66rE6fqXz_d7WlJU5xxuKgYyFo-wkm4DmGmvIKqpvpPgpjtSkNEYGfZVyDZTPZlNaVWi_qWrnMmxgBL4VILPSkvgus6OwKvtTha0_sDwrC7Qu2RDrUA14ud2GG7N0WHfAYIWOk2XbUZEk0wIuv70aH3yzIR4iuD12TiJNOnK8izHihPSwKX6zUU/s320/IMG_6449.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Thirteen days. </p><p>It took thirteen days for my youngest three sons to notice I had at least six inches cut off my hair. Tonight Thomas (😎 was brushing my hair for at least five minutes while I was reading aloud when he paused abruptly: “Mama? Why is your hair shorter than usual?”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo3USTBTzN1tsART-BZ0qzyj34yjj4fFqOaJZBh-xAMyWukk8IgUACRXEPIA6GA9XmZwExwYXc0RYavWyJCOyXVqo8_Ep_-ZZjiSeBcIKOzNbvsCtFP3zq3taN0vckz6gd8GIte1kpXyJXjCg7gx9vm-hMRbugZpgcqiJEg4WM08kzrOGtJKvMe7Z1-k/s884/IMG_6323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo3USTBTzN1tsART-BZ0qzyj34yjj4fFqOaJZBh-xAMyWukk8IgUACRXEPIA6GA9XmZwExwYXc0RYavWyJCOyXVqo8_Ep_-ZZjiSeBcIKOzNbvsCtFP3zq3taN0vckz6gd8GIte1kpXyJXjCg7gx9vm-hMRbugZpgcqiJEg4WM08kzrOGtJKvMe7Z1-k/s320/IMG_6323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>Thomas (8) wakes up daily to this blue basket with vitamins and supplements in it for him to take upon waking. Sometimes Mama feels jaunty and does funny things, like setting up Sloth to deliver them.</p><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6RkN6hBc8cmOvbaRMJnamnEOiozMAezyIHuEJOCQ5dJQ_YrgObzsQbXNkDTH8h164QjrO_zMz0YHOL_N3Uwj7pPVH4oAoQeV9N_wTpI-ZwKQu12xg3eWSmewznHwd8B9fcRSaDYbuN9CIMlI7ekK9F0Ve62Eaz2vuYAyrpfG401_idSPZ2ClZAMp3qU/s320/IMG_6368.JPG" style="color: #0000ee; text-align: center;" width="240" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nov. 20: Mary performed as second violin with the YOC Preparatory Orchestra.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkYuE64byZuAJuShiTujF3H2AqhvXTYs8z5BV6ekwI2laXxzP0ADy6Et1ML4ULWgV2ii5xRostsQ78yALVWAzwW3vubZGjElhFeg7ryTIHUSU3F_7d4s7THBWAWne7nk-o8VxMpVfBWHJaddXZxrZ8cFPCVJUTUZB85m2cCkfvScfwxQ2IJMnytx8AA8/s1179/IMG_8034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkYuE64byZuAJuShiTujF3H2AqhvXTYs8z5BV6ekwI2laXxzP0ADy6Et1ML4ULWgV2ii5xRostsQ78yALVWAzwW3vubZGjElhFeg7ryTIHUSU3F_7d4s7THBWAWne7nk-o8VxMpVfBWHJaddXZxrZ8cFPCVJUTUZB85m2cCkfvScfwxQ2IJMnytx8AA8/s320/IMG_8034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lUZ7cjGoyLdfCJUsHNMFNE_6h-bomKk_m0EMJoMriF8StbgiKya8q_JVjiLhhNsuaBXEtae3nwIQkeMW8HtnHWWzZNnYDAmi4Apc46N7sHS2ZYbJDlj04ELxAnE8ameEWSQ0_aIFsQ4hRcrPk9Cfks5pdIt9e_sS9pM2HRoE6osLnDPrpksxoBAhnOg/s1179/IMG_6460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lUZ7cjGoyLdfCJUsHNMFNE_6h-bomKk_m0EMJoMriF8StbgiKya8q_JVjiLhhNsuaBXEtae3nwIQkeMW8HtnHWWzZNnYDAmi4Apc46N7sHS2ZYbJDlj04ELxAnE8ameEWSQ0_aIFsQ4hRcrPk9Cfks5pdIt9e_sS9pM2HRoE6osLnDPrpksxoBAhnOg/s320/IMG_6460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Nov. 23: Thank you to the health care workers who are missing Thanksgiving to work today! You are not forgotten by 8-year-old Thomas!</p><p>This morning at breakfast, the three little boys were discussing Thanksgiving traditions. When a debate broke out about whether anybody works on Thanksgiving, Thomas immediately corrected his brothers: “Everyone at the hospitals is working today!”</p><p>My heart squeezed that our 8-year-old knows that so deeply, his having spent at least one of all major holidays inpatient. I know that our friends at Levine’s are all working with big smiles and bringing cheer to their patients, regardless of their sacrifices.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Happy Thanksgiving from Atlanta!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNRrwGuxFYf6U91B3T3m4C52LAQTsdbP588FCgJWyJiw8WZwX432kXhmQJd2WG9h6fqW3upvbLZLFRjTI0XFD2UxPUt9Hh0AC2OuYv-cJJXP2Rh271EWC7R89f9lrzYa7hb5RKMl7PBilFfTMp1PF9CX14SpRePZj4dpX_icWo9sfPwvlaAc1t4fDWDg/s1530/IMG_8045.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1530" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNRrwGuxFYf6U91B3T3m4C52LAQTsdbP588FCgJWyJiw8WZwX432kXhmQJd2WG9h6fqW3upvbLZLFRjTI0XFD2UxPUt9Hh0AC2OuYv-cJJXP2Rh271EWC7R89f9lrzYa7hb5RKMl7PBilFfTMp1PF9CX14SpRePZj4dpX_icWo9sfPwvlaAc1t4fDWDg/s320/IMG_8045.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIkE2a2LtNQofQ9an9FRrHbkDo40DBx6wuy2Spa6FnkxSyLwPGESdKRN-GsavvTfrO9Qm0MlQ6sX3iFdMc-0bJMrMwtgp1JZjPshEVa-dPlaD8aoTiOEvHFVxcdOyEV8hPDmLy_WI-qK21fKWDVSxS0JCUjzSAUt7Fu5gOsaD3aCCraik2FRlbV9kgCs/s1179/IMG_6484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIkE2a2LtNQofQ9an9FRrHbkDo40DBx6wuy2Spa6FnkxSyLwPGESdKRN-GsavvTfrO9Qm0MlQ6sX3iFdMc-0bJMrMwtgp1JZjPshEVa-dPlaD8aoTiOEvHFVxcdOyEV8hPDmLy_WI-qK21fKWDVSxS0JCUjzSAUt7Fu5gOsaD3aCCraik2FRlbV9kgCs/s320/IMG_6484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcwdKkcSAc3F3yYr0hInKR2M-G391QWoWzrLEhSKDiRrNOceMnu0Vz20oVBaMUhSG0JRSYLJuF765FDuvr61s8AAqYRFNj3T2IeJKxV6xQabmd_2Onu6tTmF-MYwqoptgpsp4h2z5ij7My7N3-uX5K4R2mMLBsx7rN9zHYg2zMmSRZ-e1_tFyGRmAxnE/s1468/IMG_6488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1468" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcwdKkcSAc3F3yYr0hInKR2M-G391QWoWzrLEhSKDiRrNOceMnu0Vz20oVBaMUhSG0JRSYLJuF765FDuvr61s8AAqYRFNj3T2IeJKxV6xQabmd_2Onu6tTmF-MYwqoptgpsp4h2z5ij7My7N3-uX5K4R2mMLBsx7rN9zHYg2zMmSRZ-e1_tFyGRmAxnE/s320/IMG_6488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>David started reading! It is like a light switch just turned on this week! For all of Kindergarten and the first three months of first grade, he basically couldn’t even read any three-letter words, then today he read an entire story (nine sentences) in All About Reading. Yay yay yay!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcVzZ5exX5Y23bSWhHgdGeW2ZEl1cZsEWqbIR6wLUiXypswqJu4GA5FfsGnML911gTzJmfsDqPlBt7vw-h2wMOiERGG6NPxyl8NmKRbFn9TmQ9wgwIuYR0_vg4OO2VGldNWtl3ctEd83onVVyY5ud4VQxO-gV80sn3NKaTU2Yi4oIZMTC3Gq8srZaDsk/s884/IMG_6583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcVzZ5exX5Y23bSWhHgdGeW2ZEl1cZsEWqbIR6wLUiXypswqJu4GA5FfsGnML911gTzJmfsDqPlBt7vw-h2wMOiERGG6NPxyl8NmKRbFn9TmQ9wgwIuYR0_vg4OO2VGldNWtl3ctEd83onVVyY5ud4VQxO-gV80sn3NKaTU2Yi4oIZMTC3Gq8srZaDsk/s320/IMG_6583.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The question on all of our mind's is whether Chris has enough readers on his desk.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1H0ZLNwvCOkZzMRLEylO6fgDk1OWBMvUbBa9OcvG567WmJDUh0wrweY3Q0PDriv98El3uJvUx9PNe30fEWZBjF47GrCQqjxNxtAmTG6bTFidRNBZW2FZf5MSJ5XUffHrIxquQ4d3CV-uGHE7iSuCgXyHAz5hr_djoWcemX-GZ4Ud4HYBzCPUVW3zsWA/s884/IMG_6372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1H0ZLNwvCOkZzMRLEylO6fgDk1OWBMvUbBa9OcvG567WmJDUh0wrweY3Q0PDriv98El3uJvUx9PNe30fEWZBjF47GrCQqjxNxtAmTG6bTFidRNBZW2FZf5MSJ5XUffHrIxquQ4d3CV-uGHE7iSuCgXyHAz5hr_djoWcemX-GZ4Ud4HYBzCPUVW3zsWA/s320/IMG_6372.JPG" width="291" /></a><br /><p><br /></p><p>Our beautiful Margaret working on her art . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN4_MJvFdK0bffyRsvKWo8lsRAwbveGE83Zq5XA_l4E-wEfTvke7N6dGLI5HLXhqvn1P3Kud7c-OgPCmi8YgPtIyx-tmYaUZ3ewEiCk0viMiKwmDndqFdItWyDFAn7u3_VaLeVpo27rFS1L9oW0932NGPOiGjm07w7ksT66pmo4KP-KHMo2i1eLXlSQA/s1179/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN4_MJvFdK0bffyRsvKWo8lsRAwbveGE83Zq5XA_l4E-wEfTvke7N6dGLI5HLXhqvn1P3Kud7c-OgPCmi8YgPtIyx-tmYaUZ3ewEiCk0viMiKwmDndqFdItWyDFAn7u3_VaLeVpo27rFS1L9oW0932NGPOiGjm07w7ksT66pmo4KP-KHMo2i1eLXlSQA/s320/IMG_6377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Does Tilly have enough princess pillows? (The answer is never.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Opk5ddJtOC-nMTmOm_uGd5C6d-i1c5B2RJG-i0sw8DMiD1uIx3F3-IjNHwKMQ8IHE4r2Bq7KMHglaPJZq2psmzaPNKBHRrJXa2t14gMwpxmekgSvEriN-DU40ngb45QFNzgUsh2mWo5PFReyjr4HoKaiDYL8yT8LWTB9LbMcXgvBG1gg73t9uxvJ-O8/s1179/IMG_6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Opk5ddJtOC-nMTmOm_uGd5C6d-i1c5B2RJG-i0sw8DMiD1uIx3F3-IjNHwKMQ8IHE4r2Bq7KMHglaPJZq2psmzaPNKBHRrJXa2t14gMwpxmekgSvEriN-DU40ngb45QFNzgUsh2mWo5PFReyjr4HoKaiDYL8yT8LWTB9LbMcXgvBG1gg73t9uxvJ-O8/s320/IMG_6420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Tilly loves her John!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmKKbYg6axEOvKFjTUPYPuyG9yipDu_CMVOAAMuP_S71S2_Lt5D0DKUqmbN7V3hPO5top-dq8SMQD-qkcQYCFJ71i6U0fbLNke-kaImbJ4VjzUsqsXdaHmkaUs7XP23FtTYUh4vlDPki3KtBcfnnGxEm2aPrUXFXbNYGen-2DU3zZYLm2-qxThaQgmps/s884/IMG_6521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmKKbYg6axEOvKFjTUPYPuyG9yipDu_CMVOAAMuP_S71S2_Lt5D0DKUqmbN7V3hPO5top-dq8SMQD-qkcQYCFJ71i6U0fbLNke-kaImbJ4VjzUsqsXdaHmkaUs7XP23FtTYUh4vlDPki3KtBcfnnGxEm2aPrUXFXbNYGen-2DU3zZYLm2-qxThaQgmps/s320/IMG_6521.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnafFb5FXm-2xbBWIi0CkuGJFTkkd9QkmUfhwxwls3pjXv_pDRFEk1Zg0FeEzwxWVerEZPSnAyvSfClSSeIEhsIVFrNqnXcR4St3nKRnLaNjl_9naJ345cn4_YMU0eCSGSJmOQdaN90ai2-lXZncHeeolwtu3ckvj9fsH0xNLsKsnVSWWNMeHXC3rl_Y/s884/IMG_6523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnafFb5FXm-2xbBWIi0CkuGJFTkkd9QkmUfhwxwls3pjXv_pDRFEk1Zg0FeEzwxWVerEZPSnAyvSfClSSeIEhsIVFrNqnXcR4St3nKRnLaNjl_9naJ345cn4_YMU0eCSGSJmOQdaN90ai2-lXZncHeeolwtu3ckvj9fsH0xNLsKsnVSWWNMeHXC3rl_Y/s320/IMG_6523.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAyWNJH2ZEm933S4AiLpKXnDwgiGLaGM-2TVdXyobcuL3bmwSQzCe1-e9RRfVVkwWipmwOuPifccXFl9HmW1lI0rqAjDIRSliHo1igY1pfnfymOLq49fylJA47a70_8SHWdhfwFkAQGzPyxxJXaugo_PXcAE3Sugoa-AyKGAdCENfTAh41mEkZnvbHx8/s884/IMG_6524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAyWNJH2ZEm933S4AiLpKXnDwgiGLaGM-2TVdXyobcuL3bmwSQzCe1-e9RRfVVkwWipmwOuPifccXFl9HmW1lI0rqAjDIRSliHo1igY1pfnfymOLq49fylJA47a70_8SHWdhfwFkAQGzPyxxJXaugo_PXcAE3Sugoa-AyKGAdCENfTAh41mEkZnvbHx8/s320/IMG_6524.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GJqSBXV4q9-Sr0z-OvRkb4MdvZTPMQmoHJa5mSrOrD3ftTsmZuvo6UPmOaZfGcRMXzN271cESSiK_k-4Z0cOgur9pLtnqszjMWxmzgwcu6YQK7wBno_F1jPOgZ4FkJeV73Rl8BJipPh2NNZPFvpt2GlSPyvt0zNtY4HI5ko97CbCkFTJMFoP2L05rVM/s884/IMG_6526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GJqSBXV4q9-Sr0z-OvRkb4MdvZTPMQmoHJa5mSrOrD3ftTsmZuvo6UPmOaZfGcRMXzN271cESSiK_k-4Z0cOgur9pLtnqszjMWxmzgwcu6YQK7wBno_F1jPOgZ4FkJeV73Rl8BJipPh2NNZPFvpt2GlSPyvt0zNtY4HI5ko97CbCkFTJMFoP2L05rVM/s320/IMG_6526.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Homeschooling science: "Boys, go read your science book."</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoDQE5Qni8O7tKCefpAaxJQnGVaa055veMEI7aO6LlkAugx_d5s50lr5HcTC_cq6mbnosUPBc3PntYQDdeSczpgsnTWzPG-ywv1rR5kiBconwkrRmS-pLVOTyeHCHYOchsf7jvEtL1Kx82rGX74dsJzTuv0W-f-JEhdlc_m4tG45MSx5n8E917LLQSro/s1179/IMG_6574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoDQE5Qni8O7tKCefpAaxJQnGVaa055veMEI7aO6LlkAugx_d5s50lr5HcTC_cq6mbnosUPBc3PntYQDdeSczpgsnTWzPG-ywv1rR5kiBconwkrRmS-pLVOTyeHCHYOchsf7jvEtL1Kx82rGX74dsJzTuv0W-f-JEhdlc_m4tG45MSx5n8E917LLQSro/s320/IMG_6574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I tried my hand at baking French bread tonight with baked chicken thighs, steamed broccoli, and homemade fries. Yum!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU5CpAhMzTpHMIGlr-dvAi6GhM66P0gIqSTtOXXZ9zeP-0lj7RftZtBnAQkWZna6HO_U9MFxI0XyjEjePj-Rg-s7Uc-tpns3wBJ8mharyVANRCsjZ0stM9XGIdHRRPEEDstLXDQFZqT2ZY0DkUlOC-nDzWEsQtU82Wop2skMjLPzIXcCrwWaFjx_7CP8/s327/IMG_6587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="327" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU5CpAhMzTpHMIGlr-dvAi6GhM66P0gIqSTtOXXZ9zeP-0lj7RftZtBnAQkWZna6HO_U9MFxI0XyjEjePj-Rg-s7Uc-tpns3wBJ8mharyVANRCsjZ0stM9XGIdHRRPEEDstLXDQFZqT2ZY0DkUlOC-nDzWEsQtU82Wop2skMjLPzIXcCrwWaFjx_7CP8/s320/IMG_6587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>With lows tonight possibly in the upper teens, I am at least prepared for a two-dog night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahklN6BhlCmkXT_lfwMto8ZDdNFj0cy56dLS2x2WjdYmHLhI6YBLGFArGS4Yx7YMaAe8YxS2Rw6MTuUOb0N5nMLnbNKP3u4odtFeSU0b7omz9Ws5sSAfO8C4C3LTTcO9kIB9Rlcdl7cKseTNbqh87oxeUz4rmYhMfGBQVkuBPcGaF9rZ7w67u3uJiktA/s2048/406315500_10160946575213360_7314652297619448857_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahklN6BhlCmkXT_lfwMto8ZDdNFj0cy56dLS2x2WjdYmHLhI6YBLGFArGS4Yx7YMaAe8YxS2Rw6MTuUOb0N5nMLnbNKP3u4odtFeSU0b7omz9Ws5sSAfO8C4C3LTTcO9kIB9Rlcdl7cKseTNbqh87oxeUz4rmYhMfGBQVkuBPcGaF9rZ7w67u3uJiktA/s320/406315500_10160946575213360_7314652297619448857_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilF_MrEGsOhIzOcTAutclBNya-kCry0xZEXLE3FlYpiM3x_-Vomeb0ZqbXz-LKpT0z6VYZQY6h55ikc8LCvBrJEZmFdZbDrccEweYGOAejj0Md0h3wqOWp92bVQqwgDlVnez4u15xmpIjmTfgHwHkzeiMH-DH4YahM47yTKZVTV-qqEp22Ti-9kJsK1PM/s1280/406235944_10160946575178360_8437490243276777691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilF_MrEGsOhIzOcTAutclBNya-kCry0xZEXLE3FlYpiM3x_-Vomeb0ZqbXz-LKpT0z6VYZQY6h55ikc8LCvBrJEZmFdZbDrccEweYGOAejj0Md0h3wqOWp92bVQqwgDlVnez4u15xmpIjmTfgHwHkzeiMH-DH4YahM47yTKZVTV-qqEp22Ti-9kJsK1PM/s320/406235944_10160946575178360_8437490243276777691_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We have loved listening to FREE daily episodes of saint dramatizations from The Merry Beggars this school year. Apparently, they also offer a FREE "audio Advent calendar" in which each day during December you are emailed the next ten minutes of a dramatization of <a href="https://www.themerrybeggars.com/shows/a-christmas-carol" target="_blank"><b><i>The Christmas Carol</i> by Dickens.</b></a> I'm sharing in case anyone else wants to sign up!</p><p><br /></p><p>Nov. 29: In a pensive mood . . . I lived it, yet my mind still can't reconcile the horror of three years ago today versus our strong and stable Thomas now. <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomaslauer/journal/view/id/5fc4263d955cb9000105f981?fbclid=IwAR2WhIinxBDiDsrWJnCTXLIBJC8iJYPVukNYRh64lxv85en04VO5XzErUpg" target="_blank"><b>Today is the anniversary of Thomas's dramatic crisis of vomiting blood when he lost a quarter of his blood volume in a couple of minutes.</b></a> We didn't yet know that his inner organs were necrosing. (Necrosis: death of body tissue when too little blood flows to the tissue.) The pain Thomas would endure over the next six days is truly chilling as he was dying from the inside, but nobody knew until he was rushed into the OR for life-saving exploratory surgery. To have held Thomas in my arms while he vomited up so much blood is a trauma (one of many) that changed me, presumably forever, to someone more stoic, more stubborn, and cooler/colder than the old one. I'm so glad Thomas does not remember most of those moments. I'm grateful for the former military man who was Thomas's nurse that day: of all the days, Thomas needed a really big, strong, aggressive man that day to get the emergency attention he needed. Just in the last few months, Thomas's regular blood work has started to look almost entirely normal. Modern medical care is truly amazing.</p><p><br /></p><p>I tried a new-to-me recipe from Bread Beckers and a new-to-me method: creating my own Pullman loaf pan in an effort to get better sandwich bread. Success! The recipe I’ve been using for the last month is delicious, but too tender to stand up to the rigors of being a sandwich. This time around, it seems a stronger loaf and tasted great. I love taking these first baby steps to hone a new skill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4up3McnenEQzLcyzb-jDXTL5rEpKR0TWiGg50Ar-nK1CJaR89fWdlBWlxxBIfJHZdCwb4iEJJKYepkmmQCTs64H38WFvVhJhYeCi0ZFTQE9lZDj0l4xt2QjyZY-5VjUqdjVDUI8YyngH2MXRCJqXwsp-6eN83dV4Cx77UH25CVeoevwG6E6qTV0pkz0/s1179/IMG_6595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4up3McnenEQzLcyzb-jDXTL5rEpKR0TWiGg50Ar-nK1CJaR89fWdlBWlxxBIfJHZdCwb4iEJJKYepkmmQCTs64H38WFvVhJhYeCi0ZFTQE9lZDj0l4xt2QjyZY-5VjUqdjVDUI8YyngH2MXRCJqXwsp-6eN83dV4Cx77UH25CVeoevwG6E6qTV0pkz0/s320/IMG_6595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsxy8JO9oZ4ebWpGqLEHTi2l-kZM8TlDUF5od37cjrELbwDwvjRTB_TNHE-B-PR6E7AK9pMU0thgekLyuAI77JSrG7aqLOetcSI9ToPa4FHpHNF7HSas-C9jSq2zcKiiayIeucDie3FGGMWPIjb8PsdHprvhrsarTQZIAlcwthz92QHZpRIH3H0DfJ9Y/s1179/IMG_6598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsxy8JO9oZ4ebWpGqLEHTi2l-kZM8TlDUF5od37cjrELbwDwvjRTB_TNHE-B-PR6E7AK9pMU0thgekLyuAI77JSrG7aqLOetcSI9ToPa4FHpHNF7HSas-C9jSq2zcKiiayIeucDie3FGGMWPIjb8PsdHprvhrsarTQZIAlcwthz92QHZpRIH3H0DfJ9Y/s320/IMG_6598.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>When I assign my ten-year-old Joseph to teach math to David, Joseph is much more creative than this tired mom, and David responds enthusiastically. Joseph invents stories and draws them on the whiteboard. For every answer correct or done quickly and cheerfully, David earns things like arrows, bombs, battering rams, or more soldiers to advance in the story invented. It is so cool to watch the boy energy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_n0vltcV0c4kTScaGujfMPekZRO7eJdxyc1fyoDMlY30u8soYC_QwUVt1kOj2oVgVGt9wimnOAYVsPm-HBdG8mpm5YXULKIp2wouiW8pmgYZvf4JbO5hJDdk1aStabchT3_0fz0XEZVO3RfoHA6Sau83GcG49M1McS9XDabCu4PpsrN39nbU75C2fDQ/s1179/IMG_6593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_n0vltcV0c4kTScaGujfMPekZRO7eJdxyc1fyoDMlY30u8soYC_QwUVt1kOj2oVgVGt9wimnOAYVsPm-HBdG8mpm5YXULKIp2wouiW8pmgYZvf4JbO5hJDdk1aStabchT3_0fz0XEZVO3RfoHA6Sau83GcG49M1McS9XDabCu4PpsrN39nbU75C2fDQ/s320/IMG_6593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Joseph (10) learning how to iron . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSJpCJ3soAt8YJKtt7s_EW7dKIsp8zaDRH-WO8b1uKUo4Vr-0rKBLg6FqkPvWcl5zlTCHStsSfx_jCXLgpjlA4ltXxqbLlloxmLgjfy3r8Xl3FdJvqzt5nk62ZgyuD6M9jbTi7yp7IaBwa6y-ZYtOQoVomuOj81fiyQ0cFHus1d4_Mij8HgWF-2Dgr_c/s884/IMG_6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSJpCJ3soAt8YJKtt7s_EW7dKIsp8zaDRH-WO8b1uKUo4Vr-0rKBLg6FqkPvWcl5zlTCHStsSfx_jCXLgpjlA4ltXxqbLlloxmLgjfy3r8Xl3FdJvqzt5nk62ZgyuD6M9jbTi7yp7IaBwa6y-ZYtOQoVomuOj81fiyQ0cFHus1d4_Mij8HgWF-2Dgr_c/s320/IMG_6767.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Nov. 30: No pics, but Chris, John, and another dad and son attended the Morgan Evans concert!</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-62157044372322276912023-10-31T08:44:00.001-04:002024-01-24T09:53:00.398-05:00October 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joseph and Dad at the Life Chain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlP_Y6ghZEf8Bv4v20iibewRhw6Gc45YJXPwwxWUte1RAbMxjTEktTwiANL9Cc5Evhn1u8CB2XZ9aUSqUMjpBZqGtk6KUlbKuN-FmLbXI7xky6MexZxBU3cvogaO9zdoxuLXkFuz_SgGMBNdU3l6dI1Kcqq7QI70HRIWgw4PYc_6VZdqXgnO6AJE8WhM/s4032/IMG_7798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlP_Y6ghZEf8Bv4v20iibewRhw6Gc45YJXPwwxWUte1RAbMxjTEktTwiANL9Cc5Evhn1u8CB2XZ9aUSqUMjpBZqGtk6KUlbKuN-FmLbXI7xky6MexZxBU3cvogaO9zdoxuLXkFuz_SgGMBNdU3l6dI1Kcqq7QI70HRIWgw4PYc_6VZdqXgnO6AJE8WhM/s320/IMG_7798.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Happy second birthday, Nicky! (We gave him a little doggy cupcake from the pet store.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpVcwU_1eUAICaeO7gHE27BfX9AqnnYJawxLkixnYZNlONs0wOkdeBXhmhH2LRDzLem_QLcAhMTNNNOBORv56T7i4v38xNhIyDd4dKclDFbTcYf0cyXvUFh2r0RD5MYtncQFx1zNCZdGvDJ3tzt3XoW54kdD0fHxD2L8OvxxT8M1XwEuPBaTRnOznBT8/s4032/IMG_5924.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpVcwU_1eUAICaeO7gHE27BfX9AqnnYJawxLkixnYZNlONs0wOkdeBXhmhH2LRDzLem_QLcAhMTNNNOBORv56T7i4v38xNhIyDd4dKclDFbTcYf0cyXvUFh2r0RD5MYtncQFx1zNCZdGvDJ3tzt3XoW54kdD0fHxD2L8OvxxT8M1XwEuPBaTRnOznBT8/s320/IMG_5924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Thomas was pretending to be a sloth hanging from a tree. Yes, he still loves sloths and has been sleeping with the same stuffed sloth for five years.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic064eqfOUBSWBIXcl7_vkmyzWoYEyy-5x9Qa48ChFqCjuIRYDIgAadc81y6nyRiyldfd_1yFbxFS0tYCseOL7Sdu-JNFV7zyzKGsFQ81wYberVe0-Nf2UwckRnnfbuD8LUlQIDHgsZRoXk-kwyt5f3MFrPkSPYW_Vcgk5sYVTO3RBMtNJ7lgDuQ9LUww/s4032/IMG_5965%20Thomas%20the%20sloth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic064eqfOUBSWBIXcl7_vkmyzWoYEyy-5x9Qa48ChFqCjuIRYDIgAadc81y6nyRiyldfd_1yFbxFS0tYCseOL7Sdu-JNFV7zyzKGsFQ81wYberVe0-Nf2UwckRnnfbuD8LUlQIDHgsZRoXk-kwyt5f3MFrPkSPYW_Vcgk5sYVTO3RBMtNJ7lgDuQ9LUww/s320/IMG_5965%20Thomas%20the%20sloth.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Our Hollywood starlet Tilly, ready to take a spin in her convertible . . .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0zEFi4apqK6CC4v4TmGSJtmjFyNd1tws1FvAfyEddc6u1g7oM9nupwCF1tdzjovdSJ5VFhHWzmRUEbzxeRF2CJZ5kG55QUvVkdlGmbnnI2z4Ca6VVU9ri02bB1JWw0IVkCMkYXnKYb6TOtlywRGIpitdsbxQeCfn672zYsN1tVbYrJiE5NZA6wvYRWQ/s4032/IMG_5959.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0zEFi4apqK6CC4v4TmGSJtmjFyNd1tws1FvAfyEddc6u1g7oM9nupwCF1tdzjovdSJ5VFhHWzmRUEbzxeRF2CJZ5kG55QUvVkdlGmbnnI2z4Ca6VVU9ri02bB1JWw0IVkCMkYXnKYb6TOtlywRGIpitdsbxQeCfn672zYsN1tVbYrJiE5NZA6wvYRWQ/s320/IMG_5959.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_srhjHEId9YyxX16zdJvQk9MGhuuBV2UPjm0nLdDC23sE0qUQzmVy0DZoVLvv2JBFdsAyMbdF_wY2eNMNj95YCe2uA93OItlM2YwLcPuVSr49XZasBDInIyb4GXpAYI42hKeevwco4wDo4aEW4EJF1rADOFP_SjuKuFt2DGep99KtK30R5vlIq6zHeo/s4032/IMG_5961.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_srhjHEId9YyxX16zdJvQk9MGhuuBV2UPjm0nLdDC23sE0qUQzmVy0DZoVLvv2JBFdsAyMbdF_wY2eNMNj95YCe2uA93OItlM2YwLcPuVSr49XZasBDInIyb4GXpAYI42hKeevwco4wDo4aEW4EJF1rADOFP_SjuKuFt2DGep99KtK30R5vlIq6zHeo/s320/IMG_5961.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We enjoyed participating in our homeschool community’s traditional Cupcake Rosary, which we do each October. We gather to pray the rosary, and then eat cupcakes—as simple as that!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfhmA7jV_SLeJRWYruNryNCHfTF0ttgbMnTNt8bXXRWN3jJXWBOCM2PuW4_QqnbBNJUwzNi8nFDKRnaTX2Qls5KM_80E3qY-_Lk36wG6Z0KyBunITKAWV4lWDa2WTnozY_guPoZ5SIzahYt982we-oAVpymppWnVhDc6OE8M1CtGQ6aW267BMhEqCbME/s4032/IMG_5990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfhmA7jV_SLeJRWYruNryNCHfTF0ttgbMnTNt8bXXRWN3jJXWBOCM2PuW4_QqnbBNJUwzNi8nFDKRnaTX2Qls5KM_80E3qY-_Lk36wG6Z0KyBunITKAWV4lWDa2WTnozY_guPoZ5SIzahYt982we-oAVpymppWnVhDc6OE8M1CtGQ6aW267BMhEqCbME/s320/IMG_5990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ93S9WpijywXANWqpGJar_rgIVhlDdAbwnhGtHTLOxn5bIMA3JertSyTzpLg5wPZLi_KXHQnqYTnS9bWNb9DGO2_iIYi2D1HaNAHr2YGQPWFHzKqTHuJcic13VEpxECSPsA_yJY0OeNrf7BXxHby6Pzll3c8qU6Xp32WvDyjsTTroo5R7aBA5KEpEVE/s4032/IMG_5993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ93S9WpijywXANWqpGJar_rgIVhlDdAbwnhGtHTLOxn5bIMA3JertSyTzpLg5wPZLi_KXHQnqYTnS9bWNb9DGO2_iIYi2D1HaNAHr2YGQPWFHzKqTHuJcic13VEpxECSPsA_yJY0OeNrf7BXxHby6Pzll3c8qU6Xp32WvDyjsTTroo5R7aBA5KEpEVE/s320/IMG_5993.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I’m feeling grateful to be home and able to make breakfast for my kids every day. Today I made homemade wheat bread, eggs, sausage, and cooked apples. We ate together and simultaneously listened to our morning saint story. The small things are big things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WqG10utwt1Qk5Uhuh8Ve0ipWVDpa_IfK_LZZp3TNmsCHl0n1m4s0i04pQEaZdDbNUYIAhlCPBe9oWCn1rJqsCYGN9bYThWHvuOMSUZNhTSrfTE8iUQfVkGYYiixoWc6ipowM96D0THe4tzk6FuJ-d6hkXqX1daHI7f9CUj1LjtoKYteAFJXFwZ3_6Rg/s4028/IMG_6022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2517" data-original-width="4028" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WqG10utwt1Qk5Uhuh8Ve0ipWVDpa_IfK_LZZp3TNmsCHl0n1m4s0i04pQEaZdDbNUYIAhlCPBe9oWCn1rJqsCYGN9bYThWHvuOMSUZNhTSrfTE8iUQfVkGYYiixoWc6ipowM96D0THe4tzk6FuJ-d6hkXqX1daHI7f9CUj1LjtoKYteAFJXFwZ3_6Rg/s320/IMG_6022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I scored some freshly milled flour from a local friend and, after baking two loaves of bread, had two cups remaining. No way was I going to throw it out, so I made a double batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. What a nice little dessert last night—and I froze four more bags of eight cookies each for future dessert nights.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2a0Q_rCpMGTnmXWk5dAWE3eCrBBAJWy2O6zVIUiHJQEMRewQDntG-ajI0a5qqsr6V08OcaWOygWQcB44I_51XO0HqRoD4m_j3TJVjk8P8oTwe2lSMSJsgKbUjpcmTb6HxkNXpOYFGhFwSvgWhQnKwszkzZsrxs3HhmseShlxjuzbUTK7YwdxKHSJ4Dw/s4032/IMG_6020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2a0Q_rCpMGTnmXWk5dAWE3eCrBBAJWy2O6zVIUiHJQEMRewQDntG-ajI0a5qqsr6V08OcaWOygWQcB44I_51XO0HqRoD4m_j3TJVjk8P8oTwe2lSMSJsgKbUjpcmTb6HxkNXpOYFGhFwSvgWhQnKwszkzZsrxs3HhmseShlxjuzbUTK7YwdxKHSJ4Dw/s320/IMG_6020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtVlxErSPODLV5Q18By7YOWkP9CUx8O7Tzuzu2Zn3ytiPU97Mj0_pKLPlttK3ogG4jrxwruOdpuRZ83BknVkJnHBiW0BBhSvXcnRsXBSavm2rPiOMFttQmLKI6obCa_5KxODIWIOzsvd9WtAa_mSKXwxICFj5wz_zgeAKZwn8CCIy5_-Wd0N2nR60PXQ/s4032/IMG_6021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtVlxErSPODLV5Q18By7YOWkP9CUx8O7Tzuzu2Zn3ytiPU97Mj0_pKLPlttK3ogG4jrxwruOdpuRZ83BknVkJnHBiW0BBhSvXcnRsXBSavm2rPiOMFttQmLKI6obCa_5KxODIWIOzsvd9WtAa_mSKXwxICFj5wz_zgeAKZwn8CCIy5_-Wd0N2nR60PXQ/s320/IMG_6021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Chris took Joseph and Thomas to a fishing and survivalist course for children. (Thomas was so sad to miss it, but was home sick.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfWGpG49EjoxPavjXZN7fl89wlehViT8Y37jugHgDCCjvoboKdYfpoHiBRB83IAyqWH-MpP99XHJFAmGSCIp1wFfAhvrLt2SDdDUGbux6W52YnsIUl79xK5c3Jgz0MTcAph1EV2Nh_dvlGjwHj9X9ERKGgiw-iRGH3EULr-YlDHDjPINuxevf2QzmErs/s4032/IMG_7849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfWGpG49EjoxPavjXZN7fl89wlehViT8Y37jugHgDCCjvoboKdYfpoHiBRB83IAyqWH-MpP99XHJFAmGSCIp1wFfAhvrLt2SDdDUGbux6W52YnsIUl79xK5c3Jgz0MTcAph1EV2Nh_dvlGjwHj9X9ERKGgiw-iRGH3EULr-YlDHDjPINuxevf2QzmErs/s320/IMG_7849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR5feo3mv2f7LLj9bQmEErWATOQ_1Ue91JpH20PaF_IWg5U66tIHaXurqpmRq4QKqtjQDMBku8AG3rvk3s6J8quV-6POSl_bGDqsQ_mOV2KRA_PTdAjp9PyVamV9xW1ymh49pZ9itBVjOVroGl4bdPfCE2GAX87xXDEZTmOgVWYdO-ptanxr3qrpJg1M/s4032/IMG_7850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR5feo3mv2f7LLj9bQmEErWATOQ_1Ue91JpH20PaF_IWg5U66tIHaXurqpmRq4QKqtjQDMBku8AG3rvk3s6J8quV-6POSl_bGDqsQ_mOV2KRA_PTdAjp9PyVamV9xW1ymh49pZ9itBVjOVroGl4bdPfCE2GAX87xXDEZTmOgVWYdO-ptanxr3qrpJg1M/s320/IMG_7850.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AInynqKEev8DGzxspD-p4h4E-q1HWyPu7A7h3nxYO02Wl_qWXgsizMLKNg6-7gwBLdZw0PxZ3FJ5DY-SFI7hR_NQlGXE_2lvmBbSZOC4kiTU57D4vom044oXtDkuxi-AJFMBnmJ7LkoPYSKd0tCXbr78pHtAJ4ETTHCzcJB5TuhggUYI9e3TV9426ts/s4032/IMG_7857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AInynqKEev8DGzxspD-p4h4E-q1HWyPu7A7h3nxYO02Wl_qWXgsizMLKNg6-7gwBLdZw0PxZ3FJ5DY-SFI7hR_NQlGXE_2lvmBbSZOC4kiTU57D4vom044oXtDkuxi-AJFMBnmJ7LkoPYSKd0tCXbr78pHtAJ4ETTHCzcJB5TuhggUYI9e3TV9426ts/s320/IMG_7857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vDQQp225ZMUXqzSwhKqPUu38cEIlJyeS6iHEKsefcoRoGLzlVvBxKMN1IYhrsA34FZR1Vs5WatBrgJc0yBt4-JV4nHnPA4SdbIZiHwmzKrS0yjmCCe722BmoGOXsMxyc6FrnTfuzBEFcVbdgdWjUj5SyvZ0qUNEUTwsyBAYC6ZgNsF3VG_cWHNpTvrE/s4032/IMG_7858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vDQQp225ZMUXqzSwhKqPUu38cEIlJyeS6iHEKsefcoRoGLzlVvBxKMN1IYhrsA34FZR1Vs5WatBrgJc0yBt4-JV4nHnPA4SdbIZiHwmzKrS0yjmCCe722BmoGOXsMxyc6FrnTfuzBEFcVbdgdWjUj5SyvZ0qUNEUTwsyBAYC6ZgNsF3VG_cWHNpTvrE/s320/IMG_7858.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Meal Plan for the Week Oct. 14</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saturday (tonight)</h3>Pasta, marinara + homemade meatballs (I made a triple batch and froze two separate bags of them for future dinners.)<br />Brusells sprouts (and since none of my kids will eat them, they will go wonderfully with my breakfast eggs all week)<br />Baguette<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sunday</h3>Trying a new recipe of a sheetpan meal of chicken, potatoes, broccoli<br />Take-and-bake dinner rolls<br />Homemade angel food cake<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Monday</h3>Pulled pork sandwiches<br />Roasted baby potatoes and spinach<br />Boxed mac and cheese<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tuesday</h3>Beef pot roast<br />Cornbread<br />Brown Rice<br />Corn niblets<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Wednesday</h3>Sandwiches<br />Chips<br />Fruit<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thursday</h3>Homemade Baked Chicken Tenders<br />Don't know what sides yet . . . .<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Friday</h3>Protein waffles<br />Cooked apples</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Weekend of mid-October: Mary had the wonderful opportunity to go with family friends for a weekend in a mountain cabin. Picking apples, playing musical instruments together, baking, hiking . . . .</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oct. 15: Emergency Room visit for fever and pain. Poor Thomas was in so much pain he was crying loudly in the waiting room, which is so unlike him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyenabTx5C5n1m1eV-KZGw7iRtV0XHoBYJvGUi1WJg4zDjrISRS4fECLfKztdOSP7qqutWuRkcRMVZdogUrs6qeP399SNRIjxSZBr3nfXrdLIj0MkX4KGBDAkBFyjMwjXNGGyHwm4Xr0CK-iMtIeR-4Z6eJrorcSnnWUVMkwb0mMCCgbdUfIOq6k9ok0/s4032/IMG_6061%20Thomas%20in%20ER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyenabTx5C5n1m1eV-KZGw7iRtV0XHoBYJvGUi1WJg4zDjrISRS4fECLfKztdOSP7qqutWuRkcRMVZdogUrs6qeP399SNRIjxSZBr3nfXrdLIj0MkX4KGBDAkBFyjMwjXNGGyHwm4Xr0CK-iMtIeR-4Z6eJrorcSnnWUVMkwb0mMCCgbdUfIOq6k9ok0/s320/IMG_6061%20Thomas%20in%20ER.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One task is done for the upcoming week!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo24dZ3HfG66FGQ8V2S5zGlHSMykrXPpO45-MNT6Cia86pPimxVxb3nJdGQFp9EqKsQmXgt72jZUd24EvyBk5OjcHW49A0JHpoi79x-AQ-HmqskZN_8mjaba9Or3FetPsEUVplMklN1zGINgXU95eHFBtilXcHBsLb3FnrkWWhHi93bhe1NkIwPzYUbk/s3873/IMG_6059.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3873" data-original-width="2432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo24dZ3HfG66FGQ8V2S5zGlHSMykrXPpO45-MNT6Cia86pPimxVxb3nJdGQFp9EqKsQmXgt72jZUd24EvyBk5OjcHW49A0JHpoi79x-AQ-HmqskZN_8mjaba9Or3FetPsEUVplMklN1zGINgXU95eHFBtilXcHBsLb3FnrkWWhHi93bhe1NkIwPzYUbk/s320/IMG_6059.JPG" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Oct. 17: After my admonishing a particular child to eat with a fork and not his hands, he retorted, “Mama, it’s your fault I’m eating with my hands because your food is too good to wait!”</div><div>Smooth move, my boy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Oct. 17: I woke up to discover that David (6) had made a nest and gone to sleep in the hallway at the top of the stairs (dangerous!). Who <i>even </i>knows why? It's particularly funny because he is always welcome to come crawl in bed with us.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8SHU8WrZ2fW2cS0LH2fSSnMMozvF7AdbBel-rx9dL4YVeprpjIhlSNwt4fOt3r1tqZ3nKWYbeqZkKIuTVeshx8AR8m6TqX07VPX52Nh2TbbEA9StwMdI3M0c3xB-pqb2lzzWKp6k1O2Oh8whLSOP3S3X2efr8UhzAnwUNVu94EOzmTPpl0UIC5Brf8U/s4032/IMG_6071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8SHU8WrZ2fW2cS0LH2fSSnMMozvF7AdbBel-rx9dL4YVeprpjIhlSNwt4fOt3r1tqZ3nKWYbeqZkKIuTVeshx8AR8m6TqX07VPX52Nh2TbbEA9StwMdI3M0c3xB-pqb2lzzWKp6k1O2Oh8whLSOP3S3X2efr8UhzAnwUNVu94EOzmTPpl0UIC5Brf8U/s320/IMG_6071.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYjCSZs6KyfWjYTjaU1g4o_6V94MTFqeVdc2yrNuBSKHJ9e34nX9GHhdW0tySFLdSgDhoaQn-gl1TSmJ1d3aQuNrlenZQs47INWRV1UG_jobSdfCtk4f7wfwVk5jO_JTyD7GBOSi4VjKZNt38Tad1cHtYngAN9LTiP8LtkwTXqRLYpEQnMUOdmNnEZzc/s4032/IMG_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYjCSZs6KyfWjYTjaU1g4o_6V94MTFqeVdc2yrNuBSKHJ9e34nX9GHhdW0tySFLdSgDhoaQn-gl1TSmJ1d3aQuNrlenZQs47INWRV1UG_jobSdfCtk4f7wfwVk5jO_JTyD7GBOSi4VjKZNt38Tad1cHtYngAN9LTiP8LtkwTXqRLYpEQnMUOdmNnEZzc/s320/IMG_6072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Oct. 19: My first adventure into the land of milling my own flour! This morning I milled flour, mixed a pancake recipe, cooked them, and was able to clean up entirely while I was cooking except for the skillet which is still cooling. From my starting to the kids finishing eating was one hour flat. I’ve always made hot breakfasts for the family, and it cuts into homeschooling time in a frustrating way, but, for the most part, I can’t bring myself to have them just grab cold cereal and get to work. </div><div><br /></div><div>The reason I’m excited to try milling my own flour is that commercial flour has had the bran and germ removed 😊 fiber, fat, and vitamins). The industry replaces (enriches) flour with about ten of the roughly 40 vitamins removed, but it doesn’t replace the fiber or fat. When one mills flour fresh, all that is retained: flour goes bad very quickly and 90% of the nutrients are gone within 72 hours of milling. The idea is to mill and bake at once, which then locks in those nutrients to last. </div><div><br /></div><div>These pancakes were a big hit! And now, off to homeschooling, at which I am much less skilled than at making pancakes!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjNOGkGDHZA1RK2MK45mJ57uxWsKksxQIcrlejpvXqBNwTZfSArS07mmJL77xu3h2yDKEf1GC8bvGimCVAN156q87BZfM-A5zCGfYkiiLwGDcYok7JdwXVijz_WJDzSLKFSwAj8CxiRLxtXjcqxaw2jNMbWJ2iGlgYV4jyea0InIsWOA37z2GaOaFqYI/s4032/IMG_6078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjNOGkGDHZA1RK2MK45mJ57uxWsKksxQIcrlejpvXqBNwTZfSArS07mmJL77xu3h2yDKEf1GC8bvGimCVAN156q87BZfM-A5zCGfYkiiLwGDcYok7JdwXVijz_WJDzSLKFSwAj8CxiRLxtXjcqxaw2jNMbWJ2iGlgYV4jyea0InIsWOA37z2GaOaFqYI/s320/IMG_6078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EfXoDqxCTNibavpl60Ns3V_SHp_jF8y5buFdVME4UVADzpwu5xLJBf0MbehBumJPraNfcJ6xoLNcM85Li6wTIKUS6SXwi-bRtvLTptL2nmLCMCOIlSXrz8xJ48cOmscMV9WMg7UorYvOWtwEwIk381KsLKsNdtFHKHPz306yIEoNciROyw6ghKCGgWg/s4032/IMG_6075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EfXoDqxCTNibavpl60Ns3V_SHp_jF8y5buFdVME4UVADzpwu5xLJBf0MbehBumJPraNfcJ6xoLNcM85Li6wTIKUS6SXwi-bRtvLTptL2nmLCMCOIlSXrz8xJ48cOmscMV9WMg7UorYvOWtwEwIk381KsLKsNdtFHKHPz306yIEoNciROyw6ghKCGgWg/s320/IMG_6075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-DmziYE6N00lNQmW_JBBLTeq1zOG7-bNS-7bFV96N2HcaNmtjzJZSC5R6IhBauvqjwB3m0pjn3tDeYnds5IUWVf2qhyphenhyphendPsOQ3WrpeWApUg-5bd82EwC0clc_vk59DF3sMuIJyHf9gyYWl3-hLtJKb8LAjyksURltk-W_I277Attzy8aExxgL5PWCUf8/s4032/IMG_6077.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-DmziYE6N00lNQmW_JBBLTeq1zOG7-bNS-7bFV96N2HcaNmtjzJZSC5R6IhBauvqjwB3m0pjn3tDeYnds5IUWVf2qhyphenhyphendPsOQ3WrpeWApUg-5bd82EwC0clc_vk59DF3sMuIJyHf9gyYWl3-hLtJKb8LAjyksURltk-W_I277Attzy8aExxgL5PWCUf8/s320/IMG_6077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE03ZKlk_8RJ07Br-kqy6yAxdHHQXJ05LhhEj4RdfuMlJ5dCJYXhyphenhyphenNXJ3o4NXR9Qkv4WOZUs_UZPoRq_KjiMoBdRKh7OYCHDxd_o8cefAyqUVst0mnLSN02enxn8Hph-NRJMmJ6NuEkbqJqtTfLDe_AwMiK_x5Tw5yPZl3XOvONrWPjr2g39Vkt0Vu4lY/s4032/IMG_6084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE03ZKlk_8RJ07Br-kqy6yAxdHHQXJ05LhhEj4RdfuMlJ5dCJYXhyphenhyphenNXJ3o4NXR9Qkv4WOZUs_UZPoRq_KjiMoBdRKh7OYCHDxd_o8cefAyqUVst0mnLSN02enxn8Hph-NRJMmJ6NuEkbqJqtTfLDe_AwMiK_x5Tw5yPZl3XOvONrWPjr2g39Vkt0Vu4lY/s320/IMG_6084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>"I Am That Kid" is a video series of people who were adopted as children who have led incredible lives. What a beautiful ministry! This video of Scott Hamilton, the very famous skater of my childhood, is so moving, and I forewarn you to have Kleenex at hand. I had no idea of his mother's or his cancer diagnoses. When Scott tells of his fundraising specifically and only for immunotherapies, I burst into wailing tears because it hits so close to home. That truly is the future of cancer treatment and it will be a beautiful day when we can use less chemotherapy and more immunotherapy. RIGHT NOW, just since Thomas's cancer diagnosis three years ago, the very first children in America are receiving immunotherapy, such as CAR-T. I personally know children who are alive because of it. When someone achieves wealth and influence and uses it for true good, that is so meaningful. This video is worth 15 minutes: such inspirational themes about adoption, maternal dedication, choosing joy, doing dedicated hard work for the honor of someone outside oneself . . . .</div><div><br /></div></div><b>https://youtu.be/nacp2VkYtAo?si=g678GOHM7muOEcz8</b><div><br /></div><div><div>We greatly enjoyed watching <a href="https://m.imdb.com/title/tt21940010/?fbclid=IwAR1XMTEnN2I3z8zsZZbkNplTTj8A9oz5ItHOn4CtUcq38PJvhNEeN7i3bQc" target="_blank"><b>A Million Miles Away</b></a> as our family move tonight. It is based on the autobiography of the first Mexican-American To become an astronaut in space. The subject matter was close to my heart because Mr. Hernandez was an agricultural migrant worker in the Central Valley of California where I grew up. I was so familiar with the migrant kids who showed up at school at random times of year and then left a couple of months later. </div><div><br /></div><div>Read the IMDB parents’ guide. We watched this PG movie with all the kids, down to six years old. The themes are very pro-family. The poor Mexican migrant culture is shown in such an inspiring light and dignified manner. The family relationships are very strong. Extremely hard work and dedication is shown throughout the movie. </div><div><br /></div><div>Highly recommend! </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Oct. 21: I was still sick with bronchitis (for what turned out to last 10 weeks), so Mary went to the annual Mira Via banquet with Chris in my stead.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HnreyXEpRC_Ao_mpVLqvnnSGmWeom7t3d3pd1e10cD7xLoGXnkquNF7LIOnzGV1HhM7NLkBJs2SfYnjbHkAVlIBK3JZm3pXlp-sTvcsKWzeOJB5U20toDHYy6V8Oiuzl9fIXC51d1zpBNT6pf5f7PVKZ61ScJ9r7C56tw9GxRhiKGxFxKsr8wsXGBWg/s4032/IMG_6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HnreyXEpRC_Ao_mpVLqvnnSGmWeom7t3d3pd1e10cD7xLoGXnkquNF7LIOnzGV1HhM7NLkBJs2SfYnjbHkAVlIBK3JZm3pXlp-sTvcsKWzeOJB5U20toDHYy6V8Oiuzl9fIXC51d1zpBNT6pf5f7PVKZ61ScJ9r7C56tw9GxRhiKGxFxKsr8wsXGBWg/s320/IMG_6093.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t2A17O31Ea6zF2m7rJTGWegNNX0ZeWaH2cDGOdt2KEScCWGh5jr42VagtWkAxZMpPRj2qiPD9s58ZcSnjrIzcRNFJPhDqNBsCfVgUjdnZbrbq_31YkERDlXFEzN3NVb46uABPzy8MZIX9IvJYY3srVmTCT5LFQ_gm1VejN4HeZVCaqnc-YHUbla_-bY/s3088/IMG_7904%20Mira%20Via.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t2A17O31Ea6zF2m7rJTGWegNNX0ZeWaH2cDGOdt2KEScCWGh5jr42VagtWkAxZMpPRj2qiPD9s58ZcSnjrIzcRNFJPhDqNBsCfVgUjdnZbrbq_31YkERDlXFEzN3NVb46uABPzy8MZIX9IvJYY3srVmTCT5LFQ_gm1VejN4HeZVCaqnc-YHUbla_-bY/s320/IMG_7904%20Mira%20Via.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oct. 23: I tried a new recipe for gingerbread oatmeal and it was SO DELICIOUS! Substitutes I made were: steel cut oats instead of rolled (more fiber), Fairlife milk (more protein than regular), and sucanat instead of brown sugar (causes lower glycemic response). I’m currently out of blackstrap molasses, but that would be preferable because it is a nutritional powerhouse: one ounce contains 27% daily value of iron plus high amounts of various vitamins. Recipe in comments!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PyJPf0OAWeX-JUWWroKwTf3J5BN-2nfq32psL8ZV1EBX8B8uN3sE35D0hxNVpguIZuyX0IoGrf0ieB143qWAfXqrHRijEHgvEPyFzLcilGOwwc0et-hpDGz8HLm2Lh3sh07CTsc72oLXnrytlFX6L_dXxj_kI6QvEqhPR28Gpc1Fa71Z6djcFsxZcds/s1080/394516633_10160881086493360_1666934574990581603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PyJPf0OAWeX-JUWWroKwTf3J5BN-2nfq32psL8ZV1EBX8B8uN3sE35D0hxNVpguIZuyX0IoGrf0ieB143qWAfXqrHRijEHgvEPyFzLcilGOwwc0et-hpDGz8HLm2Lh3sh07CTsc72oLXnrytlFX6L_dXxj_kI6QvEqhPR28Gpc1Fa71Z6djcFsxZcds/s320/394516633_10160881086493360_1666934574990581603_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Oct. 24: Happy birthday to Chris! Please wish him well today! Chris has such a servant's heart. He has been carrying an extra load around the home, doing a lot of my chores, for the last three weeks while my bronchitis began turning into pneumonia. (I'm on many good meds now!) He dedicates all his time to family without complaint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNojCzrvfN5j8yf8f3ZB6aGSEMhQiRse11W9cDhUwbH7uCFuQSJn6cJAf_1-quUrVCJEZeFXNLvHzMWpA4KiVsobH8g47gOOcs_BTxbJn6iGS_qaMiV2M0nFEleakiGvKNIVi098DqaIdkOtex4udk38KVIYme4iJx-khe5S6MFqV8gwwQeuP4F726Tc/s4032/IMG_6099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNojCzrvfN5j8yf8f3ZB6aGSEMhQiRse11W9cDhUwbH7uCFuQSJn6cJAf_1-quUrVCJEZeFXNLvHzMWpA4KiVsobH8g47gOOcs_BTxbJn6iGS_qaMiV2M0nFEleakiGvKNIVi098DqaIdkOtex4udk38KVIYme4iJx-khe5S6MFqV8gwwQeuP4F726Tc/s320/IMG_6099.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAF8RWjiFsMKOOaM_uFYU4a8QJ20eILmzlqqVXsjmCFrUhltJPB2Zmoq11dHhGbqlAlo7n5S2kw2vgGcHH4XlzFphpMTli0IDlDzMHrrevHKjOJO48p5bQRamoNiB60PwLBKYteKGVTfnBAekMKF6EeZW-8Y2Da76m0rha3B78-mza-nUAPLKQ-CvgmNQ/s4023/IMG_6097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="4023" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAF8RWjiFsMKOOaM_uFYU4a8QJ20eILmzlqqVXsjmCFrUhltJPB2Zmoq11dHhGbqlAlo7n5S2kw2vgGcHH4XlzFphpMTli0IDlDzMHrrevHKjOJO48p5bQRamoNiB60PwLBKYteKGVTfnBAekMKF6EeZW-8Y2Da76m0rha3B78-mza-nUAPLKQ-CvgmNQ/s320/IMG_6097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHPppE3Hog8LPa4w12aX4g6m_oxbS_3MrWrxCLenOSOViFbQMnH_iEvy0nnz_80Dnne2KvdkKj_Uwi57IWdpjOyFW8HXVXRa93X5u-TgOjmZaX3NJFVcnISOu7GTF1kH35iKvrvVyXE_LnSjtcBjXguRuFop0KSZhHFnJRRDfWOfhj6N35Rdc_V1x05I/s4032/IMG_6118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHPppE3Hog8LPa4w12aX4g6m_oxbS_3MrWrxCLenOSOViFbQMnH_iEvy0nnz_80Dnne2KvdkKj_Uwi57IWdpjOyFW8HXVXRa93X5u-TgOjmZaX3NJFVcnISOu7GTF1kH35iKvrvVyXE_LnSjtcBjXguRuFop0KSZhHFnJRRDfWOfhj6N35Rdc_V1x05I/s320/IMG_6118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>My lap isn’t big enough for both dogs while teaching. What else can I do but hold Nicky in my arms, so insistent on being with me and his sister?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkb6dlU64Gw0NzEV5T4jB8yCmdrDF7-PtvGnFMOSmOu1E6X1pOcu9slC0GhLqnwVflPfMtcNp5BphRjXsJIHH16kCs-LhATL9kca8qMs3s48Hhj6WmxccCbgHzRWLF0HlIb3wwFyDyrvBe39Oi7Y3mumFUmwWM6JgLMYzXlYVDP3FaN1A-eBxfoMkeg4/s4032/IMG_6122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkb6dlU64Gw0NzEV5T4jB8yCmdrDF7-PtvGnFMOSmOu1E6X1pOcu9slC0GhLqnwVflPfMtcNp5BphRjXsJIHH16kCs-LhATL9kca8qMs3s48Hhj6WmxccCbgHzRWLF0HlIb3wwFyDyrvBe39Oi7Y3mumFUmwWM6JgLMYzXlYVDP3FaN1A-eBxfoMkeg4/s320/IMG_6122.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><div>I'm so proud of little David starting to learn to read! For whatever reason(s), my first five learned to read early, fluently, and easily. I didn't know what to do when I taught phonics to David for his entire Kindergarten year using my trusty All About Reading and he didn't even yet have letter recognition. During first grade, I have changed things up a bit. I stepped backwards and worked on letter recognition, even just singing the ABCs, which he didn't know. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then something dawned on me one day: Of my five previous kids, one of them learned encoding first (spelling), decoding second (reading). Statistically, most of us learn decoding first. That previous child began at three years old asking incessently how to spell everything and before four was reading well, and then at five reading things like the entire eight-book series of Anne of Green Gables. </div><div><br /></div><div>I saw something in David's thinking process that was similar, so I switched to playing spelling games with him about six weeks ago. I would put out the tiles for the phonemes he had learned and ask him to spell a word for me, which he could do far easier than decoding/reading the same word. We've been spelling like that for six weeks and he's now really getting it, blending on his own, and starting to read some words. I'm just so happy for him. Homeschooling is very hard and leaves a parent feeling the burden of the world on her shoulders, but the successes are sweet. I hope David keeps chugging along!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zc0YpD98mdk4RFUBsityjVZL59yYU9FnOeqWnupAK9xH-otUFe7-1TY3oWhJYjwmN-c3uXNzkvXHrCSXcj3VUyH75qiss19aivwtGWVUfY0c-kjrIBtq494JLDtALojeQFgQov1tGiuELDYUdbWR_WigE6Lke5mBsRlBj0KaN1ufQnTrfAEaiJxeIyg/s4032/IMG_6136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zc0YpD98mdk4RFUBsityjVZL59yYU9FnOeqWnupAK9xH-otUFe7-1TY3oWhJYjwmN-c3uXNzkvXHrCSXcj3VUyH75qiss19aivwtGWVUfY0c-kjrIBtq494JLDtALojeQFgQov1tGiuELDYUdbWR_WigE6Lke5mBsRlBj0KaN1ufQnTrfAEaiJxeIyg/s320/IMG_6136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAGpfj_dMJ4PvgsZlFcOkqtGKZkq__Zv1eNQ7T0DqddKfBgxEbLA796H1HtzMV8SNkSHcUjwSvufku6tmRA73cDIAugaWDF_F-JfCPcFqMhJw-Fjo3FXyTrL63zNsaBdoUPWzIaIn8icCg4FwsVBC6STQQFwOLgU0-f0KnVO3asHBu5mdZ9vDA4E3uE8/s4032/IMG_6138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAGpfj_dMJ4PvgsZlFcOkqtGKZkq__Zv1eNQ7T0DqddKfBgxEbLA796H1HtzMV8SNkSHcUjwSvufku6tmRA73cDIAugaWDF_F-JfCPcFqMhJw-Fjo3FXyTrL63zNsaBdoUPWzIaIn8icCg4FwsVBC6STQQFwOLgU0-f0KnVO3asHBu5mdZ9vDA4E3uE8/s320/IMG_6138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Math was daunting today, so after lunch, I brought the books outside for school on the picnic bench. We used pretzels and popcorn for math manipulatives. Spirits were raised. One son told me, “This is blissful, Mom.”</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXyzPtYiQh8ngiAZOEDG-2ufASWIyLxfE-iOBaddhdBGN7M8_NY6BynhIGF5Kk5klhsmeiDga_C7ywDvZgm3fHnKxmufn-ipah7LDOFUAiKAA_OEcwM2SXpwruzbp0pm6FBreCzO_OiHl8wJw-NRnlzDR1o8wJGYYE8iLhtX5UIYj8KvIi7vgXGD9YqA/s4032/IMG_6125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXyzPtYiQh8ngiAZOEDG-2ufASWIyLxfE-iOBaddhdBGN7M8_NY6BynhIGF5Kk5klhsmeiDga_C7ywDvZgm3fHnKxmufn-ipah7LDOFUAiKAA_OEcwM2SXpwruzbp0pm6FBreCzO_OiHl8wJw-NRnlzDR1o8wJGYYE8iLhtX5UIYj8KvIi7vgXGD9YqA/s320/IMG_6125.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrkgaicscrLPckH-lmoSZoUknj1zDZsi0Td6-wavQm38hCVplQJ6JH98BIu9TM809Zavhlt3RvLKsILXKMSwUrFkIwn_iqOpa1Iyoxv-DVpj-eFg4mhyphenhyphenE-_Q7zAcn0BEei5tXeWks6FUz9KwH5gdRRSwFwRvQ-lJe6AA_x9hWFq9hq3nNfjoBx2C_gbo/s4032/IMG_6127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrkgaicscrLPckH-lmoSZoUknj1zDZsi0Td6-wavQm38hCVplQJ6JH98BIu9TM809Zavhlt3RvLKsILXKMSwUrFkIwn_iqOpa1Iyoxv-DVpj-eFg4mhyphenhyphenE-_Q7zAcn0BEei5tXeWks6FUz9KwH5gdRRSwFwRvQ-lJe6AA_x9hWFq9hq3nNfjoBx2C_gbo/s320/IMG_6127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q6By4v-5JHbFs3rLlJvWJWqL1Y7X4PsDE8nHyQqMkVaFAimPJglrOyAx2JFgZcSNLTAe_aqvVqOFgE3DZdOiio0Z5h47FDVCNEBGM6AEViiqxUIWssXcb42uQwxFK6XSLxN7g9NQ2oA7ImWAYN-yuZi36vRRmYaDI2azRyCmR8IZv5NE60taGNDtVao/s4032/IMG_6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q6By4v-5JHbFs3rLlJvWJWqL1Y7X4PsDE8nHyQqMkVaFAimPJglrOyAx2JFgZcSNLTAe_aqvVqOFgE3DZdOiio0Z5h47FDVCNEBGM6AEViiqxUIWssXcb42uQwxFK6XSLxN7g9NQ2oA7ImWAYN-yuZi36vRRmYaDI2azRyCmR8IZv5NE60taGNDtVao/s320/IMG_6128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div>While I wish I ran a strict, Pinterest-worthy homeschool, with all the children on an hour-by-hour schedule and sitting in little desks in one room, I have yet to achieve it and now know I never will. I spend every day trying to embrace gratitude in many moments for what I can manage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I made my bed and completed two loads of laundry. I got through most of the lesson plans with all three boys. (So rarely do we get through it ALL.) I paused our school three times to have the kids join me in preparing bread: we milled the flour, baked it, and finished the day with two glorious loaves of sandwich bread, a loaf of pepperoni bread for dinner (bread rolled with cheese and pepperoni), and a loaf for breakfast (rolled with sucanet sweetness and raisins). My oldest two attended classes, my middle stayed home and did a pet-sitting job, and my three little boys played freely outdoors A LOT. The house isn't as prissy clean as I'd like, but it's good enough. I paused my day six times to take my medications for this awful bronchitis. I always prefer a strictly ordered life, which I don't have, but at least I have a FULL life.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcYE9KyoJG46ZvvnQDwbUguKK7tIt4mX6jnhIYAGgWBj_kqeMdFzBHAeNCRPx7vpBWb2aWV7qWF7As8E-o6xslumn7J4EyCV3h2xvrlhQSupJOgr1M-Sinkc94mEOBVOFd5KrimupSJl1jPD_N4OMlu7l8P5tjNTLBfNT9NEeCEhUdniTPJcMRDxrasw/s4032/IMG_6131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcYE9KyoJG46ZvvnQDwbUguKK7tIt4mX6jnhIYAGgWBj_kqeMdFzBHAeNCRPx7vpBWb2aWV7qWF7As8E-o6xslumn7J4EyCV3h2xvrlhQSupJOgr1M-Sinkc94mEOBVOFd5KrimupSJl1jPD_N4OMlu7l8P5tjNTLBfNT9NEeCEhUdniTPJcMRDxrasw/s320/IMG_6131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hd12GmRqhEgaPynQ_JTT2THnOSEDhTiOqxTbiaN-yJkKVQIXsTuEmtBsaXxa8_pOaJgWE5kIfKal8DlUN_IwyQ_4XxvojfpID4Z412et0_st9rTdF26D-C92OmeNsIyfPF-Rw6zvYQnf7Hb9bsAyOXOUM1do45z0ceDEcnDILvPDF0igU8NBP1RfSg0/s4032/IMG_6135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hd12GmRqhEgaPynQ_JTT2THnOSEDhTiOqxTbiaN-yJkKVQIXsTuEmtBsaXxa8_pOaJgWE5kIfKal8DlUN_IwyQ_4XxvojfpID4Z412et0_st9rTdF26D-C92OmeNsIyfPF-Rw6zvYQnf7Hb9bsAyOXOUM1do45z0ceDEcnDILvPDF0igU8NBP1RfSg0/s320/IMG_6135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDEVlLUFRxwEz8Tgjz8ARh_Epfs1PFFwBOcgj8kYzjXKB_bb14JYiTC31UmE4F6bQ6IkrdOKOTe_ekL5tUAVuNODdlnAj2W9oEqhzCPENHIuL2QQrH0R0EeAJy67X228E4EuJMzJw9I05KZmuLeHBMaXkHD3KiIwQuRaUhWOA3udrUn4qZKxToN6o57g/s4032/IMG_6140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDEVlLUFRxwEz8Tgjz8ARh_Epfs1PFFwBOcgj8kYzjXKB_bb14JYiTC31UmE4F6bQ6IkrdOKOTe_ekL5tUAVuNODdlnAj2W9oEqhzCPENHIuL2QQrH0R0EeAJy67X228E4EuJMzJw9I05KZmuLeHBMaXkHD3KiIwQuRaUhWOA3udrUn4qZKxToN6o57g/s320/IMG_6140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6sVNUmwapGDHul4S2LDEcBpytKvX8E8N5G6Z7_2Nh-cvNG6fnM4-oHaYzpGl86Am9d2pwOdx_tPf-DPUYts1r7bFp8f8tD3cDfuh4k6Ect-WHVMYTQJB6u_SlIscUb9nuIm_iIiTHraaV_i2GvFduceUvoHZj42wi_DTjMI4pVO0m8QHiLgUkGPE73U/s4032/IMG_6145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6sVNUmwapGDHul4S2LDEcBpytKvX8E8N5G6Z7_2Nh-cvNG6fnM4-oHaYzpGl86Am9d2pwOdx_tPf-DPUYts1r7bFp8f8tD3cDfuh4k6Ect-WHVMYTQJB6u_SlIscUb9nuIm_iIiTHraaV_i2GvFduceUvoHZj42wi_DTjMI4pVO0m8QHiLgUkGPE73U/s320/IMG_6145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>My sweet breakfast bread was lovely! Fresh milled flour, rolled bread sweetened with butter and Sucanat: yum!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzsV-4JIzUdypuotwEZgsDchIM7aqqvLO0-vGlrFFloot1b3VltPOOfBYWQ5yW766Vne4DSyG0E37kMD1m3oLshwuF4zoKqfdvZzpHpZ2164jxNJPPMeeAnmewBaubdwjn7sgVTI0KwmCkXAqpsEp_igI9cAffnGzTMDiWdYJ9DEqERWnYnERDyTpjqw/s1124/396714283_10160891417808360_9201313405691304475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzsV-4JIzUdypuotwEZgsDchIM7aqqvLO0-vGlrFFloot1b3VltPOOfBYWQ5yW766Vne4DSyG0E37kMD1m3oLshwuF4zoKqfdvZzpHpZ2164jxNJPPMeeAnmewBaubdwjn7sgVTI0KwmCkXAqpsEp_igI9cAffnGzTMDiWdYJ9DEqERWnYnERDyTpjqw/s320/396714283_10160891417808360_9201313405691304475_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I think I posted last year that Trader Joe's sells great pumpkins for a mere fraction of the cost of going to a roadside stand or a true pumpkin patch. These big pumpkins were only $5 each and the minis were $1 apiece. The $40 I spent would have gotten me maybe two big pumpkins elsewhere. I haven't been to a true pumpkin patch experience in some years because it's hard to get out of there for less than $150 with the pumpkins for all six kids, cider donuts, money paid for each ride and event, etc. I miss those trips, but I was pleased on the drive home from Trader Joe's that my little boys were discussing amongst themselves making frugal choices with money. That's a benefit, too, even if I didn't get adorable pumpkin patch photos.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocDt6QMwO0HciS4QJEOhBbw9ij48cB3P8LnBnrTuzB17e4Amw5cdcpvcEUk2VeqK0DCbNrGkyZbfEgG6QVCDX5wfLLgwmnT7-6Zkqvo3nlfM4NLAJgHAI9Lyl2pIsIy8h2DS83QKFmr7i5CyetSzZ1iVHhQTzSv7L1iXO7anrkF9RfGx4mwBXslvNFZY/s4032/IMG_6161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocDt6QMwO0HciS4QJEOhBbw9ij48cB3P8LnBnrTuzB17e4Amw5cdcpvcEUk2VeqK0DCbNrGkyZbfEgG6QVCDX5wfLLgwmnT7-6Zkqvo3nlfM4NLAJgHAI9Lyl2pIsIy8h2DS83QKFmr7i5CyetSzZ1iVHhQTzSv7L1iXO7anrkF9RfGx4mwBXslvNFZY/s320/IMG_6161.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDkZaWJdisyCNg1Aioxjl0GdtB2mA0ETOwm2diJcKUF-vkVYssFGTAsqQAKKVc3SQfMzDbANKJwe7IdfBYTuYnTwP6RliciKvWkAQ1JZeubNaFoNlK4iHU911cCJjLcxFNDxhd7Dev0ZZFf8YPwTdlj4mtgq40eh2VCTDhF2E9-rv3EDttawmMPfK-1c/s4032/IMG_6164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDkZaWJdisyCNg1Aioxjl0GdtB2mA0ETOwm2diJcKUF-vkVYssFGTAsqQAKKVc3SQfMzDbANKJwe7IdfBYTuYnTwP6RliciKvWkAQ1JZeubNaFoNlK4iHU911cCJjLcxFNDxhd7Dev0ZZFf8YPwTdlj4mtgq40eh2VCTDhF2E9-rv3EDttawmMPfK-1c/s320/IMG_6164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Made challah rolls today: one batch for a church potluck and three batches for my family’s future dinners!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JvYG8R0UXq-6LZH_3ukyuiQK9eDdEf9l89aH73PcyFwlUMrcJ553qOJ5-dnnNqLAUmGCoyk49QFHnjPkbODtpuCnLA87_ddhWyD5mzSRt6_lNozt5lls7WVYSpw6A12InrDPh33pI_Jnr7MwTOT_3q_i59qzP2XcVqiPu0qDPh1TkZs0TMxqqGxvlt0/s4032/IMG_6177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JvYG8R0UXq-6LZH_3ukyuiQK9eDdEf9l89aH73PcyFwlUMrcJ553qOJ5-dnnNqLAUmGCoyk49QFHnjPkbODtpuCnLA87_ddhWyD5mzSRt6_lNozt5lls7WVYSpw6A12InrDPh33pI_Jnr7MwTOT_3q_i59qzP2XcVqiPu0qDPh1TkZs0TMxqqGxvlt0/s320/IMG_6177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Tonight I made a lovely low-sugar caramel sauce to serve with Granny Smith apples for dessert. I’m feeling pretty good about my wee accomplishment, but to keep me humble, the one kid I was doing this effort for (Thomas!) disliked it and insisted on dipping his apples in Hershey’s Zero made with chemical soup and sugar alcohol. Ha ha.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EY6LPTKS67sPsEVfwjQcrOcPGb1Gt_3Md-cB1LsI65-hR1xgriy32mSBQh9XC1k8nVza7CN8JxW_egofcqqdrdI-5zI0N-Z3lKEWsd3zLAd0dQCRMhcYHH-taZrXaHpo7VhTeiAdeA4WjLcVtNcS2N7qT80lnOsM1-9NdDREo5eOC3ym42QntPKGx6k/s4032/IMG_6183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EY6LPTKS67sPsEVfwjQcrOcPGb1Gt_3Md-cB1LsI65-hR1xgriy32mSBQh9XC1k8nVza7CN8JxW_egofcqqdrdI-5zI0N-Z3lKEWsd3zLAd0dQCRMhcYHH-taZrXaHpo7VhTeiAdeA4WjLcVtNcS2N7qT80lnOsM1-9NdDREo5eOC3ym42QntPKGx6k/s320/IMG_6183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Oct. 31: Because it is close to my heart . . . On my mind today is children who cannot pause chemotherapy for Halloween, so they are still showing up at Clinic today, or checking in for hospital admission. Perhaps they’re home, but neutropenic, so they won’t be joining all the children they can hear shrieking with joy in the streets. I’m also thinking very fondly of the medical staff in children’s hospitals who are prepared and ready to make Halloween in the hospital as special as possible. They are parents, too, and plenty of them will miss trick-or-treating with their own kids because they are on shift trying to bring care and cheer to medically fragile children. Please spare a prayer for those kids and medical workers alike, and keep your parental stress level low because any normal Halloween at home is easy compared to Halloween with kiddos in active cancer treatment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oct. 26: Annual corn maze for teenagers</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9yyM5az_YPkCmyfcW2Q9c0kNHjpHRp7mj7W-JqkL0OF3pfhetmyAPKFuHF_qfs9_s2Ed7k_CCaMq3anAufVhZ12fWiwOEQ7txlAL-BvAvQYAN5s-OvFLWQAGMHYCdihjYO7KTxAe7rIMhMmhjhAO9igOng8fBS1HPjgfkJkJMXmYRzsY_kwMhAIj8gk/s4032/IMG_7922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9yyM5az_YPkCmyfcW2Q9c0kNHjpHRp7mj7W-JqkL0OF3pfhetmyAPKFuHF_qfs9_s2Ed7k_CCaMq3anAufVhZ12fWiwOEQ7txlAL-BvAvQYAN5s-OvFLWQAGMHYCdihjYO7KTxAe7rIMhMmhjhAO9igOng8fBS1HPjgfkJkJMXmYRzsY_kwMhAIj8gk/s320/IMG_7922.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Oct. 27: Dad, John, and Joseph on the Fraternus Excursion weekend<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGmEyDRXXhoLPPsaN_rGNwl4WHTmqk6-lFd58n0ZSWaXvPRe15jKShXnwThUhpOFl9CA8lFP2qTZHo_hVniNjtGYrEy7gp2MafijtJy9zHpbvgXdsf6zFMdtvZjTDVHFKaFkossYqFY_qkJT4PCUPsJclmBh6GFZsFXG3I8r0UQ9VVcEseGS47yNZg5A/s4032/IMG_7924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGmEyDRXXhoLPPsaN_rGNwl4WHTmqk6-lFd58n0ZSWaXvPRe15jKShXnwThUhpOFl9CA8lFP2qTZHo_hVniNjtGYrEy7gp2MafijtJy9zHpbvgXdsf6zFMdtvZjTDVHFKaFkossYqFY_qkJT4PCUPsJclmBh6GFZsFXG3I8r0UQ9VVcEseGS47yNZg5A/s320/IMG_7924.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIw1uNFQuP_hiWWiKy6i1D7CpjjtVRNann4G2NfB04C8O4WgKXQOXMzWs_8wJau2GmO-NXAk6C2rWxaGCdlnGF-4aZLuXOUpBI2omdFONzCQ3exg3mUFhvFRs-84hesc7N-L1b3WOdvMhsZuiDPWF97SBqz55KtIxNiGwy4-4VT0xtZyGkEx0spz09YE/s4032/IMG_7925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIw1uNFQuP_hiWWiKy6i1D7CpjjtVRNann4G2NfB04C8O4WgKXQOXMzWs_8wJau2GmO-NXAk6C2rWxaGCdlnGF-4aZLuXOUpBI2omdFONzCQ3exg3mUFhvFRs-84hesc7N-L1b3WOdvMhsZuiDPWF97SBqz55KtIxNiGwy4-4VT0xtZyGkEx0spz09YE/s320/IMG_7925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Halloween 2023</h2><div>Fun neighborhood block party and trick-or-treating!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAUUcZMdUycYBnGXTFWt2Y-TIC9qNa-atu-3pHme3aTYqh3yqebWvtkfYXDkFy8Srd7tPp7kTqH_YgX4gIZyd2wb_b382hA7Uh8LqVZNqvf3O5uKIzdToLo9T5zmwEiJFbb2pKEPKEWZ6T-geSGr3omV-xTeK5oBcYffrrlFzWWvmUS0NoV1yM7Hh3pw/s4032/IMG_6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAUUcZMdUycYBnGXTFWt2Y-TIC9qNa-atu-3pHme3aTYqh3yqebWvtkfYXDkFy8Srd7tPp7kTqH_YgX4gIZyd2wb_b382hA7Uh8LqVZNqvf3O5uKIzdToLo9T5zmwEiJFbb2pKEPKEWZ6T-geSGr3omV-xTeK5oBcYffrrlFzWWvmUS0NoV1yM7Hh3pw/s320/IMG_6203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmCJfjEEsu1_I8Ow9PFKBjelN9SUV7jKQF200NQ6M5oUinNhbHRDFyxIVu_eEtzOcd4wQcZzFaXkKonM3BekIZ-PJuZs_6Qi6yMue6nd6LvpmPB64UfZTH60VxQdlYdeVxifX3XSS_XRJfebYtvdWhG5Uh_YkaKAZLSnza4WmHAqqnlVdutGiMVkPQVw/s4032/IMG_6208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmCJfjEEsu1_I8Ow9PFKBjelN9SUV7jKQF200NQ6M5oUinNhbHRDFyxIVu_eEtzOcd4wQcZzFaXkKonM3BekIZ-PJuZs_6Qi6yMue6nd6LvpmPB64UfZTH60VxQdlYdeVxifX3XSS_XRJfebYtvdWhG5Uh_YkaKAZLSnza4WmHAqqnlVdutGiMVkPQVw/s320/IMG_6208.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-ZmhqCj5l3NZcyusB-riWrM-5rUqdURsIGzswzl4B6vzt1VN8jaHUbJsQ2mQbkUNPJtxfPq5F8IlPS-gSWQwXF8KYuuQvIDAHnzWA1jg0-Q_EJx_R9oyl-AEu4stpeUGwLyyuT_Qo7UqVv8KYB5e2XOV7ZLTILWK_3c8vXvSS7wo4kdomSqdrBshBnQ/s4032/IMG_6210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-ZmhqCj5l3NZcyusB-riWrM-5rUqdURsIGzswzl4B6vzt1VN8jaHUbJsQ2mQbkUNPJtxfPq5F8IlPS-gSWQwXF8KYuuQvIDAHnzWA1jg0-Q_EJx_R9oyl-AEu4stpeUGwLyyuT_Qo7UqVv8KYB5e2XOV7ZLTILWK_3c8vXvSS7wo4kdomSqdrBshBnQ/s320/IMG_6210.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Miscellaneous from the Month</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn5Q6LRYHk1jLxrQWzFgoqbcVu0-hFzLMkJruZbmk50Up-KvqN_pADBGyrSSbmiqaDRsnTVlIVYWuwTcpO9oonBkgBp0SbqeJLHBbgwknRyaS0zZtkg8v-co4BgJwD1wmyPlvgRHmU2uOI6tb8Gzg123EssHZgnMRPF7cYcKxoq8jRvQYOyJNANaOtK4/s4032/IMG_5944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn5Q6LRYHk1jLxrQWzFgoqbcVu0-hFzLMkJruZbmk50Up-KvqN_pADBGyrSSbmiqaDRsnTVlIVYWuwTcpO9oonBkgBp0SbqeJLHBbgwknRyaS0zZtkg8v-co4BgJwD1wmyPlvgRHmU2uOI6tb8Gzg123EssHZgnMRPF7cYcKxoq8jRvQYOyJNANaOtK4/s320/IMG_5944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Three years after his hospital stay, Thomas grew strong enough to do the monkey bars! He has since told me this was his most exciting accomplishment of the year.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRxZ9_mHQgPoFrqVNz7ZbpRsJJW86-HUFP1O7wJqv98yF5W-Bcdf_Y-PptrVa32Ai91b1Bb6N0_clAP34RlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpGRd2V7dKTuFbKWi2NDrgiAQrT_rncgAZZa9TIb85gwgYOw6FQL4vY5Q3I8AMj_nsBbGwUsRCnWGu7pHcuz0BM1zg7pARi5PeMPFNaz5g9SWH1Jfs2vxaiZKTvLhddtx94mbnrU0wCv8EyPnv_0aFqYPd3EO28Mx2e4rYSCl8Cq9R9Q2RmC9kSJistQ/s4032/IMG_6089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpGRd2V7dKTuFbKWi2NDrgiAQrT_rncgAZZa9TIb85gwgYOw6FQL4vY5Q3I8AMj_nsBbGwUsRCnWGu7pHcuz0BM1zg7pARi5PeMPFNaz5g9SWH1Jfs2vxaiZKTvLhddtx94mbnrU0wCv8EyPnv_0aFqYPd3EO28Mx2e4rYSCl8Cq9R9Q2RmC9kSJistQ/s320/IMG_6089.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgZGDAV1wFoNC3XzDyhxcL4cJjlM5AyZNWGJ10OOvTG6gQiMTn5l6tlfCQHQfgfhUGZjSqjoKx60syZcLihLzwQ6W1ninziRXtKdQkv_dWmVvLVJLJBy-IcyhD12ySZpP89h8O82YxS9tSZhEzgjayr5lVfXjUVthl7kyHlwPcbfyovYk_Y0yCVWsAMw/s4032/IMG_6123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgZGDAV1wFoNC3XzDyhxcL4cJjlM5AyZNWGJ10OOvTG6gQiMTn5l6tlfCQHQfgfhUGZjSqjoKx60syZcLihLzwQ6W1ninziRXtKdQkv_dWmVvLVJLJBy-IcyhD12ySZpP89h8O82YxS9tSZhEzgjayr5lVfXjUVthl7kyHlwPcbfyovYk_Y0yCVWsAMw/s320/IMG_6123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Three precious doggies investigating my grocery haul.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4-VdfhqB-C4giQv9DSSlhXb7I02Zcbt_tkc6Tq1Ylto5GZJB1yqXKV0ZjNurFAeJmMFV1QRKyRrgMhvhUO9Xf96p-bgTHjNeARn5cEZO_EqxbufE3wheje8fa0KjLvkaLpHDHYPV3IuimDwLWbRVM1wWyFolghqpYLso7xz7Is2UwGThn4ZIRrYad1Y/s4032/IMG_6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4-VdfhqB-C4giQv9DSSlhXb7I02Zcbt_tkc6Tq1Ylto5GZJB1yqXKV0ZjNurFAeJmMFV1QRKyRrgMhvhUO9Xf96p-bgTHjNeARn5cEZO_EqxbufE3wheje8fa0KjLvkaLpHDHYPV3IuimDwLWbRVM1wWyFolghqpYLso7xz7Is2UwGThn4ZIRrYad1Y/s320/IMG_6174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4NJp8QABFt8kWWjXu0A1PY0_czPcIncQePk5Clc-_yo3OQp45qJx5XlP363a1-yFDAbiMO8o2yFTlxFFjufzD_uLOTf7HfKwtsu4csTkV98mgF6HHMKL2xg4h6WP4LPd34tfuzIwGQ1W98xIqytQF286oOZvBcihMMQJ-vAYr8DBPvpb0n27yPIhbEU/s4032/IMG_6178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4NJp8QABFt8kWWjXu0A1PY0_czPcIncQePk5Clc-_yo3OQp45qJx5XlP363a1-yFDAbiMO8o2yFTlxFFjufzD_uLOTf7HfKwtsu4csTkV98mgF6HHMKL2xg4h6WP4LPd34tfuzIwGQ1W98xIqytQF286oOZvBcihMMQJ-vAYr8DBPvpb0n27yPIhbEU/s320/IMG_6178.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KXd9Uql9yzBKNHgGUxLT2lQ9GQVY2nY2EAosgPDBXPeONTe3SSOzn_hGLTQTTCacWSl_DqIMqrp4CyTeVvwB0l-tMrKdpW6PVLtUCWxz0EcvEYzhboVfSTvtMhvGtH4pV5_EySe9aeb6u3WTkFwSwZPl6B7UgY-WNA6OYtO_uraqr7-KZZnnI31mpQs/s4032/IMG_6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KXd9Uql9yzBKNHgGUxLT2lQ9GQVY2nY2EAosgPDBXPeONTe3SSOzn_hGLTQTTCacWSl_DqIMqrp4CyTeVvwB0l-tMrKdpW6PVLtUCWxz0EcvEYzhboVfSTvtMhvGtH4pV5_EySe9aeb6u3WTkFwSwZPl6B7UgY-WNA6OYtO_uraqr7-KZZnnI31mpQs/s320/IMG_6190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-537206360488510462023-09-30T10:51:00.001-04:002023-10-02T13:29:19.990-04:00September 2023 in Review<h1 style="text-align: left;">September 2023 in Review . . . trying to catch up on posting for my blog-only followers!</h1><p>Keeping track just because this is our life . . . Thomas had four medical appointments in September.</p><p><br /></p><div><h2>Organization (Book Shelves)</h2></div><div>Finding another shelf space in the house to display the encyclopedia set meant I was able to decompress the homeschooling science shelf AND fulfill my dream of organizing the books into categories. It is a red letter day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcbagmlgYYkb8KUMlWbJTri7DFrcldCXap89vwRZk6ARX2rhwmB7HleFxbb2x8YgV7oXlO4mDZ8tQfVMxRf72Af-bQs6G7sOv4y9h0_xx90wqs1nNzTjZS97xMkl5w4DnMBBBmiOSsJdx1RqiI4HsJ96-TNkb4XU7EPcHETMnpSwIVZYHPLSrTgaLueU/s2048/371925103_10160759832693360_7008995262381478500_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcbagmlgYYkb8KUMlWbJTri7DFrcldCXap89vwRZk6ARX2rhwmB7HleFxbb2x8YgV7oXlO4mDZ8tQfVMxRf72Af-bQs6G7sOv4y9h0_xx90wqs1nNzTjZS97xMkl5w4DnMBBBmiOSsJdx1RqiI4HsJ96-TNkb4XU7EPcHETMnpSwIVZYHPLSrTgaLueU/s320/371925103_10160759832693360_7008995262381478500_n.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm8uR_9U0ju3cmb1nTjREAp-jyCHmCR6bFn8hD3Ar5-NCfHtvspEHWR-sP4Mk50uv2_X_jujgAXeML1Grekjx1eY51U3oqZDWKXIXFuiTom3v_ZSgwcXmpKt-xbAQisgW9HmoyKaOPeinGDUapjH4bwzc6DanwcJrAi3IrMn80laB6KWf8-9v4kmeY5I/s2048/371949973_10160759832998360_6185526723218953730_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1788" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm8uR_9U0ju3cmb1nTjREAp-jyCHmCR6bFn8hD3Ar5-NCfHtvspEHWR-sP4Mk50uv2_X_jujgAXeML1Grekjx1eY51U3oqZDWKXIXFuiTom3v_ZSgwcXmpKt-xbAQisgW9HmoyKaOPeinGDUapjH4bwzc6DanwcJrAi3IrMn80laB6KWf8-9v4kmeY5I/s320/371949973_10160759832998360_6185526723218953730_n.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVo-pBUArUR_9hagU_EMSenhGZZxKqZOGxTqobr8wR2SobwJ3HhTJo3ZfCN_ho0pEHTtImDs1sxLU3_TPhfAHLawZ2pHl6ejLRhrUu8m38g7umA1SQf9Iq68l7wIu7GvtCm4vvpZq9Y6gPNYKwfsEQCFbZZVb7G962ewD7ubeUXWqlcY4NrF0E0wdzuc/s2048/371973557_10160759832883360_2437864825314112746_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVo-pBUArUR_9hagU_EMSenhGZZxKqZOGxTqobr8wR2SobwJ3HhTJo3ZfCN_ho0pEHTtImDs1sxLU3_TPhfAHLawZ2pHl6ejLRhrUu8m38g7umA1SQf9Iq68l7wIu7GvtCm4vvpZq9Y6gPNYKwfsEQCFbZZVb7G962ewD7ubeUXWqlcY4NrF0E0wdzuc/s320/371973557_10160759832883360_2437864825314112746_n.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysobqJzv1CkYVRkgSAxe7878xJWF5VtBv6BIwiQTlcKZoddP5FNuwsSvmMg1aQv_I_oehlnA5pcIbXXf9nnAaFcQ4aSwKTCPObcuM9yy86a2GDJYeUYXH8YBmuGOIdmcMuh6I1sG55P_0IYTfHGxn1iXvRV4K97qAX2rJ-lydjGHgUc5jC87fnqrbdiM/s2048/372818336_10160759832523360_8492184298322693736_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysobqJzv1CkYVRkgSAxe7878xJWF5VtBv6BIwiQTlcKZoddP5FNuwsSvmMg1aQv_I_oehlnA5pcIbXXf9nnAaFcQ4aSwKTCPObcuM9yy86a2GDJYeUYXH8YBmuGOIdmcMuh6I1sG55P_0IYTfHGxn1iXvRV4K97qAX2rJ-lydjGHgUc5jC87fnqrbdiM/s320/372818336_10160759832523360_8492184298322693736_n.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvUBzw8KulX0PpVkbEB5l6PBoyI7AA3lj0wxE28RokoulRvDzz99WXJMcdPysZdSM8Azh58LYA7PcWRWIV0GAz2Z5O4FHfPW0AWuO2UD7_buafpWrLJsjBSniXBQI4aTYGZ6PDfNueSF1LDgchnv2HvAmlePqKnC4vAMZTyfanBTfLkd4LZa5cyO85Tk/s2048/372822333_10160759832903360_4034374864939458813_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvUBzw8KulX0PpVkbEB5l6PBoyI7AA3lj0wxE28RokoulRvDzz99WXJMcdPysZdSM8Azh58LYA7PcWRWIV0GAz2Z5O4FHfPW0AWuO2UD7_buafpWrLJsjBSniXBQI4aTYGZ6PDfNueSF1LDgchnv2HvAmlePqKnC4vAMZTyfanBTfLkd4LZa5cyO85Tk/s320/372822333_10160759832903360_4034374864939458813_n.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaP94U8J3hdhUMuJyJul1-Pbx4QXwWuSr8KGJ5-Tv5KXfpWFwllsqUn-lHUYJU2iY2AWccjpevEA6Ci_JySNy7f7UP3-C207l2HDENjw7j5Hc6McK6kkyxQF1B6G2WFl7tqZ0GKv_p1RCkWX0SQ3xipkJZCDv7hdIFpiPq4wJjPlpBpZUNDiZPn6ucr8/s2048/373065297_10160759832813360_2419367255311620194_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaP94U8J3hdhUMuJyJul1-Pbx4QXwWuSr8KGJ5-Tv5KXfpWFwllsqUn-lHUYJU2iY2AWccjpevEA6Ci_JySNy7f7UP3-C207l2HDENjw7j5Hc6McK6kkyxQF1B6G2WFl7tqZ0GKv_p1RCkWX0SQ3xipkJZCDv7hdIFpiPq4wJjPlpBpZUNDiZPn6ucr8/s320/373065297_10160759832813360_2419367255311620194_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar2LA-BWVjF2Uv3LyPYHAoIQDm0XGtmQqCNOB8l9Ea5UlGDcgN97i2lUDvF2sZo6PCS87v6L8-LB7W2ZwDc_QDx83tRsUjTlUHT86SUrUaEnqsejGFNSyC69frj-CDi-8SACKp0SNQRgQiFxLKQiVvPWMNTV_zISk9npmfz6aJQ-N9jAJSerVlCZnCds/s2048/373298423_10160759832773360_2052359961323952773_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar2LA-BWVjF2Uv3LyPYHAoIQDm0XGtmQqCNOB8l9Ea5UlGDcgN97i2lUDvF2sZo6PCS87v6L8-LB7W2ZwDc_QDx83tRsUjTlUHT86SUrUaEnqsejGFNSyC69frj-CDi-8SACKp0SNQRgQiFxLKQiVvPWMNTV_zISk9npmfz6aJQ-N9jAJSerVlCZnCds/s320/373298423_10160759832773360_2052359961323952773_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv0pIEoy60yR7ib7_4mCT8NCMfFdNSdfRlt54etC31xbjkyU1pmJqbwx8C0JmJlbybaSVznAn0h5DSH5X8BW8N6OdDPC4fkETS7XSk9mEqQpGuYUQ0ZfRRnE_R21I6lX5c1xUpnukhCb80jpojXvNaUV3C0rUSQZDjzxIKv4whZscQxnom4EdyOmROSo/s2048/373299814_10160759832718360_7561194682966898380_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv0pIEoy60yR7ib7_4mCT8NCMfFdNSdfRlt54etC31xbjkyU1pmJqbwx8C0JmJlbybaSVznAn0h5DSH5X8BW8N6OdDPC4fkETS7XSk9mEqQpGuYUQ0ZfRRnE_R21I6lX5c1xUpnukhCb80jpojXvNaUV3C0rUSQZDjzxIKv4whZscQxnom4EdyOmROSo/s320/373299814_10160759832718360_7561194682966898380_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hX6B4HiKQ9jZV8X-XTO2s4NHVgfSauihpOL3siV758-OF5NjBXUhQMH7vr2wFPVMmgQbc6oGK5_AYgJGhikEBtR8gIflwr6eoSygJK6NRUEt7oHFZd5dnQ7t2yY7BGkaJ8uRuqCSfvyUkY0vNKGZAL47mtRHCa3ry-kekCE2ShAv4dQhUDywFJor8zk/s2048/373300736_10160759832543360_6313242659362450634_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hX6B4HiKQ9jZV8X-XTO2s4NHVgfSauihpOL3siV758-OF5NjBXUhQMH7vr2wFPVMmgQbc6oGK5_AYgJGhikEBtR8gIflwr6eoSygJK6NRUEt7oHFZd5dnQ7t2yY7BGkaJ8uRuqCSfvyUkY0vNKGZAL47mtRHCa3ry-kekCE2ShAv4dQhUDywFJor8zk/s320/373300736_10160759832543360_6313242659362450634_n.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Nativity of Our Lady</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy nativity of the Blessed Mother Mary! (And grateful I could pick up cupcakes at the grocery, helping out this busy mother!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGdxNa-_4BxoJ22WrynMJ7wFgRmz2n2p8M9WogV6vUK-OvmPqgLiSQohzuUwVH5Q1yrqJUIOgM3GubUwvrn1NwRkvRrCR15MSPuXFENqYgwHsjQCymg79SZRVFkZTsCVRTsE3MSOVQzGg1UZJYUsKc2axpiOlKJWB7cndP07_MrOLAf00H0lAlTbWx_Q/s884/IMG_5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGdxNa-_4BxoJ22WrynMJ7wFgRmz2n2p8M9WogV6vUK-OvmPqgLiSQohzuUwVH5Q1yrqJUIOgM3GubUwvrn1NwRkvRrCR15MSPuXFENqYgwHsjQCymg79SZRVFkZTsCVRTsE3MSOVQzGg1UZJYUsKc2axpiOlKJWB7cndP07_MrOLAf00H0lAlTbWx_Q/s320/IMG_5642.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading Aloud</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have long ago stopped minding when I select a new read-aloud book to my kids and receive loud protests and rejection in advance. Like water off this duck’s back! Once again, tonight I got the three younger boys from protesting vociferously to hanging on my every word within 15 minutes. So I guess we’ll be sticking with this bedtime read-aloud!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI-m-S5dd0JgUEOIEM1zZckhht22SygDTFnuZ-gjP-jP1HjdU5rB3kxHJEBZUQXw3ZlSDTnNHv67QFR7xfUcDsqkG-9SA1D_Nq9ufmvHYxBV0pdEgcqt3DUFhO3vBzj0mjQzWNViRYHHyhe2-s4tcSl04KGt1s9IJBh70FU4NMF0IntfSJFFUOgIU6c/s884/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI-m-S5dd0JgUEOIEM1zZckhht22SygDTFnuZ-gjP-jP1HjdU5rB3kxHJEBZUQXw3ZlSDTnNHv67QFR7xfUcDsqkG-9SA1D_Nq9ufmvHYxBV0pdEgcqt3DUFhO3vBzj0mjQzWNViRYHHyhe2-s4tcSl04KGt1s9IJBh70FU4NMF0IntfSJFFUOgIU6c/s320/IMG_5649.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First classes back at First Tee!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZHr3EulFTDbwlm4t33jJNzxpBgPOCjWKHSVhrsta-8XIHELx48NvYh6V8Ap_ZuK5qXVwq5JFxaKfmFsJeBMiIrpvYtnM2F0ESq0a_-0Y5WuuMGYl_qc3VBsjcQx3R4gO9lmWF-qF2BOSorShTy4bkA3_NW6UVRKr6Z-jT3e4TfSYiCbdPXMtqVXwh0Y/s2048/377869347_10160779946823360_1212036166805388094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZHr3EulFTDbwlm4t33jJNzxpBgPOCjWKHSVhrsta-8XIHELx48NvYh6V8Ap_ZuK5qXVwq5JFxaKfmFsJeBMiIrpvYtnM2F0ESq0a_-0Y5WuuMGYl_qc3VBsjcQx3R4gO9lmWF-qF2BOSorShTy4bkA3_NW6UVRKr6Z-jT3e4TfSYiCbdPXMtqVXwh0Y/s320/377869347_10160779946823360_1212036166805388094_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYNnFESSqKqI84LRekqeT2JplegB5fa71ELmdm6MQ71K3bql5mDm3TppXug2PWZDRarJh-z9wqMNKL77543IBkSAiBo2u95hoEf1jD5nlERPxNmVRhVAO83N66G-lrn3QByobPZVKWbd_HJXn0HLCdKGaIYXewTpbrBXxxTFMeHEghTTTgsRO7YD4qTc/s2048/376059506_10160779946863360_3956277240913400199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYNnFESSqKqI84LRekqeT2JplegB5fa71ELmdm6MQ71K3bql5mDm3TppXug2PWZDRarJh-z9wqMNKL77543IBkSAiBo2u95hoEf1jD5nlERPxNmVRhVAO83N66G-lrn3QByobPZVKWbd_HJXn0HLCdKGaIYXewTpbrBXxxTFMeHEghTTTgsRO7YD4qTc/s320/376059506_10160779946863360_3956277240913400199_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Family Chores</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Friday afternoons (and Saturday mornings) are our reserved Family Chore Time. Over the years, I have learned that this mama is mentally depleted when I get home from homeschooling co-op on Friday after lunch. So I don’t even try to do any school, but have made this a cleaning time: something I can do physically while my brain is mushy. Little David is six and loves helping. Today he has vacuumed and mopped our entire downstairs when that isn’t even his assigned job!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-s5WG5NkAF2RnUtWIg1RFFetDdKc7MZUUzU9hnu6B3AXitOUsc-GLgwbZfHf8VdfwYTToa15un9KfsYakN-MAQpMAvcCckAJdD79VucbHU22rzEVIJr-reDdDoHwnS-GmvU3VGsK5JLc2coPD5H2JqbFkJPh7rMI_coHW2O4eaKZVAIaYyZDhVTLqKA/s884/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-s5WG5NkAF2RnUtWIg1RFFetDdKc7MZUUzU9hnu6B3AXitOUsc-GLgwbZfHf8VdfwYTToa15un9KfsYakN-MAQpMAvcCckAJdD79VucbHU22rzEVIJr-reDdDoHwnS-GmvU3VGsK5JLc2coPD5H2JqbFkJPh7rMI_coHW2O4eaKZVAIaYyZDhVTLqKA/s320/IMG_5706.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhuDAJUEa5h1WkN4FaEmhyphenhyphenOesgZ4VkzIG-_zkqDeQZJEjn47OVROE7P4cVs9L_3ETuo_x1JlM2Gw2VaNang4wOlxuavO1MKROG-iUT2hmPc4IdHLjkvH35dimPxQEcgqz7UgNiclPuaUYtwDRkrkU9S0Nt1pSSxmlFm7AkZFwb0jh__ruUGSHkj_KQHA/s884/IMG_5645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhuDAJUEa5h1WkN4FaEmhyphenhyphenOesgZ4VkzIG-_zkqDeQZJEjn47OVROE7P4cVs9L_3ETuo_x1JlM2Gw2VaNang4wOlxuavO1MKROG-iUT2hmPc4IdHLjkvH35dimPxQEcgqz7UgNiclPuaUYtwDRkrkU9S0Nt1pSSxmlFm7AkZFwb0jh__ruUGSHkj_KQHA/s320/IMG_5645.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joseph and a neighborhood boy picking up nuts for me</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba4hgDOOV2M7EKduUg9JDdvFsuTFmwqiLgZEcPVurWmD3rgC4JPpKBEHcNtilEsOdtvaGCwP6T9MMnAGzz4ciroHMtANLWrV0JzE_XrEP-YbdiX2lkNFCRzqf3yXh0P2Y8t6zhl9x1T0DYY24XfdKSEfXj3ToOx79Me7-XBypTLfekfrczDf_TLjMa7s/s884/IMG_5785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba4hgDOOV2M7EKduUg9JDdvFsuTFmwqiLgZEcPVurWmD3rgC4JPpKBEHcNtilEsOdtvaGCwP6T9MMnAGzz4ciroHMtANLWrV0JzE_XrEP-YbdiX2lkNFCRzqf3yXh0P2Y8t6zhl9x1T0DYY24XfdKSEfXj3ToOx79Me7-XBypTLfekfrczDf_TLjMa7s/s320/IMG_5785.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>David doing a task</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2fJE-_qBN26R6boYBHuVAKPSw3wbwSNixZGAwj7zfr7EcZJtFrC0P8HRbeLgppqsPyUkxnYGtQzftJFJy0rQZD_a1osQRr5Kx80f1_YvhcbdA7jUJsJf9wYT3K0-gjJ-Jb2NMJrM0QDM51iIVUpHTSh5J_YhA500mSjWWj16vBfTYYm0amjcsHMQbIc/s884/IMG_5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2fJE-_qBN26R6boYBHuVAKPSw3wbwSNixZGAwj7zfr7EcZJtFrC0P8HRbeLgppqsPyUkxnYGtQzftJFJy0rQZD_a1osQRr5Kx80f1_YvhcbdA7jUJsJf9wYT3K0-gjJ-Jb2NMJrM0QDM51iIVUpHTSh5J_YhA500mSjWWj16vBfTYYm0amjcsHMQbIc/s320/IMG_5895.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>David vacuuming under our bed</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Phonics</h2><div>David is learning to read much more slowly than my first five kids, and I'm not yet sure if it's because of him or me. We have been working hard on it for all of Kindergarten and now starting First Grade.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9a7H7XkiIKTaJ3_dipnPbKuuAXx-9-D9gxJNd7Zz1UF5QOyRJ6-qzYMubtUWm-YSuhVkYudDctyw13LaHGlSRppYKYTEoW_KT6tyFfxZN3sQK2L-ogkfIUamVR7Y7laOunyP4jj-fxVk46n8m3KMpi664sDAE6iYm9-LOrMbiN1izv1bjjmnB_MxNH8/s884/IMG_5623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9a7H7XkiIKTaJ3_dipnPbKuuAXx-9-D9gxJNd7Zz1UF5QOyRJ6-qzYMubtUWm-YSuhVkYudDctyw13LaHGlSRppYKYTEoW_KT6tyFfxZN3sQK2L-ogkfIUamVR7Y7laOunyP4jj-fxVk46n8m3KMpi664sDAE6iYm9-LOrMbiN1izv1bjjmnB_MxNH8/s320/IMG_5623.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID3vDjXL49g-NEpaqR2oMLmvxl1OnZmbhMuXjwJzfpP94mfwqucxO7iT1_wwN6F_SPtZ12v2VMnf8HE099hYZcDNleBeRb-NDqUBTTTgsR8-OdK8BpApyX7MqXMw7d247mAq1HILiM6iZQuBzatAXiKmiw11jSPk1tPhxWxVu53wdn054Z3uBHq_L3ZA/s1179/IMG_5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID3vDjXL49g-NEpaqR2oMLmvxl1OnZmbhMuXjwJzfpP94mfwqucxO7iT1_wwN6F_SPtZ12v2VMnf8HE099hYZcDNleBeRb-NDqUBTTTgsR8-OdK8BpApyX7MqXMw7d247mAq1HILiM6iZQuBzatAXiKmiw11jSPk1tPhxWxVu53wdn054Z3uBHq_L3ZA/s320/IMG_5660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcuoREe1X7w2uFk_CNirc3Q8V0xY0w2xNIKQPIzhO59v4t5XUjrKA18Mra6qbDCo0DgjosxPb94hQVNezcHHs_1JLSkRQ6asqtjMJo0t-A4TIzuhkEMpkK2nrvZF8SGZu5lLeEig_w0ZkvT9MlOaUOyFlV2LGkRRM4hGncu_uTB2rFc-rcKTp2gga5gI/s884/IMG_5662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcuoREe1X7w2uFk_CNirc3Q8V0xY0w2xNIKQPIzhO59v4t5XUjrKA18Mra6qbDCo0DgjosxPb94hQVNezcHHs_1JLSkRQ6asqtjMJo0t-A4TIzuhkEMpkK2nrvZF8SGZu5lLeEig_w0ZkvT9MlOaUOyFlV2LGkRRM4hGncu_uTB2rFc-rcKTp2gga5gI/s320/IMG_5662.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Anatomy</h2><div>Thomas loves learning anatomy and requested this paper doll skeleton kit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN2rJPhYTW5YEwTx9uemq-bFRG7Zx3mnmjpcH-pp2ttUnT61hSUZcLQBjIriyqas2JV4T-jxT2_bC48701saL6ghgQWboes_8-P4jTAXkaPw0bz2OHptWLQx957g5Dr_C3TDvN__6qthFUlmnY2SEAyCDBajieDF17VO9I6oAzxvYwNZ00PvOmFc2v44/s884/IMG_5669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN2rJPhYTW5YEwTx9uemq-bFRG7Zx3mnmjpcH-pp2ttUnT61hSUZcLQBjIriyqas2JV4T-jxT2_bC48701saL6ghgQWboes_8-P4jTAXkaPw0bz2OHptWLQx957g5Dr_C3TDvN__6qthFUlmnY2SEAyCDBajieDF17VO9I6oAzxvYwNZ00PvOmFc2v44/s320/IMG_5669.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Typical homeschooling trajectory</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I had only three kids, I took John and Mary to professional chess lessons every Friday for two years. They were probably seven and five years old, and I had more time and discretionary budget back then. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No one has had the privilege of professional lessons since (cue Mama guilt). However, John has taught chess to Joseph (kid #4) and now Joseph is teaching kids #5 and #6. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are supposed to be starting our math, but I’m going to sip my coffee and let them finish this round of chess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WhyphenhyphenkJbI0Rf_mvtHLXp6jOBS-CIz_cjMq1vUcksCMCnGwQmZYrD6CLk7Mb6KDZ3ZetMTi8qDhpQf-SVJgRMxCdKZHzN4xQYaqTsWGhucXZvsQQUr99NdWqBK87z15wNHAopfEKlwnfpNj9KQRGiQWP1KuMj4I8BvpjT4_FdxkBbE0EpkRDwawZ8tcna0/s884/IMG_5743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WhyphenhyphenkJbI0Rf_mvtHLXp6jOBS-CIz_cjMq1vUcksCMCnGwQmZYrD6CLk7Mb6KDZ3ZetMTi8qDhpQf-SVJgRMxCdKZHzN4xQYaqTsWGhucXZvsQQUr99NdWqBK87z15wNHAopfEKlwnfpNj9KQRGiQWP1KuMj4I8BvpjT4_FdxkBbE0EpkRDwawZ8tcna0/s320/IMG_5743.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some Weeks Are a Wreck</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This homeschooling week has been a WRECK, what with five doctors’ appointments and my being gone all Wednesday fulfilling hall monitor duty. But I comfort myself that today, in this gorgeous weather, my kids have been throwing the ball with the dogs and they made a kite by hand using newspaper, sticks, and yarn. The kids have read numerous novels this week. Things could be worse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaow0lQ1KwGp_yCom2BtllPWNZ_-tnBexbo8f3ITkH4Wi5sfjtgeshdHhPUP8KKfGCfo67XzAUXlkubzVz9etz5SqXL5WF12LtVVbFALazdz7goWJQmaxRYQvB1ZGU_2EtWpY3Zyxk05zWm6GJqEiYTl9JDz7F_o4I-zFxngYZkAhM8qDEO3Rxa2Yrw0/s1041/IMG_5775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1041" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaow0lQ1KwGp_yCom2BtllPWNZ_-tnBexbo8f3ITkH4Wi5sfjtgeshdHhPUP8KKfGCfo67XzAUXlkubzVz9etz5SqXL5WF12LtVVbFALazdz7goWJQmaxRYQvB1ZGU_2EtWpY3Zyxk05zWm6GJqEiYTl9JDz7F_o4I-zFxngYZkAhM8qDEO3Rxa2Yrw0/s320/IMG_5775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYYfCgoiLvduAQRBx1jeaxzsUAfYx4L5zWPjpKynAFUUSnusUqTtWiecQLAR5HXKs7Mm733TxNNE-kgpxlGsRvf8C3q9BB4967YQ6A_CmdPxkZ5buXQPEoAQeZ2mX6hpSxWG888dX1VWE6iPv2pLWfN8XFMYgAJHiDBK8LjI6yelU9H1vPQWP6mglV_E/s948/IMG_5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="948" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYYfCgoiLvduAQRBx1jeaxzsUAfYx4L5zWPjpKynAFUUSnusUqTtWiecQLAR5HXKs7Mm733TxNNE-kgpxlGsRvf8C3q9BB4967YQ6A_CmdPxkZ5buXQPEoAQeZ2mX6hpSxWG888dX1VWE6iPv2pLWfN8XFMYgAJHiDBK8LjI6yelU9H1vPQWP6mglV_E/s320/IMG_5777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLNLacNq5a9StU1HBUfEv3eRZ15gbYqJy8OsDPNVjNg1g_FXzwNGrW4YamxoEtzTs-O6HCm5Dio_IURNzhEt9oisoRTG-cnAwK3fuiuvLDuAv_ajAHUKlNEksHbYzU2EH644CPG-LN2oR6du3fVXnWRiRQ9BfaMeSfhkNmu0D5rCTR2y0Hi4i9xEBVbw/s1179/IMG_5778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLNLacNq5a9StU1HBUfEv3eRZ15gbYqJy8OsDPNVjNg1g_FXzwNGrW4YamxoEtzTs-O6HCm5Dio_IURNzhEt9oisoRTG-cnAwK3fuiuvLDuAv_ajAHUKlNEksHbYzU2EH644CPG-LN2oR6du3fVXnWRiRQ9BfaMeSfhkNmu0D5rCTR2y0Hi4i9xEBVbw/s320/IMG_5778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81NVQ1IR7ZPna8FuZWZnr1IVcIKJz5B0GmF_i2izE0Uf9WU5NqyAC0qBhDm56oxVvi7OvcD7HgDnur8GR5VtieeI1sz30X2r7sqwfxw6mYNqRub9yuUBSrj-kaGoMWm8mjvDb-wTguofDW_GaRIz3ZqISjXtU4R9hhMvlFnn0sTYJyLtIIvPE9qvMFuo/s1179/IMG_5779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81NVQ1IR7ZPna8FuZWZnr1IVcIKJz5B0GmF_i2izE0Uf9WU5NqyAC0qBhDm56oxVvi7OvcD7HgDnur8GR5VtieeI1sz30X2r7sqwfxw6mYNqRub9yuUBSrj-kaGoMWm8mjvDb-wTguofDW_GaRIz3ZqISjXtU4R9hhMvlFnn0sTYJyLtIIvPE9qvMFuo/s320/IMG_5779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksOXBoysyKr7v-Fi9TP-JF4ECWnWJcLqMWX5lABJVHfyT4zcvMS918TPeyvMSH9jEsz0IS8V1ZocA2qS3IOsHJLppK_QvAzNigLSSqzSrHNo9U-g3GKLRWBFsCGYJVP9zTBmI-i0l_hSPFCmK_u9BtO7W3vbj3U7za5mz-kY-_zQjG7noxc27YEzqcMQ/s2048/382483519_10160803328553360_1555588156359337542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksOXBoysyKr7v-Fi9TP-JF4ECWnWJcLqMWX5lABJVHfyT4zcvMS918TPeyvMSH9jEsz0IS8V1ZocA2qS3IOsHJLppK_QvAzNigLSSqzSrHNo9U-g3GKLRWBFsCGYJVP9zTBmI-i0l_hSPFCmK_u9BtO7W3vbj3U7za5mz-kY-_zQjG7noxc27YEzqcMQ/s320/382483519_10160803328553360_1555588156359337542_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Community Day at the Quarry</h2><div>Our three boys with Daddy had the best afternoon ever at Community Day at our local quarry! I highly recommend folks with kiddos go next year.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenaPsU_bmkTeBHT7y74PBoViGBVOhtTmGc15mKjzYZJUT7GRP_MBj-MVc0dujZkt3XC4Ldiv43mxn4y65-EKW76wCcIPDjtWofHGHsc6c83xSGQIn1ptXQL-i33ic6GvP5qMg8ot1SSk9f85M7RJABj6dfJP4NLZAoPIP1KPXHsZjtFG9Q2NpEfVPYEg/s1179/IMG_7746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenaPsU_bmkTeBHT7y74PBoViGBVOhtTmGc15mKjzYZJUT7GRP_MBj-MVc0dujZkt3XC4Ldiv43mxn4y65-EKW76wCcIPDjtWofHGHsc6c83xSGQIn1ptXQL-i33ic6GvP5qMg8ot1SSk9f85M7RJABj6dfJP4NLZAoPIP1KPXHsZjtFG9Q2NpEfVPYEg/s320/IMG_7746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWqjtF2bbYfVInmgvPbosnQokXHG4tsP5_D5nVk0eKJW1J6nKJyEi9dUS9qoDlz6j3kXhpL3Ho-6m8zibqcJqS7CPLUA5PQS7YK2XjjFIJEP2nSTEcZnPXaCUDX3k9Ck6VKsAQdeIrGyoGTcixlMwSdg13z4un-JaGE_6cKr_YF4QW9nVDI7F6oT4qsQ/s1179/IMG_7747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWqjtF2bbYfVInmgvPbosnQokXHG4tsP5_D5nVk0eKJW1J6nKJyEi9dUS9qoDlz6j3kXhpL3Ho-6m8zibqcJqS7CPLUA5PQS7YK2XjjFIJEP2nSTEcZnPXaCUDX3k9Ck6VKsAQdeIrGyoGTcixlMwSdg13z4un-JaGE_6cKr_YF4QW9nVDI7F6oT4qsQ/s320/IMG_7747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpIyusooWMCUXN76MfCrbGccQLAfGQTOpgnus3rCbbOAlW7S196lXn1ZMBJB8JOKIVPQmNnf76G1tqxfen8FgYRbUvk9hyphenhyphen9yisGS_6x9MUm15FmYmmEaVUdeQTZl1pkcBNf_KCgnnA7PZOLvTuIg8T9J05N90gy7MZlo0hMjSMbmA5uTcPx-Am-q-bTo/s884/IMG_7748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpIyusooWMCUXN76MfCrbGccQLAfGQTOpgnus3rCbbOAlW7S196lXn1ZMBJB8JOKIVPQmNnf76G1tqxfen8FgYRbUvk9hyphenhyphen9yisGS_6x9MUm15FmYmmEaVUdeQTZl1pkcBNf_KCgnnA7PZOLvTuIg8T9J05N90gy7MZlo0hMjSMbmA5uTcPx-Am-q-bTo/s320/IMG_7748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoYuZdUU5qQKEJb3_IqAnO7M34kmtfCnGZQuJcypSXGo8RCT5vY5mAl2bzLLos2C38cA9YlT63IX-JVZcoYTuumqMQswFho-Q64bPsy4K2P4sqcAHuhKNSWdHcI0PvT6K7OQfMb5A6MF-ckU18d3lLwYocF4T4UtH3qApHc_6zafmO_5X36K9tDvWjn0/s884/IMG_7749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoYuZdUU5qQKEJb3_IqAnO7M34kmtfCnGZQuJcypSXGo8RCT5vY5mAl2bzLLos2C38cA9YlT63IX-JVZcoYTuumqMQswFho-Q64bPsy4K2P4sqcAHuhKNSWdHcI0PvT6K7OQfMb5A6MF-ckU18d3lLwYocF4T4UtH3qApHc_6zafmO_5X36K9tDvWjn0/s320/IMG_7749.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Heading to the Fall Caeli!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5FbXe-VipRm09cYfcwlEojaRShX5jOhA_Bq3QtWIEYyViZrAVSjcwSHJ_BnPIkVWJOMXJUcCROgH3fX1VtvkibqJK8rYQI_zydwU9V_lpFocEV1Qz6xs-Ww5-rX2lpp6qF2kAWyF5EZAdvPBS594TwMJE5XAGIQ6TjhV4YdLbwUYGKNsCrM_QMrrC0c/s884/IMG_5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5FbXe-VipRm09cYfcwlEojaRShX5jOhA_Bq3QtWIEYyViZrAVSjcwSHJ_BnPIkVWJOMXJUcCROgH3fX1VtvkibqJK8rYQI_zydwU9V_lpFocEV1Qz6xs-Ww5-rX2lpp6qF2kAWyF5EZAdvPBS594TwMJE5XAGIQ6TjhV4YdLbwUYGKNsCrM_QMrrC0c/s320/IMG_5803.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Merry Beggars</h2><div><div>Since last week, we have been very much enjoying The Merry Beggars, which produce radio plays about saints. One saint is covered for an entire week of five 15-minute episodes, so much more is told about the saint than in some of the shorter audio options out there. The voice actors are fantastic. I really appreciate that each day's episode is sent to my email in box, which makes it very easy to remember to play the episode and to find it when I've got the children gathered at breakfast. The Merry Beggars is a part of Relevant Radio, which is Catholic. So far, I highly recommend this!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wholesome Cul-de-Sac Races</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMFQsno8kJL72HVTZZ-UrqmJPvRapNqG9n2ATWfenlcHAp5Br5PdiklCqcZLTNXau5ZHzkR-bGVD7B2g6DzrBVr_c_OzpjsHI1ybgX-1utL8GvGuGMqXsvgJCK6Zg90hnpIQDQM0mRtnMilyRK3Qwtd4XkzBAq9TiOvN_OkDt3NWjHQL7668-phDjRQY/s1179/IMG_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMFQsno8kJL72HVTZZ-UrqmJPvRapNqG9n2ATWfenlcHAp5Br5PdiklCqcZLTNXau5ZHzkR-bGVD7B2g6DzrBVr_c_OzpjsHI1ybgX-1utL8GvGuGMqXsvgJCK6Zg90hnpIQDQM0mRtnMilyRK3Qwtd4XkzBAq9TiOvN_OkDt3NWjHQL7668-phDjRQY/s320/IMG_5746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdrqHvgFEC7qOY5vAg2ZPMryDBtkWO6ApBRSsnoEhqkbldjxVIbDRnY8n20CI5e00C6BAUm8R59oeoM2NIlkqS0haYRfBtVlSltLGdGr1Mee30Z1EDmdltCQP2lzgNgO1aX5Rczlp87M85JGAjPHnTriWcF9ppVtOa9eTGPLtukBSQFpHuXNdlvsdQfM/s1179/IMG_5748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdrqHvgFEC7qOY5vAg2ZPMryDBtkWO6ApBRSsnoEhqkbldjxVIbDRnY8n20CI5e00C6BAUm8R59oeoM2NIlkqS0haYRfBtVlSltLGdGr1Mee30Z1EDmdltCQP2lzgNgO1aX5Rczlp87M85JGAjPHnTriWcF9ppVtOa9eTGPLtukBSQFpHuXNdlvsdQfM/s320/IMG_5748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyIT0Lr-zB0SOemx-u4pGSLpzNUPEmd0e7137jfejXdw7-0FFuyY8_NlGMq682U_40CliKNCeCletL2uPzLeCeRMAxgG3BH5I2ArUuacqbMoPzgYIWuSxRXepRe0fxbLgOF0OaV1wwrb9ITVZwKFJK40HGT_a2wz2Ke_N3RATTYP81IAJuRflqU4WJt4/s1179/IMG_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyIT0Lr-zB0SOemx-u4pGSLpzNUPEmd0e7137jfejXdw7-0FFuyY8_NlGMq682U_40CliKNCeCletL2uPzLeCeRMAxgG3BH5I2ArUuacqbMoPzgYIWuSxRXepRe0fxbLgOF0OaV1wwrb9ITVZwKFJK40HGT_a2wz2Ke_N3RATTYP81IAJuRflqU4WJt4/s320/IMG_5749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe3zbei-wIeEwWjppVTWn1fL17XETqkxKy0xwHh756OULcV-mydSVhoIAjTINqsnRAayN-Oq-XWnqbUwIqOBqCE3rpnQJZLJZDXWuccv9iV3MYv32oiaMLFekjhWn6Heu-lHeoBOwd-IsK3L2ADvSgf960ICY6j3tUCoN2CZaV366z65mG2HD0KEUDsQ/s1179/IMG_5751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe3zbei-wIeEwWjppVTWn1fL17XETqkxKy0xwHh756OULcV-mydSVhoIAjTINqsnRAayN-Oq-XWnqbUwIqOBqCE3rpnQJZLJZDXWuccv9iV3MYv32oiaMLFekjhWn6Heu-lHeoBOwd-IsK3L2ADvSgf960ICY6j3tUCoN2CZaV366z65mG2HD0KEUDsQ/s320/IMG_5751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Family Dance at Church</h2><div>Three of the kids were busy at other events, so I took Margaret, Thomas, and David for a great family evening.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21uY1JA82EtJyN02o7_6wmS7VzeGZHE7JRVqHmY5SJbMWzkOeViMaE10imK96fng5phrjxLmNJ2NRwXmQjDfir-PA_bdt1R_LQ9WUOTaZ-Hmn5V1hYI88jmNNhDAvUNTkeJOW6_1qtlMRs4fC2jNKKdikOypvggIRxD7w3EV2ss2fLL2bnBnNijXRxYs/s4032/IMG_5900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21uY1JA82EtJyN02o7_6wmS7VzeGZHE7JRVqHmY5SJbMWzkOeViMaE10imK96fng5phrjxLmNJ2NRwXmQjDfir-PA_bdt1R_LQ9WUOTaZ-Hmn5V1hYI88jmNNhDAvUNTkeJOW6_1qtlMRs4fC2jNKKdikOypvggIRxD7w3EV2ss2fLL2bnBnNijXRxYs/s320/IMG_5900.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihtEEO7W5VERqSJSJsmYhkvbxVbzkdMefp4aTCTZp1DhLRRbAXgIy8M_L6DlbPD0b5t4lYLcfMZZm6AsbxoNHJa0pkN2cQCEpmZDYmQXPOE1XftYGz6Ok5y48RRo5qrxFNFG3D7G6ntCFnpstef0jqa6SxTRAl_fWIsTqRKgIcXM7PLwy1BGYzIUslJA/s884/IMG_5904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihtEEO7W5VERqSJSJsmYhkvbxVbzkdMefp4aTCTZp1DhLRRbAXgIy8M_L6DlbPD0b5t4lYLcfMZZm6AsbxoNHJa0pkN2cQCEpmZDYmQXPOE1XftYGz6Ok5y48RRo5qrxFNFG3D7G6ntCFnpstef0jqa6SxTRAl_fWIsTqRKgIcXM7PLwy1BGYzIUslJA/s320/IMG_5904.JPG" width="274" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8giakTL6cKYP14oerXbaWHde2LL_yBMuE9n6EhyaZVYdkLOy4Lk1Drgf-AqQfa-Nmbmfu4hGSP8l1I604BqdpF6msr3wot3IQsaO969tzgb3yL6mZIaKMIq6RCfnvI3k5xpMSGSaedeIzVSWlQpxq8giESkTjAsam9S0qLPvBC69yM3g25ddLzW5WgGg/s884/IMG_5906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8giakTL6cKYP14oerXbaWHde2LL_yBMuE9n6EhyaZVYdkLOy4Lk1Drgf-AqQfa-Nmbmfu4hGSP8l1I604BqdpF6msr3wot3IQsaO969tzgb3yL6mZIaKMIq6RCfnvI3k5xpMSGSaedeIzVSWlQpxq8giESkTjAsam9S0qLPvBC69yM3g25ddLzW5WgGg/s320/IMG_5906.JPG" width="197" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Miscellaneous Moments</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>#1: </b>“But Mama, I have so many questions to ask!” —Thomas, age 8, upon hearing the announcement that it was now lights off and “No-More-Talking Time”!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>#2: </b>Homeschooling for 11 years now and I am in a phase I long dreamed about! My 11th grader just drove himself to his dual enrollment class and took his 9th grader sister with him. After his class, he will drive her to her organ lesson. Before departing, they printed out today’s math and physics assignments, so Mary will do her work during John’s class and John will do his work during Mary’s lesson. Homeschool moms in the wee early years: this is such a great phase to look forward to!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>#3: </b>Today I got my email In Box down to only 15 emails! My goal is to keep my In Box at 50 emails that need my attention, but I often have more than that. Today was one of the four days this academic year I will be the hall monitor for high-school homeschool classes, so I had from 8:00 to 5:00 to do nothing but tend to all the business needs in my In Box! I started at 57 emails and got to 15: I don't think I've had that few in my in box in the 16-1/2 years I've had children!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Qnj2Ti8MpXH9uslm9qh-6jKAPxYbZmuDQMV0RxI3MWT4RgmcZWuAOgkWA5p1MhgUAm2VWEJikTGigPyzip5P46gPJ4nVep78bQ39GdTzPVDPChNGPwp6z_7zE5ivI18qmXgIDtVN6K-_QfR-Dz4IbKIhMwRnTZYf18Vd8jfG-WrHfJu6FIzxeksG2I/s884/IMG_5768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Qnj2Ti8MpXH9uslm9qh-6jKAPxYbZmuDQMV0RxI3MWT4RgmcZWuAOgkWA5p1MhgUAm2VWEJikTGigPyzip5P46gPJ4nVep78bQ39GdTzPVDPChNGPwp6z_7zE5ivI18qmXgIDtVN6K-_QfR-Dz4IbKIhMwRnTZYf18Vd8jfG-WrHfJu6FIzxeksG2I/s320/IMG_5768.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Great new art room at the oncology clinic</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6N2BsY6qkG7LjaQ4psocHqvhmmpltywaV-CZ3fScE2tr0I-1FTrwXVIzQybqifA_YqZVLVVSE9Edqc6FaruC3n3He-xsDTmMN6Vjm98iLlFL4w41o9G21YTyddERmCaIDaIoxMBr7dR2hRbZ7Ope2k4S1yQUn8lDkTRItahDXhQNU80jlG_zHrTluCQ/s1179/IMG_7625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6N2BsY6qkG7LjaQ4psocHqvhmmpltywaV-CZ3fScE2tr0I-1FTrwXVIzQybqifA_YqZVLVVSE9Edqc6FaruC3n3He-xsDTmMN6Vjm98iLlFL4w41o9G21YTyddERmCaIDaIoxMBr7dR2hRbZ7Ope2k4S1yQUn8lDkTRItahDXhQNU80jlG_zHrTluCQ/s320/IMG_7625.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mom-Dad belated birthday date</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdgGKld4Tb8_MrYriY2tY7anYBJqTG8MsmSbL-kq0n8ER6POv7o7GuDg87CgdjVSQ-5MeGe1bicl9hz95r5NiHRtDD9QQOeUqiifzt96zob6JPbgPA8Om3L-M32GChn0HgOFTBW1Ai8qzGIWYLInmBanG_icfjl9jGFnJ_MzdjSFIMv40AiE5BZBydk0/s884/IMG_7644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdgGKld4Tb8_MrYriY2tY7anYBJqTG8MsmSbL-kq0n8ER6POv7o7GuDg87CgdjVSQ-5MeGe1bicl9hz95r5NiHRtDD9QQOeUqiifzt96zob6JPbgPA8Om3L-M32GChn0HgOFTBW1Ai8qzGIWYLInmBanG_icfjl9jGFnJ_MzdjSFIMv40AiE5BZBydk0/s320/IMG_7644.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reading the latest news</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Food Photos</h2><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meal Planning</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Meal planning is done for the week and grocery order placed! It's a weekly task that took a few years to implement when I first married, but really does set the whole week right from the get-go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Saturday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brisket</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Broccoli</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Homemade chunky applesauce</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ribs (from the deli)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Baked potatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sauteed corn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Israeli salad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Homemade "Laura's gingerbread" with homemade whipped cream</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Monday (going to be out all afternoon):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Slow cooker pineapple pulled pork on bakery brioche buns</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Baked sweet potatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tuesday (needs to be an easy dinner served early):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Spaghetti and meat sauce (I'm loving the new brand Good Wheat, which is pasta made of regular wheat, so it doesn't taste off-putting, but each serving contains 0 g sugar, 8 g fiber, and 9 g protein)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sauteed green beans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Take-and-bake French baguette</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wednesday (very easy dinner served in 45-minute turnaround between activities):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sandwich night! Make your own sandwich (cold or hot panini press)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kettle potato chips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fruit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thursday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Homemade bacon quiche (or fried eggs for the pickier folks)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Waffles (I'm loving the Pearl Milling Protein pancake mix . . . 15 grams of protein in two pancakes!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Friday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For some of us: Frozen pizza</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For others: Chickpea curry over rice</div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><p></p><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">New Beef Jerky</h3><p>Doing a little Monday morning work in my laundry room dividing up food into single servings for our kids' snack boxes. I recently found Tillamook sugar-free beef jerky, which is so much healthier than common "beef jerky" available for sale (which is almost entirely fat and with significant added sugar).</p><p>I divided up the bag into twelve 1/2-ounce servings (which is quite petite!), which means each serving costs $1.16, which is pretty pricy but is such a healthful add to a kid's meal!</p><p>only 35 cals . . . for . . .</p><p>7 g protein!!!</p><p>0.75 g fat</p><p>0 g carbs </p><p>If a kid eats this little beef jerky with a junkier carb, it makes for a good balanced meal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRijQkiytADwLrcM1Ct1KOk5NcBKQYhRZ9Wvl_HIX4jTsvcZURpCxt-O9VCpalBOZ2MjYf6xVWFi6S8jWNTWQrLzUyVGxYzYFkLm5VvV-UbEe5NcKplbt-1oqdA-uGhJCMUyTwVEGDTPPCYMH_6mfc65bHKLBlDhZ9fL-12ZfgM9ptyR58ZCVGdfAevk/s2048/374483940_10160763910593360_5925708090675455243_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRijQkiytADwLrcM1Ct1KOk5NcBKQYhRZ9Wvl_HIX4jTsvcZURpCxt-O9VCpalBOZ2MjYf6xVWFi6S8jWNTWQrLzUyVGxYzYFkLm5VvV-UbEe5NcKplbt-1oqdA-uGhJCMUyTwVEGDTPPCYMH_6mfc65bHKLBlDhZ9fL-12ZfgM9ptyR58ZCVGdfAevk/s320/374483940_10160763910593360_5925708090675455243_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Michaelmas</h3><p>Happy Michaelmas! I learned that blackberries are a traditional dessert for the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, so I made homemade Angel food cake (so good, I never want to buy from the store again!) and served it with homemade whipped cream and blackberries.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2cd23lusIMw7bCqOoySuQ7cd6yvITzBMC39lplYIcej0GlwVv-sp-v8fdu5B7UkoR6b_0syzYy9p-5Hs29GVldyqHAag0kD0KHYjwNIIRhM0BvdK3okKvgkGcLjgy7CWqhuEh_VOSZZ1qn8uwKHUh1-U4AF1DH-7zd-53w-sNXPZzv9UG6CJNkpYaKg/s1179/IMG_5883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2cd23lusIMw7bCqOoySuQ7cd6yvITzBMC39lplYIcej0GlwVv-sp-v8fdu5B7UkoR6b_0syzYy9p-5Hs29GVldyqHAag0kD0KHYjwNIIRhM0BvdK3okKvgkGcLjgy7CWqhuEh_VOSZZ1qn8uwKHUh1-U4AF1DH-7zd-53w-sNXPZzv9UG6CJNkpYaKg/s320/IMG_5883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Homemade Bread</h3><p>We are on a kick of trying to make our own bread to have something that is fresher (no weird preservatives), contains more fiber and protein, and is more delicious. Margaret (age 12) is my main baker and we are so grateful for her efforts. She bakes on the weekends, we slice the loaves, and we freeze all but the current loaf (which we keep in the refrigerator because of the lack of preservatives).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVrVm5wxq_1MPEO8hzXgCkqaHBbPHLfxhWJLK2JhsvOlZdktI32C99H5ZryUOvLQJLE8apnuhYlxLIkDFZi744ku-KvwUwPSNfvACRxh_OwML8P5Hw2ldItZTt4eSC844ShsNAsyInMSV6gmOK5_OZnxspbnqjXQYQpQ3QX9OE_QIgl5M6nHoEtRce10/s1179/IMG_5795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVrVm5wxq_1MPEO8hzXgCkqaHBbPHLfxhWJLK2JhsvOlZdktI32C99H5ZryUOvLQJLE8apnuhYlxLIkDFZi744ku-KvwUwPSNfvACRxh_OwML8P5Hw2ldItZTt4eSC844ShsNAsyInMSV6gmOK5_OZnxspbnqjXQYQpQ3QX9OE_QIgl5M6nHoEtRce10/s320/IMG_5795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wbNZOnmiMlxVqFn79wFtli8WUCIAmtoWwsLasUxy4VXEzFcvhRJybEUQ4Ik4QvP0yTvC-VgHpGbklgYoQ6oVy_H34oyTCB1AA55Zo9aq1691fAJ7fO9NjHGuBRgkgY1NF7vm7nynTIFrlqK3Muy0Fif2L0HYuDmIoGvrnQbrDhyHLSn9mVGP2FZzvKg/s884/IMG_5797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wbNZOnmiMlxVqFn79wFtli8WUCIAmtoWwsLasUxy4VXEzFcvhRJybEUQ4Ik4QvP0yTvC-VgHpGbklgYoQ6oVy_H34oyTCB1AA55Zo9aq1691fAJ7fO9NjHGuBRgkgY1NF7vm7nynTIFrlqK3Muy0Fif2L0HYuDmIoGvrnQbrDhyHLSn9mVGP2FZzvKg/s320/IMG_5797.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LQTYnoSM0dbyYFnT5G7WURtoioYr0ieTs4sS_L4phl2PDwItwALSGEcnpC1W6mL-cY6WdgI4XH4ZM7NY3tM7-j0_DwUGTnUxDFsnmc-saPE3y95rmEYplhKt9grLVKFHSaYHG0YC-ETE-9XgjENkVdtqzeTILS9I2pY96uh2iuUo8COBAOqTuXzXN6Q/s1179/IMG_5684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LQTYnoSM0dbyYFnT5G7WURtoioYr0ieTs4sS_L4phl2PDwItwALSGEcnpC1W6mL-cY6WdgI4XH4ZM7NY3tM7-j0_DwUGTnUxDFsnmc-saPE3y95rmEYplhKt9grLVKFHSaYHG0YC-ETE-9XgjENkVdtqzeTILS9I2pY96uh2iuUo8COBAOqTuXzXN6Q/s320/IMG_5684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Biscuits for breakfast</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGq6CoSDIJKv5NOi88g4Ckl-2BtUJNjDwQTwzSQ9xOBne5RYmI9EGdSWkBCXHYGRm6c0S0ERDAEZ_8qB6BhbvbZ4IzItcWcdyVcwXip1X4BoWpsYyBhZhIBut8nygMACP3iUVtGqafuH5DIYq_HAm6rt6jOnyGgsLzCm4lsQ6qMzzWteWnNwbrlLe1AY/s884/IMG_5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGq6CoSDIJKv5NOi88g4Ckl-2BtUJNjDwQTwzSQ9xOBne5RYmI9EGdSWkBCXHYGRm6c0S0ERDAEZ_8qB6BhbvbZ4IzItcWcdyVcwXip1X4BoWpsYyBhZhIBut8nygMACP3iUVtGqafuH5DIYq_HAm6rt6jOnyGgsLzCm4lsQ6qMzzWteWnNwbrlLe1AY/s320/IMG_5685.JPG" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who needs McDonalds when you've got biscuits, sausage, and eggs?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITkFJMQN0zj22UjOhrjWEYzqWzsQxO1X73hcXFrZuvj4uPeuhNA8d1_U3N95Rzip3hnAcgkggeuXEKP3xZkljERTfwXGf5q3W6j8Q0xi-kmK8-Wqnq_Cw4omGGCMW6zEk9anfVEKCDZwVMTUTjmJ8k-TUYbB4pVSjLzXND6BMYgnv6GdMJamC35lMBxY/s884/IMG_5723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="884" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITkFJMQN0zj22UjOhrjWEYzqWzsQxO1X73hcXFrZuvj4uPeuhNA8d1_U3N95Rzip3hnAcgkggeuXEKP3xZkljERTfwXGf5q3W6j8Q0xi-kmK8-Wqnq_Cw4omGGCMW6zEk9anfVEKCDZwVMTUTjmJ8k-TUYbB4pVSjLzXND6BMYgnv6GdMJamC35lMBxY/s320/IMG_5723.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not beautiful, but incredibly delicious gingerbread</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf_D5ubQAMzk61sPuP2TXGIsMKEcd2Dcjx4Y68dPp3dfTo0Ln_IJ5WxUb954hE6Y1X2H6XKOAP9-yQNFyTLZL-qSWPR8u_sQMF3q5tQ_dioRs0FkSJLqZDTu3IZLPOClZumSVTRSJr0CWJt7OMXL0z0o-Jcj4lBkhIoExbPZtS0A2lNrBQqycK24LFb8/s884/IMG_5839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf_D5ubQAMzk61sPuP2TXGIsMKEcd2Dcjx4Y68dPp3dfTo0Ln_IJ5WxUb954hE6Y1X2H6XKOAP9-yQNFyTLZL-qSWPR8u_sQMF3q5tQ_dioRs0FkSJLqZDTu3IZLPOClZumSVTRSJr0CWJt7OMXL0z0o-Jcj4lBkhIoExbPZtS0A2lNrBQqycK24LFb8/s320/IMG_5839.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Homemade Italian dressing</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvqXjD_tzMFVKHQZBHBqMHLo-8nBfTYMY94pUsqPtIFci9bGG_mgZ-yqnlT8IMKSwrUYfhdeYdHDDSWhqOmzdNZd_R3zaVV2XIsMF_8MNvAv46-3FSWDOFzQhRUyWoAXv9tYIESotQMWXqwqzxjumLD8spOql1BmjYN25i0Lok79O10NAxHiN4830vqs/s1425/IMG_5874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1425" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvqXjD_tzMFVKHQZBHBqMHLo-8nBfTYMY94pUsqPtIFci9bGG_mgZ-yqnlT8IMKSwrUYfhdeYdHDDSWhqOmzdNZd_R3zaVV2XIsMF_8MNvAv46-3FSWDOFzQhRUyWoAXv9tYIESotQMWXqwqzxjumLD8spOql1BmjYN25i0Lok79O10NAxHiN4830vqs/s320/IMG_5874.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Breakfast for dinner (homemade protein waffles, homemade applesauce, bacon)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dog Photos</h2><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIBeagLLfMclQfGcNgJUrC1big5aSSobRTHon5T-mgehQE7Kt2LtHD05sHYwYUD6Qmo0TcdvUWuXLhyphenhyphen7yhqCB9xqCgIbrp8gfK-JZQZIjIoaAQ8PLoAq1lV3WvgpWS5_YpUzpqx0NTR-FAT8ZjkehGXEo-42dSUblIju6GHSd3g-KZH1vf9wYYeWpYE0/s2048/374737481_10160757654498360_6782602279342669079_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIBeagLLfMclQfGcNgJUrC1big5aSSobRTHon5T-mgehQE7Kt2LtHD05sHYwYUD6Qmo0TcdvUWuXLhyphenhyphen7yhqCB9xqCgIbrp8gfK-JZQZIjIoaAQ8PLoAq1lV3WvgpWS5_YpUzpqx0NTR-FAT8ZjkehGXEo-42dSUblIju6GHSd3g-KZH1vf9wYYeWpYE0/s320/374737481_10160757654498360_6782602279342669079_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Nicky thinks that napping in my arms while I teach math is not too much to ask.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnv5poBcngJ2eUGJVbk6lP-O4aLzwXiF4rp7rivgOUoqGjWuOA7DjdksQf4CwCXz4gYcrTMz1SsZnn0HHHNiIgZTj4QZYQMqwk5lypoV50psm98m5ZMgYG3hww2SCxx-N4YhM92Kb0MtvZ01BsnOy4UDzBDP9Edkz2hXqXlh6_1jWEIAIiPb7XCsT024/s884/IMG_5653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnv5poBcngJ2eUGJVbk6lP-O4aLzwXiF4rp7rivgOUoqGjWuOA7DjdksQf4CwCXz4gYcrTMz1SsZnn0HHHNiIgZTj4QZYQMqwk5lypoV50psm98m5ZMgYG3hww2SCxx-N4YhM92Kb0MtvZ01BsnOy4UDzBDP9Edkz2hXqXlh6_1jWEIAIiPb7XCsT024/s320/IMG_5653.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I’m not sure where I am supposed to put my feet while I sit at my desk. Both dogs are now camping under there, using my briefcase as a doggie bed. (What am I doing? Of course, I am awkwardly sitting sideways on my stool so as not to disturb them.)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K5Nz4gqOg0zxhH71fkgaUFW7n1zFEIS7QOblyjHWHPuWmgRaGI1Aa8mGeMYx53BoTomqOZuGbwgV1DuFuxSt2mNSKqhesT8w3FBHfOkP1hbyLPYwQc_W9d_TcuBwtuLpmso3OufH3vf_LqtWnS7kjIpk3mHzDXigBQkLdls4FORTqg79nBILaUEy-yE/s2048/376266608_10160783461313360_6181549363944454423_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K5Nz4gqOg0zxhH71fkgaUFW7n1zFEIS7QOblyjHWHPuWmgRaGI1Aa8mGeMYx53BoTomqOZuGbwgV1DuFuxSt2mNSKqhesT8w3FBHfOkP1hbyLPYwQc_W9d_TcuBwtuLpmso3OufH3vf_LqtWnS7kjIpk3mHzDXigBQkLdls4FORTqg79nBILaUEy-yE/s320/376266608_10160783461313360_6181549363944454423_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This student is disrupting our recitation of memory work with his loud snoring.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbSR0AGtnDWuxbAarOe2pzMDuttZtJHUXtEx_pKjgtDctVSvgtfY0QF2MezvAeu2zMXVQEChVDWKEykED__zE7PKNPq5dy0v3ahOYdNbuVDYrJ6A3aLTh5M0cjmZqFwoBGbDcnVjlk7YFRg5lHyLIIaFMwmEMByhpU-dLFtCCh1jHJ3Tvq4O8viG584I/s884/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbSR0AGtnDWuxbAarOe2pzMDuttZtJHUXtEx_pKjgtDctVSvgtfY0QF2MezvAeu2zMXVQEChVDWKEykED__zE7PKNPq5dy0v3ahOYdNbuVDYrJ6A3aLTh5M0cjmZqFwoBGbDcnVjlk7YFRg5lHyLIIaFMwmEMByhpU-dLFtCCh1jHJ3Tvq4O8viG584I/s320/IMG_5811.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sweet Nicky is never, ever done chasing his ball.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tilly's Near Miss</h3></div><div>Our quiet, 12-pound Tilly almost met her Maker tonight when our heavy stone bird bath toppled over and hit her. (I think that garden art will be going bye-bye.) I had her at an after-hours vet hospital within 30 minutes. The vet thinks she avoided a broken bone, although with us declining the $400 X ray we won’t know for certain. Baby girl is on meds and is prescribed crate rest—for two whole weeks! We shall see how that goes.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMfzFPWlU85ih8jlHbY6sawj25Y1QByvY2gBnQB51mZtDjXX5yu-OAVr0-Of8e9uRrM_GSYqk-GC0iZhUWGzfRFhK_GKh6szoWnEH0t1FOkczNkDnQUT1QL65lWgqmeCUez-C6LsL_yVkwfp1VGbPkA0fr3x4UxWSwquLHBzU-LquAldZaDCLdNZCexs/s884/IMG_5840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMfzFPWlU85ih8jlHbY6sawj25Y1QByvY2gBnQB51mZtDjXX5yu-OAVr0-Of8e9uRrM_GSYqk-GC0iZhUWGzfRFhK_GKh6szoWnEH0t1FOkczNkDnQUT1QL65lWgqmeCUez-C6LsL_yVkwfp1VGbPkA0fr3x4UxWSwquLHBzU-LquAldZaDCLdNZCexs/s320/IMG_5840.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Carrying Tilly on our walk</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>WE ARE SOFTIES. Sweet Tilly doesn’t hate her prescribes crate rest as much as some dogs would, but we are holding her on our laps as often as possible and this morning, John came with me on the dog walk so Tilly could accompany Nicky while being carried the whole time. 💗 John and I have such tender hearts that we are trying to find a sling-style baby carrier so that we can carry Tilly around while her injured leg is held still.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XjOwX6CF_HAHkGMAEJotFXbrFloNOQ0h87t_bqYXXSjy0pHjOh7o1QNNJrDPHm0I3Rd9w4pKOhGz3Wz7h_rIA-va1zMIBPTeuo9H_L_UKLiOFW44oPO9zLvdX96l3Fu4X-36DJ0pFp9wrARFfqhzzxaOdq83EqaMYBraaJflSQrzXSy-MEwWrBwDWzw/s884/IMG_5853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XjOwX6CF_HAHkGMAEJotFXbrFloNOQ0h87t_bqYXXSjy0pHjOh7o1QNNJrDPHm0I3Rd9w4pKOhGz3Wz7h_rIA-va1zMIBPTeuo9H_L_UKLiOFW44oPO9zLvdX96l3Fu4X-36DJ0pFp9wrARFfqhzzxaOdq83EqaMYBraaJflSQrzXSy-MEwWrBwDWzw/s320/IMG_5853.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A kind neighbor lent us a dog stroller so I can take Tilly and Nicky on their walks together and simply take Tilly out for a moment to go potty.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Vo0VhUxXKpLqvGtr3I9cfHPswcyjogUFqRF2F_dLqxrvVxpCB1_CrEmG-ScrptwGODWY-TJBPx6XeLciZrNKjke2XLrfplfeQSqURWZszVDAruLVr-X6hqbiGXIzy8bYEkXaszrwBQoIcFdoAksHQyyf2VGcNYvZGrSZtMBGK_rdX3HZknBu5N4Qt_c/s884/IMG_5862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Vo0VhUxXKpLqvGtr3I9cfHPswcyjogUFqRF2F_dLqxrvVxpCB1_CrEmG-ScrptwGODWY-TJBPx6XeLciZrNKjke2XLrfplfeQSqURWZszVDAruLVr-X6hqbiGXIzy8bYEkXaszrwBQoIcFdoAksHQyyf2VGcNYvZGrSZtMBGK_rdX3HZknBu5N4Qt_c/s320/IMG_5862.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVojp17wBKQHhL8CEHOOB7V9-08GNmBCV7ZETXs2gPzPfcdX9-rwa9IxY4Sc-_b-P57nMuBVXYVOJnHIoy3ijTPDQCD_strnIomdgY3GxtrWFykPvsm40VzmtHmkJ8K28ie79wIESTuM6ii-I7p5ZM1J1mgI5la4D2fQmzGjMbX7rbAeqjwEbijjXk4A/s884/IMG_5866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVojp17wBKQHhL8CEHOOB7V9-08GNmBCV7ZETXs2gPzPfcdX9-rwa9IxY4Sc-_b-P57nMuBVXYVOJnHIoy3ijTPDQCD_strnIomdgY3GxtrWFykPvsm40VzmtHmkJ8K28ie79wIESTuM6ii-I7p5ZM1J1mgI5la4D2fQmzGjMbX7rbAeqjwEbijjXk4A/s320/IMG_5866.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjoSHr9yPwPejU6fB0qDGlDSHppmS2cebGgsfsBR_Q4IdL_gbILIdp_5aUrDQPUZlUg7ZcmY_QDnxXmEaqez_yIB61x-GqiAiW9xEP-vvQIPsby6i5m2UPMMrY29vogHnRosw_xgCN1aXBcW4c4xuKkkCOjYEM4bomSdpcMru_t5nVskGwwSSWdtlviI/s884/IMG_5873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjoSHr9yPwPejU6fB0qDGlDSHppmS2cebGgsfsBR_Q4IdL_gbILIdp_5aUrDQPUZlUg7ZcmY_QDnxXmEaqez_yIB61x-GqiAiW9xEP-vvQIPsby6i5m2UPMMrY29vogHnRosw_xgCN1aXBcW4c4xuKkkCOjYEM4bomSdpcMru_t5nVskGwwSSWdtlviI/s320/IMG_5873.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYEuVsqI8xhyphenhyphenOsO1lXF5m9Wkk-HxwUkqILxroSi2YdMiN98nCVAP6ieMqB7NTk-s6AMap5IpnDqqKETp576sL9x3nuZVQAJDf-hxRidy3U_tkaL9uBJMRfatpBUhnPC5UzqJvq6_mIWraLFSmhAu9D6PhXDhvmDj4NICA54StEX4nzVuAVKcnF6QaUHY/s4032/IMG_5595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYEuVsqI8xhyphenhyphenOsO1lXF5m9Wkk-HxwUkqILxroSi2YdMiN98nCVAP6ieMqB7NTk-s6AMap5IpnDqqKETp576sL9x3nuZVQAJDf-hxRidy3U_tkaL9uBJMRfatpBUhnPC5UzqJvq6_mIWraLFSmhAu9D6PhXDhvmDj4NICA54StEX4nzVuAVKcnF6QaUHY/s320/IMG_5595.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8Ptx7qz1BK7487IqT3p9WzNsGJBcG1TQcemd89gtffqiKD2FhWbWWP5Kk1Wjj54vDOLT3iKCt6nKwwKqcakx4q84UYFVJbkTO3_0XS_t14aH-bbX_7Q2TI4RKAT7f2IEfY_m9KfEfBe_QTqLzdffzvgevKkMcUkIj9PodWcmHwp0uRwu5YWJscQeUU8/s4032/IMG_5592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8Ptx7qz1BK7487IqT3p9WzNsGJBcG1TQcemd89gtffqiKD2FhWbWWP5Kk1Wjj54vDOLT3iKCt6nKwwKqcakx4q84UYFVJbkTO3_0XS_t14aH-bbX_7Q2TI4RKAT7f2IEfY_m9KfEfBe_QTqLzdffzvgevKkMcUkIj9PodWcmHwp0uRwu5YWJscQeUU8/s320/IMG_5592.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDU8rYlS6t1LwqCSZ_YFt-CBLVoPiD6ZgtGQN1iX8fzaCy5tWqex9l2Sv2dJZeNtfeg98uHBPKzGvYYd4UwzquHBD6Xc9_OH3eDL3FiIMVOIs8oT3dvj5k90skyaxq8SAyiqgCTf4s_6_DwuoA9qRCkKCq9im05Gw251RW70hFT1LAwcYePgA7GGIBGM/s884/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDU8rYlS6t1LwqCSZ_YFt-CBLVoPiD6ZgtGQN1iX8fzaCy5tWqex9l2Sv2dJZeNtfeg98uHBPKzGvYYd4UwzquHBD6Xc9_OH3eDL3FiIMVOIs8oT3dvj5k90skyaxq8SAyiqgCTf4s_6_DwuoA9qRCkKCq9im05Gw251RW70hFT1LAwcYePgA7GGIBGM/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Free new-to-us bookshelf from a neighbor</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LmIRrTZO7tP6fsCyjGxFzShI6f4RE2hpomX1NPYHsz1CJJNZ_T9s0hsW3T1KAD9YNr2uHXkVkoRcbmS-iYF3ttvBVdgLwT1p1sVC98RobsvAFrYrDUX3imdcY7cJ0MwlaT21CTVj4xKyY9DTw2LLBDIwpn2ruNhxrHosoBUsLbH_zOvoqzDN0bYsp60/s1179/IMG_5566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LmIRrTZO7tP6fsCyjGxFzShI6f4RE2hpomX1NPYHsz1CJJNZ_T9s0hsW3T1KAD9YNr2uHXkVkoRcbmS-iYF3ttvBVdgLwT1p1sVC98RobsvAFrYrDUX3imdcY7cJ0MwlaT21CTVj4xKyY9DTw2LLBDIwpn2ruNhxrHosoBUsLbH_zOvoqzDN0bYsp60/s320/IMG_5566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1PT85PPIgPCu3qUaM0kS_WdfwjrVsLfhtxShSttOt5s94c6X-RPsbsI965loPxTlosdmegWibsKNDWrZ23E3ZJWEdeYi6ka7RLwgzVFEVp0Ra1izdH34j86q7r1FaW0gKTeWurYi_YMxwIe6xrAd_ns6JxscWbSIlq0bOyPM6z9J5SDg-Ldx7fPeKME/s884/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1PT85PPIgPCu3qUaM0kS_WdfwjrVsLfhtxShSttOt5s94c6X-RPsbsI965loPxTlosdmegWibsKNDWrZ23E3ZJWEdeYi6ka7RLwgzVFEVp0Ra1izdH34j86q7r1FaW0gKTeWurYi_YMxwIe6xrAd_ns6JxscWbSIlq0bOyPM6z9J5SDg-Ldx7fPeKME/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dog-sized graduation hat</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiPqpzl4gRI8h2UY_7dskAxjH92Wxbm0bOVAB_77ASWck5_KwHFM1ds92CJbZzB9LWyOYwZcx7B5R4XUtnHgxZ-4hRNwjlgKRNr8RfLe7oaGaeYfIg37kdd984V3A2APt2eCp4JgRbbIdrcg92LACC_3VcjajNfQ6qScnqVS7pDCi-DH5wMpAGxARVRE/s884/IMG_5757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiPqpzl4gRI8h2UY_7dskAxjH92Wxbm0bOVAB_77ASWck5_KwHFM1ds92CJbZzB9LWyOYwZcx7B5R4XUtnHgxZ-4hRNwjlgKRNr8RfLe7oaGaeYfIg37kdd984V3A2APt2eCp4JgRbbIdrcg92LACC_3VcjajNfQ6qScnqVS7pDCi-DH5wMpAGxARVRE/s320/IMG_5757.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cozy sleeping</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8P2orXg8vKSmWwVVDkz4MOzcahbNyUVTv1FbnZlWg42ctRiHDCYvI85-t30PVyX1sLhp3-2QAeInFkwrSobQGV9nFQBUh5T9TSL4hAWCP4mQypCOc3nKYP-_lDH9zZa_zYdkaf5iSkiHcaWagtM-OI7tLxMcpXJPIfiNx6nlYkkN_C25jL3LPJG-CMk/s884/IMG_5781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8P2orXg8vKSmWwVVDkz4MOzcahbNyUVTv1FbnZlWg42ctRiHDCYvI85-t30PVyX1sLhp3-2QAeInFkwrSobQGV9nFQBUh5T9TSL4hAWCP4mQypCOc3nKYP-_lDH9zZa_zYdkaf5iSkiHcaWagtM-OI7tLxMcpXJPIfiNx6nlYkkN_C25jL3LPJG-CMk/s320/IMG_5781.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More cozy sleeping</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDj3prct8b3SN8BO7WnmU11YVZGWfQv3z-SGzKgcAuPMxZxCngXroA8qUnaYN15i3LQ9uXA10TOV7vt_sFT096A-bpE6td1gtZNml8dTrQj-COTbNfAvU8SVWlXAw_TEUMUhVUjLhYOXRhZLQMPw2lyion5nMt9VGuDY3twSMndziS6S__0r_QfCTvaM/s1179/IMG_5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDj3prct8b3SN8BO7WnmU11YVZGWfQv3z-SGzKgcAuPMxZxCngXroA8qUnaYN15i3LQ9uXA10TOV7vt_sFT096A-bpE6td1gtZNml8dTrQj-COTbNfAvU8SVWlXAw_TEUMUhVUjLhYOXRhZLQMPw2lyion5nMt9VGuDY3twSMndziS6S__0r_QfCTvaM/s320/IMG_5835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-35898989241436692502023-08-31T06:57:00.003-04:002023-10-02T11:01:05.947-04:00August 2023 in Review<h1 style="text-align: left;">August 2023 in Review . . . trying to catch up for my blog-only followers!</h1><p>Keeping track just because this is our life . . . Thomas had five medical appointments in August plus four days inpatient at the hospital.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mom-and-Dad Date</h2><p>Only five months late, we took Margaret out to lunch today to celebrate her last birthday. A couple of years ago, we started a tradition that after each child’s birthday, we would take them out for an inexpensive one-on-one date. Very lovely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P8GWEpnTfQyU-muZ7A-wH721Nf2-BMJhb9sYuLRyHOzdlmyB1UfA101iI0sST-8Yc63iP581rqHP9hCdZr8RGyw5c2h8eJ5hFb_OOgysIl8IiptgaUHkI-c-Szvl7Wi_KHQycf1tUi-IbMlTrGq6EI75TtjymLccQv71-omXeRFMsI_cpTKexBkEvOY/s1179/IMG_5211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P8GWEpnTfQyU-muZ7A-wH721Nf2-BMJhb9sYuLRyHOzdlmyB1UfA101iI0sST-8Yc63iP581rqHP9hCdZr8RGyw5c2h8eJ5hFb_OOgysIl8IiptgaUHkI-c-Szvl7Wi_KHQycf1tUi-IbMlTrGq6EI75TtjymLccQv71-omXeRFMsI_cpTKexBkEvOY/s320/IMG_5211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Thomas's Birthday Zoo Trip</h2><p>We spent today at the North Carolina zoo, which was Thomas’s belated birthday gift. We hadn’t been there in years and it was wonderful!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpHngPxOF3PUv9uhoXgEOi5eVTHXir3PxsXCDwPr6u0ecQbLFKO0D8UgF26DE2tNTpyjw-R1hqGfesqnMrixt3PGySLKt18JPeyeagvr_MsFYdkkWumnq-jMaM9NXcnU6KIBMJDJjmCe9IRV5gXIaxQ5j9CJwoxxKhzWuD8VE8hsS5wxWTcaQF7yjR5E/s884/IMG_5238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpHngPxOF3PUv9uhoXgEOi5eVTHXir3PxsXCDwPr6u0ecQbLFKO0D8UgF26DE2tNTpyjw-R1hqGfesqnMrixt3PGySLKt18JPeyeagvr_MsFYdkkWumnq-jMaM9NXcnU6KIBMJDJjmCe9IRV5gXIaxQ5j9CJwoxxKhzWuD8VE8hsS5wxWTcaQF7yjR5E/s320/IMG_5238.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh0Ehg0iYkgf1E2DpFZJoaRjbKBXcAUV6jwCzXGgylqCEd8rLKsNm2-LUOa4BLj1FlQrums6eQiJK8UFsejxeNLIVK3FXnv_6J7B9VK0tgJrY5NO8GiZJnraQfTrHUmJZmTbSTnwaPEEAQvPY_CGptKObjNlCbjbI8O4o2qzE7algzpufRzLBKqMgQpk/s1179/IMG_5240.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh0Ehg0iYkgf1E2DpFZJoaRjbKBXcAUV6jwCzXGgylqCEd8rLKsNm2-LUOa4BLj1FlQrums6eQiJK8UFsejxeNLIVK3FXnv_6J7B9VK0tgJrY5NO8GiZJnraQfTrHUmJZmTbSTnwaPEEAQvPY_CGptKObjNlCbjbI8O4o2qzE7algzpufRzLBKqMgQpk/s320/IMG_5240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURXp-xxKeAK4cnyC98uzEMnAC29CnOG-RjrcYJqH8FHSJF2L4rwaDQfn2cdL25mPW3557QeAa0LSuWVmVi8t2cko_f91sbxZTwICBrdDtH3LjeTtOuJts9N1jKNTmgBVEzPR1nGq6h1CW4ZsmenKMKqrdMkNWIIfX5nlaCYl-WT33Am_FHR8d3VFteoQ/s884/IMG_5243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURXp-xxKeAK4cnyC98uzEMnAC29CnOG-RjrcYJqH8FHSJF2L4rwaDQfn2cdL25mPW3557QeAa0LSuWVmVi8t2cko_f91sbxZTwICBrdDtH3LjeTtOuJts9N1jKNTmgBVEzPR1nGq6h1CW4ZsmenKMKqrdMkNWIIfX5nlaCYl-WT33Am_FHR8d3VFteoQ/s320/IMG_5243.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU0HrXZ7C-G5iTPFqM6i-wSJERYYyCpd1TDjh7oJERWbY6dTsdPbWTfFImqDDsenJsGV-_B_JMH007__VvyBg0eixrUTP0f9hZOXzx29OG0YT-XFPSYFcTYQC-dtNQ1Iu5kh6S5YrV7-5lfUctO9SQpYy734DE5ni9iNRHKWXkOIL79pA2or_nO1GD5I/s884/IMG_5253.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU0HrXZ7C-G5iTPFqM6i-wSJERYYyCpd1TDjh7oJERWbY6dTsdPbWTfFImqDDsenJsGV-_B_JMH007__VvyBg0eixrUTP0f9hZOXzx29OG0YT-XFPSYFcTYQC-dtNQ1Iu5kh6S5YrV7-5lfUctO9SQpYy734DE5ni9iNRHKWXkOIL79pA2or_nO1GD5I/s320/IMG_5253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjct_mqIenJXAQpaB6x47vDjc8_Wv3M4ZT427kse5rZIOzxQBcIJ_t5W8krnCKSAml2Fbr7xHyz3tQj3e1LFLN86Qtiy3eC5YqgTXNdeQ9WAxH2XBqwrR1XWWMUDWqH2YmU5J10Y45V6bO9mfOWpPSv5hiVbwh_97OBgVeEhBmMcsKG0lhpveEDI3Qx14k/s884/IMG_5256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjct_mqIenJXAQpaB6x47vDjc8_Wv3M4ZT427kse5rZIOzxQBcIJ_t5W8krnCKSAml2Fbr7xHyz3tQj3e1LFLN86Qtiy3eC5YqgTXNdeQ9WAxH2XBqwrR1XWWMUDWqH2YmU5J10Y45V6bO9mfOWpPSv5hiVbwh_97OBgVeEhBmMcsKG0lhpveEDI3Qx14k/s320/IMG_5256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZXHeK8k_YTNnuy7h4eW1jfSKYZ1OUOAFohJ0E6bS1vS3X8VJPkc7vB-k5nn7sfkyPqdveTVXcCBgXIXUAjbfamIICPzbhp3DzB95Ckqlve40dZwNRjKVNkUn5u93WhacidTolVbT0Qv3LUKXz6zM_kx-8Xl3J8uGbOxajeAN8FUtcyYVwbSsKD0c-8E/s884/IMG_5271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZXHeK8k_YTNnuy7h4eW1jfSKYZ1OUOAFohJ0E6bS1vS3X8VJPkc7vB-k5nn7sfkyPqdveTVXcCBgXIXUAjbfamIICPzbhp3DzB95Ckqlve40dZwNRjKVNkUn5u93WhacidTolVbT0Qv3LUKXz6zM_kx-8Xl3J8uGbOxajeAN8FUtcyYVwbSsKD0c-8E/s320/IMG_5271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlXxx3MCylcg0mJjN3r-7eaRcfuUXU5CnZ2ROZN-aLo3mFhCFiJ3MX9TL1PN8ZF3gBAS9F5QhDk8bcs5shN6TVTHx0-WZliyLFYCcP8Qgzw3TRZ3Xhs_BpGp8ClkSXFc3JCnu3kjJhg0lgT2hQWstFyh5G_oYfoCMjAzOaPgAa2uj90_ZIl8rWoASMGs/s884/IMG_5285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlXxx3MCylcg0mJjN3r-7eaRcfuUXU5CnZ2ROZN-aLo3mFhCFiJ3MX9TL1PN8ZF3gBAS9F5QhDk8bcs5shN6TVTHx0-WZliyLFYCcP8Qgzw3TRZ3Xhs_BpGp8ClkSXFc3JCnu3kjJhg0lgT2hQWstFyh5G_oYfoCMjAzOaPgAa2uj90_ZIl8rWoASMGs/s320/IMG_5285.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Thomas Developed a Liver Infection</h2><p>If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans! A lighthearted joke for this Type A Mama who planned to start homeschooling on Tuesday but ended up accompanying sweet Thomas to the hospital instead. He is being treated for a liver infection (cholangitis), which is nothing contagious but is a condition he is always at risk for due to his anatomy. </p><p>On Monday, we had a great day trip to the zoo, but by 5:00 p.m. back at home, I found Thomas curled up with a fever. We ventured to the hospital early Tuesday morning and he was admitted. </p><p>His spirits are good in between bouts of pain and tears. Our family at home does not need any help at this time, but we are always happy to receive prayers!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwEjuBS75ucqwdFFwPuEy9xbURnumcdkWCcmOc9Hi_iVPO3GmuWzGMNidYsn3TeHHcoQCQLaRW8vR7we2M7CaAiwIVYi58E7inUCmmA11LcR2HqFC434lN0snCxNvwfpBdXjXeFR7u7btkdwuOIA5G-k_ZVXIgwJ1pgz7mtmnKPoybCwNXT08lV40A-0/s1179/IMG_5288%20cholangitis%20sick.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwEjuBS75ucqwdFFwPuEy9xbURnumcdkWCcmOc9Hi_iVPO3GmuWzGMNidYsn3TeHHcoQCQLaRW8vR7we2M7CaAiwIVYi58E7inUCmmA11LcR2HqFC434lN0snCxNvwfpBdXjXeFR7u7btkdwuOIA5G-k_ZVXIgwJ1pgz7mtmnKPoybCwNXT08lV40A-0/s320/IMG_5288%20cholangitis%20sick.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvupqALpVDmYYdOyJtv09MpMzbdGOwl2dO5KNgS8Jmgiuo7WstaRssUHZ8PjcVa7h26yzHiXjpbyAOSFL5qKS-5hyphenhyphenga-O-jCX6_35fieN7fi_VDs1OX1X8alNtvcIZ13F69QxH-3N0T7Exex5FUwWL1ynuIb6KAUY_DptSPYU8wTtWMvmP-bPkIwHOfng/s220/IMG_5292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="165" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvupqALpVDmYYdOyJtv09MpMzbdGOwl2dO5KNgS8Jmgiuo7WstaRssUHZ8PjcVa7h26yzHiXjpbyAOSFL5qKS-5hyphenhyphenga-O-jCX6_35fieN7fi_VDs1OX1X8alNtvcIZ13F69QxH-3N0T7Exex5FUwWL1ynuIb6KAUY_DptSPYU8wTtWMvmP-bPkIwHOfng/s1600/IMG_5292.JPG" width="165" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjq8cqAz4KLyvDn_KC8q4qY9U-P-dFTI69_FIfTQFq8MG9ELCj2RaY7q95O5XjFKwOMTkwVrI28Hteq5eyd7ADJ-xgQwXj9PnjDwH7nNgSjA56ktP_v56nX_YrJcUwrbd2bhHjRTQ1dI0EqEdFgrki3QaqS6F8DAvZkFsjvlHaLawQAMuEJkI4Vo9gHM/s1179/IMG_5305.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjq8cqAz4KLyvDn_KC8q4qY9U-P-dFTI69_FIfTQFq8MG9ELCj2RaY7q95O5XjFKwOMTkwVrI28Hteq5eyd7ADJ-xgQwXj9PnjDwH7nNgSjA56ktP_v56nX_YrJcUwrbd2bhHjRTQ1dI0EqEdFgrki3QaqS6F8DAvZkFsjvlHaLawQAMuEJkI4Vo9gHM/s320/IMG_5305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wusSuIakD6v5fHOAJx9Y7AXuiGuRlJIyVgWzlK8gu9-JJ8dFZVYiZKHv_9d0H7UCuQlu2gDczG9DH_JKTYePwGgSKbNuYiUZ8ikPXjoITx6Gzit4LBmua8PC86AOJBtXNV0IT0KWc_7EFq7bMAjGG_h82FHbaUgcyDqwidlQz4HaYJTj3BK83jIzvbs/s884/IMG_5307.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wusSuIakD6v5fHOAJx9Y7AXuiGuRlJIyVgWzlK8gu9-JJ8dFZVYiZKHv_9d0H7UCuQlu2gDczG9DH_JKTYePwGgSKbNuYiUZ8ikPXjoITx6Gzit4LBmua8PC86AOJBtXNV0IT0KWc_7EFq7bMAjGG_h82FHbaUgcyDqwidlQz4HaYJTj3BK83jIzvbs/s320/IMG_5307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsdPcqH-BpDWu4MEMYTEsA5eB94RGAptcHW2ghiSnC9M0wKrTxUPWB38wXHP2JY0VYBBd2Di2GVlFBWQ6abWhQ49YHkGB-CHtIaH0xkiwMO4AG3moeb4swgjnyRmwogeE_xIBu2rnObnVxYJEYvVQqw1uDM7DEo1cFlS658P5iN0Y-fXxhHTSll0L_b4/s1179/IMG_5310.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsdPcqH-BpDWu4MEMYTEsA5eB94RGAptcHW2ghiSnC9M0wKrTxUPWB38wXHP2JY0VYBBd2Di2GVlFBWQ6abWhQ49YHkGB-CHtIaH0xkiwMO4AG3moeb4swgjnyRmwogeE_xIBu2rnObnVxYJEYvVQqw1uDM7DEo1cFlS658P5iN0Y-fXxhHTSll0L_b4/s320/IMG_5310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzqiGLabWXz-HWef0jZWidKJPPGPIXCRT49ERAnC94zy1cF0wK5vBb1vcKfz3BPnJAyKvDK5XrsjxtT3a2zK1vNPrGQZALZGM0dD-0YhUbRSeWfowlkSOQ5DhW6YZ-cBcYqU2YHwJs_P2VG9qm9vb2e5VHeyvewPHWyJ23K8LAObSAgE53Al6gxXtQtE/s884/IMG_5312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzqiGLabWXz-HWef0jZWidKJPPGPIXCRT49ERAnC94zy1cF0wK5vBb1vcKfz3BPnJAyKvDK5XrsjxtT3a2zK1vNPrGQZALZGM0dD-0YhUbRSeWfowlkSOQ5DhW6YZ-cBcYqU2YHwJs_P2VG9qm9vb2e5VHeyvewPHWyJ23K8LAObSAgE53Al6gxXtQtE/s320/IMG_5312.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMpDVrE45l1tmpVj9OCEzyhkLVMTslbmBCosWv7tI0laaItD7Acam35a2T33aLdwTuEt9LHRL5uwMmgxxVLr3PtfQvGkLDgDc_6ogAULonMvMFhql-uKmXSFGQLMg6LYwSIx_wJOnuKlH-EC3TVuy7okAnCfMbR_qqO8olM6xSjqRn82DqdS2yCC8mpU/s235/IMG_5316.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="176" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMpDVrE45l1tmpVj9OCEzyhkLVMTslbmBCosWv7tI0laaItD7Acam35a2T33aLdwTuEt9LHRL5uwMmgxxVLr3PtfQvGkLDgDc_6ogAULonMvMFhql-uKmXSFGQLMg6LYwSIx_wJOnuKlH-EC3TVuy7okAnCfMbR_qqO8olM6xSjqRn82DqdS2yCC8mpU/s1600/IMG_5316.JPG" width="176" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I just realized that with this admission, sweet Thomas has possibly spent time on every floor of Levine’s! Does this mean he wins a type of BINGO?</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4th Rehab</li><li>5th Surgery and PACU</li><li>6th PICU</li><li>7th, 9th, and 10th Observation/Surgical Patients</li><li>8th Progressive—this is the only floor I’m not positive he has stayed on!</li><li>11th Oncology</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcodG418xOmYdf5Sj7Gwbo4qTFmepX0kkHH6H4qxznd7rtNhX1l2VkzLgKwi0JGChTjBi_RMzIno467_PYITrFVYFhZG1DCtmi-6QHH-VBGe6-R3YX-NTFuXzcyyVTgJJ0ksIQjSe8CiUN8_ER6J7EDKyR1EiRltItLxRh_kO2YNrkXBjwum331nO5Q5Y/s884/IMG_5317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcodG418xOmYdf5Sj7Gwbo4qTFmepX0kkHH6H4qxznd7rtNhX1l2VkzLgKwi0JGChTjBi_RMzIno467_PYITrFVYFhZG1DCtmi-6QHH-VBGe6-R3YX-NTFuXzcyyVTgJJ0ksIQjSe8CiUN8_ER6J7EDKyR1EiRltItLxRh_kO2YNrkXBjwum331nO5Q5Y/s320/IMG_5317.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rt0wbFhro4928c1qmR1gKvEdDgCJnHr0W2KfSxwTt4KNwfs3S0_ve1tNonMFLbfHechZ7uWQhN8oo2VfdZ51dXMuNc3DygiaKgtA2A0c31uohuwb3hM_EK_6FdD_ZxaHeUG0O8JylDyzBhgkqoaXN896GFuQUyEzqIdiz0C9r6yn_b3aP2U2OK8PSjQ/s1179/IMG_5318.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rt0wbFhro4928c1qmR1gKvEdDgCJnHr0W2KfSxwTt4KNwfs3S0_ve1tNonMFLbfHechZ7uWQhN8oo2VfdZ51dXMuNc3DygiaKgtA2A0c31uohuwb3hM_EK_6FdD_ZxaHeUG0O8JylDyzBhgkqoaXN896GFuQUyEzqIdiz0C9r6yn_b3aP2U2OK8PSjQ/s320/IMG_5318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We are outta here! Thomas is being discharged (after four days) just in time to celebrate his brother David’s birthday.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZuaX7bWKZFAkYDmD6mvVEvbce6t-ASTLwn3kf5UK8ZPZeevEzY4r4fB_ATn-C1h_0NPzkBC2k_azqLql7yqDf8z_xNQcGyMAK6FuAP2blqCvoPt4kzOpVBfAdAPQpafPLBAoxXTmSKUL5sZ652B8IOQd8kIcKyx6k6LsCcnGX3-pzf-ByT-09W6TVwo/s1179/IMG_5319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZuaX7bWKZFAkYDmD6mvVEvbce6t-ASTLwn3kf5UK8ZPZeevEzY4r4fB_ATn-C1h_0NPzkBC2k_azqLql7yqDf8z_xNQcGyMAK6FuAP2blqCvoPt4kzOpVBfAdAPQpafPLBAoxXTmSKUL5sZ652B8IOQd8kIcKyx6k6LsCcnGX3-pzf-ByT-09W6TVwo/s320/IMG_5319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk99RPT7NM53fiEBWOTP89DTrpD7Z0z7sExupckNJgvkr38nUGum9wxwzwwuhJXGx5QSunx860Ow19zoe54YbYVIsoukrnVUmYdei5WdkSVbVfABRVTIxABWzwO0n_Ah3E_37uK1FCNbEpHYOM9ANbuSgdZ9vRmxEk-MZgxy8LU3pL5CuG8dHItNjGAg/s884/IMG_5325.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk99RPT7NM53fiEBWOTP89DTrpD7Z0z7sExupckNJgvkr38nUGum9wxwzwwuhJXGx5QSunx860Ow19zoe54YbYVIsoukrnVUmYdei5WdkSVbVfABRVTIxABWzwO0n_Ah3E_37uK1FCNbEpHYOM9ANbuSgdZ9vRmxEk-MZgxy8LU3pL5CuG8dHItNjGAg/s320/IMG_5325.PNG" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mama Facetiming with David on the morning of his birthday</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Happy 6th Birthday, David!</h2><p>Happy 6th birthday to our “baby,” David! </p><p>By the grace of God, Mama got home from Thomas’s hospital stay on David’s birthday so we could celebrate in ever so modest a way. Dollar Store decorations were put up and Margaret wrapped all his gifts beautifully. We didn’t have a cake—but all in due time! John took him out on a very special older brother outing to the ice cream parlor. </p><p>David is a precious little sidekick to anyone who will play with him and still very much my baby.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6oMoxcAPwi6AaGmM9gYHxhmVZA-qEdR3sQh_byzeDsqCNqIATIW6CfQYzDoNhwQHm-Ub2IMZwfaql8-EgniJXwvfJ6fsdYSwEmNsf96DW6dKkMsYEN9dgBymiavXL6AWmCgyLDaqN2hPmnkg0QzXNBAyeCp4y79IHJj4ZqhZ3nhapaLc8jrcyMyJxqc/s1179/IMG_5328.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6oMoxcAPwi6AaGmM9gYHxhmVZA-qEdR3sQh_byzeDsqCNqIATIW6CfQYzDoNhwQHm-Ub2IMZwfaql8-EgniJXwvfJ6fsdYSwEmNsf96DW6dKkMsYEN9dgBymiavXL6AWmCgyLDaqN2hPmnkg0QzXNBAyeCp4y79IHJj4ZqhZ3nhapaLc8jrcyMyJxqc/s320/IMG_5328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DaI9unX4gc6blchDbKLTGMzNvYkIujILWQQFU9v3CEbA1Ddb9I_S-K8P0djSbHurOVRuMRT-Goci8vdUSaAHxRWwv3p2zIqWG4YnRgSS64OUlP5DWDqX0Lqxa13dIcXnOLDgUhn_9r-dJevrf3PTqvw12B71tVlinDKBuX6qMExBJMFDgDF0GDuzHY0/s1179/IMG_5329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DaI9unX4gc6blchDbKLTGMzNvYkIujILWQQFU9v3CEbA1Ddb9I_S-K8P0djSbHurOVRuMRT-Goci8vdUSaAHxRWwv3p2zIqWG4YnRgSS64OUlP5DWDqX0Lqxa13dIcXnOLDgUhn_9r-dJevrf3PTqvw12B71tVlinDKBuX6qMExBJMFDgDF0GDuzHY0/s320/IMG_5329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25esMf87fR1yl6KqozUykXC2m-OsaMxJZimn15Gxq22btUNHWG6OPU6v-_3RcujDNXwz1JX_JRwuSFxx3ltH6pPdG9JVRgpDtZT4z-O_bFOYbnnPVr995WgS2WBKkFLj7c7Ad4Ixsue6lTz19mnLcwa7BMEmgGsFoy8_z08dMy36MFPsaERXJxRpsQH4/s884/IMG_5339.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25esMf87fR1yl6KqozUykXC2m-OsaMxJZimn15Gxq22btUNHWG6OPU6v-_3RcujDNXwz1JX_JRwuSFxx3ltH6pPdG9JVRgpDtZT4z-O_bFOYbnnPVr995WgS2WBKkFLj7c7Ad4Ixsue6lTz19mnLcwa7BMEmgGsFoy8_z08dMy36MFPsaERXJxRpsQH4/s320/IMG_5339.JPG" width="128" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmHDX3WbjgPfzZ6BQyUgaTcCS5P5qkaTvJ423Zq3jtPqP0d016L581tVsL-FAa0T1i5-LN0KQWDeKK17iCzcCs2cRdwFrjYXIYQW6D7pqZfFgE_WVpmI74ELnoM9YY-poRgDyf2sDehJcNuVdIgLvQQb_DV5Bs6qTgUncHc8T4lA8Xcu8xCn7bOKaiic/s884/IMG_5348.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmHDX3WbjgPfzZ6BQyUgaTcCS5P5qkaTvJ423Zq3jtPqP0d016L581tVsL-FAa0T1i5-LN0KQWDeKK17iCzcCs2cRdwFrjYXIYQW6D7pqZfFgE_WVpmI74ELnoM9YY-poRgDyf2sDehJcNuVdIgLvQQb_DV5Bs6qTgUncHc8T4lA8Xcu8xCn7bOKaiic/s320/IMG_5348.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzLPZKGYcGX7H4iGmhQ8ZwxTnLSsrqHGYLXNC-o0PMchU0oO3R8UPToGpbaaFtceAe8wnNKhiTf55RX6dvAahjDbjfQH2VjyV_Nrj4-V7FUD-ofW3RUogDYsZ_AAjljXCE5HsPrUHjJCbXjhFPRpgISH-tjL5LZZ2t0uvCyGCYcqqpbIK_x7uvG4VTpg/s1179/IMG_1439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzLPZKGYcGX7H4iGmhQ8ZwxTnLSsrqHGYLXNC-o0PMchU0oO3R8UPToGpbaaFtceAe8wnNKhiTf55RX6dvAahjDbjfQH2VjyV_Nrj4-V7FUD-ofW3RUogDYsZ_AAjljXCE5HsPrUHjJCbXjhFPRpgISH-tjL5LZZ2t0uvCyGCYcqqpbIK_x7uvG4VTpg/s320/IMG_1439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHM9s5ZVk-BjxpQ0PfyImxo5zue8BqD1nXX-cA6zONnMKAaVm7wJCmIpiHzDlk49f5h_kiUvkA4MD-00dFEsaKAid7YUVUiAN0YHPKOvV13h_SxzK10fh8imy01DYQENejopeAacBy53wJeDeMLpEHiN0EsSnALXqfCVTKKfyYjYLaXw-mlFQxmInZiA/s1179/IMG_1440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHM9s5ZVk-BjxpQ0PfyImxo5zue8BqD1nXX-cA6zONnMKAaVm7wJCmIpiHzDlk49f5h_kiUvkA4MD-00dFEsaKAid7YUVUiAN0YHPKOvV13h_SxzK10fh8imy01DYQENejopeAacBy53wJeDeMLpEHiN0EsSnALXqfCVTKKfyYjYLaXw-mlFQxmInZiA/s320/IMG_1440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Launching the Homeschool 2023-24</h2><p>GOD WILLING, now we will really start homeschool this coming Monday. (I am trying to start a bit early to accommodate Chris's upcoming surgery.) My homeschool room will never look as nice and neat as it does today, when nobody is doing school in it, dreams remain unpopped, and hope is unfettered. Grades this year are 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5MigfXYdEZmh3C_8ED7b5sEhppjktLxKxRmRDVgsl5Y2OXa7aRN5OlJhO9vcQ_lwFWbj1K4Yd8ztTB5dDsAfzp3wQGAGHTGAuk48ePoWY0uMwZiBT7Chev3e_wpg4c7sa9UO-LeT_Kj1ODdRzIHSUTNmGUA2_vmZGLKgUENG6FfJ0anUMlXKNFQaclc/s1179/IMG_5369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5MigfXYdEZmh3C_8ED7b5sEhppjktLxKxRmRDVgsl5Y2OXa7aRN5OlJhO9vcQ_lwFWbj1K4Yd8ztTB5dDsAfzp3wQGAGHTGAuk48ePoWY0uMwZiBT7Chev3e_wpg4c7sa9UO-LeT_Kj1ODdRzIHSUTNmGUA2_vmZGLKgUENG6FfJ0anUMlXKNFQaclc/s320/IMG_5369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWHz-mbNUXbPMgPVfGbpX5az-2bUDrdqTMWP43TVCqMPLU31yzdpdbrUvbiHKrym8HWx92U6fODluw8DhQ92LhoF_HANJHEcR7dn-XxA5DR385uCQElv8VhRPJl1i_Y-rQsQEkfveg5wZ7xJp9ACZKhNljPTMbmsmBv-rCXRZ_i6BjFyqNigqguWTC_I/s884/IMG_5365.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWHz-mbNUXbPMgPVfGbpX5az-2bUDrdqTMWP43TVCqMPLU31yzdpdbrUvbiHKrym8HWx92U6fODluw8DhQ92LhoF_HANJHEcR7dn-XxA5DR385uCQElv8VhRPJl1i_Y-rQsQEkfveg5wZ7xJp9ACZKhNljPTMbmsmBv-rCXRZ_i6BjFyqNigqguWTC_I/s320/IMG_5365.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q3N6zHUi3mgg5A8jC6dcSbmqn9UkSkNSa-sF5Z_ll3BjeT7jYRuaaTDbIdeZbJ3_o-F3T8Vj6bgX2jLtGgkSqNOppk5Api_7vA8e2aGewyBBxxJlLhAg3HOPo5tH9mX6Nw0bc8zFZbc58X-QqxnR3AG93rmcbSC1HbYyxGjLrABl8gm6HIADJW0kjQA/s884/IMG_5366.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q3N6zHUi3mgg5A8jC6dcSbmqn9UkSkNSa-sF5Z_ll3BjeT7jYRuaaTDbIdeZbJ3_o-F3T8Vj6bgX2jLtGgkSqNOppk5Api_7vA8e2aGewyBBxxJlLhAg3HOPo5tH9mX6Nw0bc8zFZbc58X-QqxnR3AG93rmcbSC1HbYyxGjLrABl8gm6HIADJW0kjQA/s320/IMG_5366.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X-DBsPwN21hpMB5SgC58HhRFLEhZXKmQtgqACJDP7PsTrfrpXCZm-IMAdGxtV-fO2wleifgFkU2agQsv29OL5q4IHi1RxXNRHr55W4ih_pJRB-ZSm1-cz8N-buWk-E-BbIFjihX5pRybLYkmmg98i2GLiI3rmV0OkEBqv4AbxKn4iypSTD0aQebLo14/s1179/IMG_5367.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X-DBsPwN21hpMB5SgC58HhRFLEhZXKmQtgqACJDP7PsTrfrpXCZm-IMAdGxtV-fO2wleifgFkU2agQsv29OL5q4IHi1RxXNRHr55W4ih_pJRB-ZSm1-cz8N-buWk-E-BbIFjihX5pRybLYkmmg98i2GLiI3rmV0OkEBqv4AbxKn4iypSTD0aQebLo14/s320/IMG_5367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG9fPQryJSFf3vMm01vcmy64IlBNvJr0Xsqtu_yhbYUu8h_w4ZSkOH5NZpMMj7FF0vJ8oc2SU2IJ38iA1A7pdj7z9-oQbCm2SEi9TiVHubodz2UxROJkjREeO4HolAzEayLUGxIM1LD8O4RzWOWBYV-_zThX6W4aNfWw7pHFgD9MaXhcOPpY4VCBuo30/s884/IMG_5368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG9fPQryJSFf3vMm01vcmy64IlBNvJr0Xsqtu_yhbYUu8h_w4ZSkOH5NZpMMj7FF0vJ8oc2SU2IJ38iA1A7pdj7z9-oQbCm2SEi9TiVHubodz2UxROJkjREeO4HolAzEayLUGxIM1LD8O4RzWOWBYV-_zThX6W4aNfWw7pHFgD9MaXhcOPpY4VCBuo30/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMu1hJg1NWJfrf_HmaU2dLDAQEa2sZt73PAjmO6zOd6qz2iW3Yh_MNZQRU2-QY9yzeXmqjcwZSSvvLzOkc7mMYdlqvxHGNEi-HI85goZd0yNMetwFa_ttLKBDYUYW-uuM_IS3ZvRb7nq-p7o7kIUidSfkIErvdmgIE9IxYmIKWx_PBJ3SIvbJskot-hE/s884/IMG_5364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMu1hJg1NWJfrf_HmaU2dLDAQEa2sZt73PAjmO6zOd6qz2iW3Yh_MNZQRU2-QY9yzeXmqjcwZSSvvLzOkc7mMYdlqvxHGNEi-HI85goZd0yNMetwFa_ttLKBDYUYW-uuM_IS3ZvRb7nq-p7o7kIUidSfkIErvdmgIE9IxYmIKWx_PBJ3SIvbJskot-hE/s320/IMG_5364.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>We had a successful first day of school! I was done teaching the three elementary-aged boys by 12:15. This is a "soft start" and not all our subjects have begun for the year--nor am I yet managing the top three students--but we did cover a lot and I feel content. Sometimes I get asked "how I do it?!" and one big answer is that I know I can't do it all and I no longer try. I cannot possibly teach math, phonics, spelling, grammar, handwriting, etc. TIMES THREE every single day. So some things must be daily (math) but some things I feel compelled to spread out, such as alternating which days we do spelling, which days we do phonics, and planning to finish a one-semester grammar book over the course of the whole year. Our family no longer has help with housekeeping, landscaping, or babysitting/mother's helper, so we're trying to do it all by ourselves. One person can only do what she can do: God, please fill in the cracks. (Photos have fun commentary.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHfxEyFX4UXQZQQctTI7YbHtA2FE_aw_Ew_fKOG_XNlwITw6zzEDjLVhHd3OrK_Z0aPjVgFCGLUU7zYAuQWobLVigmIQvpoG_Nh2vLlIG0YF3lnwduFwpR-iU4qcQgPrAwHxS0b-xozs2vFaZYpJCf1Fbzu9CNUAc9jnn4wXX9qG0BWzuUyobivbhnQY/s884/IMG_5392.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHfxEyFX4UXQZQQctTI7YbHtA2FE_aw_Ew_fKOG_XNlwITw6zzEDjLVhHd3OrK_Z0aPjVgFCGLUU7zYAuQWobLVigmIQvpoG_Nh2vLlIG0YF3lnwduFwpR-iU4qcQgPrAwHxS0b-xozs2vFaZYpJCf1Fbzu9CNUAc9jnn4wXX9qG0BWzuUyobivbhnQY/s320/IMG_5392.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I can only teach one kid at a time, so I'm asking the boys to read independently while they wait. Thomas chose MacBeth.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDLdsC3lMDDWMCAq_xjoHNlBe2IlSQppLypSA32yjGWXLf8UFyisHr3uB0x_OLTHm2KsQQrGYES9QAvNQF8Tk4jWubCmzC3kMeJ4bVm5Mn3WHnCm6uSPZh9x1s4VB2QpmCA4ExBunxOYbZ-DxyJoHCBbTB0eGosPP2ldffnjR0NSHNJnJoH_Ju4F6V1E/s884/IMG_5394.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDLdsC3lMDDWMCAq_xjoHNlBe2IlSQppLypSA32yjGWXLf8UFyisHr3uB0x_OLTHm2KsQQrGYES9QAvNQF8Tk4jWubCmzC3kMeJ4bVm5Mn3WHnCm6uSPZh9x1s4VB2QpmCA4ExBunxOYbZ-DxyJoHCBbTB0eGosPP2ldffnjR0NSHNJnJoH_Ju4F6V1E/s320/IMG_5394.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First grade math!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd85cHDM41-PxKWyopvvhw3hhOeAJHbFo4XeO3OrHgVoxrDWsf4TZiaC9QHT7KMZoIiL-M_ZZFQ2kL1_TzNQS_vQpGTQAg5RR_AFLiy-Rcjm69OO-doysGIW1Tsi8J5wyrveAK_38moGkQul7PNygzVfcBDyitJYwxt44wfzJOtlYiovdhlrUJihd_jCc/s884/IMG_5395.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd85cHDM41-PxKWyopvvhw3hhOeAJHbFo4XeO3OrHgVoxrDWsf4TZiaC9QHT7KMZoIiL-M_ZZFQ2kL1_TzNQS_vQpGTQAg5RR_AFLiy-Rcjm69OO-doysGIW1Tsi8J5wyrveAK_38moGkQul7PNygzVfcBDyitJYwxt44wfzJOtlYiovdhlrUJihd_jCc/s320/IMG_5395.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We are pet sitting a dog, so we had three dogs constantly in arms during school today.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CsAJT533wDWDcBpaO9kRomAbFNQMJw0iJXo3ptEhFHnct5gEuePIAaa-v2t5ja2ZvOgv-7tckwgKv7BMAsyZvWtT0jxpOgl1gKZirWOWfqdmIjw2Re_12qQJlJEjkPM400_tmedaLurLHXJJzy3oSgJHCBaxNEqMvWm5ElZ_a7Ed2drMHmcUITCrUug/s320/367401934_10160722184613360_5489897046242155550_n.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My fifth grader chose to read a children's version of The Epic of Gilgamesh during his independent reading (and snack) time.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zk1O9wttakj913IGwSkpVXqLPh-gHFUDWNNat_c07JPNYBC_NsSR8h9K6d9ZSvHZr7j9nRQ7pcUwmEnzAj6ROvaOJp-8mpHoUYaBKkrW0y_ZCteKCoJkajSJhroMcN8Y0O7ChMnqn17KsZ3uo96oVvd5gUPWVz6LXKoKjA6saRy1JHROndlRrBhBuSE/s1179/IMG_5399.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zk1O9wttakj913IGwSkpVXqLPh-gHFUDWNNat_c07JPNYBC_NsSR8h9K6d9ZSvHZr7j9nRQ7pcUwmEnzAj6ROvaOJp-8mpHoUYaBKkrW0y_ZCteKCoJkajSJhroMcN8Y0O7ChMnqn17KsZ3uo96oVvd5gUPWVz6LXKoKjA6saRy1JHROndlRrBhBuSE/s320/IMG_5399.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joseph and Nicky</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu9kdS8bTfAo_-8Bo6w_4mjyjPFQuLg8jw6bFYDzGFsZAVK1EwUocbqEyXdm-Nf_bKmIPr96srko9xT0e2Ek2hC4QPa3EEMbzBeFlVBHHglef44jxCP2g3Bupzym126ToYvxHvGwpCZEsS7nYwlkYGSXIE3W3UtzsieiM_V2i-8AgdEUYt938c77uChg/s1179/366317336_10160722184778360_7892476492442589893_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu9kdS8bTfAo_-8Bo6w_4mjyjPFQuLg8jw6bFYDzGFsZAVK1EwUocbqEyXdm-Nf_bKmIPr96srko9xT0e2Ek2hC4QPa3EEMbzBeFlVBHHglef44jxCP2g3Bupzym126ToYvxHvGwpCZEsS7nYwlkYGSXIE3W3UtzsieiM_V2i-8AgdEUYt938c77uChg/s320/366317336_10160722184778360_7892476492442589893_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joseph wants us all to know his opinion of our new grammar program.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUmhRuaJb_y5aWLB5o6rgyueAk8i-b295mcmR8ccirqxo-f2hyphenhyphen098Egq_63hWSh-rE_QsPUNtUlCDaPDCk8-Nrspr-c7pSx1jpPMzLIONt3vkKOUfcf9d0ZLlCXKjqKsgZDG9LNL-OzVpPrF9TBJJyegAVOIermJupFDOuAHQc8TCXwu6I-qNMXmTmJQ/s320/IMG_5404.JPG" style="color: #0000ee; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Even the teacher constantly had a dog in her lap.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0AYvyF5vTzybh3IBDan3jTgZeKUTgukjM5LczCT_rA9SSpwDAkdlWgwqOfslwRe0ndoNLEx0CwC1zww82ku0N7Z2zD1Nh4Jl5G00OoxvPAQpIeeoOy4waAmOLc3Ug37SH5uJs4MqhVeYjtQeMOqLzMKoEMWjBdLvo8LLdojJ5dKAq66IeCd7hoWoru8/s1668/IMG_5405.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1668" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0AYvyF5vTzybh3IBDan3jTgZeKUTgukjM5LczCT_rA9SSpwDAkdlWgwqOfslwRe0ndoNLEx0CwC1zww82ku0N7Z2zD1Nh4Jl5G00OoxvPAQpIeeoOy4waAmOLc3Ug37SH5uJs4MqhVeYjtQeMOqLzMKoEMWjBdLvo8LLdojJ5dKAq66IeCd7hoWoru8/s320/IMG_5405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Each boy has a box of independent reading on the subjects of: science, historic fiction, classic literature, and saints. I also have their snack boxes in the school room with us, so they can just snack while doing school instead of interrupting me.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWzMOPHIHpLwuqoUELp2WFZ-qgd76oFKdFvVznB1a1gK0MvSgBrwAK3ObG4NPZ-WEW1OZBCv5LLZHbMh-U4xnRSki3EFiFLOeWbLELH4ROXitjoVN1F0x5gAu3PI_Fov404HRAfjscUwsPg6bzo8FBEAgg_4fBB4_NLYsV6Xe41-DEXRp8XQzMMlms_8/s884/366684894_10160722184968360_6477813689559785418_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWzMOPHIHpLwuqoUELp2WFZ-qgd76oFKdFvVznB1a1gK0MvSgBrwAK3ObG4NPZ-WEW1OZBCv5LLZHbMh-U4xnRSki3EFiFLOeWbLELH4ROXitjoVN1F0x5gAu3PI_Fov404HRAfjscUwsPg6bzo8FBEAgg_4fBB4_NLYsV6Xe41-DEXRp8XQzMMlms_8/s320/366684894_10160722184968360_6477813689559785418_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My plan is for us to listen to one chapter from TAN's Story of Civilization twice each week, as well as having my fifth grader read the chapter (so a third exposure to the information). AND THAT'S IT.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrWqn5xIqzNXFSlCAT8LupYzwu05r1-vCVBmyTDuPw24B4RvZn9w8k69subgQ0eIKsDRE1aPC5ZDnZ4nK98txZA1WMP21xpWcXxzxnWO0UN3St2YxjiSIHNkxVBRzlhzVclmkZa04j6p4RKhgWcjpfz38HDfG7EM62oZIZF1CAU9R_1VVADOBd9hor44/s4032/IMG_5401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrWqn5xIqzNXFSlCAT8LupYzwu05r1-vCVBmyTDuPw24B4RvZn9w8k69subgQ0eIKsDRE1aPC5ZDnZ4nK98txZA1WMP21xpWcXxzxnWO0UN3St2YxjiSIHNkxVBRzlhzVclmkZa04j6p4RKhgWcjpfz38HDfG7EM62oZIZF1CAU9R_1VVADOBd9hor44/s320/IMG_5401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozrV0cddrp62gE_VJZnOSJN9S540DujdxcTiXf0ImCvKsPeznQSU4JpgJ_HNMR99Chn4ZzlEXrctpu49OQQ0K-HXhybYfs1Q4BEItLpc7EToJMpLQlX6AVJ58DgDUcJqNr1u1HhAT1JOYWlglDVViZu6fzbC4EAKczGINec37KZpmRVRWezOm4Owhkfw/s884/IMG_5410.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozrV0cddrp62gE_VJZnOSJN9S540DujdxcTiXf0ImCvKsPeznQSU4JpgJ_HNMR99Chn4ZzlEXrctpu49OQQ0K-HXhybYfs1Q4BEItLpc7EToJMpLQlX6AVJ58DgDUcJqNr1u1HhAT1JOYWlglDVViZu6fzbC4EAKczGINec37KZpmRVRWezOm4Owhkfw/s320/IMG_5410.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>While Thomas (3rd grader) was waiting for me at one point, he wrote an entire comic book called "The Kidnapper." It is four pages long with thrilling illustrations showing a man kidnapping a dog from a pet store and being pursued by people shooting from a helicopter, and someone even escaping by a grappeling hook.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7TpS9ZmMYcnPB7X_OyY4o9rfQqM1ZQbvDBO79gppaRhrXDkRO8YnpXR1HobMHGzxhLwNsWF9MQMia6WEbCLY3pES29_8iHOtLW9IY6zjpPhTRIX6ydEUqs-lzpPVUFSsthrhNhLzAkC1AgZWpg9or3QgVs74qdAvNacymWXkd8EYAwot23p9WrzhKeE/s884/366605171_10160722185058360_1786450666302938727_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="273" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7TpS9ZmMYcnPB7X_OyY4o9rfQqM1ZQbvDBO79gppaRhrXDkRO8YnpXR1HobMHGzxhLwNsWF9MQMia6WEbCLY3pES29_8iHOtLW9IY6zjpPhTRIX6ydEUqs-lzpPVUFSsthrhNhLzAkC1AgZWpg9or3QgVs74qdAvNacymWXkd8EYAwot23p9WrzhKeE/s320/366605171_10160722185058360_1786450666302938727_n.jpg" width="99" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Day one complete by 12:15! I taught math x3, spelling x1, phonics x1, grammar x1, handwriting x3, religion, and history. We will build up our stamina from here, but I am content.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Local Blood Drive</h2><p>My friends over at Wren's Village just had a new bloodmobile sponsored here in Charlotte. It is so often that I remember that Thomas could not have survived without the 93 (!!!) blood transfusions he received over the course of only 4 (!!!) weeks. Based on blood volume calculators, that means Thomas's entire blood volume was replaced 34 times. Chris has been donating platelets every two weeks this past year, and is impatiently waiting right now while he is forced to take a break in anticipation of his own surgery . . . he wants to get back to donating!</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Beautiful Young Ladies</h2><p>Tonight I took my two beautiful young ladies to the fancy hair salon for back-to-school hair cuts. Meanwhile, I excitedly used my quiet time in the salon lobby to browse a new broom-and-dustpan set on Amazon (and still haven’t chosen one because there were so many nuanced differences for this housewife to consider). Then my girls woke me up, my having fallen asleep on the salon sofa because I am always so very tired. I remember having the world as my oyster, and now I’m looking forward to buying a broom, if I can just stay awake long enough. Thus the cycle of life continues.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU-GSQwLdb4_1uJMqK_ynJHgRWd-zSNgJ48Zqh-cX-A5R3lqqkZARNf_kL-09Ah1Zqg285V9zMisk9NZp0t0hpnAsseam-e5Qi6RBHFZpMNyiYXhgKdQ9X1SS26wYP_G7e6sZMocSH-oRMI2yaKpKlYt2R2TBeVuIZ3wzMyDdGhtBF0yr8aUhEnLJ28Q/s4032/IMG_5487.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU-GSQwLdb4_1uJMqK_ynJHgRWd-zSNgJ48Zqh-cX-A5R3lqqkZARNf_kL-09Ah1Zqg285V9zMisk9NZp0t0hpnAsseam-e5Qi6RBHFZpMNyiYXhgKdQ9X1SS26wYP_G7e6sZMocSH-oRMI2yaKpKlYt2R2TBeVuIZ3wzMyDdGhtBF0yr8aUhEnLJ28Q/s320/IMG_5487.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7PThLYTxZ_FtUgdW9KATDVuQFQpCwBZjUTGGmjphzX246BqfbbnfUB2l140M3OkP3usWWT2E_Zr474esw3Siol-MpBe2akmLoJzhyphenhyphenFw7e8ZDpcA5F3sl2Vtas_RGSvm87UJq-8-sLJcrq3Ahjr8DZV6ajqwGWSZ8FBWfY_7YaNbHjdxjcmHDPGkYqtY/s2409/IMG_5490.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2409" data-original-width="2170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7PThLYTxZ_FtUgdW9KATDVuQFQpCwBZjUTGGmjphzX246BqfbbnfUB2l140M3OkP3usWWT2E_Zr474esw3Siol-MpBe2akmLoJzhyphenhyphenFw7e8ZDpcA5F3sl2Vtas_RGSvm87UJq-8-sLJcrq3Ahjr8DZV6ajqwGWSZ8FBWfY_7YaNbHjdxjcmHDPGkYqtY/s320/IMG_5490.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">CCE 2023-24</h2><p>The first day of CCE (our elementary school co-op) went swimmingly! This year it looks like I will have one hour of Nursery duties, I will be teaching Geography to grades 3-5, and I will be a substitute for sick Presenters. All glory to God.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz19jc0dvnRVIvPmji2IE9Ua4yA6eIX-e3AaiRdjOmHUfzmCwqkvK8mQ29eC5Vw2Uh5VmxiQg6_uHZT2jTFmba0VOXcyNJJI5jJiUfwWWvbLgD9LRqIa6yE-ibnR2yggho2S9xrRSvY3BXQL7DLGKW2QcHkLEod9-8bElDdHHYjN0U4vKSL5MdTrJAa4/s1179/IMG_7596.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz19jc0dvnRVIvPmji2IE9Ua4yA6eIX-e3AaiRdjOmHUfzmCwqkvK8mQ29eC5Vw2Uh5VmxiQg6_uHZT2jTFmba0VOXcyNJJI5jJiUfwWWvbLgD9LRqIa6yE-ibnR2yggho2S9xrRSvY3BXQL7DLGKW2QcHkLEod9-8bElDdHHYjN0U4vKSL5MdTrJAa4/s320/IMG_7596.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gc3VG5OlYSRA8pSC3fHuP5-JUbMdTC00jV6yiyvPV8tSbti1vFBhsjlhpQt0krPLS52cbSACyiS_-USR5IgQtebznBmIlJ-mFNPvTpvOUdc00eZZ3dqJaMyydDia89Mnvy5IeEbwoPJ35R_xe1QBQ8WRkHO8CbxTpc48HeR-G-pdQPO4VHlR7E_qQJI/s884/IMG_7598.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gc3VG5OlYSRA8pSC3fHuP5-JUbMdTC00jV6yiyvPV8tSbti1vFBhsjlhpQt0krPLS52cbSACyiS_-USR5IgQtebznBmIlJ-mFNPvTpvOUdc00eZZ3dqJaMyydDia89Mnvy5IeEbwoPJ35R_xe1QBQ8WRkHO8CbxTpc48HeR-G-pdQPO4VHlR7E_qQJI/s320/IMG_7598.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Organization (Correspondence)</h2><p>Our family can sleep a little easier now that I’ve organized the Correspondence Drawer. Easily labeled for anyone to find. And each category of cards is bundled together and labeled. Have an emergency correspondence situation? I’ve got you covered.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYX7CtPUunfoU6XS2CONTcDK16eXVq5HwgajaocGW5DG3K7fmqsjacOXdkKRf6uGPNvAin0wy4DnHAjo6-gFp-JcZZEgEjp49F2UsqkharAlUnr4K3QSWL2d64TN5exulhkX_FtSC6BPatka3MT7qme29xSMUNx5aRgvoBW8d3mgFGpf-DQcwZ8ohrz8/s2048/367447936_10160746916283360_958248121002592410_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYX7CtPUunfoU6XS2CONTcDK16eXVq5HwgajaocGW5DG3K7fmqsjacOXdkKRf6uGPNvAin0wy4DnHAjo6-gFp-JcZZEgEjp49F2UsqkharAlUnr4K3QSWL2d64TN5exulhkX_FtSC6BPatka3MT7qme29xSMUNx5aRgvoBW8d3mgFGpf-DQcwZ8ohrz8/s320/367447936_10160746916283360_958248121002592410_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVjXeZ0L3QzfoML4OnA5zNs_ExmqyrP5Bsn-0klPrOYKmIgus984B7Df_gQhqvyGwk_Raxj4hghXWNrJENn5Ou6p0m_1qU3FnVNNehwiRQPOanfn50K_2B3h3ap24mL7qO6iSsMCvx9l0hZbtJANyLmsGWguZBJvTpNk9YHhRpLAlNsYRosHJGb-kqY/s2048/368249265_10160746916263360_9023656193509856071_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVjXeZ0L3QzfoML4OnA5zNs_ExmqyrP5Bsn-0klPrOYKmIgus984B7Df_gQhqvyGwk_Raxj4hghXWNrJENn5Ou6p0m_1qU3FnVNNehwiRQPOanfn50K_2B3h3ap24mL7qO6iSsMCvx9l0hZbtJANyLmsGWguZBJvTpNk9YHhRpLAlNsYRosHJGb-kqY/s320/368249265_10160746916263360_9023656193509856071_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Cat Campaign</h2><p>My kids are trying their best to convince Dad to get a cat! (Never going to happen.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF-TqQbZy0oSQFjMTG1urh0VV4gFF6duUIbc-yIVWhGFreIxJfWi-iK0jl9ss_QuTVmR8Qf5OUR8OJP1C94Kkxf5BGLmbPS9k6lLDG-sOxr_2E4_d1KJZVCzxOdLQU7XV3BnHAj43_5wwmrJhUTjVQWKlM9X8_OEGtAzOHkIu6KEt1dhBoOIUuvzOR-k/s1179/IMG_5513.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF-TqQbZy0oSQFjMTG1urh0VV4gFF6duUIbc-yIVWhGFreIxJfWi-iK0jl9ss_QuTVmR8Qf5OUR8OJP1C94Kkxf5BGLmbPS9k6lLDG-sOxr_2E4_d1KJZVCzxOdLQU7XV3BnHAj43_5wwmrJhUTjVQWKlM9X8_OEGtAzOHkIu6KEt1dhBoOIUuvzOR-k/s320/IMG_5513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Home Pharmacy</h2><p>My medical mama friends will identify with this bump in the road of trying to keep us in stock of everything Thomas needs! </p><p>I've learned a lot about iron deficiency, such as that there are many forms of iron, they are bioavailable to varying degrees (read: some of those iron pills you're buying are pretty worthless), and people with different GI conditions or reconstructions need very specific forms of iron. Thomas needs *one* form of iron and as a *liquid*, not a pill: and if he takes that daily at about 12x the normal RDA, and combined with vitamin C to enhance absorption, then our sweet boy can maintain his iron without having IV iron infusions.</p><p>BUT! The form of this medication is currently very hard to find on the market. First, our doctor prescribed it, but the hospital pharmacy called me to say that there are only two manufacturers and both currently have NONE. The pharmacist told me to hunt for it on the open market. I found a bottle from one of the manufacturers and bought it. But now that I'm ready to re-order, I discovered that the stash available on the open market is now used up, so I hunted down a bottle from the second manufacturer. Thomas's hematologist requested, "Please order him several months' worth!" So I purchased three months' worth and now we hope that the manufacturers will have more made soon.</p><p>I try to keep a buffer stash of all his meds in the house and now I try to avoid watching movies about societal collapse because those are now too scary for me to contemplate.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Golf Lessons Resumed for the Fall</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueuCiySOAPN-N3TIuUud3Q9q-RDmqpJt3OocRL9jUuYIAWjPGA-ZKqKJVQomTMFSpI4WgtUtRsLfDBgq8M7kAmWHakK0GbrsEb6fxHbhOvcbu4iKN6CkVdTDfYPzDGSbRuqPB01XKLuExEWwsyw47uPe8VncgCDFJtOKwNmkFiyCO1UJ_L7IgS8ckns0/s884/IMG_5428.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueuCiySOAPN-N3TIuUud3Q9q-RDmqpJt3OocRL9jUuYIAWjPGA-ZKqKJVQomTMFSpI4WgtUtRsLfDBgq8M7kAmWHakK0GbrsEb6fxHbhOvcbu4iKN6CkVdTDfYPzDGSbRuqPB01XKLuExEWwsyw47uPe8VncgCDFJtOKwNmkFiyCO1UJ_L7IgS8ckns0/s320/IMG_5428.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">First Food Impaction</h2><div>Thomas gave us quite a scare when he experienced what we now know was his first food impaction. He will always be at risk for this occuring due to his total gastrectomy. His food got blocked, either in his esophagus or small intestine and just sat there. He could breathe just fine, but it was incredibly uncomfortable. He began retching (dry heaving) over and over for nearly an hour. We were in constant contact with his surgeon and were just about to load him into the car to go to the Emergency Room to be scoped when he successfully vomited up the large amount of food. It was so scary and sad.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLsD3kalSlfMKgV8QS_RZfPfN0vs2M35M1NZmljjtQhifqJbLf_XvavVLKQw5DZKRxUtejMkx46e0OcHk9ciw08nLOpYehFiD1uOiA6jGDRtsoc0NPP32WCZVYJmz_Gw0t2ZRdPvTIVyAT2jY3VccNwXy-wTYDYQs2j3stm4I2jNfHPMUOcKPMmyPgZs/s4032/IMG-5473%20food%20impaction.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLsD3kalSlfMKgV8QS_RZfPfN0vs2M35M1NZmljjtQhifqJbLf_XvavVLKQw5DZKRxUtejMkx46e0OcHk9ciw08nLOpYehFiD1uOiA6jGDRtsoc0NPP32WCZVYJmz_Gw0t2ZRdPvTIVyAT2jY3VccNwXy-wTYDYQs2j3stm4I2jNfHPMUOcKPMmyPgZs/s320/IMG-5473%20food%20impaction.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Miscellaneous Moments</h2></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2c-CpfpKNI5MG2rQpcwmqJRqe3EUjatdXFz5DZ4ku81UU9HMDHk6j6i49XNv0if_H9n2PwCAhyphenhypheng_vmTdZ-pFkdD1Mhp4TmAJgio1xQnj_Rdazt9K7wdOzB2EvhLfDzhJPtjqWAh3itkiL0rZOEgue-5JlBM9bKNCQ7rbpSiigrgEaXDnm4DkaADPNZY/s884/IMG_5540.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2c-CpfpKNI5MG2rQpcwmqJRqe3EUjatdXFz5DZ4ku81UU9HMDHk6j6i49XNv0if_H9n2PwCAhyphenhypheng_vmTdZ-pFkdD1Mhp4TmAJgio1xQnj_Rdazt9K7wdOzB2EvhLfDzhJPtjqWAh3itkiL0rZOEgue-5JlBM9bKNCQ7rbpSiigrgEaXDnm4DkaADPNZY/s320/IMG_5540.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thomas loves assembling his anatomy skeleton.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq06WZM7sD_5f47QGNXhSFZrNaXCo2tmWpPGnZIWw1vMLNj3UFrtvF2rpAKDAhD6_Rlf_6cQyBUp-VTbTOhqHvjeG8kWxSDef0QFl6v67Xvjd7q3eopHuBi77W-l05oSIDbPNY_mmG7wEQUwv6yVo7mGX7YFXLU6iQNnDjWFMhozIlSO7QXaBAn49-5kM/s4032/IMG_5553.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq06WZM7sD_5f47QGNXhSFZrNaXCo2tmWpPGnZIWw1vMLNj3UFrtvF2rpAKDAhD6_Rlf_6cQyBUp-VTbTOhqHvjeG8kWxSDef0QFl6v67Xvjd7q3eopHuBi77W-l05oSIDbPNY_mmG7wEQUwv6yVo7mGX7YFXLU6iQNnDjWFMhozIlSO7QXaBAn49-5kM/s320/IMG_5553.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reading in the lobby of the new oncology clinic</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzgFhAOX6AAkYtiaq6HXMxocI-9q7XL6c0MNr_9pt9ZMJ_MPZZ9NT10_716KDQjbNajKszl_XBNEIQyJ5FZBYQHow869xcfW2w-ZnC6fmzVKgIKdypH9LKdH_GvXpeBRdyo5DxhCXq4qClcyeIJkBxmfSV-yXG-iV7lCETvLKEWxrgrxqb7u-sJb3zuA/s4032/IMG_5634.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzgFhAOX6AAkYtiaq6HXMxocI-9q7XL6c0MNr_9pt9ZMJ_MPZZ9NT10_716KDQjbNajKszl_XBNEIQyJ5FZBYQHow869xcfW2w-ZnC6fmzVKgIKdypH9LKdH_GvXpeBRdyo5DxhCXq4qClcyeIJkBxmfSV-yXG-iV7lCETvLKEWxrgrxqb7u-sJb3zuA/s320/IMG_5634.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thomas got dressed on a random day just to show me what he would wear on Sunday.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvOl9m95kZtKVzIS7MU6qNh97QI6QbkAcwHkzb4z7XRj0Zx4fYzqaWASl6m2izuuAZItb7QngLw-gFXgX-ORgSmHP9VmaFzNmIKTfTIAeNs5Q1rSWaDTvazCMuX_Pb8T3JznXYv8iLiro8ccON6AqC2pAkt8yfLskoJJ310LNXazF30r3y9U89ybRQcs/s4032/IMG_5711.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvOl9m95kZtKVzIS7MU6qNh97QI6QbkAcwHkzb4z7XRj0Zx4fYzqaWASl6m2izuuAZItb7QngLw-gFXgX-ORgSmHP9VmaFzNmIKTfTIAeNs5Q1rSWaDTvazCMuX_Pb8T3JznXYv8iLiro8ccON6AqC2pAkt8yfLskoJJ310LNXazF30r3y9U89ybRQcs/s320/IMG_5711.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>John and Mary going to a dance</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vzpcf0b9zGiMAtql2keAgICuts9dkCsFH0_UICsuHTqlFibaCE6OVWTQgZWfe5FI3nsiv7b8-Gau9tLy9CAxQPtAWP92u4VQwIuei1ciYHA3dgaMg5lO4gF7yAh12h8QwrHOW1r6MkyTBERZ2cd6GYsZKhgONxnKRfGeihBHqmIg2naX_fEwsqvSviw/s884/IMG_5875.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vzpcf0b9zGiMAtql2keAgICuts9dkCsFH0_UICsuHTqlFibaCE6OVWTQgZWfe5FI3nsiv7b8-Gau9tLy9CAxQPtAWP92u4VQwIuei1ciYHA3dgaMg5lO4gF7yAh12h8QwrHOW1r6MkyTBERZ2cd6GYsZKhgONxnKRfGeihBHqmIg2naX_fEwsqvSviw/s320/IMG_5875.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>John works 15-20 hours per week at the ice cream shop.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuk_xVn9q4UeKlteIiusDrI1BytSv6ie4mOIbf1FccSz8whYJnwoaDnXeGFjRknOm3LZag9FghZ2dEzRdnhp9LFD75FabyHHbMgxYnlIVe1y9GTOmgisR7_ow81fKMONuCxBqLSY5sj0FmNsENoGK5IiJjVKholzEeu_7AY3uDO6G8VVBswDBFc93WYM/s1179/IMG_7610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuk_xVn9q4UeKlteIiusDrI1BytSv6ie4mOIbf1FccSz8whYJnwoaDnXeGFjRknOm3LZag9FghZ2dEzRdnhp9LFD75FabyHHbMgxYnlIVe1y9GTOmgisR7_ow81fKMONuCxBqLSY5sj0FmNsENoGK5IiJjVKholzEeu_7AY3uDO6G8VVBswDBFc93WYM/s320/IMG_7610.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mary has begun taking organ lessons and here is practicing at Belmont Abbey College.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Food Photos</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Snacks</h3><p>Today is the fifth day of my trying a new experiment: providing snack boxes for my elementary-aged children. Each boy has a box with his name on it, and each morning I fill it with snacks to cover the whole day. He can eat the snacks at will, but there is no other food allowed the whole day outside of the three meals I cook. I've tallied that I'm putting about 500 calories in each snack box, which helps me know that when the kiddos tell me they are STARVING and HAVEN'T BEEN FED ALL DAY, it simply isn't true.</p><p>The snack boxes are letting me manage my grocery stock and budget more strictly. Read: the goal is to no longer allow them to eat me out of house and home on just SNACKING MINDLESSLY. </p><p>Not only does this idea potentially control costs more, but it should stop the constant interruptions to my day, interruptions during our school time, and messes (like a bomb went off) in the kitchen.</p><p>I realize that other options would be (1) disallowing snacks whatsoever or (2) sitting down as a family at prescribed times for me to serve food out of large containers (e.g., a jar of applesauce, not individual serving cups of it). We already sit down together for three formal meals per day together, so there's just only so much nutritional and familial perfection to which I can aspire while still doing all my other duties.</p><p>I'm hoping to do a Soft Start of Homeschool next week, so we'll see how this Snack Box Experiment proceeds then. It's been very helpful so far!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVNq0qfwXrVgtyJpKSuTyghvjs6i0oNF2Hmi97fzThgyTzasMAYzyogYnuGSh9n_7nMK-QM22_Yx1wflwY4KgWKaKtKauGepkxmSNv4DUVsyy2-8ligpb9TXGphqJLCfQgK92IGnCEfWzyQO6e7DrH9UJ9XBAfVoVlOYvg5lGOC-ljjj1ENnlIPCA1tQ/s884/IMG_5210.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVNq0qfwXrVgtyJpKSuTyghvjs6i0oNF2Hmi97fzThgyTzasMAYzyogYnuGSh9n_7nMK-QM22_Yx1wflwY4KgWKaKtKauGepkxmSNv4DUVsyy2-8ligpb9TXGphqJLCfQgK92IGnCEfWzyQO6e7DrH9UJ9XBAfVoVlOYvg5lGOC-ljjj1ENnlIPCA1tQ/s320/IMG_5210.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">One-Month Snack Box Update</h2><div><div>I have been trying my new method of Snack Boxes for the elementary-aged boys for a full month now. This idea has proven very helpful to me, and I have made some tweaks.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. I only make boxes Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, we pack snacks to go to homeschool co-op, and on weekends I just don't do the boxes.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. I am currently making the boxes enough to last only for the mornings, which is the main period of time we are doing elementary school when I need them to remain at the table and not leave to forage. Therefore, they are now limited to only three items in their snack boxes (Thomas having the exception to have however much he can eat, of course.)</div><div><br /></div><div>3. I have adopted a new practice of dividing up bags of food (e.g., a giant bag of white cheddar popcorn) into serving sizes . . . which are always shockingly smaller than children (and adults!) want to eat. Have you looked at how tiny a 150-calorie portion of Cheez-Its is? It's only about 15 tiny squares! </div><div><br /></div><div>4. I am using tiny stickers to mark all the easily accessible foods with a number that indicates the dose of medication Thomas needs to take in order to eat it. I am trying to empower him to eat without my help.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. I have adapted my laundry room to house grocery boxes (Dollar Store!) that contain easy dry goods for the boys to select on their own. We meet in the morning in the laundry room and I supervise their picking their items. Fresh fruit is available on the counter and cold items (e.g., string cheese, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, Laughing Cow) are available in the refrigerator.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe after the second month, I'll post another update of how Snack Boxes are working for us.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG575bC-NBW4G2Y8ICE0wP8mJQh52fi2I3q1W2xDePzNcQR5vKCHAAqYxe_dJqEB78CEFV35s2gT0yIvAtaUjOnjP_5lRtCAy29XMnTMylsKIHhBLIIeenbDFKiu0J7dFyyb8uLJYLjsLJdhWxfFoxeHTY0XFzhAiWvZlaX0A5YlRbiOC_txmhgIH0zck/s1920/IMG_5536%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1920" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG575bC-NBW4G2Y8ICE0wP8mJQh52fi2I3q1W2xDePzNcQR5vKCHAAqYxe_dJqEB78CEFV35s2gT0yIvAtaUjOnjP_5lRtCAy29XMnTMylsKIHhBLIIeenbDFKiu0J7dFyyb8uLJYLjsLJdhWxfFoxeHTY0XFzhAiWvZlaX0A5YlRbiOC_txmhgIH0zck/s320/IMG_5536%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJMtKxU_unNE-R-O1-ByJu6gwTGyr9VfS8c_we5JyUFEeInJmiKXpNf5Gny-1trDQJZDcAZmA9uNz-WgsCU_VeGDIBgn_DJSC0e1HB5Jvl4XsAnjHgzwsfd8eeB51QLOD-hQDayvyWIVdZ_PoEex8wYmkKDexbhnXlRmKJiIsTVG9di5xG9jyKB03ivs/s4030/IMG_5536.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="4030" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJMtKxU_unNE-R-O1-ByJu6gwTGyr9VfS8c_we5JyUFEeInJmiKXpNf5Gny-1trDQJZDcAZmA9uNz-WgsCU_VeGDIBgn_DJSC0e1HB5Jvl4XsAnjHgzwsfd8eeB51QLOD-hQDayvyWIVdZ_PoEex8wYmkKDexbhnXlRmKJiIsTVG9di5xG9jyKB03ivs/s320/IMG_5536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQXw4Uo5ndHkYp4Y1QTcDJJzaP-Z2HvvI2xj402Ypr9X_oTLwEUKtc7vmYYL5_7dpL-KjSdWU3fqA6MUXW9_djwo8cP6Lq1fN2v2jaLeGXzEo-19kQkBe1GJAU3IBvizNnPdgrxIafhwT-VivJIhfNl0G706eEODYzYM9w_UwpX0Hk945_BsriznIwgY/s1920/IMG_5537%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1920" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQXw4Uo5ndHkYp4Y1QTcDJJzaP-Z2HvvI2xj402Ypr9X_oTLwEUKtc7vmYYL5_7dpL-KjSdWU3fqA6MUXW9_djwo8cP6Lq1fN2v2jaLeGXzEo-19kQkBe1GJAU3IBvizNnPdgrxIafhwT-VivJIhfNl0G706eEODYzYM9w_UwpX0Hk945_BsriznIwgY/s320/IMG_5537%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4CLHuj1nA1eMJN-yZpFASF38LxiOl_T9yhcgO2dKrj-1hWQbnRNUnZML0vO5oBsX7ebnTUdqU_C7UiDAtp4EfSl1M3ENiNhTRwcNa3BzsZPthJo7nbVA5vOVR188VPXQ1ksDYxgT1hxla7CV8SARa_3Nt-YGbu9Ng1MEw1DrR_LZX3_PzFT2xw-mvdo/s4030/IMG_5537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="4030" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4CLHuj1nA1eMJN-yZpFASF38LxiOl_T9yhcgO2dKrj-1hWQbnRNUnZML0vO5oBsX7ebnTUdqU_C7UiDAtp4EfSl1M3ENiNhTRwcNa3BzsZPthJo7nbVA5vOVR188VPXQ1ksDYxgT1hxla7CV8SARa_3Nt-YGbu9Ng1MEw1DrR_LZX3_PzFT2xw-mvdo/s320/IMG_5537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xHv6nPiK320mz6RxqSpv-lLr_Sn2OzDBjGhO4K1YxfoU0w09SrDtqu_8toL9t1apB0uVQ3UakeZHk18wMSkYg0TZoe07CoscbDOkVFYKC0dSeKfHwhsVXU8r6-Xy4OhrG37F1OXcrPMnLRICn3zXUfnQiKlg-l598Y9plho9eLDRiJhoo8ry_Qi_etc/s1179/IMG_5504.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xHv6nPiK320mz6RxqSpv-lLr_Sn2OzDBjGhO4K1YxfoU0w09SrDtqu_8toL9t1apB0uVQ3UakeZHk18wMSkYg0TZoe07CoscbDOkVFYKC0dSeKfHwhsVXU8r6-Xy4OhrG37F1OXcrPMnLRICn3zXUfnQiKlg-l598Y9plho9eLDRiJhoo8ry_Qi_etc/s320/IMG_5504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This morning, my 8-year-old son cooked a fried egg for his 6-year-old brother, and then made an egg for himself—totally solo. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dog Photos</h2><p>We are having loads of fun with nearly daily visits to our neighbor who has a new miniature dachshund puppy, all of three pounds, very confident pounds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBNQvWpNkkYmM6hbRSz0YE8q0nG-ydExKzb_sS72rnkWyl6CuFJtVHFZ8SDm2rHWqnkOi7qqrgofIDCI1lYSmWkPXUKam3azeKZ2sq3nCjjOXM1GkGneOZJ8SiGu9yOiaCcS8TlsBlh6zWztwlqBna0BhlOWYX6WSV_Ndx26cklO1Pux9Ab2Dm3ZjaaU/s884/IMG_5188.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBNQvWpNkkYmM6hbRSz0YE8q0nG-ydExKzb_sS72rnkWyl6CuFJtVHFZ8SDm2rHWqnkOi7qqrgofIDCI1lYSmWkPXUKam3azeKZ2sq3nCjjOXM1GkGneOZJ8SiGu9yOiaCcS8TlsBlh6zWztwlqBna0BhlOWYX6WSV_Ndx26cklO1Pux9Ab2Dm3ZjaaU/s320/IMG_5188.JPG" width="219" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3XHBkJTU1aS9AProCXBmX3CBFrYiVoGCMxaZKwlyy8XYR0tt0rcG_gY_h1pP1lrSAJ34vr4hhyN5MLNI0UNtaZKxtuMOhRniKQCzJhTakknC5Nlzbvl1lfkkpCAwqI-zOjz4ADp7Rw68IYJot3TNLfyYzbDzcl8OwXt-wlIWwz2X6PgO6_3Vjz8J09Q/s884/IMG_5192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3XHBkJTU1aS9AProCXBmX3CBFrYiVoGCMxaZKwlyy8XYR0tt0rcG_gY_h1pP1lrSAJ34vr4hhyN5MLNI0UNtaZKxtuMOhRniKQCzJhTakknC5Nlzbvl1lfkkpCAwqI-zOjz4ADp7Rw68IYJot3TNLfyYzbDzcl8OwXt-wlIWwz2X6PgO6_3Vjz8J09Q/s320/IMG_5192.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVHNyQ_TzVOlDu0pyqY_tOITHPD0TnjjOx2hSBAp_7EX8h4Nyd8iI_sLy09zBuegt-jVoRAjNVj6c2CxqKfQ1p7ujwkTKjNBown_YrJDUDhoYkYM-zlDX-wtFVdXsV0BqEtW3EUHSLVw_maM6_hDCbP8SgGTOO0J4TROsUY0wwoZjhIt1uZSIDssEDRo/s1179/IMG_5194.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVHNyQ_TzVOlDu0pyqY_tOITHPD0TnjjOx2hSBAp_7EX8h4Nyd8iI_sLy09zBuegt-jVoRAjNVj6c2CxqKfQ1p7ujwkTKjNBown_YrJDUDhoYkYM-zlDX-wtFVdXsV0BqEtW3EUHSLVw_maM6_hDCbP8SgGTOO0J4TROsUY0wwoZjhIt1uZSIDssEDRo/s320/IMG_5194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvL7jwTQOnY1HcbXXB0af3vv4r-B5217djkJj0JOIxwzl7DflKwImSjdb7YT2xciNeGW6Lz4l2v1EUt1f0XYahdwRTbqnTC_I_E_NNLJPIaiyBha3mxEkmRrsjSs6KvqTaaX5ohoiv1Oek79XEFUFUR6syIbQKtUV96uTln82ayt8MlU15ZQYVPLn3Y4/s884/IMG_5213.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvL7jwTQOnY1HcbXXB0af3vv4r-B5217djkJj0JOIxwzl7DflKwImSjdb7YT2xciNeGW6Lz4l2v1EUt1f0XYahdwRTbqnTC_I_E_NNLJPIaiyBha3mxEkmRrsjSs6KvqTaaX5ohoiv1Oek79XEFUFUR6syIbQKtUV96uTln82ayt8MlU15ZQYVPLn3Y4/s320/IMG_5213.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>David (5) and Tilly resting together</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TYyvxNg77uEcc8wc1OhyHvqkJ-WDooTdi8gKWDNEy14iTytTRvyiCTbLYHTrfItpY8Jh1kwxp5d4T0Oujsf_lBs6uFHQP2rYk432TRTHsfPgd-gJuZCnC7NZBb78ZbDBT6DeQPUub18BkOODx0C-n3WX2MqNi2USU7pO0tzRHFZVRvxQj8m3LkwZDq4/s884/IMG_5216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TYyvxNg77uEcc8wc1OhyHvqkJ-WDooTdi8gKWDNEy14iTytTRvyiCTbLYHTrfItpY8Jh1kwxp5d4T0Oujsf_lBs6uFHQP2rYk432TRTHsfPgd-gJuZCnC7NZBb78ZbDBT6DeQPUub18BkOODx0C-n3WX2MqNi2USU7pO0tzRHFZVRvxQj8m3LkwZDq4/s320/IMG_5216.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ60fr8_3KHbvybGsWSpEaxSFBJUjvUQv3jYMAHKq1e5qm8xHK4PE7ImSzfhMGX7LA_2ZWZF2MzZ3kf-rrBmgMQ7pkaeO8OkVDHex_7glNuWsh4QDSYhojpgSbaA9Cqkuegd2FsVURRtbJikjl3HbCQ9Ad6tGV6AOGmGvk5fnkHfz_5kt6b_qu_ZLKq34/s884/IMG_5225.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ60fr8_3KHbvybGsWSpEaxSFBJUjvUQv3jYMAHKq1e5qm8xHK4PE7ImSzfhMGX7LA_2ZWZF2MzZ3kf-rrBmgMQ7pkaeO8OkVDHex_7glNuWsh4QDSYhojpgSbaA9Cqkuegd2FsVURRtbJikjl3HbCQ9Ad6tGV6AOGmGvk5fnkHfz_5kt6b_qu_ZLKq34/s320/IMG_5225.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hiding under my desk, at my feet, during this loud, scary storm</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCYb4guyqVLU02STFyQ0corpLfphP1cUATOBAOp10Su3KxConKOtzPLIjrLYF98lLSOR6Azi0Rf0hnPEtpVtCoKnZLgd9lbZJfN511kXnMMsX2dEZ7O-ZIyJFMNWhN1_i_PyvPHN1mSe0Dj6cyX9VftG5BQR_bLSrCbG0Q0vrRPYlSR-bTzZa5s0tcho/s298/IMG_5229.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="298" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCYb4guyqVLU02STFyQ0corpLfphP1cUATOBAOp10Su3KxConKOtzPLIjrLYF98lLSOR6Azi0Rf0hnPEtpVtCoKnZLgd9lbZJfN511kXnMMsX2dEZ7O-ZIyJFMNWhN1_i_PyvPHN1mSe0Dj6cyX9VftG5BQR_bLSrCbG0Q0vrRPYlSR-bTzZa5s0tcho/s1600/IMG_5229.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is how I experience my early morning computer time each day.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnL9bgxwWmXDmsdL40jcTX1_2yHttIf7nc849qZg-srhO7J8tPXYVZM-BFcafhrV8PN2nJJwmhMK1cOpyk_8FyqLStMvp-REJD2XXXY2Nfh8s57W471viKrPVIwqm3LljOQ1jAzbFVKktVbNIV2PQlRqH_DRCxQvOt6QWvozwf6qYiepS_MGHg2hD6uw/s4032/IMG_5495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnL9bgxwWmXDmsdL40jcTX1_2yHttIf7nc849qZg-srhO7J8tPXYVZM-BFcafhrV8PN2nJJwmhMK1cOpyk_8FyqLStMvp-REJD2XXXY2Nfh8s57W471viKrPVIwqm3LljOQ1jAzbFVKktVbNIV2PQlRqH_DRCxQvOt6QWvozwf6qYiepS_MGHg2hD6uw/s320/IMG_5495.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>School is always better with a doggie in one’s lap.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">This is how our dogs watched the first primary debate last night . . .</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF8lJVPAzbkl3lJcEPPquEeTJBQ-HMVRaJ7DszB-BScVxwcxAJO5jRnQl-5oKpK4JRD0cnQyHlOE0Vu_qbk49OnoVq3e5QX4UzzTGtK2QrihlKtpLgAJLjuXXWYnUIVndNILN8KnxXKLIijB0GOxVKLyEi2PIusj8KwwGCxRtkKJNX_3ObvUXrDVnnfo/s2048/367017542_10160741229308360_4866084485856572302_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF8lJVPAzbkl3lJcEPPquEeTJBQ-HMVRaJ7DszB-BScVxwcxAJO5jRnQl-5oKpK4JRD0cnQyHlOE0Vu_qbk49OnoVq3e5QX4UzzTGtK2QrihlKtpLgAJLjuXXWYnUIVndNILN8KnxXKLIijB0GOxVKLyEi2PIusj8KwwGCxRtkKJNX_3ObvUXrDVnnfo/s320/367017542_10160741229308360_4866084485856572302_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelbWm7xJGkc6c_gjjYmwKyGvYzDWu8kvPycVeFSMbgzIPnF2fTgD1CkFkLcjyyxscirHRej9EHkq1-UpYeO8dQHbdC-B6sYnucbPBQ36OEzO_cxALz4LeP6h9Mi1OIuqGp6wtWaOABkRWkVb2F8RRX5_ZNhN9LrK_9mXkMa9JvuHgFls-rF5ptu1A-7w/s2048/367386670_10160741229283360_1001642900775637912_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelbWm7xJGkc6c_gjjYmwKyGvYzDWu8kvPycVeFSMbgzIPnF2fTgD1CkFkLcjyyxscirHRej9EHkq1-UpYeO8dQHbdC-B6sYnucbPBQ36OEzO_cxALz4LeP6h9Mi1OIuqGp6wtWaOABkRWkVb2F8RRX5_ZNhN9LrK_9mXkMa9JvuHgFls-rF5ptu1A-7w/s320/367386670_10160741229283360_1001642900775637912_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv_wPAUkpWpTWrzNcvnk63KfVgmRx5YXsQO-F086w4Fn98512nz2oCu4HiLPZeJx8lTkyZtCDB9z0JJEX1NzcttMhVnwdttc1wMtE8iHu1uems0D2P3WZJFGMLlnRHDygwIt3kLTBAcsWEYb0DaYJhSFe6VmAOgT8VnR5xUxaTGH8jAoq6MtkUWULiss/s884/IMG_5361.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv_wPAUkpWpTWrzNcvnk63KfVgmRx5YXsQO-F086w4Fn98512nz2oCu4HiLPZeJx8lTkyZtCDB9z0JJEX1NzcttMhVnwdttc1wMtE8iHu1uems0D2P3WZJFGMLlnRHDygwIt3kLTBAcsWEYb0DaYJhSFe6VmAOgT8VnR5xUxaTGH8jAoq6MtkUWULiss/s320/IMG_5361.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We are boarding Bailey again!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw7qLOlVw0pUK5OGd1y3Cb138h5DWZUvLou_8-2k8MqTuoLZjO9fmWnRge-aIgYWl5mI-rRso249GA0tWQIlNT24ahZ8F4ZMYUwcXwvc7T9uhhuYAYkhlwjC3sGc4Wqvg9YDf9wySoUpWu-7VRnTHWwXvFAt2ChY6sdJQzPJM4NUsQd-6QGVlryrhZaw/s4032/IMG_5387.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw7qLOlVw0pUK5OGd1y3Cb138h5DWZUvLou_8-2k8MqTuoLZjO9fmWnRge-aIgYWl5mI-rRso249GA0tWQIlNT24ahZ8F4ZMYUwcXwvc7T9uhhuYAYkhlwjC3sGc4Wqvg9YDf9wySoUpWu-7VRnTHWwXvFAt2ChY6sdJQzPJM4NUsQd-6QGVlryrhZaw/s320/IMG_5387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZio2qGlN4OZrxJTVg1BqKsdQ_A5wvSxxj516gJlUWK7sLbCN1jGZaUEufDt7zvMxVGEEWf-dKYWlihxbCFvfP3NIlW463NCpaHuCBRrzg_WRUItDzwSZrRtokQrj3axOZWRhL2W2f-0nq3hLj_avwb0cKSTltjvyxtpyjIUVpCfHkZVaT2GG0YaenLaQ/s884/IMG_5422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZio2qGlN4OZrxJTVg1BqKsdQ_A5wvSxxj516gJlUWK7sLbCN1jGZaUEufDt7zvMxVGEEWf-dKYWlihxbCFvfP3NIlW463NCpaHuCBRrzg_WRUItDzwSZrRtokQrj3axOZWRhL2W2f-0nq3hLj_avwb0cKSTltjvyxtpyjIUVpCfHkZVaT2GG0YaenLaQ/s320/IMG_5422.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X9NEj7hRB4RkbJzb6f3-SHPuOkws8fXHb0p7B6a-UHOXGfFPDZyDqgdXU6lTGMK3zcPhvAbIAwyTFOm6nFlXS-6tUMSRxEpTBZiHSF3M1Rx4IkilIP_IVV8ZavYlVfLvM6ROp0gTBBRKFEYvU8J3V5DhZhPZSNTUmU7hPFwBbjqNd-QxqPl3ZOyhJXU/s884/IMG_5425.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X9NEj7hRB4RkbJzb6f3-SHPuOkws8fXHb0p7B6a-UHOXGfFPDZyDqgdXU6lTGMK3zcPhvAbIAwyTFOm6nFlXS-6tUMSRxEpTBZiHSF3M1Rx4IkilIP_IVV8ZavYlVfLvM6ROp0gTBBRKFEYvU8J3V5DhZhPZSNTUmU7hPFwBbjqNd-QxqPl3ZOyhJXU/s320/IMG_5425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zPPmAsqHsyDP1SJSsyy7n8KR_x55jW-duF0-tpxQzXO6CuvtSgGL-KzXFqNjwoyqq1ct782o9ssY90m9KtPX6LoX9HQvZTopBXphstHbm91AryBpfoODSmPmv2firy9-W0ZljP8Mt1bUj9OGT6wIrmO9GDGHl-CDSK-fGkh_B4h0tDmC_d9tD66sCac/s1179/IMG_5433.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zPPmAsqHsyDP1SJSsyy7n8KR_x55jW-duF0-tpxQzXO6CuvtSgGL-KzXFqNjwoyqq1ct782o9ssY90m9KtPX6LoX9HQvZTopBXphstHbm91AryBpfoODSmPmv2firy9-W0ZljP8Mt1bUj9OGT6wIrmO9GDGHl-CDSK-fGkh_B4h0tDmC_d9tD66sCac/s320/IMG_5433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehV5-zzX49Sgx9VHS3ZfMwya2eKEvugCpyYygZvA3mfsuSvJ1vyjzpz_SaTQ6N2A1F4-S6JiUzYLz_gg3qIptKYwFpgqPH8D9f79TrjBmeU8OZEvhom7KPH5at0aqQvC-MhFmyarPJCrheFIDjNtF_kzTVCEGZ3AkRqFDyjJGoh-pJwsKYnRjErcENtw/s884/IMG_5435.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehV5-zzX49Sgx9VHS3ZfMwya2eKEvugCpyYygZvA3mfsuSvJ1vyjzpz_SaTQ6N2A1F4-S6JiUzYLz_gg3qIptKYwFpgqPH8D9f79TrjBmeU8OZEvhom7KPH5at0aqQvC-MhFmyarPJCrheFIDjNtF_kzTVCEGZ3AkRqFDyjJGoh-pJwsKYnRjErcENtw/s320/IMG_5435.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nphL0Mnf05TidI77l-19NMWoRNp4QxtkaRTt54vlonXsJ_14exiFYR_Szu6k-hSjxRQ0K_djTv3BGcbbybvZ7AAz0vilEUekY3FaxHlLExbSYrALG6nciixrhtNSsWaPNeH5lQcf4vDRhrGM3LPDyWygU0CsXMCNlk0j15LFYRwsUjrNIsK8bnrJCMc/s1179/IMG_5442.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nphL0Mnf05TidI77l-19NMWoRNp4QxtkaRTt54vlonXsJ_14exiFYR_Szu6k-hSjxRQ0K_djTv3BGcbbybvZ7AAz0vilEUekY3FaxHlLExbSYrALG6nciixrhtNSsWaPNeH5lQcf4vDRhrGM3LPDyWygU0CsXMCNlk0j15LFYRwsUjrNIsK8bnrJCMc/s320/IMG_5442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxQdTbahp9EkFzxWU-aKG3NgOXi_ZOS4qJyVYFQMKPBsJR3iCvFi47znSWvsxn6sTedOmUnz5GZDqXk8lz1tmEE_Hdjx0aCOgYCvJRulwfNBB4BX7TTTZSilEIRAEQ5-mC_bCDlJMBpGr50Qr4v1at0qXH_UmpGedtCaJSqCPAIpkXjnMPSp7fhmD-Qk/s1179/IMG_5450.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxQdTbahp9EkFzxWU-aKG3NgOXi_ZOS4qJyVYFQMKPBsJR3iCvFi47znSWvsxn6sTedOmUnz5GZDqXk8lz1tmEE_Hdjx0aCOgYCvJRulwfNBB4BX7TTTZSilEIRAEQ5-mC_bCDlJMBpGr50Qr4v1at0qXH_UmpGedtCaJSqCPAIpkXjnMPSp7fhmD-Qk/s320/IMG_5450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdPqiw7fGLSs15z1T8K4I4dnP6VfoNdr48fDRUQmh7hbMdbr7khemv0jCpCjlm78LHL9Ro3i350-5sf3Meir9zNVDzUMr5m6rwehW_vdwF0EDW07pnPvRWl7jifQ1SBeuanOcyaCLgseDw60hroDZ-2bnewFLlTkYmWcxejrChJTZRywXJILlIWe1hRE/s884/IMG_5462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdPqiw7fGLSs15z1T8K4I4dnP6VfoNdr48fDRUQmh7hbMdbr7khemv0jCpCjlm78LHL9Ro3i350-5sf3Meir9zNVDzUMr5m6rwehW_vdwF0EDW07pnPvRWl7jifQ1SBeuanOcyaCLgseDw60hroDZ-2bnewFLlTkYmWcxejrChJTZRywXJILlIWe1hRE/s320/IMG_5462.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLH1pYuEYHshvxY3N_6YQaJpErASz_13EJ2xhtC481hbnBfhI3fAdC1iNErOX-WQYzW7rrhBHXslQET8WnefJfCb_W3UUKuGf70HuYl-eQPg2sXnzxPUWMBbwwLt8OHTcYKbPGh_t8GUksdhXKrQbxJtYrRF2_Qbmq6d0KYPzXCraerwJclXUaz1XLMo/s1179/IMG_5477.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLH1pYuEYHshvxY3N_6YQaJpErASz_13EJ2xhtC481hbnBfhI3fAdC1iNErOX-WQYzW7rrhBHXslQET8WnefJfCb_W3UUKuGf70HuYl-eQPg2sXnzxPUWMBbwwLt8OHTcYKbPGh_t8GUksdhXKrQbxJtYrRF2_Qbmq6d0KYPzXCraerwJclXUaz1XLMo/s320/IMG_5477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3nGC2zL7Mfm41ih7Swj-Swy1SE2Yu1h7f-lh6wyfxC16XN1VYcBXzGKq-pWuhvjTFnbBJyqY81ZvFuYwUrTqU7s9NQEQdHW17fWLIS5s3Ay5c6AVVSggXZe0tOQKHsvUnTRt8p4TChfKuXBt0bMROyAQqqiVa7jALQIkRgz1GFTd37W7k-3LTuTzSHY/s1179/IMG_5478.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3nGC2zL7Mfm41ih7Swj-Swy1SE2Yu1h7f-lh6wyfxC16XN1VYcBXzGKq-pWuhvjTFnbBJyqY81ZvFuYwUrTqU7s9NQEQdHW17fWLIS5s3Ay5c6AVVSggXZe0tOQKHsvUnTRt8p4TChfKuXBt0bMROyAQqqiVa7jALQIkRgz1GFTd37W7k-3LTuTzSHY/s320/IMG_5478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhAYF3-P553-VYAqsElnbZi-6dKqv1IuHn9rQoHTYOsWjYlJlw_nO5pAKt7ulHeYAA21nisIx_tIyZkHbaGgdZ-3mHBpN8zFXPVn2Gg38jzX7onEKvqlsIdrk84QdeB4lE8Q9I9fQqZM0I6OUeyKJ4Wef3IuvQhDTfbbkj0vTW3DKyMqOmVpqyQ57mek/s884/IMG_5503.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhAYF3-P553-VYAqsElnbZi-6dKqv1IuHn9rQoHTYOsWjYlJlw_nO5pAKt7ulHeYAA21nisIx_tIyZkHbaGgdZ-3mHBpN8zFXPVn2Gg38jzX7onEKvqlsIdrk84QdeB4lE8Q9I9fQqZM0I6OUeyKJ4Wef3IuvQhDTfbbkj0vTW3DKyMqOmVpqyQ57mek/s320/IMG_5503.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgH6_L-gdUBsYsGORsxFR6I7WlIEYgVYreGNYJMbfNVIfCumpQn6at3dBw_m7gCfTycjqYjF7wGE9UhzQ61ISoD7DkaOwDhwRfDDb2GAUf1XUqDq_bqWKRzHJyPKS7p2AmN9WGq9XbkfG7Yd160exfy73HttInBks7TJYgvO9eMpiyAYnxQI8uYIph9U/s884/IMG_5514.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgH6_L-gdUBsYsGORsxFR6I7WlIEYgVYreGNYJMbfNVIfCumpQn6at3dBw_m7gCfTycjqYjF7wGE9UhzQ61ISoD7DkaOwDhwRfDDb2GAUf1XUqDq_bqWKRzHJyPKS7p2AmN9WGq9XbkfG7Yd160exfy73HttInBks7TJYgvO9eMpiyAYnxQI8uYIph9U/s320/IMG_5514.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX-k5WGXAboMrNQK2zDOfmet80GhR23Ao5wJ-omsuV0RXNLTnvfVxJHgou8ODKJ93mOkwzJBOBSj2rwtB6Si9qShuv9o3pioZ9AGlMhKFy7RaFz0qeZQawETPSHlnDQ8rRmuQTilMNiD28-MkHvPA4mNWWVFRzgKakL6_j-UIsLWCUXRO3FUN8Pb_n8/s884/IMG_5516.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX-k5WGXAboMrNQK2zDOfmet80GhR23Ao5wJ-omsuV0RXNLTnvfVxJHgou8ODKJ93mOkwzJBOBSj2rwtB6Si9qShuv9o3pioZ9AGlMhKFy7RaFz0qeZQawETPSHlnDQ8rRmuQTilMNiD28-MkHvPA4mNWWVFRzgKakL6_j-UIsLWCUXRO3FUN8Pb_n8/s320/IMG_5516.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtOq1arCuD2XMerBQFPOmIpE1eTDo0ns0AC773pFs4LN9hl30l-F2fbjcXGHtk4Ghn8ByARmBxCQKSyHWBuJzWHUjRca_cq8cRRpXxeCEsJIdy3dPGSct40r1QjP22L2qYeZsVWrKQXRcRqI3ZpbKyHvsq10JKrQvd6LYo1cZqMHeyB96rxSBu3NEKFU/s884/IMG_5524.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtOq1arCuD2XMerBQFPOmIpE1eTDo0ns0AC773pFs4LN9hl30l-F2fbjcXGHtk4Ghn8ByARmBxCQKSyHWBuJzWHUjRca_cq8cRRpXxeCEsJIdy3dPGSct40r1QjP22L2qYeZsVWrKQXRcRqI3ZpbKyHvsq10JKrQvd6LYo1cZqMHeyB96rxSBu3NEKFU/s320/IMG_5524.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGUrTQaIaJbh0yF2VYgzAfm8Z2Q9mc_nnbuMx5n85L_A4mF4dfqL9oWmM-hqM3kowilPhe3bNm5qD_ZWBxXTyNqBBQn7VNy83_KxU-jsd3NTCdNTj-qlLDBxihw1n1eMMbUNQexawf_WX5DYyQxTNy6MyCEflJ7jvJkEf2BUDamrkL-117pz17Hdj2CE/s884/IMG_7562.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGUrTQaIaJbh0yF2VYgzAfm8Z2Q9mc_nnbuMx5n85L_A4mF4dfqL9oWmM-hqM3kowilPhe3bNm5qD_ZWBxXTyNqBBQn7VNy83_KxU-jsd3NTCdNTj-qlLDBxihw1n1eMMbUNQexawf_WX5DYyQxTNy6MyCEflJ7jvJkEf2BUDamrkL-117pz17Hdj2CE/s320/IMG_7562.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1jdUzDveyyPkRXmrXzjFRd_fF_PF9gvmMhgKQKVbkRilrVWqaRdLM9gfoJ1YnhnXnQWzaAhDFLubuWfnjOr_OVitARik1FC91SfKadDl5vBwT933fR_NgghvR6FGFgQwAC5QK6rHKvM08z_89cZgHRB1N0CJvvzZdmQ_GDrL4Shec3AIXD3G3oYGZYg/s4032/nicky.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1jdUzDveyyPkRXmrXzjFRd_fF_PF9gvmMhgKQKVbkRilrVWqaRdLM9gfoJ1YnhnXnQWzaAhDFLubuWfnjOr_OVitARik1FC91SfKadDl5vBwT933fR_NgghvR6FGFgQwAC5QK6rHKvM08z_89cZgHRB1N0CJvvzZdmQ_GDrL4Shec3AIXD3G3oYGZYg/s320/nicky.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtyEUfsHAhkYzSmSdt_2P2rV4xUfJ7uSzps_-tnd5cWy0sn0Cop6ddrwLZZ1qqp5Vb-4tltNRJ4P29vn5GIimDk2YMY2q8rqiUJzv6MLTREHZ6Ld9gG1_59HODc8kQ26bmVetsRpuSsGx-TF_KdmXVkIg2QzkxlKaZS8vu2defCGBc5kD24fK2ToaMWM/s884/IMG_5426.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtyEUfsHAhkYzSmSdt_2P2rV4xUfJ7uSzps_-tnd5cWy0sn0Cop6ddrwLZZ1qqp5Vb-4tltNRJ4P29vn5GIimDk2YMY2q8rqiUJzv6MLTREHZ6Ld9gG1_59HODc8kQ26bmVetsRpuSsGx-TF_KdmXVkIg2QzkxlKaZS8vu2defCGBc5kD24fK2ToaMWM/s320/IMG_5426.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-57953785888604200372023-07-31T12:36:00.004-04:002023-10-02T11:00:53.908-04:00July 2023 in Review!<h1 style="text-align: left;">July 2023 in Review . . . Trying to catch up on three months of Facebook posts for my blog-only followers!</h1><p>Keeping track just because this is our life . . . Thomas had five medical appointments in July (one out of state).</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Getting a Second Opinion at Boston Children's Hospital</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt4-kYc6du7zlOb-o1b9Srug1uWdmkYt5aQGoBoIq6RGIeDYKMTBh-87JKLuI9eIF7zoCefgRmBHKWU0y-DSJr8IooOhMpVemyqB7Ugxd0f7A6ibFLaGZjjcfyo2Xf3ef7_TjtDFdQgJYRblJ9ZGcjvp9Kpuf4KLrynKjcApG-JQC1XXiP8la-4Lw1zY/s4032/IMG_4518.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt4-kYc6du7zlOb-o1b9Srug1uWdmkYt5aQGoBoIq6RGIeDYKMTBh-87JKLuI9eIF7zoCefgRmBHKWU0y-DSJr8IooOhMpVemyqB7Ugxd0f7A6ibFLaGZjjcfyo2Xf3ef7_TjtDFdQgJYRblJ9ZGcjvp9Kpuf4KLrynKjcApG-JQC1XXiP8la-4Lw1zY/s320/IMG_4518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The three of us are winging our way (after a six-hour delay!) to Boston Children’s Hospital today for Thomas to be seen by a national specialist in pediatric pancreatitis (very rare). Today happens to mark the three-year anniversary of the first day of Thomas’s chemotherapy. We pray for very fruitful information to come out of this appointment . . . And that we can have some fun in such a historic city on this patriotic holiday weekend!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfRPOSu4V6zK7nZ2shRnPkl9rVWMIqwIH5Oc4zwIOydj61xMhn2Jr29QR5EeLjqe9zm5OCskymOEKWVfVLjmb1yka1nasuGIGSGB3EpYEB-ogDtLYYJDiNO27coe61ZL8eFjEN8zxGAjgeSjJP580LJA3gn0LxFTR_14lk92AAZ7tGp1kIJ8nJlQQhEA/s4032/IMG_4524.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfRPOSu4V6zK7nZ2shRnPkl9rVWMIqwIH5Oc4zwIOydj61xMhn2Jr29QR5EeLjqe9zm5OCskymOEKWVfVLjmb1yka1nasuGIGSGB3EpYEB-ogDtLYYJDiNO27coe61ZL8eFjEN8zxGAjgeSjJP580LJA3gn0LxFTR_14lk92AAZ7tGp1kIJ8nJlQQhEA/s320/IMG_4524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>After waking at 4:30 a.m. and four delays totaling nine hours, we have boarded our flight to Boston! Praise be to God!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CwnR42rSxIxR1I2vzj7wEXDIGA1y8KYeLZmFn-ThgH5OhDDl8eK4Xp5fwJQDAi0t8wAyPNRaydZ1S7SyniJRU7ELLOsRiEf1vd7VlQ_viywxsaxncKkLIX4jHnYSnTOkDFMXyB2w220mv4Mk8tJysJ36QP9FQrlM51kGssINAoWJKB09AZ9rg8i2HA0/s4032/IMG_4534.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CwnR42rSxIxR1I2vzj7wEXDIGA1y8KYeLZmFn-ThgH5OhDDl8eK4Xp5fwJQDAi0t8wAyPNRaydZ1S7SyniJRU7ELLOsRiEf1vd7VlQ_viywxsaxncKkLIX4jHnYSnTOkDFMXyB2w220mv4Mk8tJysJ36QP9FQrlM51kGssINAoWJKB09AZ9rg8i2HA0/s320/IMG_4534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The motto of Boston Children’s Hospital is “where the world comes for answers”—an apt description in the view of this mama who travelled 800 miles! Thomas’s appointment was wonderful. The doctor had reviewed Thomas’s copious medical records and my 10-page narrative summary filled with charts and graphs. He gave us a full hour of his time, took a comprehensive view of Thomas’s body, gave us numerous ideas, and both doctor and patient’s family left the appointment with ideas and homework to do. I am very grateful.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcIijOJxfdc6nG2DT0chdmelbDwiuuekktINqsyEa3BfUx_QQXN7OYZIo17cLQmjwq13reRdJ9la27y62r-3fyUVUKNbSrIB9VODafYleegIY7yQQZVpDbYHdfmYnCG3Br1mvl4xTxGeK2oLQ18RYOrwaKillV5dDVnj8ZBhIZD35EUeC2_Odqs5qSqs/s4032/IMG_4532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcIijOJxfdc6nG2DT0chdmelbDwiuuekktINqsyEa3BfUx_QQXN7OYZIo17cLQmjwq13reRdJ9la27y62r-3fyUVUKNbSrIB9VODafYleegIY7yQQZVpDbYHdfmYnCG3Br1mvl4xTxGeK2oLQ18RYOrwaKillV5dDVnj8ZBhIZD35EUeC2_Odqs5qSqs/s320/IMG_4532.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARPpPeFKwZOZAz7DlL4l9rTns063J1688pKqdrox5l4jYWCv55KRzJbfiVVpnU1ZlSA-SjmqpqYfNvvHhGhnupKDGDX35aoxNOjkqG0GVKjiFIXk7pLTjpNyc505bXRxaScVwjsCtEDvkA3QoDJtUuuLm4rmuCgur7vBe7WBrM6v-NhsZyDrcUs1u5Q8/s4032/IMG_4533.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARPpPeFKwZOZAz7DlL4l9rTns063J1688pKqdrox5l4jYWCv55KRzJbfiVVpnU1ZlSA-SjmqpqYfNvvHhGhnupKDGDX35aoxNOjkqG0GVKjiFIXk7pLTjpNyc505bXRxaScVwjsCtEDvkA3QoDJtUuuLm4rmuCgur7vBe7WBrM6v-NhsZyDrcUs1u5Q8/s320/IMG_4533.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vmPexjFOwP2ycaSBqFhyphenhyphen3f3ggzWC63DszhgURjfg5ZdUdwTFijAmB2ldal7nZYmmyx2W2fA60sIIdtOnm3oZZTgaAcY9kF6qameG5WW5uwlFXMrcT20J7r4f0TSqZiCopBV2stySJWR8F98nVyzwzamVTpsgqekvt3ZYyeayBzHn7LQaeNPzEp6FOOk/s4032/IMG_4531.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vmPexjFOwP2ycaSBqFhyphenhyphen3f3ggzWC63DszhgURjfg5ZdUdwTFijAmB2ldal7nZYmmyx2W2fA60sIIdtOnm3oZZTgaAcY9kF6qameG5WW5uwlFXMrcT20J7r4f0TSqZiCopBV2stySJWR8F98nVyzwzamVTpsgqekvt3ZYyeayBzHn7LQaeNPzEp6FOOk/s320/IMG_4531.JPG" width="240" /></a><br /><p>We had a delightful visit to The Boston Tea Party Museum today. </p><p>But first, be grateful you did NOT have to be the mother who had to tell her precious son—who cheerfully declared, “Now, let’s go to the aquarium!” As soon as the phlebotomist took eleven vials of blood—that he was not going to visit the New England Aquarium . . . The aquarium he had watched videos about for the prior week . . . All because I am so provincial that it never occurred to me that I would need to buy tickets ahead of time in this major historic city on Independence Day weekend. Aquarium tickets were sold out and I had to inform my beloved son. </p><p>He is such a good boy that he blinked back his tears and expressed enthusiasm for going to the Boston Tea Party Museum instead. Their tour is fabulous! Living history actors never break character while leading visitors through the fateful town meeting and ultimate dumping of tea into the harbor. Each visitor is given the role to play of a historic person who was part of the tea party. The acting is funny, exciting, and very informative. We loved it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVBlpecF9lVHeQxAToZy9hxUKd9AvxmjvQVJrWe3JK_5j70MKdFojg8is8l6LRWXF76JP7keo_ATO1DU5AAbipocbhn8pXCcasbbLs3Kha-qa4P3MqyflrdjJUQGaLdejHeghSlNC1SRx3g0VPC5Givrykjq8soQmK_zPEDcWaXziQM96Q5SMRUBF1ak/s4032/IMG_4537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVBlpecF9lVHeQxAToZy9hxUKd9AvxmjvQVJrWe3JK_5j70MKdFojg8is8l6LRWXF76JP7keo_ATO1DU5AAbipocbhn8pXCcasbbLs3Kha-qa4P3MqyflrdjJUQGaLdejHeghSlNC1SRx3g0VPC5Givrykjq8soQmK_zPEDcWaXziQM96Q5SMRUBF1ak/s320/IMG_4537.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEr9pxKTrFByAdHgdymX9-kSByUWbkhNmpd6NCnM_zuYa7KHkNJ91LdpXu02hENLzINg2FcR1ld6otwQnGrTceOmur69SK-smUNMouUik9RYo8i_zZgDBS-i2GDBSEShsB_lJltDPUfsrDVRmOR7XgSxSeqKPyoIuTIlA1SjdsS2IToJTaN4JEKRjv58/s4032/IMG_4539.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEr9pxKTrFByAdHgdymX9-kSByUWbkhNmpd6NCnM_zuYa7KHkNJ91LdpXu02hENLzINg2FcR1ld6otwQnGrTceOmur69SK-smUNMouUik9RYo8i_zZgDBS-i2GDBSEShsB_lJltDPUfsrDVRmOR7XgSxSeqKPyoIuTIlA1SjdsS2IToJTaN4JEKRjv58/s320/IMG_4539.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4ZhXn_8jytxwpHLjCrdUnRb-g3eMqqBiUUWALezTPy6iNL7hhg08Pdlx-7UrPrBVh4sHGVu0RPBoPupuj_dxyhl616_HaaBNNOj072zU2Y9F8_Eta0wLui1eyOEz4kOFD9Q1ZjcM5D94bHEuf9b5WIAzY2MsXIQVOAfEQhS0sDCTi8p6g4I_dMlGmGs/s4032/IMG_4543.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4ZhXn_8jytxwpHLjCrdUnRb-g3eMqqBiUUWALezTPy6iNL7hhg08Pdlx-7UrPrBVh4sHGVu0RPBoPupuj_dxyhl616_HaaBNNOj072zU2Y9F8_Eta0wLui1eyOEz4kOFD9Q1ZjcM5D94bHEuf9b5WIAzY2MsXIQVOAfEQhS0sDCTi8p6g4I_dMlGmGs/s320/IMG_4543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpszF-BIviM5psg4M4tHO7rhFXGfgRrzwBiUYNfdx2v3KdTr7mmLVVuddYvhnfosKF5D-WPaQ3Fkucwy8ZDYJl7oQGVmS3-CCNh1jP46aOL7q2ObXPipyaFydvnyREUNArn5rGUul4zZvBYHVA77qVKRPFGM028XRpQWV0rourzQS4ic6q9EjRpSfouS8/s4032/IMG_4546.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpszF-BIviM5psg4M4tHO7rhFXGfgRrzwBiUYNfdx2v3KdTr7mmLVVuddYvhnfosKF5D-WPaQ3Fkucwy8ZDYJl7oQGVmS3-CCNh1jP46aOL7q2ObXPipyaFydvnyREUNArn5rGUul4zZvBYHVA77qVKRPFGM028XRpQWV0rourzQS4ic6q9EjRpSfouS8/s320/IMG_4546.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWy6PfVJWFtFnABzazpgUdbTYewwGsH7feRqjwRRVjZJAJa-KbPIArRH99xTZS8jJy2U8b9HW39lutEowayfdzMSG7CWXqklh-WVrSdjkC9lax-JbNqKW-CCpMMVYv2rAMI91rrSh-4Na78goxSK22avgvzybrBqul7o5YmQ7n4YlpykU0M0wRc6nKI/s4032/IMG_4547.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWy6PfVJWFtFnABzazpgUdbTYewwGsH7feRqjwRRVjZJAJa-KbPIArRH99xTZS8jJy2U8b9HW39lutEowayfdzMSG7CWXqklh-WVrSdjkC9lax-JbNqKW-CCpMMVYv2rAMI91rrSh-4Na78goxSK22avgvzybrBqul7o5YmQ7n4YlpykU0M0wRc6nKI/s320/IMG_4547.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_DuVFvLR3RKTtzanKPXB3oTvWjkrYJYwvPAPquKPXBnmA5z2K95zmOPOdFWjEDq-bpiUZ0OAfO3wOfeqZ8-KupMSNEq7Osu8VKgo447-VltjEU82J4zrnCW0ZD926D-RLfGla3TUnYqHMTCy6WVcAI4OYEk5zNq-nBBZbT3W3-pf0E1Yhjp1O_erUKY/s4032/IMG_4551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_DuVFvLR3RKTtzanKPXB3oTvWjkrYJYwvPAPquKPXBnmA5z2K95zmOPOdFWjEDq-bpiUZ0OAfO3wOfeqZ8-KupMSNEq7Osu8VKgo447-VltjEU82J4zrnCW0ZD926D-RLfGla3TUnYqHMTCy6WVcAI4OYEk5zNq-nBBZbT3W3-pf0E1Yhjp1O_erUKY/s320/IMG_4551.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ7Qu96eQXVQDv96YPIBTJjbrZk6wjHsmMWnGNtwR2IHqWxl2mMI1Nem3oZc9SPMxeFihdcj7-pmUaJk_djOGjXyfalUnJc-Tdh6P_qtTVdgBjXQp8UFcceIcuZ2YAhCTt9ZcPE98f6ZQSbOWTsC9ZFe9oSHxYOWMWumwAoCAizWASOm4IrjUs4ZpE3g/s4032/IMG_4552.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ7Qu96eQXVQDv96YPIBTJjbrZk6wjHsmMWnGNtwR2IHqWxl2mMI1Nem3oZc9SPMxeFihdcj7-pmUaJk_djOGjXyfalUnJc-Tdh6P_qtTVdgBjXQp8UFcceIcuZ2YAhCTt9ZcPE98f6ZQSbOWTsC9ZFe9oSHxYOWMWumwAoCAizWASOm4IrjUs4ZpE3g/s320/IMG_4552.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lpvnumQWfGYFpmdo0LOA7oseISNE0u8-x3pLABuiSMjX_43chizBpWM3i7YpqHTrwGBPGBWLr04N0EuNlTP4-zczdVja_u0zvKgpQcYYaE5koNqRcaMkOVaCqB_A816ta5Cs32D5XVcomUFK_0LwMFOZIyHWikVLhAlcni6wJV_5kznRaSzgWceMqnM/s4032/IMG_4554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lpvnumQWfGYFpmdo0LOA7oseISNE0u8-x3pLABuiSMjX_43chizBpWM3i7YpqHTrwGBPGBWLr04N0EuNlTP4-zczdVja_u0zvKgpQcYYaE5koNqRcaMkOVaCqB_A816ta5Cs32D5XVcomUFK_0LwMFOZIyHWikVLhAlcni6wJV_5kznRaSzgWceMqnM/s320/IMG_4554.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Transitioning from Solid Tumor Program to Survivorship</h2><div>Milestone alert! Today marked Thomas’s last official appointment with Oncology: Solid Tumor Program. Going forward, Thomas will be seen by Oncology: Survivorship—and, of course, the 11 other doctors who follow him, for an average of 23 appointments per year (not counting sick visits). To add to our emotion today, this is the last day Clinic is being held on the sixth floor: on Monday, the whole Oncology Department will have moved to gorgeous new facilities on the third floor. Patients and parents are writing their memories of Sixth Floor Clinic on these butterflies. While this was a location of harrowing experiences, it was a place of tremendous LOVE and I will miss it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift9D5rsEtS4zTApvGV_rfDItrz8fAOLgOcCypxsxcq9ZdkK6UY2DnZaHqkASLiZwqZ47Z0-P2PgA4LasWwzpZYS-rCmnsLa_ljI17eHMTeAl2IOB44nAlGfjmmBoPwOhDt_mAEZVXGI-zRTWj9UVEHqRlIVlSWYvZjd-ZF2px5JAkVtLuLTl-R-B6zO8/s4032/IMG_4632.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift9D5rsEtS4zTApvGV_rfDItrz8fAOLgOcCypxsxcq9ZdkK6UY2DnZaHqkASLiZwqZ47Z0-P2PgA4LasWwzpZYS-rCmnsLa_ljI17eHMTeAl2IOB44nAlGfjmmBoPwOhDt_mAEZVXGI-zRTWj9UVEHqRlIVlSWYvZjd-ZF2px5JAkVtLuLTl-R-B6zO8/s320/IMG_4632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Summer Baseball</h2><div><div>Last night, I took the boys to our first Pineville Porcupines baseball game. What a fantastic fun time we had! I highly recommend this small town baseball stadium for south Charlotte families looking for wholesome entertainment during the summer. The night we showed up, kids' tickets were FREE (adults $8 apiece), plus they were given free tee-shirts. The facility was fantastic and intimately small so I felt safe with the boys running around, trying to catch foul balls and playing with their friends. I took them to the playground (100 feet away) during part of the game. My boys participated in the Shoe Race (Joseph was second place!) and the Dizzy Bat Race (Joseph won!)--for which all participating kids were given goodie bags filled with candy, a water bottle, a ball, and a bracelet. We left after the seventh inning, which was still two and a half hours of fun. The parking lot (free and convenient) was well lit at night and literally just steps from our seats. </div><div><br /></div><div>And to give you a sense of the atmosphere . . . at one point, apparently a bad call was made by the umpire (not that I would have a clue) and the crowd went wild with insults and distress. A good Southern man called out with booming voice the ultimate insult to the umpire: "You should be ashamed of yourself! Go to church on Sunday!" Chalk it up to, "you know you're in the South when . . . ."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-qaf5B2cCDifGWyaMTRVgtTQA4Yw9yUIKfBGNxW12vbyfYvXt49miXgM8UlidG2NXXwwBAZL_4ujUekiACWrL5oIzVBBvSzxreSbXfWkWju35xsaZ3PhJnwZhZ2Ik8PAbH6mkMGUnOqUzDa4Q4rvqrqw_gLh4jkc75-B2XDh9Hz8I54NpsCIlVkhZIE/s4032/IMG_4635.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-qaf5B2cCDifGWyaMTRVgtTQA4Yw9yUIKfBGNxW12vbyfYvXt49miXgM8UlidG2NXXwwBAZL_4ujUekiACWrL5oIzVBBvSzxreSbXfWkWju35xsaZ3PhJnwZhZ2Ik8PAbH6mkMGUnOqUzDa4Q4rvqrqw_gLh4jkc75-B2XDh9Hz8I54NpsCIlVkhZIE/s320/IMG_4635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXusl0f2JiHMjZYLfBmJJwwm2j68HyfnNXnhY27MLFvZczjsOy041Yio27m6kBvdqSfPBmZ0ZlSfa-drAoH26SoSzkP4WFFBrGnnp0vn8jd0WqvjYdlk9owDXmI0Ceoi7Fq8Wm2PYv3svIkRq7V5h3BKKVC1ekF4X6k58iLcXOGWZ516lg-K_jBuvbgz8/s4032/IMG_4637.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXusl0f2JiHMjZYLfBmJJwwm2j68HyfnNXnhY27MLFvZczjsOy041Yio27m6kBvdqSfPBmZ0ZlSfa-drAoH26SoSzkP4WFFBrGnnp0vn8jd0WqvjYdlk9owDXmI0Ceoi7Fq8Wm2PYv3svIkRq7V5h3BKKVC1ekF4X6k58iLcXOGWZ516lg-K_jBuvbgz8/s320/IMG_4637.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq7cqrYSLghJlG9XYIPpne4MB_jyHI4qXr0wF9gA0Z_eAVB85nIEVy8ZK66aksYQOzYDi5rAVnANqnfuY_2GaC8_TrdBkpzweuULSafyQfS1Ou_ivV1uKS-EUyB4u54wuY94QriXqvn27WEWjrzoLXn3mlnta5dKvuigsAkVRjftuSSaMsYuXQCEw4gU/s4032/IMG_4640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq7cqrYSLghJlG9XYIPpne4MB_jyHI4qXr0wF9gA0Z_eAVB85nIEVy8ZK66aksYQOzYDi5rAVnANqnfuY_2GaC8_TrdBkpzweuULSafyQfS1Ou_ivV1uKS-EUyB4u54wuY94QriXqvn27WEWjrzoLXn3mlnta5dKvuigsAkVRjftuSSaMsYuXQCEw4gU/s320/IMG_4640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcTM2yjBf6hAXU4kQB9ZmsSXTxzi1_uHjmcUepJX8l-QuQbG7hD5FX0IplIGJXajqpvbtXrNf8r9RzjIYVNHxf-rCouhRPWKi11bxPjhfjVo7aCPuoouRBxnnlu5GrXNrtTsckLqBKpU51CrdXKzY3OTIhTLsvbLwgrYZ9ATDa0vUyOB0EtnWdBVyM30/s4032/IMG_4642.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcTM2yjBf6hAXU4kQB9ZmsSXTxzi1_uHjmcUepJX8l-QuQbG7hD5FX0IplIGJXajqpvbtXrNf8r9RzjIYVNHxf-rCouhRPWKi11bxPjhfjVo7aCPuoouRBxnnlu5GrXNrtTsckLqBKpU51CrdXKzY3OTIhTLsvbLwgrYZ9ATDa0vUyOB0EtnWdBVyM30/s320/IMG_4642.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRumdZEUwncOukJRHtz74z3zu0-lT5-TCEvr4N5cCmLIJ8vvTvpX3SMhKnt42wNAUHuTmgqfJtuqDVrhj7uEo0RVSZ7O3aEzpVk8u4b_YDs_1suiP-hPS-OncV6ughy-6pIB5QyUo0xjzBLVzaYG-CRp2xcpgzlO_mnW4_WciqFGkdIe3NtAgWlkIXPf0/s4032/IMG_4646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRumdZEUwncOukJRHtz74z3zu0-lT5-TCEvr4N5cCmLIJ8vvTvpX3SMhKnt42wNAUHuTmgqfJtuqDVrhj7uEo0RVSZ7O3aEzpVk8u4b_YDs_1suiP-hPS-OncV6ughy-6pIB5QyUo0xjzBLVzaYG-CRp2xcpgzlO_mnW4_WciqFGkdIe3NtAgWlkIXPf0/s320/IMG_4646.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Happy Birthday, Thomas!</h2><div>Happy eighth birthday to Thomas! This is a week of early mornings as he attends Summer Catechesis (Catholic name for Vacation Bible School) with his brothers, but we will have family festivities to come tonight and his gift, which is a big day trip to the zoo this Saturday (if weather cooperates!)!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgv8USaKLlORTQf41dPjjf3w0UfGvVgWg0SyRFLK4Sjza2obuLQFIsWBBZv40cIvdZ5yD3WEVg5kV64qaMj-iqNeXAeM-_zeFvd3mx4qkDZLDIXLoqYJ1ECveByA3lOuHrn5kDaD8H5m5i1wWrso-sO-ZOVFgn7rpEeuisntY3yPKqlVeETguxhmUVw4/s4032/IMG_4527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgv8USaKLlORTQf41dPjjf3w0UfGvVgWg0SyRFLK4Sjza2obuLQFIsWBBZv40cIvdZ5yD3WEVg5kV64qaMj-iqNeXAeM-_zeFvd3mx4qkDZLDIXLoqYJ1ECveByA3lOuHrn5kDaD8H5m5i1wWrso-sO-ZOVFgn7rpEeuisntY3yPKqlVeETguxhmUVw4/s320/IMG_4527.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe1-74M9e5pyYYhAjUJM_Ih3iorAnHSwbMZX3R8cKOozHCgo-ThBZHHNiWzDaGyd7bkYvYxxo-9STnYnxVz-lHwjfXNNZwBRxYSX8WRuHpIzAl62x9qc06nsqI5s_mv4jmmkiwQkFO2irvLHTZpbOXgMj3qWbBzvJcSzqw-wOYYeKLh_lyTsh36A89T4/s1094/IMG_4890.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe1-74M9e5pyYYhAjUJM_Ih3iorAnHSwbMZX3R8cKOozHCgo-ThBZHHNiWzDaGyd7bkYvYxxo-9STnYnxVz-lHwjfXNNZwBRxYSX8WRuHpIzAl62x9qc06nsqI5s_mv4jmmkiwQkFO2irvLHTZpbOXgMj3qWbBzvJcSzqw-wOYYeKLh_lyTsh36A89T4/s320/IMG_4890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR7kVNw1sscVrsV4p5OOx1XmuVbadOQnhOeUTIoH7tF0kLb3AbW3Ns41I36ZFlUmwg21K9JWqObO7fu_76cGfBqlJm4K9XS6X4orSycYWX1Li-uoOb8Q8PpHSWP9f6imyPQR6_4_-BSZ52yDoWO4Wz0NvV1LLoaBwZ8uUgtN_n21IAiQ4RZOX4wae5WA/s820/IMG_4894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR7kVNw1sscVrsV4p5OOx1XmuVbadOQnhOeUTIoH7tF0kLb3AbW3Ns41I36ZFlUmwg21K9JWqObO7fu_76cGfBqlJm4K9XS6X4orSycYWX1Li-uoOb8Q8PpHSWP9f6imyPQR6_4_-BSZ52yDoWO4Wz0NvV1LLoaBwZ8uUgtN_n21IAiQ4RZOX4wae5WA/s320/IMG_4894.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9JNXjYiR3s0Q36VXbRLaRiaBfLoXSrxXjurNTDrptgymfwGRcKMGH8sPKPcDG_Fs38lubtY1PVM9JIWbj-M5Bw9qojYirlN9yK4et9xsT9cO3KY3_KKE80gLUFaufZvx8SZNzlCoviZZj5RXICJXFRE9ToqBL9_s9n4ji9rUQUvGCBDpsrwOlh8JOSY/s820/IMG_4913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9JNXjYiR3s0Q36VXbRLaRiaBfLoXSrxXjurNTDrptgymfwGRcKMGH8sPKPcDG_Fs38lubtY1PVM9JIWbj-M5Bw9qojYirlN9yK4et9xsT9cO3KY3_KKE80gLUFaufZvx8SZNzlCoviZZj5RXICJXFRE9ToqBL9_s9n4ji9rUQUvGCBDpsrwOlh8JOSY/s320/IMG_4913.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvQFu9NwARW2c1g0_p6A8MpwCjH5HvDakvVtn0FnPWfgKHimBFZCktdv1yGPAwcWV8ZOUTPLGDb15e4cCODQE2jjuwWLGDfrWOYKAqA3ninAlJv9Wtpg1-OhNWqPYoWdzIgRilhL3oKAOttm9NE4cpx3KY1p141NA0zsG3yRz3DnS02B6MT1K5Qu3mSc/s820/IMG_4915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvQFu9NwARW2c1g0_p6A8MpwCjH5HvDakvVtn0FnPWfgKHimBFZCktdv1yGPAwcWV8ZOUTPLGDb15e4cCODQE2jjuwWLGDfrWOYKAqA3ninAlJv9Wtpg1-OhNWqPYoWdzIgRilhL3oKAOttm9NE4cpx3KY1p141NA0zsG3yRz3DnS02B6MT1K5Qu3mSc/s320/IMG_4915.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ksOOxoJYjvgs1UEZAfHEoPovVeSkmMl_1xRn8y6jUW2Qiu-kqp-_MVac2gqKOXPTqG_a_pqRB4EDpusQqwMtjKbwsVl3qB98qE_leX8HcLfgGjut0L3Z7T_lxX0WbNExui6a1qJ1iTOtomqL9B4xLvrcYKqU-zqxIm_ulXPBHOIrz2GrDYuik-wDIaE/s4032/IMG_5064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ksOOxoJYjvgs1UEZAfHEoPovVeSkmMl_1xRn8y6jUW2Qiu-kqp-_MVac2gqKOXPTqG_a_pqRB4EDpusQqwMtjKbwsVl3qB98qE_leX8HcLfgGjut0L3Z7T_lxX0WbNExui6a1qJ1iTOtomqL9B4xLvrcYKqU-zqxIm_ulXPBHOIrz2GrDYuik-wDIaE/s320/IMG_5064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Summer Catechesis 2023</h2><div>We had the best time participating in Summer Catechesis this week, the first time we've done so in about ten years! I was a room parent, Mary was a snack room volunteer, Margaret was an art room volunteer, while Joseph, Thomas, and David were participants in the K-5 program. The five-morning event was very well organized, fun, and taught traditional Catholic teachings.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKOeoXCLwtX1kVUqg9qpNgD7Op6SiegwhllWqnDA3qxYIJduc_3-KtTTzxJ43UaGRaBQxfi1pilA6wHI0jE3ce0gAS-CBnZqWI9KPjq9dyvSNuixSSQ6ga83J_a22PDjVZ_-7ww05QcyAFhzzPtOwqnNP3ho6Y548_aqf9VIF9ZjEidzhKMV1FiZVxLk/s4032/IMG_4728.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKOeoXCLwtX1kVUqg9qpNgD7Op6SiegwhllWqnDA3qxYIJduc_3-KtTTzxJ43UaGRaBQxfi1pilA6wHI0jE3ce0gAS-CBnZqWI9KPjq9dyvSNuixSSQ6ga83J_a22PDjVZ_-7ww05QcyAFhzzPtOwqnNP3ho6Y548_aqf9VIF9ZjEidzhKMV1FiZVxLk/s320/IMG_4728.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQl_9KIrZEF0PedDZyeQRMnR3uo_rpZjiHb90LGcGpCFI8iNLmaqL0WuThb8iGbAgLZHcptmozU_cTv7F3aYWI0Dvl_W29pt4hkZ4z54ejRPjgj9gff2CcWwb75u9BojVQZoPM1JvqSGPK49mnZ8nYXcfTSCAicDgDEPmPH2V4o-il81ZNmU9IX1GVFU/s820/IMG_4344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQl_9KIrZEF0PedDZyeQRMnR3uo_rpZjiHb90LGcGpCFI8iNLmaqL0WuThb8iGbAgLZHcptmozU_cTv7F3aYWI0Dvl_W29pt4hkZ4z54ejRPjgj9gff2CcWwb75u9BojVQZoPM1JvqSGPK49mnZ8nYXcfTSCAicDgDEPmPH2V4o-il81ZNmU9IX1GVFU/s320/IMG_4344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCoweSOMuY9yczTzIZgI7ByZG41cv9QqyYM93ImZ7ZimruYMH-LGL1SSpweL0pZBt-F7LOH4eWd_V1pe0RAoDXKPe6Bxt5Hh_gEMdJe2CxliQIYX8LSHZoJa1qum7cVwUTm8vghUpV1f8t5LkPq5hOfvuoj_w2uaXqOv-gh59za4KDu4KSqdZcDnMLE/s1094/IMG_4351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCoweSOMuY9yczTzIZgI7ByZG41cv9QqyYM93ImZ7ZimruYMH-LGL1SSpweL0pZBt-F7LOH4eWd_V1pe0RAoDXKPe6Bxt5Hh_gEMdJe2CxliQIYX8LSHZoJa1qum7cVwUTm8vghUpV1f8t5LkPq5hOfvuoj_w2uaXqOv-gh59za4KDu4KSqdZcDnMLE/s320/IMG_4351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqaxHuN_3Ag6g8nWnPfNDConkVGngnnwZz6s1VPvyVlAuR-3iSIRHHtU-I9BY0ugVzuMWA5WqwwNl_4Zn-o3F-OKbir6IQN9mtIJ6aZrmEy1uGZUKLTkJW1Kdk1sUqAfykUhN3JuCOt_SK3cShNKlc9yO-7pld-OAvlH4xAiYy0H4XyWHUdHRupipVI4/s1094/IMG_4381.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqaxHuN_3Ag6g8nWnPfNDConkVGngnnwZz6s1VPvyVlAuR-3iSIRHHtU-I9BY0ugVzuMWA5WqwwNl_4Zn-o3F-OKbir6IQN9mtIJ6aZrmEy1uGZUKLTkJW1Kdk1sUqAfykUhN3JuCOt_SK3cShNKlc9yO-7pld-OAvlH4xAiYy0H4XyWHUdHRupipVI4/s320/IMG_4381.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv93pPN9qBtwYcACodnHONrmEUHGUwlqC_5lmMPn9j5gbgSZ6gS6G-Ctm-Xw4XVwamH2ORRWIKXp3bFowjDL4PH72h-Ln57oqYBn5-knLUtixn-rr1rNAW-ebF8bHpsYdDhngWRnkt-Fr782uRTG8Af9qwv1n4VKGvaNbbLwnsK5hrWaQ20pNsL4qxgQ/s4032/IMG_4731.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv93pPN9qBtwYcACodnHONrmEUHGUwlqC_5lmMPn9j5gbgSZ6gS6G-Ctm-Xw4XVwamH2ORRWIKXp3bFowjDL4PH72h-Ln57oqYBn5-knLUtixn-rr1rNAW-ebF8bHpsYdDhngWRnkt-Fr782uRTG8Af9qwv1n4VKGvaNbbLwnsK5hrWaQ20pNsL4qxgQ/s320/IMG_4731.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimN0ICJ0bATFQX_6tpOsRy01sdXVzxsHLBWhLCVpa-Q9eiO6e-74Vr5D0VjYr5aeETP-aHDHUTLknRmCIBIrilBNeboFXIFBQlLQ33UWBD2itQO-Ee1zelxjEN_UIqkgpYjBc1NR1RqEiYu02Z5I0K6BVcEC87gMSWRYrbmymaLq-6z5CwZn3WTyox2w/s4032/IMG_4735.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimN0ICJ0bATFQX_6tpOsRy01sdXVzxsHLBWhLCVpa-Q9eiO6e-74Vr5D0VjYr5aeETP-aHDHUTLknRmCIBIrilBNeboFXIFBQlLQ33UWBD2itQO-Ee1zelxjEN_UIqkgpYjBc1NR1RqEiYu02Z5I0K6BVcEC87gMSWRYrbmymaLq-6z5CwZn3WTyox2w/s320/IMG_4735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeA2buzKIKkwlUQhnZY2SQLIv5cxiZlN767xBB5Pmu4Y3off0CGyQYxCg_M8XDcIeDL_eO3KNILv0IO4k1Qp2ZVKhngmozDGbVzR5zpk6hhkphpi0fyEB1D_YEmes35aYDyzpApcv4GUe-Hqsiy-1DQWaFz9Rg6JBHhq6G6-oCGZPf4ZX_jAFlOQ_jTc/s4032/IMG_4744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeA2buzKIKkwlUQhnZY2SQLIv5cxiZlN767xBB5Pmu4Y3off0CGyQYxCg_M8XDcIeDL_eO3KNILv0IO4k1Qp2ZVKhngmozDGbVzR5zpk6hhkphpi0fyEB1D_YEmes35aYDyzpApcv4GUe-Hqsiy-1DQWaFz9Rg6JBHhq6G6-oCGZPf4ZX_jAFlOQ_jTc/s320/IMG_4744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-D5Eqc_VjLhF7z0InVjl9ovKp8lR-xscFlev-KOR9maeGD7gDIc82Ge4FRrOquS3wwMzKxImHh4aVc1iOKQh5mnaEw6LLTAIskRl3yvl7pbpoYvASmHZk6j6kq6l5n7yutVXf-6DNy00rcMo9IYmPuIMqjMyJ8aRuI3Cc-QfMr-wdC-HS5WBqI6AOsg/s4032/IMG_4790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-D5Eqc_VjLhF7z0InVjl9ovKp8lR-xscFlev-KOR9maeGD7gDIc82Ge4FRrOquS3wwMzKxImHh4aVc1iOKQh5mnaEw6LLTAIskRl3yvl7pbpoYvASmHZk6j6kq6l5n7yutVXf-6DNy00rcMo9IYmPuIMqjMyJ8aRuI3Cc-QfMr-wdC-HS5WBqI6AOsg/s320/IMG_4790.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Z8Oe6ryKZHluGTneIKyWBxY3zUhsvU0kFYW8FQNEwp92kSBe24Yls_QwWecybuIfsukroDFHyhyphenhyphen_Usrh5hLGYqrY9GF9YeHYGXjAta3lKgpEvu0qkCB3Q640UcEA_ABBqS_0XHs2JI597zlVZMOoAfCukG5rqUQ9d1bSd_kY1VTeUwEaSa6EZCan6Y4/s4032/IMG_4798%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Z8Oe6ryKZHluGTneIKyWBxY3zUhsvU0kFYW8FQNEwp92kSBe24Yls_QwWecybuIfsukroDFHyhyphenhyphen_Usrh5hLGYqrY9GF9YeHYGXjAta3lKgpEvu0qkCB3Q640UcEA_ABBqS_0XHs2JI597zlVZMOoAfCukG5rqUQ9d1bSd_kY1VTeUwEaSa6EZCan6Y4/s320/IMG_4798%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiptqx-LprOXJVA4LWA5Adc7dYT9HigMQrUauFJoCDbBtJYdGXTn4dRgR35IU09frdrKF364aqirXKYGnwDyjPxnKtnb_6oBOMWYZYrGevm3Z621Hfcqibu0-69Kd88mthbFyQp8GZb9Qg5Jj34WyX4miFanJjXoirKARlGz5LlgNNUq3XLNdfDzrnm4/s4032/IMG_4847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiptqx-LprOXJVA4LWA5Adc7dYT9HigMQrUauFJoCDbBtJYdGXTn4dRgR35IU09frdrKF364aqirXKYGnwDyjPxnKtnb_6oBOMWYZYrGevm3Z621Hfcqibu0-69Kd88mthbFyQp8GZb9Qg5Jj34WyX4miFanJjXoirKARlGz5LlgNNUq3XLNdfDzrnm4/s320/IMG_4847.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9fbCAt35UNw-dH8ZDuUGgi83E-oqJdKXKsgE02RWcDr5Q6MAeG_m3XdQZzrFQIYbakbjsuq9N6zzPJBAYgZUfcUKbY5wKuk2KFP9gQuqwB-mrCYw8rPJgoPiHQzdIHpZ764QkRm1SJ9IdDeWQs9lh0lOxsevU3UxzfAykAsnNMJhIcUYzlO-WKOUPy0/s820/IMG_4877.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9fbCAt35UNw-dH8ZDuUGgi83E-oqJdKXKsgE02RWcDr5Q6MAeG_m3XdQZzrFQIYbakbjsuq9N6zzPJBAYgZUfcUKbY5wKuk2KFP9gQuqwB-mrCYw8rPJgoPiHQzdIHpZ764QkRm1SJ9IdDeWQs9lh0lOxsevU3UxzfAykAsnNMJhIcUYzlO-WKOUPy0/s320/IMG_4877.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPTpvGM4ZEwFgKnNcijggpvxzrsbn1B5DJFcjQtrTPCP-_9V5WOp5au4UlCU08Ok1PPLug41qug3g9SAp2PRo_V1KX17z-vy_JdmtOYoxd9R9lUvs70WpO3EOAvhM83pJWBs1YscFqDj9tBATaz7bBLnnLMYQDaTZPHKoMgHO9RQVWZ0RKOrMitQCsoo/s820/IMG_4883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPTpvGM4ZEwFgKnNcijggpvxzrsbn1B5DJFcjQtrTPCP-_9V5WOp5au4UlCU08Ok1PPLug41qug3g9SAp2PRo_V1KX17z-vy_JdmtOYoxd9R9lUvs70WpO3EOAvhM83pJWBs1YscFqDj9tBATaz7bBLnnLMYQDaTZPHKoMgHO9RQVWZ0RKOrMitQCsoo/s320/IMG_4883.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g4gLdcSH6RpITPlC1jdgX8onFhFQyvywBXvYxakn83wT31k7Rnwi_i2Srwdkwn0aKGjvRMU_dxGOQpK2QgwxZRcK9C-XflbVgxLYPJ65Nl0TjntiD9InrxslpHp3qphP7h4rcrmkUxEPHG6cg92ZW0ecW9qkufVCWnimotHBc3p_Z9bKW6dC2s54Ps8/s820/IMG_5040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g4gLdcSH6RpITPlC1jdgX8onFhFQyvywBXvYxakn83wT31k7Rnwi_i2Srwdkwn0aKGjvRMU_dxGOQpK2QgwxZRcK9C-XflbVgxLYPJ65Nl0TjntiD9InrxslpHp3qphP7h4rcrmkUxEPHG6cg92ZW0ecW9qkufVCWnimotHBc3p_Z9bKW6dC2s54Ps8/s320/IMG_5040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eUy-O3Jt5pfx6FeAgIbMTDlKdO7KFEDiRiac8V5t96JGSCbCkF7UkTA2j6eMLNa4b2lZ-52s0toU8AIEtgBHCYnCQEJdEFy0tb8uIFlM_fifQOZBgDeaDi6TeraOjI008kiGmKr3N1ICk7NZ6hsp7XHOg2oifqg5wVLeNj_N2IIOGtl5yimy9hrm8zg/s1093/IMG_5050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1093" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eUy-O3Jt5pfx6FeAgIbMTDlKdO7KFEDiRiac8V5t96JGSCbCkF7UkTA2j6eMLNa4b2lZ-52s0toU8AIEtgBHCYnCQEJdEFy0tb8uIFlM_fifQOZBgDeaDi6TeraOjI008kiGmKr3N1ICk7NZ6hsp7XHOg2oifqg5wVLeNj_N2IIOGtl5yimy9hrm8zg/s320/IMG_5050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Joseph's mBot</h2><div>Joseph (10), with his passion for building things, launching rockets, arranging SnapCircuits, and doing science experiments, just built his first MBot. He is loving this new hobby of beginner robotics!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fe3tcCPoKXtZG9pUgl4DMo_UAUN3xnatVoLLuzAV-Nlma48vGPBDQrkZl7BtQ6TMDd892FDSoFeXXsmJjKufTmMMGWwAPV-3mV83enOCBcBok-YkPnYp4BQrl73P-3dD3dh9vIYgJ8zkp-SSykBJOGthyszO1U1OihSIm0hCRq0FtAEuRFxrSj_wXL8/s4032/IMG_4652%20mbot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fe3tcCPoKXtZG9pUgl4DMo_UAUN3xnatVoLLuzAV-Nlma48vGPBDQrkZl7BtQ6TMDd892FDSoFeXXsmJjKufTmMMGWwAPV-3mV83enOCBcBok-YkPnYp4BQrl73P-3dD3dh9vIYgJ8zkp-SSykBJOGthyszO1U1OihSIm0hCRq0FtAEuRFxrSj_wXL8/s320/IMG_4652%20mbot.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8424zBJaOY5n3pZsUqRIGLFm39X7CmDFxfb-0P_vr4T5OFraJxLabYx_w0GQeXaXhO86EFaFx3NMDtAGZHvYewqfgs6H5RtMUoLAHP_4pVA7s0LB3bDQG-Z1VKFlKu-nU6mhPdkYEu9tpRlVtVPuxKnrzIoeccFfQ5WRi6DXrAbNeFx2l_k4sXSKfh9Y/s4032/IMG_4657%20mbot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8424zBJaOY5n3pZsUqRIGLFm39X7CmDFxfb-0P_vr4T5OFraJxLabYx_w0GQeXaXhO86EFaFx3NMDtAGZHvYewqfgs6H5RtMUoLAHP_4pVA7s0LB3bDQG-Z1VKFlKu-nU6mhPdkYEu9tpRlVtVPuxKnrzIoeccFfQ5WRi6DXrAbNeFx2l_k4sXSKfh9Y/s320/IMG_4657%20mbot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Alarm Clock</h2><div>If you won't wake up on time for the daily early start at Summer Catechesis, you get THE TREATMENT! (Read: your big brother drops the dogs into your bed to smother you with kisses till you get up)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzyF7xhYt86-9if0bgIpotwSnU5hAaqFhSSDKfkv7fWx-zXRpwrLVgWXMVNV5x4i_nfuDadr3t4IXtbwkk5d5E9Lr-Lnj0lt9RByjRLJ1NmF8_R4_yY1ftZJlJI8deCQFNHaJtGeHFl8q-stYGkQTTcA_-LB2EGNRssDK6MZ49bbOunjM262JyyQMZAk/s1094/IMG_5076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzyF7xhYt86-9if0bgIpotwSnU5hAaqFhSSDKfkv7fWx-zXRpwrLVgWXMVNV5x4i_nfuDadr3t4IXtbwkk5d5E9Lr-Lnj0lt9RByjRLJ1NmF8_R4_yY1ftZJlJI8deCQFNHaJtGeHFl8q-stYGkQTTcA_-LB2EGNRssDK6MZ49bbOunjM262JyyQMZAk/s320/IMG_5076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArwX4q2iZP0eLYhssvyvnMrSp97MFPj8SibTqCu1l9Qd0gcoW6MSiUKf675w3expXEA1QlAmV_8RM1M4-a0FBB4tzP90Hw5Rwa9Uy6sP2zszDut-DIAKuUsCH7lMz0aZV4_XTFYLE8zHlUtxoimNTlHfC6-i-2Mf2OZ7tffqRdMg3WHdMU41AZDkBLNI/s1094/IMG_5080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArwX4q2iZP0eLYhssvyvnMrSp97MFPj8SibTqCu1l9Qd0gcoW6MSiUKf675w3expXEA1QlAmV_8RM1M4-a0FBB4tzP90Hw5Rwa9Uy6sP2zszDut-DIAKuUsCH7lMz0aZV4_XTFYLE8zHlUtxoimNTlHfC6-i-2Mf2OZ7tffqRdMg3WHdMU41AZDkBLNI/s320/IMG_5080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">John at Fraternus Summer Camp</h2><div>Two weeks ago, John attended camp for five days: both two days at HAWC (a leadership/retreat kind of camp) followed by three days at Ranch, both sponsored by Fraternus. We missed his friendly, chatty persona around the house so much! He had a wonderful time at camp and came home more committed to his faith than ever.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6j_UyoC-3QaOkVbgopvoaC5QdqsbchO5htV8Q0cKCCkNuXQBLFsFoxuq3x3AVokpU4gAeGjBbdPtNT0kMxwpJTAgUlRwt9Oo6b9hXA40kZK9JvXN0lcOro7HDU7mClLsS8QE0wpDP3vN4v6s4H7Gei9faWu21q41VRhjnVF6vlWteUuOrBMzvQ23PL8/s16043/7-09-23%20Fraternus%20HAWC%20Ranch%20camp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4431" data-original-width="16043" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6j_UyoC-3QaOkVbgopvoaC5QdqsbchO5htV8Q0cKCCkNuXQBLFsFoxuq3x3AVokpU4gAeGjBbdPtNT0kMxwpJTAgUlRwt9Oo6b9hXA40kZK9JvXN0lcOro7HDU7mClLsS8QE0wpDP3vN4v6s4H7Gei9faWu21q41VRhjnVF6vlWteUuOrBMzvQ23PL8/s320/7-09-23%20Fraternus%20HAWC%20Ranch%20camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JhGJJIY4vqIWklDPJTB9OxBQyMyf_1RfoU1K9aloXrXyvjZ224yTwW-GIrYjfla2U_68WlkPuK40ITsyTqycVjWiI_5NXNDeqo1boWWAJI5CnoXBeJvP2UZsvZ_Fa51BSRQ4ANOuTosjTyLK-SJVKZhfsqDAqyKViBPcUjnZAVsD-jchACDQP02dljs/s4635/20230712_140617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3452" data-original-width="4635" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JhGJJIY4vqIWklDPJTB9OxBQyMyf_1RfoU1K9aloXrXyvjZ224yTwW-GIrYjfla2U_68WlkPuK40ITsyTqycVjWiI_5NXNDeqo1boWWAJI5CnoXBeJvP2UZsvZ_Fa51BSRQ4ANOuTosjTyLK-SJVKZhfsqDAqyKViBPcUjnZAVsD-jchACDQP02dljs/s320/20230712_140617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HDN346aMHz9qcYFuZ-nZ76EC7sPtZiTdBZwa_2HEaMh_40e-nekvrus05e4LWIdyCv4cCEK_lo-WwEWiZFHkLWci9lcZX1Pc8hLOx1TstCgCVd8eV9dYVrkTC43cd1cguZqDKvsTG0Q4ornMHxDoJDhcS9yhdMHAaujeTAfDg70qMRUFlSLsJOr6pes/s4032/IMG_5302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HDN346aMHz9qcYFuZ-nZ76EC7sPtZiTdBZwa_2HEaMh_40e-nekvrus05e4LWIdyCv4cCEK_lo-WwEWiZFHkLWci9lcZX1Pc8hLOx1TstCgCVd8eV9dYVrkTC43cd1cguZqDKvsTG0Q4ornMHxDoJDhcS9yhdMHAaujeTAfDg70qMRUFlSLsJOr6pes/s320/IMG_5302.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Girls at Fidelis Summer Camp</h2><div>Two weeks ago, Mary (14) and Margaret (12) attended Inspire camp, sponsored by Fidelis. They very much enjoyed being with their chapter-mates and learned fortitude "roughing it" a bit more than they expected. I have received a mysterious absence of photos of Mary . . . but I know they participated in swimming, horseback riding, paintball, low and high ropes, whitewater rafting, daily Mass, Catholic talks every night, and more. It was a very quiet house with only three young kids at home all week!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkt_sVANP_Zk4kMRi4YJWegH5EUqWDfxrPdMilf9tKP3Qk9e5fho6OfnbDNz-U-D2ph-MDRPEKp6tl30JXP1K56mvIT8RYPCM0qzMZdlEhhIg8QAeF3uITQIVCc_iY2yzjDufuwhuE75tujGLZotxWzew9NcDL26zDaNnUmSjqVRPIwhxRzXzZg0MpKs/s1024/IMG_2852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkt_sVANP_Zk4kMRi4YJWegH5EUqWDfxrPdMilf9tKP3Qk9e5fho6OfnbDNz-U-D2ph-MDRPEKp6tl30JXP1K56mvIT8RYPCM0qzMZdlEhhIg8QAeF3uITQIVCc_iY2yzjDufuwhuE75tujGLZotxWzew9NcDL26zDaNnUmSjqVRPIwhxRzXzZg0MpKs/s320/IMG_2852.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2JcTxtOEVSSmt6DuLZIPTDqJH34vp10y01p6-MyyTDyqyyeh5FxO-WsPGDhtkEbJQLTTkIPbzCpyEBz5OFfCM1rZ-xMKKOxUn_WoqAExfJulARbF_9YIrCtqP-mTuLbXVhqeeIIRinjIMkaalTKOevVdewEJA8OXMie8SHgKSrSl64UAI_TteNMYmBg/s160/IMG_5825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="120" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2JcTxtOEVSSmt6DuLZIPTDqJH34vp10y01p6-MyyTDyqyyeh5FxO-WsPGDhtkEbJQLTTkIPbzCpyEBz5OFfCM1rZ-xMKKOxUn_WoqAExfJulARbF_9YIrCtqP-mTuLbXVhqeeIIRinjIMkaalTKOevVdewEJA8OXMie8SHgKSrSl64UAI_TteNMYmBg/s1600/IMG_5825.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2atEwSKpYCr4mPp1CMPKsZm-ba7XAPwkOUJvp_9cxhnlRFf-Z2DIK-nIulNPhTrwCm6tRpjcQnnoZq3y4JDvpskhwoljjrfsgkkv3deGJT7x_1cfT1bx_MGh9HAEi815u9BreUIhwfzBRaml0viN9Vg5GXKsBVArjxoKBc4gNBGAk5oNEJ0eeugnPNU/s480/IMG_7979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2atEwSKpYCr4mPp1CMPKsZm-ba7XAPwkOUJvp_9cxhnlRFf-Z2DIK-nIulNPhTrwCm6tRpjcQnnoZq3y4JDvpskhwoljjrfsgkkv3deGJT7x_1cfT1bx_MGh9HAEi815u9BreUIhwfzBRaml0viN9Vg5GXKsBVArjxoKBc4gNBGAk5oNEJ0eeugnPNU/s320/IMG_7979.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Catholic Museum</h2><div>I highly recommend you visit the two-day Catholic Museum! There are rooms and rooms of Catholic objects to view up close with docents in every room, friendly and well-versed about all the objects. You could easily spend an hour at the display.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOY-w5Y5lJfCeczDJXF90fVokt6qKA_jLYZvVwG8ijsflScy0jfXKZ-bntfKjt-KMZbmNcmctyTr62gYs5iOcpd-Mg-X9s0FLbBSeR8hzRsze2uv84fnHszoPmniFwHRFVSq9Wxqjf5tXA4mZdjDcJiX7Ks0kNLC0l0Mizlc5PAo_skxSNEHx9pUJv1s/s884/IMG_5160.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOY-w5Y5lJfCeczDJXF90fVokt6qKA_jLYZvVwG8ijsflScy0jfXKZ-bntfKjt-KMZbmNcmctyTr62gYs5iOcpd-Mg-X9s0FLbBSeR8hzRsze2uv84fnHszoPmniFwHRFVSq9Wxqjf5tXA4mZdjDcJiX7Ks0kNLC0l0Mizlc5PAo_skxSNEHx9pUJv1s/s320/IMG_5160.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu9uQc2X33CDgBUfPpIY-rM4BYTQbgo5vpPIsnVFUCuRh0P8OWdXrt0wGFsVSYZituqjCCoZeFnAyFCdmDfnfUq86otYjExngCKnt90ndlwyq0xqdnJqw2J45kTbkaXaJPKc7qw1cxZWfZJSoNjMEI70bfvZmHf0dJ0mhHo0-liKeYjA8jB6wmolTxes/s1179/IMG_5162.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu9uQc2X33CDgBUfPpIY-rM4BYTQbgo5vpPIsnVFUCuRh0P8OWdXrt0wGFsVSYZituqjCCoZeFnAyFCdmDfnfUq86otYjExngCKnt90ndlwyq0xqdnJqw2J45kTbkaXaJPKc7qw1cxZWfZJSoNjMEI70bfvZmHf0dJ0mhHo0-liKeYjA8jB6wmolTxes/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dRnbMYjrrdQO_3RRoH8cmwEPaBI6M7vAki4HcKfRHJWn6nElNbXD562BuWOzw1Hgx8aF5eLMXxrSpgFOPLc_cSVAJZu7PuUhFWqPz4-XFWq_hYM0wX9-ffgBG0TAie2q-JdoHIHT0Er9WWFAHBcAN3xc-OzYRRTVrF-PEfczextMbHC_LytSlTQIyHU/s884/IMG_5165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dRnbMYjrrdQO_3RRoH8cmwEPaBI6M7vAki4HcKfRHJWn6nElNbXD562BuWOzw1Hgx8aF5eLMXxrSpgFOPLc_cSVAJZu7PuUhFWqPz4-XFWq_hYM0wX9-ffgBG0TAie2q-JdoHIHT0Er9WWFAHBcAN3xc-OzYRRTVrF-PEfczextMbHC_LytSlTQIyHU/s320/IMG_5165.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlILqjL6qLcaAHbjSdOEZjG5yHx9tgtGpfOwu-t_Tcs6_co-8yRMN3XR1PEaS_A4q5AU_McJXefIBRG93SJER7RAiHni9OhS1BS7artpz2WlIDUiRJ8YkNSrCsFpo6lm2_rS2ovNvDZBZxb1b0fb0NeTevkGBavvZJH1_R0ljTLqRtqR1DdywsaR8XXFA/s1179/IMG_5168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlILqjL6qLcaAHbjSdOEZjG5yHx9tgtGpfOwu-t_Tcs6_co-8yRMN3XR1PEaS_A4q5AU_McJXefIBRG93SJER7RAiHni9OhS1BS7artpz2WlIDUiRJ8YkNSrCsFpo6lm2_rS2ovNvDZBZxb1b0fb0NeTevkGBavvZJH1_R0ljTLqRtqR1DdywsaR8XXFA/s320/IMG_5168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUaNdnkWKCprj99I1-CP4ztxrb8jE7EQkvNBWLCAinVKiPb2Ta7r5L1gwZhLYtXJhLXIwdn0Dg5rod9qlJRxFnim6bMVa6gCFrhyEW1jSS7-Z1lYd8LK0E8cX7hXWReexdb0Qt_YK6ViwnXBIwopQVoyDlw-0oMQbtSuEgqBRbuN1-KIWulcJSCZOrBs/s1179/IMG_5171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUaNdnkWKCprj99I1-CP4ztxrb8jE7EQkvNBWLCAinVKiPb2Ta7r5L1gwZhLYtXJhLXIwdn0Dg5rod9qlJRxFnim6bMVa6gCFrhyEW1jSS7-Z1lYd8LK0E8cX7hXWReexdb0Qt_YK6ViwnXBIwopQVoyDlw-0oMQbtSuEgqBRbuN1-KIWulcJSCZOrBs/s320/IMG_5171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Sweetwater Farm</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphTj6lIocnFz9fvVaQmjvSekeD2bPh0GmGF_fbD4TmNm_Un_Vf5gDmSIBl-W73mWSkMPBrqPevV7NhLB4d1g4Xh0DEm_ENYgidwMUb5a7HU5MdJ92iML4XOfYFE3z0do_8YwD3RA2enDlo6E_vOejs4wyFG6HKwhbY8UaA6_GwuhBrJeALfVyX8GicC0/s4032/IMG_4603.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphTj6lIocnFz9fvVaQmjvSekeD2bPh0GmGF_fbD4TmNm_Un_Vf5gDmSIBl-W73mWSkMPBrqPevV7NhLB4d1g4Xh0DEm_ENYgidwMUb5a7HU5MdJ92iML4XOfYFE3z0do_8YwD3RA2enDlo6E_vOejs4wyFG6HKwhbY8UaA6_GwuhBrJeALfVyX8GicC0/s320/IMG_4603.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSXHjSO9Q5QxYyxoPBJq1zbj7FcCeAbesIRQa_gcgr3Q7d5P67jX6ZMEKmtKde0RjGPs7WbmkAud4HZc91podNNw9LuQd5bEZhBMN7HCZslBuFxUrhTu-nmEPjR7lfJ01jjaishAPDQl2NpMomK_Yv9AjY8FdR9TSvxjCi7lI5JsIif-jaykNQ4HlHj8/s4032/IMG_4605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSXHjSO9Q5QxYyxoPBJq1zbj7FcCeAbesIRQa_gcgr3Q7d5P67jX6ZMEKmtKde0RjGPs7WbmkAud4HZc91podNNw9LuQd5bEZhBMN7HCZslBuFxUrhTu-nmEPjR7lfJ01jjaishAPDQl2NpMomK_Yv9AjY8FdR9TSvxjCi7lI5JsIif-jaykNQ4HlHj8/s320/IMG_4605.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSOI-lj0w8owzJ1v9VT1nTOQXOxad5A6-cX7OSKcU9q3UrdaopalULu4BLA5mS2fHWVuh1uQ-uY8fmqoTWZCerE20nOK-LdEZUBY9CCGFVyhim778YJ3Rwsp_qPt2tShcoiaVDvPWtnz-xflX5XunyBJOZYq_KyAUA65n4AfIweXTnXwUKwa85yi5x1o/s4032/IMG_4608.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSOI-lj0w8owzJ1v9VT1nTOQXOxad5A6-cX7OSKcU9q3UrdaopalULu4BLA5mS2fHWVuh1uQ-uY8fmqoTWZCerE20nOK-LdEZUBY9CCGFVyhim778YJ3Rwsp_qPt2tShcoiaVDvPWtnz-xflX5XunyBJOZYq_KyAUA65n4AfIweXTnXwUKwa85yi5x1o/s320/IMG_4608.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-S0nagrduXiuo8YGYZC1Vcw-pNKjaNpdAdNr5Xg-QloZqmYkkPfVshNCWDi3AdELuxpifba3pCjvivKKmEc07rwnGmlD8CDm2yjDw3GgcTwVZeRIoy_6IP0w4cbPemNiduXpUtEe1N1vRpnAe-43_9Z97B8B49khA46_c6U01TPf_03Pk8FNx3hXnPc/s4032/IMG_4613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-S0nagrduXiuo8YGYZC1Vcw-pNKjaNpdAdNr5Xg-QloZqmYkkPfVshNCWDi3AdELuxpifba3pCjvivKKmEc07rwnGmlD8CDm2yjDw3GgcTwVZeRIoy_6IP0w4cbPemNiduXpUtEe1N1vRpnAe-43_9Z97B8B49khA46_c6U01TPf_03Pk8FNx3hXnPc/s320/IMG_4613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYz1vmHCX_k-YktC_-Yy1w8-WJ6qJo9DP9AMHbefYQSrf75hBu2nwiQlhVUhzyqlWnf9g9gWimEs_AGBZ_ZX-SaE2meljvrqC6f2NuQSP4sHPsG99Qjmn0kbULadYPg6Kuziv0zOoA2Kcgs3nlm4Aufsp5U5FvS0HOGqN8Aa_T_4M7Xp_fANkcqc4f4Q/s4032/IMG_4614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYz1vmHCX_k-YktC_-Yy1w8-WJ6qJo9DP9AMHbefYQSrf75hBu2nwiQlhVUhzyqlWnf9g9gWimEs_AGBZ_ZX-SaE2meljvrqC6f2NuQSP4sHPsG99Qjmn0kbULadYPg6Kuziv0zOoA2Kcgs3nlm4Aufsp5U5FvS0HOGqN8Aa_T_4M7Xp_fANkcqc4f4Q/s320/IMG_4614.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHUWWKOawRqEe8FKbaci6gVEklhNwz009sBMnYcHs0V-Kk3BLDBDYzFAzLfHaieSd2_T6en9V988yecqirwcG2dgAUKQ7O7bkkpRtqoYxpwkCrcSuQR6QS0rITn0q7jfDs_rMM06b1jPqNe1vLZ6Mx2SefA-6wcmwMFZTJGTj1WeSRcjgZDAgsI5KU3I/s4032/IMG_4615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHUWWKOawRqEe8FKbaci6gVEklhNwz009sBMnYcHs0V-Kk3BLDBDYzFAzLfHaieSd2_T6en9V988yecqirwcG2dgAUKQ7O7bkkpRtqoYxpwkCrcSuQR6QS0rITn0q7jfDs_rMM06b1jPqNe1vLZ6Mx2SefA-6wcmwMFZTJGTj1WeSRcjgZDAgsI5KU3I/s320/IMG_4615.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Gti8c0C9Cu9pw_ZLi7HfbtYNyxpUN2J3XB55DDbCu39cX6WYB5t320zTtvrS7R5kokl6Hm4fmDjy-IZvhNiE5kQUc2AwDf4trl2A0SP8-D81rcv3MJMofg1aFJlVngARd0jz0AqKGooPlfIkbTFxxUT_gQaaqn6JyzbAvHsbUPD_bXbikl8JO1yLPpI/s4032/IMG_4616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Gti8c0C9Cu9pw_ZLi7HfbtYNyxpUN2J3XB55DDbCu39cX6WYB5t320zTtvrS7R5kokl6Hm4fmDjy-IZvhNiE5kQUc2AwDf4trl2A0SP8-D81rcv3MJMofg1aFJlVngARd0jz0AqKGooPlfIkbTFxxUT_gQaaqn6JyzbAvHsbUPD_bXbikl8JO1yLPpI/s320/IMG_4616.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nCDwzoRmz9UQ5xEhCSE1JulBfNAyS2uERgyPqYV7nC8Rr3-z2NBjb2I-W6q_xysk0mRoQ2l6hcPgTtTRmiLWhj9lwHtuDWSJwucaQyxaNPPnjnWAP8WshccRjefb3rc3BJu9-XELhL-pRTMZSBYMatxNBrCDd6CTjXjRVtkPaQUbs3jHiF8blpUiDa0/s4032/IMG_4620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nCDwzoRmz9UQ5xEhCSE1JulBfNAyS2uERgyPqYV7nC8Rr3-z2NBjb2I-W6q_xysk0mRoQ2l6hcPgTtTRmiLWhj9lwHtuDWSJwucaQyxaNPPnjnWAP8WshccRjefb3rc3BJu9-XELhL-pRTMZSBYMatxNBrCDd6CTjXjRVtkPaQUbs3jHiF8blpUiDa0/s320/IMG_4620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Fun Moments</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkoKPMSOMRDrxJU-Hs0uEZyy4dQmKJHOBHUQEK7xjd-IzBWMr59VNVRcHeYSfTnLwvGGUEM49dsUnWLnX5irisZcFmiImgxTUjezWJt5zbfskytZy8naViXXbFY_f3IyI-Unr5WNRmgp0CflW944QFlpxd4WYtjVflIow51kWHO86CELI9OD5bUyatAE/s1179/IMG_4401.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkoKPMSOMRDrxJU-Hs0uEZyy4dQmKJHOBHUQEK7xjd-IzBWMr59VNVRcHeYSfTnLwvGGUEM49dsUnWLnX5irisZcFmiImgxTUjezWJt5zbfskytZy8naViXXbFY_f3IyI-Unr5WNRmgp0CflW944QFlpxd4WYtjVflIow51kWHO86CELI9OD5bUyatAE/s320/IMG_4401.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Football with Pals</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdWFpqaLnIPL7xP6_tZTYpRNq8PKOzuTOUOLYvxp3ihWEkmrhtnDeny-DJ0x2d7Lc4cul89gA6ArFQz5o-9jcLMTnpR-m2YT5nvv0IST0iYICViJyXGopOWESfw0enxNQRDcsFBuV_a1N1SiSFubaee8O-dkqJ-u-slUUwQaszLuZXi5XaTFZ7AROegQ/s4032/IMG_4517.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdWFpqaLnIPL7xP6_tZTYpRNq8PKOzuTOUOLYvxp3ihWEkmrhtnDeny-DJ0x2d7Lc4cul89gA6ArFQz5o-9jcLMTnpR-m2YT5nvv0IST0iYICViJyXGopOWESfw0enxNQRDcsFBuV_a1N1SiSFubaee8O-dkqJ-u-slUUwQaszLuZXi5XaTFZ7AROegQ/s320/IMG_4517.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Independence Day Decorations</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisVzbMGXnWWjwpsK1E8crXF43Lv9RTsvk00GehJ6TH6kDsyUuKltrFh2cXgbmAWEiWuvoF9EfFy3a92fNSdjNuIUU7krqlsQg5TnCcX48rkfunKVFOtTsoC81TDJ99cxhkhXZBIEfrRX9OoNTIkM_CzDdWvzQoGiD6VYxSXpxYhwu3vz4_Gzu26RDeAY/s2048/IMG_4594.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisVzbMGXnWWjwpsK1E8crXF43Lv9RTsvk00GehJ6TH6kDsyUuKltrFh2cXgbmAWEiWuvoF9EfFy3a92fNSdjNuIUU7krqlsQg5TnCcX48rkfunKVFOtTsoC81TDJ99cxhkhXZBIEfrRX9OoNTIkM_CzDdWvzQoGiD6VYxSXpxYhwu3vz4_Gzu26RDeAY/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>John cubing with pals</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FawW84D5bqNNlciNTpKD4yWNVQd-ZZD2L752cVg6kt_Y5PFEusXquxxsS7A_7IRKCdb7RPbRmt_QChegPLHPHQ4uuMTwmiIuV7774yOa0j6W8M-6xmDwD1pGdsFWM5ezg9CnTqbvmsdjm80obhbVpN9iCycx4-6b8_hp90Xz2JequOqe3Pup36xmqMc/s1179/IMG_5106.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FawW84D5bqNNlciNTpKD4yWNVQd-ZZD2L752cVg6kt_Y5PFEusXquxxsS7A_7IRKCdb7RPbRmt_QChegPLHPHQ4uuMTwmiIuV7774yOa0j6W8M-6xmDwD1pGdsFWM5ezg9CnTqbvmsdjm80obhbVpN9iCycx4-6b8_hp90Xz2JequOqe3Pup36xmqMc/s320/IMG_5106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>David playing frisbee golf</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY792QobdlPkh9Elh-84Km6nERx-6nXEXU7yZzAClgSBJMx_YoY24P4UNu9D5RUBB8A83j9arrnJ6_wcPGd05X21Ere8kceXBJTja8FOcT9vVR7b-JaUH4nlY4vjXLZOSG0-4IZbWOwK_PxPJyNi9QyiXQ8znDCD-I9qXi1gXpHo9OQoyUT9-Cp6zxjHc/s1179/IMG_5153.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY792QobdlPkh9Elh-84Km6nERx-6nXEXU7yZzAClgSBJMx_YoY24P4UNu9D5RUBB8A83j9arrnJ6_wcPGd05X21Ere8kceXBJTja8FOcT9vVR7b-JaUH4nlY4vjXLZOSG0-4IZbWOwK_PxPJyNi9QyiXQ8znDCD-I9qXi1gXpHo9OQoyUT9-Cp6zxjHc/s320/IMG_5153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Margaret doing art in her closet studio</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQH9hioB2nPzGPZbQVwxC4UIWSDxb4vkjJbs7kIFvQ7SsNhZO0KQQRAfmtJQFULvOHt6bWmI-Si_s2JR9hRUjskEk_l1Rf5yTQTuYBtISZ-SMe0-LDlbYlz8CYhOnVly4O2SL3E2RleP8CQspEv50p1CxNmpRBKDk48KjISqoUzJJBTFCLnXDSwNP9LI/s884/IMG_5175.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQH9hioB2nPzGPZbQVwxC4UIWSDxb4vkjJbs7kIFvQ7SsNhZO0KQQRAfmtJQFULvOHt6bWmI-Si_s2JR9hRUjskEk_l1Rf5yTQTuYBtISZ-SMe0-LDlbYlz8CYhOnVly4O2SL3E2RleP8CQspEv50p1CxNmpRBKDk48KjISqoUzJJBTFCLnXDSwNP9LI/s320/IMG_5175.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I took Thomas and David to explore a pond one day.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Td8JP3EvILE8dxNvwwKzVYNdpmxEDOwfSi7U4JrnZbKCgHNyBd_RCrt0kbPqYtwG2dtSBN-mBfJukyN9WxS9cObsgQ95oDLbg6bn22GHLD6-fL0qj7g1Z9R_fQ1cYeBJgKKnreEgNsYq42l60BTpvjs-jnYkCY_7qGs9FYIjNovtv3KfLFDv8N3V8oY/s1179/IMG_5691.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Td8JP3EvILE8dxNvwwKzVYNdpmxEDOwfSi7U4JrnZbKCgHNyBd_RCrt0kbPqYtwG2dtSBN-mBfJukyN9WxS9cObsgQ95oDLbg6bn22GHLD6-fL0qj7g1Z9R_fQ1cYeBJgKKnreEgNsYq42l60BTpvjs-jnYkCY_7qGs9FYIjNovtv3KfLFDv8N3V8oY/s320/IMG_5691.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A birthday party for a friend<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Food Photos</h2><p>I made a special dinner of wings, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob on the eve before all three of my oldest kids will be gone at camp! We will really miss them—for their company and also because this mama will be taking over dog care, fish care, bird care, and collecting mail at two other homes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9kXLq7BwNqiWp-qyDCGus8BgED0yYLo8OrckQnsFe2-UhyphenhyphenON1sLBLG7hfhN_D8-Bq82YlMRtEtO2QGmSXe9QK07p7v3RtzYe-KBZY7GrR-9T31ZHiywiGvWY64GeCpa-SPjVgGy707YT-uxWLHOhTM3nda5VQ3CBNc6rWbs8V7QJO2dFC9B-Upm_uC8/s4032/IMG_4595.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9kXLq7BwNqiWp-qyDCGus8BgED0yYLo8OrckQnsFe2-UhyphenhyphenON1sLBLG7hfhN_D8-Bq82YlMRtEtO2QGmSXe9QK07p7v3RtzYe-KBZY7GrR-9T31ZHiywiGvWY64GeCpa-SPjVgGy707YT-uxWLHOhTM3nda5VQ3CBNc6rWbs8V7QJO2dFC9B-Upm_uC8/s320/IMG_4595.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUw1bLjU6dtf_n8UKWAHoOluxuln9-Xx9-fxW7w9EVSQGHLOHAgolNpGlHtmncZYpmy1F0-UP0fqAQJvBibsgVPBRfT1WPLOMWkFuQqKVFENUN0EFC-UzSNUj-qEdAh2ZwDlU-P0NAFfjzvTEK_6LymM2du2FD-9RSo0FwO456COvCMxCIpIcPQZpgwxA/s4028/IMG_4597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="1873" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUw1bLjU6dtf_n8UKWAHoOluxuln9-Xx9-fxW7w9EVSQGHLOHAgolNpGlHtmncZYpmy1F0-UP0fqAQJvBibsgVPBRfT1WPLOMWkFuQqKVFENUN0EFC-UzSNUj-qEdAh2ZwDlU-P0NAFfjzvTEK_6LymM2du2FD-9RSo0FwO456COvCMxCIpIcPQZpgwxA/s320/IMG_4597.JPG" width="149" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEoV-3GiYll67AW9hT74l3-ZJC5zHjyQyCZoZf0Qngg_O6Z3Jfuos-hb_lEVoKYXbELWToB0yIZGyg1P0yiaZoEF5gJe7vHnh1-UzOPHJslE3fWlZjetyvOPQqNQd2dasOfEEuG-3WH69-aWItvV-e4JukrAFfP8xEAO3s91LuVVeQwijSLVd9o0W7uo/s4032/IMG_4505.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEoV-3GiYll67AW9hT74l3-ZJC5zHjyQyCZoZf0Qngg_O6Z3Jfuos-hb_lEVoKYXbELWToB0yIZGyg1P0yiaZoEF5gJe7vHnh1-UzOPHJslE3fWlZjetyvOPQqNQd2dasOfEEuG-3WH69-aWItvV-e4JukrAFfP8xEAO3s91LuVVeQwijSLVd9o0W7uo/s320/IMG_4505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dutch babies for breakfast</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvBCG8AnMQR35LJCZSaA-IOPYtVCKOh2i0ikVoGS3Bg5mSLLISQeru4mbJli1NfBQvSOs5XVBYfJ-m8Btkf_juUDKKpiGZ_-pjJU1FRRewrMQ83FFuankgKybTgs2QMMBvqwhlFUO6AKieGRpO1aukoJA6x6BAMNGUahmwUvjQPdA_hLtluQozLk_k8/s1179/IMG_5150.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvBCG8AnMQR35LJCZSaA-IOPYtVCKOh2i0ikVoGS3Bg5mSLLISQeru4mbJli1NfBQvSOs5XVBYfJ-m8Btkf_juUDKKpiGZ_-pjJU1FRRewrMQ83FFuankgKybTgs2QMMBvqwhlFUO6AKieGRpO1aukoJA6x6BAMNGUahmwUvjQPdA_hLtluQozLk_k8/s320/IMG_5150.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Margaret baked animal-shaped bread rolls</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dog Photos</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclc7xMBgIIfKzSBlTib9tUMDZscq0wOoWUwY3VCkgj1lQIAIQ2aFg-34Z8VuveEbQGmvsT1QVyRBjMEC8XZmkL9G3NmmvtXkJ9BCQC1dcFO5qW9iuqcGwjzg8DW3Pac727_Pps0PJootjsiv7svC1PEGV1v7c7Hc1Rii5x1x2ddqaFEPn9TRObxJJtgA/s4032/IMG_4496.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclc7xMBgIIfKzSBlTib9tUMDZscq0wOoWUwY3VCkgj1lQIAIQ2aFg-34Z8VuveEbQGmvsT1QVyRBjMEC8XZmkL9G3NmmvtXkJ9BCQC1dcFO5qW9iuqcGwjzg8DW3Pac727_Pps0PJootjsiv7svC1PEGV1v7c7Hc1Rii5x1x2ddqaFEPn9TRObxJJtgA/s320/IMG_4496.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Little Nicky gave us quite a scare this week when he ate several peppermint candies. I swear, dog ownership should require some authority to tell the family the litany of items that are toxic to dogs! On Monday, Nicky was experiencing very bloody loose bowels and after a few hours, I remembered that he had gotten into peppermints the night prior. It turns out that peppermints are extremely toxic both because many contain xilitol but also because peppermint oil alone is toxic. It can shut down the dog's organs within days. Thanks be to God, famotidine (per the vet) and a couple of days of boiled chicken and rice fixed him right up. And I threw away the remaining peppermints!<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2mIE799rAArnqnCHVYNO93OEd0XecJNYDNR8thei3aA6mJA464rhyphenhyphenR_4W2a0dqo7CuuMAZS2XY7p5gDoREge40YuB7P2-oGdmgGMNhlocoLVY7wP_m1q08NGty4KPcxD2abmxsF8ouVjx0ncMc_wGvEMPIxlr-gTbJTwgf67JMfX8031unSiFJUKhcg/s884/IMG_5093.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2mIE799rAArnqnCHVYNO93OEd0XecJNYDNR8thei3aA6mJA464rhyphenhyphenR_4W2a0dqo7CuuMAZS2XY7p5gDoREge40YuB7P2-oGdmgGMNhlocoLVY7wP_m1q08NGty4KPcxD2abmxsF8ouVjx0ncMc_wGvEMPIxlr-gTbJTwgf67JMfX8031unSiFJUKhcg/s320/IMG_5093.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Our precious, weird little Tilly with her crazy hair</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp1YKqi0HYRT7mlMAk-Uhz6MkQVVhJVeUWZRtK7YzR3_JJzNlKPyCx7q4Hs0s_3IrmwNkeZpZfbCi_KomuEQMfpqDc-a0iaiQULSL1hby-ZmCaxsUfmz-1lOc1Dy875aNd20Dj11nLET4CVQI1D8dJUC3y_KbaAfeAOkhSL79ZJ_W_RiuOHyQDoLTT0g/s884/IMG_1203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp1YKqi0HYRT7mlMAk-Uhz6MkQVVhJVeUWZRtK7YzR3_JJzNlKPyCx7q4Hs0s_3IrmwNkeZpZfbCi_KomuEQMfpqDc-a0iaiQULSL1hby-ZmCaxsUfmz-1lOc1Dy875aNd20Dj11nLET4CVQI1D8dJUC3y_KbaAfeAOkhSL79ZJ_W_RiuOHyQDoLTT0g/s320/IMG_1203.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two doggos share a crate on this day of deluge.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBA99Xva3Ttez79AVUHKichXWpudRmSYOjO_xTg9kbxXbrxPOIzKMQVOuBNhBKJqrX9pMaygvV0N1VhknYO-u5y9mqYJryqYIjJEv7IDdU0yhYVSs9QzUBWKDHa8IG3D76k6hL7Qdxuvt02ufRQhFJsqbfDfHmU3g2Gt-cS9_2TmJbeHobBzmYosRPBuc/s4032/IMG_4590.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBA99Xva3Ttez79AVUHKichXWpudRmSYOjO_xTg9kbxXbrxPOIzKMQVOuBNhBKJqrX9pMaygvV0N1VhknYO-u5y9mqYJryqYIjJEv7IDdU0yhYVSs9QzUBWKDHa8IG3D76k6hL7Qdxuvt02ufRQhFJsqbfDfHmU3g2Gt-cS9_2TmJbeHobBzmYosRPBuc/s320/IMG_4590.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSSpL5-nQfM4BU6869jrIOhwRNVQu5DbnzGXu3xSZTnbeP_bpTyg2rzq5q7h01yHus0pAajFlMXlp0LmnoAPc4jAcUNG5it78C-5qrUrrrYUIYGOT8d_Qtx3VtAhcE5z_BfKY4FJ4rsG9x5zQZaARDPqxjCVmFhwWwPE5g_DPda9bg9lnn42cuM-v2Kw/s1179/IMG_5119.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSSpL5-nQfM4BU6869jrIOhwRNVQu5DbnzGXu3xSZTnbeP_bpTyg2rzq5q7h01yHus0pAajFlMXlp0LmnoAPc4jAcUNG5it78C-5qrUrrrYUIYGOT8d_Qtx3VtAhcE5z_BfKY4FJ4rsG9x5zQZaARDPqxjCVmFhwWwPE5g_DPda9bg9lnn42cuM-v2Kw/s320/IMG_5119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK3WYtgEMCHYUsKOO_oreaoAbNRsy7sQj4_PHlEJrA9wQASBeVuw11y5dHRAti_-EDD5XZrll6UCM5QzWFc1BMXVKCV0n7-iUTogdC9UWrnMxCtm0PxR-wCapvSV3cV3yLUG27uXz4G03wjTrU6uTh0GkDar_cw7hc3sqUOWhwOtr1fREajDyuTAaVT4/s1179/IMG_5123.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1179" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK3WYtgEMCHYUsKOO_oreaoAbNRsy7sQj4_PHlEJrA9wQASBeVuw11y5dHRAti_-EDD5XZrll6UCM5QzWFc1BMXVKCV0n7-iUTogdC9UWrnMxCtm0PxR-wCapvSV3cV3yLUG27uXz4G03wjTrU6uTh0GkDar_cw7hc3sqUOWhwOtr1fREajDyuTAaVT4/s320/IMG_5123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1FZgTJdsx9SWzA9Wf1OxdseV1ZKKG8ApHEaNbHTXtLAC-OFIQfTYTIW7n9p_bnuU59gVSu4-jArkgnwhTGMPufohlc2Nd8ilW3UVZ6xpmHu5wF5U1yW-Zi_tU1UOMeSQWUmIq6-rwm8tRU72SEZzyVAOsFQVykGzZOG6eK0WHU5juXLOV41j5HWVsH4/s1280/IMG_7311.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1FZgTJdsx9SWzA9Wf1OxdseV1ZKKG8ApHEaNbHTXtLAC-OFIQfTYTIW7n9p_bnuU59gVSu4-jArkgnwhTGMPufohlc2Nd8ilW3UVZ6xpmHu5wF5U1yW-Zi_tU1UOMeSQWUmIq6-rwm8tRU72SEZzyVAOsFQVykGzZOG6eK0WHU5juXLOV41j5HWVsH4/s320/IMG_7311.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A play date with doggie Bailey</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-71969145290633300332023-06-30T11:47:00.002-04:002023-10-02T10:49:44.667-04:00June 2023 in Review!<h1 style="text-align: left;">June 2023 in Review . . . trying to catch up on three months of Facebook posts for my blog-only followers!</h1><p><br /></p><p>Keeping track just because this is our life . . . Thomas had four medical appointments in June.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Diagnosis Day Anniversary</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5QSTnENrUototKV4oRrF03KeetToCP9vP40nLNa27dYV8ZLmdrwYMIXQZ-RagJXrlhjPy1rPu068hgT5-o62D6_8bbEpdOExd4MKGZwLdBKBhaiyqhIIN0bp8cWFOt57iJB7Dgsyt2z_RlTGfkx8AWhcMTEvlea2tSyTMVhyfRH-puolpoPcAk7Bvc/s4032/IMG_4197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5QSTnENrUototKV4oRrF03KeetToCP9vP40nLNa27dYV8ZLmdrwYMIXQZ-RagJXrlhjPy1rPu068hgT5-o62D6_8bbEpdOExd4MKGZwLdBKBhaiyqhIIN0bp8cWFOt57iJB7Dgsyt2z_RlTGfkx8AWhcMTEvlea2tSyTMVhyfRH-puolpoPcAk7Bvc/s320/IMG_4197.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Today marked the three-year anniversary of Thomas’s Diagnosis Day. We spent the day hustling and bustling, not thinking about his cancer journey, as we attended Mass, a potluck (Thomas played chess and climbed trees), and a graduation party, all back to back. Being out and about so long would probably still have been unthinkable even last summer at his two-year D-Day anniversary, but Thomas has good energy now and for the time being. That said, I was feeling philosophical even last night about how Thomas is now among the many Americans who is dependent on medication basically to live. We had been seated at a restaurant with Pop-Pops where I realized I had forgotten Thomas’s two medications necessary to eat food. I drove all the way home to retrieve the medication and it felt heavy to know that without them, Thomas would be suffering wretchedly and be mostly housebound, like he was when he first got home from 132 days in the hospital, and he would essentially starve to death. It makes a mama feel pretty vulnerable because I can’t be a “prepper” to somehow hoard or learn to manufacture these meds in case of societal collapse. So, Thomas is making big strides these three years later thanks to God, ten specialist physicians, 24+ appointments annually, tube feeding, and nine prescriptions.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Nature Class at Freedom Park</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21f2UsWQ8weLODTU6tvmY6dpcj9B-PzC-2sIP9Cpau5noh5TSApvSCFgiN6459XQXjAUpJvQhdDURsEvt259hYwG4BzXb9P6cDEO1mjT4QWdDJZ0n77v5PTIspn7BPlOWiSJnUyAmV8MuwOWVReVH-mUJa0yehStbGtoHwp7HYNKx1J4-nrIuOXXbwI0/s4032/IMG_4171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21f2UsWQ8weLODTU6tvmY6dpcj9B-PzC-2sIP9Cpau5noh5TSApvSCFgiN6459XQXjAUpJvQhdDURsEvt259hYwG4BzXb9P6cDEO1mjT4QWdDJZ0n77v5PTIspn7BPlOWiSJnUyAmV8MuwOWVReVH-mUJa0yehStbGtoHwp7HYNKx1J4-nrIuOXXbwI0/s320/IMG_4171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKyOuabo2xShXMTDaXif-t3qfl7_PwSuHyNlA_VDd1sVUuK3sr71NBdg4eu-WMd4bLlF5pL_RbL8oMhopabmV_ClJvPSDC59Dn7wtVrIa67ehIjh9ccaKYrev_2XXH23rIri9oTS9jM-wAWtnEYuOe7JI6-0NYUpWD7jqXwWISHRW6Ho5sXOCikDp9Y8/s4032/IMG_4172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKyOuabo2xShXMTDaXif-t3qfl7_PwSuHyNlA_VDd1sVUuK3sr71NBdg4eu-WMd4bLlF5pL_RbL8oMhopabmV_ClJvPSDC59Dn7wtVrIa67ehIjh9ccaKYrev_2XXH23rIri9oTS9jM-wAWtnEYuOe7JI6-0NYUpWD7jqXwWISHRW6Ho5sXOCikDp9Y8/s320/IMG_4172.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPBgXKpTAmQQj3K_GSzCJR0frobsSXlQwjFPMxV5DoeCHrk1UPWIFhUT8KZVcggJs3RRa8Uy-pnnooC1FtgJOtTQwHLIQq3sXzVATsbFPB271k_SBO88Qlj2Yj_V_bhjfR3TJfiFFVMFXmVLgSIEU4PexoSWuQ26VWXEdAYRG4dYf5SymuvUfhaQn5uM/s4032/IMG_4174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPBgXKpTAmQQj3K_GSzCJR0frobsSXlQwjFPMxV5DoeCHrk1UPWIFhUT8KZVcggJs3RRa8Uy-pnnooC1FtgJOtTQwHLIQq3sXzVATsbFPB271k_SBO88Qlj2Yj_V_bhjfR3TJfiFFVMFXmVLgSIEU4PexoSWuQ26VWXEdAYRG4dYf5SymuvUfhaQn5uM/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Festival for the Feast of St. Anthony!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDUfUbs15-fh_utucqJi-9tB0Yxw_Yyt4NP2mRlO1CxYpknzRaFwnxg3yAGWshZ6HKqaDkY8BB1GC-rE_iPzYsmMx_DEwkJf_nui4ZKk1fL_rFD4yCTKN9WTiP0g1SrO2590FH3LieZEGf_i3JFVze8V-jiPRMDtkYX5JW446m17WG9P1nmsqB3RSeUY/s5213/52985472377_286d8b2683_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3773" data-original-width="5213" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDUfUbs15-fh_utucqJi-9tB0Yxw_Yyt4NP2mRlO1CxYpknzRaFwnxg3yAGWshZ6HKqaDkY8BB1GC-rE_iPzYsmMx_DEwkJf_nui4ZKk1fL_rFD4yCTKN9WTiP0g1SrO2590FH3LieZEGf_i3JFVze8V-jiPRMDtkYX5JW446m17WG9P1nmsqB3RSeUY/s320/52985472377_286d8b2683_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAcYUW0CRBemBF_btTaSPKi3x9eXVQrWQVJInKteulSws00WAoC9Zm1nI6nSI5SjVMXYAFI3PwGfyHdjN0zYnMm11uWON37fRXbAqINOzdkXm5O_luyEEFjPWkvPVh70TBu0IiUSa6cAj81ePyf9jlbvBz5_NmNdYoXe5ebkXK-6OaRla8FO1QLbJaAc/s4240/52987372234_5acce0fbdc_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="4240" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAcYUW0CRBemBF_btTaSPKi3x9eXVQrWQVJInKteulSws00WAoC9Zm1nI6nSI5SjVMXYAFI3PwGfyHdjN0zYnMm11uWON37fRXbAqINOzdkXm5O_luyEEFjPWkvPVh70TBu0IiUSa6cAj81ePyf9jlbvBz5_NmNdYoXe5ebkXK-6OaRla8FO1QLbJaAc/s320/52987372234_5acce0fbdc_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAne_NNmzwBb2nQ5ib5nfqGPH8ae4qec4erwzhf82ue88QIMKX-5IPhn_Gc-C31mZX7Ov4ez5z7gxjTvXY-YN5ixyEEn8TW7QJhXyj7HV8O_YLnRHdayFmsV2CSXBtyLNMEWktrWofqQLswzmhooFbxRzpluNP4tMxOgVSA1Bxy6RuB7rGVdcqDeLvupI/s4032/IMG_4401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAne_NNmzwBb2nQ5ib5nfqGPH8ae4qec4erwzhf82ue88QIMKX-5IPhn_Gc-C31mZX7Ov4ez5z7gxjTvXY-YN5ixyEEn8TW7QJhXyj7HV8O_YLnRHdayFmsV2CSXBtyLNMEWktrWofqQLswzmhooFbxRzpluNP4tMxOgVSA1Bxy6RuB7rGVdcqDeLvupI/s320/IMG_4401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNEeZCFWKufW63a540a3AyfPXHcJctYCYw6tALGwQra73exBfFlEqWcpAZnziFUS3t0mG_8gRvmxe5Xr0_Ta4KMCMysiu8lkI-kiWZ2C3BNby7L7gN1QQVIjRu04sIQtn336e7qTkgWWQVfEpmA8SqOsoOsQTsMs_xmHetsvUcCsz4w5xfY2m2_5BJ7A/s4032/IMG_4402.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNEeZCFWKufW63a540a3AyfPXHcJctYCYw6tALGwQra73exBfFlEqWcpAZnziFUS3t0mG_8gRvmxe5Xr0_Ta4KMCMysiu8lkI-kiWZ2C3BNby7L7gN1QQVIjRu04sIQtn336e7qTkgWWQVfEpmA8SqOsoOsQTsMs_xmHetsvUcCsz4w5xfY2m2_5BJ7A/s320/IMG_4402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA681CtlTd3bHICIOLg5TvSfKIe2NA5Lu1is_xVQYqje2XfYt-gMvOxBN1lzNPlSPo-jO1LsboBFGCYUi0pjdF2OWZvWwnUBvLEUaddb9AdWumv-yLPOaE6DuVRuqU3Qooogq4dvX_gc9KzwOm0WB0qNMS6zyfaBCpSJv_KR0gqF9ynq0Nlcy-9E-MDbg/s4032/IMG_4403.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA681CtlTd3bHICIOLg5TvSfKIe2NA5Lu1is_xVQYqje2XfYt-gMvOxBN1lzNPlSPo-jO1LsboBFGCYUi0pjdF2OWZvWwnUBvLEUaddb9AdWumv-yLPOaE6DuVRuqU3Qooogq4dvX_gc9KzwOm0WB0qNMS6zyfaBCpSJv_KR0gqF9ynq0Nlcy-9E-MDbg/s320/IMG_4403.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Opera singer</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjxWahCRTRGxwq9oww7VwXi2Pi74gNsB25uaiXhFJxoVnBjKXXIaAcupEH-oxf7sYcaX7km5cpD_7gEjreNrSJKzSXKs6qTCGPxd9ftGTzmK2F6ivdyFny-_zmON8BDlWuCCxrzHPzYpHu9YxURoG1H1rpEX2JYc7jiAx2rXlD1cvDR3fFQts4DHKyu0/s4032/IMG_4405.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjxWahCRTRGxwq9oww7VwXi2Pi74gNsB25uaiXhFJxoVnBjKXXIaAcupEH-oxf7sYcaX7km5cpD_7gEjreNrSJKzSXKs6qTCGPxd9ftGTzmK2F6ivdyFny-_zmON8BDlWuCCxrzHPzYpHu9YxURoG1H1rpEX2JYc7jiAx2rXlD1cvDR3fFQts4DHKyu0/s320/IMG_4405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Famous artist performer</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcPG5G9lL2zxAJdcwkNp3rpOwdCmSAsgpRjKBPxdmFJync5XTjmCVQtQknBYsmTzHVvpVdm03lmN4OnYMJ0-As_2wmC8-C19aCVCDjr_D0ZkQJY7Fc-W2Y5Q06D9SS2z16j-c30lstc2lUKXSvyq7P25fTtUyR-Rh1wzFdLzJ1J0ctmn24zm1_SR0BNg/s4032/IMG_4411.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcPG5G9lL2zxAJdcwkNp3rpOwdCmSAsgpRjKBPxdmFJync5XTjmCVQtQknBYsmTzHVvpVdm03lmN4OnYMJ0-As_2wmC8-C19aCVCDjr_D0ZkQJY7Fc-W2Y5Q06D9SS2z16j-c30lstc2lUKXSvyq7P25fTtUyR-Rh1wzFdLzJ1J0ctmn24zm1_SR0BNg/s320/IMG_4411.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chris and Joseph set off a rocket for the kids.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Earlier scenes of building the rocket . . . <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClDjG3Kexi1v7UVOIEl88vC_24jGqyJXS26PkTJDVGJ8zkxuy6zfU_7_rfLK3BsxAl7NNlV_Bm7jqIcxHOU5VGfzdPnP9pHEegUTXXIpMzuT5OkCkU1TSQpCQJuicUwP_yKQb7zgumIwA6Ucl-pz2bo6Qj3xbGC0m6FFonjL2_S8C7cnbWvmGF01BIfE/s4032/IMG_4244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClDjG3Kexi1v7UVOIEl88vC_24jGqyJXS26PkTJDVGJ8zkxuy6zfU_7_rfLK3BsxAl7NNlV_Bm7jqIcxHOU5VGfzdPnP9pHEegUTXXIpMzuT5OkCkU1TSQpCQJuicUwP_yKQb7zgumIwA6Ucl-pz2bo6Qj3xbGC0m6FFonjL2_S8C7cnbWvmGF01BIfE/s320/IMG_4244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8KvI5PfwmqrRv7Mt7JL38E7UCrrJbumy-9sQYgozHF6sZUTmsCS7uGV6Q4GFR_eN8Lq9b1nna3Fv7eWNfMcf_UzTV12etUiL2Y-sWHptJraFFb1LdKGYn_zTknI1fowkFlBTMcy8kIU4AYUnJkMEHBp463DjV6tKdSPjNDr7mo_5mQXX492cadyPVco/s4032/IMG_4245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8KvI5PfwmqrRv7Mt7JL38E7UCrrJbumy-9sQYgozHF6sZUTmsCS7uGV6Q4GFR_eN8Lq9b1nna3Fv7eWNfMcf_UzTV12etUiL2Y-sWHptJraFFb1LdKGYn_zTknI1fowkFlBTMcy8kIU4AYUnJkMEHBp463DjV6tKdSPjNDr7mo_5mQXX492cadyPVco/s320/IMG_4245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBbqQjAbsH6pEROqXhcmwmCJOgJLzJe3MXpzH-td9LZwZ68Ll8xu0NVMmNo7eZtNYSeO-YzOZFalFXcm43iM5kjJt6i_0mWkSL8aB-0KQeui_Dl_hQ72Xr3fiaNg4xnpDppBNg9v6ZoWTFCXLvHZygNX_Jp4hX5jJL_Wr5YQWWrw54w5O2y3uL_jAjds/s4032/IMG_4276.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBbqQjAbsH6pEROqXhcmwmCJOgJLzJe3MXpzH-td9LZwZ68Ll8xu0NVMmNo7eZtNYSeO-YzOZFalFXcm43iM5kjJt6i_0mWkSL8aB-0KQeui_Dl_hQ72Xr3fiaNg4xnpDppBNg9v6ZoWTFCXLvHZygNX_Jp4hX5jJL_Wr5YQWWrw54w5O2y3uL_jAjds/s320/IMG_4276.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oKGDL9grHWjn4IlOmCL9Az7lNz9ZJqqOLCWzXk_17y41C2Py1LIYv-g1AuEt6qywhm9RCOHjXxj5dxY5WPnaA2fCopugeASGdu6budEo0kv_rP0Z78CiB8YVspbjlciQEUmwbIVmC855JP_QSmN3LqQW1zH_-kBaSQRad1fMC7Nbs6hSbeoSrSVy_Jg/s4032/IMG_4277.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oKGDL9grHWjn4IlOmCL9Az7lNz9ZJqqOLCWzXk_17y41C2Py1LIYv-g1AuEt6qywhm9RCOHjXxj5dxY5WPnaA2fCopugeASGdu6budEo0kv_rP0Z78CiB8YVspbjlciQEUmwbIVmC855JP_QSmN3LqQW1zH_-kBaSQRad1fMC7Nbs6hSbeoSrSVy_Jg/s320/IMG_4277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">School Planning</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdxgK3bS0XvrXR4uscd-bal62JhKlMv5pJuljpf_oraURznZRuo67Bilr_0OJC2bxspKc0YzGvqEfVeYaHaENQOIKfx4fYlODpowY4abOaLoWq2vWtMqcv84Lr7is5xmMQf0ydNIfOdXIAz5-iEUUD2P5seZDKKplmTy2dE9y2ns1VZYNAk4C415S6Ww/s4032/IMG_4268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdxgK3bS0XvrXR4uscd-bal62JhKlMv5pJuljpf_oraURznZRuo67Bilr_0OJC2bxspKc0YzGvqEfVeYaHaENQOIKfx4fYlODpowY4abOaLoWq2vWtMqcv84Lr7is5xmMQf0ydNIfOdXIAz5-iEUUD2P5seZDKKplmTy2dE9y2ns1VZYNAk4C415S6Ww/s320/IMG_4268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The 2022-23 year is closed out and materials put away. I purchased each student’s master binder for the new year, so you know what that means! Let lesson planning for 2023-24 begin!<br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Father's Day 2023</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBNieFsEQoCg-EVQfgao59R97rUN_WqbRr8neYk7l_NoiLwd0Qy4x_-hd4Ol7tHgc1dzIqg65WlqtSCHHMwSuww369o6gjElkEFJ8U3rxq9mrWl0gA7N-XVfhRxN45fpvpNmjuRbgvHqd2AYAw7PTXA5ZC_hu3rIna6eXvjA90cbwUgaKKwa_1xKpMQc/s4032/IMG_4416.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBNieFsEQoCg-EVQfgao59R97rUN_WqbRr8neYk7l_NoiLwd0Qy4x_-hd4Ol7tHgc1dzIqg65WlqtSCHHMwSuww369o6gjElkEFJ8U3rxq9mrWl0gA7N-XVfhRxN45fpvpNmjuRbgvHqd2AYAw7PTXA5ZC_hu3rIna6eXvjA90cbwUgaKKwa_1xKpMQc/s320/IMG_4416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We had a wonderful Father’s Day with Chris Lauer! His main goal in life is to get his kids to Heaven and that goal informs everything he does. Happy Father’s Day, honey!</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Riding bicycles with my boys in between rainstorms</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNK79JrYNzE-KlQFND4TeZmnUzjEqvpxa0raoItZOqWdhUROHwWxOuGe3W6Z4LO8F3VTOei-o_qVLilPqOuiyZdspC7h7adER2PHVNGvv9MBenKXyIGC69eMbx8aztk2WWakq8s_-bSChM4zxFw9pZJKCpyCQt7ix4mS_N7sA51PPG68KOoQp4bBSMpE/s4032/IMG_4422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNK79JrYNzE-KlQFND4TeZmnUzjEqvpxa0raoItZOqWdhUROHwWxOuGe3W6Z4LO8F3VTOei-o_qVLilPqOuiyZdspC7h7adER2PHVNGvv9MBenKXyIGC69eMbx8aztk2WWakq8s_-bSChM4zxFw9pZJKCpyCQt7ix4mS_N7sA51PPG68KOoQp4bBSMpE/s320/IMG_4422.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIxJIn1n7OH4AMl4WdFsEChFAnED4GodVfNH7eZ3bOmOYwh63bZiRtzN5kK3LnaD3nO-Haw4mJveW4qvK-ckoTDXQBc06zZK3cV-kVPC3YV1-PRFx4K6F9BztI9O_hoeYmuSY-ENLI_Vh9_ovz2qtujX6BRv_cHfLziDlUbJTU6dXuWqYrbzPsTgLXxw/s4032/IMG_4423.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIxJIn1n7OH4AMl4WdFsEChFAnED4GodVfNH7eZ3bOmOYwh63bZiRtzN5kK3LnaD3nO-Haw4mJveW4qvK-ckoTDXQBc06zZK3cV-kVPC3YV1-PRFx4K6F9BztI9O_hoeYmuSY-ENLI_Vh9_ovz2qtujX6BRv_cHfLziDlUbJTU6dXuWqYrbzPsTgLXxw/s320/IMG_4423.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Gardening with Mom</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRDefsY1BnNxvFvkC8iM-r00JCmrrsytFChWTHAacjNRCXjbiDi_-hi1DkUoQG30RyZGl67yQ5-PVpAU72b2dgUHCNuJsXaWFl3qJFXFS9z__CHH5c5ZNE7tsuzxq0__OqPAPCw2xR3O_VRc1RhygkuKItSGpEHFMDHyfyfW93D6garPioUdY8yq8HzA/s4032/IMG_4208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRDefsY1BnNxvFvkC8iM-r00JCmrrsytFChWTHAacjNRCXjbiDi_-hi1DkUoQG30RyZGl67yQ5-PVpAU72b2dgUHCNuJsXaWFl3qJFXFS9z__CHH5c5ZNE7tsuzxq0__OqPAPCw2xR3O_VRc1RhygkuKItSGpEHFMDHyfyfW93D6garPioUdY8yq8HzA/s320/IMG_4208.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Weekly Rocket and Engineering Club (we participated over the summer)</h2><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP5o9Z2qmLq0k9hGJUWgW2kNYLk45YC0UjIdztr4bhTemfN4xJTwmEZEBaHRWneALmK6Y4-LAIWYnIkCDFjDXPS-qbc3bBjWGZASjJPa69miiVIJrKEmolKho5HSdv9Si9V585qaZSgd9vpDBy1h8rlk8kfx9PuSej4Tw2F2ffmXUyo4TZmPawBFh6L0/s4032/IMG_4211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP5o9Z2qmLq0k9hGJUWgW2kNYLk45YC0UjIdztr4bhTemfN4xJTwmEZEBaHRWneALmK6Y4-LAIWYnIkCDFjDXPS-qbc3bBjWGZASjJPa69miiVIJrKEmolKho5HSdv9Si9V585qaZSgd9vpDBy1h8rlk8kfx9PuSej4Tw2F2ffmXUyo4TZmPawBFh6L0/s320/IMG_4211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dino Dig</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qCTFQHjnjjC0FXdSEgffcuv4NiJ90k6gA7F7pnTYT9gOdCUcrEgOr1XpaIq4kg4PpGWUjymPyZ-zhjCcuggBwRDWUfqQVYMNayvPkeC0F3gf9dteR-uX1XuLVH4GlFIBiLQoAb-6Wiw9j5Vkj84t2c4eT8IsGKngYu3LsNLh72MQsn7LNhPDFNW8IQ/s4032/IMG_4433.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1qCTFQHjnjjC0FXdSEgffcuv4NiJ90k6gA7F7pnTYT9gOdCUcrEgOr1XpaIq4kg4PpGWUjymPyZ-zhjCcuggBwRDWUfqQVYMNayvPkeC0F3gf9dteR-uX1XuLVH4GlFIBiLQoAb-6Wiw9j5Vkj84t2c4eT8IsGKngYu3LsNLh72MQsn7LNhPDFNW8IQ/s320/IMG_4433.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>This morning Thomas taught David how to play Dino Dig. Thomas and I played with this exact set of cards endlessly through his six rounds of chemotherapy. This deck of cards will definitely be staying in my box of memorabilia.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Margaret's New Job</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5nhXV3KRz6Ykoyt6dJ3jqst0R1llPqJcVeD66seJkAv6CXWWKFQAIHHOHWFRr4zoME52_RHjbG8tKRmFyON6SDEtHY7FODaKfIQwdaZD5BJt7JsJvaJTsU07nBovi3zkiM__xzFlKqPGophXu7tpRAR6CZweDKrAGaTODDv9-1fxYmopVlbQEcx0JdM/s4032/IMG_4231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5nhXV3KRz6Ykoyt6dJ3jqst0R1llPqJcVeD66seJkAv6CXWWKFQAIHHOHWFRr4zoME52_RHjbG8tKRmFyON6SDEtHY7FODaKfIQwdaZD5BJt7JsJvaJTsU07nBovi3zkiM__xzFlKqPGophXu7tpRAR6CZweDKrAGaTODDv9-1fxYmopVlbQEcx0JdM/s320/IMG_4231.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Margaret (age 12) riding off on her first day of her two-hour daily babysitting job in the neighborhood. (Edited to add that she still has this job four months later!)</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Sacred Heart Art Contest at a Local Parish</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeV_WIrFPTyHEi3tqhI5U00d-UZBLAVyzCIpsM-zfCZA2P-h8C_OAlIgnJpisSaz47x_78vfJRNMIaPZJDmBwk_hvkTYO4E_chni6H2870jjGMvzl4ObEc1708sqSF7cp4xEdyQjcVMg037rvQ0otKqKVNwP1n4xQrVDLEWS19Esj_6qyaeujUHjaPzk/s2048/347252074_651839933654822_5514892926677880486_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeV_WIrFPTyHEi3tqhI5U00d-UZBLAVyzCIpsM-zfCZA2P-h8C_OAlIgnJpisSaz47x_78vfJRNMIaPZJDmBwk_hvkTYO4E_chni6H2870jjGMvzl4ObEc1708sqSF7cp4xEdyQjcVMg037rvQ0otKqKVNwP1n4xQrVDLEWS19Esj_6qyaeujUHjaPzk/s320/347252074_651839933654822_5514892926677880486_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Our lovely artist Margaret got an honorable mention! (light blue ribbon, middle row, third from left)</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">John and Mary Swing Dancing</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjshMFfy-jTHeczv8S_iTB9KC6mqBlKXFVPeuSaYR-zOJwXsBng0nLhdW_ENLyNBxN6zMpb_zwACZg2XJasHTWL54WvTGe-DB2nQon3XfKqeeTj_H2-8BMvmzSpGWfy7DJgUmPDQE9Y9q3_szb2QsbX8xUhVFD9YKt1Kg0AWgrgmkUlMKHN1MO2Xx2nXg/s2616/IMG_7175.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2616" data-original-width="1694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjshMFfy-jTHeczv8S_iTB9KC6mqBlKXFVPeuSaYR-zOJwXsBng0nLhdW_ENLyNBxN6zMpb_zwACZg2XJasHTWL54WvTGe-DB2nQon3XfKqeeTj_H2-8BMvmzSpGWfy7DJgUmPDQE9Y9q3_szb2QsbX8xUhVFD9YKt1Kg0AWgrgmkUlMKHN1MO2Xx2nXg/s320/IMG_7175.heic" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ages 14 and 16</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Three Silly Brothers</h2><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgmpyRhpMLsQ7ylexg69IApE847Hmw51LawQ0oHWXxOJRGVaZjytDO93Kg6dGjM1K85-xzBt78KHzslU4iBbk2RAfpfmQ1-Af1KtPGASfRMjwKiGVm1gWNg6A8IpKAcJbF8q2EdJ8DFmr2-Z6VPotz7nfimkYHIeHvT1TkOEmNqgrPCmvEEh-TrRXih0/s4032/IMG_7182.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgmpyRhpMLsQ7ylexg69IApE847Hmw51LawQ0oHWXxOJRGVaZjytDO93Kg6dGjM1K85-xzBt78KHzslU4iBbk2RAfpfmQ1-Af1KtPGASfRMjwKiGVm1gWNg6A8IpKAcJbF8q2EdJ8DFmr2-Z6VPotz7nfimkYHIeHvT1TkOEmNqgrPCmvEEh-TrRXih0/s320/IMG_7182.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ages 5, 7, and 10</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Chris's Health Challenges</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">June 25</h3><p>Hello friends,</p><p>Would you please pray for my husband Chris? He is scheduled to have emergent spinal fusion surgery Monday morning after sustaining a cervical-spinal injury when he dived into the pool instantly to save our five-year-old David from drowning. (David is fine now!) This is all happening very rapidly, with the injury around 2:00 this Sunday afternoon and being told by Neurosurgery at 11:00 at night that he'll be having surgery in the morning.</p><p>Thank you so much.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">June 26</h3><p>MONDAY UPDATE: Your prayers worked! In an unexpected turn (based on doctors' interpretation of the MRI last night), Chris's spinal cord compression is responding well enough to steroids this morning that Neurosurgery says that his surgery does NOT need to be "emergent." He will stay in the hospital for another 24 hours, but the plan at this point is to schedule surgery within a month or so. Thank you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfd4J2vqMIT295qI1H6tG6puaQ6fouB88dN2C4IX82ZGOHCqUMbdXLh4X3BAiNnxKf_GDgNNVsrA9a-YgvR_Bpn1W7C28nvsXS1rvvEPDstanRVE_b3GNMrlqj_RZBXOY2HSSEBdYW_algr09odxgeFRKJj1XLYSKi27JJimuWnDtAk1h75a-0uLBKec/s4032/IMG_4473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfd4J2vqMIT295qI1H6tG6puaQ6fouB88dN2C4IX82ZGOHCqUMbdXLh4X3BAiNnxKf_GDgNNVsrA9a-YgvR_Bpn1W7C28nvsXS1rvvEPDstanRVE_b3GNMrlqj_RZBXOY2HSSEBdYW_algr09odxgeFRKJj1XLYSKi27JJimuWnDtAk1h75a-0uLBKec/s320/IMG_4473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The very day after Chris's accident, a generous neighbor brought ALL THIS FOOD for us.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaJ5PvYbO8mgqB_9aaV6RGaSv2clpdwV2Ok_b1plAgN3sMnJ71CwZscA0FdPGdTSkYrzYByj8xyHDmHO0RQzulM-v3KfnpdE7GA2WkcTkL5vrhAUoxMQkQMCF0p3uQHQycvE8W5xYve2arUyVuaHSb4pRDvV4jH5rSG1eWNw1Gg6tA-s1sQYPrnSiSWc/s1600/IMG_7241.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaJ5PvYbO8mgqB_9aaV6RGaSv2clpdwV2Ok_b1plAgN3sMnJ71CwZscA0FdPGdTSkYrzYByj8xyHDmHO0RQzulM-v3KfnpdE7GA2WkcTkL5vrhAUoxMQkQMCF0p3uQHQycvE8W5xYve2arUyVuaHSb4pRDvV4jH5rSG1eWNw1Gg6tA-s1sQYPrnSiSWc/s320/IMG_7241.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Visiting Dad in the hospital</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Outdoor Summer Fun</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dTD43FYFFZFSHM0Xhy7A6vliXc6S8W_ZHuIkf4dC-ROfy69g5x63rSCvJEH7uX1iwPC2dD6vvR-QnYYlCctqoCxD2FCoyBxlbsUGx1DOkMIecwLN_ooyNf5Q1GUjzH1uG7poYeWXYPtKGR52NorUzogl882kVJoiCLnTaE3IVhYrVsq4m4kpF_H8Gvk/s4032/IMG_4275.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dTD43FYFFZFSHM0Xhy7A6vliXc6S8W_ZHuIkf4dC-ROfy69g5x63rSCvJEH7uX1iwPC2dD6vvR-QnYYlCctqoCxD2FCoyBxlbsUGx1DOkMIecwLN_ooyNf5Q1GUjzH1uG7poYeWXYPtKGR52NorUzogl882kVJoiCLnTaE3IVhYrVsq4m4kpF_H8Gvk/s320/IMG_4275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAUkXalzr8gaMbnh8TJljKyIDO2VV3czD7vfNk-odGUFYnS7rfvwLMWf1OnL53LTCogdLz2XS9fq8sd9Tj4SjFcEnWHP3ZiZZc4yUMZ8oBh1FZXzjGdqOTlKlPmfpk9mUC8hc6VBaOMDhSrym7jn-9hT64S9aSlTffstI20vyArIc00FPHDVlwjLEx8o/s4032/IMG_4355.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAUkXalzr8gaMbnh8TJljKyIDO2VV3czD7vfNk-odGUFYnS7rfvwLMWf1OnL53LTCogdLz2XS9fq8sd9Tj4SjFcEnWHP3ZiZZc4yUMZ8oBh1FZXzjGdqOTlKlPmfpk9mUC8hc6VBaOMDhSrym7jn-9hT64S9aSlTffstI20vyArIc00FPHDVlwjLEx8o/s320/IMG_4355.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5eSC4oh_s139FKby9L9UPEAS-s23ep2-YS_Lb5NmfegMXSuUE_Pn3rCQ3MjLykdldhpjafP9W7lJfUaFsQJHcqkaThXFyM92bTEpgTSBv9DncgGqQ7vdkBqMUPpiENtRKmIxVulwG-GpaSazZS1ODPJuegsk3my_vCCCT0mhVhOnGyy1wnsXHxjjmAs/s4032/IMG_4357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5eSC4oh_s139FKby9L9UPEAS-s23ep2-YS_Lb5NmfegMXSuUE_Pn3rCQ3MjLykdldhpjafP9W7lJfUaFsQJHcqkaThXFyM92bTEpgTSBv9DncgGqQ7vdkBqMUPpiENtRKmIxVulwG-GpaSazZS1ODPJuegsk3my_vCCCT0mhVhOnGyy1wnsXHxjjmAs/s320/IMG_4357.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECjFDdBirFqa_MkddK-JQ8Eaky1gj6Pu6OWWPoMV8C41vvLxeXFmYKYGwQ61sEMmRJUA6GWH8A5pPRPLeHsldQvnRdXbdLE0esOSMmiUVw5cUi77H4mvd_frbkfhFf2snRhIKhKjKz7nVQa3N8702m7pujgY6n8mF5v6EDTyrXt-GCAfqbxPoJfYOuqc/s4032/IMG_4364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECjFDdBirFqa_MkddK-JQ8Eaky1gj6Pu6OWWPoMV8C41vvLxeXFmYKYGwQ61sEMmRJUA6GWH8A5pPRPLeHsldQvnRdXbdLE0esOSMmiUVw5cUi77H4mvd_frbkfhFf2snRhIKhKjKz7nVQa3N8702m7pujgY6n8mF5v6EDTyrXt-GCAfqbxPoJfYOuqc/s320/IMG_4364.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhBYM73wPdZNJjinuOCcx-kKSPbXum87G0PDus3VaWXCGFfKhi6pZMD_EJPzBeLF1Ry_XiP_BAmS0w7yHLRdB0qDtyiCSa9BZ2RCdlBXEiGh50SmS0ZtOyA6ne0cZ4H9balaGyoXUhtscom6EoY61rKlX5ZaY80jexRyMJZv3SKn6gScxaUxVcgAcelE/s4032/IMG_4486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhBYM73wPdZNJjinuOCcx-kKSPbXum87G0PDus3VaWXCGFfKhi6pZMD_EJPzBeLF1Ry_XiP_BAmS0w7yHLRdB0qDtyiCSa9BZ2RCdlBXEiGh50SmS0ZtOyA6ne0cZ4H9balaGyoXUhtscom6EoY61rKlX5ZaY80jexRyMJZv3SKn6gScxaUxVcgAcelE/s320/IMG_4486.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxQbSwcqFJptOPgg-ZYfwLFX_bMXNV6YQtTgawhFyXuSnL85GVk84WwXX_OpLVlI4v5swkPDGuEpEKXzMKvbxXFILmgc6_pSWegAH7fIJ_q1j8pDU5gPsVEHaXymn1H5f3MM5qjh5v2W11Lr6H8jHmusgLFEgSBjyIQ18bWVB5xoxCtaG248fzcxRbTo/s4032/IMG_4495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxQbSwcqFJptOPgg-ZYfwLFX_bMXNV6YQtTgawhFyXuSnL85GVk84WwXX_OpLVlI4v5swkPDGuEpEKXzMKvbxXFILmgc6_pSWegAH7fIJ_q1j8pDU5gPsVEHaXymn1H5f3MM5qjh5v2W11Lr6H8jHmusgLFEgSBjyIQ18bWVB5xoxCtaG248fzcxRbTo/s320/IMG_4495.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camping in the back yard</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZT9q-RXgFx_JlHMqERgrI6q5wmZVDx1YVq-kzZ_3slercpIpI-dJvKaDPO6tm-XGL7CNRgIreboZ6_4VJa0pE62k07loU2JW6yA7Sr43yn5o-FzOklaj46T9P1X4_DVteOiDimuIq7rriiqUpHz2hyicYb2A27-7fRF7t78L_WvC9yHZgY8gE4Y6oG0/s4032/IMG_4256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZT9q-RXgFx_JlHMqERgrI6q5wmZVDx1YVq-kzZ_3slercpIpI-dJvKaDPO6tm-XGL7CNRgIreboZ6_4VJa0pE62k07loU2JW6yA7Sr43yn5o-FzOklaj46T9P1X4_DVteOiDimuIq7rriiqUpHz2hyicYb2A27-7fRF7t78L_WvC9yHZgY8gE4Y6oG0/s320/IMG_4256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6xMYdt7KQowCGH3mR4WDY6z5Z4UTu7DKrRBr5d_Qahyphenhyphenlz-43M5CzEb2yJ5WWlIiaM4f4KsH5TX155kQhA8iaZYSG5JDmpOzdH1HLnO759A9HI4-u_xQjfCN-ASHLO_zF5zE2WOPE1MBWbFGHvAWI-u6VpB952dOieFXyFOEi0YootEVBHma1TAkoxyo/s4032/IMG_4202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6xMYdt7KQowCGH3mR4WDY6z5Z4UTu7DKrRBr5d_Qahyphenhyphenlz-43M5CzEb2yJ5WWlIiaM4f4KsH5TX155kQhA8iaZYSG5JDmpOzdH1HLnO759A9HI4-u_xQjfCN-ASHLO_zF5zE2WOPE1MBWbFGHvAWI-u6VpB952dOieFXyFOEi0YootEVBHma1TAkoxyo/s320/IMG_4202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lemonade Stand with Neighborhood Kids</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Food Photos</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4ZYaT4Aq7k9LeJcnmM5F_W4btWLGejrztj-IN7GpjoAMghvau3PQsq6JQ2NERECh4rqccTuD-VJyHRtcESXs3rLlSLf1CRuClRgbT9QU9b-U-WOd-Nt1-SUODnpFYOjxnF5A0Qmv1_WO6qA7zbFDNs5CM4eEJP9Af8XizBw8kauwhM7h144je81DVU4/s4032/IMG_4228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4ZYaT4Aq7k9LeJcnmM5F_W4btWLGejrztj-IN7GpjoAMghvau3PQsq6JQ2NERECh4rqccTuD-VJyHRtcESXs3rLlSLf1CRuClRgbT9QU9b-U-WOd-Nt1-SUODnpFYOjxnF5A0Qmv1_WO6qA7zbFDNs5CM4eEJP9Af8XizBw8kauwhM7h144je81DVU4/s320/IMG_4228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Spontaneous fancy pie night, thanks to our girls!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjeaj_h-ncrY1oFJUqPCOCgqhCSjHi6RYcOp9oYlhyCeC7pdE8rtVxwxap5m50H-PivYMyV-gewcUK6mP3rr7WcpMuRktrrm8bJ5BIpOxbunjaFWae6iREqJBINMIUwSXHK9aB79BGa72-M3HhrbI1E19spzW7KvFcHFCOfowKAlwPYNdHml3sWhyioI/s4032/IMG_4419.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjeaj_h-ncrY1oFJUqPCOCgqhCSjHi6RYcOp9oYlhyCeC7pdE8rtVxwxap5m50H-PivYMyV-gewcUK6mP3rr7WcpMuRktrrm8bJ5BIpOxbunjaFWae6iREqJBINMIUwSXHK9aB79BGa72-M3HhrbI1E19spzW7KvFcHFCOfowKAlwPYNdHml3sWhyioI/s320/IMG_4419.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Joseph (10) is becoming truly helpful in the kitchen</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI8QxU0YYUXNjjBu9n_Kkx0fhyphenhyphensEp-guziuMzi4Rg_ZJpgtzgnoyH_TAsuVG0ytQvEUzmVe-vtnbfLlPYfWaDMuiCj5BameQJuQaGEBSfZtLY8YWVcgj8u8dBboHyQ8C97Pcswr91eVjnFNqoaWSl_Bu-TuN__l7jOrgTl83Br58KtTLYI0CRLlFOPms/s4032/IMG_4436.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI8QxU0YYUXNjjBu9n_Kkx0fhyphenhyphensEp-guziuMzi4Rg_ZJpgtzgnoyH_TAsuVG0ytQvEUzmVe-vtnbfLlPYfWaDMuiCj5BameQJuQaGEBSfZtLY8YWVcgj8u8dBboHyQ8C97Pcswr91eVjnFNqoaWSl_Bu-TuN__l7jOrgTl83Br58KtTLYI0CRLlFOPms/s320/IMG_4436.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Read-aloud with Muffins</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dog Photos</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3gTtTurPdUDGBVDWezI1lRonlklCtguAwXPxuyaZdO4jDGe8C-IqIC52Ewi33SBsWRPfPRAM3LcWGWOcGzntcDno7RGlFR1mZVV495N1dffq9FnZwix5D2tKn7dfX47kqCFDxBcoIpFN_pIPov1WH1bPg73-wcGY-1sqs846Abll3ejpZXv20yAepqU/s2048/352712444_224219513718725_953002126269753800_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3gTtTurPdUDGBVDWezI1lRonlklCtguAwXPxuyaZdO4jDGe8C-IqIC52Ewi33SBsWRPfPRAM3LcWGWOcGzntcDno7RGlFR1mZVV495N1dffq9FnZwix5D2tKn7dfX47kqCFDxBcoIpFN_pIPov1WH1bPg73-wcGY-1sqs846Abll3ejpZXv20yAepqU/s320/352712444_224219513718725_953002126269753800_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Nicky loves his mama (sitting on my lap during a Skype meeting)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIwzr5uKd0qC_9NQTkQfMUTTA6PTa0iXOQahPpu2Xfi3l6VVagnLo4Zz-x8OZz1-z6VjX3FDHsqmRiNsHarBKhlOLVdZ3rLThMfnJGFQvGMEk_Jo_pRY5-2DttDLxDD4U96JXrt2PB4CnfCHJCJvm4PUQ2yvWYSyRKt-tytUefea4hSfHYFmPYgKqTcY/s4032/IMG_4426.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIwzr5uKd0qC_9NQTkQfMUTTA6PTa0iXOQahPpu2Xfi3l6VVagnLo4Zz-x8OZz1-z6VjX3FDHsqmRiNsHarBKhlOLVdZ3rLThMfnJGFQvGMEk_Jo_pRY5-2DttDLxDD4U96JXrt2PB4CnfCHJCJvm4PUQ2yvWYSyRKt-tytUefea4hSfHYFmPYgKqTcY/s320/IMG_4426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>“Playing fetch is the best, Mom.” —Nicky<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlpQxd-j9AlkfiAVrV8q6bjpi7GExT_K8GlyIa8CxvjsPUzzeoihj5P81M27yhT5UCj7JhnFJqxfsXtsu-wjhsI0Z5cqMIpQyxoXR2nBPnasgV2iF_2Ff-yIs0nzTYRIzOgM86z8zu6Dlk6SDzYw_sRxla1DInS6ME3SIb1XBphXx2cti3AHF32T5i6g/s4032/IMG_4427.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlpQxd-j9AlkfiAVrV8q6bjpi7GExT_K8GlyIa8CxvjsPUzzeoihj5P81M27yhT5UCj7JhnFJqxfsXtsu-wjhsI0Z5cqMIpQyxoXR2nBPnasgV2iF_2Ff-yIs0nzTYRIzOgM86z8zu6Dlk6SDzYw_sRxla1DInS6ME3SIb1XBphXx2cti3AHF32T5i6g/s320/IMG_4427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFHwY5ZKOTpyhkCFjxAbc6n9YhnnNrFuSIwbVXAO8XtUbY8tRRMMceDQiiWNOAZ4pPTaUQcAgtcDk8o53N1B99gT3bngONOKJOcFGdGLthxZUtgVgp9_JvF-IRbf6hCHP-fs6eQvAIR7PbAd8oUvoMc5griLmtQ4lIdI9iaWiTdmyyA3tLj60-grJwbw/s2048/355287348_10160610492743360_9118098735015544651_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFHwY5ZKOTpyhkCFjxAbc6n9YhnnNrFuSIwbVXAO8XtUbY8tRRMMceDQiiWNOAZ4pPTaUQcAgtcDk8o53N1B99gT3bngONOKJOcFGdGLthxZUtgVgp9_JvF-IRbf6hCHP-fs6eQvAIR7PbAd8oUvoMc5griLmtQ4lIdI9iaWiTdmyyA3tLj60-grJwbw/s320/355287348_10160610492743360_9118098735015544651_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq64RSwbFcXUMpaZVz4tyFSO6Suq6Ym9Z6QKqOVyHTORPwKpEiy70UaTf2buw-3YGMuz_STrVy6JMP1b-0rwbrWmoZYi0r7CL75zA56Fa3QmYH7ir0qEIJ_2PJzGSb_yRgqGZ88U_VKoJAiNeCMT734rNSuclaPmY-NLNNNfEHh8-V1_ptKskEbOrL8k/s4032/IMG_4191.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq64RSwbFcXUMpaZVz4tyFSO6Suq6Ym9Z6QKqOVyHTORPwKpEiy70UaTf2buw-3YGMuz_STrVy6JMP1b-0rwbrWmoZYi0r7CL75zA56Fa3QmYH7ir0qEIJ_2PJzGSb_yRgqGZ88U_VKoJAiNeCMT734rNSuclaPmY-NLNNNfEHh8-V1_ptKskEbOrL8k/s320/IMG_4191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmVSjWltm8CCBVqJ-1L92A_MNMfG5oNcxQkLp2EEmygEifOV9OxA7PN1Pn5T88QGo7RjS9sMwWCkXUbPMs5fxJAFIyi6GY6iQ0gjikPtCElYgNJKOz2wC2DD9bvX_JBWwkjusJyKkvghYx8EpiDRKx0RwY1uTHd376Ufko5_ZCcdo8mdSZmYplZOhuYQ/s4032/IMG_4242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmVSjWltm8CCBVqJ-1L92A_MNMfG5oNcxQkLp2EEmygEifOV9OxA7PN1Pn5T88QGo7RjS9sMwWCkXUbPMs5fxJAFIyi6GY6iQ0gjikPtCElYgNJKOz2wC2DD9bvX_JBWwkjusJyKkvghYx8EpiDRKx0RwY1uTHd376Ufko5_ZCcdo8mdSZmYplZOhuYQ/s320/IMG_4242.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4uekksr8_NxSIw6zp3nv-Ia3enAgwXDi-EQf8kaTew0J_R3Kr-8xlEmvMGqUU8twEDCbkklGZjOpiHAsDy3WMHpaysk-vHFtwBO9BywmWlHPn2Fr3Q3N4tpoCIEE80nZqzoNm7PoLt4w1fMgEsbIU-dPwnQCluMJxp5B7W8Pny_fI9oc4gOfUSdhHSc/s4032/IMG_4267.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4uekksr8_NxSIw6zp3nv-Ia3enAgwXDi-EQf8kaTew0J_R3Kr-8xlEmvMGqUU8twEDCbkklGZjOpiHAsDy3WMHpaysk-vHFtwBO9BywmWlHPn2Fr3Q3N4tpoCIEE80nZqzoNm7PoLt4w1fMgEsbIU-dPwnQCluMJxp5B7W8Pny_fI9oc4gOfUSdhHSc/s320/IMG_4267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0Vd4OgSEGLVxY0WfdFWpN9poZqzpYhQdvuPw2fFd9zZ9z8Q78kvCd9txuswE8IPMElK5fgEqRm5imYHTMCcfy0yU13mf3ImmJTgGUxcPXqxf-iCPMj8I8Mc67bnEJEDojDKuVew3beJix9I4Voj5Q-eIeHw8_hKFy4n7qEw_ufSuWV-CmeKhMSS2Ac0/s4032/IMG_4278.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0Vd4OgSEGLVxY0WfdFWpN9poZqzpYhQdvuPw2fFd9zZ9z8Q78kvCd9txuswE8IPMElK5fgEqRm5imYHTMCcfy0yU13mf3ImmJTgGUxcPXqxf-iCPMj8I8Mc67bnEJEDojDKuVew3beJix9I4Voj5Q-eIeHw8_hKFy4n7qEw_ufSuWV-CmeKhMSS2Ac0/s320/IMG_4278.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Nicky guards the back yard</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqYcAjBmvRmH6RparNHgVcqSlELJ5hjKO6jXkw1SO29ooZFx6ao8-5CMfg0jV1f0IIxyGd6Bt5ipXKIuHgqWkeDBcsX1Jx0MIPc2KBWH-SMHlDVfZ9_f241WD6-vvl42s4bRqZFLxUnmRwA7UP2tV25FFzv3e0BYuCdAzFkCwM30uBZVUiTutSeQKErk/s4032/IMG_4283.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqYcAjBmvRmH6RparNHgVcqSlELJ5hjKO6jXkw1SO29ooZFx6ao8-5CMfg0jV1f0IIxyGd6Bt5ipXKIuHgqWkeDBcsX1Jx0MIPc2KBWH-SMHlDVfZ9_f241WD6-vvl42s4bRqZFLxUnmRwA7UP2tV25FFzv3e0BYuCdAzFkCwM30uBZVUiTutSeQKErk/s320/IMG_4283.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sleeping near the heat vent below the oven</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaRmUlJkNtMZuv43gcvb8PdpZK2zOZtfUA3bhp0r8ovGHlDvqANq6lXaO7XZ6G4XE7fq75UZhpd3cwRS32RTigeGFKyIedZSAgfPG5qAuEaqkUURe_pWSMkcF8P7z18mrks2Ik_PocceVTDtkIle7GwjeNLkpJ71-lp1tlFczBphIi-5S3eRCoB1uuJc/s4032/IMG_4370.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaRmUlJkNtMZuv43gcvb8PdpZK2zOZtfUA3bhp0r8ovGHlDvqANq6lXaO7XZ6G4XE7fq75UZhpd3cwRS32RTigeGFKyIedZSAgfPG5qAuEaqkUURe_pWSMkcF8P7z18mrks2Ik_PocceVTDtkIle7GwjeNLkpJ71-lp1tlFczBphIi-5S3eRCoB1uuJc/s320/IMG_4370.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We boarded/babysat sweet Bailey again</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-p0dSoWBUVmLs2o6fg4-idFXRFabjF55jxYH9jzG0LyHIZZnfg_CyECCGdBgyCgWrFdPwRaVaMDXpBHL1QjFhQonpHcp4eGoc0jq4saQMAwsqVZxB3vXaQhoEoKvgNb0nJPfJEhr9Q4exn3Atg5epkPu6CE0QyasA8xNf3OZMm0Hq-tkqXoY9tvmWCc/s4032/IMG_4448.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-p0dSoWBUVmLs2o6fg4-idFXRFabjF55jxYH9jzG0LyHIZZnfg_CyECCGdBgyCgWrFdPwRaVaMDXpBHL1QjFhQonpHcp4eGoc0jq4saQMAwsqVZxB3vXaQhoEoKvgNb0nJPfJEhr9Q4exn3Atg5epkPu6CE0QyasA8xNf3OZMm0Hq-tkqXoY9tvmWCc/s320/IMG_4448.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq4zMuahwkStplfL_A-2LJ4Leh_AGAt6v2ZbnC0PTMr4OZ2YSRu7FfOh0QuzV8RpHrRhmkGD43Q6ues9MhalxcrN_YmbYTJcvcg95dtT_C_QxxGjr_3D0ZsoSNkQTNW-tSD-hvpvWgzh3uADrXZEqC_GaEu-83zu2zfVYaqRpfGR7BflxjUHPLjiE_iA/s4032/IMG_4471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq4zMuahwkStplfL_A-2LJ4Leh_AGAt6v2ZbnC0PTMr4OZ2YSRu7FfOh0QuzV8RpHrRhmkGD43Q6ues9MhalxcrN_YmbYTJcvcg95dtT_C_QxxGjr_3D0ZsoSNkQTNW-tSD-hvpvWgzh3uADrXZEqC_GaEu-83zu2zfVYaqRpfGR7BflxjUHPLjiE_iA/s320/IMG_4471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAoA0FWaulLpHky4PniO9PrO25YEbXawWgWCeEqqL7hLG44TTgbG1Hh8Ub_vFe_f_m3iyFgg3Mr2TEH-tcsz_VCEUDaxoeZbS1YzDJK-WMFyL8LacoJwW0pOH_qw2PsyG7rukysY-5kJFu_B7hyufZwFtbywOpjgomMH9U_5kg4IQkZLoEf_ODXdWsrI/s4032/IMG_4482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAoA0FWaulLpHky4PniO9PrO25YEbXawWgWCeEqqL7hLG44TTgbG1Hh8Ub_vFe_f_m3iyFgg3Mr2TEH-tcsz_VCEUDaxoeZbS1YzDJK-WMFyL8LacoJwW0pOH_qw2PsyG7rukysY-5kJFu_B7hyufZwFtbywOpjgomMH9U_5kg4IQkZLoEf_ODXdWsrI/s320/IMG_4482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzz7VzOCaHcaflDir4_s2PfSw2v6d9Baxm4S4YB0dPMuMIFl1tWdk9jOSPzuUBVtx0cTGfD2OOih47yyeTzJEbXmuhnxuE1MVuRX0vrRFgwD6lHu-ju1hnFSFTcn3H3L6Rt1vfIYcqmXhiAhC4i1DF3uo14fxv_uxdMHoNBkNyDe0I82hz8oAuoljEHs/s4032/IMG_4494.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzz7VzOCaHcaflDir4_s2PfSw2v6d9Baxm4S4YB0dPMuMIFl1tWdk9jOSPzuUBVtx0cTGfD2OOih47yyeTzJEbXmuhnxuE1MVuRX0vrRFgwD6lHu-ju1hnFSFTcn3H3L6Rt1vfIYcqmXhiAhC4i1DF3uo14fxv_uxdMHoNBkNyDe0I82hz8oAuoljEHs/s320/IMG_4494.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6NyEC-4VrXXj67wwnXpSRtIYoqiNZFGwAWgry1auoBbjsP0qOq2rXb542qLOduQjcdQuWpe4RQb4SQbaEHr_PVg-4Jd4PEFGTxec7YrZpoLbLEqyzrAxQvuUfNDhJT3qwiZwnJb1MMy8x066KsqB6I27GjRLVyBzQ9MSm3Ame3OK1WASohyVJU3T8r8/s4032/IMG_4496.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6NyEC-4VrXXj67wwnXpSRtIYoqiNZFGwAWgry1auoBbjsP0qOq2rXb542qLOduQjcdQuWpe4RQb4SQbaEHr_PVg-4Jd4PEFGTxec7YrZpoLbLEqyzrAxQvuUfNDhJT3qwiZwnJb1MMy8x066KsqB6I27GjRLVyBzQ9MSm3Ame3OK1WASohyVJU3T8r8/s320/IMG_4496.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zmw5Jxyf59zeSOi41YERuwKJ_ZZn_vZSohqnhzfSdb1MwthjslHgRh9ySljoXwPnta59tewibHpOTvcpSBsAi7YLr-dQlNIr9V0UUJ2e87z-hqjQ_qN4-HMWhEAYCMJgTrKqMvHZqhVkawPw-JX_i276rBjEYGJoXfO3znJNt8EWy3YS-TVw5DOcIOo/s3088/IMG_5925.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zmw5Jxyf59zeSOi41YERuwKJ_ZZn_vZSohqnhzfSdb1MwthjslHgRh9ySljoXwPnta59tewibHpOTvcpSBsAi7YLr-dQlNIr9V0UUJ2e87z-hqjQ_qN4-HMWhEAYCMJgTrKqMvHZqhVkawPw-JX_i276rBjEYGJoXfO3znJNt8EWy3YS-TVw5DOcIOo/s320/IMG_5925.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bailey</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-27918984463266248292023-05-31T22:00:00.001-04:002023-06-03T14:52:47.582-04:00May 2023 (the Second Half!) in Review<h2 style="text-align: left;">Mary's Third and Final Orchestra Concert</h2><p>On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of attending Mary’s last orchestral concert of the year. She has worked very hard and it shows! For next fall, she is slated as assistant concertmaster of Preparatory Orchestra.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL7C-aKJE6Q_xLaSC0xW2o2O7FUSkiroGG7Jiie0M2XxKl0GBpa0GPzJ_RC503tLD28jfxrjxZ07LzsTQGTkPasXlIRS-qiGrxM2DdCkO9l3iYl6kzpcQ_eGGqShhjkKOu-WpH1LTQBVSJAGrgWjN35q256RtAXJLrO3Mgt3fRQwlFkThDEUpYYwq/s1094/IMG_3829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL7C-aKJE6Q_xLaSC0xW2o2O7FUSkiroGG7Jiie0M2XxKl0GBpa0GPzJ_RC503tLD28jfxrjxZ07LzsTQGTkPasXlIRS-qiGrxM2DdCkO9l3iYl6kzpcQ_eGGqShhjkKOu-WpH1LTQBVSJAGrgWjN35q256RtAXJLrO3Mgt3fRQwlFkThDEUpYYwq/s320/IMG_3829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0esiPhfTiQ32WA69OltCJTnxmW0j7qhV8Subr1ncyS0uJ-YBtfUXwXMDBza0yJ-5tF_7SzwdUH2mCmkJxfM1gJjjC65azcNfbNNm_eNOcUqhzx8ShYCpg7tXzY8zo4-335sVEZ8DRxk5lsJniShaeE6f0hihAj31dlz5jWz4oFSjezEu50vI2G3x/s820/IMG_3839.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0esiPhfTiQ32WA69OltCJTnxmW0j7qhV8Subr1ncyS0uJ-YBtfUXwXMDBza0yJ-5tF_7SzwdUH2mCmkJxfM1gJjjC65azcNfbNNm_eNOcUqhzx8ShYCpg7tXzY8zo4-335sVEZ8DRxk5lsJniShaeE6f0hihAj31dlz5jWz4oFSjezEu50vI2G3x/s320/IMG_3839.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Lost World</i></h2><p>Joseph (10) has been reading voraciously lately, zipping through 200-page books at the pace of two a week. He always asks me to pick the next book for him "because you know what I will like!" So this week, I dug out my Angelicum Academy Good Books Lists, which are divided by grade, for suggestions in order to give him a bit more challenge. This week, he is reading <i>The Lost World</i> (1912) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Forget about fluffy <i>Jurassic World</i> . . . <i>The Lost World</i> is early sci fi at its best!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwV8WLWh8xvym1pqWZeBPzGOmkZjya7Uof9cKjveTo46Zq9CZ7scJA0-D7dkQtMz-6JSUbKIO_cbPkMJhw_Ay5Zv_2YLUSgkWZ0SJLqkkZrBP4E0qsI_I0YlNVeUX7ymtBPKsnPf1eQNgS9W1ENKRhV41t9N00NAl_7Aw1orSfkzZDO51dllmjb3W/s820/IMG_3817.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwV8WLWh8xvym1pqWZeBPzGOmkZjya7Uof9cKjveTo46Zq9CZ7scJA0-D7dkQtMz-6JSUbKIO_cbPkMJhw_Ay5Zv_2YLUSgkWZ0SJLqkkZrBP4E0qsI_I0YlNVeUX7ymtBPKsnPf1eQNgS9W1ENKRhV41t9N00NAl_7Aw1orSfkzZDO51dllmjb3W/s320/IMG_3817.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mentorship Reading</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz-FEimt8XiuSGJwC2FwmnPsEmGV671_y4ZVyP09KN9ctwmBs-WSM9kyGOhPOEXFqNPAP7pKZWgr62G7qbLhzPjIQyUO2HzovCg9o_z5D5ru2JlCqaBkLwU6SZ4YNMccPV7WkVUdkdxrTBLrn5wKrJsv4Isr46qtv7gmiWNndq7IvgmMuVTVT5O_4/s893/IMG_3843.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="893" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz-FEimt8XiuSGJwC2FwmnPsEmGV671_y4ZVyP09KN9ctwmBs-WSM9kyGOhPOEXFqNPAP7pKZWgr62G7qbLhzPjIQyUO2HzovCg9o_z5D5ru2JlCqaBkLwU6SZ4YNMccPV7WkVUdkdxrTBLrn5wKrJsv4Isr46qtv7gmiWNndq7IvgmMuVTVT5O_4/s320/IMG_3843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I want to share a practice in teaching reading that I have found helpful in growing readers over the years. My "mommy blog" early on was basically an advice column because, as a Planning-to-Homeschool mother of babies, I knew nearly everything. Close readers may have noticed that about ten years into my blogging (and mothering), I switched to virtually never giving advice. It's not that I think there is no black-and-white truth or Best Practices, but I rarely feel qualified to give them and not to a wide-open audience.</p><p>ANYWAY, this little tip is helpful and, I hope, inoffensive, so I thought I'd share. When a young reader is stepping up to a higher level of reading, it can be quite a challenge and one way to get him through resistance, discouragement, and fatigue is what one might call "buddy reading" or mentoring him in the readering. Mom can take over the book and read aloud a chapter or two to re-engage the child who is reading outside of his comfort zone.</p><p>For example, 10-year-old Joseph has been devouring books lately, reading several hundred pages weekly, but I know he's comfortable. So this week when he asked me for the latest book recommendation, I handed him Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's <i>The Lost World</i> to pull him past his comfort. For the first half dozen chapters, his enthusiasm carried him through and he was glued to the book. Then he hit a wall where perhaps the author was asking the reader to be patient for too long while he developed characters. Joseph was ready to give up and refused to read further. Instead of getting mad or telling him he had to read it, I told him to meet me at 6:30 a.m. the next morning when I am alone with coffee and said I'd read it aloud to him on the sofa. In my experience, hearing a parent read aloud with our greater understanding and the inflection in our voices causes children to relax and get back to enjoying the story. After only two sessions of my reading aloud that day, Joseph whisked the book away and read another several chapters--and staying up too late to do so!</p><p>My homeschooling approach to Literature (as a Lit major myself) is to encourage the reading of good Literature. I strew the house with great books. I don't like pablum. (Good vocab word: bland or insipid intellectual fare.) I don't like to leave children reading fluff, I don't like to allow much fluff in my home, and I don't believe children will naturally wade out into serious Literature without a guiding hand. Especially in my earlier years (when I had time on my hands), I read aloud vast amounts of classic literature to my young readers to accustom their ears to excellent language.</p><p>However, reading such advanced language oneself is hard and requires perseverance! A child at any given time may not yet be ready to push through, but any amount of reading that they can do while you read the rest is a benefit. (This hearkens me back to when I was teaching phonics to my very first child who couldn't sit still more than a few seconds: He would painstakingly read one sentence and then I would read two or three, then he would read his one sentence, and I would read more. It makes a child feel like someone is in the trenches with him. Mentoring in reading is not letting the kid have the easy way out, but is providing camaraderie through the process.</p><p>The above idea of buddy reading applies at any step along the way, even with the earliest of readers moving from very low level reading to slightly harder reading.</p><p>I hope this is helpful to someone out there!</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Homeschooling Play Date</h2><p>I did something on Monday that I don’t recall doing in years: I took my kids to a homeschooler meet-up at the park with a bunch of moms I didn’t even know. Thomas is currently stable enough in his health that I felt pretty good about being out of the house. They had the best time! They ran around for two hours straight, and Thomas and David’s favorite part was the pond and wildlife. As we headed home, Thomas told me wistfully, “Mama, I love ponds! I love ducks! I love turtles! I love tadpoles! I love fish! I love them all!”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4YPmR5bbQVlo3KsNOzac4cxTAJCnIcT8eRc3qqDwYfzpf_OWKJ5KLSmgypo9lfu2yOpTb58_897NflzMg2l-tgYGN4rlifg-l7gbifoBUrNCaB-nD6QVrzfxW02nc7c5v3nHrQ2LK-c3GBluQ8ej544OLia6o_ywuPpOPTyhrqkDbkBPxB_stPhb/s2048/346645596_222406233850665_1540865223902312066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4YPmR5bbQVlo3KsNOzac4cxTAJCnIcT8eRc3qqDwYfzpf_OWKJ5KLSmgypo9lfu2yOpTb58_897NflzMg2l-tgYGN4rlifg-l7gbifoBUrNCaB-nD6QVrzfxW02nc7c5v3nHrQ2LK-c3GBluQ8ej544OLia6o_ywuPpOPTyhrqkDbkBPxB_stPhb/s320/346645596_222406233850665_1540865223902312066_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrapping Up Teaching for the Year</h2><p>Today was the last day of my teaching Literature to Middle Schoolers at our homeschool co-op. We had a delightful year, reading ten books together. For our last day of class, we enjoyed a potluck lunch and all brought in stacks of books for show-and-tell, each person sharing why they liked the various books and would recommend them. It made my heart joy-filled to listen to them talk enthusiastically about books for an hour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZRK5ZzQhKJHKrshIxwfRSj1S_ChejXMCeW6TL6w4aPBSxgvtViLdnt3rfPg9a2YFNb5ug1xJPoRi6XK2qrwRhiasBLgq39CwothoP3H_eONknX5_c5yjm68Zuz6suKoIVZqOLJ-AA0Rv3JAE7Bc_eHV8HJUGd_K65DOBjEEaRtIyyqi9hpFQcPlu/s1094/IMG_3861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZRK5ZzQhKJHKrshIxwfRSj1S_ChejXMCeW6TL6w4aPBSxgvtViLdnt3rfPg9a2YFNb5ug1xJPoRi6XK2qrwRhiasBLgq39CwothoP3H_eONknX5_c5yjm68Zuz6suKoIVZqOLJ-AA0Rv3JAE7Bc_eHV8HJUGd_K65DOBjEEaRtIyyqi9hpFQcPlu/s320/IMG_3861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Organizing the Library</h2><p>I’m very pleased with my newly organized science bookshelves. Beneath the shelves are cupboards full of science kits. The children like to collect and display their best specimens from nature on these shelves. Right now, my plan for elementary homeschool science next year is to have the boys pick one science book off the shelf monthly and read it. They end up reading more than that anyway!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWHzczM3bMvqYvgvnkLPluJAp87nkMAzFGpMzA-riUkzrCRKFfqAyNXICdYAjHo8IWBacVTK6dXboUAkZjZdgHUzl8uVZOO61bpAlfCE_1XhR0oPP5S5NlZZTwHCctZLoDWgZawbUOfR5iYWAWL92-Bg3CaLfj0pziHhY_HhSSrRwFuv73ueOqk6a/s1094/IMG_3869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWHzczM3bMvqYvgvnkLPluJAp87nkMAzFGpMzA-riUkzrCRKFfqAyNXICdYAjHo8IWBacVTK6dXboUAkZjZdgHUzl8uVZOO61bpAlfCE_1XhR0oPP5S5NlZZTwHCctZLoDWgZawbUOfR5iYWAWL92-Bg3CaLfj0pziHhY_HhSSrRwFuv73ueOqk6a/s320/IMG_3869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMf75xUCXKtZQya5v86eakasraCJcRlNkVECf21guLTDrFwTvl8z_DrvKs0CGb9c9lBTpXePDSg_JW6LDgUVMrjcwIZB-VNnm4dQPNVodWHq8Sqwoi5iOPRHsprIsuvoYjlP7hrrn5u-vwZXc9hRZ0f8Ks-6A8B-CqOZup_99bPlx72Sf-Bt8p6Ab/s1094/IMG_3870.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMf75xUCXKtZQya5v86eakasraCJcRlNkVECf21guLTDrFwTvl8z_DrvKs0CGb9c9lBTpXePDSg_JW6LDgUVMrjcwIZB-VNnm4dQPNVodWHq8Sqwoi5iOPRHsprIsuvoYjlP7hrrn5u-vwZXc9hRZ0f8Ks-6A8B-CqOZup_99bPlx72Sf-Bt8p6Ab/s320/IMG_3870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxgoPKOt-X7CdCUHhZVvvW_dIA6DdykGWsgyxnMEe-vCJwnqmHxjDiAuj7tsXPazlpNCNzd4HXuPXcFZZsL8_87WhMC_CRj8THVuLT7QbdBgsSR54LqEhAJ6zCZsKV94XkePqwpuLxCn7lW7Vpt8epbrXs953VH1IjqnKrEXsUrdVLBG__pdes6cL/s1094/IMG_3871.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxgoPKOt-X7CdCUHhZVvvW_dIA6DdykGWsgyxnMEe-vCJwnqmHxjDiAuj7tsXPazlpNCNzd4HXuPXcFZZsL8_87WhMC_CRj8THVuLT7QbdBgsSR54LqEhAJ6zCZsKV94XkePqwpuLxCn7lW7Vpt8epbrXs953VH1IjqnKrEXsUrdVLBG__pdes6cL/s320/IMG_3871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZVljCJeFd1zID9vvBeXtcndTDCzZqNMdLMxJkPosC3ufOEFwWTPcWkezQo_4lgo0gWtljNvn4MW-yXTZmF-wx8sxu2vX6Pdnj10fxYC8SfgEQ7nhWDkEykp8CpOFIu8VoVUV-mpfdGrwwK-dCcZYIqAqBJqpt1cACwgC7KV-xgCbnMdIqcvpaCLy/s1094/IMG_3872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZVljCJeFd1zID9vvBeXtcndTDCzZqNMdLMxJkPosC3ufOEFwWTPcWkezQo_4lgo0gWtljNvn4MW-yXTZmF-wx8sxu2vX6Pdnj10fxYC8SfgEQ7nhWDkEykp8CpOFIu8VoVUV-mpfdGrwwK-dCcZYIqAqBJqpt1cACwgC7KV-xgCbnMdIqcvpaCLy/s320/IMG_3872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRre2VRhn3azXA_KnuFXUMLYhxSdjWJEKD5cghhahcmCTXzbb_GiYjLl3ZD8MQ6JmMsgdao8F3PfQWfn_G07-NCVjr9YHX27bDtdMFq0yOs0ZzYWVpMWJzr7JqrhzclPftWFKDq3UlQBMNMA-VphKw3Na7_w7RqhCVvKvXNhmLweMfpmIdGlKxOPN/s1094/IMG_3873.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRre2VRhn3azXA_KnuFXUMLYhxSdjWJEKD5cghhahcmCTXzbb_GiYjLl3ZD8MQ6JmMsgdao8F3PfQWfn_G07-NCVjr9YHX27bDtdMFq0yOs0ZzYWVpMWJzr7JqrhzclPftWFKDq3UlQBMNMA-VphKw3Na7_w7RqhCVvKvXNhmLweMfpmIdGlKxOPN/s320/IMG_3873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And for today's bookshelf tour . . . I had the best time reorganizing my history shelves! These particle board, IKEA bookshelves from probably ten years ago are barely hanging on by a thread. I removed all the historic fiction books and painstakingly went through each one, writing the setting (century and location) inside the front cover. Then I put them all back on the shelves in order (not absolutely precise order, because I'm not Dewey Decimal System crazy, but the various centuries clumped together).</p><p>Books sitting on top of the whole bookshelf are "spines," mostly actual textbooks or formal studies of History.</p><p>My goal next year is to get back to my first seven or so years of parenting in which my kids were reading historic fiction associated with whatever history we are studying more formally. Now, my middle schoolers have continued that practice, but my three elementary boys . . . not so much. They love reading off the History shelves, but it is totally scattershot. </p><p>Now with the books organized by dates, I can much more easily grab some appropriate books and make them available for the boys. I need to keep things *really easy* for myself next year (in case it turns out anything like 2022-23), so I plan simply to ask them to read independently one historic fiction per month (and I fully expect they will end up reading a lot more than that).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlxy2Ipwsf4N87vStyHeyCL41Sywaaxx8BxCmmjiUtV0aznfEabuQJpKldwQLobjyg6tJehiCeIyMty4eU6232h0e2OKDNbeQkO7SwV17SVDVIcyyM9jkzL1BeMKGdvMdOxlQGDvXn5_HJMxyleTiGoTC_kGpPs5Z-aPaUnawO2eWajyjFqXR9EOB/s893/IMG_3845%20reorganizing%20history.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlxy2Ipwsf4N87vStyHeyCL41Sywaaxx8BxCmmjiUtV0aznfEabuQJpKldwQLobjyg6tJehiCeIyMty4eU6232h0e2OKDNbeQkO7SwV17SVDVIcyyM9jkzL1BeMKGdvMdOxlQGDvXn5_HJMxyleTiGoTC_kGpPs5Z-aPaUnawO2eWajyjFqXR9EOB/s320/IMG_3845%20reorganizing%20history.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKRGSu_y4cNTdJ088dFKdLBztKXUUzsmxKSEFegRr7PS_gHSewmjmDgw5FIWTGmkwX4j4y0J82g28Jd_NfXniRcnXswH4IjIEIQ1TcTKQY3TzWybxPW1Ra1FSAcMkxOLQLvRRcJ2PMfsoBgrBssNiGD0FYIkNlx-eM6Fqt54JwkSk5EgUHvMWVfT3/s1094/IMG_3868%20history%20reorganized.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKRGSu_y4cNTdJ088dFKdLBztKXUUzsmxKSEFegRr7PS_gHSewmjmDgw5FIWTGmkwX4j4y0J82g28Jd_NfXniRcnXswH4IjIEIQ1TcTKQY3TzWybxPW1Ra1FSAcMkxOLQLvRRcJ2PMfsoBgrBssNiGD0FYIkNlx-eM6Fqt54JwkSk5EgUHvMWVfT3/s320/IMG_3868%20history%20reorganized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mary's End-of-Year Piano Recital</h2><p>Tonight our family had the joy of watching Mary perform at her end-of-year piano recital with Francis Music Studio. <b>Video here: https://youtu.be/JIYZUErkX1M</b></p><p>She played Sonata No. 13 in E Major, mvt 3: Presto by Haydn and Claire de Lune by Debussy.</p><p>This event was also touching because after May, Mary is transitioning to a doctoral-level piano teacher on the advice of her former teacher, Miss Linda.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TgihRmO8KH7AY3IzmHt_-0WTuC05UNfwXyV5z3xzJr0h8R3IWVBFTIPmj--XlMwqpm-mTGnWyCstE1yalBRnJPVQ77O24TqOXTCbeamLlgLJFhFk2kkjU7MHPlGurKiwjfH1nCDtcNssPiwxfVwWqLkjFDkXGsgyrz2BMF7mVGfRDULY5Hq92RZ7/s1094/IMG_3997.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TgihRmO8KH7AY3IzmHt_-0WTuC05UNfwXyV5z3xzJr0h8R3IWVBFTIPmj--XlMwqpm-mTGnWyCstE1yalBRnJPVQ77O24TqOXTCbeamLlgLJFhFk2kkjU7MHPlGurKiwjfH1nCDtcNssPiwxfVwWqLkjFDkXGsgyrz2BMF7mVGfRDULY5Hq92RZ7/s320/IMG_3997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSNlRRDIEfhGmGGwvcLvNTTPAtjAwp7GcBtkndewcdE3x14Xk-N3JgnYlLVv7o8NwgoqnUCtsB40jJ-NaCeZhBsXrVAeIgbyLONe1-oYUFwDlhN95wh9Zyijc070ASMdSlPGHZMza_DmQv1T6wawM7caXnIsXmnrdP0v5z3Mfwwj6SnSvf36MoOvN/s820/IMG_4003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSNlRRDIEfhGmGGwvcLvNTTPAtjAwp7GcBtkndewcdE3x14Xk-N3JgnYlLVv7o8NwgoqnUCtsB40jJ-NaCeZhBsXrVAeIgbyLONe1-oYUFwDlhN95wh9Zyijc070ASMdSlPGHZMza_DmQv1T6wawM7caXnIsXmnrdP0v5z3Mfwwj6SnSvf36MoOvN/s320/IMG_4003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Thomas Reaches Fifty Pounds!</h2><p>On May 23, Thomas reached a milestone he's been working toward for months: he weighs 50 pounds! It is hard enough for adults with gastrectomy to maintain enough weight to survive, but it's a serious challenge for a young child with gastrectomy (and pancreatic enzyme insufficiency) to actually GROW UP. Thomas's growth is slow and he'll never reach the size he would have been naturally, but he has reached this symbolic 50 pounds and is growing in height as well! We told Thomas's life-saving surgeon the good news and he replied that we made his year. Thomas requested a pinata with his siblings to celebrate, so you know we did it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWfXlu1iRXifCw2qXD6DuowRGWdQycSjkSX3bZFhi6R_QheKzYVe8X_yBaEo9auF3aJV6e2zuFc2vdQEVQuPDNOp_7IJX70-z431okKmoL7PKtz9PtFE-FSRwP2iZRxOt8_EkfqeBriW9YHIN5N1DbzH9poc72s7m3UcoRWGlbUtxvKvsOwoQndL5/s4032/IMG_4016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWfXlu1iRXifCw2qXD6DuowRGWdQycSjkSX3bZFhi6R_QheKzYVe8X_yBaEo9auF3aJV6e2zuFc2vdQEVQuPDNOp_7IJX70-z431okKmoL7PKtz9PtFE-FSRwP2iZRxOt8_EkfqeBriW9YHIN5N1DbzH9poc72s7m3UcoRWGlbUtxvKvsOwoQndL5/s320/IMG_4016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOiVvpHf3rL4qDxXNIumf5awI6PT5pombZiR-kofXfblSEPU9m9608RlI4KrumpznBre0xkIT4uDfosgMz4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9cauRnVjG7VZCfrwcdUnMtDaTIli51WJ8aAFznf5LeWb0Kf_HPwkjVdvIylqzccSSis7uD-ONjTrI00xrpziTChlE3RNcoRUutHeb5tlZuh8X_hiI40uWLixKGGr4db1Gbdk4lEikF_Asd9KPaXlnDKuhHq9TOVMWATLpa_6MmXIUC90Tuo8BkAj/s4032/IMG_4039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9cauRnVjG7VZCfrwcdUnMtDaTIli51WJ8aAFznf5LeWb0Kf_HPwkjVdvIylqzccSSis7uD-ONjTrI00xrpziTChlE3RNcoRUutHeb5tlZuh8X_hiI40uWLixKGGr4db1Gbdk4lEikF_Asd9KPaXlnDKuhHq9TOVMWATLpa_6MmXIUC90Tuo8BkAj/s320/IMG_4039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVm1F6LXkBocurn4zKcPRBDl2zmUQT-MKsfJw5N57zi_-ez1PW42Jy2ynb7pt--fx62qCbVfbjGFqKSprTmkJcd_5oV8LMT_PawEzUvcXkFeI7iFaJ1RqWnz4aEVRP7zEGzaGt_fPgRnAE449EuHYpQYFD4CL4OIuXVmUM6WfBb0u3ELDEYQCXNSUL/s4032/IMG_4044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVm1F6LXkBocurn4zKcPRBDl2zmUQT-MKsfJw5N57zi_-ez1PW42Jy2ynb7pt--fx62qCbVfbjGFqKSprTmkJcd_5oV8LMT_PawEzUvcXkFeI7iFaJ1RqWnz4aEVRP7zEGzaGt_fPgRnAE449EuHYpQYFD4CL4OIuXVmUM6WfBb0u3ELDEYQCXNSUL/s320/IMG_4044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGM4gA_FDWSQGeCLF10AmckzuZOqHwLbjTlbtJ2QB4lxHWE0CQlRtPXG7WPPHCcSQH4LXUXxPCQQ4vK4rVhVzXbZ_dY75VvgATaIp6OuCelGX5kwFzd80n02xckPtHl-X1y8f9s07BYxKnFefIYxi1ywdJWAaYabFJH21CL2O4mJtIaZTBJ_RqFYR/s4032/IMG_4046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGM4gA_FDWSQGeCLF10AmckzuZOqHwLbjTlbtJ2QB4lxHWE0CQlRtPXG7WPPHCcSQH4LXUXxPCQQ4vK4rVhVzXbZ_dY75VvgATaIp6OuCelGX5kwFzd80n02xckPtHl-X1y8f9s07BYxKnFefIYxi1ywdJWAaYabFJH21CL2O4mJtIaZTBJ_RqFYR/s320/IMG_4046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qq0jSDGhdNOo6H1RkeGJeU-4iRqAbPooJDsHequYsj_1VnZMQYmdatjKo-sjnqVHEhQJ9HYzy_j_KyT5IawucuEwjVf9oKejRktkuxJSS2R0KRE1bwXT_YOaTNfqcBr1g_9EWh9HD2_JGk4adLEptc-OLmIK-S95smM1uRp0Wlekw3i3vvh2E9gB/s4032/IMG_4047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qq0jSDGhdNOo6H1RkeGJeU-4iRqAbPooJDsHequYsj_1VnZMQYmdatjKo-sjnqVHEhQJ9HYzy_j_KyT5IawucuEwjVf9oKejRktkuxJSS2R0KRE1bwXT_YOaTNfqcBr1g_9EWh9HD2_JGk4adLEptc-OLmIK-S95smM1uRp0Wlekw3i3vvh2E9gB/s320/IMG_4047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbulz0uoKVjnnM5LR2yH2SzG84A7x821GpQWo4XBnVpit_eJIiSTKeOmlnkzXrmVhBw82Q-QRip9fYhnI52j_-gs_METNI0BNX5VAj4o9mRv0mSXKpBBcdY9M_svlwavcAA4JlljzkMfJ7oz5EH9ZS0mw7Dgj_aqzMe3fBKrfbUi5Bl9vTU-aO1Nl/s4032/IMG_4053.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbulz0uoKVjnnM5LR2yH2SzG84A7x821GpQWo4XBnVpit_eJIiSTKeOmlnkzXrmVhBw82Q-QRip9fYhnI52j_-gs_METNI0BNX5VAj4o9mRv0mSXKpBBcdY9M_svlwavcAA4JlljzkMfJ7oz5EH9ZS0mw7Dgj_aqzMe3fBKrfbUi5Bl9vTU-aO1Nl/s320/IMG_4053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfJ3QBXiajB6mu374GbDss7IgSI1a_p3UMb5LhUcQeKiCnlS-Hq8UpHlxRThy2UhjKH37cHsoXRs-72hV7__cGuI5yLy8E27PUV2p77LJ_i8MfSurVFBbSchkbLmmf7_adtqjTxmEFKH_lnlxc-QnoYmo0wnHGgCZAo_sYFw4gbYB9JrEzyRXmyNS/s4032/IMG_4055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfJ3QBXiajB6mu374GbDss7IgSI1a_p3UMb5LhUcQeKiCnlS-Hq8UpHlxRThy2UhjKH37cHsoXRs-72hV7__cGuI5yLy8E27PUV2p77LJ_i8MfSurVFBbSchkbLmmf7_adtqjTxmEFKH_lnlxc-QnoYmo0wnHGgCZAo_sYFw4gbYB9JrEzyRXmyNS/s320/IMG_4055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">More and More Snakes </h2><p>These aren't even all that we've found . . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurV65SfRZPmW8iknSlp596Z9JydBDmXuinvvEp-Ot-BExIKWDWXObvycXeZ4ClCbUsCjeODDYutvjoB04U6K5mOboiSXEXBE4sQe1OcdrvZPN7sWKfF3AgR2E3L6Kixnqa5bgq94hykfwAqporeS3H-7jOEk-kvM6nraxxnExdkgLyOBhMTq4CIZn/s820/IMG_3782.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurV65SfRZPmW8iknSlp596Z9JydBDmXuinvvEp-Ot-BExIKWDWXObvycXeZ4ClCbUsCjeODDYutvjoB04U6K5mOboiSXEXBE4sQe1OcdrvZPN7sWKfF3AgR2E3L6Kixnqa5bgq94hykfwAqporeS3H-7jOEk-kvM6nraxxnExdkgLyOBhMTq4CIZn/s320/IMG_3782.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlROlTkfWXsJao9KEpGy0FhubpTMPwMmz6iC-qvzpKMfIBID0OGNHgDz_iqzsxG_yZQhPvUsj4x_JUGh_INsN4k2aI7d3eoHDq0SYV3HrK-X2RN_FXRfMtr5eASFGYEFaRpZHpcx0k1F6ON-WewLW33s0rHNebHfTEGREWlVm2uSGZKP5h4dD-nbLS/s1094/IMG_3784.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlROlTkfWXsJao9KEpGy0FhubpTMPwMmz6iC-qvzpKMfIBID0OGNHgDz_iqzsxG_yZQhPvUsj4x_JUGh_INsN4k2aI7d3eoHDq0SYV3HrK-X2RN_FXRfMtr5eASFGYEFaRpZHpcx0k1F6ON-WewLW33s0rHNebHfTEGREWlVm2uSGZKP5h4dD-nbLS/s320/IMG_3784.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP-XZ2hBqSJA1bNLVIdXDeSmERYLYbM4j_XMSFdNytPZhtc94vFM142zFuB9oZfiQjhe14ODXIeOMv1mhcY-sq-mKYEvnCV05NQ2sV3PekXYiScskAiTEbeS--dtSEzn37UaPVzRWeyjdNrfx2O3UuNnPv1fw8tlQ5fCNoApKj8CPQnoruFdgTFnr/s1094/IMG_3846.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP-XZ2hBqSJA1bNLVIdXDeSmERYLYbM4j_XMSFdNytPZhtc94vFM142zFuB9oZfiQjhe14ODXIeOMv1mhcY-sq-mKYEvnCV05NQ2sV3PekXYiScskAiTEbeS--dtSEzn37UaPVzRWeyjdNrfx2O3UuNnPv1fw8tlQ5fCNoApKj8CPQnoruFdgTFnr/s320/IMG_3846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_1QySgYorFXVp1L1DuJVyUkpteq-myGvIaqQpKk6gnQKdY8XSJQsUXFsZ6UI2FuNziYYtuI2yyWlaacqb88Lt05J8nmIUmtuVF5xX4cOvqSi5oMot8CEXD-b-ZZON0Gfc8R7PjMttyh_xE_YQkfxvVllH0FgVRHR6eNpBEO2-tthtWP3eVkh9CNN/s1094/IMG_3847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_1QySgYorFXVp1L1DuJVyUkpteq-myGvIaqQpKk6gnQKdY8XSJQsUXFsZ6UI2FuNziYYtuI2yyWlaacqb88Lt05J8nmIUmtuVF5xX4cOvqSi5oMot8CEXD-b-ZZON0Gfc8R7PjMttyh_xE_YQkfxvVllH0FgVRHR6eNpBEO2-tthtWP3eVkh9CNN/s320/IMG_3847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">May Crowning 2023</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiWzd8bHTb2J6WMc2JGVZY0QhaMK-g69wC_LevwJk1WraWFeOMcZ2QBMMw8WBMKFiQKe3YUFxPUyH2CMcwdKr5wrgqIKtE1yM7XXcbtu9HCEE9g1qMNtf6Z5N01hGs6vNqf3sIqe6c6tQyB7FEJBQqEefPvO5lGaODk2X7JwCjbnkoFRDL5lRGmVB/s4032/IMG_3941.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiWzd8bHTb2J6WMc2JGVZY0QhaMK-g69wC_LevwJk1WraWFeOMcZ2QBMMw8WBMKFiQKe3YUFxPUyH2CMcwdKr5wrgqIKtE1yM7XXcbtu9HCEE9g1qMNtf6Z5N01hGs6vNqf3sIqe6c6tQyB7FEJBQqEefPvO5lGaODk2X7JwCjbnkoFRDL5lRGmVB/s320/IMG_3941.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0irqg-DnkVUZOpwOChYJ4r8UotA6ikMOQhsEwtTTJrHgyLOnZd7hMCib8IaC7Jk27YI9x5-Vz5T_Qmg4NIz71qZwYE7AdDd3al7Vrwl7rxdxQ50pmZrc8Cq5pmjT67uoyJD-be660VX8vpkDfbZ01FdcVqqL6M67M9aMyxJFmOHOhHhLmjlidBxvJ/s4032/IMG_3944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0irqg-DnkVUZOpwOChYJ4r8UotA6ikMOQhsEwtTTJrHgyLOnZd7hMCib8IaC7Jk27YI9x5-Vz5T_Qmg4NIz71qZwYE7AdDd3al7Vrwl7rxdxQ50pmZrc8Cq5pmjT67uoyJD-be660VX8vpkDfbZ01FdcVqqL6M67M9aMyxJFmOHOhHhLmjlidBxvJ/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Homeschool Graduation</h2><p>Our homeschool community in Charlotte is so large and bustling, we actually have official graduations at at least four Catholic parishes that I know of (and, of course, that doesn't even count Protestant and secular homeschool communities). We attended the graduation at St. Ann's because we knew most of the graduates and it was so much fun, especially the family dance at the end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiifLsWjjYkDbogBASeLolefUYDNp3oCOUR2a1WFH4LtblDzsTlQEg2WDrdACUMZ7lAT0UY1wGSZI9tGdYFYynywBYSTjiYjB8KcN-Ilr2hjf5FZUkr9X8C-oO-KPoWVsKUkUGLT9XgKriWFvpDXqwE9jvM5mgvXMYgQgBW10gO55UGZ00TF85wXxJ/s4032/IMG_3967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiifLsWjjYkDbogBASeLolefUYDNp3oCOUR2a1WFH4LtblDzsTlQEg2WDrdACUMZ7lAT0UY1wGSZI9tGdYFYynywBYSTjiYjB8KcN-Ilr2hjf5FZUkr9X8C-oO-KPoWVsKUkUGLT9XgKriWFvpDXqwE9jvM5mgvXMYgQgBW10gO55UGZ00TF85wXxJ/s320/IMG_3967.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRT9fBGjBKzog0xP-1F-EhX6x6BHnK6rv1GoqYJeACx9OX9KI3iRbD6ZkJngSgUU604yy6BNMWkbseUfiYCWyq1SeUVROdzJEJ77CG2ZszW9HT7YehQlhISEqXtOBhaFP5EWr5VyJtSluqhga4m2Vmi8-v36CNDjncg_C2E3ssIwPWAJun3fSbD-U/s4032/IMG_3964.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRT9fBGjBKzog0xP-1F-EhX6x6BHnK6rv1GoqYJeACx9OX9KI3iRbD6ZkJngSgUU604yy6BNMWkbseUfiYCWyq1SeUVROdzJEJ77CG2ZszW9HT7YehQlhISEqXtOBhaFP5EWr5VyJtSluqhga4m2Vmi8-v36CNDjncg_C2E3ssIwPWAJun3fSbD-U/s320/IMG_3964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuktlcKhm7XMYSgJRqFYrIcBLwQyVf3Z3iGwOYIFKF6SnYDEm3smAK27DyuOQ0brvTEkPBJ1Fc18EFRbGsZAzxT3Sm0AD4HRiBcf9GtD-ELOeIhXBTyBczoDJvGpEX_0J5yhnD-lIJ5mIbhiVnMHkVWx0mPv916Wy9rJfzU8kE5Ce5PKsOE6QLqTW/s4032/IMG_3965.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuktlcKhm7XMYSgJRqFYrIcBLwQyVf3Z3iGwOYIFKF6SnYDEm3smAK27DyuOQ0brvTEkPBJ1Fc18EFRbGsZAzxT3Sm0AD4HRiBcf9GtD-ELOeIhXBTyBczoDJvGpEX_0J5yhnD-lIJ5mIbhiVnMHkVWx0mPv916Wy9rJfzU8kE5Ce5PKsOE6QLqTW/s320/IMG_3965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiC6Bg9jkgWzCLcH9b612a90ldkhMAeCFOt1EObEZuMLL6-G08OyLxOl9lhipcgxeFGFeXVcwtjE-hEi6aL5ZpAWjh_9fgenDXnfBx9Y17NQ48jdvN7DiChwb1ZvwQyjytmpVvRijo8N3VTjusCdqsBvhr9hWqisya3_Krzc3ze3qNPXWlfrGM_og/s4032/IMG_3966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiC6Bg9jkgWzCLcH9b612a90ldkhMAeCFOt1EObEZuMLL6-G08OyLxOl9lhipcgxeFGFeXVcwtjE-hEi6aL5ZpAWjh_9fgenDXnfBx9Y17NQ48jdvN7DiChwb1ZvwQyjytmpVvRijo8N3VTjusCdqsBvhr9hWqisya3_Krzc3ze3qNPXWlfrGM_og/s320/IMG_3966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintl4lN5U539CZLY3Ne9FA9OVKt85T2JEJVgLIxLD1YD5n6m3HSZ7ippxKkgGYfG8ZLel-dI_BTg0VcJARar63zwAeXcbD_yVRBsOKUhyCLZL84-o3d5kJ9YjwhiOvi9qyHO_VgSV88H0yLir8Egj1cIjbLZAtQQtBHSqy2fjue_m708x5gODTKEWS/s4032/IMG_3968.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintl4lN5U539CZLY3Ne9FA9OVKt85T2JEJVgLIxLD1YD5n6m3HSZ7ippxKkgGYfG8ZLel-dI_BTg0VcJARar63zwAeXcbD_yVRBsOKUhyCLZL84-o3d5kJ9YjwhiOvi9qyHO_VgSV88H0yLir8Egj1cIjbLZAtQQtBHSqy2fjue_m708x5gODTKEWS/s320/IMG_3968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thomas (7) has possibly not a shy bone in his body. During the dance, he approached a gaggle of little girls his age and asked if any of them would like to dance, but they all giggled and decline. So, Thomas turned heel and approached Miss Naysa, who is about age 19, and asked the gentleman she was dancing with if Thomas could dance with her instead. The gentleman gallantly acquiesced and Naysa cheerfully danced with Thomas for a song before Thomas's sister Mary took over for the next song.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzdRH7RIi_CPOx47dj3VD3bEQhVdIFZpzwf20DOB2s1rLHBkaV_qod7sc1Rb24r2pxDgbbtYgjeYrL2WgZamLugPQmavSOZ57clbC-rp09dqKpuKryLRs2tRKJ-jtclPQyxFa48Ktfxr8R1UbsySTq09oOWv8PsLJYicObGfYM0Y9oUGr4OINI8PM/s4032/IMG_3972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzdRH7RIi_CPOx47dj3VD3bEQhVdIFZpzwf20DOB2s1rLHBkaV_qod7sc1Rb24r2pxDgbbtYgjeYrL2WgZamLugPQmavSOZ57clbC-rp09dqKpuKryLRs2tRKJ-jtclPQyxFa48Ktfxr8R1UbsySTq09oOWv8PsLJYicObGfYM0Y9oUGr4OINI8PM/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e57GzxpGZoR6X_Z9YDaF5C_QDnJHTlrnClP4_dHIC0HE_V62SnuKMtlOuNu6aUXQyduuj6JnriHu-NFriQwui_jXbTqQ_e9hw5ticgutmM5PSSmW2ikGC04_fdn3vAUcS-UKeqK7yNewivAeeCTc8uyFs0GogLBkxcPh4pSZgrUN8_HUhlH6_5g4/s4032/IMG_3976.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e57GzxpGZoR6X_Z9YDaF5C_QDnJHTlrnClP4_dHIC0HE_V62SnuKMtlOuNu6aUXQyduuj6JnriHu-NFriQwui_jXbTqQ_e9hw5ticgutmM5PSSmW2ikGC04_fdn3vAUcS-UKeqK7yNewivAeeCTc8uyFs0GogLBkxcPh4pSZgrUN8_HUhlH6_5g4/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy097ksj7zr4FcQxHT0qYt3PiRJ-arkS_1a6oat5VaH1xFpeQxMbnlsE5pSvdhZcP0qQR7rV3va44uZ332j39HhPR86rbWABVByqtN2QbB5XUGhJzEQXBP5OeYoQgvX2lT20j9y3ehSqGJ_F6b13JUDuYqrS36EJGqYKKKbiXDusWjrk_aRWBl0VU5/s4032/IMG_3977.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy097ksj7zr4FcQxHT0qYt3PiRJ-arkS_1a6oat5VaH1xFpeQxMbnlsE5pSvdhZcP0qQR7rV3va44uZ332j39HhPR86rbWABVByqtN2QbB5XUGhJzEQXBP5OeYoQgvX2lT20j9y3ehSqGJ_F6b13JUDuYqrS36EJGqYKKKbiXDusWjrk_aRWBl0VU5/s320/IMG_3977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Great Weather, Great Outdoor Activities</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDbKLXqks4qEhrENvXppPU7LuNXLceww1l9raQyxBEmgbPs4YY7lXYifLWlpv_FnQqyxybrrMIS5jVICO3h0bSycFtlvNITIItBZtW5xsOorwI6jYFJeZH7CvlebGNQ0wBpB37QUTzAkpBzMRf_2KJod_YGIPG-n3_5EzhJyiLnnS2lnIaSnvfGS_/s820/IMG_3986.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDbKLXqks4qEhrENvXppPU7LuNXLceww1l9raQyxBEmgbPs4YY7lXYifLWlpv_FnQqyxybrrMIS5jVICO3h0bSycFtlvNITIItBZtW5xsOorwI6jYFJeZH7CvlebGNQ0wBpB37QUTzAkpBzMRf_2KJod_YGIPG-n3_5EzhJyiLnnS2lnIaSnvfGS_/s320/IMG_3986.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chickens at the Farmer's Market</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt-VvwYD5mCWQ_qYG4OFMKT8i1YpH_tOqc7uZF3zFGDDEZePhvWM5PdmKGpdlKmCvBXhaaJvPjQgzaXXO0AvvdpOPyyACtQDVFdHHFEf6okVzT4Z5gEOI40sJLw9dRQ2zAekKYAXEazp3a14SaahtpEmwYB2dgINJ91QBSZURDCobd0ZTIyaEl346/s4032/IMG_4056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrt-VvwYD5mCWQ_qYG4OFMKT8i1YpH_tOqc7uZF3zFGDDEZePhvWM5PdmKGpdlKmCvBXhaaJvPjQgzaXXO0AvvdpOPyyACtQDVFdHHFEf6okVzT4Z5gEOI40sJLw9dRQ2zAekKYAXEazp3a14SaahtpEmwYB2dgINJ91QBSZURDCobd0ZTIyaEl346/s320/IMG_4056.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3fgo2ZGKsEtwxS-MUTClD9cnW243Gc4dEhVipOUSKtKJMdSTBlR5_MEInDcOgPTdNpJyNq2CIYctm57zSYhhdR-HXQMZypTUmxSKDd-ldVS3VPEjAY_bWEtgzPsAUc4mICNWpv83BNfl1m6vTUgGFNqw62IsE1BJgwjuNB0inLMMqHsQhNxQd3QB/s4032/IMG_4079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3fgo2ZGKsEtwxS-MUTClD9cnW243Gc4dEhVipOUSKtKJMdSTBlR5_MEInDcOgPTdNpJyNq2CIYctm57zSYhhdR-HXQMZypTUmxSKDd-ldVS3VPEjAY_bWEtgzPsAUc4mICNWpv83BNfl1m6vTUgGFNqw62IsE1BJgwjuNB0inLMMqHsQhNxQd3QB/s320/IMG_4079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKtunGZ392g7-ev6_TCaGQgOMxIVVpGD8wpKqSO3WajuD6uWxZ0iUC6GPTINkBes4vCL0mCtM4WvRO1QjXX4E_4rE7-AvXEbOtI3SL48G2nrgn-mQINWc3q8vdB400dbM1whXHAaTY5eUhsC4yuIZyGWS3hH7YX1QpB_zNsIJhf3wSzI_qwbrba8Y/s820/IMG_4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKtunGZ392g7-ev6_TCaGQgOMxIVVpGD8wpKqSO3WajuD6uWxZ0iUC6GPTINkBes4vCL0mCtM4WvRO1QjXX4E_4rE7-AvXEbOtI3SL48G2nrgn-mQINWc3q8vdB400dbM1whXHAaTY5eUhsC4yuIZyGWS3hH7YX1QpB_zNsIJhf3wSzI_qwbrba8Y/s320/IMG_4142.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyLCWoSuHldEDpvQVnqzrXNmOCivNgJ2c5n7gv0qO95KoQ0i0h2GhG5FS8JwHsHYppP2EPQmqsskcWD0SazWw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggoPTDu8HWG6af_bMX9C5MFHJgeCD2zoskt-EGyRwEUNFxlG5cU7JzmF3R4KAa5evC6InpNoLLsOmobfvJf12I2YeF2NPo7ZPgYkBr-vD-auZ92Fa6Wib5DQgdqlw2pLa8sCz4NADt3gRdoePTzq1zvjSD-ve9exrGd_CO2yPqhaFPcqjwXcW3iym/s4032/IMG_4097.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggoPTDu8HWG6af_bMX9C5MFHJgeCD2zoskt-EGyRwEUNFxlG5cU7JzmF3R4KAa5evC6InpNoLLsOmobfvJf12I2YeF2NPo7ZPgYkBr-vD-auZ92Fa6Wib5DQgdqlw2pLa8sCz4NADt3gRdoePTzq1zvjSD-ve9exrGd_CO2yPqhaFPcqjwXcW3iym/s320/IMG_4097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Getting Creative</h2><div>With a bit more free time, I am finding the children being creative independently, which is always a joy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnYz-YaQUWYyOG5Tcu8aW7rkfrSoDygViDgdi9TouXv57UZHnCHVCaUGaKHLU1zrTaHLKUMrCVBQFMtbpUPsu1RR6r_5wRVKf1jmMcU00Lm_Dm7YokfNMv2WzVZ3sdRH1zushsBZg0EYmjfQ4JcP3y1QQixQDDHSDhLbJdy2NrS3He6OtVoT82WCa/s4032/IMG_4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnYz-YaQUWYyOG5Tcu8aW7rkfrSoDygViDgdi9TouXv57UZHnCHVCaUGaKHLU1zrTaHLKUMrCVBQFMtbpUPsu1RR6r_5wRVKf1jmMcU00Lm_Dm7YokfNMv2WzVZ3sdRH1zushsBZg0EYmjfQ4JcP3y1QQixQDDHSDhLbJdy2NrS3He6OtVoT82WCa/s320/IMG_4090.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzfJDpQ5nWQ1GDjvcSYlVnNcmm_cihTGEKkZCiOADOQmX4keGk_-SZowE9-V36idy2oNuD3teFZto689EVJOdR11ygXEeM8Tp7Qt4OnzsagMb9bqm5OtmCbL1jLUK6XYEuQK0dUvAZum9nuZtVu_sylkF6psn9Vcg-UHJjUxy-vIpXgQgkcRYeP5W/s4032/IMG_4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzfJDpQ5nWQ1GDjvcSYlVnNcmm_cihTGEKkZCiOADOQmX4keGk_-SZowE9-V36idy2oNuD3teFZto689EVJOdR11ygXEeM8Tp7Qt4OnzsagMb9bqm5OtmCbL1jLUK6XYEuQK0dUvAZum9nuZtVu_sylkF6psn9Vcg-UHJjUxy-vIpXgQgkcRYeP5W/s320/IMG_4091.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZFYMXDikNSKjaLEy2oDUWti6ei2dL4Z_YxEmM8anR-iUjc1i_SysoGYbc5Gq0QQJiejX3dRxpH6zSk74lmFHUc41HAMqWAMX6gBCRYQ5Yi5oa8k8xWOo6Rjds7ergs2Q3z3Cm2UJR5IAh9NpvXNihbKLXVYFphDPEM8XT9ARdgn1lsfU4uwFE-M4/s820/IMG_4110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZFYMXDikNSKjaLEy2oDUWti6ei2dL4Z_YxEmM8anR-iUjc1i_SysoGYbc5Gq0QQJiejX3dRxpH6zSk74lmFHUc41HAMqWAMX6gBCRYQ5Yi5oa8k8xWOo6Rjds7ergs2Q3z3Cm2UJR5IAh9NpvXNihbKLXVYFphDPEM8XT9ARdgn1lsfU4uwFE-M4/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Margaret Gets Braces</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi6Z4EahQ9jaY1tHe5BZwfaIB1outlLXFiuw-YUULkpPWHIPkuNzXn8hLbGRGfIENAnz7XavlzcfnF5x8iPW1SNvepFG8s4B8lOk8LQWDK3CgGblaLSFw6lZOtHfqo2eaHnXSCZSwLxb9eqU4eb0LFuXw9o6jTU8fVJ9zyhlHIgUhxfvsePmmuYZU/s820/IMG_4144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi6Z4EahQ9jaY1tHe5BZwfaIB1outlLXFiuw-YUULkpPWHIPkuNzXn8hLbGRGfIENAnz7XavlzcfnF5x8iPW1SNvepFG8s4B8lOk8LQWDK3CgGblaLSFw6lZOtHfqo2eaHnXSCZSwLxb9eqU4eb0LFuXw9o6jTU8fVJ9zyhlHIgUhxfvsePmmuYZU/s320/IMG_4144.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Cousin's Graduation</h2><div>Joseph got to take what was probably his first one-on-one Daddy-Kid trip, this time to celebrate Cousin Sophia's high-school graduation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC1PT8MOp4AIpCR286i14KS1s5qXK0DTv8aPb4xjeGkUAk5UcfH6b7QnoGfJFWvVQLDNUiQcxzndVbsVecg-wg9iwMUNcrQOkmFsSguFgjasbRyKq_hR7JpxCUJa9AhaRJuRobWsxTt99zH0VSPbsD5JNMTn5tgY-VpgTBIa1AqOtyOZRgAdEzzYH/s1094/IMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC1PT8MOp4AIpCR286i14KS1s5qXK0DTv8aPb4xjeGkUAk5UcfH6b7QnoGfJFWvVQLDNUiQcxzndVbsVecg-wg9iwMUNcrQOkmFsSguFgjasbRyKq_hR7JpxCUJa9AhaRJuRobWsxTt99zH0VSPbsD5JNMTn5tgY-VpgTBIa1AqOtyOZRgAdEzzYH/s320/IMG_7125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiCOBr0xk3h52FTP3aN3nCWyfKV37Uez_AienhvLrjKRIP4-7tCRElToRSFHeDOGiBOAfuGnbBKy3r8qKwDK6M_OO3hAIWEIC04Gb5Zg1pU0hdH-qrCGCmQi4GWuvzVHBVL1qIuwY1tGNRRjyS73Y8YkudYEGkqDv0EMcp1lqRGgRVAZqVhr8l5kl/s820/IMG_7128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiCOBr0xk3h52FTP3aN3nCWyfKV37Uez_AienhvLrjKRIP4-7tCRElToRSFHeDOGiBOAfuGnbBKy3r8qKwDK6M_OO3hAIWEIC04Gb5Zg1pU0hdH-qrCGCmQi4GWuvzVHBVL1qIuwY1tGNRRjyS73Y8YkudYEGkqDv0EMcp1lqRGgRVAZqVhr8l5kl/s320/IMG_7128.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxruYe6GpuC2asZ7p8W-YnHsrs43dlejx5RQDAdCp4AIWbENAhxNv43_3xp6waLMaeGLnS9zckC4lGaSfg4y8RvWMhak8stqb6RU4MwPFsDulpcL4yTMujVMkdDmVrORRq7ExJx6g5_ZloSdy4gqT8ycTkrNDCCK5EcskrR4eIHzXR0AQeb332BuOt/s820/IMG_7136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxruYe6GpuC2asZ7p8W-YnHsrs43dlejx5RQDAdCp4AIWbENAhxNv43_3xp6waLMaeGLnS9zckC4lGaSfg4y8RvWMhak8stqb6RU4MwPFsDulpcL4yTMujVMkdDmVrORRq7ExJx6g5_ZloSdy4gqT8ycTkrNDCCK5EcskrR4eIHzXR0AQeb332BuOt/s320/IMG_7136.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Memorial Day Mass and Church Cookout</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95BFjdro2zXckRyOheSKnn-1j1SSdZtwqzN5JWJU0i2ooh40dP3MAQAtu7aAOy07A1hcu5YIVI4lOKVx1Ca4mmmuN7clACs55UH1-CEU-tcr_kYnK1prEfNuAzO4MTl-E0qz2yuKp6L3Xi6zhDBGaQ_JkZXIHmHJCcSVxp977lNcQ5AlQChz9ppNz/s820/IMG_4122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95BFjdro2zXckRyOheSKnn-1j1SSdZtwqzN5JWJU0i2ooh40dP3MAQAtu7aAOy07A1hcu5YIVI4lOKVx1Ca4mmmuN7clACs55UH1-CEU-tcr_kYnK1prEfNuAzO4MTl-E0qz2yuKp6L3Xi6zhDBGaQ_JkZXIHmHJCcSVxp977lNcQ5AlQChz9ppNz/s320/IMG_4122.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU1kICBr4hpM9YIiHqTrihoDdnaaFIkQdrhRGBF0sxl4EUsbrsghRYDlXHSrZ-4e4XC1r6RdQXdymeLOev7GT-ylaJNCF8vTMB8RPHThBiKqIoJ44o7pH3scc3sl-RnYZmqczliGpiuehJIkgjSzK-ercbBX5qJJYfH_S60XJYTkwYFrQRJRg0tjC/s1094/IMG_4123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU1kICBr4hpM9YIiHqTrihoDdnaaFIkQdrhRGBF0sxl4EUsbrsghRYDlXHSrZ-4e4XC1r6RdQXdymeLOev7GT-ylaJNCF8vTMB8RPHThBiKqIoJ44o7pH3scc3sl-RnYZmqczliGpiuehJIkgjSzK-ercbBX5qJJYfH_S60XJYTkwYFrQRJRg0tjC/s320/IMG_4123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Hosting Morning Play Dates</h2><div>Let the weekly outdoor summer play dates begin!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w6s9hH2onysuh33YmsixZJAt7BoZi4-oEwxS0MNnuaWi5YvhUC_JNYN5MoP4gAW8VQirPqBdaMSNLd9Bme7QEogWM_j1OerBl_vQy2mpTyu1HH0jc5-5SnWZ4m6gtqen6VvLg2jowHpbfowu5KjVQ5x8TueTrOoM47rQOTnOOdOhq90gjRYtSQX8/s1094/IMG_4155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w6s9hH2onysuh33YmsixZJAt7BoZi4-oEwxS0MNnuaWi5YvhUC_JNYN5MoP4gAW8VQirPqBdaMSNLd9Bme7QEogWM_j1OerBl_vQy2mpTyu1HH0jc5-5SnWZ4m6gtqen6VvLg2jowHpbfowu5KjVQ5x8TueTrOoM47rQOTnOOdOhq90gjRYtSQX8/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dogs, Dogs, and Even More Dogs</h2><p>Sweet little Tilly, wishing she would be fed at the table!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2DTFSoCV3VvjKpltkYIcKkQTIfBkKBiHq13drsdfyKDKln2ILv7nxFDDfGxmxDimi52J2db0-15zOAZEmF_a0VjwP1hed59xaRLsUOu3mhKZplI7vL7SLGF-Lfm9VyzPQx65xxzmwg8BDuaAJHbcjlXCLO8pNVOsk-TjtjXpLP9TZUq1zzmH60nJ/s820/IMG_3701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2DTFSoCV3VvjKpltkYIcKkQTIfBkKBiHq13drsdfyKDKln2ILv7nxFDDfGxmxDimi52J2db0-15zOAZEmF_a0VjwP1hed59xaRLsUOu3mhKZplI7vL7SLGF-Lfm9VyzPQx65xxzmwg8BDuaAJHbcjlXCLO8pNVOsk-TjtjXpLP9TZUq1zzmH60nJ/s320/IMG_3701.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For nearly three weeks, we are boarding a third Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a little female named Bailey! Mary does a lot of pet sitting, but this is her biggest job yet! Bailey is a joy, so much fun, and fits in really well. We are going to miss Bailey when she reunites with her owners.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKepWEpJUOao38vdN_0tFEV1ULz0pgh4VgeKNrkgZ7pxDZJUADpNiF2zqj7v6ppZFdOoOdPJioe5iZ7N8-EdrWsPCI9ddyA-Vf2VMTFFNmvv9aGUz6Km_LatktGj10JTyfMtXYoHNbMg5DgzWAXZytGoaQb9hyEwN9MKK530pyVgM6v6hS_0g_p7Fd/s4032/IMG_3927.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKepWEpJUOao38vdN_0tFEV1ULz0pgh4VgeKNrkgZ7pxDZJUADpNiF2zqj7v6ppZFdOoOdPJioe5iZ7N8-EdrWsPCI9ddyA-Vf2VMTFFNmvv9aGUz6Km_LatktGj10JTyfMtXYoHNbMg5DgzWAXZytGoaQb9hyEwN9MKK530pyVgM6v6hS_0g_p7Fd/s320/IMG_3927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5lgymCYSWAO4nMx0Ts1UbJlz8B5kEs2B5W2N8gQ2cwEGsaVVEduJbiFjSVWW6S-G2Vx8r6wojIE2D5szCov5L1KzodQAZZ27lYTkAuIlKwBFDwzHurDb9gLCl1mq49hhNKPzr_iNSHJFe80fKxMrzp_wKFmOuC1N5IJGhZSG-xJxfUiWm9_DFltA/s4032/IMG_3910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5lgymCYSWAO4nMx0Ts1UbJlz8B5kEs2B5W2N8gQ2cwEGsaVVEduJbiFjSVWW6S-G2Vx8r6wojIE2D5szCov5L1KzodQAZZ27lYTkAuIlKwBFDwzHurDb9gLCl1mq49hhNKPzr_iNSHJFe80fKxMrzp_wKFmOuC1N5IJGhZSG-xJxfUiWm9_DFltA/s320/IMG_3910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z4nThcAbL7QInBJr67uGr0JYBly5TdDR1vbQlh-QkU6aKPedf01zDIJVYPdB9ncLEHmKFUrlem6ULzmeBkpo2Cujp9Y3uMGgL6ddW8AKuIgI-mLY-zL6DUR4QvuoWKOa7_ZkVeUBLnShCT2_wzJv-6zvAQ8j3Y8JcLlu_xmJ31JR6z0VkLZT_dGT/s4032/IMG_3920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z4nThcAbL7QInBJr67uGr0JYBly5TdDR1vbQlh-QkU6aKPedf01zDIJVYPdB9ncLEHmKFUrlem6ULzmeBkpo2Cujp9Y3uMGgL6ddW8AKuIgI-mLY-zL6DUR4QvuoWKOa7_ZkVeUBLnShCT2_wzJv-6zvAQ8j3Y8JcLlu_xmJ31JR6z0VkLZT_dGT/s320/IMG_3920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPkcvd9gXWT5TnIpUnmcm1ucyQkUTfxP-DWf5dHZ0uN7qs4LlUWvRkGq2AV8qlaojDQftgIpyvku_B9SA-JhR-E8M14dvA2RgPf1lSELvoSL_nCXo2Bm26S4usDuk-ATu-h9gT3xArxp1RYe2Y7iqt9RI1D2V72inNab0RX6bqAEaqzEXzAs3TU2n/s4032/IMG_3933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPkcvd9gXWT5TnIpUnmcm1ucyQkUTfxP-DWf5dHZ0uN7qs4LlUWvRkGq2AV8qlaojDQftgIpyvku_B9SA-JhR-E8M14dvA2RgPf1lSELvoSL_nCXo2Bm26S4usDuk-ATu-h9gT3xArxp1RYe2Y7iqt9RI1D2V72inNab0RX6bqAEaqzEXzAs3TU2n/s320/IMG_3933.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18UeA0gPv5TuxcF1jj0tyv_hdsnRy7dw7RYsXUyBVtN4OWwyGSddr4kklU0eqmKbyrerPCpZggArV7zPQzJZHmEnN36Ni1wqrCTA2wE9uN2n3i-LfIXQUg4K3AvbGo0sKAbHUZHf711e1JZhcSkLK3gacbVVwRoJS8I3vrgCYnxWz59ha74EPvCjx/s4032/IMG_3940.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18UeA0gPv5TuxcF1jj0tyv_hdsnRy7dw7RYsXUyBVtN4OWwyGSddr4kklU0eqmKbyrerPCpZggArV7zPQzJZHmEnN36Ni1wqrCTA2wE9uN2n3i-LfIXQUg4K3AvbGo0sKAbHUZHf711e1JZhcSkLK3gacbVVwRoJS8I3vrgCYnxWz59ha74EPvCjx/s320/IMG_3940.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpuJJmOQuXiRLAxYfni59Hnd4cJORsrXnzosi4f1fSssuYr7adLqQh6eLXaSYmEif4deNjE6uvtgY0CEb1GiUXPL4phDnoClUKmbS9G5uqopdtoBpz1X8SGsJQR_-MaVheH9nIAhyA1e007ni3p7_Ottz3Td-otjdsNknWZkuEwoawDCw_Ms_FzIp/s4032/IMG_3982%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpuJJmOQuXiRLAxYfni59Hnd4cJORsrXnzosi4f1fSssuYr7adLqQh6eLXaSYmEif4deNjE6uvtgY0CEb1GiUXPL4phDnoClUKmbS9G5uqopdtoBpz1X8SGsJQR_-MaVheH9nIAhyA1e007ni3p7_Ottz3Td-otjdsNknWZkuEwoawDCw_Ms_FzIp/s320/IMG_3982%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqEtX8OZQyyS3xNzK0kul_7J8n-04WG4UxFrSE2ih2ALv-bpzIGMyc7wCGVOZiDBECiSgArxv_p4nB-zraBneJwk4ujo0sQWAhGFyvgVeeHO_efxy3m375zY1W-fDXOK6ohyYCxFeN6Bun1xj_s3eFVrTNnHN__C-CobuXz-pZvsUgKKbMQ847TkC/s4032/IMG_3992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqEtX8OZQyyS3xNzK0kul_7J8n-04WG4UxFrSE2ih2ALv-bpzIGMyc7wCGVOZiDBECiSgArxv_p4nB-zraBneJwk4ujo0sQWAhGFyvgVeeHO_efxy3m375zY1W-fDXOK6ohyYCxFeN6Bun1xj_s3eFVrTNnHN__C-CobuXz-pZvsUgKKbMQ847TkC/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojv4ChdK1E6MI2dtMAfKZSrHukEKc9N0U1Q_WtF8Oaycv1gUth_I6yisGB38zebvOaNTibnB8LqjC9JPOVMycnrV5aH9J1--22VYpiR7YPjO2a2mr5hzwBNMLTcIKlWRjqgrugIcwHb0VL4-SCjFWsq343j6A9VP5RKNHDTkfxWZ7KzsUN_cvDDHq/s4032/IMG_4032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojv4ChdK1E6MI2dtMAfKZSrHukEKc9N0U1Q_WtF8Oaycv1gUth_I6yisGB38zebvOaNTibnB8LqjC9JPOVMycnrV5aH9J1--22VYpiR7YPjO2a2mr5hzwBNMLTcIKlWRjqgrugIcwHb0VL4-SCjFWsq343j6A9VP5RKNHDTkfxWZ7KzsUN_cvDDHq/s320/IMG_4032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQh1W9dCIk7xlITquvj989jOmeXRWImfvYcjIFAHpB4g_PYe1clPw5eK-3kMV4fax95mBkbDT_RkOU5ZBjMglXH4uAzgugX19SmciXL1zPmFa5lc_8_qk0_pINJiszA-GoD1Dy9l-jDWI7TCkexAJIngyP1vFXIeHXm_M0A1yMjlrqeKbn0Yy4Kqd/s3088/IMG_4058.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQh1W9dCIk7xlITquvj989jOmeXRWImfvYcjIFAHpB4g_PYe1clPw5eK-3kMV4fax95mBkbDT_RkOU5ZBjMglXH4uAzgugX19SmciXL1zPmFa5lc_8_qk0_pINJiszA-GoD1Dy9l-jDWI7TCkexAJIngyP1vFXIeHXm_M0A1yMjlrqeKbn0Yy4Kqd/s320/IMG_4058.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDLZBLPvUiAWOO6PfW1a7DKptYh2QzYVIQtZ6uWaPbN5Ozsvt0Qy2ECGsccmaqGVZYrIJuHfOMCuAd8eKmRq2UZ_9bkMtF38pinByAxkPs_1z6vpDt9yPnaux8IgpB35elmwmBVMsqrrQGGi1t1ANEi6dJ4Bzwg3OIK3Ld557E_D-GEEp1ySRl-tt/s3332/IMG_4066.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="3332" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDLZBLPvUiAWOO6PfW1a7DKptYh2QzYVIQtZ6uWaPbN5Ozsvt0Qy2ECGsccmaqGVZYrIJuHfOMCuAd8eKmRq2UZ_9bkMtF38pinByAxkPs_1z6vpDt9yPnaux8IgpB35elmwmBVMsqrrQGGi1t1ANEi6dJ4Bzwg3OIK3Ld557E_D-GEEp1ySRl-tt/s320/IMG_4066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiS66qbcI1ZMVXEIUL3wEumqrnq0pFsjIXHLnHVJAca7H-q3IRZegl6WGULJBc0tUfvd_o8zspuqlEGf0By21huoY2_tQZSRkM4alvEBrcE97fb4LVMtrMaMcyi7q6WmJYytjy0dZC3k0V8aRmmqoVnOtY_Nn8-OAOegyyl91VHpu7JX3uth5MMpB/s4032/IMG_4071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiS66qbcI1ZMVXEIUL3wEumqrnq0pFsjIXHLnHVJAca7H-q3IRZegl6WGULJBc0tUfvd_o8zspuqlEGf0By21huoY2_tQZSRkM4alvEBrcE97fb4LVMtrMaMcyi7q6WmJYytjy0dZC3k0V8aRmmqoVnOtY_Nn8-OAOegyyl91VHpu7JX3uth5MMpB/s320/IMG_4071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX4R9CayS8fMuKjliCTH3IppwGsCEbPDdv78sh80594bqJwaKeW4ID5WFBzD1KOS4jiJ2RmA3dzrnokKSlmvExKVjKviVxfQep0FQ_E7hn5ihhbess1UAdfbsp-8cfRoTEUxYutx8VtctEHjMurGt7pgUFRWiBX6qCjq6v9bCwvXAdX4QNCEaqmvm/s4032/IMG_4082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX4R9CayS8fMuKjliCTH3IppwGsCEbPDdv78sh80594bqJwaKeW4ID5WFBzD1KOS4jiJ2RmA3dzrnokKSlmvExKVjKviVxfQep0FQ_E7hn5ihhbess1UAdfbsp-8cfRoTEUxYutx8VtctEHjMurGt7pgUFRWiBX6qCjq6v9bCwvXAdX4QNCEaqmvm/s320/IMG_4082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe5JQr4LwGvYxM-WYzGgai3T_-b5uwWZeFoW1BCaTSs7e5biEbqoGRNZwF-HPXTxHUHiuC7ijryCz2he782ViCpFNlg7GgSDgnO96aC_uQZxNecnE7fNBBXojY8GDcLFPNfAM8W7fs-uL9AfjVo8HZIJW_LXzf-dwbq5ex7tSmytyZnSUn3KtjBVL/s820/IMG_4088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe5JQr4LwGvYxM-WYzGgai3T_-b5uwWZeFoW1BCaTSs7e5biEbqoGRNZwF-HPXTxHUHiuC7ijryCz2he782ViCpFNlg7GgSDgnO96aC_uQZxNecnE7fNBBXojY8GDcLFPNfAM8W7fs-uL9AfjVo8HZIJW_LXzf-dwbq5ex7tSmytyZnSUn3KtjBVL/s320/IMG_4088.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4O5p4nCYKkLepvkGtamh4zyxZ9IYVHlfh3G7e1a7MVdrhD3oruC1QfZCoLsNcRCA5TnHMsKtmsqoxVP8jxs0kL-d5HBwes_kD1ZheLSTDWbQUy2dvRO7UzFriTDocG7Ajj8sS3i-EDx2XK1yI1XsMn61IVZcpGWEmdwekdS-WUOfcbYBmW5KaYuW/s4032/IMG_4093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4O5p4nCYKkLepvkGtamh4zyxZ9IYVHlfh3G7e1a7MVdrhD3oruC1QfZCoLsNcRCA5TnHMsKtmsqoxVP8jxs0kL-d5HBwes_kD1ZheLSTDWbQUy2dvRO7UzFriTDocG7Ajj8sS3i-EDx2XK1yI1XsMn61IVZcpGWEmdwekdS-WUOfcbYBmW5KaYuW/s320/IMG_4093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNgKx566O2l8kK-zkd5gMgBEmzVW7t9AS21EOunzsyUfKi1E_nxyj6KxubkLFMlLTtzhTm2Dd6Dg_cCjsZiMy69nmlADEEhed67aThRR826Hf5OYx634LSz3rp3qlQByKy1JOA3t1oW96ybOugWsd7U3uwgPUZfcD-1bzjzhnDRunECV9E4iHNBHv/s820/IMG_4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNgKx566O2l8kK-zkd5gMgBEmzVW7t9AS21EOunzsyUfKi1E_nxyj6KxubkLFMlLTtzhTm2Dd6Dg_cCjsZiMy69nmlADEEhed67aThRR826Hf5OYx634LSz3rp3qlQByKy1JOA3t1oW96ybOugWsd7U3uwgPUZfcD-1bzjzhnDRunECV9E4iHNBHv/s320/IMG_4103.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EFgUwVHgF7v04qGLhjHSXHDjx8wHff1ra-vnhNn8ugJYWBjDbo8Nqn2uCUphJyaUrhyUERqlTw2Pab8H_LjbL-v64N9QVSQnNUIyY4cTuQKjgnO1NT59-rcm6QN3Bc0I2OGG-Sl7TMDBuWg7-dGKT460vZC8fiZUChULmiySuL9ZkTgWLpggzeK/s820/IMG_4116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EFgUwVHgF7v04qGLhjHSXHDjx8wHff1ra-vnhNn8ugJYWBjDbo8Nqn2uCUphJyaUrhyUERqlTw2Pab8H_LjbL-v64N9QVSQnNUIyY4cTuQKjgnO1NT59-rcm6QN3Bc0I2OGG-Sl7TMDBuWg7-dGKT460vZC8fiZUChULmiySuL9ZkTgWLpggzeK/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1G97Ou1TIenlm2jO8rZi-cKcL7urxkD-tQcQLivThrHK-p80SZPrEF3Az7LPiYc4AONtj49muQgBKMD0PkKPHv49gja_T9ThxN6p58X_IMRNrb2XSrWe8Q_UmXJ1ixXCwHKMyYzG0nth8WsgDeWQi9uhFFAbJWUcJBpHJqzBbXEwBYTLjNTtHE2Z/s820/IMG_4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1G97Ou1TIenlm2jO8rZi-cKcL7urxkD-tQcQLivThrHK-p80SZPrEF3Az7LPiYc4AONtj49muQgBKMD0PkKPHv49gja_T9ThxN6p58X_IMRNrb2XSrWe8Q_UmXJ1ixXCwHKMyYzG0nth8WsgDeWQi9uhFFAbJWUcJBpHJqzBbXEwBYTLjNTtHE2Z/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-47672035125447885212023-05-15T22:00:00.002-04:002023-05-27T13:10:06.155-04:00May 2023 (the First Half!) in Review<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wells Fargo PGA Championship </h2><p>Last week, Thomas and Joseph had the very special experience of attending the Wells Fargo PGA championship at Quail Hollow. First Tee, where Thomas takes golf lessons, took all their students (plus a parent) on a big, fancy bus to the tournament to meet a few pros and watch the happenings--and for free!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp02tBgG1ChPRnW8sNNM2StomkU5M3JieWuXtV6dezMyvYB86N8rfxTKNkiWqMrMM_W-EEUdqZyMrmkj9nygVhf6ZFElorJDlj2En4_bSOaHSKD_VjANHvx821hJUQpidt9I_WQ9bXpC1HDbfv9KjumGy4kbWwOIS4lTizVk6HjdHupYDDSsLBRuE/s820/IMG_3635.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp02tBgG1ChPRnW8sNNM2StomkU5M3JieWuXtV6dezMyvYB86N8rfxTKNkiWqMrMM_W-EEUdqZyMrmkj9nygVhf6ZFElorJDlj2En4_bSOaHSKD_VjANHvx821hJUQpidt9I_WQ9bXpC1HDbfv9KjumGy4kbWwOIS4lTizVk6HjdHupYDDSsLBRuE/s320/IMG_3635.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGofmEntNp3zTe7urUd3_RM3u1l2qJnaKFV-F-WZGDNHlo0nMh7MiFkYVDPHSQvUM9jhpxbhh-H0nnWMaIpDqnBYKPaPzgjgPcuhCZ0QlIs4v9uvLmKtOsX4qhtWCLh5I8HnEx9YoMCFzqP_1YzhJmX6iI03mUa43RcSKrkS_RbqvNP2Qy9kCni1nw/s820/345197833_697505438810804_5993573878139693811_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGofmEntNp3zTe7urUd3_RM3u1l2qJnaKFV-F-WZGDNHlo0nMh7MiFkYVDPHSQvUM9jhpxbhh-H0nnWMaIpDqnBYKPaPzgjgPcuhCZ0QlIs4v9uvLmKtOsX4qhtWCLh5I8HnEx9YoMCFzqP_1YzhJmX6iI03mUa43RcSKrkS_RbqvNP2Qy9kCni1nw/s320/345197833_697505438810804_5993573878139693811_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0R0tWHM9w2HSe-FieRb6hPS3KLZ3Fnhac0W5z00tvOKLxijpG2p_FZm9CaIax4pPNT1GRklbK3dd_tUyhTElocoW55i0vJDseLaNW6bQZtZ26aYuGF6tsJKq2yMcZs-j_LuXcmB-dUkHIQg0QNKuq6CsN4X-MjJPQRPnQSKpDxlLeWX0AlvPJkB7/s820/344805222_6376618745735460_206317358938229197_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0R0tWHM9w2HSe-FieRb6hPS3KLZ3Fnhac0W5z00tvOKLxijpG2p_FZm9CaIax4pPNT1GRklbK3dd_tUyhTElocoW55i0vJDseLaNW6bQZtZ26aYuGF6tsJKq2yMcZs-j_LuXcmB-dUkHIQg0QNKuq6CsN4X-MjJPQRPnQSKpDxlLeWX0AlvPJkB7/s320/344805222_6376618745735460_206317358938229197_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxnawDKrGKgG3ibgKe-0sQl6JVxPmm6qsCsDtuoBYXrNHy_EAFW-qR1kut15VaxzudAXEZiM3hkvLby-7qYnZKriHA9joOJHDjOeDbyEXY-LUQNdfV_aegmESyMm26w85B-hJmuU6vgShXgT71ZRS_1l5RsmHDjgrTpxrjbEbXDj8pW0uT6AQo5-C/s1094/345043650_1180646665927363_7175527510045971709_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxnawDKrGKgG3ibgKe-0sQl6JVxPmm6qsCsDtuoBYXrNHy_EAFW-qR1kut15VaxzudAXEZiM3hkvLby-7qYnZKriHA9joOJHDjOeDbyEXY-LUQNdfV_aegmESyMm26w85B-hJmuU6vgShXgT71ZRS_1l5RsmHDjgrTpxrjbEbXDj8pW0uT6AQo5-C/s320/345043650_1180646665927363_7175527510045971709_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Our Sweet Dogs</h2><div>The doggos have a pretty good life.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj-PO64kB6CKakx8cqXiiXV85WJ7k-jFtZyuGlbv5s5OcQbC6eeZ5-mJDGs4j7niTP_EUfIqaV1Un-n2aVBdwOUiSaUMBk7lbIvxuJEnaVEexKoP2sfNb-oDqTTjPABTw1HSd32IuwoU2ZByAbdMwHY5K0HV3YOZ1imA-CarXH6jrGFrpcqO3XAgA/s1094/IMG_3631.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj-PO64kB6CKakx8cqXiiXV85WJ7k-jFtZyuGlbv5s5OcQbC6eeZ5-mJDGs4j7niTP_EUfIqaV1Un-n2aVBdwOUiSaUMBk7lbIvxuJEnaVEexKoP2sfNb-oDqTTjPABTw1HSd32IuwoU2ZByAbdMwHY5K0HV3YOZ1imA-CarXH6jrGFrpcqO3XAgA/s320/IMG_3631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi884fnFBs3rqiYZYObLl7EDgzOq3ngcEl6rrCaDoDsW7sqfMTZRrAjOoIN_5BIhYANDo04w6HqBJlbZCHzogmliK5CXo8orPXw_sMUyJtI3PFsVVaSaI7el5MIah4JPDeV3roemi6Ypu5BPmixyEIxVZPEahi27bv68NKwMLyC4unKkK2p3Zjj-KRC/s893/IMG_3643%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi884fnFBs3rqiYZYObLl7EDgzOq3ngcEl6rrCaDoDsW7sqfMTZRrAjOoIN_5BIhYANDo04w6HqBJlbZCHzogmliK5CXo8orPXw_sMUyJtI3PFsVVaSaI7el5MIah4JPDeV3roemi6Ypu5BPmixyEIxVZPEahi27bv68NKwMLyC4unKkK2p3Zjj-KRC/s320/IMG_3643%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaBfxc8RAOoFnXX1XEOL-ZFLGhhnNzYZ-z-6dWbsUhYK_k1ArLKE3q8F_4bHPLItzDxXL1piWVfdNWEfl9b-3q6z-_LjENLbqkDev_dYLbSsbOdNc6qn4SUyrstPMEgs0MyuHOzqbWQm7Z6ECNbjFaBmPO0sqX_TCmJfLwmmZQGzPpizY1IKHlLRN/s820/IMG_3659%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaBfxc8RAOoFnXX1XEOL-ZFLGhhnNzYZ-z-6dWbsUhYK_k1ArLKE3q8F_4bHPLItzDxXL1piWVfdNWEfl9b-3q6z-_LjENLbqkDev_dYLbSsbOdNc6qn4SUyrstPMEgs0MyuHOzqbWQm7Z6ECNbjFaBmPO0sqX_TCmJfLwmmZQGzPpizY1IKHlLRN/s320/IMG_3659%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSlKn-4MnThYOwL7saO3a3sn6VrKc5OcYMBziY9JH7L3-y-OJT_UfaUGPp254Zt2cemm_sVFyuMZSnZO9zuLReuL9mJCCXyf7xqoajcU6lrSqBwlhEFoYr29I6uV6NINM0Ykbg_s-mqurQxT9gG9P8suY7n1k5xaRheJfwZStLblNRprtm83I4WE-/s820/IMG_3667%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSlKn-4MnThYOwL7saO3a3sn6VrKc5OcYMBziY9JH7L3-y-OJT_UfaUGPp254Zt2cemm_sVFyuMZSnZO9zuLReuL9mJCCXyf7xqoajcU6lrSqBwlhEFoYr29I6uV6NINM0Ykbg_s-mqurQxT9gG9P8suY7n1k5xaRheJfwZStLblNRprtm83I4WE-/s320/IMG_3667%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">A Housecleaning Redux</h2><div><br /></div><div>A new generation of siblings learning how to do cleaning chores with Mama! I've recently revamped things around here and all the kids on my cleaning schedule, each one having chores specific to the day.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Thursdays: clean all the downstairs rooms (vacuuming, mopping, kitchen)</li><li>Fridays: clean all the bathrooms, garage, and cars</li><li>Saturdays: mowing, landscaping, outdoors</li><li>Mondays: pick up and vacuum all the bedrooms</li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL6qcVWhDSB1uGMoCt3She1j8UJWlgNXVcolcHV0B2f0y-GKvPUNZ8_Q4krKrHLu5BDx8idiMN4XXnCDXl0jEShvNU1xIeyaFwk5sLJ9iQpHBHKK3eH97XMb6FSXJEQdIIMigKha5l-4CE7f6RqD8Q1v3jpj9MjG6ajkApdg11i6C-_KqsVC62U9T/s820/IMG_3658.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL6qcVWhDSB1uGMoCt3She1j8UJWlgNXVcolcHV0B2f0y-GKvPUNZ8_Q4krKrHLu5BDx8idiMN4XXnCDXl0jEShvNU1xIeyaFwk5sLJ9iQpHBHKK3eH97XMb6FSXJEQdIIMigKha5l-4CE7f6RqD8Q1v3jpj9MjG6ajkApdg11i6C-_KqsVC62U9T/s320/IMG_3658.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Backyard Fun</h2><div>The boys have been spending a tremendous amount of time outdoors lately, surely because of this gorgeous weather. One of them remarked to me today, "I never noticed before how much fun out backyard is!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6i0TGwUa69ljIzcORpwI5ZyY5OZ8ItdQvjY5W4ifnSePT4mrMshTWVqZU9F9eG0mvef-GLmqYEYwOG8WhGlpaHxkbCG5kJn1xzqzstGZFYt1b4gdBPIUKliCvM3l14ZSBkLwwYlalZ_IKyh7CVvspuYktRrcWWN9h38swxaeMXkVypO7Zqo7eiKJ/s1094/IMG_3647%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6i0TGwUa69ljIzcORpwI5ZyY5OZ8ItdQvjY5W4ifnSePT4mrMshTWVqZU9F9eG0mvef-GLmqYEYwOG8WhGlpaHxkbCG5kJn1xzqzstGZFYt1b4gdBPIUKliCvM3l14ZSBkLwwYlalZ_IKyh7CVvspuYktRrcWWN9h38swxaeMXkVypO7Zqo7eiKJ/s320/IMG_3647%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEs7_lEkbxRyYp5ieuJuLXa94Hc-fJ2KRDx1VHgb3QEcVUt3LEQL5FjtVeD7Urg0WiGOsuZsYkmQXwiuXoQaIaiTOd6SkbAEp1jVSKUFOrBOme7cyoRH1o9xUb3K6GvKrwZf-dhceiRJ9vq5LLYjjhyORk95T0VIueIljStBIFUR_7I_-0MrA-KNc/s820/IMG_3670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEs7_lEkbxRyYp5ieuJuLXa94Hc-fJ2KRDx1VHgb3QEcVUt3LEQL5FjtVeD7Urg0WiGOsuZsYkmQXwiuXoQaIaiTOd6SkbAEp1jVSKUFOrBOme7cyoRH1o9xUb3K6GvKrwZf-dhceiRJ9vq5LLYjjhyORk95T0VIueIljStBIFUR_7I_-0MrA-KNc/s320/IMG_3670.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACW4qe8gbJeWbnlQ2iyTpJK74ivMNa4waCXy73OlHIf2PgviP1DtEm_wSsb0jUvmiQxoacOOnnMjUyRbVUWiyTJ5dLx8Y_n-HMh9LZNLX9LevY5QqzJpUZGNsyfHikcf4D68uhvV3arHhFA--xiEB8Lis8nGDaHbJdKa32bAcesL4267LQfD6Jpby/s820/IMG_3676%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACW4qe8gbJeWbnlQ2iyTpJK74ivMNa4waCXy73OlHIf2PgviP1DtEm_wSsb0jUvmiQxoacOOnnMjUyRbVUWiyTJ5dLx8Y_n-HMh9LZNLX9LevY5QqzJpUZGNsyfHikcf4D68uhvV3arHhFA--xiEB8Lis8nGDaHbJdKa32bAcesL4267LQfD6Jpby/s320/IMG_3676%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIRrAu-xDFxVQdMSyqlvUM0zqlbZXCGSkIr4yAOQ6hFMWasT5YCFEHBdOKbfbIxWJ2JdcPsrITbRHU3YvveJjd34hGdQDZMDH91QswwrpFwd2SxbOWzuRBP2-570dk04tfva3VsxwwcDm5kgziGP3Ltj5D_G4WCM71HIkKDwMthpDWT7kKGrD1f4i/s820/IMG_3680%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIRrAu-xDFxVQdMSyqlvUM0zqlbZXCGSkIr4yAOQ6hFMWasT5YCFEHBdOKbfbIxWJ2JdcPsrITbRHU3YvveJjd34hGdQDZMDH91QswwrpFwd2SxbOWzuRBP2-570dk04tfva3VsxwwcDm5kgziGP3Ltj5D_G4WCM71HIkKDwMthpDWT7kKGrD1f4i/s320/IMG_3680%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bilocation Failures</h2><div>I have found it mighty hard to bilocate lately, so little elementary age homeschooling has been achieved for the last weeks. The boys have learned about independence, watering the garden, physical education (playing outdoors!), making their own snacks, and social interactions (playing with neighborhood boys in the cul-de-sac). This past week, I took Thomas to three specialist appointments on three separate days, and the prior week I took Thomas and two other siblings to doctors' appointments on three separate days, too. I can't teach if I'm not even home, and this particular month what little time I am home needs to go toward my oldest three who are finishing up so many big projects and studying for final exams for their homeschool courses. My "abandoning" the elementary kids makes me feel pretty terrible about myself. But, such is life: they're all my duties, I can't do them all simultaneously, so I just put one foot in front of the other. On the bright side, Thomas got some really good information from doctors this week! We have improved some areas of his health through diligent treatments over the last six months, and I breathe a big sigh of relief to know that we are able to help him instead of having heard that those problems were getting even worse.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAXeVNZZ_zzuSz7b37u-uZkxGRB35czWtmxyj2OSuQ2AJlIWs105Gn2bETuSqwSynKQtCmYrAzeAFaevWOe8jWebS0yH31PBlq7rF7mjtJ_Kj0KrW9zIilcjs8AxtT-_gd_E2whAjAegXEtw74ldO1b9DqyJ7FC2T7RwObWgUHJ0smF_SCSzK4_Ej/s820/IMG_3624.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAXeVNZZ_zzuSz7b37u-uZkxGRB35czWtmxyj2OSuQ2AJlIWs105Gn2bETuSqwSynKQtCmYrAzeAFaevWOe8jWebS0yH31PBlq7rF7mjtJ_Kj0KrW9zIilcjs8AxtT-_gd_E2whAjAegXEtw74ldO1b9DqyJ7FC2T7RwObWgUHJ0smF_SCSzK4_Ej/s320/IMG_3624.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaSoYrI44XzPsCBvBiGGpixNzx-_RFzi0v4Kd0JBKCRUZLRgQv-hLe1y-I-87Uq34n12NZqWNCEnd5YsDfLele6CFIwiaZ29plEKAIpwQy5-rKyyGz7YGQoRuKwp3wYJYN7RhB2BvZwzlGQqYgQMU1y1W4CcAKStBD4OBifYT3EOPViJGJ0oixO2s/s820/IMG_3626.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaSoYrI44XzPsCBvBiGGpixNzx-_RFzi0v4Kd0JBKCRUZLRgQv-hLe1y-I-87Uq34n12NZqWNCEnd5YsDfLele6CFIwiaZ29plEKAIpwQy5-rKyyGz7YGQoRuKwp3wYJYN7RhB2BvZwzlGQqYgQMU1y1W4CcAKStBD4OBifYT3EOPViJGJ0oixO2s/s320/IMG_3626.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">End of Spring Golf</h2><div>And that’s a wrap on Thomas’s first season with First Tee! We hope to resume in the fall and enroll more of our kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoujaNs-iTz7BNly_pQkYOPR32JkZYqMD35zt2z9-meAlGzPI9qbKm3P9LEQawoziAtUSavMHDHIs8vCMzpDKA_x3RdyNZjaWTvZ9_oMuo32uZRxrc1y6-KoZWRBKGZBhYjLyVlh7WI8ETUvXGg3xLVI9qwUVaRQgk1Do4F8fhs8bCauTMgvE6h5W/s1094/IMG_3730.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoujaNs-iTz7BNly_pQkYOPR32JkZYqMD35zt2z9-meAlGzPI9qbKm3P9LEQawoziAtUSavMHDHIs8vCMzpDKA_x3RdyNZjaWTvZ9_oMuo32uZRxrc1y6-KoZWRBKGZBhYjLyVlh7WI8ETUvXGg3xLVI9qwUVaRQgk1Do4F8fhs8bCauTMgvE6h5W/s320/IMG_3730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Many Snakes</h2><div>The kids caught a great rat snake today. Made him famous with pictures and set him free again.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTYkFIcHwMG-Ys-AWagppVPaLd3MRPVSM2BN27OFjAaWU86d-RtPAhNWn8bzm97vC3NbSNFB90dao9EkJ-adZIkNanKNcvk80UuqZvS6tssZhME_8qWMb5V1kGqdb0ubBuuEEaYgMwei926DMOKA972_xjSbenUJsdLYyXr8mHZV80q5LUE-XK-XU/s820/IMG_3714.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTYkFIcHwMG-Ys-AWagppVPaLd3MRPVSM2BN27OFjAaWU86d-RtPAhNWn8bzm97vC3NbSNFB90dao9EkJ-adZIkNanKNcvk80UuqZvS6tssZhME_8qWMb5V1kGqdb0ubBuuEEaYgMwei926DMOKA972_xjSbenUJsdLYyXr8mHZV80q5LUE-XK-XU/s320/IMG_3714.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpIV3fKB7W8rjj5ZhXXLyXAjmdtLOECwoSoYBMBFhkpgSbKMCdxlalqZdNSCfQxj_YkAHwvlt7P2LV9HBdtQyQeO000QErNbxx8wxmNFupGtxf8tk6ntU6a15DjThSMGClBIXvKlwDlXYopykDcUi0Mk0v-rrJja0QupW7ZWO2z4b14_H8C5vQd3W/s820/IMG_3718.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpIV3fKB7W8rjj5ZhXXLyXAjmdtLOECwoSoYBMBFhkpgSbKMCdxlalqZdNSCfQxj_YkAHwvlt7P2LV9HBdtQyQeO000QErNbxx8wxmNFupGtxf8tk6ntU6a15DjThSMGClBIXvKlwDlXYopykDcUi0Mk0v-rrJja0QupW7ZWO2z4b14_H8C5vQd3W/s320/IMG_3718.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Coin Collection</h2><div>Joseph being introduced to my grandfather’s international coin collection</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V60_A7MzWhTgCQbw4Izc3Zn2qNN7J2LPyTjnJqKmu8W9_HzrAdm6jv-TcTpAxXPnk-p8b4IJy3yj8L-QEaeffSMqiZIKXY88beo_2QZe9JRhlJhUpnPof5jlYyZyvXnFsi6p-50GwvF2mvT9geD_YQjMaymICVaI8LnN7OddFCWqhmRzXthHwKM-/s820/IMG_3695.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V60_A7MzWhTgCQbw4Izc3Zn2qNN7J2LPyTjnJqKmu8W9_HzrAdm6jv-TcTpAxXPnk-p8b4IJy3yj8L-QEaeffSMqiZIKXY88beo_2QZe9JRhlJhUpnPof5jlYyZyvXnFsi6p-50GwvF2mvT9geD_YQjMaymICVaI8LnN7OddFCWqhmRzXthHwKM-/s320/IMG_3695.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Pool is Open</h2><div>And just like that, our pool is open for the season. I always want to open the pool with all the towels, toys, and life jackets organized—and perhaps a fun cookout. Instead the kids always open the pool unceremoniously insisting they go in one evening when the water is still too chilly.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZIKQjjTRPY7sdjK-OTKcaevYOTWjd7kppqXgo1FAPSMKtODUsCoUi7i8yf-RUw7VBsAmlHX8-KcILYuIoexIiIwrOSiuTzOAl3E8q_gKWxBPTVsIL16zlaV6ZSuaic3_xcy6c1okqbDnkKoueMkWc82klD9OInf2XL1jHARMuOtl1nJ4RlG0fpAB/s820/IMG_3734.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZIKQjjTRPY7sdjK-OTKcaevYOTWjd7kppqXgo1FAPSMKtODUsCoUi7i8yf-RUw7VBsAmlHX8-KcILYuIoexIiIwrOSiuTzOAl3E8q_gKWxBPTVsIL16zlaV6ZSuaic3_xcy6c1okqbDnkKoueMkWc82klD9OInf2XL1jHARMuOtl1nJ4RlG0fpAB/s320/IMG_3734.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD5ynQt9m66Gmd_EpdETRq573qV7Xl50A-EfpmDY7fZTl7y8Gmcfmg9zkIQqWyQ3MeWwrynXopLN1Za42LriiPk5jw61dCLDw6KpRm2d9lkVzCoxNCETI1tXSHA3c0vM2mm-tN8ZypxjdHn8sguBlWvaORMJx5Rnuzo38aU1g87rdYG7GxePT6OQF/s1094/IMG_3736.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD5ynQt9m66Gmd_EpdETRq573qV7Xl50A-EfpmDY7fZTl7y8Gmcfmg9zkIQqWyQ3MeWwrynXopLN1Za42LriiPk5jw61dCLDw6KpRm2d9lkVzCoxNCETI1tXSHA3c0vM2mm-tN8ZypxjdHn8sguBlWvaORMJx5Rnuzo38aU1g87rdYG7GxePT6OQF/s320/IMG_3736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">May 2023 Honor Flight to DC</h2><div>Yesterday was such a special and well-deserved day for my father-in-law when his two sons accompanied him on a military Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.!</div><div><br /></div><div>https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP3rSYxeogZqMlzV6sY4UZosTgZjqErR5Jna4VtcanQm6Nz_bxQAmdsfsr7kis8tA?pli=1&key=LVlUcFlZbnRZNnZQUFNXYkJYeGN0NGktaVZRVEtn</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Ice Cream Truck--Likely Our Only One for the Summer!</h2><div>We enjoyed visiting an ice cream truck at a nearby playground this afternoon—evidence of our schedule transforming into the slower summer routine. Let me tell you, I’ve cream trucks no longer sell their novelties for a quarter like when I grew up!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRHXZ0Ws7H1Cvj94Y2rVk4B31jtiuHkKgS-wHe_1jssoDw026LXYnGnvjUwgqIXSNjI9Z96Hb49tBm_HujA8GbCtR-lEbaB86bH6ZzSIlY5Ukdt1VGRHiv0vycsywenf9rbTqhzOVPszbRPNC2OFxUdhJFgUgUTmqY-J3oSUGqhcC8_mLIszQNtEw/s1094/IMG_3751.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRHXZ0Ws7H1Cvj94Y2rVk4B31jtiuHkKgS-wHe_1jssoDw026LXYnGnvjUwgqIXSNjI9Z96Hb49tBm_HujA8GbCtR-lEbaB86bH6ZzSIlY5Ukdt1VGRHiv0vycsywenf9rbTqhzOVPszbRPNC2OFxUdhJFgUgUTmqY-J3oSUGqhcC8_mLIszQNtEw/s320/IMG_3751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2HLBJHryHlPiTKHeZ_q500eY-ub4oXJIxb4q9o84eAwAIqe2fi4Twvt9ARPDtV5D4dgEbIzAGSa6coVJrjFAt4XNZ7zdkzAsUStjHLmTRjTivVIOH64AsTlrge18ae3qYKpNc5SAeqlaverX9uFh9fPv5HV7lM6KBrpTSVevWEQB9ug7zuCFWTsc/s302/IMG_3754.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="302" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2HLBJHryHlPiTKHeZ_q500eY-ub4oXJIxb4q9o84eAwAIqe2fi4Twvt9ARPDtV5D4dgEbIzAGSa6coVJrjFAt4XNZ7zdkzAsUStjHLmTRjTivVIOH64AsTlrge18ae3qYKpNc5SAeqlaverX9uFh9fPv5HV7lM6KBrpTSVevWEQB9ug7zuCFWTsc/s1600/IMG_3754.JPG" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Baby Bunny</h2><div>You never know what adventures await a mama each day. On Friday, Joseph found an injured baby bunny in the road (on the cement). When we could not find its nest—mama rabbits only check on them a couple times a day and nurse them for 5 minutes total each day—we called three wildlife rehab folks. Despite my kids very much wanting to raise the bunny, I ended up driving the cutie to a rehab place at night.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6qjiDwhjj6neY5JI11mn9zP8tzaEfIrMCpx0FLvMYPlYU4aLmjukQpYpzOaVCLAHtUT2Zs2iHIT8pdjfj5MMdiUCzRJAECiR3_S7-oeVRZeVgaWo4M8Vu8lTJx5EOGMY1AOiNoS_vod3zvRlID62al9Jy0X8DeFKE29E8gnsdypISdRNBKf6mBZh/s1094/IMG_5410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6qjiDwhjj6neY5JI11mn9zP8tzaEfIrMCpx0FLvMYPlYU4aLmjukQpYpzOaVCLAHtUT2Zs2iHIT8pdjfj5MMdiUCzRJAECiR3_S7-oeVRZeVgaWo4M8Vu8lTJx5EOGMY1AOiNoS_vod3zvRlID62al9Jy0X8DeFKE29E8gnsdypISdRNBKf6mBZh/s320/IMG_5410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Laying Mulch</h2><div>Even cute 5-year-old David was finding ways to help us spread pine nuggets today!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_hGvYm69kPBHg8BsaWEgvJjbNbFFgwWz8xYH87-zA-C3y0_oFs4r7_OMDuUcyO2V8KSp2wYhDuzxk2x_lGnAb5d2SdPEri3b8igI7BJB7nbOQ0pcaMt-pr-WKlilt80JeNvkWDr84tSTREfFI0Qyjm_0Cj4Ms-b9GzzSdw3DoVJuo3Noj3eGyLS/s3672/IMG_0669.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="2066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_hGvYm69kPBHg8BsaWEgvJjbNbFFgwWz8xYH87-zA-C3y0_oFs4r7_OMDuUcyO2V8KSp2wYhDuzxk2x_lGnAb5d2SdPEri3b8igI7BJB7nbOQ0pcaMt-pr-WKlilt80JeNvkWDr84tSTREfFI0Qyjm_0Cj4Ms-b9GzzSdw3DoVJuo3Noj3eGyLS/s320/IMG_0669.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Homeschool Formal Prom</h2><div>Last Friday, I was chaperone at the homeschoolers' high-school formal dance and it was so neat to witness these young people dressed in a beautiful, classy way, listening to decent music, dancing enthusiastically (real, called dances), and interacting with each other in a joy-filled, respectful manner. I am so grateful to the two mothers who organized and the woman who called the dance . . . all of whom were eight months pregnant!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ByEk6bC-jraj8f4PNMU_zZi3uaN_mzoRnjZMUxMBewJ6B6FiJNonSK18jrh_ZXjwEjw02n28TLltfQGdhic33bWNdLVCR2sKI3SMOFdVnuDhmCY0jcGpLp2ewyG8Fkz-TomDLWyhZlBHJbbFrdDjkoB6xDZK0F5SpZuYp2lD0qydO49PeQVtLvb_/s820/IMG_3795.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ByEk6bC-jraj8f4PNMU_zZi3uaN_mzoRnjZMUxMBewJ6B6FiJNonSK18jrh_ZXjwEjw02n28TLltfQGdhic33bWNdLVCR2sKI3SMOFdVnuDhmCY0jcGpLp2ewyG8Fkz-TomDLWyhZlBHJbbFrdDjkoB6xDZK0F5SpZuYp2lD0qydO49PeQVtLvb_/s320/IMG_3795.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlw92w8OUc_QdPK6fgaohE2u0butI8OU6luwSwq6x2HR2B92LvrayHD5BM4x-g3Dca8AfYY0Tlr1nyZCCRrAZXiydl1wILUfOznMMSak8elAla26MiQCmsIylDdzVFzM75SFamXruQtLSl0wNagwVoP59rhRAtfIItjsH9riud8C1LEMHUCTqKV3m/s1094/IMG_3797.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlw92w8OUc_QdPK6fgaohE2u0butI8OU6luwSwq6x2HR2B92LvrayHD5BM4x-g3Dca8AfYY0Tlr1nyZCCRrAZXiydl1wILUfOznMMSak8elAla26MiQCmsIylDdzVFzM75SFamXruQtLSl0wNagwVoP59rhRAtfIItjsH9riud8C1LEMHUCTqKV3m/s320/IMG_3797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG26GWR65ua8gRm30q0uyNBUUpLmmrMRTL60LhiVQHMAlr4P7JWu6TSX2ysPa76vkxbk31RW7ZyeiJTQ7fYmRqfhxDyczdqlh6z3Jz4L1JIHIwIFsTqMWEqJ_LoHsbrgaAOnbQwodir8WeBi1QYn4a49Ddhb5bWPaGqzU9WuEyl1M4ZaIsOXBzuPV_/s820/IMG_4402%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG26GWR65ua8gRm30q0uyNBUUpLmmrMRTL60LhiVQHMAlr4P7JWu6TSX2ysPa76vkxbk31RW7ZyeiJTQ7fYmRqfhxDyczdqlh6z3Jz4L1JIHIwIFsTqMWEqJ_LoHsbrgaAOnbQwodir8WeBi1QYn4a49Ddhb5bWPaGqzU9WuEyl1M4ZaIsOXBzuPV_/s320/IMG_4402%20(1).jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhLBhFwtVJQyJE-F5Sws1YoH8YIlz0nz1lox8RxMlGqb0Xqq9zy2WyLwx1ISNa3GjpYUB9Fdn_DnvVufyclRVEG8ba1aNKYZ5bC8VjzsljSljJ-0IN4W7uyVDfFSacoYqhXvqxNvbSY5Ve3K7CAP0A_bp3UKwT1sIjOdc8aXUHt1ZRC4FURUIrS5y/s820/IMG_0686.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhLBhFwtVJQyJE-F5Sws1YoH8YIlz0nz1lox8RxMlGqb0Xqq9zy2WyLwx1ISNa3GjpYUB9Fdn_DnvVufyclRVEG8ba1aNKYZ5bC8VjzsljSljJ-0IN4W7uyVDfFSacoYqhXvqxNvbSY5Ve3K7CAP0A_bp3UKwT1sIjOdc8aXUHt1ZRC4FURUIrS5y/s320/IMG_0686.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mother's Day 2023</h2><div>What a lovely Mother’s Day! I was grateful to have Chris here to join us in between back-to-back weeklong trips. One daughter made our family a homemade cake and the other daughter made me a keto mousse, per my wishes. And the whole family gave me strings of solar-powered party lights to decorate my garden for evening enjoyment!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xELVwDiCi-EDBLzzixz-Nh8lrgGdjwAbuL1XIizAzRAyOwRdRtvqaLCZI4l9UrFnhuGwBbmIvIWXhUnOKQv-aLtX_kI-7uhP5Tcdy6XrWuABh4YljEZWuWbs3g1awdk6I8HKrw2BX192Gv8YD6Q9fGBYgg6Lx8Y3K8EnZuni8N6YwAMtzuyN_aop/s4032/IMG_7045%20Mother's%20Day.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xELVwDiCi-EDBLzzixz-Nh8lrgGdjwAbuL1XIizAzRAyOwRdRtvqaLCZI4l9UrFnhuGwBbmIvIWXhUnOKQv-aLtX_kI-7uhP5Tcdy6XrWuABh4YljEZWuWbs3g1awdk6I8HKrw2BX192Gv8YD6Q9fGBYgg6Lx8Y3K8EnZuni8N6YwAMtzuyN_aop/s320/IMG_7045%20Mother's%20Day.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSga_zYQ7hmRCxNvnjqTJAyVGrtWHtV6wpn_aoBKP6Ha1gmLC0GbAeftoM2PBFvw7mc_DFiaQluBVPHiHg9lXbY2enreDsdym-m8YK0rHc5mqcB5irrAAVUhCS_PY8latKnI0Ms4XseZlrXStSxWIjj462i-2jtVH2kBmkDJc-f5sfsH38uVvJ99SE/s820/IMG_3807.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSga_zYQ7hmRCxNvnjqTJAyVGrtWHtV6wpn_aoBKP6Ha1gmLC0GbAeftoM2PBFvw7mc_DFiaQluBVPHiHg9lXbY2enreDsdym-m8YK0rHc5mqcB5irrAAVUhCS_PY8latKnI0Ms4XseZlrXStSxWIjj462i-2jtVH2kBmkDJc-f5sfsH38uVvJ99SE/s320/IMG_3807.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghXZzT69dniJAvgdBnLz335Izon6T1AuAn_2D3i7u2oJy8n0T-BLJq6GPxlTRBsyLusje4c9KAXDFPQ_A1ifgonOwwIt6YLlFoBqt9fEUWEJxarc4i4Rjyasi1tsTdrlbS3fYpwrvGAHlTCtGIOdkMVYi4S9OkBfQEojGtbZR5PRsIjOR3JgouqE3/s1094/IMG_3812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghXZzT69dniJAvgdBnLz335Izon6T1AuAn_2D3i7u2oJy8n0T-BLJq6GPxlTRBsyLusje4c9KAXDFPQ_A1ifgonOwwIt6YLlFoBqt9fEUWEJxarc4i4Rjyasi1tsTdrlbS3fYpwrvGAHlTCtGIOdkMVYi4S9OkBfQEojGtbZR5PRsIjOR3JgouqE3/s320/IMG_3812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-79390093130390637712023-04-30T22:00:00.001-04:002023-05-06T13:51:55.899-04:00April 2023 (the Second Half!) in Review<p> </p><h2>Battling the Cicada Killer</h2><p>Feel free to read on if you want to learn of my triumph in battle with a cicada killer. My California friends have probably never even heard of these beasts!</p><p>Tonight when I returned from Joseph’s hockey practice, I was mystified to discover Margaret and the two little boys sitting on the front porch. I was informed that there was a cicada killer in our kitchen. </p><p>I am not particularly afraid of bees and wasps. My dad was a beekeeper for years when I was growing up. I am forever telling my kids not to be afraid of the plentiful bees and wasps on our property. But cicada killers are different. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqLWZR0vn4-dLVVdCXRNzEYWdTOBSJfwR7tOOlA320daccmmj4_eboXhl403ulic_hnwlUL2kqTKEtC3UAJVGp8udixU61URqF9iqGNQYpBfsmaOFvFPtXcXXKWlhynJY6LWYFeVB3eYKRkxZKgLla0aP8pVScf7mHDgXuCgOAxZqgk8m7OEykpeA/s800/341212036_145817668231532_8601271139528497241_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqLWZR0vn4-dLVVdCXRNzEYWdTOBSJfwR7tOOlA320daccmmj4_eboXhl403ulic_hnwlUL2kqTKEtC3UAJVGp8udixU61URqF9iqGNQYpBfsmaOFvFPtXcXXKWlhynJY6LWYFeVB3eYKRkxZKgLla0aP8pVScf7mHDgXuCgOAxZqgk8m7OEykpeA/s320/341212036_145817668231532_8601271139528497241_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Chris and the two teens were gone, so it was just me standing between my younger children and sure death. (Not death from the cicada killer’s sting, but from our having heart attacks from fright!) Frankly, we would have considered just waiting outside but a rainstorm was coming and Chris would not have arrived home till 10:00 p.m.</p><p>I called my husband. I called my daddy—because 46 years old is not too old to need help with bugs. I was advised to spray Windex on the invader because that is caustic to bugs but does not damage anything inside our home. </p><p>I began spraying the massive cicada killer and at first, it would just get mad and start flying . . . straight toward me. In response I would scream and run away . . . But not too far because if I lost sight of where the cicada killer flew, then I would be in a load of hurt. </p><p>Spray, scream, run, repeat. </p><p>Ultimately, the cicada killer could not withstand a quarter bottle of Windex. When I saw it was truly weak, I threw John’s Latin textbooks at it. </p><p>Sacrifices had to be made. </p><p>You will note the circled area in the picture: the cicada killer was so large that the heavy book could not lie flat!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS0EDbTKR39C4eoBAXwQ077in5aGq5Stl4XouEAS9LzMY4wJQKaR0Z29FwzUQ8MhJQ9fDVrIS8SvTSaq-HSFvef0kp9jbmjH3PMpL0uejbyLQTU5NOd8i4DrxHvGQ34VGRRZynSAQDdZHKsQfSqoQQPu3ciBmt_Muf1pyWNqLqmFTi-9GCvR1DmKz/s2048/336655477_735999271601578_6195695415746488353_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS0EDbTKR39C4eoBAXwQ077in5aGq5Stl4XouEAS9LzMY4wJQKaR0Z29FwzUQ8MhJQ9fDVrIS8SvTSaq-HSFvef0kp9jbmjH3PMpL0uejbyLQTU5NOd8i4DrxHvGQ34VGRRZynSAQDdZHKsQfSqoQQPu3ciBmt_Muf1pyWNqLqmFTi-9GCvR1DmKz/s320/336655477_735999271601578_6195695415746488353_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2>Going on an Adventure</h2><p>This caused enough big feelings for me for the whole day . . .</p><p>Mama’s feelings upon finding this note on the porch from her medically complex 7-year-old!</p><p>Mama’s feelings upon finding him on his Very Big Solo Adventure on the next-door neighbor’s driveway!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgPCHTeCp36s98JLpHcb_LizP0-EdLzz5LvpRZB8GVI-1QfJU6VrLBIONtpmeH0EacSTsK_JFFNcDn8qiKMfyaFVXseF1pYpU5ry7SsNF7w8iuHdjsOc0mcboSIZ4Jl6Tnk3wUX8JKbItl5ceuaVXJzT8aLof_YE_6WS756y0PHDHKwwTwNaAdz0e/s820/IMG_3389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgPCHTeCp36s98JLpHcb_LizP0-EdLzz5LvpRZB8GVI-1QfJU6VrLBIONtpmeH0EacSTsK_JFFNcDn8qiKMfyaFVXseF1pYpU5ry7SsNF7w8iuHdjsOc0mcboSIZ4Jl6Tnk3wUX8JKbItl5ceuaVXJzT8aLof_YE_6WS756y0PHDHKwwTwNaAdz0e/s320/IMG_3389.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2>Planting a Garden</h2><p>We planted some vegetables today! Wish me luck, as it has been years since I’ve attempted to grow a garden and our neighborhood is home to countless deer. The kids and I hope to enjoy garden care as a summer project.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpKzDozYMGK3wkpdaegVvianQgCzbjPMYX8SoR20xKrLkxDjLrEa_6F8GuKAiyoSx38CaN436KK-aoiPJgExTA5oArLh3Icves0jJh2fAwqaEO_gCb5NE558Bk2bzY3Ne1XN0_Ek-uQ8L-8Z3wt-uj9nFf1_MW6k8UxDQFWGvOR3J9XrU0Ly4k6bj/s1094/IMG_3368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpKzDozYMGK3wkpdaegVvianQgCzbjPMYX8SoR20xKrLkxDjLrEa_6F8GuKAiyoSx38CaN436KK-aoiPJgExTA5oArLh3Icves0jJh2fAwqaEO_gCb5NE558Bk2bzY3Ne1XN0_Ek-uQ8L-8Z3wt-uj9nFf1_MW6k8UxDQFWGvOR3J9XrU0Ly4k6bj/s320/IMG_3368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKHohLTR3joto_QJ-cznktaJyNCwYbACHiaiyauntzdL7qJmbDOzY7diDhjP3WIxm0zyqo0IrELoCvTTvpqwVq-CR0Su8sqbkvrSvaYPGqXBLjmcaIB5Nr3U67VQYQZhb2ZgJ9jsVAouFHS3oy2czyBTcOpwOFj3EfplcQ0rQfFkpoDqtwO1Qf3Lt/s820/IMG_3369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKHohLTR3joto_QJ-cznktaJyNCwYbACHiaiyauntzdL7qJmbDOzY7diDhjP3WIxm0zyqo0IrELoCvTTvpqwVq-CR0Su8sqbkvrSvaYPGqXBLjmcaIB5Nr3U67VQYQZhb2ZgJ9jsVAouFHS3oy2czyBTcOpwOFj3EfplcQ0rQfFkpoDqtwO1Qf3Lt/s320/IMG_3369.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmrquc4ijIRsi9u32YmoQGKykwITR5jm6Utl7WF3XByEbkpSR3bDkZF_t8VZEGeRFPiTWSaiG1moQlRiuCfR3rw-eUEbZUyyT_HSFU8XdRT9hy-yhSvnlh9t3XtK9Q_qnWyiIOUEbThcAAlwKunuTr2Mit6yjAw_yodtRIwKvUAJpkTWi-AmYj1le/s820/IMG_3373.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmrquc4ijIRsi9u32YmoQGKykwITR5jm6Utl7WF3XByEbkpSR3bDkZF_t8VZEGeRFPiTWSaiG1moQlRiuCfR3rw-eUEbZUyyT_HSFU8XdRT9hy-yhSvnlh9t3XtK9Q_qnWyiIOUEbThcAAlwKunuTr2Mit6yjAw_yodtRIwKvUAJpkTWi-AmYj1le/s320/IMG_3373.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdkNVlLccQ82RndbBFZnkAasDMn0x-sxUHIdCsp1eh1XlIZcYb5OUlrhl3FVcCOk1FHOY_IP4JdvhhlxjcTl4vJZhVTlZ8UsQ7LyuivaBBD_8LECCfvcnaQcaZyjF53Jj9B80lw1F1EMuHpPBr0lKeKLBK8inYFfuq1YNOUa1uEX--nGixWtXuMbX/s820/IMG_3379.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdkNVlLccQ82RndbBFZnkAasDMn0x-sxUHIdCsp1eh1XlIZcYb5OUlrhl3FVcCOk1FHOY_IP4JdvhhlxjcTl4vJZhVTlZ8UsQ7LyuivaBBD_8LECCfvcnaQcaZyjF53Jj9B80lw1F1EMuHpPBr0lKeKLBK8inYFfuq1YNOUa1uEX--nGixWtXuMbX/s320/IMG_3379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vsgz5isXSu34fmxfJKZ5tGhV35wAdcoHMtVoBfHuu_ElKtezkhQBGGVVIZVB7qQUqKRvbVa1mVYv_gmX3oYWyWnCXc1WyZVamovhvKls0Ug1iHMjyg7kUcU_J8Be5uOYkqhPmB5FNATpI1kNRm8pUQmuWIOh57ybU3ErQS0R0puUVv04B0pRjVGN/s1094/IMG_3380.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vsgz5isXSu34fmxfJKZ5tGhV35wAdcoHMtVoBfHuu_ElKtezkhQBGGVVIZVB7qQUqKRvbVa1mVYv_gmX3oYWyWnCXc1WyZVamovhvKls0Ug1iHMjyg7kUcU_J8Be5uOYkqhPmB5FNATpI1kNRm8pUQmuWIOh57ybU3ErQS0R0puUVv04B0pRjVGN/s320/IMG_3380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEyGKofRajMD2fHj1WREE879eWkCq3RKAXNaCPSOWl_qW1iKScqqZAJxR842njlNGqmICH7j2VvgGCNk3dwQVeQqnNmnyhaJjw9WLEAHV4-rSsb1MuuXf3k7nkggIN_hvJpz099St37G9GHgISx51Q4rLgDMjvd89lrzIGqycn9x4RTrVYQDS3gUb/s820/IMG_3381.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEyGKofRajMD2fHj1WREE879eWkCq3RKAXNaCPSOWl_qW1iKScqqZAJxR842njlNGqmICH7j2VvgGCNk3dwQVeQqnNmnyhaJjw9WLEAHV4-rSsb1MuuXf3k7nkggIN_hvJpz099St37G9GHgISx51Q4rLgDMjvd89lrzIGqycn9x4RTrVYQDS3gUb/s320/IMG_3381.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNU0LkVocF3pfsaGjIBGJwfK7vXqhNSgLRvfRHjqGiPcEcVSjvvGeOqhVRMSjiN_YCrnCbShKQzJ6eBPFTwAF_PNAQnb1uhTqANVWjaeStfo0LYt9O9yNMzz-FL0B6nHWArqgBiG1_zx0LFFGGVgc7bhvFt3VKvKYLlZivTDuiHAobRSO5RiYxsAHn/s1094/IMG_3384.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNU0LkVocF3pfsaGjIBGJwfK7vXqhNSgLRvfRHjqGiPcEcVSjvvGeOqhVRMSjiN_YCrnCbShKQzJ6eBPFTwAF_PNAQnb1uhTqANVWjaeStfo0LYt9O9yNMzz-FL0B6nHWArqgBiG1_zx0LFFGGVgc7bhvFt3VKvKYLlZivTDuiHAobRSO5RiYxsAHn/s320/IMG_3384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>Fidelis Ladies' Tea</h2><p>I enjoyed the privilege of attending a mother-daughter Easter tea with my girls this afternoon! Our Fidelis chapter did a wonderful job hosting the event.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8q6Noy5QmhmG696u0W-xqO0XOYeTw66yQ9k5FCToLEX0TriI7BCqqzKsNMWNS2FzyjEdI9bXL7s4zj4Re8Fb6Uz6qo22DJN4rNb7QrVUVlHhltaTvqFuAxJQN1N3ukkf_3SOSX9CzkYD-5cUrsl9lvnh2LJ7AziZ6atHNRHMH1zp0nMPxhxc0gfz/s1094/4-15-23f%20Fidelis%20Tea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8q6Noy5QmhmG696u0W-xqO0XOYeTw66yQ9k5FCToLEX0TriI7BCqqzKsNMWNS2FzyjEdI9bXL7s4zj4Re8Fb6Uz6qo22DJN4rNb7QrVUVlHhltaTvqFuAxJQN1N3ukkf_3SOSX9CzkYD-5cUrsl9lvnh2LJ7AziZ6atHNRHMH1zp0nMPxhxc0gfz/s320/4-15-23f%20Fidelis%20Tea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzau83BoPdOc0yCMnDiMPdtalUdi4z4O_w74wmvJXYJ3EesNCUJd-HajdX46KKekQeYWVguz5eJUOKhMG9yCAOrgSA70YjktVAZxUXHOfHI89JG7hmh-HFVeWbvnbjjYJxZX0OtiyuWD_9xJmlljSirX--9N4bq6aj70zI9QyyHUBQl4Aa-p69URW/s1094/4-15-23d%20Fidelis%20Tea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzau83BoPdOc0yCMnDiMPdtalUdi4z4O_w74wmvJXYJ3EesNCUJd-HajdX46KKekQeYWVguz5eJUOKhMG9yCAOrgSA70YjktVAZxUXHOfHI89JG7hmh-HFVeWbvnbjjYJxZX0OtiyuWD_9xJmlljSirX--9N4bq6aj70zI9QyyHUBQl4Aa-p69URW/s320/4-15-23d%20Fidelis%20Tea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyNJc7Hg4U1NNGalq5Dus4E7SOZILHG9wXrBYah0Y1HKvmpQ5nI0u2MY64HpG9gkUepRYBXpqjSQaO32iEzjo4ECfwXW8p0jnLplEnIdfWCxm69ahbFQGz0ktIAM9UnibTzn7gqZ5fdfV5M2L-CKVvV-vnr7MX9u-KqljKbnbU0vCewTCvyJ0zT5b/s1094/4-15-23e%20Fidelis%20Tea.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyNJc7Hg4U1NNGalq5Dus4E7SOZILHG9wXrBYah0Y1HKvmpQ5nI0u2MY64HpG9gkUepRYBXpqjSQaO32iEzjo4ECfwXW8p0jnLplEnIdfWCxm69ahbFQGz0ktIAM9UnibTzn7gqZ5fdfV5M2L-CKVvV-vnr7MX9u-KqljKbnbU0vCewTCvyJ0zT5b/s320/4-15-23e%20Fidelis%20Tea.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2>Reading Level 2</h2><p>Thomas passed the next level of All About Reading! At a certain age, the little rascals start to be shy and reluctant about sharing fun news, but he is still excited.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdpwcGvUSMKOri5zdwMNwpXz3N1I-r3MZCtxpZnEIIRjDVLWrHK_XZZoWaGofDZrXZutKo0S-xBcTTOJtL-bcEBZfLjhymPmW4FfvTmSGyIuBPYprOx8wnJ5eFrcrQlOrJxXS7IAX7qG71OHV_nYiaodiQpnHDJhs11U7U5-lfHFK2A6EjwhhW-Wn/s2048/342657326_1253085328635301_7176429468205917694_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdpwcGvUSMKOri5zdwMNwpXz3N1I-r3MZCtxpZnEIIRjDVLWrHK_XZZoWaGofDZrXZutKo0S-xBcTTOJtL-bcEBZfLjhymPmW4FfvTmSGyIuBPYprOx8wnJ5eFrcrQlOrJxXS7IAX7qG71OHV_nYiaodiQpnHDJhs11U7U5-lfHFK2A6EjwhhW-Wn/s320/342657326_1253085328635301_7176429468205917694_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2>A boy and his dog</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId8vrTKLgbv1BXPKTO-yS6S9A0tWqoVEcI_V92cqNPSyTkKYyPaXHt9yL5dpOW_uuV_DLb-t0fH0_mLI87PZFaRESvxme-n0LbYEL-Ib-WikQrjFAZSjihyYBdr-5mmxx5nnSMetY1UHFnZl7Ek5--pItd19ippgXnGTnKnqfx7Mi7CWv3x3l7ttP/s820/4-17-23a%20David%20Tilly.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId8vrTKLgbv1BXPKTO-yS6S9A0tWqoVEcI_V92cqNPSyTkKYyPaXHt9yL5dpOW_uuV_DLb-t0fH0_mLI87PZFaRESvxme-n0LbYEL-Ib-WikQrjFAZSjihyYBdr-5mmxx5nnSMetY1UHFnZl7Ek5--pItd19ippgXnGTnKnqfx7Mi7CWv3x3l7ttP/s320/4-17-23a%20David%20Tilly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">CCE Showcase</h2><div>CCE Elementary and Middle School had their end-of-year showcase, at which we parents had the pleasure of viewing our children's artwork, watching the middle schoolers perform English Country Dances and the recitation of memorized poetry, their receipt of awards, and listening to the elementary students sing in their choir.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I stepped well outside of my comfort zone to be the choir tutor for the elementary school students. I taught one group of PK-4, one group of grades K-3, and one group of grades 4-6. None of us were professionals, so my goal was simply to make these young Catholics more comfortable entering into any parish, picking up a missal, and following along with the choir or cantor. About half of my fifty or so students participated in the showcase and gave glory to God singing the Pater Noster, the Gloria, and the first seven verses of the Stabat Mater.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXCMJ9XolOqfBHlNgV4Tpyf3wLZZJ16gAZ9zSPJzQHSbAwtC-Qm-VkxaFCiuZU404B74d1tmGw6zYL7XpdakpIK7gxEhWALDrOvEME4hycw-pomwPPYyJVJhWuxms3wnDh7ZV8KuZmLnoLbeaLlcFOjGXGN5yKsEJOQPDvDXfP0vntnzcoUv_HrNQ/s1094/IMG_6911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXCMJ9XolOqfBHlNgV4Tpyf3wLZZJ16gAZ9zSPJzQHSbAwtC-Qm-VkxaFCiuZU404B74d1tmGw6zYL7XpdakpIK7gxEhWALDrOvEME4hycw-pomwPPYyJVJhWuxms3wnDh7ZV8KuZmLnoLbeaLlcFOjGXGN5yKsEJOQPDvDXfP0vntnzcoUv_HrNQ/s320/IMG_6911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/URDr9Fe2ZJk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Our dear five-year-old David earned an award for growth in patience!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA6E2psqwVDz1DO-p2bxTIpOnWUQs1_gQ9wni9k4_sb-bAmDOM55kngw1VaDu_CCguvR2oYXjL4TEvHR0J4V8oTT1C2g12s7SUxxv5d1YBCV1UW1bwZ1jgCHFAcFr80NuHrkcL9Orqsykq6AowCK5ibTwHeAwObXFzP5A6lK0dMoUMmfN-GtjlZXh/s1094/IMG_3450.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA6E2psqwVDz1DO-p2bxTIpOnWUQs1_gQ9wni9k4_sb-bAmDOM55kngw1VaDu_CCguvR2oYXjL4TEvHR0J4V8oTT1C2g12s7SUxxv5d1YBCV1UW1bwZ1jgCHFAcFr80NuHrkcL9Orqsykq6AowCK5ibTwHeAwObXFzP5A6lK0dMoUMmfN-GtjlZXh/s320/IMG_3450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thomas and Joseph earned a certificate for memorizing 24 History songs . . .</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1D8s141WOdqTH9OA7bBphASsgwT3m3PeiVre7EgihuXdv6ydxPppI_1t0TBhb2lh_Zr7NpW8fPNVFmqvx2jvGEa1-1r0TefH1CrfOfbLU2d6dD_6DJ3Ig4ihabuNiJcC_yaCDOOWP8QX6D04n8cdWmXqormlR-lM1HSrOTOImtmIL22ncM_BOQ00/s1094/IMG_6918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1D8s141WOdqTH9OA7bBphASsgwT3m3PeiVre7EgihuXdv6ydxPppI_1t0TBhb2lh_Zr7NpW8fPNVFmqvx2jvGEa1-1r0TefH1CrfOfbLU2d6dD_6DJ3Ig4ihabuNiJcC_yaCDOOWP8QX6D04n8cdWmXqormlR-lM1HSrOTOImtmIL22ncM_BOQ00/s320/IMG_6918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fWfB5pIRViHRlu8YqKLR0ZzCL9iatNUtDjwtnJuseGvOV8zstCVpmWnU1NIW9AF6QtocmBnsumCduhthoU5AXCrEsT6McGX3eNLCAJayICjAkabH7p0MBA_hzLIqtwAfVg7-Ket1Auj3INLH3BKlSm_T0xaukNWFQAuX3WSOOL6sCzFCN-Uf49sF/s1094/IMG_3460.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fWfB5pIRViHRlu8YqKLR0ZzCL9iatNUtDjwtnJuseGvOV8zstCVpmWnU1NIW9AF6QtocmBnsumCduhthoU5AXCrEsT6McGX3eNLCAJayICjAkabH7p0MBA_hzLIqtwAfVg7-Ket1Auj3INLH3BKlSm_T0xaukNWFQAuX3WSOOL6sCzFCN-Uf49sF/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>. . . but Joseph would not pose for a photo and instead ran off giggling!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb46yRg7tlRqCmujTfjBPlj7fwh6baNi0Xb41JAuNXi7PQaX6ks49oWyBekRn4_vSv8DHXHRxyeHIQuavp54gOf2pbR1KFPrUbNdd3Sr32HLg9pFzrBuvNc9m6m86NbIyvZ8uMW_tG1-rixhRTNlyIx8hWz-_WmxRBFcyLKPFG08EAPjt-e2psRe14/s820/IMG_3461.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb46yRg7tlRqCmujTfjBPlj7fwh6baNi0Xb41JAuNXi7PQaX6ks49oWyBekRn4_vSv8DHXHRxyeHIQuavp54gOf2pbR1KFPrUbNdd3Sr32HLg9pFzrBuvNc9m6m86NbIyvZ8uMW_tG1-rixhRTNlyIx8hWz-_WmxRBFcyLKPFG08EAPjt-e2psRe14/s320/IMG_3461.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Mary earned an award for memorizing all the poems assigned for the year.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUi5Ru4WKlWUu00nLQnPa25Jr7spd4hNEFdIp6zsyYPmzIDftyiWl13pW9LM0dV7baHoehYMQl2Hht4I-gHHqx9ThImb-xrXOQndZNVGFNtD69XNbE5V0-QjXLUwYyYNX0UtVBQMTfP12hY9lcbCZu2XnRYY4UNRn9kUyyvsTkvNOI1mQPTWypiHh/s820/IMG_3468.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUi5Ru4WKlWUu00nLQnPa25Jr7spd4hNEFdIp6zsyYPmzIDftyiWl13pW9LM0dV7baHoehYMQl2Hht4I-gHHqx9ThImb-xrXOQndZNVGFNtD69XNbE5V0-QjXLUwYyYNX0UtVBQMTfP12hY9lcbCZu2XnRYY4UNRn9kUyyvsTkvNOI1mQPTWypiHh/s320/IMG_3468.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After the ceremonies, we enjoyed a potluck with the 120 or so family members present and played on the playground.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb_Hhibi_znIapS_dPbmDU0pej3iTB5aW-MsVxG6rImMU7U7XGyZqrtK_AAaLhrcWDttRy-CDQHxKWvdrQF1SQSeLtc-WmPx1rTgL-8NrMCZBtI9fytJPeFJKvHNzFjEJw_YvaFSmEUGKZ31_Qtvxs2W7182LgXymvpDcqOOvKn_47-UkqYvcQCe2/s820/IMG_3484.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb_Hhibi_znIapS_dPbmDU0pej3iTB5aW-MsVxG6rImMU7U7XGyZqrtK_AAaLhrcWDttRy-CDQHxKWvdrQF1SQSeLtc-WmPx1rTgL-8NrMCZBtI9fytJPeFJKvHNzFjEJw_YvaFSmEUGKZ31_Qtvxs2W7182LgXymvpDcqOOvKn_47-UkqYvcQCe2/s320/IMG_3484.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2>The Invincible Iron Man</h2><p>Thomas received his first IV iron infusion, as his ferritin had fallen low enough to require one since he doesn't have the anatomy anymore to absorb iron normally. He was such a trooper about it all, even returning to the same infusion center where he received his chemotherapy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIj4DlpIBqK7dnX0S_iKWNQe94BGUng1hSNKltaOvuGucH2oHkUnYN5Zy2Wi7lu6txPHVUgSsEY-cDUS3216KsP8bUCXjulOReVQQ1PnoKrOsVOy9bXouyUAYCvzx7U4pnfuMyCeE5aF9kdfjTFb2aTIIxWytEbyF4-03jkOxjeZp5qEcEqY9iJnz/s2048/336034862_1172976883451034_4073427826833559379_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIj4DlpIBqK7dnX0S_iKWNQe94BGUng1hSNKltaOvuGucH2oHkUnYN5Zy2Wi7lu6txPHVUgSsEY-cDUS3216KsP8bUCXjulOReVQQ1PnoKrOsVOy9bXouyUAYCvzx7U4pnfuMyCeE5aF9kdfjTFb2aTIIxWytEbyF4-03jkOxjeZp5qEcEqY9iJnz/s320/336034862_1172976883451034_4073427826833559379_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Daddy-Daughter Dance at St. Thomas Aquinas!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17S9zI6K9Rx_JnNPkt4MWppD3GkNNWICh24Tb51MRpLbGYCIwK1pgzx3YWriYZW8vv6CzRN_Vo7oLK50-ExlcmVgeRp5WmwkYGoVmC8zhkLXQ9zNpqGwqOGITF9llysWxagNesp9GE58628TUZmxfjArCSLsFYZGEozT88M8c85s-WQJMBw-jIani/s820/IMG_3494.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17S9zI6K9Rx_JnNPkt4MWppD3GkNNWICh24Tb51MRpLbGYCIwK1pgzx3YWriYZW8vv6CzRN_Vo7oLK50-ExlcmVgeRp5WmwkYGoVmC8zhkLXQ9zNpqGwqOGITF9llysWxagNesp9GE58628TUZmxfjArCSLsFYZGEozT88M8c85s-WQJMBw-jIani/s320/IMG_3494.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoZsLpYLrVvVntgHFZWZ8M_qyLPMCAHHlOL7pCEaxLIkNOl3HvHTTMtlmDmBPN24RjLeSd5riZdkYBi2cCHH0l6vXNdyQP0cpmqQv4urY-ysydQr7F0SJiK96tD9g6KoueJJ--8fppZuA9va12Qcf5PNysrK3FUP90lsMIllzSwq89QeMncdokKSo/s820/IMG_3496.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoZsLpYLrVvVntgHFZWZ8M_qyLPMCAHHlOL7pCEaxLIkNOl3HvHTTMtlmDmBPN24RjLeSd5riZdkYBi2cCHH0l6vXNdyQP0cpmqQv4urY-ysydQr7F0SJiK96tD9g6KoueJJ--8fppZuA9va12Qcf5PNysrK3FUP90lsMIllzSwq89QeMncdokKSo/s320/IMG_3496.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Maybe Energized by his New Iron . . . </h2><div style="text-align: left;">Morning chores and appointment complete, I search for my missing boys to start elementaty homeschooling. I find Thomas (7) outside with this getup, ready to climb a thirty-foot pine tree. Bonus points for wearing a helmet. Points deducted for the safety rope which is not tied to anything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQusZdX9lDZd9HDaTVbIUE7nbgT4w4yR3e5xajw0GhqrXUJCqkmS7SPP4AtgISDWQG--1NVQNrRNRIotJHHZfppDNQ-5IPlezPzQ4eyTxYF_-WrE_agx-szKpSpMUbXxtTWx5XJJ4UV7AL1xzg2tYFl3lMF-_waKBy_eFuFDQe08DiRmuAXaZ68PVu/s820/IMG_3529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQusZdX9lDZd9HDaTVbIUE7nbgT4w4yR3e5xajw0GhqrXUJCqkmS7SPP4AtgISDWQG--1NVQNrRNRIotJHHZfppDNQ-5IPlezPzQ4eyTxYF_-WrE_agx-szKpSpMUbXxtTWx5XJJ4UV7AL1xzg2tYFl3lMF-_waKBy_eFuFDQe08DiRmuAXaZ68PVu/s320/IMG_3529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xg_OO1DoJJNhyp-8XJ--3vmYP9-YlOExT51giFSv2AMN7nhGV3UcCW628fffBXeOtYaOZv8-rpxX_-FvGnAsyLmD9puawjBogZbJkdsqBfJG3jIwnnz1n3pNl-P33Iu1GyjBKJelz7KnKs3nmG1qmbBVoOSkMc5CN7oT55xLu34M1f8UgdVbOqzm/s820/IMG_3530.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xg_OO1DoJJNhyp-8XJ--3vmYP9-YlOExT51giFSv2AMN7nhGV3UcCW628fffBXeOtYaOZv8-rpxX_-FvGnAsyLmD9puawjBogZbJkdsqBfJG3jIwnnz1n3pNl-P33Iu1GyjBKJelz7KnKs3nmG1qmbBVoOSkMc5CN7oT55xLu34M1f8UgdVbOqzm/s320/IMG_3530.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">First Class Service</h2><p>Tomorrow I get to use this special yellow telephone to order breakfast in bed from the hotel staff. I am already planning my meal. Regrettably, the staff member in question sleeps in approximately two and a half hours later than this early rising mama, so I may have to go *back* to bed to order my meal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_HLXvjsh8cRODCqZ_VBP_DDifThYi-lxxZrC7LeIKtclAN81d-9BmTuA1Fybi20pqcomiRlLnW8_Pxe8EU4897O9OSw5YP1DKAFvU5kF-NTz3PVyuDVpW2ifYUCG2tWsG9DVej10mIoPZmB8DTyMoxrxHyKK6d5BUnNec5UN9lOGuErNJSRAWz0t/s820/IMG_3525.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_HLXvjsh8cRODCqZ_VBP_DDifThYi-lxxZrC7LeIKtclAN81d-9BmTuA1Fybi20pqcomiRlLnW8_Pxe8EU4897O9OSw5YP1DKAFvU5kF-NTz3PVyuDVpW2ifYUCG2tWsG9DVej10mIoPZmB8DTyMoxrxHyKK6d5BUnNec5UN9lOGuErNJSRAWz0t/s320/IMG_3525.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGSSUTE0RTp3IQhQbfBXmnrY-p3mcDdcghxfxPGdjd1X5HOFzQdnQmHN4VRC2q1AzCZepUp2UcD88LPUVvtRcFA5MfyZh8288JmPG-pZCOh4VyKLCoNbiLsZ9E3bOLFnd8glukA9ll3RZo48YaWcaU_YV4Bbv3bVTdU8iUj771wrSOQ1BEf079caS/s820/IMG_3528.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGSSUTE0RTp3IQhQbfBXmnrY-p3mcDdcghxfxPGdjd1X5HOFzQdnQmHN4VRC2q1AzCZepUp2UcD88LPUVvtRcFA5MfyZh8288JmPG-pZCOh4VyKLCoNbiLsZ9E3bOLFnd8glukA9ll3RZo48YaWcaU_YV4Bbv3bVTdU8iUj771wrSOQ1BEf079caS/s320/IMG_3528.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">End of Spring Ice Hockey</h2><p>Congrats to Joseph for finishing the spring hockey season strong! His team won their final game 8 to 3. Joseph showed fortitude when he (likely) broke his finger and got back into the game to play till the end. Sadly, John missed the last game of his season, having hurt his knee badly three times this season. Orthopedics told him this morning 'NO HOCKEY!' until we can get a looksee via MRI. He is maintaining a cheerful attitude!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyoRmF0U0HNHl8CZyjdkDLbSzTzdAaaj7Je53ImDTGHxCGJWuDbTyZUuhQEjnaI6IwcFYdeCbZyv6QLT8jiPjHRgGei0Wjcx0uulRHKCweFKIHQr0FP6BLoimW1ycK2oKf8y9Lqhb89K7xIoYIPbvYewYwGiVQaOm5vNnFF0eKi_rBevhthQb76fg/s820/IMG_3578%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyoRmF0U0HNHl8CZyjdkDLbSzTzdAaaj7Je53ImDTGHxCGJWuDbTyZUuhQEjnaI6IwcFYdeCbZyv6QLT8jiPjHRgGei0Wjcx0uulRHKCweFKIHQr0FP6BLoimW1ycK2oKf8y9Lqhb89K7xIoYIPbvYewYwGiVQaOm5vNnFF0eKi_rBevhthQb76fg/s320/IMG_3578%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FwFcheF7SKyYusNSxoKYJgUdwJLadMsK6Eh_aS7-aRS6cpnH8z4g-6UyDlgwBeisCzzDd9prc0UVDjKBYrYYGdKap6lPOClir8GS-2LGPg1yHgCUIfPLgntVKuO8sfrC1kOp_c7Qz2wEMd9qaRIEjowOzihYnY00DpPgrT5h7XVbNLt8yglYcN4q/s820/IMG_3589%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FwFcheF7SKyYusNSxoKYJgUdwJLadMsK6Eh_aS7-aRS6cpnH8z4g-6UyDlgwBeisCzzDd9prc0UVDjKBYrYYGdKap6lPOClir8GS-2LGPg1yHgCUIfPLgntVKuO8sfrC1kOp_c7Qz2wEMd9qaRIEjowOzihYnY00DpPgrT5h7XVbNLt8yglYcN4q/s320/IMG_3589%20(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjBJaGzPsSICbGFDJJpourA0blIgwYmJ10O2gCJ3cLiN9UwPHaCFyqZuyfE2JGzGI-g3-4xXsWwMMwOHeQerMvragYv-eSJx1DV--BBem40fwb8PihiqYGLWnfWgDBoY3hfUHmXpODZAhBsRrN4jbHbsh1nKbaMJTrETuSMpybz9VGUOV8xTIkuIG/s1094/IMG_3592%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjBJaGzPsSICbGFDJJpourA0blIgwYmJ10O2gCJ3cLiN9UwPHaCFyqZuyfE2JGzGI-g3-4xXsWwMMwOHeQerMvragYv-eSJx1DV--BBem40fwb8PihiqYGLWnfWgDBoY3hfUHmXpODZAhBsRrN4jbHbsh1nKbaMJTrETuSMpybz9VGUOV8xTIkuIG/s320/IMG_3592%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">David Working on his Phonics</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie77mwLzM-iknLh_uiynU11EVppAbcqbdiXtjftntg-jfaCG939L7UgOzlB8ZrqYhxcPENUB5ULiv_j0Pfzr1EwurKe0H0qiW9t-47njuLATopNv38PwTDHvh8mHOckOyDD5vfQooxOm2A95GL4z5O-P5wrlRQXA8pMwxvoLA-MNm5PJ9Ns4PdyyC-/s1094/IMG_3531.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie77mwLzM-iknLh_uiynU11EVppAbcqbdiXtjftntg-jfaCG939L7UgOzlB8ZrqYhxcPENUB5ULiv_j0Pfzr1EwurKe0H0qiW9t-47njuLATopNv38PwTDHvh8mHOckOyDD5vfQooxOm2A95GL4z5O-P5wrlRQXA8pMwxvoLA-MNm5PJ9Ns4PdyyC-/s320/IMG_3531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6HLvaSHstc9VH-nINJ1uOPVSbAtc9auJcex6VOMvMhUgMvvrYEB55xey1LPx5M8a66kZRgKusil4h1Ok1HbcS8mD4pXJxsPmcR3_TmSp0ndEqAxcuV8eXfjlKPmzwTXFr_QGlJ7X5wApcWXQAAbJ5LTMDrCAHRN7ki-yxdisJ69hBPhHtmuYrVWm/s1094/IMG_3534.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6HLvaSHstc9VH-nINJ1uOPVSbAtc9auJcex6VOMvMhUgMvvrYEB55xey1LPx5M8a66kZRgKusil4h1Ok1HbcS8mD4pXJxsPmcR3_TmSp0ndEqAxcuV8eXfjlKPmzwTXFr_QGlJ7X5wApcWXQAAbJ5LTMDrCAHRN7ki-yxdisJ69hBPhHtmuYrVWm/s320/IMG_3534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Fraternus Camping Trip</h2><p>John and his dad went on the Fraternus spring camping trip, which was a lot of fun even amidst heavy rains.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNPVHbbEvm8x-sxnETog69h_VtrG63GCGb2-H32gLSNJKG5l49Erixn6fb_Bpg7N3c3CIAC4XMJjZrjqA9Y29Sr1ReuLbL9bL-R1IY-EiN-oUgMl8zERxKqGtUv0Yx6A2SiCOJMuVZKiTfN_CJbgOWsOfaCJ5PUF1iyLTM0lHgz6F2xVYe1PuqXCu/s219/IMG_6928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="164" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNPVHbbEvm8x-sxnETog69h_VtrG63GCGb2-H32gLSNJKG5l49Erixn6fb_Bpg7N3c3CIAC4XMJjZrjqA9Y29Sr1ReuLbL9bL-R1IY-EiN-oUgMl8zERxKqGtUv0Yx6A2SiCOJMuVZKiTfN_CJbgOWsOfaCJ5PUF1iyLTM0lHgz6F2xVYe1PuqXCu/s1600/IMG_6928.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwL606mvRR9V5-oP1uy_BExXIX8ZFyPJaYtpMmoaD5rFrvgYdjWsoYM-PIQQ_uXSkZFmlfcnJv27UVzQdD-A7EuFAxSEyjAaqIQSBE3yOiBP2OePJ7_iTVrAFb9g1MN43_Ex3dIFAFpJDOUEnGZlQG3lblNqALXMRJw4SojBE3TGfHv_s7LkOk4mtE/s1094/IMG_6930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwL606mvRR9V5-oP1uy_BExXIX8ZFyPJaYtpMmoaD5rFrvgYdjWsoYM-PIQQ_uXSkZFmlfcnJv27UVzQdD-A7EuFAxSEyjAaqIQSBE3yOiBP2OePJ7_iTVrAFb9g1MN43_Ex3dIFAFpJDOUEnGZlQG3lblNqALXMRJw4SojBE3TGfHv_s7LkOk4mtE/s320/IMG_6930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKEy1h5T3deAfaiVYrAZcrZOqr_RFEhG2g7GGAn9rY8aplyq605dEXFnCkIOn0ueddm7Y2uQf9SR1eCYGVgdZWbaFTQwcmWInhXeV1l6ek4NMZZy5xqP5PgV_tJhQBkDq9LFZRM98G_5hf9GKCGn-VrRJbAnSKLZf2bt-9XrDyTJWDMuAky139TV1/s1094/IMG_6929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKEy1h5T3deAfaiVYrAZcrZOqr_RFEhG2g7GGAn9rY8aplyq605dEXFnCkIOn0ueddm7Y2uQf9SR1eCYGVgdZWbaFTQwcmWInhXeV1l6ek4NMZZy5xqP5PgV_tJhQBkDq9LFZRM98G_5hf9GKCGn-VrRJbAnSKLZf2bt-9XrDyTJWDMuAky139TV1/s320/IMG_6929.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Middle School Formal Dinner and Dance</h2><p>Meanwhile, the girls back at home were experiencing a much more formal and less muddy fun time! As part of concluding the Etiquette and English Country Dance courses they have been taking at their middle school program, they attended a nine-course dinner (!) and dance. The rec club was decorated so elegantly for the students. We are very grateful to the thoughtfulness and hard work that went into creating such an experience for these students.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1suaAqIf25TXhE57rKVnHHJUR8ptZw2lWnlYBYiMX5dfPWnSjPA_LnauATTU-y5hv7aufS1SEkdMuidWFRNDf3EtGY-n0XjgREYCdtUgVyjHuo0xHkFQMxirxWh-b6EmqTtcjV1crlfWXAS8mbxyZ5FAmjpTPE-HbZZsu2FjRLh71JMKxZD13ips/s820/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1suaAqIf25TXhE57rKVnHHJUR8ptZw2lWnlYBYiMX5dfPWnSjPA_LnauATTU-y5hv7aufS1SEkdMuidWFRNDf3EtGY-n0XjgREYCdtUgVyjHuo0xHkFQMxirxWh-b6EmqTtcjV1crlfWXAS8mbxyZ5FAmjpTPE-HbZZsu2FjRLh71JMKxZD13ips/s320/IMG_3608.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE_Vu2ow5ZeHa7IhOSboEsQZZLckd2xQXrhc7C557WVyCCoG4P50Enu-GPXfKKRrc8KQdXYQr7VFgTdDblILt2UH9j2SuzhCjvzcojcwYfsgzbXHmnmfwUVVyywTLk28HK05YEhgzBpVywqiX0cRvaeYpK3BcL4ON7BgoDUcSwLO8O2Q-DbEleAMA/s1094/IMG_3281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE_Vu2ow5ZeHa7IhOSboEsQZZLckd2xQXrhc7C557WVyCCoG4P50Enu-GPXfKKRrc8KQdXYQr7VFgTdDblILt2UH9j2SuzhCjvzcojcwYfsgzbXHmnmfwUVVyywTLk28HK05YEhgzBpVywqiX0cRvaeYpK3BcL4ON7BgoDUcSwLO8O2Q-DbEleAMA/s320/IMG_3281.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXJMsAs7eIMH7pVkxX0x1O1-PVNfzYicqn5TEC867mCQCRbCvv32fzP-1_ajmMpWzR7mLx0oBF51KyhTyiH_ThhaHiKhTrr9vhexp-1AejWmqqoAS9IaenbOzgDPA5Eku_J8fX7R_X0k7d_1UVIkSYyNpoMTmmBZx_VXkdZ4ozRnkkwazF0JIWK4w/s1094/IMG_3611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXJMsAs7eIMH7pVkxX0x1O1-PVNfzYicqn5TEC867mCQCRbCvv32fzP-1_ajmMpWzR7mLx0oBF51KyhTyiH_ThhaHiKhTrr9vhexp-1AejWmqqoAS9IaenbOzgDPA5Eku_J8fX7R_X0k7d_1UVIkSYyNpoMTmmBZx_VXkdZ4ozRnkkwazF0JIWK4w/s320/IMG_3611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukr0YcpiTGyOXhXCmBMOMob30phGYMJ-yTFrRCmg8hxX05l636hjE4FDlFE9YnVeVSwLEhAT755TmCtoN227zUquhkuvMTAo94Z937Dmu0NZfxgT8X0z3uPl1xqXpvnrRZljnlxHPvVQ12U1MRUjqAo3Q_wZmEUJk_1ALzDuwbaVSe8hCpFGVVAzD/s820/IMG_3613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukr0YcpiTGyOXhXCmBMOMob30phGYMJ-yTFrRCmg8hxX05l636hjE4FDlFE9YnVeVSwLEhAT755TmCtoN227zUquhkuvMTAo94Z937Dmu0NZfxgT8X0z3uPl1xqXpvnrRZljnlxHPvVQ12U1MRUjqAo3Q_wZmEUJk_1ALzDuwbaVSe8hCpFGVVAzD/s320/IMG_3613.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-77243431750376936752023-04-13T20:04:00.001-04:002023-04-29T20:05:05.209-04:00April 2023 (the First Half!) in Review<h2 style="text-align: left;">Broadway Revue 2023</h2><p>John, Mary, and Margaret had a wonderful time as part of 62 homeschoolers singing in Broadway Revue tonight! And can you believe that this is just a small portion of fellow Catholic homeschoolers here? We are blessed with such a thriving community!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIe2NV4esioAdSzhNy73RmXXgVNM5xoZufracXv8SE6N9lDHh5VZgwhywC40Sp-sHlkHf1U4TivsMfm9zF2Py_PjqnIvUrGf4nUQA_5sMHnodBn0-tY2sHdsuBXlQqTbBYkhdlQz3twaNnJ62hGOYGfCSQ_QEF9vO1Tkr9cT8nG5XEsI23uWovSMm/s820/IMG_3105%20Broadway%20Revue.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIe2NV4esioAdSzhNy73RmXXgVNM5xoZufracXv8SE6N9lDHh5VZgwhywC40Sp-sHlkHf1U4TivsMfm9zF2Py_PjqnIvUrGf4nUQA_5sMHnodBn0-tY2sHdsuBXlQqTbBYkhdlQz3twaNnJ62hGOYGfCSQ_QEF9vO1Tkr9cT8nG5XEsI23uWovSMm/s320/IMG_3105%20Broadway%20Revue.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wn3DKgMvk1h4P1q9xtfKBD34BDbdavsOPSzZZSjB6T8MccjkssjamfM15rm_L0N2_tC0ekhTWPHraRklx4RrCjZU4D1wGnB2fVL71uu2agYZmZ8vHwwVvRriO_W3YTEw6xTq7_cM28BhiAipDbflkugMGO5SKUhjoznY_mdB0Hx8Yn1dXdk2zDbl/s1094/IMG_3106%20Broadway%20Revue.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wn3DKgMvk1h4P1q9xtfKBD34BDbdavsOPSzZZSjB6T8MccjkssjamfM15rm_L0N2_tC0ekhTWPHraRklx4RrCjZU4D1wGnB2fVL71uu2agYZmZ8vHwwVvRriO_W3YTEw6xTq7_cM28BhiAipDbflkugMGO5SKUhjoznY_mdB0Hx8Yn1dXdk2zDbl/s320/IMG_3106%20Broadway%20Revue.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Time Out</h2><p>I am so grateful to be able to assign myself a Time Out for crabby behavior. We are off of homeschooling this week so I scheduled a bunch of appointments, which is needful but I’m unaccustomed to go-go-go! This morning I left the house at 7:30 a.m. and came back in between various appointments and errands, only being home about 30 minutes at a time. My house looks like an absolute bomb went off, which I guess is what happens without a motherly presence to keep order. Nothing on my mile-long to-do list got done, I have no idea how I will make a dent in it tonight before tomorrow’s new set of demands, but I know I’d better sit alone outside for awhile. “Father Elijah” has been recommended by so many and I’m finally going to try to read it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEJSWFmFkjcKWh43PoZf9tgRqq-WbjUTwokmR3NgE6PKI-0uUJLncCLoORKAfhq3EnK2_pS6O6Xs6FwA79gi_h2xldrPPcSh7c23u2AcnOXVha6JmZ1YzwnQCGN9Aon_CWmAqoGBtis4Lm8FNtMZMbJDOVysdGa_e2uWOs5bTBvLadPvaQkLMam2p/s820/IMG_3139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEJSWFmFkjcKWh43PoZf9tgRqq-WbjUTwokmR3NgE6PKI-0uUJLncCLoORKAfhq3EnK2_pS6O6Xs6FwA79gi_h2xldrPPcSh7c23u2AcnOXVha6JmZ1YzwnQCGN9Aon_CWmAqoGBtis4Lm8FNtMZMbJDOVysdGa_e2uWOs5bTBvLadPvaQkLMam2p/s320/IMG_3139.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">The End of an Era</h2><p>Apparently I thought my six kids would want to hunt for Easter eggs . . . Forever? . . . But this is the year a couple of them are too old. Sniff, sniff.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN28rlbs1QTkhayxhLit_KjFcttTD33j8uJeEzJ1UstNMluc8wnARFJz4VXb-3jY9s9s9ky64Hpr9dwWRYgbfmzPsuDnCnuBjVA36SyAcsCZgREXP6ZxB6Y8pe4RsASVmOzSI8QVLB_ZwsvrwPcgIWdDZ1BEL8A73vsCG-_bTaQQjNujdgb64EvDp/s820/IMG_3150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN28rlbs1QTkhayxhLit_KjFcttTD33j8uJeEzJ1UstNMluc8wnARFJz4VXb-3jY9s9s9ky64Hpr9dwWRYgbfmzPsuDnCnuBjVA36SyAcsCZgREXP6ZxB6Y8pe4RsASVmOzSI8QVLB_ZwsvrwPcgIWdDZ1BEL8A73vsCG-_bTaQQjNujdgb64EvDp/s320/IMG_3150.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Easter Celebrations 2023</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT24ZczsNgto-k-xIpBn5LqGZlo6h_EqxOqRstb_Ys2iMeAT0GGyh3EuXho-eUqnmqhNQKsdhBVG3xDQqysuRPkwtgWMZCqFxlbw7bjqPNZZRQxiwcIk1R1LnfH3RTZ0n6l4sxtBppcPXzCpsNxTTkNZcvzT8EcuGcuesTLT6ZfRV21UZVyT2NLRZ/s820/IMG_3180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT24ZczsNgto-k-xIpBn5LqGZlo6h_EqxOqRstb_Ys2iMeAT0GGyh3EuXho-eUqnmqhNQKsdhBVG3xDQqysuRPkwtgWMZCqFxlbw7bjqPNZZRQxiwcIk1R1LnfH3RTZ0n6l4sxtBppcPXzCpsNxTTkNZcvzT8EcuGcuesTLT6ZfRV21UZVyT2NLRZ/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiaMtNKBb1ulI8r3XkdJBPt9sKtnOta9F7_uYnzW3Jc5E7UKP-Q4KNr6_BTiId-UvZvfCVkU0toL6kYp-4rVievkRdWqpM6p3Ztpi1nPhcMe-VjeAzC5JZHPMTjIpaaus5ExKouyGeqI1f0NQy3BSUBN6R1EMcpwynbJj_Z9UEVCb3mcmzgbiqsVg/s820/IMG_3183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiaMtNKBb1ulI8r3XkdJBPt9sKtnOta9F7_uYnzW3Jc5E7UKP-Q4KNr6_BTiId-UvZvfCVkU0toL6kYp-4rVievkRdWqpM6p3Ztpi1nPhcMe-VjeAzC5JZHPMTjIpaaus5ExKouyGeqI1f0NQy3BSUBN6R1EMcpwynbJj_Z9UEVCb3mcmzgbiqsVg/s320/IMG_3183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWKhTBAiGIF6hbabKl83dY1re9PFph4lNN4rlrPr-koei7P_QvsgxNNlwJiqyLQgUG-Vqh-vBpHpxBhzvaYRgiEUa3bTG-KuNqdVS_fS8udERnjYZvk0brXYuF64InFx5CIDYxNxZZsxTvfMF1oPKEUcq8dcl6EUW1aXxprhgGwp_CJqVee45uLs5/s4032/IMG_3190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWKhTBAiGIF6hbabKl83dY1re9PFph4lNN4rlrPr-koei7P_QvsgxNNlwJiqyLQgUG-Vqh-vBpHpxBhzvaYRgiEUa3bTG-KuNqdVS_fS8udERnjYZvk0brXYuF64InFx5CIDYxNxZZsxTvfMF1oPKEUcq8dcl6EUW1aXxprhgGwp_CJqVee45uLs5/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97-R2EEsUxPGplEIvqn-sYV7w79DMNZ0TaL1Ak-jiD9UiRjAEpGGN51RvMMkNaGVkSzOkvl6_PKzJ-fiAoXxnK6vz8wY6855CwSI4-s8z_HS9MO6uIIDJA8o65dUqPAHUe40aMj0Ky4U2cF_8cCKm9aVm_krqg0-zswK6uAhTFvVHJUHeRG6F6l4u/s4032/IMG_3192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97-R2EEsUxPGplEIvqn-sYV7w79DMNZ0TaL1Ak-jiD9UiRjAEpGGN51RvMMkNaGVkSzOkvl6_PKzJ-fiAoXxnK6vz8wY6855CwSI4-s8z_HS9MO6uIIDJA8o65dUqPAHUe40aMj0Ky4U2cF_8cCKm9aVm_krqg0-zswK6uAhTFvVHJUHeRG6F6l4u/s320/IMG_3192.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1toYHbDOp9_ikqtPy0vfU5iTw0gIU48Y5yB7mRu6g-fFcaWhXm6AvJ1I1WROgzLIa0vLiXCd8mBCcFc7s3eH_-dp0zxV8682BKXYb23R5R1Yz3OviidlUBaLk4h7IghE2dULffI3YWBKY6aML_Kvpr5DJjEpeAT8ocHOQaM0OBfzaXl8iMtW9dS7/s1190/IMG_3196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1190" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1toYHbDOp9_ikqtPy0vfU5iTw0gIU48Y5yB7mRu6g-fFcaWhXm6AvJ1I1WROgzLIa0vLiXCd8mBCcFc7s3eH_-dp0zxV8682BKXYb23R5R1Yz3OviidlUBaLk4h7IghE2dULffI3YWBKY6aML_Kvpr5DJjEpeAT8ocHOQaM0OBfzaXl8iMtW9dS7/s320/IMG_3196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W5ffIy6hywpBEmUNIhTOvCB2_BtAQZ0QrQvnqrYnbD9TGrV-7CqkcBSVxDPo40JwLjOJGmIGnzf5g-kWwSdPKTVSdcW9syPfN90U7AzJvSB-SLvv7Tp0rnh2ogamnrIpF_zJixdERgSNRZgDN9uFlA0A7SVfJbaVOnxR_bODk89YIggLCTlL_zw2/s4032/IMG_3197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W5ffIy6hywpBEmUNIhTOvCB2_BtAQZ0QrQvnqrYnbD9TGrV-7CqkcBSVxDPo40JwLjOJGmIGnzf5g-kWwSdPKTVSdcW9syPfN90U7AzJvSB-SLvv7Tp0rnh2ogamnrIpF_zJixdERgSNRZgDN9uFlA0A7SVfJbaVOnxR_bODk89YIggLCTlL_zw2/s320/IMG_3197.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGsFJ7CfqCCc9Q3orxd69ksPUmCxiGWXp7OeRS9JcxGaOZH6-upxjTVOwJYOMbjbaMQS78flCLv0Z10j3tGEVo2xm6Vq9G1ej-SYgEQTCbacCfLbQT0aAT8KjA60nvpiZe-om7lwRmPdUMzqrIVv_itIIVR6pSO_h-E7vMpykJEqVf0EAFXX5LgmD/s820/IMG_3200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGsFJ7CfqCCc9Q3orxd69ksPUmCxiGWXp7OeRS9JcxGaOZH6-upxjTVOwJYOMbjbaMQS78flCLv0Z10j3tGEVo2xm6Vq9G1ej-SYgEQTCbacCfLbQT0aAT8KjA60nvpiZe-om7lwRmPdUMzqrIVv_itIIVR6pSO_h-E7vMpykJEqVf0EAFXX5LgmD/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfsDMwz9-qv6Mlfrpx6XI8ErAGJXJy84JdECPCcICI976eFHJp05Wz84zyHQFbgxKa_Frxuyh85BQuICE5-cwiB7IrwVdG1dPG79DWHfmMBkYJejU7p9LdbAxkkD7pYmfYVCa1wS5aRI1L2GcOYjMTsofkeM4V8Ueo_5D8kdDpGxvlWXW5h6IH9Sr/s820/IMG_3202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfsDMwz9-qv6Mlfrpx6XI8ErAGJXJy84JdECPCcICI976eFHJp05Wz84zyHQFbgxKa_Frxuyh85BQuICE5-cwiB7IrwVdG1dPG79DWHfmMBkYJejU7p9LdbAxkkD7pYmfYVCa1wS5aRI1L2GcOYjMTsofkeM4V8Ueo_5D8kdDpGxvlWXW5h6IH9Sr/s320/IMG_3202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc12iDz6KY3pAlt7hGgfsVAImH46xeIfyRuGDEgemuN_KNOqXEAwVT_cg4Kg48MGdp7w07HOC96sm_aVX0F9mwMYZHZbRyE_9zauLtLuJMkUYEKmy9yFYooN8UQVe4Tvs4jDZYg1ALRGkD62vzbiESLeX8SevoiBBXrDJF6kD6WnAA19oaP7l5nAhl/s820/IMG_3211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc12iDz6KY3pAlt7hGgfsVAImH46xeIfyRuGDEgemuN_KNOqXEAwVT_cg4Kg48MGdp7w07HOC96sm_aVX0F9mwMYZHZbRyE_9zauLtLuJMkUYEKmy9yFYooN8UQVe4Tvs4jDZYg1ALRGkD62vzbiESLeX8SevoiBBXrDJF6kD6WnAA19oaP7l5nAhl/s320/IMG_3211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwCrMuF0XMeaO15KshRXDywD9A_PYiA7SAL4K4zpeQyJyk948YppGSoQzrmzxoAgRojVtMOk64hblBzQpEJz1NdBo5GXfQzR5IwWwfyasYTm-v0arBwL74F7rhMow8I4ggYo0NiW4h-grLGgpeUPEna1J-Gul7UVB8848YT2NpdehMOKsIsIFHk54/s820/IMG_3213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwCrMuF0XMeaO15KshRXDywD9A_PYiA7SAL4K4zpeQyJyk948YppGSoQzrmzxoAgRojVtMOk64hblBzQpEJz1NdBo5GXfQzR5IwWwfyasYTm-v0arBwL74F7rhMow8I4ggYo0NiW4h-grLGgpeUPEna1J-Gul7UVB8848YT2NpdehMOKsIsIFHk54/s320/IMG_3213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw5PH-DiWvEN4R8CDFihh0tKQCbiJrUYx9Rz0FjqJodxxRgI_ukSKDqwM2xF_QNIDfwhlqEpzgP_6jBn6H4ahpAhX_j22NOXNHKxY7JDz4CAJS47S48ysowThNGsZHVcFeW0_Xav4LiPu2F10N8ulxiHHliqxE5meBlgMp6hY2Pa6bb2MJ-oVFdYN/s820/IMG_3215.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw5PH-DiWvEN4R8CDFihh0tKQCbiJrUYx9Rz0FjqJodxxRgI_ukSKDqwM2xF_QNIDfwhlqEpzgP_6jBn6H4ahpAhX_j22NOXNHKxY7JDz4CAJS47S48ysowThNGsZHVcFeW0_Xav4LiPu2F10N8ulxiHHliqxE5meBlgMp6hY2Pa6bb2MJ-oVFdYN/s320/IMG_3215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Egg hidden on the roof</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-DfvGCigc9_id_tMLmMNYVR-HAOQ5-NNc4Ui4x4cB3eehSTiqKBBrSgtFo9ZlMHyOZd2NNQ50UHfivCcZQRtFs8eo0BJ4k2H4u3I_yOv6UlYGZnTES9ZzYfE-hzbVwlTd5OqE-8MW8KEnMw7lNnW2CVUWeBkwg_jJV8uWb_A6K07SFvypm2hmnhY/s820/IMG_3224.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-DfvGCigc9_id_tMLmMNYVR-HAOQ5-NNc4Ui4x4cB3eehSTiqKBBrSgtFo9ZlMHyOZd2NNQ50UHfivCcZQRtFs8eo0BJ4k2H4u3I_yOv6UlYGZnTES9ZzYfE-hzbVwlTd5OqE-8MW8KEnMw7lNnW2CVUWeBkwg_jJV8uWb_A6K07SFvypm2hmnhY/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Egg hidden in the pool</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiue2QnmKjTZWHizS1UyvQCAeQ4zNwLUFjUa50sN1Fhu-aT9tGf_Nu7JdY2szDB1H-6AHE86aQ_2PJeuzXwJNIkUVOr1WvDxrNB7SaNTsmJzQO-T08sWaJt4RNcfUA0Z78BiE1kGx9WypK3zPglrB9D9xTFhTOCWPbykx_EPEGGszZks9bxyTwABKq/s820/IMG_3219.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiue2QnmKjTZWHizS1UyvQCAeQ4zNwLUFjUa50sN1Fhu-aT9tGf_Nu7JdY2szDB1H-6AHE86aQ_2PJeuzXwJNIkUVOr1WvDxrNB7SaNTsmJzQO-T08sWaJt4RNcfUA0Z78BiE1kGx9WypK3zPglrB9D9xTFhTOCWPbykx_EPEGGszZks9bxyTwABKq/s320/IMG_3219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRQwlryW0xSjcPsbDhl1CCtkX97lLLI6Og__REy3tiDSSW2r1eTY0pveQvaiR5RBMtsh8noDUOL2D2gdNa4Lah6D4K0raogY0P5Z5iVqdHpew9X3jTJqYvq5UJu8ryyTrm11InhW5zBWfRtwQ2NjL0oVrWse8CPZ-7jg-HMfSxPucAe6RHWzKt77O/s1094/IMG_3227.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRQwlryW0xSjcPsbDhl1CCtkX97lLLI6Og__REy3tiDSSW2r1eTY0pveQvaiR5RBMtsh8noDUOL2D2gdNa4Lah6D4K0raogY0P5Z5iVqdHpew9X3jTJqYvq5UJu8ryyTrm11InhW5zBWfRtwQ2NjL0oVrWse8CPZ-7jg-HMfSxPucAe6RHWzKt77O/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Lake Lure for Easter Octave</h2><p>We spent the last few Easter octave days with Pop-Pops in a wonderful cabin at Lake Lure. It was refreshing to have a slower pace and relax. Thank you so much for this gift, Keith Lauer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0SQnD9vMrAZkZocxeLFgbdx-MdjjN255d57UMZ2WB6XcUuLK9KSaAINnMVXStTP6UzsJvGyp7FZgESpEaNfjGo-d-3IvQ90fbgvvxne1oElzxWxn_m7r7Ja4wiYeMoZ__JTpNp8UZA3vqbY9AMs7qbWv5RIDWFaXZbZcOQNcAKKo4kv5N5ot8Ju_/s1094/IMG_3236.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0SQnD9vMrAZkZocxeLFgbdx-MdjjN255d57UMZ2WB6XcUuLK9KSaAINnMVXStTP6UzsJvGyp7FZgESpEaNfjGo-d-3IvQ90fbgvvxne1oElzxWxn_m7r7Ja4wiYeMoZ__JTpNp8UZA3vqbY9AMs7qbWv5RIDWFaXZbZcOQNcAKKo4kv5N5ot8Ju_/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1SsQdOpH_smBt2mxHeurjUWLBTZpuK_BzMlYBN6MJs8a9SFiWpVfVd1uL9GsCtTiP3mEcHYEifaupAuR-VJDK31ZSlFG2G2LIKS7P6dxXaqrixoeymUNHeu7pBdCp6O05TRi1usVG86OmCJ2nXk18sfXSG_JLnxpVXVoLNFMp63CTC9dVF-duMIM/s820/IMG_3238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1SsQdOpH_smBt2mxHeurjUWLBTZpuK_BzMlYBN6MJs8a9SFiWpVfVd1uL9GsCtTiP3mEcHYEifaupAuR-VJDK31ZSlFG2G2LIKS7P6dxXaqrixoeymUNHeu7pBdCp6O05TRi1usVG86OmCJ2nXk18sfXSG_JLnxpVXVoLNFMp63CTC9dVF-duMIM/s320/IMG_3238.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZsEbbpBLvdyiJS6zUQMJHK6t2W7o9UFMo6qlyBULaxd-IyROKCVAphojfibIcqJvMOp-XMtpDsX5EJIeHjyQa7KxiNSMdNtY0wxu7jLv6Ab7BHYkBZUtlDxNB_6PfCo5ps8O65iW4ka5l8hwW4Aoz7jQT3nnPyP-5hxz7PubAz6qaQ-Uk1FEGUdB/s820/IMG_3241.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZsEbbpBLvdyiJS6zUQMJHK6t2W7o9UFMo6qlyBULaxd-IyROKCVAphojfibIcqJvMOp-XMtpDsX5EJIeHjyQa7KxiNSMdNtY0wxu7jLv6Ab7BHYkBZUtlDxNB_6PfCo5ps8O65iW4ka5l8hwW4Aoz7jQT3nnPyP-5hxz7PubAz6qaQ-Uk1FEGUdB/s320/IMG_3241.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2syypkewBcqVuND7i70nv6uI2uIh_cPEEHHUClyeynXW_79a-IWByCCVYGMZdUrj3hBZw238NAR2QeCUf4az5kaSWwEg9gBp3OnxdsIs-ob6_px7OswVtJSYVVN235scO8WBWSBtQXfmnkDUecmUlB3GDaH-0LhLeXL7OoEKLFmwqEizpqzux-py/s820/IMG_3244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2syypkewBcqVuND7i70nv6uI2uIh_cPEEHHUClyeynXW_79a-IWByCCVYGMZdUrj3hBZw238NAR2QeCUf4az5kaSWwEg9gBp3OnxdsIs-ob6_px7OswVtJSYVVN235scO8WBWSBtQXfmnkDUecmUlB3GDaH-0LhLeXL7OoEKLFmwqEizpqzux-py/s320/IMG_3244.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNQLuDcot3DkvWagx5lNDQNNCZhqoLJ5ij8mL09eKXCWGDrA9hZlBVfN7xNEovT4dNXNtMAaxiOaQagB4YzgdH4xpcV2YI47HmL5rBuEcf60Dw0ImkoeyorOnxyOv8A8CfW8HmdbQUhKoVV4BJJbHNebhLl7SWFMOY7TcoKZk0qYYJ3TWt81TATiB/s820/IMG_3308.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNQLuDcot3DkvWagx5lNDQNNCZhqoLJ5ij8mL09eKXCWGDrA9hZlBVfN7xNEovT4dNXNtMAaxiOaQagB4YzgdH4xpcV2YI47HmL5rBuEcf60Dw0ImkoeyorOnxyOv8A8CfW8HmdbQUhKoVV4BJJbHNebhLl7SWFMOY7TcoKZk0qYYJ3TWt81TATiB/s320/IMG_3308.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ifap0z0zOGQdaRN_xktrA3LSb3dv5ELa98YItgG5ALlnSFTmulfW9q5sEY26etbTtdAxNCNga9P36MuxcifIc7ifG-MvQaCf4fc9esP7moG-y7fWu5iylh2-6OHN_Uil6sZcEczgzIyGH5qYeNnS6yXWphODnvixdV29qF1zqLt1D57tR7sXQmLr/s1094/IMG_3313.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ifap0z0zOGQdaRN_xktrA3LSb3dv5ELa98YItgG5ALlnSFTmulfW9q5sEY26etbTtdAxNCNga9P36MuxcifIc7ifG-MvQaCf4fc9esP7moG-y7fWu5iylh2-6OHN_Uil6sZcEczgzIyGH5qYeNnS6yXWphODnvixdV29qF1zqLt1D57tR7sXQmLr/s320/IMG_3313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmt9FMEoIOY4L7Gt7QWmrQvqXux2DyGg_pRi6pdXuSmx3U7bECVtTJtp-bAPA86HyjTcPr_uzzgHaqpfEm5WJWcTDD_Yr0pjcfwPJpQ0HKWyCnGk7QRRa8XtObCcgBZ9T4TkwlGizdniFvL180hoKcxAM4ZKZtZbXxRVCs90aPiLnpLn0mTffCtIp/s1094/IMG_3318.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmt9FMEoIOY4L7Gt7QWmrQvqXux2DyGg_pRi6pdXuSmx3U7bECVtTJtp-bAPA86HyjTcPr_uzzgHaqpfEm5WJWcTDD_Yr0pjcfwPJpQ0HKWyCnGk7QRRa8XtObCcgBZ9T4TkwlGizdniFvL180hoKcxAM4ZKZtZbXxRVCs90aPiLnpLn0mTffCtIp/s320/IMG_3318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9tqOdKYlbeCQT0W7pcWbvVKGOrimkaz0XOe8vvmWqkn9mG5-nd75gSH-7oAKcz91znM8GhzV-YrN9N2cY3ZxZr0aLWk0Ay18yxg3_JiuxMyXOl8wBds6r_27JOkyTqW-V6wMSAnGf-ElCULrtB2K7HM_IXwNDnwUp75jFJo0avP9xxTKjTAe5QPV/s1094/IMG_3319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9tqOdKYlbeCQT0W7pcWbvVKGOrimkaz0XOe8vvmWqkn9mG5-nd75gSH-7oAKcz91znM8GhzV-YrN9N2cY3ZxZr0aLWk0Ay18yxg3_JiuxMyXOl8wBds6r_27JOkyTqW-V6wMSAnGf-ElCULrtB2K7HM_IXwNDnwUp75jFJo0avP9xxTKjTAe5QPV/s320/IMG_3319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7IA1Dp-t9Ku1g_QtKfFfO8tN4-voJj3-1jJU9a9tS27kk5JwbK8tb_gIHwkwC_H-rLEQjcLGQWYWnUoBTbS5VLv5-idek1V5rMOiw3wxu0mW8iLpduIMpPWkKsIk1KizCM1RuiAWjlXK04L11mEauOpLqkYYssNjzIjna4QMaRJ_VDzkgTeNAL44/s820/IMG_3320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7IA1Dp-t9Ku1g_QtKfFfO8tN4-voJj3-1jJU9a9tS27kk5JwbK8tb_gIHwkwC_H-rLEQjcLGQWYWnUoBTbS5VLv5-idek1V5rMOiw3wxu0mW8iLpduIMpPWkKsIk1KizCM1RuiAWjlXK04L11mEauOpLqkYYssNjzIjna4QMaRJ_VDzkgTeNAL44/s320/IMG_3320.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkeoJ5Ao47Fi2-ceEdFU6spNCTOQT-c9dOOJZOatwqM5HEu8cuj6kzfvSr2SbBOz08fti40oReWBzdWvbNPXucZKMDziVluCjvtZ5ozrAsd65icanMXg9GqQjX9aAkDrPhjSf63hRn8MvvTSWLg0O-jZSMnZvDvDaTCYvFbkdGBCMh_3cI43U5PRM/s820/IMG_3327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkeoJ5Ao47Fi2-ceEdFU6spNCTOQT-c9dOOJZOatwqM5HEu8cuj6kzfvSr2SbBOz08fti40oReWBzdWvbNPXucZKMDziVluCjvtZ5ozrAsd65icanMXg9GqQjX9aAkDrPhjSf63hRn8MvvTSWLg0O-jZSMnZvDvDaTCYvFbkdGBCMh_3cI43U5PRM/s320/IMG_3327.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lake Lure Flowering Bridge (Botanical Gardens)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3Ygb2KK2E-HpXLnAVotjSvD2JEawoD9wjhrmcDMADPG44I89eRJj41DIFOsKabOPaIlObufldaaoSFqjr71Km2eA4TGhNQZkngxzAiLq-kgPWfTtS0qWAVxh_gtjJF9WInOqEQEtCwK0__KJfeNc-qbQc8eXLoAcUgdutQNFSfJE5jpqaKxNzFjz/s820/IMG_3251.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3Ygb2KK2E-HpXLnAVotjSvD2JEawoD9wjhrmcDMADPG44I89eRJj41DIFOsKabOPaIlObufldaaoSFqjr71Km2eA4TGhNQZkngxzAiLq-kgPWfTtS0qWAVxh_gtjJF9WInOqEQEtCwK0__KJfeNc-qbQc8eXLoAcUgdutQNFSfJE5jpqaKxNzFjz/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Botanical Gardens</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB2aAi9Aui_1k8Oelonz_PijVbq7HvSy-XSozbyHrqM7mV3q1MCPs5_jJYv6W2ai9taVXZbosNqHHDurWvJKbfjRN_BM0drjqCQy7PpUWifVA8LlzQxXw9gatrkznYTkfTpaZIxnrFw5ZPuXmNl2aeiazfI1wndol23otgV_sA1T1SGRw76Neaaor/s883/IMG_3247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB2aAi9Aui_1k8Oelonz_PijVbq7HvSy-XSozbyHrqM7mV3q1MCPs5_jJYv6W2ai9taVXZbosNqHHDurWvJKbfjRN_BM0drjqCQy7PpUWifVA8LlzQxXw9gatrkznYTkfTpaZIxnrFw5ZPuXmNl2aeiazfI1wndol23otgV_sA1T1SGRw76Neaaor/s320/IMG_3247.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW_jKou_bjxpu_Uthz_z99LW2gqVvyiuiq7Cy9WdoEo-lgdFFmvWN2EBE28EsERPomKXxPnHwrqeLeWNnHHwr3UNzr6WkVlXdHTJRyU1gR3Btb5e5otTxMU13cZa2esmRLF4EnKzF1jJkYNGgH9OJB2au0FcXaLEyOdVnfBJv8O13oBNY_7eycwJW/s820/IMG_3248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW_jKou_bjxpu_Uthz_z99LW2gqVvyiuiq7Cy9WdoEo-lgdFFmvWN2EBE28EsERPomKXxPnHwrqeLeWNnHHwr3UNzr6WkVlXdHTJRyU1gR3Btb5e5otTxMU13cZa2esmRLF4EnKzF1jJkYNGgH9OJB2au0FcXaLEyOdVnfBJv8O13oBNY_7eycwJW/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2kjgu8yIeniOGBSowBKExKX1ef8-zFv9aNtAC4wq-kcvPgyzPZd3k2dhUy2xWANkbixXybaPD4TJYgFyrW0FekA3NHxq7JF6f5xeOLyJxYy7fkuXF3iA8gXB51V-rAkwNTV0TxTdxZ4s3w3zkksdLoCcZSJ06LdQind0QFT1XgfIHUZH7mJahgZ1/s820/IMG_3249.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2kjgu8yIeniOGBSowBKExKX1ef8-zFv9aNtAC4wq-kcvPgyzPZd3k2dhUy2xWANkbixXybaPD4TJYgFyrW0FekA3NHxq7JF6f5xeOLyJxYy7fkuXF3iA8gXB51V-rAkwNTV0TxTdxZ4s3w3zkksdLoCcZSJ06LdQind0QFT1XgfIHUZH7mJahgZ1/s320/IMG_3249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXpQAC--4vmqHE0xVRJkIj8QFuWknPr2iYufIM5J2UEMpDzeutcRHufBw6T54tLvmIKmO7EFrchIuFtAf4j2eZIE9pmWP202cX2yIsTmtbAAfj5ucryty4WMQOy0xEOqFM3YqSsU6SVBtckF3ld4nvldBH8CGGlcskNzkPVvdKWpibPIkO515XIOY/s820/IMG_3253.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXpQAC--4vmqHE0xVRJkIj8QFuWknPr2iYufIM5J2UEMpDzeutcRHufBw6T54tLvmIKmO7EFrchIuFtAf4j2eZIE9pmWP202cX2yIsTmtbAAfj5ucryty4WMQOy0xEOqFM3YqSsU6SVBtckF3ld4nvldBH8CGGlcskNzkPVvdKWpibPIkO515XIOY/s320/IMG_3253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyG3nJjKFvhf-Po2c0LTW8-rKRmMK8ZIiFUD6YUL2wr9RNs2OjH73BgfyB7qBI4kYs-n6NtbxFvrK0v5sv3oJz-b6eclAhkjpk19sYbSN1DoWPVWPo4PJKCRe9Wn8urtOI9xl9-VfMmf0OLsrWJF3fnLHMh5HxTbYhwtFDEuCAWdKaoeTr4y8bUlc/s1094/IMG_3255.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyG3nJjKFvhf-Po2c0LTW8-rKRmMK8ZIiFUD6YUL2wr9RNs2OjH73BgfyB7qBI4kYs-n6NtbxFvrK0v5sv3oJz-b6eclAhkjpk19sYbSN1DoWPVWPo4PJKCRe9Wn8urtOI9xl9-VfMmf0OLsrWJF3fnLHMh5HxTbYhwtFDEuCAWdKaoeTr4y8bUlc/s320/IMG_3255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaMe3MhiQAQtXuAUJ87IoPVHHlY6HT4ZZDRIuobUyXxebSrkiAarwZMcfxfc8zRf8HKI9IF7M-UcweimZnpXdvphu0f7meWz4rSqFE8N5Gv9r1FLhkOg4HyQglLsHQHKAOBXm4jLtDA88RB12j_2j4HPWA1Vulni6I0gubQ6QvJjrqEvJ4RNx4JGg/s1094/IMG_3256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaMe3MhiQAQtXuAUJ87IoPVHHlY6HT4ZZDRIuobUyXxebSrkiAarwZMcfxfc8zRf8HKI9IF7M-UcweimZnpXdvphu0f7meWz4rSqFE8N5Gv9r1FLhkOg4HyQglLsHQHKAOBXm4jLtDA88RB12j_2j4HPWA1Vulni6I0gubQ6QvJjrqEvJ4RNx4JGg/s320/IMG_3256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqziLBbb9sPHhHi29Q2a72t-iwAiyGCBoL_eqCYYpZQwRb8sarWC6wm3Z9_6q3ZBHFD-qfP2hbCSDw7ydA7ROhXAcVpHLyhr9GDINRofJmAKlnfEy0u8CRfB9sA6Ojn9Y8DXxjrNttCLJGc6x-xL8dz21yVFdECczn31HSAKdBd_M6OUQYLQXXHo0r/s820/IMG_3257.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqziLBbb9sPHhHi29Q2a72t-iwAiyGCBoL_eqCYYpZQwRb8sarWC6wm3Z9_6q3ZBHFD-qfP2hbCSDw7ydA7ROhXAcVpHLyhr9GDINRofJmAKlnfEy0u8CRfB9sA6Ojn9Y8DXxjrNttCLJGc6x-xL8dz21yVFdECczn31HSAKdBd_M6OUQYLQXXHo0r/s320/IMG_3257.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXRc3HzBaWvOkUWoenTGBB56fZRaJrlyEmPso6DE3InaF9dFajc1ylLNB1wEXe3sMAmn_oLz2iivsVDVYO30aglTj8CxZI9rzRhYr8wwp2sNFAOn3pNlhqVfOwu9HqOghBS7upFf17gDV3OqNylvd0ZEeLNtoDhQtLkK1aY2BmXKLCx4m8ec370cn/s820/IMG_3259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXRc3HzBaWvOkUWoenTGBB56fZRaJrlyEmPso6DE3InaF9dFajc1ylLNB1wEXe3sMAmn_oLz2iivsVDVYO30aglTj8CxZI9rzRhYr8wwp2sNFAOn3pNlhqVfOwu9HqOghBS7upFf17gDV3OqNylvd0ZEeLNtoDhQtLkK1aY2BmXKLCx4m8ec370cn/s320/IMG_3259.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfghMSdLLK80Q47888YWKGJtWRmhLniMmHQfiEgNrxXyCtRKyJFQLZHbH6qZ7KNJKQTI361wBIK2oGfMiGh6Gf2WNC5O8uOCZ-KZWcahRueNYnMZ6VnGW4d6ZtdS8sP5h6vMekG959DhnRmJ2nZQ5ulF-EzMM0dP1394JjUxLxN7vg2ypRelrqDuA/s820/IMG_3260.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfghMSdLLK80Q47888YWKGJtWRmhLniMmHQfiEgNrxXyCtRKyJFQLZHbH6qZ7KNJKQTI361wBIK2oGfMiGh6Gf2WNC5O8uOCZ-KZWcahRueNYnMZ6VnGW4d6ZtdS8sP5h6vMekG959DhnRmJ2nZQ5ulF-EzMM0dP1394JjUxLxN7vg2ypRelrqDuA/s320/IMG_3260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl2uxL88siTRo-YCBB785wrzkESxVbKOcercmY1STVywBbMj-L3vcC9Po8TGKXvYoclc3j2nF4S1gGjJpivMjfL7cTwcfNxB9OxkwXYcbTOVAvfgZpbqPYal75imk8WD0C20Ig2IPRvKXfLdl3YiPpVZm2erndUizmTcbRCmDlerRhX_CPQReS5XI/s1094/IMG_3261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl2uxL88siTRo-YCBB785wrzkESxVbKOcercmY1STVywBbMj-L3vcC9Po8TGKXvYoclc3j2nF4S1gGjJpivMjfL7cTwcfNxB9OxkwXYcbTOVAvfgZpbqPYal75imk8WD0C20Ig2IPRvKXfLdl3YiPpVZm2erndUizmTcbRCmDlerRhX_CPQReS5XI/s320/IMG_3261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTIeqztFY8PUZFuojQfscx6_Ng9qqD3X5p8HrVkQUXjNCgh9_XHSRUgYR-epSOYCdNJTvFyOS4tG1dEIYE6NLsm8U7stZHJt4xV0R54iA7owqdFr1NpTccrCx062sU8_OQhatgnymBVG2tU3FTtP4vYY_aeM1fqf1OfrBCaGjhUjHg7sqYPoAbI-2/s1094/IMG_3263.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTIeqztFY8PUZFuojQfscx6_Ng9qqD3X5p8HrVkQUXjNCgh9_XHSRUgYR-epSOYCdNJTvFyOS4tG1dEIYE6NLsm8U7stZHJt4xV0R54iA7owqdFr1NpTccrCx062sU8_OQhatgnymBVG2tU3FTtP4vYY_aeM1fqf1OfrBCaGjhUjHg7sqYPoAbI-2/s320/IMG_3263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo0DUjRWcmh7N88kW_f3qL4dTF5Ae4Lf8odxWit8WlrSiXJs2KuIkEoKIeqpHMdaV5OEPkyXE335ojtKMErLoyt44Zntew6jq64D75eNUCf_GmNUnRTYI-SYOD3tNLzuWXoM-PkL-qE-SAdHIX0bIGEsuMOGix_fUoO4LQTwqWX3PZyBjifeIHbmk/s1094/IMG_3264.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo0DUjRWcmh7N88kW_f3qL4dTF5Ae4Lf8odxWit8WlrSiXJs2KuIkEoKIeqpHMdaV5OEPkyXE335ojtKMErLoyt44Zntew6jq64D75eNUCf_GmNUnRTYI-SYOD3tNLzuWXoM-PkL-qE-SAdHIX0bIGEsuMOGix_fUoO4LQTwqWX3PZyBjifeIHbmk/s320/IMG_3264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm34SSXOFN-T7e-jKqyTGfhScBSqxm3spoDIQMqqLBJc5cxttCGUvTX_WtehQ3IH68wPCpGWS-AoFTGRDPqG4BKpPkzX357Hjk82i18x6CRN9VLE1Nf-CfFODjZy2742YdZrVcok7DqwMzgcLwHMRZqhIN7tYEUhMFdX-gLoZT-pT8OOplWO1AG2IO/s1094/IMG_3265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm34SSXOFN-T7e-jKqyTGfhScBSqxm3spoDIQMqqLBJc5cxttCGUvTX_WtehQ3IH68wPCpGWS-AoFTGRDPqG4BKpPkzX357Hjk82i18x6CRN9VLE1Nf-CfFODjZy2742YdZrVcok7DqwMzgcLwHMRZqhIN7tYEUhMFdX-gLoZT-pT8OOplWO1AG2IO/s320/IMG_3265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QIJ0wt9lNqbj2_E2emeOeN24M17tBSmKMCGeCcdYBArzkMX-cx_7QnbPZV4ACvOEfvmzQ2-hqWwqYkIRxmiA18t7V15w9H0fUY0OY081OYdRCZQ-OiaWb1F1XqTRX5EsFjCj-SgNZG5fTDXBz6Ybx9uM3rduOr6DT3x8BiqrW4S4rHNSnyFCznM7/s1094/IMG_3266.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QIJ0wt9lNqbj2_E2emeOeN24M17tBSmKMCGeCcdYBArzkMX-cx_7QnbPZV4ACvOEfvmzQ2-hqWwqYkIRxmiA18t7V15w9H0fUY0OY081OYdRCZQ-OiaWb1F1XqTRX5EsFjCj-SgNZG5fTDXBz6Ybx9uM3rduOr6DT3x8BiqrW4S4rHNSnyFCznM7/s320/IMG_3266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKPxk6QdWKZHBCOuB3jjXmdIqt-ap3bM2vhd03KNjBvGyghTPIo4kQhILVmh4aX57zYEFrifMr6hV6JKAoEqm8lVTkYUkUGiD_ja3Yqidy3R4hHceVghG-pXNbzhQ79DyqzIsjJwAGMJgkkKmcEr6pajrZhCTR85_0YWXz-qQjvjWnt2ioEN9h-3_/s820/IMG_3267.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKPxk6QdWKZHBCOuB3jjXmdIqt-ap3bM2vhd03KNjBvGyghTPIo4kQhILVmh4aX57zYEFrifMr6hV6JKAoEqm8lVTkYUkUGiD_ja3Yqidy3R4hHceVghG-pXNbzhQ79DyqzIsjJwAGMJgkkKmcEr6pajrZhCTR85_0YWXz-qQjvjWnt2ioEN9h-3_/s320/IMG_3267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-WHcVpRynrFrk0SpMBT7QPMMwPbUKKM0W5mIq5qwGQUZEu2HlqtmmJ994IqkL3REYpoDd4BW-TJGg2_sHyl9o6Rp2iBk4aOLYEhwwl2nVcJf8pAOUoogGfpId3kCnoZBMjf8hRKCmWRH8FedBJa7_GHNrWYLviQmb1OdMocdmkoiYtCe2jsR_a3K/s820/IMG_3268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-WHcVpRynrFrk0SpMBT7QPMMwPbUKKM0W5mIq5qwGQUZEu2HlqtmmJ994IqkL3REYpoDd4BW-TJGg2_sHyl9o6Rp2iBk4aOLYEhwwl2nVcJf8pAOUoogGfpId3kCnoZBMjf8hRKCmWRH8FedBJa7_GHNrWYLviQmb1OdMocdmkoiYtCe2jsR_a3K/s320/IMG_3268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNbfn1MfuiZd4EaLoKcBkRtqpj1ftPNEkY26DDfbgwJUNZXsYObOda4ttrlfBLHkmDdixwQNk0vDqqaPU_w_AB9yUUt9TmgK2aiXncvl5Bgw5EZ929fnt5vSJInuRVH87s58zV6zj5fxANQkisxkYEKg946uDfCXL2FeJpPa-qEuIWwmkWsrslDDN/s820/IMG_3269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNbfn1MfuiZd4EaLoKcBkRtqpj1ftPNEkY26DDfbgwJUNZXsYObOda4ttrlfBLHkmDdixwQNk0vDqqaPU_w_AB9yUUt9TmgK2aiXncvl5Bgw5EZ929fnt5vSJInuRVH87s58zV6zj5fxANQkisxkYEKg946uDfCXL2FeJpPa-qEuIWwmkWsrslDDN/s320/IMG_3269.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN8HK93jfmjqLEBVIYLMh7ogV7QLAfQveqgXt8SicM9axWTJcLM1K0LOyVwJILTmk62jsQu6IWsYCMRCHrnkvOzeUSsFwHwYheO8WyBvQ_UsqMKEGxIYuSyVm_TyHrVTp0XEdeXFWNeXFHCXG9TDCeiK2eG-DrFQ7Csk9qo15w3OucgW0JplhjkZ9/s820/IMG_3270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN8HK93jfmjqLEBVIYLMh7ogV7QLAfQveqgXt8SicM9axWTJcLM1K0LOyVwJILTmk62jsQu6IWsYCMRCHrnkvOzeUSsFwHwYheO8WyBvQ_UsqMKEGxIYuSyVm_TyHrVTp0XEdeXFWNeXFHCXG9TDCeiK2eG-DrFQ7Csk9qo15w3OucgW0JplhjkZ9/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGBVHR-OVMJj_hX8orVhUz8lsmEa9OOsdFvxpK26RV9tTA4TvcoIaz2h0HHMVXRL6kxH7zOw_E8MQEaZvxpvDAKMTdyTPJEVnI6fP0yABZ4GlOMUGtK_6BRKgBWMvIm1W8mY0kuap46bFBwavvbDVEajfzwwe9YSf7Fx99Fq20raQ1B0hw3BeYXvi/s820/IMG_3271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGBVHR-OVMJj_hX8orVhUz8lsmEa9OOsdFvxpK26RV9tTA4TvcoIaz2h0HHMVXRL6kxH7zOw_E8MQEaZvxpvDAKMTdyTPJEVnI6fP0yABZ4GlOMUGtK_6BRKgBWMvIm1W8mY0kuap46bFBwavvbDVEajfzwwe9YSf7Fx99Fq20raQ1B0hw3BeYXvi/s320/IMG_3271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4eaNmz04kA_GX_djUkRpR66Tv0R_Z3qsjtoVRNgZi496_Xqn7YjXevB2ZyMd6lyHOluujl-kvRqXTLspDwaktjT2_igXmPI5MaaPx8JCNin6RSxchqLD_7c3I2JCUggGz1lYfAwPbpFpHKGZzrgqDQtl5fN39795vgmdDwnPfciYWqwSt8Z2Zvhx/s1094/IMG_3272.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4eaNmz04kA_GX_djUkRpR66Tv0R_Z3qsjtoVRNgZi496_Xqn7YjXevB2ZyMd6lyHOluujl-kvRqXTLspDwaktjT2_igXmPI5MaaPx8JCNin6RSxchqLD_7c3I2JCUggGz1lYfAwPbpFpHKGZzrgqDQtl5fN39795vgmdDwnPfciYWqwSt8Z2Zvhx/s320/IMG_3272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMT8mbCwsbrCtAxESKNlhfTaSIPLY8XhSky4qcnzNMzAZ4c0Y-zbeTnRz-nIszFhhs7mA9O1nXT6rAX62j1_4s_x1AgEHPUJxLySddBDGTlLI3C5UAFR9S6KdA_R4DRL8OGaMYDyMlhckA7Noe4Tgb4TXHnDlP8aUilbrONoNtC0aXoNpjLneik0L/s1094/IMG_3273.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMT8mbCwsbrCtAxESKNlhfTaSIPLY8XhSky4qcnzNMzAZ4c0Y-zbeTnRz-nIszFhhs7mA9O1nXT6rAX62j1_4s_x1AgEHPUJxLySddBDGTlLI3C5UAFR9S6KdA_R4DRL8OGaMYDyMlhckA7Noe4Tgb4TXHnDlP8aUilbrONoNtC0aXoNpjLneik0L/s320/IMG_3273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEIUTGHj385Ne_7N0t6HAnQVhdE7C2D_dw80qIJ6GpkwCSb9AMtcXbO411N3WNvThpblBCSDYQ7a1OFvCcB25Y_P1nH02FuWl-64AWBwUuLkHj6WxDDKa547qTlOg2E88MLFGvjlZ10kb-JR9bcsDG8HQa2JYge9-SBvNtaIyZ9B_TTYHJaZwqtaI/s820/IMG_3274.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEIUTGHj385Ne_7N0t6HAnQVhdE7C2D_dw80qIJ6GpkwCSb9AMtcXbO411N3WNvThpblBCSDYQ7a1OFvCcB25Y_P1nH02FuWl-64AWBwUuLkHj6WxDDKa547qTlOg2E88MLFGvjlZ10kb-JR9bcsDG8HQa2JYge9-SBvNtaIyZ9B_TTYHJaZwqtaI/s320/IMG_3274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCr7tOOLyEz8C7qmJ7KlBGTCx3My_G7V-6XhQnW_iEX1f6t76AcvGMw-zFPZ8hPzJC1_RMz78xz1r5xtmsg5r1J4Omobu4CNMIppsPfJ_B1y6pkledi-RLuE6us7JBXHF7S8FByRxV2y53vIzLpyqBqnEYYc7XbtQzV0DEyQ2b-BOlZIfATMum0NX/s820/IMG_3275.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCr7tOOLyEz8C7qmJ7KlBGTCx3My_G7V-6XhQnW_iEX1f6t76AcvGMw-zFPZ8hPzJC1_RMz78xz1r5xtmsg5r1J4Omobu4CNMIppsPfJ_B1y6pkledi-RLuE6us7JBXHF7S8FByRxV2y53vIzLpyqBqnEYYc7XbtQzV0DEyQ2b-BOlZIfATMum0NX/s320/IMG_3275.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUwR1rZ-L60hvtGwnBIosijmf5uqAxs_uM_lMfUfkWMsb1h931FrRVEO0X7CCmDbyvtxXZqd0PzHxim4lzk7l7evekF8caMBy95n9zQOoW3JC5kY1DJpUVF9WZsSJhkAZ2ZKPi4zWbYcJao_BGzdpAzDaaiZ-Cyh-goi6oRlt8_n_rWNAY7oMpree/s820/IMG_3276.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUwR1rZ-L60hvtGwnBIosijmf5uqAxs_uM_lMfUfkWMsb1h931FrRVEO0X7CCmDbyvtxXZqd0PzHxim4lzk7l7evekF8caMBy95n9zQOoW3JC5kY1DJpUVF9WZsSJhkAZ2ZKPi4zWbYcJao_BGzdpAzDaaiZ-Cyh-goi6oRlt8_n_rWNAY7oMpree/s320/IMG_3276.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNOjPOQJspRGRyN3v_ZiVu0y1I4n0dZeuiQEi6_Yrf4qejoPkgOxXirftEiAjfpRXWSVCv5xYswEo4Pp6Y49zcAfcHr4SmrkO1hLOzZ-J_Tg5AT1_hEwjHvi1SvUzUyCDoLX2jcqRaQ_2PVnNpCNCOd23BXcnF0127Ff_VfDXkjPiLFu4ZnKpNfCX/s820/IMG_3278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNOjPOQJspRGRyN3v_ZiVu0y1I4n0dZeuiQEi6_Yrf4qejoPkgOxXirftEiAjfpRXWSVCv5xYswEo4Pp6Y49zcAfcHr4SmrkO1hLOzZ-J_Tg5AT1_hEwjHvi1SvUzUyCDoLX2jcqRaQ_2PVnNpCNCOd23BXcnF0127Ff_VfDXkjPiLFu4ZnKpNfCX/s320/IMG_3278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvO0nIsccI-7q8dNLv2s3xxwBMWBMZWUvepDK80a8tRqoKQhyWW1RfjhP7AMIDfSd4OE9Y1N4PzkYil-opwtdKxfwms9VmEKsODdcguNfsJXDa28FW2UV4j14DmNCUXHjkE_SuH9_e8w9drabn1k0lkPE0l3LgdkFchLoletyFmvfGZ33o4hKfWlK0/s820/IMG_3279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvO0nIsccI-7q8dNLv2s3xxwBMWBMZWUvepDK80a8tRqoKQhyWW1RfjhP7AMIDfSd4OE9Y1N4PzkYil-opwtdKxfwms9VmEKsODdcguNfsJXDa28FW2UV4j14DmNCUXHjkE_SuH9_e8w9drabn1k0lkPE0l3LgdkFchLoletyFmvfGZ33o4hKfWlK0/s320/IMG_3279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz6Z2AIs4YRU9-WcyGfK-G4IIl7tXGEb_5pfm33Pz35nrenF-FRAqfjS1Wguf7vVc06RKBGjuNQmWfCmciQBUUHT4lr8cgaMHRWprE8bcBphCC9bqyK1l5W2_GHkqWVz-GI3oIzJue8TudzzQySab6ZifbYExbY6kox7_MgAyf-q0iOU_4-7p3cLo/s820/IMG_3280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz6Z2AIs4YRU9-WcyGfK-G4IIl7tXGEb_5pfm33Pz35nrenF-FRAqfjS1Wguf7vVc06RKBGjuNQmWfCmciQBUUHT4lr8cgaMHRWprE8bcBphCC9bqyK1l5W2_GHkqWVz-GI3oIzJue8TudzzQySab6ZifbYExbY6kox7_MgAyf-q0iOU_4-7p3cLo/s320/IMG_3280.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh10ILcDml7FkSnSjwE1gnW22QYSLE2Xh4YsqBe4lR4tD83OAI0vP8ILylUTtKP1LVrDGNcwTkA5qfroRgA8mNMHijuDwJ40DWKZOnZTQZ_1dMdpdLtHIL8wO0DgGQUZiK1X4JA81an_VRuDp5uZyDGeWuuYgIld_-PuG1AIlCHglMf7kyGXOgqJ5U/s820/IMG_3281.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh10ILcDml7FkSnSjwE1gnW22QYSLE2Xh4YsqBe4lR4tD83OAI0vP8ILylUTtKP1LVrDGNcwTkA5qfroRgA8mNMHijuDwJ40DWKZOnZTQZ_1dMdpdLtHIL8wO0DgGQUZiK1X4JA81an_VRuDp5uZyDGeWuuYgIld_-PuG1AIlCHglMf7kyGXOgqJ5U/s320/IMG_3281.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGOe5ThiCXoKP6kf98GXyuZF-G44s-e5ffWxzVHBoS02ywbvHCXbTK-7odFzsk9Pt9MxBqhD54XKtY5XmI7HovjMBio2yml90-MXjOxm4LmQCo1VbuNW7rhpJ9vrELltvMY5HkMcLLENdQhSee-EI0PNyUBnpcWJizGERHAz2WsQ1_BGO91kGiUvH/s820/IMG_3282.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGOe5ThiCXoKP6kf98GXyuZF-G44s-e5ffWxzVHBoS02ywbvHCXbTK-7odFzsk9Pt9MxBqhD54XKtY5XmI7HovjMBio2yml90-MXjOxm4LmQCo1VbuNW7rhpJ9vrELltvMY5HkMcLLENdQhSee-EI0PNyUBnpcWJizGERHAz2WsQ1_BGO91kGiUvH/s320/IMG_3282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ovSXBamI8UuuXHDl8_YhK7SjQlmvPoF5Xyw4SNKRGeILrEb3UCunhqPEWwlj_2D3E7m6U9KHzOYeT-BXdgxIBqtvB5JxMGO0HywYKOgSo_9Nv6bk91lQt5FS61FYRJPJ1qd5-VUbJZOATfRPacw-9ddKWE5eNY4KGEVLjmVF22Y08qVUa1YZh_Nu/s820/IMG_3283.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ovSXBamI8UuuXHDl8_YhK7SjQlmvPoF5Xyw4SNKRGeILrEb3UCunhqPEWwlj_2D3E7m6U9KHzOYeT-BXdgxIBqtvB5JxMGO0HywYKOgSo_9Nv6bk91lQt5FS61FYRJPJ1qd5-VUbJZOATfRPacw-9ddKWE5eNY4KGEVLjmVF22Y08qVUa1YZh_Nu/s320/IMG_3283.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG_G-gEdOOvfKu4MaZS8ff6FxWEhLDlWCIv2yk8PiIuXLGEz4XzujUwTeJPN70LlmpSznL0vSKeoI1X6Gm5FuiJF6JUVDY8yuG95LKzXbe78eR13WJh5rCi2UUnLgSUvjwpE2x311in8KBC6b1Es_3z1IJm6Q6gFvxCkwi40VSnDKSpn11thRdGcx/s820/IMG_3284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG_G-gEdOOvfKu4MaZS8ff6FxWEhLDlWCIv2yk8PiIuXLGEz4XzujUwTeJPN70LlmpSznL0vSKeoI1X6Gm5FuiJF6JUVDY8yuG95LKzXbe78eR13WJh5rCi2UUnLgSUvjwpE2x311in8KBC6b1Es_3z1IJm6Q6gFvxCkwi40VSnDKSpn11thRdGcx/s320/IMG_3284.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKMvxoywbWRYj05bVXv21nKg-hYYJ4_txP_3uI6LTn4HqfAj56ujYXr53B6N3k14XFrNkpYn1J8ikuTQE5D3b8logr2-ZE8td85hVuVbd6mfzO4ci3z_oqTExirzee86s3evBn6oA7yGi2SV_jDnQUffkSyV86AQNHObA9xgbVmfJAs3z83jH75BU/s820/IMG_3285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKMvxoywbWRYj05bVXv21nKg-hYYJ4_txP_3uI6LTn4HqfAj56ujYXr53B6N3k14XFrNkpYn1J8ikuTQE5D3b8logr2-ZE8td85hVuVbd6mfzO4ci3z_oqTExirzee86s3evBn6oA7yGi2SV_jDnQUffkSyV86AQNHObA9xgbVmfJAs3z83jH75BU/s320/IMG_3285.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppISol2pakmMXv0H0mhiVrClikd3UnuZsO1r1UYVtYGe6W9lf0V19Qs4KJcPVNI-xfn99KvObnGc0_caOjLpcmrss4rG-7FBA_RBFmKMuVcBaF72ikwe_clQmadaU0P7c-pg_pcTz6MHLeUNRI2D03_moXDbTqukNXEzaL8wdQxYuGhGG6-2KZ8NB/s820/IMG_3286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppISol2pakmMXv0H0mhiVrClikd3UnuZsO1r1UYVtYGe6W9lf0V19Qs4KJcPVNI-xfn99KvObnGc0_caOjLpcmrss4rG-7FBA_RBFmKMuVcBaF72ikwe_clQmadaU0P7c-pg_pcTz6MHLeUNRI2D03_moXDbTqukNXEzaL8wdQxYuGhGG6-2KZ8NB/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVi8JNRP7BVtneL4mDWOIc__94wGjTw75kj9-psO2AB7YcB-nNbYtSsApAEr3seuE-PH5AJD_xvEibHSnYGOTFeR2rzXrGThXYPfLJPlmWwP5BsVDof86mO4RSXZg4Y-E3TY7DnMNpu8lDsZcYXj6jSEEZtXjrLEror-WQ80d6FvmPwpOneDCcwJj/s820/IMG_3287.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVi8JNRP7BVtneL4mDWOIc__94wGjTw75kj9-psO2AB7YcB-nNbYtSsApAEr3seuE-PH5AJD_xvEibHSnYGOTFeR2rzXrGThXYPfLJPlmWwP5BsVDof86mO4RSXZg4Y-E3TY7DnMNpu8lDsZcYXj6jSEEZtXjrLEror-WQ80d6FvmPwpOneDCcwJj/s320/IMG_3287.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKXKLVeKwZKMIQTL7qTj48-RrR2AvU_GYJfZ3xNcz31-5U6hbOvmhvj4CFwYsTD_5qNKgGmT_bnK5Rk0ThJj0lTuZ4_Ne8JdO8clSAcBMaJj0nN_YbVeBVSBKQDp-h6fXazQwOU5vT5MlszCY49A56a18IIfJVZ7vzhnnoC1_dQydXI6U9rmFlxGg/s820/IMG_3288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKXKLVeKwZKMIQTL7qTj48-RrR2AvU_GYJfZ3xNcz31-5U6hbOvmhvj4CFwYsTD_5qNKgGmT_bnK5Rk0ThJj0lTuZ4_Ne8JdO8clSAcBMaJj0nN_YbVeBVSBKQDp-h6fXazQwOU5vT5MlszCY49A56a18IIfJVZ7vzhnnoC1_dQydXI6U9rmFlxGg/s320/IMG_3288.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IBZYUWd6td9Qn6PT8nIUKelKwdtsylSgcHKXu2kzSY8zWyENH5wrW8SdwntY0UjmeK2Iv39Dr_V1qZgV4pwaDm4OyoC-REf5aTLErD-aQrr0eXyiuFlLeUw_C-a4IxAM2cmg-wW0Zy4rQLFwdwfFBTPu1_oE99iNhJCx2ggYYAg4ZljOsGx80hE1/s1094/IMG_3289.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IBZYUWd6td9Qn6PT8nIUKelKwdtsylSgcHKXu2kzSY8zWyENH5wrW8SdwntY0UjmeK2Iv39Dr_V1qZgV4pwaDm4OyoC-REf5aTLErD-aQrr0eXyiuFlLeUw_C-a4IxAM2cmg-wW0Zy4rQLFwdwfFBTPu1_oE99iNhJCx2ggYYAg4ZljOsGx80hE1/s320/IMG_3289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chimney Rock</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpagMofPwgtbxF7CsEKeOyv05RFxOKuYpGvEtHyWX-jWI7MdkoMuSSoJJ8BPy41Z83Calw4Fwvm11Ordo-bPTwxrDqynOCKx7JEsXSu3OzgpCVnJ6Bi3B1w9vRBIRDoJxcsC3VUJVA9ehHeYLLRkBIpHjKhrY4wN7dQYqTbK1STK0Aw1EyadtAZIkN/s820/IMG_3290.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpagMofPwgtbxF7CsEKeOyv05RFxOKuYpGvEtHyWX-jWI7MdkoMuSSoJJ8BPy41Z83Calw4Fwvm11Ordo-bPTwxrDqynOCKx7JEsXSu3OzgpCVnJ6Bi3B1w9vRBIRDoJxcsC3VUJVA9ehHeYLLRkBIpHjKhrY4wN7dQYqTbK1STK0Aw1EyadtAZIkN/s320/IMG_3290.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg121AAXiijJcC5ViRRHFh9Ebt0DeyMuiOgDK29rzMttXnyvjwSKCZBjDCB2JL9J3YQWqxhJNiS5ThF8EkMWximZpGQrPK4aaJiq5j8w3PyOFSL6fYfjScjgeXhp4DoaMHsqCkTFaadpvmqgt3NJUKLFmB_kx-xTUg4Mw0BQ8dqqLC8Ta0ZNfHOB2bm/s820/IMG_3291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg121AAXiijJcC5ViRRHFh9Ebt0DeyMuiOgDK29rzMttXnyvjwSKCZBjDCB2JL9J3YQWqxhJNiS5ThF8EkMWximZpGQrPK4aaJiq5j8w3PyOFSL6fYfjScjgeXhp4DoaMHsqCkTFaadpvmqgt3NJUKLFmB_kx-xTUg4Mw0BQ8dqqLC8Ta0ZNfHOB2bm/s320/IMG_3291.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd0Uyaks8rkDtIF5vhAtvxD7upmaixGtNqHzVPG7rdg7nQ7iW271Sf3IFgRw1mbgNlBVs18ogoZE8cIIAtKU6ag2SmwNf2jmdbV-788cPLPTWXPGpAkfaKa4E6TVaEEAwhu_YG124aoXwgf-A-9M2Cs5Uy9ZnfGgACUu8XJGnX2s3s6FbxMjt1Zm0/s820/IMG_3295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd0Uyaks8rkDtIF5vhAtvxD7upmaixGtNqHzVPG7rdg7nQ7iW271Sf3IFgRw1mbgNlBVs18ogoZE8cIIAtKU6ag2SmwNf2jmdbV-788cPLPTWXPGpAkfaKa4E6TVaEEAwhu_YG124aoXwgf-A-9M2Cs5Uy9ZnfGgACUu8XJGnX2s3s6FbxMjt1Zm0/s320/IMG_3295.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl097MWedN16FGKbqc22BP73UnfKyZ8xb-p4ZX6XFzBYdIzelj_X33nUdUgV22HUwQWrXU1_u1F7tIonTy4_vMXoiycYKfqhP29D3excB9e5dRjgZ4jnz4XHcKK_Wk9my9A3hTINN5xqLdqKpqgOb7Pes2ms-D9rPKSaTQ2UqZKW9L0QU2fFqbdUL/s820/IMG_3299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl097MWedN16FGKbqc22BP73UnfKyZ8xb-p4ZX6XFzBYdIzelj_X33nUdUgV22HUwQWrXU1_u1F7tIonTy4_vMXoiycYKfqhP29D3excB9e5dRjgZ4jnz4XHcKK_Wk9my9A3hTINN5xqLdqKpqgOb7Pes2ms-D9rPKSaTQ2UqZKW9L0QU2fFqbdUL/s320/IMG_3299.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqttdS8x0nKKcwVwvz3LeIgqPkGhV8yl1nOukuVtMEGFQ4Ljpggjihz90zcyGQXz43mkAkJ75oyD441h_Z4X46Cl1Buyt0_E577Ki0xT_0AAL3UGQBqpnmUdoXdFEp312YOje458BDnK4dKsysYrwcDueNzMEl-cmPG8UCcc6pRXKzm04GLuHEgcD/s1094/IMG_3301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqttdS8x0nKKcwVwvz3LeIgqPkGhV8yl1nOukuVtMEGFQ4Ljpggjihz90zcyGQXz43mkAkJ75oyD441h_Z4X46Cl1Buyt0_E577Ki0xT_0AAL3UGQBqpnmUdoXdFEp312YOje458BDnK4dKsysYrwcDueNzMEl-cmPG8UCcc6pRXKzm04GLuHEgcD/s320/IMG_3301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLej2kRerFUE3tKlz-wQUfzOPwaIWt_d2qDPeCL1BCYEQKICF13ZkZLdHSdKCbANO3jIgJ9FkVpNokloc1K3JYKBW3egebNQJlc66m0jCapGSu6AeJg6w2Z4sXF33JvFM_qCtOlOQfz9IH-J9gzOy7hI0-rNelh-k2P5WhOuFKmTJZ-rovuTvk-_X/s820/IMG_0948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLej2kRerFUE3tKlz-wQUfzOPwaIWt_d2qDPeCL1BCYEQKICF13ZkZLdHSdKCbANO3jIgJ9FkVpNokloc1K3JYKBW3egebNQJlc66m0jCapGSu6AeJg6w2Z4sXF33JvFM_qCtOlOQfz9IH-J9gzOy7hI0-rNelh-k2P5WhOuFKmTJZ-rovuTvk-_X/s320/IMG_0948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFiXdui4d72EMSeOTOLZZoX0WB_WbRRedsh-Nmtg7CjPpyv7vRDTQgT9IUIOvi9vYKChBroK6KON_SbNV9-mPDStgkAlYNJKkngvsWJPKvMSbrFgNYYErQii6ad41uZwRmUzcmBeHwvyW_9zFhJSDacGk4ZQlIGkm-lOxhWh_y_5PHu1A2PA8c9MM/s820/IMG_0953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFiXdui4d72EMSeOTOLZZoX0WB_WbRRedsh-Nmtg7CjPpyv7vRDTQgT9IUIOvi9vYKChBroK6KON_SbNV9-mPDStgkAlYNJKkngvsWJPKvMSbrFgNYYErQii6ad41uZwRmUzcmBeHwvyW_9zFhJSDacGk4ZQlIGkm-lOxhWh_y_5PHu1A2PA8c9MM/s320/IMG_0953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMS9YY5nxgMPuf1UmkrO66DHDzq7gvtd_puoKZW0RQPS2w7U--48FmV8CmTy1i-4qTkpV6iwfl-wyYuFlRUlykjZ5E8yXMSS6kBDRd-L3Hvi7D2Me2CsNovlwQMEi6jtxT84R4wJwxbmd5qsnwtcVH7DVDA-uLhAXf5n5K_2FG_3brO7jCiYtvv9v/s820/IMG_0960.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMS9YY5nxgMPuf1UmkrO66DHDzq7gvtd_puoKZW0RQPS2w7U--48FmV8CmTy1i-4qTkpV6iwfl-wyYuFlRUlykjZ5E8yXMSS6kBDRd-L3Hvi7D2Me2CsNovlwQMEi6jtxT84R4wJwxbmd5qsnwtcVH7DVDA-uLhAXf5n5K_2FG_3brO7jCiYtvv9v/s320/IMG_0960.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ice Cream at Lake Lure</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8Cx6wOHT9u_OVgDbwpcWpIUdbnCEs9I9FD7O6FIIutzILluof1r50SPKK4BRjemy8h811yGzKMmvH4UobThMQniV5bNrWt3Mmm9ATWTABCmI8egOZ0FmpPOG7vTc2yKvu9N7Mg0uTv59VocejcIcS7PgTnrgkq220rwuV8kZ8H_Ww18McxppYJa3/s820/IMG_3306.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8Cx6wOHT9u_OVgDbwpcWpIUdbnCEs9I9FD7O6FIIutzILluof1r50SPKK4BRjemy8h811yGzKMmvH4UobThMQniV5bNrWt3Mmm9ATWTABCmI8egOZ0FmpPOG7vTc2yKvu9N7Mg0uTv59VocejcIcS7PgTnrgkq220rwuV8kZ8H_Ww18McxppYJa3/s320/IMG_3306.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o34RE6pTOe3JYd9bAvIAXIJSTJ9en70kzJXNUSlO9KJ2N2OKqWhrUKmsLCXAmxD2UsPIVp67fscmWr2ArbqnpjhsR17KleFmFV1Qo4HDmup5-eP3MJfT66PxkRrc4Hoq6fo9F6bESI8ef1M2v6C3nM7CoG_gH9ywwE0eHpxtRNiv7ZU9xv6mvcX-/s820/IMG_3307.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o34RE6pTOe3JYd9bAvIAXIJSTJ9en70kzJXNUSlO9KJ2N2OKqWhrUKmsLCXAmxD2UsPIVp67fscmWr2ArbqnpjhsR17KleFmFV1Qo4HDmup5-eP3MJfT66PxkRrc4Hoq6fo9F6bESI8ef1M2v6C3nM7CoG_gH9ywwE0eHpxtRNiv7ZU9xv6mvcX-/s320/IMG_3307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Saying Goodbye</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDeZcsNJfVZezIoJouDBD-FyzE2-8CYh_3ClHl0oYf4EKHFVOHGMPHyTeqLhZuZuMZPBjf_YXXqUCHz-wjGHcFfTPga4qnrhc5Cta2ttynHMrvcl6qfhgzzRxqVul40JNZZzPkWTmwZuZXL2_cE5zealB24w5lZEWgf-OBXTvaia8NyJwwaUaE_EQ/s820/IMG_3329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDeZcsNJfVZezIoJouDBD-FyzE2-8CYh_3ClHl0oYf4EKHFVOHGMPHyTeqLhZuZuMZPBjf_YXXqUCHz-wjGHcFfTPga4qnrhc5Cta2ttynHMrvcl6qfhgzzRxqVul40JNZZzPkWTmwZuZXL2_cE5zealB24w5lZEWgf-OBXTvaia8NyJwwaUaE_EQ/s320/IMG_3329.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozE3rFn5UAOlSamlUEYUkezXcpdcle9N6OAeGBdqQz8Io5ll6wWEifH_xMlRavJNFo-yy8f4cuQCrqdPpnei3ampE6_Bh-is4j5brBiBoJh8-203DK5ZzZ28vCwyRVPpvYAtKow1Z3kAjaiVwTQZ3ku4lyGOss7mwCpYGB3AksZZRfD_FCKfweYQx/s820/IMG_3330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozE3rFn5UAOlSamlUEYUkezXcpdcle9N6OAeGBdqQz8Io5ll6wWEifH_xMlRavJNFo-yy8f4cuQCrqdPpnei3ampE6_Bh-is4j5brBiBoJh8-203DK5ZzZ28vCwyRVPpvYAtKow1Z3kAjaiVwTQZ3ku4lyGOss7mwCpYGB3AksZZRfD_FCKfweYQx/s320/IMG_3330.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-54336282667756749802023-03-31T19:18:00.001-04:002023-04-22T19:39:37.728-04:00March 2023 in Review<h2 style="text-align: left;">Catholic Quiz Bowl 2023</h2><p>Congratulations to the organizer and participants on the first annual Catholic Quiz Bowl held in NC! Our family has attended the Catholic Quiz Bowl a couple hours away in SC for years, but no longer do we have to burn up the highway because this wholesome fun event is now at our parish. The kids grades 5-12 were enthusiastic and bubbly all morning. Now this mama can close out a month of hosting many practice sessions for middle school and high school teams and transition into all the practices and costume creating for the Broadway Revue show!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWQV0bnGxD5F2xJj_toly8zds6OIqL5RvYX8NiN9kR6NST8x_5u0Du-kSIMCHICG-Uar_aOaubF-501fdnssEoQZdaWOQRbgBTwaYl97SPhQcsTbcYET6URFOWqYMVhm1S7PVJR7s5gr-5XRlC8iUsyp0T9OcKkPMWqO2eiV7ilPi-HfK11C-9ZlW/s1094/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWQV0bnGxD5F2xJj_toly8zds6OIqL5RvYX8NiN9kR6NST8x_5u0Du-kSIMCHICG-Uar_aOaubF-501fdnssEoQZdaWOQRbgBTwaYl97SPhQcsTbcYET6URFOWqYMVhm1S7PVJR7s5gr-5XRlC8iUsyp0T9OcKkPMWqO2eiV7ilPi-HfK11C-9ZlW/s320/IMG_2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qHY0GnxsFsxZik3j2znCcf17p_9GP_nUXD72lxB2sbVn-UmXGo-ux43zKya2o2eyyo-hv6XrIlr7crPFQpFyJGjLMCxqm0qYVM99guVVAXibfpCyUa5bVm8h10pHjeLxP_ID72AHQjyP3fixSTuXbV_fK9egckHncyTcI2kOg6g5KDJK7lVkM5ig/s1094/IMG_2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qHY0GnxsFsxZik3j2znCcf17p_9GP_nUXD72lxB2sbVn-UmXGo-ux43zKya2o2eyyo-hv6XrIlr7crPFQpFyJGjLMCxqm0qYVM99guVVAXibfpCyUa5bVm8h10pHjeLxP_ID72AHQjyP3fixSTuXbV_fK9egckHncyTcI2kOg6g5KDJK7lVkM5ig/s320/IMG_2797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeWtjBfnwgN7uHCHomVEZfPg1XgK1sWszxiEYfg7YzNhsWQ5yrbq9A5U9hTlx3XfRPj9-7nJfSKBi8qPqfikZ0T9JPenw47hHh7Bzx_mrwaRjY9nHA40KKBKx1_H5BZNV-wCCNzCjZ1ue0ys3kb6vxtK1uoD26kDSeIWeABnC-dhsREDRyWHIxKLG/s1094/IMG_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeWtjBfnwgN7uHCHomVEZfPg1XgK1sWszxiEYfg7YzNhsWQ5yrbq9A5U9hTlx3XfRPj9-7nJfSKBi8qPqfikZ0T9JPenw47hHh7Bzx_mrwaRjY9nHA40KKBKx1_H5BZNV-wCCNzCjZ1ue0ys3kb6vxtK1uoD26kDSeIWeABnC-dhsREDRyWHIxKLG/s320/IMG_2799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Igmi5kigxMm9i5KaFsW01uMpYxYU6ZYr93cEpkxrJzMuDHCoEdlo1vsbKCv3fbT5OsASbkQQJnsiACiE5CiIDrBEpu0nd4YDoqkmK-zlVX_CIDey3ezMt4hA0A7A5owhRGyTczj7Gl8WShz2jLHRxquBjkrVN54YmE6VcYPuuLUQyiqDuusVHA6k/s820/IMG_2803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Igmi5kigxMm9i5KaFsW01uMpYxYU6ZYr93cEpkxrJzMuDHCoEdlo1vsbKCv3fbT5OsASbkQQJnsiACiE5CiIDrBEpu0nd4YDoqkmK-zlVX_CIDey3ezMt4hA0A7A5owhRGyTczj7Gl8WShz2jLHRxquBjkrVN54YmE6VcYPuuLUQyiqDuusVHA6k/s320/IMG_2803.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Unexpected Hospital Admission</h2><p>Home, sweet home, jiggity jig! Thomas had an unexpected overnight at the hospital and a trip to the OR. </p><p>During Quiz Bowl on Saturday, Thomas developed an infection over just an hour or two—a problem we’d battled twice prior in six weeks. It may be recurring because he is immunocompromised, or because "sometimes this just happens." We had dealt with it each time with ten days of oral antibiotics, but this time I texted a photo to Thomas’s surgeon and he agreed it was time for hospital-level support. </p><p>So I left Quiz Bowl after four of six rounds--to my motherly disappointment--and drove straight to the ER. It was a simple matter but one that required an overnight admission, IV antibiotics, and OR time with general anesthesia. The staff was so kind and helpful, as always.</p><p>Now we're home and hoping Thomas has kicked this problem to the curb!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zcEMweF4acdu7Gz9o7msc73qnCo2mL50l2CfBY4n29IsKAefVRxznFlri5Q4SYhCn7ApdDYBUrhqO3lW1wYY_GJi6gQa5CL6S65-qTM5brppX3iU3QUKApLI326vkVMrN52vxMfIr_dAxfgUNPhLleIh0C4hLesiObXuPh3Y-TIasuu8vVs4AQgK/s820/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zcEMweF4acdu7Gz9o7msc73qnCo2mL50l2CfBY4n29IsKAefVRxznFlri5Q4SYhCn7ApdDYBUrhqO3lW1wYY_GJi6gQa5CL6S65-qTM5brppX3iU3QUKApLI326vkVMrN52vxMfIr_dAxfgUNPhLleIh0C4hLesiObXuPh3Y-TIasuu8vVs4AQgK/s320/IMG_2808.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CfGrPAlNKoAaRI4PnuNycHZkOxw1B2Bz7epwH_6z_7vdbkpBfY7K93kdNjPsSzzmClfg3CO6lOJcwbH8nJwKeHNg91NSXYM-UZYovtd2Wg79ZXrXU7wV6FGRZSHQEnLZwDcyura7H3C33LIAtr5nf0NhUljKzVgD-gpdqjnJCvHD2-w1Y42PzTH6/s820/IMG_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CfGrPAlNKoAaRI4PnuNycHZkOxw1B2Bz7epwH_6z_7vdbkpBfY7K93kdNjPsSzzmClfg3CO6lOJcwbH8nJwKeHNg91NSXYM-UZYovtd2Wg79ZXrXU7wV6FGRZSHQEnLZwDcyura7H3C33LIAtr5nf0NhUljKzVgD-gpdqjnJCvHD2-w1Y42PzTH6/s320/IMG_2809.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstUrYdGU18uSfFwUBaQhpslgxQxofdf6NxzDZs9Re2rSb_DLRw99ndVmd3DfMs8ImJVWGyQn9vqs14-VH4B-q0o4yIJH18793Bxcu8Ro-vAPMtGNjkX04Yh5cw8uUOn445KwdhNO_RtEj2gMbGdH78gCitJSfujWo2DulE_L_0o7Im2EyUwSZB5BW/s820/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstUrYdGU18uSfFwUBaQhpslgxQxofdf6NxzDZs9Re2rSb_DLRw99ndVmd3DfMs8ImJVWGyQn9vqs14-VH4B-q0o4yIJH18793Bxcu8Ro-vAPMtGNjkX04Yh5cw8uUOn445KwdhNO_RtEj2gMbGdH78gCitJSfujWo2DulE_L_0o7Im2EyUwSZB5BW/s320/IMG_2811.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bOr2H-HNI_GGbet04TPt-8GhqR5MHBnNC1JMcSvUuwTdZbZTyBHIIlHxQHmhbnCIPma8JqppHPnrJulwxeUNMx8yHhNVwh8C-GnCmAuBc_8_W3D7tHoL5GBujLPI0iMz1Y5vEihSjXOMzFx48efKsZ7kGsxVa56w3f5neuyveLlqgCbkkmcp2L46/s820/IMG_0860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bOr2H-HNI_GGbet04TPt-8GhqR5MHBnNC1JMcSvUuwTdZbZTyBHIIlHxQHmhbnCIPma8JqppHPnrJulwxeUNMx8yHhNVwh8C-GnCmAuBc_8_W3D7tHoL5GBujLPI0iMz1Y5vEihSjXOMzFx48efKsZ7kGsxVa56w3f5neuyveLlqgCbkkmcp2L46/s320/IMG_0860.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">New Shoes!</h2><p>When you are kiddo #6 and your mom is frazzled and overwhelmed so for the last several MONTHS you’ve been down to only one last pair of shoes that fit (cowboy boots, no less): the day finally comes when your mom buys you a new pair of sneakers. Pro-tip: wear the sneakers at all times, sleep with the sneakers in their shoebox in your bed overnight, and put them on while still in your pajamas before coming downstairs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2spgm34RZBuf5jy3odg-8kmVeRkreMCHAV1PTKvNuzGsxStBqxUD20MnippWuMshtDvISt41DpMv-0d54ksXbu7Ig10VvQXNnLzEKOmjPJfeXGNYsJsj9l7O6jAhZ2sQm78mkBTluaj_qWHlybIOTKsDsYMSTSY3PE7a6rymLoh3Jh2icNQ7hpsU/s820/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2spgm34RZBuf5jy3odg-8kmVeRkreMCHAV1PTKvNuzGsxStBqxUD20MnippWuMshtDvISt41DpMv-0d54ksXbu7Ig10VvQXNnLzEKOmjPJfeXGNYsJsj9l7O6jAhZ2sQm78mkBTluaj_qWHlybIOTKsDsYMSTSY3PE7a6rymLoh3Jh2icNQ7hpsU/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Orchestral Concert</h2><p>I was privileged to attend Mary’s lovely Prep Orchestra concert last night!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3WTpGu-iqVDGimbpYaZXcdmqvFnNYrEJ13AEFPmNHUZWL2ppO-4lhoni_sbeg_Y5dj-LauoLqQ2XEp2x4Z3toYkdyHMWYRjQMHG8DPOimQlvneK0jo_KA6Ip4LlUTKxriEHZEoYXGIQf22ygw_wGIGnhRYp2m_T_GjgCvEp67R9WUlmJ76ugs1p7/s2048/330764466_1624364208002396_95887567490423435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3WTpGu-iqVDGimbpYaZXcdmqvFnNYrEJ13AEFPmNHUZWL2ppO-4lhoni_sbeg_Y5dj-LauoLqQ2XEp2x4Z3toYkdyHMWYRjQMHG8DPOimQlvneK0jo_KA6Ip4LlUTKxriEHZEoYXGIQf22ygw_wGIGnhRYp2m_T_GjgCvEp67R9WUlmJ76ugs1p7/s320/330764466_1624364208002396_95887567490423435_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Oral Iron Challenge</h2><p>When you have to visit the hospital twice in one day for timed blood labs, it is made more fun if you get to invite your brothers along for lunch at the hospital Chick-Fil-A! (It is also more fun if your mom actually remembers to bring the medication necessary for you to eat. But for once she forgot and so eating was delayed an hour until we were home.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAvPbLPUtEO1UyW3mW7ljuI8CbEYzGKaLPn3wYCx854Sf1SGSbXVQQe1K677z16qWPz2IOTu4bsnGzFjMjnKKHYokPLtDCT9aQi2pUEHVMj5dMJEvo15_xrwRuw0hHMpTSsrfQZ45QgS75OHStxIQNIGmZij2B3z57FB5XhoH-cAaQqWmWRvmtde_/s1094/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAvPbLPUtEO1UyW3mW7ljuI8CbEYzGKaLPn3wYCx854Sf1SGSbXVQQe1K677z16qWPz2IOTu4bsnGzFjMjnKKHYokPLtDCT9aQi2pUEHVMj5dMJEvo15_xrwRuw0hHMpTSsrfQZ45QgS75OHStxIQNIGmZij2B3z57FB5XhoH-cAaQqWmWRvmtde_/s320/IMG_2912.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Thomas Starting Golf Lessons</h2><p>Today Thomas had the best time at his first lesson with First Tee Golf! The virtue of the day was good sportsmanship, so Thomas practiced by cheering on his classmates. If you see Chris walking around with a big black eye, it is because he was helping Thomas with his form and didn’t step out of the way fast enough before Thomas swung with all his 7-year-old strength and whacked his dad directly in the eye. Being a dad has its hazards!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbYWEuXNJfzfZ-GJpqdOIUTwbVFGEvpbCil7c8mZxueA8l2j8Q7IqfiuDzaBZhn2vLy9VnN8oKSiShjjtBXtcgGAC2ZfPLOZS2CWzsZOQelLKvoEENgLEBeo_U6ifK3h7JCI4IpWy9Cyic1Qa3f-MR9N4DkoaW8mCr7ge-aG8VwOCQj8JX13Avtn4/s820/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbYWEuXNJfzfZ-GJpqdOIUTwbVFGEvpbCil7c8mZxueA8l2j8Q7IqfiuDzaBZhn2vLy9VnN8oKSiShjjtBXtcgGAC2ZfPLOZS2CWzsZOQelLKvoEENgLEBeo_U6ifK3h7JCI4IpWy9Cyic1Qa3f-MR9N4DkoaW8mCr7ge-aG8VwOCQj8JX13Avtn4/s320/IMG_6685.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpR2zdKShlSfT2ioPcKDmyEktYpuAqlvUW0hzu3Ei5XNIJGenGzi5Qof6Dd_UlDdcvu7TadG4sjbCYHUwcrH7969zc1fC3t60baszOt3BEkZj2CnJGmB-4RFHk2psainfgUV5ER6xC8rRvS6zDUi5x6GSZWCq821bZq1ZicDTkbKVm4Dtv9SF2ds/s820/IMG_6686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpR2zdKShlSfT2ioPcKDmyEktYpuAqlvUW0hzu3Ei5XNIJGenGzi5Qof6Dd_UlDdcvu7TadG4sjbCYHUwcrH7969zc1fC3t60baszOt3BEkZj2CnJGmB-4RFHk2psainfgUV5ER6xC8rRvS6zDUi5x6GSZWCq821bZq1ZicDTkbKVm4Dtv9SF2ds/s320/IMG_6686.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Tilly and Nicky, Best Friends</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt8uILwn5dp5jg8aBbfkeutmZAF8dcNjXswhWAQcF0AWWu-MV95vXK2vwlJ0LLcEuR59TRjXMzZBnH2t7OqLP-cxlqLQKc0mZBCfLD5LG_yIgEgo0sbttoicc2ATteYNEIM6n2IlApOBxrGN0Jd331lQgbUDj8neou3sX1wFsfQjkBVGhuWb58Ji1/s4032/IMG_0346.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt8uILwn5dp5jg8aBbfkeutmZAF8dcNjXswhWAQcF0AWWu-MV95vXK2vwlJ0LLcEuR59TRjXMzZBnH2t7OqLP-cxlqLQKc0mZBCfLD5LG_yIgEgo0sbttoicc2ATteYNEIM6n2IlApOBxrGN0Jd331lQgbUDj8neou3sX1wFsfQjkBVGhuWb58Ji1/s320/IMG_0346.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Camp Care</h2><p>We had a great time last Sunday at our first Camp Care event: playing laser tag at Mission Laser with a bunch of other kids and their siblings who have experienced cancer. Apparently they host social events almost monthly, with their crowning annual event being a sleep away camp in summer (no current plans for us to attend that ☺️). We look forward to getting to know the Camp Care crew better!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbUE6dUJdEXFUdQreuPzXr-ZSjj546GBfzJxdeQXkiFpQxppv4SvMErccQFUkrTEopFjo6TmjDCo_xv0qKZdopphtJ-NassrokhVaVqzRZrlU7LrLuz43s_ioVPKo9XrHuLK6IYgKSS7qSqC7fcYMA1nKz-GJwX3bPlfU2mU7tcwYz0XzFyiU0wx/s1094/IMG_2903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbUE6dUJdEXFUdQreuPzXr-ZSjj546GBfzJxdeQXkiFpQxppv4SvMErccQFUkrTEopFjo6TmjDCo_xv0qKZdopphtJ-NassrokhVaVqzRZrlU7LrLuz43s_ioVPKo9XrHuLK6IYgKSS7qSqC7fcYMA1nKz-GJwX3bPlfU2mU7tcwYz0XzFyiU0wx/s320/IMG_2903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">I Can Succeed at Only One Thing at a Time</h2><p>I am notorious for walking into the kitchen at 4:00 p.m. only to realize that I have not marinaded the dinner meat or even thawed it. Therefore, I would like to mark the calendar today because I have tonight’s Orange Chicken marinading by 9:30 a.m. of course, this means it is 9:30 and I have not begun teaching homeschool or cleaned the kitchen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTW_QINERIhB9n7aTau7ofLECmFobr5_8KjA16-BSPhHqWgAJLShiZiFj7RFIE7JQo_Rd2vn0FtTSbUHh3qlkHS7D2oAcezJ466Dr7NQWTLEFnQg0ec6wNUOHxch7psELKWX-K-9_svCsXzjsScbW22xpwcQvqj7IWuEEx9Hyt1sMi2PAc0g7OTyw/s2048/336479981_917624313021328_4611894523159851430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTW_QINERIhB9n7aTau7ofLECmFobr5_8KjA16-BSPhHqWgAJLShiZiFj7RFIE7JQo_Rd2vn0FtTSbUHh3qlkHS7D2oAcezJ466Dr7NQWTLEFnQg0ec6wNUOHxch7psELKWX-K-9_svCsXzjsScbW22xpwcQvqj7IWuEEx9Hyt1sMi2PAc0g7OTyw/s320/336479981_917624313021328_4611894523159851430_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">St. Patrick's Day</h2><p>For the first fourteen years or so of our family life, I was all about Catholic liturgical living. The feast days, the planning, the associated catechism! Now my best HOPE is to get through each day and MAYBE fulfill most of my duties. My 5- and 7-year-olds apparently made a table decorations for St. Patrick’s Day. I slept for a total of three hours last night. I forgot to have any of us wear green today and I didn’t plan a festive meal because our family schedule meant we would be on the go all day. This is a different season of life!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uWwvskyGBuNrJGcHf-XOK1gsKVVPMmu-eVUtxQg3jjVijZqaGNcurRVgKNUNjKVg2R2FKWe3LNBeuRAub44CqGlJFAxTeHIXJo6evLuL3Wx6l5DefkWZLBDXTr-pCUKdSaIUhSOk4kkHDEd-RLD0PicIzfbZG-NtLyHtsiOHx6Gx1N6AVrYPZAtY/s4032/IMG_2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uWwvskyGBuNrJGcHf-XOK1gsKVVPMmu-eVUtxQg3jjVijZqaGNcurRVgKNUNjKVg2R2FKWe3LNBeuRAub44CqGlJFAxTeHIXJo6evLuL3Wx6l5DefkWZLBDXTr-pCUKdSaIUhSOk4kkHDEd-RLD0PicIzfbZG-NtLyHtsiOHx6Gx1N6AVrYPZAtY/s320/IMG_2928.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Locks of Love</h2><p>Our daughter Mary (14) donated her hair to Locks of Love and got herself a fresh, fun hairstyle!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbBxXgt9vbW9oxov2JNmpBMI3AWQWIuhiHgP-hs3HeA_HFOK_tHGqI7-89ttk2XeEuOvnuhcL5GkMEoGSdGAETCoP7lR9HmjHjpr8qAX11_n4P80sLM9_AVGi9Zix_pxYeYoQP8oYbYz1VPoSumq5PIkKxh0wVX_VZYnKbF1qCsOQNrZBpUPQzW0H/s4032/IMG_2923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbBxXgt9vbW9oxov2JNmpBMI3AWQWIuhiHgP-hs3HeA_HFOK_tHGqI7-89ttk2XeEuOvnuhcL5GkMEoGSdGAETCoP7lR9HmjHjpr8qAX11_n4P80sLM9_AVGi9Zix_pxYeYoQP8oYbYz1VPoSumq5PIkKxh0wVX_VZYnKbF1qCsOQNrZBpUPQzW0H/s320/IMG_2923.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fx6PiwPPOuBiMfvSvxV-z_0HjGy0rp8sqCWuY7vQeC_FaANO0TKKU5MeiSZ4pLIVN1wo-vQ_24DliP9-yZnprN9JDRmlZwkv0iGw5EH23NuBJGkjEicZbW7g-azj8K1vWlKDEWy_Gp9pgGSoai6j3F5laQQWT2mpPj24kng0peI_2pkHv6thg1uv/s4032/IMG_2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fx6PiwPPOuBiMfvSvxV-z_0HjGy0rp8sqCWuY7vQeC_FaANO0TKKU5MeiSZ4pLIVN1wo-vQ_24DliP9-yZnprN9JDRmlZwkv0iGw5EH23NuBJGkjEicZbW7g-azj8K1vWlKDEWy_Gp9pgGSoai6j3F5laQQWT2mpPj24kng0peI_2pkHv6thg1uv/s320/IMG_2924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Tales from the homeschooling front . . . </h2><p>When you’re so very tired and it’s 9:00 p.m., kids still WIDE awake, and you find yourself losing your temper because the 7- and 9-year-olds won’t stop memorizing the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights long enough to brush their teeth and get in bed . . .</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Margaret's Twelfth Birthday</h2><p>Happy 12th birthday to our lovely Margaret! She enjoyed a celebration with a couple of girlfriends over for a movie-themed night in which we all watched "Mary Poppins Returns" (which, by the way, I recommend as a rare movie enjoyable for the whole family from toddlers to the oldest folks). Margaret is finishing up 6th grade and is growing in grace every day, discovering personal insight, becoming increasingly independent with her homeschooling, and becoming a competent babysitter. She is a bookworm extraordinaire and continues to pursue classical voice lessons. Like her mama, she prefers solitude or one-on-one relationships, unlike the whole rest of our gregarious family. 🙂</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqbCk2j5X3NXodRdYsAk-fFg8VFJhYPTQT7FKW4r_HpYtQ_zdhDMTKJqB4JmZUAykFVo8atbokXKKJbgcmtJvkgwAJrpUFoGEC2lfMfDngPhpXyY69qKOOGZ3GhGpBpHrBVDD7xTbC70WHP9TorUFRxk8mvK9MVPlUqyLDbBj-1n4rBjZW0xf4NfO/s4032/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqbCk2j5X3NXodRdYsAk-fFg8VFJhYPTQT7FKW4r_HpYtQ_zdhDMTKJqB4JmZUAykFVo8atbokXKKJbgcmtJvkgwAJrpUFoGEC2lfMfDngPhpXyY69qKOOGZ3GhGpBpHrBVDD7xTbC70WHP9TorUFRxk8mvK9MVPlUqyLDbBj-1n4rBjZW0xf4NfO/s320/IMG_2940.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93enTX070paR28LYw9Sm2eZr-WB1ns1xPqhcxZyQg1yVgVEvIk7O2Bij-WxbPumyPnyQTKZTU-7rSLCsq7ywu9ag1eabosJp5ubRQKo22tKY0Zd6QY24SPqikk3XLWh8P3HaKTN0XvvYktHUR90bh3CIr1n8PdOXE7IF44gGSmVLV8aAQXbhxMmsE/s4032/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93enTX070paR28LYw9Sm2eZr-WB1ns1xPqhcxZyQg1yVgVEvIk7O2Bij-WxbPumyPnyQTKZTU-7rSLCsq7ywu9ag1eabosJp5ubRQKo22tKY0Zd6QY24SPqikk3XLWh8P3HaKTN0XvvYktHUR90bh3CIr1n8PdOXE7IF44gGSmVLV8aAQXbhxMmsE/s320/IMG_2966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNwL6gpirMclIqFldzFKOENzDPbWFrIZuUcpIOvsGX3mApXkZUnfkDbFQRQnV909YFA3myn_0f4wu1jB4YkA5RNrhiD1WUw3YmKaE-f-D4eNwCe_F37DbgK_XQf3gZUYTxO5pTizUkkH4D6TOr_qH1CSIZXQgNI_qtByQPCyny5rF3Wnal9f6K4-5/s4032/IMG_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNwL6gpirMclIqFldzFKOENzDPbWFrIZuUcpIOvsGX3mApXkZUnfkDbFQRQnV909YFA3myn_0f4wu1jB4YkA5RNrhiD1WUw3YmKaE-f-D4eNwCe_F37DbgK_XQf3gZUYTxO5pTizUkkH4D6TOr_qH1CSIZXQgNI_qtByQPCyny5rF3Wnal9f6K4-5/s320/IMG_2967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-8-_jmWtFvIX7tjYD06Xo2q_bkVxx97HYc1-rZT7u3keUdHPIigHSTMb9vdomFe0trvRlGNsvbpFEuPjJ8YBwkyqkUIgiw0Ua6TDgIaVRXL4O0gtoAO4CeHdvyI2muukEoKPk-F8BL_XEz4EOZVP_tqSsXVi-NimzcksPvFm9ZU85e4yzLJBTXs4/s4032/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-8-_jmWtFvIX7tjYD06Xo2q_bkVxx97HYc1-rZT7u3keUdHPIigHSTMb9vdomFe0trvRlGNsvbpFEuPjJ8YBwkyqkUIgiw0Ua6TDgIaVRXL4O0gtoAO4CeHdvyI2muukEoKPk-F8BL_XEz4EOZVP_tqSsXVi-NimzcksPvFm9ZU85e4yzLJBTXs4/s320/IMG_2976.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Broken Clavicle</h2><p>Thanks for the well wishes for Margaret! Two days after her birthday, she broke her clavicle practicing some dance moves. A clavicle can’t be casted, so it sounds like these will be a fairly limiting 6-12 weeks keeping her clavicle immobile. We are grateful it wasn’t worse!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUKuar4RdpO5CP6y5KU50gzrOFzjlz4Z7aFaRPNcxAFFOOlStSKUm7d2XydCGjdWTthezvaTndgvqcqD2SOA6B8FKWJL2DOXTRWzs7z9k_Zf2Gg9RWwlTq0CarKKDJrZPQPGIsV7AJG6-4B_HRb_UgzHvdwiGqR-XhCw9yo9lGgKUn9lT7288CKRp/s2048/336913606_892216705387155_4031700742652748848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUKuar4RdpO5CP6y5KU50gzrOFzjlz4Z7aFaRPNcxAFFOOlStSKUm7d2XydCGjdWTthezvaTndgvqcqD2SOA6B8FKWJL2DOXTRWzs7z9k_Zf2Gg9RWwlTq0CarKKDJrZPQPGIsV7AJG6-4B_HRb_UgzHvdwiGqR-XhCw9yo9lGgKUn9lT7288CKRp/s320/336913606_892216705387155_4031700742652748848_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU3sRp58qmFyC3Lc_QsAvFtpl76NtwY63ABZvs77UTQrDMBXt59D6iq2QNaCRl_XFKfSHMckhNBdvx5FEX-EzzHgnh2pUtAAsfNc_ebSPQaLYpdMSUY-80nrc48p49_HnkkpCq2ah2Irl27bWWfqx4yn1aYM1ZGfOkMcd4vhtM2UxJD3p1SPcAl93/s2048/336290310_173844145465186_2405179691216457984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU3sRp58qmFyC3Lc_QsAvFtpl76NtwY63ABZvs77UTQrDMBXt59D6iq2QNaCRl_XFKfSHMckhNBdvx5FEX-EzzHgnh2pUtAAsfNc_ebSPQaLYpdMSUY-80nrc48p49_HnkkpCq2ah2Irl27bWWfqx4yn1aYM1ZGfOkMcd4vhtM2UxJD3p1SPcAl93/s320/336290310_173844145465186_2405179691216457984_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Nest Building</h2><p>A bird is building a nest right outside our school room window, so we get to watch the construction all day long. The kids comment on every new stick delivered. Pretty magical!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRpICkOam_bQ9g1Oscffw8SM-LMg4y7w6QnSkZ58SbVkXi33ruhgRv5zf33iKUliBgUz4BM4Ig8gj_TY84XdynrTPzLGY4NspQGyyKk6nPwD2PXK9M4saE1wPb1iGdaf02ADVrjImI-ubbDxBc-uUuoyGsxqhmGudcBo7NMZTA6e0GwOh-BaLha4_/s2048/337128894_1296163117949088_8664437945060764820_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRpICkOam_bQ9g1Oscffw8SM-LMg4y7w6QnSkZ58SbVkXi33ruhgRv5zf33iKUliBgUz4BM4Ig8gj_TY84XdynrTPzLGY4NspQGyyKk6nPwD2PXK9M4saE1wPb1iGdaf02ADVrjImI-ubbDxBc-uUuoyGsxqhmGudcBo7NMZTA6e0GwOh-BaLha4_/s320/337128894_1296163117949088_8664437945060764820_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Beautiful, Smiling Faces</h2><p>My local Charlotte friends might appreciate hearing that yesterday, March 28, marked when mask mandates were lifted in almost all Atrium locations (Oncology excepted). Thomas happened to have an appointment with his Surgeon yesterday and it was such a joyful surprise to see all the smiling faces of the staff. </p><p>Apparently Novant and CaroMont also lifted restrictions.</p><p>Without editorializing, I will note the fact that, over three years, only the front desk workers mandated to do so have ever asked us to wear masks. With one notable exception, I will describe that over 6 rounds of chemo, 132 days in the hospital (two months in PICU), numerous visits to the ER, and the last two years of ~24 annual follow-ups in clinics (this doesn't count sick visits), Thomas and I have never been asked by a doctor (out of the ten specialties who follow him) or a nurse to mask up.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Contraband</h2><p>Considering smuggling Tilly to school. Nicky alerting us to the situation: he wasn't going to have his sweet girl kidnapped.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy81UCqukwWAcjiJqRHHlD7Zl-PrfYVPofI9suQHFfW9GVBRxo2r-mvIJstptcw1SEQRWOg0kqiR6aCCs8A_Nz9JNV_n96OrmK6b7igausa1OcJYzUDi04YjGefFFiIimqIY8V7b7Rk598RbgBXoK7cOweAP00-ygX5hfDy5a6RO8zV-ypvryDU_hR/s960/339136238_1215876965720698_8603394940882733683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy81UCqukwWAcjiJqRHHlD7Zl-PrfYVPofI9suQHFfW9GVBRxo2r-mvIJstptcw1SEQRWOg0kqiR6aCCs8A_Nz9JNV_n96OrmK6b7igausa1OcJYzUDi04YjGefFFiIimqIY8V7b7Rk598RbgBXoK7cOweAP00-ygX5hfDy5a6RO8zV-ypvryDU_hR/s320/339136238_1215876965720698_8603394940882733683_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglqUBpC_HIOSP_dx0v8d5mSbbjtKIuVr6aKaa-afiwZ-DWSIhEIuiSAG4fuNZQ_5PtEPfao150zwY66xsoVXXOeadI8ukhQJRaA4j-w_f780anLNDcws6FoGBjBWNq8mGZyjnJu4XRKss87PTxQWtzAxosOBfqD8T1uFD5YM2AB6KDM1QV_YCXJOy/s2048/339112660_1272268273369899_7836548273788118431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglqUBpC_HIOSP_dx0v8d5mSbbjtKIuVr6aKaa-afiwZ-DWSIhEIuiSAG4fuNZQ_5PtEPfao150zwY66xsoVXXOeadI8ukhQJRaA4j-w_f780anLNDcws6FoGBjBWNq8mGZyjnJu4XRKss87PTxQWtzAxosOBfqD8T1uFD5YM2AB6KDM1QV_YCXJOy/s320/339112660_1272268273369899_7836548273788118431_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Made a Piggie PBJ for one of the boys today</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM3u9ZkiFYWTooAndz5d3j2ESLRQkktPJ60KZxcbDBd3ZJSfcXR_jVe94UIY9KNgI_oIGjmptxMkiPgEdKAqBzhN6LPa0h_rdOD5zqpZioTPTdDxKJ3tvO8NzO8UkRlNlr8Z6XnvkVJI-FLjXeyPapMGz-uZqu5AGShVtFDwWz-B-fznoKSLODPVk/s1090/IMG_3071%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1090" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM3u9ZkiFYWTooAndz5d3j2ESLRQkktPJ60KZxcbDBd3ZJSfcXR_jVe94UIY9KNgI_oIGjmptxMkiPgEdKAqBzhN6LPa0h_rdOD5zqpZioTPTdDxKJ3tvO8NzO8UkRlNlr8Z6XnvkVJI-FLjXeyPapMGz-uZqu5AGShVtFDwWz-B-fznoKSLODPVk/s320/IMG_3071%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">CCE Elementary 2022-23: That's a Wrap!</h2><p>Today was our last day of CCE Elementary—our homeschool co-op at church. We had a wonderful last day of memory work testing and a party. Both Joseph and Thomas earned the testing certificate that was their goal!</p><p>Two more months of CCE Middle School for the girls! And of course the elementary boys are still doing homeschool even though their co-op is done till fall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JK17lbThAeBOHdehz-A23x3MbyzY6jeEInC4IS8gKl0pSBBSr5Y0bHGcqbtcqnFmXzaMCTvb0KYcqj7jNXBLgmBgiDEcvugLurQecxabvzFJhAjS1sIE9qXOvl7-eCtl3bDC3wxD9qKi2wLV5AnBRB8rXhuyVGVT-t76BF8Vk-Zx03e3uRsL7RnU/s820/IMG_3085%20final%20day%20of%20CCE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JK17lbThAeBOHdehz-A23x3MbyzY6jeEInC4IS8gKl0pSBBSr5Y0bHGcqbtcqnFmXzaMCTvb0KYcqj7jNXBLgmBgiDEcvugLurQecxabvzFJhAjS1sIE9qXOvl7-eCtl3bDC3wxD9qKi2wLV5AnBRB8rXhuyVGVT-t76BF8Vk-Zx03e3uRsL7RnU/s320/IMG_3085%20final%20day%20of%20CCE.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-61301818340038929412023-02-28T14:48:00.002-05:002023-02-28T14:48:55.671-05:00David in February<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute February moments with David (5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugyjnPNEuoHCK5znVvu1TG456Z3Gq0bqW3jC1MY3dxmioup_z8VwRzCUPWEzOrUjbKICBtMJJNAPnuoQJvC7n211GCr5UONx9a_enMcf3I31qaIceH5TqjPMHhOeJ5OBmpbnbiPmL8Qz8SMMV0vKxm_Iso09x1yRP4QVOynL0sdk-2h-UaPEsy9jf/s820/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugyjnPNEuoHCK5znVvu1TG456Z3Gq0bqW3jC1MY3dxmioup_z8VwRzCUPWEzOrUjbKICBtMJJNAPnuoQJvC7n211GCr5UONx9a_enMcf3I31qaIceH5TqjPMHhOeJ5OBmpbnbiPmL8Qz8SMMV0vKxm_Iso09x1yRP4QVOynL0sdk-2h-UaPEsy9jf/s320/IMG_2635.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjxAdQuRW4hec90EhxYqLW9nv3DG5_kT_9cbXy5t_TNddxvm7G7ya_hiPflmcEq3R57Zunzj0Job8OUs2PHuIkT1kYmGfXzCt2SOZRh-N5bWnekGbbH4XGwCg02MUq4mkPoX5u877luwDTCMQmZFiNEFxA0bqrgEQOMAdHj-1hzoXB9pvGzSLY9sR/s820/IMG_2658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjxAdQuRW4hec90EhxYqLW9nv3DG5_kT_9cbXy5t_TNddxvm7G7ya_hiPflmcEq3R57Zunzj0Job8OUs2PHuIkT1kYmGfXzCt2SOZRh-N5bWnekGbbH4XGwCg02MUq4mkPoX5u877luwDTCMQmZFiNEFxA0bqrgEQOMAdHj-1hzoXB9pvGzSLY9sR/s320/IMG_2658.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1W45JlmyrLjlflZ983ZpNc8uEuH8CvqASR_sCg09R5wwl6_jWB64i42H25jqUHbCgTzZACt-yodiSEM-iI3YKR9cVGJ_1hOwfe0-PM2y_dGB7_uF9MGQJJ2C-yTZ6X4L_552bXFBs7it_Lu-MJI0-UuIHmH0KMKgDTdV1k4JYoGjM10la6KB0-DY/s820/IMG_2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1W45JlmyrLjlflZ983ZpNc8uEuH8CvqASR_sCg09R5wwl6_jWB64i42H25jqUHbCgTzZACt-yodiSEM-iI3YKR9cVGJ_1hOwfe0-PM2y_dGB7_uF9MGQJJ2C-yTZ6X4L_552bXFBs7it_Lu-MJI0-UuIHmH0KMKgDTdV1k4JYoGjM10la6KB0-DY/s320/IMG_2687.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-98694928338216582023-02-28T13:30:00.000-05:002023-02-28T13:30:05.568-05:00Rare Disease Day: Chronic Pancreatitis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSdvHruNxftHMz-NZKWGU3IKDM-eBvlBYKNSZ80uNagNgxZR29Y-U1xWRHpM3WJdA34OHuAgwQPkIbETePOIhUN4u3g3izaT6Qg70fIlNm4SK45XNNywxFZBhAtE8C1IgolY4FRczGxs8i7fUyOLPB3g-hMRj5UAvIhD4oVz8WzZneMucjEvbaxWV/s2048/325392396_833833511049966_5859199449557242978_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSdvHruNxftHMz-NZKWGU3IKDM-eBvlBYKNSZ80uNagNgxZR29Y-U1xWRHpM3WJdA34OHuAgwQPkIbETePOIhUN4u3g3izaT6Qg70fIlNm4SK45XNNywxFZBhAtE8C1IgolY4FRczGxs8i7fUyOLPB3g-hMRj5UAvIhD4oVz8WzZneMucjEvbaxWV/s320/325392396_833833511049966_5859199449557242978_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today is Rare Disease Day. After considering a half dozen
diseases or conditions Thomas has to manage, I will take today to highlight
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thomas was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) in
January 2023 after six months of symptoms and lab results culminating with a
confirming MRI result. Our family is still learning much about this rare
disease. Facts:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(1) Chronic Pancreatitis is different than Acute
Pancreatitis: symptoms are different, treatment is different. If you search
online for "pancreatitis," you are generally going to find info on
Acute Pancreatitis. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Doctors commonly know about Acute Pancreatitis.
Very few doctors expertly know how to manage Chronic Pancreatitis. There
is much misinformation out there! At Levine's suggestion, Thomas will almost
certainly be traveling to one of the top hospitals in the country (world)
specializing in chronic pancreatitis: either Boston Children's or
Cincinatti Children's. In the meantime, I have spent many hours over the
last two months learning about this condition by reading studies written by the
handful of national experts and listening to numerous educational webinars
published by Mission: Cure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) Did you know that the pancreas is absolutely critical to
digesting food? Only 5% of the organ's cells are devoted to making insulin to
process sugar, while 95% are devoted to digesting fat, protein, and
carbohydrates. When one's pancreas slowly stops working, what follows are awful
(sometimes crippling) gastrointestinal symptoms and very bad malnutrition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(4) Thomas now needs high doses of pancreatic enzymes in
order to digest the food he is eating. Truly efficacious pancreatic enzymes are
by prescription only--not the digestive aids you see at the grocery store!
Dosing is challenging and should be based on the fat content of the food Thomas
is eating. This means that somebody has to be responsible to calculate the fat
content of the food and do the math to know how many enzymes he should
take--which means it's not easy for him to be apart from Mama these days.
Enzymes should be broken up over the course of the meal, with new enzymes being
taken about every 10 minutes. Taking Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy is
vitally important, but patient compliance is statistically low because taking
the meds is a hassle and makes one feel socially isolated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(5) Why is Thomas suffering Chronic Pancreatitis on top of
everything else? When numerous of his organs died 26 months ago, his pancreas
suffered a serious ischemic injury--which means it *almost* died. His pancreas
has never fully recovered and, in fact, has begun to atrophy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is hard to
convey our parental feelings about learning that Thomas is facing Yet One More
Thing he will have to manage for his lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNEXWRie6cc</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-40127140070140821592023-02-25T17:00:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:53:16.610-05:00Deer Aplenty<p>We came home to six deer in our front yard at 4:00 in the afternoon. Believe me, they did not care about my driving up my (their?) driveway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrACuNikMSkP-kGa2a_GfHcHEaqxWSxfNu9NLL5Cr6vlPIajPubhRLj2jgXw0ZGMQjJ3WAIvH2R4-EGAQexgJI8D5NWRAiOGeliKwi34xQebxScfuHme8hlz3ufBhPrAKtAtZbzq_aq8xvDHWKuqi0MboE_NjrqjZ69F73_SyWayr5rlWHNmW7rF8/s1094/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrACuNikMSkP-kGa2a_GfHcHEaqxWSxfNu9NLL5Cr6vlPIajPubhRLj2jgXw0ZGMQjJ3WAIvH2R4-EGAQexgJI8D5NWRAiOGeliKwi34xQebxScfuHme8hlz3ufBhPrAKtAtZbzq_aq8xvDHWKuqi0MboE_NjrqjZ69F73_SyWayr5rlWHNmW7rF8/s320/IMG_2701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFwIx5vzo8KfdnJ3cne8bMeaVgO8daUEPgRhLxQG1KJ-OW-9sp_6Wfe_wD7xj1lnVMwqwhOH2LJDWOjiy1tZJ5RYU41XfCNkbm-E251bxYElyTfgufL9bwVsBNWtAjKQMLFJX-rWPPnWR58Y7DVPHBrRCrC4FOdipY0NKvS4OpUn55djQALa82VPB/s1094/IMG_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFwIx5vzo8KfdnJ3cne8bMeaVgO8daUEPgRhLxQG1KJ-OW-9sp_6Wfe_wD7xj1lnVMwqwhOH2LJDWOjiy1tZJ5RYU41XfCNkbm-E251bxYElyTfgufL9bwVsBNWtAjKQMLFJX-rWPPnWR58Y7DVPHBrRCrC4FOdipY0NKvS4OpUn55djQALa82VPB/s320/IMG_2702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8qRREKfp6ik1iEhQLA6GqQmbcslq7MHXapil4uynNWbjqXc-7o7rQnzb-A3jROGCCj56PWWYAsLKDb2tOFloE-xTTiZZPT8YwGrHOnwmGEmnWU2FGuyFBqBXweS48Ku0BTF6VUek7tgsIeY35VjiL-HdsRv7k99govdNqErgtPhKNrLIFbLSJ6N5/s820/IMG_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8qRREKfp6ik1iEhQLA6GqQmbcslq7MHXapil4uynNWbjqXc-7o7rQnzb-A3jROGCCj56PWWYAsLKDb2tOFloE-xTTiZZPT8YwGrHOnwmGEmnWU2FGuyFBqBXweS48Ku0BTF6VUek7tgsIeY35VjiL-HdsRv7k99govdNqErgtPhKNrLIFbLSJ6N5/s320/IMG_2710.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-20149793845449246582023-02-24T13:21:00.005-05:002023-03-15T12:04:20.769-04:00Thank you, St. Polycarp!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg0gu88S8qbWJgeLYE3XfUA8wHN7uk8eevM8TSEN8beVg-HJSzdUiR9gmNKvFqBt6_J37TJvGSk3FyRbBVA9mUys_Z0oSd3rK_OQb2LRcw11n4rA4y7KQC_AGuXcay9HODid63NUOl8mvgmUrM-PDDjCfZ1cchrI1f_Do6szWkoWYyga2oRLM5OpL/s2048/333223461_652604636625442_5383380075147037213_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg0gu88S8qbWJgeLYE3XfUA8wHN7uk8eevM8TSEN8beVg-HJSzdUiR9gmNKvFqBt6_J37TJvGSk3FyRbBVA9mUys_Z0oSd3rK_OQb2LRcw11n4rA4y7KQC_AGuXcay9HODid63NUOl8mvgmUrM-PDDjCfZ1cchrI1f_Do6szWkoWYyga2oRLM5OpL/s320/333223461_652604636625442_5383380075147037213_n.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br />There is much to complain about regarding healthcare bureaucracy in this country, so we want to share a positive story which was a blessing for Thomas. Thomas has developed a rare form of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency stemming from complications from his tumor resection surgery and loss of blood flow. As a result of this damage, Thomas's pancreas is damaged and is not producing <div><br /></div><div>After much experimentation we found a prescription medication that allows Thomas to absorb nutrition and to gain weight. At 7 years old, his growth is so important. He has lost so much valuable growth time already, so every day matters. </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem is that this life-saving medication was brand new and very expensive. For the past month, Thomas has been living on samples from a small pharmaceutical startup company while his doctors and medical staff rallied, putting in tens and tens of hours to convince his primary and secondary insurance to cover it after initial denial. Research into medical literature had to be done and impassioned letters written. (One doctor’s letter was ten pages long.) Numerous times, another department at the hospital gave up its stash of sample meds so I could drive down there yet again to retrieve them to supply Thomas for another five days. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday BOTH insurance companies APPROVED the medication to be covered 100%. Today a woman in the last couple of hours of her last day of employment went way above and beyond to make sure Thomas’s meds will be delivered by courier tonight lest he run out. All the medical professionals put their hearts and souls into getting what Thomas needs.<div><p></p><p>Also, we have special reason to thank St. Polycarp who is the patron saint of those in gastrointestinal distress, and on whose feast day BOTH insurance companies unbeknownst to each other approved this medication that stops GI distress.</p></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-41427546119579701232023-02-19T16:00:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:45:47.337-05:00Setting Off Joseph's Rocket<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5ljvFwaU2hB_y41_FtMbWLsVL4LOOLZ8t9jtGbMjz1oOEAB9j9E08kBZxqZUjMu-P0ijun9--iFC_BP_tAS_jMqoMyB8DDTRxDNHJI_0G30Vgyw_Wpn_thORbprLj2LJKRsaa0CMdA3BVySXNsYgwC8FfeteAml60ekjsLjP9abgXem40kYfpI_E/s820/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5ljvFwaU2hB_y41_FtMbWLsVL4LOOLZ8t9jtGbMjz1oOEAB9j9E08kBZxqZUjMu-P0ijun9--iFC_BP_tAS_jMqoMyB8DDTRxDNHJI_0G30Vgyw_Wpn_thORbprLj2LJKRsaa0CMdA3BVySXNsYgwC8FfeteAml60ekjsLjP9abgXem40kYfpI_E/s320/IMG_2661.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNQ5FDS34N4G0e8VCJhk0Vkw7HpfMbQQT_so_Bvyiix9COWMHo1-AK4uMcSlWiVhRhWmdRY0-sU0auA61gVQTYKNHVONBBXifJKH-SelHtYXmhcjwCpfBjZK_VlXJblcQmjsJTrqOkzeC7izI3-a9fZuvdXYG5G9ipDJ_N7zI6Cnaggh8M0IybkA5/s820/IMG_2664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNQ5FDS34N4G0e8VCJhk0Vkw7HpfMbQQT_so_Bvyiix9COWMHo1-AK4uMcSlWiVhRhWmdRY0-sU0auA61gVQTYKNHVONBBXifJKH-SelHtYXmhcjwCpfBjZK_VlXJblcQmjsJTrqOkzeC7izI3-a9fZuvdXYG5G9ipDJ_N7zI6Cnaggh8M0IybkA5/s320/IMG_2664.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cq3FhpplYNRv0mwtJhHXMp9-odFpEc4nk3e0SQMZICA-R1RMUQBV7GYDM5uAoS6XgrFfaOPKodbUK2tSxZ3WPgw4EJJwl6xKT4ABnnv4ucfJ4xmS9_IHpzHb0NKlN2iFCs8yys0GNfgfEGFMOKTEZznOjGwGxp9EGjMPnXaYuMehnDhWCT0HxCiS/s820/IMG_2665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cq3FhpplYNRv0mwtJhHXMp9-odFpEc4nk3e0SQMZICA-R1RMUQBV7GYDM5uAoS6XgrFfaOPKodbUK2tSxZ3WPgw4EJJwl6xKT4ABnnv4ucfJ4xmS9_IHpzHb0NKlN2iFCs8yys0GNfgfEGFMOKTEZznOjGwGxp9EGjMPnXaYuMehnDhWCT0HxCiS/s320/IMG_2665.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhEniBOBk5WLn1cjBUMq1erHXEA3g4-uEppKAg9-jcI4dVkb9x26yqmGaTxmIbzitb1x5K8SfqLxTtHNv3SROh9pL3NOGdxtOVFkWwPBSy2pK8j8NOOT8TTP6odfqhQoyzgw6q5MKbGRxffBbCjUrjbMSPho4hBi0ENnQZLBZhMbfBwe6geA0CYzX/s820/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhEniBOBk5WLn1cjBUMq1erHXEA3g4-uEppKAg9-jcI4dVkb9x26yqmGaTxmIbzitb1x5K8SfqLxTtHNv3SROh9pL3NOGdxtOVFkWwPBSy2pK8j8NOOT8TTP6odfqhQoyzgw6q5MKbGRxffBbCjUrjbMSPho4hBi0ENnQZLBZhMbfBwe6geA0CYzX/s320/IMG_2670.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-1123626412561722282023-02-17T20:07:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:42:04.828-05:00Meal Planning: One Week Example<p>Domestic Friday night routine: Meal planning is DONE for the week and is based on our crazy schedule where part of our family is out most evenings of the week! Grocery order PLACED and ready to be picked up on Saturday Family Chores Day!</p><p><b><u>Saturday (chores / orchestra / 2 social outings)</u></b></p><p>Deli rotisserie chicken</p><p>Pasta</p><p>Green beans</p><p>Dinner rolls</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Sunday (only church!)</u></b></p><p>Skillet Chicken Thighs</p><p>Couscous (leftover pasta for picky kids)</p><p>Roasted broccoli</p><p>Dinner rolls</p><p>Ice cream</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Monday (altar serving / Fraternus)</u></b></p><p>Steak sandwiches</p><p>Baked sweet potatoes, beets, onions</p><p>Cheetos</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Shrove Tuesday (actually at home!)</u></b></p><p>Pancakes</p><p>Bacon/sausage</p><p>Fruit with homemade whipped cream</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Ash Wednesday (mom's co-op teaching day / evening hockey at two different rinks simultaneously / evening Mass and Fidelis)</u></b></p><p>Black bean soup</p><p>Cold sandwiches</p><p>Apples</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Thursday (mom's co-op teaching day / one kid working / dad at evening meeting / mom at another evening meeting)</u></b></p><p>Hot dogs</p><p>Roasted home fries</p><p>Fruit salad</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Friday (mom's co-op teaching day / evening musical rehearsal)</u></b></p><p>Homemade cheese pizza</p><p>(Might make a veggie quiche for the one or two of us happy to enjoy one)</p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-70304901981566602622023-02-17T17:52:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:40:43.111-05:00Hockey Mom<p>Another Friday night hangin’ out at the ice rink!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uCbSnmhJI8qmQpnAwHPHEuamHk6MniCMV8F1IaT-yA9dieAn2zJbgsagbmLYB6Wm7pTfiX4qe6r_dNxW8ydWV4K4uEtBvXhULytjEexiZCcWRpVzortN0i7KcYYY_lF-pY1oB2QBmlnno7ZvxZm7USn0laTnwMLqBNJb3BBDWzRt_kY29bzex4B/s1094/IMG_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uCbSnmhJI8qmQpnAwHPHEuamHk6MniCMV8F1IaT-yA9dieAn2zJbgsagbmLYB6Wm7pTfiX4qe6r_dNxW8ydWV4K4uEtBvXhULytjEexiZCcWRpVzortN0i7KcYYY_lF-pY1oB2QBmlnno7ZvxZm7USn0laTnwMLqBNJb3BBDWzRt_kY29bzex4B/s320/IMG_2647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-65721660131326047932023-02-15T09:59:00.000-05:002023-02-28T14:39:39.944-05:00Sleepy Doggy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0xqNmv7g4szMtCDSOkKkn__iOtiv2i2Pd7kl2nOvNQLe_Vy6n9vjOBjn_-_6Affp6whITxVDK3-sMekE-AK2FDMEV6SOXxuhsuZFAGx4d3sRZh6fmMAYJHLzvHvGm7EZJIjBc_04E6LxwFrDNRNY1PNjvpYyNWWYo99EJ_XS4Fdfr1Qmz_0OL-z1/s820/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0xqNmv7g4szMtCDSOkKkn__iOtiv2i2Pd7kl2nOvNQLe_Vy6n9vjOBjn_-_6Affp6whITxVDK3-sMekE-AK2FDMEV6SOXxuhsuZFAGx4d3sRZh6fmMAYJHLzvHvGm7EZJIjBc_04E6LxwFrDNRNY1PNjvpYyNWWYo99EJ_XS4Fdfr1Qmz_0OL-z1/s320/IMG_2603.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Some dogs hate being placed on their backs. Other dogs fall asleep in a few seconds.<p></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-36707235925163071012023-02-15T09:57:00.000-05:002023-02-28T14:38:54.518-05:00Snuggle Time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxA0kfMKpy5O4suX4RBqQ7UwB7RDt2EfwzO0Ro4Xu3ax0bMqraTF1ktkgCtVT2jXrhlxwhDFo-aC7WS49zci6bdwDYgrWcR36XAgkT2fWIMsZDh0Zno0lR--lWOvyC6edpTHMppiwnHRL-b2ZKVUmf63sDIzgNTm38YLMCLK6SNZ9BlJk2xPoie6k/s820/IMG_2619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxA0kfMKpy5O4suX4RBqQ7UwB7RDt2EfwzO0Ro4Xu3ax0bMqraTF1ktkgCtVT2jXrhlxwhDFo-aC7WS49zci6bdwDYgrWcR36XAgkT2fWIMsZDh0Zno0lR--lWOvyC6edpTHMppiwnHRL-b2ZKVUmf63sDIzgNTm38YLMCLK6SNZ9BlJk2xPoie6k/s320/IMG_2619.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Trying to finish prepping at 6:30 a.m. to teach Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper” to middle schoolers today, but Nicky firmly planted his chin and said it was snuggle time instead.<p></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-558689151467711812023-02-15T09:46:00.002-05:002023-02-28T14:37:52.394-05:00Catholic Quiz Bowl Practices Proceed<p>I’m feeling blessed to have been hosting a bunch of good teenagers. My husband and I are coaching one middle-school and one high-school Catholic Catechism Quiz Bowl team. I’ve been hosting practices for the middle schoolers every other Friday. The high schoolers have been gathering for dinner and practice weekly, and I’ve hosted a couple of those so far. It is so fun to watch a bunch of wholesome teens excited and exclaiming in the spirit of competition as they shout out answers to catechism questions. There are so many worse things teens could be doing with their time.</p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-30769277035738968952023-02-14T10:49:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:36:11.977-05:00So Grateful to that Other Teacher<p>Being a homeschooling mom means that I’ve taught this kid handwriting four days per week for about three years but an in-class co-op teacher showed him ONE TIME, so now he is going around telling anyone who will listen that so-and-so taught him how to write. Isn’t this the way it is—with all ages and subjects?!</p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825174029351412249.post-56981571517094073942023-02-14T08:46:00.001-05:002023-02-28T14:35:30.487-05:00St. Valentine's Day 2023<p style="text-align: center;">Happy St. Valentine’s Day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkbOcQi1ZxjCgCSzVEkiD2hwHijmOnw5Oqu_Dsqfkx0hnDVEMiUquvjXs6QrnllKlwIOHH_CWj74qd3GBUVtndBR_SVMgVW6brvlLQVtInla6nqiZsqU0nCMdReKoOH68MCpyrsb8_Uc9rjSW89gOqhUNkrr6w8XUgojwphQWo8fpte8VFVNuJz0Z/s1094/IMG_2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkbOcQi1ZxjCgCSzVEkiD2hwHijmOnw5Oqu_Dsqfkx0hnDVEMiUquvjXs6QrnllKlwIOHH_CWj74qd3GBUVtndBR_SVMgVW6brvlLQVtInla6nqiZsqU0nCMdReKoOH68MCpyrsb8_Uc9rjSW89gOqhUNkrr6w8XUgojwphQWo8fpte8VFVNuJz0Z/s320/IMG_2607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNvBy8n4eyLu5IuLLSiHCGdNDVsYWWHi5PaAlGBI3ugd7SFpbq-ctTSrl9fdYtfRFLvfb7P0CMIkyAmDVvy2h2VsezauN5tgyvfl8qHmsM0piR5w4uzc2NSitb68bXCFJKvOWvLZLg5Y--ui1nMfg4QVR7vCQ4NBRdVDsJRm5zrdXC4ZgLvDHw7ZM/s820/IMG_2608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNvBy8n4eyLu5IuLLSiHCGdNDVsYWWHi5PaAlGBI3ugd7SFpbq-ctTSrl9fdYtfRFLvfb7P0CMIkyAmDVvy2h2VsezauN5tgyvfl8qHmsM0piR5w4uzc2NSitb68bXCFJKvOWvLZLg5Y--ui1nMfg4QVR7vCQ4NBRdVDsJRm5zrdXC4ZgLvDHw7ZM/s320/IMG_2608.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054597409182035433noreply@blogger.com0