tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14627532734028348852024-03-12T21:34:45.329-07:00I Like CarrotsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-29257248969225817682014-10-24T17:35:00.003-07:002014-10-24T17:35:49.963-07:00Today's Arizona Adventure!My dad plotted a motorcycle route that, upon further Google Earthing, was mostly unpaved. So we decided to take their F150 out and see how the 4-wheel drive did. It did pretty well. No slippage. Ada slept for a good part of the more exciting bits. She liked the bridge though. Overall, and excellent adventure!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gs5UBQNbRhA/VErto2hKrlI/AAAAAAAADJI/-1M49LT1Yo4/s1600/1-historic%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gs5UBQNbRhA/VErto2hKrlI/AAAAAAAADJI/-1M49LT1Yo4/s1600/1-historic%2Bsign.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This truss bridge was built in 1924 and had ridiculously wide pine board planks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTInR2EKFMk/VErto_ZmCtI/AAAAAAAADJM/0NqdJ_xK1Mk/s1600/2-bridgedance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTInR2EKFMk/VErto_ZmCtI/AAAAAAAADJM/0NqdJ_xK1Mk/s1600/2-bridgedance.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ada, show me the bridge" resulted in jazz hands.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moosvzhR29A/VErtoNcBOHI/AAAAAAAADJE/JvDwvGYaFmg/s1600/3-riverview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moosvzhR29A/VErtoNcBOHI/AAAAAAAADJE/JvDwvGYaFmg/s1600/3-riverview.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think Marc saw her peeking over the edge like this. Heart attack!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKiPC5TuKAk/VErtrPOS0yI/AAAAAAAADJc/QYJflnLvsIs/s1600/4-hassayampabridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKiPC5TuKAk/VErtrPOS0yI/AAAAAAAADJc/QYJflnLvsIs/s1600/4-hassayampabridge.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elegant country bridge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NB58mu_wuLI/VErtsXY2DKI/AAAAAAAADJk/S4JDusPOYjg/s1600/5-rocktree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NB58mu_wuLI/VErtsXY2DKI/AAAAAAAADJk/S4JDusPOYjg/s1600/5-rocktree.jpg" height="640" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cottonwood was growing out of this rock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OVbQrdnPsG8/VErttadZxqI/AAAAAAAADJs/Uhw3cOKGBX0/s1600/6-niceroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OVbQrdnPsG8/VErttadZxqI/AAAAAAAADJs/Uhw3cOKGBX0/s1600/6-niceroad.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the trip was on wending dirt roads like this. We passed several really impressive ranching operations but didn't stop to take photos. Occasionally we passes a hunter campsite and once in a while we saw a cow tucked in the brush, but for the most part we didn't pass much in the way of oncoming traffic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IErpOiqNbZI/VErtuw-N1uI/AAAAAAAADJ0/8EPmZo7mJfE/s1600/7-endoftheroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IErpOiqNbZI/VErtuw-N1uI/AAAAAAAADJ0/8EPmZo7mJfE/s1600/7-endoftheroad.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This might be why. This was the next section of the road. I guess they were serious when they said the road was primitive and not frequently maintained. This area, which Marc and Susan went out to explore to determine whether it was passable, was determined to not be. It was essentially the side of a mountainous hill that was slowly eroding. There was, around the corner, a large white rock face that was slowly being sheared off by people's attempts. If only we'd had a winch...</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-659800210921749922014-10-18T17:23:00.001-07:002014-10-18T17:23:20.751-07:00The Pumpkin Patch ... Year 3<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYY9LWsoWo/VEMBve1EXsI/AAAAAAAADIc/EEriL3N9R94/s1600/Tractor%2BGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYYY9LWsoWo/VEMBve1EXsI/AAAAAAAADIc/EEriL3N9R94/s1600/Tractor%2BGirl.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today we went to the Freeman Farms Pumpkin Patch. We ran into one of Ada's best buddies, Sophie, and her family while we were there. The two girls had a blast with each other despite Ada being a little under the weather with a cold. We were supposed to be meeting up with some kids from her school, but they all were running a little late so we never really caught up to them. I'm a really patient person, so while we waited for our school friends to show up, we played on the tractors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPKi-EtxCLQ/VEMBrwtoH6I/AAAAAAAADIE/4_0NJYLIhMY/s1600/Fun%2Bwith%2BFaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPKi-EtxCLQ/VEMBrwtoH6I/AAAAAAAADIE/4_0NJYLIhMY/s1600/Fun%2Bwith%2BFaces.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And made silly faces in the cutouts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qut2wFihjoE/VEMBnQXxAcI/AAAAAAAADHg/HtLntcfjvxM/s1600/Ada%2Band%2BSophie%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qut2wFihjoE/VEMBnQXxAcI/AAAAAAAADHg/HtLntcfjvxM/s1600/Ada%2Band%2BSophie%2B1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But we couldn't wait too long because THE CAROUSEL was the excitement of the day. Pumpkins? Pah.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDkwlqgng8Q/VEMBqYNv40I/AAAAAAAADH8/uvPai2JRBWA/s1600/Fiona%2Bon%2Bthe%2BCarousel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDkwlqgng8Q/VEMBqYNv40I/AAAAAAAADH8/uvPai2JRBWA/s1600/Fiona%2Bon%2Bthe%2BCarousel.jpg" height="640" width="610" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiona, Sophie's little sister, took a spin around. That's what she looks like when she's happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXV_wRTxLYw/VEMBtyWYCHI/AAAAAAAADIU/h0KYAuxUcsI/s1600/I%2Bwas%2Bthere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXV_wRTxLYw/VEMBtyWYCHI/AAAAAAAADIU/h0KYAuxUcsI/s1600/I%2Bwas%2Bthere.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIMbj2CkDWw/VEMBozAHRdI/AAAAAAAADHo/ylKuc3iFdls/s1600/AZ%2BLove%2Bfor%2BAll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIMbj2CkDWw/VEMBozAHRdI/AAAAAAAADHo/ylKuc3iFdls/s1600/AZ%2BLove%2Bfor%2BAll.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffrey and Damon #TrueDetectivesSeasonTwo </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbVBm9mVqeg/VEMBsyXjKpI/AAAAAAAADIM/Hx5HHtrJv5Y/s1600/Hayride%2BM%2Band%2BS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbVBm9mVqeg/VEMBsyXjKpI/AAAAAAAADIM/Hx5HHtrJv5Y/s1600/Hayride%2BM%2Band%2BS.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc and Susan were there, too! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xV-rcuOoeGg/VEMBpZOSrwI/AAAAAAAADHw/3AXzKhYo8_I/s1600/Face%2Bpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xV-rcuOoeGg/VEMBpZOSrwI/AAAAAAAADHw/3AXzKhYo8_I/s1600/Face%2Bpainting.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada had a rainbow butterfly painted on her face by a man in a shark hat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVfHeGwAiwA/VEMBxEnmeeI/AAAAAAAADIk/kWLQZSLCqvQ/s1600/lovethispig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVfHeGwAiwA/VEMBxEnmeeI/AAAAAAAADIk/kWLQZSLCqvQ/s1600/lovethispig.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the petting zoo area, they had this sleepy pig. He didn't flutter a muscle. Just slept all day and was petted. Heaven for a pig!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRXgAL-zv00/VEMBnYY6AdI/AAAAAAAADHc/v02Tu_JaobQ/s1600/Ada%2Band%2Bthe%2BDeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRXgAL-zv00/VEMBnYY6AdI/AAAAAAAADHc/v02Tu_JaobQ/s1600/Ada%2Band%2Bthe%2BDeer.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada loved this deer in the petty zoo area. She was delighted with him and kept saying, "He's so cute! oh, mom! He's so cute!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hx4u3iVECI/VEMBykrbxfI/AAAAAAAADI0/08KozEuR4Pc/s1600/serious%2Blove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hx4u3iVECI/VEMBykrbxfI/AAAAAAAADI0/08KozEuR4Pc/s1600/serious%2Blove.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously loved this deer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lo1ZsC0UyhU/VEMBx4Tl8MI/AAAAAAAADIo/6xAtkznDzho/s1600/pumpkin%2Bpatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lo1ZsC0UyhU/VEMBx4Tl8MI/AAAAAAAADIo/6xAtkznDzho/s1600/pumpkin%2Bpatch.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, we went into the pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin. Ada's selection was a petite little one. When we got up to the register to weigh it, the kid (who we've been assisted by for the last two years!) said, "Oh, that's yours. You can just have that." Free pumpkin!</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-80631234526490871762014-08-17T20:43:00.001-07:002014-08-17T20:50:07.015-07:00I want to ride my biiiiicycle...Ada has been tricycling around like a champ for a bit now. Lately I've been thinking it was time to graduate up to a big kid bicycle since she can steer pretty well.<br />
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None of the bike shops seemed to have great, high-quality bikes in the 12" size. Target wouldn't let us get one down off the shelf to try out for "safety reasons." Our craigslist turned up nothing for used kids bikes that looked like they were in good shape. So, where do you go when you sort of give up on quality and say "meh" to safety? Walmart of course!<br />
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Ada tried out a few, but her favorite was a Huffy Rock It. It is red with flames, you'll notice. She also decided she needed a new helmet, I thought it needed a bell, and while we were over there at accessories, she decided she just <i>had </i>to have some Barbie elbow, knee, and hand pads. We call them her Super Pads because she acts like she is invincible in them. Want to give your kid a boost of confidence? Let them run around in Super Pads! The only side effect is that we look like insane over protective parents... which we aren't. It hadn't occurred to me to get padding...<br />
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Here's a video my dad shot of her first pedal around the block at their house. She really did great! She has a little trouble with leverage but that will come in time and, you know, with bushes.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-3934155081999689272014-08-15T21:20:00.000-07:002014-08-15T21:22:42.075-07:00The Wizard of OzTonight we watched The Wizard of Oz. I thought Ada might be ready for it, but I had some concerns that she wouldn't understand parts, would be scared, etc. I've been telling her about it -- the whole story about Dorothy and the storm, the Munchkins, the yellow brick road, the characters she meets, and the Wicked Witch ... all in the hopes that she'd better understand it. She still had some concerns...<br />
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It's always fun for me to see how she reacts to these things. I snapped photos of her face while we watched it. The shots aren't the best because of the light, but man, you can really see how she's feeling. I hope you enjoy, "Ada and the Wizard."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZxgPK5qudw/U-7bDYIFxLI/AAAAAAAADEg/ZlySSE5Ymfo/s1600/20140815_194934_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZxgPK5qudw/U-7bDYIFxLI/AAAAAAAADEg/ZlySSE5Ymfo/s1600/20140815_194934_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Munchkins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5wnD0suHrOc/U-7bCiWuogI/AAAAAAAADD8/ov1uVuA77kk/s1600/20140815_202407_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5wnD0suHrOc/U-7bCiWuogI/AAAAAAAADD8/ov1uVuA77kk/s1600/20140815_202407_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarecrow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-aDihgNxZY/U-7bCvvdMeI/AAAAAAAADD4/ipcrL4vbhGg/s1600/20140815_202440_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-aDihgNxZY/U-7bCvvdMeI/AAAAAAAADD4/ipcrL4vbhGg/s1600/20140815_202440_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concerns about the Cowardly Lion, the Poppies, and "Where is she going?!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XKFQhVV85Y/U-7bDVpDwqI/AAAAAAAADEA/8s0S7quI2K0/s1600/20140815_202450_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XKFQhVV85Y/U-7bDVpDwqI/AAAAAAAADEA/8s0S7quI2K0/s1600/20140815_202450_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monkeys take off to capture Dorothy ... maybe we should have fast forwarded this part.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qL1fhOsB38/U-7bDsiPnvI/AAAAAAAADEE/VyjqsFl_hLY/s1600/20140815_203012_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qL1fhOsB38/U-7bDsiPnvI/AAAAAAAADEE/VyjqsFl_hLY/s1600/20140815_203012_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah, should have fast forwarded. She was absolutely bawling about the Witch's Castle scenes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ9cORQvgBw/U-7bD1K8PKI/AAAAAAAADEI/HTyP7Pu1hrA/s1600/20140815_204419_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ9cORQvgBw/U-7bD1K8PKI/AAAAAAAADEI/HTyP7Pu1hrA/s1600/20140815_204419_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to normal, though a bit annoyed that Dorothy isn't getting anything from the Wizard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x5fx-B-2A1Y/U-7bECwlGkI/AAAAAAAADEM/z6YTINWTmEQ/s1600/20140815_204521_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x5fx-B-2A1Y/U-7bECwlGkI/AAAAAAAADEM/z6YTINWTmEQ/s1600/20140815_204521_resized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explaining to me that it was just a dream with some guys. </td></tr>
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Jeffrey tweeted the experience. Here's a screenshot of his feed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xHfHVn52Iw/U-7ceQyJE9I/AAAAAAAADE0/c58Sw9RbBmM/s1600/Jeffrey%2BGautreaux%2B%2Bjgautreaux%2B%2Bon%2BTwitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xHfHVn52Iw/U-7ceQyJE9I/AAAAAAAADE0/c58Sw9RbBmM/s1600/Jeffrey%2BGautreaux%2B%2Bjgautreaux%2B%2Bon%2BTwitter.png" height="640" width="172" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-47108897095216780362014-03-26T21:47:00.000-07:002014-03-26T21:47:18.222-07:00Kitchen cabinet updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our house we bought last May has honey oak cabinets throughout. They were real wood, not veneer, so overall they were in good shape but just sort of ... oakey. Mostly, I would sit at my desk for hours every day staring at the base of the breakfast bar and loathing the oak paneling they put there. It had sort of a plywood quality and I loathed it. LOATHED.<br />
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I decided to repaint. My dad refinished his kitchen cabinets last year and he has really been able to walk around like a human since then, so I went for paint. No sanding. Primer, two coats of paint, done. That sounds so simple! It took weeks. Mostly because I have other stuff to do, of course.<br />
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Here is photographic evidence!<br />
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Ada helped me get started on the breakfast bar front. That's the actual color she's painting with there. The little man she made is a snowman.<br />
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OK. Before and afters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6PkwV5RBzA/UzOqb7-g_4I/AAAAAAAADAg/6uiuGYm9SEw/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6PkwV5RBzA/UzOqb7-g_4I/AAAAAAAADAg/6uiuGYm9SEw/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly the before. I think I started painting just a few days after this. This is the view from my desk that I would sit and consider my depth of designer loathing every day.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmyuYfoOkjQ/UzOqs04-m-I/AAAAAAAADAo/CBnUj2-D6kg/s1600/cabinets+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmyuYfoOkjQ/UzOqs04-m-I/AAAAAAAADAo/CBnUj2-D6kg/s1600/cabinets+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we first moved in.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_YLg2QcIVgE/UzOq6xhCxNI/AAAAAAAADAw/jpAa39Js18k/s1600/1958346_10154008611390026_1486908204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_YLg2QcIVgE/UzOq6xhCxNI/AAAAAAAADAw/jpAa39Js18k/s1600/1958346_10154008611390026_1486908204_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This evening, shot with my phone the second we got the last door screwed on.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T7xMJkENaNc/UzOrN7gn3ZI/AAAAAAAADA4/0PgNnoCJ6jg/s1600/cabinets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T7xMJkENaNc/UzOrN7gn3ZI/AAAAAAAADA4/0PgNnoCJ6jg/s1600/cabinets+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day we got the keys.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done! (There is a cake under that green bowl. I don't own a cake plate.)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZ8v6Y-XECI/UzOrwvEAcYI/AAAAAAAADBI/jF4pIn-007I/s1600/574459_10154008611455026_1329418142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZ8v6Y-XECI/UzOrwvEAcYI/AAAAAAAADBI/jF4pIn-007I/s1600/574459_10154008611455026_1329418142_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-6910949682643675942014-02-25T12:02:00.000-08:002014-02-25T12:02:31.479-08:00Draw A PersonAda chalked this picture of Jeffrey on Valentine's Day and I wanted to post it before I forgot.<br />
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I believe it is her first drawing of a person.<br />
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While she drew it, she told us all the parts she was making. Not bad for 2 1/2. I mean, that IS what Jeffrey looks like: legs.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-2134508179975148942014-02-09T08:23:00.000-08:002014-02-09T08:23:49.736-08:00Phoenix FestivalYesterday Jeffrey and I took Ada down to Phoenix to the Chinese New Year festival. We've been reading about CNY in a pop up book for the last month and we hoped we'd get to see a dragon and a lion dancer. We did not. She had been very interested in chopsticks and we were at least able to try those out.<br />
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The Sages met us there with Ada's buddy, Sophie.<br />
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As we walked in, giant inflatable hamster balls caught Ada's eye. Particularly, of course, the giant pink one. As we ate our lunch on the grass, the girls kept an eye on them over in the big field. Ada was game. Sophie tried the line but seemed to demure at the last minute and decided to pass. Ada remained committed.<br />
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Keeping in the theme of continued appreciation of Asian culture, the girls decided they HAD to ride the Ferris wheel. Ada was off and running the second we said, "Yeah, OK." Sophie was a little delayed. Hence the photos of it looking like Ada was going up alone. We thought she was, too. The guy even offered to send his daughter up with her, but Ada said she was fine. She just wanted to ride! Sophie showed up at the last second and the two friends were able to ride together.<br />
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I hauled them over, afterwards, to the main stage where watched a few kid Chinese dance performances, a tai chi explanation that was super boring, and some teen marshal arts demos to house music -- much more exciting. Our girls acted bored, but later while waiting in line, they were trying out all their moves, so I guess they were paying attention.<br />
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After the festival we went to Ikea. Ada fell asleep on the way so Jeffrey sat in the car with her while she snoozed and I shopped. I think he was quite happy about that.<br />
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Once we started loading the car at Ikea, we quickly realized that the second shelf box wasn't going to fit. Fortunately, because I'm weirdly chatty, I'd been talking to the couple in the pickup truck next to us while Jeffrey shoved. They happened to be from Prescott, too. So, of course, being the nice people they were and me the kindly pushy girl, they happily loaded up the extra Expedit into their truck and drove it up the mountain. I'll grab it from them on Monday morning. Ikea is a wondrous place!<br />
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After that business was completed, we headed onto the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Because we like trains? No! Because Ada loves carousels and they have a good one. Our friends Tammy and Chris met us out there so that their daughter, Lila, and Ada could play on the playgrounds and ride the merry-go-round.<br />
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Tammy snapped this of the girls. We told them to smile so they'd look at the camera. They are both so cute! You'd never know it from their grins, though. They look mental.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-38752695895883275252014-02-05T12:04:00.000-08:002014-02-05T12:04:19.121-08:00Tiny DancerWhen we decided to take Ada out of preschool, I scoured the internet for local kidlette activities. I found a Mommy and Me dance class and she's enjoying it for the most part. (She thinks the music is too loud.)<br />
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The littles all show up in various versions of "dancing" outfits. Ada is no exception. Target flouncy skirts and flowered camisoles are usually her go-to.<br />
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I thought maybe she'd like something special and it came today.<br />
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Here's her in her new leotard with attached sparkle tutu. She loves it.<br />
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This is her demonstrating her ballerina walk. She looks like a very pretty zombie coming to eat your brains.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-3468280663897153912014-01-20T15:07:00.001-08:002014-01-20T15:07:34.061-08:00It's official. She's potty trained.Getting Ada out of diapers has been sort of a horrible experience ... as I've told anyone that would listen. <div>
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The first potty I got for her was purchased around her first birthday. I thought she could see it, try it out, get used to it and just ease into this whole potty use business. Other moms I knew did something similar and were reporting in gleefully that their kid loved using the potty. My child wasn't so into it.</div>
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By her second birthday, she'd try it out occasionally before a bath and occasionally could tinkle in it. I thought, "Great! This will be easy!"</div>
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That was in June. In the next few months it didn't progress at all. September she refused to sit on the potty at all. She wouldn't do it, would throw amazing tantrums about it, and, more concerning, would tell me, "I'm a baby! I wear diapers!"</div>
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Some days, I'd put her on it in front of a movie and tell her, "You can watch this movie, but only if you sit on the potty and try to tinkle in it."</div>
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At least she was learning to hold it?</div>
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Here's a video of her not tinkling in the potty. Happily reading books, but not doing the business.</div>
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So then it was decided to just let her be for a bit. Maybe she wasn't ready? </div>
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Then I decided that was malarky. Not ready? She's 2! She's Ada! She can do this. In the worst months of my parenting life to date here's what I tried and failed at:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Bribery</li>
<li>Having a special outing to buy panties</li>
<li>More bribery</li>
<li>Videos and shows dedicated to the subject of using the potty. The favorite being the episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood where they use the potty a lot. She still sings the song occasionally, "If you have to go potty, stop and go right away!"</li>
<li>Yelling</li>
<li>Yelling AND bribery</li>
<li>Crying on the floor (me, not her)</li>
<li>Purchasing the amazingly crappy book which she loves,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Potty-Samantha-Berger/dp/0545172969/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390256694&sr=1-1&keywords=Princess+Potty" target="_blank"> "Princess Potty"</a></li>
<li>Redecorating her bathroom into a "princess potty"</li>
<li>Pull-ups and refusing to ever allow another diaper on her body</li>
<li>Taking her to my parents house in NC and getting her ANOTHER very fancy Minnie Mouse potty that made cheering sounds when you "flushed" it.</li>
<li>Explaining life to her</li>
<li>Telling her we weren't leaving the room until she tinkled in the potty. (Brought phone and coffee for parental comfort.)</li>
<li>Cheer squad level of fake joy</li>
<li>Bribery</li>
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I don't know what actually worked. Something did. I like to think it was No. 13. It was the first time she'd tinkled in the potty since August. She tinkled in the potty while throwing a huge tantrum while I sat there trying to be cool while my insides were in turmoil and my fists kept clenching. Once the stream started, she looked up at me with her splotchy crying face, and between the angry sobs said, "Mommy! I'm tinkling!" Then continued to have a tantrum.</div>
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Then we had a week of similar experiences.</div>
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And yet, just two weeks before Christmas, she got it. She just did. All of a sudden, she'd willingly accept the idea of potty time and tinkling in the potty and, although there was an accident here or there, they were so incredibly rare that we were all surprised when it happened. No bribes were dispensed.</div>
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So we're done. She is even staying dry during her naps and most nights (we are still using a Pull-up at night) and it's like magic. Horrible evil soul-trading magic ... but also amazing.</div>
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Jeffrey even took her to Phoenix by himself two weekends ago and she didn't have a single accident while they were at the zoo for the day.</div>
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She uses public toilets of any variety without issue.</div>
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While I was crying and screaming, many of the people I turned to for consolation with children the same age didn't seem to be having the same kind of horrible fun I was or if their kid was a few years older they'd tell me that some particular incident was the catalyst to success -- a rash, a cut, etc. I was cheerfully told to try M&Ms (um, duh?), charts, etc. Everyone else appeared to be calm, encouraged by their child's progress, No one admitted to ugly crying in bed late at night to their husband that they weren't a good mom and were totally fucking up parenting.</div>
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I AM totally fucking up parenting ... but at least Ada is potty trained.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-77385421089100212012013-12-22T11:36:00.001-08:002013-12-22T11:36:11.125-08:00BeyonceOur new Roku 3 has new channels, including the Vevo music video channel.<br />
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We turned on the Beyonce "Put a Ring on It" video. I asked Ada if she could do the moves. She started doing <i>something</i>. Then looks at Jeffrey and says, "This is really hard work."<br />
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Yes. Yes it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-41890129061026291762013-12-22T11:31:00.002-08:002013-12-22T11:31:33.246-08:00What sound DOES a chicken make?I don't know what they were doing, but this is the conversation:<br />
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Ada: It's a duck! I like ducks! Quack Quack!<br />
Jeffrey: Ducks say quack quack!<br />
Ada: Here's a chicken.<br />
Jeffrey: Chickens go quack quack!<br />
Me: No they don't.<br />
Jeffrey: They don't? How do they go?<br />
Me: Bok bok.<br />
Jeffrey: Bok bok?<br />
Ada: They go bok bok!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-2442016392188924772013-12-22T06:58:00.000-08:002013-12-22T06:58:55.642-08:00"I just have to see Santa!"Yesterday we went to a toddler Christmas brunch to exchange gifts and experience a little merriness with Julian, Sophie, and Ada before the families went their separate ways for the holiday.<br />
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The merriness was mostly kids throwing croissants, Julian hit his head about five times, and Sophie and Ada could not stop playing with the kitchen timer on Julian's little stove. The entire event felt, like Ryan said, "A McGruber sketch on SNL, there's constant ticking."<br />
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Anyway, due to the festivities, Ada just never ended up taking a nap. By the afternoon, she was so incredibly tired, but we decided we could make it to the grocery store for some additional cookie making supplies with her and I think Jeffrey mentioned Santa. Well, Ada couldn't get over the idea that we were going to see Santa. We had mentioned it to her earlier in the day and now it was time to ante up. With a tired kid, we headed to the mall to see Santa.<br />
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The wait was long. She played gamely in the kid area, but never smiled. She just zombied around, going down the slide over and over again. I kept asking her, "Are you sure you want to do this? We can come back tomorrow!" And she'd always say, "But I just have to see Santa!" or "I'm ready for my turn to see Santa!"<br />
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So we waited.<br />
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We were one of the last families to get to see Santa before his "reindeer break" and when they let her in, a very tired but very sweet child went over, clasped Santa's hands and had a chat about dolls.<br />
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Then she hopped up for her picture. She wouldn't smile. We asked. But it just wasn't there. Instead, she just snuggled into Santa's soft suit and gave him a big hug.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iigRdth5W3I/Urb8vhk1GwI/AAAAAAAAC6g/WYn1rbMZUKY/s1600/Ada_Santa_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iigRdth5W3I/Urb8vhk1GwI/AAAAAAAAC6g/WYn1rbMZUKY/s640/Ada_Santa_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Far better than last year's visit.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-924mqzp3PgE/Urb9AQ6e_LI/AAAAAAAAC6o/PBDFUFrOHOw/s1600/Ada_Santa_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-924mqzp3PgE/Urb9AQ6e_LI/AAAAAAAAC6o/PBDFUFrOHOw/s320/Ada_Santa_1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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Her first visit with Santa, at six-months-old, the Santa held absolutely still. She just must have thought he was a fleecy blanket.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-64787120887487123842013-12-08T09:39:00.001-08:002013-12-08T14:07:27.697-08:00First Snow of 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffrey didn't make it back up the driveway, so he had to shovel. Ada helped.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While Jeffrey shoveled, Ada and I went across the street and went for a snowy walk, following some deer tracks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then she made a mistake in the path and got stuck. The end.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-69846368753500268182013-12-04T14:11:00.000-08:002013-12-08T14:09:29.984-08:00Emma! (and Pete)We're getting a puppy! I've been working on this idea for a few months now and finally decided we needed an English Setter. Then my dad decided he needed one. My mom and Jeffrey are on board!<br />
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The brown-eared one is our little girl and her name is Emma. The black-faced one is a little boy and my parents are keeping him. They've named him Pete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ceS5ISXnOQ/Up-Za8KVZjI/AAAAAAAACyc/fmaUFjLElEM/s1600/IMG95201312039511282095451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ceS5ISXnOQ/Up-Za8KVZjI/AAAAAAAACyc/fmaUFjLElEM/s640/IMG95201312039511282095451.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They went to the vet today and were declared, "very healthy puppies!" At just 8 weeks, Emma is 7lbs 10oz and Pete is 8lbs 1oz. The vet said they will likely double in weight within two weeks. Better get her into cargo before the rate goes up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mom. She's a little bedraggled looking from being a mom and stuff, but look at what a sweet face she has! The breeders hunt the dogs and were delighted with the litter's perfect tails. We do not hunt but the tails are indeed very whippy and white.</td></tr>
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This is a video snippet of them on a walk around the pond. Emma is way too interested in that water!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-26214925628747715352013-12-01T19:41:00.003-08:002013-12-01T19:41:57.271-08:00Decorating "Grant"Today we picked out our Christmas tree. Down the road from us is a plant nursery and they had all kinds of Christmas-y trees to choose from including live trees down to little twee rosemary shrubs trimmed into tree shape. We went with an old regular fresh cut Northern.<br />
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Apparently the yearly tradition at the nursery is to name all of the trees before they find homes. Our tree, a lovely thing, is named Grant.<br />
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Ada helped decorate him and while she worked she kept singing this lovely little tune. It's a bit of an ear worm and you'll find yourself humming it despite yourself, at least we did.<br />
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She's definitely getting into the Christmas spirit.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-63634515427353113242013-11-29T10:56:00.000-08:002013-11-29T10:56:17.109-08:00A Christmas Tradition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPYeMUSkHHY/UpjgUHEkNSI/AAAAAAAACuo/aJuTSmzDo50/s1600/Yr+1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPYeMUSkHHY/UpjgUHEkNSI/AAAAAAAACuo/aJuTSmzDo50/s640/Yr+1978.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One-month-old. Santa admonished my parents for bringing me out in the cold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qORyjbpYOhM/UpjgVJ1-OzI/AAAAAAAACu0/DnyQPThmdHI/s1600/Yr+1983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qORyjbpYOhM/UpjgVJ1-OzI/AAAAAAAACu0/DnyQPThmdHI/s640/Yr+1983.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then Eric shows up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2to53Kl5E8/UpjgZC_1cdI/AAAAAAAACwQ/-F5iymTzjN8/s1600/Yr+1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2to53Kl5E8/UpjgZC_1cdI/AAAAAAAACwQ/-F5iymTzjN8/s640/Yr+1995.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa's face! WHAT ARE THESE TEENAGERS DOING ON MY LAP?! After this year, you can see the annual photo still happened, but we found alternatives to Santa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXxo-i3vXmA/UpjgZk50WVI/AAAAAAAACwY/_U1fxSTzN00/s1600/Yr+1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXxo-i3vXmA/UpjgZk50WVI/AAAAAAAACwY/_U1fxSTzN00/s640/Yr+1996.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neighbor's Santa cutout.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1RqwgRuteo/UpjgZ4g7WzI/AAAAAAAACws/fpvCkph9NyU/s1600/Yr+1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1RqwgRuteo/UpjgZ4g7WzI/AAAAAAAACws/fpvCkph9NyU/s640/Yr+1997.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa was out. So we borrowed his set.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tSjhEWC6bY/UpjgaX4cI4I/AAAAAAAACwk/bRdQLQt3B1Q/s1600/Yr+2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tSjhEWC6bY/UpjgaX4cI4I/AAAAAAAACwk/bRdQLQt3B1Q/s640/Yr+2000.jpg" width="614" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric's hair is so Swingers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5g5cVVwUV9s/UpjgbbMMziI/AAAAAAAACxE/zLg3iawxLDQ/s1600/Yr+2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5g5cVVwUV9s/UpjgbbMMziI/AAAAAAAACxE/zLg3iawxLDQ/s640/Yr+2002.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is at my house in Elizabeth City. Eric must be 18 here, so we were allowed to stop. Also, I think the next year I moved to Yuma.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-19974666230953915212013-11-24T15:34:00.001-08:002013-11-24T15:34:01.182-08:00Balloon Festival Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While living in Yuma, Jeffrey and I got to experience the Colorado River Crossing Hot Air Balloon Festival. We both agreed it was something we wanted to share with Ada. Someday we'd like to go to the Albuquerque balloon fiesta, but for now, the Yuma festival is the perfect experience.</div>
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We went down Friday night. Shirley came with us and bravely drove the rental car through the Arizona darkness in driving rain. Jeffrey helpfully kept finding songs on the satellite radio no one liked. Ada and I napped.</div>
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Saturday morning we got up way too early and headed over to the West Wetlands Park where the launch was to take place. Due to the uncharacteristically rainy weather, when dawn broke, there wasn't a single balloon preparing to go. We were cold and sad. At least we ran into the Molenar group and Ada immediately took to Savannah, their nearly 7-year-old daughter. Finally, an intrepid balloon pilot took to the field and was then followed by three more. it was not the massive experience we had hoped for. The rest of the day was spent resting and digesting our massive breakfast from the hotel package.</div>
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Saturday night wasn't much better as the glow didn't happen as promised. Fortunately we had other plans! Our friends Ann and Charlie hosted a little party for us complete with birthday cake for me. The day's disappointments were slowly healed by "dark and stormies" (dark rum and ginger beer with lime) and a delightful spread of snacks, chili, and the Molenars brought rolled tacos from La Fonda -- a nostalgic favorite. </div>
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We slept well and then got up not as early on Sunday for the second day of balloon launching. The weather was much improved and two waves of balloons, about twenty total, ascended. Ada was a bit tired and seemed nervous about the roars of the fire blasts, but she was happy looking at all the balloons and helping me pick out her favorite ones. Day Two was definitely worth the trip. Shirley even helped the balloon sponsored by our old newspaper, The Sun, to get going. Matt Molenar and his mom Jane got to go for a ride so we had friendly faces to wave to as they ascended.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada immediately glommed on to Savvy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She always looked a little unsure around the balloons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The balloon glow had a few vendors including face painting. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little tiger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday morning was a LOT more exciting on the field.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Molenar and his mom, Jane, help "crew" the balloon they were to ride in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada was getting tired waiting for our friends to go up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow, of course, Shirley ended up manning part of the equipment. The balloon lady, whom I'll call Doris because was a gruff little old woman wearing a sparkly hat which is what Dorises do, told Shirley, "That's the most dangerous piece of equipment in the setup." The cold air fan. Great!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You need to wear gloves."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to launch! (Note Shirley holding the balloon down as she is now part of the crew.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a great shot Jeffrey took of the flame.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane giving a hearty wave as they took off! </td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-75317927828224402822013-10-23T11:40:00.000-07:002013-10-23T11:40:05.422-07:00Ada's first salon haircut!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q7maxbg9qYg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Ada's hair had finally gone from bald to longish, her curls getting trapped in her collar and her bangs poking her in the eyes. She'll let me put barrettes, headbands, ponytails, and pigtails in but she only keeps them there for about five minutes before she says, "I don't want this."<br />
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I didn't do such a hot job on her bangs last time I did them. See?<br />
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So it was time for a trip to the stylist. Brittany, my hairstylist, and I had talked about it a while back and I knew she was game. Last night Ada and I watched a few YouTube videos of girls getting their haircut and we talked about how it would feel. Ada seemed pretty excited! When she woke up this morning, she said, "Ready to get a haircut? Let's go!"</div>
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We had to kill a few hours.</div>
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Then it was time, we went over a little early and toured the salon, checking out all the ladies getting their coif on. We tested out the shampoo bowl, looked at the hair getting swept up, and the general joy and magazines of a salon. All the ladies were cooing over her adorableness. Ada had chosen her gold tutu and a striped shirt for her experience. It does get noticed.</div>
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She let Brittany shampoo her at the shampoo sinks and then followed her back up to the chair. Once situated, she happily sat there letting Brittany work while she had a few lollipops. When Brittany told her to look down and hold still, Ada had no trouble doing it. She was a champ!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a really cute little bob and she likes it!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-81904025484798453182013-10-23T09:03:00.001-07:002013-10-23T09:03:22.796-07:00Potty TimeWe're struggling with potty training. It seems like all the other little kids are making headway and Ada isn't and it is making both of us feel a bit put out. Ada is very aware that diapers are for babies, but she's not really connected the feeling with needing to tinkle with, you know, herself and what's going on.<br />
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We've been watching potty shows, reading potty books, talking about it, demonstrations abound, and we have tried to be cool about it. She'll just have to connect it herself.<br />
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For a bit, she was demanding diapers because "she was a baby' but now she tells us "she's a big girl and wears pull-ups." Thank goodness she's ready to equate herself with a big girl.<br />
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This horrible book called Princess Potty is, of course, the book that has inspired her. It's stupid. The princess rides a pony to her royal potty. It's seriously the worst book ever. So of course it worked -- sort of.<br />
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Ada will now go, often willingly, to hang out in her own princess potty. We bought some new pink accessories and special soap and she demands "piracy" when she goes in. We haven't had any successful potty usage, just sitting, but after a month of her refusing to even go near the potty and having major meltdowns, I'll take it.<br />
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Here's a very video invading her piracy(!) because, well, she's adorable. She reads us <i>Big Girl Panties</i> (a favorite of mine when Jeffrey reads it because it's just so mortifying for adult men to read about panties) and <i>Princess Potty</i>. Check out the bunny slippers!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-53725473500257476252013-10-20T17:46:00.001-07:002013-10-20T17:46:57.863-07:00It's Pumpkin Time!<i>It's Pumpkin Time</i> is a book Ada and I have been reading at bedtime about some kids that plant a pumpkin patch. This was in hopes of getting her excited about pumpkins. It worked!<br />
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This morning we set out to the Freeman Farms pumpkin patch in Chino Valley. It is the same place we went last year. We met our friend Joy, mom of Ada's school buddy Julian. We also caught up with another of Ada's classmate, Katie, and her family.<br />
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The patch is set up so that you pay an entrance fee and then you can run around all day experiencing all of their entertainments. Everything is covered except the price of the pumpkins and snacks. Overall, it is a very relaxed experience and the kids can do what they enjoy ad nauseum and have plenty of room to explore.<br />
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This year, the kids did some dancing (Joy and I helped them out), enjoyed the animals in the petting zoo, rode a train, the carousel (a million times), watched ducks, and in general had a lovely time running around, sipping lemonade, and enjoying the farm.<br />
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We also picked out pumpkins from the patch. Last year the vines were still alive but our early cold snap damaged them so most of the pumpkins were detached from the vines ... but the experience was still fun!<br />
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Families from the Phoenix area often come up out of the heat to enjoy our milder temperatures and the pumpkin patch was a perfect place it seems. You could tell the difference between the locals and the day-trippers, as Jeffrey says, you can tell them apart because the Phoenicians all have husbands with Affliction-shirts and the wives are all blond and looked pissed off to be there with a kid.<br />
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[Train video goes here, but it is taking eons to upload to youtube ... so I'll put it here later.]<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-en7sZNEUNak/UmR1R9dO3EI/AAAAAAAACi4/GYogLqLkf0o/s1600/horse+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-en7sZNEUNak/UmR1R9dO3EI/AAAAAAAACi4/GYogLqLkf0o/s640/horse+photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada loves this miniature horse and wants a pony. I told her she could have one when she was six.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztSQxIX0cBQ/UmR1UkcJCBI/AAAAAAAACjA/ltuP9zvUE5M/s1600/train+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztSQxIX0cBQ/UmR1UkcJCBI/AAAAAAAACjA/ltuP9zvUE5M/s640/train+photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listening to the rules ... because parents weren't allowed. (Even though I'm totally within the weight limit. Dammit. This brings back memories of one Jeep PowerWheel.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhJpiJAXqxk/UmR2sS02PaI/AAAAAAAACjU/W9f2Kmo75fY/s1600/DSC_0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhJpiJAXqxk/UmR2sS02PaI/AAAAAAAACjU/W9f2Kmo75fY/s640/DSC_0177.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boomer is not a pony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, not as interesting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PW2wnCPMHPA/UmR2rp9WKrI/AAAAAAAACjI/VD-R1KQAiFo/s1600/DSC_0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PW2wnCPMHPA/UmR2rp9WKrI/AAAAAAAACjI/VD-R1KQAiFo/s640/DSC_0185.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tractor riding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96WKXuyxF1k/UmR2srYT0dI/AAAAAAAACjc/FghY_jGkWJs/s1600/DSC_0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96WKXuyxF1k/UmR2srYT0dI/AAAAAAAACjc/FghY_jGkWJs/s640/DSC_0191.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contra Dancing ... or something like it near someone dressed in a lot of tulle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlrOERw-Xx8/UmR2tC0EQSI/AAAAAAAACjg/w9HqnksQhIY/s1600/DSC_0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlrOERw-Xx8/UmR2tC0EQSI/AAAAAAAACjg/w9HqnksQhIY/s640/DSC_0198.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Baby Katie from school holding my hand and Julian holding my other one. Ada is jumping the gun on the circling maneuver.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dRmSEuejQ8/UmR2tJMompI/AAAAAAAACjo/O2q8Ox9s4nk/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dRmSEuejQ8/UmR2tJMompI/AAAAAAAACjo/O2q8Ox9s4nk/s640/DSC_0209.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love her moves here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1YVFUon7b2E/UmR2t2Tj4QI/AAAAAAAACjw/82_UWgpbTtw/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1YVFUon7b2E/UmR2t2Tj4QI/AAAAAAAACjw/82_UWgpbTtw/s640/DSC_0218.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken dance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZzcB-QvciY/UmR2uLWa0RI/AAAAAAAACkE/3lRvF5obEBs/s1600/DSC_0219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZzcB-QvciY/UmR2uLWa0RI/AAAAAAAACkE/3lRvF5obEBs/s640/DSC_0219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freestyling?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t2FujkAxetY/UmR2uoSjdgI/AAAAAAAACkQ/1AVbOKRNB3Y/s1600/DSC_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t2FujkAxetY/UmR2uoSjdgI/AAAAAAAACkQ/1AVbOKRNB3Y/s640/DSC_0221.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, get back here and do the clapping bit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMe3Q0cT8HQ/UmR2ughNM1I/AAAAAAAACkM/k65g5lqydZg/s1600/DSC_0222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMe3Q0cT8HQ/UmR2ughNM1I/AAAAAAAACkM/k65g5lqydZg/s640/DSC_0222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still chicken dancing...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIQObXvszo0/UmR2vB9zWAI/AAAAAAAACkU/caDnza6L2hI/s1600/DSC_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIQObXvszo0/UmR2vB9zWAI/AAAAAAAACkU/caDnza6L2hI/s640/DSC_0224.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iokayvb2xC0/UmR2v5NpTiI/AAAAAAAACkk/ibmEjxM1Weo/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iokayvb2xC0/UmR2v5NpTiI/AAAAAAAACkk/ibmEjxM1Weo/s640/DSC_0231.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUeehe7lJr0/UmR2wNnF-9I/AAAAAAAACks/ToLnhjVEz2o/s1600/DSC_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUeehe7lJr0/UmR2wNnF-9I/AAAAAAAACks/ToLnhjVEz2o/s640/DSC_0233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemonade!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgeQxzy32FE/UmR2wZTXBsI/AAAAAAAACkw/vcBiIIYOO0o/s1600/DSC_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgeQxzy32FE/UmR2wZTXBsI/AAAAAAAACkw/vcBiIIYOO0o/s640/DSC_0237.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool man on a carousel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIHUFJfZjFI/UmR2whPX8CI/AAAAAAAAClI/wU5DSpGhYwA/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIHUFJfZjFI/UmR2whPX8CI/AAAAAAAAClI/wU5DSpGhYwA/s640/DSC_0243.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train happiness.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_WIaQu-ItU/UmR2wwGheSI/AAAAAAAACk4/V95HSZFXTVU/s1600/DSC_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_WIaQu-ItU/UmR2wwGheSI/AAAAAAAACk4/V95HSZFXTVU/s640/DSC_0247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y-8jGkergo/UmR2xPzaYrI/AAAAAAAAClE/vX2mkOGPDDw/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y-8jGkergo/UmR2xPzaYrI/AAAAAAAAClE/vX2mkOGPDDw/s640/DSC_0248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julian's camera smile is ridiculous, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carousel joy! Again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into the patch!</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-39990517572825373822013-10-13T17:27:00.000-07:002013-10-13T17:27:42.739-07:00Parties, Kites, and BikesOn Saturday, Ada attended her friend Sophie's 3rd Birthday Party at the local zoo. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Ada wore her tutu for the festivities and her beloved purple boots. Photos are at the bottom.<br />
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Today we finally took the kite and the tricycle to the little park up the street. It was very windy so we thought we would give kite flying a try. Minor repairs are now needed...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first she was hiding in the trees because she was nervous about the kite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJAmhYBNBD0/Uls4vky6PxI/AAAAAAAACho/Jhy3dfibqj4/s1600/KiteDay-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJAmhYBNBD0/Uls4vky6PxI/AAAAAAAACho/Jhy3dfibqj4/s640/KiteDay-1.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a bit, she came over and gave it a try. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHzD5i3TPO4/Uls4yNhsBUI/AAAAAAAAChw/kDjTxHqiTjA/s1600/KiteDay-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHzD5i3TPO4/Uls4yNhsBUI/AAAAAAAAChw/kDjTxHqiTjA/s640/KiteDay-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go kite, go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The expert?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v25YuJOpO8M/Uls442suHOI/AAAAAAAACiE/etOYadKkb9k/s1600/KiteDay-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v25YuJOpO8M/Uls442suHOI/AAAAAAAACiE/etOYadKkb9k/s640/KiteDay-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's flying!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BVbmRrC5FUY/Uls45n66NBI/AAAAAAAACiM/mDOEVv9XPos/s1600/KiteDay-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BVbmRrC5FUY/Uls45n66NBI/AAAAAAAACiM/mDOEVv9XPos/s640/KiteDay-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My turn, daddy!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYNsGrs7xiI/Uls47qR9yhI/AAAAAAAACig/K12EBRG1634/s1600/TrikeDay-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYNsGrs7xiI/Uls47qR9yhI/AAAAAAAACig/K12EBRG1634/s640/TrikeDay-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the wheels was flat, but she kept having us give her pushes while she yelled,<br />WHEEEEEE!!!!!!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhz38QqA3Go/Uls46RW6ywI/AAAAAAAACiU/iaj08bl5nC4/s1600/Party-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhz38QqA3Go/Uls46RW6ywI/AAAAAAAACiU/iaj08bl5nC4/s320/Party-1.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party garb.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iX1SHr1CSgw/Uls48ZOM3HI/AAAAAAAACio/DnefVq_uW18/s1600/Party-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iX1SHr1CSgw/Uls48ZOM3HI/AAAAAAAACio/DnefVq_uW18/s320/Party-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada and some new friends getting ready for cupcakes.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-81086679853449190452013-09-23T12:14:00.004-07:002013-09-23T12:14:58.646-07:00Ada in her room...On Mondays and Wednesdays, Ada is home with me while I work. She often will trek up to her room and play by herself while I'm being so boring and inattentive.<br />
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Today she turned on her CD player by herself and Vampire Weekend played on. When I went up to see what she was up to, this what she was doing ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking Finley's eyes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBat13Suvck/UkCSJDjOT7I/AAAAAAAACgk/zQQK3PZjwTs/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBat13Suvck/UkCSJDjOT7I/AAAAAAAACgk/zQQK3PZjwTs/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving her a shot. (Oh no, Finley!) When I snapped this I thought, "This reminds me of <em>Dexter</em>."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The room is a mess, but she has a lovely time ...</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-34214989949360420152013-09-20T22:57:00.000-07:002013-09-20T22:57:05.214-07:00Circus Circus Circus!<em>My phone is a piece of crap. Unfortunately that's all I had to take pictures at the circus tonight. It gave out half way through. We'll just have to go back next year so we can take more photos</em>.<br />
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Tonight I took Ada to The Shrine Circus that came through town. I was pretty sure she'd like it, but you never know. She liked it. SHE LOVED IT!<br />
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At first she wasn't so sure. The three-ring setup was populated by overpriced pony and elephant rides and she didn't seem super thrilled.<br />
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She decided to ride the ponies and she was a little more excited. I would have taken a picture, but the pony she chose was an asshole and kept pinning his ears at me, so I didn't dare whip out the phone to snap a pic. It looked like a kid on a pony ride: You can use your imagination. I asked her afterward if she thought riding Cashy was better. She said yes. "He goes faster." She was also concerned that the ponies didn't have reins.<br />
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Once we flagged down a barker with some popcorn, she got more excited about the circus. We read a book titled <em>The Secret Circus </em>and one of the highlights of the book for her is that they eat peanuts, popcorn, and peppermints. She was expecting this. I told her they didn't have peanuts. I stashed a bag of peppermints in my purse. She munched the popcorn and cotton candy with gusto all evening.<br />
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She still seemed a little skeptical until they brought the tigers out. That was the moment she was IN! Flashing lights, music, entertainment -- this was a happy kid. She danced to the music, clapped when the performers egged the audience on, made "whoa!" sounds when watching the aerialists, kept yelling "dogs!" at the dog act, and really really liked the elephants.<br />
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When we first got there I asked her if she wanted to ride the elephants. She said no. By intermission, she was ready. We got our ticket, got in line, and got there too late since we chose to stop at the face paining booth first. She was mighty disappointed. They opened the "rides" back up after the show, so no big loss, but try explaining that to a 2-year-old. There was a little crying. Then she had a peppermint and got over it and enjoyed the rest of the show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the left ring of the circus from our seats. We had awesome seats and they were worth every ridiculous penny.</td></tr>
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At the end, around 9:45 p.m., she was still raring to go on the elephant. We went over, stood in line, and when it was our turn, she was first on Libby the Elephant. Right. Up. By. The. Ears. We even petted the ladyphant and admired her show glitter. I wish I had a photo of that. Again, Ada agreed riding Cashy was better. I can't believe she rode the elephant! She's such a game little kid.<br />
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By the time we drove out of the parking lot, she was out. What a great night. It will be even more fun next year when she can process more of what is going on. She really didn't understand the clowns... She was upset that they kept pushing each other and she kept asking me, "What're they doing?!" Explaining pretend farts is difficult as a parent.<br />
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Super kid. Super time. Super tired.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-85526624346654218882013-09-05T11:57:00.002-07:002013-09-05T11:57:46.024-07:00Flooring!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Joe. Seriously, their names were Mike and Joe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQpd_yiqRtg/UijRyi3t4kI/AAAAAAAACfg/PA5v1YteHXk/s1600/DSC_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462753273402834885.post-80650211469143770902013-08-11T13:24:00.000-07:002013-08-11T13:24:40.673-07:00Camping Weekend at Dogtown LakeThis weekend we traveled to Williams, AZ, to Dogtown Lake for our first camping trip with Ada. It was a toddler camping weekend! Our friends the Sages and the Goffs joined us with their toddlers in tow also. The Gautreaux Group arrived late evening Friday and set up the tent by the glow of headlights while the Goffs and Sages sat by the fire and the kids played. Saturday we had a rough morning: lot of tired munchkins and parents creates lots of whining, crying, and impatience. We couldn't get the kids to nap, so the kids dispersed to their respective cars and were driven around for naps. The afternoon was fantastic. The kids played in the tents and the woods and whatever while the adults sat in chairs, went for walks, and just generally enjoyed being in a life where we get to go camping and our kids ran around in a dirt patch in the trees.<br />
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Ada slept in her sleeping bag for the most part -- the second night was better once I figured out she didn't like the slippy feel of the sleeping bag interior and made an adjustment.<br />
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The kids were incredibly respectful of the camp fires but had a lot of trouble with the little boulders around the campsites. Many bandaids were dispatched, regardless of need, and after a while they seemed to figure out how to walk more purposefully around them.<br />
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We have a few additions to add to our camping gear, but overall, the new tent was great! Our old stuff still worked, and our new camping buddy was a trooper. Here are some of the better photos from the weekend. They could use a little cropping and toning ... but overall you can see we had a great weekend!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada asleep in MY sleeping bag after the first night. On night 2, she slept in her own sleeping bag.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie contemplating the fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends by the fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parental overseeing of friend by the fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our campsite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our campsite and the orientation to the Sage's site over yonder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the rocky boulder to visit Julian at their site. That camper is not theirs. The new swanky REI tent is.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading in the tent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julian checks it out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julian, not enthralled.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damon and Sophie by the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate pondering the water. She's due around Halloween. Another camper!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids loved throwing rocks into the water. I figured they scared the fish towards the fisherman on the banks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey were swooping around the water. I didn't see any of them dive but we saw one fly away with a fish. Later on during a hike, Joy found a fish in the woods with talon marks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yellow flowers were like a carpet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julian and Jeffrey have a little walk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked these gnarled roots.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada enjoying a ginormous marshmallow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot of her camping woulds. She and Sophie had a lot of scrapes on their legs after the weekend of scrambling around in nature.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from my camp chair.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping poodle! The kids enjoyed walking Lily around. Lily enjoyed nothing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the evening we went back to the water. Ada decided she needed to be carried ... on my shoulders.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping families! From left: Jeffrey, Ada, me, Kate, Sophie, Damon, Ryan, Joy, Julian.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting by the fire, waiting for it to die down before we went to sleep. Ada didn't like going to sleep in the tent by herself, so she would snuggle in by the fire waiting for us to turn in.</td></tr>
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