tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72355993794003985412024-03-05T00:34:24.056-07:00The Meeker Familynathan . erin . tess . david . william . noraMeeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-19432112445486451222013-02-04T12:58:00.000-07:002013-02-04T12:58:50.659-07:00Sometimes they've got to earn their keep.<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday.</div>
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I was totally unaware of this fact.</div>
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I invited the missionaries over for dinner.</div>
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Nate was <i>not</i> very pleased.</div>
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But he was a good sport about it anyways.</div>
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Honestly, I think Nate was mostly disappointed that I had made a healthy dinner.</div>
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He was very much looking forward to his munchy/crunchy/greasy/fatty/manly Super Bowl food.</div>
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<i>The nerve</i>... <i>carrots AND salad? Are you kidding me?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nate with his buddy Mark at the Boise State vs. BYU game. It's the only recent football picture I have.</span></i></div>
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After the missionaries left-</div>
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and yes, our visit turned out delightful-</div>
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I was suddenly exhausted.</div>
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Like <i>exhausted.</i></div>
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I sat down on my bed to watch 'Once Upon a Time' with the girls</div>
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(or as Nate says, "Oh good, they're making soap operas for children now")</div>
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and <span style="font-size: x-large;">couldn't</span> <span style="font-size: large;">keep</span> my <span style="font-size: x-small;">eyes</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">open</span>.</div>
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At 8:30 when the episode ended, I told the girls to hurry off and brush their teeth and then come back to tuck me into bed.</div>
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Tess gasped...literally.</div>
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"But Mom, you always tuck <i>us</i> into bed."</div>
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That's right darlin'... it's payback time.</div>
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So off they went and a few minutes later they were back...</div>
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Wrapping the covers around <i>my </i>body. </div>
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Singing <i>me</i> songs and rubbing <i>my </i>back.</div>
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A mother could used to this.</div>
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It was heavenly.</div>
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(It made me glad that I do it for my children every night...it's a delightful way to end the day!)</div>
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And I was still smiling nearly 11 hours later when I got out of bed and found this waiting for me:</div>
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<i>Totally</i> worth it.</div>
Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-36318176509146743002013-02-02T19:01:00.000-07:002013-02-02T19:01:54.216-07:00I think deep down she got the message.<div style="text-align: center;">
Tess loves to write notes during church.</div>
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Do you think she's bored?</div>
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Never! Not my kids.</div>
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Shame on you for even thinking that.</div>
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Here's a recent exchange that took place during the sacrament...the most sacred part of our Sunday worship.</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">TESS: </span>It's so quiet, I mean I know it's supposed to be quiet but...Ok who died?! </div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">ERIN: </span>Jesus died. He died for you & me & everyone in this room. Perhaps that's why it's quiet. They are thinking about HIM.</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">TESS:</span> No, but yes, but it's too too too quiet like we lost a war or somebody left to go somewhere.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">NATE:</span> See above. Maybe you should be thinking about HIM. :)</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">TESS:</span> Dad, you need to work on your handwriting.</div>
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Ahh, those wonderful moments when you can sit with your family and all feel the spirit together.<br />
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Here are pictures of the Boise Temple Open House...<br />
another event in which we were super-ultra reverent.<br />
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While putting these pictures together the kids and I had some fun:<br />
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Tess' favorite<br />
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Will's favorite...we're guessing here. Will is on a snowboarding date with his dad.<br />
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David's favorite<br />
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Nora's favorite...oooh pretty rainbow!<br />
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The heavenly glow surrounding the temple.<br />
Or as Tess says, "The light from the temple looks like it's killing Will."<br />
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Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-57312441535494501352013-02-01T13:44:00.002-07:002013-02-01T14:10:24.379-07:00From the Mouths of Babes<div style="text-align: center;">
I love listening to my kids <span style="font-size: large;">pray</span>. </div>
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I feel like I get a real glimpse into their souls. </div>
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They are such genuinely <span style="font-size: large;">kind</span>-hearted people.</div>
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Like how they prayed for baby Jack for months after he was born.</div>
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They have never met baby Jack.</div>
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(Jack's family lives in AZ.)</div>
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He is their cousin that was born with Down Syndrome.</div>
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We talked about it as a family and from that day on they prayed in earnest that "Jack would be happy." And that "the other kids wouldn't tease him because he's different, but instead understand that he's special."</div>
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These are not words I gave my children.</div>
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They are <span style="font-size: large;">genuine </span>expressions of love from<span style="font-size: large;"> pure </span>hearts.</div>
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My children understand so much more than I give them credit for sometimes.</div>
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I'm often moved to tears when I listen to them pray in their rooms at night.</div>
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....................</div>
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But anywho, that's not what this post is about.</div>
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This post is about the <span style="font-size: large;">funny</span> things that the kids say when they pray.</div>
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My children pray that "we will have a good day <i>tomorrow" </i>no matter what time of day it is.</div>
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It can be 7:00 in the morning and they are praying for the next day.</div>
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But I guess today was covered in yesterday's prayer... so we're good.</div>
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And <span style="font-size: large;">David's</span> prayers.</div>
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Forgetaboutit.</div>
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It takes some serious will power to not bust up in the middle of them.</div>
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You never quite know what is going to come out of his mouth.</div>
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A few gems as of late:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Father, please bless that Mom will know that my shoes are getting too tight, but that I'm not complaining about it.</li>
<li>Father, please bless that Mom will forget that we have to do chores tomorrow.</li>
<li>Father, please bless that Mom and Dad will buy me a new skateboard...and that they'll let me take Freddie (the gecko) for a ride on it...just down the driveway...I promise he won't get hurt...because his hands are sticky. </li>
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I think we are all secretly delighted when it's David's turn to pray.</div>
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I bet the Lord is too.</div>
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I'm pretty convinced He has a great sense of humor.<br />
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David's Baptism 12.29.12<br />
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Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-85610448025351395332013-02-01T12:45:00.000-07:002013-02-01T12:46:15.967-07:00The other woman in Nate's life.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The other day I listened to Nate have a conversation with Siri.<br />
(You know Mom...that electronic lady that talks to you on your iPhone.)<br />
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Nate: Siri, do you love me?<br />
Siri: You're looking for love in all the wrong places.<br />
Nate: Will you kiss me?<br />
Siri: Now Nathan.<br />
Nate: Siri, what do you call me?<br />
Siri: You are Nathan, but since we are friends I call you 'my hunk of love.'<br />
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He was <i>cracking</i> himself up.<br />
It's the little things that keep us entertained around here.<br />
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<br />Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-85909752734174862402012-08-27T14:22:00.000-06:002012-08-28T07:06:37.514-06:00And We're Back<div style="text-align: center;">
We had such a wonderful summer.</div>
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Great trips, great friends, great fun. </div>
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It was just delightful.</div>
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Until the last couple weeks...</div>
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when it quickly dissolved into a state of utter unbearableness.</div>
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I think my kids have been trying to set some sort of record for non-stop arguing.</div>
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(Is it that way for everyone by the end of the summer? Please tell me it's that way for everyone.)</div>
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There were days I was quite certain that World War III would begin in the Meeker home.</div>
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Specifically between Wess and Till (names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent).</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BUT</span></div>
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we made it.</div>
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And just look how cute the kiddos are on their first day of 6th/2nd grade x 3...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm61XNx1g9ub1gQglLYT3ZRfRwTcgMm8Je39VFLIYMdgZK-5jZXvsdxEAgYDQrp1OMbhvjw_iQBF-Nsg1drOZ1RKFOoZFfFt6bzh9p5iBvGF1qRGDEuev2tW0DCXoZBBO6MHxz0p8cl60/s1600/1208+1st+day+of+school+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm61XNx1g9ub1gQglLYT3ZRfRwTcgMm8Je39VFLIYMdgZK-5jZXvsdxEAgYDQrp1OMbhvjw_iQBF-Nsg1drOZ1RKFOoZFfFt6bzh9p5iBvGF1qRGDEuev2tW0DCXoZBBO6MHxz0p8cl60/s640/1208+1st+day+of+school+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps they're just happy that they are off to 4 separate classrooms...far, FAR away from each other.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Tess spent all morning curling her hair to perfection and finding just the right accessories.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's so beautiful.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And growing up way too fast that one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's started asking me if her clothes make her look fat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't believe we're to this stage already.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's downright terrifying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdjsVRqAs8yjwZtrEm3986jQLJG-hfUL3WoP4ykyHdk7wfXhd_uVdi3zyr33gFXQ4C5jfDrhCJDxGr1KHM51eY4YrHlmSQmJLkUR-m1Glsu0owdpQd4d4ha-5HvgVr-c28NJ2jDR0oBc/s1600/1208+Tess+zit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdjsVRqAs8yjwZtrEm3986jQLJG-hfUL3WoP4ykyHdk7wfXhd_uVdi3zyr33gFXQ4C5jfDrhCJDxGr1KHM51eY4YrHlmSQmJLkUR-m1Glsu0owdpQd4d4ha-5HvgVr-c28NJ2jDR0oBc/s640/1208+Tess+zit.jpg" width="483" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I think we've all been experiencing some anxiety as this school year begins.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The girls have had trouble sleeping.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They're up worrying about problems that they had with friends at recess 5 months ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Will is worried about feeling shy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
David was up with an upset stomach last night.</div>
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Even I woke well before my alarm this morning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess first-day-of-school jitters happen to Moms too.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The kids get home in a few minutes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't wait to hear how it went.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm going to feed them ice cream and take them to the pool for a relaxing afternoon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because strangely enough the house has been a little too quiet this morning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hate to say it but I think I just might be missing all the shouting.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Posted with Tess' permission.</span></div>
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Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-2985397878149494652012-08-07T22:57:00.000-06:002012-08-27T14:24:50.830-06:00The stories I don't want to pass over.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Consistency.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not my strong suit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As clearly evidenced by this blog.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I take that back.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm consistent in the areas that really matter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I pray and read scriptures with my kids (almost) every day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I make my bed and brush my teeth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I constantly harp on the kids about vegetables, sunscreen and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">'for heaven's sake let's be kind to one another.'</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get the things done that <i>have </i>to be done.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just rarely get to the projects on my to-do list. (Where is that list?)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like blogging for example.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If only there were 100 hours in each day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently had over 6000 miles in the car to organize the thousands of photos </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">on my computer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was glorious. (Organization makes me happy!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In doing so, I realized all the stories I have yet to tell.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So many missed opportunities to share the cute things my kids have said and done, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the fun experiences we have had together.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It makes me sad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And makes me want to try harder to record those memories for my family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is no way to catch up on<i> everything.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But here are the <span style="font-size: x-large;">2012 highlights</span> that I must share....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">LOVE NOTES</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOhQg8Lt5YQehvbjhsQVWYGsMVpoBf_BG0yBMvIBpY6erUcY512sxmIn3CTwqSnfTMXN2HBmtLcIBBCd7RM2ywY89o1lLLEPQOxVfQKgz0iOK-9To1EJ7NLEe-G7xx4vmf25Gcekm-gY/s1600/Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOhQg8Lt5YQehvbjhsQVWYGsMVpoBf_BG0yBMvIBpY6erUcY512sxmIn3CTwqSnfTMXN2HBmtLcIBBCd7RM2ywY89o1lLLEPQOxVfQKgz0iOK-9To1EJ7NLEe-G7xx4vmf25Gcekm-gY/s640/Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"To: Tess</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From: Nora</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am sorry. I want you to be happy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so sorry for breaking your necklace.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will you forgive me ________?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I know it is special."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">LOSING TEETH</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFpbMcyJKTJQVc0eGGiV1hIFbXsyPNRBREDlFJhfzZpNE1ARIXSx4KD2_zKDAviNCptKEUb3D5EziKlxTfy_c5QIAtcy7WB-V3CITfujSSWRaFuv9hARxdTUXqzLbKN7yg6WcnDf4fc4/s1600/P1050534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFpbMcyJKTJQVc0eGGiV1hIFbXsyPNRBREDlFJhfzZpNE1ARIXSx4KD2_zKDAviNCptKEUb3D5EziKlxTfy_c5QIAtcy7WB-V3CITfujSSWRaFuv9hARxdTUXqzLbKN7yg6WcnDf4fc4/s400/P1050534.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgxQaeM3Gv7G3XX2gCS7_f3MmeEd37aaCPq40XFa3lVg9mgakN4V6hofPpfvRI8aPMvbENKuDo2F4OvU4hpx5Mpb-L6TB1Jbfqrozy5cnoxa4V8Hbb54F6PYDVDEg1cJmsnau3JfCRp0/s1600/P1050749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgxQaeM3Gv7G3XX2gCS7_f3MmeEd37aaCPq40XFa3lVg9mgakN4V6hofPpfvRI8aPMvbENKuDo2F4OvU4hpx5Mpb-L6TB1Jbfqrozy5cnoxa4V8Hbb54F6PYDVDEg1cJmsnau3JfCRp0/s640/P1050749.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David quickly learned that
leaving teeth for the tooth fairy is a much faster/easier way to make money
than doing those stinkin' chores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His philosophy: If it's <i>at
all</i> wiggly, it's coming out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes he recruits his dad
to help:<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDWXayvRwNLgmZIQjA5iuWUa8H7hol9qIXqCNQhCURLltae2-6HsQkbWIAx433uY5niJLLbJ19UHVEaWyt_29ai7Ev2OI2l56_ERdesqRRcoonZ8nARM80qArNm7RkcHT9GulmMqqToA/s1600/P1040411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDWXayvRwNLgmZIQjA5iuWUa8H7hol9qIXqCNQhCURLltae2-6HsQkbWIAx433uY5niJLLbJ19UHVEaWyt_29ai7Ev2OI2l56_ERdesqRRcoonZ8nARM80qArNm7RkcHT9GulmMqqToA/s640/P1040411.jpg" width="532" /></span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">ART NIGHT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the 2nd Annual Art Night that I have chaired at the school. It's pretty exhausting but I love it! And it's so worth the effort when you see all the students proudly displaying their art. This year was especially fun because I was hobbling around on an undiagnosed torn ACL (with extensive bone bruising), climbing ladders and bending in all directions to get the displays up. By Friday night I could barely stand on my feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Good times.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUM7s1PwxuXpIPmjM9CIEKmq5jthydqFojCZeAvS65gYYNV2J6yj-KrZsjCiMhB2Z14iGOc100XwnDbHpvqUdOG4bBBFkjIgQMC14T2WYhKbiK414MJXmFU0jiit1IO9zqbw1tgo6zDvI/s1600/Art+Night+%232+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUM7s1PwxuXpIPmjM9CIEKmq5jthydqFojCZeAvS65gYYNV2J6yj-KrZsjCiMhB2Z14iGOc100XwnDbHpvqUdOG4bBBFkjIgQMC14T2WYhKbiK414MJXmFU0jiit1IO9zqbw1tgo6zDvI/s640/Art+Night+%232+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">PHYSICAL THERAPY ON THE SMURF TURF</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOXHozmveaqJOc5n6XxPD9iCIAoyb6K5m9yjkygLhS3JzF3D8aXc6n8FlazOzHXdsnLCCWo9ycRm5Eb9E1O2ZgxBpcVJeq8EmPcgQRKD8bdritR88JqzWBqZgF5drTQ9ztnuxCtlsn04/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOXHozmveaqJOc5n6XxPD9iCIAoyb6K5m9yjkygLhS3JzF3D8aXc6n8FlazOzHXdsnLCCWo9ycRm5Eb9E1O2ZgxBpcVJeq8EmPcgQRKD8bdritR88JqzWBqZgF5drTQ9ztnuxCtlsn04/s640/IMG_0321.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My view overlooking BSU stadium while rehabbing my torn ACL. It's quite motivating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just know I'll be back to dancing at half-time in no time. (haha.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">DAVID'S BROKEN WRIST</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9x7OZXDrvg2uXi-mmKzM2aHv6Edi_wwaNiPTG4Rmhzaqd3xzkRHvd91kBa9mdRSEmZlguXqJdJ6heyvH4eAW5SO75Uw1KinqDDtwQx_OqxqnenUkn2SzB8fKUcvUHn0feZD9TGMVN3Q/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9x7OZXDrvg2uXi-mmKzM2aHv6Edi_wwaNiPTG4Rmhzaqd3xzkRHvd91kBa9mdRSEmZlguXqJdJ6heyvH4eAW5SO75Uw1KinqDDtwQx_OqxqnenUkn2SzB8fKUcvUHn0feZD9TGMVN3Q/s640/IMG_0368.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David broke his wrist at
school while doing the monkey bars with gloves on. His hands slipped, he landed
wrong and chipped off part of the growth plate... which meant 2 trips to the
ER... one to get x-rays and then one later that evening to have it re-set once
they realized how serious it was. They had to bring in a Pediatric Orthopedic
Surgeon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(He turned out to be an LDS
guy that had lived in the same ward boundaries that we did in Philadelphia just
a couple years after we left. We sat excitedly chatting while David lay in
agony. Poor Davey. At the end I told the doc to thank his wife- a mother of 5- profusely
for letting him get away on a Fri night. I understand her position perfectly.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then</span></i> a
week later David pulled his cast off 'because it was bothering him' and had to
have it re-cast (but only after he hid under the bed for a while so as not to
be discovered). Again, this all took place after business hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Silly Davey. Way to make this
as expensive as possible.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">NATURE AT HOME</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwme72-Zg9RpFjuFKkbC3SCAn1MPMS4mvHBAOUeTLrosk5T8o2UZX9XchFej22Vo099_AgDXU0YHJopq8odTzfxIK5bv4SemnyTvDvZx1cmJ3jTr2eR8xfeA7fbI966mVuVXVvWlHjD0/s1600/Nature+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwme72-Zg9RpFjuFKkbC3SCAn1MPMS4mvHBAOUeTLrosk5T8o2UZX9XchFej22Vo099_AgDXU0YHJopq8odTzfxIK5bv4SemnyTvDvZx1cmJ3jTr2eR8xfeA7fbI966mVuVXVvWlHjD0/s640/Nature+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We live on a ridge at the edge of Boise. It's beautiful but it means that we get a LOT of animals around these parts. Last year we had 2 bunnies that lived under the shed. We affectionately named them 'Bob' and 'Bob's brother.' Well, ahem, they had a busy year. Now we have 10 bunnies and also an adorable family of quail that live in our yard. During the winter we get up to 8 deer at a time. They enjoy eating away at our plants/bushes. The worst for sure are the snakes and mice. (Shouldn't the snakes eat the mice??) Many people on our street get cats to kill the mice, but then the coyotes eat the cats. It's kind of a problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is what a mouse nest looks like inside a piano (in case you were wondering):</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbAMZEJPcgZojbasF1KiFgt5HqanH6aIpbpQ_ejkQ7kM2QcPdGXORtCmbdWp-GZhQ3kFA2ru0DmKjosKMBzNDV12XZNVMYcx7-VBs0TLLKK8i7UBt21JbpPNWwMhSULyNUEBp0U4ZHeo/s1600/Mouse+in+Piano+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbAMZEJPcgZojbasF1KiFgt5HqanH6aIpbpQ_ejkQ7kM2QcPdGXORtCmbdWp-GZhQ3kFA2ru0DmKjosKMBzNDV12XZNVMYcx7-VBs0TLLKK8i7UBt21JbpPNWwMhSULyNUEBp0U4ZHeo/s640/Mouse+in+Piano+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ahh, that's why the dog's food has been disappearing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">DORI AND I VISIT WYATT'S FAMILY IN MICHIGAN</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMtscTRX1N7VDOCGPlXvpb_A1uyr7pT35mPUpKQOXeuJY3fZ5iA17JpL_zPMifZosrUGg60xJBLAdeoSU70vm4KCbicW4ClMlRDZdqyXUE1xu57gmN53ek07nPSApD6pQBset9gU258/s1600/MI+Collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMtscTRX1N7VDOCGPlXvpb_A1uyr7pT35mPUpKQOXeuJY3fZ5iA17JpL_zPMifZosrUGg60xJBLAdeoSU70vm4KCbicW4ClMlRDZdqyXUE1xu57gmN53ek07nPSApD6pQBset9gU258/s640/MI+Collage3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> If you ever have the choice to live anywhere in the country, choose BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI. And then invite me to come visit you...because it's the loveliest place I've ever been.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks Wyatt and Chelsea for a delightful stay!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chelsea- you are so fun to be with!... and my style guru.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbAMZEJPcgZojbasF1KiFgt5HqanH6aIpbpQ_ejkQ7kM2QcPdGXORtCmbdWp-GZhQ3kFA2ru0DmKjosKMBzNDV12XZNVMYcx7-VBs0TLLKK8i7UBt21JbpPNWwMhSULyNUEBp0U4ZHeo/s1600/Mouse+in+Piano+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wy- you may just be the most selfless man I know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God only had to give me one brother because he got it exactly right the first time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWJb1oHpGNX7nSmOvPObT24nFJYv5J3lqOUrohgJK3b1OIC6kEDkoAEpn5F33taYqtGhpzioiWA-Mody5-tS7F9X6xZeugYfweFtDfPmlvYvJhTxYzvLp-1XAnzUtxR2Umg5WHVninJM/s1600/Cadieux+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWJb1oHpGNX7nSmOvPObT24nFJYv5J3lqOUrohgJK3b1OIC6kEDkoAEpn5F33taYqtGhpzioiWA-Mody5-tS7F9X6xZeugYfweFtDfPmlvYvJhTxYzvLp-1XAnzUtxR2Umg5WHVninJM/s640/Cadieux+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This darling Tudor is the home that my family lived in 35 years ago while Dad was a derm resident in Grosse Pointe, MI. Yes Mom, it's still sooooo charming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh Michigan (the place of my birth)- I love you. Hopefully I'll be back soon. Next time I'd like you to introduce me to your Great Lakes. I've probably seen them but I was too young to remember.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #ae8000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">NATE IN THE
SPOTLIGHT</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nate will never toot his own
horn, so I have taken it upon myself to do so.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcATncstU5RlKf4J8fSN9unZ7A8wDLPwdZhJk5paWlqWgorDqPI4giEeFGx-akcbv4f2KL2e3diF9W4M1HuNQagWZbrHfNmAsIQMWpXvk99QVQLK5S6wkl3ATduZPZg4QBj95M0GuVWvQ/s1600/Scan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcATncstU5RlKf4J8fSN9unZ7A8wDLPwdZhJk5paWlqWgorDqPI4giEeFGx-akcbv4f2KL2e3diF9W4M1HuNQagWZbrHfNmAsIQMWpXvk99QVQLK5S6wkl3ATduZPZg4QBj95M0GuVWvQ/s400/Scan.jpeg" width="255" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keynote speaker at the Red
Cross Appreciation Dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He had the entire room
sniffling as only Nate can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Afterward there was a line of
people just waiting to shake his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And a line of people waiting
to congratulate me for being married to such a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't worry- I know how lucky
I am.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lzt8IhJqWecN6qxdXAMyNY3c9Fre08BF2FxWLpBf-pajc89C2qc2raaceCIJeKR6pIneW0C1IEO-BsbJmXtznvpEh2pH47lUeK-1xp9HiMzUl_rH9RPv00EI8d1CI_xegWBnnyytpQ4/s1600/Nate+awards+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lzt8IhJqWecN6qxdXAMyNY3c9Fre08BF2FxWLpBf-pajc89C2qc2raaceCIJeKR6pIneW0C1IEO-BsbJmXtznvpEh2pH47lUeK-1xp9HiMzUl_rH9RPv00EI8d1CI_xegWBnnyytpQ4/s640/Nate+awards+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Receiving grant money for
pediatric cancer research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An article appeared in the
Idaho Statesman:<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPTGgJygG5JzzfoM4pychNeR52AGzF4bNT5AkSS0-gyLCg8jFkpDdApEm8zTPunzx1dK_Ggq0JAAIswE1PJGJpjCaVZCbrIKWpIwbEjKYcPbKzxPG67oqCQHzExzQMxUPe8NEL_ld1Tk/s1600/IMG_1432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPTGgJygG5JzzfoM4pychNeR52AGzF4bNT5AkSS0-gyLCg8jFkpDdApEm8zTPunzx1dK_Ggq0JAAIswE1PJGJpjCaVZCbrIKWpIwbEjKYcPbKzxPG67oqCQHzExzQMxUPe8NEL_ld1Tk/s640/IMG_1432.jpg" width="458" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks babe for working so
hard and providing so well for our family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You make me proud!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">1ST GRADE CHOIR CONCERT</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ttopIyt_IkzpcD2FfsJkWYznBUr-SLm-UKrwjWa5NFHpa5fma-eJXjLlDQ_VmCi_odJLLfAToBh4uv4GLS3HafSnckpfI-63KH_jXT0Bgzg2SzZoZqjHKStgrar-SsKAIp2De3mMvO8/s1600/1st+Gr+Choir+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ttopIyt_IkzpcD2FfsJkWYznBUr-SLm-UKrwjWa5NFHpa5fma-eJXjLlDQ_VmCi_odJLLfAToBh4uv4GLS3HafSnckpfI-63KH_jXT0Bgzg2SzZoZqjHKStgrar-SsKAIp2De3mMvO8/s640/1st+Gr+Choir+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was busy snapping away on the camera when I noticed David's shoes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Man, that kid is quirky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(And for the record, I <i>adore</i> quirky.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P.S. This post took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to put together, but man-oh-man that ipiccy can do some fun things with pictures. I was having a grand old time playing around. I'm loving the 'Orton Effect' as you can probably tell.</span></div>
Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-62942155882327161662012-04-23T02:22:00.002-06:002012-04-23T02:26:10.838-06:00The thing about infertility<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have wanted another baby for many years now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How old are the twins?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost seven? (Good grief.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's about right.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have wanted another baby for almost 7 years now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Infertility is both my biggest hardship <i>and</i> my greatest blessing thus far in life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Were I not infertile, I would have had a 5th, and then probably a 6th, years ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would have done this without even thinking about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd be surrounded by a gaggle of thin-haired, scrawny children with the varicose veins to prove it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd feel complete. And incandescently happy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes I like to imagine a world in which this is my reality.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where I'm in control and get to plan things <i>my</i> way.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where I could choose not only the year, but maybe even the month in which my kids were born.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, the delight.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(For the record I would choose April and October because those are my fave.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But that is not my reality.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And for that I am eternally grateful.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Really and truly I am.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because it means that I've had to learn to rely on the Lord a bit more.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To put my faith and trust in Him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It means that I have gotten to experience things I never could have dreamed of.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And learn things I couldn't have learned any other way.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The good Lord has blessed me immeasurably.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am a mother.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm a mother of boys and a mother of girls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am a mother of a singleton and a mother of multiples.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am an adoptive mother. And a biological one.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Lord has blessed me with many different "mothering" experiences.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, the joy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each of my children is so different.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know all mothers say that.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I think it's safe to argue that different genetic make-ups create truly unique children.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's delightful to get to know each one...to figure out how each mind works and what makes them tick.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To discover their personalities and talents.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's challenging.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And rewarding.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The joy that Nathan and I feel from this experience is beyond my ability to put into words.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Side note: I'm not sure where I am going with this post.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It certainly isn't meant to be any sort of big announcement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I guess I just need to talk through my thoughts and feelings... mostly for myself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have prayed about whether or not to add to our family for years.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The last 7 years to be exact.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There have been times that I have felt very strongly that it was <i>not</i> the right time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then there have been times, like now, that I'm just confused and unsure.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You see, when you're infertile you can't go with the "let's just stop all preventative measures and see what happens" approach.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has to be deliberate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are lots of options...artificial insemination, in-vitro, adoption...and with that there's foreign or domestic, black or white, baby or older...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's downright dizzying to consider all the possibilities.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And they all take time and MONEY...so you dang well better be committed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then there's the fact that when you are infertile, you're conflicted with questions and emotions that fertile women have never even had to think about:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Am I infertile because I'm unworthy in some way?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is God punishing me for something?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is there something I need to learn before God will bless me with another child?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe I shouldn't seek to have more children because it's clearly not God's will that I have them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did God know that I would be a bad mother and that's why he's made it so hard for me?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(This is especially easy to think on your less-than-stellar mothering days, which for me, happen all the time.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I doubt and second-guess myself every day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But then I go to my husband so that he can tell me how ridiculous it all is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that in fact, I'm a pretty good mother (which I need to hear).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then I try to remember and focus on all the many ways in which the Lord has blessed me and my family.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I normally end up on my knees in gratitude.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alright, it's getting late.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me end with one final list to put my mind at ease so that I can get some sleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(And because I love lists!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things I know to be true:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a) The Lord loves all His children.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b) The Lord is mindful of our families and they are important to Him!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">c) The Lord knows the righteous desires of our hearts and holds them sacred.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d) Sometimes the Lord makes a couple infertile because He knows that they will be willing to adopt and He wants good homes for <i>all</i> His children.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e) Adoption is sacred and pleasing in the sight of God.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">f) I want another child.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">g) I have no idea what's going to happen, but I am going to spend each day loving and feeling immense joy in the family I already have. Because dang it, I have some amazing kiddos. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-35286018614587508562012-02-16T18:58:00.002-07:002012-04-23T02:42:24.033-06:0016 and How I Ruined My Knee Just Standing There<div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0C4ARZ7CQqKlXzxTz82OESVG_cmC5ITk4ntUtzrJdix_YcBC-cwH09SEGzxjiHs7LnbQ_lD_Wm6Yn1o1bn0sXJ_fc4kgxbpeW2rZs0RA5hkMz16CMMyA01B2hqRwAGuFD98Ur_FV0aU/s1600/_MG_9726r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0C4ARZ7CQqKlXzxTz82OESVG_cmC5ITk4ntUtzrJdix_YcBC-cwH09SEGzxjiHs7LnbQ_lD_Wm6Yn1o1bn0sXJ_fc4kgxbpeW2rZs0RA5hkMz16CMMyA01B2hqRwAGuFD98Ur_FV0aU/s640/_MG_9726r.jpg" width="425" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
Today my love and I have been married for 16 years.</div><div align="center">That seems ridiculous to me.</div><div align="center">I feel old just saying it.</div><div align="center">Not as old as yesterday when David asked me if there was electricity when I was born.</div><div align="center">But still.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We've had our share of ups and downs over the years.</div><div align="center">The highest highs and lowest lows.</div><div align="center">I thank the Lord everyday that I've had Nathan by my side through those experiences.</div><div align="center">He makes me laugh.</div><div align="center">And he's my rock. </div><div align="center">The man is tough- there's no doubt about it.</div><div align="center">I think I'll keep him around.</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0yiVNe-T7HFsTCP5nkdBz8xN52gHQAEIhh7DPIEx4SJj8_jos3mVqRN12jFO3BeiG844zkNbsOaU1_eStZLf46cRm79Je6RP99na9W7x63ugpXpaz4krJ7qLDvw_lMWNaLkxn4WyprY/s1600/_MG_9711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0yiVNe-T7HFsTCP5nkdBz8xN52gHQAEIhh7DPIEx4SJj8_jos3mVqRN12jFO3BeiG844zkNbsOaU1_eStZLf46cRm79Je6RP99na9W7x63ugpXpaz4krJ7qLDvw_lMWNaLkxn4WyprY/s640/_MG_9711.JPG" width="426" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center">Every so often Nate looks at me and says, "I never expected to marry a <em>pretty</em> girl."</div><div align="center">I <em>l-o-v-e</em> it when he says this.</div><div align="center">Because I think he's trying to say that he thinks <em>I'm</em> one of those pretty girls.</div><div align="center">And who doesn't like to hear that?</div><div align="center">Plus, it means that I exceeded his expectations.</div><div align="center">And that's an awesome feeling.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">According to Nate, he was a "total geek" growing up.</div><div align="center">This is absurd to me.</div><div align="center">Apparently, he grew up in a town of completely stupid women.</div><div align="center">That or the fact that he wrestled in the 98 lb weight division in jr high.</div><div align="center">When he was close to 5'10" mind you.</div><div align="center">I've always tried to imagine what that must have looked like.</div><div align="center">But now I have a daughter to show me:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcClKif5i4kgIl48H3AgugmyflQDfnGWOC8VnUBrl1eG_5zhPH5Q_3sgaVfuI-8vhwP3BisTd52Jv-5qrmti-FQja_XoDQ6smzDTKzbwMm7hB1hmLWrJMGRp7b-GqSIZ9_-rj-_OB_nU/s1600/IMG_0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcClKif5i4kgIl48H3AgugmyflQDfnGWOC8VnUBrl1eG_5zhPH5Q_3sgaVfuI-8vhwP3BisTd52Jv-5qrmti-FQja_XoDQ6smzDTKzbwMm7hB1hmLWrJMGRp7b-GqSIZ9_-rj-_OB_nU/s400/IMG_0259.jpg" width="298" yda="true" /></a></div></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">This picture of Nora cracks me up.</div><div align="center">She did not get that lean, mean body from me.</div><div align="center">No siree. </div><div align="center">That's gotta be from her 5'10", 98-pound father.</div><div align="center">Bless his heart.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Anywho- it doesn't matter because he blossomed into the total hotness that he is now, and I found him first.</div><div align="center">So take that stupid women of England and Delaware.</div><div align="center">(That's where Nate did his high school years for those that I may have lost. Stay with me people.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">To celebrate our anniversary I went to the doctor to get a knee injury checked out.</div><div align="center">It's been 3 weeks.</div><div align="center">I hadn't gone before now because, well, it seems silly to pay another doctor when you're married to one.</div><div align="center">And I'm not in much pain.</div><div align="center">But Nate had ruled out my need for chemotherapy and it still wasn't getting any better, so I thought I better see a real expert in the area.</div><div align="center">The doc examined me for a total of 2 minutes and then said,</div><div align="center">"Have you heard of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament?"</div><div align="center">Heaven help me, please no.</div><div align="center">But yep, worst fears confirmed.</div><div align="center">Apparently I have torn my right ACL.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">(Before you start judging Nate's skills as a doctor, let me add that the Family Practice doc across the street also examined my leg and didn't catch it. I'm super good at tensing up when someone tries to examine me. They end up saying, "Now try to relax your muscles" about 10 times before giving up.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">How did I tear my ACL?</div><div align="center">Well, that's a rather absurd story.</div><div align="center">Let me see if I can adequately paint the picture of awkwardness for you...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We were skiing with the kids.</div><div align="center">I stood at the top of the hill.</div><div align="center">One of the kiddos (who shall remain nameless) lost control and took off down the hill with my leg in tow, pulling it at a not-so-natural angle.</div><div align="center">Kiddo was screaming in fear, I was screaming in pain, we were a big tangle of skis.</div><div align="center">After 20 seconds of slow excruciating stretch I felt something in my knee give.</div><div align="center">If you are thinking Ouch! then you are correct.</div><div align="center">I was f-i-n-a-l-l-y able to release my bindings and then I was no longer in pain.</div><div align="center">Mostly, I was just glad that the hill was dark and deserted.</div><div align="center">That had to have been the most ridiculous looking fiasco in the history of skiing.</div><div align="center">Bless my awkward heart.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">(And yes- I had to be tobogganed off the mountain.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Anyways...</div><div align="center">Happy Anniversary to my love.</div><div align="center">Sorry I'm not much fun lately.</div><div align="center">But hey, if we need a pick-me-up, we can always ask Nora to flex her muscles.</div><div align="center">That's sure to make us smile.</div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-91934119101668199412012-01-24T20:40:00.002-07:002012-01-24T20:41:42.055-07:00Tess plays the harp.<div align="center">It's cool to be able to finally say that.</div><div align="center">We've only been talking about it for 2 years now.</div><div align="center">But we moved to Idaho as you may recall.</div><div align="center">And then we remodeled a house.</div><div align="center">And the timing never seemed quite right.</div><div align="center">Until a few months ago when we finally got serious about the idea.</div><div align="center">And then, bam!</div><div align="center">The harp and harp teacher fell right into our laps.</div><div align="center">I think this is one idea the Lord is very much on board with.</div><div align="center">He certainly made it easy on us.</div><div align="center">You see, we've been praying to find something that Tess could call her own.</div><div align="center">Something that would help her feel special.</div><div align="center">I think this may just be the thing- she was positively floating by the end of the lesson.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">And I'm pretty excited too.</div><div align="center">Who wouldn't want harp music filling their home everyday?</div><div align="center">I think this may be the start of something beautiful.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTFyZTIcaHK4CUi-e37zn1nMDLDfd8MuJL3AHFhP7FvocTpSAYocgIsw_l3JbODTcfk3rU9GBsgmTy1B2JPy8ZrwiZSoI5try8EvyC3iQKa85vks7FeBP1fEwydFjAHyJJTFX3tcp_to/s1600/mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTFyZTIcaHK4CUi-e37zn1nMDLDfd8MuJL3AHFhP7FvocTpSAYocgIsw_l3JbODTcfk3rU9GBsgmTy1B2JPy8ZrwiZSoI5try8EvyC3iQKa85vks7FeBP1fEwydFjAHyJJTFX3tcp_to/s640/mosaic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-44794413982661017652012-01-23T22:37:00.001-07:002012-01-24T08:54:50.173-07:00Week in Review<div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAin0RPSSEVwQGbyL9oydvifspQOJ7UJtl9lOaAye6LDW5XBY4PrqgSDAsgmmNu4-6XrRCdrwjAZCzSMzOGKoMKb0gUre_r6oShY3UMGnhhUzMLREHtKSMbIIzfoJ2-FEZJhYCqqvghY/s1600/image%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAin0RPSSEVwQGbyL9oydvifspQOJ7UJtl9lOaAye6LDW5XBY4PrqgSDAsgmmNu4-6XrRCdrwjAZCzSMzOGKoMKb0gUre_r6oShY3UMGnhhUzMLREHtKSMbIIzfoJ2-FEZJhYCqqvghY/s200/image%255B1%255D.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>Last <strong><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday</span> </span></strong>we took the kids to see <em>Hugo</em> in 3D<em>.</em></div><div align="center">Nate and I agreed it was the most visually stunning movie we had ever seen.</div><div align="center">About 40 min into it,Tess leaned over to me and whispered,</div><div align="center">"This is the longest preview <em>ever.</em> When is <em>Puss in Boots</em> going to start?"</div><div align="center">I giggled for the rest of the movie.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">For <strong><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Sunday</span> </strong>dinner<strong> </strong>I made:</div><div align="center">Flank Steak in Ginger Jalapeno Marinade</div><div align="center">Cream of Asparagus Soup (which elicited a kiss on the cheek from Tess)</div><div align="center">Whole Wheat bread</div><div align="center">Apple and Endive Salad</div><div align="center">All from the Horsley family cookbook.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT-wz24NRrTQDzTd4VqLeTxDlyDrVuSnJ2Q_P7Wbm925TTmWSlGA6hSkfQgGNpRgNqulyD19iIROR3-MEytKvgMeDZhFFSXhimtu2Ud8lRlPwx7c-wrRvot3GnnC5YGxJGVUdmTg6few/s1600/Horsley+cookbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT-wz24NRrTQDzTd4VqLeTxDlyDrVuSnJ2Q_P7Wbm925TTmWSlGA6hSkfQgGNpRgNqulyD19iIROR3-MEytKvgMeDZhFFSXhimtu2Ud8lRlPwx7c-wrRvot3GnnC5YGxJGVUdmTg6few/s640/Horsley+cookbook.jpg" width="489" /></a></div></div><div align="center">It didn't taste near as good as Mom's.</div><div align="center">And I was too exhausted to make dessert.</div><div align="center">But I'll keep working on it.</div><div align="center">Someday, someday...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">After dinner, Nate gave Tess, Will and Nora their piano lessons.</div><div align="center">And David his electric guitar lesson.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cd8QHCniq0EC6Y3j0eC1UiyVEoYQ4bmawVAp7zDx6Rr1Yw2v7JSCCnJUc-Qe-OPrjuMtK9fiuwCGGMLtRHD1Jx1Gq21YGhVo9QFUjfbng-l1eOsDDWvTTdTNxqTOZNl5lpUZ8ZCzo_U/s1600/IMG_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cd8QHCniq0EC6Y3j0eC1UiyVEoYQ4bmawVAp7zDx6Rr1Yw2v7JSCCnJUc-Qe-OPrjuMtK9fiuwCGGMLtRHD1Jx1Gq21YGhVo9QFUjfbng-l1eOsDDWvTTdTNxqTOZNl5lpUZ8ZCzo_U/s400/IMG_0250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div align="center">Because David's not really a classical music kind of guy.</div><div align="center">Then with his guitar out, Nate serenaded me with an upbeat version of Barry Manilow's <em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycn4f7TQePM">Can't Smile Without You</a>.</em></div><div align="center"><em>I love it when he does that.</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Monday (MLK Day)</span> </strong>was declared a <em>Pajama Day </em>at our house.</div><div align="center">My favorite kind of day!</div><div align="center">I tried to help David clean his room.</div><div align="center">We weren't getting anywhere.</div><div align="center">He was determined to hang on to every candy wrapper, broken lego and even the 3 day old milk sitting on his bedside table.</div><div align="center">I resorted to showing him pictures of hoarders' houses.<br />
Like this:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9UFX_1jRcrcXdsQGx3LhaCOQ2xYXEmc_Kza7HSXoXGSIkpkiD_K92hRiM1WOyzpX-XMVpmd_tMt2RyPRgWOWH-2GQL9JxhROnZk7-sybaj36g3fBqWcw7zlGVFTWQV4EPWD1RILVe0g/s1600/hoarders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9UFX_1jRcrcXdsQGx3LhaCOQ2xYXEmc_Kza7HSXoXGSIkpkiD_K92hRiM1WOyzpX-XMVpmd_tMt2RyPRgWOWH-2GQL9JxhROnZk7-sybaj36g3fBqWcw7zlGVFTWQV4EPWD1RILVe0g/s400/hoarders.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After this visual demonstration, we were able to whip David's room into shape. </div><div align="center">He started saying things like,"Oh mom, I can breathe so much better in here now."<br />
We even took an hour to organize his legos.<br />
<br />
(Now how long do you think that's going to last?)<br />
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</div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHyD2DoTxJaQGfFrWwPC-kXEoEp9K85QgSltF8PXomT33V5e0Zt7-9-gHTNjjnUWdmg130pJUgaySoDE_n2nvmDhVUACUdX22tduEYt5DuTvfzZFg2b-PMxLHe2okp_OF2IoBfinnBHA/s1600/P1040905a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHyD2DoTxJaQGfFrWwPC-kXEoEp9K85QgSltF8PXomT33V5e0Zt7-9-gHTNjjnUWdmg130pJUgaySoDE_n2nvmDhVUACUdX22tduEYt5DuTvfzZFg2b-PMxLHe2okp_OF2IoBfinnBHA/s400/P1040905a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">On <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Tuesday,</span> </strong>the kids spent lots of time playing with the newly organized legos.</div><div align="center">Except for Will who did lots of this for a change:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj047mt7LozS4Od91iw7FuKJUz3-765hfEg9ftxKrzpkmHtMjLLFCFn7hpGSOj64FOzOfSztEbuQxBH2-RCcCGNw69Et5_6xnAPjozDVgiVgx8K-UQY7QYgy0DHmt2cnZImEufi-TSN5X0/s1600/P1040944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj047mt7LozS4Od91iw7FuKJUz3-765hfEg9ftxKrzpkmHtMjLLFCFn7hpGSOj64FOzOfSztEbuQxBH2-RCcCGNw69Et5_6xnAPjozDVgiVgx8K-UQY7QYgy0DHmt2cnZImEufi-TSN5X0/s320/P1040944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Wednesday:</span> </strong>Nate and I (but mostly Nate) taught swing dancing to the youth in our ward.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Thursday:</span> </strong>I had a 2 hour religious discussion with 2 Catholic friends. I found it invigorating. And vowed to do it more often.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It was a post- call <strong><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Friday</span> </strong>for Nate.</div><div align="center">Which means that he didn't have to work.<br />
The two of us had eggs benedict at Goldy's and then hit the slopes.<br />
We have exactly one ski resort in Boise- Bogus Basin.</div><div align="center">It finally opened for the season on Jan 19th- the latest opening in the history of the resort.<br />
We were anxious to get up there. And it was a beautiful day.<br />
We got in a total of 4 runs before needing to get home to the kids, but we have decided that this is our new winter Post Call Friday tradition.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">On <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><strong>Saturday</strong>,</span></span> we went skiing again.</div><div align="center">This time with the kids in tow.</div><div align="center">It took us 6, yes s-i-x, hours to make sure all the kids had ski gear, buy/rent what we didn't have, get season pass pictures taken, and get everyone dressed and ready.</div><div align="center">We made it to the resort just in time for the afternoon blizzard.<br />
And we forgot to feed the kids lunch.<br />
And also, we (and by we I mean Nate) accidentally put Will's ski boots on the wrong feet.<br />
(But it turns out that he is a total animal on the hill regardless.)<br />
<br />
Despite the setbacks, we had a pretty great time.<br />
Until we didn't.<br />
And then we went and got 1 lb greasy cheeseburgers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFmo44pkk0eK-jxfgyj9xi-Fkq7J_IvE3udZuoDNjsmbv_7G-NItkjgXAQsHFnnWhVwOponaP4FWgf9IExZNO7xXhZGxN9r_xWUnqrrxOgl89WWsxp9T1w3m7LkOdS5Z8jUyWZ27Avj8/s1600/IMG_1243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFmo44pkk0eK-jxfgyj9xi-Fkq7J_IvE3udZuoDNjsmbv_7G-NItkjgXAQsHFnnWhVwOponaP4FWgf9IExZNO7xXhZGxN9r_xWUnqrrxOgl89WWsxp9T1w3m7LkOdS5Z8jUyWZ27Avj8/s400/IMG_1243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div align="center">Which kind of makes me sick just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
And that wraps up a week in the life of the Meekers.<br />
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<br />
Now good people, please take a moment to pray for sweet <a href="http://www.texasmeads.blogspot.com/">Jack</a> who will be having heart surgery on Wed.<br />
Jack was born with Down's Syndrome to Chad and Jamie (my step-cousins...or something like that).<br />
Read about their sweet family on Jamie's blog <a href="http://www.texasmeads.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br />
Read <a href="http://www.texasmeads.blogspot.com/2011/05/come-as-you-are.html">this post</a> and you will be crying for days.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;">And visit Jamie's design blog </span><a href="http://www.sixoakstreet.com/"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">There is no home improvement project this girl won't tackle.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">She's completely fearless.</span><br />
And...she's hilarious.</div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-67603186876766709112012-01-15T06:26:00.000-07:002012-01-15T06:26:24.925-07:00The world we've created for our children and Will loses his first tooth.<div style="text-align: center;">On Tuesday I helped out in the childrens' classrooms at the school.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two things to note:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. They had a "Lock Down Drill."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not to be confused with your average fire drill.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A lock down drill is when you practice what to do should an armed lunatic come onto school property.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lock the door from inside the classroom. Turn off the lights. Get under your desks. Make sure you can't be seen from the window in the door.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously?</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what our world has come to.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt a moment of true panic as I crouched underneath the table alongside the students.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What if this were really happening?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't believe my 6 year-olds have to practice this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet, I'm grateful that they do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a lighter note...</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Will lost his first tooth. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Up until that point he hadn't let us near it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had no idea it was so loose, until I happened to notice it hanging forward in his mouth at a 90 degree angle.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Will we need to pull that tooth or you might swallow it during lunch."</div><div style="text-align: center;">He reluctantly opened his mouth.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After all, the tooth fairy won't come unless you have an actual tooth to put under your pillow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Later that night, I asked Nate to get some pictures to record the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The next day I found these beauties on the camera:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7sNYf97cv9qJxU1liJjeC-f6G8koiLKXbF2nUlDXlA6FLsN03QLEx45ycx3QsQDuSSRQND1vNyVdHgaO9cyiMtRQsFSEYlHmjncSQxHBuPXvms2vnRsN466NH-1j5nyEwaal8uqqvUA/s1600/Mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7sNYf97cv9qJxU1liJjeC-f6G8koiLKXbF2nUlDXlA6FLsN03QLEx45ycx3QsQDuSSRQND1vNyVdHgaO9cyiMtRQsFSEYlHmjncSQxHBuPXvms2vnRsN466NH-1j5nyEwaal8uqqvUA/s640/Mosaic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow. Thanks babe. Those are...um....really great.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a cryin' shame you chose medicine as a profession instead of photography. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-61099017899216423132012-01-12T19:52:00.000-07:002012-01-12T19:52:05.231-07:00Thanksgiving<div style="text-align: center;">I know...Thanksgiving is so...so... 2011.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But it was a very memorable one and I must document it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gOGLPEkZK7M-QHCYWY6UNMZ0gftKlznPoO17z_uYoIT5NrsD8WqDtVf1pfo8j7FUZVflfU1H4s1KWyj48zWsvuQVDbdhx2G82Ck7zz2Ty8iLCbnKrdQS1NrcYfbIOq0DOYXHA6gWVOw/s1600/P1040653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gOGLPEkZK7M-QHCYWY6UNMZ0gftKlznPoO17z_uYoIT5NrsD8WqDtVf1pfo8j7FUZVflfU1H4s1KWyj48zWsvuQVDbdhx2G82Ck7zz2Ty8iLCbnKrdQS1NrcYfbIOq0DOYXHA6gWVOw/s640/P1040653.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few things to note about this picture:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. It is about 2:00 in the afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. David is already in his pajamas.</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. David did wear his Thanksgiving outfit for a full hour during the meal thereby honoring our agreement.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. This was the last time I saw my cute Grandma.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEgvAXeXbp2fCkncD2jXRNjA_qhyphenhyphenqNx62fAHjNzxkqLD6iauq3DgQh1ujiPpM7PS2ZvdnfNNx4VsGsQm6yYSX0SjxbMeRJCI5UHrxTxJiVI5qYiwvrUcOYB9u5Qk7A2xdBRpDHYxiRNShBE/s1600/helping+Gma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAXeXbp2fCkncD2jXRNjA_qhyphenhyphenqNx62fAHjNzxkqLD6iauq3DgQh1ujiPpM7PS2ZvdnfNNx4VsGsQm6yYSX0SjxbMeRJCI5UHrxTxJiVI5qYiwvrUcOYB9u5Qk7A2xdBRpDHYxiRNShBE/s640/helping+Gma.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rhoda Cutler Wiscomb</div><div style="text-align: center;">1922-2011</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl8PY8E0MiPhEesysSHI1i8hnBAiqdpiHiWGYux6kSjwPW83QeyGNu2mNxMS0CeGxM9_O1w-cYJ2sA8x6ZKtt_u_zszBCkIkrQ0niOXRw_EMqUln9CPo5ylop6Md-2itTyycsy9bS9vs/s1600/Gma+funeral+mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl8PY8E0MiPhEesysSHI1i8hnBAiqdpiHiWGYux6kSjwPW83QeyGNu2mNxMS0CeGxM9_O1w-cYJ2sA8x6ZKtt_u_zszBCkIkrQ0niOXRw_EMqUln9CPo5ylop6Md-2itTyycsy9bS9vs/s640/Gma+funeral+mosaic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much of who I am is shaped by my grandma.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was the embodiment of grace.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even on her death bed, she offered ice chips (the one thing she could eat) to all who came to visit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm happy for her to be well again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And Grandma- I expect a killer Welcome Home Party when I join you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">With fine china, place cards and aspic.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(And yes Grams, I really like the aspic.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, some important Thanksgiving information:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_YI-uMDwZSVgXhaoJReqFQa6faYNkD8k2VHHGlyw6yujgLhCqQaZ6QdsceTg5HMWoLZ5TE5dXbtc8lZB-CHtrl-7IHYUPm3csxIJwQL3anZl7o3lhtDklKF3DYghlFPjBnHoXjzkBU8/s1600/Copy+of+David+cook+a+turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_YI-uMDwZSVgXhaoJReqFQa6faYNkD8k2VHHGlyw6yujgLhCqQaZ6QdsceTg5HMWoLZ5TE5dXbtc8lZB-CHtrl-7IHYUPm3csxIJwQL3anZl7o3lhtDklKF3DYghlFPjBnHoXjzkBU8/s640/Copy+of+David+cook+a+turkey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqDzGolHgdXSaxMx6qH6NbsBvHWrjyBZtiKJdF56zDrrazSh99KZine4OZerM0QKJKhbok5x6GP75oQJ-_YE3lc4nxy70XofNOG1dpAbCNZ7o_1KJ1IMTNQAhAGtvWLDMQD2UbA7vAs/s1600/Copy+of+Nora+cook+a+turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqDzGolHgdXSaxMx6qH6NbsBvHWrjyBZtiKJdF56zDrrazSh99KZine4OZerM0QKJKhbok5x6GP75oQJ-_YE3lc4nxy70XofNOG1dpAbCNZ7o_1KJ1IMTNQAhAGtvWLDMQD2UbA7vAs/s640/Copy+of+Nora+cook+a+turkey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjeOos3zoSjfUjxpEJMnfK_3xxkKUZ2NY7ZwNpIBNcVhu0vzPv0y-Aiu3ATzJ9iN3CEK75FhdrRVxlz_ZO8Wp_cAgUwrNVuFo6SXT0hQBFGjilHlw3hO_LVGT5-VStVvz_bp7cALjGlc/s1600/P1040643r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjeOos3zoSjfUjxpEJMnfK_3xxkKUZ2NY7ZwNpIBNcVhu0vzPv0y-Aiu3ATzJ9iN3CEK75FhdrRVxlz_ZO8Wp_cAgUwrNVuFo6SXT0hQBFGjilHlw3hO_LVGT5-VStVvz_bp7cALjGlc/s640/P1040643r.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-41917199006597866592012-01-12T11:10:00.000-07:002012-01-12T11:10:42.460-07:00This year I will blog more.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Or at least that's my goal. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Once per week people. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I know, I know- I already missed the first week. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But we were out of town, so that's a pretty good excuse. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Jan 1st started off here:</span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="321" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimHvxHo3xVSc7-v_Tqvpn-MMZTcPb4rO3PUBnnvpXxl_xVWFNsKoSGbmbBB-UQNnFlJJfwez0EJOc0r-TnUWohBzNATbsfmQRXEj0sI0DJTcn8Jnj9RZHsQu5XwLH-16kZpiUBMIMBwU/s640/Beach+mosaic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And then we went here:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6AsCjLeAOMLsbZj8xrBSognua_rTiGPVrmmwcCJIb5SE2dzpcsqHAvwIzotFu23lYERCQngD8FxVoiIGvyTvk_Vp0J20815qFsB3M0GDpfDzZVe9GhrpyzKfD3ZuMamjkhPANRRn5kQ/s1600/mosaic12121c32267b301c2add067a568562cb6289cac0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="322" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6AsCjLeAOMLsbZj8xrBSognua_rTiGPVrmmwcCJIb5SE2dzpcsqHAvwIzotFu23lYERCQngD8FxVoiIGvyTvk_Vp0J20815qFsB3M0GDpfDzZVe9GhrpyzKfD3ZuMamjkhPANRRn5kQ/s640/mosaic12121c32267b301c2add067a568562cb6289cac0.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Yep, 2012 is off to a fantastic start. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Happy New Year's everyone!</span></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-35115030560635718912011-09-23T23:40:00.006-06:002011-09-24T00:02:18.781-06:00Happy Birthday Mom<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbltieVlC5SrXRnroc792MruCMBItH6S4zv1sW-mlqa8_drOKj7SPtxNHkIv2aWZ_1eqMD2Nqq9fUfIHYohHik8y0MT7rpw8toG8-bKb7BLgCgei8sIEfdWXgGD6rHlcBsF8rUT5AqSzk/s1600/me+and+mom.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655796972172845602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbltieVlC5SrXRnroc792MruCMBItH6S4zv1sW-mlqa8_drOKj7SPtxNHkIv2aWZ_1eqMD2Nqq9fUfIHYohHik8y0MT7rpw8toG8-bKb7BLgCgei8sIEfdWXgGD6rHlcBsF8rUT5AqSzk/s400/me+and+mom.jpg" /></a> 1991</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">There is approx. 1 hour left on this, the day of my mother's birth.<br />But I couldn't let it pass without publicly thanking this good woman...<br /><div align="center">For giving me life.<br /><div align="center">For giving me 6 siblings whom I adore.<br /><div align="center">For supporting me in <em>every</em> dance performance (hundreds).<br /><div align="center">For staying up all those late nights to: sew my halloween costumes/prom dresses, type my papers (on a typewriter no less), or just talk.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I recently came across this quote and instantly thought of my mother:<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Whenever...temptations became most alluring and most tempting to me, the first thought that arose in my soul was this: Remember the love of your mother. Remember how she strove for your welfare. Remember how willing she was to sacrifice her life for your good. Remember what she taught you in your childhood...This feeling toward my mother became a defense, a barrier between me and temptation."</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">-Joseph F. Smith</span><br /><br /><div align="center">This is the kind of mother she was.<br /><div align="center">Her goodness and sacrifice safeguarded me throughout my life.<br /><br /><div align="center">Never underestimate the power of a righteous mother!<br /><br /><div align="center">Thanks mom...<br /><div align="center">for everything!<br /><br /><div align="center">All my love,<br /><div align="center">Erin</div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-64665958731768134852011-09-12T13:38:00.009-06:002011-09-26T16:03:46.815-06:00First broken bone...<div align="center">...and it's not David, if you can believe it.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfT7r8KzDb76NxWgKoy9RduC9pA8spUU25E7g_32jiQgnZFZd7F88fRpEZJJgU7It_MVnC8kcJzS6etNsK8-X2gBQ0jMk-PP3BkTYHQSgTTWPYJtgi4-ekGBJ9EhTEPmC1EenB-gHSbw/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656776648070979906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfT7r8KzDb76NxWgKoy9RduC9pA8spUU25E7g_32jiQgnZFZd7F88fRpEZJJgU7It_MVnC8kcJzS6etNsK8-X2gBQ0jMk-PP3BkTYHQSgTTWPYJtgi4-ekGBJ9EhTEPmC1EenB-gHSbw/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" /></a> Cute <span style="font-size:130%;">Will</span> broke his collarbone on Friday.</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(I started writing this 2 weeks ago.)</span></div><br /><br /><p align="center">He collided with another child while running at recess and fell on it wrong.<br /><br /><p align="center">Nate was off work (three cheers for post-call Fridays!) so it was good timing if it had to happen, I suppose.<br /><br /><p align="center">Although it did interrupt our day-long date to Goldy's (awesome breakfast!) and then <em>Art in the Park</em> (Boise's yearly art festival).<br /><br /><p align="center">(Have I mentioned that life is pretty sweet with all kids in full day school?)<br /></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(I know what you're thinking...perhaps she should use a few more (parentheses) in this post. No problem.)<br /></span><br />Notice how his right shoulder slopes at a not-so-natural angle...ouch!<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcaYzniOFM6WrgvqmUqcpuhmzglBsgLAOci4sfqJh-CLxgqff1tpvdyZFkawbiI207ddvvq3AcceZVlBMD1uGvJt9Sa-49SG7RV17apqYZseuPm4bmBufedIG-t8aC-Rl62uVDBTUtSI/s1600/IMG_0159r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656776642821610930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcaYzniOFM6WrgvqmUqcpuhmzglBsgLAOci4sfqJh-CLxgqff1tpvdyZFkawbiI207ddvvq3AcceZVlBMD1uGvJt9Sa-49SG7RV17apqYZseuPm4bmBufedIG-t8aC-Rl62uVDBTUtSI/s400/IMG_0159r.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Will has proven to be one tough cookie through the whole ordeal. <br /><div align="center">(One of the notable perks of being David's little brother.) <br /><div align="center">He's complained very little.<br /><br /><div align="center">Here he is smiling for his x-rays. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPJ4CuMX13auDOOrW-sd4ekzFORnAEyHxJ-G8DydyewNm1YvaoT5I3BUTjj78fjYZ48N01g34exj3TxEJYqJLF8gAfZSmz9-FmQxqxCKdI0eLoHHcrS0gcWtLoGbvz73uQYgA5H-ZVyw/s1600/IMG_0160r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656776632869093314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPJ4CuMX13auDOOrW-sd4ekzFORnAEyHxJ-G8DydyewNm1YvaoT5I3BUTjj78fjYZ48N01g34exj3TxEJYqJLF8gAfZSmz9-FmQxqxCKdI0eLoHHcrS0gcWtLoGbvz73uQYgA5H-ZVyw/s400/IMG_0160r.jpg" /></a> And voila...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EGVXwneTu1mz80_48sLsI9BghS8gqHvq2s3oOfXhhznrt3JGu6_BVV2Zq5NEJjJlOiu2I0M7ojc6bMkiXqUhYVdTA7jfoxu11T8nrmCLr_2wQIhOds_6sKya4iu_h1F5usQQoqeV4EE/s1600/Will+Shoulder+%2528r%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656780522510659906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EGVXwneTu1mz80_48sLsI9BghS8gqHvq2s3oOfXhhznrt3JGu6_BVV2Zq5NEJjJlOiu2I0M7ojc6bMkiXqUhYVdTA7jfoxu11T8nrmCLr_2wQIhOds_6sKya4iu_h1F5usQQoqeV4EE/s400/Will+Shoulder+%2528r%2529.JPG" /></a> I texted my family from the E.R. and all the women replied "Oh no!!" (with 2 exclamation points) except for Dori who replied "Oh no!!!" (with 3 exclamation points). </div><br /><div align="center">It is clear to see who the <em>most</em> concerned sister was.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">My brother Wyatt's response had me giggling:</div><br /><div align="center">"Running is too dangerous.<br />He should be hanging out on the roof more.<br />Nobody ever got hurt doing that."</div><br /><div align="center"><br />Ahhh- I love my family.<br /><br />Luckily the E.R. visit didn't take too long.<br />We were still able to get to Sun Valley on time for the opening dinner of Nate's work conference.<br />We spent a relaxing weekend there.<br />I, of course, have no pictures of Sun Valley.<br />Because I'm awesome like that.<br />But here are some pics of our journey home.<br />We took the scenic route.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0el4BE7U2dwDoU47vP7rlANCnG2kL85bRDJytCQt7cBzTJYnmh11cWBVb5nE4csavuvAMk9rJXtOvkRPuAoMLf_4jdrcv3EdtJfIGPQG712gBCnbi7nXc3aHYdmcB32__ogNU1eqP9s/s1600/P1040342r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655306786516995426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0el4BE7U2dwDoU47vP7rlANCnG2kL85bRDJytCQt7cBzTJYnmh11cWBVb5nE4csavuvAMk9rJXtOvkRPuAoMLf_4jdrcv3EdtJfIGPQG712gBCnbi7nXc3aHYdmcB32__ogNU1eqP9s/s400/P1040342r.jpg" /></a> Overlooking the Sawtooth Mountain range.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsHvP56E6nRW6a2WEm15OAPb9zhk8LA_iiQpNB1tOKtZVz8URNhN82U8AjzBNyDg5JhyyaYW8Z2spPemzd3ZyNA-9gqW1XHD9FTxPYmSmPel38DRq1hWpF-aDmozElHtezUNJF6JSMOk/s1600/P1040370a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655306784494000898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsHvP56E6nRW6a2WEm15OAPb9zhk8LA_iiQpNB1tOKtZVz8URNhN82U8AjzBNyDg5JhyyaYW8Z2spPemzd3ZyNA-9gqW1XHD9FTxPYmSmPel38DRq1hWpF-aDmozElHtezUNJF6JSMOk/s400/P1040370a.jpg" /></a> Getting in touch with our tribal roots.<br />Wait, where's Nora?<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJlpN4TFA5hV4s0G8miuZNqVBydWhAGoo-uVY8nyXotoCnVtm-neFSOs5w9zje6iQTJwHkfFSg1vgWyk2svyudpIfmtW3-3c5wkXsrw82-oWKplijw7NREBJmdxGtZ4K_IwSdxVKfano/s1600/P1040362.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655305972902380770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJlpN4TFA5hV4s0G8miuZNqVBydWhAGoo-uVY8nyXotoCnVtm-neFSOs5w9zje6iQTJwHkfFSg1vgWyk2svyudpIfmtW3-3c5wkXsrw82-oWKplijw7NREBJmdxGtZ4K_IwSdxVKfano/s400/P1040362.JPG" /></a> Oh that's right. There she is.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlTawVmQs1GFjIp5KKopdMeRumw6TSFZ9MQslFj7OWsm2jaOeSLcRX7Sg1o2vFPLNw-rUMU06xOjdVDJ443m8NhRKpY8iX8wDwfTH3pQrzIUB-4D5XyEsjD53mc_I3Yj9jNneV0Appf8/s1600/P1040383.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655305966693657954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlTawVmQs1GFjIp5KKopdMeRumw6TSFZ9MQslFj7OWsm2jaOeSLcRX7Sg1o2vFPLNw-rUMU06xOjdVDJ443m8NhRKpY8iX8wDwfTH3pQrzIUB-4D5XyEsjD53mc_I3Yj9jNneV0Appf8/s400/P1040383.JPG" /></a> Redfish Lake.<br />This place is <em>gorgeous</em>.<br />In this picture, Nate is trying to decide where he will dock his boat (that we don't have yet) next time we come up.<br /><br />He came to the dinner table last night and asked,<br />"Kids- would you rather go to college or get a boat?"<br />The decision was unanimous.<br />We'll start looking at boats this evening.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfKd5rKaQbRZg6eZGWXDFtzgkjI0supU_S4ihBb7gTgdOquhAAEvglFizijSQLDUqTxb7Zv8vUod08wWQU259BM1SwbVrHAyebU4vNHHn2n9sRnveh0_X06e3oyylD9ZsTAhkNMcOtBA/s1600/P1040381.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655305291950432290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfKd5rKaQbRZg6eZGWXDFtzgkjI0supU_S4ihBb7gTgdOquhAAEvglFizijSQLDUqTxb7Zv8vUod08wWQU259BM1SwbVrHAyebU4vNHHn2n9sRnveh0_X06e3oyylD9ZsTAhkNMcOtBA/s400/P1040381.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLMwroDSimM727TD1s4WJyudkBQj_BF9It5BIeCef8mtZO5HuXqjtw2jpAuNO3r24vG-obNtVyi_LWSmO2MIlBy1RPbxLPDahsxZnVAl2hNVpowjZ_pwKYMo6ua4bjhWjI5zYI8vhVgI/s1600/P1040393.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655305285629754370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLMwroDSimM727TD1s4WJyudkBQj_BF9It5BIeCef8mtZO5HuXqjtw2jpAuNO3r24vG-obNtVyi_LWSmO2MIlBy1RPbxLPDahsxZnVAl2hNVpowjZ_pwKYMo6ua4bjhWjI5zYI8vhVgI/s400/P1040393.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>These pictures are totally undoctored.<br />Idaho really is just that beautiful.<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-1028495330900472932011-09-07T12:44:00.006-06:002011-09-12T12:08:40.501-06:00It's actually not that funny.<div align="center">Last night while I was at the church, Nate texted me this picture:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILSoSWP_IElzmoooNYgoKEtYfpQPQjh2XhnwFqgc7ntZ6SPQuHQvlWQnKjmu6DpjIMdOGkC127XSsmndxDi44idCqQmNSbQ1oPAW6bQZlXjwYb2X0hzfMFbabAnoaNhrZOo4yQuMlC5c/s1600/IMG_0150.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649691022787110578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILSoSWP_IElzmoooNYgoKEtYfpQPQjh2XhnwFqgc7ntZ6SPQuHQvlWQnKjmu6DpjIMdOGkC127XSsmndxDi44idCqQmNSbQ1oPAW6bQZlXjwYb2X0hzfMFbabAnoaNhrZOo4yQuMlC5c/s400/IMG_0150.jpg" /></a> At first I wasn't sure what is was.<br />Was there an animal on our roof? </div><br />So I blew it up.<br />And OMGosh- there is my 6 year old son sitting on top of the roof.<br />Our 40 foot high roof with 10/12 pitch, to be clear.<br />(Go right ahead and start judging our parenting skills. I don't blame you.)<br />I quickly texted back:<br /><em>What the h?<br /></em>Which probably wasn't very appropriate for the church, but hey, I was typing as fast as I was thinking.<br /><br /><br />Apparently a good-hearted neighbor had seen David climbing out the dormer window and scrambling up the roof.<br />He quickly called Nate and said,<br />"Are you home? You're going to want to come outside immediately."<br />Nate ran out the door, looked in the direction of the pointing neighbor, gasped, told David to "hold still" (mostly so that he could get a picture), and then went and stood below the roof, and told David to "come down very slowly," which he did, crab-walk style. Luckily no one was hurt.<br /><br /><br />When I got home I went straight to David's room.<br />He wasn't really in the mood to talk.<br />But I got a few things out of him.<br /><em>Why did you go out on the roof Davey?</em><br />-Jeesh, I just like view.<br /><em>Do you know how dangerous that is? You could get really hurt or even die if you were to fall.<br /></em>-Mom, you only fall if you get really close to the edge.<br /><em>That's not true David. The roof is really steep. All it takes is one slip and you will fall all the way down.<br /></em>-Mom, you just have to keep your hands dry.<br /><em>(What??)<br /></em><br /><br /><em>Look David- you've worn out the bum in your new pajama pants from sliding on the shingles.</em><br />(I thought this would really upset him because he has a slight obsession with PJ pants, and this pair happened to be new.)<br />And then I noticed it.<br />Another pair of pajama pants lying on his bedroom floor that also had a thread-bare bum.<br /><br /><br />(This is where things got a little more serious.)<br /><br /><br /><em>David, how many times have you climbed the roof?<br /></em>-I don't know Mom.<br /><em>Did you do it before today?<br /></em>-Yes.<br /><em>Have you done it more than 2 times?</em><br />-Yes.<br /><em>Like a lot of times?</em><br />-Yes.<br /><em>(In tears now) David, do you have any idea how sad we would be if anything happened to you?? You have to <u>promise</u> me that you will never do this again.<br /></em>I promise Mom.<br /><em>No, I need to hear you say these words: "I promise I will never climb the roof again."<br /></em><br /><br /><br />He said it.<br />And then I loved on him, said a prayer over him and sang him a song goodnight.<br />Well wait- he wouldn't let me sing the song. But I did get 2 kisses.<br />But only after I scratched his back for awhile.<br /><br /><br /><br />Nate laughs when recounting this story, but I'm not quite there yet.<br />I spent hours lying in bed last night, wondering what else David was doing, unbeknownst to us, that might be putting his life in danger on a daily basis.<br />I probably don't even want to know.<br />He must have one <em>very busy</em> guardian angel.<br />I sent a hundred prayers up to heaven, thanking God for keeping our little guy safe.<br />And a thousand more, pleading with Him to continue to do so.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">If I'm gray in the next couple of years, you'll know why. </div></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-40755979036669383162011-05-19T15:00:00.017-06:002011-05-19T18:22:16.408-06:00Today is the day I will post about the Remodel<div align="center">My family has threatened to disown me for not doing this earlier.<br />But today is the day.<br />The sky is blue.<br />The earth is green and glistening from the recent rainfall.<br />Everything smells fresh.<br />Today is a <em>beautiful</em> day in Boise.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">The journey of the house...</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#00cccc;">Untouched</span>- Sept 2010</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcME3ZWIm209dLseT203bmUrmw3tYR9P1kJ7dn_bwgw_pgF1mmk9X-TyfmoB2frzGpdcs69b85E548DBMCus_E-aRUzJKJFKo-ssPjxONYLNbGs1ViBpUGEFZxp6A6ct16EFLbqk3Twlw/s1600/P1020565a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608558259812293282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcME3ZWIm209dLseT203bmUrmw3tYR9P1kJ7dn_bwgw_pgF1mmk9X-TyfmoB2frzGpdcs69b85E548DBMCus_E-aRUzJKJFKo-ssPjxONYLNbGs1ViBpUGEFZxp6A6ct16EFLbqk3Twlw/s400/P1020565a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXn7GW5XIPYhSQHDtGM8tDnVJryf5Hj2ByBSaeEHY-AtqnR4iWjJQh1BscSvNiIoQOF9niZw0tURY_B3G57-dE-tVjhgGgLgaUSwlP7nnvjnJjpCYaXp1ZeyRaslPKoZUfAeQImI0jCU/s1600/P1010593a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608558255395029074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXn7GW5XIPYhSQHDtGM8tDnVJryf5Hj2ByBSaeEHY-AtqnR4iWjJQh1BscSvNiIoQOF9niZw0tURY_B3G57-dE-tVjhgGgLgaUSwlP7nnvjnJjpCYaXp1ZeyRaslPKoZUfAeQImI0jCU/s400/P1010593a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Demolition Day</span>- Oct 18, 2010<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zcxicwwnf0jV_imwMR2qwRgXXy6J6i__bhXYl2Xg_gC5EutWXaGW9FOG_RzuaflxLNArz-d2pEIaBn8v15wpD7T2H1AfbRLUBIRZlBXIJPuFhBTQ2wkVl2mpQIQndEt3guxF9oek4I/s1600/P1020573.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608558245222649554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zcxicwwnf0jV_imwMR2qwRgXXy6J6i__bhXYl2Xg_gC5EutWXaGW9FOG_RzuaflxLNArz-d2pEIaBn8v15wpD7T2H1AfbRLUBIRZlBXIJPuFhBTQ2wkVl2mpQIQndEt3guxF9oek4I/s400/P1020573.JPG" /></a> Goodbye roof<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuETRadJ5tiZQi19ht-08jErgZgIefVZ9sJVDw7uuqC-g477EGFnQupXN7RUjk7ojgTMSQXUhPPZfUpUjsYPpXYKh8YNrJzNzfFh4REi_hSQe_5HfXfc-Q_PZsgxPgmKscXZcTaolbpHw/s1600/P1020583.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608557291823239458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuETRadJ5tiZQi19ht-08jErgZgIefVZ9sJVDw7uuqC-g477EGFnQupXN7RUjk7ojgTMSQXUhPPZfUpUjsYPpXYKh8YNrJzNzfFh4REi_hSQe_5HfXfc-Q_PZsgxPgmKscXZcTaolbpHw/s400/P1020583.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdiQD0kXapvS1N7TzYqzGAex9yszCxUA4UT7-p3TgVm-acoIK3Dw8B11x_3WpySfg6VmbyCI8Ek6IGXmjrVrut-BUtQNANECoAQYVVOiC_00vAVCmREvNSie9aHVjMPM_9MK_51JqZ5Y/s1600/P1020628.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608557283738636210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdiQD0kXapvS1N7TzYqzGAex9yszCxUA4UT7-p3TgVm-acoIK3Dw8B11x_3WpySfg6VmbyCI8Ek6IGXmjrVrut-BUtQNANECoAQYVVOiC_00vAVCmREvNSie9aHVjMPM_9MK_51JqZ5Y/s400/P1020628.JPG" /></a>This was such a strange feeling- to be standing in my house that was open to the sky<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlepOqqRtye7JuXbGi9NTGzMW9aaMG6PLzO8YbutqQPZCDzeEjicGzPaoJASvACGYMz4dcOk2cP-NMrFKX2GATgyHwCysQ26kapfjxaK8MLkRjPpLT8flxqcYy_-VVCGpJ-f9IOwjCS0U/s1600/P1020633.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608557281314950914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlepOqqRtye7JuXbGi9NTGzMW9aaMG6PLzO8YbutqQPZCDzeEjicGzPaoJASvACGYMz4dcOk2cP-NMrFKX2GATgyHwCysQ26kapfjxaK8MLkRjPpLT8flxqcYy_-VVCGpJ-f9IOwjCS0U/s400/P1020633.JPG" /></a> The kids loved watching all the trucks and cranes.<br /><br /><br />2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> story added and the <span style="color:#00cccc;">rebuilding</span> of the roof:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLmIGWN8hG_Xv_Q6KZqiqUDP-BoffE2QC4nLVr_YZCVSYo9DRynX4AQ2f2t4zPopuP9Lihg4xe7kB4-O8yE5zkER8mjQns9Grm5tkq1vAsUXC2uQzUby3FuCFtzB6a1Ok9mQb2NBeYfs/s1600/P1020697.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608556085103126210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLmIGWN8hG_Xv_Q6KZqiqUDP-BoffE2QC4nLVr_YZCVSYo9DRynX4AQ2f2t4zPopuP9Lihg4xe7kB4-O8yE5zkER8mjQns9Grm5tkq1vAsUXC2uQzUby3FuCFtzB6a1Ok9mQb2NBeYfs/s400/P1020697.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxK9LWXT07CYQ14g4a7FKTURHayQ8NvlEqI1x0buZoRbwAWoHJcfgbmQW7dnzxfAqpYaM1QaWKf8BIbf9BOJrH_SqdqsZ5EtW3tZqYK9nl4jlJfb4gdg8Ezhq7IDvX1ioUrSV36GM0hE/s1600/P1020693.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608556075582834322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxK9LWXT07CYQ14g4a7FKTURHayQ8NvlEqI1x0buZoRbwAWoHJcfgbmQW7dnzxfAqpYaM1QaWKf8BIbf9BOJrH_SqdqsZ5EtW3tZqYK9nl4jlJfb4gdg8Ezhq7IDvX1ioUrSV36GM0hE/s400/P1020693.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Trying to weather-proof. </div><br /><div>Alas, that did not go well, resulting in damaged carpet and hardwood floors everywhere in the house. </div><br /><div>Stupid dark, menacing clouds. Stupid rain.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIUD2Pbya3vPtrdcZH_bhLxdjPNlBnwXm06qJDYrqunhQRqtTTipofdxCip7-2TKpyEEu1tY9frGQ8HI9qKuby6aBXVEPITxiQQihFtTyuINqQY95zmB3UyLZKeLeuryjHnb2yFsrKxc/s1600/P1020758.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608556068515401714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIUD2Pbya3vPtrdcZH_bhLxdjPNlBnwXm06qJDYrqunhQRqtTTipofdxCip7-2TKpyEEu1tY9frGQ8HI9qKuby6aBXVEPITxiQQihFtTyuINqQY95zmB3UyLZKeLeuryjHnb2yFsrKxc/s400/P1020758.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Some inside shots:</div><br /><div>Front door and staircase<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpqWrea_A7JCCREjNvOWzogS7lZMB-7c2I47Bwg__exP9VfiSjbGOxJvwcJolSnfwSqy9UmOW5ULoEndDwLAvk-3mYceLqY27zCcOFRSDpcXaj4YU2HI9mcyO5UzQTFqPPgTtVVGCEc4/s1600/P1020813a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608554996285360354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpqWrea_A7JCCREjNvOWzogS7lZMB-7c2I47Bwg__exP9VfiSjbGOxJvwcJolSnfwSqy9UmOW5ULoEndDwLAvk-3mYceLqY27zCcOFRSDpcXaj4YU2HI9mcyO5UzQTFqPPgTtVVGCEc4/s400/P1020813a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Upstairs bedroom. Actually this is our guest bedroom with a cute dormer window. </div><br /><div>Enticing eh? </div><br /><div>Well, get your bums up here then.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWH3LjBp9XyuviceZqY1c8TvwDEU87bjmYF6Yiiou810YRYNMFg6teHOkWQ-1WSZKAJd3raQ6t4AkltpIQ3FMaIHn23zp98q1tpbereA7bZw8KeGDfloeNdh1XJ9viNwuA_nbiuycXpQ/s1600/P1020815.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608554989052697138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWH3LjBp9XyuviceZqY1c8TvwDEU87bjmYF6Yiiou810YRYNMFg6teHOkWQ-1WSZKAJd3raQ6t4AkltpIQ3FMaIHn23zp98q1tpbereA7bZw8KeGDfloeNdh1XJ9viNwuA_nbiuycXpQ/s400/P1020815.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Working through the winter. </div><br /><div>This was a <em>cold </em>day in January. </div><br /><div>I felt so bad for the builders. </div><br /><div>I didn't even mind that they built themselves a fire right there on my front lawn.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW4jUyBbhbAHoU9qDNfQitw9jziONdOgKL4xhQMcMf6fogK_FzXdwMtJw2WRPzFJ2Xaknshj8PJEaQxlTfnUTiForLnhPAUSGsOGsr1hn_-hniU80wo0myO2lOB7HNJPAAmBI815lqIM/s1600/P1020821a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608554987477821378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW4jUyBbhbAHoU9qDNfQitw9jziONdOgKL4xhQMcMf6fogK_FzXdwMtJw2WRPzFJ2Xaknshj8PJEaQxlTfnUTiForLnhPAUSGsOGsr1hn_-hniU80wo0myO2lOB7HNJPAAmBI815lqIM/s400/P1020821a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>The kids didn't mind so much either.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9VFjcrtE4c7gB46JQUl021xb3UVrghjisOhpedxDL5lfLqmVBSg-zqZxB_xmdozW_K2_oqJq4RwJmA36c_kkzEh_W_J_xM-Nx4iFHbF7Mp20I18raNAcBSll_J8c7fGqxGwuQYP8sFs/s1600/P1020822.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608553793693153442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9VFjcrtE4c7gB46JQUl021xb3UVrghjisOhpedxDL5lfLqmVBSg-zqZxB_xmdozW_K2_oqJq4RwJmA36c_kkzEh_W_J_xM-Nx4iFHbF7Mp20I18raNAcBSll_J8c7fGqxGwuQYP8sFs/s400/P1020822.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Now to the <span style="color:#00cccc;">details</span>. This is where is gets<em> fun</em>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Cedar shingles<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mmmm</span>- I love the smell of cedar.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX8P88He33aqINyArXxboYUqgsVYtDQEXJhhFbqaQbyyfs4cqWBtB3tQ5wiB9ewzkq1AWSL8U3E7zKrTjm3T-ILdX6qhD-RzYE4tSuBOsQ1v9pTe3AKstfdBfLHR-Qnvsk1IfSPfbZIs/s1600/P1030228.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608551652803628610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX8P88He33aqINyArXxboYUqgsVYtDQEXJhhFbqaQbyyfs4cqWBtB3tQ5wiB9ewzkq1AWSL8U3E7zKrTjm3T-ILdX6qhD-RzYE4tSuBOsQ1v9pTe3AKstfdBfLHR-Qnvsk1IfSPfbZIs/s400/P1030228.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Barrel-roll ceiling over the entry</div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH2ciKptVGbogEhcPgQOc_9Whvzt8URE3Cids-DZAhDFIRipvixm7miHKWvSqCRth5dJKMbDaLE7IyWaiA0p2qVB0EbKbPv_Rk9FowTKuRNHWx5hBhVTRzE7cq6Ud_XoXkKTcVCvIXp8/s1600/P1030230.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608551649793630850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH2ciKptVGbogEhcPgQOc_9Whvzt8URE3Cids-DZAhDFIRipvixm7miHKWvSqCRth5dJKMbDaLE7IyWaiA0p2qVB0EbKbPv_Rk9FowTKuRNHWx5hBhVTRzE7cq6Ud_XoXkKTcVCvIXp8/s400/P1030230.JPG" /></a><br />Rock and front steps<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEAikjZ2UG5P3ReRS6L5rD6Jw5i731UTTEhEs8PoOFnJvfilzV_6pm2ox4cXUipQjfWUjfb30oH64P73ef7CrrAmmwsXxxmmvfnq8WyLuas2FOdzZRgSipb350c1O8S9CD6JJBcLk8vU/s1600/P1030330.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608550834682296738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEAikjZ2UG5P3ReRS6L5rD6Jw5i731UTTEhEs8PoOFnJvfilzV_6pm2ox4cXUipQjfWUjfb30oH64P73ef7CrrAmmwsXxxmmvfnq8WyLuas2FOdzZRgSipb350c1O8S9CD6JJBcLk8vU/s400/P1030330.JPG" /></a><br />Front door.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9whYuxy0FZcKb-vDbBM_i7BjQG-cwYqyfC-iSmbWf7Lg5pNfd54yhTgoFAAL1_TZKtYLJtq3umlJsWNDhy4A4IdFPYV-vWnbBCwI9pa0lyxPaN1sQ3UNMtscMdpWeKXFucQIzX58t_RI/s1600/IMG_0071.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608549988366791202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9whYuxy0FZcKb-vDbBM_i7BjQG-cwYqyfC-iSmbWf7Lg5pNfd54yhTgoFAAL1_TZKtYLJtq3umlJsWNDhy4A4IdFPYV-vWnbBCwI9pa0lyxPaN1sQ3UNMtscMdpWeKXFucQIzX58t_RI/s400/IMG_0071.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Confession: I am a little obsessed with my front door. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I found the piece of leaded glass on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebay</span>. </div><br /><div>The moment I saw it I knew it had to be in my front door.</div><br /><div>To me, the design looks like paper dolls holding hands.</div><br /><div>It says: </div><br /><div>"Come on in.</div><br /><div>In this house you are always welcome.</div><br /><div>You are always a friend."</div><br /><div>Can you hear it?</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmX5fI0c6BSHXwL_DPCzKd4C3SAFQ6h4HnxiYj2WHTHUvHsA4h5q3vMlkay4engI8FvUU8qaFYWeFnR7x_Ge_vDtskpb1ucgzhesi91v1KV5oopxZCJFRnpFw03AXISid_y9WovqiepU/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608549976968261074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmX5fI0c6BSHXwL_DPCzKd4C3SAFQ6h4HnxiYj2WHTHUvHsA4h5q3vMlkay4engI8FvUU8qaFYWeFnR7x_Ge_vDtskpb1ucgzhesi91v1KV5oopxZCJFRnpFw03AXISid_y9WovqiepU/s400/IMG_0073.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The "M"- a little joke from our builders</div><br /><div>It stayed up there for a couple days until they were able to come back.</div><br /><div>I'm sure the neighbors thought we were total weirdos.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ez1D0RuVBaUdymKnKUEVC7FzIamX3xwzGL5_bNE0AoobEEG63wtWKc88tZvobP-VYHP0AxpLRkZUupPb5hN0psqn5whfVfFvVA70e9xq6LvoAmiShLbpKf1YkHR7RNjUZtT7E7zbvs/s1600/P1030467.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608549458343141970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ez1D0RuVBaUdymKnKUEVC7FzIamX3xwzGL5_bNE0AoobEEG63wtWKc88tZvobP-VYHP0AxpLRkZUupPb5hN0psqn5whfVfFvVA70e9xq6LvoAmiShLbpKf1YkHR7RNjUZtT7E7zbvs/s400/P1030467.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The herringbone brick inlays<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSgthVy6SP9TCbhF78oiGK68k3DVsoRmNOYJ8l6mpjoVSqz2yh50m8VtdPajHYkG4ABg_ZXDo1RjFAg3UGiZb24cNUK7z9nl0jJWbxRb5wTdVfs2NS_JDKcXFARSqoCWnTGO5_KJs7wo/s1600/P1030551.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608549454905573714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSgthVy6SP9TCbhF78oiGK68k3DVsoRmNOYJ8l6mpjoVSqz2yh50m8VtdPajHYkG4ABg_ZXDo1RjFAg3UGiZb24cNUK7z9nl0jJWbxRb5wTdVfs2NS_JDKcXFARSqoCWnTGO5_KJs7wo/s400/P1030551.JPG" /></a><br />A couple shots of the inside.</div><br /><div>Disclaimer: it still needs paint, trim, light fixtures, decor, etc.</div><br /><div>But at least you can get a sense of some of our living space.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Main living area<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaITw1mMAlnX8S-bkpdYpIAp-KZpTQRHH1Ak-X8wiqo2mV2OV5lg2k4IJOGr6QSoKfP6bExQAgVNrSkxVOVHpSHSCZib5lS9qLLOfjyHy-_v0WqKjQejwHZn1NkaNIR7J2L-QhreNR8c/s1600/P1030699a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608547771874935714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaITw1mMAlnX8S-bkpdYpIAp-KZpTQRHH1Ak-X8wiqo2mV2OV5lg2k4IJOGr6QSoKfP6bExQAgVNrSkxVOVHpSHSCZib5lS9qLLOfjyHy-_v0WqKjQejwHZn1NkaNIR7J2L-QhreNR8c/s400/P1030699a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Front entry and staircase<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCBWYhhpRqcsQba6J9NCqG_yj-1FNht7dEwBCXonyk9p58llk1QaHa_o9_AX79hdfPOoTm4VaXPmprKJsQ0cWDl7WF_tuHsjlCAsTrnRErzRt3U65CPntiYYL-T_nx6rn13wvb7DOU-Q/s1600/P1030663a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 389px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608547766101198530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCBWYhhpRqcsQba6J9NCqG_yj-1FNht7dEwBCXonyk9p58llk1QaHa_o9_AX79hdfPOoTm4VaXPmprKJsQ0cWDl7WF_tuHsjlCAsTrnRErzRt3U65CPntiYYL-T_nx6rn13wvb7DOU-Q/s400/P1030663a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Pictures from this morning.</div><br /><div>Unfortunately, they aren't "after" pictures.</div><br /><div>We aren't there quite yet.</div><br /><div>(The cedar shingles will be stained charcoal gray. Trim will be white.)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The view as you drive up to the house.</div><br /><div>My favorite.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28do5dT4VmDDjg-4k3bpE2bL2UxSPwffk6cyE8GSMUtgQfXEFEj-voNOER8V8ln5IOL9q3JhhjqEuQDB2S0pbyQ06ovyahzvU8G63Hiwde35yqanlKKFdZL-L-1MPnK6UhJVGntxGA0o/s1600/P1030688.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608544654786557698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28do5dT4VmDDjg-4k3bpE2bL2UxSPwffk6cyE8GSMUtgQfXEFEj-voNOER8V8ln5IOL9q3JhhjqEuQDB2S0pbyQ06ovyahzvU8G63Hiwde35yqanlKKFdZL-L-1MPnK6UhJVGntxGA0o/s400/P1030688.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We may just ask the builders to leave the port-a-potty when they're done.</div><br /><div>What would the kids do without their outdoor bathroom?</div><br /><div>They don't even have to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interrupt</span> their play long enough to come inside.</div><br /><div>Such a sweet set-up.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyoPdX2IGTTyA1X64p-iq9nUy7cxKZxm4kVxLLQF800m-LA_PHsJ4UP1sNcZckSzN1-y0vmrMeQP7IosBgyz7EpUg9y92nT4OveBAKbcjvuPM0NMKcfhskLQHdeVX3_ex3CRdFb5VUhM/s1600/P1030673.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608544646511143842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyoPdX2IGTTyA1X64p-iq9nUy7cxKZxm4kVxLLQF800m-LA_PHsJ4UP1sNcZckSzN1-y0vmrMeQP7IosBgyz7EpUg9y92nT4OveBAKbcjvuPM0NMKcfhskLQHdeVX3_ex3CRdFb5VUhM/s400/P1030673.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />From the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">BLM</span> land next to our house:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkBrPkcO0L95Y7JQ92aY8DDe2yd8W5r3RoiP2qVlIGxqOTwa3hGp988m70GvWbg-0aP2pMK2LntdSMWkA5qNIY7yq-d8jHCoQGUa0jEBBhmMGB96iYciMiCl-Pbj-mDBC0FzURbcmzBM/s1600/P1030679.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608543925435610738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkBrPkcO0L95Y7JQ92aY8DDe2yd8W5r3RoiP2qVlIGxqOTwa3hGp988m70GvWbg-0aP2pMK2LntdSMWkA5qNIY7yq-d8jHCoQGUa0jEBBhmMGB96iYciMiCl-Pbj-mDBC0FzURbcmzBM/s400/P1030679.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Tree-lined<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EXMfeXS6AGZa1mzxcInBJXQX9-60vQKSBSJcIwbLvzFKCyVx0KZdUqaioIu497oGq4Xkd9lWo8eEu2XU8nT7YvI6wXaVXglf2mDOckpBlL6RQzFuuz89dxaDoME5gEJwMwLZlWeDYaA/s1600/P1030684.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608543917415476274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EXMfeXS6AGZa1mzxcInBJXQX9-60vQKSBSJcIwbLvzFKCyVx0KZdUqaioIu497oGq4Xkd9lWo8eEu2XU8nT7YvI6wXaVXglf2mDOckpBlL6RQzFuuz89dxaDoME5gEJwMwLZlWeDYaA/s400/P1030684.JPG" /></a><br />Excuse me- the kids just walked into the house carrying 2 dogs that I have never seen before.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Okay, I'm back.</div><br /><div>One of the benefits of living out on a secluded ridge in Idaho is that there are animals everywhere.</div><br /><div>Bunnies, squirrels, deer, hawks, dogs, cats.</div><br /><div>The kids are in heaven. </div><br /><div>I don't mind so much except for the mice.</div><br /><div>And that's all I'm going to say about that.<br /><br /><br />From the carport:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK7qba2wZ8NCFQrnn_yzgu9ujXiB6a2fOp3PqqI79l1p86zzfbzNuWFfnVP2Jn_Egq64aFWrGlFc976ZGrmP9mfSJN_Ex1hVuJL-Ny6XrzRU2p-ofIJn65CFrplYu6ebwzsygzRRyFFw/s1600/P1030691.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608537147732644210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK7qba2wZ8NCFQrnn_yzgu9ujXiB6a2fOp3PqqI79l1p86zzfbzNuWFfnVP2Jn_Egq64aFWrGlFc976ZGrmP9mfSJN_Ex1hVuJL-Ny6XrzRU2p-ofIJn65CFrplYu6ebwzsygzRRyFFw/s400/P1030691.JPG" /></a><br />Now on to the <span style="color:#00cccc;">views</span>:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A little peak from our corner of the world.</div><br /><div>Columbia Village neighborhood <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCBEIKs2xBrvEw-Ah__RRjOK80wFZEGKawy8sKGEXP2KN21-lvbyH4JOHgFaoFA9vWi5SsXbNSrdGfbwWzO3q67p0OnAk0mSe__SYBUeQXA0zz-mr2wsOpylFAi5EBF0ZoEr4t8kJ9FI/s1600/P1030696a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608537145186784706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCBEIKs2xBrvEw-Ah__RRjOK80wFZEGKawy8sKGEXP2KN21-lvbyH4JOHgFaoFA9vWi5SsXbNSrdGfbwWzO3q67p0OnAk0mSe__SYBUeQXA0zz-mr2wsOpylFAi5EBF0ZoEr4t8kJ9FI/s400/P1030696a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The view a mere 30 feet from our front door.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSsfshNm8h5697VFRAVqhPV2z5ruJV3UUl0I60EwNFEot4QYGKPuURsvaCwOX4lDE2ZCb1C1atmXLSStm1gnuUyKbMz4E_0-_-qACbrw6FV4vXaqDZP1kxxEKT9jKgKJx0O89bFEufLo/s1600/P1030675text.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608537140240397618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSsfshNm8h5697VFRAVqhPV2z5ruJV3UUl0I60EwNFEot4QYGKPuURsvaCwOX4lDE2ZCb1C1atmXLSStm1gnuUyKbMz4E_0-_-qACbrw6FV4vXaqDZP1kxxEKT9jKgKJx0O89bFEufLo/s400/P1030675text.jpg" /></a><br />Same spot. Different angle.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoKIA7YoO9TKK2vWJWLBYYJX-lnIdUTJMQsDVEuzb2apKRhiAGr-znCG764Mxa9w9_nxOQQwyQpzKfqCK28ELpVxkSxWCgB0rvRYjmmFbSGEb6ZpW58SVOxQxTJqSSbcflXelO-4Q_tQ/s1600/P1030678atext.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 371px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608537135584740290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoKIA7YoO9TKK2vWJWLBYYJX-lnIdUTJMQsDVEuzb2apKRhiAGr-znCG764Mxa9w9_nxOQQwyQpzKfqCK28ELpVxkSxWCgB0rvRYjmmFbSGEb6ZpW58SVOxQxTJqSSbcflXelO-4Q_tQ/s400/P1030678atext.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Oh and incidentally, Nate and I had our weekly lunch date today and found a quaint little restaurant with the same name (<em>Fork) </em>as my favorite little restaurant in Philly. </div><br /><div>It's like we were meant to find each other.</div><br /><div>And the food was spectacular.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULV_l-pTl89VLeZyGDPa1IXc3nm-Ix1fr7ao0mom6-gWBxfVElgzzu6S5TVyVaKZv_7Rqd9pFCgQBn0VyrzHDF4BxbdSDzK7XJwgJae64oDyqxFSkDokAW5kpdMPOlJNGGs5EnUCpFys/s1600/IMG_0095.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608537127049663938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULV_l-pTl89VLeZyGDPa1IXc3nm-Ix1fr7ao0mom6-gWBxfVElgzzu6S5TVyVaKZv_7Rqd9pFCgQBn0VyrzHDF4BxbdSDzK7XJwgJae64oDyqxFSkDokAW5kpdMPOlJNGGs5EnUCpFys/s400/IMG_0095.jpg" /></a> It's on the corner of 8<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> and Idaho.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fam</span>- when you come to Boise we will definitely have to hit 8<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> street.<br />Far and away our favorite little slice of Bo-Do (Boise Downtown).<br />Sidewalk cafes, boutiques, a farmer's market on the weekends.<br />So so charming.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Whoa- this may just be the longest post <em>ever</em>.<br />But now you can all get off my back :)<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-43936416727754663862011-05-14T21:44:00.004-06:002011-05-14T22:25:01.129-06:00Making Me Laugh<div align="center">Last night before bed, I was reading the Book of Mormon with the kids. </div><br /><div align="center">(Nate is out of town on a biking trip.) </div><br /><div align="center">We were in the book of Alma where Captain Moroni’s army has the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lamanites</span> surrounded and Moroni stops the fighting to give them a chance to surrender peacefully. We stopped abruptly at this point and I told them it was getting late and they would have to see what happens tomorrow. </div><br /><div align="center">(We try to end each reading session with a cliffhanger in hopes that the kids will be excited to get back to it the next day. That’s good parenting right there.) </div><br /><strong>David:</strong> But Mom, we have to keep going. I want to see if the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lamanites</span> all get dead.<br />Me: Well, I’ll read you the end of the story tomorrow. Won’t that be exciting?<br />David: But what if a robber gets into our house tonight and kills you?<br />I was laughing too hard to respond.<br /><br /><strong>Nora:</strong> Mom, how do know what it is saying?<br />Me: Well, I’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> read the Book of Mormon enough to understand the language of the scriptures.<br />Nora: But Mom, those words don’t make sense…Anyways, are they real words?<br /><br />Then on to prayers…<br /><br /><strong>Will:</strong> Please bless Wyatt and Chelsea’s babies that they won’t have any weakness…only <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">strongness</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Tess:</strong> Please bless Dad on his bike trip. Help him to not get any more scrapes, because those pictures with all the blood are gross. And help him to not break any bones. But if he does, please help him to choose a tie-dye cast.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Some totally random pictures that also make me laugh:</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNUZoZNW2rdfNwXdoowCo7A1BS5tt9TAq8ur0dewbyF4YjPvsdOM4uVsT-wg35dsXLA4JzvPL19Zz4DB5H2llBVk41ge_jsQHBHnLDe6WnxbQBtOUbewHZM6nUz9om8DCw2anUBGgACU/s1600/P1030285.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606789082903394082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNUZoZNW2rdfNwXdoowCo7A1BS5tt9TAq8ur0dewbyF4YjPvsdOM4uVsT-wg35dsXLA4JzvPL19Zz4DB5H2llBVk41ge_jsQHBHnLDe6WnxbQBtOUbewHZM6nUz9om8DCw2anUBGgACU/s320/P1030285.JPG" /></a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Snaggle</span>-tooth Tess<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW3psAEVNIbIExDthMnPR0czBgIWPvf2fKWeVe6_y9Bx5LKwsIKkPBtohv1fAIaayEYbcsn4TzeY0MyitXojVBjr9x6V06b5rAHCEPkr_6D27fFYv22ZnQp0Z1W2hne6VnXZSnS4pAMs/s1600/P1030510.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606787934773421890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW3psAEVNIbIExDthMnPR0czBgIWPvf2fKWeVe6_y9Bx5LKwsIKkPBtohv1fAIaayEYbcsn4TzeY0MyitXojVBjr9x6V06b5rAHCEPkr_6D27fFYv22ZnQp0Z1W2hne6VnXZSnS4pAMs/s320/P1030510.JPG" /></a> Will refusing to wear his baseball hat any way but normal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX14kp0JufkljnPC4y1w-UWchj9khZN6ft5pVIine60pri5AhE5sm5V62Z3WoEWEtU8OUnEJID2e-ekC2kRY41fPCaYIiaSc9TQRmHQi-e08ygYAZm7ZyflBovpx3jGFVXxSr5mLthJA/s1600/P1030194a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606787924853908530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX14kp0JufkljnPC4y1w-UWchj9khZN6ft5pVIine60pri5AhE5sm5V62Z3WoEWEtU8OUnEJID2e-ekC2kRY41fPCaYIiaSc9TQRmHQi-e08ygYAZm7ZyflBovpx3jGFVXxSr5mLthJA/s320/P1030194a.jpg" /></a> Winter hot-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">tubbing</span> with cousin Tate<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2pmC2m068zJ6mxJpiJpdaZEZ8q9LgZvZcdUr_Y7AVHg-nfhlD3B_O3w37NA4HLLd7WkQkMC7HHHFpjZoZuguTx4QlczQI9VuOj54o3azNGNDk-NuZl3wck86Z5lWevekn_L1cEPzdu0/s1600/P1030341.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606787920791602370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2pmC2m068zJ6mxJpiJpdaZEZ8q9LgZvZcdUr_Y7AVHg-nfhlD3B_O3w37NA4HLLd7WkQkMC7HHHFpjZoZuguTx4QlczQI9VuOj54o3azNGNDk-NuZl3wck86Z5lWevekn_L1cEPzdu0/s320/P1030341.JPG" /></a> Notice how pleased Tess is with her creation and how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">unenthused</span> Nora is about it.<br /><br />:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPX52J33zXRw2Fzz7jWBjvvPEfTM1UgvWhSW1g3Du_X7BbL3ul5XU4Zfu-_bxAyhIueqlkdzGuryqKaSxTGrZIu8dGyxScZTaYO6GFJ8AzutjmjqoX_YCYU-3vyufw8u1zz59NcNQBxA/s1600/P1030300.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606789088815656930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPX52J33zXRw2Fzz7jWBjvvPEfTM1UgvWhSW1g3Du_X7BbL3ul5XU4Zfu-_bxAyhIueqlkdzGuryqKaSxTGrZIu8dGyxScZTaYO6GFJ8AzutjmjqoX_YCYU-3vyufw8u1zz59NcNQBxA/s320/P1030300.JPG" /></a> A normal interaction between Nate and David.</div><br /><div>(We are at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.)<br /></div><br /></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-89577237874917663462011-02-16T18:16:00.003-07:002011-02-16T19:46:45.252-07:00one five<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ85X9xCWMH5OOr46QZHspuSf7QWj5gdHr0KPwyCBweQ2XFJSgSHGUsbm5ghGdhn_FkXDXNukN_KMoqFe8PuKduev15-ZChV3gEkR-O4GoUbiYgpptwChitA_1g72kc9jLWPyi5RPphTY/s1600/P1020251.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574477500569456530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ85X9xCWMH5OOr46QZHspuSf7QWj5gdHr0KPwyCBweQ2XFJSgSHGUsbm5ghGdhn_FkXDXNukN_KMoqFe8PuKduev15-ZChV3gEkR-O4GoUbiYgpptwChitA_1g72kc9jLWPyi5RPphTY/s400/P1020251.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I love this shot of Nathan. I'm pretty sure that if I had just taken it from a different angle, we could have seen some pretty sweet crack action. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /><br />His name is Nathan.<br />Most people call him Nate.<br />At work, he's known as "Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">McDreamy</span>." (That is a true story.)<br />What do I call him?<br />"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nathe</span>."<br />With an h.<br />Because I believe that every person should have a name for their love that only they get to use.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nathe</span> calls me "Er."<br />As in "air."<br />As in "you are the very <em>air [Er]</em> I breathe."<br />He's so romantic, that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nathe</span>.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSd34M7OkMasnV_uVKjgNOcpd7_0XSAxSZT-s6AiRaJfDdOu21KZh3c1gOBxLp4kK4I_G14XqcBJEMWIW_jlScNu9SRD-S6npmgSk5C6U4PNCUS1kZhye9DXrDcQ1onYKFQPGoIkQ_EA/s1600/us+at+luau.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574477495671157794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSd34M7OkMasnV_uVKjgNOcpd7_0XSAxSZT-s6AiRaJfDdOu21KZh3c1gOBxLp4kK4I_G14XqcBJEMWIW_jlScNu9SRD-S6npmgSk5C6U4PNCUS1kZhye9DXrDcQ1onYKFQPGoIkQ_EA/s400/us+at+luau.bmp" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> At a luau in 99.</span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><p align="center"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">When I was little I had this grand idea of what it would be like when I first met my future husband.<br />We would see each other from across the room and then...<br />Everything would freeze.<br />The orchestra would start playing.<br />And we'd gaze knowingly, longingly into each other's eyes.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I'm happy to report that that's exactly the way it happened.<br />At least for me.<br />Nate didn't really even notice me. (Even though we were paired as dance partners 2 min later.)<br />He certainly wasn't interested.<br />He was a 26 year old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Phd</span> student.<br />I was an 18 year old wide-eyed Freshman.<br />He thought I looked 13. (He was right.)<br />I thought he looked perfect: tan skin, dark hair, blue eyes<br />He preferred brunettes, and I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">blond</span>.<br />Thank goodness fate forced us together for a 6-week tour to China so that he could come to realize how smart, spiritual and ultra-deep I am.<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG67gtBEfAMdwe3Yp80kVpoePYByrIcGMd4a6LOCbuwsQnsmwVLuQc7asBHwXSbP2ufjDaf6sD_L-qasrw2M08u0egC0jomOtfKEVYRGKEMxeSDrrlaWsU4esMtnGzRSQmuUAY7agkeg/s1600/HORSES.BMP"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574477491102112978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG67gtBEfAMdwe3Yp80kVpoePYByrIcGMd4a6LOCbuwsQnsmwVLuQc7asBHwXSbP2ufjDaf6sD_L-qasrw2M08u0egC0jomOtfKEVYRGKEMxeSDrrlaWsU4esMtnGzRSQmuUAY7agkeg/s400/HORSES.BMP" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Horseback riding in 2000<br /></span><br /><br />The way Nate tells it, I tricked him into marrying me.<br />Apparently, I booked the temple/reception center and gave him a deadline for proposing.<br />That may or may not have happened.<br />(Hey, I know how to get what I want.)</p><p align="center"> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTMGJPuffLVmdciITZRSyTMLlOCRjmw68JmPAVovuhURx_4f6Gfrb5D8cJEETs3na-BE9w8BLoSZRQYgqRjEpOelVWOTzZFahIh6glrXemU59gfpp9oh6oDV6epFU7TgQD93OWmsT5KE/s1600/TEMPLE.BMP"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 322px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574477488630147410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTMGJPuffLVmdciITZRSyTMLlOCRjmw68JmPAVovuhURx_4f6Gfrb5D8cJEETs3na-BE9w8BLoSZRQYgqRjEpOelVWOTzZFahIh6glrXemU59gfpp9oh6oDV6epFU7TgQD93OWmsT5KE/s400/TEMPLE.BMP" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Feb 16, 1996<br />"The waist lines have grown a few inches (unfortunately) and Nate's hair has shrunk a few inches (thankfully).</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center">Dear <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nathe</span>,<br />I think you are really handsome.<br />And the most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">amazing</span> father to our children.<br />And you're great at fixing things (which is really handy).<br />And you're pretty much the most intelligent person I've ever met.<br />Basically, you're my favorite.<br />Happy 15<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>.<br />Let's make it eternity.<br />I love you,<br />your Er (air) </p><p align="center"> </p>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-15922229596228171272011-02-03T21:34:00.006-07:002011-02-03T22:52:51.997-07:00Loud and Proud<div align="center">Behold the cuteness of my children.<br />Normally I'm not a huge fan of the school pictures.<br />This year, they were <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">stinkin</span> cute.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbePjjrY2q_Kbd0O1lG3kd_6JpcXuahyphenhypheneHtVqrHMPPgyGDz8lcdlsy3Xm85cW5nugV4TMOoBby7eZJPPQi2yexWK8gbDVRevQuC2xwXRWNwZLzfQ5Bn1n4Mchx5qu3blP25b-RUBO7At0/s1600/School+pics.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569701609341724434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbePjjrY2q_Kbd0O1lG3kd_6JpcXuahyphenhypheneHtVqrHMPPgyGDz8lcdlsy3Xm85cW5nugV4TMOoBby7eZJPPQi2yexWK8gbDVRevQuC2xwXRWNwZLzfQ5Bn1n4Mchx5qu3blP25b-RUBO7At0/s400/School+pics.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />My children have forgotten how to speak.</div><div align="left">At least at normal decibels.</div><div align="left">They prefer to <span style="font-size:180%;">shout</span> everything.</div><div align="left">Just to be sure they are heard.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br />A recent conversation on the way to school:</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">Mom, is Santa real?</span><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: What do you think?</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">Yep, definitely real. I saw him once! Mom, why did God make reindeer fly?</span><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: Why do you think?</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">So that they could pull Santa's sleigh. Mom, why did God make Rudolph's nose red?</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: Why do you think? <span style="font-size:78%;">(Sensing a pattern?...my little tactic for answering questions that I don't want to answer directly. This way the kiddos can never claim that I outwardly lied to them. That's good parenting right there.)</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">Mom, it's so that he can light the way for Santa's sleigh! You didn't even know that!</span><br /></div><br /><div align="left">(Silly me.)</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">David: <span style="font-size:180%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ahhhh</span>, there's a kidnapper!!</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: David, I'm pretty sure that's just a normal man walking down the street in a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">hoodie</span>.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">David: <span style="font-size:180%;">Nope Mom, he's definitely a robber or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">boogalar</span>.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: Or... he's just a nice man that's cold and put on his hood. But you bring up a good point. You never know who the bad guys are, so you always have to be careful.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">David: <span style="font-size:180%;">Nope Mom, I can tell, that's <em>for sure</em> a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">boogalar</span>!</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Nora: (singing at the top of her lungs in full vibrato)...<span style="font-size:180%;"><em>Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away. This year...</em> </span>(stopping suddenly) <span style="font-size:180%;">Mom, don't you just love that song??</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: Well, it's quite possibly the stupidest Christmas song ever written...but when you sing it Nora, it's pure magic.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Nora: <span style="font-size:180%;">I know! It's so beautiful!!</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: It's like a dream come true.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Nora: <em><span style="font-size:180%;">This year to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special, special...Last Christmas I gave you my heart... </span></em></div><p><em><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></em></p><p>David: <span style="font-size:180%;">Do you think that boogalar is going to our apartment??</span></p><div align="left"></div>Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">He better not take the Wii or I will be SO mad!<br /></span><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">At this point I'm thinking that I may literally be going deaf in my right ear. For the love, can we just get to school already so that I can have my 2.75 hours of quiet time??</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Me: (pulling up to the drop off zone) Okay doodles, we're here. Be good in school okay. David- listen to Mrs. Taylor and sit still on the carpet. Will- let me wipe the jam off your face. Nora- don't forget your backpack. Okay guys, I'll see you in a few hours.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Will: <span style="font-size:180%;">Okay Mom, have a good day!</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Nora: <span style="font-size:180%;">I love you Mom!</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="left">David: <span style="font-size:180%;">Okay Mom, have a great time without us!</span> (Running halfway to the line and then running back)...<span style="font-size:180%;">I love you so much Mom!!</span></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Well okay then....forgiven.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-33055066566934316092010-12-30T11:26:00.000-07:002011-01-07T16:31:01.367-07:00A Birthday Party for Nate, er I mean David<div align="center">It's gotta suck having your birthday near Christmas.</div><div align="center">We hope that David doesn't realize this for a long time!</div><div align="center">On Dec 21st, we stop all things Christmas, and take the day to celebrate our Davey.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">The gift theme this year was definitely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Legos</span>.</div><div align="center">Which is perfect since he does little else all day long.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCeghg7TOWzSGwuhyZDqNCEG4eeF72dK6webGe1dR0Tq-VZQJBDVEsPXhH7NDp-y8geDqVdQZg7uGQBLNx3xf7Hp6_nAmIO3IYk-Z_FRa6VaY-TrK6imtyuMFQ_pFCJRZUyfPXDZP1fE/s1600/P1020935a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559521716508620626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCeghg7TOWzSGwuhyZDqNCEG4eeF72dK6webGe1dR0Tq-VZQJBDVEsPXhH7NDp-y8geDqVdQZg7uGQBLNx3xf7Hp6_nAmIO3IYk-Z_FRa6VaY-TrK6imtyuMFQ_pFCJRZUyfPXDZP1fE/s320/P1020935a.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnFwzNvmYBJUrhmgY0Gvq00W3KWwtgAFR7KKhPzy6TdJrgk_Z3RzBn7h7FGNE0MWhcHmbRzeWCdgASbVZ3Nsot4Y_Vb9A2VAaHZTvfGQ0DuxcN1XKzlZ1CV-BaisVgs5xoyNduauHGEg/s1600/P1020957.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559521708454915586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnFwzNvmYBJUrhmgY0Gvq00W3KWwtgAFR7KKhPzy6TdJrgk_Z3RzBn7h7FGNE0MWhcHmbRzeWCdgASbVZ3Nsot4Y_Vb9A2VAaHZTvfGQ0DuxcN1XKzlZ1CV-BaisVgs5xoyNduauHGEg/s320/P1020957.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAvReY_MNkWQOCZAoOajen0WOhsAscWbBsh3llt_YHTTmUaryiUYV-KPDAR8CmXTOUAZoMOfLEm7N8K9ZuItb3UXlYcXq36iDJuwNPN4VYPtutWnQ0CfI-LrjLp_xW0UpMloDnekBW30/s1600/P1020962.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559521697698304386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAvReY_MNkWQOCZAoOajen0WOhsAscWbBsh3llt_YHTTmUaryiUYV-KPDAR8CmXTOUAZoMOfLEm7N8K9ZuItb3UXlYcXq36iDJuwNPN4VYPtutWnQ0CfI-LrjLp_xW0UpMloDnekBW30/s320/P1020962.JPG" /></a> He spent the day creating Star Wars battle scenes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKheoZ4SscdRj5BJ3_hL14JTgmuNCcRtq2xaUH4aeWW1vdfqcHIg_YeVAOadJcaa3bZf6s3uhkhafiX67qGxfMsfExzO8ByLUzv1Dbe23QPKPpEEoCJLx5tXVBUBO6M02j5Np-3jyITok/s1600/P1030090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559521692239183442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKheoZ4SscdRj5BJ3_hL14JTgmuNCcRtq2xaUH4aeWW1vdfqcHIg_YeVAOadJcaa3bZf6s3uhkhafiX67qGxfMsfExzO8ByLUzv1Dbe23QPKPpEEoCJLx5tXVBUBO6M02j5Np-3jyITok/s320/P1030090.JPG" /></a> He also got a punching bag which he quickly put to good use:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0gTVl41Ne43f-owte8g0s8QTJlBcXq6jYxA1OwS0iXMYYHlFq6XweR4XcXTP35lnQpr6RE_E7Gc1q8Us0lN-vugKmw_DCoeKql23e6fuUITUUH7U03NdisYG_gUPqZLheYQTh8aACVQ/s1600/P1030097.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559520812721142770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0gTVl41Ne43f-owte8g0s8QTJlBcXq6jYxA1OwS0iXMYYHlFq6XweR4XcXTP35lnQpr6RE_E7Gc1q8Us0lN-vugKmw_DCoeKql23e6fuUITUUH7U03NdisYG_gUPqZLheYQTh8aACVQ/s320/P1030097.JPG" /></a><br />And then on to his party...</div><div>Each year we have his party right on his actual birthday.</div><div>We pick some venue- this year's was BOUNCE- and we pretty much have the place to ourselves.<br />Apparently, everyone else in town is a bit busy with Christmas stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFMlVHh7LXwntdFRFyEoA70b5yXAhCdx1caTWj3LHk50_rvvuYyAEKcM2Rcn7Qs_ZCvOzkCfnDN8I6I3nrynroes6z16pxculBTwpHe-FXq3CX4fiXeAs61NQAOVnBFfpf8h1Sin9BSY/s1600/P1030016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559520805750894674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFMlVHh7LXwntdFRFyEoA70b5yXAhCdx1caTWj3LHk50_rvvuYyAEKcM2Rcn7Qs_ZCvOzkCfnDN8I6I3nrynroes6z16pxculBTwpHe-FXq3CX4fiXeAs61NQAOVnBFfpf8h1Sin9BSY/s320/P1030016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZyrZR4k_gWdATHF0B4KFYy3YdIJHV4jhE3dZXQX5_hJeFZwnepl1cjr2ehLkqSpWcMxrFioxDi3Q0kpapvHmfWpfemVq4Pc5gw4utLWej0KAKLoZnMfGXN5ilx2HeRSARM9QvXKK-Gk/s1600/P1020998.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559520802846722114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZyrZR4k_gWdATHF0B4KFYy3YdIJHV4jhE3dZXQX5_hJeFZwnepl1cjr2ehLkqSpWcMxrFioxDi3Q0kpapvHmfWpfemVq4Pc5gw4utLWej0KAKLoZnMfGXN5ilx2HeRSARM9QvXKK-Gk/s320/P1020998.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcmP292FMidXEaGXGmZ2KW0Yfe51rydCq2w2ZytBG13HjixTBQjUi6lwaQjq_hHpXHpeKMeM92jgSnKR0Veuup51_f0yQb4R6UbgvOnb1gf5TfkJKRHDbfTJwOkAb7ljKDSqdlNaabSU/s1600/P1020988.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559520798390074162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcmP292FMidXEaGXGmZ2KW0Yfe51rydCq2w2ZytBG13HjixTBQjUi6lwaQjq_hHpXHpeKMeM92jgSnKR0Veuup51_f0yQb4R6UbgvOnb1gf5TfkJKRHDbfTJwOkAb7ljKDSqdlNaabSU/s320/P1020988.JPG" /></a> A good time was had by all....</div><div></div><div>...but mostly Nate.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpiQutzczWfdwZP12tQslzRF3uaJ0HLomZyrIWQrFsi_HrSQNxkCBB5QAi1j6Iug9JF7tfrPFD_BGj2MP1JnBVvVQ8es9P83aVD7sT8Ei-hgzrUEoX7zTqDSrYqY3PC3xyWShjoeup8A/s1600/P1030073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559520788225469026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpiQutzczWfdwZP12tQslzRF3uaJ0HLomZyrIWQrFsi_HrSQNxkCBB5QAi1j6Iug9JF7tfrPFD_BGj2MP1JnBVvVQ8es9P83aVD7sT8Ei-hgzrUEoX7zTqDSrYqY3PC3xyWShjoeup8A/s320/P1030073.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnKqsGt3oQ4eYF-Xg0-owYrmfkIyY8pv1T1nYGKFiWAsM7g7DBzamCe9G91645uvTWChz0NXC2KeteCtCfkaXMzzqqISJ4s29Vo2DzLI41h_-VCPMiUMVV33yW8QgBPmglQLRy0OLZ-w/s1600/P1030036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518173452319762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnKqsGt3oQ4eYF-Xg0-owYrmfkIyY8pv1T1nYGKFiWAsM7g7DBzamCe9G91645uvTWChz0NXC2KeteCtCfkaXMzzqqISJ4s29Vo2DzLI41h_-VCPMiUMVV33yW8QgBPmglQLRy0OLZ-w/s320/P1030036.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Would you like me to hold your tie?</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd1AWP2rHg_W4CV3xhqjw22z2GjqMthIJjDkd2Z_misCQoUM4jvjFp6bMW5xd-E1oCa2pg6ij1qOtDDm4GVP2GYH8QOTHJmpHvoRLyLwRwbFCm5V_S3lwPEagDetZL1cluCkqWt1hzL4/s1600/P1030040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518164408015282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd1AWP2rHg_W4CV3xhqjw22z2GjqMthIJjDkd2Z_misCQoUM4jvjFp6bMW5xd-E1oCa2pg6ij1qOtDDm4GVP2GYH8QOTHJmpHvoRLyLwRwbFCm5V_S3lwPEagDetZL1cluCkqWt1hzL4/s320/P1030040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMPSZ-ECGLnl9TdeElcuPPKPyh2n_nXOBofPGiw6QXUffrwB-delNZI1lP1sdB10Tij8gc9vEipLmmpiVsr6GpsM_sFP8_Zyd_yWqOWD2EKeB39tzR9rMTAsgga6fi-3HsDiBFIyidY/s1600/P1030061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518159529832178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMPSZ-ECGLnl9TdeElcuPPKPyh2n_nXOBofPGiw6QXUffrwB-delNZI1lP1sdB10Tij8gc9vEipLmmpiVsr6GpsM_sFP8_Zyd_yWqOWD2EKeB39tzR9rMTAsgga6fi-3HsDiBFIyidY/s320/P1030061.JPG" /></a> </div><div>But really, it was David's big day so let's end with some more cute pictures of him...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg999wC_S2ZkD5QFCDXoxuaUQcMBYUGCBFkTLz1kDH9whcEGmCw04D9we4250vXkUFDHcNxhT4SX8YpXKWfjeR8QMfFz3pb_1HjqAe4xaMc6T3OEynhcygHxRfizj_dkcAd-SLQ9b__30Q/s1600/P1030088.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518156385327714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg999wC_S2ZkD5QFCDXoxuaUQcMBYUGCBFkTLz1kDH9whcEGmCw04D9we4250vXkUFDHcNxhT4SX8YpXKWfjeR8QMfFz3pb_1HjqAe4xaMc6T3OEynhcygHxRfizj_dkcAd-SLQ9b__30Q/s320/P1030088.JPG" /></a><br />Is that a mistletoe cake? Why yes, yes it is. (Hey, David picked it out.)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaycaxn88oRElQdkEPCNjGN6uW3Angl0WKm3ydyD0d2Zcx_oh0aXHb9lB05ZuMKEG6AgG2WgMTuf2SOdVeauYN4eaVe1KVFJHhi7LHghk2LY2JGS5944w3bdBuX9E9td49VZ2oiXWods8/s1600/P1030077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518152434805442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaycaxn88oRElQdkEPCNjGN6uW3Angl0WKm3ydyD0d2Zcx_oh0aXHb9lB05ZuMKEG6AgG2WgMTuf2SOdVeauYN4eaVe1KVFJHhi7LHghk2LY2JGS5944w3bdBuX9E9td49VZ2oiXWods8/s320/P1030077.JPG" /></a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">CanNOT</span> believe it's been six years! </div><div>Love you baby boy.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-44671542081453919082010-12-20T21:24:00.006-07:002010-12-20T22:42:58.612-07:00Happy Birthday Sweet Davey<blockquote><em>"I dreamed of how you would look, smell, even what you would sound like. And every day I thought of how wonderful it would be to hold you in my arms." </em><p></p><p><em>"I started seeing you everywhere, in the leaves of the giant oak and in the bark of the pine, Even in the stars! Oh, how I longed for the day that you would arrive, when God would find us you."</em></p><p><em>"And then I came?"</em></p><p><em>"Oh, no. No matter how much I prayed it would happen, I still had to wait."</em></p><p><em>"You waited and waited and waited?"</em></p><p><em>"And </em>waited<em>. But I knew that someday you'd arrive, when God<br />would find us you."</em></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0xG6NuOL7RHFU1vXiqiw_5XJm7z9wK9lDT6kJs3589HiszLTjrpfrqTaWf3aMN8UV12Vte1o1rLp1DEci0oJfHgpb5zeyfqiqtLbQ31u7n7PPcPLSD6SK_ED3PgjIiTqTittJg6Iyj4/s1600/David+Annc.jpg"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553002335694621058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0xG6NuOL7RHFU1vXiqiw_5XJm7z9wK9lDT6kJs3589HiszLTjrpfrqTaWf3aMN8UV12Vte1o1rLp1DEci0oJfHgpb5zeyfqiqtLbQ31u7n7PPcPLSD6SK_ED3PgjIiTqTittJg6Iyj4/s400/David+Annc.jpg" /></em></a></blockquote><br /><br /><p align="center">Dear David,</p><p align="center">Today you are six.</p><p align="center">When you were 2 days old, we brought you home.</p><p align="center">I held you in my arms and whispered in your ear that I would <em>never</em> let you be the forgotten middle child.</p><p align="center">Little did I know that you'd have a personality <span style="font-size:180%;">so big</span>, the entire world couldn't contain it.</p><p align="center">You are hardly one to be forgotten. </p><p align="center">I love you to the moon and back,</p><p align="center">Mom</p><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdDfqeil1VHV9jmlNdn6ca96GnrogXThXiaB-GodXRxjhT1UtwWoYy9o8LCnNNBe0A_5FzQXQSfyg9HqZL-RDOdHSKGPfgoVa01jGuMEv50a9nqhIYl8F-dfYElhPudW-yXGNyCfagIk/s1600/P1010491r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 184px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553002335886473250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdDfqeil1VHV9jmlNdn6ca96GnrogXThXiaB-GodXRxjhT1UtwWoYy9o8LCnNNBe0A_5FzQXQSfyg9HqZL-RDOdHSKGPfgoVa01jGuMEv50a9nqhIYl8F-dfYElhPudW-yXGNyCfagIk/s400/P1010491r.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPGA2Ahn0cfCUDdhYRm_Ozq0maHZSJbsLVUZyRue6ARXD4BDK9dvwWDysFINOnxzFCN2HxFAD9o-OiVtp4c1BtPQSWPoOGq7nYMUwmAW0bTZErZWKOs4tgkAxOEyLIHM-lf65VB06u9I/s1600/P1010889.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553001909344479186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPGA2Ahn0cfCUDdhYRm_Ozq0maHZSJbsLVUZyRue6ARXD4BDK9dvwWDysFINOnxzFCN2HxFAD9o-OiVtp4c1BtPQSWPoOGq7nYMUwmAW0bTZErZWKOs4tgkAxOEyLIHM-lf65VB06u9I/s400/P1010889.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGNOjrHRMd-2pq5bz7nBEKhOof4cgY_gkakRS0C_fkFl2Yt9UYje3N0H042ZoE5KA7m7C88y8Q-zBFToLiFKWtnepQyxOFKxY0VVWMntbZAygElYjQvwOvBzoLMTMiuwDhyfLOSWtiKI/s1600/P1020038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553001901030949186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGNOjrHRMd-2pq5bz7nBEKhOof4cgY_gkakRS0C_fkFl2Yt9UYje3N0H042ZoE5KA7m7C88y8Q-zBFToLiFKWtnepQyxOFKxY0VVWMntbZAygElYjQvwOvBzoLMTMiuwDhyfLOSWtiKI/s400/P1020038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2S9r8cGTtjfCk9AvFcurZMeU1OoaC-5lUIwsW9WembousqtbFpQqUmBc5vsqfW7BMyFlOh59yojZTAbHD-M7CBQ9bWlTUl-17IjyDJhtC5_TOjAHA9PmncyHsVkwtT9zDe1nl5A5iqY/s1600/P1020248.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553001893403661138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2S9r8cGTtjfCk9AvFcurZMeU1OoaC-5lUIwsW9WembousqtbFpQqUmBc5vsqfW7BMyFlOh59yojZTAbHD-M7CBQ9bWlTUl-17IjyDJhtC5_TOjAHA9PmncyHsVkwtT9zDe1nl5A5iqY/s400/P1020248.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklehvqLxf0aU-lSL0KDHf1CjwoJthbGdQkRHc5BpiWFh3aUaROrXga1X9-rhD05pGMjUatb30RHs_IhnQ3006x3gVOaA76xFr6z8SsfMKpGtpk9brZ7-lnJD9pKwt69ZR7o2onuRiIZw/s1600/P1020354r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553001891482126466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklehvqLxf0aU-lSL0KDHf1CjwoJthbGdQkRHc5BpiWFh3aUaROrXga1X9-rhD05pGMjUatb30RHs_IhnQ3006x3gVOaA76xFr6z8SsfMKpGtpk9brZ7-lnJD9pKwt69ZR7o2onuRiIZw/s400/P1020354r.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5HiwYsq78097KelPSLXcaCujTUjDudLrQjZQz560QYNgYB4FNwiN1WAo9untziYLhPceCeFL457quBttvvTj14_hqotOcf7WbYeVT17mGb-817B_nBLQ8pslBJIDw7YWCNXXNhhGcAc/s1600/P1020841r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553001888414356482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5HiwYsq78097KelPSLXcaCujTUjDudLrQjZQz560QYNgYB4FNwiN1WAo9untziYLhPceCeFL457quBttvvTj14_hqotOcf7WbYeVT17mGb-817B_nBLQ8pslBJIDw7YWCNXXNhhGcAc/s400/P1020841r.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">David's "cool yet sophisticated" look. He currently has exactly 4 shirts that he will agree to wear.</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><blockquote></blockquote><div align="center"><em><br /><br />"That is my favorite story of all. When God found us you, it made me the happiest mother in the world."</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><em></em><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><br />"Just by comin home?" Little Fox asked with a yawn.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em><br />"Especially by coming home," Mama said.</em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />(Excerpts taken from "God Found Us You" by Lisa Tawn Bergren)</span></em></div><div align="center"></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-73263383560825493072010-12-14T09:13:00.008-07:002010-12-14T10:25:40.641-07:00A Room with a View<div align="center">Last night for <a href="http://lds.org/hf/fhe/welcome/0,16785,4210-1,00.html"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">FHE</span></a> we went doorbell ditching.</div><div align="center">Yes, we left goodies and love notes.</div><div align="center">But mostly, we just wanted an excuse to ding-dong-dash.</div><div align="center">Because that's good fun. Yes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">siree</span>.</div><div align="center">The kiddos <em>love </em>it.</div><div align="center">They pretend they are sneaky spies.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Have I mentioned that we currently live in a 3rd story, 1100 sq ft, unfurnished apartment?</div><div align="center">It's <em>awesome.</em></div><div align="center">I could go on and on (and on and on) about the woes of such living arrangements for a family of 6 plus a 65-lb dog.</div><div align="center">But instead let's focus on the positive:</div><ul><li><div align="left">It takes us a total of 1 hr and 15 min to clean this place from top to bottom</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">There is a swimming pool & hot tub across the street.</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">The apartment below us is rented, but no one currently lives there...(a <em>huge </em>blessing considering the amount of noise we generate each day. Think 4 screaming kids and 1 dog running up and down the hallway <em>all</em> day long.)</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">We have this view:</div></li></ul><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550586096066558402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bRfpF9XO2XaG1I6wlJ90IOLH2esDKFVleCXhqOxiRDLzU1NXuE3MGKJxCIziI7996IZSdQY_yMV5Vc34KR_EZa-KiVz3Dvw0Tf2k-B7G4IugYZyDWkrpE4Z4ui1qXQV8OVpYQiBlAPQ/s400/P1020431.JPG" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Summer</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmivFAZxZMqoN5CtSnpa0OntddjjQMjS9q58IRZkAXMfI7O4x5b4vgd-RmEkm7R0PkybUag6frwdLPFGL2nZdaqGSAG3zB7jSKUaFDPXjxBzTggTXlHuCSs4xyXnh7GrMh7DEwqKpqfGU/s1600/P1020432.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550586080217294514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmivFAZxZMqoN5CtSnpa0OntddjjQMjS9q58IRZkAXMfI7O4x5b4vgd-RmEkm7R0PkybUag6frwdLPFGL2nZdaqGSAG3zB7jSKUaFDPXjxBzTggTXlHuCSs4xyXnh7GrMh7DEwqKpqfGU/s400/P1020432.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Downtown through the trees</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqqHmhysj_bfV9oP_rMYYLVNzGJF1LWdQXOD8Ot8YB6_5cl65ZERBEgDj9MIojU144HHR71lpWqOQwSY8vyaPzYNfl2gMF5Qxx0daR5NBNH2ZNSxM-j3sMycJJkRn9D2RRTXB6UIvut8/s1600/P1020433.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550586068039222242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqqHmhysj_bfV9oP_rMYYLVNzGJF1LWdQXOD8Ot8YB6_5cl65ZERBEgDj9MIojU144HHR71lpWqOQwSY8vyaPzYNfl2gMF5Qxx0daR5NBNH2ZNSxM-j3sMycJJkRn9D2RRTXB6UIvut8/s400/P1020433.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> 3 stories up</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9irSK0cvhPJWQjXWNmVjeb7yWcGT-zpcdosumZEEc1kstLjjkUR8VW_PPAqq49hyCvt8n8Iin-g-ZO6q2djU3Gm1ht5mSFoBKiaW076l2g6rsW7pRlHmfkhKVHCoSosU70hkBlpp1mm8/s1600/P1020690a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550581783949101234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9irSK0cvhPJWQjXWNmVjeb7yWcGT-zpcdosumZEEc1kstLjjkUR8VW_PPAqq49hyCvt8n8Iin-g-ZO6q2djU3Gm1ht5mSFoBKiaW076l2g6rsW7pRlHmfkhKVHCoSosU70hkBlpp1mm8/s400/P1020690a.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Autumn </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfD4czHzI1_woo6Z9FUVi8Ztxc6CUXj6klpXFbOGxCzYZ4aTGFG19zZwIkkIqiduxUKryEGAkc-v_ygmJfSV_jmSt8Xs1D6c0-bU1QrVBz0leyD4vYOSXXuV3o-NPwCUktSbo29CqpOk/s1600/P1020846.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550581776941218034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfD4czHzI1_woo6Z9FUVi8Ztxc6CUXj6klpXFbOGxCzYZ4aTGFG19zZwIkkIqiduxUKryEGAkc-v_ygmJfSV_jmSt8Xs1D6c0-bU1QrVBz0leyD4vYOSXXuV3o-NPwCUktSbo29CqpOk/s400/P1020846.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Winter</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUApuCsMMNNf-lj1pnhOWDyubn6LG4PrR4CEVXWaFdzpP9wDyB9ZRXjlNyICz30L4EwjWodw7RzXw4F2rKXVteKF2P0ABrp7dc1cFYtLjXx9dBfgRSq75UWQ-MNn8rDgt7B1lkG4btsY/s1600/P1020896a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550584634278804658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUApuCsMMNNf-lj1pnhOWDyubn6LG4PrR4CEVXWaFdzpP9wDyB9ZRXjlNyICz30L4EwjWodw7RzXw4F2rKXVteKF2P0ABrp7dc1cFYtLjXx9dBfgRSq75UWQ-MNn8rDgt7B1lkG4btsY/s400/P1020896a.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This morning<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Pretty pretty right? It's hard to imagine that we have lived here long enough to see 3 seasons worth of views. </p><p align="center">Here's to hoping that we will be in our newly-remodeled home by the time the 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> season comes along!</p><br /><p align="center"></p></div><div align="center"><br /><p align="center">P.S.</p><p align="center">Check out Tess' art. She's really getting good!</p><br /><p align="center">Someday I plan to have only original artwork by Tess Meeker hanging in my home.</p><br /><p align="center">Anyone want to place an advance order?<br /></p><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ3Imt8mXhn4M-CR6BNsplYS3lpsHse05EIGmUYy1i1W3iorbs4c__ZikSTzq8bkL95sbwUsQmuZLE4pP4TrcTxJ2tzyI4zItR0nl88fowv_Lzb9GFDQC5yvkwa9Wp2E37TRdb0hzcpA/s1600/P1020844.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550581770964330018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ3Imt8mXhn4M-CR6BNsplYS3lpsHse05EIGmUYy1i1W3iorbs4c__ZikSTzq8bkL95sbwUsQmuZLE4pP4TrcTxJ2tzyI4zItR0nl88fowv_Lzb9GFDQC5yvkwa9Wp2E37TRdb0hzcpA/s400/P1020844.JPG" /></a>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-80318139021646205952010-11-22T00:08:00.006-07:002010-12-07T01:16:02.201-07:00Watch out boys<div align="center">The other day the boys were giving Nora a hard time.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"No girls allowed in our room!!"</span></div><div align="center">I walked in to do some mediating.</div><div align="center">"Boys- how would you feel if <em>you</em> were the one left out??"</div><div align="center">They just looked at me. </div><div align="center">"So?"</div><br /><br /><div align="center">It was Nora's turn.</div><div align="center">She stood completely unruffled. </div><div align="center">With hands on her hips, she calmly said,</div><div align="center">"When you're <em>mean</em>, you give Satan power."</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br />Whoa. <span style="font-size:130%;">Take that. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center">We high-fived, Nora and I, and then looked at the boys like this:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4FBF0NnNkjJOqOS604UKFt5WupCXqjomH3CfFPo6sh063jpw1O1fZxpT0DXiqYK0_V5asxQti13yL4BbUPQ8QCGtJANPwK4pm-lO8lS-_Qcaoj5DQdGIeyTwpRdLB1NwwXPRUQ8Ynuc/s1600/P1020823r.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547843659826554130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4FBF0NnNkjJOqOS604UKFt5WupCXqjomH3CfFPo6sh063jpw1O1fZxpT0DXiqYK0_V5asxQti13yL4BbUPQ8QCGtJANPwK4pm-lO8lS-_Qcaoj5DQdGIeyTwpRdLB1NwwXPRUQ8Ynuc/s400/P1020823r.jpg" /></a> <div align="center">Because we knew we had won.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">They back-tracked: "Well, uh, maybe only girls that are twins can play in our room."</div><div align="center">Shoot- I guess that counts me out.</div><div align="center">But at least Nora could stay. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">A word of advice: </span></div><div align="center">Don't pick a fight with my Nora.</div><div align="center">She is not afraid of you.</div><div align="center">And you will <em>lose.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />P.S. Dear blog- Hey, remember me? I'm the one who's been neglecting you. You see- I needed some time away from you to refocus and reprioritize. There were moments that I thought about abandoning you altogether. But in the end I decided you were worth it. It turns out that I miss documenting the cute things my kids do. And I want family and close friends to know what's going on with us in Boise. Oh yes (yes!)- we moved to Boise. I should tell you about it sometime. Just as soon as I get the last year's worth of pictures organized. Ta ta for now. I'll (try to) write again soon. </span></div>Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235599379400398541.post-53307979827475457242010-05-13T13:55:00.004-06:002010-05-13T14:44:21.690-06:00I can never pass up a good tag.A - Attached or Single: Happily attached.<br />B - Best Friends: Nate and kids. We're <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">BFFs</span>. (I make the kids say it regularly.)<br />C - Cake or Pie: um chocolate cake, no question <span style="font-size:78%;">(I didn't even have to change your answer Dru.)</span><br />D - Day of choice: TGIF<br />E - Essential Item: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chap stick</span>, cell phone<br />F - Favorite Color: any mixture of blue and gray<br />G - Gummy Bears or Worms: gummy nothing unless it's covered in chocolate<br />H- Hometown: Salt Lake City. Always. Even if I live in Boise til the day I die.<br />I - Indulgences: chocolate (mass quantities daily) and cherry coke zero (one daily)<br />J - January or July: Fireworks/sun/tan/my birthday vs. bitter cold. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmm</span>...that's a tough one.<br />K - Kids: Just seeing that word makes me smile.<br />L - Life is incomplete without: Nate's kisses and butterfly kisses<br />M - Marriage Date: 2/16/96<br />N - Number of Siblings: 6- 5 sisters, 1 brother (But the real question is...should my kids have more siblings??)<br />O - Oranges or Apples: Mango<br />P - Phobias or Fears: heights, bees and my kids getting hit by a car (recurring nightmare)<br />Q - Quotes: I have them hanging everywhere. Right now I'm looking at one (a scripture) that says: "Lord, Here am I. Send me." I want that to be my basic philosophy in life.<br />R -Reason to smile: my Savior<br />S - Season: Fall- I love the colors and the start of school<br />T - Tag Three Friends: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">nienie</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">cjane</span> and seriously so blessed. (Okay, so they don't actually read my blog, or even know who I am, but we are bosom friends nonetheless.)<br />U - Unknown fact about me: I hope to be a Broadway star in the next life.<br />V - Very favorite Store: I love the style of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Anthrologie</span> best, but I buy the most at Old Navy.<br />W - Worst habit: eating until I feel stuffed<br />X - X-ray or Ultrasound: I've had an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Xray</span> for a broken arm and ultrasounds to see my babies. Which do you think?<br />Y - Your favorite food: Mom's homemade chicken pot pie...the ultimate comfort food.<br />Z- Zodiac: cancer (that's an awful name for a sign, don't you think?)Meeker homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315792712614541278noreply@blogger.com4