tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15038178050910429482024-03-05T18:38:43.773-05:00The Henry Family AdventuresDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.comBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-65556395625936517282015-02-10T16:07:00.000-05:002015-02-10T16:07:48.411-05:00BRINX<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When last we met, this boy had just joined the family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is Brinx.<br />And he quickly became attached to my hip.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOgfonaezqlYiEBCovaQn4CCMTTohjJM3k-X5PlYF6o0fFPs12ds8J0gxc_mmnTsR-_U_KbT7CD6qf0xxhlLuzl_EbWiSNoXGDS87JaCvS1IbvroVUHuQF44Wy6HWlB7mIyVAcKdH37cf/s1600/1529958_10151870864581262_1776194876_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOgfonaezqlYiEBCovaQn4CCMTTohjJM3k-X5PlYF6o0fFPs12ds8J0gxc_mmnTsR-_U_KbT7CD6qf0xxhlLuzl_EbWiSNoXGDS87JaCvS1IbvroVUHuQF44Wy6HWlB7mIyVAcKdH37cf/s1600/1529958_10151870864581262_1776194876_o.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We go for long walks, to doggie school and he follows me everywhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Of course, he's no longer a 35 pound bundle of puppy goodness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now he's an 85 pound bundle of personality like no other dog I have ever seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For example - on St. Patrick's Day, he got in the cupboard, grabbed ONLY the green food coloring, and decorated himself.<br /><br />And the kitchen floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yes, that's a true story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It looked like a leprechaun slaughter in my kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He has destroyed numerous outdoor pots - and I mean BIG, HEAVY pots full of plants - by knocking them over and playing in the dirt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He loves sticks and frequently brings giant logs or 6 foot sticks into the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Whey don't we stop him, you ask? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because he's figured out how to open the back door from the outside and brings in whatever he pleases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like sticks - this is actually a small one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF6R1TluS204IG92RbACqi8V-YbRnZh94wDy_30V-7WHgf-TLNhRoiy4T-m2gnvzsP34RWPv5exVlQFDdVcrL1GN2QYyM7GGJ2j19cKbgXQ5_2tRi-MoZCdQdkyCdPT4h7heJU2eiLOfA/s1600/10430471_10205379231628273_4507727935265708852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF6R1TluS204IG92RbACqi8V-YbRnZh94wDy_30V-7WHgf-TLNhRoiy4T-m2gnvzsP34RWPv5exVlQFDdVcrL1GN2QYyM7GGJ2j19cKbgXQ5_2tRi-MoZCdQdkyCdPT4h7heJU2eiLOfA/s1600/10430471_10205379231628273_4507727935265708852_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or the kids deck chairs. He was REALLY proud of this one. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0kD98O71SbnSbL718rKbm6cHwk_E20IjDDrkZrJWXsPbiPmAKoq7RGnEwG5RiSctDxbZoMoHVDSocii6udOCeo2biks4gFiWEJ5r-vEKxGwqZBnkLiHXq9sDs86U8th0RJG0jZwkKFcV/s1600/10157122_10205049043613779_1688708399988274920_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0kD98O71SbnSbL718rKbm6cHwk_E20IjDDrkZrJWXsPbiPmAKoq7RGnEwG5RiSctDxbZoMoHVDSocii6udOCeo2biks4gFiWEJ5r-vEKxGwqZBnkLiHXq9sDs86U8th0RJG0jZwkKFcV/s1600/10157122_10205049043613779_1688708399988274920_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We quickly realized that we have to keep the door locked when he's outside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Of course, then this happens.<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbNmXPeZP545S6T5h4dra-Kg74mb3TTNNwujoMI73DIh89UrLAaHLyuwWkjCJJdhQvsi5VZXoQHbUyUskOmdiy90H5kwCOt3uEjORZdpEUA5i4oSsayHpbwD_jEzRQzjbtM_SoOb_R26R/s1600/1658180_10203812475540350_3921365061723706358_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbNmXPeZP545S6T5h4dra-Kg74mb3TTNNwujoMI73DIh89UrLAaHLyuwWkjCJJdhQvsi5VZXoQHbUyUskOmdiy90H5kwCOt3uEjORZdpEUA5i4oSsayHpbwD_jEzRQzjbtM_SoOb_R26R/s1600/1658180_10203812475540350_3921365061723706358_o.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If I'm doing dishes at the kitchen sink and he's outside, this is my view.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />He was explaining how displeased he was that he was OUT and I was IN. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Although, if he's inside and I'm doing dishes, THIS is my view. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Apparently he's "helping".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He's also very protective.<br /><br />No vacuum cleaner, floor scrubber, blender or mixer will ever attack me, so long as Brinx is in the house.<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And that goes for outside threats too. <br /><br />For example, he protected us from the big bad lattice work on the bottom of the deck.<br /><br />By pulling it all off and bringing it to me.<br /><br />In pieces.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9JgSk7n3ULGZrQguqMQzN3UP2J_HV7dvQp1dVAScFTAN0TZS4SHAp0FA_folGZFkLQKxnWsl73jVJGm6TRNQEUyNzy8Mq74utg8zLc39PdGt2EMudMXjtdLOAsjrM95nOmGufWew-US/s1600/10659304_10204643023183522_1298534628552862703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9JgSk7n3ULGZrQguqMQzN3UP2J_HV7dvQp1dVAScFTAN0TZS4SHAp0FA_folGZFkLQKxnWsl73jVJGm6TRNQEUyNzy8Mq74utg8zLc39PdGt2EMudMXjtdLOAsjrM95nOmGufWew-US/s1600/10659304_10204643023183522_1298534628552862703_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Again, very proud of himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Baxter tolerated him well enough when he first got here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But soon, he was taking up all the bed space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, until he chewed up all the dog beds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But as the year has gone by, he's calmed down quite a bit....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He has been sitting like this since we brought him home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I think it's dignified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Brian calls him a sissy dog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you can usually find him sitting near me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXofc1XaS9WaiPPUiXgEIBJwCaapSJHyjNk4-4IL8BKYmXJFRzP0cTzy8u37JosuHaPNSts7FjxiG2l8VlnPuXihbD7lxxXQVWdsvSazEW1zCKR8v1YTNSDF6s-Uj5eB4hmW89M9PkgBe/s1600/10350509_10205518723915493_8093642889474242774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXofc1XaS9WaiPPUiXgEIBJwCaapSJHyjNk4-4IL8BKYmXJFRzP0cTzy8u37JosuHaPNSts7FjxiG2l8VlnPuXihbD7lxxXQVWdsvSazEW1zCKR8v1YTNSDF6s-Uj5eB4hmW89M9PkgBe/s1600/10350509_10205518723915493_8093642889474242774_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's his spot. Those are my feet. <br /><br />No, my socks don't match.<br /><br />Yes, I'm OK with it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl4lt2Ns-5NSwqvogmw3DGgmWE4dxTyJT6jAk9Y-TNeJKA1-EWvvvejZdc7rXAY5FY6r84EtycaSaSJZwEnrAd7uJstHNL08kWVizQrjZUQY6H9Z6bmCSEvaExGk7XxSBCer4tDxexfqN/s1600/10881545_10205564574501729_8534900729344116824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl4lt2Ns-5NSwqvogmw3DGgmWE4dxTyJT6jAk9Y-TNeJKA1-EWvvvejZdc7rXAY5FY6r84EtycaSaSJZwEnrAd7uJstHNL08kWVizQrjZUQY6H9Z6bmCSEvaExGk7XxSBCer4tDxexfqN/s1600/10881545_10205564574501729_8534900729344116824_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This was my view Christmas Eve - everyone was asleep but me and my boy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Usually, being next to me isn't enough. <br /><br />We must also be touching. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw6i7fQ9mV9uPr-XfAo0y6SlpmtOUm5HY0Kn4TRTQY6OK4iYHUrjROBMYn4XwAmUM5Zkl_Ha8rEypwNMx8FAsD_87gXTKnmvotx7KsrGABl4p4FIAe5qSmTC2UpNXkEPRDDeYdCi4BKzH/s1600/10847775_10205564533620707_7247219600772089238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw6i7fQ9mV9uPr-XfAo0y6SlpmtOUm5HY0Kn4TRTQY6OK4iYHUrjROBMYn4XwAmUM5Zkl_Ha8rEypwNMx8FAsD_87gXTKnmvotx7KsrGABl4p4FIAe5qSmTC2UpNXkEPRDDeYdCi4BKzH/s1600/10847775_10205564533620707_7247219600772089238_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">No matter where we are or what I'm doing. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSra8t2zLh0IHQ27U_H-7ZlZHKpuz8zltQEmu1UnOPbtS6fb5PenF1K-XUHO1RH1oa6VrHiQTWLioV7lCYpyzhHPWplP1VkuOX8HGjxh4B2UuyoO7myWoBhaJVwl5Oj9NW1CiRz_2z-URr/s1600/16782_10205075422753241_1398225026313160669_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSra8t2zLh0IHQ27U_H-7ZlZHKpuz8zltQEmu1UnOPbtS6fb5PenF1K-XUHO1RH1oa6VrHiQTWLioV7lCYpyzhHPWplP1VkuOX8HGjxh4B2UuyoO7myWoBhaJVwl5Oj9NW1CiRz_2z-URr/s1600/16782_10205075422753241_1398225026313160669_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My feet again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We've had a little heartache and he's done a bit of mourning with the loss of Baxter (more on that later), but he's bouncing back now.<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKezdNhaDHOtq6PltoP9EzuVF7dA53VjXRCRdxBrfbWYH8xMOOdk9p1_fDH3xGfwhcvN8fim0TobxLbMz0WJpR6stHSoYaUDDB8miVBoHt13EAmjtsWV-vaItGTYKBEAZqCFE8bFbefCs/s1600/10390433_10204000243154423_9164650090973560825_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKezdNhaDHOtq6PltoP9EzuVF7dA53VjXRCRdxBrfbWYH8xMOOdk9p1_fDH3xGfwhcvN8fim0TobxLbMz0WJpR6stHSoYaUDDB8miVBoHt13EAmjtsWV-vaItGTYKBEAZqCFE8bFbefCs/s1600/10390433_10204000243154423_9164650090973560825_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And yes, I am most definitely a bit obsessed with my dog - but with two pre-teen/teenage daughters in the house who have raging hormones, typical teenage angst and absolutely no use for their mother whatsoever, it's been nice to have someone excited to see me walk through the door, who gives me unconditional love and doesn't talk back.<br /><br />Besides my husband, of course. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There it is ladies and gentlemen - the cure for those rough teenage years. <br /><br />Get yourself a good dog.<br /><br />Ha!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cq4IHDRePfwMEms-TDEyzsclh6wjkSOU2vXAtolr8AMr1lgdqZ5u4mdG2Vnl-_rs21FmjiALUMppWfwBp3ZXIROS5mbJK2Uw_aVRt3NEoIoHs-anBoXNhQoB1Z2v5AYdlcswIdQ51jko/s1600/10409638_10205340743266088_5086674111223263517_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cq4IHDRePfwMEms-TDEyzsclh6wjkSOU2vXAtolr8AMr1lgdqZ5u4mdG2Vnl-_rs21FmjiALUMppWfwBp3ZXIROS5mbJK2Uw_aVRt3NEoIoHs-anBoXNhQoB1Z2v5AYdlcswIdQ51jko/s1600/10409638_10205340743266088_5086674111223263517_n+(1).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And seriously - that face? <br /><br />I melt. </span></div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-29296096772290197242015-02-10T11:49:00.001-05:002015-02-10T11:49:04.283-05:00*tap tap* Is this thing on?<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello out there! </div>
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Yes, it's been a year - A YEAR - since I've posted. </div>
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I have so much to catch up on - I like to record things here so that I can go back and see what we've done and how things change. So, starting this week, I'm going to do a few posts to catch up on everything that's happened over the past year. </div>
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Yes, YEAR. </div>
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Good Lord.</div>
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Some highlights:</div>
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One daughter in high school .</div>
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One daughter in middle school.</div>
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One sweet dog gone to heaven.</div>
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Another sweet dog joining the family.</div>
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A wedding.</div>
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A few birthdays.</div>
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A few home projects.</div>
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A lot of running around.</div>
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I'll be back soon with the first update - and lots of pictures.</div>
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Stay tuned!!</div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-57154630239827958062014-03-01T09:34:00.000-05:002014-03-01T09:34:30.405-05:00We got a new home security system! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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His name is Brinx.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAqMc2lPCPEDAnj68iILIoZFlzLvoExszZOzW4MJDuye08Wi24-OJ4yqkrUDPuneajuD0YgfApUxDT7RaNfcyeweHUYA3IrFgzvL_3ZSuL8Zu4sP6mN6bGQ77YeUnUfyeWLEZ6qgk67Qh/s1600/20140217_193455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAqMc2lPCPEDAnj68iILIoZFlzLvoExszZOzW4MJDuye08Wi24-OJ4yqkrUDPuneajuD0YgfApUxDT7RaNfcyeweHUYA3IrFgzvL_3ZSuL8Zu4sP6mN6bGQ77YeUnUfyeWLEZ6qgk67Qh/s1600/20140217_193455.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hi.</div>
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So, a little back story....<br /><br />Since we lost <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2013/01/goodbye-old-friend.html">Chauncey </a>last year, we've been casually looking for a new member of the family. We didn't want a <i>baby </i>puppy because - let's face it - we don't have the time for a "newborn". </div>
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We went to adoption events on a pretty regular basis, I scoured Petfinder looking for the perfect fit and nothing happened.</div>
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I should make it clear that Chauncey was Brian's boy, through and through. I felt that it should be Brian's choice what dog we ended up with and when. </div>
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We (meaning Brian and I) knew we wanted the following:</div>
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A big dog</div>
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A shepherd mix</div>
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At least 4 to 5 months old - preferably older</div>
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A rescue</div>
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The girls wanted an itty-bitty puppy that wouldn't get very big. </div>
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While I took that into consideration, I'm the mom, Brian is the dad and we have veto power. </div>
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One day, while perusing the Interwebz, I saw this:</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNs-F_3Oi07MuYA25dkYRegAhBy3y0PR5yXsoCJJzCgG2TsHmBQXuGkEmDZM_-9rJUrM-S94njQ-0_c_AyJT9hPq15k2FORFvquh59X5wAVNGyofMykymtek8_gwlm6pjQ_ryRrjXMmwr/s1600/1529958_10151870864581262_1776194876_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNs-F_3Oi07MuYA25dkYRegAhBy3y0PR5yXsoCJJzCgG2TsHmBQXuGkEmDZM_-9rJUrM-S94njQ-0_c_AyJT9hPq15k2FORFvquh59X5wAVNGyofMykymtek8_gwlm6pjQ_ryRrjXMmwr/s1600/1529958_10151870864581262_1776194876_o.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></a></div>
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He reminded me of Chauncey with those markings, yet his face was so different - he looked like a little teddy bear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyCFCCy_DvE2-vdraF989tqZlkwE12DVYfuGRnc1xYGVnm12G2nWORlc79Dwycqxp9tem0hK8-euj5YmL4DOygH73YgBj9C6Yr65jCOtS91jLqW29aL-GkwcPxufVybaOd5EpW50fVZGR/s1600/1492674_10151883765611262_1010738250_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyCFCCy_DvE2-vdraF989tqZlkwE12DVYfuGRnc1xYGVnm12G2nWORlc79Dwycqxp9tem0hK8-euj5YmL4DOygH73YgBj9C6Yr65jCOtS91jLqW29aL-GkwcPxufVybaOd5EpW50fVZGR/s1600/1492674_10151883765611262_1010738250_o.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I showed Brian and he was hooked.</div>
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He's a Shepherd/Pyrenees/??? mix.</div>
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Your average mutt. </div>
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He came from a high kill shelter in Tennessee and was being fostered in Kentucky by Black Dogs Rescue.</div>
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We live in Maryland.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOf0vryjosnBKjJZUJ2o0iyM1nVjpqo24Nwcs4P6Itry154QW9uzvDEFadJnylhXQuOXzsaZU5u-B86-vjc0NJx3EQnu_ZFEhKHjrZyHJCFe4gXRDDbdYyf_doku9RVkmLqYa1J7-qV5W/s1600/1492715_10151870864606262_531698400_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOf0vryjosnBKjJZUJ2o0iyM1nVjpqo24Nwcs4P6Itry154QW9uzvDEFadJnylhXQuOXzsaZU5u-B86-vjc0NJx3EQnu_ZFEhKHjrZyHJCFe4gXRDDbdYyf_doku9RVkmLqYa1J7-qV5W/s1600/1492715_10151870864606262_531698400_o.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
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After many emails and pictures, and adoption applications and waiting and waiting and waiting, we finally had a date to "meet" him to see if he was a good fit. </div>
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Then this happened.</div>
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It's beautiful, but it was keeping me from meeting my puppy.</div>
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The adoption event got bumped from Saturday at 2:00, to Sunday at 2:00. </div>
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Then it snowed in West Virginia - in the mountains the rescue foster mom had to drive over to get to us. </div>
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So, it got bumped to 5:00.</div>
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Then 6:00.</div>
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Then 7:30.</div>
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We finally met him at around 8:30.</div>
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On a Sunday night.</div>
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About 45 minutes from home, in 20 degree weather, standing in a parking lot with a bunch of other "adopters" there to meet their new pups.</div>
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It was love at first sight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9lnlnu5llQFnJpxVDKx_DgPU-owRVLc8qsO4OuSAFazNxpJAFzIixLGD2aCTtzjjgkGydodxbYzFXB2wVoDREjdO8WDO4c2aXX_G0A-L0YiNgGDL1OKYagk9dSCTfLoSeeb05K-XZI4e/s1600/1836911_10151928468566262_1242694716_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9lnlnu5llQFnJpxVDKx_DgPU-owRVLc8qsO4OuSAFazNxpJAFzIixLGD2aCTtzjjgkGydodxbYzFXB2wVoDREjdO8WDO4c2aXX_G0A-L0YiNgGDL1OKYagk9dSCTfLoSeeb05K-XZI4e/s1600/1836911_10151928468566262_1242694716_o.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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When we got him, he was 17 weeks old, 31 pounds and had the biggest paws ever. </div>
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He's now 19 weeks old and weighs about 35 pounds.</div>
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Yes, I know. He's a beast. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgVqjANG1g1IZO_sGyZKO4Il6Rlkaxi92TihKrMbsz0Yl8X2DZPcv8OLiLVjArmd3zGnJpJ3m3E-s15VR6EZjBAD1xojNLhenP2JXFXH03nErNW8wG2u3Yk9SbirZDaMoIWfoEnJdcsNN/s1600/2014-02-21+07.29.22+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgVqjANG1g1IZO_sGyZKO4Il6Rlkaxi92TihKrMbsz0Yl8X2DZPcv8OLiLVjArmd3zGnJpJ3m3E-s15VR6EZjBAD1xojNLhenP2JXFXH03nErNW8wG2u3Yk9SbirZDaMoIWfoEnJdcsNN/s1600/2014-02-21+07.29.22+(1).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The first week there was a lot of this...</div>
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Followed by a whole lot of this....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5nnCa4Vsk9LVA0uxKAqs1NWtUFWpL3OasaKY2AeJKyu2gt4kZGchSbQzW9as76eJfbeaEuCo8opv8i5eKMJ7yem9jhirouaO0FwL13Jt3IbBTXhPJ2F9-e02fkEwQK-v6Ic7Ut6f9Jok/s1600/20140217_205427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5nnCa4Vsk9LVA0uxKAqs1NWtUFWpL3OasaKY2AeJKyu2gt4kZGchSbQzW9as76eJfbeaEuCo8opv8i5eKMJ7yem9jhirouaO0FwL13Jt3IbBTXhPJ2F9-e02fkEwQK-v6Ic7Ut6f9Jok/s1600/20140217_205427.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Those first few days he was busy exploring and moved so fast I couldn't get a non-blurry picture of him to save my life - unless he was sleeping.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Jq__M9TNTL6R_f7vCXCENY4XW8EJHMHmcw3y3j7Tf4DSXRaFvOFrGH89927lRzhpkg5H1uRxPeqbLaf0eX3w1ZH3dlNR-wx6HGyAzGSPli35_ZqCC9NLF4Cn3YPs-QNU46-3j2G59UX/s1600/20140217_210453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Jq__M9TNTL6R_f7vCXCENY4XW8EJHMHmcw3y3j7Tf4DSXRaFvOFrGH89927lRzhpkg5H1uRxPeqbLaf0eX3w1ZH3dlNR-wx6HGyAzGSPli35_ZqCC9NLF4Cn3YPs-QNU46-3j2G59UX/s1600/20140217_210453.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brinx slept on her the whole way home that first night and ever since then, Olivia has been the most tolerant of him. Which is weird because we all annoy the crap out of her on an hourly basis apparently...</div>
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Brinx is a counter surfer and most certainly will need to learn some manners soon because he really is going to be a big boy and I don't want him to inadvertently hurt someone with his exuberance.</div>
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Puppy school starts in the next week.</div>
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I'm going to train him to run with me when he gets older (at least 16 months for big dogs from what I've read). I am hoping that I can get out and take him on my early morning park runs and that he will be a huge deterrent for anyone that would think of messing with me.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Baxter is less tolerant of him, but he's getting there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Baxter will never be an alpha dog but Brinx was such a nuisance to him those first few days.</span><br /><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Baxter finally laid down the law and scared the piss out of Brinx - literally - and I didn't think the old boy had it in him, so there'</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">s that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">And now there's a lot of this...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're going to need a bigger bed.</span></div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-10452153546308211362013-11-08T13:28:00.001-05:002013-11-08T13:28:26.107-05:00You can find me in California!! (Kinda...)<div style="text-align: center;">
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I'm visiting Meryl, Chris & Zoe at Picardy Project today!</div>
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Well, virtually, anyway...<a href="http://www.picardyproject.com/2013/11/adopted-family-friday-deb-from-henry.html">Come visit!</a> </div>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-72752171249599009582013-11-04T13:44:00.004-05:002013-11-04T13:44:54.728-05:00Catching up...Oh how I wish I had something exciting and wonderful to write about but, sadly, I don't. Such is the life of a mom with two crazy busy kids. Her's just a little snippet of what's happenin' around these parts lately...<br />
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Halloween came and went. For the first time in 13 years, Olivia wasn't trick-or-treating with us - she chose to go to a completely different neighborhood with a group of friends and break our tradition. I tried not to cry. I was unsuccessful. (Yes, I'm THAT mom). Luckily, I still have a few more years with Sydney and she actually seems to enjoy being with us, so there's that.<br />
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Olivia is gearing up for Cheer competition - her last one with the local athletic association since she'll be in High School next year (<i>WHAT?!!) s</i>o we are in <i><u>"practice 2 1/2 -plus hours every day of the week for the next 14 days while managing to go to school, do homework, and still cheer at games an hour and a half away since the team made play offs this year "</u></i> mode. It's crazytown around here and she'll be beyond exhausted next week when competition is over (and will immediately get sick - she does every year). I'm sad it's her last year cheering and competing since she says she doesn't want to in high school. I'll probably cry. (See? I really am THAT mom!)<br />
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Sydney is flipping and tumbling and gymnastic-ing all over the place and really enjoying it. She seems to have found her thing in gymnastics, and I'm happy for her. I went to her Halloween party and realized that it was the last Elementary School Halloween party I would probably ever attend since she starts Middle School next year. Do I really have to tell you how that makes me feel? (See above).<br />
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We are getting ready for Thanksgiving - I'm hosting this year since mom did last year (this means that she gets Christmas this year though - ha!). We are having a HUGE crowd so I'm already mentally preparing for it. At least 12 of us are running the local Turkey Trot that morning, which will hopefully become a new tradition. The girls are running it with us - although Olivia is NOT happy about it and will probably walk it with her friends. I don't care as long as she's moving. She doesn't enjoy running (my God that girl is exactly like me at that age) although Sydney really likes it and has been out running with me a few times so she's looking forward to it. <br />
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As for me, I've been running a few early mornings a week with the neighbor - there's something so perfect about getting up before the sun and running a few miles. I still can't believe that I enjoy running. I'm thinking about a half marathon next year but the idea of running 13.1 miles just seems so ridiculous. And HARD. I'm a 3-4 mile kinda girl. I enjoy that distance right now and I'm just trying to run <i>more often</i> rather than <i>longer distances</i>. Brian and I joined the local gym and are enjoying our time there too - when we get to go, which will hopefully be easier once cheer season winds down. <br />
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So that's it around here - my babies are growing up, time is flying by, the holidays are coming and I'm trying to get some projects done for the house. Anything exciting happening with anyone else out there??<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-14176914206741180102013-10-14T21:03:00.000-04:002013-10-14T21:03:17.074-04:00We only planned on cleaning the carpets, but....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I try to steam clean our carpets at least once a year to keep them looking nice. <br /><br />Dogs and kids wreak havoc on carpets! </div>
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This weekend Brian and I decided to bite the bullet and get it done since we have guests coming next weekend. I found a $5 coupon for Bissell steam cleaners at Lowes and so off we went Friday night to rent one for 48 hours. The Bissell was great - and only cost us $34.99 for two days after my coupon - woot! </div>
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We cleaned out the family room Friday night so it was looking like this. I'll try to give you a 360 degree view...</div>
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The room was awkward to try and place furniture because we have two big couches and two chairs and the TV was placed between the windows - which was the only place we could put it. </div>
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Although we had to run the cable to it (that cord used to be tucked between the trim and the carpet).</div>
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That's the dining room through the pocket doors (with all the family room furniture piled high)</div>
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The sliding door to the right of the pocket doors goes to the breakfast room and to the kitchen. The sliding door is on a barn door track. The door came from my former office, a huge old historic home (I snagged three of them and a few other little goodies before the office was demolished) and probably dates back to the 1920s. Brian and I stripped it, stained it and put a patterned film on the glass until I can afford to replace the glass with colored/stained glass. So, chances are it'll stay like that forever ;)</div>
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The door to the right of that door leads to the bathroom.</div>
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Bathroom door again,with the guest <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/p/guest-bedroom.html">bedroom </a>door to the right </div>
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Looking in from the breakfast room, guest room on the left.</div>
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Got the lay of the land now? </div>
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Forgive the quality....I'm pretty sure I was a few cocktails in at this point. <br /><br />Of course, that's usually when I can convince Brian to go along with my brilliant ideas. </div>
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It didn't hurt that he was a few cocktails in at this point too.<br /><br />Anyone else out there like to have a few drinks while they are deep cleaning - at 11:00 at night on Friday? <br /><br />Anyone?<br /><br />Bueller? Bueller?</div>
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Ok, maybe it's just us.<br /> </div>
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Anyway, I looked at Brian and said "You know what would look great...."<br /><b><br />And he was totally on board with what I suggested.</b></div>
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<i>(It should be noted that I have been suggesting this for about 5 years now....)</i></div>
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Never underestimate the power of suggestion boys and girls.<br /><br />And liquor. <br /><br />NEVER underestimate the power of suggestion - after someone's been drinking liquor.<br /><br /><i>This is starting to sound like a PSA for all those young actors on the Disney channel.</i><br />
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Moving on.....</div>
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The next morning we got up and started hammering and drilling....</div>
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And vacuuming saw dust - Sydney was in charge of that. </div>
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The end result was this - we removed the middle of the double bookcase (which was surprisingly easy) and reran the cable and electric through the bottom cabinets, so we could put the TV in there and the cable box and DVR in the shelf above.</div>
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Later, after the carpets were cleaned (and dry) we moved everything back in - but now it looked like this:<br /><br /></div>
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I mean really - why didn't we do this years ago???<br />
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<br /> We still have to get some window treatments up there, finish the shelf for the TV (which was quickly thrown together when we realized the TV needed to be higher), and get a bigger TV according to my husband (not gonna happen).<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It's so cozy now. I have claimed the chair to the left (below) as my spot. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So there you have it - a quick, easy project we should have done years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now I want to repaint and stain the built-ins darker and do some sort of ceiling treatment. <br /><br />I just have to convince Brian.....</div>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-87494488058822340462013-09-12T07:19:00.000-04:002013-09-12T10:40:31.775-04:00“I would rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special”<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I would rather have
30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special</span>”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fifteen
years ago today Brian and I stood underneath a pergola topped with wisteria and
twinkle lights, surrounded by people that loved us and said our vows. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg2kms0tf0OdKiWHGurMqy5ALAmHI-YXY2AU0Z8S6tUwAbPOWhLn0xnmuzvlzDiRcbHgmXhIjhzwQOH670TAFFXlp8PJIDW36wPXEmvQOpiD57UJhuDCRuLFDvQagUdy9A-1xB2nxPoXL/s1600/1998.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/AVvXsEiJg2kms0tf0OdKiWHGurMqy5ALAmHI-YXY2AU0Z8S6tUwAbPOWhLn0xnmuzvlzDiRcbHgmXhIjhzwQOH670TAFFXlp8PJIDW36wPXEmvQOpiD57UJhuDCRuLFDvQagUdy9A-1xB2nxPoXL/s320/1998.jpg" width="316" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was the smartest thing I ever did. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since that day we've had two gorgeous girls, a few dogs, a couple
of houses, many vacations, many struggles, made a lot of memories and had a few knock down, drag out fights and
days where we were so mad we couldn’t even look at each other, always followed by apologies and declarations,
assurances and demonstrations of love and devotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I make no
apologies for that - we’re passionate people, both when we fight and when we
love. But we always come back together,
full circle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Circumstances
over the past week or so have caused us both to look back over our life
together and contemplate our future. We
have a lot of things we want to do, places we want to explore, things we want to
experience – together – that seem to get pushed back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The kids are too young.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We don’t have the time off from work.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s too far.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We shouldn't spend money on that when we have
other responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>The world is too scary right now.</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our goal for
the next 15 years is to experience everything we've been pushing off to the
future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This <b><u>IS </u></b>our future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’ll figure out a way around all of the
excuses. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life is too short and whether we live to be
100 or 50, our time together is limited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We need to make the most of it and never regret a minute of it – the good
and the bad. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">So, here’s to traveling, and exploring, and </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">experiencing</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> life as a couple and as a family. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But most of all, here's to the next 30 minutes or 30 years together ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">no matter what, it’s been worth every second. </span></div>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-56857524692320544472013-08-19T15:07:00.001-04:002013-08-19T15:36:19.105-04:00Olivia's Room<div style="text-align: center;">
For Olivia's 13th Birthday, she wanted to redo her room.</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw60pLseCeQwNyJRJEyPyLj_Ov6u4BZLqxs4FFkbcrFPmuO-HPiHr4BkUbWIFk-PlgyWWLjJ3E9YoXi_MJp5f9yUpjzde5J5B6fRK70NTNSSFfjl8amFLTAn7Cypa-ZpGmAr9jL0tHc9My/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw60pLseCeQwNyJRJEyPyLj_Ov6u4BZLqxs4FFkbcrFPmuO-HPiHr4BkUbWIFk-PlgyWWLjJ3E9YoXi_MJp5f9yUpjzde5J5B6fRK70NTNSSFfjl8amFLTAn7Cypa-ZpGmAr9jL0tHc9My/s400/006.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The teenager in question - getting ready to help me paint....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Her room was originally the guest bedroom and while it was sweet and feminine, she wanted something that was a little more HER.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we moved her to another spare room upstairs which - while a tiny bit smaller square footage-wise - had a better layout for her. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2lk5tNoG0Dj5-iilIQUB0SPT0yiyjgehk6BtNfQzSPl3uC9ZCkKNCdcClvpR7IFd7wXsDm8PHrL8P1NbkoUxyuM5WozDtLkkrrT16bK8pQIe_2OLNE4C97rqYfW7XACGeq5te559yw16/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2lk5tNoG0Dj5-iilIQUB0SPT0yiyjgehk6BtNfQzSPl3uC9ZCkKNCdcClvpR7IFd7wXsDm8PHrL8P1NbkoUxyuM5WozDtLkkrrT16bK8pQIe_2OLNE4C97rqYfW7XACGeq5te559yw16/s400/004.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In progress - getting ready to paint the walls - ceiling and trim is done!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This room was the "catch all" room upstairs - all of the clothes the girls outgrew and were waiting to be passed on were in here, along with a few pieces of furniture. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg0GN2zqh7U9V1Tn68mvl_3ECQ_h8tttkC-vH6wMiLtaFeRg9nsNiV36K8cy2_XcKjtrGBnKLV3D49L3xpcHJWj9zM1TJcACBZTo3Ogz5fKt7iHYG1Mu1-g2yWrY8Ev8MrZhDoFse1Vqs/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMg0GN2zqh7U9V1Tn68mvl_3ECQ_h8tttkC-vH6wMiLtaFeRg9nsNiV36K8cy2_XcKjtrGBnKLV3D49L3xpcHJWj9zM1TJcACBZTo3Ogz5fKt7iHYG1Mu1-g2yWrY8Ev8MrZhDoFse1Vqs/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That other doorway is Sydney's room - which is next on the list!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The closet in this room was a full size closet (a big plus over the closet in Liv's current room, which was half the size and shortened due to being over the stairs) but only had a single door opening.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we widened the opening for easier storage and access.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMWuCugjNQ4TYlKTt_91xlh9vvyCo447d-ONqo8RdQMyHPfWZ8xhjug0T5kke7cTnh25PEvfGWk6DEqtzryoJfYfWKhuZAxcAO3onGcIdFNBpTs0GqmhDjJTvEQs0FxZgjL1LRBxHkLK8/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMWuCugjNQ4TYlKTt_91xlh9vvyCo447d-ONqo8RdQMyHPfWZ8xhjug0T5kke7cTnh25PEvfGWk6DEqtzryoJfYfWKhuZAxcAO3onGcIdFNBpTs0GqmhDjJTvEQs0FxZgjL1LRBxHkLK8/s400/005.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, this means we had no door for her closet. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Olivia chose all of the colors and materials - she wanted teal and zebra.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think she chose well actually. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6p0R2ZeFMlzubB52B_jhqZwQah95xYB0kPzB6ZuQ1iO-G22NJPv9QelQyt_1KY7NTCnbmsAm1TLxBC0sx05qqTE_pmYazadwxZlsDPjSSfSiUIFlZgRiX6Lcm7OgPR92En0jxNa9H-zC/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6p0R2ZeFMlzubB52B_jhqZwQah95xYB0kPzB6ZuQ1iO-G22NJPv9QelQyt_1KY7NTCnbmsAm1TLxBC0sx05qqTE_pmYazadwxZlsDPjSSfSiUIFlZgRiX6Lcm7OgPR92En0jxNa9H-zC/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany blue</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbNWS1yt-ye3xgQ8VCxxIxEnm0yZsvGGmMiVUnKSg9sz-eZviX3R_7cSXMERmVWFtvT2oHHLyKxlcm-bgqJzi7DglUSedw6PBdU_gTxiDkaquooYHPT3YsF_OloMRA7ppeM_TkIsZoRM/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbNWS1yt-ye3xgQ8VCxxIxEnm0yZsvGGmMiVUnKSg9sz-eZviX3R_7cSXMERmVWFtvT2oHHLyKxlcm-bgqJzi7DglUSedw6PBdU_gTxiDkaquooYHPT3YsF_OloMRA7ppeM_TkIsZoRM/s400/012.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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I was afraid it would be too dark for this size room, but it's quite cozy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodYEYMAbGVwlQsJhTeTW8dA2oR5YkTwinMkopCP93nYxbF8YZNCGy5Mpvw37hej4aCUgTDsTL45-sYqB5dh-9sjBrD6GylBsYnpj2du98VmyuZJ39b0N7hfxzxh4zeIElNx-RAMDU9JBJ/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodYEYMAbGVwlQsJhTeTW8dA2oR5YkTwinMkopCP93nYxbF8YZNCGy5Mpvw37hej4aCUgTDsTL45-sYqB5dh-9sjBrD6GylBsYnpj2du98VmyuZJ39b0N7hfxzxh4zeIElNx-RAMDU9JBJ/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The only problem was that we wanted to get her a new bed. We thought a twin would work better in here, since the room was smaller and she had a lot of other furniture she wanted to place in here. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I scoured Craigslist and thought about just getting a mattress and frame until I could find what we wanted.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I visited the ever helpful <a href="http://ana-white.com/">Ana White's website</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been dying to make a piece of furniture.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I figured why not start with <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/01/plans/hailey-platform-bed">something simple</a>?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Luckily, my dad is a great woodworker and helped me on my first foray into furniture building. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJI0whZ-YGXCsw87MAwxVfP5OclZW2IOaJXmygS1aSbRujfWzni_naRjxizuPADuyDahfweoq-Ab3MXWeKUbkbNpypdkwHEk6LGmp2PO85ATfh1mkwxSzE4pg7jDIZNuZEJOKxUn5Q_V6/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJI0whZ-YGXCsw87MAwxVfP5OclZW2IOaJXmygS1aSbRujfWzni_naRjxizuPADuyDahfweoq-Ab3MXWeKUbkbNpypdkwHEk6LGmp2PO85ATfh1mkwxSzE4pg7jDIZNuZEJOKxUn5Q_V6/s400/064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bed frame - ready for sanding!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoxIlto7b6Zou5YCQsXOHtuN2p_TwjaFWuId_qie16LtzbShFLJP1h_GZtRH3x0TCWtbC4aiJzLOZwMBy1BFpVKAkq-v7iC39KKR0esjXv1IXj99oDdGODqinYQzi1cIApRvI0Xm_j7HD/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoxIlto7b6Zou5YCQsXOHtuN2p_TwjaFWuId_qie16LtzbShFLJP1h_GZtRH3x0TCWtbC4aiJzLOZwMBy1BFpVKAkq-v7iC39KKR0esjXv1IXj99oDdGODqinYQzi1cIApRvI0Xm_j7HD/s400/070.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sanded that baby to within an inch of its life - it's sooooo smooth!!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It's a platform bed, which- as any mother of a teenager knows - means less crap shoved under the bed, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lXZ4-qvkan3vMpaQ3Hw2BMium___cYH1v6OdR8Fg-zUkKaLY6a-FLa1wkzSEvlJKqQGTnsSpolj3S-7XeO_FbH8OVjDy3vhA7aiQjCRlpx_gRCGdyM6qDr2AeKRoGJle1xKRLpK2RhsL/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lXZ4-qvkan3vMpaQ3Hw2BMium___cYH1v6OdR8Fg-zUkKaLY6a-FLa1wkzSEvlJKqQGTnsSpolj3S-7XeO_FbH8OVjDy3vhA7aiQjCRlpx_gRCGdyM6qDr2AeKRoGJle1xKRLpK2RhsL/s400/066.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE THE FEET!!!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I loved the bed, but I wanted to try something different for the <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/01/plans/hailey-planked-headboard">headboard</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted an upholstered headboard, but wanted to be able to change it if she wanted to change the theme of the room. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp6dOZA9p-qePcTUH72V8j-syHsFauGGja2ACWpxGOkOWegjv0APgE_LWXrcFzB05JHXN_bNlrgjO18jSYdHODFOknhDGgIrazMdsc65ORb4XDB_QPj25IVCYuh9bzuIz71dQ_NI822FB/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp6dOZA9p-qePcTUH72V8j-syHsFauGGja2ACWpxGOkOWegjv0APgE_LWXrcFzB05JHXN_bNlrgjO18jSYdHODFOknhDGgIrazMdsc65ORb4XDB_QPj25IVCYuh9bzuIz71dQ_NI822FB/s400/068.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Headboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we went off plan and used a large piece of ply board and attached a raised frame so that we could insert the upholstered part. That way, I can remove the headboard from the frame with a few screws, pull out the insert, change the fabric, insert it back into the headboard and reattach it to the frame. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpbmZMpVdgnP9_lz7oSKMuiRObU9LgFLaYRBX4yKg1EjYxAlZSVfpq8ZomL3lif9RIX_90NbaZKOsalqrsTrafvla5UTvjK_eGc-NQ4AlElmqOXRS41PPULGNyZvG5xHGPj63c4KtsVB2/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpbmZMpVdgnP9_lz7oSKMuiRObU9LgFLaYRBX4yKg1EjYxAlZSVfpq8ZomL3lif9RIX_90NbaZKOsalqrsTrafvla5UTvjK_eGc-NQ4AlElmqOXRS41PPULGNyZvG5xHGPj63c4KtsVB2/s400/067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That small gap will hold the insert in the headboard. </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The next step - paint or stain?</div>
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We thought about white paint, but ultimately Olivia chose a dark stain - she thought it looked nicer than paint and a bit more mature. </div>
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(Secretly I was more than relieved)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhl-iUO3ya0Pa_oDnSKxpVCA8ZaDxoUQ2W8TLv9SdRsgMozX9EX9dg7rRXKmj4vXBzHTOXh0ySblBPdKxB1ASxY3snO-G-VKT0OfT3qwNXfrzAKfHCnQr9-we5-F14rc-doCnDc82jMtu/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhl-iUO3ya0Pa_oDnSKxpVCA8ZaDxoUQ2W8TLv9SdRsgMozX9EX9dg7rRXKmj4vXBzHTOXh0ySblBPdKxB1ASxY3snO-G-VKT0OfT3qwNXfrzAKfHCnQr9-we5-F14rc-doCnDc82jMtu/s400/071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously- aren't these just gorgeous? I just love them.</td></tr>
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I used Min-Wax Stain and Poly in one and honestly, I don't think I'll use that again for a project like this. </div>
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I just didn't like the finish as much. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZON10_0Lh1AIvTny4nbkNbie_WJrLowWpng0-_VvpO19-E8uoB3eIfwhNdXd120s7yh487J8CFhcuyJuFUPDb4IopSwNvCjSAzlAYhQIjUCKgRuDBeE4vi83cahdaud_dVkCts2KfPBhs/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZON10_0Lh1AIvTny4nbkNbie_WJrLowWpng0-_VvpO19-E8uoB3eIfwhNdXd120s7yh487J8CFhcuyJuFUPDb4IopSwNvCjSAzlAYhQIjUCKgRuDBeE4vi83cahdaud_dVkCts2KfPBhs/s400/074.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stain, sand, repeat. Again and again and again....</td></tr>
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Then it was time for the headboard. </div>
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I attached foam to a piece of thin ply board and then wrapped in it batting and stapled the back. </div>
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I had to trim the side of the foam so it would squeeze in the insert. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rBxdrBqqBdTpy1IjZEwM4LDlk_He6ibHc6wnLjrNRXFpdmjXuEU1Vm-QRzgP9uf2210wDaQdrs3jbL9pZuhCGXm4xHA9C2ssXQGGjS9824AvPcj1KeQCRZFMylJ9h3_3lyigCsauLV4u/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rBxdrBqqBdTpy1IjZEwM4LDlk_He6ibHc6wnLjrNRXFpdmjXuEU1Vm-QRzgP9uf2210wDaQdrs3jbL9pZuhCGXm4xHA9C2ssXQGGjS9824AvPcj1KeQCRZFMylJ9h3_3lyigCsauLV4u/s400/090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the adhesive to dry</td></tr>
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Olivia picked out this material - via pictures I was texting her from the fabric store.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHU7Bfj8AeXEiG0N_HOyzQbaAVqBzNjuQSAwNpCPk15MhHqwm5v6iMzJU66s2cZG4Q8sAG437sB5j3j3N8CeO4NYt8Dy5EIjFahsvE_LVU0JDeRFEEPnnX_c7oGRnyAO6RfUPFN16_Y6a/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHU7Bfj8AeXEiG0N_HOyzQbaAVqBzNjuQSAwNpCPk15MhHqwm5v6iMzJU66s2cZG4Q8sAG437sB5j3j3N8CeO4NYt8Dy5EIjFahsvE_LVU0JDeRFEEPnnX_c7oGRnyAO6RfUPFN16_Y6a/s400/107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it was marked down from $12.99 a yard to $4.99 a yard. BONUS! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFbE9oe851JJxPA0VdyFGTelNcNTqOSBxXbtWtjfJZgM7j4i-S9SP0HtAw1nf88BBrLnDXDH_5thU4UtcuR4nsK8vOFNaJJFZAj9t38fxPvWj4YLA91FyNOCrsPLlhz3QdKict5OyHI8r/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFbE9oe851JJxPA0VdyFGTelNcNTqOSBxXbtWtjfJZgM7j4i-S9SP0HtAw1nf88BBrLnDXDH_5thU4UtcuR4nsK8vOFNaJJFZAj9t38fxPvWj4YLA91FyNOCrsPLlhz3QdKict5OyHI8r/s400/106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to be put together!!! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxpl91qz0HiS0vusevraw3gfN8q3t_AqYgYkXO7-zptTUMqjLs2Ep_xl6a0eLnPqjddFhBGFfTsQ5WIib_xv1Zv6H1zyd25ssmBbRsOYfvhMT44uhf6Yzp02iTTogb5YbNg2NbNq8ojAV/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxpl91qz0HiS0vusevraw3gfN8q3t_AqYgYkXO7-zptTUMqjLs2Ep_xl6a0eLnPqjddFhBGFfTsQ5WIib_xv1Zv6H1zyd25ssmBbRsOYfvhMT44uhf6Yzp02iTTogb5YbNg2NbNq8ojAV/s400/105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is not the greatest picture, but I wanted to show how the insert fit in the headboard. </div>
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It went in so easily, but it's tight and since it rests on the frame, the insert doesn't move at all. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMnRYaI9aQwNkRV7x7GujDTg2YPZGhG_Mj1LeECQ66b3RB6NfPDcaCipxJVhVnJRwNudY4FUoKdtumaBUGMKuYXscS1SsVN6NHqFVEeGlnx3ByRFrCCDrfpA5HWC9bTIJglIo4gR3HKKS/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMnRYaI9aQwNkRV7x7GujDTg2YPZGhG_Mj1LeECQ66b3RB6NfPDcaCipxJVhVnJRwNudY4FUoKdtumaBUGMKuYXscS1SsVN6NHqFVEeGlnx3ByRFrCCDrfpA5HWC9bTIJglIo4gR3HKKS/s400/093.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once the headboard was done, I attached it to the bed frame using some 2 x 6 boards that were as tall as the headboard. The headboard is very large and top heavy, so I screwed that sucker on tightly. </div>
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It's pretty sturdy.<br />
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OK - are you ready for the final product? </div>
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Of course, no teenage girl's room is complete without One Direction posters, amiright?</div>
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The vanity was a hand me down from a friend. </div>
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I painted it and covered the top in contact paper so she can just wipe it off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bobOoQWf7qMK9BOx5-fgcOSM0MNOlu17_GPhaJ5nP67VMd37yQAV1ytIDVMeTOBqrfV02ekcXe1Ik1s7vtM0PWhrRAIhilPa2M1Mn7wPO_k4wEaRT3GwFCEALcHUPOptm_ZMbW6gsbcI/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bobOoQWf7qMK9BOx5-fgcOSM0MNOlu17_GPhaJ5nP67VMd37yQAV1ytIDVMeTOBqrfV02ekcXe1Ik1s7vtM0PWhrRAIhilPa2M1Mn7wPO_k4wEaRT3GwFCEALcHUPOptm_ZMbW6gsbcI/s400/110.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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The mirror is her old "Disney" mirror (it was pink with crowns).</div>
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A little gold paint and it's a little more dignified. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-NrXlvxXyE4-XcksrxrV5i2ljzliX6NZTd2KFAhqGUKaTVXLnmWaqukJ_-_qtIWrkjCCCD47fBErqa421Q7i4jN3zspfoB1vBO17cKO0WxVTvmIlQ6FlVPVScoDm6257EauCfTOCB6bn/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-NrXlvxXyE4-XcksrxrV5i2ljzliX6NZTd2KFAhqGUKaTVXLnmWaqukJ_-_qtIWrkjCCCD47fBErqa421Q7i4jN3zspfoB1vBO17cKO0WxVTvmIlQ6FlVPVScoDm6257EauCfTOCB6bn/s400/115.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No closet door? No problem! A zebra sheet works just fine thankyouverymuch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCR65eRq94bVAvTwjydNsxQDptEPRIc3WMoph76sYriPie_ccqHs5GjNN3qm1TzKWh8CWbUT0GqYyR5B_9EZhPwd9sKbYeynyIMTQ7eslJWV3M5NkSL2K-2OHxoFlWDBqb0lg3ForAg-P/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCR65eRq94bVAvTwjydNsxQDptEPRIc3WMoph76sYriPie_ccqHs5GjNN3qm1TzKWh8CWbUT0GqYyR5B_9EZhPwd9sKbYeynyIMTQ7eslJWV3M5NkSL2K-2OHxoFlWDBqb0lg3ForAg-P/s400/116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking in from the door</td></tr>
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We still have some shelves to hang for her cheer trophies and window treatments would be nice. </div>
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We also have two more strings of lanterns that need to be hung so they will be all the way around the room and we need to get her a very tall, very thin dresser. I'm thinking IKEA? </div>
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So, my first time building furniture and I am HOOKED! I already have a few ideas for my next project! </div>
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Brian's a little scared....</div>
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<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/creating-a-small-sun-loving-perennial-garden/"><img alt="" src="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/One-on-sidebar.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://becolorful.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Becolorful" src="http://becolorful.typepad.com/button.jpg" /></a></center>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-26328239606979547272013-06-11T14:06:00.001-04:002013-06-11T14:06:24.884-04:00So, yeah - THIS happened. Or I guess better yet - this DIDN'T happen.<div style="text-align: center;">
This Sunday was the Tough Mudder. </div>
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We've been training for months. <br />(Ok, <i><b>I've </b></i>been training. Brian's been <i><b>talking </b></i>about training.)</div>
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I was mentally READY.</div>
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(Although probably still not physically ready. Have you seen the <a href="http://toughmudder.com/obstacles/">obstacles </a>in this thing???)</div>
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Anyway, the point is I was <i><b>READY</b></i>.</div>
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I was <b><i>STOKED</i></b>.</div>
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I was going to <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>KICK ASS!!</i></b></span></div>
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Then this happened:</div>
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<div class="clearfix mbs pbs _1_m" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; zoom: 1;">
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<span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"><span class="fwb" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" style="font-weight: bold;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=121520047789&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22timeline%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder?hc_location=timeline" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Tough Mudder</a></span></span></h5>
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<a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder/posts/10151696992492790" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">June 7</a><a aria-label="Custom" class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator _1_o" data-hover="tooltip" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder?fref=ts#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin-left: 6px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; top: 1px; zoom: 1;"><i class="lock img sp_et6iqo sx_1b7fe4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/VMuWV_IgpJX.png); background-position: -172px -480px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></div>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">VA Beach Mudders: Tropical Storm Andrea is hammering the course right now, and a significant portion is under water. There's a chance we won't be able to open it for Saturday, but we're working through the night to do what we can. Please check your email for updates - we'll have a final answer at 5:30am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then THIS happened:</span></div>
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<span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"><span class="fwb" style="font-weight: bold;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=121520047789" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder?ref=stream" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Tough Mudder</a></span> shared a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftoughmudder.com%2Fevents%2Fvirginia-beach-2013%2F&h=vAQFcIhUTAQFRzzTuVk9wJJ809xMyYJcRjje6SdfCQW2kzQ&enc=AZOhqb1GdaYCWYtjEtsXxDWpWZglScIfs_ZpWqHMjC2OiXO2jprFi2iFK5ZzfZ7O0ww-R1eTf3p_KDf_NxqYL6nY&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">link</a>.</span></h5>
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<a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder/posts/10151698440252790" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Saturday</a> near <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-New-York/112111905481230?ref=stream" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Brooklyn, NY</a><a aria-label="Custom" class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator _1_o" data-hover="tooltip" href="https://www.facebook.com/toughmudder?fref=ts#" id="js_12" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin-left: 6px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; top: 1px; zoom: 1;"><i class="lock img sp_et6iqo sx_1b7fe4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/VMuWV_IgpJX.png); background-position: -172px -480px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></div>
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<span class="userContent">VA Beach Mudders,<br />You all know by now that we had to cancel the entire event. We're gutted - this was the last option and we want you know we worked nonstop for 48 hours to try and get the course in shape. Long story short, we can't implem<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ent our Medical Safety plan with the course as mess. As bummed as we are, we'd rather keep our Mudders safe, even if that means you'll be pissed at us.<br /><br />We're offering transfers for participants and refunds for spectators; please go to the event page for more info:<a href="http://toughmudder.com/events/virginia-beach-2013/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://toughmudder.com/events/virginia-beach-2013/</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for sticking it out with us. We hope to see you on another course this year.<br />-TMHQ</span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>*BIG SIGH*</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So now, we wait until November and travel to Charlotte to try this all over again. </span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">I was beyond pissed Saturday. </span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Not that they cancelled the event because - let's face it - I don't really want to die and if they can't get in to rescue me should something horrible happen, then I'm not even gonna attempt it.<br /> <br />No, I was upset because I was READY. <br />And the course was on this gorgeous plantation right on the James River <br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">(which, in hindsight was probably not the best place to host one of these events during hurricane season)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The pictures were beautiful, the weather on Sunday was perfect - but sadly most of the obstacles were flooded out.</span></div>
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So, now I concentrate on my triathlon in August and once that's done, I will go back to training for the TM. </div>
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I started riding my bike to get ready - Holy out of shape!! It's amazing how in shape you think you are and how strong you feel until you do something your body isn't used to. <br /><br />After five minutes I thought I would die. </div>
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I have a <i>loooooong</i> way to go to prepare - not to mention the swim!</div>
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Oh, and Liv's room is getting there - it's painted, she's moved in (story for another day - oh, the drama of having a teenage girl)</div>
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And, I can't find a bed that I like for her so I'm gonna make one! </div>
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I'm so excited!!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-78766047747916886292013-05-16T10:51:00.000-04:002013-05-16T10:51:12.986-04:00Livvie Lou's new room - Coming Soon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This baby girl:</span></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJxaP49VJENqp74laIieXRamEcC1wFQJxgPb3BNmErwy8ieE5qyu2W4UwcU61EwBbZJGjyGPe3s9xmWkFRbqX6j4ehZTpQzz6Q-wd-ZW6sCKebMHJn7P6efsrNZNmPGDkoQ8Gl1_J5Fjs/s1600/Copy+of+Olivia+Leigh+-+one+week+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJxaP49VJENqp74laIieXRamEcC1wFQJxgPb3BNmErwy8ieE5qyu2W4UwcU61EwBbZJGjyGPe3s9xmWkFRbqX6j4ehZTpQzz6Q-wd-ZW6sCKebMHJn7P6efsrNZNmPGDkoQ8Gl1_J5Fjs/s320/Copy+of+Olivia+Leigh+-+one+week+old.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Has suddenly grown into this 13 year old girl (Wait, what??):</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T6sr_iq1dE2-xbLHBiWhumJ6vHjLx9rJrwQMR8VdgfpuZS2aQc0OYKqpC1Dy0lPW6FO1s0B_Cbo89_7rHMvwv6pbOz4S9eB5V91D7eBCoeRGVL0T8wFIZ2V8p5UfbCheJiZXniO8-7_o/s1600/859186_10200524854751885_1563445875_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T6sr_iq1dE2-xbLHBiWhumJ6vHjLx9rJrwQMR8VdgfpuZS2aQc0OYKqpC1Dy0lPW6FO1s0B_Cbo89_7rHMvwv6pbOz4S9eB5V91D7eBCoeRGVL0T8wFIZ2V8p5UfbCheJiZXniO8-7_o/s320/859186_10200524854751885_1563445875_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And needs a new room to reflect her teenager status. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It involves this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWqQHbtfqhGYN3qOHsl6JvwbxrL68F7Hc1Yv9iL4BZJtZiA7VgPNMhl_1_siNpT-mUoWor6sCIxNocQU9EsM9mRHb1xKGu_WOx6Iq246oxrgVAkFJCVXQDrGG5fqXZbSNQg5hORgWXkBy/s1600/86ec82a4-4dc8-4420-b04e-9374d848974a_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWqQHbtfqhGYN3qOHsl6JvwbxrL68F7Hc1Yv9iL4BZJtZiA7VgPNMhl_1_siNpT-mUoWor6sCIxNocQU9EsM9mRHb1xKGu_WOx6Iq246oxrgVAkFJCVXQDrGG5fqXZbSNQg5hORgWXkBy/s320/86ec82a4-4dc8-4420-b04e-9374d848974a_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-DV1LHlkBZWp0ubDQiQIE1MXSfsSlOlwp6oZbom4fHoIWgu8kfT0FHOxdJKuLqqxI149Gt6uZUNcOCLX6GaQmZUG_HKap_MZp6T2tTXFBxWCrSef0MJHNSHq7hIRO9rRGBd2r2oHjO2B/s1600/zebra_print_vector_by_extremerainbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-DV1LHlkBZWp0ubDQiQIE1MXSfsSlOlwp6oZbom4fHoIWgu8kfT0FHOxdJKuLqqxI149Gt6uZUNcOCLX6GaQmZUG_HKap_MZp6T2tTXFBxWCrSef0MJHNSHq7hIRO9rRGBd2r2oHjO2B/s320/zebra_print_vector_by_extremerainbo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><i>Stay tuned....</i></span></div>
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-707676857415938382013-03-21T15:34:00.002-04:002013-03-21T15:34:55.749-04:00It's not that I don't have anything interesting to say...<div style="text-align: center;">
...it's that I don't have anything interesting to say <i>right now</i>. </div>
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We're working on some things - the girls rooms in particular - and I hope to have some pictures up soon. <br /><br />As soon as I get motivated to, you know, finish something.</div>
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Things are plugging along just fine here. </div>
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The girls are busy with school and the plethora of activities they are involved in.</div>
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I still go to Boot Camp three to four mornings a week (at 5:30 am - YAWN - which should help explain my lack of blogging in the evenings)</div>
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Oh, and in between all of that I'm trying to train like a mo' fo' for <a href="http://www.tricolumbia.org/events/?eid=6">this</a>:</div>
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<img height="122" src="http://www.tricolumbia.org/userfiles/images/event_logos/IronGirl_logoR_Athleta.png" width="320" /></div>
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But first, Brian and I have to get through <a href="http://toughmudder.com/events/virginia-beach-2013/">this</a>:</div>
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*Note to self - After a Friday night of drinking, do not answer midnight texts from very big, very fit, very tough cop friends that say "Hey - let's do the Tough Mudder - I'll throw you over the obstacles - no worries! It'll be FUN!" and then convince your husband to do it also. <br /><br />It only leads to registration and whole lotta panic the next morning.</div>
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Last night Brian realized the race was a 10+ miler, not a 5K. He stomped around and cursed me under his breath for a good half hour. </div>
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I'm curious to see his reaction when he finds out about the obstacles. </div>
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I'm sure I already warned him. </div>
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Maybe. </div>
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Whatever. </div>
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Anyway, so that's what's happening around here. </div>
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Paint. Sweat. Tears. </div>
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Not necessarily in that order. </div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-57780974929779160772013-01-25T10:18:00.000-05:002013-01-25T10:18:23.228-05:00Brian Turns 40!!<div style="text-align: center;">
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The day after we said goodbye to Chauncey we had our annual Henry Holiday Party. I'm not gonna lie - it was a fabulous distraction for all of us.</div>
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And, since my husband was turning <span style="font-size: x-large;"> <b><u>40</u> </b></span>on New Years Eve, I turned it into a "Surprise!!! It's your 40th Birthday!!" also. </div>
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He had <u>No. Idea</u>.</div>
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I had been planning it for months and we had nearly 100 people there this year to help celebrate. I wish I had taken pictures, but you'll have to imagine how much food we had....<br /><br /> I put all the leaves in my dining room table and there was so much food on it, you couldn't see the table cloth. On top of that, we had the dresser/buffet covered with hot dishes and crock pots, along with two other tables brought into the dining room for the evening and snacks in the sitting room, kitchen and family room</div>
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People finished up the last of the food in the wee hours of the morning. </div>
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I had absolutely NO LEFTOVERS. </div>
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<br />At one point I couldn't see from one end of the family room to the dining room because of all the bodies. </div>
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Crazy....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ttRubkk91Vdwkg7B5TEcAHxd4yM3Qf9nXHAzgFPpIcwJxtvTD1pUi19vdJjER9osjrX8bupP8t0bVgYBl35EHsdH0qzNDXR1eEYjOTNr0OGxT_Be0QGKwc6PZdq6CUcMTehXiHHlqc8/s1600/388351_4517050158682_1317570214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ttRubkk91Vdwkg7B5TEcAHxd4yM3Qf9nXHAzgFPpIcwJxtvTD1pUi19vdJjER9osjrX8bupP8t0bVgYBl35EHsdH0qzNDXR1eEYjOTNr0OGxT_Be0QGKwc6PZdq6CUcMTehXiHHlqc8/s400/388351_4517050158682_1317570214_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom made his cake</td></tr>
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Several friends conspired with me and we made him go on a liquor run once the majority of the guests had arrived (and we had so much beer, wine and liquor I have no idea why he fell for that, but he did - ha!) and as soon as they pulled out of the driveway, my girls came running downstairs with the decorations we had made and stashed away earlier and we hastily threw up some purple, black and white tissue paper poofs, a ton of streamers, a Happy Birthday Banner, and blew up and hung nearly 30 balloons. <br /><br />Thank God for the wonderful friends we have - everyone pitched in - I was frantic - and the place was decorated in 15 minutes flat, the cake was on the table and the last candle was lit as he walked through the front door to cheers of "SURPRISE!!!"</div>
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Sadly, I took no pictures and the ones that were taken were blurry ....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VZ6nbakqWpKlsTgPyBJZ2UlNM0dKQXVYTxUHYzPd5sIhkCKeCy1i4kVzr5Vf_N4kMrlfzWxyOFH1GcE_8EVYzlD9nqHGz5rH2HZTZkjyo0PF63FqYI4OrML9iv1HCnhY5MUAJFHOCQJ6/s1600/15575_4517047438614_2065678719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VZ6nbakqWpKlsTgPyBJZ2UlNM0dKQXVYTxUHYzPd5sIhkCKeCy1i4kVzr5Vf_N4kMrlfzWxyOFH1GcE_8EVYzlD9nqHGz5rH2HZTZkjyo0PF63FqYI4OrML9iv1HCnhY5MUAJFHOCQJ6/s400/15575_4517047438614_2065678719_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's trying to figure out what the hell is going on....all the kids had horns and followed him around blowing them constantly. Until I confiscated them all.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LPFuARI2GURI7EFVwf5bHrPikPD_SbL0dB-sMJKWPFk04HXm6OQ0QuSelIgjWcomUGzOaiI8DlBv6NWPWzA8peM-BTUcli95KU5MgKWXDr43siHacTTxiZ0YcUsHHsVJdOMdmaEOcyDl/s1600/63769_4517049278660_50520165_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LPFuARI2GURI7EFVwf5bHrPikPD_SbL0dB-sMJKWPFk04HXm6OQ0QuSelIgjWcomUGzOaiI8DlBv6NWPWzA8peM-BTUcli95KU5MgKWXDr43siHacTTxiZ0YcUsHHsVJdOMdmaEOcyDl/s400/63769_4517049278660_50520165_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's figured it out now ...</td></tr>
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Our good friends, Mike, Meg and Meg's mom, Michelle, made him some custom corn hole boards with matching bags for his birthday. Mike is the biggest Steelers fan in the world so it just shows you how much they love Brian that they made him RAVENS themed boards. </div>
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Can't wait to use these...<div style="text-align: start;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpobGo3zjFeT4yc8iQkLjVBkcAKDvpySvlsihdbZAOGQdGYPqV4q5EJAeIToSy8p8u6Vjk5VzCtbMDPaYGdg1wRRRH8Zc4chlv46BFlVr1cqK8hb_mmp2qfk1Nd8LB4iXR_KUvp3hjs85/s1600/68966_4517050998703_1433476481_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpobGo3zjFeT4yc8iQkLjVBkcAKDvpySvlsihdbZAOGQdGYPqV4q5EJAeIToSy8p8u6Vjk5VzCtbMDPaYGdg1wRRRH8Zc4chlv46BFlVr1cqK8hb_mmp2qfk1Nd8LB4iXR_KUvp3hjs85/s400/68966_4517050998703_1433476481_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYqgN3h_Pz7czBDunUSUMTxj3hQgJLBWQDTB1QCY6w0wf2uGpfXc05YqYYRoJ1ku1j6tM9cIZ4CORFnwa0MNyXgdFEt4ej1o6jWqZwHgxJbAgzhbtKP3-e6c-K53AlQdA7EfOGYHPigwB/s1600/577842_4517051998728_1073390583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYqgN3h_Pz7czBDunUSUMTxj3hQgJLBWQDTB1QCY6w0wf2uGpfXc05YqYYRoJ1ku1j6tM9cIZ4CORFnwa0MNyXgdFEt4ej1o6jWqZwHgxJbAgzhbtKP3-e6c-K53AlQdA7EfOGYHPigwB/s400/577842_4517051998728_1073390583_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom Bloom (aka, Michelle) giving him his purple bags which she made for the game.</td></tr>
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It was such a wonderful evening and I have to tell you I have no idea what time the party broke up although I heard rumors of 3:00 am, at which time I was snoring upstairs. <br /><br />Yes, I had a big fat headache the next day.</div>
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That was the end of our holiday entertaining for 2012 - WHEW! </div>
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Three events in 6 days was a bit much.....</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-60019620945877027812013-01-17T09:20:00.000-05:002013-01-17T09:22:17.223-05:00Goodbye old friend.<div style="text-align: center;">
I've started this post about ten times and every time I've hit delete and started over.</div>
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So, I'm just going to let my mind wander and put this stream of consciousness down on paper, as it were.</div>
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When you came into our lives, we had recently lost our first dog, Zoe, and had taken about 6 months to mourn her before thinking about getting another dog. Olivia was just a baby and I had my hands full with her, a full time job and school. Brian - who had taken the loss of Zoe very hard - finally decided that it was time to start looking. </div>
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Brian had always wanted a German Shepherd and so we went to a Pet Adoption at our local pet store, where a German Shepherd rescue as being featured We walked in, saw all the German Shepherds looking for homes and had a discussion with the rescue coordinator. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Brian approach a dog that looked NOTHING like a Shepherd, but instead like a black lab mix.</div>
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"Who's that?" I asked the rescue coordinator.</div>
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"Oh, that's Shultzie. We aren't sure exactly what he is but there's some shepherd in there somewhere. He's been shuffled from home to home to home for a long time and we don't know what exactly his life has been like. He seems to be a young dog - not an adult but maybe over a year old. He's a bit rambunctious and skittish but his foster mother seems to think he's got potential."</div>
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From the moment Brian approached you and jumped up on him, it was all over. </div>
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We put in an application that night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chauncey and the girls robot, Christmas 2007</td></tr>
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We went through the adoption process of home visits, vet references and the like and you came home to us a few days later. We renamed you Chauncey since we thought Schultzie sounded too "Hogan's Heroes". The first thing you did was go explore the house. You boldly walked right into Olivia's room where she was sleeping in her crib with a fever, sniffed, whined, and laid down on her floor. Over the course of the next few hours, between exploring the house some more, you checked back in that room six or seven times. You were officially on duty and for the next 12 years, you would "patrol" the house when the girls and I were home alone or the kids had friends over and you would stand guard when one of us was sick. I would imagine you saying "Don't worry mom - I 've got this. You can relax. You can rest."</div>
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Those first few months after you came home were AWFUL. You see, you were still puppy like and maybe a bit afraid we'd send you away. You wanted nothing more than to have our attention 24 hours a day. You took the baby's toys and ran, you ran around the house like a Tasmanian devil and you barked that vicious bark if anyone approached the house. I was at my wit's end. You could do no wrong in Brian's eyes - you were his boy. To me, you were just a lot of work.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging in the back yard, 2008</td></tr>
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But you calmed a bit. And you grew on me.</div>
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It soon became apparent that you would protect us with your very being - no matter what. No one was allowed entry into <u>your </u>home. If someone came to the door, you positioned yourself between me and that "stranger". No one could approach me - and Lord help the person that reached for the baby. Brian encouraged your protective behavior and was even on the receiving end of a few warnings from you when he jokingly would mess around or wrestle with me. <br />
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You were "daddy's boy" but you were momma's fiercest protector.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being attacked by the robot </td></tr>
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You scared me a few times in those days - not because I was afraid you'd hurt us or the baby because you were so incredibly gentle with us - but because I was afraid you'd hurt someone else in your zeal to protect your family. We learned that we would have to put you outside when someone came to the door. It was the only way people could come into the house. Once they were in, you were let back inside where you would quickly approach them with your hackles raised and sniff the devil out of them while he or she stood stock still, and all the while Brian and I would be saying -"It's OK Chauncey. It's OK boy" while standing next to the person with our hand on their shoulder or arm Once you felt comfortable you would lower your hackles and walk away. But you NEVER let that person out of your sight It took you several visits to feel comfortable with other people.</div>
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I definitely came to appreciate your protective nature over time. I knew that I could allow the girls into the fenced yard to play so long as you were out there. I knew that if anyone dared to mess with my kids you'd tear them up. I was OK with that.</div>
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The neighborhood kids used to party in the field behind our house and play ball in the empty lot next us. I can vividly remember sitting on the porch one afternoon and watching a stray ball fly over the fence into the yard. Before I could get up to get the ball and give it back to the teenagers playing in the empty lot, I saw one of them hop my fence to retrieve it. I yelled a warning but you were like a black streak of lightening going after that kid - I've never seen someone move so fast in my life - he LITERALLY dove over the fence as you crashed into it behind him. Those kids had been warned a hundred times NOT to hop our fence, but to ring the bell and let us get whatever had been lost. After that day, we never had a problem with anyone coming into our yard or partying behind the house again.<br />
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You scared the crap outta them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqAqyNOoR9w9RRVRY6aEMtmAPZ_qGTSHLDoz2qysWEYZEROFY41kWw914fBAVg2dWGefIGXf4SzQ2ndadzSl-W1uklmAK1jbUUhYHDaJtQmltgq6Py2TxoNEtztzdcpIQVZ5fRd3g7JB/s1600/3169_1127625438848_77133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqAqyNOoR9w9RRVRY6aEMtmAPZ_qGTSHLDoz2qysWEYZEROFY41kWw914fBAVg2dWGefIGXf4SzQ2ndadzSl-W1uklmAK1jbUUhYHDaJtQmltgq6Py2TxoNEtztzdcpIQVZ5fRd3g7JB/s400/3169_1127625438848_77133_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys doing their favorite thing - running in the yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your protective streak didn't just apply to us humans. When we brought Baxter home - hoping that another dog to play with would help to settle you a bit (it did), you quickly became his best friend. Baxter was diagnosed at a very young age with hip dysplaysia that made it very difficult for him to even walk. During one particularly bad snow storm, the snow was up to your shoulders. When we let you out into the back yard, you quickly went to work digging a path for Baxter to walk on - you'd bury your body in the snow and shake it off, then run back an forth over that area a few times packing the snow down and then run back to get Baxter and lead him through the cleared path and then start all over again where you left off. You did this all way way across the yard to your favorite spot in the back. Baxter didn't have to struggle in the snow at all - you had his back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEdiD8ZUI6CQVjfdKqCb4tnNdA0mpenvRZsa9qPgGrj8ebd-fT82266wSgg2tCq4GgdSJwkL-hBKw3OH-3wGVBDTHODNfOMSHcuLdO8WH_QXlzZ4JHuD5ohHonjQaKir8Gmkbb5tKo3g/s1600/Boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEdiD8ZUI6CQVjfdKqCb4tnNdA0mpenvRZsa9qPgGrj8ebd-fT82266wSgg2tCq4GgdSJwkL-hBKw3OH-3wGVBDTHODNfOMSHcuLdO8WH_QXlzZ4JHuD5ohHonjQaKir8Gmkbb5tKo3g/s400/Boys.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best buds Baxter and Chauncey, Summer 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I've never seen a dog as fast as you - I would watch in amazement as you would race after a bird and jump - catching them mid air. We lost a lot of birds that way. When we moved to the new house and you had more room to run, you got bigger and stronger and faster. But you also calmed down. You became, really, the perfect dog - loyal, loving and protective.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8s541XDl9sFr8LMqCa7nEb9m_zzvpyX5Ek8BCjaGKwa4OrFqS9qRTDecOGO4jYJcWVbmMHGEfysvXxo4YrvOzgSoBATHIVcCqYSbNE8TUWX-XTlJ-poLSkQcH6OuMrG7NSjyWyRsvQlL/s1600/3169_1127625398847_5512096_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8s541XDl9sFr8LMqCa7nEb9m_zzvpyX5Ek8BCjaGKwa4OrFqS9qRTDecOGO4jYJcWVbmMHGEfysvXxo4YrvOzgSoBATHIVcCqYSbNE8TUWX-XTlJ-poLSkQcH6OuMrG7NSjyWyRsvQlL/s400/3169_1127625398847_5512096_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrestling - another favorite past time</td></tr>
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When you began limping we knew something was wrong. But you never cried, you never whimpered, and you still greeted us with a wag of your tail, and goose in our butts as you led us to the cupboard with your treats. And then, right after Christmas you stopped eating. You stopped greeting us. You hadn't been able to run for a long time. You hobbled on three legs and it was depressing for you.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Your dad had been talking about letting you go for awhile. Selfishly, I couldn't bring myself to think about it. One more Christmas - just one more. Then - not near Brian's birthday. And what about the girls? They'd be heartbroken.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bbqd5295dDUMy0a5r4AdSsuvE_oufhNaizUlgc8WVmYU1YhmfbreMNZVZpbZUODLxcEohu8qfPrSl2DVHnAQrYNzl2lIyrGuDGidYMdjn2P8saC6_BSStWpNVDYeJa-gMbkgSpVsvuvo/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bbqd5295dDUMy0a5r4AdSsuvE_oufhNaizUlgc8WVmYU1YhmfbreMNZVZpbZUODLxcEohu8qfPrSl2DVHnAQrYNzl2lIyrGuDGidYMdjn2P8saC6_BSStWpNVDYeJa-gMbkgSpVsvuvo/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chauncey, December 2012</td></tr>
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The day came on December 29th. We took you to a dear friends' vet hospital. They placed us in a cozy room with blankets on the floor and soft lighting. It was one of the hardest things ever, watching you struggle against the meds given to make you sleepy. You were afraid to leave us - who would watch out for us? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl20mEHl8WU9GZnvv3gwReJIlVOm7cjtaM8XXR-DV9qIBw4B-O7qbcvELQ2xwo_-hJhTjkNPoBjSk5soF6lWqUy2VaezM0Lj2PxViMPNM7f_Z-fa8hyAwwUTXUVU-q6nSsCAB_mqUrhu7/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl20mEHl8WU9GZnvv3gwReJIlVOm7cjtaM8XXR-DV9qIBw4B-O7qbcvELQ2xwo_-hJhTjkNPoBjSk5soF6lWqUy2VaezM0Lj2PxViMPNM7f_Z-fa8hyAwwUTXUVU-q6nSsCAB_mqUrhu7/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still on alert and making sure all is well in your house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I put your head on my lap and your dad and I stroked you and whispered in your ear - We love you. We'll be OK. Thank you. You've kept us safe.</div>
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Go - Run - Chase birds - Bark out loud - We love you. </div>
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You are so, so loved.</div>
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And you let out one last great big sigh and were gone.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8MEzLaxSvWrIje2UttbOtwZDfJFPM-adrgt0z7Nt502xqnCHPhNRbNcTqW5qH64lXcJy46BpGhuTRl4aoohzZcHPd7WCUtKfkZ-ATQoHgYRexFw4nayXViC06xtznzZolo51vhEKxnsK/s1600/IMG_0601_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8MEzLaxSvWrIje2UttbOtwZDfJFPM-adrgt0z7Nt502xqnCHPhNRbNcTqW5qH64lXcJy46BpGhuTRl4aoohzZcHPd7WCUtKfkZ-ATQoHgYRexFw4nayXViC06xtznzZolo51vhEKxnsK/s400/IMG_0601_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chauncey<br />
Loyal Family Guardian<br />
199?- 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-38457014870703085002013-01-16T00:19:00.002-05:002013-01-16T00:19:44.300-05:00Yes, I know it's the middle of January. So sue me. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK,
so where were we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Right. Mid-December.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
the excitement of Misou and B’s surprise engagement died down (a little - I
still squeal every time I think about it), it was time for the Henry’s to kick
it into high gear for all the entertainment they were about to embark upon….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First
up, the Annual Hopkins Family Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Every
year I host my dad’s siblings and their children for a casual, relaxing evening
of food, drink and storytelling. This
year was no exception, but for the fact that with all of the cousins growing up
(I’m much older than most of them – they were all born when I was in high
school), it’s getting difficult to get everyone in the same room at the same
time. On the bright side though, we’re adding
more people in the form of boyfriends and girlfriends </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips5IWixWhzCdfz0FYT2gmKvVwTPx-vYFiPT04mGNS4WawJduyAdZwIVbdPNyWxhXtcMsc8J9L03q9DLh6Yzal3Mt1Mhm4N3gMnwWRVWah8Uv-8PkCfZfaTkXxY8XZsPQzbh4oU2xPiJug/s1600/545419_825244067633_2039803444_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips5IWixWhzCdfz0FYT2gmKvVwTPx-vYFiPT04mGNS4WawJduyAdZwIVbdPNyWxhXtcMsc8J9L03q9DLh6Yzal3Mt1Mhm4N3gMnwWRVWah8Uv-8PkCfZfaTkXxY8XZsPQzbh4oU2xPiJug/s400/545419_825244067633_2039803444_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sydney made "gift bags" for each person - this is the inspirational message one of my cousins had in his - he took a picture of it posted on his fridge and posted it on Facebook for me :) <br />
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And that's the only picture I have - seriously. I took no pictures.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
day after the Hopkins Christmas was Christmas Eve. We have a rule – from 4:00 pm on Christmas
Eve until noon on Christmas Day – no one in, and no one out. This is our time as a family and typically I
am either hosting my in laws or frantically wrapping and doing last minute
shopping. This year, it was neither,
which was good since it SNOWED LIKE CRAZY! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
can’t remember the last time we had a true White Christmas – it was
magical! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2dUw6ll_-yjRjkTAL7eAaRAm9lM7bXQJuYDkXd7wItOOJ77x1moVIpnOVXapQNIzL55gpFhO9HekBOfzNkMLQ85QZuozDYav7_buTR7ScK84dOKUc0mPv19KhIHcDon_hXW0J1TO2835/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2dUw6ll_-yjRjkTAL7eAaRAm9lM7bXQJuYDkXd7wItOOJ77x1moVIpnOVXapQNIzL55gpFhO9HekBOfzNkMLQ85QZuozDYav7_buTR7ScK84dOKUc0mPv19KhIHcDon_hXW0J1TO2835/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CHRISTMAS JAMMIES!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well,
it was magical for us, but not for our poor neighbors, whose family </span>couldn't<span style="font-size: small;"> make it through the snow (that shit was nasty to drive in) and who had an oven full
of Osso Buco and no one to eat it. So, we
bundled ourselves up and walked down the street through the snow and had a magnificent
meal together and then went home to get ready for Santa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well,
I got ready for Santa since it looks like I am the only one in the house that
still believes in him. *sad face* <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkyNOy-wd0vX1Plish9kHecgyAoyp2TYi60c9SQOrOJeVilq42Fq48vT_33rAkwXl0YIH1DaIPVmKkdNEqhNCfgWwlcLq5gVPpCQxNMSTyJTD433EUx7nw5kqS4BiTDpeydTIDMHHUX6/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkyNOy-wd0vX1Plish9kHecgyAoyp2TYi60c9SQOrOJeVilq42Fq48vT_33rAkwXl0YIH1DaIPVmKkdNEqhNCfgWwlcLq5gVPpCQxNMSTyJTD433EUx7nw5kqS4BiTDpeydTIDMHHUX6/s400/010.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa was BUSY!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
next day was Christmas Day – the snow looked amazing (and luckily the roads
were cleared by noon) the </span>kiddos<span style="font-size: small;"> slept until we woke them up at 8:30 (I’m not
kidding) and we all had a wonderful Christmas morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdCVtzM7L2Z9qAXTkG81ar359nenrlmHjpNPHYXaYmpBnT7zkJahptUELSgPGtjkS7UHAoVBE4i25o-TMwcwVRWAdpKjX6MxUfVrip8mN0UkjTAkbdUiS6OvgGBmXNB6qj-Lz3qSmfx7x/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdCVtzM7L2Z9qAXTkG81ar359nenrlmHjpNPHYXaYmpBnT7zkJahptUELSgPGtjkS7UHAoVBE4i25o-TMwcwVRWAdpKjX6MxUfVrip8mN0UkjTAkbdUiS6OvgGBmXNB6qj-Lz3qSmfx7x/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$20 caption contest for Liv....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
then we had to get ready for Christmas dinner at our house, where we were hosting
ten people in addition to our family of four.
Since we always have beef for Christmas we had tenderloin, roasted root
vegetables, homemade scalloped potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes with roasted bananas
and honey, and of course, lots of desserts. Dinner was delicious and we fell into bed –
happy, but exhausted - very late that evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
day after Christmas brought the clean up of the house and putting away of the presents
and preparations for our NEXT party – the annual Henry Holiday Party – but this
year, with a twist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But first, we had to say good bye to a loyal old friend….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-34077250356046160032013-01-14T21:59:00.000-05:002013-01-14T21:59:04.516-05:00The End of 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">December
is a notoriously crazy, busy, exciting, stressful month for us here at the Henry
Home. Let me see if I can give you a run
down since I was gone for so long…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">December
started with Christmas decorating. I did
a few things different this year and while I don’t have the greatest pictures,
I thought I’d show you what I have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMmNhlTvykrMVmhpPYRYU5uLwgOZ8A7x9cXi4lyJwun14DJoqeuAsbcusjIk_RLw7jYpNGqz-SjfVczQuBxtNZRGxvHXHUWfNiA7ei7ElJLy52R6dSkYLX0teksZetouoDoHH2cCPBP47/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMmNhlTvykrMVmhpPYRYU5uLwgOZ8A7x9cXi4lyJwun14DJoqeuAsbcusjIk_RLw7jYpNGqz-SjfVczQuBxtNZRGxvHXHUWfNiA7ei7ElJLy52R6dSkYLX0teksZetouoDoHH2cCPBP47/s400/front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
entry to my house is always a huge source of anxiety for me. It's people’s first
impression of the house when walking in, so I want people to walk up and feel warm
and welcome and excited to see what lies on the other side of the door. I always have this amazing picture in my head
and I can never execute it the way I want. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />This year I went with some wrapped
presents and glittery sticks in my big pots – to add some color. I actually really like how it
turned out and I got a ton of compliments on it from the bazillion people that
traveled in and out that front door over the course of December. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaStSLVJuQi40MJ3ImzzG5FhlkPd0ZpgzONipGY2EUTiEcWoelkP7zTP2DxI-XIBurD0oSKC1AB5Wf69WH1_-hHT0ZcN89YUsDqtY4lHsgcqPWjtID5M1_92R3W-8hkIUzdrgm5ZHw2103/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaStSLVJuQi40MJ3ImzzG5FhlkPd0ZpgzONipGY2EUTiEcWoelkP7zTP2DxI-XIBurD0oSKC1AB5Wf69WH1_-hHT0ZcN89YUsDqtY4lHsgcqPWjtID5M1_92R3W-8hkIUzdrgm5ZHw2103/s400/021.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
also broke down and put some colored lights on the tree in addition to the
traditional white (which are my favorite).<br /><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3bNS5bO5dPIuLiFVfXS_Q-EIrd9DUbfxOE4A94dKrVRikM41wUn_kLkxpdH8FPuqfTKTKjs0I-MEORTH_gfwGjr0bt-OXOwA21PujGqvjJETqzBItsEFjw3vQ0cbB4I96NqHJjxzg8Ey/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3bNS5bO5dPIuLiFVfXS_Q-EIrd9DUbfxOE4A94dKrVRikM41wUn_kLkxpdH8FPuqfTKTKjs0I-MEORTH_gfwGjr0bt-OXOwA21PujGqvjJETqzBItsEFjw3vQ0cbB4I96NqHJjxzg8Ey/s400/tree.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Brian actually helped decorate the house this year (he rarely touches a decoration
inside – but he does all the outside lights).
Over the past few years I have backed off on a lot of decorations and
only use about half of what we have. On the
weekend we pulled all the Christmas stuff out, I had to run a few errands and
when I got home it looked like the North Pole exploded in my house. Brian had pulled out every single decoration we
owned and used them all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVjVvE8L4UglVu8zJa3HzUhoFlgNg6IReaJAh69-C8ZMmwAdug7QvYMl-jK-33jPezXDVRHz58hE9hJHj9wq1iXClkMAZxZ7soYHuxSpeuOy-IbxEhIEoIgwRsJGdpwTi6R6vkJ_vS3c6/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVjVvE8L4UglVu8zJa3HzUhoFlgNg6IReaJAh69-C8ZMmwAdug7QvYMl-jK-33jPezXDVRHz58hE9hJHj9wq1iXClkMAZxZ7soYHuxSpeuOy-IbxEhIEoIgwRsJGdpwTi6R6vkJ_vS3c6/s400/031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sitting room at night - so cozy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpLsEYday7U4iFYuA2sdnGtCzildAV76XhVrT271Cr9IC_nrtbw3SLrv7EIY2w2M_FekVHQoi2sMBXrLHPQhyGht96tf_LzMnB0OYjJ2Yaobb6NT96OHJjbYc00kBbrobJYH_rpNz3UTj/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpLsEYday7U4iFYuA2sdnGtCzildAV76XhVrT271Cr9IC_nrtbw3SLrv7EIY2w2M_FekVHQoi2sMBXrLHPQhyGht96tf_LzMnB0OYjJ2Yaobb6NT96OHJjbYc00kBbrobJYH_rpNz3UTj/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining room at night...</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
first thought was – WOW! This looks
amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
second thought was - Shit. I’m just
going to have to put even more crap away in a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
he did a great job and since he actually took initiative to decorate I didn’t
say one word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the decorating was done, the holiday season went into full swing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
brother and his girl MiSou moved into a </span>new<span style="font-size: small;"> apartment and on December 14th,
they had a housewarming/holiday party for both
her family and my brother’s family.
<br /><br /><br />Misou made some props and set up a "photo booth".<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SEOzG3in6ywnKrflP1Mlxj81lVpbvxuovNkdhZmyTOwrYx7DFfDHLzfH2JUQGS90OMmZeavVYkddP0AKre7wZ9vWBetUESI6-h1EJDGmN-rUzku3pyY8yylqSEYdKbE8BUlImnOcFWZ6/s1600/411383_10151194764758651_1879524199_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SEOzG3in6ywnKrflP1Mlxj81lVpbvxuovNkdhZmyTOwrYx7DFfDHLzfH2JUQGS90OMmZeavVYkddP0AKre7wZ9vWBetUESI6-h1EJDGmN-rUzku3pyY8yylqSEYdKbE8BUlImnOcFWZ6/s320/411383_10151194764758651_1879524199_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my bro</td></tr>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdeEeE1tbbPuhoYczTcb4pnG7YMczLH_tuEQexB_PcS8fioVTbfKM_k9VUE3f_HeF4vutn9j4ug9KB76w4t_WJOtRRqCMmgGptscuVB6RRCO3ERdAQHQNCx_7-MRPayROP3dYeL5gzjBY/s1600/462030_10151194764763651_442029752_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdeEeE1tbbPuhoYczTcb4pnG7YMczLH_tuEQexB_PcS8fioVTbfKM_k9VUE3f_HeF4vutn9j4ug9KB76w4t_WJOtRRqCMmgGptscuVB6RRCO3ERdAQHQNCx_7-MRPayROP3dYeL5gzjBY/s320/462030_10151194764763651_442029752_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQboj0LyugXAJLS4uLrEzfMJ4153OG9sqocI1VIs1JA13XG2tYgIuNTBd1Q5K2Z11M104J3JgkaAydwRtIX0BLkLDdqchXS8vRP5Jb80m2cOj6lO5ecl3DS9-jJyfq0N305lfu0RzQGtaR/s1600/411718_10151194765648651_781654593_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQboj0LyugXAJLS4uLrEzfMJ4153OG9sqocI1VIs1JA13XG2tYgIuNTBd1Q5K2Z11M104J3JgkaAydwRtIX0BLkLDdqchXS8vRP5Jb80m2cOj6lO5ecl3DS9-jJyfq0N305lfu0RzQGtaR/s320/411718_10151194765648651_781654593_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls and Poppy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was here that they announced their engagement!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hpucqIOYFS5m9A2OJc-TBZKyqIj8jJrhyZ13cWwthwXq_6AZ94PRn8u1QY0niaBOFypwFSeaQIS9rE_6fWFjgfVlpotPSg6WevtqbgxwrPUphcWzDe8sfzkMX0l7M0kVzc90jbZ2wg1F/s1600/309360_4124445640664_884547527_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hpucqIOYFS5m9A2OJc-TBZKyqIj8jJrhyZ13cWwthwXq_6AZ94PRn8u1QY0niaBOFypwFSeaQIS9rE_6fWFjgfVlpotPSg6WevtqbgxwrPUphcWzDe8sfzkMX0l7M0kVzc90jbZ2wg1F/s320/309360_4124445640664_884547527_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
are </span>beyond<span style="font-size: small;"> thrilled that they have finally decided to take the plunge and I couldn't ask for a </span>better sister in law than MiSou<span style="font-size: small;">. <br /><br />They asked me to make the announcement on
</span>Facebook</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tonight
showed me that even on the darkest of days, new beginnings bring hope. My baby
brother, whom I love with all my heart, has found the love of his life and this
morning, he asked that amazing girl to be his wife. I can't think of anyone more
perfect for my precious brother, or anyone I would trust his heart with more.
I'm incredibly proud to call Brandon Hopkins my brother, and ecstatic that I
can now finally call Misou Ho my sister. Thank you for sharing your news with
all of us this evening - we couldn't be more excited!! We love you both -
here's to a long and happy life together</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span class="usercontentsecondary"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">— with</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="usercontentsecondary"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=734818650&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3Anull%2C%22viewer_id%22%3A1473547705%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/teammisou?viewer_id=1473547705" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="color: #3b5998;">Misou
Ho</span></a>and</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="usercontentsecondary"><span style="background: white; color: grey; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a data-ft="{"tn":"\u0040"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=705240033&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3Anull%2C%22viewer_id%22%3A1473547705%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/b.e.hopkins?viewer_id=1473547705" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="color: #3b5998;">Brandon
Hopkins</span></a>.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was a welcome bit of happy news on an otherwise <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtown_shooting" target="_blank">very sad day</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6cpFX7YmkK5nvr46WOcBvr5dQAaKDEWzAFcdRXQVgmcE3J4sw1KJZGkwCx44Ss1KbPspbDA12hAhvazdJNIrszh7bMWF9D2JIhyphenhyphensjWYUQGs7NRWJ9wvoY5WQRNNNvKIJLCPfT9kyFF2P/s1600/471685_10151194766133651_703776738_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6cpFX7YmkK5nvr46WOcBvr5dQAaKDEWzAFcdRXQVgmcE3J4sw1KJZGkwCx44Ss1KbPspbDA12hAhvazdJNIrszh7bMWF9D2JIhyphenhyphensjWYUQGs7NRWJ9wvoY5WQRNNNvKIJLCPfT9kyFF2P/s320/471685_10151194766133651_703776738_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little blurry but the ONLY picture of the four of us in the entire month of December.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So that covers </span>the<span style="font-size: small;"> beginning of December. Next up, THE PARTIES!</span></span></div>
</div>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-21953474727921691772012-12-24T10:28:00.000-05:002012-12-24T10:28:00.854-05:00Merry Christmas!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4Z04D59dA6mvnwc1sOt-KFon7whVHZKMPAnum9OKZ2_9fKLmCTA27AYedxFZ30BVcxu1XeEBNtk4exchEQQwCv5qhqVfHYrzkt6THmKKla4HLnaNA6B2HkaqYiIsuyYAtT1eJRCpVIDI/s1600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4Z04D59dA6mvnwc1sOt-KFon7whVHZKMPAnum9OKZ2_9fKLmCTA27AYedxFZ30BVcxu1XeEBNtk4exchEQQwCv5qhqVfHYrzkt6THmKKla4HLnaNA6B2HkaqYiIsuyYAtT1eJRCpVIDI/s400/tree2.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas....</div>
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From our house to yours.....</div>
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It's been very busy around here but we'll be back soon with lots of updates and stories to share.</div>
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!</div>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-56554479006616911192012-11-27T21:36:00.003-05:002012-11-27T21:36:58.557-05:00So where were we...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh right - Back at Cole Field House!</div>
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We were told this was States - but it seemed more like a regional competition run by a completely different group.</div>
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The competition was tougher. </div>
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The girls lost one of their flyers (her family had long standing vacation plans and they couldn't be there) so they had to rework their entire routine - in TWO practices.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Oy.</i></span></div>
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There were tears on Saturday at practice.</div>
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But they rallied and we all told them that this was just a BONUS performance and they should just have fun.</div>
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And then one of the girls rolled her ankle while they were on deck - five minutes before they were to perform.</div>
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I mean <i><b><u>seriously</u></b></i>. </div>
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Her ankle was wrapped, and everyone held their breath. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof6Wa3xROxbZZ8YIs9hctkUvk-k3eJJjzMqPxFmbxZys3FmaF_rgmAc3UBZ03W03rSIfpbH4T7e3ReLUnr1Y7DtDHmq5VG0xlC4izuMwqLhfxVSoQH5qOrpvhsksT08yv-z4HylJnoN27/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof6Wa3xROxbZZ8YIs9hctkUvk-k3eJJjzMqPxFmbxZys3FmaF_rgmAc3UBZ03W03rSIfpbH4T7e3ReLUnr1Y7DtDHmq5VG0xlC4izuMwqLhfxVSoQH5qOrpvhsksT08yv-z4HylJnoN27/s400/022.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />They blew us away - I think this performance may have even been better than the week before!!</div>
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Maybe because they had nothing to lose? Who knows.<br /><br />But even with that performance, we thought they'd be lucky to get Honorable Mention.<br /><br />They walked away with THIRD PLACE.</div>
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And then we all sighed with relief that Cheer Season was over.<br /><br />Or maybe that was just me.</div>
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<br /><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />MOVING ON......</span></i><br />Right before Thanksgiving - these arrived....</div>
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THE TREES!!!<br /><br />I came home to excited shouts of "THE TREES ARE HERE!!!" <br /><br />"IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!"<br /><br />The girls have been getting these trees every year since they were babies from Gamma Judi & Mister.<br /><br />We'll plant them in the yard in January.<br />(we have about a 60% success rate in the trees living when planted)<br /><br />Olivia's is full of silver stars and Angels....</div>
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<br />Sydney's has bronze Christmas ornaments and reindeer.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdHT9dhCIUSjG8LknMGsSfEc1fiRTGbjTbmK03KLVPMnqjJJCNdYI3Ul2n58R4xirCd5zngzvIM0OBdjlVlvvXt_2d8I56vT8KOt9WY355-XSqsU2-CuwMMpipLY7CIY98JlXrSv3Nxaa/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdHT9dhCIUSjG8LknMGsSfEc1fiRTGbjTbmK03KLVPMnqjJJCNdYI3Ul2n58R4xirCd5zngzvIM0OBdjlVlvvXt_2d8I56vT8KOt9WY355-XSqsU2-CuwMMpipLY7CIY98JlXrSv3Nxaa/s400/050.JPG" width="265" /></a><br /></div>
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They're beautiful. <br /><br />And always mark the official beginning of the holiday season here in our house.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD1z6o0zgcU6MV31kL25oqJcJUHjsc-kO36gmQUQJDSpER3jKYEwpm42H56PtKTQ_BLes14cSvaUy_isPZic-rZXziYa1SwnDep2KPDabf9IAftmj2YGzR-Rw_GcS7dc8ohoQ4OaLxnE-/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD1z6o0zgcU6MV31kL25oqJcJUHjsc-kO36gmQUQJDSpER3jKYEwpm42H56PtKTQ_BLes14cSvaUy_isPZic-rZXziYa1SwnDep2KPDabf9IAftmj2YGzR-Rw_GcS7dc8ohoQ4OaLxnE-/s400/047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(The <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html" target="_blank">2008/2009</a>, <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-2010.html" target="_blank">2010</a>, and <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-know-its-christmas-when.html" target="_blank">2011 </a>trees)</div>
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And finally, I just had to post these pictures. These were taken of a fire in the wood stove last night with my little point and shoot camera. <br /><br />The coals were so beautiful - red, almost vibrating - it looked like lava...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOZkrupMWDG9j5LogXjG7FpQMQe4bIRIAPe53Fm_eFxMsGDFltvoPKj3geHVkgGH2N1I1iZdSNLjwZU38FM00R5XtTptyqvCx99Javep5S2qdYlGZ14fvEsOyYpLpevZa9b3NM82Johh6/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOZkrupMWDG9j5LogXjG7FpQMQe4bIRIAPe53Fm_eFxMsGDFltvoPKj3geHVkgGH2N1I1iZdSNLjwZU38FM00R5XtTptyqvCx99Javep5S2qdYlGZ14fvEsOyYpLpevZa9b3NM82Johh6/s400/052.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Imagine my surprise when the pictures showed PURPLE lava.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_cpOtfmKQB-1XoyEsIUl9wouPXnwWcWJizpcwZvCCSSCeFGnoQAOtmEN0JFIUFYOn0lfL2fG3bOKkeFPrmgvNod9uKXANBpAyJC3IQjCtb-McgZ370WHqm2Y3ENkpT4TSd0OwRuSmYVd/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_cpOtfmKQB-1XoyEsIUl9wouPXnwWcWJizpcwZvCCSSCeFGnoQAOtmEN0JFIUFYOn0lfL2fG3bOKkeFPrmgvNod9uKXANBpAyJC3IQjCtb-McgZ370WHqm2Y3ENkpT4TSd0OwRuSmYVd/s400/054.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br />So freaking cool. </div>
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-41563839043928538442012-11-15T15:19:00.002-05:002012-11-15T15:19:54.308-05:00We're off to STATES!!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My baby and her squad got second place this year in the annual Cheer Competition at University of Maryland - Woot Woot!!!<br /><br /></div>
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(see <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-know-i-say-this-all-time-but-its-been.html" target="_blank">2009</a>, <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2010/11/competition.html" target="_blank">2010</a>,& <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2011/11/third-place-baby.html" target="_blank">2011 </a>competition round-ups here)<br /><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNE2T9avooJVumtYzsJgirwkCX4lxnJoSJYJ_1M6B7hNg5JxBCurYua4BwaoD3_Yr2L64nD_e9otPF59XUspRiwCO4ra1Qxm8Jej4c9EollgkKp-q9sm3NAFnoW16e0mE-6UYnPk-ZNvo/s1600/621431_4878044396978_1865508974_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNE2T9avooJVumtYzsJgirwkCX4lxnJoSJYJ_1M6B7hNg5JxBCurYua4BwaoD3_Yr2L64nD_e9otPF59XUspRiwCO4ra1Qxm8Jej4c9EollgkKp-q9sm3NAFnoW16e0mE-6UYnPk-ZNvo/s320/621431_4878044396978_1865508974_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to start!!</td></tr>
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Once again, we traveled down to Cole Field House last Sunday for a looooong day of cheer.<br /> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcl7Yvl0qA98W98x2omOnf8yRlPaBZI4aVox1eq1V1M9sShYql034LLNEH4wskw66N-mwIC-BX4PMLNCS-Mrwhny-8kG5yv1IdZRnOOlyBX4W39IkIxfTBAAVotOb2LM9WaQoBpFB1G6G/s1600/178442_4878045277000_1307109830_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcl7Yvl0qA98W98x2omOnf8yRlPaBZI4aVox1eq1V1M9sShYql034LLNEH4wskw66N-mwIC-BX4PMLNCS-Mrwhny-8kG5yv1IdZRnOOlyBX4W39IkIxfTBAAVotOb2LM9WaQoBpFB1G6G/s320/178442_4878045277000_1307109830_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing their thing!</td></tr>
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This year, they added another cheer squad, making all the squads smaller than in years past - only 10 girls on Liv's squad this year!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpqDzp-ejBuw8jYnVO0Kr10YJFoILL_zqqh2R_LhBAmbFf63tPFvFU5NVyMBqbJSu45V2Jo5rK2QQ7LTIixm3pfZXZq8tsmbosEF2x1haCYEvh7SRzy3XbwNw32N6wj3wY9xmP_ONNOrO/s1600/131467_4878048637084_1263408212_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpqDzp-ejBuw8jYnVO0Kr10YJFoILL_zqqh2R_LhBAmbFf63tPFvFU5NVyMBqbJSu45V2Jo5rK2QQ7LTIixm3pfZXZq8tsmbosEF2x1haCYEvh7SRzy3XbwNw32N6wj3wY9xmP_ONNOrO/s320/131467_4878048637084_1263408212_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These girls practiced for weeks (and almost 14 straight days right before competition), sometimes 3 hours a day - all for their three minutes on this floor. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNj3z0tRsqZLAzru-oNltVJEo6D-CfvtphJLEQHLFRKOengYburfv8y4wTvsOX8RzpW1R8mO8boitUsPQI0sWQkt5QMOBIaigbysr32Tp7PAexGeJQqL8afvP3bZ86v4SxxR-641Cuwoc/s1600/621498_4878046837039_1901176066_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNj3z0tRsqZLAzru-oNltVJEo6D-CfvtphJLEQHLFRKOengYburfv8y4wTvsOX8RzpW1R8mO8boitUsPQI0sWQkt5QMOBIaigbysr32Tp7PAexGeJQqL8afvP3bZ86v4SxxR-641Cuwoc/s320/621498_4878046837039_1901176066_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dance portion</td></tr>
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We got there at noon and they performed at 3:45.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADdVm_mFgVWCkPyHIdbQL1au4IbTrFBCLsC1jklluRvMOI91H6sRTPMPueu6BvUkRd3BVCFFTCOMTFnfrO5Gtj1Q37VQLrVKaZCL5qsazxZ8IWZmJFD7VfNZzgsNqX3tylDON_kyIuLPL/s1600/665358_4878047237049_1439240460_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADdVm_mFgVWCkPyHIdbQL1au4IbTrFBCLsC1jklluRvMOI91H6sRTPMPueu6BvUkRd3BVCFFTCOMTFnfrO5Gtj1Q37VQLrVKaZCL5qsazxZ8IWZmJFD7VfNZzgsNqX3tylDON_kyIuLPL/s320/665358_4878047237049_1439240460_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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I don't know how they get out there with all that energy after sitting for three hours waiting.... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9eYnMfURENJXnYz2V1O1u0ZCPbm9ualoJ8kGZURgqLBqY0lX5GAT2u2yXjuuqo1wZ8F4kEUOssUAA0Vqr6dXEoi23-WofmbnlIMRO2I8rkBH8TGmoIV8sbIpfTtbzEWijqPVXKT7snbT/s1600/78286_4878046437029_862244676_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9eYnMfURENJXnYz2V1O1u0ZCPbm9ualoJ8kGZURgqLBqY0lX5GAT2u2yXjuuqo1wZ8F4kEUOssUAA0Vqr6dXEoi23-WofmbnlIMRO2I8rkBH8TGmoIV8sbIpfTtbzEWijqPVXKT7snbT/s320/78286_4878046437029_862244676_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to tumble - LOOK AT THAT SMILE!!!</td></tr>
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Since they had a small squad, they were limited in their stunting ability. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGsGvHsYJAzyO88GhLO9eoKSgWdk6g91c-RIIZUI1LJG9wGyY1YgUTuaOlMblQlFk7EWK7WVucFgeHv4h1VjLBw-24eCO2AmvN-e5Caw-j5Hcts83I7xqFBQGsgZAvCJrI_nMV4Rf1QXD/s1600/177654_4878048837089_881353418_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGsGvHsYJAzyO88GhLO9eoKSgWdk6g91c-RIIZUI1LJG9wGyY1YgUTuaOlMblQlFk7EWK7WVucFgeHv4h1VjLBw-24eCO2AmvN-e5Caw-j5Hcts83I7xqFBQGsgZAvCJrI_nMV4Rf1QXD/s320/177654_4878048837089_881353418_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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They made up for it by having back to back to back stunts. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqcqSVPQza9mO6f4Mdqwl7-wsNjVCVXeYn9Ukr5wDc8_ZI2Tvg5k8bCcLGnrmxVVVUdi3WH7Fk2jIZyMuhjQaH27YbBvKEb8isMI4jy9dfz14MPjXx99r6ZtJqstAFaKsbtM7dSn90GqF/s1600/177675_4878045997018_684310454_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqcqSVPQza9mO6f4Mdqwl7-wsNjVCVXeYn9Ukr5wDc8_ZI2Tvg5k8bCcLGnrmxVVVUdi3WH7Fk2jIZyMuhjQaH27YbBvKEb8isMI4jy9dfz14MPjXx99r6ZtJqstAFaKsbtM7dSn90GqF/s320/177675_4878045997018_684310454_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STRETCH LIV!!! DON'T DROP HER!!! (She's on the far left holding the flyer)</td></tr>
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As usual - they didn't hit all of their stunts until they were on the floor competing.</div>
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A few minor baubles but we were SO PROUD!! </div>
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The girls were not happy with their performance, but they are always harder on themselves than they need to be. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX9JpRbWqv3iekt_w9WIaXJAnxTvSi-_G3nxqPqO0VBHb7uulkHkgBzRSS5KCckjsyokO5I0RZMG2pnacceMe3OeIFCtSuNjjRSCtoilo6bWmjRy1zknAOH5_F9B-MwgB8aOmO5YTA1pz/s1600/665010_4878049877115_897707030_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX9JpRbWqv3iekt_w9WIaXJAnxTvSi-_G3nxqPqO0VBHb7uulkHkgBzRSS5KCckjsyokO5I0RZMG2pnacceMe3OeIFCtSuNjjRSCtoilo6bWmjRy1zknAOH5_F9B-MwgB8aOmO5YTA1pz/s320/665010_4878049877115_897707030_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you picture I took and had framed for their coaches. The coaches this year were so fabulous!<br /></td></tr>
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Finally - at about 6:30 the results were announced - SECOND PLACE!! </div>
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As usual, everyone was cranky and tired and hungry so we went out to eat and went straight to bed when we got home. </div>
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And, as usual, the girls got to sleep in Monday morning and miss a bit of school.<br />(I know, I know, but they were tired and it's not like they don't get good grades and they rarely miss school)</div>
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This year, their organization is paying for any squad that got first, second or third place to go to the State Championships this Sunday back down at Cole Field House.</div>
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We have three teams going - and Liv's is one of them! </div>
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It will be another long day but the girls are THRILLED!!!</div>
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I would be happier if the Redskins didn't have a home game at the same time as the competition. </div>
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NIGHTMARE!!!<br /><br />GRIDLOCK!!!!</div>
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And anyone who has ever attended a Redskins game or been on the beltway while a game is occurring will know exactly what I mean. </div>
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Wish my girl good luck!!!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-71041706263259699572012-10-30T22:19:00.000-04:002012-10-30T22:19:28.161-04:00Oh Sandy.....<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, we made it. </div>
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Sandy stopped by, overstayed her welcome (I mean she JUST WOULDN'T LEAVE) and left quite a mess.</div>
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We came through OK and lost a shutter, a few tree limbs, and lots of sleep, but we - and our home - are OK.</div>
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I don't think I could ever live somewhere that storms such as this are a regular occurrence. </div>
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The winds whipping through those trees at 2:00 in the morning frankly scared the shit out of me. </div>
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I hadn't left the house since Saturday and the kids and I have a major case of cabin fever and are totally on on each others nerves. Tempers are running high and patience is running short. Dad and I finally got out today and drove around to check out the damage. </div>
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Here are a few pictures of some local flooding. We live close to a river and although we are at a much higher elevation which means we are safe from the actual house being flooded, we pretty much have to cross the river and feeder streams (all of which are over their banks) to get anywhere. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXdXKnsnztnksDb6IaEthkhzXCyXC0NaGlglBjIYm5R84BfT0xHtDq5qAdI1ym8POAgTj49NV_hDsp1a32nNTyIotHT39iGr2Ne_wEdX6Khrzx3ulQmiwTRzxK2Fdgvr73fOHZyN13DLl/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXdXKnsnztnksDb6IaEthkhzXCyXC0NaGlglBjIYm5R84BfT0xHtDq5qAdI1ym8POAgTj49NV_hDsp1a32nNTyIotHT39iGr2Ne_wEdX6Khrzx3ulQmiwTRzxK2Fdgvr73fOHZyN13DLl/s400/097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge to my house. You can't see it but there are sport fields near the third concrete support...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SOaexX7IZ6FKQfqcFfHLbX8pjRs7bwE4QPLKM8qRpffjrestuAjDVyWOpnDZoQAkIg25eUxi6fWorKx3Txb0bWPZ62blV-rfNGVEPHbgvXEC94wGHx7yuLdOkAA-f8d_Hti_4VeLIS2G/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SOaexX7IZ6FKQfqcFfHLbX8pjRs7bwE4QPLKM8qRpffjrestuAjDVyWOpnDZoQAkIg25eUxi6fWorKx3Txb0bWPZ62blV-rfNGVEPHbgvXEC94wGHx7yuLdOkAA-f8d_Hti_4VeLIS2G/s400/102.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the sports fields is now a boat ramp. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvxLEn_rOc44Z2bJjMb0tCJqlu3cNEeIERWzJ-FovWQQu-MYBxgyDQ7BNivVzgTyaL4AeN6y2A1nWW0nRMrDNVWNTEMKtrc6K0yK8zRcGZxPFvnL5jPwFpi606nXzZ3vvrpMOTGhs7Apc/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvxLEn_rOc44Z2bJjMb0tCJqlu3cNEeIERWzJ-FovWQQu-MYBxgyDQ7BNivVzgTyaL4AeN6y2A1nWW0nRMrDNVWNTEMKtrc6K0yK8zRcGZxPFvnL5jPwFpi606nXzZ3vvrpMOTGhs7Apc/s400/098.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same place. The parking lot, running trails and soccer fields are under there ...somewhere...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUC50sc2xlo7cZ5snzo_N3fXz-MjZg7sh_f4819F_MXtTx7UciDOXTep1DpZIr4Q0n9HGAE8aaQD5EiqEHYLPuBmqEnwZR9uL9FrbfKeOdxpB8bPx-AzlnKvXBGoOkJsV2-O5SfrMHtNe/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUC50sc2xlo7cZ5snzo_N3fXz-MjZg7sh_f4819F_MXtTx7UciDOXTep1DpZIr4Q0n9HGAE8aaQD5EiqEHYLPuBmqEnwZR9uL9FrbfKeOdxpB8bPx-AzlnKvXBGoOkJsV2-O5SfrMHtNe/s400/099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You normally cant even see the river from this spot. The river banks are on the OPPOSITE side of that tree line. Usually. </td></tr>
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These were taken at around noon today, and the river is supposed to crest tomorrow so I can't imagine what that will be like.</div>
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I hope all of you that were in the storm's path made it through OK!</div>
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I'm thinking about all my family and friends from New York and New Jersey up through New England. They got hit so hard...</div>
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. Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-85598908661533478002012-10-26T21:09:00.002-04:002012-10-26T21:09:50.012-04:00Frankenwhat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Guess where I live....</div>
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(Hint - apparently we're "totally screwed")<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IpuukzI35Uf2PGWFc_am_4GMeNcGbkZ_e4641Dz8esa_hctxI6MLAvBJzAys7oozgq3nTefR0bpPI38Qm-eGPtkR5R5ENxvK_H6aUoKB8TL30SNWsNQiNj0_DYW_ZptR6GKkz5U2iJPM/s1600/Frankenstorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IpuukzI35Uf2PGWFc_am_4GMeNcGbkZ_e4641Dz8esa_hctxI6MLAvBJzAys7oozgq3nTefR0bpPI38Qm-eGPtkR5R5ENxvK_H6aUoKB8TL30SNWsNQiNj0_DYW_ZptR6GKkz5U2iJPM/s400/Frankenstorm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After last years <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2011/10/sno-tober.html" target="_blank">Snow-tober</a>, we learned our lesson....</div>
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We're bringing in plants and deck furniture and taking down the new gazebo.</div>
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I have my toilet paper.</div>
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Most importantly - Brian hit the liquor store on the way home. </div>
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Wish us luck!</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-87291883048098526482012-10-24T09:49:00.000-04:002012-10-24T09:49:23.961-04:00Catch up timeI had no idea it had been so long since I posted anything. BAAAAAAD Blogger.<br />
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It would appear that I am extremely busy - too busy to post, yes? Um, no. Just lazy really.<br />
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Let's play catch up, shall we??<br />
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1. Olivia just completed her 5th year of cheer and is gearing up for competition in mid-November. Things are about to get REAL up in here. We take our competition very seriously around here. I love her coach this year, and while it's a very small squad this year, they're a great group of girls and I know a lot of them pretty well after five years. Liv wants me to be "more involved" next year This is huge because usually she doesn't even want me to acknowledge that I'm her mother most of the time. But next year she wants me to assistant coach or be team mom. We'll see how she feels in about 6 months when I have to actually make a commitment to the next season. It will be her last season before high school (a WHOLE new ball game) so I'd like to spend it with her.<br />
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2. Oh, the joys of raising an almost 13 year old. We had a pretty rough summer this year and Olivia actually almost lost her cheer privileges Luckily, she seems to have turned a corner somewhat and matured overnight almost. She's pleasant to be around again and the level of snarkiness has died to down to once or twice a week rather than once or twice an hour. I'm OK with that - she CAN'T be pleasant all the time - who is? And she's absolutely allowed to have her own opinion and disagree with me and she absolutely can be in a bad mood. She's an almost 13 year old girl (Hello Hormones!!). What she CAN'T be is disrespectful or hurtful. Not that she doesn't have her moments, but it's definitely been better these last few weeks. And yes, I realize I just jinxed myself and the next time I see her she'll be spewing green goo everywhere while her head spins around and she levitates a la Linda Blair. But for now, all is well.<br />
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3. Sydney is loving gymnastics - and she REALLY has a talent for it. She's already moved up a level and wants to take more classes. So, it looks like we'll be selling our blood to pay for lessons (That shiz is expensive!!!). But she is so enamored with it - and wants to spend all her free time at the gym - that I just can't deny her. This is the first time she's really been this into a sport after trying many different things. And given that she had a very bad experience the first time she took gymnastics two years ago and wouldn't set foot back in the old gym where she took lessons, this is a God send. It took us two years to convince her she should give it another try, but once she did, that was it. I'm so excited to see where she goes with this.<br />
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4. The dogs are both still plugging along. Chauncey has slowed down significantly over the past few weeks and we are trying to prepare for the day when we have to say good bye. He's been such a great dog and such a blessing to our family that to even think of it has me in tears. Baxter is slowing as well, but not as quickly. The mass on his leg hasn't grown or changes at all and it doesn't bother him at all so I think we made the right decision to do nothing for the time being. At 11 and 12, they are nearing the twilight years of their sweet puppy lives and it's simply heart breaking. They've been getting lots of love and attention and LOTS of treats so hopefully we can make them happy these next few years (hopefully).<br />
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5. The house - Oh, the house. I have about 5 projects in the works right now and ALL of them must be done by Christmas. It's my year to host Christmas dinner, and of course we have the Hopkins Family get together at my house as well and then we are having our annual holiday party on December 29th (since we didn't do one last year we're going all out this year). It's going to be a busy season with lots of people coming and going and I want everything done before December 15th so I can concentrate on cleaning and organizing before the parties begin. I have scheduled for the carpets to be cleaned right before Thanksgiving (before I decorate for Christmas) and I'm thinking about hiring someone to clean my house those last two weeks of December. It just seems like a waste of money to do that, but I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up at that point - ha!<br />
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So that's about it for now. Everyone's healthy (for the most part) and happy (happy being a relative term) and I'll share what we've been working on soon. Let's just say I've been getting my paint on, using the wallpaper steamer - A LOT, and trying my hand at upholstery. Oh yeah - it's been interesting.<br />
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-91240053130742349962012-09-12T10:31:00.000-04:002012-09-12T10:31:02.830-04:0014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">14 years ago today.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We became </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2008/09/princess-and-punk.html" target="_blank">"Mr. & Mrs. Henry"</a></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It hasn't always been easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(in fact, it's often been very tough)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we haven't given up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And there's always been love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Anniversary baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's to 50 more....</span></div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-64154593038517148662012-08-30T16:11:00.000-04:002012-09-04T16:16:26.812-04:00The Front Yard - the Before and After<br />
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Since this has been "done" for the better part of a month now I thought I'd finally let you see the yard. </div>
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<a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2012/05/front-yard.html">We began this front yard project on Memorial Day weekend</a>.</div>
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Yes, that's right - in MAY.</div>
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It's AUGUST.</div>
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All of these "after" pictures were taken at the end of July, and everything has grown so much! </div>
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So, pretend it's the end of July and I'm giving you the after pictures, K?</div>
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Next week I'll show you how it looks now. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0HJ1NpoI5XwAlJ7k6L-G_JHsEqn6lu_W0i2M5Nnhx4bzF2usqKD2q9AFaB9yJEWsIvmUz46I2927_TGtFtZIg4NiQm_KmnXtKV9asd_b58LlUMMfAN5W_DkeJO3CgeY1pO97gru-U4Nn/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0HJ1NpoI5XwAlJ7k6L-G_JHsEqn6lu_W0i2M5Nnhx4bzF2usqKD2q9AFaB9yJEWsIvmUz46I2927_TGtFtZIg4NiQm_KmnXtKV9asd_b58LlUMMfAN5W_DkeJO3CgeY1pO97gru-U4Nn/s400/037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The front bed where we tore out the ivy and vinca.....
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnR18DSBnJi5CX7GEiHPaPgIGFZ4hSq-eU5HXTIKAxGdzUDY9vxhWP9UCGA-NVnmNvj2sUCYlv3yUHdAgcEwDG8l3JKeFo4hr359OMFZpUomYfgHeTUQa918ot8nzgi72t1H6wEPiwedw/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnR18DSBnJi5CX7GEiHPaPgIGFZ4hSq-eU5HXTIKAxGdzUDY9vxhWP9UCGA-NVnmNvj2sUCYlv3yUHdAgcEwDG8l3JKeFo4hr359OMFZpUomYfgHeTUQa918ot8nzgi72t1H6wEPiwedw/s400/041.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Close up of the area under the window where the rhododendrons were. <br />These were dug up and transplanted to the back yard.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQHu0p8_YaHCRKGAf3oUdAW7wuGeDjqENTvKYxVTOi0HCCm1QagHc9iEhze0E8T4ZJYzkQjT3vpx4HjIM89OaHeJKNFOv8Hqi23HV7lEfxukhpTaptVeUqg69tKr8ncOcTfRC9bBXGPr1/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQHu0p8_YaHCRKGAf3oUdAW7wuGeDjqENTvKYxVTOi0HCCm1QagHc9iEhze0E8T4ZJYzkQjT3vpx4HjIM89OaHeJKNFOv8Hqi23HV7lEfxukhpTaptVeUqg69tKr8ncOcTfRC9bBXGPr1/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We planted grass where the vinca and ivy were before. This was about 50% successful.</span></td></tr>
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The bed where the rhododendrons were yanked out got new plants in the form of two red dogwood bushes and an arborvitae.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKrx3ae6wv1d1zJbAwsFPFYrT5ZF4fy71pfPy_RcdeQZAHlA5KxcLHi7ikvio-knPyr26OevmPMWdlUbk6L8QHol9uTGRlNnNoq841pY_y5H0uKbZAD1dFn42ncOqJCM9wzTU9vJ6_Z6o/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKrx3ae6wv1d1zJbAwsFPFYrT5ZF4fy71pfPy_RcdeQZAHlA5KxcLHi7ikvio-knPyr26OevmPMWdlUbk6L8QHol9uTGRlNnNoq841pY_y5H0uKbZAD1dFn42ncOqJCM9wzTU9vJ6_Z6o/s400/038.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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The red dogwood bushes drop their leaves and the branches are a bright red in the winter. We thought it would be a nice pop of color when everything is brown and drab.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf62tr-xC9mQxyVUlbFY7y-N23RmIoVWzqLO8zdVVBVbNxCKKqxuy2tVq1FOTWqL7f1UmqvZC4_JxqImuZY0v13y2jdJmsoXLEJGvYERB9a7il7enmuIE4doQHABW79Gekrus44qeM_fO/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf62tr-xC9mQxyVUlbFY7y-N23RmIoVWzqLO8zdVVBVbNxCKKqxuy2tVq1FOTWqL7f1UmqvZC4_JxqImuZY0v13y2jdJmsoXLEJGvYERB9a7il7enmuIE4doQHABW79Gekrus44qeM_fO/s400/039.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The Arborvitae will grow up between the two windows.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfZjQNiIXRTrVQpx7FgXTJjbqxNV76evgG7PbdBTWOw5r79ISZq-DcFGGp-yANh8ZPKVEwkxu9fnm15Rc5JGeln-2Bi3wIygpLsxehPKaVx307q-9mOE14FqfT_xyUnoxkq24ILCxpcz3/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfZjQNiIXRTrVQpx7FgXTJjbqxNV76evgG7PbdBTWOw5r79ISZq-DcFGGp-yANh8ZPKVEwkxu9fnm15Rc5JGeln-2Bi3wIygpLsxehPKaVx307q-9mOE14FqfT_xyUnoxkq24ILCxpcz3/s400/038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The area in front of what is to be our bedroom and the bed in front of the porch got a little face lift.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDWtlaykR0m5wQrWmnnJsayk0mvrXXzGMey1LOBHBy6Kcuui4Cp9AhDMWjnOgOjUjTIGHIUKVmBe6ceFr93CB8uOB3qi83aFL5HK2vmbEbvdEgtzuSq_79SQWyJiP-8LaswzA7S_oY3f-/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDWtlaykR0m5wQrWmnnJsayk0mvrXXzGMey1LOBHBy6Kcuui4Cp9AhDMWjnOgOjUjTIGHIUKVmBe6ceFr93CB8uOB3qi83aFL5HK2vmbEbvdEgtzuSq_79SQWyJiP-8LaswzA7S_oY3f-/s400/033.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I planted some very low maintenance knock out roses (which are nearly twice this size now).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eMYrcnkUQZAhNXM3z1EYbwctDnyDn31_RoBiDT5_GizZDSOE9JiMli1B6zFc3B_8YCinB-R-uH1xXLlKMSRa1XSwmSNMWZlRubcDu3MxpqcPqzBgF9b142fXD8Xc3uiotLiQM6EpbUOm/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eMYrcnkUQZAhNXM3z1EYbwctDnyDn31_RoBiDT5_GizZDSOE9JiMli1B6zFc3B_8YCinB-R-uH1xXLlKMSRa1XSwmSNMWZlRubcDu3MxpqcPqzBgF9b142fXD8Xc3uiotLiQM6EpbUOm/s400/034.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Although my goal in this whole process is to have as many perennials as possible (I don't like playing in the dirt) I planted a few annuals here for some color and behind them, I transplanted a mum from elsewhere in the yard.</div>
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I love mums and they will be making a bigger appearance next year.</div>
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TOTALLY OFF TOPIC - Have I ever told you about the mums we had at our old house? They were used a decorations at our wedding in 1998 and I made Brian plant all of them in our yard. By the time we moved 9 years later they were big, bushy and beautiful. I wanted to dig some up and bring them to this house because I loved them so much. </div>
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Brian though that the new owners would appreciate them more. And he was too lazy to dig them up.</div>
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Guess what the new owners did about a week after moving in?</div>
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Dug them all up and took them to the dump.</div>
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I was devastated. </div>
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I'm still bitter, can you tell?</div>
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Moving on....</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BEFORE</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iLcwy8JiOXyn9nXhmGfuCfQXdctC3OKdJjyWxgpVLIY4mNzqu-ktMTkn6paWsNw1HPOqlvV5xmXkSFWGi0VScGD35D-esLdkhPfjLZfB5TtjVK9LbvQSLQ13G5pnYoLtXuQzXe82ORRj/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iLcwy8JiOXyn9nXhmGfuCfQXdctC3OKdJjyWxgpVLIY4mNzqu-ktMTkn6paWsNw1HPOqlvV5xmXkSFWGi0VScGD35D-esLdkhPfjLZfB5TtjVK9LbvQSLQ13G5pnYoLtXuQzXe82ORRj/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh0DIEuK3z2JAGO5u2wOZSkiF-Ue5oyqAvm9kuEhWDB9jw79ByRpeE0bsULp7VVyhKkIb77VgwJ_KuobRFvWhfTljI-AmNrOku2Iio6sBxaD07n9IoIFRo64YLZHESJdSvI3KqhGTE59J/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh0DIEuK3z2JAGO5u2wOZSkiF-Ue5oyqAvm9kuEhWDB9jw79ByRpeE0bsULp7VVyhKkIb77VgwJ_KuobRFvWhfTljI-AmNrOku2Iio6sBxaD07n9IoIFRo64YLZHESJdSvI3KqhGTE59J/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlEjZhyPkItj_Zf9PPQqfaFr5Iq9aJE2T3LfyPhA9EIb4-grKU_5JQtcj3SRniUa7dc54h3zo-tA_WoVSWk4dYl8ZBWbPLDYOSbDpAsfO709KOZSvWGkTIP1CCeSUZ_msXfPWxCsUtUnd/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlEjZhyPkItj_Zf9PPQqfaFr5Iq9aJE2T3LfyPhA9EIb4-grKU_5JQtcj3SRniUa7dc54h3zo-tA_WoVSWk4dYl8ZBWbPLDYOSbDpAsfO709KOZSvWGkTIP1CCeSUZ_msXfPWxCsUtUnd/s400/046.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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This is the walkway from the driveway up to the front door. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWrMc5EcyvpUVu32M577LeTQj1YmvoQw6XVr-wqGX7NsgByxwPVuyHzIGJknhXJhznX7RM777He1VvNWJTOSh3pqMS2Lf2OwYCYfPhvhwyWyYv8MbQWY2rG1QNcNeZxLjMy-en3e6VcPz/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWrMc5EcyvpUVu32M577LeTQj1YmvoQw6XVr-wqGX7NsgByxwPVuyHzIGJknhXJhznX7RM777He1VvNWJTOSh3pqMS2Lf2OwYCYfPhvhwyWyYv8MbQWY2rG1QNcNeZxLjMy-en3e6VcPz/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The bed at the bottom of the walkway is a little bare, but even though this is the before picture - it doesn't get much better. The bed is difficult to work with because it's shaded most of the day and the tree roots leave little room for planting. And then the deer eat whatever actually roots and grows.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsrOi7CprKhqvpU7eZwn0QxLgT2r2EFXERDsIYcmQzVsprqOJY8lKoz6Nhmld_scGyF5YuMkJIUu3tziv_mY1WZFusLiPypwplI431Ze1tVSIpNgdGo7L6sSZW_N0dD5cmFWXrCtirIVR/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsrOi7CprKhqvpU7eZwn0QxLgT2r2EFXERDsIYcmQzVsprqOJY8lKoz6Nhmld_scGyF5YuMkJIUu3tziv_mY1WZFusLiPypwplI431Ze1tVSIpNgdGo7L6sSZW_N0dD5cmFWXrCtirIVR/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Looking back down the walkway toward the driveway.</div>
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Remember the giant bushes with the pink flowers that I pulled out <a href="http://adventureswiththehenrys.blogspot.com/2012/06/now-that-my-mom-is-home-from-hospital.html">All. By. Myself</a>? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5SJjEnxOrSte25Tc2un3Ae1GgcFz51LbnlCzGANocJSH_R3m5fIDcE7mpW33omu_2Lo1YeueUW69SSkZ7-OdJsLShHwLRoLrte_1AQYd2WZRQ-xMZPk_6o4nXIsYD06RtgWsWV_8uy7x/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5SJjEnxOrSte25Tc2un3Ae1GgcFz51LbnlCzGANocJSH_R3m5fIDcE7mpW33omu_2Lo1YeueUW69SSkZ7-OdJsLShHwLRoLrte_1AQYd2WZRQ-xMZPk_6o4nXIsYD06RtgWsWV_8uy7x/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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They looked like this when I was done tearing out a bunch and cutting down the rest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7DA_40fEUYUPZuyoT6MWGU5FwgToj2k3SOLVv4UMNKWqeXWDlaoNfU1VOmz0vVMwIQCq-ZvpDReuXJXfUPwFQbaOxGpW8ovDoSXQ_S1Wk3HMqL99WcyYvottyhdU3v-ddDV6RY0nzmW/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7DA_40fEUYUPZuyoT6MWGU5FwgToj2k3SOLVv4UMNKWqeXWDlaoNfU1VOmz0vVMwIQCq-ZvpDReuXJXfUPwFQbaOxGpW8ovDoSXQ_S1Wk3HMqL99WcyYvottyhdU3v-ddDV6RY0nzmW/s400/027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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They now look like this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3bKfmfYNgHdszZtKvUxKF6pSdJ6qzrg4sSLQKDzb9HPdGnuDshU2aeEUfxi7hfTbeeUSBpQCqmljiuBlwclfsTUHpIe_DsGDFrvP3sSwYRAOj-eU58lAA7q5aRXm_yRFyPMNDjEXhksx/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3bKfmfYNgHdszZtKvUxKF6pSdJ6qzrg4sSLQKDzb9HPdGnuDshU2aeEUfxi7hfTbeeUSBpQCqmljiuBlwclfsTUHpIe_DsGDFrvP3sSwYRAOj-eU58lAA7q5aRXm_yRFyPMNDjEXhksx/s400/022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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They are coming back beautifully. </div>
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And actually need to be trimmed again because they are now about 3 times this size!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP7LmozKYf3L79kvZ27VKElnLth0j6evQgYaqTw7c4bmrFGER3TEJhJiMIP85JnFPG-HAnqPw5TNHk1SVFSzvHi5nxGRuQjCfjtBY02syWWijeuNFpAmxd3ol91agyNluwBsrAcBfa48_/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnjQV8M_wj-0jiKvyoJufysc1BW38ktHVXLxay8rNe1NvYtcy3SilvEHwOnCLB8hu531gM-YbdD-WNHEwM31WahSEmpjMdLOVGT26bjmgTz7xPIQpB_WZ294Z62WQA7IpeezFn_bF3sm7/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnjQV8M_wj-0jiKvyoJufysc1BW38ktHVXLxay8rNe1NvYtcy3SilvEHwOnCLB8hu531gM-YbdD-WNHEwM31WahSEmpjMdLOVGT26bjmgTz7xPIQpB_WZ294Z62WQA7IpeezFn_bF3sm7/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Look ma! No plants!! That green stuff is actually vinca that's slowly spreading. I'm OK with it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhoH7hwHaFa1-bwGdJ-PIeB5x4SXc9Hc-bvBJ08Zz7FCoWpqlCKiQRrOVqPb2II28QjNLIl0SQRFVgiMi9weHOTDBIRrgdrIQ-Sta47Oi_mlyVMEwvZxl0XoJLdrnBEVFquGXY8wuPxU1/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhoH7hwHaFa1-bwGdJ-PIeB5x4SXc9Hc-bvBJ08Zz7FCoWpqlCKiQRrOVqPb2II28QjNLIl0SQRFVgiMi9weHOTDBIRrgdrIQ-Sta47Oi_mlyVMEwvZxl0XoJLdrnBEVFquGXY8wuPxU1/s400/010.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I can't believe how much everything has grown since these pictures!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BEFORE</span></div>
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Even the before is pretty. Even though there was dead grass and out of control bushes and no flowers or mulch. </div>
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So, there you have it. Our summer project this year. Hopefully we have created a good foundation for next year and will simply have to worry about maintenance. </div>
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Because I don't like to garden, plant flowers or get dirty and I got my fill this summer. </div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-48881404223562649122012-08-21T13:11:00.001-04:002012-08-21T13:32:55.411-04:00Happy Birthday to me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My birthday always falls near the annual 4th of July party my parents throw. <br /><br /> This year was no exception - ha!<br /><br />Fortunately for me, my two lovely daughters decided to turn it into a surprise birthday party for me!<br /><br />Unfortunately, Brian's Uncle passed away and the funeral turned out to be the day of the party, so not only did they have to tell me about it, we had to cancel it.<br /><br />My poor girls were just devastated (lots of tears), but I was so touched that they would do that for me - it made ME cry (*sniff, sniff*)<br /><br />BUT - we celebrated together on my actual birthday.<br /><br />I came home from work to discover that the girls had decorated the kitchen and this is what I saw as I came up the stairs from the garage after work....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two singing girls....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They used the big pots to hold the streamers because they ran out of tape</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They set up my computer to play "Happy Birthday" </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My decorations and homemade card - my favorite kind :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little goofball</td></tr>
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It's tradition at the Henry House that the birthday girl or boy gets to choose whatever they want to eat on their actual birthday.<br /><br />I chose Lobster (because - amazingly - it was much cheaper than the steak I was thinking about) and we brought home live lobsters and cooked them.</div>
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It was the girls first time seeing a lobster cooked and they were a bit freaked out - and I get it. <br /><br />Putting a live lobster into a pot of steam and killing it so you can eat it? </div>
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Kind of gross.</div>
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But they completely got over it when I gave them each their own dish of melted butter for their lobsters.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liv with her lobster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also had mussels with wine, garlic, butter and green onions - my absolute favorite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN10F4c3gOk1SBWY2BayW34qgYuD7z-qm7_VRRkUetddNWGKlaIvxFkZt9CBsMg4t0VsAs1thTtrSFPlDNeDeMBrQEx87BQTOUtsTXbR0CUKRsqYGWPAnPfKpcy9WDB5hPj6iGlhXXJfNy/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN10F4c3gOk1SBWY2BayW34qgYuD7z-qm7_VRRkUetddNWGKlaIvxFkZt9CBsMg4t0VsAs1thTtrSFPlDNeDeMBrQEx87BQTOUtsTXbR0CUKRsqYGWPAnPfKpcy9WDB5hPj6iGlhXXJfNy/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She actually apologized to her lobster for what she was about to do..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm ready! Let's crack him open!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could be better than a fresh lobster and nice cold beer on your birthday?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvZHIjNDzbWYH07haHgtLBgoWxfbkaU46mx1_VnViLxKqDoiLV3nJjMXJmMrHsVSOjMcktjfefvkm_l4Y_843PDaLxYuJLghke_RoyZY7BkcTLGwSXyXSEMbTgUtlujuMP2vHBzcjzPmU/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvZHIjNDzbWYH07haHgtLBgoWxfbkaU46mx1_VnViLxKqDoiLV3nJjMXJmMrHsVSOjMcktjfefvkm_l4Y_843PDaLxYuJLghke_RoyZY7BkcTLGwSXyXSEMbTgUtlujuMP2vHBzcjzPmU/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's kissing his lobster. No, I don't know why. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nom Nom Nom!</td></tr>
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So that was my birthday this year. <br /><br />Streamers, homemade cards and fresh lobster, at home with my three favorite people. </div>
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Best. Birthday. Ever. </div>
<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503817805091042948.post-63832339480770944712012-08-20T20:00:00.000-04:002012-08-20T20:00:12.447-04:00Soooo.....Um...yeah. Apparently I have a blog...<br />
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Whoops!<br />
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Here's a little run down of what's been happenin' since the last time we got together...<br />
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1. My birthday<br />
2. Finished the front yard<br />
3. VACATION<br />
4. Laziness<br />
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In that order.<br />
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On the bright side? <br />
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I have now downloaded ALL of the pictures for the last two months and will entertain you with pictures and commentary of the major events of the Henry Summer of 2012 in a series of posts.<br />
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You're welcome.<br />
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Stay tuned!!!<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15502213181172499151noreply@blogger.com0