tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50278767122254278722024-02-18T23:13:33.588-05:00Created for His GloryPrachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-9030882783407183052012-11-22T11:16:00.000-05:002012-11-23T11:17:51.933-05:00Thanksgiving 2012<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYBefr_O3_H1_PmS4wZKE7abcnL-BgW6Yub4aZKUCU_bBsqx8c-kUbnEEhzeQh2DMwoIbOQM5dxbjolcXcYX7gmyt_MqLu96n0WpD2mlZGuCN1ua0y7ZDOtkksKoqQ1rslguc0J00gSs/s1600/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYBefr_O3_H1_PmS4wZKE7abcnL-BgW6Yub4aZKUCU_bBsqx8c-kUbnEEhzeQh2DMwoIbOQM5dxbjolcXcYX7gmyt_MqLu96n0WpD2mlZGuCN1ua0y7ZDOtkksKoqQ1rslguc0J00gSs/s320/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Happy Thanksgiving! We celebrated with some new friends and without some key family this year. JoDee was in Virginia preparing to be commissioned for permanent assignment with the International Mission Board.We are excited to see her fulfilling the calling on her life, but missed her today! </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The table looked beautiful thanks to Grammy and the kids and we had so much GREAT food. The usual turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, cranberry butter and rolls, cranberry jello mold. We made thankfulness rolls from a magazine article. Each person filled out a slip of paper with what they were thankful for and we buttered the strips and rolled them up into crescent rolls. Then, at dinner, we pulled out the strip and had fun trying to guess who wrote what. Great in theory, but pulling out the strips wasn't easy and destroyed the crescent roll and one person at half the strip because she forgot about the paper! Probably won't do that again, but it was fun and new. For dessert, we had pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate cake, lemon bars and key lime bars and homemade vanilla whipped cream.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I didn't do a very good job of photo documenting the day, but did talk the kids into going outside for a few pics since they were all dressed up...you can tell they were thrilled!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqY0cFkoQssyTl0Qef_lWLlXTpJiREfVgs5HWyAU9eKG-4fmvsBKXRTmosyUPPqaxGyeu69k7malNvdH8ig-48rhNew5bIl3twOtCYbsHslWMjAU2kqsm5mwkGEEBSNjpc6k0ATN598E/s1600/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqY0cFkoQssyTl0Qef_lWLlXTpJiREfVgs5HWyAU9eKG-4fmvsBKXRTmosyUPPqaxGyeu69k7malNvdH8ig-48rhNew5bIl3twOtCYbsHslWMjAU2kqsm5mwkGEEBSNjpc6k0ATN598E/s320/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3BeYDpV2t8D1EdlPoTzjS_mQWc9Ak9QzJZ1-qcmxlfczeWEwi2Bw1eHKQgC5ouda6gZdxa1aljBQNsXJskWj9K9aOJn9Q2beL__Y-a6YjCyhDnDjsLnh-As-GPnt0pz2b8UOb7ilO-U/s1600/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3BeYDpV2t8D1EdlPoTzjS_mQWc9Ak9QzJZ1-qcmxlfczeWEwi2Bw1eHKQgC5ouda6gZdxa1aljBQNsXJskWj9K9aOJn9Q2beL__Y-a6YjCyhDnDjsLnh-As-GPnt0pz2b8UOb7ilO-U/s320/2012-11-22+Thanksgiving+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thinking of those who couldn't be with us today. We love you lots!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-71609400167426075582012-09-02T19:22:00.000-04:002012-09-02T20:02:07.177-04:00Another teen in the house! Happy Birthday Riley!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh9MC7Yxq3ajp2MAJsMr3uGJA-B_IRkpm1OfQ8AGG66yFhwEcgNrvMX3iUop4QPukW3CSv6d9Avht00hDgnmFc95VkhU68OtGrCT_ldsDm3_c-kyeGOxLJ74J1Iiat7ETXPT8y40Uj4Y/s1600/July+August+2012+and+first+day+of+school+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh9MC7Yxq3ajp2MAJsMr3uGJA-B_IRkpm1OfQ8AGG66yFhwEcgNrvMX3iUop4QPukW3CSv6d9Avht00hDgnmFc95VkhU68OtGrCT_ldsDm3_c-kyeGOxLJ74J1Iiat7ETXPT8y40Uj4Y/s320/July+August+2012+and+first+day+of+school+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
August 11th was Riley's big day! I feel sorry for him because his day was a bit overshadowed by our annual church event Easter in August where we were volunteering all day. He rolled with it and decided for his birthday he would rather travel 1 1/2 hours to the closest Texas Roadhouse as a family to celebrate. So the next day, after church, we went to Wesley Chapel for lunch. We ate our weight in rolls and all had a great time. Our waiter had Riley convinced that they didn't have any birthday rituals after I asked about embarrassing saddle rides and birthday announcements to the entire restaurant...and the rest of us were convinced too until...</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz6fPQa59tQlV0TFD943jyX5rf5iUqDk87cKyt5bey-B236ZK0GpynBa9pBX2MOhebiiVgbdfNl9HD9f1kobg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
He got up fairly quickly and sat in the saddle, I was worried he would just refuse, much like he did when he was three years old at his preschool Christmas program (one of my favorite memories of him when he was little--seems like so long ago that he was "little"!!) when he was supposed to wear antlers and jingle a bell as he sang. He took the antlers off three times before the teacher finally gave up and didn't make him put them back on. He sat and stared out into the crowd as his classmates belted out the adorable songs they worked weeks to learn. We laughed so hard and thought we might be getting a glimpse of his personality. </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
Turns out we were right! He is not a go with the crowd kind of guy unless he agrees with what the crowd is doing. He has his own idea of what is cool and his parents can't change his mind either! He LOVES shoes and loves the Nike website where you can design your own cleats, basketball shoes, or any athletic shoes. He asks to go to Ross almost every week because they have inexpensive name brand shoes and get in new shipments every week. Further, he is now in a size 13 and they always have a lot of selection since its not a popular size. He also loves any sport, playing football, basketball and soccer this year. He enjoys working out and playing basketball or swimming at the community center in our neighborhood and was very consistent in doing that even by himself this summer. His hard work has paid off for football this fall. He was named a captain of his team even though he is one of the youngest kids on the team. He is playing defensive end and tight end. Its been difficult for him to learn to catch the ball while getting hit (he has been the one to deliver the hits in the past!) and even more difficult to watch from the stands. I never knew they don't have a rule like in the NFL for the "defenseless receiver". He has been hit brutally a couple times already while stretching up for a catch.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1aaivYV9Ej2iFAhPcylIhgwnaxyS5yYa9fRucRKV5D5davsddz2HeV64OsT3bbIGSZ30DaAnVKKUSW7b1Boszo1-NLkCkEkepmWydjwG2muv90cmPOi8lBrw0mrUg-FSI00af7B23NE/s1600/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1aaivYV9Ej2iFAhPcylIhgwnaxyS5yYa9fRucRKV5D5davsddz2HeV64OsT3bbIGSZ30DaAnVKKUSW7b1Boszo1-NLkCkEkepmWydjwG2muv90cmPOi8lBrw0mrUg-FSI00af7B23NE/s320/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now for Riley's statistics: Height: 6'1" (>99%ile) Weight: 152 (96%ile). What he wants to be when he grows up: professional basketball or football player, policeman. Loves listening to music (Skillet, Lecrae), quoting Bill Cosby and competing. He makes me laugh. He has managed to learn to juggle a demanding sports schedule with his school work (with some reminders) and is consistently on the honor roll.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Riley,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You changed everything when you came into our lives. You are the exact opposite of your older brother and keep us on our toes constantly. You are a precious gift from God and bring so much laughter to our family. We are so proud of your dedication and determination and willingness to work hard. You are a positive role model for your siblings and teammates. Keep up the good work! God has a plan for your life and we pray that you seek that path with all your heart, soul, mind and strength!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We love you, </div>
Mom and Dad<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-66736542988506440682012-09-01T18:09:00.000-04:002012-09-02T18:13:30.274-04:00So. Far. Behind! Happy Birthday Holden!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF3-Z8PLm5FeSpZccuPF1l2DXv_UTNRjtk4KwlbUngCxwYabbtcKTug36VyHvO01cHVSb7evV3nfV8Ef5G5F_UCcKQl9inbwtgAPGUpOcrbWpfs7_hy5xGmcUpftp-1vgv2NBSGwyfns/s1600/July+2012+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF3-Z8PLm5FeSpZccuPF1l2DXv_UTNRjtk4KwlbUngCxwYabbtcKTug36VyHvO01cHVSb7evV3nfV8Ef5G5F_UCcKQl9inbwtgAPGUpOcrbWpfs7_hy5xGmcUpftp-1vgv2NBSGwyfns/s320/July+2012+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Time marches on and is no respecter of my intentions! I am embarrassed that it has taken me so long to get this posted! Holden turned 11 recently and had a low key party with a couple friends at the pool and wanted an Olympic ring birthday cake to acknowledge the start of this year's games on the same day as his birthday. He has decided he wants to be an Olympic athlete and is now trying to decide what event he will compete in. I already burst his bubble by telling him that many athletes have trained since preschool, but so far he is not put off. Got to love his optimism!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Holden is our very special youngest boy who is very smart (nearly straight A's every year), and to whom most things come easily. He rode a bike without training wheels before he turned 4! Having two big brothers has always motivated him! He thinks the point of most activities is to have fun, including the van ride to school (about three miles from our house). He loves to play any game and is a fierce competitor. He loves chess and I quit playing with him years ago because he could beat me so quickly and decisively! Too bad that isn't an Olympic sport! I think if ping pong is then chess should be too...but I digress! He is currently playing basketball and football. After faithfully attending conditioning all summer long, he has earned a starting spot on the offensive line of his football team (he is proud to play the same position as Michael Ohr--The Blind Side movie). We were fairly surprised because its only his second season and he is the youngest boy on his team. He is playing with some kids who have played for 7 years and are 13 years old! He tries very hard and is fairly...ahem...bulky and strong, so those are all in his favor! Its pretty amazing what they go through at practices and games in the heat and with the sun beating down on them! They have all earned my respect as I sit in the shade and drip with sweat!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SmSytp2Uj1Ut1cFxl5mL5I9Os-vY0o5qLn2deARraQD_N1BkvYWVFLC2LwPaTCX-rePNeailAq2NRkKa9LzuKaZIrzGQsuPDbcz0w5ft9iSTovwlgLgGgxr2NgAafRYi51S-jRFvkwc/s1600/6377271957_5b901af34a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SmSytp2Uj1Ut1cFxl5mL5I9Os-vY0o5qLn2deARraQD_N1BkvYWVFLC2LwPaTCX-rePNeailAq2NRkKa9LzuKaZIrzGQsuPDbcz0w5ft9iSTovwlgLgGgxr2NgAafRYi51S-jRFvkwc/s320/6377271957_5b901af34a_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think I posted on FB about his latest statistics, but here they are again for posterity: Height: 5'0" (81%ile)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Weight: 112 (93%ile). What he wants to be when he grows up? Still trying to decide between Air Force Pilot and Dermatologist. He was just baptized recently and is in 5th grade. He loves video games (of course!), legos, swimming, playing any board game or card game and eats almost anything I put in front of him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My favorite memory of something cute Holden said was the topic of conversation today at lunch and I thought many of you might enjoy it too. I was VERY pregnant with Alayna and he was almost three years old. We were chatting with Darryl and Kathy Lindley at church one Sunday and I was standing directly across from Darryl with Holden in between us just about belly button height at the time. He was looking at my belly, then Darryl's belly back and forth and I could see the wheels turning, but I wasn't fast enough to stop what came out of his mouth. He gently laid his hand on Darryl's belly and asked, "That yours baby?" I was mortified for a split second before Darryl threw his head back and laughed out loud. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Holden,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are such a special blessing to our family! I know God has lots of plans for your life. We are so glad God chose us to be your parents and are looking forward to watching you grow into the man He wants you to be!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All our love,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mom and Dad</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-68333712601019090542012-05-29T15:01:00.000-04:002012-05-29T15:01:11.333-04:00Happy 8th Birthday Alayna! Remembering one of my favorite days...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnZTpk_A_9D3fCIp5h0gJD5djW_0-a29PRtpGuIaj1r99gYiUEjBzWIar9lQZPPeJX1qREGyO380Fn3Yfrvw4RAPZuCPJPNQN0yy7D8S79JbxjMZgHr0KDeAixH_rmkJZ1ahnCzTJi1Q/s1600/alayna5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnZTpk_A_9D3fCIp5h0gJD5djW_0-a29PRtpGuIaj1r99gYiUEjBzWIar9lQZPPeJX1qREGyO380Fn3Yfrvw4RAPZuCPJPNQN0yy7D8S79JbxjMZgHr0KDeAixH_rmkJZ1ahnCzTJi1Q/s320/alayna5.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
All six of us went to Adventure Island recently with the kids' school. The big boys had a great time and enjoyed some freedom to hang out with their friends while we stayed close to the youngest and had a great time watching Alayna enjoy the rides and slides for the first time. Several of her good friends were there too and she thoroughly enjoyed the day as we all did. We were sitting together at the table after dinner reflecting on the day. She told me it was on the list of her favorite days included with our swim with the manatees last year for her birthday and also our Disney cruise for Gabe's 13th birthday. I was impressed she remembered either! Then she asked me what my favorite day was. I thought for just a few seconds, days like my wedding day (AWESOME day), graduation days (there were three!), landing a job, the birth of my children all flooded into my mind. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
My mind settled on the day of her birth. Not because I love her any more than my boys, Lord knows that is impossible! I think its my favorite because of the anticipation it accompanied, followed by the most unbelievable words..."You got your girl." Those four words I will never forget. My doctor, after catching the baby turned her toward her dad and allowed him to make the announcement by asking, "What have you got Dad?" I hadn't dared hoped for a girl after so many boys. Seems the track record was rather proven. After two heartbreaking miscarriages, I was so delighted to carry this baby to term that I truly was ecstatic to be having a fourth, the sex didn't matter. But, there were a few moments when I would let my mind wander to the thoughts of my reaction if in fact we did discover she was a girl on the day of her birth. I thought I might scream and rejoice very loudly, and then would push those thoughts from my mind. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Deciding to be surprised this last time was so much part of the fun of that day. I cried several times that day: on the way to the hospital, while I was in labor (we can probably blame that on the hormones and PAIN!) just to know that the anticipation was coming to a close and we were finally going to have an end to the mystery! I actually thought I was keeping the anticipation alive so I could at least buy a couple girl outfits for the "just in case its a girl" as I truly thought those were the only girly things I would purchasing for a daughter of my own. I just didn't want to spend even one single second feeling the tiniest bit disappointed if the baby was a boy.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Turns out, I was speechless and unable to make a sound at the time Paul spoke those words. We recently watched the video of her birth and verified that. Frankly, she was making enough noise for the two of us! Since that day, she has brought so much joy and diversity to our house! While you can imagine, with three big brothers, she isn't always the girliest girl (asked for a batman cake for her 4th birthday), but she loves to color, draw, twirl and TALK! She has never been interested in baby dolls, but swaddles and cares tenderly for her stuffties as she calls them. She has such a tender heart and is growing tall and willowy. She seems to love sports like her brothers too and is looking very much forward to starting volleyball and continuing basketball. Now the anticipation continues as we wait out see what plans God has for our special, precious gift.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNbhFLNoSK3z1zRgq3eIxv3ZZuBWgi1oU8aMVQm5Hu0HuZGOoPXyINPsfgQFzPrr1w9qnjbk0cZrIwKT7wFnDbYcBT7rJAj3YCh5fQM5YYWGq-7rTCa2-CeJqHNUYX_Vmk8-BnbSEgGk/s1600/April+2012+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNbhFLNoSK3z1zRgq3eIxv3ZZuBWgi1oU8aMVQm5Hu0HuZGOoPXyINPsfgQFzPrr1w9qnjbk0cZrIwKT7wFnDbYcBT7rJAj3YCh5fQM5YYWGq-7rTCa2-CeJqHNUYX_Vmk8-BnbSEgGk/s320/April+2012+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Alayna,</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
We love you and are so blessed to be your parents! We are proud of the young lady you are growing up to be. We pray you continue to search for God's will in your life and allow Him to guide your every step!<br />
<br />
All our love,<br />
Mom and Dad<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcYlhLXptLbrRFOyXS2etqBPhlCkbaEvPSA4xFtsp-WQBjfht3TM-mPVgE1o3tj-klmOsiHHL8TpwKxmKQJ8G0CrHTy7UcH3KD7kkFsENeRAP7N7mZ_W1UYQbpFN2DNVKL-dQESRNJw/s1600/alayna1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorcYlhLXptLbrRFOyXS2etqBPhlCkbaEvPSA4xFtsp-WQBjfht3TM-mPVgE1o3tj-klmOsiHHL8TpwKxmKQJ8G0CrHTy7UcH3KD7kkFsENeRAP7N7mZ_W1UYQbpFN2DNVKL-dQESRNJw/s320/alayna1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcWdUaC4rB3g2maWoRIAdwHAB38W1VKXM2fhaumFTmkHUfp45vvfVeQsEe5daMRb7Hoo9jvwn-HX49QIYsrERv_G4hbfbrrj9f2J1gW3VRLw4rtHZgCVf1-9HL0IsJ-zzz0xVNwlcXTo/s1600/alayna2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcWdUaC4rB3g2maWoRIAdwHAB38W1VKXM2fhaumFTmkHUfp45vvfVeQsEe5daMRb7Hoo9jvwn-HX49QIYsrERv_G4hbfbrrj9f2J1gW3VRLw4rtHZgCVf1-9HL0IsJ-zzz0xVNwlcXTo/s320/alayna2.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItR_HLN6wwjDGalsMT8dMo89fdDFOdinlt8zfOPnlm2SOeUDoaTr0ZsIJtW-ZRc9r3GIuVkLjXwJIlcz5-StBIrBSFlkBQNPtu9Bsi20hsmp3NlkLzXyhNZ8hqFjaD2lPVb4hGN5kdYw/s1600/alayna3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItR_HLN6wwjDGalsMT8dMo89fdDFOdinlt8zfOPnlm2SOeUDoaTr0ZsIJtW-ZRc9r3GIuVkLjXwJIlcz5-StBIrBSFlkBQNPtu9Bsi20hsmp3NlkLzXyhNZ8hqFjaD2lPVb4hGN5kdYw/s320/alayna3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6sPLuaHm1lsaAKQOhQIqcbev7EhD2PxLwokHmwCT6OryE1w-7z5nhw0V8vbOTVgXjQb49exnCbfF1YqjIO9VXYH15CErRteJ6BGIk_SUPvz7kBX4fx-Y3S8T1T9BGcbhpecaF_7dpIg/s1600/alayna4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6sPLuaHm1lsaAKQOhQIqcbev7EhD2PxLwokHmwCT6OryE1w-7z5nhw0V8vbOTVgXjQb49exnCbfF1YqjIO9VXYH15CErRteJ6BGIk_SUPvz7kBX4fx-Y3S8T1T9BGcbhpecaF_7dpIg/s320/alayna4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Alayna found this patch of flowers as we were waiting at a park.She enjoyed picking them without knowing I was snapping pictures like crazy! Love that girl!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-11254644746267955492011-12-23T16:11:00.000-05:002011-12-23T16:11:17.724-05:00The Year in Review 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pa4G_Ixx1s/TvS5sSBBX_I/AAAAAAAAFwg/aAQxlIocMx4/s1600/6377267101_26a8dfd421_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pa4G_Ixx1s/TvS5sSBBX_I/AAAAAAAAFwg/aAQxlIocMx4/s320/6377267101_26a8dfd421_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Wow, this is going to be the toughest year to review because I just blinked and it sped by! Can anyone else relate?? I am not sure if this happens because we are so busy with all the kids are involved in, working so hard, or getting old...surely not the latter!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrkYmoL5b9c/TvS5rApHfdI/AAAAAAAAFwY/-YDUEPhCkG0/s1600/6377266533_59cc328a6f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrkYmoL5b9c/TvS5rApHfdI/AAAAAAAAFwY/-YDUEPhCkG0/s320/6377266533_59cc328a6f_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The kids are growing like crazy and keeping us busy with their sports involvement. We sort of knew this would be coming, but were not prepared for how crazy our schedules would be. We were thrilled to be at nearly every game our kids were playing in and love watching them. We both agree its easier to be the one out there on the field or floor than the parent in the stands!! We have bleacher shaped bottoms and have sweated and scorched, and even froze in the stands these past few months! It is great for family togetherness too! We are grateful for our church and church family for the growth in all of our relationships with The Father this year. Alayna was baptized this summer and we have joined a small group that meets in a family's home and have been amazed at how God has used this group to bless us and allow us to bless others as well. We have developed some very real intimacy and some life long friendships to be sure! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4A8HScsPyk/TvS5troqgpI/AAAAAAAAFww/wfKTNOMcgH0/s1600/6377270851_1b33b91357_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4A8HScsPyk/TvS5troqgpI/AAAAAAAAFww/wfKTNOMcgH0/s320/6377270851_1b33b91357_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">December marked one year at my current job in Pulmonary Medicine. It has been a lot of hours, but I love what I do and the people I work with. JoDee and Mom have been able to fill in the gaps between Paul's and my schedules to make sure the kids are safe and doing their homework and have a ride to a game or practice or someone to pick them up. I have NO idea what we would do without them! It is such a joy to have some of our family here and the kids benefit the most, I think! JoDee has been teaching in Alayna's class since October and has been offered a position for the rest of the year too, part time. What an answer to prayers!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yU0_m70KrXU/TvS5RbqcpLI/AAAAAAAAFvw/IlrmruEYKQ0/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+033.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriel graduated from 8th grade in the spring and started 9th grade this fall. I am so THRILLED that we can have all four of the kids at the same school. They watch out for each other and keep tabs on each other so I get all the scoop! These are some of his classmates: </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dyb0FceJrXs/TvS5NVJgAlI/AAAAAAAAFvo/I1ySXNHTDTs/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dyb0FceJrXs/TvS5NVJgAlI/AAAAAAAAFvo/I1ySXNHTDTs/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlQ6scv71ls/TvS_5XWTSeI/AAAAAAAAFxk/0dVcn41P7p8/s1600/Football+2011+Vikings+and+Dolphins+game+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03luth_fdCQ/TvS5Vk5pPfI/AAAAAAAAFv4/uSzmccDuO6M/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03luth_fdCQ/TvS5Vk5pPfI/AAAAAAAAFv4/uSzmccDuO6M/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> At the graduation ceremony, Gabe was awarded the Colossians award for character. I was very happy to see that he behaves himself so well at school! He has always been very respectful to his teachers and an excellent, diligent student. He is really finding out that hard work pays off. So many of you know how this young man has struggled with anything related to schoolwork, but he now has learned to be self motivated, needs no reminders to get his work done and always does his very best. I hope he will find out the same on the basketball court since he doesn't get to see much playing time as a freshman on the varsity team!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rC0IllLIP30/TvS5cUfKUlI/AAAAAAAAFwA/FohBa8Vroaw/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rC0IllLIP30/TvS5cUfKUlI/AAAAAAAAFwA/FohBa8Vroaw/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see by the pictures and if you got to run into him at church in Iowa this summer, Gabe has really sprouted up over the past year. He grew over 5 inches last year and has already grown an inch since fall. He now is nearly 6'2" though our picture above makes him look closer to Paul's height, he is not quite there yet. And as you can see below, he suffered the first official broken bone in the Prachar household this fall. The reason I say "official" is that Riley broke a toe in the spring, but didn't require any casting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlQ6scv71ls/TvS_5XWTSeI/AAAAAAAAFxk/0dVcn41P7p8/s1600/Football+2011+Vikings+and+Dolphins+game+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlQ6scv71ls/TvS_5XWTSeI/AAAAAAAAFxk/0dVcn41P7p8/s320/Football+2011+Vikings+and+Dolphins+game+068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He broke his thumb (at the growth plate) playing basketball over his lunch break at school just before the season technically began. We had to make several trips to the orthopedic office for follow up x-rays to make sure it was healing correctly and Gabe had the black cast that no one could sign! It was waterproof so he could shower or even swim with it. Pretty cool. The coolest thing that came out of it though was looking at his x-rays. You could easily see that the growth plates were all wide open. This is predictive of him still having quite a bit of growing to do! We will see how that turns out! I have to say its quite disconcerting when your children tower over you. I am not sure who is more happy to find out that he finally outweighs me! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDETWCIpf8w/TvS5wyiiR_I/AAAAAAAAFxI/lbrEMgvLA8E/s1600/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDETWCIpf8w/TvS5wyiiR_I/AAAAAAAAFxI/lbrEMgvLA8E/s320/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Riley turned 12 recently and started 6th grade this fall (middle school, yikes!). He had his own growth spurt over the past year and also grew 5 inches. In our last Christmas card, the two of us were about nose to nose, but he blew past me in no time. Wow, this came way too quickly! He has totally fallen in love with football and also plays basketball to stay in shape for football! He had an amazing football season on the starting offense and defense. We were quite surprised at that since he is just in his second year playing. He was also chosen as one of the captains of his team, quite an honor for one of the youngest players. He was moved around near the end of the season and started playing some tight end (moving from offensive guard), which I have always hoped he would get a chance at. He never did get a pass thrown his way (they only ran about 3 passing plays per game!), but it was fun to watch! He still prefers to play defense and had some great backfield stops this year and also recovered an on-sides kick (we went wild in the stands and totally embarrassed him!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbt-p3XT1yg/TvTGk8BlfYI/AAAAAAAAFxw/kwNLy7N5TlY/s1600/Riley+%252373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbt-p3XT1yg/TvTGk8BlfYI/AAAAAAAAFxw/kwNLy7N5TlY/s320/Riley+%252373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His team went to the playoffs (after winning a nerve racking tie-breaker), but lost in the first round. They elected to play in a bowl game in Tampa for teams who lose in the first round and ended up winning that game, so went out on a win. Basketball is not quite as much fun for him, but he is really starting to improve. He qualified to go to the city wide free throw competition after winning his age group at school and when no one showed up to compete with him, he moved on to districts where he missed winning by one free throw. It was exciting! He is doing well in school in spite of all the extra curriculars we have going on. A great lesson to learn so early in life, I think! Most of you know he is planning/working toward/hoping to get to go to Australia this summer with People to People Ambassador Programs. He has to raise all the funds, so we'll see if he can get it done! So far, so its slow but plodding forward! (Thanks for your generous donations, and for purchasing the Pizza Hut cards he is selling!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7bTOq-eliw/TvS5wDIvKdI/AAAAAAAAFxA/8xbNphTqEsc/s1600/6377271957_5b901af34a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7bTOq-eliw/TvS5wDIvKdI/AAAAAAAAFxA/8xbNphTqEsc/s320/6377271957_5b901af34a_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden turned 10 this summer and started 4th grade in the fall. He is dying for a growth spurt like his brothers had!! All too soon, I am sure! He also played football this fall and his team won a conference championship, moving on to regional playoffs for the first time in five years. He played left guard on the offensive line and some defense as well. He had a tackle the first time he was put in on defense and we were happy to embarrass him from the stands too! He is an excellent student and LOVES to read and play learning games on the computer. He expresses a lot of interest in my job and loves to play with a few apps that I have on my phone for anatomy and other medical stuff. But he also still says he wants to be a pilot (I decorated is nursery in airplanes all those years ago and it seems to have stuck!) He is playing basketball at the YMCA currently and it looks like all those years watching his brothers and dad playing/coaching have paid off. He seems to know right what to do and has good court sense. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElzhfuRofU/TvS5u2tQXlI/AAAAAAAAFw4/sW7TKgnTGL4/s1600/6377271433_a51b6bbaee_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElzhfuRofU/TvS5u2tQXlI/AAAAAAAAFw4/sW7TKgnTGL4/s320/6377271433_a51b6bbaee_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Alayna turned 7 last May and started 2nd grade this fall. She longs to do all the things her big brothers do, and like all "babies" gets frustrated by her lot in life! She was a great sport attending all of her brothers' football games and basketball games and has been desperate to play a sport herself. She attended volleyball camp over the summer and LOVES it, but is too young for any teams yet. So, she is playing basketball at the YMCA too. She plays on a co-ed team and is loving it. It is HILARIOUS to watch at this age, and I have so much respect for the coaches who are starting right into man-to-man defense and fast breaking already! They are trying to catch on, but it really looks a lot like 9-on-1 out there most of the time! She loves school (don't all girls her age?!), especially since her Aunty was her teacher most of the year. She LOVES spelling and actually went to the regional spelling bee as her grade's representative last spring. Lately, she spells whatever she is trying to tell me, which I guess is great practice. She is always asking how to spell something! She continues to be more interested in animals than babies, and I am encouraging her to be a Veterinarian, though she thinks she wants to be an artist and cheerleader when she grows up! She loves watching the cheerleaders at the boys' games and has learned quite a few of their cheers. I remember being exactly the same way when I was her age! She also loves to read and has been quite dedicated to reading her Bible regularly. We do it together when she has a lot of trouble--like when she was in all the "begats" in the Old Testament :o) Her version (NIrV) didn't actually use the word "begat", thankfully, but all those names are downright difficult, even for adults! She loved her birthday trip to swim with the Manatees! I did manage to blog about that!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u682jcLiupY/TvS5g7YpoqI/AAAAAAAAFwI/vFNJ4ZvTWXw/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u682jcLiupY/TvS5g7YpoqI/AAAAAAAAFwI/vFNJ4ZvTWXw/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was able to take a half day off and accompany her class on a site seeing boat tour of the bay near us with Alayna's class at the end of the year in the spring. It was a gorgeous day for that activity!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHsYn50D2pc/TvTStdpw4MI/AAAAAAAAFyU/mfVXBBSUc2w/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHsYn50D2pc/TvTStdpw4MI/AAAAAAAAFyU/mfVXBBSUc2w/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8M6jigBSeA/TvTSv6yyJQI/AAAAAAAAFyc/Lg6da3fsK7U/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8M6jigBSeA/TvTSv6yyJQI/AAAAAAAAFyc/Lg6da3fsK7U/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dehyhhrtg3s/TvS5s8_RF6I/AAAAAAAAFwo/Ne2EOoQ8k1Q/s1600/6377269055_a9b6f3613c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dehyhhrtg3s/TvS5s8_RF6I/AAAAAAAAFwo/Ne2EOoQ8k1Q/s320/6377269055_a9b6f3613c_b.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_-3Cff-mNY/TvS5ztFqp7I/AAAAAAAAFxY/coKM-YiYCXk/s1600/6377273967_0b80048987_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_-3Cff-mNY/TvS5ztFqp7I/AAAAAAAAFxY/coKM-YiYCXk/s320/6377273967_0b80048987_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul and I celebrated our 18th anniversary in June this year. The kids made us breakfast in bed to commemorate that and Father's Day (I think someone put them up to it!) We had French toast and toast!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6aNpwOyKfY/TvTUmrjXnuI/AAAAAAAAFzI/sHdAD6tm6Wk/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6aNpwOyKfY/TvTUmrjXnuI/AAAAAAAAFzI/sHdAD6tm6Wk/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> And we celebrated Paul's birthday by making Alayna's glow in the dark sidewalk chalk and announcing his birthday to all our neighbors on the newly paved blacktop in front of our driveway!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu6706UIkGI/TvTSqo-e-QI/AAAAAAAAFyM/3joo7zRY19Q/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu6706UIkGI/TvTSqo-e-QI/AAAAAAAAFyM/3joo7zRY19Q/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Cop humor...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8FSlNc0AJc/TvTSnme2L4I/AAAAAAAAFyE/AKu4-QfXkuA/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8FSlNc0AJc/TvTSnme2L4I/AAAAAAAAFyE/AKu4-QfXkuA/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> JoDee and I celebrated our birthday together again! So fun to have her around to commiserate! We met for lunch with Mom at the tea room downtown and wore these glasses. Everyone loved them and gave us birthday wishes! We even wore them on our long walk down the street to the ice cream store! They brought smiles to a lot of faces! We had fun acting like we didn't know what was so funny! You can't read it in the picture, but the balloons on our shades read "Happy Birthday". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHsYn50D2pc/TvTStdpw4MI/AAAAAAAAFyU/mfVXBBSUc2w/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gqWSRoiNVM/TvTTAb75NGI/AAAAAAAAFy8/tv-FWz0BIxE/s1600/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gqWSRoiNVM/TvTTAb75NGI/AAAAAAAAFy8/tv-FWz0BIxE/s320/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+059.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div> Our visitors are slowing down lately, but we enjoyed seeing some familiar Iowa faces when our friends the Anderson's came to visit with their kids. Riley and Jake were in class together at Heritage. Jen is a great friend!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlVfo4tCQ8M/TvTS3HedwzI/AAAAAAAAFyk/9O3DKbE88qE/s1600/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlVfo4tCQ8M/TvTS3HedwzI/AAAAAAAAFyk/9O3DKbE88qE/s320/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kG_NnX3eMWY/TvTS78yTRNI/AAAAAAAAFys/OMA9DAre9jc/s1600/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kG_NnX3eMWY/TvTS78yTRNI/AAAAAAAAFys/OMA9DAre9jc/s320/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Probably the highlight of Paul's year was this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YabOqMkc7I/TvTS_J_SC7I/AAAAAAAAFy0/GfyIB7C1erg/s1600/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YabOqMkc7I/TvTS_J_SC7I/AAAAAAAAFy0/GfyIB7C1erg/s320/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+028.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A friend from our small group loves to fish and has his own boat and took Paul for his dream fishing trip this spring. They went about 20 miles off shore to find the big fish and Paul pulled in several fish this size. He is holding an Amber Jack. I can't remember seeing him as excited as he was after that trip!</div><br />
And I can't believe I didn't blog about this: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrgpSZ5rYNE/TvThepJ6n8I/AAAAAAAAFzU/wsbmEM3iVPo/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrgpSZ5rYNE/TvThepJ6n8I/AAAAAAAAFzU/wsbmEM3iVPo/s320/7.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> Several couples from our church wanted to renew wedding vows at the beach, so we got together and did it one very sunny day in April:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGCq7KOnykY/TvThjU8HETI/AAAAAAAAFzc/Jylh5Q59BS4/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGCq7KOnykY/TvThjU8HETI/AAAAAAAAFzc/Jylh5Q59BS4/s320/10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Our pastor officiated what was like a wedding but not as we reflected on the past and our continued commitment. It was a gorgeous day at the beach and there was a beautiful flower girl too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLrpstRaLbY/TvThrlDK6SI/AAAAAAAAFzk/mMcYLIimCj4/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLrpstRaLbY/TvThrlDK6SI/AAAAAAAAFzk/mMcYLIimCj4/s320/9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The whole group:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7baslgHuMg4/TvThx7J9FcI/AAAAAAAAFzs/E5FZrcX6JTE/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7baslgHuMg4/TvThx7J9FcI/AAAAAAAAFzs/E5FZrcX6JTE/s320/11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Getting crazy:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUghU7Gyd7Q/TvTh2UXf0_I/AAAAAAAAFz0/M0AHPsMAI6Y/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUghU7Gyd7Q/TvTh2UXf0_I/AAAAAAAAFz0/M0AHPsMAI6Y/s320/12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lX6JSzn5PcA/TvTh5iiBdJI/AAAAAAAAFz8/Tjv26csH7Is/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lX6JSzn5PcA/TvTh5iiBdJI/AAAAAAAAFz8/Tjv26csH7Is/s320/13.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyXsPHmd5Qs/TvTh9VD3_kI/AAAAAAAAF0E/s-hwKhXbIv0/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyXsPHmd5Qs/TvTh9VD3_kI/AAAAAAAAF0E/s-hwKhXbIv0/s320/14.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vairZOPdn6k/TvTh-VubplI/AAAAAAAAF0M/DX9rFpygpxk/s1600/flower+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vairZOPdn6k/TvTh-VubplI/AAAAAAAAF0M/DX9rFpygpxk/s320/flower+girl.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsd3lUxq-SI/TvTiAzq3DEI/AAAAAAAAF0U/ILCbBmThNnY/s1600/New+Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsd3lUxq-SI/TvTiAzq3DEI/AAAAAAAAF0U/ILCbBmThNnY/s320/New+Image.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to wear my wedding dress for this day, but the other "bride" who was going to wear hers had to back out at the last minute, after I ripped the sleeves off my dress and had it hemmed (its a pretty dress that way now!) I think I would have still suffocated in it that day!! Oh well, we'll have to do it again...maybe at our 50th anniversary!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that is all I can remember of our blur of a year, just trying to keep up with the kids and all of our work responsibilities and church activities. Each year, I vow to keep better track of what goes on with this blogging, but its been so difficult! I am so exhausted in the evening that I can't even fathom some computer time after the kids go to bed! I can't even keep my eyes open at that point! I did go to Las Vegas last month (that deserves its own blog for sure!) with my running partner/friend Kristin since Paul couldn't go. I went for a medical conference. Look for more on that later!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pray your year has brought you closer to The One who is mighty to save. Please know if you are still reading this blog that I care about you and pray diligently for you. You are special in our lives. We love you! </div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-65495075428455147872011-11-28T22:35:00.000-05:002011-11-28T22:35:08.559-05:00For Riley...In case your e-mail has changed in the past 3 years or you don't Facebook...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPxxiWG5vYjye2xYXONsgvThZnyyvx4u-25QG2ksWmsvcZYXpxhPGkKx2qEk1iIyYxqdx_4OOvZCc7zxp3Z1tHXnYdgLTvgXnMsDdFbz1b_0PBp-JGoZxvPj-2KEtvEWN1ZVlNWmBgK0/s1600/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPxxiWG5vYjye2xYXONsgvThZnyyvx4u-25QG2ksWmsvcZYXpxhPGkKx2qEk1iIyYxqdx_4OOvZCc7zxp3Z1tHXnYdgLTvgXnMsDdFbz1b_0PBp-JGoZxvPj-2KEtvEWN1ZVlNWmBgK0/s320/6377272813_c4d1d89892_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Hi, this is Riley (with a little help from mom) writing to ask for your help and offer you some great deals on the BEST pizza around! I am hoping to travel to Australia this June with the People to People Ambassador Program. I was nominated by one of my teachers at Venice Christian School. If I can raise the funds, I will get to explore the Great Barrier Reef with a Marine Biologist, and have a tour of the famous opera house in Sydney. I will also have the opportunity to serve on a missions project while I am there and I am most excited about meeting some real tribal Aboriginees and learning to throw a boomerang (though my mom says I should be more concerned about learning to catch it!)<br />
<br />
So, you want to help? Here is what you can do: I am partnering with Pizza Hut and offering a $10 card good for 12 free medium pizzas with up to three toppings when you make a $15 purchase. So, when you take your family to the buffet, you can take some pizza home for breakfast or lunch the next day. Or when you order a pizza, breadsticks and dessert pizza, you get a free medium pizza! I get to keep some of the proceeds for my trip too!<br />
<br />
Ready to order? Just reply to this post with how many cards you want to purchase and we will deliver them. If you are not in the the area, you can help too! You can use your Pizza Hut card at your local Pizza Hut anywhere! My mom will be happy to include your card(s) in your Christmas card and you can mail me a check (made out to Riley Prachar) in your Christmas card since you are already going to be sending one (wink wink).<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks for considering partnering with me!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Riley Prachar<br />
<br />
PS: My mom promises to update this blog very soon!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-90852578237935267332011-07-15T14:25:00.000-04:002011-07-15T14:25:23.458-04:00Vacation in South CarolinaI should say that I will try to keep this short, but our vacation was so fun that I don't want to forget a second of it. Also, Paul had to be in St. Louis for a week, (and that is why we took a vacation in the first place) and had to miss everything. I figured if I had to take a week off work for him to be gone, we might as well go somewhere fun. Our friends Dan and Kate May moved to the Charleston area about a year and a half ago and we hadn't been able to visit, so I was thrilled when she told me that would be a good week for us to come. We ended up leaving a bit earlier because of the last shuttle launch and wanted to try to see it in person. So that meant we left on Friday, July 8th, which is also a very special day because its Cow Appreciation Day at Chik Fil-A. Free food for dressing like a cow. When you are traveling over 8 hours, you might cross paths with a few Chik Fil-As and have to stop and eat there...might! We ended up eating all of our meals there on the way and what a blessing that was! We stopped at a mall in Brandon for breakfast, but they didn't open for 2 more hours, so we had to head back to the van hungry...bummer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAJ5CtnbXb1tXObZYNK2j1lWhh2YHeWjjF6vngdNHUUw3MfkS6kmbqVp1m92fTzNzyOZnQ3Zd4sXCjfcRAC6zItir-ngrEZi_jUZrMkye-49hmXIvJIoa_m-Fgopc51t3Vv7K-rfHKEg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAJ5CtnbXb1tXObZYNK2j1lWhh2YHeWjjF6vngdNHUUw3MfkS6kmbqVp1m92fTzNzyOZnQ3Zd4sXCjfcRAC6zItir-ngrEZi_jUZrMkye-49hmXIvJIoa_m-Fgopc51t3Vv7K-rfHKEg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next stop was Orlando to meet up with some friends of JoDee's and the plan was to watch the shuttle launch from their house. BUT, we didn't get our acts together and time got away from us and we ended up watching the launch from the Chik Fil-A parking lot. Not exactly what I had hoped for, but still a much better view than if we had stayed home. The clouds were so low that we only saw it for a few seconds and nearly missed it because I was watching the countdown online with my phone and didn't think of the few seconds it would take to reach my phone. Luckily, Gabe looked up and saw it in time for the rest of us to look up at the sky and catch it for a few seconds before it disappeared into the clouds. I was glad we chose to sleep in our beds rather than try to sleep in the van in Titusville to get front row seats to a launch that we could have only seen a few seconds of. We enjoyed time with Jamie and Anita and their family. We shared our costumes so they could get a free meal too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxXnYWMVrN126L7SkV9Au-tp7Vzb3nQ1EPlj52_8VfXhhyphenhyphenybWY06see-aRacf9o1BgPWFKo5rGN0BCQqeuh73K1sI-eAGMxIsf8WspehavhDd63vy0b2J02rfNhPqk0fF5vKSvua3Mdk/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxXnYWMVrN126L7SkV9Au-tp7Vzb3nQ1EPlj52_8VfXhhyphenhyphenybWY06see-aRacf9o1BgPWFKo5rGN0BCQqeuh73K1sI-eAGMxIsf8WspehavhDd63vy0b2J02rfNhPqk0fF5vKSvua3Mdk/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stopped for lunch in Georgia:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhci2hY4Pwn7bF_U_gsUOQyXCN4RSvfEm7gUzhHW5Q6JGZKA4YZdm5WQlrbQrvVHpQAlkl0SOLheX25z6IfV8iAvRurx7KYiAHcz_ufwkuj9W1Ojg-PA-UA0GVxPBuUE8_frVf0_a0WKlI/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhci2hY4Pwn7bF_U_gsUOQyXCN4RSvfEm7gUzhHW5Q6JGZKA4YZdm5WQlrbQrvVHpQAlkl0SOLheX25z6IfV8iAvRurx7KYiAHcz_ufwkuj9W1Ojg-PA-UA0GVxPBuUE8_frVf0_a0WKlI/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And dinner in South Carolina</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuDajTPS036glBTXE2FtGWjGaBRsiY9TBtDt_U7FaurlhrNSLmU1F4uh93EaoKi012m4fYXeL_QtYwprJMaCUoHsYJBxK8ETj_Y6y5ELVUBvLdW1vrbKiUtdAV-3HQaY6x9NnW7vqHYE/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuDajTPS036glBTXE2FtGWjGaBRsiY9TBtDt_U7FaurlhrNSLmU1F4uh93EaoKi012m4fYXeL_QtYwprJMaCUoHsYJBxK8ETj_Y6y5ELVUBvLdW1vrbKiUtdAV-3HQaY6x9NnW7vqHYE/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was fun to see lots of others dressed up too. Some of our stops we would see almost everyone dressed up and at one stop we were the only ones! All worth it though!</div><br />
<br />
For our first outing, we went to an old fort that was right near the May's house. Fort Dorchester was colonized by a group in 1697 who were having a hard time with the weather and land in the northeast. Their lives centered around community effort and the church which was built in 1719. Behind us you see the walls of the fort where the ammunition was stored. This fort was never attacked and that is why so much of it is intact.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyrYvAdb_qc9d5LOsOGj4rSq2rJOYHKWgb704sl8E2TiaV95lQIUX7K4waOxG4Y51mks4xBiqdgXwkIcabUIMC-YHVhfgIwYZ8m0BrHQKcsEz2Jw02wY1xHhl_0juCq4V-_bTxqVYTTU/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyrYvAdb_qc9d5LOsOGj4rSq2rJOYHKWgb704sl8E2TiaV95lQIUX7K4waOxG4Y51mks4xBiqdgXwkIcabUIMC-YHVhfgIwYZ8m0BrHQKcsEz2Jw02wY1xHhl_0juCq4V-_bTxqVYTTU/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The opening where a heavy door used to be:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZaDWXevyDMGbciaTxtRqSAiBVXXKcS3ahqTF95m3r4ny-6eHuZJgat88_dqVlu-O5dMX2ZLdCjlg-EXX62veqrAqGgJxIT8c_FkKE9wM6eEw6pkv6Qwnp-m5J7DREuihOkw8sfZ81C8/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+008+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZaDWXevyDMGbciaTxtRqSAiBVXXKcS3ahqTF95m3r4ny-6eHuZJgat88_dqVlu-O5dMX2ZLdCjlg-EXX62veqrAqGgJxIT8c_FkKE9wM6eEw6pkv6Qwnp-m5J7DREuihOkw8sfZ81C8/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+008+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> The walls were made partly off oyster shells and mortar. Very sharp and would discourage a lot of climbing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy4ZrqgyYnTsalgse-QEXEH00ABqp-ApkhKB8y8BKyMoNb_XI5k61aQ9Va-EdprRlTDEILB-vvxpW-zLKqvAN0_0Deqge4PV7yCKRsjr2d7pDsx7u250pX7ABqH9DE3gjenZCVwi-jW8/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy4ZrqgyYnTsalgse-QEXEH00ABqp-ApkhKB8y8BKyMoNb_XI5k61aQ9Va-EdprRlTDEILB-vvxpW-zLKqvAN0_0Deqge4PV7yCKRsjr2d7pDsx7u250pX7ABqH9DE3gjenZCVwi-jW8/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A long section of the wall<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL3NIyS5MQdpkQlkS6QC5YZsf6j3Ei7az5rnXNXeomVe4J7YIT5DIY9fWdPy6-oFFgzY8H2fedCKaqStAczu6DDqg6dHJymKd94mveOJ9QleFCWgoTTJrAvJR1EfweAdc-gBNxMCuWCQ/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL3NIyS5MQdpkQlkS6QC5YZsf6j3Ei7az5rnXNXeomVe4J7YIT5DIY9fWdPy6-oFFgzY8H2fedCKaqStAczu6DDqg6dHJymKd94mveOJ9QleFCWgoTTJrAvJR1EfweAdc-gBNxMCuWCQ/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The roped off portion is where the gunpowder and other ammunition was stored,also called the "magazine"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Shw_nth6JWu2f0TJSXyVg-qTCdWxGkhSy1ubbGHbn0psVvgdPqSAoGVKDNVt7h_ysfVSZNEqcSMytwuMcERsYgLPh0s__QtsFrwwn2fhP_O4W1MVqTXvGQLVyQ2b0E94-1ucVcSfyg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Shw_nth6JWu2f0TJSXyVg-qTCdWxGkhSy1ubbGHbn0psVvgdPqSAoGVKDNVt7h_ysfVSZNEqcSMytwuMcERsYgLPh0s__QtsFrwwn2fhP_O4W1MVqTXvGQLVyQ2b0E94-1ucVcSfyg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> While we were there, they were doing some excavating research. This town was abandoned after the Revolutionary war and the forest reclaimed it until 1960 when it was made a public landmark and some digs were started. Much has been found just a few inches beneath the grass that gives clues to the lives of those who lived there once. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVr7rHTLnRU4SwMYZmRTvqS61EDSRN2pQXFKtl10eD26t5Y9nGLOyMJUrswWdHD_NT_NK-0lsCuvkp8wAibbwKV1mYeoizPF0qBHGH22ch9LzLPJo2PyWQTItkrON3FatW_8D9GviLnc/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVr7rHTLnRU4SwMYZmRTvqS61EDSRN2pQXFKtl10eD26t5Y9nGLOyMJUrswWdHD_NT_NK-0lsCuvkp8wAibbwKV1mYeoizPF0qBHGH22ch9LzLPJo2PyWQTItkrON3FatW_8D9GviLnc/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The kids got to take part hands on and help sift through the dirt and find pieces of history. They found some window glass mostly, but were thrilled at the idea that no one had touched that piece of glass in over 300 years.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehdhOpsqymH9wrXqIpJaJ4qvjnuoOBxuFU4DLUehmPUJnLofxh-viNfEVYPTnFpgUH4xMMURrACYjjzS_fAGIAX9e0R7EyUqnCf5v9PxtLPjYPmcn4jAcOIrXRaU8DBTWxgoDTwLPYQs/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehdhOpsqymH9wrXqIpJaJ4qvjnuoOBxuFU4DLUehmPUJnLofxh-viNfEVYPTnFpgUH4xMMURrACYjjzS_fAGIAX9e0R7EyUqnCf5v9PxtLPjYPmcn4jAcOIrXRaU8DBTWxgoDTwLPYQs/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> It was also a pretty place to take some pictures. The kids are in front of the bell tower which is all that is left of the church. While we were there, there was a couple there having their pictures taken professionally at the bell tower. It was melting hot, but a beautiful spot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0EVaQniYvbJ02rw_D8mpGf5wqdMKo0DYbZpH-JWhYOmXs05NdTlYPuCgNcpQwPxm9HJ_Nr0WpRNuc-pg3lWQ9T5SxHIquk23ygpGuuyyt4zMGpo_3OtitTC3DUpUEAD6fxafitVvAnk/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0EVaQniYvbJ02rw_D8mpGf5wqdMKo0DYbZpH-JWhYOmXs05NdTlYPuCgNcpQwPxm9HJ_Nr0WpRNuc-pg3lWQ9T5SxHIquk23ygpGuuyyt4zMGpo_3OtitTC3DUpUEAD6fxafitVvAnk/s320/South+Carolina+7-11collage1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bell tower and in the background another photographer:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3AflXBubRR59mKHVdQSs9Gow1OOGXWvnlTrMj7FaXJ_GJLVd7w_sKWyhdbupk6_eb4aO_mNH-x375LTHTVaEa91KmN1JEpCxfyBTgCRiu6xZD6spTf3jTGiGdiO3dbD-uaeBXAJtotY/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3AflXBubRR59mKHVdQSs9Gow1OOGXWvnlTrMj7FaXJ_GJLVd7w_sKWyhdbupk6_eb4aO_mNH-x375LTHTVaEa91KmN1JEpCxfyBTgCRiu6xZD6spTf3jTGiGdiO3dbD-uaeBXAJtotY/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+032.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday, we went to Fort Sumter. This was the place made famous for being the place where the Civil War began. The Confederate Army fired upon the fort until they were able to take control of it. The Union Army was short on supplies and didn't have very many men there either because the war was not anticipated. I was very pleased with the history the kids picked up and that they were able to appreciate standing in the place where history was made and touching the walls where soldiers also likely touched as they defended the fort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJFJIxl-AxYxnxIWb4dd3I0_c1SQ2mE9Hj-nv17gepA9JzRvm8qboXG1BTIc3dMyLT4D3b0jStvk9zgfM8ffLih0i6GcjiwksL-p7YbZVsgKMNSWHcHJZqNxxz5Ywk-yA3hsYv7Y2VK4/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJFJIxl-AxYxnxIWb4dd3I0_c1SQ2mE9Hj-nv17gepA9JzRvm8qboXG1BTIc3dMyLT4D3b0jStvk9zgfM8ffLih0i6GcjiwksL-p7YbZVsgKMNSWHcHJZqNxxz5Ywk-yA3hsYv7Y2VK4/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We took a ferry over to the fort, enjoyed the air conditioning just a bit longer. It was so hot while were were there and very humid. I guess it was that way all over the country that week. We were mid 90s with 90% humidity!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV-BiGFIW1sZ8TVX5yQCEaKNgwvrC5jOw2NBBSNFmCMUoPc9opJhruL6HyLz-8DidFWcRGW60LIEVrDZdHzTeMIMD50BMN8y5pfpJrYwi0YkA2xR9lcK7EA2T-fxhFP-HE_X_J6N0Chc/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV-BiGFIW1sZ8TVX5yQCEaKNgwvrC5jOw2NBBSNFmCMUoPc9opJhruL6HyLz-8DidFWcRGW60LIEVrDZdHzTeMIMD50BMN8y5pfpJrYwi0YkA2xR9lcK7EA2T-fxhFP-HE_X_J6N0Chc/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We saw an aircraft carrier that is parked in the Charleston harbor:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGLMvBPn8z7u0AM5cfGbSt6zLc4ZamEJqREJMqjFx-OuJBZtTTsJt1vTt-GNEQ_mS49qXFh_U9Jb9IxOSDOg0rEGyJbaq4OWAQ21VBD-65eOsVgcsesoxp_RCrvBIm5M3Z5xJ-otwvvw/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGLMvBPn8z7u0AM5cfGbSt6zLc4ZamEJqREJMqjFx-OuJBZtTTsJt1vTt-GNEQ_mS49qXFh_U9Jb9IxOSDOg0rEGyJbaq4OWAQ21VBD-65eOsVgcsesoxp_RCrvBIm5M3Z5xJ-otwvvw/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And they have a bridge similar to our Skyway bridge in St Pete...though that is difficult to appreciate from this distance:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIb84IRdso6_EyvI0Y4oEB-8y0L7HFq3SXq-xZRFnDSKFQuuEWiY6y01mw0g0-fHqibODYLekrxx7hcLlpzJb7jCDHCBekeXOjL3xl6bvUu9acx78hjWyqwkk-jTJ-6H4gvMZq4shIck/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIb84IRdso6_EyvI0Y4oEB-8y0L7HFq3SXq-xZRFnDSKFQuuEWiY6y01mw0g0-fHqibODYLekrxx7hcLlpzJb7jCDHCBekeXOjL3xl6bvUu9acx78hjWyqwkk-jTJ-6H4gvMZq4shIck/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This is a fort where the first pirate hanging took place. Also out in Charleston harbor near Fort Sumter:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_H1ySLiPP2Z5HaEepTNgw1SoGgp14W92DNqZDPB0e9knpyoVeyLQ1eWvX27PvmgpCxCPoxaz-wE9cxHgZ7pJPSAH2gkbSMV641ZHM02V58lDntS-_sYnPEyrxWbju79dbIdYW6M1bXY/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_H1ySLiPP2Z5HaEepTNgw1SoGgp14W92DNqZDPB0e9knpyoVeyLQ1eWvX27PvmgpCxCPoxaz-wE9cxHgZ7pJPSAH2gkbSMV641ZHM02V58lDntS-_sYnPEyrxWbju79dbIdYW6M1bXY/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_ipMAXaUcJ6keDtMmYd5_DSniwdlNpwlxfoc7DWaWcLBcqk7pqxCHHXlkCnwoBuy87JHrgp_I2O2LCrKiiqzB5W7BE7wOWWsWy9ryNthd_lcJGq-5xI2nsfpXrf3WzhNCa7aeXuY9lw/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_ipMAXaUcJ6keDtMmYd5_DSniwdlNpwlxfoc7DWaWcLBcqk7pqxCHHXlkCnwoBuy87JHrgp_I2O2LCrKiiqzB5W7BE7wOWWsWy9ryNthd_lcJGq-5xI2nsfpXrf3WzhNCa7aeXuY9lw/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> There were still some cannons there for us to see and touch:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn0ivLjmU_gkhW3HnPhorvLuit2Rr2D3EUioB_shq3HNXJ0J8kMLC94KYaOaaOXLt_beKn7QkYo75olUn4iUm89K_1GwU0Erlq54ZxMyWlLY82Lo8KeY_m9Y5HGI7eCh3nhCdyw60p6k/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn0ivLjmU_gkhW3HnPhorvLuit2Rr2D3EUioB_shq3HNXJ0J8kMLC94KYaOaaOXLt_beKn7QkYo75olUn4iUm89K_1GwU0Erlq54ZxMyWlLY82Lo8KeY_m9Y5HGI7eCh3nhCdyw60p6k/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The opening for the cannon:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94OtRmrRsR0aL0TevuwzQqro22ZXH_u_1exKTkdvjggcZKewdCe_fEjHzOAFPjkea8TuriYMqj77Rkwsw2u6Rz5KRHNmwbhTZsEGvMHkXhJSlSNSKaG6Yof9QZTCm0Wcbg7SaTpRoEac/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94OtRmrRsR0aL0TevuwzQqro22ZXH_u_1exKTkdvjggcZKewdCe_fEjHzOAFPjkea8TuriYMqj77Rkwsw2u6Rz5KRHNmwbhTZsEGvMHkXhJSlSNSKaG6Yof9QZTCm0Wcbg7SaTpRoEac/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were many different size cannons and each had a different purpose:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Je04H3MJll4HiBepveFkH68pfjPd2QYl6TjXLJe2ofKvIKoNsB2U7ulOBn-7gLpT9hfmScC2MMoplCxEif_WwSWdhX9vm59FLNSe1a-fH2mD3Zti1vPU5d6A6U3bN5FHLbj-84KkRhQ/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Je04H3MJll4HiBepveFkH68pfjPd2QYl6TjXLJe2ofKvIKoNsB2U7ulOBn-7gLpT9hfmScC2MMoplCxEif_WwSWdhX9vm59FLNSe1a-fH2mD3Zti1vPU5d6A6U3bN5FHLbj-84KkRhQ/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fortunately, there was a museum inside with lots of relics and historical explanations (and air conditioning!) This is the flag that was flying at the time of the attack that started the Civil War: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4U1GLbgqgJOCokM9YEbEnyKi7KzPVByuC5tJRo9vJDc2gv1aVLkxJyb_3pzSoJ57vBj_i7vp8Iwna6AST9DOta8-aBvAUpSwhMXIKfbuNpUZqXR2ZHLJxU95uR_7A0i2ApgP8o-IfPA/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4U1GLbgqgJOCokM9YEbEnyKi7KzPVByuC5tJRo9vJDc2gv1aVLkxJyb_3pzSoJ57vBj_i7vp8Iwna6AST9DOta8-aBvAUpSwhMXIKfbuNpUZqXR2ZHLJxU95uR_7A0i2ApgP8o-IfPA/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of the artillery shot through the cannons:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA6W9nJIDB8pBsLONhGgsnWk5iw0SlVkyOQKm6Z9P6tqFmYyTBf68ejMoviJmlkBJ9CTJUdsrA4BbUv9Jp3OrSlZjjg7ofBBIXAFTLiPBnBk7CoIPs4GAe4u5oViqpHbdlVDIrLNzlzg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA6W9nJIDB8pBsLONhGgsnWk5iw0SlVkyOQKm6Z9P6tqFmYyTBf68ejMoviJmlkBJ9CTJUdsrA4BbUv9Jp3OrSlZjjg7ofBBIXAFTLiPBnBk7CoIPs4GAe4u5oViqpHbdlVDIrLNzlzg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR5L1r7DyS990_1DE68E6lDblAYxUxoix3JjLQwC1rD2j9EmFr6JSYY8FoXWvW6a8uPgECtHfXwQADfDiUMHxCaTzqt7C1AhoPA6c-FGfKriX6H_WR9z7hoPou787HdvaqARnnqHlXds/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR5L1r7DyS990_1DE68E6lDblAYxUxoix3JjLQwC1rD2j9EmFr6JSYY8FoXWvW6a8uPgECtHfXwQADfDiUMHxCaTzqt7C1AhoPA6c-FGfKriX6H_WR9z7hoPou787HdvaqARnnqHlXds/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+064.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden had my little camera and was taking pictures also. I told him I didn't need 700 pictures of "things", and that he should try to include someone from our family in the pictures. He took the above and below pictures. Jo with a musket and Alayna with a model of the fort as it was at the start of the Civil War.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY9kiQIRUXAn7WFgff7nmuOA2w2uW4xu4dkEV2wIPxTz5Ozgb5mZJcAg9YkubraFOWphCm9QDlfGyyzJp00ctGzfwI2U3FpVdEDhvn60-FJcug6V_vJSFVeebkqt0Vp6zrOtYjQwqgw4/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY9kiQIRUXAn7WFgff7nmuOA2w2uW4xu4dkEV2wIPxTz5Ozgb5mZJcAg9YkubraFOWphCm9QDlfGyyzJp00ctGzfwI2U3FpVdEDhvn60-FJcug6V_vJSFVeebkqt0Vp6zrOtYjQwqgw4/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He listens very well sometimes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUuyUsQ4bwgoUJVtz9CnmgqgXqUkj7OixuCwTUXYSa7ak4sgjSCgHmyfuxNlSCgsf4jvapbHVMclUyMb4CXWDjzpPAW-K_Ah61QubSVzJYIH_qrmytDWzMhk2WnOuYROAEJtPfV04F0k/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUuyUsQ4bwgoUJVtz9CnmgqgXqUkj7OixuCwTUXYSa7ak4sgjSCgHmyfuxNlSCgsf4jvapbHVMclUyMb4CXWDjzpPAW-K_Ah61QubSVzJYIH_qrmytDWzMhk2WnOuYROAEJtPfV04F0k/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+213.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We loaded back up on the ferry and headed back to the harbor. Riley got some pretty shots of the city's skyline. They are known for their steeples. I wish it was a clearer day:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXwPoAxMlXvxDkuOX2azjOU2Z8pQ8Vsyg5hHI9MfkmP_5V5p1zbzoCLY2FS30C5WVgAZC08XR_rAkC4DM20P5psQo3n3qp2omfyw_BrHBnW4AwvCHB9uOdXJHW9nBSiJUHSei78OvFhU/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXwPoAxMlXvxDkuOX2azjOU2Z8pQ8Vsyg5hHI9MfkmP_5V5p1zbzoCLY2FS30C5WVgAZC08XR_rAkC4DM20P5psQo3n3qp2omfyw_BrHBnW4AwvCHB9uOdXJHW9nBSiJUHSei78OvFhU/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next we grabbed some lunch and headed to the Hunley Museum. This was a submarine that was used in the Civil War to try to break the Union's blockade which prevented the South from exporting their goods and shut off their supplies as well. It was the first ever successful submarine attack that sunk a ship. The submarine was lost shortly after her successful mission and all the crew (8 men) perished. It was found in the early 90s and raised and is now being restored. We couldn't photograph it, but this is a replica of what the inside was like. There were seats for the 7 men who turned the pipe that moved the propeller that moved the sub through the water. The kids thought it was quite hard work!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcWN9KGC-7tIdQqTIdsk2unX0Ho0bh3ojau8g6CS7o0yy4QfTAFqOcVDfWwZkINcFnbY-sXH9e2rSxoPa53QGP02rno1bvTDl6HMOYLZVh2d2SS9mMKEHinamiOGZxiRan6oiBoC4pCc/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcWN9KGC-7tIdQqTIdsk2unX0Ho0bh3ojau8g6CS7o0yy4QfTAFqOcVDfWwZkINcFnbY-sXH9e2rSxoPa53QGP02rno1bvTDl6HMOYLZVh2d2SS9mMKEHinamiOGZxiRan6oiBoC4pCc/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jo, Kate and I with a replica of the Hunley. It was amazing to see the technology they already had figured out with the sub. It was only 48 inches tall inside (random fact inserted here!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZuNk7qfkGeQSSEsVCvO9_FPF9V7mlE0iMmThBcDWxBB951vk0SpFlnyypj8VvtdS2Qd43veF9ZYdUiah6wIjbhUHsIeiY-FyhEwu4mY0uT1jBr6vtD0EC7paJrK2HZpesnWFDBy_DZg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZuNk7qfkGeQSSEsVCvO9_FPF9V7mlE0iMmThBcDWxBB951vk0SpFlnyypj8VvtdS2Qd43veF9ZYdUiah6wIjbhUHsIeiY-FyhEwu4mY0uT1jBr6vtD0EC7paJrK2HZpesnWFDBy_DZg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday was even hotter and we got up early and found a farm to pick our own blueberries. They were $10/gallon and all you could eat was free...not sure they profited from us or not! They were so good right off the tree! And they were very easy to pick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuFlc1MqWxDkHOpdFKXgzzX6aJWKkulbQRxskX5jIQY0VUumKEIMych0BbWkmIAUwMwW7MSeZkFlTS2_u2RHQ7PCjbHgx0Kj-LkQCNXMEoNlWxcB6gcOU0oMlLjaNLV7eHbOto-pcZlY/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuFlc1MqWxDkHOpdFKXgzzX6aJWKkulbQRxskX5jIQY0VUumKEIMych0BbWkmIAUwMwW7MSeZkFlTS2_u2RHQ7PCjbHgx0Kj-LkQCNXMEoNlWxcB6gcOU0oMlLjaNLV7eHbOto-pcZlY/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabe swears he ate a gallon himself:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPZDuGGJ_dMw4QPPhwcfoXkl6IP2pmR3fzETcTUcmyjxqV0KQmaKBu6Mrp_d3Xc04MXNdAd2uHba45uRpF1L8F3xJS5ipxrB8xSnB31YdkSBfxLSTsatvY9E1OHR5Jf6snqi8b9xkrMw/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPZDuGGJ_dMw4QPPhwcfoXkl6IP2pmR3fzETcTUcmyjxqV0KQmaKBu6Mrp_d3Xc04MXNdAd2uHba45uRpF1L8F3xJS5ipxrB8xSnB31YdkSBfxLSTsatvY9E1OHR5Jf6snqi8b9xkrMw/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+220.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kate and Alayna worked together:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8PDPGXn9UKhLOjJ_F35x2KGKD0U2APhV_y8U4KFYOE9ZqgfwfS8TmARhuePUNKkAIqL2378xrsV-iXGxoUY99oSBstnktRFoIbJ6X_kjVMrevahhPZ3n-5bKagqzFr3ODATM6XL0GzY/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8PDPGXn9UKhLOjJ_F35x2KGKD0U2APhV_y8U4KFYOE9ZqgfwfS8TmARhuePUNKkAIqL2378xrsV-iXGxoUY99oSBstnktRFoIbJ6X_kjVMrevahhPZ3n-5bKagqzFr3ODATM6XL0GzY/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+221.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Riley ate his share as well:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn9esK1mqOlhKmLa-_xmPExaamqNIdmimiBO70mNURdOS0uXfY2bZ0U7kvonbAzzQXR71O4TQmeEegmwcWjjscXKNnn5s0t3Ta9qC6YEzFj4Kv8YD_7AGg0dhFkT84cC2-LrVwmv9wqg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn9esK1mqOlhKmLa-_xmPExaamqNIdmimiBO70mNURdOS0uXfY2bZ0U7kvonbAzzQXR71O4TQmeEegmwcWjjscXKNnn5s0t3Ta9qC6YEzFj4Kv8YD_7AGg0dhFkT84cC2-LrVwmv9wqg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+224.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I filled my basket before I ate very many. I liked to see progress!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpofhzNZKsBdELBt13oHUPAvRZ8uzVASDTkwHAZFdqsxu2b95e1o5SRhLcf0vcyHpX7k-GIwdYOvYusB_Xp1woaAvm5ezQf09xtvwJm9Srywmju1q0CTqi_s-0H_XEP2VlsK2m9WmqLI/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpofhzNZKsBdELBt13oHUPAvRZ8uzVASDTkwHAZFdqsxu2b95e1o5SRhLcf0vcyHpX7k-GIwdYOvYusB_Xp1woaAvm5ezQf09xtvwJm9Srywmju1q0CTqi_s-0H_XEP2VlsK2m9WmqLI/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+222.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We ended up with 2 full gallons and it didn't take very long to do that at all. It was very fun and I wish a bit closer to home. I would do that on a regular basis!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc0cR3ldYFFeWjbBrZIKA6FBSEBPbSZQFtiJ1ONxLkDNr-UH4guyZaWiWlWCKVqYF1oBqCfabS_Vb-l3c2T6-qDsiYoV8mf2Rwt3Vh_nWFYNV0ux9s4ok_kZy0A1GrfTdw82CEpxgRhA/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc0cR3ldYFFeWjbBrZIKA6FBSEBPbSZQFtiJ1ONxLkDNr-UH4guyZaWiWlWCKVqYF1oBqCfabS_Vb-l3c2T6-qDsiYoV8mf2Rwt3Vh_nWFYNV0ux9s4ok_kZy0A1GrfTdw82CEpxgRhA/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> We cooled off at the pool and then decided to try our hand at letter boxing. Kate introduced it to us. It was like a treasure hunt. We tried four times at four different locations. The first three didn't work out because the instructions were too vague and we couldn't locate the boxes though we looked diligently and got eaten ALIVE by mosquitoes. It was TONS of fun...insert sarcasm here. We went to a pretty park for the third try and at least found some cute statues to photograph:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeLHiCcP-jcTbEfl5L41VCW9lEs_jdEfLciXRzMG0xwPhc8tM34PM_D9NVgRC1AkCucj02-oTOnw2Pk9llil6kSwENnQ0Yb_c1efPl237DK1AThr2xBYrMK3tCTfY7PEYEb55TFAzwu0/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeLHiCcP-jcTbEfl5L41VCW9lEs_jdEfLciXRzMG0xwPhc8tM34PM_D9NVgRC1AkCucj02-oTOnw2Pk9llil6kSwENnQ0Yb_c1efPl237DK1AThr2xBYrMK3tCTfY7PEYEb55TFAzwu0/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyv2_9epPnIQ2m_L7nMu2GVorTcW0e2IaGKGE0LAafCNbK3rruYjqg2VrhqIEu48t-o_A4xcmeuVumGYpWIaaSHn6oBmBgoXc0Ol-vInP8b0cKjeuQg0pe8t4o79GPhLlacMbOA3DzHE/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyv2_9epPnIQ2m_L7nMu2GVorTcW0e2IaGKGE0LAafCNbK3rruYjqg2VrhqIEu48t-o_A4xcmeuVumGYpWIaaSHn6oBmBgoXc0Ol-vInP8b0cKjeuQg0pe8t4o79GPhLlacMbOA3DzHE/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-d_Ljkxu9QuUdMLxDfVqVSOlFua628prV98g3pOYQAMak-VZPfJ0w8kQ5tTMp03_b18sFEjrb656RTVbjEbrqjPcsCfcJJmFE3qoUFTvJlDhdJRsvu4dC412BhEHXfJiQu1md5E5S0I/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-d_Ljkxu9QuUdMLxDfVqVSOlFua628prV98g3pOYQAMak-VZPfJ0w8kQ5tTMp03_b18sFEjrb656RTVbjEbrqjPcsCfcJJmFE3qoUFTvJlDhdJRsvu4dC412BhEHXfJiQu1md5E5S0I/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV4jOJoKUo57ymCyhSLiJC60Ffi8b-5kr2vLw8FYvkM3jvQf5fv7HiN9bPc8AoMIi5s0cykm-vMiTr6aWvyzzk2cEqsUUUIFfJZFTWcEArS5x-gWGc24_B5XUb9xwlMsCXmDGifsBefI/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV4jOJoKUo57ymCyhSLiJC60Ffi8b-5kr2vLw8FYvkM3jvQf5fv7HiN9bPc8AoMIi5s0cykm-vMiTr6aWvyzzk2cEqsUUUIFfJZFTWcEArS5x-gWGc24_B5XUb9xwlMsCXmDGifsBefI/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And some cute kids to photograph:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeU4Hc2Kt-nIgxEwtPJfc45zDYUxdFe2jCcMalaZWo2yeTWrkK0KNa094TQ5EeeNM7I7Sv6AqImst9uth-l8MX9Gd6rPCmSMn3HGvutyNdeIa6HfmNmQUEzoeRQNQwB8Gbg2UfH9BqDk/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeU4Hc2Kt-nIgxEwtPJfc45zDYUxdFe2jCcMalaZWo2yeTWrkK0KNa094TQ5EeeNM7I7Sv6AqImst9uth-l8MX9Gd6rPCmSMn3HGvutyNdeIa6HfmNmQUEzoeRQNQwB8Gbg2UfH9BqDk/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXIjIVsMwJOBCyesKilFPDJ9RkouK0que8K5huW39F-t5MsnWZGGL-Oy9Tfc90ZurDA9ROloOCoROViA0Af878wcXrzcQDxb6lTU_hESv4P-xvKA2RVV5tihuaAOwzvT8_q7lQz-DPuA/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXIjIVsMwJOBCyesKilFPDJ9RkouK0que8K5huW39F-t5MsnWZGGL-Oy9Tfc90ZurDA9ROloOCoROViA0Af878wcXrzcQDxb6lTU_hESv4P-xvKA2RVV5tihuaAOwzvT8_q7lQz-DPuA/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+114.jpg" width="212" /></a></div> We gave up again and headed to the fourth and final try. It was on church property. Apparently the church was quite old and still had a cemetery on the grounds as well. We spent some time reading the headstones and were quite saddened to see so many children's graves. One family had three children buried there. It was a great opportunity to talk about the advances of medicine and how each of our children had had at least one illness that would have killed them if they had been born 200 years ago, and that God had plans for them and therefore gave them to us in this present day for their purposes to be fulfilled. Sobering.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vTbM55xKZoe24Ib6UOa-HF_iGqsmK84RvOFarzJlKtwpDjAvS6SVGpIdKCUVBPyCOoHIwaJ90AyeIZryw1Ok1DdN5YKAVmxhSaDHfSpbsutfXZOeKKPVzeF_Wyo7UEXI4Ecn5dV2MHQ/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vTbM55xKZoe24Ib6UOa-HF_iGqsmK84RvOFarzJlKtwpDjAvS6SVGpIdKCUVBPyCOoHIwaJ90AyeIZryw1Ok1DdN5YKAVmxhSaDHfSpbsutfXZOeKKPVzeF_Wyo7UEXI4Ecn5dV2MHQ/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+106.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did finally find success here at the church! It wasn't easy and we probably looked for an hour before we found the landmark mentioned in the clue. I guess its supposed to be that hard, we were really glad to find one at last! We dug out the box from the underbrush and this is what we found:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd26OuvYpkVM6VbQHrJoYSHBiexXJpAlkPVqL_SC7zF1MJTRgU7sesk0MYcS7qqJ2p0inxehFL7pSYZ52dg9k_fKvFzInmYlQ6mL0cCGQjlBkGkKsr49nICNaOZf0M2G2nET6oqvhO9Y/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd26OuvYpkVM6VbQHrJoYSHBiexXJpAlkPVqL_SC7zF1MJTRgU7sesk0MYcS7qqJ2p0inxehFL7pSYZ52dg9k_fKvFzInmYlQ6mL0cCGQjlBkGkKsr49nICNaOZf0M2G2nET6oqvhO9Y/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Inside was a bag with a book and a rubber stamp. You are supposed to bring your own book and stamp and use the stamp in the box to stamp your book and write the date and place found. Then in the book in the box, you use your stamp and write your names and the date found. It was fun to read through the book and see where everyone was from who had found the box and see their stamps. The kids liked it and it was free. I think we will try this again around home when the weather cools off.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKh004NobmO5vZnmUetbZiV_sjFfVpgLJAZb5gq7iN3yrc7Sg5kYHasBcqmME1dKImre5tMAusLp-iCEmjq7jtlIoTqfeNm5nmmoM5rYVh_FwKhFkcPPxC_RE0qJm_rZpEHKjWac71Gg/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKh004NobmO5vZnmUetbZiV_sjFfVpgLJAZb5gq7iN3yrc7Sg5kYHasBcqmME1dKImre5tMAusLp-iCEmjq7jtlIoTqfeNm5nmmoM5rYVh_FwKhFkcPPxC_RE0qJm_rZpEHKjWac71Gg/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+113.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For our last day, we headed back toward Charleston and stopped first at Folley Beach to see a lighthouse. It was a long walk in the heat but so worth it. So beautiful! And the humidity this time made for beautiful pictures I think:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d-dKYVz5PIxEVTyn72QpmEeqP70TyBU_TgL5T4pmTBP-FZH6I5mjWrSqf7Jz8WT0lfkJWMc3mdIHHfglgKVO1JyQz3Tc6JUUi8lCYFt-XqinO3M9A06-4uljRKJs1SIc0_8YQP-aHjU/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d-dKYVz5PIxEVTyn72QpmEeqP70TyBU_TgL5T4pmTBP-FZH6I5mjWrSqf7Jz8WT0lfkJWMc3mdIHHfglgKVO1JyQz3Tc6JUUi8lCYFt-XqinO3M9A06-4uljRKJs1SIc0_8YQP-aHjU/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1tTHiHpgcSowrkvXvqg0Kz2nLXR6hn2e1esLf9JGPU6zvRlS0dXVIejzcnMRCSP8ON2fx6tIKy-Qn-ppOaVF5iacd7lsFwgD6o7FBK5hLAwd9vpVUCn4wXnOomnE7QgqiZOuhWhFuD0/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1tTHiHpgcSowrkvXvqg0Kz2nLXR6hn2e1esLf9JGPU6zvRlS0dXVIejzcnMRCSP8ON2fx6tIKy-Qn-ppOaVF5iacd7lsFwgD6o7FBK5hLAwd9vpVUCn4wXnOomnE7QgqiZOuhWhFuD0/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZds8A0iOZ_MkEgGVhMeW9inBoBVsM8gexq40rNSqO_sOqWFhEXrcwYskWI-LNth1MWi6WXq5HlN06rpXYj95PgF-WEMZvzar7P-yLfWx3Gj8BGKqt-GooxdTcYy1vd6cQTvU5t_YgEE/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZds8A0iOZ_MkEgGVhMeW9inBoBVsM8gexq40rNSqO_sOqWFhEXrcwYskWI-LNth1MWi6WXq5HlN06rpXYj95PgF-WEMZvzar7P-yLfWx3Gj8BGKqt-GooxdTcYy1vd6cQTvU5t_YgEE/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvZp02Y0NpwTQ0_9B4PcQ2rZH7QvA7z1duy7OmnCV85GWZgsuWIHxOx3j9ylPMzSyKtBCGX7m9j5PkjSK0tVpB88NyLJ6n8RRrDx8qxgJwId53p7_B8s-vOPtjCqgj67tOw0UPpsJ71s/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvZp02Y0NpwTQ0_9B4PcQ2rZH7QvA7z1duy7OmnCV85GWZgsuWIHxOx3j9ylPMzSyKtBCGX7m9j5PkjSK0tVpB88NyLJ6n8RRrDx8qxgJwId53p7_B8s-vOPtjCqgj67tOw0UPpsJ71s/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY64SZhGWuBGFLcaF5_8-O2SFwhyLCFTfS-s3DTUHIOGeUL5mG6wmAFRKpW6pFwsxt5Wh5hUEdUqKgTjVqj5h-isFtACJCEYgrgSkLM82nQMn_3Wh2N12sfInd4K2I0aLbo3_Y8AicTQ/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY64SZhGWuBGFLcaF5_8-O2SFwhyLCFTfS-s3DTUHIOGeUL5mG6wmAFRKpW6pFwsxt5Wh5hUEdUqKgTjVqj5h-isFtACJCEYgrgSkLM82nQMn_3Wh2N12sfInd4K2I0aLbo3_Y8AicTQ/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my very favorite pictures of the trip: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFuGvndT34DqVduYSBFQTfaSgh-ikDvyzkHQgBVifleicjm3zQFIuB8bVSH0cmCP7z_6HKUPemtWf24olPlmZgpUql-WQPhpS8pGnIXQ9ODZGkezvShyphenhyphenvr9JHGzBapa52eTiql2crdlA/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFuGvndT34DqVduYSBFQTfaSgh-ikDvyzkHQgBVifleicjm3zQFIuB8bVSH0cmCP7z_6HKUPemtWf24olPlmZgpUql-WQPhpS8pGnIXQ9ODZGkezvShyphenhyphenvr9JHGzBapa52eTiql2crdlA/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+126.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, we went to lunch in Charleston and caught the trolley to the Waterfront Park. Waaaay too hot to walk that far! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf7kGydxahxGSlrvTF_zbXuJ5yQls4lFc6Vc-c9gaNe8Z-VSAXSLC71F5bBUo8uDna0vDkO9kaBo65Q1sJCCuf3miRB2J6MFcOrAlUTHXiSzPhw8xobIajaOYK3K1hm8PXLMGN9UeDsE/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf7kGydxahxGSlrvTF_zbXuJ5yQls4lFc6Vc-c9gaNe8Z-VSAXSLC71F5bBUo8uDna0vDkO9kaBo65Q1sJCCuf3miRB2J6MFcOrAlUTHXiSzPhw8xobIajaOYK3K1hm8PXLMGN9UeDsE/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids had a blast playing in the water at the park. Wading was encouraged in the fountains.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAi5dwTvrXE8Dv31en-zsboFD5UNvb5X1Df4wiA7cTzTi8Ta-siW7BEJdhU1NVdbVxZ4BXBEAG8L5vQkmQNWwNgOI98w9enQMODhgh4p4-OzdhmpzxkMdAyG26Ugeujr7LuXdwoaVsUI/s1600/fountain+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAi5dwTvrXE8Dv31en-zsboFD5UNvb5X1Df4wiA7cTzTi8Ta-siW7BEJdhU1NVdbVxZ4BXBEAG8L5vQkmQNWwNgOI98w9enQMODhgh4p4-OzdhmpzxkMdAyG26Ugeujr7LuXdwoaVsUI/s320/fountain+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we headed to Market Street to see the open air market where jewelry, baskets and about anything you could imagine was sold. We saw this pretty building on the way. It looked like a nice place for a family photo</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3swXXK4FLRh8JPjIG6gNhcoze-cg8dWm1PkSYvYlsJvmkYJViJm7Fh5G-387HzqBWLtyKYQ8sLJ9HgyW53XYmcjYiUY_PQEmmeULioJxx6GV9sbrTEKnsxm2gWM7H68yTulsInRvcxM4/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+193cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3swXXK4FLRh8JPjIG6gNhcoze-cg8dWm1PkSYvYlsJvmkYJViJm7Fh5G-387HzqBWLtyKYQ8sLJ9HgyW53XYmcjYiUY_PQEmmeULioJxx6GV9sbrTEKnsxm2gWM7H68yTulsInRvcxM4/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+193cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Our drive home was blissfully uneventful, and we are just relaxing until I have to work this weekend and until Paul gets back tonight. I have declared chores off limits and Grammy had the day off, so we went to a double header at the movie theater. We saw Soul Surfer and Thor. Both very good movies. The kids were glad to be home and have a day with their grammy:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPijbKgZZ7Zl3hqo6Y0JCsE0KNC4FtjtMETZEBppc-dpX5DV4XKbOOgT8U00qJSDit-A9yh8JCiw3teclcbR225QbV_z-Yi1t0QYCp-bTfJIaSP8at_47Xqpl7GnXMFtUFffWLUpqHik/s1600/South+Carolina+7-11+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPijbKgZZ7Zl3hqo6Y0JCsE0KNC4FtjtMETZEBppc-dpX5DV4XKbOOgT8U00qJSDit-A9yh8JCiw3teclcbR225QbV_z-Yi1t0QYCp-bTfJIaSP8at_47Xqpl7GnXMFtUFffWLUpqHik/s320/South+Carolina+7-11+194.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, we are already looking forward to our next vacation. I have a hard time believing that I will only have a few more years to take these kinds of vacations with the kids. Its so amazing how fast they grow up. Trying to enjoy every minute! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-23528515192423791912011-06-25T23:01:00.000-04:002011-06-25T23:01:13.200-04:00The Best FunToday was the day we have been waiting for. Just before my birthday, there was a special on an excursion to swim with manatees. We were in the middle of soccer season and had games each Saturday morning, so we had to wait to go until the season was over. Then we had to work around schedules a bit more and finally got to have our swim today. Paul and the kids were not sure they were very excited about what I signed them up for since they had to get up at 5 AM on a Saturday morning. We had to drive to a river 2 1/2 hours away and they were not very thrilled this morning. There was a bit of grumbling in the van this morning. Paul was even less sure about it after we ended up on a toll road and spent about $10 just for the privilege of driving to the dive center. We got all the kids into wet suits (and were sweating by the time that task was accomplished), watched a video teaching us how to behave around these giant animals since they are an endangered species. We discovered today that the average manatee is 12 feet long and 1,200 pounds. Its a good thing too because when everyone is gathering around trying to touch one, there is plenty of manatee to go around! Here we are loading up on the pontoon boat:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G2TN9a7WDDvxdgIVtQPIZo0V-l4KimO9bWh3Xlv-lgzRDWMDCdcRiwaajHtQhFw0qBNi6QdsgEkLyR0g0qH3DS8U6DtQRdKQJF522qrQk3FMnL0EcALGuLR0htiRWvMdkQ_wdWd3qx8/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G2TN9a7WDDvxdgIVtQPIZo0V-l4KimO9bWh3Xlv-lgzRDWMDCdcRiwaajHtQhFw0qBNi6QdsgEkLyR0g0qH3DS8U6DtQRdKQJF522qrQk3FMnL0EcALGuLR0htiRWvMdkQ_wdWd3qx8/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC15W4-zYg58NrpOQdn43BzKpfo8MdotD44OY4bB_px_csuIRladG_-YMAtaGgq_dOjpIsciYdhCQKv_iRAMFjuoaBtofCXtR6DDvkegGfqmfWui7tb_B_ol4Fbzl9tlaIOW1MB5t3lgM/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC15W4-zYg58NrpOQdn43BzKpfo8MdotD44OY4bB_px_csuIRladG_-YMAtaGgq_dOjpIsciYdhCQKv_iRAMFjuoaBtofCXtR6DDvkegGfqmfWui7tb_B_ol4Fbzl9tlaIOW1MB5t3lgM/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5M0c-OD-y82HpvT_S_XvNPJTqEleRd_4BS8i75o9x0BJA2jQmOIkZ1zNv2U4A2ZZ3ThyTKoox3IarvxPCYbhjocyf3P6ekrQMeAhbJTnTm_fgKdsCrwbUwmLcGREwLPIdzt508mZmg/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5M0c-OD-y82HpvT_S_XvNPJTqEleRd_4BS8i75o9x0BJA2jQmOIkZ1zNv2U4A2ZZ3ThyTKoox3IarvxPCYbhjocyf3P6ekrQMeAhbJTnTm_fgKdsCrwbUwmLcGREwLPIdzt508mZmg/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We spotted a moma and her baby right away and Riley and Holden were the first ones in the water and got to see and touch them, but they took off quickly. We followed them for a bit, but no one else could even get a glimpse of them because the water was VERY murky. They ran away and we had to head back to the boat to try again. Here is the second one we saw. <br />
This time only about half of us ended up in the water before it bolted. Back on the boat and then some trolling around for about 45 minutes. We couldn't seem to find anymore manatee. But our patience paid off and we did find more. So it was back into the water. Which was frigid by the way. It stole your breath every time we got in. But we adjusted pretty quickly since out only exposed skin was our hands, feet, necks and heads.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G4d3h_SrddKBo6lb59Gg6vFAIgx3RXlgNl2jl9noH6u7bU1Du6ShHjPbzD9DYJKgj8HPjkXn1kF7A2kjfa-t_4yn1dxJdP3WHa0YD17VvUIS4JmLJDv8r3WbqSuOzrlm3WdyfT0N4iA/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G4d3h_SrddKBo6lb59Gg6vFAIgx3RXlgNl2jl9noH6u7bU1Du6ShHjPbzD9DYJKgj8HPjkXn1kF7A2kjfa-t_4yn1dxJdP3WHa0YD17VvUIS4JmLJDv8r3WbqSuOzrlm3WdyfT0N4iA/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Alayna stayed ready between trips in and out of the water:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7_N5iB4kTwPId7Ow0e2LqYdP1jmYREO30M-fmWqyqOkoQ9rvolXNcrM6WVCHS-GYm2abKK1ol2biFi1vXXk-cDUb87mPmLV1zpqDtE1P6Ku2W2GuvHMKQDIRyOJEGceAoKMc2hRSSc/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7_N5iB4kTwPId7Ow0e2LqYdP1jmYREO30M-fmWqyqOkoQ9rvolXNcrM6WVCHS-GYm2abKK1ol2biFi1vXXk-cDUb87mPmLV1zpqDtE1P6Ku2W2GuvHMKQDIRyOJEGceAoKMc2hRSSc/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul had fun with the underwater camera while I took the above water pictures. Riley is a bit difficult to recognize:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z_vra_9PDtlj2-ID9t_UDo52lXsmyerHJIm09qd1ty5zXTF-qYajYfLClhD5IE9oNgPB02JOntDoJIwBpyTnnqvorTAXhGap8A1A-7p04wBIwHRC2_KOlqolNxVpjwDDqYphYXyWjRg/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z_vra_9PDtlj2-ID9t_UDo52lXsmyerHJIm09qd1ty5zXTF-qYajYfLClhD5IE9oNgPB02JOntDoJIwBpyTnnqvorTAXhGap8A1A-7p04wBIwHRC2_KOlqolNxVpjwDDqYphYXyWjRg/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> He used a lifjacket because we were snorkeling in only about three feet of water and only a few inches above all the kelp/seaweed/algae/yucky stuff on the river bottom. By providence, we found a mama and baby again and they were closer to the spring part of the river and the water was MUCH clearerer that the first two places we got in.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKV7HAB9iZ9anweV4LBUv3pfdASEiJxv1hDSoYhkhMFpi2VlY1PuckVQX-Up4LThVvu9u5ljyglD_LjY29zz6SrzyVUfP3fZr2ZmbpNCH7PMR1XMrPedEsxHYB0hi0DhxFWXK8IdGP-w/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKV7HAB9iZ9anweV4LBUv3pfdASEiJxv1hDSoYhkhMFpi2VlY1PuckVQX-Up4LThVvu9u5ljyglD_LjY29zz6SrzyVUfP3fZr2ZmbpNCH7PMR1XMrPedEsxHYB0hi0DhxFWXK8IdGP-w/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> They let us swim with them and scratch their backs while the mama fed off the bottom and the baby swam alongside. It was pretty amazing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUKB05Ciljh60JtrSo4pVsZGoIOqB-VzWnjQnz1zQ_WIdcpYtwys8kRhXoavZb-HCD0CuLbZ3YbYGn6oyo7yfzBbbI2XZvSU18lXT1ZIEiZIWRrefuIEMdNjSIWwE8RLlaDIDlfAY-pM/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUKB05Ciljh60JtrSo4pVsZGoIOqB-VzWnjQnz1zQ_WIdcpYtwys8kRhXoavZb-HCD0CuLbZ3YbYGn6oyo7yfzBbbI2XZvSU18lXT1ZIEiZIWRrefuIEMdNjSIWwE8RLlaDIDlfAY-pM/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoioNtGpVzN3PfxWXPoWUiG2dXVbCopUJBvgzxoa53FB8lA9xinaUGe7rA3OIC67-E6nhFlIvRn6FPwo3HWTPvfV77dKQfkmwMJukc2ernqWmmCRRlMeO7S8gDc82ox_viogxUgHH6pg/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoioNtGpVzN3PfxWXPoWUiG2dXVbCopUJBvgzxoa53FB8lA9xinaUGe7rA3OIC67-E6nhFlIvRn6FPwo3HWTPvfV77dKQfkmwMJukc2ernqWmmCRRlMeO7S8gDc82ox_viogxUgHH6pg/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivMiGf_ggeUTaWvyvVAW6C9foza-EgBLhPsZi_FLAZJnFrkuOND6eVQ4cYMxR-gKCJ4J0UsbvpsRI2k2kXUfsQf63QCGbuOFpAH45xw3EzMMPXIF7S2n2_YLgzEwBSOjdWEJcw8Nm1X8/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivMiGf_ggeUTaWvyvVAW6C9foza-EgBLhPsZi_FLAZJnFrkuOND6eVQ4cYMxR-gKCJ4J0UsbvpsRI2k2kXUfsQf63QCGbuOFpAH45xw3EzMMPXIF7S2n2_YLgzEwBSOjdWEJcw8Nm1X8/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> That's Jo and I in case you couldn't tell.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD1vKgqmtQRygJK90oZl0Pfa1JWspvPBazeoiaSNdEDDSWhtceMpGJNT6V7bWgjX7K3qCuyrj5711Cc5g27Wgd6YDpKMx_zY_-Uv1gcF5-dbQST7OSXdcJimYsJRmNdR-j099gupiHN4/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD1vKgqmtQRygJK90oZl0Pfa1JWspvPBazeoiaSNdEDDSWhtceMpGJNT6V7bWgjX7K3qCuyrj5711Cc5g27Wgd6YDpKMx_zY_-Uv1gcF5-dbQST7OSXdcJimYsJRmNdR-j099gupiHN4/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And that's the baby on the left of the mama:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXalgEHUdfGNaQrRpfFas4OiCk_f5klz1vnXv5w4QsukckK55JXKKeJAcOTzVZVHmQr16TvSmaUIRI_i1Go3m_EmZfi_i8Hlohy8Ghd4bRhZrcT8LKuGniBZDyUUTZYNhIeEaZkKomUpQ/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXalgEHUdfGNaQrRpfFas4OiCk_f5klz1vnXv5w4QsukckK55JXKKeJAcOTzVZVHmQr16TvSmaUIRI_i1Go3m_EmZfi_i8Hlohy8Ghd4bRhZrcT8LKuGniBZDyUUTZYNhIeEaZkKomUpQ/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The little one went up for air much more often than mama did<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwCBESvVRKgwwVD_CTyyM_2sxXuM1cA5vLnBrzs25aHUNFzn9PLub64piG3Y0hxLi0BSqNh4VsqLoADAwpXxx7YlcqWJaKVz0t0AKejfhhfT2L1R_bORhnuuSWpPWX9nIFh1A7-rxztM/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwCBESvVRKgwwVD_CTyyM_2sxXuM1cA5vLnBrzs25aHUNFzn9PLub64piG3Y0hxLi0BSqNh4VsqLoADAwpXxx7YlcqWJaKVz0t0AKejfhhfT2L1R_bORhnuuSWpPWX9nIFh1A7-rxztM/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the time it was all over, we probably swam with the manatees for 30 minutes. They would just swim around us, graze along the bottom a while, check us out a while and repeat. It was pretty amazing to have them change directions suddenly and swim directly underneath you brushing all along your underbelly! I think each of us experienced that. I think they would have hung out with us all day, but we were all ready to head back to the boat after that long. We each got our fill of petting, touching and scratching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZki7SrR8YQWSG66ks4SBhbdcDA5X70r38W7cPevPIbzUBCOzFuWAw9oH3kWR-HMll6LxrLZiw0_80yDM3r8xgL7PV2bSuYou94GuYrCNZiIP9igrMavTgDlNhOxcYiR3s-pr-nwI5eJs/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZki7SrR8YQWSG66ks4SBhbdcDA5X70r38W7cPevPIbzUBCOzFuWAw9oH3kWR-HMll6LxrLZiw0_80yDM3r8xgL7PV2bSuYou94GuYrCNZiIP9igrMavTgDlNhOxcYiR3s-pr-nwI5eJs/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The drive home proved too boring for them:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-ZwH7JT4m9kmUa8cUoAlLIIs1Y8V2qJEiE-9LOsIiHhTPylqQULJYSeeMX0bgsQgcGEJQTvwPzUw4C8zx83a0zE-L7HgngMu44yPFtCYdaTi-IX3chehmDjnhLw_rWo7E1s1lGi1Bhk/s1600/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-ZwH7JT4m9kmUa8cUoAlLIIs1Y8V2qJEiE-9LOsIiHhTPylqQULJYSeeMX0bgsQgcGEJQTvwPzUw4C8zx83a0zE-L7HgngMu44yPFtCYdaTi-IX3chehmDjnhLw_rWo7E1s1lGi1Bhk/s320/swimming+with+manatees+june+2011+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Each of them decided it was totally worth the loss of sleep and that they would love to do it again. If you get the chance, we highly recommend this trip!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-18685360213874244772011-06-09T21:11:00.000-04:002011-06-25T21:47:56.930-04:00Eighth Grade Graduation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlSkotq9QTRfJ-WRNau-mct0fEVMXp7JA-ROUTGj4TH1iwGjPjrrMmnyCXMF7exO8JN15b2jNPgeb9W5jCr3jsJ2ixHqlBbjUVJGA7NzrZmXIQAe9vZyK0m_-jb1h200LUhozheXuJ6o/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlSkotq9QTRfJ-WRNau-mct0fEVMXp7JA-ROUTGj4TH1iwGjPjrrMmnyCXMF7exO8JN15b2jNPgeb9W5jCr3jsJ2ixHqlBbjUVJGA7NzrZmXIQAe9vZyK0m_-jb1h200LUhozheXuJ6o/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> We are so proud of Gabriel! Poor guy has been through the worst of it of all the kids. He finished his third year in the same school for the first time ever... this year...and graduated from 8th grade. So sad, but he has weathered it so very well. He has become a very good student, making the all A honor roll this year. It brought tears to my eyes. Its hard to remember our previous struggles with reading and homework anymore. He is extremely responsible and never needs to be reminded to study or finish homework. All the hard work of the previous years has turned him into a hard worker and he realizes his grades will reflect his effort. Aaaah, I pray all the kids come to that realization! To top it off (if I may brag on him a bit more), he received the Colassians 3:23 award for character and integrity. He has a great class but only a few of them will be back for nineth grade. They gathered for a class photo shoot before graduation:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWie3T-oMiEVh1EywnshN2WuYi108A6ZnFCm1lLXUNMgflf1IqhDxo_p1vdyCk23KqxpK0ogqIWyG9H9IwJLt4a-pH5kHfLSCW6DynNtaPsED7B3g7QvjAb4lDQzpjRp_fMttbhCaIqw/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWie3T-oMiEVh1EywnshN2WuYi108A6ZnFCm1lLXUNMgflf1IqhDxo_p1vdyCk23KqxpK0ogqIWyG9H9IwJLt4a-pH5kHfLSCW6DynNtaPsED7B3g7QvjAb4lDQzpjRp_fMttbhCaIqw/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The processional at graduation:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hpudcRCa8k2CE1qzzgaTe_2hJCrNqtNDuWEZuaMJJ7ezDkjoxIKNV7naFKn4jfJ4y5amGSEjgrK3g1AFtyAd4VVKQnah-zo5Bi_eFUyvbVRkoSmSNpLp4whpgpYMrqp8pnICK5sotFM/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hpudcRCa8k2CE1qzzgaTe_2hJCrNqtNDuWEZuaMJJ7ezDkjoxIKNV7naFKn4jfJ4y5amGSEjgrK3g1AFtyAd4VVKQnah-zo5Bi_eFUyvbVRkoSmSNpLp4whpgpYMrqp8pnICK5sotFM/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> With some classmates:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaGjTf4unZ2iPCNCBiDRqY4ZjRPvEQBDs5BWMGywtJEIUKi7AWWuMG9mL_1dmxN19OS2xkXEqUVCFDfYzekNedEy_XbAU-3q1Q3t2HwSaPP_durBXTMv5277z5ZrTQHMR3tIbH8m6Xyg/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaGjTf4unZ2iPCNCBiDRqY4ZjRPvEQBDs5BWMGywtJEIUKi7AWWuMG9mL_1dmxN19OS2xkXEqUVCFDfYzekNedEy_XbAU-3q1Q3t2HwSaPP_durBXTMv5277z5ZrTQHMR3tIbH8m6Xyg/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Receiving his diploma:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwKyZC8UpXuGHQIjFH2mTHAhyphenhyphen73xejTqogh6axZzyP_YLjtS6yucYTDLdv1r3JlBMYL9UbRV0XdDThnDItUB2jOU2J5H7rX0hVrWr3fB4H2IUT0fiW0p4VQVXQE8R3Dw51EPZ_UWdsXI/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwKyZC8UpXuGHQIjFH2mTHAhyphenhyphen73xejTqogh6axZzyP_YLjtS6yucYTDLdv1r3JlBMYL9UbRV0XdDThnDItUB2jOU2J5H7rX0hVrWr3fB4H2IUT0fiW0p4VQVXQE8R3Dw51EPZ_UWdsXI/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The whole crew:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivGddOi4bxkBAvdzmS_D6cbG8D5nAZ_cV0e5m6nixIpxqQzy9ubsBUobw0vqsvmaZUMSXergt-N4GwIhyphenhyphenxOLw1WhT56aYg-txRGkJN6NK00eZLu6tpVAwQv2g4NNzJQqHZ9pywaNPkAo/s1600/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivGddOi4bxkBAvdzmS_D6cbG8D5nAZ_cV0e5m6nixIpxqQzy9ubsBUobw0vqsvmaZUMSXergt-N4GwIhyphenhyphenxOLw1WhT56aYg-txRGkJN6NK00eZLu6tpVAwQv2g4NNzJQqHZ9pywaNPkAo/s320/8th+grade+grad+Gabe%252C+manatees+June+2011+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We closed out the celebration at a pizza place as a class and then the class went bowling until midnight. Some parents chaperoned...I was very grateful that Paul agreed to go pick him up since it was a weeknight! It is really unbelievable how quickly time has passed. Just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital after a huge snowstorm...and now he towers over me. How did this happen?<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-46418216333238362392011-06-05T20:46:00.000-04:002011-06-25T21:09:11.591-04:00Wrapping up another year...where does the time go?I took some time off work the last week of school to go to a couple of the year end parties. Riley's class went to the beach for a few hours and had a picnic with a cute cake to say farewell to elementary school. Hard to believe he will be in 6th grade next year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9JWmeqz-trWCtcgO-9rZX6avwuYZvFSeEO4DJNT_80zhJY9yhCJwx_VSM7WWsUrKsGZpzPedx_ylWzEagXH0iV5zwsV33hvkEWLfwdZp7O8KK3F8dzlsncT4RHn4lPDw73Y4BJK0s1I/s1600/iphone+pictures+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9JWmeqz-trWCtcgO-9rZX6avwuYZvFSeEO4DJNT_80zhJY9yhCJwx_VSM7WWsUrKsGZpzPedx_ylWzEagXH0iV5zwsV33hvkEWLfwdZp7O8KK3F8dzlsncT4RHn4lPDw73Y4BJK0s1I/s320/iphone+pictures+068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Riley with his buddies Seth and Bradley<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFaQSRdXx253Xl2HO6mCfh1HgqVfPQxD9K0pE0l8zYxu137bs1xby3vOrT1dT08_npMmFYfM4_16cneFbcQ3TsJEoTR8rKRfQxQjn-l71xBbV9nnJzfSG2Xzy0dxL7NtjuQdTrbY8sjI/s1600/iphone+pictures+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFaQSRdXx253Xl2HO6mCfh1HgqVfPQxD9K0pE0l8zYxu137bs1xby3vOrT1dT08_npMmFYfM4_16cneFbcQ3TsJEoTR8rKRfQxQjn-l71xBbV9nnJzfSG2Xzy0dxL7NtjuQdTrbY8sjI/s320/iphone+pictures+071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They did a relay race and had to put on the beach gear and run around an obstacle. The girls beat the boys...as usual I understand. Riley insists they cheat for the record.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DokHkyzjO3lpIimJYAUwLHZWKyGVJZVYdxfALTYRUzFoDRMrQqKQ2VnQvT1cWs3hZk9nWw3XvHe59m-QCN-OJ2dEYBVqvW-DSjTExER8M4Nqxv8GR297BCnJi1q5_NGQZ6eFXRrJjbE/s1600/iphone+pictures+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DokHkyzjO3lpIimJYAUwLHZWKyGVJZVYdxfALTYRUzFoDRMrQqKQ2VnQvT1cWs3hZk9nWw3XvHe59m-QCN-OJ2dEYBVqvW-DSjTExER8M4Nqxv8GR297BCnJi1q5_NGQZ6eFXRrJjbE/s320/iphone+pictures+066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Proof I was there. With straight hair for some odd reason.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1Hen_17XyUhHSeRQfwV73Boph23XAAzqI0KDJj-EeO4tyQ7LAEZ2fQMTyE-17oNbeCHXjqMC-qz7zCJMs5K0IKuM7rryhopC9z6iQb9xJSidcgjCx0EwRcAfOhqw8oCbg_-QShB_8TU/s1600/iphone+pictures+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1Hen_17XyUhHSeRQfwV73Boph23XAAzqI0KDJj-EeO4tyQ7LAEZ2fQMTyE-17oNbeCHXjqMC-qz7zCJMs5K0IKuM7rryhopC9z6iQb9xJSidcgjCx0EwRcAfOhqw8oCbg_-QShB_8TU/s320/iphone+pictures+067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unfortunately, Holden's class did an all day field trip to end their stint in 3rd grade and I just couldn't take the whole day off, so I missed that. Gabe's class got together at the beach after they graduated and he got very sunburned because he didn't have a parent there to remind him to put on sunscreen. I guess he is growing up! Ugh, I guess they all are! <br />
<br />
Alayna's class went on a guided boat tour of a nearby bay. I was the most beautiful day for a boat ride. There was a gentle breeze and great sunshine. The water looked amazing! The kids were all so good and we learned a lot about the landmarks in the area. The ship's captain gave the tour with his handheld microphone and was very knowledgeable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8IHd0fqxXAMcYAitEnCeMX5rq7PRovSoTXsqNG4xCfOa1ahr_yZS_iedhRBci2x7pMF7jYzG1e_h-UZ2uGnHOPwTda2Uc6v23xbz1io2pOEcoNnlrYZhyuI8gVzP-zZ9xnSxOHiT_ns/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8IHd0fqxXAMcYAitEnCeMX5rq7PRovSoTXsqNG4xCfOa1ahr_yZS_iedhRBci2x7pMF7jYzG1e_h-UZ2uGnHOPwTda2Uc6v23xbz1io2pOEcoNnlrYZhyuI8gVzP-zZ9xnSxOHiT_ns/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>See what I mean about the water! That beach was gorgeous!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKN8s41iKzOM1y0bvm5hYui-43CRY_-WB68v8ZnDGbhwBD0xGkcxyeuI1YhsbsmnwMfS3rGwhr4vqnd_ydiZcSZIP1aKNkTzf9QQYv4xjdvpScslZhF59gahjgUaVplfrKEbV1MY89JU/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKN8s41iKzOM1y0bvm5hYui-43CRY_-WB68v8ZnDGbhwBD0xGkcxyeuI1YhsbsmnwMfS3rGwhr4vqnd_ydiZcSZIP1aKNkTzf9QQYv4xjdvpScslZhF59gahjgUaVplfrKEbV1MY89JU/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Alayna and her friend Destiny:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8jKWOHWa7-gscR23LHTP5HBDDcKW9pHLYyHDUi_W1zp_jpnpNnkS0kTQ4nI9xW5PsBhMlGnS94fCkO03fdAuWEEy3zYgGD8ePoXKL5QikJQykh1cC65zV6NZixmnk_gxMUPJjJ80j0o/s1600/iphone+pictures+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8jKWOHWa7-gscR23LHTP5HBDDcKW9pHLYyHDUi_W1zp_jpnpNnkS0kTQ4nI9xW5PsBhMlGnS94fCkO03fdAuWEEy3zYgGD8ePoXKL5QikJQykh1cC65zV6NZixmnk_gxMUPJjJ80j0o/s320/iphone+pictures+089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Proof again that I was there!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd6yMYM-ZG4y1vJt_eXeq2uIe_cthzfxvLsvH5BeK-shOHzsTroWmyfN_mrcpKdHGNO0SfoLGg9zxGjBchkju_Ygqe94D3seZR-U2Zt2OXuldG92KGQAGrnuMU6-YPyG6nM5O8wyO7vk/s1600/iphone+pictures+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd6yMYM-ZG4y1vJt_eXeq2uIe_cthzfxvLsvH5BeK-shOHzsTroWmyfN_mrcpKdHGNO0SfoLGg9zxGjBchkju_Ygqe94D3seZR-U2Zt2OXuldG92KGQAGrnuMU6-YPyG6nM5O8wyO7vk/s320/iphone+pictures+077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After the boat ride, they went to one of her classmates' home to swim and eat lunch. It was a lot of kids in a little pool, but they had so much fun. They turned a raft into a slide:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb4otP-uphG9ydQO6IJv32gsKJdE7pKDGbsM3ETMi34NCoIFeV6npdFKMh4sMWQnMkZ_xMp6FLpBCn5cZS0KwPGKdfpsX35qwtmhD2bbiAGXfYNqgwO2J2WP0bTJapIq-SKex7CNexEM/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb4otP-uphG9ydQO6IJv32gsKJdE7pKDGbsM3ETMi34NCoIFeV6npdFKMh4sMWQnMkZ_xMp6FLpBCn5cZS0KwPGKdfpsX35qwtmhD2bbiAGXfYNqgwO2J2WP0bTJapIq-SKex7CNexEM/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3sfZffZyQdsZcL1OJ2rwe3m9rb71nLm5TbsNMfZcfWcwTXqvD8GyW0WYp45Isnkw2l4V5LUPUHZ10ZfFcD6UytW-YeEWCX7NZB9zBeakWJOa6XlXfrAv3NxU-t5Y_vfGE0YYxxII-RU/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3sfZffZyQdsZcL1OJ2rwe3m9rb71nLm5TbsNMfZcfWcwTXqvD8GyW0WYp45Isnkw2l4V5LUPUHZ10ZfFcD6UytW-YeEWCX7NZB9zBeakWJOa6XlXfrAv3NxU-t5Y_vfGE0YYxxII-RU/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have already promised Holden I will go with him on his next field trip. I hope the guilt doesn't kill me until then.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-17398467316677359442011-06-01T20:26:00.001-04:002011-06-25T20:44:37.366-04:00Happy Birthday Alayna and PaulThis time of year gets so busy with school winding down, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and our Anniversary that we just try to keep everyone fed and dressed and in their proper places at the proper times and if we can breathe in between, life is good! I am trying to update over the past few months. I am purposely omitting anything about the birthday I certainly did not have this year. I have decided that if I completely ignore it, it didn't happen! <br />
<br />
However, Alayna did just recently turn SEVEN! My baby is seven whole years old. Unbelievable! We have enjoyed the addition she makes to our family and the differences she has made apparent that we had not experienced before with all the boys. She is so much fun and in so many ways such a girly girl and in so many ways very much a Tom Boy. This past year she has really grown as a student and has done very well with her studies and declares each day of school as "Awesome!" when asked about her day. She loved gymnastics this year, and fell in love with volleyball recently too. She has only one volume apparently. At school she must have to shout all the time to be heard because when she's home we are constantly getting blown out by a shouted request, reply, or announcement! She cracks us up! Her teacher told us she is a good friend to everyone in the class. High praise in my opinion. She is growing like a weed and still eats constantly and chatters nonstop...loudly. She has gotten into drawing and "arts". She won a coloring contest at a local nursery right before Easter and won a very big Easter basket with coloring books and candy. She was so pleased with herself. And she should have been because she worked on that coloring page for almost an hour being so careful to stay in the lines and to color in each figure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrjy6V9_4M5HBf8RneClXiqw_W78boI5h1Xk7WYO6OGOw1Pnd4z4FsD95hhTybiTF2WwyNps-q1Uys0nP7k0OGdr0Qm0f487lERzIU6VrP0YavUOexknMZ_Y3xrJj9n4s706ZFUejWMU/s1600/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrjy6V9_4M5HBf8RneClXiqw_W78boI5h1Xk7WYO6OGOw1Pnd4z4FsD95hhTybiTF2WwyNps-q1Uys0nP7k0OGdr0Qm0f487lERzIU6VrP0YavUOexknMZ_Y3xrJj9n4s706ZFUejWMU/s320/Anderson+visit%252C+Paul+fishing+trip+March%252C+April+2011+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
For her birthday, she got to invite two of her friends to spend the day with her. They went to the pool and swam for several hours then came home and made cake balls and decorated them themselves with sprinkles and then devoured them. They also wore them, but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised about that! They had fun. Here are Zoe and Mary Katelyn decorating their first ones:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2cOqSBcdjAm6oZ-Ql-RIHENyVO9OxYx34Z3vKV2t52_ib9Jb_c4WxszOPywR1HdUc5AFCGF3hpTaCBN1VkGGCP5YsAil0d1tuhCYPQWRNJ1lgP5ou1tEUXzx-6VEKijGcTCoF5Xva_o/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2cOqSBcdjAm6oZ-Ql-RIHENyVO9OxYx34Z3vKV2t52_ib9Jb_c4WxszOPywR1HdUc5AFCGF3hpTaCBN1VkGGCP5YsAil0d1tuhCYPQWRNJ1lgP5ou1tEUXzx-6VEKijGcTCoF5Xva_o/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXskGWMxL0lhkZPnUvyWlSkfXdhj0cqXePA4xRTUfVBvNXoOUSs6VpH6xW55AHGZ1rl0-z4_Ea9Y3UET6AyuKgMN6cQDR4Kd3dZvaKfDGDDpoPy0TbkepgjZt2jAzO9e00w6QLJYVgfQ/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXskGWMxL0lhkZPnUvyWlSkfXdhj0cqXePA4xRTUfVBvNXoOUSs6VpH6xW55AHGZ1rl0-z4_Ea9Y3UET6AyuKgMN6cQDR4Kd3dZvaKfDGDDpoPy0TbkepgjZt2jAzO9e00w6QLJYVgfQ/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Before they ate their cake balls actually we took them out to eat at the restaurant of Alayna's choice. She chose Chili's. Here are the girls trying to get warm in the sunlight while they waited for their food. The air conditioning is always too cold for me too!<br />
<br />
We decorated the new street in front of our driveway for Paul's birthday with the glow in the dark sidewalk chalk Alayna got for her birthday. The new layer of blacktop made a great canvas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvAUUAd9idAp7CHNOD2e0Nk4ewg03GIuN6ujqTl2y3WmyLLPhxtHi9TziYgptYkJ2rnPayBfA-QS2HTsE5H-IynKc2QswvSjORZrNS8TjPAG3TewASx8ZavPoWqy-b74lYrH_n2vSs3s/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+007.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul got a little cop humor going on the street as well...I was glad none of our neighbors seemed offended...at least they didn't say anything to us about it!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-O3ogEJzzvWnLHaI6XolZ_-iK_bfsop7Ed4FPQ-UkUIh50bjkt0gqhToJsX8ijc6L4ACjYpRnKMCkr6xg-W4EVaIJyeKQhEcmmk_ZIe15UT-AuY1AnOPKZ8RbreOloABrpYVDFMWKjQ/s1600/A+and+Ps+birthday+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-O3ogEJzzvWnLHaI6XolZ_-iK_bfsop7Ed4FPQ-UkUIh50bjkt0gqhToJsX8ijc6L4ACjYpRnKMCkr6xg-W4EVaIJyeKQhEcmmk_ZIe15UT-AuY1AnOPKZ8RbreOloABrpYVDFMWKjQ/s320/A+and+Ps+birthday+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know I am not including a lot of life that happened between the last post and this one, but I have let time slip by and its all forgotten now! We are looking forward to summer for the break in the school routine, and the heat is kicking up reminding us why so many people go back up north for a few months. Traffic is so much better and we can now park close to the door at the grocery store. Gotta take the good with the bad!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-15144012128130423612011-03-10T15:41:00.001-05:002011-03-10T15:41:31.742-05:00Spring Break 2011: Our first official staycation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We are not the indecisive types. Usually we make a decision and stick with it. I decided to take the week of spring break off since work owed me 4 days off and we hadn't taken a family vacation in a few years. We had a few options, some friends offered up their homes for us to visit: Dan and Kate May in Charleston North Carolina, a family at church with a cabin in northern Georgia, a pastor's retreat in North Carolina, plus we have been wanting to visit Key West for some time now. We looked all the options, how long the drives would be (all 6-10 hours), and what there was to do and what the weather would be like. The cost of gas gave us pause. We started to think of all the fun things there are to do around here that we don't ever do because we live here. By the way, we still marvel that we actually live somewhere that people travel to for vacation. We discussed with the kids the options and all agreed it made the most sense to stay home (no packing, trying to sleep in someone else's bed, no long drive, no eating out for every meal and trying to keep it healthy...okay, we still did that one!) Our plan was to get all our "work" done over the weekend and then not do anything we didn't have to (in other words, no cleaning, no projects, just fun!). So we did our cleaning on Saturday and I went through all the kids clothes and got rid of things they won't wear and things that don't fit any longer. That ended up being a big project and we got rid of a big box and two trash bags of clothes and all the closets and drawers got organized! One of my favorite things to do! Then we went to Home Depot and got mulch and Paul and I put it down while the kids played Wii. We had uninterrupted project time together and made quite a difference in our front yard. Amazing what a little mulch will do! Now we just need some plants and flowers! That will have to be another vacation though!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWykWJLpkzE1LYso9pXQQIyeDOccqoFPZu-V11_3jHaXIWJI88DsyrPfqNONN6zlo2KRvoZ2ySvYLS5RMuriq0RO6ASe-ZXwFsyOB6qltKU6dPIfGBHizwoLHI2IqCizI8TXUOVxjAbA/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWykWJLpkzE1LYso9pXQQIyeDOccqoFPZu-V11_3jHaXIWJI88DsyrPfqNONN6zlo2KRvoZ2ySvYLS5RMuriq0RO6ASe-ZXwFsyOB6qltKU6dPIfGBHizwoLHI2IqCizI8TXUOVxjAbA/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What we came up with may be one of my favorite vacations ever and its not over yet, though I think the majorly fun things are behind us. Here is what we have been up to on our staycation:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went up to some stables about an hour from here to go horseback riding first. The kids were really excited about this! I had to take this picture because just to Gabe's left is the office. Seriously, the trailer was the office. We were cracking up! There was also a petting zoo there and lots of animals, goats, ponies, an emu, llamas, and of course horses.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4qDX01I_DQMgUQI4QGJd873jGYu6IOpFdEuzVRaDD5ppKaOv6hNKnPejpm_K2FFKNM6NHOZjQAxL5O_J6V6Qsr8BVLQ3EcEVGii3SXyTBJZ2cJkB_k-hrIeDBGSL2D0Xhv1cl9H7oCA/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4qDX01I_DQMgUQI4QGJd873jGYu6IOpFdEuzVRaDD5ppKaOv6hNKnPejpm_K2FFKNM6NHOZjQAxL5O_J6V6Qsr8BVLQ3EcEVGii3SXyTBJZ2cJkB_k-hrIeDBGSL2D0Xhv1cl9H7oCA/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt9toFthdjO_U6Ks_Bz9q1Jb-TkcqQYQCCow3_OAg9TlLV3wq6jhwep9yG3XvJO-W7xAwBF5Rgor0AACCebhbGDJEPXbn8pQEqsHbkRH5EGsRMloey0eIYBT5lfQVS2GWgeJ1IcP13gQ/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt9toFthdjO_U6Ks_Bz9q1Jb-TkcqQYQCCow3_OAg9TlLV3wq6jhwep9yG3XvJO-W7xAwBF5Rgor0AACCebhbGDJEPXbn8pQEqsHbkRH5EGsRMloey0eIYBT5lfQVS2GWgeJ1IcP13gQ/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden and Alayna got to pet the Emu. She was very friendly and soft. It wasn't long before they were bringing out our horses to us and instructing us how to ride.Riley and Alayna waited for everyone to get their horse and line up. They got to have time to pet and love up their horses. Alayna was in heaven loving on her horse Daniel who we learned was the oldest of the group at 19 years. Riley's hose George was only 6.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0smHF53Jgl05cRikyx-566zAi4gokETuz0VoSBkGlbT97JGcTP7ea0axWrVi4gaaN1I5Uz5cQKmexxgrqx5yhEgteDzkUnxUPPQ493YKnVqDwMcKiFV3b5zbsiAMt3wwdfvJIBs0XdXE/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0smHF53Jgl05cRikyx-566zAi4gokETuz0VoSBkGlbT97JGcTP7ea0axWrVi4gaaN1I5Uz5cQKmexxgrqx5yhEgteDzkUnxUPPQ493YKnVqDwMcKiFV3b5zbsiAMt3wwdfvJIBs0XdXE/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our horses waited in line very obediently. They were very well trained and did what they were supposed to. So much so that Riley's horse would not move up like he was trying to get him to so that everyone could use the cement block to climb onto their horse. He was trained to follow and was not willing to head out on his own even for a few feet! Gabe and Paul could get mounted in the proper place, but Holden had to be lifted onto his horse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W0z5fDtcjkV6UKlN8IFwakHBCsii-wHJBg3YFnhCIfbQWlLmMEf5KtHyUu3rJO5TQiGaVVnrGKCo3URYw2wdUEdO9gJe2Y0qhxk_Yeqb2trvFcot8MV2g2uvv7jQJb_MXvi37odkxd8/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W0z5fDtcjkV6UKlN8IFwakHBCsii-wHJBg3YFnhCIfbQWlLmMEf5KtHyUu3rJO5TQiGaVVnrGKCo3URYw2wdUEdO9gJe2Y0qhxk_Yeqb2trvFcot8MV2g2uvv7jQJb_MXvi37odkxd8/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The horses followed each other down the trail. My horse Eden was a bit slower than the rest and held everyone behind us up. Riley and Alayna and our guide had to keep stopping to wait for my horse to catch up so there wasn't a big gap or lost family members!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ21N8rHq0tRT6qPR9X3uygv02HOPpsgBssm6cM9Gk1-ANPs_qDzFJzWZ1ZxKPyWIrmG43y8v8e4V4NgR4nFp4sMUUQz4fWgx1FlVuQzTBLKjkP3EY5CrW4gKaPirHv_WnEWrv4GUNLQ/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ21N8rHq0tRT6qPR9X3uygv02HOPpsgBssm6cM9Gk1-ANPs_qDzFJzWZ1ZxKPyWIrmG43y8v8e4V4NgR4nFp4sMUUQz4fWgx1FlVuQzTBLKjkP3EY5CrW4gKaPirHv_WnEWrv4GUNLQ/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Riley had one camera and I had another, so here are some pictures from his perspective. I just climbed onto my horse right behind Alayna. She had just bitten my shirt (it was sparkly, so I didn't take it personally). </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtG-28VO1CV3yV972VzLFpx1Plwvw81dhCj4hRVt06xaUDN2xGM5LMQ97PTXGkKnjb-f0yQ5qzbRUpTuPXQIecU0b6P1lpKwD11xVWDwFRnZ9vRJPXz3zEo8k81RNhCQkuQbIDsdsPxY/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtG-28VO1CV3yV972VzLFpx1Plwvw81dhCj4hRVt06xaUDN2xGM5LMQ97PTXGkKnjb-f0yQ5qzbRUpTuPXQIecU0b6P1lpKwD11xVWDwFRnZ9vRJPXz3zEo8k81RNhCQkuQbIDsdsPxY/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabe moving into position to climb up on the cement block behind Alayna and I.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76JBoyJXefKapfhhFX9Ur_0vBK3rGAonfrDRwCQnEKkEDZ5MrG0zTDhaDHHx3BTGAublFurVjvCJByQ1fMhmRpThQ5cpzF5xmodtgF5O5OnR4mBuIBcCrLvVrvyTktR5wUvzGUf43d5A/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76JBoyJXefKapfhhFX9Ur_0vBK3rGAonfrDRwCQnEKkEDZ5MrG0zTDhaDHHx3BTGAublFurVjvCJByQ1fMhmRpThQ5cpzF5xmodtgF5O5OnR4mBuIBcCrLvVrvyTktR5wUvzGUf43d5A/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden figuring out how to climb on without the benefit of the step up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtKjM5kygAq-0CNJMwsuZX6Da4oHguJxWyy10ZOarDObytxsdZMK20g45_PGZ5C5ZLXwAh_WdlaHrUMe2j3BuzkQWTAazRhuF1oCWUPHtDf9Ss1aCkONc_5saTWoLupESRb5Y7kIzu0g/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtKjM5kygAq-0CNJMwsuZX6Da4oHguJxWyy10ZOarDObytxsdZMK20g45_PGZ5C5ZLXwAh_WdlaHrUMe2j3BuzkQWTAazRhuF1oCWUPHtDf9Ss1aCkONc_5saTWoLupESRb5Y7kIzu0g/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He is a comedian...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2Z98ghPIUEUBGsQWypVY4YDgXnxpK6bjoluQxM2uU0uVdSx-z4DPFfywELmPIpw0XQCXVPKaVbsggJeGPNY9gJQT2L61YCGrEhyphenhyphenifOzxW9H_19Gt-UMe05GYEyvZZico9DZVDYn0gI8/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2Z98ghPIUEUBGsQWypVY4YDgXnxpK6bjoluQxM2uU0uVdSx-z4DPFfywELmPIpw0XQCXVPKaVbsggJeGPNY9gJQT2L61YCGrEhyphenhyphenifOzxW9H_19Gt-UMe05GYEyvZZico9DZVDYn0gI8/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ride was one hour long and we were SO glad we didn't do the three hours instead. My saddle was not soft and I felt like I had been sitting on hard bleachers all day after just one hour. Paul and Holden were able to hang back a bit at the end and then convince their horses to canter a few yards for some added fun. I don't think any of our other horses would have cooperated with that. My horse pretty much did whatever she wanted. I tried to steer her around some low branches and she turned her head that way but kept her feet going where she wanted. Alayna's horse tried to eat every time they stopped and she was pretty much powerless to make him stop! It was comical but very safe and the kids really enjoyed it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCeV2OUwpiU3p3zYlMhyphenhyphenN0_IlWSYgFFZN6IVtZL2bU-WXqMryoBAaDrGCvH1yQkWxDgxiKwIutZ_6aio2KAb5UjYEY5pxcmV9xcXQE0lyQy8SB7Vm-ax6HoIeF3Nm7l-diRda25BWAk4/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCeV2OUwpiU3p3zYlMhyphenhyphenN0_IlWSYgFFZN6IVtZL2bU-WXqMryoBAaDrGCvH1yQkWxDgxiKwIutZ_6aio2KAb5UjYEY5pxcmV9xcXQE0lyQy8SB7Vm-ax6HoIeF3Nm7l-diRda25BWAk4/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to drive right by the only ice rink in the area, so after horseback riding, we stopped to ice skate on the way back home. For some reason, the kids love to ice skate. Maybe its the cold weather that they miss. I don't know, but they were thrilled for this activity as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx7tJqhzcu2XL5gy0UhXG0kChKytIDXktJv0lJ0xU_-DUEDSluSJ9CT-jxjmKQ9Ydt8_6wiZ_tHIgUwXqhMLmx2B-sAj9A8Obg8xsyiS6NSR4xlX74bhYQ3VUcEhdL2av7blXu2H3t3M/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx7tJqhzcu2XL5gy0UhXG0kChKytIDXktJv0lJ0xU_-DUEDSluSJ9CT-jxjmKQ9Ydt8_6wiZ_tHIgUwXqhMLmx2B-sAj9A8Obg8xsyiS6NSR4xlX74bhYQ3VUcEhdL2av7blXu2H3t3M/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB6ep87AS0N3rhAugNhSUsW80h0z_XShTiP2md1EZ1yB6Un1TWsHRj3ATYWK2djXKfJccnSfHeyl-TyPI2xWEbXqxFwAiMU47qtyoD3yZo5iFN-YI459wWZchceDFZKxcantzwyDfUVc/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB6ep87AS0N3rhAugNhSUsW80h0z_XShTiP2md1EZ1yB6Un1TWsHRj3ATYWK2djXKfJccnSfHeyl-TyPI2xWEbXqxFwAiMU47qtyoD3yZo5iFN-YI459wWZchceDFZKxcantzwyDfUVc/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was very impressed at how they stayed together and kept track of each other. Holden was having trouble turning for a bit and the all were trying to help him get it figured out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxe2I3iEUopqR_350RIaGWYUuqkcZNXllWJpWJO6z6aRYjW4Cf6gwlT8iaktRmtu9NpPD-Ai3mn1SnfSXm2kPYGHIHYipYEoUs3mQ22bqNp4zZkDPeFf8Qo-LjP006-V-KogKdpFUOZs/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxe2I3iEUopqR_350RIaGWYUuqkcZNXllWJpWJO6z6aRYjW4Cf6gwlT8iaktRmtu9NpPD-Ai3mn1SnfSXm2kPYGHIHYipYEoUs3mQ22bqNp4zZkDPeFf8Qo-LjP006-V-KogKdpFUOZs/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It took Alayna a bit to warm up, but she got really brave and got up some speed and only had a couple falls. She has come a long ways from the kid that needed someone on each side of her just to keep her upright!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW1wcJIoFxITz83uJ0UUxWdokb1zwnkTqmdOG2is_09hsm2pkLx_qfr2Hyy2NPQTPHK9oxYDulcol2Wig4pB1sO1cx_FmNrEFNUjngb5B3W3QMx_AU9RgEihjCRfeku_Spa3fIDaACno/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW1wcJIoFxITz83uJ0UUxWdokb1zwnkTqmdOG2is_09hsm2pkLx_qfr2Hyy2NPQTPHK9oxYDulcol2Wig4pB1sO1cx_FmNrEFNUjngb5B3W3QMx_AU9RgEihjCRfeku_Spa3fIDaACno/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It proved to be an exhausting day as all but Gabe fell asleep in the van on the way home!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_mJzrCkxE1UwblcdI_nDoloQYT7PSAcl20ak09m0GVYOXp9D-F0tNSP6Cjf_u_AGQnUJToK9Jr9ztLFUNTbjVmkGuGIbTBa4ymMDbTB8Pjlq9eesuWR61ivRw5kwdF1yxWgUzhTOKNk/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_mJzrCkxE1UwblcdI_nDoloQYT7PSAcl20ak09m0GVYOXp9D-F0tNSP6Cjf_u_AGQnUJToK9Jr9ztLFUNTbjVmkGuGIbTBa4ymMDbTB8Pjlq9eesuWR61ivRw5kwdF1yxWgUzhTOKNk/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tuesday, we went fishing in the Gulf with our ex-landlord Frank. Such nice people from Missouri. Frank put up with all of us on his boat and didn't even get to fish for helping us with our snagged lines, lost bait, fish that swallowed the hook, or knotted reels. We met at the dock and got loaded, i.e. took over the place:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NS1B6ciuGOhcMundKBHQPogjzKnHt6h_2yazodl9nTLaB-c00AvgwHKW7BBf3Q0qrU-YyYI9wu5MUSBPAWQk4kGEt43tAE8DfSS4yhWEwMXyq14jyAOja5y0tF4BXy5fgsEDy6RErx8/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NS1B6ciuGOhcMundKBHQPogjzKnHt6h_2yazodl9nTLaB-c00AvgwHKW7BBf3Q0qrU-YyYI9wu5MUSBPAWQk4kGEt43tAE8DfSS4yhWEwMXyq14jyAOja5y0tF4BXy5fgsEDy6RErx8/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRc2vcIB3u1PIS_nLvD6AJ-NqsuO8ILwPlqw2deyJBpHZX14pqBy0Fa18rKqMPDkXtc9k-ozdvUWnkJBkMdqdWzT9S9HW6tZw3biR88uq07I8hfMgY5u3__yRTtrKZqxUEz1qr9grEe8/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRc2vcIB3u1PIS_nLvD6AJ-NqsuO8ILwPlqw2deyJBpHZX14pqBy0Fa18rKqMPDkXtc9k-ozdvUWnkJBkMdqdWzT9S9HW6tZw3biR88uq07I8hfMgY5u3__yRTtrKZqxUEz1qr9grEe8/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then went to the bait shop on the water for some live shrimp:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2clo7DwPLGgElx_QcgyCfTmZMk0pknBlSjY1G82e1-OcQMAEi0fCKn1RXv9OMvmtsLovP6c_vV2kBey81mBnjdsbCJjKWGB2lMjqqDzUurZ_zk9qbhyCtB_ZYO8OINH7O2FHD56VNMs/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2clo7DwPLGgElx_QcgyCfTmZMk0pknBlSjY1G82e1-OcQMAEi0fCKn1RXv9OMvmtsLovP6c_vV2kBey81mBnjdsbCJjKWGB2lMjqqDzUurZ_zk9qbhyCtB_ZYO8OINH7O2FHD56VNMs/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were fishing for sheepshead fish and they eat barnacles, so we set up shop near all the leftover pieces from a railroad bridge that you see in the foreground of this picture. The background is the swing bridge in the area. as you can see it separates from the road and swings out perpendicular to the road to allow big boats to pass that wouldn't fit underneath it. It was fun to watch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRmQen2rJ-INDY6-oRLBFon6QxZL2OS95Eqz9dqHphxgA2jTb43mJ4Z18qv26Nhz5v1HguCJiGs_PU5w4rOlrScMntpy6-KwZRS4XhVHRasE3tC1jxbfYH5wyBPsyld3kaFhav4BDKHI/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRmQen2rJ-INDY6-oRLBFon6QxZL2OS95Eqz9dqHphxgA2jTb43mJ4Z18qv26Nhz5v1HguCJiGs_PU5w4rOlrScMntpy6-KwZRS4XhVHRasE3tC1jxbfYH5wyBPsyld3kaFhav4BDKHI/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alayna got the first bite but her ladyfish got away before she could get her reeled in all the way. As I was exclaiming loudly how well she kept her composure and was trying to reel her fish in (the other people fishing were completely thrilled too, I am sure!), I got a bite on my hook and reeled in my first sheepshead! It was a keeper at 14 inches! No, I didn't touch it or the bait in case you were wondering :o) They had huge teeth, like our human incisors! See all the people on the railroad bridge behind me? They knew I had caught a fish too! I am sure they were thrilled again for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFqK0LdTOsTRO3M_nlg1jkbs8mbxdUXNHsnAZRkCYEaICnku7P-npBbg3x09pZNz2PktyaPcXG8BEURtXrdis2szEsAhWRO7hABp49OlPAS1rj9q1g4S_ns3s5zIBCrejLhhdDgPSpWM/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFqK0LdTOsTRO3M_nlg1jkbs8mbxdUXNHsnAZRkCYEaICnku7P-npBbg3x09pZNz2PktyaPcXG8BEURtXrdis2szEsAhWRO7hABp49OlPAS1rj9q1g4S_ns3s5zIBCrejLhhdDgPSpWM/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It looked bigger when Frank was holding it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8umPGmYV7ku7DBy1FIfgbngmgO8-fuqIWA4sG2PMALGftHOtS9ugCrs7Ctfun7cLLWYduxaMPsffzarK8X-IXFjugmGE6nGiAhNfJIzTLLg3BhaeABkDrJs2crdanap-QZkh_EWgrEwo/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8umPGmYV7ku7DBy1FIfgbngmgO8-fuqIWA4sG2PMALGftHOtS9ugCrs7Ctfun7cLLWYduxaMPsffzarK8X-IXFjugmGE6nGiAhNfJIzTLLg3BhaeABkDrJs2crdanap-QZkh_EWgrEwo/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, Holden and Gabe caught little bitty fish that they hoped they could keep on the line and use as bait, but gave that up after a while too. They were fishing off the opposite side of the boat from Alayna and I.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAX-0YblRSs1T_FLIg2PHrEsExvs2nK7BstebH4I975H3VjFuegBTUFqq_lW7kcw_8_EpZam4S-YnfBuWnhspJtNXRNiQRJB3Uo9vKme6PmiJJtc8Uf2JWvIlDItfLfKi_tkzg_ifJhM/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAX-0YblRSs1T_FLIg2PHrEsExvs2nK7BstebH4I975H3VjFuegBTUFqq_lW7kcw_8_EpZam4S-YnfBuWnhspJtNXRNiQRJB3Uo9vKme6PmiJJtc8Uf2JWvIlDItfLfKi_tkzg_ifJhM/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimth2MH44GuI07WS3cTRFTa5Qh8xAnYn4rs36RPb02NVro07Fminm_W3Ycji5eDElxt5lL3SbOS8bahThRjqhDKK_iQdwmyAfOWG9mWcbWMje1TUR4uGrtxJsylnpcMSClg74P_GckcZY/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimth2MH44GuI07WS3cTRFTa5Qh8xAnYn4rs36RPb02NVro07Fminm_W3Ycji5eDElxt5lL3SbOS8bahThRjqhDKK_iQdwmyAfOWG9mWcbWMje1TUR4uGrtxJsylnpcMSClg74P_GckcZY/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I was taking this picture of Gabe's fish, I got another bite and reeled in a keeper size Spanish Mackerel. I had already thrown back a ladyfish. Apparently they are not good to eat.</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMWkjmTWRJxpIm0VuZeF8mb64Co73qTEDAKI7r2bypuS-4fmdDLtH6sqVQCWlwPFxYCkkEEjRs1wgxP2WxA2S7b79Ojvf-iPjpQ1pW0Eo1esZRkd77xEtSuit5AwBOjVrGzdtXEt9sBo/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMWkjmTWRJxpIm0VuZeF8mb64Co73qTEDAKI7r2bypuS-4fmdDLtH6sqVQCWlwPFxYCkkEEjRs1wgxP2WxA2S7b79Ojvf-iPjpQ1pW0Eo1esZRkd77xEtSuit5AwBOjVrGzdtXEt9sBo/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I quickly caught another Spanish Mackerel. By now everyone is tired of me catching fish and I am squeezed out of my fishing position on the boat...</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKFOENng1NtRSmX19EeDv9H8zphlGgMPcM0PkihEh3VZTY85_Slc4ZKL7INmHL7boOqIV8d5mDFKtL6oNc3UtYYMqpfcB3bkSJJalILy0FJw43rWzAKecD73oqIY2EojOzjD2MgXAoNA/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKFOENng1NtRSmX19EeDv9H8zphlGgMPcM0PkihEh3VZTY85_Slc4ZKL7INmHL7boOqIV8d5mDFKtL6oNc3UtYYMqpfcB3bkSJJalILy0FJw43rWzAKecD73oqIY2EojOzjD2MgXAoNA/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then Paul caught a bigger sheepshead. This was the best picture I managed of his fish. That is Riley's foot for size comparison:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhEUhS6t3aErMAEalr7Ynn6MI-YQ7OpkX3cBuzBOQFUi6kYMb_PTpRAsxQAGf0kjrnQLSXuU7lOCIF4HpYpqeQ-p_gEW9hej3i7aDCCcIW_sHyvwWS8hJ_bwkWRfsoPDwXJHtQ8VzCoI/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhEUhS6t3aErMAEalr7Ynn6MI-YQ7OpkX3cBuzBOQFUi6kYMb_PTpRAsxQAGf0kjrnQLSXuU7lOCIF4HpYpqeQ-p_gEW9hej3i7aDCCcIW_sHyvwWS8hJ_bwkWRfsoPDwXJHtQ8VzCoI/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+048.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then Holden had a very hard time reeling this beauty in. When we got her in the boat, we knew why all the struggle. She was HUGE! He was just a bit proud of himself. He declared he was going to eat all of his own fish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6iBXCYcpVJLYYhuPLkShcuIZoqonsObVzjioHSQr99kp0DMiYBpfiF081hK_DEQm73IRnFjV7ClyjcR_PqRxVT4QTuwfoggaP4D7zzCvPoV-B7RdOnh_cEnL7TQ6f6qQgr54G2BRIZ0/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6iBXCYcpVJLYYhuPLkShcuIZoqonsObVzjioHSQr99kp0DMiYBpfiF081hK_DEQm73IRnFjV7ClyjcR_PqRxVT4QTuwfoggaP4D7zzCvPoV-B7RdOnh_cEnL7TQ6f6qQgr54G2BRIZ0/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+050.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We called it a day shortly after that. Frank cleaned all the fish for us. Here are the sheepshead we were able to keep. Holden's in the middle, mine closest to Holden and Paul's at the bottom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5XTLTlZeSPX-vqnbgPhbIHDJApkxwG7gLYw43ZHjqg46fbIs_LRVLlZcVsTphyphenhyphenvDMS4It8zgh-0mrlsol3uXMQCZauYjI8uooDf-cj6nc5yCIfv3JWabkNZnVfF6l1DYFO1lDMQKIAo/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5XTLTlZeSPX-vqnbgPhbIHDJApkxwG7gLYw43ZHjqg46fbIs_LRVLlZcVsTphyphenhyphenvDMS4It8zgh-0mrlsol3uXMQCZauYjI8uooDf-cj6nc5yCIfv3JWabkNZnVfF6l1DYFO1lDMQKIAo/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After fishing, we headed home and got cleaned up and changed and headed out to the gulf to jet ski. A friend from church loaned us their 2 jet skis for a few days. Gabe and Riley rode with me:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH8Lig7S0CPBS-4qFpwXltcOlh6_2Ztiabb_Nt4dMVxXkYG75QpMKkVjTZEtBKQjvwplvl4Lpcb9zyDfQXCG2KB3IHH-wV79qwfg2pJ4Jnj7pcfTjioilhqn6wdEthLqFbC4p-IQe05A/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH8Lig7S0CPBS-4qFpwXltcOlh6_2Ztiabb_Nt4dMVxXkYG75QpMKkVjTZEtBKQjvwplvl4Lpcb9zyDfQXCG2KB3IHH-wV79qwfg2pJ4Jnj7pcfTjioilhqn6wdEthLqFbC4p-IQe05A/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden and Alayna went with Paul. We had such fun jumping waves. Riley was screaming in my ear almost the entire time and Paul said Alayna did the same. I guess you could say they had fun. Tuesday was cooler but calm. Wednesday was warm and we headed out a bit earlier, but it was windier and the waves were much bigger, lots more jumping and less speed and we got much wetter too. We took breaks on the beach a couple times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fJtoTPoZtocp7QpWMT1Rr69rEh0GybmCVJ5VmhmSCwJsTtcsYMQktziOzg7rVQeiFVt-nU49rJINLKLyeTI00jJXTj4VytWaeSZ0KD7PR4v5By9hfCx5Ej72aHrVfPZ9gKJI-Bsvg_g/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fJtoTPoZtocp7QpWMT1Rr69rEh0GybmCVJ5VmhmSCwJsTtcsYMQktziOzg7rVQeiFVt-nU49rJINLKLyeTI00jJXTj4VytWaeSZ0KD7PR4v5By9hfCx5Ej72aHrVfPZ9gKJI-Bsvg_g/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a tiny island in one of the bays where we stopped to warm up and play. The kids dug in the sand, explored, and learned to skip shells. It was so beautiful but just a bit too cool for me. I don't know what the water temperature was, but it felt about 33 degrees! I turned a corner too sharp once while we were barely moving and dumped us all off into the frigid water. I learned my lesson!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhnAnDLI44xr4ENXjWVaHSvfr1xDWTgFrlTnqZD0bRsM5ZjImByFRq53_1o19gI045Hx0xqq-IWbMo-9I5dQXMGCOCM7lIzte2AzTXNZQTSuhmWL5bXhcd9vH5iHcbcSw-WByXDUatbY/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhnAnDLI44xr4ENXjWVaHSvfr1xDWTgFrlTnqZD0bRsM5ZjImByFRq53_1o19gI045Hx0xqq-IWbMo-9I5dQXMGCOCM7lIzte2AzTXNZQTSuhmWL5bXhcd9vH5iHcbcSw-WByXDUatbY/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8sJAFUKFRRmA7bDCAvdYsi-xPPSDaFivOoHNiobfoYPeM0SkQoi5O-4lF_jkjrx4VVV1dmtPAv70INrUkwkZ2ah28Dwjmi_mm-4nMmIXYJ1QWgAJ6OTrZocdDQnpbqiEgJAiOAJUrxE/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8sJAFUKFRRmA7bDCAvdYsi-xPPSDaFivOoHNiobfoYPeM0SkQoi5O-4lF_jkjrx4VVV1dmtPAv70INrUkwkZ2ah28Dwjmi_mm-4nMmIXYJ1QWgAJ6OTrZocdDQnpbqiEgJAiOAJUrxE/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9VIziKZl6dbC86EVftcyVUtGfL-wBMqHNn02incPHmswDA7sJQGLjGSVo6DaNHgEyUH-rfu-qou3RgOM3kg7SzmyCAwQir7pkbwjNRrWqY9Hin7lG5GmvQq0y-i0h3ZmRzzoNsXAylk/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9VIziKZl6dbC86EVftcyVUtGfL-wBMqHNn02incPHmswDA7sJQGLjGSVo6DaNHgEyUH-rfu-qou3RgOM3kg7SzmyCAwQir7pkbwjNRrWqY9Hin7lG5GmvQq0y-i0h3ZmRzzoNsXAylk/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabe was thrilled that he was finally old enough to drive the jet ski with an adult on board. I was happy to let him drive it to the dock. It was unbelievable to me how tired my fingers got from squeezing the throttle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE78pfSZPFM7Du5GISdoB-NBbqqTXFa1N92h3DJSP6NzXFpDFRYDQwUSroVAT5Q7RyOyu4vuJx2fYUoMg3DlEJg5HhyphenhyphenpaM0FIwVHrZxUGFNXVrU0HPkaFTQ_1aIZKkn4wY66HUGwsac88/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE78pfSZPFM7Du5GISdoB-NBbqqTXFa1N92h3DJSP6NzXFpDFRYDQwUSroVAT5Q7RyOyu4vuJx2fYUoMg3DlEJg5HhyphenhyphenpaM0FIwVHrZxUGFNXVrU0HPkaFTQ_1aIZKkn4wY66HUGwsac88/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInPx_aRdVb3KR4ap1_-zExPbHJnM-noQ7_ZXMjSJgWiXqgak0mER8nlAkoTyEFqVWbfGlP0hZvAYyRcSx8wpn_5M8dnxCGegTlFdJF7LZIhof9wItiKTFv7iJxN6fmrt2J6UUqoAq2V4/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInPx_aRdVb3KR4ap1_-zExPbHJnM-noQ7_ZXMjSJgWiXqgak0mER8nlAkoTyEFqVWbfGlP0hZvAYyRcSx8wpn_5M8dnxCGegTlFdJF7LZIhof9wItiKTFv7iJxN6fmrt2J6UUqoAq2V4/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alayna found a cute hermit crab in the water just as we were leaving. Paul was holding it and it started to come out of its shell, but when it saw me it pulled itself right back in. So funny. Paul put him down and he was in a major hurry to get back to the water. I haven't seen them move much before on land, but he had it figured out how to use the shape of the shell to roll him faster into the water than he could run. It was comical to watch him scramble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33b8KhNqmx0Ba5HHxHdjmKcO_kvBkJsig0QHMfhiCS3SWKweArqRvz3Sw9UeGa-3AB_jWk_-SJ474sD7Zm8kwbAapqYU8t8xH0w6-_q_ZQGYaasPtzl0qcN_xY9ND1_SGiHBrWaj-J6Y/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33b8KhNqmx0Ba5HHxHdjmKcO_kvBkJsig0QHMfhiCS3SWKweArqRvz3Sw9UeGa-3AB_jWk_-SJ474sD7Zm8kwbAapqYU8t8xH0w6-_q_ZQGYaasPtzl0qcN_xY9ND1_SGiHBrWaj-J6Y/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm3zyE0yUE8yar-FVWsWWVm-_wJR9NsoroFRFXsBaR2R1nhmjjDSSSfbIjtRc7JRhIoMTk-DDER7PONFpzX3LEgmgWPBXhHM3Fs8Tbc1IJ-w42ttYLiUmhYiwRooIF9fiHneGccogAak/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm3zyE0yUE8yar-FVWsWWVm-_wJR9NsoroFRFXsBaR2R1nhmjjDSSSfbIjtRc7JRhIoMTk-DDER7PONFpzX3LEgmgWPBXhHM3Fs8Tbc1IJ-w42ttYLiUmhYiwRooIF9fiHneGccogAak/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, we are almost through our staycation and we have checked out a few movies from the library and gotten new books to read and plan to go out for lunch and make Molten Chocolate Lava cakes for dinner (yes I am serious, we are planning on eating cake for dinner...Paul might fry up some boneless chicken wings too if the guilt becomes too much to bear) because it has been raining all day today here. The kids are enjoying a good excuse to play Wii as well. They didn't even have to do any chores to earn play time since we are on staycation. Oh, how we are not going to want this week to end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-57202258425478941782011-02-10T10:00:00.001-05:002011-03-10T11:04:47.213-05:00Happy Birthday Gabriel! Okay...don't judge me...on several levels. Yes, this blog is SUPER overdue (I am sure you know this has nothing to do with the measure of my love for my firstborn!) AND, I let my child have an Airsoft war birthday party AND, I made his cake in the shape of a gun. Well, actually Paul cut it out and I frosted it. So it was a team effort...don't judge us! The kids had a great time and we adults did too. Gabe's birthday was on a Saturday so he had a few of friends over (we didn't manage to get a group shot) who brought their Airsoft guns for some games of capture the flag in our backyard/preserve. Our yard backs up to a wooded area that the kids have taken over as their personal wilderness/exploring area/battle ground. It has been great fun for them and the perfect place for capture the flag, Airsoft style. While they were playing, we were cutting out and decorating the cake:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkZwHbdCKrXX8Dv35vKPi32_qzcAB025UgnplW2pbgp6UEcQH3H4UNjVCwwViNUVfLgkXLSYLSKAOfAlFzEelRaE3kDkaJb8fgoDpFUy74T-HdCZ-87cHkYvU1aEB61lUGSUBLKGNRQ8/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkZwHbdCKrXX8Dv35vKPi32_qzcAB025UgnplW2pbgp6UEcQH3H4UNjVCwwViNUVfLgkXLSYLSKAOfAlFzEelRaE3kDkaJb8fgoDpFUy74T-HdCZ-87cHkYvU1aEB61lUGSUBLKGNRQ8/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+002.jpg" width="212" /></a></div> We were very pleased with how it turned out. It was an exact replica of their Airsoft rifles. Except Paul put a sniper's muzzle on it as his own signature (the squarish thing at the end of the barrel). I am not sure who had more fun with this, he or I!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa3rAmhejERWmZr2aaUqtYpMhmX7YzFxqezG9HjUAGbNe4YxcdhrOrCk4ro5dFkOI_ZqkR7h73fwKxZ-v753jkiWF51-jmvWXKcM2vcwzyOpJo46sd1Y7eBMWpmJGGH0mefQ9DCidxzU/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa3rAmhejERWmZr2aaUqtYpMhmX7YzFxqezG9HjUAGbNe4YxcdhrOrCk4ro5dFkOI_ZqkR7h73fwKxZ-v753jkiWF51-jmvWXKcM2vcwzyOpJo46sd1Y7eBMWpmJGGH0mefQ9DCidxzU/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Heading out to hide the flag:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsf9Tp_Lr0PwOfp4N0HNuT16R3ddh4y3TMJkse7wvSQAJMTbtAL6grAYENBDBvDxthnNg6YhcAto9MkqcOuJ59A2I14Hc0ZuIXckFpf-cfac2L1Pnm6DS_mb1qtY_99PpRehrsCSrZSc/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsf9Tp_Lr0PwOfp4N0HNuT16R3ddh4y3TMJkse7wvSQAJMTbtAL6grAYENBDBvDxthnNg6YhcAto9MkqcOuJ59A2I14Hc0ZuIXckFpf-cfac2L1Pnm6DS_mb1qtY_99PpRehrsCSrZSc/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See the safety glasses? Everyone had to have them so no one would shoot their eye out. They were amazingly willing to wear them. I guess that is what happens to a generation who grows up with safety equipment like bike helmets and the such.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QiXKkN591lJj_uFXIYKdnVwfAj-GEOEEd0g7jxhIC12csblMCbK67BtPbZedsGAuY5Ec6zydZVigP5HY7QLMUV-Z95edfZgzzqbLeyPZP8L1_mhxAYSFrG9T_91m8oQd3vSglKklwsE/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QiXKkN591lJj_uFXIYKdnVwfAj-GEOEEd0g7jxhIC12csblMCbK67BtPbZedsGAuY5Ec6zydZVigP5HY7QLMUV-Z95edfZgzzqbLeyPZP8L1_mhxAYSFrG9T_91m8oQd3vSglKklwsE/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYJI1lIlAVFFFCoqPlo9_OSoO2SoqhfR8ltZkiTBcRez5U3CI8dNrzHZWsjHPXSqUsCBQNpJDr633fBgIgKMvN6tFyxDCMSsc5E9ICszVlNKobPn9G9s6IEbNByQ2NrkG24lkX-Xp0kE/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYJI1lIlAVFFFCoqPlo9_OSoO2SoqhfR8ltZkiTBcRez5U3CI8dNrzHZWsjHPXSqUsCBQNpJDr633fBgIgKMvN6tFyxDCMSsc5E9ICszVlNKobPn9G9s6IEbNByQ2NrkG24lkX-Xp0kE/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The finished product. I was horrified to find I had no black frosting after getting it all cut out and to our likings. I was quite glad when it came time to eat it since we weren't all wearing the black frosting on our lips and teeth! The camouflage turned out okay after all.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI88G449vicxfclOzvohj9IB9xp6fm9oRtZfSclsmyOfG1CQuOuLJlCylYg02uJMbaDYoQtICX2U7hAQ7c4MhjndAJYMbXAsx_a822WxGwPMonJvNXX4lFnC3CqRZZvdw0ctdmzxnHyg/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI88G449vicxfclOzvohj9IB9xp6fm9oRtZfSclsmyOfG1CQuOuLJlCylYg02uJMbaDYoQtICX2U7hAQ7c4MhjndAJYMbXAsx_a822WxGwPMonJvNXX4lFnC3CqRZZvdw0ctdmzxnHyg/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After pizza and nachos, we had cake. It was quite funny hearing the big boys singing happy birthday with our family.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEl47z-uMWi-FCRhbVQB9uSG6cuREEX46U0iIEw7RzF-GSHVxx_pLcah9NLBYtGrHajPWamGVEY2NG_NegfCoY10pN818XWDu5RVnB1Z_92NC7FBecjJ2ValUgc4zKYr60kejZXFAf48/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEl47z-uMWi-FCRhbVQB9uSG6cuREEX46U0iIEw7RzF-GSHVxx_pLcah9NLBYtGrHajPWamGVEY2NG_NegfCoY10pN818XWDu5RVnB1Z_92NC7FBecjJ2ValUgc4zKYr60kejZXFAf48/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As another treat, Paul's parents arrived late Saturday night to spend time with Gabe for his birthday and escape the the Iowa weather. We had a great visit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl83Yfn8UNbylfU9kaJmcvqGve50KjYneSlrNXCIwlvMOi9STUh_mW3SYbQYA9ukK5jWbjiynlp0GqevqJijIqonujsXZcXh6VFb7J33qyqdj1BLa9XAqAagblQlj8Fq3V-Xc_-PweIL4/s1600/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl83Yfn8UNbylfU9kaJmcvqGve50KjYneSlrNXCIwlvMOi9STUh_mW3SYbQYA9ukK5jWbjiynlp0GqevqJijIqonujsXZcXh6VFb7J33qyqdj1BLa9XAqAagblQlj8Fq3V-Xc_-PweIL4/s320/christmas+and+spring+break+2011+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is so amazing to think we have been parents for 14 years now. Poor Gabe has been the experimental child. I have explained to him that I believe that is why the firstborn in Biblical times got a double portion of the inheritance as his birthright! Gabe has taken all of this in stride his entire life. He is so easy going, such a helper, and has even turned into a neatnik, harassing Riley until he cleans up his side of the room! It has been fun watching him grow and mature into a young adult. My friend Cindy Hogan helped us decide not to use the word teenager because of what it congers up in the mind (irresponsible, rebellious, disrespectful), but to use the words young adult because that is what they are physically and should be striving for emotionally and spiritually. Speaking of physically, Gabe's growth spurt has continued and we are not sure when this one will stop, but finding clothes for a 5'11" young adult who only weighs 115 pounds is quite difficult right now. I know all the supermodels would be quite jealous of his eating habits and ability to maintain his figure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriel:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You are such a blessing to our family. I know we couldn't survive without the help that you so willingly (usually) give around the house. We pray that your relationship with Jesus will continue to be a priority in your life and that you will always know that you can tell us anything, ask us anything, and we will NEVER stop loving you! We are so proud of the leader you have become in school and in your youth group and the heart you have to serve at church. We love watching you with your first job; learning to budget your money, give regularly, and accept more and more responsibility. We are amazed at your work ethic and ability to work hard and not complain. Keep up the good work! WE LOVE YOU!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-4296926622533486232010-12-24T19:30:00.003-05:002010-12-28T09:44:27.249-05:00That Christmas letter I couldn't find time to write<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F-18UVmINIlt9I7gmfnKraU_lqoceGAZLpKiOXvrPSXhqpzfq1F5nqESo19XaAum_AmrZw_d1gIe6ynvvitCnaIUSomnW_YH8J3ezQUYwU755TqO9VXDk9xJNL7LQNlrDBGSFCbIGI4/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F-18UVmINIlt9I7gmfnKraU_lqoceGAZLpKiOXvrPSXhqpzfq1F5nqESo19XaAum_AmrZw_d1gIe6ynvvitCnaIUSomnW_YH8J3ezQUYwU755TqO9VXDk9xJNL7LQNlrDBGSFCbIGI4/s320/IMG_0336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For some reason, I am having a hard time writing the Christmas letter this year. Maybe because I feel too busy to really reflect on what the year has brought us. Maybe because... if I am really honest, I am not a fan of what the year has brought us. Maybe because I feel guilty for not being a fan of what the year has brought us as I think about all of the amazing and miraculous things that go on in our lives every day that we simply overlook in selfish self centeredness and self pity. Can anyone relate? I guess this is one of those months when my life feels so overwhelming (new job, trying to keep pace with 4 kids' activities, desperately trying to keep my house clean and organized, trying to stay in shape, etc).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I decided that I would share the responsibility this year and let each person share about their year themselves. I will go first since its my blog :o)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlwWpDiP2wwYsGJy-stKdgzx3NF_QKvrxEdY31LzxrhOOteUkDyaRkYL5XjmgnJBhzDMPdj6oFaqPEvME3LefQjVgltTkQ4pS_MxKi0-JywIWt90qCdGGckMD0pWW9ZrCYD8n9MLhUbI/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlwWpDiP2wwYsGJy-stKdgzx3NF_QKvrxEdY31LzxrhOOteUkDyaRkYL5XjmgnJBhzDMPdj6oFaqPEvME3LefQjVgltTkQ4pS_MxKi0-JywIWt90qCdGGckMD0pWW9ZrCYD8n9MLhUbI/s320/IMG_0334.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>TRAVIS</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I am still working full time and changed jobs December 1st. I was getting very burned out at the Health Department and a new opportunity landed in my lap. God opened the door and I walked through. His timing is perfect. I should be feeling refreshed as the pace is much better, but learning a new specialty is daunting and I have allowed it to stress me a bit. I think that would be my pride in not wanting anyone to know that I do not, in fact, know EVERYTHING. I have ventured into the world of Pulmonology (lungs) and truly am enjoying the challenge. I will be back to the hospital starting at the beginning of the year, helping with rounds and consults in the morning and then have clinic in the afternoon. I was very surprised at how much I missed the hospital environment. It has been very hard leaving all the relationships I had at my last job. I was there long enough to start to get to really know people and enjoy all their personalities and talents. We laughed a lot. I miss that. </div>**I am hoping my new hours will allow me to be at the kids' school more too. I really got spoiled when I worked part time (or not at all) and miss seeing what is going on in the classrooms. <br />
**I read every book I could get my hands on about teenagers since we became a family with one this year.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I became the 3rd tallest in our family this year. I think next year I will likely be demoted to 4th. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I plan to get back to my daily Bible study/reading in 2011. All the books I read this year were Christian books, and I still read my Bible, but I am definitely missing the in depth study time and regimented reading. I have missed how in the past years, in my reading, how many days I would be so amazed as I read a story that seemed brand new (in spite of reading through the Bible either chronologically, front to back, or reading OT/NT verses) or how the day's reading was so pertinent to the events of my life that exact day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOS_1YTQuM5ayRqbL4LRnvcu5TYS7IbE7ORLiuws66oFDVBVUe2cVVWxV8RXd3K2JD2N7eRNm17fqOxv2Op5-s07luLWDAbWr_eZTVRIyN7wcMZ4F07NYVPRmz5yRY5kSNdyq4VCO56s/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOS_1YTQuM5ayRqbL4LRnvcu5TYS7IbE7ORLiuws66oFDVBVUe2cVVWxV8RXd3K2JD2N7eRNm17fqOxv2Op5-s07luLWDAbWr_eZTVRIyN7wcMZ4F07NYVPRmz5yRY5kSNdyq4VCO56s/s320/IMG_0373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong>PAUL</strong><br />
**I continue to work as the Executive Pastor for our church while wrestling with God over His long term plans for my life. My hip has not been dislocated yet, but after 16 months, still no answer. Support has dwindled but we do not see this as a discouragement, just God refining and teaching and possibly moving me on.<br />
**Coaching basketball at the middle school has been quite an experience!<br />
**I actually enjoyed the negotiation process when we bought our house and all the joys of home ownership and teaching the boys how to fix things. We are all still trying to adjust to in-town living.<br />
**I love teaching Financial Peace University and I also meet with two other men for in-depth Bible study and accountability.<br />
**Our church received a complete makeover requiring me to order 450 feet of pipe and drape (to make a cafeteria look like a church) and then hire staff to oversee set up and tear down of our mobile church, purchase signs, toys for the kids' classrooms and lots of other stuff that was a major undertaking of my position this year.<br />
**Our church has seen major growth with nearly doubled Sunday morning worship attendance and a Christmas Eve Eve (not a type-o) service that hosted 630 people. We were BLOWN away.<br />
**I have gone back to grad school for a Masters of Arts, but will only attend as we have funds for classes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXXYpJklscS9oAaWuA-YUk0iaheorKjbcvHfaAkhBzj1KrGOPrM-zQjKV-R6LHE9nbC-Wk49MT5r0JMXWKxaa7s_NPF1cAI2SO0HQrdbER0s_LblIeCSppfR21gm1Skp5ptg9Ia9ctQ0/s1600/Gabriel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXXYpJklscS9oAaWuA-YUk0iaheorKjbcvHfaAkhBzj1KrGOPrM-zQjKV-R6LHE9nbC-Wk49MT5r0JMXWKxaa7s_NPF1cAI2SO0HQrdbER0s_LblIeCSppfR21gm1Skp5ptg9Ia9ctQ0/s320/Gabriel.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Gabriel</strong></span><br />
**It has been a crazy year. We have been having fun, it's nice and warm and I am loving it, but I miss the snow.<br />
**I had a really awesome birthday this year.<br />
**Our church and youth group is getting bigger.<br />
**I am playing basketball and we are having a good season so far.<br />
**School has been crazy. We now have a high school and it's really big. I do not like school anymore because it's school and it's a lot of work. I have about three tests a week.<br />
**I am now taller than my mom, even when she's wearing high heels. I finally weigh 100 pounds!<br />
**I got stitches again last weekend (ear this time) and we think my total for my lifetime is over 40 stitches. All in my face except for the 17 I had in my leg two years ago.<br />
Gabriel has really grown this year both physically and spiritually. He has taken on a leadership role in his middle school youth group willingly. He started 8th grade this year. Wow, high school next year. Here is the proof of his growth spurt:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ARCzirSyyR5x0TDZHUv0IoRSL2HutA36WFIChKzpAvnCRXormbxLFOlYhyzEzcoWe6OH1A9B7iRTHQEuFLDi5EfJd_0PxlFP-NewIGDACuVqZJWunRxm1QJ-FE8s-QRUaSakXqridlo/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ARCzirSyyR5x0TDZHUv0IoRSL2HutA36WFIChKzpAvnCRXormbxLFOlYhyzEzcoWe6OH1A9B7iRTHQEuFLDi5EfJd_0PxlFP-NewIGDACuVqZJWunRxm1QJ-FE8s-QRUaSakXqridlo/s320/IMG_0346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhqiYJe4AOdyf2RUiIONQeE4o9YJommCMcMLDm7BLBfkMaLUZ1RXCo0PyzytXRHH-iGP2DHJdIxuCmqptH0_qqnLzR0KXl8Sub0keWxl5dgFsaPwj7497EXPAVETT-tYv5oq9liFZDIo/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhqiYJe4AOdyf2RUiIONQeE4o9YJommCMcMLDm7BLBfkMaLUZ1RXCo0PyzytXRHH-iGP2DHJdIxuCmqptH0_qqnLzR0KXl8Sub0keWxl5dgFsaPwj7497EXPAVETT-tYv5oq9liFZDIo/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">RILEY</span></strong><br />
**I started 5th grade this year. I have a first year teacher and she is pretty nice. <br />
**I started football this summer. Our team lost the first game and we were undefeated the rest of the season. I liked my positions as a left guard and defensive end. I was also on the kick off team. I crushed a few people; it was fun.<br />
**In my spare time, I like to read and ride my bike.<br />
**I had 13 stitches in my leg after falling off the counter (he is a boy...is there really any other explanation??)<br />
**I am playing basketball. I don't like it as much as football, but its still fun. I am the only 5th grader on the team. We are 5-3.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Riley grew up several years this year it seems. He acts much older than he is (maybe because he shares a room with Gabe and they spend so much time together). He is more reserved like Paul and has a fabulous sense of humor and loves to quote Bill Cosby from his stand up routine "Himself". He is always cracking us up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2atqBh7kGZqHeD4DSaDhYsPEXrtSbsfOSppaKp7xnW9C9drwHtFuw9RHPUwyhv5uq4PuN3m9mXptRSs9MLzlNtYlBS6erYFMmbeCXkosFCRGR2E13JTaNX2KyITDNdHhp3msiYAQLouo/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2atqBh7kGZqHeD4DSaDhYsPEXrtSbsfOSppaKp7xnW9C9drwHtFuw9RHPUwyhv5uq4PuN3m9mXptRSs9MLzlNtYlBS6erYFMmbeCXkosFCRGR2E13JTaNX2KyITDNdHhp3msiYAQLouo/s320/IMG_0365.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>HOLDEN</strong></span></div>**I have been having fun in Florida, and I miss my Iowa friends.<br />
**I started third grade this year. I just started health and it is my favorite class. I have been having fun doing math, science, English, Spanish, reading, computers, PE, art, library and playground. I still don't like school uniforms.<br />
**The cool thing about this year is that I didn't lose any teeth. Riley finally caught up to me!!<br />
**I had fun playing soccer, racquetball, Frisbee, yo-yoing, riding my Heelys. I am still waiting for a new bike.<br />
Holden is doing very well in school and reads his dictionary in his free time! He is very interested in my medical journals, and loves to look at the pictures everyone else thinks are gross. Hmm, may have another medical person in the family!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTHbO3XvGq0HvqH77RtnEJyz0V24qoY6r8MsnTH6-n73cNU8qWHcd_mLTAPSeLPDeBe698YdOWCf7wtUP4048aZRO5gQPcP9tkbXRp4CIO2B9HIzpO_DXw2Jv5oZPM8kDeBQcBduZNx0/s1600/Alayna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTHbO3XvGq0HvqH77RtnEJyz0V24qoY6r8MsnTH6-n73cNU8qWHcd_mLTAPSeLPDeBe698YdOWCf7wtUP4048aZRO5gQPcP9tkbXRp4CIO2B9HIzpO_DXw2Jv5oZPM8kDeBQcBduZNx0/s320/Alayna.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>ALAYNA</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I started first grade this fall. I like my teacher and I like work (papers...I LOVE papers!) I have a lot of friends. Jacob is the only one in my class taller than me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I started gymnastics again this fall. I feel stronger every time after gymnastics. We are learning stretches and we can do a roll and penny drops on the bars. Every year after gymnastics, we have a jamboree (a show for the parents). I like the bridge even though it does hurt.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I lost my two front teeth this year.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**We went to Iowa for my birthday and Daddy's.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**The best thing this year was that we went on a cruise for Gabe's birthday.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">**I learned how to make a paper airplane, ride my bike for a few feet without training wheels, and ride my roller blades and I haven't been hurt yet.</div> Alayna still chatters and eats nonstop. She loves to read and recently started a Ted Dekker novel because he is the boys' favorite author. (Ummm, not sure she comprehended any of it!) She loves animals and still does not own a single baby doll. She is a fan of lizards, snakes, toads and even spiders.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Znd00v0e-BKowh-sd4KgCK8RGRRcZoCIHoZGQqQtabmPSK5rRSKebvFoYHU-9brgDU08DJVfVkMjcZvNN9eFkXczWOKy__vFTZAqfTo0DO6WGoOBviG2HKCG1rjbBcs96fpDtgMBQhE/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Znd00v0e-BKowh-sd4KgCK8RGRRcZoCIHoZGQqQtabmPSK5rRSKebvFoYHU-9brgDU08DJVfVkMjcZvNN9eFkXczWOKy__vFTZAqfTo0DO6WGoOBviG2HKCG1rjbBcs96fpDtgMBQhE/s320/IMG_0394.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ic58GS3EBBmQ09svySVMg8i03T5aMxhvV0nE0J6HyPTg5sOa7LgHofO-6f9r3qlX5bm0h29HMpn4CaRUDpp0AwfzuApWG8phHqD8oRXmT9Kkg2oy8ORhLHyHmgrYx-Iy6_B5Dl6NLIU/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ic58GS3EBBmQ09svySVMg8i03T5aMxhvV0nE0J6HyPTg5sOa7LgHofO-6f9r3qlX5bm0h29HMpn4CaRUDpp0AwfzuApWG8phHqD8oRXmT9Kkg2oy8ORhLHyHmgrYx-Iy6_B5Dl6NLIU/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We have had some fun Christmas things to do around here. Our neighborhood has a Christmas light/decorating contest and offers nice prizes to the winners, like free home owner's association dues for a year! On the night of the contest, a trolley offers tours of the neighborhood to look at your neighbor's lights and efforts at decorating. They had funnel cakes, cookies and hot chocolate while you waited. It was great fun. We did not enter the contest. We had seen a house who did last year and knew we would spend more than the year's worth of dues just to purchase enough lights to even have a chance! Here we are getting off the trolley:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2ov_AnCGGMqTB1iwLIPQ2YRUTaGVA_vjuF98S8BCiZf1a5e9kXLyh1pgJRdLev9rv_DCTwN_LkuRrDPwC1JHTg6MuFZ2FGpTpLUsKDeyPe0JBdtjCE0OzQsmXqaE17w85irllL5aJ40/s1600/December+2010+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2ov_AnCGGMqTB1iwLIPQ2YRUTaGVA_vjuF98S8BCiZf1a5e9kXLyh1pgJRdLev9rv_DCTwN_LkuRrDPwC1JHTg6MuFZ2FGpTpLUsKDeyPe0JBdtjCE0OzQsmXqaE17w85irllL5aJ40/s320/December+2010+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The only picture I was able to get of the winning house was blurry since it was dark and we were constantly moving on the trolley. It was pretty amazing! I am not sure I would have chosen this house if I was judging, but I wasn't! The reindeer in the yard were more funny and the rest was very formal and elegant and absolutely beautiful, especially the garland over the front archway.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooBr7JZnhAv0PKRaeMtbKmsZzSe0idizVQWx9UG3KaMeVk6jtEOxDFBYuaJn858XVZ4hKDCqx7H_v4-yYh5eKl1jvIasfNp3Y-ANYNcyO9VHx-hOMxq_CXtEfdHnloYxxBjHnqJIZqSM/s1600/December+2010+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooBr7JZnhAv0PKRaeMtbKmsZzSe0idizVQWx9UG3KaMeVk6jtEOxDFBYuaJn858XVZ4hKDCqx7H_v4-yYh5eKl1jvIasfNp3Y-ANYNcyO9VHx-hOMxq_CXtEfdHnloYxxBjHnqJIZqSM/s320/December+2010+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was my favorite and the 2nd place house. I liked it because it really reminded me of the Grizzwald house but was prettier. They even had snow coming off the roof over the garage and a train in the front yard. I think you could probably see this house from space because of all the lights on the roof!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAohQ5jidD9pNHMgSO0YsPyqER9LGWnww0JZggvNuvm3ypn9-6GCjXo_WMkqSp9Ya1SQBZogX1drpXemAGlDF63TNpRFmNm4RdO3RPuO83tTc8JYTPaKgYNGDBDrID-ovbdjmajwBXeA/s1600/December+2010+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAohQ5jidD9pNHMgSO0YsPyqER9LGWnww0JZggvNuvm3ypn9-6GCjXo_WMkqSp9Ya1SQBZogX1drpXemAGlDF63TNpRFmNm4RdO3RPuO83tTc8JYTPaKgYNGDBDrID-ovbdjmajwBXeA/s320/December+2010+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this is the house I would have chosen for honorable mention in the understated category! Yes, its my house! I am not a fan of the yard blow up thingys, and only like white lights, so this was what we ended up with this year. I was very happy with it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPUJxaY-ZUN7kOHDJVdcCkvKRSkHP9FJpucZKg39tXo5SjVZUGh5syj8XSYZRc3WO3Zu-nnpyR2Dv2zsjRlnSkBv0YY-eGLFAPXZuiLcxQK0xUfhBq6UNSxlXIAktH6mlFRNpypTynxw/s1600/December+2010+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPUJxaY-ZUN7kOHDJVdcCkvKRSkHP9FJpucZKg39tXo5SjVZUGh5syj8XSYZRc3WO3Zu-nnpyR2Dv2zsjRlnSkBv0YY-eGLFAPXZuiLcxQK0xUfhBq6UNSxlXIAktH6mlFRNpypTynxw/s320/December+2010+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Front porch:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy1pPnLEcZKigSKMj35M969ATOUpFZP2Ib1RNLCT87jn4tlFsZNaUWDMoOPfEooh0QwG11RgPf6eSn_LtauWJ3sYddE8fWkjI422iMvrLrHGOtCDa7LsCFDc2eX5WFihhz0QBEBsoh0I/s1600/December+2010+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy1pPnLEcZKigSKMj35M969ATOUpFZP2Ib1RNLCT87jn4tlFsZNaUWDMoOPfEooh0QwG11RgPf6eSn_LtauWJ3sYddE8fWkjI422iMvrLrHGOtCDa7LsCFDc2eX5WFihhz0QBEBsoh0I/s320/December+2010+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Alayna had to bring Christmas cookies to her party on the last day of school before break. I cringed when I got her assignment because it meant I had to actually make something. The night before the party I had nothing planned, but we had all the ingredients for frosted sugar cookies. We actually had a great time making these and sprinkling them with different Christmas sprinkles I had in the cabinet for years. I only own 2 cookie cutters though: a star and heart. I don't think the first graders cared!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyk20YR9Bu0XXtB-1hZKHAaF9TlvENA_SzTQx6KrgLieCrSEPudwxNBM4H8IUKQOi7jHcF1D30cWkKbXg4ysU_0TLhdRHY-uUuwAwgQuzvbIXInk2iUyjutGodqUipitzLTHZzNtvN_k/s1600/December+2010+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyk20YR9Bu0XXtB-1hZKHAaF9TlvENA_SzTQx6KrgLieCrSEPudwxNBM4H8IUKQOi7jHcF1D30cWkKbXg4ysU_0TLhdRHY-uUuwAwgQuzvbIXInk2iUyjutGodqUipitzLTHZzNtvN_k/s320/December+2010+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIMnr5FrcRt8eK-kB3_Yeyzgt1SN7mJb-evthU5SM4b2BefkeWsJ8-uWp4kdw8lSx68-eNX1LWQ1EsTbpK2fQQSC9KIXOlO_lnlfAZW7zyj9PIevuUNL9N7UzYcbxW4qKQIuU-oIQFsU/s1600/December+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIMnr5FrcRt8eK-kB3_Yeyzgt1SN7mJb-evthU5SM4b2BefkeWsJ8-uWp4kdw8lSx68-eNX1LWQ1EsTbpK2fQQSC9KIXOlO_lnlfAZW7zyj9PIevuUNL9N7UzYcbxW4qKQIuU-oIQFsU/s320/December+2010+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had fun trying to decorate this house for Christmas. I have to admit that I am relieved that we will finally be sure we will be in the same house next year! I can actually put things in the same place next year and start to think about what to add if anything! The stockings are always tricky when you don't have a fireplace:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4P9fiZ95ufSEDsTpyyPX5UTDYU5rnOcDh_gKYjOfYyWWycedp52vQOynIOd0n1hi-aSA4pFWfB94yUnkunCOPOiS7C8QDAF13AAWgTbC_WCMhI-2-2i1FPFz84qijOF4B_Qs7Trv7dk/s1600/December+2010+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4P9fiZ95ufSEDsTpyyPX5UTDYU5rnOcDh_gKYjOfYyWWycedp52vQOynIOd0n1hi-aSA4pFWfB94yUnkunCOPOiS7C8QDAF13AAWgTbC_WCMhI-2-2i1FPFz84qijOF4B_Qs7Trv7dk/s320/December+2010+031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we hung them all around the knee wall in the entryway. The sofa table got some Christmas cheer too:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p7dqVwcmjmnz17rihLejLAnX16-UbKvfq456RcvCHRP5OqAcaw-YfqPaut7U0V590SBK9R0Ry3VADRitQ5Sf_0zNboxrJmYBBX-BI3fvuNZXbzcRmhFjnOaFIOhsYDgb0OwNxEvOc14/s1600/December+2010+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p7dqVwcmjmnz17rihLejLAnX16-UbKvfq456RcvCHRP5OqAcaw-YfqPaut7U0V590SBK9R0Ry3VADRitQ5Sf_0zNboxrJmYBBX-BI3fvuNZXbzcRmhFjnOaFIOhsYDgb0OwNxEvOc14/s320/December+2010+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I finally have my Papa Dee's clock up with some bling as well:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEq-ekdsEHMky_wWAkuMmckr7HhMxrt65PiCbV1NeoK9e5tmPaISIEcFCeuTaYYmY2hdQSLj4-7sfbccON0kQK-p9WKGsV3CPr9OMMWV-7M4nTa4LLDROQ5Z99s9gqVD4BOcPKB552fI/s1600/December+2010+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEq-ekdsEHMky_wWAkuMmckr7HhMxrt65PiCbV1NeoK9e5tmPaISIEcFCeuTaYYmY2hdQSLj4-7sfbccON0kQK-p9WKGsV3CPr9OMMWV-7M4nTa4LLDROQ5Z99s9gqVD4BOcPKB552fI/s320/December+2010+033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the little Christmas tree found a home on the table in the living room. This made the kids miss their Christmas trees they used to have in each of their rooms. We just didn't have room when we moved for all the Christmas stuff and they didn't make the cut. Maybe again someday!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPnwEvw07fCCM-XC82aDJPolScaQqvZATLs502RCQbgVi1yo_gs8Kgg-3dlUCp9LiFLfdG6SmQm7bjEsTut_aC16B-ZLd-SNKRt0-3PMxmbQmwv4raMk1yzKpvJ2YVjNQlh6FGQnFMTs/s1600/December+2010+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPnwEvw07fCCM-XC82aDJPolScaQqvZATLs502RCQbgVi1yo_gs8Kgg-3dlUCp9LiFLfdG6SmQm7bjEsTut_aC16B-ZLd-SNKRt0-3PMxmbQmwv4raMk1yzKpvJ2YVjNQlh6FGQnFMTs/s320/December+2010+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This cute one will probably lose its home on the front porch for someone's room.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLsnEhu-NLsWPP2DnhIpmhqS3P4vb0B3rJ88VbDwgYGo02z12DppmOcssqCSN7QRnknkHDhBpPTzZFzRZ-eDiZ23hhkSy1aNwHRNTA3DKeIX34itvOEHVxrnhCf1Jzr0K0UkCeyDmO00/s1600/December+2010+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLsnEhu-NLsWPP2DnhIpmhqS3P4vb0B3rJ88VbDwgYGo02z12DppmOcssqCSN7QRnknkHDhBpPTzZFzRZ-eDiZ23hhkSy1aNwHRNTA3DKeIX34itvOEHVxrnhCf1Jzr0K0UkCeyDmO00/s320/December+2010+034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, this has gotten waaay long. I forgot it wasn't a blog, but a Christmas letter! Please know we pray for each of our blog visitors, family members, friends, coworkers, and brothers and sisters in Jesus. We would love the privilege of knowing exactly what we could be praying for you in the new year. Many blessings on you and your families! We love you!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-38871478343946515822010-12-09T08:12:00.000-05:002010-12-09T08:12:43.074-05:00The little things...It really is the little things that make my day. There have been a few things that have happened that are (or seem) so little, but really brought me much happiness. This is the first:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLASyhjmaJ-IzjrxtgGqo9-Sx_JCMLRKfm2mhwjuw81wBioP4BSX1jDcczIBi27kG5iYyuVoONkgqeN_pwsYUzdcmOys3UYwcXAGumtLFjcCQ-_CKgaRm_HGX8H6b_SZGZPhnwkgtud8/s1600/December+2010+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLASyhjmaJ-IzjrxtgGqo9-Sx_JCMLRKfm2mhwjuw81wBioP4BSX1jDcczIBi27kG5iYyuVoONkgqeN_pwsYUzdcmOys3UYwcXAGumtLFjcCQ-_CKgaRm_HGX8H6b_SZGZPhnwkgtud8/s320/December+2010+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I know that is a picture of my oven. I love this thing. It is actually a double oven. The lower drawer not only stores my pans, but it will bake as well. BUT, now there is something even better! The thing that made me so happy was that on Saturday, Paul and I finally got the door taken apart and cleaned. Before we moved in, someone spilled something down between the panes of glass and I have been cringing over not being able to clean it for SIX months! Now, as you see, the spots on the dishwasher don't bother me at all, the oven door is clean! I was very disappointed when no one noticed that it was now clean besides Paul and I, but I decided that I was ridiculously happy about the oven door's transformation, and that was all that mattered!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETjo9O_vkrBZy7mplLM6ay3lEMnWWnHOZrLeLg6GpUonNaRx7J9stFXvciI_oE-_MNC6KxVS8xN7Hzw90uDdxlPwF4aelmegDmdnwhkyv4KzAGwJdcrzePfKTOV3-ZA_SCr3YbhExziA/s1600/December+2010+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETjo9O_vkrBZy7mplLM6ay3lEMnWWnHOZrLeLg6GpUonNaRx7J9stFXvciI_oE-_MNC6KxVS8xN7Hzw90uDdxlPwF4aelmegDmdnwhkyv4KzAGwJdcrzePfKTOV3-ZA_SCr3YbhExziA/s320/December+2010+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, clearly, this is a picture of me drawn by Alayna. Aren't you just loving my outfit? Girl's got some style for sure. She sat down and worked so diligently and carefully on this drawing on Sunday before church (she is a morning girl) and I was so honored that she chose to spend her time and effort on my portrait.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoKBPAWNR5F13naP0IGrQFZeCJZt5YR9AoZMmvyC0piffU45nwd0ip1mhX07e8tvqmGq7pm22mwmCOzqlwypcIN-V7neP01tSqdB-MCPoEVVH_WJVEiUGYvUWk7uD_xpzeTQugtpfIhw/s1600/December+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoKBPAWNR5F13naP0IGrQFZeCJZt5YR9AoZMmvyC0piffU45nwd0ip1mhX07e8tvqmGq7pm22mwmCOzqlwypcIN-V7neP01tSqdB-MCPoEVVH_WJVEiUGYvUWk7uD_xpzeTQugtpfIhw/s320/December+2010+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, here is proof that I do in fact have the Christmas tree up. This is Paul's and my 18th Christmas together and our very first fake tree. I have to admit it was very easy. Paul dragged it down from the attic (I acquired the tree last year after Christmas on Freecycle--its 6 feet tall and pre-lit) and Holden and Alayna had it together in just a few minutes. I was very proud of myself for letting them do most of the decorating and for not rearranging everything. Only 3 ornaments needed a different home. The tree is living in a corner in the den (the advantage of having a tiny tree!) and didn't even disturb our furniture arrangement. The kids kept exclaiming about how puny it was, but after it got dressed, it looks quite pretty and no one makes fun anymore...not even me! This is something totally new to us, but I could get used to it! No watering, pine needles falling, wondering what to do with it after Christmas. Makes me happy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which reminds me that I really have so many things to be happy about. Starting with the beginning of the celebration of this season we are in. I am finding time to reflect on the reason for the celebration this morning. The birth of our Saviour. The baby that came to save us all in such a humble way. Wow, we are so blessed and loved. How quickly we can get caught up in the doing of the season, get the tree up, the lights on the house (ours are up too by the way--thanks honey!), buy the presents, etc. I am so thankful for the reminders of what its really all about. And so thankful that I have been saved through GRACE because I am so unworthy to be a child of God. That is definitely NOT one of my little things...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-8302324043715455412010-12-02T19:58:00.000-05:002010-12-02T19:58:00.405-05:00Busy, busy, busy<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfwl_XNpvP4Wy48Iv09WikKn-37ubrXGyBb47lmcqrFnGE2cfXeMqLKvHGexybdp2MzRP7cp5SlnYEPqE05EDNxkbfpG-_ZT28ot1gw-wVl5i81-lHj9nHjGcqc4BMPKQ70IRrg9fuy0/s1600/october+and+november+2010+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfwl_XNpvP4Wy48Iv09WikKn-37ubrXGyBb47lmcqrFnGE2cfXeMqLKvHGexybdp2MzRP7cp5SlnYEPqE05EDNxkbfpG-_ZT28ot1gw-wVl5i81-lHj9nHjGcqc4BMPKQ70IRrg9fuy0/s320/october+and+november+2010+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, we are still alive. The cessation of football didn't kill us...it was a close call, but we are still here! Life's pace just seems to keep kicking up for me. Or maybe my ability to keep up keeps slipping...hmmm, will have to contemplate that one. October and November were busy months, but I was able to capture a few things on film that we did. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Riley and Holden's classes went on a field trip together in early October and I took the day off to go with them and drive some other kids too. You can see exactly how much Riley appreciated that I chose to sit with him in the picture above {insert sarcasm here}.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrELqbCojvoZa_wdYKztZ_1Gf5l_RI-Kf4Y__yR4A3-6k2loNucs4wQaxq8DhAwIheKo2vEIdTkfXNnde0YggMGjYnULa3ifJ72-la8cIF4QiM6500RLeiPGGiJ5oiAPKaKcqPZYNGzRM/s1600/october+and+november+2010+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrELqbCojvoZa_wdYKztZ_1Gf5l_RI-Kf4Y__yR4A3-6k2loNucs4wQaxq8DhAwIheKo2vEIdTkfXNnde0YggMGjYnULa3ifJ72-la8cIF4QiM6500RLeiPGGiJ5oiAPKaKcqPZYNGzRM/s320/october+and+november+2010+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden miraculously escaped mom's presence and sat happily with his friends Robby and Joshua. The classes went to a theater in Sarasota (I believe it was called The Little Theater, but that was too long ago for me to be sure) to see Pinocchio live on stage. If you know me at all, you know that I have no culture and would rather watch a football game than a play or ballet or opera or--you get the idea. But, I was able to get the day off, so I thought I would grit my teeth and endure it. I even knew how the story ended, so I wasn't expecting a whole lot from the performance. I was amazed! I was completely entertained and impressed with the actors and actresses. There were 2 men and 2 women who played multiple parts each and had to change their voices/accents to match their new part several times. The play was modernized (the kids played video games that turned them into donkeys) and so witty. I have to admit that I even cried when Geppetto died in the end (turns out he wasn't really dead), and laughed out loud multiple times. Riley even enjoyed it too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXerfP-OODZ5CLKJt3qVxXt1gVLNDEqkPciydTYC3h7LeHipcMPGenTEWmeE13BH60j1GN0uqfWw4Q7XIBu9d7KBxl-0HScVdkJkTie20InZDRZg5JqUWT53qshTiWC-uhDYbId3GkUk/s1600/october+and+november+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXerfP-OODZ5CLKJt3qVxXt1gVLNDEqkPciydTYC3h7LeHipcMPGenTEWmeE13BH60j1GN0uqfWw4Q7XIBu9d7KBxl-0HScVdkJkTie20InZDRZg5JqUWT53qshTiWC-uhDYbId3GkUk/s320/october+and+november+2010+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I was thrilled to make it to a couple of the boy's basketball games. Luckily they were just down the road at the YMCA, so I was able to skate out of work and catch them. Their first game was on Veteran's Day and I had it off (oh, the joys of being a government employee), so I got to enjoy the entire game. With six minute quarters, the game is over quickly. The middle school team only has 8 players, so the boys are getting great experience. Paul is the assistant coach and the 4th grade teacher's husband is the head coach. He has coached basketball on the college level previously, and Paul said he has learned things from him that he never learned before from any coach. The boys are having fun. And as of tonight were undefeated. They are on their way home from the first away game right as I type.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp69NtBnIfxxZm9KeHsbYnNmpml3vZOVz9nDy9a7jc8wTOGvd1mRj1vHzwnttezOhWN10fP4eiKLTmQ3MTgZWbk8m8eDNW3PL_Ffd2qPByBDx9OAkzr4FdsD5aQkd4XbFWKI9BPUaY4ew/s1600/october+and+november+2010+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp69NtBnIfxxZm9KeHsbYnNmpml3vZOVz9nDy9a7jc8wTOGvd1mRj1vHzwnttezOhWN10fP4eiKLTmQ3MTgZWbk8m8eDNW3PL_Ffd2qPByBDx9OAkzr4FdsD5aQkd4XbFWKI9BPUaY4ew/s320/october+and+november+2010+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here, both boys were playing. Riley running toward the camera and Gabe down low.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK186gm_snYxRyrydUK28Jwxban690ZxDBYgZ0lSKPyJqL0ErJyYgtip7WlXKw5Ejaq3UP4z54Youd3ru26Fgw7RaHIhI5tIHH-TaQtNpY2F3IXGei6gdXs_GjXfcSNlXo5V5o9_Y23s/s1600/october+and+november+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK186gm_snYxRyrydUK28Jwxban690ZxDBYgZ0lSKPyJqL0ErJyYgtip7WlXKw5Ejaq3UP4z54Youd3ru26Fgw7RaHIhI5tIHH-TaQtNpY2F3IXGei6gdXs_GjXfcSNlXo5V5o9_Y23s/s320/october+and+november+2010+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paul and the boys all on the bench</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhModKY7yY9wDe3VEWdXhJJUrCuGoQZamP5zYzny5PMyqqbhWL95_IqcFoKIXz9GLL-CgliE_LdvE8K7bUidLHMOhCe7DKfPbvtPgrsKgQJl8sGv5isuHgeTJw-FrkilO9IC7-PQV1Uqg0/s1600/october+and+november+2010+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhModKY7yY9wDe3VEWdXhJJUrCuGoQZamP5zYzny5PMyqqbhWL95_IqcFoKIXz9GLL-CgliE_LdvE8K7bUidLHMOhCe7DKfPbvtPgrsKgQJl8sGv5isuHgeTJw-FrkilO9IC7-PQV1Uqg0/s320/october+and+november+2010+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am sure you all knew that the 2nd week of November was National Nurse Practitioner's Week. This is Pam and I in front of our poster that was put up at work for us. We were treated to a pizza lunch one day that week too. We were quite pampered! Thanks Dawn!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wulFJAQQf2VTWkoDuFUxalU3l7lhQqKlnY2Wm0PLfE31ectwRgIH23LKoDCidm9jJkBgMnOJAdtIBacL5xx2UkYDwQ4xrH7XYHytQTHdy6n5HBfnMH6zkjSvipJlez93juVT79fyb2A/s1600/october+and+november+2010+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wulFJAQQf2VTWkoDuFUxalU3l7lhQqKlnY2Wm0PLfE31ectwRgIH23LKoDCidm9jJkBgMnOJAdtIBacL5xx2UkYDwQ4xrH7XYHytQTHdy6n5HBfnMH6zkjSvipJlez93juVT79fyb2A/s320/october+and+november+2010+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And this is the note Gabriel left for me in my car today. I got such a kick out of it. He is so formal with his signature. I am sure he was hoping I would not get him confused with some other Gabriel that loves me! It just made me giggle and I wanted to remember it. As you can see, we still have a certain elementary school to thank for not teaching spelling in 1st grade. The kid can spell difficult 8th grade level words, but not "coming".</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Just a quick attempt to get you all up to speed more, I started a new job yesterday. I have gone back into specialty practice (this time Pulmonology--lungs) and will be back to practicing in the hospital too. I am very excited about it and loving it so far. I will desperately miss everyone at the clinic and have so many fond memories there! I was not looking for a job, it sort of fell in my lap. Just how God works.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I promise I am going to try to be better about posting updates here in the future. I am typing it here to hold myself accountable! I pray you all are doing well. I love reading your blogs (those of you who have them) and keeping in the loop. I covet your prayers and thank God for you every day!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-44031222516222170142010-10-24T15:29:00.000-04:002010-10-24T15:29:16.602-04:00The season ends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XRNdTlRagouznMeDBw-py7kpRev8r7nEe-5EvGFpb5Ca0Y3Mmdhm5NF1H6wNzxcL1wBO3oVOUxhIcqVYMM1jITUlZVJbACnN4hL66LHIA4LvW_w7LwGu5SeKsQ_mrqS4NeAD7gz5-wE/s1600/vikings+playoffs+2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XRNdTlRagouznMeDBw-py7kpRev8r7nEe-5EvGFpb5Ca0Y3Mmdhm5NF1H6wNzxcL1wBO3oVOUxhIcqVYMM1jITUlZVJbACnN4hL66LHIA4LvW_w7LwGu5SeKsQ_mrqS4NeAD7gz5-wE/s320/vikings+playoffs+2010+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are so proud of our team! They only lost one game all year and played their hearts out all season, working hard and learning new skills and learning to be a team. They qualified for the playoffs and had the blessing of playing on their home field. There were 5 games played that day and ours was the only Venice team to play at home. The other team drove around 3 hours to play us. They had a very small team (only 16 boys), but they were very talented. They scored on their second possession and we knew we were in big trouble. They dominated the first half, scoring 26 unanswered points. Our boys went into the locker room with heads down, discouraged to say the least. They had never been in this position all year. Here is our #46 getting in on a play. He only played a few offensive plays in the first half.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5FxbZ_HiAsk9lkNRfNOCBETlb7dqECs17qUK2-FKdvLeaPHNTr-is0t98Nw-3jnWqxSMdgd_JBZ6Yp6IbCpP0Kz8sh2mn1vDZzW4AltQ3Lz31LEQwwdix3w2menZuKkl9pOf2gJ9sHs/s1600/vikings+playoffs+2010+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5FxbZ_HiAsk9lkNRfNOCBETlb7dqECs17qUK2-FKdvLeaPHNTr-is0t98Nw-3jnWqxSMdgd_JBZ6Yp6IbCpP0Kz8sh2mn1vDZzW4AltQ3Lz31LEQwwdix3w2menZuKkl9pOf2gJ9sHs/s320/vikings+playoffs+2010+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, in the second half, Riley got the chance to go in on defense. This is his true love. Playing defense and tackling. I was watching the game through my camera lens (obviously), and captured this just before he tacked this ball carrier. He was involved in a play that I can't even remember the details of shortly after the 2nd half started that just lit the team on fire. I believe it was a turnover, but not really sure. But when he came off the field, his coaches and teammates were all slapping his shoulder and helmet and he was FIRED UP! His enthusiasm spread like wildfire and the team that played the 2nd half looked nothing like the one from the first. Riley played every defensive play after that so it was much more exciting for his family, and he managed to be a part of several big plays, once tackling a kid with one arm while being blocked by an offensive lineman (darn camera didn't snap when I wanted it to or I would have had photo evidence of that one).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-d3tFkye2kvAfbp8jnyRdzLQOU-b4ti7vs12GumFz9zVc_caIFQr2ls10_r4DiPKO0l7jDks95IrxLMISB1m_Oippp9duRJbPI18EQVb5UvsYsRIT95eVh3zZlzG8WmrG8ByFII0CjQ/s1600/vikings+playoffs+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-d3tFkye2kvAfbp8jnyRdzLQOU-b4ti7vs12GumFz9zVc_caIFQr2ls10_r4DiPKO0l7jDks95IrxLMISB1m_Oippp9duRJbPI18EQVb5UvsYsRIT95eVh3zZlzG8WmrG8ByFII0CjQ/s320/vikings+playoffs+2010+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Here, he threw himself in front of the ball carrier (okay, I think he probably tripped) and ended up tripping him up as the others gang tackled him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbDk9xWNguLkVpiZyunfYRmGhbAUIm_gpf32wPPy81vdQv7bcRgosFwD_w4N_3-4qqx0c4wNU4IkZfHXQGVrGf4a3qpjFHEohlKyQRHtAH2CcMR4YTWBOLifVqOXNvzsu2yOtfrtoiMk/s1600/vikings+playoffs+2010+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbDk9xWNguLkVpiZyunfYRmGhbAUIm_gpf32wPPy81vdQv7bcRgosFwD_w4N_3-4qqx0c4wNU4IkZfHXQGVrGf4a3qpjFHEohlKyQRHtAH2CcMR4YTWBOLifVqOXNvzsu2yOtfrtoiMk/s320/vikings+playoffs+2010+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Near the end of the game (we did manage to score once), Riley was in on a tackle and the carrier fumbled the ball, and Riley was given credit for the fumble recovery, and was injured on the play. We decided that the announcer must like Riley's name (even though he pronounces it wrong --"Pratcher" with a short a, rhyming with catcher) because if he's anywhere near the play, he gets credit for something over the loudspeaker! And we cheer really loud anyway! Anyway, he hasn't had any injuries this year, and there has only been a broken finger for the entire team all year (the kicker and he played with the broken finger making all but 2 extra point tries all year!), but when he didn't get up after the play my heart sank. He was in the fetal position for a while then flipped over to his back, but we couldn't tell what was wrong from the stands. He was down so long that the parents in the stands started panicking, asking whose kid that was and did we want to go down there to find out what was wrong. I sat on my hands and prayed. After about a very long minute he got up and walked off holding his left hand/wrist and sat on the bench. Someone got him some ice and he put it on his elbow. Turns out he took a helmet to his elbow, nothing serious, just very painful. He was in tears after the game from both the loss and the elbow. All the boys were very disappointed and several others were in tears. It was very sweet. So many of them were concerned about Riley and came to check on him when he was icing his elbow and after the game. So many lessons learned this year. How to lose gracefully was one of them. How to never give up and to go down fighting to the very last seconds. So much fun to watch. I am so proud of him and all his hard work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGT41F5xurgjf2Vt0TGFqxh2vYxR9vZHhR02z_inacxt4WDbvL76LxZVj8FxPTarF7LPiy9rpl0VqovGLcN5ezXYuiglX1TmMleUWMAUtZnz8hI6PeG4hIdg3-hpQGdl5Vl_WJw-XVbS8/s1600/vikings+playoffs+2010+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGT41F5xurgjf2Vt0TGFqxh2vYxR9vZHhR02z_inacxt4WDbvL76LxZVj8FxPTarF7LPiy9rpl0VqovGLcN5ezXYuiglX1TmMleUWMAUtZnz8hI6PeG4hIdg3-hpQGdl5Vl_WJw-XVbS8/s320/vikings+playoffs+2010+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, now the countdown to football season begins...just 9 short months to go!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-28789567668762893492010-09-30T20:25:00.001-04:002010-09-30T20:29:47.412-04:00Football fun<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVxQsCPpDAjlvoelf8S7DeXQkXbxuVcCp4QbNSlXN_EU67-EevOpkxl0QuUhxvpaDqybINltQWJaKoGJDBq586HyaoyhFHxZOcVRIpeBqXpmb7CcGtFmLwLJgpKdHr5qBcnCTWBM6y4s/s1600/venice+vikings+2010.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVxQsCPpDAjlvoelf8S7DeXQkXbxuVcCp4QbNSlXN_EU67-EevOpkxl0QuUhxvpaDqybINltQWJaKoGJDBq586HyaoyhFHxZOcVRIpeBqXpmb7CcGtFmLwLJgpKdHr5qBcnCTWBM6y4s/s320/venice+vikings+2010.jpg" /></a> </div>Football is winding down, just 2 games to go. We had a home game and pictures last week. We had an unexpected cancellation for this weekend's game, and the Chiefs also have a bye, so its going to be a quiet, nearly football-less weekend. Aaaaah, maybe something at my house will get clean!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0px none;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-61076699377321572122010-09-12T21:29:00.000-04:002010-09-12T21:29:22.887-04:00I'm not little<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb0KlMnzKLKP0MBAB26ZpoSpnby8Xp8WJWY28ieTDHAZpSZczbEpIxQXIBWtb5vNU6YQKASIWMXbuINrZicQWrOSLopSwh7nkm12WhZG0heDotp4It4_cvwELRIzjA3K6pDk_hG1DYE0/s1600/family+pix+alabama+2009+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb0KlMnzKLKP0MBAB26ZpoSpnby8Xp8WJWY28ieTDHAZpSZczbEpIxQXIBWtb5vNU6YQKASIWMXbuINrZicQWrOSLopSwh7nkm12WhZG0heDotp4It4_cvwELRIzjA3K6pDk_hG1DYE0/s320/family+pix+alabama+2009+168.jpg" /></a></div>I wanted to blog this story because it cracked me up and I don't want to forget it over time. Alayna talks SO much that often I can't even listen to it all (and she does not feel that is a requirement anyway). Often, I probably miss hilarious things out of her mouth because I have tuned her out. I was listening to the radio recently {WARNING: rabbit trail!}when a woman was talking about the way kids learn (I have read a book about this, but failed to understand it as it applies to my daughter), and she was discussing audio learners. I almost turned the station, but kept listening for a refresher. I thought audio learners were those who learned best by listening or being told something like a story or a rhyme or a song, but I was very wrong. Turns out audio learners are the kids who chatter constantly...our Alayna for sure! They learn by repeating what they have learned in their own words and asking for confirmation that they have gotten it right. I have tried to be more tuned into her since hearing that...but, there are still times. Like football games when she is too bored to sit and watch. Once she went into the trees behind the visitor bleachers and was playing. I could still see some of her (usually just her legs or feet), but knew where she was. Some boys about her age joined her, but I wasn't too worried because Holden was with her too. I didn't notice Holden had come to sit down, leaving Alayna playing with the boys. One of the boys comes shooting out of the trees with Alayna on his heels and comes up to me in the stands. I don't know how he knew she belonged to me, or if he was just addressing the entire stands, but he starts out by pointing right at Alayna and saying "This little girl..." at which point Alayna completely interrupts him but he finishes his sentence anyway..."is hitting me with a stick!" She interrupted him not to protest her innocence, but to say "I AM NOT LITTLE!!" The entire section of bleachers cracked up. I was standing by another mom whose daughter is in Alayna's class for the third year and she clarified for the rest of the bleachers by saying, "She has three big brothers." Everyone nodded in complete understanding. I asked Alayna if she was indeed hitting the boy with a stick, to which she replied, "Not hard!" She ended up apologizing, but it was hard to be too upset because it was so funny. He was clearly not hurt after all. I swear, she needs to wear a shirt constantly proclaiming that she has 3 big brothers, because it just clears lots of things up. Like her obsessions with dirt and toads:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33D65uE9Yh-cMTkLzyG4FByGSnttTTmyiop2gxlHZqm8ebdb82F9mZMseJJFC9v31wVEyWvEwt3nR0ywgThF4kxS_u1gs5wTXx7ikti_8D0oUegU3VjXl5bfHIYDSG2fcpRiCQJU72rU/s1600/Camden's+bear+orange+clothes+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33D65uE9Yh-cMTkLzyG4FByGSnttTTmyiop2gxlHZqm8ebdb82F9mZMseJJFC9v31wVEyWvEwt3nR0ywgThF4kxS_u1gs5wTXx7ikti_8D0oUegU3VjXl5bfHIYDSG2fcpRiCQJU72rU/s320/Camden's+bear+orange+clothes+021.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pRu4t72bC6He5dkPTIEyntKjsQzIvJq-eqUuVzs19YwL-P0K8QVGHg9k_JZQijLCEmQ-xbWUaurrtJf7E_ka5JfwWrKBIGYUpF5A7WSSPS2lbQ4HZyvvKkz-zUBsZu7FT17sJE-tUnE/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pRu4t72bC6He5dkPTIEyntKjsQzIvJq-eqUuVzs19YwL-P0K8QVGHg9k_JZQijLCEmQ-xbWUaurrtJf7E_ka5JfwWrKBIGYUpF5A7WSSPS2lbQ4HZyvvKkz-zUBsZu7FT17sJE-tUnE/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+012.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-71168724786802989522010-08-23T21:00:00.000-04:002010-08-23T21:00:31.881-04:00First day of school<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35elpXR8fq0qnm0ozCyYyQOErCLynOgVtyFqQkA9Eszua9G_npCzKMOaEJ1ajFwiMLgEJh6bC9iTPVmWUot3eey7FjWfyQdojzecvKtbbWCvQLWUe6sJ1AlDdoCjhDFSm0kFYCRcQ1sY/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35elpXR8fq0qnm0ozCyYyQOErCLynOgVtyFqQkA9Eszua9G_npCzKMOaEJ1ajFwiMLgEJh6bC9iTPVmWUot3eey7FjWfyQdojzecvKtbbWCvQLWUe6sJ1AlDdoCjhDFSm0kFYCRcQ1sY/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+024.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_vBfxyakMa1bcPtpF3tT3Td1SxQ9VINUThORvmIgW_CRreh7kBwCIuWMZZMeLrU0QRujYiPv84Nx9rbbmZc1YYmCJD5iXDObNGPYizADKSVcZVIsBenywDtMlgPVAxNUigl0muvqBVI/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_vBfxyakMa1bcPtpF3tT3Td1SxQ9VINUThORvmIgW_CRreh7kBwCIuWMZZMeLrU0QRujYiPv84Nx9rbbmZc1YYmCJD5iXDObNGPYizADKSVcZVIsBenywDtMlgPVAxNUigl0muvqBVI/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+026.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today was the first day of school, and its official, the boys are way too cool to smile for this picture any more. It rained all day and we had to settle for an indoor shot. First time for everything.</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-2080078146522006092010-08-23T20:56:00.000-04:002010-08-23T20:56:39.873-04:00Football fever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO7YSU-j5OPYtYQOR_tlVmaCCau9aLqdi_2eFfHNZtzQDhNTA_4YGfqPmpL66yRD0vgsa-mUXJowzRU4t3pQQqjtdIgzECiS6xVwMU85dtdEFHNvmX2NnKzJRA-ajNyv8D0WI0qWKx78/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO7YSU-j5OPYtYQOR_tlVmaCCau9aLqdi_2eFfHNZtzQDhNTA_4YGfqPmpL66yRD0vgsa-mUXJowzRU4t3pQQqjtdIgzECiS6xVwMU85dtdEFHNvmX2NnKzJRA-ajNyv8D0WI0qWKx78/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+005.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I think its official, football fever has begun. I call it that because it causes us to run around at a feverish pace and really enjoy football! Wow, its so hard to be the parent, not the player! Riley is the one playing Pop Warner this year. A first for our family: full scale crazy tackle football. Riley was SO excited about the tackle part! He has such a great attitude best of all. Because its his first year, he is a bit behind the other boys who have played for the past 5 years {insert heaping helpings of mom guilt here}, and therefore has to play wherever the coach places him (offensive line right now...I guess he is one of the biggest kids on the team, but I was still sort of shocked at that placement!), and that doesn't include much defense right now. He just keeps working hard and actually got in for a couple defensive plays already. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-lrv-qbIZzhl-A1Y5Gu1XPwJKKybJPyZ1IRzu3F1J4OznlenD5yNimyJR2b0KJSbvqSEamdCzz6Y0YyYNN5KKieSS23hlHfkLveP-mvyMdukgyAOtNeBi5cwImss-ToJwUCaU-yh_KM/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-lrv-qbIZzhl-A1Y5Gu1XPwJKKybJPyZ1IRzu3F1J4OznlenD5yNimyJR2b0KJSbvqSEamdCzz6Y0YyYNN5KKieSS23hlHfkLveP-mvyMdukgyAOtNeBi5cwImss-ToJwUCaU-yh_KM/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+004.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The first "game" was Saturday. It was the Englewood Football Jamboree. Now, you may be like me asking what in the world is a football jamboree, I was asking the same thing! There were several teams there and each team got to play two 20 minute games so they could play more than one team. It was craziness. Everyone brings their own tents and chairs (the sun is BRUTAL) and tries to stay cool and dry and warm and hydrated. Yes, we had quite the weather that day! It started out brutally hot and sunny, turned cloudy and slightly breezy then it rained gently. Then the sun came out again. Riley's team had to weigh in together. The boys can't weigh over 120 pounds in his division. The slight problem we had was that Riley weighed 4 pounds over that limit when the season started...and 1 pound over the week of the jamboree. If you don't make the weight, you don't get to play. We were just a little worried. Friday night, Riley's dinner consisted of celery/peanut butter and grapes. He skipped breakfast altogether and came in almost 4 pounds under the limit! Big relief! Waiting patiently for their turn:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2sAxUMYSTQ80DYaPGal__e4hBR1NlghladGeHds03wWlG9gd8-ABMWysjNiL-taW-bUk22_YiuYtUunW-VRHCt1cyva8k5QpTavJx2PrU2_W6nw9EBlAUOlOXRyZGvkhGthdxS8NNNI/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2sAxUMYSTQ80DYaPGal__e4hBR1NlghladGeHds03wWlG9gd8-ABMWysjNiL-taW-bUk22_YiuYtUunW-VRHCt1cyva8k5QpTavJx2PrU2_W6nw9EBlAUOlOXRyZGvkhGthdxS8NNNI/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+006.jpg" /></a></div>The sky looked a bit ominous. Then it was their turn to play and it started to rain almost immediately. Riley got in for his first play and the thunder began. That finished the game and all had to take a 30 minute time out (just like if you are at the pool...only its the football field). The poor team who was to play next had their game cancelled and at the end of the 30 minute break, Riley's team was back on the field. But not before it DOWNPOURED on us. The wind blew the rain into our tent sideways and we were all soaked...and freezing all of the sudden. From dripping sweat to goosebumps! Everyone tried to stay dry and had to hold down the tents to keep them from blowing away:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRep3vAEg1A2lFx52ItRYci-hg5kg1PJS9g-tyC4efJm-8taovXRPmo53ogFHxQ3IXGqMhEb374bSS7XgPbxrna21f472y27aj-afUbRAiHSiwLZ1yeJt-5bTUjQBoh5lo11pgZV37XRM/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRep3vAEg1A2lFx52ItRYci-hg5kg1PJS9g-tyC4efJm-8taovXRPmo53ogFHxQ3IXGqMhEb374bSS7XgPbxrna21f472y27aj-afUbRAiHSiwLZ1yeJt-5bTUjQBoh5lo11pgZV37XRM/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+011.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4wOujDtdi-JRNMdac3A7qqM5-RHW6Ut_c5TY6MnWDV14pUh9JfqnbBXAIP0-Xn94IGQmRGLFxlNCykcWSlWKrHpIGOQVptm2spMcE1jJcUEwVqiH904brZ6FevdC49o-sByXxv-sGjY/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4wOujDtdi-JRNMdac3A7qqM5-RHW6Ut_c5TY6MnWDV14pUh9JfqnbBXAIP0-Xn94IGQmRGLFxlNCykcWSlWKrHpIGOQVptm2spMcE1jJcUEwVqiH904brZ6FevdC49o-sByXxv-sGjY/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the rain quit, it was back out to warm up again:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE9o2phDMzxbipKkwx_PxABaf1nv4J6_KHoeE9YhpHN6xDy9BF9NvJqpZSOclPIc7fsTGuTkdOETNYRa-hkKE6wl9vjgMPXn64Z_KEu84YDLqVJlPaXKdblf8X3S6uyFH0gAm4rkbpSE/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE9o2phDMzxbipKkwx_PxABaf1nv4J6_KHoeE9YhpHN6xDy9BF9NvJqpZSOclPIc7fsTGuTkdOETNYRa-hkKE6wl9vjgMPXn64Z_KEu84YDLqVJlPaXKdblf8X3S6uyFH0gAm4rkbpSE/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+014.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a little hitting practice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfm3Nzsvx87YYh3r5zlukpfpyXOlt2xtAW9QzSUggrKoPmdVdJMaVa8ra8pt8BAGT5yVye9J08bSZCv238xCUXj_Emm1qOO_A74sAJ6oWDIKtbdfh0d6Ykksc5CFC-Kb5B3Ed-z8I-ns/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfm3Nzsvx87YYh3r5zlukpfpyXOlt2xtAW9QzSUggrKoPmdVdJMaVa8ra8pt8BAGT5yVye9J08bSZCv238xCUXj_Emm1qOO_A74sAJ6oWDIKtbdfh0d6Ykksc5CFC-Kb5B3Ed-z8I-ns/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and sprints</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Rxe1qkBSrDWWVmw7o2ZtHPQzjVMxWf8F874RRXLkE21emriPzeSpgPV5CtKeV3CdzaGHoBO4Jx0NUWzE-KuI0C0VVHN-4F4MCj7ikCuRalRgExIScYA5LDQjHNGv5ctFwUZz8F-iaFM/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Rxe1qkBSrDWWVmw7o2ZtHPQzjVMxWf8F874RRXLkE21emriPzeSpgPV5CtKeV3CdzaGHoBO4Jx0NUWzE-KuI0C0VVHN-4F4MCj7ikCuRalRgExIScYA5LDQjHNGv5ctFwUZz8F-iaFM/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like the perfectly obnoxious, embarrassing parent, I got lots of action shots!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnESWsBwEo8UWfm5SumHtbopXEZ69OGqYe5YR4p4O5JmzgsBYkdBHoPZCafDfH4VaL-ozAah2g-xYwz5p5WGbkNyKNMgbHGpOjMrKCZrBJgoqE9MP6xUNA1Rq3Nc2iT9wbLWSiEgd8zE/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnESWsBwEo8UWfm5SumHtbopXEZ69OGqYe5YR4p4O5JmzgsBYkdBHoPZCafDfH4VaL-ozAah2g-xYwz5p5WGbkNyKNMgbHGpOjMrKCZrBJgoqE9MP6xUNA1Rq3Nc2iT9wbLWSiEgd8zE/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+017.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And it was over quickly. Our team won 6-0 over North Port, a rival.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfRwvmump0rV6Q-Vav2a87fF5s7JFKSJOfPu1Fz_q24he0y5kLLxrQIUTr-h_5-CVC2bK-b2hlK-5Ze011caqdZjK0dQkH-V3oGZ8XMAP35qMPFDNhI6shO4yYpVlGPU1l9pugC77FAU/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfRwvmump0rV6Q-Vav2a87fF5s7JFKSJOfPu1Fz_q24he0y5kLLxrQIUTr-h_5-CVC2bK-b2hlK-5Ze011caqdZjK0dQkH-V3oGZ8XMAP35qMPFDNhI6shO4yYpVlGPU1l9pugC77FAU/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+020.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It seemed to me like the teams were quite big, spanning then entire width of the field at the end of the game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSA6RSlxSlJmJZuzJBJQhAt2pLQm9LppRgF8Z0RdWwehgtGVckUbh9MNVVEpRHKzZmaKFDeXdTTrD0xMqW0vPWWlOoJLNVwaUguuUzadjeglSwTcyOFAIlgGaEDiFzAODhD-E0vA6ook/s1600/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSA6RSlxSlJmJZuzJBJQhAt2pLQm9LppRgF8Z0RdWwehgtGVckUbh9MNVVEpRHKzZmaKFDeXdTTrD0xMqW0vPWWlOoJLNVwaUguuUzadjeglSwTcyOFAIlgGaEDiFzAODhD-E0vA6ook/s320/First+football+game,+first+day+of+school+2010+022.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So, we are off and running for the next couple months. Thankfully, football season is only 9 games long, so the fever will be raging and then over!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-48912823177131803322010-08-15T18:42:00.001-04:002010-08-15T19:14:57.672-04:00The Birthday Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-x7uo_j_9256eFMOpQgoflDvJ6QafRcfqOMucg0Z7jaSkDs3UZUu7wZT3LBMdXGynAefeuqxNoLTPujLpn9gy8eUbpAFu83lidiFu8M5oeAT_RJA9dHme1xhdc-w81PqT6IX_jTaR5E/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-x7uo_j_9256eFMOpQgoflDvJ6QafRcfqOMucg0Z7jaSkDs3UZUu7wZT3LBMdXGynAefeuqxNoLTPujLpn9gy8eUbpAFu83lidiFu8M5oeAT_RJA9dHme1xhdc-w81PqT6IX_jTaR5E/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+009.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Happy Birthday to my summer babies! We have celebrated Riley and Holden's birthdays together for several years, and this was one of them. Our new neighborhood has an amazing pool area and we can use it for a small fee for use of the propane grills there, so we thought it a great idea for their birthday party...we couldn't do a cruise for EVERYONE'S birthdays! Though we would like to! Instead we were happy to grill some hot dogs and chicken tenders and cool off with ice cold watermelon. The kids swam and played together so well that the adults hardly knew they were there!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdaDUaDCdmRbK_IFtzyD-087wtAgB113NXxd8Juo5503m23B_t71EMV6h2lVfyo6EnmlPmcTEWwhSQ2aJFs02dB27BXj4WV2_kSsp9_n4-__vl-ho5z0i6zOI2u4a3_ymWbjThor0ocE/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdaDUaDCdmRbK_IFtzyD-087wtAgB113NXxd8Juo5503m23B_t71EMV6h2lVfyo6EnmlPmcTEWwhSQ2aJFs02dB27BXj4WV2_kSsp9_n4-__vl-ho5z0i6zOI2u4a3_ymWbjThor0ocE/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+006.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paul manned the chicken grill while the rest of us tried not to melt in the heat. It was over 90 degrees actual temperature, and felt like over 100 degrees, accounting for the awful humidity! Grammy and Papa Prachar joined us from Iowa, but from what we hear, the temps are about the same there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXGQRf6KLB_2dKULvR4kEDZe8osxRy4YxmcuZXwGMzuDT56o4nTK0RiqaB57OFdY6-McjuDZeO1QwGFEeZ4cE9KiNGa7LHZb3xVMJSvT-MXdg6pAsWxgr0YU97NzB5LAO1D9AyjbTgyE/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXGQRf6KLB_2dKULvR4kEDZe8osxRy4YxmcuZXwGMzuDT56o4nTK0RiqaB57OFdY6-McjuDZeO1QwGFEeZ4cE9KiNGa7LHZb3xVMJSvT-MXdg6pAsWxgr0YU97NzB5LAO1D9AyjbTgyE/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gabe was in charge of the hot dog grill. You can see there were several parents who joined us and Dan and Kate May as well. The kids invited a few kids from their classes at school (Holden wanted to invite his entire class--24 kids, and Riley wanted to invite three friends...they are so different!) and there was a great turnout. We moms discussed which teacher our 3rd graders have this year since they are the only class in the school with 2 sections and we have this discussion each year. We are glad our kids remain friends even if they are not in the same class each year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEr0JPyw5n9WAI5bGAmFOTiq6bGMrkrGa8EjjYzDD-5LrKZrD94A1ngyiq27gZ-I1-KvrIxIScvvBtrTQ_HKHxnaL7pKG3F1Git30TpwCj_mZteUAnReSrHndGhCgIrzUQbIPljzHHnU/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEr0JPyw5n9WAI5bGAmFOTiq6bGMrkrGa8EjjYzDD-5LrKZrD94A1ngyiq27gZ-I1-KvrIxIScvvBtrTQ_HKHxnaL7pKG3F1Git30TpwCj_mZteUAnReSrHndGhCgIrzUQbIPljzHHnU/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+008.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The grill area is up on a deck from the pool and the area is so pretty (lots of palm trees!) that not much decorating is necessary! Just a birthday sign.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h_5-Idrd23rwzDLGmg_oDG2xOW6hlslbIAp9dfQMbYdVRPPl9Z-3ASFlmzd38R_35KhyphenhyphenNy6Ymtis-9jdWhRHiAgoKzKsAdbuMs7fPbW5MZ-itBY6TGTiNZ_NErZV0KgmLh5WwCkfMrc/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h_5-Idrd23rwzDLGmg_oDG2xOW6hlslbIAp9dfQMbYdVRPPl9Z-3ASFlmzd38R_35KhyphenhyphenNy6Ymtis-9jdWhRHiAgoKzKsAdbuMs7fPbW5MZ-itBY6TGTiNZ_NErZV0KgmLh5WwCkfMrc/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The heat was hard on the cake! The flag/finish line for the motorcycle kept melting apart and the candles didn't help the matter. I had to post this picture because its the only one we caught while it was still intact. JoDee worked very hard on it, so I am glad there was one picture of it! We put the cake together the night before the party and had a bit of a mud slide going on as you can just tell the cake is listing to the right a bit. We had to fill in some missing cake from one of the cakes that didn't want to come out of the pan with some frosting...bad idea. As we stacked up the cakes for the mountain, it squished out the frosting and everything leaned. Oh well, at least we could pull it off as a mud slide on this cake! It was still a very fun cake to make and the kids loved it! AND, it tasted great...that's all that matters in the end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNfEp3qtFcMwe2VnJ6E1C78rbxgUxpV7mQWSyy2lOcxpdsvBllli7ADeRD7bdeGWAMxaQsLEYaH0UiPAra_2guUN3x2LoNU8oSmfGQE82q0ED_UHLpZfEkTBoVAPefNFB3G8325b8hbQ/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNfEp3qtFcMwe2VnJ6E1C78rbxgUxpV7mQWSyy2lOcxpdsvBllli7ADeRD7bdeGWAMxaQsLEYaH0UiPAra_2guUN3x2LoNU8oSmfGQE82q0ED_UHLpZfEkTBoVAPefNFB3G8325b8hbQ/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+014.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The heat from all the candles melted the finish/flag line again, and there was a cascade of melted wax down one side...never a dull moment!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1powbuWFKNKPVI0VeDSV2Tv5ueUazTyYiR4YyOCse2SId2uAP6WC7H2QNR0C7XVtpFvsB6u7W0CPSZaXQGGKUCzUlaRx4uhqGo9_QwoAEkVOlVBpi_mlTxEIRqU681px1Yh3YyZpRhzU/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1powbuWFKNKPVI0VeDSV2Tv5ueUazTyYiR4YyOCse2SId2uAP6WC7H2QNR0C7XVtpFvsB6u7W0CPSZaXQGGKUCzUlaRx4uhqGo9_QwoAEkVOlVBpi_mlTxEIRqU681px1Yh3YyZpRhzU/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is always at least one child scared off by our traditional red velvet cake, but this was all that was left after cake was served up! Its so funny to try to convince the kids that the red cake is chocolate! Some just can't be won over!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxpEsaAd9_wFhfRyk4NZSIUoJigney_G1EWUcpikqJqEQ8R3RHdnj59FQj-dIf7NDvLLAAFdPnl01tOljlIGq5VUbn0COK5oJTNGdwUQNzRcI6NgCLxpCgwjPNnOFntCnjnQUWuBNNhM/s1600/gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxpEsaAd9_wFhfRyk4NZSIUoJigney_G1EWUcpikqJqEQ8R3RHdnj59FQj-dIf7NDvLLAAFdPnl01tOljlIGq5VUbn0COK5oJTNGdwUQNzRcI6NgCLxpCgwjPNnOFntCnjnQUWuBNNhM/s400/gifts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course there were presents, the kids got some great things, but most of all, we were blessed to enjoy good company and friendships and family!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pn2NWnhmVRMN8BMVb6CUCFfDfSI5aJe8RMyQSU0OqLD-GPmwKFTtUI79cttMfI-otmcAtwHaP6MyTgTOohH7UNPyP62Q6yYr_euiB4MZCT2GE91JxRnr2IPgCUDlfjrQjUj_EPlF-OE/s1600/R+and+H+birthday+2010+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pn2NWnhmVRMN8BMVb6CUCFfDfSI5aJe8RMyQSU0OqLD-GPmwKFTtUI79cttMfI-otmcAtwHaP6MyTgTOohH7UNPyP62Q6yYr_euiB4MZCT2GE91JxRnr2IPgCUDlfjrQjUj_EPlF-OE/s320/R+and+H+birthday+2010+027.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, my summer babies, you are growing up waaaay too fast for my liking! You are both such blessings to our family! Some special things about each of you:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Riley:</span> You are such a hard worker and can generally be counted on to do an excellent job without complaining. You can be SO funny. You love to quote Bill Cosby from his stand up routine "Himself" from the '80s. You can get everyone rolling. You are getting so tall!! You are going to be in 5th grade, but you are almost as tall as me already. You are playing your first year of tackle football and after a shaky start, you are loving it. You are one of the biggest kids on the team and are playing at offensive lineman. You have an excellent attitude even though you never hoped to play that position! I love our conversations about dedication and working hard and all of that paying off later. You are getting that already! For your birthday, you wanted most of all a cross necklace. Grammy Mary Lee took you to the store to pick it out yourself and I am so pleased with the way you wear that cross as a reminder of your Savior and that it was your desire to share your faith in that way. You have already worn out the Skillet CD you got for your birthday! We all love it! Currently, you want to be a policeman when you are older. You are a blessing to our family!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Holden:</span> You keep your room the neatest in the entire house! You are a super helper around the house and still get excited about working with me or dad on a project, any project, even a dirty nasty project! EVERY morning, when I leave for work, you can't let me leave without a hug and big wet smooch from lips that you can pucker up to be so big! If you are still sleeping when I leave and I try to rush out, you will come tearing out of the house to kiss me in the driveway! I LOVE it! You love to snuggle on the couch and fight with your brothers and sister to sit near me or dad so you can get some back scratches. You are crazy about soccer and even scored several times during your very first season! You can run fast. You have a six pack that I am jealous of! You have the craziest laugh! We often try to imitate it, but can't do it quite like you. You are an excellent student, you like to learn and have been reading my medical journals with me lately. We sit and discuss the pictures of often yucky looking skin conditions or wounds, but you are interested in them. I am learning lots by teaching you! You have very neat handwriting, you work diligently and patiently at it...two gifts I am sure that will take you far! Currently, you want to be a pilot when you are older. You are a blessing to our family!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-91308520213810399202010-07-18T20:34:00.001-04:002010-07-18T20:42:21.678-04:00We survived!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhYaSR0sikcpSveJckSr3EcDacIZXRoPk4HgcylgnCvnKaSwGJN_tirXkBkgMgrH-u6T46pwMl-a1WzKasOIhP4tyPN71c6zg6TYHJ1CjTLbf-3kFwmHIdmE4KaW0UZ9m5ftolZXlYzc/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhYaSR0sikcpSveJckSr3EcDacIZXRoPk4HgcylgnCvnKaSwGJN_tirXkBkgMgrH-u6T46pwMl-a1WzKasOIhP4tyPN71c6zg6TYHJ1CjTLbf-3kFwmHIdmE4KaW0UZ9m5ftolZXlYzc/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+045.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wasn't sure I had actually survived until today, so I waited to post that until I knew it to be fact. All the aches throughout my body remind me minute by minute that I did indeed survive the sprint triathalon yesterday! I even had my very own, personal cheering section! JoDee and the kids made me encouraging posters and ran all over the place to cheer Kristin and I on as we proved our insanity yesterday. She reminded me multiple times that this was my idea and that she hated me. The drama before the race was barely tolerable. It was dark when we arrived:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibllNtDyAZEH5i1PN8i7geqoIBQ4csYdA7sDp86EQOxFLBxMtiDPHAHWVqFPvA_6eqdRzbl-wDG5gLeIzzc5b8qvPj8i3OtmFmjSoFveiOBRcW2ZzR0VnPxOKMXy7OEySijVokmUhRoCQ/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibllNtDyAZEH5i1PN8i7geqoIBQ4csYdA7sDp86EQOxFLBxMtiDPHAHWVqFPvA_6eqdRzbl-wDG5gLeIzzc5b8qvPj8i3OtmFmjSoFveiOBRcW2ZzR0VnPxOKMXy7OEySijVokmUhRoCQ/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+014.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't even make this picture better so that anything could be recognized! We got up at 5 am on a Saturday and made our way to Englewood to get ready. It was WAAAY too much time to think about what was ahead and compare equipment (or the lack of it!) with everyone else, nevermind trying to calculate everyone elses' body fat compared to mine! It was making me so nervous! I just wanted to get to my workout and put it behind me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiup8Und2grU_duDCOg9BDQIsK4wNy_QXxMS9pQfqIqN_ZITWGGA2oa5ewN0EdolWL8nYdDhUYRPeoKxUo2N4R7VqKeKk5CxG8vwBPkdNFctFvLUx8bqGeW38jcHBNhGzSQlHOiLVNJI/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiup8Und2grU_duDCOg9BDQIsK4wNy_QXxMS9pQfqIqN_ZITWGGA2oa5ewN0EdolWL8nYdDhUYRPeoKxUo2N4R7VqKeKk5CxG8vwBPkdNFctFvLUx8bqGeW38jcHBNhGzSQlHOiLVNJI/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Kristin and I getting everything prepared. Clearly my hair could have used some attention also...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPprLZjmylvn7z2OHQGu3bghWZpWH6dpe3aun2cALt2h1BS_OF1qN_NczJm8nk0Nhffw6A6_XaPMroXW6bOttWk8bfclDISmUctUhcRqIaZTUhipj3MhpVHChKZ8IOUUOEv6K8VVZo3A/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPprLZjmylvn7z2OHQGu3bghWZpWH6dpe3aun2cALt2h1BS_OF1qN_NczJm8nk0Nhffw6A6_XaPMroXW6bOttWk8bfclDISmUctUhcRqIaZTUhipj3MhpVHChKZ8IOUUOEv6K8VVZo3A/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+017.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul found a great place to park right next to my spot in the transition area. They hung out there until things got underway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOugMVWiIOuAhRyQ6mtROmi5ycdOiSvEr_0hMhymMSEbum4Cl183l3XToq1gZzhbPojFwZJDNOcU3TQNdTHa6wISFd6jLO0diZrJi0s24aHSOoeSUZYDdewLEpxZZg6wwALnUg5i3m7Q/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOugMVWiIOuAhRyQ6mtROmi5ycdOiSvEr_0hMhymMSEbum4Cl183l3XToq1gZzhbPojFwZJDNOcU3TQNdTHa6wISFd6jLO0diZrJi0s24aHSOoeSUZYDdewLEpxZZg6wwALnUg5i3m7Q/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+022.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the National Anthem and a prayer, we moved to the beach to get ready for the swim. We were ECSTATIC to see that we had been vastly overestimating how far 400 meters was for the swim when we trained in the Gulf. It was probably just over half of what we had been prepared to do! The swim ended up being my favorite part of the race! AND, I had the cutest swim suit there! Most people wore their spanex outfits then entire time, others had speedo type swimsuits (you know the very athletic type for racing) and I was the only one there with cute little bows on my suit. You can barely see it in this picture, I have my back to the camera and Kristin is facing the camera next to me. I have the black criss-cross straps and the pink/black suit. Yes, by far the cutest there! (Sorry, Kristin, you looked like a serious athlete too.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY3WSygpX9Cjsdb3K1-yrrDbKa0LtxFjZc1F27ujBQZhuM0HwPVPzivzfwiZ4DA36d3fQurVM_pX2IrC8kXcq5WmGR0ewu9jeAnqGehOMlTLlFoIVj9PdeG7wIAIyS31AutQx2Ri-nJw/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY3WSygpX9Cjsdb3K1-yrrDbKa0LtxFjZc1F27ujBQZhuM0HwPVPzivzfwiZ4DA36d3fQurVM_pX2IrC8kXcq5WmGR0ewu9jeAnqGehOMlTLlFoIVj9PdeG7wIAIyS31AutQx2Ri-nJw/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+023.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were so many people there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJi0ecE-DVzt31kO1ptGXI2s6qQEF0zwpU_jLkqTEAx5O9h8D55vaiU_oI34Q7616DLCsTIChGk0oYG_k3CsaBObxm3yiaPni7HU5HQQqbuQ1l1zsGYJhqo97jpuQtR9aMLcsg2HodU0/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJi0ecE-DVzt31kO1ptGXI2s6qQEF0zwpU_jLkqTEAx5O9h8D55vaiU_oI34Q7616DLCsTIChGk0oYG_k3CsaBObxm3yiaPni7HU5HQQqbuQ1l1zsGYJhqo97jpuQtR9aMLcsg2HodU0/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+030.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were in the third wave. We were separated by sex/age. The under 40 men went first, then the over 40 men, then the under 40 women (yeah, that is still me!), then over 40 women and relays (hey, why didn't we think of doing it as a relay???). I was so glad to get going!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiz5QXYwVUs3gbcan7vjCVW6JLqOub_NBw-8h5tsx9tRSf1V6kpS-2FLklfK5S2D6cRjrBkkGxjwYfogC2NM7NQZMPbnuYD_ObAJQAV_o-3Q7nHp5nYWxZlQgcIB6tEVUlt0IbrcGm_w/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiz5QXYwVUs3gbcan7vjCVW6JLqOub_NBw-8h5tsx9tRSf1V6kpS-2FLklfK5S2D6cRjrBkkGxjwYfogC2NM7NQZMPbnuYD_ObAJQAV_o-3Q7nHp5nYWxZlQgcIB6tEVUlt0IbrcGm_w/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+033.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is our wave coming around the first buoy. I am pretty sure I am somewhere near the end since I can't swim straight and I swung out sort of wide. I knew at this point that I needed to settle down and swim my race and not get caught up in the panic of racing. I learned a couple weeks ago how to swim and conserve oxygen and it had much to do with relaxing and not using my legs to flail/kick so much. I settled into my swim after I rounded the buoy and Kristin kept me motivated and on course the rest of the way. I lost my stroke a couple times when I got kicked or shoved, but for 99% of the time, I swam my stroke and was able to breathe comfortably. I considered it a HUGE success!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5P4Zjz2O09ZaqsdodO8p3v7HL5bpKfGQY9VQYGFy8jAslcV4mlnv5cHobrUJg25u3ArNeCSUBb3-O19ddJFlVo5Y0js3BOW9Z8DF_wB641jjrw8BTqjDJsLkU7Zo4t5j7kzqz9GlQfR0/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5P4Zjz2O09ZaqsdodO8p3v7HL5bpKfGQY9VQYGFy8jAslcV4mlnv5cHobrUJg25u3ArNeCSUBb3-O19ddJFlVo5Y0js3BOW9Z8DF_wB641jjrw8BTqjDJsLkU7Zo4t5j7kzqz9GlQfR0/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+036.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point, we are thrilled to be past the swim and had what seemed a very long jog to the transition area in the sand that was almost harder than the swim!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUskuMvNRkblgaFSc22imH8-7GykHjAZRNJPbE4OSz34yObt2OR2CiZAE3uSfb9ZQg10B3sCw-yvKQs3aC3h5V7iOsh_FfAZAeqfTW6p-tm86tVukM58MBhPeGjALdXgwOdgxPYOwX_xA/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUskuMvNRkblgaFSc22imH8-7GykHjAZRNJPbE4OSz34yObt2OR2CiZAE3uSfb9ZQg10B3sCw-yvKQs3aC3h5V7iOsh_FfAZAeqfTW6p-tm86tVukM58MBhPeGjALdXgwOdgxPYOwX_xA/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+037.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We washed our feet and threw on some clothes and got out the bikes. We changed our minds at the last minute and rented racing bikes. We were scared to death that we weren't going to finish under the 2 hour time limit and because the bike portion was taking us 55 minutes, we decided we would have more breathing room just from using lighter bikes with skinnier tires for the same amount of exertion. We decided it made sense. So, the night before, on the way to our packet pick ups and pasta dinner, we picked up our bikes and then went home to learn how to ride them. I had it a bit tougher because my bike had "rat traps", straps for the toes to keep them on the peddles. I had to learn how to change the gears and get into and out of the rat traps. It was not easy. Paul was trying to help me and made me wipe out within the first few feet. Luckily, I got one foot out to catch myself a bit and landed on my most padded part basically unharmed (until the pain set in today!) I wiped out again when a truck was blocking the street where I was practicing and I thought I only needed one foot out and could stand on it while leaving the other foot in the peddle. It worked until I lost my balance and fell over the other side of my bike onto my knee and elbow. Lost some skin on that one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEfATMYPwhC6jbVgLo1-YNgb10iPx0kAxmeORxO_gxDjuGr5wDNVvEPkJBupIQ9TO-f6od9gxv1PLXKR83e9ReFys9V8qsnvQCAZqJJV8T1iD7OXPbBJPi9HqmjHqo6uY3ffCglXj7oc/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEfATMYPwhC6jbVgLo1-YNgb10iPx0kAxmeORxO_gxDjuGr5wDNVvEPkJBupIQ9TO-f6od9gxv1PLXKR83e9ReFys9V8qsnvQCAZqJJV8T1iD7OXPbBJPi9HqmjHqo6uY3ffCglXj7oc/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+038.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so hard to get dressed when you're dripping wet and everyone is watching!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsaaQyzsCGvp9UE2c7ewYKaAyI7SLgFCzjzDsFLhXGHWBv4hdXESeajxIFqv7dEBPtvaICkHqs8LPa3jR5WbSyjlt4Ci8WZSsiwq4o2HMQ1zGm_cfjeoJDk-wID78Fjt3kJiuR0TFeVw/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsaaQyzsCGvp9UE2c7ewYKaAyI7SLgFCzjzDsFLhXGHWBv4hdXESeajxIFqv7dEBPtvaICkHqs8LPa3jR5WbSyjlt4Ci8WZSsiwq4o2HMQ1zGm_cfjeoJDk-wID78Fjt3kJiuR0TFeVw/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+040.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriel captured quite the sequence with the camera. I called him my photojournalist. He enjoyed taking pictures. Here I am apparently trying to get my helmet off the seat and get going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjpObEtKtNTiZEcndbph_CZwjOlz1MPWS0VQDcfxQSEZD8814jtMvEgTcOoKmCIvpQ2IFid9_FzVpC8xnkZVG-wgsVzkQaylOULCN_84iDdy6YM4VlOljUnKuXM4JbGCa2o77zH7QdoU/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjpObEtKtNTiZEcndbph_CZwjOlz1MPWS0VQDcfxQSEZD8814jtMvEgTcOoKmCIvpQ2IFid9_FzVpC8xnkZVG-wgsVzkQaylOULCN_84iDdy6YM4VlOljUnKuXM4JbGCa2o77zH7QdoU/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+041.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kristin getting ready to ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRQtzJpW05huoLGhAwnUi285hCQU11KyY1TJjgwiaBakR9xvfOcMqLw2ksmIehBOD5XqKq17keJRCVMBth-MWjIZsB0uoSHAGyUP_B3rmsfsnPnBoc8ahcaWPGxSRW0TlxZqB36vjpLQ/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRQtzJpW05huoLGhAwnUi285hCQU11KyY1TJjgwiaBakR9xvfOcMqLw2ksmIehBOD5XqKq17keJRCVMBth-MWjIZsB0uoSHAGyUP_B3rmsfsnPnBoc8ahcaWPGxSRW0TlxZqB36vjpLQ/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+043.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heading out of the transition area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPysNC_sddJGsd00whbEy4CA_XwkEhy5Ef05mYk7yDEtTmEEaAxwTQIMIu8EBd6PdixTOlCKJYEYN18YvUgRYvN23wXT3GYRfHGagw7pplXWnsURT2G8oObqhtgeJW6zvu74OqkqjzaY/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPysNC_sddJGsd00whbEy4CA_XwkEhy5Ef05mYk7yDEtTmEEaAxwTQIMIu8EBd6PdixTOlCKJYEYN18YvUgRYvN23wXT3GYRfHGagw7pplXWnsURT2G8oObqhtgeJW6zvu74OqkqjzaY/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+046.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here we are at the end of the 14 mile ride. By this time, we are really hurting! Kristin's back was hurting from the new riding position on the racing bike. My legs were very rubbery and the bike seat nearly killed my backside! To make matters worse, I was so nervous about crashing that I was scared to take my water bottle out and drink along the way. You can see it was almost completely full of blue Powerade there at the end of the ride. I usually drink an entire 20 ounce container of water. I just couldn't do it that day and I suffered for it next. I also endured a wipe out at the turn around point when I was going too fast and hit the sand. I wasn't hurt, but it was my third bike crash in less than 20 hours. I was covered in sand for the last 7 miles and that bothered me too. I almost crashed coming into the transition area again as I had a hard time braking hard and undoing my rat traps. UGH! I felt so uncoordinated!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsA2bS8dE9aXI1udnjXuPf_kciGjM31EBLAYXY_2uw2xd7V1GVMCCkGiaQ4OrXmzKnCep6NYZB2glThkzLXVu2lmJ_PIpyp9XjwXmKN7pikCUv-huIoTrf_TQVWtoUGSfokVuVZmZV5s/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsA2bS8dE9aXI1udnjXuPf_kciGjM31EBLAYXY_2uw2xd7V1GVMCCkGiaQ4OrXmzKnCep6NYZB2glThkzLXVu2lmJ_PIpyp9XjwXmKN7pikCUv-huIoTrf_TQVWtoUGSfokVuVZmZV5s/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+049.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guzzled some before the run, but it was too little too late. I felt terrible and couldn't run for a bit because I was afraid I was going to toss my cookies. The run was BRUTAL. The first mile is always the hardest, but it didn't really get better like usual. We ended up walking more than usual. It helped that we knew we had almost an hour left before the time limit, so we just relaxed about it. Poor Kristin had to make all of the conversation! I just listened!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMfSnjBtsOrsqI8-v2jBVVOb5rOe0YsUJOpkBhexWv0_Jv6hylL9vi-2hWSeaFYYDXW6Tj9gcVsB14AQR6mgS-DtfkroM5kef1NSj-dzkkgkCH86HZXis0bkYSRjmP2p74RrcktBR7o0/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMfSnjBtsOrsqI8-v2jBVVOb5rOe0YsUJOpkBhexWv0_Jv6hylL9vi-2hWSeaFYYDXW6Tj9gcVsB14AQR6mgS-DtfkroM5kef1NSj-dzkkgkCH86HZXis0bkYSRjmP2p74RrcktBR7o0/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+050.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She was waiting for me to leave the transition area for the run. I don't know how she put up with me that day! She's a champ! She told me she loved me when I said I needed to walk so I wouldn't throw up! We ended up needing about 43 minutes for the 3.1 miles. We did pass an 18 year old near the end, so we didn't feel so bad! Everyone has their age written on their right calf, so when you pass someone (or are passed by someone) you know their age! As we rounded the last curve, Riley and Gabe joined us and we crossed the finish line together with our best time ever, with about 15 minutes to spare! We were very excited to be done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6BAiR-Pbg6ShR47RslJQpw6ERZKFnBpAsujSv4QfId2u-Hu-VSz3t07Q8PwNn1hWwF_jGmhgxNMeKD3hyXxZ0wRxg_cjwNje-I6yFaf21qy4BlXJW_1ka-FHEblDQChC5ge3LEY87WE/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6BAiR-Pbg6ShR47RslJQpw6ERZKFnBpAsujSv4QfId2u-Hu-VSz3t07Q8PwNn1hWwF_jGmhgxNMeKD3hyXxZ0wRxg_cjwNje-I6yFaf21qy4BlXJW_1ka-FHEblDQChC5ge3LEY87WE/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+051.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have been talking about doing the Venice Triathlon in September because the bike is much shorter, and after this race, I said I was OUT! I said there was no way that I would EVER do that again--I couldn't believe how many people asked me if I would do it again right after the race was over! BUT, after a couple hours and a nice shower, I was already thinking of entering. I was disappointed in my own lack of confidence and with how much I had to walk at the end after doing so well on the bike and swim. So, stay tuned, I might do this again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will have to come back to this post and add our splits for my record keeping. The results aren't posted yet. I just remember Kristin informing me after the first mile of the bike that we were only 19 minutes into the race and we had expected to still be in the water at that point!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-52786614282654740692010-07-18T18:43:00.002-04:002010-07-18T19:09:35.671-04:00Up to speed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSxH_nJtbaOy9beo751dUSwGzgz54q92-SlIXd44DUB_j0Pmno33CHTvGTgY7xor4o5h6sdMDie3sErXmpBN_zsqmGJCqUOkfais7uBKv18cD_lvnxUPzGkYOdWqx3NCJ4kGOVan34Zw/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSxH_nJtbaOy9beo751dUSwGzgz54q92-SlIXd44DUB_j0Pmno33CHTvGTgY7xor4o5h6sdMDie3sErXmpBN_zsqmGJCqUOkfais7uBKv18cD_lvnxUPzGkYOdWqx3NCJ4kGOVan34Zw/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+005.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again, I am so far behind with blogging. Where does the time go??? A couple weeks ago, we went to the dedication of Agape's new plane. We even got a family picture with it...better than we can say about the last one! It was great to see where they are now and how God is using them in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It was great to see familiar faces too. It as blazing hot, but we enjoyed food and ice cream and singing and a time of prayer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_immLWldDbWDB2TobDf9TpDRbugnU0vEuN6c-mnCN2Z6Vr83W8kF4vyycSgJ1lpb1P6s1yAFAu-qsUPw23MYYaPHY7MOHh9MMO0qlnGAnpbgiIzmUfNR9S3UfmHGgRNQpGXU8DZpeMU/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_immLWldDbWDB2TobDf9TpDRbugnU0vEuN6c-mnCN2Z6Vr83W8kF4vyycSgJ1lpb1P6s1yAFAu-qsUPw23MYYaPHY7MOHh9MMO0qlnGAnpbgiIzmUfNR9S3UfmHGgRNQpGXU8DZpeMU/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+004.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids of the staff also came out and sang a song. Appropriately, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" was their choice. You can see them doing the actions. Unfortunately I ran out of battery for anymore pictures. So cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1xBKVsLGKn1iP_quR6smWum5ZwsJJp1xyNmuPYnAMQYCx2ypOeay5H97sZIHZj2KTgosPkRy5GOBOkf1PN_M7pslBgF9uiGDTTDlvjfioU3bLfOlbHIAAXmEFbaRMnwMYVnuS4g8O_E/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1xBKVsLGKn1iP_quR6smWum5ZwsJJp1xyNmuPYnAMQYCx2ypOeay5H97sZIHZj2KTgosPkRy5GOBOkf1PN_M7pslBgF9uiGDTTDlvjfioU3bLfOlbHIAAXmEFbaRMnwMYVnuS4g8O_E/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, you guessed it, we got all dressed up for a free meal at Chick Fil-A again this year. This was Paul's first time. He was the rebel black cow with white spots! Everyone was such a good sport! I had to work, so they came and picked me up and we met Kate and Dan at the one in Port Charlotte. I was terrified I would run into some of my patients! Luckily, no one recognized me! The free meal was all worth it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6mxXjhBG3bVpJWlLcmIOOWIquYJXRXVLy0dMeBi3BGbbDJlg-5p4UInE9zQn_7BFynIX60wS5-uD5VG-k0WyHGOcZo9lAvHkiCq4rJGSjHGBiQDE-ctmQ4-1V5QZXsXb5F33OGwbxOM/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6mxXjhBG3bVpJWlLcmIOOWIquYJXRXVLy0dMeBi3BGbbDJlg-5p4UInE9zQn_7BFynIX60wS5-uD5VG-k0WyHGOcZo9lAvHkiCq4rJGSjHGBiQDE-ctmQ4-1V5QZXsXb5F33OGwbxOM/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+009.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Port Charlotte Stone Crabs are a minor league team in our area. Our church got a group together one Saturday night and went together to a game. It was hot, but there was a great breeze and our seats were in the shade. The kids got a free hat (modeled by Alayna) and silly bands in the shape of a stone crab. What more could they have wanted? We sat right behind the visitors dugout and when they were coming in at the end of an inning, he stood up and waved his arms and the outfielder who had a ball from a fly out he caught threw it to him. After the game they took their hats and ball to get autographs. They also got to run the bases:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxczto4NtfhhSypYBIRJ2YXcctaOATSkjx954ISbL9plwx66WSiGKwadlceme-H-pg9jZwZh0bWjQtpYw4YuDx85BWZppi9JGtDCPp6Hu7slcRdiR_Bg6GnbYHEzD0aw1kyVZiCPfUFWQ/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxczto4NtfhhSypYBIRJ2YXcctaOATSkjx954ISbL9plwx66WSiGKwadlceme-H-pg9jZwZh0bWjQtpYw4YuDx85BWZppi9JGtDCPp6Hu7slcRdiR_Bg6GnbYHEzD0aw1kyVZiCPfUFWQ/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Really, this very blurry picture is of Riley coming across home. They had a great time and we were blessed to be able to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAvo3U5auURBUN4XcvhB49YzvUZMQyfQzGGyLak4wSMzDRM_OhsVqNQXxH1E2gzgDKne9_vTrDd7MmvjodEh-7FcLVr1hYtxhKEy5rhXFRxCjCnmp5Nlu519XG7NIyXCErC7ag3v2gXs/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAvo3U5auURBUN4XcvhB49YzvUZMQyfQzGGyLak4wSMzDRM_OhsVqNQXxH1E2gzgDKne9_vTrDd7MmvjodEh-7FcLVr1hYtxhKEy5rhXFRxCjCnmp5Nlu519XG7NIyXCErC7ag3v2gXs/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, we are starting to really get into bugs and reptiles at our house. Actually the word WE probably isn't the most accurate since I still hate all of those things! The kids have started having nightly toad catches around here and also collect any large or interesting insects they find. This was their most successful catch. I made them let them all go out by the pond the next morning (that's why they are in their jammies!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWVDkqtFq4Nx0TuMC7F7Ig-xz2BOLYROWnqwGBR0Rsb5FTE1oRzu1kNwzmu_UuUj3KtzvA5AGmQHlQIB_znuUuKbPbi2oxVAwsmiqccpCPVCkdw3oMpZS3Y5o47WMngO1kk7cFWzbZWI/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWVDkqtFq4Nx0TuMC7F7Ig-xz2BOLYROWnqwGBR0Rsb5FTE1oRzu1kNwzmu_UuUj3KtzvA5AGmQHlQIB_znuUuKbPbi2oxVAwsmiqccpCPVCkdw3oMpZS3Y5o47WMngO1kk7cFWzbZWI/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+013.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Its hard to tell, but there were over 20 toads in the tank at once as well as a walking stick and the biggest grasshopper we have ever seen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgdJIjdK-q3q-u6ZF4bENipfJ8zBaq4RVoN62sSFfT5U6-u39WAbHyA5uUYVtONvC0f_e7TEp6rw6y9y6NxnQSPx5UP1EN4bSMstrr5xi-wzBkzuYrZ1y9yJf9YKj8nsGb3p5c8XnSAk/s1600/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgdJIjdK-q3q-u6ZF4bENipfJ8zBaq4RVoN62sSFfT5U6-u39WAbHyA5uUYVtONvC0f_e7TEp6rw6y9y6NxnQSPx5UP1EN4bSMstrr5xi-wzBkzuYrZ1y9yJf9YKj8nsGb3p5c8XnSAk/s320/July+2010+toads,+snakes,+triathalon,+chick+fil+a+003.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, I was least happy about this little discovery on our back patio. It is a pygmy rattlesnake. Yes, rattlesnake, as in poisonous. Paul killed it and saved the head and the rattler (why??) for anyone who wants to see them. I banned everyone from the yard after that...but as you can see by the toad catch, they aren't listening. I am choosing to trust that they will be safe and not live in fear...most days!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't believe how fast the summer is going. Just over a month is left. Riley is starting Pop Warner football which is full tackle at the beginning of August and has practice every evening, so, I am sure the craziness is just about to begin! Thanks for keeping up with our lives, we miss everyone and think of you, talk about you, and pray for you often! I am so thankful for the blogs that help me stay up to speed. I depend on those of you without blogs to keep me in your loop!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5027876712225427872.post-9981846066476751242010-06-19T23:41:00.002-04:002010-06-23T22:24:49.096-04:00My Life According to My Camera Do you ever have to use your camera to remember what you have been doing with all your time?? I was just downloading pictures and thinking I was desperately behind on blogging, and wondering what I could post about. Thankfully, the pictures tell the story of what we have been doing for the past 5 weeks. I can't believe I have fallen this far behind, where does the time go??? I keep wondering when my life is going to slooooww down. Maybe when summer gets here and there are no gymnastics, soccer, baseball, cross country engagements...not working out as such so far. I have to admit that this may be self inflicted with my latest departure from sanity when I actually signed up for a sprint triathlon. <br />
<br />
TRUST me, there will NOT be an encore of this one! Although, I think the training is doing me a world of good physically and even mentally, I might keep up the switching from biking to swimming to running. BUT, after today's venture (into the Gulf for my very first try at swimming the distance without a pool...oh, how I love chlorinated water, *sigh, a side to hold onto for a few seconds to catch my breath, and lines to follow so that I know that I am swimming straight), I am sure that I will be so glad to survive this and will not be excited to do this ever again. I was most frustrated with the onslaught of salt water that accompanied EVERY LITTLE BREATH I tried to take. Just some air without salt water is all I was asking for...is that so much to ask???? Kristin somehow put up with my whining and we managed to finish without drowning or heading out to sea, though I tried multiple times to escape to Texas while backstroking. Kristin has permanently banned me from the backstroke. Thankfully, there were no pictures of any of this training in my camera! To get my confidence back, I went home and got the kids and went to our pool (in our development) and knocked out the 400 meters in about 10 minutes in the pool. No backstroke, crawl or breast stroke needed, all freestyle the entire way (with a few rests against the LOVELY walls of the pool!) AND the pool was crowded with people trying to enjoy the water and escape the heat! The race is one month away, so we can relax soon!<br />
<br />
Speaking of relaxing, one evening, the band 10th Ave North was in the area for a concert and put on a quick concert at Siesta Key beach (about 20 min from our house and voted the #2 beach in the nation). After I got off work, and we all ate dinner, we decided we would try to make it. We got there in time for the last 2 songs, my favorites of theirs anyway, and enjoyed these GREAT seats in the back. Anyone see the band? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcIjq50UFbC-fGwWiKMEIz3Ip0vogQzgZnPsJJ472wcVlnoxUJaJy6GkhF9V_sRguZ4GVeHqH8gQDMMfP9QNuDJ7lAgmvJFXGYaWbECzW_ABrdynzqysWXfjE_tOMDG9iqT4MrtwtZOQ/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcIjq50UFbC-fGwWiKMEIz3Ip0vogQzgZnPsJJ472wcVlnoxUJaJy6GkhF9V_sRguZ4GVeHqH8gQDMMfP9QNuDJ7lAgmvJFXGYaWbECzW_ABrdynzqysWXfjE_tOMDG9iqT4MrtwtZOQ/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+001.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Not us either! Oh well, it was fun to hear them anyway. We ran into some friends from church and school there and went to get ice cream--some of the VERY best peanut butter and chocolate I have ever had. I even wore some home!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Alayna has been taking gymnastics and has had so much fun! They had a jamboree and showed all the parents what they had learned, they all received a metal and got a chance to pose on the podium. It was great. She loved her moment in the spotlight.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ps-B4D9c3z1npnDPqe1Vhu_blU6mMSRKysO_fIuHYd7h1_NyXn62kQOpcGdl6CYvE6GB4wQxecSaF0erhsqEjiLlC63YKd6QiuvcxOExITiawtDd-IDcdR60qvnYadbM_-yTy_8iXYE/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ps-B4D9c3z1npnDPqe1Vhu_blU6mMSRKysO_fIuHYd7h1_NyXn62kQOpcGdl6CYvE6GB4wQxecSaF0erhsqEjiLlC63YKd6QiuvcxOExITiawtDd-IDcdR60qvnYadbM_-yTy_8iXYE/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her friend Mary Katelyn was also there and just as proud of her medal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M9oTxkQQu0gDpuOofjoWjdKELDsc7tEOgFjfydBh0RcJYNJhtcGwQGURedL4eMxdw11DRdynrjMhJg8-fd_Bx-g4yjQzl2le2dZGZ0IW7yYYRlmV7BX1s_mxGbUwEN9bwd2_0g760Ts/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M9oTxkQQu0gDpuOofjoWjdKELDsc7tEOgFjfydBh0RcJYNJhtcGwQGURedL4eMxdw11DRdynrjMhJg8-fd_Bx-g4yjQzl2le2dZGZ0IW7yYYRlmV7BX1s_mxGbUwEN9bwd2_0g760Ts/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+013.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have had some time also over the past few weeks to get more decorating done. Here is Holden's room with its improvements. I finally got to use the Uppercase Living expressions that I bought almost 2 1/2 years ago. I got them and knew we were likely moving, so never put them up at our house in Iowa and have been dying to get them up here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRrxHFQIGF97SWwtTG3YSz6BcYHtBO61bCFbXO8zzj7b-O0Rm7kRLp70oiBeUOggEiK3KlPBM0ra3shpYsb7j_J_unpqlOY6Qvp0bc_dT1c3svKDrkSGrWeZ1Yh_my6PY8xKWlvNPjzA/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRrxHFQIGF97SWwtTG3YSz6BcYHtBO61bCFbXO8zzj7b-O0Rm7kRLp70oiBeUOggEiK3KlPBM0ra3shpYsb7j_J_unpqlOY6Qvp0bc_dT1c3svKDrkSGrWeZ1Yh_my6PY8xKWlvNPjzA/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+014.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holden's airplanes made a comeback now that we are back to having 4 bedrooms. I was thrilled to find a box that still had a few of the airplane decor pieces. I hadn't remembered saving them. His bedding is for a full or queen size bed, but we are making it work! Its just a duvet cover, and we tucked it in on one side. It just needs a few more things to be complete!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIyeOkxMgA7CXGDOcVkgCQOcyx1iF_1Su5Q3AxsSsIuzMxJGSu_c8Ixbf5X4CoQv33EoaF5w-Ox1FFlwoMoCsX6JFxbolfNmRlroMa_IutsClvHFgy3jRmJG53twxYiDopYfcw-t1zl8/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIyeOkxMgA7CXGDOcVkgCQOcyx1iF_1Su5Q3AxsSsIuzMxJGSu_c8Ixbf5X4CoQv33EoaF5w-Ox1FFlwoMoCsX6JFxbolfNmRlroMa_IutsClvHFgy3jRmJG53twxYiDopYfcw-t1zl8/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alayna's room also got some attention. Her canopy is back up after a long absence. She is thrilled with her "princess bed".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1ACcz6TqrDq85oSAq6QcwfgzfU0_58rATmdZ5jHgBtk2oeoWj_CEOSfM4_9-o5d5Hpu5xBOzEfG0np9Q85VgsD6OkrbBEqVZlHVw04gUWLesqLSQG7UaM_znPFHNtEGyWd_jKXK-PoQ/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1ACcz6TqrDq85oSAq6QcwfgzfU0_58rATmdZ5jHgBtk2oeoWj_CEOSfM4_9-o5d5Hpu5xBOzEfG0np9Q85VgsD6OkrbBEqVZlHVw04gUWLesqLSQG7UaM_znPFHNtEGyWd_jKXK-PoQ/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She has also acquired a new lamp since the last picture and I painted the lampshade to match and added the trim too:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB73GQ6l2ZNa4C-BUIPsax97QzIqcrDZzZ3PQgQ_c4AaYJLSBVb2odgypFFrucnBwQMWiiWMtPVDfcvoBuuJVuoR7CZFVEQwHBo34rIG-xZBVcl3jjb_gKrZjk9AkmbJqrS3vWryKfFVo/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB73GQ6l2ZNa4C-BUIPsax97QzIqcrDZzZ3PQgQ_c4AaYJLSBVb2odgypFFrucnBwQMWiiWMtPVDfcvoBuuJVuoR7CZFVEQwHBo34rIG-xZBVcl3jjb_gKrZjk9AkmbJqrS3vWryKfFVo/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+074.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I had fun making her a valance...just don't look too closely because I didn't make sure I had the pattern on the fabric straight with the world when I was making it. Oh well, I am not starting over, so I just try not to look at it for very long and it doesn't bother me! You can just barely make out that it has the same trim as the lamp. SO fun! Now that I really look at this picture, the blinds are very crooked, and it makes the fabric look straighter...may have to leave them that way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkqAIRwPMhiqAfYZ3ZgGS2SEpCy85hMO2qzKneDB_T8ABPDBM0rmA1ooUJwxwXkdGD6s-bjwbwJTm2IckyIJjcRZyo43VAMNVC9suQpRjLJzcz0NgzSVOG5OhxkkA1vN6jFikzQto-A/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkqAIRwPMhiqAfYZ3ZgGS2SEpCy85hMO2qzKneDB_T8ABPDBM0rmA1ooUJwxwXkdGD6s-bjwbwJTm2IckyIJjcRZyo43VAMNVC9suQpRjLJzcz0NgzSVOG5OhxkkA1vN6jFikzQto-A/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+075.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another Uppercase Living expression found its way into the bathroom...which is now known as the land of liberty at our house! As you can see, I didn't put a lot of thought into this when I put it up. We have always had an Americana theme bathroom, and I didn't think a thing of putting the expression on the wall in there. Now its a hoot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo9jaF4X92PGnQtZ_q5SBiMaCpD4C83lKcW2DMZ2J0mExLUf3YAwB5nyfzb9TiYvUJRocjaBj7nm3syiYABhlU_ZCTmBY2DxHU2CdJLnbIICTQAZk9WHoM0xFjXadQImc5LGXAtUZxOA/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo9jaF4X92PGnQtZ_q5SBiMaCpD4C83lKcW2DMZ2J0mExLUf3YAwB5nyfzb9TiYvUJRocjaBj7nm3syiYABhlU_ZCTmBY2DxHU2CdJLnbIICTQAZk9WHoM0xFjXadQImc5LGXAtUZxOA/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+017.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gabe and Riley's room is back to the Nascar theme from the Iowa house too. Its nice to feel familiar again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSarGGUE-TYH8FFRU5MDDOSUp4dtMXf6tXSuS62_-lofnxXwbMquXgzm8zfRiZwQlJPsrPklqXVvXA7pI5eLQ4S60IxaE34R6QtjTzXcNgHIMzS9yR_7K4b9_XDztdwoafw9sHttGchM/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSarGGUE-TYH8FFRU5MDDOSUp4dtMXf6tXSuS62_-lofnxXwbMquXgzm8zfRiZwQlJPsrPklqXVvXA7pI5eLQ4S60IxaE34R6QtjTzXcNgHIMzS9yR_7K4b9_XDztdwoafw9sHttGchM/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+018.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Their stars got put up too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGLhBfDhAZpihzqR2pElF5OC67H6VDr79lsT6qjuRI1lJ5Y-nX3Qr3E1lHcEps-dk3acfo36wG3XPO1e7o2WXGtadnEAsUFkrWKeITYZ2YgF3NOZ4-whiUAfAfXd3ydE-zhaaQVCUEgE/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGLhBfDhAZpihzqR2pElF5OC67H6VDr79lsT6qjuRI1lJ5Y-nX3Qr3E1lHcEps-dk3acfo36wG3XPO1e7o2WXGtadnEAsUFkrWKeITYZ2YgF3NOZ4-whiUAfAfXd3ydE-zhaaQVCUEgE/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+019.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alayna's birthday snuck up on us this year. There was total craziness at school as it was winding down, and we were planning our trip to Iowa as well as working full time. Alas, we were able to do some fun things for her. Her request was for a dolphin cake. JoDee helped me by making the cake and all I had to do was frost and decorate it. Good thing, because it may not have happened. I had made her the traditional birthday cupcakes (which she was very disappointed with because they were cream cheese/chocolate chip filled chocolate cupcakes and not blueberry muffins or frosted cupcakes), and I was about baked out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vl2RBN7P5TuJ0wU6BEURxMhxVAN50PFtxPtEM5AxzRIoA1hMc8T9KBf2Z2a2A0_luI8BxMFLw7965xIvx0SL6RNQrtqpEv9FKErZNCCN2ab_IbUNgMeu8KXwkdNwqiMghT7Q3S4lZSQ/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vl2RBN7P5TuJ0wU6BEURxMhxVAN50PFtxPtEM5AxzRIoA1hMc8T9KBf2Z2a2A0_luI8BxMFLw7965xIvx0SL6RNQrtqpEv9FKErZNCCN2ab_IbUNgMeu8KXwkdNwqiMghT7Q3S4lZSQ/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+028.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least she was happy with her dolphin cake! She shared with everyone after gymnastics and blowing out the candles:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5zt6ScS4FN0pPeP8La4FK5YilIQWm2AfmXr9eXJWvZQll1N2t3Q2Q8IoM2snWqxxg3fo8Ps2xW1RIO7Nyau8mtoQRzqyhXNpVjXzVjmGyL0P8hT2EbHI0m5E7JWTWVzVus_a-pykOXA/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5zt6ScS4FN0pPeP8La4FK5YilIQWm2AfmXr9eXJWvZQll1N2t3Q2Q8IoM2snWqxxg3fo8Ps2xW1RIO7Nyau8mtoQRzqyhXNpVjXzVjmGyL0P8hT2EbHI0m5E7JWTWVzVus_a-pykOXA/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+031.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, on her birthday, at school, there was a reward trip for the kids who had done well selling cookie dough for a fundraiser in the fall. They all got to go bowling during school! Riley, Holden and Alayna each got to go. Gabe got a week's worth of Civies passes instead (valuable stuff!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2x57hNSEa9rc7Oi0wjmM0t0CRh3WMbfhInAhsNQmpNtHk4_WdudIksB76UJjUL4frbk9b-1j9M97isXOjHPekJ_Hl9Sy3YzzNx8ZejBprB_xdAmyYKVHHXji1E-N9axml7TyIFRvBCs/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2x57hNSEa9rc7Oi0wjmM0t0CRh3WMbfhInAhsNQmpNtHk4_WdudIksB76UJjUL4frbk9b-1j9M97isXOjHPekJ_Hl9Sy3YzzNx8ZejBprB_xdAmyYKVHHXji1E-N9axml7TyIFRvBCs/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+020.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because we had planned to drive to Iowa starting that day, I had asked for the day off work and couldn't get it back, so I went along to chaperon! It was wild and loud, but the kids were so good! We had 10 lanes worth of K-5th graders!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyKBLV-xDmGhWVkQmqQH8CZtV2Em5z_kCDnfaO4SUJOC4ydqHEy5DZrVO2Azj3ZQO1lsrAHRmZK2V5i_x-uYvVpzhxVL_84n9bx_-UL2a6JNw-uTfJTM75-p4E9kOZHOfMevAvFT0OCk/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyKBLV-xDmGhWVkQmqQH8CZtV2Em5z_kCDnfaO4SUJOC4ydqHEy5DZrVO2Azj3ZQO1lsrAHRmZK2V5i_x-uYvVpzhxVL_84n9bx_-UL2a6JNw-uTfJTM75-p4E9kOZHOfMevAvFT0OCk/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+021.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank God for bumpers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS-sWqF7D-PRPJwzgZ8kdY5504_ZW4sHLt5gcJDyW7enmTOTSWkt6ShO-uCfuwWasvYOEgitqVyCAFeGcX4RJZvsLfFNlsbDwDw3K2igP_wAzMyoivCcOxfTBezsSCzRuA8EfSRMGCtY/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS-sWqF7D-PRPJwzgZ8kdY5504_ZW4sHLt5gcJDyW7enmTOTSWkt6ShO-uCfuwWasvYOEgitqVyCAFeGcX4RJZvsLfFNlsbDwDw3K2igP_wAzMyoivCcOxfTBezsSCzRuA8EfSRMGCtY/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+022.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After bowling, I whisked Alayna off for a birthday lunch out with Daddy and Aunt JoJo. Riley and Holden didn't quite see the fairness in that, she after all got to skip school and go bowling on her birthday already! I explained their birthdays would be special too...its hard when you have a summer birthday! I will have to make an extra effort this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHHkvJkpzWSHTY9Y5YeeyZuJymYqA6Z_p3Cz3L0MOBJr-3XAYYEOLsZKyShLFiuL5NPnSpCbeUHC4oTpD39XvLXaEhaGu5dZn-4qQZmRoj-1UCQs7JMc4NcgAGAIhLhn8F_U_pdjIexw/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHHkvJkpzWSHTY9Y5YeeyZuJymYqA6Z_p3Cz3L0MOBJr-3XAYYEOLsZKyShLFiuL5NPnSpCbeUHC4oTpD39XvLXaEhaGu5dZn-4qQZmRoj-1UCQs7JMc4NcgAGAIhLhn8F_U_pdjIexw/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+023.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went to a tea room in Venice, on the main tourist drag. The food was great and besides the cook, Paul was the only male in there until we were about to leave. It was comical! He was a good sport and enjoyed eating everything we couldn't finish. Alayna surprised us all and passed up all the kids' menu items and chose to have quiche instead...quite grown up! Her desert was a sugar cookie with sprinkles and they put a candle in it for her. She thought she was special! She even shared a bit with each of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaOBRTpqoUPJsmTHZDDO-N4pt2yrUQywNLjZVBLy2L2tLwwcnBFL5zxVT28HlXD9o49NqvY1UCCIJ0WUCwrRIYiCromwX45u-CY2ITv-Oi-qcB_vaJSdKh9LFvIZtbWbwBcGolhQyHG0/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaOBRTpqoUPJsmTHZDDO-N4pt2yrUQywNLjZVBLy2L2tLwwcnBFL5zxVT28HlXD9o49NqvY1UCCIJ0WUCwrRIYiCromwX45u-CY2ITv-Oi-qcB_vaJSdKh9LFvIZtbWbwBcGolhQyHG0/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+026.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, finally we come to our family pictures in Iowa! We had such a great trip and SO enjoyed seeing so many of you and enjoyed staying at the Gee's house (the kids have renamed "The Castle"), all things I didn't manage to get any pictures of. I finally came to my senses and got out my camera when we went to Paul's sister's house and had all the cousins together on Sunday evening. We were celebrating Paul and Alayna's birthdays since they missed out on the celebrations last year and they are only 3 days apart. We lined up all the cousins for a picture last summer when we were there too...I'll have to try to track down that picture. Kayla took over as the tallest this year. And I got to meet my newest niece Chloe (at the very end trying to escape while her mom tries to hold her in her place at the end of the line!), who lives in Nebraska, but was there for the family reunion too. It was great to see all the cousins and see how they have grown. The best thing was that these kids are finally getting old enough to play together and enjoy each other. It was so fun to see them organizing foot races, soccer games and playing together on the swing set. None of them wanted to leave with their parents that night, they wanted to stay and play with each other! Heart warming!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7oNK2sMNn6a3I5bZna330W4BAHYpyfgwxZZgHhVXS0AkWjWum8nHXV07yM6dlImWAw-JLXorg6bqCGjIZamTTIv6S0_bHd9ZWib8-d5vsOw1WG8ffXjEy6pFoDSxrtew7MMvLFIRWuU/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7oNK2sMNn6a3I5bZna330W4BAHYpyfgwxZZgHhVXS0AkWjWum8nHXV07yM6dlImWAw-JLXorg6bqCGjIZamTTIv6S0_bHd9ZWib8-d5vsOw1WG8ffXjEy6pFoDSxrtew7MMvLFIRWuU/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+041.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a full house with 13 kids running around! It was so much fun though. One that stays in their memories forever I hope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyru6Vq1z1KUdiSapa4iq32vubLSvAy8_12h0KjPGXX56Zp2godv6c2rqPWjk9D6hUyv74ABDg4NoFZ4PAQmfaM57YE2c24L4zf1xfMTdsbbFkPM7_q7fGPuN9DEvaCSMJhyphenhyphenQkn3Sobk/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyru6Vq1z1KUdiSapa4iq32vubLSvAy8_12h0KjPGXX56Zp2godv6c2rqPWjk9D6hUyv74ABDg4NoFZ4PAQmfaM57YE2c24L4zf1xfMTdsbbFkPM7_q7fGPuN9DEvaCSMJhyphenhyphenQkn3Sobk/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+040.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chloe was so funny. She was very quiet and so well behaved until it came time for a picture as you can see above, she just wanted to run out of it! She warmed right up to me and grabbed a book and crawled into my lap. I obliged her and read it to her several times. She went and got another. She wanted to take a picture with my camera, but I tricked her and turned it around before she could get away. She was lots of fun. SOOO cute with all her little piggy tails! I found out later that the blanket I made for her when she was born has turned into her lovey. She takes it everywhere and loves to pet it! Hilarious! I agree with her, I love that fabric!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-do3WJT1a8u8DmE9SLq0cq8FsQk6AYXEoUiV7tvqjn8fnv2EVVJPJwC9G0MKsHnH7OPTiCB7d7SvNkyLzSzgXOtdMwkBkXUgCkoAAF4SQXhK9Ael1Pdo9-n-Sugh88WZYvkwA5Nw9nk/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-do3WJT1a8u8DmE9SLq0cq8FsQk6AYXEoUiV7tvqjn8fnv2EVVJPJwC9G0MKsHnH7OPTiCB7d7SvNkyLzSzgXOtdMwkBkXUgCkoAAF4SQXhK9Ael1Pdo9-n-Sugh88WZYvkwA5Nw9nk/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+036.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is Alayna with her second dolphin cake. Now, the funny thing was that Grammy Sharon didn't know she had specifically requested a dolphin cake! She wanted something "Florida" and this is what they had. It was an ice cream cake (Paul's favorite) and was fabulous! So funny, could have saved my efforts! This one was much more professional!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgQa8QLpKP28b2TAZ-vWnWNUldeQR9CQE3Foqqqsf6kHP6IfBZR1OhCY6ux0UIglnRVISruGfpCWjLU-WqGRR56skeGZb6ggYkaYkplvyZYLL_LHIcJ7Z3Jldl2vzCtVBHcwsTHVVYlY/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgQa8QLpKP28b2TAZ-vWnWNUldeQR9CQE3Foqqqsf6kHP6IfBZR1OhCY6ux0UIglnRVISruGfpCWjLU-WqGRR56skeGZb6ggYkaYkplvyZYLL_LHIcJ7Z3Jldl2vzCtVBHcwsTHVVYlY/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+035.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And, on Monday, the Prachar family reunion, a tradition since 1999. We have only missed this once and Paul was determined we would not miss it this year. I was so glad we went, though the time was way too short. We asked if next year it could be moved to a different date so that school didn't interfere and we could come for a longer visit! Most people were very agreeable, so we are very hopeful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictL-fq6yaaSvhy-099lT7h_-ObmaCxMzkZweYn6b1MtyFf3fpPNcuP-MNz4tUmSvVIlKBW3nfc1gGoHzuhpz1QmiZbUKLpTxcK8NYU2ZtceiD60F-mJHIZLmFWb2v5GOJL6frP8TTxPI/s1600/prachar+family+reunion+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictL-fq6yaaSvhy-099lT7h_-ObmaCxMzkZweYn6b1MtyFf3fpPNcuP-MNz4tUmSvVIlKBW3nfc1gGoHzuhpz1QmiZbUKLpTxcK8NYU2ZtceiD60F-mJHIZLmFWb2v5GOJL6frP8TTxPI/s320/prachar+family+reunion+2010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You might notice some "honorary Prachars" in the picture. We didn't get to visit with our friends the Cihas enough, so they came and met the family and blended right in! Ciha is after all a very Czech name! Our kids became quite close when we were in Iowa since Marcie watched Alayna for me for a while and they were so glad to have some time together. They fit right in with the cousins as you can see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyqmSWXM-o3t2tVFNEGQ0qSIbSQ6D9s-IYDaJNB4YfWe7qXzDXqfhwUNYQC2pe9hZSiDMMNbA4gW3GRmbLzkQLMMf8eiB2IDI4xFH6bwZRPiPh4WdeulVXSrkeJR9sWS4-A1_Bgqor_o/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyqmSWXM-o3t2tVFNEGQ0qSIbSQ6D9s-IYDaJNB4YfWe7qXzDXqfhwUNYQC2pe9hZSiDMMNbA4gW3GRmbLzkQLMMf8eiB2IDI4xFH6bwZRPiPh4WdeulVXSrkeJR9sWS4-A1_Bgqor_o/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+049.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the girls were so happy to be together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje16FLyQez3dLbTMaCUaoauiDqH-opCVin5D54olPw-YldqXY8A-fBftD9heUZXrEtybwsx175woFhbVpJQjHfJV7k3MTa-vf23K46UdOAmOlyO2vAOncsaNAwGlBurIdgrQb3klHISMw/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje16FLyQez3dLbTMaCUaoauiDqH-opCVin5D54olPw-YldqXY8A-fBftD9heUZXrEtybwsx175woFhbVpJQjHfJV7k3MTa-vf23K46UdOAmOlyO2vAOncsaNAwGlBurIdgrQb3klHISMw/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+054.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday night, friends John and Kim Williams hosted a few more of our friends so we could catch up with several people at once. We had such a great time visiting with the Simpsons, Millers, and Widmers! Thanks so much Kim and John for your legendary hospitality! We were thrilled to get to see as many of our friends as we did, but there were more of you we didn't get to spend time with. We will have to double our efforts next time we are in town, or you are always welcome to come to us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the whirlwind trip was winding down, we discovered our friends son was just released from the hospital on the day we were heading back home, so we were grateful for some time to spend with them before we went to Moline for our flight home. The McIlraveys have kids very close to all of our kids' ages and also have 3 boys and a girl, and our kids have missed theirs tons. Poor Sterling (2nd oldest) had to have surgery on a hip injury and will spend the majority of the summer in a cast. He has a great attitude about it, very impressive! Oh, the time was too short!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9ZYPEL1wv0fRXbzGLwULI5swi8qFWhxKRk2EWaiVO5Qu8JTMh88NOQ_3nJ_phqOWhJBxcixl4p7RGFfU5zeRBFNS5H32Fuer_JlhWpwfDEOUz48NUmloqPMcrJUXoMpv9oNsc5Df4nM/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9ZYPEL1wv0fRXbzGLwULI5swi8qFWhxKRk2EWaiVO5Qu8JTMh88NOQ_3nJ_phqOWhJBxcixl4p7RGFfU5zeRBFNS5H32Fuer_JlhWpwfDEOUz48NUmloqPMcrJUXoMpv9oNsc5Df4nM/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+055.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, we headed to the airport (thanks for the ride Grammy and Papa) only to find our flight delayed due to thunderstorms in Atlanta. We had over 1 1/2 hours in the Atlanta airport, so we were not worried. Then, we were blessed to be bumped to business class due to an "accident" in our row on the previous flight. We didn't ask for any details, we just took our places in the very front row! We didn't get a meal or anything, but we had all the snacks we wanted! Holden and I played cards for the entire trip. Paul sat with Alayna and the big boys were just behind us. Very nifty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjFls3dbJnNqt6oB43ir-46WYunKXhKEZSXdBXR0zXWdXPqP3ghVfRUudket_ajmMb72ia-zfOMQF16CE1eG3EBj5WXJWwL-e61JLJFCF7GWLW8o-v6Mek3nY9Zf4VB4pLIjGBtqkqBY/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjFls3dbJnNqt6oB43ir-46WYunKXhKEZSXdBXR0zXWdXPqP3ghVfRUudket_ajmMb72ia-zfOMQF16CE1eG3EBj5WXJWwL-e61JLJFCF7GWLW8o-v6Mek3nY9Zf4VB4pLIjGBtqkqBY/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+057.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just after we boarded, they had us get off again, telling us that the Atlanta airport had officially shut down and we would be waiting at least another 30 minutes. Back out to the airport. More card games. It went fast, back to the plane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0BFQGdVCwu1owSP1Vau9Pf5t1DnhJCqjaekrUIYEkzwqI8wQdC4XPxBsvNXye_kn1sBlnqS5xtpbNHH9GlISt8VJ96KAgcW-gvpjpHF8znCtaeyuKPSJ5BV4PpKUHwwV8vjC99fBqQM/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0BFQGdVCwu1owSP1Vau9Pf5t1DnhJCqjaekrUIYEkzwqI8wQdC4XPxBsvNXye_kn1sBlnqS5xtpbNHH9GlISt8VJ96KAgcW-gvpjpHF8znCtaeyuKPSJ5BV4PpKUHwwV8vjC99fBqQM/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+059.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We boarded and knew we could still make our connection in time and were not worried. In fact, they reassured us our connections would be behind due to the shut down as well. We were supposed to board our last leg at 11:15 pm and were relieved when we landed at 10:35. We got bored and dozed off a bit when we had to wait for a gate. I started getting worried when we were still sitting still at 11:15, but didn't say anything to the flight attendants because they had reassured us everything would be behind. We finally got into the gate at 11:35 and raced off the plane (leaving behind multiple things including Holden and Alayna's suitcase). There is a lot of pressure in the front row not to hold everyone up! Wow, didn't like that much! We were THRILLED to realize we were just a few steps from our departing gate and ran around the corner to find it already pulled away from the gate. I just stared at it in disbelief. A couple minutes later, it left. Then, the pilot walked up and handed me Holden's mp3 player that we had left behind as well as 4 cards from our deck. They had been found in our seats apparently. Paul then discovered the missing suitcase and sure enough, it was brought to us. We couldn't believe they stranded our entire family! We have never flown together the six of us and when we finally do, we get stranded! AirTran did their best to help us. Paul went and got in line and amongst the choruses of "How are you going to compensate me?"s, and came back with a discounted hotel that was just minutes from the airport, meal vouchers and a credit toward future travel with them. We headed to the tram:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hzN4FFqtXXREVFpsnZR9SRrYBHvyEmykcBVTKzKP14OM_f56lx8p01T2k8r71InmdEvAMriorNTCXN0Af7Yb_VcL5cM7tDA9aKCewEkloe1bGDtB_-CI4Rqh5JWEVXLfaoVd5aex3tQ/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hzN4FFqtXXREVFpsnZR9SRrYBHvyEmykcBVTKzKP14OM_f56lx8p01T2k8r71InmdEvAMriorNTCXN0Af7Yb_VcL5cM7tDA9aKCewEkloe1bGDtB_-CI4Rqh5JWEVXLfaoVd5aex3tQ/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+060.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got to the hotel by 2 am. But we had a quandary. They couldn't book us back to Tampa until 3pm the next day and Alayna had Kindergarten graduation at 1pm. They told us we could try to get on the first flight standby (right, six people are going to get on standby!), or just wait for the 3 pm flight. It was very tempting to just sleep in and not try to hustle back for the graduation. But, Alayna was very distraught about missing it and my heart broke. We went to sleep before we could make a decision. Paul's alarm went off as usual at 6:15 am (I don't think anyone had even turned over yet) and we hit the ground running. We got dressed, brushed teeth and raced down to breakfast. Paul warned us if the bus was there, we would have to get right on it or we would have to miss the first flight because the next bus wasn't for 30 minutes. As we were rounding the corner, the bus was pulling in. They all went straight out and I went and filled my purse with cereal, milk, yogurt, muffins and anything else that looked portable! We got there in time, but shockingly enough, there was not room for us. We talked about splitting up, but that would be really hard on the person who had to come to the airport to pick us up. It didn't really make sense. So, Paul went back to customer service and came back with the best news possible. He had gotten us on a flight to Sarasota and we would be landing at 12:00. JUST enough time to get to the graduation if we hustled. Waaay too much drama for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She made it just a few minutes late because we had to swing by the house to change into school clothes. I was mortified when they stopped and asked the teacher's aid to help her get dressed and then resumed. I was glad she only missed one song in their performance. They did an hour long performance recanting all they had learned that year with songs, dances, reciting poetry and counting to 10 in several languages. It was really entertaining!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUow0MB-DRKwNLLJPtON78-254xev-AQrtc7h6eGTqbg1pvwKNV01U9n1dCWgfTHF5seuKNp2VzP0EPbY3ojW-YwN_394Yy1DIyi0F4rKk7pjs6W7FhRheh50fGJfA2PLSeRrSvaSho4/s1600/kindergarten+grad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUow0MB-DRKwNLLJPtON78-254xev-AQrtc7h6eGTqbg1pvwKNV01U9n1dCWgfTHF5seuKNp2VzP0EPbY3ojW-YwN_394Yy1DIyi0F4rKk7pjs6W7FhRheh50fGJfA2PLSeRrSvaSho4/s320/kindergarten+grad1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, they each got to walk across the stage and get their diploma from the principal. Her teacher, Mrs. Koch has the microphone and the teacher's aid, Ms. Shipps is on the right. They were each also given a graduation dog for their classmates to sign. Very nice touch. I was very relieved when they called Alayna's name, that the teacher took the time to explain to everyone that we had flight problems and that was why we were late! Why would that bother me??? I don't know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS7MaFcpxKeVOW2CMgwGzGd4deVPE5e7_ZAx9kIBxKtfyitG6o3DrEbQQqYKhQtTGCmTCPO2Diqysnp66Fu6UNjulZvkdGFjmn22QWdlGqk2Mk6iN7ySsApdqsxhmdhnuLEkexyEJJ-0/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS7MaFcpxKeVOW2CMgwGzGd4deVPE5e7_ZAx9kIBxKtfyitG6o3DrEbQQqYKhQtTGCmTCPO2Diqysnp66Fu6UNjulZvkdGFjmn22QWdlGqk2Mk6iN7ySsApdqsxhmdhnuLEkexyEJJ-0/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+063.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She made it for the recessional anyway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQkiqqSqcl11bLLDb_qkhi5YLVgC-cLDAz34dT58XXwhKsNfNP8vMp1VdijxBoODrhtlIbqrqSlMKJw4EiCuw0OkgToQQSPMbS90nPs8HfUW9__05z8gCVAhR-A2w8nlA9PA1eQUfmT4/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQkiqqSqcl11bLLDb_qkhi5YLVgC-cLDAz34dT58XXwhKsNfNP8vMp1VdijxBoODrhtlIbqrqSlMKJw4EiCuw0OkgToQQSPMbS90nPs8HfUW9__05z8gCVAhR-A2w8nlA9PA1eQUfmT4/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+064.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, I am finally wrapping this thing up! Last weekend, we spent 12 hours painting! We got the back and front hallways and the kitchen/living room done! That just leaves the living/dining room left to go. WOW, I will be glad to have it all behind me! We took all the things out of the kitchen and stacked them on the dining room table and moved all the living room furniture to the middle of the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_YFAjpGxdtAxMy-tnnxpNfI_aF1p5uLKsv88FZVG-cq7NoBpTYlPm5p_J82ftIVbl2xkdC3ZoiU2KbwmVVYVR0UmRvtlw36yJVGad7TJ92lj68EQ4BbfyEeAC0Txv98Pvjwvr1Ja5gE/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_YFAjpGxdtAxMy-tnnxpNfI_aF1p5uLKsv88FZVG-cq7NoBpTYlPm5p_J82ftIVbl2xkdC3ZoiU2KbwmVVYVR0UmRvtlw36yJVGad7TJ92lj68EQ4BbfyEeAC0Txv98Pvjwvr1Ja5gE/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+066.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Holden and Gabe had a great time writing everyone's initials on the last wall before we painted it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3RCS5tMr2oOCSzzypbUtDTCL9o8xfeJqWYRMZB4Xj9F60u9iJi_xjzq9T8B5P-Tiuh8TN9LN4sMZTfXkslWtgixBfmTPB3LhuMYDd4qKIFaEmHN6YibmTdzeoirm-lOfmsQTwo2aHFE/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3RCS5tMr2oOCSzzypbUtDTCL9o8xfeJqWYRMZB4Xj9F60u9iJi_xjzq9T8B5P-Tiuh8TN9LN4sMZTfXkslWtgixBfmTPB3LhuMYDd4qKIFaEmHN6YibmTdzeoirm-lOfmsQTwo2aHFE/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip+068.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, we chose green again for the walls, but had picked out a browner/darker color. The paint store was out of the right base for that color and asked me if a lighter shade would work. I said sure because I just wanted to get some paint while Paul was in the mood to paint!! We got in on the walls and started to laugh because it is just almost imperceptible that it is darker than the paint from our house in Iowa! I had painted a canvas for an Uppercase Living expression with the Iowa wall color so it would travel with me when we moved, so I dragged it out for comparison. See what you think:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoua3C3g9KoIL-k0pwW13gtRUu6U43IkVGrsY2Bh-Rly18duWqvmOgcS8vTu8aDFRC5O7lGy_h5qPPtIEOKRiKyN_amuhhi5Fr8g12zdw3X_IU1ILQKpQyoKc757Hell1YvdQLAs0Px8/s1600/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoua3C3g9KoIL-k0pwW13gtRUu6U43IkVGrsY2Bh-Rly18duWqvmOgcS8vTu8aDFRC5O7lGy_h5qPPtIEOKRiKyN_amuhhi5Fr8g12zdw3X_IU1ILQKpQyoKc757Hell1YvdQLAs0Px8/s320/May-June+2010+kindergarten+grad+Alayna+Iowa+trip.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One room to go, the end is in site! Now I can start putting things up on the walls more! The kids were great help and have been so patient with all the work to be done around here. They have been to Vacation Bible School all last week and really enjoyed that, I am sure they will be attending all of them around here since that is the time Paul has to get his work done without interruptions! He is still taking on the work of the executive pastor at The Bridge and still absolutely loves it, but has had to move into a volunteer role as the support we bring in is not enough for him to receive a steady pay check. He will take a paycheck only when the support is high enough, otherwise we will do without and live by faith that God is the provider of our every need alone. God has not called Paul to any other work at this time. This is a difficult position for Paul, so please keep him in your prayers. I am grateful for the work that he does, for the impact he is able to make, and for the time he has with the kids this summer. This is precious time that we can't ever get back with them and he is planning to make it as fun for all of them as he can while still attending to his duties. He will be preaching his first sermon in the morning. He is very honored to preach about dads on Father's Day! Pray for that too if you think of it! God is not bound by time, so if you read this after the fact (as most of you will), say a prayer anyway! Please know we love each of you and are encouraged by you daily! Your faith to walk beside us, your friendship to keep up with us via this blog and your love that we feel keeps us going!</div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/372/69E87E8A3C8B725BCE65E013D802D02E.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Prachar familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818451010699043176noreply@blogger.com6