tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18729338253423905212024-03-07T20:43:14.501-07:00Journey's of An Artist MomKindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-89245910322094688582014-04-28T14:29:00.003-06:002014-04-28T14:34:27.822-06:00Copeland's Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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/AVvXsEiZGa5T08cPxGhk60QQWj07dEfSSbu2nB0197yzWgiXjghFdHgZkloCTbl2XwvrnhLELZgO40f0_hE4YRlh8WCAZNWNnY9HEOeoY7GoU5vTU4qXTRU4q5-ds9hW7_q91qsvGJepOT03Xsc/s1600/IMG_7823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGa5T08cPxGhk60QQWj07dEfSSbu2nB0197yzWgiXjghFdHgZkloCTbl2XwvrnhLELZgO40f0_hE4YRlh8WCAZNWNnY9HEOeoY7GoU5vTU4qXTRU4q5-ds9hW7_q91qsvGJepOT03Xsc/s1600/IMG_7823.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kRzK4zaECody7knqQpHa_BI1ROqzZgmEW6vGVcPquo95E3LCUr133MwwohZja3khkY3KdbZ2YHz0x_7OOsmqG-nQ-dBHZS_IyJksL0Wg-DqdijmgztB_NSDTYZH7BF761MFKSWd8UqU/s1600/prego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Life is hectic with four kids and yet I find myself wishing I could find time to write a few words about this rich life we have. I started writing this post about Copeland's birth story late one night when I couldn't sleep days before I had Arya. I didn't want the details of Arya's birth story muddling up the specifics of Copeland's. But I couldn't seem to find the words that night and put it off. So now, four months from Copeland's 2nd birthday I hope I can remember the wonderful way this boy came into our lives.</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/AVvXsEgQv8Zu487AXokzs5nmzqToRxNbp6OsvFGoOfEgWvfallCNABECMzrJXllqR3slqqZEYp22RdxKAhuSj1SZcxKVmUZieEZ1APQC_ub2qio6prRNpTtjeRXId1O_29nG_QjBw_YVueZuRA0/s1600/IMG_8026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv8Zu487AXokzs5nmzqToRxNbp6OsvFGoOfEgWvfallCNABECMzrJXllqR3slqqZEYp22RdxKAhuSj1SZcxKVmUZieEZ1APQC_ub2qio6prRNpTtjeRXId1O_29nG_QjBw_YVueZuRA0/s1600/IMG_8026.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It was a sweltering hot summer. I died from the heat everyday and found myself escaping to the Tot Lot's freezing cold unheated pool with the girls to get out of the heat. I was uncomfortable to no end and wanting him impatiently to join us. But I had no idea what to expect. My pregnancies with Eva and Bella had been so similar as had their births, but my pregnancy with Copeland had been utterly and completely different so I assumed his birth would be also. This was kind of terrifying for me! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kRzK4zaECody7knqQpHa_BI1ROqzZgmEW6vGVcPquo95E3LCUr133MwwohZja3khkY3KdbZ2YHz0x_7OOsmqG-nQ-dBHZS_IyJksL0Wg-DqdijmgztB_NSDTYZH7BF761MFKSWd8UqU/s1600/prego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kRzK4zaECody7knqQpHa_BI1ROqzZgmEW6vGVcPquo95E3LCUr133MwwohZja3khkY3KdbZ2YHz0x_7OOsmqG-nQ-dBHZS_IyJksL0Wg-DqdijmgztB_NSDTYZH7BF761MFKSWd8UqU/s1600/prego.jpg" height="640" width="274" /></a></div>
<br />
His due date was August 12th and on the 10th I spent a relaxing evening alone. Steve was out with some friends and I laid in bed and read my book. It had been so good that I read quite late instead of falling asleep. Finally at about midnight Steve was home and I put my book aside to fall asleep. Then I felt a contraction. I really didn't want to go into labor since I was so tired and finally ready for bed, so I tried to fall asleep anyway. But I was awoken by another contraction! I laid there timing them and they were every 12 minutes apart. They were too strong for me to sleep so I got up and laid on the couch. Hours and hours passed with contractions coming 12 minutes apart. I was so exhausted by then I tried to sleep, but the contractions were too strong to sleep through and I found myself being awoken every 12 minutes to take deep breaths and breathe through them. By 6am I had been up all night and was exhausted and frustrated they weren't any closer together or any stronger but they also weren't going away either. I got up and went for an early morning summer walk to get gravity moving things along. It was a beautiful morning and I listened to worship music as I walked and prayed for the baby to safely come. I came home to Steve and the girls awake and eating breakfast. I continued to pace around the house and breathe through contractions. By noon they were FINALLY closer together and I felt like maybe some action would start happening soon. Within a couple hours they were definitely 3-5 minutes apart and VERY strong. I told Steve it was time to pack the girls up and take them to Grammy's. Steve and the girls ran around in a frenzy trying to get things together. On the drive to drop the girls off at Grammy's the contractions were coming every 1-2 minutes and I was in major pain. I squealed every time Steve went over a bump in the road or took too sharp of a turn. By the time we were walking through the hospital parking lot, I could barely take two steps without stopping to breathe through contractions. I had never needed a wheel chair when they offered me one at the Emergency Room before, but this time I thought I better take them up on their offer or we might never make it up to the Delivery Room on the 3rd floor. <br />
<br />
When I arrived and they hooked me up to monitor the contractions, the nurse commented that the contractions were registering as VERY strong. Okay good, this wasn't just me being a wimp. She checked me and I was 5 cm's dilated. "YESSS!" I shouted for joy. At 5 cm they wouldn't send me home to keep laboring, but I also wasn't so far along that I couldn't get an epidural, which multiple friends had told me had happened to them. I wasn't one of those women who hoped for a natural birth without drugs, I just wanted to be out of my pain misery. "I know epidural's usually take a while to come, so I just wanted to put an order in now" I said without hesitation. "Woah, woah, woah, hold on!" the nurse told me. "You aren't even admitted yet, this is only the assessment. We need to get your paperwork done and a few other things before I can order that." Bummed, but still stoked to be where I was in the process, the nurse left the room and Steve and I started talking. Within 3 contractions I felt that undeniable feeling of "bearing down". "Steve! I'm totally bearing down! I can't stop it!" I said as I tried to breathe through an incredibly strong contraction. Steve ran to grab the nurse, who moseyed her way back into the room without any sense of urgency. "You need to stop yourself from pushing" she told me. "I just checked you and you were only 5 cm....I guess I'll check again to make sure." As she leaned in to check the expression changed on her face. "WOAH! You are 9 cm's already!! We need to get you in a room to deliver this baby!" And with that it was suddenly a flurry of nurses wheeling me down the hall to a delivery room and setting things up, calling my doctor. I managed to squeak out after a contraction "what about my epidural?" to which I got a simple "there's no time for that now."<br />
<br />
My doctor just so happened to be next door delivering another baby, so she was in my delivery room in no time. "Dr. Godwin" I said as soon as I saw her "I didn't want to do this without an epidural! I don't want to FEEL things!" I panicked. She is the kindest, best doctor I could ever ask for and she gently laughed and said "You can do this. A couple pushes and this will be over."<br />
<br />
Sure enough there I was pushing as hard as I could with nurses and Steve surrounding me and Dr. Godwin coaching me through it. "Big push, big push!" I could hear her say as I hunkered down and pushed as hard as I could. To my surprise, everything down below felt the same as delivering a baby with an epidural. Same ring of fire and everything! But the ability to feel my contractions made me more in control. My water hadn't broken yet, so Dr. Godwin broke it for me. The fact that it hadn't broken made the contraction at least 3 minutes apart which was nice since it gave me a good chance to catch my breath in between pushes. Although this also made it the funniest/most awkward part since with each push I gave, I had to sit and wait....I'd open my eyes to see my husband, doctor and multiple nurses all quietly staring at me with my legs spread, knees in the air, and a babies head coming out of my hoo-haa. Awkward! "You need to push yet?" one of them would say. Nope, still waiting. <br />
<br />
<br />
Then as I felt the contraction come I leaned into it. "Nice big push, there you go! Now a little slower....gently...." and before I knew it, the pressure was released and they were handing me my big 'ol 8 pound baby boy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinngjcWCDnYocP5VSksPtegfZ5RR5YPfHmaT4jNqg7oSf1udBs3XPatUwURFS79HYutdJERJVGqMqjrfUNING7FQ8CBE6pg-6e_EvZHsjAdkhap4UHv0AV6ZAxMwSn8CA5KGxc2QjyP-Y/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinngjcWCDnYocP5VSksPtegfZ5RR5YPfHmaT4jNqg7oSf1udBs3XPatUwURFS79HYutdJERJVGqMqjrfUNING7FQ8CBE6pg-6e_EvZHsjAdkhap4UHv0AV6ZAxMwSn8CA5KGxc2QjyP-Y/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I had been so nervous to have a boy and yet from the moment I saw him those fears melted away. This boy stole my heart instantly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSfIu3mfCoGk2uxAr7Il4jAuucqf_V3XWSg9E7zYyPTH-NW8W0hZAgD2ao6NWVw4Nehifb8R7g38WFh5sOw8-bGo895hKuSSbRYGdtYmVaWqw-KyR7bJG6rfwES8WPL6ZmWo4ymF7CxA/s1600/IMG_9394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSfIu3mfCoGk2uxAr7Il4jAuucqf_V3XWSg9E7zYyPTH-NW8W0hZAgD2ao6NWVw4Nehifb8R7g38WFh5sOw8-bGo895hKuSSbRYGdtYmVaWqw-KyR7bJG6rfwES8WPL6ZmWo4ymF7CxA/s1600/IMG_9394.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I panicked a little when I looked at him and saw his completely blue face. "Is he breathing?!" Turns out he came so fast and furiously he had bruised his face on the way out. </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/AVvXsEjfWQdH61PyURdxzXjSoM7VNUS0KIlC-MLGMy0manRtlH4s7yj9eYfB0_FnYw3oVw542gTj5LKsF9Pibx8ihKVzTjfcT1PGsz0MHFXHZZUoYGHFWkOL_k3elt7Tnwr7MHy5EKfYLHiabTg/s1600/IMG_9402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWQdH61PyURdxzXjSoM7VNUS0KIlC-MLGMy0manRtlH4s7yj9eYfB0_FnYw3oVw542gTj5LKsF9Pibx8ihKVzTjfcT1PGsz0MHFXHZZUoYGHFWkOL_k3elt7Tnwr7MHy5EKfYLHiabTg/s1600/IMG_9402.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
I looked over at Steve and the sudden realization that I had just done this labor and delivery completely epidural free made me high five my husband. "Yeah! I'm awesome!" haha. As if I had meant to do that all along ;) I know that this is something our bodies are built to do, I just never thought I would be one of those people with a natural drug free birth, so it was pretty cool that I was forced into the whole thing. It was actually quite amazing and Copeland was so alert, Steve and I were both grateful for the way everything went down. <br />
<br />
I still wasn't admitted yet, so after all that the nurses had to get me to sign my admittance paperwork. We wanted to name our precious new baby boy and yet even though we had the name Copeland picked out for the last 6 years, we hesitated and almost named him Beckett. We were unsure of which name to pick so he was "baby boy" for the first day or so. The nurses on the post-delivery wing chatted to us about our girls who would soon come to meet their new baby brother and what name we had picked out for him. I told them this funny story about how the girls thought the name "Bacon" was hilarious and that their new brother should be Bacon Birss. Eva was totally clever and added in "yeah and his middle name could be 'Cheese' so it would be Bacon Cheese Birss." Our nurses thought this was hilarious and since we didn't have a real name for him picked out yet, they wrote Bacon Cheese Birss on his bassinet as a joke. Steve and I laughed and thought it was amazing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep9PuZKpdf2WGitNiuJSobkD3rELY_cViRE3hVmtaD7C6xQtbfysFStp4V60VLEawRswELzLooc8XgfyqPDlbgYHLe74DIGfwpk1ZiEXHgohp9BnnXXcv0N3LwzSiIqeIOmjSQGYkOlo/s1600/IMG_9566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep9PuZKpdf2WGitNiuJSobkD3rELY_cViRE3hVmtaD7C6xQtbfysFStp4V60VLEawRswELzLooc8XgfyqPDlbgYHLe74DIGfwpk1ZiEXHgohp9BnnXXcv0N3LwzSiIqeIOmjSQGYkOlo/s1600/IMG_9566.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The girls coming in the next day to meet their new baby brother was pretty special. Their excitement was over the top and I made sure to snap some pics as they ran into our 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/AVvXsEjv_rg3Mi1zOm2Bb7eTdJhMpu_g_79Kc_ZatkNrhqluGLNl4VSeh21HUFu_S5bQZeaTcW5t0L8tfLGSNP15PFkR21-OvyR3iuVSp7fA_0WA-CTzPccS0U4xbVtBrl7w2BvtjIbFw-xitmw/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_rg3Mi1zOm2Bb7eTdJhMpu_g_79Kc_ZatkNrhqluGLNl4VSeh21HUFu_S5bQZeaTcW5t0L8tfLGSNP15PFkR21-OvyR3iuVSp7fA_0WA-CTzPccS0U4xbVtBrl7w2BvtjIbFw-xitmw/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg.jpg" height="251" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They just wanted to hold him and kiss him and study the size of his fingers. They were enamored just as we were.</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/AVvXsEjFglXNoOVn2hiDlorb6N_3JQIBKjRVTEpjzqX_Q-3pN3qO88nfIlo5yPkkdNpZE1O2Ur3vh1oO5-uCHSefFTupXXnvZcXrX1p7hjU4Hm2q73jMc5LoBXkQzpFa7gKd_ymMewJ0RzUxFoU/s1600/IMG_9477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFglXNoOVn2hiDlorb6N_3JQIBKjRVTEpjzqX_Q-3pN3qO88nfIlo5yPkkdNpZE1O2Ur3vh1oO5-uCHSefFTupXXnvZcXrX1p7hjU4Hm2q73jMc5LoBXkQzpFa7gKd_ymMewJ0RzUxFoU/s1600/IMG_9477.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEg2MmTrfl6vTtoqYAKto296POS4N1DX70uiVFwz_BiDkb1aLw8Egneqz94elSMvKVCJdjDa-Bc9uOgVNFB_cIbwfkfQiCunVjpxGuQVlLCIuF8f97yjoPMQ6A9esfUi60JrK5Ry1v37pp4/s1600/IMG_9484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MmTrfl6vTtoqYAKto296POS4N1DX70uiVFwz_BiDkb1aLw8Egneqz94elSMvKVCJdjDa-Bc9uOgVNFB_cIbwfkfQiCunVjpxGuQVlLCIuF8f97yjoPMQ6A9esfUi60JrK5Ry1v37pp4/s1600/IMG_9484.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></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/AVvXsEjy1hvFSmjt0ij_Tz1jbdAGG_3G6W3IBMKkVsq88VHiNjWPvDqVt77zufRDSHWxedAtonuH-pLsrSvq_88ohJ_CYoUcl6itWEsgULhe77qvYyRe_gr_Jzb-wBLXfPJlsL5N5ymH_udtDjM/s1600/IMG_9485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1hvFSmjt0ij_Tz1jbdAGG_3G6W3IBMKkVsq88VHiNjWPvDqVt77zufRDSHWxedAtonuH-pLsrSvq_88ohJ_CYoUcl6itWEsgULhe77qvYyRe_gr_Jzb-wBLXfPJlsL5N5ymH_udtDjM/s1600/IMG_9485.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This little boy that all at once was slow to come and yet was delivered so fast and furious has shone a light on our lives ever since. He is so loveable and is the absolute perfect addition to our family. </div>
<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/AVvXsEiYa9BK5JNmVgwiB3KgTec-Kk78mWxUApfSDl0qG_vr_wu9-mYt6h9tf9mMUXFbZkS50uDhiy2EYihkUlrgKyZlZO1QQrxAnhZs7XmfbLJ1o9kxJnqygnUs7KD2nmQuVaJY98N68I8-Kj0/s1600/IMG_9517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYa9BK5JNmVgwiB3KgTec-Kk78mWxUApfSDl0qG_vr_wu9-mYt6h9tf9mMUXFbZkS50uDhiy2EYihkUlrgKyZlZO1QQrxAnhZs7XmfbLJ1o9kxJnqygnUs7KD2nmQuVaJY98N68I8-Kj0/s1600/IMG_9517.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-87724342388258983572013-09-27T09:46:00.000-06:002014-01-06T22:01:50.356-07:00Long Overdue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ahh! Too many years have passed without me updating this thing. I visited last night when I couldn't sleep and found myself falling in love with the stories and memories I had long forgotten about. I don't know where the heck to begin, or how often I will update, but I'm sure going to try. Here's a very brief overview of the last 2 years:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since I was last here, I taught full time as a preschool teacher. I got to teach Eva for a second year, and Bella for the last 2 months of school when she turned 3.</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/AVvXsEgKtn-KTfEBCW7xRXnj5bw9BG7rEbAKcMHNj74o9ifuQBYv-L7LMS4RmXNQ3TWcwTBwmaymyI7k_f50yZOG_i5xjgi5bdeIXQyoiLUw7JeqeWE-TWpjL2vOVM5niLlcLS5AA-WMEmTdtcw/s1600/IMG_8815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtn-KTfEBCW7xRXnj5bw9BG7rEbAKcMHNj74o9ifuQBYv-L7LMS4RmXNQ3TWcwTBwmaymyI7k_f50yZOG_i5xjgi5bdeIXQyoiLUw7JeqeWE-TWpjL2vOVM5niLlcLS5AA-WMEmTdtcw/s400/IMG_8815.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I got pregnant (!), found out we were having a boy (!), almost pooed my pants, and then took one and only pregnancy photo the day before I went into labor.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-A32F_jHEb515KF45Ysack0S9S2Pot_sEP-u0oT7xNoHuJBZ7f61dfZkF3a3laS2Vl8GrhznZsfidJNYIu7BBuOffMreCRmndX6UQnPwUNiJJAXIbLsKUXa6uwAnCfFAij-BkpeWezg/s1600/IMG_9360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-A32F_jHEb515KF45Ysack0S9S2Pot_sEP-u0oT7xNoHuJBZ7f61dfZkF3a3laS2Vl8GrhznZsfidJNYIu7BBuOffMreCRmndX6UQnPwUNiJJAXIbLsKUXa6uwAnCfFAij-BkpeWezg/s400/IMG_9360.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I gave birth to this little sweetness and he has been such a gift to our family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfohxTeB9I2P8zoJB__kDFK-uDBw_Vt_40AZ-3ZXauwz8RJd3ApcFxBLuhV66mhEKJ2GU_-bUnlfleXnKp_W3E39cEDPg7w24SPEw8ebBAvrqF65UBwyYqZA07JnIS6Mj57B3NkorTko/s1600/IMG_7824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfohxTeB9I2P8zoJB__kDFK-uDBw_Vt_40AZ-3ZXauwz8RJd3ApcFxBLuhV66mhEKJ2GU_-bUnlfleXnKp_W3E39cEDPg7w24SPEw8ebBAvrqF65UBwyYqZA07JnIS6Mj57B3NkorTko/s400/IMG_7824.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
The little nugget grew into a big nugget and he's still just a ball of sunshine and smiles 24/7. We adore this kid.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuU4EtMSPSXcnfalGvRJq0_yAwKeTjnS33f-toKkAiD1kSY-4OJg4VYnx1NcXsjq4AMbPCPfqiEam5BrXyg2NUFtSEVKpoboRviAY8aCdCfW0XRR7w42QGuG7jG2EjS3aOK926TMj_l8/s1600/IMG_5256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuU4EtMSPSXcnfalGvRJq0_yAwKeTjnS33f-toKkAiD1kSY-4OJg4VYnx1NcXsjq4AMbPCPfqiEam5BrXyg2NUFtSEVKpoboRviAY8aCdCfW0XRR7w42QGuG7jG2EjS3aOK926TMj_l8/s400/IMG_5256.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And now I'm pregnant with our FOURTH baby! (which still seems surreal to me at times)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsmpAJyY5xmZdVE7S_OiPd4Ugq5P3PNWtWoio4_je8AGXWoH3DeH_bwzUsJ9BVyWNaBHt4NToYT18LHAk8XzUjpxQdmLKC2d2hToom4eXhb_w3Zw7jpPmFDY445Fzd31fSeYk4c8AXmY/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsmpAJyY5xmZdVE7S_OiPd4Ugq5P3PNWtWoio4_je8AGXWoH3DeH_bwzUsJ9BVyWNaBHt4NToYT18LHAk8XzUjpxQdmLKC2d2hToom4eXhb_w3Zw7jpPmFDY445Fzd31fSeYk4c8AXmY/s400/IMG_4792.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
In a nutshell, we've been blessed like crazy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-30952227652042195182011-08-06T14:19:00.001-06:002011-08-06T14:23:36.128-06:00Summer Days Photo DumpWelp, it was inevitable. I've fallen off the bandwagon with my resolution to take a photo a day. I also got way behind in telling the stories behind the photos. I guess that was just too high a bar to set for a procrastinator like me ;) <br />
<br />
In any case, we've been having a sun-and-fun filled summer so here's a photo dump to get me caught up:<br />
<br />
<b>Park Days</b><br />
The words uttered 895 times out of my girls mouths this summer have been"slides and swings, slides and swings! SLIDES AND SWIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGSSSSS!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015496172/" title="IMG_4871 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4871" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/6015496172_21cd5bc092_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015573312/" title="IMG_6330 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6330" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/6015573312_41fed5efa6_z.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015012849/" title="IMG_6349 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6349" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6015012849_94b924245e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Family Days and Face Painting</b><br />
Whenever I say "come here my Chicks" Eva like to inform me "Mom" (*eye roll) "I'm a butterfly fairy"....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015498880/" title="IMG_5491 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5491" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/6015498880_984908c6d8_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">....and Little Sister pipes up "and I'm a kitty!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015502194/" title="IMG_5480 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5480" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6015502194_f493fcd391_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Warm Nights by the Fire</b><br />
We've used our backyard fire pit so many times this summer I've lost count. On lazy days, I've also said the words "let's just roast some hot dogs for supper" more times than I care to admit. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015509338/" title="IMG_5510 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5510" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/6015509338_58aeca784c_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Steve has also perfected THE SMORE this summer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014954911/" title="IMG_5518 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5518" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/6014954911_343bb3a1ce_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lots and Lots 'o Sidewalk Chalk</b><br />
Eva has become increasingly skilled at making rainbows and suns, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014960879/" title="IMG_5552 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5552" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6014960879_620165e5f7_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
and always requests to play "hock scotch",<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014964403/" title="IMG_5566 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5566" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/6014964403_d4c3edf0f8_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">while Bella runs around with sticks.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015520162/" title="IMG_5574 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5574" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/6015520162_6e64b11eaf_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Zoo Days (Hooray!)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">...and sharing it with precious friends.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014970895/" title="IMG_5617 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5617" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/6014970895_8c8b24f83c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014981099/" title="IMG_5677 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5677" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/6014981099_4d4694d9e0_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015530276/" title="IMG_5646 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5646" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/6015530276_0b0ba97761_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015525638/" title="IMG_5651 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5651" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6015525638_ca17354799_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014976139/" title="IMG_5674 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5674" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/6014976139_0bccf6e64a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015534758/" title="IMG_5668 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5668" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/6015534758_1241c13b0e_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015542106/" title="IMG_5695 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5695" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/6015542106_a1e9678830_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015536998/" title="IMG_5699 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5699" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/6015536998_53f817b48a_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015539422/" title="IMG_5700 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5700" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/6015539422_c805609d9f_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Family Vacation to the Mountains</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Best. Ever.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014995397/" title="IMG_5966 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5966" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/6014995397_1d80c542bf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014997459/" title="IMG_5950 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5950" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6014997459_fedeec9778_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014992201/" title="IMG_5951 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5951" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/6014992201_3e9f579ab5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6014999451/" title="IMG_5955 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5955" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/6014999451_9a9ce17369_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015553048/" title="IMG_9900 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_9900" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/6015553048_ff01603efc_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015555092/" title="IMG_6139 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6139" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/6015555092_06f1c5073d_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Beach Days</b><br />
Sand + sun + water. Doesn't get any better for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015559636/" title="IMG_6145 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6145" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/6015559636_47aabdfbe5_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015005369/" title="IMG_6156 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6156" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/6015005369_bf4413b82b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015562010/" title="IMG_6274 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6274" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/6015562010_7fcf25a339_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015015043/" title="IMG_6273 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6273" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/6015015043_15dc0c90ff_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015018973/" title="IMG_6278 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6278" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/6015018973_644bd605b3_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015584456/" title="IMG_6495 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6495" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6015584456_6035d49574_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015025205/" title="IMG_6463 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6463" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/6015025205_485905c7f7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015582246/" title="IMG_6466 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6466" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/6015582246_4c98720106_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015575574/" title="IMG_6435 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6435" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/6015575574_390fac53b6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015578846/" title="IMG_6442 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6442" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/6015578846_f17648818d_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Backyard Pool Days</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite things has been to fill up the backyard pool first thing in the day and sit out there with a good book while I sip my morning coffee and the girls splash around.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015681688/" title="IMG_6724 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6724" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/6015681688_10087dcdf5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015126911/" title="IMG_6726 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6726" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/6015126911_5f9c79bf42_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bubbles on the Porch Days</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015589320/" title="IMG_6431 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6431" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/6015589320_067a5d2242_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015586794/" title="IMG_6427 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6427" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/6015586794_c45daf7c16_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Waterpark Days</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know who was more fun here: Steve or the girls. We've gone a few times and he's already suggesting a Year Pass.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015043463/" title="IMG_6559 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6559" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6015043463_b41b07ae3d_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015039749/" title="IMG_6562 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6562" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/6015039749_cf57f7bcde_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015048931/" title="IMG_6593 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6593" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6015048931_c2f1554d56_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015051555/" title="IMG_6596 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6596" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/6015051555_b6a366ce61_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015053749/" title="IMG_6677 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6677" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/6015053749_856e08cff6_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015056053/" title="IMG_6666 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6666" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/6015056053_da3cbf54cf_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015057963/" title="IMG_6680 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6680" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/6015057963_b561a4213b_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015614672/" title="IMG_6703 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6703" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/6015614672_d6c7e9dac7_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015060453/" title="IMG_6704 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6704" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/6015060453_5f2065a7a8_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015046781/" title="IMG_6604 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6604" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/6015046781_33201d293c_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/6015044865/" title="IMG_6601 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6601" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/6015044865_068dfb75fb_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">These days have been rich and full and wonderful. If you came over on any given day you'd find a sink full of dishes, a mountain of laundry and toys strewn about the floor. And they haven't been without their tantrums, time outs, fights or sleepless nights mind you, but still rich. <br />
<br />
And wonderful.</div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-4416244035271798112011-04-25T09:22:00.080-06:002011-07-29T11:11:54.195-06:00Down on Grandma's Farm<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5912594808/" title="IMG_4457 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4457" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5236/5912594808_f832928ae1_z.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>On August 2nd, it will be the anniversary of my mom passing away 9 years ago. I was still a teenager at the time and she was my everything. The family member I was closest to. The one to share with and ask embarrassing questions to. The connection to my roots; my grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins. I lost all that when she died. I didn't get a weekly phone call from my mom, so in turn, lost the updates on family members. I was too young and immature to keep those relationships alive and vibrant with visits and Christmas cards and the like. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
</div></div>Up until last year, I had only seen my family once since she died. ONCE. In eight years. My Grandma's farm is a 12 hour drive away and last Easter I stopped giving the excuses of not having the time or the money, packed up my girls, and drove. It turned into such an amazing trip for myself and my girls; I felt this warm embrace of my mom in the familiar surroundings. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5987638309/" title="IMG_8760 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_8760" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5987638309_83616a12db_z.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5988194486/" title="IMG_8746 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_8746" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5988194486_a773f253c4_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Each family member: my Grandma and Grandpa, my Aunt, my Uncles, they all possess qualities of her and I was so moved by seeing <i>her</i> in everyone. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5944416612/" title="IMG_8792 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_8792" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5944416612_cd661ecaf3_z.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>It's easy to forget and go about my day to day living without her, but being surrounded by stories and pictures and my Grandma's laugh that sounds like hers, I just couldn't get enough.<br />
<br />
This Easter, I packed up my girls and did it all again. I've vowed to myself to do this at least once a year; it's good for my soul. Seeing my Aunt play guitar and sing with my girl, my Grandpa busting out his fiddle and toe tapping his foot as he did since I was a baby, my Grandma making magic in her kitchen....<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5912042227/" title="IMG_4493 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4493" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5155/5912042227_b04866c193_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I need it. I need it to be reminded of her and how much I am like her. I need to hear those stories and be wrapped in the memories. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5913754294/" title="IMG_4515 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4515" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5913754294_bf14301f45_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
I need my girls to know how amazing their Grandma Wanda was.</div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-44829428397161805552011-03-31T14:37:00.019-06:002011-05-10T14:48:54.951-06:00Book WormI'm a lucky mother. Even though I work, I get to bring my kid with me. It's been a wonderful (and challenging) year having Eva with me at preschool. She actually calls me "Teacher Kindra" and she loves to sit in my teacher chair after the kids have gone home and pretend that she's the teacher. She'll talk to imaginary kids and makes them count and do their abc's and dress Mr. Weather Bear. <br />
<br />
I started a new book bag program over a month ago, where I filled bags and back packs with different books that the kids get to take home every week. Each child has their own duotang to draw pictures and tell me their favorite part of the story. This was the first day that I sent home book bags for the weekend, and Eva's eyes lit up and slipped the bag over her shoulders with such pride.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5708259852/" title="IMG_4208 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4208" height="640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/5708259852_8994e4a40c_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
They've been a total hit. Good one "Teacher Kindra". </div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-69017589025310664782011-03-26T19:52:00.025-06:002011-05-09T14:52:20.898-06:00AmenI've been so happy that for the most part, Eva and Isabella are the best of friends. They will ask for each other when the other is not around, run upstairs to play and I'll hear them whispering or giggling together over something.<br />
<br />
Yet, of course, there's always a bit of sibling rivalry. Isabella is a true <i>younger sister</i> and loves to poke at Eva and bug her until she screams. She will steal something from her and run away smiling and laughing with glee as Eva squeals at her to bring it back. Eva is a true <i>older sister</i> and is bossy and freaks out when Bella won't do what she wants her to. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5704868116/" title="IMG_4150 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4150" height="640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/5704868116_158cf34891_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
After a particularly tough day of arguing between the girls, Steve and I were tucking Eva into bed and praying with her.<br />
<br />
<b>Mom and Dad:</b> Eva can you please pray and ask Jesus to help you to be a good sister and friend to Bella?<br />
<br />
<b>Eva</b>: Ok.<br />
Dear Jesus,<br />
Please help Bella to stop bugging me. Help her to be quiet and leave me alone.<br />
<br />
Amen.Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-87425262039546266972011-03-18T14:35:00.000-06:002011-05-09T14:36:02.385-06:00PlayKids are funny. A <a href="http://apaintersmind.blogspot.com/2011/01/not-quite-what-i-had-imagined.html">terrible playdate</a> one time with non-stop fighting, a wonderful playdate the next where there's kisses, hugs and laughter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5704215925/" title="IMG_4054 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4054" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/5704215925_90dbc0ee8e_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
I'm finding that as Eva progresses through this amazing age of Three, she is continuing to become better at playing WITH others rather than just playing beside them. She will grab her friend's hand and say "C'mon lets go!" and off they will run together to have a pretend picnic or tea party.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5704213649/" title="IMG_4052 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4052" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/5704213649_96f291e962_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
These girls get to be in preschool together next year, so there will be lots more fun and friendship to come. Hopefully.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5704777914/" title="IMG_4043 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4043" height="425" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/5704777914_5f03173a3d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-64544619869166416832011-03-15T16:29:00.008-06:002011-05-06T16:32:21.232-06:00Follow the Yellow Brick Road...I found these shoes on sale for $3.99. BEST PURCHASE.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694289308/" title="IMG_3936 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3936" height="640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/5694289308_90f276e02c_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694291656/" title="IMG_3946 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3946" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5694291656_29c81a4445_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-18137834411715312612011-03-14T16:29:00.000-06:002011-05-06T16:32:53.871-06:00SistersI never had a sister, so I get really giddy at the thought of what that means for my girls. A privilege not every one gets, so I hope my girls appreciate what that means.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693700103/" title="IMG_3918 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3918" height="640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/5693700103_fe335d87d6_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
Oh my girls. You have no idea how lucky you are.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693702369/" title="IMG_3925 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3925" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5693702369_a433ce78d8_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-351401237336178812011-03-13T12:42:00.115-06:002011-05-06T15:51:09.413-06:00Channeling our Inner JuliaI realized I never blogged about our original visit to France in our Secret-Secret Geography Club. This post will take us back to April 2009! I can't remember what a lot of things were or even what they tasted like, but I know my fellow Geography Clubbers will appreciate the throwback.<br />
<br />
We began the evening sipping French wine and trying out different French cheeses.<br />
<div style="text-align: auto;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694125842/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4227 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4227" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5694125842_7cf9d9b942_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694129672/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4231 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4231" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5694129672_4e5921de3f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694127886/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4230 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4230" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5694127886_25d0a06a7a_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joel<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As a starter, Lindsey made a caramelized onion and goat cheese tart with puff pastry. If I think really hard about it, it's possible that there's also olive tapenade on there....maybe even anchovies. Lindsey is all about delivering big flavor. Her presentation was beautiful, making a criss cross pattern over the entire tart with olive tapenade and goat cheese in the center of each diamond. I originally was thinking that she used caramelized onions to make the criss cross pattern but the closer I look the more convinced I am that she used anchovies. That's so Lindsey. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694133524/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_4245 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4245" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5694133524_33419d52c1_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Served with Lindsey's tart was Dan's Asparagus with Bearnaise Sauce. A bearnaise is similar to a hollandaise sauce, but is flavored with fresh tarragon. The two dishes worked nicely together.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693560141/" title="IMG_4249 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4249" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5693560141_bf506851fa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693564107/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_4254 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4254" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5693564107_dacd6cb6bf_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div></div><br />
We then moved on to the main course.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693546483/" title="IMG_4221 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4221" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5693546483_c54c7bbeb0_z.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I tried my hand at <a href="http://themealplanner.blogspot.com/2009/05/coq-au-vin-braised-leeks-with-thyme.html">Coq au Vin</a> and I actually DO remember the results because it was in-freaking-credible. The chicken was cooked with mushrooms, pearl onions, and fresh thyme with a whole bottle of red wine. It was rich and velvety and oh-so insanely good. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693550725/" title="IMG_4212 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4212" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5693550725_c9e67e9b5b_z.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I served the chicken over egg noodles alongside some braised leeks. Other than in soups, I had never eaten a whole leek before and it blew me away how sweet and delicious they were. The perfect compliment to the rich flavorful chicken.</div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694120020/" title="IMG_4214 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4214" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5694120020_81737770d4_z.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693547993/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4234 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4234" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5693547993_ffec5811f8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey there's baby Eva!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693547263/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4232 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4232" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5693547263_7535579287_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To clarify, I didn't actually let my baby drink my wine!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the evening went on, we just continued to eat. Lisa had made homemade fresh baguettes and while they were baking Dan had us all churn our own butter! A jar full of farm fresh cream and we all took our turn shaking it.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693568967/" title="IMG_4257 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4257" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5693568967_7f479b5904_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693567109/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4258 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4258" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5693567109_242d2d94e9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey doing her part to churn the butter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">And after about 10 minutes we had fresh churned butter to spread on our warm baguettes. You can't get any more "homemade" than that.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693567977/" title="IMG_4259 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4259" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5693567977_cc4416475e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693574589/" title="IMG_4271 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4271" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5693574589_67356cf2e0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Fresh bread and butter and French white wine. Perfect.</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694147446/" title="IMG_4275 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4275" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5694147446_6e8bef33a3_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Lindsey made two different pate's to eat with the baguettes. It was a solid stuff your face with carbs kind of night.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694151116/" title="IMG_4280 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4280" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5694151116_2462ee201a_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Oh and wine. Gotta have wine.</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694143840/" title="IMG_4267 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4267" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5694143840_fd783c856b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">As I went through these pictures I was wondering if the food would ever end and how we possibly ate it all! Because after the wine and cheese course, the appetizer and vegetable course, the main dish, the bread and butter and pate more wine course, apparently we still ate dessert! And drank latte's!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dan made creme brulee which is one of my favorite desserts. He had a perfect caramelized sugar crust on top that gave way with a "crack" to the luscious cream underneath. </div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694142090/" title="IMG_4265 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4265" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5694142090_83488799a9_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Paired with Lisa's decaf latte it was the perfect ending to our glutinous evening. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Definitely "bon appetite".</div></div></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-70927859658405699942011-03-12T12:37:00.088-07:002012-01-10T21:21:26.559-07:00Oui Oui Mon Cherie...We finally planned another Secret-Secret Geography Club Dinner! Eight months after Joel and Lindsey moved, we also finally asked a couple girls from our church (one's a chef and one's a die hard baker and cook) to add to our ranks. After much deliberation the six of us decided to visit France for our culinary travels. We had already done French food with Joel and Lindsey, but since it's such a vast and rich cuisine we knew that there was so much more to explore.<br />
<br />
We had it all planned out: <br />
I was going to do the appetizer with some Oeufs en Cocotte.<br />
Lacey was going to bring some French wine as well as Coq au Vin.<br />
Dan and Lisa were bringing duck and a terrine.<br />
And Bailey had dessert covered with a croquembouche as well as macarons. <br />
<br />
A feast of French cuisine! The day of our dinner I started to think maybe we needed a salad as well and so I started researching and thinking I'd do a traditional Nicoise Salad, but then Steve stopped me and said "Kin think of how much food everyone is bringing! We have enough." So I backed off and stuck to the plan. <br />
<br />
But by early afternoon Bailey delivered the bad news that she had gone to the doctor for a sore throat and he thought she had mono. She would have to stay home (and eat all the profiteroles and macarons herself). So disappointing! But I guess we still had a bunch of food to eat and could make it through without dessert.<br />
<br />
By 5pm Lacey called to say she had to work late that day at the restaurant, forgot to thaw her chicken, she hadn't started cooking her dish yet and Bailey was her ride out to our place, so she was cancelling too! Steve refused to let her back out and said we didn't care about the food, we just wanted her company. In the end Lacey made it and came bearing two bottles of French wine and some French cheese. All was well!<br />
<br />
Our rocky start quickly mended when Dan and Lisa served their Roasted Vegetable Terrine with fresh herbs and goat cheese. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694010190/" title="IMG_3856 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3856" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5694010190_f77c8605e8_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Slices of the terrine were served on top of French bread toasted into crostini and the flavor was wonderful. I'm not a fan of everything that went into this dish, yet when it all combined it all worked so well. Dan and Lisa did such a great job! I was so thankful that their terrine was vegetables and cheese, because when I googled "terrine" it said it was a "French forcemeat loaf" and generally used gelatin to hold its shape. Ewwwww. This was so much better than a forcemeat loaf.</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694000342/" title="IMG_3861 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3861" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5694000342_623d4e37bb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694014920/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3896 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3896" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5694014920_6ff634d42e_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chefs Dan and Lisa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I then served up my Oeufs en Cocotte. They were eggs baked in individual ramekins on a bed of creamed spinach with cream and parmesan cheese over the top. I had been drooling over <a href="http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/2010/04/cookbook-of-the-month-recipe-baked-eggs-with-creamed-spinach/">this recipe</a> for months and I was so glad to have a good excuse to make it. Since Deborah gave the recipe her first ever 5 out of 5 I was really expecting "spectacular". My first bite really underwhelmed me so I became a little disappointed. But as I ate I started to taste the gentle muted flavors and how well they all worked together with the runny eggs and the crisp French bread toasts. The creamed spinach is a fantastic addition and with a good sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and a little extra salt and pepper these baked eggs won me over. If they weren't so much dang work I'd love to serve them for breakfast on the weekends!</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694019214/" title="IMG_3877 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3877" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5694019214_37c8c898a4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694005540/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3898 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3898" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5694005540_b14c6c95ed_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacey and I.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Dan impressed us all with his Duck a L'Orange. I had never tasted duck before so I was so excited to dig in. It had such a gorgeous crisp skin (my absolute favorite part). </div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693441593/" title="IMG_3884 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3884" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5693441593_ffa33ff6d1_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Drizzled with the orange sauce the duck was succulent and divine. I was sad my piece was so small actually because once I got a taste I wanted more.</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693431987/" title="IMG_3889 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3889" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5693431987_5721974c83_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693446081/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3902 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3902" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5693446081_e1a62635c7_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My handsome hubby.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Before dinner I had done a quick search for an easy French dessert and came up with <a href="http://www.ffcook.com/pages/rgratfru.htm">Gratin de Fruits rouge</a>s. I had all the ingredients on hand and it looked like it would take about 10 minutes to whip up. I used frozen mixed berries and placed them in the ramekins and poured the vanilla cream over the top. The recipe had me sprinkle the tops with sugar and place them under the broiler. To my amazement they actually bruleed! There was a nice crackly caramel top and underneath cool berries and cream. I'm sure it was an accident that the cream and berries were still cold (since I had put the berries in frozen), but we all loved the contrast of the the cool creamy filling with the warm crackly top. This one was a surprise for me. I'd definitely make it again! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5694007890/" title="IMG_3912 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3912" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5694007890_4b15201c65_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We all sat and visited, wine in hand, for hours and discussed all the possible countries we could eat or themed dinner parties we could have. It was so nice to have our Secret-Secret Geography Club revived again. Here's to many more dinners to come. T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">rès heureuse!</span></span></div></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-38954994407818317482011-03-11T11:34:00.049-07:002011-05-06T11:56:15.238-06:00Independence Day<i>As you can see by the date, I'm two months behind and trying to play catch up with my favorite pics and stories that I quickly jotted down. </i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693935606/" title="IMG_3798 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3798" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5693935606_235496db28_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div>My little Isabella is growing quickly and displaying fierce independence (which is in huge contrast to her older sister). If we so much as extend a hand in her general direction, she exclaims "I GONNA DO IT!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693361307/" title="IMG_3789 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3789" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5693361307_9afaeee564_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
I'm sure if she had been my first child this determination to do things herself would have frustrated me to no end, but since Eva's helplessness frustrates me more I'm welcoming it with open arms. Sometimes there's a tantrum or two that needs to be diffused, and other times it's absolutely hilarious.<br />
<br />
Case in point:<br />
Bella decided on this particular morning that I hadn't changed her diaper fast enough, so while I fixed breakfast for her big sister, she had ripped it off, sauntered into the office to rifle through the clean laundry to find this purple skirt that she pulled on as a shirt and was putting on Eva's apple pajama bottoms to complete the outfit.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693933460/" title="IMG_3792 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3792" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5693933460_fb671e9dd2_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">She was extremely proud of herself and ran around most of the morning with her bare bum hanging out since she couldn't quite get the pajama's on properly and was refusing my help to fix it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Later in the day after nap time, she put on Eva's winter boots and presented me with her leftover bread crusts as a snack for myself. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"He go Mummy". </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5693937974/" title="IMG_3816 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3816" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5693937974_2eb8613c59_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Thanks Belle. </div></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-12407315838461556752011-03-07T14:28:00.030-07:002011-04-06T13:34:17.761-06:00Getting Back On TrackSometimes the balls juggling in the air cease to stay in sync, my hands jerky and awkward, fumbling until things fall one by one. I clumsily pick things up and try to get my rhythm back, but it always takes a few tries to get it right.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5595553745/" title="IMG_3773 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3773" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5595553745_cf7d9e82b0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I've been focusing a ton on work lately, as well as a bout of week long sickness that took me out of commission (for the FOURTH time this year). Our days of magic and wonder have resorted to hours and hours of being plunked in front of the t.v.; my patience is thin and the girls disobedient. Today I enforced a week long fast from the t.v. for both me and the girls to rid the junk out of our systems and it always takes a bit of revolting to settle into a life with no television. I attempted a "super fun" picnic lunch under the table, complete with pita pizzas and Bella only screamed and yelled at me, got mad that we weren't sitting in our chairs to eat and then pouted by lying face down on the floor. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5595559571/" title="IMG_3778 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3778" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5595559571_bdac4227b3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Eva was happy as a clam, so I guess I partially won. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5595556601/" title="IMG_3753 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3753" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5595556601_bed3514754_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Here's to getting things back on track.Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-14826184053960658752011-03-06T10:24:00.000-07:002011-04-04T10:32:01.257-06:00Trying<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5589439024/" title="IMG_3739 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3739" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5589439024_b62722eed7_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
I'm having a hard time with this lofty goal I have set for myself to take a photo a day. That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but then I inadvertently added blogging about the photos as well. I'm loving the stories I have captured so far this year, so I'd hate to stop doing that.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5589441978/" title="IMG_3740 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3740" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5589441978_d2e01d3bc8_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
I really appreciate the encouragement I got on the last post from my great friends. You are so right. I'm going to be pretty upset if I don't continue with my goal.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5589444758/" title="IMG_3743 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3743" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5589444758_63eb7a4662_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
So here I sit, pledging to <i>try</i> to do my best. I will miss these fleeting moments if I don't.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5589435364/" title="IMG_3744 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3744" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5589435364_bb4757ea53_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-74296795805132161042011-03-04T14:23:00.000-07:002011-03-21T14:28:31.821-06:00Running Out<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5548029376/" title="IMG_3711 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3711" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5548029376_0d0cdaae2b_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
I'm not going to lie...I'm starting to lose a bit of steam on my Picture a Day challenge. Hoping I find some inspiration soon.Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-20380100560316943142011-02-27T10:28:00.004-07:002011-03-14T10:33:41.553-06:00Her Hand in Mine<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5523530373/" title="IMG_3599 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3599" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5523530373_5d573373fb_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-15499931409040094162011-02-26T09:05:00.001-07:002011-03-14T11:28:15.818-06:00Goodbye<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5518477140/" title="IMG_3595 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3595" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5518477140_6db8e760d4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I officially met Eryn only a few months ago. We had been going to the same church for YEARS and she was the person who I'd look across the congregation and think "Dang, that girl is SO cool. I wish she was my friend", yet I never went out of my way to introduce myself. I'm terrible at meeting new people, thinking I will be awkward and won't know what to say and once I do talk to them, what's next? So I never talked to her. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then in October I was sitting in a sermon, feeling like God was speaking to my heart about how I need to serve others more and share my gift of cooking with them. I walked down the aisle after church was dismissed and ran into Eryn who just jumped right in and started talking to me about my <a href="http://themealplanner.blogspot.com/">cooking blog</a>. She was encouraging me and telling me how much she loved it and what a talent I have for cooking, and how God gave me the gift of hospitality. That pretty much confirmed exactly what I felt God had been speaking to me during the sermon and I was so uplifted by this one little conversation with this girl. I immediately came home and befriended her on Facebook and sent her private messages about how much I appreciated the encouragement and confirmation, to which she replied that God frequently puts me on her heart to pray for and she had more encouragement for me that God had shared with her. I couldn't believe this girl! She didn't even know me and yet she was speaking to me about the exact things I struggle with and sanctioning me to be better at them. While I usually hesitate to make hangout dates with people I don't know I jumped on the chance for a coffee date with her only a few days later. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was instant friendship. Conversation between us flows so easily and every time she manages to say something encouraging; some little nugget that God has for me. It's natural to encourage her back and share this wonderful friendship with one another. I've never made a deep friend like her so easily and she has been such a treasure to find. </div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5526006513/" title="IMG_3597 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3597" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5526006513_2e3f4d21df_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But as quickly as God brought her into my life, she was just as swiftly taken away. Major life changes led Eryn to move over 12 hours away and on this cold and snowy February day I had to say goodbye. We spent the night before drinking wine and eating spinach dip and talking about God's plans for the future and all I could do was savor these moments of fellowship with her, revelling in our short but rich friendship. I met her for breakfast the next morning so I could squeeze in a few more moments with her. We ate scones and drank coffee and time seemed to close in on us, reminding me that soon she would be gone. I drove her home and the two of us sat in my minivan not wanting to say the inevitable. Eryn wrapped her arms around me in a hug so tight I could feel it in my bones and I couldn't stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. So we just sat there hugging and crying. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Goodbye to my incredible friend. You are beautiful and precious and have been pure gold in my life. I'm excited for what God has for you and can't wait to see you bloom where you've been planted. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And I'm already looking forward to our next coffee date together.</div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-59594300400394783692011-02-24T15:01:00.019-07:002011-03-11T22:34:48.994-07:00Sick and Tired of SickI had high hopes of relaxing and yet accomplishing much on my February break away from teaching. But just a few days before my Dad went home, I could feel a cold setting in and rattling my bones. I fought it off while he was here, but pretty much the minute he left, my body succumbed to sickness. <br />
<br />
As long as it took to finally settle in and be a Cold, it took twice as long to leave my body. The television became my children's babysitter while I lay flat out on the couch, willing my body to rest and feel better. <br />
<br />
As it always does when sickness sets in, my house fell to shambles. My kids and I stayed in pajama's all day and we ate ghetto style meals, like toast and bananas, leftover rice and some quickly steamed broccoli. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517875731/" title="IMG_3589 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3589" height="266" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5517875731_e650f37cc2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">By now, I'm pretty sick and tired of being sick.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-82386187169918458322011-02-23T14:45:00.057-07:002011-03-11T15:34:00.090-07:00PoppaFor two little girls who only have two grandparents left in their young lives, they are so very lucky to have the relationships they do. Grammy lives in the same city as us and the girls visit her weekly. While Poppa lives over six hours away, we still have the privilege of visiting with him several times a year. And he has definitely captured these girls hearts.<br />
<br />
Poppa is a generous spirit, spoiling the girls to their hearts content. They always look forward to the treats Poppa will bring. They squeal with delight when Poppa phones "I wanna talk to Poppa!" and even more so when Poppa comes to visit. Each of them crawls into his lap, plastering him with hugs and kisses, basking in the joy that is Family. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5518438564/" title="IMG_3553 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3553" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5518438564_f42e83ba90_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5518432888/" title="IMG_3528 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3528" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5518432888_30aceef57f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
They watch movies together, play games and read mounds of books. I remember Eva being 11 months old and bringing Poppa "The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Other Nursery Rhymes" for him to read over and over and over again, crawling up and down out of his lap. Things really haven't changed. Whatever the book of the moment is, Poppa's book reading is put on repeat; this trip's book being "The Cow Loved Cookies". <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517842957/" title="IMG_3540 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3540" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5517842957_426eee72eb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5518436564/" title="IMG_3548 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3548" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5518436564_4afe8aaf6e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Poppa is silly and makes funny noises, the girls laughing huge hearty laughs that make me melt. He tickles and blows raspberries making the girls squeal with glee.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5518461958/" title="IMG_3575 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3575" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5518461958_19787c9080_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517868281/" title="IMG_3562 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3562" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5517868281_39055ff5e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
We love you so very much Poppa. Thank you for being you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517866665/" title="IMG_3558 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3558" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5517866665_517c6ac9a7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-41290540384487038772011-02-22T08:56:00.008-07:002011-03-11T10:45:48.509-07:00Block Castle<div style="text-align: center;">Daddy and his girl built an "Eva Castle". </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5512465754/" title="IMG_3521 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3521" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5512465754_a354301da8_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-17793140684077068722011-02-21T17:07:00.051-07:002011-03-11T10:38:06.542-07:00Family DayWe celebrated "Family Day" while Poppa was visiting. It was the perfect addition to our week with Poppa. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517295475/" title="IMG_3447 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3447" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5517295475_8d7372891f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517914320/" title="IMG_3439 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3439" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5517914320_3e32a9d3b1_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517915962/" title="IMG_3421 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3421" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5517915962_99f01650a9_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517892900/" title="IMG_3412 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3412" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5517892900_b12d910136_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517297389/" title="IMG_3437 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3437" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5517297389_07c9808999_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-72980015038330137682011-02-20T14:23:00.097-07:002011-03-11T10:14:05.353-07:00ChuckThis is our cat Chuck.<br />
<br />
I have a love-hate relationship with Chuck. Chuck is wild and crazy, destroys our furniture, scratches the kids, and bites us when we pet her. <br />
<br />
Where's the love part in this relationship? I really don't know.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5511943455/" title="IMG_3400 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3400" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5511943455_e3d34f8436_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
Back in the fall, we had visited a local petting zoo as a family. The farm had these adorable six week old kittens that we all were gushing over. Steve and I had been talking about possibly getting a cat, so when little baby Chuck captured his heart, he looked at me with big puppy dog eyes begging to take the kitten home.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517282885/" title="IMG_0844 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0844" height="425" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5517282885_3805923768_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Our sweet little boy. He was so tiny and cuddled with us all the time. He was easy to love. <br />
<br />
Until he got some kind of bacterial infection and started poo-ing all over my carpet for about two weeks. We didn't know he was sick, and just kept getting angry and frustrated with this stupid creature dropping feces on our floor. We finally took him into the vet and she gave him some medication to fix the issue. She also informed us that our precious "Chuckie Boy" was indeed a GIRL. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60398331@N04/5517281239/" title="IMG_0838 by themealplanner, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0838" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5517281239_5f824bb62f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Fixing the poo issue didn't seem to be enough. Chuck had attitude. She was snooty and particular, biting us when she didn't want to be pet, which was pretty much always. The girls were always screaming because "Chuckie bit me!" or "Chuckie scratched me!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">She was belligerent when we tried to teach her to respect our house by NOT jumping on the table and eating food. She would jump up and eat while keeping one eye on us and as much as we yelled "CHUCK GET DOWN!" she would keep doing it with an attitude that said MAKE ME. She would only finally run away when we were in arms reach of throttling her. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And really not much has changed since then. I don't know why we love this cat or why we keep her, but we do. I'm holding my breath that one day she will become loveable and loving, instead of an a-hole. <br />
<br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQJpFmyxaCTfBEl7DJuX1W4AXxbdo4Sw-HAj0i5IU57l0cFVa4Kp6PMJMTGApAy0cnwNQJ6H_pPd2MK_xs7BT01g4ayClIgIsRrlTwRuxN41TVAo2XD4gKdf_R6Em_il2QyNRgdZY-N0/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQJpFmyxaCTfBEl7DJuX1W4AXxbdo4Sw-HAj0i5IU57l0cFVa4Kp6PMJMTGApAy0cnwNQJ6H_pPd2MK_xs7BT01g4ayClIgIsRrlTwRuxN41TVAo2XD4gKdf_R6Em_il2QyNRgdZY-N0/s640/IMG_3397.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
We sometimes get glimpses of what a great cat she can be, and she has a soft spot for Steve. On this particular day Chuck was in heat, showing us how "loveable" she could really be. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-80475402652422580232011-02-19T15:11:00.024-07:002011-03-07T13:59:55.201-07:00Juicy and Sweet<div style="text-align: left;">Poppa came to visit us over the February break. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZm0uLutcI8gVPbBAWINoZjBRsLyv9prJfvSPtpTjPKKQ8P7lfxgK69thNJTG2qEIj9RLh-ZCVYF7RGL1c2b1dlgDNunDO8P1yyNIVYO23I8Ypq0qo2CGonBQYCACsxRAbRF4akV7O9c/s1600/IMG_3380_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZm0uLutcI8gVPbBAWINoZjBRsLyv9prJfvSPtpTjPKKQ8P7lfxgK69thNJTG2qEIj9RLh-ZCVYF7RGL1c2b1dlgDNunDO8P1yyNIVYO23I8Ypq0qo2CGonBQYCACsxRAbRF4akV7O9c/s400/IMG_3380_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
He usually brings with him all manner of treats; both things for us like samosas, homemade perogies and sausage, and things for the girls like stickers, chocolate and candy. This time he brought a box of juicy, sweet oranges.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK-Q80yf1ZcVf6H9JaDcWh-qQxSMED6JIIk7ExJbNm-Cv0HUW9Khy2HA4Q-U9nVKWSTe6hNjv9MZK6h3xxsLVXGjX5pdUFDxMcHv_jj1I1DSHdcoFhex_2yoK5Z7v-eaGVcYfJMDVdoQ/s1600/IMG_3387_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK-Q80yf1ZcVf6H9JaDcWh-qQxSMED6JIIk7ExJbNm-Cv0HUW9Khy2HA4Q-U9nVKWSTe6hNjv9MZK6h3xxsLVXGjX5pdUFDxMcHv_jj1I1DSHdcoFhex_2yoK5Z7v-eaGVcYfJMDVdoQ/s400/IMG_3387_2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The girls can't get enough of these oranges, everyday asking for two or even three at a time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o55fT8j9mQsffEWQYxZT6UO9uhYOaOVkyGK86SqOmSgbvcpUYHea2yoB0SIITx05PJ7Zg5WaA_nJln6KB5-2cRF0Prg1luniDfRwyjN6MqEssRUG_Uh9yDOxeI64zv8-DYkC4jm_tkw/s1600/IMG_3390_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o55fT8j9mQsffEWQYxZT6UO9uhYOaOVkyGK86SqOmSgbvcpUYHea2yoB0SIITx05PJ7Zg5WaA_nJln6KB5-2cRF0Prg1luniDfRwyjN6MqEssRUG_Uh9yDOxeI64zv8-DYkC4jm_tkw/s640/IMG_3390_2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good treat Poppa! This is one of your indulgences for your grand daughters this Momma's heart can get behind.</div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-44228953555820965382011-02-17T09:00:00.019-07:002011-03-04T09:14:18.333-07:00My Love Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO7Uo1hzberKxw0Mckia_Ew06w3Ii2UNVngZjMR7EyBIl9LagL1iILmDHbBQXUTzcDTCcg2UzTvKethBLmTALsPpyltvB6cbUj4i7QKvZhuN6mrq32Rr_hnHYDpAPCdAnTw8P3NKkq7w/s1600/IMG_3365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO7Uo1hzberKxw0Mckia_Ew06w3Ii2UNVngZjMR7EyBIl9LagL1iILmDHbBQXUTzcDTCcg2UzTvKethBLmTALsPpyltvB6cbUj4i7QKvZhuN6mrq32Rr_hnHYDpAPCdAnTw8P3NKkq7w/s640/IMG_3365.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
All was quiet in the house as Bella and I curled up on the couch together with a mess of books surrounding us. We read Pooh's Five Little Honeypots, What's Wrong Little Pookie?, and Goodnight Moon. After each one, she'd get down off my lap and meander over to the bookshelf to ponder over her next choice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMTJiKq56lWU-3J79DOrAhVqXNzPYtyQLRXB8MYF9sXXPxeHZdJY7osjnvuXYxlT6pXC2Qv97tk4N1YEUiudmcqqzxrd9OdyXi0JdEWr6S9xZhsEJxtWBKjh8Rg7dcSYhho3YsomCR6g/s1600/IMG_3374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMTJiKq56lWU-3J79DOrAhVqXNzPYtyQLRXB8MYF9sXXPxeHZdJY7osjnvuXYxlT6pXC2Qv97tk4N1YEUiudmcqqzxrd9OdyXi0JdEWr6S9xZhsEJxtWBKjh8Rg7dcSYhho3YsomCR6g/s640/IMG_3374.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
I could almost see her little brain getting bigger, soaking up words and rhymes and learning like a sponge. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4sWG9_7GiQJEPjvprS9w8zB1y252jG-M7wBU0bNAHaLBSyUx098OcnqjETXCJIw8QeNEUThztoTDoV7YHymxoF8l4v-GyLeJMKHURbUC-RbQZV6DBp5TL5Oo6ktMYQtApatyAP6p5gE/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4sWG9_7GiQJEPjvprS9w8zB1y252jG-M7wBU0bNAHaLBSyUx098OcnqjETXCJIw8QeNEUThztoTDoV7YHymxoF8l4v-GyLeJMKHURbUC-RbQZV6DBp5TL5Oo6ktMYQtApatyAP6p5gE/s640/IMG_3377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Oh how I love books.Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872933825342390521.post-37074283357447594522011-02-16T15:03:00.008-07:002011-03-04T08:53:41.678-07:00Their Love Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always wanted kids that had a love for books....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNjn8tyN7vMZ-8wn6zr4sNZ-iiKIckzur0a2vYJREGP_XMTZQ1Uz7iLmkQWizEJJz1ULf5oQepYRgFOcdPyul7XOtHDDBRyyv34Hrs8GYpZa_zNy6VFXtHN2xT0F1ldkuKzP19sUo8R8/s1600/IMG_3295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNjn8tyN7vMZ-8wn6zr4sNZ-iiKIckzur0a2vYJREGP_XMTZQ1Uz7iLmkQWizEJJz1ULf5oQepYRgFOcdPyul7XOtHDDBRyyv34Hrs8GYpZa_zNy6VFXtHN2xT0F1ldkuKzP19sUo8R8/s640/IMG_3295.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSwv4Oay00Gald48bjlEmlEwYhxOdjsBB127NXOj9SdDaFLpixkydOFb5Dyt3f0p3KGt2B-TA658EbNOFuKVIoILpQ_QrOwQT8N6YM5xRPFGfpPM-MkjmlKkVUIsaNlLch5M7yayfnuk/s1600/IMG_3300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSwv4Oay00Gald48bjlEmlEwYhxOdjsBB127NXOj9SdDaFLpixkydOFb5Dyt3f0p3KGt2B-TA658EbNOFuKVIoILpQ_QrOwQT8N6YM5xRPFGfpPM-MkjmlKkVUIsaNlLch5M7yayfnuk/s640/IMG_3300.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkB7TLvRarg3gC2yo4YhW_83VT9be7XFCBhrcj87JaRgAF8Yet4DEcEcSfjUoPRQntA0St2KpHOpQZErBjwNNrG0ZMsGL8FGE22N5YFKkhVUv80Kjitt0EoBozJVErSb6TkY4YTcUbhA/s1600/IMG_3282_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkB7TLvRarg3gC2yo4YhW_83VT9be7XFCBhrcj87JaRgAF8Yet4DEcEcSfjUoPRQntA0St2KpHOpQZErBjwNNrG0ZMsGL8FGE22N5YFKkhVUv80Kjitt0EoBozJVErSb6TkY4YTcUbhA/s640/IMG_3282_2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Kindra http://www.blogger.com/profile/02836518800782385529noreply@blogger.com2