tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25722017262810681282024-03-13T08:01:18.038-04:00THE NOVAK FAMILY"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston ChurchillUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-13628244624491849682009-02-17T19:27:00.003-05:002009-02-17T19:40:33.375-05:00One Year Ago Today...<div><div><div>... we met this little boy for the first time. It was a bitter cold day, and I was sicker than sick. But looking at his sweet face just melted me and his daddy.<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWtF5mCGI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wFX9sAr_Jm8/s1600-h/DSC00318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303928318836738146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWtF5mCGI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wFX9sAr_Jm8/s320/DSC00318.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWs1Sa5cI/AAAAAAAAA6A/SufApHuNOd0/s1600-h/DSC00311.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303928314377463234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWs1Sa5cI/AAAAAAAAA6A/SufApHuNOd0/s320/DSC00311.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWstdzV2I/AAAAAAAAA54/vEdxlfMl_Mc/s1600-h/DSC00303.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303928312277718882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtWstdzV2I/AAAAAAAAA54/vEdxlfMl_Mc/s320/DSC00303.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>One year later, this sweet baby boy is the most ornery little boy in the world. A boy who loves to laugh and play, who loves to torment his sister, go swimming, ride bikes, play with dinosaurs and Matchbox cars... A boy who has captured my heart a thousand times over. </div><div></div><br /><div>Happy Gotcha Day, Ethan! We love you so much.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303929829875708210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtYFC9W8TI/AAAAAAAAA6g/5EHonPyGzoY/s320/DSC03580.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303929827040176610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtYE4ZUKeI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/Y0ohuCnpThM/s320/DSC03750.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303929817813641042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SZtYEWBiZ1I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/fFNupW8q7yg/s320/DSC03994.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-55692323674791158112008-12-17T18:39:00.009-05:002008-12-17T19:47:27.821-05:00The Best Christmas Pagent Ever!So it was Christmas concert time at Maggie and Ethan's pre-school. I have to hand it to the staff there - they had their work cut out for them trying to wrangle the kids together AND teaching them all of the songs! But it was really cute - even though one of my children (ahem) wouldn't sing (case of stage fright!).<br /><br /><div align="center">The preshow at home.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280915239398541954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmUbkVMCoI/AAAAAAAAA4I/G-vR5vSaQaM/s320/DSC02984.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280915232553813746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmUbK1RxvI/AAAAAAAAA4A/9UKwRy6qikc/s320/DSC02982.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Ethan's class went first. Ethan came out of the classroom with his teacher, and he was PISSED!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280916617882521570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVrzlYT-I/AAAAAAAAA4g/Las9bRi_2os/s320/DSC02996.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">My baby, crying for his momma.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280915246085103522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmUb9PY36I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/zNaZ2swppz8/s320/DSC02991.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">I was sitting on the sidelines, hoping E would start singing. But it wasn't meant to be, and he sat on my lap the rest of the show. After a cookie and some juice...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280915252011489810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmUcTUWWhI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/2qeB3sGVUO8/s320/DSC02992.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">... the same kid 10 minutes later - I kid you not. Happy as can be!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280916623136652610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVsHKD_UI/AAAAAAAAA4o/tkljmaRRfng/s320/DSC02999.JPG" border="0" />Miss M, waiting patiently to begin</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVs5zB82I/AAAAAAAAA44/wzuVWMI2VUY/s1600-h/DSC03008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280916636730258274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVs5zB82I/AAAAAAAAA44/wzuVWMI2VUY/s320/DSC03008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Smiles at the ready!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVspHYXUI/AAAAAAAAA4w/jlsF9XdqIqA/s1600-h/DSC03003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280916632252210498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmVspHYXUI/AAAAAAAAA4w/jlsF9XdqIqA/s320/DSC03003.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some intricate choreography going on with these girls.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280917974873252658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUmW6yxLozI/AAAAAAAAA5A/Nzl6RmRQ2Rw/s320/DSC03014.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div>Lastly, I leave you with 2 of my favorite selections. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0NyuntATt2dx1FhVad3rCzbbpt-iK3H6TZb3MVIq2IGET6kvcKX2_pvz4tgWk3Ct6QceD86Q7u8F1Ioc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWdptfyvi2fC7cTTXrsZ2LbMPi_qD61jD5KQZQCB4EVYleaR-TG5wDXs-VlJy82fkFSpDX0HlWqZQgnHtiRQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-32449362234838063482008-12-11T21:45:00.004-05:002008-12-11T22:05:11.580-05:00Thanksgiving<div>I know these are late... </div><div></div><br /><div>We made the trek up north to spend Thanksgiving with the families. First stop - at Dad's house for our early turkey. After filling our bellies with some good eats, we headed over to Y-town to complete the world tour. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278730664767094274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHRklpnfgI/AAAAAAAAA24/2pJ-ihkedWA/s320/DSC02751.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Portrait of Daddy, by Maggie</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278730680057963954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHRlenPpbI/AAAAAAAAA3I/AsFpuD_hy9g/s320/DSC02754.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Playing with Playdoh with Uncle Tom</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278730675595606306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHRlN_VeSI/AAAAAAAAA3A/HLnPR3tE_t8/s320/DSC02745.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Two divas-in-training</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS--FrhPI/AAAAAAAAA3w/jLkBtNH_Kt0/s1600-h/DSC02792.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278732217515476210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS--FrhPI/AAAAAAAAA3w/jLkBtNH_Kt0/s320/DSC02792.JPG" border="0" /></a> Harley enjoying a cookie<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS-vIT98I/AAAAAAAAA3o/GWjNFpPZvK4/s1600-h/DSC02786.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278732213499983810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS-vIT98I/AAAAAAAAA3o/GWjNFpPZvK4/s320/DSC02786.JPG" border="0" /></a> Zoey and Astra - can't believe how grown up they are!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS-e_Y4JI/AAAAAAAAA3g/jEl9T52Cnic/s1600-h/DSC02779.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278732209167589522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHS-e_Y4JI/AAAAAAAAA3g/jEl9T52Cnic/s320/DSC02779.JPG" border="0" /></a> My baby<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHRl2QiMaI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/2LoJmzzIxeE/s1600-h/DSC02757.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278730686405161378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHRl2QiMaI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/2LoJmzzIxeE/s320/DSC02757.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278733901442467090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SUHUg_NKRRI/AAAAAAAAA34/W0B1fkN4G10/s320/DSC02784.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-57591984398513607092008-12-07T14:24:00.005-05:002008-12-07T14:54:17.539-05:00Zoolights 2008<div>Our annual trek to the Zoolights - this time, it was Ethan's first time going. </div><div></div><br /><div>Not too cold, not too crowded - just right to take two kids out into the night!<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277132415359046098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-Oos0dI/AAAAAAAAA1A/6U5mR5l26Qo/s320/DSC02601.JPG" border="0" /> The lights were beautiful, as usual. The pictures can't do it justice... </div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277132417686230066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-XTi1DI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ocpgsFva1R4/s320/DSC02611.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwlY6vNTTI/AAAAAAAAA1o/oO6joVv0P6s/s1600-h/DSC02685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277133973385727282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwlY6vNTTI/AAAAAAAAA1o/oO6joVv0P6s/s320/DSC02685.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277135697982785842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwm9TXMCTI/AAAAAAAAA2o/OFW_pmkpFEI/s320/DSC02663.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj_W3brWI/AAAAAAAAA1g/PWMRJF33U70/s1600-h/DSC02652.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277132434748190050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj_W3brWI/AAAAAAAAA1g/PWMRJF33U70/s320/DSC02652.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277135691705053986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwm87-dcyI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/ExnGEeYlM9g/s320/DSC02716.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Maggie, with the Christmas manatee (?)...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-6-5XhI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/P8TPqCWupX0/s1600-h/DSC02616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277132427263303186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-6-5XhI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/P8TPqCWupX0/s320/DSC02616.JPG" border="0" /></a> These parrots make me wish I was in Margaritaville<br /></div><div align="center"><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-WvaCeI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/8kJAgi-J4xE/s1600-h/DSC02614.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277132417534659042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwj-WvaCeI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/8kJAgi-J4xE/s320/DSC02614.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Even the Grand Cayman Iguana gets into Christmas!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277135696252673906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwm9M6sn3I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/wQvx1jtQwxk/s320/DSC02698.JPG" border="0" />Meeting the big guy himself. Ethan wasn't too sure about Santa, but he was really happy to get the candy cane afterwards.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277135694575113346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwm9GqvFII/AAAAAAAAA2g/Ib1rbQVBcus/s320/DSC02662.JPG" border="0" />Making cookies with Mrs. Claus.<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277133979265513298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwlZQpDt1I/AAAAAAAAA14/Rn52HcZgwiE/s320/DSC02733.JPG" border="0" /> The miniature train display - Ethan loved it!<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277134005893523602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwlaz1q6JI/AAAAAAAAA2I/YwSbTxO2H80/s320/DSC02732.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277133999441220210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwlabzUknI/AAAAAAAAA2A/_20_NxLv8Uk/s320/DSC02729.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277138627324253554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/STwpn0AnlXI/AAAAAAAAA2w/IA0Q4dlXoUQ/s320/DSC02625.JPG" border="0" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-18214937006218308792008-11-06T11:11:00.001-05:002008-11-06T11:13:31.458-05:00I Need...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRMXhz8s65I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/G-mc1kCvyPU/s1600-h/Beach.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265578258974174098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRMXhz8s65I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/G-mc1kCvyPU/s320/Beach.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRMXhmIib0I/AAAAAAAAA0I/SJhwC6tmMt4/s1600-h/2159440-Duval_Beach_Key_West-Key_West.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265578255265722178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRMXhmIib0I/AAAAAAAAA0I/SJhwC6tmMt4/s320/2159440-Duval_Beach_Key_West-Key_West.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>... a permanent vacation. Feeling bogged down with work, home projects, upcoming holidays, and fighting a cold all at the same time... Trying to go to my happy place.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-50395133830701126842008-11-04T14:11:00.002-05:002008-11-04T14:17:57.848-05:00Get out and VOTE!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRCfrZoj1vI/AAAAAAAAA0A/Ke4J-VbdVQI/s1600-h/vote.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264883532360308466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SRCfrZoj1vI/AAAAAAAAA0A/Ke4J-VbdVQI/s320/vote.bmp" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div>"So because Obama gets in or McCain gets in, it's not going to be repaired overnight. The economy is not going to be repaired, the schools -- the disaster in our schools -- will not be repaired overnight. Nor will the social conversation be repaired overnight.</div><div><br />However, I would encourage every voter to say to his or her candidate, go in and do it, and you will not do it alone. I will help. You have to get up off that sofa or off that couch and give something to the country -- even if it's one hour every other week to an old people's home -- I will read, go into the children's ward and read, or give to your church or your synagogue or your mosque. ... Offer something to the country. So you don't just sit there." - Maya Angelou</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-66947441736404355592008-11-03T07:42:00.002-05:002008-11-03T07:48:58.582-05:00The Best $0.20 I Have Ever Spent<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yM85Lj7I/AAAAAAAAAz4/JHkdLoHYDN4/s1600-h/DSC02313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264411318761000882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yM85Lj7I/AAAAAAAAAz4/JHkdLoHYDN4/s320/DSC02313.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yMeLXbeI/AAAAAAAAAzw/alKsHvv5X1s/s1600-h/DSC02310-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264411310515776994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yMeLXbeI/AAAAAAAAAzw/alKsHvv5X1s/s320/DSC02310-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yMAEzJbI/AAAAAAAAAzo/E9PG-E3rTSg/s1600-h/DSC02311.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264411302435169714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yMAEzJbI/AAAAAAAAAzo/E9PG-E3rTSg/s320/DSC02311.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yLu5LEaI/AAAAAAAAAzg/pzVntrB6EUQ/s1600-h/DSC02312.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264411297823003042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQ7yLu5LEaI/AAAAAAAAAzg/pzVntrB6EUQ/s320/DSC02312.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-10679541550182055962008-11-01T19:20:00.002-04:002008-11-01T20:05:40.818-04:00HalloweenThis year's Halloween was a success! Maggie was Fairytale Princess Dora, Ethan a hockey player (although he wouldn't wear the helmet). Promptly as 6:00, we began our trek around the neighborhood to get as many treats as we could. Ethan quickly got the hang of saying "Trick or Treat" (sounding more like "Tweet tweet"), and also asking for more candy at each stop. Ethan's legs gave out about 45 minutes into the voyage, but Maggie lasted impressively til 7:15 or so. <br /><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Maggie as Princess Dora</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkpvcdVQI/AAAAAAAAAzA/ZG-y27peSi8/s1600-h/DSC02485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263833470250865922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkpvcdVQI/AAAAAAAAAzA/ZG-y27peSi8/s320/DSC02485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkpPh9yhI/AAAAAAAAAy4/XQ_TRZEfIW0/s1600-h/DSC02484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263833461684029970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkpPh9yhI/AAAAAAAAAy4/XQ_TRZEfIW0/s320/DSC02484.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ethan's hockey costume, complete with bruises, stitches and hockey stick</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263833477193628066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkqJTveaI/AAAAAAAAAzI/JVFdkfQecO4/s320/DSC02494.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263833486213242114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkqq6L3QI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/1WqNkXdogO0/s320/DSC02497.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Maggie examining the goods at one house. She deemed it acceptable.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263833486832069170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SQzkqtNuajI/AAAAAAAAAzY/Ve602NwkSeg/s320/DSC02499.JPG" border="0" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-10276467632641605972008-10-29T15:24:00.001-04:002008-10-29T15:29:18.382-04:00<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center><br /><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><br /><strong>What Your Halloween Habits Say About You</strong><br /></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatsyourhalloweenpersonalityquiz/halloween.gif" height="100" width="100"></center><br /><font color="#000000"><br />You're a friendly person, but not the life of the party. You like making someone else's day - and you'll dress up if you think of a really fun costume.<br /><br /><br /><br />You definitely think of yourself as someone who has a dark side. And part of having that dark side means not showing it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Your inner child is open minded, playful, and adventurous.<br /><br /><br /><br />You truly fear the dark side of humanity. You are a true misanthrope.<br /><br /><br /><br />You're prone to be quite emotional and over dramatic. Deep down, you enjoy being scared out of your mind... even if you don't admit it.<br /><br /><br /><br />You are a traditionalist with most aspects of your life. You like your Halloween costume to be basic, well made, and conventional enough to wear another year.<br /></font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourhalloweenpersonalityquiz/">What's Your Halloween Personality?</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-14929066197958627912008-10-16T17:51:00.003-04:002008-10-16T18:00:58.359-04:00Pumpkin FestI Love the fall... Pumpkins, apples and haybales - oh my!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4hkIMkGI/AAAAAAAAAxA/X05WnBkEl0A/s1600-h/DSC02145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873976751591522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4hkIMkGI/AAAAAAAAAxA/X05WnBkEl0A/s320/DSC02145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4iHKxyWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/BpB1CBc0aK0/s1600-h/DSC02154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873986157660514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4iHKxyWI/AAAAAAAAAxI/BpB1CBc0aK0/s320/DSC02154.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4iQXZ0mI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/zMoeoQ0zxWE/s1600-h/DSC02165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873988626535010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4iQXZ0mI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/zMoeoQ0zxWE/s320/DSC02165.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4ikaiSTI/AAAAAAAAAxY/-XXJxO0wJJQ/s1600-h/DSC02206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873994008381746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4ikaiSTI/AAAAAAAAAxY/-XXJxO0wJJQ/s320/DSC02206.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4i0hfSFI/AAAAAAAAAxg/7Qo4tpCGxn4/s1600-h/DSC02213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873998332512338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPe4i0hfSFI/AAAAAAAAAxg/7Qo4tpCGxn4/s320/DSC02213.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-42399739769320495092008-10-14T20:39:00.003-04:002008-10-14T20:56:25.887-04:00Love the Fall Weather...What a gorgeous weekend we had. 80 Degree weather and sunny - perfect for a day at the zoo with the folks from up north. Aunt Jennifer and cousins Alex and RJ came down from Michigan to spend the weekend with us, which thrilled Maggie and Ethan. They love seeing the boys any chance they get. <br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU934xlnfI/AAAAAAAAAwo/GZvoKZAzKwU/s1600-h/DSC02257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257176170367393266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU934xlnfI/AAAAAAAAAwo/GZvoKZAzKwU/s320/DSC02257.JPG" border="0" /></a> Whenever I see the sting rays, I start singing that song from "Finding Nemo" when Mr. Ray comes to pick up the kids for school. Weird, I know.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU93-LUesI/AAAAAAAAAww/EECQnU2WlIU/s1600-h/DSC02261.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257176171817499330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU93-LUesI/AAAAAAAAAww/EECQnU2WlIU/s320/DSC02261.JPG" border="0" /></a> I already have a diva on my hands... Sigh...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9G6lAL_I/AAAAAAAAAwA/YscmVPQXl8c/s1600-h/DSC02220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257175329037889522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9G6lAL_I/AAAAAAAAAwA/YscmVPQXl8c/s320/DSC02220.JPG" border="0" /></a> My boy - look at his smile!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HOa2lkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ad_Fps4zd4s/s1600-h/DSC02227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257175334364026434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HOa2lkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/ad_Fps4zd4s/s320/DSC02227.JPG" border="0" /></a> RJ making friends with the goats. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HAeffvI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/5qhjVNRjY98/s1600-h/DSC02230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257175330621193970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HAeffvI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/5qhjVNRjY98/s320/DSC02230.JPG" border="0" /></a> Maggie and the polar bears. Our zoo is supposed to be getting a polar bear exhibit in the next year or two - I can't wait!</p><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HVafzSI/AAAAAAAAAwY/aotPB20EsL8/s1600-h/DSC02240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257175336241581346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9HVafzSI/AAAAAAAAAwY/aotPB20EsL8/s320/DSC02240.JPG" border="0" /></a> This poor moose was having a bad weekend. He was about to lose his antlers, and had to be separated from the female moose because of mating season. Yeah, I'd be on edge too if I were him.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9Hp9gM1I/AAAAAAAAAwg/5Xznt21SE8M/s1600-h/DSC02246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257175341757117266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU9Hp9gM1I/AAAAAAAAAwg/5Xznt21SE8M/s320/DSC02246.JPG" border="0" /></a> We love our cousins!</p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257176174481361218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SPU94IGbyUI/AAAAAAAAAw4/NSiTWRgqYaA/s320/DSC02270.JPG" border="0" /></div><p align="center">Two boys, zoo tired.</p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-13341660737164691232008-10-05T20:10:00.005-04:002008-10-05T20:44:02.653-04:00Apple Pickin<div>You know it is fall when it is time to hit the apple orchard. Off we went, with buckets in hand to our famous Lynd Fruit Farm. They have huge fields with so many apple trees and every type you can think of... I don't know how the trees stand - the branches were literally falling over with all of the apples on them. I helped them thin the harvest by siccing my kids on their trees.<br /><br />Maggie's idea of apple picking is to try to sample each apple she picks and then putting them in her basket. We also had to show Ethan that the apples on the ground weren't supposed to be for us to take. After a few pointers, they seemed to get the hang of it...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828095661347810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY0Sjck-I/AAAAAAAAAuw/WFvsD6dDdXM/s320/DSC02094.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828096071215954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY0UFKq1I/AAAAAAAAAu4/8gOhXFzB_5U/s320/DSC02095.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828108534640562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY1Cgrb7I/AAAAAAAAAvI/13TA_ivuRzM/s320/DSC02098.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Maggie and Ethan trying a sample of the bountiful harvest</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828113666487858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY1VoNNjI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/nwA5DD3EXNE/s320/DSC02105.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlZJKKYxdI/AAAAAAAAAvY/qXnerUGS55w/s1600-h/DSC02109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828454186010066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlZJKKYxdI/AAAAAAAAAvY/qXnerUGS55w/s320/DSC02109.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253835025429095250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlfHp8041I/AAAAAAAAAvo/qqROG0qAaH0/s320/DSC02115.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">I love this picture! I am a very lucky girl... <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY0qegl7I/AAAAAAAAAvA/Lg2ss97Byjs/s1600-h/DSC02096.JPG"></div></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253828102083090354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOlY0qegl7I/AAAAAAAAAvA/Lg2ss97Byjs/s320/DSC02096.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-17647858312324106212008-09-29T20:24:00.004-04:002008-09-29T20:38:46.078-04:00The Best Day... Ever!Guess who came to the zoo... Yep, the ultimate explorer and hero to Maggie - Dora the Explorer!<br /><br />After waiting in line for an hour (poor Dora needed a 20-minute break every so often to cool off), we finally got to meet her. Maggie was so excited, and she waited in line so patiently. Ethan even did okay waiting, with the help of Goldfish crackers and juice.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy2zdNr7I/AAAAAAAAAh4/2p4GgDx5qOQ/s1600-h/DSC02075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251604926341951410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy2zdNr7I/AAAAAAAAAh4/2p4GgDx5qOQ/s320/DSC02075.JPG" border="0" /></a> Getting a hug from Dora.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3Nlu4YI/AAAAAAAAAiA/I__dvwf17ho/s1600-h/DSC02076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251604933357003138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3Nlu4YI/AAAAAAAAAiA/I__dvwf17ho/s320/DSC02076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3TGWHZI/AAAAAAAAAiI/tM9f6S7gkWU/s1600-h/DSC02078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251604934835969426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3TGWHZI/AAAAAAAAAiI/tM9f6S7gkWU/s320/DSC02078.JPG" border="0" /></a> Group picture - feeling the love!</p><p>Afterwards, we went on some rides - the zoo passed out free ride passes to appease the families who had waited so long for Dora. I wasn't too sure on how they would do, but they LOVED it! I think I have some future adrenaline junkies here... And yes, that is poor John stuck in the caboose of the train.</p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3cd92gI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xmBECYE2GOk/s1600-h/DSC02083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251604937350961666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy3cd92gI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xmBECYE2GOk/s320/DSC02083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy33P40bI/AAAAAAAAAiY/0OIU4SZsXcA/s1600-h/DSC02085.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251604944539668914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy33P40bI/AAAAAAAAAiY/0OIU4SZsXcA/s320/DSC02085.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251605041660303586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SOFy9hDQGOI/AAAAAAAAAig/jFNE1ig2JHk/s320/DSC02086.JPG" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-28685288677713790942008-09-19T13:45:00.003-04:002008-09-19T13:53:48.762-04:00Sorry if I offend anyone, but...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SNPmR1DuGyI/AAAAAAAAAhw/9Qv2Zfz4exc/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247791184791608098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SNPmR1DuGyI/AAAAAAAAAhw/9Qv2Zfz4exc/s320/images.jpg" border="0" /></a>I lifted this from my friend <a href="http://sugarmamaj.blogspot.com/">Sugarmama</a> - credit goes to her for this.<br /><br /><div>I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....</div><div></div><br /><div>* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'</div><div>* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.</div><br /><div></div><div>* If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.</div><div>* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, and you're a maverick.<br /></div><br /><div>* Graduate from Harvard law School, and you are unstable.</div><div>* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.</div><br /><div></div><div>* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a constitutional law professor, spend 8 years as a state senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state senate's Health and Human Services Committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs Committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.</div><div>* If your total resume is: local weather girl , 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, and 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.</div><br /><div></div><div>* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.</div><div>* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.</div><div></div><br /><div>* If you advocate teaching responsible, age-appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control and educating kindergarteners on how not to be the victim of a sexual predator, you are eroding the fiber of society.</div><div>* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence-only sex education in your state's school system, with no other option, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.</div><br /><div></div><div>* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.</div><div>* If you're husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.</div><div></div><br /><div>OK, much clearer now.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-14942416653513367992008-09-01T19:33:00.001-04:002008-09-01T19:33:51.725-04:00Scenes from a Beach<div style="width:320px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w348.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w348.photobucket.com/albums/q324/novakfam/Vacation/930f54d9.pbw" height="240" width="320"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-12647282024778497392008-08-15T11:02:00.003-04:002008-08-15T11:14:15.087-04:00We're OFF!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKWa57GyUPI/AAAAAAAAAhg/b9f2EgMLdso/s1600-h/DSC01252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760461797445874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKWa57GyUPI/AAAAAAAAAhg/b9f2EgMLdso/s320/DSC01252.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKWa6TYLbDI/AAAAAAAAAho/CWGMm4upkvo/s1600-h/DSC01284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760468312845362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKWa6TYLbDI/AAAAAAAAAho/CWGMm4upkvo/s320/DSC01284.JPG" border="0" /></a> We're off for a week to the beach at Oak Island and to much needed rest and relaxation (as much relaxing that can be done with 2 kids!).<br /><br />This is the view from our condo balcony!<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-92101146762978611112008-08-14T22:30:00.003-04:002008-08-14T23:19:09.305-04:00Toot Toot Chugga Chugga...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrgwPtDcI/AAAAAAAAAg4/Dlvnup3aK_c/s1600-h/DSC01859.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234567614850469314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrgwPtDcI/AAAAAAAAAg4/Dlvnup3aK_c/s320/DSC01859.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Maggie and I had a girls night out and went to see The Wiggles. We also invited our neighbors Julia and Julia's mom to come with us. Needless to say, the girls had a fabulous time dancing and singing.<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhIEsTQI/AAAAAAAAAhA/7gw_k_8GQw0/s1600-h/DSC01842.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234567621246733570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhIEsTQI/AAAAAAAAAhA/7gw_k_8GQw0/s320/DSC01842.JPG" border="0" /></a> Julia and Maggie waiting for the show to start.</p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhaB5IuI/AAAAAAAAAhI/yAq6OtHAH6c/s1600-h/DSC01862.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234567626066830050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhaB5IuI/AAAAAAAAAhI/yAq6OtHAH6c/s320/DSC01862.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>"Look Mommy, it's the Wiggles! Can they see me?"</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhrp-w0I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/BKVOJDpvGuM/s1600-h/DSC01900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234567630798373698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrhrp-w0I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/BKVOJDpvGuM/s320/DSC01900.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> My tiny dancer.</p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrh3UkEVI/AAAAAAAAAhY/O9FZV3ZzEgQ/s1600-h/DSC01916.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234567633929769298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SKTrh3UkEVI/AAAAAAAAAhY/O9FZV3ZzEgQ/s320/DSC01916.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Future rock star!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-38322204370228463202008-08-09T10:27:00.002-04:002008-08-09T10:37:36.456-04:00Ethan's UpdateThis is Ethan in China (February 2008):<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232525841226128946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJ2qh4xV3jI/AAAAAAAAAgw/MG6BO5Lgnoo/s320/DSC00625.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />This is Ethan today (August 2008):<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJ2qhHx7QdI/AAAAAAAAAgg/2pwUrkwaSd8/s1600-h/DSC01828.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232525828075241938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJ2qhHx7QdI/AAAAAAAAAgg/2pwUrkwaSd8/s320/DSC01828.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to the doctor yesterday for Ethan's 2-year old checkup, and his doctor is really happy with Ethan's development. He is 25 pounds, 31 inches tall and doing fabulous! Ethan is FINALLY on the growth charts for his weight - 15th percentile, but still less than 5th percentile for his height. So, as John says - he is short and stocky! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJ2qhW93q7I/AAAAAAAAAgo/UWnwKzOC5oY/s1600-h/DSC01834.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232525832151870386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJ2qhW93q7I/AAAAAAAAAgo/UWnwKzOC5oY/s320/DSC01834.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yes, this is our son asleep in the lake, holding a fun noodle. Who does this??? <br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-22768837860227002182008-08-04T21:11:00.005-04:002008-08-05T20:47:28.182-04:00For Hayley!<div align="left">Friday night we headed over to a free concert at the local library. Usually they have local bands scheduled, but this past concert was a special one for being the last one of the year...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231197567606729410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjyeL8WKsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/4Jpzw_LWdYw/s320/DSC01808.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Yes, folks - Justin Roberts! </p>For those of you not cool enough to know who he is, Justin Roberts is a very popular kids' singer and is Maggie's most favorite singer ever (for this month). He might even be better loved than the Wiggles - and that's saying a lot! Our good friend Hayley (Piper and Paisley's mommy) introduced us to the wonder of Justin's music. All in all, it was a fantastic concert (despite the heat)!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231197576308269010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjyesW9H9I/AAAAAAAAAf4/G2NlGt0QQfQ/s320/DSC01812.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231197580371661202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjye7fvkZI/AAAAAAAAAgA/KoxtWm7PDjw/s320/DSC01815.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231197585925811170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjyfQL9K-I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/k1jZHgy9bPQ/s320/DSC01818.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">This was my view of the concert for the majority of the time.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231198038048140690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjy5keUbZI/AAAAAAAAAgY/krITRdMykws/s320/DSC01820.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Even Ethan was getting down and dancing his little butt off!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231197584228804210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SJjyfJ3W5nI/AAAAAAAAAgI/i5t3Sj8nZdg/s320/DSC01803.JPG" border="0" />Maggie being a kitty cat - face painting during the pre-show!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-30285363910481027832008-07-29T18:47:00.003-04:002008-07-29T18:54:16.910-04:00<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI-fSNrPtmI/AAAAAAAAAfY/iakOFFF-mAw/s1600-h/gse_multipart28231.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228572827657942626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="59" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI-fSNrPtmI/AAAAAAAAAfY/iakOFFF-mAw/s320/gse_multipart28231.gif" width="203" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Goal: $1 challenge to save a child's life!</span></div><div></div><br /><div>Love Without Boundaries is launching a $1 challenge to kick off our new Unity Fund for impoverished, rural families in China. So many times over the years, they have met families who have had to make the painful decision to abandon their child in the hopes of getting them the medical care they need. It has been a dream of theirs for many years to begin such a fund, so that when they learn of families in true crisis, they can provide their children with the surgeries they need so that such a painful decision does not have to be made. LWB has met so many of these families in person, and they love their children completely, but they simply could never afford a $5000 heart surgery to save their child's life when their family is living on less than $50 per month. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Unity Fund was created to keep these families united and to give a second chance of a healthy life to at-risk children living in poverty. Join with us on this dream, and actually help prevent children from being orphaned. We challenge everyone to send just ONE DOLLAR during this challenge period to LWB's Unity Fund. Is it possible to find 5000 people to donate $1? With your help, we believe it is. If we meet that goal, then together we can impact a child's life forever. Pass on this message to everyone you know! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Pop just $1 in the mail to Love Without Boundaries and help change the world, one child at a time. </div><br /><div>Love Without Boundaries </div><br /><div>P.O. Box 25016 </div><br /><div>Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0016 </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>or donate $1 online at <a href="http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/</a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-1032585188743107352008-07-27T21:22:00.005-04:002008-07-27T21:53:44.650-04:00A Nice Weekend VisitLast weekend, we had Uncle Jeff, Aunt Nora and the girls come into town to visit us. We had so much fun and it was so great to see them - their first official visit to Columbus! Maggie was so sad to see them leave, she cried. Then on Friday, she asked if her cousin Presley was coming to see her again.<br /><br />The first part of our weekend was spent at the Splash Pad, a water park that is free admission (yay!). After a hot summer day and being in a car for 3 hours - this was a welcome relief.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872542868596834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iYRizaGI/AAAAAAAAAeo/5ctVGBBBZzI/s320/DSC01674.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jxlxrAeI/AAAAAAAAAe4/X2PSjT7sRu4/s1600-h/DSC01681.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227874077308027362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jxlxrAeI/AAAAAAAAAe4/X2PSjT7sRu4/s320/DSC01681.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jyHNTxiI/AAAAAAAAAfA/3YWKfN06ZK8/s1600-h/DSC01273.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227874086282315298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jyHNTxiI/AAAAAAAAAfA/3YWKfN06ZK8/s320/DSC01273.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872550577375874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iYuQuCoI/AAAAAAAAAew/tSi5D2r3Ee8/s320/DSC01678.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jyiDRiFI/AAAAAAAAAfI/5_eMndjZuwA/s1600-h/DSC01276.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227874093487982674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jyiDRiFI/AAAAAAAAAfI/5_eMndjZuwA/s320/DSC01276.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jzdF1VXI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/FmM1GG6D1Z0/s1600-h/DSC01685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227874109336409458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0jzdF1VXI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/FmM1GG6D1Z0/s320/DSC01685.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On Saturday, we headed over to the Columbus Zoo and to 90 degree weather. Ugh! But it was a really enjoyable day, although everyone was "zoo tired" by the afternoon. <br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iW8hVOWI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/9bDW9MePbX4/s1600-h/DSC01719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872520045410658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iW8hVOWI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/9bDW9MePbX4/s320/DSC01719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iXZjQbBI/AAAAAAAAAeY/yZwhCxs0zJg/s1600-h/DSC01725.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872527838112786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iXZjQbBI/AAAAAAAAAeY/yZwhCxs0zJg/s320/DSC01725.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iX_rzRPI/AAAAAAAAAeg/aKrHx8dMJjI/s1600-h/DSC01726.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227872538074498290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0iX_rzRPI/AAAAAAAAAeg/aKrHx8dMJjI/s320/DSC01726.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0gg9FHaiI/AAAAAAAAAdo/O0QUbr0CXLg/s1600-h/DSC01687.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227870492970936866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0gg9FHaiI/AAAAAAAAAdo/O0QUbr0CXLg/s320/DSC01687.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0ghl_AF9I/AAAAAAAAAdw/5NsZciBrFiY/s1600-h/DSC01689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227870503951144914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0ghl_AF9I/AAAAAAAAAdw/5NsZciBrFiY/s320/DSC01689.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0giM8gL4I/AAAAAAAAAd4/Nguj79c6vLo/s1600-h/DSC01696.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227870514409648002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0giM8gL4I/AAAAAAAAAd4/Nguj79c6vLo/s320/DSC01696.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0giRmF70I/AAAAAAAAAeA/qGtAvpAMRSU/s1600-h/DSC01703.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227870515657830210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0giRmF70I/AAAAAAAAAeA/qGtAvpAMRSU/s320/DSC01703.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0gi25noqI/AAAAAAAAAeI/_Pm1GCXg8No/s1600-h/DSC01698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227870525671842466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SI0gi25noqI/AAAAAAAAAeI/_Pm1GCXg8No/s320/DSC01698.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-54966969398289642022008-07-21T10:05:00.001-04:002008-07-21T10:05:32.779-04:00For our little man - Happy Birthday, Ethan!<div style="width:480px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w348.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w348.photobucket.com/albums/q324/novakfam/Ethan/b81f2625.pbw" height="360" width="480"><a href="http://i348.photobucket.com/redirect/album?action=slideshow&landing=/slideshows&type=202" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a><a href="http://s348.photobucket.com/albums/q324/novakfam/Ethan/?action=view¤t=b81f2625.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-85777797094490038952008-07-20T21:04:00.001-04:002008-07-20T21:05:31.822-04:00I'm Begging....<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SIPgohKU6SI/AAAAAAAAAdg/hhOMAnJWi_Q/s1600-h/Shrek_2_Cat-eyes_L-01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225266979380980002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SIPgohKU6SI/AAAAAAAAAdg/hhOMAnJWi_Q/s320/Shrek_2_Cat-eyes_L-01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>... pretty please? Send me your quilt squares for Ethan's 100 Good Wishes Quilt? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-26827504698430535282008-07-09T22:46:00.001-04:002008-07-09T22:46:25.768-04:00Party Time<div style="width:480px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w348.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w348.photobucket.com/albums/q324/novakfam/1cc84676.pbw" height="360" width="480"><a href="http://i348.photobucket.com/redirect/album?action=slideshow&landing=/slideshows&type=111" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a><a href="http://s348.photobucket.com/albums/q324/novakfam/?action=view¤t=1cc84676.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2572201726281068128.post-84340677214078770862008-07-08T16:31:00.003-04:002008-07-09T20:37:54.676-04:00The ZooEvery Wednesday during the summer, the zoo stays open until 8:00 at night. So we decided to take advantage of the warm weather and enjoy the summer before it goes away. Summer is just going too stinkin fast, don't you think?<br /><br /><div align="center">Here is my shy little girl, who hates getting her picture taken.</div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXZ5_lU2I/AAAAAAAAAc4/GHJcgwHGL-I/s1600-h/DSC01438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221175445581812578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXZ5_lU2I/AAAAAAAAAc4/GHJcgwHGL-I/s320/DSC01438.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">The kimodo dragon also enjoying the summer heat.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXaUgmzsI/AAAAAAAAAdA/SQ4_buyJFmQ/s1600-h/DSC01450.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221175452699643586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXaUgmzsI/AAAAAAAAAdA/SQ4_buyJFmQ/s320/DSC01450.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ethan going on his first carousel ride. The zoo's carousel is beautiful, with all of the original horses on it. I think it is my favorite part of the zoo.<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXaxfDSVI/AAAAAAAAAdI/knc1N4eZOgk/s1600-h/DSC01452.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221175460477749586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXaxfDSVI/AAAAAAAAAdI/knc1N4eZOgk/s320/DSC01452.JPG" border="0" /></a> Again, my shy girl. Love that smile!<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXbZU8X5I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/UFZiZWKN7g0/s1600-h/DSC01453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221175471172771730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXbZU8X5I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/UFZiZWKN7g0/s320/DSC01453.JPG" border="0" /></a> Notice Ethan on the horse. He decided to take a risk and actually ride a horse. When the carousel started, the look of terror on his face was both hilarious and sad! But he enjoyed the ride, white knuckles and all.<br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXb6igllI/AAAAAAAAAdY/u7-smTWnAAg/s1600-h/DSC01455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221175480088041042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHVXb6igllI/AAAAAAAAAdY/u7-smTWnAAg/s320/DSC01455.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Meeting a turtle. Maggie was fortunate enough to touch a Madagascan cockroach as well.<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQLjw2t5I/AAAAAAAAAbk/f2YABzWZUhM/s1600-h/DSC01404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745290049828754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQLjw2t5I/AAAAAAAAAbk/f2YABzWZUhM/s320/DSC01404.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bubble boy!<br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQL7xyuSI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Qij4ikuSNhs/s1600-h/DSC01411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745296496212258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQL7xyuSI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Qij4ikuSNhs/s320/DSC01411.JPG" border="0" /></a> Maggie climbing the jungle gym. She got all the way to the top - and then asked John to come up to help get her down. <br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQMqP7d2I/AAAAAAAAAb0/aD2sio_yauQ/s1600-h/DSC01414.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745308970645346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQMqP7d2I/AAAAAAAAAb0/aD2sio_yauQ/s320/DSC01414.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the peak!<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQNMtX8HI/AAAAAAAAAb8/a1fhxu4lH-Q/s1600-h/DSC01416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745318220951666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQNMtX8HI/AAAAAAAAAb8/a1fhxu4lH-Q/s320/DSC01416.JPG" border="0" /></a> Maggie thought this was King Louie from The Jungle Book. <br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQN2LHrRI/AAAAAAAAAcE/g2LJFeFOMpI/s1600-h/DSC01424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745329351568658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dg-ciXz9qA0/SHPQN2LHrRI/AAAAAAAAAcE/g2LJFeFOMpI/s320/DSC01424.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2