tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14117708920359546632024-02-02T12:44:04.836-05:00Meet the BarkersBen.Kristen.Lucy.Peter.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-19651413263349865572011-07-01T22:42:00.004-04:002011-07-01T23:10:04.688-04:00Summer lovin'It has been the busiest summer yet ... well, since I graduated from High School ( a lot of years ago) and went on many many many many exciting adventures, including: Australia, Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Las Vegas, and Safford (Arizona).<br />We haven't exactly traveled outside of a 20 mile (probably more like 10 mile) radius yet this year... but, it seems as though summer is in full effect with days filled with water activities and exercise.<br />The kids are both terrified of the pool, well, swimming. But, they love to play in the water.<br />I have had many, MANY unpleasant experiences with Lucy and swimming and am quite certain that either she will end up being one of those women who "curse like a sailor" during pregnancy/labor or will just end up becoming a sailor. She doesn't know any {curse} words (yet) but by the sound of her voice and her body language.. I am pretty certain what she is trying to tell me. It's not pretty. at. all.<br />And, it hurts my heart quite a bit, because all the other kids are like little fish.. and I know she will be too, but she's going to need her own time and it is a challenge for me to sit and watch her watch them. I just keep thinking to myself... good gracious girl.... you don't know what you are missing and your going to LOVE it when you finally do decide to do it.<br />{patience}... I know.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZQfp0IBRJ57UHKDLPfM-wNtgJJDs9G3uTepVgj6WvHSBAmG6D8facGhxYp_SOPfRk1q6LNATvwZsSu0d_gT4JkxwZyv25lqHkTf8fRMXnWu7fXnO1kpQcgipMNxx9gxM1kA-Dv4vahrZ/s1600/DSCN2300.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZQfp0IBRJ57UHKDLPfM-wNtgJJDs9G3uTepVgj6WvHSBAmG6D8facGhxYp_SOPfRk1q6LNATvwZsSu0d_gT4JkxwZyv25lqHkTf8fRMXnWu7fXnO1kpQcgipMNxx9gxM1kA-Dv4vahrZ/s320/DSCN2300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624586863140432642" border="0" /></a><br />We are still anxiously awaiting the sale of our sweet home here in Charleston... patience, I know. I know.<br /><br />We are busy busy busy and trying to enjoy are time together when Ben is home from his 4-5 day weeks in Houston. We are planning our trip out to San Clemente and Carlsbad at the end of the month to spend time with family and for Abbey's Baby Shower! Then it is off to Seattle for a much needed vacation with my other sister Jenevieve and the Barker's! It will have been a whole year since we have all been to Sea-town and we sure do need our fill of our WA families!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT4SCcLv6x5DbZMWy_qslBERykorbPRgU3Uf6t-C5dv28XGA_hnDLSvZ_kjxUai-aQVe9IY1ItN50rh0WF5F8f_QS22Z6jwVfLUwAO6SuwtOvcsYmMI5meGLNStS2Uw8R9141ZRVODLl/s1600/DSCN2309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PT4SCcLv6x5DbZMWy_qslBERykorbPRgU3Uf6t-C5dv28XGA_hnDLSvZ_kjxUai-aQVe9IY1ItN50rh0WF5F8f_QS22Z6jwVfLUwAO6SuwtOvcsYmMI5meGLNStS2Uw8R9141ZRVODLl/s320/DSCN2309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624585972174854818" border="0" /></a><br />I will post more soon.. for the few if any that check this poor neglected blog!Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-52786948398473692342011-04-25T20:48:00.005-04:002011-04-25T21:16:40.938-04:00Number Four {4}<div style="text-align: center;">It was a BIG weekend!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />We started with our Fifth Anniversary on Friday, Lucy's FOURTH Birthday on Saturday, and then Easter on Sunday.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I saw this cake a few different places, and finally hunted it down for the <span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">BIG #4!</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriUcNDXfh-QsIfa1TVTpYTZYWSq8_EZvTjspBS0z383P4lL-FwLjtuoFvYNO1AOY7gcuu5aEUSb6Ji0YO43zwGLB6Y-HnDY4XZMuJtMs7CXXo2BCA021cTVYi-7pUMxtxoJukoz8xA1Te/s1600/DSCN2140.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuGwRVqcU0-RCboXBqwXsu1SdMJPaoWcvG2KnNTzdN9Ony_sYSALsuD7oIUjZKrkuPBz5HGQnhW22vwmdD2hEtmPn8mJaDBHiOHKBZCApZw-C3V2ZdmgiwhfHwRjNFyazR4nZ4IDDFolr/s1600/Lucy%2527s+4th+Birthday.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuGwRVqcU0-RCboXBqwXsu1SdMJPaoWcvG2KnNTzdN9Ony_sYSALsuD7oIUjZKrkuPBz5HGQnhW22vwmdD2hEtmPn8mJaDBHiOHKBZCApZw-C3V2ZdmgiwhfHwRjNFyazR4nZ4IDDFolr/s320/Lucy%2527s+4th+Birthday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599694835759591618" border="0" /></a>I like how it turned out. It was a labor of love, but pretty easy considering I am NOT a cake maker/decorator. The colors are my favorite. So vibrant!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I still can't hardly believe she's four.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXrpKyGxjbdK3KbERKVjms_SWXRWq65GznwxoPo0eNyXl7eJZUQGg7TCOBv9jlF_9AzJRku2f90cu0L-EX5V4MJT41w6zlhcypPID7LRQVBWr9Mag0C02YoxX-_vu4A8ORkAZxXW30eLU/s1600/DSCN2019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXrpKyGxjbdK3KbERKVjms_SWXRWq65GznwxoPo0eNyXl7eJZUQGg7TCOBv9jlF_9AzJRku2f90cu0L-EX5V4MJT41w6zlhcypPID7LRQVBWr9Mag0C02YoxX-_vu4A8ORkAZxXW30eLU/s320/DSCN2019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599691524748063170" border="0" /></a><br />She is growing so quickly, she has such a cute personality. Her pre-school teachers tell me that she's funny, like got a good sense of humor and can tell a joke really well-funny. I know. She is. Funny.<br />She is also sweet as can be, and when she wants to be, she is a lover. The most sweet, tender, gentle ,nurturing, compassionate little girl who can give some good Love.<br />She thinks her daddy can do everything, he is the tallest, the best, can fix anything. He is her hero. It melts Ben's heart. And she looks at him with the most adoring blue eyes you have ever seen. And I look on with pride and sometimes laugh inside a little. Someday, she is going to break his heart, I just hope it isn't for a really long time. There is a very real meaning to "daddy-daughter" I see it now more than I feel it with my own. It is lovely.<br /><br />She got a big girl bike from Grampa Ricky and she can ride it like a rock-star!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q9R4f3tBuYjrP3gMZSCfl9RyyGOn139HTEI1xYf6eH4LfEsMt2EuEINB2f9Wth_rd_A1ZN6kqNWMBvUP19wZfvFkmzcJOpf24IFOoUWhDpDqXd5N-fEi82kGtdaOdgkg3FUDZ7UqE6B2/s1600/DSCN2067.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q9R4f3tBuYjrP3gMZSCfl9RyyGOn139HTEI1xYf6eH4LfEsMt2EuEINB2f9Wth_rd_A1ZN6kqNWMBvUP19wZfvFkmzcJOpf24IFOoUWhDpDqXd5N-fEi82kGtdaOdgkg3FUDZ7UqE6B2/s320/DSCN2067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599693234018760322" border="0" /></a><br />We had a chill day with just us this year. No big party. I liked it that way, and so did she.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Happy</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">4th </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Birthday </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Lucy Ann.</span></span><br />We love you so much sweet girl.<br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-22807991007368905702011-04-22T12:27:00.008-04:002011-04-22T13:14:34.215-04:00Number Five<div style="text-align: center;">It's been<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">5</span><br />whole<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">( almost always happy)</span><br />years and we're still having fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);font-size:180%;" >Happy Anniversary </span><br />to<br />US.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzMGikyQmAyqEBLkvqUG5oi-zI_X6w4Iia-Os4-A6ZWMvKKjE9eg2fPkQkbjgI_iLMLriS8OblR-rvr9DxQLiqWqDxzXjR7qKOlkBOTCy_raqpLaFKnn-yZEwbitkVqC4EZRLorXkwByV/s1600/HPIM0123.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzMGikyQmAyqEBLkvqUG5oi-zI_X6w4Iia-Os4-A6ZWMvKKjE9eg2fPkQkbjgI_iLMLriS8OblR-rvr9DxQLiqWqDxzXjR7qKOlkBOTCy_raqpLaFKnn-yZEwbitkVqC4EZRLorXkwByV/s320/HPIM0123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598450085693811730" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">February 2006 (Ben's first time to Disneyland- or as I like to say "a Disney-virgin!")</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF1T8ZlZlBKo6pjB-LSDEi_LeQQM3BllB0_Wy-yR6cybHKMG0XpuGc1Ec5vs0ii_OBT4qIVj9tq1bjAsRF4xvikMliOxoQle-KqGRrsKu3y6gZ63o3gICEP2X_ijcZx41_KV1tjMe4id_/s1600/05180001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF1T8ZlZlBKo6pjB-LSDEi_LeQQM3BllB0_Wy-yR6cybHKMG0XpuGc1Ec5vs0ii_OBT4qIVj9tq1bjAsRF4xvikMliOxoQle-KqGRrsKu3y6gZ63o3gICEP2X_ijcZx41_KV1tjMe4id_/s320/05180001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598450538382618306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(engagement pictures March 2006)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbDFlzSucfWYGdHMLYhQowqcGnArAeItoqZwaswogFyJjioCYEaEJMFWkezsTNmIm-AnXG6zbM5BgTFL_psL_u7mgE03nL9S8araDnySMJHY3tGsFDemI1-Nd-J_Z3Z1AH4TNAgz3RjP/s1600/2006-05-19_0036.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbDFlzSucfWYGdHMLYhQowqcGnArAeItoqZwaswogFyJjioCYEaEJMFWkezsTNmIm-AnXG6zbM5BgTFL_psL_u7mgE03nL9S8araDnySMJHY3tGsFDemI1-Nd-J_Z3Z1AH4TNAgz3RjP/s320/2006-05-19_0036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598453023002281090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">He still gives me that "look"</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfHnoxRlahxNTZbpAHPsGeOcV2ZZ7ejI0oQlGqiGFkpSeweY5dM76aRikf3YaOG6CP39j7FjcUo0Et7U6Wx4wvP8kkh9ny_CgMPNXO1-cb2c9YKElFNYx85gC10dPA7g9CAk1oZZ5MpJd/s1600/HPIM0215.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfHnoxRlahxNTZbpAHPsGeOcV2ZZ7ejI0oQlGqiGFkpSeweY5dM76aRikf3YaOG6CP39j7FjcUo0Et7U6Wx4wvP8kkh9ny_CgMPNXO1-cb2c9YKElFNYx85gC10dPA7g9CAk1oZZ5MpJd/s320/HPIM0215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598453581793595954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">( April 2006- Maui, our honeymoon)</span><br /><br />and sometimes I send him naughty text messages.<br /><br /><br />So, it's fair.<br /><br />We really do love each other. We try everyday to find the good and appreciate the not-so-good. We are both very determined and set in our ways, but compromise beautifully- most of the time. He says I married him for "flight-benefits" I say I married him because he's got killer dance moves. He says he married me for my independence, I say he married me because of my ghetto booty! (it's true)<br />We have created 2 beautiful amazing children that are all ours and we do our best everyday to help them grow into what will hopefully be strong, independent, funny, creative, happy, well-grounded, loving, in-depth people.<br />He used to be patient, and now I have the "one-up"<br />I used to be spontaneous and now he is.<br />I like traditional, he likes contemporary.<br />We both love our families and each others.<br />He let's me talk, and talk, and talk and talk andtalkandtalkandtalk.<br />Then he says, "Kristen, get to the point already, and stop using your hands so much (just like my daddy)<br /><br />We are a pretty good mix of a lot of things.<br />Mostly: love, hard-work, determination, compassion, and fun.<br />Mix it all together and you get us. And "us" is pretty awesome.<br />We're looking forward to the next 5 years and then eternity.<br /><br />Oh, and he promised that if he ever leaves me, he'll take me with him.<br />Pretty sweet deal I think.<br /><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-85632366186086377352011-03-27T14:57:00.005-04:002011-03-27T15:16:46.119-04:00Birthday BOY<div style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" >{BOY}</span><br />today!<br />He has been ours for<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >2</span><br /> wonderful years today!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" >Happy Birthday</span><br />Peter Ryan.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I stayed up till the wee hours of the morning with Holly and Katie to pull this little number off! I am so happy with it... it is even more "super-hero-ish" and less "dracula" in person. And although Peter hasn't seen it yet, I am certain it is going to bring him much joy.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3Z-n81x96kL9ffmGb3PDnn6MLM41dbIUB6-pASSLbzOUKV2x-fJjTCH-drd5ogI9j7IxqfQh6fJdQ_OB321NdzSFH7Gj1PiIjBmi9TZJOhEiNWwASV3lMFza5nRK09Ihstgn-dqd5cs3/s1600/DSCN1637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3Z-n81x96kL9ffmGb3PDnn6MLM41dbIUB6-pASSLbzOUKV2x-fJjTCH-drd5ogI9j7IxqfQh6fJdQ_OB321NdzSFH7Gj1PiIjBmi9TZJOhEiNWwASV3lMFza5nRK09Ihstgn-dqd5cs3/s320/DSCN1637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588840478006664690" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(Thanks for posing Superman)<br /></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-7150430761447915692011-03-16T15:28:00.016-04:002011-03-16T16:04:08.401-04:00Becoming...a bit technical-logically more understanding, and dare I say savvy?<br />I find pride in things that are easy when I thought they would be hard.<br /><br />I always knew there was a way to get my photos off my cell phone and onto my computer, but I didn't know how.<br />I set out on a determined journey to accomplish just this, yesterday... didn't happen. I was annoyed, but not frustrated.<br />So, I tried again.<br />Success!<br />About 2.5 years ago I left my coveted Blackberry on an airplane in Washington D.C.<br />I cried. A little bit of my "life" was gone.<br />I reported it to the proper "authorities."<br /><br />But have YOU ever dealt with US Airways customer service? It is a funny thing. Sometimes you get a cheerie little voice and it sounds so hopeful, sometimes you get what is what you think to be only seen on T.V but in real life. Ah-maz-zing, Truly baffling. And then sometimes you think... how did {this} person ever make it through an interview let alone get through the hiring process....? I could teach a few things to that company. {starting with the increase in pilot salaries} I know that's NOT humble... but I am confident in my abilities to be able to make a difference sometimes!<br />No surprise that I NEVER saw or heard from my beloved Blackberry.<br />I was devastated. I had pictures on that pretty little baby that I will never recover. That hurts. It still, 2.5 years later hurts really bad.<br />So here I am finally getting my pictures off of my new ( and not so fancy) phone and I feel proud. I feel good that I have backed these pictures up and hopefully will retain for forever.<br />Thank you for obliging me sweet technology. I am a process but I am {Becoming} more understanding and with a deeper appreciation for you.<div style="text-align: center;">And here is the proof :<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB52FD-UFWnxTBQnah5HqHVBNfSRxCp-tn2KNFgLkx0RK9uBmYaRilkZWd_DF4EACjqG5N4glII3wgWo7vQkxXXTWqC_7JvPBwhEbewOixJnGqm_s4wrMatJEtgkz8gupVXCuXnSiZegO/s1600/Photo0310.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB52FD-UFWnxTBQnah5HqHVBNfSRxCp-tn2KNFgLkx0RK9uBmYaRilkZWd_DF4EACjqG5N4glII3wgWo7vQkxXXTWqC_7JvPBwhEbewOixJnGqm_s4wrMatJEtgkz8gupVXCuXnSiZegO/s320/Photo0310.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584768708501449202" border="0" /></a>Krispy Kreme when my Dad came to visit last September!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD3TncmPZtBkPVwZHnuaN5okx-9Nzy9Y5G_eY55KGpWS5C1BpmoM_keYgTRAHhkHenIRQz40qvtSNVQujPf58JoUdDY83fMYvuDHlXdDaKoPxoy3c5233Yy-HZFQR_zCBHDVDxkJpU-6L/s1600/Photo0263.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD3TncmPZtBkPVwZHnuaN5okx-9Nzy9Y5G_eY55KGpWS5C1BpmoM_keYgTRAHhkHenIRQz40qvtSNVQujPf58JoUdDY83fMYvuDHlXdDaKoPxoy3c5233Yy-HZFQR_zCBHDVDxkJpU-6L/s320/Photo0263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584768271984338210" border="0" /></a>My baby!<br />( I remember he was a little mad a me @ this moment!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI14PoaB3D7ZCfpvfEB4xWSM06KEQle6m64-0EagEDFKiHKmtUuhG1Wzc2w4TdSSg61gtgZSCICzzZidMVw_vEX6jDIxgoygytROVytr3GfcGpBXI3T6_FwgH2Q8Sy2INIH6wqMS-lEQFT/s1600/Photo0803.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI14PoaB3D7ZCfpvfEB4xWSM06KEQle6m64-0EagEDFKiHKmtUuhG1Wzc2w4TdSSg61gtgZSCICzzZidMVw_vEX6jDIxgoygytROVytr3GfcGpBXI3T6_FwgH2Q8Sy2INIH6wqMS-lEQFT/s320/Photo0803.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584767979165680802" border="0" /></a>"hot dog" donuts from Spring Hill Bakery.. thanks to the Walbeck's!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHnqW18qYAS2sr5TSRdcQZf6bi4fi5p1hsCkhyphenhyphenP4eN3B7XlhQqQfqsreXdDaov7WTg9G-OqRDyWZtAn4_2YfKho5vPdlYyxUs-RQ5pF_e96xV5irDgR0ITxwv1vlxYK-l0xgfGlctToXp/s1600/Photo0341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHnqW18qYAS2sr5TSRdcQZf6bi4fi5p1hsCkhyphenhyphenP4eN3B7XlhQqQfqsreXdDaov7WTg9G-OqRDyWZtAn4_2YfKho5vPdlYyxUs-RQ5pF_e96xV5irDgR0ITxwv1vlxYK-l0xgfGlctToXp/s320/Photo0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584767388277574370" border="0" /></a> The only picture I have of Halloween!<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEkyYlI3o5CLiVNUqN92yhbUOUnqqHjIkHLSOTNZDRiQGYbAmzY-lkIowHfX3rje6-K8r430V7sd88PiI7U9tEmp2vGh7nYIqVPz6lusKyFpgHvMczOAvPKCVgqSsO7j5ZDq5YfdQh2UD/s1600/Photo0313.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEkyYlI3o5CLiVNUqN92yhbUOUnqqHjIkHLSOTNZDRiQGYbAmzY-lkIowHfX3rje6-K8r430V7sd88PiI7U9tEmp2vGh7nYIqVPz6lusKyFpgHvMczOAvPKCVgqSsO7j5ZDq5YfdQh2UD/s320/Photo0313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584767065575462514" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">there are few things sweeter than my sleeping babies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK4nQsWf525tJ22d3e4cWgzJHmbt7rOHwtntHKtiC-26PljuQLFJ9kaREh2fscC1S3mBOZ3yh7ih-ChQjLwkcOaiyIjDVFPlqMWg-C4HnpEn3zq6bAUC0iOCYzfEvF7Bdz83_tezLqvgC/s1600/Photo0270.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK4nQsWf525tJ22d3e4cWgzJHmbt7rOHwtntHKtiC-26PljuQLFJ9kaREh2fscC1S3mBOZ3yh7ih-ChQjLwkcOaiyIjDVFPlqMWg-C4HnpEn3zq6bAUC0iOCYzfEvF7Bdz83_tezLqvgC/s320/Photo0270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584766164640869298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were driving last summer and I saw something in the road... this was it.... "It is not what it looks like." The one on top was trying to get over the other and well... this is what ended up!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eftAYMnpbM4pTM6kI8eUnf28FU1pY83l3qr8VYMPXLtz9z3Y0Mcp6QPy1GSMuV-BhhX89BWSfD2roEef5wHbOmpXcOxnT_QdA87EjAE0Kx5E2_w0Q2vORhRggz2adiY5OV-JDPwQbxKK/s1600/Photo0168.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eftAYMnpbM4pTM6kI8eUnf28FU1pY83l3qr8VYMPXLtz9z3Y0Mcp6QPy1GSMuV-BhhX89BWSfD2roEef5wHbOmpXcOxnT_QdA87EjAE0Kx5E2_w0Q2vORhRggz2adiY5OV-JDPwQbxKK/s320/Photo0168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584765885616654818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW4Z1XKW9shSNVDSfA4K-jfNnmHgPqpFPNdZTryc7vov-wG5kOj9wl1cCxvXvD6Sa2OTBCM9xjoILKaX5_a4jliVtTgcvvYBm-en6t3cPcJ3ZqKfZX-FNnKlCkfGRqTg0kXBj9DU4DSqY/s1600/Photo0290.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxW4Z1XKW9shSNVDSfA4K-jfNnmHgPqpFPNdZTryc7vov-wG5kOj9wl1cCxvXvD6Sa2OTBCM9xjoILKaX5_a4jliVtTgcvvYBm-en6t3cPcJ3ZqKfZX-FNnKlCkfGRqTg0kXBj9DU4DSqY/s320/Photo0290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584766764052136690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">these ones are for you Jenny!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdhdKVR5KYMUfoVv9YmR1Ie1H_-Hge5Wm1e0n-QTnoE7xiWsA9t5vzhiL-d7wJ-dgVOdlIfZZAbB19cn3cLStcmPoLJFMQ8ofA90jF5ATzHyXC2ikT8YpbHgKcaMiWpy-Uo4raFv4C14P/s1600/Photo0069.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdhdKVR5KYMUfoVv9YmR1Ie1H_-Hge5Wm1e0n-QTnoE7xiWsA9t5vzhiL-d7wJ-dgVOdlIfZZAbB19cn3cLStcmPoLJFMQ8ofA90jF5ATzHyXC2ikT8YpbHgKcaMiWpy-Uo4raFv4C14P/s320/Photo0069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584765189215473250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> I am so sad that her "gap" has closed so much since this. So dang cute!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffGhvjgEvL5fPa4HynV3yiOJZ2kmOn3DtN1YqKPGamUKwdahdp7NQU9O2dozZXtoM7M043Ie2x6gifT-Y5ALqeSFZpk1v180E9rmCkH5m9WPQ13vYdqTF4J9LsEKVTXaajGhBXhQYhC7J/s1600/Photo0010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffGhvjgEvL5fPa4HynV3yiOJZ2kmOn3DtN1YqKPGamUKwdahdp7NQU9O2dozZXtoM7M043Ie2x6gifT-Y5ALqeSFZpk1v180E9rmCkH5m9WPQ13vYdqTF4J9LsEKVTXaajGhBXhQYhC7J/s320/Photo0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584764876753594802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXr95NSPYSobXSORHXrIoRUrC073TNAWA55ZKwWCObaZwR8-EpAhON1l685AmquZUa2HAcRIb3H86Dvdn4OVBZrb-29Oau7x3LzKhbx4049-IfEejeMl5HhGoDzZZJTfNE4tKlsFcFEWO/s1600/Photo0729Lp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXr95NSPYSobXSORHXrIoRUrC073TNAWA55ZKwWCObaZwR8-EpAhON1l685AmquZUa2HAcRIb3H86Dvdn4OVBZrb-29Oau7x3LzKhbx4049-IfEejeMl5HhGoDzZZJTfNE4tKlsFcFEWO/s320/Photo0729Lp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584770234714873394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukerrTwCvoVK_oIKH3Ted0SLbUOPwKCdP6aF6rqqK-iBsazDKMxKY-K0ne0D-9OcIk7q-ksNKClfNZIQbFkEdLhW1fpPdkqqFD0ht4ixpBGN5lfAOJbMMta50453-KefktlZkkY_MHVcU/s1600/Photo0815Lp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukerrTwCvoVK_oIKH3Ted0SLbUOPwKCdP6aF6rqqK-iBsazDKMxKY-K0ne0D-9OcIk7q-ksNKClfNZIQbFkEdLhW1fpPdkqqFD0ht4ixpBGN5lfAOJbMMta50453-KefktlZkkY_MHVcU/s320/Photo0815Lp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584769142420290370" border="0" /></a>The last 2 Sunday's right before going to Church... sending off love pictures to Daddy is a daily occurence and I like the way these came out edited from my phone.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ciao!<br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-87769633872289990022011-03-10T21:29:00.004-05:002011-03-10T21:51:24.373-05:00Highlights<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Today's highlights included:<br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">*</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Rain</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">- lots of awesome, feel good, spring is here, and so are my tulips -RAIN.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">*<span style="font-size:180%;">Superman</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">-</span> Ben text me with his upcoming "tentative" schedule... 6 weeks just got cut in half, followed by a 2 week sabatical! WAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:78%;" >(company scheduling conflict- not his abilities!)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">*</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Zumba</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">- 2 times in one day... Makes a girl happy. My feet and knee disagree with my heart tonight though<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> ( cool down was to Air Suppy's I'm all out of love- awesome!)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">*<span style="font-style: italic;">Lunch</span></span>- had lunch today with a friend.. NO kids made it really enjoyable.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">*<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Target</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">-</span> found a (50-200mm) telephoto lens at Target on clearance for $79.98 that didn't have a box and they graciously gave me an additional 20% off. SCORE!!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="font-size:180%;">*Kids</span>-</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">were so awesome today. No threats from me, just lots and lots of love all the way around. These days feel so good. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*Dinner</span></span>- it was left-overs from last night... but I MUST say, <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman</a> has got mad skills for some super Yummers Enchiladas! I am a sucker for Mexican food. And when you get some GOOOOOOOOOOOD homemade Mexican recipes... there is happiness, lots of ridiculous happiness in my belly! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Looking forward to a Happy Friday!<br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-47626987468144077372011-03-06T20:58:00.005-05:002011-03-06T21:50:52.779-05:00the goings onIt's been a whole week since Superman flew to St. Louis.<br />First night he was in a Tornado... whoa!<br />We talk more than we normally do when he is home.<br />It's the reason our relationship ever became what it has.<br />That's how we started and what we did for the first 18 months of our relationship.<br />We've got it down.<br />Skype would be a nice feature, or the new IPad...<span style="font-size:85%;"> ( won't be long 'till I do a little convincing!)</span><br />But we've survived not having Daddy face to face.<br />Although... Peter has replaced "daddy" with Ben's tape measure. He walks around holding it, insisting on taking it in the car (although I don't let it out of the car) and shows people whenever he can, "dad-da."<br />It is really sweet and sad.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7LB_i27WqyAH5-4ZSOhfvD89tcqRMQRrMGaFB_bVbbnihWedQYfKzFBhdtLw8hxhlwX0sTgre1s2qT9trs1LSHgvkZzZg3Rmo1jD-4oPKWdrhebFHCZ4X3HSepm5D4_fQtDTtUn9qdcO/s1600/DSCN0314.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7LB_i27WqyAH5-4ZSOhfvD89tcqRMQRrMGaFB_bVbbnihWedQYfKzFBhdtLw8hxhlwX0sTgre1s2qT9trs1LSHgvkZzZg3Rmo1jD-4oPKWdrhebFHCZ4X3HSepm5D4_fQtDTtUn9qdcO/s320/DSCN0314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581163575591297026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ben told me the other night that he is "bored." I feel deep anguish for him. NOT.<br />I am however glad that he is "bored" rather than overwhelmed.<br /><br />The snow showed up this morning. I must admit I did a double-take when I looked out the window this morning. I stand by statement that West Virginia is the "bi-polar weather" State. I think they should add that right into the state slogan.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >"<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Wild,</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Wonderful</span>, <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Bi</span>-<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">p</span>o<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">l</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">a</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">r</span> Weather, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">WEST</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">VIRGINIA</span>."</span><br />Has a nice ring to it.. no?<br /><br /><br />Our friends, <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);" href="http://www.ourwvblog.com/">The Walbeck's</a>, showed me how to "fix" our computer.<br />Thanks to them for running out on Friday night and meeting me with 2 crazy babies at Best Buy to buy an external hard drive.<br />It is safe to say that I am challenged when it comes to the inner workings of technology.<br />Our photographs are neatly organized and "backed-up" onto our cute little but HEFTY new hard drive. And now I have a quickly functioning computer again with ample space! sigh.<br /><br /><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-75281974769960416322011-02-28T13:56:00.010-05:002011-02-28T14:36:43.750-05:00The Bacheloretteit's going to be a fun 6 weeks.<br />The only thing is, I am not going to be dating/kissing/sleeping with 25 guys. (dangit- mostly on the dating/kissing part.... I can do without the sleeping with part... I like sleeping alone!)<br /><br />It's day ONE and so far so good.<br /><br />It is pouring rain like nobody's business and I LOVE IT...... spring is just around the corner. I am psychic like that.... well, and my tulips are gracing me with their ever so beautiful-ness.<br />It is going to be a good spring. My tulips will be proof of that.<br /><br />Ben sent me a picture of his room last night and the area where he is keeping all of the snacks/food I sent with him... he says that it would make a small country jealous. I agree.<br /><br />We went on a date Saturday night... I had it sort of planned out, but it didn't turn out quite like I dreamed of... although we did go bowling which we have never done before.. why?<br />Well, I figured out why at the end... I won both games. BOO-YA!<br /><br />My Grandma is pleading to see the babes while Ben is away and according to the Phoenix weather... I just might. Flying with 2 kids, 2 and 4 years is going to be a challenge! We'll see, especially since now they think they are entitled to "fly the plane" themselves!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hrmJgkLVz9H0-Ub6iAHAJcgP7_Bibqie9GWiUYQSuTNC4VsnBtRHhNIUu1lontbkXd3qyghwqqc1fmUsTtS6k-Sixev-XfsTWvPof8CLnrzwUPXdEsI5VMQrI6oKm3HmINU46cUy8NzB/s1600/DSCN0997.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hrmJgkLVz9H0-Ub6iAHAJcgP7_Bibqie9GWiUYQSuTNC4VsnBtRHhNIUu1lontbkXd3qyghwqqc1fmUsTtS6k-Sixev-XfsTWvPof8CLnrzwUPXdEsI5VMQrI6oKm3HmINU46cUy8NzB/s320/DSCN0997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578820548080063858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQUJP3nJZZUWj9qdLacWpnj-njWuquHenCY9r_tCUaKHyi5r8_u_Pi2OU3hIKkXvQc49wrhG9AiQYWoe8j08rGwSTvI7RX0FHlALNwY-DeSWzzdHSMJGFSay3ZZXmSfX_H-U6AogO71dD/s1600/DSCN1005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQUJP3nJZZUWj9qdLacWpnj-njWuquHenCY9r_tCUaKHyi5r8_u_Pi2OU3hIKkXvQc49wrhG9AiQYWoe8j08rGwSTvI7RX0FHlALNwY-DeSWzzdHSMJGFSay3ZZXmSfX_H-U6AogO71dD/s320/DSCN1005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578823840105823074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLuWWB-x4W_ap_cOLCF7tLnolN2Ii_Uq6gTuhXhm1wMXPpyUTwuR-x_fyR_A1406XJLIlWUVfAqJBoE14s4kPCPIBpXo3fOK-l5XHUroTuNR5hULLB4w3z391IdDu7Kn_B4IlgV074tvS/s1600/DSCN1027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLuWWB-x4W_ap_cOLCF7tLnolN2Ii_Uq6gTuhXhm1wMXPpyUTwuR-x_fyR_A1406XJLIlWUVfAqJBoE14s4kPCPIBpXo3fOK-l5XHUroTuNR5hULLB4w3z391IdDu7Kn_B4IlgV074tvS/s320/DSCN1027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578821465619089010" border="0" /></a><br />Here's to a fantastic Bachelorette-dom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJheosH0FNmpRdil749K-L43Uo8NuYmYwgfvlLNeZ8LNOxKs90SlSKbuw95Pbtk-B67icCBtp6yJ_2PxoNadB_y_vlfZYAKWjgOJPTRepx_BwJD6km-Vs2boXp9udiiNXmXWHqUMeZZmB/s1600/DSCN1177.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJheosH0FNmpRdil749K-L43Uo8NuYmYwgfvlLNeZ8LNOxKs90SlSKbuw95Pbtk-B67icCBtp6yJ_2PxoNadB_y_vlfZYAKWjgOJPTRepx_BwJD6km-Vs2boXp9udiiNXmXWHqUMeZZmB/s320/DSCN1177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578822682968380290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(It makes me laugh to see how his hair blends in with the cabinets!)<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwauRZBl00byHuaz6ksHMCxkX45SYp9nMyLFM0neaajHQKs8HD8-oIikhTRMGpH1lVQCePGakqOzhzwCxWSZexH23RS7o49nN3bTG-0k1kKu4niBwYsRf0Q39VVxBvc_mXZ268aHNWuUz/s1600/DSCN1190.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwauRZBl00byHuaz6ksHMCxkX45SYp9nMyLFM0neaajHQKs8HD8-oIikhTRMGpH1lVQCePGakqOzhzwCxWSZexH23RS7o49nN3bTG-0k1kKu4niBwYsRf0Q39VVxBvc_mXZ268aHNWuUz/s320/DSCN1190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578822940224392082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y5XoU1IPJzrxtnCkZm4Jo0T_2-rNRBEBXIQ8x9SMkd_jz6kU0cvFnqgcLNDI0YjIInvINK-nmBT9_hJeww2PhKctnSGC-MpkOWYj5VElzGjEIhwvTlc_EMNBjxV46CWINlj7dxCTbIYX/s1600/DSCN0950.JPG"><br /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-73582702674814944822011-02-24T15:19:00.005-05:002011-02-28T13:56:04.528-05:00Pace CarMy pace is changing.<br /><br />I have been doing a lot of thinking about my "pace cars," you know, those people whom you look to for strength, for the "okay" to keep going, or stop. or turn, or U-turn.<br />I am realizing though that my pace cars are/ have changed. Or maybe I have. Or maybe both. My pace is different than those I used to look for.<br /><br />Life pace is so different from other comparisons. It lasts longer. It is more significant.<br />I am independent and drive my own car, but I also am cautious. I always have been.<br />I am sad though sometimes when the other pacers change direction and we aren't going the same places anymore. Not any better or worse, just different. It makes relationships change.<br /><br />I do like new pacers though. Sometimes they are really fast and I just want to keep up cause the ride is super fun and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">exhilarating</span>. It's how we choose new adventures, expand capabilities, and grow. I like growing. Lucy asks me almost everyday if I too am growing. I always say I am. Although she means it in relationship to my body, I say yes because I am growing, in a less-literal sense but still I am. She tells me that she doesn't want to grow. I don't know why? But I always respond with, "you can stay this size for a while."<br /><br />Sometimes it takes me a while to adjust to new changes, and accept them. But it is always changing,... this life, my thoughts. The less drastic changes are easier and the bigger ones are where I dig my heels in a little more, but eventually I get accustomed to my new pace. And right now even though I am changing, I am in the comfortable part of the change. And I like it. It feels good right now.<br /><br />So, to those of you whom I once looked at for a "pace" thank you. To those now whom I am looking to for guidance and direction, thank you. To those who will be my forever pacers, thank you the most.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-8120407347515157422011-01-27T15:53:00.015-05:002011-02-02T22:09:08.647-05:00The lost city...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);font-size:180%;" ><a>Atlantis</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...well, let's start with this:<br />It is absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">EVERYTHING</span> that I expected it to be, and then some more....<br />a lot more. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qlVFz3LB-UgO7oORNOLyNA36Sm0WCdNK859NRbdFUWVaNz8azT_PgDQTg0FWDGFEJPtVIGR1mus310AZ_sTTwO_GyXSse3BY9z7s9eYur7QD4MsTzQhjclcgCvdD7AOwSlMddr6g3XfX/s1600/DSCN0411.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qlVFz3LB-UgO7oORNOLyNA36Sm0WCdNK859NRbdFUWVaNz8azT_PgDQTg0FWDGFEJPtVIGR1mus310AZ_sTTwO_GyXSse3BY9z7s9eYur7QD4MsTzQhjclcgCvdD7AOwSlMddr6g3XfX/s320/DSCN0411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569278190119054146" border="0" /></a><br />I am a "picture taker" rather than a "photographer." I know very little about cameras or how to properly take photos, hence the world of "point and shoot" cameras for people like myself. (However, I did take a year of "photo" in 7th grade from Mrs. Morey, and she knew cameras.. and all that accompanies the camera world. And I did get an "A".)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, as I was point and shooting around in the Bahamas, I captured some of the beauty this earth has to offer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUrRT4LQ3UiD6EfvcGG4DGFUS10nLHth78VgGsf1m7KKKbRIdJVxYQm4xxu2mIpX2BBUvLFm2iDutURXJCEsMBdDhQoYWLNLR-iqamX8-G4MV8-FgQcm4VwVQQR5LJCZ8ZI1FqaOsd32a/s1600/DSCN0427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUrRT4LQ3UiD6EfvcGG4DGFUS10nLHth78VgGsf1m7KKKbRIdJVxYQm4xxu2mIpX2BBUvLFm2iDutURXJCEsMBdDhQoYWLNLR-iqamX8-G4MV8-FgQcm4VwVQQR5LJCZ8ZI1FqaOsd32a/s320/DSCN0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569278504503908626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">The ocean <span style="font-style: italic;">speaks</span> to me.<br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjofwBrhsO8Pp99uU-0JGqQmC2q2rkeBvv-zR7QCxiOi0NnjcjeTmhp0-Yitq_2ZfUlaZ7ncKLriIjn_YiX5oaUleK0LD7cah2HN3yM1lH3gXvhl5gNh0P4KRy0f4uQCnw4OlAH2a_8u1_/s1600/DSCN0408.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjofwBrhsO8Pp99uU-0JGqQmC2q2rkeBvv-zR7QCxiOi0NnjcjeTmhp0-Yitq_2ZfUlaZ7ncKLriIjn_YiX5oaUleK0LD7cah2HN3yM1lH3gXvhl5gNh0P4KRy0f4uQCnw4OlAH2a_8u1_/s320/DSCN0408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569290444691182978" border="0" /></a> It has always <span style="font-style: italic;">spoken</span> to me.<br />As far back as I can remember, I have been a lover of water. When I feel that warm sun beating on my body and the softness that the sand below has to offer, and I look out upon the ocean, my thoughts begin to become clear and I begin to process differently. My breathing begins to pattern the flow of the ocean and clarity becomes part of me. It is wholly due to this that I believe my sweet husband encouraged and set it up with my sweet friend Cindy, for me to find my way down to this blessed place for a few days.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zzywNG2IwGWpOmLrH3LyrHowne74RKwq_UrpX8BPVTeiPjfgDe6u1R7hAuw3gkr0cy6FMU0D4VSzC-GFYeqXqNvoKitxf7EnNWAoMkYmFSc_gCubd10KrdTuka54XQm4iXYvNNFpEwbS/s1600/DSCN0394.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zzywNG2IwGWpOmLrH3LyrHowne74RKwq_UrpX8BPVTeiPjfgDe6u1R7hAuw3gkr0cy6FMU0D4VSzC-GFYeqXqNvoKitxf7EnNWAoMkYmFSc_gCubd10KrdTuka54XQm4iXYvNNFpEwbS/s320/DSCN0394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569291281223235954" border="0" /></a></span><br />A while back I had what could be considered a "melt-down" which no doubt, scared Ben. I needed a time and place to get "lost", to get some clarity, and just be me. He delivered. Big time.<br />A small amount of guilt came with me leaving to such a beautiful place without my husband, but he is often aware of my needs before I can express them. He loves me. I know that. And I know that in a way that is far beyond sending me on a mini-vaca. Because even without any extra-ordinary-ness he still anticipates and is rarely wrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCykJWN2NKk_mmYtVgUwY6gU7tBNq7fAol87O17tz47doq2lsUL1-gWvEsX_YvRhLz1dZbWbiHoMlO8pvLpIQenGu5YycHe0cli__SrOOkP5-7PcEFldLxw_JXpMtdgsP4RTboxBSWaJg/s1600/DSCN0444.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCykJWN2NKk_mmYtVgUwY6gU7tBNq7fAol87O17tz47doq2lsUL1-gWvEsX_YvRhLz1dZbWbiHoMlO8pvLpIQenGu5YycHe0cli__SrOOkP5-7PcEFldLxw_JXpMtdgsP4RTboxBSWaJg/s320/DSCN0444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569279180513544834" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qlVFz3LB-UgO7oORNOLyNA36Sm0WCdNK859NRbdFUWVaNz8azT_PgDQTg0FWDGFEJPtVIGR1mus310AZ_sTTwO_GyXSse3BY9z7s9eYur7QD4MsTzQhjclcgCvdD7AOwSlMddr6g3XfX/s1600/DSCN0411.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;">My lovely friend Cindy Patton and her husband Dave own the time-share where we stayed. Lucky me, to have such loving friends who invite me along on such outings!<br />We all had arrived by Sunday morning and first thing we did was go to church. Church was a wonderful experience. Same church, different people/culture. Still phenomenal. I swear I could have stolen a Bahamian baby, do you think anyone would notice? Nah.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1HiObtSA5N2r031O-fjNZk7sMX3sNB1w-SLNZrwUXYnXqEipbyDYU0KU_ohMt6gsaTv-EPq_2l6pGs8shurWNUoAOlwNYhklDkMzaO1y5OBZ1hojdYNKnZwzZ4zmMMqJwGYIz3tsdP1h/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1HiObtSA5N2r031O-fjNZk7sMX3sNB1w-SLNZrwUXYnXqEipbyDYU0KU_ohMt6gsaTv-EPq_2l6pGs8shurWNUoAOlwNYhklDkMzaO1y5OBZ1hojdYNKnZwzZ4zmMMqJwGYIz3tsdP1h/s320/DSCN0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569277033143443138" border="0" /></a>Me, Juile, Chari, Cindy and Leslie<br />Leslie is perhaps the most hilarious person I have EVER met.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCjp3AVNrnEUMEfY8g5BqQPIuuvG0RAEAlUPwPWwxMzJsUNQ5-3D38UdvzOnZsg181kLkMMakBh8q8IQNZefaSxOI6raGUSNhDL0TyFjj7vmvEjWn5C2CpGmmaeLtpdCUgfbgTV4QQnOz/s1600/DSCN0368.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCjp3AVNrnEUMEfY8g5BqQPIuuvG0RAEAlUPwPWwxMzJsUNQ5-3D38UdvzOnZsg181kLkMMakBh8q8IQNZefaSxOI6raGUSNhDL0TyFjj7vmvEjWn5C2CpGmmaeLtpdCUgfbgTV4QQnOz/s320/DSCN0368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569276725690230658" border="0" /></a>I couldn't resist this... hilarious!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtgBdVEEf4Hsi7MpNkMU9GJjjyTamaRS9wWDZ2IknW0phTPFKkCmoU1_0u1D7J6IvGd-HsiwkCj2oryKHlp4uYnj7a6DJmST7yg1e3EjPpnnL-lkAzi24JLYKJzkSwUYuuZDeJ_I4t6h-/s1600/DSCN0358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtgBdVEEf4Hsi7MpNkMU9GJjjyTamaRS9wWDZ2IknW0phTPFKkCmoU1_0u1D7J6IvGd-HsiwkCj2oryKHlp4uYnj7a6DJmST7yg1e3EjPpnnL-lkAzi24JLYKJzkSwUYuuZDeJ_I4t6h-/s320/DSCN0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569276430859247666" border="0" /></a>The <a style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);" href="http://www.atlantis.com/accommodations/harborsideresort.aspx">Harborside Resort,</a> this is the Time-Share part of the Atlantis Resort where we stayed, this is only a few of the condos from the other side of the marina. Lucy was happy to know that we did stay in one of the Pink buildings.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlhv2nG6bi_N8OaMDuxt6aNMQ6R_C4mwUv_Z6F_D_rqpvPGFGBzZy194HKSc2cpwxfpYIrLNhvxUkoJD4pEWx_WflsR0Wan5pqMsZIvZOSV3oHi7Dem1TDsgx0J1FKgjzzIR1Uu-f1GaP/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlhv2nG6bi_N8OaMDuxt6aNMQ6R_C4mwUv_Z6F_D_rqpvPGFGBzZy194HKSc2cpwxfpYIrLNhvxUkoJD4pEWx_WflsR0Wan5pqMsZIvZOSV3oHi7Dem1TDsgx0J1FKgjzzIR1Uu-f1GaP/s320/DSCN0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569276021070466114" border="0" /></a>Within the resort there are some ocean in-lets which allow you to snorkel and see some sea-life.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QQ-NlWsqNBWNq5Tx-ADsaK87zaYEaxhjow2TivJv5GZfxpkir-MVYA-SvhJWEBBkqQgwWq_zs6TAhlgZtwzOPbpCHbscjW3GCXzxNL-sqdKIA69gKPdxkXEQqQlikvjYDNvUdkn2U0yH/s1600/DSCN0361.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QQ-NlWsqNBWNq5Tx-ADsaK87zaYEaxhjow2TivJv5GZfxpkir-MVYA-SvhJWEBBkqQgwWq_zs6TAhlgZtwzOPbpCHbscjW3GCXzxNL-sqdKIA69gKPdxkXEQqQlikvjYDNvUdkn2U0yH/s320/DSCN0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566977536223445746" border="0" /></a>This was a really interesting statue/fountain of some flying fish.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbA4_T3Gk_A1FI3ixC_zqVHXf2OldHojjBM6zJkxbGyaRMP0Jr5FpOQVM8LCwF122FesVMhlccrC0AmCDD8w_iDDEsnSJoqYGAlUq3PBOOo_ohdhYH93EJfLnO15hqkbkhDaY5iRDQgMPN/s1600/DSCN0350.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbA4_T3Gk_A1FI3ixC_zqVHXf2OldHojjBM6zJkxbGyaRMP0Jr5FpOQVM8LCwF122FesVMhlccrC0AmCDD8w_iDDEsnSJoqYGAlUq3PBOOo_ohdhYH93EJfLnO15hqkbkhDaY5iRDQgMPN/s320/DSCN0350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566977138817937826" border="0" /></a>This is me on the first night after arriving in the Bahamas, we walked the grounds of almost the entire resort... which is HUGE, like ridiculously huge. It was windy this night and quite chilly. However, that was the only night that was anything but perfect.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHBy-bwqERSsLb56j90uLeilqwDhyi6DkLInts2jIsfjnYhVyKuaHXJfmsuDf5cHteIB348Zq3_FuGZjkXKOel9qIUO8_zqWNDvlWdxL-CDYm22CMfZwLZUBez6NSmM7-VYiUEqlk4_Kz/s1600/Copy+of+DSCN0372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHBy-bwqERSsLb56j90uLeilqwDhyi6DkLInts2jIsfjnYhVyKuaHXJfmsuDf5cHteIB348Zq3_FuGZjkXKOel9qIUO8_zqWNDvlWdxL-CDYm22CMfZwLZUBez6NSmM7-VYiUEqlk4_Kz/s320/Copy+of+DSCN0372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566976447103381250" border="0" /></a>Here is a view of the main towers of the Atlantis Resort from the snorkeling area.<br />We were told that the "arch" between the two towers has a penthouse that Michael Jackson owned or still does? Anyways, it goes for $25,000 p/night with a minimum of 4 nights.<br />That is absurd.<br />I could buy someone a house- a decent house for that.<br />4 nights at the Atlantis is never worth that!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtbFQarxD3gLCjD6w2HJpkcYNDVoVg3SKDYfcgrCXJ71PFpLMx4CFBnBS5_CWlZf_rPA5k1g1ZMVI96GiRZSeuzSRWUZTShkLlK-vRoPAV3wFTVPth2IGn-aahpZLMA08MM_wuS6ECOkF/s1600/DSCN0401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtbFQarxD3gLCjD6w2HJpkcYNDVoVg3SKDYfcgrCXJ71PFpLMx4CFBnBS5_CWlZf_rPA5k1g1ZMVI96GiRZSeuzSRWUZTShkLlK-vRoPAV3wFTVPth2IGn-aahpZLMA08MM_wuS6ECOkF/s320/DSCN0401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569287447067235506" border="0" /></a>me in a bathing suit.<br /><br /><br />I spent a lot of time breathing.<br />I know I spend every minute of my life breathing. But I really let my breathing be more than filling my lungs.<br />It penetrated my whole being.<br />I cried.<br />I talked.<br />I listened.<br />I played.<br />I laughed.<br />I watched.<br />I grew.<br />I organized.<br />I loved.<br />I felt.<br />I sent out the negative into the ocean as it rolled away.<br />I took in all the good when the ocean rolled in.<br />I did very little.<br />I maximized.<br /><br />I would do it again.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:180%;" >Exactly the same.<br /></span><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-21024029147392015132010-12-30T14:30:00.007-05:002010-12-30T15:22:03.343-05:00A white Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">Christmas was wonderful and WHITE! Filled with a ton of gifts and a surprise visit (brought by Santa of course) from Grandma Carol and Papa Barker!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_ek6ATDoPeE0iDatHtFZqxCI-mCNrpDA28kIFHDIEZqw09toSFYVvb1Bv-5BhFyXR_nQ5w4GUvGDCcG6-nmyAxovowS9Z9Iqx0PH58ZC6zcn2QooQQiGbqiTq-xHRCO0SrXcW_L-Wvcg/s1600/DSCN0035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_ek6ATDoPeE0iDatHtFZqxCI-mCNrpDA28kIFHDIEZqw09toSFYVvb1Bv-5BhFyXR_nQ5w4GUvGDCcG6-nmyAxovowS9Z9Iqx0PH58ZC6zcn2QooQQiGbqiTq-xHRCO0SrXcW_L-Wvcg/s320/DSCN0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556571651626194642" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love that Christmas falls at the end of the year. There is so much to celebrate always, but having Christmas at the very end of the year makes you reflect on not only why we have Christmas -the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ-, but it also gives us time to draw near family. The sentimental stimuli are always on alert and super sensitive for me during the holidays. Time goes by so quickly that I think it is important to have these special Holidays to stop and reminisce, while eating like Kings and Queens, opening gifts that mean so much, and looking at the new fallen snow.<br />It get's said, and heard over and over... but how do they grow so fast? How does this happen so quickly? I just want to press "pause." They are little still, but it is feeling like the little is slipping away ever so quickly. I don't want them to know that "Charlie," ( our special Santa's helper Elf) doesn't really have magic and can't talk. I wanted to do so many things this season. I told Ben while packaging Charlie ( short for Charleston or Charlie-West) up on Christmas eve night after he had made sure they were dreaming of "sugar plums dancing in their heads"- that I am going to have to start writing these little traditions down, so we can remember them from year to year!<br />I wanted to go caroling, I wanted to re-enact the Birth Story, I wanted to let them go give gifts to needy ones, I wanted to make more handmade gifts like doll clothes and wooden tool boxes! There are so many things that I wanted to do, but didn't. How do you fit it all in?<br /><br />We did accomplish alot this Christmas season and it was all wonderful and sentimental. But I guess I will start pre-planning for next year and fill my calendar with daily activities to fit it all that I want to in!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYssgp8afcffuwKWauqCmAR2HNV6zPmk4QpbyL44DJIhSXCzZAnQJ8dFzwaHyA7XhX0H5LzRhYNUrKM1u7eh1NYLQbAAW3hwX2pqHl96pSOBK2J24awXQZxT0xtGvxy1tJchmIYg2tM4WX/s1600/DSCN0030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYssgp8afcffuwKWauqCmAR2HNV6zPmk4QpbyL44DJIhSXCzZAnQJ8dFzwaHyA7XhX0H5LzRhYNUrKM1u7eh1NYLQbAAW3hwX2pqHl96pSOBK2J24awXQZxT0xtGvxy1tJchmIYg2tM4WX/s320/DSCN0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556571255782128098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzCDJIDZ-rTnz1Yc2TkqqyODz8q4Kdix7zYJ0gi4R5DBwNnyyL5QrIzBCCnEehQ_v6mEfEd4FY6o45TT9KTk52cwJEXVEZtzYQysTLPPfiY-oC08SjYO_l41Ix3N2TzIU0PWppQJPWYTS/s1600/DSCN0048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzCDJIDZ-rTnz1Yc2TkqqyODz8q4Kdix7zYJ0gi4R5DBwNnyyL5QrIzBCCnEehQ_v6mEfEd4FY6o45TT9KTk52cwJEXVEZtzYQysTLPPfiY-oC08SjYO_l41Ix3N2TzIU0PWppQJPWYTS/s320/DSCN0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556572093352006738" border="0" /></a>I am looking forward to the new year! This new year will bring many changes, good ones of course and a milestone birthday- 30 for me! We plan to accomplish a lot of things this year, a few of the items on the list include:<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:180%;" ><br />Lucy</span><br />-no more night-time Pull-ups<br />-learning to throw- cause it's sad right now!<br />-turning *gasp* 4 years old!<br />-reading<br />-learning to confidently swim<br />-loving her Brother always!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Peter</span></span><br />-potty training<br />-giving up the Binka (binky/pacifier)<br />-throwing and catching a ball<br />-riding a trike<br />-turning *double gasp* 2 years old!<br />-trying to swim<br />-getting rid of the banging his head when mad<br />-in other words... using his WORDS!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Ben</span></span><br />-major career move into the Q-400 (still as a Captain!)<br />-re-committing to push-ups and crunches<br />-keeping his lovely, dear wife sane while moving (hopefully!)<br />-cheering on his lovely, dear, fantastic wife on as she attemps a marathon!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Kristen</span></span><br />-saying goodbye to my twenties- (it's going to hurt my ego BIG time)<br />-that whole marathon thing at about the 30year mark.... OH DEAR!!!! ( might just be a 1/2?)<br />-cheering on her dashing, fabulous hubs as he transitions into the "Q"- that's a 6 week process!<br />-going to the Bahamas for a little "me" time before the "Q"<br />-finding balance in all that I do, keeping my priorities in line with what I know is good and right.<br /><br />We have had a wonderful year here in Twenty-Ten, and look forward to Twenty-eleven!<br />May the new year bring you love and happiness, good health and determination.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">In Omnia Paratus</span></span><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-1241280859622934532010-12-12T21:09:00.007-05:002010-12-12T21:23:52.958-05:00Christmas Pictures<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to the lovely and talented Shalece... we had a successful outing downtown Charleston yesterday for some good old fashioned Chrismas/Family pictures.<br />Here are some favorites!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaEz3SV1oM9l-VFz6ZINLmrb5-tUjZmnh2lpuKzUk25Ms2WTDAt5QJvn6BBZ05UG1cM7LuQbyfKCzus8QBvqrBixYjfa0BnKWAW8ka5anRnEoGQHARYDOCkxTevkjXNGF-sRCpwm6YxOk/s1600/DSC_8536.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaEz3SV1oM9l-VFz6ZINLmrb5-tUjZmnh2lpuKzUk25Ms2WTDAt5QJvn6BBZ05UG1cM7LuQbyfKCzus8QBvqrBixYjfa0BnKWAW8ka5anRnEoGQHARYDOCkxTevkjXNGF-sRCpwm6YxOk/s320/DSC_8536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549983488837676370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa7V2nqKhXo-2lhPbLXs-fMeT8PeF_-8pDvkIJ3lbuugZ55R3UuSJCknWdrvy5sy-GWYP0RYOZFjnic6F8SKBPG7J3HnPKAO19IxzPHViZOatMQYTxwQ_4T50nWrr_3-paivZo3CrFGB_/s1600/DSC_8602.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa7V2nqKhXo-2lhPbLXs-fMeT8PeF_-8pDvkIJ3lbuugZ55R3UuSJCknWdrvy5sy-GWYP0RYOZFjnic6F8SKBPG7J3HnPKAO19IxzPHViZOatMQYTxwQ_4T50nWrr_3-paivZo3CrFGB_/s320/DSC_8602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549984214151755090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV2DhqTy7R0iDqE_s9hoJEhN37nPkd5kXFxco8A6dQK6k9VI-bi2909PhEhZBk6ox4vgb-0tcop45xB3xqjm6ZsyY3PYPDqQ5vDgEQsYthDvdzA8SbmbvLOBoRZ3syLLkyfaxaZjFsSqT/s1600/DSC_8549.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV2DhqTy7R0iDqE_s9hoJEhN37nPkd5kXFxco8A6dQK6k9VI-bi2909PhEhZBk6ox4vgb-0tcop45xB3xqjm6ZsyY3PYPDqQ5vDgEQsYthDvdzA8SbmbvLOBoRZ3syLLkyfaxaZjFsSqT/s320/DSC_8549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549984071813935602" border="0" /></a>They do love one another!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2CxPNLg-E7ChWt8rkpOl0U2oOA1qwNmRJdCvU0bpKq1oXA60O1T0MYfQpAimC_1Js_07oxJqSc8mqztp1nMP07sI6NU0fXQKqDnDwnJJhTrU7anrVJxLyZ_TqxfU8slbx6jN-wGPDuzl/s1600/DSC_8630.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2CxPNLg-E7ChWt8rkpOl0U2oOA1qwNmRJdCvU0bpKq1oXA60O1T0MYfQpAimC_1Js_07oxJqSc8mqztp1nMP07sI6NU0fXQKqDnDwnJJhTrU7anrVJxLyZ_TqxfU8slbx6jN-wGPDuzl/s320/DSC_8630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549984541306438722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSm2Z4b931GtqHT5KW0m_Yj6tqYcoRXdule4tJSfhlfGhQXRFjhNlGcIOYO0gEHezLvboHoELWtZdh9vb1_gdNpGGwDaLaVlfSAncHUDyPCJS25j4-W1CvEbiXpLnESAORzG31-vEkF-8/s1600/DSC_8789.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSm2Z4b931GtqHT5KW0m_Yj6tqYcoRXdule4tJSfhlfGhQXRFjhNlGcIOYO0gEHezLvboHoELWtZdh9vb1_gdNpGGwDaLaVlfSAncHUDyPCJS25j4-W1CvEbiXpLnESAORzG31-vEkF-8/s320/DSC_8789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549985844583129810" border="0" /></a>The sun held out with some mild warmth for most of the day... thankfully!<br />The forecast has changed today and tomorrow will be much like last week.<br />Cold. Cold. COLD.<br /><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-52389860788504286782010-12-07T21:22:00.005-05:002010-12-07T21:40:15.004-05:00ThisandthatI have written/typed a thousand things so far and keep hitting delete!<br />I guess we've been pretty busy. But "busy" seems to be a relative term.<br />I like the Holiday season, but I sometimes liked it a lot better when I reminisce about past years.<br />Like the year Ben and I were dating... I found some old picts of us when we visited his family and went out to Gig Harbor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS_zMJ17dcz4MkaGl0sihcukbVReEfxBGvvk1VoNNDkAsDC79B1y4LXd4UsC-SU6S9kSCtJuvdJzKudahH0TyEBooGclL3_SP18-csxy79WChdEjFW09W_2WvdHt_dqZuAQq-yhsALzKU/s1600/HPIM0055.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS_zMJ17dcz4MkaGl0sihcukbVReEfxBGvvk1VoNNDkAsDC79B1y4LXd4UsC-SU6S9kSCtJuvdJzKudahH0TyEBooGclL3_SP18-csxy79WChdEjFW09W_2WvdHt_dqZuAQq-yhsALzKU/s320/HPIM0055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548133518066732098" border="0" /></a>I just realized that I am still wearing those jeans... Yikes! and Sweeet!<br />I feel like we look so young then? It wasn't that long ago?<br /><br />Then I came across picts of us that same year for "New Year's"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxTp8MojYGcGiEF-1b0IRo1GnPFdvR-N6AoOlhkm0UsqO3cZpRq4-jwKDdGIEKmVNA10jy2w1exWiT1LJKBNlSUp1XV9wgzHrStNRFBBeLPSqqD2B6Du9y7LxJSZpXFvfTR1ETFhvdD65/s1600/New+Years+2006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxTp8MojYGcGiEF-1b0IRo1GnPFdvR-N6AoOlhkm0UsqO3cZpRq4-jwKDdGIEKmVNA10jy2w1exWiT1LJKBNlSUp1XV9wgzHrStNRFBBeLPSqqD2B6Du9y7LxJSZpXFvfTR1ETFhvdD65/s320/New+Years+2006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548134182096130354" border="0" /></a><br />Who did I let cut my hair? NOT my sister... Wow! That was bad. But Ben looks GQ.<br /><br />Hopefully my memory will pick this one up in the future too. Without a camera makes things tricky, but it's coming.. Santa spilled the beans! Wahhoooooooo!!!!!!!<br />We all had the "flu" this past weekend, and it seems as though I had it worse than anyone else. ?<br /><br />I caught Lucy sleeping the other night and it is hitting me more and more that she doesn't look like this anymore, she does to me still, she is still so tiny, my baby. Even though she insists on the fact, sadly it is a "fact" that she is NOT a baby. I tell her she is my baby and always will be, but she says, No mom. I am not.<br />She still sleeps like this and that inFACT does make her my baby!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK_X0XroVuVxCs3WKH3Ox2J8hmCgzIGuWX6ln5ILiRpcizey4lw682cp4mtAJi-KVcwByBz3qRFopzynbor_QHOegv2B2yI3wF_0mbTN-nyB7Jrn6FNMLA5LRiYieXTLv-eL-mg3S6nKG/s1600/HPIM0552.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK_X0XroVuVxCs3WKH3Ox2J8hmCgzIGuWX6ln5ILiRpcizey4lw682cp4mtAJi-KVcwByBz3qRFopzynbor_QHOegv2B2yI3wF_0mbTN-nyB7Jrn6FNMLA5LRiYieXTLv-eL-mg3S6nKG/s320/HPIM0552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548135163940639170" border="0" /></a><br />I have a thousand things on my list, and that's before Christmas begins. Hallelujah!<br />I 'll try to get some more up soon!Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-53910584681831972502010-11-09T09:38:00.004-05:002010-11-09T09:46:28.859-05:00Fun times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhYkGj6dLzTUfRFgh_yDq28vcJJg3Pqgczqky6C85H-v4DEMONUUf2eQ9ZGfAuPt2Tf63Y2uQ5Eb6JdKR3QZQsm5g4CjLcUz_DDy5cyV0nUtKHBvaWoj31HyDnp8T0fg2X2XjgoScioS8/s1600/DSC_7891.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhYkGj6dLzTUfRFgh_yDq28vcJJg3Pqgczqky6C85H-v4DEMONUUf2eQ9ZGfAuPt2Tf63Y2uQ5Eb6JdKR3QZQsm5g4CjLcUz_DDy5cyV0nUtKHBvaWoj31HyDnp8T0fg2X2XjgoScioS8/s320/DSC_7891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537559508322032930" border="0" /></a>We are busy busy busy... having fun with friends mixed with a little bit of serious business.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfLY3_zkCWZ9Xmz_41iRRqoLxAIT-srmiLwgmaLV-fl9QfbYheAvYZ89tIe-WX_nwNU7Y0U8kRxhgynp6CUB56lcyooQXBc2lgTNxZKn9tDXj3kUxVnQ7lzVLIhpeLlF-yGljqaTkevUL/s1600/DSC_7722.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfLY3_zkCWZ9Xmz_41iRRqoLxAIT-srmiLwgmaLV-fl9QfbYheAvYZ89tIe-WX_nwNU7Y0U8kRxhgynp6CUB56lcyooQXBc2lgTNxZKn9tDXj3kUxVnQ7lzVLIhpeLlF-yGljqaTkevUL/s320/DSC_7722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537560561754098066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">FOOTBALL all-Star in the making!<br />Or baseball... either way.<br />Your future's are bright little ones!<br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-37644819781796110692010-11-03T16:24:00.000-04:002010-11-03T16:27:47.814-04:00It's Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y1lQ_TTDsgF2xJxwVvc1X2AFZC2upmf_tFlAg6XVuFhsQZeOn4iilbE3VpYThLHOOQC9zUncYtIFGqbNNtVrgVz1R69n-dH4Flbm92ILp9Mr2uheVw4PYco7BNrt2EESHIiMwDisPqZz/s1600/DSC_7710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y1lQ_TTDsgF2xJxwVvc1X2AFZC2upmf_tFlAg6XVuFhsQZeOn4iilbE3VpYThLHOOQC9zUncYtIFGqbNNtVrgVz1R69n-dH4Flbm92ILp9Mr2uheVw4PYco7BNrt2EESHIiMwDisPqZz/s320/DSC_7710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535422807106618050" border="0" /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-88687839742883311162010-10-11T12:57:00.002-04:002010-10-11T13:08:26.881-04:00clarityLemme clarify a little bit of what some of you have interpreted my freight-train-of-thought major de-railment that not even I can follow sometimes...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:180%;" >I am <span style="font-style: italic;">NOT</span> pregnant.</span><br /></div>And I can prove it.... to those who need a little extra proof.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >Lucy says to me this morning,"Mom, we have 2 coupons." </span><br />Me: We do sis? Okay.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic;">Lucy: Mom we have blue and green coupons.</span></span><br />Me: What are you talking about doll?<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic;">Lucy: We have 2 boxes of coupons.</span></span><br />Me: Baby doll, show me what you are talking about.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic;">Lucy: Opens the bathroom cabinet and points to the coupons.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">SEE.... I told you I am NOT pregnant.<br />Cause we have<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:180%;" >LOTS of<br />COUPONS.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:180%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzckYMwPLMltqWlVMdpBquY4Lygg4DKdRfLpwd-RPD6TUWnU8xY0uDUkTx4AN05YA_yROxfl2h9x-vxD6rLhhQdYdKIYD8Sd_3RWnvP3ogMfEZkrgW5sZ2buSvNAZBnNsxDv_Woo2UEb9/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzckYMwPLMltqWlVMdpBquY4Lygg4DKdRfLpwd-RPD6TUWnU8xY0uDUkTx4AN05YA_yROxfl2h9x-vxD6rLhhQdYdKIYD8Sd_3RWnvP3ogMfEZkrgW5sZ2buSvNAZBnNsxDv_Woo2UEb9/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526836420888033266" border="0" /></a></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-75661091743804877662010-06-29T12:13:00.010-04:002010-06-29T14:34:35.829-04:00Day 177 of 60 lbsIt is becoming VERY clear to me that I will in fact NOT reach my goal of losing 60 lbs in 6 months. However, I came to and have mentioned this realization a few times before and once again, I am OKAY with that. I have made, in my opinion, HUGE success and am going to keep on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">movin</span> on! <div align="center">I have reached the 1/2 way point and am happy to say that if feels really good! It also feels really good to know that I am not going to go back in the upwards direction- meaning <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prego</span>- again for a while. It was at this point Post-Lucy that I was pregnant again with Peter. I was happy but was deeply hoping NOT to re-gain the amount of weight that I did with Lucy. No such luck.<br />Things here in the Barker household have been busy busy busy, but good! We are anxiously awaiting the Sale of our home and hope it comes quickly! </div><br /><div align="center">Swim lessons were a big hit for Lucy a few weeks ago and we are going to go with another session in a few weeks! She is a fish! Loves the water.... just like her mama! Maybe the fact that I labored in the water with her increased her LOVE for water! She is a natural and kicks her feet like a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rockstar</span>!<br /></div><div align="center">We are looking forward to the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> of July and celebrating! ( Do you remember when our neighbor asked Ben if we celebrated the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span>? and I said " we're <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mormon</span>, not British!" So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">yah</span>.. we will be celebrating! the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> is one of my favorite holidays!)</div><div align="center">The humidity here in Charleston is in full swing and sometimes gets the best of me! But we are staying cool by getting some pool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">time</span> in and frequent visits to the library! Oh and Popsicles.... LOTS of "pop-a-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">sicles</span>!"</div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488259226777630962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlIKaThk0EewuIp06oZj4DxvbYTc6K-13iWEXh4qEqg_OYFqnXqt90_cF-nygBgAKY3-rVwVr59i-ZqF8orjEMnkk2GRdbXBQ43fXvbMmebmrjS33av32kXCMqdKOfHp8TOjHKBNrrtEf/s320/DSC_7359.JPG" border="0" /> We have also been saying goodbye to GOOD friends... We are going to miss you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Berrey's</span>! we already do! Hope you are doing well in Oklahoma!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488259946870659122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ_MRFuOrYnqAjtyEoB69qV7SZDrLYbeSsXlTkpmkWWYNqhPm64hipDTIkX48MPFX-2EfEzYNKUugd1vknlnZ1Bi3S1-XaP_XG7kE_2y8XxuHWrRaQJleo3EKGSx_fAlRTW5TctNdDDKJ/s320/DSCN9162.JPG" border="0" /> One last trip to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Creperi</span> for Elizabeth's farewell!<br /><div align="center">( <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ps</span>. look at those calves on my little Lulu!- Grandpa will be so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">proud</span>)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488263730861913058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7KLqR5MFqDPFSixh_C5witugtSlrxGL9OhZG09Uemm8cSB50d5S_qwvBkDwjOs53OZD2Kh1oIF3nCO9-0h4oUzQwNidql6eg5ySh1ROLzteYBlc8XrJo2p_vgQGCz7qyR_FdtaLF_fxA/s320/DSCN9160.JPG" border="0" />I borrowed my neighbors camera to see if I really NEED a SLR camera.. and I do NEED one!<br /><br /><div>Here are a few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">picts</span> that I took of some of our neighbors flowers! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIIE3sDRiEJgLuIL9BGuqTimwD2oa1hCiRsjpHCfk60TGwznR2giRKl5up4oyZqbQ8xhK6EBWD82Wo8eMaQfGPEb5cDsTAZ2j9AVYEaGNVBm51ES64nI0lrJVrhp2B5Qtu7GYnuIXQah6/s1600/DSC_7295.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488256198479063570" style="WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIIE3sDRiEJgLuIL9BGuqTimwD2oa1hCiRsjpHCfk60TGwznR2giRKl5up4oyZqbQ8xhK6EBWD82Wo8eMaQfGPEb5cDsTAZ2j9AVYEaGNVBm51ES64nI0lrJVrhp2B5Qtu7GYnuIXQah6/s320/DSC_7295.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488256859389218914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCL-Hj4EzbDxclcfjotvUdsU8eyWzNT8mFbEoJCPIAa1eEhPAm1JWGjsKrK9hqame41CoFkkh9DCGZDgQERxaOdIA2JjNXkbtiw5dmwtpj6Rgph4-kSuyZWM1V3UR9HtNQFcgujo1reVi/s320/DSC_7296.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">I love this one of the trees and the flag in the background!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488258112944855266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUa15VGWnaayIvAXmXC4hoGDs5vIJO0mQUzspGTx4Yr5ErMUXCV7NIHrgRJSzoib_KjVAQCzn-mDboKYG5sciufk4UtLqdugKDTmoNPXXrzdW_MZcmBoU1085pEQkYAtR-da2L8ZMYV7c/s320/DSC_7301.JPG" border="0" /> We are anxiously awaiting our trip out to Washington where we will go again for the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">nd</span> year in a row to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Coure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">D'Alene</span>! Sometimes the knowing that we will be heading to the lake house is what keeps me going! <p>Peter got the "o.k" to be treated like a "normal" child again and a clear report from the Hematologist! We are pleased to know that our little peanut is healthy and well! <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Bruising</span> now is not a concern anymore and unless we see any abnormal bruising or bleeding he is to continue normal activity! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Yay</span> buddy! So other than those horrible molars coming in and the need to "bang" his head on anything hard when he gets mad.. we are super happy!</p><p>That is a good re-cap of what we have been doing! I will be trying to update more and will give the final weigh-in next Monday!</p><p align="center">Have a good one!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488264733026588274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw_R50qe0Zgs9s7Oh8CLEuUvw35ypZm_sZ6h6fpk2ZONKoNGa5GKE-4vpOiGvVKCdQJP58hFJ9jD0lmwHVVOLMjSq_uPTJRKPhPD5TbcdhOWG9f3hxFeADZk_uu9x522BXHcGKjxjyBcC/s320/DSC_0404+(2).JPG" border="0" /></p></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-79803982315438639112010-06-08T22:52:00.005-04:002010-06-08T23:35:24.005-04:00Day 156 of 60lbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HQ8qx6pdVlrHgzgthBIP0J6ETL9bbX4_z-rEHsRhHv5EAVxnSdXZXwd_-DimUKVeHrP7yHDJeEyrO28DISYGLHn_Y5YItHGUwLlxw2XDkVs6KCa5rizkqLU0U31pjLZelVLI5uV8xqhQ/s1600/DSC_0596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480605504962177554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HQ8qx6pdVlrHgzgthBIP0J6ETL9bbX4_z-rEHsRhHv5EAVxnSdXZXwd_-DimUKVeHrP7yHDJeEyrO28DISYGLHn_Y5YItHGUwLlxw2XDkVs6KCa5rizkqLU0U31pjLZelVLI5uV8xqhQ/s320/DSC_0596.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Did I ever tell you how much </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">I </span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">LOVE</span> </div><div align="center">this girl?</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAMb_Eag3pHX249jrdxfiKs6m2f4vEspWoDjC9V3JG5YaifpZ18dfYEzY9x9O9Yj_vrpz4hg_PQ6TGhflGrphDZUk_9bat_4F50lMYlBEKo8a1caEfsoQafjou_NjcsnITSus7EBfAdSx/s1600/DSC_0594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480605196034688354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAMb_Eag3pHX249jrdxfiKs6m2f4vEspWoDjC9V3JG5YaifpZ18dfYEzY9x9O9Yj_vrpz4hg_PQ6TGhflGrphDZUk_9bat_4F50lMYlBEKo8a1caEfsoQafjou_NjcsnITSus7EBfAdSx/s320/DSC_0594.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We walked 4.8 miles this morning with the "B" girls.</div><div align="center">Barker, <a href="http://jensamb.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Bright</span></a><span style="color:#3366ff;">,</span> and <a href="http://theberreys.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Berrey</span></a><span style="color:#cc33cc;"> </span>to exact.</div><div align="center">And with all of our adorable babies!</div><div align="center">We always attract attention in one way or another.</div><div align="center">Today we attracted the kind of attention that was of the, "umm, that comment/compliment was a little uncomfortable and akward, and if you were actually attractive then maybe that would have been flattering but from you it was slightly creepy and weird"- kind of way. </div><div align="center">You know? </div><div align="center">Well, the almost 5 miles proved to be stretching it out for the kids a little and we ended up running the last 1/2 mile plus. Our legs were tired and feeling it towards the end but the weather was just too perfect to sell our selves short of soaking up every last bit.. and thus we did!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Happy sunny cool days to you!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And one more thing:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><span style="color:#009900;">B</span>o<span style="color:#009900;">s</span>t<span style="color:#009900;">o</span>n</em> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">better show up tonight!</span></div><div align="center"></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-58507262769424729292010-06-02T09:28:00.003-04:002010-06-04T11:07:23.386-04:00Day 150 of 60lbs<div>I bought a new nail polish color yesterday... </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff9900;">m</span><span style="color:#ff9900;">elon Sorbet</span></span>. </div><br /><div>It is divine. The perfect summer color. It looks adorable with my bronzed body. Ha</div><br /><div>But with my brown <span style="color:#ff0000;">r</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">a</span>inbows it kind of "pops" and I like it. It's the little things you know.</div><br /><div>Speaking of little things...</div><br /><div>Lucy -little as she is- can belt out the chorus to the Beibster, you know that song that was like #1 on the charts for like six hundred days in a row... "Baby" </div><br /><div>I have some video and I will post it when I get it onto the computer and off of my phone! It is absolutely hysterical and adorable and I just can't get enough of her doing it!</div><br /><div>She also is doing lots of little naughty things... and my paitence is wearing extremely thin and has been lost at times. But we are trying and determined to succeed in our parenting efforts!</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>I woke up without a voice yesterday. And the only part of my voice that could be even remotely available for anyone other than dogs to hear was as deep as the pacific ocean on the worst stormy day. Horrible. Nasty. </div><br /><div>I did however make it to the gym and it felt "oh so good" on my body. Today my quads are super sore from the billion squats I did. The scale was in my favor and it made things that much more energetic!</div><br /><div> I watched Jillian's new show last night </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;">"Losing It, with Jillian Michaels"</span></div><br /><div>At first, I thought, wow this is pretty cool. Then it was a little intense, like really intense, really staged and a little akward to watch. And then it kind of leveled out and there was moments of tenderness. All in all, I think I will watch it again, but not very hopefull that it will make it too many more seasons.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-89922711168121030602010-05-31T09:59:00.002-04:002010-05-31T10:19:28.763-04:00Memorial Day of 60lbsWell...<br />I kind of fell of my bandwagon last night.<br />I drank a Diet Coke.<br />And it was lovely.... truly LOVELY!<br />The best part about it was that I know that I am just fine without it for long durations of time.<br />I don't want it quite like I used to. And that is wonderful.<br />I succommed to the temptation before 6 months but I am okay with that. I did experience a moment of weakness when I decided to open the can... but it ended with a sense of triumph of strength!<br /><br /><br />Back to business this week.- working out business. Jillian is calling my name to the gym and I got one of my fitness magazines in the mail with some pretty cool new ideas for toning for summer.<br /><br />Is anyone else thinking about deleting Facebook? What is all the controversy? Should I take picts down of the kids? Delete conversations? Hmmm<br />I tried Craigslist for the first time advertising the sale of this house and now my inbox is flooded with what seems to be "fishy" emails. I am deleting them all.<br />Why is this world wide web so freaking awesome and downright horrible all at the same time?<br />Time to detox from FB, craigslist, blogger, email??????<br />My head is not only filled with conflicting thoughts of "how much is too much?" to share but the green snot that is blocking the sinuses is in the way too!!!<br />ahhhhh<br />My kids are currently taking advantage of my computer time and have successfully unloaded every drawer full of clothes and all books- and there are alot of them- are on the floor in a humungous pile that they are climbing on with much enthusiasm. AHHHH summm!<br />Have a wonderful memorial day.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-32452915791593604802010-05-27T22:06:00.012-04:002010-05-27T22:55:55.973-04:00day who knows of 60lbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYU3ZCm_7Md9xxDapY42pojK4dJsls6_W3InFGOpk0Yoy8P4Pl5cegUd932FtWd4ywh9PYQIcUUEkPEAWOurckHyJZd92oXDo9i_0NLvzkpCq4L5XxQRRRfL8dFr3UnGoZqKTjWyGOnOf/s1600/DSC_7335.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476147242315902834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYU3ZCm_7Md9xxDapY42pojK4dJsls6_W3InFGOpk0Yoy8P4Pl5cegUd932FtWd4ywh9PYQIcUUEkPEAWOurckHyJZd92oXDo9i_0NLvzkpCq4L5XxQRRRfL8dFr3UnGoZqKTjWyGOnOf/s320/DSC_7335.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>I have seriously been slacking on my documentation of my weight loss goal, the weight is still dropping, ( not as quickly as I had hoped but either way, still on the decline!)<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>On another note... Summer seems to be in full swing.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>We have successfully been without the heater for 3 weeks now and the air-conditioner is working mighty fine! The humidity is quite possibly going to drive me insane along with the mosquitos, but a little "Off" and it's go time!</div><br /><br /><div>I woke up a few days ago and read a <a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/">blog</a> that I have fallen in love with and decided just like <a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/">Kelle</a>, that this too was going to be a summer to remember! I love love love the sunshine, water and popsicles, oh and the baseball games (d-backs are the fav)! We have been soaking it up. all. week. and I have a thousand pictures to prove it. I will spare a thousand pictures but I will put up some favorites!</div><br /><br /><div>Waking up, watering flowers, a nice 5 mile walk with the ladies and babies, dips in the pool.<br />Sunshine makes for lovely long naps after lunch. </div><br /><br /><div>A little blonde haried 3 year old and the cutest red-headed 1 year old wake up with the most intense desire to go right back out for round 2 of water and sunshine. I just can't help it.... if there is sunshine and warmth... let's be outside. </div><br /><br /><div>There is always a scent of BBQ within range of my senses. Breathe in. Delish.</div><br /><br /><div>The smell of sunscreen lingers until bathtime and then we lather up with Burt's best! Nothing smells better on my babies!</div><br /><br /><div>I love sitting on the bed at night and feeling the coolness that the ceiling fan has to offer. </div><br /><br /><div>Summertime really is delightful!</div><br /><br /><div>There is sunshine in my soul.</div><br /><br /><div>So happy that this will stay around for a few months. We are going to soak it up!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-PiWkFvGfAq8bhK8SsqatWxlDCvlKGX1kTcYx-BpACqgrXtUuc-4CuwKAK8YgtG5Fmn920HD5-6x7bFdgp_BDm71J7Vvr-SJWFonCU0JMmkjR4wjD74dUPaHv7oTSfnLT8ZbcIISWcGw/s1600/DSC_7137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476142320451631970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-PiWkFvGfAq8bhK8SsqatWxlDCvlKGX1kTcYx-BpACqgrXtUuc-4CuwKAK8YgtG5Fmn920HD5-6x7bFdgp_BDm71J7Vvr-SJWFonCU0JMmkjR4wjD74dUPaHv7oTSfnLT8ZbcIISWcGw/s320/DSC_7137.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476142974692958370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINGKUNVfjLpII0pdpFaSy659TgLfnd9N_PkR6lbvGFk4PgUkyepcdhW9oxAb6Fkpt-esoVB0yBGEGA3gVA9KbjUyOf34pz98dVz9jbDWnwJL7bXqYVmyCFkFSqW6Q51nf567unMkmFbvM/s320/DSC_7153.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUHO-_6rh66VBKlELJ2wl3T9Q6cuXDX2JKqU5Nj-j4gwICzBy9MBUpTdK5oqDrBDMP_WY6qAXAc0X6ete2LLfs3zuxIhdRGwnYAMluF4eUPWaEkEOsCXONiVJ4Y1Fh6bNCk87RmLcVVxL/s1600/DSC_7162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476143433578643458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUHO-_6rh66VBKlELJ2wl3T9Q6cuXDX2JKqU5Nj-j4gwICzBy9MBUpTdK5oqDrBDMP_WY6qAXAc0X6ete2LLfs3zuxIhdRGwnYAMluF4eUPWaEkEOsCXONiVJ4Y1Fh6bNCk87RmLcVVxL/s320/DSC_7162.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476144060532400690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8OQPDAVqMHvwayTUvPZuUAg0UfOMSOI5PJPf_poFq8ILOwUc9H5xKMWwVOVbdqyAjSGplrRqnWakfLazgH-4xq5g8Bi8EfRrbnt0rlr_Dy14ira-M4oZjoZf_dEHVIh_L6ngkrhaY4Ju/s320/DSC_7199.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBok_leSRWs5LZhi_NxwbQs8l7q-bN0oPvQ5BwtOxE8oY9RDyD3tBGXGb1Rl3c70PRwQYRwlXKsGADYbdwuql-R4-EYEmNfR-Mjg1QU55cR5gJig-RDd6icyex4lDP1B8cEc3h2migcqy/s1600/DSC_7256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476144469600410514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBok_leSRWs5LZhi_NxwbQs8l7q-bN0oPvQ5BwtOxE8oY9RDyD3tBGXGb1Rl3c70PRwQYRwlXKsGADYbdwuql-R4-EYEmNfR-Mjg1QU55cR5gJig-RDd6icyex4lDP1B8cEc3h2migcqy/s320/DSC_7256.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eAAZiO-qjsjcvP796TMk_a-sefgkBnQXtZn7DopB0yE71Xj8j0DktZSxdVKBq-2qdXXRtlrekSb_igbK0IluVx-W5wNgKAw2lsIKzhERvpWR98AoKpeJiI7ruc_dFZ8yr1h-4pQW-6ym/s1600/DSC_7317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476146754368624018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eAAZiO-qjsjcvP796TMk_a-sefgkBnQXtZn7DopB0yE71Xj8j0DktZSxdVKBq-2qdXXRtlrekSb_igbK0IluVx-W5wNgKAw2lsIKzhERvpWR98AoKpeJiI7ruc_dFZ8yr1h-4pQW-6ym/s320/DSC_7317.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476144874301402946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKNEnU12Ye1sy9SkBR71DyT2owwNsn4R2n8YULdYyZc4Duw_vqOukTW0HFr-TIJPWLKesaxMEmQLp_XN8PtH2JxYX6hkTSTU86LYlEbvmhTfigk_00_kqk2lyS3Qlk9mFnh13onTz5Zoe/s320/DSC_7273.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br />Oh and one more "super" thing... I found a "Superman" shirt that is to.die.for.sexy for Superman. I will snap a few shots of him in his aviators... take my breath away! Yum. Stay tuned for that one.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-49929601035912433932010-05-10T09:06:00.003-04:002010-05-10T09:17:23.043-04:00Day 125 of 60lbs<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Good morning Monday morning.<br /></span></div>Mondays always start off so fresh and full of energy for me. And when the sun is shining it is that much more propelling into what lies ahead for the week.<br />Working people tend to fret Monday's coming... and although I am on round the clock duty, Monday is just that much more thrilling because it is a start to anew.<br />Sunday is our day to rest and that probably has a bit to do with how Monday can seem a little more thrilling.<br />So here we are Monday morning and I am feeling especially hopeful that I will do better.<br />I pleaded in my prayers last night that I might find the energy to accomplish the things that I have time to think about in my thoughts. I get these really motivated thoughts and excited about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fulfilling</span> them and then when it comes time to execute.. the energy is not as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pungent</span> as it was in my original thoughts.<br />So here is to my energy being full all week and able to accomplish the things that are important to me both physically mentally emotionally and spiritually. ( not necessarily in any order)<br />Happy Monday.... I am going to learn to play tennis today! Thanks to<a href="http://www.jensamb.blogspot.com/"> Jenny!</a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-39757355915425038812010-04-30T08:58:00.005-04:002010-04-30T09:22:39.430-04:00Day 115 of 60lbs<div><br /><br /><div>You know how sometimes your life swirls around you?</div><br /><br /><div>Well that seems to be what is happening to my life recently.</div><br /><br /><div>Except, I am present, and enjoying life rather than just letting it pass me by.</div><br /><br /><div>And thankfully so.</div><br /><br /><div>Don't get me wrong... some days are quite challenging. </div><br /><br /><div>Especially when you make visits to the Emergency room, or try to coordinate family picture outfits, or when the stubborness of a certain 3 year old is rooted so deep you have to dig your way to China to soften them up- everything is made in China nowadays right?- or when you have to try to keep the cutest <span style="color:#ff0000;">Red</span> head- who is just learning to toddle- from getting the slightest bump or fall. ( strict instructions from the above mentioned ER visit)</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465919538159691730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jRb9amg2-xu7aDLBXT91ctKISE2H1r46xjvEj1mf0d_LY47RRLkpqwUIMCTKu8hlxfMO9Mhltv3FYLnnOAbAn4ynGt9c3puvd4b7mTRJaoIGRIRhkcLPRfH8WUjoN1NEMCnxeLZk2A8s/s320/family+picts+april+2010.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>And then somedays are so exhilirating.</div><br /><br /><div>The days when I say to Lucy " your so gorgeous" (all dramatic like)</div><br /><br /><div>and she says <span style="font-size:180%;"><em>"NOOOOOO your so GORGEOUS mama"</em></span> ( I'll take it- dramatics and all)</div><br /><br /><div>When we get to go on super long walks with super awesome friends.</div><br /><br /><div>The days when we ride around the neighborhood and take in the beautiful-ness of these <span style="color:#000099;">West</span> <span style="color:#ffff33;">Virginia</span> hills, and the beauty that spring has to offer. Really not much can compare to this kind of beauty. Everything just seems right with the world when the spring is in full force.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>I am in a good place right now, and although things are not as progressed as far a long as I would like them too with my goals as far as weight loss goes, I am okay with that right now. I am still on the losing track and am thankful that I am able to have some balance right now. Even if this takes me 8 months or 10 months I am going to keep on going. Because keep on going is what we have to do right? </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>When this life starts swirling... just keep twirling.</em></span> </div><div align="center">And that is just what I am doing.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465919097504692786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 449px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OyajVQeT55pDnY0N6qWLWh5evpnu2V4TsstYPi4n_8D4oMhuUqLH7WDvX-j-slo2U-whtq_3fUj_ulkYrKYeWe400yMUBny0K3GfH9pYtuOIhLOl-nkh1cXs37BEtD03CaNIa8fIN6UD/s320/family+picts+2+april+2010.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-41809324490610295112010-04-23T23:25:00.004-04:002010-04-24T00:11:51.940-04:00Happy Birthday<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#993399;">Happy Birthday</span> </span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">to our first born.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">Our sweet little blonde beauty.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Our sassy little doll babe.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Our little Lucy Lou. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Our sweet and sometimes REALLY sour <span style="font-size:180%;">BIG</span> sister.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Daddy's little girl. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(tightly wrapped around her pinky)</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><em>Miss Independent.</em></span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">The one that I look at and think,</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">"oh, this is what revenge is."<br /></span>The one that I look at and think how could my life ever amounted to ANYTHING without you.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">She is so many things. Beauty and Grace. Sass and Frass. Laughter and Seriousness- </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">just like her mama. </span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">She still asks me to tell her about when she was a baby. I tell it to her the same every time. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">She likes the part when I say she was kicking inside of me and I knew she was getting ready to come. Then I tell her about getting into the birthing tub and then she came out to meet us. Daddy held her in the pink blanket and we called and told everyone that we had a new baby girl named </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">"Lucy Ann"</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center">We kissed her on her little button nose and then brought her home. Kona- the dog, sniffed her little face. -She especially likes the part when we pretend to be Kona sniffing her face. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">She giggles and says ,"do it again!"</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">She has so much to live for and experience and we are so proud to be her parents. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">We love you Lucy</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463551598450253682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jtSwjwXEhkbeRbwCsQ4VXrDDN1A_gOmlUxsWub5QQKiE3vy8LM41oi7Ro5Y4xHfpUoKy06o7YScdVO1_bwN6EZ3zIf94qlzff8Klh5oqyCL5ILin2LLKVswUhR3EkNshNs8msEmf8RPL/s320/Lucy's+3rd+Birthday+024.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy 3rd Birthday.</span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411770892035954663.post-38876365653293310662010-04-21T09:41:00.008-04:002010-04-21T21:46:56.367-04:00Day 105-106 of 60lbs<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTOu_5UUZXk6BoJYqOqpGuMW9C4TIOYPMQ_LF6b5hVFh-oGVnYxRCM3DBU1jl51NGRQiAmoUVpVqwsQwu3IUdw6kH0KzrB0oAsWi-wE03zhLXmpIsy7v5P9ZU6ChWCZyNxExBmaBBc7dT/s1600/house+and+elephant+walk+picts+012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462653362891898162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 6px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 6px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTOu_5UUZXk6BoJYqOqpGuMW9C4TIOYPMQ_LF6b5hVFh-oGVnYxRCM3DBU1jl51NGRQiAmoUVpVqwsQwu3IUdw6kH0KzrB0oAsWi-wE03zhLXmpIsy7v5P9ZU6ChWCZyNxExBmaBBc7dT/s320/house+and+elephant+walk+picts+012.JPG" border="0" /></a>I am writing this post this morning... but I am going to refrence yesterday. A little behind once again, but still... here I am just as promised.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday started out early. Not too early but I was putting on mascara and using the straightening iron 3 hours before usual so, early.<br /><br /><br />Superman had a tonsilectomy by Dr. Spork yesterday. I like the Dr.'s name so I thought I would give a shout-out. He was tall, white haired and wore really fancy white shoes with a surgery cap that had all sorts of hot sauce's printed on it. While I was waiting for superman to get out of surgery and holding the cutest red-head who was flirting with all the oldest people on the face of the earth in the 1day surgery center... we decided to take a walk to the Farmer's market. I browsed around and bought some Agave nectar and thought about buying Dr. Hotsauce some special tabasco. I ended up buying some really fancy rock-candy lollipops for the Princess' birthday on Friday... the man told me they were 60 cents each.... so I picked out 10. I then realized that I just spent 6 dollars on lollipops. Oh dear. Oh well... they are super cute.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Superman is recovering just fine and all went well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lucy was playing at J.J's house and he taught her how wiz outside like a boy... trouble is... SHE is NOT a boy. Hence, a new change of clothes and a strict "Lucy, you ONLY use the toliet." She gets it now. I think.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then nighttime befell on us and brought a crisp breeze. So lovely. And then the smell of the rain. Ahh.<br /><br /><br />Dinner was over, baths were given, binkas in place and then snuggle time with songs and prayers. Out like a light.<br /><br /><br />Time for Biggest Loser.<br /><br /><br />***** NOT******<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />time for a phone call.<br /><br /><br />****ring ring ring****<br /><br /><br />Hello.<br /><br /><br />Hi, you have the house for sale on 27th street and Shawnee Circle, is that right?<br /><br /><br />Yes, we do.<br /><br /><br />blah blah blah- a bunch of stuff about the house<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This phone call was special though.<br /><br /><br />And not so much in a I have a feeling that this REALLY OLD GUY is going to buy it up paying with cash way, but more in a Ike Gamin sort of way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You see I spoke with Ike Gamin last night for an hour and a half.<br /><br /><br />I know absolutely every possible thing about this man.<br /><br /><br />I know his 4 daughters names, their spouses names, where they went to college, how much money they had in their bank accounts, where they lived growing up, where they live now, who their mother is and when she died, that their mother was an alcoholic and a smoker, that NO MATTER what Ike did he could "NEVER please that woman!"even when she told him that she wanted to paint the entire 3rd story of their home PINK, so he surprised her while she was on vacation and had 4 painters come in and paint the entire 3rd floor pink- and when she came home she was NOT happy- she wanted a different color of pink- but "Lois, their is only one shade of pink." - not to her their wasn't. Now she wanted pink carpet to match. "Whatever you want" he told me, he told her.<br /><br /><br />Then Ike told me how he has found the most amazing woman in the world. Her name is Patricia. "I would jump off the Kanawha City Bridge at high noon if she told me too." She is so amazing. He bought Patricia a ring...not just any ring. A 2.5 karat emerald with another 3 total karats surrounding in diamonds that was a thirty-two thousand dollar ring. But he is a bargain shopper and only paid ten thousand for it. Patricia wont wear it on her 3rd finger on her left hand just the 3rd finger on her right hand. According to Patricia's daughter- who is Ike's homecare nurse- Patricia loves Ike but won't tell him. Ike won't ask Patricia to marry him until she starts showing some reciprocation to Ike's feelings and affections. By the way Patricia told me that I had better not call during one of her conversations with one of her girlfriends.<br /><br /><br />Patricia is the deciding vote here.<br /><br /><br />-sounds to me like Patricia is calling all the shots-<br /><br /><br />The house and street that Patricia lives on was formerly named something else. Until Mayor Danny Jones called her up one day and said we are going to rename your street to Belcher Street. Patricia and all of her children plus others in her extended family live on what is now known as Belcher Street.<br /><br /><br />( my gut tells me that Patricia will not want to move)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462657113760527858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 398px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV2pT4tXC5MHMORtIBM1-lAMEGqpjZnr3IpVFPszPxVfu_2lPX5ykziJdmT516v3nHLVMJhZABKIdTmEvTJO6iEeEfyZcEVyhHc1SAs11uZO_4Q-OclU2iLzZqfQ2j5XWx8dMPTJRxETV/s320/house+and+elephant+walk+picts+012.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(a picture that I took today of Mayor Danny Jones at the Elephant walk this morning.)</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">I was a very VERY successful insurance agent, he told me. I won lots of awards. Top Agent of the year. The Blackjack dealers at Harrah's know me by name and I them. We have been to every major city in the United States and Las Vegas 7 times. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Dear... don't be offended please by me calling you dear or honey.. it is a term of endearment, and I use it casually like Mr. or Mrs."<br /><br /><br />"I like you" he said over and over to me. I like to have conversations with intelligent people and especially those who know what they are talking about.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />.....Are you tired yet?<br /><br /><br />I am .. and this is twice re-lived now.<br /><br /><br />Remember this went on for an hour and a half. But I actually had to be responsive.<br /><br /><br />and... oh and there is a HUGE <span style="font-size:180%;">and....</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Ike doesn't hear very well. Not very well at all. So I had to talk at decibel three-thousand. <span style="font-size:180%;">the.entire.time.</span></div><br /><br />My head hurt and kind of still does.<br /><br /><br />I barely made it back in time to see the final vote off of Victoria from Biggest Loser.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As tiring as the conversation was and as little hope that I have that Patricia will actually let Ike buy this house I think that I really liked my conversation with Ike. <em>I like Ike.<br /></em><br /><br />He would be just the very thing that our neighbors have asked we NOT do... the neighbors want a young couple preferably with children. Not old people, not like the Dutchess who lives on the corner of Virgina and Shawnee Circle.- whom by the way is Ike's friend. Are you suprised? I didn't think so.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After I put my cell phone on the charging station I grabbed some kettle chips and had a few bites of ice cream.<br /><br /><br />I did not go to the gym. I did not eat well at all today- or for the last 3 if I am being honest.<br /><br /><br />I missed BL which is a motivator for me and I need a little push in the right direction to get me back on track.<br /><br /><br />PUSH PUSH PUSH....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18441517010608661380noreply@blogger.com4