tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291041952024-03-13T09:29:09.424-04:00Embellish LifeJonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-33000276284214373492011-09-01T21:50:00.002-04:002011-09-01T21:50:25.424-04:00Why I Don't Blog Any MoreYeah, if you have been following this blog for a while, you've probably noticed that it is dead. It has passed on. It has ceased to be. If it wasn't nailed to its perch, it would be pushing up the daisies.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's why.<br />
<br />
<b>Numero Uno</b>. It's 2011, and I am on the Facebook. That's actually a much easier way to share photos, hilarious kid stories, and the many profound thoughts I have on an almost hourly basis. It takes me like 10 seconds to update my FB status, even with our ultra slow internet. It used to take me 45 minutes to an hour to write a blog post, especially when Blogger didn't want me sharing pictures.<br />
<br />
And in truth, if you look at my blogroll over on the side there, you'll notice that I'm not the only one who's stopped blogging. So I'm not going to feel guilty about it. If you haven't already, friend me on Facebook - I promise I'll make you laugh.<br />
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<b>Numero Dos</b>. My friend and I <a href="http://www.kindredthread.com/">kind of started a business</a>, and it takes up almost all of my time. (In a good way.) A lot of my other hobbies like scrapbooking, writing, *<i>cough</i>*cleaningmyhouse*<i>cough</i>* have taken a backseat. And I am truly okay with that - as weird as it sounds, I think that creating and selling upscale American Girl doll clothes is what I need to be doing at this time in my life.<br />
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I actually <a href="http://embellishlife.blogspot.com/2006/09/pride-has-color-and-its-plaid.html">started learning how to sew</a> the same summer I commenced this blog. Funny how the one has now eclipsed the other - back in 2006, I'd never have guessed.Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-90295769069472148352011-09-01T21:49:00.000-04:002011-09-01T21:49:03.248-04:00Why I Don't Blog Any MoreYeah, if you have been following this blog for a while, you've probably noticed that it is dead. It has passed on. It has ceased to be. If it wasn't nailed to its perch, it would be pushing up the daisies.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's why.<br />
<br />
<b>Numero Uno</b>. It's 2011, and I am on the Facebook. That's actually a much easier way to share photos, hilarious kid stories, and the many profound thoughts I have on an almost hourly basis. It takes me like 10 seconds to update my FB status, even with our ultra slow internet. It used to take me 45 minutes to an hour to write a blog post, especially when Blogger didn't want me sharing pictures.<br />
<br />
<b>Numero Dos</b>. My friend and I <a href="http://www.kindredthread.com/">kind of started a business</a>, and it takes up almost all of my time. (In a good way.) A lot of my other hobbies like scrapbooking, writing, *<i>cough</i>*cleaningmyhouse*<i>cough</i>* have taken a backseat. And I am truly okay with that - as weird as it sounds, I think that creating and selling upscale American Girl doll clothes is what I need to be doing at this time in my life.<br />
<br />
I actually <a href="http://embellishlife.blogspot.com/2006/09/pride-has-color-and-its-plaid.html">started learning how to sew</a> the same summer I commenced this blog. Funny how the one has now eclipsed the other - back in 2006, I'd never have guessed.Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-31530151496417079122011-01-09T21:58:00.007-05:002011-01-11T07:06:19.219-05:00...No, there is too much. Let me sum up.I. Had bronchitis all November. Spent time alternately coughing/sleeping/begging for death. Got over it.<div><br /></div><div>II. Thanksgiving. Kevin & Celeste, Catherine & Matt, Mike & Mandy & Associates. There was much turkey; also, football.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3fk5Z5SI/AAAAAAAADv8/8lpTQ6EDDPk/s1600/100_6522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3fk5Z5SI/AAAAAAAADv8/8lpTQ6EDDPk/s320/100_6522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560388074306397474" /></a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3f_oHkwI/AAAAAAAADwE/Q1o9Fl0ETxU/s1600/100_6523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3f_oHkwI/AAAAAAAADwE/Q1o9Fl0ETxU/s320/100_6523.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560388081481650946" /></a><br /></div><div>III. Met up for realsies with my internet friend Meg - my psychic twin in many ways, except that she works for Duke.</div><div><br /></div><div>IV. Turned 31. Got $ for fabric (Matt's parents) and a ruffle foot (Matt). Ruffle foot has been removed from packaging; that's about it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3gUIm1UI/AAAAAAAADwM/Wq0lJiVwR2o/s1600/100_6589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3gUIm1UI/AAAAAAAADwM/Wq0lJiVwR2o/s320/100_6589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560388086986626370" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>V. Finished epic custom order of American Girl sewing. V. proud of self.</div><div><br /></div><div>VI. Betsy's 8th birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div>VII. Matt's parents arrived for 12 day visit. Used them almost immediately for free babysitting: Matt and I had 10th anniversary. Went to Macaroni Grill for dinner; got free dessert upon showing waitress pics of our wedding lunch at (different) Macaroni Grill.</div><div><br /></div><div>VIII. Betsy's 8th birthday party. Collective noun for a group of 8 year old girl: a squee.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3hE1F84I/AAAAAAAADwc/5BXcwQi1B4I/s1600/100_6631.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3hE1F84I/AAAAAAAADwc/5BXcwQi1B4I/s320/100_6631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560388100058116994" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>IX. Molly and Dad came out for Betsy's baptism. Saw 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' with Molls. Epic.</div><div><br /></div><div>X. Betsy's baptism. Cutest girl ever. Could not be prouder.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4hXDRG4I/AAAAAAAADwk/CPoGCohk06w/s1600/baptism.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4hXDRG4I/AAAAAAAADwk/CPoGCohk06w/s320/baptism.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560389204461034370" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>XI. Many cookies prepared; consumed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3g75VniI/AAAAAAAADwU/DNxPOP0Z2FU/s1600/100_6563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp3g75VniI/AAAAAAAADwU/DNxPOP0Z2FU/s320/100_6563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560388097660001826" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>XII. Snow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4iGpQwOI/AAAAAAAADw0/aseR6mxOEpo/s1600/100_6645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4iGpQwOI/AAAAAAAADw0/aseR6mxOEpo/s320/100_6645.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560389217236861154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4h_Xy90I/AAAAAAAADws/sWRbvVkayMM/s1600/100_6656.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSp4h_Xy90I/AAAAAAAADws/sWRbvVkayMM/s320/100_6656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560389215284557634" /></a></div><br />XIII. Christmas Eve 'All the snacks in the world' at Mike & Mandy's house. There was goat cheese, and then there wasn't because I ate it all.<div><br /></div><div>XIV. Christmas Day. Many photos taken. Kids love toys.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2y-d18LI/AAAAAAAADxw/ZY-SStqljQc/s1600/100_6687.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2y-d18LI/AAAAAAAADxw/ZY-SStqljQc/s320/100_6687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560598414308536498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2ykxCAHI/AAAAAAAADxo/8Mrzude8Pbk/s1600/100_6683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2ykxCAHI/AAAAAAAADxo/8Mrzude8Pbk/s320/100_6683.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560598407409696882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2ybC098I/AAAAAAAADxg/z8G5O5LiiK4/s1600/100_6680.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2ybC098I/AAAAAAAADxg/z8G5O5LiiK4/s320/100_6680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560598404799985602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2yK_u8jI/AAAAAAAADxY/nD_a_n3PH0k/s1600/100_6676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2yK_u8jI/AAAAAAAADxY/nD_a_n3PH0k/s320/100_6676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560598400492040754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2xkszGtI/AAAAAAAADxQ/V3ByzOHfODI/s1600/100_6672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TSs2xkszGtI/AAAAAAAADxQ/V3ByzOHfODI/s320/100_6672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560598390212074194" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>XV. Saw 'Wicked' with Matt on Christmas Night. Wore foxy new clothes from husband. 'Popular' stuck in head for approx. 72 hrs.</div><div><br /></div><div>XVI. In-laws back to Utah.</div><div><br /></div><div>XVII. Watched HBO's 'The Pacific.' First half = bleh; second half = almost as good as BoB.</div><div><br /></div><div>XVIII. New Year's Eve: cheese fondue, <i>Jurassic Park</i> (Porter's new obsession). Not resolutions, but goals:</div><div><ul><li>Sew one thing for ME a month;</li><li>Get Amy potty trained;</li><li>Find a job.</li></ul><div>XIV. Happy 2011!</div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-33686904028297253152010-11-06T09:40:00.009-04:002010-11-06T11:09:17.753-04:00Home againWe've been home from Disney World for a week. Actually, more than a week - we got in on Friday night (the Friday before the Halloween that we ignored). What I've been doing since then is, mainly, laundry. Despite the cuteness of my blog header, I actually fully despise laundry. I hate it so much that I once created a scrapbook page about how much I hate laundry... and then <i>had that scrapbook page published</i>. And the absolute worst thing about a vacation is that it requires about 693 loads of laundry. See, before you leave, you have to wash Everything. Then pack it into suitcases. Then when you get home you have to get it OUT of the suitcases again (and the suitcases now smell like stinky laundry - thank goodness for Febreze) and sort it and wash it all AGAIN. And, mind you, even a three day vacation is responsible for creating this phenomenon... and we were gone for a full week.<div><br /></div><div>(Interestingly, the same thing applies with cleaning out the car. You have to clean and vacuum and Febreze the whole car before you leave... and then again after you get home, because the van is full of lost Cheerios and dried up french fries and empty water bottles and lost raisins and tiny Legos and all the marker caps that I would have liked to have found BEFORE the markers in question all dried up, but whatever. And the van is starting to acquite a distinct 'odor' now that it's approaching 90,000 miles. Fortunately, my dear husband has graciously put himself in charge of car cleaning and de-stinking, as it's sort of an extension of automotive maintenance. If you stand on your head, and squint.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Another one of the tasks following any vacation, but especially 6 days in Disney World, is dealing with all the photos. Now, digital is a boon for a lot of reasons, but I swear our computer is so slow, it <i>almost</i> takes as long to get the USB port to realize there is something plugged into it, as it did to drop off film (remember film?) and wait a week and pick up your photos. I blame Windows Vista. But we do have a lot of photos - I took 257, which actually didn't feel like that much spread out over 6 days (well, 5 1/2 days really) crammed into the park, and Matt took a lot of video. Although most of his video didn't count because his camera was somehow turned on in his pocket and recorded for two and a half hours. And our video isn't terribly high quality. We do have a nice camera that we bought in 2003, so it shoots 8mm tapes, but Matt didn't want to bring that because it's complicated and takes up space. So for his birthday I found him the cheapest digital video camera ever - it was $25 at Big Lots - that he could stick in his shorts pocket and use on our trip. But when you buy a camera for $25, the resolution isn't terribly high. Still, we didn't have <i>any</i> video from our previous trip (in 2007, the one where I was pregnant with Amy and couldn't ride my favorite rides) so this was an improvement.</div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway, the point to all this rambly, introductory-type stuff is: Look! Pictures! Yes, last time we went to Disney I wrote massively long posts detailing each and every one of our days in the park. I probably won't this time because a) you will get bored, and b) I just don't blog as much as I used to. There, I said it. I blame the fact that I learned how to sew and now I have more hobbies than I can conceivably make time for. But anyway: Look! Pictures!</div><div><br /></div><div>(These won't be in any semblance of order, because Blogger always thoughtfully jumbles them around when uploading, and after 4 1/2 years of having a blog, I am sick of trying to fix it.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvz_CPNI/AAAAAAAADow/2N8-NFZQ5Aw/s1600/100_6290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvz_CPNI/AAAAAAAADow/2N8-NFZQ5Aw/s320/100_6290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536436591934979282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Betsy's all time favorite ride: the Rock & Roller Coaster (Featuring Aerosmith). Yes, my first baby is big enough to ride on a ride that goes upside down. Sigh.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvd43joI/AAAAAAAADoo/FSJyIHPytco/s1600/100_6281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvd43joI/AAAAAAAADoo/FSJyIHPytco/s320/100_6281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536436586003533442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I just really like this picture. We were waiting for the Beauty & the Beast show and having a frozen pink lemonade (except Porter, who wouldn't drink it on the grounds that it was pink) and I think I had just gotten off the phone with Catherine. This was our first full day in the park and we were really living it up.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvLxEreI/AAAAAAAADog/K36pX8QmZ84/s1600/100_6277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfvLxEreI/AAAAAAAADog/K36pX8QmZ84/s320/100_6277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536436581139000802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Family photo by the Muppets fountain. It's a family tradition, in the sense that I had a picture taken there (by myself) on my first trip to Disney when I was 17, so every time I've been back, I've had to repeat it. First with Matt (honeymoon), then with the 2 kids, now with all 3.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also note that in the above picture, I am wearing my Route 66 skirt. I've mentioned before that every time I wear that skirt, I get a ton of comments on it. Interestingly enough, the same holds true even in Hollywood Studios, where there are a LOT of interesting things to look at - I <i>still</i> got comments on my skirt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfuz0bDJI/AAAAAAAADoY/Hlt2KgWRTc4/s1600/100_6271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfuz0bDJI/AAAAAAAADoY/Hlt2KgWRTc4/s320/100_6271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536436574710598802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The queue for the new Toy Story ride was a really neat and detailed one - and we should know, we spent about an hour and a half in it. (Don't worry, that was our longest wait by far. Mostly, we used Fastpass.) The giant Candyland board made me realize that they have changed the Candyland board more than I realized since I was a kid. Ice cream floats?! I remember that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfuj-L40I/AAAAAAAADoQ/sIhwTBUWoPE/s1600/100_6266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVfuj-L40I/AAAAAAAADoQ/sIhwTBUWoPE/s320/100_6266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536436570456580930" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amy's first time on a roller coaster - she was JUST barely tall enough for the Barnstormer. (And remember what I said about the photos being out of order, because this was our first night in the park. When Matt was making our reservation, he figured out that for an extra $12 we could get a 6 day pass instead of 5, and we could do a few hours in the Magic Kingdom the day we arrived, provided we drove really fast through Georgia and Florida. Which we did, and we got to ride Winnie the Pooh before it got closed for renovations, and Splash Mountain, and we saw the night parade and fireworks and generally got our $12 worth.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVirYO5HAI/AAAAAAAADpY/58YhmLPflPE/s1600/100_6315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVirYO5HAI/AAAAAAAADpY/58YhmLPflPE/s320/100_6315.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536439814300703746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kids coloring, at Epcot. Good thing we spent two days in the car to get there and two days back, because they certainly couldn't have stayed <i>home</i> and colored. I kid, I kid! I actually love that there are interactive/crafty things for them to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVirCpEHjI/AAAAAAAADpQ/FzHodxUlf-4/s1600/100_6309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVirCpEHjI/AAAAAAAADpQ/FzHodxUlf-4/s320/100_6309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536439808504897074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fishy faces! The Nemo ride is always a favorite (unless you are someone with <a href="http://embellishlife.blogspot.com/2008/06/that-was-week-that-was-warning.html">an irrational fear of aquariums</a>. Luckily I don't know anyone like that.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNViqplug4I/AAAAAAAADpI/Y5YsI8ixWL8/s1600/100_6306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNViqplug4I/AAAAAAAADpI/Y5YsI8ixWL8/s320/100_6306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536439801780011906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It just so happened that we were there during the Food and Wine Festival. Or just the Food Festival for us, since we are Mormons. And funny story about the big golf ball thingy: Amy thought that <i>that</i> was Epcot, and not the whole park. So whenever she saw it she'd go "Look! It's E'cot!" There is actually a ride inside, which is long and soothing and good for putting toddlers to sleep.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNViqGNq78I/AAAAAAAADpA/1qi-lr-LG28/s1600/100_6304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNViqGNq78I/AAAAAAAADpA/1qi-lr-LG28/s320/100_6304.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536439792283873218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My friend Cid got us VIP seats for Fantasmic. I wish I got to be a VIP more often. We got to walk right off to the cordoned off seats even though it was standing room only. Thanks, Cid!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Matt bought a whole bunch of glow sticks before we went - they turned out to be a great idea, not only for finding the kids when it was dark, but also for keeping them entertained when we were waiting for nighttime stuff (and we did a lot of nighttime stuff). Since we had a lot of extras, we were able to give glow sticks to other kids, too - a great way to make friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVip1AGciI/AAAAAAAADo4/aX-v8wb7nZQ/s1600/100_6296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVip1AGciI/AAAAAAAADo4/aX-v8wb7nZQ/s320/100_6296.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536439787663553058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Amy being cute. And that hat got lost somewhere. And yes, she did insist on wearing a skirt or a dress every day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVluLakBeI/AAAAAAAADqA/OAR6PhCvG2E/s1600/100_6344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVluLakBeI/AAAAAAAADqA/OAR6PhCvG2E/s320/100_6344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536443160934483426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Amy being cute again. Actually, we were just sharing a treat while waiting for Dad and the big kids to ride their turn on Soarin. But I love this picture because my baby is dang adorable, isn't she? And I love how the Florida humidity made her hair, which is normally a bit on the wavy side, <b>CURLY</b>. So cute I almost couldn't stand it - almost makes up for what the Florida humidity does to MY hair.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlt4dX-5I/AAAAAAAADp4/HiF0uUJxxps/s1600/100_6351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlt4dX-5I/AAAAAAAADp4/HiF0uUJxxps/s320/100_6351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536443155846003602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Meeting the princesses - get a load of my kids in their cute Mom-made outfits. The girls' princess dresses got a lot of comments, too. I wanted them to wear something that was princessy but still comfortable in the insane heat. I always feel sorry for the little girls who have to wear a heavy polyester costume all day long (and I guess I feel bad for the character actors, too, but at least they are getting paid).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVls2Bf1JI/AAAAAAAADpw/23NTxRfttFk/s1600/100_6350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVls2Bf1JI/AAAAAAAADpw/23NTxRfttFk/s320/100_6350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536443138012337298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Porter was insistent that he wanted nothing to do with the princesses. But he totally flirted with Sleeping Beauty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlsY29y6I/AAAAAAAADpo/759HGXQy2B0/s1600/100_6333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlsY29y6I/AAAAAAAADpo/759HGXQy2B0/s320/100_6333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536443130183535522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Watching a lady make Japanese rice candy shaped like animals. It was completely mesmerizing. I think the Japan pavilion is my favorite even though they don't have a ride or anything.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlrYkBnEI/AAAAAAAADpg/B-llM5llQ8k/s1600/100_6320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVlrYkBnEI/AAAAAAAADpg/B-llM5llQ8k/s320/100_6320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536443112924224578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Another reason to love the Japan pavilion is that they have the most adorable salesgirls who will dress up your little girl in a kimono and fix her hair and everything. And <i>again</i> I didn't buy Betsy a kimono even though I really really wanted to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmpNC2BoI/AAAAAAAADqY/BA8MQ0F4OhA/s1600/100_6387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmpNC2BoI/AAAAAAAADqY/BA8MQ0F4OhA/s320/100_6387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536444174984152706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Porter wore his Mickey Mouse shirt just for the occasion. It was a coincidence that they were both plaid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmo7QUgOI/AAAAAAAADqQ/B2QPIuiN1gw/s1600/100_6382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmo7QUgOI/AAAAAAAADqQ/B2QPIuiN1gw/s320/100_6382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536444170208837858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The nice thing about having a character meal is that you can see Mickey Mouse without having to wait in a seriously long line for the privilege of doing so. And the nice part of having Free Dining is that you get to meet characters AND have a lot of really awesome food without having to pay for either. Also, we had a really great server at the Garden Grill and I am using the word 'really' a lot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmol1tleI/AAAAAAAADqI/MAMwnwQMaGg/s1600/100_6378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVmol1tleI/AAAAAAAADqI/MAMwnwQMaGg/s320/100_6378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536444164460090850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dale was the silly chipmunk. He made my kids laugh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnoj0Aq_I/AAAAAAAADrA/AA8j24kshgc/s1600/100_6403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnoj0Aq_I/AAAAAAAADrA/AA8j24kshgc/s320/100_6403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536445263427709938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We didn't necessarily plan to have three character meals in a row, but that's how it worked out. And I know it doesn't look like it here, but Amy actually loved the characters. What she doesn't love is having her picture take (she's not too keen on bib-wearing, either).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnoVWMV5I/AAAAAAAADq4/FZYnIGfiMsI/s1600/100_6397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnoVWMV5I/AAAAAAAADq4/FZYnIGfiMsI/s320/100_6397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536445259544549266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We promised our kids Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles, and the Crystal Palace delivered.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnnt-7SDI/AAAAAAAADqw/EOotKppL3SQ/s1600/100_6395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnnt-7SDI/AAAAAAAADqw/EOotKppL3SQ/s320/100_6395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536445248977979442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Amy calls this character 'Tiger'. How do I explain to her that she's wrong? I don't, that's how.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnna7FmdI/AAAAAAAADqo/rBcZz7Sij0I/s1600/100_6390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnna7FmdI/AAAAAAAADqo/rBcZz7Sij0I/s320/100_6390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536445243861604818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Obligatory castle picture. Like Amy, I'm not crazy about having my picture taken.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnmkPN82I/AAAAAAAADqg/xYz8GmA-yCk/s1600/100_6389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVnmkPN82I/AAAAAAAADqg/xYz8GmA-yCk/s320/100_6389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536445229182088034" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">But Matt is okay with it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9a9e8nI/AAAAAAAADrQ/RAj6xhLUpPk/s1600/100_6435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9a9e8nI/AAAAAAAADrQ/RAj6xhLUpPk/s320/100_6435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536447820852032114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My kids are at the age now when they are totally into cheesy jokes, so they really liked Jungle Cruise. Actually, I really liked it too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9CMuo1I/AAAAAAAADrI/tgyPr_1ickU/s1600/100_6431.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9CMuo1I/AAAAAAAADrI/tgyPr_1ickU/s320/100_6431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536447814205088594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Space Mountain was one of the rides I was really looking forward to, since I hadn't been on it in almost 10 years (thanks to being pregnant with Amy on our last trip [totally worth it]). Only this time, when I went on it, I actually found it to be a bit too much. I started having a problem with motion sickness right around this point (it got even worse the next day) and I had to close my eyes for most of Space Mountain. Betsy and Porter, on the other hand, rode it twice in a row (thanks to baby swap) with no problems. I guess being young has its advantages.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I should also mention - since we didn't take any pictures for fear of losing the camera - that the kids flat. out. LOVED Splash Mountain. We rode that one both days we were in the parks (I brought ponchos the second day we went) and the kids got to do it twice. I think collectively that is our family's favorite Disney World attraction (and poor Amy couldn't even go).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp-A0pltI/AAAAAAAADrg/QLvYdqt6NfM/s1600/100_6450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp-A0pltI/AAAAAAAADrg/QLvYdqt6NfM/s320/100_6450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536447831015528146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Another thing we had promised the kids was ice cream shaped like Mickey Mouse. We made good on that promise our second day at Magic Kingdom. We were actually waiting for our Fatspass return time so we could ride Peter Pan and then leave. The park was going to be open for several more hours, but we'd done everything we wanted to do, and we were exhausted, so we decided to go back to the hotel and swim and pack up our stuff for the trip home. So. Those Mickey Mouse ice cream bars really hit the spot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9rOLn5I/AAAAAAAADrY/MWaUy9iJ9dk/s1600/100_6449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVp9rOLn5I/AAAAAAAADrY/MWaUy9iJ9dk/s320/100_6449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536447825217036178" /></a>And the kids got hilariously messy while eating them. This photo doesn't even begin to show the filth and sticky smear that is created when you combine ice cream with the hot Florida sun. So we just got good and messy and had a good laugh and cleaned up everything afterwards with baby wipes (don't go anywhere without baby wipes or you have to do that stereotypical Mom thing where you lick a napkin and use it on your kid's face, which <i>eeewwww</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtBHwB3lI/AAAAAAAADsI/bYs3RBgG3m0/s1600/100_6472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtBHwB3lI/AAAAAAAADsI/bYs3RBgG3m0/s320/100_6472.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536451182949686866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our last day - Animal Kingdom. We did the whole 'picture by the Tree of Life' thing. And if it seems like I didn't post as many pictures this time around, it's because a lot of them are redundant with the pictures from our last trip. (Only with Amy in them.) Animal Kingdom was also the day when I went on four different rides within an hour... I really don't recommend that... by the time we got off Expedition Everest I was within inches of tossing my cookies (which we got for free from the dining plan). So I swore off rides after that and we stuck with shows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also got to meet up with my awesome friend Cid, and thank her personally for the Fantasmic seats, but I didn't take a picture. Matt took the kids on one of the puke-inducing rides and I talked Disney and NCIS and fan fiction with Cid while Amy played adorable peek-a-boo with her.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtA9lga1I/AAAAAAAADsA/CL3ZdeUe-co/s1600/100_6457.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtA9lga1I/AAAAAAAADsA/CL3ZdeUe-co/s320/100_6457.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536451180221197138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They have the same thing for apes here as they have for the orangutans at the National Zoo. Like the Japanese rice candy lady, this was something else I could have watched for hours.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtAtTD4MI/AAAAAAAADr4/hFtBF54qAh0/s1600/100_6456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtAtTD4MI/AAAAAAAADr4/hFtBF54qAh0/s320/100_6456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536451175848861890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kids like this section of the park, because it's dinosaur-themed. I always have a hard time with it, because the pavement reflects back the sun and there's no shade and there is a high concentration of puke-inducing rides. But, again, the kids like it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtAPzqScI/AAAAAAAADrw/WsvQcqVwquo/s1600/100_6455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVtAPzqScI/AAAAAAAADrw/WsvQcqVwquo/s320/100_6455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536451167932533186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Betsy and Porter being dinosaurs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVs_xRHrAI/AAAAAAAADro/xoGnQzzNAE0/s1600/100_6452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TNVs_xRHrAI/AAAAAAAADro/xoGnQzzNAE0/s320/100_6452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536451159734594562" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the hotel we stayed at. Betsy liked it because she's planning on becoming a rock star someday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then we went home. THE END. (Unless you want me to write about the epic poop blowout Amy had once we crossed the state line into Georgia on the return trip. It was like someone had poured twenty or thirty cups of Snack Pack into her britches. We had to bathe her at the hotel and throw out her clothes and I used an entire pack of wipes and half a can of air freshener trying to render her car seat habitable again. But that was pretty gross, so I won't tell you about it.)</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-10501693060180147992010-09-30T15:47:00.005-04:002010-09-30T16:22:47.846-04:00More doll sewingNow that the kids are back in school, I can spend a lot more time in my oh-so-messy basement sewing area. Mainly what I've been sewing is doll clothes - I'm trying to get my Etsy shop stocked up before the holiday buying season hits. Of course, since I like to bite off more than I chew, I have probably 93657 projects in various states of completion. I'll go on a bender and cut out probably ten different dresses (and bear in mind that I sew almost everything in duplicate or triplicate) and then it's a matter of getting them sewn. And once they're sewn I have to put in snaps and/or buttons, which for some reason takes me FOREVER. I think I need to come up with a system less haphazard than "I'll just sew whatever I feel like sewing today." <div><br /></div><div>Here's my most recent project. My most favorite time period to sew for is the 1930s, because I love love LOVE the fabrics. Betsy's Kit is always happy to model.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTug57RnfI/AAAAAAAADmk/PQ6ctO9HYUU/s1600/Pic0930002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTug57RnfI/AAAAAAAADmk/PQ6ctO9HYUU/s320/Pic0930002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522801292135734770" /></a></div><div>So, that's an epically bad photo because I had to use my cell phone - we are fresh out of Double A's. Here's another dress I made a while back from that pattern, and MAN do I wish I had some more of this fabric. (I think both of these are Henry Glass "Posies from the Thirties.' Yum!)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRctrr1I/AAAAAAAADmU/9mmrvjKDRU8/s1600/posies+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRctrr1I/AAAAAAAADmU/9mmrvjKDRU8/s320/posies+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522798827572801362" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I used the BunnyBear '<a href="http://www.bunnybear.com/1930s/princess-seamed-dress-pattern">Princess Seams</a>' pattern for that one - it's probably the pattern I use the most (aside from the Route 66 one) because it's just so darn <i>cute</i>. I also like that it doesn't use a ton of fabric - only 1/3 of a yard if I do the collar and cuffs contrasting, and I do - which I suppose is appropriate for the time period. (The austerity of the Thirties, followed by rationing of the Forties, goes a long way in explaining the 'New Look' of the Fifties, don't you think?) I love <a href="http://www.bunnybear.com/">BunnyBear</a> patterns and have quite a few of them - I'm constantly stalking her site to see if she's put out that Colonial era dress yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also been on a big Civil War kick lately.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRst4AHI/AAAAAAAADmc/LN5OWxLZlfc/s1600/100_6154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRst4AHI/AAAAAAAADmc/LN5OWxLZlfc/s320/100_6154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522798831868575858" /></a></div><div>I think I like it for the same reason as I like the 1930s: really great fabric prints. (Now is when I link you to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NauvooQuiltCo">Nauvoo Quilt Co.</a> - she has the BEST stuff.) I made up some dresses that included little straw bonnets (they weren't anything fancy, I just got them from a craft supplier and trimmed them) and they sold like hotcakes. I'd also like to attempt a hoopskirt, I think it would be pretty easy with some corset boning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did I say I've been on a big Civil War kick lately? I meant to say I've been on a big Revolutionary War kick lately.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRCdYG5I/AAAAAAAADmM/06ZgjBuzuIQ/s1600/100_6193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TKTsRCdYG5I/AAAAAAAADmM/06ZgjBuzuIQ/s320/100_6193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522798820525087634" /></a><div>Yes, we got an Elizabeth. I already had a Felicity that I'm saving for Amy when she's bigger. When F and E's retirement was announced, I debated getting an Elizabeth before she gets crazy expensive on eBay. I wasn't going to (because Elizabeth has brown hair, darnit! Now get off my lawn!), but what convinced me was how much she actually resembles Amy, with the blue eyes and blond curly hair. Sigh. So I used that as an excuse to sew little matching 'best friend' dresses for them. I hope they sell as a pair, because I don't really want to split them up.</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's what I've been up to. Anyone have any interesting projects to share? I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been crafting up a storm.</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-82917510811520970412010-08-21T16:12:00.011-04:002010-08-22T22:58:12.321-04:00Too hot to blog.Holy cow, I don't think this summer is EVER going to end. (Of course, give it another six months and I will be whining about winter.) Here's what we've been up to...<div><ul><li>My little sister Laura came for a week-long visit, which was filled with fun, sunscreen, and pancake mix. People, I have the BEST sisters. I didn't take enough pictures, though.</li><li>We went to the State Fair. It was the hottest day in recorded history, and we all basically died of the sweats.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TyvPLZI/AAAAAAAADeo/EH-MS1jDeEQ/s1600/100_6019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TyvPLZI/AAAAAAAADeo/EH-MS1jDeEQ/s400/100_6019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967555497569682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TuZAdaI/AAAAAAAADeg/pCa9u1rzxZk/s1600/100_6004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TuZAdaI/AAAAAAAADeg/pCa9u1rzxZk/s400/100_6004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967554330588578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TI5hnPI/AAAAAAAADeY/vXbJud3OI6Y/s1600/100_6003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7TI5hnPI/AAAAAAAADeY/vXbJud3OI6Y/s400/100_6003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967544266431730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7SnM2qiI/AAAAAAAADeQ/bGe4tauw-jI/s1600/100_6002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7SnM2qiI/AAAAAAAADeQ/bGe4tauw-jI/s400/100_6002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967535220697634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7SWF81AI/AAAAAAAADeI/4I-IdaONN_U/s1600/100_6001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA7SWF81AI/AAAAAAAADeI/4I-IdaONN_U/s400/100_6001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967530628338690" /></a> It took milkshakes from the Dairy Barn to restore the natural balance (and chocolateyness) of the universe.</li><li>The kids started school on, consecutively, the two hottest days in recorded history. Porter actually began kindergarten the day after Betsy commenced second grade, so I didn't get to take an official 'first day of school' pic of them together. They are both pretty cute, though.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nz___8I/AAAAAAAADeA/vByntR3A9ZU/s1600/100_6024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nz___8I/AAAAAAAADeA/vByntR3A9ZU/s400/100_6024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507965700410441666" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nCxZ0_I/AAAAAAAADdw/KQ_UNaGK-ng/s1600/100_6037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nCxZ0_I/AAAAAAAADdw/KQ_UNaGK-ng/s400/100_6037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507965687195882482" /></a>The year is still new enough that they are actually excited about school. And Porter shocked the heck out of me at his 'kindergarten orientation' that I went to with him... his teacher asked him to write his name on a piece of paper and draw a picture of himself, and he actually did it. (This is the kid who usually throws a fit if you get him within ten feet of a crayon.)</li><li>Then, on the hottest day in recorded history, we went to Conner Prairie. Laura and I each brought an American Girl doll in historical garb, and we had lots of fun setting them up for photos. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nfDsEZI/AAAAAAAADd4/Gy18Odbl9Js/s1600/100_6050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5nfDsEZI/AAAAAAAADd4/Gy18Odbl9Js/s400/100_6050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507965694788768146" /></a></li><li>I've been to the pool a LOT - we went four times in a week while Laura was visiting. I've actually gotten a tan line, something I usually avoid by deploying the SPF A Zillion.</li><li>I'm completely earwormed with this song. Curse you, Amazon and your free MPS downloads! It's just a gateway drug!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFRICrq9Qgc?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFRICrq9Qgc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></li><li>I've watched a lot of TV miniseries/movies this summer. I went through all of <i>Band of Brothers</i> again, then <i>Lost in Austen</i> (it wasn't good, but they managed to make Wickham really sexy), then <i>Little Dorrit</i> (it was so cute), plus Matt and I watched the whole <i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy (extended edition, of course).</li><li>I wrote <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6050507/1/Blue">some</a> <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6185812/1/Wounded">fanfiction</a>, too.</li><li>I've been doing a lot of sewing, down in the basement to avoid the highest temperatures in recorded history, although I would do it anyway. I actually made a dress for myself:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5mu93sLI/AAAAAAAADdo/pPLmD363i4c/s1600/100_6094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5mu93sLI/AAAAAAAADdo/pPLmD363i4c/s400/100_6094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507965681879462066" /></a> Seen here against the lovely backdrop of my shower curtain. But look at that fabric! It's all <i>sewing notions!</i> And it's Alexander Henry, of course.</li><li>I'm sewing a lot of doll clothes, too. Actually,August has been a really good month for me, sales-wise. I've been selling them on both eBay (woo hoo free listing fees) and Etsy, and I think I have shipped like ten dresses this month. I made this one for a summer-themed sewing swap on American Girl Playthings, and as soon as the recipient posted pictures (her photographs are much better than mine) I had like three more people contact me and ask me to make them one. So I've been working on that.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5mPB5H3I/AAAAAAAADdg/CQxj1PHIbm8/s1600/100_6031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/THA5mPB5H3I/AAAAAAAADdg/CQxj1PHIbm8/s400/100_6031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507965673306398578" /></a></li><li>My little girl's hair went curly this summer. I'm not sure if it's due to the hottest summer in recorded history - we'll see if it stays that way when autumn hits - but boy is it cute. Amy's completely fixated on baby dolls, and she's also been practicing her animal noises. This video was taken when a bunch of Blinns were here for the day (watch to the end for bonus Miles!)<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-WaQsl5nYs4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-WaQsl5nYs4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></li><li>It's been an exciting summer for my side of the family. One of my sisters got engaged, another one found out she's having girls (plural), my sister-in-law is having a baby pretty much any day now, and after thirty-one years Dad got the fat envelope from Kodak. As for us, we are working on getting Betsy prepared for her baptism in December, and planning our trip to Disney at the end of October. I'm sure this heat will end soon!</li></ul></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-75752383426823239962010-07-13T07:52:00.002-04:002010-07-13T08:35:56.279-04:00UpWhat have I been doing since last time? Let's see. After returning from the New Kids on the Block, I had to watch Band of Brothers (ten episodes) to get my Donnie fix. Of course I ended up watching most of the episodes twice (or six times <span style="font-style:italic;">cough</span>'Bastogne'<span style="font-style:italic;">cough</span>) and then writing a story about it, so yeah, that ate up about two weeks. Then I got hooked on the BBC adaptation of Dickens' 'Little Dorrit' (sixteen episodes, but they're only 30 minutes apiece) and just finished watching that yesterday. I've also been sewing doll clothes like a fiend - I'm linking you all to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48945089/get-your-kicks-on-route-66-handmade?ref=sr_list_1&ga_search_query=molly+route+66&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">this</a> but it's really only the tip of the iceberg. Fortunately, this means spending a lot of time in the basement, which is the coolest part of the house (also the spideriest).<div><br /></div><div>Betsy has had a bunch of week-long sport camps (they are offered free through the school district, yay!) - this week is bowling. The kids are also on their last week of four weeks of swimming lessons (not free, boo). Porter has been doing really well with the swimming lessons - I think if we keep at it, one of my children may actually be able to swim. Betsy, not so much. But that's all right - she's good at a lot of <i>other</i> things. We've also been cooking out a lot (and because this is Indiana, eating a lot of corn) and swimming in the neighborhood pool. And I just made zucchini muffins from the bounty of our garden. The really crazy thing is, the kids only have a month left of summer before they go back to school!</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I mentioned in a previous post that we had gotten a membership to Conner Prairie, the local living history museum. I honestly can't understand why we hadn't gotten a membership - it's about ten minutes from our house (unlike the zoo which is <i>allll</i> the way downtown) and it's only $65 a year (roughly half the cost of the Children's Museum). I think we were thinking we had to wait until the kids were school aged so that they would appreciate it. Which is clearly crazy because two-year-old Amy loves it as much as anyone. She now shouts "Connerpwaiwie!" every time we drive by on our way to church. She's a little afraid of the animals in the barn, though (even the baby sheep, it was funny how she was hanging on to me for dear life).</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things they have added recently is this balloon ride attraction (it's tethered so you just go straight up and down, but it is really a balloon). Now, normally I am skeptical of the obvious attempts at adding revenue (I'm looking at <i>you</i> Indianapolis Zoo) but this is based on something that actually happened in Indiana in the 1850s, so I give them a pass. Back in the spring we got a thing in the mail for free balloon tickets with the purchase of a membership. And the balloon ride tickets are normally like $12 a person, so we wouldn't have done it if it wasn't free. We actually tried several times before we managed to go up - it's very weather dependent, the skies have to be perfectly clear with only a hint of wind. (Perhaps this is why hot air balloons didn't revolutionize travel the way they were all predicting it would back in the 19th century.) But we finally got our free balloon ride during Fourth of July weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>Look out, kids! You're going to fall out!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTpVMPn0I/AAAAAAAADTE/dmkgdK1sxGk/s1600/100_5921.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTpVMPn0I/AAAAAAAADTE/dmkgdK1sxGk/s320/100_5921.JPG" /></a> </div>Just kidding, that wasn't the real thing. This is the real thing:<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTpmzBnbI/AAAAAAAADTM/sTr_rBfXWJA/s1600/100_5926.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTpmzBnbI/AAAAAAAADTM/sTr_rBfXWJA/s320/100_5926.JPG" /></a> </div>It's a pretty smooth ride, and even though I am nervous about heights, it didn't bother me at all. The balloon gets to a maximum height of 300-something feet. You can see all the way to downtown (granted, this is Central Indiana, so that's not <i>that</i> impressive) and we probably could have spotted our house if it doesn't have the exact same roof as every other house in our neighborhood.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTp2T2q8I/AAAAAAAADTU/KXBJryIW32I/s1600/100_5930.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTp2T2q8I/AAAAAAAADTU/KXBJryIW32I/s320/100_5930.JPG" /></a> </div>Amy was a lot less frightened of the balloon ride than she was of that vicious, vicious baby sheep. "I go up in the sky," she said, and continues to say every time we drive past.<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTqcFgfGI/AAAAAAAADTc/ETptvAnkHwU/s1600/100_5937.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TDxTqcFgfGI/AAAAAAAADTc/ETptvAnkHwU/s320/100_5937.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">And here's me! Matt laid down on the bottom of the basket to get that shot. We've been back to Conner Prairie a few times - I thought the kids would be clamoring to go in the balloon again, but we explained to them it was a one time deal, and they seemed to accept that.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">So, that's our summer. Pretty soon my sister Laura will be coming for a visit, and we will go to the State Fair, and then the kids are in school and the fun time is over (for them. For me, fun time is just beginning). How is everyone's summer going?</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-89042278404475424372010-06-07T18:16:00.002-04:002010-06-07T19:17:49.644-04:00The Right Stuff.So, remember these guys?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xMdlnNdI/AAAAAAAADRY/CmqZ5SV2kLs/s1600/nkotb_l.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xMdlnNdI/AAAAAAAADRY/CmqZ5SV2kLs/s400/nkotb_l.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480160780494517714" /></a><br />Danny, Donnie, Jon, Jordan, and Joey. That's right, before we had all of those other boy bands, we had the New Kids on the Block. They released their first album in 1986 (when I was <i>Betsy's age</i>!!) but didn't really hit it big until a couple of years later. I remember being on the bus in fourth grade when I first heard about them. I actually held out for a while out of stubbornness (if everyone else likes something, I have to hate it, just to be different) but eventually I succumbed to the mania as well. Of course, on my limited budget (this was before I started babysitting to earn the big bucks) that obsession amounted to owning one single cassette tape, which I wore out on my Walkman. I think eventually I did get a hand me down T-shirt from our babysitter Tricia. I didn't have all the shirts or the giant buttons or the dolls or the Tiger Beat magazines or the posters, I didn't watch the cartoon series (in our house we watched PBS on Saturday mornings. I'm probably the only person I know who grew up watching The Victory Garden instead of Thundercats) and of <i>course</i>, I never went to one of their concerts.<div><br /></div><div>All things good or otherwise must come to an end, and the New Kids' reign in the spotlight only lasted a couple of years. They changed their name to NKOTB and released another album but by then we were all listening to grunge. The New Kids and their cheerful songs and brightly colored Hammer-pants were <i>so over</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, nostalgia is a big business these days. The New Kids actually released a new album in 2008 and have been touring off and on since it came out. When their dates for this year's Casi-NO tour were announced, Mandy made it her personal business to get me to go. Now, Mandy went to town with the obsession back in the day. (<a href="http://mandymikeandmiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/foreign-policy-and-boy-bands.html">Like this.</a>) She's already been to several of their concerts, whereas I haven't been to ANY concerts, EVER (unless you count Vertical Horizon at Clowes Hall my junior year at Butler, which I don't because I left after like half an hour, which is <i>another</i> story). Fortunately, I wasn't too hard to persuade. An evening away from my kids? And it's up on the north side of Indiana so we will have to stay the night in a hotel? Done <i>and</i> done!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to admit, I was a little bit of a slacker. I didn't prepare for the concert by listening to their music, mainly because I didn't have any. I've been on a big indie kick lately, thanks to Amazon and their free MP3 sampler downloads, and I thought nineties bubblegum pop might be a tad incongruous with Minus the Bear and Spoon and whatever. I only had my memories to go on - that and the fact that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwhbFPOMWo">Donnie Wahlberg was awesome in Band of Brothers</a>. Fortunately Mandy has like every track that they have ever recorded, either as a group or solo, and she'd made a giant playlist. We left on Friday afternoon - me, Mandy, and Mandy's friend Michael (not to be confused with her husband Michael. Wow, it's like that was a really popular boys' name in the late seventies, or something.) So I had the whole drive up to Hammond - including a super awesome fun and totally unnecessary detour through Gary - to get pumped up. Funny how it all started to come back. By the time we got there I was ready to tight-roll my jeans (only I had on a <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SBEERTLlupI/AAAAAAAAAfE/GxS3k4luKek/s1600-h/100_3079.JPG">dress</a>).</div><div><br /></div>Here's my ticket:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xMo1sPhI/AAAAAAAADRg/Z1H_UbWR6YM/s1600/image0-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 139px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xMo1sPhI/AAAAAAAADRg/Z1H_UbWR6YM/s400/image0-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480160783514746386" /></a><div>Yes, the concert was at a casino, which meant I got carded on the way in - something else I've never done before. The slot machines are all digitized so they don't have a lever any more (and they don't look like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl_oFdtuWB4">robot amputees waving hello</a>). The concert venue at the Horseshoe Casino is actually called The Venue, which meant that every time we talked about it I felt like I was speaking in code. And hey, any day I can feel like a spy or some sort of operative is a <i>good</i> day in my book.</div><div><br /><div>We had dinner at the casino, since the food there is really cheap (I gather it's not exactly their profit center). Have you ever had fried pickles? You should. (Mandy being pregnant and all, I think she achieved nirvana with that first bite.) As the concert got closer and closer, I did start to get really excited. And it was really funny to see the other people who were there - you could tell who was there to gamble and who was there to see the concert. The venue (or I should say The Venue) was 21-and-up but I don't think there was anyone under about 29 or so. Almost entirely women with a few male fans or long-suffering husbands. Lots of women could still fit into their New Kids T-shirts from back in the day (we wore our T-shirts huge in 1991, preferably with a knot tied in one side, or if you were really cool one of those plastic slider things.) But a lot of the women were pregnant, too. We had pretty decent seats, right smack in the middle.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>You should have <i>heard</i> the insane screaming when the curtain went up. Mandy had warned me that she has no dignity where the New Kids are concerned. Turns out I don't, either. Yes, we <i>paid</i> for the entire seat but we didn't even use the edge. I was on my feet from beginning to end. There wasn't an opening act (unless you count the fried pickles), it was just us and them. Truly awesome. Here's some pictures:</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xNA0z3iI/AAAAAAAADRw/_34iPFTvZok/s1600/Pic0604008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xNA0z3iI/AAAAAAAADRw/_34iPFTvZok/s400/Pic0604008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480160789953502754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xM4re9UI/AAAAAAAADRo/VWyIbEuodEo/s1600/Pic0604007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 120px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/TA1xM4re9UI/AAAAAAAADRo/VWyIbEuodEo/s400/Pic0604007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480160787766900034" /></a><br />Two of my friends from college were at the concert too, although they were in a different section so I didn't find them until the show was over. And you're probably thinking, Ooh, a boy band twenty years later, I bet THAT will be fun! But it really, really was. If they were washed-up has-beens phoning it in, well, I didn't notice. (I mean, I don't have a lot to compare it to since I've never been to any other concerts, but I don't live in a cave, either.) They played a lot of their new songs, which I liked so much I bought the CD off Amazon pretty much the minute I got home, and some of the older stuff that I remember from when I was in fifth grade. And I really had a hard time believing that these guys are ten years (give or take) <b>older</b> than me. Because they were dancing all over the place and climbing the scenery and whatnot. And they are <b>ripped</b>... yes, there was shirtlessness, it was only for a minute or so but I am not saying I didn't enjoy it. <div><br /></div><div>Oh, and we totally saw Donnie up close and personal when all of the guys went up the aisles. It was pretty funny, because I've only watched Band of Brothers a million times (or at least three, since I always see it <a href="http://embellishlife.blogspot.com/2008/04/truth-in-advertising.html">when I have a baby</a>). Mandy wore her Boston Red Sox shirt in honor of the New Kids being from Boston, and I think that Donnie liked it. We were so excited, we were squealing like a couple of teenage girls.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was truly awesome. I absolutely killed my voice - even a delicious Mint Cookies & Cream shake at Steak-n-Shake didn't prevent me from being completely hoarse the next day. I had a ball hanging out with my sister-in-law and her hilarious friend, AND I got away from the kids for a good twenty-four hours. I'm sad that the concert is over, but since this is 2010, I can always look up the videos on YouTube. And if they come around again <i>next</i> summer... I will so be there.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-28601163443675528392010-05-18T08:38:00.003-04:002010-08-23T09:00:41.022-04:00The happenings around hereSchool is almost out, so I had better get a blog post up before summer hits and I spend all my days driving my kids around. Why did nobody tell me before I had school aged kids that planning out their summers is practically a full time job? It's not that I think they are overscheduled, it's just that with a different thing going on every week, I have to figure when to fit everything in and still have some time to play and go to the pool and whatnot. I think it'll be fun, but I know I will be relieved when it is over.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway. Here's what is going on around here.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Garage sale season is in full swing. After several disappointing outings, I found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44113500@N03/sets/72157624060154886/">some really good stuff</a> last weekend.</li><li>After driving past it on the way to church every Sunday for nearly four years, we finally got a membership to our local <a href="http://www.connerprairie.org/">living history museum</a>. We actually got a coupon in the mail for free balloon tickets with purchase of a membership, only by the time we got there the wind had kicked up & they cancelled the ride. But they gave us rain checks so I guess we will have to go back another time!</li><li>I'm keeping really busy (but having fun) making stuff for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEmbellishedLife?section_id=6265586">my Etsy</a>.</li><li>I've been kind of obsessed with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXokMRls1U">The Dodos</a> lately, especially <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o8iG-fUfgo&feature=related">this song</a>.</li><li>Speaking of obsessed, Amy gets really mad if we don't let her wear a dress. She is all about the baby dolls lately, but they have to be naked. She's also figured out how to jump, which is really funny since she barely clears the ground.</li><li>Betsy keeps telling me she is going to be an author when she grows up. She loves to write little stories and then illustrate them. She is really loving first grade (they hatched baby chicks!) and she's been doing well with her spelling. Betsy is all about compound words right now. Sometimes I have a hard time explaining to her when a word <i>isn't</i>.</li><li>And Porter is almost done with preschool. I took him to the kindergarten orientation at his school last week... I needn't have bothered, he already knows his way around the building and has been riding a bus for the last two years. I think he's really ready, since he's already reading and everything. Plus, in kindergarten they do a unit about <i>dinosaurs</i>.</li><li>Oh yeah, we booked our next vacation to Disneyworld. We'll be going at the end of October when the kids are on fall break. Woo hoo! By then it will have been more than three years since our last visit, which I think is a decent interval. The kids are getting hyped up for it already.</li><li>Betsy's dance recital is this Saturday. Be watching this space, I'll post video. She likes to put on her costume (it's <i>purple</i>) and practice the dance, so I can verify that it is, in fact, wicked adorable.</li></ul></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-18565997488775652822010-05-04T07:01:00.004-04:002010-05-04T08:37:43.327-04:00FiveGet a load of this handsome guy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S9__NW1f86I/AAAAAAAADMU/_FleTNz4Zyg/s1600/100_5767-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S9__NW1f86I/AAAAAAAADMU/_FleTNz4Zyg/s400/100_5767-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467369077584425890" /></a><br />Porter's birthday was actually a week ago, but since I am both a bad mother <span style="font-weight:bold;">and</span> a neglectful blogger, I'm writing about it now. Actually, Porter was a lucky boy because he managed to get three or four days' worth of enjoyment out of his birthday!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Because of Matt's work schedule (which changes every five minutes it seems like) he wasn't going to be around at night on Porter's big day. So on Saturday we went to Chuck E Cheese for an exciting lunch of pizza and arcade games. My kids really love Chuck E Cheese, and I love getting the coupons for it out of the newspaper. I forgot to bring the camera so there aren't any pictures, but it was really cute. We also got Mike and cousin Miles to meet us up there because they are fans of the cheese-eating rodent as well. Watching my two-year-old nephew own his daddy at air hockey was really, really amusing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday we had church, and then the Official Birthday Celebration. We invited Mike, Mandy, and Miles over because (as it turns out) Miles is a fan of cupcakes too. Porter's birthday dinner was hotdogs. Actually, the meal planning conversation went like this:</div><div>ME: Porter, what do you want for your birthday dinner?</div><div>PORTER: Hot dogs or pizza.</div><div>ME: Well, we are going to Chuck E Cheese and we'll have pizza for lunch, so how about hot dogs for dinner?</div><div>PORTER: Okay.</div><div>ME: What do you want to have with it?</div><div>PORTER: How about... some water for drinking.</div><div>ME: [is relieved to have a low maintenance child]</div><div>PORTER [a few minutes later]: Mom, make sure the water is not from a pond.</div><div>ME: Okay.</div><div>PORTER: Or from a pool.</div><div>ME: I promise we will get it from the fridge.</div><div>So Porter had his birthday dinner of hot dogs and some water for drinking (but not from a pond or a pool). Actually he had apple juice to drink, and some delicious Ore Ida fries, and cupcakes with <i>yellow</i> frosting (had to be yellow because that's a boy color according to my kids) for dessert.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because Porter is a boy (in case you hadn't gotten that by now) it's pretty easy to buy him gifts. We gave him a couple of dinosaur-themed Imaginext sets (Imaginext are these toy sets that Fisher Price makes and P has a bunch of them already. They are very, <i>very</i> boy) and Grandma Lynn and cousin Miles both gave him Legos. Not the big Duplo blocks, mind you, but tiny Legos (that's what he calls them). He's been telling us for ages that when he's five, he can play with tiny Legos. Well, guess who is five now!</div><div><br /></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-72207471709611458812010-04-13T10:37:00.003-04:002010-04-13T11:04:15.366-04:00TwoSo, guess who had a birthday last week?<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC8iusahI/AAAAAAAADIs/ztVFnzT3FQg/s1600/100_5630.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC8iusahI/AAAAAAAADIs/ztVFnzT3FQg/s320/100_5630.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459632624906299922" /></a><br /></div><div>I'll give you a hint: her name is AMY.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yep, my baby is two years old (sniff, sniff); her birthday actually came at the end of a very fun-filled week. The kids were on Spring Break so we had something fun planned every day, like the zoo, the museum, the library, and Chick-Fil-A. Amy's birthday was on Friday but we didn't actually celebrate it until Saturday, because of Matt's work schedule with his new job. But she doesn't really know any better.</div><div><br /></div><div>Amy's favorite gift this year: a Bitty Baby of her OWN, just like the one she always steals from Betsy. I got lucky and found one at a church sale for five bucks last fall. I dressed Bitty in a preemie sized outfit from WalMart and I had found a big set of baby doll accessories on clearance after Christmas. Yep, I am nothing if not cheap.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC9XIJcsI/AAAAAAAADI0/pPEPxhDradQ/s1600/100_5634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC9XIJcsI/AAAAAAAADI0/pPEPxhDradQ/s320/100_5634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459632638971704002" /></a>Does she seem like she minds? Not at all!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC9q3NJEI/AAAAAAAADI8/LkWMlrvwQBs/s1600/100_5636.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC9q3NJEI/AAAAAAAADI8/LkWMlrvwQBs/s320/100_5636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459632644269352002" /></a>Here's Bitty in her cute new highchair (gift from Grandma in Utah). We actually need to glue the tray in place because Amy likes to take it off and sit in the chair. Didn't see that one coming, did you?!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC-GgQeGI/AAAAAAAADJE/JpiwXCxW4z4/s1600/100_5646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC-GgQeGI/AAAAAAAADJE/JpiwXCxW4z4/s320/100_5646.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459632651689293922" /></a>And here she is eagerly anticipating a cupcake. Funny, but as soon as Amy saw the candles she was trying to blow them out, I didn't have to show her what to do at all. I still had to help her, of course. She enjoyed her cupcake quite a bit - not very messily at all - I think Porter was actually worse (he is morally opposed to utensils of any kind).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC-sGtXcI/AAAAAAAADJM/rqKINYdIj14/s1600/100_5651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S8SC-sGtXcI/AAAAAAAADJM/rqKINYdIj14/s320/100_5651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459632661782683074" /></a><br />Lucky girl, I actually was on the ball for ONCE in my life and scheduled her 2 year checkup in the same month as her birthday and not half a year later. So, unfortunately that means she'll be getting a bunch of shots this coming Friday. (Porter actually just had his 5 year checkup today... 42 inches, 40 pounds, and 9 diseases that he won't get!) Boy, with birthday presents like THAT, I wouldn't blame her if she just skips the whole thing entirely next year...Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-32135009864739301422010-03-31T14:26:00.005-04:002010-03-31T15:16:18.830-04:00Home Court AdvantageWe had Blinns at the house last weekend, which is always an adventure. You can tell when my family is coming to visit because I deep clean the carpets and put ALL the leaves in the table. The main attraction was my Easter Cantata, plus I really wanted Mom to see the Barbie exhibit at the Childrens' Museum before my membership runs out.<br /><br />Here we are at the museum, goofing off:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVSsUoWMI/AAAAAAAADGk/EB8MjM6EyQ0/s1600/100_5589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVSsUoWMI/AAAAAAAADGk/EB8MjM6EyQ0/s320/100_5589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454867722043676866" /></a>Molly and Laura and I are a bunch of fruits.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVSBOtjBI/AAAAAAAADGc/dWKp5gC-9z4/s1600/100_5583.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVSBOtjBI/AAAAAAAADGc/dWKp5gC-9z4/s320/100_5583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454867710476127250" /></a>And Molly with her namesake pteradactyl (in the background) and Porter doing a flip (foreground).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVTx1VbXI/AAAAAAAADG0/0Nu7TEEk9wU/s1600/100_5592.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVTx1VbXI/AAAAAAAADG0/0Nu7TEEk9wU/s320/100_5592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454867740702895474" /></a>Mmm, steakburgers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVTX5SqjI/AAAAAAAADGs/4Tgpu0bloe4/s1600/100_5591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVTX5SqjI/AAAAAAAADGs/4Tgpu0bloe4/s320/100_5591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454867733740169778" /></a>I don't know what it is about Molly, but she seems to be a kid magnet. Porter could not stop climbing on her (he also was using Graypa as a piece of playground equipment) and Amy warmed up to Molly before she would come near anyone else. I don't know what it is about Molly, but she is not a big fan of Blinns when they first arrive. But by the end of their visit she would go to Grammy or Graypa or Laura no problem, and I realized after she left that she had been calling them by name ("Gammy" and "Gramma," respectively).<div><br /></div><div>Miles came over for a short visit one night, too (driven by Uncle Monkey, but only because Miles' legs are too short to reach the gas pedals). It's always a hoot when Miles comes over because he is fascinated by our toys (possibly because we have 90 times more at our house) and he was VERY appreciative of the cupcake I gave him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVUJy1DpI/AAAAAAAADG8/0IofobS7oiY/s1600/100_5594.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S7OVUJy1DpI/AAAAAAAADG8/0IofobS7oiY/s320/100_5594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454867747134836370" /></a></div><br /><br />The Easter Cantata was on Sunday night, and I was very pleased with how it went off. We seemed to be having some trouble with the microphones, so I played extra loud on my flute. My family was sitting in the way-back (we had to open up the overflow <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> the gym) and they said they could hear me just fine. I had a great time preparing for & participating in a major choral work for the first time in years and hope to do it again sometime. Also, my girls wore their new dresses and I forgot to take any pictures! D'oh!<div><br /></div><div>I don't know if you noticed, but there's a little thing called 'March Madness' going on. I went to this little-known Midwestern university called Butler, and they are pretty good at getting the ball through the hoop. Now, while I totally forgot to fill out a bracket this year, if I'd remembered I would have put Butler into the Sweet Sixteen. It's something they've done a few times over the last few years (the first time <i>ever</i> was when Betsy was a baby) and it's largely considered to be a pretty darn good finish for a tiny school with an enrollment of less than 4,000. Of course, the Final Four is being hosted in Indy this year (as it is every couple of years... we <b>really</b> like basketball around here) but I didn't necessarily think Butler would end up playing at home. Sure, it would be nice, but kind of a stretch. On the other hand, I do think Stevens' Bulldogs are the best they've ever been. So anyway, just in case you have been living in a cave or something for the last few days...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Butler is in the Final Four!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now, how much I actually watched the games varied a lot. The Murray State game actually had me pretty worried. It's hard to watch when I have any kind of expectations. I also had to be careful not to scream and yell too much so I wouldn't kill my voice for the Easter Cantata. At this point, I don't mind if they lose their next game... I feel like Butler making the Final Four is like a Big Ten school winning the whole thing. And </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> am definitely a winner anytime I don't have to explain to people where I went to college.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The media coverage has been really interesting, too. I've been having a fun time playing 'Sports Media Cliche' Bingo.' You get points anytime a writer uses the term 'Cinderella,' 'historic Hinkle Fieldhouse,' refers to the movie </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hoosiers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> or describes Brad Stevens as 'baby-faced' or 'youthful.' The free space in the center of the board is 'The Butler Did It' or any variation thereof, because that one's just obvious. Actually, one article I read described Butler as 'blue-collar,' which really perplexed me... Butler is a lot of things (expensive; good at basketball) but blue-collar is most definitely </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">not</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> one of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Much as I would have loved to, I will not be watching any of the games in person. I would have had to pawn my firstborn for tickets, and I'm kind of attached (especially since she just lost one of her top front teeth and is now 33% adorabler). I am going to try to go down on Friday and watch a practice session at Lucas Oil Field, though. And you'd better believe I will be screaming myself hoarse come Saturday night.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-66293105495988477772010-03-17T16:57:00.004-04:002010-03-17T17:29:50.570-04:00My kind of townFirst of all, thanks to everybody for the awesome comments on my last post. Matt and I really feel like this is the beginning of something good (so it's perfect that it comes in spring). On the other hand, we already had a pretty good life - cute/smart kids, nice house, we're all healthy - and that doesn't really change. I still haven't figured out if there is some Life Lesson we were supposed to learn over the past two years, or if it was bad luck. But thanks for sticking with my blog even when I was a Woeful Wanda (or even a Lazy Lou who goes weeks without updating).<div><br /></div><div>As I mentioned in my last post, we took a brief yet action-packed trip up to Chicago (Amy: "Cago") last weekend. We had been thinking about going during spring break, but obviously Matt won't have the vacation time at his new job, whereas he had pretty much <i>nothing</i> to lose at the old job. I thought it was worth pulling Betsy out of school for one day, so off we went. We drove up early Friday morning and got to Chicago around 10 a.m. (I made Matt do the city driving because even with the GPS, it's not really my favorite. I can do it, I'd just rather not.) This was perfect timing because we got to the American Girl store right after it opened.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDm_n2AYI/AAAAAAAADDs/tj9tqIaWRHk/s1600-h/100_5450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDm_n2AYI/AAAAAAAADDs/tj9tqIaWRHk/s200/100_5450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449711361287651714" /></a><br />Matt and Porter came inside the store with us for a few minutes, just long enough to look around and take a few pictures. Then they headed off for more manly pursuits, namely the Lego store. (We do have some pictures for that, taken with my new camera phone, but I sort of haven't figured out how to get the photos off the phone yet...) So the girls and I stayed around the Mecca of Girliness for a while.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDnVsBDBI/AAAAAAAADD0/-A2ecdxjlLs/s1600-h/100_5473.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDnVsBDBI/AAAAAAAADD0/-A2ecdxjlLs/s200/100_5473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449711367210732562" /></a>Betsy picked out a few things for her Kit doll, and I took a lot of pictures which I won't bore you with. I let both of the girls bring dolls (actually Amy had to borrow Betsy's Bitty since she won't 'officially' get hers until she turns 2 in a few weeks) and the store also had a lot of things that you could take down and look at. The Room of Babies was a big hit for Amy.<div><br /></div><div>Once we dragged ourselves away from the AG store (without spending <i>too</i> much money) we met up with Matt and Porter at the Rainforest Cafe a few blocks away. Porter had been <i>dying</i> to go to Rainforest Cafe because they sponsor a show on PBS Kids and my kid is, apparently, highly susceptible to advertising. "Mom, it's a wild place to shop and eat!"</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDoBgzbJI/AAAAAAAADD8/Ekfyf4Iu8oM/s1600-h/100_5493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDoBgzbJI/AAAAAAAADD8/Ekfyf4Iu8oM/s200/100_5493.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449711378974862482" /></a><br />Porter is fascinated by this photo... "Mom, can I see my sad face?" I think he was grumpy because the service was <span style="font-weight:bold;">atrocious</span>. The place was 2/3 empty, and yet we had to beg to get a waitress to get our orders, and then it took something like a half hour to get our food. I don't think we'll be giving them any repeat business. But the kids liked the decor, so it wasn't a total waste.<br /><div><br /></div><div>After lunch we headed out to the suburbs. I had found us a hotel in Hoffman Estates and we let the kids play with their new toys while Matt and I enjoyed the novelty of cable TV, and then we headed off again. Because you know what's in Schaumburg? IKEA!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDo4zvhMI/AAAAAAAADEE/d9qN9cz-lNM/s1600-h/100_5496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FDo4zvhMI/AAAAAAAADEE/d9qN9cz-lNM/s200/100_5496.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449711393818248386" /></a><br />I really, really, <b>really</b> like IKEA. And the kids like it too (I think Matt merely tolerates the experience, but who cares? We only go there about once every two years, anyway.) Through persistence we were able to get the two older kids deposited in Smaland while Amy and the grownups shopped. I picked up some cool stuff for the house and we got a spare dining room chair. We also had dinner at IKEA - delicious Swedish meatballs, yum - and it was probably the cheapest meal we ate all weekend (including when we stopped at Arby's on the way back home). <div><br /></div><div>Once through with IKEA, we went back to the hotel and went swimming for a while. I am a big fan of hotel pools. Not only is it a nice way to unwind, but if we let the kids wear themselves out, they might actually <i>sleep</i> in an unfamiliar bed. It more or less worked - <i>I</i> was the one who woke up at 5:30 and couldn't fall back asleep. Oh well. At least we got a yummy hot breakfast out of the deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our final stop of the journey (not counting home) was the Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg. It looked like fun, and we got discount tickets online, although the price is still pretty steep (but not much is cheap in Chicago). But Porter had been looking forward to Legos (Amy: "Gego!") though all of the girly stuff on Friday, and I can't let my little boy down. Surprisingly, all three kids enjoyed themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Porter wanted to build a tower. Yeah, we couldn't have stayed home and done <i>that</i>.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEfWhy-KI/AAAAAAAADEc/aUX-A9A_rSE/s1600-h/100_5525.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEfWhy-KI/AAAAAAAADEc/aUX-A9A_rSE/s200/100_5525.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449712329508976802" /></a>The downtown Chicago made out of Legos was my favorite - it was incredibly detailed. I can't even imagine having the patience (or obsession or whatever) to do something like that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEfJQxotI/AAAAAAAADEU/xFZ869SR6Ko/s1600-h/100_5512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEfJQxotI/AAAAAAAADEU/xFZ869SR6Ko/s200/100_5512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449712325947925202" /></a>And... a wizard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEehZ-ruI/AAAAAAAADEM/mHDvFCP7J9g/s1600-h/100_5500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S6FEehZ-ruI/AAAAAAAADEM/mHDvFCP7J9g/s200/100_5500.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449712315249110754" /></a>When we were done with the Lego place, we packed up in the car and pretty much headed straight home. It was a great trip, and I'm really glad we went. Matt starts his new job tomorrow, and there is still plenty of fun coming up for the kids. My parents are coming to visit the weekend of the Easter cantata, and spring break is shortly thereafter. And with this nice weather, they are playing outside all the time!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-54769305571122517622010-03-15T08:01:00.003-04:002010-03-15T09:21:50.485-04:00The End And The BeginningIf you've been reading this blog at all in the last, oh, <b>two years</b>, you have probably gotten pretty sick of my constant whining about the economy. It goes all the way back to early 2008 when the collapse of the housing market struck out at an unintended victim: the student loan industry. The company Matt was working for, which we all thought was plenty stable (and had awesome benefits), decided to shut down its entire consolidation department because they were actually <i>losing</i> money on the record sales Matt had brought in over the last three years. Fortunately, we got a generous severance package from his company. Unfortunately, we had to pay a million dollars per month (roughly) because I was quite pregnant with Amy. Here is the recap of what happened after that:<div><br /></div><div>* Matt temped for a month or two while looking for a job. He flew out to Utah twice (both on extremely short notice and both for less than 24 hours) to interview with a company there that looked really promising.</div><div><br /></div><div>* And then a little thing called childbirth happened. (I have been scrolling through my old blog posts and getting all misty-eyed... I can't believe Amy is going to be 2 next month!)</div><div><br /></div><div>* We really, really thought we were going to move out to Utah (and live in Matt's parents' basement) - to the point of calling a realtor and painting the house and everything. A company out there had made him an offer, and then they... changed their minds? And then denied that an offer had ever been made, even though we had it in writing? It was very strange, but I am glad (other than the opportunity to live near Opels) that we didn't end up moving out there.</div><div><br /></div><div>* In June 2008, Matt finally got a job offer selling mortgage training for a local company. The catch? It's a sales position, so the base pay is infinitesimally low, and it will take a long time to build up enough sales to earn even the base level of commission. (Oh, the other fun catch? The health insurance is ridiculous... like $900 a month AND a $7K deductible. Thanks, but no thanks.)</div><div><br /></div><div>* We figured out that we could make that work, since it was the only job available and didn't require relocation, IF I dusted off my ol' chemistry degree and worked for a while. But only IF I was actually earning enough to cover child care for three kids and actually have a little bit left over. I went to maybe three job interviews and was offered a job (I always feel slightly guilty that it's easier for me to find a job than it is for Matt. But this is probably because I have a more specific skill set + a lower salary requirement.)</div><div><br /></div><div>* So at the end of June, I started working in a quality control lab for a petroleum blending facility. It was a strange adjustment for us to go from no jobs to 2 jobs within about three weeks. Amy was ten weeks old and it was awfully hard for me to leave her, but I knew it had to be done.</div><div><br /></div><div>* For eight months, we both worked. This was <i>crazy</i>. We ended up switching our childcare several times. I was working four 10-hour days, which meant that I had Fridays off but it also meant that I had to get up at 4:45 a.m. And I was determined not to pay for formula so I pumped like a madwoman (in the car, at home, and in a dirty, unlocked breakroom at work - which was, I later realized, in violation of Indiana state law for my employer not to give me a place for pumping, but whatever) and ended up having <i>more</i> than enough milk. I <i>know</i> you needed to know that about me, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>* During all of this, Matt kept on going to job interviews. And with each lead, I'd promise myself I wouldn't get my hopes up, then I'd go ahead and get my hopes up anyway, and then I'd be bitterly disappointed <b>every.single.time</b>. when it didn't pan out. In fact, a good outcome was a company actually bothering to email a rejection, since most people don't do that - they interview you, they lead you on for a while, and then they just ignore you. How rude!</div><div><br /></div><div>* I was working hard in the lab, doing what I assumed was a good job since I never heard otherwise, and then one day (this was in February '09) they let me go. It was rather unexpected - at 3:30 on a Wednesday, it was just 'Drop what you're doing, turn in your key, and get out.' Well, okay then. I was incredibly bitter about this (it still rankles me, just a little) <b>BUT</b> I was also hugely excited to be at home with my kids again.</div><div><br /></div><div>* So we were back down to one job, but I kept my feelers out. I had the opportunity to work over the summer for a former employer of mine, but it was full-time and I didn't want to go back to that crazy schedule, so I turned it down. Instead, I spent the summer shuttling my kids back and forth to various lessons and activities.</div><div><br /></div><div>* And Matt kept right in looking for jobs. By this point relocation had become much less of an option, and Matt took as many job interviews as he could. The summer wasn't a very good time for sales, so we were basically living off his base salary and our savings. In August, I finally took my sister's advice and went down to the WIC office to apply for benefits. (The income threshold is surprisingly high for a family of five, and it really helped getting all that free milk and cheese.)</div><div><br /></div><div>* Things kind of went in cycles. He'd have no job interviews for a month, and then three in one week. He had awesome sales in the last quarter of '09 (it's kind of the nature of the business) and hardly anything in January 2010. And Matt has been dealing with the supreme frustration of a poorly managed company, trying to make sales with inadequate support.</div><div><br /></div><div>* A few weeks ago, Matt went for yet another interview - this time for a call center manager position with ITT Tech. He felt like it went really well (especially since the interviewer knew some of Matt's former co-workers from the student loan industry - I love how everyone says that networking is the best way to find a job, but it's a lot harder to do when your entire department got laid off), I promised myself I wasn't going to get optimistic, then went ahead and did it anyway. Also - and this is crucial - the people that he interviewed with referred him over to a different department with the same company. (They're a pretty big company.) Matt ended up going to 3 or 4 interviews there - luckily their building is like 3 minutes from his current job, so he was able to do it discreetly on lunch breaks & things. One of the H.R. people Matt interviewed with was named Betsy, which I took as a good sign.</div><div><br /></div><div>* On a Monday a couple of weeks ago, Matt got the ol' 'thank you for your interest but we have decided to go in a different direction blah blah blah' email from ITT. And while I respect the fact that they fall into the approximately 25% of companies who actually tell you they aren't hiring you (you think I am exaggerating), I was obviously disappointed. As was Matt, since he felt like he had done really well in his interviews and actually wanted to work for the company.</div><div><br /></div><div>* The following day, I took a call here at home for Matt. From ITT Tech, and the lady wanted him to call her back. Matt hadn't taken the cell phone that day - he's smart enough not to make all these things with his phone at work - so I emailed him and he came home during his lunch break. But since they'd already rejected him, I couldn't imagine why ITT would need to talk to him again.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I was around while Matt was on the phone with ITT - he was upstairs but he came downstairs and was gesturing to me and trying to write something on the dry erase board, only the marker didn't work because Betsy had smooshed the tip. But apparently what ITT had to say to him was not 'Nyah nyah nyah' but 'We'd like to make you an offer.' See, apparently he was turned down for the FIRST job he'd interviewed for - I had forgotten there were actually TWO.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me reiterate: <b>MATT GOT A BETTER JOB</b>. After what felt like for-like-ever. He's going to be Managing Director for Educational Recruitment, which is awfully fancy-sounding and MUCH better than the unsatisfying sales job he's been struggling with for the last almost-two-years. There are a whole host of reasons why this job will be better, to wit:</div><div>* Opportunity for advancement. At Matt's old (current) company, there was pretty much nowhere to go. Matt will be managing the call center for a fairly new department, and it's a big company (headquarters are here in Indy). So we are hoping that within a few years he will be able to move up the ladder. It's nice to think that his career is back on track after a brief hiccup (none of which, I should add, was due to any kind of failing on Matt's part - it was just lousy luck and a bad economy).</div><div>* The pay isn't necessarily a whole lot better when you compare it with our 2009 tax return, but it <i>is</i> better. (Our thrifty habits honed over the past several years will always come in handy. I will still shop at Goodwill, but let's face it, I'd do that anyway.) The main thing is that it's consistent pay, without the stress and silly mind games of salary-plus-commission. </div><div>* Insurance benefits that we can afford. (No, we haven't been uninsured for the past two years. We got benefits through my job, and after I got the sack, we've been doing a self-paid thing. It works, but it's not optimal. It's more expensive and we don't have dental or vision.) </div><div>* Matt was really impressed with the management that he will be working with. One of the big sources of frustration at his current-soon-to-be-former job is that the company isn't really set up for the salespeople to make good sales. Also? He will <b>be</b> management. There's a lot to be said for being in control of your own fate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Matt will be working the same crazy hours - 1 to 10 p.m. - that he did when he was in the student loan business, only without the 1-hour commute downtown. It's about 20-25 minutes, depending on traffic. And honestly, I have learned that there are both advantages and disadvantages to this work schedule. He misses rush hour, and while I don't like not having him around in the evening (that's when the kids are at their crankiest. Probably because they are hungry, and he hasn't been getting home until 6:30 or later.) it's AWESOME having a chunk of time in the morning when I can do my grocery shopping or whatever and he can play with the kids. Matt's biggest concern is having enough time to spend with Betsy, since she gets on the bus at 8 a.m. and goes to bed at 8 p.m., but we will figure out ways to make it work.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, finally, <b>FINALLY</b> after two years of alternating hope and despair, things are looking up for our family. Our kids have been praying 'Please let Daddy get a better job' in much the same way that you would say 'Blessthisfoodthatitmaystrengthenandnourishourbodies' and I'm really happy that their prayers (and ours) have been answered. I'm feeling a level of optimism for the future that is almost uncharacteristic for this Gloomy Gus.</div><div><br /></div><div>Matt starts the new position on Thursday. He's winding down at his current job - it's so futile he actually finds it comical. We were planning to take a mini-vacation during Spring Break, but since he won't have the vacation days, we took off last Friday and went up to Chicago for a day and a half. But I will blog about that later because I feel like this has gone on long enough...</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-64897802320040094632010-03-05T07:50:00.004-05:002010-03-05T08:19:44.868-05:00Another Sewing PostSo, I was looking at my blog the other day, and down on the left side it shows my total number of posts by month. I realized that I updated my blog twice in January, and <b>once</b> in February. For a grand total of three posts so far in 2010. And that's, well, kind of pathetic. One of my <a href="http://brilliantinthebasics.blogspot.com/">good friends</a> is doing a project this year where she updates her blog <i>every single day</i>, meaning so far she has written 64 posts. And I have written three. One of my purposes for this blog is so that I can remember things that happen, since I have a notoriously bad memory, and I already am not too sure what's gone on in 2010. Here are a couple of the highlights:<div><br /></div><div>- I got a root canal. Boy, was that fun. I had a cavity (that had previously been filled) that was bothering me badly enough to go to the dentist, even though we don't have dental insurance. I was tempted just to get the thing pulled, but Matt convinced me to spend the $1700 (yikes!) and have it fixed.</div><div><br /></div><div>- I have been practicing my flute like crazy for the Easter cantata that is coming up.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Porter and Betsy have been playing together really, really well since Christmas. They will go off together in the basement or one of the bedrooms and I won't hear from them for an hour or two (until the playing turns to violence).</div><div><br /></div><div>- Amy has really had an explosion of speech. She's using two- and three-word sentences more often. In fact, when she sneezed at the dinner table the other night, I told her 'bless you' and she looked at Matt and went, "Say 'bless you,' Dad." She's going to have a few more visits from the speech therapist and then she will be done.</div><div><br /></div><div>-Amy is also OBSESSED with the song 'I Am A Child Of God.' She will sing the song - <b>while conducting</b> - and then fold her arms and say a prayer, just like we do in the nursery. Only she does this about three or four times a day. One of these times I will catch it on film and then you will see what I mean.</div><div><br /></div><div>- I've been sewing like a FIEND. I knew I would have to get started early on my daughters' Easter dresses, because of the aforementioned Cantata eating up much of my time. I am proud to say that they are done. Done! with more than a month to spare. Here is a little sneaky-peeky:</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S5EBGxUeaQI/AAAAAAAADBs/2ZPtWOThNDg/s1600-h/100_5395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S5EBGxUeaQI/AAAAAAAADBs/2ZPtWOThNDg/s200/100_5395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445134640297699586" /></a><br />Aren't I a stinker? You'll see the full awesomeness eventually, I promise. Betsy has a big fluffy crinoline slip for hers, but I am still looking for something to give Amy's dress the appropriate vintage-style poof. And I came to a realization while I was sewing the last button on:<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We don't actually have church on Easter.</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Boy, it would have been super if I'd remembered that ahead of time, huh? (Easter falls on the first Sunday of April - that's General Conference.) No matter, my girls could always use something adorable, sweet, and charming to wear. So I guess they will be Palm Sunday dresses, instead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My other big project for 2010 has been sewing doll clothes. I've actually been buying things at Goodwill (skirts and blouses are good) then cutting them up and making American Girl-sized dresses. The idea being to sell them in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/theembellishedlife">my Etsy shop</a> and make a little money to spend on, most likely, more fabric. Here is the first batch:</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S5EBGeKmlJI/AAAAAAAADBk/ZbWCBsYzaig/s1600-h/doll+clothes+collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S5EBGeKmlJI/AAAAAAAADBk/ZbWCBsYzaig/s200/doll+clothes+collage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445134635156018322" /></a><br />There were actually 8 dresses originally, because I made duplicates of some. (If you cut carefully, and spend more time than you'd like to admit picking out all the darts, a women's size blouse can become 2 doll dresses.) I am quite thrilled to report that I have sold all 8 of them already! I had so much fun sewing all these dresses (I just really have a thing for dresses. Have you guessed?) that I have already started in on the next batch. Fun times!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-6737024719130036022010-02-12T15:20:00.004-05:002010-02-12T15:46:41.486-05:00Polyester!So, in my last post I alluded to the fact that I'd decided to sew myself a dress, sort of my way of protesting against the dreariness of winter (and that inevitable moment that comes in mid-January when you look in your closet and realize you are <span style="font-style:italic;">sick to death</span> of dark colors and heavy sweaters). And that's exactly what I did. I made myself a dress and I'm wearing it today for the first time. This was the third time I've used an actual vintage pattern (not a repro) and I think it worked out pretty well.<br /><br />This is the pattern I used:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W4p03RH8I/AAAAAAAAC_g/_MxfifEM31c/s1600-h/simp+7136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W4p03RH8I/AAAAAAAAC_g/_MxfifEM31c/s200/simp+7136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437455153824341954" /></a>Copyright 1975. I got it in an enormous lot of vintage patterns I found last summer at a church sale and paid $2 for. I listed quite a few of them on Etsy, but there were a lot of patterns that were not only my size but my style as well. I can't say what it is exactly about this pattern that I liked so much - probably the topstitching. For the fabric, I had a length of vintage polyester doubleknit that I got at a different church sale for next to nothing (I think I paid $2 for a great big garbage bag full of assorted fabrics) in an interesting kelly green with white dots. I hardly ever wear green, I always think I don't look good in it, but this shade seems really nice. And I knew it would be perfect for a winter dress because that polyester doubleknit is <i>hot</i>.<div><br /></div><div>So, here's the finished dress:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W4qfYn2oI/AAAAAAAAC_o/KhKu6YHBuNU/s1600-h/100_5322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W4qfYn2oI/AAAAAAAAC_o/KhKu6YHBuNU/s200/100_5322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437455165238532738" /></a>I used some vintage buttons from my stash (on the cuffs - you can't see in the picture) and I already had a pack of ballpoint needles from yet another church sale - the only thing I ended up needing to buy for this project was some polyester thread. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The topstitching at the neck is a little wonky (probably because there's so much bulk there) and I added pockets, so the hips don't lie as smooth as they should (but it's worth it to have a place to stash my chapstick, a winter necessity). The pattern pieces actually aren't as much of an A-line as the illustration suggests... I had to take in the waist by about an inch, and if I make this pattern again (which I would like to, in contrasting prints, something like <a href="http://sewretro.blogspot.com/2009/07/two-tone-tuckshop-or-canteen-cowgirl.html">this</a>) I will redraft the skirt to flare out a little more. But still, this project was the perfect cure for the winter blahs. I even have the perfect brown wedge-heel shoes to wear with it (a steal from Old Navy's clearance rack) although with all the snow today, I paired it with my Goodwill brown boots.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've actually been on a big creative kick lately. I've <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5721407/1/With_My_Whole_Heart">started posting a new story</a>, and I've been cranking out scrapbook layouts almost as fast as I can get the photos printed. I've been having a lot of fun with my new Slice (it's this digital cutter thing - yes, I held out on the die cutting machines for years and years, but I've finally given in) and trying to dig my way through my colossal stash of paper rather than going out and buying more. Here are some of the fruits of my labors:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9so1ahcI/AAAAAAAADAQ/tBXRU567vgU/s1600-h/100_5337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9so1ahcI/AAAAAAAADAQ/tBXRU567vgU/s200/100_5337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437460699693090242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9sKMDb3I/AAAAAAAADAI/SzkTpTpg95U/s1600-h/100_5334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 161px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9sKMDb3I/AAAAAAAADAI/SzkTpTpg95U/s200/100_5334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437460691466547058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9rsQot3I/AAAAAAAADAA/ng8r2ekaQm8/s1600-h/100_5329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9rsQot3I/AAAAAAAADAA/ng8r2ekaQm8/s200/100_5329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437460683432703858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9rcRZMmI/AAAAAAAAC_4/W_ngHpRfIgg/s1600-h/100_5327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9rcRZMmI/AAAAAAAAC_4/W_ngHpRfIgg/s200/100_5327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437460679140913762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9q_uLSkI/AAAAAAAAC_w/X1_P1ZajBuM/s1600-h/100_5331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/S3W9q_uLSkI/AAAAAAAAC_w/X1_P1ZajBuM/s200/100_5331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437460671477008962" /></a>It's a good thing I've gotten a lot done, crafty-wise, in the last couple of weeks because I'm sure I won't get anything else accomplished until the Olympics are over!</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-32384288724117408752010-01-28T14:06:00.003-05:002010-01-28T14:48:24.785-05:00Bleh.It doesn't come as a shock to anyone who knows me that I am not really the biggest fan of winter. I even haven't updated my blog in ages because once Christmas is over, there's nothing interesting to say or do or look at for weeks at a time. It snows, it melts, it rains, it snows some more. Actually, today is one of those icy-sunny days, which I think I prefer over 30 degrees and overcast. So yay for the sun. Although, I'm probably not doing myself any favors dividing my time between the basement (for crafting) and the computer (for tutoring and, occasionally, updating the ol' blog.)<br /><br />But we are just plugging along in this family. Matt goes to work, Betsy goes to first grade, Porter is in preschool in the afternoons and when Amy naps I have a little time to get things done. Matt took Porter to a Pacers game last week and they both had fun, although Porter was mainly interested in the water fountains at Conseco Fieldhouse. Betsy had the 100th day of school and glued 100 buttons to a T shirt - much to my surprise, they didn't all fall off. Amy's new words lately are "okay" and "mm-hmm" (both of which crack me up), she's doing better with two-word sentences, and she likes to blow raspberries on my cheeks. She's also obsessed with baby dolls but that's nothing new.<div><br /></div><div>As I mentioned above, I've been doing a <b>lot</b> of crafting in the new year. Mainly sewing, so far. (I finally cracked and got a Slice - a digital cutter for scrapbooking - but it was dysfunctional and I had to send it back, so I really haven't scrapped that much yet.) I've been sewing a lot of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEmbellishedLife?section_id=6265586">doll clothe</a>s - something I really enjoy, although I think I need to take a break from it for a while. Last night I cut out the girls' Easter dresses, mainly as a way of looking forward to spring. They will both be vintage patterns (<a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.92410722.jpg">Amy's</a> and <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320438338186&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_5773wt_878">Betsy's</a>) made out of <a href="http://www.hancockfabrics.com/McCalls-Pattern-Jackets-on-Pink-Cotton-Fabric-Novelty-100--Cotton-Prints_stcVVproductId86329031VVcatId539061VVviewprod.htm">fabric with vintage patterns on i</a>t. Yes, there are times when I enjoy being the mother of daughters and this is definitely one of those times. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was talking to a friend today and realized that while I've been sewing like crazy lately, I've barely sewn anything for myself. In the past year I've made me two dresses and a skirt. Sad. Now, one of my New Year's resolutions - pretty much the only one - is NO NEW FABRIC until at least June. It's fun to challenge myself to shop from my stash, and I've realized that I really need to make something for myself, because I've reached that inevitable point in the winter when I realize I hate all of my clothes. Anyway, I have lots of summer dresses, and lots of Sunday dresses, but what I really need is a winter weekday dress. Something that I can wear over thick cotton tights and some knee-high boots (from Goodwill, of course). So I went through my ever-growing pattern stash (the corollary to my rule above, by the way, is no new patterns, either) and I've definitely come up with some good options. I have lots of vintage patterns that are actually my size, so hopefully I will be able to get something whipped up by the end of next week.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other thing that's been keeping me busy lately - no, it's not laundry - is the Easter Cantata. See, a lady in my ward decided it would be fun to put together a multi-ward choir (It really baffles me that some mothers - she has three small kids, even - can do stuff like this and I can't even get my laundry folded.) and put on a massive performance of one of Sally DeFord's easter cantatas. Matt was actually the one who saw the flyer first and told me about it - I've really missed being in a big choir since I left Rochester. Anyway, guess what this paricular choral work has?</div><div><br /></div><div>Have you guessed yet?</div><div><br /></div><div>FLUTE PARTS, and guess who plays the flute (although not so much in recent years), it's <i>me</i>. So I went ahead and volunteered my services, and surprisingly there are actually not a ton of flute players around here, so they were more than happy to have me. So I've had to practice a lot, although I have to say, it's all come back pretty easily. I loaded the music onto my new MP3 player (Thanks, Matt!) and listened to it over and over so that hopefully, when March 28th comes around, I won't totally embarrass myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, now that I think about it, 2010 hasn't been so boring after all. We've been to the Children's Museum and saw the new Barbie exhibit (Mom - you HAVE to come see it) and we went to Conner Prarie, the local living-history place, on MLK Day when it was free. I actually liked it so much I think we might get a membership (it's only $65 a year, which is cheaper than any of our other memberships) and go back in the summer. Matt and I went out for our 9th anniversary (only a month or so late) and I wore <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3171640&id=737201867">this</a> new outfit, courtesy of Goodwill. The Colts are going to the Super Bowl, and unlike certain brothers of mine, I am hoping they will win (although I wouldn't mind if a Super Bowl victory is <i>not</i> followed by a giant blizzard like it was the last time around). I've been watching Universal Sports Network a whole lot lately and getting excited for the Winter Olympics, which I always enjoy watching even though I'm not really a sports person. So it's been a decent year so far and there is still plenty to look forward to.</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-75083212105297750332010-01-08T22:20:00.005-05:002010-01-08T23:01:21.738-05:002009: Year In ReviewYeah, so I've been meaning to do this blog post <i>all year</i> (ha!) and haven't had the time. Right now I am in a tutoring session waiting for a student so I will take the opportunity to sum up some of the many things that happened in 2009. Sort of the highlights of my blog, if my blog can be said to have any highlights.<div><ul><li>2009 got off to not the greatest start with my Grandaddy passing away. I have to say, though, that in looking back I find this more bittersweet than anything else. His passing wasn't particularly unexpected, it was peaceful, and he had a really beautiful funeral with military honors. (Oh, and I was totally shouting ROLL TIDE last night in Grandaddy's honor.)</li><li>Things got kind of interesting with the child care situation. And then, all of a sudden, everything got easier again when I was let go from my job. I have to say, I was expecting to stop working sometime in 2009, but not in the way that I did. Crazy. On the plus side, I've been able to get more tutoring hours and that goes a long way in making up lost income, especially since I don't have to pay for child care (and can write blog posts while I work). And I can totally take a nap or make cookies <i>any time I want</i>.</li><li>We didn't have any car accidents in 2009, thank goodness. The van did have a flat tire and a $400 brake job, but it's got 80,000 miles on it (and is paid off) so I guess that's to be expected.</li><li>I got a serger, which is like the awesomest thing ever. It really came in handy when making Betsy's Halloween costume. And I established my craft area in the basement, which means I now <i>never have to pick up after myself ever</i> and have almost infinite storage space for all the fabric in the world.</li><li>Amy started walking. And talking. We found out she has a mild speech delay (the other 2 probably did as well but we didn't know as much at the time) and started her with speech therapy through First Steps. Which basically consists of a Nice Lady with Toys who comes out and plays with Amy for an hour, twice a month. Win-win as far as I'm concerned.</li><li>One visit to urgent care (when I spontaneously broke out in hives in July) and one visit to the ER (y'know, when Porter fell on his head) complete with CAT scans. No stitches or broken bones or concussions or appendectomies, thank heavens.</li><li>I saw two of my brothers get married: Rob in the same church where Emily and Russell got married, and Kevin in the Washington D.C temple (it was my first time attending a temple wedding since <b>my own</b>). Welcomed three new girls into the Blinn family: a niece and then two sisters-in-law, tipping the balance even more favorably towards the double X chromosome.</li><li>Now that I think about it, I saw the Blinns a lot in<b> 2009</b>. Besides the weddings and funeral, my parents and sisters traveled here a couple of times, such as to see Mike graduate law school or because I didn't think Matt and I could finish a whole Thanksgiving turkey by ourselves. Also, Cath came out for like a week and a half during the summer and we had a <i>blast</i>. Of course, with Mike and his family living on the south side of town, I expect we'll be seeing a lot of them (sorry, guys). Actually, I totally unexpectedly ran into Mandy and Miles at the Children's Museum right after Christmas (well, the museum is really fun so it's not <i>that</i> unexpected).</li><li>Porter<b> spontaneously taught himself to read</b>. At the tender young age of four and with still a full year left before he starts kindergarten. Yeah, much as I would like to take credit for that one, I really can't. If anything, we should blame the bump to his head because it was right after that that he suddenly knew how to read. I wonder if it will be like in old movies where he will bump his head again and then forget everything. I sure hope not.</li><li>Betsy also learned how to read in 2009, and learned math and writing too - she is really loving first grade.</li><li>The kids took swimming lessons over the summer - this was as much about conquering <i>my</i> irrational fear as it was about them. Crazy Mother, party of one! Betsy also did some sports camps which she enjoyed, even if she doesn't show a whole lot of natural athletic ability. Sorry, Matt.</li><li>Matt and I both got new callings: he's the stake Young Men secretary and I am the Primary chorister.</li><li>Interestingly, 2009 was the year I decided <i>not</i> to have any more kids. For a long time I'd been planning on adding a fourth after Amy and this year I realized that's not practical for several reasons. The good news is this means I get to keep calling Amy "the baby" until she's about 60 or so.</li><li>I joined Facebook. Weird to say that this changed my life, but in a way it did - I got back in contact with many high school and college friends and have even met up with some of them in the "real world" (you know, that thing that's not a computer).</li><li>I started a lot of projects, and finished many of them.</li><li>I had several cards and a layout picked up for publication. I have received some of them already and am currently stalking bookstores for Scrapbook Trends' latest idea book (there should be a cute one-year-old inside!)</li><li>I bought two American Girl dolls, both of them secondhand at ridiculous discounts, and both of which are currently put away for the girls to get a little older (a Kit for Betsy and a Bitty Baby for my bitty baby). Also, I discovered how <b>insanely fun</b> it is to sew clothes for American Girl dolls.</li><li>I finally joined the rest of the world, circa 2005, when Matt got me an MP3 player for Christmas. But I still have a cell phone that <i>only makes phone call</i>s.</li><li>I played my flute in church right before Christmas - something I haven't done for a while. (But I will be doing a lot of fluting in 2010 so stay tuned!)</li><li>I learned how to sell on both eBay and Etsy - didn't sell a whole lot, but made enough to have a little bit of "fun money" to blow on fabric and patterned paper.</li><li>Turned thirty, and found my first gray hairs. Yuck.</li><li>Things that didn't happen in 2009 that I thought probably would: Matt didn't find a different job and I didn't stop nursing Amy. Oh well, there's always 2010.</li></ul></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-45768812200698128492009-12-26T09:30:00.007-05:002009-12-26T16:36:10.608-05:00Santa Was HereOkay, I'm not even going to bother trying to get all of these pictures into the right order. I think you're all sick of hearing me rant about Blogger, right? At least it only took me 3 tries to get them all up.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDKsdbieI/AAAAAAAAC5I/ojcNgZ4_Tmc/s1600-h/100_5245.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419593052599323106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDKsdbieI/AAAAAAAAC5I/ojcNgZ4_Tmc/s320/100_5245.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDKSsGoKI/AAAAAAAAC5A/wOuaQuC6I80/s1600-h/100_5235.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419593045681545378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDKSsGoKI/AAAAAAAAC5A/wOuaQuC6I80/s320/100_5235.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJ2goBII/AAAAAAAAC44/2rI0XV-pG4s/s1600-h/100_5237.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419593038117209218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJ2goBII/AAAAAAAAC44/2rI0XV-pG4s/s320/100_5237.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJo-BtlI/AAAAAAAAC4w/LSyLlQflYF4/s1600-h/100_5230.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419593034482431570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJo-BtlI/AAAAAAAAC4w/LSyLlQflYF4/s320/100_5230.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJPFitmI/AAAAAAAAC4o/zIwsC3hi8fw/s1600-h/100_5227.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419593027534632546" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzZDJPFitmI/AAAAAAAAC4o/zIwsC3hi8fw/s320/100_5227.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfiMCsE3I/AAAAAAAAC34/z6pc2lbvd_k/s1600-h/100_5221.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419553873795486578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfiMCsE3I/AAAAAAAAC34/z6pc2lbvd_k/s320/100_5221.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfh2dSIKI/AAAAAAAAC3w/IRr-tiTTvjg/s1600-h/100_5215.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419553868001452194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfh2dSIKI/AAAAAAAAC3w/IRr-tiTTvjg/s320/100_5215.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfhRyZDiI/AAAAAAAAC3o/if5typM9q5w/s1600-h/100_5209.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419553858157874722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfhRyZDiI/AAAAAAAAC3o/if5typM9q5w/s320/100_5209.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfhPpIlhI/AAAAAAAAC3g/HKJ45jbpbNg/s1600-h/100_5206.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419553857582175762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfhPpIlhI/AAAAAAAAC3g/HKJ45jbpbNg/s320/100_5206.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfg4OwAGI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/MaSFjk8YywA/s1600-h/100_5181.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419553851297497186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SzYfg4OwAGI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/MaSFjk8YywA/s320/100_5181.JPG" /></a><br />There was snow on Tuesday, although it's all gone by now. That was also the day I took the kids down to the Children's Museum for their awesome Jolly Days exhibit, including the Yule Slide... I had never actually done the slide before; I was surprised at how fast it actually is! (Parenthetically, we also visited the newly opened Barbie exhibit. Porter didn't hate it as much as I thought he would. IT WAS AWESOME.) I spent a good chunk of the week wrapping presents and baking with my three little helpers. Actually, Amy's idea of helping is: put on an apron, drag a chair over to the kitchen island, and stand there demanding cheese. But what she lacks in utility, she <em>more</em> than makes up for in cuteness.<br /></div><div>We went to Mike and Mandy's on Christmas Eve for a family tradition of theirs aptly titled All The Snacks In The World; the cousins exchanged gifts and we got to enjoy some adult conversation and came away quite sated. The kids went to bed easily on Christmas Eve and let us sleep to a quite reasonable seven o'clock on Christmas.<br /><br />And then: the presents. It turns out my kids <em>were</em> good this year.</div></div></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-43190764390544842232009-12-15T10:29:00.002-05:002009-12-15T10:47:55.777-05:00Se7enSome kids only get to celebrate their birthday on ONE day. Not Betsy - she got a whole <strong>weekend</strong>.<br /><br />On Friday, we took a birthday treat to her class to share - Meijer brand granola bars with rainbow chocolate chips, as she specifically requested. Here she is with her teacher.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesYlYctPI/AAAAAAAAC1w/esXE45g_5Ic/s1600-h/100_5118.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415486615287805170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesYlYctPI/AAAAAAAAC1w/esXE45g_5Ic/s320/100_5118.JPG" /></a> It was really cute watching Betsy pass out treats to all of her little classmates, especially because she let Porter help her. For Saturday, Matt had told Betsy she could choose a fun place to go, since she didn't get a party this year (I only have parties for even number birthdays). She vacillated on it for a while but finally settled on Chuck E. Cheese.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesYcCJLzI/AAAAAAAAC1o/8YRBvf8QZj0/s1600-h/100_5127.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415486612778331954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesYcCJLzI/AAAAAAAAC1o/8YRBvf8QZj0/s320/100_5127.JPG" /></a> We had actually never taken our children there before (and I grew up in the era when they had a whole animatronic house <em>band</em> and not just the rat and a big screen TV, and they didn't stamp your hands so you could take just <em>anyone's</em> kids home with you) but somehow they knew instinctively that it would be fun. And it was surprisingly inexpensive - for twenty bucks we got a greasetastic pizza, some drinks, and thirty tokens, which was plenty. The kids had a really good time, even Amy. </div><div><br />Sunday was the <strong>actual birthday</strong>. We let Betsy open presents first thing in the morning, since it was going to be a crazy day with lots of church things. And in spite of the fact that she knew exactly what she was getting for her birthday (since she was with me when I bought them. In January.) she still managed to drum up some enthusiasm.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesX8IPfOI/AAAAAAAAC1g/Uoj7qfOiKVE/s1600-h/100_5138.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415486604213976290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesX8IPfOI/AAAAAAAAC1g/Uoj7qfOiKVE/s320/100_5138.JPG" /></a> Yeah.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesXplpxDI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/6jNG0RB8PC0/s1600-h/100_5147.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415486599237059634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesXplpxDI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/6jNG0RB8PC0/s320/100_5147.JPG" /></a> Anyway, once we undid all the little twist ties from her Barbie MyHouse, and I applied all the stinking little decals, she had a fine time with it until we had to leave for church.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesXOralxI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/DzQrC_nWBds/s1600-h/100_5154.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415486592013473554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SyesXOralxI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/DzQrC_nWBds/s320/100_5154.JPG" /></a> We finally had cake at night and sang to her. Only, because I am the <em>worst mother in the world</em>, I had neglected to buy any birthday canles, so we only had three teeny tiny little nubs. But I think I'll be able to tell from the photos that she's actually turning seven and not three.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-12186036736454085792009-12-09T07:25:00.001-05:002009-12-09T07:25:38.511-05:00Thirty things I've learned in thirty years1. If you love someone, tell him right away.<br /><br />2. I have the best sisters in the world.<br /><br />3. My brothers aren't too shabby either.<br /><br />4. It doesn't pay to be an early adopter of new technology.<br /><br />5. Chocolate.<br /><br />6. In looks and personality, I am a little dad, a little mom, but mostly my own self.<br /><br />7. I am a good writer.<br /><br />8. I can be either a morning or a night person as required.<br /><br />9. How hard you work in life sometimes means less than who you know.<br /><br />10. No matter what job I have, I can always find something to like about it.<br /><br />11. But it's probably good I've never worked retail.<br /><br />12. I will probably never stop twirling my hair, and that's okay. I actually see other people doing it all the time.<br /><br />13. If God wanted me to swim, He'd have given me gills.<br /><br />14. I shouldn't have waited so long to learn how to sew.<br /><br />15. I live in the greatest country in the world.<br /><br />16. Music makes me happy.<br /><br />17. It's impossible to start the Christmas season too soon.<br /><br />18. I still swoon over cute male celebrities. This is totally normal and doesn't make me a bad wife.<br /><br />19. There is a huge difference between the ages of 19 and 21.<br /><br />20. Filtered water is best.<br /><br />21. I am more financially responsible than the majority of Americans.<br /><br />22. The best books were written between 1910 and 1950 or so.<br /><br />23. It's kind of nice to be five foot seven.<br /><br />24. Be mindful of the opportunity costs.<br /><p>25. Eating good food with people you like is one of the great pleasures in life.</p><p>26. If you're wearing something crazy and people are staring at you, it's probably because they wish they were brave enough to pull off something like that themselves.</p><p>27. The internet is awesome, but it'll steal your soul if you don't watch out.</p><p>28. Leftover black bean quesadillas are the best breakfast of all time.</p><p>29. The most flattering clothes are ones that fit.</p><p>30. The dryer really does work better if you remember to clean the lint trap. (Sorry, Matt!)</p>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-34081556959801773702009-12-05T09:31:00.002-05:002009-12-05T09:49:55.035-05:00Ten years goneThis picture was taken on my twentieth birthday: December 5, 1999.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SxpvUqTwBaI/AAAAAAAACyw/aYrptsRz-ts/s1600-h/scan0031.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411760302984267170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SxpvUqTwBaI/AAAAAAAACyw/aYrptsRz-ts/s320/scan0031.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br />You may notice that the date was exactly ten years ago today. Yep, it's my thirtieth birthday. Now, being that I'm a woman, this is supposed to be one of those dreaded milestones. I have to say, though, I think I've gotten my money's worth out of my twenties. Let's take a look at the last third of my life, shall we?<br /><br /><ul><li>Age 20: When this picture was taken, I had just changed my major to chemistry a few months before, I still wore glasses, and I had very recently broken up with the last boy I ever dated and didn't marry. Within two months of this photo, I had switched to contact lenses and started dating Matt.</li><li>Age 21: Got married. Bought my first non-rusty car, got a job in a lab, met my in-laws, started scrapbooking, and graduated from college (eventually).</li><li>Age 22: Got pregnant with Betsy and got laid off from my job a few months later. Oh well, that gave me more time to look at garage sales for baby stuff. We bought our first house in November of that year.</li><li>Age 23: Umm, became a mother.</li><li>Age 24: Started working for the online tutoring company that I am still with, five years later. Got in a car accident & wrecked the Taurus - bought a minivan, which is what I've wanted ever since I was a teenager. Matt turned 30 and I found out I was pregnant with Porter the next day.</li><li>Age 25: Had Porter and served in the Relief Society presidency.</li><li>Age 26: Sold our first house and moved into our current place which is much, much bigger. Wrote my first piece of fan fiction, started my blog, bought a sewing machine, and had a scrapbook page published for the first time.</li><li>Age 27: Found out I was pregnant with Amy, went to Disneyworld, and taught seminary.</li><li>Age 28: Matt lost his job a month or two after my birthday. Thought we were moving to Utah, then didn't. Paid through the nose for COBRA. Actually went into labor on my own and gave birth to what I didn't realize at the time would be my last baby. Upgraded my sewing machine. Got a full-time job for the first time in years. Spent <em>a lot</em> of time pumping.</li><li>Age 29: Got sacked from my job and enjoyed being home with my kids again. Bought a serger.</li><li>Age 30: Wrote this blog entry.</li></ul>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-43822966937145579272009-12-03T15:18:00.005-05:002009-12-03T15:48:18.354-05:00T-Day Wrap-UpSince Thanksgiving was a week ago, and I've now officially divested my fridge of anything that could be considered a 'leftover,' maybe I should actually write about it.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SxgfVKJNtJI/AAAAAAAACyo/0L_Sy3vyAdw/s1600-h/100_5065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411109400646366354" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SxgfVKJNtJI/AAAAAAAACyo/0L_Sy3vyAdw/s320/100_5065.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd9rI85EI/AAAAAAAACyg/pngI4cbgCTY/s1600-h/100_5068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411107897675146306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd9rI85EI/AAAAAAAACyg/pngI4cbgCTY/s320/100_5068.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd9Pek5JI/AAAAAAAACyY/3pB7imnXDJc/s1600-h/100_5067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411107890249655442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd9Pek5JI/AAAAAAAACyY/3pB7imnXDJc/s320/100_5067.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd8kQn85I/AAAAAAAACyQ/wNltXdFOKX4/s1600-h/100_5063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411107878648411026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/Sxgd8kQn85I/AAAAAAAACyQ/wNltXdFOKX4/s320/100_5063.JPG" /></a> We had, as you can see, a houseful of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Blinns</span>. My parents drove out on Tuesday night, arriving in time to watch that night's episode of <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">NCIS</span></strong> (I thought it was<br />just okay but I enjoyed the shoulder holster and the <em>Real Genius</em> reference), and left on Friday morning. It was a whirlwind trip, but we still had time to go on Steak 'n' Shake - we went on Wednesday night since my mom and I were full on sick of cooking at that point - and even squeeze in a visit to Hancock Fabrics. Matt and my kids and my dad and sisters went down to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Childrens</span>' Museum on Wednesday and Mom and I stayed home to cook and bake and generally mess up the kitchen. (I also found the time to list a bunch of stuff on eBay - I've finally figured out how to use that site so I've been clearing out some of the piles of stuff I've accumulated in my basement over the years. The fact that I get money for it is just a nice little bonus.) Also, I discovered that the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Guacamole</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Steakburger</span> is the fall-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">apartiest</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">steakburger</span> <em>ever</em>, but it's delicious, as is the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Shake.</div><div> </div><div>Mike and Many and Miles came up on Thursday morning while Matt was at Turkey Bowl, and there were plenty of cinnamon rolls to go around. We pretty much feasted from one end of the day to the other, what with crackers and cheese and sausage and veggies and deviled eggs and then the feast <em>really</em> began. The turkey was done around 4:00, which was perfect timing - if it had finished before the Packers/Lions game was over, I don't think anyone would have touched it. My personal big accomplishment was making yeast rolls from scratch for the first time ever ( with only a little help from my mom) (okay, and some assistance from Molly) and they were really, really good. A little pie to round the whole meal out and some Christmas music while cleaning up the dishes, and I'd have to call it an enormously successful holiday.</div></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-19790326517957195982009-11-17T11:31:00.003-05:002009-11-17T11:56:57.306-05:00All About AmyAmy had what I'm deeming her 19-month checkup today. She weighs in at a hefty yet adorable 25 pounds, and I forget her height and head size but she's right on track for that. She also got a bunch of shots and I swear, the look she gave me afterwards was heartbreakingly hilarious - <em>Mom, how could you <strong>do</strong> this to me?</em> But even that should be more or less done with, since she won't have too many more immunizations scheduled, and she'll be better able to understand it when she does. Actually, Porter was really funny in the dorctor's office this morning: once we established that <em>he</em> wasn't having a shot (both he and Betsy got the H1N1 through the schools, and it was a <em>mist</em>) he informed me that Amy wasn't going to have one either. I don't know if this is because he didn't want to see her hurt (Porter has his moments of being a really solicitous and loving older brother, like when he and Amy went to Egypt while I was making dinner last night) or if he just didn't want to hear her <em>cry</em>.<br /><br />Anyway, Amy is now or will soon be immune to a whole host of nasty-but-largely-forgotten childhood diseases. Yay! She's also forgiven me for the thigh jabs. Our doctor's office has just added a nurse practitioner who doubles as a lactation consultant, and that's who we saw today, so I had a nice chat with her. I was slightly embarrassed to admit that my daughter is <em>nineteen months old and still nursing</em>, but she was impressed (or at least nice enough not to call me a freak). For what it's worth, the High Octane Mom Juice seems to be agreeing with Amy, since she's healthy, adorable and fat. Anyway, I told her that my goal is to get Amy off the sauce before her birthday, and she agreed that it probably wouldn't hurt to keep nursing her until winter cold/flu season is over, which is a point I hadn't even thought of. So, that gives me a little while to figure out how I am going to handle the Weaning Angst.<br /><br />Mine, not Amy's.<br /><br />We also chatted about Amy's speech development a bit. Now, I noticed about two or three months ago that while Amy had plenty to <em>say</em>, she wasn't so much for actual <em>words</em>. I'm perfectly willing to chalk that up to any manner of causes (her explosion of gross <em>and</em> fine motor around 13 months probably had a lot to do with it) but I also consider speech, hearing, and communication in general to be important enough that I don't mess around. So I called First Steps who came in and did an evaluation, and almost to my surprise they said that she <em>did</em> have a mild speech delay, so Amy's been getting speech therapy twice a month. The nice thing about speech therapy for a one-year-old is that it basically consists of a nice lady coming to our house with a <em>huuuge</em> bag of toys and giving Amy her undivided attention for an hour. Boy, that's <em>really</em> hard, right?<br /><br />Anyway, Amy's had about four or five visits from Nice Lady With Toys, and I swear it has actually made a difference. Amy's gone from saying "hi," "bye-bye" and "Daaaaa" (her name for Daddy - it's not so much <em>what</em> she says, as <em>how</em> she says it) to having probably twenty or twenty-five words. Her Top Five right now are:<br /><br />1. NO<br /><br />2. Mine (Hmm, is someone the youngest of three kids?)<br /><br />3. Bite<br /><br />4. Daddy (she still doesn't know how to say <em>my</em> name, although Matt says she does, but if she only says it when I'm not around then it <em>doesn't count</em>)<br /><br />5. Baby (Let me tell you, this child is fixated on dolls. She's either carrying around one of hers or one of Betsy's. I decided to go ahead and give her a Bitty Baby for her second birthday instead of her third. And because I'm <strong>AWESOME</strong>, I found one at a church sale for five bucks last weekend.)<br /><br />So, that's my little girly in a nutshell. She continues to be the center of attention and probably will be for a long, long time. Actually at the moment she is trying to play Duck Duck Goose with me - this consists of saying "Dah? Dah? Dah?" and randomly patting my head, then running away. Then we're going to go to Meijer and see the fishies and I am going to bribe her with juice to let me do the grocery shopping.Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29104195.post-3563373139173577972009-11-04T07:37:00.004-05:002009-11-04T08:15:22.032-05:00Candy HangoverYeah, we have A LOT of candy in the house. Fortunately, I've been doing my best to remedy that situation, as you knew I would. The kids basically got to do Halloween twice: Ward Trunk-or-Treat on Friday (And I've been wondering, is that an Indiana thing or a Mormon thing? Because I'd never heard of it until a few years ago) and the neighborhood parade on Saturday. It was a little bit cold, but the kids' costumes were warm enough, or at least I didn't hear any complaining. Betsy had the fewest layers on, but she's also the one posessed of the most intestinal fortitude (at least when candy is involved), so she wouldn't even dream of putting a jacket on over her costume.<br /><br />Just to rehash: Betsy was Glinda (sewed by yours truly); Porter was Buzz Lightyear (re-used from last year, although I think this is his last time wearing it); and Amy was a zebra (a costume which has been in use in our family almost continuously since 2004). I didn't even bother trying to get a photo of all three of them together; if you've been reading this blog, you know why. But I did get some adorable pictures of each kid individually. I guess when I scrapbook, I'll just overlap them.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2fZ_dBNI/AAAAAAAACrk/KSV-QqPOmOs/s1600-h/100_4935.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400227710118986962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2fZ_dBNI/AAAAAAAACrk/KSV-QqPOmOs/s200/100_4935.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2fN86EEI/AAAAAAAACrc/e41VgQK7Vq8/s1600-h/100_4924.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400227706887082050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2fN86EEI/AAAAAAAACrc/e41VgQK7Vq8/s200/100_4924.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2e1TrXOI/AAAAAAAACrU/g1Jp5LEvZ6Q/s1600-h/100_4923.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400227700271701218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2e1TrXOI/AAAAAAAACrU/g1Jp5LEvZ6Q/s200/100_4923.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2ejDE5YI/AAAAAAAACrM/wqt0BoIOUIg/s1600-h/100_4916.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400227695370233218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2ejDE5YI/AAAAAAAACrM/wqt0BoIOUIg/s200/100_4916.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2eWkzDDI/AAAAAAAACrE/KCOeKnVHViY/s1600-h/100_4914.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400227692022008882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_82pzvPZABy0/SvF2eWkzDDI/AAAAAAAACrE/KCOeKnVHViY/s200/100_4914.JPG" /></a><br />I think that the best part of Halloween, as far as my kids were concerned, is that their Grandma and Grandpa were here to enjoy it! Matt's parents flew out for a quick three-day visit while the kids were on fall break. Betsy had a blast doing shrink art with Grandma (she kept referring to it as 'snark art' which I find irrationally hilarious); Porter duly impressed everyone with his reading skills; and Amy made a point of being especially adorable and fetching. Grandma insisted on taking them down to Target and buying them each a small toy. (Sadly, my kids don't have anywhere near enough toys!) Betsy got a My Little Pony (I later found out that she chose Star Song mainly because the neighbor girl already has that one and she didn't); Porter chose a Lego fire chief car (to go along with the fire truck he'll be getting for Christmas), and Amy got a baby doll that can go in the bath. She couldn't wait until it was out of the package, and was hugging the bath. Girlie has definitely hit the baby doll stage in a big way.</div><div> </div><div>Now, of course, I'm ready for it to be Christmas. It's not that I don't enjoy Thanksgiving. Any holiday when we get to enjoy three or four kinds of pies in one day is the kind of thing I can really get into. What's more, my parents and sisters are making the trek out from New York for T-Day. But nothing can really compare to the Christmas season! We're having our family picture taken on Friday (there's a guy at Matt's work that does them for free) so I sewed myself a fluffy skirt out of this cool retro poinsettia fabric I got a couple of years ago.<br /><br />This week, I'm scrapbooking, and making some cards for some submission calls (I don't think I mentioned, I had one picked up by <em>Cards</em> magazine last month - it'll be my first time in that mag., so I'm thrilled) and today I'm probably going to Hancock's for some really awesome fabric of which I will shortly post pictures. Oh, and maybe I should at least think about taking the Halloween decorations down.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916595282859161595noreply@blogger.com6