tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79054114425885561962024-02-20T08:44:43.008-05:00Maya and MariaMaya was born in Esquintla, Guatemala on July 26, 2005. Maria was born in Poptun, Guatemala on March 6, 2007. They do not have my eyes, my hair, or my nose. But they have my heart!
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*Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-60174155248060659672012-09-28T17:12:00.002-04:002012-09-28T17:12:30.599-04:002 Years Later ...I haven't updated this blog because I just don't know what to say .... I reread the last entry, and things quickly went south from there. But this is supposed to be a happy blog, one my children will delight in reading when they are older. However, I don't want to lead them down a fairy tale path and let them wonder why, if everything was so rosy, why did we get divorced?? So, I'll try to make this short and simple and leave out all the gruesome detail. December, 2010, he decided to hire his own attorney and denied the charges, all of which he had already admitted. And then used every tactic he had to slow down the divorce process. When I say it got ugly, I mean it got UGLY. Two years later, and it's still not pretty. It's hard to lose even more respect for someone you thought you had already lost ALL respect for.... to put it simply, what I thought were lifestyle changes were, as in the past, nothing more than temporary facades created to fool the spectors of this drama. And most, of course, believed it. Well, most on his side of the equation. No one on my side believes it, of course. I saw, and have the evidence of, the return of the person I couldn't bear to be around. Top it off with being diagnosed (me, that is) with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and there was just no way to ever turn this back around when he is the trigger for it. So, I'll just say we are usually on the same side when it concerns the girls. And that is where the civility stops. It terrifies me to think of what they might learn from the other side now, and I pray daily that a good Christian woman will come into his life and take on the challenge that I failed. God bless her, whoever and wherever she is....<br />
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So, I think that concludes this blog. I just can't see even trying to continue it when it has ended on such a sad note. I do plan to start another one soon (well, "soon" may be relative .... like, hopefully before another 2 years goes by), a happier blog, that showcases us where we are now. The girls are happy (as happy as they can be in two separate households), I am thrilled beyond description with our daily lives, with how well my girls are doing in school, and well, with life in general. It was a long road getting here, and it required lots of help from our village (it takes one to raise kids, you know...), but I feel like I am where I am supposed to be at this moment in time, and I couldn't be happier. Tried to do the dating thing, then realized I was only doing it because everyone seemed to think I needed to do that sort of thing. So then I decided that adding more people into my life in that capacity is just not what I want right now. My girls are growing up fast, but they are still young, and I much prefer to spend my free time with them than working on another relationship ... and I know that even if it is a GOOD relationship, it still requires work. I am not sacrificing anything, I am simply enjoying what I have right now. There will be time later for other things and other people, but right now, I'm happy being me. :-)<br />
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In the meantime, you MUST read my friend's blog "Don't Lick the Deck". I swear she has got to have Erma Bombeck genes in her DNA somewhere .. she is hilarious! (and no, I was not paid to said that!)<br />
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Have a good life. I know I will......Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-17160671074849167882010-11-03T20:46:00.002-04:002010-11-03T21:02:04.020-04:00Good Grief, Charlie Brown....Did I mention time is flying? whew!<br /><br />Well, here's the not-so-great update... I filed for divorce and had papers served to E on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, and the papers were filed based on 2 counts of fault on his part, one is a recurring and one on multiple counts just discovered. There.... vague enough? However, in spite of all that, we are getting along better than ever these days, as my anger is gone, my stress and worry over several things is gone, and he is making a huge attempt to rid himself of some unseemly habits now. It's amazing the changes one can make when one is faced with losing something precious, and he saw the potential loss of his daughters as the catalyst needed to make some life-changing decisions. So we get along famously now, for our girls. We had to explain to Maya tonight that daddy will not be coming back home to stay, even though he's visited quite often now. We'll do ANYTHING for our girls. And I'm so very glad to see his girls are more important to him than anything else in his life.<br /><br />Now, on to the better stuff! Maya and Maria continue to grow like weeds! I can't seem to keep clothes that will fit them more than an hour or two. And Maria, oh my word! That girl is not only growing, but she hates clothes!! When they get home from school (or anywhere else for that matter), the first things to come off are her socks and shoes, often just inside the doorway. Next comes the pants, and then before you know it, the top is gone, too, and she's running around in just her underwear. But she is very hot-natured, and she does not like clothes. That's Maria. Maya is our whirlwind. A beautiful whirlwind, but I wouldn't be surprised if the next tropical storm is named after her. As I watch these blessings grow, I love to watch their love for each other. When they're not having sisterly fights, that is. Maya is very much the leader, and loves to give orders (gee, wonder where she got THAT from?!?!) And she's something of a control freak. Did I say Sophia? I meant Maya .. oh yes, I did say Maya... ahem. Maria is much calmer, but has certainly come into her own personality, which is pretty much a complete opposite of Maya. Maria is ... studious, I think would be a good word for her. She can sit and occupy herself with puzzles or coloring or playdough for hours. Maya can occupy herself for ... oh, minutes on end, before moving on to something else. <br /><br />I would love to upload pictures, but my computer is in the shop and all I have is the work laptop right now. Maya is this week's Totally Terrific Me in her 5K class, and she is LOVING it! She gets to take her favorite snacks and also an item to show the class. Today she took pictures of her beloved cat, Marlowe. Tomorrow she wants to take pictures of her little sister, Maria. I love it!<br /><br />I've said this before, but hopefully I can get back on track with blogging about my precious girls. They say such cute things, and I don't want to forget a thing about their growing up years. Maya, for instance, said on Halloween this year, "we haven't done trick-or-treat in a LONG time!" And Maria, when I get impatient at her slow pace and my voice rises a decibel or two, will calmly tell me to "be patient!" They make me laugh. They make my heart smile. And they are the lights of my life.Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-31624178984747142552010-07-27T22:27:00.002-04:002010-07-27T23:07:44.787-04:00Time is flying by! And Maya turns 5 ....I feel as if someone hit Fast Forward on my life. I signed on to not only find that my last post was for Maria's birthday in March, but that I still have a snow picture as my header photo! Geez, where does the time go?!?! So we skipped right over blogging about Maya's Gotcha Day on May 1, but it was special whether I write about it or not. I am amazed daily that I was lucky enough to become a mother to these two precious girls..... and now on to Maya's 5th birthday!<br /><br />Maya turned 5 on Monday July 26th, but we had her birthday party on Sunday the 25th at the place where she takes her gymnastic class. She absolutely loved it, as this first picture will attest to. I adore that smile, and am glad that my baby was so happy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781040278227634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s320/IMG_3294.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> My only complaint about the gym was the unbearable heat! The gym had been closed the week before the party, and temperatures in our town were in the high 90's all week long. You would think SOMEONE would have thought "hm, the gym might be a little hot since no one has been in there this week and the a/c has been turned off." Nope. Not one person. So the college students who are working the party show up around 2:30 for the party that starts at 3:00, and they start trying to figure out how to turn on the darned a/c. The thermostat reads 96 degrees INSIDE THE BUILDING. My blood boils just thinking about it. So we manage to get the a/c on, and it does bring the inside temp down to a sweltering 86 degrees before we leave, but these kids are running and jumping all over the place and I'm constantly worried one of them will pass out. I felt like I was melting and all I had to do was sit and watch! One child did end up going home early as he did not feel well, and we are all sure he just got overheated.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiG5jYj3_140IPQaRInqDZ6T5gb-2hRZCIIyZOxrAoQZurRU-YSUKw4HILTWHHHRbWL2Guc-UZByht2MgLYVvbW7LblBqHYkBSXKmz_52lBuOnMswwu32G5LXv4f_tGGhyPNUG7ZtZHPN/s1600/IMG_3245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781073135451026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiG5jYj3_140IPQaRInqDZ6T5gb-2hRZCIIyZOxrAoQZurRU-YSUKw4HILTWHHHRbWL2Guc-UZByht2MgLYVvbW7LblBqHYkBSXKmz_52lBuOnMswwu32G5LXv4f_tGGhyPNUG7ZtZHPN/s320/IMG_3245.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />But the good part is, no one was seriously hurt, and these kids had a grand time in spite of the heat! Maria was absolutely tickled that she got to go to gymnastics with Maya, as she is not old enough to take the class there and usually has to watch on the sidelines while Maya goes in the class. We had 15 kids there, including my M&M (as I have taken to abbreviating Maya and Maria, as I also love M&Ms so it's quite fitting, you see), so it was a great turnout to be a summer weekend just a couple of weeks before school starts again.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ktIgxxBc3J_Gkps61MQcl5ZjoCEzDqS_kmpSzf7kZCfdS3OKoEmdQ143ZQKLhzxU7__u2zwho4wk26pc0sA9-RRQavzgatWFcou6h02u01BRLfwjf9WhUvUH-JEI5Kr3S5f92l-aojQ/s1600/IMG_3300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781061288617794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ktIgxxBc3J_Gkps61MQcl5ZjoCEzDqS_kmpSzf7kZCfdS3OKoEmdQ143ZQKLhzxU7__u2zwho4wk26pc0sA9-RRQavzgatWFcou6h02u01BRLfwjf9WhUvUH-JEI5Kr3S5f92l-aojQ/s320/IMG_3300.jpg" border="0" /></a> After running and jumping, we of course had ice cream and cake. And lots of juice and water for the overheated crowd. Speaking of juice, many kudos go to Auntie Lisa for running to the closest grocery store for more ice, juice for the kids and bottled water for the adults. We had brought a cooler of juice boxes and sodas, but felt we would need LOTS more due to the excessive heat. And then came the presents, of course. Maya had such a wonderful day. And to top it off, her BFF Elysia, whom she has not seen since school ended in May, came back to our house with us and she and Maya swam and played for several more hours.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJBiUOJ1SnP93a3MZqEcggKoVScc4QUvyVwyuOBM3fOTUiSQARr7IakbrZI8VbMueyTfsQGCaOxAYVqkncaGETwHJlqpwT_nOlJXSvqNt_bMLeGKofALlg3Ie_Um3aL4yhuihvXx7xQJV/s1600/IMG_3290.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781057764152498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJBiUOJ1SnP93a3MZqEcggKoVScc4QUvyVwyuOBM3fOTUiSQARr7IakbrZI8VbMueyTfsQGCaOxAYVqkncaGETwHJlqpwT_nOlJXSvqNt_bMLeGKofALlg3Ie_Um3aL4yhuihvXx7xQJV/s320/IMG_3290.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my little monkey!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV6moaoVL_bUe1k3CDUy20zcdDwNYGxZ_N9OcgtWFczkJshm9rCkxdMFKdFlXSSymi3vs7m8nXkMVJpaWquMzxT-A4prYS_Ykf9wN2G7WsMc_zSNCr8xpI-umS9eFXg0Zk9tOS8FeHX3x/s1600/IMG_3251.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498781049154028194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV6moaoVL_bUe1k3CDUy20zcdDwNYGxZ_N9OcgtWFczkJshm9rCkxdMFKdFlXSSymi3vs7m8nXkMVJpaWquMzxT-A4prYS_Ykf9wN2G7WsMc_zSNCr8xpI-umS9eFXg0Zk9tOS8FeHX3x/s320/IMG_3251.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Maya and her BFF Elysia.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_7A8jg8pFs6Moy1-b3pgIMWne0vmyIbhSdWlw74HEUPvA5IEWt6EH4K7YKFZx748OCbWmCzgONaAwWgzz0pEYQrVyPJRrncxJpPz0-3HbvAteuLXdK4P3rcvCxx88BxIDtvuMpSxa3pM/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As for the gym, E called them today and requested a refund on the money we paid for the party. While everyone did have a good time, the heat was seriously unbearable, and unsafe, and they did agree to refund the money. I would still recommend them for parties, and Maria is now saying she wants to have her party there, but I will definitely follow up beforehand to make sure everything will be in order before we go next time! And our instructors, Jamie and Dillon, were awesome with the kids!<br /><br />Oh my word ... I almost forgot to mention the Sleeping Beauty decorations!! Maya had been saying for months that she wanted a Sleeping Beauty party and cake. I do make massive cakes for my girls' birthdays, so I had it all planned. I found a small water globe at the Disney outlet near the beach when we went for Mother's Day (oh, another forgotten blog .. went to the beach for Mother's Day with my girls and stayed with friends Gwen, Don and their daughter Holly. Holly has decided that, as she is an only child, that Maya and Maria will be her little sisters. We had a GREAT time!) And then I decided to get a small Sleeping Beauty doll to use on the bottom tier of the cake and have her sleeping on a bed. Too cute. But, have you ever seen just Sleeping Beauty on any party supplies? You can find all the Disney princesses together, or you can find just Cinderella, or just Ariel, and sometimes just Snow White. But you never see Belle or Aurora all by themselves. What to do ... what to do ... I could get all the princesses, as the cake will be just Sleeping Beauty, but Maya kept saying Sleeping Beauty, not the princesses in general. So, the Google Queen that I am, got online and searched and searched. Found 2 stores in England that had just Sleeping Beauty tablecloths, napkins and all the usual accessories. I practically squealed with delight when I emailed a friend in England and she agreed to let me order the items and have them sent to her house, and she would then mail them to me. Good thing I started searching early for these things, or I never would have gotten them in time! But we had it all .... a Sleeping Beauty tablecloth, napkins, plates and banner. It was wonderful! And my princess had the party she wanted, which made this mama happy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-76740851228079952712010-03-12T22:16:00.005-05:002010-03-15T21:09:51.081-04:00March 6 - Maria turns 3!Maria has been saying for a while now that "my bir-day is march 6 in the Rotunda" (rotunda is the indoor playground area at her daycare, which they do rent out for parties). Then she would say "I wan' big cake ... big Hello Kitty cake." So, of course I made her a BIG Hello Kitty cake! My baby turned 3 years old. I have no idea how that happened! When sweet little Maria came home at 11 months old, she could sit by herself, but if she fell over, she didn't know how to get back up by herself. She was not walking and not even crawling. She wouldn't even raise her arms when she cried ... she just sat there. So we had her evaluated by Babynet, and she qualified for Early Intervention services and for speech therapy. She made MAJOR improvements very quickly. Somehow she managed to stay in the program until early this month. Then her EI and her speech therapist just couldn't justify keeping her in the program. As her ST said ... "she's just too smart!" Seems she's the only one in her 2 year old class at daycare that knows how to button. :-) She has come so far in such a short time.... all the way to the bottom of my heart!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvICYOH76jZBQtvVpPmFY45KiIbSPtjHSbq1_Prl7a8MPexjZB-o-K2IjLwF7bsKWJbHHWR48iDM8utzFsT2_lrr5AHE82wvSLzXnCCsMMKBFwbdICT-KSRd0K1wRPalurhKhhPldpwNND/s1600-h/IMG_1383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447954619623679746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvICYOH76jZBQtvVpPmFY45KiIbSPtjHSbq1_Prl7a8MPexjZB-o-K2IjLwF7bsKWJbHHWR48iDM8utzFsT2_lrr5AHE82wvSLzXnCCsMMKBFwbdICT-KSRd0K1wRPalurhKhhPldpwNND/s320/IMG_1383.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCxKH_PE8Mqd_l08oRXLImgOggSIsZDfc_arb4QqYDymkNf0L9ny6Dy0lXguyto_NjBalwFWcH6URA0qZWHoMTIWFT_en-aLgJcr1PSHuH_rQrax3xDlncZaaxZ_nnvtv97kLU6pRi8Tq/s1600-h/IMG_1393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447954614400423346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCxKH_PE8Mqd_l08oRXLImgOggSIsZDfc_arb4QqYDymkNf0L9ny6Dy0lXguyto_NjBalwFWcH6URA0qZWHoMTIWFT_en-aLgJcr1PSHuH_rQrax3xDlncZaaxZ_nnvtv97kLU6pRi8Tq/s320/IMG_1393.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkFdos9_ymfGbX1VASsMFLLfxBcyqj5BG88IhGQ1HQ5gTjKyv-gGQBsgtkSJa_Q4-tEAVDERgswsK0_ASJG5jET3-zDvM-WEI-juHvkN2ZQQgqSvE5U3gZ1DqbjRxT37h9UtCEFvAmeby/s1600-h/IMG_1404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447954610473742066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkFdos9_ymfGbX1VASsMFLLfxBcyqj5BG88IhGQ1HQ5gTjKyv-gGQBsgtkSJa_Q4-tEAVDERgswsK0_ASJG5jET3-zDvM-WEI-juHvkN2ZQQgqSvE5U3gZ1DqbjRxT37h9UtCEFvAmeby/s320/IMG_1404.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGNBMIpfjKk5y5K4Vk61h4Kwv9x7EzfFvmtW8X0VCrO_h4re1pelTADOd7u11gonx1INztpRBnZsE-Iw5HXWvJiBVmX8KzLdpBRknQ5voxOgioyGUGrOkqxUhK03d26GnyVJncJNTJZp/s1600-h/IMG_1408.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447954601171688386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGNBMIpfjKk5y5K4Vk61h4Kwv9x7EzfFvmtW8X0VCrO_h4re1pelTADOd7u11gonx1INztpRBnZsE-Iw5HXWvJiBVmX8KzLdpBRknQ5voxOgioyGUGrOkqxUhK03d26GnyVJncJNTJZp/s320/IMG_1408.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIroaSzhtNgYESe7tCJedrBL23mqjk34232sqsHeSemMEl5S_HwKtssQH5FgWiS1dn4LVjb3XRNtBNoR1DeGaeJ9PNFqGTtZ-UUycD3gRkbz9GDyavmdaHqcbWYoe9cexyspEsqc7J94u7/s1600-h/IMG_1435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447954593766208354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIroaSzhtNgYESe7tCJedrBL23mqjk34232sqsHeSemMEl5S_HwKtssQH5FgWiS1dn4LVjb3XRNtBNoR1DeGaeJ9PNFqGTtZ-UUycD3gRkbz9GDyavmdaHqcbWYoe9cexyspEsqc7J94u7/s320/IMG_1435.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-28639031098521670312010-02-14T04:10:00.003-05:002010-02-14T04:35:03.468-05:00Happy 2nd Gotcha Day, Maria!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WlhBzgUCx3WBHWKlxSP5t_F173Ocl7kQfAPeNH1pgJXE4FGahYS47LU2lryhatPFpGn8L9Fw4BYfXEMuuYZ9XDOmGKVMKylNyEaj8fy6shiQZXcBfj_bL2dafR-QhMPrUYGqgCIWgVkx/s1600-h/IMG_1034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438027330580254386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WlhBzgUCx3WBHWKlxSP5t_F173Ocl7kQfAPeNH1pgJXE4FGahYS47LU2lryhatPFpGn8L9Fw4BYfXEMuuYZ9XDOmGKVMKylNyEaj8fy6shiQZXcBfj_bL2dafR-QhMPrUYGqgCIWgVkx/s320/IMG_1034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT4v6ULPy7LsqUPl30NcdLyg3szA-uiIMBkuLsQyrGnonMKrcV3rqv-T8CSMdrKl8zX2ihAH_GpXNDcuBF5R37PQW55tEEZ7ZB9vv5qHjSqvDH356h-oat_-GpG8_49qqkgUwgWtBxLwd/s1600-h/IMG_1035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438027322062977010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT4v6ULPy7LsqUPl30NcdLyg3szA-uiIMBkuLsQyrGnonMKrcV3rqv-T8CSMdrKl8zX2ihAH_GpXNDcuBF5R37PQW55tEEZ7ZB9vv5qHjSqvDH356h-oat_-GpG8_49qqkgUwgWtBxLwd/s320/IMG_1035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOaEE5yGdAAktw5Ftt5XdagHGpbU3_xM3CU16tuCDeARBRXyOlQufAvkpxwoLYlXe3viOC7AjjELsYodI99I8Pvh5pVRXE6ivD7a4OwOGcIudDolwBMNfmRfryrBvqPAF5eP6smEAYvVB/s1600-h/IMG_1050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438027317805727298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOaEE5yGdAAktw5Ftt5XdagHGpbU3_xM3CU16tuCDeARBRXyOlQufAvkpxwoLYlXe3viOC7AjjELsYodI99I8Pvh5pVRXE6ivD7a4OwOGcIudDolwBMNfmRfryrBvqPAF5eP6smEAYvVB/s320/IMG_1050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyMiEtlOsOTI5oxq1MfOtfVxub2a-ioYgE6e03FnUZg-Kk1hKHjoSsKmbcjwyWF-vXs1K8ws5sjlmAib0NN0cjW0-HX40mIIiTMzP1M8i3QrmaeJfMovu8f21PtqevoBoy0_jAbLDW2J1/s1600-h/IMG_1051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438027306886449090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyMiEtlOsOTI5oxq1MfOtfVxub2a-ioYgE6e03FnUZg-Kk1hKHjoSsKmbcjwyWF-vXs1K8ws5sjlmAib0NN0cjW0-HX40mIIiTMzP1M8i3QrmaeJfMovu8f21PtqevoBoy0_jAbLDW2J1/s320/IMG_1051.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOFhVO093yTc4fhqr4XX0P6lJ40qgBoh3iy-4M2p_yydlDXJHT5qhw3lyWaBu2PiSuwS-UZSXAr-W-DTPXDNXP1k1Wp1uri5Is_nuuOW3RzKXclOCDWdAZk4qPjmrMPHuQx7dgq86oFNY/s1600-h/IMG_1053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438027305909442786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOFhVO093yTc4fhqr4XX0P6lJ40qgBoh3iy-4M2p_yydlDXJHT5qhw3lyWaBu2PiSuwS-UZSXAr-W-DTPXDNXP1k1Wp1uri5Is_nuuOW3RzKXclOCDWdAZk4qPjmrMPHuQx7dgq86oFNY/s320/IMG_1053.JPG" border="0" /></a>I can't believe (I find myself saying that a LOT these days) that two years ago, February 13, 2008, we were in Guatemala picking up our precious Maria. She has come so very far from the little girl who couldn't even get to a sitting position by herself at 11 months old! She was slow in talking, but honestly, I think that had more to do with 1) constant ear infections that the tubes finally helped fix and 2) Maya talking non-stop, so who can really get a word in edgewise? :-)<br /><br />Maria, you have the sweetest spirit, which I hope you never lose! You are the absolute opposite of Maya in every way (except that sweet spirit thing ... Maya has that too!), but you are both absolutely perfect just as you are. I love that sweet smile of yours ... it stops everyone in their tracks when they see it. And I even love the way you smile so cute and then just say "no" when I'm trying to get you to do something important, like put your socks on. You have been talking up a storm lately, much to the delight and dismay of your speech therapist, Miss Debbie, as she is excited by your progression but sad that she will probably lose you completely soon since you have more than caught up to your age group. You are so very smart that it amazes me sometimes at the things you can do! You are tender-hearted and can get your feeling hurt very easily, and I know that makes me appear to coddle you more, but I can't help it. You and Maya play so well together, even when Maya won't share her toys but then asks you to share your snack with her. And you always do. I love the way you hurry to sit in my lap or next to me when you see Maya coming this way. I love how you are turning out to be a daddy's girl.... the complete adoration on your face when daddy comes in is priceless. I love how you are such a night owl (well, I don't love it EVERY night....) but then can't wake up the next day. I love the way you appear to be 100% asleep in the chair daddy put you in after waking up, but jumping right up the minute we announce "Maria, here's your breakfast!". It's so cute to watch you eat everything you have and then go after Maya's food when her extremely-active-self can't sit still long enough to finish a meal. Your love of music and singing and dancing just melts my heart. And the shyness that makes you stop singing whenever you realize someone is watching you. You have made our family complete, and I simply adore you!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-37165678707327833612010-02-14T02:45:00.007-05:002010-02-14T04:08:56.787-05:00February 2010I heard a radio announcer say the other day that he is glad February has only 28 days in it, as it seems to be the longest month of the year, so he is grateful he doesn't have to endure 2-3 more days of it. He meant that, if it's going to be really cold in SC, then February is the month that it will happen. And he was correct this year ... we had a big snow event this weekend! Luckily, I already had Friday off and my MIL and my girls and I went to C to visit my mom. We knew they were predicting snow, but honestly, 90% of the time it's never as bad as they make us think it will be. Can't tell you the times when I lived in C that we woke up to NOTHING after a much-hyped snow event had been promised by the local weather folks. Anyway, as we are driving home, it starts to snow about 30 minutes from home. We saw an occasional flake here and there along the route, but then all of a sudden it was like the heavens opened and the snow was coming! And lucky for us, it was JUST snow and no sleet or ice or anything else that makes for really treacherous driving, as my MIL still had to drive another 25 minutes to get home after we made it to our house. But here is what it looked like when we finally made it home, after rushing inside to put on warmer clothes so we can out and play! Can you tell they are happy about it??<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAb-ivx7FO7A6SJv826IogAFg4Eehn35Y2Sr1xrJJAINPMIO7Y6kJ5rhqEGgxTt5RrHyQW6-O60C7kBc3kA9WJTLQTMCJhPxKumy7TGu7ALa4V8m1Fx4uz7XWZq5eR5IyARqCwPVPBcxg/s1600-h/IMG_1059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438016623900328290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAb-ivx7FO7A6SJv826IogAFg4Eehn35Y2Sr1xrJJAINPMIO7Y6kJ5rhqEGgxTt5RrHyQW6-O60C7kBc3kA9WJTLQTMCJhPxKumy7TGu7ALa4V8m1Fx4uz7XWZq5eR5IyARqCwPVPBcxg/s320/IMG_1059.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtNbzNmQqKMlNyUkgGeKPVkMo1Aixm-8bI7OaLLV3JBQ1FZluyCmJNK91cnTVhM6ROjEZabvVdCDdN_BWJRGS8ABe_AfEmk36SJjIWXnIh53imC38qrzzX6z6NVgr3xx_I_jHX3sGkBg_/s1600-h/IMG_1060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438016619014657906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtNbzNmQqKMlNyUkgGeKPVkMo1Aixm-8bI7OaLLV3JBQ1FZluyCmJNK91cnTVhM6ROjEZabvVdCDdN_BWJRGS8ABe_AfEmk36SJjIWXnIh53imC38qrzzX6z6NVgr3xx_I_jHX3sGkBg_/s320/IMG_1060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ok, can you tell that I am happy about it, too?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuha0IHp6CP981ELuw5WobbkiX8E-tl78j__35P4A4wOUXZmkVyx9svoKTRNbcC-tPHPdeCvDwRjQ0sSEzm02hEwYdYNYXc1M4dV6BccQxvo0ueli0HibngW2sx5TxMlDK52MTh2pPkRl_/s1600-h/IMG_1063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438016608848004642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuha0IHp6CP981ELuw5WobbkiX8E-tl78j__35P4A4wOUXZmkVyx9svoKTRNbcC-tPHPdeCvDwRjQ0sSEzm02hEwYdYNYXc1M4dV6BccQxvo0ueli0HibngW2sx5TxMlDK52MTh2pPkRl_/s320/IMG_1063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And this is what we woke up to the next morning.... it was gorgeous!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7Dtb9vmLrW83gxSd5uB85GDyOA5nPQY3NcWI3k-3hZ9P79sSAO9f5gjNOJJ2qed4f-J1XcjLVjjASGB8Ij6gBugcvAi7ZdpNpL2eEjw1KoAIOzUFpZGU7Aq5nObaVrG8v3PKCgxTYjbJ/s1600-h/IMG_1068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438016606193157922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7Dtb9vmLrW83gxSd5uB85GDyOA5nPQY3NcWI3k-3hZ9P79sSAO9f5gjNOJJ2qed4f-J1XcjLVjjASGB8Ij6gBugcvAi7ZdpNpL2eEjw1KoAIOzUFpZGU7Aq5nObaVrG8v3PKCgxTYjbJ/s320/IMG_1068.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ_-10T09wDeqL0Iv-VUr1vGcnCSBrEHVXPMIP6HciTTkdQ3wVnW8sHGOJdHMX7aC1Tn9h2ses6V0tOCvP4Gtws_mx9PVhBd6y81DgeA42dky_tBd-XFb7JTZcZLGeWnp0CTXvpVK6xnf/s1600-h/IMG_1070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438016600670873138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ_-10T09wDeqL0Iv-VUr1vGcnCSBrEHVXPMIP6HciTTkdQ3wVnW8sHGOJdHMX7aC1Tn9h2ses6V0tOCvP4Gtws_mx9PVhBd6y81DgeA42dky_tBd-XFb7JTZcZLGeWnp0CTXvpVK6xnf/s320/IMG_1070.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIhIi_MtSnkxBuAPnl4kWZGz5yAXJm0gm8QxZDUb1Kijr1IXf4rglWfTE8e_HFGEnf5xpl0V83iLOtvgK2JAZDZJPgZcdPVoKF3n4j8FQcwH4moNWCpxEei2V_YwqQhW0rAvGDEZmTfpb/s1600-h/IMG_1071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438013844750441122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIhIi_MtSnkxBuAPnl4kWZGz5yAXJm0gm8QxZDUb1Kijr1IXf4rglWfTE8e_HFGEnf5xpl0V83iLOtvgK2JAZDZJPgZcdPVoKF3n4j8FQcwH4moNWCpxEei2V_YwqQhW0rAvGDEZmTfpb/s320/IMG_1071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXmH_yumpbjpcA-rxzQXZrt2AipZE9iu0YHA4smOLN_FJl5TeidPDmdr7clLfBbnv4qeadsFO7ElivvATX3ZpEn5Eu_krljSj4vpRTnPuQdQ0cl2OYbBpA6wCyEpkAGasJ1ENfNvJKSll/s1600-h/IMG_1092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438013836539200786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXmH_yumpbjpcA-rxzQXZrt2AipZE9iu0YHA4smOLN_FJl5TeidPDmdr7clLfBbnv4qeadsFO7ElivvATX3ZpEn5Eu_krljSj4vpRTnPuQdQ0cl2OYbBpA6wCyEpkAGasJ1ENfNvJKSll/s320/IMG_1092.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQOTRqokPDmAmnQS8LXpRkn2HGWTq5RByjdgOZYWfjhoEap6cAHMXuVmXMgNnvQpdKO73sDK1pZCUTRVQcvMTxJ2BSJAWEsbMHbOEXQZJ7rVpFg09FddnYUD2f68SGkpk-k68VxLApHC2/s1600-h/IMG_1094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438013831474979730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQOTRqokPDmAmnQS8LXpRkn2HGWTq5RByjdgOZYWfjhoEap6cAHMXuVmXMgNnvQpdKO73sDK1pZCUTRVQcvMTxJ2BSJAWEsbMHbOEXQZJ7rVpFg09FddnYUD2f68SGkpk-k68VxLApHC2/s320/IMG_1094.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwKe8kNKi1eqXurVE64x51DsjsPCO8kE31fZAlcvYm1JFK34Vgrb_Q-Tx_8M9SVtmlYZTUvF8UhG7e1oPZtLuFLfFDi-AEzR9S-mWx8tGS-P8FFGBEaiZ-PYcP0TPnGa8bYsxXw-nn1f8/s1600-h/IMG_1097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438013821022588402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwKe8kNKi1eqXurVE64x51DsjsPCO8kE31fZAlcvYm1JFK34Vgrb_Q-Tx_8M9SVtmlYZTUvF8UhG7e1oPZtLuFLfFDi-AEzR9S-mWx8tGS-P8FFGBEaiZ-PYcP0TPnGa8bYsxXw-nn1f8/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" border="0" /></a>Maya is the early riser, so we left daddy and Maria sleeping and went out to play in the snow!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE35owTkLM_0oWZoy1PkC5TUz1Mcmc4Xx-BKYmYgsgnGzAKF0E05BnfPt71vhVuyISozbGI7f_NVHr5-dFIeVzep7lF9OR7GuPogKBSeDmZuzIX7_JnsgNzZBzv16iykXuDAFidqxqHm_4/s1600-h/IMG_1108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438013816457911122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE35owTkLM_0oWZoy1PkC5TUz1Mcmc4Xx-BKYmYgsgnGzAKF0E05BnfPt71vhVuyISozbGI7f_NVHr5-dFIeVzep7lF9OR7GuPogKBSeDmZuzIX7_JnsgNzZBzv16iykXuDAFidqxqHm_4/s320/IMG_1108.JPG" border="0" /></a> Maya and mommy's footprints ... I can't believe this child is now wearing a size 10 1/2 shoe!! The move from toddler to bigger-girl shoe sizes, as I think I mentioned in a previous blog, really gave me a shock several months ago.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHelUbca04m9LU2qrVjx8vWB6X-ODVskff0OeQW2OL4DDrZaiWH6CZtiyEa8GqniolXmAK7j0xV7aAGq4IrxYdgAgxmuwtgpK4yyHFm0OvxeE-hJiCXSYRM3783DCTUDr95pjbVPMenoEU/s1600-h/IMG_1124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438011090857059010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHelUbca04m9LU2qrVjx8vWB6X-ODVskff0OeQW2OL4DDrZaiWH6CZtiyEa8GqniolXmAK7j0xV7aAGq4IrxYdgAgxmuwtgpK4yyHFm0OvxeE-hJiCXSYRM3783DCTUDr95pjbVPMenoEU/s320/IMG_1124.JPG" border="0" /></a>No we do not own a sled or anything like it, as the real snow events in SC are few and far between. But mama's roasting pan works just fine! :-p<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UMD5vKksQygWJtr0tHSI_DfOI37mfjwXS8urK2dlKtHn1J_9JeOMD6bwLcK8GaVDWbC-UInVZeLl7imJp9do_wI8h5gBBZ12c6xWEW4J4a1O3mbnM9PMNsnXSrN3-ligc7EpJ5o0C5Sq/s1600-h/IMG_1128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438011081565769970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UMD5vKksQygWJtr0tHSI_DfOI37mfjwXS8urK2dlKtHn1J_9JeOMD6bwLcK8GaVDWbC-UInVZeLl7imJp9do_wI8h5gBBZ12c6xWEW4J4a1O3mbnM9PMNsnXSrN3-ligc7EpJ5o0C5Sq/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" border="0" /></a> They really have outgrown this little set, but I just haven't had the heart to get rid of it yet, and they will still play on it, so.....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigb62HGbaVvnucUCyEzl6gLb41tdYlqtTqsqngAy8c8f1GEYd73vqJ1ZISrhUv6gY50k4yCSIuSpx8aOJC_Si9QKTQeD1CYk3OKKuLOLWvj3X4CavHUOamEYpC5qMdfhqFnGHrzi6uibv/s1600-h/IMG_1131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438011078874970562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigb62HGbaVvnucUCyEzl6gLb41tdYlqtTqsqngAy8c8f1GEYd73vqJ1ZISrhUv6gY50k4yCSIuSpx8aOJC_Si9QKTQeD1CYk3OKKuLOLWvj3X4CavHUOamEYpC5qMdfhqFnGHrzi6uibv/s320/IMG_1131.JPG" border="0" /></a> hehehehe....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRTysJmz0L8DOZRkq_fxnhF06ZmX2Nj2ejwnaclhoLDusATmUuHKlBgriFiyWnr_Ln30hfxNQwbI27d2hlD2B1E04yDfOP4jbNUg2aUuXCwFVqnzJhykdSuDbdov6L7eT1xZse0OCLK3q/s1600-h/IMG_1132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438011069188609330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRTysJmz0L8DOZRkq_fxnhF06ZmX2Nj2ejwnaclhoLDusATmUuHKlBgriFiyWnr_Ln30hfxNQwbI27d2hlD2B1E04yDfOP4jbNUg2aUuXCwFVqnzJhykdSuDbdov6L7eT1xZse0OCLK3q/s320/IMG_1132.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW1H6YJPiBdrkqr3DtOOAjPZaBKiX4BKAZjrXis0pCanp5E5XzRF-H13rHXtKz1tGNmj8f7WjtTyxowqEgBBe98iY9_PB0IOU0NN0Ao1Qun8utWbpcQrxaFXYstfHDOqN4KOfA-JsJKxV/s1600-h/IMG_1134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438011065321072834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW1H6YJPiBdrkqr3DtOOAjPZaBKiX4BKAZjrXis0pCanp5E5XzRF-H13rHXtKz1tGNmj8f7WjtTyxowqEgBBe98iY9_PB0IOU0NN0Ao1Qun8utWbpcQrxaFXYstfHDOqN4KOfA-JsJKxV/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" border="0" /></a> The early morning hours had such a fine, powdery snow that Maya and I couldn't even make it stick together good to start a snowman. So later in the day, when it all started melting, it finally worked. But by then, the heavier the snowball got, the more of the snow that stuck to it and so you start seeing the bare patches where we pulled snow for our Frosty, and we even had to brush off a lot of leaves by the time we finished!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZT_niJpykDdOEdfnhC_4s0VjEV0bpvHJJUFjlE3FqgbecFGPRIloZsmlqGDcYr978khsfYPxpilWv1MCdTy-WE-bjaEZJcG5RnbgtD9C9E-qT6uNe-uh3PDnvnw8GZ3plKm1MnnBj-Rn/s1600-h/IMG_1137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438008988676205490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZT_niJpykDdOEdfnhC_4s0VjEV0bpvHJJUFjlE3FqgbecFGPRIloZsmlqGDcYr978khsfYPxpilWv1MCdTy-WE-bjaEZJcG5RnbgtD9C9E-qT6uNe-uh3PDnvnw8GZ3plKm1MnnBj-Rn/s320/IMG_1137.JPG" border="0" /></a> It took me and E quite a while to get that second snowball up on the first.... it was HEAVY!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgqU2FgAjBRVe_Ncqg313WDL-xDYQ6gPXi3CjVnIMQo7o7qqvWPNLXh6WBIaNHAuZZ8OHjn_iKQn6tF_EhhZptE11-btH0F3k7fhY_NoUd2-Nfodkc4fHtm9tE1g_wXXmmRuJg61_vYhL/s1600-h/IMG_1146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438008986216557058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgqU2FgAjBRVe_Ncqg313WDL-xDYQ6gPXi3CjVnIMQo7o7qqvWPNLXh6WBIaNHAuZZ8OHjn_iKQn6tF_EhhZptE11-btH0F3k7fhY_NoUd2-Nfodkc4fHtm9tE1g_wXXmmRuJg61_vYhL/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd1gJPpUvpmalWq83Dt0a2ZfP7UDwoT2wlxk7Y_KoWTRrn9XrA8h9G-lSNNG5NW-k3NACkljR7Z3Zn7WRWZFdM6moEckrVcWdRrYK-dDNaQLfKJrq0Y6JuiA9hh5T1T3m07k0PxgrtAkM/s1600-h/IMG_1152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438008982574756402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd1gJPpUvpmalWq83Dt0a2ZfP7UDwoT2wlxk7Y_KoWTRrn9XrA8h9G-lSNNG5NW-k3NACkljR7Z3Zn7WRWZFdM6moEckrVcWdRrYK-dDNaQLfKJrq0Y6JuiA9hh5T1T3m07k0PxgrtAkM/s320/IMG_1152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFUwkXUeH5kGOZPob2CHLM42VwSnJvMtg09cqfojmkJtm_uoY3oL3xxeoXPIgzGVOONh_fTgr7gPC_eO_MVs6R2GEGNdSw5tZTWBXAEjBT49p39Cvf4AzFSNdFwGIfG6fcIvtc3k9Vd70/s1600-h/IMG_1155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438008972575411842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFUwkXUeH5kGOZPob2CHLM42VwSnJvMtg09cqfojmkJtm_uoY3oL3xxeoXPIgzGVOONh_fTgr7gPC_eO_MVs6R2GEGNdSw5tZTWBXAEjBT49p39Cvf4AzFSNdFwGIfG6fcIvtc3k9Vd70/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHp3ecS2gLcPnICNydTPNtAXWcRC2d4zpceTz5xWUqUnUX4ATTJDahZ7aQswdWNHn9Jq310Se8rZTA5_UQmN3SId-B_8unumF0PaWvM0k5TUe8-nhsgIiGSO17L-8H5Iql9L1KN5AYPoY/s1600-h/IMG_1157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438008968296160290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHp3ecS2gLcPnICNydTPNtAXWcRC2d4zpceTz5xWUqUnUX4ATTJDahZ7aQswdWNHn9Jq310Se8rZTA5_UQmN3SId-B_8unumF0PaWvM0k5TUe8-nhsgIiGSO17L-8H5Iql9L1KN5AYPoY/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYygN6F3_Y0bOhIUpSciUTv8iF_QkWOiA3DBOo2Vwow14T8eZE7s3JDAPUKmCZEjXLaMzi0nvQi7SmlIY6JztCQK3Nhnu9M-A8uzKdpqAGxyTsMbQ4-aUbu_GQTajmkgrQ6A6HwWlM5Uy/s1600-h/IMG_1161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005491923011666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYygN6F3_Y0bOhIUpSciUTv8iF_QkWOiA3DBOo2Vwow14T8eZE7s3JDAPUKmCZEjXLaMzi0nvQi7SmlIY6JztCQK3Nhnu9M-A8uzKdpqAGxyTsMbQ4-aUbu_GQTajmkgrQ6A6HwWlM5Uy/s320/IMG_1161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPeqgBvc91tVVWAWT4txXCdskzxPiyBsuNAnVQVWe-8nfxtGDVUncWAqTxzu0W5_JYCmVQSg3oFfC4Ll-ngpJ1y4nt1RlPRRn49TCMZQYLhwZxTRDgN3GytzNpjz4GcaCPsqtwAnIV2rS/s1600-h/IMG_1165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005480842408338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPeqgBvc91tVVWAWT4txXCdskzxPiyBsuNAnVQVWe-8nfxtGDVUncWAqTxzu0W5_JYCmVQSg3oFfC4Ll-ngpJ1y4nt1RlPRRn49TCMZQYLhwZxTRDgN3GytzNpjz4GcaCPsqtwAnIV2rS/s320/IMG_1165.JPG" border="0" /></a>By this time I had worked up a sweat, so off came the coat! I'm sure my mother would give me a lecture if she had seen these photos. Assembing snowmen seemed so much easier, say, 20 or so years ago! whew!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganI5VC_0msf0uvScNk5PiAmBOFz-iCrSJIL3WUH2T1fXa267DYB0Qo0YDWiUkIc67Ma3Vck3IkAcYXCXagw4KWIpJtTKrVWTuTu95USaovd_0nH2FltKmy66dkNha0tvE_VH9Pzeb6GEx/s1600-h/IMG_1172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005475507929986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganI5VC_0msf0uvScNk5PiAmBOFz-iCrSJIL3WUH2T1fXa267DYB0Qo0YDWiUkIc67Ma3Vck3IkAcYXCXagw4KWIpJtTKrVWTuTu95USaovd_0nH2FltKmy66dkNha0tvE_VH9Pzeb6GEx/s320/IMG_1172.JPG" border="0" /></a> ta-daaaa.....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WB3VBJQ7BzJ16FZ2C0wbssU7yqWN4mPkpE3O-JNwcW-iWtg6YyggP4jmibo1mre8Kz1MzlEhB7UBQMuxp5DhGmLyZKZwMyXfrt2G3Hy0lvrrfADVZFzV5URzKyeAVYgIf3a6k_Ldli6I/s1600-h/IMG_1178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005467584350834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WB3VBJQ7BzJ16FZ2C0wbssU7yqWN4mPkpE3O-JNwcW-iWtg6YyggP4jmibo1mre8Kz1MzlEhB7UBQMuxp5DhGmLyZKZwMyXfrt2G3Hy0lvrrfADVZFzV5URzKyeAVYgIf3a6k_Ldli6I/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExZA0lXK-uM8SO8t7Y17sbtCit_CcLmObhkGpE9jUX7FQQkvGo6TrKcy65GPJ3uSH6kFW7DavTD7AmgWCjf98XBUgThh_gVpUumDrCxgnL4FzdzhIGIVCv4G9_KsZNcF6EG-NeOTuN9kh/s1600-h/IMG_1180.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005465454185762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExZA0lXK-uM8SO8t7Y17sbtCit_CcLmObhkGpE9jUX7FQQkvGo6TrKcy65GPJ3uSH6kFW7DavTD7AmgWCjf98XBUgThh_gVpUumDrCxgnL4FzdzhIGIVCv4G9_KsZNcF6EG-NeOTuN9kh/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This was my very favorite kind of snow event ... lots and lots of fresh snow to play in, but then nice warm (mid-40s) weather the next day so that it melts most of the snow with no residual slush and ice to deal with the rest of the week. woohoo!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-37460385319741761112010-01-31T13:10:00.003-05:002010-01-31T13:18:04.910-05:00Snow event 2010Our first snow and ice event of the season on 1/30/10. Daddy got some great pictures of the girls!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFgHx6NIR8MKzUT2OCBCg1nk0KgekVID6XaM6NVor6pZey19fl9MnacyZazX_t384YCZF9mQ22EDjjkbfa3xGGB_2N37Wuzv2XN34Kujd_6WnJS2EBasJ4ogAWjRqRpBfO7z3MTOBBhSq/s1600-h/IMG_0944.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432969524654648866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFgHx6NIR8MKzUT2OCBCg1nk0KgekVID6XaM6NVor6pZey19fl9MnacyZazX_t384YCZF9mQ22EDjjkbfa3xGGB_2N37Wuzv2XN34Kujd_6WnJS2EBasJ4ogAWjRqRpBfO7z3MTOBBhSq/s320/IMG_0944.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zQe2u3ZOSr9VE0QhLzZ_U4CUhzEklODGcHUCFRT-xhxseX-B5e-h4b8Rzj98pNrcQApvLXGmygTvDPE_0eXCjp8xtACG4wLXbz_TBuq8js8CQD_MaS-tbHkqhZXaQFEAhzcGb97hyphenhyphen8hT/s1600-h/IMG_0945.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432969516655301602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zQe2u3ZOSr9VE0QhLzZ_U4CUhzEklODGcHUCFRT-xhxseX-B5e-h4b8Rzj98pNrcQApvLXGmygTvDPE_0eXCjp8xtACG4wLXbz_TBuq8js8CQD_MaS-tbHkqhZXaQFEAhzcGb97hyphenhyphen8hT/s320/IMG_0945.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH4j4I-cwcdJsD80j6iEtZ1d2W86GaS7FqVwpd6jn2MnfCP36hyphenhyphenVy5QCy4cpKObKYWQCm7qGFqAuoGA4OkJ2fAVzfDu-bNRVJP8cHshryVioY8MAJuoI45hKGrDaht9IqMK_Zl_9vPbIc/s1600-h/IMG_0946.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432969507709607266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH4j4I-cwcdJsD80j6iEtZ1d2W86GaS7FqVwpd6jn2MnfCP36hyphenhyphenVy5QCy4cpKObKYWQCm7qGFqAuoGA4OkJ2fAVzfDu-bNRVJP8cHshryVioY8MAJuoI45hKGrDaht9IqMK_Zl_9vPbIc/s320/IMG_0946.JPG" border="0" /></a> Great smiles!!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVeDazsKLzA0KCQxThZAmjLhZBt13ecHIk07DVPu37zK45Dk4qVqNtnU9zVudblneykUpYxLL4JSY8YCdwiiYnDFi4ssjIcEy-aguFvw1PUt8_4ifQwEkB3HKPabsP8-AIcG7gvi7q5k/s1600-h/IMG_0947.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432969504021262802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVeDazsKLzA0KCQxThZAmjLhZBt13ecHIk07DVPu37zK45Dk4qVqNtnU9zVudblneykUpYxLL4JSY8YCdwiiYnDFi4ssjIcEy-aguFvw1PUt8_4ifQwEkB3HKPabsP8-AIcG7gvi7q5k/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-9525926636466240072010-01-31T12:53:00.003-05:002010-01-31T13:10:23.777-05:00Christmas Eve 2009Ok, so bad mommy didn't get a single picture of Christmas morning. Too tired. Was up until 3:30 .. um ... "arranging" things. Then was up at 6 when Maya discovered presents downstairs (after she got up 3 different times during the night!) Then did the usual breakfast casserole and Honey Bun Cake and waited for the guests to arrive. Gran came by, of course, as did Calli and Mallori and our friend Paulette. we had a blast, but I was oh-so-tired! Anyway, these are the Christmas Eve pictures, when we let the girls open their gifts to each other.<br /><br />Maya picked out a Dora the Explorer backpack toy for Maria, which she loved:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9Az7LRphWjBN4SxZ5Bt_25gxsxkbO8bmM0j7psscNP0V18URO9mZGYWxLgawlRNcT6_oX0gCNF_kNwW25UWO8GszIWUQb8q8xGjYv1sgWi1s93eHRo6ad8ywdDbmaXdls-C8cUnvL-vb/s1600-h/IMG_0709.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432965423702561250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9Az7LRphWjBN4SxZ5Bt_25gxsxkbO8bmM0j7psscNP0V18URO9mZGYWxLgawlRNcT6_oX0gCNF_kNwW25UWO8GszIWUQb8q8xGjYv1sgWi1s93eHRo6ad8ywdDbmaXdls-C8cUnvL-vb/s320/IMG_0709.JPG" border="0" /></a> And Maya got a Scramble game from Maria, which they both love playing:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAAs_vZzhdkHRZCctxKTs3ps1SIZOq5MFLsl3qRRuQubJiUXrtIYQVPPeBw9FkrkC_tdXY7uomuIK6a5DHhdAlh3cGi4IBy-x1GJCG6orDcx2PR1jEN8bepvA1uKyXma9c-avUk22vSCF/s1600-h/IMG_0699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432965418790294578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAAs_vZzhdkHRZCctxKTs3ps1SIZOq5MFLsl3qRRuQubJiUXrtIYQVPPeBw9FkrkC_tdXY7uomuIK6a5DHhdAlh3cGi4IBy-x1GJCG6orDcx2PR1jEN8bepvA1uKyXma9c-avUk22vSCF/s320/IMG_0699.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gran stopped by Christmas morning, and I did get a picture of that at least!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3CNVSDOpuoe5SW5zszYVN-97u9ZPRNUKEp112QnpPpX8P9Rly7Z9xvrjxgSqy3ZbdO8hTIDnnQ90lscaKeaha9ELmwitg_FhOWu_gZWecYpe5wlrmCuLDNnBHW9mW_wO_PxB03-92g79/s1600-h/IMG_0719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432965412842948674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3CNVSDOpuoe5SW5zszYVN-97u9ZPRNUKEp112QnpPpX8P9Rly7Z9xvrjxgSqy3ZbdO8hTIDnnQ90lscaKeaha9ELmwitg_FhOWu_gZWecYpe5wlrmCuLDNnBHW9mW_wO_PxB03-92g79/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Christmas Eve .... putting out cookies and milk for Santa (and carrots for the reindeer, of course!)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsI1sG8ilCPzEwj2zXnQe_HgX-oWn9MO2-5rw_c7pMjmoIs-_Imf2pCijWyFeDHrUPJPRSvFhglVaYkFtiyfuGUfnSV3hQxDXhEAxXo-hU1giOleY8OMRb0bb9MSmunSy5jiC_PYNWZbcw/s1600-h/IMG_0716.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432965410271994610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsI1sG8ilCPzEwj2zXnQe_HgX-oWn9MO2-5rw_c7pMjmoIs-_Imf2pCijWyFeDHrUPJPRSvFhglVaYkFtiyfuGUfnSV3hQxDXhEAxXo-hU1giOleY8OMRb0bb9MSmunSy5jiC_PYNWZbcw/s320/IMG_0716.JPG" border="0" /></a>Maya loved that Scramble game.... trying to sort shapes to beat the clock, and I think Maya is winning!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABAfHrnxAu3AzpwwB-gwt8Ea3Unegj2QqHoN59F_UCLRfT4g86JEO-qkRM_uteZPntURPGew8XgwK-aHM0sPrWJ1t5RvyNR7XbAL7uzZ_l74RaNoUhPaIZ0IO28tTAn7CuU1_kxQEzCqy/s1600-h/IMG_0713.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432965406676556882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABAfHrnxAu3AzpwwB-gwt8Ea3Unegj2QqHoN59F_UCLRfT4g86JEO-qkRM_uteZPntURPGew8XgwK-aHM0sPrWJ1t5RvyNR7XbAL7uzZ_l74RaNoUhPaIZ0IO28tTAn7CuU1_kxQEzCqy/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-92005962510547318162010-01-31T12:30:00.004-05:002010-01-31T12:52:54.306-05:00Christmas 2009 with the Rainwaters at Hilton Head<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSk_iu_YkEtQfJas1GNWXOV7tQc76SKHchENNf5HGp-XqMSxiZiRhaiRb99hyphenhyphen2Ednoa1pC3ZJqCobYauaRc51q3dbwnOneNmYLmyWOGedX4Uj8_uyYZqBG5heKC772R6vUvXv3ZiiYyIJ/s1600-h/IMG_0658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432962687208706050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSk_iu_YkEtQfJas1GNWXOV7tQc76SKHchENNf5HGp-XqMSxiZiRhaiRb99hyphenhyphen2Ednoa1pC3ZJqCobYauaRc51q3dbwnOneNmYLmyWOGedX4Uj8_uyYZqBG5heKC772R6vUvXv3ZiiYyIJ/s320/IMG_0658.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfgAoUy5XOsGTLGJ-lXfk3BPpEhV6RuuKXy7k7XH7drpGWhLcsvVA3vuaBsQ3wBhfii38qLNJ0KL1tOhCNiPxbltNfB9E2v1qd6ldeh03kP16xhtvj_Fc8H7ngwrjZ8G9RiesqMdqgK4z/s1600-h/IMG_0673.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432958825660675730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfgAoUy5XOsGTLGJ-lXfk3BPpEhV6RuuKXy7k7XH7drpGWhLcsvVA3vuaBsQ3wBhfii38qLNJ0KL1tOhCNiPxbltNfB9E2v1qd6ldeh03kP16xhtvj_Fc8H7ngwrjZ8G9RiesqMdqgK4z/s320/IMG_0673.JPG" border="0" /></a> My newphew Chad ... congratulations on graduating from Clemson University on 12/17! (and on getting this bag of coal for Christmas ... tsk, tsk....!)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt50Qm1cOyb2zM_sx4x5Dz09TbNgFoCrQRuaVv5eCSRkS1b-fyeeg53F6_umDPQ6cmM5IDcBUHxeoy5wzBktQoxBFVH44msgReSQyj3vk0yoRm78j1v4Vn0zB4cAgM6rrNslyyD6Ffmzva/s1600-h/IMG_0690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432958821729461106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt50Qm1cOyb2zM_sx4x5Dz09TbNgFoCrQRuaVv5eCSRkS1b-fyeeg53F6_umDPQ6cmM5IDcBUHxeoy5wzBktQoxBFVH44msgReSQyj3vk0yoRm78j1v4Vn0zB4cAgM6rrNslyyD6Ffmzva/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" border="0" /></a> My awesome big brothers....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSH3zSWOuz7g0V1jcCMCbI-WOa0TfxHuXl8H-ViZ5kBLO24Xky23kQAIZQYUZ2l80TO4EVYqOFEyBgonV4l0dB-bDafjH777WYyQQob-mmn4-3hODtF-5ZsO-P3d8I2fLoE3BVf0J_1Iz/s1600-h/IMG_0687.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432958818960925890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSH3zSWOuz7g0V1jcCMCbI-WOa0TfxHuXl8H-ViZ5kBLO24Xky23kQAIZQYUZ2l80TO4EVYqOFEyBgonV4l0dB-bDafjH777WYyQQob-mmn4-3hODtF-5ZsO-P3d8I2fLoE3BVf0J_1Iz/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" border="0" /></a> Omi got lots of presents!<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4npULF4MyFIx0gp1_urh44acqcn_ZLwEaGsrVQDfTqJuqnhmz4C5x7hsADV3ATKObnm_Vt8EdihRzLnsG3Ydcho85xD1BGh5PBoFKnYbbm4KKp4HU_XB58hTTUp9Vo4TsrG6ri2c3SJ7A/s1600-h/IMG_0649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432958806252012066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4npULF4MyFIx0gp1_urh44acqcn_ZLwEaGsrVQDfTqJuqnhmz4C5x7hsADV3ATKObnm_Vt8EdihRzLnsG3Ydcho85xD1BGh5PBoFKnYbbm4KKp4HU_XB58hTTUp9Vo4TsrG6ri2c3SJ7A/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-24174898883015930992010-01-31T11:43:00.003-05:002010-01-31T12:29:21.625-05:00Christmas 2009 with the LawsonsThe cards always make Gran cry...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T1GjLlCo1DHEw4XHP1yO9zemH478-rlGpxyQjBnWPMM4D_oDn8DExjWh5SmFnXBn1351TsezjAXUPNjIAOyW-3R6B_aXd-RZ7U_yf648flQvCGvgl2RGprR05GlLZuGd9oT2tnwNGbep/s1600-h/IMG_0774.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432955605809987298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T1GjLlCo1DHEw4XHP1yO9zemH478-rlGpxyQjBnWPMM4D_oDn8DExjWh5SmFnXBn1351TsezjAXUPNjIAOyW-3R6B_aXd-RZ7U_yf648flQvCGvgl2RGprR05GlLZuGd9oT2tnwNGbep/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" border="0" /></a> Maya loved the present from Uncle B and Aunt K:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasjfR8pDlKfEqDDxIq7ULW2CsD0RsKbK9XS_J1xsfGVmY1T6lLxU0Z-2otU-AepUD_22AjwC9Ju9khYJBTN5vWl91VZvJOQ7j0TLOmK3-TCeTPSaB-LPb5ca2pCxIAoQsS-1GIUOfKW_c/s1600-h/IMG_0743.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432955602589365378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasjfR8pDlKfEqDDxIq7ULW2CsD0RsKbK9XS_J1xsfGVmY1T6lLxU0Z-2otU-AepUD_22AjwC9Ju9khYJBTN5vWl91VZvJOQ7j0TLOmK3-TCeTPSaB-LPb5ca2pCxIAoQsS-1GIUOfKW_c/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" border="0" /></a> Aunt K is a librarian and knows the BEST books to get:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF6dUT9Hq-j1vUupFxT3ocSrlb7kI1ETPRKl-3a-EJ2TuszY5-PmMd-pcYBRFfVllANercXgw_ly3cqiYN6J2vb2bmCnyghqYYzqg8lA4xPkAHz5DCnn00RQUbm8A8BQpTsGllIEve3bn/s1600-h/IMG_0796.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432955593213053586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF6dUT9Hq-j1vUupFxT3ocSrlb7kI1ETPRKl-3a-EJ2TuszY5-PmMd-pcYBRFfVllANercXgw_ly3cqiYN6J2vb2bmCnyghqYYzqg8lA4xPkAHz5DCnn00RQUbm8A8BQpTsGllIEve3bn/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" border="0" /></a> Love that smile!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI_DeqJdKbT7OBRtx606lHVajBhaKdgRuuwSEKdPiwMC77etyA7MedYgqPyPHGVgH9i9WyMxEYXuldH4lEl-P3RrtbHrmucQ0Yyce6YDxY5AxOKrs1eTaDC5XuMUqFreRCi83oFkztjin/s1600-h/IMG_0733.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432955589071955266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI_DeqJdKbT7OBRtx606lHVajBhaKdgRuuwSEKdPiwMC77etyA7MedYgqPyPHGVgH9i9WyMxEYXuldH4lEl-P3RrtbHrmucQ0Yyce6YDxY5AxOKrs1eTaDC5XuMUqFreRCi83oFkztjin/s320/IMG_0733.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>The girls LOVE their cousins!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wehTxLL06sbudtW7DQh_sUTVnz1K5HN7nVBZ3YxSSkEzrpEjtxMYMOs9GKbA-7P2-p2S7WVv7Lv0QY5NTsNNLY_SVbAC07rZe__MhLEBtsp3vHqtIalhaaPWbIOo05XPpEYTfgFhWHXD/s1600-h/IMG_0833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432955578706630082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wehTxLL06sbudtW7DQh_sUTVnz1K5HN7nVBZ3YxSSkEzrpEjtxMYMOs9GKbA-7P2-p2S7WVv7Lv0QY5NTsNNLY_SVbAC07rZe__MhLEBtsp3vHqtIalhaaPWbIOo05XPpEYTfgFhWHXD/s320/IMG_0833.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>Do I look as tired as I felt that night?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_XX7XQJvzZ9BljO3F6VZv3q4YxaLTW5kQh-OdAWtL7JYMzYBv1CXPVp6o8ztUPfa9aWF4WeOLybPPYFnmrWOezNm0p56C9gHlrGDWsXIdBkM-9kpYHtBcvTK27m_T9NiazcANhCJUsoX/s1600-h/IMG_0784.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432952158873722706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_XX7XQJvzZ9BljO3F6VZv3q4YxaLTW5kQh-OdAWtL7JYMzYBv1CXPVp6o8ztUPfa9aWF4WeOLybPPYFnmrWOezNm0p56C9gHlrGDWsXIdBkM-9kpYHtBcvTK27m_T9NiazcANhCJUsoX/s320/IMG_0784.JPG" border="0" /></a>Calli and Lexi...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcAuT8ejJoYKtMEYUc7x64R_EV6zbIh8gT5aa7SyNHd15edLPby13NCo_LQd-_S_jXqnMNid8eMUb5mQsgb32tJdPnq0yY9nSOG-wdWv3pFdWk2ILYin1V4WDlbSd38IrpyoRDECb-5Qz/s1600-h/IMG_0728.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432952156215760962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcAuT8ejJoYKtMEYUc7x64R_EV6zbIh8gT5aa7SyNHd15edLPby13NCo_LQd-_S_jXqnMNid8eMUb5mQsgb32tJdPnq0yY9nSOG-wdWv3pFdWk2ILYin1V4WDlbSd38IrpyoRDECb-5Qz/s320/IMG_0728.JPG" border="0" /></a>Maria's favorite gift of all time ... Rudolph!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaSbHgOKUa_TMiPpDG7-_HLwpJUq062GYX-G0Vng7sj0Ofq-MuguYB3muNKWHvlS7dgC9X4BQ5l8wEdMTQkLxb3yJFf62MQf9wzliF6jjMYEd3Vy__YIYN_WN7jzJ6mWlIPGil8h6JQ-J/s1600-h/IMG_0816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432952149428586258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaSbHgOKUa_TMiPpDG7-_HLwpJUq062GYX-G0Vng7sj0Ofq-MuguYB3muNKWHvlS7dgC9X4BQ5l8wEdMTQkLxb3yJFf62MQf9wzliF6jjMYEd3Vy__YIYN_WN7jzJ6mWlIPGil8h6JQ-J/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-59373716030015670952010-01-30T22:22:00.003-05:002010-01-30T22:46:32.454-05:00Maya's 4K Christmas Program at FBS - Dec 2009<p>I love this kid! She was the star of the show, and she and Maria are the stars of my world.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyfr1aaksz3vU1m5RcQcAByAYbJvspfiCcrBZkseZMNr8BfUAvLVwj6gjkv7b_9-UgEAnn_pOoRVzG8fcPxqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-42472034834924041162010-01-30T16:37:00.003-05:002010-01-30T17:07:06.129-05:00Wow. Long time no see...I can't believe I haven't blogged since early December, and now January is almost over. Where to start ....<br /><br />Well, I guess the reason I've been away so long is a good place to start... my job had gotten really, really, REALLY hectic. There was no way to keep up. And while they kept adding on to the managerial duties, my one vacant position was not going to be filled any time soon, if ever. I was working long nights, often all night (more the once a week), working all day, missing out on all the fun in life, or so it seemed. Christmas was a whirlwind ... my nephew graduated from Clemson on the 17th, I had to work on the 18th (my birthday, and I hate working on my birthday!), and then the 19th we headed to Hilton Head with my family, where we would do our family Christmas thing. Well, the 2nd day there, one person ruined the entire trip for the rest of us ... she's a piece of work. So then we spend 2 more awkward days there, and the kids all exchanged Christmas gifts. My girls had a blast, I'm happy to say. My brother Roger and his wife and two daughters were able to come from Nebraska, and I had a GREAT time with all of them. Then, on the way back home on the 22nd, we spent one night in Columbia with Roger and family again. My girls got to swim in the indoor pool at the hotel, and again, they had a great time. I had to work again on the 24th, but we did all get to leave at 3:00, thank goodness. Then back home to rush to get all the presents together and get Santa's visit organized. Up until 3:30 or so doing that, then Miss Maya woke up at 6:00 a.m. on Christmas morning. That is, she woke me up at 6:00 exclaiming "Mommy! There's presents downstairs!" She was so excited, and that made it all worth every minute of planning and shopping and putting things together. We did remember to put out cookies and milk for Santa, and some carrots for his reindeer, which was all eaten. :-)<br /><br />Christmas Day just flew by ... we had our usual breakfast casserole and Honey Bun Cake, with plans to go to E's brother's house for our Christmas with his family around 4:30. Then it was time for the girls to take their naps. That's where I made my big mistake. I layed down with the girls to get them to go to sleep. When I finally woke up, I thought we had only been asleep for just a few minutes and was trying to convince Maya to go back to sleep when she asked if it was time to get up. I finally look at the clock, and HOLY MOLY it was 4:15!!! Up I jumped, ran to the kitchen to make my last dish to take to the family dinner, rushed to get the girls dressed and told E he had to take them on and for them to go ahead without me and I would try to get there by 6:30. I still hadn't fixed my hair or makeup and hadn't wrapped the first gift for this event. ugh. That convinced me that the beach trip had not been the best idea timing-wise. Missed too much of my usual pre-Christmas prep-time. Anyway, they started calling me around 5:30 and I didn't come downstairs to get the phone. When I had the last gift wrapped and just had to get dressed, I finally answered the phone and found out they were waiting for me! double-ugh. So then I flew out the door with everything and put my makup on in the car driving down I-26 about 80 mph. Got there and explained everything, and I really, really wished they had started without me so I wouldn't have felt so stressed. But it all turned out great, and my girls were loving having everyone there. Mom didn't come down to spend Christmas with us this year because the beach trip, I think, just wore her out and she was tired. <br /><br />Not sure how mnay pictures I even got of all of it, as I did download them but haven't really had time to do anything with them. <br /><br />So that leads me back to my job ... the stress just got to be too much, and I went to speak to my boss about getting out of management. She was very nice about it and told me to think about it. She asked another director within Revenue Cycle about his open position, told him about my decision, and he was receptive to me applying for his job. But then again, got so busy I didn't have time to even think about it for a couple of weeks, so my boss called me and asked if I was still interested in that position. I said yes, I was, and she said I would still have to apply for it if I wanted it, so I did that immediately. We are all in the process of moving our offices, so when that director talked to me about the position on a Wednesday, he said they were moving that Friday and he thought that would be the best time for me to make the switch. Good grief they can move fast when they want to! Anyway, life is soooooooo much better now, but we're just a whole lot poorer. It was quite a pay cut to go from management to non-management at the hospital, but less expensive than losing my mind from the stress! So that brings me up to now, when I finally have a weekend to actually do what I want to do and not work! woohoo! I'll have to post pictures soon when I can find them. We're having a snow/ice event this weekend. We were supposed to get 3-5 inches, but it didn't even cover all the grass. But there is enough ice out there to keep us inside and off the roads today. We do have good pics of the girls playing outside, so I'll have to post those, too. <br /><br />Well, supper time. I'm sure I'll have time to be better about posting now. Yay!Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-51020431237209063392009-12-02T06:21:00.003-05:002009-12-02T06:42:59.117-05:00What I'm thankful for....<div align="center">Turkey cupcakes! I made these for Maya and Maria's classes at daycare.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFc2IfIYPMKd8D463muPRXYyHzwn_5OP2y8yD-dD1EH5cU4BLF3VwFen4LPiy8O2dohrJtpLbNGyC-vfCx8qSwU-tbm_oWm9Yn_XcTEBdz8xIG2DTncjyMyqwHtRC44strCpIdYhKHKNU/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410600691355894370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFc2IfIYPMKd8D463muPRXYyHzwn_5OP2y8yD-dD1EH5cU4BLF3VwFen4LPiy8O2dohrJtpLbNGyC-vfCx8qSwU-tbm_oWm9Yn_XcTEBdz8xIG2DTncjyMyqwHtRC44strCpIdYhKHKNU/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" /></a> My mother visiting for Thanksgiving.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCdLWPdrJaBMzi0nQLyu6XF48YcmtoBmyqpjkW4TvvB9kdXSD30IvYcQf1u4Q-gryOPPrYdWslg3luT46gZhJ7PFBLSjsKwe9eSJOhOa9GN_tVHzp9R_vBiKh-iQw6abIs5TjTra6JGnH/s1600-h/IMG_0079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410600683412754818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCdLWPdrJaBMzi0nQLyu6XF48YcmtoBmyqpjkW4TvvB9kdXSD30IvYcQf1u4Q-gryOPPrYdWslg3luT46gZhJ7PFBLSjsKwe9eSJOhOa9GN_tVHzp9R_vBiKh-iQw6abIs5TjTra6JGnH/s320/IMG_0079.JPG" border="0" /></a> My 2 mothers, and having the best MIL in the world.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSjxRqZbFzeTxhT44yEHT0y1PWCygu_NozuzC-1e2crvDxwUzMjIoUUSYULinyzYo8gt8qnuAF3gaSVbsKbon_xJjTmCNgG5x_B66111dZ1yN5Umts5Mslzoxu-sCD3GH0SRS8DaGkjRH/s1600-h/IMG_0132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410600674251593266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSjxRqZbFzeTxhT44yEHT0y1PWCygu_NozuzC-1e2crvDxwUzMjIoUUSYULinyzYo8gt8qnuAF3gaSVbsKbon_xJjTmCNgG5x_B66111dZ1yN5Umts5Mslzoxu-sCD3GH0SRS8DaGkjRH/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Daughters and Nieces<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyVKHG9olUw9b4uvz9BJmIZxVx7_LSCHbnXFYlUSuNlHoHgH9AwHwAiHJxPE2qIoS920fREocqymilWpk5DAi2dWxOK115_2P73uHHcdVXO5DBpXG57nwmqeQ4-TqPyurqd9aZ0ctQGIQ/s1600-h/IMG_0139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410600668971307266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyVKHG9olUw9b4uvz9BJmIZxVx7_LSCHbnXFYlUSuNlHoHgH9AwHwAiHJxPE2qIoS920fREocqymilWpk5DAi2dWxOK115_2P73uHHcdVXO5DBpXG57nwmqeQ4-TqPyurqd9aZ0ctQGIQ/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Playing at the park with Gran<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9iq_l1mNnepv2znMTyICsCVUmOe93MUkpAEL4_GxmGckeAaM9FOys1o6Tn7dtmubdbGlJMII9Mrab7i89HazVu073gwwk2U5zqJ3gojlsEqgblyrwNunynp-cuq293IQ3SBtoo_27Kvi/s1600-h/IMG_0171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410600657244728066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9iq_l1mNnepv2znMTyICsCVUmOe93MUkpAEL4_GxmGckeAaM9FOys1o6Tn7dtmubdbGlJMII9Mrab7i89HazVu073gwwk2U5zqJ3gojlsEqgblyrwNunynp-cuq293IQ3SBtoo_27Kvi/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WIXWjU6knjOL0PJ4hnrRCmt9KIMqYP01wDQjiv-ftw83DtFsPOkO44GLg2roz7dGUmWYU_HUAfkbQhJC8937hLqBGRfzj0n5ucieVLlRy0a7enKfGXBziCMNGB0RhHj_WMX6qx1VSP9y/s1600-h/IMG_0179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410598819888966738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WIXWjU6knjOL0PJ4hnrRCmt9KIMqYP01wDQjiv-ftw83DtFsPOkO44GLg2roz7dGUmWYU_HUAfkbQhJC8937hLqBGRfzj0n5ucieVLlRy0a7enKfGXBziCMNGB0RhHj_WMX6qx1VSP9y/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL_uAy-RbgIFwMhGD4M_ajz1oQ1CqfDMUGqQ1TqUfQqxJ7apA-uMKDWbdOVjdNDFbMYTRbiWP20geoMLXaZ61Ob9P7n1AcZfTnACS3gNhgRDncEqEyhQ9ADbpeFekMYmLFlcv_fwyXoQH/s1600-h/IMG_0192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410598814011762226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL_uAy-RbgIFwMhGD4M_ajz1oQ1CqfDMUGqQ1TqUfQqxJ7apA-uMKDWbdOVjdNDFbMYTRbiWP20geoMLXaZ61Ob9P7n1AcZfTnACS3gNhgRDncEqEyhQ9ADbpeFekMYmLFlcv_fwyXoQH/s320/IMG_0192.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Taaa-daaa (Maria's phrase when she sees a lit Christmas tree)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5EnbW5eo-vTQrNbSjrls9PB8xme10P_jY9ozRjbuLG5fOzoWibwrvBnslo_jHb2NsDcyj-ntYEG02Nj0cbnDkbY9sLRPUmn5NZtos3PyTs5iaUZClb7gRAfjcFa3iKYTyjWqU9zS5alI/s1600-h/IMG_0198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410598807953643042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5EnbW5eo-vTQrNbSjrls9PB8xme10P_jY9ozRjbuLG5fOzoWibwrvBnslo_jHb2NsDcyj-ntYEG02Nj0cbnDkbY9sLRPUmn5NZtos3PyTs5iaUZClb7gRAfjcFa3iKYTyjWqU9zS5alI/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Handmade ornaments that I wouldn't trade for a treeful of Waterford ornaments!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDM6feby7m-zo_bxkp0VPL-dRo5qzYkv-53xvInTDIkf9Y1euksPthEi9FWW4xo2rQbjHc_w2xNPLckmf6joQEd_owLg9yRuM5RsmajxmSD77Z0Mre112LsyK24xkqgFc4RbXOVK8fyoh/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410598807114865282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDM6feby7m-zo_bxkp0VPL-dRo5qzYkv-53xvInTDIkf9Y1euksPthEi9FWW4xo2rQbjHc_w2xNPLckmf6joQEd_owLg9yRuM5RsmajxmSD77Z0Mre112LsyK24xkqgFc4RbXOVK8fyoh/s320/IMG_0206.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bYzDo-bAvxQh_fA43i1PRCNF03fEVwakZ4Vo4ehQOWzI4CyP1ENxXS0wf6996oGIHlgpTfE5NLPbqPsttXq6jvBtAVlsJJHkc1rtobyZLRhhiBCZhfxjIVgqwtQWHRfdF7yjnMyEBXhI/s1600-h/IMG_0204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410598795288130258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bYzDo-bAvxQh_fA43i1PRCNF03fEVwakZ4Vo4ehQOWzI4CyP1ENxXS0wf6996oGIHlgpTfE5NLPbqPsttXq6jvBtAVlsJJHkc1rtobyZLRhhiBCZhfxjIVgqwtQWHRfdF7yjnMyEBXhI/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-64044389613762611292009-11-20T22:29:00.002-05:002009-11-20T22:57:44.630-05:00Uncle KonradNeed to talk about my German relatives for a minute.... my mom had many brothers and sisters, but I only knew 4 of them personally ... Viktor, Marie, Lucie and Konrad. I think that's in order .... not sure if Viktor or Maria was older, but then Lucie was next and then my mom and then Konrad was the baby. I visited Germany once with mom when I was 12. I was scared to death that I was going to get lost there and I didn't understand what anyone was saying. I have many times wished we had gone back again one day when I was older and could appreciate the culture (and FOOD!) more. But we never did. Several of my relatives have come to visit us over the years, and I have enjoyed getting to see them. Especially Uncle Konrad. He was cool.<br /><br />We got an email from my cousin last week that Uncle Konrad had passed away. He was in a nursing home, and evidently had Alzheimers or something similar and was not recognizing family anymore. My mom said the last time she spoke with him, he did not know who she was. But it's just sad to me that he's gone now and mom is the last of her generation.<br /><br />My dad called Uncle Konrad "you old Kraut". Dad was not known for his tact .... he really didn't mean any harm, but just didn't know better most times. Picture Archie Bunker ... well, maybe not QUITE that obvious, but he was on that spectrum. Anyway, Uncle Konrad was known for being, how shall we say ... cheap! We would laugh because he did not have a phone, and he wouldn't pay for a newspaper. He would just go sit in the park until someone left their paper and he would read it. He could afford those things, but just didn't want to spend the money. I think that's one huge reason why he never married. But when he came to visit us, close to the end of his visit you would see him over in a corner somewhere counting out his money, and he would always hand some to me and my brothers. And he would always eat every single scrap of food on his plate ... never left a drop of anything on it. I suppose that happens when live through a world war and not get enough to eat at times ... you really appreciate what you do have. My mom is very similar ... she won't spend more than $10 or $15 bucks for anything for herself, but if I need something, out comes the $50 or $100 or whatever she thinks I need. <br /><br />Uncle Konrad was able to come to our wedding! I think he had already planned a visit when we got engaged in October, 1992, and then he cut that trip short so that he could come back for the wedding in April, 1993. He gave us a beautiful set of silverware as a wedding gift, but I was just happy to have him there.<br /><br />Those are some good Krauts....<br /><br />And just for the record, I think mom said she had 2 older brothers who died young ... one was injured at school and had to walk all the way home afterwards, and he didn't survive long after that. The other was either blind or deaf, I believe, and he was sent off to a special school that could help him with living skills, but he died while at school. I don't think mom ever knew how exactly. Then there was Agnes, who died when I was young. All I remember of that time was mom sitting in a chair with her arm over her eyes while dad was herding us kids out of the house to give her some time to herself. Anytime Agnes' name came up, mom would say "the good always die young." Viktor died several years ago. Then Marie died in 2007, I believe ... the year my Maria was born. by the way, Maria is technically named for my mom, who has many, many names ... Martha Monika Maria Magdelena Veronica Wiesner Rainwater. But I like to say she is partly named for her Tante Marie also, since the year of her birth coincided with the year Marie died. Then after dad died, when mom was still living alone in her house, she got a call from my cousin Gisela (married to Achim, who is Lucie's son) saying Lucie had died the week before. Lucie had also gotten ill and was not coherent, from what I understand, towards the end of her life. I don't talk about them much, i guess since they were just so far away and we didn't get to see them much, but I do wish mom could see my at least cousins one more time. She loves her family very much.Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-11124551831332714602009-11-20T22:22:00.002-05:002009-11-20T22:29:37.576-05:00Maya and Waterfade in....<br /><br />scene:<br />mommy is sitting in her armchair. the girls are upstairs playing<br />sounds from upstairs: <giggle> <responding> <sounds> <maya><br /><br />Act 1:<br />Two girls come downstairs into living room, laughing and giggling.<br /><br />Maya: "my sleeve is all wet"<br />Mommy: "why is your sleeve wet?"<br />Maya: "the water leaked"<br />Mommy: "why did the water leak?"<br />Maya: "because"<br />Mommy: "because why?"<br />Maya: "because I put my arm in it."<br />Mommy: "ah."<br /><br />I love my life! You just can't buy this kind of entertainment.....Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-65354731646714052522009-11-03T01:01:00.003-05:002009-11-03T01:30:17.544-05:00The Flight of the Bumblebees (and Tigger?)Maya and Maria were supposed to both be bumblebees. Maya is the one who came up with the whole idea, as a matter of fact. She announced early, when costumes were just beginning to appear in stores, that she wanted to be a bee for Halloween. So off we went in search of bee costumes, and found really cute ones at the first place we went. So we bought bee costumes. Case closed, right? Not so much ..... fast forward several weeks, and the mom of one of Maya's school friends told me "in case you didn't know it already, Maya wants to be a tiger for Halloween." whaaaaaat? Of course, I've heard of those kids that change their minds all the time when it comes to their costumes. But I've always said (and I was such a perfect parent before I had kids) that MY kids would have to stick to whatever costume we bought first ... I'm not going to have those spoiled rotten kids who always get their way. HA! double-HA!<br /><br />So I happened to be in Toys R Us a couple weeks ago and saw that they had their Tigger costumes 1/2 price already. And really, isn't $9.99 a STEAL for a Disney costume of any sort? Even if we don't use them, the girls could play dress up with them later, right? RIGHT?? So that's not really spoiling them, is it? I didn't even tell the girls I had the costumes, since I was sure Maya would revert to wanting her bee costume again. But when the neighbor stopped by on Oct. 29th and asked Maya what she was going to be for Halloween, of course she exclaimed "A Tiger!" So I packed up both outfits and took them all with me when we went to C, where we were going to visit with my mom and go to a friend's Halloween party and the kids would all trick-or-treat from there. Sure enough, here's my little Tiger/Tigger and my bee. Maria did not seem to like the Tigger costume at all, and really wasn't that fond of the bee outfit either, but that was easier to convince her to wear since she was able to slip it off every now and then and run around in her black pants and top.<br /><br />So then we went to spend the night at another friend's house, and I found out her daughter was a bumblebee this year! So on go all the costumes again (it was soooo hot in C this year that I let my girls take their costumes off early, and they actually did a round of trick-or-treating in regular clothes at the end!) so we can do the photo shoot:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK9fjuGQRo10OrBvTVwDwWofv5jHH4_B4RJ1SYPiOSwc5LWzEHvKT2cH1qQ32zGJfjo6oP7HTGn2BygCnzCNCKRkCO4FhHA-Yt0xjU902X9YSqNT2gVDWdcF8SXwT4iD9y7casmRww0Jx/s1600-h/IMG_2681.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399754877081006546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK9fjuGQRo10OrBvTVwDwWofv5jHH4_B4RJ1SYPiOSwc5LWzEHvKT2cH1qQ32zGJfjo6oP7HTGn2BygCnzCNCKRkCO4FhHA-Yt0xjU902X9YSqNT2gVDWdcF8SXwT4iD9y7casmRww0Jx/s320/IMG_2681.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92HtpwdxDx_OJY-9mLKn647vivL62ws4CBcM3GkcZDDTXb01lb5M2cHZTHcGdje3Zx5LUhS_OtPlisdCKNxrowaxv2Xpu820R-MX1cs5twSKqMYseCfBVQDlLKE-wUPhe5MVDKmu10jZL/s1600-h/IMG_2666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399754868934870738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92HtpwdxDx_OJY-9mLKn647vivL62ws4CBcM3GkcZDDTXb01lb5M2cHZTHcGdje3Zx5LUhS_OtPlisdCKNxrowaxv2Xpu820R-MX1cs5twSKqMYseCfBVQDlLKE-wUPhe5MVDKmu10jZL/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadMI6HHvXI1zJFWDTkglgYZ0nK9yMVIy-rKhV6fpdJww4R3wEw_phqg6ANtan8kIX8RdEPFE37FRuNG4iPGl2Y_bn6RKsLPK54VFoCL3a_cg3E8wZpGJMveZuC2w4me2hpGn63ho37TIB/s1600-h/IMG_2647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399754863460149410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadMI6HHvXI1zJFWDTkglgYZ0nK9yMVIy-rKhV6fpdJww4R3wEw_phqg6ANtan8kIX8RdEPFE37FRuNG4iPGl2Y_bn6RKsLPK54VFoCL3a_cg3E8wZpGJMveZuC2w4me2hpGn63ho37TIB/s320/IMG_2647.JPG" border="0" /></a> And a good one of my mom and my girls!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399754879491584290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz8biN4p_my_S-7wwdw16AsUnrSbdSVGBc1OQRIbj2TMFNVUTh_JcDI-qxg-s1pLYtrnmlsEZDSHnxLOCGUx47EYYs3wj1zYejY3VnlspxQDo5LZI5IgjS9Jhu4lWlWh7ZDEUOkK_08H8/s320/IMG_2644.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-63916464122987480342009-10-13T22:28:00.003-04:002009-10-13T22:45:03.885-04:00God love 'em ...Maya is in that stage where she likes to point out things that match. Especially when it involves something between me and her. Like, "mommy! my shirt matches you!" if we're both wearing pink shirts. Or when her crayon matches my socks. Or whatever..... anything that matches is worth noticing and mentioning in Maya's world. So here's what Maya said today ... it started with her black crayon ... "Mommy, look ... my crayon matches my hair!" But she really wanted to include me somehow, so then she tried to say it matched my hair too. I said, "no, honey, mommy's hair isn't black." <br /><br />Maya's response: "Yeah, it's gray."<br /><br />Gotta love the 4 year olds.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HfEXfTTeK40fL0pqO7mcxbLhQ1ltHlEQasbDc72rVRDvp94GNoomvyixvUqJ4_wPu3KTkI1aHAUhOLh-0k1WEyChSuTt5zu36elXTxlv6ZzqGaLepYKkQ9-rRc7e8DUvg2K5EumNCDV-/s1600-h/IMG_2421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392278361775893154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HfEXfTTeK40fL0pqO7mcxbLhQ1ltHlEQasbDc72rVRDvp94GNoomvyixvUqJ4_wPu3KTkI1aHAUhOLh-0k1WEyChSuTt5zu36elXTxlv6ZzqGaLepYKkQ9-rRc7e8DUvg2K5EumNCDV-/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7LzSLDyQ4GbBT4nElDE3O1cPLkbBp2S_xussp5brZ1wyx6umtMBKSvnWTc6nLFuLhzZx7Hlr060PbvGnecShZ5a5Oc9Qdz2SMBVHoGobiR1UT-uj0ICWP2mGdgFb5tGtlS1WVjtWksuK/s1600-h/IMG_2422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392278351120082914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7LzSLDyQ4GbBT4nElDE3O1cPLkbBp2S_xussp5brZ1wyx6umtMBKSvnWTc6nLFuLhzZx7Hlr060PbvGnecShZ5a5Oc9Qdz2SMBVHoGobiR1UT-uj0ICWP2mGdgFb5tGtlS1WVjtWksuK/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xSST4ymdEHu6KIz99R33i4XnC9PPKArj75Vv4MjY5WHEFjnSpnHnva3fPsds-WY9nPKk8YMxFl1CcXJx_lEVAz-qtgoaFuKx55D_QLLWkJpdPbfDcxryDn_wF4zQMFBIZnoTu_OShzIM/s1600-h/IMG_2419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392278342779178642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xSST4ymdEHu6KIz99R33i4XnC9PPKArj75Vv4MjY5WHEFjnSpnHnva3fPsds-WY9nPKk8YMxFl1CcXJx_lEVAz-qtgoaFuKx55D_QLLWkJpdPbfDcxryDn_wF4zQMFBIZnoTu_OShzIM/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-88357248082462446642009-10-05T20:55:00.005-04:002009-10-05T21:08:29.495-04:00And pictures....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpSN_VzqTUv7w-mHot6s2wXcj2i_6fg6dORC8FGZ8HkZOPRJ3WPuxaqvIJ4HBAq_Du7BTU00qgSwKaSKICf4BMVkBH6rDM4q7r3Z3BKKJEubfObVrZcpjeWhmu5_Jyvre7Upz57H_MExY/s1600-h/IMG_2230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389287273893161154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpSN_VzqTUv7w-mHot6s2wXcj2i_6fg6dORC8FGZ8HkZOPRJ3WPuxaqvIJ4HBAq_Du7BTU00qgSwKaSKICf4BMVkBH6rDM4q7r3Z3BKKJEubfObVrZcpjeWhmu5_Jyvre7Upz57H_MExY/s320/IMG_2230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHIHb2zPaoXHhq9_YKYSuHpUxRL33N-OwrU78WhzIBWQXLH8Zo84vGHZtduFzRtwdYt7-5GEpITN1ieXPw3oRcDoOf_Kla4o6GQVn5HMgbJVeBINS-jE2NCvzWjkqz5qkJ7Hh0wkpaDTX/s1600-h/IMG_2214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389287264242470226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHIHb2zPaoXHhq9_YKYSuHpUxRL33N-OwrU78WhzIBWQXLH8Zo84vGHZtduFzRtwdYt7-5GEpITN1ieXPw3oRcDoOf_Kla4o6GQVn5HMgbJVeBINS-jE2NCvzWjkqz5qkJ7Hh0wkpaDTX/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jAqf-_elM2jY7L2bvGzUa7Wl_-Dwf1z-FnO1wGaOUH46n5MeUD7h_JR0iDBb8SN7erSQPd6Ad2jWJTPDDhkOBvlFbGl0l-w9CebeVtvVQINrEN1QJGTqtMtuB8K32SKbr7gVQANAjTUz/s1600-h/IMG_2191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389287254181152146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jAqf-_elM2jY7L2bvGzUa7Wl_-Dwf1z-FnO1wGaOUH46n5MeUD7h_JR0iDBb8SN7erSQPd6Ad2jWJTPDDhkOBvlFbGl0l-w9CebeVtvVQINrEN1QJGTqtMtuB8K32SKbr7gVQANAjTUz/s320/IMG_2191.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqWPN7kpE7NuZya1KHaVSxTRgtXH8znwpMV2Bulzzxz4Qg4kytudzj1zlQ-37ytYioCN8OAl0USM9jW9C9zm1hOVacp8d9whIZ-UXc9mKyhcCDkigBr1k92pBGb-Em2uEolBVl0JzjHbR/s1600-h/IMG_2260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389287244878029650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqWPN7kpE7NuZya1KHaVSxTRgtXH8znwpMV2Bulzzxz4Qg4kytudzj1zlQ-37ytYioCN8OAl0USM9jW9C9zm1hOVacp8d9whIZ-UXc9mKyhcCDkigBr1k92pBGb-Em2uEolBVl0JzjHbR/s320/IMG_2260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UOAioe06WLcPzUS-d67mxxW1WwJtQNSsV4HqBKWEMTHzBexwtZSl1DpRxXzcZVCwz7B-kTW5t_miBzetm8kgfSrSOM3pGOV6gA45xeFCLvUrhNF5hj1yEZQtTZUg5eMksMc6MgS6orDu/s1600-h/IMG_2151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389287244078783250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UOAioe06WLcPzUS-d67mxxW1WwJtQNSsV4HqBKWEMTHzBexwtZSl1DpRxXzcZVCwz7B-kTW5t_miBzetm8kgfSrSOM3pGOV6gA45xeFCLvUrhNF5hj1yEZQtTZUg5eMksMc6MgS6orDu/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So of course I spend my evening looking through pictures of my babies. There were a few (few?) that really made me stop and stare at them. Some were just cute, some made me miss those smiles (after all, I haven't seen those smiles in over 12 hours now!), and some I really thought were just good photographs. But then, with this subject matter, how can you go wrong? :-p</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-67353572141996914012009-10-05T20:23:00.002-04:002009-10-05T20:44:46.717-04:00Peace and Quiet ... wayyyyy overrated!Ever think you would like to have just one night of peace and quiet? One night to do whatever you wish? I've got it. Both girls are spending the night at Gran and Poppi's house. I can do whatever I want tonight! woohoo!<br /><br />But what I really want to do is to drive over to Gran and Poppi's house ... it's too quiet over here. All the fun is at Gran's tonight!<br /><br />Well, I guess I could do laundry, which was my plan for this entire evening. But then I remembered the old blog, which hasn't been updated in forever!<br /><br />Maria is sounding sooo grown up these days. Talking much more clearly, saying whole sentences on a regular basis now, and playing lots and lots of make believe with Maya. Maya alternates between appearing so very grown up, and then acting like a baby so that mommy or daddy will hold her and rock her like a baby. And then she acts like a cat and wants to put her food on the floor and eat it like Marlowe does. Ugh.<br /><br />Maya has had her first official gymnastics class! Yay! She really seems to enjoy it. Mommy didn't enjoy it so much when she didn't think they were paying enough attention to her. Maya was obviously the new kid in the class, and I didn't like them not taking time to explain things to her, or even introduce themselves or other kids to her! She just fell in line with everyone else as they went from station to station doing different exercises and routines. But I remained calm ... somehow ... and I noticed that even though she spent some time just twirling around in circles by herself, she really appeared to be ok with it all. And when she came out she was smiling. I asked if she had a good time and she said "yes!" I asked if she wanted to come back next week for another class and she said "yes!" So we'll do it again Wednesday night. She looked so adorable in her little leotard! She looks like such a big girl at home, but she was by far the smallest child in the gymnastics class. It's nine little 4- and 5- year olds. I picked Wednesday night class because they said it was only 1/2 full, whereas the Monday night class was almost full. But by Wednesday night, it appears they were full, and again, my child appeared to be the only one who had not done this at all before. What she really seems to love the most about this class is being able to say to Maria "when your big sister comes home from gymnastics class, we'll ---- <fill>". It's so cute! The one big mistake was buying a leotard for Maya and not bringing one home for Maria. Oh, the tears when Maria couldn't put on Maya's leotard, NOR the sweatsuit I got for her to wear over it since it's getting cool outside now. So of course we have rectified that this week. But I can't believe I didn't get pictures! argh! Mommy is losing it these days. You better believe we'll have pictures this Wednesday night!Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-14781662863627644182009-09-11T01:10:00.003-04:002009-09-11T01:29:44.663-04:00Just can't get enough ... Maria!At Gran's earlier in the summer. It took Maria a LONG time to get used to swimming pools and being in water, but she's there now ... she LOVES swimming. She had to chase the Nemo ball here. I think Maya actually threw the ball out of the pool, but at 2, it's very easy to convince Maria to fetch things, and Maya appears to have figured that out! Don't you just want to pinch these little legs, though? Sooooo cute....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMmmYuNrmmqqQDKO9KhxvPQlPootX3lmJhcv3DdgtEg-jZ1NuaB36LF99G5nIqEwdjFiRfv4G9MlmtExlSxrSjurFz5fUCLGMcPNjSvMssu-eyOVFYlCGNmjENfwbV6WQ0PnG-DpNCVru/s1600-h/IMG_0471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380076754106396578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMmmYuNrmmqqQDKO9KhxvPQlPootX3lmJhcv3DdgtEg-jZ1NuaB36LF99G5nIqEwdjFiRfv4G9MlmtExlSxrSjurFz5fUCLGMcPNjSvMssu-eyOVFYlCGNmjENfwbV6WQ0PnG-DpNCVru/s320/IMG_0471.JPG" border="0" /></a>And at Hatcher Garden with E and Gran last weekend. My girls just adore their Gran. But then, everyone adores Gran! You can't not love her .... she's too sweet!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yQ4n_C7eaiydBfiJ_a8ii7xyKFlNDfpsNg9iTRAh_tHj0f2dagtE-CSq2AvzSvxtRMTZ3X8xVE6yq4l2j35BiSmnJkfOniJlOczW-dPFcP9nEoRnnt-4DMbBuyyaJOYRkVpgwTTy_D7P/s1600-h/IMG_2260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380076746329302034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yQ4n_C7eaiydBfiJ_a8ii7xyKFlNDfpsNg9iTRAh_tHj0f2dagtE-CSq2AvzSvxtRMTZ3X8xVE6yq4l2j35BiSmnJkfOniJlOczW-dPFcP9nEoRnnt-4DMbBuyyaJOYRkVpgwTTy_D7P/s320/IMG_2260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAvqEP8pSQax6Ut-f61nUpTAa3G_Vd2g4X2TXy2xuoyzkvxb-lP2Z2aNquI7RNwrD_u0EDUsPykGqvTM2z7ySfBnEs_wNtEK4y-JjFUdfg5b_ClXj1V6wSro2K1PdUnmQAm429gX9obc3/s1600-h/IMG_2235.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380076740756791938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAvqEP8pSQax6Ut-f61nUpTAa3G_Vd2g4X2TXy2xuoyzkvxb-lP2Z2aNquI7RNwrD_u0EDUsPykGqvTM2z7ySfBnEs_wNtEK4y-JjFUdfg5b_ClXj1V6wSro2K1PdUnmQAm429gX9obc3/s320/IMG_2235.JPG" border="0" /></a> And back to Gran's house....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJSmfMxqUQt1RR5L1aL6nMZTu-l22TCAG5lR3cuJrp933UI3JB-_CYKGB8Jz21VX27oE1CLpLo8MLsOm5r2_575OuhCmMv35w0G4YGV9YanHbZSgJK3oofgx5KWWN72XjWOAUNtn4fAdp/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380076733644267138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJSmfMxqUQt1RR5L1aL6nMZTu-l22TCAG5lR3cuJrp933UI3JB-_CYKGB8Jz21VX27oE1CLpLo8MLsOm5r2_575OuhCmMv35w0G4YGV9YanHbZSgJK3oofgx5KWWN72XjWOAUNtn4fAdp/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6YlU-QJrUutMnX0BEVnRlySFQ8raLRSUk_fqiYX48qo825n0ooisZdzwnNmEim4D4siVRTPU7iwCMOiKFArh_Gn_G5RwfD1Jsu2P2OKJ8Hg3v-zb_XrnOSoUn4Zcn5Sar2lqwhmqVVPs/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380076728814859026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6YlU-QJrUutMnX0BEVnRlySFQ8raLRSUk_fqiYX48qo825n0ooisZdzwnNmEim4D4siVRTPU7iwCMOiKFArh_Gn_G5RwfD1Jsu2P2OKJ8Hg3v-zb_XrnOSoUn4Zcn5Sar2lqwhmqVVPs/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-7315050051080535002009-09-11T00:37:00.002-04:002009-09-11T01:09:53.388-04:00Just can't get enough ... MayaHave I mentioned lately how much I adore these girls of mine? I think all day long of things I need to blog, but when I'm sitting here, I can't think of a thing. So I'm just going to keep posting pictures, and hopefully they will tell the story of their childhood.<br /><br />This was taken at Gran's house earlier in the summer. I can hear Maya's laugh by just looking at this picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecjutF8GNiq-lw3-r78_x8n7OqGdskl71g1hJG3R6BhLTYEgmcZrhyF6Tcnmhss1UoH-CyhCJ1RdOhNQD7xejNSY698W5koB0RaRX7xS6UNuObjcMAALz20w6NmHwktZZOHWbRzjQT1fP/s1600-h/IMG_0480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380070611518066210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecjutF8GNiq-lw3-r78_x8n7OqGdskl71g1hJG3R6BhLTYEgmcZrhyF6Tcnmhss1UoH-CyhCJ1RdOhNQD7xejNSY698W5koB0RaRX7xS6UNuObjcMAALz20w6NmHwktZZOHWbRzjQT1fP/s320/IMG_0480.JPG" border="0" /></a> And this was at Hatcher Garden. Gran spent all week with Poppi when he was in the hospital with pneumonia, and she was having some serious Maya and Maria withdrawals! So she came by and picked up E and the girls so they could all go out and mommy could clean!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeDjumW1hewgjm_5c-AOzpPJMsD4HJZiXMkSED3zuDwv0NT3ChfDKaZ71M7KIglW5nvo78WNXvPBQAu8jrMySFtTmMtJt9qGRLYDP3oDUzYdpFQIkwFw6wy4sNvrMPZaltD14UCjczlFY/s1600-h/IMG_2241.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380070601787937666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeDjumW1hewgjm_5c-AOzpPJMsD4HJZiXMkSED3zuDwv0NT3ChfDKaZ71M7KIglW5nvo78WNXvPBQAu8jrMySFtTmMtJt9qGRLYDP3oDUzYdpFQIkwFw6wy4sNvrMPZaltD14UCjczlFY/s320/IMG_2241.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26E3Cym9EmH9eNDp3zFGNVEnP_lAb5ucDUiE75P4TvFJna1tAFfdKJiBszCg1iQ7iqH0UnAAgOtqp84Kp0kQTjJcGaoJxDhFEFcDjiZZHw8lE1EtrOfWTvkFbFT-xTb6ickJJPG5ucje7/s1600-h/IMG_2227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380070596497247218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26E3Cym9EmH9eNDp3zFGNVEnP_lAb5ucDUiE75P4TvFJna1tAFfdKJiBszCg1iQ7iqH0UnAAgOtqp84Kp0kQTjJcGaoJxDhFEFcDjiZZHw8lE1EtrOfWTvkFbFT-xTb6ickJJPG5ucje7/s320/IMG_2227.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is still Maya's BFF, Elysia. We went to Elysia's house weekend before last and Maya had a great time! Not that you could tell that by any of her pictures of course. :-p</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2eLHz8Dx6D34wMUcufvKbiW2b8OaGMLZUa-KqlLhHnCgKJJ5-x6YOOXCrCH9mX0L2CCp-c_qgEY9fuPBoaSQblUPEsn4txPJaJQ1kPxeXTK4G0jVXaK7Qp8i_NLDNZSofb3hnC321Wrj/s1600-h/IMG_2184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380070589037804322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2eLHz8Dx6D34wMUcufvKbiW2b8OaGMLZUa-KqlLhHnCgKJJ5-x6YOOXCrCH9mX0L2CCp-c_qgEY9fuPBoaSQblUPEsn4txPJaJQ1kPxeXTK4G0jVXaK7Qp8i_NLDNZSofb3hnC321Wrj/s320/IMG_2184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Elysia's dad concocted this monstrocity! High enough to give a mom heart palpitations, but of course Maya just HAD to try it. She did very well, and put up extremely well with mommy constantly yelling out "hold on tight, don't let go, sit still!, hold on!!!" I don't think I got any pictures at all of her actually sitting in the seat. Not sure if I was even holding the camera at the time ... I think E had the camera. It's all a blur to me (no pun intended ... camera .. blur ... get it? ... hehehe)<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZJfUGqCkFUUd0HkB-EDHerTQEma3RXNi4v7D9pOPdUsoeJSXartgjyRwe47NdaB_iaNMEMhqGOI8RJqpPgnpwoeVpQy-Ls3uRuLYATLswML0DA_I1De7Kmzi29KpGbm3LkrXfiT_-tqU/s1600-h/IMG_2165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380070586253552930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZJfUGqCkFUUd0HkB-EDHerTQEma3RXNi4v7D9pOPdUsoeJSXartgjyRwe47NdaB_iaNMEMhqGOI8RJqpPgnpwoeVpQy-Ls3uRuLYATLswML0DA_I1De7Kmzi29KpGbm3LkrXfiT_-tqU/s320/IMG_2165.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-44121134697606974012009-09-05T02:29:00.002-04:002009-09-05T02:38:41.839-04:00Random PicsMy scooter-bug:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILXGa_d5MaIgKLOvl1oaWsGTU767Pi2ZWb83iTHn7LKJM0CyGaLwhBU0C79YVAKJJqpOflKleVbjg_kbU2ViNJqX7p-JIq2SqSSuszqnAkq3hdAuD8Te-zXG88pQb1JEggKg6FWnUL8mv/s1600-h/IMG_1959.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377868168476223218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILXGa_d5MaIgKLOvl1oaWsGTU767Pi2ZWb83iTHn7LKJM0CyGaLwhBU0C79YVAKJJqpOflKleVbjg_kbU2ViNJqX7p-JIq2SqSSuszqnAkq3hdAuD8Te-zXG88pQb1JEggKg6FWnUL8mv/s320/IMG_1959.JPG" border="0" /></a> One happy girl with her new big-girl bike. ;-)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7idji1kfVyhc_Q6XPCHKaNFBkuuqbKm5X5CzhCAmkaU4J2qjW5e-gvfk6XlQI4qiY6dkOqAg1ngRzxvKEnk1XPb71T6_3vv7MD5PXs7uPTZUzdl-dRxPnxtAeO_MSZTYNnVJ2yqdz_AO/s1600-h/IMG_1953.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377868162224144610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7idji1kfVyhc_Q6XPCHKaNFBkuuqbKm5X5CzhCAmkaU4J2qjW5e-gvfk6XlQI4qiY6dkOqAg1ngRzxvKEnk1XPb71T6_3vv7MD5PXs7uPTZUzdl-dRxPnxtAeO_MSZTYNnVJ2yqdz_AO/s320/IMG_1953.JPG" border="0" /></a> She actually let her little sister sit on her bike! Now that's true love....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWU9P7bGOSDZX9xly-88drm8SgbvDz6Hl_w9pJtgQrYVc7WmfTfhm0JcYo7HXlqSnuZ_cEhz_xeLHBpQoWMcxoPKwKJ4MEATJThkbSpQm7u4eWR_CjhvbfxAPGl-r4UZBSiTTnh8P6n_0/s1600-h/IMG_1933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377868154921124706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWU9P7bGOSDZX9xly-88drm8SgbvDz6Hl_w9pJtgQrYVc7WmfTfhm0JcYo7HXlqSnuZ_cEhz_xeLHBpQoWMcxoPKwKJ4MEATJThkbSpQm7u4eWR_CjhvbfxAPGl-r4UZBSiTTnh8P6n_0/s320/IMG_1933.JPG" border="0" /></a> Could this be any cuter?!? (and yes, I know the helmet was not on correctly....)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPZi1OMGrG0k5htAG4sHQzbI46UeOQzi-FVA989LaiZEtNZlczBSJ8FmfB_GAIiVT8VcVJz-Hok_1xkB1QC1Rjz283teHJQp2HbuR2GQ1-rpiycZGwx0LSDKq_U81PwtGCZKznps4p8B4/s1600-h/IMG_1906.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377868145627906226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPZi1OMGrG0k5htAG4sHQzbI46UeOQzi-FVA989LaiZEtNZlczBSJ8FmfB_GAIiVT8VcVJz-Hok_1xkB1QC1Rjz283teHJQp2HbuR2GQ1-rpiycZGwx0LSDKq_U81PwtGCZKznps4p8B4/s320/IMG_1906.JPG" border="0" /></a>And this is a cake I made for a baby shower at work. Of course I used Maya's birthday cake as my inspiration. Seems the baby boy's room is decorated with sailboats, and I love doing the ocean cakes, sooooo....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiwpqAz-1bAgVIxHQaZkpDYs2pmX-09hnwkgmWjaCdXg93hQkofNJc_PtCv1Vl0k__DqTbea9jPkpUPVB0IPXlzDPbx3GHeRIPKDQxFj_87K_yH0Or8Lc5xd2LOHuK9BKvpreqrp5krl1/s1600-h/IMG_1952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377868138852644338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiwpqAz-1bAgVIxHQaZkpDYs2pmX-09hnwkgmWjaCdXg93hQkofNJc_PtCv1Vl0k__DqTbea9jPkpUPVB0IPXlzDPbx3GHeRIPKDQxFj_87K_yH0Or8Lc5xd2LOHuK9BKvpreqrp5krl1/s320/IMG_1952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-65877752677684996642009-08-31T23:38:00.002-04:002009-09-01T00:40:17.734-04:00Maya is FOUR! How did THAT happen?Stop the roller coaster!!! It's going too fast!!! How can precious little Maya, sweet tiny baby Maya, the 9-month old baby wearing 6-month sized clothes and a size 2 shoe, be FOUR already?? Crazy. I'm afraid if I blink she'll be married when I open my eyes.<br /><br />On the other hand, I am so enjoying this stage of my baby's life. Watching her fills me with awe whenever she learns something new and watches with that wide-eyed, open-mouth stare of hers. I was telling a friend yesterday that last year at this time, when she was starting 3K at FBS, she seemed to be very much a follower of the kids around her. But now she seems like such a leader of the pack. Ok, so the fact that she can't sit still for more than 30 seconds at a time just might have something to do with that. But I watch her with her friends and she's always giving orders and telling them what to do. And for some reason they seem to do it.. But she also has geniune compassion for her family and friends. If someone is hurt, she is the first to go and try to comfort them. And she has this squeal-type laugh when she is really, really excited about something that I just love to hear. And the talking. Oh, my, goodness. She can talk non-stop. No wonder Maria is so quiet ... when does she get a chance to talk?!<br /><br />Anyway, Maya turned 4 years old on July 26. I'm a little late posting, of course, but then I'm a little late doing everything these days. I still have not caught up on sending out the thank-you notes for the presents her family and friends gave her. I think I'm about 1/2 way done. Maybe I can finish by Christmas ... just in time to write those thank=you notes!<br /><br />This is Maya's cake. Her birthday theme was Nemo. Yes, you may recall we just had THREE Nemo parties when she turned 2, but it seemed appropriate since she does love the movie, and since she is quite the fish. That girl loves nothing more than spending time in the water. I had the best time ever making her birthday cake this year. I used fondant, which I rarely use, and have learned not to use again for a child's party. Maya loved her cake, but honestly, fondant is not the best-tasting icing, to put it mildly. I do like this particular recipe ok, but it is not even close to being as good as regular buttercream or the white chocolate cream cheese icing I love to make. But it turned out really cute anyway.... I made the candy molds, but the 'rocks' are just yogurt-covered raisins. The Nemo on top is a bubbles container, and I took the top off and stuck the candle in there during the party. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokwmGejHM2X67nO_TJPQmHVsDuUdveCNO5yVybDTk1mupshgsFGdqTs8iNK6VPmHStQeALaa7kMfZLw7FgJgW0nTXZ_Ascp96ADtRj-0aYieJKhF0T1THh7cHV6YgToWeYps3PFtDmMX4/s1600-h/IMG_1046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376344551854827890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokwmGejHM2X67nO_TJPQmHVsDuUdveCNO5yVybDTk1mupshgsFGdqTs8iNK6VPmHStQeALaa7kMfZLw7FgJgW0nTXZ_Ascp96ADtRj-0aYieJKhF0T1THh7cHV6YgToWeYps3PFtDmMX4/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" border="0" /></a> She was so anxious to open her presents! This was from Sammie, Val and Jennifer, my BFFs from C. One of Maya's favorite gifts was her "Hannah Batana" guitars. LOL! That's how she pronounced Hannah Montana. I had no idea she even knew her name. No idea where she heard it or if she has ever seen the show, but she seems to like her.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xDVBA-CGXktKaPqoQtynlH-j_iOaLPMs1ZVouXfvzHaMvPMwyO61xhd_4BSPua-MiL6y79odcFreG-g2CyiiFRdq8CfwYz-z4gD6ZtaoMxZKVchJf3uSZAUPWhJe87qZuzNlsRhUL-by/s1600-h/IMG_1090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376344546417389506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xDVBA-CGXktKaPqoQtynlH-j_iOaLPMs1ZVouXfvzHaMvPMwyO61xhd_4BSPua-MiL6y79odcFreG-g2CyiiFRdq8CfwYz-z4gD6ZtaoMxZKVchJf3uSZAUPWhJe87qZuzNlsRhUL-by/s320/IMG_1090.JPG" border="0" /></a> And these were the guests ... I never did get a great shot of all of them. Do you know how hard it is to corral that many 4-year-olds and get them all to look at you and smile? Impossible, I say....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnWDwi_qMqCBiwWsDmi-aSsnY5PgdK4zlUUGh2WvFHry9ki5MU5YgNb75kp8bueomXIjLTK88YJg02Ig_LkG0MZRMJi_-p_ns_U7n0jcxxgwoMUB3oZMdMvm5YvzHKtM8pEF5LOxZV4bG/s1600-h/IMG_1106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376344536879747858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnWDwi_qMqCBiwWsDmi-aSsnY5PgdK4zlUUGh2WvFHry9ki5MU5YgNb75kp8bueomXIjLTK88YJg02Ig_LkG0MZRMJi_-p_ns_U7n0jcxxgwoMUB3oZMdMvm5YvzHKtM8pEF5LOxZV4bG/s320/IMG_1106.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And this is Evan, one of her friends from preschool. He couldn't come to her party, so he came over to our house to swim and play the next week. And this was just too cute ... holding hands as they jumped off the diving board!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04moXQHj0shXi3sRaNB5Ke4R7om1wMWH8GJ6XekwjdRRxJtWVElOG_rHnDsvD7_qjEQfDrFcnPhgjrmazRT6juf8znq6Y4pTwy5EtdVBoklIiUmMlj0kyWpwA2D8chmMVsw_eKF1u_-o4/s1600-h/IMG_1336.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376344529562993938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04moXQHj0shXi3sRaNB5Ke4R7om1wMWH8GJ6XekwjdRRxJtWVElOG_rHnDsvD7_qjEQfDrFcnPhgjrmazRT6juf8znq6Y4pTwy5EtdVBoklIiUmMlj0kyWpwA2D8chmMVsw_eKF1u_-o4/s320/IMG_1336.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Since we were having a swimming party, I had collected a few things for the kids to do in case of bad weather, including decorating these visors. Since her birthday was bright and sunny, I sent the visors and materials to preschool the next week so her class could use them. Christen, Maya's BFF's mom, works at FBS and she sent me this picture that day.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc2Q-X9xmakz0QPay1f8xkcywVtr523h6w78mM8vY8rnvVuZsDqh0UzmwGesG2LMnw8nbXKyW6LOJW1VCYWKRWXzXSwSEjYBhB0jLEqBX1WHx2CClXiNWutVJ4mjVWq8bz7A4Oi1cMoIN/s1600-h/maya+hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376344524675950338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc2Q-X9xmakz0QPay1f8xkcywVtr523h6w78mM8vY8rnvVuZsDqh0UzmwGesG2LMnw8nbXKyW6LOJW1VCYWKRWXzXSwSEjYBhB0jLEqBX1WHx2CClXiNWutVJ4mjVWq8bz7A4Oi1cMoIN/s320/maya+hat.jpg" border="0" /></a>Maya, I can't believe how fast you are growing up. I miss the baby, but I look forward to each new step you take. You are so independent now, and each day you amaze me with something new that you can do. Well, maybe 'amazed' isn't the correct word for what you taught me today when you said "dammit" in the tub. I immediately scolded you and stressed you are never to say that again. Then you looked at me and said "just mommy can say it." Oy. So I said no, not even mommy can say that word .. it's a bad word. So you now know that if you hear mommy say it, mommy gets a spanking on her hand, and she does not get any gum if she says it. </div><div> </div><div>And just when I think you can't get any more precious, you surprise me again. I knew you would not like all the shots you get at your 4-year-old checkup, and I wimped out and asked Gran to take you. She did it, and told me you were quite a trooper. You did cry (and who could blame you ... why in the world do they put a child through THREE shots in one day??!!), but Gran said you cheered up rather quickly once it was over, and then you were so proud of your bandaids the rest of the day. You showed them to Maria when you were in the tub that night, and proudly relayed the events at the doctor's office for her. It was the cutest thing ever when Maria bent over and went "awwwww". </div><div> </div><div>I love to hear you sing. You and Maria love to sing in the car, and with the tv, any time you can. You come home from school singing the cutest songs ever. And when you were bent over your coloring book earlier tonight, you were just singing your heart out. </div><div> </div><div>I am so proud of the little girl you are becoming, but I do miss the baby. I like to hold your face in my hands and just stare at your face looking for the baby. I still see a small glimpse or two every now and then, but the baby is rapidly disappearing. You stayed so tiny for so long, and now you seem to be shooting up every time I turn around. Each time I think I am stocking up for the next size clothes, you are in them and I have to stock up again! Luckily for me, sometimes you like to pretend you are a baby and I get to hold you and cuddle you for a few moments. You and Maria are the best things that have ever happened to us, and we love you so very, very much!! Happy 4th birthday, baby girl.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-77530921850028369712009-07-19T19:23:00.002-04:002009-07-19T19:42:32.106-04:00Beauty and the Beast... and no, I'm not talking about Maya and Eric :-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxNqO3dsO45za5TkGSFi_p3wIZinQ95DbLyOjSqGJ6d7ABVIjMvyAxHQuBHA1ZSZeG8tAh8PG62vVNFIsG26uS9Sf867-rID_fVHpdpvvClTKF0aNjbDBwT8Up9VAfN4c6G-MDhDoBY68/s1600-h/Maya+Babette+Belle.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360316732301574162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxNqO3dsO45za5TkGSFi_p3wIZinQ95DbLyOjSqGJ6d7ABVIjMvyAxHQuBHA1ZSZeG8tAh8PG62vVNFIsG26uS9Sf867-rID_fVHpdpvvClTKF0aNjbDBwT8Up9VAfN4c6G-MDhDoBY68/s320/Maya+Babette+Belle.bmp" border="0" /></a>Maya went to her first live play today ... Beauty and the Beast, and cousin Kaitlyn played Babette. It was so much fun! So Kait took Maya onstage afterwards for the autograph session, and of course, brilliant mommy left her camera in the car. This was the best I could do with the camera phone. And even better, the camera phone was full and I couldn't get a picture of her with the prince/beast. sigh. <br /><div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360316732132820626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2p2JcJCLWFDYLTsM1ZgQPrjWu7yyEFUbe3dr0Xrm939fWor9AsecqQj8mnJhPz8nc44X9JbYYw4UD3X6idm4s251WYcu_f2uVNZIEe_oSnEJQmqSchCjwjaopgTA1lt4p2D6R3yU9Boz/s320/IMG_0948.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>And this, my friends, is a picture "for daddy." She worked so hard on it (as you can tell by the concentration on her face in the picture below), and she handed it to me and said "here, mommy". I went into the big "I love it! Thank you so much!" speech, but she stopped me cold and said "It's for daddy" as she takes it back out of my hands. double-sigh.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJvRxv0P9QREAv4I9afhmW15hF9njtzM2Te-Scxl2t9ne4Y4qat2ED-YqIDb8MDOd5Vof0k4KS5_4C51Rh-gZCNymCKGoD-Q3J-i_aSYU3KStkBWKE_IchyphenhyphenA7jpHAcqq_j1WtVNBVf2UH/s1600-h/IMG_0943.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360316727807970274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJvRxv0P9QREAv4I9afhmW15hF9njtzM2Te-Scxl2t9ne4Y4qat2ED-YqIDb8MDOd5Vof0k4KS5_4C51Rh-gZCNymCKGoD-Q3J-i_aSYU3KStkBWKE_IchyphenhyphenA7jpHAcqq_j1WtVNBVf2UH/s320/IMG_0943.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a great weekend.... we went to Evan's house yesterday for lunch and swimming, and today was Beauty and the Beast. But why, oh why, does the weekend fly by so fast?!?! Now it's Sunday evening, and I still have to do laundry and finish some work before tomorrow morning. I hate Sunday nights ... it's like a ticking bomb counting down the minutes until the workweek begins again. Someone really needs to reverse this concept ... how about 5 day weekends and 2 day workweeks?<br /></div><div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905411442588556196.post-45888412453778888472009-07-15T12:54:00.003-04:002009-07-15T13:03:35.093-04:00Just had to mention ..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuFfE8K2YKcfU-eFE9VyVHWIw1G5kleEbYgDt4myfT5DkVCjhKF0Yn_Wy5uIR-7Ks5LzaSPIBYwg-MAuHvH-2_Pgc8NXr6vXDCJC7b13M5NwLp6spBDR4YzM43VlrChLdsEtVj3lKOqtC/s1600-h/IMG_0894.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358733326765527650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuFfE8K2YKcfU-eFE9VyVHWIw1G5kleEbYgDt4myfT5DkVCjhKF0Yn_Wy5uIR-7Ks5LzaSPIBYwg-MAuHvH-2_Pgc8NXr6vXDCJC7b13M5NwLp6spBDR4YzM43VlrChLdsEtVj3lKOqtC/s320/IMG_0894.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QeSRZhRoEG__c9tiPVyTxCW-0YzOEUJ7fJAlF_vjcMJNOIYwPz3v76RKtxkf2nGFHaV54CbGF-7xHORCZVM9lYJtgP-iDE83N-v961msG4QgtkhlqJwq3AIBRgR10Qtr1pLeSrk49ibL/s1600-h/IMG_0927.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358733323734034866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QeSRZhRoEG__c9tiPVyTxCW-0YzOEUJ7fJAlF_vjcMJNOIYwPz3v76RKtxkf2nGFHaV54CbGF-7xHORCZVM9lYJtgP-iDE83N-v961msG4QgtkhlqJwq3AIBRgR10Qtr1pLeSrk49ibL/s320/IMG_0927.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Quite often I find myself saying "I need to put THAT in the blog before I forget it", and then 2 or 3 days go by, and I remember that there was something I needed to say, but can't remember what it was. So here goes ... E just emailed this to me this morning about his ride to the daycare. It was really cute, so I thought I'd just pop out here and post it while I think about it:</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><em>On the way in this morning, Maria was singing her little heart out to “Cat’s in the Cradle.” Maya’s very good about letting Maria sing. When the song ended after its third time, Maya clapped really loud and said “Good job Maria…you’re a great little singer.” They walked down the hallway to the rotunda holding hands.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><br /><div>Isn't that the cutest thing? I do hope they stay best friends forever ....</div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Maya and Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846490980759089095noreply@blogger.com2