tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442582352023663602024-03-13T12:38:35.631-05:00I ♥ Pretty ThingsSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.comBlogger572125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-60084983398572273952014-01-23T11:27:00.000-06:002014-01-23T11:27:49.114-06:00Feels like we've been to the moon and back: A Pregnant Pause {Conclusion} <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><u><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;">Warning:</span></u></strong> This post is LONG. . . and contains details regarding labor and birth. If you are not comfortable with sitting for long periods of time or hearing juicy birth stories then this post is not for you. <em><strong>You have been warned.</strong></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am a perfectionist and when I need to complete something
that is important to me and I want it to be perfect I’m usually paralyzed. . .
until I finally convince myself to just get it over with. Does that ever happen
to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably why it’s taken me
so long to get this done. . . ok and the fact that I now have an almost 8 month
old keeping me up all night a busy all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Callie’s birth
story and I want more than anything to document it for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a story telling family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire LOVES to hear stories from our past
and I have a feeling she will make sure her little sister will too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I want to make sure I do this
story justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because it’s
particularly amazing, but because I know it’s a story my girls will cherish
throughout their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire, someday
I’ll get around to trying to remember all the happenings of your special day
and get them down on the proverbial paper too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s start where I last left off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was teaching full time and enjoying the fun
and challenging kids at my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
kept getting bigger and bigger and my students kept asking what would happen if
I had the baby at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that
the likelihood of going into labor at school was miniscule and I would
constantly reinforce this to my students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eighth graders get obsessed with the weird and crazy things in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That being said. . . as the days
of school counted down I began to wear out and start to worry too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With each midwife visit Callie was measuring big and we had
a feeling she would be early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire was
two weeks early and we had a feeling this lady would be early too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was having consistent Braxton hicks every
afternoon and I knew the time was drawing near.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My due date was June 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> . . . which happened to be the last
day of school too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that come June
6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> there was no way in the world I wanted to be at that school. . .
physically or emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the
principal’s secretary and said baby or no, I will not be in the last week of
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made arrangements and all was
good. Or so I hoped.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday, May 26<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> contractions started at around
six in the evening and were becoming consistent and closer together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">By 9:30 I texted the midwife my contraction
log and she suggested I try getting some sleep and to let her know if things
progressed any further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the answer I
wanted to hear. </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wanted her to say come right in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad she didn’t say that now, but at the
time I was disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I texted Janie who
lives 4+ hours away in Dallas and let her know what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was planning on being my support person
during the birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s face it I was
scared to death to have a natural birth and Dylan was too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew Janie would be able to think clearly
and help me reason when I wanted to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bless her heart she dropped everything and started the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>four hour drive to Houston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time she arrived at 2:30 a.m. all
contractions had ceased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had actually
had good sleep and didn’t hear her knock or call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She slept in my parking lot in her car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I woke at four and realized I missed her
I felt terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday, May 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, Memorial day Janie and I tried
every trick in the book to try and get things started again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunges, squats, stairs, pumping, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contractions would come, but then they would
taper off and end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That afternoon, Janie
packed up and headed back to Dallas and I felt totally and utterly
defeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt horrible because she
had come all the way here for nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also felt horrible because I had had my hopes up and I just did not want to go
back to work the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackie, my
midwife, texted and said for sure she thought I would have texted to say it was
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day I went to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my midwife appointment that afternoon
and they stripped my membranes and said they really thought the baby could come
anytime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way home from the
midwife my contractions became very intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I picked up Claire from the sitter hopeful I’d have to drop her back off
in a few hours so we could go have a baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True to form though, Miss Callie kept the contractions going most of the
evening and then settled down for bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That night I texted the secretary at work and told her I would not be
back in, that they expected the baby to come anytime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waiting game began in earnest.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday morning I received a text from the midwife
inquiring if the membrane stripping had worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told her what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
said she really thought baby was ready and I was too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both puzzled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that I could try some castor oil if
I wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had heard horror stories
and was afraid to try it, but I wanted this to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most women can relate. . . there comes a
point in pregnancy when you. are. done!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried the castor
oil and one small bout of diarrhea and then nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was now turning into a sick joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the week ticked on and I felt
ridiculous for bailing out of work when there was no baby in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday, June 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> arrived and it was time for
another appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still no baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in mourning and deep depression at this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Looking back it cracks me up
because I was not even to my due date yet!!!! I’m a dramatic idiot.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The midwife stripped my membranes again, sent
me home with some primrose oil<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>capsules
to take and said hope we hear from you in a few hours, otherwise I want to see
you on your due date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday, June 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My due date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last day of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I headed
to my appointment at 9 a.m. On the way I saw the most beautiful cloud in the
shape of a heart and stopped to take a picture of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped it was a good omen or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend commented later that
the cloud looked like a baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On close
inspection I saw a baby too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
quiet morning at the office, no one else had arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackie met me early and for a quick visit
before she headed to the island for the day to see patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both sat and scratched our heads as to why
this baby had not made an appearance yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She stripped my membranes yet again and stretched my cervix a little
hoping that might do something. By now I was dilated to almost a five and fully
effaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been that way for a week
and both of us had resigned that baby was not coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I headed home defeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On my way home the contractions began again and thinking it was the same
as before I became very frustrated and started to get mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sure it was the same old thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was home by 10 a.m. and the contractions
were still consistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 11 I had a
feeling I needed to call Dylan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called
him and I cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I wanted him
to come home but I felt stupid if it wasn’t really happening again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Janie and told her Dylan was on his
way and she said she was dropping her kiddos off and she would be on her way
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan was home in 20 min.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to eat a bowl of yogurt and
pineapple and the contractions were staying pretty regular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact while I was eating lunch and talking
to Dylan, I had to stop and catch my breath a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still felt like it definitely wasn’t time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a half day of school and I had promised my friend I
would pick up Claire and her girls from school so they could play at my house
for the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was time to
get the girls from school so Dylan went to pick them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment he walked out of that door a
contraction came with such force I thought I wanted to curl up and die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Dylan and told him he had to come
right back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called my friend Angie and
told her she had to get the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
texted the midwife and said that we were heading to the birth center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was still in Galveston but another
midwife was at the birth center seeing patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackie said she was leaving Galveston and
said she would meet us there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The contractions on the way to the birth center were
intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VERY INTENSE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to my life, a funny thing happened on
the way to the birth center. . . we got lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had driven there from the direction we were coming several times, but
Dylan never had because he always came from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was delirious and out of my mind with
debilitating contractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan thought he knew where he was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to make matters worse there may have been
some crying and yelling and whipping out the GPS to get to the midwife. . . we
were close. . . just not where we thought we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we finally arrived Camellia, another sweet midwife, was
waiting for us and as we walked through the door <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>peace and calm overcame me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were escorted to our birthing room and
relaxing music greeted us and a warm bath was running in the tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly changed into my comfy nightgown
and the contractions continued to intensify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I sat down on the bed I immediately felt like I was going to
puke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the one part I hated when
I gave birth to Claire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throwing up
during labor, I was not looking forward to it, but knew that it meant I was
getting close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Camellia that I
thought I was going to throw up and she handed me a bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, the wave of nausea quickly passed
and I did not throw up. The contractions intensified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camellia asked if I wanted to get into the
tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember thinking, “Really, I
just changed my clothes and now you want me to change again!?!?!?” The thought
of warm water sounded perfect and I changed into my swimsuit top and climbed
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The contractions now intensified
even greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>After climbing into the
tub Marianne my other midwife arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had been working with Marianne and Jackie throughout my pregnancy and had got
to know the other two midwives Camellia and Katy too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so happy to see the woman that I had
discussed my birth plan with and was completely put at ease as she explained
what was going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at this
point that I realized I was in transition and this baby was coming soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marianne made sure that I received my
antibiotics as I had tested positive for group b strep earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during the administration of the
antibiotics that the contractions started to become unbearable and at one point
I felt my water break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after I knew
it was time to push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may be thinking, where was Dylan during all of
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was there, I could tell he
wanted to help but didn’t know how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
one point I remember trying to get comfortable after a contraction in the tub
and he came to try to help me sit up and I told him to just get away from
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel horrible about it now because
when we were preparing for this moment I kept reiterating to him how I wanted
and needed his support during labor and now when he offered I pushed him
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew there was nothing he could
do at this point to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found him
a stool to sit on at the end of the tub and he stroked my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man I love that guy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jackie arrived right when the time came to push and boy was
I READY!!! I may have been a little overly dramatic, but man it was
painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was extremely afraid of
tearing so just as I would make progress pushing I would get scared and back
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marianne asked if I wanted Jackie
to take over and deliver and I remember saying, “I don’t care just get it out!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally was able to get her head out but
just could not get the shoulders out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was when they had me turn around in the tub to lean on the edge of
the tub and push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point they
realized that the cord was around her neck and she needed to get out
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize how
serious the situation was, I just wanted her out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still was having no success pushing so they
had me climb out of the tub . . . head between my legs and all. If I wasn’t the
one having the baby I would have been laughing at the sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got into a squatting position on the side
of the tub and prayed and screamed with all my might as I finally pushed that
stubborn little red headed girl out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
was blue and not responding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a
state of euphoria, happy it was over and happy to be holding my baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not fully aware that the women around me were
concerned and panicking about my blue baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While they administered oxygen to Callie, I held her and talked to
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally we were able to get her to
take a breath and start breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
wasn’t until later talking with the midwives did I realize how serious things
had become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They jokingly said that they
didn’t think they were going to have to call an ambulance for baby but maybe
for dad who was sitting in the corner white as a ghost with tears streaming
down his face. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Dylan to
witness such a crazy scary scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykcMvOWbUb7gx12czfD9rnoGC9PpRgrcy01l2WlCaR51ZCD_CEWLmf7ehcXz9MSskVn4HdXudrloR61ziPy61HYcwPgJpJpLuxO-zBjS4YA5Xpr10ZE5HGKDHdxCPcDkoy1UbmbvTGKc/s1600/callie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykcMvOWbUb7gx12czfD9rnoGC9PpRgrcy01l2WlCaR51ZCD_CEWLmf7ehcXz9MSskVn4HdXudrloR61ziPy61HYcwPgJpJpLuxO-zBjS4YA5Xpr10ZE5HGKDHdxCPcDkoy1UbmbvTGKc/s1600/callie.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTeTvSAp_n8suWOWHBSPWf04XybNvQfLmWEgJDtFGUx-Zp-8Fk-UaBI6zCOU1C2to1z5DOnp_khgm1MNKviaWCNzYnvATIv7osWY-z5mkc43K9cf76NGodbWG8KpHqqeDVwBdVjlIFKg/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTeTvSAp_n8suWOWHBSPWf04XybNvQfLmWEgJDtFGUx-Zp-8Fk-UaBI6zCOU1C2to1z5DOnp_khgm1MNKviaWCNzYnvATIv7osWY-z5mkc43K9cf76NGodbWG8KpHqqeDVwBdVjlIFKg/s1600/me.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we were settled back in bed snuggling with our baby I
remembered Janie who was on her way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dylan quickly called her to tell her what was going on but before he
could say anything she told him she was an hour away and she was trying to get
here as fast as she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told her
that the baby had already arrived and to take her time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived at the birth center at 12:45 p.m. and Callie was
born at 2:15, an hour and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
prayers were answered; the biggest prayer was that my labor would be
quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that there was no way I
could handle going through contractions like that for hours on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kudos to all you mommas that have done it,
you are all my heroes!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Janie arrived around 4 that afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such a relief to see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know she wasn’t there when Callie was born,
but I could not have made it through this pregnancy without her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was amazing, always answering lots of
questions and coaching me all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was her voice I heard telling me to breath and relax as I fought
through each contraction.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwrszKpfT2GGVKg-ibdtX5uKCEYxY7t6_XMIR_-jv-kJ3NBUrFI0ZtgioRx-rT0RkmH3QgZ7JI7Ad4ZiyQIWAnNbDuuzQ5qYiO870iHw3MliCwX3yyxki617vG3uqPVTa7Bq5YRfXvfw/s1600/claire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwrszKpfT2GGVKg-ibdtX5uKCEYxY7t6_XMIR_-jv-kJ3NBUrFI0ZtgioRx-rT0RkmH3QgZ7JI7Ad4ZiyQIWAnNbDuuzQ5qYiO870iHw3MliCwX3yyxki617vG3uqPVTa7Bq5YRfXvfw/s1600/claire.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8:30 that evening we were home and getting settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Angie brought Claire by to meet her
new baby sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire tried to act
unimpressed, but I could see love on her face as she held this little miracle
for the first time.</span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfAsMkBl1wIMOwo6Tcac8RTj314PoSa_86Pht26wiOgGGFnqqBt4SsDGiotGYf_9NB6Bwyrn_C0-C89PiY07ZKgX0dAANxjVpjEWhB7E6in3m_ghny_AkW38y383WgdlWtNQadxpNU88/s1600/announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfAsMkBl1wIMOwo6Tcac8RTj314PoSa_86Pht26wiOgGGFnqqBt4SsDGiotGYf_9NB6Bwyrn_C0-C89PiY07ZKgX0dAANxjVpjEWhB7E6in3m_ghny_AkW38y383WgdlWtNQadxpNU88/s1600/announcement.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Callie was a big girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>9lbs and 2oz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was 21 ¾ inches
long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her stubborn nature has persisted
throughout the last seven months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything is done on her terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She loves people and is always ready with a smile for new faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire loves being a big sister and always
comes to find Callie first thing each morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This baby has been such a blessing in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has made me realize that Heavenly Father
truly does know what we need and when we need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of all he does hear and answer our
prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I had lost faith and given
up hope he showed me that all was not lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am so blessed to be a momma to two sweet amazing girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-22496214798752061602013-10-17T12:47:00.000-05:002013-10-17T12:47:04.213-05:00Feels Like We've Been to the Moon and Back: {Part Three} Going Against Everything I Ever Thought I Wanted in a Birth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>This post took me a while to write and then to actually hit publish because, well, let's face it I care way too much about what other people think. Way too much. I know that this post may make me look naive or uneducated. Nothing could be further from the truth. There's a few things I believe. First and foremost that having children is a very sacred responsibility. Second, we can't always control the hand we're dealt and it's never our place to judge. Third, and finally, at some point you just have to have faith and trust in God. He knows us, He knows what we are capable of and His will and blessings for us are great if we do all that we can do!</i></div>
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Shortly after finding out about our pregnancy I was able to begin working as a long-term substitute for a nearby middle school. Another amazing miracle. I was hoping that this position would turn into something more permanent. Health insurance was not included with substitute positions and having the hospital birth I wanted was going to be financially impossible without insurance. I didn't know what to do. I was frozen with fear. I couldn't sleep at night because I didn't know how we were going to have this baby. So I waited and waited and waited.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvm6I5vLsvwwnRii97VgbaUoats9rkWicE_SBjXiLBwYJP1sXHPtTzIs-SVK6t5O5FdazyGmgAqtWWuhoMugVwA-iuzyx6JEYrYD4gHh9PLTWC8YrfX7XDrlzj7WM60a4YJAkqp79tMw/s1600/morningsickness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvm6I5vLsvwwnRii97VgbaUoats9rkWicE_SBjXiLBwYJP1sXHPtTzIs-SVK6t5O5FdazyGmgAqtWWuhoMugVwA-iuzyx6JEYrYD4gHh9PLTWC8YrfX7XDrlzj7WM60a4YJAkqp79tMw/s200/morningsickness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The reality of pregnancy began to kick in as the morning sickness arrived. Working at a middle school and morning sickness is no fun. Stinky teenagers sent me reeling daily. Ginger Ale was my best friend. The parasite in my womb could not be ignored anymore.</div>
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I was new to the area and had no insurance. I didn't know a good OB/GYN so I started asking around. I received a few referrals and starting calling different doctors for self-pay pricing. No one wanted me. This was devastating. I felt like a second class citizen as I called doctor after doctor and no one wanted to take me as a patient after they asked the question, "and what insurance do you carry?" To which I would reply that I was self-pay. I would hear, fumbling around and then they would either say were are not taking new patients or be quoted astronomical prices and be discouraged from coming to their practice. </div>
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I just kept waiting to find someone to go to. I started to get a little depressed. With my first child I knew who I wanted to see, I went in after being pregnant for six weeks and I was excited. It wasn't like this with this baby. I was scared. </div>
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I also need to add, that with Claire, my first, I had a very traditional OB/GYN that I loved. He was funny and had a great bedside manner. I had decent insurance through work and so all options were on the table. We took a birth class, I knew I wanted an epidural immediately and I knew what to expect. I loved and trusted my Doctor and knew he would make the right decisions for me. When Claire came everything went as planned and I was happy with my experience. It was the kind of experience I wanted again. Yet, with no insurance this time around, it was going to cost me $15,000 or more by the time it was all said and done. </div>
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I knew this would destroy my family financially, but I still did not know what to do. Having this baby was the blessing we had been asking for for so long, but we really did not believe it would happen. The timing was just, ugh!!!!</div>
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My good friend had suggested I visit a midwife in my area that she had met. I thought my friend was CRAZY. A MIDWIFE!!! Me!!!!! No way!!!!! Yet, as my pregnancy progressed I new I needed to make a decision. I shopped around a little more and still was not happy with the way I was being treated and the $$$$$$ we were facing. After calling the local hospital and being transferred from one person to the next I was DONE!!!! I bit the bullet and called the midwife my friend suggested. </div>
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As I spoke with the kind caring woman on the other end of the phone my heart and mind started to change and soften. Mary, the office manager, willingly explained cost and procedure and made me feel like a mom trying to have a baby. That probably sounds ridiculous. After I had called so many places who made me feel like a low-life vagrant who got knocked up and had no insurance, talking to Mary is exactly what I needed.</div>
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I made an appointment to come and take a look and make a decision, although from the conversation I had with that angel on the phone, a decision had already been made. That decision was affirmed when I met with the amazing Jackie at <a href="http://www.bayareabirthcenter.com/">Bay Area Birth Center</a>. I knew this was the place for me. </div>
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Over the next seven months I learned more about birth than I ever dreamed. I learned more about myself too. Reading, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Gift-Giving-Life-Rediscovering/dp/0615622526/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382031313&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=the+gioft+of+giving+life">The Gift of Giving Life</a> opened my mind and helped me understand that as women we are capable of so much, especially having babies. However, you choose to have one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuzO1fefjn1jdRpVMqIO_NMyCujMlMe2IffBaztOf4nh5sQgRIBnzWj6-0UAFRyQh9WgrpxD6NJ7d9nrxZpryyG4UBdZR6xpDsCWbi1t093ok1n-LrNCAIJ8GbTmUpXXhWUpbMBxAUlg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuzO1fefjn1jdRpVMqIO_NMyCujMlMe2IffBaztOf4nh5sQgRIBnzWj6-0UAFRyQh9WgrpxD6NJ7d9nrxZpryyG4UBdZR6xpDsCWbi1t093ok1n-LrNCAIJ8GbTmUpXXhWUpbMBxAUlg/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next up. . . the story you've been waiting for. . . or not.</div>
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My birth story.</div>
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Short, sweet and to the point.</div>
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-3450690364580510772013-09-15T22:53:00.001-05:002013-09-16T07:22:25.276-05:00Feels Like We've Been to the Moon and Back: Part Two- Reality Sets In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" closure_lm_70091="null" height="320" isa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Qxf7dvBSjf-29K-Pf5k6mRX7GJb-F93pnEkke4VhlZBUKJUxvLr2aTpnga5Van7FYyijN6w4KNAouxRkmX7g7VdxfpAFp_jmwM2ExV_h6ygHb2elCvxtssC0GYt7JUscW0kyhaAn2vA/s320/believe.jpg" width="320"></div>
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"When you come to the edge of all that you know, you must believe one of two things: either there will be firm ground to stand on, or you will be given wings to fly."</div>
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After eight years of hoping and praying for a baby we had reached our breaking point. Our last <a href="http://pieceofragermind.blogspot.com/2008/06/and-drama-continues.html">experience</a> made us believe it would take a lot of money or a miracle to have a baby. </div>
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We felt like a baby was in our future and adoption just never felt right, but we weren't getting pregnant. </div>
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After a lot of soul searching we figured our hang-up with adoption must just be us being afraid of the process and we decided to bite the bullet and start the paperwork. The week I discovered I was pregnant I had actually called LDS Social Services to pursue adoption. When I only got a voicemail I got scared and hung up. A few days later I found out I was pregnant. </div>
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As stated in the previous post when we found out, we were in shock and we were happy and excited. Dylan came home from his business trip and it still had not set in. In fact even after Callie was home with us it took a while for it to really sink in. </div>
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Reality of things however, quickly set in. Here we were, in a small apartment in a rather scary place and I didn't have a job or insurance. How in the world were we going to pay for and have a baby? We were totally not prepared. To make matters worse, right after we found out we were pregnant our apartment was robbed.</div>
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The robbery made us begin to doubt. Getting pregnant was something we had prayed for daily for years and now we were questioning. Looking back it seems so ungrateful that we questioned. We just knew that there had been times in our lives when we felt we were more prepared to have this baby, but we knew that Heavenly Father had a plan. We quickly realized that he would bless us beyond measure with this baby and he would help us. <br>
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Many miracles happened throughout my pregnancy. Most of them little miracles, but miracles nonetheless. <br>
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One such miracle happened shortly after our good news. I found a long term substitute teaching job, that eventually turned into a full-time position. As a result of this job we could afford prenatal care and with the long term job insurance.<br>
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Initially I did not have insurance and did not know how we would do this without it. <br>
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Next up: My choice to go against everything I ever thought I wanted or <br>
in birth.<br>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-5854111220440643832013-09-12T08:45:00.001-05:002013-09-12T10:50:15.784-05:00Feels Like We've Been to the Moon and Back: Part 1<br />
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Post edit:</div>
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This post was written some time ago. Almost a year ago. . . I feel silly sharing it, but for me and my posterity I want to document the whole story. Feel free to join me on the ride of my miraculous pregnancy over the next few days. . . </div>
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Part One:</div>
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I've been wanting to do this for a while. I just haven't let myself. The emotion is too real, and sometimes I think my feelings are silly. </div>
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I am also stuck in a world of non-belief. When you want something so bad for so long and you've even started to come to grips with it never happening. . . it's very hard to accept it as reality when it happens.</div>
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Let's pick up where I last left off. School started and we were here in Houston and nothing had gone as planned. I really was at peace with life. My husband thought I was crazy because I felt totally at peace not having found a teaching job. I just knew things would work out. I began doing things I had been wanting to do for so long, but couldn't because I was working. </div>
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I met a great friend and started walking in the mornings with her. She also is fighting the infertility battle. Her strong sweet spirit every morning is what I needed.</div>
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I started a weekly Book of Mormon class with some amazing women from church. It felt so good to DIG into the scriptures and be fed spiritually by women who had so many more life experiences than little old me. </div>
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I took time to focus on the individual needs of my family and how to make our little apartment feel like home.</div>
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All the while still interviewing and searching for a teaching job.</div>
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The month of September was BLISS!!!! </div>
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First week of October, Dylan was away on business and Claire and I enjoyed our girls week. My unpredictable womanly cycle was being unpredictable again. Much to my husband's chagrin I bought ANOTHER pregnancy test. (He hates that I almost monthly am buying pregnancy tests. . . but he was out of town. . . he would never know right?) </div>
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Claire is now old enough to know what message those little sticks give and when we arrived home she followed me into the bathroom. I was expecting the same answer I have recieved for the last eight years. Instead this is what we saw almost immediately. . . </div>
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The moment I read the results I began chanting over and over, "oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh!"</div>
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Claire then begins asking a million questions like, "Mom, what does it mean? Mom, is this bad? Mom, are you okay?"</div>
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I tell her to look at the stick and tell me what a plus sign means. she looks and says, "pregnant!!!!"</div>
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Quickly I take a picture and text it to Dylan who is hanging out in a hotel room somewhere on the East coast. He immediately calls me and says, "what's that supposed to mean?" Ahhh, my husband, the man who has such tact and grace. He was so nonchalant about the whole thing. Excitement is not a part of his vocabulary. </div>
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As a result of getting absolutely no excitement and every ounce of level headedness from my husband over the phone, I decided I needed to share this info with someone else who would give me a more positive response. I immediately texted the photo to my bosom buddy Janie and we laughed and cried together. </div>
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Next up: Reality sinking in. . . the timing of the whole situation left us scratching our heads. <br />
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-86008549961968643502013-03-24T21:49:00.001-05:002013-03-24T21:51:08.950-05:00Celebrating and Remembering the Life of a Great Man<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I found out this evening that my dear sweet grandfather passed away. My heart aches, but I am so happy that his pain is now gone and the worries of this world are now behind him.</div>
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In December, my mom had us send her memories we had of my Grandfather to present him for his birthday. I am so thankful she had us do this. To honor his memory I want to share those memories with you. This is the grandfather that we visited on almost a weekly basis, who I grew up with and learned so much from. This man truly changed and influenced my life. </div>
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Memories of Grandpa</h2>
As I typed up this list it occurred to me that so much of who I am is because of all the things I have been taught by my grandfather. I am so thankful to have a grandfather that I was close to who could love me and teach me all the following things, thank you Grandpa!!!<br />
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Teaching me how to tie a fly on my line<br />
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Teaching me how to fish<br />
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He was with me when I caught my first fish<br />
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Teaching me which spring was safe to drink out of and why<br />
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He made the BEST latrines for camping. . . Almost as good as being at home<br />
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Gave me my love for the outdoors and camping<br />
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Introducing me to Bear Creek. . . where I discovered magical kingdoms full of mushrooms, boat races, and houses made of rocks<br />
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When Nathan and I were little and we would go to Grandma’s house during the day, I remember him coming home for work and telling us we better be good or we would get a kick in the britches. . . we would just laugh. We thought this was so funny, but we were scared too.<br />
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I remember playing in the yard while Grandpa irrigated. <br />
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I am amazed that Grandpa built not one, but two houses during my lifetime.<br />
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I grew up believing that if ever there was something that needed fixed, Grandpa could do it. From crown molding and pantry shelves to young women’s projects and baby cradles; Grandpa could do it!!<br />
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I remember Kira or Keisha trying to drive the van and getting it stuck in between the air conditioning and the gate. Mom called Grandpa, he came all the way from Meridian to assess the damage. Miraculously he unstuck the van. I don’t even remember there being a scratch on it when he was done.<br />
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Grandpa always has the best stories.<br />
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One of my dreams has been to sit down with him and a video recorder to capture his oral history. I’ve always wanted to ask and record a million questions regarding life growing up in Boise, and WWII, and what it must have been like raising a family in the 60’s and 70’s. That’s the nerdy historian in me!!!<br />
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I loved hearing his stories about driving a milk/bread truck and getting his teeth knocked out.<br />
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Grandpa has the best sense of humor. He always told us silly little things that would make every little kid giggle. Like, what was did the mosquito say when it hit the windshield? Owwie!!! Or, I think I have a case of TB. . . what’s that Grandpa??? Tired Butt. <br />
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***Just this evening before we received the news of his passing we were eating J-ello for dinner. As we ate I mentioned to my daughter a memory I had of him, <br />
"Hey Claire, you know what Grandpa Great calls J-ello???" <br />
"What mommy?"<br />
"He calls it nervous pudding!!!" <br />
She quickly scooped up a spoonful of J-ello and watched it wiggle on her spoon all the while giggling. Grandpa was always good for a silly joke or a funny story. I sure will miss him.<br />
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-44959501780684568082012-08-27T09:57:00.001-05:002012-08-27T10:03:02.979-05:00{Back to School} Things rarely turn out the way you plan.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you would have told me last year at this time that I wouldn't be going back to school this year, I would have laughed in your face.<br />
Things definitely did not follow what we thought was the perfect plan. Move to Houston, I would find a job for this school year, we would buy a new house and start back to a life very similar to what we were living in Dallas. <br />
Instead I have no job, we are still in a very small apartment and I just sent my only child off to school. <br />
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I am excited that I got to come home and start the laundry and have morning television on that does not consist of the Disney Channel. <br />
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My husband is not excited that I am not working and "contributing" to our goals. <br />
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I know there is a reason things have not turned out the way we have planned, I just wish I knew what the reason was. <br />
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I can hardly believe this little girl is 8 and starting third grade. We had many fabulous adventures this summer and she was a bit hesitant to go back to school. Especially since it was a new school with new people. <br />
Last week I asked her why she didn't want to go back to school and her response was, "because all you do is sit around and be hungry all day." <br />
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She was very courageous this morning. <br />
Times are a changing. We are ready for whatever hand we are dealt. Bring it on!!!!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-87884747779235871092012-08-13T10:13:00.000-05:002012-08-27T21:30:44.924-05:00{Idaho} Baptism, Babies and Fun!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop. . . <br />
Photo-op with Buster Bronco</td></tr>
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We had a great trip to Idaho this summer. Our purpose in going was threefold. </div>
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1. Claire's Baptism</div>
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2. Meet my new niece Hazel</div>
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3. Family Reunion</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Claire getting ready for the Baptism</td></tr>
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The baptism was fabulous. So many friends and family came and it was great to see everyone. As a parent you are never really prepared for these "mile marker" moments. Before I know it this little girl will be a young lady leaving for college.</div>
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My sister Kira had a sweet little girl a few months ago. I was so excited to finally meet this little lady. She really made me wish I lived closer so I could snuggle on her often. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire and Hickory</td></tr>
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Claire's wishes and dreams were fulfilled. My mother arranged with a friend for Claire to do a little horseback riding while we were there. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins</td></tr>
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Claire had time to play and visit with my cousins girls and she was in Heaven!!!! I spied these two out in the grass sharing secrets. My heart melted!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little diner before we went to the airport</td></tr>
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Finally, before we went to the airport my dad took us to this cute little retro diner, close to where Dylan and I had our first apartment. Wish I would have discovered it 12 years ago. Great food and cute little old men drinking their coffe!!!</div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-68522170876612313582012-07-06T09:41:00.003-05:002012-07-06T10:21:57.779-05:00{4th of July}<span id="goog_1968471331"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent our first 4th of July in Houston.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was fun, but definitely was not the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our family was invited to a BBQ and pool party.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple from church invited us, and we had fun eating, meeting new friends and swimming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The host/hostess made the coolest 4th of July cake </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that we will have to attempt to make sometime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That evening we went to Clear Lake Park to watch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">several fireworks shows around the lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a fun day. . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but we did miss all of our friends and family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were plenty of times during the day </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that I felt myself longing for Idaho.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throughout this week I have found myself thinking about how </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">grateful I am for this country we live in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Often times we get caught up in politics and politicians and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we forget what an amazing place we live in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we need to be more grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we were more grateful, more of us would work together</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to make this country a better place, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">instead fighting against each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was reading <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/134?lang=eng">Doctrine and Covenants 134</a> yesterday and it made me realize how thankful I am that we live in a country where we are <u>all</u> free to choose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what our Heavenly Father's plan is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That we have a choice. . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what the United States of America is based on. . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LIBERTY!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The freedom to choose who you are and what you want to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so grateful for this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the reason I teach History.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To teach future generations to be grateful for their freedom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and to teach them to protect and preserve it for future generations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy 4th of July!!!!</span></div>
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<span id="goog_1968471332"></span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-40387461847884809992012-06-18T13:35:00.001-05:002012-06-18T20:14:33.446-05:00A New AdventureWe finally have settled into our new place. The first week was tough, but now Claire has arrived things are starting to feel somewhat normal. <br />
Moving from my nice house to a dinky apartment has been humbling, I just have to keep reminding myself that we are here for a reason. I may not understand what that reason is yet, but I do know I need to be here.<br />
I quickly realized that we were living a very sheltered life in Frisco; living and going to church in a place where everyone is just about the same. There is a certain sense of comfort in that. Here there are so many unknowns. We are adapting and will continue to. <br />
A few positives. . .<br />
The pool is literally 50 steps from our front door.<br />
There is a place to work out almost 55 steps from the front door. (I've worked out more in the last two weeks than I had in the last two years.)<br />
Smaller area to keep clean.<br />
We got rid of a significant amount of debt by moving.<br />
Claire has such a positive attitude about everything . . . <br />
She loves that she has French doors to her bedroom<br />
She loves that we have a balcony<br />
She loves that we live in an apartment and it doesn't even feel small to her.<br />
She loves that primary is so small (14 kids )<br />
My plan is to keep focussing on the positives. . . And enjoy this little adventure.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LtTPwqfBmwtGANmbmp2SrmC2Ff6fMIPK7sh2iAR9Lwkj8GyiWAfHSoI-BClpsSqdczLZoGXHl063JbLTGxaI9_0_oGpd-BX1GL32gtp8xeY0FDjR3BD9Bn9IHOsik2uLli9bQ8HU-Rs/s640/blogger-image--257826162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LtTPwqfBmwtGANmbmp2SrmC2Ff6fMIPK7sh2iAR9Lwkj8GyiWAfHSoI-BClpsSqdczLZoGXHl063JbLTGxaI9_0_oGpd-BX1GL32gtp8xeY0FDjR3BD9Bn9IHOsik2uLli9bQ8HU-Rs/s640/blogger-image--257826162.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozDL-EWkTcvCLRF9uaMybXD3igAIJ8rFXMAd1wlZPUYX7ZsHXvKhZdq4ZhgbEQpTQ4OypaI-a4ZQM__h0clh75bLCRBfEtxU-VidFIb1J6GUYvPqHkLJ70SkLqX0w7R6xdyqXujKXf5M/s640/blogger-image-1260288963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozDL-EWkTcvCLRF9uaMybXD3igAIJ8rFXMAd1wlZPUYX7ZsHXvKhZdq4ZhgbEQpTQ4OypaI-a4ZQM__h0clh75bLCRBfEtxU-VidFIb1J6GUYvPqHkLJ70SkLqX0w7R6xdyqXujKXf5M/s640/blogger-image-1260288963.jpg" /></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com6Clear Lake Houston29.57314 -95.13687tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-7693617891768736292012-04-08T21:29:00.000-05:002012-04-08T21:29:43.930-05:00{Happy Easter}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKmc_aNUWvH1_Ql6jiHXhY3sUdFo_X5m7stdbcA2OcLfW0KFyuOgCB6SCqPvZMttwNvvXj_juWd5WnP8FQTh9UrndKtCWTAaCWkfzgNy9Jka4juZQnaiAtV1OFEkGfYCaD_m-VrhEF_w/s1600/ShabbyBlogsFacebookHeadereaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKmc_aNUWvH1_Ql6jiHXhY3sUdFo_X5m7stdbcA2OcLfW0KFyuOgCB6SCqPvZMttwNvvXj_juWd5WnP8FQTh9UrndKtCWTAaCWkfzgNy9Jka4juZQnaiAtV1OFEkGfYCaD_m-VrhEF_w/s400/ShabbyBlogsFacebookHeadereaster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-84656770443642355802011-12-05T21:51:00.001-06:002011-12-05T21:58:05.850-06:00Have I Ever Told You. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5Vra9RHc1BHzyX6skgM7chRrPDEygbSJTKCCNpT4ANBskvoCDh-dBxJY-G476kW-XN5dYWhaaGj6lvkVaGj9msi3ZIeSZ9caNB3hs0bAgq-V1HLJw4Z4qiGIe1gpLSCW7HeYYFU4H44/s1600/claire+newborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5Vra9RHc1BHzyX6skgM7chRrPDEygbSJTKCCNpT4ANBskvoCDh-dBxJY-G476kW-XN5dYWhaaGj6lvkVaGj9msi3ZIeSZ9caNB3hs0bAgq-V1HLJw4Z4qiGIe1gpLSCW7HeYYFU4H44/s400/claire+newborn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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How much I want just one more little miracle. </div>
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That's my Christmas wish.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-51667964833353106982011-11-26T12:05:00.005-06:002011-11-26T12:28:57.214-06:00I have a million. . . . .<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679367677742950066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lrb4kwOo1MdzHI_MngIhjoTddPwRJ-EJZH_er49_bqiDiAG-4pDq7peDTYWRc4QltVJDKJsoVoh3OQN-2FwOPE7RZNlOVDvP2m1iwhPd084BIlwdzb6ocP9Ka1i034e1arY582GRpvo/s400/rager+photos+725.JPG" />Pictures to post from our trip to the beach</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679372169552718514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5XPStPhruNhX21uX9gKL66g5YJeDp-nhSwr6ntYB58OhauQpXwsLay37pAjWDDIFUvz4pkc3x9LyrIx_qSMGTpfDjh4TCCby9dcpqpa3_ttx2uXC3lp-lQqS_vR8W-fqHSlVPC2Mlqg/s400/50671282.jpg" />Papers to grade before Monday</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679372166398863314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_1b_In570uOZAZ4j2SZeHXVew2sH08fvU4sjDlZNicN7cUHWUIBualCDpcpwhhuNyViw2nM8a1r0erpc0sl7TdjJ_YW8DdmtybUrRFQVpnWkMTg0FEWvAlEyo5d14uEZMQNOIsKncYE/s400/sponge-painted-rustic-metal-jingle-bells.jpg" />Ornaments to hang on my tree</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuSDTv8hNDjiBBqltuMh8m5Wh80CKtV6oZJlmJ4vx8cfdBV44yrSINUMT-SI80jAZq4P6lMGpsKrj3VAxc7BFUU40wsi60yS9nvuS6lvQ0Oonq3gk8U7DaWG-EbV0fJNgMN38S5ZLwlY/s1600/pile-of-packing-boxes1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 186px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679372169260234850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuSDTv8hNDjiBBqltuMh8m5Wh80CKtV6oZJlmJ4vx8cfdBV44yrSINUMT-SI80jAZq4P6lMGpsKrj3VAxc7BFUU40wsi60yS9nvuS6lvQ0Oonq3gk8U7DaWG-EbV0fJNgMN38S5ZLwlY/s400/pile-of-packing-boxes1.jpg" /></a>Boxes to pack before my hubby heads back to Houston.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Here's to a Jolly Holiday Season.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">It's here!!!<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-41785476093849868982011-11-10T21:57:00.003-06:002011-11-10T22:00:02.272-06:00Let the countdown begin!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVtaTo2OFu6mv90rC083dmJsRH6yug4CR2rmHIc-ejkn1RwQZp7NBo0Av4726O7KbbueFJdG2HCmdc0nwxKpp9pdYjRAQ89xwl_zSFXmyK-eiUb7dfwvWG5kotG9mDWu8TJnWW-IOQbE/s1600/corpus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 433px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673582553240367410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVtaTo2OFu6mv90rC083dmJsRH6yug4CR2rmHIc-ejkn1RwQZp7NBo0Av4726O7KbbueFJdG2HCmdc0nwxKpp9pdYjRAQ89xwl_zSFXmyK-eiUb7dfwvWG5kotG9mDWu8TJnWW-IOQbE/s400/corpus.jpg" /></a><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-80966187417680847682011-11-01T11:32:00.001-05:002011-10-31T23:36:35.272-05:00Nothing Better Than. . .<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeh6jpSO61WeBlyrFy31iXdiodQt4l60ig5syunUPkhpY4c1dDB60Ig84u8Si_nLd2bqNGt3d70FgQy7k1WWYti8PEDk2ioV_rwrs8sQxEb9OeLwA1lQ2NaKuRCo9jUZYOEwm4Pf-z1A/s1600/PEACE.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669880911924361362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeh6jpSO61WeBlyrFy31iXdiodQt4l60ig5syunUPkhpY4c1dDB60Ig84u8Si_nLd2bqNGt3d70FgQy7k1WWYti8PEDk2ioV_rwrs8sQxEb9OeLwA1lQ2NaKuRCo9jUZYOEwm4Pf-z1A/s400/PEACE.jpg" /></a> A Sunday Nap </div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-68589550223811212472011-10-31T23:19:00.001-05:002011-10-31T23:20:36.584-05:00Halloween {2011}<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGTxcJWZvfG4pwDEerVirUh75HX5nPyBbR03CFRHcFlG9cO32h231NT9G1JHVOhjPnok82TIlyc-ycBPLG_Dy0rPoAVrScfjILeWqn9JRarJD4B_QYOan974SpegRIfAlU7PHl_S-0Po/s1600/Halloween.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669877462038196082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGTxcJWZvfG4pwDEerVirUh75HX5nPyBbR03CFRHcFlG9cO32h231NT9G1JHVOhjPnok82TIlyc-ycBPLG_Dy0rPoAVrScfjILeWqn9JRarJD4B_QYOan974SpegRIfAlU7PHl_S-0Po/s400/Halloween.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-62738147625403102502011-10-30T09:22:00.003-05:002011-10-30T09:36:44.502-05:00Week In Review {10/24}<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669290757844830882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV3oNF37G-_iRJ6YJ6Va-VmyFe7-0-XPCf1MqP8GFB4wxAI2rlWFGg2eqznVrglbO50dGVhM_Tu5hqU5eZivEEJN6jipAmcVKWhomlgMakLOWhHSI9tJSM38L9-4euu94V1AQ3RP6qjM/s400/scout.jpg" /> Doesn't he just melt your heart. </div><br /><div align="center">I can't say <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">enough</span> how much I ♥ this little guy.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 427px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 398px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669290858881218514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCqfMMDyqBYSFwJ01lLfO3-EDAtf18qJnjBkXAlti9YOeYReAJPPHQiVSZDrlFtjOd51panwJspVb4MloyMobVp_l3vjdgFRtHz6Sd4Dv6aGtaSs3Ac8nJdO7-MzhS_iRmnZyckLNfw0/s400/Week+in+Review+1024.jpg" />This week was full of fun and a few tears.<br /><br />1. Dylan leaving Sunday afternoon to start his new job in Houston. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Surprisingly</span> the week ran rather smoothly and we loved our evening updates and scripture study with him on the phone. I have a feeling the next 7 months are going to fly by. He loves his new job and is enjoying learning the ropes and taking on new responsibilities. He is so grateful for this opportunity.<br /><br />2. Claire and her kitty, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">kickin</span>' it Hollywood style.<br /><br />3. Claire "pretending" to be a diva (doesn't take much there) for Hollywood day at school. I love how its Red Ribbon week the week before Halloween. All the dressing up each day really gets me in the Halloween Spirit.<br /><br />4. Scout was stripped of his manhood this week. We all hate seeing him with his cone and we spent the better part of Saturday trying to keep it on him. No matter how we put it on, he would find a way to get it off. This is the part of being a pet owner that I have always dreaded. :(<br /><br />Dylan did get to come home this weekend. We spent Saturday taking care of business around the house. Cleaning, moving furniture, re-caulking the shower, changing filters, finishing up projects that he had to get done for other people. We won't see him until the weekend before Thanksgiving, when we meet up in Corpus to spend the weekend. It will be a long three weeks, but hopefully the time will fly. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-76738576283276185532011-10-15T12:25:00.006-05:002011-10-15T13:06:39.124-05:00Back to Blogging. . . and some {NEWS}<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMz7nmdOMc-wkqzicIHxRmSwZzsasbIJ6TV88-5kcflhZRDvguTjfuaTpO21IhJ1LKfVTWg9EyLkFRhfKb-zDmY8RAiIaa-qzaa90YulqZHlOnZ3erOIUCEGd_FOIQ7b9AuxI475J3i4/s1600/clairenscout.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663772214315459538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMz7nmdOMc-wkqzicIHxRmSwZzsasbIJ6TV88-5kcflhZRDvguTjfuaTpO21IhJ1LKfVTWg9EyLkFRhfKb-zDmY8RAiIaa-qzaa90YulqZHlOnZ3erOIUCEGd_FOIQ7b9AuxI475J3i4/s400/clairenscout.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">My favorite picture right now.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><p>It is officially time for me to get back in the saddle with blogging. Big changes are and will be happening around here and I'm going to need an outlet during the whirlwind.<br /><br />It has been just a little over 5 years since we arrived in Dallas. From the moment we arrived we knew this is where we belonged. It just felt right. During that 5 years that feeling has been confirmed over and over again. We knew we were supposed to be here, despite the weekly phone calls from family pleading for our return to Idaho. Texas is the place for us right now.<br /><br />Last February we got the moving itch and started looking at houses. We found a few in our area that we loved and we got a little excited. After talking to our realtor and discussing our future plans we decided to put things on hold. Selling a house in a saturated market is no fun and not really worth it, unless you absolutely have to do it. That was our mutual consensus.<br /><br />BUT, the moving itch didn't go away. It kept nagging. </p><br /><br /><p>Then, Dylan got bit by the "I don't LOVE my job" bug. Bless his heart, he has been doing some nasty stuff for the last year and a half, and he felt like it was worth it because he could move up and make a name for himself. But the moving up opportunities just weren't appearing. So, he casually started looking elsewhere.<br /><br />All the while, these feelings of needing to move just keep pestering us.<br /><br />A week and a half ago Claire and I were on our way to support my 8th Grade boys playing football and I got a life changing phone call from Dylan. </p><br /><p>He said, "well are you ready for our lives to get even more complicated?" My remark was, "what now? do I need to come bail you out of jail cause you've gotten one speeding ticket too many?" --- If you only knew ---<br /><br />"No, I just got off the phone with Steve (his boss' boss) and they are offering me a regional manager position over all of the East coast and they want us to relocate immediately."<br /><br />I immediately thought, "oh, heck yes I have always wanted to live on the East coast."<br /><br />"It is a mandatory move to HOUSTON." :( EXTRA LARGE frowny face for me.<br /><br />The LAST place on Earth I have EVER wanted to live.<br /><br />A week and a half later, and lots of fasting, praying, temple attending, phone calls, flights to Houston, and more fasting and praying-- it just feels right.<br /><br />There was no resounding YES or NO but {CALM}<br /><br />Surprisingly calm, which is amazing because I am the queen of freak out. I've even been blessed with glimpses of why things have happened in the past to prepare us for this. Even more I have been blessed with {PEACE}.<br /><br />I'm still figuring out how Claire and I will attempt to face the remainder of the school year here, seeing Dylan only a few times a month, and packing up all of our {CRAP}.<br /><br />Or, how we will sell our house, when there are 3 houses for sale on our street already, and our house is a total mess that has been neglected while I have worked full time for the last 2 1/2 years.<br /><br />Or, how will we ever find a place as great as our little slice of heaven here in Dallas.<br /><br />Despite these fears, I continue to know that it will all work out and this is what is in store for us.<br /><br />Our adventure continues and I am totally excited to see where it takes us. </p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-73849303773529889592011-08-21T21:44:00.001-05:002011-08-21T21:48:46.544-05:00Psssst! Anyone still out there???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1zTGDK2Gfkx0LlhXYpTP3HN3MrMRF1clz2EkIZg_PCxs3fmZTcOdgXibSG3XDC1QbBlMvzPSDnZI3j0dTSjcbZVKT83DrK-W7QksCF7GsCj5zo3sT4NgRRCZ9MgejofLQeg2-eAVSCU/s1600/happy_first_day_of_school_card-p137598077267411672q53o_400.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643506509658995378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1zTGDK2Gfkx0LlhXYpTP3HN3MrMRF1clz2EkIZg_PCxs3fmZTcOdgXibSG3XDC1QbBlMvzPSDnZI3j0dTSjcbZVKT83DrK-W7QksCF7GsCj5zo3sT4NgRRCZ9MgejofLQeg2-eAVSCU/s400/happy_first_day_of_school_card-p137598077267411672q53o_400.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><div>I'm still alive. Hope to get back into a routine and start blogging again. We shall see. </div>
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-31604752020369013062011-04-25T06:07:00.001-05:002011-04-25T06:07:00.429-05:00{1st} Grade Rumble In The Jungle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRcvZyuqP-pmkd1JfBPemEsAMj99mEt1PfDIT29tRaZExP16QzMy2ZdY54jqNFh02Zn3y7cFaIdvn9KzN57nn94R4FJmAjCHi1q7JOKXKKl9xuH7hg8ipPVJiiFTprvEffYIoH_qdEQo/s1600/rumbleinthejungle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599322179930204498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRcvZyuqP-pmkd1JfBPemEsAMj99mEt1PfDIT29tRaZExP16QzMy2ZdY54jqNFh02Zn3y7cFaIdvn9KzN57nn94R4FJmAjCHi1q7JOKXKKl9xuH7hg8ipPVJiiFTprvEffYIoH_qdEQo/s400/rumbleinthejungle.jpg" /></a> Last Thursday, we enjoyed a sweet little program put on by the first graders at Claire's school. Claire had a small speaking part and she did a great job!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzls2YMVqaoKiVWYrdVufbWoHjedOesFIQWAq3PkFxwtg61LHM6W7P1l032I7anZOHDjhLCbarzvZub2fDv9nymUly28nWiQwsCAJz7TnaYdtzUQXF5ffnblwvM9bPkWa9rWTqQLUe9P4/s1600/rumbleinthejungle.jpg"></a><br />The program was short and sweet--- it was cute and fun and we enjoyed it.<br /><br />So sad Claire is growing up so quick :(Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-10977252640935660802011-04-24T20:00:00.004-05:002011-04-24T20:04:47.347-05:00Happy Easter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymRU6QAoTDqz6P_9nBh_uMPBA5wWHNJErk82pzH65unrKKRgFXo8W2BPPitggyO-JR91xJBYPgBxcXrBl55EqjnveG8Pzx7ZgNJdlMlnsiELoATh-zb4Fgqu-oX1WGMa1kOSUSRWsLrQ/s1600/easter2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599320755356150594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymRU6QAoTDqz6P_9nBh_uMPBA5wWHNJErk82pzH65unrKKRgFXo8W2BPPitggyO-JR91xJBYPgBxcXrBl55EqjnveG8Pzx7ZgNJdlMlnsiELoATh-zb4Fgqu-oX1WGMa1kOSUSRWsLrQ/s400/easter2011.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-31412884901852056722011-04-13T22:01:00.005-05:002011-04-13T22:11:49.869-05:00April {12 of 12}<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFS1wjtRF5ChLEz93LJw-wdv2wSqwrHbhFODquva1V7QBYqUERirwtJnxDn9y5vt0UzWff2dPFCghesfRef-9INEgzo45uHTDFkDTKuliY0LNlz1_plDqJd2s3nfzg2tg-Wt2njGv7nk/s1600/APR2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595269303110546274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFS1wjtRF5ChLEz93LJw-wdv2wSqwrHbhFODquva1V7QBYqUERirwtJnxDn9y5vt0UzWff2dPFCghesfRef-9INEgzo45uHTDFkDTKuliY0LNlz1_plDqJd2s3nfzg2tg-Wt2njGv7nk/s400/APR2011.jpg" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEMULc4v7daNKjCpaMrdquEkHlPRNeU3bZ0Bpo-0grlii4R9-6H4Sqc9ndzcrufsfvZsv2AKmm3CTsUUrOTKzK2l51CZi3JPVgneImTKvMwStCeokfGgavjk475RvY3JjdUmlR3hb5L0/s1600/MAR2011.jpg"></a><br /><ol><br /><li>On my way to work. Running behind. . .AGAIN!</li><br /><li>Waiting at the light. Oh, how I ♥ rush hour.</li><br /><li>The field that makes me smile on my way to work every morning.</li><br /><li>Finishing up the Civil War and Reconstruction this week. </li><br /><li>Where I spend most of my day.</li><br /><li>My pen cup. I like to keep it FULL!!! I'm kinda OCD about it.</li><br /><li>To do list for the day.</li><br /><li>Sunset at Claire's school.</li><br /><li>Claire, exhausted on the way home.</li><br /><li>We came home to find our Iris had bloomed</li><br /><li>While taking the pic of the Iris (with my work clothes still on) I managed to step in an invisible mud hole. :(</li><br /><li>The Dahlia's I planted last week. Spring flowers make me happy. </li></ol><br /><p align="center">I ♥ Spring in TEXAS!!!! </p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-32890733513355232972011-03-27T14:37:00.000-05:002011-03-27T14:38:36.269-05:00My Little Cheerleader!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZlWYJp1Z_1aKwtyrSoJiDxFzPJxJX9F-ha8zt7E2SG2AOuVHUNXx8ON-fh6iQvjy1FhtH7bRzBiu2lTLbb42IbJb7YHWkRxND8ZnBWtDZitPTAu54zHeyVLyyWFDUglme_HH018ozbQ/s1600/cheerleader.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588846337418252754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZlWYJp1Z_1aKwtyrSoJiDxFzPJxJX9F-ha8zt7E2SG2AOuVHUNXx8ON-fh6iQvjy1FhtH7bRzBiu2lTLbb42IbJb7YHWkRxND8ZnBWtDZitPTAu54zHeyVLyyWFDUglme_HH018ozbQ/s400/cheerleader.jpg" /></a> <br /><div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-2168772594331882112011-03-13T19:14:00.003-05:002011-03-13T19:23:38.077-05:00{12of12} MARCH<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrRiClMROSFJqqrpq29OuyM9_hU9fYQKFGfbMXm-7hiBfpOPx8OtET_8IAtUGoJKs7FsJg1FtiJEZ_RdvAVknkTaPgSin3oSwQJA43vxSvC8Q4UIzTMTrD6Od_ohy9ojKm5SsbbS2yIc/s1600/MAR2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583722611804779474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrRiClMROSFJqqrpq29OuyM9_hU9fYQKFGfbMXm-7hiBfpOPx8OtET_8IAtUGoJKs7FsJg1FtiJEZ_RdvAVknkTaPgSin3oSwQJA43vxSvC8Q4UIzTMTrD6Od_ohy9ojKm5SsbbS2yIc/s400/MAR2011.jpg" /></a> I was so happy that my {12of12} landed on a Saturday again, SPRING BREAK SATURDAY!!!!<br /><ol><li>I kicked off the beginning of my spring break SLEEPING IN :0)</li><li>Claire and I cuddled and played in my bed for almost an hour-- DIVINE!!!!!</li><li>BREAKFAST</li><li>Playing with squinkies</li><li>My crazy girl getting ready to head out for our Saturday errands</li><li>The lucky leprechaun that danced out the back window during our errands-- made me smile all day</li><li>Coming home from errands and my amazing hubby had got home before me and cleaned up. . . love that guy!!!</li><li>Dylan's MONSTER BURRITO via <a href="http://www.freebirds.com/home.htm">FREEBIRDS</a></li><li>Claire playing dead while we finished eating</li><li>MMMMMM! If you haven't had a burrito dipped in BBQ sauce, you are missing bliss.</li><li>Cute sweet shop</li><li>Sweetly ending the PERFECT day. </li></ol><p>Enjoy your spring break!!!!! We will be here :0)</p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-10138632145201960822011-02-14T21:54:00.003-06:002011-02-14T22:00:44.880-06:00{Birthday Cake}<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAOpHVhjdBH6s7XQQwrMMZCiHfx2fOj9RXGYc_6og0Wk1HKJs_li6R-9ZArOjdbTr9-B0Byknyd9vtSEaVQcwdUFKr7ERPns5GsFoxcZJqqU4YJHuqjciqQML3ydV6c-PqQscWa3uSyM/s1600/Tamara.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573759969562394946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAOpHVhjdBH6s7XQQwrMMZCiHfx2fOj9RXGYc_6og0Wk1HKJs_li6R-9ZArOjdbTr9-B0Byknyd9vtSEaVQcwdUFKr7ERPns5GsFoxcZJqqU4YJHuqjciqQML3ydV6c-PqQscWa3uSyM/s400/Tamara.jpg" /></a> Found this </div><div align="center"><a href="http://texasmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/04/dress-up-cakes-without-stress.html">{CAKE}</a></div><div align="center">idea a few months back</div><div align="center">and this</div><div align="center"><a href="http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/2011/02/simple-cakecandyparty-stand.html">{CAKESTAND}</a></div><div align="center">a few weeks ago.</div><div align="center">So glad I got to try it out</div><div align="center">on a friend from work.</div><div align="center">Happy Birthday Tamara!</div><div align="center"></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44258235202366360.post-76431742231229763962011-02-12T20:43:00.005-06:002011-02-12T20:58:15.602-06:00Feb {12 of 12}<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Ao5kmRjo0XIFlq8zukjvbiMJ08qEs3ucvQ1jG0rDXjS0eEZbJiTbp8lJqByL1HNDXiQIpcW_72Iszlar19-WFtOI_Dc5_uK24sJcHPbvH4fzU-u6xtSPQOxgM17PBaBcg9fIe39Nvs/s1600/FEB2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572999600667032050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Ao5kmRjo0XIFlq8zukjvbiMJ08qEs3ucvQ1jG0rDXjS0eEZbJiTbp8lJqByL1HNDXiQIpcW_72Iszlar19-WFtOI_Dc5_uK24sJcHPbvH4fzU-u6xtSPQOxgM17PBaBcg9fIe39Nvs/s400/FEB2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">{click to enlarge}</span></div><br />1. I love waking up to that happy face.<br />2. Finishing up my valentines<br />3. Claire singing in the back seat with her shoes off and feet on top of the passengers seat.<br />4. More singing. The only way I can get her to happily run errands with me is to give her control of my ipod.<br />5. Big chested dragon/lion Claire thought was funny.<br />6. My Saturday chore that takes up sooooooo much time. Planning meals, making a list, shopping, cleaning out the old and putting away the new. Ugh!<br />7. Claire riding to the neighbor's house with just enough daylight to play for an hour.<br />8. Sun setting on my porch. So glad to have weather in the 60's today!!!<br />9. My dad (the devil) texted me for the 1st time EVER today!!!!<br />10. Self Portrait<br />11. Amazing sunset on the way to get Claire from the neighbors<br />12. Muddy shoes, every mother's perfect ending to a day :0)Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929718531153708076noreply@blogger.com8