tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193455792024-03-07T22:11:58.075-05:00girlysmackgirlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.comBlogger746125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-22824652386498274272013-11-19T21:43:00.000-05:002013-11-19T21:43:14.849-05:00Guess whoI haven't written anything in such a long time. A long, loooong time. But I have started scribbling down some crappy poetry again and I thought, maybe I need to blog a bit. Just to clear my throat a little. Hear my own voice again. And not just barking orders at little people to take things out of their mouths or to chew with their mouths closed.<br />
<br />
Because somewhere down this road of parenthood, you get a bit obscured. You see it in photographs. How the mommies are always either the one taking the photo or they are in the picture but half-hidden behind their child, peeking over a little bony shoulder.<br />
<br />
Going back to school has helped. I made new friends. And I have things to talk about with them. Now instead of telling hilarious stories involving wiping a preschooler's mouth or behind, I regale my nursing school friends with stories involving wiping a patient's mouth or behind. So there is that.<br />
<br />
But still I feel a bit lost in the shuffle. And what is a blog for, really, other than to talk about myself? However interesting (or not) I may be.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-36154719662729006372011-10-06T14:41:00.000-04:002012-05-14T20:23:48.477-04:00MaMa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXmOep09Xt28BtTDram_m3a1GJaDdLW9iUBhbYmSNsXn3XjcWafnpf_Pw4hk2spZbNIXka9PxZ-k6i7vafaYKA308bUNbZaHznwSOacANMg8LYtVVZBNk0tLsTKz7Hn4n1lKV/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXmOep09Xt28BtTDram_m3a1GJaDdLW9iUBhbYmSNsXn3XjcWafnpf_Pw4hk2spZbNIXka9PxZ-k6i7vafaYKA308bUNbZaHznwSOacANMg8LYtVVZBNk0tLsTKz7Hn4n1lKV/s400/IMG_3027.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Bo said it just now. <i>Intentionally</i>. Standing in his playroom, calling for me to come pick him up.<br />
<br />
I can feel my whole being wrapping itself around his fat little finger right now.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-68309765102533478512011-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-14T10:46:05.165-04:00The Poem Returning as an Invisible Wren to the WorldOnce, there was a poem. No one read it & the poem<br />
Grew wise. It grew wise & then it grew thin,<br />
No one could see it perched on the woman's<br />
Small shoulders as she went on working beside<br />
<br />
The gray conveyer belt with the others.<br />
No one saw the poem take the shape of a wren,<br />
A wren you could look through like a window,<br />
And see all the bitterness of the world<br />
<br />
In the long line of shoulders & faces bending<br />
Over the gleaming, machined parts that passed<br />
Before them, the faces transformed by the grace<br />
And ferocity of a wren, a wren you could look<br />
<br />
Through, like a lens, to see them working there.<br />
This is not about how she threw herself into the river,<br />
For she didn't, nor is it about the way her breasts<br />
Looked in moonlight, nor about moonlight at all.<br />
<br />
This is about the surviving curve of the bridge<br />
Where she listened to the river whispering to her,<br />
When the wren flew off & left her there,<br />
With the knowledge of it singing in her blood.<br />
<br />
By which the wind avenges. By which the rain avenges.<br />
By which even the limb of a dead tree leaning<br />
Above the white, swirling mouth of an eddy<br />
In the river that once ran beside the factory window<br />
<br />
Where she once worked, shall be remembered<br />
When the dead come back, & take their places<br />
Beside her on the line, & the gray conveyor belt<br />
Starts up with its raspy hum again. Like a heaven's.<br />
<br />
<i>Larry Levis</i>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-67122660598081384292011-09-20T22:00:00.000-04:002011-09-20T22:00:03.745-04:00six things...about my decision to start blogging again<br />
<br />
1. I stopped blogging because, honestly, life got so crazy I didn't feel like I had time to sit down and write!<br />
2. I even stopped reading blogs altogether.<br />
3. I feel very torn about blogging, to tell the truth.<br />
4. I want to maintain a sense of privacy for my children - not just for their physical safety, but because of a moral obligation I have as their mother.<br />
5. That said, I <i>do</i> want to record some of our journey to becoming a family of five and some sweet little anecdotes so that I always remember the details.<br />
6. Ultimately, I decided I need to blog because I miss writing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-20543025508770201752011-09-20T08:57:00.001-04:002011-09-20T08:59:58.040-04:00coming soon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuuy4k_90qqo02sgzDpWrRCuSVW1681vcEa7NS1r1A-5BLLO0TTCVPVdBeHnp2vYhIw-td0uSr2zwoxh4_b81n1emNqh8CdepepA_rnmJG8Gp74za4b49wQo2hTwfQ8cNqRGI/s1600/will-return-clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuuy4k_90qqo02sgzDpWrRCuSVW1681vcEa7NS1r1A-5BLLO0TTCVPVdBeHnp2vYhIw-td0uSr2zwoxh4_b81n1emNqh8CdepepA_rnmJG8Gp74za4b49wQo2hTwfQ8cNqRGI/s400/will-return-clock.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
<br />girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-137591948126368622011-03-16T09:02:00.002-04:002011-03-16T09:06:25.073-04:00JapanThere is nothing I can say about Japan that someone else hasn't already said. Much more eloquently than I could.<br /><br />I just saw on msnbc that the official death toll is now 11,000. Eleven. Thousand. I cannot wrap my head around it. Eleven thousand people who were here last week are not.<br /><br />My thoughts and prayers go out to the survivors. And especially to those brave individuals working at the nuclear power plants. God bless you.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-75138295792553063122011-03-15T02:01:00.000-04:002012-05-14T19:27:14.579-04:00my birthdaySo I am a little behind on blogging. My birthday was last month. I turned 36, in case you are wondering. Feeling very old, but I'll get into that some other time. Old, but happy. For now, pictures!<br />
<br />
My birthday was the Friday before the Lion's birthday, so I brought Spider-Man cupcakes to his preschool. They were red velvet cupcakes. They turned all of the kids' teeth purple.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE7Ay52hVgEdqdu3488Cy509ozkykFVAuhutB4LvbvnNekt3YAkug4Xo3TIylKisM1Zxb1UpQ_YSGystmpxIvXM8e30oiwqISEkS6Iog-rVTFcbvBJzVnhfeQrNFFNHmQuTAt/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583796085374634322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE7Ay52hVgEdqdu3488Cy509ozkykFVAuhutB4LvbvnNekt3YAkug4Xo3TIylKisM1Zxb1UpQ_YSGystmpxIvXM8e30oiwqISEkS6Iog-rVTFcbvBJzVnhfeQrNFFNHmQuTAt/s400/IMG_2561.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZAsfT7jTkbFQ4yl08Ua-h2QqdyFwByMOQ9ELJ_gYYLUfJXq54kixPHliAquUA-Y5W7xl50PYvJz3OBG540B3U4M2hytp_jV7dbHNSgS1oGR-31UFMng65FdxdNgMeMTq9b_s/s1600/IMG_3396.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791559301804210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZAsfT7jTkbFQ4yl08Ua-h2QqdyFwByMOQ9ELJ_gYYLUfJXq54kixPHliAquUA-Y5W7xl50PYvJz3OBG540B3U4M2hytp_jV7dbHNSgS1oGR-31UFMng65FdxdNgMeMTq9b_s/s400/IMG_3396.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkC5oC-4cvDHgZkiUyco9yE_Kluq3rNBZigmqbg0qBuDXnbiGIMHQ3pv9alE85RrIzU0Zeejw80zu3ptLvAk5nyXw4akN-SwWwoRtb7uxF_ZBv1pIzHjpFo8lQFMIN5FE3PAt/s1600/IMG_3399.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791565248753314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkC5oC-4cvDHgZkiUyco9yE_Kluq3rNBZigmqbg0qBuDXnbiGIMHQ3pv9alE85RrIzU0Zeejw80zu3ptLvAk5nyXw4akN-SwWwoRtb7uxF_ZBv1pIzHjpFo8lQFMIN5FE3PAt/s400/IMG_3399.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vs6UeC35A9t5MfZ0ih9bDjjRrS4jO_qKKJOET_2t2BSdVomKK6O0qPZLGI2YPUcrkj6TmZ9pGw8yFqbUeCK3WEUqj6XZkrQoOf8hUh-EJPP5ya9bghyphenhyphenLCzEhbbjSqISYhWNO/s1600/IMG_3425.jpg"><br /></a>Since it was my birthday, Miss Heather whipped out their cardboard birthday cake and the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to me. It was very cute. Then we all sang to the Lion. And ate Spider-Man cupcakes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcGevbgzO4Gb5w9_dZovdt8o3Mw_k7gUgwW16svAdHk6grVceoyb5RsMhNueYD5y_rsMB9D0MNwsjjsiPo8cac7Q5nM3Cksn0PTLeDtOpNVSpaCWYVNtY7Bgrn26Wol8PbzW0/s1600/IMG_3403.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791569370252642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcGevbgzO4Gb5w9_dZovdt8o3Mw_k7gUgwW16svAdHk6grVceoyb5RsMhNueYD5y_rsMB9D0MNwsjjsiPo8cac7Q5nM3Cksn0PTLeDtOpNVSpaCWYVNtY7Bgrn26Wol8PbzW0/s400/IMG_3403.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
That night we went to dinner at the <a href="http://www.wazeesupperclub.com/">Wazee Supper Club</a> in Denver and had my favorite pizza. Jonathan's sister, Mary, and his mom were visiting, and I think Susan and I got a little tipsy over a pitcher of beer. She'll deny it, but I was there. I saw her rosy cheeks. I'm just telling it like it was.<br />
<br />
Jonathan made me a tres leches cake. Here he is topping it with fresh raspberries:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q8AmmyGzquBeSl0mGktF5_rqxNpXtLnv0J5iSxT6f63Tm4nLTwybYWtWrbxNQdVgw6A5QiEY8gXsWAccr8uTq2g7qiIuz8EQ-PSHgEbkW4XT-PKiNnbbd-VPwfvDhXbWU_vI/s1600/IMG_3419.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6Wts1LxMc6SULxpUKL_4wjXUEiXvYEzqgN5y89zK-6s-_Hf8lxqW2g5tYrL3BfKkOTUoBm78WESPS76sJK8yqDYA1ek2YLVOExAwUnaaZq8Yyaf-U6X4ZwDsVi57IHjKZO1M/s1600/IMG_3420.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791574333278162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6Wts1LxMc6SULxpUKL_4wjXUEiXvYEzqgN5y89zK-6s-_Hf8lxqW2g5tYrL3BfKkOTUoBm78WESPS76sJK8yqDYA1ek2YLVOExAwUnaaZq8Yyaf-U6X4ZwDsVi57IHjKZO1M/s400/IMG_3420.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0NfTzCZ_tCAxfRujOMiiHFcUGSAJD5ZWw49AhSheasCNDpmuAZ2B_yNbctObFLWMdVR1DS_Vezi5wRXvNpGbCFNSdC9OL8STCDyD-OsgNk7mwC0ntnc0M5tc-g8RCqqNQJDd/s1600/IMG_2563.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583796094905306818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0NfTzCZ_tCAxfRujOMiiHFcUGSAJD5ZWw49AhSheasCNDpmuAZ2B_yNbctObFLWMdVR1DS_Vezi5wRXvNpGbCFNSdC9OL8STCDyD-OsgNk7mwC0ntnc0M5tc-g8RCqqNQJDd/s400/IMG_2563.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Here's Lion admiring the raspberries:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH38O2qBIi6QACh8VsqPeKc_OlXTI77aAiULhXCzXQmJCEC4mc3E1SuAv29cWQOnSMOhF4ERJDvhzxM2Nqn8IuZSfOB_Dmx0PWWhBR4bgJ238mYlsLmfj3Nj8DP_o16M5VU0z7/s1600/IMG_3424.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791579334412306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH38O2qBIi6QACh8VsqPeKc_OlXTI77aAiULhXCzXQmJCEC4mc3E1SuAv29cWQOnSMOhF4ERJDvhzxM2Nqn8IuZSfOB_Dmx0PWWhBR4bgJ238mYlsLmfj3Nj8DP_o16M5VU0z7/s400/IMG_3424.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIJoyyTQU6x90JZUcurTdvxeBc2dsOrpz21kwyCx-TqgWwJCh_ft12GL5oW_KlDvtDJZBddBv4JMpDuZPnAgaU6znYDZA-VSPwTqc6VJa8uaBEYh9NvW0_u2giiY5WvxKPxhV/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583796099320002546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIJoyyTQU6x90JZUcurTdvxeBc2dsOrpz21kwyCx-TqgWwJCh_ft12GL5oW_KlDvtDJZBddBv4JMpDuZPnAgaU6znYDZA-VSPwTqc6VJa8uaBEYh9NvW0_u2giiY5WvxKPxhV/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vs6UeC35A9t5MfZ0ih9bDjjRrS4jO_qKKJOET_2t2BSdVomKK6O0qPZLGI2YPUcrkj6TmZ9pGw8yFqbUeCK3WEUqj6XZkrQoOf8hUh-EJPP5ya9bghyphenhyphenLCzEhbbjSqISYhWNO/s1600/IMG_3425.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791823648277570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vs6UeC35A9t5MfZ0ih9bDjjRrS4jO_qKKJOET_2t2BSdVomKK6O0qPZLGI2YPUcrkj6TmZ9pGw8yFqbUeCK3WEUqj6XZkrQoOf8hUh-EJPP5ya9bghyphenhyphenLCzEhbbjSqISYhWNO/s400/IMG_3425.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
And then, possibly my favorite part of the day. Sitting with Jonathan, sipping coffee, painfully full of delicious pizza and cake, feeling utterly happy and loved:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGLkJP-jmGFywRDTIDWrDlTtonrRD4sadZC8QTQJLH-A1vvG35xVPNnm6jZzNTxwcKX9vy64zZDPOLciDOdRfGz41WPwItR_XLR0B6XPRf6QwVi9cD5qwLmvwwXkdEkm3ZbZA/s1600/IMG_3428.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583791829375841154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGLkJP-jmGFywRDTIDWrDlTtonrRD4sadZC8QTQJLH-A1vvG35xVPNnm6jZzNTxwcKX9vy64zZDPOLciDOdRfGz41WPwItR_XLR0B6XPRf6QwVi9cD5qwLmvwwXkdEkm3ZbZA/s400/IMG_3428.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
That was my birthday. I had a great day. So far, 36 is feeling pretty good!girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-39238480914580430712011-03-14T21:55:00.004-04:002012-05-12T05:03:09.494-04:00visitorsJonathan's mom (aka Susan) (aka Grammy) was here for two weeks. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddzCXyCsMZ6TYnMkGTGbcx2rhV7DHXZIm3pNmvdpZv-CUl_DPIgEfqLiZMzMYd1c5yfomwA-Ue8hJTpTuf3uC1udhimitcflPog1u8S-uSf3ppwWxZOfwAE0PowQKFU52u_xa/s1600/IMG_3555.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584119683642717218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddzCXyCsMZ6TYnMkGTGbcx2rhV7DHXZIm3pNmvdpZv-CUl_DPIgEfqLiZMzMYd1c5yfomwA-Ue8hJTpTuf3uC1udhimitcflPog1u8S-uSf3ppwWxZOfwAE0PowQKFU52u_xa/s400/IMG_3555.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We had a lovely visit with her. She got to volunteer at Lion's preschool several times. She went to Blue's Valentine's Day party and had lunch with her at school one day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUn6pZJ0voVsLrul-97DAh_107TLnhYftSKuNEaV8xPX9Bbm4jvY2AOlAZ8xQ8k3YODs2hNjhZVdi-kT0MZ3ksCWV7NOgfY8VfrIEmK-tEk2zY3Z3PKvI85SGc5slLKy40ujz/s1600/IMG_3540.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584120618548331570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUn6pZJ0voVsLrul-97DAh_107TLnhYftSKuNEaV8xPX9Bbm4jvY2AOlAZ8xQ8k3YODs2hNjhZVdi-kT0MZ3ksCWV7NOgfY8VfrIEmK-tEk2zY3Z3PKvI85SGc5slLKy40ujz/s400/IMG_3540.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
She was here for my birthday and Lion's birthday and even got to be here when one of Blue's teeth fell out! It is very hard being so far away from our family. I have lots of guilt over our decision to move here and take the children so far away from everyone. Visits like that help.<br />
<br />
My mom comes out next. She'll be here next weekend. I can't wait to see her!girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-72331076322089284352011-03-13T23:55:00.002-04:002012-05-12T05:03:36.809-04:00babiesI have been busy this weekend. Painting and cleaning and organizing. Maybe it is Spring cleaning. Maybe I am nesting. Little dude should be coming home in a few months now. We are getting his room ready and the rest of the house as well.<br />
<br />
I went shopping while Susan was here and put together a little package to go over for his birthday. In exactly one month he will be one year old. It kills me that we won't be with him, giving him a taste of birthday cake, singing "Happy Birthday" and taking tons of pictures. I know he is being very well cared for by his foster mother, but it is still hard to wait. We sent him a birthday card, a little toy giraffe and a shirt that says "Little Brother" on it.<br />
<br />
We still haven't chosen a name yet. There is one we both like and we are testing it out, saying it out loud, trying to decide if it is the one. We study his picture and try to see if the name suits him. <br />
<br />
He is such a serious little guy. But we were watching old videos recently, and Blue was a very serious baby, too. I had forgotten that. She rarely smiled and only Jonathan could make her laugh out loud. She didn't want to be held much. She would squirm and try to get out of your arms. And she hated having her hands held! I do remember that! Little old ladies would try to touch her little hands and she would pull them away. She has always been so independent! I wonder what his personality will be like...<br />
<br />
A friend of ours had her baby this week. A little baby boy named Davis. Davis has a congenital heart defect. He is doing really well, but it is still such a scary situation. I told Lion the baby was born and he said, "Well, I guess we can stop praying now!" like he was sick and tired of praying or something! But I told him the baby still needs lots of prayers. If you are reading this, could you spare a few prayers for Davis and his parents? They started a blog. Here's the link: <a href="http://davisgrimsley.blogspot.com/">Davis' Journey</a>.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-33270821541899620812011-02-13T22:25:00.005-05:002011-02-13T22:38:35.257-05:00Grammies!I just turned on the Grammys and 2 seconds later, the Avett brothers began performing! Yum.<br /><br />I decided to watch the Grammys this year. I don't usually care about them at all, being more of an Academy Awards girl really, but I heard on the radio that Michael Buble is up for a Grammy for "Haven't Met You Yet." And that song makes me cry every single time I hear it. Makes me think of our little dude over in Korea. So I am watching on the off chance he performs the song and I can have a good cry.<br /><br />I picture little dude when he is a teenager rolling his eyes in disgust because Michael Buble is so <span style="font-style: italic;">lame.</span> And I will further embarrass him by telling him I loved him before I even met him...girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-10760533494953714562011-02-13T15:34:00.004-05:002012-05-12T05:03:54.520-04:00Valentine's Day CookiesI should be cleaning the house. Jonathan's mom is coming to visit for two weeks and she is flying in tonight. So I should be cleaning the house, right?<br />
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Instead I have been decorating cookies. I made 24 sugar cookie hearts for Lion's (first!) class Valentine's party tomorrow. His class is going to decorate them during the party. Then I made 24 more sugar cookie hearts for Blue's class Valentine's party tomorrow. Aren't they cute?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJorwP7SERWzbiRNEV5tjYw6-KQBYCt0fpj5d2qAZI_jp4zbAx2ga9xKFwUBGpMWRP-w0euTRBulMgY8xK7NuQ889MQ1JwP_4XBipXXyBhh_vO9CjW4_8RAphPnohaV4oNLuAA/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573276705153161426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJorwP7SERWzbiRNEV5tjYw6-KQBYCt0fpj5d2qAZI_jp4zbAx2ga9xKFwUBGpMWRP-w0euTRBulMgY8xK7NuQ889MQ1JwP_4XBipXXyBhh_vO9CjW4_8RAphPnohaV4oNLuAA/s400/IMG_2556.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 333px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 445px;" /></a><br />
But now the kitchen is a mess.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-57994810393612186632011-02-05T11:39:00.006-05:002011-02-05T11:53:10.962-05:00sopapilla cheesecakeOne of Jonathan's coworkers makes this all the time and it is just <span style="font-style: italic;">so damn delicious.</span> I am going to bring it to the Superbowl party this weekend, because I have been craving some in a big way and that way I get to eat a little bit of it and share the rest and not eat the entire flippin' thing all by myself. Smart, no? <br /><br />Anyway, go buy some crescent rolls and some cream cheese and whip up a batch for yourself. <br /><br />You can thank me later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnvoKIpJXKlMK1tSbuL0s4bxVvDhSvtsO47lvU03UzLfIvzeBXRAgE8PPAc57TqC3w-XLPwpw0yB6d7CeUGg2_edGFCFHSADIpEBh-OIvHBUmrL_iRNLd0Ks0HEnyxL3icYWc/s1600/sopapilla+cheesecake.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnvoKIpJXKlMK1tSbuL0s4bxVvDhSvtsO47lvU03UzLfIvzeBXRAgE8PPAc57TqC3w-XLPwpw0yB6d7CeUGg2_edGFCFHSADIpEBh-OIvHBUmrL_iRNLd0Ks0HEnyxL3icYWc/s400/sopapilla+cheesecake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570249112083625842" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="pod directions"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2</span> <span class="type">(8 ounce)</span></span> packages <span class="name"> refrigerated crescent dinner rolls<br /></span></span><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2</span> <span class="type">(8 ounce)</span></span> packages <span class="name"> cream cheese </span> </span> <br /><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> <span class="name"> sugar </span> </span> <br /> <span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">teaspoon</span></span> vanilla extract</span><br /> <span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1/2</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> margarine or<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="type"></span></span> <span class="name"> butter, melted </span> </span> </span><br /> <span class="ingredient"> </span> <span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1/2</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> <span class="name"> cinnamon sugar<br /><br /></span></span><br /><span class="ingredient"><span class="name">Unroll one package of crescent rolls and flatten to cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan.<br />Mix together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and spread over the crescent rolls.<br />Unroll the other can of crescent rolls and spread over the cream cheese mixture.<br />Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.<br />Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.</span></span><br /></div>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-4966028515285408762011-02-05T02:00:00.000-05:002011-02-05T02:00:01.186-05:00no, not quite...I was getting my hair cut at Floyd's recently and I told the chick cutting my hair about the adoption. "We are adopting a baby boy from South Korea," I told her.<br /><br />"Ohmygod!" she cried. "How cute! You're going to have a <span style="font-style: italic;">little Chinese baby!"</span><br /><br />I just grinned at her and didn't say anything. Hilarious. I mean, what could I say?! <br /><br />But it makes me wonder if Little Dude will go through life with people assuming he is Chinese. I asked a girl in my Psych class about it this week. She is from Laos and the professor asked her, "Are you Chinese? Korean? Well, do you celebrate Chinese New Year?" <br /><br />I asked her about that a little later and she said, "Oh, yeah. Your son will definitely get that a lot. People always assume I am Chinese."<br /><br />Something to think about. I have never had people assume I am anything. Except maybe Canadian. But that is because I talk a little funny, I think...girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-17488792391669211012011-02-04T22:02:00.004-05:002012-05-12T05:04:31.330-04:00Settling inI know we have lived in Colorado for over two years now, but right now, at this moment in time, I am really feeling settled here. This weekend I am going to a baby shower and then Sunday Jonathan and I got invited to a Super Bowl party! :) So I feel like we are really starting to make friends.<br />
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The Spring semester started last week. I am taking two classes again, but one of them is only one credit, and they are both meet only once a week, so I suddenly feel like I have so much time on my hands. Although it is a little difficult to stay focused when so much time goes by between classes... Maybe I will find time to blog again, though.<br />
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I am hearing a lot of banging and cackling upstairs so even though it is way past bedtime, I just don't have the heart to put an end to all of the fun!<br />
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Lion seems to be settling in, too. He is doing much better at preschool. It really surprised Jonathan and I how shy and reserved Lion is at school. He is such a goofball around us. But he is getting used to the routine more and more, and there is one teacher in particular, Miss Brooke, who he just loves. It is getting easier and easier to drop him off at preschool because I know he is actually enjoying himself.<br />
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Blue told me the other night she has a boyfriend. His name is Carter and they love each other. And then Carter told the whole class, even though Blue told him not to tell anybody. Then, last night when I was tucking her into bed, she told me that she cannot be Carter's girlfriend anymore.<br />
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"Why not?" I asked her, thinking <span style="font-style: italic;">That was fast!</span> "Does he not love you anymore?"<br />
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"He still loves me and I still love him, but Shelby loved him first, and if she knew about us she would be mad, so that's why I cannot be Carter's girlfriend anymore."<br />
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I have no idea what I said because I was trying so hard not to burst out laughing. Who knew first grade was so much like an episode of <span style="font-style: italic;">Jersey Shore?</span>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-58273046717778857092011-01-03T12:36:00.003-05:002012-05-14T19:28:38.927-04:00cough, coughThe Lion is sick.<br />
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I know this blog seems like a major downer since I started blogging again. And I am sorry about that. Because we have definitely had our share of good times and laughter. And I am not depressed. But the truth is, Lion is sick. Just keeping it real.<br />
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It has been crazy, unseasonably warm in Colorado this winter. More like one long autumn rather than a true winter. Which has been awesome for Lion. He has asthma that gets aggravated every winter. It is breathing in the cold air that irritates his airway. And then the coughing begins. The coughing, the sleepless nights, the blue lips that scare the shit out of me. All that.<br />
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Well, like I said, it has been warm this year. So no cough! And I have been crossing my fingers and holding my breath and feeling so very, very relieved. Until yesterday.<br />
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This past week it got cold. Like <span style="font-style: italic;">ridiculously</span> cold. It finally snowed! We got excited and then on New Year's Eve we took the kids sledding in City Park. It was fun, but it was so <span style="font-style: italic;">cold</span>. I worried, like an obnoxious stick-in-the-mud mother. I only went down the hill once myself, because my own cough was finally getting better and I didn't want the trek up the hill, breathing in all that cold air, to bring my cough back. And I worried about the Lion. About all that cold air bringing on his cough.<br />
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I was proud of my little man, though. He went sledding (<span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> sledding) for the very first time! And he <span style="font-style: italic;">loved</span> it! So that was a big deal, and Jonathan and I were very annoyed with ourselves for not bringing the camera.<br />
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But yesterday the coughing began. And the Lion lost his voice. He basically camped out on the couch all day, watching <a href="http://www.aetv.com/billy-the-exterminator/index.jsp"><span style="font-style: italic;">Billy the Exterminator</span></a> and telling me, in his little barely-there voice, that his throat hurt. And that alligators sometimes have up to 60 teeth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN3iLwcmC_78xjsh4XAy7FhJGwrnl6WCfelojHJdWZRKx7BoVux9UkmIcmRUOxhpRzlks-tLuJUz0jFhkKr_wqcN7UXefmzxDwnjyjQbhRDnoi29bq5Viuh8np1AH3xn4p3rB/s1600/Billy-the-Exterminator.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558019649050619714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN3iLwcmC_78xjsh4XAy7FhJGwrnl6WCfelojHJdWZRKx7BoVux9UkmIcmRUOxhpRzlks-tLuJUz0jFhkKr_wqcN7UXefmzxDwnjyjQbhRDnoi29bq5Viuh8np1AH3xn4p3rB/s400/Billy-the-Exterminator.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
So we gave him some medicine and Jonathan got the humidifier all set up in the Lion's room last night. And if he does not drastically improve by tomorrow, it looks like we will be heading to the doctor.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-50816390024454380992011-01-01T19:27:00.002-05:002011-01-01T19:36:38.055-05:00being thankfulI am looking forward to 2011. If all goes according to plan, we will welcome our little man home this summer! And also, I am supposed to finally start nursing school <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">full time</span> this fall. That will depend on when little man arrives, so we'll see. And then also this spring, Andy and Teresa will make their rescheduled visit to Colorado. <br /><br />So. I have many things to look forward to. And so many things to be thankful for. Before I make any resolutions, any promises for the future, I want to reflect on the things in my life that are just perfect. Like my husband. My children. My family back home. The weather and scenery of Colorado. Having a warm home and enough food. Being healthy. Knock on wood, right?<br /><br />We took the kids to the <a href="http://www.wazeesupperclub.com/Home.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wazee</span> Supper Club</a> for some pizza last night. It was so bitterly cold. And on the way to the restaurant, as the kids and I raced to get inside the warmth and yummy smells, we passed a homeless man. It breaks your heart. Literally hurts to see a person who has so little he can carry it in a shopping bag. To feel the freezing cold wind on your face and know that you are about to be warm and well-fed while someone right next to you isn't so lucky.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-89973131330293039952010-12-23T10:17:00.004-05:002012-05-12T05:04:56.772-04:00Peaceful, Cozy and PerfectI have about a billion things to do. So of course I decided I would rather sit down and try to blog than do any of those things.<br />
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I feel woefully out of practice. For example, I forgot how to log in to Blogger. Pathetic, when you consider there is like one step involved, but there you have it.<br />
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This is going to be a rather quiet Christmas this year in Glenbogle House. Andy and Teresa were supposed to visit us with their children but had to cancel at the last minute due to the snow in Europe. Ironic. We have gotten about half an inch of snow so far this year. The lowest amount ever recorded in Colorado.<br />
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Jonathan is just devastated. I am really blue, too, but also wondering what on earth this Christmas will be like. This will be our first Christmas ever -- since we got together, that is -- with just us. So I want it to be very peaceful and cozy and perfect. Which means I am not feeling well. Of course. Sigh. So much for a "perfect" holiday.<br />
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I am trying to soldier on and prepare for the holiday and get the house tidy and take care of the "cozy" part of my list. But I am coughing into my shoulder every two minutes which pretty much negates the whole "peaceful" part of my plan. What is that saying about the best laid plans?<br />
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Just typing this makes me feel like I need to get up and go <span style="font-style: italic;">do something</span>. So, peace out. And Merry Christmas!girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-86932777353463514052010-09-19T08:06:00.002-04:002010-09-19T08:12:09.341-04:00crescent moon sprint triathlonJust a quick shout out to my fierce husband who is competing in his second <a href="http://www.racingunderground.com/crescentmoontri/">triathlon sprint</a> today! I am so nervous and proud and excited!<br /><br />My stomache is in knots. He signed up for this one a few months ago but has really been so insanely busy that his training has been ... Compromised? Sporadic? A few bike rides and some jogging?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sigh.</span><br /><br />The man is determined, people. That's for sure. He says he will cross that finish line no matter what. <br /><br />I am so proud of him. I think he is insane. But I am so proud of him.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-39990220768446397642010-09-10T18:16:00.004-04:002012-05-12T05:05:21.235-04:00tick tockSigh. So I have not blogged in a long time. A very very long time. I have been busy, yes, but mostly I have been battling an epic case of homesickness. And have just been blue and not in a sharing mood. That is all.<br />
<br />
But I am staying busy. This semester I am taking two evening classes, Algebra and Pathophysiology, and I am really enjoying both of them. (Yes, even the Algebra!) But it is rough, being in school four nights a week...<br />
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We are still number four on the list to adopt. I hate waiting.<br />
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And the kids have grown up practically overnight. Lion is in preschool now. And he told me he likes it "a little bit." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy174gIOK0Yd6Y2kG4C-QAXRvX-iyDWmGZJmLYI4cK7Gfk028jGw50izbh72tw6K2370n7dh6asx5_yZlpbULlYIkp7ZCPu1TEhWZ885rhi00r1GQzKocJbpYeUDsgoKWw3fWu/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515413984321791474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy174gIOK0Yd6Y2kG4C-QAXRvX-iyDWmGZJmLYI4cK7Gfk028jGw50izbh72tw6K2370n7dh6asx5_yZlpbULlYIkp7ZCPu1TEhWZ885rhi00r1GQzKocJbpYeUDsgoKWw3fWu/s400/IMG_3164.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Blue turned six a few weeks ago and is in first grade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0qTKGEheYwbjj012IguTjA9NYGSAPna8hQ4HQIPJ2B3lPBvNcp2MNzsh9BBw1aXxenR9WcVWzcDfxZO43y4bv0lqnCktGEVCYBIiHg4M5vxYUwe-nIa4XSS6vOMrGnhIDwW5/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515413969985394834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0qTKGEheYwbjj012IguTjA9NYGSAPna8hQ4HQIPJ2B3lPBvNcp2MNzsh9BBw1aXxenR9WcVWzcDfxZO43y4bv0lqnCktGEVCYBIiHg4M5vxYUwe-nIa4XSS6vOMrGnhIDwW5/s400/IMG_2200.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
She is gorgeous, high-spirited,<span style="font-style: italic;"> loving</span> school and she told me the other night that I am lame. I feel like I am grasping onto their childhood with both sweaty hands and it is just slipping away from me...girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-55994693606453292102010-07-06T13:15:00.003-04:002010-07-06T13:23:50.983-04:00aspen grove<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gQuI2G7yDPbT6xjfecubGGqrPngd6GORvLDTOHyY6FS5msqonp3dI48rA9aKT2ZpNOYcvm2jWxFn3iDykqre6nYY8r7iMd0XNAMUHV_pRk7d8nLhezeVYuUZ2Pyfy9EVshq/s1600/IMG_2104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2gQuI2G7yDPbT6xjfecubGGqrPngd6GORvLDTOHyY6FS5msqonp3dI48rA9aKT2ZpNOYcvm2jWxFn3iDykqre6nYY8r7iMd0XNAMUHV_pRk7d8nLhezeVYuUZ2Pyfy9EVshq/s400/IMG_2104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490844735340622114" border="0" /></a><br />I was lying in bed reading a good book yesterday when I suddenly got the itch to paint a mural on the wall behind the bed. I went downstairs and asked Jonathan, very sweetly, to help me move our bed.<br /><br />"Uh-oh," he said, getting up to come help. "What's going on?"<br /><br />He is such a good sport! He moved the bed and then he took the kids on a long bikeride and then to the park while I listened to The Beach Boys and slapped some paint on the wall.<br /><br />I love it! It's not terribly original. Many similar murals and decals of birch trees have been featured on <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/">design*sponge</a> and <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a>, but I like it anyway. There are so many aspens out here. It seems very "Colorado" to me to have a grove of them on my wall...<br /><br />I had planned to do more detail, paint "notches" and such on the trunks using the wall color to represent the bark, but I liked it as it is, more simple and graphic, so I made myself stop.<br /><br />Jonathan loves it. (Thank goodness!) Now I just need to find some new bedding and lamps. Jonathan says "What's wrong with the lamps?" but I have never liked them. It's just that lamps cost money. At least this mural was free!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41oYUf03dd0hllvFOEmSYpBqvgNMVcYzUI7l9cZlk94EJUmy9wyKTBcuwLrEUihxC0ip4W3f6MQ3DTMcvWNJ6na0XM2A3iO3hxjuY9TXNK74JRZ3OXVz4iBIklc8UFQcZjVrB/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41oYUf03dd0hllvFOEmSYpBqvgNMVcYzUI7l9cZlk94EJUmy9wyKTBcuwLrEUihxC0ip4W3f6MQ3DTMcvWNJ6na0XM2A3iO3hxjuY9TXNK74JRZ3OXVz4iBIklc8UFQcZjVrB/s400/IMG_2110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490844744920023506" border="0" /></a>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-72873120579422863552010-07-06T13:07:00.004-04:002010-07-06T13:14:38.237-04:00star studded blueberry pieI made this pie for the fourth of July. I got the recipe from <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/star-studded-blueberry-pie-688262/">Family Fun magazine</a>. It turned out so delicious! I like that you could really taste the lemon--maybe I went a little overboard with the lemon, but that's because I love lemon! I will definitely make this again. I cheated and bought premade, refrigerated pie crusts. Much easier. Anyway, didn't it turn out cute?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTxmB7W1Dtj3UrKS3jZOz06YQ3-KHyKkre0gFR-6lSodzR72JxJhUV3yhtxFohkWe1TUDz3dHOh1N8UciU9adeQxRWC4E-3fjJQ9BpLgcD6CQsCmyfY7V_DsnEf0SUeqTNXQh/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTxmB7W1Dtj3UrKS3jZOz06YQ3-KHyKkre0gFR-6lSodzR72JxJhUV3yhtxFohkWe1TUDz3dHOh1N8UciU9adeQxRWC4E-3fjJQ9BpLgcD6CQsCmyfY7V_DsnEf0SUeqTNXQh/s400/IMG_2101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490842264955616194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Star Studded Blueberry Pie</span><br /><ul><li class="bgDot ingredient">6 cups blueberries</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">2 teaspoons grated lemon zest</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">6 tablespoons all-purpose flour</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">3/4 cup sugar</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">1 unbaked piecrust (recipe below) plus extra dough</li></ul><ul><li class="listHeader">CRUST:</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">2 cups all-purpose flour</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">1/4 teaspoon salt</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">4 or 5 tablespoons cold milk</li><li class="bgDot ingredient">Extra flour, as needed, for rolling the dough</li></ul> <!-- BEGIN POP-IN --> <div class="ffPopin" id="ffPopInBox"> <div class="ffPopinWrapper"> </div></div><dl class="dottedRule itemInstructions instructions"><dt class="orange smHeading">Instructions</dt><dd class="instructionsDd"> <ol class="instructions"><li class="liInstructions1 orange"> <p> <b>For the crust:</b> Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Cut the butter into slices with a dinner knife and scatter the pieces on top of the flour.</p> </li><li class="liInstructions2 orange"> <p> Pulse the flour and butter until they are combined and the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the milk a tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition, until the dough sticks to itself when gently squeezed.</p> </li><li class="liInstructions3 orange"> <p> Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Use your hands to shape it into two balls, one twice as large as the other. Using extra flour as needed to prevent sticking, roll the larger ball to fit a 9- or 10-inch pie pan. Wrap the smaller piece of dough tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use. Makes a 9- or 10-inch piecrust, plus extra for a decorative top crust.</p> </li><li class="liInstructions4 orange"> <p> <b>Creating the filling and assembling the pie:</b> Heat the oven to 375º F. Place the blueberries in a large bowl, and sprinkle with the lemon zest, lemon juice, flour, and sugar. Toss gently until the berries are evenly coated.</p> </li><li class="liInstructions5 orange"> <p> Line a 9- or 10-inch pie pan with the rolled piecrust dough and crimp the edges. Pour the filling into the crust. Let your kids cut the extra dough into shapes with cookie cutters. Lay the shapes, touching one another, on top of the filling. Press any pieces that meet the sides of the crust into the edges.</p> </li><li class="liInstructions6 orange"> <p> Place the pie pan on a foil-lined tray (to catch any spills) and bake in the lower third of the oven for 45 minutes or until the filling is bubbly around the edges and the crust is lightly browned. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Serves 8.</p> </li></ol> </dd></dl>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-85048075751385827362010-07-02T19:13:00.005-04:002010-07-02T19:36:07.494-04:00Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDfgQvhBXD5Eq8ma0wWxuoLCVoeT64GFO72CArSLHZ5VzKpnrG8LyvR42FPa3MpEAYSWWI9wSEJXLP9Zt98XEfgxNmPGBvbo7bSPdlL_yGI3KxpJGwRUs9YrafU7zp2tCdJBb/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDfgQvhBXD5Eq8ma0wWxuoLCVoeT64GFO72CArSLHZ5VzKpnrG8LyvR42FPa3MpEAYSWWI9wSEJXLP9Zt98XEfgxNmPGBvbo7bSPdlL_yGI3KxpJGwRUs9YrafU7zp2tCdJBb/s400/IMG_1941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489456244326923090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotDz0EKj6Nd3EkVQtL35tdRpDuVAfue_PCmr-jH7osqOD1eTroNY2onbVgia3tGbSYy07WEgnNNZbwtcQ9f5ipGIxEBscFZoKgtkxu5ioJGWcrANAOfIRASaBwr5S3hUHVnFr/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotDz0EKj6Nd3EkVQtL35tdRpDuVAfue_PCmr-jH7osqOD1eTroNY2onbVgia3tGbSYy07WEgnNNZbwtcQ9f5ipGIxEBscFZoKgtkxu5ioJGWcrANAOfIRASaBwr5S3hUHVnFr/s400/IMG_1942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489456228637461970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2s6aZOZWjChVHyPHC0lR2ibhzo7W6aB_mf1cOVnVE8klPG1mQVB_pb4Lv0yVjzDL01nvorH_dkobH6wIh4xX9C8xaxzSz8maWvNPnovGw3rqq5vm8EvMSZek-Is7Q5D4enQz/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2s6aZOZWjChVHyPHC0lR2ibhzo7W6aB_mf1cOVnVE8klPG1mQVB_pb4Lv0yVjzDL01nvorH_dkobH6wIh4xX9C8xaxzSz8maWvNPnovGw3rqq5vm8EvMSZek-Is7Q5D4enQz/s400/IMG_1956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489455474494033170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoePq3_cSjN7JQE5sR2kJXZ2hpoTZISd6oBBWfz_Xg6gRL4xLikf68F988HlCQf1_-bTT6PsxfpYoxQO1e0cR5hJCLOC4I6rApd9NxnbXVxW2PwIJE0K21t_FD1sSzxoLiakC/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoePq3_cSjN7JQE5sR2kJXZ2hpoTZISd6oBBWfz_Xg6gRL4xLikf68F988HlCQf1_-bTT6PsxfpYoxQO1e0cR5hJCLOC4I6rApd9NxnbXVxW2PwIJE0K21t_FD1sSzxoLiakC/s400/IMG_1957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489455489501480530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qi10qCJZHYdOX6MtPiJxF5D85YCY9dolL9vZi5P6mEps2grrKCrrKQHZhXMooBUch2KjPVKJhMbJJS3us967jnJX3vgB-shyjVFEhV4gTIGsCDpovSpxNz4A2CIQ1sjk-zz_/s1600/IMG_1979.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qi10qCJZHYdOX6MtPiJxF5D85YCY9dolL9vZi5P6mEps2grrKCrrKQHZhXMooBUch2KjPVKJhMbJJS3us967jnJX3vgB-shyjVFEhV4gTIGsCDpovSpxNz4A2CIQ1sjk-zz_/s400/IMG_1979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489454399676715746" border="0" /></a>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-63961744963489405612010-07-02T19:09:00.003-04:002010-07-06T13:26:20.756-04:00too darn hotIt is so hot out -- and in. We have no air-conditioning. It is bearable, but only <span style="font-style: italic;">just bearable</span>. So tonight, rather than heating up our house even more than it already is, I think we'll have a cold dinner. I am going to make up a chopped caprese salad for dinner using some of the basil from our garden. And I bought some gorgeous bread and bruschetta at Target.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv0RCt5p-y83KnDn7FmZ0CvRzM9h9BDceDWOouqgfrcB2cB29VgnW46_CxSQFJq_CRnnp2R2Y93boMXASrQ4F44wIX3G0SlZGxIkuzUWS38_1flakROpll5kMykDajNdanRaD/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv0RCt5p-y83KnDn7FmZ0CvRzM9h9BDceDWOouqgfrcB2cB29VgnW46_CxSQFJq_CRnnp2R2Y93boMXASrQ4F44wIX3G0SlZGxIkuzUWS38_1flakROpll5kMykDajNdanRaD/s400/IMG_2100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490845615485905282" border="0" /></a><br />I cannot wait until Jonathan gets home from work, so we can all sit out on the patio and eat dinner! I filled the kids' baby pool and it is out on the patio, too, so they can splash around in there after we eat.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-4943351907186691042010-07-01T13:54:00.003-04:002010-07-01T14:04:52.109-04:00The Summer Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDFvhzkamt2Kmh9yjHt0yZqsDJvalUdnR03dFz5_yvZ8MCfDguiNPIMWJ7zV8U3HhQweSUd_PjHxhjWkJyVlMMbk5PH6vSVCVdK2rInaLHZ_wWXH8oI8su8d9YSfuSqGlGMSP/s1600/green-grass.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDFvhzkamt2Kmh9yjHt0yZqsDJvalUdnR03dFz5_yvZ8MCfDguiNPIMWJ7zV8U3HhQweSUd_PjHxhjWkJyVlMMbk5PH6vSVCVdK2rInaLHZ_wWXH8oI8su8d9YSfuSqGlGMSP/s400/green-grass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999859722143346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Who made the world?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Who made the swan, and the black bear?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Who made the grasshopper?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">This grasshopper I mean—</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">the one who has flung herself out of the grass,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">which is what I have been doing all day.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Tell me, what else should I have done?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Tell me, what is it you plan to do</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">with your one wild and precious life?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Mary Oliver</span><br /><span style=";font-family:LucidaGrande;color:black;" ></span>girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345579.post-57684380752998910422010-06-30T14:23:00.004-04:002010-06-30T14:35:29.038-04:00searching for a better way<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hNO2s1VZSS4yU40FGM5Xl9AQaeA22RK_5PBEtYUelfvpw5oarBwy0gKkeFBXoXxumCYqxWqFwVQ6RTDXVEaCzGNxYpAPsp1p2yBUCJky1vqzsehl-twCiYG7GqmM-jE_KKc/s1600/Environment+Image.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hNO2s1VZSS4yU40FGM5Xl9AQaeA22RK_5PBEtYUelfvpw5oarBwy0gKkeFBXoXxumCYqxWqFwVQ6RTDXVEaCzGNxYpAPsp1p2yBUCJky1vqzsehl-twCiYG7GqmM-jE_KKc/s400/Environment+Image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488636823983886018" border="0" /></a><br />I have been reading this blog this morning, <a href="http://plasticmanners.wordpress.com/">Plastic Manners</a>, and it is very inspiring. It's about this girl who is trying to live plastic-free. And it is just<span style="font-style: italic;"> insane</span> how much plastic we use on a daily basis when you really sit down and think about it.<br /><br />I already have been trying, a little, to live a greener life. (I picture Jonathan snickering at that statement!) But we recycle everything we can and try to use less electricity. We are growing some of our own vegetables and herbs and I want to can some of our little harvest. But there is just so much more to do. I want our family to eat better, use less energy, reduce our waste, compost... It is a bit overwhelming. Okay, a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span> overwhelming!<br /><br />But, for now, I have put links to some of the blogs I found under the "lives less ordinary" heading and hopefully these will inspire me to try harder.girlysmackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112464603747196903noreply@blogger.com4