tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73949662582010924202024-03-05T23:04:03.784-08:00The Time We HadThe way we chose was the long one.
The time we had is not gone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-9511107838763129512016-10-01T19:44:00.001-07:002016-10-01T19:44:20.709-07:00Brace Yourselves, World. You Are NOT PreparedWell I suck at blogging but since I only do it for me really it doesn't matter too much. And it's for the important stuff...like the fact that my teeny tiny little Kiri Bug is turning 3! How the hell did that happen?!?<br />
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This last year with this tiny girl has been quite the ride. I remember last year as she turned two having worries about her speech and other abilities. This last year she has caught up to where she needs to be and my only real concern is trying to get her to be quite for at least 60 seconds! Granted, we don't always understand 100% of the things she says but she's got a lot to say.<br />
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Kiri is by far the most insane, outspoken, frustrating, rage inducing, adorable and sweet little person I have ever met in my life. She uses just enough attitude to ALMOST push us over the edge and immediately switches on her overly cute and sweet self, narrowly avoiding some sort of apocalypse. It's impressive. Despite continually testing our patience, she is one of the most lovey and sweet little people. She remembers her pleases and thank yous, she loves hugs and "mooches," and always has to have a "Mommy nice" (snuggles with Mommy at sleep time- I think she calls it a "nice" because I used to crawl into bed with her, snuggle her up and say "that's nice"). She's too loud. She's too quiet. She feels ALL THE THINGS and she feels them very deeply. She's crazy like Mommy, sweet like Daddy and just amazing like her brother. She's our tiny Kiri Bug and she's growing up way too fast.<br />
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Things she loves:<br />
"Mine friends": she is so social (especially when she's comfortable around someone). Her best friend is the other half of "team tiny girl," Alexis, who she met last year around this time and the two of them are the cutest thing I've ever seen!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping with her BFF</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunchin' with her BFF after Team Tiny Girl school. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the Balloon Glow with Alexis</td></tr>
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All things girly:<br />
Despite my best efforts her favorite colors are pink and purple, she loves princesses, ponies, jewelry, tutus, and baby dolls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She dresses herself...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the tiny bit of makeup Mommy owns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew7SyHIKc_pDgANouaxcdQ1mPXZi5-ihflxIboaXsF93DjTRv_s7Ik24zKPv7SDtO078kz1xhYdgMCazPUCNGNxQ2Li1O8ApaAvOZE0J2GkCKkVTUx5qong9kM293VZTVOoVsNvr3ABU/s1600/IMG_20160702_074530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew7SyHIKc_pDgANouaxcdQ1mPXZi5-ihflxIboaXsF93DjTRv_s7Ik24zKPv7SDtO078kz1xhYdgMCazPUCNGNxQ2Li1O8ApaAvOZE0J2GkCKkVTUx5qong9kM293VZTVOoVsNvr3ABU/s320/IMG_20160702_074530.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out her reflection in the wine<br />
cabinet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqyvbdeMHVfJwBXfufZiNW2qYVeybGGRJ4ttko88y1SkgW7ExsrslQYAN6jX7jLLj_Paop8QsLEwZWvYIlgOdhwLXqg_dgG9QQL6EP0_RpTOXH-YkPOZqkgEUOiidi7GOjjAxKggru2I/s1600/IMG_20160727_153205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqyvbdeMHVfJwBXfufZiNW2qYVeybGGRJ4ttko88y1SkgW7ExsrslQYAN6jX7jLLj_Paop8QsLEwZWvYIlgOdhwLXqg_dgG9QQL6EP0_RpTOXH-YkPOZqkgEUOiidi7GOjjAxKggru2I/s400/IMG_20160727_153205.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is a handcrafted dress of wrapping paper,<br />
complete with crown and ribbon wrist bands which<br />
she wore in downtown KC</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tres chic like Audrey for school!</td></tr>
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Singing:<br />
This girl sings constantly. ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, We Will Rock You and Apples and Bananas are among her favorites. She will often try to sing along even when she doesn't know the words. My all time favorite song of hers is when she sings "Let it Go" because she replaces the words 'let it go' with 'go away.' Last month I heard her sing "Go away go away, no you go in mine house Anna, go away go away!" in a sweet little tiny girl singing voice to the tune of "Let it Go." That's my girl!<br />
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Her brother:<br />
They fight like crazy but he's one of the first things she asks about when she wakes up every morning. On days she isn't in school she begs me to go pick him up from his school and tells me she misses him all day long.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Link's smallest and biggest fan!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running the bases at the little K</td></tr>
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Doing puzzles:<br />
This is a recent development but she's obsessed with puzzles. She went from doing the easy peg puzzles to 24 piece ones and I can't get her to stop (not that I would).<br />
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Drawing/painting:<br />
If she sees you with a crayon, marker, pen, pencil or paper she will run over to her sketch book, grab something to draw with and proclaim "KIRI DRAW TOO!!!" She isn't so much into coloring or coloring books (I think they piss her off actually) but she loves to make her own pictures and add on to ones other people draw for her.<br />
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Sleeping:<br />
When she was under 1 I remember thinking that I would actually die of not sleeping because she SUCKED at it. She was the shittiest baby sleeper in the world. Pretty sure of that. Now this girl will sleep until 10AM. I actually had to wake her up at 11AM once. She made me paranoid. I thought she might be dead. Nope. She just digs sleeping. Good girl! She goes to bed at 8 most days and will almost always sleep past 7 if we let her. She will normally wake up around 8:30 or 9. She's a good sleeper. Mommy like.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwORf9pinarx5m0vep8MrCDYhjlV6OwDtCeAoRPGvOKDOB6saHRmanwyBzAJn0RYhktPICGsshtAIrqg_UextBDz-K-9fcXR2yqoXqAXEkS4gZ7bMUnOcGWmDm4jKclRE0eXQ5XxohY0/s1600/sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwORf9pinarx5m0vep8MrCDYhjlV6OwDtCeAoRPGvOKDOB6saHRmanwyBzAJn0RYhktPICGsshtAIrqg_UextBDz-K-9fcXR2yqoXqAXEkS4gZ7bMUnOcGWmDm4jKclRE0eXQ5XxohY0/s320/sleep.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 days old and 2 years old. She loves sleeping.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6FGBHu8KSULAtyWWWnnRW69KO_PSDFy1AJbYRt13oPrIqJ74HsLFU9Zc2ESiME0XhQQL4aZrQUD5vj12_d8VJTgfED_21Dm1B533d8aM-61L3bt1TwTGiDDeaEp_9Y6knTAZUU3SnVI/s1600/IMG_20160907_092047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6FGBHu8KSULAtyWWWnnRW69KO_PSDFy1AJbYRt13oPrIqJ74HsLFU9Zc2ESiME0XhQQL4aZrQUD5vj12_d8VJTgfED_21Dm1B533d8aM-61L3bt1TwTGiDDeaEp_9Y6knTAZUU3SnVI/s320/IMG_20160907_092047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She woke up, got dressed and fell back asleep while I made <br />
breakfast</td></tr>
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The elements (as long as it's not the sun!):</div>
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We thought she'd HATE White Sands. Nope. She loves it. And she LOVES wind and if it rains she immediately runs outside to play in it. But DO NOT take her outside without her shades if it's sunny!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPj1MIe08oXXbn_oUT2Zl-OM0PgNLLLoWWWmrU5BmrRbUlvp_sUjQvJz1ri0BmuQxo7HUvYvNUZKAt5L0mNfWwJgl9IvYxYGa-seOB3GUmFEavpS7cyF21w7raWwiwPYffoVDEEY7rEo/s1600/IMG_20160927_183115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPj1MIe08oXXbn_oUT2Zl-OM0PgNLLLoWWWmrU5BmrRbUlvp_sUjQvJz1ri0BmuQxo7HUvYvNUZKAt5L0mNfWwJgl9IvYxYGa-seOB3GUmFEavpS7cyF21w7raWwiwPYffoVDEEY7rEo/s320/IMG_20160927_183115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was doing yoga on the dunes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy as can be in a rainstorm</td></tr>
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Coffee:<br />
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For some reason she likes the taste of black coffee. Like real black coffee. So when she asks we have to bribe her with chocolate milk instead. She's weird. </div>
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Helping:</div>
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With anything. Cooking, cleaning, writing. You name it. She loves to "help."</div>
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List of things she dislikes: </div>
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-Basically any food that isn't mainly carb based >.<</div>
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-New adults talking to her</div>
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-Going outside without sunglasses</div>
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-Any time she thinks someone is being mean to her brother ("That's MINE Linky. Leave him alone!")</div>
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-Bowser licking her</div>
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-Going to bed without reading books</div>
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-Daddy brushing her teeth</div>
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-When the rest of us sing and she's not in the mood for it because it's "her song"</div>
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And yes, she still makes her crazy Bug face! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv_N3ueor0mi3xf7HR3uFJPTWyv1UorB7A9FQeipTskwa9ZyNbRa2CeEi-7OITaZc9TdmyqjHp1FmOuAD3i3zCwKnm57VXjjRI43vIp61PwcafhMouHKNixSzHFShNtiEaZ9zVpZBiN0/s1600/1425222_10102681123374229_4735849502561173258_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv_N3ueor0mi3xf7HR3uFJPTWyv1UorB7A9FQeipTskwa9ZyNbRa2CeEi-7OITaZc9TdmyqjHp1FmOuAD3i3zCwKnm57VXjjRI43vIp61PwcafhMouHKNixSzHFShNtiEaZ9zVpZBiN0/s400/1425222_10102681123374229_4735849502561173258_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ibZ441138XfCGmPBWUqhAVZVM9Tc8r947jNBdYfnqSdsFBplVTHMrQ3aO2WvtdVk7W9eqczP1g73jVVGK15mfJiP620QkqLrUQ-lakIj-oL5ihYoo8lDfGDIrvBGMBkgdyVljYNiFfQ/s1600/IMG_20160410_164150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ibZ441138XfCGmPBWUqhAVZVM9Tc8r947jNBdYfnqSdsFBplVTHMrQ3aO2WvtdVk7W9eqczP1g73jVVGK15mfJiP620QkqLrUQ-lakIj-oL5ihYoo8lDfGDIrvBGMBkgdyVljYNiFfQ/s320/IMG_20160410_164150.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now!</td></tr>
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Buckle up world. I don't think any of us are prepared for this one to be three years old but here we go anyway! I'm going to need some coffee...with booze in it. </div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Some Times I Had:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CjjeWDmFtes3PuV8Sv6YlQ2b_FZhI-dLS9eAXx0eYQhkbm3Ro1bj86jR94eWboKijkBi1u5otTx-7Myn5yOy6GDVpxTCY7iinnV29KEbWV6X9_5ZFKmPZSK0TUmKffbO5upYgmb0ikg/s1600/IMG_20140308_104451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CjjeWDmFtes3PuV8Sv6YlQ2b_FZhI-dLS9eAXx0eYQhkbm3Ro1bj86jR94eWboKijkBi1u5otTx-7Myn5yOy6GDVpxTCY7iinnV29KEbWV6X9_5ZFKmPZSK0TUmKffbO5upYgmb0ikg/s320/IMG_20140308_104451.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-66082340080934408752016-05-02T12:33:00.003-07:002016-05-17T09:07:42.351-07:00Oh Shit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our family has a KC trip coming up in July. We ended up extending it a little bit because me and my bestest friend in the whole wide world (D) are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary this year. Because we are slackers and didn't take the time to plan out a super epic anniversary trip, we decided to take advantage of the grandparents intense love for our spawn and we will be bumming around the city pretending we have no children. Earlier I had wanted to go to Camp Nerd Fitness later in the year but for various reasons it didn't really work out. I wanted something to work towards that would make me push my workouts harder. A put your money where your mouth is kind of deal because damn it, it is SO easy to get lazy, skip a workout, then skip all of them and then end up in a downward spiral where you are sitting on the couch stuffing your face with cookies dipped in ice cream. No? Just me? (OK maybe not that extreme but still). </div>
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Well we found something. And I THINK I can do it. Because I'm awesome and I do 5Ks and stuff......</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp9Dncpsb9RfDIjjBPieaHv26U3473co68lA6YlE5lXw21KSu-l6eT0fFQ1d71yl7qNNGAeT4HBebesBjABR7cqbBsx6oCL8LpLfWR8HbnWp6GvsXN0kkQQvpq7Snoawcwy2xrrWGAt8/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp9Dncpsb9RfDIjjBPieaHv26U3473co68lA6YlE5lXw21KSu-l6eT0fFQ1d71yl7qNNGAeT4HBebesBjABR7cqbBsx6oCL8LpLfWR8HbnWp6GvsXN0kkQQvpq7Snoawcwy2xrrWGAt8/s320/IMG_0380.JPG" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Me Rad </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-gKpLHYU5krGzf2CJH20AukkRiDWnMeKVzS_0HN8gHt9kybbH8u8PP4g7Rr1SW0EmEygXVSGTvmRETRjMynxQN-ZGlMT54lBGqltAh9pUGXxkvb5UB9YjyYtNrLc4buzM3hwCF3N9ys/s1600/423152_10101777850560255_507758262_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-gKpLHYU5krGzf2CJH20AukkRiDWnMeKVzS_0HN8gHt9kybbH8u8PP4g7Rr1SW0EmEygXVSGTvmRETRjMynxQN-ZGlMT54lBGqltAh9pUGXxkvb5UB9YjyYtNrLc4buzM3hwCF3N9ys/s320/423152_10101777850560255_507758262_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">I was blowing out blue snot for like a week. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85xUrfs82Amf0KZ8vMBMAh8386ALi4JPEjwQy8396B1lRl2XZxZvex9XqG-Q8aPaGzCdLG2eB0hLFhh4-Z7h_2ISd3UW859gPVWMNW57g5kYcLegfrNtp7CHDZeyMOdOjgTRpSFj6a6M/s1600/561704_10101777851383605_68178772_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85xUrfs82Amf0KZ8vMBMAh8386ALi4JPEjwQy8396B1lRl2XZxZvex9XqG-Q8aPaGzCdLG2eB0hLFhh4-Z7h_2ISd3UW859gPVWMNW57g5kYcLegfrNtp7CHDZeyMOdOjgTRpSFj6a6M/s320/561704_10101777851383605_68178772_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy is awesome and annoying when<br />
he makes me run. Love him. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I even do 5Ks in the nasty Vegas heat. But we like when there are bubbles:<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFik9Ezl-ps6IULGYScYWkJUO25l1ygKl1bdc2ofHizk0TvOXIKjOxfjUnidvC3DZ-k11n-nzB3DXXLznYy4otffsc8TrhWA8TWqbBRYjEX8qy3iLkOGmOmLYMxieblZVvsD0FTQ7keY/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFik9Ezl-ps6IULGYScYWkJUO25l1ygKl1bdc2ofHizk0TvOXIKjOxfjUnidvC3DZ-k11n-nzB3DXXLznYy4otffsc8TrhWA8TWqbBRYjEX8qy3iLkOGmOmLYMxieblZVvsD0FTQ7keY/s320/2.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L's first 5K at 4 years old. He ran some of<br />
it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHBHzfn6vUY0q4d6rvNe8HGi7Ja8avuckIXL14knstfysWqmYkpPvYta81msDHyeo8_KwQsb1d4h6ZGyMmqzo0On8029fp0MsNsKNONqsrtA13Bm_AJeSyM94HBuXIWSkWAK8M7RuSRY/s1600/IMG_3431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHBHzfn6vUY0q4d6rvNe8HGi7Ja8avuckIXL14knstfysWqmYkpPvYta81msDHyeo8_KwQsb1d4h6ZGyMmqzo0On8029fp0MsNsKNONqsrtA13Bm_AJeSyM94HBuXIWSkWAK8M7RuSRY/s320/IMG_3431.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4ish month pregnant with Bug and I carried him through<br />
a good chunk of this. Woot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatH1auOrAelZhdPBxkn1268PoO_Q0yrzvQjpcLIKWMn3IxpyOV53vZbRowk0yocJpyvn2yWaPSOmj6z5ziT4uEh5Yu5N3n0QqSzCtwDV9OxkEf96w8D890BGdEC0_a-4MUZp8lM-AWeM/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatH1auOrAelZhdPBxkn1268PoO_Q0yrzvQjpcLIKWMn3IxpyOV53vZbRowk0yocJpyvn2yWaPSOmj6z5ziT4uEh5Yu5N3n0QqSzCtwDV9OxkEf96w8D890BGdEC0_a-4MUZp8lM-AWeM/s320/IMG_3444.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have had a better time than he did...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM41UZeKM0asfXIw1rdgnROSaQTEiiT2yarnELsrwvFjV61kzR_xL_Jkq_oxfM58t6Zx_uc9sxgqq4cYdR3PPdPuu1BbOmSq3DxdNg50YkWwgVa54pcUBBv8TBiDbMpOrTFMqb_uUrHw/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM41UZeKM0asfXIw1rdgnROSaQTEiiT2yarnELsrwvFjV61kzR_xL_Jkq_oxfM58t6Zx_uc9sxgqq4cYdR3PPdPuu1BbOmSq3DxdNg50YkWwgVa54pcUBBv8TBiDbMpOrTFMqb_uUrHw/s320/IMG_3450.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And sometimes we just do it for funsies like it's a date or something.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtEwZKeE2eQ8HbNi2tGXwbHfzCo5nuyxkNTh5EPpqVN3-QzmvnRvs08e1ID_l-RPaiPPPMKFNNOxNND3kO18unTwjKwiyB4ccdT051ENqEhPeaFTHzZQVBy_kzAl9p_SUAmd8MzrQ0Mk/s1600/IMG_20140222_095420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtEwZKeE2eQ8HbNi2tGXwbHfzCo5nuyxkNTh5EPpqVN3-QzmvnRvs08e1ID_l-RPaiPPPMKFNNOxNND3kO18unTwjKwiyB4ccdT051ENqEhPeaFTHzZQVBy_kzAl9p_SUAmd8MzrQ0Mk/s320/IMG_20140222_095420.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Run with D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbh1K4x76c3dcDhzBVjG5074GYvtmx0uPafiDbgqXBqMPcqsA-2fVv0vaWB0eHaMp-o9SJ4S85709yLbgGDM03H1KVQ59Zj4EvypwwKzlVx2V3_8P-QDHWtsQsJv4n_9zoEZtSr-BeKA/s1600/TLAS14_04_02490_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbh1K4x76c3dcDhzBVjG5074GYvtmx0uPafiDbgqXBqMPcqsA-2fVv0vaWB0eHaMp-o9SJ4S85709yLbgGDM03H1KVQ59Zj4EvypwwKzlVx2V3_8P-QDHWtsQsJv4n_9zoEZtSr-BeKA/s320/TLAS14_04_02490_L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah I even finish the races. As fast as a turtle in mud. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQQyciF9sc0uDAot4_clluZn3Xl-DK1nrnczQ8joz7hQAa6DOVkaSpay_2ps6itM2nGMblS4DfAlXfkWszR_xjl9GQvx7w-t_Dobu-EEpZM8eKokGaVJ1KIrqxTBTlkBgjdf033RvMbE/s1600/TLAS14_20_01199_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQQyciF9sc0uDAot4_clluZn3Xl-DK1nrnczQ8joz7hQAa6DOVkaSpay_2ps6itM2nGMblS4DfAlXfkWszR_xjl9GQvx7w-t_Dobu-EEpZM8eKokGaVJ1KIrqxTBTlkBgjdf033RvMbE/s320/TLAS14_20_01199_L.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And because it's not enough to just run during the day:</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHiUTBb0w39m9OLg24dfdaNai3lqC0M7gKp196vccEIL1Lqn9Sb-jMV6lSwOf8Ww2oClx7HlPv25hoiKrk5OchJ3IP2cK9bc24zFlZ1S3UGukKd90ja1RjAWeSd2l8dviCDS7FtSKA0Q/s1600/IMG_20140531_204233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHiUTBb0w39m9OLg24dfdaNai3lqC0M7gKp196vccEIL1Lqn9Sb-jMV6lSwOf8Ww2oClx7HlPv25hoiKrk5OchJ3IP2cK9bc24zFlZ1S3UGukKd90ja1RjAWeSd2l8dviCDS7FtSKA0Q/s320/IMG_20140531_204233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L & D late night Foam Glo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFMYQspb2E6vpy_Z3eYMrAaM44vOkRLD40n6K8ysYakSiFyJRRhMV44H2JYNSaOO0jV3VMgXMQIrh08pob8l44Ng2IK56fHlpRIWtzcr6kiVG0ftZicPkiBkojYGDAWM9_2YFf6_YdCw/s1600/IMG_20140601_220600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFMYQspb2E6vpy_Z3eYMrAaM44vOkRLD40n6K8ysYakSiFyJRRhMV44H2JYNSaOO0jV3VMgXMQIrh08pob8l44Ng2IK56fHlpRIWtzcr6kiVG0ftZicPkiBkojYGDAWM9_2YFf6_YdCw/s320/IMG_20140601_220600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It seemed like a good idea at the time. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bubble Runs are my favorite because they make you feel a little better when your liver is trying to escape your body and your tongue has already fallen out:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8AYo_iQTXtERE7Oy6Iz_hGJuGZIl5nqKQvO_ly6ptCx-1kPwzJVcupAz_OrgHCjKxQ9bwaMTMOLcVLHxKaUpwejo84vtIceidQjW7VEaTbI2xv5020Xk-BQd2GRN4-N-JbD-N_XmYjE/s1600/1505079_race_0.5158529157164177.display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8AYo_iQTXtERE7Oy6Iz_hGJuGZIl5nqKQvO_ly6ptCx-1kPwzJVcupAz_OrgHCjKxQ9bwaMTMOLcVLHxKaUpwejo84vtIceidQjW7VEaTbI2xv5020Xk-BQd2GRN4-N-JbD-N_XmYjE/s320/1505079_race_0.5158529157164177.display.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQu_1jLw4A_v1L9od1P4MzEMQFQ8aEH18oWzsa8YJz-Mw_SYgRYwyRiMnP_DZSygJ4kPJwqAC1U40XshQPf5Mx6mlBk4GSoxMdBORq_IFrjFBbK68U-EUBKw9IeDYt1jmG_lx3IynP6bE/s1600/1511300_race_0.9417509232083005.display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQu_1jLw4A_v1L9od1P4MzEMQFQ8aEH18oWzsa8YJz-Mw_SYgRYwyRiMnP_DZSygJ4kPJwqAC1U40XshQPf5Mx6mlBk4GSoxMdBORq_IFrjFBbK68U-EUBKw9IeDYt1jmG_lx3IynP6bE/s320/1511300_race_0.9417509232083005.display.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5HCdQj2xsEgKn17IF8yyQiV7keQ1aslE0KSkkKElt9Lgg5loSsQFs16HHHCJlIceEveRUKLdiO-l8By9_acMeLNGeidvw6jsd1q1ygOk-UaCzg95hyphenhyphen8k1XxXex2C3XNiBLHiX72u4ZU/s1600/IMG_20140329_082422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5HCdQj2xsEgKn17IF8yyQiV7keQ1aslE0KSkkKElt9Lgg5loSsQFs16HHHCJlIceEveRUKLdiO-l8By9_acMeLNGeidvw6jsd1q1ygOk-UaCzg95hyphenhyphen8k1XxXex2C3XNiBLHiX72u4ZU/s320/IMG_20140329_082422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDGKZ__3E75mBoImfbenWDBTTC8PHKBSzPexa7anZn7kz8su4V-xi8nKXzKG1ONzex58rFLnursejGctlUbY5_4q42X6K7ATSHE4btc9oD74IZD2wJTka1vqcctei-emuNSE9e29Kbn0/s1600/IMG_20140329_082617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDGKZ__3E75mBoImfbenWDBTTC8PHKBSzPexa7anZn7kz8su4V-xi8nKXzKG1ONzex58rFLnursejGctlUbY5_4q42X6K7ATSHE4btc9oD74IZD2wJTka1vqcctei-emuNSE9e29Kbn0/s320/IMG_20140329_082617.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheZEOPkGmHBJOfGlrX-94zrH9lBaHjhKTPNO1xfCe362irZZoC8jc2Z0xkgH03PO3OIzqK6DO_mnwaLRR3tpW8KtX-1xPc7tFmM7sv2zCQE2oDaOomcT-zIH7y2jXWnKmO6WXLU4tU1o/s1600/IMG_20140329_090823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheZEOPkGmHBJOfGlrX-94zrH9lBaHjhKTPNO1xfCe362irZZoC8jc2Z0xkgH03PO3OIzqK6DO_mnwaLRR3tpW8KtX-1xPc7tFmM7sv2zCQE2oDaOomcT-zIH7y2jXWnKmO6WXLU4tU1o/s320/IMG_20140329_090823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0l6ldgHu7fbrpZFQQToKm9duw_uKhXCvHrpFra0R7nATIdGZZp81aK2NWXn4UV3a0_K5ImGPRDWjpQ1hXYxxNJ1o1V5zmHflguLxM7j5TT6FYYy0uEz8kjNlkF4WLPxsD87_gykxg48/s1600/IMG_20140329_090923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0l6ldgHu7fbrpZFQQToKm9duw_uKhXCvHrpFra0R7nATIdGZZp81aK2NWXn4UV3a0_K5ImGPRDWjpQ1hXYxxNJ1o1V5zmHflguLxM7j5TT6FYYy0uEz8kjNlkF4WLPxsD87_gykxg48/s320/IMG_20140329_090923.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, we DO actually run these things!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbofGExwd9ssM4lfvgyayfp7UpmL3GNIuAeF2JEmFjzAuTikueXQ9hi9LoTNNucgZRqWH_p4gI_9WVeYgCq1-qtRUoYZ2fW5sPWSDGBu6u_j8EkndiKcpQxky5KXXOYeaRsToAmCMzhiU/s1600/IMG_20140329_094839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbofGExwd9ssM4lfvgyayfp7UpmL3GNIuAeF2JEmFjzAuTikueXQ9hi9LoTNNucgZRqWH_p4gI_9WVeYgCq1-qtRUoYZ2fW5sPWSDGBu6u_j8EkndiKcpQxky5KXXOYeaRsToAmCMzhiU/s320/IMG_20140329_094839.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcTmEw6rN-IMwOR9wy0BIspso_QbAl6HNa1w0y5wI3dN3tD320U2WyaL5zKTKIQxzKv5XTliCAjVT2tkW9vNLIC1lB0DiZ0S31Fkv-sFYv-FNkWiK_Ph_2ylKHjA3P56W73awj4VsUKY/s1600/IMG_20140329_095729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcTmEw6rN-IMwOR9wy0BIspso_QbAl6HNa1w0y5wI3dN3tD320U2WyaL5zKTKIQxzKv5XTliCAjVT2tkW9vNLIC1lB0DiZ0S31Fkv-sFYv-FNkWiK_Ph_2ylKHjA3P56W73awj4VsUKY/s320/IMG_20140329_095729.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bam sneetches! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So yeah. I mostly need this as proof that I can finish a normal 5K because I just signed D and I up for the Rugged Maniac 5K which is a 5K with crazy obstacles, including running over fire, some trampoline shennanigans, cargo nets, a warped wall, army crawls, carrying 25-50 lb sand bags, etc. All kinds of things that I apparently have decided that I can do. I have no idea why. And since I'm nuts I convinced my twin to run it with us and managed to rope my big bro into it as well. Our team name? OVERCONFIDENT. Because let's face it, that's kind of what I am going into this. Mid-July, KC humidity, running. BRING. IT. ON. L hates it because I have been running more and make him go with me. </div>
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We will see how it goes. If you don't know me that well, here are my perfect workout shirts: </div>
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Simply put: I lovehate working out. I have never really liked running. But I once got to a point where I didn't loathe it and I consider that some serious progress. I think running is like kale. No one really likes it but certain people say they do. I don't believe you but OKAY. </div>
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Anyway we shall see how it goes. Happy 10 year babe, let's die a horrible ugly death together!</div>
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A Time I Had</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-2485531284351351722016-04-17T06:47:00.000-07:002016-04-17T06:48:02.977-07:00Happy Number 7!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So like all parents I have no idea where the time has gone and how the hell my tiny little could possibly be 7 years old but somehow it has happened and I could not be more proud of this little dude if I tried. I could go on a adjective ridden paragraph describing all the things he is but that seems cliche. But like always, if you don't care to read on overly braggy post about my child, I suggest you get back to your facebook stalking or your reddit reading and skip this particular post about my awesome SEVEN YEAR OLD! </div>
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The last year he has amazed me time and time again. A little before his 6th birthday we found out we would be moving again. He had to leave a school he was used to, a TKD studio he had been a part of for almost 2 years, his best friend he had since he was 2 years old and basically everything familiar to him. And he made the transition flawlessly. He started a new school where his first grade teacher informed us after two weeks of having him in class that she thought he might do better if we were to bump him up a grade. This was not an easy decision and after a lot of thought, a lot of advice, and a lot of time he became a second grader. He resisted at first simply because he had started to make first grade friends but after a few days he was comfortable. He quickly excelled and informed us that he liked second grade better because the work wasn't as boring. His teacher loves him (though she has told me he can be kind of a devious little trouble maker with his group of friends... which I don't mind because it means he's being a kid!) He's received awards for honor roll for every report card as well and he's in an after school math club. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L receiving his school awards (it was Halloween!) </td></tr>
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As far as school is concerned he was able to join the GEMINI program which is the districts elementary school gifted program. He is currently the only one in his school that is in it which means he gets an hour of one on one time twice a week with their coordinator and that is incredible for him this year. They are doing a space unit which he is LOVING and his gifted teacher told him that if he wanted help with learning different kinds of math that he would help out. They started that this week. </div>
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Outside of school he's been playing soccer and baseball and loves both. He's a great team player though he has started his loud smack talking game. We may have to tone that down a little bit. But we have seen him at practice and he does try and help out his other team mates. I don't know what he's telling them but he's definitely <i>trying </i> to help! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First baseball practice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to the first soccer game</td></tr>
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He loves:<br />
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*Math. This kid does math problems in his head (and out loud) at the meal table, standing in line, basically any time he is bored. It's weird to me. He must be D's kid. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Math bowl champ at Challenger last year. </td></tr>
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*Greek mythology. When his best friend came our for a visit they played "Demigods." He made a map and they shot monsters (the chimera, medusa, sirens, the minotaur, etc). </div>
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*Reading. At the beginning of the year he made a goal to read 100 books this year. He is well on his way. Right now he has maybe one more book to go before finishing the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. If he's not doing math for fun, he's probably reading.<br />
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*Still digs legos and quite frequently ends up making fun creations for his little sister. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building the Lego death star he saved up for with bday,<br />
xmas money and allowance</td></tr>
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*Drawing. Some of the most awesome drawings have come out of this kid. He may not be a brilliant in depth artist but his battle scenes and maps are fun to look at. </div>
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*Videogames. Mostly because he's a little boy and he's our kid. I think this one pretty much goes without saying. His only problem is that when he plays with friends who aren't gamers, he ends up frustrated or wanting to do it for them. Thus the curse of the avid gamer. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76sRXTea6w87PSr9DAI-v7A_ac7xEuFSvpDiOxgFL8glTwIimy90UiwC-xpEtT-PwNR97DoJlNe2QAVnxCK1XvDC8RhW2Hu6YPVFI24eHx4INAnV9Bu1LmeVlZddgSJHNOWNgXq85G8c/s1600/IMG_20160226_184129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76sRXTea6w87PSr9DAI-v7A_ac7xEuFSvpDiOxgFL8glTwIimy90UiwC-xpEtT-PwNR97DoJlNe2QAVnxCK1XvDC8RhW2Hu6YPVFI24eHx4INAnV9Bu1LmeVlZddgSJHNOWNgXq85G8c/s320/IMG_20160226_184129.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice friendly round of Duck Game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
*Tabletop gaming. We quite frequently have family game night/afternoon/morning/we are awake time. He picks things up pretty fast and is therefore able to play a lot of games that are geared at a much older audience. He loves Star Realms, Small World, and King of Tokyo just to name a few. He's been begging us to teach him Pandemic. I'm not ready for that yet.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1X3E_svnZOFe7wEY5cnKlVutPReGR9CF6PJddwp3Q5ZD_tK3C3ej7DSIFnyElNpbZ85glvdSpvNtSWQ0JHL8v4pSHam1A6FHgSmYX4z9aAvqF8N15r_Xcn8TFg0fXGUgnWh4YG4sYiLU/s1600/IMG_20160226_141901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1X3E_svnZOFe7wEY5cnKlVutPReGR9CF6PJddwp3Q5ZD_tK3C3ej7DSIFnyElNpbZ85glvdSpvNtSWQ0JHL8v4pSHam1A6FHgSmYX4z9aAvqF8N15r_Xcn8TFg0fXGUgnWh4YG4sYiLU/s320/IMG_20160226_141901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small World shenanigans. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
*Outside. All his jeans have holes in them. His bike is wearing down. He has scrapes, bruises, cuts, gashes and scars. He love to play outside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DeOvbCG5_-xUZ2EkE3vIo2oB5JgnN4ZNR6alFSVSyEA3Ugr1h2cZkV0yslLqSBjwlDQjRdPEbKHETzxFE9hlIxmxEtLS5hxIngNB4aklMz_nmW4xOR_69lTY6AD95BhDVFEbhHjPG3Q/s1600/IMG_20150524_121710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DeOvbCG5_-xUZ2EkE3vIo2oB5JgnN4ZNR6alFSVSyEA3Ugr1h2cZkV0yslLqSBjwlDQjRdPEbKHETzxFE9hlIxmxEtLS5hxIngNB4aklMz_nmW4xOR_69lTY6AD95BhDVFEbhHjPG3Q/s320/IMG_20150524_121710.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking with Aunt Jackie last May</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5H2Z9n3klAmS8wLP2RBA7vHi7Mszbgpz5Yya-Mhl7MKy7wAwTr-Zrrp9YkSEKzyYzRduxgcQkDKn-6QWSMYZMurZew_6WkaqDAuqd0nb3dJfYOlwGTxmWqT4U1MtYz9SV4kbIEzV-Wc/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5H2Z9n3klAmS8wLP2RBA7vHi7Mszbgpz5Yya-Mhl7MKy7wAwTr-Zrrp9YkSEKzyYzRduxgcQkDKn-6QWSMYZMurZew_6WkaqDAuqd0nb3dJfYOlwGTxmWqT4U1MtYz9SV4kbIEzV-Wc/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping Daddy with yard work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kOcBoGuiA5Yg3JH_g89QHwTpDnDYB1WHAJk26FsjsjYbWaLg2_tkc1O2aY8kgliQddjyQOPwXTaNmsHNIvZrg1FoCklDjw4sINTwnVCe_98fHf-I2Li7WM0eiUnSwdGKQGKgL1hLq5I/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kOcBoGuiA5Yg3JH_g89QHwTpDnDYB1WHAJk26FsjsjYbWaLg2_tkc1O2aY8kgliQddjyQOPwXTaNmsHNIvZrg1FoCklDjw4sINTwnVCe_98fHf-I2Li7WM0eiUnSwdGKQGKgL1hLq5I/s320/DSC_0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeAx3zyxb1sd2ZjZn1iwWEPq2qkDJGsvxmvoOSw9wnFW1L1Pstk5NYgTDqhw-WQwpcYMt-kJEmANPrMCN1IvjZbBKnoyDM9BGO_JaAp2qAbEuKsYCE1_fgl5afgaRF1PulZJG_DHeRYc/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeAx3zyxb1sd2ZjZn1iwWEPq2qkDJGsvxmvoOSw9wnFW1L1Pstk5NYgTDqhw-WQwpcYMt-kJEmANPrMCN1IvjZbBKnoyDM9BGO_JaAp2qAbEuKsYCE1_fgl5afgaRF1PulZJG_DHeRYc/s320/DSC_0352.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing "demigods" and shooting Medusa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEEF3wTpqkRzDgMFPB8HI85NsRb8Ty4-R45-DkmN4mk32UsBTeb3HAw7RWomNZ0B0Q6h7ZXuBVFGtKJxPDx9XpfKvInt6j6fn_oPnbi47KDCvpLqYOL3eDDAfqW7duSuTL3UxTW-GZss/s1600/DSC_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEEF3wTpqkRzDgMFPB8HI85NsRb8Ty4-R45-DkmN4mk32UsBTeb3HAw7RWomNZ0B0Q6h7ZXuBVFGtKJxPDx9XpfKvInt6j6fn_oPnbi47KDCvpLqYOL3eDDAfqW7duSuTL3UxTW-GZss/s320/DSC_0396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp out with his best friend from Vegas as an early bday surprise</td></tr>
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*His little sister. I know L is a nice, kind person but never do I see it more than when I watch him interact with the tiny girl. He is so sweet and helpful with her and he just loves to love her.<br />
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<br />
I can't sum up this complex little dude in one blog post but he continues to amaze me every day and he is always teaching me something. (most of the time it's math or greek mythology stuff I have since forgotten!)<br />
<br />
I have no idea where I would be without this kid. He's my original tiny sidekick and he's so fun to hang out with. Through all his accomplishments and everything else, sometimes it's hard to remember that he's still so little. Except that he's not. He's 7 now. Which I guess is still little but it happened so fast. Now if anyone would like to give us something that prevents his jeans from getting holes in them for his birthday, that would be great.<br />
<br />
Happy 7th Birthday to my most favorite little boy in the whole entire world!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: cyan;">Some Times I Had:</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k3CRSoetxxGWuKZhXW9i8t-UwrX3M660GnLGXu67quq2UgQsZ6mageUcDOmIygks9vP6fkHy7mr5HwvSgKC0FgEbYOWTHx19SZHBykSRJhbJre5qvQAG83kcLfZQJ2l5rCegPLC07hw/s1600/10392247_754584030559_7232976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k3CRSoetxxGWuKZhXW9i8t-UwrX3M660GnLGXu67quq2UgQsZ6mageUcDOmIygks9vP6fkHy7mr5HwvSgKC0FgEbYOWTHx19SZHBykSRJhbJre5qvQAG83kcLfZQJ2l5rCegPLC07hw/s320/10392247_754584030559_7232976_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sVdlcfNcgEjfommDMpAbEtR8Q004T32J6QEmdU4401ihUvYXkIYojfB05QcRAcZzkRACob_YdVKvlgFzxd7g001zUDs85wQQTzmkN_O7mi-Lise8f_V-mXP2QOUQPej_JqIBJ5Ptuc4/s1600/47417_864972755669_1447688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sVdlcfNcgEjfommDMpAbEtR8Q004T32J6QEmdU4401ihUvYXkIYojfB05QcRAcZzkRACob_YdVKvlgFzxd7g001zUDs85wQQTzmkN_O7mi-Lise8f_V-mXP2QOUQPej_JqIBJ5Ptuc4/s320/47417_864972755669_1447688_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79qdqoMyJnY4e0UKx2C2_7Kbi3wsd2S9JkHH4LAJ9kMaTuNQqDjiKSJfyt9x6TlZa4JP2AM-1plX92Bboo_PlcjYUhU4qhYR8EEsTTgO-K3FWIUDKrUN47Xet4uCyT3cI2J6Tpk842w/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79qdqoMyJnY4e0UKx2C2_7Kbi3wsd2S9JkHH4LAJ9kMaTuNQqDjiKSJfyt9x6TlZa4JP2AM-1plX92Bboo_PlcjYUhU4qhYR8EEsTTgO-K3FWIUDKrUN47Xet4uCyT3cI2J6Tpk842w/s320/IMG_1035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0FY3YlGOxpDkOXQi7UZfPPBNiOEVYEbLDF2nKfQa34ADf6sLXmLmor7lYnNLCQI4t1ZwSWsMs-RhMCxTgsvOHbV9cK9V1rmPq0vY8mypUfXQBC1go2hvGQ-MEqW_FMN0d1-pqIiJado/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0FY3YlGOxpDkOXQi7UZfPPBNiOEVYEbLDF2nKfQa34ADf6sLXmLmor7lYnNLCQI4t1ZwSWsMs-RhMCxTgsvOHbV9cK9V1rmPq0vY8mypUfXQBC1go2hvGQ-MEqW_FMN0d1-pqIiJado/s320/IMG_0093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2NR0PLj3Z22JWS6YUqLrl2wDCes5YylSKZHWOFTqry889YazZjIXGBljywSoWrLnN1_ANGJHrBxTkvprIjqnOHKOmiAaaPheJVM6Dsc7BVQuquzo01zyOV4XBdDeN0eQ-Wos-PRVq_4/s1600/IMG_20130831_182158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2NR0PLj3Z22JWS6YUqLrl2wDCes5YylSKZHWOFTqry889YazZjIXGBljywSoWrLnN1_ANGJHrBxTkvprIjqnOHKOmiAaaPheJVM6Dsc7BVQuquzo01zyOV4XBdDeN0eQ-Wos-PRVq_4/s320/IMG_20130831_182158.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQJfrzSpqNEc3-u9qYKHmBIx1HsGjgU1aiM1TVLkedl71jGVOAmSBpNGsgUjnpyrwLFDyjj5tQuBBscnUx9YUa_GGeY3mu133iXpvNjVyGspTiMnXzClsgbDCmsGdURh2Cz2s5-bTWz8/s1600/IMG_20140922_161415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQJfrzSpqNEc3-u9qYKHmBIx1HsGjgU1aiM1TVLkedl71jGVOAmSBpNGsgUjnpyrwLFDyjj5tQuBBscnUx9YUa_GGeY3mu133iXpvNjVyGspTiMnXzClsgbDCmsGdURh2Cz2s5-bTWz8/s320/IMG_20140922_161415.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilESPOukystkDdvylx5jGtd0sTsvwJ_GN3HmmTe5oiO-1jG19WcJLvZX_JH8Y-LLJGea3IJlPb6479HN1qwlcLAuOiQaN0zATg_Zt_RvsErzLds_cJhBFBa02V13cfXlz45oSdQo18B-w/s1600/IMG_20150523_095954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilESPOukystkDdvylx5jGtd0sTsvwJ_GN3HmmTe5oiO-1jG19WcJLvZX_JH8Y-LLJGea3IJlPb6479HN1qwlcLAuOiQaN0zATg_Zt_RvsErzLds_cJhBFBa02V13cfXlz45oSdQo18B-w/s320/IMG_20150523_095954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KlVBinRnUgPHWNp6v2a9sPRLgZoi-Awq41K1It_8dQ-5xpc8CL6oB3s8j5gUV_j6rOmZ9axUskIdwSoFWe3FdCl-1yDF1SJQdr9HLRBBFWxZcRb5D-jUG_40AvzHS1cmLxi4ssssSYs/s1600/IMG_20160410_155448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KlVBinRnUgPHWNp6v2a9sPRLgZoi-Awq41K1It_8dQ-5xpc8CL6oB3s8j5gUV_j6rOmZ9axUskIdwSoFWe3FdCl-1yDF1SJQdr9HLRBBFWxZcRb5D-jUG_40AvzHS1cmLxi4ssssSYs/s320/IMG_20160410_155448.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-47881185621405552412016-02-29T08:50:00.000-08:002016-02-29T12:26:55.310-08:00TableTop Tournament<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As many of you know I am a few years sober Pinterest mom. Like I overdid baby parties. My poor second child will never know the extravagance that was a themed to the extreme birthday party. I don't miss the mass amounts of people in my house or the millions of tiny people who seriously broke all our stuff. I do miss the planning a little bit and the fun of it. So I took it down a notch. When D and I were first married I would plan fun little video game tournaments for us. I always got my ass kicked because I love gaming and I suck at it. D is the exact opposite. He loves gaming and he freaking rocks at it. So I took that idea and applied it to a family Table Top Game Tournament. Small boy had the day off from school for a three day weekend and D took a day off from work to spend an extended weekend with us so I figured it was the perfect day for it. Enter TableTop Tournament 2016!</div>
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I started drawing a little bit again when we returned from PAX. I re-imagined us all as little elf people and created gamer profiles for all of us. It was a fun creation process and the family loved them (especially the tiny girl). There were also rules and a competition board to track the winner. </div>
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The very first game in the tournament was Small World. This game takes forever so we started when tiny girl went to "nap." Barring one minor hiccup in forgotten rules, the game was great. And close! Small boy beat me by one point and D beat him by 3 if I remember correctly. So ultimately D won the first game (surprise surprise!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iced coffee, Small World and my two favorite guys!</td></tr>
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D is ruthless. And a really great gamer, video gamer, table top gamer, just in general!<br />
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Soon we released the Bug from her "nap" and she joined us for a round of King of Tokyo. We included her in the games (one of the rules) but her turns didn't actually count toward game play. Some day little Bug, some day! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40T1lvQDKLJBegD98yK9UOehPfgB0DMpJhg-oDruzR1L6IKhyzyGB0Ud6N-PYQntIfQEgc6a6Dz7R5FmJnV-0YOUS5ft2MXMF_sl8pXjwkx_FA7cQymSmZxAv28RTtaVMeJuGYin1HeQ/s1600/IMG_20160226_164648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40T1lvQDKLJBegD98yK9UOehPfgB0DMpJhg-oDruzR1L6IKhyzyGB0Ud6N-PYQntIfQEgc6a6Dz7R5FmJnV-0YOUS5ft2MXMF_sl8pXjwkx_FA7cQymSmZxAv28RTtaVMeJuGYin1HeQ/s320/IMG_20160226_164648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who shall be the King of Tokyo?!</td></tr>
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Bug loved being included. Rolling dice is one of her most favorite things in the whole wide world. She's a lovely addition as "Player 4" to our little family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJi97uiGPoo9IJ0P8SbqnPA655DExDR9WsxCCUjubXjs8wsffFJlfXpwbiy6xuE2n0-bkyGyU-uN7SrSxE9PAI-lcUSYv6zZSZy7xQa3NAl5vIk7QFa7sBUWx_uajOWA69Rd5NRH3fbw/s1600/IMG_20160226_165416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJi97uiGPoo9IJ0P8SbqnPA655DExDR9WsxCCUjubXjs8wsffFJlfXpwbiy6xuE2n0-bkyGyU-uN7SrSxE9PAI-lcUSYv6zZSZy7xQa3NAl5vIk7QFa7sBUWx_uajOWA69Rd5NRH3fbw/s320/IMG_20160226_165416.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concentration wins!</td></tr>
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Somehow I busted out an unreasonably quick win in this game. I rolled like a BOSS and racked up 20 points pretty fast. This is the opposite of how I usually play this game. My typical strategy is just to attempt to murder my opponents as fast as I can to win. But the rolls of 3 were ever in my favor so I went with it and stayed on Tokyo while my competition tried to kill me. Small Boy came close but I was able to purchase the "Stretchy" card and it helped me achieve a most glorious victory!<br />
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Oh and did I mention that Tiny Girl won too? She declared "I WIN!" so we gave her the win. Well done, little one.<br />
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Next up was Catan Junior. This is Small Boy's jam. I have no idea how he does it but his kid wins this game 90% of the time. He doesn't seem to have any one set strategy which I think it actually his ultimate strategy! He's erratic and brilliant! </div>
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Unfortunately for Small Boy, this was the rare 10% of the time he didn't win. I seriously sat there wondering if I should let him win. Then decided against it because honestly, that's not the way D and I parent. And Small Boy is ruthless and learns things unreasonably fast and gets good at them even faster. So if I can get a win, I'll take it! There was no hard feelings.<br />
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Bug also declared "I WIN" so she won. (She's only 2. She won't always win!)<br />
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Eventually it got late and siblings will be siblings. Before starting our next game, we had a break for dinner and some outfit changes (jammies FTW). And of course, sibling brawl. It was a draw.<br />
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I forgot to mention that there was an intermission between each tabletop game in which we played "Duck Game" on steam. If you have not played this with your family or friends, drop what you are doing, get it and play because it is the most hilarious and fun game I've played in a while. D usually wins but the rest of us don't even care because we laugh so hard playing that it's worth it. And every once in a while we get a good shot of D blows himself up somehow and we win!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">intentional video game faces. </td></tr>
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Our next game was Oh My Gods (which you will remember from a previous post, we purchased at PAX and is what got Small Boy into Greek Mythology) Best 2 of 3 games was the plan....mostly because I won the first game.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">The second game was won by D (mostly because I wasn't paying attention and missed a card that Small Boy had put down. The third game was won by Small Boy after D made an incorrect guess because he missed a card that Small Boy put down. I believe L's strategy for this game is to just be so insane and wacky that we miss what he does. On our last game we didn't finish. It was way past bedtime (Bug had already gone to sleep) and the boy was exhausted.</span></div>
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This is also not the best game for him because he likes to tell us what he's doing which helps us win. It ended with him very upset and tired. So we ended there and so I was, by default, declared the overall winner. Who knew?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I WIN!"</td></tr>
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So I was able to obtain the ultimate Table Top prize package. This included the ability to choose a new tabletop game for the family (under $50). I chose Pandemic and also Sushi Go because they were way under $50 and I wanted Pandemic but also a game L would be able to learn and be good at right away. I also got a fun lanyard that declared me winner and three "overpowered game passes" which allow me to make my family game with me as long as nothing important is happening and time allows. Not that that will ever be an issue. These passes would probably have benefited Small Boy much more than they will me. Maybe I will gift them to him for his birthday!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winner winner chicken dinner!</td></tr>
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Overall, it was a great day and full of fun. I love that I have a small family that I can be nerdy with and have that much fun! It's kind of amazing. This will not be our last game tournament. Maybe someday we will be able to expand it to include another family. Now if only a certain family of 3 would be closer (I'm looking at you MillerStrong clan!) So, readers of mine, I encourage you to game more. We played Small World, King of Tokyo, Catan Junior and Oh My Gods (Star Realms would have been the tie breaker). They are all super fun and an almost 7 year old was able to play and do very well playing each game (Star Realms included even though we didn't play this time). So if you were looking for a new game, check out any of those and you won't be disappointed!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-65880614346202952492016-02-24T12:56:00.000-08:002016-02-24T12:56:14.927-08:00You Can't Sit With Us I will admit that I was probably as dramatic as any teenager when I went through high school. Self centered, oblivious, a tad bit rude and melodramatic. It seems to be a common thing. And why wouldn't it be? Hormones, hormones, hormones, trying to figure out the world, OH THE HUMANITY! Luckily that doesn't last forever... at least for some people.<br />
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I love the way I used to view adults. They have things figured out. They are mature and not like any of the above things I described teens as being. Now that I am officially labeled an adult I see that you cannot escape these things. I may be out of high school but I have yet to get away from the drama. In fact, I don't even remember high school being this dramatic and I think I know why. In high school, it's pretty easy to fit people into general categories. You've got all your pronounced stereotypes and they usually stick together. I happened to be in the "yearbook nerd, friendly, by no means popular, maybe you want to stay away" crowd (if that's a thing). Luckily I wasn't "popular" which I believe reduced my drama intake significantly. Once you leave that social setting, get past college and out into the "real world," you no longer have those pronounced groups. They are all jumbled together in a great big mess of "choose your friends wisely because 50% of the population is batshit crazy in a bad way."<br />
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I have encountered my fair share of absolute insane people who I will never understand. Their actions left me speechless, their personalities and words made me sad for the human race. After accepting that there are people who are so incredibly ugly on the inside, I was also able to move on and not be so invested in those who are quite obviously toxic. After all, I have two little spawn who depend on my for everything. Why waste my time with people who are still self-centered jackholes? It's too exhausting.<br />
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With all that said, I find that parents are sometimes the worst kind of crazy. Fairly recently I found myself in a situation where I thought to myself "is this really happening right now?" One of my biggest pet peeves is people bragging about how they are bad parents. OK, sometimes I joke that I'm a terrible mom because my kids watched too much TV or they are eating candy or trying some death defying move (that I have previously supervised and know they are capable of). But I was with some moms who were bragging to me that they curse in front of their children all the time and how it's so bad and they don't even care. Look, what you do as a parent is really none of my business and I am not here to judge you. Parenting is hard and you are going to repeatedly screw up. But when you call your kid over to tell me in front of my two year old who is learning her entire vocabulary at the moment that you curse all the time and then you reply with "F*** yeah I do," that's off putting to me. It just is. I have no issue with a potty mouth. I have a hard time not being one when I am away from my kids. But for now, I don't want my children choosing those words. (Ok I'm not perfect. When tiny girl says millennium falcon it's like she's dropping the F bomb and I giggle). But to hear a toddler or elementary school kid choose those particular words and mean them because of what they have heard at home just isn't my cup of tea. When I voiced this I was made fun of. My family is "too white" to "be bad." I'm so sweet and don't like to have fun.<br />
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I have to be honest. If these things had been said a few years ago I may have second guessed what I was doing and played along with them to the detriment of my children. But these small people are my whole world and I don't care if these ladies are my BFFS. I have a BFF. I married him. I'm OK if you don't agree with me and I don't agree with you. I'm totally fine if you think I'm lame for not spouting all the bad words I know in front of my very intelligent son who has amazing grammar and my sweet little daughter who can't properly pronounce "falcon" or "reflection." Because at the end of the day the majority of my time is spent with three very important people and they are really the only opinions who will always matter to me on things like this. And in 10 years, the chances that I even remember these people and their ridicule are very slim. </div>
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So I guess the point of this post was just for me to ramble about the crazy "adults" I've met and the progress I've made in not needing to "fit in." Five gold stars and a self pat on the back. Woohoo. </div>
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Oh and because I rarely post on facebook anymore and I'm sure there is some family who are craving some pictures, I give you these gems:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L would be the laziest dog ever. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuteness survival tactics<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6CL62vS-glYuw2rFI7pU61zx5Z5TgAHtwZAVZYDDtSWF7SozOFNVjT6sMEV1bBcwfQnhKTFihyphenhyphenf1gD1YYfAw2Q3O2mMqH9K1a2oacD7v0ssM2M9dTb6yV1BeUTE0IlreWHLgiA-7QJI/s1600/IMG_20160203_193651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6CL62vS-glYuw2rFI7pU61zx5Z5TgAHtwZAVZYDDtSWF7SozOFNVjT6sMEV1bBcwfQnhKTFihyphenhyphenf1gD1YYfAw2Q3O2mMqH9K1a2oacD7v0ssM2M9dTb6yV1BeUTE0IlreWHLgiA-7QJI/s320/IMG_20160203_193651.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small boy getting into drawing when I <br />was doodling in my sketch book</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_izq0krcm82HbJx_QLXmtHKrIIw-EMtK_4HBad-xeZP584HAE8MKJ_KGAP1kyuGlTlVZ1oVA6msH1t300X52z1AvkStKMIztx8KPE6s_gAb98mElSK4oMpZLwf_ZgWa0eNACnxl4mwCM/s1600/IMG_20160206_131220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_izq0krcm82HbJx_QLXmtHKrIIw-EMtK_4HBad-xeZP584HAE8MKJ_KGAP1kyuGlTlVZ1oVA6msH1t300X52z1AvkStKMIztx8KPE6s_gAb98mElSK4oMpZLwf_ZgWa0eNACnxl4mwCM/s320/IMG_20160206_131220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family video gaming<br /></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-53610073760267626282016-02-16T07:36:00.001-08:002016-02-16T07:36:51.145-08:00Oh My Gods!How do I even start this post? I don't know so I'll just dive in. We were sitting at the breakfast table yesterday when D looks at me and says "So small boy is getting to that age where we should probably start discussing religion with him." A little background here. D and I both label ourselves agnostic. We are good people who respect other people's beliefs whatever they are even if we don't always agree. I don't feel you have to believe in a higher power to be guided by a deep moral code and be a good person.<br />
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Now something you should understand is this: pretty much everyone we are going to meet traveling around in D's career field is probably going to be religious. The degree various from laid back, drink your body weight in booze Catholics to end of times, the Lord is coming for us all some sort of Christian (I'm not real clear on the exact title for that). We feel it's a good idea to let Link learn about whatever religions he wants and for both of our kids to choose whatever path, if any, that they want to take regarding faith and belief. We just don't subscribe to organized religion as parents but are more than open to helping our children figure out what they believe and understand the beliefs of the people they will encounter.<br />
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So with all that said, when small boy was about 5 I had a discussion with him about why he shouldn't say "Oh my God." Then of course I had to explain God to him. I am maybe not the best teacher for that but I gave him the general idea about God creating everything, etc. At the end of my explanation he came back with "Mommy, that's not even real. There's no way that could happen." Always the scientific mind he was having none of it. So I reserved any further explanation for a time when he was older.<br />
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Flash forward to this past weekend. D and I did our very best to give him a rough overview of religion, how there are many different ones, a general idea of an all powerful god, sin, church, etc. I think it's a good idea for him to at least understand what his friends are doing when they say they go to church. Well, like I said before, a couple of agnostics might not be the most worthy teachers of religion because somewhere along the way we ended up talking about Greek mythology and all their gods and Link seemed much more interested in that and whether or not there was a god of lava and volcanoes than he was in learning more about any religion his friends or family may have. We told him that he was more than welcome to ask us anything or learn more about religion. I am sure our friends wouldn't mind sharing with him or even letting him tag along to church.<br />
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Our conversation ended, however, with him wanting to check out books at the library about Greek mythology and, ultimately, with the whole family playing a game we purchased while at PAX called Oh My Gods! reminiscent of a Guess Who type game featuring Greek gods. I suppose we worship the gaming gods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J9fxTQ8-ZWKnVxeoTcr5h8vnL5XTJlJ0trzRSPhJz9BoamISDtveZZ_xunDLPRzE0Szg70Bw4fl6mTjfkCuwJpRrGcMSTXm3o8Bobt3X-37OJdD5KotwJX7R_SFuzgZ7XQ5GGdE9KKQ/s1600/IMG_20151129_154954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J9fxTQ8-ZWKnVxeoTcr5h8vnL5XTJlJ0trzRSPhJz9BoamISDtveZZ_xunDLPRzE0Szg70Bw4fl6mTjfkCuwJpRrGcMSTXm3o8Bobt3X-37OJdD5KotwJX7R_SFuzgZ7XQ5GGdE9KKQ/s320/IMG_20151129_154954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All hail the gaming gods!</td></tr>
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Now this post is not to poopoo on religion and if that's what you got from it you are reading the WRONG blog. But more to point out the way small boys mind works. He likes science and proof. He likes games. He likes volcanoes and he likes learning. This particular interest just happened to take a turn into learning about mythology and a new game. I'm sure at some point he will be interested in what his friends believe. But for now he's still only 6!<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-67313611851456392862016-02-04T17:38:00.000-08:002016-02-04T17:38:06.086-08:00Back to Our Roots<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to PAX South. It was awesome. I kept trying to think of a way to start this post. There really was no other adequate way to start! </div>
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D and I left the kids with his mom and sister and made the 9ish hour drive down to San Antonio to attend a three day all-out "nerd convention." Most people may think a comic-con is our jam but we are more into gaming so PAX was perfect for us.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEcVIiOGarG1rnTxmN-gO5A1nvHnSyzvc4-8OJQQt5kR8kc1q4wAM_SY7KNi9k516RHhzTFW8f_FiHqeF-bz6VmtvmOj9wbivWn1xy-6yMt5o8idzoPWby2B01COxaoL_hu32w6qAIck/s1600/IMG_20160131_133123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEcVIiOGarG1rnTxmN-gO5A1nvHnSyzvc4-8OJQQt5kR8kc1q4wAM_SY7KNi9k516RHhzTFW8f_FiHqeF-bz6VmtvmOj9wbivWn1xy-6yMt5o8idzoPWby2B01COxaoL_hu32w6qAIck/s320/IMG_20160131_133123.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS IS MY JAM!!</td></tr>
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We started every day with early rising, showers (very important in a large crowd), free breakfast, a one mile-ish walk, coffee and then waiting in the queue room with a few thousand of our closest friends for about two hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVkVbGioNr1LqZ7RyXuUqXnIgPhdzbl3xmeXLryPINc2uCicw44Kz7zgn0RlEaCYFcm9xKi3pRlQ8vNx2dgDG0YxfPjfI1GQKuuCeemYyZUJnpdt4BnIly7MGn6xFb3Rbbg-oA56CO90/s1600/565ea21c-31aa-47ac-bbd2-28f3f8fb9a40.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVkVbGioNr1LqZ7RyXuUqXnIgPhdzbl3xmeXLryPINc2uCicw44Kz7zgn0RlEaCYFcm9xKi3pRlQ8vNx2dgDG0YxfPjfI1GQKuuCeemYyZUJnpdt4BnIly7MGn6xFb3Rbbg-oA56CO90/s320/565ea21c-31aa-47ac-bbd2-28f3f8fb9a40.jpe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The queue room on Day 1 (we were the crazies toward the front)</td></tr>
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I know that sounds crazy but we were armed with a few card games (we liked Star Realms) and our DS's so the wait time went fast. </div>
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I don't feel like explaining the entire thing to those who haven't been but suffice it to say we had a BLAST. Expo hall, new games, indie games, older games we have never had a chance to try but now had the opportunity, PC games, console games, tabletop games, gaming lounges, awesome panels, concerts, swag, the list goes on. And it was amazing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw62vbDYdZcb69WjHSp2Dmg1KG0aHVQYiq3zDRpIjy4sEd3xI5TGfLawOToJFAlzJvDnwj_yjzwar2Az4cit2dVbdtQGrk1CQsSk0ZOWLtIeySEV-Ind8ZW7Zp8cR8g0owjidC6pzdOs/s1600/IMG_20160131_112738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw62vbDYdZcb69WjHSp2Dmg1KG0aHVQYiq3zDRpIjy4sEd3xI5TGfLawOToJFAlzJvDnwj_yjzwar2Az4cit2dVbdtQGrk1CQsSk0ZOWLtIeySEV-Ind8ZW7Zp8cR8g0owjidC6pzdOs/s320/IMG_20160131_112738.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try ALL THE THINGS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dM6jdTwe36xhW4WkklEnWBoh03OZnPa36wtTuW8YQeYTWrGuZtYrk7QGahZrKcGO3DD3RWahVsKBECf9SHP3lkq3NLMGh-I7PsoRjVK5HsoUc_6n4HXNlF0xScEOWBM3e5CcmjhiNLg/s1600/IMG_20160130_142607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dM6jdTwe36xhW4WkklEnWBoh03OZnPa36wtTuW8YQeYTWrGuZtYrk7QGahZrKcGO3DD3RWahVsKBECf9SHP3lkq3NLMGh-I7PsoRjVK5HsoUc_6n4HXNlF0xScEOWBM3e5CcmjhiNLg/s320/IMG_20160130_142607.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALL THINGS. </td></tr>
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D kicked my ass at all the things. I have always said I love gaming but I suck at it. I am OK with this. It was super fun. Among some of the games we tried in the EXPO hall we have backed Invisigun and Karmaka on Kickstarter and you should too because they are fun :-) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8pxJ67HOMmhQppJoTc0oMgRnbMIGOy0bQ6KM02O_CrRgU8jpe2r2DydksbjhY0CsKFdjShenHvwnMYCFlWiY2jSqkYQzoCxRMVyoZSmh4GINgp1lGqVV8FPrcNuBzEmg12987fSXBsw/s1600/IMG_20160131_103948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8pxJ67HOMmhQppJoTc0oMgRnbMIGOy0bQ6KM02O_CrRgU8jpe2r2DydksbjhY0CsKFdjShenHvwnMYCFlWiY2jSqkYQzoCxRMVyoZSmh4GINgp1lGqVV8FPrcNuBzEmg12987fSXBsw/s320/IMG_20160131_103948.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karmaka demo</td></tr>
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The one bummer thing was that some friends of ours were unable to attend due to various life hiccups. So, to include them I made them into "paper people" and they attended with us in spirit. Here's a few of their adventures:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLMGIuaPDOSt8DVj7aMWPgN4Ygqedx0sS5NBaa00fYgvlxuTm0WCFlGCOwbGSck-rCABzC5ynWDyjzTdczsBIcQBOGSIM05pO9PgrSF0-MH1Cj6mzt8ywrRBd2qhfBXBMgVAFV1WR7uY/s1600/IMG_20160128_093615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLMGIuaPDOSt8DVj7aMWPgN4Ygqedx0sS5NBaa00fYgvlxuTm0WCFlGCOwbGSck-rCABzC5ynWDyjzTdczsBIcQBOGSIM05pO9PgrSF0-MH1Cj6mzt8ywrRBd2qhfBXBMgVAFV1WR7uY/s320/IMG_20160128_093615.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadtrip with paper people E and S</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7t44eHHkmx5UxXqS8cb8eCuHohosZ6nBXJV7wY8yEAZKqqLQtwGG1dId6Tk6MPCthxxbJ0d3N6SyImuppzNIXZHh505sWGLdDyKAXfa3-Z02sUj8T5TYNDB0kRF3327zMZMyabR_ESI/s1600/IMG_20160129_080926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7t44eHHkmx5UxXqS8cb8eCuHohosZ6nBXJV7wY8yEAZKqqLQtwGG1dId6Tk6MPCthxxbJ0d3N6SyImuppzNIXZHh505sWGLdDyKAXfa3-Z02sUj8T5TYNDB0kRF3327zMZMyabR_ESI/s320/IMG_20160129_080926.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in the queue room with PP (paper people) E and S</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1Ghr8r0SQ0g7RxFWGMOuCZ34Nif8A8YHKBNatDm1tYzlUAKnEM7Sqk0l0C1xWVWoxHgBnRD57fPB1Ek5QNUtRoLgNExP0BzLkGbiT7scSrRtVeMyDtyNTNJZoyCy9zDRxwZc5MXndtk/s1600/IMG_20160129_172005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1Ghr8r0SQ0g7RxFWGMOuCZ34Nif8A8YHKBNatDm1tYzlUAKnEM7Sqk0l0C1xWVWoxHgBnRD57fPB1Ek5QNUtRoLgNExP0BzLkGbiT7scSrRtVeMyDtyNTNJZoyCy9zDRxwZc5MXndtk/s320/IMG_20160129_172005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with D in the handheld lounge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhw6J2rqGxR0oAT_FijcWUycSrMJmsJcdku_1AeFANOWRNOMHA7Dl9SrS7jAwfrRsQf6NZTJyfpCV2nRIOi_vEFaDWGmVzvv5gzZkdEc8H1sGJvCX3LQfaJZvZe5RRUwqA8TzhGAu3jc/s1600/IMG_20160129_172527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhw6J2rqGxR0oAT_FijcWUycSrMJmsJcdku_1AeFANOWRNOMHA7Dl9SrS7jAwfrRsQf6NZTJyfpCV2nRIOi_vEFaDWGmVzvv5gzZkdEc8H1sGJvCX3LQfaJZvZe5RRUwqA8TzhGAu3jc/s320/IMG_20160129_172527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group pic overlooking the expo hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tEbvtgNM2YJJ6TCqdT9h82pdPrE98rXmCowZKDmRqgu8Ha2FKVSFW2sV7L10bPK3AjhiPcJSvHqS-SfkgvrXPwN_416_ofWutJCMDegxALCiyEt-E_WfNxBk9oAtwsuHnZ884hQdrn4/s1600/IMG_20160129_174936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tEbvtgNM2YJJ6TCqdT9h82pdPrE98rXmCowZKDmRqgu8Ha2FKVSFW2sV7L10bPK3AjhiPcJSvHqS-SfkgvrXPwN_416_ofWutJCMDegxALCiyEt-E_WfNxBk9oAtwsuHnZ884hQdrn4/s320/IMG_20160129_174936.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta get a pic with a cosplayer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn9yiQXVf6MxUvi6_h7fHLirR6CWHr84COpl-kwuxOlaVOdHVPl__Yq3iOgcFZvChTayfvfrUkxbzTo4l0DEByzXZpEB4Nw1qdo3MFnxA-asjy9cHp-9undXqvkBi0YsAezRjycn5l_0/s1600/IMG_20160131_140533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn9yiQXVf6MxUvi6_h7fHLirR6CWHr84COpl-kwuxOlaVOdHVPl__Yq3iOgcFZvChTayfvfrUkxbzTo4l0DEByzXZpEB4Nw1qdo3MFnxA-asjy9cHp-9undXqvkBi0YsAezRjycn5l_0/s320/IMG_20160131_140533.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to go demo some tabletop games</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjDuLJEGJPVpXizTLGznNePnCEpmpnYuVuvygKC49a6XXgRTbrJeQecc3jKI7UZqCdBOMt7gbKnqg8Fy1sUV9TkYcXRhSjWiEN7hh2Lkgz9WBOEWkxNGiuT1fKeBviKW3xzTjGf6c19g/s1600/IMG_20160131_195817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjDuLJEGJPVpXizTLGznNePnCEpmpnYuVuvygKC49a6XXgRTbrJeQecc3jKI7UZqCdBOMt7gbKnqg8Fy1sUV9TkYcXRhSjWiEN7hh2Lkgz9WBOEWkxNGiuT1fKeBviKW3xzTjGf6c19g/s320/IMG_20160131_195817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reveling in the swag</td></tr>
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The panels were super fun. I really enjoyed the Make A Strip one:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H4P6Y5qNzXSbQus8uRWyAJERQM3HLWq2T7O6-yzz5GidaBg4WSD2as423fGsdBJ0NskCGIQjcLF13MsKVbrvmUtXZq53ZFpZgZEPt_9tuBgkoIjdxppPACDrTXX-09vucKN04eWG8U8/s1600/IMG_20160130_103824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H4P6Y5qNzXSbQus8uRWyAJERQM3HLWq2T7O6-yzz5GidaBg4WSD2as423fGsdBJ0NskCGIQjcLF13MsKVbrvmUtXZq53ZFpZgZEPt_9tuBgkoIjdxppPACDrTXX-09vucKN04eWG8U8/s320/IMG_20160130_103824.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Initial sketch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUoCRVTIuFrlcPRRUlkMEkNK_TYN7UdmUxYoVYTWUiLu9RMyOSo14oQp0ouDtz71ko-Jj0de87QFydY0W2-pvlopcq6Vj5V_-IrO_uFJ10O6HJH5bGlaYFmNqaY3GFk30SLI8f73wzJk/s1600/IMG_20160130_104902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUoCRVTIuFrlcPRRUlkMEkNK_TYN7UdmUxYoVYTWUiLu9RMyOSo14oQp0ouDtz71ko-Jj0de87QFydY0W2-pvlopcq6Vj5V_-IrO_uFJ10O6HJH5bGlaYFmNqaY3GFk30SLI8f73wzJk/s320/IMG_20160130_104902.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZX4Lg_mPgHWL_GF3f2R40eF3BuRJ6pq0KR_YFSiMm5seK7dLxOoQ_e0WVnVqXCXxbDbliehNZZbhV2zOSUY0NrDvkx-V9tQd70ROrE-m7vefIZc1bYt7xFR6aZPatEEwxnKs1ulgKtI/s1600/IMG_20160130_113428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZX4Lg_mPgHWL_GF3f2R40eF3BuRJ6pq0KR_YFSiMm5seK7dLxOoQ_e0WVnVqXCXxbDbliehNZZbhV2zOSUY0NrDvkx-V9tQd70ROrE-m7vefIZc1bYt7xFR6aZPatEEwxnKs1ulgKtI/s320/IMG_20160130_113428.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done</td></tr>
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It was so fun to watch this being created. Mike and Jerry are hilarious (which you obviously know if you have any idea what Penny Arcade is and if you have ever listened to a podcast) and their banter is a treat to listen to. It was really fun to watch the last panel being made. The amount that you can change an expression just by a couple changes to the mouth or eyes is awesome. Mike must have drawn and redrawn the mouth 20-30 times or so. Then he took the audience suggestion to add a cowboy hat to the hotdog fairy. Yeah. It made me want to draw things.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumUxJJpgxOWPB4gQtjLMbXmZPqlyXL0eGW_4lfnml4InTDZhQ4yCqmNzQ1VfI5UwQ_tnPfrmiym0pd6503Pud9ONGCbza7yWBSYXTBSLD4nd6VFJ_FsUMziBezR5S6jGrYK0Cznm9O5M/s1600/IMG_20160130_120035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumUxJJpgxOWPB4gQtjLMbXmZPqlyXL0eGW_4lfnml4InTDZhQ4yCqmNzQ1VfI5UwQ_tnPfrmiym0pd6503Pud9ONGCbza7yWBSYXTBSLD4nd6VFJ_FsUMziBezR5S6jGrYK0Cznm9O5M/s320/IMG_20160130_120035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complete and we watched the whole thing happen. </td></tr>
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We also very much enjoyed the concerts. Nerdy type bands. Ever heard of Paul and Storm? Probably not. They do a great song about how George R. R. Martin needs to write faster. And I have to say, I don't think I have ever been more entertained than I was watching them perform. They were HILARIOUS. There were large bags of ball pit balls involved as well as water bottle chugging, intense amounts of distractions that had my abs hurting I was laughing so hard. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCkNlk4DvGQ1ZLNRhlpKt7gsjIsw9OZv1QAc3YkFJ4yCxVEXxs12iyu1_TdRQLHUCpKchC-YzdwOaeeQcfjGhV6J_a06JaUWll8v3ORXtySdo_I6vAsOtS3CI4PHGEm50jSqgD5eCRjs/s1600/45d1311f-27ac-4c27-99bb-775bd7f27d64.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCkNlk4DvGQ1ZLNRhlpKt7gsjIsw9OZv1QAc3YkFJ4yCxVEXxs12iyu1_TdRQLHUCpKchC-YzdwOaeeQcfjGhV6J_a06JaUWll8v3ORXtySdo_I6vAsOtS3CI4PHGEm50jSqgD5eCRjs/s320/45d1311f-27ac-4c27-99bb-775bd7f27d64.jpe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New song about how George R. R. Martin still isn't writing fast enough</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6dNUuRikeUN37ZQcDVlzluny3pu-tSB19A6ZQ2UHSFCTwv51QPc9TJ4kE8yUDOadqScg4MhBOtDDbiLj-3L3FJzE2ldLw4FxLr82eDdAf5iuFyJaHZ-47XEWjm1QRvt_-Fz_WHU6M5I/s1600/fae2152e-faec-449a-9b49-84b3e1e1266e.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6dNUuRikeUN37ZQcDVlzluny3pu-tSB19A6ZQ2UHSFCTwv51QPc9TJ4kE8yUDOadqScg4MhBOtDDbiLj-3L3FJzE2ldLw4FxLr82eDdAf5iuFyJaHZ-47XEWjm1QRvt_-Fz_WHU6M5I/s320/fae2152e-faec-449a-9b49-84b3e1e1266e.jpe" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talented and HILARIOUS. </td></tr>
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We also caught the Double Clicks who were so adorably awkward I could die. I loved them. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABCvNVkYHNy9BSSBu6LO0-1zWtk-S0JH-xFJBOaG9SuSkydjKSuG1qBSCsQ5RH-jhjiK-Ohc90sRJHpFoJDcwxCHRc-DkTZ1BlmaLKjvzgr2LvCefH-4laAoOZAVfvFuqdD3mW1RQ7Ek/s1600/IMG_20160130_215421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABCvNVkYHNy9BSSBu6LO0-1zWtk-S0JH-xFJBOaG9SuSkydjKSuG1qBSCsQ5RH-jhjiK-Ohc90sRJHpFoJDcwxCHRc-DkTZ1BlmaLKjvzgr2LvCefH-4laAoOZAVfvFuqdD3mW1RQ7Ek/s320/IMG_20160130_215421.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, one of them is wearing a banana costume. And it was amazing. </td></tr>
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Throughout the event they hold the Omegathon. Long story short it's a big ass game tournament, ending with two finalists who compete playing a game. No one knows the final game. This time around it was Goldeneye. Anyone remember playing this on your N-64? The two finalists were "Rugpisser" and "Palpatatertot"and they gave us an amazing competition. One of my favorite parts of being in a crowd like this is there are very few douchebags. When the crowd watches people play all they really want to see is a great competition which means they will root for whoever is losing at the time (mostly, this doesn't count the people who know them personally most of the time). The winner was whoever won 2 of the 3 games. So, 10 kills each round. Each player one a game each and the final game came down to 9-9. It was everything you would want in an Omegathon final. It was amazing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMjixJWQ2nBqtD57S4Ig4CFF7MqYo_3GLSqDMprFXx3duUW5CRwPsToDS9J-0xX30uO4wyhDDIusIi9lT0A7ytIflaHsi4m4Wh_-4pV7VZLcEMp1SjCNmZROEoVG1nDA_iRlFhCnlmZQ/s1600/858e2de5-e0fc-4d22-b4c3-5ffcf9409893.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMjixJWQ2nBqtD57S4Ig4CFF7MqYo_3GLSqDMprFXx3duUW5CRwPsToDS9J-0xX30uO4wyhDDIusIi9lT0A7ytIflaHsi4m4Wh_-4pV7VZLcEMp1SjCNmZROEoVG1nDA_iRlFhCnlmZQ/s320/858e2de5-e0fc-4d22-b4c3-5ffcf9409893.jpe" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super intense. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-7yof2Uks6uz4ZzIrJzVpB5X4P3hoPRIrwpLCcA3BYct1fGjyksdF9YDC_-bBpuLdQ16fDMNJl5sYhW2MXIAsYAvZFOX9wRJFuDy4n17t_04U9HsEj8obo8AW5SMri9nvmltpQbde5s/s1600/b03f4cf8-5889-41f2-ba18-6ed315622049.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-7yof2Uks6uz4ZzIrJzVpB5X4P3hoPRIrwpLCcA3BYct1fGjyksdF9YDC_-bBpuLdQ16fDMNJl5sYhW2MXIAsYAvZFOX9wRJFuDy4n17t_04U9HsEj8obo8AW5SMri9nvmltpQbde5s/s320/b03f4cf8-5889-41f2-ba18-6ed315622049.jpe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palpatatertot wins!</td></tr>
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And now I am back to reality where adults who should be able to handle themselves are throwing temper tantrums. Needless to say, I am having withdrawals. I think we've pretty much already decided we have to go again next year. And it will be glorious. </div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-11443538402785292102016-01-13T08:26:00.002-08:002016-01-13T08:26:54.055-08:00My TribeI normally don't dedicate posts to a specific person (aside from D and my kids) but I have a friend who deserves it. I will start by describing her in all the typical ways that she is: she is strong, kind, creative, caring, compassionate, honest, supportive, resourceful and inspiring. I know she is these things to me as well as everyone she meets.<br />
So why am I writing a post about her? A little while ago I texted her to see if she wanted to do something with me. The idea was simple, text everyday (the military separates us from being close and small children make it difficult to do much but text daily), keep each other on track to be healthy, happier people. When I initially spoke with her, in my mind we would just text "hey I did some squats or a minute long plank." Luckily for me she strives for way more and she started sending me daily workouts or as I like to refer to them "C's daily torture." When I woke up completely hungover on New Year's Day, my lovely friend badgered me all day long until I finally did my workout. I had some choice names for her that day but by the end of the workout I had nothing but love for her because she pushed me beyond the point of excuses and laziness and made me do something that makes me better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvko9YQ5Ne9FFZ0xlazON85wKW4O4R9QSoH5YcMYGY4lmt7sum4OB8y0hAC6NtbCt5aREp3HiDKu1vRCtexkg-2ls7FmKJYOCz_DXOpvsmYj1bD0iqQuhAfCRrVGoss5FdD8_MDpdulrA/s1600/1919098_10156432827770192_7398765769033455484_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvko9YQ5Ne9FFZ0xlazON85wKW4O4R9QSoH5YcMYGY4lmt7sum4OB8y0hAC6NtbCt5aREp3HiDKu1vRCtexkg-2ls7FmKJYOCz_DXOpvsmYj1bD0iqQuhAfCRrVGoss5FdD8_MDpdulrA/s200/1919098_10156432827770192_7398765769033455484_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C: part of my tribe and a big support in my life. </td></tr>
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I told her I was going to write a post about her but one part of information was missing from my mind. I could not for the life of me remember when and how we met. This is rare for me. So I asked her and reluctantly she told me: "It was after your friend M died in that car crash. You were sitting in the cafeteria, you looked so very, very sad. I gathered every ounce of courage I had, and asked you if I could sit with you. You maybe shrugged your shoulders or said yes or something...I sat down. I am not sure we talked that first time. But we did the next day. And more the next." As back story for this, my best friend for years, M, died in a car crash when I was in seventh grade. The kind of feelings you feel when your best friend dies that young are hard to explain. It's obvious why I don't remember how I met C now but when I think about going through all of that I am so thankful (even more so remembering this time) that I have a friend like her. In her words "I like you. Then, and now. Besides...You are my people. My tribe." I could not have said it better and I feel the same way.<br />
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We remained friends through high school and reconnected when we were stationed up in Alaska. Our oldest spawn are about two months apart in age and I know they would be such great friends if we lived anywhere near each other now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11081048_10102755254799259_2665177639808476017_n.jpg?oh=77ffa736bbb36b7a469c22b26a679f98&oe=57049648" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small boy and Sass around 8 and 6 months old </td></tr>
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I remember going to see her in the hospital right before Sass was born and thinking that I just want to be there for her and help her and that even if we didn't constantly hang out or keep in touch in the future that this is someone who I would always reconnect with in some way.<br />
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I can't tell you why I still have this but through all the moving we have done (including my constant dorm and apartment switching during college) I have kept this "happy picture" that she gave me our freshman year of high school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26vgf_8JDQAbPC-HVIfWkrAt7PK2UtKPb4gIuVGf0mhV6nSX38XVe9CUgYuPVbGdXZWKx3SNmsPxYLuguoaf-7h8w6lVlxl76P0ByN3VQB6xHPJCbmprTherxz3LFZhvpbLIFeEmomKw/s1600/IMG_20160112_195221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26vgf_8JDQAbPC-HVIfWkrAt7PK2UtKPb4gIuVGf0mhV6nSX38XVe9CUgYuPVbGdXZWKx3SNmsPxYLuguoaf-7h8w6lVlxl76P0ByN3VQB6xHPJCbmprTherxz3LFZhvpbLIFeEmomKw/s320/IMG_20160112_195221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It usually stays tucked away somewhere in the closet of whatever house we live in, safe with the teddy bear that once belonged to my best friend M, Small Boy's baby blanket with his birthday on it, and various letters and things people have given me throughout the years. I find it and smile at it every time I clean my closet or get nostalgic. I never could throw it away and I think if I ever lose it I will have a good long cry. </div>
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So why am I suddenly dedicating an entire blog post to this one person? Like I said at the beginning, she's helping me in so many ways right now (and in the past). She has three amazing little people and her big guy is away from them all for an entire year. She is "one man banding" it right now and let me tell you, she is doing a hell of a job. Despite the fact that her middle child seems determined to kill himself, her appliances break, and she had to scrape a dead skunk off her driveway (and all the various other things that go wrong when your spouse leaves), she takes the time every single day to inspire me and support me to get healthier. And she lets me do the same for her. It's one thing to tell someone to workout and push them past all the excuses you know they will make but it's another to do that AND lean on them to push you as well on the days you don't feel like it. We are here for each other for the good days. That's easy. But we are really there for the rough days. And C has been there for me since the roughest days I had when I was young. </div>
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So I raise a glass to one of the most amazing women I have ever known and deem myself incredibly lucky to have such a selfless, caring friend. She's my people and I love her dearly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaJ2n0ABPLvlp4CAPQGcg8jwmgirfVuSbGA3Asoka514_6mmkcf-JLlOry_gi2Wsl1wnEjZPvNyMhMTQlFUvLmRV_NR4Ax6tEkeEm3m6eKwo-oz3eLKVvEGmqk9Da0o9hyG5ArOTj6QA/s1600/IMG_20160113_091945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaJ2n0ABPLvlp4CAPQGcg8jwmgirfVuSbGA3Asoka514_6mmkcf-JLlOry_gi2Wsl1wnEjZPvNyMhMTQlFUvLmRV_NR4Ax6tEkeEm3m6eKwo-oz3eLKVvEGmqk9Da0o9hyG5ArOTj6QA/s320/IMG_20160113_091945.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and C freshman year high school.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-6372935564992284672016-01-11T08:04:00.001-08:002016-01-11T08:26:40.693-08:00PAX!<br />
Like I said in a previous post, D and I will be attending PAX San Antonio. This is awesome for all the obvious reasons that is PAX but also because:<br />
1. D and I have been wanting to attend PAX for a long time now. The fact that we are close to this one and that D has the ability to take time off is amazing.<br />
2. A kid free trip? Yes please. While Link would be totally fine going to this and he would love it, we are being selfish. We want to go and do all the things we want to do without hearing anyone say they are bored. Maybe in a few years we will take boy child with us. Not this time.<br />
3. PAX!!!!<br />
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For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, we are going to Penny Arcade Expo. Here's a little taste of what Penny Arcade is (warning: language)<br />
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Basically we are going to a big fat nerd convention full of all kinds of wondrous awesomeness (tabletop games, videogames, ALL THE THINGS!!!)</div>
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We are gamers. We named out first kid Link courtesy of the Legend of Zelda games and our second spawn Kirin courtesy of the Kirin Tor faction in World of Warcraft. How could we NOT attend this if given the chance?! It will be full of awesome cosplay, gaming tournaments, concerts, panels, and awesome. </div>
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So here in a few weeks, D and I will pack up our CLEAN clothes (past attendees love to stress wearing clean clothes and taking a shower and let's face it, big gamers are not exactly known for the best hygiene), our DS's, some snacks and heading down to my not so favorite state to nerd out hardcore. I'm so excited!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9Ii36kOhdiyiuBLjL3E0XhFoFgUiwX6cn45kXNaI_66MOwBy590BBrUA1z1a_C2oqWsgwCoCsChRkoUeUt912twRZXAykXNWXCB6if1MnFFshUG4RueDH1hrxkjUFUSgdrV_k048Vak/s1600/IMG_20160111_090515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9Ii36kOhdiyiuBLjL3E0XhFoFgUiwX6cn45kXNaI_66MOwBy590BBrUA1z1a_C2oqWsgwCoCsChRkoUeUt912twRZXAykXNWXCB6if1MnFFshUG4RueDH1hrxkjUFUSgdrV_k048Vak/s320/IMG_20160111_090515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And just to add something not to nerdy, here's a picture of my sweet little Inky before the Redskins crushed his heart yesterday:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFb5fSOhG9q3vNia5daMvlc6OFT_9K920EhnOenmJTMbCfCDl_soeAUaLfW33bjBTuggkJdZhtUHyv-4UzDV5R3wJOv4la1ylT5Y42H8bLhPHB5mNvhRz4X9Zbs_KnNYe5QQz0m4uPms/s1600/IMG_20160110_144907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFb5fSOhG9q3vNia5daMvlc6OFT_9K920EhnOenmJTMbCfCDl_soeAUaLfW33bjBTuggkJdZhtUHyv-4UzDV5R3wJOv4la1ylT5Y42H8bLhPHB5mNvhRz4X9Zbs_KnNYe5QQz0m4uPms/s320/IMG_20160110_144907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And a picture of my baby Bug being fabulous:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinflkeLsabDGphaNHQybIvC61bKfsjMYSON4aD5Igy4g_1yE5o9YqYgDj7G7Bgxs6UcUPzzTBB3OaXUvb_nCeimbwQpGfQHcTRIUrJ8zET8yWrs8INnJ7SGT5cGxcDmlIg8llcxKsFUnE/s1600/IMG_20151220_091647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinflkeLsabDGphaNHQybIvC61bKfsjMYSON4aD5Igy4g_1yE5o9YqYgDj7G7Bgxs6UcUPzzTBB3OaXUvb_nCeimbwQpGfQHcTRIUrJ8zET8yWrs8INnJ7SGT5cGxcDmlIg8llcxKsFUnE/s320/IMG_20151220_091647.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Oh and did I mention...PAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had:</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-dFLwE_a_I-GIqWN5-2zdAgF-GPxUeuFrF7HaMZ6Zstf94vN4LMsUUlHec6GhUi2_BtrObjUXssCrZN_EfQz6Gav9SZHq6JWKmvLfFsZ5wrdDhiEnozAH2FwproSsrmhFrWFKIsRcBI/s1600/IMG_20150830_163431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-dFLwE_a_I-GIqWN5-2zdAgF-GPxUeuFrF7HaMZ6Zstf94vN4LMsUUlHec6GhUi2_BtrObjUXssCrZN_EfQz6Gav9SZHq6JWKmvLfFsZ5wrdDhiEnozAH2FwproSsrmhFrWFKIsRcBI/s320/IMG_20150830_163431.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and some of my most favorite gamers!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-76120647303543395922016-01-08T10:03:00.000-08:002016-01-11T08:02:34.108-08:00Why I'm SwitchingThere are several reasons why I want to switch from Facebook to Blogging. Social media is a great way to stay in touch but there are many people who just don't want to see what you have to share. Instead of chosing to "unfollow" you, they silently (or actively) criticize what you post. I have a friend who posts a lot about her workouts. While I personally don't mind and her particular journey inspires me, she received a message from one of her "friends" asking her to stop posting her workouts and pictures of her kids. Asking other people to censor themselves for your "well being" is ridiculous. I do know people who I have unfollowed because their posts seem to just be them boasting about how they are better than everyone (I worked out 8 times, ran 20 miles with a stroller uphill in my new shoes, I receive expensive gifts from the hubby, etc) but a simple button click is easy and I still check our their profile for recipe ideas and quick updates of their kids from time to time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dlQp0tUZyIgHik8BsPCkxBtkl584uWrLGYZJ9J-EdfvR4_uKHEwfjdmJFWsUdyFZAJvc-5ZeL54W3xOBhk9DaO0vgIrQkuqyHyBv3IxYYs8tO9oYIuaNFJs_X6fWO91SbqdaLYbM3k0/s1600/12391046_1253051404711784_4077219126033973042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dlQp0tUZyIgHik8BsPCkxBtkl584uWrLGYZJ9J-EdfvR4_uKHEwfjdmJFWsUdyFZAJvc-5ZeL54W3xOBhk9DaO0vgIrQkuqyHyBv3IxYYs8tO9oYIuaNFJs_X6fWO91SbqdaLYbM3k0/s320/12391046_1253051404711784_4077219126033973042_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I feel the switch from facebook to blogging will help focus me though. Instead of "omg my kid is awesome because ____" or "I had fun at _____" I actually have to form more complete thoughts and this will make me happier. And I feel it will also give select friends and family a better idea of what we are up to.<br />
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It might also be a fun way to share what I'm reading, cooking, etc. Plus, I always like to look back at old blog posts. I actually used to be quite clever. And I can be whiny on a blog and if you want to criticize me, it's slightly more work for you. HA!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpG9PVK-1M3RoAgszIRwgwMZiROUOjok5hl4sx2JGCm3hoe3cfHr9I4L8EymK6Mj3V9ES51lFyBCxMHrZd9Qa1cofdKccCoZ75tnIVV0MWD02zbv54TYAdGYGoSDyVP72hH3pkoc6YwM/s1600/IMG_20151205_204927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpG9PVK-1M3RoAgszIRwgwMZiROUOjok5hl4sx2JGCm3hoe3cfHr9I4L8EymK6Mj3V9ES51lFyBCxMHrZd9Qa1cofdKccCoZ75tnIVV0MWD02zbv54TYAdGYGoSDyVP72hH3pkoc6YwM/s320/IMG_20151205_204927.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan;"><b><br /></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-51401615879318001132016-01-07T09:40:00.001-08:002016-01-07T09:45:16.862-08:00A fresh startWith the new year always comes goal setting. Some of mine include the cliche "be healthier" but I'd also like to make more time to read and spend less time being a Facebook junkie. It's easier said than done. I take a cute picture of my kids, they do something cool, something fun happens, or I just have information I want to share...I tend to want to open up Facebook and make a quick post. Instead of that, I would like to make a better effort to blog more. This way everything I have to update can be in one post and only the people who really want to see these updates will. Because it's easy to scroll through and mindlessly "like" things on Facebook. If you want to express your "like" on a blog you actually have to comment and in the age of passive liking something I much prefer a conversation!<br />
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So I'll start slow with a few updates.<br />
Link:<br />
After we moved to Alamogordo he started school. He was quickly bored in class and after much conversation, Dan and I made the decision to skip him a grade. He is now in second grade and loves it as he is more challenged. After speaking with his teacher I found that he was around the top of his class and the only one to make honor roll last semester. He maxed out the test they are supposed to take at the end of the year. He joined a math club and loves it. He still doesn't enjoy writing all that much but LOVES to read. He set a goal to read 100 books in 2016 and has almost read 10 so far. He is really into the How to Train Your Dragon series right now and loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Before winter break I received an email from DSE's gifted coordinator to see if we'd like to get him in the program and get an IEP for him. Of course we do! He starts next Monday and we will have the meeting to write up his IEP next month. Big things from such a small boy. We couldn't be more proud and excited for him.<br />
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Kirin:</div>
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She's sassy and her vocabulary is steadily improving. So now she is very talkative with the same Bug attitude we all know and love. She has taken it upon herself to become my workout couch. When I workout she tells me "go, go mommy. Mommy workout!" and she likes to help me set up my videos and equipment. When I'm almost ready to quit, she comes over to me and tells me "Mommy, OK!" and pats me on the head (usually while I'm planking or doing some awful ab exercise!) She loves to help me cook as well. She's also a sneaky little thing so she keeps me ever-vigilant!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkwFP-ZHD0ftxRiX6GTge4y-sHUY6e4CdJjwR9t1rjPPQJdp4duwMPbYDx86w85nMx2j7DroNXDofdRm6hvU83BxXiOccQEBSqirpnQ0MQAZVz22Cc0QQhtUR6J7cSKLUzglf7a2yaP0/s1600/IMG_20160102_132550+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkwFP-ZHD0ftxRiX6GTge4y-sHUY6e4CdJjwR9t1rjPPQJdp4duwMPbYDx86w85nMx2j7DroNXDofdRm6hvU83BxXiOccQEBSqirpnQ0MQAZVz22Cc0QQhtUR6J7cSKLUzglf7a2yaP0/s320/IMG_20160102_132550+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eZj-YPAgiqD7CM0X77_0Vwf0qXo4HDmODEwn3KzEFQR61tmcvdpAJni81SGWAat6Ajx3cTAqLb_2eh3jCNDvknPOOblwh1ihcMka2M8bZlQxJs3F98kDk8Bhbos1hAVm0FX3f9D2254/s1600/IMG_20160105_113608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eZj-YPAgiqD7CM0X77_0Vwf0qXo4HDmODEwn3KzEFQR61tmcvdpAJni81SGWAat6Ajx3cTAqLb_2eh3jCNDvknPOOblwh1ihcMka2M8bZlQxJs3F98kDk8Bhbos1hAVm0FX3f9D2254/s320/IMG_20160105_113608.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As for D and I, we are just trying to get healthier. Eating better, exercising more (typical new year goals). We are also trying to plan some trips. Since D is no longer on shift work we have a more flexible schedule. And since small boy is no longer in expensive school, we can pull him out if need be to miss a few days for trips. Among those trips this year D and I will be going to PAX in San Antonio at the end of the month while my MIL comes to stay with the kids (Thanks Laura!). We are also planning a Colorado trip in early June, a Kansas City trip in late July and (fingers crossed) a DisneyWORLD trip in early December. Let's hope nothing drastic changes any of those plans because I'm looking forward to trips that are long overdue! </div>
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So there's an update for any who wanted one (I'm assuming it's mostly family!) and hopefully I will make time to post them more often. Like I said, I would prefer to move more towards this and more away from facebook. Let's make it happen! </div>
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<img height="320" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12316414_10103278289708109_3633513119370523879_n.jpg?oh=61bf378148da9852dde8d3ec025dd7c5&oe=56FDFF08" width="240" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-81876552297466089552015-08-01T08:22:00.003-07:002015-08-01T08:22:29.546-07:00We are going where?I know I am an adult. Age wise and life-wise I am a full on for real adult. But as an adult I have to put it out there: I have no idea what I am doing half the time! It's a good thing I'm good at BS and can fake what I am doing most of the time.<br />
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All that being said, big life changes in the next month. D got orders for us to move to New Mexico. From Vegas to a teeny tiny small town. Without a Target (gasp!) I find it amusing that this is one of the first things people comment on when I tell them where we are moving. As if having a Target in the place you live defines your life. I think I will be OK without a Target. Hell, I might even save some money that once a month I might go there. I guess I am not fulfilling my duties as a stay at home mom by not hitting up Target 3-4 times a week and spending all our income there. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good Target trip but I think I'll be OK when we move.<br />
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So what does this mean? Well, we are selling our house. It was on the market a whole 4 days before we got an offer and went under contract. Let me tell you how thankful I am that it was quick. Getting two kids and a large dog out of the house for a full day of showings is not the most fun or most easy task. Inspection went well and now we wait for the appraisal.<br />
This also means we have to find a place to move into when we get there. We decided on a rental for various reasons. It might not be as convenient as other housing options but we are fine with it. There is also NO WAY IN HELL I am buying a house down there. There just isn't. But we got lucky and thanks to the wonder of social media (sometimes it's useful for things other than cat memes and crazy bitches complaining about stuff) I was able to connect with some ladies who had a friend renting out their place. We were able to get a lower rent price and the place is great. The yard is HUGE for the kids and the house is bigger than the one we are in now. We have signed the lease and it starts the day we get there. What does this mean? It means we don't have to spend who knows how long in a tiny little pet friendly "hotel" room with a kid who has to start school, a toddler who screams louder than anyone I've ever met, and a dog who loathes being put in a kennel. This is good for me because now I don't have to stress about any of that. The only thing I have to focus on is enrolling small boy in school and wondering when we will get all of our stuff delivered to our house. These things are easy!<br />
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So we close on our house in a month. We have incredible friends who are opening up their home to our circus for the one night we will be homeless in Vegas. Then we head out at the beginning of next month. It will be a two day trip with two vehicles. Our SUV will contain two very very very active and energetic children and a dog who hates riding in cars (we have anxiety meds for him, poor thing). That will be oh so fun. Our car will contain everything we need to survive in a brand new empty house for a few weeks (hopefully it will be only a few days...)<br />
I have high hopes for the trip. I am stocked up with books for the small boy (though I probably don't have enough with the way he reads) and I've got some random toys for tiny girl. And with the way they usually are in the car I'm guessing they will spend a lot of time squeaking at things they see out the window and entertaining each other. Now I DO have the last resort of a kindle fire loaded with some math apps for small boy and some Mickey episodes for tiny girl but if I can somehow avoid that I would like to. I'm not trying to be all hippy and "my kids don't need electronics to get by" but I am trying to survival mode myself! If tiny girl gets even a hint that she is allowed to watch shows in the car, it's all over. She's always been such a great car traveler (small and long amounts of time) and I don't want to ruin that with her wanting a tablet or tv every time we get in the car because I'm just not going to do that. Maybe when she gets older and can understand but she can throw fits like none other and I really don't want to deal with that...especially when it's just me to deal with it!<br />
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So there it is. We are moving. I'm OK with it. I'm looking forward to outdoor activities and a small town without the fear of death every time I drive somewhere! Small boy would be switching schools this year anyway and his TKD instructor is moving this month too :-( I have a couple friends I will REALLY miss but I think we are close enough that it will be easy to keep in touch. And a few of them will be joining us in a few months anyway! Another bonus is that when we do move and I am left alone with tiny girl because small boy is in school we will have some other friends moving that have little people her age. Playmates! Hopefully she can learn to be less feral and play nicely!<br />
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Like every move I know we are prepping for it but it probably won't feel real until about a month after we've been there.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had:</span></b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-9718258662031964732015-05-19T10:27:00.000-07:002015-05-19T10:30:13.671-07:00My Free SpiritI love to brag about the small boy because, well, he is amazing and smart and caring and so talented. But small boy has a tiny little sister and she is equally as amazing but very much in her own way. It always amazes me how different the two of them are. Honestly, they are D and I's little mini mes. I see so much of D in the small boy every single day. But the Bug. Oh man the Bug. Poor thing is like me. She is overly dramatic. She is creative and loves art. She is adventurous. Also, she's insane!<br />
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Things The Bug likes:<br />
Her brother. They fight like nobody I have ever seen. I figured it wouldn't be so bad since there is 4.5 years between them. I'm pretty sure they fight more than siblings closer in age. She's a vicious little thing to him but she loves him and they are so fun to watch when they are getting along. I never had a sibling so it's nice to see these two.<br />
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-eating. Eating everything. She loves sushi. Spicy tuna roll.<br />
-Terrorizing her brother.<br />
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-Breaking things (*after giving his sister his board breaking TKD medal* "She can have that because she's great at breaking things")<br />
-Screaming at the dog.<br />
-Dogs.<br />
-Any animal.<br />
-Barking back at dogs.<br />
-Climbing on things.<br />
-Taking all the tissues and wipes out of where they belong.<br />
-Stacking things.<br />
-Clicky pens.<br />
-Drawing on walls. And furniture. And her brother and the dog. And everything that isn't paper. Also, paper.<br />
-Blankets. All blankets.<br />
-Anything soft or anything with ladybugs on it.<br />
-Playing WoW with mommy and daddy (facerolling a Pally)<br />
-Swinging.<br />
-Star Wars (she loves Yoda)<br />
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-Stars.<br />
-Playing swords (lightsabers) with her brother<br />
-Her Daddy. Every time D comes home and she's awake for it she goes running to the door. It's funny to watch her run so fast because her legs still don't quite keep up with how fast she wants to go when she bolts for the door to get her Daddy.<br />
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I could go on and on about the ridiculous things she loves.<br />
We often compare her and her brother to a cat and a dog. She loves giving people dirty looks and is generally stand offish until she decides you are worth her time. He's there telling you everything and wanting to be your best friend right away. But for as bitchy as she seems sometimes, she's such a free spirit. When she is home and around people she's already warmed up to she's a crazy little goofball. She does what we call "Boga" (Bug yoga) which is mostly just downward facing dog and a lot of rolling around. She growls, she has a great evil laugh, she giggles at herself. She's a funny little girl. She was the best surprise I've ever gotten and I could not love this little girl anymore than I do!<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had</b></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-2025586223801755162015-05-02T15:48:00.000-07:002015-05-02T15:48:28.037-07:00My Warrior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have this small person in my life who is absolutely incredible. His name is Link and I am so lucky to be his mom.<br />
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He just competed in a Taekwondo tournament. He didn't place. However, he lost to kids with much more experience and truth be told, I think he earned much better scores than he got. Then again, I'm his mom and I may be a little biased. However, his instructor's goal for him was at least ONE 9.7. He earned three of those.<br />
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Right before his competition he was headbutted by two very unruly competitors who were unaware of their surroundings and not doing what they were supposed to. This is how he started the tournament. He shook it off and came out LIKE A BOSS. He cheered on all of his competitors, he entered the ring properly with bows and a strong voice. His form was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. with strong yells. He bowed his head for scoring like he was supposed to. He was great.<br />
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He also competed in board breaking. He was originally going to be doing a side kick for his board break but the day before his tournament his instructor convinced him to do a running jump side kick. He's NEVER done one of those. He had a day to practice. So at the tournament he gets called up. He goes for it and takes the hardest fall I have ever seem him take. He smacked his head into the floor and rewatching the video I took of it, looks like he probably is going to have a wicked bruise on his hip. I honestly have no idea how the hell he got up from that. I'm surprised he doesn't have a head injury of some sort. But he jumped up right away, shook it off and kept trying. I don't know how many attempts. D and I were trying to tell him to just do side kick. He ignored us. He was so in the zone. And then he broke it. And it was awesome.<br />
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Here's some fun pictures after the tournament:<br />
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Link, his best friend Stewart and his "girlfriend" Sofia showing their best warrior faces</div>
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Stewart, Link and Sofia being cute</div>
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Future sister in law had to get in on the photo op: </div>
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During this tournament I saw the kind of person my kid is and is becoming. A patient, compassionate, hard working, persistent, talented little person. I'm excited to continue watching him grow into the amazing young man he is going to be.<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had:</b></span> <br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b> </b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-53497207618229981832015-04-17T18:51:00.000-07:002015-04-17T18:51:45.091-07:00My Favorite 6 Year OldYesterday I had a badass little 5 year old. Today I have an incredibly badass little 6 year old! I'm not sure how that happened!<br />
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This past year he has continued to surprise me at almost every turn. He was tested as gifted this year with an IQ of 138. Smart enough to be difficult but not socially awkward and weird (and just low enough to not qualify for anything great when it comes to school because he is so young). He also received a score of 149 on his visual/spatial. So he's exactly like his Daddy! This explains why he is better than me at video games! The lady who did his testing told me that while she was doing the test and observing that he adapts well, he's creative, he's incredibly patient and very mature for his age. She said he has everything that very successful people have. So basically, he is WINNING! Except that the lady also said that it doesn't matter what school he is in, he will most likely be bored and to push for advanced reading and math for him if possible. Basically I need to suck up to the school to get him what he needs. OK. I can do that.<br />
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His Taekwondo has been amazing. His school is incredible and his instructors are beyond measure. Because of this and their high expectations Link has excelled. He was moved from the tiger class (the very beginner little kid class) to the advanced class and it was a very big change. He LOVED it. He also began a Leadership program they have there as well. And during his private lesson this week his Instructor told him that over the next two months they were going to work on getting him to be able to do a 90 degree kick. So he's working on being able to do the splits in prep for that. And his instructor wants him to be on their competition team as well. This is a big compliment. This instructor has very high standards. He said he will only pick those he thinks can win. Well OK. I agree. Link will love it and I'm so proud of him. I'm not just proud of him because he is good but proud because he LOVES it and he works hard. He is constantly wanting to practice and get better.<br />
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He has continued his love of reading. He always has his nose in a book. D and I had to lay down the law so there are no more books allowed at the meal table or he tends not to eat. We got him a few chapter books with a gift card from barnes and noble about a month ago and he finished them by the next day. He devours everything we get at the library and he loves learning and reading about clouds and volcanoes. He's also very into the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter.<br />
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He loves all things nerdy. He's definitely our kid. Loves Star Wars, video games, wants to play WoW... the list goes on.<br />
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He loves building things with legos. We started giving him a weekly allowance for several chores he does each week. He gets $1 a week if he does everything he is supposed to (less if he forgets or doesn't do something). He has been saving his money since the beginning of the year and has a goal to save enough to buy the Lego Death Star. For those of you who are unaware, that's a $400 lego set. He is well aware of how much money that is but he is determined to save and get it. He originally wanted to save $120 for a Star Destroyer but then he found out that his Uncle Craig bought a death star (being an adult rules!) and changed his plan. If he ever gets that thing it will take him forever to build it. But I know he'll do it because he can sit there and work at something for a long time if he's interested. It is pretty impressive for someone his age.<br />
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His knock knock jokes are The. WORST. They aren't funny and usually involve something about eyeballs, poop or slamming a door in your face. Him and his friends think it's hilarious.<br />
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He fights with his sister 50% of the time they are together. The other 50% of the time he is helping her with whatever crazy trouble she has deemed necessary for the day. And I have no experience with siblings but as far as big brothers go I'm pretty sure he is in the top 3.<br />
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I could honestly go on and on and on about how amazing I think this kid is. But I won't because it would take far too long and that would be less time I would get to spend with him.<br />
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Happiest of 6th Birthdays to my favorite little boy in the whole wide world.<br />
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And if you thought this post was braggy you are right. I am bragging. Because Link is awesome. And he has earned a Mommy bragging post. On my blog. That you don't have to read if you don't want to. So revel in my kids badassery like I am because it's his birthday.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">I Time I Had</span></b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-52372298539832939912015-03-19T13:52:00.001-07:002015-03-19T13:52:30.613-07:00Best Big Bro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is this small boy I know. He's an incredible little dude. For a very very long time I thought it was just going to be me, him and his Daddy. And then along came a tiny little Bug. She was our wonderful surprise. But here's the thing. I don't think I actually knew how amazing my small boy was until my tiny girl arrived. I was compelled to write this post to say what an amazing brother he is because I was cleaning and making lunch today and the tiny one was out in the trampoline while her brother was playing baseball in the back yard. As I glanced out the window I see her bouncing/stumbling toward the opening in the net. I run outside to save her from certain DOOM but small boy had already run over to her rescue. And this is just one of the many times he has been there for her. </div>
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He loves her unconditionally. </div>
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It's actually kind of sickeningly adorable. </div>
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There is not one person on earth (including D and I) who can make her laugh like he can. Like serious fat guy belly laughs. In fact, the first time she ever giggled/laughed was at small boy. I almost died it was so adorable. </div>
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They are even starting to figure out that when they team up they are a stronger force. Lord help me. </div>
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And despite all the crazy shit she does to him (destroying his Lego creations, always trying to take what he's playing with, terrorizing him while he's doing homework, biting, hair pulling, hitting, throwing things at his head, the list goes on and on) he keeps his cool 90% of the time with her and I could not ask for a better brother/sister duo to parent. </div>
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There are a lot of times where I'm pretty sure he has saved my sanity. He's SO helpful. Not only helping me with things but helping her with things. When she gets mad he almost always runs to try and make her happy by giving her something or trying to make her laugh. She also changes her shoes, jacket and attempts to change her clothes about a million times a day. I can't keep up with that. But where I slack, he helps out. He helps her change and put on her shoes almost every day at least once a day. He reads every single book she brings to him. He helps her get snacks and drinks if she is hungry or thirsty. </div>
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He is almost 6 and she is almost 1 1/2. I can't believe they are so old. I can't believe he is so old. And such a good kid. I have no idea how I got so lucky with him. He's a kid and he can be difficult sometimes but there is zero way I would change anything. He's one of the most kind, responsible, and caring people I have ever met. Tiny girl... I hope she can take note. She reminds me of a rabid badger. I hope she can learn to be so compassionate and helpful from him as time goes on!</div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-42532059739153026152015-03-17T14:10:00.002-07:002015-03-17T14:10:32.006-07:00Suck It Pinterest ParentsOK so we all know I am a "recovering pinterest parent." But here's the thing. Today is St. Patricks Day. What the hell happened to starting your day with an Irish coffee, followed by a Guinness at lunch and more merry drinking the rest of the afternoon/evening while you enjoyed food that probably wasn't Irish in any way? Oh yeah all while proving your badass parenting skills by keeping your children alive while you drank all day.<br />
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Based on my facebook feed here is what I am supposed to do on St. Patricks Day:<br />
1. Make a leprechaun trap.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the shit is this? I just can't. CAN'T.</td></tr>
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2. Pretend that a leprechaun snuck in our house to leave goodies in our shoes.<br />
3. Make special green jewelry for my girl child so some asshole doesn't pinch her.<br />
4. Make a special green leprechaun tree to hide gold in<br />
5. Put green dye in my toilet with green footprint on the toilet seat like a freaking leprechaun broke in my house and peed some weird diseased pee that they walked through and didn't flush.<br />
6. Put together a bag of "rainbow seeds" from crap colored candy so we can grow a rainbow.<br />
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Don't get me started. I could go on for a while with all the stupid shit that parents did this year. The problem? I KNOW these people. Like I have met them and interacted with them in real life and I thought they were cool. I give a pass to the poor parents whose children were ASSIGNED to make a leprechaun trap in school. LAME.<br />
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Here's the thing. IF I were a leprechaun I would want to be left the hell alone. And I would mind my own G. D. business. No I do not want to be trapped. No. I do not want to bring a bunch of useless crap and leave it in your dirty stinky shoes.<br />
If anyone tries to bully my girl child because she isn't wearing homemade green jewelry then they are going to have big issues with me. I take Krav. I can cut your face open with my elbow. And I will if you screw with my child.<br />
No. I will not make a special tree for my house so anyone can hide anything in it. I have a hard enough time finding crap my children play with that they shouldn't in the first place. I am not constructing a special time consuming hideaway for them to stick my wallet or my sunglasses. No. Just no.<br />
As for the toilet. >.< If I sit down on some stupid green footprints because I am too tired to rememeber I did something this stupid then I deserve to have footprints on my butt. And if anyone breaks in my house to pee weird colors in my toilet, again, I can cut your face with my elbow. Leprechauns probably pee golden anyway. You know those little dudes down beer, not water.<br />
I am not growing a rainbow and I'm not teaching my child to "grow" one either. Maybe I'm a grinch and I take away all the magic but my kid is so interested in science that there is no way I am going to tell him that rainbows grow out of candy. I'm just not.<br />
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But I will show you that I can still keep he magic alive (with the most minimal of effort!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small boys breakfast. Fruit I already had cut up. Green smoothie including peas and spinach. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny girls breakfast. The zucchini muffins were frozen. Just thawed them this morning!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daily green tea, 2egg spinach feta scramble and green grapes. </td></tr>
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BAM. Festive breakfast. It took me like 5 minutes to make everything. All I did different than I would have any other day was make sure they had all the fruit on their plate and arrange it in a rainbow. Zucchini muffin pot o'gold. I seriously thought about this a couple minutes before making them breakfast. They were so excited. I don't need a damn trap to keep the magic alive. And I kept my food greenish! Without dye. Win.<br />
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I also made a mint chip "ice cream" with banana, spinach, mint extract, a tiny bit of coconut milk and some dark chocolate chips. It's pretty damn close to the real thing. Dessert. That's all we are doing for this holiday. I lie. I blew up two green balloons that kept them busy for like a half hour before small boy went to school. Eat your heart out pinterest parents!(honestly I probably did the food thing for me. Every once in a while I just like to make pretty and creative food.)<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-41557595414780468362015-03-14T10:04:00.000-07:002015-03-14T10:04:58.906-07:00Nerd FitnessI am tired of eating like crap. I just am. At the beginning of this year I went nuts. I completely overhauled our pantry.I chucked all the crap that had ingredients whose names were too hard to pronounce. I chucked everything that had three or more different kinds of sugar in them. I chucked A LOT of crap. And I do not regret it for one second. I wish I had a before shot of my pantry but this is the After:<br />
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Aside from eating like crap, I am also tired of misinformation. There are about a billion things you are supposed to know to be healthy. Eat this, don't eat this, eat X number of times a day...blah blah blah. Then you see those facebook posts "3247382742983642385762387 myths about food" or "67 things you think are healthy but aren't" or whatever. Bleh. Too much. What do I believe? </div>
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THEN D showed me Nerd Fitness and I fell in love. They back everything with science and instead of spouting that this diet will work or this workout plan is the best, they give you options and help support you in making small lifestyle changes very slowly so that the changes become HABIT. Because if you are just doing something for a small amount of time like giving something up for lent or doing a 6 week diet/workout plan to fit into a swimsuit for the summer, it's not going to stick. Period. I know this. My family has made small changes over the years. We have never really drank soda or juice. It's just habit. We don't eat out regularly. Maybe once or twice a month. MAYBE. The last few months I have made it a point to buy MORE veggies and prepare them in different ways so we just plain eat more of them. </div>
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NF gives you small goals to change your daily life into a more healthy one. And they back everything they say with pure science. So if you are wondering why something works then it can help you. Why does paleo work? Why does strength training work? Why will a billion hours of treadmill or elliptical not be as effective as a well rounded workout plan? </div>
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Not only that, I signed D and I up for their fitness academy. If you know us you know that we are incredibly huge gamer nerds. Guess what? Now we get to gain XP and "level up our lives." Yeah. We complete quests (nutrition, goals, fitness) and gain certain xp for doing them. And then DING. Level up. </div>
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I'm super excited about it and happy to not constantly feel like crap because of our nutrition or lack of motion. The kids beg to go on out evening walks. They join in our circuit workouts. They do "yoga" while we plank. And small boy started trying to do wall handstands with me. It makes my heart happy to instill a love of moving and good nutrition in them so young. </div>
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-34359481620538899992015-03-13T14:58:00.000-07:002015-03-13T14:58:50.048-07:00Don't Burn out Baby!<span style="color: white;"><b> </b>OK so I am a mom. I love my children. I will do whatever it takes to protect them and make sure they are happy. So there's that. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">The past 5-6 months or so I have been stressing out about where the small boy will be attending school next year. He has been going to a private school since he began preschool at age 3. It is an amazing school. At 5 years old he reads long chapter books with expression and comprehension. He does multiplication at the meal table even though they are not formally teaching it in class yet. He is better at geography than I am. He spells words I didn't think was possible for someone his age. He can tell time on an analog clock. He knows how to count money. He has received an incredible education. BUT he is a perfectionist. He has high expectations for himself. He wants to be the best. He is highly competitive. Now I used to think these were attributes that would be PERFECT for a school like he is attending. But over the past few months I no longer think that. Preschool was an entirely different ball game. The kindergartners come home with 3-4 worksheets of homework every day. These usually take small boy no longer than 15 minutes to do. Lately it's two digit addiction and subtraction and fill in the middle number (37-__=17) papers, 1 or 2 language arts (I think they are working on "doer" and "doing" parts of sentences this week) and like a real life thing like money or time. And then they have book work. Read a story. Answer the questions about it at the end. OK fine. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I think it's starting to get to him. He's smart and knows the stuff and I think he's just tired of all the work. I can see him headed for a burnout. WHAT?! He's 5. FIVE. He can not burn out before he is even in a grade with a number in it! So when it became possible for us to kind of afford putting him into first grade next year we had a lot of thinking to do (this was like a month or so ago). And as of this moment and a few weeks before our answer is NO. Absolutely not. We tried for charter schools but the public school system in Vegas basically has every single parent trying to get into the same charters. Well we tried for 4 campuses. 2 were completely out as far as our lottery number. One is still a slim possibility (#5 on waitlist) and the last...well let's just say I hope they have their shit together as far as education goes because they sure as hell don't have it together when it comes to communication, deadlines, or even telling people the correct information. So I'm guessing that is out too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">So small boy will be attending the public school we are zoned for. It's taken me months to wrap my head around this idea. Truth is that he is going to be bored. From what I have seen the things the first graders are working on now are things he has known for quite a while now. So he is at least a year ahead. OK. But here's the thing. He will get a chance to be a KID. HE can run and play and learn some g.d. patience. Not everyone is going to learn at your pace. Sometimes you have to wait for them. Sometimes you have to do that WITHOUT goofing off and getting in trouble. This will be a challenge. But there are a lot of things they don't formally teach in school that you will have to learn. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">D and I plan to supplement his academics in school with outside enrichment. I don't want to shove more academics down his throat after school. We will keep him in TKD where he can continue to learn discipline and responsibility and outside of that we plan to learn Spanish as a family. D plans to do science experiments with him and I plan to draw and make books with him (all things he is interested in now). If he asks to learn about something we will teach him or find someone or something that can. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">So in conclusion, private and charter schools: I love the idea of you but I am not stressing anymore. There is no reason to. I have an amazing and very bright little boy who will dominate any school he goes to. Would we love the extra resources other schools could offer? Of course. Can we, instead, step up OUR game as parents? Absolutely. Schools don't owe us a damn thing. We are lucky that we live somewhere that can offer our child a free education, no matter what they are able to teach them. And our kid is lucky enough to have us. Because we want him to learn. We want him to pursue the things he is interested in without pushing him to the point of a burnout. Bam. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had:</span></b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-71994863309009172222015-03-11T14:22:00.004-07:002015-03-13T15:00:03.457-07:00Moving onSo when I first moved to Vegas I met a woman. She was so put together. She was focused on her family and making them as happy and as healthy as she could. I envied her. I envied her because I was still at the point in my life where it was so easy to get sucked into adult drama. Still at the point where I put more than I probably should have into "friendships." Over the past few years I have watched the small boy go from a tiny little 2 year old to an incredibly smart and talented almost 6 year old. We have added a spitfire of a daughter to our amazing little family. I have been through a lot of shit and the only adult that has been there for EVERYTHING, my "bff," is D.<br />
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I absolutely adore the few close friends I have and they are truly irreplaceable. But I feel like I have finally reached that point that envied before. The majority of my focus is put towards my family and myself. Instead of worrying if I was able to make it to the girls night out because I might miss something, I keep to my family nights and my health. I have several issues with health since I have fibromyalgia. I can no longer constantly go out, drink, eat whatever I want and stay out til 2am. And quite honestly that doesn't really sound super fun to me anymore. I love spending time with friends. I do. But it's not important to me to make every single party or night out that any of my girlfriends make. It's not important to me to catch up on who is talking about who or who made a fool of themselves or who offended this person or that person. It's incredibly refreshing to be removed from all of that.<br />
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I would not change any of the things I have been through here. I would not change the going out or the drama. Did I enjoy ALL of it? No. But it got me to where I am. I feel like I am a better mom because I am no longer scheduling or attending the endless "playdates" to make sure I don't go nuts and get my friend time in. I tend to get sucked into making it about me. This is not to say everyone is that way. But now that I am not doing the million weekly playdates, I am less stressed, I am more attentive to both my kids, I have more patience with my kids and quite frankly I have more fun with them. They are amazing little people. They are hilarious. They are all kinds of things that I might miss if I didn't spend more quality time with them. I love that I have changed me to be better for them.<br />
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I am not perfect and I am not put together by any means but I am more focused on my family and less focused on if I am everyone's bff or if everyone likes me or if I'm in the right "clique" (yes that still exists if you are an adult and it's unfortunate).<br />
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My family cooks together. We read together. We go on walks together. We make art together. We workout together. We learn together. We makes friends together. I listen to them. I find out what they want and we make it work for US. Not just for me. And I love that I have recognized the things I was doing wrong and have worked to make them right.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;"> </span></b> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-90960688935616174292015-03-10T14:13:00.002-07:002015-03-10T14:19:18.740-07:00Here we goSo it's obvious I have not blogged in a long time. I'm not going to play "this is my catch up post, sorry I haven't been around." I'm going to say a couple of things. 1. I had a beautiful little girl since last I was here. She's wonderful and insane and makes it so I don't have time to do things like blog. And 2. I am taking a page from a wonderful friend's book and I'm going to blog the way I want. It won't be full of entertaining banter unless I feel like it. It won't sugar coat anything. It will be able whatever I want. It may be full of rants. It may be full of things you don't want me to talk about it. If you can tell something might offend you, skip that post and be on your way. Like my friend said, I may not be for everyone.<br />
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So these posts are probably not going to end up being linked to facebook posts. But here's the thing, you can keep up with me. I'll post about the things happening in our lives. And there it is.<br />
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Run down:<br />
My tiny boy is amazing. He's kicking some serious smart school ass. This is good and bad for a number of reasons. It's good for obvious reasons so I won't bother. It's bad because we can no longer afford the school he attends. It's also bad because he is performing at the top of his class. At the top of his class at a school that is already academically advanced. We sit at the meal table and he begs me to do multiplication with him. He's 5. He reads chapter books. Not like a robot. He doesn't just read words. He reads them with expression. He reads them with comprehension. He knows how to spell words I don't even know how to spell sometimes. He is beyond curious about everything. This means that next year we have to up our game and supplement the shit out of his education. And so we have chosen (with his input) to learn Spanish as a family (mine is very rusty). D will do Science experiments with him. I will do drawing lessons with him. I want his education to be fun and even if we could afford his current school next year I would not put him there. He has a perfectionist personality and is incredibly hard on himself. To put that type of personality in that kind of school for longer is something I see as bad. I don't want my kid to burn out at age 6. Pass. He's also kicking some serious ass in TKD. He stepped up serious time into an advanced class that is about 7000x more intense than the tiny tiger class he was in. I know I'm his mom but BAM, that kid is good. So proud!<br />
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My tiny girl is insane. That is all for now.<br />
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I have started krav maga. It's kicking my ass. I have wicked bruises all over my body. I love/hate it. It turns me into Golem. "You should go precious." "But it hurts us precious" "But you loves it" "Nooooooooo."<br />
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D is almost done with his masters. Yay! Shift work is nuts.<br />
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K9 hasn't eaten anything inappropriate lately. Win.<br />
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And lastly (just to stir the post), most people are crappy drivers, smokers are selfish, anti-vaxxers make me see red and the laws restricting teachers in Kansas make me want to punch people in the baby makers so they can't procreate more idiots.<br />
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A Time I Had<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-90424260012774512442013-09-10T11:58:00.003-07:002013-09-10T12:04:14.618-07:00Is it 2014 yet?Well 2013 continues to be the ultimate year of the unexpected. It began with surprise baby. Continued with surprise deployment and the house and dog falling apart while D was gone. And now it continues with the military deciding that D needs to go to SOS for a few months starting mid-October. For those of you following along, fetus has a due date of October 8. This means I would supposedly have this baby and D will leave a week or so later. Let me go ahead and describe 2013 to you in Cat Pictures.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I felt when we found out I was pregnant (roughly three minutes before we joined some of our friends for dinner):</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I felt when I accepted the fact that I was going to have another kid and everything would be OK:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I felt when D told me a week after I found out I was pregnant that he was deploying.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I felt while D was deployed and expensive electronics kept breaking, my HOA kept harassing me, my bank kept informing me of credit card fraud, my dog kept puking all over our house (on the carpet), and my kid was an emotional wreck because he missed his daddy. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk2DdmlU7EP4SAFDxRB0cmnfHVyjKZUQfKV9sqH2GmNBZ66fkHQciaC-AqAC9hlJli3yt88DdeQAAx8-CJ4SrY3M-bvnIqCoS66O4qZDGOKxYZI2jIv794BPOWqhICm9FbENs3Bk-ThI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk2DdmlU7EP4SAFDxRB0cmnfHVyjKZUQfKV9sqH2GmNBZ66fkHQciaC-AqAC9hlJli3yt88DdeQAAx8-CJ4SrY3M-bvnIqCoS66O4qZDGOKxYZI2jIv794BPOWqhICm9FbENs3Bk-ThI/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I felt when D told me (the day after he returned from deployment) that he would be leaving for another couple months for SOS in mid-October (about a week after my due date)</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmTzKHNbXo2WeEIyDrsyA6wOgrkwmgz7eaFwdDunru1K3E1amuNHRBXyznixXsivtYWIVBFrDf1sR2e-Ddr8X85fMQaCaDJq2UYpqdbUM-4Ji53a9WUCotzPcGMYq351eMZrnnk1BG88/s1600/sad-cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmTzKHNbXo2WeEIyDrsyA6wOgrkwmgz7eaFwdDunru1K3E1amuNHRBXyznixXsivtYWIVBFrDf1sR2e-Ddr8X85fMQaCaDJq2UYpqdbUM-4Ji53a9WUCotzPcGMYq351eMZrnnk1BG88/s320/sad-cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">How I now feel about surviving a newborn and a 4 year old who is currently obsessed with daddy for the rest of the year by myself.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTTQCGEMKHqrDQ51OaHKt2igoD_j7B5AeoeCILhYVyf8KXMNaLLaS6DkIR8p5ayYWCHv7q4y3z-ON24NcGkxy7Bn7W_2pcDPI6dQ9H-mYqGJSDMzGJCixt1Pp-DpWtGl-CINUgbvDSe0/s1600/scared-cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTTQCGEMKHqrDQ51OaHKt2igoD_j7B5AeoeCILhYVyf8KXMNaLLaS6DkIR8p5ayYWCHv7q4y3z-ON24NcGkxy7Bn7W_2pcDPI6dQ9H-mYqGJSDMzGJCixt1Pp-DpWtGl-CINUgbvDSe0/s320/scared-cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">Aaaaaand how I officially feel about the year 2013.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PdpO8izd-p3rq06e0VcUzsloSDw_7rX3chyIWPbBt0XGVHzqSNRABfoKYLctZDWQlUcsyDfEVbB6VtREj4DFz8vVo0LUWfKxlaKZzv46F0JB322C6uEbAnNGunEad9Y0bWf_uGTYrRc/s1600/Aa6MoYr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PdpO8izd-p3rq06e0VcUzsloSDw_7rX3chyIWPbBt0XGVHzqSNRABfoKYLctZDWQlUcsyDfEVbB6VtREj4DFz8vVo0LUWfKxlaKZzv46F0JB322C6uEbAnNGunEad9Y0bWf_uGTYrRc/s320/Aa6MoYr.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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So I know I can survive this because you do what you have to. And there are so many people who are worse off than we are. There shall be no "it could be worse" because I already know this. My concern is not even how I am going to do this. Because I have no choice and I know I will be fine (I will be able to drink this time!!) My concern is this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXKrBRv8bYOZiabhVi4Guo9rEpc8y0ewtDwHxe2vDV1jYaM-mlRe6HECaSNGLVWkSMiCPnH77B_1o931roQfJBcLLUYrD_ypRmVHjmUKgu1PhOkRbMsF7UqXGcLfe_tk7umDIqDNJmNk/s1600/IMG_20130809_085546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXKrBRv8bYOZiabhVi4Guo9rEpc8y0ewtDwHxe2vDV1jYaM-mlRe6HECaSNGLVWkSMiCPnH77B_1o931roQfJBcLLUYrD_ypRmVHjmUKgu1PhOkRbMsF7UqXGcLfe_tk7umDIqDNJmNk/s320/IMG_20130809_085546.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">This small little boy who just got his Daddy back. Who will have a brand new baby sister, a tired mommy and a broken heart because he just got his daddy back and now he's gone again.</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi_zjy93ebCZdVY5nbQFT8_IWp55d8UjbDaJxzF_ca27200ZU7vN-cmdQmuL5CnEH4vY2I4fTOxcGnBhPZEB-Q33i8Y0oc876RWx8pQAFHXuyzVhPU_YIt0bRwKYI2kYzvbRVUgIqNtk/s1600/IMG_20130827_185219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi_zjy93ebCZdVY5nbQFT8_IWp55d8UjbDaJxzF_ca27200ZU7vN-cmdQmuL5CnEH4vY2I4fTOxcGnBhPZEB-Q33i8Y0oc876RWx8pQAFHXuyzVhPU_YIt0bRwKYI2kYzvbRVUgIqNtk/s320/IMG_20130827_185219.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">My other concern is this. This amazing man who just got his mini me and his wife back and has to leave again. This amazing man who won't get those first few months with his brand new daughter. He missed so much of Link's first two years of life and will have to miss the beginning of hers. It's not fair to </span><i style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;">him. </i><br /><br />
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So send us your prayers, your good vibes, whatever it is that you do that our little girl will come a few weeks early so that D has a bit of time with her before he has to leave again.<br />
You are also welcome to send wine. Lots and lots of wine ;-)<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: cyan;">A Time I Had</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzyTd1ywcJopq012zyGUhTgLja17K2_KMARVuTJcVqsUKxAm0ucTJ93Tdhm7_7xLMA5l3elThJ9I57eorVYLTax4MB2FLBGidxh8g_O0kOqh3HawJp7lFFz0F-ndHCFHvyh0RRoPFDSE/s1600/935799_10101317781232809_348147473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzyTd1ywcJopq012zyGUhTgLja17K2_KMARVuTJcVqsUKxAm0ucTJ93Tdhm7_7xLMA5l3elThJ9I57eorVYLTax4MB2FLBGidxh8g_O0kOqh3HawJp7lFFz0F-ndHCFHvyh0RRoPFDSE/s320/935799_10101317781232809_348147473_n.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Link's first 5K!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-20499025070110548562013-07-11T11:23:00.000-07:002013-07-11T11:31:44.395-07:00The Time I Freaked Out in the Grocery Store OK So I think we have established that my pregnancy hormones may be getting the best of me. A few days ago I decided to prove it to the public.<br />
<br />
I dropped Link off at summer school and went to a business meeting with a club I am involved in. During the meeting I made the executive decision to do something I have been thinking about doing since late February. I decided to stop by the grocery store on the way home and pick up a box of Cap'n Crunch since I have been craving it for about 4ish months now. I was holding out but I let it get the best of me and decided to just give in. After all, I am working out almost every day and my pregnancy weight gain is not out of control by any stretch of the imagination. So why not!?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRJiL0EzOnN0jDHNUW16LoTn0ieaRc68y_YcT5c2kSkWsmuMtEQ-ZifxUQnYA6vClwI-_NAaJk66eDpUFdAxbPKACQmJfvDOegOwnXIbL5SW7AIrt7xz07mBSMDkWaVucOiCwxYjReoc/s1600/5256696227_7bff6f3d85_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRJiL0EzOnN0jDHNUW16LoTn0ieaRc68y_YcT5c2kSkWsmuMtEQ-ZifxUQnYA6vClwI-_NAaJk66eDpUFdAxbPKACQmJfvDOegOwnXIbL5SW7AIrt7xz07mBSMDkWaVucOiCwxYjReoc/s320/5256696227_7bff6f3d85_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh sweet sugary goodness why do you elude me!?</td></tr>
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So I go to our local Fresh N Easy on the way home. I pick up a few fruits and one or two extra things I need to make dinner that night and head over to the cereal aisle. As I am looking at the section where a rainbow puked on the boxes (aka the "kids cereal") I notice an empty spot at the top. My heart drops. Sure enough, the label on the shelf says "Cap'n Crunch Crunchberries $3.99 buy one get one free." It's on sale?!?! And they have no more!?!? NOOOOOOO.<br />
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I notice an employee stocking shelves behind me. I pull out my best puppy dog eyes and say to him "Excuse me, you don't happen to have anymore Cap'n Crunch do you?" He replies "No, sorry. Our grocery shipment doesn't come in today." Then, as if he's holding information from me I say to him "Are you sure you don't have like a pregnant lady reserve in the back or something?" "Oh man are you craving it?" he replies. GOOD GOD YES I AM I want to scream but simply reply "Yes!" He commiserates telling me his wife was recently pregnant and he knows how strong the cravings can be. At this point the crazy takes over and I play one of the cards my friends tell me I don't play enough. The "my husband is deployed" card. Yes, the pregnancy card didn't make the cereal magically appear. Let's give this a shot. I look at him and say "But my husband is deployed!!" Let's break down the effectiveness of this statement.<br />
-I still have no Cap'n Crunch<br />
-I now officially look crazy<br />
-I have made this poor unsuspecting employee feel bad about a circumstance he has NO control over.<br />
He asked me a few questions about how I was doing with all that and apologized AGAIN for not being able to magically make a box or two of Cap'n Crunch appear for me despite the fact that I was pregnant and my husband was deployed. <br />
<br />
Yup. I went there. I whined about being pregnant AND about D being deployed to a random stranger because they were out of a cereal I was craving. It. Was. Ridiculous. I know this. I actually floated up out of my body, watched it happening and thought "Oh girl, what are you doing!? You crazy!"<br />
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So yup. Fear not. I did get my Cap'n Crunch. It was good. Now I'm pretty much over it. Sorry poor unsuspecting Fresh N Easy employee. Hope the rest of the people that day were less crazy than me!<br />
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b>A Time I Had</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGG0-ZthXIxwOuV6NSUcbReisrNMMQOivuscT55PQNzWlUgQkNhEnrSj78vZT2URHCRKwAV5_6RqDp7Mo1ulZD0ZPWFoOPiJKV9avt2QV7ROI-bOlCTPcbmBBnSnBCI42-HuxZzS-5NE/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGG0-ZthXIxwOuV6NSUcbReisrNMMQOivuscT55PQNzWlUgQkNhEnrSj78vZT2URHCRKwAV5_6RqDp7Mo1ulZD0ZPWFoOPiJKV9avt2QV7ROI-bOlCTPcbmBBnSnBCI42-HuxZzS-5NE/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-22898080516188446812013-07-06T16:56:00.004-07:002013-07-06T17:05:05.478-07:00The Evil HOAOK so I know that some people who read this blog live in the same area and have the same subdivision HOA. They can correct me if I'm wrong (I will kindly ignore it because I am mad... and not just mad but pregnancy mad which makes feelings intensify til you are beyond all reason) but our HOA sucks. A lot. I hate them.<br />
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For those who see my constant Facebook updates about every mundane thing that happens to us you know that I have been continually harassed by my HOA since D left. And before then.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8-5jzk-EwIcrW-tNjPa80dT0-iCkyZZJwm114NKvZ4OsL5VzuxT6IGLLK0jd9_2aXTrnTdbmfcjBsU20K_xT8EVTQuzRiYacOAIt4kRoS4m6qyO0w1Vpb2qw1Qbp7wQ4NQLWofVeaKw/s1600/facepalm_by_sheriffwoody100-d35wblr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8-5jzk-EwIcrW-tNjPa80dT0-iCkyZZJwm114NKvZ4OsL5VzuxT6IGLLK0jd9_2aXTrnTdbmfcjBsU20K_xT8EVTQuzRiYacOAIt4kRoS4m6qyO0w1Vpb2qw1Qbp7wQ4NQLWofVeaKw/s320/facepalm_by_sheriffwoody100-d35wblr.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our first issue was that we "didn't have landscaping in our backyard." Which is funny because when we were looking to buy the house in January of 2012 we were commenting on how impressed we were by all the fruit trees and beautiful landscaping in the back. So imagine our surprise when we received a notice that none of that existed. Oh wait, WE HAVE LANDSCAPING!!!! Holy shit. D called them. They argued. He said and I quote "We have fruit trees back there. Would you like some fruit from our fruit trees!?" I have never heard D be that snarky, angry and f***ing amazing all in one minute since I have known him. Anyway we took care of that.<br />
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Then after he left they sent me some nonsense about how our address light doesn't light up. This was after I changed the bulbs again. After getting our "second notice to comply" I called them because I had had three dudes look at it, including an amazing doctor who used to do construction and contracting stuff and knows what he is doing. NOTHING works. So I call them up and they tell me "Oh everyone we have sent those letters to seems to be having the same problem." WARNING: ADULT LANGUAGE (like I said, pregnancy mad). OK Bitch so why did I even get a second freaking notice to comply. I'm complying the hell out of things. Leave me alone. Then she says she will bring it up to the board and I shouldn't get another letter for at least two months. Um what? The next letter you send me better be you assholes telling me how to fix it or telling me you are actually USING our HOA dues for something other than paper and printer ink to harass us with. OK well that's on the back burner. I am sure I will hear something about my stupid address light again soon. By the way half the neighborhood has address signs that don't light up and on my way to the mailbox today I saw a house that had just ripped the whole damn thing off. I like their style.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6L6SPIwwr_jql0UrtDnJM0xCkI-rD2-VislogAOdEpeZJQUPUF92BmPQVMDMvlo5l19uw1KY0g7raJRYnCrKCBnWIHWPDNxc0sLnC0GLxPOs8OqhIULPLpHyqjlV1LLp-RA6UlXjxlk/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6L6SPIwwr_jql0UrtDnJM0xCkI-rD2-VislogAOdEpeZJQUPUF92BmPQVMDMvlo5l19uw1KY0g7raJRYnCrKCBnWIHWPDNxc0sLnC0GLxPOs8OqhIULPLpHyqjlV1LLp-RA6UlXjxlk/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a>This time I received a letter that they did not have proof that we had our satellite dish approved. It's been there since we moved in in February 2012. OK fine. I get it. You have to submit paper for even looking at your house. I'm surprised we are allowed to park in our driveways. So this process takes me forever. I have to submit an architectural application (which they DID NOT include with my compliance letter). Then I got that but I was supposed to include a letter from DirectTV saying the location of our dish was the only place that would receive a signal. After talking to four different people in four different departments they told me they do not send such letters. So I contacted the HOA again. And had to leave a voicemail again... that they took forever to return. She finally tells me they are lying and gives me the contact info for the tv guy that will send the letter. Really? You couldn't do that at the same time you told me I needed this damn letter?! Then after five days trying to contact this guy and leaving messages and getting no return call I contact the HOA AGAIN. A day or two later the lady tells me she sent me the WRONG contact info. Oh good God. I will cut a bitch. The direcTV thing takes roughly three seconds to take care of and they get the letter over about 4 minutes after I talk to them. I love them. Then I call the HOA to make sure they got it. She sounds all confused, says she has it and asks where everything else is. Well you don't have it because I've been getting the run around on this damn letter. Anyway I finally get everything sent in.<br />
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Today I get a "second notice to comply" letter about the dish.<br />
I texted a friend to make sure that she could watch Link.<br />
I got in touch with D to see if they could send him home from deployment early if I was in jail.<br />
I MIGHT need bail money.<br />
I decided that instead of taking a field trip with a bat that I would write what D refered to as a "verbal bitch slap" instead.<br />
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<br />
I might be a tiny bit nicer if I thought our dues were going to things other than just paying the landscaping workers $2 each to cut bushes and blow leaves solely around the gate entrances. But there is constantly trash all over the neighborhood, the common walkways look like overgrown jungles, nothing fun really happens except a 4th of july block party you are required to donate to if you go...<br />
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No one pull the "first world problem" on me. Every problem I have is a first world problem because guess what? I live in America. Also, I have child care and bail money pending and I'm not afraid to use my bat. Pregnancy is making me crazy beyond all reason. I am allowed to complain on MY blog. You are not required to read it. Also, this is part of the reason I never wanted to live somewhere with an HOA. I get that it supposedly increases property values and keeps the neighborhood from looking skeezy. But none of that is going to do me any good if I'm either insane or in jail. Just sayin'.<br />
<span style="color: cyan;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>A Time I Had</b></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394966258201092420.post-59356431936742185402013-07-03T13:09:00.002-07:002013-07-03T13:09:57.951-07:00Sugar CrashToday was the dreaded glucose test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. They've changed a few things since the last time I was pregnant. It's not a 2 hour long process involving three seperate blood draws and the same old nasty drink.<br />
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Let me describe to you my experience in googled pictures.<br />
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My initial blood draw:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYysmpLtTfiX5QPjM_RPqzucUE959l-UmvOU2-H4A9c1WOoTdPJWm4eBQZLrYrR5d6MOODshVosqmLl6vp4Zb78epH3ievSPttIgjCJVmDoH0OuagaYFZRBUGXnugjp-TNOpdJolo7A/s254/snoopy_happy_dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYysmpLtTfiX5QPjM_RPqzucUE959l-UmvOU2-H4A9c1WOoTdPJWm4eBQZLrYrR5d6MOODshVosqmLl6vp4Zb78epH3ievSPttIgjCJVmDoH0OuagaYFZRBUGXnugjp-TNOpdJolo7A/s254/snoopy_happy_dance.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google search: happy dance (most painless blood draw I've ever experienced!)</td></tr>
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How Fetus reacted to me drinking the nasty high sugar drink they make you drink: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EQuZH9Y8L62Kg4kPizRpdkE9oFM8__9OlJozSIGTAQDLlXPbVH10Yq_Iq8qaEAyAzZK0C4mSCAJzOK8kZSZja5b3TyWrZ0zke1pOVabeTc_pndqnTBBKA7BRM_iX1hb5ldQAe4BB_rc/s320/Vinnie_the_Ferret_in_a_War_Dance_Jump.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google search: Cracked out ferret</td></tr>
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The hour in between my first and second blood draw:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ8YeS7zZbPpi_5ksrcwyRUSG619RTFyq658d-fkPvvnaeufWxX0e_OuOCEUPfKkAHHkCb1DaoRuO4rGYkMdfe2KIscrekdJb_FMynZiIX54MKI8hTEWZHvifSFUqa_trs9o-9n-lAFs/s400/relaxed_kitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ8YeS7zZbPpi_5ksrcwyRUSG619RTFyq658d-fkPvvnaeufWxX0e_OuOCEUPfKkAHHkCb1DaoRuO4rGYkMdfe2KIscrekdJb_FMynZiIX54MKI8hTEWZHvifSFUqa_trs9o-9n-lAFs/s320/relaxed_kitten.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google search: relaxed (it was nice to have some time to just sit and zone out)</td></tr>
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The second blood draw:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZJuuOeHFLCwHiy71pDkMIeuUcwHHiJ2oGZ0TZ_6y9oaaCdZ4Jtq1-2WBTOVlrZ3_iMhvHcy5oyc3m7A1Rw9PD2bvq985jtvxlRjOtHse1C_Jvc1huy3PAkfdN4ZkJqCD9W0S5nnr3ms/s470/stock-photo-male-vampire-wants-to-bite-in-an-arm-82892026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZJuuOeHFLCwHiy71pDkMIeuUcwHHiJ2oGZ0TZ_6y9oaaCdZ4Jtq1-2WBTOVlrZ3_iMhvHcy5oyc3m7A1Rw9PD2bvq985jtvxlRjOtHse1C_Jvc1huy3PAkfdN4ZkJqCD9W0S5nnr3ms/s320/stock-photo-male-vampire-wants-to-bite-in-an-arm-82892026.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google search: vampire bite on arm (not as painless as the first draw)</td></tr>
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What I imagined in my head that the lady doing the second draw looked like:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P2ZsX6LU1FeutIwuZexWWfETmyiDluigwJD-eMY1i4XY-aSgzjCR54aWkEuQtcc-nqZISc7Fg59DAVAyOA8kEdLxoaqdEa87El1L47CDbbBs7a4_ERaOPOm2PUFNbUsioUtDbarHrLs/s400/DragonOnSword_758067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P2ZsX6LU1FeutIwuZexWWfETmyiDluigwJD-eMY1i4XY-aSgzjCR54aWkEuQtcc-nqZISc7Fg59DAVAyOA8kEdLxoaqdEa87El1L47CDbbBs7a4_ERaOPOm2PUFNbUsioUtDbarHrLs/s320/DragonOnSword_758067.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">google search: dragon with a sword (she hurt me!)</td></tr>
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The hour in between my second and third blood draw:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GSUmzu_YvHHe11osykvtkfXEhxy5h9yeIHb_aeIihuZ02r-X2-Mo-PFU4jbuJQMH6vpvzBR9QWVFslYR2JMhThFd_NHi9T7IKczvEfvvpMw4yKFsDHqyZHhEJFnJvW6B2GOn39AAquM/s350/bored_baby_1284_xlarge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GSUmzu_YvHHe11osykvtkfXEhxy5h9yeIHb_aeIihuZ02r-X2-Mo-PFU4jbuJQMH6vpvzBR9QWVFslYR2JMhThFd_NHi9T7IKczvEfvvpMw4yKFsDHqyZHhEJFnJvW6B2GOn39AAquM/s320/bored_baby_1284_xlarge.jpeg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">google search: super bored (I was starting to feel sick from the drink and I couldn't focus on my book)</td></tr>
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How I felt after it was over:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgJfaSDXwdchadykHAODWG4koGbi3lExM4bvTrUKlZ_mJSi922QF0eDbKbdHckgzfohJW2_km95PNF0KR1x9rz2-Uuc8b1nRRjHgDVFvacuAEUGOQh1-W1dfT4ggjcbFSgoewPMBcqC4/s500/hB827921A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgJfaSDXwdchadykHAODWG4koGbi3lExM4bvTrUKlZ_mJSi922QF0eDbKbdHckgzfohJW2_km95PNF0KR1x9rz2-Uuc8b1nRRjHgDVFvacuAEUGOQh1-W1dfT4ggjcbFSgoewPMBcqC4/s320/hB827921A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">google search: sugar crash (I felt ill. And tired. And like I hadn't eaten anything in a while except for a ton of sugar. Gross!)</td></tr>
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How I felt after I stopped feeling sick: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhfSV3Upc_1yTFOqVreHN3HKuZjgn9bvgGMBRhyphenhyphenfkCFtiyLsX-03kqxebujQXRjYV51DbpcDwLEZKsqkIp0rJbLeQ-B5dZ83R8StOaP2UiPtbZ7fElxlozrw-OODjYLJFAheUcRzaEWY/s500/draft_lens8090271module110689931photo_1279359420very-hungry-fat-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhfSV3Upc_1yTFOqVreHN3HKuZjgn9bvgGMBRhyphenhyphenfkCFtiyLsX-03kqxebujQXRjYV51DbpcDwLEZKsqkIp0rJbLeQ-B5dZ83R8StOaP2UiPtbZ7fElxlozrw-OODjYLJFAheUcRzaEWY/s320/draft_lens8090271module110689931photo_1279359420very-hungry-fat-girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">google search: hungry fat kid. (I was starving after no breakfast!) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The third blood draw was brutal. I have small veins and they tend to move once there is a needle already in them. The third draw ended up with one needle being taken out and thrown away because it hurt so bad when it came out of the vein. I'll have some beautiful bruises there.<br />
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Anyway pregnancy is just so fun I could vomit (I almost did after that drink!) But hopefully not too much more blood tests and such as long as they can get my vitamin D levels under control. Maybe I'm just having withdrawals because he's deployed! HAHA. Yes, bad joke. I'll leave you with that. You're welcome.<br />
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A Time I Had<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0