tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72332270245624345382024-02-06T19:22:10.434-08:00the eyes of my eyes are openedPlease join us on our Ethiopian adoption journey.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.comBlogger927125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-27553322342732097592015-11-17T19:13:00.003-08:002015-11-17T19:13:37.556-08:00Thanksgiving Tree?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last year we made a Thanksgiving tree and filled it with leaves. We wrote what we were thankful for on each leaf, "Bunnies, coffee, each other..." some expressions were more profound than others.<br />
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This year we would have made one, but we already had homemade artwork on the wall.<br />
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Months ago Melese asked to get the paints out. He painted the Earth, and then enlisted these two for a bigger project:<br />
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When I asked Melese if he wanted to make a tree this year, he said that he was worried that we'd have to take down the Universe he created with his dad and sister, so we've decided to make Thankful Stars and put them in our sky instead. Anyone got a good star template?<br />
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I've decided to dust off the old blog a bit. I don't want blogging to interfere with my napping though. At my age you need quite a few naps. If you've been hankering to write something but don't feel like dusting off your tired blog, send it to me and I'll publish it.<br />
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<br />Happy Almost Thanksgiving. What will you write on your Thankful Stars?<br />
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-11749085640972326222014-12-08T11:33:00.000-08:002014-12-08T11:36:58.991-08:00Is This Blog On?Wow. Holy Blog Neglect! Happy Holidays!<br />
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For the two people I know who aren't on Facebook, we are holding an ONLINE AUCTION to benefit the Kololo School and The Awassa Reading Center. GO<a href="https://secure.giftogo.com/e/auction-for-education-in-ethiopia"> HERE</a> to bid on One of a Kind items like V.I.P tickets to the Ellen Show, tickets to the Mockingjay 2 premier, and a bunch of other cool stuff. Thank you to everyone who donated items. Bidding continues today through tomorrow, closing at 5:00 pm PST! Here is the link again:<a href="https://secure.giftogo.com/e/auction-for-education-in-ethiopia/items"> AUCTION LINK</a><br />
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This school has come a long way. It seems like yesterday when it was just a dream. Remember?<br />
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I remember how all of you helped make this school happen.<br />
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Sometimes it feels like a drop in the bucket. I hear stories about how the kids go home at noon because they are too hungry to continue school, about the bathroom caving in, and about the huge waiting list for a spot in the classroom. It is discouraging. I want this school to continue. I want more kids to have an opportunity to attend.<br />
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Please check out the auction and bid if you can. I understand folks get disappointed when they are 'outbid' but let's go back a minute to the reason Heather Cox and I are doing this...<br />
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Perhaps if you were outbid, consider donating what you 'limit' was. Perhaps you don't get an item or an experience. But you will make a difference in their futures.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1714285364"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ethiopiareads.org/kololo">Donate here to keep the Kololo School Open.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ethiopiareads.org/awassareadingcenter">Donate here to keep The Awassa Reading Center Open.</a><br />
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Thanks very much. <br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-80159817929094952252014-05-12T12:09:00.000-07:002014-05-12T17:53:40.716-07:00New Writing. New Family Members.For the three Blog followers who aren't on Facebook, here is some new writing...<br />
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<a href="http://www.incultureparent.com/2014/05/is-motherhood-more-bitter-than-sweet/">Is Motherhood More Bitter than Sweet? </a>at InCulture Parent.<br />
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<a href="http://www.adoption.net/adoptive-parents/blog/is-there-hope-for-ethiopian-orphans-as-international-adoption-declines?vnc=5KkHxkO18odbx1DavhNYGa7jarRdxjJnhqmmqzzjTxg&vnp=1">Ethiopia and Adoption Decline</a> at Adoption.net</div>
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<a href="http://www.adoption.net/adoptive-parents/node/25512?vnc=5KkHxkO18odbx1DavhNYGa7jarRdxjJnhqmmqzzjTxg&vnp=0">Secret Weapons for Attachment </a>at Adoption.net</div>
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Also, this happened....</div>
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We adopted another brother and sister.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-60300399741953536182013-11-22T07:15:00.001-08:002013-11-22T07:15:54.947-08:00Links to Actual Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Steven asked me to update my blog so that he wouldn't have to see that terribly sad picture of Melese anymore.<br />
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Here are some links for a bit of writing I have been doing between school pick ups. (My apologies if none of them are new to you.)<br />
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My column for InCulture Parent-<a href="http://www.incultureparent.com/2013/11/thankfulness-insecurity-and-adoption-a-messy-lesson/">Thankfulness, Insecurity and Adoption: A Messy Lesson</a><br />
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A couple of posts I wrote for a new website- <a href="http://adoption.net/">Adoption.net</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adoption.net/adoptive-parents/blog/family-lost-and-found"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.adoption.net/adoptive-parents/blog/family-lost-and-found">Family, Lost and Found</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.adoption.net/adoptive-parents/blog/happy-halloween">Happy Halloween?</a><br />
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Have a wonderful weekend.<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-29907672150296674022013-10-25T11:05:00.001-07:002013-10-25T11:05:35.167-07:00Sometimes I Forget.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Melese,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made a mistake today. I’m sure it’s not the last one I’ll
make before the day is done. We went to Meazi’s school like we do every weekday
morning. We played on the field. You met a new friend named Tyson. When it was
time, like all of the other families, we made our way to the classrooms. You
ran in and starting playing with a ball one of Meazi’s classmates had on her
desk. Meazi hung up her backpack in her cubby, and ran to get a book she wanted
to show me. I lost track of you for a second “Where’s our little guy Meazi?” I
asked. She laughed and pointed to you now playing with a toy attached to
someone else’s backpack. I came over to you, tickled your ear, and asked you
half-heartedly not to play with other people’s stuff. You smiled and scampered
off. I turned around and Meazi was gone. “I can’t keep track of both kids,” I
said aloud to no one in particular, just a loony mommy talking to herself in
the third grade classroom. I looked all over the room for Meazi. One of her
classmates said she saw her in the hallway. Thinking that maybe she had gone to
the water fountain down the hall, I walked out of the classroom to check. This
was my mistake Melese. The door closed behind me. It was just a few seconds.
Suddenly I heard a commotion. There was a loud noise coming from her classroom
door. I walked over to the door and there you were on the other side of the
glass desperately trying to open the door. I tried to open it as fast as it
could. I looked at you and you were so very panicked. You looked like you
thought you were about to be consumed by a raging fire, that if you didn’t get
out this second your small body would be consumed by flames. We struggled with
the door, finally getting it open. You ran into my arms and sobbed deep, deep
sobs. “I wouldn’t leave without you Melese,” I said in a soft voice, realizing
what I had done, realizing that I had forgotten for a moment what it is like to
be us. I was foolishly thinking that like some of the other moms in the room, I
could step away from you for a minute without mentioning it to you first. I’m
so sorry Melese.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four years is a
long time. I got relaxed for a minute. I thought I could just step out, find
Meazi, and come back to you. I was wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We sat on a chair in the hallway. You continued to weep into
my shoulder until my sweater was soaked with your tears. I continued to whisper
in your ear, telling you that I would always come back. I reassured you that I
would never leave without telling you. But that is just what I did isn’t it? I
left without telling you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sorry Melese. We aren’t a normal mommy and son at drop
off are we Melese? I forgot about that for a moment. Sometimes I get too casual
and confident. Sometimes I forget. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please forgive me. </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-61262941610934019792013-09-25T21:41:00.005-07:002013-09-25T21:44:02.153-07:00Comfort.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl7IobVKxFJtNPwzipRSAFnSKoa2vfebL1X4wKPTQH_0lHcPI-jV9DFr7tStxRPAkAS3QFuwoROWJvI5MINobI0w9VRrJQkYOfpfsS45SvWS2PYCEF9O4L3bmmfZbyFKmf4Y35DNxfKs/s1600/DSC_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl7IobVKxFJtNPwzipRSAFnSKoa2vfebL1X4wKPTQH_0lHcPI-jV9DFr7tStxRPAkAS3QFuwoROWJvI5MINobI0w9VRrJQkYOfpfsS45SvWS2PYCEF9O4L3bmmfZbyFKmf4Y35DNxfKs/s320/DSC_0394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a rare twist of events, Meazi asked if she could sleep in
our bed tonight. After years of co-sleeping, she had finally made her way over
to a single bed in her own room last spring. Just this past weekend, at Ikea,
she picked out light blue sheets and a toile comforter cover that she liked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overwhelmed by the complexities of third grade (primarily
the introduction of substantial homework and angst about being the youngest
girl in her class) Meazi surprised me with this request. I told her she never
had to ask and that she was always welcome to sleep in our room if she wanted
to. Melese still sleeps with us. He still kicks us incessantly in the ribs and
Steven inevitably ends up on our lumpy couch in the living room. Our house is
so small that it doesn’t really matter where any of us sleep; we are still very
close to one another. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need the room to be pitch black to sleep. This drives
Steven crazy. If a curtain is open anywhere and the smallest sliver of a
lamppost light slips in I go ballistic, "What is that glaring Lighhhhhhhhht?” I
wail. I also need to be up against the wall; anxiety about rolling off the
outside edge causes me to wake up throughout the night. If I am not smashed up
against the cold, dark wall, I will never ever sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a tough couple of weeks for Meazi. I always
forget that September and March are really trying times for our kiddos. March
for obvious reasons, September for more subtle ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was secretly gleeful as Meazi brushed her teeth. I miss
her. Nighttime is the time when Meazi used to talk to me the most. These days
she is knee deep in a Boxcar Mystery each night armed with a tiny reading light
and a silky sleep cap. I can’t get a peep out of her when I say goodnight.
Instead I get a “Please mom, five more minutes to read?” Who can resist. I let
her read until she falls asleep. I leave and go in the next room to lie down
with Melese. Melese talks a little bit before he falls asleep. I’ll say, “What
was the best part of your day Melese? What was the part you liked the least?”
He’ll answer, throw his skinny arm around my neck and fall fast asleep. I’ll
wait a few minutes and then get up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight I lay between them. Meazi stuck her cold feet under
my legs for warmth. “What part of your body is this mom ?"(Who could tell in this
deep dark sleeping chamber with nary an ounce of light). “It’s my thigh.” I
said. “Oh, I thought you just had a really fleshy calf.” She says laughing.
“Don’t get up Mama,” she says, “Stay here with us.” Melese is chatty, anxious
about a couple of things “What happens when you miss a connecting flight Mama?”
I tell him about later flights and other airlines but he still seems worried
although we have no immediate travel plans that I know of.” “What will happen
with Doc and Zeppo?” Our friend’s pups had a serious scuffle and Melese is
worried about them. He says, “Our dogs did something much badder remember Mama?
They ate all those Easter eggs!” We didn’t know Melese when our three dogs
consumed thirty-six dyed Easter eggs, but he remembers it as if he had been
there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a little more chatter among them. I am relishing
being in the middle again. Time ticks on, 8:00, 8:30. They continue to talk.
Melese says to Meazi, “Don’t be surprised if mommy gets up and is tempted to
read a little bit. She’ll want to get a small snack and watch her Mad Men on
TV.” I laugh at this very true statement. I do like to get up after he falls
asleep to read a little, have a little snack, and have a cool glass of wine
with Don Draper, err I mean Steven.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realize why they are not falling asleep. I quietly move
out of the middle to the outside of the bed, fear of falling be damned. “Mommy
don’t go!” Meazi says. “I’m still here.” I reply. Melese rolls into her, flings
his skinny arm around her waist, and the two of them are asleep within thirty
seconds. Just like it used to be.<br />
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-40441023858072728022013-09-08T19:29:00.003-07:002013-09-08T19:43:19.896-07:00Having a Hard Time Letting Go of...Summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYLWZPq83-9owcBA8Eozumm87YAGPFfgIOaCPlgf9a17WrV_JCHRnIiI7rXyTi0gzhSJblojk3pZUxXaekEoiuemSfuxOxVkwry_N1DdYeR2ZeKfLlzQE1WM6yEQEWpxfpg45a3wofuI/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYLWZPq83-9owcBA8Eozumm87YAGPFfgIOaCPlgf9a17WrV_JCHRnIiI7rXyTi0gzhSJblojk3pZUxXaekEoiuemSfuxOxVkwry_N1DdYeR2ZeKfLlzQE1WM6yEQEWpxfpg45a3wofuI/s400/DSC_0188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
(I apologize in advance to my Facebook friends who had to endure these photos already).<br />
<br />
The kids and I got to spend almost seven weeks with my parents at their house on the lake.<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/AVvXsEiVHdwN00jEMEQd1NcAO6NuPxeHR3fUU2D1RSLNsdY6DgYVH-EyAw205h-J3QthRTshRHhSXLiebknRnCftSBr6pGwKpvDGzqlt2SMl1bgmuGGw_bJ6SnZ0FhTt5T1GaHVlNNdRkC-SWs8/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHdwN00jEMEQd1NcAO6NuPxeHR3fUU2D1RSLNsdY6DgYVH-EyAw205h-J3QthRTshRHhSXLiebknRnCftSBr6pGwKpvDGzqlt2SMl1bgmuGGw_bJ6SnZ0FhTt5T1GaHVlNNdRkC-SWs8/s200/DSC_0026.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did a lot of this.</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/AVvXsEjG6sMmc4hi_U0CD3Et64DE8ARpYMWuhLyye45TN7r-DdhyphenhyphenvB8_e4qUuOraIOpY8cXqivD0opwzoEek8lrpy5TQ5a4XGoBGu-dgcq_Hfp_vHTg7ay76X9PxsOg_ZwcWiBAuClErc6PbNq0/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6sMmc4hi_U0CD3Et64DE8ARpYMWuhLyye45TN7r-DdhyphenhyphenvB8_e4qUuOraIOpY8cXqivD0opwzoEek8lrpy5TQ5a4XGoBGu-dgcq_Hfp_vHTg7ay76X9PxsOg_ZwcWiBAuClErc6PbNq0/s200/DSC_0007.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meazi became an equestrian.</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/AVvXsEg8KoWyKHWw36GrLA-AdjlHWk959CVdsdK5MUWHDRR-pNrc5kU0sFpcgRSTLYVBGuyhPGXcPpCk6zbCLc3R5Sh3TiVDHSooZ38i3gRKcLRTBDMqoMZIpHWR_xLY3TpaftQfCo-n-RcaB5A/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KoWyKHWw36GrLA-AdjlHWk959CVdsdK5MUWHDRR-pNrc5kU0sFpcgRSTLYVBGuyhPGXcPpCk6zbCLc3R5Sh3TiVDHSooZ38i3gRKcLRTBDMqoMZIpHWR_xLY3TpaftQfCo-n-RcaB5A/s200/DSC_0029.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven joined us for the last week.</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/AVvXsEhodWONn3Qu6Z2a32WAFAlBnlo0D1txGmzebOtSBUbHqVqecqf_KCThZuQ5skzj3OhWgehmjtGsjhPccWrcsMw7-g9yKNo4S6hNz0OSAz-tbgvaRXekr-I6X2PQ6s5SLb28e6Ld1Lp9OKg/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodWONn3Qu6Z2a32WAFAlBnlo0D1txGmzebOtSBUbHqVqecqf_KCThZuQ5skzj3OhWgehmjtGsjhPccWrcsMw7-g9yKNo4S6hNz0OSAz-tbgvaRXekr-I6X2PQ6s5SLb28e6Ld1Lp9OKg/s200/DSC_0056.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Papa Ever.</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;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQaJibR45z7POj0JgGGEF2IafLgTVXiDQXr7xt6CSHJ6GepR4oIQagZZtRu4ko7uReV_jAbOiEpl8lBwomB5kpfbhFzbilhkSWtQ4Uvlp0Dkzx1kMrZ0qcN3GT0cyXA0IOyMd9mqJwJQ/s200/DSC_0057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bro. That is his tap. Yes, BEER on tap, on the deck.</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/AVvXsEi_b5zZ_hu3YhZaqNNmKDf4KcoHFYhSGpKOVn4VfzKK78eKoF7TAJ68ryv821AF0na4SINJShCqwicglsye4quQIw3PPra_AezFhjgf5v_EeyxLlgVpHYxwZqe-mmm3mL_4aMv2sYhNzEw/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_b5zZ_hu3YhZaqNNmKDf4KcoHFYhSGpKOVn4VfzKK78eKoF7TAJ68ryv821AF0na4SINJShCqwicglsye4quQIw3PPra_AezFhjgf5v_EeyxLlgVpHYxwZqe-mmm3mL_4aMv2sYhNzEw/s200/DSC_0055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Sis-in-law. Lake Girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD0p2DNUCKEIWtJr6sjYgqne2pDwppxNM9PUNzV7AIVvGUs1pNDEOYdh_K6NjWTBN1LEYtfG8Jj6vAfQPDd2Wf1JQBlKxde7agyrczVyAMTlG_Q-jkKs6yLqDEQpvUEGtnjgO-AnsSs8/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD0p2DNUCKEIWtJr6sjYgqne2pDwppxNM9PUNzV7AIVvGUs1pNDEOYdh_K6NjWTBN1LEYtfG8Jj6vAfQPDd2Wf1JQBlKxde7agyrczVyAMTlG_Q-jkKs6yLqDEQpvUEGtnjgO-AnsSs8/s200/DSC_0073.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaTMcjyTLzqwM3TlNPiYcyz-MHtRaUo8bwypIk6c9A7crLHBMlhDRKZMu8QPB42GHuKRJ8BgmXdspfkqzrcvDBKRBZTKPmq1L1ipZIgEzi0Sps9-UiXLXvNjrGOdBOe66nDmPueKsfBc/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaTMcjyTLzqwM3TlNPiYcyz-MHtRaUo8bwypIk6c9A7crLHBMlhDRKZMu8QPB42GHuKRJ8BgmXdspfkqzrcvDBKRBZTKPmq1L1ipZIgEzi0Sps9-UiXLXvNjrGOdBOe66nDmPueKsfBc/s200/DSC_0105.JPG" width="200" /></a></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/AVvXsEjn5T50B0ep7AIkYP7oczzGYI7GcH4tbkDEnhwjLCmJyNJ1GgUpqyIQDWoB4_H2sOSKD0AdY-haRxR6GzOUGULkDXkINMj8FiH3PWxKMlcLMPfJVS-aVYG8lPtA0-DbRU6V73YQi88o1rA/s1600/DSC_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5T50B0ep7AIkYP7oczzGYI7GcH4tbkDEnhwjLCmJyNJ1GgUpqyIQDWoB4_H2sOSKD0AdY-haRxR6GzOUGULkDXkINMj8FiH3PWxKMlcLMPfJVS-aVYG8lPtA0-DbRU6V73YQi88o1rA/s200/DSC_0113.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildlife.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lvdtB1cEAJeqhXIC92i_9rVxF5g68jbsNOkJ9d4NZAFEpVC5nnG0-QagQjVqAgIgJ3FWkx7uCIg3PoIw9pJXHVuhbAK-j1zfOBl5eprRzQsDeb8awqdvZ8sNb5D8qHCLNDg6erKuR84/s1600/DSC_0121+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lvdtB1cEAJeqhXIC92i_9rVxF5g68jbsNOkJ9d4NZAFEpVC5nnG0-QagQjVqAgIgJ3FWkx7uCIg3PoIw9pJXHVuhbAK-j1zfOBl5eprRzQsDeb8awqdvZ8sNb5D8qHCLNDg6erKuR84/s200/DSC_0121+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFrJYJmtyXc-VLpyTt-yr-8Kk_u9hSZaY4LwkhikKVIBtTz4EzJm5xGNLIJ8dACJLJdwpRrUgKRP-bKKL8GQym_jOhMDYAlWZsaTJIZUjOct8_nf0m_TLVcCcXQPzpolML4HCXWjc5Qw/s1600/DSC_0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFrJYJmtyXc-VLpyTt-yr-8Kk_u9hSZaY4LwkhikKVIBtTz4EzJm5xGNLIJ8dACJLJdwpRrUgKRP-bKKL8GQym_jOhMDYAlWZsaTJIZUjOct8_nf0m_TLVcCcXQPzpolML4HCXWjc5Qw/s200/DSC_0141.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did a lot of this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcKWZk2HOnVfJU9RwByE8MZH7WE0pN1z3y4G2eJpplx_FEsWWkMH40KS031ZoABTKMQB_Qt4UKhqet8WGe2FjluUSEYJq8PPliH6quKEXUuMZsdYurYMdFP1m1ZW3wgBEc8sEldzjiME/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcKWZk2HOnVfJU9RwByE8MZH7WE0pN1z3y4G2eJpplx_FEsWWkMH40KS031ZoABTKMQB_Qt4UKhqet8WGe2FjluUSEYJq8PPliH6quKEXUuMZsdYurYMdFP1m1ZW3wgBEc8sEldzjiME/s200/DSC_0349.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nana and Papa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLijvQWA-W9tS26nmKW-mnEhTlgMK_OS64fEIlBETW1MnpYDJOWegFpG1D-g-wZl5DIDLKEQ45PwFiJIr85_MxxqrLmTHIxZL6y3MyFcShk-lkaXlFqV2Tfwzyw5x5gMjaruAPmLkXxo/s1600/DSC_0359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLijvQWA-W9tS26nmKW-mnEhTlgMK_OS64fEIlBETW1MnpYDJOWegFpG1D-g-wZl5DIDLKEQ45PwFiJIr85_MxxqrLmTHIxZL6y3MyFcShk-lkaXlFqV2Tfwzyw5x5gMjaruAPmLkXxo/s200/DSC_0359.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Kate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnX9dbPCoWwslUY2i6PKZuqHdij23wieif2fEdn_ZQvLoflIo7IRnVWfzA4h_I5-rv9R-Qv_hDXwb2lOckOWSQrY2trczmpaugjGvLIzI84_mx8H__phAAYy3jwCDDGKs2AETMM0IvBA/s1600/DSC_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnX9dbPCoWwslUY2i6PKZuqHdij23wieif2fEdn_ZQvLoflIo7IRnVWfzA4h_I5-rv9R-Qv_hDXwb2lOckOWSQrY2trczmpaugjGvLIzI84_mx8H__phAAYy3jwCDDGKs2AETMM0IvBA/s200/DSC_0366.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did a lot of this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQtykf170N_iXhz21lWlyOlkmD7tDwi_xD3sw-Hs0i34SHVewMCzz9ph9SeGfCUPS5oGRRf_dnnCDh1BMku6hq_iQJ4e7mbEpXuFlpc-JbYQRSNnLCBI2GpMxLrpYLir6ZxO7nrDcXP0/s1600/DSC_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQtykf170N_iXhz21lWlyOlkmD7tDwi_xD3sw-Hs0i34SHVewMCzz9ph9SeGfCUPS5oGRRf_dnnCDh1BMku6hq_iQJ4e7mbEpXuFlpc-JbYQRSNnLCBI2GpMxLrpYLir6ZxO7nrDcXP0/s200/DSC_0504.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to see <a href="http://www.incultureparent.com/2011/09/reunited-outside-the-orphanage-walls/">these guys</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33aNNABaaiKKdmXtrLQwAlFbTEMOamXIw2nblF5H4OXi6WaIBBfXFpjWF_wV5F9LoPKcIIVyPD8IPmhqGHBMIn9Y2AnSEHqmzl_ltpFY_vivnHq8TFgaDItY4xeZR_HrHKoR_qrp7DM4/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33aNNABaaiKKdmXtrLQwAlFbTEMOamXIw2nblF5H4OXi6WaIBBfXFpjWF_wV5F9LoPKcIIVyPD8IPmhqGHBMIn9Y2AnSEHqmzl_ltpFY_vivnHq8TFgaDItY4xeZR_HrHKoR_qrp7DM4/s200/DSC_0509.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World's Best Nana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp-YwRfO-Sh0Lyx_b05bm5gPBY8miheixC3dudj6WMz7um51-TCtL_EAYTdZaNq3aV0iUUbz44yxs86vhLtU98pKTiwQU_cUsrm9SpOtZjvTnOzQyW_6h7Hxn1rKZ82DcGW9VDWBuCfk/s1600/DSC_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp-YwRfO-Sh0Lyx_b05bm5gPBY8miheixC3dudj6WMz7um51-TCtL_EAYTdZaNq3aV0iUUbz44yxs86vhLtU98pKTiwQU_cUsrm9SpOtZjvTnOzQyW_6h7Hxn1rKZ82DcGW9VDWBuCfk/s200/DSC_0510.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did some of this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeihm-Seo8BR0Py5g8k7UzR-o1ExoQsGxrXm7fLeEHqVNbflKUR1wQAgPK4J68MLxKxcO5vHGbNrzuf2QEHyy6E770I_kin8nCqw7yyO2doA-ubrxeC39KmT3aat5pXEYxl1mwa3WQsU/s1600/DSC_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeihm-Seo8BR0Py5g8k7UzR-o1ExoQsGxrXm7fLeEHqVNbflKUR1wQAgPK4J68MLxKxcO5vHGbNrzuf2QEHyy6E770I_kin8nCqw7yyO2doA-ubrxeC39KmT3aat5pXEYxl1mwa3WQsU/s200/DSC_0552.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bro-in-law</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRe2EjurxbP6QJhu_ExiVSgqd2dFvvPvqEkIuEE6w0wQjRT8JXNSHYFZUpmgIhkCgMS_SuxbczK9m-6oChohSwu1H4Rx2UJ7kPxpdKlaBUOON5nqWr4hAi-wDwJifE8QFsifzd1DWfSI/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRe2EjurxbP6QJhu_ExiVSgqd2dFvvPvqEkIuEE6w0wQjRT8JXNSHYFZUpmgIhkCgMS_SuxbczK9m-6oChohSwu1H4Rx2UJ7kPxpdKlaBUOON5nqWr4hAi-wDwJifE8QFsifzd1DWfSI/s200/DSC_0572.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whipped Cream as a food group</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MzRvHR-blu77GIyuWl2a50_-DPT4IbJvdAYeXxrlWN52-d93TvSE2MzHBmF4crGO8j75yKhTz2PEGqU8qmJx1Fa-8VMws1d-xscDWo0M4_KEbrpuOdd9W9BfPcCrtmFKezJ1b88SzP8/s1600/DSC_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MzRvHR-blu77GIyuWl2a50_-DPT4IbJvdAYeXxrlWN52-d93TvSE2MzHBmF4crGO8j75yKhTz2PEGqU8qmJx1Fa-8VMws1d-xscDWo0M4_KEbrpuOdd9W9BfPcCrtmFKezJ1b88SzP8/s200/DSC_0584.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Movies, directed by my niece in the blue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjOPVZEzgLUdBuffOyc1zNXqCE0JgGDY6otdzSxvgDxSONJxRI0FbRLOZY7e8o9PLT-i7bTY4gRcYWCzjwKfxynFtIo_sbTEbb5aiBy9IFiFSYdnH57W3U2cugrSI3BiMiHVubGHVfA4/s1600/DSC_0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjOPVZEzgLUdBuffOyc1zNXqCE0JgGDY6otdzSxvgDxSONJxRI0FbRLOZY7e8o9PLT-i7bTY4gRcYWCzjwKfxynFtIo_sbTEbb5aiBy9IFiFSYdnH57W3U2cugrSI3BiMiHVubGHVfA4/s200/DSC_0604.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHR5QFzo4nTIEUtnpGt17MLZ3YV8jFKOlgRZHOWizPgiuog_Bmyjdo15raQ_IrFLP1rqyiNz2WBlzqv982K3jPvT9FGfriU_Dl9ZvGl3D-UPNAPc8D54DluOma_S_p3sQT1H8AEBH694/s1600/DSC_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHR5QFzo4nTIEUtnpGt17MLZ3YV8jFKOlgRZHOWizPgiuog_Bmyjdo15raQ_IrFLP1rqyiNz2WBlzqv982K3jPvT9FGfriU_Dl9ZvGl3D-UPNAPc8D54DluOma_S_p3sQT1H8AEBH694/s200/DSC_0797.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did a lot of this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5TDAbBmENTBK0fwb9VkBX_z-JrO0taDclvP0hTTQ4qxO6kdz53vUn6mnawNIEVwS3IXJTgeS9BNfaKNMlZcXJ8GuimSHfPH2rEF6oZqG5xhjY2ZFCfprmcqix1OnNATeud6K4Qid-So/s1600/DSC_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5TDAbBmENTBK0fwb9VkBX_z-JrO0taDclvP0hTTQ4qxO6kdz53vUn6mnawNIEVwS3IXJTgeS9BNfaKNMlZcXJ8GuimSHfPH2rEF6oZqG5xhjY2ZFCfprmcqix1OnNATeud6K4Qid-So/s200/DSC_0814.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocktail hour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfogd0a2bjkmwis_I91DhyphenhyphenwN88LTMpp4EqkKPD3wHscTFRjdPoH6IVscEr4yMPvn6RirddFTBJkhY8v5xX2uWMl3KTTd-FnrrajTyxo1OGBUyi27eO4cwLZs5kQ5ZNJpuPCoMn6xzrEQ/s1600/DSC_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfogd0a2bjkmwis_I91DhyphenhyphenwN88LTMpp4EqkKPD3wHscTFRjdPoH6IVscEr4yMPvn6RirddFTBJkhY8v5xX2uWMl3KTTd-FnrrajTyxo1OGBUyi27eO4cwLZs5kQ5ZNJpuPCoMn6xzrEQ/s200/DSC_0816.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wake up call.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngjhaDs6cx7U1F-Cnf73Le9Elt8QGn4JPxunGEadUfSY3MYsUfquIRXqJrpr9PgvZ-XXVnX9LKup8ZqIpegAErE4kB6EULZj7TkJrjmsTpy9hZzm49_hRkFzyqcA-7XHDkXyTDwJmgJw/s1600/DSC_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngjhaDs6cx7U1F-Cnf73Le9Elt8QGn4JPxunGEadUfSY3MYsUfquIRXqJrpr9PgvZ-XXVnX9LKup8ZqIpegAErE4kB6EULZj7TkJrjmsTpy9hZzm49_hRkFzyqcA-7XHDkXyTDwJmgJw/s200/DSC_0827.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Cats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did some of this. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents got us a cake celebrating the day Steven and I met Meazi and Melese.</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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To say that we had a good time would be a huge understatement. My parents wrapped us in their warm embrace. Every time I hear someone talking about how poorly their parents have dealt with their adopted grandchildren, I want to slip them my parents' number. I want my parents to call them and tell them what they are missing. My parents have welcomed Meazi and Melese into our family in a way that is beautiful and profound. They are so <i>very</i> kind to them. They treat them as if they are their own children. They love them as they are, while gently guiding them in areas where they may need guidance. My dad would take Meazi out for chocolate chip pancakes before anyone else was awake. My mother arranged for Meazi to have riding lessons this summer, giving up her own seat in the saddle. My parents shopped, cooked, cleaned, bought me gallons and gallons of WINE. They have restored us and renewed us, giving us strength to forge ahead into a new school year.<br />
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Thank you mom and dad. Thank you for making sure they finally got a home cooked meal this year Melese is suddenly not a vegetarian when Nana cooks. "Her steaks are just so much better Mommy!"<br />
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Thank you for loving my children as much as I do. You are incredible parents and wonderful grandparents.<br />
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You can see why I am having a hard time letting go of summer.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-54853931029960606712013-09-03T13:58:00.000-07:002013-09-03T13:58:57.650-07:00Swim to MeIn June I signed Melese up for swim lessons. Knowing that we were headed up to my parents' house for a vacation, I wanted him to at least feel a little more comfortable in the water. Last summer he was held prisoner by a life jacket. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conrad Cooper-Magician.</td></tr>
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Many friends had recommended <a href="http://www.swimtome.com/">Conrad Cooper</a> to me. Last year <a href="http://www.incultureparent.com/2012/08/mommies-always-come-back-except-when-they-dont/">we were not ready</a>. I wouldn't have been able to sit still while Melese fell apart in a pool with a stranger. This year, I felt that we could handle it, so I signed him up. I figured that if it was too much, we could stop. There were ten kids in Melese's class. The first day (of five days total-one hour per day) EVERY child cried. At the end of the first day, one child was so distraught that she passed out in the water. Conrad had to perform CPR on her and the paramedics had to come. Conrad saved her life. She was fine. Melese, who was already scared to go to swim lessons, was shielded from this incident by my strategically placed towel. Had he seen it unfold, I am positive I wouldn't have been able to bring him back for day two.<br />
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Day two wasn't much better. Melese cried and wouldn't get into the pool. Conrad talked to him and eventually got him in.<br />
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By day four Melese was jumping into the deep end and swimming the length of the pool UNDERWATER. I was panicked that he would never come up for air. Conrad assured that he would when he needed too. My son was a swimmer. Just like that.<br />
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It is hard for me to describe how profound it was to watch this process, not just Melese's transformation, but the transformation of all of these brave kiddos. Every kid was swimming by Friday. Every. Single. Kid.<br />
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I cried. They were so small and brave. They were so scared. Conrad was amazing. He would calmly speak to them, and then they would swim.<br />
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If you live in California and your child doesn't know how to swim yet, I highly recommend that you give Conrad a call. Prepare to be amazed.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-46693312437221666842013-09-01T18:35:00.002-07:002013-09-01T18:35:31.229-07:00Sunday Garden TourThe kids and I spent nearly seven weeks at my parents' house this summer. Before we left, we harvested what was ready in the garden.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrot. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></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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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beets.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrots and Beets. Three microscopic tomatoes.</td></tr>
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Fun tip for the whole family, if you eat enough beets, your pee turns red. (MOM! COME LOOOOOOOOK!) Good Times.<br />
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While we were gone, Steven took good care of everything. He sent us pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He made us two peach pies and froze them so that we wouldn't miss out. (I know!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TcdM4eexLHXKF4r_002YXA2Y3JysoGO3nFqRqvbdrMlZ-WRfjF0lqOWAX3nA3cVXn3NdiUcjh0M3qaL4jpUndIEe28do9Lf0oh1cn71JR35DYdcSU_0ANKRMbC9OcXkO7gRgPJHplwQ/s1600/photo-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TcdM4eexLHXKF4r_002YXA2Y3JysoGO3nFqRqvbdrMlZ-WRfjF0lqOWAX3nA3cVXn3NdiUcjh0M3qaL4jpUndIEe28do9Lf0oh1cn71JR35DYdcSU_0ANKRMbC9OcXkO7gRgPJHplwQ/s320/photo-11.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More wee tomatoes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIQfFEc9zpwDPIaIDWiM0gS0PNJJlD7mXqaKgDRBntM3WwZ3uQpx5l2gvwig_FI8sSqJV595io9VZq-S0ZnFHNP72lVCqvayaZpXR1bQbpK-zIBt1j9bcPSDN4Gkuc_tavc5Pq2C6sGs/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIQfFEc9zpwDPIaIDWiM0gS0PNJJlD7mXqaKgDRBntM3WwZ3uQpx5l2gvwig_FI8sSqJV595io9VZq-S0ZnFHNP72lVCqvayaZpXR1bQbpK-zIBt1j9bcPSDN4Gkuc_tavc5Pq2C6sGs/s320/photo-14.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Squash.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEi1P_rfAI2hYDamIqAQnJnU0fIfMp3WFEXcOTdVYd6KgluJPqOQw8pRuR7YS5KeJdZZAF2P8be0z5dtLUbTFaDzHh_vuLSlGmIgz-AbteRhvenllC8eK2hvFv-xW3xMehCLw8erY77gRSE/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P_rfAI2hYDamIqAQnJnU0fIfMp3WFEXcOTdVYd6KgluJPqOQw8pRuR7YS5KeJdZZAF2P8be0z5dtLUbTFaDzHh_vuLSlGmIgz-AbteRhvenllC8eK2hvFv-xW3xMehCLw8erY77gRSE/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange McOrangerson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEjuOxqvZfKvUHAAVlDksnnUJXwWGLCbB-6c8GH_vWOnuUzQRFMl-df7rcKTQLmwnCdLq11vu6paCvKqbLzquRbaF7aF8n14nMY-WTiHdey5Ep4OR4XVsg-g-W5wlSOTbia_ExJhThbn78E/s1600/photo-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOxqvZfKvUHAAVlDksnnUJXwWGLCbB-6c8GH_vWOnuUzQRFMl-df7rcKTQLmwnCdLq11vu6paCvKqbLzquRbaF7aF8n14nMY-WTiHdey5Ep4OR4XVsg-g-W5wlSOTbia_ExJhThbn78E/s320/photo-12.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other stuff.</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>
</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/AVvXsEh9NmyuBRqWaUFdb2c0kyVOOKceuuoBSnNs4RaHeVP0-H9lSwcVU2U7EdkTc-EKJZFjJ298N76BlKztLXBdTBSeIpe6sVcZUJwuFyrYJxQUOhgPnAzVwmpRNyIVPpKJMxD0f3_XWNfHG3g/s1600/DSC_0596rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NmyuBRqWaUFdb2c0kyVOOKceuuoBSnNs4RaHeVP0-H9lSwcVU2U7EdkTc-EKJZFjJ298N76BlKztLXBdTBSeIpe6sVcZUJwuFyrYJxQUOhgPnAzVwmpRNyIVPpKJMxD0f3_XWNfHG3g/s320/DSC_0596rev.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were happy to have some things to harvest when we got home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEjtGYzGOezEM0pKVAJHGRy4-T48L-nP6_8TDRsl-PoNDNOfSWYPJebwzyMmanplKhYO0lt123rim81QXwYAteNNC0PxRi6IdJCgyGe2O-7Qrtw5vF4BX0jkoXoQKa4r5mcE8Ith2EP3Rro/s1600/DSC_0597rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGYzGOezEM0pKVAJHGRy4-T48L-nP6_8TDRsl-PoNDNOfSWYPJebwzyMmanplKhYO0lt123rim81QXwYAteNNC0PxRi6IdJCgyGe2O-7Qrtw5vF4BX0jkoXoQKa4r5mcE8Ith2EP3Rro/s320/DSC_0597rev.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same pepper. There was just the one, but who's complaining?</td></tr>
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Happy End of Summer. How did your garden do?<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-62160581225947031532013-08-28T17:45:00.001-07:002013-08-28T17:49:22.158-07:00Silhouettes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_XkfIOHS8udIxQecHkN1qQwDpYQ_BvP7O7zD-T3QnYlpqHkS6Vz3UtjqWSq2hdzPrdMfofsIyUGnTJWS6CYgC25TXeGprT2IpOV2GY6aRusSVUlxlK06MzaW_BgIlHA3ztlsMimR_24/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_XkfIOHS8udIxQecHkN1qQwDpYQ_BvP7O7zD-T3QnYlpqHkS6Vz3UtjqWSq2hdzPrdMfofsIyUGnTJWS6CYgC25TXeGprT2IpOV2GY6aRusSVUlxlK06MzaW_BgIlHA3ztlsMimR_24/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Several months ago, Meazi and Steven went to a cool kid's art event in Los Angeles. One of the artists, Ruben Ochoa, made 3-d cardboard silhouettes with the kids. Here is Meazi's:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0y6FHPV98gqCM6QumzfINNvcqY-OScC0ZBVzRNpD2ZxE32NReeNi5TQysPJKCdiyLLPqvtrl7lkBwYxMKeZkbvgRhfgNiOL6xNfs6xgyfnf6LU5bRSljBgKNIPFgJb5lpL67uLTEZlTY/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0y6FHPV98gqCM6QumzfINNvcqY-OScC0ZBVzRNpD2ZxE32NReeNi5TQysPJKCdiyLLPqvtrl7lkBwYxMKeZkbvgRhfgNiOL6xNfs6xgyfnf6LU5bRSljBgKNIPFgJb5lpL67uLTEZlTY/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It has a large cardboard piece that rolls up behind it to make it 3-d. Steven didn't want Melese to feel left out, so he set up a spotlight in our converted garage and traced Melese's profile on some cardboard. He plugged in one of his various power tools and carved away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTiNEuJYZa2ogxdjtW8aDu-l-BOUp0KIpP14Vu6p0CzoNutSqiwT0YwAoxCZVPjxoEkiEvSZuimuHm1pGoVSCChP1ihx7g2tWrG8kK7fu29mQ0_K2y3tcO1rgGf5Izr7TDlupC41pF4Y/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTiNEuJYZa2ogxdjtW8aDu-l-BOUp0KIpP14Vu6p0CzoNutSqiwT0YwAoxCZVPjxoEkiEvSZuimuHm1pGoVSCChP1ihx7g2tWrG8kK7fu29mQ0_K2y3tcO1rgGf5Izr7TDlupC41pF4Y/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I think he captured Melese so well.<br />
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I was feeling jealous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSoUFxShBzO2VywEI8P8U47Pih6I317LRCXG-HS3S6TvT04uq000H37wHwKXUxlZJA4qDlaDBdIEhDDOwHSB4iX54Ox5IGsUVigITGbV599VqGCElMa1VWavKgM_6-DkapW4_4kepN_Y/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSoUFxShBzO2VywEI8P8U47Pih6I317LRCXG-HS3S6TvT04uq000H37wHwKXUxlZJA4qDlaDBdIEhDDOwHSB4iX54Ox5IGsUVigITGbV599VqGCElMa1VWavKgM_6-DkapW4_4kepN_Y/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This was a really fun activity. I highly recommend that you do it with your kiddos. Just cast your shadows. You can hold your own cardboard piece behind you, as someone else traces your profile. It can be cut out without power tools as well.<br />
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And it makes good wall art...<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-25528485866378231892013-08-28T16:44:00.000-07:002013-08-28T16:44:31.069-07:00Whoops, Forgot I Had a Blog.Sorry. I didn't really forget. Just been busy. <br />
<br />
Did anyone else feel discouraged when Google Reader went away? Instead of helping readers find another way to follow this blog, I got depressed about losing all of the great friends I've made here over the past few years. It was kind of like, "Well, everyone's leaving anyway, so why write anything." Pathetic, I realize.<br />
<br />
I added a button for something called Bloglovin' on the right sidebar. Does anyone use this? Ugh, I don't really like anything that ends in lovin'. I need the 'g'. It is almost like someone using 'Olde Shoppe' or 'Koffee Korner'.<br />
Maybe it is great. Maybe I will see all of my readers come back and enjoy some bloglovin'. It sounds obscene. Perhaps I don't know what I'm missing.<br />
<br />
And thanks to the nice reader who e-mailed me and asked if I had died. No, thanks for checking. My blog was just sick.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-63241342161180403802013-06-15T15:46:00.000-07:002013-06-15T15:46:31.412-07:00Five Or More Things That I Like About Daddy, by Meazi and Melese...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgVsInMHUc_Ki7-lahjpek7_Vvedj_h-v68ZsdKAIWDhIGal7viCmCkHcHsRG0-g1ixGTGIVGw3Xyu5cpjHFNjxUZKDzvN6EEpat-mL7jXwtCvaFDp4Zfs0K3sDNpdw2cOhvuXPWSU5Y/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgVsInMHUc_Ki7-lahjpek7_Vvedj_h-v68ZsdKAIWDhIGal7viCmCkHcHsRG0-g1ixGTGIVGw3Xyu5cpjHFNjxUZKDzvN6EEpat-mL7jXwtCvaFDp4Zfs0K3sDNpdw2cOhvuXPWSU5Y/s320/DSC_0137.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_miswiEDgw7Ryvho9N4UU6GSiw-w9UTxNUCnIDXkHqeWI423FGHbUmMB7jtHPftOBW217E1pvs567g3xZRpOIwz9k2Z8G_Dlb8ZdFbiTRRUHg6jJwgmaSCCDEOpoLJ6t-cq6rzlQvABs/s1600/DSC_0765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_miswiEDgw7Ryvho9N4UU6GSiw-w9UTxNUCnIDXkHqeWI423FGHbUmMB7jtHPftOBW217E1pvs567g3xZRpOIwz9k2Z8G_Dlb8ZdFbiTRRUHg6jJwgmaSCCDEOpoLJ6t-cq6rzlQvABs/s320/DSC_0765.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Five Or More Things That I Like About Daddy, by Meazi and
Melese.</div>
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Meazi:</div>
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I like that he is brave.</div>
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I like how alike Melese and Daddy
are. (<i>Melese pipes in “Because our birthdays are so close</i>.”)</div>
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I like that we have fart contests. (<i>No one claimed we were highbrow over here and thankfully for you, no picture</i>).</div>
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I like when Daddy’s work is over
because then I get to see him.</div>
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I like how scientific he is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRi2towYtBWvMeRK9tKwE3rW4Zyjy0W8oWSpkON3lqydXM-JnlPSSbHFbq-YHJOzAA6Ci81OgxEy43UpH-iG8LxvRXPOtZGZRb9qLl9JW_vlCUmiuOquA_Cv_CF2ZPpUDu8VLBO0rR9k/s1600/DSC_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRi2towYtBWvMeRK9tKwE3rW4Zyjy0W8oWSpkON3lqydXM-JnlPSSbHFbq-YHJOzAA6Ci81OgxEy43UpH-iG8LxvRXPOtZGZRb9qLl9JW_vlCUmiuOquA_Cv_CF2ZPpUDu8VLBO0rR9k/s320/DSC_0496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
I like how artistic he is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6uMX-RaLVymEjDGkeIlpGPU5irmjlg7CC5epaytYSdFqk0ffNI83KHXW1UV_qLhA5vHpu39CKGkXJUf2kj6mH6Yk7neL8Db9LodDVkIaxaxxvmdgNq7lt5cmZGbnv4Sc8OGNSe_h09o/s1600/DSC_0069_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6uMX-RaLVymEjDGkeIlpGPU5irmjlg7CC5epaytYSdFqk0ffNI83KHXW1UV_qLhA5vHpu39CKGkXJUf2kj6mH6Yk7neL8Db9LodDVkIaxaxxvmdgNq7lt5cmZGbnv4Sc8OGNSe_h09o/s320/DSC_0069_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I like how he teaches me
crocheting and knitting. (Or Beekeeping).</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Melese:</div>
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I like that he is shy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1C2yNm5RNfW0JI9QgrBnp3zUpSOvF-4jnhc1a4DWviLftifqyf6NTlbM8jQo26cVCYUTZUzsl1VZPCN9Wo-K_vCn92ms1Mi6ls6jNcoXm2BDmtEYuz5L1CuEmQdAo8MzixjkuYE5rEk/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1C2yNm5RNfW0JI9QgrBnp3zUpSOvF-4jnhc1a4DWviLftifqyf6NTlbM8jQo26cVCYUTZUzsl1VZPCN9Wo-K_vCn92ms1Mi6ls6jNcoXm2BDmtEYuz5L1CuEmQdAo8MzixjkuYE5rEk/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He loves me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAxXVSiJ_GmgtSod0kksmXzH0I2tvrL4FoTkIWlZe9BjphkjrpGmtPR7xM0-E0E51t2GCPV5_4EPMYGe-70qMRfDwJnwpXU4UHem8RzCpe1sMM8jBQwnSQXGHCKQMQ481jWe2iYYhXJc/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAxXVSiJ_GmgtSod0kksmXzH0I2tvrL4FoTkIWlZe9BjphkjrpGmtPR7xM0-E0E51t2GCPV5_4EPMYGe-70qMRfDwJnwpXU4UHem8RzCpe1sMM8jBQwnSQXGHCKQMQ481jWe2iYYhXJc/s320/DSC_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because I love him and he gives
me presents and stuff. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj364j2Yti_T_RXdxyW_50QGjph2aDB6eqdLAjjaiJ7C0d1uAVNxqz5oWgD2m-3jHyTY7V1WzCSwGSZtGB47WWhnvurDZ3_aDEe8AGQF28pdIXZY0_8XDsYA4GTu5snSNutupmMAAEbK3w/s1600/DSC_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj364j2Yti_T_RXdxyW_50QGjph2aDB6eqdLAjjaiJ7C0d1uAVNxqz5oWgD2m-3jHyTY7V1WzCSwGSZtGB47WWhnvurDZ3_aDEe8AGQF28pdIXZY0_8XDsYA4GTu5snSNutupmMAAEbK3w/s320/DSC_0657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I love when I jump into daddy’s
arms. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfCn3DX8U3cIudl9r4U-lQksBQ3QupJD7Ul6sq02fNILhYfWbrDv_rsaqXNLB39GhE58JvJp9ej3A_N_a1VvkwyhjSodQRFpaoAWID-YYjE5INNcTEjSuJFjBA1IuOSt75GO91qzHzWA/s1600/DSC_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfCn3DX8U3cIudl9r4U-lQksBQ3QupJD7Ul6sq02fNILhYfWbrDv_rsaqXNLB39GhE58JvJp9ej3A_N_a1VvkwyhjSodQRFpaoAWID-YYjE5INNcTEjSuJFjBA1IuOSt75GO91qzHzWA/s320/DSC_0416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I love him because I kiss him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3y3QRqBKA0SuhEDUET3h8Gma7v3QVJYtnggjtWgoXTB83YE4hhLye51FBZTYct4jGW201xu_MBcNXqAwO43o_qCcluDr2WSomfIufWscSrDdYq5rPtQ9oLPW6m5dux9BDsO6xttQDmSo/s1600/DSC_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3y3QRqBKA0SuhEDUET3h8Gma7v3QVJYtnggjtWgoXTB83YE4hhLye51FBZTYct4jGW201xu_MBcNXqAwO43o_qCcluDr2WSomfIufWscSrDdYq5rPtQ9oLPW6m5dux9BDsO6xttQDmSo/s320/DSC_0621.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I like how he tricks me when he
comes home like he says, “What are you having for breakfast?”when it is
dinnertime.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP9HBBBHKtjSTZVD4-SjQyQ-0WzEIjCbByLQB798V_GsZhQO5K-Z7fO_jDcbkW1vIgumo2jJyNcMj6qQ_CmZ_Zy5Z440aHw6NsfjTe0I51joOz461SZWXqMu-PGOt5Koqxu-rYfsJArs/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP9HBBBHKtjSTZVD4-SjQyQ-0WzEIjCbByLQB798V_GsZhQO5K-Z7fO_jDcbkW1vIgumo2jJyNcMj6qQ_CmZ_Zy5Z440aHw6NsfjTe0I51joOz461SZWXqMu-PGOt5Koqxu-rYfsJArs/s320/DSC_0782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I like that he loves me, again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqTp6-DWKYGJj9NWMCUYgZ0hDKQ5JgDNdCWvgR9jGoXQsb1XI4_EIOeG-9RaZURqJsTAVr72z-NxNpNiDmI8YHcVnOHQlDu_NhwJm0KBi2DYyQ-DvJvV_mAOvhMCBzLwATIxFvpdduuk/s1600/DSC_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqTp6-DWKYGJj9NWMCUYgZ0hDKQ5JgDNdCWvgR9jGoXQsb1XI4_EIOeG-9RaZURqJsTAVr72z-NxNpNiDmI8YHcVnOHQlDu_NhwJm0KBi2DYyQ-DvJvV_mAOvhMCBzLwATIxFvpdduuk/s320/DSC_0749.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/AVvXsEjMBigcnIyFLbLBjYaWDleIOoiPcLJPf-P5ILVUO5JISKbIUwIc-rE161DkW8qfAW5UIJftDVRZdfrvGQCIgAQSy6S5ps5yn5Cf4uFCuoERBwTbndT4ZSexPRC3tiCXDVbaYLQynHc39Nc/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBigcnIyFLbLBjYaWDleIOoiPcLJPf-P5ILVUO5JISKbIUwIc-rE161DkW8qfAW5UIJftDVRZdfrvGQCIgAQSy6S5ps5yn5Cf4uFCuoERBwTbndT4ZSexPRC3tiCXDVbaYLQynHc39Nc/s200/DSC_0015.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introducing Meazi to the ocean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEiNDpLIedEnLttMHQEdQAkwxglHnw6mo_dsHJBDWIhypnZjI5Qc_dtl133MigIDH6EVSwjPC7lRZ8mc1334L4qcCBaSOBvCh9Cp_TOi6eURQXZgkRj7w70pY1f9YgMMUiqg2YnYKmo3gcI/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDpLIedEnLttMHQEdQAkwxglHnw6mo_dsHJBDWIhypnZjI5Qc_dtl133MigIDH6EVSwjPC7lRZ8mc1334L4qcCBaSOBvCh9Cp_TOi6eURQXZgkRj7w70pY1f9YgMMUiqg2YnYKmo3gcI/s200/DSC_0197.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each year on his birthday, Steven makes a cake for Melese's birthday which is the following day. That was a really confusing sentence. The point is, he spends his whole birthday (Steven) preparing for Melese's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh7cNOCtmOrocrK61HX1f3vsTrHy9YY7_hra6fJ6NjOQkQfZ6qZ8BLN_juY9hfdbhWXXQdeX_AbK6R2FfTrmciO2woPQvVckayCKIzMzVzHSMN79tfiXBh8alJsjoc7UZ6yJ3LOcnhzQ/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh7cNOCtmOrocrK61HX1f3vsTrHy9YY7_hra6fJ6NjOQkQfZ6qZ8BLN_juY9hfdbhWXXQdeX_AbK6R2FfTrmciO2woPQvVckayCKIzMzVzHSMN79tfiXBh8alJsjoc7UZ6yJ3LOcnhzQ/s200/DSC_0243.JPG" width="200" /></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/AVvXsEj9Dsmah_pY1wZOx3xNZ-ILDwGypTrWOkmquC3Y92a1HsPKY6019df_iU6ToQMOQTMa_6UUfpgtX_xO-o-PhM26R9AvJCoZ-yfY9qdLMM_jrl_RZCBN4KwqdHmc9w7pqrxxQrZMGY8MZ9Y/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Dsmah_pY1wZOx3xNZ-ILDwGypTrWOkmquC3Y92a1HsPKY6019df_iU6ToQMOQTMa_6UUfpgtX_xO-o-PhM26R9AvJCoZ-yfY9qdLMM_jrl_RZCBN4KwqdHmc9w7pqrxxQrZMGY8MZ9Y/s200/DSC_0277.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She still looks at him this way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEjRkWSwWUD_udk3_hZ1eiM0MRPKkAymofw7y8yK0ka4cDBYOu2NkwbsP8u-PyH4f5FgFDeNJCy7-RJAyJVBl3Qr-pf1NQJBqFt8qqz2Zm75k1q3B6a3NQhY2mswLWwPh7w-eD9cT_qe_6o/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkWSwWUD_udk3_hZ1eiM0MRPKkAymofw7y8yK0ka4cDBYOu2NkwbsP8u-PyH4f5FgFDeNJCy7-RJAyJVBl3Qr-pf1NQJBqFt8qqz2Zm75k1q3B6a3NQhY2mswLWwPh7w-eD9cT_qe_6o/s200/DSC_0301.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many men can feed the baby without putting their drink down? Remarkable.</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/AVvXsEi4cAk_64umf98zoSlYWDrDaRceGJYJSvKJ1bCyJHrgPUWjHj7uiBc2FCgZ0EX3Hof5sym_uUJTDZW6yWSvyHouMNa_nXmRpMiB6F_a1hrNmT2Wi5xMFqjJxlHBAXa-uiB71KGPkmW8Ezo/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cAk_64umf98zoSlYWDrDaRceGJYJSvKJ1bCyJHrgPUWjHj7uiBc2FCgZ0EX3Hof5sym_uUJTDZW6yWSvyHouMNa_nXmRpMiB6F_a1hrNmT2Wi5xMFqjJxlHBAXa-uiB71KGPkmW8Ezo/s200/DSC_0312.JPG" width="133" /></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/AVvXsEjiXD4vYDLhQIcFkCmg2EMRm7JWBuQWu1klZE6LXm4c_VCfgBD6iKpdVErtc47VBCNvtJi7E7uJeKoM7TkX31mo2qwAv8_1WKTuVQBU6JJ8nCFk0WiKqEiolXG46nmJkUl2krq0vMcQZe0/s1600/DSC_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXD4vYDLhQIcFkCmg2EMRm7JWBuQWu1klZE6LXm4c_VCfgBD6iKpdVErtc47VBCNvtJi7E7uJeKoM7TkX31mo2qwAv8_1WKTuVQBU6JJ8nCFk0WiKqEiolXG46nmJkUl2krq0vMcQZe0/s200/DSC_0408.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trash Truck Cake- Melese's 2nd Birthday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIJqKQ2i6EPHA-O_GwrxiRuhGBoDg89-Af8wOpoXY3ufNRsN5G_FK5OyJ-sXBUi7xHoMV6qh8bRC0rDnp_zD_5Lt_iY0yQP3NVE1Aruy-f3PvSbTDjC4oD1F_fcEtjD1FBDsv5TS7zOw/s1600/DSC_0456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIJqKQ2i6EPHA-O_GwrxiRuhGBoDg89-Af8wOpoXY3ufNRsN5G_FK5OyJ-sXBUi7xHoMV6qh8bRC0rDnp_zD_5Lt_iY0yQP3NVE1Aruy-f3PvSbTDjC4oD1F_fcEtjD1FBDsv5TS7zOw/s200/DSC_0456.jpg" width="133" /></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/AVvXsEjznOKv5-O9VdA9XACuE38t1wUFWRodgrgmZYgrqD27AVkpJN0VXGP5V30gVRZtfKY4GnE1HER6kJUCX9Zw8vBhUqbgvTZS4rxUuwQZJi34WzVF8b4f6dJzDNXMwR8Lfjg9NOl6Qkg-jP8/s1600/DSC_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznOKv5-O9VdA9XACuE38t1wUFWRodgrgmZYgrqD27AVkpJN0VXGP5V30gVRZtfKY4GnE1HER6kJUCX9Zw8vBhUqbgvTZS4rxUuwQZJi34WzVF8b4f6dJzDNXMwR8Lfjg9NOl6Qkg-jP8/s200/DSC_0531.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parenting Books.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEgP1OA_h6E85NKgoZXQJeJ7DtlBDTSuLXeUF0Q1SRvzaQBw0RpGMm-S3Y5r-WRBmgioU8QbQzB6amNHxLsPFlxkbKj64rufWYLfH_bKZPZQGKIomtwPXPUzNhqu7IBW4OynOENToYk3H20/s1600/DSC_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1OA_h6E85NKgoZXQJeJ7DtlBDTSuLXeUF0Q1SRvzaQBw0RpGMm-S3Y5r-WRBmgioU8QbQzB6amNHxLsPFlxkbKj64rufWYLfH_bKZPZQGKIomtwPXPUzNhqu7IBW4OynOENToYk3H20/s200/DSC_0582.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firetruck cake that LIT UP- Melese's 3rd Birthday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEizveRqt8TETd3iJDUZ2IL-lbHLwAAL3N5bfb6pQoLAKazoT_akpbubSfMNJ9SN10UEMCmeXf3PnalMqNj4vDHJGn1xfwWZaAZTaq_Bszh0Feoy6VdwawW7lIkjP1WbdjR8VfERlk3bLtk/s1600/DSC_0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizveRqt8TETd3iJDUZ2IL-lbHLwAAL3N5bfb6pQoLAKazoT_akpbubSfMNJ9SN10UEMCmeXf3PnalMqNj4vDHJGn1xfwWZaAZTaq_Bszh0Feoy6VdwawW7lIkjP1WbdjR8VfERlk3bLtk/s200/DSC_0666.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin Dremel-ling.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEhmxovn_uT0O2xnw70IAGyWwuG-FBKWAzJYgRCKtdk4zoFrSNpR7yyNDy5DkU21PqF4D-4utUJzA8by-4G5SROynRI-x4VoyLQ9CIXdb3f33woFcpxu5RpHGy3beH5vFuWMqahhIkjJEO0/s1600/DSC_0667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxovn_uT0O2xnw70IAGyWwuG-FBKWAzJYgRCKtdk4zoFrSNpR7yyNDy5DkU21PqF4D-4utUJzA8by-4G5SROynRI-x4VoyLQ9CIXdb3f33woFcpxu5RpHGy3beH5vFuWMqahhIkjJEO0/s200/DSC_0667.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping M&m make their oath for citizenship.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEhmAmOEHlFCD25gccMf_G4o58tst5pr_wUfuvfizwGtOyPj2tUfdCzNsw7-_nQ2xnKj21dycDh0RjXpKSJ74O47caVzOQbmMYsWT4zxK3cHOzy244kC-R8pO6nYj7f52T7ExvtIJdgDPT0/s1600/DSC_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAmOEHlFCD25gccMf_G4o58tst5pr_wUfuvfizwGtOyPj2tUfdCzNsw7-_nQ2xnKj21dycDh0RjXpKSJ74O47caVzOQbmMYsWT4zxK3cHOzy244kC-R8pO6nYj7f52T7ExvtIJdgDPT0/s200/DSC_0976.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explaining the plight of the Jews to a three year-old.</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/AVvXsEisf6-okLatllPAEyLBAddzvt80wtm4L2rWO-oeCcJQs0R1palohHGfTE7RyFE9DVZRU3D9d0bvOud2AEvL-h3L0up1OBEYNGUbFnIeXewxCBziUfnJs04np3HAnP0lACPkuw_3pH7Qc90/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf6-okLatllPAEyLBAddzvt80wtm4L2rWO-oeCcJQs0R1palohHGfTE7RyFE9DVZRU3D9d0bvOud2AEvL-h3L0up1OBEYNGUbFnIeXewxCBziUfnJs04np3HAnP0lACPkuw_3pH7Qc90/s200/DSC_0313.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending additional hair hours because Melese would like to look exactly like his big sister.</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>
</tbody></table>
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Happy Father's Day to an incredible father. </div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-21144835015179773252013-06-11T22:11:00.001-07:002013-06-11T22:11:45.753-07:00Dear Meazi,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xZz_keLh63NVVAwb10b5EN3Jy3dRpJ-LpzwVowD-6hB_UqI0ua8qZZRNXMqFxpOcSUmQUi2Yom01DrjN8_nn9sjxIWEW0wA-mgdIpzMvqmo4AFYZl58hAwohEFmboSrcHwlQJRRdEOg/s1600/DSC_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xZz_keLh63NVVAwb10b5EN3Jy3dRpJ-LpzwVowD-6hB_UqI0ua8qZZRNXMqFxpOcSUmQUi2Yom01DrjN8_nn9sjxIWEW0wA-mgdIpzMvqmo4AFYZl58hAwohEFmboSrcHwlQJRRdEOg/s320/DSC_0366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Dear Meazi,<br />
<br />
In case I don't get a chance to write you a proper letter on your last day of school <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2012/06/when-she-was-just-girlshe-expected.html">like I did last year</a><br />
<br />
here is how your best friend describes you:<br />
<br />
An Honest Child.<br />
<br />
A Loyal Kid.<br />
<br />
A Smart Girl.<br />
<br />
A Bee-Charmer.<br />
<br />
An Extremely Funny Lady.<br />
<br />
A Nice Person.<br />
<br />
A Gentle Being.<br />
<br />
My Friend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg9WcveIK-R_-fQa4VXwKkpA51zJORo_KAINJR66mCKriLSCQ9Yky3GMUv7baOoMQ7EPwmWCJQA20LHPnKUo_Aq80Y7aVIWx5P4fzmTwhjxDrxxWl0H9nrY_4eI_YR4E2xYhJNRoyDWg/s1600/DSC_0824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg9WcveIK-R_-fQa4VXwKkpA51zJORo_KAINJR66mCKriLSCQ9Yky3GMUv7baOoMQ7EPwmWCJQA20LHPnKUo_Aq80Y7aVIWx5P4fzmTwhjxDrxxWl0H9nrY_4eI_YR4E2xYhJNRoyDWg/s320/DSC_0824.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Happy last day of second grade.<br />
<br />
I love you,<br />
<br />
Mommy<br />
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-53590829219992644212013-05-27T06:03:00.000-07:002013-05-27T06:56:48.919-07:00What Was Your Biggest Day?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbsBgzu4H9MpV4H_UyQuo0teRjRnyw1P2rRFClUckUIwVHB96JUPR8BDbHyipbeAcPUGqE8OCIz8Aiee8lJtBBHBFByL9g_J6OgokHG4B0W0ey7BvLavyG31L0OMS9ZpDtz-4x0Fd74U/s1600/IMG_4100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbsBgzu4H9MpV4H_UyQuo0teRjRnyw1P2rRFClUckUIwVHB96JUPR8BDbHyipbeAcPUGqE8OCIz8Aiee8lJtBBHBFByL9g_J6OgokHG4B0W0ey7BvLavyG31L0OMS9ZpDtz-4x0Fd74U/s320/IMG_4100.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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“It’s a big day," I replied when Meazi’s Amharic tutor Mahelet told
me she was graduating from college on Saturday, “A really big day." I flashed
back to my own college graduation, I was standing on the sidewalk in Greenwich
Village hailing a cab with my mom. I was sobbing. School was over and the
Icelandic actor I was in love with was not in love with me. Everything seemed
so unstable. I was thrilled to be finished with school, and I already had a
job, but my emotions were all over the place. Happiness, sadness, relief, fear,
love- my poor mom must have thought I was a total nut bag at that point. There
was no way we were going home on the subway, this kind of display was only
suitable for the private backseat of a dark taxi.</div>
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I don’t know why I only had toddler adjectives in my
vocabulary to describe graduation day to Mahelet, “big” “really big,” but I
could tell by her face that she knew what I what I was talking about. I have no
doubt that Mahelet, a brainy engineering student, has a very bright future, but
still the end of something that intense and that structured can be a little
unnerving and a lot bit emotional for actresses and engineers alike.<br />
<br />
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I have been thinking a lot about big days this week. There
have been many “big” days along the way. The day the <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2009/03/five-years.html">doctor called with my cancer diagnosis</a> was a big ‘bad’ one. My body felt the same way as graduation day, only much more
awful. </div>
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The day Steven’s mom died, really bad day. I remember my very
non-religious husband reading the Mourners Caddish quietly in our living room
minutes after getting the phone call.</div>
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What else? Wedding Day? Cliché but true. All my emotions
were on the surface that day too. I picture my dad putting his arms around me
and my brother and sister and saying, “You kids know all the right things”
following my sister’s beautiful maid of honor speech. I remember Steven
flubbing his vows a little bit but making an affable recovery in the nick of
time. It was also a big day.</div>
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All of these times I remember, all of these big days.</div>
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Guess which day is the biggest?<br />
<br />
Ok, Ok, maybe it is because
it is the most recent of so many mentioned?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today, this day, four years ago was my biggest day.<br />
<br />
In my
nearly one hundred years alive on this planet, the day I first heard about
Meazi and Melese is, by far, my biggest day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw4xZXUe85KkyuRxbJGsR9b9vMk5r5A2HerZdGK5WGFYQ5ifD-F8EYoEiU7iuZPVyTtGEaOjwltcsAcL5svHyUE21VQ3daoFU2oKU3ZZ6TpNUbgImDWvms8qy6cZ-6PzzZu-bAQo6jhI/s1600/Recently+Updated3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw4xZXUe85KkyuRxbJGsR9b9vMk5r5A2HerZdGK5WGFYQ5ifD-F8EYoEiU7iuZPVyTtGEaOjwltcsAcL5svHyUE21VQ3daoFU2oKU3ZZ6TpNUbgImDWvms8qy6cZ-6PzzZu-bAQo6jhI/s320/Recently+Updated3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G4nLLmfrPmyqM_rmDqLWYJbEEFfixMod9bD0HRBw1-rBkfL3Bdcq6kF1MS60K4Rc6Drw34WoG0pjoL-tJQmqFbvxMG8i9oBAT__-E9sNoJq0Vl3eMwVrm1ZofsSxgZurJ3033Q3bssA/s1600/Picture+26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
I loved them then<a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2009/06/day-everything-changed-part-ii-chunk-of.html"> just hearing about them</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjGVYG5dJvvdtl49c-lwqoce1U2zQMK_fyYi6VCnm0Q1-q2lyjaJxDxhTMc8FBJd0ZdVYzK5ELyTYvlQByEYFoosaq733LqV1FJfyZHIx48egTlgbyovvJ_d15plglxUhtUC9y3yhWTE/s1600/Meaza+Daniel.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjGVYG5dJvvdtl49c-lwqoce1U2zQMK_fyYi6VCnm0Q1-q2lyjaJxDxhTMc8FBJd0ZdVYzK5ELyTYvlQByEYFoosaq733LqV1FJfyZHIx48egTlgbyovvJ_d15plglxUhtUC9y3yhWTE/s200/Meaza+Daniel.bmp" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuU8JLpmsW_LcYpqiSDzkW049Y_ay-BvchcCtR_qwM5W3aeROrNqc11rn_8T-7CRFw8fvIkQbAQlJTy7xAiOn_lOXdLy5jRiP8HRJuRd-8JzTIc_-nGIkICtaOdg8_tsIVQgNf-7pnSwM/s1600/Melese+Daniel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuU8JLpmsW_LcYpqiSDzkW049Y_ay-BvchcCtR_qwM5W3aeROrNqc11rn_8T-7CRFw8fvIkQbAQlJTy7xAiOn_lOXdLy5jRiP8HRJuRd-8JzTIc_-nGIkICtaOdg8_tsIVQgNf-7pnSwM/s200/Melese+Daniel.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
It would be a few months before I met them...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G4nLLmfrPmyqM_rmDqLWYJbEEFfixMod9bD0HRBw1-rBkfL3Bdcq6kF1MS60K4Rc6Drw34WoG0pjoL-tJQmqFbvxMG8i9oBAT__-E9sNoJq0Vl3eMwVrm1ZofsSxgZurJ3033Q3bssA/s1600/Picture+26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G4nLLmfrPmyqM_rmDqLWYJbEEFfixMod9bD0HRBw1-rBkfL3Bdcq6kF1MS60K4Rc6Drw34WoG0pjoL-tJQmqFbvxMG8i9oBAT__-E9sNoJq0Vl3eMwVrm1ZofsSxgZurJ3033Q3bssA/s200/Picture+26.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uHu5G0TMWnDmQlsD-e2n_C5BPWXLJ2aZ2eGYNI0z0zszCQApQUJCJREn0MVtXGDGHpNhvlJgewzWjpt33tT1pQGwifFL4kEspynf7Qld234rkAxxIsNZ7TdcM3uMVvFMmfk1aEAxH7w/s1600/HPIM2492.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uHu5G0TMWnDmQlsD-e2n_C5BPWXLJ2aZ2eGYNI0z0zszCQApQUJCJREn0MVtXGDGHpNhvlJgewzWjpt33tT1pQGwifFL4kEspynf7Qld234rkAxxIsNZ7TdcM3uMVvFMmfk1aEAxH7w/s200/HPIM2492.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It would be a few months before we brought them home...<br />
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But on that big day, May 27th, it seems that my body must have somehow known what it would be like to know them. Along with that e-mail and that phone call it was as if someone slipped me a mickey, or made me swallow a Wonka-like everlasting gobstopper of emotions- a predictor of <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2010/02/thoughts-at-six-months-home.html">what it would be like to raise them</a>. <br />
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On that big day they made me a mother, <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2009/01/thougths-at-twelve-months-or-fifteen.html">something I had longed to be</a>.<br />
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Today, I love them so, so much. </div>
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They are everything to me.<br />
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Many of you were a part of the day we heard about our future
as lucky people. Thank you for being there. </div>
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Happy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Biggest Day to me. </div>
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What was your Biggest Day? </div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-58043742345134502782013-05-19T15:34:00.000-07:002013-05-19T15:35:25.712-07:00The Return Of The Sunday Garden TourWe are spending some time in the garden. We spotted a rare East African Butterfly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loquat Harvest</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven and I continue to disagree on whether the kids will need all ten fingers as they grow up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold the Loquat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discussing Pectin.</td></tr>
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Happy Sunday. Don't be surprised if you receive jam from us this holiday season.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-80467345427620895702013-05-08T09:36:00.000-07:002013-05-08T09:36:20.552-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-86195989868931229882013-04-09T10:57:00.000-07:002013-04-09T10:57:41.304-07:00Planted the Seed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remember <a href="http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-ground-school-update.html">this day</a>?<br />
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Chris Treter of <i>On The Ground</i> changed everything that day. A big "If" became a "when". It was a good day.<br />
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Chris just got back from Kololo. You have to read what he wrote about his trip <a href="http://fairtradechronicles.com/2013/04/04/planting-a-seed-of-hope-through-education-in-ethiopia/">HERE</a>.<br />
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It is hard to read this and not say, "Eh, it was just a drop in the bucket. What can we do?"<br />
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It is hard not to feel discouraged. I've been trying to get a lunch program there. I've been trying to get shoes from TOMS for the kiddos. Drop in the bucket. It will never be enough.<br />
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In the middle of my discouragement, I began thinking about all of you. I know how many people did something to get this school up. I know who you are. Could you do me a favor? Could you leave a comment on this post saying, "I did this" or "Here" or "Me!" Or whatever you'd like. Let's just see you all in writing huh? Let's just give you a pat on the back for your contribution.<br />
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Chris's post brought me to tears. Hoping that we can come together again and do more. Who is with me? Who helped plant this seed?<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-66712462556240873472013-03-14T12:26:00.001-07:002013-03-14T12:26:14.008-07:00Home is a Sister...I know I have been neglecting this blog, but I have done a little bit of writing this month.<br />
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I have a new column<b> <a href="http://www.incultureparent.com/2013/03/what-is-home-for-my-adopted-son/">HERE</a></b> about what home means for Meazi and Melese. <br />
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I wrote about the Tesfa Teen runners <a href="http://www.freeplaymagazine.com/FP%20Online%20Issues/V2%20Issue%202/FPMV2I2.html"><b>HERE</b> </a>(page 28).<br />
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I found Melese outside the other day. It was windy. He was wearing his
turtle costume and a pair of butterfly wings. He was moving his back
around trying to see if the wind would lift him so that he could fly. <br />
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This pretty much sums up what we are doing around here, trying hard to give our kids wings so they can fly.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-10487340165254654052013-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T05:00:00.322-08:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-12527492732041144262013-02-04T11:42:00.001-08:002013-02-04T11:42:05.683-08:00My Favorite Artist<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/AVvXsEgETkLSV6vkAot5ESBlHtlf90Qs27TsiiX8aPDCHIatbxMHVJsIkMavUMl0fNKniyjvp3Snm1Z2mQ8Y6vI9MEfF3HY6Z_QXNH_gMtycl0hwu1S3TZjQYDmZ3LA1L4FwBWg1tAWOnnvEzh8/s1600/DSC_0751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETkLSV6vkAot5ESBlHtlf90Qs27TsiiX8aPDCHIatbxMHVJsIkMavUMl0fNKniyjvp3Snm1Z2mQ8Y6vI9MEfF3HY6Z_QXNH_gMtycl0hwu1S3TZjQYDmZ3LA1L4FwBWg1tAWOnnvEzh8/s320/DSC_0751.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meazi under her self-portrait.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found the following typed into a word doc on my Mac:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I grow up I want to be an artist. Right now I like to
write poems. My favorite painter is me. My favorite food is slippery shrimp. I
like playing with my brother. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like playing mommy and daddy with my brother. At school I
like playing with Lulu. She is my best friend. My brother’s name is
Melese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">If you'd like to make Meazi's favorite food, <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/YANG-CHOW-SLIPPERY-SHRIMP-1207271">HERE</a> is the recipe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">It is delicious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Her self-portrait is her standing in a crystal cave. They did a performance at her school where each kid had to describe the most beautiful thing they had ever seen. Meazi apparently saw a crystal cave in National Geographic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Can you tell I adore her? How could you not?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Got any recommendations for actual crystal caves to visit? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-67649534786651948922012-12-14T16:39:00.000-08:002012-12-14T17:55:36.711-08:00Ducks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPujGj08reynbwE1xqre3-5b9vFzDLkM6BmCzj-F8o_ujTynH0F2vVyE03Djy9mw9vSzb-Z73PrH_CQjYdR7Mypvaa8Dcxr2mQvmtIg7llo2ySr7UP9680i1oq-xuf0usHx_hP4JyA5Ug/s1600/DSC_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPujGj08reynbwE1xqre3-5b9vFzDLkM6BmCzj-F8o_ujTynH0F2vVyE03Djy9mw9vSzb-Z73PrH_CQjYdR7Mypvaa8Dcxr2mQvmtIg7llo2ySr7UP9680i1oq-xuf0usHx_hP4JyA5Ug/s320/DSC_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Meazi,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My alarm went off at 5:40 this morning. I wanted to make
sure we had enough time to have a proper breakfast before your violin concert
this morning. You dressed in a darling red Christmas dress your nana bought you
last year. You wore shiny black Mary Jane’s that your good friend Yene passed
down to you, and brand new white bobby socks. You looked a little like
Norman Rockwell’s Ruby Bridges, skinny legs, braids pulled back, face scrubbed
clean, a determined stride in your step. You did very well. You stood behind a
pretty tall girl so it was hard to see you, but I saw your bow move gracefully
back and forth. After your three songs were over, you moved your head so that
you could find us in the audience. Your father, Melese, and I were in the front
row. You spotted us and burst into a big wide grin. You were proud. So were we.
You handed me your violin case and hurried off to be with the rest of your
classmates. You didn’t want to miss PE. Daddy, Melese, and I left your school.
Daddy got into his truck and went to work. Melese and I drove to his school.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Melese,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was your
last day of school before the holidays. We arrived late and immediately joined
the other preschoolers for some songs. They had you and a few other kiddos
stand up so they could sing you Happy Birthday. As a New Year’s baby the wanted
to make sure they got a chance to wish you a good one. Afterwards I walked you
back to your classroom and kissed you goodbye. I went to the restaurant next
door to have a cup of coffee and to catch up on some e-mail. I opened my
computer and read about the shooting in Connecticut. Tears rolled down my face
as I glanced across to the play yard where I knew you were safely playing. A
little while later, I packed up my things and walked back to your school. I
found you stacking milk crates outside with your most favorite friend. I walked
back into your classroom and took a spot on the circle rug anticipating the
goodbye meeting that would start in just a few minutes. A classmate’s little brother
sat next to me, a two–year old who is so, so, so ready to be in school like his
big brother. His mom had just removed his sandy, muddy, socks, clues that he
had enjoyed another Friday community day with his big brother. I couldn’t stop
staring at his tiny toes. My eyes welled up as I thought about all of the
murdered kindergartners in Connecticut and all of those tiny, tiny toes. Kahlil
Gibran’s words flashed in my head, ‘Your children are not your children’. I
thought about how none of you belong to any of us, and about how all of you
belong to all of us, and about how as parents we are responsible for the caring
of all of the children within our reach, should they need us. I grabbed your
classmate’s brother’s tiny pink toe. I couldn’t help myself. I smiled at him
and he leaned his head toward my shoulder smiling. His mom stood behind us,
busy breastfeeding the newest addition to their family, boy number three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the rug in the next spot over was
the darling blonde girl who always wore sparkly shoes. Today was her very last
day. Her family decided to move to Seattle and they wouldn’t be returning in
the New Year. Then you finally ran in Melese. You plopped down in my lap and
grabbed my hand. Your hand was freezing from being outside all morning. I put
my cheek on yours. I opened my oversized sweater and wrapped your body in with
mine. I took a breath and knew you were safe for at least this one deep
breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teachers began the
songs. Your school has a no cell phone rule. I am almost certain your teachers
hadn’t heard about the shooting yet. They began this song:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Five little ducks<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
Mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."<br />
But only four little ducks came back.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Four little ducks<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
Mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."<br />
But only three little ducks came back.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Three little ducks<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
Mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."<br />
But only two little ducks came back.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Two little ducks<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
Mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."<br />
But only one little duck came back.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
One little duck<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
Mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."<br />
But none of the five little ducks came back.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Sad mother duck<br />
Went out one day<br />
Over the hill and far away<br />
The sad mother duck said<br />
"Quack, quack, quack."<br />
And all of the five little ducks came back.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I held you close as we sang with your friends. I scanned the
room, taking in the faces of these children, their parents and your teachers. I
tried not to cry.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On our way home I positioned the rear view mirror so that I
could just see you. I wasn’t letting you out of my sight. At home I gave you
whatever you asked for. First those Annie’s shells with cheese, the ones in the
purple box you call bunny mac, and then the giant piece of candy cane I had
been disallowing all week. “Take it, please,” I said. “Eat it up.” We opened a
huge package. It was party stuff for your ‘Dolphin’ birthday party. You said
dolphins were beautiful and that that is why you wanted them for your party. “Ok,”
we said. You stacked the plates, and cups, and picked up a party favor and
said, “This one is for William.” William is the friend you love the most. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We left to get Meazi. When they finally called her name in
the carpool line, I began to cry again. I couldn’t wait to see her. She bounded
down the stairs and ran to the car. “What took you so long mom? I was the last
second grader waiting.” “I’m sorry,” I said. Melese, you turned to her and said,
“Meazi, I ate your peppermint. The big one.” I had forgotten that was Meazi’s
piece. She burst into tears. I think she was upset about the candy, but it was
also Friday afternoon and she is always exhausted on Fridays at 3:30. I reached
my hand back and put it inside her new bobby sock. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I drove home like that, you,
Melese, in my rear view, and you, Meazi, with my fingers on your ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove carefully and graciously, for a
change.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I brought you both in. Meazi you cried again when you found
the minuscule scrap of peppermint your brother left you. I made you both hot
cocoas. As you put your lunch box in the kitchen I couldn’t help but think
about all of those moms and dads and loved ones cleaning out the lunchboxes of
children they would never see again. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ducks that didn’t come back.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How will we keep our ducks safe? Our violinists and dolphin lovers? Our ballerinas and baseball players? All of our ducks?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How will we do it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-44746345152918334892012-12-12T06:27:00.001-08:002012-12-12T06:27:35.773-08:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq9O3RgRnkRI_vr8YVxR-i_rUnleae7Aw6mHEwN43gboo2warUIwsRhXwLU_IXdCgKJvlKjQUGt7tI477t6469P15QILESCCVgB5cHgbvFknt83bYFeHSldkgDCAveVqG7ohpG0w1R4E/s1600/DSC_0751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq9O3RgRnkRI_vr8YVxR-i_rUnleae7Aw6mHEwN43gboo2warUIwsRhXwLU_IXdCgKJvlKjQUGt7tI477t6469P15QILESCCVgB5cHgbvFknt83bYFeHSldkgDCAveVqG7ohpG0w1R4E/s320/DSC_0751.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-52933582159983823432012-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:002012-11-28T05:00:04.576-08:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-6214661483811489002012-10-30T22:21:00.000-07:002012-10-30T22:21:08.765-07:00Bloggity Blah, Trick or Treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAPag5-hXSpSDEsezR1cDzJ8elSivyZTbsZm5WontyQZ0Kn43KyFxdZ2nkhmohRoiGj7JS9zcNnH8to1QE05ZXQyu433cPUSB9__0_RkilUjeAKNuJnCn0fBpQCgh4_6LRXNkinSsgSk/s1600/DSC_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAPag5-hXSpSDEsezR1cDzJ8elSivyZTbsZm5WontyQZ0Kn43KyFxdZ2nkhmohRoiGj7JS9zcNnH8to1QE05ZXQyu433cPUSB9__0_RkilUjeAKNuJnCn0fBpQCgh4_6LRXNkinSsgSk/s320/DSC_0885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You may have noticed a lack of blogging here. Want excuses? I'm spending a lot of time in the car. Two schools, two different start times, two different end times = lots and lots of driving. Did I mention that I hate driving? I <i>hate</i> driving.<br />
<br />
Can one blog from an I-Pad? Anyone have an old I-Pad they don't want anymore? Maybe I could blog <i>while</i> driving. Or while waiting in a school parking lot for one of my little darlings. Seems like people with I-Pads have their shit together. Please send I-Pad stat to initiate more blogging.<br />
<br />
I'm sure you are dying to know what M and m are for Halloween right?<br />
<br />
Months ago Meazi told us she wanted to be Aphrodite. There is some disagreement about who suggested that Melese should be Eros/Cupid. I thought it was Meazi's idea, she said I suggested it. Maybe Melese decided himself, but Meazi hated the idea of being Cupid's mother on Halloween so she quickly chose a new Goddess:<br />
<br />
Artemis the Hunter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89ZFXERdGGX6vFdEY1p9axIKLNmlckxO7YsaM1GTc6e5eKSLoSX5Vwfeglzj0jT-6-sjmZnU8ux7sijuJdqiToYXcKB67P7iiyzUTkr4HeNStmBuVrzp3bqUzeJDcpfcUGIRl1PKArRc/s1600/DSC_0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89ZFXERdGGX6vFdEY1p9axIKLNmlckxO7YsaM1GTc6e5eKSLoSX5Vwfeglzj0jT-6-sjmZnU8ux7sijuJdqiToYXcKB67P7iiyzUTkr4HeNStmBuVrzp3bqUzeJDcpfcUGIRl1PKArRc/s320/DSC_0897.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
Melese remains Cupid.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnH18VrNM7GOu073YEyrDb9ABKZ3zv9wDSCc4fqIpWXrXCSm3RGTom7l0Nvejxtrq-rCIb0cqwCMdSxH-efQBya4ELQIVOuGmIrzjL37krkTeb4rQxpxUCyPNv0SJuXcR2ARItjJ-7E0/s1600/DSC_0912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnH18VrNM7GOu073YEyrDb9ABKZ3zv9wDSCc4fqIpWXrXCSm3RGTom7l0Nvejxtrq-rCIb0cqwCMdSxH-efQBya4ELQIVOuGmIrzjL37krkTeb4rQxpxUCyPNv0SJuXcR2ARItjJ-7E0/s320/DSC_0912.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
Sounds pretty highbrow eh? I bet your thinking, "See how bright and creative kids who aren't allowed to watch tv are?"<br />
<br />
The truth is Meazi's very first costume choice, months and months ago, was Strawberry Shortcake.<br />
<br />
We told her she had to pick something else.<br />
<br />
Lucky for us, her favorite book at the time was this one:<br />
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She loves this book so much.<br />
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We went to the Getty Villa to get some additional costume details...<br />
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I'm just happy no one lost a finger this Halloween. Steven used a jigsaw to carve the pumpkins.<br />
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Have a Happy Halloween.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7233227024562434538.post-85529745659044023202012-10-19T07:20:00.000-07:002012-10-19T07:20:26.339-07:00Autobiography<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Melese's autobiography as told to his teacher:<br />
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I'm a boy that's not too big and not that small. I'm just me. I like climbing on the monkey bars. I'm good at the monkey bars. I like going up in the air in an airplane and I like taking the subway. I'm not going to have any kids because my mommy and daddy are going to get tiny tiny like a little baby and I will take care of them and give them food.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790711152511868938noreply@blogger.com14