tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62311098111436707312024-03-24T02:10:08.656-05:00her Little WaysFaith...Family…& FriendshipValeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.comBlogger669125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-44564506170053589372024-01-22T10:50:00.004-06:002024-01-22T10:50:57.860-06:00Weekend Escape: The Truitt<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">"Hometown Tourist"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This weekend, Pat and I escaped for an overnight "in town". Like many urban centers and "downtowns" ours has experienced unprecedented growth and renewal. There are so many cute "boutique" hotels to choose from. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">When I found <i>The Truitt </i>online, I knew I had hit the jackpot! It was the perfect "staycation" for a quiet escape within our hometown, and located on the beautiful <a href="https://countryclubplaza.com/">Country Club Plaza</a> After a ten day business trip that Pat took to the Northwest Territories of Canada (yes. literally up near the Arctic Circle), we were ready for a little R&R away from the kids. With yucky weather and teens that need me close by, we opted to stay in town, but treat ourselves to a night away of luxury.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>The Truitt </i>did not disappoint.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The magic of its ambiance is apparent from the moment you happen upon its exterior. A historic, brick, colonial mansion built in 1916, it harkens back to a gentler time.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The interior is just as amazing mixing vintage with modern. Our room was beautiful and delightful to the senses. The sitting areas were just as inviting.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you are ever in the Kansas City area and wish to enjoy a quiet, relaxing, and peaceful evening in a historic setting, <a href="https://www.thetruitt.com/">The Truitt</a><i> </i>is definitely to be considered. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2N611YbmDuW-Mm2UEbLRsiqtdBw5K7gIBAYC0XPod1G6vkmd37BJc4w56_oVYulb3vEBXVZShhBKbBzXR69NnlkDTKvtTJ72tZFkXFsX09qh6CQSkZHuA_Y4Hzqaeq5htA2UVoJKs53-YG44vj8JhsowFnVRR8t6DlA1OLpC09R5z9mUHDkIDv938sEuW/s4032/Truitt1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDPRoJ-22kopXUvFC14jOOvTi0vEAH36PcJYWRxWh7RLs8vU8Ew4HCYXeRSgI8xBWZmmNGfs0g_a4-QHltLgRn3c-LMj30DcCA6zFxEsk8rRQymFR4gG94_pQEGgi-PHPNFy9OEGANRv6gtMrI-nu8GFqkhlMO3R9vuyfE4pWd5quYJdMVka5FTYH1q17/w480-h640/Truitt4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEzids3MJMZzL6UnULONytl0cZ0hN2LfiU7JghNtuRW3QJHvHkj4n2PMiXmHBaJllhrWJY_PcxIQHaQDmlyjmwI4dOPGxwSUtlpY0eS0fRTzjYnt3Tb9VdMc3WSnSP0A_kIuUm6Pij75n0vZ-qk9XFHDi4UdozzkaxA7VIfDiWCZDj2AQHRfSYPbOck2W/s4032/Truitt6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEzids3MJMZzL6UnULONytl0cZ0hN2LfiU7JghNtuRW3QJHvHkj4n2PMiXmHBaJllhrWJY_PcxIQHaQDmlyjmwI4dOPGxwSUtlpY0eS0fRTzjYnt3Tb9VdMc3WSnSP0A_kIuUm6Pij75n0vZ-qk9XFHDi4UdozzkaxA7VIfDiWCZDj2AQHRfSYPbOck2W/w480-h640/Truitt6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HrmB3F_gRh303LJtNjtmimyA76fO19ci6G3X1aj6yDdh66kbTXcLAndPu5jhCbZ_M-wVZv8qRPCifmkovjs4emfrtFoZJfccWxSjrYOrkSGJhtGoCnk1OreD4GEil_tzWTm1PXbMlLUop8nhcVGWb1M4FOPRuyDpoPyK4Ynn1loYjlvvuPP-3kdSwZ5u/s4032/Truitt7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HrmB3F_gRh303LJtNjtmimyA76fO19ci6G3X1aj6yDdh66kbTXcLAndPu5jhCbZ_M-wVZv8qRPCifmkovjs4emfrtFoZJfccWxSjrYOrkSGJhtGoCnk1OreD4GEil_tzWTm1PXbMlLUop8nhcVGWb1M4FOPRuyDpoPyK4Ynn1loYjlvvuPP-3kdSwZ5u/w640-h480/Truitt7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVKXTRkKXbcIpnwm05wf9ycb07K0cTUAxJO6ByogiRX2WWwaj7YKLRRTULWTCndZdZ6An0LPuEmOnccjztpQT0KT082qcO0K3BIZ059aZEO_z7D_I0__45QOkL92_ojeTEKuVE5q5dFwBsI0GIvtRtZ0Uhg6Sddz6MoCybd7ISXLii-J81Wsp7xkzptof/s4032/Truitt5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVKXTRkKXbcIpnwm05wf9ycb07K0cTUAxJO6ByogiRX2WWwaj7YKLRRTULWTCndZdZ6An0LPuEmOnccjztpQT0KT082qcO0K3BIZ059aZEO_z7D_I0__45QOkL92_ojeTEKuVE5q5dFwBsI0GIvtRtZ0Uhg6Sddz6MoCybd7ISXLii-J81Wsp7xkzptof/w640-h480/Truitt5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ieJn9SmhcOZJQRGD920__NwIdNj_ZMIKo8vGJi4gudaTsCoYJk0Xxt2H_1ALO_laxpfflsCYsD2eWXw3jvm62-8GKLdzzwVdfnND_PBl0O8NSy5UhHxo8u4lwZn1mbtX-Oif-tcdgeggXDiCl-9SREZ2aZNawmowuEeAEVEURqixPx_Ww1nOn1AxbnyF/s4032/Truitt8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ieJn9SmhcOZJQRGD920__NwIdNj_ZMIKo8vGJi4gudaTsCoYJk0Xxt2H_1ALO_laxpfflsCYsD2eWXw3jvm62-8GKLdzzwVdfnND_PBl0O8NSy5UhHxo8u4lwZn1mbtX-Oif-tcdgeggXDiCl-9SREZ2aZNawmowuEeAEVEURqixPx_Ww1nOn1AxbnyF/w480-h640/Truitt8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-4892830358008130142024-01-22T09:30:00.001-06:002024-01-22T09:30:13.716-06:00Think Spring<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"No winter lasts forever;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">no spring skips its turn."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Hal Borland~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh Friends...we are on snow day #3627. I jest, but it is only January 22nd and we have two months of winter left to weather! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The forecast does call for a warming of temperatures with lots of rainfall in the forecast coming up from Texas and Oklahoma. Looks like a "soggy days and rainboots" kind of week.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For now, I am going to sip my hot tea and stay off our ice-covered roads until temps warm up and begin to melt this sheet of ice coating everything.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hurry up spring!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZVF2bhRFR-LiFEHlVWbhmjAXyCQSZDAL87Ck5yNpIJsnR0LeCuN3goF1Dbhu33Q0DACR4dc-d3gV8X_qjbmlbVLt8n3CNJwsIgkP_yEK8ZqI7CMwAPr1phJC5_rtEyXlYpiPhY2LycfZU17NaOVnWMHVSOJb3AfCycoR_P4CFswwsliENPRUpu3u42xU/s4032/coffee3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZVF2bhRFR-LiFEHlVWbhmjAXyCQSZDAL87Ck5yNpIJsnR0LeCuN3goF1Dbhu33Q0DACR4dc-d3gV8X_qjbmlbVLt8n3CNJwsIgkP_yEK8ZqI7CMwAPr1phJC5_rtEyXlYpiPhY2LycfZU17NaOVnWMHVSOJb3AfCycoR_P4CFswwsliENPRUpu3u42xU/w480-h640/coffee3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUztJ2MggFBr3dYJ8IhS_SoH9A-u_JcTzzAjbqBrDwOPHDAFjm0rusA9jvfXoQyBYwsWSxHC69cArMft1M1mpRFoDX9CGeDXJ0gS1zz-btPXGSL3FWQCxgdAf3EryIIzYo9oKnvlH_oH_mtxji-Kr2Pbe7Px1Pe6Ft81zZTRGrb3f-i15c8ghRtohyuqO/s4032/coffee1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUztJ2MggFBr3dYJ8IhS_SoH9A-u_JcTzzAjbqBrDwOPHDAFjm0rusA9jvfXoQyBYwsWSxHC69cArMft1M1mpRFoDX9CGeDXJ0gS1zz-btPXGSL3FWQCxgdAf3EryIIzYo9oKnvlH_oH_mtxji-Kr2Pbe7Px1Pe6Ft81zZTRGrb3f-i15c8ghRtohyuqO/w480-h640/coffee1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_2dhUfnVypquCvjRZvJmb_lrTN75Tb3PXuJqxPSLS41bNICHmijYXBH7nuMgfWHzdyJdlfN3AP7j0B3XztDPxDEHJEfPw6tQeywq5Njq1htx1zYL-WA6slA3h5ti14nbxye_-DDPZr78UVHZsBZV4MaWEH-H3_LSwgo6maFHH0B5IQKEszbgwg98DHcr/s1242/coffee2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1242" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_2dhUfnVypquCvjRZvJmb_lrTN75Tb3PXuJqxPSLS41bNICHmijYXBH7nuMgfWHzdyJdlfN3AP7j0B3XztDPxDEHJEfPw6tQeywq5Njq1htx1zYL-WA6slA3h5ti14nbxye_-DDPZr78UVHZsBZV4MaWEH-H3_LSwgo6maFHH0B5IQKEszbgwg98DHcr/w640-h576/coffee2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1H_rFSJkZNuguMueCWlaMpFOP-O4oJDtiF25nCJEMg2vPd6lULAQbos2E50JbHnY4g6eCm3Q04wbO1zEHyg47IoyibZNsheQnXquOPc9s5TPJLRd8HHzyS9-nEtn9HU2lDmVEZPyLKTiXkE8pxTMHP8hVStJHQnb1MAHqvmh5ZlFDg9CJUzIY1euysoS/s275/thinkspring.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1H_rFSJkZNuguMueCWlaMpFOP-O4oJDtiF25nCJEMg2vPd6lULAQbos2E50JbHnY4g6eCm3Q04wbO1zEHyg47IoyibZNsheQnXquOPc9s5TPJLRd8HHzyS9-nEtn9HU2lDmVEZPyLKTiXkE8pxTMHP8hVStJHQnb1MAHqvmh5ZlFDg9CJUzIY1euysoS/w640-h426/thinkspring.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlBd-wxfr_RnS8GmLAHOtmw-Wa_SVdIpS7534Y70ABPgxOTyrU63HeJrvZrLiTLQ5_Q0onrx_JEYKNR_FgPY_UekK0tRz4eceObOGgZVGX8VMlIT0jSoOPmHVbTZ7uxGJXwLg-5IDES-xqn6klnkM8U2ECFx7g43Bo02L_Fhlu_iFORw54GWfRNQuN0Kw/s924/think-spring-lawn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="924" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlBd-wxfr_RnS8GmLAHOtmw-Wa_SVdIpS7534Y70ABPgxOTyrU63HeJrvZrLiTLQ5_Q0onrx_JEYKNR_FgPY_UekK0tRz4eceObOGgZVGX8VMlIT0jSoOPmHVbTZ7uxGJXwLg-5IDES-xqn6klnkM8U2ECFx7g43Bo02L_Fhlu_iFORw54GWfRNQuN0Kw/w640-h310/think-spring-lawn.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay cozy, Friends!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-21508456598505404242024-01-16T12:26:00.000-06:002024-01-16T12:26:37.361-06:00I'm a Little Teapot<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurR-cAmYH42CehayRRRs7Daz84hnYXBSGKstZ014MIOBs0T8w76pOVTiAK3I45vIhKiCmnslRFJ6l7NFGAs8dw1EFSCWTC9y7eQHRqeULeRw5WL9YYnsrR_Bheks0jJ9_eOkt2NE04wo-vfiNxIiUVdKiVhJy6HdwjT4_eRpr68BaGnp0elkJvppOwE6-/s4032/Teapot1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurR-cAmYH42CehayRRRs7Daz84hnYXBSGKstZ014MIOBs0T8w76pOVTiAK3I45vIhKiCmnslRFJ6l7NFGAs8dw1EFSCWTC9y7eQHRqeULeRw5WL9YYnsrR_Bheks0jJ9_eOkt2NE04wo-vfiNxIiUVdKiVhJy6HdwjT4_eRpr68BaGnp0elkJvppOwE6-/w480-h640/Teapot1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">I'm a little teapot</span></span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Short and stout.</span></span></div><span><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Here is my handle,</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Here is my spout.</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When I get all steamed up</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Hear me shout:</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Tip me over</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">And pour me out!</span></div><div style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large;">How many of us remember the lyrics to "I'm a Little Teapot" written by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley in 1939?! I can distinctly remember my grandmothers teaching me the words and motions to the song, and then performing a tap dance routine to it at a local studio. </span></div><div style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJJm_z15C766UXLKGteNNCTHxEnM3zy2_8XJmtyiOk9W6yPWqIUg9Q9jUT94t9pjf_NcKGlBV_HXED-7naLiBU7_vUKIvYTiM7z29G7vqDJhfCQFJre3gwjQ2AkNMVK04_GFydZlSlSTSJgrj7Iwn3hY_vA6eg9S-utNyK41QUPPJm115esciNsUt2Mw2/s4032/Teapot2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJJm_z15C766UXLKGteNNCTHxEnM3zy2_8XJmtyiOk9W6yPWqIUg9Q9jUT94t9pjf_NcKGlBV_HXED-7naLiBU7_vUKIvYTiM7z29G7vqDJhfCQFJre3gwjQ2AkNMVK04_GFydZlSlSTSJgrj7Iwn3hY_vA6eg9S-utNyK41QUPPJm115esciNsUt2Mw2/w480-h640/Teapot2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">Thinking back to my own parenting years, I'm almost certain I taught this nursery rhyme to my toddlers...at least, I'm hoping I did! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">Anyway, I've been blessed to spend these past few days with my now college-aged daughter due to extreme cold weather and school cancellations. Yesterday, Mary Catherine and I had a mother-daughter date antiquing, shopping, and lunching. I love that my girl loves antiquing...she even goes with her girlfriends. Such fun, quirky kids! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">Recently, I discovered a new-to-me home and garden website, <a href="https://www.henandhorsedesign.com/">henandhorsedesign</a> and it brings me so much joy when I see her posts on my FB feed. While scrolling through her posts, I saw the most beautiful vignette arranged on her kitchen island. It was just the inspiration I needed to "make pretty" my own kitchen island. While out antiquing with Mary Catherine, I spied an adorable silver teapot, and in a neighboring booth I found a pretty platter. The other items I "shopped" from around my house and voila...a gorgeous island centerpiece, evoking a much more genteel time. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE3hgO3BZjHPRaOb3SFcSkeFoGQ2Nu1hu2n_TggfjMq_8yFvWfqSJ-cpW5I_2kYCIRj_mec9vuuqrWZ613Ai3LeYvDCyL_eUznTwqTYoH4a90YmiDFAIOINqDBDDuL64MFW0e8AC0tBYksr6aGBKRdMknVwTjyUSjNIxXQhU_K_8jLzVQueEAgDm0vHCD/s4032/Teapot4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE3hgO3BZjHPRaOb3SFcSkeFoGQ2Nu1hu2n_TggfjMq_8yFvWfqSJ-cpW5I_2kYCIRj_mec9vuuqrWZ613Ai3LeYvDCyL_eUznTwqTYoH4a90YmiDFAIOINqDBDDuL64MFW0e8AC0tBYksr6aGBKRdMknVwTjyUSjNIxXQhU_K_8jLzVQueEAgDm0vHCD/w640-h480/Teapot4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsDYr4YdqCVDIf7UZ2APey3QRSEXANo9TNBVXDFMXXqwYDFTSSVZNsztuskO_VrMSq4YcXZZEKsBhK_sFZGMbA8GAxxTBzljfGlENLUFy0dzQWO-uQjwf2lBdDYkh5EXZHd55LMMUKQ8YrlZ_cuYftaPzf1FtwvCLSI8ixaXPJzdE4b6H2mrF-_SyW7o3/s4032/Teapot3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsDYr4YdqCVDIf7UZ2APey3QRSEXANo9TNBVXDFMXXqwYDFTSSVZNsztuskO_VrMSq4YcXZZEKsBhK_sFZGMbA8GAxxTBzljfGlENLUFy0dzQWO-uQjwf2lBdDYkh5EXZHd55LMMUKQ8YrlZ_cuYftaPzf1FtwvCLSI8ixaXPJzdE4b6H2mrF-_SyW7o3/w480-h640/Teapot3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: __Lora_f859af, __Lora_Fallback_f859af; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a class="title" data-author="Michelangelo" href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1136734?ref=gentility" id="title_quote_link_1136734" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">Love is a beautiful image imagined or seen within the heart, the friend of virtue and gentility.</span></a><a class="title" data-author="Michelangelo" href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1136734?ref=gentility" id="title_quote_link_1136734" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><a class="title" data-author="Michelangelo" href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1136734?ref=gentility" id="title_quote_link_1136734" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">~Michelangelo~</span></a><a class="title" data-author="Michelangelo" href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1136734?ref=gentility" id="title_quote_link_1136734" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><a class="title" data-author="Michelangelo" href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1136734?ref=gentility" id="title_quote_link_1136734" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Hope you are staying warm, Friends! It is bitterly cold here in the Heartland. Hugs</span></a></div></div></span>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-7885357877381802692024-01-12T10:43:00.004-06:002024-01-12T10:43:28.248-06:00Snow Day 3.0<span style="font-size: large;">Snow days. Teachers and students love them. Admin probably dreads them. A logistical nightmare trying to appease teachers and parents EOY exit dates while also meeting state days attendance requirements. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Nonetheless, we are having our 3rd snow day this week. Freezing mist made for slick roads, and frigid temps made for flash freezing. Lots of car crashes starting around 5 AM, so school was called off around 5:30. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I had already gotten up, showered, fed the dog, started a load of laundry and emptied the dishwasher when I got the call. Productive morning! ;)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh-Y71mzUZ1ijay4Q7EFu8in5D5LZElrhrDmrfgswUdtyuVNyMRuwD3OC9Pi8LH2oYE8qGqwZHJkkIhzcDAoM8PNQKSxuYTNIz5cLSkyieiWxSlPnlThwxUJqj2U4WZvbz6LCvScWzi8-Pme9wiWrtb80nAQzlLSWNzURrOqM6o9qMLtrXoYo5olqAsAf/s4032/snowday1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh-Y71mzUZ1ijay4Q7EFu8in5D5LZElrhrDmrfgswUdtyuVNyMRuwD3OC9Pi8LH2oYE8qGqwZHJkkIhzcDAoM8PNQKSxuYTNIz5cLSkyieiWxSlPnlThwxUJqj2U4WZvbz6LCvScWzi8-Pme9wiWrtb80nAQzlLSWNzURrOqM6o9qMLtrXoYo5olqAsAf/w480-h640/snowday1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9CJttq9vUeTqjStjQ8g6MpKVR0vYtoPtnBOiX_-qziwD3gt78uTONMm1gFMlkcGu-D_CLXalDgLBfw8n2Adee0BKVhwk7GwPRMuvApvn5-VOJGhrdtPq1so0FDjbhDt_mdrumOsZikmT8IXBTa_wD2pZ9kzT6JilHpiTdQPvkZnsoqCRqJLKD8WUlnUA/s4032/Snowday2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9CJttq9vUeTqjStjQ8g6MpKVR0vYtoPtnBOiX_-qziwD3gt78uTONMm1gFMlkcGu-D_CLXalDgLBfw8n2Adee0BKVhwk7GwPRMuvApvn5-VOJGhrdtPq1so0FDjbhDt_mdrumOsZikmT8IXBTa_wD2pZ9kzT6JilHpiTdQPvkZnsoqCRqJLKD8WUlnUA/w480-h640/Snowday2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">This is today's coffee/hot tea mug. It is so sweet. I love its snowy scene featuring an owl and cardinal. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I bought this because if reminds me of Mary and Chris. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Mary's high school mascot was the owl...and cardinals are symbolic of your passed loved-one visiting. We seem to see cardinals when we least expect it...or most need it. (Thank you, Heavenly Father!) Every time I use my mug it reminds me of my daughter (so far away!) and dad watching over her.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So, cheers to our third snow day making for a four-day weekend! Stay cozy!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus8cXU1EMr-4AyX_boWMJanryZetZKYQxLiKsx_MF4BT3Q146ins_htoNvLZJN8IdxSVd5lDJlD1ic0L1182YQH3diByPvjtXOyfK2Pb5NO8cEF7oIVUaPoWE3yFzP7hkiCq_Ml2f6mSG9FoJrkc4ywkyb3fRF2UuQl4Ykhpk4U0VN6Y82xcPrNZfCU2G/s860/snow-quotes-36.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus8cXU1EMr-4AyX_boWMJanryZetZKYQxLiKsx_MF4BT3Q146ins_htoNvLZJN8IdxSVd5lDJlD1ic0L1182YQH3diByPvjtXOyfK2Pb5NO8cEF7oIVUaPoWE3yFzP7hkiCq_Ml2f6mSG9FoJrkc4ywkyb3fRF2UuQl4Ykhpk4U0VN6Y82xcPrNZfCU2G/w506-h640/snow-quotes-36.webp" width="506" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-31705009873367272342024-01-10T20:40:00.002-06:002024-01-10T20:40:35.827-06:00Christmas Around the House: Master Bedroom<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjeHvRAzCRn9h9L9gkfGhyphenhyphenQdgFeACC03wMA3-ljJrwogMbNi_eXkyVzz8kS035oDdVjAQ_74fBXBH4-BHW3hBAXYT9hyphenhyphenCuzpsAJgQJOdtuvneQXqXmJAQqERw4eTt051cS6CVhqqBAQvXMJFaetPSMWdYjJILmd3wj2cCYY_Aojgnwq6r_CoFS1JeBY3/s1024/Xmas%20Tree%20Ornament.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjeHvRAzCRn9h9L9gkfGhyphenhyphenQdgFeACC03wMA3-ljJrwogMbNi_eXkyVzz8kS035oDdVjAQ_74fBXBH4-BHW3hBAXYT9hyphenhyphenCuzpsAJgQJOdtuvneQXqXmJAQqERw4eTt051cS6CVhqqBAQvXMJFaetPSMWdYjJILmd3wj2cCYY_Aojgnwq6r_CoFS1JeBY3/w640-h426/Xmas%20Tree%20Ornament.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was the first year that I put up a Christmas tree in the primary bedroom (formerly "master bedroom"). It brought me so much joy!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My first floor Christmas decor is pink/mauve/cranberry, so it was fun to use traditional red and green in the primary bedroom and second floor hallway. (Hallway to be shown in a future post.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found the perfect Christmas tree skirt to compliment my "folk art" themed tree, as well as some new folk art ornaments, and Christmas/Holiday bedding. My bedroom became a cozy retreat and refuge from the craziness of work and parenting.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without further ado, here was this year's tree. I still need to find a tree topper that compliments my folk art theme. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih69C6Ow6aN8AgTWt8bJCkBjHwfCwF2xBHnRzzx_W1vfowo_672041Eipcf1as0g3pitO_-8JCHadeB8rNydK08zf9Z-2zTVoQf9_J8e3a4u8KJ4ob1XPXeWpvKIuFzqOeotoL0eHwjEhcje_VKxd1-zXrJSyrqFYawo8T7Rn7jXzFjY9_xuFpSVkMgRC0/s4032/Master1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih69C6Ow6aN8AgTWt8bJCkBjHwfCwF2xBHnRzzx_W1vfowo_672041Eipcf1as0g3pitO_-8JCHadeB8rNydK08zf9Z-2zTVoQf9_J8e3a4u8KJ4ob1XPXeWpvKIuFzqOeotoL0eHwjEhcje_VKxd1-zXrJSyrqFYawo8T7Rn7jXzFjY9_xuFpSVkMgRC0/w480-h640/Master1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vuND6IEiSuZBRfiOtZHo0GJK9xhkZUNb-ILmlF52iQ903tyWGad64aIH9DWoBiBmHKDC1pSylwmNGF7RdYTAFpoO6Su8MOPakZzf3L2DIE2cyyS1HNqJ_Al5dkzKIvXIu0buAsufAPwNTfOiDEppmP7FLGczmFN-nFPPFhcMhjiyV9F4jWKoUKac3Hcl/s4032/Master9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vuND6IEiSuZBRfiOtZHo0GJK9xhkZUNb-ILmlF52iQ903tyWGad64aIH9DWoBiBmHKDC1pSylwmNGF7RdYTAFpoO6Su8MOPakZzf3L2DIE2cyyS1HNqJ_Al5dkzKIvXIu0buAsufAPwNTfOiDEppmP7FLGczmFN-nFPPFhcMhjiyV9F4jWKoUKac3Hcl/w480-h640/Master9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Nro5Psudqa5lykRUvfqC00kx-7NgRC89wQeCkrcXfJbgT34ZDYqN5Ybx49r9Z1QxV3PTZg8SSc3kARjR1FMsZcC8oSxfetnDghX_YtwrJxiI4SSV1DFd52op7l6VSPckC08Ui2DUkvq_b7Rg7AD7UtNLY8-cVjtGNIzpOtpSgcAliGeR0ur3gAI0Ulb6/s4032/Master2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Nro5Psudqa5lykRUvfqC00kx-7NgRC89wQeCkrcXfJbgT34ZDYqN5Ybx49r9Z1QxV3PTZg8SSc3kARjR1FMsZcC8oSxfetnDghX_YtwrJxiI4SSV1DFd52op7l6VSPckC08Ui2DUkvq_b7Rg7AD7UtNLY8-cVjtGNIzpOtpSgcAliGeR0ur3gAI0Ulb6/w480-h640/Master2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4bJcH4Ymckrf8X1jEQFF-81zChVI0_OckXtu8Vvmi4Tm9p5s1qNop9rYlTqp7iYsmI4BtF72g_if8i_eDpOQGf3EO0vwHzhBQBymj1bxuuve3UogeHrB54oJ4ps18C0fwFVkXr9r3MZ2sy7cE4_pSTrJHO0Ls-NXzfizYZqjPwA72cndoLN5mLlibBDJ/s4032/Master10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4bJcH4Ymckrf8X1jEQFF-81zChVI0_OckXtu8Vvmi4Tm9p5s1qNop9rYlTqp7iYsmI4BtF72g_if8i_eDpOQGf3EO0vwHzhBQBymj1bxuuve3UogeHrB54oJ4ps18C0fwFVkXr9r3MZ2sy7cE4_pSTrJHO0Ls-NXzfizYZqjPwA72cndoLN5mLlibBDJ/w480-h640/Master10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIfwk0T2oICtcCHQZISNK9fyM1wosUH7R25HxlSHphIgx7yYiM4AGnfSXVxnr5at-X2KH8FIPs9wCdk_7IIGqIkCx4xeO5ZRe4D2U6ThA1osG9dj5oV4V7daY-5Kg3YmDrMYeFheO9u6-O9EMZBt22MVHr5Dsmusii1flzHlAMiLnt_cfvtDG2JSwS18g/s4032/Master3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIfwk0T2oICtcCHQZISNK9fyM1wosUH7R25HxlSHphIgx7yYiM4AGnfSXVxnr5at-X2KH8FIPs9wCdk_7IIGqIkCx4xeO5ZRe4D2U6ThA1osG9dj5oV4V7daY-5Kg3YmDrMYeFheO9u6-O9EMZBt22MVHr5Dsmusii1flzHlAMiLnt_cfvtDG2JSwS18g/w480-h640/Master3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTEJI18XYsKNo2YPmpaOUkEh6kAHowErb9k60n_ISr1k5WNmGPB4DBTfr80b9KWQtnr8UbxF8TwIEMZ3CZIWq1mpaxYHM5mQSN3_imdk2K7B46imygw9CnKS_IWfqo0TMlrR9P4djdz8HwKe3DA0OJR6Z0Hjevf00w9gRb8zb0kG1BojsG3VEyh5wR-xO/s4032/Master5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTEJI18XYsKNo2YPmpaOUkEh6kAHowErb9k60n_ISr1k5WNmGPB4DBTfr80b9KWQtnr8UbxF8TwIEMZ3CZIWq1mpaxYHM5mQSN3_imdk2K7B46imygw9CnKS_IWfqo0TMlrR9P4djdz8HwKe3DA0OJR6Z0Hjevf00w9gRb8zb0kG1BojsG3VEyh5wR-xO/w480-h640/Master5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnK2YaKe0JPg7VP3bv66SitCGUEtRjCbT1HS6rojHGBnCdK9OIL5L64QjvyqxhbToePCigolVeQP3WtXYubK8c4aVXVRO-oAic1oEOiMahzGki0DQyr4h44O9l4kqfD71zRb2gmcDnaXF121jxTpYukU5zJGOM8_UQJywDIvElGdHEyHNBWgOQd1HfM75/s4032/Master6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnK2YaKe0JPg7VP3bv66SitCGUEtRjCbT1HS6rojHGBnCdK9OIL5L64QjvyqxhbToePCigolVeQP3WtXYubK8c4aVXVRO-oAic1oEOiMahzGki0DQyr4h44O9l4kqfD71zRb2gmcDnaXF121jxTpYukU5zJGOM8_UQJywDIvElGdHEyHNBWgOQd1HfM75/w480-h640/Master6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbqK5LpLJKV9fRMzXTMX3vmKK-CJ6I1NBi2iZKW8c4F00KHRihZHEl5U5NmrPrGZx3Pq271ydpBwfFTnYsKbFfBVndEvx7VeljxUC2ySPc-3Xh3wzg4ocOoKW8vNwZ8lRK_IsYO3dnT777UhbrerUcOe-IijpZMekxffmAEh2y7imyu9wpvCvD5xlKgK0/s4032/Master7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbqK5LpLJKV9fRMzXTMX3vmKK-CJ6I1NBi2iZKW8c4F00KHRihZHEl5U5NmrPrGZx3Pq271ydpBwfFTnYsKbFfBVndEvx7VeljxUC2ySPc-3Xh3wzg4ocOoKW8vNwZ8lRK_IsYO3dnT777UhbrerUcOe-IijpZMekxffmAEh2y7imyu9wpvCvD5xlKgK0/w480-h640/Master7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-rPbNoQC0Mw3D7MDnAh060_g2qAgneRtXuPtc-oUNOC8tf6ieHPryOcTWsJyWptbCsV6Bl7pByv_Cg6j0RR7wSz0TVGT-6BKrANH1XeAcdcXpuuLT6XwYgG3lHbMLLMHhwcdBwn5Jo62f1bp6jzfgkoZYvfg7i3XKL6XipGQERYr8FRn6oHC3E69Dla0/s4032/Master8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-rPbNoQC0Mw3D7MDnAh060_g2qAgneRtXuPtc-oUNOC8tf6ieHPryOcTWsJyWptbCsV6Bl7pByv_Cg6j0RR7wSz0TVGT-6BKrANH1XeAcdcXpuuLT6XwYgG3lHbMLLMHhwcdBwn5Jo62f1bp6jzfgkoZYvfg7i3XKL6XipGQERYr8FRn6oHC3E69Dla0/w480-h640/Master8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4dBNvamaoHgvanCbKjDEfoye2n5w8nS3TUZhpgpz31x0aGxgocdKQ9ChweYaSQlRhlJM1MLhsKt5FCAxIcVbS_lpLXKzILraPEdVXEzM79m3fBFWzlmj0fGGL5gIgG2mJBjolbB6-0pa2v62UFRLa_TtrK-Od5l8VRHhphTG-7hMEDQOF8Jp8XpEpPUQ/s4032/Master11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4dBNvamaoHgvanCbKjDEfoye2n5w8nS3TUZhpgpz31x0aGxgocdKQ9ChweYaSQlRhlJM1MLhsKt5FCAxIcVbS_lpLXKzILraPEdVXEzM79m3fBFWzlmj0fGGL5gIgG2mJBjolbB6-0pa2v62UFRLa_TtrK-Od5l8VRHhphTG-7hMEDQOF8Jp8XpEpPUQ/w480-h640/Master11.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTfhpV9iDJGo02zHKQ-c9ZWWfD0aYTesXsdymq7iRZhvhS9IX-HzyCqevgB0acOKoFKPjPyOq-I1Y6pi-9m-6sM4QF47zBh601pApxszzh24uI9mZUc-3RlmwnHL0Myu-2uvNX_Q6yTDZ9PtUfvkuE-uj8saFAqRW4k2oLrIlYYYTMLDss5EMIWYaOGgc/s540/Master12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="540" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTfhpV9iDJGo02zHKQ-c9ZWWfD0aYTesXsdymq7iRZhvhS9IX-HzyCqevgB0acOKoFKPjPyOq-I1Y6pi-9m-6sM4QF47zBh601pApxszzh24uI9mZUc-3RlmwnHL0Myu-2uvNX_Q6yTDZ9PtUfvkuE-uj8saFAqRW4k2oLrIlYYYTMLDss5EMIWYaOGgc/w640-h356/Master12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-66832945570429657342024-01-10T16:08:00.001-06:002024-01-10T16:08:12.413-06:00A Look Back: Senior Prom 2023<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">"You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">~ABBA, "Dancing Queen"~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">"Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene, digging <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qiMJt-JBb4">dancing queen</a>"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMImhezo5H4HY_uRdIo_rKPj5X4zksRu7SZXHSvwbMO_IOh7VqGxbhqc_41tVrdW3y_R_iU_oBSXA9oBWL5v6CRZ64TDBN1ZhHk5Qi6BtQLw3UASRFsETSnq4NF8uzxL77Q3mHBIfIWukStTg_I4f5lKDH9RXGwSUuaH__0YXi4DJZg7RBVeJl_GZnXnz/s4032/Prom2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMImhezo5H4HY_uRdIo_rKPj5X4zksRu7SZXHSvwbMO_IOh7VqGxbhqc_41tVrdW3y_R_iU_oBSXA9oBWL5v6CRZ64TDBN1ZhHk5Qi6BtQLw3UASRFsETSnq4NF8uzxL77Q3mHBIfIWukStTg_I4f5lKDH9RXGwSUuaH__0YXi4DJZg7RBVeJl_GZnXnz/w480-h640/Prom2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;">Oh how beautiful you looked that night...radiating pure joy...confidence...and unexpected "royalty"!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;">The tiara and sash were so not your style...and yet you wore it with pride...the unexpected consequence of being nominated to the <br />Royalty Court. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;">And how cool is it that not only were YOU nominated for Prom Queen, but your BEST FRIEND was too?!?!?! Once in a lifetime experience. Emily and you looked so beautiful together!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">"Elegance is the only beauty that never fades."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Charter-robotoFallback, Charter-localFallback, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> ~ Audrey Hepburn~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP1lfeLoZ8t7k3OJ4yABjlNKLaoTOOwVIJBGVfIMYccGHJHAdxxlW0m-zm3mpVip7_csfIvClXp4TOpZLw0o0-Njrp_7sqAZBrH5r4Ei9mN4wu5cXKHf9lDQVxn2As9mTlGS7eTbKEzfatZ5DXOgPfsczC2hAUO0wuVWpyBgLoyWsF4tj640mv3HdEy7y/s2048/Prom6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP1lfeLoZ8t7k3OJ4yABjlNKLaoTOOwVIJBGVfIMYccGHJHAdxxlW0m-zm3mpVip7_csfIvClXp4TOpZLw0o0-Njrp_7sqAZBrH5r4Ei9mN4wu5cXKHf9lDQVxn2As9mTlGS7eTbKEzfatZ5DXOgPfsczC2hAUO0wuVWpyBgLoyWsF4tj640mv3HdEy7y/w480-h640/Prom6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">This gorgeous ball gown. With POCKETS. YOU wore the dress! The dress did NOT WEAR you!!! You looked stunning. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8xg6qHLSJsKxqO9Tk07ainuPw5D3e4fDrNB4-E9ihfdvaXwNXxgvRBe941G_kKpG4h2WaTFaVWReAznWlWptY6990DbHiWqddPhCJe7rPCLbz-dk7m_maJ-BZJw0HiCVtJA0DBxUf6_76rEN9gTmhDymVOka8JZa_BZ5MoB9mQgbZ0ZXGk2Exr3-gIG3/s2048/Prom11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8xg6qHLSJsKxqO9Tk07ainuPw5D3e4fDrNB4-E9ihfdvaXwNXxgvRBe941G_kKpG4h2WaTFaVWReAznWlWptY6990DbHiWqddPhCJe7rPCLbz-dk7m_maJ-BZJw0HiCVtJA0DBxUf6_76rEN9gTmhDymVOka8JZa_BZ5MoB9mQgbZ0ZXGk2Exr3-gIG3/w480-h640/Prom11.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masquerade Ball theme</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rApYQM96Keohz8qSMGVuehEgORTOLNZ2YgpvkzZm-cVc8gvO3tNfJ-g4KS1eMGP3LcWAO8Aa2AojcYtB8ut-YU127-s32La7YztpyoqlXO9JrXiufcJ6QRn4jTL4y0X4L-5Yvj3eQtoVZWpjUbu73RmjmZxZzGoJneEgzcBE9PUlchrLafjBtb2zC0L0/s4032/Prom3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rApYQM96Keohz8qSMGVuehEgORTOLNZ2YgpvkzZm-cVc8gvO3tNfJ-g4KS1eMGP3LcWAO8Aa2AojcYtB8ut-YU127-s32La7YztpyoqlXO9JrXiufcJ6QRn4jTL4y0X4L-5Yvj3eQtoVZWpjUbu73RmjmZxZzGoJneEgzcBE9PUlchrLafjBtb2zC0L0/w480-h640/Prom3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We laughed and laughed over the tiara!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKhAo9pf419F843pZ0bsrnNyBA-BFLb0zucOz-_G-LkFU0lhitoi4b5yYuiIpg1LIVA1kgGLzxsZZri6oxDoDGLPy2A3b6qAzD6kj2empOm0y_UGoMnoAnNRLLkLTNqSfQANPllmf6p_OqOFtY4_fuumO4qvBuaczAF8gPriiwAe7Bgfbzyzk0czdI-lT/s2048/Prom7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKhAo9pf419F843pZ0bsrnNyBA-BFLb0zucOz-_G-LkFU0lhitoi4b5yYuiIpg1LIVA1kgGLzxsZZri6oxDoDGLPy2A3b6qAzD6kj2empOm0y_UGoMnoAnNRLLkLTNqSfQANPllmf6p_OqOFtY4_fuumO4qvBuaczAF8gPriiwAe7Bgfbzyzk0czdI-lT/w480-h640/Prom7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BESTIES<span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnn4T1fMo_eAH9vKx5cy0zYu9Vemgoc43d917WiBE29hG-QbLQb5v6iGmdLNcLX4orFBPIB5tHojGV7n4lVd7O9Ix-n_7eEPGLnbpRG0l60MiEqoUeg2p_zdxPHt8LS4lgRW7t1SfEtb58dLLwllDW212CN9ABdNREt7Jl4CRbJEnTopwKyGcSBDGPnFF/s1104/Prom1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnn4T1fMo_eAH9vKx5cy0zYu9Vemgoc43d917WiBE29hG-QbLQb5v6iGmdLNcLX4orFBPIB5tHojGV7n4lVd7O9Ix-n_7eEPGLnbpRG0l60MiEqoUeg2p_zdxPHt8LS4lgRW7t1SfEtb58dLLwllDW212CN9ABdNREt7Jl4CRbJEnTopwKyGcSBDGPnFF/w480-h640/Prom1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so very cold this day!!! Looks deceiving.;.about 40 degrees. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo5-MpM688TdsUzB5JMAgl5ezlfz4ccjSnc67sL4CL1LXOqs6V-9HvMH55JGyeW6ZMnFD2M89EF9A4tKkTOUUy0xBv37l64A9zMqpCy6TS0g_G5Y-RJ9RsQQHLat1W4vZ8XdTrhdERJWTRZqRt51z3ebyBgdfayO-uSen5yLgR15GwyO85gm5W3M3pMSp/s2048/Prom8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo5-MpM688TdsUzB5JMAgl5ezlfz4ccjSnc67sL4CL1LXOqs6V-9HvMH55JGyeW6ZMnFD2M89EF9A4tKkTOUUy0xBv37l64A9zMqpCy6TS0g_G5Y-RJ9RsQQHLat1W4vZ8XdTrhdERJWTRZqRt51z3ebyBgdfayO-uSen5yLgR15GwyO85gm5W3M3pMSp/w480-h640/Prom8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the family pet is the real queen! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">"Sometimes you just have to throw on a crown and remind them who they're dealing with." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">~Marilyn Monroe~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0l2r2ObRkB7tao1Kz531yaXe3S6IHiEx3GpsAeeTXkYCh7drjOtR-PzJH7wORBOeKZUEjQ5rSvj_DaKU64i3wkEjCyMlt-XZmtaf5gqZzYQu3S7QGYEsOMYQgXldef6NWsJMzyST9qvs7T0h0sZVWxU4KRyU6taN2G5snj1P7daqoJPpDa7R9oh2XXm4/s6048/Prom10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4024" data-original-width="6048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0l2r2ObRkB7tao1Kz531yaXe3S6IHiEx3GpsAeeTXkYCh7drjOtR-PzJH7wORBOeKZUEjQ5rSvj_DaKU64i3wkEjCyMlt-XZmtaf5gqZzYQu3S7QGYEsOMYQgXldef6NWsJMzyST9qvs7T0h0sZVWxU4KRyU6taN2G5snj1P7daqoJPpDa7R9oh2XXm4/w640-h426/Prom10.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Six Sweet Seniors</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz-HS4t2GtPrXf6wCSKKVvO6AjuFxPiKK8d2UlXYjlDMco8yDA6tjdnqY60d43SJC5Mu1_AOol4-LXNGuyofC_v0hNAVzEo978XOxT8n-AOUQ5WaAzwN8TYF9tFGxVlROdmppvvmqKdBxmIAydXj0kqNu9Anwq-xPoQpznU7rp43Hd0f9eQCk2xiitlH2/s5266/Prom9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3504" data-original-width="5266" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz-HS4t2GtPrXf6wCSKKVvO6AjuFxPiKK8d2UlXYjlDMco8yDA6tjdnqY60d43SJC5Mu1_AOol4-LXNGuyofC_v0hNAVzEo978XOxT8n-AOUQ5WaAzwN8TYF9tFGxVlROdmppvvmqKdBxmIAydXj0kqNu9Anwq-xPoQpznU7rp43Hd0f9eQCk2xiitlH2/w640-h426/Prom9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easily the 4 coolest seniors...hands down! Brilliant and Kind!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW23OnsD1T99PBHMG3hR44y5YpI2RRpsz8eR3zpKAg-T_WQOBMhptefPZcp48HD9f99FIA0ZsSkzCqZ6ofRslHp26lC71fdtZZauCDJWIytP2VXlNH7dHPrb_motfUeIFfDtV5sItBylpkGt2g5MiiT7QtVMObq3ZVkzloftgDDPgaRUzQuV4oSniC4Zk/s6048/Prom4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4024" data-original-width="6048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW23OnsD1T99PBHMG3hR44y5YpI2RRpsz8eR3zpKAg-T_WQOBMhptefPZcp48HD9f99FIA0ZsSkzCqZ6ofRslHp26lC71fdtZZauCDJWIytP2VXlNH7dHPrb_motfUeIFfDtV5sItBylpkGt2g5MiiT7QtVMObq3ZVkzloftgDDPgaRUzQuV4oSniC4Zk/w640-h426/Prom4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured by School Photographer for District Publications </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I am so glad that you and your friends had the time of your life! Senior Year was so incredible for you and your friends. I can't wait to publish the rest of your phenomenal senior year events. </span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-79673737648502982722024-01-08T23:27:00.001-06:002024-01-08T23:27:53.232-06:00Winter Storm Finn (Part 1)<span style="font-size: large;">We don't get a lot of snow here in the southern plains. Western Kansas definitely sees more snow and blizzard-like conditions than eastern Kansas (Kansas City). So, when we do get a few inches (typically 2+) schools get cancelled. I know..I know...crazy! Unfortunately, our bus drivers, parents, and students just aren't winter-weather savvy. Fortunately, we don't get that much snow, and some years we do not even use our built-in snow days.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this year...this year looks to be different.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, my children and my students get a free snow day! Winter Storm Finn is so fierce that schools all began calling off for TOMORROW at 5 PM this evening. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Looking forward to waking up to winter wonderland while I leisurely do laundry and sip hot coffee/tea/cocoa. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few shots from tonight. The rain/sleet/snow started around 10 AM and is predicted to go until 2 PM tomorrow. Where I live, it has already changed over to all snow. My kids are thrilled! (And I'm relieved to have all my chicks under my roof for the night. Basketball was cancelled at 3 PM and Chic-Fil-A closed early so Benjamin didn't have to stay until 11 PM.)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYZ4Ln22oQ-7ZPz8fWEvCM_sG9enc4ALFaLgx26KEwjkCgvcRQ0zmZE9KE6qzOhErzhCOuqhs5f_ZKl3hlixcrTOXbHjY5Y8J55dtpJBH4uMdkDe7AioiTyJwVWLs2cKACLDrsnRs4UccM67Fe_k5JQkhd8YMhU2jAc1-7pcZfxX5I-XQ3_8r6422Mrw0/s4032/Finn6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYZ4Ln22oQ-7ZPz8fWEvCM_sG9enc4ALFaLgx26KEwjkCgvcRQ0zmZE9KE6qzOhErzhCOuqhs5f_ZKl3hlixcrTOXbHjY5Y8J55dtpJBH4uMdkDe7AioiTyJwVWLs2cKACLDrsnRs4UccM67Fe_k5JQkhd8YMhU2jAc1-7pcZfxX5I-XQ3_8r6422Mrw0/w480-h640/Finn6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Storm at 4 PM</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutibP6AsgdPwA75r8PyGqzojbyN2s-1hLbW1nKqCkcj123eMso7H66mPv9tdJp6vbvjAsaOIk7SK9FJASc1kYlVvrLQwotzNauFihr9uL_uqua7OWw7Qi5_Z4n6ISpS8fb9Ms3wk7Lba8Sld_KyZP0VzaScz4PplUVjA6hz2kFFmV8L2-lFTmZH7pexxi/s4032/Finn4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutibP6AsgdPwA75r8PyGqzojbyN2s-1hLbW1nKqCkcj123eMso7H66mPv9tdJp6vbvjAsaOIk7SK9FJASc1kYlVvrLQwotzNauFihr9uL_uqua7OWw7Qi5_Z4n6ISpS8fb9Ms3wk7Lba8Sld_KyZP0VzaScz4PplUVjA6hz2kFFmV8L2-lFTmZH7pexxi/w480-h640/Finn4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wreath Still on the Door</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-uDmoh3LWZROgev89oafOD2y3Ff-z6zoWIwqS_liOuGANwIyLQp1pFTRSz9bp3pBTP23rA1X684X5SHBJSzNdvwb3QVmqu5uNZb9do6Rt2B9nCFs8-l8zjrcsmGqaZrWWzNMinEzRX0YIhjxbq-HLjBoDFxJefld46UudFlTpcOgmNIkuzWap2LXnWY0/s4032/Finn1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-uDmoh3LWZROgev89oafOD2y3Ff-z6zoWIwqS_liOuGANwIyLQp1pFTRSz9bp3pBTP23rA1X684X5SHBJSzNdvwb3QVmqu5uNZb9do6Rt2B9nCFs8-l8zjrcsmGqaZrWWzNMinEzRX0YIhjxbq-HLjBoDFxJefld46UudFlTpcOgmNIkuzWap2LXnWY0/w480-h640/Finn1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View From my Front Porch </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTPomoGg6fXT3fGceQ4iT9f-r8PIZOLK-xnruuYiL768MxjwIKLbWMkDI0-v4o6E0yKNcRPk64ooqWXBWwvdyg7QgrJIdjdGCHSvVDndBVLntK9Fvr1YppMzEvvl5DNlTodvNmlrOdGRXqowfOsD7fKcWx2UWM9A2TMwiR_KlPytHmCVORteWfEEhrr8U/s4032/Finn2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTPomoGg6fXT3fGceQ4iT9f-r8PIZOLK-xnruuYiL768MxjwIKLbWMkDI0-v4o6E0yKNcRPk64ooqWXBWwvdyg7QgrJIdjdGCHSvVDndBVLntK9Fvr1YppMzEvvl5DNlTodvNmlrOdGRXqowfOsD7fKcWx2UWM9A2TMwiR_KlPytHmCVORteWfEEhrr8U/w480-h640/Finn2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Still Up...Feels so Cozy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3DTwcQ8U93PVV42b8sjh8rE1fFCfhuec1XQ3Hd4gCAKa6YpIFkGpioxPTgQihtxtwrKpf48RvsVkZ2C64ObhfFvkHUsLmBJm1In8JfyYuSTUBs5qmSQENCP9O0ZENp-BRG5NhKwdCzYhALvnNv8b2_ERLWc6qOyVuyR97cVfXK7bnm0of3LSYqnoHczT/s4032/Finn5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3DTwcQ8U93PVV42b8sjh8rE1fFCfhuec1XQ3Hd4gCAKa6YpIFkGpioxPTgQihtxtwrKpf48RvsVkZ2C64ObhfFvkHUsLmBJm1In8JfyYuSTUBs5qmSQENCP9O0ZENp-BRG5NhKwdCzYhALvnNv8b2_ERLWc6qOyVuyR97cVfXK7bnm0of3LSYqnoHczT/w480-h640/Finn5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Happy Boy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM-2Gu10FicLUegjPCADC_wPvr4o4F-ZVwB7MotuYZGGzhzEo1R_sVqqWq0CzmKtMJXSfBCuGAqS6tuzx51f0gHz2NXMqU7OTPYs7oOFLssUumDHjtcnTr8ksfnC2DouXcmFweLz549vOzn_-5zb0BEBiBUyCHftCPQJNArmkoI2GvBDyEDCZbR9U6ExD/s4032/Finn3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM-2Gu10FicLUegjPCADC_wPvr4o4F-ZVwB7MotuYZGGzhzEo1R_sVqqWq0CzmKtMJXSfBCuGAqS6tuzx51f0gHz2NXMqU7OTPYs7oOFLssUumDHjtcnTr8ksfnC2DouXcmFweLz549vOzn_-5zb0BEBiBUyCHftCPQJNArmkoI2GvBDyEDCZbR9U6ExD/w480-h640/Finn3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always Active</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJUrvE3PKaj0VNmvBvLSiRaK5GlQxjIPPCGAeslhZSX6vyCCWwcsIRv4Sd8hahH_B1QrExWsWCOpVlKR7LHTlQwpuJOQtlSab5quJAJjOUA3jbTdja9KhJ_mxdVkOYrsyzjBmIOLClvT-7pSCzaUBCp5BrNbf_OzVCP5AEbENl3mmSzAXAdwIq_o5d0Ub/s1998/snow%20day.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJUrvE3PKaj0VNmvBvLSiRaK5GlQxjIPPCGAeslhZSX6vyCCWwcsIRv4Sd8hahH_B1QrExWsWCOpVlKR7LHTlQwpuJOQtlSab5quJAJjOUA3jbTdja9KhJ_mxdVkOYrsyzjBmIOLClvT-7pSCzaUBCp5BrNbf_OzVCP5AEbENl3mmSzAXAdwIq_o5d0Ub/w454-h640/snow%20day.jpeg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Heading off to bed! Sweet Dreams!!!</span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-25051372453981580172024-01-08T22:47:00.001-06:002024-01-08T22:47:33.614-06:00Christmas Around the House (First Floor)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;">~Norman Vincent Peale~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;">I love to decorate for the holidays. Some years I get more creative while other years (depending upon the season of life) I only do the bare minimum. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;">This was an "in-between" year! We spent a lot of time and energy on the exterior of our home. I especially loved how my front porch turned out after getting my trees up. Our interior was a "work-in-progress" due to my teaching schedule, Pat's fire department schedule, and Mary's collegiate schedule. Eventually, it all got done, but it felt so rushed at the end. I definitely have a different plan for next year!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, here's just a few shots of Christmas around our home on the first floor (kitchen/family room). (I never did get the mudroom/entryway/half-bath decorated this year. *sad*)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Kitchen</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xORqcIw0Ce_77fuBPqBgDAq3K0qZ6eXtqMuhD8qijtj2WFvfbxhtECUEcXS2xXnjOAunC-RjOUHYyITkgfDd33WP7wXJcplPrxe7LJPjBHkHP9PoC6rKi4tGv15BfA8cSKTsnrVDg7DduFCYoqaROLYjcmiqtr_er0HC70N58IzWU6f_SMnuCiobgvOH/s4032/xmashouse1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xORqcIw0Ce_77fuBPqBgDAq3K0qZ6eXtqMuhD8qijtj2WFvfbxhtECUEcXS2xXnjOAunC-RjOUHYyITkgfDd33WP7wXJcplPrxe7LJPjBHkHP9PoC6rKi4tGv15BfA8cSKTsnrVDg7DduFCYoqaROLYjcmiqtr_er0HC70N58IzWU6f_SMnuCiobgvOH/w480-h640/xmashouse1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret Santa Gift (Light Up Present) Perfect by my Sink</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFma9KIFRtvOmVpOwkpa_2ICmBWqX5a84LRf1sgT1ehg9UEltm53xzww6s7Fo8q4bB6poMCLpBAC3A-bziwajFqTvpOMaphS8BM7a7T9RDf4weZ3OtWbxd43HJGTDysV4EX-3ojhZtnJQ0214MFtKBLMNE97Z2sGElzV_334Wp7OsMskwF_uG2yK4uoam/s4032/xmashouse3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFma9KIFRtvOmVpOwkpa_2ICmBWqX5a84LRf1sgT1ehg9UEltm53xzww6s7Fo8q4bB6poMCLpBAC3A-bziwajFqTvpOMaphS8BM7a7T9RDf4weZ3OtWbxd43HJGTDysV4EX-3ojhZtnJQ0214MFtKBLMNE97Z2sGElzV_334Wp7OsMskwF_uG2yK4uoam/w480-h640/xmashouse3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Holiday Baking Dish</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizqXRBTfD-lb0KgfK2cm-qKyqmCoUIVM_wmFH0g4JMPaC_HLxYPgZSQ42g3wQMtVtNjSZRVcv7jwymkSXR-sKq4aYgcfngRipZWX3KDJ7m-OFHPG0DJX-qb0XGuY4cFkqrQqhBae1tgS0COTdg9w6qeyCC_wWyf5mKJg2NF7fBUjf6jgvX2V2EEU-7AA-/s4032/xmashouse4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizqXRBTfD-lb0KgfK2cm-qKyqmCoUIVM_wmFH0g4JMPaC_HLxYPgZSQ42g3wQMtVtNjSZRVcv7jwymkSXR-sKq4aYgcfngRipZWX3KDJ7m-OFHPG0DJX-qb0XGuY4cFkqrQqhBae1tgS0COTdg9w6qeyCC_wWyf5mKJg2NF7fBUjf6jgvX2V2EEU-7AA-/w480-h640/xmashouse4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delightful Bath & Body Plug In</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4Xq0X2oLJbcUAnYldd-bsrhCJGqTgNrPvsnRiiyek8deAChv1Hzoww-RzHUib9L-zHPw7neo4dSXi3bhSP3SkuRrzpT1dCVivM5m4mqQu_wnKShzI23y9AnSahjEHI1UIYJUjGnAiZ2-jQMkRkGMWvLcwldAlCsTIHKIV6Zpv5XurvtzXesw8OkKWji4/s4032/xmashouse7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4Xq0X2oLJbcUAnYldd-bsrhCJGqTgNrPvsnRiiyek8deAChv1Hzoww-RzHUib9L-zHPw7neo4dSXi3bhSP3SkuRrzpT1dCVivM5m4mqQu_wnKShzI23y9AnSahjEHI1UIYJUjGnAiZ2-jQMkRkGMWvLcwldAlCsTIHKIV6Zpv5XurvtzXesw8OkKWji4/w480-h640/xmashouse7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nutcracker Spoon Rest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvPc_XiwFfKl8G8GE0u2GuvWiGE0QQMj1NiYTCWCbEgOP-389RlTykeV2zLuzn_25X9Q0s8OSAqpgFWNeNdTiqMoPiF6L1iMh18R19E8LcI50eaxSklNtdgFrU2pU5d_DXnsux64uFYae3FbAlz4ClccQ1Mj9uuNQQtJQ18zCtmre6CQGhmUSpBszplz1/s4032/xmashouse9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvPc_XiwFfKl8G8GE0u2GuvWiGE0QQMj1NiYTCWCbEgOP-389RlTykeV2zLuzn_25X9Q0s8OSAqpgFWNeNdTiqMoPiF6L1iMh18R19E8LcI50eaxSklNtdgFrU2pU5d_DXnsux64uFYae3FbAlz4ClccQ1Mj9uuNQQtJQ18zCtmre6CQGhmUSpBszplz1/w480-h640/xmashouse9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Cocoa Mugs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1jjPuc-W751P1XaXy2G8EqRiXCL2RPisZekLgvYHJo-zeakY82p5950_q_Esgnj-UsXHMvpAO1Ty3H1AfuMaMjRkZwQOprMDExeD23YWIhgaa7ufqeyQdA8JSga0Z8UVIZgUxwmqtNvzwKBPLXaJJoLmn7UwwFxwdcJtu292IlsEg_V7cxkZ9JD9GuZ/s4032/xmashouse10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1jjPuc-W751P1XaXy2G8EqRiXCL2RPisZekLgvYHJo-zeakY82p5950_q_Esgnj-UsXHMvpAO1Ty3H1AfuMaMjRkZwQOprMDExeD23YWIhgaa7ufqeyQdA8JSga0Z8UVIZgUxwmqtNvzwKBPLXaJJoLmn7UwwFxwdcJtu292IlsEg_V7cxkZ9JD9GuZ/w480-h640/xmashouse10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Tea Towels</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wt74vr2XUDd0fOfTpGLqq6gQSfnwaLFuoIUwc_fzw3UiHArjGcgijkt_A-gLxxbbtZkiHLb2i3uqvl93_xQFV28BHpAKwCbR9CynXo9icrZUVVTTn7iAt5b9sBWsVaV8e3XsGQMOkgiYnDTpW3CcjWkp4ahB1P5KxUaW6CnCe-tNfYgSr1zuhB8Dh4mW/s4032/xmashouse5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wt74vr2XUDd0fOfTpGLqq6gQSfnwaLFuoIUwc_fzw3UiHArjGcgijkt_A-gLxxbbtZkiHLb2i3uqvl93_xQFV28BHpAKwCbR9CynXo9icrZUVVTTn7iAt5b9sBWsVaV8e3XsGQMOkgiYnDTpW3CcjWkp4ahB1P5KxUaW6CnCe-tNfYgSr1zuhB8Dh4mW/w480-h640/xmashouse5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Table </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Family Room</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-D81BSyGVdr8t_2GFQ0OR4TkONafadVsEdy6uCeA5X797YrXB5sQ03IZW3NBVDJH1K0MbDxOWnkAqqKYJtuEukDsPg3sFuIn9xMTjRv8fIqA4mj93reNEX7aV21OEI6Ms-lA6pUBpFqAQXapq5phu4gmk1vRNmW67S5eXnxlOE2y9AccLBJHnwevGipM/s4032/xmashouse2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-D81BSyGVdr8t_2GFQ0OR4TkONafadVsEdy6uCeA5X797YrXB5sQ03IZW3NBVDJH1K0MbDxOWnkAqqKYJtuEukDsPg3sFuIn9xMTjRv8fIqA4mj93reNEX7aV21OEI6Ms-lA6pUBpFqAQXapq5phu4gmk1vRNmW67S5eXnxlOE2y9AccLBJHnwevGipM/w480-h640/xmashouse2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nativity Scene and Folk Art Snowflake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQmr28yQpiHavnukGbygcDwZyvcL-OaBc_jxVwkMeG4KHbeSzNdcrwg7_-MINy9ov0cWl0b6p5X8BXYNPl6XS5Q0Atsrk7NtiPK5B5aI-Sy-cLPlIqIKcTb7GimCqPDts9_Q_DgFpHvLndktyhDNNdx5DrlnAE5_xe_YJSxx6SiUzW5WRg3xKEyp7eFA-/s4032/xmashouse6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQmr28yQpiHavnukGbygcDwZyvcL-OaBc_jxVwkMeG4KHbeSzNdcrwg7_-MINy9ov0cWl0b6p5X8BXYNPl6XS5Q0Atsrk7NtiPK5B5aI-Sy-cLPlIqIKcTb7GimCqPDts9_Q_DgFpHvLndktyhDNNdx5DrlnAE5_xe_YJSxx6SiUzW5WRg3xKEyp7eFA-/w640-h480/xmashouse6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Stockings </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn633nMgpoQ3Ni9VrfurV7lYnvkVvgd0JzDqMwIlFbAKFJiKa5c4-51PjYLe73D8YKQOn2K3gIqvcqeWEuLeHLL1J98Po8jNo6wk6spW1Wc_9wr3GBDxlyQzG8l7LJczxiXB7tlQX6xb1WW0PNwVrL9ZEVhL5fqMORLj-PWa0CwN_BugcN0VpQL5R6ITj/s4032/xmashouse8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn633nMgpoQ3Ni9VrfurV7lYnvkVvgd0JzDqMwIlFbAKFJiKa5c4-51PjYLe73D8YKQOn2K3gIqvcqeWEuLeHLL1J98Po8jNo6wk6spW1Wc_9wr3GBDxlyQzG8l7LJczxiXB7tlQX6xb1WW0PNwVrL9ZEVhL5fqMORLj-PWa0CwN_BugcN0VpQL5R6ITj/w480-h640/xmashouse8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft Gentle Colors <br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-30848930982077826752024-01-08T11:38:00.003-06:002024-01-08T11:38:09.951-06:00Christmas Gifts (Part 2)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow up to Part 1...more Christmas gifts. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are blessed...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...in relationship more than anything else!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi82F7FTMHNpOAruU_l5MZyhkcDu8LnCuRpp8yaATAIgqSgVXDCrlC1he9TH9hp-TVZ4USS_WiSW44otuKROm-c_FQ7q3DJd9-vbz5MExNAlClyElP7KLHffp-4rAIfRxjWy0QdnXghZNgUoAUqheKR3BxQLIK2Fu2DR0-VyM7Z-MQkCvOyVFXfjxFKH2F_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi82F7FTMHNpOAruU_l5MZyhkcDu8LnCuRpp8yaATAIgqSgVXDCrlC1he9TH9hp-TVZ4USS_WiSW44otuKROm-c_FQ7q3DJd9-vbz5MExNAlClyElP7KLHffp-4rAIfRxjWy0QdnXghZNgUoAUqheKR3BxQLIK2Fu2DR0-VyM7Z-MQkCvOyVFXfjxFKH2F_=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbAfV8jzB_sTLD93196GgJPZiJz1cgy0pFU0e2t8Zd8kLgP3LWNnQXfHnFYG3yyuR7rWE9glgoM6R9EKRFfoU2boJvMpULeFoLfEMIZceToYdB9_jiqeviuqQ2RnHCvBTgxTvOOfxgOP3glHURMBfGxq08mm0w0msnwneRu0y-o7AtIQmPN08AIOxxyr7/s4032/gifts2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbAfV8jzB_sTLD93196GgJPZiJz1cgy0pFU0e2t8Zd8kLgP3LWNnQXfHnFYG3yyuR7rWE9glgoM6R9EKRFfoU2boJvMpULeFoLfEMIZceToYdB9_jiqeviuqQ2RnHCvBTgxTvOOfxgOP3glHURMBfGxq08mm0w0msnwneRu0y-o7AtIQmPN08AIOxxyr7/w480-h640/gifts2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could this be....</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfQ7GvIYZXL-wlU5u6G3O7reupjwlQD-1Xow0pBRSG39mrDuoqDaORZ8Js8YRwtfM5bSXvTShm-JiKr0NU4BMCUnsyW3OXKDcmv3oR3KDN8D68ZyI4g0n4uz75fYRm-WC-0rdzp3aWdba74JoIu6SaHmcXj9lH51Y44DpbfIxTbLNTxjBhF_4uGHV8fvC/s4032/gifts5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfQ7GvIYZXL-wlU5u6G3O7reupjwlQD-1Xow0pBRSG39mrDuoqDaORZ8Js8YRwtfM5bSXvTShm-JiKr0NU4BMCUnsyW3OXKDcmv3oR3KDN8D68ZyI4g0n4uz75fYRm-WC-0rdzp3aWdba74JoIu6SaHmcXj9lH51Y44DpbfIxTbLNTxjBhF_4uGHV8fvC/w480-h640/gifts5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coolest wall art ever!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy0mOO0WbBoc-dgJRyNReDjedo21U4eYGMzhesqmBjCNs_-WqTDQwQBLItUc_2tcgmtQCPgMyGw-A6BC1L4Ffqzl5Bg08_BTHy5wquDiCDm8JQ4FYqUDqcO9d-S08s9uLYRovk0YDUZKhKH5k16JuhyphenhyphenKVJD615lhkvPVpGiPsC4ZYspZl0u7C9-kdhbnw/s4032/gifts4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy0mOO0WbBoc-dgJRyNReDjedo21U4eYGMzhesqmBjCNs_-WqTDQwQBLItUc_2tcgmtQCPgMyGw-A6BC1L4Ffqzl5Bg08_BTHy5wquDiCDm8JQ4FYqUDqcO9d-S08s9uLYRovk0YDUZKhKH5k16JuhyphenhyphenKVJD615lhkvPVpGiPsC4ZYspZl0u7C9-kdhbnw/w480-h640/gifts4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom found this in a year-round Christmas shop on the Outer Banks of NC!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXdhWN7ofHqW7kZowwZEfTfhjWc2VBSDORpxMOHIyuDDQDswkNWNhFc3ADdeOv0pYtuVJNKbc5X8V2qT30c_7hC5x4jIYNumLzggeF53XB9GOEcelEDJVDT_dUz_VDkDSmgr-U0_pcDubGnN8lJVlWfWlJKclWXk9053YSFkLLkPGRXjpWHSDhFNYkIki/s4032/Gifts1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXdhWN7ofHqW7kZowwZEfTfhjWc2VBSDORpxMOHIyuDDQDswkNWNhFc3ADdeOv0pYtuVJNKbc5X8V2qT30c_7hC5x4jIYNumLzggeF53XB9GOEcelEDJVDT_dUz_VDkDSmgr-U0_pcDubGnN8lJVlWfWlJKclWXk9053YSFkLLkPGRXjpWHSDhFNYkIki/w480-h640/Gifts1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black felt cowboy hat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV2FULnDdzijzuNCeulle0BC4dBawVojLuKRx4jvTjXBUujbnrQ6mzg_A4GZgKlVHlNfRMLuQiErOZMbF7d1m4_1CZ4hfuXYnxO3HYTLbbADejdDrpv15aCD8c9TjD_HhDAQxPAV87YFYOV6ngffDvElnIJJ1soexFFANSWVMniFbL6BuQyVRfs6l0YwO/s4032/gifts6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV2FULnDdzijzuNCeulle0BC4dBawVojLuKRx4jvTjXBUujbnrQ6mzg_A4GZgKlVHlNfRMLuQiErOZMbF7d1m4_1CZ4hfuXYnxO3HYTLbbADejdDrpv15aCD8c9TjD_HhDAQxPAV87YFYOV6ngffDvElnIJJ1soexFFANSWVMniFbL6BuQyVRfs6l0YwO/w480-h640/gifts6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire Fighter Belt Buckle </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWtX3qlsnnu2kxAsiUtHDse_zoNd_qUMSWDTkB-GGh_b91skXozEp5xbznlrDRHnYEnmWMdY59133U9EC1b6PMbufE3ItiyvTHaGvS_5z0dUjug-GoLV7anlQG4z1jiUp4vKqymHiniln-2hGyt0T1xvM2ipcHDJtzUOYSEc1TmtWvLyL6eXJbve5QIeF/s4032/gifts7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWtX3qlsnnu2kxAsiUtHDse_zoNd_qUMSWDTkB-GGh_b91skXozEp5xbznlrDRHnYEnmWMdY59133U9EC1b6PMbufE3ItiyvTHaGvS_5z0dUjug-GoLV7anlQG4z1jiUp4vKqymHiniln-2hGyt0T1xvM2ipcHDJtzUOYSEc1TmtWvLyL6eXJbve5QIeF/w480-h640/gifts7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western/Cowboy "Nashville Leather" Cologne. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CbmnF5jhsd1Kr7gwdeJSFQjhSFamkYMMJun_cG_e1mKEcLAcr69AeJExwwmWXwJQu8Pk8z-LkW_nOW_Y3QZRnjbHcPeHdmCJQ_tNRA_W_BGjOMvcj_m38N3NI7KPboKyG95YI00Gp0iYs29_NGQXDTGqoOPhcgzz38VcQu69p1ISzhZiON0WmJMgYRzi/s4032/gifts3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CbmnF5jhsd1Kr7gwdeJSFQjhSFamkYMMJun_cG_e1mKEcLAcr69AeJExwwmWXwJQu8Pk8z-LkW_nOW_Y3QZRnjbHcPeHdmCJQ_tNRA_W_BGjOMvcj_m38N3NI7KPboKyG95YI00Gp0iYs29_NGQXDTGqoOPhcgzz38VcQu69p1ISzhZiON0WmJMgYRzi/w480-h640/gifts3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful gray, woolen-felt Cap. Earpods. #collegelife<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCJkhWo2sS1Kee8mLtdIMUuU6gH8ORCFpYE7f7l0aDjilRVgUVxp02_4ufirj807uZUenhKMqGPMMwu48GBlCstlwLouHlfYlBYRfoganXue4VRRxNAquED46aavUEI_NRs8rtgNRr1zTqceL00CWbymFFeBca-rGLjyLP4cIxpmL80V-qa4M5b6CMWfrc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCJkhWo2sS1Kee8mLtdIMUuU6gH8ORCFpYE7f7l0aDjilRVgUVxp02_4ufirj807uZUenhKMqGPMMwu48GBlCstlwLouHlfYlBYRfoganXue4VRRxNAquED46aavUEI_NRs8rtgNRr1zTqceL00CWbymFFeBca-rGLjyLP4cIxpmL80V-qa4M5b6CMWfrc=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-57184487952334359842024-01-08T10:06:00.001-06:002024-01-08T10:06:08.021-06:00Christmas Gifts (Part 1)<span style="font-size: large;">Not a lot of typing necessary as the photos are self-explanatory. Christmas was so fun this year. I still need to take some photos of the kids with their "big" gifts. Santa Pat is the best gift giver!<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhMAhPEQKpwX3y1p6DCifias8QCL3403DE4iCjT9xEqJdCTEoTxTiwVwBZDBVvwKggiRGkkigcXB68xaenY9Hsx5ZaALGQ07DFaoglM2tZcNgfAEVCtMvW-bZgi3og0zrrgIUWAQoLou_8yMWyz7USm2fMFTWaCN6e-fE3se5ZoZQaXnUXqF71K0CLFUc/s4032/xmasgifts10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhMAhPEQKpwX3y1p6DCifias8QCL3403DE4iCjT9xEqJdCTEoTxTiwVwBZDBVvwKggiRGkkigcXB68xaenY9Hsx5ZaALGQ07DFaoglM2tZcNgfAEVCtMvW-bZgi3og0zrrgIUWAQoLou_8yMWyz7USm2fMFTWaCN6e-fE3se5ZoZQaXnUXqF71K0CLFUc/w480-h640/xmasgifts10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorite Jammies<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildkTr1Z5rzgXTroa2x7jB9YlV7nzUmqlVk0gJ1fnljloclE-L18WJH5ESVBV-KYKCqjj4cmZqE5i0f0yJihGC6Z1xBBF3BZoLmwYtM8CggHAhdXC4Rc2xgC4v3aFRZ246rkiOU8xt7xf-NWZWWK7qBCP8nJu0eB6M0WIpHpVpMTibvtLGmgoSpa7Mdbp9/s4032/xmasgifts4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildkTr1Z5rzgXTroa2x7jB9YlV7nzUmqlVk0gJ1fnljloclE-L18WJH5ESVBV-KYKCqjj4cmZqE5i0f0yJihGC6Z1xBBF3BZoLmwYtM8CggHAhdXC4Rc2xgC4v3aFRZ246rkiOU8xt7xf-NWZWWK7qBCP8nJu0eB6M0WIpHpVpMTibvtLGmgoSpa7Mdbp9/w480-h640/xmasgifts4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEGO Kits</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtKS2q3mv9ZHG3tvIgAIyDR5JGe13eo7M1iYlMnXYNOQTsbTlZcdWxxfB0T-HkAyY5snda1lZ8pLbx2vzzr2gxkqv4lCRmazmR0SrlyMPoMSEReoHZ4NPCPs65GMANNEemKbBI2-8C-_Y9LOL1CzR738N6laYP_GNcvb8n9ki9W36fgjhnrh6a7YfI0lJ/s4032/xmasgifts7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtKS2q3mv9ZHG3tvIgAIyDR5JGe13eo7M1iYlMnXYNOQTsbTlZcdWxxfB0T-HkAyY5snda1lZ8pLbx2vzzr2gxkqv4lCRmazmR0SrlyMPoMSEReoHZ4NPCPs65GMANNEemKbBI2-8C-_Y9LOL1CzR738N6laYP_GNcvb8n9ki9W36fgjhnrh6a7YfI0lJ/w480-h640/xmasgifts7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remembering our Trip to Salem</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rr-hoZlEsvKa434qWzOrCrrF1Xq321Eh6MlPlF5CT1VpwEzEJcoHa1WefLgyEs-JMx_nGNsif-RT9ufQRj-KOUQHXMhhriQOfzL8BzAVvYN_pWqi9L2Vd74r-kll-jQwLpgyr21tGJEa2_Ub1O1Q2-Px2nIaEahY-57U7TZouP2nP8q1xdwiUBytH8n7/s4032/xmasgifts6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rr-hoZlEsvKa434qWzOrCrrF1Xq321Eh6MlPlF5CT1VpwEzEJcoHa1WefLgyEs-JMx_nGNsif-RT9ufQRj-KOUQHXMhhriQOfzL8BzAVvYN_pWqi9L2Vd74r-kll-jQwLpgyr21tGJEa2_Ub1O1Q2-Px2nIaEahY-57U7TZouP2nP8q1xdwiUBytH8n7/w480-h640/xmasgifts6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Dog Cooker ~ So Fun!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFM2EhLfrkVkCCK5vdS6djB29DvKs5xN5jGlvo9ozUDVZN-WKrUvWvlUpG7pewSNXWfxX9jv4Crrxs0t0R_oDvQEzeE9-4q-hnfbj8Wi1iu_yKlsdPdpuUR9Kn9MyinVcsZhuEhEMJZA13yq9lPLm76cn3DJOOpPtRriY3BPrN8W2VERgRx-w5GOTs0Fm/s4032/xmasgifts8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFM2EhLfrkVkCCK5vdS6djB29DvKs5xN5jGlvo9ozUDVZN-WKrUvWvlUpG7pewSNXWfxX9jv4Crrxs0t0R_oDvQEzeE9-4q-hnfbj8Wi1iu_yKlsdPdpuUR9Kn9MyinVcsZhuEhEMJZA13yq9lPLm76cn3DJOOpPtRriY3BPrN8W2VERgRx-w5GOTs0Fm/w480-h640/xmasgifts8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could it be...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6K7eG0gVVnsHiXJnBLyQzxOGKtiYFNpGN1xBAvBobVGyYq1MP-6aB5hb4u2q8KDRb7Rlc2OUs5o6RpBwWnmKNg4NIDBNvFHrwZgZABebLT48Svdq0FEf9Xq395K8ALty1IqH7mHgbrl6qVuu1RD7XocMk1q_o6VPUUuoDWVQrF31hbC_L-iIf2kTNi_N/s4032/xmasgifts11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6K7eG0gVVnsHiXJnBLyQzxOGKtiYFNpGN1xBAvBobVGyYq1MP-6aB5hb4u2q8KDRb7Rlc2OUs5o6RpBwWnmKNg4NIDBNvFHrwZgZABebLT48Svdq0FEf9Xq395K8ALty1IqH7mHgbrl6qVuu1RD7XocMk1q_o6VPUUuoDWVQrF31hbC_L-iIf2kTNi_N/w480-h640/xmasgifts11.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa is the best!!! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRgkG_Etgja3FNzDj2R6WhDFuMp3_4ShvrxzNAgu7m5mqVxKmFNYoqTKWmWEjBjOtknVNyP1540UMvWPisPsTq3RILZ7V05HUqdcfRC2ejJWSzyYQsLNTLxfUhgg94rLtCh206STbMpuQnbpvaz3XHu5SvHE-UgoHUDHAchdI2zP_GRQar0a0DyKZ40FE/s4032/xmasgifts5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRgkG_Etgja3FNzDj2R6WhDFuMp3_4ShvrxzNAgu7m5mqVxKmFNYoqTKWmWEjBjOtknVNyP1540UMvWPisPsTq3RILZ7V05HUqdcfRC2ejJWSzyYQsLNTLxfUhgg94rLtCh206STbMpuQnbpvaz3XHu5SvHE-UgoHUDHAchdI2zP_GRQar0a0DyKZ40FE/w480-h640/xmasgifts5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guitar World...here we come!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92efJvMEaOdNmFqDAtWtkuhmTogX8ng4qqgN3ULqfoWxkQXfZ8CBMhiE4vp1WypRGTapoz7P_PE6fU2rxmwOTBZMyLyT5S6vp-D_hJl1m4EBJGRM7qEVa3a3Hue0e4_Nd7HMATIqcM9HlOMgdV6jkPAHuLK7V8un-1rfMydAxcbccRALgxNZrlxqnwn8/s4032/xmasgifts9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92efJvMEaOdNmFqDAtWtkuhmTogX8ng4qqgN3ULqfoWxkQXfZ8CBMhiE4vp1WypRGTapoz7P_PE6fU2rxmwOTBZMyLyT5S6vp-D_hJl1m4EBJGRM7qEVa3a3Hue0e4_Nd7HMATIqcM9HlOMgdV6jkPAHuLK7V8un-1rfMydAxcbccRALgxNZrlxqnwn8/w480-h640/xmasgifts9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He Thought Santa Forgot Him...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTw5jLvZHHCwh2EZV6aeV932wlT1tJQyS6fAaJs9GabijODEktlV6XzFEQQopWlHuoYUWQLWBGMlqg0JFNvaAxQiJpeibCEMlig91TVcKuT7fgQmbqzPUm0KMY-ydXGB9Uc9vAc7mCQq8qsJcv_GexImAgfuN1Y59FZEBKmzUcedVNSDt3lX_be_SFiwie/s4032/xmasgifts2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTw5jLvZHHCwh2EZV6aeV932wlT1tJQyS6fAaJs9GabijODEktlV6XzFEQQopWlHuoYUWQLWBGMlqg0JFNvaAxQiJpeibCEMlig91TVcKuT7fgQmbqzPUm0KMY-ydXGB9Uc9vAc7mCQq8qsJcv_GexImAgfuN1Y59FZEBKmzUcedVNSDt3lX_be_SFiwie/w480-h640/xmasgifts2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but Santa never forgets...when you need a new bike!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL33YdvRnfd-JdjStLhpk5gmPsC8hooqSq5AF8HxsY_rWKJ9ReEBhOMV5N2pdVSuS5_Ce-UeIAd7kWhWN_HQdgTpIAr8o3xtV6ThO1yayIKINxyXmZRX2ti86qz5tPQ3bd65IRb3qayjm2JkMgJtH2tuQNCsaEJSfvjOAZ9_VMXDZTaqDyYb6gSO2UOaqc/s4032/xmasgifts12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL33YdvRnfd-JdjStLhpk5gmPsC8hooqSq5AF8HxsY_rWKJ9ReEBhOMV5N2pdVSuS5_Ce-UeIAd7kWhWN_HQdgTpIAr8o3xtV6ThO1yayIKINxyXmZRX2ti86qz5tPQ3bd65IRb3qayjm2JkMgJtH2tuQNCsaEJSfvjOAZ9_VMXDZTaqDyYb6gSO2UOaqc/w480-h640/xmasgifts12.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowboy Slippers!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3qd_HJ3OyKP2Wui7z4ZClpuW3KIwwTwXGhywkPxUq1H4x8a1sD390Js64cK-xhENsDu5p3S2CJJ5Q_J9aO3xXqupi7wD4r4VjdwrWgppuXN0ZA8MatsYjYNPVHDP7tZmGKx9j9NKHBHX0DPN8mlTAgFVP9hq81p7iYSfe4jmo6RFJOQRjVIwF28QA1PX/s4032/xmasgifts3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3qd_HJ3OyKP2Wui7z4ZClpuW3KIwwTwXGhywkPxUq1H4x8a1sD390Js64cK-xhENsDu5p3S2CJJ5Q_J9aO3xXqupi7wD4r4VjdwrWgppuXN0ZA8MatsYjYNPVHDP7tZmGKx9j9NKHBHX0DPN8mlTAgFVP9hq81p7iYSfe4jmo6RFJOQRjVIwF28QA1PX/w480-h640/xmasgifts3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond Tennis Bracelet ~ Lucky Girl<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-29227833669799431092024-01-02T22:36:00.006-06:002024-01-02T22:36:46.935-06:00Christmas Day (Tree/Table/Family)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just a few pics to share of Christmas Day dinner at our house. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This year brought us so much happiness. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2023 was really, really good for us...and while we had some losses, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">we had such huge blessings. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We are all looking forward to what 2024 might bring for us! </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59mj28f0dmhwHLgzyqdQMhybjgEak5ZIcb_-0cnjuE2IqYq-zytFGTp5w0m1EkadjRdO_2vwN6l8swQvYazYLBSw_69jyr7jSyql2VRl4kB3kXYC35XwphW5PVGKALlB79B7__K5NE7GbHbloa7jiZbq5yFUl6d3oELQIR5vbqtnB5ac83R5fRdQ7c2AQ/s4032/xmasday3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59mj28f0dmhwHLgzyqdQMhybjgEak5ZIcb_-0cnjuE2IqYq-zytFGTp5w0m1EkadjRdO_2vwN6l8swQvYazYLBSw_69jyr7jSyql2VRl4kB3kXYC35XwphW5PVGKALlB79B7__K5NE7GbHbloa7jiZbq5yFUl6d3oELQIR5vbqtnB5ac83R5fRdQ7c2AQ/w480-h640/xmasday3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lRqzC-EKs_D-xRQt8Rm_e3YRXp9ECDOWVkGhGMLE-OPg7VNeQvKlHhUfo4jdeiVRyLgWKqL_jOMFqUIFCnDrPs5-6zoKhH7jh2N2fXCjJlhMr19n1m3D7yB7h-Z76gjFcz8-e9qblcDL2MwaucHhVBzTm09Y0AKcjUE23UMNpsuwKKWXfWUm_0qO_Am1/s4032/xmasday1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lRqzC-EKs_D-xRQt8Rm_e3YRXp9ECDOWVkGhGMLE-OPg7VNeQvKlHhUfo4jdeiVRyLgWKqL_jOMFqUIFCnDrPs5-6zoKhH7jh2N2fXCjJlhMr19n1m3D7yB7h-Z76gjFcz8-e9qblcDL2MwaucHhVBzTm09Y0AKcjUE23UMNpsuwKKWXfWUm_0qO_Am1/w480-h640/xmasday1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter Tree *smile*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBdX2BCvg_IXW12vqDjIJy9_XWIDXX6L9QS1r1D1UkOwkZnl-nlDVVblXRm4ka5e9juSgQIIMciSTFkSrrFNHRrBu6fxHuGnwktSWVS1vYG8cYq-N7s7sP8uSo6e90wEMDYRLDlS_BGI7VaZyOVfUg0YybPYuXPhRer0Xumleidbt9JyW2zrGRyLAtIc7/s4032/xmasday2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBdX2BCvg_IXW12vqDjIJy9_XWIDXX6L9QS1r1D1UkOwkZnl-nlDVVblXRm4ka5e9juSgQIIMciSTFkSrrFNHRrBu6fxHuGnwktSWVS1vYG8cYq-N7s7sP8uSo6e90wEMDYRLDlS_BGI7VaZyOVfUg0YybPYuXPhRer0Xumleidbt9JyW2zrGRyLAtIc7/w480-h640/xmasday2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Dinner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRcdtzPdRanx92_cyTMp1RJXb9nD8KmuqtV3pBAtfF7W2Y7dKr2NeymUSw4PCCN2Ik3tXL3Vd1LJoUxBnoYvG_1Scrk4os4y_IMRwhIry7kvA5DPeI1vWzg-pd7VbWOAR4dptd4ptZRYPOFpEm-YhDDm9PlIaHwCuocpxXPI7tQ7sOPPnlrNv0QvJXRsi/s4032/xmasday5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRcdtzPdRanx92_cyTMp1RJXb9nD8KmuqtV3pBAtfF7W2Y7dKr2NeymUSw4PCCN2Ik3tXL3Vd1LJoUxBnoYvG_1Scrk4os4y_IMRwhIry7kvA5DPeI1vWzg-pd7VbWOAR4dptd4ptZRYPOFpEm-YhDDm9PlIaHwCuocpxXPI7tQ7sOPPnlrNv0QvJXRsi/w480-h640/xmasday5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Centerpiece/Cute Teen </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0DIcVmREbzRiEOdp85p4n3C3H0nKNVfK9HBk0VYAdiAiCIs5a9P3QZA2D7M4VYT-vtI_QDhvFu1vjvfptTf3GbHCwXSUZCMgY1YlZh39FyQ6R-qHKmzWGTGemiQaUPwPZh5xxJ4_V-fmq6W0TjNHhFeLfEonP8kp1aNZg_Z_NJdX4tvekiFm_fJ-menX/s4032/xmasday4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0DIcVmREbzRiEOdp85p4n3C3H0nKNVfK9HBk0VYAdiAiCIs5a9P3QZA2D7M4VYT-vtI_QDhvFu1vjvfptTf3GbHCwXSUZCMgY1YlZh39FyQ6R-qHKmzWGTGemiQaUPwPZh5xxJ4_V-fmq6W0TjNHhFeLfEonP8kp1aNZg_Z_NJdX4tvekiFm_fJ-menX/w480-h640/xmasday4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Outfit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVUYexE0C_v4hkN73XyV3lVEr1o9TO_FPmeN_KoNwJy0zF3gI1vnIWW_e5Da6QzdI8s4qzpn7MZZAQHZoWO7lseN2l8jXzdcFiKX4lFJxAfne31OctdqcnPjTWuuuHo4JxRfcO3Hh6EjZX-91vITJlalwR-6moOZbDnL4ipS49dI5ZaKdRmD50k2tlUSA/s4032/xmasday7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVUYexE0C_v4hkN73XyV3lVEr1o9TO_FPmeN_KoNwJy0zF3gI1vnIWW_e5Da6QzdI8s4qzpn7MZZAQHZoWO7lseN2l8jXzdcFiKX4lFJxAfne31OctdqcnPjTWuuuHo4JxRfcO3Hh6EjZX-91vITJlalwR-6moOZbDnL4ipS49dI5ZaKdRmD50k2tlUSA/w480-h640/xmasday7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Morning<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-54474742818420407572024-01-01T18:51:00.000-06:002024-01-01T18:51:39.464-06:00Happy New Year<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Wishing all of our friends and family, near and far, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">a most blessed 2024.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8KMukcwuMWsDvj7VE0TZmSEw8SO7iVEMKQvexahltBIk5OMUyrXbfLeWjTvltEzuV3XAnjVGjphiccPKO5bNbpYoVe8TgngDqYab_9pO2OjwDCKycT4l0gcCTpfhZMwPxtbFc15adL8BVxKfTQFCWzxaeWnOKfylLTXhTkze7Jm-BG8Au26d1-MhiY1M/s1099/Pink%20New%20Year.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8KMukcwuMWsDvj7VE0TZmSEw8SO7iVEMKQvexahltBIk5OMUyrXbfLeWjTvltEzuV3XAnjVGjphiccPKO5bNbpYoVe8TgngDqYab_9pO2OjwDCKycT4l0gcCTpfhZMwPxtbFc15adL8BVxKfTQFCWzxaeWnOKfylLTXhTkze7Jm-BG8Au26d1-MhiY1M/w428-h640/Pink%20New%20Year.jpeg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Catholic New Year's Day Prayer:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222;">We Pray... </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For healing...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For strength...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For vision...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For transformation...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For messengers and messenges...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For community...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For acceptance - of ourselves and others...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For making room at our tables...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For Truth-seeking...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For support...prepare us for surprises.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For Common Ground...prepare us for surprises. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;">Walk beside us, O Holy One,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as we question and welcome,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as we challenge and invite,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as we discover and understand,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as we see, touch, taste, smell, and listen for the Newness awaiting us in 2020.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;">May we, Your Holy People, walk forward together side by side.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;">Amen</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">- Written by Sister Mary Ann Barret, O.P.</em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This prayer really touched my heart. If there is <i>anything </i>that laugh has taught me and my children, it is to be prepared for surprises. Sometimes, those surprises bring grief...and other times joy...but always God's grace accompanies each "gift". Although we may not fully (or even slightly) understand the "why", <i>"...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him..." (Romans 8:28) </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find it intriguing that this poem was written in 2019 for the upcoming New Year of 2020. Boy was that year a doozy...for me, for you, for all of us! <i>Surprises</i> for certain. Some we could have done without. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">My prayer for all of you dear readers is that you may know you are never alone celebrating the highs and the lows...the many surprises... that will most certainly come in 2024. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB8MQDfX4PPN9orz8C8O_ssxjGVti8dIJ_GZBoy84jvnjlLA31SuMaAbE9xvn8ZoCUhNHVBeLnOHh6gcZFLzYs_V46_NFMNEJz1A1fQSHe5ipXqxpJCIqfojjz69Wu-5PnGqh0v-Io66WwJ6XxXTTpM7WCOzeQA8MDzpuk6UQ4coQLLlM1Nc0XJoPWQOjO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB8MQDfX4PPN9orz8C8O_ssxjGVti8dIJ_GZBoy84jvnjlLA31SuMaAbE9xvn8ZoCUhNHVBeLnOHh6gcZFLzYs_V46_NFMNEJz1A1fQSHe5ipXqxpJCIqfojjz69Wu-5PnGqh0v-Io66WwJ6XxXTTpM7WCOzeQA8MDzpuk6UQ4coQLLlM1Nc0XJoPWQOjO=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWEe5-LwxPwr-Oal_rjiVRrv8WJi0xeX6XPB5vxi-5SxZBkDsmERSTeWG-deDr5jcXF1WqaoOSAUVTt6vd-RMhg0RxAVBNS5Q6IbiBJpsvCzmASgU7YiQo-lXWjOEJZESOkuLBRI7MwRM0ILo882eafKEjeNOneJ10-b918M4vpvQ2o5V61-bUIlh8Hur/s1104/New%20Year%20New%20Chances.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWEe5-LwxPwr-Oal_rjiVRrv8WJi0xeX6XPB5vxi-5SxZBkDsmERSTeWG-deDr5jcXF1WqaoOSAUVTt6vd-RMhg0RxAVBNS5Q6IbiBJpsvCzmASgU7YiQo-lXWjOEJZESOkuLBRI7MwRM0ILo882eafKEjeNOneJ10-b918M4vpvQ2o5V61-bUIlh8Hur/w426-h640/New%20Year%20New%20Chances.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY57GExamoF8kw0TVR56Ff8XqSRyPj7XYl351p8fAXhNskA74UgZF8fY0_Rm5xroAsnUUJI5PFeXlLAfvcIZCIBMCqiJGnRmhTwwRTXocr89N6lhSx2OsAr0xJdTvvw4M7Qg1AonUjfYiliX-wnZQgevnGjna1fOPNaBjRJEFXV7E-A-UToziWiotf_BCz/s1256/%7BNew%20Year%20Wishes%20and%20Christmas%20Bliss%7D%20(Sugar%20Lump%20Studios%20-%20Artwork%20by%20Nancy%20Maxwell%20James).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY57GExamoF8kw0TVR56Ff8XqSRyPj7XYl351p8fAXhNskA74UgZF8fY0_Rm5xroAsnUUJI5PFeXlLAfvcIZCIBMCqiJGnRmhTwwRTXocr89N6lhSx2OsAr0xJdTvvw4M7Qg1AonUjfYiliX-wnZQgevnGjna1fOPNaBjRJEFXV7E-A-UToziWiotf_BCz/w332-h640/%7BNew%20Year%20Wishes%20and%20Christmas%20Bliss%7D%20(Sugar%20Lump%20Studios%20-%20Artwork%20by%20Nancy%20Maxwell%20James).jpeg" width="332" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span><p></p></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-51244379993320145522023-12-31T21:45:00.002-06:002023-12-31T21:45:15.097-06:00Christmas Eve 2023<span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Eve Day was hectic with lots of last minute shopping and running around. Pat and I were bound and determined to find a particular pair of slippers that Benjamin really wanted, and we had a Honey Baked Ham, Christmas cake, and dinner rolls/bread to pick up from some custom orders. No rest for the weary when juggling working full-time outside the home and chauffeuring a very active 13-year old!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Before bed, I managed to snap a few photos of our tree with Santa gifts as well as our kitchen table set for Christmas Day breakfast! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't you just love a pretty table? We used the Christmas plates for both breakfast and dinner...a lot of dish washing in between, but well worth it for the happiness it brings my family. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Without further ado...here was the Night Before Christmas.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our Family Room: Christmas Eve</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m_dyjrXgUsK5ZN40Bl0r5TgvGH6_5q2UZ9kjrQLfaRF1IkFZS_1BIHmmT9B3sAqrVTzQ9X55UQvuyWUk5N5LzjMPDQEJ9YO_yC_pMaqDJBw46m41eGXK5aKMtgEk1PY8aYrX76zJKam_B4_E4E5USMmyrkfmNVEKD9UBaT8CmGrDV27Hsw1Hdj2BKlX7/s4032/xmaseve3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m_dyjrXgUsK5ZN40Bl0r5TgvGH6_5q2UZ9kjrQLfaRF1IkFZS_1BIHmmT9B3sAqrVTzQ9X55UQvuyWUk5N5LzjMPDQEJ9YO_yC_pMaqDJBw46m41eGXK5aKMtgEk1PY8aYrX76zJKam_B4_E4E5USMmyrkfmNVEKD9UBaT8CmGrDV27Hsw1Hdj2BKlX7/w480-h640/xmaseve3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEBii1_zYSJCdQV134nx6Wxj995Rkz9ddzUCngpI4TWywheNXHzzv4YkiV9xSv9CWDv4JOC9kYvIMs8R-6irx_ScNmcnmdqNAVNzy91hqROoNUurj8MO30H_5k_AOBeNaBVDmVWX8YRRRLxXPWEekyyH0dCcT6cGhF6maf0u0B3TFypTDOIlcxjln1Fl7/s4032/xmaseve5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEBii1_zYSJCdQV134nx6Wxj995Rkz9ddzUCngpI4TWywheNXHzzv4YkiV9xSv9CWDv4JOC9kYvIMs8R-6irx_ScNmcnmdqNAVNzy91hqROoNUurj8MO30H_5k_AOBeNaBVDmVWX8YRRRLxXPWEekyyH0dCcT6cGhF6maf0u0B3TFypTDOIlcxjln1Fl7/w480-h640/xmaseve5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijkIQnGIaqQsAKcZas-TSe0c7s6Sqza9Eox8djEeS5A16dRuhtCZwAa1yk7kVQzxqiVtAzRPPV8z0jfb3PGUrhhwZMhdEYZ84OYUWf4cXyyDXNzYGx9WvPrTZ2pGSGAieeq0NFx8UpDFQQodhsQHFzewATXkYEitkhcRS4wz8g0CEpE0cO7LKNl124mce/s4032/xmaseve4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijkIQnGIaqQsAKcZas-TSe0c7s6Sqza9Eox8djEeS5A16dRuhtCZwAa1yk7kVQzxqiVtAzRPPV8z0jfb3PGUrhhwZMhdEYZ84OYUWf4cXyyDXNzYGx9WvPrTZ2pGSGAieeq0NFx8UpDFQQodhsQHFzewATXkYEitkhcRS4wz8g0CEpE0cO7LKNl124mce/w480-h640/xmaseve4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3P7Ww6fRmffflVZC82E32fyoDhDaLjlagnZeaFI-5XZyzLl6iqc_yOgxzXb8k_OtLBtjOIMwELG5hsUaNGkLsmmlvKPVhLQXyjpeUErx8uQ29ZH0Xk457KZ8QD6I9_QdVw5jdkoRiS_u58nR7aigU5gvEh6ur8Z6hFX6brBkEtfugGXTeRbTkBDctrKB/s4032/xmaseve2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3P7Ww6fRmffflVZC82E32fyoDhDaLjlagnZeaFI-5XZyzLl6iqc_yOgxzXb8k_OtLBtjOIMwELG5hsUaNGkLsmmlvKPVhLQXyjpeUErx8uQ29ZH0Xk457KZ8QD6I9_QdVw5jdkoRiS_u58nR7aigU5gvEh6ur8Z6hFX6brBkEtfugGXTeRbTkBDctrKB/w480-h640/xmaseve2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast Table: Set for Christmas Morning</span></div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYmv4Y5WDOVXzkjTDoyoHvGzCbuigU6_YTTAm_ao3IrxVRreiKJyKLsB3Uch6CWNhtuNR6eOQtbZjMLVK52q-q0-oktes_hORxAEJNX3cOgDcV3RaAKa8p3O-4NaLYgZdre86bwBwVEg_QImmS3rl7BFuBA7xQ2pjcGTQQRFwUe767ghgYsmYYyXY7ODT/s4032/xmaseve7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYmv4Y5WDOVXzkjTDoyoHvGzCbuigU6_YTTAm_ao3IrxVRreiKJyKLsB3Uch6CWNhtuNR6eOQtbZjMLVK52q-q0-oktes_hORxAEJNX3cOgDcV3RaAKa8p3O-4NaLYgZdre86bwBwVEg_QImmS3rl7BFuBA7xQ2pjcGTQQRFwUe767ghgYsmYYyXY7ODT/w480-h640/xmaseve7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkG0q9uHDdZsevyBKIrhDyEl7MC3P_CXTOYOWfQQ2sQ9wXYgO0nVJLYlrRNL4lturrbIb2LDgjV9D0tVC8LL0-qbOnl7hRUcIDhH6gXbNyY0HzviRv79apXFWzjNejOdBzZu6qVUGeptzlPaqWmoYU4MxzuRG3UPq2LPfGKB6_P_Cn2PyXImIs4Jly1pf/s4032/xmaseve8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkG0q9uHDdZsevyBKIrhDyEl7MC3P_CXTOYOWfQQ2sQ9wXYgO0nVJLYlrRNL4lturrbIb2LDgjV9D0tVC8LL0-qbOnl7hRUcIDhH6gXbNyY0HzviRv79apXFWzjNejOdBzZu6qVUGeptzlPaqWmoYU4MxzuRG3UPq2LPfGKB6_P_Cn2PyXImIs4Jly1pf/w480-h640/xmaseve8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CG0sTL_7Aa34XqNIjiKUMG03pJUIPSAMF3IMBATi8l7G4SoDiSkdOVjp0k8LgaeMOBSZBrSOQwcZ7omKukT4MeSohlk-XECure8twjVSZt71L2WLr9tgo6dw1ef6pXGfs40vV7MKcx5DHDUOLbZ71t3Io75qvbhJHMcigxnomSJ9hqxo7ZjDhi2D7Vem/s4032/xmaseve9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CG0sTL_7Aa34XqNIjiKUMG03pJUIPSAMF3IMBATi8l7G4SoDiSkdOVjp0k8LgaeMOBSZBrSOQwcZ7omKukT4MeSohlk-XECure8twjVSZt71L2WLr9tgo6dw1ef6pXGfs40vV7MKcx5DHDUOLbZ71t3Io75qvbhJHMcigxnomSJ9hqxo7ZjDhi2D7Vem/w480-h640/xmaseve9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmg14aVhOMmy7ickFL6cGpmkdK_dMnBOmXMAn4QPxY839zsYgC9NDdObXJ2vZBgWAGGd1jGI7eTKmbDHDe9FkN8mjkOIzjM_QnAFuXq6QLAIDGbTqDetsh9F_FyE5WE2yfSWHF2Q2bL8uNxppHquIH14ABqkaLEqq5ZbsRw6Eb2MhnphhsOdaHnh2A2pS/s4032/xmaseve1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmg14aVhOMmy7ickFL6cGpmkdK_dMnBOmXMAn4QPxY839zsYgC9NDdObXJ2vZBgWAGGd1jGI7eTKmbDHDe9FkN8mjkOIzjM_QnAFuXq6QLAIDGbTqDetsh9F_FyE5WE2yfSWHF2Q2bL8uNxppHquIH14ABqkaLEqq5ZbsRw6Eb2MhnphhsOdaHnh2A2pS/w480-h640/xmaseve1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEionYmB0DfNdhXmmrElQfkts_8hVySnI2SGPgFr9Tu7zYSxO_T-2psE9HYU_GYOh2X5M_ZsBwvWjckpKJdMxx3LGkwGTw2wlHCdaW2ogUPSHNrgGWyF_6pIitfNGBSoHrSYncwy-XCjTWjTYxSraeOIj41i7Vd19VXap91OOOA-tgTWbnyrOlbQitc3MHMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEionYmB0DfNdhXmmrElQfkts_8hVySnI2SGPgFr9Tu7zYSxO_T-2psE9HYU_GYOh2X5M_ZsBwvWjckpKJdMxx3LGkwGTw2wlHCdaW2ogUPSHNrgGWyF_6pIitfNGBSoHrSYncwy-XCjTWjTYxSraeOIj41i7Vd19VXap91OOOA-tgTWbnyrOlbQitc3MHMg=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-74036335581464528852023-12-31T19:45:00.004-06:002023-12-31T19:45:26.569-06:00December 23rd...The Hardest Day of the Season<span style="font-size: medium;">I hate that I'm posting about December 23rd on the last day of the year, BUT I definitely don't want to blog about one of the saddest days of 2023 (and there are a few) at the start of 2024. There will be plenty enough sad days to come...</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, back to December 23rd. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Christmas Holiday Season looks different now that Chris has passed. It always includes a trip to the cemetery. Always optional. Because that's what's recommended by grief counselors for children. But always attended...b/c I've got some really great kids. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's hard to believe that we are quickly approaching the 4-year mark since Chris passed. And while the kids are doing remarkably well, holidays/birthdays/anniversaries always include a bit of "hard". We acknowledge the sadness, embrace it, and release it. Forward is our motto. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here are a few pictures from our "Christmas Trip to the Cemetery". My amazing boyfriend always orders a grave blanket for Chris' plot. He then takes the kids shopping for ornaments to decorate the greenery. The kids pick ornaments that are meaningful to them about their dad. A hard day, but also a beautiful tribute to honor his memory. </span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Afterwards, we go out to eat at Dad's favorite BBQ joint and then typically head home where we all collapse into our beds. Grief is tricky. Messy. Exhausting. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBK9gHv792MGg4JX8Ww2xh50Jmr3JRbGrR7wM-qnvuFi28WakPDo3zRZL34ku_A19YHKsJ2KN7yU11RB5FFO7ASkELtDuTHpbHdsJnQkdhNG4d_jnAiMQeO1EjW0VBU9N5-3y7hv53i5OPWZO2d-yzJTQs0zyRy3wl2Srm9usJT6np6P-hnjKgqcVF2se/s4032/cemetery5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBK9gHv792MGg4JX8Ww2xh50Jmr3JRbGrR7wM-qnvuFi28WakPDo3zRZL34ku_A19YHKsJ2KN7yU11RB5FFO7ASkELtDuTHpbHdsJnQkdhNG4d_jnAiMQeO1EjW0VBU9N5-3y7hv53i5OPWZO2d-yzJTQs0zyRy3wl2Srm9usJT6np6P-hnjKgqcVF2se/w480-h640/cemetery5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Pic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTTdAFJKWPMuxaJGOhCzo18Dy1LItJPTO3_XgA4wxPKQlQ_8Kt4KyUw1nb8RUaubK0dLp2HX5B8Q9XGgR66Zf7TDxcsnv8u3LOIJja1GtPX25ZrLFwsTrMla34nVrNusckDzL5Vc9ydEbsF9ovvDrtCyqgaCQwXViasP5tn4fgXosLbqCU_pD8jeVlODc/s4032/cemetery8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTTdAFJKWPMuxaJGOhCzo18Dy1LItJPTO3_XgA4wxPKQlQ_8Kt4KyUw1nb8RUaubK0dLp2HX5B8Q9XGgR66Zf7TDxcsnv8u3LOIJja1GtPX25ZrLFwsTrMla34nVrNusckDzL5Vc9ydEbsF9ovvDrtCyqgaCQwXViasP5tn4fgXosLbqCU_pD8jeVlODc/w480-h640/cemetery8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From all 3 Kids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46q24ERwWx2h39E81_CARyMVsk9wdT1tge5VjWkb4I27QZTm_7onyY64AT1Bh8UsUDpaeOuRwIklXeiYIYuw-7zxe64p-mxyXh2Th2P-N0hZwjNxNUu62mo1TtDmNjdiGHHcc2ccJBEZabnpwXrCyQyJLvMW6AL86He45ANLAF3vnlT1nPuKs9JOBwkOq/s4032/cemetery1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46q24ERwWx2h39E81_CARyMVsk9wdT1tge5VjWkb4I27QZTm_7onyY64AT1Bh8UsUDpaeOuRwIklXeiYIYuw-7zxe64p-mxyXh2Th2P-N0hZwjNxNUu62mo1TtDmNjdiGHHcc2ccJBEZabnpwXrCyQyJLvMW6AL86He45ANLAF3vnlT1nPuKs9JOBwkOq/w480-h640/cemetery1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary's Choice to Grow Dad's Collection </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkoFxxAWTv4gy99NwH5e0di63G1446haxrq66GUmz7VjREMHIWrPugDdGE_juBBewuruJlnNS_f968PdX_W5oDU9_r4sftTn4uN11ZpjzVma-iZ6HHoX3re5zSMuokkGvuMDkuxsdlGEbBhCDp5Dqrz0IjbGdRIDAPkFHvYNl7kKnTDYFKHNTFO0PSldj/s4032/cemetery4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkoFxxAWTv4gy99NwH5e0di63G1446haxrq66GUmz7VjREMHIWrPugDdGE_juBBewuruJlnNS_f968PdX_W5oDU9_r4sftTn4uN11ZpjzVma-iZ6HHoX3re5zSMuokkGvuMDkuxsdlGEbBhCDp5Dqrz0IjbGdRIDAPkFHvYNl7kKnTDYFKHNTFO0PSldj/w480-h640/cemetery4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin's Ornament </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGm_CgTb3q3enxkvC_GXx5Dgly46vok1bRbyElAujV2FRWNj-wXtesOAKniyELeTTG3fMmzCnvypa-hqatului7dBEgpLQp2sHZpzlXPh_QUtj74ONUqSuVnSmGPEae0CWi94NsX87amtibOctWJ3VrtcfP43yMktBZ3STHJcalBQussykCjJYmJ1kCZ6/s4032/cemetery2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGm_CgTb3q3enxkvC_GXx5Dgly46vok1bRbyElAujV2FRWNj-wXtesOAKniyELeTTG3fMmzCnvypa-hqatului7dBEgpLQp2sHZpzlXPh_QUtj74ONUqSuVnSmGPEae0CWi94NsX87amtibOctWJ3VrtcfP43yMktBZ3STHJcalBQussykCjJYmJ1kCZ6/w480-h640/cemetery2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's Ornament </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwQyvWQAwO2t6p2fyjHxP07ZvU9Fp1LplLkaynHMe0AHXMyMBLq55e2lTUb-t3AXtypoAy68fYUTo-lLz5JmTlCkrm8yYSevd9JIW3IHkSK4P5WTwoyQ5Pifc_4ERSir6JExwa8RNDE9iAGMHvNBYVovNh43IOjQouziH12WICZXZhHQ0g3hgrD3yHM4o/s4032/cemetery3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwQyvWQAwO2t6p2fyjHxP07ZvU9Fp1LplLkaynHMe0AHXMyMBLq55e2lTUb-t3AXtypoAy68fYUTo-lLz5JmTlCkrm8yYSevd9JIW3IHkSK4P5WTwoyQ5Pifc_4ERSir6JExwa8RNDE9iAGMHvNBYVovNh43IOjQouziH12WICZXZhHQ0g3hgrD3yHM4o/w480-h640/cemetery3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Comedic Relief</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">“So it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">the price we pay for love.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><span class="authorOrTitle"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">~</span></span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">E.A. Bucchianeri~</span></span></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-21037446201491196462023-12-30T21:18:00.003-06:002023-12-30T21:18:40.485-06:00She's HOME!<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffA0veKqtW8"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm Coming Home...Cue the Music</span></a><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary arrived home on December 19th! We were all overcome with excitement. The brothers hadn't seen her since she left Labor Day weekend...so needless to say she was sorely missed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a few shots captured of our reunion with our girl! (Gosh they change so much when they go away to college!)</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged19QcDn_CclhdVtQOMYxEo1rNE6ZDWl0axcD7NDlZd3BDg6B-j-pvoU5TlfdtWxWGzWvTKQ8tJYBKprG567XEVx7zbMTQInrxZsX-BBNBmDZ_EZ_UqxKALB3MimONnc2XCOPWQGaw8aeROvcbsWPjh_NhRWJAeEux53aJKKp9nER6qahD5sCLxf3jqMv/s4032/Flight1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged19QcDn_CclhdVtQOMYxEo1rNE6ZDWl0axcD7NDlZd3BDg6B-j-pvoU5TlfdtWxWGzWvTKQ8tJYBKprG567XEVx7zbMTQInrxZsX-BBNBmDZ_EZ_UqxKALB3MimONnc2XCOPWQGaw8aeROvcbsWPjh_NhRWJAeEux53aJKKp9nER6qahD5sCLxf3jqMv/w480-h640/Flight1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Day of Travel </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh0WvXYMhZEntV5lMQmLP6_lKKog1aEEGCkDGtndOQYZsWBsTR6lkLWvjBAJIZi8iDtr0E2T5jUYlvcU8YXrc0KKSMgNHDtj2T3lwGJAUuo6RfB125rI6qcpDOs_jFI1iUOSY6zFTuKwUxFbBjG4ualeAAHudaFMjHlWLGmMa1OMQy0bNdhXzMmdWmY7W/s2778/Home4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="1284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh0WvXYMhZEntV5lMQmLP6_lKKog1aEEGCkDGtndOQYZsWBsTR6lkLWvjBAJIZi8iDtr0E2T5jUYlvcU8YXrc0KKSMgNHDtj2T3lwGJAUuo6RfB125rI6qcpDOs_jFI1iUOSY6zFTuKwUxFbBjG4ualeAAHudaFMjHlWLGmMa1OMQy0bNdhXzMmdWmY7W/w296-h640/Home4.jpeg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunion</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rx1hSdrTbWREZbhyBpbEB_p1fJmvyXHnDwG02yk5QGmI926rvmCPghtv2spyjl1VbER5oUd9Fu3Pztq-hMwpjY8liOk1sZHanRxTcNXlWcPsIce40JZ3_rZ3vUnWdOvGHRwshd0C6R7C7eEy0fabxLNHdHbonE-k4jj_8iTkYU5KICKxt7w4blPgulZt/s4032/Home1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rx1hSdrTbWREZbhyBpbEB_p1fJmvyXHnDwG02yk5QGmI926rvmCPghtv2spyjl1VbER5oUd9Fu3Pztq-hMwpjY8liOk1sZHanRxTcNXlWcPsIce40JZ3_rZ3vUnWdOvGHRwshd0C6R7C7eEy0fabxLNHdHbonE-k4jj_8iTkYU5KICKxt7w4blPgulZt/w480-h640/Home1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side Eye </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygo1zMqW2dVySeNDyQ349Vy1QBKF1LN3FI6mehq89a0Dk91_Gu0v1RZIib6UHuhyi08UTMRiOWPa5L7RJ7KLDFW7uGpQS357w15YVr_EzOV7dyN1RV3yAgjilULCzTYYWCb1QgWMgh3_EVxbege0mCq5GjzLehaMtZXwGW7ufHAtFJGPVsHOWUWH239ZF/s4032/Home2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygo1zMqW2dVySeNDyQ349Vy1QBKF1LN3FI6mehq89a0Dk91_Gu0v1RZIib6UHuhyi08UTMRiOWPa5L7RJ7KLDFW7uGpQS357w15YVr_EzOV7dyN1RV3yAgjilULCzTYYWCb1QgWMgh3_EVxbege0mCq5GjzLehaMtZXwGW7ufHAtFJGPVsHOWUWH239ZF/w480-h640/Home2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunited</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh1989xOO2iBlB-yaxyR735V3uTFFewgembilGdhi6Mb-tRRv0hVO_N_9FlH31uC-oYXsIILQl7Xzj9dXfOY7n58l4UhagtBgXqTDGfcYsX5QsnPD5hkTjLqUalAwl0fpLLP7H56Fu8PQjKqdjTQF5XSOSmzfEBO2JXyRF4LaYQ4-oZhULaIYHITj8HSd/s4032/Home3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh1989xOO2iBlB-yaxyR735V3uTFFewgembilGdhi6Mb-tRRv0hVO_N_9FlH31uC-oYXsIILQl7Xzj9dXfOY7n58l4UhagtBgXqTDGfcYsX5QsnPD5hkTjLqUalAwl0fpLLP7H56Fu8PQjKqdjTQF5XSOSmzfEBO2JXyRF4LaYQ4-oZhULaIYHITj8HSd/w480-h640/Home3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trio</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsR7tWI0VlW1N_GWkUBWzAzZYV5XNe81jlcRTVdXSJDpfX3YAFtzbSjawGyue_mTbk7T7CpI0xM87VHLJ1MjVhkO5dJOnPQDlyjZPHXCewM_M9UawbQhQcN9_FFbodaBaLxfFFSRtq4P_64uKUVCyQ5wwnEoB8W2U0-QCHJy651Nw4_Jvp7dF_rlmlHI2/s4032/Home5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsR7tWI0VlW1N_GWkUBWzAzZYV5XNe81jlcRTVdXSJDpfX3YAFtzbSjawGyue_mTbk7T7CpI0xM87VHLJ1MjVhkO5dJOnPQDlyjZPHXCewM_M9UawbQhQcN9_FFbodaBaLxfFFSRtq4P_64uKUVCyQ5wwnEoB8W2U0-QCHJy651Nw4_Jvp7dF_rlmlHI2/w480-h640/Home5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Together</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am so proud of my girl! This semester she has learned so much about being self-sufficient and resourceful. As Midwesterners...we just aren't familiar with public transportation. Most kiddos either buy their own car or use mom/dad's during high school and college years. Out East, Mary has learned how to get around town using the bus system, taxi cabs, or Lyft/Uber. I don't think I'd be able to do that at 19, but she definitely was ready to figure it out. She says that all of the high school travel she did Senior Year for various science, technology, and theater competitions helped prepare her for air travel. Phew!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Since she hadn't been home since September, I wanted her bedroom to feel "holiday" and welcoming. I did a deep clean on it and bought her all new bedding for the Christmas season, as well as shopped my basement for some holiday decor. Christmas Magic happened in that room! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2bnd2Oi7ItX5zfR_OO1cVszT5QoQ4TZKavKoOSHHFjX6iZkbanyaqtN_C4MCmlwOUtf6v4f9hi4XXbTLzCS5C6sPAyryI6pxOYeOthyphenhyphenYmnXfFAnE-UBanKlAeXBRoCPNIzt_TCfl26oUU-5mquYkDaUuqZzyWlTovSwJDh9urYgwhHTT1gxDMJkLYu0O/s4032/Bedroom5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2bnd2Oi7ItX5zfR_OO1cVszT5QoQ4TZKavKoOSHHFjX6iZkbanyaqtN_C4MCmlwOUtf6v4f9hi4XXbTLzCS5C6sPAyryI6pxOYeOthyphenhyphenYmnXfFAnE-UBanKlAeXBRoCPNIzt_TCfl26oUU-5mquYkDaUuqZzyWlTovSwJDh9urYgwhHTT1gxDMJkLYu0O/w480-h640/Bedroom5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Flannel Sheets</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJozM_xaK59bsCiAX3Gda3E7ct1_nn4NkXl1pHLrto2k83gq97jnqioqNwJhyNa3oe_46ihN6RcfN4RS-GoVcVFXgGWNdwm5rsCeHVoyexYGQbDq_S-y4s04RmfqCqP2oFZXFBnxZ3BFr64NlXftJZ3kSpmMyDJT30dMMciDXGYvPmERIZX9Bi5w5Rn9N/s4032/Bedroom4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJozM_xaK59bsCiAX3Gda3E7ct1_nn4NkXl1pHLrto2k83gq97jnqioqNwJhyNa3oe_46ihN6RcfN4RS-GoVcVFXgGWNdwm5rsCeHVoyexYGQbDq_S-y4s04RmfqCqP2oFZXFBnxZ3BFr64NlXftJZ3kSpmMyDJT30dMMciDXGYvPmERIZX9Bi5w5Rn9N/w480-h640/Bedroom4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Snowman Pillow </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW0VJRT615GHz0RZ117pEOsuTUDhoykTHbmxhF6m4BAmmRQr7UatD7tfiNRHGG7qE2TD5UUsB2g9HF0FGcuBLeIMT4bcJzcQuNV1804_fZguD3GPXNw-ftTD28gbmhr3w0RakVtvo7-JZHGmUZ0ps0qzBwGg3IMzuJOnjFzdDbifXG7zSLVOB86P8k9Ye/s4032/Bedroom3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW0VJRT615GHz0RZ117pEOsuTUDhoykTHbmxhF6m4BAmmRQr7UatD7tfiNRHGG7qE2TD5UUsB2g9HF0FGcuBLeIMT4bcJzcQuNV1804_fZguD3GPXNw-ftTD28gbmhr3w0RakVtvo7-JZHGmUZ0ps0qzBwGg3IMzuJOnjFzdDbifXG7zSLVOB86P8k9Ye/w480-h640/Bedroom3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple Skinny Tree and Amaryllis </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-vNSEi70LwWggroAEC95TxcpNHbuW2NSvL3BdT-yGUvR1jTE4yA7GwDI_C8Vdwgt5m0QMiiyq0NNKtHNgqrI4XZzh5TqgYCy5hM94ABwWuCIE4WZTxlxYuV14_pOs0xMWZA7vteudSSv9RYoNMIq9-v4aG0tYYszJtkqcw3Hurn2mR05iZW7gNbH3pph/s4032/Bedroom2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-vNSEi70LwWggroAEC95TxcpNHbuW2NSvL3BdT-yGUvR1jTE4yA7GwDI_C8Vdwgt5m0QMiiyq0NNKtHNgqrI4XZzh5TqgYCy5hM94ABwWuCIE4WZTxlxYuV14_pOs0xMWZA7vteudSSv9RYoNMIq9-v4aG0tYYszJtkqcw3Hurn2mR05iZW7gNbH3pph/w480-h640/Bedroom2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Scent for the Season</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB3_VG8G5IZJt1_K_2Ie5LXoN7Wc2qWD0ODNREoLdz-DWHyNx1W7xfRVNyxk19eEMfIM3n7EHbnkJqiTMKWYOm0bi0vNRLgrls2A-3_LQx9dxokUzl2rR6b_7vncYNeEp4kY1Aa2mRD5YyOdoDA0Ag7D7giBw3WR55lpb_jWC5k89jCMoP8X7TSHUxbsB/s4032/Bedroom1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB3_VG8G5IZJt1_K_2Ie5LXoN7Wc2qWD0ODNREoLdz-DWHyNx1W7xfRVNyxk19eEMfIM3n7EHbnkJqiTMKWYOm0bi0vNRLgrls2A-3_LQx9dxokUzl2rR6b_7vncYNeEp4kY1Aa2mRD5YyOdoDA0Ag7D7giBw3WR55lpb_jWC5k89jCMoP8X7TSHUxbsB/w480-h640/Bedroom1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goody Basket to Welcome Her Home </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: montserrat, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">“Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.” </span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: montserrat, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">~<a href="https://everydaypower.com/charles-dickens-quotes/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: 0.0625rem; text-underline-offset: 0.25rem; vertical-align: baseline;">Charles Dickens</a>~</span></strong></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It feels so good to have Mary home!</span></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-82303207020117105122023-12-30T20:26:00.001-06:002023-12-30T20:26:29.197-06:00Christmas LIghts and Dinner Sights<span style="font-size: medium;">Friday night (December 29), Pat and I took the boys out to eat for our Christmas Holiday dinner. Unfortunately, Mary couldn't join us...which was disappointing, but I understand her need to work to earn college money for 2nd semester. (I plan to definitely get some one-on-one time with my girl before she heads back to Massachusetts.)</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, it was just the four of us for our trip down to the Plaza to see Christmas lights and then to Cascone's for dinner. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have never been to Kansas City, then you might not know about The Plaza. <a href="https://countryclubplaza.com/art-guide/">The Country Club Plaza</a> opened its doors in 1922 as the country's first suburban shopping center. Over 100 years old, it is a beautifully designed space modeled after Spanish romantic architecture. The City of Fountains does not disappoint with its Plaza District!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But the very best thing about The Plaza are the lights that illuminate the early darkening skies each November/December/January. Typically, a local celebrity is chosen to flip the switch that turns on over 200,000 bulbs throughout 15 shopping blocks on Thanksgiving night. Pedestrians with hot chocolates or frozen lattes stroll arm in arm as children oooh and ahhhh over storefront windows and holiday decorations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Although traffic is bumber-to-bumper, it's definitely a favorite holiday tradition to load up the car on a Friday or Saturday night in December while bringing along thermoses of cocoa and lap blankets to "see the lights". Favorite holiday memories usually include a trip down to The Plaza to the see lights...typically in jammies when the kids were little! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Although my windshied was dirty...here's a peek of the beautiful Country Club Plaza at Christmastime. </span> </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAZcxZApga-THcr0TLWC2atsqEQuQ2H_Hw8dq7NFxRK70M7Q-tGYd2qyCX5oER-g4mDWLeUGICH1k2nuDksCk-M4PDS54-QZ-l6g-trhq-AjdgkMkEDsBseGFd0K_vkUnBXpT-KZdtzNLkArZUxMsDyaqyVCIFbbR6ASvaf87SHR_F2-aTV5XUX0SD6CF/s4032/Plaza1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAZcxZApga-THcr0TLWC2atsqEQuQ2H_Hw8dq7NFxRK70M7Q-tGYd2qyCX5oER-g4mDWLeUGICH1k2nuDksCk-M4PDS54-QZ-l6g-trhq-AjdgkMkEDsBseGFd0K_vkUnBXpT-KZdtzNLkArZUxMsDyaqyVCIFbbR6ASvaf87SHR_F2-aTV5XUX0SD6CF/w480-h640/Plaza1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tdAjNu_ieopxvFUh3bC5EZmUj8_eXtLaCnS0iUGRIeozO12oiyJt0DoMCbYiZCbImv5sSdxR5vGbM_LsaluoL_Nhtf9MGiHrPm8pD_MnHJFiiHIw7EQ-P0mjkyrpklptMii7OvODtk5XDVu_G0XADsb1c8IRrv0SJdsNH3bSbJCrgerwG6T0AtpnJrWq/s4032/Plaza2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tdAjNu_ieopxvFUh3bC5EZmUj8_eXtLaCnS0iUGRIeozO12oiyJt0DoMCbYiZCbImv5sSdxR5vGbM_LsaluoL_Nhtf9MGiHrPm8pD_MnHJFiiHIw7EQ-P0mjkyrpklptMii7OvODtk5XDVu_G0XADsb1c8IRrv0SJdsNH3bSbJCrgerwG6T0AtpnJrWq/w480-h640/Plaza2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo9pYfwy8QkWMdJoKYjKnZfAyP6go1sbg3hujKml2jBCYKE_21HvcaFc3S7HX_RFnW8ZqGRJJvD8xFihYqYcaDs7PH2XoIZTa74fHOC3vBy_2NabWlzdNeY0xsDc2ZY0CF_K_5bbrt0fSHfgrJErxR4WrGIQ0IyvU1v4IoLK0uIfyJ5P1rJHg-Bdo525j/s4032/Plaza3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo9pYfwy8QkWMdJoKYjKnZfAyP6go1sbg3hujKml2jBCYKE_21HvcaFc3S7HX_RFnW8ZqGRJJvD8xFihYqYcaDs7PH2XoIZTa74fHOC3vBy_2NabWlzdNeY0xsDc2ZY0CF_K_5bbrt0fSHfgrJErxR4WrGIQ0IyvU1v4IoLK0uIfyJ5P1rJHg-Bdo525j/w480-h640/Plaza3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xEPYEnc_xJWNHVQGusiafiG6ZApst2ZRArig5t5rs6rRyHMcm0F5O5i8Ccz9C3sKyg4yRltLenrTf7yIocVAfJCIOjbC0HPdrCsJs1Bx-A8gDE1CPusgMmksunaAGdtIxeR5JpXWerntBfd25jhs19nxaBgOV8hvXiSHKJeb21gquAenLphKnIvWm52x/s4032/Plaza4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xEPYEnc_xJWNHVQGusiafiG6ZApst2ZRArig5t5rs6rRyHMcm0F5O5i8Ccz9C3sKyg4yRltLenrTf7yIocVAfJCIOjbC0HPdrCsJs1Bx-A8gDE1CPusgMmksunaAGdtIxeR5JpXWerntBfd25jhs19nxaBgOV8hvXiSHKJeb21gquAenLphKnIvWm52x/w480-h640/Plaza4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfoI1tUBgGT3QyLRnDryh-k3aa3GCp2WerEo6bCRk3PpHAkkswQGg_nq0Wjg1kVAKxRFmmW1LgoqCNmu_liR5uUignjArhnB8e8ifXBDhuL5K9r23Gfqa6BCzNwujc0oLhWLqBqn613VXluoNKd8sVfvCzyp0kfOOB4petxwRNVP5x89R3ozXXPEt_lHv/s1240/Plaza5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1240" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfoI1tUBgGT3QyLRnDryh-k3aa3GCp2WerEo6bCRk3PpHAkkswQGg_nq0Wjg1kVAKxRFmmW1LgoqCNmu_liR5uUignjArhnB8e8ifXBDhuL5K9r23Gfqa6BCzNwujc0oLhWLqBqn613VXluoNKd8sVfvCzyp0kfOOB4petxwRNVP5x89R3ozXXPEt_lHv/w640-h354/Plaza5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Car Tunes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After we drove through The Plaza, we headed to my boyfriend's favorite Italian restaurant, Cascone's. Pat is Italian-American...so we trust his judgment. LOL</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our dinner did not disappoint! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The restaurant was so beautifully decorated. It just screamed "Christmas"! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdzhlfUg0-_DU0Hv29UKCg1otf-HxM270FCVp5dKeZGLzgm6eRt5Wa7LoW9m7VkcyUVOqKDN4zPzHO6vnJhCVx9H2FsDwl_nzSYvzt6p8-VVnEWfsVIOLD4g3bPsrxah7FAbF8zzAzLb-sdM_-QjmJY-rcm0n_JQegIFzho5DyoFjPUP7PDWrGv-y-818/s4032/Restaurant1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdzhlfUg0-_DU0Hv29UKCg1otf-HxM270FCVp5dKeZGLzgm6eRt5Wa7LoW9m7VkcyUVOqKDN4zPzHO6vnJhCVx9H2FsDwl_nzSYvzt6p8-VVnEWfsVIOLD4g3bPsrxah7FAbF8zzAzLb-sdM_-QjmJY-rcm0n_JQegIFzho5DyoFjPUP7PDWrGv-y-818/w640-h480/Restaurant1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsuWl9MclkZe7IDvzehM3CRz9mNfKIUSUgEvssp5b2AAH_XK8SDt_44KucB-F2_p1ujePnDXClmMe3ZwhfB05NrKxlK6Ew0UjVXAjAvJJpw56v0i1y5ns2cKJr9Zgp5F5cniY5HRjk-klMzzfM8CC8rNl9Z4I-2-BuJCY6DLCJAP2Qp80TRhEy0i8Qp-D/s3088/Restaurant2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsuWl9MclkZe7IDvzehM3CRz9mNfKIUSUgEvssp5b2AAH_XK8SDt_44KucB-F2_p1ujePnDXClmMe3ZwhfB05NrKxlK6Ew0UjVXAjAvJJpw56v0i1y5ns2cKJr9Zgp5F5cniY5HRjk-klMzzfM8CC8rNl9Z4I-2-BuJCY6DLCJAP2Qp80TRhEy0i8Qp-D/w480-h640/Restaurant2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_VpQYkJnEXmpcifVf5KEGGgdRdyTnncmC5hail1SUmPMdmxgk3CMqV2EV-78bZ5vxZgy0NxNwwNW8V8Ww-S2AvNy9X3xASaFz2lAa4utUtBpbKzSmKi2myZuP1vIp0wQgPy-dcIK5BGJozhM1LmZA_TNv2xJgVU7z6LKbxhyqcCiU6eFOiqDqAHH-xXz/s4032/Restaurant3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_VpQYkJnEXmpcifVf5KEGGgdRdyTnncmC5hail1SUmPMdmxgk3CMqV2EV-78bZ5vxZgy0NxNwwNW8V8Ww-S2AvNy9X3xASaFz2lAa4utUtBpbKzSmKi2myZuP1vIp0wQgPy-dcIK5BGJozhM1LmZA_TNv2xJgVU7z6LKbxhyqcCiU6eFOiqDqAHH-xXz/w480-h640/Restaurant3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DgK4lMdJSbPTuyO7oJSMrRZ1dGuu6yHu6IZQ_hK4SWMd6OxalZr9ivV0qYNJb57cpc77qdOl3AgQnY044C_maxaSJ_pjzCECx8Mi-sQ-KRPeCXhTeCr2ItZV7vrD7y_oUrFYhseVK5QbK4gpSNo9FUPrTCLnvjV-ejs2UGW4otA4GnmgZ2FLOHAwkI8U/s4032/Restaurant4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DgK4lMdJSbPTuyO7oJSMrRZ1dGuu6yHu6IZQ_hK4SWMd6OxalZr9ivV0qYNJb57cpc77qdOl3AgQnY044C_maxaSJ_pjzCECx8Mi-sQ-KRPeCXhTeCr2ItZV7vrD7y_oUrFYhseVK5QbK4gpSNo9FUPrTCLnvjV-ejs2UGW4otA4GnmgZ2FLOHAwkI8U/w640-h480/Restaurant4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhGTqxaoemHjRhrPAV8bNCTw05EGNKAR8EuA29FAF637SujB_M1zXXJOHS62heoo2FivRaXo09Pki9fPOKR0IPnE7DrWsADBmc-e1q7-i2HJ_oklARJlTZr8-VZcGEbCGN5a-D9zDuhLYutTVWb3Oqda4ENVvYQPZJiG_quHStHiaPaKZhhjdgerviiLx/s4032/Restaurant5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhGTqxaoemHjRhrPAV8bNCTw05EGNKAR8EuA29FAF637SujB_M1zXXJOHS62heoo2FivRaXo09Pki9fPOKR0IPnE7DrWsADBmc-e1q7-i2HJ_oklARJlTZr8-VZcGEbCGN5a-D9zDuhLYutTVWb3Oqda4ENVvYQPZJiG_quHStHiaPaKZhhjdgerviiLx/w480-h640/Restaurant5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ4F9fwHUp3i6Ro3NIzOhPOaF7WdxHoWdbLtrevmCYkcToaEYiOH4so6jiDrjMHXsdNGZxSJ2k9-yvcLhG0KQl5Wp1gQ-xhU9rWwhnhp9GatA4wnnaVmI23kkoYswUQW5-1hO6WKwhMZUVKAlZCtw0labgFHXH35AVsA8XUcnZOcepDugN6UDjBmUV3EJ/s4032/Restaurant6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ4F9fwHUp3i6Ro3NIzOhPOaF7WdxHoWdbLtrevmCYkcToaEYiOH4so6jiDrjMHXsdNGZxSJ2k9-yvcLhG0KQl5Wp1gQ-xhU9rWwhnhp9GatA4wnnaVmI23kkoYswUQW5-1hO6WKwhMZUVKAlZCtw0labgFHXH35AVsA8XUcnZOcepDugN6UDjBmUV3EJ/w480-h640/Restaurant6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Buon Natale!</span></div></div></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-79888352107558556822023-12-27T20:40:00.004-06:002023-12-27T20:43:35.370-06:00Merry Christmas <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">From our home to yours...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never have I ever...owned a set of real pearls!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas gift from my love. If he had not been able to give me anything...his love would have been enough. He is a GIFT to me and my kids.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5018ui1FDfalVxU0Y3Imm4XZw0Vd-N5u9BKuVBYh9_sRCwZE4vwic9am5YBvl4hfOaNC0QyhMXRhbItQTpEwIQecZLxTZ1_kLn0zjva6PLt9akkLaG04LrIp869W7gnU0NbTjz4KWWU_UD41TDcPNCHORi8rlLXOiH30F0KPTZC0W9t6vDHPAorTZ9Uj/s3088/xmas%20pearls.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5018ui1FDfalVxU0Y3Imm4XZw0Vd-N5u9BKuVBYh9_sRCwZE4vwic9am5YBvl4hfOaNC0QyhMXRhbItQTpEwIQecZLxTZ1_kLn0zjva6PLt9akkLaG04LrIp869W7gnU0NbTjz4KWWU_UD41TDcPNCHORi8rlLXOiH30F0KPTZC0W9t6vDHPAorTZ9Uj/w480-h640/xmas%20pearls.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Outfit 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw this skirt online and fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It screams "Christmas" to me. I chose to pair it with a fitted, green velvet top. (Love the poofy sleeves!) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf_Oa81eoVmIS7ONlUxT1lyB5Fe3zV_WAuq0QhxeinpgW0-UWuMXhfW6Vdr5O69TUTbnG7ispoRbSVMkgMJ1pqFmb306JAgcIiXH0eQ8gh8yLNxi-F6qm9EFqviCBFh0CcHkfmCiaRksveSXoX4yvp7YEJTDE0Tmopj_ocdZ-NnRayWujYPUvOdSF5-aY/s4032/xmas%20outfis%202023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf_Oa81eoVmIS7ONlUxT1lyB5Fe3zV_WAuq0QhxeinpgW0-UWuMXhfW6Vdr5O69TUTbnG7ispoRbSVMkgMJ1pqFmb306JAgcIiXH0eQ8gh8yLNxi-F6qm9EFqviCBFh0CcHkfmCiaRksveSXoX4yvp7YEJTDE0Tmopj_ocdZ-NnRayWujYPUvOdSF5-aY/w480-h640/xmas%20outfis%202023.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family picture on the front porch. So good to have our girl back home! While she loves living out East...she said there's lots she has missed about the midwest...and home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodvQ1ocR_dRTyk5j3CEJNjBqUqNCbqrVbdIcOPcolp209XpusAL4OH-ThHSLX4gBCTtlcUC0I0LEBvmLNBL89PMHE_h_kv3fQQX0TBsOCMZ56_ArTEIDTvVfFGXTWPN5LjXIjqGWPS8YaG1bd1QABf-_0IjomseuRHEEDnRoTk8daLz9UXpT3C7Q2ca0x/s4032/xmas%20kids%20porch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodvQ1ocR_dRTyk5j3CEJNjBqUqNCbqrVbdIcOPcolp209XpusAL4OH-ThHSLX4gBCTtlcUC0I0LEBvmLNBL89PMHE_h_kv3fQQX0TBsOCMZ56_ArTEIDTvVfFGXTWPN5LjXIjqGWPS8YaG1bd1QABf-_0IjomseuRHEEDnRoTk8daLz9UXpT3C7Q2ca0x/w480-h640/xmas%20kids%20porch.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_MaG-Jg4KHFEXfvw2KT0U_KaHFmky-l2L1amAPOcIg8fEfJDk3R6kmdI7KRDtDqv7XQjwArRh2AdXPNn2JJtUKO8O9QU1tKQu9TdRhC723K9wuvCquwst1AGPtNhTLFGf1m45mmKKe0EN7lkq2RVPRa1Ttj4UnnBu86OEGoHwh5J3yEkFBgzfURg4vS8i" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_MaG-Jg4KHFEXfvw2KT0U_KaHFmky-l2L1amAPOcIg8fEfJDk3R6kmdI7KRDtDqv7XQjwArRh2AdXPNn2JJtUKO8O9QU1tKQu9TdRhC723K9wuvCquwst1AGPtNhTLFGf1m45mmKKe0EN7lkq2RVPRa1Ttj4UnnBu86OEGoHwh5J3yEkFBgzfURg4vS8i=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-49577513970495494492023-10-27T20:03:00.003-05:002023-10-27T20:03:24.187-05:00SMITH (Post 2)<span style="font-size: medium;">We arrived late (after midnight) in Hartford and so "Day 2" was our first full day. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary and I had SHOPPING to do...we had a list of dorm room items that we needed to purchase in town rather than ship to her dorm or our hotel. These were things like a mattress topper, decor pillows, under bed storage, etc. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After shopping 'til we dropped in the early morning, Mary, Pat, and I went to tour Mark Twain's home. I am embarrassed to say that I had NO IDEA Mark Twain and his family lived out East. Having grown up in Saint Louis/Missouri, we were taught all about Mark Twain's childhood years in Hannibal along the Mississippi River. We had the BEST time touring his beautiful, if not a heartbreaking-story, home in Hartford. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Later that same day, Mary and I decided to celebrate her journey into adulthood with a special dinner in New Haven, CT. It is crazy to this Midwesterner how short of distances lie between locations in New England. Although we did not have time to tour Yale (that's for another day), we did enjoy a delicious meal with a fabulous maritime view of Long Island Sound. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Tummies full, bank account smaller, and excitement for the next day's on-campus enrollment building, we headed back "home" to Hartford for the night. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI2mYVGvOOUXo4m4ure5qqPYXREfUCjc_dfxTYCo-p8clN3vAh54BLAHtX59zdKbApDZmirM0mjQhoYwRTNGHIOdL_PR1jk5TSKgRjkyMgdikqRIQk0I9QLCi5P4SMp8QZvnO5v6O7CdthK_YyHZr3AN1GfESKOcog38CKoiFaf-iyHAp8nnE3GBWQoMs/s4032/Mark%20Twain%20Sign.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI2mYVGvOOUXo4m4ure5qqPYXREfUCjc_dfxTYCo-p8clN3vAh54BLAHtX59zdKbApDZmirM0mjQhoYwRTNGHIOdL_PR1jk5TSKgRjkyMgdikqRIQk0I9QLCi5P4SMp8QZvnO5v6O7CdthK_YyHZr3AN1GfESKOcog38CKoiFaf-iyHAp8nnE3GBWQoMs/w480-h640/Mark%20Twain%20Sign.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wIwmcTjH-pFvHLqgl7kcPp2PuOyCalvzrtJzys_o3wWlaauwFC3V5ga60i7e1icg38f5xjNPJ4wdRVGHVYmARfFSti1IcKYoKKficpUndW-PVFw629Bt_BQbvQgkqMFIl-Bf_XTUnYXvPaBsVqjhe1iBnkOKzM-wHjMUN62SUPQvd6rAdoHQJyJ_fYPp/s4032/Mary%20and%20Mark%20Twain.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wIwmcTjH-pFvHLqgl7kcPp2PuOyCalvzrtJzys_o3wWlaauwFC3V5ga60i7e1icg38f5xjNPJ4wdRVGHVYmARfFSti1IcKYoKKficpUndW-PVFw629Bt_BQbvQgkqMFIl-Bf_XTUnYXvPaBsVqjhe1iBnkOKzM-wHjMUN62SUPQvd6rAdoHQJyJ_fYPp/w480-h640/Mary%20and%20Mark%20Twain.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacwsLTTEOHS6NshugyOWP6Itr-9zB5_QMqJgoLEnzFjWYxsLsDtlgM4tHiOb4wh5vv4I4WtFN4jhOKEmD-0j1eswF4IsGFFUCFI65SnOmjFFAAJ0qsSBLWnBzjgprF2XDpz85ezMIXhbOql05_zhBU8jh5YV7nMJfM61PcVEO2RNdPWwP_-ebkZT328g4/s4032/Mark%20Twain%20House.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacwsLTTEOHS6NshugyOWP6Itr-9zB5_QMqJgoLEnzFjWYxsLsDtlgM4tHiOb4wh5vv4I4WtFN4jhOKEmD-0j1eswF4IsGFFUCFI65SnOmjFFAAJ0qsSBLWnBzjgprF2XDpz85ezMIXhbOql05_zhBU8jh5YV7nMJfM61PcVEO2RNdPWwP_-ebkZT328g4/w640-h480/Mark%20Twain%20House.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4x37ADyJlyZLOACc3fM-s2O1TcKR1qlGqWKSQ05nMrZ4tRD0ogsigBzQyb768GWIG62EU_TCoRw9v9Tk9kvcf8xY-F_1ifD4zwK4WPa1sA4sR8Sj3oee7zo1TDDi7AFfTeuzQbphIsjNvMq7Gs4uXm8nTlXx7nmgyjtv1ieqCRglj-TWK4nIOFLCiwz9/s4032/Shell%20and%20Bones.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4x37ADyJlyZLOACc3fM-s2O1TcKR1qlGqWKSQ05nMrZ4tRD0ogsigBzQyb768GWIG62EU_TCoRw9v9Tk9kvcf8xY-F_1ifD4zwK4WPa1sA4sR8Sj3oee7zo1TDDi7AFfTeuzQbphIsjNvMq7Gs4uXm8nTlXx7nmgyjtv1ieqCRglj-TWK4nIOFLCiwz9/w480-h640/Shell%20and%20Bones.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeMYxZ-kgxp1AIjP-zaOeXFR-yyz0F-bjinXIt0gW7ayiKPGaqj2Gdu-ApeRQGCRE_9eEbwoKPoWXorvTKT5qFokVtWasB-Fbc1jCra3VAxxSzZBYvDCWSReVj5gxu-y6KtUr5-d0eNnTIxzvDzbL1FbkSe6Yf1GoqwuDyDlAzys8dLNoJuFHaDNq4YIm/w480-h640/Maritime%20View.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWbkWiuyn2NwayO-O8pUF6KkZz-hUx3UydnCUI23V2tPL9dcmsmEXVgG8zlGMFCvE4EUJVR_lckudcQYNQWd0zuJbM8N4UXBVTkYlqjUk2yJGst09iQSbuAHgE0jKMyCOpK63jVUUfgb4N1qinEOb7cFDDnA8vmhk-OZ_WSEcvB7wmRYxIbW_9x5g_CRB/s4032/Sailboats.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWbkWiuyn2NwayO-O8pUF6KkZz-hUx3UydnCUI23V2tPL9dcmsmEXVgG8zlGMFCvE4EUJVR_lckudcQYNQWd0zuJbM8N4UXBVTkYlqjUk2yJGst09iQSbuAHgE0jKMyCOpK63jVUUfgb4N1qinEOb7cFDDnA8vmhk-OZ_WSEcvB7wmRYxIbW_9x5g_CRB/w640-h480/Sailboats.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-379137506035838952023-10-27T11:59:00.005-05:002023-10-27T11:59:56.039-05:00SMITH (Post 1)<span style="font-size: medium;">Labor Weekend was a busy and exciting weekend for our family. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My parents arrived on Thursday afternoon to watch the boys. Pat, Mary, and I loaded up the car barely making it to the airport on time for our evening flight to Hartford. Hartford is the closest airport to Northampton, Massachusetts, home of SMTH college, where my girl is currently enrolled for her Freshman year of college.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">COLLEGE! How did we get here????? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">With lots and lots of hard work...academically, socially, and "professionally" (working at the mall LOL). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am so, so proud of my girl! </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3-8Bjh8gjQI01sjlxWTCuxrW4Iml6u0__lLwq_nXVILwjiLNFaCnWKxq7RswiDQhrGZZg6113Rf6YwF0S5eu2kWlI-LCDWypOB_GePP-lw9Vbz4qW14lcVAyzAF0S2Z81etqTR0JiTkvB_8_L-HwhT96JzZgBwXres1NiZmVri2FeCwXwS2P6I9pCD2z/s4032/Smith%20Yard%20Sign.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3-8Bjh8gjQI01sjlxWTCuxrW4Iml6u0__lLwq_nXVILwjiLNFaCnWKxq7RswiDQhrGZZg6113Rf6YwF0S5eu2kWlI-LCDWypOB_GePP-lw9Vbz4qW14lcVAyzAF0S2Z81etqTR0JiTkvB_8_L-HwhT96JzZgBwXres1NiZmVri2FeCwXwS2P6I9pCD2z/w640-h480/Smith%20Yard%20Sign.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzZu4QYJLvwh6-lAwtWjlEkB_ZhZcg4LQlANiag6mbJhtfAf0EUYwBwKxVrKfACjdLb6bMD3KDfGkVhzDsI0Ja_pwnyxgKmq1XQ9ou86AFv8Pjf6CNiZWuYZ-B8l7p0e-n6iZLgyxfrJ0Jm0jlRyc0tNQgHKUFpKsmCzC6iOwtFhuKq8f5wEgmjQdAPTm/s2048/Smith%20Luggage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzZu4QYJLvwh6-lAwtWjlEkB_ZhZcg4LQlANiag6mbJhtfAf0EUYwBwKxVrKfACjdLb6bMD3KDfGkVhzDsI0Ja_pwnyxgKmq1XQ9ou86AFv8Pjf6CNiZWuYZ-B8l7p0e-n6iZLgyxfrJ0Jm0jlRyc0tNQgHKUFpKsmCzC6iOwtFhuKq8f5wEgmjQdAPTm/w480-h640/Smith%20Luggage.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0m7M_J9wIlGJickpMhxafEUzIys1z8XpIhX1Zga7JJ3BrzI9XIiC5WLIwZNfbfqlAg7CHfm9ZbiCcfatLiKQ9setypEkOefGZQnxRGOrdNckB1IESyohCHz5iRHDB-S9TLd0qtTDE5IGUGQkh5zDUP3FFAQeAjucesSLRKvpFk1J_SgPrrqxLQFWWdY8/s4032/Smith%20Airport.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0m7M_J9wIlGJickpMhxafEUzIys1z8XpIhX1Zga7JJ3BrzI9XIiC5WLIwZNfbfqlAg7CHfm9ZbiCcfatLiKQ9setypEkOefGZQnxRGOrdNckB1IESyohCHz5iRHDB-S9TLd0qtTDE5IGUGQkh5zDUP3FFAQeAjucesSLRKvpFk1J_SgPrrqxLQFWWdY8/w480-h640/Smith%20Airport.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GKUhozmjxSq9mcefTWK-4f5N4UEwqhw61dnuzHYxp8vzT3uxrFsAG9IQYwdSWJ9ABV3rjD2mj2EdAC__A07Lo6SMLrjxpAzCFc1mj9Tv8K4mn-1p0tNq2MmP5jdh7_DjgSHefRWlmy98q_d7pFLd3hk-KhZCDajtdLn4q3QfJgV6zA4ygnBD2DFfXPpW/s4032/Smith%20Orientation%20Binder.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GKUhozmjxSq9mcefTWK-4f5N4UEwqhw61dnuzHYxp8vzT3uxrFsAG9IQYwdSWJ9ABV3rjD2mj2EdAC__A07Lo6SMLrjxpAzCFc1mj9Tv8K4mn-1p0tNq2MmP5jdh7_DjgSHefRWlmy98q_d7pFLd3hk-KhZCDajtdLn4q3QfJgV6zA4ygnBD2DFfXPpW/w480-h640/Smith%20Orientation%20Binder.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-1335302063472149742023-10-27T11:17:00.000-05:002023-10-27T11:17:13.875-05:00Hocus Pocus You Need Focus<span style="font-size: medium;">My building principal has a little saying that she announces over the intercom at the end of every school day....</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"If you've had a struggle than hocus pocus you need focus! Come back tomorrow with the goal of being 1% better than you were today."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It feels like October has just flown by...I can't believe it is already the 27th of the month. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So many wonderful (and not so wonderful) things have taken place this month. My dad's 80th birthday, my weekend trip to Northampton, MA to see Mary, a bout with pneumonia...and it goes on and on. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, the boys have been asking when I might get the Halloween decor up, and even though it's the last full weekend of October, and Halloween is only four days away....I just can't disappoint them with no holiday spirit. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't do a lot, but here's a few spots of "hocus pocus" <i><span style="color: red;">magically</span></i> occurring around our house!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP6icYNcaUp5CMwZUWqJaX0FbUaFciGa9kUsKoBf6r3_0HyYSiC4pIKj3RkHW46bQXCECVIPDjhq7Te9sACb091PXXHFL_fSb5oTFAEPuT8T8UQjAnAgS14UeilgWmuuXbaMWT4vsXjeK8KLm0AxX1usWtL_ySiHOB3nzEmh-pXi9sRSWYoLPUxnkeIkN/s4032/Velvet%20Pumpkins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdP6icYNcaUp5CMwZUWqJaX0FbUaFciGa9kUsKoBf6r3_0HyYSiC4pIKj3RkHW46bQXCECVIPDjhq7Te9sACb091PXXHFL_fSb5oTFAEPuT8T8UQjAnAgS14UeilgWmuuXbaMWT4vsXjeK8KLm0AxX1usWtL_ySiHOB3nzEmh-pXi9sRSWYoLPUxnkeIkN/w480-h640/Velvet%20Pumpkins.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3bGLuMzyw3IIA7jAYP4v4pPbgZ-OuD-X0hfXNbKChWKuKdlkvGlMtJ5Pe5WR4TbQ8wQNNkrejC5WCQQPO5AKLNh2xjrvmcb1XTypKPHNicJ806KI1rnRjGJbVyalXERWuQ8RrGwVy_od7O-6g48u5ntu5bE0gDRF3L4baENP3620SX2ctz95OLVUWkJL/s4032/Pumpkin%20Candle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3bGLuMzyw3IIA7jAYP4v4pPbgZ-OuD-X0hfXNbKChWKuKdlkvGlMtJ5Pe5WR4TbQ8wQNNkrejC5WCQQPO5AKLNh2xjrvmcb1XTypKPHNicJ806KI1rnRjGJbVyalXERWuQ8RrGwVy_od7O-6g48u5ntu5bE0gDRF3L4baENP3620SX2ctz95OLVUWkJL/w480-h640/Pumpkin%20Candle.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-AqtpNqlKd0rtPhhodBCLMk2a39sJvMpbMwectFaY88yDH_1xKGgMC7wzpY1e6OOJSguKuCXfZCIJaJJdzOz0lp_bAYTRDei-ynBQXMS6eyMwQvkYWo5LDIslo87f4DWr4TEJ8AA7q1SSi1RMzvZhbTBhSgpVDJpf5-0BFxEqFe5hV9cjb_xtGlyh8Xh/s4032/Pumpkin%20Stovetop.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-AqtpNqlKd0rtPhhodBCLMk2a39sJvMpbMwectFaY88yDH_1xKGgMC7wzpY1e6OOJSguKuCXfZCIJaJJdzOz0lp_bAYTRDei-ynBQXMS6eyMwQvkYWo5LDIslo87f4DWr4TEJ8AA7q1SSi1RMzvZhbTBhSgpVDJpf5-0BFxEqFe5hV9cjb_xtGlyh8Xh/w480-h640/Pumpkin%20Stovetop.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYzgGkRIiKHHwfDEoR8FaCgM1V6_5tUnveMUJZGqDOB3Ft600-ZuT8HGTP9U_IXoj8qHxpqXBrofdu0ZsLt-9YQmIuiytvLWLvjfIPy6SPq2EuXk8i5SxmbYCdJzgaoifrZLDRIp5Pbh1emezq_akPCj86dRSTE3-0_eOHgsyrS_VfSAfWVQ_2FgzYsbr/s4032/Halloween%20coffee%20cup.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYzgGkRIiKHHwfDEoR8FaCgM1V6_5tUnveMUJZGqDOB3Ft600-ZuT8HGTP9U_IXoj8qHxpqXBrofdu0ZsLt-9YQmIuiytvLWLvjfIPy6SPq2EuXk8i5SxmbYCdJzgaoifrZLDRIp5Pbh1emezq_akPCj86dRSTE3-0_eOHgsyrS_VfSAfWVQ_2FgzYsbr/w480-h640/Halloween%20coffee%20cup.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGe8EJxkQYzPBsGC4sj5Z3rzffAcBC4kOGoF28ENicL4OrRInJOedER962heDXQ59fUnT0bf5a17garWChFewLCu-0TvR5gP42UCKIF27WnD4vsJ7zIFOyy2fE_6owD7Px7J4QAGVewmnCGX_qh0NtVfUgadpKyasTp-jj2Opq_x6JPZ9DajvcGhV9RUI/s4032/Pumpkin%20Pillow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGe8EJxkQYzPBsGC4sj5Z3rzffAcBC4kOGoF28ENicL4OrRInJOedER962heDXQ59fUnT0bf5a17garWChFewLCu-0TvR5gP42UCKIF27WnD4vsJ7zIFOyy2fE_6owD7Px7J4QAGVewmnCGX_qh0NtVfUgadpKyasTp-jj2Opq_x6JPZ9DajvcGhV9RUI/w480-h640/Pumpkin%20Pillow.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-8791443621063301842023-06-28T11:18:00.003-05:002023-06-28T11:18:27.214-05:00Summer Vacation 2022 (Part 3: The Great College Tour)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/albert_einstein_383899" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: rgba(204, 190, 208, 0.2); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: vista-sans, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.“</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/albert_einstein_383899" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: rgba(204, 190, 208, 0.2); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: vista-sans, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> ~Albert Einstein</span></a>~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our main purpose for vacationing in Boston was to do several college tours. While not completely decided upon a major, my daughter does know that English Literature, Linguistics, or Theater (playwriting) is on her short list. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The thing about Mary is that she is academically gifted and stretches herself to excel in many different curricular areas including the maths and sciences. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That being said, we knew that a progressive, liberal-arts university would be the best match for her.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First up: Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. An easy drive from Boston, my girl and I left the brothers at the AirBnB to tour on our own. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, public tours were on hold and we were unable to book a private tour before arriving from KC. We went ahead and drove to the campus and explored on foot. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although beautiful, my daughter just didn't feel as if Wellesley was the vibe she was looking for...difficult to assess given we didn't meet with Admissions or have tour guides to see inside of buildings, but we had enough (lack of) interactions on campus to know that she wasn't interested in applying. Next. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlvBqv9PHUQxXbK8D3mpiLk8M5HX38com-uR-Y4qy2rlTjLZpmiRJ0ImCffjc7SJhf6h67_A7OHpEItqvZw1nW_bo-4MGf2qWUuzYHL1DRv9v-M0URIOG68jzoKj9u5NmUHIWokxEMjY7xh5O3LILnVlB_MEL3mn6sJfxxG3y2tzEw-pGf1Fc8xoA2Q3m/s2420/Wellesley1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlvBqv9PHUQxXbK8D3mpiLk8M5HX38com-uR-Y4qy2rlTjLZpmiRJ0ImCffjc7SJhf6h67_A7OHpEItqvZw1nW_bo-4MGf2qWUuzYHL1DRv9v-M0URIOG68jzoKj9u5NmUHIWokxEMjY7xh5O3LILnVlB_MEL3mn6sJfxxG3y2tzEw-pGf1Fc8xoA2Q3m/w640-h480/Wellesley1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EAunXyK2d89CY5iUZplVDXk-D6Ctkf7JpiQXgAaHnHRuLiB8pn5P3w7L9rJaXULAMpJ2uNaIE6KjyG2gQksArGy_2CQnPn-E6RGr4N7p-Qp-MDFd0pkIjv3_Nqp5ip6B8a_2XhQzPDB5ZMxUlkV5bUFxihfsu48NbytKNLjeWy1BvssG1VHJYlfjiSwz/s2420/Wellesley2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EAunXyK2d89CY5iUZplVDXk-D6Ctkf7JpiQXgAaHnHRuLiB8pn5P3w7L9rJaXULAMpJ2uNaIE6KjyG2gQksArGy_2CQnPn-E6RGr4N7p-Qp-MDFd0pkIjv3_Nqp5ip6B8a_2XhQzPDB5ZMxUlkV5bUFxihfsu48NbytKNLjeWy1BvssG1VHJYlfjiSwz/w640-h480/Wellesley2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCK23ZE_63TF-xR1qlEAG16cgusc4u31Tbj3JRIK3ScPNpvHqIsefvRWlSOiI9xxaglFe0Ww9-ntffrT9zmjTksOlsIGlCLJJTV04yhgR3ql8xF4Mas9X4kCpmm_qxl6VAH5fPmR0i9Yu7OuJfvXprAN4LDRYRw6oGI7ApWrnXddDoeowtmYo6kw_viDp/s2420/Wellesley3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCK23ZE_63TF-xR1qlEAG16cgusc4u31Tbj3JRIK3ScPNpvHqIsefvRWlSOiI9xxaglFe0Ww9-ntffrT9zmjTksOlsIGlCLJJTV04yhgR3ql8xF4Mas9X4kCpmm_qxl6VAH5fPmR0i9Yu7OuJfvXprAN4LDRYRw6oGI7ApWrnXddDoeowtmYo6kw_viDp/w640-h480/Wellesley3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzIQIsde7JZOFsCTam5VJudwW_Difc7a7bEf93oG2g6XyJ2Ip2GxAXwNuYudC5lW0KEwcpvUPu0hpo8xhKGtnOIoog3BKF_PcpBptmr2Xr2qUKrlillfR690N3HPGcyvx_VKy-6nSuWR-5QG8jHNAi-mJnpmqYLq0IYssyQxQWRBLZ8ECXK6L-kBekqJg/s2420/Wellesley4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzIQIsde7JZOFsCTam5VJudwW_Difc7a7bEf93oG2g6XyJ2Ip2GxAXwNuYudC5lW0KEwcpvUPu0hpo8xhKGtnOIoog3BKF_PcpBptmr2Xr2qUKrlillfR690N3HPGcyvx_VKy-6nSuWR-5QG8jHNAi-mJnpmqYLq0IYssyQxQWRBLZ8ECXK6L-kBekqJg/w480-h640/Wellesley4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">UMASS-Amherst</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was our first public "official tour". We had the brothers with us and it was so much fun! First off, the drive from Boston to the mountains of west-central Massachusetts was just gorgeous. For us from "the Plains", the forested drive was magical and breathtaking.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were greeted and welcomed, given our information packet, and assigned a seat. (Still, sort of a Covid-mess, but grateful we could tour!). Lots of good information and plenty of time to tour on our own, afterwards. Voted the best Dining Hall food in the COUNTRY, we were definitely amazed by the food choices as we passed through a dining hall close to the campus bookstore. Of course we had to stop for some UMASS-swag. One of the best linguistics programs in the country...UMASS had our attention. My girl was definitely interested in becoming a "Pioneer"!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysu3OheanhYXZ4WY0ANhgZTdBiXZGcEkLW8IDrFIupXH0RiOilwIL6ORuWxu8TgCCIyKA5n_kjc0l6Ty-WrXwkTQNnWQCMwU_rBn6RwMOqOon6pHu0FS-7pbfZI-al13YwbfJEYySK46R1me19fBgyrVpWzabnbnPl3KdTVHVkuyv4xtfEha1GpVDtIX/s2420/UMASS5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysu3OheanhYXZ4WY0ANhgZTdBiXZGcEkLW8IDrFIupXH0RiOilwIL6ORuWxu8TgCCIyKA5n_kjc0l6Ty-WrXwkTQNnWQCMwU_rBn6RwMOqOon6pHu0FS-7pbfZI-al13YwbfJEYySK46R1me19fBgyrVpWzabnbnPl3KdTVHVkuyv4xtfEha1GpVDtIX/w480-h640/UMASS5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT5EqQA5gJzot3eKjwd5vHp4xlcxn96zxDjMWs5smndOJYiQM1CNB4a0OTEhE4QgDKlHtnFzLg5VVUcL7l-aqRRh6fJLnd6RunjnBeNlZzBbioZ_Q_GMVfFQM67dPHbID4URD5jUKPc4MkAxI03DbK5at0Q41ueIDeXqcuzosuQhrvZXNKaoxgznnT6Nf/s2420/UMASS6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT5EqQA5gJzot3eKjwd5vHp4xlcxn96zxDjMWs5smndOJYiQM1CNB4a0OTEhE4QgDKlHtnFzLg5VVUcL7l-aqRRh6fJLnd6RunjnBeNlZzBbioZ_Q_GMVfFQM67dPHbID4URD5jUKPc4MkAxI03DbK5at0Q41ueIDeXqcuzosuQhrvZXNKaoxgznnT6Nf/w480-h640/UMASS6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyEdDKaPA3GCEmSxqKMDstQw7l5n4BQVL3jKD535wKBnn2vMJyfy9fpgWGBvCVNNK-XqxpKf1NkY0T8GVQyatpuS8bkEaCOT_kj9JFLS6D6CLsPTlAoa5Ax-pX9nD76PNY0gqZzkcAjnnXCln1IOEQtjB-YRmyaJHFwTn3tH095Gu-VVw4LR6qdqEG1Wu/s2420/UMASS7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyEdDKaPA3GCEmSxqKMDstQw7l5n4BQVL3jKD535wKBnn2vMJyfy9fpgWGBvCVNNK-XqxpKf1NkY0T8GVQyatpuS8bkEaCOT_kj9JFLS6D6CLsPTlAoa5Ax-pX9nD76PNY0gqZzkcAjnnXCln1IOEQtjB-YRmyaJHFwTn3tH095Gu-VVw4LR6qdqEG1Wu/w480-h640/UMASS7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jp3SD60yXO_5kCh0BYTo2mCg07EqTCC-Fnpu13jcQ9kT3bqNSOqtNPQcrRMZbIPGMB73BlYReJqoDrOCcVGL-98p1Q9YQ_LHilMrSMmlKc9wyRdmN1QKtah4d5FCbHbhd1xnDfnou0gDSUxD3y26Ft59ps0PEqPEY1DcInS_2Y2ZumkHmqeUm8DScWrl/s2420/UMASS8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jp3SD60yXO_5kCh0BYTo2mCg07EqTCC-Fnpu13jcQ9kT3bqNSOqtNPQcrRMZbIPGMB73BlYReJqoDrOCcVGL-98p1Q9YQ_LHilMrSMmlKc9wyRdmN1QKtah4d5FCbHbhd1xnDfnou0gDSUxD3y26Ft59ps0PEqPEY1DcInS_2Y2ZumkHmqeUm8DScWrl/w480-h640/UMASS8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCdqkUZPrpUYBFbviAPxW1YvQpfl-w9KSVTBIVkSe6afr8_CFrc_SRCRQ6TSWMGLr_hBSPN26uCH3MN5FYpXsYoxKekFQeAQOdehZVMqTRNf_5URbI5zBD8KL4wv9fgMmyEenWxsrRgNlYAv_dNOIklPiUfTSVvLW5rCaHhgbLWGY6hi51Xc2P6oY4uUh/s2420/UMASS9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCdqkUZPrpUYBFbviAPxW1YvQpfl-w9KSVTBIVkSe6afr8_CFrc_SRCRQ6TSWMGLr_hBSPN26uCH3MN5FYpXsYoxKekFQeAQOdehZVMqTRNf_5URbI5zBD8KL4wv9fgMmyEenWxsrRgNlYAv_dNOIklPiUfTSVvLW5rCaHhgbLWGY6hi51Xc2P6oY4uUh/w480-h640/UMASS9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUajJ-8EJK57rLeUPuik4VVB7B3wmEi2U0yBIMPtj_0JRI75Pj2DcdBkZUfPaiFSaOcB8CzZ9PDFOk9Fb_2zSWOLhuWe0z9aY_5VxxdGJopkJMMlez3OLLEApP9E5NlTAiWqy1kuHkTt1yvDaqrZdCYjAiPJEx0DDuUeVsP-sXlT9i1Ip_T80xtboo82O/s2420/UMASS10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUajJ-8EJK57rLeUPuik4VVB7B3wmEi2U0yBIMPtj_0JRI75Pj2DcdBkZUfPaiFSaOcB8CzZ9PDFOk9Fb_2zSWOLhuWe0z9aY_5VxxdGJopkJMMlez3OLLEApP9E5NlTAiWqy1kuHkTt1yvDaqrZdCYjAiPJEx0DDuUeVsP-sXlT9i1Ip_T80xtboo82O/w480-h640/UMASS10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">...and then it happened. We had a tour scheduled for the following day at SMITH College in Northampton, Mass., just a few miles south of Amherst. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You know how everyone says, "when you know...you'll just know"??? Well, something magical happened when we stepped foot on to the campus of SMITH. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We both fell in love with SMITH. The care and interest the Admissions Reps and Student Tour Leaders showered on her...the small group interactions with other girls from across the country (we were the only Midwesterners!)...the beauty of the buildings...the housing...it was completely inspiring. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But could she get in? (I believed she could!)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While we still had many local (Kansas/Missouri) colleges and universities to tour, we knew for sure that a couple of out-of-state applications would be submitted. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">“A man's mind, stretched by new ideas, may never return to its original dimensions.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Charter, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-23762704097488927842023-06-21T14:54:00.009-05:002023-06-21T14:56:33.707-05:00Summer Vacation 2022 (Part 2)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: xx-large;">"I wonder if Boston misses me too!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is a mashup of two different day/evening trips into Boston. Luke, my youngest, was fascinated by all of the history. We definitely will be back as we needed more days in this fabulous city.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pics 1-5 (Walking Tour of Boston)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nZeWFIONuWBVTgDjrlcwf_usbXP9lo69BbvyvhBv3SZwL7c6teTJi28ZFPCGt2GA6KN1nKS94cXA1q3wwZ4jZ4X9wviS7nNWTvyA-_1PVyt9UPaRhFauTpM72wjmUsRVg6xtE5xT0p6i0r7ROOVZGey2uNwHPiynDueMp-qdARoedKCNH5vILLDLiQkB/s1440/Boston1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nZeWFIONuWBVTgDjrlcwf_usbXP9lo69BbvyvhBv3SZwL7c6teTJi28ZFPCGt2GA6KN1nKS94cXA1q3wwZ4jZ4X9wviS7nNWTvyA-_1PVyt9UPaRhFauTpM72wjmUsRVg6xtE5xT0p6i0r7ROOVZGey2uNwHPiynDueMp-qdARoedKCNH5vILLDLiQkB/w640-h480/Boston1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aq3a4-jXm6hMYQL7tqowsSRvI9FHwLXbFoV0zXmMRLbfpCfLdIfNMvX-FsAKxofbN0L3Z3gvfuFB00mcHdq1melSs03AYgDcsSAJrVptG2MCsQN1B2H2SRIiUpajcuwtcyetkeUXrm7wuvUUOTIn8GYKMCrDB3Fillh76G3mYidgXSPuAaL-NgSHjAPo/s1440/Boston2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aq3a4-jXm6hMYQL7tqowsSRvI9FHwLXbFoV0zXmMRLbfpCfLdIfNMvX-FsAKxofbN0L3Z3gvfuFB00mcHdq1melSs03AYgDcsSAJrVptG2MCsQN1B2H2SRIiUpajcuwtcyetkeUXrm7wuvUUOTIn8GYKMCrDB3Fillh76G3mYidgXSPuAaL-NgSHjAPo/w640-h482/Boston2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuMXfwN67kuGNg3AuOQt681yEPO9MHHmEALI-c8JL6tQqfdPonguJQDF2xOXnwmBjzd2MHVCTbsTn6lu9l7PuFBdYkUFu6V_gsoAfWmOxD7TvZE2-CecdLE1tL279FBFeBvbWK7_I9lndqEl9uk2xSdMu_RbQwvEZ7czUf3FuVpXNYhIYv6woXOzjABrA/s1440/Boston3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuMXfwN67kuGNg3AuOQt681yEPO9MHHmEALI-c8JL6tQqfdPonguJQDF2xOXnwmBjzd2MHVCTbsTn6lu9l7PuFBdYkUFu6V_gsoAfWmOxD7TvZE2-CecdLE1tL279FBFeBvbWK7_I9lndqEl9uk2xSdMu_RbQwvEZ7czUf3FuVpXNYhIYv6woXOzjABrA/w640-h482/Boston3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLntFInQAL5XSBRjVl8RZLARvnWGiKY4yL2jaNUVLHL3e-Y7aEaeaaZYhs0nwEaItigQGrixKyoJ6GlfC2-yzpIan2e5UZosi-UpP1BQrqTHbJqPsExN5mt6StZ0CoNri1DZQlDTiDISkMfltSpe1f68Q-v7p7CA1ieu4MXqb3KvQgyj2spjfQKPPs-8HF/s1440/Boston4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLntFInQAL5XSBRjVl8RZLARvnWGiKY4yL2jaNUVLHL3e-Y7aEaeaaZYhs0nwEaItigQGrixKyoJ6GlfC2-yzpIan2e5UZosi-UpP1BQrqTHbJqPsExN5mt6StZ0CoNri1DZQlDTiDISkMfltSpe1f68Q-v7p7CA1ieu4MXqb3KvQgyj2spjfQKPPs-8HF/w640-h482/Boston4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZaKn_EU5iP7bXxvIPBaN9ZowEbYSCuFWO86xhPEj6l0WEqowGpnfjRdoI1xGlutlpk0tiZPP382O8hpS-GlBtHxp6YBwjb3Tgd1wzw_5mb6MbeLf9A8goNO44Y1AQp7mnEHfYeo5fGmH-mlr9lBp_XbZojRZj1DAO3JCuJxbp9Vp1zfVwewJXFKOaDrS/s1440/Boston5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZaKn_EU5iP7bXxvIPBaN9ZowEbYSCuFWO86xhPEj6l0WEqowGpnfjRdoI1xGlutlpk0tiZPP382O8hpS-GlBtHxp6YBwjb3Tgd1wzw_5mb6MbeLf9A8goNO44Y1AQp7mnEHfYeo5fGmH-mlr9lBp_XbZojRZj1DAO3JCuJxbp9Vp1zfVwewJXFKOaDrS/w640-h480/Boston5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pics 6-10 (Eating Establishments/Evening in Boston)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MX986tSsTX51CIlxEwpgVRPOuqHF0OeeHlrNVm8EJURulzZUBYwhmXa9MnFRJzag9wWj94If1KXa1RBMmRDCbNalecVZJKp7Kv_RvTBA1wK0gnFgP1r2MaobapO1_i8lRZJN8GlItrQYWCbsVPNk_xRTrNl8mI0zFyKIKxGo7KsKGfRZ10MrNtVGqtVM/s1440/Boston6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MX986tSsTX51CIlxEwpgVRPOuqHF0OeeHlrNVm8EJURulzZUBYwhmXa9MnFRJzag9wWj94If1KXa1RBMmRDCbNalecVZJKp7Kv_RvTBA1wK0gnFgP1r2MaobapO1_i8lRZJN8GlItrQYWCbsVPNk_xRTrNl8mI0zFyKIKxGo7KsKGfRZ10MrNtVGqtVM/w640-h482/Boston6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzReUG1peO-55rusbqke11j8x_6d_u-wW3pvggox8X_9T-q3Y2Ur0z3mrT-Wg5DnlapMtulL1WIFVjNJ99uZB-vy0nnIoBnvFQRdk0q-dvkjabiaY7tE8zOE8Yo1f2lKs-OIIHwvQ3xc7ZeRkkVMAXkc4wd3B5Pfzj0NlCb_amy5ospKy0ifsF1SsSHrdp/s1440/Boston7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzReUG1peO-55rusbqke11j8x_6d_u-wW3pvggox8X_9T-q3Y2Ur0z3mrT-Wg5DnlapMtulL1WIFVjNJ99uZB-vy0nnIoBnvFQRdk0q-dvkjabiaY7tE8zOE8Yo1f2lKs-OIIHwvQ3xc7ZeRkkVMAXkc4wd3B5Pfzj0NlCb_amy5ospKy0ifsF1SsSHrdp/w640-h482/Boston7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyfud8rytEZehhFiTpbFp9vysl6DdnOXuz8KaPLvxLVRh7r2HIPwDfpXBrntdd37enKegyZPcTY9TDXBFOvKoiIu4n8Le8PU7n4PD_1tRM0Y9-_X5dGh9rqazrnr8mAsFaR8tXzWjwnjgI1IjQOYJcTb6VYpZmmeYY5zB-oVXCqvqTB4ZDNSj7Nu3Gda9/s1440/Boston8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyfud8rytEZehhFiTpbFp9vysl6DdnOXuz8KaPLvxLVRh7r2HIPwDfpXBrntdd37enKegyZPcTY9TDXBFOvKoiIu4n8Le8PU7n4PD_1tRM0Y9-_X5dGh9rqazrnr8mAsFaR8tXzWjwnjgI1IjQOYJcTb6VYpZmmeYY5zB-oVXCqvqTB4ZDNSj7Nu3Gda9/w640-h482/Boston8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-t2RXFJQqq8Z5F8dQGaPMHGpaqZSaNcv4kmqSpRryS_hC2wp1wTichZT8SkJuWfjtfiT4KLG4ZUTkLg_lDSxG_K7Tr_V0S9KA2RUQ-ah8Z7WagnPazGYYYfkJcRKBY1NMB0cKGFahPft2anShnXFejdZ0jmL8e-buErllxcUGwdr-eKsnSdVfBAXwT_I/s1440/Boston9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-t2RXFJQqq8Z5F8dQGaPMHGpaqZSaNcv4kmqSpRryS_hC2wp1wTichZT8SkJuWfjtfiT4KLG4ZUTkLg_lDSxG_K7Tr_V0S9KA2RUQ-ah8Z7WagnPazGYYYfkJcRKBY1NMB0cKGFahPft2anShnXFejdZ0jmL8e-buErllxcUGwdr-eKsnSdVfBAXwT_I/w640-h480/Boston9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqmUB5NxNkzSh5Wl83jsfvfuJwvXLBckXuxknqcSfg9JqqfAr1K9zbOBugUkon9f7O6v9HL72nseTIRcshksRoTstw77T-urGuVP0JWyuFjR_eLSIxPBPrIhvYV3mkIcKYzOeSE6XtEVnzZ45JghCfEU4QJueKnJTBV8-ej1mgH1RyYyrkMWzMuozxAI7/s1440/Boston10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqmUB5NxNkzSh5Wl83jsfvfuJwvXLBckXuxknqcSfg9JqqfAr1K9zbOBugUkon9f7O6v9HL72nseTIRcshksRoTstw77T-urGuVP0JWyuFjR_eLSIxPBPrIhvYV3mkIcKYzOeSE6XtEVnzZ45JghCfEU4QJueKnJTBV8-ej1mgH1RyYyrkMWzMuozxAI7/w640-h480/Boston10.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">And finally...we had to try out the highly recommended, "Mike's Pastry". It was as good as they said! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pics 11-13</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Ps8aGaxigkglr5iL6S7PxxKuoNTZslp3GLfn7sBSpuxekDY02cL-kGT3T2eMeg1PkMQrE6i2yuSCOw8SdoiqEn9axAG3tunbpL2hxQLYw8-W2nA8jTUl98XWzlxsp6iKM-FflL6ARCMQpl-fqcaReW_lk8QGVDJpiwJgmmtXMCiwqBqt4ooz_2JNwp3/s1440/Boston12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Ps8aGaxigkglr5iL6S7PxxKuoNTZslp3GLfn7sBSpuxekDY02cL-kGT3T2eMeg1PkMQrE6i2yuSCOw8SdoiqEn9axAG3tunbpL2hxQLYw8-W2nA8jTUl98XWzlxsp6iKM-FflL6ARCMQpl-fqcaReW_lk8QGVDJpiwJgmmtXMCiwqBqt4ooz_2JNwp3/w640-h480/Boston12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdScD-3CYXv4gWzkCeD2VFMj2HfZexrwy4djtEN8dw472yPPPAovK8PhaCJJl25Xb2vLtkkU1FEPQYmnrdgJvD4F3xnmpQAK5ZsDyf5Tna8sBc0UTaTxqw09m6MCSvaihYHpHcCJKPF1IinCXgR0CzDMT-WExuKoT1EeYK_403paeJ4zjrHSHb2UQn_y1/s1440/Boston11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdScD-3CYXv4gWzkCeD2VFMj2HfZexrwy4djtEN8dw472yPPPAovK8PhaCJJl25Xb2vLtkkU1FEPQYmnrdgJvD4F3xnmpQAK5ZsDyf5Tna8sBc0UTaTxqw09m6MCSvaihYHpHcCJKPF1IinCXgR0CzDMT-WExuKoT1EeYK_403paeJ4zjrHSHb2UQn_y1/w640-h482/Boston11.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">"</span><a class="mainquote" href="https://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Summer_is_filled_with_breaking_the_rules_and_standing_apart%2C_ignoring_your_head_and_following_you_he/278093/" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Summer is filled with breaking the rules and standing apart, ignoring your head and following you heart."><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Summer is filled with breaking the rules and standing apart, ignoring your head and following you heart</span></a><span style="color: #c27ba0;">."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Unknown~</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="fas fa-quote-left" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Free"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 900; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-60639585545832446672023-06-21T10:41:00.001-05:002023-06-21T14:56:43.633-05:00Summer Vacation 2022 (Part 1)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Charter, Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">“Everything good, everything magical, happens between the months of June and August.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Charter, Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Jenny Han~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In honor of Summer Solstice, I am going to be "reverse" posting for the next few days as I chronicle our "Summer 2022" vacation. It was both a memory maker and fact finding mission AKA "college tour" trip that we took in July of 2022. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buckle up as these Midwesterners take Massachusetts by storm!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First Up...Swampscott, MA. It was here that we landed and made our home for the next 10 days. We flew Southwest Airlines from KCI to Logan with a layover in Indianapolis. Our flight was easy, but made for a long day. We arrived after midnight and by the time we got our car rental and found the community of Swampscott it was well after 1:30 AM. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few pics from our flight and the lovely community of Swampscott. Although we do have hydrangeas here in the southern plains, the hydrangeas in Massachusetts were HUGE! Lush green lawns, bountiful gardens, colorful flower patches, and views of the bay made for delightful early morning and late afternoon walks. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 1: Boarding</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 2: Front of AirBnB</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 3: Inside of AirBnB</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JEUBCy_v1qjUxfpHODozy6LUwU2jz4swB8Vd0T_x5TuzSm5qyxomqg3DQPjfObxvYNT8rQGXmUBACiy8JiDs_EtopMWE7ks6VUzc-HC4yxwMLvt7fK1OJV3XNmQ77zlzqiLMUUAnKuy44z9lDtArb0zRBgXRWbMAcrJlTSJbQ1-NDm9mtD1L-npg0QjD/s2420/Summer2022-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JEUBCy_v1qjUxfpHODozy6LUwU2jz4swB8Vd0T_x5TuzSm5qyxomqg3DQPjfObxvYNT8rQGXmUBACiy8JiDs_EtopMWE7ks6VUzc-HC4yxwMLvt7fK1OJV3XNmQ77zlzqiLMUUAnKuy44z9lDtArb0zRBgXRWbMAcrJlTSJbQ1-NDm9mtD1L-npg0QjD/w640-h480/Summer2022-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCxttLfyBszrqhR7juhaxTz4ZhpIrGeN348qFKEwG5cLci1YkEFjTB4KBhwfFH3PrKGx1d0ZOrX7-7cGstskmJJim9qjTilotZZg24AEaPfc5cM4oUyb27AhO2TNLMUp96Ukbzo42MxFuUbrZlHiaJchTYk-97bX3wRegCsbAlotrtpsKZD57hjOl7CVP/s2420/Summer2022-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCxttLfyBszrqhR7juhaxTz4ZhpIrGeN348qFKEwG5cLci1YkEFjTB4KBhwfFH3PrKGx1d0ZOrX7-7cGstskmJJim9qjTilotZZg24AEaPfc5cM4oUyb27AhO2TNLMUp96Ukbzo42MxFuUbrZlHiaJchTYk-97bX3wRegCsbAlotrtpsKZD57hjOl7CVP/w480-h640/Summer2022-2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5BkFE9P7MOqsK-naZQhSZPk0PKAfZSiRfhEe2c7K4d2Ef-Ey0NLxdSUXp9DaCjS-Dp5rGDwbDQF2kaO63G4WJ4Vaofl-h68JHMPgvkMPEiIKzgbJo5Dk3zdxlVNd8Da7-apAqmyoqPo4Ak40XDOeOkpkuugZ5aSI4Apku5tP0jFGRD9Dog38Ont2yP7f/s2420/Summer2022-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5BkFE9P7MOqsK-naZQhSZPk0PKAfZSiRfhEe2c7K4d2Ef-Ey0NLxdSUXp9DaCjS-Dp5rGDwbDQF2kaO63G4WJ4Vaofl-h68JHMPgvkMPEiIKzgbJo5Dk3zdxlVNd8Da7-apAqmyoqPo4Ak40XDOeOkpkuugZ5aSI4Apku5tP0jFGRD9Dog38Ont2yP7f/w480-h640/Summer2022-3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For these Midwesterners, the Community of Swampscott felt quintessentially "New England".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 4: Town Signage...Est. 1629...WOW!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 5: Bay</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pic 6 : Sweet little town library in walking distance from Air BnB</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pics: 7-11 Sights from walking around Swampscott</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrIBnlIe8LsGe_RhhBcAKn52ME-UfIgHk9OF3LYxyR3hvb_oFmpdpGLmDwzCsg5Gmea6Tcl_0rNZgP-FDU76c0Mwsr4iQ0emLD2Tzg8O0nHYXpT1hA-U9yIx2-KgyUWgPV5oVMlCkY4GzZ75y-nixpRH_vir5PenTjqVaUnEPvJt_JDFx5wDF6WHkbVF1/s2420/Summer2022-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrIBnlIe8LsGe_RhhBcAKn52ME-UfIgHk9OF3LYxyR3hvb_oFmpdpGLmDwzCsg5Gmea6Tcl_0rNZgP-FDU76c0Mwsr4iQ0emLD2Tzg8O0nHYXpT1hA-U9yIx2-KgyUWgPV5oVMlCkY4GzZ75y-nixpRH_vir5PenTjqVaUnEPvJt_JDFx5wDF6WHkbVF1/w480-h640/Summer2022-5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCWBRkus04P7z_xvwxO2-7szbC1EGkAfYEJEa_jun86hX4Lc1rnuRLS-1n-PrHZ0VlJWhTLJ-VNtURvjeDaRBbm6xyhgCzKg2Za0rUP6sk6ngcBbLqYozDCF5hMDUhlXE4OYfuLRYu74PMbM1U9eIOe30TwVVYVdIRna14i7NHDU8gyX3ethRZ3N88591/s2420/Summer2022-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCWBRkus04P7z_xvwxO2-7szbC1EGkAfYEJEa_jun86hX4Lc1rnuRLS-1n-PrHZ0VlJWhTLJ-VNtURvjeDaRBbm6xyhgCzKg2Za0rUP6sk6ngcBbLqYozDCF5hMDUhlXE4OYfuLRYu74PMbM1U9eIOe30TwVVYVdIRna14i7NHDU8gyX3ethRZ3N88591/w640-h480/Summer2022-6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmaGexUig8zlygCqIzhDMoTGpzgSgRbmAKJQh4QL4U4JHFcV8gt8KRNXOoC7SIz4Rc-MUTLikX93hhA1CczlzA1p-rTzbhAGEVOBScIKsqMAeabTMXNF3KRykjkR8B1WEZNph0fhbqRlQilQ7VmOEe_kiD8YjGRkcVQEFwx_B5cgS_ADERRGP0lQQPdfj/s2420/Summer2022-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmaGexUig8zlygCqIzhDMoTGpzgSgRbmAKJQh4QL4U4JHFcV8gt8KRNXOoC7SIz4Rc-MUTLikX93hhA1CczlzA1p-rTzbhAGEVOBScIKsqMAeabTMXNF3KRykjkR8B1WEZNph0fhbqRlQilQ7VmOEe_kiD8YjGRkcVQEFwx_B5cgS_ADERRGP0lQQPdfj/w480-h640/Summer2022-7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnscLlZyuOYYDz49k9YMp_ro5NpcK7Ty5XbYNxIkWinx0r4OcggPeQBC6bXB_k_0yHec-dHXTJL_uOX9O78BfZB3b7cFc5T-ksUSJpzdbZTvHf9EAS2TDaeWSsKaOWxDZR2ThmMiiacl1ajCQlUrMVl6-uR4MTxkgb9R0oVOVuebyjZC3EteKvnMtvblM/w480-h640/Summer2022-9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4WbpHi9XLBojki32ew841C_Is8gdUk3FKjzGaiM1w1Uvfyy_3CHiq2_Hpuhiu2969KWUZg-6V9OTQurPgeQLX42ObwG3yIe1buSPoZtep1DGsw0Z1dFLi4TokJX47qHJ44qrFDhdl5Rtc_8ZFwMleqVLxdQ7qUUFNR1mT98dP2rk4Cp2parYkpScPV83/s2420/Summer2022-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4WbpHi9XLBojki32ew841C_Is8gdUk3FKjzGaiM1w1Uvfyy_3CHiq2_Hpuhiu2969KWUZg-6V9OTQurPgeQLX42ObwG3yIe1buSPoZtep1DGsw0Z1dFLi4TokJX47qHJ44qrFDhdl5Rtc_8ZFwMleqVLxdQ7qUUFNR1mT98dP2rk4Cp2parYkpScPV83/w480-h640/Summer2022-10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgKPwqtmHUtHcYBFxevkxpmlJxalWSjj77vy0ch-lMomuIHFo6OxHW0E-VLSK-jpELhNyRj5h4TkGQ4CnPRfyKRCFN6XjXe2wvhrIjx81XiBJTv9Fz25lE9wO0_Gcw0DCpZO0oJUfcfPoku2i8TZNpsblFhKti4lC9WgANNNmoekvyhDpaEyCJq-RS6-z/s2420/Summer2022-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgKPwqtmHUtHcYBFxevkxpmlJxalWSjj77vy0ch-lMomuIHFo6OxHW0E-VLSK-jpELhNyRj5h4TkGQ4CnPRfyKRCFN6XjXe2wvhrIjx81XiBJTv9Fz25lE9wO0_Gcw0DCpZO0oJUfcfPoku2i8TZNpsblFhKti4lC9WgANNNmoekvyhDpaEyCJq-RS6-z/w640-h480/Summer2022-11.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06pHwXu1Jy0Gc2gYYPVQtbcLZT4VikC7SPy8_yeqiuN77Anb40OFlgQPRNXCT2hnLzeIpxbD6PWbuj2eiGFEikp_QWDYHCmqSsXBp_bqdl4usATa4z4uX6IYbp3D8aaFmUULFhISxyth7FKIHGiKR8Vso1b-hV_G1KPBnvuuYsRX24tOOA1rxnGQG1azQ/s2420/Summer2022-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06pHwXu1Jy0Gc2gYYPVQtbcLZT4VikC7SPy8_yeqiuN77Anb40OFlgQPRNXCT2hnLzeIpxbD6PWbuj2eiGFEikp_QWDYHCmqSsXBp_bqdl4usATa4z4uX6IYbp3D8aaFmUULFhISxyth7FKIHGiKR8Vso1b-hV_G1KPBnvuuYsRX24tOOA1rxnGQG1azQ/w480-h640/Summer2022-12.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~ Henry James~</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-71532860468303825222023-06-21T10:03:00.002-05:002023-06-21T10:05:20.063-05:00Benjamin's First Job<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"><span class="css-ejignk eu4oa1w0" face=""Noto Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Liberation Sans", Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-block: 0px; margin-inline: 0px; min-inline-size: 0px;">"The future depends on what you do today."</span><span face=""Noto Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Liberation Sans", Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Noto Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Liberation Sans", Roboto, Noto, sans-serif"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Mahatma Gandhi~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Noto Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Liberation Sans", Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Noto Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Liberation Sans", Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Benjamin landed his first summer job! </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He is super excited to be working "Front House" for Chic-Fil-A. We are all pretty proud of him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He told me he tossed and turned last night, waking up on the hour, every hour. He was just so nervous/excited he couldn't sleep.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He has grown into one the most polite and kindest young men I know. He is a very cordial and respectful teenager. He is always offering to help neighbors without any expectation of payment. He is quick to lend a hand without my asking when he sees that I need help around the house.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I am proud of who he has grown into over the past few years. I believe that his educational-path (Public Safety) has played a huge role in his formation as well. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Good Luck, Benjamin! We are rooting for you!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH5eCS-a7Xon8adpLdPmJcwfQP7tiK07hbPyqLSlLCcT0lOeNXU6N66OkjRXd2GbGwFex3dnxA2UVHHawUNf2v60T3zzL8IpSVqs-NUHN4a3OFvWrDPJUL5WlGnS8EAfjlAZDdrxxA2X8IcCntVk3MolTGr7C9wmid2xkuxFWr2OCSkshqbDQLLpMi_Dq/s4032/ChicFilA1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH5eCS-a7Xon8adpLdPmJcwfQP7tiK07hbPyqLSlLCcT0lOeNXU6N66OkjRXd2GbGwFex3dnxA2UVHHawUNf2v60T3zzL8IpSVqs-NUHN4a3OFvWrDPJUL5WlGnS8EAfjlAZDdrxxA2X8IcCntVk3MolTGr7C9wmid2xkuxFWr2OCSkshqbDQLLpMi_Dq/w480-h640/ChicFilA1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4sLQQFnQJcjHr0JKxJmAxHwxsNGzUO471o_fKttYzN_Iyhtqo_3YEdA_tWRkOjy7Q7YMO8nTf3EYVW6QIwDqYGuyt2GQ5PfQ5RbariUkRXgmPZtpSA3bw1tIrSA5dzoWtsHMdixb18C54gLFNpMnUgmbuCQbpadr9v5JUiNvtd78Mz_ojAyiHGqjFuFt/s4032/ChicFilA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4sLQQFnQJcjHr0JKxJmAxHwxsNGzUO471o_fKttYzN_Iyhtqo_3YEdA_tWRkOjy7Q7YMO8nTf3EYVW6QIwDqYGuyt2GQ5PfQ5RbariUkRXgmPZtpSA3bw1tIrSA5dzoWtsHMdixb18C54gLFNpMnUgmbuCQbpadr9v5JUiNvtd78Mz_ojAyiHGqjFuFt/w480-h640/ChicFilA2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Noto Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;"> “Daily work, regularly and conscientiously performed was a sure stepping stone to sanctity.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Noto Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Saint John Bosco~</span></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231109811143670731.post-12834777204733112092023-06-19T10:07:00.001-05:002023-06-19T10:07:07.433-05:00Father's Day 2023<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Anne Sexton~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Father's Day is bittersweet for my little family.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chris was born on Father's Day in 1967 and so we have many happy memories of celebrating Dad at the Fire Station for both Father's Day and his birthday.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, Father's Day celebrations include trips to the cemetery. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhKUcfokKkI7I3DAr3AcbqFw9pLXrQ4cNxMHak8aqshZ0FbWPeva-Vahn_xr9KNKhyLvbzsG_linzHDu9_9RchriWrOXUuo7hTuOnrjjsozMOxpoDmQluufd1j3dvhQMit90eKbRpM8WtLD81EgtthDx31nVHGZ-G69xzbt1GVTUeERrMealuOp1LQn8n/s4032/FathersDay1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhKUcfokKkI7I3DAr3AcbqFw9pLXrQ4cNxMHak8aqshZ0FbWPeva-Vahn_xr9KNKhyLvbzsG_linzHDu9_9RchriWrOXUuo7hTuOnrjjsozMOxpoDmQluufd1j3dvhQMit90eKbRpM8WtLD81EgtthDx31nVHGZ-G69xzbt1GVTUeERrMealuOp1LQn8n/w640-h480/FathersDay1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1axyz3u-8Gw9G0GCdo0Uo9SRlGdQLSOhyJfTWqCbj3xwZ0eaNdXu2P19yPw9i39Y4XJFD0gLR3bJsp9fsEFkLvlHbO0uDZyYf6Xo84YON3wTxkxsMctjJu6mkm-6662v8YbjFmVMTz6NzpJVGiFbOJPET8X4mM0DB92D-LZRlMS1MnFthwVAwH7oyZw1/s4032/FathersDay2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1axyz3u-8Gw9G0GCdo0Uo9SRlGdQLSOhyJfTWqCbj3xwZ0eaNdXu2P19yPw9i39Y4XJFD0gLR3bJsp9fsEFkLvlHbO0uDZyYf6Xo84YON3wTxkxsMctjJu6mkm-6662v8YbjFmVMTz6NzpJVGiFbOJPET8X4mM0DB92D-LZRlMS1MnFthwVAwH7oyZw1/w480-h640/FathersDay2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscCq-j4fSsMs8xVzGOk1yJ9B20_B-FpM40lJ0WkbdfHDhM3VG60IucD3uUJvWwhNVzN3Ko0-OgSKxectduIkVlb-6nQopXSvvVY-MuigkbFWpI3BSxZo3SJJZ0h7UeFrHFqj8TeaTHwJKMfMxFLeM3TvD5ZcgnLbXqeea_ShI-RbjPMq2ywqy3HKIWssS/s4032/FathersDay3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscCq-j4fSsMs8xVzGOk1yJ9B20_B-FpM40lJ0WkbdfHDhM3VG60IucD3uUJvWwhNVzN3Ko0-OgSKxectduIkVlb-6nQopXSvvVY-MuigkbFWpI3BSxZo3SJJZ0h7UeFrHFqj8TeaTHwJKMfMxFLeM3TvD5ZcgnLbXqeea_ShI-RbjPMq2ywqy3HKIWssS/w480-h640/FathersDay3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyzt0p6_BX_iMIW2nYgVohkYEgq855-5W96rZF3ogjhfIFBThTlZ1eORW1jCh-S6dqc_VY5Imb89Qvr4QWDOIeIRZt4o-Zr6f5_RkbhkoH3cWD31QNFborsMGF0cZOv8VyGezrmqkoH619-2jwTq8LMWXL_Pt2blF4ujTTnhyRk0g8CY6Ue9PaQzOypGv/s4032/FathersDay4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyzt0p6_BX_iMIW2nYgVohkYEgq855-5W96rZF3ogjhfIFBThTlZ1eORW1jCh-S6dqc_VY5Imb89Qvr4QWDOIeIRZt4o-Zr6f5_RkbhkoH3cWD31QNFborsMGF0cZOv8VyGezrmqkoH619-2jwTq8LMWXL_Pt2blF4ujTTnhyRk0g8CY6Ue9PaQzOypGv/w480-h640/FathersDay4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHijAcrBUeGuNQhIsg0roekjtZz-hakm9SET65aHNj_jX1GjxYJOyhW_jGfxtX2K698d551E0Oc14Wtgvv43vRbJox9FXc6GNR5dOnWkEwiuXHY3NCJdHGOGnUDOB6IkZLU-BXkQYlclT4BpADglmnrgXAA_CKGHt80mM0KmxweiQncUEpvz_L9oiwWHhQ/s4032/FathersDay5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHijAcrBUeGuNQhIsg0roekjtZz-hakm9SET65aHNj_jX1GjxYJOyhW_jGfxtX2K698d551E0Oc14Wtgvv43vRbJox9FXc6GNR5dOnWkEwiuXHY3NCJdHGOGnUDOB6IkZLU-BXkQYlclT4BpADglmnrgXAA_CKGHt80mM0KmxweiQncUEpvz_L9oiwWHhQ/w480-h640/FathersDay5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I try to make Father's Day as painless as possible, but there will always be pain. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We honor Dad by stopping by the cemetery, eating his favorite foods, and taking in a movie. This year it was, "Spiderman Across the Spider Verse" and Minsky's Pizza for their Z-Man BBQ pizza. It was delish!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">Dad's are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Unknown~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This year, the kids also have an amazing "father-figure" in their lives, but this also means tricky emotions for my children to navigate. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pat is quick to remind my kids that he is not their father...that they have an earthly father who happens to be residing in heaven...and that he just wants to be a part of their lives as a friend. Widowhood is nothing if not complicated! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wI-K5HbiljYJm826Z4N6GugfjctgBYpRw5GC0Ifjel57SVjtdnNr41q7LQIsWdlwLq9Akd51HnHmxvuUV009XXuWdZwJ_RQZmOyv4z5I8X_ShM7T88iI4MibCsi3DT9jFlB3OVBnpVxtY4I1G-vDSg42dYYDNGEqSKLV-9TIfX6oCd0yaWmTiRL_HgKT/s3088/FathersDay6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wI-K5HbiljYJm826Z4N6GugfjctgBYpRw5GC0Ifjel57SVjtdnNr41q7LQIsWdlwLq9Akd51HnHmxvuUV009XXuWdZwJ_RQZmOyv4z5I8X_ShM7T88iI4MibCsi3DT9jFlB3OVBnpVxtY4I1G-vDSg42dYYDNGEqSKLV-9TIfX6oCd0yaWmTiRL_HgKT/w480-h640/FathersDay6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QikxVZfYK8-hUjJiplMsztUbTkHehUzGU87OZz8YvppomI104y62gMK_z9iZ6bUetid-p3AKebGGdtUzK4GyrmIgBAZOZQ-_DaCfM3mNbSfa1F_KCb3jBT-tvMUPfcIBWMLKV8IBMWA6y0sGjIeQ9KPnozyxboxDOONMDsckCKcK8E8TQGVb5ctEmeJJ/s4032/FathersDay7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QikxVZfYK8-hUjJiplMsztUbTkHehUzGU87OZz8YvppomI104y62gMK_z9iZ6bUetid-p3AKebGGdtUzK4GyrmIgBAZOZQ-_DaCfM3mNbSfa1F_KCb3jBT-tvMUPfcIBWMLKV8IBMWA6y0sGjIeQ9KPnozyxboxDOONMDsckCKcK8E8TQGVb5ctEmeJJ/w480-h640/FathersDay7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday the 17th was the perfect summer date night. I gave Pat a tee shirt that the kids and I bought for him honoring his Italian-American heritage and career dedicated to Public Safety. (Yes, I am dating another fire fighter! LOL)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pat also knows widowhood. He lost his wife 12 years ago to cancer. They were unable to have children...so "parenting" is as tricky for him as it is for my kids. We are all learning as we go and giving lots of grace to one another. I couldn't ask for a sweeter, kinder, gentler man to walk with me on this journey. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God hears our cries and fulfills our every need. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">St. Joseph, patron saint of fathers, stepfathers, and foster fathers...pray for us. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">~Barack Obama~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17633704862629969672noreply@blogger.com3