tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68708435384447406412024-02-07T00:13:46.744-06:00Finding HappyfullRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-11404569713211423982012-10-31T21:30:00.000-05:002012-10-31T21:31:32.019-05:00October Fun<div align="center">
Our house is for sale.</div>
<div align="center">
During October we averaged a showing every other day.</div>
<div align="center">
Finding something fun, and relatively inexpensive, to do with three small children during these showings has been my number #2 job this month (cleaning the house for the showings is #1)...</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Everyone's favorite "during a showing" activity has been to go to Ring Mountain...our favorite Gelato/Ice Cream place in town. </div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDqCfrY3L6-aXcBhiEKiDjqPrK4ysHniLFW4qbtYmkH61KYEGpcIl6zb-HjCL7-YT30KafY4VKKHkyPs1aLjhbwxx1Z-JdhSt27thQPHJqgtczI9imP3UBgT4w-h89Yw5Kg8dvAImJ87T/s1600/ringmountain1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDqCfrY3L6-aXcBhiEKiDjqPrK4ysHniLFW4qbtYmkH61KYEGpcIl6zb-HjCL7-YT30KafY4VKKHkyPs1aLjhbwxx1Z-JdhSt27thQPHJqgtczI9imP3UBgT4w-h89Yw5Kg8dvAImJ87T/s640/ringmountain1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
I've found that they have pretty fantastic decaf/skim/vanilla latte's, too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFdSEIjAVIgPWrmISJRRtMjXoxTJStsomo6jIx45pRMSQjqvY7uQMi6upEwUrNZhLYpHLJPu9pmsdOfJv1HO53YATj_PBpHVmcboTUx455vtAVmrmX7BqVWWVqpwjnyzLPUyrVUMwGgfD/s1600/ringmountain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFdSEIjAVIgPWrmISJRRtMjXoxTJStsomo6jIx45pRMSQjqvY7uQMi6upEwUrNZhLYpHLJPu9pmsdOfJv1HO53YATj_PBpHVmcboTUx455vtAVmrmX7BqVWWVqpwjnyzLPUyrVUMwGgfD/s640/ringmountain2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Can you even believe the eyes on these two? Corey blessed our children with genes for the biggest, most beautiful eyes...and dramatic long lashes.</div>
<div align="center">
Soleil's eyes have almost completely changed from blue to green. </div>
<div align="center">
She shares that trait with my mom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc4QXOx6nfp-5CmtR-ILKi4_XBAqY_2PPQIosQe3u5GZ72xWXpTYMmcIvQ9G2TaHNMqaM_F8Py-D7axihd8Bw_OJvJ49Gb-ZjmffgGzrRhCXHUpTS-MQH0LWojSNsS4_xNnIsVLmpu2V8/s1600/ringmountain3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc4QXOx6nfp-5CmtR-ILKi4_XBAqY_2PPQIosQe3u5GZ72xWXpTYMmcIvQ9G2TaHNMqaM_F8Py-D7axihd8Bw_OJvJ49Gb-ZjmffgGzrRhCXHUpTS-MQH0LWojSNsS4_xNnIsVLmpu2V8/s640/ringmountain3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Both of the big kids would tell you that the Birthday Cake ice cream is the best flavor at Ring Mountain.</div>
<div align="center">
Shore likes to mix his with Blue Gelato, Soleil prefers to add Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Everyone leaves happy.</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-25064306280089509082012-10-31T21:07:00.002-05:002012-10-31T21:10:01.401-05:00Getting this posted a little late (right before she turns 4 months old)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kK_uPrIAbfSz14k4ZHvNEYLjAoHUpeLrgqN0ggmLHl4azh716H9sS4UVof2RjFGA_OjtOOuKYhtrYCGCqCtDMDOiPoWEejxvsxt2sDj5VxU7SeSGghNoH_90g-na059N0Wm24r85wIwu/s1600/siri3months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kK_uPrIAbfSz14k4ZHvNEYLjAoHUpeLrgqN0ggmLHl4azh716H9sS4UVof2RjFGA_OjtOOuKYhtrYCGCqCtDMDOiPoWEejxvsxt2sDj5VxU7SeSGghNoH_90g-na059N0Wm24r85wIwu/s640/siri3months.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Sweet Little Siri is really trying hard to steady her head...and she smiles all the time now. </div>
<div align="center">
She's especially enamored by her big brother and sister...and Bella.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Those big blue eyes pierce right through mine and zap me directly in the heart. Every time.</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-66314940364297280682012-09-14T13:53:00.001-05:002012-09-14T13:53:46.156-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Waking up to this every morning...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
makes me want to stay in bed and stare...all day long.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she smells as good as she looks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstkaXjB5JF0-RFmL8NJ8605i9AMl6NY1PMiVXUCEBMvHuhtW8VouiG_MWSBImnnWgK12bOyS2gYKXvCLFJ5tGy-qJqQAiA4c2GxqG2gyhL4GhtRUe5yz-52iqsemvtfTf_bnF0yS0lXkL/s1600/babyblues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstkaXjB5JF0-RFmL8NJ8605i9AMl6NY1PMiVXUCEBMvHuhtW8VouiG_MWSBImnnWgK12bOyS2gYKXvCLFJ5tGy-qJqQAiA4c2GxqG2gyhL4GhtRUe5yz-52iqsemvtfTf_bnF0yS0lXkL/s640/babyblues.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-41370768448330541302012-09-05T20:01:00.000-05:002012-09-05T20:03:03.799-05:00Wanna peek into the nursery?<div style="text-align: center;">
This nursery was a labor of love...and a test of my thriftiness. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everything has a story, nothing is new and many things were gifts. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We started by scraping the ceiling and painting it and the walls "Simply White" by Benjamin Moore. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The mirror above the changing table was purchased at an occasional sale years ago, it used to be in Soleil's bedroom...back when I was able to control how Soleil's bedroom was decorated...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jfXoHo-KMnQmTKX4OdhsQl7x_mSv1m9Kmcqjjm-UUeTyxJ-oqb1c0zezVyP75B6x4tJwWi1ux0N_p_oHZqjSD2w4fFuO9Ky9VEKNdZ9V6Vvwa9Q_4-H7lHjHUmYanI7Hx26x-3MqjN11/s1600/nursery3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jfXoHo-KMnQmTKX4OdhsQl7x_mSv1m9Kmcqjjm-UUeTyxJ-oqb1c0zezVyP75B6x4tJwWi1ux0N_p_oHZqjSD2w4fFuO9Ky9VEKNdZ9V6Vvwa9Q_4-H7lHjHUmYanI7Hx26x-3MqjN11/s640/nursery3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found the Ultrasuede rocker on craigslist...it's previous owner had rocked five babies in it...and her house was spotless.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGhNlV82QNS4JJkiA9s8DaTbwPbK8PYcXABsdv790_We4CwfhslvbaoM2msr2Pn9cx6mILw9fFubo3jzGGYwfJqnTI7SZPsS12R3ASsgTYxeLBqNF8QMYw6LN_hr4Zn3ACOWty5fRdu1i/s1600/nursery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGhNlV82QNS4JJkiA9s8DaTbwPbK8PYcXABsdv790_We4CwfhslvbaoM2msr2Pn9cx6mILw9fFubo3jzGGYwfJqnTI7SZPsS12R3ASsgTYxeLBqNF8QMYw6LN_hr4Zn3ACOWty5fRdu1i/s640/nursery2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The dresser/changing table was also found on craigslist...it had been a almond color and the woman selling it agreed to repaint it white for me. She had lost a premature baby, and, knowing my history, prayed for my then unborn baby continually while she painted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jMgDVsnIv-w4bdFnJQlcHH-hdHROowMXY-cmpKh21XRUEy-6tPe1PjHrEmV0LPvQfubUllr_Jz8KtD10TrMWlyhVcVCafszGOICnL6Z011v6WgDPRgrrTHp91hcqZL1fgyl5XhOom0Zp/s1600/nursery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jMgDVsnIv-w4bdFnJQlcHH-hdHROowMXY-cmpKh21XRUEy-6tPe1PjHrEmV0LPvQfubUllr_Jz8KtD10TrMWlyhVcVCafszGOICnL6Z011v6WgDPRgrrTHp91hcqZL1fgyl5XhOom0Zp/s640/nursery1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I found this sweet shelf with hooks at the Goodwill. It was in rough shape, but my dad cleaned it up and painted it "Elephant Pink" (also Benjamin Moore) for me. The piggy bank and antique planter were both gifts from my dearest friend, Hollie. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sweaters were both knit by my mom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlujrCrXR0Ir-zGHugPXrGOcWiGTL75MYJ9XcRgP7x5UZDfrPzTVoYHMb1suJ0h7SWDxmxlaQoG4t7wFYL8v55vA1p8D1TUSgXqpTrg0GoxoDItg-CEN0EvRWWFBGi44a8wBUcncMDMQW/s1600/nursery4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlujrCrXR0Ir-zGHugPXrGOcWiGTL75MYJ9XcRgP7x5UZDfrPzTVoYHMb1suJ0h7SWDxmxlaQoG4t7wFYL8v55vA1p8D1TUSgXqpTrg0GoxoDItg-CEN0EvRWWFBGi44a8wBUcncMDMQW/s640/nursery4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My dad also built the most wonderful bookshelf and painted it that same pink as the shelf.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At my shower, Hollie asked everyone to bring a book for the baby, so it is already completely stocked with thoughtful selections. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJjoGN78UTLdfTOhjbuOv3QRCnTdyXnJ4YLxElqQpMBzTI2l5afoVXqfyqo2Q8_agDSiHhZYsWmbp58RPuXJe55vTmcWo4ceKSaFqROSjNQQa2rn7uJUuASe5sp_GVxkqIZm1RRayocoj/s1600/nursery5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJjoGN78UTLdfTOhjbuOv3QRCnTdyXnJ4YLxElqQpMBzTI2l5afoVXqfyqo2Q8_agDSiHhZYsWmbp58RPuXJe55vTmcWo4ceKSaFqROSjNQQa2rn7uJUuASe5sp_GVxkqIZm1RRayocoj/s640/nursery5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The crib is the same one that we used with the big kids. It was the first large purchase that Corey and I made while I was pregnant with Soleil...I love everything about it, especially all of it's memories.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I purchased the dust ruffle and sheet on Ebay and the darling mobile was a shower gift from my friend, Katie Liz. Shore helped me assemble it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The curtains also used to be in Soleil's room, they are the Simply Shabby Chic Target line, but I found them at the Salvation Army.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So there it is...Siri's little haven of soft pink thrifty loveliness.</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-28418718487103488582012-09-04T21:40:00.003-05:002012-09-04T21:41:36.455-05:00Back to school they went<div align="center">
The big kids went back to school today. They were so excited. Soleil was up early contemplating shoe choices and Shore discovered that it's really best to eat breakfast and brush his teeth BEFORE putting on his school clothes.</div>
<div align="center">
Siri went along for the ride, enjoying some minutes more than others...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbmlryVgIhcvK4nQYHVpsUHa-m1Ycj2lAiCJmzt2vC38KOAchhIcGfZ-3hHx8aERuU6nqwzubSmsZ8meMMcqOtaCxc5o9qRyx8mYQbGuWSNoIxPlZiSn-_UTF0Sp-_YNq2EnjxbJOfu0C/s1600/firstday-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbmlryVgIhcvK4nQYHVpsUHa-m1Ycj2lAiCJmzt2vC38KOAchhIcGfZ-3hHx8aERuU6nqwzubSmsZ8meMMcqOtaCxc5o9qRyx8mYQbGuWSNoIxPlZiSn-_UTF0Sp-_YNq2EnjxbJOfu0C/s640/firstday-1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhwNT8e71kTulxW4WRy8P1NVhUSSlsoYna5Rd6ljmwoGyhAxpedKN1JdKSI5cfm0wnIWhngjQCkk6-mS_cgi0llFQSwtryM-ixRPtR0NBeEFthPwF5RE696mER6FSsoh4j9ZJqt4K_JouRD/s1600/firstday-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNT8e71kTulxW4WRy8P1NVhUSSlsoYna5Rd6ljmwoGyhAxpedKN1JdKSI5cfm0wnIWhngjQCkk6-mS_cgi0llFQSwtryM-ixRPtR0NBeEFthPwF5RE696mER6FSsoh4j9ZJqt4K_JouRD/s640/firstday-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And the verdict afterwards? It was a great day! Shore thought that recess was too short and Soleil is already planning to read 2000 hours this school year.</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-88957757236029789742012-08-31T22:46:00.003-05:002012-08-31T22:46:26.413-05:00Love.<div style="text-align: center;">
Love at my house?...well, it looks something like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH6f1yNVsxGrmksgyS_zQNP-VCNbkt-ES3wECjyuNjFAqmOkvzbvqb0-I8XyRmbObWAEqOl7RYLOXXYST_gJ_z04zBSWWr80NhD2MPxC_62YNmbRcdHJw8POMOdl6QX8IZZ5dAW4fHTH_/s1600/brother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH6f1yNVsxGrmksgyS_zQNP-VCNbkt-ES3wECjyuNjFAqmOkvzbvqb0-I8XyRmbObWAEqOl7RYLOXXYST_gJ_z04zBSWWr80NhD2MPxC_62YNmbRcdHJw8POMOdl6QX8IZZ5dAW4fHTH_/s640/brother.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-30856260967383537402012-08-30T12:27:00.001-05:002012-08-30T12:27:58.636-05:00Summer 2012, the biggest news first.<div align="center">
We're down to the wire, just a few more days of watching TV till noon while eating leftover State Fair salt water taffy for breakfast and it's back to life with schedules. It's been a crazy, whirlwind of a summer full of growth, change, and a dash or two of drama thrown in for excitement, I guess.</div>
<div align="center">
I'm a little sad to be saying goodbye to all my time with the kids but, who am I kidding, I'm a little excited about saying goodbye to all my time with the kids, too.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Our biggest news was that I went from this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRAZ9T3XBnM6KC7CI09F0q3Xge2b5d8-JbwKV1EVSrEF5JiYQ1QW3ZsxzIZYHBDODU3H6TBJvN_ZxGU9FfFsNgENZTnIMMypKExI70wKlpJ0-6ebnX_Pir2dwINNf66EUQUFtuZwJbL9D/s1600/summer2012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRAZ9T3XBnM6KC7CI09F0q3Xge2b5d8-JbwKV1EVSrEF5JiYQ1QW3ZsxzIZYHBDODU3H6TBJvN_ZxGU9FfFsNgENZTnIMMypKExI70wKlpJ0-6ebnX_Pir2dwINNf66EUQUFtuZwJbL9D/s640/summer2012-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To having this little sweet bundle in my arms on July 2nd...</div>
<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/AVvXsEjsRd8JeTsanxRmr8cm8LTPzxYWagSnrvuyoiyFcH-otghWF1SpJaj8poMHTntC2OIQQ9pZbQX6Qfip3NaMdMtEVle0YeiLVEIKeFjau-76bws6U7sILlRY1tCmtB7vJkl-ToHERvsR6hZk/s1600/summer2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRd8JeTsanxRmr8cm8LTPzxYWagSnrvuyoiyFcH-otghWF1SpJaj8poMHTntC2OIQQ9pZbQX6Qfip3NaMdMtEVle0YeiLVEIKeFjau-76bws6U7sILlRY1tCmtB7vJkl-ToHERvsR6hZk/s640/summer2012-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She arrived early, 6 weeks early, but was big (6 pounds 3ounces) and healthy and we were more than ready to welcome her into our family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And while she was "Baby Alice" nearly the entire time she was growing inside me, in the end I knew she needed an S name like the others...so Corey chose Siri. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Siri Alice, made us a family of 5.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And we truly could not be happier. The older children have loved her since before they met her and since she's been here they've done nothing but shower her with kisses and hugs and a whole lot of cheek squeezing from Shore.</div>
<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/AVvXsEgKDhPvrdYuZX_jEGvvZRva8fd7uP1xd7uV6SM2ic8L2pg2rzQHMO5FtElqgWaeJbazEDNAT0DrEO_ncxmS_qcaalBVOBtROEErddG_dDZiSUhPLj5dc5wzC4VxEJsc_cbuOctokcGuAQMx/s1600/summer+2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDhPvrdYuZX_jEGvvZRva8fd7uP1xd7uV6SM2ic8L2pg2rzQHMO5FtElqgWaeJbazEDNAT0DrEO_ncxmS_qcaalBVOBtROEErddG_dDZiSUhPLj5dc5wzC4VxEJsc_cbuOctokcGuAQMx/s640/summer+2012-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko-y0uKwcgeTBhR38RWRlpHaexWZWb68vkmc6u3bDz7e4y34gPU9StNeIKGdJkSriKnxrRSr8jqKZD2rqeHyTkxOfUepWalaE0H6ZC-CGjMQHue5FIbZrmtEYto2mHtpf5d-QeKVm5uwd/s1600/summer2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko-y0uKwcgeTBhR38RWRlpHaexWZWb68vkmc6u3bDz7e4y34gPU9StNeIKGdJkSriKnxrRSr8jqKZD2rqeHyTkxOfUepWalaE0H6ZC-CGjMQHue5FIbZrmtEYto2mHtpf5d-QeKVm5uwd/s640/summer2012-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ-Vv-MvaBhqgLdzgD-ShzGwoid9t8vi33A-7QIQzbUZm1Q5IKS3LNjFvUZR6_yFIsQYtawnilpFxWZr6u3_aJFi6MTGAaR6eFpylbHLyQpkmxe_F1JuNhMt9-RRRgQ2WMgnZwisPAfoM/s1600/summer2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ-Vv-MvaBhqgLdzgD-ShzGwoid9t8vi33A-7QIQzbUZm1Q5IKS3LNjFvUZR6_yFIsQYtawnilpFxWZr6u3_aJFi6MTGAaR6eFpylbHLyQpkmxe_F1JuNhMt9-RRRgQ2WMgnZwisPAfoM/s640/summer2012-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
And just like that, the sweet intoxicating baby smell was back in our lives and we had room in our heart that we hadn't known about before...</div>
<div align="center">
And Sweet Siri became a part of our crew...forever.</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-77499866919325197242012-04-24T17:20:00.000-05:002012-04-24T17:20:45.947-05:00Nesting.<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe it was a mistake, but in an attempt to make sure that my older two kids felt important and loved I promised them both redecorated bedrooms...in addition to decorating the nursery for Baby Alice. When I made the promise I truly felt like I had all the time in the world...and loads of energy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's taken me six months but I'm finally starting to get some momentum going for these projects...and their rooms are looking up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm in the midst of some DIY projects for Soleil's room that I hope to show photos of soon...we're going from a beautiful soft shade of pink to a rather harsh "pool blue". It hurts me a little to replace all of the darling Shabby Chic things with "sporty girl" stuff but I'm doing it cuz I love her so darn much. And, besides, I can still have my way with Alice's room...:)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And, while I was originally pretty depressed about my $0 budget for these projects, it has turned out to be kind of a fun challenge. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't wait to show you everything.</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-74580066376727775882012-04-20T21:52:00.002-05:002012-04-20T21:55:09.658-05:00Season Opener<div style="text-align: center;">
The canning season is officially here!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As you can see from the photo the kids took, I'm pretty darn excited...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTKze6AcigGTViGGpwYfqMb7VaBJ8dj3S9y6PdPHw1uq4RUvVJP1BNJXpBA0VixRFy8XwQ9xKuw6xdCD4xFFW7cqGH2BZUKJ3NiIiVjcMatDKzHPExZZotPbizmOeFKzyG-61UHuw89uo/s1600/seasonopener3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTKze6AcigGTViGGpwYfqMb7VaBJ8dj3S9y6PdPHw1uq4RUvVJP1BNJXpBA0VixRFy8XwQ9xKuw6xdCD4xFFW7cqGH2BZUKJ3NiIiVjcMatDKzHPExZZotPbizmOeFKzyG-61UHuw89uo/s640/seasonopener3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since Vidalia onions are in season I decided to start off canning one of my favorites from last year...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Pickled Sweet Onions</span>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Which, if you haven't tried them, are pretty fantastic on just about everything from hot dogs and burgers to grilled cheese sandwiches. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And sometimes, I like to eat them all by themselves, straight out of the jar!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89c0gznmvqz5ZalMpU15LENhbMfDs8s8s9_Vc_jNXfRENiquEbdVkypat7WAVjL_C9waLsKCnlSk87qiko8O1lC0Jw5x7xxrlFf-hbblhXu1XG5KwHBGZTcBDPTMMFVsprp6YB8Mjfa2v/s1600/seasonopener1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89c0gznmvqz5ZalMpU15LENhbMfDs8s8s9_Vc_jNXfRENiquEbdVkypat7WAVjL_C9waLsKCnlSk87qiko8O1lC0Jw5x7xxrlFf-hbblhXu1XG5KwHBGZTcBDPTMMFVsprp6YB8Mjfa2v/s640/seasonopener1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHFdxVhjTIXZ04FCdQAo0qyDuCJin61WLK8DcVwdX5_bVrh0I-8UkoXTuVaU9OhWvTKS2rVlDLao3XOMPJ8i9H3N-ioIWxezwhoNRh79Xpcoz6Wf7nmZy0rKduyrAhttEjZ4Cti0cstDn/s1600/seasonopener2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHFdxVhjTIXZ04FCdQAo0qyDuCJin61WLK8DcVwdX5_bVrh0I-8UkoXTuVaU9OhWvTKS2rVlDLao3XOMPJ8i9H3N-ioIWxezwhoNRh79Xpcoz6Wf7nmZy0rKduyrAhttEjZ4Cti0cstDn/s640/seasonopener2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm not sure how long the canning season is going to last for me this year...Baby Alice might just cut it a little short...so I'm determined to make the most out of the early months.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is something so rewarding about seeing all of the glass jars filled with colorful seasonal fruits and vegetables lined up all in a row.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love it.</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-47877441423310700932012-04-18T09:48:00.001-05:002012-04-18T09:49:52.624-05:00It's beginning to look like spring...inside.<div align="center">
The kids and I are carefully tending to our little seedlings in hopes of a bounty of flowers.</div>
<div align="center">
It always amazes me how quickly these little things sprout with the help of the "greenhouse". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeozwtZZH47XpcsTtzqX17a9zluk-8kDkuRMAWsUeFOwtG7LpBuaGKtGrsVy94_SGEYPd4oNlyR00oeY1JBgiC78DFBiJvFwcKwoEkBl1S_6Is65m3C8b5X3zfGDJhwOQu2Wf-fpA-i-B/s1600/spring+sprouts2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeozwtZZH47XpcsTtzqX17a9zluk-8kDkuRMAWsUeFOwtG7LpBuaGKtGrsVy94_SGEYPd4oNlyR00oeY1JBgiC78DFBiJvFwcKwoEkBl1S_6Is65m3C8b5X3zfGDJhwOQu2Wf-fpA-i-B/s640/spring+sprouts2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5HGt-PqhP3XvjvGxbdsZ_SH7N2w5_eqTc_hO78_zD5Fm8Q6TWFMZiWFqgprBrBFWySyusofOqIYkTejafCOiyBCMnos_GZvLlU4doYM5iplyORzKrXxdX7DYnD9L41c0JSsiVM8nzmfY/s1600/spring+sprouts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5HGt-PqhP3XvjvGxbdsZ_SH7N2w5_eqTc_hO78_zD5Fm8Q6TWFMZiWFqgprBrBFWySyusofOqIYkTejafCOiyBCMnos_GZvLlU4doYM5iplyORzKrXxdX7DYnD9L41c0JSsiVM8nzmfY/s640/spring+sprouts1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
We planted Zinnia's, Bachelor Buttons, and two other things that I can't remember right now.</div>
<div align="center">
It's so rewarding to start from seeds, isn't it?</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-49074266885496504222012-04-16T21:36:00.000-05:002012-04-16T21:36:28.615-05:00Where have I been?<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been a busy month, and I think I've been a little tired. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
During this pregnancy I've really tried to prioritize and not waste my energy on "non-essentials". </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, that seems to mean blogging has been forced into the backseat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
But here's a quick recap of our last month...</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. Corey painted Shore's room and scraped all the popcorn off of the ceiling...it looks beautiful!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Shore also got some great khaki insulated curtains added to his room...they block out light and keep his room warmer on cold days and cooler on hot ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. Shore felt like he need to add something to his "new" room so he repainted his giant rock/doorstop to match his new decor direction :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. We made a road trip to Clay City, Kansas for Corey's grandfather's 90th birthday. It was a long drive but the kids were superstars...and the family time was precious.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. Baby Alice has grown and so have I...I'll have to get the kids to take a belly shot soon. Phew, I'm feeling big! Just 3 months to go!</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/AVvXsEgzJscd6L5HrMjG-QnNjYukl4s8I9z5aFGSAj40wc_nI7Okx-kRjQ07muUhK6RORWKreGTakfHELhX94sM8xHdhAcYYtHXn6DRmVKlER6CID-O2KTI2L-T1Y1-IBPh4cpdXAxmu7ZIMxCD1/s1600/Spring+2012+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJscd6L5HrMjG-QnNjYukl4s8I9z5aFGSAj40wc_nI7Okx-kRjQ07muUhK6RORWKreGTakfHELhX94sM8xHdhAcYYtHXn6DRmVKlER6CID-O2KTI2L-T1Y1-IBPh4cpdXAxmu7ZIMxCD1/s640/Spring+2012+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I haven't done anything remotely crafty and poor Alice doesn't have a nursery yet. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe this month? Next?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or maybe I just need another nap.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-10480043693420814252012-03-04T16:44:00.002-06:002012-03-04T16:46:36.197-06:00All things birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJem9uHd-16FqmonQK4c5ywzllQR0VbbH8F6PJjK5-2vZhTrb_KYmQSl88ZF-GWjcJqUlksNfTf4ST2YdDZGQMrFuDSDJROE4NpwKl8WFXzgeVnbMLBxGweGc1YnYFgS7IRNyVn99EFKN/s1600/9th1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJem9uHd-16FqmonQK4c5ywzllQR0VbbH8F6PJjK5-2vZhTrb_KYmQSl88ZF-GWjcJqUlksNfTf4ST2YdDZGQMrFuDSDJROE4NpwKl8WFXzgeVnbMLBxGweGc1YnYFgS7IRNyVn99EFKN/s640/9th1.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We're recovering from our first overnight birthday party. </div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Nine 9 year olds from 4pm-10am...and we survived!</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Actually it was loads of fun and I think my favorite nine year old had a fantastic time.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As a mom, there are few things as pride-inducing as seeing your child choose and interact with nice friends.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And all eight of her friends were delightful and courteous and very kind.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Here are a few photos from the big bash:</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlS4tSGlcT8vUWnBzFA2pNZh9sBlUB79omZWY0DlOh2_d49sjaD7lldGWVrKt6jd0ZjNrymLgis_uOpS4oX76BA7oOKpOqGwDVzg30SCVQRGlFfj0WpPfAkyHrg442XpGSUiS3i01FKXM0/s1600/momandsoleilbirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlS4tSGlcT8vUWnBzFA2pNZh9sBlUB79omZWY0DlOh2_d49sjaD7lldGWVrKt6jd0ZjNrymLgis_uOpS4oX76BA7oOKpOqGwDVzg30SCVQRGlFfj0WpPfAkyHrg442XpGSUiS3i01FKXM0/s640/momandsoleilbirthday.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEgsXurky8S078rrIk5wJeXnmyTPel9XZ_5dz5ScZyGC_YyuIEnJkHvEooXcGm78ounwbiQ5InovuuUB9gqUjse5h7c5H2ryMaAJMsbM6hZFTaNcLxGRJRlhaAZIy2eEfKT0-zkqT-Q4tMz4/s1600/9th3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXurky8S078rrIk5wJeXnmyTPel9XZ_5dz5ScZyGC_YyuIEnJkHvEooXcGm78ounwbiQ5InovuuUB9gqUjse5h7c5H2ryMaAJMsbM6hZFTaNcLxGRJRlhaAZIy2eEfKT0-zkqT-Q4tMz4/s640/9th3.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">It was a Harry Potter themed party...so I made a few things...</span></div><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/AVvXsEgdAjYVhya3UJTWsMW7zv6_40VoNAWBy7SutObxc6M0_HyRzBfPBzPj_JhsZLktdqyJiqtVW752_e5PsQLSlaEpxIBiGEd-TSilpqOHP4pTXCi_e-6l-YnTLFJb6BbNfeZoy4dytqcYjwUt/s1600/9th5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAjYVhya3UJTWsMW7zv6_40VoNAWBy7SutObxc6M0_HyRzBfPBzPj_JhsZLktdqyJiqtVW752_e5PsQLSlaEpxIBiGEd-TSilpqOHP4pTXCi_e-6l-YnTLFJb6BbNfeZoy4dytqcYjwUt/s640/9th5.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEjEcQN1PUVydZRPX_EPJ264nIEvIk91-chLCLuQVyUBvCCbvKQkvxAbI7r8ZthrjSlVKXp5YjkLLeh0GslVz05_UDspEcvsfeJA0RA-uBraCVEMIUBY_lMHE7FlcfxttQB_UjUS1wiYQgL5/s1600/9th2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcQN1PUVydZRPX_EPJ264nIEvIk91-chLCLuQVyUBvCCbvKQkvxAbI7r8ZthrjSlVKXp5YjkLLeh0GslVz05_UDspEcvsfeJA0RA-uBraCVEMIUBY_lMHE7FlcfxttQB_UjUS1wiYQgL5/s640/9th2.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Before we went bowling, Soleil chose to take her friends to dinner at Subway:</span></div><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/AVvXsEgGyUQyJkkYXHz64zi3g_aQD_JSQbpC2KyUIKVQm6Z8-n2I_DEisznz2xhdZWUb2f5LIcgrGc7TRrNSJ8-9RBpra7Dzz3Kd4IWlUa6r-u17Q2WHj17yDVlRTUpFzcg0mzrApnTiF8CUTZKE/s1600/9th4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyUQyJkkYXHz64zi3g_aQD_JSQbpC2KyUIKVQm6Z8-n2I_DEisznz2xhdZWUb2f5LIcgrGc7TRrNSJ8-9RBpra7Dzz3Kd4IWlUa6r-u17Q2WHj17yDVlRTUpFzcg0mzrApnTiF8CUTZKE/s640/9th4.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*Does anyone know how to upload a video without putting it on YouTube? I have an adorable video of the girls singing "happy birthday" but I don't know how to show it to you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">That was our fun-filled weekend, how was yours?</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-62869333842525836072012-02-28T15:25:00.001-06:002012-02-28T15:26:50.526-06:00When is cheap okay?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKbDsgJ3Uxr8NllHNJNFTbWTOsTKH0e3hHhKzOFOBjBjc_fPre4D107S-m4InefLK7kLXZw2PX8ttYBsCNZJX64k0wgMCT9GxB_kHuFIkyezpUwxqDV2CUOlfkTE0fTzRJAWf4Na5lbCJ/s1600/luann62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKbDsgJ3Uxr8NllHNJNFTbWTOsTKH0e3hHhKzOFOBjBjc_fPre4D107S-m4InefLK7kLXZw2PX8ttYBsCNZJX64k0wgMCT9GxB_kHuFIkyezpUwxqDV2CUOlfkTE0fTzRJAWf4Na5lbCJ/s640/luann62.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I grew up with a mother that lived by the motto, "more is more". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That nearly always translated into, "quantity not quality".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I was a teenager and then into my "spend like crazy and worry about it later" early twenties I purposely defied these rules and bought only the very best my credit card could accommodate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since then I've become a bit more real.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And while I still would always choose fewer nice things over quantity, I can now appreciate the need to buy less than the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lately I've been thinking about things that you can get away with going cheap on...and things you can't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For instance, I would never recommend buying off brand Q-tips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">masking tape, toilet paper, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">laundry detergent, peanut butter, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bar soap or glass cleaner...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But store brand kitchen garbage bags meet our needs...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and my kids don't seem to notice a difference when I buy the no-name fruit snacks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few other things on my "okay to go cheap" list would probably be liquid hand soap, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pudding mix, body lotion, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">snacks in bulk for the classroom, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">jelly and, (don't crucify me for this one), milk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What things would be on your lists?</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-62813088113746148562012-02-27T12:39:00.001-06:002012-02-27T12:40:19.499-06:00here's to you, my sweet girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-ye-RV2johoPvO4g1EwqHnFilnnP9datvhGEwFBED-H-rGEwY_iwfXfXz8oxSCQh0lDs4yaaZPv9iIUG2CLw1wPAYZ8rRgaDGOnEtmBqcAHhlEBy8SvsDoNbNj6sj2BX8yVmzFk-cHU-/s1600/soleil9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-ye-RV2johoPvO4g1EwqHnFilnnP9datvhGEwFBED-H-rGEwY_iwfXfXz8oxSCQh0lDs4yaaZPv9iIUG2CLw1wPAYZ8rRgaDGOnEtmBqcAHhlEBy8SvsDoNbNj6sj2BX8yVmzFk-cHU-/s640/soleil9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today is my sweet Soleil's 9th birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can hardly believe that I've been mothering that long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day she was born certainly changed my everything...forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">As a tribute to her, and as a memory aide, I thought I'd list some things about my daughter:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. For her birthday dinner she chose pizza and french fries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. She adores rootbeer but is only permitted to have it on special occasions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. She describes herself as a "sporty girl".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">4. She has proven time and time again that she can be successful at anything she commits herself to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">5. Taylor Swift is her favorite musician.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6. Her favorite color is "electric blue".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">7. She gets the hiccups when she laughs too hard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8. Her dream vacation would be a trip to California.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9. She makes friends nearly instantly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">10. Science is her favorite subject at school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11. Her big blue eyes have had the power to melt her father and me since the day she was born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12. She has the kindest, most sensitive heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">I love you, Soleil!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday from your proud Mama!</span></div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-33674244787325200382012-02-26T17:44:00.000-06:002012-02-26T17:44:50.595-06:002nd finish of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhRX52tCPvIrZvmwtthnv2xSimycHuzXU_P7X-uhCsJpHN3QeXzjxXcaFzxvCP8qISgwppHYwuB7TCLDI6N6wah4ri-tMv5NeGh6L37hd2qb5Qk2NtkaflctekhLtFL-uOAzjqEou8iJj/s1600/rzquilt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhRX52tCPvIrZvmwtthnv2xSimycHuzXU_P7X-uhCsJpHN3QeXzjxXcaFzxvCP8qISgwppHYwuB7TCLDI6N6wah4ri-tMv5NeGh6L37hd2qb5Qk2NtkaflctekhLtFL-uOAzjqEou8iJj/s640/rzquilt4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has taken me a while to blog about this. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Truth is that the little boy that I made it for has been enjoying it now for over a week...at least I <i>hope</i> he's been enjoying it :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EQARqUbILhCKVKsOJgiPYqa5RMF4yVNSJ7WlBKoPUFmmNLGnXvNewCkMfmw4OW-4XMnheNyD9OICHwTa-ccc1dME6FwouX2cuNksU_EEFFfrH95CsJT692nFYt1011uOrDKblSq8aP7k/s1600/rzquilt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EQARqUbILhCKVKsOJgiPYqa5RMF4yVNSJ7WlBKoPUFmmNLGnXvNewCkMfmw4OW-4XMnheNyD9OICHwTa-ccc1dME6FwouX2cuNksU_EEFFfrH95CsJT692nFYt1011uOrDKblSq8aP7k/s640/rzquilt1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His mom was really kind and appreciative when I presented them to her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her enthusiasm and support made this project really fun...and rewarding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had never done anything like this before and was so honored that she trusted me with all of her children's baby clothes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As I was cutting into the sweet little things, I kept thinking to myself, "Ruth, this better frickin' work cuz all her memorabilia is now ruined".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsaH2iHVFKjyzlFa2qLWlPJKyx1vxa10Wd6TehBq21Ulyp-mK5afTivDpdY3eIR-W_sgGH8JN9pTuZHlHp8vTlg_uPb51naycjn8-s1O3LCWjHbuyw-ajWniXFhapAp7naGGSXFMYSVA8/s1600/rzquilt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsaH2iHVFKjyzlFa2qLWlPJKyx1vxa10Wd6TehBq21Ulyp-mK5afTivDpdY3eIR-W_sgGH8JN9pTuZHlHp8vTlg_uPb51naycjn8-s1O3LCWjHbuyw-ajWniXFhapAp7naGGSXFMYSVA8/s640/rzquilt2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But thank goodness it all worked...beautifully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IZgUN_kyL9YrPSiGr_i4Fz4MHF750Ik-AmPmXqratoTxirZUK38qbx-p64hydbWouDiPJGV9BfptqycF4XAEb4YXEruSEBVjqP8uk_IXN5CQ9F0iDvXHRhh7jmEjC1SZZo0BL2sk0ts4/s1600/rzquilt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IZgUN_kyL9YrPSiGr_i4Fz4MHF750Ik-AmPmXqratoTxirZUK38qbx-p64hydbWouDiPJGV9BfptqycF4XAEb4YXEruSEBVjqP8uk_IXN5CQ9F0iDvXHRhh7jmEjC1SZZo0BL2sk0ts4/s640/rzquilt3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I only wish that I had kept my eldest daughter's clothes so I could make one for her!</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-23359969755591115542012-02-21T08:17:00.001-06:002012-02-21T08:19:00.093-06:00Snow?!?!<div style="text-align: center;">We got a ton of snow last night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't get the paper anymore and have never really watched the news so I wasn't expecting it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
This morning when Shore let the dogs out, our larger dog, Toni decided to leave our yard and go exploring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
After about five minutes of listening to Shore scream for Toni, I donned my coat and boots over my pajamas, and headed outside to join in the search.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My hair was sticking straight up. I was wearing my glasses. I have horrible pregnancy acne.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was a lovely sight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I passed three of my neighbors...all of them just turned away from me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe it was the acne.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I decided to get out of the road and start following the dog prints in the snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I slipped and fell down one of my neighbor's steeply sloping backyards.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I finally found Toni, about a block away and right in front of the woman's house that seems to ALWAYS find Toni when she "runs away". </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Thank goodness I found her before she did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This whole week has kind of been like this story.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I really just want to go back to bed and wake up to all my bathrooms being miraculously cleaned.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-27538815535464647542012-02-14T13:04:00.000-06:002012-02-14T13:04:16.709-06:00Hearts and Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy Valentine's Day!</b></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/AVvXsEhI4afzV02LQDve71yA_SQmneqwvMj-u1Cyi9gqirDqCwR7EOvuzhpzjzC0y_0cylIYrr1uCMF1JCszDPTCgY0O44ksvD0YENwMCDzmhLE_5QB7leNJne4-g-CNgV8rkrLuDW_QCH4-f_sO/s1600/val3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4afzV02LQDve71yA_SQmneqwvMj-u1Cyi9gqirDqCwR7EOvuzhpzjzC0y_0cylIYrr1uCMF1JCszDPTCgY0O44ksvD0YENwMCDzmhLE_5QB7leNJne4-g-CNgV8rkrLuDW_QCH4-f_sO/s640/val3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfshjhq6KyKZ4IBONQOMrZ2DIG84MzIovB1NmPk8I9HWAkFbiuexCxe_PqTi-gU_wSx2TqRGpuc-u-7xRcSkBZDbT7VOjcqXtqB3j51jTFyvlDU_6L-E4riBeuqCSYmtYN2oJc7IeD0f7/s1600/val2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfshjhq6KyKZ4IBONQOMrZ2DIG84MzIovB1NmPk8I9HWAkFbiuexCxe_PqTi-gU_wSx2TqRGpuc-u-7xRcSkBZDbT7VOjcqXtqB3j51jTFyvlDU_6L-E4riBeuqCSYmtYN2oJc7IeD0f7/s640/val2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTULfCzRcDmBjo2MLhii-6uSKLHQYFt7JCoQ8BCcFC6TR2Ljl8QysgD8bjZ6leNYMknQ9wOFU_1Gcxkei4m1XgZ8doGSeVjlt9LvcArkGFlH-dsD6EQFxyxZTx99NCG9lj1QGgBtqNSS/s1600/val1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTULfCzRcDmBjo2MLhii-6uSKLHQYFt7JCoQ8BCcFC6TR2Ljl8QysgD8bjZ6leNYMknQ9wOFU_1Gcxkei4m1XgZ8doGSeVjlt9LvcArkGFlH-dsD6EQFxyxZTx99NCG9lj1QGgBtqNSS/s640/val1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>With love...from, me.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-75228318224485519032012-02-13T14:53:00.000-06:002012-02-13T14:53:28.209-06:00Putting the nursery together<div style="text-align: center;">What is it about the 2nd trimester?!? </div><div style="text-align: center;">You start to feel better and you immediately begin nesting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right now I'm working on furniture for the nursery.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a VERY little bedroom to work with this time around...</div><div style="text-align: center;">being the third child, this one is drew the short straw.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My vision is white walls, neutral furniture, and pops of color in the curtains, pillows, art work, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just have to show you my very most favorite find so far...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwvxVOuL-Od2-0edZo2kmdGIoi84GiEIT4jH_Lavk2neM_G4IaHFjgc8R0lvgQaU-qvNUJ8P11-ncaiKq3jUfHQXLEWlm52ZUBLEeNy5-RYABBa8WIrrCC3xMvrk3XyG3MR1o7xPO0va/s1600/bassinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwvxVOuL-Od2-0edZo2kmdGIoi84GiEIT4jH_Lavk2neM_G4IaHFjgc8R0lvgQaU-qvNUJ8P11-ncaiKq3jUfHQXLEWlm52ZUBLEeNy5-RYABBa8WIrrCC3xMvrk3XyG3MR1o7xPO0va/s640/bassinet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It will probably never make it into the nursery...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it currently resides in our master bedroom, right next to our bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every night before I go to bed, I look over at it and dream of the sweet little one that will be here soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's precious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, while I'm at it I might as well announce that the sweet little one is going to be a <span style="color: #e06666;"><b>GIRL!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life is so very good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-63002909784007677102012-02-12T17:00:00.003-06:002012-02-12T17:17:38.456-06:00First Finish of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember those memory quilts I was commissioned to make? </div><div style="text-align: center;">The ones that were made out of baby clothes?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">They're finished!!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm ready to show you the first one...Zaid's.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think when I last showed you these quilts, they were just quilt tops...</div><div style="text-align: center;">since then, my quilter <a href="http://quiltingsquareone.blogspot.com/">Pam Cole</a> quilted each of the quilts in a fantastic swirl pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTxgCNmqHjeu45UXLrOPTzmLmxUVrc4ZphlzvyPUwN5Bimf00jxpUUP0J3MehEtvL5tIHkIe-rSlVPX5D7iNQquUAz0yyOncrwFZOmTmyBeo1LsKmfN0ggAVKWf0wyd25hBHFVF50lM1f/s1600/finzaid6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTxgCNmqHjeu45UXLrOPTzmLmxUVrc4ZphlzvyPUwN5Bimf00jxpUUP0J3MehEtvL5tIHkIe-rSlVPX5D7iNQquUAz0yyOncrwFZOmTmyBeo1LsKmfN0ggAVKWf0wyd25hBHFVF50lM1f/s640/finzaid6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zaid's mother had given me a few of the receiving blankets that she had gotten from the hospital when he was born. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They ended up making perfect binding for the quilts...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjnMWll_VWbSn78mnH42ATYtV5bq65RYtqo9l-vroIcybvAy2hAbPZSOL0o0T9351KOvIJ8d2yRv7LFowVys01u2q1t4vtKRwQvJeyUG_wZMtf1cR7S7rruEEVqB-v-UUUlTYUYlVZ43q/s1600/finzaid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjnMWll_VWbSn78mnH42ATYtV5bq65RYtqo9l-vroIcybvAy2hAbPZSOL0o0T9351KOvIJ8d2yRv7LFowVys01u2q1t4vtKRwQvJeyUG_wZMtf1cR7S7rruEEVqB-v-UUUlTYUYlVZ43q/s640/finzaid2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwErjaxVmuzBd9_3cqjJsaD12pUIE77IeoxmebEonWiJqsyjxcohaICgWntVLRJ3QdSYy_Ax_yr5rWuR_5xts8GErGhYk37D14RtZ9JstjzNY8Ik-C3hL9akTuL1tII82rXlIrgqKuz8e/s1600/finzaid1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwErjaxVmuzBd9_3cqjJsaD12pUIE77IeoxmebEonWiJqsyjxcohaICgWntVLRJ3QdSYy_Ax_yr5rWuR_5xts8GErGhYk37D14RtZ9JstjzNY8Ik-C3hL9akTuL1tII82rXlIrgqKuz8e/s640/finzaid1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of hand stitches secured the binding in place...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30lZd2z0fglNI5wiIG7U5O-i_XbwzdPVQp2xlzNbqVxd4rr4ic6viHdoTlR_4snEViQfLiL1rNp0L0kO4T3T1nHZ-DMDx7qC5InUzwYBx0x5mZB2eDW-42BpGPW8_78gCytGbrA4pi_FP/s1600/finzaid3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30lZd2z0fglNI5wiIG7U5O-i_XbwzdPVQp2xlzNbqVxd4rr4ic6viHdoTlR_4snEViQfLiL1rNp0L0kO4T3T1nHZ-DMDx7qC5InUzwYBx0x5mZB2eDW-42BpGPW8_78gCytGbrA4pi_FP/s640/finzaid3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And voila, Zaid's quilt was finished! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJ7npA8xV_xWifbDuWoQpuqKaPE1YoLD09UCmL1UZitrV7gCeEmVRJrLHjQ1cH2Wsi_CMrPRDfmSpir7Zp1xO7Hv8G0OAW17eB4TTp6ft8veQ-0G1ANnm1if5fMuM99jLNQ4ZfS5Ven0/s1600/finzaid4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJ7npA8xV_xWifbDuWoQpuqKaPE1YoLD09UCmL1UZitrV7gCeEmVRJrLHjQ1cH2Wsi_CMrPRDfmSpir7Zp1xO7Hv8G0OAW17eB4TTp6ft8veQ-0G1ANnm1if5fMuM99jLNQ4ZfS5Ven0/s640/finzaid4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4iCDeTi5gCZr4mQipTgJKAGS9zODajWmvPE_az0hq_a0jtR2nd1F8sxcU0J2b311RVxAUJHnR676kafNHpCHQQ6NNuvcsKjBWvcC7l_TWSZkS_qPe5QqxYck0IEkhetSKkIgIf1CcZsW/s1600/finzaid5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4iCDeTi5gCZr4mQipTgJKAGS9zODajWmvPE_az0hq_a0jtR2nd1F8sxcU0J2b311RVxAUJHnR676kafNHpCHQQ6NNuvcsKjBWvcC7l_TWSZkS_qPe5QqxYck0IEkhetSKkIgIf1CcZsW/s640/finzaid5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(<a href="http://quiltingsquareone.blogspot.com/">Pam</a> makes each quilt so personal...I love this extra step that she does)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny45SVpA7EI6vSk77bSdZMVazyBuFVyBnCpQxr2VIboCYN_e5FlzbeGJG8Nw8XgpOcp2be-4_AjWr4MOWCxEJrS_IulPEpPdodEQEzpXv89Ogp4o5rY5tl3-CGzZCozzkKctKSOK8ExvS/s1600/finzaid7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny45SVpA7EI6vSk77bSdZMVazyBuFVyBnCpQxr2VIboCYN_e5FlzbeGJG8Nw8XgpOcp2be-4_AjWr4MOWCxEJrS_IulPEpPdodEQEzpXv89Ogp4o5rY5tl3-CGzZCozzkKctKSOK8ExvS/s640/finzaid7.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV7-V7c7y39m8Rjh7xF3hS4GFjzfbU127mWcjXmD5DVXdwyTTH4rgkvQN2MJhyphenhyphennkVorQLo9A6yjF7uINn5Fy6l3WqElqEwi7gql3oqtB1WjtKO2OOsod78ogs02-9pMbCGtipeKjh32kd/s1600/finzaid8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV7-V7c7y39m8Rjh7xF3hS4GFjzfbU127mWcjXmD5DVXdwyTTH4rgkvQN2MJhyphenhyphennkVorQLo9A6yjF7uINn5Fy6l3WqElqEwi7gql3oqtB1WjtKO2OOsod78ogs02-9pMbCGtipeKjh32kd/s640/finzaid8.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned for his brother Zeen's quilt, I'll be showing that later this week!</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-18091517213677366112012-02-09T16:10:00.000-06:002012-02-09T16:10:23.990-06:00Wreath of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have I showed this to you before?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually made it last year for Valentine's Day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not much into decorating for each and every holiday but bringing this sweet little number out of storage sure did make me smile.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had forgotten how much I like it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ4dbRveG6cQdeUeFXlpxRYLmbGenF5qbAj_IkvpefV14AtJl0Vt7qHbmWpnHCOEiYT0Lvs13jHctMiAbLLrqlVwxotblsHy65SlxYVUDFeesJz_ctIv7RVsif1CgweQoG_s4n2hb6vQw/s1600/vwreath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ4dbRveG6cQdeUeFXlpxRYLmbGenF5qbAj_IkvpefV14AtJl0Vt7qHbmWpnHCOEiYT0Lvs13jHctMiAbLLrqlVwxotblsHy65SlxYVUDFeesJz_ctIv7RVsif1CgweQoG_s4n2hb6vQw/s640/vwreath2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favorite things about it is that I was I able to make it with mostly things that I found laying around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It cost me nearly nothing...and yet it looks so pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really wanted the sign portion to be made of wood, but I didn't have any so I used a piece of cardboard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFT3oadJ2tBhAVNjZ49Z_HSFtji88dylG2HHOYVtXe_dHFM3xigz-jFZP-70a1SCCiITN5elEJPxzzGhyphenhyphent24tPZBJVCVAjZ6tEM1ewmsOlOJjKe5nliy44VvsxYJk78HF7ZYjy4nkpfHT/s1600/vwreath3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFT3oadJ2tBhAVNjZ49Z_HSFtji88dylG2HHOYVtXe_dHFM3xigz-jFZP-70a1SCCiITN5elEJPxzzGhyphenhyphent24tPZBJVCVAjZ6tEM1ewmsOlOJjKe5nliy44VvsxYJk78HF7ZYjy4nkpfHT/s640/vwreath3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's kind of hard to see in the photo but I painted it Robin's Egg Blue, then covered it with Elmer's glue and then painted it again with white. The glue makes the top layer of paint crackle...and look even more like wood ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvU53QQCPsLBaIpnc1uQPUvOzzArsxRb-GSZN37F7rIh8HLxQw_O9AqxklXmaFdrxzk2uVGHOoRFCKOEFpRn1WXnT-oMRgxrE0oloh3piGESJG18XGCwnUJdx_2pEV1URiEzbLurbIGRm/s1600/vwreath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvU53QQCPsLBaIpnc1uQPUvOzzArsxRb-GSZN37F7rIh8HLxQw_O9AqxklXmaFdrxzk2uVGHOoRFCKOEFpRn1WXnT-oMRgxrE0oloh3piGESJG18XGCwnUJdx_2pEV1URiEzbLurbIGRm/s640/vwreath1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, for the second year in a row, this Wreath of Love is hanging on my front door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It might show up again next year, too.</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-22489370487595881972012-02-06T16:14:00.000-06:002012-02-06T16:14:46.323-06:00Valentine's Day Cupcakes<div style="text-align: center;">The kids and I took a break from the football action yesterday to whip up a batch of Valentine's Day cupcakes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We worked together on the strawberry batter, I frosted them and then the kids finished them off with some red and pink sugar sprinkles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdimhAaVvJxGmmP4-XbfyHQ7URMcu8OybuIm-sydFBYChqxbA6he_8RJb1Rb3jPtWJUstSTQAqEdYJS7E0JTUT9igDAXAw4L3RSxghjdhuImx-bFA1DDLJW5S3dO2CZFUjHXkcYMU37U85/s1600/valcupcakes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdimhAaVvJxGmmP4-XbfyHQ7URMcu8OybuIm-sydFBYChqxbA6he_8RJb1Rb3jPtWJUstSTQAqEdYJS7E0JTUT9igDAXAw4L3RSxghjdhuImx-bFA1DDLJW5S3dO2CZFUjHXkcYMU37U85/s640/valcupcakes1.jpg" width="640" /></a></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/AVvXsEjthM_1K8xiaNJEghhGgzPgebcXdrQVEnceg6FYSt4ztmVWlDwlUM1CY0UQsaIs7BRAqAGHwJCUcunIQ-fQKj-dOtSkPvCVZmXNzKZtgMJUR-biiJY0UXhuVpE5-xQmIXFKUu43PvtyNetx/s1600/valcupcakes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthM_1K8xiaNJEghhGgzPgebcXdrQVEnceg6FYSt4ztmVWlDwlUM1CY0UQsaIs7BRAqAGHwJCUcunIQ-fQKj-dOtSkPvCVZmXNzKZtgMJUR-biiJY0UXhuVpE5-xQmIXFKUu43PvtyNetx/s640/valcupcakes2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we decided that we didn't really care if the Giants or the Patriots won, as long as we had cupcake yumminess in our bellies!</div><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/AVvXsEh9eT0V8l1N3WqBXyz5aOpvG_m7zQO5kWGcClYtSg0aVZlYVCBRIRAAO5TmjSPV9WEZxWMqGUmIRbEI1iUC2slOjEau8CH37hNhv3VBsBnCAqo_Szc0wsd0XxsDkXZJFlJWMjOEiE59ujm_/s1600/valcupcakes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eT0V8l1N3WqBXyz5aOpvG_m7zQO5kWGcClYtSg0aVZlYVCBRIRAAO5TmjSPV9WEZxWMqGUmIRbEI1iUC2slOjEau8CH37hNhv3VBsBnCAqo_Szc0wsd0XxsDkXZJFlJWMjOEiE59ujm_/s640/valcupcakes3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-66542586955792204022012-02-04T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-04T09:00:11.788-06:00Oh how I love her beautiful voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet Soleil has the most gorgeous little singing voice...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm even a little jealous of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She <i>actually</i> sounds as good as I <i>think</i> I sound when belting out tunes in the car. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Truly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQawb418s2P7UbgDPAHfbt1TOT8KdWcV9Cu9NfL6Ij9m0hzRwY1o1vGVk6pZHXMhzMpGTtDStTCRY9L-ty9CCc-GjvlWcyeLaVrnOTJPQcXpMWJrGrS4Ob5WtMlmCnFBXGx5zF2VQwkiUi/s1600/concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQawb418s2P7UbgDPAHfbt1TOT8KdWcV9Cu9NfL6Ij9m0hzRwY1o1vGVk6pZHXMhzMpGTtDStTCRY9L-ty9CCc-GjvlWcyeLaVrnOTJPQcXpMWJrGrS4Ob5WtMlmCnFBXGx5zF2VQwkiUi/s640/concert.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And this last Thursday we ALL got to enjoy hearing her at her first ever school choir concert.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even my mom was able to attend (following her Oncologist's advice...she never took her gloves off).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was one of those nights that was filled with moments that made me very proud to be a mom...<i>her</i> mom, in particular. </div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-7341294335292162672012-02-03T14:41:00.001-06:002012-02-03T14:43:31.908-06:00I'm back!<div style="text-align: center;">Oh my goodness it's been a long time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Things are getting better...and easier. I'm sleeping less, eating more, and really only nauseous in the evening.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It all feels pretty good. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I even foresee some unfinished projects getting finished in the near future. (Imagine!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These are two of the things I learned during the first trimester of delirium...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Food made and delivered by a friend is extra delicious (she even included a gift for both me and my mom) Incredible, right?<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...especially during the weeks when the thought of cooking was directly connected with my gag reflex.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYoErKFD_AA6ndoD-8UCaJRJy7qFfS3YsQXMqznxPKNbaWFqBe6aFpDsad-ChvZVpp0XGdPshpgRh7EgyDygKOPwUkmSv9koLZA3y72on0Fa0m-AlBCM6Y9kBlV6kq2MrdIafS97KmvYx/s1600/small3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYoErKFD_AA6ndoD-8UCaJRJy7qFfS3YsQXMqznxPKNbaWFqBe6aFpDsad-ChvZVpp0XGdPshpgRh7EgyDygKOPwUkmSv9koLZA3y72on0Fa0m-AlBCM6Y9kBlV6kq2MrdIafS97KmvYx/s640/small3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiybSnC_Hh3PTz-2jzpvkTj0TFWyYlgGX-vchyaXhH7bwUxWg0KZrbXfOcvkKn8vrtjq6-Li4FVnOaeH_8T9imCvGX2kaJVR5UunMghwbnRhEofuuOeFbqr9KeTwfaz9gXZzsphzhw1I7/s1600/small1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiybSnC_Hh3PTz-2jzpvkTj0TFWyYlgGX-vchyaXhH7bwUxWg0KZrbXfOcvkKn8vrtjq6-Li4FVnOaeH_8T9imCvGX2kaJVR5UunMghwbnRhEofuuOeFbqr9KeTwfaz9gXZzsphzhw1I7/s640/small1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI_S34WVwIHIcJvUVPsjz1hKoRcNCFs9aQwL0MXM7KXdmQx8uSYYAy-Y6XbPO9rztJpMaWihhncO5EqWYDePSN-Qfk9pltCz7cdWZh24J54r99kSS75q840b4MMhl4nJSYOne1vDKzkvJ/s1600/small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI_S34WVwIHIcJvUVPsjz1hKoRcNCFs9aQwL0MXM7KXdmQx8uSYYAy-Y6XbPO9rztJpMaWihhncO5EqWYDePSN-Qfk9pltCz7cdWZh24J54r99kSS75q840b4MMhl4nJSYOne1vDKzkvJ/s640/small2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> And, I'm so grateful for my kids...they really bucked up while I was sick and became very easy to please.</div><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/AVvXsEiXVZhRq9ZZZxAEmVO5H8UmDVDsyAI-xc-b6QaEVx6u4WUQxxK_9KnAfyj599AbhYVYwhOQ2tv1eHyVWZDW1LCFq2ZnUValDZ-ITT3J5YMIG2s6mg7b6hRqiN_BiVfIcLGOs1-yttHRZSQL/s1600/small4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVZhRq9ZZZxAEmVO5H8UmDVDsyAI-xc-b6QaEVx6u4WUQxxK_9KnAfyj599AbhYVYwhOQ2tv1eHyVWZDW1LCFq2ZnUValDZ-ITT3J5YMIG2s6mg7b6hRqiN_BiVfIcLGOs1-yttHRZSQL/s640/small4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soleil was overjoyed with a fruit smoothie each day after school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And both Soleil and Shore never got tired of my go-to dinner of chocolate chip pancakes...</div><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/AVvXsEik2CSsRCVpvfEyExqzyS3lKB8z1a7Kr7JI4NqrPU3PJWhzCxdOanCWmfNfYCUwJ60it4HkQzWztvMYN2wtBXw15JJATNP2fBJ1VRuOA1-hfBHTcjb9eMRASPV9BOyaYMp7beQ6b9i50SOV/s1600/small5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2CSsRCVpvfEyExqzyS3lKB8z1a7Kr7JI4NqrPU3PJWhzCxdOanCWmfNfYCUwJ60it4HkQzWztvMYN2wtBXw15JJATNP2fBJ1VRuOA1-hfBHTcjb9eMRASPV9BOyaYMp7beQ6b9i50SOV/s640/small5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have so much to be thankful for...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">especially that the second trimester is here :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*Thanks for hanging in there with me*</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-25593405116598239112012-01-20T20:14:00.000-06:002012-01-20T20:14:11.760-06:00It gets me every time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it's inevitable. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You find out you're pregnant and you immediately start watching TLC's <i>A Baby Story</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> It has happened to me with each baby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now, in addition to crying during every episode, I am also tearing up during the commercials.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have you seen this one?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OxbRdxbBROI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love it.</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870843538444740641.post-68974061477482908792012-01-17T19:40:00.000-06:002012-01-17T19:40:05.416-06:00Rock it, girl<div style="text-align: center;">You know how there are some girls that seem to be most comfortable wearing makeup? And then there are others that feel their best looking more natural?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I'm a little more of a natural girl myself...a little under-eye concealer and blush and I'm pretty well set.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But there is one girl in my house that most definitely likes to be made up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She's sporting Electric Blue nails this month...and seems to be feeling very pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qCBoA1rjrysvIrd1WxwRdXeHMfNLyWFrGdFwXY-u3Sx30TW-2csdgbdKDtRKrtIwOfArCAkb0Lu2nc1xASNWL5ThJu7N19Yqvo9izYjCVM43BJFJPBUFkgM1er0OzghfbhL_R3o6uHtE/s1600/blue+nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qCBoA1rjrysvIrd1WxwRdXeHMfNLyWFrGdFwXY-u3Sx30TW-2csdgbdKDtRKrtIwOfArCAkb0Lu2nc1xASNWL5ThJu7N19Yqvo9izYjCVM43BJFJPBUFkgM1er0OzghfbhL_R3o6uHtE/s640/blue+nails.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel like Diana Ross should be playing in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love you, Toni.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05478495815626963876noreply@blogger.com2